Protector of the Realm

by Gun Brooke

  "That's barbaric!"

  Rae nodded thoughtfully, adding simulated surprise to her tone of voice. "Coming from an Onotharian, I take that as a compliment."

  "That can't be part of the SC laws and directives. Your culture isn't as—"

  "As violent and savage as yours?" Dahlia completed his sentence. "In fact, this precaution is well within SC laws and directives. Granted, we don't implement it very often, but in your case, it was the only way we could persuade Councilman Thorosac to agree."

  Slumping back into his chair, M'Ekar looked at them with a sly expression in his calculating eyes. "I have a request."

  "A request?" Dahlia sounded as if she couldn't believe she heard the man correctly.

  "Will I get a chance to meet the boy before I depart? After all, I am his only living relative."

  Squinting, Rae tried to see beyond the hated facade. M'Ekar sounded sincere enough, but something inside her recoiled like a snapping rubber band. "No." Her eyes never left his face. "Over my dead body. You are his great-uncle by marriage, hardly a relative."

  The corners of M'Ekar's lips turned down in an ugly mask of discontent, but he made no further comments.

  "That takes care of that," Dahlia summed up. "Study the document, Ambassador, and let us know when you're willing to commit to the terms."

  Without looking back, Rae and her mother stepped out of the room and walked side by side down the Kester's main corridor. SC personnel moved purposefully around them, preparing the ship, as well as its sister ship the Ursa, for its journey to the Supreme Constellations main shipyard, a vast facility orbiting the Crova Moon in the Corma System. Alex de Vies would captain the Kester with Leanne at the helm.

  Rae thought of how her favorite pilot had sounded almost as if she were pleading when she in an uncharacteristic nervous tone had volunteered for the job yesterday. Unusual dark shadows under Leanne's eyes testified to her latest ordeal. Being wounded twice in such a short time took its toll.

  "I'm cleared by Dr. Meyer to resume my duties. I'd like to take the Kester to Crova, unless you've decided on another pilot." Her restless hands had plucked at the hem of her jacket. "The truth is, I've stayed away from Corma far too long." Leanne stepped closer to Owena, who stood by her side. "Seems the Cormanian Parliament is awarding me the Third Meritorious Band. That's pretty special, ma'am. They don't do that often."

  "I know, Lieutenant. I have more news for you regarding decorations." Rae had enjoyed the moment. "You will receive the Second Medal of Merit in less than a month for your courage during the battle when the Onotharians first decloaked. I believe it's my father who will do the honors."

  Leanne's cheeks colored a deep red. "Oh, Commodore. I didn't.. .1 never..."

  Rae laughed. "Well deserved, Lieutenant. And just so you know, Owena, your actions on Gantharat and aboard the Liberty have earned you the same recommendation. I fully expect the Council to follow my advice."

  "Thank you, ma'am," Owena said, seemingly unfazed by the news. Still, her eyes glittered with something resembling happiness.

  "Oh, sweetheart, isn't that great?" Leanne was all the more exuberant. Then her face turned solemn again. "I have to be honest with you, Commodore. I have another reason for returning to Corma." She had stopped fiddling but was obviously nervous, biting down on her lower lip before she continued. "I need to make one more attempt to reconcile with my mothers."

  "Reconcile?" Rae urged her on when Leanne seemed to falter.

  "Yes, ma'am. My family belongs to ancient Cormanian nobility, and I stem from a long line of a strictly female dynasty. We're nowhere near the M'Aidos or the O'Sarals, but the D'Artansis name...well, my mothers thought I shamed it when I joined the Fleet. They made me choose."

  And you chose your own path. Rae knew all too well how unwelcome choices could affect a family.

  Owena had folded her arms across her chest at this point, her eyes a frosty sea of blue. "I'm going with her."

  Leanne shot the tactical chief a tremulous smile. "Of course you are. No matter the outcome with my mothers, we can still spend our leave on the Draggara Beaches."

  Rae had never seen Owena's eyes take on such a soft expression before, and it altered the stern woman's expression completely.

  "I wish you luck on your endeavor, Lieutenant," Rae said. "Both the journey and your attempt to reach your family." She hadn't told Leanne how much this situation tied in with her own conflicting emotions regarding her parents. The fact that she was actually talking with them without keeping her guard all the way up felt like nothing less than a miracle.

  "Thank you, ma'am. It might turn into a huge disappointment, but I still have to try. I've.. .missed them."

  "I understand that. At least you're not alone, Leanne. Owena will stand by you."

  Leanne nodded. "To be honest, that's all that really matters, in the end."

  "Have you and Kellen made up your minds yet?" Dahlia asked as they exited the Onotharian vessel, startling Rae back to the present.

  "We've hardly seen each other the last few days, let alone had a chance to talk," Rae replied. "We've had to attend so many briefings, then there's the vast amount of information we brought back..."

  "So you've been stalling?"

  Hating the guilty feeling, Rae didn't pretend to misunderstand. "In a way, yes. Once Gemma cleared me to go back on full duty, I've buried myself in work. I.. .1 just don't know how to tell her, Mother."

  "Does she even know what's going on?" Dahlia asked, taking a seat in the almost empty rail car.

  Sudden tears burned behind her eyelids, and Rae shook her head. "I don't think so. I look at Kellen and Armeo, and I know they've just gone through hell. It's damn near impossible for me to barge in on their newfound sense of security... and wreck it all."

  "At one point you have to. Time's running out for you, daughter."

  The unexpected term of endearment, spoken with a tender voice, made Rae reach for Dahlia's hand. "I'm aware of that. I'll talk with Kellen tonight. I won't put it off any longer."

  Dahlia squeezed her daughter's hand. "It'll work out, somehow. These decisions are hard to make, but you have to give her the chance to choose."

  "Is it fair, though?" Rae swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat.

  "Nothing in this damn situation is fair." Dahlia raised her other hand and slid a finger along Rae's rank insignia. "Between you and your father, I have a lot to worry about."

  "I'm sorry, Mom. Of course." Rae gave her mother a careful smile. "You'll be busy too."

  "I know."

  Riding the rest of the way in a new, comfortable sort of silence, Rae thought of the woman she had let into her life and into her heart. It was time to quit stalling.

  "I assume we have something to discuss, since Armeo's spending the night with your parents in the VIP quarters?" Kellen faced Rae as she brought them Cormanian coffee in tall titanium Keep-Hot cylinder-mugs. "Yes," Rae said in a low voice. "You're very observant."

  "So, why not finally get to the point?" Kellen slid one arm along the backrest of the couch, her eyes fixed on her wife. "You've been tiptoeing around me ever since you went back on full duty. You're tossing and turning—"

  "All right, all right." Rae held up a hand. "I'm sure you've heard through the grapevine how negotiations aren't going so well between the Onotharians and the SC."

  "Yes. Political turmoil and an increasing number of border skirmishes don't look good." Kellen wrapped her cold fingers around the hot coffee mug. "Will there be a war?"

  Rae examined her face with a steady gaze. Her eyes felt almost like a touch where they followed the long waves of Kellen's hair. "Yes, I think so. Not right away. The SC Council is trying every possible route to a peaceful solution first."

  "And of course you'll be a part of it all."

  "Yes, one way or another. This is what I'm trained to do, darling." Rae placed her mug on the coffee table. "I received directives to begin evacuating civilians from Gamma VI. The military will occupy
most of the residential area. The same goes for Gamma Fand VII."

  Kellen's heart picked up speed, the implications of Rae's words hitting all at once. "No civilians at all...not even family members of the ones deployed here?"

  "No. Only military staff and some commercial interests such as shops, restaurants, and legal services for the crew. There are going to be a lot of changes, I'm afraid."

  Speechless, Kellen could only stare at her spouse. Not sure what Rae wanted her to say, she remained motionless, unaware of how precariously her mug was tilting until Rae removed it from her hands.

  "Don't look like that," Rae implored, raw emotions obvious in her voice. "We're not without options."

  "What options? You just said..." Kellen pressed cold fingertips against her trembling lips. "Armeo and I are civilians."

  "Yes, but listen to me." Placing the mug on the table, Rae moved closer and took Kellen gently by the shoulders. "The problem we have is not only that you and Armeo are civilians. Armeo is safer now than he was a week ago, but you know as well as I do that until he reaches adulthood and either regains his title as an O'Saral Royale or relinquishes all claims to it, he won't be entirely safe. We'll always need to take special precautions until then. My parents have suggested we move him to Earth, since it's located in the heart of the Supreme Constellations."

  Wanting to deny the truth in what Rae said, Kellen knew she was right. As Armeo's guardian, she would always have to do what was best for the boy.

  "How can you say we have a choice, then?" Kellen said huskily. "I'll live on Earth with Armeo while you're out here fighting a war."

  "Yes, that's one option."

  Trying to suppress the tears burning behind her eyelids, Kellen bit into the tip of her tongue before she spoke. "There are others?"

  "My father is, legally speaking, Armeo's ultimate guardian within the SC. My mother has also signed the documents, and her status, her diplomatic immunity, is irreproachable. Due to their positions in the military and diplomat core, my parents reside in a high-level security area on Earth, a region called Northern Europa. It's where I grew up."

  Rae moved closer and cupped Kellen's face with her hands.

  "We're not at war yet. I've been offered a position to head up Gamma stations V, VI, and VII. It's mostly a desk job, and initially I'll work from Earth. I told the Council I had to talk with you first, but I know they want me to offer you a commission as...well, I guess you can call it subject matter expert regarding Gantharat. You'd receive a provisional rank as ensign and serve directly under me. We really need your help."

  Her heart racing, Kellen stared into Rae's stormy gray eyes. "Armeo..."

  "I know. We have our sacred duty. We love him and don't want to be away from him. But he's safer on Earth, and I can do some, but not all, of my work from there. He would be staying with my parents in a family environment." Rae tugged Kellen close and whispered in her ear. "If you do this, if you accept the Council's offer, I promise you..." Rae broke off, rubbing Kellen's shoulders, perhaps for emphasis. "I promise you, we'd spend as much time as possible on Earth, and I'd never refuse to let you go to him, no matter when you needed to. Your duty—our duty toward him—won't be compromised."

  "He would stay with your parents?"

  "Yes. Their estate is large. We would have our own quarters there. The de Vies family lives nearby. He'd be with his friend."

  Kellen inhaled Rae's intoxicating scent, flowery and with a fresh touch of something fruity, and slid her arms around her lover. "I..." Her voice faded.

  "You don't have to decide this instant, darling." Kellen felt Rae's hands tremble. "Think about it, okay? I just know I can't lose you. I love you and will do my best to be with you and Armeo as much as I can."

  "I love you too, Rae." The words gushed out before she could stop them.

  "I know. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I haven't learned every little detail about you yet, and I can't wait." Rae's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked into Kellen's. "I have no idea what providence sent you to me, but I know this much is true...I can't imagine life without you."

  Kellen could only nod. "I'll think about the Council's offer." She leaned back and lifted Rae onto her lap. "When do I have to let them know?"

  "In a week or so. We need to know before the evacuation begins." Rae nuzzled her neck. "I realize this is difficult for you, but trust that I'll love and support you, no matter what you decide."

  As she slid her hands underneath Rae's fairy-silk high-neck shirt and pushed it up, Kellen felt her mouth go dry at the sight of the pale, freckled skin. "It's been so long," she breathed. Needing to distract herself from the choice she had to make sooner or later, she caressed her way up until she could tug the garment over Rae's head and toss it on the floor. "I've longed...to touch you." Kissing along Rae's shoulder and nibbling at her neck, Kellen smiled against the dampening skin when she heard Rae moan.

  "Kellen..."

  "Yes?"

  "You burn me...again," Rae whispered. "You're fire. Pure fire."

  Kellen licked up along Rae's neck before she moved up to claim her mouth, exploring every part of it with her tongue. The passionate kiss seemed to go on forever. Rae tugged at Kellen's shirt, sending the small buttons flying across the coffee table. Pushing it down her shoulders, she revealed naked breasts with blue-red taut nipples, ready to be stimulated.

  Breaking free from the kiss, Rae leaned down and cupped Kellen's left breast, raising it to her hot mouth. When she closed over the hard peak, Kellen cried out as she felt small teeth bite gently into her tender flesh. The pain fueled her passion, making her arch into the touch. Holding Rae's head with both hands, she guided her toward the other breast.

  "Yes...just like that..." Whimpering, Kellen grew increasingly impatient. She grasped Rae around the waist and laid her down on the couch. Unbuttoning Rae's uniform trousers, she ripped them off, together with her boots. As she knelt between her lover's legs, she studied her closely before she removed Rae's underwear.

  Rae lay shivering on the couch, looking flustered and aroused. "What are you doing to me?" she said huskily. "God...I want you so much..." She seemed unable to lie still, shifting back and forth as she placed an arm over her eyes.

  "No, not like that. Look at me," Kellen demanded in a low voice. As she pushed Rae's muscular, slender legs farther apart and bent them more, she began to get a good view. "I want to learn what pleases you most."

  "Oh, Kellen, all you have to do is touch me."

  "Like this?" Caressing inside the trembling legs, Kellen reached the auburn tuft of hair above the drenched folds. She allowed her thumbs to part them, exposing the copious wetness pooling there. "You want me."

  "Damn right, I do," Rae managed, her voice throaty. "You're driving me crazy."

  Kellen smiled. She was aroused as well and wiggled out of her slacks and underwear, keeping her unbuttoned shirt on. Leaning down, she kissed the area around Rae's sex. She looked up at the rapt expression on Rae's features and decided to push farther. "Reach down and spread yourself for me. That's right. No, keep your legs bent."

  Kellen spread the wetness everywhere between Rae's legs, rubbing tender fingers around her lover's entrances. "I can't wait to take you... to make you mine." Kellen carefully slid two fingers inside.

  "Oh!" Rae arched and spread her legs wider. "Oh, God."

  Curling her fingers slightly, Kellen moved them out halfway and in again. She let her tongue barely touch the erect clitoris between Rae's folds.

  Rae began to undulate and met each thrust of the insistent fingers. "More. Please..."

  In a swift movement, Kellen added a third finger and used her other hand to caress Rae's anus. Her fingers were slick with Rae's juices, and she kept them hotly pressed against her lover, on the verge of penetration.

  Rae breathed heavily and moaned with every breath. "The things...you do to me..."

  The sight of the otherwise commanding woman writhing on the couch in abandon m
ade Kellen's own arousal surge. She needed to push Rae to the heights of monumental pleasure that matched her own feelings. Kellen opened her mouth and sucked the sensitized ridge of nerves inside. Licking it furiously, she pressed more fingers inside Rae, feeling an incredible tightness as she did.

  Rae threw her head back and gave a short, high-pitched cry. Muscles contracted around Kellen's fingers, as if to draw them farther in. Aroused beyond words, Kellen felt the first twitches inside herself. "Rae... now... come for me. With... me.

  Pleasure flooded every part of her system, and Kellen devoured the sensitive tissues before her, pushing inside Rae again and again, until her own orgasm began to mellow. Slowly she freed her hands and lifted Rae from the couch, again placing her on her lap. Mindful to wipe her hands, Kellen wrapped a velvet-down blanket around both of them. She closed her eyes as she rocked the sobbing woman in her arms.

  "Nobody has ever touched me like you do," Rae said in a choked voice. "Nobody has loved me this way."

  "I've never loved anyone...or acted so freely—ever," Kellen admitted, taken aback at how weak her voice sounded.

  Nuzzling Kellen's cheek, Rae tugged the blanket closer around them. "It's amazing how I can let myself go when I'm with you. I can put everything else in my life on hold and just exist in the moment. It's such an amazing gift...from you."

  "Only the two of us in the universe..." Kellen became quiet. "It's a Gantharian song." She trusted Rae to understand as she sang in a low voice.

  I was lost and so were you,

  And I was found where you begin.

  I stayed with you,

  I dreamed your dreams.

  You claimed me,

  Professed to love.

  Each broken soul must find her own—

  The two of us in the universe

  Allow the planets to align.

  "We learned that in the Academy of Pilots, believe it or not."

  "It's beautiful, and you have a wonderful voice." Rae gave a soft smile. "I think the song applies to us very well."

  "I do too."

  Silence descended as Kellen visualized the Gamma VI station revolving on its axis and watched its commanding officer close her eyes, wrapped up in the arms of the woman who loved her. Kellen smiled. "Go to sleep, Rae. I'll watch over you."