Ria's Visions (Hearts of ICARUS Book 6)

by Laura Jo Phillips

  “I like it a very great deal,” Star replied. “I’m surprised by how well it works and how easy it is for me to operate. I’m not sure anyone has ever designed something specifically for Brun before. Not on the world I was at, anyway.”

  “Well, your life has changed, Star.”

  “Yes, it certainly has. Are we ready?”

  “I am if you are.”

  “I’m looking forward to this. Thorn walked me around near the infirmary, and showed me something called a comms room. I got the feeling from that, and also coming here to our room, that the ship is quite large.”

  “I suppose it’s relative, like most things,” Ria said as they stepped into the corridor. She activated the scanner lock next to the door and turned up the corridor with her cane in one hand, and Star at her side, the side of her head brushing lightly against Ria’s shoulder.

  “I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “Well, the Hilgaria and the Bihotza are about the same size overall, like Thorn said yesterday. The third ship, the Beacon, is about three times the size of this one. I’ve been on private yachts that are a fraction of the size of this ship, and the ship I worked on last summer was truly immense. It carried fifteen thousand people.”

  “I cannot imagine so many people on one ship, or a ship large enough to hold so many. I see what you mean, though. Each ship is sized according to its purpose.”

  “Yes, exactly.” The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside. Ria pressed a button and the doors closed.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To the rec deck,” Ria replied. “I asked Thorn last night what deck it’s on so we could visit.”

  “What is it that’s wrecked, and why would you wish to go there?” Star asked, perplexed.

  “It’s not wreck as in demolish,” Ria said, smiling. “It’s rec as in short for recreation. It’s where the exercise facilities are.”

  “Oh yes, I’d very much like to see that,” Star said happily.

  “I thought you might,” Ria grinned. The elevator stopped, the doors opened, and they stepped out into the corridor. Ria paused to look around a bit before turning toward what appeared to be the training rooms. There were a few people in the corridor who turned to look at Star, presumably, but they weren’t rude about it as far as Ria could tell.

  “Ria,” a male voice said in surprise and pleasure. Ria watched the man approaching from the other direction, but it was his voice that told her who he was.

  “Hello Lanok.” Star could tell from Ria’s voice that she liked this man, so she paid careful attention to him. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

  “I come over a few hours three times a week to teach,” Lanok said. “It’s good to see you up and around.”

  “Star, this is Lanok, Training Master of the Bihotza. Lanok, this is Star, as I’m sure you’ve guessed.”

  “It is my great pleasure to meet you Star,” Lanok said, meeting the Brun’s steady gaze with a discerning one of his own. “I see you are protective of Ria. That makes me like you already.”

  “Ria is my friend, and my pack sister. That she likes and trusts you makes me like you already, too, Lanok.”

  “Thank you, Star,” Lanok said. “I hope you’re not here to work out, Ria. Niri told me you were to take it easy for a few days.”

  “No, I’m not here to work out. Yet. Dr. Jula gave us the go ahead to walk this morning, and we just had to get out of the room. We wanted to see what the Hilgaria’s training facilities are like since we’re both looking forward to getting more exercise soon.”

  “When Niri clears you, let me know. I’m happy to help you both however I can.”

  “As a matter of fact, I wanted to ask you about exercise for Star. Once she gets clearance from Dr. Julia, she’s going to need to do more than walk around this ship for the next few months. I spoke with the Katres about her running in the Roar Room, but they seem to think the padding in there would be too thick and soft for her, though they did say she could try it.”

  “I’ll go further than that and recommend you not run in there at all, Star,” Lanok said. “The padding in there is suitable for Clan Jasani alter forms which are several times larger than you, and have enormous feet and paws. Your feet would sink too deeply, too quickly, causing you to risk a sprain, torn ligaments, even a broken bone.”

  “That’s unfortunate,” Star said, her ears flicking with disappointment. “I will need to run eventually, as will the cubs when they get older.”

  “That’s not going to be a problem,” Lanok said. “If you’ll follow me.”

  “Sure,” Ria agreed and started off after him with Star at her side. They entered a room filled with different types of exercise machines and followed Lanok to a large treadmill in the corner.

  “I thought about using a treadmill myself, but I didn’t think of Star using one,” Ria said.

  “What is this?” Star asked, eyeing the machine curiously.

  “As Ria said, it’s called a treadmill,” Lanok replied. “It allows you to run in place when you haven’t the space to run.”

  Star’s head cocked to the side. “I don’t understand how such a thing is possible.”

  “Watch,” Lanok said. He stepped up onto the machine, pressed a button on a control panel, and the machine started running. Star watched as a layer of some type of material beneath his feet began to move. When Lanok stood in place, it carried him to the back of a short platform. When he walked, he remained in the same position on the platform.

  “Do you see how it works, Star?” Lanok asked.

  “Yes, I do.”

  Lanok reached out to the panel and did something that made the material move faster, requiring him to jog to remain in place. Higher speeds required him to run faster. After a few minutes he turned the machine off.

  “Will that machine work for me?”

  “Yes, it will,” Lanok replied. “I’ll speak with the Katres about getting a tech up here to make a control panel that you can operate yourself. In the meantime, someone else can adjust the settings for you.”

  “I thank you, Lanok,” Star said, her ears straight up and cocked forward. “I’m going to like this machine a great deal. I was growing worried about this.”

  “No need to worry further, Star. The problem is solved. When your cubs get a little older, we can teach them to use it too.”

  “Do you use this machine, Ria?”

  “Not unless I have to,” Ria replied. “I prefer to work out in other ways.”

  “I’ve been meaning to discuss this subject with you Ria,” Lanok said seriously. “If you have time?”

  “Sure.”

  “I know that your mother’s skills in tiketa are renowned, and I know she began teaching you and your sisters from a young age. But I don’t think you should continue with your attempts to regain skills from your childhood.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because they do not suit the mind and body you now possess.”

  “I hope you have an alternative in mind, Lanok, because I need to do something. I stopped training all during my college years and I paid a price for that. I need to be able to defend myself.”

  Lanok’s eyes sharpened on Ria, but otherwise he displayed no reaction to her words. “Don’t worry, Ria, I’m the Training Master, remember? I’m not going to encourage you to do nothing.”

  Ria smiled at that. “What do you have in mind then?”

  “A combination of different skills which include much of what you already know from tiketa. Without the gymnastics your height and long legs aren’t suited for. I considered teaching you En Dairii, but Vari said your skills don’t lie in that direction.”

  “She’s right, they don’t,” Ria said. “I’ve tried it, but even Aunt Ash gave up trying to teach me to throw things. If it weren’t for gravity, I couldn’t hit the ground if I aimed for it.”

  Lanok laughed heartily. Not only because what Ria said was amusing, but because her spirit seemed light for the
first time since he’d known her. He met Star’s eyes, and dipped his head to her in silent thanks before returning his attention to Ria. “I think you would do well to learn some of the concentration techniques we use for zentsu. If nothing else, they can aid you in learning to pay more attention to your other senses.”

  “I’m willing to give it a try, at least.”

  “Excellent,” Lanok said. “I look forward to working with you both when you’re ready. For now, I have a Jujitsu class to teach.”

  “Thank you, Lanok,” Ria said.

  “Yes, Lanok, thank you very much,” Star added.

  When they were back on the elevator Star looked up at Ria. “You’re getting tired. We should return to our room.”

  “We will in just a few minutes,” Ria said. “There’s something I want to show you first.”

  “Very well,” Star said, too curious to argue, though she resolved to keep a closer eye on her friend. The next time the elevators opened Ria led Star up another corridor, and opened another door. The moment they stepped inside, Star froze in surprise.

  “What is this, Ria?” she asked, awed by the sight before her.

  “Space,” Ria replied, smiling at Star’s reaction. “I can’t see it now, but I thought you’d enjoy it. This is where the guys brought me last night.”

  “We are in the stars,” Star said. “Is it safe to go near the glass?”

  “Absolutely,” Ria said, moving toward what, to her, appeared to be a solid dark purple wall.

  “It’s so beautiful, Ria. Thank you for showing me this.”

  “You can come here any time you want, Star.”

  “Can you tell me where it is we’re going?”

  “Sure,” Ria said, stroking the thick fur on Star’s neck without even realizing she was doing it. She spoke of their search for Kinah, and why it was important to them.

  “That’s sad,” Star said when she was finished. “It sounds much like what the Doftles have done to the Brun.”

  “Yes, it does,” Ria said. “They’ve decimated the populations of other worlds, too. A childhood friend of mine is now the Dragon Queen of Garza, a world that once teemed with dragons of all shapes and colors and sizes. The Xanti and the Doftle destroyed every living thing on that planet, including the trees, and grass, and rivers. All because they wanted a metal they’d found there.”

  “How can your friend be Queen of such a place?”

  “The dragons perished, but before they died they used their magic to hide the seeds of their world until the day someone could find them, and return Garza to what it once was. Tani did that. It’s a beautiful planet now.”

  “I like that story very much, Ria. I did not know people like you and yours existed.”

  “That’s not a surprise, unfortunately. There are many, many planets in the Thousand Worlds with people like us, but I know you have no experience of them. I’m sorry for how you and those you loved suffered, Star. I wish we had come sooner.”

  “I’m not sad, nor do I have regrets,” Star said. “I’m very thankful that my cubs will never know the kind of life I had.”

  “So am I, Star.”

  ***

  About half an hour after dinner Tee called Ria. She was so nervous by then that she was pacing the floors. She’d taken a bath and put on clean clothes, but she couldn’t put on make-up since she couldn’t see it, or her own face. She let her hair dry in thick waves down her back because she couldn’t see it to curl it, or blow it straight the way she liked it best. Even trying to get dressed was hard because she couldn’t see how she looked in anything.

  “I’m glad they finally called,” Star said with a touch of humor. “I was beginning to worry for your state of mind.”

  “Me too,” Ria laughed. “Well, here goes.”

  “I’m not sure if I should wish you good luck or not, so I will just say enjoy yourself.”

  “Thanks, Star,” Ria said, bending down to give the Brun a hug. “I won’t be long.”

  Ria left the room, double-checked to be sure the door was locked, then headed for the elevator. Luckily for the state of her nerves, the door opened almost immediately after she pressed the call button. She got in and a few seconds later, stepped out again. She headed up the corridor with her cane gripped tightly in one hand, then stopped in front of the door to the observation deck. She took another couple of deep breaths, then opened the door and stepped inside.

  She stopped just inside the door, her eyes fixing immediately on the three familiar heat signatures standing just a few feet in front of her. “Um…hi,” she said uncertainly.

  “Hello, Ria,” Talon said, stepping forward. She heard the disappointment in his voice and felt hot tears instantly sting her eyes. He bent down to kiss her cheek, then went still.

  Ria frowned uncertainly, afraid to move herself since she didn’t know why he wasn’t moving. Just before she asked him what was wrong, he leaned down a little further, pressed his face into her neck, and inhaled deeply.

  Then he began to purr which surprised a soft laugh out of her. She felt his tongue, hot and slightly rough, take a long, slow lick across the side of her neck, his deep, rumbling purr growing louder. Thorn moved in close and pressed his face to the other side of her neck. His purr, distinctly different from Talon’s, filled her ears as he too licked her neck. Then Tee was behind her and all three of them were nuzzling and purring in what she could only think of as a controlled frenzy.

  Then they released their own pheromones in such quantity that her bones seemed to melt. Her head was so full of their arousal, her arousal, the vibration of their purrs and a deep, hot, aching need inside of her that she barely caught herself when her knees started to buckle. She felt something soft and warm against her arm and reached up to touch Talon’s tail lock, a long, prehensile appendage unique to the males of Clan Katre. In response, Talon wrapped it around her arm and caressed her with it, sliding it slowly down to her wrist, then up again, and down once more before tightening just a little.

  Pain. Fear. Terror. Pain. Too much. Swamping senses. Have to focus. Have to think. Not much time. How long? Heart racing. How long? Too long. Know it. Give up? Never never.

  Pull. Harder. Pain. Blood.

  Forget pain. Live or die. Pull harder.

  A crack. Was that a crack? Yes, yes. Again! Harder! Harder!

  Free! Finally! Free! Free! Get out get out get out!!

  Door lock. Pain. Blood. Slippery. Hurry hurry hurry!

  Yes Yes Yes. Run! Run!

  Which way? My room? No no no he’ll find me. Where is everyone? Need to hide. Hide now! Where?

  Run! Run! Run!

  Ria opened her eyes, blinking rapidly as she tried to figure out where she was. She felt wrapped in warmth, a deep, rapid thumping sound against her ear. She breathed in. “Thorn?”

  “I’m right here, Shiaki, I’ve got you, we all have you, you’re safe.”

  Ria heard the fear and worry in his voice and wondered what happened. She raised one hand and placed it gently against his cheek. It was the first time she’d ever reached for one of them that way, and they all stilled for a moment at the sight, but she didn't notice. She rubbed her thumb gently against his scar roughened cheek without knowing or suspecting that aside from her, only Thorn himself, and one or two physicians, had ever touched him there since the accident.

  She exerted gentle pressure, urging him to turn his face toward her. When he did, she looked up at him, straining to see his expression, her hand still against his cheek. “Tell me what’s wrong, please.”

  “You don’t remember?”

  “No,” she said, her brows lowering in thought. She shook her head. “What happened?”

  “You…panicked. I guess. We pushed too fast. We didn't mean to.”

  “Shh, shh,” she whispered softly, rubbing her thumb again, brushing the corner of his mouth. She felt Tee and Talon pressed against her other side, and turned her head just a little, knowing they’d be right there, close enough to touch. She li
fted her hand from Thorn’s cheek and brushed her fingertips along Tee’s jaw, then moved to Talon’s cheek. He reached up and wrapped his fingers lightly around her wrist, then lead into her hand.

  “I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Sorry for scaring you and sorry for upsetting you. Mostly I’m sorry for ruining what was a truly beautiful moment.”

  “You didn't ruin anything, Kitelle,” Talon said. “It was and always will be a beautiful moment. It just reminded us to put you first, and take small steps.”

  Ria wished she had the nerve to ask them exactly what she’d done, but she didn’t.

  “You look tired,” Tee said. “We should take you back to your room now so you can get some sleep.”

  “All right,” she agreed. “I am a bit sleepy. I don’t know why since I haven't done anything.”

  Thorn stood with her in his arms and headed for the door. “You’ve had a rough few days, Ria. Your body needs a chance to heal and catch up.”

  “You sound like me talking to Star.”

  “You should listen to yourself. You're a smart woman.”

  “I’ll think about it.” She yawned, rested her head against Thorn’s shoulder, closed her eyes and fell into a sound sleep before they even reached the elevator.

  ***

  “We need to run,” Talon said after they’d tucked Ria into bed without waking her. Thorn double checked the door to be certain it was locked, then they headed up the corridor in silence. They passed the elevator bay and continued walking until they reached a door with a sign indicating it was the Roar Room.

  They went inside, relieved to find it unoccupied, and crossed the ante room with its viewing window. Stepping into the enormous room with deep padding covering the floor, walls, and ceiling, they all shifted the moment they had room to do so. They ran laps around the room for several minutes before Thorn spoke.

  “That was terrifying.”

  “It was,” Talon agreed.

  “I know she denied being raped,” Tee said. “And I know she didn't lie. Is it possible she was, and doesn't remember?”

  “Maybe,” Talon said. “I honestly don’t know.”