~ Merker's Outpost ~
by J.A. Bard

Chapter 1

Tension in the mess hall was as thick as the goop from the freighter's shunt gate. Bets halted and silence settled uneasily in anticipation of the next move. A dozen crewmembers dressed in grubby work fatigues, pressed around one of the tables. Even the few that were there for other reasons waited, pausing in mid chew or conversation, watching the backs of their fellow members.

Within the tight stifling circle sat a human female and her opponent, a gleanean, more than twice her size. The female's eyes drifted up to look directly into the eyes of her opponent after she made her move, sliding past his weak barrier, and putting a hex on his sentries. The gleanean, hulking over her and the gaming table finished his move, and then slid his eyes to hers, to see her reaction. For a moment his golden eyes, flecked with silver, revealed uncertainty, as his gaze was held by the hard look in the unblinking eyes of the alpha female. With difficulty, the golden eyes moved back to the game board where he had moved to take one of her watchers, snipping it in half. His large hand, wrapped around the control too tightly from nervousness, moved his wizard's servant into the castle hall past her dead troll dog, on his awarded bonus move. She resisted a sigh, not sure if it was from relief or disgust. He wasted another move by taking out the dog instead of finishing her off with his wizard's crow, which was a shape-changer. Maybe he did not like pets…or maybe he did not like her troll dog that led him on false trails.

"Bleep, bleep."

The pager's tone broke the silence, causing some of the crew to jump. The female's hand was a blur as she irritably slapped the acknowledgement button on the back of her wrist communication band. Careful not to touch the board or controls she stood, letting the parting crowd direct her to the communicator on the unevenly fading two-toned gray painted hull. Her wrist communicator, as most equipment on the freighter, was old and not working to its specs so she could not give a voice response, though since she was surrounded by noncoms, she would not have done so anyway.

This had better be a 'Hello, hope you're enjoying some time off', she grumbled mentally. "Bridge, this is Lt. Montran," she reported in a low tone.

"Report to cargo bay seventeen, Lieutenant!" The order was crisp and unnecessarily loud.

She imagined a smirk on his blue face to match the tone of his voice. His fourth antenna was probably twitching too, she thought disgustedly. What really irked her was he was a freighter officer who earned his bars through the civilian ladder, based on who he knew, rather than a real officer that earned it through battle and or proper academy training. She also outranked him no matter whose space they were in. With a struggle, she held back her angry retort.

"My shift does not start for another twenty stan hours - Ensign Desoto," she reminded him in a low voice.

"Those are your orders, Lieutenant." The audible click told her it would be pointless to say more. She hit the wall communicator with more force than needed, and then took a few deep breaths to compose her face. She turned and threaded back through the restless crowd.

"I've been called back to duty." Like they don't know, Lieutenant. It was another struggle to keep her tone even and noncommittal…including withholding the caustic remarks that easily moved to the tip of her tongue. She used to be able to detach emotionally from small annoying things like this, a point that further caused her irritation.

"This game has been closed for further moves. It is logged as a draw," the computer run Gaming Master declared.

The sounds of outrage mixed with jubilant voices from the crew rose to a din as the lieutenant stepped through the hatch, grateful she would not have to break up the fistfights that were sure to arise. At the moment, she would not mind punching someone…like the committee member that was responsible for her being 'commandeered' back into Committee service and sticking her on this disaster waiting to happen tub. For that matter, if any of the crew wanted to step in front of her, they could easily take his place. Quickly she strode away from the raising noise, not trusting herself. Irritably she rubbed her temple to ease a weeklong headache. The thud of her new boots sent up unpleasant vibrations to her head causing her to become glummer about her situation.

Rue Despario. Damn that clause! It was supposed to be just a courtesy concession between two galactic egos. It's a typical political wormhole. No one had ever used it!

Miserably she thought of her grandfather, a voice she sought comfort from for the last three months of her solitude on the freighter.

Harry, your dearie could use any influence you may have in fortunes way to get me off this cursed ship…safely and real soon.

Yep, m'dearie ah sure will use me influence fer whatever it can get ch'ya.

She grinned, and then thought of why she was even in Committee space, quickly changing her expression to a frown. She was to rendezvous with her cousin/brother, Lord Hadrian DeMonte on Z3, a busy but small outpost near a jump gate used primarily for switching shuttles. From there, they were to travel together to their home planet aboard his private liner the Alborak, a ship that had all the protection and trappings to fight off pirates or any trouble short of a battle cruiser or a swarm.

For the umpteenth time she tried to figure out why he had sent for her. It was not a military matter or political business that would concern the Collective's Centurion Corps, her present employer, or Commander Hailbrun, head of security on the Centurion flagship Ziggy would have told her before she left…or she hoped that would be the case. The commander had agents that kept him well informed on all information, including gossip in both Committee and Collective space. She shook her head at that. She did not believe her employer for the last seven years would send her unknowingly into danger. So, what did that leave?

A family reunion? Not my cup of tea…but long over due, huh Harry? And given the choice of being here to there, I would rather be there! But, I don't think a family reunion. Not the season for one. It would be winter. Though, Harry, I do miss the winter weather there. So…what's so important that he requests me to come home, but needs to talk to me face to face before I get there? Marriage? I know he's not arranging mine. He wouldn't dare…A big grin appeared on her face at the thought.

She had sent him a brief image telepathically of her 'emergency draft' orders from the Committee's Galactic Central Command. She had to admit she was furious when she sent him her thoughts on this matter. Whatever the reason, Hadrie's return thought was puzzling.

He knows I can't figure out feeling telepathic messages. Give me an image, blast you Hadrie! Now, I'm just about dying of curiosity.

Her boots thudded solidly as they hit the lower deck, sending a jarring pain to her head and to the backs of her eyes. With a slight pause and a curse under breath, she continued towards the hatch, trusting the sensors to open it in time for her to pass through. The jolt brought her back to her anger at being stuck on the freighter.

This assignment was supposed to last less than one stan month or whenever they delivered the blasted cargo. By Hydra's breath, it has been three months and I'm still here along with the cursed toxic gasses I'm supposed to be watching over! At this rate, I'm ready to dump it out the tubes like a bad case of gastric upset. Images of what that would look like brought a grin to her face. What a hell of a cosmic blow-out that would cause!

She took a deep breath, trying to ease the ache in her head as it pounded with more of a vengeance than it had been. Realizing she was escalating the pain, she turned her thoughts to something else…what the call could be about.

Well, it isn't about docking preparations. There are no docking possibilities around here. Hmmm, no incoming and outgoing freight movement, unless some passing ship is real suicidal and wants to link for supply transfers. On the other hand, maybe they've dropped their load and ran before Spinner's Tale got too close to mate-up with them. Naw. Helm would probably run the packets down either knocking them into the nearby jump gateway, way out into another part of the galaxy, or smashing the load open. Oh, Goddess! They would then have to send some fool out there in a suit to recover each floating load. That fool would undoubtedly be me…so, no more of those silly thoughts, lieutenant. No tempting the Fates, huh? So, what could this call be about? What service compartment needs me to be squirming into to fix that my reactivation of the ship's diags found? Or what other virus is running through the systems that their own officers could not nail and purge? I'm learnin' way too much about a freighter's maintenance, Harry. This is not the direction I had in mind for a career move. And definitely nothing in this part of space!

The hatch to her destination swished open.

There was a small party dressed in their airless environment garb, AEGs, assembled around stacked covered crates. She nearly tripped over a heap of someone's gear at the entranceway. A moment of irritation flickered as she thought that that was no way to treat gear one's life depended on. She had been drilling into the crew since her arrival on the proper maintenance and storage of equipment someone's life depended on. However, after three months with her own health deteriorating, she was no longer that interested in saving the crew from themselves. And that was an old story she had thought she left behind.

No more helping those that don't want to help themselves. Didn't I say I was turning over a new leaf, Harry? Look at me! I get back into Committee space and back to old habits.

Ya do have this magnetic quality about ch'ya, ma'dearie that seems to attract the lead heads in this part of the galaxy.

Commander Martinez, the only one not dressed for outside work, looked her way for a moment, long enough to gesture towards the heap. "Dress up, Lieutenant." By the time he finished the order his back was towards her.

Picking up the upper part of the AEG suit, she read her name across the back. So, they had gone into her quarters and snagged her suit. That was too considerate. She was hoping the joints and pacs were not damaged the way it was laying on the deck. The AEGs were the oldest version the ship's owners could legally get by with, and therefore, needed more maintenance and careful handling.

Commander Martinez's attention was on the group that was moving unmarked crates onto the transport and lining it up with the markers. If they were at a legal toxic dumpsite, she would be hopping up and down with joy that her pseudo official duty was completed. In her peripheral vision, she studied the commander's body language. Harriet wished she could hear the conversation because he looked more irritated than normal. The conversation was too low for her to hear and at the same time to concentrate on checking out her gear carefully.

"How 'bout hurrying it up, Lieutenant," Commander Martinez raised his voice.

He had turned back towards her; intending to see where she was, her suspicious nature warned her. In Lt. Harriet Montran's head, her alarms had increased in their intensity along with her headache.

By now, she was used to suiting up without assistance, using the hull to balance on one leg as she climbed into the suit. Ordinarily, if not a fellow crewmember, she would have had a bot assist her; however, the bots on the freighter were outdated, limiting their capabilities to lifting, moving and setting down containers. She snapped the fasteners, ran her sensitive fingers over the lips, cinches, and holvens to ensure the suit was secured, tapped the gauges, more as a habit then for any remedial reason, all while covertly studying the crew in the room.

"When the lieutenant is ready, chief, you can move out. I don't have all day so you can explain to her what her duty is." He turned on his heels and stepped past her without a glance.

Harry, I should return the attitude, undo all the fixes I did on this junk heap, and then make sure I'm in another galaxy when she blows. They're lucky I have better scruples than that. Helgas Moon! This situation is the abysmal of all abysmals.

She snapped her utility belt in place and pulled a sidearm from the secured weapons locker nearby, paused and then also lifted a HR, all the while keeping her hands steady and movements smooth to belie her inner feelings. The foreboding feeling was growing. Another sore point. The feelings about this situation reminded her of the other time...a time that she had been spending seven long years trying to forget. It did not bode well to her already upset stomach and headache.

"First group, prepare for descent!" PO 3rd Class Decker barked in his helmet's mouthpiece; as usual ignoring the chain of command. As the ranking officer, after Lt. Montran was briefed, she was to decide if everything was in order to transport to the surface. Since she had not been briefed, she would have not allowed the order to 'descend' to have been given, which went on without her input. Ignoring the insubordination that Lt. Montran had become accustomed to on the freighter; she continued to look for something that was out of place. Though it was not possible, she hoped it was the cursed toxic canisters they were removing - and then quickly changed her mind when she realized her aging AEG suit might not be able to withstand exposure. In addition to that, she had not been present when they had moved the canisters, which, by their past behaviors could have been mishandled. Then she worried that if they were doing an illegal dump, she would be legally involved just by being present.

They can't possibly be that stupid!

M'dearie, those sireens goin' off'en yer head aren't there just ta be keepin' ya company.

"Where and what are we transporting, chief?" Harriet asked. By the tic reaction in the chief's shoulder, she knew he heard her, but he continued to order the next group to their positions along with more unmarked packing boxes and canisters. The second group was ready and assembled on the pads waiting, but Harriet remained off to the side letting her irritation bleed off.

"We're taking supplies to an outpost," the chief finally replied in a churlish voice.

Harriet noticed he did not name the outpost or address her, but it appeared her presence was required because they waited for her.

Best have yer sidearm ready and check to see if yer got the ol' lucky charm on ya, m'dearie. This has the scent of an over ripe fruit.

What do they need me for? They have their own officers for this…and for ship systems repairs, maintenance, etcetera etcetera, and etcetera. Bloody moon! Is this another dippety-do ass job?

Suddenly it dawned on her where they were dropping.

"Merker's Outpost?" Curiosity replaced irritation. On her chart, it was marked as private and closed to public, military or any other type of visits or activity. It was also marked as deserted. Whatever the planet had been used for was no longer in use. The owner or owners maintained their own security and upkeep on the planet. According to the coding of the planet, it was inhospitable to every species she knew, and by the number next to its code, it was hard on AEGs. That increased her worry about the equipment they were wearing. Mentally she let a long list of curses loose before returning to the immediate…her safety, and the crew that was dropping to the planet's surface. Since the maps were updated each stan year, it meant the planet had been cleared in keeping their emergency monitoring equipment in workable condition. That was little comfort.

So, what is Spinner's Tale doing taking supplies down to a supposedly deserted planet? And what kind of supplies?

The chief's lips almost curled up in contempt, giving him a rather comical and grotesque look when viewed through the helmet visor. The chief did not have a pleasant face to begin with.

"That's right, lieutenant," a sarcastic voice came over her speaker.

"Why are we taking supplies down to a closed and deserted outpost?" she asked ignoring his tone of voice.

"I only obey orders, lieu-ten-ant."

If she had not already abandoned any kind feelings for the deadbeat crew by now, his taunting voice would have been the final deciding point. Her old habit of rescuing hopeless lost causes, due to a flaw in her own character, she thought disgustedly, obviously was no longer a compelling need.

Ma'dearie, seems that seven years of self-imposed exile have done yer a sense of good.

It seems. Bloody damn way to find out. Some less extreme and closer to home, type experience would have done the job. And I don't mean closer to my birth home.

As was her habit with anything this crew did that involved her life, Lt. Montran checked the work. She moved to the transporter console to verify the settings and made one minor adjustment unnoticed by the console operator or those on the transporter dais. C-man J'wtms was busy at the shimm monitor. Stepping on the remaining available dais, she noted her warning alarms lessened. She attributed it to her transportation adjustment.

The usual disquieting sensation of being moved in molecular form from one space to another paused in the midst of the transportation process. It was disorientating. Harriet felt a momentary fright that something had gone wrong, but the restructuring continued…all within moments. When the transportation sequence finished she found herself surrounded by open space, alone, and with nothing to grab onto as a heavy blanket of weight settled over her body, causing her to bend her knees to keep her balance. She could hear the suit kick in to compensate for her out-of-kilter bios. She choked on the first deep breath of air, burning her lungs. If the gravity were not so dense and difficult to move in, she would have fallen.

"Now, don't panic, lieutenant. This is workable," she whispered to herself, struggling with fear that threatened to immobilize her. She had experienced this gravity load a few times in recent military training engagements, compliments of Lt. Commander Nelson on the flagship Ziggy; however then she had reliable equipment and support if a problem developed that she could not handle.

M'dearie, yer lost a few minutes inta both of those military games, too. Good news is, ya been separated from that lot of fools.

Thanks, Harry, for that bit of a reminder. I hope that is good news, because being alone on a deserted and hostile planet surface dressed in a damnable AEG may have me wishin' to be back with that flaky crew. Impatiently she pushed the thought out of her mind and moved it to the immediate problem …surviving.

Now what were the commander's suggestions when we went over my disastrous run in the simulator? Don't panic. Let my suit adjust. Check my bios. Take stock of where I am while the bios stabilize. Make plans. And above all, don't drop to my knees unless it's life threatening, because it will take a lot of effort and strain on me and the suit's regs to get back up. Right, right. Take things one at a time. Ooookay.

Ifn' problems happen in that order, everythin' will be fine, eh m'dearie?

Dragging her left arm up as if it were weighted, she read her air and suit status from the gauges on the wrist of the sleeve. Everything read normal.

Bloody moon! The regs are reading that everything is just fine! What else? Hey! No more alarms in my head. "Can I be so lucky?" she muttered disgustedly, and then stifled a cough.

Aye, m'dearie. At last peace en' quiet to think. What's next on our list of 'to do's'?

"Hail to Spinner's Tale. This is Lt. Montran..." This time the cough caught her by surprise, and added to that a cramp in her chest. Now would be a good time to cast away caution and use the meds. She felt along the suit's buttons for emergency medic packets but nothing happened when she pressed the buttons. Alarmed she moved to look in the pockets for a first aid kit. Nothing. She activated her water refresher. Nothing.

Damn! Somebody emptied my suit! I had this suit fully functional yesterday! When I get my hands on whoever messed with my equipment, I'm going to throttle him.

"This is Lt. Montran to the Spinner's Tale, come in," she repeated thickly and slowly. Are you out of your mind, lieutenant? They are the ones responsible for you being in this situation. Looking closer at the gauges, she noticed her communicator did not show her voice registering on the meter.

Saved from my own foolishness.

Now, m'dearie that is truly a statement of wisdom. If ya call for fools it's fools ye'll get.

Not so foolish if they sabotaged my suit and dumped me in the middle of nowhere. She mentally reviewed her readjustment of the transport coordinates. How could they have done that, though? I reset the COs to be behind the crew not out of sight of them. Blasters! I should have checked to see if they calibrated them for the planet's harmonics! I wonder what happened to the crew. I have to find out what's going on here. This is a deserted and privately owned planet so why are they visiting…with supplies? I wonder what type of supplies. Damn, Lieutenant. You're acting like something unlawful is going on here. It could be lawful...yeah. Right. Like I need all this now. 'Ceptin, if this turns out to be a bust, I'm going to look awfully foolish with these clues laying all about. But...why me? If the freighter was doing something illegal, why haul me into it? Maybe I'm making too much of this. Bloody moon, Montran! It's staring at ch'ya right in the eyes! They drag you off a transport, stick ya on a freighter that's so fricking weird, and then dump ya in the middle of nowhere! What does that tell ya? It tells me that maybe Hadrie had something important to tell me, and he fricking waited too long!

Harriet tried to focus her eyes on what was before her. The azure sky above darkened into a thick deep blue line across the flat horizon. Turning slowly, she could see all around her the same flat land stretch out to the skyline, which was a lighter shade of blue. For a while she studied the surface, letting her eyes adjust to the different lighting than what she was use to. She began to discern differences in the landscapes dull brown that spread out before her and on either side of her feet. However, it could be the manner of light. The twin suns were moving down or up, but their angle might cause shadows. Though the moment she thought of that, another thought quickly dismissed it as a very remote possibility. There was nothing to bounce light off except the flat surface. She turned back to look at the thick dark line on the horizon below the twin suns.

Looks interestin,' doncha think m'dearie?

Shading her eyes from the reflected light that managed to get past the visor screen, she squinted in that direction hoping to see something more.

Is Merker's Outpost above ground, below ground or both? Let me make a guess here…because of the density of the atmosphere, I would say below ground. Bloody moon! I gotta look for a plate to get below…or where in Helgas Moon is the rescue bot? Blasters! Remote possibility or not…I should have checked it out.

M'dearie, ah know how much ya like this self-floggin' but ya should put it off fer another time.

Harriet could not argue that point, because she was a hard on herself. But in this business mistakes cost lives, she reminded herself grimly.

There were no landmarks or anything that caught the eye except the dark line along the horizon. Harriet slowly unlatched the HR she had tucked in her suit pocket.

Something that works! Okay. I need a beacon for a hatch.

Slowly and with effort, she moved in a circle looking for a reading of a life beacon, indicating a life pod or an Auto-R. Nothing. She decided to head to the dark line on the horizon. Pushing her legs forward, barely lifting them above the dull red ground she reminded herself not to go too quickly or lean too far forward. She was already tired from her long shifts on the freighter.

Don't even think about that, Harriet Montran. It's self-defeating. Just move your feet forward. Right. Like I can ignore the pounding in my head that's shaking my eyes in their sockets. That mess in the drop didn't help. Helgas Moon, I checked the coordinates myself. No one on that ship has the skill to change them in mid-trans. There are safety locks…I reinstituted them myself. But I didn't check to see if the system calibrated to this planet's harmonics.

M'dearie, yer spinnin' yer wheels like that little mouse in the child's tale, and drivin' me to beach me boat on the rocks like them sailors hearin' the sireens.

Okay…right. I need to do something useful here. So, what do I know about being dropped in a hostile environment…a desert, with a faulty suit and no supplies? She laughed to herself, feeling the dark humor of it, and then the familiar circumstances threatened to bring back unpleasant memories.

Damn. This will not get me anywhere. Gotta think of something practical.

Now, yer going in the right direction.

If her eyes were not hurting so much, Harriet would have rolled them, but that thought served to redirect her thoughts.

Okay…First step, look for my shipmates. I think I'll skip that part. Second, look for shelter. Okay, it's a flat surface, so, look for probable underground access - but, I haven't the slightest idea where the access plates are. Okay. Not good odds at two out of two. Last but not least…wait for the Auto-R to rescue me. That's got to be working because the charts were recent updates and it showed this place was checked out. Gawds, what if they changed the rules in Committee space and privately owned planets don't have to provide auto-rescue bots for crash victims? No, the chart shows it was cleared, so nothing has changed on that front. Bloody moon, where's the Auto-R?

Okay, okay. I'm here alone...no back up...whatdoido? Pull out a flute and make music while I wait for the dependable model A Super Swift Auto-R by Jamerio Corporation to show up? Whoa! Hold on here...okay, let's not go off the deep end. Got to not let this get to me. Okay. I'm doing great here. I can recognize my noodles are getting soft. Hmm…Better than getting the screamers. Okay, now think of something to take my mind of how miserable I feel. Hm…

Before she could censor her drifting thoughts, a part of herself betrayed her and drifted to a subject she had been avoiding for over four stan months. Sharon. Wonder what she would say about this mess I got myself in. Ha! I'll have to send her a note about the vacation I finally took and where it landed me.

She could feel a great mental sigh escape her, taking her by surprise.

Why do I feel…lonely? I don't feel lonely. I'm a loner by nature, and I didn't feel lonely when we split. I was okay with it. Bloody moon! I was relieved. I couldn't be waking her up with nightmares and not talk about it...and I didn't...no, I don't want to talk about it or even think about it. Geeze, just this bit of thinking about it and my stomach feels like I got cramps. Helgas bloody Moon! I thought I worked this stuff out with the counselor. I don't need this. I'm so mixed up here. It's got to be from sleep depravation. It's making me emotionally crazy…and this bloody bad air isn't helping any.

Harriet realized she stopped walking. Automatically, she started a mental check on her physical condition. Slight tremors ran up and down her leg muscles. She could feel sweat trickle down her neck and imagined her clothes soaking it up. The AEG was laboring too much and the visor was collecting condensation on the inside.

Blasters! That's all I need is sweat in my eyes and not being able to wipe it! That alone is going to drive me to the wilds of Arcus.

Aye. And even if'en ya found the Mound of E in Arcus, ya wouldn't know it!

Harry, what am I going to do with a mythical treasure? Give me something I can use. Blasters! Just keep moving, Harriet… Talking to your dead grandfather is bad enough. You don't want to add hallucinations. Damn, damn, damn. Maybe that's what all this is about. Huh, Harry? You think they are trying to drive me crazy to get back at me for resigning on my terms…those military types…they would do that. Oh, gawds, Harry. I think I'm losing it here. Where in Helgas Moon is that rescue bot? Sooner or later, the Auto-R has to send out a bot, or something. I wonder what the something would be.

As her eyes fixed on the distorted view through her visor of the dark line that continued to move up the sky, she failed to notice the rise in the ground near her feet. Her world went careening at an odd angle and suddenly her faceplate was down in the dust.

For what seemed like long moments she laid where she fell, letting the tremors in her legs lessen. Then, Lt. Montran started the arduous process of getting up. Rolling onto her hands and knees took an immeasurable amount of time, effort, and racking coughs, as if the very atmosphere outside and inside of her suit was working against her.

Commander Neilson, you are right again. Not a good idea to fall.

Her lungs were sending stabs of pain through her chest and back. For a few moments, she braced herself with closed eyes to let her heart stop pounding so hard, while savoring the victory of being upright, though it was only to hands and knees.

She was thirsty.

Sweating too much and the suit is not recycling it into my water pouch. Bloody moon! The view from in here isn't too good either, Harry. It's as bad as being in a steam room.

The inside of her helmet, covered with condensation, had a fine iridescent dust covering the outside. She coughed again wishing she could hold her head as the throbbing pain increased.

Blasters!

Sitting back on her haunches, she lifted a trembling arm to wipe the exterior of the faceplate. Now she had streaks from her glove covered with the same fine dust, making her view worse. The helmet's faceplate acted like a magnet to the glittering flakes.

Like dung balls on a lamb's hiney!

She did not bother to try to shake the dust off her gloves since she knew she could not raise enough vigor to have any real effect, besides the jolt would only make her head ache more.

Let's see what this fall was all about. Hopefully not some recent bones that I wished I hadn't stumbled across.

She slowly moved back onto her hands, patting the ground around her knees. She felt the unmistakable form of a cylinder attached to something she could not lift.

Well, Harry, it feels like a maintenance pipe.

Angling her visor to where she could get the best view, she saw two bright arrows pointing in opposite directions stamped on the pipe, one larger than the other.

It's not the Mound of E, Harry, but I'll take this as a treasure just the same. The large arrow usually indicates a city and the smaller a maintenance entrance. I think right now, the maintenance would be advisable. I'm not in the mood for socializing, especially if I run into my crewmates.

She pulled her HR out and found the small light blinking on the locator. Two klicks from her. It seemed a long time of crawling on her knees because she lacked the strength to stand, until she came to the lip of an expected elevator plate. It was a standard maintenance entrance that operated on weight distribution. Crawling gratefully into the center, she pulled the operator bar out and moved it into the 'on' position. Nothing. Moving her weight forward and back she suddenly felt the bottom below her drop.

For the amount of time it took for her to realize she was falling it ended with her body dropping heavily onto a rising plate. It stopped once it reached the surface, and then abruptly, started back down. Rolling back onto her back exhausted, she blacked out.

The air that cooled her face was scented and breathable and waking to it did not fool her for a moment that she was in serious trouble. Her helmet had been retracted and she was sure she did not do it.

Startled, green eyes shot open.

How long was I out? Okay, Lieutenant, gotta get it together.

The muted light in the light blue room made it easy on her eyes, but they still watered. A soft tone sounded, and she could hear seals release.

Time to rise and get them wobblin' legs underneath ya. Helgas Moon, they're like a newborn foal's. Don't have ta worry 'bout the air. Can't see why the air in here won't match what's on the other side of the elevator door.

Awkwardly and unsteadily she rose, using the wall for support.

Harry, if I have to defend myself…I'm going to be a real disappointment if someone's looking for a challenge. Hmm. Where is the door opening?

A whiff of air from behind her caused her to turn around on her rubbery legs.

Yer instincts are not workin' this shift, m'dearie.

Both sides look like a door, Harry. Helgas Moon, but I would love to have some meds about now. If I must kick some knees out, it would be nice to be able to lift my own. She laughed softly to herself. Right. As if that's all I need to find the strength.

Without stepping out, she studied the room, holding onto both sides of the doorframe. It appeared to be a small waiting room with two corridors leading from the elevator. There were temptingly comfortable looking couches and tables between each exit. Art covered the walls. What thrilled her eyes was the sculpture in the center of the room. It was a dramatic life size portrayal of a pair of intense Polo players riding their excited mounts towards an imaginary goal post with one trying to steal the puck.

Looking back inside the elevator, she studied the wall where she had thought the elevator door would have opened.

That could well be another door into another part of this underground city. But, might as well go where I'm wanted, huh, Harry?

If yer a guest, it would be the thing ta do. No sense in finding things yer not prepared to handle.

Ah, like the tale of Black Beard's Wives, huh Harry? Using the key he provided his most recent wife; she could not resist looking into the only room she was asked not to look into…and there were the bodies of his previous wives…You know, each time I hear it, I get a different meaning. Oh, gawds, Harry! I'm really losing it. Next I'm gonna start thinking about Messia and the three Cronies…or was it the three bears? It seems it's been a lifetime since I've heard your stories, Harry. Her thoughts trailed off as she realized she needed to get refocused. Taking a few breaths, she focused on her breathing ignoring whatever else was inside and outside of her.

What if you're being led into a trap or some kind of danger…she snorted to herself. Anyone on Spinner's Tale being a threat to her was laughable.

Unless they have weapons.

Remembering her own she patted it reassuringly. She was too exhausted to pull it out and carry it…but that was really looking for trouble. She shook her head. She did not want trouble.

I think you're over reacting, lieutenant. They didn't drop anywhere near where you did. You would have seen them or traces of them…like shadows on the horizon or tracks in the sand. Come-on. Let's focus on…finding a place to rest and a moment or two to gather some strength. Gawds! I haven't felt this awful in a long time.

Cautiously, she put one foot out to get a better look around the room. The light in the small room brightened, with one corridor coming alight. The scent in the air became stronger. She released her grip on the doorframe, stepping completely out of the elevator with the doors swishing closed behind her.

Well, the one well-lit hallway looks inviting.

It seems ta be a clear invitation. If ya should decide to explore the darker side, I presume that I don't need to point out to ya, that yer not exactly working on a full set of thrusters if n'ya run inta trouble.

Don't worry, Harry. I'm not even tempted to explore for anything more than a place to rest. If I don't sit down soon, I'll be laid out flat like a lumpy carpet. Right now, that water fountain looks very good.

Now that she had a better view of the room, like most waiting rooms, the water refresher was tucked in a corner. She wondered if it would work. Her throat was parched. She leaned against the wall and pushed the small activate button. The green light came on and a stream of water arched into the bowl. She sniffed it and did not find anything that would tell her it was not safe. Her thirst got the better of her and she sipped then gulped her fill.

"Harry, this stuff tastes like lemon water," she muttered as she stood up wiping the back of her hand against her lips. "Well, I guess I'll just follow the light." She snorted at her joke. The lights in the corridor revealed ten strides of a carpeted hallway in front of her. Along the long hallway, pictures, paintings and sculptures decorated the wall space, giving Harriet the sense she was in a private art gallery, and that they were still well cared for. She could not see a spec of dust anywhere. The contrast between what she had been staring at for the last three months and this was like comparing a wasteland and a jungle…which meant there was still danger, just of a different type.

It took her a long ten stan minutes before the lights stopped in front of one of the rooms and the door slid open with barely a sound when she was five strides from it.

Well, Harry, this is my stop and a good thing too. First chair I see, I'll be collapsing in it.

However, not wanting to commit herself until she had a good look at the interior, Harriet leaned over the threshold, hanging on the doorsill. The lights came up and revealed a cozy seating area in the center of the room.

Wow. Nice. Roomy. I wonder who quarters here…or did.

It did not feel like someone had occupied the area for a long time. She sniffed the air. Fragments of childhood tales of spending the night in strange places had her nervously looking around the room for monitors. Hastily she pulled out her HR and scanned the room. There were no active monitoring devices…that the HR could detect. She sniffed the air again.

Scented. But not canned, stale or something someone would wear on their body…or, no one that I know.

A long couch with throw pillows, two matching armchairs, and a low table between the chairs made up the sitting area. The promise of rest outvoted her cautious side and she stepped further into the room. The door swished closed behind her. Slowly, she turned around and admired the taste of the owner. More art graced the walls and sat on stands.

"Wow," she shook her head ruefully. Look at all this space, Harry. A private library, sitting room, communications area and…a small kitchen…with a bot! After three months of living in a closet with myself as maid…this is looking nice!

A bot about her height came active at her entrance. Warily, she watched its slow progress towards her. If it was more than a service bot she was in no condition to do anything more than surrender…though she was ready for that now.

"I am Bach. Would you care for some tea and a light snack before your bath?"

Harriet's weak knees barely held her up as she stifled her laughter. "I'll take some tea…." Her stomach queued her at that moment, "and cookies or crackers," she added, feeling reckless.

Keeping the bot in sight, she peeked into the adjoining room. The bed started to move out of its wall storage area as soon as she stepped over an invisible line, and quietly settled over the carpet, leaving plenty of space around it. The carpeting was the second thing she noticed. The color was off-white and looked thick and soft. If she should collapse, it would be a good place to land. Stepping to the bedroom's control panel, she checked out what options were available.

Look at this, Harry. Besides the usual adjustable bed size, it has mood settings. Oh, joy, it even gives time periods. You can also choose the season and on which planet. I guess whoever lived here didn't get much chance to travel off-planet. After my brief experience topside, I wouldn't want to go strolling on the surface even if I got the 'screamies' from being down here too long.

A small ankle high bot moved out of its wall station and cleaned the trail of dust she was leaving. Guiltily, Harriet looked behind her noticing the tracks of glittery dust from the outside followed right up to her dusty boots.

"This is not the type of carpet one should wear footwear with," she muttered. "Chair," Harriet ordered. The expected chair materialized from the wall next to the bed. Gratefully she sank down with the chair forming a comfortable bench allowing her the maneuverability to remove the AEG while sitting. The small bot moved forward to assist, helping to pull off her dusty boots, and removing her AEG.

"It doesn't work, so if you got something that works better, I'll swap with ya," she joked. She tossed the gloves onto the pile the bot held, which then rolled to the wall where a door opened, dumped the clothing and then rolled back into its compartment.

She wiggled her bared toes in delight against the softness of the carpet. Grinning, she pulled the small console on the chair closer to her and studied the dials. They were the same selection as on the wall panel.

"Hm. This is the closet." With that discovered, she pressed the closet button and the large double doors folded back revealing an empty closet with plenty of drawers, a full sized mirror, and an automated butler. Once the doors were completely open, the butler came out and the chair, unbidden, moved so that she faced the butler. Both she and the bot studied each other.

"Nothing to unpack," she replied holding out her arms. After a few moments, the bot returned to the empty closet and the doors closed. She returned her attention to the buttons and pressed the icon for bathing room.

"Your tea and crackers, Lt. Montran." The genderless voice of the bot startled her. Just as quickly as her thoughts focused on the voice, the chair turned, causing her to grab the arm rests that appeared so as not to be unseated. Suspiciously, she glared at the bot.

"How did you know my name?" Her voice faded as her eyes were drawn to the tea and crackers. Her mouth watered.

"It is on your uniform."

"Oh, right." If it were possible to be embarrassed by a bot, she would have been, but her attention was on the refreshments. Taking the tea and crackers from Bach, her face creased into a smile at the familiar name of Estabol stamped across the cracker face.

Sweet outside and tangy on the inside...highly nutritious. Hm… What a life! Harry, maybe I will be trying those dials for mood settings. Do you think it comes equipped with a metradame companion?

If that's what ya be needin', ma dearie. Couldn't hurt ta be testin' it out. But, ah wouldn't be tryin' their wine menu. Never heard of any wines from this place.

I'll keep that in mind when I order dinner, Harry. Nothing with squeezed berries, just fresh water and companionship with someone that knows how to carry on a nice conversation, give a good back rub, and then we'll just see where it leads. Just like any other stop-over for a weary soldier, huh Harry?

Abruptly she turned to see from where the earthy and fragrant smell of blossoms were coming. Her teacup wobbled on it's saucer, doing as it was designed and preventing the slopped over liquid from sloshing onto the drinker's lap as her eyes tracked to a doorway that had opened up to what looked like a tropical forest.

"Bloody moon!" She jumped up from her comfortable seat. What is this place? She gulped some more tea and hurriedly handed the cup to the patiently waiting Bach, while still chewing her cracker. Feeling more energized, she walked about the bed and peered around one corner of the doorway.

Handy to know where the necessities are. Well, Harry, most wilderness areas I visited didn't come equipped with a shower, flush toilet and something to clean up with. If this is a dial-a-mood, this is the best I've ever seen. Nope. These plants look like they have been here a while. She gently rubbed between her thumb and forefinger, a damp leaf to a vine near the entrance. For a moment, she believed she felt the life force from the plant, and then quickly discarded the feeling as imaginative and not realistic.

A long two-sink counter separated the shower area from a trellis that supported scented flowers only giving the viewer a hint of what was on the other side. Harriet slowly walked towards the trellis looking around her for anything that may look like wildlife. The plants did not appear to be carnivorous or poisonous, but she was not a botanist. On the other side of the trellis was a large tub.

"Goddess! It's big enough to have a bathing party!" Sharon would like this.

A small bot hovered expectantly in front of her. "My name is Ald. Would you care for me to draw your bath now, Lt. Montran?"

Harriet stared at it with an open mouth.

Ooh. Harry, this is plush. I haven't had this much service since I left home.

"Please do, Ald," she replied delightedly. I take back anything derogatory I had thought or said about the planet's Auto-R system. Harriet gave an inward sigh. However, if this is what a supposed deserted station has for people stranded here…there's going to be many crash landings on this side of…Harry, this must be the Mound of E. Maybe I'm unconscious…dreaming. Well, let the dream continue. It's the best I've had in the last few years, come to think of it.

"This is Elesa balm and oil. Very good and soothing for tired muscles, headaches and frayed nerves," Ald explained as it poured some into the water. Ald's diagnosis of her bios was what the better quality bathing room attendant bots offered in the way of services. The aroma that filled the air when the oil hit the warm water was fragrant and did ease her headache after a few breaths.

Looking around the bathing room, she noted a door up a few steps on the other side of the lattice that surrounded the tub.

Another room?

She stepped up to the door to test its sensors but nothing happened. Walking back to the shower, Harriet stripped down, tossing her uniform and other articles of clothing into a pile, which was quickly picked up by Ald.

Phew! Oh, joy! These clothes are ripe! Oh, oh - and so am I. If anyone gets a whiff of me they would be giving me plenty of room and a free bath. Maybe that was why the bot offered to run me a bath.

She stored her sidearm in the small niche in the showers wall, probably there for something related to cleansing and not for a weapon, but it was not like she had something on her body to attach it to right now, nor would she want to. Sometimes, one just had to make do when in unfamiliar territory. She did not want to get too relaxed so her sidearm would stay within reaching distance.

Freshly scrubbed clean, she padded over the warm cobble-stoned floor to the large steaming tub. Kneeling at the edge, cautiously she sniffed; alert for any caustic elements that may have her skin peeling from the bone, then risked dipping a finger in the rising swirling waters to test the temperature. Satisfied the water was not anything more than what it appeared, she stepped into the bath and slid down so the water was up to her neck, holding her breath for a moment as the heat went from hot to warm. Closing her eyes, she let out an audible sigh.

This is verrrry nice.

Idly, Harriet caressed the surface of the rising water.

Is this why Spinner's Tale is using this place as a stopover? Hm? No. It would be too difficult a secret for anyone to keep…however; it would explain one of the reasons why the crew is kept isolated. No. No. There are too many ships passing this place. It's near a major jump gate. They would note that Spinner's Tale was making stopovers here and would come for a look-see. It would be too tempting for one ship not to muscle in on another's good providence. It has to be something else…like smuggling.

She sighed.

That would mean I have to change my opinion of them and maybe they aren't so bungling and inept. Darn. Darn. I just hate changing my opinions. It means all those nice neat categories I set up have to be redone. It's worse than spring-cleaning at Amouish.

Now, now, m'dearie. Yer ruin' the mood.

Harriet touched the back of her ear.

No humming or buzzing. So, which came first, the headaches or the humming? Well, both are diminishing, so that is good.

That was a big relief. She ran her fingers through her damp hair then massaged her temples.

"Would you care for a back massage, Lt. Montran?" Ald asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"Please, and thank you." She rose to her feet and leaned forward. The sound waves from the bot started at the small of her back, gradually moving up. It was wonderful!

"Ohhh. Yes…that really is sore." The pressure shifted and she heard a small pop. She sighed at the immediate relief. For now on, she was not going to accept service on any ship that did not have a bot that gave massages…or even a person…that would be much nicer.

"Ald, are there other sentient beings here…guests or visitors?"

"Here in this compound you are the only resident," Ald replied.

"There are other compounds?" Alertly, she turned in the water to face the bot. So!

"Yes."

"Where are they located?"

"I have no information on them. The information you wish may be accessed from the computer in the frontroom."

That's just what I'll do…

M'dearie, after a nap! Yer brain isn't exactly as sharp as an Amorialian blade. Besides, ya need ta take advantage of this hospitality while ya got the chance. No tellin' what yer gonna run up against in another day.

Right, right. She leaned back and closed her eyes, forcing her body and mind to relax. A small beep had her looking about her suddenly, disorientated but for a moment. She glanced at her hands and they were puckered as if she had been in longer than 30 stan minutes.

Eee gads.

Standing up, she grabbed the rim and hoisted herself out of the tub. Decidedly relaxed, she dried herself quickly with the towel Ald provided and headed back to the bedroom.

The bed covers had been pulled back on the left side for her to slide in, with sleepwear lying at the foot of the bed, consisting of shorts and a brief top. Nothing to get tangled in during a restless night of sleep and enough to give the appearance of being modest, should she get a visitor.

Oh, right! And how did they know I sleep on the left side? Coincidence?

However, all she really cared about was crawling into a very inviting bed and sleeping. Three months of light sleeping had finally ended.

***

Chapter 2

"Hey, Cadet! Wait up!"

Cadet Montran cringed inwardly as she struggled to keep a polite smile on her face. She stopped and turned to face the civilian clad figure of a man she detested.

"Alan. I thought diplomatic classes were on a semester break…" and you would have been long gone by now for your vacation. I will try to be cordial…for just a few moments, so you had better make this interruption quick!

"I have some business to finish up." Even in the dark his eyes were disturbing; however, they rested on her briefly and then glanced around them as if looking for something.

This does not feel right.

"So…where have you been? I checked your quarters and you weren't there." He merely glanced back at her and then again looked around them, as if a mere casual inspection.

Cadet Montran held her first reply of indignation back. "Now that you have found me, what is it?" Who let him in the women's quarters? Or for that matter on Academy grounds?

"The problem with you, DeMonte, is you're too impatient."

DeMonte? Is that a slip of the tongue or was it deliberate? "Just tell me what you want to see me about, so I can continue my quiet walk back to the barracks - alone," she returned, hoping her voice did not give away her apprehensive feelings. So far, in this brief meet he had pushed most of her buttons, in addition to making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. If he were not from the same culture as she, she would have been critical of his teachings in the diplomat corps, because he was breaking a handful of social rules regarding this meeting and interchange. Single men did not start a conversation with single women without a coteage present to make sure social discretions were adhered to. It did not matter that she was an adult and had traveled to many different planets, alone, or that she was an officer in training.

"I want to see you." Even in the dark, she could see his smirk. Her internal alarm moved to a more intense level. She had never experienced fear for her life this strongly before, and so far there was no physical sign why she should, giving her all the more reason why she needed to end this meeting quickly.

"Come on over to my place for some socializing, a drink and a bit of talk...family politics."

It dawned on her that he was deliberately insulting her.

"No!" she blurted that out in surprise and then annoyed that he should chose this time to bother her…and why her?

"What - am I not good enough for you?" His voice was low and held a tone of menace…and he seemed to be drawing something else to himself like…a malevolent dark cloud.

"I'm not interested, Alan. Period. End of conversation. Now let me by!"

Alan remained blocking her path, his hands resting on his hips, as if to prevent her from brushing by him.

Suddenly she realized what he was trying to do. Fear! He wants me to be frightened. Why?

Harriet Montran felt the dark mist he was drawing towards him descend around her as if to suffocate her. It was something she had never experienced before and it had her off-balance. Her confusion delayed her from taking physical action, but the intensity of the feeling, that her life was in danger, sent her thoughts flying in all directions.

"Get out of my way, Alan." She did not recognize it as her voice. It was coming from so far away.

Suddenly she was aware of heat radiating from the center of her forehead. A link shot out to her Dancer…a soul…a warrior's soul…a woman with so much passion it burned her very essence to touch her. Why did the Dancer choose to bond with her?

Images of the tall athletically built woman dancing under the moonless night came back to her in an unreal replay of what she had once witnessed. The dancing woman's eyes had been so dark and expressive. They had only once seen each other in the light. It was in the bar…over the heads of a crowd…and then she was gone.

Harriet Montran's sleeping mind struggled to make sense of the overlap of memories.

Alan! Her thoughts quickly flashed back to the scene with Alan.

Don't panic, Cadet. You can get by him. Wait! He's not alone! Where did they come from?

The other men, all bigger than her, were on either side of her blocking off any escape, should she find her feet and flee. Distracted she did not see Alan's fist as it hit her in the face. His movement was so quick and without warning, she was unprepared to defend herself. As she fell, her limbs were immobilized by a stunner's charge. Unable to defend herself, her face was slammed onto the hard ground. Partially conscious, more than one set of hands pulled at her and dragged her somewhere. She remembered no more of the attack…or of her rescue.

***

*

Harriet Montran woke briefly in a sweat and trembling. The same nightmare! Why did it keep reoccurring? What was done was done. Let it go, Montran! Mumbling something more that was unintelligible, she rolled to her other side, and quickly dropped into another dream.

She was at a toyshop with Sharon reading a brochure on metradames. Harriet had noticed at the bottom was the name of her insurance company as one of the producers of the metradame model she was looking at. She pointed this out to her lover, curious why her insurance company would be involved with metrapeople. An angry Sharon told her that not all metradames were for sale.

Now what did that mean? And what has a life insurance company to do with metradames?

Harriet woke up suddenly with a familiar cramping in her stomach. Tiredly she glanced at her timepiece. She had slept only four hours. She lay back down and closed her eyes, dropping into sleep.

Chapter 3

Chief Decker of the freighter Spinner's Tale shifted his bulky shoulders in the AEG that ill fit his overweight shape. He stood, feet planted squarely to hold his balance in the heavy atmosphere outside of the entrance to the underground city. He was incensed and did not bother to hide it. His expletives used up air in his suit, which was fine for him because it meant he could go in for a fresh air tank sooner…and maybe just not return for a while to this post. The two 'rabbits' could relay the necessary information without his presence.

A bleep that only the chief heard followed quickly with the loud voice of Captain Largo of the Spinner's Tale.

"Decker! Did they find the body yet? Where are the hourly status reports! You've been at it for seven stan hours with no updates!"

"Captain Miller has given no updates," he replied defensively, and then added, "sir." His tone was just short of being insolent.

"Get one now or you're going to be out there for another day! Out!" The disconnect with the ship above hurt his ears.

"Frinkin' officer," the chief muttered, "getting in a panic about a little problem. I told him her tank hasn't enough air for over a stan hour and it's already been eight stans." He did not bother to turn to his two companions, whom most of the time he felt contemptuous of. They could not hear what he was saying so he felt free to speak his mind. If the crew knew he was handing the ex-Spartan captain over to the smugglers for metralab destination, he would be risking a freeze out by them. However, they would get over it after a few weeks of extra duty. The chief glanced at his timepiece. Five stan minutes ago he had attempted to raise Captain Miller and he only got dead air in return. Decker tried the five team-leaders of the search parties and they too ignored him. Obviously, the captain did not care about updating Captain Largo, who would then relay it to Alan Fermin, who Decker guessed was heating up his feet for news. Captain Miller's curt message eight stan hours ago was that he would let Lord Chaney know if he found anything. Lord Chaney and the smuggler chief also did not seem to be concerned. Decker had approached Lord Chaney's soldiers earlier, but they ignored him. Everyone on the outpost had their attention on preparing for the auction of their latest collection of specimens. He returned his thoughts to figuring out a more important problem…how to get back into the city and out of this miserable environment he could barely move around in without causing himself to get into trouble with the Spartans …who all happened to be out looking for the 'be-dammed' exSpartan's body, and therefore angry at him, as if it was his fault.

"Damn Montran and her clan. Where in the bloody moon did she drop to?" he muttered. "I hope she was blown in one of those cursed wind storms right off the face of this cursed planet." Nervously, the chief looked around him, worried that the lieutenant may be nearby, waiting to take each one of them out. She used to be a captain of a recon group and they were reputed to be good at being dropped behind enemy lines and killing lonely sentries. 'Once a Spartan, always a Spartan', a small voice taunted him.

Startled he looked towards his companions, wondering if they heard what he heard. However, they did not appear interested in what he was muttering to himself about. They were looking at their equipment, monitoring for messages. It was because of their substandard AEGs that they were not out in the desert scouring for Lt. Montran whose suit was just as ill equipped to handle this harsh environment.

He switched his mic on. "Let's go inside," he decided suddenly. "We need to get the place ready for the broadcast. With this crappy equipment we're lucky we aren't flat out dead in that bloody desert."

As the outside hatch swung shut and locked, clangon alarms sounded in their helmet communicators and in the small room. They could do nothing until the chamber filled with breathable air. The chief's anxiety level rose as he felt trapped in the small area, crowded with two too many people and alarms sounding. His suit kicked in as it tried to keep his bios at a safe level. Before the suit blinked red, the all-clear light came on, and the inside hatch unlocked. Decker quickly stepped into the city's corridor, unnecessarily pushing past the two men. He recessed his helmet into the suit collar when the air read safe, taking deep breaths to quiet his rapidly beating heart. He ignored the panicky voices that flooded the suits' com link. He feared Lt. Montran had been spotted and he had his side arm out, ready to fire at the first sign of any one with orange hair. He ignored the tremors in his hand as he looked around the area nervously.

"Shut up, all of you!" he barked into his mouthpiece. "What in bloody moon is going on?" he finally asked. "And turn off the bloody alarms!"

"We…we don't know, chief," a hesitant voice spoke. "It…it may be one of the room's got gassed…or something," the voice faded out and the clangons stopped.

"Where in the bloody moon is Nixon? I left him at the console!"

"We can't find him, chief," the voice admitted.

"Well, where did you last see him, Fletch?" Decker asked sarcastically.

"Master Alha Bahna ordered us to help prepare the cargo in Alpha Sea for the auction," C-man Fletch reported.

"Since when do you take orders from a smuggler? You work for Fermin, you dung patty! Who took his place at the console?" he demanded heatedly.

"No one, chief. We were all ordered to get the merchandise ready. Everyone else is out on that search for the lieutenant, and…" Fletch's voice trailed off.

"Damn her body to the sin trade! Trouble even in death!" he shouted angrily. He turned to the two men that waited nearby looking at each other nervously. "Well what the bloody moon are you two waiting for? Do I got to do everything myself?" Without waiting for a reply, his booted feet made clomping noises as he stomped up the corridor towards the room Nixon was supposed to be checking out.

The two men trailed, making as much noise. Decker stopped in front of the room. The door was not opening when he pressed the controls. Both men were not happy to see him attempting to open the door when the indicator light was amber instead of green.

"Damn! Who's got a HR?"

Neither of the crewmembers said anything. Like Decker, they left their heavy utility belts in the command room.

"Sams!" he barked over his shoulder. "Get your butt over to the CC and get one!"

Minutes had passed and the amber light flickered to a bright red.

"Blast!" His gloved fist slammed against the panel. It was the wrong thing to have done he realized almost immediately. The door beeped and the seal hissed open. Frantically, he and Edison struggled to get their faceplates back into place before the door opened a crack. The falling man's body slumped against the back of Decker's legs, knocking him forward a few steps. He got his two gloved hands out in front of him.

Bloody hell! Decker's heart was racing wildly at how close he was to his own death. I got myself my own story to tell!

Of course, it would be embellished …and there would be no one to refute his version. He held onto the doorsill to give himself something firm to hold onto until he was sure his voice and nerves were steady.

"All hands, now hear this! We have a broken seal to the main passageway. Secure all hatches! I'm going to have a look inside," his voice deepened with self-import. This was going to be his moment.

Master Alha Bahna's voice boomed in his ears, "What the tritons dung is going on there? Where's the cargo I ordered to be…?"

Angrily the chief shut his communicator off. No one was going to steal his moment. Taking a deep breath, he held it momentarily, wondering what he was going to do now. Uncertain, he peered through the crack in the door trying to see if there was anything in the darkness. Taking a deep breath, he firmed his resolve to face whatever may be on the other side of the door, and then he gave a push on the lever to manually open the door.

No response.

He took a step back as if to leave, relief giving him a rush of energy; but, suddenly, with a sickening high-pitched whine, the door opened further…enough for him to fit through. There before him was an inky blackness with the light from the hall going no further than the length of his boot. He had to do this. He was committed. The smugglers and Spartans would know if he did not do what he said he was going to do. He forced one foot to step into the room. He had to do this, he said to himself. He dragged his leadened leg beside the first one. He had to do this, he again said. He was now completely out of the light. Thankfully, a part of him detached. He had to do this; again, his silent mantra from a self, watching far enough away from the AEG figure that there would be no danger of being hurt. He dispassionately watched as a physical body that he did not even identify as himself, stood frozen in the darkness. Then suddenly, he was back in his body, betrayed by some unknown curse that he had, to witness his own fear, intimately. He not only could see blackness before him and to the sides, but worst of all he could feel it crowding him and pushing against him!

What if I bump into something? There is no telling what is in this room. They might be out of their cages and…something is in here!

He quickly took two steps back into the corridor, bumping past the partially opened hatch in his haste. As he stood there shaking, he realized that if he had moved further into the room and the hatch closed behind him, he would have been in complete darkness with whatever else was in there. He pressed his back against the wall desperate for something solid to connect to. The AEG made small sounds as it worked hard to keep up with his run-away bios and the faceplate fogged up, giving him no view of what was outside. Jerkily, he somehow managed to get up the hall to safety, using the wall to guide him. Salvation was before him: the command room. The gripping around his chest eased. It took him a few moments to register that the hatch was not opening.

By the bitch's blood moon! The damn hatch isn't going to open until the firkin' contaminating room is sealed off!

He could only see the inside of his faceplate covered with condensation from his rapid breathing and that only increased his heart rate and panic. He flattened himself against the wall as the flashbacks started. Once again, as his almost nightly dreams recounted it, he stood in front of the tall dark haired, lean muscled Black Rose Spartan, ready to stun her into submission when the room went dark. Just as he had staged it. However, the face before him was not that of a frightened woman, but of one that was laughing at him! She said she knew of his plan, and she found him incredibly stupid and a pitiful example of his species. But he had the upper hand…he had the weapons and he had the goggles to see in the dark! He was the smart one! However, once the treacherous darkness engulfed them, he felt the agonizing pain of each strike her hands and feet delivered to him before he could reach his goggles and weapons, his salvation was the lights that came back on. Bile rose in his throat and then rage filled his thoughts.

Black Rose bitch! He screamed silently at the cocky grin his nightmares kept replaying, and now, even his waking hours were being taken over with her face.

"Captain Miller here, Decker. What did you find?" The cool voice broke through his darkness replacing it with a different type of fear.

"No...light…to...see…anything," he said, struggling unsuccessfully to keep fear out of his voice. This was Captain Miller's undisputed territory. The Black Rose captain did not take carelessness lightly, especially when a life was lost. If the captain knew, he was responsible for unsealing the door to the contaminated room he would find himself abandoned surface side, and his last moments of life on his back looking through a visor crusted over with the shimmering dirt that he had been introduced to on his first transportation down onto the surface. As memories of his humiliation on his arrival overlapped his fear of abandonment, his knees shook so hard he began to slide down the wall.

"We've sealed the room from the other side of the maintenance panels," the voice went on. "The corridor should be breathable in about twenty minutes. How's your air?" he asked in a mild voice.

The chief bumped to the floor, jarring him to alertness. He lifted his arm quickly to look at his gauges. He could not read out of the fogged faceplate.

The captain did not wait for an answer, but continued. "As soon as we get the corridor secured, we'll send a team to you. Out."

The captain could have sent a team over to him with a fresh tank. Well, he knew how to slow his system down to reduce his need for air, so that meant he had the upper hand still.

When the hatch finally opened, Captain Miller, accompanied by a small group from security, found him lying on his back. By his gauges, he was still alive.

"Get him back to Spinner's sick bay, Sarg. Cpl. Anders, help him out. Lance, Cpl. Drewer, call the teams in. We have some damage control to do before the auction."

"Yes, Sir. Sir, Commander Martinez is on his way down for a conference with Lord Chaney."

"Thanks for the information, soldier." Captain Miller nodded and walked back into the Com-C to look over the control room one last time. A smug smile formed on the captain's lips. The way things were developing; they were fitting nicely into his plans.

***

Chapter 4

The cold stiff breeze from the direction of the tall mountain spires blanketed under snow sent Alexandra's long orange tresses that were not weighted with beads and ribbons, into her face as she turned her head to listen to the faint sounds of chanting. With practiced skill, she caught the wayward strands of hair with one hand while holding her position on the rock with the other. Again changing her position, ignoring the long bright orange tendrils that stretched out before her, she strained to find the origin of the chanting that grew louder. Her grandfather sat next to her.

"M'dearie, now pay attention. This is very important," he admonished her.

But Alexandra continued to look for the source of the chanting.

"Alright then, Alexandra," he nodded at his distracted granddaughter, "listen to the music, but focus on the sound in here, m'dearie," a finger touched her below her navel, at her dan tien. An ice-cold energy vibrated through her and up her spine, and then shot out through her head. It took her breath away as a clear vision of what was around her suffused every cell in her body and all things in and around her. She was…alive and…more than just…herself.

"Breathe deep, m'dearie. Ya need to breathe deep." His fingertip touched another point above her navel, her chest, her throat, and forehead and then rested his palm gently on her head. A painfully bright light flashed between her eyes, while a loud pop sounded in her ears. Beneath her, the earth moved and she lost her balance.

Harriet awoke instantly, throwing her arms out on both sides to stop the fall. The room light brightened as her bios changed from sleep to a highly awakened state. Disorientated, she lay with her arms splayed at her sides and body firmly pressed into the bed. The loud humming in her body receded to a tingling in her fingers and the bottoms of her feet. As awareness of surroundings penetrated through her sleep-fogged mind, she remembered she was on Merker's Outpost. Rising on one elbow, she glanced at her timepiece. A little over eight stan hours had passed. This was the longest she had slept in ages!

Slept! Helga's Moon! I'm on a strange planet…alone!…and I went to sleep! I'm lucky I didn't wake up to a weapon stuck up my nose.

M'dearie, give yerself a break. Ya hardly could pin one lid back while ya let the other droop, now could ya? Yer eye balls would have rolled back inside yer head.

True, Harry, I would not have been able to stay awake…but…"

M'dearie, why are ya second-guessing yerself? Don't ya think ya deserve some sleep in a nice comfortable bed? Would ya rather have slept on the couch?

A thin smile formed on her lips at that thought. Reluctantly, she let the self-recriminations go. Stretching, muscles absorbed the rush of blood, giving her a charge of energy. Lying still for a few moments, she let fragments of her dreams from the previous night turn over in her conscious mind. She sighed and closed her eyes.

What is the lesson this time?

Sometimes she could not make any sense of what she did remember. 'Patience, m'dearie,' her grandfather's voice had reassured her. 'Yer time is not yet.'

Time. I'm not so sure I want it to be my time, Harry. Portentous news like that can be likened to a siren's howl.

Ahh, yes, m'dearie. The question for the wary: is it a warnin' or a cry of what has already come about? There is no harm in yer wantin' ta know the full picture. No harm indeed.

Well, at least I'm off the Spinner's Tale.

Good riddance. That place was like havin' a flock of them carcass birds studin' ya. And with ya not getting' enough restful sleep…it did not do yer soul a bit of good, m'dearie.

And no remembered dreams, Harry. For me that's unusual. She sighed. However, with the likes of the ones from last night…maybe I was better off. Oh, yeah. Now I remember the type of dreams I started to have on the Ziggy. Wonder what set them off again? If they were of just one subject... Helgas Moon! I'm gonna have to talk to a shri. I don't want to go back to a counselor...too much work.

Dreams, m'dearie, are like a maze. A guide is handy if ya can find the right one. So, what's yer plan fer taday?

A maze? Like the labyrinth, huh, Harry? What sort of monster is at the center? Myself…that was the answer we were taught. I'm not so sure, Harry. I don't see myself wearing any horn between my eyes in this life. Euh? Yet...the characters in my dreamscape are supposed to represent different aspects of me. Gawds! I don't even want to go there. And that's about what a counselor is going to point out, Harry. Now a shri, they usually just give ya the short version of what needs to be done, and that's it. Either ya do it or not. No difference to them. Harry, I'm rattling on here like a brainless twit. Gotta get up and moving.

She rolled out of bed and glanced around her sleeping area for a place to begin her morning exercises. Looks like there's enough room to do some warm-ups and see just what three months of inactivity has done to my response time and stamina.

"Store the bed," she ordered aloud. As an after thought, "open the bathing room door." It would be nice to smell the healthy vegetation as she did her morning workout.

With the bed retracted into its wall space, she had plenty of space to move. Standing very still, she centered herself with her breathing. When ready she opened her eyes and started to move slowly into the first pose, greeting the spirit of T'ai. She was half way through the QiQuong breathing meditation when she felt another's presence…it wasn't something solid that she could put her finger on. Was it next to her? No, it was all around her. Sensing no danger, she accepted it's light touch. The consciousness had the feeling of…constant flux … chaos …and dimly she was aware that it monitored, maintained and… It was the consciousness of the planet! She chuckled to herself. She had not done this for a long time. Too long. Breathing in deep, she let her surprise settle into a passive observation, realizing that her own need to reconnect with her home planet may have triggered this connection. A species compellation that she had been ignoring for years.

The light touch left as Harriet moved her arms and legs into the next stance breathing in and out; focusing on her breath as it moved to her dan tien, then directed it out through the top of her head. She did this for a while then focused on it rising from her feet, to her dan tien, and then out through her head. Then she cleaned each charka, mentally picturing the spinning channels of energy and their colors.

The ending of her meditation, her prayer mantra, vibrated her sternum, and took a lot of will power not to rub it, because it tickled. For five breaths, she remained still, letting the peaceful feeling absorb her, something she had missed for more than three months. Slowly, she opened her eyes to the jungle that was the bathing room. Again, she breathed in the heavy smell of the moist dirt and the blooms that she remembered were hanging from a trellis and growing from dozens of pots hanging from the ceiling and lining the walls.

This is sooo, very nice, she chuckled to herself. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone sharing their bathing facilities with their arboretum, but I guess in limited space… Alright, lieutenant, you have got to get into gear.

For the next standard hour and a half, in a more rigorous workout that called for strikes, kicks and spins in the air, she tested her stamina, balance and flexibility, moving from one degree of kata to another. She was disappointed that before she got to the eighth degree, she was feeling breathless.

"Oh, joy!" she bent over panting. Three months and I've fallen behind. Commander Neilson will have me running with the new recruits.

However, she was happy at working out again…and happy about the space…and the bathing facilities and not having to be on Spinner's Tale.

She used the toilet faculties, took a quick shower and planned what she needed to do.

Okay, clothes and food. Then I will check this place out closer. I need to find out who runs this nice hotel and thank her, him, or them. Then…find out just what Spinner's Tale is doing here. It can't be legal. And Helgas Bloody Moon, I have got to contact my CO and let her know I'm not AWOL but that I've been…kidnapped, and then crash-landed on a deserted outpost, and don't know when I can get back. I bet she never heard of that excuse. And if she asks if I can bear up under the hardships of living on the deserted outpost until a ship arrives, do I tell her that my quarters are the equivalent of a luxury room in a seven bud rated hotel? Naww. Best to leave that part out. She chuckled aloud, grateful she did not have anyone to explain what she was mumbling about.

Ald handed her a towel as she stepped out of the shower.

Back in the bedroom, she pat herself dry while eyeing the apparel the butler held up for her.

"So, that's what all the sizing me up for was about, huh buddy? I sure hope you only did it for clothing and not for a tree-suit or any other unpleasant surprises that I might find confining."

She reached for the gray top and pants so sheer she thought they would tear if she did not handle them carefully.

"This is called a Second Skin and is to be worn while you are here on Merker's Outpost," the butler explained in a soothing genderless voice. "It will act as an emergency blanket until help arrives, should you encounter a breach without wearing an outer suit."

"How do you know this is going to work for me?" she asked suspiciously. "I just got here and you already have something…" she held up the pants gingerly, letting the light shine through it, "that is tailored for me? Some tailor."

"The faulty equipment you discarded was analyzed and your bios have been monitored and anatomized since your arrival. This is a bioengineered suit made for you. Breaches are a possibility; therefore all guests are issued a suit of their own until they depart the outpost."

Breaches are serious anywhere where the exterior environment is alien to one's own. I certainly agree with that precaution. Hmm. And they want it back. Souvenirs limited to tooth brushes and slippers…if they have any. What was this place before its closure? Gotta love this bot service!

M'dearie, if this place has guidelines that entail insurin' yer safety with a nice bit of whatever that is, best take it. No sense in fussin' over how or what it's made of.

Harry, you can say that because you are not putting this close to your skin.

Aie. This is not my version of an adventure.

Harriet chuckled at what her grandfather's version of an adventure would be. It would entail an excursion into an unexplored wine cellar or walks among vines heavy with grapes meant to be eventually bottled. Yeah, I can see me trying to walk down the vineyard trenches. I would probably slip on some rotten grapes and hurt my butt!

She thrust her foot into the second skin and wiggled her toes into the slots provided for them. It was amazing that the skin just bent around her toes as if it were liquid. When she had the skin on, her body picked up energy.

Wow!

The sounds and smells around her became pronounced.

"Second skin, huh?"

Regarding herself in the mirror, she was not pleased to see that her three months stay on the Spinner's Tale left her looking too slim for her normal active life. But then again, their menu was sadly lacking in her choice of palatable nourishment so she had eaten little. Damp orange hair curled around her face emphasizing her dark green eyes. She would not have known she was wearing the skin looking at herself in the mirror, aside from not seeing her bright orange pubic hairs.

"I sure hope it's not going to be a hassle when I have to relieve myself," she muttered to the waiting butler.

"Your biological waste is recycled by the suit, thus sustaining your energy without food supplements for a standard day; however, it is not advised to wear the suit uninterrupted for more than a standard week at a time. It is better that the body not rely too much on artificial means of regulating itself. Your species and gender experiences a monthly cycle of menstruating; when that time comes, the suit will absorb the discharge of old tissue and also recycle it into energy. At that time, you should be feeling more energtic than normal due to the excess of energy; however, it is recommended to not over-tax yourself. Remember to adhere to your species observances of this time."

Lt. Montran harrumphed, and then chuckled. "Women of my species that spend a lot of time in space don't ovulate much." Then she frowned. Her ability to have children had been taken from her a long time ago. She shook her head to rid herself of any images that may make an appearance, loosening a few tears as she did.

"It is strongly suggested when you travel about the city you wear this suit," the butler finished.

"City." So, I'm in a city. That means there is a lot more to this place than the hall I walked down. Duh, leutanant.

She took the dark green two-piece suit with boots that the butler held for her. The pant legs fit snuggly into the boots. The ankles were reinforced, the top of the boot was tough and the heel was hard enough to hurt someone if she kicked back. Nice boots, she thought smugly.

Her growling stomach told her that the second skin did not take care of everything. Checking her sidearm, she carried it with her into the kitchenette. A bowl of various recognizable fruits, a steaming smaller bowl of cereal, and a warm aromatic beverage waited for her.

Her stomach growled again. Beside the table, Bach produced a chair for her.

"Is the breakfast selection suitable?"

"Yes, quite. Thank you." She laid her weapon on the table within easy reach.

Now, how did they know what my eating preference is? Should I get nervous that someone may have a profile on me? While thinking about this, she mechanically cut up some of the soft fruit and added it to her cereal. She ate quickly, as was her habit, keeping her eyes moving around the area, searching for anything that would indicate she was being monitored, though without a HR, it would be difficult to really know. When she finished, Bach removed the empty dishes. Picking up her tea, Harriet decided to give a closer inspection of her quarters before she ventured out into the rest of the structure. From the bedroom she retrieved the HR and starting with the furthest corner of the room that was the private library, she started there.

Real books!

She pulled out one and turned the pages. She wondered what the thin material was that created the pages and how long its life span was. She felt the cover with sensitive fingers and even sniffed it. They reminded her of her uncle's library that contained information from all over the galaxy on tapes, discs, books, and in holographs. His books did not smell like this one. Nor did the pages feel as fragile. Sliding the book back onto the shelf, she perused the titles. A wide variety of subjects from authors with opposing views filled the shelves. The collection offered a compelling study for someone with a lot of time on her or his hands. She started to laugh to herself. What if she could not leave this place until she gave a summary of them all?

Pausing at the coffee table, she admired the detail. Beneath its see-through top, the base was a carving of a wilderness scene, surrounding a small village. There were small grass huts that blended in with the landscape, and a scene right out of a primitive village composed of seven different types of species, working and playing together. In reality, those seven species were contentious when in close proximity of each other. It had to do with their biological makeup.

Someone is really dreaming.

In one corner sat the detailed porcelain statue of Quan in her meditative state. With both palms open, one held what was termed the holy measures and the other empty, representing another dimension. She sat with her eyes lidded, sitting upon the holy flower of pa. The holy flower rode on ocean waves, surrounded by the twelve holy leaders in the time of Ges. It was unusual to see her depicted with her eyes partially opened. Her clothing was detailed in its exact portrayal of the ritual way each piece of clothing was worn, down to the knotted sash and the way it was tied.

Harriet's eyes moved to a painting on her right of a sunrise, with the rising sun setting the tops of trees and mountaintops ablaze with its light. Quickly she glanced around at the other art pieces. Even the animals in the art were depicting serenity. She sighed, thinking how nice it would be to have time to gaze at the works and enjoy them for their aesthetic qualities. However, she had work to do. She settled in front of the computer, lying the HR on the table. The device did not give off any readings that she was being monitored.

Hm… Let's see what information it's willing to impart.

The chair adjusted its shape to fit her form, and when the chair and her were comfortable, the viewing screen came on.

"Your request?" a neutral voice asked her. No hologram appeared beside her, which she noted by the icons that were on the screen, the option was turned off. Usually room coms were personalized to suit the resident.

"Show me the history of this workstations use." Nothing. Someone had cleaned the files. Okay. Something more to the point. Hm. Where do I start? "Where are there other life forms, such as myself?"

"In New Century City. Would you care to contact anyone there?"

"NO!" That would certainly ruin my stay here. But, I do need to find out more information about what they're up to and where exactly on this planet they are.

"Pinpoint their location in yellow and mine in green."

A planet appeared with hexagon shapes overlapping the globe, which quickly faded. Then on one side of the sphere, a yellow light flashed and then revolved around until a blinking green light appeared.

"Show me the entire planet and any other cities."

The screen continued to revolve slowly, giving her a view of the entire planet and the underground structures of cities.

"Show me what is habitational for my species."

New Century City appeared in three colors, green, red, and gray. Her location on the other side of the planet was in two colors, green and gray. The green portion in New Century City covered a larger area then where she was, enclosed in a thick red barrier and then the area beyond the red was in gray.

Hmmm. Green is livable, gray is not activated...and red is...what? Not negotiable?

She studied the other grayed out cities. One was just a ghost of an outline as if it had been erased.

"Give me an image of my location, with entrances and exits marked in red."

A three-dimensional image of where she was detached itself and became a hologram. For a few moments, she studied the levels noting that the three elevators from the surface had three possible access entries onto their decks except the seventh level. The seventh level had only one elevator giving her the impression it was a secured area. Looking back at the third level, which is where the red dot was pulsating, an entire corridor from the elevator was green, and the other corridor she noted on her arrival was closed off, and gray. Therefore, she either could exit back the way she had entered the underground city, or head over to Com-C. Any other place she wished to visit would require an AEG and hers was not functioning, to say nothing of it had not being returned. It limited her options.

I'm stuck here…unless I can get my hands on an AEG that's not faulty. Then where do I go? Lieutenant, I think it's time to check the place out and determine what options there are. And…don't forget to call home, soldier. Don't want them to think you're AWOL. Hmm. I'm sure they have communications somewhere around here.

For a few more moments, she studied the planet frowning over a puzzle. "I wonder how I got here?" she muttered more to herself than the computer, however it answered.

"The emergency system was activated."

Harriet blinked at the unexpected answer. If I activated the emergency system, why did I have to find the emergency hatch myself? Besides, I was referring to being dropped from one side of this planet to here. Let me start with basic questions. "How does the emergency system get activated?"

"When a life form that is within the influence of this planet is in danger, an alert is sent to Guardian. Guardian determines what action to take."

Ahhh. A name. "Who is Guardian?" Influence...just what parameters does 'influence' cover?

"Overseer of Merker's Outpost."

"What is his or her species and location?"

"Guardian is not a biological entity. Guardian's location is undetermined."

Ah. A supercomputer left to care for Merker's Outpost. Not unusual.

"What are the others doing in New Century City?"

"I do not have that type of information."

"Where could I get that 'type' of information?"

"In the Command Center. It is the last room at the end of the hall." A holographic image appeared of her walking to Com-C.

Harriet tapped her fingers on the console as she thought. I feel honored. I'm on the same floor as Com-C. This is easy…in fact too easy. If the computer is called Guardian, wouldn't it also have some form of security against unwanted occupation?

"Does Guardian protect the outpost from hostile or unauthorized occupation?

"Yes. For further questions on the security of this planet you will need to speak with Guardian, via communications in the Command Center."

She would indeed. She rose from her chair and took one last sweeping glance of her oh-so comfortable quarters. As she stepped out into the hall, the lights came on indicating the direction she was to go.

This is one new city where I don't have to worry about getting lost. I wonder what happens if I don't chose to follow the light? Another question for the computer.

As she walked briskly towards her destination, she glanced at the continued display of paintings and sculptures, and noted the amount of rooms she passed, all with no light indicator lit to identify it was inhabited. Taking in a deeper breath, she sought to detect the usual stuffy smell that an artificially maintained habitat usually had. Nothing. It smelt clean, which indicated that the air filters were maintained.

Either the life support systems for this place are incredible or they never turned this place down…or…I'm not the only bioform that breathes H2O in this section of the structure. So…does this mean Guardian keeps a pet. If I knew why I ended up here I'd know a little more than what I know now…which is absolutely nothing. What is Merker's Outpost these days? What did it usde to be? What could have caused this place to close completely, and so many cities, according to the global map? Maybe they were not completed cities. Maybe credits ran out to building up this planet and now… Now it could be rented out with all the amenities, but who would want to stay here? Someone running and needing to hide out? And who is taking care of the maintenance? So, maybe whoever is doing the maintenance needs supplies and the freighter is bringing them those supplies. Yeah, that could be it. New Century City looked well lived in…in one part of it anyway. Wonder what the red meant.

She was five strides from her destination when the doors slid open with a sibilant swish. The lights came up slowly revealing a typical Com-C room. She stopped just short of entering, peering around the room cautious and curious. It was circular. Two levels. Four sets of steps up to the second level. It was handy to have two designated as up and two down so that during shift changes or when there was a general alarm, it assisted in traffic control. Screens of various sizes covered all the available wall space. From the ground floor, Harriet could see through the transparent floor the same scattering of screens on the second level. All Com-Cs in both the Collective and Committee's territories were designed pretty much the same, for both civilians and military. In the center of the room was the Command Chair. All had a command chair that exuded an energy of its own, which the person that sat in it became part of. It was an interactive connection between computer, people attending the monitoring, and the person in the chair.

This chair doesn't feel like it's on.

However, the hairs on the back of her neck were pricking. No alarms going off in her head, but she did feel as if she was being watched.

You know, lieutenant, you could be imagining this feeling. But then again…this is a Com-C area and there are always security monitors…and this is where Guardian is supposed to be.

Walking around the dais, her eyes swept across the inactive consoles and blank screens. Like everywhere else, the place was clean of dust and smells of living biological occupation. Corners were inspected and closed doors tested. Warily she looked back at the Command Chair.

I haven't been in a Com-C since I was a cadet but I'm sure they have not changed much or someone would have said something in the rumor pipeline. That means I have to sit in that chair if I want to get the power on. Well, Harry, looks like I'm in for a new experience…one of those 'druther not' types.

With one foot on the dais, a light on the chair came on, causing her to pause before turning around and timidly sitting in the chair. The form of the chair slowly fit to her and then… a panicky feeling sent chills along her arms and a shiver up her spine. Other than experiencing her own trepidation, nothing further happened. She let out an exasperated breath of air.

"Now what?" she muttered irritably.

"You must sit back," a voice near her elbow, explained.

Lt. Montran leaped out of the chair and spun around in a low crouch to face another bot.

Bloody moon, what is that?

Before her was a bot stripped in brilliant colors with more appendages than she ever could image a bot would need. Her hand went automatically to where she normally had a sidearm. Nothing.

Helgas Bloody Moon! What a time to go slack! Where in hades did that bot come from? How could I have missed something that bright?

The bot before her did not look like a few hand chops or well placed kicks would put it out of commission much less knock it off balance.

"My name is Charles. I tend the Command Center and Guardian. To engage the chair and communicate with Guardian, you need to sit back with your head resting on the headrest. And relax. Guardian wishes to communicate with you."

"Yeah?" she muttered. "Why don't you just relay the message?"

The appendages gestured at the consoles, "My connection would not bring up the monitors you wish to view or give you access to the information you need."

Now, that is a sorry explanation! And how would a bot know what I need? The image of the bed being turned back on the left side, where she normally slept if she were in a large bed, and the breakfast selection she would normally choose, came to mind. She glanced up at the chair, then the monitors, and then back at the bot. With reservation, Harriet climbed back in the chair, keeping an eye on Charles. The moment her head rested on the back of the chair, the screens came up and then the chair moved to the left giving her a view of the first row.

Helgas Moon! This feels so weird…

Her awareness expanded to…it was difficult to explain since she had no comparisons…however her attention became focused on the scene the first monitor displayed. Soldiers and civilians moving around live cargo crates. Because the Spartans were about, she assumed it was an official bust. Her eyes hardened as her eyes slitted in disbelief at what she was seeing.

What's in those containers? It…they look like people. Those are! Since when have cages become the standard for detaining prisoners? Hadrie and his committee cronies would never allow something like that to become standard in law enforcement…they would have to change the whole Galaxy Charter and Commander Hailbrun would have heard of it…we would have all heard of it. Something is not right here! I knew if those idiots from Spinner's Tale were involved it would be illegal! Helgas Bloody Moon!

As her eyes moved, the chair moved, from screen to screen, giving her scenes out of people's lives.

I recognize a few from the freighter.

The Spartan uniforms had their troop affiliation patch on their shoulders. There was also a group dressed in military issued AEGs weighted down with full weapons belts. Unlike Spinner's Tales' equipment, these suits were the latest in technology, though looking well used. She guessed it was the atmosphere surface side. At the thought of looking closer at the group's arm patches, the picture zoomed in focusing on the arm of one of the soldiers.

What are they doing here? Lord Chaney's pets, the Black Rose! Are they still sponsored by him? What is going on? Is this a new Committee outpost? No, no. It was marked as privately owned. Does Lord Chaney own it? No. Committee members cannot own a planet. Is someone trying to take over this place? A part of her scolded her that she was being too cynical, but it was her cynical side that was doing it so she ignored it.

'They are trying,' a thought came to her.

That did not come from her. The timbre of sound and thought were way off what she was use to hearing in her head.

"Who are you?" she asked cautiously, though suspecting it was the main computer or Guardian.

'I am.'

"What's that?" she asked not quite understanding.

'I am who you think I am,' it reiterated.

"Guardian," she affirmed.

'Yes,' it confirmed.

"What are all these people doing here?"

Images flooded her mind, threatening to upset her stomach.

"I don't quite understand," she mumbled more to herself than the computer, as her thoughts attempted to keep up, sorting and categorizing what flashed by her.

"You mean everyone is here for different reasons?" she asked finally. She felt an affirmative.

How would the computer know what each person's desires are unless they are hooked up to it? What did everyone do, fill out a questionnaire before landing? Or maybe sleep on a wired pillow.

Suddenly she was alone. "Is there something wrong?" she asked guiltily. Maybe I'm being too insensitive to the computer; after all, it is an interactive system.

An image flashed of a communication line with two calls. A question was asked of her.

"Is any of this business legal?" she asked abruptly.

'No.'

"So, this is a thieves or smuggler's haven," she guessed. Images from the computer appeared as if a story was being shown her. Following an indeterminate amount of time, there came a pause.

She pondered what Guardian had played for her. "Okay. Whatever groups they belong to, they deal in stolen goods. So who owns Merker's Outpost?" she asked puzzled.

Before her an image of a young Copoc appeared. First dressed in a business outfit and then older looking with a lab coat on. The last image was of another person pointing a weapon at him. He collapsed to the floor with the perpetrator turning and running. The image that flashed back was of the younger version of the Copoc smiling at her.

Harriet's breath caught in her throat as her thoughts imagined the Copoc's brain being part of the computer. "You are Guardian!"

Harriet leaped out of the chair feeling her skin prickle with an irrational fear. The Computer or Guardian was a dead person! She had heard about experiments with the brains of some highly respected minds and some not so nice beings that had died. Commingling with someone, or something, without some sort of an idea of what she was touching - or that was touching her gave her more than shudders. There was another memory that was so far from her consciousness that only ominous pinpricks on her arms were proof that something more was bothering her about the computer connection. She stood staring at the chair at odds with herself.

What difference does it make hooked up to a computer or a person's brain?

A lot, her horrified self replied.

The screens were still on. Rather than get back into the chair, she stepped closer to the screens to try to distance herself from Guardian and to regain her composure.

Civilians were feeding the captives in the cages. In another room, a small group of soldiers and civilians were eating, sitting separate with more than space distancing them.

Spartans and smugglers. Goes against the grain of all the subliminal indoctrination a Spartan is subjected to. Unless they aren't smugglers. Am I jumping to conclusions? What do we have here? A lot of containers in some of these rooms. Contraband? The captives in the cages. Kidnapped for ransom? It's Guardian's interpretation of their business here…why would a computer lie or mislead? So if not smugglers…then bandits? Maybe the Spartans are getting ready for an uprising on one of the planets. No. Too many civilians. So…maybe they are smugglers.

Something nagged at the back of her mind but rather than struggle with it, she continued slowly moving along the row of screens, feeling uneasy at what she was witnessing. She needed to get word to her CO for suggestions. However, her boss was in Collective Space, this problem was in Committee Space, and she did not trust anyone in Committee Space to go to them about this discovery. Her present situation was a result in trusting Committee orders ...whom she had no allegiance to nor owed them nothing.

So why in Helgas Moon did you willingly leave the shuttle when they presented you with Committee orders? Because, it was unexpected, they did have sidearms, there were civilians around...and, geeze. Alright… It didn't occur to me to challenge it then. I was in shell shock. Everyone on the shuttle was in shock or angry. The stop interrupted their flight schedule, which meant they might miss their connecting flights.

Disheartened at how easy it was to waylay her, she returned her attention to the screens.

"Who's that?" she asked Charles who quietly remained at her side. She pointed to the screen where a shadowed figure moved with purpose. Something about the figure that looked familiar. She was hoping it was not a colleague from her Spartan days, because those were the only people she knew when she lived in Committee space.

"Maud on an assignment," Charles replied.

"Who is Maud?" Maud? I don't know any Maud. So why does she look familiar?

"Guardian's assistant."

"What is she doing?"

"Guardian can tell you but you must sit in the Command Chair to communicate with Guardian."

I don't think so. "What can you tell me about New Century City?" she asked Charles instead.

"I only know about this part of the city, and that information is limited."

"But you identified Maud," Harriet pointed out.

"She visits here often."

"Is she a bot, is she human, a besian, Guardian's rabbit…what is she? Harriet persisted.

"She is not quite like you," Charles stated carefully.

"What do you mean?" Harriet was getting impatient. She felt an urgent need to do something. Her adrenalin was pumping and her heart was pounding, as if she were getting ready to jump into action. Suspiciously, she slowed her breathing down, taking deeper breaths to center herself.

Hold on, lieutenant. Why this urgent need? Where is it coming from? Military training or influence from sitting in the chair…or just because I need to do something? There are no warning alarms in my head. So, no personal danger to me.

Deciding it was not a manipulated impulse she turned her attention back to the furtive figure that stepped out of the dark tunnel and was now in one of the well-lit city corridors, however she was wearing an interesting suit that covered her from head to foot.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," Lt. Montran realized Charles had continued to speak, "What did you say about Maud?"

"She is composed of the basic bios as you; however, she is different. What the difference is, I can't tell you."

Ahh, the infamous 'can't or won't' ploy. Just what does Maud, Guardian's assistant, do? Dust and keep house? she thought dourly. "Betcha Guardian knows," she muttered to herself.

Ya need ta get a grip on yerself, m'dearie. Whatever these bein's are, yer the stranger here. If ya gonna do somethin' yer gonna have ta decide just what it is yer gonna do, and that's gonna require gathering some information.

Right. Well, I know it isn't me going over there like a one-woman army. The odds of me arresting them are not even worth putting on an odds board.

She looked back at the chair. She needed to separate from her timorousness feelings about sitting in the chair. So what was it about the chair that was getting her so nervous?

There is no way I'm gonna let a dead person in my brain.

Yet…she was going to have to get over it if she wanted to know more of what was going on and how to contact her superiors. Turning back to the screens, she mentally composed herself as she watched the action.

"Helgas Bloody Moon!" Harriet slapped her forehead in exasperation. Rear Admiral JoCastas has the Tanjmi forces searching for a group of smugglers that escaped from a raid about two stan years ago. They were part of a group that dealt in the slave trade! I'm not privy to their progress, but...one of the many rumors in the pipeline was that some of them fled into Committee space. Would the admiral send the Tanjmi into Committee space to arrest them? If Lord Chaney is involved…oh, damn. The problem is, I don't know anything of what's going on in this sector…but, do I want to? Alright, first things first. I need to find out if I can get a message out and then I gotta let the admiral know about this place. Bloody moon, I hope I'm not listed as AWOL and then the com dopes hang my message up in bloody bureaucratic protocol escalations.

She shook her head at the last thought. She needed to think positive here, but not ignore the reality...like what if she needed to free the captives before help arrived. Should she free them? She still did not really know why they were in cages…and even if she felt this was not legal…she had to know for sure. This was not her territory to run a one woman military show…if she was crazy enough to attempt it. Her eyes refocused on the screens, this time looking at the rooms with a more critical eye, looking for weaknesses in security. Where would she move freed captives if she did free them? It would have to be a secure place…She could bring them back here.

Oh, right! This place is NOT a secure place. Besides, how would I transport them here…or me get there?

"Now, I wonder how Maud travels from there to here. Can't be too long of a journey," she muttered softly. "Bloody moon," she sighed heavily. "You got yourself in another stinky mess. It only happens when I'm in Committee's section of space!" she muttered aggravated.

Whether to get back into the chair or not, was not an option. Duty, either under the auspices of family, school, or military had been drilled into her throughout her life; so, she could not remain inactive when she suspected others were being victimized. However, she was not heroic and knew one person against over a hundred people, all trained to do harm to an enemy, was not a good match, especially if the she wanted to survive, and she was not suicidal. She needed an idea of what she could do and Guardian held the information she needed. She shook her head in dismay, reminding herself firmly that she did not know just what was going on here. How did she really know who was the real victim in the scenario being shown to her on the screens? She only witnessed Guardian's version. Her experience in law enforcement made her aware that there were as many versions to a story as there were witnesses and listeners.

The familiar aroma of steaming tea caught her attention, and she turned to the brightly decorated bot that held out a mug to her.

"Perhaps a cup of tea would help? Maud usually has one when she has things to think about," Charles suggested helpfully.

All right, so Maud is not a bot. And, she thinks for herself.

She accepted the tea and continued to study the screens, counting the number of personnel that wore uniforms and of those that wore uniforms how many different patches. Not enough of one group to make up a troop. She tried to remember how many regiments the Committee had. There used to be about twenty-two to a planet so, how many planets belonged to the Committee these days? She also wondered why so many different groups.

"I'll bet they're rogue Spartans," she muttered to herself. But the Black Rose? There are enough to make up a healthy squad. I've never heard of a rogue Black Rose. They pride themselves on being independent -- owned by no one, not even their sponsor Lord Chaney. So, maybe in seven years, a lot has changed. Lord Chaney. His name sure has been coming up a lot lately. Gotta make a decision here, Lieutenant. You need information and the computer has it. Helgas Moon, woman! Think about it. You talk to your dead grandfather! It can't be much weirder than listening to a dead Copoc in a computer. He certainly has more pull on this station than Harry.

Lt. Montran handed Charles the empty cup and stepped back onto the dais. She sat in the chair with her head firmly pressed against the headrest, and her fingers curled over the arms so tight her knuckles were white.

"Are you still upset with me?" a soft voice spoke to her.

"I...just find it uncomfortable to be inside someone else's thoughts." She did not add that that someone being dead had unpleasant associations, but it was foremost in her mind.

"I don't think that is all that is bothering you...but we shall move on. What is it you need?"

Harriet took a deep breath to collect her thoughts, taken aback by the change in the computer's approach. It had moved to using words rather than images, adjusting to something more within her comfort zone. He was asking her also, what she wanted… Well, since he asked…

"I would like to send word to Collective space, to Rear Admiral JoCastao on the flagship Ziggy, of my whereabouts, the reasons for my being here, and of this…business."

"What word would you like me to send that encompasses all of that information?"

Harriet let out a short laugh at the emphasis on 'word'. "The word is Multin and the message should be marked for her eyes only, from Lt. Harriet Montran of the flagship Ziggy."

"Ah. Multin…a code name to an operation in the Collective's sector. It had taken place two years and four standard months ago…the cause and effect of the smugglers unwanted company here."

"So…they are part of the same smugglers group," Lt. Montran spoke softly to herself and then louder to the computer, "You heard about it from the smugglers?"

"I heard about it through the grapevine and picked up a word here and there from the smugglers. Seems they have a dread of Tanjmi operators hunting them down in the Collective so they have taken to hiding in neutral space…here, between the two sectors."

"I had thought it was classified information," she stated warily, becoming suspicious again about a computer that seemed to know too much.

"Perhaps it is. I have access into many places and a label of 'classified' does not impress me much." Harriet could hear amusement in the voice.

"Did you hear if Spinner's Tale was involved?"

"Yes and no; they are not involved directly. Their flight schedule is limited to Committee space in the Zed sector. They are but minions without any real sense of their own creativity or purpose."

That is an interesting description - very fitting.

"The agents of this smugglers' group deal in commodities that can rise in price if taken off the market for a short time. They also supply private zoos with species that are considered intelligent, and procured from closed planets. They also provide selective individuals for the metralabs. Does that answer your next set of questions?"

"Uh, yeah." A brief uncomfortable thought of just what circumstance would have put the Copec in the computer had her nervous of just where he fit in all of this illegal activity.

"My company's sales manager thought he could sell my laboratory discoveries on the black market without my knowledge," Guardian supplied. "We had a falling out. The end result was he left Merker's Outpost with knowledge he thought he could sell and I was left without a functioning body."

"Ah. He killed you. Where is he now?"

"Dead."

"Oh."

"Old age." The Computer said this with compassion. "He had been a good friend to me and others in my cities. He had become unwittingly involved with a group of thugs through gambling debts, and," Harriet could see an image of the Copec shrug his shoulders and gesture with his hands at something, indicating it was beyond the handling of his friend. "When he left, he tried to hide from my agents. He thought they would kill him for what he had done to me. I do not kill, though I will not prevent others from doing that themselves in if it is for a good cause. My agents were to ensure he kept our research and discoveries to himself."

"So, this was a research facility," she repeated thoughtfully. The environment topside certainly curtails unwanted visitors. Does this tie in with the delivery of bodies for labs? "Just what kind of research did you do?"

"It is an ideal setting for research," he agreed with her unspoken thoughts. "The second skin you are wearing is one of the products from my laboratories."

"I haven't seen anything like it on the market."

"It was not my intent to put it on the market. I created it for my staff and their families to move topside and throughout the various cities without too much worry of a breech. It is composed of the wearer's own cells and a mixture of other biosforms from this planet. Forgive me if I don't share the secret. Our other research was in small things that when added to other things already made, created something better."

"Oh." That was vague. But it's not my business…or I hope not. "Well, the idea of using something like your second skin on a ship has its merits."

"That would take a different type of composition of which I am not interested in these days. My interests have changed since I have taken up residence in a computer."

"I guess they would," Harriet said quietly. "Did he keep your secrets?"

"One he passed on to his son. That is why one group is here."

Harriet continued to watch the screens as she listened, hoping to see Maud again. She wanted to ask the Guardian about her.

"I noticed you are interested in my assistant, Maud." The Computer broached the subject for her.

Harriet smiled, feeling embarrassed.

"She could use some assistance. She has no military training and Sheila, a metradame, is proving to be more than what she can handle."

"A metradame? What is Maud doing?" Lt. Montran's interest was piqued. Metradames, to her knowledge were mainly procured by those with lots of credits, for sexual pleasure. She wondered just what problems Maud was having with the metradame.

"To the first question; Sheila is a metradame trained as a personal bodyguard to one of the smuggler chiefs. To the second question; Maud was able to free a few of the prisoners, but they were easy since they were quite sick and didn't have much of a guard on them. She's moved them to a secured infirmary on the other side of the city where the interlopers have not been able to breach. Our aim is to rescue all of them before the smugglers can ship them to their new owners. I am sure with your training you can create believable diversions while Maud frees each group."

Lt. Montran felt relieved, and then frowned. Something did not sound right, but again, she would not push for the information, she would wait. So, something was already being done about freeing the captives. However, what had the bodyguard…the metradame, to do with this directly? Bodyguards usually stuck to the person they protected. Was the smuggler taking the disappearance of a few sickly prisoners personally?

"Guardian, I need an idea of what I'm up against before I feel comfortable giving you an answer. The ideal would be profiles on the people, weapons they have, a detailed plan of your facilities..." This was going to be a first...running interference for a two person operation. Well, soldiers and smugglers usually had fallings out and by the way they were sitting in the mess hall...it looked like there was a wide chasm already. If she found what would further divide them, and then keep them busy with their differences until help arrived... And the metradame? That made for an interesting image of…foreplay.

Ahh, bloody moon, Montran. I can't believe you would stoop to that type of humor. Helgas Moon, but you need a visit to Aphrodite's House of Pleasures when you get off this planet. You really need to work off this frustration before it gets you into trouble, like consorting with the enemy. She could not prevent a smirk from appearing on her face at that last thought.

"Easily provided," Guardian replied, ignoring her inappropriate and straying thoughts. "It should fall into your own plans quite nicely, since that was what you were planning on doing until your help arrived," he pointed out.

"What's that?" she asked startled, suddenly remembering that she needed to be careful what she was thinking when hooked up with this computer.

"Finding out what my unwanted visitors are up to and releasing their captives."

"Uh, I may have been thinking of releasing them...but in reality...well, let's just see what I can come up with that won't get either of us captured. What about this metradame bodyguard? How does she fit in?"

"Yes, well, let me brief you on the present situation and where she fits in will fall into place. Right now, the smugglers and their security have two priorities. One is to locate you. The second is to prepare for the private auction."

Lt. Montran was at first surprised and then nodded, understanding what a lone wolf could do to an operation that on a moments notice could be collapsed and packed away for a hurried escape. She could also understand the need to find a buyer for their contraband, which would mean, if they had to break camp, their contraband would have a destination other than their next base, thus confusing their pursuers when they scattered.

"Of course. I hadn't thought of me being a major concern, which means they are on alert...but...by these scenes, they don't look like they're taking any precautions."

"They have already done sweeps throughout their living space and have guards at the two entrances they are aware of. Right now, they are on downtime, due to the winds above their part of the planet. When the winds abate, the smugglers will start the auction and the military groups will resume their search for you. Captain Miller is head of the security for this smugglers' base, and sends his special group, composed of Black Rose personnel, topside to make sure there is no interruption from unwanted visitors. He is the son of my ex-employee."

"Ah! Therefore, I won't have to worry about them being around when I set up something to keep the city residents occupied. Good." She was silent for a moment thinking of what would happen to the outside troops once she added her mischief to the mix of Maud removing what they considered their property. "Well, they won't be out there for long. How many personnel on this outpost?"

"About five hundred. There are ships nearby should they have to pack and leave quickly. After two years of keeping them contained and providing difficulties in their daily lives, I am hoping stealing from their business will cause them to take their business elsewhere."

"Maybe they like your accommodations."

"Perhaps."

"So, about this metradame…how much of her programming do you know about and who does she guard?"

"Lord Chaney."

"Lord Chaney! Helgas Bloody Moon. So…he's here," she muttered darkly. So, am I a pawn? Against whom? Hadrie? Admiral JoCastao? She shook her head. That does not make sense. I'm not that important for Hadrie to be influenced on a vote or ignore something important on Committee Counsel business. It can't be revenge against Admiral JoCastao for her actions against smugglers, because I'm not that important in the ranks. I'm not even regular staff on the flagship...well, not until I report to my new CO.

"Damn politics!" she blurted softly but with heat.

"It is deeper than that," Guardian responded. "It is because he could not get rid of you during your tour of duty as captain of the Degas troop. He started out doing it as a favor for the Fermins and when you refused to die…you became his personal issue. Alan Fermin has a different reason for your presence here. He wants you as his personal metradame…but not quite in the caliber as Lord Chaney's Sheila. "

"Bloody Moon! Alan!" Talk about walking into a bloody mess! I'm gone for seven years and I walk into this? What has been happening around here? Is this why Hadrie wanted to see me? Gawds, as if the nightmares aren't enough. "Wait a moment! A metradame?!" she shook her head confused. "Me? You have got to be kidding. Those are…glorified sex toys! They're not real." A shudder shook her frame at the thought.

"You have been misinformed. Metrapeople are ninety-nine point nine percent people that have had a behavior modification chip implanted, face changed and personalities wiped. They are remodeled to fit in a place their new owners have for them for the rest of their unnatural lives."

Guardian flashed Harriet pictures of many different faces. Some looked familiar but the pictures were going too fast for her to consciously identify them. What little she knew of metrapeople, she could not remember anything that mentioned they were - recycled people. A small residue of her dream resurfaced, and in response, her insides became cold.

"It is not something you would find in their advertisements," Guardian continued, "but two life insurance companies are behind the body collecting. They say they are using the bodies for medical research. The people who donate their bodies for the large refunds, do it to give their beneficiary a chance to start a new life after their supposed death. They may hesitate if they knew that they were still alive. Since it is aimed at low income people, they have little if any resources to investigate if they did suspect something was amiss."

"That can't be! The Scientist Union and the Science Academy would prevent something like that from happening," Harriet insisted stubbornly. A memory of her and Sharon signing a life insurance policy had her feeling a little uncertain. Harriet shook her head impatiently. She was getting paranoid with this new information. "It's not ethical or moral, any more than slavery is. Slavery is certainly not necessary in Collective and Committee space…even the new settlements have rules for the use of people against their wills and selling people." Harriet felt overwhelmed. "What proof of this do you have?" she demanded.

"There is a lot of information on the subject. If you wish, I will give your room console access into my library and you can research it for yourself."

"Yes. I would like that." Hadrie would hit the ceiling if he heard of something like this to say nothing of the Collective. How could something like this not be known? "You said various occupations?" The sudden thought that maybe Spinner's crew were drones occurred to her. That would explain their low functioning. "I find it difficult to believe the Spinner's Tale's crew has the intelligence to be involved in a smuggling operation."

"There is a suspicion that there has been a subtle form of manipulation going on with the Spinner's crew. We are working on uncovering just what it is. You appear to be unaffected, so perhaps it is not in the air or the food." Guardian waited a moment for a comment, and getting only a deeper frown on his recruit, continued. "Because of the customer base of the metrapeople business and the security around the business of producing them, we are having to move slowly with our investigation."

"Our?" It finally dawned on her that he had been eluding there being more than just he and Maud.

"Yes. I am part of an organization called Neboths Vine. I'm sure you have heard of them. They work to change the mindset of the…"

"Yes, yes. Hadrie once told me about them. Really unrealistic. If these misbehaving committee members do not have the incentive to become morally upright in their representation of their constituents the Vines peaceful conversion of them is not going to work."

"Unless we catch them in the act, red-handed, so-to-speak."

Lt. Montran cast back into her memory for the understanding of what red handed meant. Ah, caught in the act of slaughtering someone else's cattle. Ugh!

"So, you catch them bidding…on forbidden goods in this auction…then what? The committee has too many members that have been reluctant to censure their own, either through coercion or through lack of interest. They won't point fingers…and since you're into these euphuisms, remember 'for the one that is pointed forward, there are three pointing back'...give or take a digit or two." Oh, gawds! I'm getting loose-witted again. "None of them wish to have their businesses aired or want to risk suspicion of wrong doing."

"Yes, yes. Very good. I have not heard that euphuism for a while. It is not just the members who will see the auction and who is bidding….it will be telecast to major stations, reaching every planet that receives transmissions from the INet Corporation."

"Ah, a public outcry," she returned in a cynical tone. "Well, that will certainly get them to resign if not arrested. That particular public sin does carry punishment even for a Committee member; however, the Committee's Judicial System usually dishes out the punishment for a Committee member, as I'm sure you know. What if some of those that are the offenders hold positions on that board, which I'm sure they would have put themselves in that position for this very reason…and therefore will vote on their own sentencing…What then?"

"There is an understanding between the Committee and the Collective that when it is business concerning the closed planets, planets whose population is too violent to be allowed to travel in space…the Counsel of Rings will judge the case. Over half of the occupants in those cages are from closed planets. That is what makes the price for them higher."

Harriet started to laugh. "Well, the purchaser is going to have to hide them in a closet because someone that sees them will eventually guess they come from a planet that is a nonmember of either the Committee or Collective." She shook her head not believing it would happen. "Okay. So, they transmit, and before they ship out the captives to their new owners, I create diversions while Maud releases them. Did I leave anything out?"

"That is the plan, unless you have an alternate. I will monitor the whereabouts of Sheila, Lord Chaney and the Black Rose and keep you posted of any other danger heading your way." There was a slight pause, "As I've said earlier, Lord Chaney deems you a high level threat, not believing you're dead, and has given orders to his smugglers and the Spartans to take you alive; however, in my recent monitoring of communications, I'm not certain of the Black Rose or the other Spartans of just what they will do should they find you. There is this code of membership where they meter out justice to 'their own' and I do believe they consider you still as part of their membership."

What 'code of membership'? She sat quietly as she thought of what this would mean in the plan to ruffle feathers among the smugglers and their cohorts. And, what would keep a bodyguard off balance, since she was an unknown threat. It would help if she knew what Guardian had done for the last two years to have kept them contained in that small part of the city. Since Maud was still alive and running around, she guessed it was a plan that should not be abandoned.

"In addition to the layout of New Century City and pertinent information on the personnel over there, I'd like to know how you've been handling them since their occupation, as well as how they've been reacting to whatever you have done, or Maud. I also want to get something understood here. If I think I'm in danger...I'm getting the Helgas Bloody Moon out of there. I'm not a suicidal type these days, nor a hero. I'm agreeing to go on over there and stir the pot because if you and Maud have been doing it for two years and she's still around, as well as you, you must have an advantage."

"Yes. The advantage is knowledge of the outpost and having equipment that takes advantage of the planet's own chemistry. I have a subliminal of the information you need to know. Charles can escort you to the underground rail car when you are ready, located on the fifth level in this compound. That will take you to New Century City station where Maude will meet you. Now, my profiles, you will find, are quite detailed and precise," Guardian added when she said nothing.

"I guess after two years of studying them, you would..." her voice trailed off as again she wondered why the smugglers were staying here for two years. It did not fit their MO, if they were the same group. But then, her quarters was something she would find difficult to give up if she did not have to pay for it.

"It is quite amusing to…play with them. I have had suggestions from various behavioral scientists to run tests on their reactions to different stress situations and stimuli…"

Lt. Montran waved her hands, "Wait a moment here! They are study subjects?! Isn't that a bit…unethical?" She rose from her chair suddenly feeling like she had been sold on a mission that had more going on than what Guardian had told her. Perhaps she was a bit too trusting...again. Was the admiral really going to be notified? She should demand to speak to her in person.

"It is dishonest for them to use my facilities when I have not invited them and for what they are using it for. This is a scientific outpost even without the plethora of scientists once residing here…"

"What do the scientists that have you running these tests say?" she interrupted.

"They do not know where these tests are being conducted. There are some experiments where the identity of the test subjects is never divulged so that the behavior is observed without ethnic or species prejudice coloring the recorders observations and conclusions."

"Blazes! I'm not going to be part of this game th…"

"Of course you are, just by you being here!" he interrupted her soothingly. "You are really rescuing those people in the cages, and this really is a smugglers' den, and Maud really does need assistance. With these infidels in New Century City I am simply taking advantage of a situation with occasional annoyances presented to them, but it is to make them go away. I do not take lives and I do not use anything that will cause physical pain. Any psychological discomfort is of their own making."

"Infidels...I have not heard that for a while," she responded slowly, wondering if she was in any position to object. Merker's Outpost was out of Collective jurisdiction, so she could not use the argument that due to the activity on the other side of the planet it gave her the authority to…do what? If anything, the Spartans were also law enforcement, and closer to having jurisdiction than she had…however, by what the screens were showing, they were working for the smugglers…

"What is showing on those screens is real time? Actually happening and not staged by you or anyone else?"

"That is true."

So, where did that put her in the decision making process. She actually had no right to demand anything. All she could do was offer to help until real help arrived. "You've been doing this for two years and they are still here; you're not just toying with them, are you?"

"If they do not choose to leave, then they have made the choice to be miserable. However, hiding stolen goods is not the same as auctioning off kidnapped persons or victims of some unethical barter. This moves my need to move them off this planet imperative. After two years of studying them and what they will do under various circumstances, it will be put to good use."

Lt. Montran raised an eyebrow. "When did they change the business?"

"Two stan weeks ago," Guardian told her glumly. "I understand there was a surprise raid at their main base by a special force group, the Tanjmi." Guardian did not miss the young woman sitting forward in her chair and looking triumphant. "Your admiral's special team," he acknowledged. "They are good. There was not even a ripple in the rumor pipeline of the raid so it caught the smugglers unprepared. Only half of the smugglers escaped, and most had spotters on their tails. Lord Chaney is not a happy man nor are his customers. Since this is near a jump gate and a heavily traveled corridor, they were able to elude their tails and eventually landed here, where they already had a small operation going. They need to continue on with this auction to settle the nerves of their suppliers and customers to say nothing of Lord Chaney's stock holders."

Stockholders? I hope he has a list of them because I would like to get a copy of that list.

Guardian gave a slight pause. "Well, I would like to carry on this conversation further, but Maud has sent me a message reminding me not to spend so much time socializing, as there is work to be done. That woman knows me too well." There was an audible sigh. "Make yourself comfortable. I do not use the same technique as the Spartans. Their heavy use of drugs and forcing images is too invasive. My technique is longer lasting and requires only one induction, though slower in making its way to the surface of the mind; therefore, Maud will be making sure you don't shoot yourself in the foot, so-to-speak, until all the information makes its way to your awareness." He laughed at his own joke.

The routine for preparing for subliminals was well known to Lt. Montran and she easily slipped into the necessary beta-state when her eyes closed.

Chapter 5

Delorita was born to a young woman in the House of Jeborhara on Velta V. She was daughter to Yeva, who had been twelve at the inception, and a midwife intern. Delorita's father was the nefarious Lord Chaney of Dlephae who had raped Yeva after she assisted in the delivery of his legal heir, Varina. It was kept secret due to the rune readings by the House Crone that Lady Bedda Chaney would seek out potential usurpers to her daughter's legacy causing them harm. After the assault, Yeva had changed her name to Masha and scrubbed floors in the healer's house never wanting to leave the protective environment of the House or to continue with her lessons in healing. She dedicated her newborn infant daughter to the House of Athena, to avenge her unwilling deflowerment.

Delorita was a loner and a fierce student in the arts of the stealth warrior, the assassin. In Collective space, regardless of the peace initiative the members lived under, there were those that nursed grudges and wanted more power. Some organizations trained their own so that if the need should arise, they were prepared to defend or seek retribution, as it was in the House of Athena. However, the House of Athena trained all her young initiates to the code of the warrior, a high ideal in the art of war, among other skills of life.

Delorita learned her lessons of recompense well, determined to fulfill her mother's expectations of retribution. When Delorita was ten, her mother took to her deathbed and in a profound state of peace, removed the obligation from her young daughter's shoulders, much to everyone's relief. She chose the name Leor to pass through the lighted gate of Amattas, to find peace with her ancestors.

Delorita's second mother who guided her since birth, redirected her volatile energy into athletic training for the Galactic Games. Until her twelfth year, the year of her first menses and welcome into the House of Women, she was content in this world of physical and mental discipline and camaraderie. At twelve, her life took on added meaning as she prepared for her Vision Quest. At thirteen, she had her Vision in the Sacred Temple of Hekate. In a dream-like state, her life purpose unfolded and those whose web of life she would touch were revealed to her. Her guide wrote it out on parchment from the sacred Trees of Ossark. At her coming of age naming, she chose Zohra, discarding Delorita and the burden it carried.

A week out of the Temple, she lost the clarity of the vision, but her guide did not. She was initiated into Hekate's Inner Circle, and ascended to a higher level of Athena's warriors. Her guide, teachers and mentors steered her toward the training she would need to help her in her future tasks and lessons. Under the guise of traveling as an athletic competitor for the Galactic Games, she met many teachers that gave her more arduous lessons to work at than her competitions in the games.

When Zohra was of the right age, she enrolled in one of the galactic space academies in Committee's space. While in her first year at the Academy for the training of flight and infantry officers, the Brothers of the Shadow approached her and a few of her sisters, with an offer to join in an undercover operation to undo the abuses of the Committee under the name of Naboth's Vine. Their Mother House cleared it. In her third year at the Academy, she and some friends witnessed Cadet Montran's abduction and beating. Their hue and cry saved Cadet Montran's life.

***

Chapter 6

Cadet Zohra looked over the grounds of her new home for the next four stan years. Her athletically trim figure threw a long shadow behind her, down the deep blue grassy slope shading some of her fellow cadets. They were at ease, laughing and comparing notes. They had been at the Academy for three standard months and were still adjusting to their new life before the Academy's academic regiment went into full swing, a stan week away. The returning upper cadet's, the Pugs, had taken over most of the training and recreational facilities and as Plebes, first year cadets, they found it safer to remain out of their way.

Zohra's dark eyes scanned the group of buildings looking for the flight-training tower. She heard Cadet ChaTak approach before she felt the hand on her shoulder. The meltian was one of her roommates. She had bonded well with ChaTak though she was not at all like anyone she had grown up with. ChaTak gave nothing away about herself, a curio Zohra wished to explore. Usually she was able to read a person, no matter their species, within a quarter of a stan hour, through body movements, voice intonation and the eyes. She had made a game of it during her competitive years as a galactic athlete. Reading her opponents quickly gave her the edge over others and was a large contribution to her wins as well as forming friendships. Something she held in reserve. And though she could not figure the meltian cadet out, she felt they did have a friendship.

ChaTak nodded towards the short row of buildings to their left. "The elder said that is where the simulators are."

Cadet ChaTak and Cadet Zohra were to report there in the early morning hours for testing on their piloting abilities. Cadet ChaTak, to Zohra's amusement, could undoubtedly teach the Academy staff more than a few tricks, but she knew ChaTak would only do what the task required.

Finally, we are going to do something other than slough through the mud lugging enough equipment to supply a village. So, it is not a tower at all. Cadet Zohra shaded her eyes as she studied the low buildings. Four entrances, two exits, and a lot of traffic even now before classes begin. Many of the classrooms must be underground. Helgas Moons. I hate underground facilities and their stagnant air.

"It will require us to get there early," Cadet ChaTak continued speaking softly. "There will be many others to compete for available practice time before the testing begins."

Cadet Zohra glanced at her friend, her dark eyes glinting with humor for a moment. Early to Cadet ChaTak was shortly after midnight.

"By your time or mine?" Cadet Zohra asked warily.

Cadet ChaTak shrugged her thin shoulders, delighting in her stoic friend's unusual display of emotion.

"I shall be there at o-six hundred hours, standard academy time," Cadet Zohra told her firmly.

ChaTak grinned, uncharacteristic for her species, but something she had picked up in her adaptation to the other expressive species she roomed with.

***

Cadet Zohra's first year at the academy was difficult as she tried to adjust to the strangeness of a permanent residence and the unfamiliar regimes. She missed traveling around the galaxy in athletic competitions and the tough physical workouts each cell of athletes provided to rival members. The camaraderie that existed until the official games began, was also something she sorely missed. It was not due to intimate friendships with her fellow athletes, but the presence and support each gave to the other without having to become emotionally involved. That was what she grew up with and was comfortable with, whereas in the academy social arena, cadet friendships required more than what she was willing to give, that is, with the exception of ChaTak, who accepted her boundaries as they were.

To alleviate the edginess of her new restrictions in the academy, she found a small deserted glen, a short walk up one of the slopes that formed a wall at the back of the Academy. Here she practiced her more rigorous exercises late at night, enjoying the privacy as well as the physical exhaustion that followed.

When the first year ended and broke for three stan months, a taller and more mature Delorita Zohra returned to her Shield House. Her Shield Mother was pleased with the changes she felt on a deeper level, and sent her for advanced training with Naboths Vine. Her three months were spent polishing skills she had learned as a child when she was planning vengeance in her mother's name. The old heat and fixed obsession with one goal was absent, replaced with a challenge to master skills she had once thought she knew. The irony of this did not escape her.

It was in Cadet Zohra's second year that she was challenged on another level. Cadet Jaymai with enough curves showing under the genderless uniforms, to stop any roving eye for at least a moment. Her slate gray eyes once fixed on Cadet Zohra became wary to anyone around her target who may thwart her goal of ownership. For the stoic Cadet Zohra, Jaymai became a passionate spot in her otherwise studious life. In a year, the relationship became intense and for two long months, Cadet Zohra was thinking of committing to this person; however, her strong sense of obligation to the Vine was her anchoring point to not voice her thoughts of this joining. She was looking forward to the three month break where she would be able to get some relief from the tension Jaymai created within her.

***

"What are you doing out here alone?" Resentment tinted the familiar pouty voice.

Cadet Zohra turned reluctantly from the double moons. She had heard Jaymai's noisy approach but had hoped she would not see her in the darkness, though she did not go out of her way to hide. She was intending on working out in her part of the glen, her nightly ritual. By now, the regular visitors at night had set their mark of ownership over certain spots. In the glen, rank was not an issue, but rather a courteous agreement.

"I'm watching the moons," she replied to her lover, stifling resentment at having her private moment disturbed.

The thin figure, dressed in a newly tailored uniform, moved in front of the taller figure, her hands taking possession of what she considered hers, jealous of the moons that drew the attention of her prey away from her. Jaymai's eyes slitted in anger. The object of her charms was still showing signs of independence and not pining away the time when she was not in her presence. Most of her past romantic victims succumbed to her complete domination by the end of one stan month. This one was proving to be a challenge, which made her even more determined to have her will prevail.

"How romantic…moonlight and…two interested parties," Jaymai growled seductively, pulling the taller woman's face towards hers. Her kiss was deep, hungry and rough. Long thin hands ran down the slim muscular form, tugging the body urgently into hers, knowing how to ignite Zohra's lustful passion. Both sank to the ground behind the tree, where Jaymai aggressively showed Zohra how the two moons affected her.

***

Two days later Zohra and ChaTak finished a long practice session of Ch'I Mae in one of the seldom-used dojos in the old section of the Academy. ChaTak had been teaching Zohra for two years a method of moving in silence that shielded a person from even the most intuitive persons. Zohra was finally feeling the change within herself and ChaTak was pleased, but she could see lines of strain in her friend's eyes, and she did not feel they were from this work out session. She studied the dark warrior as Zohra drank deeply the water the bot provided. ChaTak made a noise that passed for a chuckle at her companion who had the appearance of someone that had finished a long run, while she felt refreshed. ChaTak flicked her towel toward the athlete playfully to get her attention.

"She's pressing you for a commitment again," Cadet ChaTak stated matter of factly. By the rolling of the dark eyes, she knew she read her right. "Would you really commit to her if you had not already become involved with another responsibility?" Cadet ChaTak asked practically.

Zohra hesitated, surprised, "Well…I…haven't really thought on it."

ChaTak looked at her friend though her dark eyes, the golden line in the centers opening wide. She knew that Jaymai was psychically manipulating the stanch warrior for a commitment out of pride to bag the athletic champion of many galaxyal competitions whom many of Jaymai's friends had worshiped since childhood…to say nothing of many attending the Academy. ChaTak did not think Jaymai worshiped or liked anyone beyond herself. Why Zohra had not looked into the woman's background was due, she suspected, to Jaymai's very delicate touch at mind influence. Zohra merely needed a nudge to start asking herself the right questions to break from the influence. ChaTak gave what would pass as a smile as the dark eyes of her friend looked into hers puzzled.

"You are still very young and have many species to experience and understand their ways," she patted her friend on her shoulder.

Zohra regarded her thoughtfully. That night as she waited for sleep to come, she reviewed her relationship with Jaymai and decided it was too intense for the short amount of time they knew each other. To strengthen her resolve to put more distance between her and Jaymai, Zohra planned to increase her workload of extra duty, suspecting there was something more to the attraction then what she was able to see. However, Jaymai redoubled her efforts and Zohra found the sexual attraction to Jaymai intoxicating and difficult to give up, not realizing she was a fly in a spider's web. Jaymai's hints to commitment increased as they moved into the end of Zohra's third year and Jaymai's graduation.

As the sexual tension increased, Zohra found herself mentally practicing the sacred Dance of Attraction. She imagined the steps, in segments, not together. The Teachers warned if practiced together in any form, it would generate the sacred qi for passion and life bonding. However, the more Zohra practiced the Dance mentally, the more her body needed to feel the rhythm in physical movement. The urge created more tension in Zohra, which caused her to be short with her friends including Jaymai, whose knee jerk response was to put more pressure on her for a commitment. Her only release from Jaymai's influence was her studies, where neither would run into the other since Jaymai was following an administrative course while Zohra was infantry.

***

It was the night of Elwin's second moon, when the two moons were on the other side of the planet, thus turning the night into an inky darkness. Most cadets used night lamps while walking outside. Zohra planned to practice one segment of the Dance under the glitter of stars to release some of the built up energy. Jaymai was off-planet on the student ship, Quasar for an exam. Her other friends would be preoccupied with test preparations for the weeklong pre-exam burdened days. The glen would be absent of others for at least two hours. It was enough time. As long as Jaymai was not around, she had no worry about making the mistake of connecting with her.

She was relieved that while Jaymai was gone, her own thoughts became clearer and more focused. It was as if a miasma lifted from her. Zohra shook her head in amusement. Was that all it took to influence her?

Cadet, you are going to have to look up just what the attributes of her species are. Now that I think of it…and after ChaTak warned me. She groaned in wry amusement. She knew. It is so like ChaTak to let me learn from my own mistakes after a very subtle warning. So, just how long was ChaTak going to let me stumble in this sexual haze? I shall be talking with that woman.

Feeling better already, she relished the pull of the climb on her legs. The glen was unusually still and darkness had her carefully placing her feet so as not to run head on into a tree. She refrained from taking a night lamp, as it intruded upon the naturalness of the environment she was tuning in to. Pausing at one of the trees that ringed the glen, Zohra touched its rough bark feeling a slight change of energy from its life force. Then she stepped into the glen fifteen paces, knowing that that would give her enough room to move.

Inhaling slow and deep, she stilled her thoughts and awareness of what was around her. Breathing in again, she concentrated on bringing the breath to her dan tien, and then releasing it down her legs, and into the ground. Her silent mantra began within her heart, expanding as a pulse throughout her body and then into a steady throb. Every cell vibrated as if in anticipation, like an athlete before her performance. Zohra related to it easily. She focused on her body energy that swirled about her, letting it build before bringing it to a focus, back to her heart. Inhaling, she connected with the planet's qi through the soles of her bare feet.

There was no stillness in the night, as all cells of all things around her were alive and breathing. The planet's spirit revealed this to her. The night's dampness, the vegetation, the richness of the dirt was sharp and clear to all her senses. The rustling of the leaves far above her sounded as if they were next to her ears. Taking another deep breath, her fingers begin to tingle - her signal to begin.

Calling the Guardians of the Dance as witnesses, she prayed for rightness of mind, attraction and attachment to the one she was meant to bond with. Still intent on practicing one segment of the Dance, she reminded herself that the brief exercise was to get rid of the energy she inadvertently built up. Respectfully she made her bows to the Guardians in each of the directions they ruled. Finished, she brought her outspread arms slowly up above her head, palms facing each other, and then drew them down over her heart as she thanked all the powers that surrounded her. Breathing deeply into her lower chakra, she held her breath for the appropriate length of time and released it. She then breathed in and out in studied rhythms, meant to build strength, while holding her hands in a proscribed mudra pose. She imagined the Guardians in attendance, honoring her ritual. There was another presence, faint, but it was there. It was this presence, her Watcher, which gave the Dance its purpose. She did not seek to identify it, merely notice it. She was now too focused into the ritual to wonder how the Watcher got here.

Slowly she stretched out in the first motion, feeling arms and legs move and hold and adjust to the position. She held the stance until she felt her mind and body comfortably settle in the pose. She moved to the next step, exactly as she had done in her mind, and then slowly lessened the rest between each movement, intuitively knowing where the ground rose and where it dipped. The Dance energy intensified as she increased her speed around the darkened edge of the trees. It felt like a hum vibrated in her body. She could see sparks of vibrant colors from her energy about her. So intoxicated with the various changes in herself that she was experiencing from the Dance she forgot her original intention and moved through the next segment of the Dance, welcoming the Watcher to join her in spirit.

After the first segment was completed, she realized the added energy was from her Watcher as their spirits joined, just as it was meant to. Cadet Zohra could feel her Watcher's excitement, curiosity, and a strange familiarity. Of course…she had touched this person when they both were younger. The energy from her Watcher was more subdued than when they had first come together as children, but it still gave Cadet Zohra a rush of exhilaration, indescribable and beyond her wildest imagination. Excitement and desire burned in her body as the dancers moved into the last half. The differences between her and her Watcher were blurred as steps she did not remember were moved through, both their hearts on fire, both their bodies trembling from the commingled energies, familiar yet unfamiliar

In the final leap, suspended for a moment in time and air, reaching and stretching arms high overhead as if to pluck out a star from the night sky in each hand, the dancers were intimately aware of the other. When Zohra dropped back to the ground, she finished in a perfectly executed spin, held it for a brief moment, and then dropped to her hands and knees, bowing in respect of all who were witnessing the Dance. Cadet Zohra held her pose, as the Master had instructed, allowing the throbbing energy to dissipate into the ground, and give her heaving lungs a chance to oxygenate her body. The pulsing in her veins, loud in her ears, beat against her yoni bringing her to a sweet climax, one like she had never before experienced, even under the skilled administrations of Jaymai.

Cadet Zohra knew her Watcher shared in these feelings, and was weak from her own climax. In that instant, she understood the power of the Dance, and that she had fooled herself into believing that she could practice it even in her mind without being effected. Still connected with her Watcher, she could feel a combined realization that this meeting was more than fate.

Was it? Was this their destiny? Was this her soulmate - to be her lifemate too?

Approaching voices broke the spell and the link dropped abruptly. The voices were unwanted noises that clashed in her head, grating against the energy she was charged with. Her acuity faded immediately, leaving her blinded. Cadet Zohra moved behind the tree, using its rough texture to ground her. It gave to her willingly. The presence of her Watcher was gone but her desire for her did not fade. Questions of whom and where crossed her mind as she waited for her legs to become steady enough to walk back to her quarters. Cadet Zohra took a deep shaky breath. She did not regret performing the Dance and she did not regret drawing in the stranger. Lifemate? Here?

It was what the Dance of Attraction was about, she reminded herself with amusement at her own naivety. As she walked towards her quarters, she realized she had been carrying a heavy load on her shoulders. It was not Cadet Jaymai and making a commitment to her that had her restless and mentally practicing the Dance, it was the energy of her lifemate being nearby! It was nice to not feel the edgy energy that had been running through her for…three years! Cadet Jaymai's affections had only served to heighten it and give focus to it.

So, either my lifemate is a senior or a junior, like me.

She would have laughed aloud except for the time; instead, an unfamiliar smug look was on her face as she remembered her Teacher explaining to her young students the sacred energy behind the long and intricate ritual of the Dance. She and the other students had danced the first Dance in class under the supervision of their Teacher. It was to open them to the energy of their lifemate. She had danced it only because everyone else did. Smothering her nervousness, she remembered how she was terrified for months after briefly touching with her lifemate, that this person would drop out of nowhere and claim her as hers or his. What if it were some older man or woman?!

Now, she knew her Watcher was female. The white energy was …incredible! And the touch of her was - how could she describe something she had never felt before?

Who are you? Soon! You cannot hide from me now, no more than I can hide from you.

Cadet Zohra was happier than she ever knew she could be.

She is near! Goddess! I feel…different.

***

For the rest of Cadet Zohra's third year, she dreamed of her Watcher when the twin moons were on the other side of the planet. Each dark night, she stood at the edge of the glen looking up at the sky's canopy of sparklingly stars, feeling the connection to her Watcher vibrating especially strong. Once she had tried to compel her to show herself but her lifemate resisted. Cadet Zohra's thoughts of Cadet Jaymai no longer came to her mind as Jaymai's influence was over. Her cooled contact with Jaymai ended when Ensign Jaymai left the Academy for her first tour of duty on an outpost near the jump zone in the Juan sector. Following her talk with ChaTak, she found that other students had complained about Jaymai's abuse of her powers. Apparently, her species was able to influence romantic encounters if the other person was interested.

***

*

Two weeks after Jaymai's new posting Cadet Zohra received a communication from Jaymai asking if their relationship was truly over.

She must have found another to be asking, or so Cadet Zohra hoped as she reread the communiqué.

CuDas tapped Zohra on the shoulder.

"Well, are you going to turn into stone in front of the door or are you going to move?" she asked impatiently, as her stomach rumbled its need.

"Hmm," the tall dark haired woman responded.

"What's the news?" ChaTak asked as she picked up her cape near the door.

"Ensign Jaymai is curious what my intentions with her are," she replied dryly.

"She's probably got another strong and silent warrior type wrapped around her gloved hand and wants to make sure she is leaving no loose ends!" Clea teased. "We shall drink and celebrate to her new liaison."

"Clea!" Megan CuDas reproached her. Everyone knew she desired Jaymai.

"While she was in her 'rutting season,' she left many a heart strewn on the field, and I might add, she did not look back to even take count, nor did she take prisoners."

"We all should be grateful we don't have that particular impulse," Zohra muttered.

"Hmph! You can say that now, but I noticed you didn't seem to mind when you were the one she directed her passions to," CuDas retorted.

"You, my dear, feel that way because you were hoping she would move on from Zohra to you. Your insatiable desires are well talked about in Aphrodite's rooms. Jaymai had a biological reason, what's yours?" Clea's playful digging in her ribs lightened CuDas mood.

"I'm lucky, I guess."

They all looked at Zohra.

"What?"

ChaTak shook her head and grabbed her friend's elbow. "We won't even ask what your reply is. Come on. We all need to eat and relax."

***

*

They were laughing as they walked into the bar. Zohra felt the presence of her Watcher the moment she entered the room. Her heart paused in mid beat before resuming at a quickened pace.

Yes!

ChaTak watched her friend closely, amused at the sudden change in her bios. This was something she had never witnessed from her.

As the group found a place to sit, Clea continued to tell stories and keep them laughing. Zohra scanned the room. Her senses heightened as she felt her Watcher link with her, tentatively. The Watcher was surprised and…unsure?

Laughter from the other side of the room became louder to her ears as those in her immediate vicinity faded out. Her eyes locked on the deep green eyes of her Watcher. Both were aware of the strong desire to connect, reflecting in their eyes. A shy smile turned up the corners of the woman's mouth. Then her Watcher broke the connection…reluctantly. Zohra watched the cadet as she casually, or was it nervously, tossed her cascading orange hair back over her shoulder in a well-practiced gesture. Others moved blocking her from Zohra's sight.

Conversation at Zohra's table stopped, unnoticed by Zohra, as her companions studied their usually unreadable friend who was showing interest in another, her cheeks reddened with…what? In her relationship with Jaymai, Zohra let her make the overtures and merely followed her lead…until one day she decided she had enough of being led around…or so most of her friends thought. This was a different side of Zohra.

"That's Lady Harriet Montran and her friends," Megan sniffed. She did not like the upper class of any society, Zohra had found.

Clea looked steadily at her dark-eyed friend and saw something that she would remember many years later.

ChaTak hid her grin as she realized what Zohra was feeling. It was not the same feeling she had with Ensign Jaymai - thank the Holy Guardians. And I had thought it was the semester break. So, this one has changed her. It is her lifemate and they both know it. Interesting for their species. I had thought they were not that sensitive.

***

Zohra and her friends passed the PUB two nights later. Zohra found herself drawn to enter it. She could feel the presence of Lady Harriet and wondered how to talk her friends into relaxing there instead of their usual place.

"Looks like some of our friends are here. Why don't we stop in?" ChaTak suggested.

Zohra had no doubt that ChaTak knew Lady Harriet was inside.

"It can't be because of the brew, because they don't carry Cadet Zohra's favorite...but then again..." Clea teased and the others, with the exception of Meagan laughed.

They glanced at the party that was going on in one of the back rooms, then back to the bar where someone hailed them. Friends were settled around a table and waved them over. Zohra's eyes found Lady Harriet quietly sitting near the back of the party, as if she did not want to be there. Zohra felt her mood was distracted and wondered what preoccupied her.

"Well, Cadet, is the ale or is it the something else that you intend on ordering?" Clea nudged.

"I'm not in the mood for a drink, but..." Zohra rose as she caught sight of Lady Harriet moving to leave.

"Hey, you just got here!" Meagan complained.

"Cadet, she is from a different class...she would only be polite," another told her.

"You need to concentrate on your studies. You just got one air head out of your..."

"Hey, come on, cadets. We're not leaving her alone. She may say something that gets her in trouble. Wait up, Zohra!" Clea shouted as she dragged a reluctant Megan to her feet.

ChaTak was only a footstep behind Zohra, fascinated at her concentration on this orange haired woman.

For a few moments, Zohra had thought she lost her, and was walking quickly towards the barracks assuming this was where she was headed. After all, for some cadets it was the night before exams.

"There she is. Can we slow down now?" Clea huffed.

"Isn't that, that jerk Fermin with her?" Megan spat out. He was a good example of why Megan despised those that bought their way into the upper class and then abused anyone they could. They had all heard the rumors that Fermin was physically abusive to his girlfriends and was expelled from the Academy for it, but he had simply enrolled in the Diplomatic Corps next door. That had a lot of irony to it.

Zohra's adrenalin raced at the sudden fear she felt for Lady Harriet's safety. Their link was vibrating with terror.

"She's in trouble!" Zohra announced as she broke into a run to close their distance. She could hear a voice behind her questioning her but her friends followed hard on her heels. When she saw Alan joined by others to drag a collapsed Lady Harriet between two buildings, Zohra let her lungs release the call to arms for all Cadets. The others echoed her as they descended on the group that looked up surprised and then fearful as they saw the fury in their victim's rescuers faces. They held their weapons up, unsure whether to use them or not and then were overwhelmed by Zohra and her group.

"Zohra, no!" ChaTa grabbed Zohra and Clea assisted her as they restrained her from plummeting the now unconscious Fermin to death.

The cadet response was incredibly fast. By then, the swollen face of Lady Harriet was not recognizable but when Cadet Montran's nametag was recognized, many became angry with the two that were still conscious. Cadet Montran was well liked by many because of her geniality and lack of airs that many in the upper classes used to distant themselves from the unfamiliar…that is, working and living amongst those that were less privileged then them.

Zohra cradled the bloodied head of Lady Harriet until the medics arrived. Her face became more unreadable as her fury against the Fermins increased. The Fermin family was one of the families Naboth's Vine was targeting to expose as abusing their social and economic status.

ChaTak squatted near her friend with a supportive hand on her shoulder, worried about the change she felt taking place in Zohra.

For the next three weeks while Lady Harriet's attack was the main topic of conversation, Zohra withdrew from those around her. She spent every spare moment working out alone, trying to rid herself of the rage that was burning a hole in her soul. At the end of the third week, she got a glimpse of Lady Harriet at the court hearing for Alan Fermin.

Cadet Zohra was shocked at the change in her Watcher. As she stood before the court and removed her cap, many wept at the loss of her long hair. Gone were her laugh lines, replaced with dark and cold eyes that carried no spark of interest in what was going on around her. The change painfully gripped Zohra's heart adding to her resolve to bring the Fermins and people like them down.

With the added testimony of Alan Fermin's associates, the court found Alan Fermin had willfully assaulted Cadet Lady Harriet Montran with the full intent to inflict pain and death. The stunner found clutched in Alan's fist confirmed he had physically immobilized her leaving her conscious while he attacked her. The extent of the brutal beating at his hands confirmed his desire to kill his victim, even if his associates had not testified. His background of assaulting various women was also exposed, as further proof that a mere reprimand was not just inappropriate but did not address his future victims. The court ruled his actions were a heinous crime against the Galactic Committee's charter.

News agencies blared…it was a political attack by a wealthy psychopath against a member of one of the oldest and most respected clans in the Galaxy. The news agencies blasted pictures of a youthful Alan at his coming of age party, where he had declared Blood Right against the DeMonte clan and all their related cousins. Though it was a laughable claim considering the Fermins were not a clan, nor even politically mentionable at the time, it was a serious declaration. It called for clan war, an outlawed practice.

Demands for immediate retribution by the public - exile to Hinterweild, striped of personal belongings - fell against the deaf ears of the criminal board. Zohra knew that though the DeMonte and Montran clans were powerful, the votes on the criminal board had already been bought by means of blackmail and other dark methods. The markers were cashed in. Zohar's consolation was that Gustaff Fermin was planning to use that card for another reason, and now it was used up. All Gustaff Fermin bought was time and one more chance for Alan. He would be sent for reeducation at ADDM. The wealthy could afford to pay for the four stan years of behavior modification, chip implantation - to enforce the behavior program; medication - to lessen the side effects of the chip; and career training, so when the rehabilitated student left, he or she would be a productive member of society. Zohra did not believe ADDM would help Alan and wondered how long it would take the Committee to realize that. Naboth's Vine would be keeping an eye on him, however.

The day after the hearing classes broke for the summer.

When they began the last semester, Zohra found that Lady Harriet had switched her course of study from a bridge officer to a more physically demanding tract - infantry training. From her tanned and hardened features, she realized she had been working hard for three months to catch up to the level others in her tract were at. Zohra understood her need to physically work off the fear of being rendered powerless. Zohra was relieved Lady Harriet's room was moved near the guardroom. Neboth's Vine knew the next step was for Gustaff Fermin to hire an assassin. It was standard practice when one family publicly declared Blood Right against another, though if it had not been broadcast by every news media it would have been something only a drunk and those around him had heard. From a military standpoint, it had been a bad move for Alan to attack her himself.

Zohra kept her distance from Cadet Montran and did not try to link with her. Though both of them were on the same tract, Zohra's classes were more advanced, so chance meetings were not likely.

At the end of their senior semester, Cadet Delorita Zohra left the Academy and disappeared as she was promptly moved into covert operations where her appearance was changed as well as her name. She took the name Jina Gari or JG. She became a palace guard in time for the uprising and then being the only surviving member, as luck would have it, joined a Spartan infantry group believed to have ties with smugglers. JG started out as a corporal and quickly worked her way up to sergeant before she was reassigned to the target group, the nefarious Black Rose. Ironically, Lord Chaney, her unacknowledged father, who was the alleged head of a major smugglers band, sponsored the Black Rose.

She heard news now and then of Lieutenant Montran through the Spartan grapevine, and then of her promotion to Captain. She knew what a quick rise in infantry ranks meant and her heart felt heavy for the once tenderhearted woman.

***

Chapter 7

"Captain on deck!"

"At ease, soldiers! Gather round!" Captain Miller looked toward Lt. Ninian who nodded that the place had been cleared of any monitoring devices that were not theirs.

"Our comrades aboard the Spinner's Tale," he paused as the jeers and catcalls echoed eerily through the cargo bay. "As I was saying, Spinner's Tale's crew was actually given an important job from Lord Chaney, however, true to form, they screwed up." The contempt in the captain's voice had the group making lewd comments peppered with rude noises. "We are being asked to assist in locating and delivering this person to Lord Chaney who has been visiting while we were on leave. Lord Chaney thinks she's still alive."

"Since when does Lord Chaney personally get involved with kidnapping people?" Sgt. Megan Vanster asked.

"Yeah. Usually his goons handle it," another soldier added.

"That's not showing too much sense to have anyone on Spinner kidnapping someone!" a voice in the back remarked.

Again laugher and rude comments followed.

Captain Miller hesitated a moment. This was going to be the more difficult part because it was against the Black Rose's ethics and he did not want it to take away from why they were really here.

"He got it up his big arse that Captain Montran as a living, breathing, freely moving citizen is bad for his reputation. He had her kidnapped and brought to Merker's Outpost for some of his fun n' games at the hands of his metradame before turning her over to kid Fermin's metralab people."

He waited. This was where his soldiers were going to recall that Captain Harriet Montran was a legend among Spartans because she had survived Lord Chaney's two years of determined no-return deployments along with a Spartan group he detested. The Degas troop survived his final death assignment coup in the form of one lone person that survived the prison camp, Captain Montran.

And then there was the point that Captain Montran was a survivor against all odds making her an unofficial Black Rose member. Once a Spartan, always a Spartan and once a Black Rose…even into death, was a Black Rose.

"Captain…"

"If we find her…we'll treat her as we do any other Spartan." There. He did it. He could see it in their eyes, that to them, she was still the highly decorated Captain Harriet Montran of the Degas troop. All Spartans saluted a drink to the troop on dark moon nights when they remembered fallen comrades. Silently he cursed Lord Chaney for his arrogance on ignoring military protocol, and his ignorance on understanding a troop he highly valued. But then again, that lack of understanding was why they were here, which was to Captain Miller's advantage.

"If she's alive what do we do with her?" Sgt. Major JG asked cautiously.

He glanced at his Sgt. Major. "We'll deal with that when and if we run into her." He looked over his troop, studying them closely. They were uncomfortable with this new assignment. To remind them of their primary target he tapped his sidearm getting the familiar sound that told them he wanted their attention. "This also gives us a good reason to search on the other side of the planet without Lord Chaney becoming too suspicious. Alright, lieutenant, get 'em mounted," he told his second in an undertone.

"Sgt. Major, ya heard the captain. Let's move out," he told her quietly.

"Mount up, ya ugly hairy arses!" Sgt. Maj. JG barked.

***

**

Windstorms that frequented the planet's surface on Merker's Outpost brought a halt to the Black Rose's deployment to the far side of the planet. That was where the team's recon tactical specialist pinpointed as the most likely place for Captain Montran's disappearance. During the storm's duration, Captain Miller had his team return to quarters and rest. It was two stan hours later when the clangons sounded, waking everyone up. While Sgt. Major JG had the troop scattered to secure and lock down the city's access doors, Lt. Ninian monitored damage control. Captain Miller was aboard the Spinner's Tale, involved in an unsolicited and unwanted call from the kid Fermin.

***

*

"What is going on?" Alan paused in the middle of a one sided-argument with Captain Miller. The alarm on the captain's communicator was buzzing annoyingly.

"This conversation is over and out." Captain Miller ended the transmission with a satisfied thump on the table with his fist. His voice command deactivated the link, bringing up the Fermin Business logo and then the Spinner's Tale's registry ID, signifying the link was indeed broken. He turned the alarm on his communicator off and waited for the communication link between planet and ship to sync.

As he waited, he stretched his long legs and eased the tension out of his shoulders. The conversation with kid Fermin was not totally a waste of time. He was able to interpret from the kid's posturing that he was not aware of Lord Chaney's presence on the outpost. It meant his spies were not as informed as he would have the captain believe. The captain detested the immature pretentious youth who had no value in his world and therefore would never rise to any formality of address other than 'yeah' or 'what do you want.' His lips curled in a snarl that he had managed to refrain from when the kid had ordered him to make sure no Spartan was to participate in the search for Harriet Montran. Captain Miller did not waste his time pointing out to Alan that he had no authority in anything pertaining to the outpost and most of all over Captain Miller. He had no worry about Alan loosening his small army of metrasoldiers on the base because so far in every confrontation with his little army, the Black Rose won. Of course, it had a lot to do with the kid not wanting to give any control to his little minions so when a skirmish was fought with creative changes, his army kept to his original battle plan. If it were a battle to the death, he would have been loosing a lot of his expensive toys. He shook his head disgustedly. People with too much money should be given a babysitter with clout to keep them from interfering with those that have something in life to do. He had warned Lord Chaney many times that the kid was too unstable to associate with, but Lord Chaney liked to play with fire.

His communicator indicated it was ready. The captain had a grim smile on his face as he tapped in his code for a secured communication link, and the bubble surrounded him, blocking out any interference or unwanted listeners.

He sighed as he assessed what the kid's temper would do to his current plans. The kid was not getting what he wanted, which was the undisputed ownership of Captain Montran's remains. What the captain was hoping was that with both Lord Chaney and the kid distracted, it would give him a little more time to find what he was looking for. Once it was found…they would not be a problem.

Impatiently he watched the indicators on his communicator as it displayed the progress in passing the encryption coding on a secured line to his staff on the planet's surface. The soft tone announced the connection was completed.

"Lt. Ninian, report."

[Lt. Ninian here, Captain. That slimy cretin…]

Captain Miller cursed under his breath also.

[…opened a contaminated room into the main corridor. All rooms feeding into that corridor have been successfully locked down and secured. We were damn lucky. One causality, a crewmember from Spinner's Tale. Sgt. Major checked on Lord Chaney. His metradame reported he was sleeping and did not want to be disturbed with anything that was not important. The natives are getting restless as show time nears. Since Chaney is here, we could go about our business and let him worry about the transmission.]

That was not surprising news. The smugglers being a suspicious and jealous lot did not want the Black Rose troop around when they did their business, as if they were rivals. However, Captain Miller's pulse jumped interpreting an underlying message that the winds had finally died down over their target site.

Intuition refined by years of Spartan survival had him convinced that the missing Captain Montran was not only alive and well, but had found the entrance to another city within the planet. His wistful thinking was that it was the city he was looking for. With all the luck she had, he would put his money on her.

"Understood. Have the team geared up and ready to move out when the shuttle lands. Out."

***

The Black Rose team assembled in their shuttle, Queen Bee, quietly waiting for the officers to join them. Captain Miller and Lt. Ninian, under the cover of checking out the situation a member of the Spinner's Tale had exacerbated, were locating the exact whereabouts of Lord Chaney. The Sgt. Major and her team had verified that regardless of what the metradame Sheila had said, Lord Chaney was not in his quarters. The captain was speaking with an informant while the lieutenant stood guard.

After a stan hour, both men entered the shuttle geared up in AEGs and with grim expressions. They determined Lord Chaney was up to mischief with Sheila left to deflect any suspicions. Lord Chaney never went anywhere without his bodyguard, which was why she had been left behind. According to his informant, Lord Chaney was negotiating a new deal with a rival smuggler's group to exclude and eliminate one of his partners. It was like Lord Chaney to have many pots over many fires but it added more intrigue to an already dangerous mix, which translated into mayhem if word leaked out. The atmosphere on Merker's Outpost had suddenly become dangerously volatile and the captain was sure all it would take was the kid's arrival and the outpost would be a war zone. It was a hell of a time to have a cockfight.

"Take'er up, Sarg," the lieutenant gave the order once both men secured themselves.

"We'll pick up where we left off. Sgt. Vanster and Cpl. Guilfo will monitor for winds. They are more frequent on this side of the planet, so keep sharp Sergeant."

They all gave mental sighs. After two years, they knew the weather on the planet's surface. Their captain was anxious about something.

"Any hint, start the pick up. This is it! No going back! Do you have the sensor deflector in place?" Captain Miller asked the Sgt. Major.

"Yes, Sir." So, that's why he's nervous. This is his window of opportunity and he will most likely not get another by my reckoning. "Windstorm readings in this area with an occasional window of clearing…life readings are being sent out regularly for us on the Southern Rim." That bugaboo Alan must be in the mix for him to have escalated the operation. It's about time anyway…two damn long years here with nothing happening is a real drag!

"Good. Any of you find your seals or equipment failing, don't hesitate to call in! I don't want any accidents that can be prevented. Got that?"

"Yes, sir!" the group responded.

"Sgt. Vanster and her crew, as usual, will monitor the equipment and fill the tanks as they come in." He checked himself, realizing he was nervously repeating himself.

***

*

The team fanned out and worked until the twin suns dropped below the horizon leaving them in total darkness. They had replaced their tanks too many times to remember and even with breaks for rest and food, they were still exhausted.

"Call 'em back in, Lieutenant," the captain ordered disappointed.

"Right."

[Rose Bud to Queen Bee, come in.]

"Yeah!" both officers answered in unison.

[Marksen here, sirs. Sgt. Major tripped over something. She's out of range from your position.]

"We're starting to pick up everyone. We'll be right there with the rest of the squad. Tell her to stay put," the captain ordered excitedly.

"Sergeant, giddy-up!" Lt. Ninian ordered.

"Right, Sir!" Expertly handled, the shuttle rose and skimmed the surface picking up the scattered members who were all showing signs of exhaustion.

"Sgt. Major, come in," the lieutenant called as they approached her position.

[Here, to the left of you, Sir.]

"Helgas Moon. She made good progress in this atmosphere," the lieutenant muttered. The captain nodded.

The Sgt. Major directed the shuttle with a light.

Fatigued, JG shifted to reposition the heavy air canister as she watched the shuttle land. Normally the air canisters weight was negligible, however, in this atmosphere, everything's weight more than tripled.

"The rest of you, just stay here and rest," the captain ordered to his all too agreeable troop.

The lieutenant and captain were out of the shuttle the moment Queen Bee stabilized, and followed the shuttle's outdoor light to JG and the lump by her feet.

"Will you look at that?" Lt. Ninian whistled in his helmet, kneeling heavily near the pipe.

"What do you think the arrows mean?"

"Have you identified it?" the captain asked JG.

"Yes, sir. It's one of the old Bessmache maintenance all-atmosphere cables discontinued from ten standard years back. But it's in good shape and holding up to the elements, sirs."

"Just like they used to advertise," the lieutenant agreed taking his own readings.

Captain Miller snorted, "They should have elected a CEO with the same philosophy as the one they forced into retirement. They've been making junk since. Divide and conquer. That's what their main competitor did to them. So, what's your reading?"

"She's right on. No signs of wear. Amazing for the winds that blow through here."

JG merely listened knowing that NCOs were not expected to participate in COs conversations, merely anticipate their desires and or needs.

"Good. Let's mark this place and get back to the shuttle. We all need some rest." The captain turned and headed back to the shuttle already planning the next days activities.

JG assisted the Lieutenant to his feet.

Helgas Bloody Moon, but I'm going to sleep like a bear during winter. Gratefully, JG headed back to the shuttle, following her COs. Mentally she thanked her snitch for the coordinates, otherwise the team would still be searching. After two years, she still did not know who her snitch was…but so far, whoever it was had not misled her and he or she had the right pass codes, and was able to pass her own tests.

Back in the shuttle, the captain outlined the next day's assignment.

"In about five stan...."

"Eight would be better, captain," the lieutenant interrupted softly. He knew the team would still be too tired.

"Right, right. In eight stan hours then, we'll split up in two teams, each following the cable in opposite directions. Now get some rest."

The captain did not sleep for long. While the others slept, he went over his plan repeatedly looking for flaws and trying to find alternatives if this or that did not work while keeping a wary eye on the weather indicators. Captain Miller rubbed his face tiredly.

So, when is Lord Chaney dealing out Master Alha Bahna? Helgas Bloody Moon, but he better make sure he kills that guy or there is going to be hell to pay. Master Alha Bahna does not like to be outsmarted…which means he probably has something planned to get rid of Lord Chaney. It's gotta be big because winner takes all…and chances will be they'll only have a small empire left when the smoke clears. Damn these complications. Why the hell is Chaney keeping the operation here for so long? It gives me more time to find the city but…why is he still here? Does he know what I'm looking for? He probably thinks we're looking for entrances to the other cities to loot them. We've got to find the damn portal before the kid gets here. I can feel it in my bones that that idiot is heading here and then this place won't be safe for tourists and it will be too hot for even a soldier.

He was right when he told his soldiers this had to be it. Once the transmission for the auction was finished, the hunt for the missing Captain Montran would go on and the maps of the planet they had been working on for the last two years would have to be turned over to Lord Chaney. It would only be a matter of time that the smugglers, if not Lord Chaney, find the other cities his father had told him existed. So far none of their equipment could penetrate the surface to find the cities. The electromagnetic storms and heavy atmosphere prevented their equipment to work properly. It had been two years of slow, methodical searching hampered by the unpredictable weather topside, the unbreachable computer that kept them limited to a small part of the city. It also took some doing to keep a low profile from Lord Chaney's naturally suspicious mind. And by the chance visit and disappearance of a celebrity, everything has ended. He grunted softly. What made him so sure she was alive? Was it instincts? No. It was something real simple. Logic. He did not believe that someone who had survived Lord Chaney's relentless pursuit for nine years would die so easily. It was not just luck. Captain Miller believed Captain Montran had telepathic abilities that had helped her and her troop to remain alive for as long as they did. It did not lessen his appreciation of her military abilities, because she would need military know-how to have brought her platoon of misfits and losers out of so many drops. It was a sound conclusion, considering Lord Chaney made sure they did not have the proper gear or working weapons in. So, his other worry was…what was he going to do when he came up against her? First off, he was not going to threaten her outright …her ability to survive such attacks told him that would not work.

A smile curled his lips. So…he was going to finally meet Lord Chaney's demon. He tried to conjure up what this demon would look like. He had met her brother once. He was of average height for his clan and had no special physical attributes aside from his orange hair that made him stand out from a crowd, until you were in his sphere of influence. He had a leader's magnetism.

Until it was time to waken his troop, he thought how to seduce or sidetrack the orange haired captain until he took ownership of the portal. For a moment his blood turned cold at the thought that she would find it before him. Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself that according to the research he had done on portals, it took a minimum of five or four people to take possession of it, though after that only one person could be Guardian. There was only one of her. Once he was in command of the portal, he would send Captain Montran to another galaxy through the portal, somewhere where they did not have space flight. As a Guardian he could not take a life, for the energy that sustained the portal would turn him into a pile of cinders. In addition, as Guardian of Merker's Outpost, he could prevent her return.

At the appointed time, Captain Miller woke his troop to continue the search. Those following the larger arrows found an elevator plate eight cubits after the mark. The group reassembled in the shuttle replacing seals, and loaded up on extra tanks. They left Sgt. Vanster and with two crew members to monitor the weather and the activity of the five ships hovering above the planet.

They all crowded together on the elevator plate, with the captain activating the lever for decent. The only light in the elevator was from their lamps until the elevator stopped and a light above the doorway lit up green. As the door to the elevator opened wide, the two front soldiers quickly moved out with the others fanning in front of them raider style, advancing three cubits at a time as they scanned the entire surface of the corridor. Eventually, they came to another elevator. There on the door was a homing device just like the sgt. major left on the elevator they arrived on.

"Hold up, everyone!" the captain's aggravated voice crackled through their helmet communicators. He checked his sensor again, just as everyone else did. It showed they were moving forward and yet here they were, back at the elevator. It was another annoying trick of the guardian of the outpost. In their two years of trying to secure the outpost for a short-term smuggler's den, they found they were not able to outwit or counter the measures the computer guardian took against their equipment. Since they were maintaining a low profile to passing ships, they were limited in what type of weapons to use to secure the area. Using high explosives or sonics that might disrupt the city's life support system was suicide.

"Captain?" a voice inquired after a considerable lapse in time.

"My father told me something about a corridor with no doorways, it just went around. This is it! That means just above here are the laboratories and the portal! Let's go back over this corridor for a tiny crack that looks like it goes to a maintenance tunnel. They have them all over the city so I'm sure they have them here. You know the drill, find one!"

He was well aware of the time frame with the air. Having spent more time topside their seals were weak. A tank of four hours was lasting less than three hours and steadily less than that with each refurbishment.

"Sir! I found it!"

The others quickly gathered around Cpl. Robert's kneeling form.

It was a faint line. As Cpl. Robert's leaned against the wall to change position, a faint click was heard and the crack opened into a crawl space for maintenance personnel.

"Damn!" The lieutenant and captain expressed together. The lieutenant shinned his light through the opening. It appeared to be like any other maintenance crawl space on a ship except that it was high enough for the shorter members to walk upright. It was just like in the City and therefore, may have unpleasant surprises waiting for unauthorized personnel.

"All right, everyone, listen up!" The Captain took charge immediately. "Check your air and temperature gauges."

"Roberts and Bandio, forward position. JG and Smitson remain here. Let's move!" The captain followed behind Cpl. Roberts, giving her and Bandio plenty of distance to let them check for the surprises. They made a complete circle and were back to the service entrance facing JG and Smitson who had drawn their weapons at their approaching lights.

"Sir, it's time to change over to the second tank."

"Right." The group climbed back into the corridor to comfortably change. While the group switched to their second tank, gratefully shedding the bulk of the empty one, the captain turned to JG.

"JG, go check with the shuttle."

Nodding she returned to the elevator to go topside. She knew he wanted a complete report from Sgt. Vanster on what was going on topside and he did not trust any of the other grunts to remember or know what was important to relay to him.

"Roberts and Scout, get back in there and place a charge," the captain ordered impatiently.

***

**

"How's the weather?"

"Fine, for the next two hours."

The two glanced at the other crewmembers that were busily repairing parts to emptied tanks, working fast and efficiently from habit, and then refilling them, each marked for species differences in air mixture.

"Most of the tanks are worthless now. I'm having to strip down others for replacement parts."

"I'll send up our discarded tanks."

"Well, let's change yours since you're here. I can see a seam already forming at the stem. Check the others when you get back. We don't have any more stems to replace so the whole unit will have to be swapped out."

As they swapped JG's equipment, Vanstar continued, "Mr. High and Mighty is on his ship. Sent word he wants to see the captain when he returns from his inspection. Said to check with his staff for his whereabouts." Both women smirked. Lord Chaney did not trust some of the smugglers so he did not give his location out until he was there.

"Windstorm over the city caught some of the search groups topside, so they were picked up and delivered to the two hovering freighters. We have a second windstorm forming over the rim. It should hit here in two days. I don't want to be a party pooper, but it looks like the same type of weather pattern from the previous year is shaping up."

They both exchanged meaningful looks and then gave each other the Black Rose 'talley ho' sign. JG's decent back into the city was quiet as she mentally laid her own plans. When the elevator door opened, the others were gathering around the elevator door.

"Where are the other three?" she asked worried.

"Placing a charge in the tunnel," Lt. Ninian answered. "Captain, why don't we wait in the elevator and give our equipment a rest?" he suggested.

The captain nodded as they crowded on the elevator to run a check on their equipment. The elevators were the only places the computer that oversaw the outpost, did not threaten them in. While they huddled in the elevator, JG passed on her information to the captain and lieutenant, with both cursing under their breaths, more at the weather front moving in than the news of Lord Chaney's desire to speak with the captain.

***

*

Cpl. Roberts, meanwhile, had found a place to wedge the charge. As the explosive specialist, she disagreed with the size of blow the captain insisted on using. She thought it was not enough to damage the wall structure, which would be suicidal, but would cause a back draft and a possible flameout. As she and her partner hurried back down the tunnel, they could see in their lights the exit panel closing.

"Helgas Bloody Moon!" Scout cursed. "Carson should be keeping that thing open!"

The two frantically pushed all around the panel area looking for something that would reopen their exit. In the city, it was to the right of the panel's top corner. They had to get out of there soon or the blast that was set with a five-minute delay would blow them out of their suits.

Angrily, Roberts slammed her gloved palm on the corner of the panel and she fell through the sudden opening into the corridor. Scout scrambled over her grabbing her wrist and hauling her to her feet. They had to get around the corner, away from the backlash. The last sound they heard was the muffled explosion. The force of the blast knocked them into the wall, leaving one stunned and the other unconscious. A green cloud of gas flamed out of the tunnel, the orange tendrils curling up into the air vents and sucked in. The empty canisters sitting next to the tunnel exploded sending shrapnel about the area.

The elevator shook from the explosion. The group in the small space looked at each other while activating their visors in an automatic response. Various expletives were heard over the communicators as everyone whispered their favorites.

"Everyone secure?" the captain demanded.

JG tapped each helmet quickly getting thumbs up responses from each Spartan that they were good.

"Secure, Sir!"

The lieutenant pushed the button to open the elevator door. The flameout had receded but bits of metal were strewn about the floor and a burnt object was stuck to one of the walls.

"The metal is from an air canister, sir." JG reported as she read the read-out from her HR. There was no evidence of any life forms or the remains. Helgas Bloody Moon! We lost soldiers in a noncombative recon mission and parts we badly need for our equipment.

The others also had their readers out. No one mentioned three lives gone; it was the hazards of their job. There would be another time and place for grieving.

"The charge must have hit something. Look at that green gas." The lieutenant shinned his light on the ceiling. The captain stepped into the corridor. The lights in the area immediately came on giving them a better view of the damage, which was scattered shrapnel, and nothing else. The walls remain unaffected. Cautiously the captain walked out of sight of the others as he inspected the corridor up to where he felt the panel should be. The others followed, careful to not step on the sharp remains of the tanks and maybe other things that they did not want to think about.

"It's probably from the canisters," Markson quietly mentioned in his helmet to no one in particular.

"Watch your step, Spartans," the lieutenant cautioned. The lieutenant kept his eyes on the green gas seeping from the tunnel opening and getting sucked up through the ceiling vent. They had seen many different shades of green gasses that Guardian would release in the city but this one was not familiar.

The captain was kneeling in front of the service door careful not to let the gas cloud touch him. Some of the chemicals Guardian used ate through their AEGs, giving a good warning as to what it would do to their lungs. There was nothing his light revealed except that the tendrils of the gas were dissipating before it reached the ceiling. As the last of it curled upward, the captain stepped cautiously into the tunnel. He was too close to give up and return to the ship, and time was running out. His intuition was telling him that kid Fermin was up to no good. He felt that as sure as he felt Captain Montran was still alive…somewhere on this outpost.

Once in the tunnel, he hurried down the passage sweeping his light along the walls, ceiling and floor, looking for a mark of where the charge had been set.

"Lieutenant there's an opening here in the ceiling." In his preoccupation with his discovery, he failed to notice the silence.

The lieutenant on the outside decided to follow since the captain was not responding to his calls. He found Captain Miller attempting to move some cables in a space between the floor levels. Two of the cables looked like they were leaking something. The captain and lieutenant both started to push on what appeared to be a floor panel to the floor above them.

"Get one of the others to help."

The lieutenant watched the captain's lips move. He gathered their communicators were not working. The lieutenant shook his head. The lieutenant was not going to leave the captain alone when they were so close to the portal.

Outside of the service panel, JG realized their communicators were malfunctioning.

"It must be some kind of trick from Guardian," wrote Cpl. Markson on a pad.

JG nodded. Cpl. Markson was skittish about the computer that over-saw the outpost. He was starting to give it mystical qualities, much to JG's contempt, which she was careful not to show. She motioned to two of the Spartans to stay near the elevator and then to Markson and Bandio to check the tunnel out. Henderson remained with her at the service tunnel opening.

Markson and Bandio found the captain and lieutenant trying to push up a floor plate in the ceiling. Bandio squeezed in at the captain's direction and lent his own weight. The plate moved enough to show a space big enough for their fingered gloves to pass though. The captain gestured to use a charge but the lieutenant was vigorously shaking his head no. Markson was relieved but he was afraid the captain might get his wish if they did not come up with an alternative. While the two continued to argue in gestures, Bandio leaned against the tunnel and looked back the way they came while Markson shinned his light around further up the tunnel. Curious, Markson left the two arguing officers to investigate a movement. Ten steps further into the tunnel, his heart nearly stopped and a scream that only his ears could hear filled his throat. His light revealed two yellow eyes before him. They blinked. Dropping his light, Markson turned and frantically ran back to the others. His light attached to a line on his utility belt, banged back and forth around his legs, creating eerie shadows on the walls. The captain and lieutenant stopped their conversation to see Markson frantically waving his arms at them and his light wildly swinging around his legs. The lieutenant caught him by the arms and tried to calm him down while the captain picked up his light and handed it to him. Both could see that he was frightened. His helmet's faceplate was condensing over. The captain reluctantly signaled they would return to the elevator so that they could hear what Markson had to say.

Cpl. Markson's visibility in his helmet was quickly becoming nil so he was placed between two men who guided him back out. JG helped Markson out of the tunnel and they all retreated to the elevator. When the elevator doors sealed and their scanners read that the air was breathable, they retracted their helmets.

"What in blasting asteroids is bothering you?" Captain Miller demanded.

"Eyes! Two yellow eyes staring at me!" he gasped out struggling to get his breathing back to normal.

The others were silent. They had not met any living species on this planet yet, only cyberbeings and small utility roBots. However, none of them had yellow eyes.

"There can't be any life form out of a suit and my COR hasn't picked up any bio forms," the captain started slowly. He did not want anyone to panic when he was so close. "Check your breather mixture." It was the first thing to do when something like this happened; you ruled out possibilities.

"Yeah, yeah," Markson mumbled. He had already done so before he entered the tunnel and they were just fine, however he looked at it again. The dials registered an imbalance, but that was expected since he had overtaxed the suit with his hyped up bios.

"There you go. You were hallucinating from an uneven mix. You should know the drill, Markson," the lieutenant pointed out relieved.

The others seemed okay with that explanation. They seemed to have forgotten that they all checked their gauges before entering the tunnel, but Markson did not. The captain meanwhile gave the rundown of their situation to the others and the conversation turned to what to do about the jammed floor panel.

"We can't blast another hole. We don't know what's in those other hoses."

"Well, what have you to suggest?" the captain asked the lieutenant.

"Wedge something in there to pry it up. It feels like we just need the right leverage."

"Yeah." The captain punched his gloved fist in his opened palm. "I can feel it's ready to give."

JG pulled out a short metal bar from her leg pocket. It was used to open stubborn doors and such. It was also a handy weapon. "How's this?"

Both the captain and lieutenant made a grab for it.

"Well, let's go back and try." The captain looked at the lieutenant with wary eyes.

The lieutenant ignored the look and checked his gauges. The others followed suit.

"The lieutenant and I will return back up the tunnel. Markson, how are your gauges?"

"They're still off their mark, sir."

"If it doesn't clear up in a quarter stan, return topside and get new equipment. It could be a bad stem."

The captain looked at his watch. "If we're not back in an hour JG, get fresh tanks for everyone, if you haven't already, and bring us replacements. Three light flashes, JG means we're in. We won't need air once we are at the portal. We won't need air anywhere within any of the compounds. Guardian, that damn computer thing, will have to take care of us!" The Captain took Guardian's defense against their illegal occupation personally. He looked around and got nods. He needed at least four people to make a claim for the possession of the Portal. As silly as all the information was on the portal, the power that could be derived from owning it made him cautious.

"Gear up then."

Everyone reactivated their helmets and waited for the doors to open. The light read green for the hallway but they ignored it. Markson's helmet still had condensation around the edges but it was enough to convince the others that his suit was still malfunctioning.

As the door opened, the others did not move. A light powder had settled onto the ground and there was an unmistakable smudged trail that was from the elevator to around the corner.

"It's us!" the captain suddenly announced relieved. The others heard it on their communicators. "Those are our footprints," he repeated.

"The communicators are working, Captain," Markson announced relieved.

"Let's go," the captain remarked to the lieutenant impatiently.

Markson and Guilfo kept watch on the elevator and corridor, while Henderson, Bandio and JG followed the tracks back to the service tunnel, just behind the officers. The captain and lieutenant reentered the tunnel with Henderson, and left Bandio and JG to guard the tunnel entrance.

"I almost thought Markson's friend with the eyes was here!" Bandio admitted to JG when the officers were well on their way into the tunnel. Dark unreadable eyes turned his way and Bandio held his breath a moment. She merely nodded. The facemask did not lessen the intensity of the stare and Bandio found himself nervously shifting his shoulders.

Markson's voice, sounding far away, interrupted the silence.

"Go see what he wants, Corporal. If he goes topside, stay with Guilfo."

Gratefully he nodded and shuffled off. JG gave him the chills, not that he did not value her as a soldier. She was good and she made a point of getting her group out of combat situations and sometimes bar situations, with minimal damage, unless she was irritated with you because you were the cause of a stupid mistake. Then, she may save you but her pummeling you had you thinking twice about doing something stupid again. Personally, she was unreadable and too mysterious for him. He did not want to work that hard in a relationship.

***

As the captain and lieutenant made their way into the service tunnel, they found that the hoses and partially opened ceiling were repaired and back in place.

"Can you hear me?" the captain asked the lieutenant

"Yeah, I can."

"It's the maintenance bots. That's what Markson saw. With all of us in its small space, it probably went back into its cubbyhole to wait until we left. It's a wonder the explosion hasn't left any marks or life support breeches."

"Hmm," the lieutenant agreed. "That green stuff is gone too." Yet neither man deactivated their helmets.

Three lights shinned on the area where they had surveyed earlier. They once more wrestled it back open to a crack. They could slide the pry bar between it and the floor above them.

In the main corridor, unseen by any of the group, a panel opened and three small robots came out to clean up the dust and debris, sweeping away any trace of their presence.

"Bandio, come in." JG had her back against the wall where she could look into the tunnel and down the corridor.

Probably gossiping with Guilfo and using up air. Idiots. Now would be a good time for my snitch to send another message. Though, it may be rather difficult since this is on the other side of the city we're settin' up house in. However, if he or she did, it would give me a better clue as to who it may be…like who in Helios Fires would be able to transmit over here…besides the damn guardian? Shit! That would be too damn creepy if it was the guardian.

***

Markson nodded to Bandio who he figured was coming to replace him since he had requested a release to get his equipment replaced. His faceplate was too fogged up to see now. Bandio's appearance was a relief for Guilfo. He was getting jumpy about the place and did not want to be standing alone when Markson went topside.

While Markson took the elevator up, the two guards moved up the corridor to make the usual patrol sweep to keep the place secured.

Markson had no problems on his lift back up to the surface. The canisters were lying near by with a note attached saying Cpl. Clovus called Sgt. Vanster back to the ship.

"Runt to pack leader, come-on in," he called after dialing into the link Sgt. Vanster left.

[Pack leader, runt. How's the search?] Clovus replied tartly.

"Well, you're no pack leader," Markson snorted back.

[I've got it, Clovus. Go help out,] Vanster's voice was heard nearby. [What's happening?]

"Markson here, Sarg. Search is still going on. Suit's damaged and came up for a spare."

[Ditto. Secured here, Markson. Clovus has been sniffing around Spinner's systems wondering how the present we left was doing. Seems someone cleaned up the place and reinstated safeties.]

"Bloody moon! I'll let the captain know when I see him. I thought we had them good!"

[It's not a bad thing. It made it easier to find goodies they're transporting for their next stop…some smuggler's base near Rhion. Brand new state of the art AEGs. Enough for us plus spares. Sure would bring a bundle on the underground market…Tell the captain, they look like they've been tested but not under live conditions. I'll bring them back with me. We can use replacements.]

"Wow! I'll tell him. Not too bad working around the suck heads!" he laughed and thought about all the stuff he was able to steal or buy cheap from the smugglers, that he would normally not see or even be able to afford on his pay going through normal channels.

[It's stolen goods no matter how we've acquired them,] snorted the Sear gent. But he knew she was not serious, because he had seen her buy something from a smuggler once. [Should be back within an hour if not sooner. Out.]

"Check that. Out," he signed off. Checking his timepiece he marked the time. On the elevator, he replaced his own air canister. By the time he reached his destination most of his helmet was cleared. He wondered what the new AEGs would look like. He also wondered how they were going to show up in them if they were contraband and not even on the market yet. Maybe they would wear their old one's out to this side of the planet and change into the better ones. What a lot of trouble.

When the elevator doors opened, the hall lights were off. Thinking Bandio and Guilfo were still looking around, Markson hesitated. He shinned his light around the hall, not seeing any debris left by the explosion. Cautiously, he stepped out and the lights came on. The entire corridor was clean as if they had not been there. For a moment, he worried that he was on the wrong floor but the device that the Sgt. Major left was on the outside door. He decided against moving the canisters into the corridor incase there was another explosion.

"Sgt. Major, come in?" There was no return signal indicating an open receiver. He walked towards the panel but found no one. Returning to the elevator door, he again looked at the homing device, and touched it to reassure himself. He was on the right floor, so, where was everyone? He stepped back into the elevator and decided to wait inside with the canisters.

***

JG saw a signal flashing. She signaled back and hurried to the elevator. The light indicated it was not available. Markson was probably top side getting fresh canisters and the two guards she had posted were probably doing a routine inspection up the corridor, however, one should have remained within sight of the elevator door. Irritated she glanced at her gauges…more than half full. That meant the captain and lieutenant must be near reserve. She hurried back to the service door thinking she would see Guilfo and Bandio coming from the opposite direction. There was no one.

"Guilfo and Bandio, report!" she called over her come impatiently.

Nothing. Not even a return signal, meaning their communication was again shut down by Guardian.

"Bloody moon," she muttered as she changed channels. "Captain, this is Sgt. Major, come in." No return signal and no voice response.

"Blast." She headed back to the maintenance panel and climbed into the tunnel to chase the two COs down and see what they were up to. I gotta be a dammed babysitter for those two too. That's all a Sgt. Major is, JG, a big babysitter. Gutless Henderson would rather die than say anything to the officers to check their tanks. Damn grunt!

She found the two officers, with one pulling on the short jack that was wedged between the ceiling and a trapdoor. Her communication light went green.

Damn equipment! "Where's Henderson, sirs?" she asked shinning her light down both ends of the service tunnel.

"Went to look for the bot," the lieutenant grunted while pulling on the bar.

"How's your air?"

The two quickly looked at their gauges.

"Blasters! I'm on reserve," the captain replied.

The lieutenant nodded that he was also. "Let's go back and get a fresh supply," he wisely suggested.

"If we leave it, the bot will come by and close the panel again."

"Sir, I think you're going in the wrong direction," JG commented as she looked at the panel. "The one room we accessed through a floor panel in the city tucked itself down under the floor space."

"What? When was this? Why was I not informed?"

"It was in a report Sgt. Vanster had prepared. She and Cpl. Roberts went to the East side..."

"Yeah, yeah. I remember the scenario. I just don't remember reading her report," he testily replied.

"We departed after they got back," the lieutenant remembered.

The captain and lieutenant each tried to move the panel back down.

"We can go back and get new tanks, let the bot fix this like it did last time and then come back and start with a new perspective," the lieutenant suggested.

"Do you remember how she opened the panel?" The captain asked, reluctant to leave what he considered was close to a problem being solved.

"Yeah. She said there was a switch boot level."

They all started to flash their lights around the floor.

"Hey! Look, right here. It's a push plate. Blasters!"

The captain pushed the plate but only the ceiling panel closed and opened. The floor panel to the room above them was jammed.

"Mac, I'm going to get my tank replaced," the lieutenant told him firmly and started back up the corridor.

The captain stared at the plate for a few moments longer, and then turned and followed the lieutenant. JG still had plenty of air so she remained a while longer hoping to see the bot and Henderson. A noise behind her had her spinning around with her weapon pulled out ready to fire. Before her was Markson's blinking yellow eyes. The bot had a yellow warning light blinking as it pulled the floor panel back into place. The bot then moved to its next job, tucking the hoses back into their space. With the above floor panel shut and the hoses back in place, the ceiling panel closed and the bot's blinking light stopped flashing. The bot wheeled around and moved back down the tunnel. JG moved to the ceiling panel to mark it so they would be able to find it again.

Alright, now let's go see what the others are up to.

Jogging down the service tunnel, she shined her light looking for the exit. There was no opening anywhere.

Shit, shit, shit. Went too bloody far. Damn panel closed.

Shining her light on her gauges she studied the readings.

Damn, equipment. Losing too much air!

This time as she moved down the corridor she looked more carefully for the opening but still was unable to locate it. As she leaned against the wall, she could hear her suit laboring too hard.

Gotta get to the upper room. The sensor's read is it has good air. I sure hope it's not another one of Guardian's tricks. Bloody moon!

She trotted back down the tunnel not hearing her feet as they thudded without an echo in the dark passageway, but rather concentrated on finding her marker.

Alright, let's see if this thing works.

The plate panel easily moved as she pushed it with her boot and the two panels above her opened. The energy field that surrounded her was like the ones they encountered in the city. It was an air bubble that enveloped whoever was within its area to prevent contamination of one level of space with another.

Bloody idiots. If they had opened it right, they would have activated everything.

Still, she left her helmet on. Vanster had said there was a switch for stairs next to the floor panel. After pushing the lever, she cautiously climbed the stairs. Peering into the darkened room, she fell forward as a painful cramp in her lungs told her she was at the bottom of her tank.

Ohhh, goddess!

She clutched her chest. She was going to have to trust her HR reading. Her eyes blurred and she rolled on her back, dragging her arm up to release her helmet before she passed out.

Bloody moon!

A shadow in the corner of the room detached itself and before the fresh air could revive her, an appendage reached down, and put a small patch on her neck.

"Sweet dreams," Charles soft voice told her.

***

Lt. Ninian had gone past the place where the panel was supposed to be open. He was good with spacing and he knew he had passed it. He was retracing his steps when he saw the captain's light ahead of him. He flashed his to let the Captain know it was him, and not one of Masterson's visitors.

"Sky, where's the panel?"

"I don't know. I think it closed when JG left her position. It's back this way though. We did not come this far, I'm sure of that. Where is JG and Henderson?"

"She was checking things when I left. I haven't seen Henderson since he left to go check out the bot. Maybe he found his tank low and stepped out to the elevator. Damn communications aren't working right!" The captain started to cough. He was at the bottom of his tank.

Rather than waste his air on talking the captain gestured to the lieutenant. Both started to carefully look along the wall for the opening. The lieutenant was breathing shallow but he started to cough too.

Damn dickhead, he thought irritably. If he had not been so reluctant to leave they would not be in this fix.

The captain collapsed against the wall where the lieutenant's light showed it to be a crack. As he pushed against the panel, he too started to sink to his knees. Holding his breath, he pushed the panel open and climbed out. He pulled the captain's unconscious form out of the tunnel and left him near the panel. He thought he could make it back to the elevator but only staggered a cubit before he too slumped to the ground unconscious.

Bots came from out of the walls and deactivated the helmets. Patches were placed on their necks and the unconscious forms were dragged through a larger door, located on the opposite wall. The bodies were dragged into separate rooms and stripped of their clothing. Both were lifted and placed on cots. The floor they had entered was a well-ventilated prison.

***

Chapter 8

Alexandra felt a cool breeze on her face as she watched the birds on AltaLA glide effortlessly in the stiff breeze. Occasionally one would dive into the water and reappear yards from its entrance. It would then bob on the water while it ate its catch. Sometimes a companion would swoop close and try to grab some of its meal. Some were successful and a chase would ensue. Their swoops and angles that followed were exciting to watch for they had a large wingspan that created a draft and noise when they passed. The birds had no fear of spectators and would fly close as they tried to get their pursuer off their tail. Drops of water would slide off their naturally oily wings, wetting their spectators as they flew by.

Five-year-old Alexandra spread her arms, mimicking the movements of the birds, as the excitement of the chase ran through her small frame. She felt the wind as it pressed against her feathers and the slight movement of her wing tips that changed the dramatic plunges into effortless glides. The joy of each bird she touched, whether the chaser or chased, sent shivers of excitement through her. It was a game for all of them. The birds, referred to as the DeeNaJa, were not given to violence or to out bursts of anger. The DeeNaJa were the willing partners of the Monks of Hela in teaching unskilled empaths how to use and develop their gifts.

Alexandra Harriet Montran, adopted daughter and third child to the High Lord and Lady of the Sacred Isle of Lelore on AltaLA, was in training for her second year at the monastery. Her mind touched the young bird thief who, like herself, was but a child. She continued her swoops for she was used to Alexandra. The young human child came often and joined Kela in her playful antics as she teased her serious father. He was fishing for his new hatchlings. Soon she would also be ready to bear eggs for her own nestlings while her spouse provided food for her and their young. But now she enjoyed her freedom.

Alexandra did not feel her older cousin/brother's protective arm around her waist as she leaned into the stiff wind as if to take off and follow her telepathic connection.

Lieutenant Montran became aware of someone demanding her attention. Reluctantly she refocused on the schematics on the multilevels of the city and location. Tedious. Her thoughts returned to AltaLA and her last visit. She was on her way to start her first year at a space academy that did not serve the upper nobility's snobbery, just two days before her eighteenth birthday. When Kela had died, Alexandra was fourteen years old. The shock of her death resulted in Alexandra shutting her telepathic and empathic side down, leaving the monastery and its teachings. Kela had died of old age, for the DeeNaJa's did not live more than ten years of human life.

Harriet turned to face the stiff wind and watched another young bird play the same game young Kela had played with her father. She felt the piercing pain again as she remembered Kela's attempts to explain to her life-long friend the necessity of her exposing herself to the deathblow of a TanChiSa, a wild tiger-like beast on AltaLA. The Law of Regeneration, she called it. Harriet cried again. She wanted to enjoy the play of the DeeNaJa without feeling the loss. She needed to take something positive away with her when she left her beloved LeLore Isles to join the AltaCom Academy for officer training. There may never be a return trip.

Lady Harriet, soon to be Cadet Montran, went to the rock where Kela had tiredly sat, waiting for a predator to find an easy meal. To honor Kela's memory, she relived the silent vigil of her death, seeing again the predator pounce on Kela's seated form, shredding and mangling her body. Harriet picked up her flute and played a song in Kela's memory. She had thought her throat would be too tight to play, but she surprised herself. The music soothed her, echoing eerily and drawing some of the large birds towards her. A profound sense of peacefulness settled on her, something she had not experienced for a long time. After the last of the notes died away, she carefully packed her flute. Lifting her head for a moment, she paused and listened to the wind. It sounded as if Kela's voice caressed her in the breeze. She had not been called Alexandra for a long time.

Harriet's thoughts moved to another level of consciousness. A message kept reminding her to pay attention, which she finally yielded to. Faces to personnel files flashed though her mind's eye. Some of the Spartan soldiers were recognizable, but from where? The information did not match her memory.

Later.

The images moved on to Lord Chaney, Sheila, and Captain Miller. She recognized Sheila's face in the faces the computer had flashed before on metradames. One face out of the many. Then there was Captain Miller. Where had she read about him?

Later.

Gradually the images and information slowed down, and then there was only the silence...and then the scent of Rotilla.

Sharon's favorite tea.

Harriet's eyes fluttered open to see Charles standing before her, holding a steaming cup of tea and a plate with something on it.

"Did you have a nice nap, Lieutenant?" He handed her the tea and a sandwich, not releasing either until she had a firm grip on each.

"Yeah, thanks," she whispered. Mentally and emotionally weary, Harriet took the cup and nourishment.

"It's the equivalent of Rotilla," Guardian informed her as she breathed in the steamy vapors before sipping. "It's from our own garden so it may not have the same taste you are familiar with."

"Hmm, it tastes good," Harriet murmured. Its effect was immediate. It cleared her thoughts and brought her to an interesting level of awareness. She looked in the cup suspiciously and sniffed it. It smelled just as she remembered Rotilla smelled.

I wonder why Guardian would have gardens when he is…ah, of course, his associate, Maud. Hmm. This is a Master Eaton lesson, no less. He had said the surefire way of getting in sync with a planet was to ingest foods grown in its soil. But I don't plan on staying here long enough to get in sync with this place, she reminded herself.

Harriet Montran's eyes tried to focus on the screens that showed groups of soldiers and civilians milling around as if an alarm had sounded. It felt like her attention was slowly working its way out of an interesting overlapping of information, where what she was seeing had additional meaning in relation to what Guardian's data provided...it just was not entirely clear yet. It was like having something almost within fingertip reach but not quite.

"So, what's happening?" Harriet sat up straighter, attempting to get her blood to move faster.

"The message I had sent to your Admiral has a retuned response of 'Geomatria.' Lt. Montran, can you explain to me that phrase? I have not been able to locate it in any of my searches."

Lt. Montran chuckled, feeling relieved. "It's a word we use to combine, 'Good to hear you're fine' and 'hang on, the troops are on their way.' It could mean also, to 'guts it out, because were kind of busy here'."

"Ahh. A bit confusing if the receiver is depending on a clear message. Well, let's hope it's the first. Time for the broadcast is near…and the windstorm above their city is winding down. Lord Chaney is attending a meeting aboard his ship to take out one of his smuggler partners." He laughed shortly. "This situation in the city is like a plump and soft vegetable in a pressure cooker. To further heat up the action in the pot, Maud has created some trouble. While the inhabitants were topside searching for your whereabouts, she was able to remove a few more of the captives in one of the rooms that they left unguarded. I vented some outside gas to cover their escape."

Lt. Montran sat forward. "We won't get that opportunity again. Chances are the Black Rose will be dispersed throughout the city to keep an eye on any more surprise visits. You said Lord Chaney…has programmed as a bodyguard a metradame."

"You find this hard to believe."

"I was wondering what her skill level is," the image of a seductive bodyguard appeared before her mind's eye and she had to struggle not to grin. And the idea of taking from Lord Chaney something that would cause him a great deal of inconvenience had a strong appeal. She leaned back in her chair, flashing with impatience on her inconsistent feelings about this operation. One moment cautious and not really sure about jumping into the fire, and the next looking at it with anticipation. Shaking her head with annoyance, she focused on the metradame, an unknown. The only information she had about metradames were sexual images from the advertisements. For a moment, she frowned as she remembered Sharon's anger when she found her reading the advertisement. No, that was a dream, Harriet. They don't have metradames in Collective space.

"Ahh. I see you know Dr. Sharon Teal." Guardian picked up the vivid image of her previous lover. "She is one of the few metradames that has been able to override her program."

Harriet's hand stopped in mid motion of bringing the sandwich to her mouth. A long quiet moment passed before her brain kicked back into gear.

Sharon...a metradame?! That's crazy! "You have the wrong Sharon Teal. The one I know is a respected scientist and she isn't in Committee territories. Metratoys haven't caught on with the populace in Collective space. I think only a few brothels on spaceports have them. They are considered too life-like."

The company that attempted to sell them did not do their homework on the attitude of the planets in Collective space. They had made the mistake of extolling the life-like bots as ideal for assisting the young and people with sexual hang-ups as training tools. Collective planets used the Monks of Hela or members of Aphrodite's House to address personal and intimate problems dealing with a person's sensuous side or lack of.

Guardian flashed images of a young woman recreated with an older woman's face, looking just like Sharon on one screen.

"No!" she nearly shouted in disbelief. Then softer, "I can't believe that. How would you have tapes on that?" she asked suspiciously.

"Security recordings at the lab. However, that's not what I'm trying to bring up here. Metrapeople are real people, but they are programmed with someone else's agenda."

"Sharon was real. Is real! She's not…one of those!"

"Yes. They are all real, as you call it. And that, Lt. Harriet Montran, you must remember when you meet up with Sheila, Lord Chaney's bodyguard."

"Goddess!" Harriet tried to refocus on Guardian's words after hearing her voice come out like a hysterical soldier. "What are you getting at? Oh!" she opened her eyes wide suddenly realizing what he was worried about. "You're afraid I will kill her if we get into some sort of skirmish. That's it, isn't it?" Her insides where shaking and she was confused as to whether it was from the accusations about Sharon or his feelings that she would blast away any life that got in her way. It was understandable since in Committee space, law enforcement used it as an expedient way to rid themselves of problems and potential problems; whereas, in Collective space, it was a last alternative, no matter whom the complaint came from or who it was about.

"No. I want you to know that metrapeople are living, viable, though imprisoned, beings."

"It's not because you think that the old Spartan training will kick in and I will shoot first, and take names later?"

"No. I have faith in your six or seven years of retraining. My intention is that you know that metrapeople are as real as you."

"How do you know so much about me...Sharon and what's going on away from Merkers Outpost...aside from belonging to the Vine. I know they aren't in the habit of letting every member into the nuts and bolts of things."

"I'm a scientist in a computer. Gathering information, extrapolating what I need for the moment, and experimenting to prove out what I've surmised from the stats, is like a hobby, if not something to do to relieve boredom."

Until I get into a heated fight where instincts take over…that will be the true test if all the retraining has worked. And it's not something I want to be obsessed with or I'll be distracted in doing my job. The real problem here is that my back up consists of one civilian. So, whatever I do it's going to have to be low profile stuff, just enough to keep them off balance. Am I ready? Helga's Bloody Moon! Of course, I'm ready! So…the next question here is…what can I do to effectively keep their attention on my annoying antics and away from Maud? And I'm not going to forget they shoot first and ask few questions later. I sure hope Admiral JoCasta sends help bloody well soon. I wonder how she's going to get around the rules of engagement and glide into Committee space…oh, that's right. Merker's Outpost is neutral. Harriet smiled. I think I'll let the big brass figure out the politics of how to get a ship here, 'cause I know Admiral JoCasta is going to want to personally get these smugglers. They've been a thorn in her claw for a while now. Harriet nodded to herself. If the scuttlebutt were true, the admiral would have her special forces, the Tanjmi here as fast as possible. Therefore, whatever she did, it would have to be for a short time and she had to not get caught.

"Lord Chaney had Sheila trained at one of the best bodyguard schools, Bodshiva Avante Guard. However, I understand in your new job in Collective space, you have been trained by one of their ex-instructors, Ewep De."

Lt. Montran looked startled at this bit of news. "Yeah? I...I don't believe any of the students knew that, at least not in my student track." She frowned for a moment remembering how a lot of the young officers grumbled at having to take the class, thinking his class in 'Awareness' was superfluous. Maybe because she was the oldest in the class, she held her tongue about the class. Her CO would not be sending her to this class if it were worthless. And she was right. If they had studied the way it was pronounced they would have known that it was just a cover to what the class was really about. The professor taught on two levels and if you were not aware, which was the whole idea of bodyguarding, then the class would be boring.

"It was a difficult class to pass, but it was interesting." A lot of good it did me when I let those jerks remove me from the shuttle. She paused a moment, remembering that everything had a purpose so it was really up to her to turn mistakes and regrets into something worth the lesson. Harriet handed her empty cup of tea to Charles so she would not knock it off her armchair.

"Everyone has a weakness." Harriet said that more to remind herself that she had faced adversaries that were better armed than her and she had managed to come out on top. However, that was a long time ago, she prudently pointed out, and her edge of having more experience, was nullified in this case, just by the sheer numbers.

"You have the advantage of using the most advanced technology devised for this planet. Of course, there is nothing I have that is lethal," he mentioned off-hand, which made Harriet wince, thinking that it did not give her much to threaten with. "Any weapon I give you to use will only knock them out for a while or put them to sleep for as long as the patch remains on them, which means they may come back for another foray."

It certainly will make me run faster once I knock someone down and steal his or her weapons so I don't get shot in the back. So, why his interest in how I combat the metradame? Does he want me to capture her and bring her here? Why can't Maud do it? "Do you know the odds of my being able to keep them harried or occupied with other things before they take me out?" she asked, suddenly wondering if she really was being a bit too daring for her own good.

"As long as you are on this planet you shall not become anything less than what you are," Guardians voice was firm. "Believe me when I say there are a lot of places to play hide and seek in the city that they know nothing of, nor will be able to take advantage of. Maud has been doing it for two years and she has no military training," he reminded her. "I would wait for reinforcements; however, players once on the fringes have suddenly taken an interest in what goes on here, and we need to remove the captives from the equation and prevent the intruders from settling in any more than what they are. Charles, can you get the lieutenant her new environmental suit and communicator? This equipment is from our labs, suited for this planet," Guardian continued as Charles handed the lieutenant her communicator first. It consisted of two patches smaller than the tip of her smallest finger. One was placed on the bone behind her left ear and the other on her throat.

"It can only be heard by someone with my equipment," Guardian explained.

The environmental suit was dull brown. Once sealed at the neck, the suit laid on her clothing as if it were part of it. Her touch not dulled by the gloves as most gloves have a tendency to do, allowed her to feel the texture of the suit as she pecked at it. When she activated the helmet it looked like a clear sack, but her vision altered. Her life readings flashed under her left cheek on the visor, and information on the suit, rather than on her wrist. As she moved her head, she noted that four new screens were up on the Com console, showing views of what she was seeing and not seeing.

"As the screens are showing," Guardian explained proudly, "the helmet acts as a camera giving a panoramic view of what is going on all around you, including above. It was very helpful for us to monitor the researchers. For the last two years, I've been modifying the suit for other defensive needs. For example, it takes on the texture of what 90% of it leans against. When you have more time, you can study the extras; however, know that that particular ability is not something to be used lightly."

Harriet looked up at the hologram surprised. To prove this she leaned against the hull and looked at her hands. Nothing changed, however when she glanced at the screens she was not visible...except for one. She stood away from the wall and she could see herself again on the four monitors.

"Now this is something to play with," she grinned at Guardian. "But, you're right. It's too good of an advantage to give away its existence."

"Yes. I am glad you see it that way. Maud has been using it to a great advantage. To deactivate it simply say 'blend off' and to reactivate it 'blend on.' I had thought of other words to use; however, Maud had pointed out to me that the simpler the better. The suit will assist you in surviving a wind storm topside, in case you decide to test it out. You will have to anchor yourself down of course, because the force of the winds would carry you quite a distance. I will be able to locate you no matter where you are on this planet, so you cannot get lost. It also will protect you from most explosions, heat, and some weapons fire."

Charles handed her her own utility belt. She noticed the space for a weapon was empty.

"This weapon that Charles has here," he continued as Charles handed her a sidearm that fit snuggly into her palm, "is adapted for this planet's atmosphere and will only work for you. It is coded now to your bios. It does not kill nor does it give pain. It simply renders the person unconscious or if you want them simply limp, change the charge to the other color you see there on the bore. Now Charles will show you to the lower level where the tube will take you to New Century City. Maud will be at the other end. The trip takes about one stan hour, traveling at a very high rate of speed, so don't try to step out or slow it down. By the time you reach your destination, the subliminal information should be starting to surface to your awareness."

Charles was already out the door. At the doorway, Harriet turned back to Guardian.

"Good bye and good luck, Alexandra," Guardian's warm voice spoke out of the darkness.

Alexandra?

Harriet turned to hurry after Charles. How did he know her by that name? She had left it with all that went with it when she was still a young girl. Ah, she must have thought of it while hooked up to Guardian…however, she did not think she had thought of it. Why would she? She will not fall asleep in Guardian's chair again, or for that matter, sit. No telling what information he was getting from her for his games.

Charles was waiting at the familiar elevator with the polo players, only now they were in another pose, though still hard at play. The door slid open as Harriet approached.

"Charles, why didn't this door open when you were in front of it?"

"Perhaps a minor glitch in the system. I will speak with Guardian when I return. I will leave you here and wish you well in your journey and job." With that, Charles wheeled around and disappeared back down the dark corridor.

As she suspected on her arrival, the elevator had more than one exit. However, instead of directly behind her, it opened to the side. The room she entered appeared to be a small waiting room with comfortable couches along the walls and chairs around small tables. Tempted, she slapped one of the chairs to see if there was any dust. No dust, dirt or signs of wear.

Well the retailer's industry will be very disgruntled with the upkeep here...but then again...I don't recall if Guardian said how old this place is, and there is no one to run it down...except in New Century City. The thought of her going there gave an extra lift to her steps. She had not been on any missions for the last seven years that were not contrived. Though simulators seemed very real, a part of her knew the situation was not.

She continued on to another entrance with a rail car icon on the door. Though the interior was dark, the view from the helmet revealed a typical transportation station. Lights in the floor flashed in the direction she was intended to go. Further help came from a soft light on the inside of her transportation vehicle. The door was invitingly opened. Two seats on each side were facing each other with plenty of legroom, which would make any Copac with his or her four legs comfortable. Harriet sank into a comfortable seat. The moment she settled a cushioned restraint slowly descended, securing her from movement in any direction.

"Bloody moon, I'm lucky I'm not claustrophobic," she muttered.

"It is a very fast ride with a sudden stop, which needs the padded restraints. I don't want my passengers peeling bits of themselves from the interior," Guardian's voice cautioned her. "I will be in touch with you at all times, so if you need anything...I'm just a whisper away." Numbers changed on her visor next to her left cheek showing her bios as they escalated with the pressure from the build up of speed of the car.

While the small car sped her to her destination, Harriet closed her eyes and mentally reviewed her plans to escape the sense of being too enclosed. It was a familiar routine, so she was able to easily escape into her thoughts. It had been a long time since she had been in the thick of things. As a flag ship officer in-training of the Centurion Corps, her job was that of an advisor…situated far from the heat of battle, watching plans unfold and determining what was not working and what would work. She suspected her CO wanted to be sure her Spartan training had been completely eradicated. Spartan training used deep subliminal methods, reinforced and with drugs. Lt. Montran felt they were justified in their concern. She could already feel her adrenalin flowing with the excitement of a drop into enemy territory. It reminded her of her drops into enemy territory and how everyone in the troop was pumped up…to survive…to beat the odds. Later she had learned a lot of the hyped up sense of immortality was due to drugs that was part of the pre-strike meeting, which consisted of subliminals on the operation and medical clearance. It was a life she was indoctrinated to accept as part of a mission. Now, she was going to be back in action.

But on my terms! No drugs, no subliminal to destroy the enemy, and no orders that had the overtones of being a suicidal drop. Wait a moment. This is suicidal. One person against five hundred personnel...well, two people, a computer and some strange weapons. Aww,Bloody Moon, lieutenant! Just enjoy the ride and kick some butt!

Harriet pursed her lips in thought.

If I can't shut down the smugglers here, then like Guardian, I'm going to make their lives miserable. Two sticks stirring the bottom of this pond should make it pretty messy on the surface. Hmmm. Maybe…if they get a reading of me somewhere on the surface…I wonder if there's a real miserable place around here. Surely the entire surface of this planet isn't flat. Ohhh. That would really wear the small parts on the suits down. Harriet Montran started to chuckle.

"Ahh. I see you are already beginning to enjoy the adventure," Guardian's soft voice startled Harriet. "My apologies, I did not mean to surprise you."

Waiting for her heart to settle back into its cavity, Harriet held off on her reply for a few more calm heartbeats. Being strapped down to where she had little movement to defend herself should something happen made for a jumpy operative.

"I was just thinking of a small annoyance for your unwanted visitors. Are there any slopes or terrain that would overtax their AEG's?"

"Yes. There is a place the Spartans refer to as the Southern Rim. The Black Rose have been scouting and mapping that area for almost two stan years, and have only half of the area covered."

"Are they looking for something?"

"Adventure, perhaps. It can be rather boring with nothing to do."

"Hmm. I think a sighting of their missing quarry over that way would give them a new burst of excitement."

"It would. I will send out a signal that was set on your AEG from one of my transponders."

"Sounds like the beginnings of a good old fashion snipe hunt." Harriet closed her eyes and considered other possibilities to divide the groups.

"Guardian?"

"Yes, Lieutenant."

"Why did you call me Alexandra?"

"I am most sorry to have taken it upon myself to address you with such familiarity without asking."

"It's a name that I don't use anymore."

"My apologies, I did not mean to pry."

There was a space of silence, which Harriet Montran could have sworn she could hear the Copoc turning this over in his mind. Why? And then she thought of the idiocy of imagining she could know what a computer was thinking. Gawds! I hope not.

"It is a rather strong name. Perhaps one day you shall feel comfortable using it again."

"Maybe." Something else was trying to drag her back to her past. She was going to remember not to sit in any more Com-C chairs. She would rather not share parts of herself that she had buried from her own consciousness, especially without having any control over just what information was being taken. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on the present problem.

The Black Rose…I would never have thought they would throw in with smugglers, regardless that Lord Chaney is their sponsor. They've had some pretty memorable skirmishes with smugglers leaving a lot of bad feelings on both sides…or, seven years ago they had. What's happened that the two put aside their hostility? Hmm. Or, were they only eliminating rivals of this group? Well, for whatever reasons, I'm going to have to be real careful about not running into them. This metradame is enough. An unknown element. But if she trained with the Bodshiva group, she's going to be very good. So, I'll just keep my distance from Lord Chaney…hmm. Well, I've been curious to see just what my worth is under fire and just where my skill level is, and this is my proving ground. Geeze. A one-woman assault team? No. A one-woman pot stirrer. Yeah.

The other Spartans she would worry about as she met them. She had retrained many grunts in her two years as a Spartan CO and felt she could read people better than most, gauging just what danger they could pose to the smooth operation of a recon team, and she did not consider herself short on combat skills. Lt. Commander Hayes, her immediate superior in the Centurions made sure she kept up her ground fighting skills, probably to see how much of her Spartan impulse training was intact. She shifted uneasily in her seat.

Closing her eyes, she let her thoughts wander. Sharon, a metradame? What did she read in her? Nothing. She simply did not read anything. A safe harbor? At the time, she was looking for an escape from memories and connections to her time spent as a Spartan field officer. Sharon was absent of - violence. She was ordinary and …safe. Is that what a metradame does…make one feel safe? What did the advertisement say? Could Guardian be right? That she is a metradame? No. I…don't want to believe that.

Uncomfortable, she returned her attention to her duty…something she felt more competent to handle. The lieutenant reviewed scenarios, but without the schematics of the city, they seemed useless.

"Helgas Moon, I wish I had a map," she muttered.

"I have just completed downloading the information into your taxi's map service; however, you have reached your destination," Guardian informed her.

"I thought from one computer to another down-linking would be relatively fast and easy."

The sudden deceleration pressed her into the restraints. On the lower left of her helmet numbers appeared, registering her bios.

Now, that is real convenient to have within sight.

"Normally speaking. But the car is newly reacquired. It was running on bare operational services in case the Spartans or smugglers appropriated it for their use. It takes awhile for it to update when it is running."

"You mean, something like not being able to talk and eat at the same time," she laughed. "Wow. This helmet will be a best seller."

"How's the suit doing?"

"I'm still assessing," she returned wryly. "I am getting some of the subliminal stuff on just what it can do. Some of this stuff is…oooffffff."

The final stop was sudden. It brought to mind many drops in her Spartan days. The standard equipment was not so forgiving on its wearer with the sudden change in velocity. The disadvantage was that it left some of the squad staggering out of their seats making them easy sniper targets. Lt. Montran recalled her constant pushing her new recruits to get in as many of those rough rides on their off hours to teach their body to adjust quicker.

The door to her cab swung open when it came to a complete stop. Leaning back into the seat, the harness rose. Harriet looked out the door to see a pair of feet booted in the same equipment as she was. Leaning out, she looked up at her welcoming party of one. Maud nodded her helmeted head, as if to encourage her to step out.

"Lt. Harriet Montran, welcome to New Century City. Are you going to sit in there for long?"

The voice sounded familiar to her ears. Again, there was that nagging feeling that she was not a stranger.

"This area is not secured from Spartan or smuggler patrols," Maud explained as she stepped back and turned towards the service panel that was open.

The way Maud carried herself was also familiar. Where could she have met her? Lt. Montran started to follow Maud but a sound from behind her had her turning. Her transportation disappeared into the darkness.

"It will wait out of sight in a side area. When you are finished here, you can summon it and it will take you back to the Lair." Maud waved her into the service tunnel.

"The Lair?" Harriet asked as she stepped before Maud.

"It is what Guardian calls his place of residence."

"Do I know you from somewhere?" Harriet asked suddenly.

"Why do you ask?" Maud asked over her shoulder while securing the panel behind them.

"You seem familiar."

Maud turned back toward Harriet. Harriet's helmet gave her a different vision in the dark. She could see trace elements and energy from living forms but little color, except when some gave off bright flares. Height wise, the tunnel was high enough for them to walk up right, but not wide enough for two people to walk side by side so when Maud stepped past Harriet, they were helmet to helmet. Harriet's breath caught as she gazed into the helmet that was against hers and saw a shadowed version of herself.

"Is there something wrong?" Guardian's voice came through her intercom. Harriet imaged her bios were going off their normal scale.

Harriet gripped Maud's wrist holding her immobile as she removed her light from her utility belt and shined it into the mask. The faceplate darkened as it blocked the light from Maud's eyes. Harriet shined it to the side of the helmet.

"We do look alike. Is that what you are looking for? Similarities?" her own voice asked.

"You...your voice."

"I was remolded to look like you," Maud admitted simply.

"Why?" Harriet asked aghast.

"I had promised your brother that I would do all I could to protect you," Guardian's voice told her soothingly, which annoyed Harriet at what this was implying. She was again involved in politics as a pawn, without her being asked or even queued.

Of course! You should have figured that out the moment they pulled you off that shuttle, Montran. Gads! You are so dense sometimes!

"You are too important to lose and too important not to use," Guardian explained. "Besides, you would not have remained uninvolved. Providing another image of you seemed a good way to confuse your adversaries."

"Yes, but...what if she is wasted because they think she is I?"

"It is a chance Maud has agreed to take," Guardian responded.

"You? You agreed to put your life in danger for me? I don't know you and you don't know me," Harriet paused upset. "I don't think this was a good idea." She had experienced enough nightmares of guilt to know the makings of another. People in Committee space seemed to think nothing of involving themselves in other people's business without asking or thinking it as unwelcomed, she thought with aggravation.

"I am in danger for as long as Guardian's unwelcomed visitors are on this station. It doesn't matter whether I look like you or anyone else. I could not go back to looking like I was before, then they would know that I was not disposed of as I should have been putting another important inside contact in danger. That is something that is more important to hide then having your face," Maud told her.

Harriet was still close to Maud as she peered in the darkened helmet seeing the all too familiar determined look. She released her hold on Maud's wrist. She even had her expressions down.

"You're exactly like me?" she asked hesitant.

"No, not totally," Maud smiled. "That would be an impossibility, hmm?"

"Oh," Harriet returned softly. She was feeling over scanned.

"We must move on." Maud turned and started quickly up the passageway not waiting to see if Harriet would follow.

As they were moving along the dark maintenance passage, parts of the schematic on the passageway made its way to Harriet's awareness, giving her the sense of familiarity. Years of experience taught her not to force the subliminals to consciousness but think about something related and the rest of the image would come into focus.

Maud stopped at one point. She accessed a ladder and an energy envelope engulfed them.

"We are entering into the first level of living quarters. The energy you feel surrounding you is sealing the air so that a breech does not occur and endanger any lives," Maud softly explained as she climbed up into the next level.

When Harriet joined her Maud held up a hand, motioning silence.

"...another time," an excited voice came to her ears through the walls.

"I don't give a wild hornet's nest about what happened! I want, right now, the first group set up! We will worry about the rest of the problems after the broadcast!" an angry voice overrode the other.

"Yes, sir, but this may be important!"

"If you don't get you and your crew to their posts, now, I will personally execute you!" The voice was furious.

"Sir!"

She could hear his boots as he hurried down the hall away from where they were.

"Idiot!" the voice muttered as he moved on, in the opposite direction.

After five more minutes of quick travel, Maud stopped. A door opened, light seeped into the service tunnel and an Almadarin's blue face appeared on the other side. Both women entered the room and immediately deactivated their helmets. The Almadarin's eyes opened wide. Without their helmets on, it was difficult to see a difference between Maud and Harriet. Unconcerned, Maud went to the center of the room and pushed on the floor. A hole appeared with the panel descending and tucking itself in a space under the floor.

"I have a train waiting for them in another transportation tunnel one level down from the one you arrived in."

Maud looked down the opened space and then dropped into the darkness of the space.

The Almadarin, as if prearranged, lifted one of the smaller species that appeared to be injured, and handed her to the lieutenant. She stepped into the floor space and handed the rescued being to Maud's waiting hands. This continued until the Almadarin was left. Harriet stepped out of the space and let him climb down himself.

"There is someone coming," Maud's voice whispered in Harriet's communicator.

The lieutenant quickly hopped back into the floor space and standing on the top of the ladder, pushed the button her subliminal directions said would put the floor back into place. It closed partially and stopped.

Blasters! Without a second thought, she climbed back in the room and activated the bottom panel, looking for what prevented the floor panel from closing. She found something lodged in the mechanism, probably dropped by one of the captives, and then closed the floor panel. Quickly, she went back into the wall service tunnel and sealed it. She fumbled in the dark for the button to reactivate her helmet as she proceeded down the tunnel where the owner of the unfamiliar voice had headed.

Now's my time to stir the pot and see what comes up.

"There it is again!" the same voice she had heard earlier shouted excitedly on the other side of the wall.

Helgas Moon, I'm going the wrong way!

"You got to let it go," another voice admonished. "Wait until after the broadcast," he suggested.

"No! Look, it's registering a life sign too!" his voice rose in his excitement. "Chief PO, to Security! I have a red alert in Sector Mim! I repeat, red alert in..."

[What in Helgas Moon are you getting hysterical about now, PO?]

"I've got those strange readings and a life sign too, sir," he reported excitedly.

[Burn your soul in Agasta!] the translator politely translated. [You go looking for trouble at this time?! Were you not just sent over to the staging area or to your quarters? Security!] He bellowed without waiting for a reply.

[Security here,] came another voice.

[Where in Agastas hole is that captain of yours? Where in Agastas hole is he?]

[By your request, topside.] the voice reminded him in a terse voice.

[How many people can we spare to block off that area and flood it with concussion bombs?]

[None, Master Alha Bahna. It was your idea to have few, if any Spartans around during your transmissions. From the search parties going on around the clock, there are a lot of sick people filling up the ships' sickbays. What you have now is what you get. Though, you can always order them back.]

[I ordered them back for the auction! Expletives not translated started and then abruptly stopped. Chief, get out of that area now. Flood it with that acidi gas within 20 stan minutes.] click!

"Gawds all mighty!" the chief panicked. Blasters, it meant he had to be real careful because he was not wearing his AEG suit, but the acidi gas would eat through that too.

"You seal that end and I'll do the other," his companion stated. "You do know how to lock the seals on the doors don't you?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll see you back at Com-C," he muttered while mentally reviewing what little he knew of sealing rooms.

***

*

Harriet jogged down the dark passageway, her boots making soft thuds as she moved quickly away from the rooms to be gassed. Her mental picture of the occupied city indicated she needed to go up one more level to get to the Spartans' living quarters.

Hmm. Since the Black Rose is out and about somewhere, I think I'll drop a reminder notice that Guardian would rather they move to another neighborhood on another planet, or maybe, just let them think the smugglers did it. This will give me a good opportunity to see just how good they are about securing their personal space.

She found an access ladder to the next level easy enough. Carefully she crept up the ladder looking for any trips on the ladder at the entrance to the next floor. She was not disappointed. Her fingers gently sought the release switch on each trip, deactivating them as she went along.

She was moving along looking at the various service panels that allowed her entrance into the crew's quarters when her curiosity got the better of her. At the end of the service tunnel was a T&Ts trap set in a standard pattern. Nothing tricky or impressive. It was simply to slow down someone with no attempt to hide the fact and with the bells and whistles that would alert someone who would be waiting on the other side.

Her mental map of the place did not tell her who occupied this room.

"Are you sure you want to go into that room?" Guardian's voice whispered in her ear.

"Why?" she whispered back.

"It's Lord Chaney's room."

A smirk appeared on her face. "Can you tell if he's in his room?"

"He returned to his own private ship with Sheila. He is closing a deal before the transmission starts. He had changed his codes so I do not have access to his ship transmission…at the moment…but soon. I will let you know when he returns. Maud is busy attending to our guests, so she cannot join you at this moment." There was a pause and then, "What do you intend on doing?" Guardian asked curiously.

"Mischief. Isn't that our business?" Let's see, what have we got here? Entering in through the service panel is too obvious and with my reputation at stake, I don't want to cause anyone to think I've gotten soft after all these years of inactivity. Smirking to herself, she flipped through the internal maps at her disposal. Hmmm. A service bot entrance to the bathing room. Well, it looks possible.

She slid into the tight opening. Helgas Moon, it's as tight as a birth canal! Alright, Harriet, suck it up and get on yer belly like a reptile. Are there any T&Ts? She dragged her body further into the small tube. She suddenly realized that if she needed anything from her utility belt she was out of luck.

"Guardian?" she whispered.

"Stuck?" he whispered back.

"How does the panel open? I don't have access to the directions."

"There is a beam that the bot trips about two hands from the panel door."

She continued moving toward the panel and as her fingers crossed the beam that her helmet could now pick up, the panel opened into a darkened area. Cautiously she looked around before getting out. The place looked clean.

"Can you see any snoops?"

"No. He has placed nothing in his quarters. He has them outside of the service panel you had seen and outside the door to his quarters. I tamper with them so they are unpredictable, making them unreliable for any real use."

The lieutenant's attention was divided between her conversation and the collection of products lining a bathtub. It was not as nice as the one she had in her quarters. That gave her a smug feeling. Four people her size would fit comfortably in the bathing space. One bottle of blue dye caught her attention. Who dyes their hair? Lord Chaney or his metradame? Must be Lord Chaney. He could have had ordered his doll with blue hair…unless he likes changes. No. He's not interested in women's fashions and his sexual preference is young girls …unless …Sheila is young.

Harriet remembered a prank in school of putting dye in the shower spout. She found a sponge. Goes to show ya, the pranks that are the best are the simplest to do and just with everyday stuff lying about.

Finished, she shuffled his bathing room articles around, including what she labeled personal toys. She removed the black goop that covered the tiny camera eye, putting a hole in the goop so a casual glance would not detect the camera was back to being active. Finished she moved into the bedroom. Two beds. One placed in a corner as if the user was merely an overnight guest of little consequence.

Bodyguard? Hmm. Well, I could short sheet both beds. She unfolded the bottom sheet and then folded it higher up. Finished with both beds she moved to the closet. Over three fourths of the closet had his clothing carefully arranged by color. She intermixed what was in the closet, pulling out what was in the drawers and dropping them in the shoe storage locker. She again uncovered the small dots of goop covering the bedroom cameras. Guardian certainly had his interlopers well covered. She would ask Guardian when she returned to his Lair if he had any in her quarters that she had not detected.

She was feeling very satisfied with herself. Next was the sitting room.

"You'll have to end your fun. Lord Chaney and Sheila have entered the city," Guardian's voice informed her. "They will be delayed about thirty stan moments. His habit is to check status of the city before he returns to his quarters and most likely ask about the progress on the search for you."

As she squirmed into the bot tunnel and pulled herself back into the larger service tunnel, she decided to hit a few more rooms for good measure, notably Black Rose Spartans. She needed more information on them both for personal reasons as well as for strategic planning.

"What about the Black Rose? Are they still outside the city?"

"They always leave the city when a broadcast is being made. The smugglers get too edgy with the Black Rose around when they're doing their business," Guardian reminded her. "Usually the other Spartans guard the city while the Black Rose monitors the rest of the planet to make sure no surprise visitors are dropping in."

Lieutenant, you better quell that need to prove you're better than them. This is not the best time to take the challenge. Just gather information, ruffle feathers…nothing complicated.

"Guardian, where are the service bots?"

"Stored safely away."

"Ahh. Well, that's good. I would imagine it would have been really crowded in here with both of us."

"It would have. I have not brought them out of storage and back on line in this city."

So maybe that's why there are no traps set around the exits. I wouldn't know they were here myself if I didn't have Guardian's schematics.

In each room she visited, cameras that had been smeared over with goop or tape, she either made a small hole in the hardened goop to uncover the lens or moved the camera. They must not have known that Guardian was also able to listen in to conversations because none of the voice systems had been tampered with according to Guardian. The first two Black Rose quarters had nothing inside that would bother an intruder. They were sparse, with no personal hangings on the walls or toilet articles laid out in the small bathing facilities…that they shared. The Lair's quarters were obviously for VIPs. However, the third room was a different matter.

Harriet carefully deactivated all the motion trips and stunner traps set inside each of the three doorways so she would not be setting anything off while she was working. This room required a different approach. The obvious was not going to disturb this person. She undid the fastenings to a few shelves, switched the hot and cold tubes to her shower, which was too easy; however, she did not to touch the cameras, just to bother her. In the closet, she rigged the clothing pole to drop when any weight was shifted on it.

Geeze, this woman is really a control freak. All her uniforms are hanging exactly two fingers width apart…hmm. Or maybe, this is her way of knowing when someone has looked through her stuff. Well, it certainly makes it easy to get the bar to drop when anything is moved on it.

The sound of someone trying to open door into the sergeant's quarters had her frantically looking for a place to hide.

"Guardian?" she whispered.

"I cannot see who it is. However, it is not the occupant. The Black Rose squad has not returned to the city."

Blasters! Can't go out the service panel. She has that rigged and I don't want her to know anyone has been in here until something drops on her. The bot exit is too small for a fast escape.

Her first place to hide was the obvious, the closet.

Great. I'm going to be the proverbial recipient of what I sowed. Helgas Moon, I think I may be in trouble here. Try as she might, she could not ignore the scent of the owner that clung to the cloths next to her. It was distracting on different levels…the foremost…why was it bothering her?

Harriet Montran, your hormones are going to need tending to right soon. You have got to get a woman to work off this energy when this is over or give yourself a hand job real soon.

The intruder did not waste any time in the frontroom but came directly into the bedroom. She could hear breathing. Somebody with sinus problems. Whoever was in the room knew exactly where he or she was going. Then again, all the quarters she had visited so far, had the same layout. Either this person was not familiar with the owner's traps or not worried. Was this person expected and welcomed? Or, were the traps new and just for this visitor?

Hmm. Instead of capturing the metradame, why not this person? Anyone snooping around and in Black Rose quarters has to know more than most or is incredibly stupid.

Harriet's back was getting tired from her bent position trying not to touch the clothes that would move the pole that was set precariously. Shifting her weight slightly caused the clothes pole to drop, just as she had it planned. She leaned forward to avoid being entangled in the mess and inadvertently knocked the closet door open. There was no way to dignify her surprise entry and roll free of the clothes but she did get herself to one knee as a white haired figure was pointing something toward her. She was already changing direction when the shot fired went too wide. He did not get a second chance to shoot before she knocked his weapon from his hand with a roll forward, using one foot to kick his wrist and the other to his midsection. She jumped on him to render him unconscious, but it became more involved, with both rolling around on the floor, trying to get a grip on the other.

Breaking, they quickly arose. The white haired adversary got his hands around her neck, but she broke his grip easily and kneed him in his midsection bringing him to his knees. She stepped back to kick him in the shoulder but he had a stunner in his hand. Obviously, he had a wrist harness that kept an extra small weapon close on hand. Montran kicked the hand away; however, the stunner was strapped tightly to his hand. She followed her kick by grabbing his wrist attempting to snap the spring that held the weapon in place, at the same time bringing her knee into his leg, intending on giving a cramp. He pulled her off balance, as well. From his knees, he sprang towards her, using his shoulder to slam her against the wall. Both of them fell, with the white haired intruder wrapping one arm across his chest as if she had injured him; however, it could be a ploy. The second skin and suit absorbed the blows she had sustained with her feeling nothing to slow her down. Another point for Guardian's suit. She reminded herself that she had to end this wrestling match soon, before they attracted spectators.

The man bunted her again knocking them both back, but with the momentum, Harriet flipped them both. Landing on top of him, she knocked the wind out of his lungs with two knees slamming onto his chest. Rolling free, she grabbed up a short ceremonial saber that had come loose from the sheath on his utility belt. He was awkwardly bringing up his side arm again, when she tossed the saber towards his head. She was following the toss, expecting to hit him when he ducked the sword. Instead, the man gave a yell, moving sideways and bringing up his arms in swinging movements as if to ward off a swarm of flies…and the sword blade followed him hitting him between the eyes. With a groan, he sank to his knees, and then fell sideways, looking all of dead.

Shit! "What the bloody hell happened! Bloody moon! I wanted a prisoner!" she breathed out explosively. "Shit!" She slapped her legs in frustration. This was not supposed to end this way. She wanted a prisoner to find out more of what was going on in the city. "Bloody moon! I should have used the stunner Guardian gave me!" She slapped her sidearm that was still secure on her hip. For a moment, she thought she was going to throw up. "You are not going to up chuck! Geeze! You've seen plenty of killings," she coached herself angrily.

"The blade is new on the market. It can be programmed to target a vital point on whom it is pointed at. Apparently, he had it programmed for between the eyes. It appears to be a newly purchased weapon, for I had not seen him wear this before. Lieutenant," Guardian's voice sounded surprised in her ear, "you've just eliminated a key player. That was Lord Chaney."

"Oh, Helgas Bloody Moon!" One of the people she had concentrated hard on not seeking retaliation against and here she had nailed him…and right between the eyes! She could not have done better if she had planned it…and in a sergeant major of the Black Rose's quarters. She rubbed her forehead where she was sure a headache would be forming if she were not wearing Guardian's clothing.

"I've never seen one before. I hope they're banned. That's all we need to have added to an assassins arsenal." She slapped her leg again to keep her mind off her stomach that wanted to protest the taking of a life and the anger at the weapon's existence.

"On the other hand; we can look at the bright side of this," Guardian started.

"What, that here we have Lord Chaney's dead body in the quarters of a Sgt. Major of the Black Rose? Nothing like spreading suspicion and conflict among the troops. However, everyone knows he likes, err…liked girls not women. Maybe his partner will dump his body in space and let some unfortunate trawler find him," she muttered.

"Not so. I have activated the mortician's robot. It will pick him up and prepare him for delivery to his next of kin. He will be kept in a freezer until we are notified."

Like most careful law enforcement officers, Harriet went over Lord Chaney's body, removing his other weapons, concentrating on what needed to be done to avoid feeling guilty, because then she would become more attuned to her guilt than what was going on around her. In his utility belt, she found a lot of small deadly toys that recon specialists liked to use. Stars, tenja's and some buzzers. Handy to have. She found his identity card and a small device attached to it. She put them in her utility belt to study later. Maybe later she would really push her luck and pull a recon mission to his ship.

Harriet, in your dreams. You are getting way ahead of yourself here. Let's not get suicidal because you made a mistake. Bloody moon. But then again, what if I need to get off this planet real quick. It would be handy to have a ship at my disposal…and maybe to transport the captives.

The mortician's robot came in followed by small utility bots to clean up the mess.

"I see you've reactivated the small cleaning bots too," she mentioned to Guardian.

"To help you clean up the evidence."

"Evidence. Bloody moon, but I feel like a criminal here."

"You should not. He should have read the directions, which specifically warn the owner to set the parameters of the sword. He obviously did not. I do not like killing, especially on my outpost, however, I do know the difference between murder and an accidental killing. You need to refocus, Lt. Montran. Most likely it was given as a gift from his new associate…"

"Oh," two voices stated simultaneously. "So, maybe it was intentionally set to him…"

"I will check that out myself," Guardian affirmed. "Frankly, if someone had given me a weapon of such deadly purpose, I would make certain I would not be on the receiving end."

The bots seemed to know that the clothes pole was not supposed to be balancing precariously in its slot and set it up correctly with the clothes separated by color and spaced exactly two fingers width apart. Exactly as it had been before she tampered with it.

The mortician bot was a gurney with arms. It searched the corpse, removing the body jewelry and leaving the pile on the floor alongside of the corpse. Lord Chaney was hoisted up onto the gurney with the knife protruding between the open eyes.

Hell, I'm gonna have another nightmare and replay of this incident trying to figure out how I could have not had it end this way. This was supposed to be a well-earned vacation home.

She shook her head feeling discouraged and then reprimanded herself. Stop beating yourself, Montran and concentrate on the present!

Harriet went over to the jewelry the bot added to the small pile of Lord Chaney's things and inspected them. His ring of authority as a committee member was familiar. Hadrie had one. Harriet, however found one ring that appeared interesting. She picked it up and looked at it closely. A horse with a horn between its dull black eyes. Odd. This was added to her pouch. She rose and turned her attention to the dresser drawer that was left opened by Lord Chaney.

Under clothing? He was interested in a Spartan's knickers? Correction…in a woman's knickers, she reminded herself. This is not his style…doesn't fit his profile. So, what is here that would be interesting to him? Hmm. Leather thong with small triangular leather spot? Ohhh, I like these. I wonder what she looks like in them.

In her mind's eye she brought up the subliminal on the face of the Sgt. Major Gari. The Spartan's features were hard, but other mug shots showed a plain face that would be easy to forget. Her boot kicked something. Leaning down, she picked up a small spray vial. No label to identify what it was. She knew better than to smell it. It was added to her plunder in her utility belt and she resumed looking in the drawer, no closer to figuring out what may have interested Lord Chaney. This Spartan obviously had another life that required little fabric with strings attached. Harriet held up another garment, letting it dangle between her fingers as she regarded it. Turning it, the fabric brushed against her skin, eliciting a sensuous feeling.

Harriet's attention was so focused on the contents of the drawer she did not hear anyone enter the room, but she did sense a presence that had the hairs at the nape of her neck standing up. Turning towards the doorway she found herself looking into the pale green eyes of a tall athletic woman, probably a jlish mixed with human descendants, leaning languidly against the door jam watching her. She had dark brown hair that was fashionably interwoven with colorful cloth ribbons reaching past her shoulders. Her stylish suit spoke volumes of quality and credits to purchase it. It was the product of one of Orion's better clothiers.

Uh, oh. This must be the bodyguard.

"Lt. Harriet Montran," the voice cooed seductively, "you have the whole outpost looking for you…and…here…you…are." She approached Harriet in a slow and sensuous walk that spoke more of a different type of assault than what she expected of a bodyguard. In all her wildest imaginings, this was what she pictured a metradame to be. In response, her heart beat faster and a hot flush infused her face, to say nothing of the sexual attraction that was causing her a large amount of distress.

Zeus in a harem's pool! Harriet cursed to herself. You'd think I was at my first brothel after a month of combat duty in a militarized zone with nothing but my own hand to entertain me. What a joke! And I was thinking of seducing her?!

"Are you the one that is responsible for those little," she leaned close to whisper in Harriet's ear, "tricks in Lord Chaney's room?" The tickle of the metradame's breath on her ear sent a pleasant shiver skittering down her spine and the release of warm liquid down her inner walls.

Sheila stepped back and casually let her eyes roam over Harriet's body. Another hot flush suffused Harriet's body as she tried to control her erratic breathing and move her limbs that suddenly seemed to have become unresponsive to her brain signals to stir.

Goddess, what is happening to me? Harriet's eyes were riveted on Sheila unwilling to move away.

"I had thought Lord Chaney was here but I see he is not." She moved slowly around the room as if not in any hurry, disappearing out of Harriet's sight, but she could swear she knew she was standing just a hair's breath behind her because she could feel her body heat.

What do metradames do when their masters are killed? Or, rather, what do bodyguards do when their employer is killed! Bloody moon, soldier! Do something with yourself!

The tall figure moved in front of her, smiling. It was not threatening, but rather enticing. It sent another pleasant shiver down to her very wet and swollen bud.

Gads! Harriet, you had better get your thoughts together! Bodyguards turn into avenging assassins if their masters or mistresses are killed, she again reminded herself with a stronger will. You better start thinking of what you're going to do besides stand here like a statue.

"I see you are alone. Perhaps we can enjoy some pleasant moments together before Lord Chaney is done with you." Sheila ran a finger down Harriet's arm that was hanging motionless against her side. She walked around Harriet lightly tracing patterns over her body and coming to a stop in front of her. Her hand cupped one of her breasts, tweaking an erect nipple, smiling at the groan her captive emitted from stiff lips and the trembling in her body.

Harriet's chest was heaving from the passion burning throughout her body. Her body strained to come into contact with Sheila's hand that had withdrawn, yet hovered close without actually touching. Harriet groaned with desire.

"Yes. I can see you do too." She touched Harriet's cheek with the back of her hand, again sending chills of pleasure throughout her body. "Why don't you wait right here while I go see where Lord Chaney could have gone. Then when I return, maybe you can think of what we can do. I shall not be long."

Lips close to Harriet's ear produced more anguish at the need for relief from the buildup of sexual energy Sheila's game was causing. A puff of breath and lips just touching her ear, whispered a bye, nearly causing her knees to buckle. Another touch was all she needed to send her into an orgasm, a release to the building up of energy that was consuming her. If only her voice would respond, so she could beg Sheila not to go yet.

No! She's a bodyguard! She'll kill you. She suspects Lord Chaney is dead. Just look around you. You have his personal effects scattered about!

Harriet could not get her eyes to inspect the area to see if the evidence of their fight showed or if the bots cleaned it up before Sheila arrived. That was the last sensible thought she had before the sexual fantasies took over.

***

**

Maud found Harriet lying on the floor shaking from repeated orgasms.

"I see you have met with Sheila, the former Lord Chaney's bodyguard and goddess of lust," she laughed softly with a touch of irony in her voice.

Maud had a small instrument in her hand. She placed it against an open area on Harriet's neck. Moments later, Harriet was breathing normally. Maud helped her to sit on the bed.

"Goddesses and angels! What a nightmare!"

"Nightmare?" Maud's expression of disbelief was the same that she herself would have given. It added to the disquieting feelings she was getting about her stay on Merker's Outpost.

"I think I just had enough wet dreams to last me the year! Goddess, what am I saying?" she groaned.

Maud was trying not to smile but was unsuccessful. "What I have just given you will prevent the paralyzing result of the gas to effect you again. As for the rest…I've heard once bitten…"

"I'm surprised someone hasn't killed all the metradames if this is their effect."

"No," Guardian's voice came softly in her ear. "Only Sheila was equipped with what they call a lust gas. If it makes you feel any better, she released enough pheromones in the air to set off an entire roomful of species sensitive to the chemical, whatever gender. Lord Chaney spent a considerable fortune on her. You two will need to get out of there. Once Sheila finds the body and scans the retina for who had killed him, she will shut down momentarily, and come back up in an assassin's mode," Guardian warned.

Maud was looking through the pile of Lord Chaney's things the bot had dumped on the bed.

"You will need this ID card. Did you find a ring with a horses head and a horn in the center?"

Harriet pulled it out of her utility pocket.

"Good. Keep it close to you. This ID card will render Sheila inactive for about five stan minutes by pinching both sides simultaneously on these marks. Under normal circumstances, it would put her to sleep but since she is going to be in her assassin's mode it will only cause her to pause for a few minutes. Don't lose it," she cautioned.

"Isn't there a way to shut her down completely?"

"If you can render her unconscious during those five minutes you can hold up the this ID card, it's a reset device, in front of her eyes…pinch the sides on these two colors. The flashing light is on a frequency that is specifically set to engage her entire system and erase her duty to Lord Chaney. You then become her new mistress."

"Oh, that's just great. Don't you think it sounds just a little too easy?" Harriet queried suspiciously and uneasily at the thought of how easy it was to enslave someone.

"Well, the directions say it's supposed to work," Guardian told her seriously. "After all you're talking about a select few who can afford such creatures. They certainly did not want to make deactivating them too difficult. There is a fear among the owner's that their slaves may revolt so the dealers made sure they could easily put them to sleep."

"So, you don't know if this is going to work?"

"It's not like I have a laboratory full of willing test subjects, donated by their owners. Sheila has found the body and has finished scanning the eyes. She needs the saber in order to avenge his death, as her program dictates. I had the bot deliver the saber to a small lab I have there to study the saber, but it is not set up to prevent a determined person to enter it," Guardian sighed. "I have not finished studying it, but I have damaged the homing device, so when she has retrieved it, she will have to have a good aim to find its mark, but it is still sharp."

"So, do we continue messing with the troops or kidnap someone of importance?" Harriet asked as Maud dumped the remaining belongings of Lord Chaney into a dumpster.

Maud looked at her with an oh-so familiar expression.

"That's what I intended with Lord Chaney, only it didn't go down quite the way I had planed it," she explained, uncomfortable at how it turned out.

"It was a good idea. Perhaps the Fates will be more generous on your next plan. However, time dictates we move on with Guardian's plan and move to the broadcast area," Maud replied. "We have fifteen stan minutes before the storm moves out, and then a two hour window before the next storm. Guardian has unlocked the secure keys to about seven hundred of the orbital satellites around the main broadcast stations, so he is bypassing their firewall secure farms and going directly into the broadcast streams."

"The ratings of some stations should go up." Harriet took a deep breath when standing, her legs felt rubbery and her stomach performed flip-flops. Maud held her arm until she was standing taller and the flush in her cheeks was not as intense.

"The owner will have to watch her business prosper from a rehab colony," Maud returned, releasing Harriet's arm cautiously. "She's one of the stockholders in the smuggling business. We'll leave this way," she gestured to the maintenance tunnel.

They went back down a flight of stairs to the other side of the small area the troops and smugglers occupied. Feeling better, Harriet was in the lead dismantling traps, removing others and putting some in her pockets for future use. There were concussion bombs that would not harm the life support lines, but they could knock someone to the ground. There were also sleeping gas canisters thrown in for a mixture. Maud led her to the rooms that held the prisoners for auction. Harriet deactivated but did not remove the traps, making sure Maud's escape route would not be noticed by a guard making spot inspections.

The two women moved back up the corridor, out of sight of the target room.

No Sheila, Harriet thought gratefully. Guardian had no word of her whereabouts either. She was avoiding his cameras. They stepped into a corridor on the other side of the Command Center just around the corner to the room where the screening of the victims was held.

"The broadcast has been going well so far," Guardian notified the two softly. "However, they are going to get a message that their broadcast has been sent to a public station soon."

The swish of a door opening and the sound of boots running told them that the relaying for the video of one of the auctioned was being delivered topside, to be transmitted to the ship above, which would then beam it to those dialed into the auction and other citizens of the multiverses.

All that running up and down has to be a lot of hard work! Harriet wondered how much they were making to warrant such effort. There's gotta be more than an auction going on here.

"It is time for me to move the captives, so it is time for you to create a diversion."

"Right."

"I hear you are great at surprises," Maud mentioned lightly. "I certainly had no such training in any of the schools I attended. Perhaps you can teach me some of those at another time."

Harriet Montran smiled. Maud laid the few captured traps she was carrying on the floor near Harriet's feet and returned to the service tunnel.

Not much time, heh? This stuff should be enough to make a loud and painful bang, and rattle some heads.

She placed them so that the first one would set the others off on a slight delay, with the concussion knocking everyone from one side and then to another. After a quick glance to see that the placements were right, she moved behind a corner to wait. The hairs on the back of her arms stood up and her pulse increased. Was something going wrong?

"Are we ready?" she asked softly in her mic.

"We certainly are," came the throaty voice of Sheila behind her.

Harriet rolled out of the way of something shinny slashing down where she had once been standing. She lifted her foot to knock Sheila off balance, but Sheila threw a kick of her own knocking Harriet's leg aside, both falling to the ground. They rolled to their feet looking for a weak point in the other's stance.

Uh, oh.

Sheila pinned her expertly against the wall and shifted her weight to whip her feet from under her. Harriet instead held onto Sheila and kneed her, pushing her back. Sheila's feet intentionally entangled Harriet's, who fell against the wall, sliding down with a thump. Sheila was back on her feet and pulled Harriet off her feet, however, Harriet broke her grip, and knocked Sheila to the ground. Meanwhile the door to the broadcast room opened as another runner from the surface came down with bad news.

A short man came out of the room furious. Anyone near him was handed insults, slaps and yelling, until the noise from the struggling women caught his attention. The smuggler and his men came around the corner to see what the noise was about. They immediately recognized the orange hair of Harriet Montran.

The smuggler knew Lord Chaney had ordered his metradame to capture Harriet for Alan Fermin. He pulled his stunner out and took aim. Harriet spotted him and gave Sheila an advantage in their grip so that she would be between her and his aim.

"Blasters! Get the Sheila out of the way!" he bellowed, dropping his arm to gesture to one of his smugglers behind him.

The others would have done something but Sheila paused in her struggle, giving Harriet a chance to break free and activate two of the concussion bombs. It would only be a matter of time before the whole hall would be shaking with concussion bombs in a ripple effect. The first bomb went off and knocked everyone to their knees. Sheila was standing in front of her and took most of the shock as both of them bounced against a wall. The second one caused Harriet's head to hit the wall but her helmet had activated after the first explosion, and absorbed the impact. Stumbling over to the service panel Harriet got in before the other bombs released.

"Guardian?"

"Yes?"

"Did Maud get the captives out?"

"Yes, but she needs more time to clear the area. Can you can keep them preoccupied a bit longer?"

"Right." Harriet checked her internal map. "Where do they keep their supplies?"

"The storage area next to the morgue."

Harriet shuddered. "Nice place."

"You will need to return to base," Guardian reported suddenly. "It is now wise for us to back off. Lord Chaney's body has been discovered by the smugglers. We must now wait, and see what develops. Hopefully, they all will leave soon without further damage to themselves or us."

"Right. I'm on my way. Ahh...how do I summon my ride?" she asked suddenly.

"Simply call for it. It has been set to your bios. It will not go anywhere if you are not in it."

Harriet felt a little embarrassed. "As in, 'here, car'?"

"That simple," Guardian replied.

Harriet stopped her jog and turned to look over her shoulder. Was that a sound her helmet's amplified hearing picked up? Not taking chances, she exited out of the service panel. She ran quickly until she came to an elevator, and accessed the service tunnel from this side of the corridor. As she dropped down one level, she was hit from behind. The impact knocked her against the wall. Sheila lifted her as if she were a small bag and threw her into the wall where another exit door was, knocking her out of the service tunnel and into a corridor. Unharmed, Harriet rolled under Sheila's feet, entwining their legs. Sheila fell to the ground, hard. Both bounced back up to their feet. With a good handhold, she bounced Sheila's head against the wall and moved away, however Harriet paused, grateful to see that Sheila was not immune to hard hits. The pause gave Sheila enough time to recover and was quickly back on the offensive. Harriet was able to knock her off her feet again. This time, without pausing, Harriet was inside the panel and back up the ladder. The first chance she got she dropped a level to get to the travel tube.

Sheila did not take her unawares the third time. This time the battle was in the small confines of the tunnel with their grunts echoing along the passageway. Sheila suddenly changed tactics and surprised Harriet with a punch to the head. Her helmet took the impact but the force drove her into the wall and the service panel door behind them came open, depositing Harriet's body in the middle of a dark area with Sheila on top. Sheila pinned Harriet and with the knife in one hand, she was ready to deactivate the helmet the other. Harriet knocked away her hand but Sheila was able to find the release button to her helmet. Harriet needed to get her somewhere where the environmental gases would render her useless. She needed to get to the tube area. Harriet twisted, breaking Sheila's grip. She kicked her in the chest, knocking Sheila on her back. Harriet escaped into the service tunnel and down a ladder to the tube area. She was exiting into the tube area when Sheila grabbed her from behind and both fell into the transportation area. Unfortunately, it had breathable air in it. Harriet forgot the captives probably passed this way to be transported to their safe destination and they would need air.

Sheila reached for Harriet Montran as they both fell. Harriet twisted herself so Sheila would take most of the impact of the fall. Once down, Harriet tried to get free, but Sheila rolled on top of Harriet. Sheila leaned her weight onto Harriet pinning her to the ground effectively.

Helgas Moon! Where is my backup when I need her?

Harriet Montran continued to struggle as her helmet was deactivated again. Facing Sheila, Harriet saw the short sword in Sheila's hand. She brought her knee up into Sheila's back hard and both rolled around on the ground as each one tried to gain control. Sheila struck Harriet in the head with the hilt of the sword. Stunned, Harriet could feel her grip on Sheila's wrist loosen. She could feel a panic moving over her limbs as a knife point flashed at her. Then the second skin kicked in flooding her system with adrenalin. Her eyes cleared giving her a larger than life view of Sheila raising a short pointy object, the ceremonial sword of the late Lord Chaney, above her forehead. Then abruptly Sheila was no longer on her.

Rolling to her feet quickly, she swayed for a moment as she located Maud and Sheila locked in a rolling combat. Harriet pulled the deactivator out and held the button down. All motion from Sheila stopped.

Maud pushed Sheila to the side gently. "Please, Lt. Montran, Harriet, shut that off," Maud implored covering her ears.

"Oh!" Harriet's fingertips were white from her tight pinch on the card. She sank to her knees taking the opportunity to catch her breath. "The cavalry came just in time," she muttered.

"You can now reset her permanently," Maud suggested.

"How sure are we this is going to do anything?"

"We won't if you waste time asking questions, Lieutenant."

Reluctantly, Harriet moved over to the prostrate form of the metradame and held the device near her forehead. A shiver ran up her arms as Sheila's darkened eyes locked on hers. With shaking hands, Harriet pressed the reset. A flash of pain crossed Sheila's face before her eyes closed. Guiltily Harriet looked toward Maud.

"Do you have the unicorn ring?" Maud asked.

"What ring?"

"The horse with the horn in its head?"

"Oh, yeah." Harriet fished it out of her utility belt pocket.

"This is your homing device to her."

"Wait a moment here. Are you telling me that she was and is able to find me because of this ring?"

"Yes."

"She's been locating me because of this?"

"Yes." Maud took the ring from her palm and turning Harriet's hand over slid it on her finger. "You must wear it so she remains near you. It is for her safety, until she knows how to manage on her own."

Harriet flexed her fingers at the unaccustomed feel of wearing a ring.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was an observation Guardian made during her pursuit of you. She was finding you too easy. He narrowed it down to the ring. When she awakens…she is yours to program, rename, and command."

"I don't want a robot! I..." images from the sexual haze that Sheila had left her in flooded all her senses as if she were back in the moment. She felt off balance.

Uh, oh. How do I ignore these reactions?

Maud grabbed Harriet's arms and shook her for attention. "You both need to get out of this part of the city," she repeated. "Guardian wants to flood the area with sleeping gas and to clean up some of the debris the intruders have left, and I have guests of Guardians to tend to. These feelings will wear off," she reassured her.

Harriet nodded; clearing her throat, she tested her voice, "How long is she going to be like this?"

"For most of the ride back. Call your car and I will help you put her in it."

"Car?" Harriet called hesitantly. This was just as ridiculous as her reaction to Sheila. Oh, no it isn't. Calling a car may be ridiculous but Sheila is NOT. She is lust at its highest level!

The car rolled to a stop by their waiting figures. Stepping in first Harriet turned to Maud who passed her the unconscious form of Sheila. The metradame's limp body was settled in and secured when the harness dropped. Tiredly Harriet Montran sat across from her, her own harness securing her.

"'Till we meet again, Lt. Montran," Maud whispered in her communicator.

"'Till we meet again, Maud. But, seeing as we have so much in common, I think we should be on first name basis, don't you think? And, thank you."

"You are welcome, Harriet. Perhaps over tea, if there is time in the near future, we can discuss these pranks of yours."

"Right. In exchange for you letting me know how you managed for two years to keep these people at bay."

"It's a deal," she grinned and waved.

The car moved out of the area quickly and the built up speed pushed her into her seat. Hopefully there was going to be food, drink and rest at the other end. Suddenly a small screen appeared in the left corner of her visor.

"I hope you don't mind, but your visor has the ability to read others' bios and I would like to monitor hers," Guardian explained.

"No. Not at all. So, the command is 'bio readings for target on?' or something like that?"

"Yes. Or you can just touch your control. It's the small swatch just above the inside of your wrist. I'm still testing its placement for convenience and practicality. What was convienient for lab workers is not for other occupations. Something Maud has been discovering, and not always in the best of circumstances." Guardian sighed.

Does that mean Maud is a willing test subject? Well, she is still alive. Two years to bring this suit to its present condition. I can't complain, since it's saved me from more bruises than I would care to count.

"Guardian, can the 'blend' feature work off this planet?"

"No. The ability lies in the suits composition to mimic mater that can be found on this planet. I could make it so that the wearer is completely unseen to many species visual sight or to monitoring mechanisms by altering the vibration of the object I wish to hide. What gives me hesitation are the possibilities of those like Lord Chaney in high places to use it over those who will not have the technology to counter it. It is something I wish to confer with others on."

"Hmm. Sharon once told me, that even if we think we are the sole creators of or maybe the first to come up with an idea, in reality, it has already been done or thought of by others somewhere. Therefore, what you are speaking of…has already been developed by another group, and whether they are reputable as you are…hmmm. Your idea could well be already hitting the galactic patent office, wrapped up in another company's logo."

"No. It is already registered...or, the beginnings of what is now completed. As a scientist, I had also believed that. Now, with the search ability a computer can offer, I can follow the serendipity of an idea that is recorded by people, not all scientists, on a similar or the same idea. And there are about forty-four companies in just Committee space alone, that are working on such a suit; however, none of them have a finished product."

Lt. Montran leaned back in the restraints and thought about it. "Well, you're right about the corrupt getting a good grab on it. Any of the political powers hear of it and your patent will be classified and you won't be able to sell it on the market. They'll take it away from you."

Through slitted lids, Harriet watched the form of Sheila in the darkened cab, reading her energy level though the visor. During the hour ride back, Harriet Montran dozed off. Her dreams were a mixture of guilt over Lord Chaney's death, and sexual images of Sheila and Sharon. The mixture was enough to give her a slight headache that the second skin was not getting rid of. Maybe it was over taxed.

The abrupt change in the speed and a sharp intake of breath from Sheila brought her out of her disturbing nap. As her conscious thoughts struggled to put up an indignant argument on what her dreams revealed, the images had her blushing.

Let's not go there, Harriet.

"Lt. Montran, welcome home and welcome to your companion." Guardian's voice came over the speakers in the car. "Lieutenant, I have a friend of yours in the infirmary that needs to be taken to her quarters. Would you mind escorting her and see that she is settled? Charles is busy with something else and I think when she awakens she would feel more comfortable in her quarters than alone in an infirmary. Don't you think?"

"A friend of mine? What's wrong with her?"

"Yes, Jina Gari, but, you remember her as Cadet Zohra."

The car came to a sudden halt, much like her thoughts.

"Though the car has some protection for those not wearing a second skin, it does leave the occupant a little shaken. I think your companion may take a while to recover," Guardian commented quietly in Harriet Montran's ear.

Harriet shook her head, taking a deep breath to bring her attention to the present. Guardian was monitoring Sheila through her helmet, she reminded herself, and she needed to attend to her too. The lights in the tube station were on when the car door opened. When the restraints came up, Harriet took time to deactivate her helmet and remove her gloves. Sheila stirred, but slowly. Harriet was trying to remember how she felt on her first shuttle drop. Her legs were wobbly and her head had been spinning to say nothing of her stomach that could not hold any solid food for a few days. It took a lot of practice drops to get her body acclimated to the harsh change of gravity.

Harriet exited the car and concerned, turned to watch Sheila.

Give her a hand, lieutenant!

Harriet leaned in and held out her hand to Sheila. Sheila took it without hesitation and slowly climbed out of the car. A slight tremor in both their hands as they made contact had Harriet gripping firmer onto the unsteady woman's hand. The image of her drawing Sheila against her and nibbling her neck had her grimacing inward.

What did Maud say, 'once bitten?' That made her nervous. Harriet watched as a different metradame climbed out of the car, but it did nothing to calm her bios that were escalating in a completely inappropriate mood.

Sheila put her other hand onto Harriet's arm for balance. The added contact had Harriet wondering if she was going to be able to survive nearness with someone she wanted to drag off into her quarters for a long and arduous time of love making.

Love making? NOT! Rutting is a better term. Your body may be reacting but you can control your thoughts. Right. Easy for you to say, she grumbled to herself. Come on. Surely remembering your first ride on a horse can take your mind off this.

She closed her eyes for a moment, recalling that great event. It had been a disaster. She was tossed into a water trough unceremoniously. Her brother, Hadrie, had knowingly given her Trickster, a retired circus pony to ride. It was to get back at her for a prank she had pulled on him earlier. What was that prank? Oh, yeah. She locked him in the outhouse at Soureige.

Sheila released Harriet's arm and stood away from the car, standing up straighter.

"Map to infirmary." A map appeared on the car's surface.

Harriet studied it and then turned, heading towards the door marked exit, acutely aware that Sheila was following.

Who was Sheila before Lord Chaney abducted her and turned her into his possession? Guardian must know for he had hinted that she was a highly regarded choice by Lord Chaney.

"Infirmary," Harriet softly spoke to the elevator. Standing in the close confines of the elevator, Harriet's skin crawled as if Sheila's finger were moving over her arm again.

This is not going to be one of those easy endings to a long day.

The elevator opened onto a well-lit corridor that lacked any art or signs indicating where they were. The walls were transparent but without the room interior lights on, it was impossible to see beyond their own reflections. In the unfamiliar environment, Harriet's focus shifted quickly to a soldier's mode of alertness. Searching for what her senses told her was something to be alert for...but what?

No alarms in my head...but then, again, I didn't get any when Sheila was chasing me. I guess we were evenly matched or... That is not good if my sense of danger is not working. So, what is it about this place? Is this the laboratory area?

One particular room had an unusual type of energy emanating from it. It was so subtle that Harriet did not notice it until they were almost past it. Curious, she stepped back and put her palms against the wall. There was a warm subtle pulse. Reluctantly, she pulled her hands away. She would investigate this room later. Now, she had someone to meet. Her stomach turned flip-flops as she struggled with not knowing whether to avoid thinking about what Sheila's presence was doing to her, or what the information Guardian just gave her was doing to her mind. If she survived this day with her sanity in tact, she was going to be laying flowers on someone's altar.

The infirmary turned out to be the last room at the end of the corridor. The double doors hissed open. It took a few moments for Harriet's eyes to adjust to the subdued lighting. She easily located a gurney that held a draped figure. She held her breath as she moved to the side of the still figure. Harriet found the Sgt. Major's face more grim than Guardian's images. There was a bruise on her face that was turning yellow and green. A scar ran across her forehead and disappeared into her scalp. It reminded Harriet of someone that had survived a line trap and that occurred usually because someone in front of you took the brunt. Under the low light, the face was pale as if she was recovering from something.

Looks like she had a case of bad air by the coloring on her eyelids and lips. She's going to have a headache when she wakes up…unless she's already had her meds. Though, a dip in the tub with Ald's remedies is a nice way to get rid of a headache.

That made her think about Sheila and how a nice dip in the tub with her would do her a wonderful amount of good.

Oh, no Harriet...let's just not go there, hmm? She advised herself. Gawds, just let me get through this day without going boink!

She focused on the figure again, determined to keep to the task Guardian had given her. The unconscious woman wore a military issued AEG and by the identification on it, she was a member of the Black Rose.

Jina Gari. She is Cadet Zohra? She doesn't look like how I remember her.

Suddenly she remembered the vial she had found and fished it out of one of the utility belt pockets.

"Guardian, can you analyze this?"

A robot, immobile in a dim corner, came active, moved out and extended a hand. It looked like a harnivan, a multilimbed carnivore from the mining colony near Alteria IV. Interesting choice to have working in a medical capacity. Perhaps the intention was to scare others to get better faster. Harriet placed the small vial in its outstretched palm.

Looking back at the unconscious figure Harriet frowned. "A cadet on the Black Rose squad and as a Sgt. Major?" she wondered aloud.

"She's an operative for Naboths Vine. She has been undercover for about nine years," Guardian informed her through the communicator.

"That's a long time. When she returns to consciousness will she remember whose side she's on?" Cadet Zohra. Nine years? That's since graduation. Will she remember me?

"She's been debriefed; however, she will remain unconscious for another eight stan hours to let her process her debriefing subliminals."

"And you're putting her next door to me?" Harriet joked but her heart was beating faster.

"She can be just as easily detained in her room as in a prison cell, as her cohorts, but we must get her back to her real self," Guardian explained. "We will need her expertise until the admiral's troops arrive. Major General Aglauros would not forgive me if something should happen to her."

"General Aglauros...I heard she is the chief of Hekate's' Inner Circle…and Cadet Zohra knows her? And you know General Aglauros?"

"Well, I have had recent communications with her," Guardian returned amused.

"Well, I would like to meet this General Aglauros. I have heard much about her. However, about Zohra's membership in the Black Rose…the Black Rose is a closed squad. Few survive to live long and those that do, limp though the rest of their life, and I don't mean just physically." She took a deep breath and explained her concern plainly. "They lead a very brutal life, both private and in the service. That is their trade mark."

"It was not intended for her to be undercover for so long. She had elected to stay to see her assignment out to the end."

Assignment? And what was that? So, a spy for Naboths Vine. From what I remember of her, she is the type that would take such an assignment. But, I wonder if Lord Chaney's death ended her assignment. Seems my actions caused a lot of people to change jobs.

Giving a small shake to her head, she began to look along the sides of the gurney for a control device to operate it.

"Mistress, may I help?"

Harriet jumped from the unfamiliar voice at her shoulder. Turning to face the origin of the voice, Harriet's face was so close to Sheila's that she could feel her warm breath. Blood pounded in her ears and she could feel her hands shaking from the desire to ravish the woman on the spot.

By Helgas Moon, I will never make idle wishes after this.

Slowly rising to her feet, she nervously moved to the other side of the gurney, all the while cursing herself for the fire that was raging in her veins. With the gurney separating them, the intensity seemed to lessen. Harriet cleared her throat. "What happened to your voice?"

"Would you like another, Mistress?" Sheila asked her politely with clear green eyes returning her stare without any malice or familiarity.

"I just did not recognize it for a moment." Harriet's hands gripped the edge of the bed disappointed more than she should be at the change in Sheila's voice. She distinctly remembered it as husky and sensuous and now it was as normal as any other voice. With the distance between them, her heart began to slow down and the hot flush that reddened her face, diminished.

Distance. Okay, I just need to keep a distance. "I'm looking for the controls for this thing," she mumbled awkwardly as she went back to looking for something to make the gurney move.

"It's already programmed for her quarters. You need to only follow it," Guardian suggested from a speaker in the room so that both could hear.

"Right. Of course, Guardian."

The two followed as the hovering gurney exited the infirmary and headed in the direction of the elevator. In the elevator, the gurney emitted an energy field protecting its cargo from any jolts. The ride in the elevator for Harriet was bearable as the unconscious figure and the energy field separated her from Sheila.

She cleared her throat, "So, Guardian…" she took a deep breath, "anything we need to worry about?"

"None. The appropriate people have been notified in the Collective and Committee space, the smugglers have began to vacate the premises; however, I still have some unwanted visitors and…Alan has two of his ships above. It is a waiting game, at this point."

"Hmm. I hope that means enough time to get in some down time," she muttered to no one in particular.

The gurney passed Harriet's quarters and at the next doorway, the door slid open to reveal a living space similar to her own. The artwork was different with the bedroom to the left instead of the right. They were going to be sharing the bathing room and toilet facilities. Harriet's heart fluttered at that discovery.

"Okay, we need to move her to the bed," Harriet said out loud, as if needing to fill in the quietness. Sheila moved before Harriet, and lifted Zohra from the gurney to the bed. The gurney left and the butler was there to take the discarded clothing as Harriet, assisted by Sheila, peeled the articles off her. In the low lighting, Harriet studied the scars scattered on the lean tattooed body. Some looked like she was lucky to be alive. One was recent and still pink. Her eyes widened at the sight of the gold nipple rings adorning her breasts. Harriet's eyes traveled down to her shaved mons and spied another glint of gold from a ring peering out between her labia.

Clearing her throat, she then took a deep breath. "Goddess, nine years is a long time to live under cover. Let's get her into the shower." She nodded towards Sheila, who seemed to have no problem lifting her. Harriet did not want to try, thinking she would surely drop her and not just because she was tired.

"I can't tell if she needs first aid or just a good scrub." Or how much of it is tattoos and dirt.

Easily, Sheila carried her in the direction Harriet indicated, pausing before stepping into the tropical bathing room. It was a sight to behold, Harriet agreed silently. The unconscious form of Zohra was set in the shower and both women stepped back as Ald moved forward to take over the business of cleaning, as it was programmed for. Harriet hands twitched, and she almost told the bot she would do it, but refrained. The Spartan reminded Harriet of a veteran gladiator that competed in the galaxy competitions.

Ahh, but she was once a celebrity athlete. No one would recognize her now, though. She felt a little sad at that. I guess that's the purpose of the face change. I wonder if when all this is finished, she'll want to have her old face back. A fleeting and wistful thought on her part. Who was that fem fatale that was hanging on her at the Academy? Will she return to her? Nine years is a long time to wait for someone. Right, Harriet. So why have you?

She took a deep breath at the realization that though she had fallen in love with Sharon, she would have had serious doubts about the relationship if Zohra appeared in her life…if they were still together.

Ald released the long black hair tied back in the traditional warriors club with a thin leather thong weaved through it. Ald checked for head wounds before washing the dark hair. After she was cleaned, Ald applied a gel that soaked quickly into the scared areas. The scars began to fade as the gel disappeared. A soft light glowed around her body for a few moments…and then Ald moved back.

Sheila picked up Zohra and Harriet trailed after her, watching her carefully deposit the unconscious Spartan in bed. Harriet studied the freshly scented and cleaned body. Pulling the covers over her, Harriet leaned close to her ear.

"Sweet dreams, Dancer."

A need she had not had since academy days reminded her of the dark nights when the twin moons were on the other side of the planet. It reached deep inside her awakening a profound ache to connect - and then the intensity lessened, settling to a dull throb.

Just what I need in my life at the moment. Another distraction.

"We…our quarters are this way," Harriet motioned back towards the bathingroom. She felt exhausted, and suspected it was not just physically. What to do with Sheila was going to have to be dealt with tomorrow. It occurred to her that Guardian said nothing about offereing Sheila a room of her own. The bathingroom door to her bedroom opened at her approach.

Guardian probably has it all figured out. Right now…a good eight hours rest is at the top of my list of things to do. Well, after something to eat and a soak to get rid of my soreness. I don't want to wake up barely able to move.

"Do you...are you hungry?" Harriet turned towards Sheila, surprised that her mouth was dry.

"Yes, Mistress."

"Do you have a food selection preference?"

"No, Mistress."

Harriet gave a slight twitch at the address. Mistress.

The kitchenette bot patiently waited.

"Two meals, light, Bach," Harriet ordered. Since the bot had picked her morning meal with efficiency, she expected it would be as proficient now.

"Would either of you care for a beverage?" Bach asked.

Sheila regarded the bot for a moment.

"I would like something that is good for sleep," Harriet mumbled as she stretched some of the stiffness from her back. She contemplated how her body felt now, trying to figure out how much the second skin was compensating for. In the fight, it had given her more energy and protection but now she felt drained. So, perhaps the second skin had limits. She was going to have to ask the Guardian more about the second skin. If it was using her own body's energy, then she was in actuality depleting her spare resources, which meant she would have to consider second wind as not something to depend on. Too much to think about right now.

"I will have the same."

"Have a look around," Harriet offered Sheila as she headed back into the bedroom to prepare for a quick shower. Let's see what she looks at. She seems harmless…and Guardian has regard for her so…

She plopped down in the chair and attempted to pull off her boots, giving up quickly when the effort was more than what she cared to give. The butler bot assisted with her undressing. After the removal of the second skin, her ribs were decidedly sore.

"Oh, bloody moon, what is this?" The butler had emptied her pockets, and utility pockets, laying what it found on the bed. Turning it over in her hand, she could not decide what it could be.

"Oh, yeah. It was jamming the floor cover. Hmm. Later. A puzzle when my brain isn't so tired." She laid it on the chair and headed towards the bathingroom.

***

*

In the shower, she decided that she was going to have to get Sheila to not call her Mistress. For some reason, it was aggravating her.

What's in a name, huh? It's not like I'm thin skinned. Helgas Moon! Some pretty nasty people have called me a lot of worse so what's the problem, Harriet? Mistress. Say it a few times. What is wrong with the word Mistress? It's something one calls a child, for one. Or, like master and slave. Oh, damn, that does it! The visions of slave and master in an erotic setting had Harriet groaning with frustration. Even more maddening was the image was of her Dancer and herself.

Ald had a towel and robe ready for her as she stepped out of the shower just as annoyed as when she entered.

"Can you run the tub water and add something for bruises, Ald? I'll take a soak after I eat." You could ask...Sheila if she has any injuries or would like a shower. What will she wear after her shower...a robe. It will fit her. Gawds, I won't make it if she isn't covered.

"My very recommendation, Lt. Montran," he judiciously reported, breaking her train of thoughts.

Back in the bedroom, she sat in the chair, with her robe tucked around her trying to figure out what she was going to do about the sleeping arrangements, and fell asleep until Sheila's touch woke her.

"Your meal is ready, Mistress. Though your bios say you are tired, you do need nourishment."

Harriet blinked a few times, letting the image of the metradame become clearer.

"You can read bios." Harriet wearily rose. Great. Between Guardian and her I'm going to feel over scrutinized.

On the table was only one plate of prepared food. "Did you eat already?" Goddess, how long was I out?

"No, Mistress. I will eat when you have finished."

"I can use the company," Harriet forced a yawn to end. "I would rather we eat together, quite frankly, unless you prefer not to. Eating alone is…lonely," Harriet reiterated. "Do you have a name you would like to be called?"

The figure across the table from her paused as she was placing her plate on the table. "I don't know."

"I would like to see you have a say in your own life and..." Harriet yawned again..."selecting your own name is a good start." Very good, Harriet. Order her to not be your slave. I wonder if that is all there is to this? Helios fires, I gotta know more about these metrapeople. Guardian said he gave me access to his library. Tomorrow I'm going to have a lot of reading to do.

Hurriedly Harriet ate her meal before exhaustion overtook her. She wanted to soak in the tub. The idea of waking up sore and miserable when she had the option not to gave her the incentive to make the effort to soak. The second skin had kept the stiffness at bay but without it, she could feel her recent run-ins with a wall or two settling in her muscles. Thinking about the battering her body had been through, she was surprised that nothing was broken.

As Harriet rose from her finished meal, she waved the metradame back into her seat.

"Please. Finish your meal at your own pace. I'm going to soak a bit and then go to bed. All the facilities are at your disposal, also…so if you need a shower or soak...before you go to bed, you know where the facilities are." So, where did you decide Sheila is going to sleep? Not on the couch. The bed is rather big and can be made larger. She pushed the sexual feelings aside wearily. "We can share the bed until...until something else is worked out," Harriet offered. "That is, if you don't mind?"

"No, Mistress."

The smell of the herbs from the bath was calling to her and dealing with 'Mistress' would have to wait. A flush rose through her cheeks then quickly heated other areas as her eyes took in the metradame. Sheila could, for all intents and purposes, have simply been eating her dinner and looking up at Harriet for but a brief moment, but to Harriet, it was a seductive tilt of her head, an inviting smile that curved the sensuous mouth, and the eyes…green as the ocean on Emery…

Ohhh, goddess…I am in trouble here. "Until the butler supplies you with clothing of your own, we can share what's in the closet." She forced herself to breathe normally, "Maybe we can later get over to the City and pick up your belongings..." Harriet couldn't think of anything else to say so she turned and continued into the bathing room feeling foolish at the flush her body took on whenever she looked at the metradame...Sheila. She needed to remember that Sheila was a live person that someone had enslaved and not a bot.

The aroma from the steaming water was pleasant and promised a nice soak, followed, hopefully, by a very nice deep undisturbed sleep. Gratefully, she slid into the hot water.

Ahhhh. This is nice.

Sighing, she leaned her head back comfortably on the tubs padded rim, listening to the soothing music, and letting the bubbling waters massage her bruised body with herbal essences. Soon the sounds from the shower had her groaning with sexual frustration as she imagined how the water looked sloshing over the Sheila's body. Her memories of what the advertisements extolled about the sexual cleverness of the metradames did not help, which were quickly followed by the erotic images she had when Sheila had left her in the Spartan's quarters in search of her master, Lord Chaney.

Keeping her eyes closed, she moaned softly and wished her mind would shut off.

The shower ended.

Moments later, the water level in the tub rose as another body slid in.

"Mind if I join you, Mistress?" a throaty voice whispered near her ear.

Uh, oh.

Here her desire and morals parted company. Resisting was not an option at this point.

"No, I don't mind," her voice, husky with desire, whispered in reply. Harriet took in a shaky breath and then continued, not recognizing her voice. "I mean…do you remember…?"

"Yes, Mistress. Everything."

"Ah, umm."

"Does you shoulder hurt, Mistress?"

Harriet nodded, not daring to say anything more, least her voice betray her any further.

Sheila's hands rested firmly on Harriet's shoulders guiding her to turn around, facing away from her. Skilled hands kneaded sore shoulders, working out one sort of tension, replacing it with another. A groan nearly escaped Harriet's lips as the fingers unhurriedly worked their way down to the small of her back, sending small electrical charges up and down her spine. She was definitely aroused. Did she have the energy to rise to the occasion? What if Sheila were to strangle her when she was not expecting it? Too late to worry about that.

Sheila's hands slid in a slow arch from her back around to her breasts, cupping the soft white mounds, while her thumbs and forefingers pinched her nipples sending a sweet pain all the way to her yoni. Lips nibbled the back of her neck and Harriet arched her back, pushing against the woman, feeling the cushion of her soft breasts with hard nipples pressing back. Harriet turned in the metradame's embrace, her lips finding willing parted lips to explore, both groaning as their breasts touched.

After a long time had passed with both women discovering each other's pleasure points, Sheila picked Harriet up and carried her from the tub into their shared sleeping quarters.

Sheila's husky voice whispered in her ear what she was going to do to her. In response, Harriet groaned and latched her lips onto the woman's neck. Sheila deposited the dripping Harriet on the bed, straddling her hips to sit comfortably on her stomach. Harriet could swear she could feel Sheila's distended clitoris throbbing against her stomach.

"Romantic mood. The forests of Ameick. Summer. Warm breeze," Harriet whispered huskily. Maybe it isn't so bad wishing for something like this and getting it.

Sheila smiled, leaning over her as their surroundings changed. As Sheila leaned down to capture her willing lips, a beam of light filtering through the large redwood giants gave her a further breathtaking backdrop. Birds were chirping, squirrels chattering, and leaves were rustling in the small summer breeze that swept over both of them as two pairs of lips hungrily re-met. Harriet arched into the hand that grabbed her mons, tight enough to give a little bit of pain, as if to show possession. How long they spent wearing each out under the trees, she did not know. The last Harriet remembered was Sheila massaging her foot from a cramp she got while in the mist of their passion.

Sometime in the night, Harriet had awakened and stumbled in partial sleep to the toilet. A small light lit the way. When she had made her way back to bed the metradame was holding the covers open for her. Gratefully, Harriet snuggled up against Sheila, feeling her skin tingle at contact.

"I would like the name Carol, Mistress," she heard whispered in her ear.

"Carol," she repeated sleepily. "That's a nice name."

***

Chapter 9

There were heavy cumulus clouds overhead. As she strained to see into the darkness that was moving quickly in their direction, she felt the atmosphere change. Small sparks were flying as her younger brother moved forward.

"Don't move!" their father warned.

Their guide had told them that it could happen, but probably not today. The sun was too bright. But it was happening! Movement in the atmosphere in combination with their electromagnetic body movements would set off small flashes that could incinerate their forms. Would the dark funnel also appear and pull them up into its whirling center?

"There, to the left!" Nanny called out.

The funnel was moving towards them quickly, pushing dark clouds before it. But the dark clouds had some mixed blessings for it suddenly showered large drops of water on their unprotected heads. It washed away the potential for the abrasive reaction their off-world bodies had in this electromagnetic storm. By the time the clear sky and warm sun was upon them, they were soaked to the skin, cold, and each experiencing mixed emotions about their new home.

Their species naturally became partners with the spirit of a planet. Could they find a peaceful coexistence with the spirit of this wild planet? In her sleep, Carol shuddered at the memory. She felt a comforting arm around her tighten reflexively from her cringing movement.

***

Cadet Montran was tired yet too twitchy to sleep. It was final exam week for all the cadets at the Academy, but she attributed it to something else. A glance towards her roommate told her she was deep in sleep. Not wanting to wake her with her restless pacing, she gave in to the pressing need to take a walk under the moonless night. Cadet Montran stayed to the well-worn path so as not to come upon anyone by surprise. As she neared the edge of the forest, she could feel another's presence. It was as if she was expected. Curious, she moved further into the trees that surrounded the glen.

Nearly hidden in the shadows of the trees, she spied the form of a woman. The touch of another's consciousness was light. Instinctively she reached for it, reveling in the warmth and…excited at the unfamiliar sensuous passion that lay just below the surface of their contact. She was waiting for her? Why?

The form started to move into an ancient ritual dance. It was familiar…something from her childhood, the meaning forgotten. She took a slow deep breath realizing that though it was pitch dark everywhere, she could see her Dancer clearly.

Gracefully, the Dancer moved from one dance step to another, her hands tapering to fingers that gently curved into recognized mudra poses. As the dance progressed, the intensity of the energy heightened within her, taking her by surprise that she should be experiencing it. An ethereal part of her separated from her physical form. It was a surreal experience as that part of her merged with the Dancer, breathing the same air, and feeling muscles strain as if they were her own. The image of a dragon appeared in her mind.

Yesss. I remember now. It is the sacred dragon dance. The force that bonds lovers through sexual energy!

Cadet Montran could feel the weight of the braided hair behind her head, the cold damp air that filled her lungs, hear the leaves high above them rustling in the breeze. Time and separateness blurred as the Dancers moved in the energy of the Dance.

The Dancers called in their energy reserves for the final leap and the most difficult of the moves, the flying stag. The Dancers rose to an impossible height, suspended under the twinkling stars, arms rose like antlers, fingers fanned out, as if to snag a pair of stars on the points, and then finally, as the original Dancer dropped back to the ground, Cadet Montran separated from her. The powerful surge of sexual energy that shot through her caused her to loosen her connection, and not being able to sustain it or knowing what to do with it, the connection broke. Her body vibrated with such force, it shook her composure, bringing her to a climax that had her seeing stars behind her closed lids. Her yoni strummed to the silent scream of release. She weakly gripped the tree she collapsed against, looking for the support and strength her legs lacked.

Goddess! Is that what it's like? No wonder the old ones insist that sexual liaisons should be taken more seriously, the two thought simultaneously.

Cadet Montran's yoni continued to pulse as the blood pounded in her veins and ears in the aftermath, leaving her too weak to respond to the pull to go out to her Dancer. The abrupt sounds of laugher shattered the mood. While she waited for her legs to stop trembling, she thought of what she was experiencing. Her emotions were a mixture of shame and excitement at what she had been pulled into, wondering what it meant, yet fearful of the implications.

After that night, each time the twin moons hid their faces on the other side of the planet, she could feel the pounding of energy in her yoni, demanding a sweet release at the hands of her Dancer. Uncertain, she resisted the pull. She wanted to know more of who she had shared this sexual connection with, and what it was about, she argued with herself.

It was not until a month later, that she was able to put a name to the Dancer. Cadet Zohra. It was just before the summer break. Cadet Montran, relaxing with a group of friends at an off-campus meeting hall, glanced up at the new crowd of cadets that entered the hall. One of the women explained the other popular alehouse closed for two days. The bantering and noise in the room was higher than usual. She began feeling twitchy and her face became flushed for no apparent reason. She was listening to another cadet's story of his blindfolded attempts at landing a rover and her companions laughed uproariously. Her gaze was drawn to the other side of the room. Noises around her became muted as dark intriguing eyes captured hers, sending a shiver down her spine. Time stopped in the moment of mutual recognition.

Someone had leaned over and whispered the name of the woman that had captured her attention, teasing her gently of the intense stare that was returned.

Merely saying the name to herself inflamed her desires. Images of the athlete in televised Galactic competitions, her life before she enrolled in the Academy, replayed in her dreams. They had met as young women in a shrine of Aphrodite, on some distant planet. She had just started her menses and was placing the traditional offering at the altar. The only thing memorable was that that night she had an erotic dream of the young athlete. At the time, she attributed it to a flush of hormones. Now, she knew it was because she had witnessed the Dragon's Dance.

Turning restlessly in her sleep, she felt someone next to her move to accommodate her movement.

The next dream started, though on another entirely different vein. It was a long ago memory of a young first lieutenant who stood in front of her new troop, wondering what she had gotten herself into. The members had given up and did not care about what happened to them. It caused her to get angry, because it meant that they were putting everyone's life in danger as well as her own, if she accompanied them on drops. Their defeatist attitude meant they would let themselves get shot and the person next to them. She was given two stan weeks to become familiar with them, something normally not done, and that should have clued her in that something was not right about the troop or her being assigned to them.

In Lt. Montran's sleep she restlessly moved into another position and would have awakened, if the darker memories started, but a warm hand soothingly rubbing her back, encouraged her dreams into another direction, dreams that were not disturbing

***

Murmurs from voices that were not clear had the soldier moving closer to the group that surrounded a meadow; however, an unseen hand restrained her gently pushing her onto the path back to…

JG's eyes popped open, feeling her senses leap to a high level of awareness, as realization that she was in an unfamiliar room was recognized by her subconscious. Breathing in deep, she did not find the familiar taste at the back of her mouth that came from heavy use of breathers for work in a hostile environment. For a moment, she wondered if she was still on leave. Rising to lean on her elbows, she studied the room.

"Good morning, Captain Zohra. You are looking much better than when you were pulled up from the service tunnel. I am Guardian of Merker's Outpost, your host."

Zohra glanced about her looking for where the voice came from. Not seeing anywhere or anything, she slid quickly out of the comfortable bed and looked about closer, not seeming to care she was wearing nothing.

"I am in a computer, Captain. You are Captain with the Sheild Maidens Guild… Athenia's Guild….ahh. Good you remember now."

It suddenly all came back to her. She prided herself in not falling back on the bed in surprise. She was no longer SMj. Jina Gari of the Black Rose troop. She was Captain Delorita Zohra of the Shield Maidens. For a few moments she kept repeating the title in her mind to get her acquainted with someone she had not acknowledged for as long as she was in covert operations for Naboth's Vine.

"Good morning, Guardian," she finally acknowledged. "How is security?"

"It is good. General Aglauros has been notified that you have been separated from the enemy, been debriefed, and now ready to receive orders. Her last communiqué to me was assurance that you will be assisting with the protection of the Outpost," Guardian reminded her, just in case not everything had come back.

"Yes, those were my orders, Guardian. I would like to see the Outpost's logs. You do keep logs?" she asked briskly, trying to cover for her uncertainty in her change of characters.

"Yes. Perhaps you would like to dress first?"

The closet rolled open with a butler bot emerging. It had garments already selected, but JG never let anyone make decisions for her when she had a choice, so she picked something else from the closet. She was curious about the wardrobe that was hanging but would not ask about it unless it was important for her welfare or her mission. In a quick glance, she already had made up her mind to return to the city to pick up her own clothing. However, she did ply Guardian with all sorts of questions about his second skin before putting it on.

Sitting in front of the workstation in her quarters, she began going over what information he had on everyone on Merker's Outpost. They were brief with psyc evals attached on each person that was currently on Merkers, which she was grateful Guardian made brief. However, when his information got to Lt. Harriet Montran she almost asked for the evaluation to go more in depth.

Lady Harriet Montran…here. She is alive! Bloody moon Captain Miller was right! The woman just will not die.

With the realization that Lady Montran was helping Guardian, Captain Zohra realized that they would be working together. A smile creased her lips and her dark eyes glistened as she recalled how they met…and their last meeting. Memories of Cadet Montran were kept at a minimum for nine years, but now…

Captain pushed away from the workstation. "Time."

"There is no real time here, Captain. However," Guardian quickly interjected, remembering that her persona as JG was short fused and did not like open ended statements. "It would be considered early morning hours to some species."

"Where is Lady Montran?"

"Still sleeping."

"Where are you located?"

"In Command Center, just down the hall from where you are." A holograph quickly appeared for her showing her the way.

"Give her a wake up call…we need to get things going here. Have her meet in Com-C."

"Yes. Of course, Captain. But, perhaps you would like to eat something before you start your day?"

Her stomach rumbled then, and she let herself be introduced to her kitchenette bot.

***

*

In the morning Harriet woke pressed against Carol, spoon shaped, holding her as if in comfort. She had one hand draped across her hip, her fingers dangling near her soft pubic hairs. She sensed that Carol was already awake, and with her senses awakened, so came the sexual haze that had her pushing closer into the warm body.

"Good morning, Carol," she whispered, sliding her hand down her thigh. Her fingers trembled from yearning, feeling the soft skin pebble under her fingertips.

When does this end, knowing that in reality she did not want it to end.

Carol turned in Harriet's arms, her face close to Harriet's, and her eyes dark in the dim light, and a small smile curling the corners of her lips. She picked up Harriet's warm fingers and began kissing them one at a time. Then her lips returned to the first finger, sucking it into her mouth, and taking her time swirling her tongue around the digit, then moving to the next. By the time she got to the third digit, Harriet's body was vibrating with a craving she had no intention of containing, knowing she would not be able to anyway. She knew of no desire this strong and urgent as she threw back their covers and straddled the equally aroused Carol. Once more, they willingly gave into the sexual heat of their passions. Groans, growls and loud cries of release continued well past two stan hours.

Exhausted, Harriet rolled on her side and pulled Carol into her arms and held her silently as they both enjoyed the after effects of their activities. The throbbing ache between her legs was from both, a desire that seemed to be unquenchable, and the attention that was mixed with rough and gentle handling. Occasionally Harriet could feel her lover's body shudder from the pleasure her body seemed to keep replaying. Harriet wanted more, but her sore body parts needed a break.

Harriet sighed. She needed to ask Carol.

"Carol?"

"Yes, Mistress?"

The sultry voice drove her crazy as another hot flash shot down between her legs. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around Carol's waist pulling her body closer into hers and feeling pleasure and pain as her sensitive lips pressed against Carol's taught stomach.

Harriet sighed again. "How much of …this…is from the effects of …of...our first meeting? Blast, she thought disgustedly of herself, I can't even mention the pheromone gas!

"All of it."

Harriet let out her breath both disappointed and relieved. The feel of Carol's body against hers was too much to give up right now. Carol gently undulated against her sore yoni, looking deeply into her eyes. Harriet pressed harder, excited by watching Carol's eyes as they darkened with desire.

"But you're reacting as if it means something to you," Harriet finally managed.

"It does, Mistress. I am affected by you as much as you are of me."

Of course it would, Lt. Harriet Montran. She is not a mechanical toy!

"Does it wear off?"

"Yes, Mistress."

Harriet was quiet for a while, her hands stroking the body she desired more than anything right now, letting the energy build again.

"Do you mind me…?

Carol regarded the serious green eyes focused on her own.

"You have been kind enough to return the pleasure, which in the past, had been for the amusement of others with my own satisfaction of no consequence for me or them."

Harriet felt a mixture of emotions. "So, we just…" She could not finish the sentence.

"We just continue on until it wears off," Carol stated simply. "Is it bothering you?"

Harriet laughed embarrassed, "No. I just hope I can survive. How long does it last?" Harriet was enjoying the warmth her partner exuded. She had never met a metraperson…well, regardless of what Guardian said about Sharon Teal, she found it difficult to believe that she was a metradame…but then, Carol was also not acting like what she thought a metradame would act like…a mindless robot that did as she bid…no personality or humor. But Carol was not like that, as their previous night had revealed. Harriet did not want to think about that, because then she would have to go back to her reluctance to accept that Sharon Teal was a metradame.

Carol kissed the tip of her nose and then nipped it, distracting Harriet from her depressing thoughts. "I hope I can too. I'm not sure, about the duration Mistress. For some, longer than for others."

There were so many personal questions Harriet wanted to ask her, now that the intensity of passion was somewhat abated. They were the usual questions a lover would ask…what are your hobbies; favorite books; places to visit; do you travel much; what are your favorite vacation spots, etc. But, instead, Harriet found herself enjoying the warm body that was pressed against hers, and fingers soothingly rubbing her back in small circles.

A soft ding sounded. "Good morning, Bekke Donnas," Guardian greeted them in another dialect. "I hope I am not disturbing you two, but Captain Zohra, or JG, or Gina Gari, has been up for over three stan hours. I thought it would be good for all of us to get together. I think she would also like a live sparing partner," Guardian chuckled, "until a contingent of soldiers arrive to clean out the remaining outlaws on my planet.

"Good morning, Guardian. I hope you are joking about sparing partners," Harriet returned, remembering the type of workouts the Black Rose squad was reputed to like. "She's a Captain?" So, who is sending the troops?

"Within her Shield House and Naboths Vine, that is her rank. We will hear from others interested in what is happening here in about five stan hours." The voice continued, "The Committee and Collective are assessing the change of power in Committee space and I am waiting to see what the two ships, Merchant's Wife and Spinner's Tale that are nervously hovering above us, are going to do. I am also curious why some of the Spartans are remaining, while the smugglers have completely pulled out."

"Admiral JoCastao is going to be unhappy that she missed the smugglers," Lt. Montran remarked. Spartans remaining? So that's why a cleanup crew is being sent...but from where? Captain? Does that mean she has been put in charge of containing those Spartans that are remaining? Makes sense since she would know them and the setup.

"There are twenty small wolf packs from the Collective in pursuit of those smugglers. The wolf packs arrived twelve stan hours after I sent off your message to Admiral JoCastao. They were getting ready to net the planet, when the smugglers' ships started arriving and quickly departing. The packs have latched onto the departing smuggler ships and are following them out of this busy corridor. By the messages passed between the packs and to their commander, I understand they are herding them into an area that is not busy with travel. I image they plan a battle."

Harriet imagined what the command center of the flagship would look like, busy with messengers and no sleep for the planning staff as they went over every angle of the capture of the fleeing smugglers ships. To her surprise, she did not miss it.

Sighing, Harriet sat up and picked up the robe that was lying across the foot of the bed. She needed to concentrate and lying next to Carol was too distracting. If things were busy for the admiral, then they would be getting busy for her.

"So, I take it something big happened, if the Committee is in a rumble."

"Yes. Those identified on the broadcast are under house arrest and their assets frozen until the outcome of their trail. The others that had not made any commitment to censure or admonish the unlawful behavior of their fellow members have resigned by an overwhelming demand of citizens in this sector. Word leaked out that they knew what was going on and did not take action. Alan Fermin is what we need to worry about. The new Committee, once formed, will banish Alan to the HinterWield prison colony with no hesitation. The Citizens Advocate Court ruled against him seven stan years back. He has violated the rules of his probation too many times and without Lord Chaney's support there are no more obstacles to prevent the injunction from being delivered and acted upon."

Why am I not surprised? Harriet shook her head in consternation.

"It is curious that his father has not kept closer restriction on his civil disobedience. He had to know that it would act against his petition for the seat on the Committee."

"It is the madness that has given his father some of the large gains he has made in the business world," Carol informed them.

"How is that?" Harriet asked.

"He has the ability to read patterns in sticks he throws. He can only see the patterns when he is not taking his medication. From reading these patterns he is able to predict with great accuracy winning and losing business deals, and who is friend and who is foe."

"That is something to consider," Guardian remarked. "It would certainly give a reason why he has been a step ahead of the authorities in some investigations."

"Well, let's get dressed and ready. We don't want to keep 'the Captain' waiting too long. Give us about thirty stan minutes, Guardian. I intend on eating a hearty morning meal, since it may be my last for a while," Harriet added, seriously wondering when they would get time to eat again. There was too many unattended ends left on the outpost, and since Guardian did not mention any messages from the admiral, she suspected she was expected to carry on here...meaning tie up the loose ends. She was sure the captain had her own orders.

***

***

Carol dubiously studied the second skin the butler held as it patiently explained to her why it was necessary to wear it when she was awake. Harriet wondered if that was how she looked when she first studied the fine sheet that was to lie across her skin. However, Carol would wear it because her mistress told her to, not because she chose to. That reminded Harriet that she needed to find another way to get Carol to do things that were for her own protection. Simply telling her to protect herself was not enough.

Harriet left Carol to her dressing and went into the frontroom to order their breakfast. Carol joined her in a short time. While they ate, Harriet explained to Carol what she planned for her…independence. Harriet asked her questions to make sure Carol understood what she meant, and finding out just what Carol's moral code was. She didn't want to unleash a trained killer that did not understand her limitations to her abilities.

Harriet was handing her emptied plate to Bach when they received their first visitor that announced its arrival with a soft ding.

"It is Charles," the familiar voice announced.

"Enter," Harriet called, curious at this unexpected visit.

"Good day, Lady Harriet and Ti Carol," he greeted them both pleasantly.

Carol moved quickly to Harriet's side, regarding Charles' brightly colored shape with uncertainty, looking perplexed at whether he was a threat or just a loud fashion statement.

"Lady Harriet, Guardian has received a coded message from Lord Hadrian DeMonte for you. You will have to go to the Command Center to access it." Charles turned to Carol. "I will need to take some bioreadings of you now that you have your second skin on. Metrapeople have their own bioregulators and when we design an outer suit for you we need to make sure it is a harmonious blend." His many appendages were raised at different heights as if ready for something. Harriet was almost as alarmed as Carol until he started explaining what each appendage would measure for.

"Well, sounds okay," Harriet told Carol, and then added, "Great!" She had been wondering how she was going to ask Guardian questions about Carol if she was always with her. "That shouldn't take too long with all those...arms. You can join me in Com-C when Charles is finished." The look in Carol's eyes told Harriet she was not happy with being out of her presence but because her mistress had told her to remain, she would. Harriet felt guilty about her small deception. This was not a good way to encourage her to become independent.

The Command area door swished open as she neared it. The dais was lit up with an interesting holographic image of what Harriet knew was Guardian's version of himself as a middle aged Copec.

Guardian is getting more creative. I've never seen that style of clothing before.

"Nice outfit, Guardian. You are certainly coming out of your pod in style. You said Hadrie sent me a message?"

"Yes. Well…it is but one word." The holograph looked puzzled.

"Yes?" she encouraged.

"Mem."

Harriet stood still for a few moments, letting the word sound in her mind.

"Hmmm. Well, at this time, it has no meaning to me either," she laughed.

Lt. Montran's senses picked up someone else was present. Her eyes glanced around the room, picking up a slight movement came from the darkened conference room. She casually moved to the back of the chair to get a protected view of the darkened doorway.

Do I get one guess at who this may be?

"Oh, permit me to introduce you formaly to Captain Delorita Jina Gari Zohra, from the Shield Maidens of Athena's House on Velta V. Captain Zohra, this is….."

"Lieutenant Montran from the Collective air fleet," Harriet quickly supplied, not wishing to hear her long clan name and title sandwiched in with her military rank. She nodded warily towards the shadowed form.

What is all this hiding in shadows stuff? Must be some Black Rose form of amusing themselves. Lt. Montran could have kicked herself. Her cynicism was from nervousness and she had nothing to be nervous about. The lights came up slowly revealing a livelier version of the figure she had tucked into bed the previous night. The captain's long legs appeared to be stretched before her, but Harriet's wary eyes noted that they were not totally stretched out, giving her enough leverage if she should have to suddenly leap up. Scars and bruises were gone from her face, but there was no indication of recognition or warmth from her.

"Good morning, Captain. You're looking well."

The captain nodded not changing her expression.

Oh, yeah. The tough look. Big bad Black Rose persona. She certainly has had the time to perfect it.

Harriet looked back towards Guardian to break the hold the dark eyes had on her. She knew the captain was making an evaluation of her also, and wondered what she used for measurement…probably Black Rose standards.

What does she remember? two minds asked.

***

Captain Zohra watched Lady Harriet Montran enter Com-C with the natural assuredness that Zohra attributed to her class upbringing instead of the military swaggering she had been immersed in for nine years. The woman looked strong, indicating she kept up with her field training, but then, she already knew that from Guardian's recordings of her that she just started to review. Images of what it would be like to grapple with her played across her mindscape; each testing the others strengths and weaknesses. One of the many lessons she had learned in the Black Rose was not to underestimate an individual's capabilities. She was looking forward to testing Lady Harriet Montran's limits…and strengths.

Zohra felt a quickening in her as Lady Harriet's dark green eyes flashed with humor at the holograph of Guardian, and her lips curved into a bright smile.

Warmth. She is exuding warmth.

The captain frowned. She showed too much trust that the room was secured. Her concern moved to the change of energy she brought into the room. Guardian was correct, this woman had some kind of power, more than what she remembered when they were cadets. Was Lady Harriet aware of it? She did not think so or she would not let it shine everywhere.

Shine? What kind of a description is that? Not a word to use in my report.

She caught the slight change in Lady Harriet's demeanor after a few moments of thinking about the message Guardian delivered. What was Lord DeMonte, one of the most important people in Naboths Vine, informing her of? Was it something that her sisters needed to know? She somehow did not think so. Lord Hadrian was not one to play his own game.

***

As the lights were full up, Harriet turned her gaze back to the captain's still figure.

"I'm sure you both remember each other from your earlier days,'' Guardian remarked.

"Lady Harriet Montran," the voice was low, and curt. "How are you doing?"

Now she had a voice to her Dancer, yet, she did not believe this was the voice she used among friends. Harriet nodded and then answered thoughtfully, "Well. And yourself?" She asked again, wondering if the captain would answer. No, she would control the conversation, sharing nothing.

A slight nod was returned. The captain had moved her hands to her lap, holding them in a classic mudra pose for centering. A blush tinged Harriet's cheeks when she realized her eyes rested too long on the hands. For a moment, she imagined the feel of a hand lifting to brush lightly across her cheek.

Oh, helios' fires! Is this part of the lust gas? Is Guardian aware of the effects on my bios? She glanced at Guardian suspiciously. Were they all part of an experiment?

Blasters. This can't be all from a shot of pheromones! The planet? Why in Helgas Moon would you think the planet, Lieutenant? It doesn't matter whether it is the pheromones or the planet, you have got to tone this reaction down some. Maybe Ald has something to recommend. Bloody moon, why didn't one of the wolf ships pick me up before they chased after the departing smugglers?

Memories of the various stories of how different planets affected different species or individuals, both positively and negatively came to mind, as if to mock her.

Oh, right. Like this is my quasama, kismet... That is really stretching things. I joined the military to get out of that mystic mind set, Harry, and I still run amuck in it. This is more than I want on my plate. Now would be a good time for the admiral and her team to arrive so I can go back to being just a lieutenant among many. Lt. Montran resisted a deep sigh for the return of the uncomplicated last seven years of her life ...though, the thought of returning to a sedate life at the moment did not give her any pleasure. Things were just getting more interesting. That sentiment nearly had Montran choking.

"We have some issues to clear before moving on," Guardian continued. "The first one is about you, Captain Zohra. The issue is about whether nine years of living undercover can erase the loyalties and attachments of that personality with fifty six stan hours of debriefing."

Harriet was relieved at Guardian's directness, knowing that directness was a two edged sword, and she may be the next one that would be squirming from a question she would rather not answer…or examine.

"I knew who I was during my undercover work; so, there is no conflict about personality adjustment; however, I would not advise any sudden surprises."

Is that a joke or is she serious? "What about any of the operations we may have to take against the Spartans in the city, Captain; most notably against the Black Rose?" Harriet continued to press. Oh, right. Like who are we going to take action against? Guardian reported the smugglers have left and only a small group of Spartans have remained. Damn. Who are they waiting for? Don't they have a ride out? Why can't Guardian arrange with his 'influence' to find them transportation? Rouge Spartans…maybe they have issues with the Committee. Now would be a good time for them to get loose…the Committee is busy with other issues.

After waiting for a long moment, the Captain smiled without any kindness reflected in her dark eyes. "I think I can manage not getting you or anyone else under my command killed, provided you don't do something rash. And, you won't have to worry about the Black Rose. Guardian has them locked up tight until a neutral party arrives to pick them up for questioning."

Harriet's face colored enough to be noticed. Well, I guess that's the second indication that this operation is under her leadership. The 'Lady' bit was a damn good clue, Harriet.

"Ahh. That clears quite a bit up. The other thing is Carol," Guardian continued. "You have some questions, Lt. Montran?"

Harriet hesitated as her thoughts shifted. She felt uncomfortable talking about Carol in front of the captain for some reason, but she was going to have to get it out now before Carol walked in.

"Who was she before she became involved in this mess and what can be done to give her back her life?"

"I have been researching it with others. But, we do need to know what type of personality we are about to let loose with all the new training she has received," he cautioned.

"Are you saying that Sheila, I mean Carol was something ..."

"Sheila! Lord Chaney's Sheila?" Captain Zohra sat forward in her chair. Guardian had told her that Lord Chaney was dead, and his metradame was neutralized, but they had not gone into the details since she had a lot to catch up on.

"Yes. Is there something you wish to contribute?" Guardian asked surprised.

"I need to confer with my superiors on this matter. Where is she now?"

"She is in my quarters. She will be here shortly." Lt. Montran was sure that bit of information was a surprise to her but the captain gave no further information, not even a facial expression to give something of what the news may mean to her. Now what's up with that? Geeze! This is getting complicated.

***

Neutralized.

Captain Zohra glanced at the holograph irritated and then at Lt. Montran but did not ask for details, which would open the subject up for further discourse. She was not sure at just how much information she could or wanted to share. Due to Sheila's closeness to Lord Chaney in his business deals, she was now a hot commodity on the smugglers kidnap list, to say nothing of her importance to Lady Varnia and Chaney's associates. It did not matter that she was considered 'just a metradame,' a person without person status, because even if she were a person, she would still be a hot commodity due to her closeness to a powerful figure that was taken out of the picture.

"I shall go forward with my plans to encourage her to become self-determined, unless you can give me a good reason why not to," Lt. Montran informed both of them firmly. The hard stare she received from the dark eyes of the captain caused her to add, "I will not let anyone waylay her into a political game..."

"You have no say in this matter, Lady Montran. There is too much at stake for an uninformed visitor to interfere with good intentioned overtures," Zohra returned harshly, more harshly then she intended. You left the Committee politics long ago, so why did you return?

"Don't give me the political yak crap or military dung about how one person or two or even a village is perfectly okay to sacrifice for the 'greater good,' " Harriet returned heatedly. "I've been there, done that, and will not be a part of it again! And nor will Carol be! This is neutral territory, which gives you and your backers no power to strong arm her into your mess!"

"Self-determined you say? What if she agrees to be sacrificed?" Zohra challenged.

If they were in a bar, Harriet would have struck Zohra, and considering the Black Rose soldier's training, she knew it would have to be a one shot deal. But they were not in a bar…and she was an officer of the law…and hitting people because they said something she did not like was not what she normally did. Harriet attributed her impulse to the effects of the pheromone gas.

"No one is going to be sacrificed on my planet, Lt. Montran," Guardian's indignant voice broke her hard glare in Zohra's direction. "That is NOT an option, captain. And you know that…so, my guess is, you are testing the lieutenant," he ended in a soothing tone, taking Lt. Montran off balance at the change.

For a long moment, the captain was quiet and then gave a slight nod to Harriet and the hologram. However, it did not sit well with Harriet. She did not believe the captain was testing her, but rather that she believed in what she had said. She also did not believe that the captain had meant to say so much. Why the slip? It was not to test her that she was certain of. Maybe she was a little off balance with the debriefing…or Guardian's chastisement.

Nope. Harry, something about her is not right. Give me a little time…I'll figure it out.

"Lt. Montran, I noticed you like to work out," Guardian changed the subject hoping to clear the tension in the room between his two helpers.

Harriet turned to the face the hologram, grinning at the sudden change of subject. She did not mind it, but she wondered where he was going with this. Maybe he was offering the captain a chance to beat the stuffing out of her. That changed the grin to a frown, and then a small smile. After all, she had held her own…for a while, with Sheila and she trained in a tough school.

"I have down loaded all known fighting techniques to date with combatants from beginner to master levels so that you all will not be bored until others arrive. Until the briefing in five stan hours, there is nothing planned. I am sure also, the captain would like to keep up her skills. Perhaps after she has been debriefed by her own command, she will join you." Guardian decided it was time to separate the two women. He needed to speak with the captain. After observing her for two years, he knew this was her usual manner, but he had hoped the subliminals would help her slide into a less aggressive stance. It had not occurred to him that this may be part of her real personality. Guardian decided delving deeper into her records would be a good step.

Harriet nodded to the captain, making sure she had a polite smile on her face, though she was sure the captain did not really care one way or the other what she liked or disliked. Damn, Spartan! Who am I kidding that she would be anything else but a hard nosed grunt! Oh, great and Guardian suggested we spar. Right. I would rather face the computer simulators than the captain, though, it would be interesting to see just what she knows. I would like to see if she could be taken down a peg or two...by Carol, anyway. I'll just watch.

The door slid open and Charles and Carol entered.

Captain Zohra noted Lady Harriet's flushed cheeks and quickly lowered eyes. It appeared she was trying to regain her composure. How the metradame came to be known as Carol was something she intended on learning quickly. Was that what Guardian called 'neutralized'? And what was Lady Harriet embarrassed about?

Carol felt the tension the moment she stepped into the room. Spotting Mistress, she stepped beside her, studying the holograph and then fixing her eyes on where the tension was coming from. The unconscious woman from the previous night was seated, making an effort to relax. Carol looked into her dark eyes, assessing whether the tension was a threat to Mistress.

Harriet could feel Captain Zohra's interest shift to Carol, much to her relief, for she could feel her stomach tightening, and her sex swell at the sight of Carol that increased at her physical nearness. She cleared her throat and smiling at Carol, she began the introductions in a steady voice that belied her feelings, "Carol this is Guardian who oversees Merker's Outpost, and Captain Zohra. Guardian - Carol, Captain - Carol." She hesitated wondering what else to say, then decided nothing else was needed. "Guardian has mentioned that he has a dojo setup for work outs with trainers at whatever level we can manage," Harriet smiled towards Carol, hoping her eyes did not show what her body was going through. Their nearness raised noticeable goose bumps on her arms.

Abruptly a surge of energy rushed up Harriet's frame changing her vision of those around her so she was seeing swirls of colors that appeared around the captain and Carol with tangible emotions emanating from them and - danger. More things from the past, Harriet thought exasperated. She was too preoccupied with Carol's nearness to consciously register what the heightening of her senses meant.

"Since you have no need of us for the moment, we'll go change into some workout clothes and be in the workout room," she informed Guardian and Captain Zohra.

When they left Guardian started to chuckle.

"What is so funny? And what happened to Lady Harriet?"

"Have you heard about the lust gas that Sheila was equipped with?"

The captain's eyes widened a little and she nodded. Oh, oh! Who has not heard about Sheila the Crotch Nummer or in the guy's case, Blue Balls Specialist. So, m'lady, your crotch is humming for Sheila, is it? But how did you get her to be at your beck and call?

"Captain, we need to discuss your prickly disposition," Guardian started firmly, interrupting her thoughts.

"Care to elaborate, Guardian?" She leaned back in her chair and wondered how this computer was going to 'handle' her.

***

Stopping at their quarters for proper workout clothing, Harriet found to her amusement, that Carol could initiate jokes. It caused her to remind herself that she needed to do some research on metrapeople. Was humor an indication that she was becoming more self-determined? And then, was this all there was to it; just remove erase the program? Sounded too easy for all that was invested in the purchase of one.

Carol and Harriet had no problem finding the dojo. When the elevator doors opened, there was no mistaking where they were. The artwork was magnificent with some life size statues depicting sport celebrities from various species in poses demonstrating their sport. Harriet paused at one mural covering a door. It was of a young human girl, waiting pensively for her groups turn on the equestrian field. One hand held the looped reins of her tall horse while the other rested on the mare's neck. It was as if both horse and rider were gauging their competition on the field before they were called out. It was her Dancer, the year she became champion in galaxy competitions in the steeplechase. Delorita of Prime V. That was her name then. Harriet looked into the room to see beyond the mural. It was a holographic room that had various forms of sports that required a mount, from riding the wild winged creatures of Aden to the large land beasties. Steeplechase and polo were two of the many games depected and could be emulated in this room.

"Guardian or previous tenants must have been the sporting types. Though, I've never knew a scientist that was athletic," she murmured, as the image of Sharon, who was a scientist, came to mind. "I shall have to ask Guardian about his art collection." She moved her eyes away from the picture and looked around at the rest of the art work. "I have never seen so many different styles of art gathered outside of a gallery."

Harriet pushed through the double doors that opened up to a dojo.

"Okay," she said as she glanced around taking in the large space and where the control box was. "I'm going to warm-up with the holograph and then we'll…" she glanced at Carol, "spar and see who will toss in the towel first."

Carol could feel the competitive spark from Mistress and underneath that the constant sensuous feelings that underlied their connection. "Toss in the towel?" she asked while watching Mistress step back to face her warm-up partner.

"Ask for mercy, call it quits, get beaten," she explained with a grin.

"Hmm. I find that…commendable…that you prewarn me that you shall be 'throwing in the towel.'

"Humph!" Montran snorted and then settled into the warm up movements that would gradually increase to strenuous as the dialed warm up partner that was monitoring her bios set the pace. After an hour her partner signaled the time she set was reached. A dojo bot appeared with liquids and towels for both women.

"Are you ready to spar, Carol?" She felt ready to take on a few Black Rose at the moment.

"Yes, Mistress."

Harriet flinched at the title. "I would like you to find all my weak spots and keep after them." Unbidden, the image of Carol biting her neck came to her. Maybe she was not ready to take on the Black Rose.

"That sounds easy enough," Carol teased, and snapped her teeth as if taking a bite out of her.

Goddess! I really am in trouble here.

Shaking her head to clear it from the heaviness of a sexual rush, she moved to the center of the room and got into a ready position. Carol nodded with a smile and for the next thirty minutes, kept laying Harriet out on the mat with a good sound thump. Whatever skills Harriet had the previous day in their confrontation, was not at that same level.

Harriet rubbed her sore hip while warily looking at her opponent, as they slowly circled each other. At first, the distraction of touching Carol's body kept her off balance. Her skin was still tingling from the last toss when both landed on the mat with limbs entangled, fighting for the top position with muffled giggles and startled squawks at the intimate grabs and pinches as they both fought for dominance. Harriet grinned at Carol, realizing that she had never shared this type of connection with anyone before. The rough play with overtones of sexual attraction was a new experience and she decided she liked it. Carol returned the grin flexing her fingers as if to taunt Harriet about her next grab.

Harriet laughed then shook her head ruefully, not taking her eyes off her. So, this must be the real Carol and not the metradame program. It's amazing how fast the character can change. So, is she remembering who she was? No, when I met her she had a warped sense of humor. So, yeah. This is her alright. She's fun. Well, duh, Montran. Like last night was not a clue? How many funnies did she whisper to prevent me from climaxing, just so she could build it up again? Wow.

Thumb, bam.

"Ooff." Oh, gawds! Focus here. Let's not get sidetracked with erotic thoughts. You're going to have to figure out how to avoid touching her to get past her defenses.

Harriet quickly was on her feet and in a defensive position, while Carol charged her to follow up on her toss. Harriet intuitively responded with a fake to the right. Finally having the advantage, Harriet prepared for the offense. Just as she was ready to attack, she realized they had an audience. Someone who had been in the room for a while. That momentary lapse of concentration allowed Carol to land a well-placed kick to Harriet's mid section. After flying a good distance and landing flat on her back, Harriet lay still while recovering from having the wind knocked out of her. Opening her eyes, she saw two pairs of eyes staring down at her…both, unconcerned.

***

"When will the effects wear off?" Captain Zohra asked Guardian, worried as they watched the two women from monitors in Com-C, expending more energy than was necessary for a warm-up, beating up the floating bags that moved around like bodies.

"It has already started. With Lt. Montran, by the end of the week it should be completely out of her system."

"Good. Rumors were that it never wears off."

"For those who do not have the antidote that is true."

"How is Carol doing?"

"She is an unknown equation. Due to the chip that is still implanted…it's difficult to tell. Her bios are running along the same line as Lt. Montran's, given the species variation. Since Lt. Montran's directions to her have military overtones, coming out as directives and orders, it is not easy to tell if Carol's compliance is from a compellation to complete an ordered task or her own choosing. From what I've observed on Lord Chaney's various visits here, he did not like to feel his metrapeople were like bots, so he allowed more freedom in normal behavior than most owners. So her humor and tastes in dressing are her own. That is saying a lot about the sophistication of the chip implants."

The captain nodded, as if agreeing, but not adding anything about her own observations. Guardian understood her refusal to share since she had no orders as of yet to do otherwise. In his two years of studying and testing the minds of military and smuggler types he felt he knew what her response would be under military conditions. It was her reaction to Lt. Montran that had taken him by surprise.

"I believe Lt. Montran knows that you are in charge of protecting the outpost and its special assets, though I don't believe she knows all that is here. But it is only a matter of time. She is…sensitive to things like that."

Captain Zohra gave a broad smile, letting the amusement reach her eyes. "I don't think that is a problem, Guardian. I rule the land and she gets the sky…army…navy, you know. So, you think she's sensitive, huh?" Well, that bears some looking into. So, she radiates power of some sort and is sensitive to energy fields. Not something I'm personally familiar with.

Looking back at the screen, she nodded towards it. "Is there a safe distance they can work without being so…distracted?"

They both watched the two women laughing as they wrestled around on the mat, then finished the engagement with a passionate kiss.

"Skin contact has the strongest effect on them."

It does not look like she is suffering much. "I thought you said your second skin will protect the wearer against most physical harm?" Zohra could feel the heat between her legs rise as nude images of Lady Harriet erotically grappling with Carol imposed itself over the images on the screen before them.

Bloody moon, Spartan. You just got back from a weeklong leave, where you had more than your share of lovelies. So, give it a rest. However, she knew she would not. She enjoyed the visual too much, which did not take much to add atmosphere and a different setting, thus heightening her arousal.

"Yes. The second skin protects against an attack against the wearer's system, but I never thought of someone using a love potion. Since pheromones are a natural chemical reaction of lust and part of a natural prelude to sexual enjoyment, which in turn releases other natural body chemicals which help heal and maintain the health of the host body, I thought to leave it alone." A deep chuckle followed that remark. "If satisfaction was not received, then that would be another story. Ahhh. A transmission. Good. Your Major General is hailing us," Guardian announced. "It appears she is in flight," he mentioned as one of the screens started to change.

Captain Zohra sat up as the official seal of the Sister's of the Shield quickly changed to her much-loved and missed General. Zohra's demeanor changed completely.

"Daughter!" Major General Aglauros greeted her lovingly.

"Major General Aglauros," she greeted her formally, and then smiled with affection. "Mother," she added to her adopted mother. "It's been a long time since I have said that," she added with a heavy sigh. For the first time in years, she let the weariness of the job catch up with her, and then was surprised at how the sigh gave her so much relief.

The older woman nodded her eyes studying the captain closely. "Are you well?"

The captain hesitated, wanting to say something that had bothered her for a while, but the need passed, and she merely nodded. "Just tired," she allowed, knowing that the general did not ask a question lightly.

"You have changed much," referring to her altered face, and the hard lines she could see around the mouth and eyes of this stranger. Even the eyes were more shielded than she ever remembered, and she had always been hard to read, even as an infant. The slight hesitation and furrow over her brow was noticed, and it gave her something to think about. But there was still work to do. She smiled for a brief moment and then turned serious.

"I was hoping that once we had Lady Harriet Montran and your team safe that we could be rid of this trouble and you could come home for a well earned vacation."

So, she would like the old Zohra's face back. I don't think I can do that, Mother. Not yet. Let me get use to being me…whoever that is.

"Alan Fermin is our chief worry. From what our informants have told us, he is planning on either taking over the planet or destroying it. Unless someone figures out why he wants the planet, because he certainly cannot use the portal himself…or any of his agents. We can only assume it is to create havoc in the other portals just for the sake of doing it." She paused again as she studied the younger woman's image. "His violence against others is increasing. And according to the psychtechs, his violence will continue to escalate." She took a deep aggravated breath, "He is still obsessed with Lady Harriet and unfortunately, as his acts of violence increase so does his madness for her. Your assignment has two unfinished tasks."

Captain Zohra stomach tightened.

"I am pleased that Suzamni Takenya is well," the Major General continued. "It would have grieved me deeply if our sister had not made it. I am sending four battalions. Two are on the Moon's Reflection, and the others on the Respite. Healers will be coming through the portal within a day, depending on how safe the Guardians feel travel at this time through them is. The ships are a little more than a day's jump from you. Send daily updates to the Respite so they know what they are heading into. You will get updates from the seven corners, as soon as we have something for you. I shall be there as soon as I can. Be aware that Naboths Vine has joined with the Collective's Centurion forces to keep order where necessary until the new representatives are elected." She let out a loud harrumph in disgust. "The representatives that are not being replaced are already arguing that with a new group of representatives, the name should be changed. No telling what they'll come up with and how many years it's going to take for a third of them to agree on anything.

"Admiral JoCastao is the Collective's representative," the general continued. "I'm sure she'll be naming a representative of hers to the outpost. We…are still getting acquainted…ironing out a plan."

Zohra did not stop the smile that curled up the corners of her lips. It meant the two were in charge and evenly matched in stubbornness. She wondered who the other two members were. Usually military war forums were composed of two military and two civilians so that one personality did not run the operation. Military egos have in the past run amuck.

"When the medic arrives, get cleared quickly, so you can take the leadership of the troops when they arrive. Be safe, Captain Zohra, beloved daughter. Guardian, thank you for your continuing updates. Out!"

Captain Zohra took a deep breath and leaned back in the chair. It was still up to her, but there was an end in sight and that really did help her morale. She had not realized how tired she was until she saw her mother.

"What does she mean 'continuing'?" she suddenly asked.

"I am a member of the Naboths Vine," Guardian explained, as if that told her everything.

She studied the hologram for a few moments and then asked, "Were you my...?"

"Yes," he told her before she finished her sentence. She hated when people did that. "You had some most interesting test questions to see if I was to be trusted. General Aglauros was entertained."

"You had to ask her?" an uncharacteristic squeaky voice asked.

"Well, who else was I to trust with your life?" Guardian responded practically.

Zohra was now regretting her cynical questions she used to test her mysterious 'insider' with. She was not going to live some of her remarks down with her mother. "So, we still have the portal to worry about."

"Portals. There is a great deal of caution being taken amongst the other guardians in securing their portals. If one is disrupted it will cause a chain reaction to the others, and to the host planet," Guardian explained.

The captain glanced at the screen of the dojo. The two women were still working out. Carol was tossing Lady Harriet - more often than not and spending far too much time wrestling on the ground.

"If they have this reaction so near to each other, they'll have to be separated for their own sakes for any jobs into the city we may need to make. I can't risk any of our lives on a distraction this strong."

The two were silent as they continued to watch the two.

"I think I will go rescue the women from their hormonal surges." She pushed herself out of the chair. "They are having far too much fun."

Guardian's chuckles followed her out of the command center.

***

***

*

Captain Zohra entered unobserved by Lady Harriet, but the heightened senses of Suzamni Takenya or Carol, picked up on her presence. Until the chip was removed from her, Captain Zohra suspected Carol would protect Lady Harriet with her life, unasked, because the impulse was part of the chip implant. It explained why she was so protective of her when she had walked into Com-C. She was wondering if the two would allow each other out of sight when they had to do some recon missions and it was necessary to break them into one-person pods. The recon missions were a must for her to find out what was going on in the city. Zohra laughed silently, as she thought she would also continue what Guardian did so well, drive the unwanted visitors crazy. It would be nice to be on the other side of the rude surprises for a change. When her reinforcements arrived, she wanted to be able to give an accurate assessment of who was still on the planet. Between Guardian's assessment of the soldiers and her own knowledge she would have a comprehensive report ready for whoever was Captain of the Respite.

Now leave it to the general for not giving me the names of just who are the officers in charge of the two ships and who will be among the troops personnel. She did that on purpose. So, who would she like to surprise me with? Gawds I hope not an old girlfriend or girlfriends.

She decided it would be less stressful to study the two women from a technical standpoint and leave speculation for another time. The two women put on a good demonstration, even with the laughs, teasing and passionate kisses preceding the takedowns. But then, as she watched Lady Harriet, she thought back on her hesitation in accepting Guardian's word that she had been deprogrammed. She was right to worry. Though she felt consciously that she had no problem recognizing whose side she was on, there was something buried deep that she had not been able to bring to consciousness. It was something that had been with her for three years now. It was about that time when her dreams started to take on a different tone. The more she attempted to wheedle it out, the more elusive it became. Many times she had tried to discuss it with her contact, but for one reason or another, the subject was never brought up. She shrugged off the worry. When the healers arrive she would mention it to them.

Thump, bam.

Ow! Bet that hurt…

They followed the same pattern; first they circled each other…with big grins on their faces…testing each others defenses, and then one would attack and somehow, they would both end up on the matt. Of course, Lady Harriet was getting a lot of painful thumps because Carol was using their connection to her advantage. She frowned. Was she only making it appear that way? After all, they were just playing a rough game of tag. Her dark eyes moved to Lady Harriet as she studied her with a more critical eye. Her reflexes were not what a Black Rose would call impressive, but she did not have to be a one-woman killing machine, she reminded herself. Her balance was good and she had the right moves. She did not let thinking get in her way as she responded to some of Carol's moves when she did not want to land on the mat. She guessed Lady Harriet was controlling more of this game than what appeared. She did not need to study Carol, for she had seen her in practice when Lord Chaney visited. He did not want her to train with anyone that could later use what they learned from her against her, so he had a special program designed for her. The entire Black Rose squad on Merkers had a copy of it. She smirked to herself as she remembered the others were incredulous that she really worked to the level of the holograph program. Some of them thought it was a joke on them and no one could train a metradame to that level unless she was an assassin before she became a metradame and then they got silent. No one was supposed to know where metrapeople came from. Which was why the knowledge had not trickled down to the masses yet. However, she and four others had decided to work up to the same level as the training holograph, just in case someone would need to take her out, the captain had said. But, each of them had their own selfish reasons to train at that level. She did it because it was a challenge.

Her thoughts returned to the problem they were facing. Since Alan was on his way, his little army of metrasoliders would also be arriving. Probably before he did, to make sure he would be safe. From what she had read, he had over a hundred soldiers programmed to kill, though she doubted he would send them all here, but even two troops, between the three of them, or four, if she counted Guardian, would have to hold them off if the two relief ships did not arrive on time. Would Alan take advantage of this time when the protection of the outpost was vulnerable? Yes. So where were all his troops? Maybe they caught him off guard and his troops were scattered about. So, where would he have had them stationed or what was he planning before Lord Chaney's death changed the political balance?

She had seen and competed against various members of Alan's elite group. They wore the black clothing almost like that of a yobashi, a well-organized and closed group of assassins; though she knew, they were not part of that group. It was probably Alan Fermin's idea to dress them that way. It instilled fear of them on sight…and it was justified. The elite group had trained in the compound the Black Rose's troop used for their advanced tactical training, compliments of Lord Chaney, much to the anger of the Black Rose members. But the training compound was Lord Chaney's, one that he had specially designed to train assault ground troops. Zohra wondered who else he rented it out to when they were not around. She was sure Naboths Vine knew.

Alan and Lord Chaney usually arranged competitions between their favorite two groups. The fights stopped short of death or maiming since neither wanted to lose their well-trained minions, she recalled with contempt. Both sides sported scars from encounters, though she had no more such marks of battle on her body. She guessed Guardian's medibot had removed them. Alan's group was good and trained in a fighting technique the yobashi used. It was meant to kill quickly and efficiently. She would have to teach it to these two women so that they would have a chance of surviving in a confrontation with them.

Her breath caught as she watched Lady Harriet spin in the air in a surprise move on Carol. She imagined what it would look like if Lady Harriet had long hair, loose and flying in slow motion like an orange wave about her head…without any clothes on. She sat up higher, startled where her thoughts kept going. She really needed to keep her thoughts on a professional level now. She was not a Sgt. Major anymore.

Captain Zohra's movement caused Lady Harriet to look in her direction, giving Carol the advantage. Carol kicked to her stomach, sending her sailing a good distance. She ended up flat on her back. Guiltily, Zohra rose to her feet to join the two.

She stared down into dark green glassy eyes as Lady Harriet's lungs struggled to fill with air again. She felt her heart warm over as she gazed down at the woman she had so long ago joined with. Did she see something more behind the green unfocused eyes? Did Lady Harriet remember watching her? Of course she did. The masters had emphasized to all the students the power behind the dragon energy that was called into play with the Dance.

Oh, yeah. She remembers. The question is, what is she…what are we, going to do about it? No. The question is 'when.' As the green eyes cleared she could see an emotion behind Lady Harriet's stare, but it was gone as she took her first deep shaky breath.

"Good shot," Harriet wheezed, as she rolled to her hands and knees, pulling herself together before rising to her feet.

"It was a sucker shot," Captain Zohra remarked unsympathetic. She needs to learn not to be so easily distracted…though I can't imagine how difficult it is to remain aware when all her senses are wrapped up in sexual feelings. However, she's going to have to find a way if we're going to face Alan's group before the drug wears off.

Harriet felt a moment of irritation but let it pass. The captain was correct. She was too focused on Carol and when another noise intruded, she let it distract her. She merely nodded at the captain.

"Have you been working out daily?" she asked to be polite, though by the huffing of the two she gathered their fun was taking up a lot of energy. She was sorry she broke the game up because she really did enjoy watching them.

"No." Not that there is much room or anyone to work out with on Spinner's Tale. Helgas Moon. Here are two women in top condition and me. I'm gonna be a weak link here. It was not something she was used to. A look of annoyance crossed Harriet's face.

"Have you ever studied ChoTaK?" Captain Zohra asked both women.

"No," they answered in unison.

"I will teach you some basics. Alan's elite team specializes in that particular form of combat, which is based on what the yobashi use. When I am finished teaching you, if a lethal blow is delivered, you will know the reversal. I will also show you how to recognize when it is delivered. Unless you are a healer...you can only do this for yourself."

Both women nodded. Harriet was surprised that the captain could speak whole sentences and stringed together. Carol was being polite because she already knew the ways of the yobashi. She was curious what the captain knew.

Using Carol first as an example so that she would not feel she needed to challenge her if she should hurt her mistress, Captain Zohra demonstrated each hit and informed them of its intention, and then demonstrated the counter. Her voice was soft, terse, and she used few words, letting the movements teach themselves.

As Lady Harriet countered Captain Zohra's moves, Zohra felt a slight tremor from their contact. Pretending not to notice, Zohra grabbed her wrist to demonstrate another move, reminding them how to breathe and what to imagine.

I guess I don't have the same power over her as Carol, so we won't be rolling around on the mat, however…she does react to my touches. Ooooh. But I can have fun with this.

For an hour, Captain Zohra worked with them. She enjoyed the exchanges with Lady Harriet. Each time they touched, she could feel her pulse quicken or feel a tremble in her limbs. It occurred to her that Lady Harriet may have confused feelings with the lust gas and with her touches, but she wickedly continued. When Lady Harriet had made two simple errors in a row, she decided to end the workout.

"That is enough for now. Later tonight, we can review. Breifing with Guardian is in a stan hour, so I suggest we clean up and get something to eat before we meet with him."

"I can go for that," Harriet rubbed her sore thigh thoughtfully. The liquid from the bots was sustaining, but solid food sounded nicer. So, the captain becomes less of a stranger in workouts. Okay. Well, I know by the string undergarments that she isn't all stone faced. Then the question is, how long does it take for her to warm up to someone? Gawds, Montran. You have enough on your plate without worrying about making friends with her. Just get a working relationship and when things settle, go on from there.

***

Captain Zohra watched Lady Harriet as she tiredly took the towel from the bot. Her hair was sticking to her wet scalp and the damp outer clothing clung to her body. Captain Zohra pulled her eyes off her and looked at Carol. Carol was watching her expressionless, as she took a sip of water. As they exited the room, Captain Zohra stepped in beside Carol and struck up a conversation; her ulterior motive was to get to know Carol and to see how it would affect the two women to be separated. She was not disappointed in their hand-to-hand drills she put them through. From the short time she had to review the surveillance film on Lady Harriet, she knew she could take care of herself under fire. Sheila's training was legendary, mostly spread by her owner, Lord Chaney. But did Carol retain the training and would she use it in defense of herself and for a cause she may not remember? Was there a program buried so deep they would not be able to detect it that would kill her or them? Lord Chaney was the type that would do something like that. But would he also refrain because he harbored a fear that his metradame may turn on him? Now that was a thought. What would he do to insure against that? No, she did not think he had that fear. He had metragirls since they first came out. If anyone knew of their weaknesses, he would. She would just have to wait for the healers. They had a way to find out such things. She would also see them about…about what?

***

Harriet, deep in thought, fell in behind Captain Zohra and Carol. Her physical reactions to Zohra's touches and the images they conjured up she attributed to the pheromone gas effects, which was troubling in its consequence on her defense performance. The jealousy that it incited in her when Zohra touched Carol was especially annoying and distracting.

Alright…all the more reason to get Carol on the track to self-realization. Only, I have to do it so she doesn't feel like I'm pushing her away or abandoning her.

Walking behind the two women, she watched Carol as she politely interacted with Captain Zohra. The questions were military in nature, and Harriet knew the captain was assessing another player she would use in defense of the outpost. Harriet realized that leading was something Zohra was comfortable with. She attributed it to her early training as a galaxy athlete, her four years at the Academy learning the basics of being a military officer and as her role as a Spartan SMajor. It had given her a working understanding of team play and the importance of knowing both your allies and enemies. She wondered if it fell into her personal relationships. After all, keeping tight control of all relationships for a covert operator was necessary. One mistake was not just your life that was forfeit, but all those connected to you, whether they were innocent or not. Harriet understood that tradition of warfare intimately well. Her thoughts returned to Carol, worried she would be seen only as a fountain of information and not as an individual.

What type of a woman would Lord Chaney want to be his special metradame? If Captain Zohra knew about her past is she a sister from one of the Guild Houses? For a brief moment, she wondered if the two women had been lovers, but she quickly pushed that thought out of her mind. Jealously was an emotion she had little experience with and felt like a complete novice in knowing what to do with the disconcerting emotion.

"Would you mind if Carol and I have a private chat?" Zohra asked Harriet as they paused at the entrance of Harriet and Carol's room.

Harriet flushed. "No, of course not! Carol, it's not necessary to ask my permission to do things away from me…just…just let me know where you are. I will worry." She sent a glare towards Zohra to remind her what she had said earlier.

The door swished shut behind a relieved Harriet. She looked down at her hands and noticed she was nervously twisting the unfamiliar ring that would draw Carol to her.

Ahhh. You're now starting to think there is a sexual thing going on between them. Jealously is not pretty, whether from contrived reasons or not. You need to find something to keep your mind busy.

Harriet took a shower and changed her clothes.

"Bach, I would like an Alterian Club sandwich."

"Three layered or two?" Bach courteously qualified.

"Two and lemon tea with a small dolt of honey."

She took a seat at the computer.

"Well, since metradames are a major topic in my life…it would be good to see what they are all about," she muttered to herself as she studied her reflection in the monitor. After long moments of wrestling with other thoughts she changed her mind. "Computer, find information on Cadet Zohra, graduate class of..."

For the next hour she read. Ensign Zohra's first assignment was on a science vessel. For all accounts and purposes, her ship was still making its way to an unexplored sector of space. She moved onto studying the files on a Black Rose Spartan, Jina Gari. She was recruited from Melarz. She was an orphan, trained with the mayor's guards. She was the only soldier alive after the rebels captured the city. She had escaped in the underground, herding the mayor's family along, while others covered for them. Two years after being just like any other Spartan, moving up in the ranks she was transferred to the Black Rose as a sergeant. Her personal hobbies were listed as BDSM. Her favorite vacation spot was the Caves. Harriet snorted. That bit of information was what the individual added to her or his profile. She skimmed over her advanced training and knew why the Black Rose, then an all male group, accepted her. She kicked their butts in all the bar room brawls they shared. Harriet shook her head. The specialty training meant there was a lot of subliminal work done on her and that was something Guardian should worry about, if he insisted that deadly force was not to be used as a first alternative in defending his outpost.

And the Centurions worried about me? They should get a look at her record.

"Computer, find any source with metradames mentioned as subject." She needed to get back to studying something they could use. If Alan's soldiers were metrapeople, then she needed information about them.

The screen quickly started to fill up, scrolling down as the list continued.

Cyclops's dung! Guardian is right! There is a lot of information here.

***

Captain Zohra gestured to her couch, "Please be seated. Would you care for a beverage?"

"A tea, thank you," Carol politely responded, sitting on the edge of the couch all the while studying Captain Zohra.

Zohra did not mind. It was something she was used to and she was openly studying Carol…it was as if they were sizing each other up for future use.

"Dea, two teas. Stead for me…" she turned to Carol. "Have you a preference?"

"Stead…that is fine, thank you," Carol returned.

This exchange was taking Zohra off her stride since this was not the Sheila she was acquainted with. Cool, aloof and deadly, with Lord Chaney pulling the strings.

"Do you remember anything of your life before Lord Chaney?" she started, though she already knew the answer.

"No."

"You had volunteered to act as a channel of information to Naboths Vine by becoming his metradame. You have been a valuable asset to our quest to bring his smuggling empire to an end." Zohra was watching the woman wondering how she could use her skills if it should come to that. The woman before her was very cool and only showing polite interest in what she was telling her. Was she still under the Chaney family's control? This thought left a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"There will be a group of healers that shall be here soon to remove the chip that makes you servile…you," Zohra cleared her throat because of the amused looked she received from Sheila, "have a lot of people and groups interested in you." Hmm. Humor. That shows independent thought processes…I think. Bloody moon, I need to find out information on metrapeople. Especially since we'll be facing Alan's elite group of black soldiers.

Zohra decided to try a direct tact. "Because of your affiliation with Lord Chaney, you have a lot to offer to those that wish to sell what you know and others who wish to use it themselves. Right now, I could use your knowledge on fighting. I believe that Alan will send a forward team here to grab Lady Harriet Montran or to set up a situation that will allow Alan to grab her."

She rose from her seat and went to the computer to show the metradame what Guardian had been monitoring, an approaching ship that was registered to Alan Fermin. Zohra was sure Alan was not aboard. It was too soon. Alan liked to set his play board up and while his opponents were being worried on many fronts he would drop in and pick up the player he decided was his prize.

"Guardian," Zohra called worriedly when she spotted a second ship on her panel.

"Yes, I have been watching them. I cannot prevent them from landing," Guardian informed her regretfully.

"Where are they headed?"

"The section the smugglers have vacated is the only place their life signs can reside in."

"Hmm." Zohra watched as an energy burst from one of the ships that could not be seen visually but that the computer showed hit the surface far from any underground entry point.

"Well, well. They missed their target. Looks like supplies. Carol would you like a walk on the wild side? Guardian, have you an outersuit for her ready?"

Chapter 10

The Wield worlds were all inhospitable planets for the majority of the seasons, except to the very hardy and stubborn. They were also called the Five Wild Outlands, because at one time they separated the Committee and Collective's sphere of influence from each other, acting as a neutral zone. When new planets joined one or the other it was not based on placement of the planet but on ideals and influence so it blurred the neutral zones placement.

The military, more interested in putting order to the cosmos, divided space into sectors, and the Wild Outlands ended up touching four sectors, Juan, Getty, Zed and Ectron. Thus giving the Outlands a new nickname, the four corners, oddly situated but still holding to their neutrality.

AbenWield chose to be a closed society and needless to say, did not like visitors. They were interested in forming a perfect society and did not want outside influence.

ChrysaorWield had a small group of independent loners living with the fierce wild beasts native to the planet. The Collective protected the inhabitants from off-world developers and hunters, per their request. In return, the Collective used certain areas as a training ground for their military and police troops, called the Centurions.

HinterWield continued to be used by the Committee for imprisoning their social failures, the psychopaths they could not control but would not put to death.

NeitherWield became a visitor's haven for viewing sunsets and sunrises that were spectacular with vacation spots aligned with the best views. Among many products exported, their wine had a great following in both the Collective and Committee space, and their olives that were cultivated underground, were considered unrivaled. The harsh life attracted artists and those that wanted isolation. Settling on NeitherWeild for any length of time was difficult due to the weather and their laws prevented developers from building mass underground cities. Native plants and animals that shared the planet, were hearty and wild.

MageWield liked to think of themselves as a spiritual community. The harshness of life and their community spirit was the basis of their survival and pride. Though the inhabitants spread across the planet, they were tied into each other through telepathic as well as the common needs of the global community. MageWield found that by setting up vacation residences for all factions of the galaxies, it kept them up on the news that even broadcast news groups did not know about.

***

*

Rene came into the world of physical existence on MageWeild to a family that was well prepared for s'her birth. The village of Mount Rayhan welcomed the two-spirit baby with celebrations. Two-spirit souls that were dual gendered, were looked for and often became the shamans, healers and sometimes leaders of their communities. These dual souls were either born into the gendered body of one sex while feeling inside as another, or they matured with the genitalia of both genders. Thus, the 's' before the gender they felt identified with was placed before them, signifying their importance. At puberty, some decided on a physical body sex change to fit their inner view of themselves, while others kept their split identities, comfortable as they were. Due to their natures, their perspectives were unique and considered enlightened, thus they were all well educated and well traveled on MageWeild.

At Rene's presentation to the community when s'she was six moons, the oracle spoke to s'her parents of sending s'her for apprenticeship to Pilar, where nearby was also the Monastery of the Monks, where s'she could also learn the ways of the off-worlders.

Rene, from childhood, could see many dimensions and the web of life with its interconnectiveness to all things. Both the visually seen and unseen were tangible living entities for s'her. By the age of five s'she knew s'her life path and had been working with the local shaman for two years, preparing to move to Pilar, where s'her formal training was to begin.

***

Students surrounded SH'a Grou when a telepathic call from one of the village members gave s'him pause.

'A member of the Fermin family is ill and needs assistance quickly.'

Young Rene recognized the fluttering of the lids of s'her mentor and felt the shift in consciousness. Quickly s'she placed a cushion for SH'a Grou's body to sit as s'he would leave it in spirit for a quick consultation elsewhere.

Rene moved into the herb room, gathering up the herbs s'her mentor mentally was requesting. Apprentice Rene laid out the herbs s'she had gathered for SH'a Grou to inspect and then proceeded to prepare their traveling ponies.

***

*

"Halt! Who dares to invade the residence of the House of Fermin without invitation?!" a harsh foreign voice called out.

"I invited them," an authoritive feminine voice informed the guard. A dark shadow waiting out of the wind stepped into view and offered a raised hand in greeting to the shaman and s'his apprentice.

The guard quickly stepped aside. Though on the planet he had no weapon to use, he was big enough to hurt someone. He was a discarded lover of Thordis and was not happy with his demotion, looking for something to take it out on; however, no one argued with Lady Artha.

"I am Lady Artha, one of the guests in this lovely residence," she politely informed the two in their own language. She was careful to include the young apprentice for she had learned that everyone, no matter age or position was considered equal. An unusual idea on her own world, but she believed respecting other's beliefs was important.

Shaman Grou recognized a kindred soul and honored her with a raise of his hand in blessing. "I hope the house of illusions is to your liking," s'he translated.

"House of illusions? So, ileoceca," she pronounced badly, "means house of illusion?"

Rene smiled, "It actually means 'to dream on the hillside'."

The residence was cut into the side of Mount Eloise. If the Fermin family thought they were secure from any intruders because of the location, the MageWieldarians did not tell them otherwise. Guests did not need to know that there were many exits and entrances to their residences.

Lady Artha returned the smile with a broad one of her own, and nodded for she was one of the few that could see through illusions if she wanted to. Lady Artha quickly led them towards a room located inside the mountain.

'Strange place for a sickroom,' Rene thought to SH'a Grou.

It was important to have the proper atmosphere in a sickroom. Part of the healing was to have access to the outside where the sounds of birds and wild life could be heard and the natural rhythms of the planet were easy to witness, as well as the circulation of fresh air.

The sick child was fourteen-year-old Tess, the third daughter born to Thordis and Gustaf. SH'a Grou laid s'his bag of herbs beside the bed and placed s'his fingertips lightly on the barely breathing form's limp wrist. Rene pulled the small pouches of each herb bag out of the larger bag and laid them out in an order they were familiar with.

"We will need boiling water and cloths to bathe her with," Rene informed Lady Artha. SH'a Grou was in trance, as s'he attempted to touch the spirit of the young girl.

Lady Artha turned to the servant that was waiting by the door and nodded.

SH'a Grou pinched in different herbs into the bowl that Rene held. Rene then blended and ground them until they were a fine powder. Hot water was added. The steam from the bowl was passed several times under the dying girl's nostrils. When it cooled down enough, SH'a Grou poured the cooled mixture between the blue lips. For an hour SH'a Grou administered to her, using small thin needles quickly and carefully placed in patterns across the bare body, followed by the smoke of burning herbs in moxi balls at other points on the body. SH'a Grou silently worked, waiting for the blue color in her lips and eyelids to recede.

'Rene, you must distract the young man who did this.'

Rene rose and nodding respectfully toward Lady Artha, left the sickroom so SH'a Grou could talk to the elder.

Alan was standing near the door listening for any news on his sister's health. He tried to appear to be concerned about his sister's recovery but Rene could see though his false face.

"I would like to see the food that was eaten this night," s'she mentioned to Alan. Normally Alan would have simply had a servant take her down but there were no servants handy. Alan surprised himself by offering to show her the way himself.

When SH'a Grou knew Alan was no longer outside the door, s'he turned to Lady Artha.

"This child does not just suffer from the poison. Her will to live is not there and without it, she will not throw off the effects of the poison or what has touched her heart."

Lady Artha sighed. Sweet Tess was the only child whose pregnancy her mother was happy through for the duration. Lady Artha, a twice removed cousin to the parents, had thought she put a stop to Alan's harassment of his siblings the day of her arrival. Lady Artha ran the Fermin household and taught their children the ways of the upper class. Life for the children had become more stable…and safer, Lady Artha had thought.

Thordis, the mother of Alan and Tess, was either busy producing the children her marriage contract required or recovering from them.

Gustaf, not the biological parent of the children, but the legal one, busied himself with bartering his daughters and sons off, and whatever else it would take to get himself the coveted vacant chair of the BenHanna's on the Committee's lower floor.

Linette, the first daughter, had her genetic code passed by the Committee's Medical Board as capable of having healthy offspring, making her desirable for marriage. Her marriage at twelve bought Gustaf two votes for nomination to the chair.

Elli, the second daughter, whose genetic code was to be reviewed after her first menses, was shipped on a five-year cruise to her new home on a colonial planet before her examination was due. For her participation in the settling of a new colony, Gustaf received shares in Gurken's Insurance Company, who was backing the colonization.

Joey, the first son, died at his initiation into manhood. He refused to wear his armor when he faced the Aoroundas, a bull-like beast. He and Gustaf saw wearing the armor as a sign of weakness. Joey died after two days of suffering. Gustaf chose to ignore the pain of loss and moved on to the next son, Alan.

Alan was prone to rages, which were attributed to his mother's bouts of depression during her pregnancy with him. However, he also possessed a talent for picking businesses that bore fruit, which his father found beneficial enough to ignore his shortcomings.

"Tess has just been pledged to a distant cousin in exchange for a political favor." Lady Artha looked down at her young cousin's face. Gustaf's view of his wife as a brood mare, and her offspring as a means to produce heirs to his family line that should have died out generations ago was wrong to Lady Artha. However, she also believed that eventually nature would win out, as evidenced by Gustaf's inability to father children.

"Tess would rather become a singer. She has a lovely voice."

"The person who poisoned her will do it again until she is dead. He feels a transgression that is not forgivable has been committed against him personally."

Lady Artha knew the shaman was referring to Alan. Tess's transgression against Alan was mingling with the villagers. Alan had seen one of the villagers holding Tess's hands and misread it as two lovers. If he had asked his sister she would have told him the village youth was a palm reader, but Alan in his class prejudice and dislike for his sister deemed it an insult to the family honor, and thought the punishment warranted the death of the lovers. Alan could not reach the youth but he could his sister. Lady Artha could not understand why he had gone through with the poisoning when he felt the family business was more important than private vendettas. Tess's marriage to the Bridgegates was an important political coup for Gustaf, regardless of the fact that Alan disliked them because they were too impressed with their importance in upper class politics.

"If I banish him to a reformatory school he will learn to manipulate the situation to his own advantage and will be out as an adult, worse than what he is now," she regretfully informed the shaman. "I can assign him body guards to make sure he will not do harm to others, but Alan is resourceful. If he wants to get rid of his sister, he will, whether locked away or not."

The shaman understood. As SH'a Grou picked up s'his herb pouches and returned them to s'his medicine bag, s'he gave instructions for Tess's care for the next ten stan hours.

At the gate, s'he turned to Lady Artha, "Dream well and dream deep. An answer shall come to you tonight," SH'a Grou told her softly.

***

Chapter 11

Alan led the young girl through a maze of halls, purposely extending the journey. He felt her studying him and was intrigued.

"You are with the dallier," Alan started. He gave a sly look towards the girl to see if his insult registered.

The expression on the young girl's face did not change but in the dim light he could have sworn she was amused.

"What is so funny?" Alan demanded immediately incensed.

"I am amused," the young girl agreed. "A dallier, by your culture's definition, is one that spends time with those much younger then himself or herself. That is true, SH'a Grou is with those younger. I don't understand why you use it to insult."

"He has sex with them! Forces them to do things they don't want to do," Alan accused with a mean intent.

"Really? Whomever SH'a Grou has sex with is not my business. As for forcing his students to do things they should not do...what is that exactly?" Rene asked him interested.

"Are you taunting me?" Alan turned on her angrily. He was attempting to bait her and so far, he could not even get an irritated response from her.

"No. I am asking you for clarification on what you are talking about. Has no one instructed you on the art of discussion?" Rene asked innocently.

"Are you his servant?" Alan changed his tact.

"I do serve him as a student to learn the shaman arts," Rene returned patiently, watching the colors around him change. All were dark and sinister.

Alan snorted in real contempt. "A girl can't do anything better than a man."

Rene grinned. "Men do have more serious issues to contend with, while girls are still enjoying their childhood," s'she agreed. "Age sometimes has advantages."

"Men do it better!" Alan snarled.

"Ahh. Do tell. And what is that exactly?"

"You stupid bitch! All women can do is have babies!"

"Well, since SH'a Grou is both genders, s'he has the advantage of both."

Alan was appalled for a moment. "A freak! He's a damn freak!"

Rene smiled. "Ahh. Freak means different from the majority. Yes. Are you not also a freak in your society?"

Alan glared at her. He was frustrated. He fed off people's fear and anger, and without it, he could not feel the euphoric rush he got from one of his violent rages. Her calmness thwarted his high.

He turned and left her in the hall sure that he had confused her in their wanderings. Undaunted Rene made s'her way to the kitchen. S'she found the place where Alan hid his poisons and replaced them with harmless, similar looking herbs. Alan would never know the difference.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Allan went searching for Rene. He found s'her laughing with the cooks. Rene raised s'her hand in parting and finally took s'her leave.

"Hello, Alan. Have you decided to continue our discussion?" Rene asked as s'she came abreast of him. Alan was pressed up against the wall in the darkened hallway, but Rene could see his life force in its nervous bursts of energy.

For the first time Alan felt something that was not brought on by the pain of another. Uncertain, he paused.

"Walk with me to my pony and we can talk," Rene offered.

Alan suddenly felt shy. He was intrigued by this girl his age that not only was not intimidated by him but acted as his equal.

Rene wanted to know what made this person so maligned with life. S'she had made the choice to intersect s'her own line onto his web. SH'a Grou and s'her had talked about the implications and what would happen if they chose not to try to help this lost soul. The events were written before the Fermins rented the House of Illusions.

Alan listened to Rene's voice. He finally asked her what she was.

"I am?" Rene asked puzzled. S'she picked up his confused thoughts and laughed lightly.

"I have a body like yours, but I feel as a girl. We are called twin-spirits."

"You're a freak too!" Alan said triumphantly.

Rene laughed with real delight. S'she could see through Alan's ploy and chose to defuse it.

"We have something in common then."

Alan tried to get furious.

"Do you want to learn to control those passions that take you into the darkness?" Rene asked.

Alan was frightened for a moment. How did she know?

"If you don't you will be sent to HinterWield," Rene pointed out as he led them on a direct route to the outer courtyard.

"That will not happen. My father will see to it," he told her with a contemptuous air, as if it was of no consequence what he was inflicting on others. It was as if he had no awareness of others, therefore he would have no awareness of his 'self.' She wondered how such a person could come to be.

The shamans knew that when Alan was younger his father paid retribution to the families whose children he had harmed. However, he was getting older, and once he became an adult he would be held accountable. However, Alan had been perfecting his methods of selecting a victim with that in mind. They could feel on his life line that he had no intention of giving up something that was the only thing that gave him a feeling that he was alive.

Instead of leading Rene to her pony, Alan showed her to his favorite spot near a fountain in the inner garden. Rene sent a mental greeting to Trotter, s'her pony, who informed s'her he was finding meager grass to chew on. Rene knew it was the sweet grass he found so little of, and gave him assurance when they reached home he would get an extra handful of corn that he also loved.

Rene touched Alan's thoughts, allowing him to weave a fantasy that normally brought him into a manic passion while bringing violence and pain to the victim. As Alan became involved with his fantasy, thinking it was real, he opened himself up for Rene to see into him.

Rene understood. Alan needed another's intense emotional fear to reach his own hidden little self. Then he sucked the energy of his victim into his meager reservoir.

Rene also saw a face in his mind. It was a face that peered at him over a crib railing. Alan feared and hated the owner of that face. When Alan was bashing his female victim's faces in, it was her that he saw, not his victims. That explained to Rene why he had so much hate for the female gender. S'she saw nothing in the space that is usually reserved for a child's vision of his or her mother. Rene looked again, for everyone had some sort of space within him or her for the primary person in his or her infant life. S'she still found nothing.

When Alan came out of the maddened euphoria and found Rene intact and sitting quietly regarding a flower in her hand he was frightened. Rene smiled and touched Alan mentally. He felt no animosity toward her escape from his violence as Rene carefully touched damaged parts of his brain cells telepathically to stimulate pathways that had not been nurtured when he was an infant.

"Can I see you again?" Alan implored while awkwardly staring at her hand. He did not know what it was like to have a friend but he felt compelled to reach out for the first time to another person.

"I shall be back tomorrow. Good dreams," s'she wished as they parted at the gate.

Alan left Rene at the front gate where Rene's pony was waiting impatiently to return home. Alan was smiling as he walked back to his room caught up in reinventing his fantasy. The pathways Rene had started were but tiny scratches over a hard surface. Alan was uncertain at a new feeling that was prickling his usual brutish confidence, causing hesitation in his manner. Since he felt no threat from Rene he allowed himself to become fascinated at the novelty. His life was not so boring after all.

Alan's mother left late that night with her staff. Alan announced to her and to Lady Artha that he was staying with Lady Artha and the reduced staff that was remaining with the ailing Tess, too ill to be moved. He had not bothered to give a reason for staying, since it had not occurred to him that it was necessary. His intention was to be sure that his actions to right a wrong were successful, and to see the young shaman trainee again, though this was not something he admitted even to himself.

The shaman's herbs did their part, leaving the child exhausted from purging through sweat and defecation through the night, and giving her the appearance of being near death. Alan believed it was an indication that she was sure to die. Village servants were entrusted with her care while Lady Artha slept in the cot in the same room. Lady Artha did dream and saw a plan to keep Tess safe from her brother and Gustaf's plans.

The shaman and his apprentice visited the next morning to look in on Tess.

Lady Artha watched the apprentice and Alan in the garden for a while. She had never seen Alan taken with anyone before. Lady Artha was aware that Rene was a twin-spirit and she assumed that Alan was curious of this for on his own planet such people were not talked about. Many were afraid of their anomaly and either gave them supernatural powers or accused them of evil doings. The shaman nodded, at the still form on the cot. Whispered directions were given to the young woman that was tending the form and then Shaman Grou rose from s'his crouched position, picking up the herb bag as if to leave. Lady Artha looked down at the unconscious figure. She could see the yellowish tinge to Tess's skin was gone, and in it's place an almost translucent look to her skin.

"Honorable One," Lady Artha bowed her head to the shaman. "I have indeed dreamed."

Shaman Grou held two fingers up and she nodded. The villagers would take Tess in two days to be raised by them. By her acknowledging the dream, she knew that she had agreed to the plan. She was hoping Tess would not fight it when she found out what her older cousin had arranged for her, but it was better than what her father or Alan were planning.

Two days later Tess's life as a Fermin ended and her new life began. She was still weak and in a delirium when she was moved into the underground tunnels to another village. It was a three-day journey under the mountain. If she survived the harsh life on the Wield world, she would become a singer. The village of Triton had an opening for the training of a storyteller and singer. Music and art was greatly honored during the hard winters when no one could venture out beyond the perimeter of their village and the tunnels within the mountains became busy with life.

Gustaf found out Alan was responsible for his sister's death and gave him an ultimatum, the same that Lady Artha gave to Gustaf. He banished him to the family estate in the desert of Kasam for an undetermined amount of time. During that time Alan focused his energy toward preparing for his rite of passage into manhood as well as studying the family business. He was unrepentant and only saw this as an inconvenience, which he became impatient with the boredom and isolation.

When Alan returned to MageWield a year later he resumed his friendship with Rene.

***

**

"Greetings, Alan!" she signed then spoke.

Shyly Alan returned both the sign and a polite greeting that Rene had been teaching him. Before Rene's teaching, he had just started his conversations as if everyone was on the same thought as he.

"You are a woman!" he stammered as he could see that her body had taken on the obvious curves that a young woman's would have.

Rene laughed and touched his shoulder to get him to look at her, for he had turned his reddened face away.

Alan's thoughts were in turmoil. Why did he get embarrassed when he looked at her? He did not with others, whom he stared at with open disgust and contempt.

Rene was telepathically cueing him that this was not asked in polite circles and then stimulating the parts in his brain that would be normally affected if he were embarrassed.

"I don't understand why you want a woman's body. They are inefficient and…don't function right!" he continued in aggravation.

"You are lucky then with the body you have. I happen to like mine the way it is now. It functions quiet efficiently for me and fulfills my needs."

Alan abruptly turned around to stare at the fountain, feeling adrift in unfamiliar sensations. Rene realized he was not familiar with silence or peace that she directed to him. He was comfortable with anger and it's escalated form, rage. He also was addicted to others' fear and still looked for victims. It was only a matter of time until he would take lives.

"I wanted to tell you that Lord Chaney has recommended me to attend a Military Academy." He felt important at this. It meant he would be wearing a uniform, which was a nice feature, and people would be saluting him. People that worked for the family business already did what he commanded, but the uniform and salutes were vestiges of power he could only legitimately get through the services, or if he formed his own army. Now, that was a thought.

"I thought you were going to run your father's businesses?"

"Huh," he looked at her distracted. "I am! I already do a lot of the business now," he lied. "It's nothing to go to one of those schools. Except maybe the physical workouts...but I shall get out of those."

"Alan, if you are not going to do the whole program, why go?"

"Lord Chaney thinks I need the discipline." Alan slammed his hand on a flat wall surface. "I can control myself! Father listens to him because he is helping us get a seat on the Committee. It will look good if I graduate from a military star academy." That was Lord Chaney's argument and now saying it out loud, it did sound like a good plan. "I'm going to a school on Janu to start preparatory classes."

He kept from saying that his grades were not even close to qualify him to get on the waiting list of the academy and needed more than academic help, for his social graces were dreadful. If his father had not told him that this was his family duty, he would have found a way to mess it up so one of his younger brothers would have to go through this four-year drag.

"Ahh. So you are going to get used to wearing a uniform."

Alan smiled.

"So when do your classes start?"

"Tomorrow. Father called early this morning to say Lord Chaney finalized the deal." He nearly winced at what he just revealed. His father was going to give Lord Chaney a metragirl, a new type of biobot, for pulling strings to get his name on the enrollment list. Lord Chaney's dalliance with young girls was becoming an issue with his fellow Committee members so the metragirl would be something less politically incorrect. His father had shares in this new business of producing metrapeople.

***

**

Rene saw Alan every year, sometimes only for a few days. Alan was serious about becoming eligible to attend the academy. Perhaps that was why she was surprised to get a communication from Alan in his first year at the academy saying that he was booted out for behavior unbecoming an officer. Alan had struck a female cadet, though he insisted it was by accident. However, he continued, he simply transferred over to the Diplomatic Corps' Academy that shared facilities with the military academy. Rene knew why he remained. Her studies became more important as she knew her own day for an initiation few dared to attempt, was nearing.

Three stan years later, Alan arrived on MageWield in the early morning.

"Take a message to SH'a Rene. Tell her I need to see her now!" his voice was hoarse as he shouted at the young man who was barely awake.

"She always knows when I am going to be here! Why is she not here waiting?!" he ranted as the hours dragged on and there was no word from Rene. "Where the hell, is she?!"

His bodyguards would not let him leave the premises in his rage. He knew that they had failed his father's orders to prevent him from hurting any more women, and while his friends diverted their attention, he had gone out to kill someone..or he tried.

Furious, he picked up a stick and beat a statue in the winter dry patio. "She dared to live! Damn the DeMontes! Damn the Montrans! Those two stinking clans! I'll get my revenge yet!" He continued to beat the statue until the stick was only an inch long.

For two days he ranted, escalating to high pitches until his bodyguards wrestled him down to administer a drug he otherwise had refused to take. He slept for a few hours and when he woke, Rene was in the garden.

"Where the hell were you?! I need you!" Alan wailed.

"I was in another village, finishing my business, Alan. Why do you need me?" Rene could see the wildness in his eyes. She did not touch him as she had in the past. The dark cloud that was around him was too intense and it would only cause him more harm then good to interfere with the rage. She could see that this was the time for her passing. Time for her to move into a new life. She watched as he implored with her for something, but she knew it was something only death could give him and that was not something she could interfere with. It was not his time, unfortunately. As he reimagined the injustice that one of his victims had the nerve to subject him to she could feel him pull the dark cloud around him, energizing his rage and madness, nullifying the effects of the sedative his bodyguards had given him earlier.

Now was the moment. She looked up into his eyes. They were those of a madman. She held his eyes as he brought the club down. And then there was darkness.

"Oh, gawds! What have I done?" Alan dropped the club near the shaman's body. His body was numb and his brain stopped functioning. He was aware of the curses of the bodyguards that had thought if anyone, the shaman would be safe with him. He listened to what he thought was the small transport shuttle take off. He sank to his knees and tearless just stared at the crumpled heap of his only friend, Rene.

"Alan!"

His head shot up. Bewildered he looked around him. It was dark.

"Father," he started hoarsely. "Father I…I don't want her to die. Please father, you can make her a metradame. Please."

"Alan, this is too much! You nearly killed a Montran in front of witnesses, and now this!"

"Father! Rene is my friend! Please!"

Alan could not understand what the contorted expressions on his father's face meant but he did not care. Rene was all that he was interested in.

"IF you get on the shuttle with me and agree to volunteer to enroll in the ADDM school. If you don't, Alan…listen to me! If you don't…it will be the end of my plans to build this family into an empire. They will send you to Hinterweild. Do you hear me?!"

"Will you take Rene's body to the metralabs, Father?"

"Will you do what I told you?"

"Anything, Father. Just take Rene's body to the metralabs."

"Alright." He turned to one of his servants. "Secure the body for the metralab. Do you have his meds? Give him a shot. I don't want him going nuts on the flight. Captain! Contact my lawyer to take care of her disappearance," he added in a low voice.

The best-laid plans, no matter their intentions, can take unusual turns.

***

Chapter 12

Rene's eyes opened and showed an uncommon liveliness when the first charge was sent delicately into her brain stem. Dr. J'us leaned over her to check the marks for the insertion of the chip that was the heart of the metraperson's new personality. It allowed the scientists to write over old memories stored in the brain. It also had the ability to send waves of pain into the pleasure centers if the subject refused to obey her or his new master or mistress. In the long run, it removed pleasure centers. If the owners cared, they sent their metraperson back to have the center for laughter recharged, for some were more comfortable with a pleasant servant than one that could not enjoy a joke.

Rene could feel her limbs, from forehead to ankle, bound to the operating table. Her eyes held the eyes of the doctor for a few moments. Was the chip inserted? The doctor believed it was, for she had checked off all the important points of the operation as completed just as she did with all the metrapeople that passed by her. She was a metraperson herself, programmed to be precise under the force of pain.

***

*

Rene was sitting in the display room, where new owners came to check out their new toy. She watched Alan walk quickly alongside of his father across the entranceway, up the long staircase to the showroom level, where she was waiting. Rene studied Alan and noted how changed he was. She could see a bit of the dark cloud that always was around him, however, he was not feeding off it. It was more like a residual of what he had been. Part of her abilities as a shaman were damaged by Alan's blow, but she had confidence she could undo it. She certainly could sense Gustaf's fury as he noted what Alan had her dressed in. Her face had been changed too. It was the face that haunted Alan when he was a child, his first nanny. Gustaf recognized the face.

"What is this, Alan?!" His father's voice was controlled fury.

Alan cowered a little.

"Well…she is mine, Father. I can do what I want with her."

"You had no business…"

"I am not yours, Alan. No one owns anyone," Rene interrupted the two calmly. She tried not to laugh at the two very shocked faces before her.

"You…you are supposed to wait until I program you," Alan stuttered. His voice sounded like a hurt child who found the fresh baked cookies already gone.

"Alan, shut up! Sit there with her. I will be right back!"

Rene knew he was going to see what went wrong with her programming.

"Listen Alan, you have to stop trying to control people. Isn't that what keeps getting you in trouble?"

"Rene, my sweet Rene. What happened to you?"

"What happened to you?" Rene was astonished at Alan's changed behavior.

"It's the programming. I'm on meds and …I'm cool, Rene. I promised Father I would go to this reeducation school if he saved you."

"Ahh. So, I owe you thanks for this face?"

Alan's face reddened. "You should be thanking me that I saved your life," he reasoned.

"Alan, you are the reason I ended up having to have my life saved."

He nodded looking contrite, an expression Rene was not familiar in seeing on his face. "I'm so sorry, Rene. I…was off my meds for a couple of months and just…I just lose it when I'm not on them."

Rene shook her head at this version of 'Alan.' She guessed the scientists that worked on the metrapeople shared information with the scientists that worked on the behavior modification program Alan was in. He was changed but even with her sensitivity blunted, she could still feel the malignant dark force that was at his core.

"I can't take you with me!" Alan told her miserably, "and I'm not going to let father take you."

"Alan, why are you chewing on your thumb?" Rene asked curious.

"I don't know. Nerves, I guess. Probably another one of the side effects of this stuff they're giving me." He jammed his hands in his pockets. "Listen, Rene, I have an apartment along the river at ElDor. You can stay there until I get out of this place." He lifted his eyes to stare at her. Though his hands were jammed in his coat pockets, she could see his fingers twitching.

"I don't want to stay at your place. I want a life of my own. I can't go back to MageWeild."

At that moment, Gustaf was returning with a red face and looking irritated.

"Okay. Okay," Alan began to rise from his seat and then quickly sat back down. "Father! I want…"

"I don't care what you want! Shut up and let me get this mess straightened out!"

"No! Father! Leave her! Leave her!" Alan grabbed his head with one hand as if it hurt and with the other continued to grab at his father when the lab techs came to take Rene away. Rene realized what was happening and tried to touch everyone's minds, with the exception of Alan's who was too messy to get near.

In about two hours later, the three were in Gustaf's personal vehicle, stopping at the tenth clothing store so that Rene could have a decent wardrobe rather than the brief attire Alan had Rene dressed in for her coming out event.

"We've been at this for two stan hours. I have had enough!" Gustaf announced gruffly.

"Me too," Rene announced pleased with how things had gone so far. She decided to push her luck a little further. "I wish to be enrolled in a science university. The woman in the store said the most prestigious is the one on Sintafie Prime."

"And you want to go there?" Alan asked in awe.

"Yes."

"Father can get you in there," he returned with a son's confidence in his father's powers.

"Why in Helgas Moon do I want to enroll you in a school? You're a metradame. You do our bidding! Damn mageweildians. Last time we'll take anyone from that planet," he muttered darkly. He was feeling all the more uncomfortable being in the car with two people that were supposed to be malleable to his control and he did not feel at all in control.

"I'll tell you what. You let me have my freedom, and I will send your way, via the insurance scam you are running, some impressive credentialed people."

"I got the insurance agents supplying people…I don't need you!" Gustaf yelled furiously. He paused for a split moment and then, "How the hell did you know…Alan!" he turned toward Alan who had been squeezed into the smaller seat behind the autodriver. "I told you to keep your mouth shut about our business! I don't blab my business to my whores!"

A slight twitch of pain registered in Alan's eyes, informing Gustaf that that remark hit a nerve.

"Father, she's right. Even Lord Chaney says the only people the agents are getting are low class. You can use already educated metrapeople instead of spending all that time educating them in the labs. You can even arrange to have your own army!"

Gustaf was about to say something when Alan added.

"She is mine, Father. And the deal she is offering is a good one."

Gustaf looked at his son who caused him a lot of headaches and cost him a lot of credits to keep out of trouble. However, since he began participating in company business, he had contributed to fifty percent of the build-up of his business empire, which more than paid for what he lost. He just wanted to drop the metradame that was not acting like one, off somewhere and get back to what business he did know.

"Fine. I'll set it up," he muttered. "You gonna keep that face?"

"For now."

That night, Rene spent her first time off a Weildworld in her physical body. It was different. And she was enjoying her first time in a very expensive motel, watching the watchers, and eating strange foods. Gustaf, at Alan's instance, had set her up in a nice apartment complex within walking distance from the university she would be attending. The clothing Gustaf paid for would be sent ahead of her along with a maid, whom Alan felt she needed to help her learn the customs of the wealthy. When on drugs, Alan seemed to be thoughtful, however Rene knew what was beneath the appearance of good intentions.

She pressed her face against the window, looking out at one of the few natural rivers on the planet. Her thoughts went back to the span of time she spent unconscious. She had visited Grandmother of the Web. Grandmother Spider was the most important initiation a shaman passed through. If she had become tangled in her web due to the illusions she created for herself as she looked for Grandmother she would not have returned. But she did return…to find herself with this strange face. Rene stared at the reflection of her new face.

"So, new face, new life and new name…Sharon Teal," she murmured. "Well, Sharon, lets see just what this university is like, filled with scientists that cannot see past their theoretical noses, and when proof is given, they refuse to look because they can't tolerate the change in their beliefs they will have to make."

***

**

Sharon attended the university for only a year, for she knew too much for the professors to teach her and she was causing too much of a stir at the questions she asked. At the challenge of one of her professors, she took the tests for accreditation and passed with high scores. From there, she started her research project, completed it, and published within three stan months. At first it had been difficult to get a chair for her project. However, a strange creature, that was more involved in research than academic teaching, approached her. He had provided her a subject, terraforming and the impact it had on the surrounding planets, and then left her to her research. He supplied the other four to sit on her board, all researchers that were more interested in their projects.

With academic credentials on file, Dr. Sharon Teal took a job aboard a science vessel that was studying the reseeding progress of one of the planets that was being terriformed. Her chair had recommended her to the head of the project, who also happened to be a past student. The planet was out of Committee space, so Sharon did not have to worry about Gustaf's agents or Alan's sudden appearances. It had taken six standard months of travel to reach her new home aboard the science ship, Nettle.

Dr. Sharon Teal's new life was busy. Her private reason for involving herself with the reseeding project was to ensure that the reforming of the planet entailed nurturing the planet's spirit, which was profoundly affected by the poisoning. Sharon was worried the spirit would not allow the terraforming process to go smoothly due to the anger it harbored. If it decided to circumvent it, the planet could implode, leaving a dark hole, and the planets surrounding it would be negatively affected.

Dr. Teal also worked late into the night and early morning hours on her own projects. One of them was to undo the damage the metralaboratories were doing to souls that should have either departed from the physical world or be revived and returned to their own lives. She did not worry about stopping the masterminds behind the business who were influential enough to cover what metrapeople were about; there were others who were working on that. The powers that were behind the business had turned their own scientists into metrapeople to ensure that there would be no moral quandary among the rank and file, or selling out. The process erased the memories of their victims and Sharon was looking for ways to recover them.

Sharon worked with a group that opposed the use of metrapeople and other abuses of those that were out of the reach of common law. The most influential members of this secretive group, belonged to the Council of Rings, Naboth's Vine, Brothers of the Shadow, and Hekate's Inner Circle. From amongst them, came volunteers to submit to the process to be the double agents. In her work with this group, Sharon remained anonymous. On the mundane plane, she had set security layers to her telecommunications and on other dimensions where her actions may be read, she weaved protective spells to prevent anyone from seeing her.

***

**

It had been short of a year that Sharon had been working on the Nettle, more than comfortable with her regiment, when her routine life took a surprising turn. Her dinners were usually light affairs, eaten late at night when most people were in bed. She liked the empty dining hall that was dimly lit, quiet, and offered a panoramic view of the space around the science vessel. The vessel was home to a hundred scientists, a light military security force and a maintenance crew, along with family members. This particular day, she had finished another battery of routine tests with routine results. Hardly boring, considering she was nearing the core of her hypothesis. She had finished her salad and idly was watching the small patrol ships change guard. They kept the area free of sightseers and mischief-makers. She nearly dropped her teacup when her senses registered a new energy aboard the ship.

Now what is this? Curious she set her cup down and tried to sense where this new energy was emanating from. It was like a cloud of despair that settled in one part of the ship.

A new recruit? Civilian or soldier, I wonder.

The next day she checked the log for new arrivals. Her finger paused on the name 'Lt. Harriet Montran.'

"Hmm. How many Harriet Montrans can there be in that clan?" she muttered softly to herself. "Probably a lot, considering how large the clan is and that names are given to off-spring in honor of a deceased relative or friend. How many would travel to another galaxy to get away from family politics?" She pulled up her picture. "If this is the same Harriet…what a cosmic joke this will be," she muttered softly to herself.

Dark green eyes, framed by orange hair curled artfully around her ears stared back at her from underneath a military cap. The image was the face of a serious officer. Tilting her head a little, Sharon decided the officer felt uncomfortable posing for the image. "So, Alan's Harriet Montran is here." I wonder if that's her energy I felt. If that's so…She shut her screen off and paced, thinking of what all this meant. She needed to consult her runes.

***

**

It was months later that Sharon actually saw Harriet in person. She was just getting off duty, dressed in a flight suit, which showed off her trim figure. She was talking to Ensign Jimmy J'aimine in a low tone. When they finished, the lieutenant left and Jimmy spotted her.

"Hi, Dr. Teal. Had any interesting flares while I was off?"

"No, Jimmy. Nothing unusual. Where did you go this trip on your time off?"

"Fort Bragg, Prime IV."

"I thought you said you were going to stop going there because they robbed you in the casinos." Sharon enjoyed his youthful charm, and the small intimate conversations they shared without worrying about him misreading her friendliness. He was enamored with a mechanic in the hydroponics bay on deck two and very loyal.

"Uh huh. Actually, the new lieutenant asked me to take her there. She wanted to see if they really did rig the tables. A couple of noncoms in her squad were complaining about losing their entire pay there. Hell, she took them seriously." He gave Sharon a big smile, shaking his head. "She visited seven of the big casinos and took them for a lot of chips before they cornered her and walked her to the big guy's office. I don't know what arrangements she made with him…" he chuckled, "but she did not leave the place until she was satisfied there were more winners than when we arrived. I got a feeling she won't have to go back there for a while. You know what she did with the credits she won? She dropped it in the fricking alms box at the shuttle station. They're rip-offs, I told her. You know what she tells me?"

Sharon shook her head.

"This one isn't. Now, I'm not gonna argue with her since she just busted seven of the big casino tables, but I have my doubts."

Sharon chucked with him. "She looks pretty grim," she mentioned.

He nodded, the youthful look disappearing to be replaced by the serious face of a street-smart kid that he was. "She's alright, Doc. Rumor says she used to be a captain in the Spartans. Doesn't talk about it and will give ya a real cold stare if you ask. My uncle was like that after he returned from the wars in the Pedia Cluster, so my guess is she's seen more death than most. Sanous has quarters next to hers. Says she has nightmares. With my uncle, it just took time." He suddenly grinned. "Sanous's been requesting another shift for some time, so this worked out well for her. They gave her another shift so she can get some undisturbed sleep."

Sharon patted his arm concerned. "I hope for her sake she does recover. Moving people around her so they don't have to hear her won't always work. And drugs aren't the answer," she finished more to herself than to the ensign, who nodded in agreement.

***

*

That night Sharon set her candle out. Sitting comfortably on a small cushion, she lit the incense and sent a protective circle around her physical form. She had no apprentice to protect her from wandering spirits looking for a vacant core to settle in, so she took extra precautions, weaving a web of protection around herself.

Sharon's spirit form was above the Nettle observing it when she noted that another wisp of energy entered the ship at a fast pace. Curious, she followed it.

When she entered the smaller military quarters, she found the spirit sitting across from the naked form of Harriet sitting on her small cot with legs crossed, and a flute case opened with the silver flute inside. For some time, the lieutenant just stared at the flute. The spirit form remained until Harriet shut the case without touching the flute.

For four stan months she would witness the same thing. One night after she returned to her quarters, she sat pondering how she could meet with this spirit that came nightly to sit with Harriet.

"Well, if you'd ask I would certainly tell you," a voice said as if it were right next to her. Then the spirit took shape and sat across from her.

"I was wondering why you were taking an interest in Alexandra but I can see that your intentions are that of a healer." The face turned a little as if trying to see something else. Her eyes squinted and she stroked her wrinkled chin.

"You have also visited Grandmother of the Web. You walk between the two worlds, belonging to neither."

"I am referred to as a metradame," Sharon shared, "though I do not share the erasure of memories or the implantation of the enforcement chip.

The old head nodded. "Your death walk was interrupted." The old woman smiled at her and then giggled like a young girl. "You…are Iwilla."

Sharon chuckled and nodded. This woman saw past her protective spells. She had to be very powerful in the spirit world.

"I am Gedaliaha, from NeitherWeild. You wanted to know about my Alexandra."

"Alexandra?"

"It's her student name. It is written that this child must go through the darkness in order that she learns to recognize the differences within it." Gedaliaha sighed and waved a protective sign in the air.

"She has watched people about her die because they were associated with her, and for no other reason. This profoundly wounds her." Gedaliaha's eyes softened as she gazed at Sharon. "Compassion is a difficult lesson to learn without getting caught in sentimentality and it is learning the art of justice-making. She is wallowing in guilt but she will not drown," Gedaliaha chuckled. "Well, I must take my leave now. Until we meet again, my heart to your heart." Gedaliaha's physical form vanished and only a small wisp of spirit trailed out of Sharon's room.

Gedaliaha continued to visit Harriet's quarters whenever she pulled her flute out. It was six months before she played and only a note or two before she would cry herself to sleep. It was about a year after her assignment to the Nettle that Harriet was able to play a full song. It was about an hour long and the release it gave her heart was enough to open her up spiritually and dispel the dark cloud that surrounded her. That night Sharon saw her spirit rise to meet with Gedaliaha's. In spirit, Harriet was a young child that had long orange hair decorated with beads and ribbons, and she sat at Gedaliaha's feet as if she were her student. Gedaliaha sang her a teaching song while she stroked her hair. When the song ended, Harriet's spirit drifted back into her sleeping physical form.

Now that Harriet was able to play the flute, Sharon noticed more liveliness in her eyes when she would visit the cafeteria during her meal breaks. Harriet's opening coincided with Sharon's decision to do something to protect her from Alan Fermin.

Sharon read the runes, searching a pattern in the web, and found Harriet at the center. Many lives were being pulled towards her for she was like a hub of a wheel, and they the spokes. But why? Sharon would have searched further for answers but she was tired. She was bone tired. There was so much to do yet, and adding Harriet to her list of people to worry about was perhaps going to be more than what she could handle, she thought ruefully. How could she protect her and work on her projects? She would have to sleep on it. An early dinner and then for the rest of the evening she would find something that would not require thinking or the use of her eyes. Sleep was her foremost option.

The dinning hall was not filled with many people since this was the time most of the crew called twilight hours. Sharon picked up a tray and selected from the menu real food, rather than the synthesized. She was deep in thought when she tripped over the leg of a chair. Her salad heavy with dressing landed on a uniform…Lt. Harriet Montran's, as the Ladies of Fate would have it.

"I am so sorry," Dr. Teal apologized as she looked at the salad dressing drip down the uniform tunic of her victim, hiding her amusement at how part of her question had been answered.

"I...it's okay. I can change." Harriet was noticing how bare her unfamiliar uniform looked without the battle ribbons she was use to having. She shook her head to forget. She had just returned from a week of training aboard the Ziggy and was emotionally and physically exhausted.

"I hope you aren't going on duty," Dr. Teal continued regretfully.

"No, I just got back. I have a few days to recover," Harriet managed a smile.

Dr. Teal returned the smile. She did not want to go back for another salad but she knew she was going to have to eat before she went to bed.

"Let me get you another, I can see you're tired." A revived Harriet was up quickly. At the food counter, she used what was on her uniform to pick out the choice of salad dressing.

Harriet had finished her own meal before Dr. Teal had entered so there was no rational reason to stay while Dr. Teal ate. Nodding a polite good night, she cleared the table of her empty dishes and returned to her quarters.

That night Harriet dreamt that Dr. Teal and her were in a boat with rough black or dark gray waters all around them. Their small vessel was bobbing sickenly as the waves around them rose into high swells, threatening to capsize it, but instead filled it with water. However, Dr. Teal, unconcerned, related a story to her, which she was not able to keep track of for she was frantically scooping out the water with her hands.

***

*

After their first meeting, they acknowledged each other more often in the mess hall. A few weeks later, Sharon on impulse, asked the lieutenant if she would like to see one of the planet's flare-ups from the advantage of the science observatory, which had all sorts of instruments visually recording the events and adding to the drama, or so most scientists felt. Harriet accepted, not mentioning to Sharon that in her small patrol ship she observed them quite often.

The friendship progressed into another level, which neither had expected or contemplated.

***

**

Sharon glanced at her friend, Harriet, who could barely sit still through a flute recital.

"Harriet, did she play that bad?" Sharon asked as they walked back to Sharon's quarters.

"No," Harriet laughed softly, her face blushing. "I think it was the choice of music."

That piqued Sharon's curiosity. Stopping outside of her quarters, she peered up into dark green eyes, seeing something interesting there. "Why are you embarrassed?" she asked softly, watching the unusual energy swirls around the orange haired soldier.

Harriet shook her head. "Another time. It's been a very pleasant evening, Sharon. Thank you for inviting me." The blush increased in intensity, and then receded.

Sharon wondered who she was thinking about…or should the question be 'what'?

Harriet leaned over to give Sharon a customary kiss on her cheek, but Sharon moved her face to continue her teasing. Their lips touched, and reflexively, they kissed, moving closer as the kiss deepened.

Gawds…her lips are so soft.

Shaman's moon, but this kiss is igniting a harvest bonfire in me!

Sharon could feel Harriet's heart rate increase as her fingers gently wrapped around her wrists. So, was it I who you were thinking of? Sharon slid her hands around Harriet's waist, drawing her closer, so the heat of both their bodies commingled.

Harriet cupped Sharon's soft cheeks in her warm hands. Her tongue explored the outside of Sharon's lips. She grew bolder as Sharon parted her lips and drew in her tongue for further exploration.

This is nice, two thought echoed.

Harriet slid her arms around Sharon's waist, lifting her a few inches, and without breaking their kiss, entered Sharon's quarters to avoid any curious spectators. Harriet stopped just inside of the entrance letting Sharon down gently. Sharon pulled her further into the room, all the while running her hands over the athletic body and delighting in the feel of muscles under the tunic. Suddenly she wanted to feel bare skin.

Sharon's hands slid down Harriet's waistband and tugged the shirt out of the slacks, rewarded with warm skin that jumped from her touch. Sharon groaned and began to unbutton the shirt, wanting more.

Harriet broke their kiss, her lips and tongue leaving a wet trail along Sharon's jaw to her neck, sending chills down Sharon's back. Sharon's breath caught and then she groaned, pushing her body closer to Harriet's, needing to feel her more intimately. Harriet's shirt dropped to the deck.

"Oh, gawds!" Harriet mumbled as she tried to slow her pounding heart and escalating need to take Sharon now.

Sharon's mouth kissed a trail of soft feathery touches down Harriet's jaw, neck and between her bared breasts. Warm palms cupped her breasts, while tweaking the stiff nipples between thumb and forefinger.

Harriet pushed hard against Sharon as a surge of fire ran from her nipples to her yoni. Lips latched onto Harriet's nipple, biting, sucking and fluttering her into a near organism. Her legs were trembling.

Sharon broke her contact with the reddened nipple and gave a firm push against the officer, not releasing her pressure until Harriet fell onto the bed.

***

***

*

Harriet Montran awoke in the morning, after a stan hour of deep sleep, disorientated in the unfamiliar surroundings. Sharon woke when she felt Harriet's movements. As memories of the previous night came back to Harriet, she wrapped her arms around Sharon and kissed her neck, running her teeth along the nape of her neck, getting shivers from Sharon and a soft groan.

"I need to get back to my quarters and check for messages," she explained as she prepared get up.

"Just like a doctor, always on call," Sharon turned in her arms and drew her close for a soft kiss, smelling their commingled essences that clung to their skins.

"You're right, Doc. You can always call me," Harriet returned with a grin. She slid out of bed and tossed Sharon her blouse that was draped over her cloths from the previous evenings haphazard disrobing.

Sharon rose and drew on her robe from behind the bathing room door. She admired the athletic form of her lover as Harriet finished dressing.

Harriet held her for a few moments sliding her hands between the folds of the thin silk robe, feeling the heat of Sharon's body. Sharon's nipples touched Harriet just below her breasts and Harriet could swear she could feel her heart beat in those pointed nubs. She realized she had to release Sharon or she would be pulling her back into bed.

Sharon walked her lover to the door and gave her a long deep kiss before she left. After the door closed behind Harriet, Sharon smiled to herself, knowing that Harriet would be thinking about the previous evening until they were together again. Sharon laughed aloud…she would not be the only one.

Goddess! What is this going to do to the web around her? I never saw this! But…she hesitated and sighed, I'm not going to stop it. Not unless she wants to. I need a shower. Maybe that will clear my head…and cool me down!

Taking on anybody as a lover was not something she had ever thought about, she mused.

Why? There are shamans that have families and students and they still are able to carry on their duties. A lover would be less stressful than a family. I had lovers when I was younger. It's part of the lessons on making love, sex and intimacy. Goddess, what a body she has!

Sharon laughed as her body responded, leaving her tingly and flushed. It had been a long time since she felt this way. It left her giddy.

Giddy! That is an understatement! So, where do we go from here? Why spend so much time thinking about it, and just live it? she admonished herself.

Sharon shook the water from her shoulder length hair as if to clear the quandary from her thoughts. A lover had never appeared in her runes. Was the Great Spirit playing a joke on her? Sharon shook her head in disbelief. She had a lot of work to do and this had to happen…the potential for an intimate relationship.

Another part of her started to get practical. Sharon could imagine where this new aspect of their relationship was going to go. She enjoyed the woman's companionship and after getting an intimate introduction to her body, she most definitely liked the feel of Harriet's body against hers, and all the other things Harriet's body did to her…but, she was mixed up with Alan's madness.

Sharon looked at the water dripping down from the shower door.

You're part of Alan's madness too. Didn't you just ask the Great Spirit for an answer on how to protect Harriet Montran from Alan's agents until it was her time to reenter his dark web of madness and do your own work too? But is this a good answer? She laughed at herself. Who was she to ask if the Great Spirit knew its business?

Faith.

Yes, faith in herself was what she needed. Faith that she could have such a relationship. The Great Spirit must think a lot of her, for here they were - lovers. Unasked for on her part…unlooked for…or was that really the case? Sharon rubbed her face in aggravation. Why was she fighting this? She felt Harriet Montran's emotions and knew she felt an emotional bond and physical attraction to her, so why not?

***

***

*

Harriet Montran had left a message for Sharon when she returned to her quarters at the end of her workday. Harriet was on extra duty since someone called in sick, but had left something for Sharon in her mail slot.

Sharon could smell what it was. She found a beautiful flower resting at the bottom of her mailbox, along with a note. Until now, the only mailings Sharon received were deliveries for her laboratory. It was nice to receive a gift from the heart.

Both women were busy the next few nights but there was a movie on the fourth evening they had previously scheduled to attend together. Harriet Montran appeared at Sharon's door on time. She was dressed casual, in a loose fitting green blouse and dark brown pants. The fabric in the pants was soft and gave a nice outline of her buttocks, while the blouse hinted at what it covered without showing any skin. Sharon's eyes traveled over Harriet's body appreciating what she was seeing. She had not finished dressing, as she had nearly forgotten the time of their meeting due to another experiment that took longer than she had expected. She let Harriet in, sensitive to the brush of Harriet's body against hers, as she leaned to kiss her on a cheek.

"I'll be but a minute more, Harriet," she smiled into eyes that were darkened with desire. Her own body throbbed from the brief touch. It made her wonder how long they were going to let this heat between them simmer before doing something to increase it or put it out.

She returned to her bedroom, where she was picking out a necklace to wear that would hang so that the eyes of the observer would rest just above the v-cut of her top. She had also dotted perfume at her pulse points.

"Harriet, can you help me with this?" she called out exasperated. She could not get the clasp right. Her thoughts were too distracted. Shaman's moon! If I want to seduce her, I'm going to have to get focused.

Harriet stepped over to her, taking both ends of the necklace and waiting for Sharon to turn her back to her. Her fingers were not nimble and kept missing the clasp as well. They both seemed to be having the same problem.

"There, I got it!" Harriet sighed. It was difficult to keep her hands on the necklace and not wandering over a body she remembered responding to her touches in terribly erotic ways.

Sharon turned around to face Harriet and the clasp came undone. The weight of the necklace pulled it down into the cleavage of the top. Harriet made a reflex grab for it and grasped a handful of Sharon's breast with part of the necklace.

Without hesitation, Sharon pressed Harriet's hand up against her breast firmly and leaned to kiss Harriet's surprised mouth, tenderly at first, pressing her lips against the unresisting soft lips.

Harriet heard a groan, which well could have come from her, as her fingertips pinched a taut nipple that her mouth watered to cover, and would have, if her lips were not being hungrily devoured.

Sharon's hands gripped Harriet's waist, pulling her hips into hers. Her hands moved to her back, feeling the muscular frame and remembering the first time they had made love. Her hands slid to Harriet's buttocks, groaning at how they felt as she squeezed them. The need to rub her swollen clitoris against the strong thigh between her legs was overwhelming.

The kissing turned into passionate grappling as cloths were loosened and two pairs of hands searched for bare heated skin. Shoes were kicked off and tops removed. Sharon's dress slipped to the ground. Through the sheer fabric of the slip clinging to Sharon's slim frame, Harriet sucked and played with each taut nipple, working them so they were so hard they hurt.

"Bite me!" Sharon breathed urgently. "Harder!" Her fingers entangled Harriet's hair, reveling in the soft curls. "Ahhhrg! Yessss," she hissed as she felt Harriet's hands slip between her legs, sliding up her wet thighs. Strong fingers pressed against the wet crotch of her underwear, feeling the hard clitoris that pushed urgently against her cupped hand.

"I want to feel you inside of me, Harriet," she hoarsely directed to her lover. "Please…now," she panted. Never in her life could she remember sex being as urgent and exciting as what she was experiencing with this woman. And she wanted more.

Harriet moved her fingers past the panty barrier and caressed wet swollen lips throbbing with her heartbeat. Her finger slid into the hot slick opening feeling the inner muscles surround her finger undulating as if to pull her in further. Harriet buried her face in Sharon's neck sucking on the soft skin as she slid another finger inside of her, pumping along the lubricated walls.

Sharon's hands cupped her breasts and pinched her nipples hard, causing her to cry out in pleasure. Their lips met again for a passionate tryst as they both vied for possession of the other.

Harriet stopped her ministrations and picked up Sharon, who whimpered her protests at the pause. She carried her a few feet to the bed and then laid her on the bed with her legs dangling over the edge. Pushing up the slip so it bunched on her flat stomach, Harriet pulled the underwear off, tossing them behind her. Harriet cupped her mouth over Sharon's labia, working Sharon until her hips were undulating so quickly that Harriet had to restrain them with her hands, pulling Sharon closer to her as her tongue brought her closer to a climax.

Sharon cried out Harriet's name and for a moment Sharon was suspended in a wonderful place, where pleasure thundered through her senses. When she was able to focus on Harriet again, she found her curled up against her, holding her until the last of the pleasant shudders passed.

"Let me undress you," she whispered in Harriet's ear, pushing her onto her back while restraining her hands. Harriet lay still as Sharon kissed the bare skin of her breasts, teasing each nipple as her hands moved to undo the fasteners to her pants, the only bit of clothing Harriet had on. For the rest of the night, with a few breaks, she had Harriet's undivided attention.

***

*

Harriet had the next two days off and Sharon had nothing scheduled at work so they both remained in Sharon's room, exploring each other's sexuality, playfulness, and listening to each other as they shared parts of their lives.

As a shaman, Sharon attempted to heal some of Harriet's dark areas when they were making love. However, some places were shut tight, even when she was experiencing the heights of lovemaking. Sharon found that the only time Harriet opened up fully, was when she played her flute…in her quarters…alone. She made sure she gave that time to her for she knew Harriet would shut down if she invaded that space.

Gedaliaha was right. Harriet knew on a deeper unconscious level, that those that came close to her were in danger of dying terrible deaths, and it would be at the hands of Alan. The brunt of Alan's obsession was a dark malignant madness, focused on her. With prayers and chants the dark cloud that had engulfed her, was pushed back until Harriet was able to rebuild her own energy to keep it from overwhelming her. Sharon asked the healers on MageWield to add their support.

After about a year of living separate, Harriet moved in with Sharon. Sharon had a large living space that could easily accommodate two people with separate careers, especially since Harriet split her duties on another ship, Ziggy, spending weeks at a time away. They found their habits and requirements for solitude were similar, thus making adjustments to one another not complicated.

***

***

They had been living together for about four years, and Montran's times away were lengthening. If she returned late at night, Montran had at first choosen to sleep in the frontroom so as not to wake Sharon, but Sharon put a stop to that. She would rather wake for a moment, then snuggle into her arms before falling back to sleep. Such was the case of the previous night. Sharon felt her get up for a moment and use the toilet and then laid back down. She opened one eye and stared at Montran, who was studying her.

"What is creasing your brows, Second Lieutenant Montran?" she joked as she ran a fingertip over Harriet's brows in a caressing gesture.

"Your body," she responded in a husky voice.

"What about my body?" Sharon responded in a low and seductive tone.

"You always keep it covered." Harriet's pulse point at her throat was beating rapidly. Her voice was almost a whispered response as her eyes fluttered from the tender touch on her forehead.

"Ahh. You want to see more?" Sharon purred as she forcefully rolled Harriet onto her back and straddled her, lifting her silky nightgown that hinted at what lay beneath. She covered Harriet with it, giving her a more intimate view of what her eyes had been studying. Their play was cut short when Harriet's alarm to get ready for work went off.

***

***

Sharon paused at noon from her work and while waiting for her food to heat, picked up her messages.

One was from Harriet reporting she had been called back to the Centurion's flagship, Ziggy, and that she would be away for a while. Sharon smiled, "Harriet, you're spending more time there then here. You should post the Ziggy as your permanent station instead of the Nettle."

Sharon held her breath as the meaning of her seemingly casual comment deepened. Getting up from her chair she paced as she mentally reviewed what she had been reading in the Rune castings for coming events and, to her chagrin, had been ignoring...until now.

"Fata Morga!" she muttered in exasperation at herself. "Of course, the change is near. I've been ignoring it…as if putting off what needs to be done will change anything." Sharon closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep pain filled breath. "So, the time is upon us, Love. I'll have to shoo you out of our love nest, Darlin'." She paused to wipe tears filling her eyes, "I'm sure you'll forgive me sometime in the future, but…I'll be missing you and worrying that you'll go into this dragging your stubborn heels all the way. You are so stubborn about accepting your role in this change, Dear Heart."

Sharon let the empty feeling of Harriet's absence fill her so she could get a handle on the emotions she would feel when she asked her lover to move out. She was going to have to come up with a good reason and…use some of her shaman abilities to ease Harriet's hurt…if she could.

Another difficult lesson in life for both of us, but not to be shared in each other's embrace, my Love.

Sharon slumped back in her chair letting the tears fall to release the tightness around her heart. Sobs tore her throat as her heart and chest ached for what she had to do. After a while, she took a deep breath and tossed a tissue into the waste bin along with the others.

Enough of this maudlin mood.

She sniffed and grabbed another tissue to blot her wet face. Glumly, she moved on to the next message.

"Oh, Fey! Just what I need, a message from Alan!" As she read it, she realized it had more vehement than usual. Looks like his sticks are warning him of the change too. Shaking her head, she moved onto the next message, not bothering to respond to Alan. She learned this was the best way to handle his mad moments, not adding to the fodder, which even an acknowledgement of his message would do.

Three days later as she was again going through her mail, she found a coded message from one of her covert agents.

Hmmm. What's this? A message from Lee. Hopefully some good news. Sharon jumped up from her chair excited, "Yessss! The time is now!"

The small changes taking place throughout the galaxy were a prelude, or perhaps part of the cause, to a larger change that would affect more people than a year's space travel would encompass. It was a paradigm shift in one galaxy's power structure that would effect others.

Sharon nodded to herself as she glanced at her reflection in the shinny surface of her work area. "It really has begun," she murmured solemnly.

With Alan, Sharon had been playing a dangerous game of avoiding his insistent and increasingly raving demands about delivering Harriet into one of his agent's hands. To insure that Alan did not damage or physically torture Harriet as he typically did with others, LaDea Gedaliaha and Sharon thought it was better to get Harriet to sign on as a metradame under the guise of taking out a life insurance policy. That would be too much of a temptation for Alan to pass up and it would limit his mistreatment of her before she was sent to the metralabs. Her associates were now in place at the two metralabs where memories were erased and the chip to enforce servitude was inserted. It was safer to push Harriet out of her safe haven, than wait for Alan's agents to find a way to kidnap Harriet from the Nettle. Agents could be unpredictable, playing a game of their own. Once in the labs, Sharon's operators would take care of Harriet, making sure Alan did not get her in the end. Since faces were changed in the labs Alan would have no guarantee that if he did get a metraperson that it would be Harriet, and her agents would make sure if he did get someone, it would not be for long that the person would suffer. DNA camouflage was an art form for some people.

A week later Harriet returned from duty and Sharon asked her to move out, citing their increasing involvement with their own work, and that she wanted her space back. Harriet agreed, relieved. Her nightmares were increasing as her workload increased and she was afraid Sharon would start asking about them. So far, her superiors had not asked.

Shortly after Harriet moved into her own quarters, the Nettle suffered hull damage and had to be hauled into a yard for repair. Harriet received her transfer papers making her a permanent crewmember on the Ziggy, a two-day travel from the planet Sharon's group was studying, thus making a renewal of their relationship difficult. Sharon and the rest of the science crew aboard the damaged Nettle resettled on their new science vessel, Curious Cat, to continue monitoring the planet undergoing reterraforming.

Though Harriet was transferred to the Ziggy, where Alan and his agents would have a difficult time to reach her, the runes and oracles reported Lt. Montran would never arrive on the Ziggy.

***

Chapter 13

Harriet laboriously treaded her way through the medical jargon on metrapeople. Guardian's medical library had extensive information on the subject but Harriet found that only the medical write-ups had substance…almost too much. The four largest contributors wrote under pseudo names, Acronym, Iwilla, Maa, and Heartstone. When she did a biography on the names, she came up with no information. Shaking her head, she returned to the menu. With her limited time, she needed to concentrate on the meat of the information.

With eyes closed, her head propped up in the palms of her hands, and elbows resting on the table, she went over the information, turning over familiar phrases that seemed misplaced yet juxposed within the image the phrase conjured up was the message. It tired her mental processes but delighted her more fluid creative side.

A buzz dropped her back into a more solid reality.

"Yes?" she asked impatiently rubbing her tired eyes.

"Are you too busy to visit Guardian?" Charles's polite voice inquired.

Harriet glanced at the time on the bottom of her screen. Two stan hours had passed.

"Oh blasters!" Jumping up, she knocked the plate with her partially eaten sandwich to the floor. As she ran out of the room, the bot was picking up the plate and sandwich remains.

From Harriet's short research, she felt she had enough information to suspect that the scientists working in the metralabs knew that the bodies they revived were living people with fully functioning brains and self-will. It explained why they needed to implant a chip to enforce compliance with whatever they were commanded to do. What confounded her was the blatant disrespect to free will the whole organization that processed this production of metrapeople knowingly practiced. She was shocked that that could and was happening in Committee territories.

In Com-C she only found Charles and Guardian. Guardian's dais was lit up with a smug Copoc spinning a puzzle cube before it in the holographic image, moving each piece into a new position. Charles was holding a cup of steaming tea.

"I'm late," she stated flatly.

"No. As a matter of fact - you started early on your project," Guardian informed her happily. The cube disappeared and the Copoc holograph image leaned forward in its seat. "Captain Zohra is pleased at your initiative."

The message of Capt. Zohra being pleased with her initiative gave her the image of a dog getting a pat on the head. That was not the impression she would have liked…from anyone. Irritated she responded shortly, "Could you be clearer."

"Since we will be dealing with Alan's group, who are metrapeople, we will need to learn as much as we can about them. I have the information and my own opinions, as do others, but another's view would be invaluable. So, what have you synthesized so far?"

"Well…uh." Startled with her show of prickliness, she took a deep breath while collecting her thoughts. Gratefully, she sat on the edge of a chair Charles provided. He handed her a warm cup of tea, which she acknowledged with a nod, vaguely aware of taking it. Why is my opinion needed? The captain worked with them and would have a better view. Suddenly she remembered Sharon Teal. Oh, I hope he's not going to think because Sharon and I were lovers...or Carol. Egads. I'm starting a trend here. Shaking those thoughts from her head she refocused on the immediate.

"Like me, the subjects were all signers of a document with of of the two insurance companies giving total ownership of their remains after death, provided it is within four hours of being legally declared dead. And they were all revived approximately four stan hours after the declaration and by the same organization of scientists. They certainly can move their various teams quickly." She looked up at the holographic image of Guardian, frowning and then rubbed her forehead, "The ones placed with their new owners show no evidence of brain damage; however, they do not exercise self-will, even when their life is put in jeopardy by their new owners, unless an override is part of the program. They are, in effect, people programmed to be mindless slaves." Lt. Montran paused for a moment sipping her tea as she thought. "However, from what the writers on this topic believe, even with all the programming, there is an awareness of self within the metrapeople, otherwise the pain inducers would not have to be implanted, which also functions to block certain memory functions. It's almost like the lobotomy some planets used to perform on their problem citizens. The big difference is the metrapeople can be educated to different skills, should the owner's needs change, whereas a lobotomized individual is permanently an idiot.

"Another important difference - according to Iwilla, one of the authorities on metrapeople, there is one tone that could erase all the previous programming, but she did not say what it was. However, she did discuss the danger of using it, preferring the single tone that each metraperson is set to. In the case of Alan's metrasoldiers, I can see her point. Capt. Zohra mentioned they were all procured from planets that practiced genocide warfare and trained to kill themselves and as many of their captures as possible. So, the prospect of snagging one at a time is something of an interesting task." She grimaced at the thought of trying to snag a fighter that was rigged as a bomb.

"The research I focused on, was on recovering erased personalities." She paused, taking another sip of tea, this time noticing the tangy taste. "It worries me that if there is that much information on the subject, why has it not raised red flags with the scientific community …and not just in Committee space but the Collective's also." She glared up at the holographic figure of the Copoc that was watching her. Since he was once a scientist she was calling upon him to justify the moral depravity she found in a group she once thought had higher values than what was evidenced in the research.

"The documents are not available to just anyone. Most of what you have read was for private study by a select group of scientists interested in participating in the experiment when it first started up. In the beginning, test subjects were cadavers in all respects."

"Right, right," she responded agitated. Like willing your brain to science so they can hook it up to a computer and make you immortal.

"The more recent work," Guardian continued, "is by a group of scientists that are gathering data to present before the Counsel of Rings on the injustice of this practice. In six stan months, two groups of scientists will present their arguments, for and against the practice. The reason why it has not been made public is because no one wants to make it a media circus, or have metrapeople start disappearing for one reason or another and we don't want to see scientists disappear and reappear as metrapeople. There are already metrapeople on both sides arguing the case."

"Bloody moons," Lt. Montran shook her head at the idea and with a tightness around her heart, thought of Sharon. Irritated, she gritted her teeth. She was still fighting acceptance that she was a metraperson. Yet…Sharon had her take out a life insurance policy with one of the companies. Damn the small print! Her consolation was in the middle of her research she had quickly sent a message off to her legal advisor to have her policy canceled, stating the reason. It also did not help with her suspicion about why Sharon would suggest it…unless she was programmed to. Chills along her arms caused her to not want to deal with that now. There were other issues with higher priorities.

"So, was there something specific the captain wanted me to study?"

"No."

For a moment, she was silent as she thought of what types of people the metralabs were enslaving. If Alan was using violent personalities from closed planets for his soldiers, what was to prevent others from purchasing that type of personality for their own bodyguards…or assassins, or worse yet…for forming a private army that no one knew about until a planned time or event?

"I need to read more of Iwilla's work where she talks about monitoring the dream states of her subjects. She believes it's in dreams where a hint of the erased personality still resides. However," Harriet pressed her fingertips to her tired eyes, "dreams are in symbols and codes that are unique to the person, no matter their culture. Translating them to know what type of person each metraperson was or can be is time consuming and iffy at best, not knowing if it's anger, fear or the true personality that is shadowed there. Even a psychtech will be on shaky ground determining what will the individual do with all that suppressed anger. And, no matter how much psych intervention, cells and muscles have memory and once the barrier is removed for all of them to interact occurs, there is going to be a lot of anger from the chatteled experience."

Harriet 's eyes wandered to the monitors, trying to ignore the pain she felt for those that had been turned into metraslaves. "Where are the others?"

"Maud is resting. Captain Zohra and Carol are on a recon mission. Freight from Spinner's Tale dropped far from its mark by nearly a days march from the original point. I've scrambled their locaters so it will be a while until they can locate where it is. We are grateful that you had given Carol permission to…be away from you."

Harriet cocked her head to one side. "A test of my morals, aye?" she joked. "My intention remains firm, Guardian. I intend on helping her choose her future…free from pressure to join this group or that. I'm fully aware of her political importance because of her connection to Lord Chaney and of everyone that intends to use her for their own motives. It's one of the reasons I'm studying memory retrieval. I don't want to hinder her recovery."

"It is a difficult job…to remain neutral while offering her alternatives."

She nodded to the holograph, picking up on his subtle message. Changing the subject she remarked dryly, "Why am I not surprised about the misplaced freight, or is that your doing?"

"No," Guardian returned, "Someone forgot to recalibrate the harmonics. When the winds sweep over the planet, it brings a different harmonics to the area. Captain Zohra wanted to see what was in the package, render it useless, and then harasses whoever picks it up."

"Let's hope the captain has not bitten off more than she can chew, and find a troop surrounding them to lay claim to their toy." Harriet smiled. "But, then, once a Black Rose…always. They love the adrenalin rush of a life threatening challenge."

"I do not believe that Captain Zohra is the type to take dangerous chances unless it is necessary."

Harriet thought of the swagger in the captain's walk she observed on their walk back from the dojo. She was sure it was part of the Black Rose persona, which was part of her own personality now, or had she always had it? The memory of the dark figure performing the Dance, something that took a lot of athletic ability and endurance, made her smile.

She has a good reason to be so self-confidant. She was in the Galactic Chronicles top ten list for the best in her class for seven stan years, due to her consistency to perform in her athletic competitions in the winning categories. I wonder why she gave up the star life for academy life…And then being a covert operator in a dangerous and suicidal group. Neither are like academy life. Come to think of it…there was a story of some of the athletes being addicted to the adrenalin rush and doing some really stupid stunts…but that was some years after she left. Is that why she joined the Black Rose…a need for an adrenalin rush? Gawds, I hope not.

To refocus on the present, Harriet walked to one of the screens that showed a group of soldiers moving a weapon into position on an elevator. She noted there were fewer people moving around in the other screens.

"Looks like an almost deserted city."

"Except for the scattering of Spartans. Lord Chaney's ship has returned and some of the soldier's from his ship are about, and then there is Alan's group of soldiers that have arrived a few stan hours ago."

"So…Alan is interested in this place." Harriet leaned forward staring at one of the screens, "That's a chantlin canon," Harriet muttered. She watched the figures struggling to set it on a moBot. It was deadly on the battlefield and in Merker's underground city's close quarters it would be devastating to the life support systems. It used sound waves directed at a specific target.

"Yes, it appears to be one."

"You need someone to know how to maintain it or you end up being on the receiving end."

"That may be Ensign Everett on the Spinner's Tale," Guardian contributed. "Unless I know what sound wave will be emitted, I won't be able to shut it down before it does harm," Guardian agreed.

"Right."

"What do you suggest?"

"Lock Everett up somewhere, first off, and then whoever else looks like they know how to handle it," she returned, half seriously.

"Getting to him is going to be a problem since he never leaves the ship."

"If he does not come down then there must be another tech. I mean, what does he plan on doing, call down the instructions? It's not that easy to sync them. They would be suicidal to have one tech. That elevator they're moving it down, where does it lead? I don't recall seeing one with that emblem on it."

"It's the primary morgue elevator."

"Ahh."

She moved to the screen that showed the storage room next to the morgue.

"Strange that they would choose one place to keep all their supplies including weapons. But then, right now that's a good idea with so few guards left."

"The morgue area has its own life support system, like the laboratories in this section, to prevent anything that is being stored from contaminating the living spaces."

"Ahh. So if anything goes off by accident, the occupants in the city would not be affected. I think a reconnaissance to the area is needed to do some inventorying."

The lights in the adjacent conference room came on. A detailed map appeared on the wall.

Harriet stepped into the meeting room and studied the large map. "Nice detail. Do you have cameras covering this location?" Her fingertip circled the area she was interested in.

Enlarged shots of the area in question came up. Harriet watched the photos of the area, showing a pattern of traps laid and moved by various Black Rose soldiers. Absentmindedly she slid her empty cup onto the table behind her and crossed her arms in front of her.

"It looks like they left a back door open for themselves. Odd they would do that on a smugglers' base. Most smugglers are always ready for a raid and focus on evacuation, not on defensive set-ups to recapture their den. This is where you sealed off their incursions into the rest of the city."

"That is correct. Is this good for us?" Guardian asked.

"I don't know. It could be that they wanted to be able to move as much of their supplies off the planet while they were being attacked and feared a back door attack…but, if that's the case why not more muscle power on their side?"

Harriet sighed as she continued to study the pictures. "They must have an advantage besides the morgue storage area being self-contained. Are there maintenance tunnels or transportation tunnels near?"

"Yes, to both."

"Ahh."

Timed clips came up and Harriet frowned as she watched the patterns change.

"Helga's moon tides, but that bothers me. Why do they put all their eggs in one basket and not guard it as if they were serious about keeping it? You did say you've been after them for two years. Hmmm. At least they've been rotating the traps and settings on a regular basis, until this clip here. Whoa! Go back - yeah, yeah. Stop. Now, go slowly forward, I want to see who that is that changed the last one," she murmured.

"I did."

Harriet jumped physically from Captain Zohra's voice next to her. Exasperation that someone had been able to get that close to her without her being aware was overlapped with the all too pleasant shiver that her nearness sent up her spine. Mentally she rolled her eyes at her confused reactions, disgusted that she did not have more control.

The captain flopped into a seat at the table. Fine powder from planet surface dusted the top of the table, as she crossed her booted feet above its shinny surface, resting her ankles on the corner of the tabletop. She leaned comfortably back in the chair that adjusted to her change of position. The energy in the room was noticeably changing as if… Harriet glanced at Carol and then back at Captain Zohra. The captain looked like at any moment she would pull out a thin dark brown smoker that most Spartan's favored. Harriet squinted to lose the image of Zohra sitting in a bar with curls of smoke rising from the thin rolled leaves of tobacco and simultaneously being blown out of her nose and mouth, coldly watching those in the room through her dark unreadable eyes.

Carol's demeanor was quiet as she stood next to her Mistress. The same dust from the planet surface coated her outersuit, as if she had been crawling or laying in the stuff.

"Captain Zohra, how did your job go?" Guardian asked amiably.

"You monitor this place, check it out for yourself," the captain returned in a grouchy voice.

Harriet's image of her Spartan in a bar dissipated quickly. Watching the captain carefully, she asked. "Is there something we need to know, Captain?"

There was silence as Harriet studied the dark veiled eyes, sensing a struggle.

The dark eyes blinked, then blinked again, and some of the tension in the room dissipated.

"No," a low growl came out.

"Is there something we need to worry about?" Harriet asked again, noting that the captain knew exactly what she was referring to.

"No. Attitude is not a reflection on loyalty." She brought her feet to the ground with a solid thump smacking her palms on the table and sending the dust on the surface in different directions.

Harriet imagined more red dust leaving an imprint on the floor where the boots dropped. Her ears caught the sound of a small bot scooting about. The tension in the room rose again. Harriet nodded. The soldier was edgy about something.

"Can you tell us what to expect when we try to get into the supply room from here?" Harriet nodded to the screen she had been studying, changing the subject as a tactic to lower the tension.

"You can't," she returned shortly.

"There is always a way."

"Not that way."

"Studying another's defenses is never a waste of time," Harriet tried another tact. Or, is it just because it's your setup?

"That is a good theory if you have the time. I set that as a permanent fixture, with no intention of anyone going back to reset it. We have another worry more important. In the package delivered out on the sands was a weapon with the mark of Alan's little elite group of soldiers…the black hand."

Lt. Montran watched closely looking for anything that would give her a clue about her changed demeanor. There was definitely a different edgy type of energy around her.

"That means Alan has something planned and it's starting now. We need to make our own plans. These soldiers must not get any permanent foot hold on this outpost."

"They moved a chatlin cannon down to the supply room next to the morgue," Harriet informed her.

"So…" Captain Zohra's eyes narrowed as she thought, "that would mean he has at least twelve of his soldiers here." She grinned up at Harriet. "Alan in his obsession to control keeps track of his minions via transmitter. Captain Miller procured the wave length and I…just so happen to also have that code. It's in my quarters in the city."

"Carol would be a good back-up to take along, since she knows the city as well as you," Guardian mentioned. "Meanwhile, Lt. Montran and I will monitor any more troop arrivals and their movements."

Carol looked at Harriet hesitantly. Harriet nodded and smiled. Well, looks like I'm back to attending to the planning table.

Captain Zohra had already started out the door and Carol moved to fall in behind her.

After reading the information on metrapeople, she was relieved that Carol was not being compelled with pain to wait for her to order her around…or she was hoping she was not. This meant that the chip's discipline had to be reinstated by the new owner. It made sense. Each new owner would have different rules and needs. Harriet closed her eyes for a moment as she let the guilt that she had been tempted to claim her wash over her.

"You aren't buying the captain's story about entering from that side?" Guardian asked.

Harriet cleared her throat pulling her attention back to present priorities. "I believe nothing is as it seems." Harriet turned from the screen and smiled at the holographic image of Guardian.

"She's right about the time factor, but…" Montran, you're not thinking of trying to bust her setup out of pride are you? This is not a good time to get involved in an ego contest.

"I don't believe she is hiding anything about that area. The life support systems monitor it," Guardian explained.

"Okay. It would be a lot simpler to approach the supply room from this side then from the side where we would run into guards that are alert to visitors," she reasoned. "I can handle traps, even those set for permanency. With your suits ability to blend in it would be even easier, but I'm not willing to give away that secret yet." Well, that's one advantage in my favor. No one knows what I've been trained on for the last five years. Thank you Commander Neilson for your insistence I keep up my infantry skills, though, I didn't do so good on some. But, I think I've proven I can be trouble. She grinned. Just a little rusty, but I'm a quick learner.

"Are you two going to be able to work together?" he asked doubtfully.

He must have picked up on the captain's bios too. So, my sensitivity to others is picking up again. Must be the heat of the battle or something…something meaning this planet? For a moment, she pursed her lips remembering her increased sensitivity to those in the room and then how it lessened. Well, for whatever the cause of this increased sensitivity, it's fluctuating, so I guess it's here to stay. Should settle soon.

She turned her attention back to the screen.

"I think we can," she told Guardian thoughtfully. "I can't expect her to suddenly drop a façade she's used all these years for survival. It's annoying, but I've spent enough time with prickly personality types to be able to adjust to it. It just caught me off guard," she muttered as an afterthought.

"Well, the two ships that have joined the other two, are bringing down supplies," Guardian announced.

Shortly later, both watched the military movement that had picked up on one screen that was focused on one of the city's entrances.

"Guardian, do you see what I see?"

Men dressed in uniforms that they now identified as Alan's metrasoldiers, were carrying a case between them that was clearly marked what its contents were…if they were to believe what was written on the outside of the container.

"They set that off and you'll have firestorms within the city. Blasters! They should be evacuating this place and instead explosives and weapons of high intensity are being shipped down!" she shook her head perplexed. "It would be so like Alan, all or nothing. But why? Is he exacting revenge for Lord Chaney's death? Is he storing these weapons here to use on someone else? And why his soldiers? Or, is he setting up this place for his base? That would be crazy since it would be illegal and this place is no longer tactically tenable."

Harriet ran her fingers through her hair. No matter Alan's tendency for the all or nothing, it was still too overkill with the explosives.

Maybe…the soldiers are planning on placing each explosive weapon in different cities of the outpost, rendering them unlivable for a long time. "Guardian, how many cities are there here?"

"Two hundred at one time; three are habitable now. Why?"

The holograph showed fewer than fifteen. Must be part of Merker's security. "That would make more sense where Alan is concerned. Leave something in each city that could ignite its neighbor. That way he would leave nothing habitable." But why? The smugglers are moving out… He doesn't do something this big without a reason. Why, why, why?

"Where are the captain and Carol?"

"Midpoint to New Century City."

"Well, I'll be joining them. Brief them and send a note to the admiral and whoever else you've been working with." She left the room quickly to suit up. "They need to know about the firepower being stored here," she called over her shoulder.

They were going to have to neutralize the explosives before the soldiers moved them to their destinations, if her hunch was correct. And while they were at it, shaking up his group of soldiers would be rather fun.

I do believe you are getting a bit cocky there, Lieutenant. Perhaps some of the Black Rose attitude is rubbing off on you, eh? She smirked to herself.

***

Harriet was twenty minutes to her stop when Guardian contacted her.

"Lieutenant, the captain is going to continue to get the meter and will meet you on the second level for conference."

"Guardian, did you get a reading on that vial I had left with you?"

"Yes. It is a derivative from a highly toxic and addictive drug. I didn't find anything in her bio readings that would indicate that it is in her."

"Hmm. So, you think I got there just in time?" Harriet laughed shortly. "I'm just suspicious of Lord Chaney's presence in her room with a highly addictive drug and her sudden snappish behavior. It's just a thought." Hmm. He already had the information but did not pass it on to me. This tendency to practice 'on a need to know basis' will have to be brought up when I return.

"I did a complete scan on her bios," Guardian sounded doubtful. "There was nothing that looked like a trigger for that drug."

"There was nothing that looked...?" Harriet thought about how she knew another scientist that left so much out in sentences like that. "What was in her system that you could not identify?"

"I have not quite been able to identify what is different only that there is a change in her chemistry than what it was when she was in the academy. If the captain is addicted to something what do you suggest we do with her?""

"If she is on something, I somehow don't think she has been on it for long. She would have needed a fix sooner. Let her work off the effects, if that is what her sudden change of behavior is about. What about the rest of the Black Rose troop? Do you know what their status is?"

"I keep them unconscious to avoid their attempts to escape. When the Respite's sister ship arrives, they will be turned over to the Yellow Rose Guard of Titon who are a lot tougher than they are. I will look closer at their bio readings until then."

"Well, I won't be waiting for Capt. Zohra and Carol. I want to look at that far side of the supply corridor, without the captain's interference."

"Maud is headed toward the station. She has finished administering to my guests. My monitors show the tube station is not secured."

"Is there a way to stop this car past the station?"

"Ah, to get into the closed part of the city. There is a side rail that will take you to a repair post. There is no support system or lights. I will disengage my barrier in the tube. You will have to open a door between the two parts of the city with an override, to prevent a breach. The code will be your birth mother's birthdate."

"And that…hmmm," that took her by surprise but she moved on. "I can see in the city plan…" Harriet traced the image of the city's schematics that appeared on the car's wall, "there is a passage to the corridor that I want to get to. C4 is your code for that area."

"Yes. That is the buffer zone between the occupied part of New Century City and where I have been keeping the rescued survivors. Stopping just past the station will be a sudden deceleration but I believe the suit can handle it. To start the deceleration in the terminal would be dangerous. So far, I see no one in the area, but that does not mean they will not be there when you arrive. Fifteen stan more minutes. Once you are past the terminal the speed will decrease. The car will return to its normal place once you have disembarked."

"Good."

Chapter 14

Harriet's eyes scanned the walls and ceiling through the helmet visor of what to normal sight was a pitch-dark service tunnel. Equipment and cables were neatly stored out of the way of a service bot or anyone who needed to move quickly along its floor. Her running footsteps made familiar thuds in an oxygen-deprived atmosphere while the suit made it possible to move as if in a friendly environment. She checked the timer in the corner of her visor. Ten stan minutes had passed. Mentally she went over the layout of this part of the city. She had about one more minute of running before she would get to the first security gate Guardian erected.

There was an absence of feeling in the tunnel, which caused her to suspect that all maintenance in this area was done by bots. What made her think that? Because, she told herself, it was not like the feeling she received when she first entered her quarters. Spaces that once were peopled retained some of the energy of its occupants…which was why those that read energy could tell something of what went on in the space.

It took her all of twenty-five minutes to reach the WEB that Capt. Zohra had set up. Its purpose was to prevent anyone from the uninhabited part of the city from entering their territory unannounced. It took another five minutes to find out why Capt. Zohra did not think she would be able to get by.

She is good.

Grinning, Harriet rubbed her hands together and began to dismantle the complicated WEB. It was a skill she learned first as CO of the Degas Troop and had further honed by working with Lt. Commander Nilson who liked to set them in odd places during her training sessions with him. The Collective's police forces did not use them but the outlaws they hunted down did.

After another twenty minutes, she wiped her tired fingers on her pants and then carefully pulled the WEB filament down. Nothing snagged, but she was still careful, not wanting to risk discovering too late that she had missed one. Finished, she laid a new trap, setting one of Guardian's stingers and sonic sounders in place. Shaking her tired arms and hands out she felt quite proud of herself.

Score one point for the exSpartan. All right. Now the guard.

She moved up the corridor, and just short of the bend in the hall found the wall panel that would give her access to the surveillance switches. It took her five minutes to reactivate the equipment. Since Guardian did not have any bots active in the city it would have been Maud that would be reactivating the equipment the smugglers and their allies had deactivated and Guardian did not want to risk her for something that other sensors could supply him with.

"Guardian?"

"I can see you and down the corridor. The connection you reestablished is reacquiring the other cameras as we speak."

"What can you see on the other side of where I am?" She was still hesitant of using the Guardian's suits disappearing capability unless it was the only alternative.

"I see one guard from the Spinner's Tale standing outside. Alan's soldiers have been moving weapons down and have left six Spartans to guard the supplies. I counted all five of Alan's team that entered the elevator has returned by it. They are on the second floor, conferring with others of their group. The Spartans inside the storage room are engaged in heavy betting; the card game they seem to always be playing."

"This is a good time then to neutralize the explosive," Captain Zohra's voice came through Harriet's communicator. Suspiciously, Harriet looked around her.

"We're in the opposite wall from you, Lieutenant." Harriet could hear the smile in her voice.

Helga's moon. Blasted woman's got me jumpy.

Then a small picture appeared in one corner of her visor.

"You can control what camera you are seeing by tapping the blue dot on your left forearm," Guardian instructed.

Ahh. Harriet tested it out, getting a view of Carol and then one of the captain. Tapping further gave her views of the corridor.

"You have a gas that can neutralize one of the compounds in the explosive, Guardian. That done, the rest of the payload is worthless. It's pinkish, unless you have more than one pink shade," Zohra informed him.

"I know which one and it would, but I don't have access to the morgue area with any gas. You will have to move the canisters with the explosives to another floor."

"That can be arranged," the captain told him.

Harriet meanwhile, studied the image of the guard that was watching this part of the hall.

One lone guard playing a game and acting as if there was nothing to worry about. Hmmm. Well, I'm just a real suspicious prankster and believe it's best not to take situations at face value. So…can anything else be happening here?

Harriet could hear the sounds from the game. Turning her head slightly she watched Captain Zohra and Carol moving toward her.

"Nice work. I underestimated your skills," Zohra whispered softly. "It won't happen again," she added.

Harriet tried not to grin, but she did feel that if she had a tail, it would be fully engaged, and she was not even annoyed with herself that she felt that way.

"With the few soldiers they have at their disposal I guess one guard for this side of the corridor is not suspect, but…" the captain looked into Harriet's eyes but not for long, "something doesn't feel right."

Harriet pulled a piranha star out of her utility pocket.

"Nice toy," the captain murmured, and then returned her attention to the guard. The captain hesitated and shook her head. "Something is not right about this setup."

Harriet leaned against the wall and tried not to think that the captain was having problems with divided loyalties.

"That game is not making the sounds of someone who is serious about winning," Carol offered.

"He keeps hitting the same button. Of course, he could be dreaming of his leave time and what he's going to do with his…" the captain paused and then cleared her throat, "with himself. Or, he could be a decoy."

Harriet pursed her lips and refrained from telling her that she need not have changed her original remark. Who had not heard 'wang' or 'dong' before? That was an interesting side to the captain.

"He's got a primer in his hand. Either he's nervous about some of his buddies that Carol and I took out of the action picture, or they expect trouble from this direction. I guess we'll just have to find out for ourselves. How fast can you two sprint?" Captain Zohra asked.

"Fast enough," Carol returned.

Harriet grinned and held up the star.

"When you're ready, Lieutenant."

The device the guard was holding reset to each new position he took but it needed him to press the button, otherwise an alarm would go off. Harriet watched the figure in her helmet screen, waiting for him to reset the small device in his hand.

The three women sprinted toward the guard as soon as the star shot out from Harriet's hand. He was frozen in mid-fall when Captain Zohra caught him. Harriet made a diving grab of the device in the air before it hit the ground. Without pause, she rolled to her feet pulling out her sidearm and scanned the hall before them. Without looking her finger deactivated the rescued device.

Captain Zohra sprinted further down the corridor and then disappeared. Carol did her part by placing a sleep patch on the unconscious man's neck.

"Guardian, do you have someplace to lock him up in this city?" Harriet asked.

"Well, yes. I could reactivate the holding cells. I had not thought of that. It is only one floor below the recreation area."

"Do it," Captain Zohra ordered softly, and then her form reappeared next to Harriet and Carol. "And while you're at it, why don't you add the others we've stuffed bound and gagged in closets."

"You put your holding cells below a recreation area?" Harriet asked unbelievingly.

"I did not anticipate any crime in my cities. This was a research center, not a metropolis of nomads. The most serious problem was a tagerian adolescent who was bored. He became obnoxious more than violent.

"Can your bots move him there?" Captain Zohra asked impatiently.

"Yes. When I bring that levels environmental system back online, it will bring the bots on line too. It will take about thirty stan minutes. Then I will send them to gather up the rest you've been closeting away."

"So, we need to find a place to dump him until your holding pens and bots are ready."

"There is a cubby hole," Guardian started just as a long panel near the floor slid open and a bot rolled out, "that he can be stored in."

"Lt. Montran, why don't you drag him to his temporary quarters? We'll meet you up the hall. Don't spend too much time making him comfortable, huh?" The Captain gestured to Carol towards the morgue entrance.

Harriet dragged the unconscious guard towards the opened space. "What does this guy eat?" Harriet grunted as she shoved him into the space. Once the door closed over the unconscious man, she hurriedly jogged to the corner and hugged the wall, "Blend on," she whispered. Peering around the corner carefully, she did not want to run into any surprises. They were waiting on each side of the storage entrance to the morgue.

"Blend off," she whispered.

"You ready?" whispered Captain Zohra. "Both of you make sure your 'blend' is off. I don't want anyone to accidentally disappear if you're knocked on your butt and give away one of our advantages. Okay. Let's go."

"It's already done," Harriet returned a little irritated at her thinking she was some noncom that did not know how to take care of herself.

Captain Zohra gave her a quick look as she took her position.

Bloody moon, Montran! She's acting just like a Sgt. Major. Babysitting her troops. Give her a break. She's the leader of this pack and it's her responsibility to see that we are tight.

Harriet stood to one side of the door and Carol the other, as they prepared to step into the first containment space that led into the area. No one was in it nor were there any trips or traps. When the second door unsealed, the three were out quickly and took the soldiers on the inside by complete surprise. The guards on the inside were expecting one of their own and had continued their card game when the seal broke. It was a chance glance in the women's direction around one of the crates that brought a short cry from one of the players. The men slumped over stunned as the women hit them quickly and solidly with their stunners. Harriet and Carol found something to bind them up, and then pasted sleep patches on their necks, leaving them hidden behind storage equipment until the bots could collect them.

Captain Zohra was hoping the bots got to them before their crewmates. She was trying to adjust to using a stunner over something more lethal. She would much rather take someone out once, and not have to worry about them returning pissed off. Sometimes Spartan methods were better.

The three women started to search the area for the explosive.

"There is a group of five Spartans that just arrived with what appears to be a chatlin canon," Guardian informed them.

"Damn! That makes three. That crazy Alan Fermin," Captain Zohra muttered exasperated. "Damn, damn. Well, let's find the explosives, dump what we find in a room Guardian can gas, and then we'll go and see if we can steal us a chatlin canon."

The Captain slid a crate back into place with a grunt and went to another. "Damn, I sure could use a grav lifter. Bloody damn smugglers probably took them all with them." She let out a string of curses when the carton she was balancing dropped near her foot. Zohra dragged the canister and then two more out from behind some crates.

"Eureka," the captain said under her breath, as she peered into the opened crate.

"We need something to lift it with. Carrying it between us is going to take too much time," Harriet echoed her feelings.

"I have a few bots online now," Guardian informed them. A bot rolled out from a storage bay and lifted the canister easily, then wheeled to wait for one of them to open up the sealed door.

"That will do it," the captain nodded pleased.

"If you let the bot out, it will find its way to the elevator and to a room on the upper level where I can neutralize the contents," Guardian explained.

That done, the three turned to their other task with Captain Zohra in the lead. She set a fast pace through the halls and up a stairway where there were no traps set. Maud was waiting for them on the second level where Guardian had told them the group was moving along cautiously and slowly. This slowness did not make sense to Harriet. Were they expecting trouble from them?

Captain Zohra stepped back a pace when she caught sight of Maud.

"My twin, Maud. Guardian's assistant," Harriet introduced shortly. "This is Captain Zohra and Carol, Carol-Maud and Capt. Zohra. Last meet you didn't get a chance to exchange names."

Captain Zohra said nothing, as Maud nodded to the captain, and smiled at Carol. Harriet wondered if Maud and Carol already knew each other. Zohra's voice brought Harriet's attention back to the strategy the captain mapped out, giving each woman a part.

Captain Zohra had two goals in mind, to capture weapons and take out as many of the soldiers as they could. For thirty minutes, they dogged the group making their movement to the morgue area even slower and full of surprises both before them and behind them. The invading twelve were whittled down to five, with Guardian's bots dragging off the unconscious soldiers once the survivors were out of sight. The remaining soldiers were intent on moving their package towards the storage area with no retreat seeming to be in their list of options. Suddenly, the soldiers split up. Three guarded the weapon while two attempted to escape through one of the panels. One was successful.

"Guardian, give me a close up of the cannon," Captain Zohra ordered, not daring to peek from around the service panel she had propped open. The other three women were sitting behind their own service doors, pinning the three remaining soldiers down.

"It's been used," Guardian reported. "The barrel number has come up from my search as scraped from battle. It's probably from one of the late Lord Chaney's business associates who owns a salvage company. I don't want to alarm any of you…but there seems to be a charge on the weapon, which has been activated."

"Bloody moon!" Captain Zohra cursed then continued with a long line of colorful expletives with impossible species mixes before she became silent.

"No wonder they are moving so slow," Harriet added softly. "Why would they bring an armed weapon down below? Think maybe they are trying to keep us preoccupied here while they slip something else by us?"

"There is a passageway, near the morgue that leads to the transportation tunnel," Maud suggested.

"Hmm. They wouldn't knock out the transportation line so early in the game. For one, there aren't enough of us to cover the line…even if we had a troop of Black Rose at our disposal." Lt. Montran meant that as a humorous poke at the captain. "And two…they have to have this transportation to move their explosives below ground," Harriet reasoned.

"That's right. So we may find just enough moBots for each city." The captain looked toward Harriet. "Your idea of setting explosives in the other cities looks probable."

Harriet shifted her weight against the wall and leaned her head back to think. Why are we being kept here? I know it seems like we are pinning them down, but I got this feeling this is to keep our attention. From what?

"Guardian, is there anything going on around the morgue area?''

To all their helmets a scene of the morgue appeared. Clips of five guards posted inside the storage area all within view of the other.

"When the changing of the guard occurred they didn't find anyone to change with." Another scene appeared in their helmets, "More of these soldiers dressed in black, heading your way." Then the scene changed again and a lone soldier was cautiously making his way down the halls. "The one that got away is headed towards the morgue."

Why? He's one of Alan's soldiers. All those in the morgue are Spartans. Wouldn't he want to march back to his own group of metrasoldiers and get further instructions? Does he have orders to get something from the weapons cache if we are a threat? She had to get back to the morgue.

"Captain, one of us needs to check out what's happening at the morgue," she hinted to the Zohra.

"Why, lieutenant, do I hear you volunteering for something?"

"Yeah. Perhaps the second time in my military career. Hopefully, this one ends better."

"Go then. We'll catch up with ya when we can," Captain Zohra encouraged, and then added under her breath, "I hope this one ends better too."

Harriet slipped out of sight into one of the service tunnels. She found a lot of T&T's and an intricate WEB along her way. No wonder Captain Zohra had taken them down the hall. Rather than dismantle them, Harriet slid by them and murmured her thanks to Guardian for the trace elements her helmet was able to pinpoint, and then find a weak spot to slip by.

"Guardian, what's happening?"

An image appeared of three of Alan's soldiers.

"Another cannon Alan's soldiers are bringing down. They haven't moved the other cannon into the morgue area yet. There is another group of soldiers on another level that have just arrived from their ship. Apparently, each group has a different type of explosive with them."

He showed her the image of ten soldiers just entering the City compound.

"Can you tell what is in the package?"

"Trace elements around it show Tricon," Guardian reported not happily. "It would cause a flame out in some of the cities, but the only one that is active is the one Captain Zohra is now dismantling."

"I think that was done to draw us there. If they have moBots moving the explosives, it could take a few days to reach some of the cities like the Lair, or to another destination. You can't move explosives too fast or the momentum and heat would detonate them. That means his soldiers have not found any other way down to your cities except through the underground transportation line. We need to find where they are storing the moBots to disable them. Do these metrasoldiers only follow orders?"

"I can only hazard a guess by my recent observations. This is the first time any of Alan's soldiers have visited my outpost. How much of their own ingenuity comes into play would depend on how much the owner had allowed the program to be independent of commands, and as of yet, there has been no action that would require independent thinking."

"So…depending how psychotic and cryptic Alan was when he gave them their marching orders, they have a set agenda."

"Yes. But you have to also take into effect the culture of these metrasoldiers which also plays a part in their effectiveness. Captain Zohra said they are from a planet that war is a way of life. Within that framework, how much initiative would they have without a commanding officer?"

"If that's the case, then these probably are specialists in different war arts. Great. You don't happen to have some information on the species and culture do you?"

"I am working on it. The Vine's operatives had captured a small group of them being shipped to a metralab in one of Fermin's merchant freighters. One has been recruited to work for the Brotherhood as an agent and the rest have been sent back to their planet. They were quite vehement of returning to punish those responsible for what was about to be done to them, which is understandable. Because their species is from a closed planet, they are protected from outside influence…including social scientists and cultural anthropologist who would like to study their savage cultures by moving amongst them; however, they must keep their observations from the skies out of range of their scanners."

"Bloody moon, Guardian. They have nerve to say that, considering the way the Committee has been using it's military forces to keep some of their members in power."

"Yes, but that imbalance is changing," Guardian pointed out.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Harriet told him cynically.

Harriet arrived at the robot's service entrance without encountering any opposition. With her past luck in using the smaller entrances she opted for continuing using them, though more careful since she did not want to trust in luck alone. This time she had in her hand a sidearm, the stunner.

As quietly as she could, she pulled herself forward on her elbows listening after each pull forward to be sure whatever noise she made was not magnified and heard though the vents. She entertained the thought of using the disappearing ability of the suit, but she did not know what would happen if a light was shinned in the small vent and though they may not see her, would they see a shadow or something unnatural? Not an option to use, she decided.

Dragging herself to the bot exit, she stopped when a shadow moved across the bot's slatted door. Closing her eyes for concentration, she listened closely at the sounds from the room to get an idea on how many guards were in there. They only saw five on camera but where there be more? Should she use the suit's vanishing capabilities? Why, they could not see her now anyway.

Guardians voice whispered in her ear. "The one that got away from your ambush met up with some of his group before he arrived here. He returned with them on the second level to speak with a Spartan. The Spartans and Alan's group do not mix well."

"That's handy to know. What's the total live body count of 'them' on the planet?" Harriet asked softly. Pictures of rooms with soldiers in, both of Spartans and Alan's soldiers flickered quickly. Harriet averted her eyes so as not to get dizzy with the speed.

"I count about forty, divided between those that are now chasing after Captain Zohra and her team, what is in the storage room and those headed towards you. Captain Zohra deactivated the timer before reinforcements arrived and damaged the mechanism; however, I'm sure they have replacement parts."

Harriet could hear the seal release. A platoon? We are only facing a platoon?

"Gunny, they're here," a voice reported. "It looks like they need help."

"You two go help out. Maxwell, go outside and stand guard…and stay alert! I don't want to add your name to the 'missing persons' roster."

The shadow in front of Harriet did not move.

Whatever was moved in sounded like a lot of work was needed as crates were moved around and all without grav lifters by the sounds of the grunts and mutterings. The shadow in front of her moved to assist following someone barking an order. Harriet could hear one deep voice giving short directions on where to move things. It seemed he wanted some equipment in the same general area as the cannon.

"Move those over here," the deep voice ordered.

"We've done enough! They are fine where they are!" a voice growled angrily. "We're doing all the grunt work and without grav lifters. We aren't moving those moBots anywhere. They are close enough to your equipment."

"I said, move them over here." The voice remained low, but the menace behind the words was enough to lift the hairs at the back of Harriet's neck.

"Ya aren't our CO, and they aren't that far away for your bloody ass buddies to move when it's time. They stay where they are unless you move them yourself. We're here to guard the stuff, not be your bloody slaves and the like. Ya'd think ya were mommies' boys," the voice muttered disgusted.

There was a sudden sound of bone on flesh and the crash of something heavy falling onto the crates.

"You may think by pushing us around that it makes you all invincible and important. …but ya can't beat us all… You best be thinking' of the missing Black Rose troop. You keep pickin' us off and you'll have to face them alone. And I can tell ya now, you won't beat them without us."

Harriet could not hear anything from that response but it did not lessen the tension in the air. Perhaps it was from the helmet's enhanced sensory inputs, but she could smell more than one person sweating from the tension.

"Says you," the deep voice laughed.

Suddenly, the seal could be heard breaking.

They are leaving? That's that?

"Mickey!" One of the others squeaked out. "You better watch that mouth of yours! They aren't human, man, and they don't care for us that are! Sorry there, Mallin. I mean all sentients. Life is cheap to them."

The others were also nervous from what Mickey had said and joined in with their comments.

"They ain't goin' ta beat the Black Rose with or without us. Hades! You guys can't let them treat you like slaves," Mickey returned. "Then they'll always feel they can. You're veteran Spartans! Damn it, act like it. Show some grit!"

"Mickey, they are metrasoldiers, and the worse kind. Did you see the way they took Ray out? Carved him up alive! He was the only one that could tell what happened on that cruise accident they were involved in. It was suppose to be a simple kidnapping; hold the target family members for ransom somewhere; collect the money, and then let the hostages go. Simple. Ray said they held the entire ship hostage and when the ransom wasn't delivered on time, boom! All gone. No second chances. Like they had it planned that way in the beginning. Man, they are out just to terrorize people. Make everyone feel unsafe even in the most guarded of space lines."

So, they are behind the hostage game. The Centurion Command thinks it was rogue smugglers …why would Alan's soldier's blow away an entire ship…was it for the fun of it like the soldier said? Is this what to expect from Alan if he's allowed to continue unrestrained? I wonder if he had another reason to scuttle that ship and everyone on board. Hades! I wonder if Guardian has that ship's passenger and crew register…bet he does. Damn, Harriet! You have enough to worry about here! You don't need any more problems to look into.

"Bloody moons! The news said it was a freak meteor shower that went right through their buffer. I'm getting out of here before that nut, kid Fermin gets here. Maybe that's why Lord Chaney got his uppance; he found out the kid had a hand in that mess up and they had a fallin' out."

The sibilant hiss of the seal releasing silenced the men.

"Hey, Mickey, what did you tell those dong eaters? You got hit too? One of them knocked me down and I wasn't even in his way!"

"Maybe they're a bit upset because the Black Rose is somewhere around here, people are disappearing…and not just our people, and they can't find them," Mickey's voice was laughing. "If the Black Rose is taking in recruits to face these guys, I wish they would take me too. The Black Rose and the kid's group trained in the same compound on Reinier IV. I heard the one that thinks he's a hotshot was whipped in a practice fight with Sgt. Major JG. He fancies himself a real warrior, being a metrasoldier and all. He probably thought he was going to come down here and kick her butt with his buddies behind him."

The others laughed, letting some of the tension in the room dissipate.

"Never happen," another voice stated, "even if there was ten of them and one of her. I've seen her square off with five of her own troop."

"That idiot chief on Spinner's Tale thought the kid was going to give her to him to carve up. I personally don't see anything remarkable about her except she could turn your blood into ice with one of her looks. They're as obsessed about her as the kid and Lord Chaney are about Lt. Montran. It's gotta be something they ate."

"Bloody moon! Wonder how the kid feels that his special soldiers still aren't better'in the Black Rose, Lord Chaney's soldiers?"

"Not his anymore. Wonder what they're gonna do now that Lord Chaney's out of the picture. It's not like he owned them…but they're gonna have to find their own ships off this place 'cause them metrasoldiers, they got those three ships up there under their command and they're patrolling the space up there to make sure no one leaves or enters without their knowledge."

"You mean Fermin's command. They don't think; they just obey orders…so think about this being your lucky day, Mickey. You weren't on the kid's hit list for today." They all laughed nervously. "I think the Black Rose, they'll be wanting to take over this planet for themselves. Since they arrived, they've been studying this place and making detailed maps…and I don't think it was for Lord Chaney."

"That's probably why the kid wants to render it inhabitable… "

"That's the part that doesn't make sense. Why doesn't he just take over the place now that Lord Chaney is out of the picture? You would think he's leaving this part of the Galaxy for a while, the way he's planning on setting off these charges."

"That or maybe a sideshow to something he's doing somewhere else. Damn waste of a planet, if you ask me. It's going to affect the entire area including the jump gate!"

"The kid didn't ask you. We get a ride outta here for sticking out the last part and a nice bit of pay to boot. That's all we need to know."

"Nothin' is rock solid, Mickey, and most of all with the kid. I just hope that he keeps to his side of the bargain. He's got something planned, alright. Everything he's doing is calling the attention of every crazy newscaster in the known galaxies. He wipes out that passenger liner and now he plans on doin' in this planet. The passenger liner had four families of Committee members. I heard they were on their way to the birthday party of another member…whose planet is right next to the jump gate where the kid was detained a few stan months back, due to something he was carryin'. I think the kid got pissed."

"You got an overactive imagination, ground pounder. The only way those people could be related is through spit swapping and other bodily fluids. I'll believe the party thing, but Helgas Moon tides, those folks celebrate parties nonstop. They got the time and credits. Where did you hear that bit of trash? My credits are that you've been listening to the Trash. All they need is to find one bit of coincidence and then they start gluing unrelated bits of information to fit whatever story they've cooked up to sell," Mikey told the soldier in disgust.

There was silence for a moment.

"I heard the kid is building a fortress on MageWield." Another volunteered, as if to lessen the tension in the room that had again risen unbearably high for the nervous soldiers.

"It won't happen." Another retorted sounding relieved, the subject was changed.

Harriet echoed the thought. .

"I heard they still haven't found Lt. Montran. The kid thinks she's hiding out in one of those other cities we haven't heard of before, that's why he's fixing to blow this place."

"I also heard that if you talk about her and the kid hears about it, he has his deadhead metrasoldiers cut your tongue out and then other parts…slowly."

"Mickey! Damn you say the strangest things sometimes. This whole place gives me the chills and since Montran showed up things have been getting worse!"

"Don't they wish that she would show up!" one of the others hooted.

"Did you hear that she has the Fate's blessing?" another asked.

"Don't let anyone hear you say that!" Mickey's voice told him harshly. "There are still some who are ears for the kid, and he gets twitchy about stuff like that." Then a chuckle. "But, then again, it's Lord Chaney and the kid's obsession for getting rid of her that we're all in this damn mess."

"Well, you have to admit, she does get out of places that she shouldn't have more times than any should."

"As Spartans' we all lead charmed lives. The one's that don't are dead before their contract is up. Bar tales are not meant to be believed, grunt, just to inspire other drunken ground pounders to go out and do the foolish and stupid ass jobs they're assigned to."

There was a long silence.

"Lord Chaney liked to play with too many fires at one time," one voice returned in a low voice. "Too many people wanted him out of the way, including his daughter."

"I heard the Spinner's Tale after picking us up, is going to pick up a new crew," another voice changed the subject quickly.

"Who told you that?" sneered a voice. "Wipe out an entire crew? Jeez, Fly Bait, at the rate that crew is actin', they'll off themselves in some space accident. It's bad enough we have to grab a ride with them outta here...you don't have to add that bit of news to the horror!"

"You needn't get so nasty!"

"Alright, break it up. You two are worse than a married couple! Secure your positions and let's have some peace and quiet for a while," Mickey broke in.

The shadow was once again in front of her vent.

"Hey, Millen?" a voice called softly after moments of silence had passed.

"Yeah?"

"Ya think computer head is responsible for the disappearances around here?"

There was a long silence as if the other soldier was reluctant to discuss it.

"Ya don't think it's the Black Rose do ya, taking in recruits…or maybe the deadheads?"

"Naw, it's not the computer. 'Cause it would have been doing that the moment we moved in here. It could also be the metradame, going nuts without her master."

"She wouldn't kidnap anyone without orders. Unless…unless someone changed her programming. Do you think the Black Rose got to her?"

"Maybe. But the last we saw of her she was after Lt. Montran. Since we haven't seen either of them…maybe they're still chasing each other. But, it would be nice to think that the Black Rose are doing it to piss off kid Fermin's toy soldiers. That or they're on Chaney's ship along with Sheila. His ship returned. Bloody moon but it's complicated. I jus' wanna collect my pay and get outta this racket."

"Shut up you two!" A muffled voice growled from somewhere in the room.

The shadow moved away from her hiding place and Harriet decided to risk using her small spy camera. The fisheye view quickly changed to a focused view of two guards that were leaning against a stack of boxes, one moved out of sight and the other moved with him. By the sighs, they were sitting down. Unlatching the door, she quickly slid out on the floor, and reattached the bot door. She moved behind a stack of crates looking all around her for any monitoring equipment. Finding none, she studied the boxes she was crouched behind.

Food. Bitter baita. Her finger tapped the box wondering why it had a seal on it if it was only bitter baita, a thin bread soldiers found in their mess kits too often.

This is an awful lot of bread for one shipment. If one goes bad the whole lot goes bad. Hmm. In fact, why do they have so much food intermixed with weapons?

Looking around her again and listening for anything that might mean someone was moving, she turned to the seal on the box. She had learned how to get by a seal without anyone being the wiser. A handy trick when you're tracking down smugglers and you find their cache, empty it and then wait for their discovery that they have nothing to trade. Working for the Centurions was much more fun than the Spartans. Though she did not participate in skirmishes, she did get to participate in playing havoc with their minds and their goods before she moved up to working the strategy table. Boring change.

As the lid slid back quietly, Harriet held her breath as infantry rifles and spare ammunition clips were revealed.

"Trouble heading your way," Guardian's voice whispered.

"Everyone up! Those deadheads are on their way here!"

"Helios fire! At least this time they called ahead!"

"More than likely wanted to make sure we were still here…not like the other bunch that disappeared," one of the others mentioned softly.

"Blend on," Harriet whispered, just incase she needed to press against something to blend in. She quickly slid the lid back without checking the seal. She slid around one of the crates when she had to quickly retreat behind another. Her hiding place in the bot service passage was blocked.

Helgas Moon!

Activating her helmet, she opted for hiding in the box she just inspected. For some reason she could not wholly trust the suits vanishing capabilities. She saw it work, but...

Damn, damn.

Lying on rifles and ammunition clips was uncomfortable, she found. Slowly she slid the lid to her hiding place over, making sure the seal was over the lip, with her fingers darting through the tiny opening, pushing it into place, and then closing it.

I sure hope this suit blends in with the weapons.

It seemed like a long time but Harriet was sure only ten stan minutes had passed when she could hear muted talk outside of her box. There was less arguing between the Spartans and the new arrivals. Some of the boxes were being moved.

Where would they be taking the boxes? Are they moving into one of the cities?

The box she was in lifted, and by the smooth movement, she guessed a moBot was being used.

Well, I guess I'll be finding out first hand.

The box dropped suddenly, though in a controlled drop, some distance down.

Oh, joy! I hope I'm not being taken to their ship!

There were no voices around to give her a hint at where she was being moved to. The forward movement was slow at first, and then it picked up, as if she was on a cart. It seemed like a long time had passed before motion stopped and then the direction was changed and for a few short minutes, she bumped along. She came to rest on something solid, and then something was dropped on top of the box she was in.

Oh, blasters!

"Guardian," she whispered, "where am I?"

"In the transportation bay up the line. They had disengaged my barrier; however, I have reestablished it. Whatever they used has compromised your suits functioning. It has shut down some functions to keep your life support going. It will take a while for it to rebalance, as I can see already some of the other features are coming back, such as your bio readings on the visor. That does mean your disappearing function is out of the question for now. I'm working on a way to prevent a reoccurrence of this."

"Bloody moon! I knew I was a test subject," Harriet muttered.

"Even a well tested weapon, once placed in the hands of a professional, will still demonstrate room for improvement. Nothing is failsafe."

"Right, right. I'm just grumpy at my making such a stupid mistake, Guardian. Have they posted a guard?"

"They have little boxes spaced to set off alarms should anyone approach their belongings."

"Who are they expecting? Phantom soldiers?"

"From the conversations I've been overhearing…they are apprehensive due to the disappearance of soldiers, including some of their own, compliments of Captain Zohra and Carol. These metrasoldiers are interesting to study," he told her aside. "With a team of my own scientists we could set up some interesting situations, but alas, I have the facilities but not the scientists, and to tell the other scientists of this…would give away too many secrets."

"Yeah," she chuckled, "and get pissed because you didn't invite them for direct observation. Tch, tch." In the small space, she felt for her sidearm. "Right now, I'd like a bot to help me get out of here, but there may be traps around the box too."

"Tiny filaments," Guardian confirmed. "Captain Zohra and Carol are still engaged with their business. Maud is attending to a disturbance among the rescued prisoners."

"Helgas Moon." She was really disgusted with how her independent venture went, and she knew better. Work in teams. However, her team member, if she remembered right, was being used by someone who probably could run circles around them all…but then again, even the best worked in teams.

Well, I wanted to find out where this equipment was destined for. Harriet closed her eyes and decided to do as soldiers in combat situations usually do, grab sleep when the opportunity presented itself. Beating her head against the wall over this was not going to accomplish anything but give her another headache…and right now, she could do nothing but wait. Her fingers wrapped comfortably around her sidearm ready to lift it should she need it.

***

**

The sound of something scratching on the top of the box alerted Harriet someone was outside of the box, trying to open it. She heard the hum of a grav lifter. Whatever was on top of her box was lifted…and then after a few moments, the lid was slowly opened. She did not hear Guardian's voice and that worried her, as she lifted the tip of her stunner. A light blinded her. Before she could aim her weapon, she was paralyzed with a stunner.

The lid was slid further back. There was only darkness above her but she could see a helmeted youthful face peer over her.

"Gawds and the edwinds! It's her!" a young voice squeaked, muted from behind his helmet. "Gawds! Wait until they see what I found," the voice continued to gloat. Harriet could not see anything more, as her vision blurred from the force of the stun. Her fingers were frozen in their grip around her side arm, and her arms slumped against the walls of her prison, nerveless. Mentally, she cursed her choice of hiding places. The lid was slammed back down and she could hear clumsy booted footsteps running away from her.

Her body was not taking the effects of the stunner well. She could feel needles of pain stab through her limbs, as if they were losing circulation. Time seemed to pass agonizingly slow as she sweat out the effects cursing whoever set the stunner to a painful setting.

The lid once more was moved on the box, and pushed to the side. Through her visor, she could make out the outline of a helmet like hers. Arms reached in and pulled her out, dropping her on a shoulder. She felt like a bag of potatoes, but she was grateful she was being rescued…or she was hoping that was what was happening.

She grunted out air as she was jostled and bounced on a running shoulder. She saw noting but a back, her arms flopping about, annoying to her and most probably to the person carrying her. Finally, her journey ended. She slid off the shoulder that she now identified as bony, and was gently leaned against a wall. Harriet lay in an uncomfortable position for some time before she felt hands on her shoulders righting her. Her arms and legs began to tingle again as if feeling was coming back.

"You get into as much trouble as you dish out mischief," Maud's voice softly informed her, as she administered a shot of something into her neck. "Does the refrain 'You reap what you sow' ring a bell? What you need is a bodyguard to make sure you don't put something important in the proverbial lion's mouth…" She pushed some sore spots on her head, neck, face and shoulders.

"Helgas Moon tide!" Harriet shook out her hands. "Who was that kid?"

"Is that who shot you? He's like a street urchin. He's here and everywhere. He picked up that stunner from the captain of the Black Rose who felt sorry for him being amongst adults with nothing to protect him from them. In return, he provided the captain with useful information. It's painful, no?"

"Yeah," Harriet rasped, hurting. "It must be potent if Guardian's suits don't block it."

"Believe it or not, you were protected. It normally has the recipient screaming when feeling in the limbs returns. It's to teach any adult that messes with him not to do it again. He drives the Guardian crazy too, but Guardian has other means to keep him out of places he does not want him to be in.

"Great. What happens if some pissed off adult steals his gun and shoots him with it?"

"Hmm. That type of energy charge doesn't affect his species. Guardian was hoping he had left with the main group of smugglers. There must be something here that interests him. Hopefully, it's not the idea that he can be here all by himself."

"Where is Guardian?" Harriet asked as Maud helped her to her feet.

"He's offline for this area."

"Offline?"

"I'll let him explain that to you. Right now…how are you feeling?"

"Better." She moved her arms, fingers and legs, shaking them out. "I got to get back to the supply room. There's some equipment I would like to render useless."

Maud nodded her head. "When Guardian comes active, he will have his bots move those supplies in the tunnel."

"I think he should first make sure there isn't a movement detonator in some of those boxes. It's too coincidental that they moved the weapons away from the living spaces, even if that storage room is supposed to be independent of all the others. I mean, do they know that? Or, maybe they are like me, wondering why the Black Rose stored all the weapons in one place. Bloody moon. It's like they're getting ready for a siege, yet, they don't have enough soldiers and they haven't even secured the small space they do have access too! I gotta get back to that room and see what they left behind, hopefully amongst them are the moBots."

Maud gave her a funny look of 'haven't you had enough trouble for one day.'

Harriet held her hand up, "I promise to not put anything in the lion's mouth this time."

The two trotted through the tunnel, stopping short from the bot entrance to the morgue storage room.

"Can you wait here and keep watch? By now that group in there will be sleeping…" I hope.

Maud nodded, "But every seven stan minutes, give me a check that you're alright."

"Alright. And thanks, Maud."

She shrugged her shoulders. "It's what you do; it's what Guardian expects of you; it's what you expect of yourself. Hopefully you continue to have this run of good luck."

As Harriet began her crawl through the small tunnel, she was hoping the same. At the bot door, she sent her small peeping eye camera out the vent. No one within view. She could hear more than one person making the usual noises when asleep, from snoring to the small yup uprr rup, sounds the Elkida made.

So, are they waiting for me or are they really sleeping?

She passed her hand over the beam to open the panel. Silently it slid back. In the small space, she maneuvered herself onto her back so she would be looking up, pulled herself out of the bot space, and snaked over to a nearby crate. A sleeping soldier was on top of a crate snoring in gusts and whistles making more noise than she would be able to sleep through. She silently moved toward him quickly affixing a sleeping patch on his palm where there was no fur.

If he's faking it, he isn't now.

Cautiously peering around a corner of stacked boxes marked rations, she found another soldier slumped atop a crate with his jacket rolled up as a pillow. It was a Malu. They were not always what they appeared to be, asleep or inattentive. They had eyes in the back of their heads, was the rumor. The crate he was on was marked with the symbol for cannon.

So, they have left some weapons here. If I use the stunner, everyone will hear it. Stealth and nondetection is the plan.

Harriet went back around the crate to locate more soldiers. A six-armed drago was snoozing with his six arms draped around him. He was snuggled between crates. With a quick hand, she lightly tapped a patch to his forehead. As Harriet made her way to the next guard, the sound of movement caused her to spin around, dropping to her knees with her stunner pulled. Captain Zohra had her hands held up showing she held no weapon. Harriet figured she did not need one in close quarters work. Carol was pulling herself out of the service tunnel. Harriet signaled where the cannon was and signed the species of the soldier that was on top of it. Captain Zohra grinned and nodded she understood, and then disappeared around the crate. Carol and she finished off the other two then came back to where Captain Zohra was leaning far into the crate inspecting the contents. The figure that had been resting on top of the crate was laying unconscious on the deck with four patches on him; two on the back of his hands one on his nose and one on his pointed chin. Harriet filed that away for future use.

"Bloody moon!" a muffled voice cursed.

"What's wrong?"

"This one has a motion device on it. It's also armed with a timer set for 0400 tomorrow. If they forget to send someone down here to reset the timer, everyone in here is a gonner." She straightened up and continued to look around inside and outside the crate, probably for any traps. "We'll need to take it with us and move it topside so I can set it off…a day early." She sniffed the insides of the crate. "Smells like they got the big bang in here too." She found where they placed the explosive, Tricom. Small packages were stuffed in the cannon's barrel along with material to keep the dampness out. Since it would not add one iota to the explosion without the small powder that turns Tricom into the fireball it can become, Zohra guessed the intention was to hide it. But from whom? Them? Well, the lack of powder indicated they were not intending for it to go off at 0400 - unless some one was planning on sneaking down here to add the powder. But she knew why they were here and 0400 tomorrow was premature for the battle to begin. She imagined Alan still had more troops to deploy. So far, she and Carol had kidnapped twelve and dumped them into sleep chambers that had no life support system in the locked room, so even if they escaped the sleep pods, they would have to have breathable air long enough to find a way out of the locked storage room.

The three women began to carefully lift the cannon out of its box.

"This thing can be heavy," Captain Zohra whispered between tight jaws, as three of them struggled to lift the cannon out of the crate and put it on the ground. Harriet quickly closed the crate and Zohra and Carol lifted the sleeping form back onto the lid.

Maud appeared on the other side of the service panel that slid open. "The tunnel is still clear," she reported, "but I hear activity on 5th level south elevator."

Captain Zohra nodded, "The busiest elevator. It's close to crews quarters. Sounds like the metrasoldiers have something planned for that area. They could either be blowing it or taking it over for themselves until Alan gets here. We'll need to do a recon in the area."

"While you're moving the cannon, I want to look for the moBots and disable them...or as many as I can," Harriet informed the others.

"I will assist my Mistress."

Captain Zohra nodded. "Good." Keep her out of trouble. "That malu, remove the tabs from the back of his hands last. Okay, let's get this over to the tunnel. You have a bot, Maud? Right."

Grunting from the strain, they all lowered the cannon into the tunnel onto the bot.

"When you're finished here…return to base," Captain Zohra directed before she stepped into the service tunnel.

"Aie, aye, Captain," Harriet returned automatically, her attention on the multitude of boxes and crates that she would be going through.

Captain Zohra turned for a brief moment to stare at the empty space that Lady Harriet had moments before filled, and then hurried after Maud and her bot as they moved around a corner. Irritated with herself but not knowing why, she refused to think any further about the unfamiliar feeling Harriet's reply gave her.

***

**

Harriet moved to the first crate, deciding to tackle the largest first. A quick inventory of the contents, recording it verbally and with helmet camera was made and then Harriet moved on to the next, hoping they could get most of the place inventoried before the next shift of guards arrived.

"Ah, here we go," Harriet whispered as the second crate had what she was looking for. She popped off the cover of the control panel of the moBot and removed its most vulnerable part, showing Carol what needed to be done to damage the pad so it was useless without major service and replacement. She was gambling that Alan did not have a fully serviced repair shop on any of his ships, or many spare parts. To be sure, she made sure other parts of the bot were damaged.

In one stan hour, they found twenty-seven moBots, and other equipment that would be a good idea to leave useless. Harriet was determined to decommission as much of the weapons as possible, but more importantly, the moBots.

"Lt. Montran. You have some rapidly moving metrasoldiers heading your way. You have seven minutes to get out of there," Captain Zohra reported to her. "We can't back you up right now."

"Bloody moon," Harriet hissed in her helmet. "Get the patches off those soldiers." Harriet waved to one side of the room while she headed for the other.

Harriet was withdrawing her hand from a third sleeping guard's neck when the seal on the door startled her and the guard. Fortunately, the guard fell off the crate on the opposite side before he had seen her. Carol was crouched behind a crate within view of Harriet and she pointed at the service panel. Harriet cursed silently to herself, for it was still open. Harriet motioned Carol over to it then she also moved in that direction hoping the guards did not move from their own positions or they would be seen. The two guards remained out of sight as their visitors entered, treading with heavy boots falls that indicated they were wearing AEGs. Both women exited safely.

"I removed three, did you get to all of yours?"

"Yes, mistress."

Harriet carefully reset the T & Ts they had moved earlier outside of the panel, and then followed Carol down the service tunnel. Carol took an unexpected turn at the second branch.

Where is she going?

The service panel door came open in front of Harriet and a concussion bomb dropped in. Without thinking, Harriet made a dive to catch it and toss it through the door that was closing. Rising quickly to her feet, she picked up the sounds of small arms fire around another bend.

Carol!

Harriet paused before bursting around the corner, knowing it was a perfect place for an ambush. Her red alarms were going off and she could feel chills rise along her arms. This was about the worst her alarms could get letting her know her life was in peril. The attack from behind was quick and not what she expected. She felt her body go limp, as she lost feeling, and then hands grabbed her and pinned her down, while another administered a drug that dropped a black curtain over her.

Chapter 15

Captain Zohra and Maud were lying on their stomachs in the topside dust, undetected to any scanners, as she and Carol had earlier proved, though Maud's two years of nondetection by the Black Rose was proof enough. They watched as Alan's soldiers slowly moved in the heavy atmosphere, forming up into nice tight little formations. If Zohra had a gun, she would have mowed them down.

Zohra mentally laughed at the stupidity of the commander of these troops. He obviously did not think they would be attacked on the planet's surface. In this case, they would not be because she did not want to take the time to oversee that many bodies to be dragged to a containment center. Besides, it would be fun to play with them for a while…and it would be worthwhile to see just what they were up to. The more they could learn about Alan's plans the better. Once captured, the soldiers were programmed to take their own lives and as many people around them, so it was easier to let some situations develop for a while. Alan's obsession with loyalty was leaving him with few willing to work for him that were not metrapeople. Again she wondered why the consortium had allowed his madness to escalate this far without arresting him. Lord Chaney had no pull with the consortium, or so she had thought.

It was not until the general moved off the shuttle, that the signal was given for the troops to move into the city. Zohra chuckled to herself. As tough as they believed themselves to be, they were feeling the effects of the planets atmosphere and were not moving as snappy as she remembered them doing at Lord Chaney's training compound. Even their general was lagging. She was hoping one of them would fall, just to see what the reactions would be. It helps to know what frame of mind they were in.

"Now, if they were my troops, I would have them out in this atmosphere working on maneuvers until they moved like they meant business," she muttered. "Guardian, are you monitoring their communication?"

"Yes, but they are using a code. I am breaking it now."

"Good. Give us a translation as soon as you can," Zohra gave Maud a signal that they could follow now. With Guardian's wonder wear, as she called it, Zohra was fast learning how Maud was able to avoid being spotted by the Black Rose patrols and covering any tracks, she may cause. The darker redish brown ground left no tracks and that was just as prevalent as the soft red.

Bloody moon. They're gonna to be heading to the morgue.

"Lt. Montran. You have some rapidly moving metrasoldiers heading your way. You have seven minutes to get out of there," Captain Zohra whispered to her. "We can't back you up right now."

She wanted to remove leaders of Alan's group to see what would happen. They crawled to an emergency maintenance entrance nearby and reentered the city.

"Which floor?" Zohra asked as she stamped her feet to remove any dust that may give her presence away. Small tubes from the walls of the elevator appeared, sucking the dust off their suits.

"Seventh. Stop," Maud ordered the small elevator. They both crawled through the opening at the top of the elevator ceiling, squeezing into the bot space between the two levels. From there Maud took her to a larger maintenance area. From a storage space, she pulled out a net. "I've been saving this. Guardian has neuro stunners within the strands. It may or may not work on the metrasoldiers. We haven't had a chance to test it. But," she removed two blow tubes. "We have these. They are from their planet. This morning I lifted them from their supplies." Maud handed one to Zohra and carefully handed her one dart case. "Guardian tested them. They are not meant to kill. It knocks out their prey."

"I would never have thought they did anything short of killing," Zohra reported cynically.

"They must have plans to use them or they would not have brought them. We must limit their killing. It will change the energy on this planet and Guardian has been working very hard to a make it free of that type of energy," Maud reminded her.

"The only reason he may be able to keep it that way is because there isn't any living creature we know of that wants to colonize this place," Zohra returned tersely.

"Well, then you should be relieved because once this situation is taken care of, you won't find yourself being reassigned a post here to keep off trespassers," Maud told her with a grin.

"Goddess. Bite your tongue. Two years is long enough…though, the Lair's quarters aren't so bad…and not having to put up with Guardian's nasty surprises…" Zohra gave an aggravated sigh, "Come on, lets go spring a trap."

***

Maud and Zohra waited on the seventh floor for the general and his entourage of lesser officers to finish their inspection of soldiers that were not busy with Alan's business. In their visors they watched the general check the troops that stood ramrod straight in front of their new quarters. Obviously, they were planning on staying a while.

Not going to be a long stay, fellas. We're not even going to let you unpack.

Finally, he dismissed the group and headed towards the elevator that would take him and four other officers to the command center where others were waiting for him.

"This is it," Zohra whispered.

They could both hear the elevator activated. They watched in their visors the progress of the general. The elevator passed the floor intended and since the elevator did not register floors on a panel, the occupants had to believe that the voice command was being obeyed. When the doors opened, the general and his four officers stepped out automatically, not noticing where they were since all the floors intentionally looked the same. The ceiling opened with the metrasoldiers reacting quickly to the sounds above them; however the net shot down, out and over them, holding them secure as it tranquilized them into unconsciousness. Bots rolled out from their storage areas and assisted in dragging the men back into the elevator to be taken to their special holding cells. They would be held in stasis chambers until Guardian's allies arrived to safely remove their chips and then send them back to their own planet, hopefully believing they woke up from a nightmare.

Zohra studied the chamber and area to make sure it was as secured as Guardian assured her. Her tests against the failsafe were showing it was a standalone security system and would give an alarm if those in the chambers were in danger or going to be released.

"Captain!" Guardian's voice startled her. "Carol and Lt. Montran are in trouble. They have been taken hostage!"

"Bloody moon!" It's been too easy. It was bound to happen. "Let's have the picture!" she directed crisply.

Maud and Zohra leaned over the desk monitor in the small security room near the stasis chambers, watching as both women were being dragged off in different directions by soldiers in different uniforms.

"Damn! Alan's group has Carol and Chaney's troops have Lady Montran. We can't let them leave this outpost. Guardian, locate both their ships."

"I can prevent the shuttle from landing or intervene if they should try to transport down," Guardian offered.

"Good. Do it. Whichever one goes topside is priority."

For the next few minutes it was tense as Chaney's soldiers dragged Lt. Montran to their part of the city and Alan's soldiers dragged Carol to the command center and stood around waiting, probably for the general and his advisors.

Pictures appeared showing Lady Montran's interrogation. Zohra's eyes hardened and Maud cursed when Lt. Montran's hand was broken. Her interrogator did not waste time smacking her around. After twenty minutes of silently watching as the interrogation moved to beatings Zohra broke the silence.

"Where's Carol?"

"Topside." Guardian replied and a picture appeared. Alan's soldiers and Carol stood outside as one of them was communicating with his boss. Zohra noted the neurolock around her throat. The good part was she was wearing Guardian's suit. Normally the spoils of the victor was removing the hostage's valuables and keeping them. But, these were metrasoldiers. Would they remove whatever they thought valuable without asking Alan?

"Their ship is on the other side of the planet. They are speaking directly with Alan," Guardian supplied.

"Let's hear what they're chatting about," Zohra ordered.

[…General Lare or his staff.]

[Who has Montran!]

[Lady Chaney's security. They wish to trade her for our prisoner."]

[Montran is to be turned over with no marks on her! Do you hear me? Only on that condition...unmarked and alive! She must be fully awake and coherent when you exchange her. If she is ruined in any way, fry the metrabitch and Chaney's soldiers! You hear me?]

[Yes, sir.]

[Well, do it! Out!]

The soldier nodded to the others and they reentered the city. They met another small group of Alan's soldiers, waiting in Com-C of the city. The soldier was not wearing command bars or anything indicating his rank, but by the way he handled himself, Zohra knew he was an officer. He contacted Chaney's guards and the negotiations began.

"He's stalling for time," Zohra muttered.

Maud agreed. "Chaney's guards want information from Montran but, by the looks of it, they aren't going to get it. For her sake, I hope they realize it's a waste of time."

"That guy that's doing it, likes what he's doing too much. His nick name is Painmaker," Zohra explained grimly. "He'll keep her until the last minute. With the medibot, they can break every bone in her body and still be able to repair her in time to hand her over to Alan's deadheads."

"They haven't removed Guardian's suits," Maud mentioned as Lt. Montran slumped forward unconscious after a nerve gun was laid against her spine.

Zohra removed herself from the emotions she was feeling, something she was accustomed to do in her nine years of facing death on a battlefield and sometimes torture of prisoners for information. She analyzed the situation and made plans, the only thing she could do at this time.

"They're in a hurry to extract information and hand her over to Alan's group. I'm wondering if they are worried Alan will head this way. Guardian, do you have his location?"

"He's a week away, by the strength of his communication, but the captain of Chaney's guards does not know that."

"Yeah. The first thing they teach you in interrogation 101 is blindfold your victim. They are in too much of a hurry. I don't think that is much of a consolation for Lady Montran, though. They'll make the exchange in neutral territory…probably topside. Chaney's guards are not going to trust anything or anyone representing kid Fermin. Wherever it's made, you take Carol, and I'll take Montran. It's time to give these suits a good testing out," Zohra muttered.

"What do you think I've been doing for the two years your buddies have been messing with Guardian?" Maud returned.

"Oh, yeah. Forgot that part," she glanced over at Maud and was distracted at the likeness of Lady Montran.

"The exchange has been agreed upon," the Guardian broke in. "I'm sending you the coordinates."

"Got it, Guardian," Maud answered, "Come on. We have thirty stan minutes to reach the exchange point. It's near one of the emergency exits so we can get there early without detection."

"We need to pick up a universal neurokey. I have one in my kit. I can pack my stuff. I can't keep coming back here to pick up stuff we can use."

"Alright then, Maud can pack Carol's belongings. Lt. Montran had made the offer to her," Guardian suggested.

"Alright. But we must hurry."

"Just pack the bags and the bots will move them to the car," Guardian informed them.

***

*

The two small suns were high when Maud and Zohra could see them moving from their small screens on their visors to the outside of the city. The agreement was both sides come without weapons and they were to appear away from city's entrance. That meant both used a shuttle to drop off their hostages and five men from both sides. When the shuttles disappeared, the men advanced within a speaking distance of each other.

***

**

Harriet woke to a fiery pain. Her whole body hurt, then a slap that caused her head to bounce off something behind her, gave her something else to feel. She now noticed one side of her face was swollen because she could not see out of one eye. For a moment, she was confused wondering if she was still a prisoner of war, and then remembered it was another nightmare, memories of her past stalking her. Her head was jerked back and she stared into the eyes of a dark Harnivan. No, this was not something from her past. She had never met a Harnivan but she had heard about their interrogation techniques.

Her mind was curious why he did not use his other limbs to pound on her, and then she remembered he had been pounding on her. Then the rush from the pain of her broken hands brought her painfully into the present. And for a long time they hurt more than other parts of her body that had been abused.

They had been questioning her on what she knew of Lord Chaney and what her business with the metradame was. She focused on thanking her mentor, Commander Neilson of the Centurian Corps, for encouraging his staff to take interrogation classes with the ve'tumac, Hum, whether they were going to be part of the special troop that did the interrogations or not. Hum also taught the other side of the coin, how to survive an interrogation.

"Why were you chasing the metradame?" the voice demanded again. He waited a little longer this time and then the nerve sting was applied. He had moved from breaking bones to using the nerve pain.

Her scream froze in her throat. Suddenly, everything stopped and she dropped back into a dark self-imposed unconsciousness, another skill learned in Hum's class.

***

**

A dull thudding against the base of Montran's skull traveled to behind her eye sockets, adding another spasm to her sick stomach. Male voices from nearby were a drone, but she focused in not retching from an empty stomach, only making her head pound more. With great difficulty, she forced herself to inventory her condition. She opened her eyes and could see; she pursed her lips and could feel they were no longer swollen; she cleared her throat and that…was not dry. They put the medibot to good use, but only to take care of surface injuries, leaving her ribs and legs bruised and sore. Why? Maybe they were in a hurry, a small voice from far away suggested.

The voices became more distinguishable. She tried to stand, to stop the painful drag on her shoulders, which her dead weight was causing. Her handlers shook her, sending painful jabs of light to her head. Her head fell back and she nearly went back into the safer darkness.

They were surface side, she thought, trying to direct her attention to her surroundings.

"We trade evenly, or there is no trade," the familiar deep voice of her inquisitor stated firmly from somewhere near her.

"You will give us the Montran woman and you will disembark from this planet with your lives," the other voice stated stiffly.

Lt. Montran realized her hands were bound behind her, while her legs were shackled, making it difficult to make a run for it. But then, in this atmosphere, running was not possible.

Time. How much time has passed? Where is the clever Captain Zohra? Hope she has a plan. We're topside and I don't feel the pressure like I had when I first arrived. Must be Guardian's suits. Is that Carol?

Carol was standing with a neurorestraint around her neck behind Alan's soldiers. Behind her visor her face bruised and bleeding, her eyes had a vacant stare. She was wearing Guardian's outer suit too. She stood between her two burly guards motionless. Montran's heart beat irregularly and then went back to a steady beat as she tried to figure out how to get out of this, and to figure out what 'this' was about.

"Alan will be very upset if you don't bring her back…usable. Now, what I'm going to do here, is shoot one part of her body off at a time. Human females only have five limbs, so we shouldn't be here for too long. Let's start with the head first…"

Lt. Montran could not feel the weapon press against her forehead, but she heard the thunk of the weapon against her visor.

He's in a rush or he just doesn't want to turn me over to Alan. I don't know whether to thank him or be ticked off…oh, shit! Guardian said the suits are impervious to some weapons fire. Does the humvaian know? No, or he would have taken the suit for himself. It would be a hot commodity. I hope if I need it to blend in…it will work. If they drop me…maybe I can disappear and slide over to Carol. No. They would kill her with the neurohold.

"Lt. Montran," Guardian's voice whispered to her. "You will be rescued. Be prepared to follow the captain's orders. Your suit is back to one hundred percent."

Carol was pushed forward to the leader of Alan's group who pulled her roughly to stand in front of him.

Helgas Moon but this does not look right, Harriet cursed to herself wishing her head would stop pounding so she could figure out what was wrong.

"Remove the neurohold," the negotiator holding her ordered.

The mechanism was tossed his way and whether by intention or not, it hit him on the shoulder. Free fall or any movement was not easy in the dense atmosphere.

Oh, oh. Trouble, Lt. Montran's suspicious mind sensed.

Alan's soldiers rushed Chaney's soldiers as best as one could in the heavy gravity, the neurolock dropped into the dirt. Neither side had weapons, which may have been part of the agreement for the meet. Her handler pushed her back, where she fell with a heavy thud, this time on her side. Carol was grabbed by one of Alan's soldiers and pushed behind him, where she fell back and laid motionless in the dirt.

Lt. Montran inched her way toward the mechanism that was kicked by moving feet deeper into the shinny dirt particles. It occurred to her that neither group was calling for more reinforcements. It was also odd that in the melee, she was not stepped on.

A ploy? What do they hope to gain? Ahhh, to see who comes to rescue us. So now what?

Lt. Montran rolled to the edge of the fighting and paused to see where their escape avenues were. Flat land everywhere. She could not see any sign of an elevator plate. Nor could she see her rescuers, but then they did have suits that could hide them.

Suddenly she felt a pat on her leg. It was a pat in a recognizable pattern. Captain Zohra would tell her when to activate the suit to vanish. She obviously was not trusting her communication. Lt. Montran wanted to laugh, but her side hurt too much. Here she was distrustful of the blend mechanism and the captain did not trust the communication.

Suddenly one of Lord Chaney's soldiers dropped heavily to his knees near Lt. Montran pointing his weapon in her face.

"Now, would be a good time," Montran muttered under her breath as pain from her bruised rib had her trying to draw herself into a small ball. Montran tried to see where to roll.

"Now!" Maud's voice came over her com.

"Blend on!" Montran commanded, and would have started to roll away from the fracas if a pull on her bound arms had not pulled her in another direction. A moment later, the leg restraints and then her arms loosened from the binds. She glanced in the direction of the continued pull and from one small window in her visor could see Zohra leading her in a crawl in a zig zag pattern over the dark red spaces. She glanced back and could see the man that had a weapon pointed at her was fighting with one of Alan's soldiers.

"Carefully, no dust," Zohra directed as they both moved easier than her capturers. She could see Maud and Carol heading in the same direction. She was relieved to see that the neurorestraint was no longer on Carol.

"As long as the majority of your body is in contact with a surface, you're hidden," Zohra reassured her in a whisper as they continued to move away from the men that were now looking frantically for Carol and her.

"What about tracks?" Harriet wheezed.

"We got that covered. Just keep moving. We're almost there," Zohra encouraged.

They finally came to a halt. Montran was panting from the exertion of moving body parts that did not feel completely healed from her beatings. She rested in the dirt, oblivious to what went on around her, but taking comfort in the presence of Zohra leaning against her.

"Maud, clear. Ignite," Zohra ordered.

"Three…two…one…." Maud's voice counted.

A blunted sound, quickly followed by the ground moving under them, was then followed by bits of dirt that sprinkled around them.

"Two shuttles rendered unuseable. Let's get the hades out of here," Zohra spoke, rising and pulling Harriet with her. However, Harriet's legs were not functioning properly and Zohra did not waste anytime, but hoisted her onto her shoulder. Somewhere during the bumpy ride, Harriet blacked out.

***

*

Consciousness for Harriet came in starts, with reoccurring flashes of light behind her eyelids giving her something to focus on. When they ceased it was the soft voices from a conversation from Captain Zohra and Guardian that had her opening her eyes. They were in the car, hopefully being transported back to the Lair. Across from her was Zohra, not looking the worse for wear. In the seat next to her was a duffle bag, and another was on the floor.

Taking a deep breath, she could feel a twinge in her side. Being secured in the harness did not give her much room to move her limbs to see how well she functioned, and for a moment, she had to fight with the fear of being restrained.

"How are you doing, Alexandra?" a voice from far a way asked. Harriet's mind tried to pinpoint from where that had come from. And decided not to answer it. It did not fit in with her present reality. What reality was that? She closed her eyes and tried to focus on what she could feel, then what her senses told her, and then she dared to open her eyes again.

"How are you feeling?" Captain Zohra asked.

"How long was I out?" Lt. Montran asked, her voice sounding faint.

"From topside to the car...about thirty stan minutes." Zohra's eyes moved to Carol. "You both look like you need a medibot and a good soak in something to make you sleep well."

"Sounds good to me," Harriet mumbled. The images of another time and place started to play against the insides of her mind, and she struggled to change her focus. "What was going on topside?" she rasped.

"Chaney's guards grabbed you and Alan's soldiers Carol. Both sides had what the other wanted. When the direct approach didn't work, they administered a drug to loosen your tongue but," Captain Zohra's lips curled into a smile, "you spoke in a language the translators didn't recognize. You'll have to tell me how you did that." She looked towards Carol who appeared to be sleeping next to Montran. "They didn't bother questioning Carol…they thought whoever owns her would have made it impossible to question her." Captain Zohra frowned. "Lady Varina wants her father's metradame back…bad…unmarked and undamaged. Alan's group was not in a position to bargain because they were instructed to capture you if you were still alive, unharmed."

"Ahh. And like good little metrasoldiers, programmed to take orders without deviating…they will obey to the letter. Lucky us," she whispered.

Zohra stretched her legs and regarded the two women sitting across from her. "He's only had these soldiers for three stan years. He's been testing them on how much initiative to give them. He tests them at Chaney's training compound against veteran Black Rose fighters. Lord Chaney was contemptuous of them, considering we beat Alan's little soldiers in the majority of skirmishes. You must have trained against them too, Carol."

Carols eyes opened at that and nodded. "Lord Chaney was toying with the idea of getting a small army of his own. However, Lady Varina showed him the cost of having his own army. It was cheaper to let the Committee pay for an army, and he could just mentor a group, hoping to pick a few that were willing to do some personal work on the side."

Zohra snorted. "He picked the Black Rose because of the name. Then he picked a few now and then to do special chores for him. Once on his special team…he had a vise grip on you and your activities."

"So, you must have been…" Harriet guessed.

"Hold it!" she interrupted quickly. "I was not on any of his special teams…until this outpost assignment. I was picked by Captain Miller because I'm one of the few that has lasted as long in the Black Rose. This job was supposed to have been a walk on the quiet side…a respite from fighting. It was to primarily keep an eye on Lord Chaney's partner that he suspected was dealing him out. Just a nice cushy babysitting job."

Not going to share what your real job was, huh Captain? "Living among smugglers who would prefer to take you out if you were alone is not what I would label a cushy job," Montran remarked neutrally.

Both women chose not to mention that smugglers were just the group who Spartans were supposed to be arresting…or in Black Rose tradition, eliminating permanently.

Harriet turned to look at Carol who was her normally quiet self, however there was a change in her demeanor that Harriet was not sure if she was feeling it right.

"Carol are you well?" she spoke softly, still not able to raise her voice.

Carol opened her eyes and glanced at her. She nodded. "Yes, thank you for asking." She moved her hand up to her helmet where a cut on her cheek was bruising. She looked into Harriet's eyes and gave her a small smile. "I'm not use to…feeling…this way," she admitted. "But, Guardian's second skin has protected me from any infection I may have picked up."

Harriet nodded, "I feel like I've been used as a punching bag."

"They didn't know about the second skin or that much about the outer suit, or they would have removed them," Zohra remarked. "They were fighting over who would get your outersuits, so the exchange was to include everything you wore. I bet there are two very angry individuals right now that lost not just you two but their trophies of plunder." Zohra leaned her head back and chuckled.

Trophies, Harriet thought. That brought the images of her in a previous interrogation room back in a flash. She gulped back the nauseous feeling. She did not realize the outersuit released a drug into her system until the feeling suddenly left. She blinked her eyes opened surprised. Her thoughts were beginning to clear and her sore throat was already beginning to feel less raw.

"Flashbacks?" Zohra asked quietly, not sure if this was a good time to bring it up, and wondering if this would mean Lady Montran would not be going on any more recon missions.

Harriet nodded and then her eyes moved to the two duffle bags next to Zohra. "I see you've picked up your belongings."

"One is mine," she gently tapped the other bag with her boot. "This is Carol's stuff."

Harriet glanced at Carol and smiled and then back at Zohra. Images of Zohra in her thronged underwear had Harriet grinning, which became an embarrassed laugh when she noticed Zohra was watching her.

***

Chapter 16

"Welcome back, Warriors!" Charles greeted as the doors to Com-C opened. All the screens were active but few showed activity. Guardian's image appeared as they moved in the room.

Charles had a steaming cup of tea for each of the women.

"Hmmm. Arora," Harriet hummed, it was great for dulling pain. Just the thing they needed. The three women sank in the chairs Charles provided them.

"Well, we have certainly shaken up their operation!" Guardian announced when he was eye level to them.

"I'm glad to see you are still up and running." Harriet wondered if he would tell them why he was shut down when Maud had rescued her.

The Copoc waved two of his left hands. "It was but a ploy. The young trespasser needs some false trails to keep him off balance. He can be as useful as he can be a pest."

"So, have you intercepted any communication with Alan or smugglers?" Captain Zohra asked.

"None. They seemed to have already received their orders and are moving forward with it."

Six screens showed areas that were busy with Alan's group, the remaining Spartans, a dark figure that Harriet did not recognize and Chaney's soldiers and Alan's solders arguing. Fortunately, the two doing the arguing were well disciplined and did not resort to blows. Their aids looked tense but, again, they had no weapons.

"Why didn't they have weapons for the swap?" Harriet asked.

"I believe for two reasons. They didn't want to take the chance you would get hold of one and they don't trust each other." Zohra turned to look directly at her, giving Harriet a disquieting feeling. "You have earned yourself a reputation of being very dangerous when awake." This was delivered with a smirk.

Lt. Montran gave a snort of disgust. "Well, then I'm lucky that they believe all that rot, or maybe both of us would have been dead."

Zohra shook here head. "You and Carol were the only two that would not have been hurt…now I, on the other hand…"

She then returned her attention to the meeting going on with the two groups. Guardian had the volume on low. So far, they were not saying anything that they needed to know, except Alan was definitely on his way.

"Guardian, what about the Cretian that shot me? Where does he fit in with all of this?"

"He's the one that told Chaney's lieutenant that he found you. They were laying a trap for you when Alan's soldiers butted in and…"

"So he's Chaney's informant…" Lt. Montran mused.

"He sells information…to anyone that is willing to pay," Zohra corrected. "The reason why he is still alive is that he knew who to sell it to and how to pick up information without being detected," Zohra explained. "No one knows what his species is or from where he came from. The guess is he's from one of the closed planets the smuggler's visited. A stow-way."

"I have been studying him. He is impervious…" Guardian began.

"How do you know he's a he?" Lt. Montran tiredly cocked her head at the Copoc's figure on the chair.

"I am a scientist. I do know how to run tests to tell if a species is gendered and what gender it is," he replied indignantly.

Harriet laughed and so did the others, breaking the tension.

"Well, you'll let me know if anything develops that I need to know about, huh?" Zohra asked while rising from her chair. "I'm going to take a shower, soak out some of these bruises and then hit the sack. 0600 stan hours, I'll see you two in the workout room."

"Before you return to your quarters, Lt. Montran. I would like the medibot to have a look at you," Guardian's voice was apologetic. "It was very unfortunate that you two were captured and you were damaged."

"How long will it take…because I feel fine, just sore," she flexed her hands which she now distinctly remembered were broken, "and to go anywhere but a hot tub and then bed…I just don't have the energy."

"Well, Ald will see to you then. Please follow his suggestions," Guardian suggested.

"Why would you think I would not?"

"You military types…for some reason like to ask for meds after suffering for a long time…and you don't need to."

"Well, you don't have to lump me there with the common soldier…I don't like pain and I will love to have a painless sleep." Harriet looked at Carol. "Let's go soak in Ald's special brew."

Harriet waved to the Copoc as she moved out the door and then back to face him. "Just how much time do you think we have for sleep before trouble happens?"

"I will call you if anything happens before eight hours. Alan is still weeks away."

"Why is he trying to destroy this outpost or turn it into an armed camp? There has to be something of value here...and don't tell me it's me," Harriet countered before Guardian could make the suggestion.

"I was not going to say that. This planet does have its cities for different species, fully operational laboratories and..."

"Can we resume this conversation - tomorrow? I'm sure by then, you can decide whether you want to tell me what's really so important about this planet that has Allen wanting to occupy it and or destroy it. I don't see him setting up a permanent base here or use your science facilities."

"We can resume this conversation after you have had some sleep," Guardian agreed pleasantly.

"Thank you for the tea, Charles," Harriet mentioned to Charles.

"Sweet dreams, Warriors."

***

**

Carol heard the bath water running when they entered their quarters and breathed in the fragrance of the oil heated from the water. She was relieved they would not have to wait long for the tub to fill. She too felt tired…another sensation her previous program had not allowed her to feel…and pain. She touched the injuries to her face that she received in her fight with the metrasoldiers that had netted her. Her capture by Alan's soldiers kicked in her survival training that Lord Chaney had her undergo as part of her bodyguard training. Alan's metrasoldiers would not have been told of what to look for in a metraperson that was not under the influence of the chip. She had witnessed Alan's soldiers' behavior in Lord Chaney's presence enough to know Alan would not have risked giving his soldiers any information on their condition enforced by a chip implant.

The soldiers from the Chaney household, as good as there are, did not have very much information about metrapeople except that Lord Chaney's metradame was not to be trifled with under the penalty of death. Varina had a lot to worry about and Carol knew why she would want to possess her, and not just for her personal pleasures. Much of the information Lord Chaney had spoken to her about was to protect him should he be assassinated by his ambitious daughter or some other political figures that Lord Chaney had a vise grip around. If he had been assassinated, she had another program to follow which Lord Chaney called 'Dark Stealth.' Until all those involved in his death were personally ruined in all levels of his or her life would Sheila's program then go on self-destruct. Carol's lips curved into a smile. He had thought of all the ways to prevent her from being stopped before she completed her mission, including her training in assassinations; however, it never occurred to him that he would die from someone not motivated by politics or with the intent on killing him, thus only giving her the usual program to fall back on. It was the basic revenge killing: when someone kills your master or mistress, kill him or her before you are deactivated and reprogrammed.

Carol sat patiently as Ald administered meds to her cuts and bruises, noticing that her mistress was being assisted in her undressing by the butler. Carol knew if she had not been trained in what to do in a hostage situation and if her mistress had programmed her as hers, she would have lost both their lives attempting to rescue her mistress. It was easy to determine a strategy, since both the metrasoldiers and Lord Chaney's staff believed her to be just another metraperson, a robot that only obeyed orders. They were trying to determine if her mistress had in fact captured her and reprogrammed her and if so, what did she impart to her new owner. The other thought was, since they did not know who killed Lord Chaney that she was searching out that person in 'Stealth Mode'. If she was in Stealth, then for them to interfere would be putting them in counter allegiance to their new boss, Lady Chaney. What if Lady Chaney was the one that was responsible for his death? Under the guise of following Lady Chaney's orders, they attempted to extract information from Lady Montran before Alan took possession of her, knowing that whatever they did to her, as a soon-to-be metradame, it would not matter.

General Catov, the head of the late Lord Chaney's private guard, did not like the idea of turning over titled clan members to the likes of Alan to be turned into a metraperson and was figuring out how to circumvent it. He was lucky when the matter was taken out of his hands. Carol smiled in contempt. Like Lord Chaney, he carried on conversations within her sharp hearing, as if she did not exist. The metrasoldiers had also overheard his conversation, which was why they attacked General Catov and his group.

***

Harriet did not attempt to remove her outersuit. She hurt too much to move around. The butler did it all, just as one of its program called for. Harriet glanced at her side that was hurting the most. Memories of how she got it threatened to overlap with memories of another time she was captured behind enemy lines. Stiffly she moved towards the bathing room.

After showering the two women slid into the warmed bubbling waters of the pool.

"Oooh. This is nice," Harriet moaned. There was a long moment of quiet as each woman let their systems wind down. "I wonder where the captain is? I thought she would be in here first." Harriet squeezed Carol's fingers that had slid into hers under the water, giving both of them comfort for their ordeal. Harriet had thought she had some cracked ribs, but Ald did not find any. "Ahh, that's right. She has to debrief whoever she works for," she muttered and promply fell into a doze.

"Do you mind if I join y'all?" Captain Zohra's soft voice asked.

Harriet started and would have slipped off her perch if Carol's hand not grabbed her elbow.

"Please join us," Carol answered.

Harriet did not watch the athletic form of the captain's slide into the water, but the slight rise of the water was noticeable. Her mind was as weary as her body, so when she sensed something different in the water she was surprised at how quickly her body responded. It was a subtle feeling of sensuousness that began a more pleasant throbbing in her body. Harriet forced herself to be aware of the gentle firm pulse from the water jets as they fluttered against her and the recorded sounds of a waterfall in the background; however, she felt her desire turn into vivid images of Zohra's muscular body that her hands twitched to study in detail. Guiltily she looked at both of her companions, relieved that they appeared to be wrapped up in their own thoughts.

Helgas bloody moon! If it's not about one it's about the other. Now would be a good time to get outta here. "Well, I'm done here," Harriet told the others as she climbed out quickly.

"Jeeezze!" Captain Zohra exclaimed.

Harriet had forgotten about her bruises.

"You need meds, soldier," the captain shook her head in concern. "Why didn't you take care of those right away? Where's the medibot?"

"I don't need a medikit and herb paste will be fine," Harriet objected, not in the mood to go down to the infirmary.

"May I suggest something?" Ald asked.

"You can tell us were the meds are, if you have any," Captain Zohra responded.

"In the cabinet near the sinks," Ald reported obediently.

Harriet followed the bot to the cabinet, drying herself as she went, and trying to not turn to face the dark eyes that she could feel studying her. Carol also climbed out of the water, leaving a second trail of water through their miniature tropical garden. It was Carol who sorted through the herb jars.

"Look at this collection!" Harriet marveled over her shoulder. "He's got it stocked with every herb potion for all known and unknown illnesses…both imagined and otherwise, by the looks of it."

Captain Zohra joined them.

"This one is what you want." The captain leaned over Carol's other shoulder, dripping water on her. Zohra selected a bright red bottle with strange writing on it.

"A good choice," Ald added approvingly. "It comes from the Plaetar system. They make the best meds from natural herbs for healing bruises."

Captain Zohra straightened up and faced Harriet. Beaded water dripped down the slim form in rivulets following the creases of muscles that gave her form further definition. She held up the bottle, shaking it in front of Harriet's eyes, that were caught by the small diamonds that glittered from the nipple rings. She was struggling not to look further down to see if that ring was also still worn.

"I'll put it on myself," she informed her in a strong voice, belying her hormonal rush.

The captain laughed and asked in a seductive voice, "Afraid of something?"

"What do you mean?" Harriet asked, her voice suddenly hoarse.

"A bit of pain with your pleasure?"

Harriet blinked a few times not sure on which level to answer.

"The right intensity of pain can be pleasurable…"

Harriet cleared her voice, embarrassed at her reaction. "Like what?" she boldly asked, deciding to push Zohra's game.

Lips curled at the edges, and her dark eyes were sparkling in the light. "Oh, like a deep massage to sore muscles. Hurts like fire, but it feels…sooo good when its all finished. Hmm?"

Then she added in a normal voice, purposely breaking the spell, "A bit of a sting, and then it numbs the injured area in about three seconds."

So…she wants to keep playing, huh? Harriet smiled and handed the bottle to her, pointing to the large bruise on her thigh. "Rank has its privileges."

"We're the same rank….just different services and political bosses, Lady Harriet." Her voice lowered, "Are you saying you don't trust me?"

Trust? I don't know you or what you want.

Carol took the bottle from the captain's hand. "You two are making this into a long production. We all need to get some rest. Please, sit, Captain Zohra."

A chair appeared out of the wall.

After Carol rubbed the paste over both women's bodies, Captain Zohra returned to her quarters and Carol and Harriet returned to theirs.

Everyone fell asleep quickly.

***

Chapter 17

"Who are you and why have you come?" demanded an indistinguishable voice from behind the dark cowl that covered the Inquisitor's face. The lone figure that waited on the dock looked up at the dark figure.

"I am -- a Quester." The initiate paused for a moment. Why was she there? And, what was a Quester? Where had that come from? Looking down at her hands, she noticed that she wore one signet ring, which for some reason she could not identify the design, a long robe, which looked gray in color. At her waist was an empty scabbard. She did not think anything was out of place. She just did not know exactly why she was there.

"We have many Questers. What have you to say?" The impatient voice boomed.

"I..." The figure in gray paused and looked out over the water from where she had come from. The small boat was no longer in sight. She had to remember why she was standing before the Inquisitor. She suddenly remembered.

"This one stands before thee, High Priestess, guardian to the Portal of Athena, Mistress of the Warrior Queens and their loyal followers, to ask for admittance into the Hall of Mirrors." She felt pleased with herself for she remembered the long salutation after all these centuries.

Centuries?

The dark figure before her remained standing, silent, and unwavering. Was it but a mechanical servant? Or, did those of the Spirit world not move as those in the Land of Form? She waited for what seemed a long time, but time was not something that passed here, so she really was not sure if she waited at all, or whether it was just her self-absorption that made it seem like time had passed.

The figure turned and walked back into the darkness. She followed as if this was as it should be. Had she done this before?

There was blackness all around her and though she did not feel her legs or arms were moving, she did know that she was moving forward.

It seemed like she blinked and before her were mirrors. Turning slowly she could see that they surrounded her. She had made it! Now what? What was the next part to her quest? Sighing, she put her finger to her pursed lips, as if to think. For a moment she remembered someone else using the same gesture. She shook her head mentally to focus on her Quest.

Was she to look in the mirrors or not? There was an important instruction her mentor had given her. Was it for the Hall of Mirrors? Looking in the mirror before her she saw only a shadowy form. 'Do not focus on the image,' that's what she had been told. 'Look to the side.' She could see from the sides of her eyes that the shadowy form in the mirror was changing shapes and some of them were scary, but she kept her sight on the side of the form. 'Do not identify with your shadows,' her mentor had told her. 'They are but your critical vision of yourself.' Those are issues for your physical self to dispel, not your Spirit Self, she reminded herself.

Instinctively she rested her left hand on the empty scabbard. She was so use to finding the hilt of her sword there she was momentarily distracted. What had become of her sword? Ahh. She had dedicated it to the Warrior Queen. When she had died in battle, it was given back to the Queen. She was dead then. No. That was another life. Focus on the present. Stilling her thoughts, she imaged the white light of the Mother of All giving her the insight she needed.

That was the key! Intent.

From her heart, she poured out her intent…compassion…making justice…action in the world of the physical and the unseen world of the spiritual. There was no separation. She had to remember not to be stuck in retribution, hate, pity and sentimentality. Compassion, the way of life. Not to be practiced as a belief or a religion…but to live it, immerse her life in it. She could hear the mirrors break. After the mirrors crumbled, there was only blackness all around her. In a flash, she felt herself whisked past the dock, across the waters and back to where she had started her journey…back to the land of the form. There in the sand her sword was waiting for her, impaled in black sand with the rising gray waters swirling around it, and as the tide receded, forming rivulets, and trailing back to the cold waters.

Faintly she heard a warning that what one can observe is not all there is.

So what had she accomplished? The dream body is so mysterious to the more mundane and logical body. The art of using the dream body is not to force meaning into logical categories but instead to sense and feel its meaning. This will take time.

Do I have time?

Zohra turned uneasily in her sleep.

Compassion.

What kind of soldier could she be if she practiced compassion?

As a Black Rose soldier, your compassion was displayed in a quick kill, a voice explained.

"Killing is our business," she whispered. She shivered remembering how she had to put aside her personal feelings to maintain her cover. She worried if she would be able to live with knowing she had killed, even if her victims were just as bent on killing her. The difference was that there were a few that were legitimately protecting their families and land. Did she deserve to carry the sword of the goddess, whom she had sworn fealty to?

"Goddess? What goddess?" she mumbled. She turned again as if looking for answers on her other side.

***

*

Alexandra looked up at her teacher when she finally understood. She started to laugh hysterically. It was her own future she was seeing in the pool. She was in a uniform she was not familiar with, and with no hair! She a warrior! She thought it was funny indeed. She was an empath! An empath could not take another's life without suffering the victim's anguish at the extinction of its life. Moreover, her long orange tresses…she would never cut them.

Awakening suddenly, Harriet sat up breathing heavily, excited that she had discovered...something. But her sleep heavy mind could not conjure up anything solid from what she had just experienced. Tiredly, she fell back onto her pillow. A slumbering Carol slipped an arm protectively around her waist. Harriet rolled onto her back, and hazily thought about her childhood when she was still a student at AltaLa.

Mem.

Hadrian had sent her a word from her childhood. Should she ask Guardian to send a message to Hadrie asking him for more detail?

Mem. Acar was the only person that could have told Hadrie that. Is he still alive? Or is Hadrie hinting that what happened to Acar is about to happen to me…an assassination attempt? That's a laugh. I've been the target of so many attempts I have a built in warning system. And why not just say it…unless someone here is the threat. Mem. Or, is he referring to my initiation. Okay…this is getting too detailed. Mem…I think of Acar and his initiation. He told me his secret name because…he said I would need it one day. Great. Another mystery. Okay…I have this secret password into somewhere I don't know, and Hadrie reminded me of it. What do I use it for? Geeze! This is not getting me anywhere I want to be. I think maybe that is it. Mem is a word I will need for something. What? Do I shout it out?

Restlessly she found another position and dozed off, but this time images of her recent capture overlapped with a few from an earlier experience. She sat up quickly, taking gulps of air. Tentively she flexed both her hands. No pain. Lucky her.

Carol's breathing changed.

"Go back to sleep, Carol. I'm just going to make some tea," she whispered and then waited until Carol's breathing returned to a deeper rhythm. Slipping out of the bed, she drew on her robe and moved into the front room. She stretched her body and was grateful that whatever was in the herbal paste left her without painful bruises to wake up to.

Tossing her robe onto the couch in the frontroom, she moved to a cleared space and began her exercises. Closing her eyes to slits, she concentrated on each limb and muscle that became still as it was stretched into different poses. She wanted to know how well she healed and this was a good way. Her focus moved to her inner quiet place and then letting her awareness stretch also. Again she touched lightly on a connection with the consciousness of the planet. It was aware of her. Harriet paused and concentrated on what was different in this touch. There was a disturbance in the ebb and flow of the energy. The usual chaos did not have the feel of normalcy to it.

Is it something Alan is causing? Helgas Moon, Harriet. You're giving him too much power here. Because something is different doesn't mean it's because of something he's done…and then again…it would fit his profile to dump something that would disrupt the planet's life cycle. But why? Why this planet? He's never been here. Yet, his…ugh! Relax.

She finished her exercises with a silent mantra so as not to wake Carol. Even in silence the mantra vibrated her body, cells and spirit. She could feel the tingle in her finger tips, toes and right up through her head. She had not had such a strong effect since…well, a long time. Maybe it was because she was not on a ship, suspended in space where molecules and living cells moved at a different vibration.

Finished she rose and turned to the bot that was politely waiting.

"Leaha tea, medium hot," she requested as she slipped back into her robe. Taking the tea from the Bach she sat in front of the computer screen, and thought about metrapeople and where she wanted to take her research.

Iwilla. She had an article on dreams and its connection to personality. That is a good place to take up. There has to be a way to restore something of the old personality back. However, would some of them want it back? Their lives have been profoundly changed.

Her brows furrowed as she thought about Carol. Carol seemed so 'normal' in so many ways; it was difficult for her to verify if she was self-determined. The only thing that made her hesitate was her reference to her as 'Mistress.' So, how much was normal for a metradame not programmed with directives and how much was it adjusting to her environment…and then again, did she not tell Carol that it was okay to leave her side? So was that all that was needed, to just erase the program and the metrapeople could then take their lives back? What about the chip? No. Iwilla had mentioned that it was not wise to just end the program. Carol was being guided or…supported to establish her own sense of self. Maybe that is what Iwilla was alluding to. Something is needed to fill the void.

Harriet went back to the work of Iwilla and started to look specifically for her exploration on dreams.

If a metraperson can dream, would not part of their old personality be embedded somewhere in cells around the dream area? Dreams in most species are stored in different parts of the brain and then there are individual differences where each person stores memories. With those memories is cell memory. An arm remembering curling around a loved one or being in an accident. Hmm. It is too risky tampering with wiping out memories. Too complicated to destroy, but not to sabotage… so that means control is all in the chip. Removing the chip would… We will have to wait for the healers to get here to find out just what the chip is preventing from happening, when they remove it from Carol.

Harriet looked in the desk for something to take notes on. She wanted to look up keywords the author was writing. She found a stylus. She scanned the line she wanted to save and went to the next paragraph.

***

*

Carol had wakened a little over an hour after Harriet had left the bed. Something had told her that if mistress was only getting a cup of tea she should have been back. Quietly she got up and slipped her robe on. She could see Harriet's hands move quickly over the keyboard rather than give voice commands, which would probably have wakened her sooner. The teacup was sitting to the side. Carol guessed it was cold.

Yawning, Carol went into the kitchenette and asked Bach for a repeat of the previous order. She felt pleasantly pleased that she had another dream. Though she did not remember the details, she remembered she had it and it was not worrisome.

Standing behind her mistress, she held the cup of steaming tea. Carol read over her shoulder.

'Dreams are of important consequence as they are bridges to what once was…' Carol looked at the title of the article her mistress was studying, 'Metrapeople as Dreaming Beings, by Iwilla.'

"Of course we dream," she mumbled over her mistress's shoulder.

Harriet started and turned in her chair to face Carol.

"What did you say?"

"I just read the title of the article you are studying. Here is a fresh cup of tea for you."

Harriet accepted the tea from Carol while studying her face.

"Sit here." Harriet called for another chair next to the computer. "No, Bach can put the cup away. I want you to read this article. I want to ask you some questions about what this author is saying."

Carol settled in her chair and started to read the report in depth.

When they finished the article, Harriet got up and moved to the couch taking her tea with her. Carol joined her.

"Do you dream?" Harriet asked.

Carol was having conflicting feelings from the article. This was a new sensation, and it distracted her for a few moments. The presence of mistress gave her encouragement to pursue thoughts she was not aware she had…and the interest to seek out answers to something other than the narrow focus she had once was continuously amazing her. Breathing in deeply, she sought to refocus on what her mistress had asked her. Her lips curled into a smile as she realized there was no pain when her thoughts wandered…her thoughts wandered!

Harriet watched Carol's face and the myriad of expressions that her eyes revealed. When her lips curled into a smile, Harriet's heart felt lighter. She guessed Carol was thinking a lot more than she ever had in her metradame existence. Pursing her lips, she wondered if Carol recognized the author was a metraperson, and that meant freedom from the chip programming was possible.

"When I was Sheila I was not aware of dreaming," she began slowly. She let out a loud sigh, which took both women by surprise. Carol gave a short laugh, at the demonstrative display of feeling, smiling a little shyly. She looked at her folded hands on her lap, as if to gain composure. "Now without the control, I do remember that I had dreams. What they were about I don't know," she murmured, as if wistfully wanting to.

"Do you remember dreaming last night?"

"Oh, yes!" Carol looked up, a smile creasing her face. She did not want to tell mistress what one of them was about…unless she asked. Part of her noted that she did not feel compelled to reveal it and that there was no pain in her preference to withhold the information.

Dream content was sacred to some cultures so Harriet refrained from asking, knowing that if it were important she would tell her…or she hoped.

"Some from the previous night seemed familiar, as if I had dreamed them before," Carol continued thoughtfully remembering others that did not have mistress in them.

Carol turned to the bedroom and listened for a moment.

"Is Captain Zohra up?" Harriet asked.

Carol nodded.

"Well, I guess we should be ordering something to eat for three. Do you have a special request?"

"Did I hear the word eat?" Captain Zohra's voice called through the bedroom.

"Yes, you did. Would you like to join us?"

Captain Zohra came out of the bathing room through the bedroom with her robe on and her long hair pulled forward over her shoulders. She was blotting the long strands with a towel.

"Eat light. Don't want anyone getting sick in our workout," she smirked.

Harriet shifted her eyes as her thoughts drifted to how nice it would be to comb out the long wet tresses. She remembered when it was done for her how nice it had felt.

"I think I'll take a shower before breakfast," she said, and headed for the shower, passing by the captain.

Helgas Moon. I need to keep focused here. Okay, Metrapeople…memories… dreams. Okay…what I do know is that Iwilla is a metraperson. Guardian had said that Sharon was the only metraperson he knew that was able to override her implant. I know Iwilla and Sharon are the same because their writing styles are too similar to be coincidence. Now, if I can figure this out, others will too. That puts her in danger. Except, she's in the Collective's sector. Even if they send assassins, to get on the scientist ship requires top secret clearance because of the radicals who don't believe in terraforming...but there is always a way. I think I'll send a message to Commander Jonas. He's the new CO on the science vessel, the Curious Cat.

Harriet put her hands on the wall of the shower and looked up in exasperation. She was worrying about Sharon's welfare! Blasters! She was driving herself to distraction with her feelings about Sharon, Carol, and Captain Zohra. She laughed. Does this mean she was finally accepting the possibility that Sharon was a metradame? Her thoughts and mixed feelings about Sharon were not presently relevant, so she pushed those aside. She understood why she lusted for Carol, but she also cared for her. Then there was Captain Zohra…an entirely different distraction. She was confused…no miserable. She slapped her hand on the tiled wall in exasperation.

What a time for all this to come about. I cannot wait for this gas influence to end. It is convoluting my feelings for everyone…damn! All right, so, it's not everyone …just three…two too many, and the worst part is…I don't want to give any of them up…HA. Like I really have them. Come-on, Lieutenant, don't you think these are just interests that the pheromone gas is causing to be obsessions? Or, am I just making excuses?

Harriet laid her forehead against the tiled wall. This was getting too bewildering. She was thinking way too much. Who was she really interested in? She did not have to ask the question…the dark unreadable eyes that she had once made the mistake of staring deeply into were once more in her mind's eye…mirroring the need that dark nights brought to consciousness…a need that was hard to define but there.

Harriet stepped out of the shower after her hair was dried. Picking up her tea that was cooling she looked into the mirror. Letting her eyes unfocus, the background became black around her. It was sudden but with no feeling of disorientation. She felt her spirit move to the side of her physical self and take the cup of tea from her hand. The cup was held out for her to gaze into.

The image of a young child running alongside a young colt appeared in the tea stained water. They were playing tag. Harriet smiled, as the young child laughed as the colt took a bite of her tunic and shook it as a dog would. Her? Yet it looked like a boy. Then the child aged and the figure changed from a boy to a girl. Ahh. It took her a moment to understand. She remembered the Holy Ones. An early teacher of hers was born into the world as both male and female. S/he had the body of a female but dressed and felt as a male. This child was the opposite.

She saw the child again as a young woman. Her seated figure was haloed by a sunset that reminded her of the Wieldworlds. They all had the sun that appeared purple when viewed from the planet, with bright yellow streaks across its face at sunrise and sunset. It was from some element within the planet releasing to mix with the biosphere. The seated woman was near a dark shadow…. no…it was a person. Alan. He was furious, gesturing and threatening. He held a stick in his hand, which he brought down across the smiling young woman's face. It surprised her that she did not feel any trepidation at seeing Alan in this raging state. Her musing stopped suddenly as she felt the blow across her face. The cup of tea dropped to the ground as she crumbled to her knees, feeling mortally wounded. There was another stabbing pain in the center of her head. The fire from this pain spread within her brain and down her spine, burning nerve endings as it moved. She did not feel Ald catching her, to prevent her from injuring herself.

She had experienced another's dying process before. It was at Kela's death, but she did not remember it being so intense where even her insides were shaking. Moments seemed like hours as they went by in a haze, then slowly her vision came back to her as the pain lessened.

It's gotta be something about this planet, Harriet. Now you're suffering through other people's lives. How do I stop this?

She gulped down a breath of air and her stomach heaved. I don't wanna be a saint or some messiah, suffering for other people. It's not a career move that has a bright future. Harry, where the hell are ya?

As her tunnel vision gradually expanded to normal sight, she could see Captain Zohra and Carol kneeling next to her. Carol dabbed a damp cloth to wipe her tear-filled eyes.

"Are you a visionary?" Zohra asked curiously, her face revealing a softer version of herself.

Harriet blinked a few times, took a deeper breath to see if her stomach would settle before speaking. "I - was once an - empath." Breathing in again, she moved her jaw around, realizing she had been clenching her jaw tight enough to hurt.

"I thought empaths could not --"

Harriet held up her hand wearily to stop that conversation, not wanting to think about it…however, in a flash, as insights usually do occur, she realized what was happening. Uh, oh. Now some of this makes sense. Whatever the cause, my empathic channels are reopening! I should have recognized it!

With it came another realization that they had never really closed, only muted, thus giving her a different view of situations. She was living in a reality somewhere between what a mante, a sensitive, and a caillech, those that had no psychic abilities. Since she had been sensitive to all forms of life since birth, she did not know what living in a world without a connection to was like; therefore, when her senses became muted from a childhood trauma, she assumed she became like a caillech, no longer feeling the bright and intense world around her.

I've been so daft! Though, how in bloody moon would I know otherwise?

"I've been paying the price," she finally answered, hoping she would not be asked how, since she had only killed two people in her entire life. Her first and last intentional killing was on the battlefield, and the other was Lord Chaney. But she had been smothered by the killing energy for two years, nearly suffocating in the stench and heavy energy. Having nightmares of people killing others in tortuous ways plagued her in seasons. Still she considered herself lucky that as an officer she had to focus more on getting her troop to their assigned drop site, complete the mission, and then get them back to base safely, rather than on how many of the enemy she killed.

"The question is, are you willing to continue to pay the price? I'm not that familiar with empaths, but as a child I learned that closing and opening channels has consequences. I can see you are reopening yours. Why? In addition, what's going to happen at our next skirmish? Will you fight or will you be too fearful that you may take a life… hesitating at a crucial moment?"

Harriet nodded glumly taking another deep breath to settle her still rebellious stomach; however, Captain Zohra had nothing to worry about. Guardian's weapons were doing just fine…so far. And this was his outpost, therefore it was his laws or rules that they would follow. For seven years, she had been perfecting her reflexes to defend or to render her attacker stunned rather than kill, and she felt it had paid off. The one accident was Lord Chaney, but all things happen with a purpose. Besides, not everyone is traumatized with death. Did not someone once tell her that? She was sure Guardian had enough sleep patches for her to use on their attackers, she thought humorously.

Zohra caught the smile and the lightened mood change in Lady Harriet. She now understood where the power from her had been coming from. She helped her to stand and held her steady as the pale officer wavered against the sink. Zohra could feel her pulse quicken at their touch and released her letting Carol support her. Lady Harriet did not need to be distracted at this time.

"I had a vision of Alan Fermin beating a young woman about his age to death with a stick. It was not too long after he had --." Harriet could not go on. Her vision went dark again and her stomach, though empty, started to heave. She felt another sharp pain in the center of her head as she sank to her knees with Carol trying to protect her from banging her head on something solid. The sickness she had kept under control for so many years was finally engulfing her. She could feel her pulse pound in her temples and a roar fill her ears. Then Harriet was back in a familiar place where she had retreated to when the outside world became unbearable. It was not safe there anymore. She could see a dark cloud looming over her special spot. Groaning in fear and from the pain that was pounding in her head Harriet tried to curl into a small ball, trying not to be seen. She felt the combined fears of her being attacked, that of Rene's, and then others that Alan had victimized. Her stomach was in spasms and her body shook. It was as if she touched on a link of emotional terror that they all shared…all but, Rene. As Harriet rocked back and forth in her dark corner to soothe herself from the pain, she could feel someone reach for her. A soft touch called for her attention. Harriet shook her head fearful. Finally, she looked up into Rene's smiling face. Rene did not feel pain for herself, she explained, she felt it for Alan's lost soul and for those he would and had hurt in his own pain. She explained to her that compassion was feeling for someone else and doing something about it, without getting caught up in the morass of pity, hate, fear and distain.

Rene touched Harriet's heart chakra. She felt a cold jolt and then a tingling that warmed quickly. Rene touched each of the other chakras watching Harriet take a deep shuddering breath as each cleared. Rene's image faded when the last was cleared.

Carol could feel her mistress relax in her arms as the ordeal passed. While one arm was wrapped protectively around the unconscious body of her mistress, the other was massaging the limbs that went into spasms with Captain Zohra assisting.

Captain Zohra kept her face impassive as she watched Lady Harriet Montran in another person's arms suffering, reminding herself that this was not a flashback and she was not going to die and this time she could do something more than just let others help her. Her hands worked on the leg muscles that were tense, pushing along meridian lines that her own training had taught was good for muscle cramps. As her hands massaged the muscles, she realized that they were beginning to relax, so she lightened her touch, rubbing them now to help take out the soreness that a cramped muscle could leave behind.

Harriet lay for a while in Carol's protective embrace, feeling the warmth from hands that rubbed her sore limbs. Sighing a little and shifting her weight, she could feel the three concerned thoughts bearing down on her. It was strange to know…Charles had feelings.

He is sentient!

Harriet took a deep breath, to clear her head. She made a mental note to check out Charles' history. If Guardian was a Copec in a computer, then Charles was no doubt one of his assistants in a bot. What misadventure put him in there?

"Gads!" The pain receded in her head and with it the memory of it.

[Just like childbirth!] A familiar presence filled her mind and then withdrew.

Gedaliaha! Smiling from the brief contact Harriet looked up at the others.

"If I had known that it would be this painful…"she did not finish the sentence for she realized that she would not have been able to prevent her channels from reopening even if she wanted to.

"I watched my mother take to her death bed because she could not endure the energy."

The others looked at Zohra startled.

"You're one of Lord Chaney's daughters, aren't you?" Carol asked softly still cradling Harriet who was letting her head clear before she risked standing.

Captain Zohra's face became stiff. "What makes you ask that?"

"You have the family mark that shows up when one of them is highly emotional. Though you have a skin patch hiding it, I can see it now that you are worried."

Unconsciously Captain Zohra touched her left cheek hollow to cover the red spot that only Carol could see. To Harriet's eyes, there was a vague change in color but it was not noticeable until Carol pointed it out. She rose to her feet with Carol's assistance.

I'm one of the few that has survived Varina and her mother's reach," she admitted reluctantly. "You're going to ask me if my father knew who I was," Zohra remarked to Harriet uncomfortably. "Yes, he knew. He did not have any fond feelings for me, but he did want me to stay out of Varina's reach."

"He selected you for the Black Rose?" Harriet asked curiously.

"No. You know better than that. The sponsor has no say in troop personnel transfers, though sometimes they can influence the appointment of the CO. It would cause the other Committee members to fear that one member is trying to gain too much power."

Harriet watched Zohra collect her thoughts. She had her head tilted down giving Harriet a different angle to her face. She looked troubled and when she lifted her head, her face was back to being unreadable. Zohra pulled her robe tighter around her.

"We met once at a party Lord Chaney had thrown for the Black Rose. Varina did not attend such functions and normally Lord Chaney did not attend them either, but he wanted to - see me. I knew he was my father from the day I could understand spoken words."

"And you have no animosity towards him?" Harriet asked amazed that she was picking up no emotional stress from the captain as she relayed this information to them.

"No," she gave a soft snort or disgust, "He knew I was his daughter but not who the mother was, and nor was he interested. There was no paternity suit or demands from me so he cared not to stir anything up. My papers identified me as an orphan."

"Guardian, have you found out any more on that chemical that Lord Chaney was treating the captain's clothing with?" Harriet asked.

"Yes. Specifically, it's from the Berrian territory. It is a very interesting chemical. On a Berrian, because of the foods they ingest on their planet, it is a narcotic for healing. To an Off-Worlder who does not ingest their foods, it will eventually kill the host."

"So, what does that mean?" the captain asked impatiently.

"Why don't we go into the sitting room where it is more comfortable?" Charles suggested.

"I'm fine now, Carol. Thank you." Harriet put a hand on Carol's arm as she insisted on walking on her own. The warmth from the other women came from more than one level, and with Harriet's new sensitivity, it was just as distracting as the sensuous feelings were.

As the women made themselves comfortable, Charles moved about them, handing out refreshments. Harriet looked up startled as Carol folded a blanket around her.

"I'm not an invalid. I'm not sick. I am fine," she insisted as Carol fluffed up a pillow behind her. Harriet turned her attention towards Zohra, who she was concerned with. She was distant and looked defensive. Why?

"So, Guardian," Harriet pressed, "on a non-native, would it be like the substance arsenic?"

"To some species, just like it."

"So, just what is the point here folks?" a tight-lipped captain asked, sitting on the edge of her chair.

"My point, Captain," Harriet dared to stare into the dark eyes. "Your bios went up when you spoke of your mother, than flatten out like the horizon line on a flyer's gyro, when you talk about the Chaney's and…" she paused as the dark haired warrior rose to her feet angrily.

"What are you implying? Just because I'm not going off on my so-called… family, you think there is something wrong with me? Do you fear some sort of plot against you? Is that what in Helga's Bloody Moon you're driving at?"

Carol had automatically moved herself next to her mistress when the captain rose from her seat.

"You need to be reexamined," Harriet told her softly.

"What?"

Charles who was behind the captain had lifted an appendage slightly and the captain fell forward. Carol and Harriet caught her body as it toppled forward.

"What do you think, Lt. Montran?" Guardian asked disappointment in his voice.

Harriet held Captain Zohra looking into the face of the partially conscious woman. Her heart was beating rapidly and by the partially closed lids, she knew she could hear. "I think, it's possible that she is under another's influence, a deeply planted chip maybe. I mean, if they can do it to metrapeople and psychotics…why not with people who are not aware they are being influenced. Kinda of a scary thought…no? A private army or legion of spies where the participants don't even know they are someone's puppet." Harriet closed her eyes for a moment hoping she did not know anyone in that position, yet knowing that that was just what metrapeople were. Was she wrong to think that there was something off with Zohra? No. She may have suspected before her channels had not been so open, but now, she could see the off color over her head. Something was not right.

"As a scientist, I would go with the chip, but why do you say a chip?" Guardian asked.

"Because subliminals are modifiable but not chip implants. Isn't that the whole idea behind the program of metrapeople …control with little outside effort? What if Lord Chaney or Lady Varina had a chip implanted in her that would prevent her from taking any action against them and the drug was merely something to hide the effects of the chip?" Harriet looked down at the face of the semiconscious woman that she was holding in her lap. Harriet squeezed the captain's arm reassuringly, though she wondered if that was any consolation to the captain.

"Yes. In one of the research results, it was explained why the implants for the reeducation of social undesirables caused side effects that required drugs to be administered. It has something to do with their dreams," Guardian replied.

The door slid open and a gurney from the infirmary moved in.

"It was a similarity Idwilla drew about the chip implant for conscious thought monitoring with metrapeople and…" Harriet stopped as Captain Zohra's body was lifted and settled on the gurney by Carol and Charles.

She moved to stand next to the captain and with steady fingers, drew them across the furrowed brow as if to smooth the lines out. A blessing she remembered from a long time ago crossed her mind. She rested her curled fingers on the captain's cheek for a moment. Leaning forward she whispered near her ear.

"Be well, my Dancer." Then before she did something stupid, she moved away and the gurney left the room.

"She will be fine, Lady Harriet. Charles will accompany her. My techniques of restraint have no trauma attached to them."

"To some, Guardian, any kind of restraint will result in a trauma." Harriet ran her hand through her hair. "There are two types of chips on the open market that I was able to identify. The one used for metrapeople, interferes with behavior and memory. The second chip monitors the thoughts and behavior of psychopaths. You're right about the drugs. The idea is to keep the subject from having nightmares at the thought of having something implanted in their brain. In the beginning, many of the subjects killed themselves trying to dig it out. I am now wondering; why not also have a chip that the subject is not aware of? Think of what someone can do with that. You can have assassins planted anywhere without even their knowledge. Instead of using posthypnotic suggestions, you have a chip that enforces the command. Just about every planet's recorded history that belongs to Committee and Collective's organizations, has stories of corporations and governments doing the same mind control thing."

"It could very well be possible. The Committee is undergoing reappointment of members. The influence or the removal of key players could change the face of the new Committee and the intentions. There is an interest to change the charter, putting aside the requirements for peaceful coexistence on a planet before it can petition for space travel and membership in either of the organizations."

Harriet made a noise of disgust. "And we know how easy it was to join the Committee and disregard many of the rules in the charter."

"I will send that idea out to Naboths Vine and friends of the Vine."

"I'm sure it has passed others minds." Harriet looked at Carol. "I could use some nourishment that's not so hard on the stomach."

Carol smiled. "Tea to settle an unhappy stomach, and fresh fruit."

"Sounds fine to me."

As they both sat down to breakfast Harriet absorbed herself in the changes in her senses to take her thoughts off Captain Zohra for the time being. As a child her life had been full of colors that whirled around everything that changed with the emotions of the sentient they radiated from. It was after the death of her mentor that she had closed down that sensitive side of herself, so she would not experience the void, which was another side of the life of colors. Her numbness after her mentor's death allowed her world without colors to be lost without much notice. Harriet took a deep breath as she realized that she had gone on with her lessons without her conscious awareness, and had experienced the void, living in it for a long time, and now she was out and back into the world of colors. She shook her head as she regarded the fruit she was eating. Her teachers had said time is but an illusion. What would they say about her experiences as a prisoner of war or of her recent torture with Chaney's guards? She took a deep breath and expelled it slowly. They would have told her to go with the pain and become it. It sounded so presumptuous but, that was what she had done. She moved past the pain and into oblivion. Shaking her head to forget such memories she bit into the last of the fruit.

"I think…I will go back to being called Alexandra," she said aloud.

"Who is Alexandra, Mistress?" Carol asked curiously.

"Me. It was a name I was called when I was younger." She picked up a piece of bread and studied it. When she relaxed her vision, she not only could see interesting colors and textures but also, hear and feel it's energy. She compared it to the plate. The difference was remarkable, but she knew each vibrated on a different level of existence. Alexandra smiled a crooked grin.

"The Monks had thought I would be a good student to the Mother of All, their protectoress, but Kela taught me the Witthing Way, and it is her teachings that I will live."

"Just as I had changed my name and destiny," Carol remarked thoughtfully.

"Yes." Harriet looked closely at Carol and the colors surrounding her. She grinned as spikes of yellow shot up, and then blended into the other soft colors of blues and greens that surrounded her body.

"I believe that the chip that compels you to servitude can be removed without damage to your brain cells. Dr. Sharon Teal, who writes under the name of Iwilla, knows how to do this. Would you not say so, Guardian?"

"Iwilla. You know of this writer?" Guardian asked.

"Just as I know you to be Maa," Harriet smiled.

"And how do you know all this?"

"Because you write like you speak and Iwilla writes like Sharon sounded when she was describing her work to me."

"Well, I will have to tell her that you have found us out."

"You had me fooled for a while. I thought perhaps you were implying she was trying to…hand me over to Alan."

"You are a difficult person to enlighten when you have a mind not to hear. Do you happen to know who Heartstone is?" Guardian asked.

"So I have been told," she told him ruefully. And something I will have to change…now being a good time. "An Off-Worlder on one of the Wieldworlds. He uses descriptions of the sunsets as examples in some of his works too often to be a tourist. But…he also has too much information for a casual dabbler in the business."

"Well…all residents of the Wieldworlds are Off-Worlders. I have not been able to figure who it is and it is driving me to distraction." He sighed. "But, now I know more of what direction to look."

"I would try the prison colony, first. An ideal atmosphere to study implants without interference." Harriet sighed. Sure wish I had a flute. "Guardian, you don't happen to have musical instruments here do you?"

"Yes. In the recreation room. It's on the same floor as the dojo, but to the left on exiting the elevator," Guardian explained.

"Great. First things first. I could do with some exercise. Would you like to continue hand-to-hand training, Carol?" Harriet flashed a teasing smile. Mentally she was relieved that the customary erotic thoughts were not followed by the intense need to drag Carol off somewhere to act on them.

"Yes, Mistress. I would love to test your reflexes."

"My reflexes are just fine, thank you." Harriet grabbed her around her waist and pulled them both onto the couch they were alongside. Harriet planted a passionate kiss on her lips and then jumped up to dress, letting the lingering tingling the kiss left on her lips go as nothing more than something to think about.

***

For the next two hours, they warmed up and then worked out with the moves Captain Zohra had showed them earlier. Guardian provided them with some holographic images that showed them more of the advanced moves, which they added to their work out.

"You know, Carol, this particular style is for killing only. Look at the Sham'hara move. It kills the opponent days after the initial attack. One thrust to the heart or another vital organ and days later the organ aimed at, fails. No one would even suspect. No physical impact was witnessed and no bruises."

Carol wiped her brow with one hand and drank deeply from the water the bot handed her. She paused, watching mistress' face change to a troubled look.

"What is it, Mistress?"

"That certainly would be a good explanation as to why so many influential people have been suffering from heart conditions in the past few years, hm?"

"I hadn't heard about that," Carol returned.

"I remember reading it...no, Sharon was reading it and thought it interesting. She gets a science digest from the college she had graduated from, in Committee space. They did not die but were rushed to a medical facility to get a heart replacement." Harriet stood for a few moments drinking her water and thinking. "It would certainly fit in with my conspiracy idea…" her voice trailed off. Harriet rubbed her face with both hands. "Always looking for the enemy…never knowing who it's going to be. What a life. Ready for a warm-down?"

Both were tired when they broke off the practice, bowing respectfully towards each other. Standing to the side, catching her breath, Harriet watched the beaded sweat drip off Carol's face as she gulped her water. She wiped her own face and wondered what type of relationship they would have when Carol was past the 'mistress' stage.

"Let's go find some musical instruments. Do you know how to play a musical instrument?" She tossed her towel toward the bot, taking a last gulp of her own water then handing the emptied container to the bot attendant.

"Yes, Mistress," Carol spoke without thinking. Both she and Harriet were surprised.

"What's your preference?"

"I don't know, Mistress," Carol remarked slowly and then laughed shortly with embarrassment. "I think I am experiencing a buried memory."

Harriet raised an eyebrow in askance.

"Lord Chaney was not interested in music," she explained further.

Harriet smiled at her, pleased that what seemed to be part of the real person was reasserting itself. "Then that is an important experience."

The two women moved down the hall, each looking in the rooms that lined it, more out of curiosity than checking for musical instruments. Startled, Harriet glanced further down the hall with uncertainty. There was an energy pulse emanating from the end of the hall.

Adjusting her sight by relaxing her gaze, she could see a soft glow composed of purple, blue and green pulsing from the room at the end of the hall. A dark blue shape started to form in the center of the glow growing larger as it appeared to be moving toward them.

Harriet was aware that Carol moved to her side concerned.

"Mistress?" The voice seemed to be from far away.

Harriet remained where she was trying to discern what she was seeing. "Can't you see what is before you?" she asked softly, as if a normal voice would scare off what she was witnessing.

"I see an empty hall, Mistress. What else is there to see?" Carol asked puzzled.

Harriet continued to stare at the form before them, with her eyes beginning to water from the light shinning from around the form. Harriet put her hand out to stop Carol in case she moved forward.

The form in the energy seemed to turn around and walk back into the field. When it disappeared completely the energy field folded into itself and disappeared.

"Mistress?" Carol asked softly.

"I think I now know why Alan wants this planet. There is a portal here." Her heart was pounding excitedly. Part of her was finding it incredulous that what she was witnessing was indeed true.

"A portal?"

"Do you remember the childhood tales of Blenda and Mal and their trips to other...?"

Carol was shaking her head.

"Oh…right. Well…oftentimes childhood tales speak of truths that their elders no longer believe but it does not mean that such things no longer exist."

Carol looked at her blankly, glancing back down the hall, but still only seeing an empty hall.

"In these tales, Blenda and Mal traveled across the Galaxy via portals instead of space ships. These portals are entrances to corridors that take the traveler to specific planets. Like, planet A's portal goes to planet B and B to C and so-on. Not everyone can pass through the portals. Only those that vibrate to a harmonic that is compatible with the portal. Anyone else will go up in flames the moment they step across the threshold. The children's tales were of two idealistic very upstanding young girls who did heroic and kind things wherever they visited. They had two animals that traveled with them. Depending on the life form telling the story, it ranged from wild beasts to tame. I grew up on the tales. Even in the monastery they spoke of the two travelers as if they were real." Harriet laughed ruefully. "I'm digressing here. Anyway, this is just like the stories, the colors, the form coming out of the light…it's just incredible!"

Carol still looked at her uncertain.

"It's an energy gate of some sort," Harriet tried again, not understanding why Carol was not getting the idea - or was it that she was just not interested. "…and the life-forms that enter it must be on a vibration level that is attuned with the gate to be able to enter it."

"Well, Lt. Montran," Guardians voice interrupted her over the speaker system, "I see you have found us out," his voice hinting amusement. "You must step back from where you are so as not to endanger Carol. The chip implant may cause her great harm should she get any closer. The room you had been looking for is the one nearest to the elevator. I suppose you will want to talk about this 'discovery.'

"Yes, I would." Harriet's insides were quivering at the realization of a child's world of fantasy was indeed true. Her more sensible side quickly hushed the thought of all the other possibilities that could exist that she had heard as a child.

"Would you be able to wait until tomorrow? My guests will have settled by then and we can schedule a meeting that will be comfortable for everyone."

"Alright. Sounds okay with me." Oh, right, Harriet. Like you have some say here. Helgas Moon tides. I have to get use to the idea that the portals actually exist. He didn't deny my assumption…so, geeze. Just how much of those tales are true? Goddess. The possibilities. To travel from one planet to another in twenty minutes or less, no matter the distance. Wow!

Though the two were quiet as they headed back toward the elevator, Harriet's thoughts were dredging up memories of all the tales she could remember on the two children that traveled the Galaxy, stumbling from one adventure to another. Kela had mentioned that all planets had openings that allowed a traveler, properly prepared, to traverse to different worlds. Now she understood her. At the time, she had thought she was referring to astral projection, a common practice among the students at the school. It was something she had not thought of for a long time.

Once in the recreation room, Harriet's mind focused on her immediate need - music. She found a flute, and Carol picked out a small instrument that fit into the palm of her hand. Carol tentatively blew on it.

"I don't recall playing this, Mistress," Carol remarked as they rode up the elevator, "but it does make a pleasant sound, does it not? Har-mon-i-ca," Carol enunciated, relishing how it sounded.

Harriet nodded as she tapped the keys on her flute. The pads on the flute were made the old-fashioned way and the feel of the cool metal that warmed quickly against her palms was comforting. "It has a nice sound. I remember hearing one played by a soldier. Its size made it easy for him to carry it around."

Both were excited to try their instruments when they got back to their quarters. Each encircled herself in a soundproof bubble until they had mastered it enough to give solos to each other.

"I really believe you once played that instrument," Harriet told her confidently, as she cleaned her instrument.

Carol's eyes, luminous with a joy she could not describe, took a deep breath and let it out, grinning at this feeling that was reminisant of something she could not quite remember.

Contented and very soul-satisfied the women prepared for bed. Harriet had been heartened to see the colors around Carol so vibrant. Maybe music was the key to healing a metraperson. She shook her head wearily. Sound was used to release the program and to wipe the program out…maybe sound in musical combinations…her brain stopped. She was too tired to go on with the idea. She was also too relaxed.

***

Chapter 18

"Hey, Montran! Wait up!"

Cadet Montran was walking alone back to her barracks in the evening, following her early leave from a birthday celebration at one of the local social establishments. She had a flight test in the morning and wanted to go to bed early. A perfect score was her goal, as she and her dormmate were in competition. Another chance encounter with her Dancer was also on her mind. Contact with her, even for a brief moment, had her mind and emotions scattered and confused, not to mention that it gave a very pleasant thrumming throughout her body. The clear chilly night air was what she needed.

Alan Fermin, from the neighboring Diplomat Academy, hurriedly approached her. A few of his friends were trailing behind. The red alarms in her head were going off at this chance meeting. She could sense the danger and see it as a black cloud heading her way. She felt she had gone though this before. Ahh. It was from her past. She smiled at Alan and mentally forgave him for what he was about to do. Harriet could see the cause and effect of her own actions and without placing judgment on herself, she gained insight and compassion for herself and others whose choices do not always seem to be the best at the time.

Time sped forward, and memories of her last drop played out. In this space, it seemed her incarceration was for a short time, but in real time, it had seemed a lifetime, because along with the physical torture, she suffered for the loss of life of her troop. They were finally proud of themselves and of wearing the Degas troop patch, and now they were no more…except her.

Her dream body suddenly was jerked away from the morbid replays, and compelled to continue on to another place, somewhere she recognized. It was where other souls gathered for their lessons when their physical selves slept. The soul she had recognized as her grandfather was explaining something to a student by way of...

Her struggle to put an explanation to the method of teaching nearly yanked her back into her physical body and would have if Gedaliaha, one of her mentors, had not tapped her on her forehead, as if to remind her. Obediently she took her place amongst the others, though once she focused on her grandfather, all the others disappeared. She became absorbed in the lesson. When it was time for her to leave, she was reluctant, as always. The teacher gave her a nod as she withdrew and this time, she felt she would remember whatever the lesson was about.

***

Carol was not aware of any dreams but she knew she dreamt. She woke up with a start, her heart pounding. The small night-light came on as her bios changed from sleep to an awaken state. Mistress' deep breathing told her she was still asleep. Carol attempted to go back to sleep but could not. She recalled that mistress had said she played her flute when she was in a similar state. Quietly Carol left the bed picking up her robe on the way to the front room. She engaged the soundproof bubble around her. When she played the harmonica earlier, it was like hearing something familiar at the edge of her consciousness. She wanted to stop wrestling with feelings and try to put pieces of thoughts together. It was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together in the dark.

She paused not knowing what to play. She closed her eyes and listened to the combination of tones she blew. She played the notes long, letting them tease out memories that were like gray shadows. It was as if she was looking for a specific tone.

Finally she stopped. She did not know for how long she was playing but she wanted to sit in the silence for a few moments. She could feel herself buzzing. What was that from? She shook her head to get rid of the sound. Opening her eyes, she could see an unfamiliar figure sitting on the couch watching her.

Carol released the bubble.

"I am an old friend whom you will not remember, nor do you need to. I have come with a message from your past, to you, from you." With that, she held out her hand with a case resting in her opened palm.

"I'm not sure I understand what you are saying." However, Carol eagerly reached for the case. Her hands touched an apparition though the case was solid.

"You volunteered for this job. Now it is finished. You set up the parameters of recovery. You can remember who you were, or not. What memories you wish to keep is your decision." With that, the apparition disappeared.

Carol looked at the case in her hand. She put the case in her robe pocket when she heard movement coming from the bedroom. Now was not the time to review it.

Harriet stepped into the front room fighting a big yawn. "Good morning, Carol. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, and you Mistress?" she asked politely as she noted Harriet's bios and mentally started to plan for breakfast.

"Yeah. Have you eaten yet?"

"No. I was waiting for you."

"Thanks. Well…I was going to do some stretches, work out a bit and take a bath before I eat. If that's too long for you…don't wait. When Guardian's guests start arriving, our day will be long with introductions, shared dinners, socializing, and planning. Just the thought is tiring me," she groaned melodramatically, though meaning it.

Harriet disappeared back into the bedroom to start her morning meditation.

Carol settled in front of the computer to read about metrapeople until grunts and other small noises, indicating mistress was practicing a kata, had her deciding to help her with her workout.

Carol peered into the bedroom where the bed was gone and the dialed environment produced a bare padded room with plenty of space.

Harriet felt Carol enter the room and turned, pausing to see what she wanted. Carol bowed, removed her robe and moved into a horse stance waiting until Harriet took her place directly in front of her. Both were without clothing, giving them an even footing for vulnerability and distractions.

"This is going to prove interesting," Harriet smirked.

"You are at a disadvantage," Carol replied, returning the smirk.

They worked out for over an hour until Harriet stepped back and then bowed, indicating she was calling a halt.

"Great workout. Thanks, Carol."

Carol smiled as they both headed to the shower to rinse off before soaking in the tub. They exchanged kisses and touches in the shower, as they took their time. With nothing demanding their attention until Guardian had his meeting later in the evening, they felt relaxed.

"I love this life!" Harriet mumbled, sliding her hand to Carol's thigh and grabbing her on her butt cheek and pulling her closer. "Time to stretch, exercise without being rushed, time to share a shower with someone very important…and then having time to soak in herbal waters. What a life."

"Hmm. My life, as I remember it with Lord Chaney, did not have any of this hedonistic pleasure. I think I like my life with you better, Mistress." Carol's voice was light and teasing, giving Harriet the impression whatever she remembered from serving Lord Chaney had no ill effect…so far.

"Well, my dear," Harriet bit her on her neck, "we had better take advantage of our time together. When this is all over, I'll be shipped back to the Ziggy and you…your life will be wherever you decide is best for you." Harriet looked into her eyes while she intertwined their fingers. "I would not mind you going where I go, Carol. Don't get me wrong. But only after you have had a chance to decide what you want to do with your life."

Carol smiled. "I understand you. We will enjoy the time we have together. Tomorrow is for tomorrow."

"So…" Harriet pulled her out of the shower and led her toward the tub. "What do you think the smuggler's are up to?

"In all probability, the Merkate, Master Alha Bahna, will attempt to take over the leadership of the smugglers…but he won't have many followers in the smuggler cells that are scattered about the Galaxy. They suspect him of sacrificing their main hide-away that the Collective raided to give the impression Lord Chaney was a bad leader. Ohhh. This is very…" she slid into the tub.

"Different," Harriet finished, groaning in bliss as the water's heat and herbs seeped into her pores.

Both women sniffed the fragrance that rose from the bubbling tub appreciatively.

"It is for calming and refreshing tired nerves," Ald explained.

"Just what the bot recommended. So, what else were you going to say?" Harriet prodded Carol both verbally and underwater. She had taken a seat directly across from Carol so that their buoyant legs entwined as they leaned back.

"Master Alha Bahna and Lord Chaney were always at odds since the merkate became his partner. Lord Chaney was forming an alliance with another smugglers' group with part of the deal to 'off' Master Alha Bahna."

"Oh, joy. Did I ever change things," Harriet hesitated. "It's going to be pretty difficult to return the merkate to his planet if he's caught. Now that he knows all about interstellar travel and has contacts…maybe the guy that picked up the contract will not fulfill the obligation. How far did he get to solidifying it?"

"It was completed before he died."

"So…it should be interesting how his death is affecting the smugglers. Whether he died or not…he must have given his new partner information that would give him control of large parts of his business."

Carol shook her head. "Lord Chaney had many partners in his many businesses and gave them only enough information pertaining to their side of the operations. He felt the less any of them knew of his contacts, the less chance he had in worrying about takeovers."

"Hmm. Did you know?"

"Yes."

Harriet nodded, and then asked hesitantly, "Were you something more than just a bodyguard?"

Carol looked puzzled. "What is 'just' a bodyguard?"

"Right, you need a comparison." She thought a while. "Did he tell you about his businesses?"

"Only when he wished a reprisal on someone involved. Anything more was from overheard conversations."

"Do you realize that for what you know, you are a valuable asset to some and a liability to others?"

Carol nodded. "Yes. Captain Zohra also has mentioned it in our first conversation. She wished me to be very careful of anyone that wished to befriend me or approach me."

"Ahh. When our reinforcements arrive. So, she suspects there will always be a spy to worry about." She realized that even if Carol would want to leave with her when this operation was over, chances are she would not be allowed to. Not until the new Committee government was firmly settled, unless she was a threat to someone Lord Chaney once had something on, was elected.

"I shall soon be debriefed." Carol smiled reassuringly at Harriet. "Captain Zohra assured me it is a painless process. They have been monitoring me since I started my assignment with Lord Chaney. It has been agreed that four organizations shall have what information I give, therefore one cannot hide it and harm me."

"Good thinking," Harriet mumbled as she closed her eyes.

The music that was softly playing in the background lulled Harriet into a relaxed frame of mind and it was with great reluctance that she finally rose from the water peering at her hands that were showing signs of too much soaking.

Carol followed her taking the towel Harriet handed her. Smiling Carol pulled Harriet toward her. "I know for sure that I was a lover of women before this change," she whispered in Harriet's ear. "And, had circumstances been different…I still would have enjoyed a sexual liaison with you."

The women shared a slow and sensual kiss, and then parted, enjoying the tingling feeling that did not compel them to consummate the need immediately.

***

*

Harriet was inspecting her repaired second skin and Carol was pulling on a shirt when Guardian wished them a good morning.

"Well, our second group of help has arrived!" he announced excitedly. "Admiral JoCastao has a ship above us spreading out a protective net over the planet to prevent any of Alan's group from reentering from space or those below from slipping away. The Vine has dropped soldiers in the city, and are starting a sweep to route out the Spartans and what's left of Alan's soldiers. They have taken the four ships above, including Chaney's. The Committee is not quite ready to trust their troops until they have a new command structure in place; however, they are doing well so far in their keeping peace. They have much to prove. I also have a report that Alan has disappeared. Only one death to report - Gustaf Fermin."

"Alan's doing?"

"Naboth's Vine does not believe so. He had a love-hate relationship with his father, but not the type that would warrant sending out an assassin. In Gustaf's profile, he had no friends. Like Lord Chaney, he trusted few. Any relationships he formed were limited to a business deal."

"Hmm. I've met a handful of people like that. Usually they had a reason for not trusting anyone, which was related to their own practices."

"Yes. Very justified. We have found Captain Zohra's implant. The consensus is that it was not Lord Chaney's doing, or the entire team would have one. The implantation is a long involved process, and only two in the team were gone for the length of time it would take for the surgery. Maybe, Varina Chaney knows something and will be willing to talk about it."

"I doubt that," Carol replied. "She, like her father, keeps her own counsel when it comes to business, and unlike her father, her sexual preferences."

"She can be tested in front of the Tribunal about her knowledge pertaining to her father's known illegal businesses and attempts on the life of other legal heirs to his estate."

"She has Thebain heritage," Carol pointed out.

"Her birth records do not identify her mother as one."

"Lord Chaney's grandfather was a Thebain. The characteristics skipped Lord Chaney, though he had his persuasive means, but both Captain Zohra and Lady Varina have inherited that ability. I would imagine all his female off-spring have the trait."

"What about the males?"

"He only had girls, much to his joy, but not to his lawful wife and Varina."

"So, we would not know when they are lying or leading us on."

"That is correct."

"Why didn't Zohra use that on us?" Harriet puzzled, for she knew about the Thebain abilities. They would have all believed her if she chose to lie about her family.

"Perhaps she doesn't know she has it," Guardian interjected.

"From what Lord Chaney had said, they do."

"Lord Chaney knew both of them had this?"

"The conversation I overheard was between Lord Chaney and one of his money mangers. He always crosschecked his daughter's verbal reports. It has to do with the voice."

"Maybe that's why Captain Zohra was able to stay alive for so long with the Black Rose," Harriet mused. "Yet, she did not use it with us. And you said she had an implant. Can you image the difficulty...I wonder if that was one of the reasons for the implant, aside from maybe being a cleverly planted assassin."

"It would be like Lady Varina to compel Captain Zohra to kill her father," Carol admitted thoughtfully. "Lord Chaney had decided on a metradame as a bodyguard when an assassin had slipped past his guards and mistakenly slain his metrachild. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, he had said. But it scared him enough to invest in better protection."

"Helgas bloody moon!" Tightness in her chest at the thought of Zohra's struggle…for years and alone, had her looking for something to distract her. She knew what that was like. Refocusing she easily let her anger at Lord Chaney surface. He knew he was molesting children.

"What did he do with his metrachildren when they matured…or did the chip prevent maturation? If Lord Chaney was able to enslave children for his pleasures...what of others doing the same to these children? And...what is going to happen to them when they are released?" She worried.

"A plan has been in the works on their reeducation. Part of the healing is that their memories as metrachildren will be blotted out and their faces changed. The Healers' Houses in both spaces have been working on where to place them and train them for productive lives," Guardian explained. "There are many concerned and compassionate beings working on how to bring back all the metrapeople we can find." He paused a moment. "There is also concern, that some are being taken care of better than they had been before they were metrapeople...and those we must also consider what is best."

"Isn't that being presumptuous on your part?" Harriet asked testily.

"Yes. That is why it will be left to the spiritual community to decide on a soul level what will be in line with their soul path for this life."

"You don't agree with it," Harriet guessed.

"It is not that I agree with or disagree with it," he sighed. "It is something I do not think about in my present state, so I am not sure. I don't have the same emotional feelings as living in a body would give me. Right and wrong is in black and white, and sometimes in grays, rather than in colorful hues as they should be."

"Ahh. I had not thought of justice making quite like that," Harriet said softly.

"Justice making. Yes. That is what master LiTien said. She is quite involved in the discussions and can be quite stubborn in her stand."

"Well, I guess for Captain Zohra's part, we'll just have to wait until she tells us her story…though I don't see Captain Zohra as a chatty person."

"Lady Zohra, technically," Guardian interjected with a hint of humor in his tone. "She has been left a title and lands to go with it on El, a small landmass of wilderness on Anim. However, I am told she does not care for the title or the land. It will no doubt go into her Sister's Shield House holdings."

Lady Harriet raised her eyebrows and smiled. Lady Zohra? That is going to take some time to get use to. "Hmmm. How is she doing?"

"She appears to be holding up well…though, it would not be advisable to be around her right now. She's a bit short tempered."

Lt. Montran smiled and then turned to Carol. "When can they start on Carol?"

"The process has already begun. She had been ingesting caciu in her liquids, and it forms an acidy blood content, not enough to hurt her but just enough to melt the chip. Each species and individual has a body chemistry that may help break the biochip down. If you had read further on the chip itself, you would have read that the chips have to be biodegradable so that the brain could absorb the chip implant without causing seizures over a length of time. That was so the body did not attack the foreign substance in it."

Harriet pulled off the unicorn ring and handed to Carol. "A souvenir, if you want it. I think that's great, Carol."

Carol took a deep breath and just nodded. She was not sure just what she was supposed to feel, but...her fingers curled around the ring in the outstretched palm and she looked into the green eyes of her savior. "Thank you, mistress."

"I don't think that name applies anymore," Harriet whispered, feeling her eyes tearing up at that thought because it had a lot of other underlying meanings. It was a gift she gave but it was Carol's right to have…so was it really a gift?

"So are you getting any major troop deployment?" Harriet asked to break the emotional tension.

"Yes. In the next two days a few troop ships will leave off a nice handful to guard the Lair and a few troops in the city to hunt out the remnants of Alan's soldiers." Guardian hesitated wondering if he should say more. After all she was military; however, her admiral clearly stated after he had given her a report of her capture, that she did not want her involved in any skirmishes until she was debriefed and cleared by a psych val. When he had inquired, because he knew where this was going to lead, she stated from military protocol that any soldier captured and tortured must be cleared before returning to duty. Guardian's reassurances did not budge the admiral. Perhaps he should not have reported the other events. She was obviously worried about her mental and emotional stability. Admirals were a stubborn bunch, and for that matter so was the general of the sister's forces and the colonel of the brother's troops in the city. They all felt she needed a break. Well, the healers had arrived and he was sure they would clear her. However, he was worried because they had said Lt. Montran did not need their assistance. No matter. He had notified an old friend who would arrive via the portal soon. She would take care of Lt. Montran.

Guardian watched Lt. Montran pace working out something out loud to Carol's amusement. She was gesturing in the air about….

"Well, it's a relief to know it's in someone else's hands. Do you know the commanding officers of this operation?" Lt. Montran wheeled around again and stared right into the camera he had in her room. So much for thinking it was well hidden.

If Guardian had eyes he would have blinked at the sudden refocus on her conversation. "Aside from your Rear Admiral who has been charged with the space protection, the ground assignments are still being discussed as we speak. They will not be from the Committee. Due to their reorganizing, they are hard pressed keeping their own space safe from pirates who want to take advantage of their situation. War forums are usually composed of two military and two civilians, I understand." Guardian was quiet for a few moments, and then decided to tell her, knowing it may stir her to become actively involved with the protection of the planet. "In my discussions with the other guardians, we have identified what we all thought was a child that caught a ride on a smuggler's ship as a stow-away, when in fact…it is an alowan, from another star system in Eckron sector. They are from planet 0eck003."

Harriet's eyebrows rose, "A closed planet," she muttered. All closed planets had numbers that identified their position on a star chart.

"Yes. There have been…disturbances that many of the guardians have noted occurring on their planets. When investigated, it was found that these Alowans were there in small pockets of armed forces and in unpopulated areas. When these visitors were discovered…they would disappear…like walking through a gate. They have found a way to force open gates of energy between their planet and others. Scientists were able to trace them back to their planet. Their culture is very primitive in the sense that they have poisoned their planet to such an extent that it is dying. Instead of cleaning up their toxic mess, or asking for help, they have chosen to move to other planets. Opening gates is normally done by a person tuning himself or herself, to the gate. It would also have to be a person that has inner harmony. These people have created a machine that forces the gates open. Our guess is that they are sending out people to find habitable planets."

"Wow," Harriet muttered. "And this outpost would be ideal for them. It has all the modern conveniences and no one's home. So there may be more than one of them here."

"Possibly. They breathe the same air as I have in two cities activated. The Lair and Century City, but ten of the cities can be converted to the same air mixture. I have convened a meeting of other guardians to discuss what we are going to do about these incursions by these people, which are disturbing the gates energies throughout the galaxy. We also need to speak on the Alan Fermin problem. He wants to disrupt the gates all together. My guests have been arriving for the last twenty-four stan hours, as you had noticed, Lady Harriet, when you walked into the portal's energy field. I've been rather busy bringing up the life support systems in the Lair. Most of them are staying on the tenth and eleventh levels, close to the laboratories and gate."

"By everyone meeting here…doesn't that give Alan a tempting target?"

"It is more of a convenience to me. I cannot travel to their planets in the state I am presently in. Your admiral has no orders for you until she arrives. I believe she said you are owed a vacation, so until otherwise notified, consider yourself on shore leave. There really is nothing for either of you to do until the others arrive."

Laboratories…Now that is rather interesting. If he can put himself and Charles in a computer and bot…why not clone a body from either of their cells and…

"Guardian, would you mind if I asked you a personal question?"

"You may ask."

"Why haven't you developed a clone from your body cells instead of putting yourself into a computer? You have the laboratories and the scientific knowledge."

"Timing and…I will admit, the sense of power I have while in a computer is difficult to give up. With Charles, his species is rather difficult to clone but we have been nurturing it into an adult. Charles does not want to move into a child's body. Myself…I found the idea of giving up being able to tap into so much information and compile it and do all the things a computer can do so much faster than this Copac had ever imagined…" he sighed heavily. "But, it is without a doubt something I will have to consider giving up. My own cloned body is ready. Unlike Charles, a younger body is not a problem with me. Just giving up all this power is. With all the scientist arriving, I would be foolish not to take advantage of their presence to complete the melding process."

"I guess it would be like 'dumbing down.' Seeing Charles with less color would be…different." Taking a deep breath she moved on to other things she was worried about. "Guardian, about the other cities on your outpost. Would mind if we looked them over while we're waiting for the rest to arrive?"

"Not at all. The present small group the Vine has deployed in the City is not able to stretch themselves beyond New Century City. I have not been able to reestablish communication in the other cities so you will be on your own," Guardian cautioned, "until you bring up the systems."

"Are there any citizens left?" Carol asked.

"No. I do believe everyone has left. I was not in any condition to monitor the evacuation, but when my system came back on line, Maud visited them and she found no one left. But that was years ago and for the last two, we have been rather busy."

"Well, I'm for exploration. We'll go see if you have any visitors or guests in your other cities that you don't know of and reacquire your communication links," Harriet offered. She felt jittery to be sitting around doing nothing when she knew that there was going to be a battle of wits or violence in a matter of days. That type of energy was in the air. Suddenly she turned to Carol. "That is, unless you have something else in mind."

"I would not mind exploring, Mistress." She grinned at the grimace on Mistress' face. She had heard her hints at not using the name, but Carol was amusing herself, learning about how her body reacted to humor, laughter, making love and other emotions she may have displayed as Lord Chaney's bodyguard but not experienced.

Harriet stuck her tongue out at Carol who grinned back.

"Good!" Guardian returned happily. "I will prepare subliminal tapes on what you need to know about the cities. Which one do you want to visit first?"

"I keep seeing in my mind's eye this vast amount of water with single room buildings on the various docks that circle the water."

"Avanster, or WaterLand. I don't advise swimming in the water as it is like another's home. Uninvited guests...may not return."

"I thought you said no one was there?" Carol remarked doubtfully.

"The water is a living thing, though the inhabitants of the water may have left."

"That reminds me of guardian spirits of my country. Though some of the city people do not believe in the spirit guardians they still leave alms or some sort of token of respect when they pass through or remove something from a garden, glen or cross-roads."

"Do they? What does the token or alms do, Mistress?" Carol asked puzzled.

"It lets the guardian know that she or he is honored and that the traveler is thanking her or him for allowing them to pass through their territory or taking a memento of their journey from their land."

"What happens if they do not?"

"Bad luck!" Harriet replied with a grin.

Carol gave her an odd look, as if disbelieving, and then replaced it with a thoughtful frown, as if turning this over in her mind. Harriet wondered what memory was resurfacing that had her perplexed. Every planet had their strange superstitious customs of placating the unknown forces in their lives. Perhaps Lord Chaney never demonstrated his own practices. The Miners' colonies, which Lord Chaney had represented, were notorious for their large assortment of good luck charms.

"Guardian, do you have some information on the culture?" Harriet went on to Guardian.

"I'll add it to your subliminal. Unless you would like audio or a visual study?"

"Subliminal and nap are fine."

***

Harriet woke suddenly and alert. She was aware of having dreamed of Gedaliaha and something about her Dancer, but it was too vague. No nightmares. That was surprising since her latest capture and interrogation should have brought up a lot of memories to lose sleep over. Stretching, she mused that not only was she in a good mood, but her body did not feel at all like she had been through any physical abuse. Should she worry?

Gawds, no. It's probably something to do with opening up my channels. Maybe I should be researching that. I haven't thought of the subject since childhood.

Carol was not around so Harriet began her Chi Gung workout to wake her body up, then showered and dressed. While she ate, she mentally reviewed what information the subliminals had given her. Whatever technique Guardian used in his subliminals she noticed that the information was making its way faster to her consciousness than the first time. The Committee used a harsher method of delivering subliminal information to their troops, which incorporated drugs so that the information would be available the moment the soldier was partially conscious. Unfortunately the side effects from the drugs and perhaps something a lot more subtle, gave most nightmares and other small and nagging physical discomforts. Lives depended on it, the war board had said. However, in Collective territory, Lt. Montran found subliminals were seldom used. The soldiers were given their orders; Sergeants would have a little more information; and a CO would have more. If that was not enough then a messenger was dispatched or a call was made on a need to know basis. If someone got cut off from operations, the basic philosophy of the corps was followed and no great cluster fucks were made, such as entire villages wiped out or civilians killed in error. Lives were valued in Collective space, even the 'bad' guys. Lt. Montran wondered what they would do with someone as damaged as Alan. She was probably going to find out since the Admiral was responsible for the protection of the planet. Well, at least now she understood why this planet was so important.

Harriet looked up as Carol walked into the room looking for her.

"Mistress, are you getting ready to leave?"

"Yeah. Is Captain Zohra back in her room?" Harriet asked, guessing at Carol's whereabouts.

"She is sleeping now. She was having a bad dream so I stayed with her until she went to sleep. Bach, a sandwich and quava juice, with pulp, please."

"Hmm." Being undercover for so long with a group like the Black Rose and a sister like Lady Varina Chaney is enough to give anyone nightmares.

Both finished their lunch in silence, deep in their own thoughts. If Alan's soldiers were loose in the unmonitored cities or the alowan was sending in more of his or her people, Lt. Montran wanted to know just where they were wandering.

If I were infiltrating…I would…have a way to hide my life readings. Go into hypersleep? It would take a biosleep pod. Hmm. The best way to sneak a sleep pod into a city would be to hide a small ship…a larger ship for…say, a troop compliment. So where could Alan fit a ship of any size, unnoticed even by Guardian?

The ride on the train to Avanster was faster than what it had been to Century City, but then this was not on the opposite side of the planet. When the door to the car came open, the reflection from the water mirrored on the car's ceiling. Carol stepped out first and glanced around quickly. They were on a beach below the planet's surface, and deeper than the other cities.

Harriet stepped out slower as she was sensing something around them. There was a presence, but she could not identify it as coming from an individual or from a group. However, it was not interested in them. It could be the spirit of the water. The view through her helmet did not show any life signs other than their own. Was it the water? Had she ever felt this much life from a body of water before? Shaking her head, she reminded herself that this was her first experience as an adult with her empathic senses this enhanced. And then she wondered if the suit blunted or somehow distorted her feelings. She turned to a sound to her right. Water lapping against a pillar.

The train had delivered them to a dock. It was the only one that did not have a small building standing on it. Numerous other docks were linked by thin walkways suspended over the water. Harriet looked into the water and could see only darkness. Since the water was a living thing, it should register something in her helmet, she reasoned. Puzzled she put the thought aside for the moment. There was not much light here, and though the helmets allowed them to see shadows and shapes, it was still dark enough for accidents to happen. Her subliminal told her that it was night and daylight was several standard hours away. There was a yellow light shinning from the top of the dome shaped ceiling of the city. Harriet took it for a replica of a moon. They were too far underground to be viewing the actual sky.

"Let's take a look at the one over there." Harriet pointed. It was the smallest building compared to the others and it was the nearest to them. Carol nodded. Carol's body language revealed she was uneasy about something. Did she feel the presence also?

They crossed the bridge slowly looking carefully at where they stepped. Neither wanted to find a broken spot and fall into the water below. The first building was dome shaped with a circular doorway. Nothing blocked the entrance. However, the doorway was so low that they would have to crawl on all fours in order to enter. Above it was a shadowy carving of something Harriet could not make out. There was no recognizable form, only shadows hinting at curves. Carol did not look at all happy at this. Harriet did not feel any danger though something needed watching. What was it?

Harriet placed a small token on the ground near where they would enter. She started to go first but Carol pulled her back shaking her head. "Carol, it's better if I do go first. I can sense things you may not."

"And that's why you should follow me, Mistress. You can observe what is happening when I enter. I feel something is here, or in this city and I would rather you observe than fall prey to it."

Rather than argue for something she felt was a minor point at the moment she let Carol go in first.

When Harriet's head cleared the entrance, she was able to stand up. A winding stairway led downward. Small lights lit up as they approached showing the way down.

So, there is something that is on giving power to this structure to recognize it is inhabited and needs light on a staircase…Next question, is the light for the convenience of the visitors from the other cities or did the species that once reside here need lights too?

Carol was waiting midway down the stairs. Neither spoke as they studied the walls that had a glass like appearance. On the other side of the glass were waving underwater plants that moved as if there were an underwater tide, or maybe they were alive and moved of their own volition.

When the stairs ended, they could not have been more than three cubits down, with only their heads showing above the ground. The room they entered in appeared to be a storage room, for shelves that were now empty lined the circular room. There was nothing else they could see. According to the suit gauge, the room was extremely cold.

Harriet gave the signal she had seen enough. Carol did not waste any time as she led the way back up and out. They both exchanged glances before they started towards the next place.

The next building was larger and this time Harriet did not give Carol a chance to enter first. She placed a scented token on the outside and crawled in. The moment Harriet cleared the entrance she knew this was a different type of building. She could feel something was here. A soft light came on when she entered the room. This room was circular as the other but was larger and instead of the stairs there was a large circular pond in the center with a totem pole in the center of the pond…or so it appeared. Harriet could see the water ripple in the dim light. She motioned to Carol to follow her as she stayed close to the wall rather than venture near the pond. This culture had a household spirit that protected the residences. Her subliminal informed her that this is where the spirit was housed. Tradition had it that the household spirit moved with the family. Harriet frowned. The household guardians were spirits of past family members that were asked to comeback to protect a family for the lifetime of the person that called it. Strange culture, Harriet thought. Once she left the physical world, she did not want to come back. She shuddered. It was as bad a being turned into a metraperson.

Moving slowly around the room both women stayed as far from the pond as they could. The opposite side of the room was their destination where there was a dark circular doorway. Silently, Harriet gave a prayer to whoever's house she was invading and pulling out a stone she found in one of the pots in their bathing room, she placed it at the second doorway as she stooped to enter.

These people must be midgets! Wow. This probably is a workroom or office. It is airy and…it feels as if it's expansive yet, it doesn't really look that large. Shelves on three of the walls… that could be furniture in the center there, but what this other stuff is…I can't even imagine.

Carol joined her and pressed her arm in warning as Harriet made to try one of the shadowy couches. Harriet nodded and then gave her a sign to search on one side and she would the other.

While Harriet located the camera Carol located the small control panel located in the shelves to the right of the second doorway.

"Mistress," Carol's voice softly called.

Harriet moved quickly to Carol's side. The shelves were not empty, as she had thought. Looking at them closer she could see that the helmet missed the substance the contents of the shelves contained.

"What is it?"

"I don't know? Did you sleep for the subliminal?" she asked Carol.

"I did, however, I was awakened before it finished."

"Well, I think we need to contact Guardian. Above the door is one of the cameras to the mainframe. Shall we see if the on/off switch works?"

"That is here?"

"No. Right up there where the camera is. Sometimes the simplest solution works. We would have to first check there anyway."

Harriet was thinking about how she was going to inspect the camera that was just a foot out of her reach when Carol offered her cupped hands.

Harriet found the switch easily enough. It was in the off position. Simple enough, she thought. The small light indicating it was activated did not come on.

"Mistress, perhaps it also has a switch behind here." Carol's finger pointed to the blur on the shelf.

Gingerly Harriet attempted to push aside the shadowy contents but they would not move.

"No room to push. You need to remove them." Carol reached over, pulled out some of the shadowy shapes, and laid them on a table nearby. "Simple," Carol said softly, smiling at Harriet's confusion.

The small door to the control unit came open easily. Carol found the switch, which looked very different from the equipment above the doorframe. She pushed the on switch and for a brief moment, lights flashed on the panel then a small screen came on showing that the small system was coming up.

"The camera light is on, Mistress," Carol commented after a few minutes.

"Ahh. It is good to see that you are both doing well," Guardian's voice came over both their helmet speakers.

"Hello, Guardian. Anything happen while we've been out of touch?"

"No, just the usual reports from the troops searching out Alan's group. And a protest from Lady Varina filed with the Counsel of Rings in absentia of the Committee's Grand Counsel, in the Collective's refusal to return her men or ship, due to their attack and mistreatment of one of the Collective's officers." Guardian cleared his nonexistent throat. "I'm not sure she understands the seriousness of the crime, being that one government official condoning the kidnapping, imprisonment and mistreatment of an officer from another government, in peace time."

"So…I…" Lt. Montran was not looking forward to facing a sea of faces she did not know and reliving her ordeal. It would open too many other closed doors that no one had the right to reopen if she did not chose to.

"You are not required in this matter. My filming your capture and treatment has been presented to the Counsel of Rings, since the Committee is in a mute state at this time. I have launched the protest as you were my guest and they were not welcomed or here in any legal capacity. It's better for people that are skilled in such matters to handle."

"Right. So…we'll discuss the matter when I return…which I'm sure my commander will have a lot to say." Oh, bloody moon! This will give them the opening to nose into my past. I can always resign. Right. And run away again? How many galaxies are there to run to? "Well, back to the present...do you know where we are?" Harriet asked, hopefully.

"Yes. You are in the chancellor's library. Actually, it was his son's. I see that he had not taken his readers when he left. That is curious. I would have thought MaaSa would never leave without his collection."

"So, these are…books," Carol said as she picked up what she had laid on the table.

"Yes. That is what you would call them. They are data cards. You place one on that table and the system would play it on the screen for you. It would be either audio or visual. For you it would not work, for you do not know their language or see with the same vision as they. They could be out of the water for a while but they did most of their living underwater. The library was set above the water to see if the data cards would last longer."

Harriet paused and listened for a moment. What was that she heard? Did she hear a sigh? She did not feel any presence in the room.

"Well, we shall move on to the next structure. We have a lot to do and I'm sure not all will be this easy."

Carol was the first out through the doorway. As Harriet bent down to crawl back out through the doorway, the moment she cleared the doorframe she could feel a force pushing at her. The energy that was coming from the room was not friendly nor was it familiar. She could see what resembled a lifeline from the pond attached to the gray cloud that was leaning over Carol who was crowded to the wall on the other side of the pond. Harriet quickly moved to the lifeline and patted it with her gloved hand. The gray cloud was instantly before Harriet with all its malevolent energy surrounding her. No small wonder why Carol was pressed against the wall! The energy was staggering! Harriet remembered some childhood protection incantations, which she mumbled as she tried to slowly back away from the pond. She could not see Carol for the gray cloud was all around her. It closed off most of her senses.

Harriet resigned herself to the entrapment and sat down. Quieting her fears, she centered herself as she had done long ago when frightened. When was the last time she had done this? A flower. She had been admiring a flower from her aunt's garden when she experienced a profound love that had made her heart ache. This remembered moment she radiated to whatever was covering her.

Harriet was startled out of her meditation when someone tapped her shoulder. She looked up to see Carol smiling down at her. She was not wearing her helmet. In fact, she was not dressed at all. Harriet laughed humorously. The entity was so clever.

She could feel her amusement reflected back to her.

"So, you are Guardian spirit of this home. Perhaps you know of MaaSa?"

The presence vanished quickly and she found Carol next to helping her up.

"You okay?" she asked Carol.

"Yes, Mistress. Are you?" she studied her mistress closely.

"Uh, huh."

There was a splash on the outside and the building rocked gently. The entity that appeared before them was a glow of no color, but the center was an off white.

"Well, MaaSa. Welcome!" Guardian's voice could be heard from a speaker in the room they were in.

"MashiMaa, it has been a long time since I have heard you speak and a long time since I have used this language!"

"We could speak in your own language, but my emissaries would not understand," Guardian returned.

"I had heard you were no longer," MaaSa continued.

"I had heard everyone had left," Guardian returned.

"It is good that neither of us believed," MaaSa returned in humor.

"I cannot take credit for that. Lt. Alexandra Harriet Montran felt the deserted cities needed a long over due inspection."

"Yes. The one that sent a message to me. How do you know of our ways, Lt. Alexandra Harriet Montran?" the form asked as it moved toward the two women.

"She asked for subliminals of the culture of your Enuits, MaaSa. Don't be hostile so hastily," Guardian broke in quickly.

Harriet did not feel any danger but she believed Guardian knew what he was doing.

"You have information on my Enuits? I had thought I destroyed all records of us."

"Not all. So what have you been doing with yourself all this time?"

"I have been doing what I have desired since a youth."

"Writing," Harriet stated.

"Yes. I have finished eleven stands, which represents books to you. I am now outlining the final. We write in twelve's," MaaSa explained.

"What will you do when you are finished?" Guardian asked curious.

"You shall send them home for me. I don't have any desire to return. I like it here. I am free to write or wander without anyone telling me I cannot do it."

"I shall take care of that as you ask, MaaSa." Guardian assured him.

"So, now that you have found someone, what more do you want?" MaaSa rumbled his question to Harriet.

"Are you the only one that is here?"

"Perhaps. Is this something MashiMaa is asking, or is it your own question?"

Harriet's subliminal was telling her she was asking questions that are not asked in this culture. Enuits were a secretive group when compared to humans, beasties, and most of the clans in the Zed sector. There is a scattering of planets that still held to the secretive nature like the Enuits but Harriet felt an urgency to push past the cultural barriers. Would Alan find this city an easy target? And the plan that was partially forming in her mind, was it right for everyone?

"There is one who wishes to destroy this planet, if he cannot take possession of it, and he has already found he cannot possess it."

The pressure from MaaSa lessened for a moment. "So, what are you wishing to impart on my city?"

"We wish to activate some more of Guardians cameras, however I don't think that will be enough." She let him think about that for a moment.

"You wish to stay here?" he asked slowly.

"No. But there is a ritual….called sesshi."

"She did not get that from my subliminals," Guardian hurriedly interjected.

"How do you know about something that is not even written about?" MaaSa asked it softly but Harriet could feel a great pressure on her forehead.

She used her hand to flick the energy away as if it were a fly. "I heard a story of a far off land and the disaster that befell it, and what saved the inhabitants. It occurred to me that the story may well have been about the Enuits or a relative of yours."

"It is a very good guess." Guardian laughed again. "MaaSa, you must admit, she is very good."

"Who did you hear the story from?" MaaSa asked not giving in.

"From an ancient story teller on San Standard. She would not use the correct names to any one in the tale, believing that it would open the door to the evil that once resided in this long lost planet," Harriet recalled.

"So...the teacher is correct," MaaSa sighed. "It was a terrible evil that turned the water people against the land people. Both peoples had listened to the whispers of this evil that spoke ill of the other."

There was silence for a long moment.

"But, it was a long time ago. So you wish to become part of a sesshi?" he asked slowly.

"Not I." Harriet turned to Carol.

Carol's eyes became wide at suddenly understanding what mistress was suggesting.

"I? I do not know what this is, Mistress!"

"I think somewhere in your lost memories you do. Only you called it something else. What it is is a psychic link to another. In different cultures it has different names and different ways of practicing it but basically, it is sharing another's consciousness."

"Why?" three voices echoed.

"Because if Alan does invade this part of the city, he will either wipe out everyone that is still here or he will do something that would do irreparable damage to your spirit. Alan thrives on the terror of others. That is how Alan is. If he is casting his sticks, there is no telling what he is seeing. His soldiers were delivering explosives to Century City," she reminded them. "And with the moBots he would be able to send them down the travel tubes to the other cities."

"What does sesshi have to do with this?"

"Alan would have studied your group though the use of his sticks, or channelers, and would know who to use to infiltrate. If Carol were here, MaaSa would not be overwhelmed to the point of not being able to resist. Alan is violent. Carol could absorb the violence. MaaSa could not."

"Why do you think that?" MaaSa asked curiously.

"You are not a violent race. That is why the evil one of long ago won. Suspicion was the mortal wounding to your races."

"Ahh."

"I do not think that is such a good idea," Carol voiced her own disapproval.

Harriet noted it was not done with vigor, only hesitation. She wondered if what she called her 'guides' and what other's called uncanny intuition, was right this time. Now, however, was not a time to doubt herself. Alan was a real threat to these people, and her guides told her this was a way to help them and help Carol so the political powers could not abuse her because of her knowledge of Lord Chaney's business dealings.

"It is something that you would need to think about," Harriet agreed. "Normally it is a three stan day ritual but it has been done in a day. It will mean that I will have to remember that when I talk to you I am talking to MaaSa and his tribe."

"His tribe?" Carol and Guardian echoed.

"Yes. I feel there are others here. Not everyone left, Guardian."

"That is true. We had grown accustomed to the life force of this place and it had graciously merged with our own energy. We have become part of this planet."

"You can never leave, MaaSa," Guardian rumbled in a sad voice.

"We don't mind, Guardian. It is beyond your control now. We are pleased you are back with us, though I somehow sense there is a difference."

"Ha!" Guardian laughed. "I am where our old friend was, while he has moved to a smaller unit. In my new environment, I have found what Charles did not see while he was here, and we have been able to extend my reach beyond this universe! There is so much to share!"

Guardian was undoubtedly happy that MaaSa and he had reestablished contact, Lt. Montran observed silently. She was looking for a moment to excuse herself and both Carol and her could leave. She was exhausted, for some reason and needed to really think about what she just suggested. .

"So, the cloning project to recreate his biological adult body has completed…"

"No, no. His body is still aging to what he feels is a fair age to pick up at. He is in another container. Quite colorful too!"

The two laughed, sharing a private joke.

"And you then? Surely you do not need 200 stan years to age for a new biobody."

"Well, no. But we have had some problems and delays…but…soon…"

"Some would find it difficult to give up all that ability to collect and extrapolate information without sleep, old friend," the Enuit remarked insightfully. "Especially if that person drove himself to exhaustion before being in such a place."

"Yes," Guardian admitted, "this expansiveness of being in touch with so many so quickly and absorbing it all and faster than I would in a biobody has it's rewards. It is a difficult thing to give up…however, the time is drawing near when I shall need to and no matter the problem, I will be back to...a biological host." Guardian suddenly laughed. "It is something I have always wondered about, and thought I would be one of those that donated my brain for collaboration in communications between computer and noncomputers. I think not, now. We shall have to speak of this experience."

"It does sound very interesting! I shall be interested to talk with our esteemed colleague Dr. Charles on his opinion of all this. I miss our disagreements," the voice rumbled. "We in our small pond have greatly missed the shared discussions that the various sentients of this outpost had participated in. ShaDeAt is here and would be happy to share what she has also been experiencing beyond. She reported she had touched an unknown some years back. She has been trying..."

"NO!" Harriet and Guardian responded in unison.

"It might be an agent of Alan's! It was about two years ago that the Off-Worlders investigated this planet. She must be very cautious until we can be sure it isn't something Alan is using," Harriet cautioned.

Harriet had a dreadful feeling that it may be something of Alan's business. He would never lend his ships without wanting to know what they were being used for.

The shape of MaaSaa disappeared suddenly. Moments later, he was back.

"ShaDeAt sends her well wishes and will talk to you later MashiMaa. She is taking your warning seriously. How did you know that I remained?" he asked Harriet curiously.

"Actually it was Carol. What I felt I wasn't sure of…but if Carol was sensitive about something around here and not in other parts of the Lair and city…than she had to be species sensitive to the energy your species generates. Perhaps she has Enuits for relatives."

"What makes you think Carol is related to the Enuits?" Guardian asked curiously.

"I don't know any Enuits," Carol stated flatly, then added as an afterthought, "What is an Enuit, Mistress?"

Harriet smiled. "Enuits are a name given to the unknown inhabitants of Halemas on a planet just three months from Gela. Stories of them are better known than knowledge of the actual inhabitants. It was said they had closed their planet off to any visitors and they also did not wish to interact with outsiders due to the influence of the 'Evil One,' which is the lost planet we were speaking of earlier. The Evil One was an Off Worlder. I cannot see the data cards but you not only saw them but you were able to discern where to lay them. You laid them on the recorder, turning the recorder on. That must have been what woke the sleeping guardian. I also noticed that the family protector did not engulf you as it did me. It simply crowded you into a corner."

"Halemas was our sister colony. Many young Land and Water Enuits traveled there to see if it was habitable for all of us. We never heard from them again."

"The Evil One spread so much distrust amongst the survivors the first year that when it came time to send the return droid back with news, no one could locate it and fights broke out among those remaining. The Monks of Hela intervened and to insure that the Evil One did not return until the Enuits had more faith in each other they asked to be isolated," Guardian added. "There is a book of Lor'dep'a on one of the planets another Guardian resides on. It speaks of this story under the guise of a child's tale."

"In our culture, to fight amongst each other is the worse offense that an Enuit can commit. We are all linked to each other and to the planet we inhabit. So, for there to be a schism amongst ourselves is to make everyone, including the planet, ill."

"How did you hear about them?" Harriet asked MaaSa.

"It was felt by all."

"Carol, does any of this sound familiar to you?" Guardian asked.

"No. I…I don't feel any of this is familiar. It is true I saw the cards and I knew I laid them on a recorder table. But I don't know why."

"Someone in your genetic line may have been an Enuit," Guardian conjectured. "Your DNA scan shows some of the same markers, but many have similar DNA, it just expresses itself differently. Hmm. You do not look like a Land Enuit and certainly not a Water Enuit. I understand you were an orphan raised by the Sister House on Altra Seven."

"That is what Major Zohra had said, however, I don't remember that." Carol frowned remembering the small data chip she had not investigated yet, that held information of her past. Was she really interested? Inwardly she sighed. Life was just too busy right now.

"Well, that isn't important right now. What is important is that we determine what possible weaknesses Alan may have found to exploit," Harriet reminded the others.

"If you feel that the ritual is important, you will have to decide soon for the visitor had told ShaDiAt that he will be arriving soon," MaaSa told them.

"Did the visitor say how he would arrive?"

"By the moon."

"Through the dome?" Carol and Harriet asked together. Both had noted the impressive dome that covered the ceiling of the water city.

"That is how she translated it."

"I can only think of a transporter. But Guardian has…"

"Not over Avanster," Guardian corrected. "The Enuits oversaw the construction of this city themselves. I don't know what they have done to protect their city from unwanted visitors."

"Nothing. We thought only Enuits and friends would visit and those that were here had arrived by the portal. We had waited expectedly for a while after the Change, then thought all had forgotten us."

"You did not keep a watch, MaaSa?" Guardian asked worried.

"We were aware of Century City being occupied, but we had become accustomed to our solitude and had no intention of ending it."

"How did you know that the city was occupied?" Harriet asked.

"We are connected with the planet. She told us. She was not happy with the harmful energy that was settling within her, and with the disruptions she is experiencing at various vortexes. It is causing her discomfort."

"She did not tell you Guardian was alive?"

"She has no thought of Guardian. We became intimate with her after the Change, when Guardian left us. She had told us the tomage was safe and that is what is most important for any of us."

Harriet felt the presence of MaaSa focused on her. I think I will leave my question of what is tomage for another time, she wisely decided.

"Since all that we can do here had been done, perhaps MaaSa and Guardian you will excuse us. We need to prepare to visit the next city, Iota," Harriet informed the two sentient friends.

"You will visit Iota uninvited?" MaaSa asked not believing. "Guardian?"

"There is no one there," Guardian assured him.

"You are sure?"

"The life support had been shut off."

MaaSa was quiet.

"You don't feel that is true, MaaSa?" Harriet prompted.

"The Spirit of the Planet reported that there is life there."

Harriet felt MaaSa's energy diminish.

"It is time we left here," Harriet softly informed Carol. She nodded in agreement.

"You are not waiting for MaaSa to return?" Guardian asked.

"The communication link is back up…and we still have other cities to prepare for."

"You sound as if you are in a rush to get the cities on line." There was a pause, and then, "It's not because you are worried that once the forum has the planet under their protection you will have nothing to do until your admiral calls for you, is it?" Guardian teased.

"Yeah. You got me," she laughed back; however, she suspected that was it exactly. Or, was it something else that had her wanting to get the other cities online so that they could be monitored. Wonder if it's the Alowans that are disrupting the energy vortexes. If Lord Chaney used the Alowan for gathering information about what was going on here during his absence, than Alan knows about him. But Alan would not risk his soldiers for the benefit of the alowans…is it just because of the portal? Why is this place so important to him? It's got to be more than me…

On the ride back, Harriet's thoughts went over what possible reason the outpost could be so important. Too many important people were interested in the protection of the outpost. The outpost was a research outpost. Whatever he was researching, was it detrimental to the portal…was that why the outpost was closed? Why not just change the type of research? Guardian surprised her with his information on the Enuits. Her drowsy mind moved to the tale of the Enuits and thought of the Weildworlds, Chrysaorweild in particular. It was a closed planet protected by the Counsel of Rings, no less. Was that where the Enuits had settled?

You gotta stop thinking, lieutenant. Your brain is on hyperdrive.

***

**

When they arrived back at the Lair, the atmosphere was noticeably different. There was a feeling that the place was not deserted any more. As they passed through the hall, Harriet could see green lights lit up on the outside of all the doors that had once been out, but they were the only ones present. She glanced at Carol. She had a distracted look on her face. Harriet let her vision blur and could see the swirling energy around Carol. Suspecting she was thinking about the merging, she decided to let Carol wrestle with the decision alone. She reminded herself not to question actions she had already taken. She made the suggestion that she felt was right, now it was up to those that could make it happen to decide if they would. If not, then something else had to be arranged. Guiltily she remembered that this was now a joint military operation and she really was too low on the decision making pole to have broached it without clearing it with her CO, who would discuss it with his CO and then it would go to another group and no telling when it would get back to the people needed to take on the task.

She sighed. Life was getting complicated again. Too much was changing in her life. This energy of 'knowing' that she tapped into when she was in the Spartans was a toned down empathic knowing. She could now recognize what she had been denying for so long.

The door to their quarters slid open and Harriet stopped in the kitchenette where Bach was waiting to serve her.

"Cha, warm," Harriet requested absentmindedly. Her thoughts moved to the immediate, the new arrivals. Guardian did not say that they were military, so they must be arrivals through the portal. Now that is something that interested her.

Probably will have a gala dinner or something so everyone can meet…Guardian didn't say just what type of meeting it's going to be. Oh, bloody moon. I gotta wear a uniform if it's formal…or do I? Who am I supposed to represent? I haven't heard anything from the admiral directly only through Guardian. Hmm.

With her cold drink she trailed Carol into the bedroom. She could hear the shower shut off, and the water to the tub was running. Removing her own clothes, she prepared for a shower thinking about the soak in the tub that was always relaxing. Perhaps she should explain to Carol why she suggested such a radical thing for her to do….except she did not really have an explanation. Did Carol understand psychic insight, intuition or did she believe her mistress was taking back her request that she make her own decisions about her life?

Sighing she moved into the bathing room. She would rather soak while she thought up a plan for visiting the third city, Iota. The impression she got from MaaSa was not to visit the city. Should she visit a place that someone who was in sync with the spirit of the planet advised against?

She stepped into the shower for a quick cleaning. Finished, she left a wet trail on her way to the tub. She took a deep breath involuntarily as she felt a pop inside her head as if her senses were unplugged. It was not painful, just surprising. Carol was in the tub with her eyes closed. Harriet stood for a moment as she surveyed what she was seeing. Colors, strong and pulsing were rising from the water and spiraling above the tub, creating an energy vortex of some sort.

"I have decided to merge with the Enuit, Mistress," Carol stated in a quiet voice.

"So, the herb bath is the beginning of the preparation," Harriet surmised easily.

"Yes. It is from this planet. It wakens the qi and opens up the senses."

Unconsciously Harriet rubbed her forehead where the pop occurred. "I noticed. Would you like to be alone?"

"No, Mistress. I would like your assistance. I don't remember much of the preparation. I was thinking of it in a dream on the way back here and it seems familiar but too…unclear."

"How were you able to choose this herb?" Harriet asked curiously.

"I asked Ald."

"Ahh, a bot with a wealth of hebal information. Well, the more people involved, the stronger the vibration we can create to set the atmosphere for the meld and to protect you two. We also need to find out if MaaSa has agreed."

"Guardian?" Harriet called.

"Yes, Lt. Montran?"

"Has MaaSa thought about the meld?"

"Yes. His people have selected him to be one to go through with it if it is to be."

"Okay. Carol has also agreed to go through with it. I trust he knows what to do on his side. On our side, we'll need more people."

"How many participants are needed?"

"The normal sitting is seven. Six for the directions and the seventh for observing and watching the outer parameter. We noticed you had a lot of rooms activated, perhaps somewhere amongst your guests you have some that are familiar with ritual preparations."

"Indeed, Alexandra!"

The familiar voice was followed by Gedaliaha stepping through the clouds of steam.

"Gedaliaha!" Harriet was out of the tub quickly wrapping her dripping arms around the smaller woman who was wrapped in a long robe in the soft pastel colors she liked to wear.

"My dear Alexandra. It is so nice to see you are doing so well." Gedaliaha's arms gave her a strong hug then pushed her back gently to get a better look at her.

"Hmmm. I see you have finally shed that awful energy about you and become involved with others."

Harriet's face turned slightly red. Gedaliaha had been suggesting many times that if she had a lover's relationship, even if it were to be short-termed, it would do her heart energy good. Though Harriet knew it to be true, she felt overwhelmed with the care of her Spartan troop, the Degas. All their lives were uncertain…too uncertain to share with another heart.

"The shamans have foreseen this need and those who are to participate are preparing," Gedaliaha continued. "We have more to maintain the protective ring."

"Gedaliaha, this is Carol. Carol, this is Gedaliaha," Harriet introduced.

Gedehelia's reply was in a singsong voice that was musical and foreign to Harriet.

Carol raised a hand in greeting.

"I don't know what you have said, but I greet you, Wise Mother," Carol returned.

Gedaliaha nodded with a smile. "Greetings and blessing onto you and your family's hearth." Gedaliaha studied the energy around the woman in the water and then continued, "We have three with yang energy that have been across the bridge of osho many times. The three with the yin energy," she turned to Harriet gesturing that she should step back into the water, "are yourself in the West, Sharon Teal to the heavens, and Maga Le, to the planet."

Harriet went still on the third step, unsure whether the warmth that was infusing her was from the waist deep water or hearing a name from her past.

Sharon. How many Sharon Teals can there be in such a large expanse of worlds? And she is to be the Heavens? A shaman who had walked the valley of death and returned is usually chosen for that position. Is it because she is a metradame? How does Gedaliaha know her? Sharon a shaman? Sharon a mad scientist is more likely…or a dedicated scientist anyway. Gedaliaha as a shaman seems natural come to think of it. She took a deep breath…west. I am to represent the west.

"You shall both prepare for the next two hours. I shall assist as you both are novices at this and may languish at some point in the ritual," Gedaliaha said in her usual dry humor.

The room quickly changed from a tropical setting to the interior of a ritual bathing area at the temple on Helop in the province of Ma.

Now how do I know Helop? I know I've never been here. It's by invitation and only the dedicated would want to go. This is really weird, but too late to go back.

"Dreams," a voice whispered near her ear.

The energy in the room intensified. Carefully, Harriet followed Gedaliaha's directions, taking a place next to Carol's partially submerged figure. She appeared already in trance. Taking a deep breath, Harriet held the herb's essence in her lungs, feeling it penetrate her cells. Gedaliaha demonstrated the mudra position of the hands and fingers, elbows even with their shoulders and then the breath rhythm.

Harriet closed her eyes and let the energy in the room transform her senses and move her to another state as the power of the pose, and environment propelled them into another world. Time does not exist for those inside the energy a ritual creates.

Harriet experienced sudden awareness of others sitting in a semi circle in her quarters in the sitting room. Her dress was a loose saffron cloth, draped in ritual folds over her form, which vibrated to the color of green. Gedaliaha's form was dark and made up another vibration, sitting out of the consciousness of the circle, but Harriet spotted her and knew her. Just like she knew Sharon was present, but it was not the energy she was familiar with. From a distance she studied everyone, hovering above the circle, and then her attention was drawn back to her part where she focused her energy to the center where the others were directing theirs. Carol was sitting in the center of the semicircle, draped in a white sheer fabric. The light in the center became so bright that Carol's physical form was blotted out.

The process of the meld began as a vibration. Their combined thoughts set up a tone that shot through Carol's form in a colorless energy, which radiated for a moment above her then outward, touching them all. The touch was gentle, foreign and loving. Harriet was faintly aware of another energy that was outside the circle. Gedaliaha. Her energy was like a dark hurricane funnel moving toward the new energy and spinning around it, sucking anything not wanted around it up into it's central core, where it disappeared. When her energy withdrew a new energy entered into their circle. The feeling from the new energy was a tingling cool sensation. As it entered into their combined vibration the tone of the circle changed. Harriet felt the splitting of the energy fields. From this new mix there was no feeling of anguish, but rather a curiosity and intense intelligence, radiating from both spirits as they shared space. A sudden surge of her own energy return to her and Carol's physical form in the center became more solid.

Those in the circle remained seated, as the slow chant began, her own voice joining in, with the sounds resonating in Harriet's breastbone. Mentally connected with the group, she did not have to be told the rhythm or tone, and as the chanting rose and fell, her physical senses gradually began to assert consciousness and her connection with the others began to fade. It was a grounding chant. Harriet changed the mudra of her hands, and then extended her legs to move into another pose, instinctively, or influenced by the group, changing the energy of the room, thus gradually bringing the sacred ritual to an end.

Sighing aloud, she stretched her body, just as the others were, and let her eyes travel around the group. Everyone was very pleased with themselves. The sesshi had not been performed before by any of them, yet they could feel the meld had gone without any problems. Both spirits psychologically adapted to it, which helped considerably. One of the men directly across from Harriet looked too young to be a shaman, but when he opened his eyes, they were like those of an old man, nearly sightless and faded. He smiled at her and rose gracefully, patting Gedaliaha on the shoulder as she remained sitting. Harriet's eyes fell on Sharon. Her heartbeat raced as she watched her and the others move the furniture back in place, and then assist Carol to the couch.

Sharon turned slightly and gave Harriet a warm smile when their eyes met.

"You're leaking your thoughts, Alexandra." Gedaliaha spoke softly.

Harriet turned to her mentor, her eyes rising to meet Gedaliaha's. Now with so much clarity she could see Gedaliaha easily as she is and became embarrassed at her lack of sight in the past.

"Now, don't be thrashing yourself for past oversights, Alexandra," Gedaliaha admonished. "You were under a cloud for so many years. It almost consumed you! I would not have revealed to you who I was under those circumstances. Be at peace that you were never alone, and that though it may seem you have caused others great suffering, you are not the center of all this mess…though young Alan may insist that is so," Gedaliaha gently poked.

"I…" Harriet let out her breath audibly, "had no idea of any of this."

"You have been a good student during dreamtime but terrible in a waking state. Your critical rational side is slow to catch up," Gedaliaha explained.

Harriet could feel Sharon's approach. She turned to face her.

"Hello, Harriet," she spoke softly, while leaning to kiss her on her cheek, as if it were only yesterday they had last seen each other.

"I am happy to see you are staying out of Alan's reach, so far."

"You know Alan?" As if I didn't know, she thought guiltily.

"Yes. You know that. I had told you that in a dream many months ago. You should start remembering our conversations that we have had in dreamtime now. Your channels are fully open. You have experienced the higher energy of the qi channeler. It has cleared the blocks you have been effectively protecting yourself with for so many years."

"You're a shaman?"

"Yes. Before I took the identity of Sharon, I was a shaman on MageWield, one of the planets Alan's family visited. When Alan's father arranged to have me run through the metradame process, I chose to become Sharon Teal," she patiently explained. Sharon's demeanor was different from what Harriet remembered. A sense of loss was on the periphery of her awareness, where she held it firmly, afraid if it came closer to her consciousness it might loosen something she did not want to experience in this crowd.

"How did he manage to get a shaman?" Harriet was visibly upset. Having her channels opened did not seem to give her clear insight into her own motives.

"I choose to become one to fulfill my own destiny."

"Were we part of…?" Harriet could not finish it.

"The Web of life has strange and interesting cross-over lines in its web patterns. I had not foreseen our becoming lovers. It was a natural and pleasant progression of a friendship. But for you to remain with me would have put your life in serious jeopardy, for Alan feels he has a debt to collect. However," Sharon laughed softly, "you seem to do a very good job of taking care of yourself, no matter how hot the fire is that you are jumping into. You also have a good mentor, Harriet, who looks after you very well."

"Add a bunch of guardian Angeles to the pot!" Gedaliaha added laughing heartily.

"I must go back now, before I am missed." Sharon was looking directly into Harriet's eyes when she said this. Harriet could only see deep dark pools without any reflection. They were the eyes of a shaman when she wanted to be recognized. This was something that had not been revealed to her when they were together. Instead, the eyes that Harriet had spent many times staring into, would take on the color of the clothing she wore. Feeling a little off-balance she nodded trying not to show her disappointment or to think of anything that would reflect her feelings. She wanted to ask so many questions.

"We shall meet again and very soon," Sharon whispered in Harriet's ear as she hugged her. "Then we will talk some more."

Harriet could feel the energy from Sharon tingling her own body. She had thought she had forgotten how nice it was to hold her. Harriet let Sharon go, dropping her hands to her side. The others were also leaving, nodding toward Sharon and Harriet. They all looked tired. Gedaliaha remained. When the door closed behind Sharon's departing form, Gedaliaha touched Harriet gently on the elbow and motioned for her to the sit in the chair across from Carol.

Harriet pulled the loose fitting cloth around her and sat down, studying Carol's vibrant form before her. There was nothing subtle about the change.

"The energy you feel will lessen as the physical body absorbs the new spirit," Gedaliaha explained to Carol. "Now your awareness is split between the two dimensions and will be that way until both hosts get use to the new energy. Then both consciousnesses will be able to experience the two worlds simultaneously without confusion," Gedaliaha explained. "You will both be having interesting dreams from here on out." She nodded toward Harriet to include her.

"CarolMaa will be sleeping between two realities and you, Alexandra have moved to another level in your lessons. You are coming along rather quickly, but I see no danger in that at the moment." She regarded Harriet with her head tilted slightly. "Do not forget your night rituals. Protect yourself before you sleep. I would rather you two sleep separate for a while. Both of you are working on different issues and should not be disturbed with the other's energy. Guardian has notified us that CarolMaa will be taking Zohra's room next door. Major Zohra has moved to quarters to be with her sisters. It is their way." Gedaliaha waved her hand at this. "The Sisters of the Athenian Shield will be taking over the military protection of the outpost along with their Brothers since the Centurian doesn't have enough troops to do so and it may be straining relations between the Committee that is reforming. It is better you move away from this warrior energy for now."

"As if," Harriet shook her head. "I somehow don't think the admiral will take my 'change' too well."

"Why do you feel that way?" Gedaliaha asked quietly.

Harriet waved her hand, "Military types don't hold much value to anything they cannot touch or see."

"They believe intuition is a valuable asset," Gedaliaha mentioned watching the young woman shrug her shoulders tiredly. It was more than a physical weariness; however Gedaliaha was confident in her inner resilience.

Harriet nodded, uneasy at how her future will change with the reopening of her channels…career wise. A heavy feeling settled in her stomach. She shook her head impatiently. It would be nice to turn over military responsibilities to someone else who would be more interested in the war games. She was too unsure of herself right now to participate. There was a different type of awareness that was commingling with her own perspective of the world around her and it would take some time for her to adjust to these multitude of new sensations, just as Carol and MaaSa, though it was not quite the same. Having to attend to military meetings was the furthest thing on her mind right now.

"Major?" The promotion suddenly registered.

"Yes. She is the most qualified to oversee the ground protection on the outpost, until the General arrives and other high-ranking officials. Now, you both need to sleep. It's been a long day and I can see Alexandra's energy level is about ready to take a great big dip downward. I shall be staying a while on this outpost and will see you when you wake. I am in the room across the hall from yours, Alexandra. Now, to bed, both of you." She ushered the two toward the bedroom.

CarolMaa was looking about her and would occasionally wave her hands before her face as if to clear something.

"CarolMaa, what are you doing?" Harriet asked curious.

CarolMaa turned to look at her with a smile on her face. "Lady Alexandra Harriet, Lt. Montran, Harriet, Mistress. This dimension is very interesting. How do you wish me to address you? So many names, is that normal?"

Harriet cleared her throat. "Hmm. I…Montran is my clan or family name, Lady is the title from my home planet, Lieutenant is my military title, but…Harriet or Alexandra is fine too."

"You look different with these eyes and the space you live in is most peculiar."

Harriet was grateful Carol would not be sharing her bed. She had not thought about how their relationship would change with the melding of the two spirits.

Harriet smiled. "I am sure Carol is saying the same about your world. Good night and dream well, CarolMaa."

"And you too Mistress Alexandra." Carol waved as she continued her careful progress though the bedroom and into the bathing area, looking this way and that with new eyes.

Mistress Alexandra. I should have just told her what I would rather be called. Why do I keep giving people choices when I have my druthers? They ask…so why am I not honest?

"Helgas Moon!" she muttered, "I'm a real wimp when it comes to stating personal preferences. This has got to stop." She flung her clothes onto the chair mindful of the butler bot, which slid out of the closet and proceeded to pick them up.

***

Chapter 19

JG was dreaming of her friend Katrina. They shared a desire to be among the four sisters chosen to represent their House at the Galactic games that were held once every four stan years, with tours about the Galaxy to compete in competitions that led up to the final one. Both had a good chance to be chosen as they were well-rounded in their skills. The pretrials consisted of a weeklong endurance challenge that required them to compete in seven separate areas of skill out of fifteen, which were chosen the day of the contest. For eight years, before she enlisted in the space academy, she traveled throughout the galaxy competing and learning that differences in others were the qualities that made life interesting. She sighed deeply.

The memories were from a time so long ago she was not sure if they were from this life. She frowned. She was not called JG then…what was it….oh, Delorita. It was not a name she felt comfortable with so she had added Zohra at her coming of age ceremony, but that was when she was still a young woman. She resisted the pull to go further back into her youth. Instead, she focused on faces and names that she had been ordered to protect…she sniggered to herself in contempt. There was no way she was going to protect that pack of lawbreakers. One face she remembered as her half-sister. She would have burst out laughing at the audacity of the subliminal to assign her the job of protecting Lady Varina Chaney, as if! She could protect herself from all the half sisters that her father sired and that had survived her assassination attempts.

The unfamiliar sounds and smells around her brought her awareness closer to consciousness. There was a voice calling her and a very bright light was shinning above her. She remembered she had a headache, but when was that? She also had a distinct feeling that a long time had passed. However, from when to when? What yesterday was she measuring this time with? She wanted to shake her head to rid herself of the buzzing that was tickling her inner ear but her head held immobile. With that realization, Captain Zohra fought a sudden feeling of panic. Instinct had her wanting to fight what was happening to her.

"It's all right to feel threatened. You don't know where you are. But just wait a little bit longer until you're completely awake before you move, otherwise you will land flat on your face," the soft voice explained.

Captain Zohra well disciplined in all her roles held herself still, taking in the sounds, smells, and pattern on the ceiling and sorting them with previous memories. Where was she and who was she? Sgt. Major JG, a member of the Black Rose…no…she is a Captain…Captain Zohra of the Sisters of Hekate's clan, a Shield Maiden to Athena's warriors, and bonded to….her sight filled with the image of Cadet Lady Harriet Montran and her flowing orange tresses, with beaded side bangs and eyes that lit up when she laughed.

The restraining mechanisms released moments after her vision cleared and the buzzing in her ears stopped. Slowly she sat up with the assistance of a woman dressed in the mantle of the Sister House on Media, a healer's clan.

"How many fingers do I have here?" the voice asked.

"One," she replied without appearing to glance at the hand held up.

Why does my head feel sore?

"Very good." The woman stepped away and the other figure that was in the corner stepped forward.

"I am Lady Crystal of Triton, Lady Zohra."

"Lady. Not a title that fits me," she replied hoarsely. She could not stop the sides of her lips curling up at the image of another Lady who fit the title. "I'm a soldier not a socialite or politician."

"As you wish. Your late father's will has been read and he has named his offspring, making them official holders of titles, lands and funds. He had quite an empire to leave behind that has not been seized by law enforcement agencies as illegally gained. Apparently, he took his parental responsibilities of leaving something useful for his offspring seriously. Your adopted mother, Aglauros will more than likely talk to you about it…but as your physician…it was left to me to decide whether to bring it up to you. I understand you warrior types can be rather defensive on issues you do not like to face."

The observation was true but it was said in dry humor, which Zohra would have appreciated were she not on the receiving end. She remained silent.

That son-of-a-dickhead! He couldn't just leave with us thinking him a real asshole for not acknowledging our mothers and us while he was alive! He had to go and do this! Lady! He left me a damn title! Inside she let the anger seethe until she thought of Sgt. Vanster. Goddess Athena, won't this be a drop of peppers in the sweat sauce.

"We removed a small chip that your sister Lady Varina had ordered implanted…it is believed to have something to do with controlling your emotional response to your sister Varina, and to your father."

Zohra nodded. So, that's why my head hurts. "Where am I?" Zohra shifted the subject hoping it would settle her stomach.

"On Merker's Outpost as the guest of the Guardian of Mer's Portal. Your stomach is upset. It will feel that way for but a moment. A bit of the aftereffect of the subliminal programming."

Captain Zohra rubbed her forehead again. "Mer? I wasn't aware the portals had names."

"For very good reason. Knowing a name gives one power. There are many who are not receptive to the knowledge that they exist. Or those like Alan Fermin who wish to either possess a portal or destroy it. Whatever change he creates here will set up a vibration in all the other portals. We don't know what that will do, for no one has damaged a portal since a Guardianship has been assembled to watch over them."

"I remember being here before."

"Not here, but in a room similar to this one. It was where you had the chip implanted. Lord Chaney had been attempting to dull the influence of the chip with a drug. The intention was for the two to develop a symbiotic relationship, thereby neutralizing each other. It did to a degree, but we are not really sure what the entire intention of the chip was or why he was inclined to interfere with Lady Varina's actions."

Lady Crystal waited to see if Zohra had something to say, but her patient remained silent.

Lord Chaney was damned possessive. He didn't like to share. He probably was pissed she messed with one of his soldiers but…why not remove it from me?

"It is being studied now, and when the results are in, you shall be notified. Now, would you like to eat? Your sisters should be arriving soon and I am sure you will have little time for such things after their arrival."

Captain Zohra had not realized she was hungry since moments before, food would have been the last thing she wanted. "Yes."

Another woman appeared and led her out the door. Captain Zohra did not look back as she stepped out of the room that gave her the shivers.

"Where are we on Merker's Outpost?" Zohra asked her new guide.

"Near the portal, Captain Zohra." The other noticed Zohra shudder. "The energy from the portal is what kept you strong for the process of extraction."

"The energy from the portal?"

"Yes. What do you know about the portals?"

"They are doorways to other planets that have like portals and only a few can pass through."

Her companion laughed as she pointed to a table that already had dishes and plates of food on them. Captain Zohra's stomach growled in appreciation of the menu.

"Actually, many can pass through the portals, just as you had when you were younger. It does not take much to prepare oneself for the passage. Only those that have fallen below the sixth harmonic level would not be able to enter the portal without harming themselves."

Captain Zohra was filling her plate with food as she listened. Sixth level and below were usually people who did harm to others with intent. That would be her. She paused momentarily trying to recall the rest of the information she had on the portals. "Sixth level and below…are usually people who do harm to others intentionally, right?" She got a nod in agreement. "Is it possible for a person around the sixth level to become a guardian?" That was the part she was puzzled about with the captain. He would not have said he could become guardian if he did not believe it.

"You mean Captain Miller from the Black Rose?" she guessed correctly.

"Yes."

"We found a harmonics synthesizer in his clothing. The attempt would have killed him. The energies in the portal are very complex dynamical systems not just one octave. As one interacts with the portal it would be changing too quickly for a synthetic harmonizer to adapt, for the portal is a living and self-organizing structure and the harmonizer is not."

"What would have happened with those that would be standing outside of the portal?"

"They would have perished. The portal would have emitted a vibration their living cells would not have been able to sustain or adjust to."

Captain Zohra finished eating in silence as she thought about her fellow soldiers. The one time she had been in a portal was an indescribable experience. She was embraced in an energy field of living matter. As she moved along through the portal, she witnessed a breathtaking beauty of the flashing planets and stars that passed by, something that could be witnessed in a ship but there was a bulkhead between you and space. In the portal, it was so much more intimate. When she had arrived at her destination, she was disorientated but excited. Never before had she experienced such a trip and it was her last for she was being prepped for her role as an undercover agent for Neboths Vine, which required her to lower her energy level to fit in with the Spartans.

Captain Zohra pushed her plate away. She had work to do before her sisters arrived. She needed to study the planet and the cities so she had something to contribute when they arrived.

"You have eaten very well, Captain Zohra." Her companion nodded with approval. "Some cannot eat after the operation. You must not over-exert yourself for a day. The cut is not the only thing that needs to heal. Your pathways need to reassert their old ways."

"Just what can I not do?" Captain Zohra asked impatiently.

"Physical exercise and worry."

"Just what is there left to do…lay around and do what?"

"Dream."

"What?"

"Within your dreams is where the healing will occur enhanced with the subliminal that will be played for you when you sleep. It will counteract any deep programming we may have missed."

"How will I know if there is any deep programming remaining?" she asked dismayed.

"You will have nightmares."

"Ah. Good thing I sleep alone," she muttered, though a sexual release with a responsive partner would be nice. She sighed. Some of the habits she practiced as a Black Rose were going to take some effort to get rid of.

"We will have someone nearby to monitor you, Captain."

Her companion led her towards the elevator. "This is where I leave you. I believe you know your way from here. Sleep and heal, Captain."

When Zohra arrived in her room both Harriet and Takenya, who now called herself Carol, were not in the area. She rinsed herself and went into the tub to soak and think. She let the bot massage her sore shoulders and back. She was relaxed but restless so she decided to see if her sisters had arrived.

"Computer."

"Yes, Major Zohra."

"Major?" Zohra's eyebrows rose toward her hairline.

"Major General Aglauros has promoted you to lead the security forces that will be stationed in the Lair and to protect the portal until her arrival."

"Oh. I have major brain surgery and look what I wake up to. Are you sure this is not something you are making up, JG? Hell, I haven't even gotten use to being called Captain. It's not everyday a gal can remember that only in less than a week, she was Sgt. Major, a Captain and now a Major…not to mention a Lady. She sighed and then a smirk appeared on her face. And Lady Alexandra's superior...sorta… until she is reassigned to a ship and that won't be for a while. Hmmm. I wonder…would she make a good staff Lieutenant? Perhaps I can order her to remove my boots…naked …eeeeeahhh…

The image of Lady Harriet Montran straddling one of her booted legs to remove the first boot caused Zohra's breathing to quicken with the start of a throb between her legs. The image was so clear!

Lady Harriet's long knee-length orange hair spilt over her shoulders and tickled Zohra's legs as she straddled one of her booted feet. Before her were white globes of flesh, and as she bent over, bright orange pubic hairs peeked through strong thighs. Zohra lifted a booted foot to assist, placing it on the white muscled cheek to give a push. Zohra flicked her whip over the exposed flesh to encourage Lady Harriet to pull harder at the stubborn boot. Boot and sock were removed and Lady Harriet moved to the other foot. Zohra's breathing became heavier as Lady Harriet picked up her other booted foot. Zohra lifted her bared foot onto the red stripped cheek, feeling the moisture from the orange haired woman's yoni dripping on the leg she held between her legs.

Zohra shook her head as if to rid herself of the image. They were not new. Since the Dance, Zohra had many erotic dreams of Lady Harriet, usually working them off with others.

"Have my sisters from the House of Athena arrived yet?" she asked thickly, trying to dispel the sensual energy. She had to get her mind off Lady Harriet. This was not the time to start a relationship.

When, then? How long has it been since you last saw her? Are you willing to wait another expanse of time? No. I know I will not.

"Three have arrived in a Phantom Sprint ship, the Spearhead. They have left messages for you to call after you rested. They and some of Naboths Vine were sent to assist the Brothers and Sisters that are arriving through the portal."

"Ahh. I believe I know who they are. Tell them to present themselves to my quarters! Computer, off." She laughed. She was sure they were calling every ten minutes to see what was keeping her.

Her door dinged in a matter of minutes.

"Enter!" she shouted happily.

"You lazy moufin of a sister and a poor representative of good manners!" Clea shouted as she rushed in and grabbed Zohra, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around. She hugged her fiercely as two others that were equally as happy to see their sister followed her in, thumping her on her arm and back.

"Galdin, they let you out of the House of Pleasure? I am sure business at Aphrodite's has dropped, though by the glow around Clea, I would say you are being kept even busier," Zohra laughed as she pushed playfully at the woman she had frequented often under the guise of visiting for sexual pleasure.

"Mistress Jina Gari!" She gave her a long hug. "It is so good to see you again. Your absence is missed by those in the Cave." She turned to the others, winking at Zohra. "Her whipping techniques and spanks were well sought after by the Cave dwellers. As soon as word was out that she was in residence, attendance in the Cave filled up, male and female alike, mind you," Galdin teased. "I wonder how much was an act, dear Sister. You took to the role, soooo well...and now a Major I hear!" She whipped a smart salute accompanied by a wink.

"Yeah, well, it's been a whirlwind promotion for me. Hmm. I do believe my Mistress of the Cave days are behind me, though," Zohra returned, giving Clea a wink. Clea was Galdin's lover since they were children.

"TeaSdak, look at you!" Zohra continued. "You have put on more weight since I last saw you!"

"And it's all muscle, Major." TeaSdak laughed as she laid a hand on Zohra's shoulder. "And look at you! You've lost weight since I last saw you and what is this I see? You are taller too! What have you been eating?"

"It wasn't anyone in the Cave. They were sucking her dry. You would think she was saving herself for someone special," Galdin told her sisters laughing with the others at the expression JG gave her. "Jeeze. All she wanted to do was sleep, soak in the tub, get a massage then go back to sleep, but her slaves were lining up outside the damn door, waiting for her to take her position as Mistress of the Cave. Duty calls, you know. I am happy to see the scars that you wore like badges of honor have been removed, Mistress Jina Gari." She moved her hand to brush Zohra's forehead where a scar had been. "You did not want your old face back, huh?" that said softly so only the two heard.

Major Zohra flinched at the touch, but let her touch her. The sisters touched a lot…something she did not allow while an operative, which fit with her persona as a Black Rose member and the dominatrix roll in the Cave.

"No, not yet," she mumbled.

"Ooohhh, once a dominatrix, always a dominatrix. My dear, I know there will be a lot of sisters lining up to be taken by you. It will not matter whether you feel it is a discarded role you played. Everyone in the sisterhood knows of your reputation in the Cave and with the dial-a-mood in the suites provided here, you will be the target of every submissive and wanna-be dom," TeaSdak teased.

"Careful there!" Clea warned. "You are talking to our commanding officer."

"Well, I'll try to keep the Mistress Jina Gari image separate from the Major Zohra image. Just don't wear anything black," Galdin cautioned. "But…." suddenly she became serious, "be very careful, JG, because there are some sisters that are not too good with boundaries. They have had visions of you in your black garb, cracking a whip across their exposed buttocks and everywhere else and jumped at the chance to join this skirmish because you are here."

"After my experiences as a cadet with…"

"Cadet Jaymai!" the others jeered in unison.

"You know, she's a liaison to a Commander at Prime VI. Married a male, has no children, and keeps her mate on a very short leash."

"And she is very round and happy," Clea added. "We saw her…at a distance, on our way here. We didn't want to restart anything so we did not stop to say hello."

"I would have thought she would want a woman. Well, time does change people. I will be careful to not walk the corridors alone," Zohra laughed and then sighed. "In some things, it is no different than in the Black Rose. I think every damn new soldier in our group thought it was part of the initiation to have a sexual romp with me, or to watch me do someone else. Lucky me that the Cave was by-invitation-only. I have to admit, I enjoyed beating the crap out of them when they thought gang raping me was okay."

"Megan told us about the skirmishes after she joined the group. What a dung-hole of a group to think that was the proper way to initiate a woman into their group!"

"The guys got it too. They got over it eventually that I would not participate in either of their rituals. They just needed better leadership. Captain Miller redirected those energies into other things when he took over the troop. But, regardless of the moral code he instilled in the group - they still killed for a price," she ended with a grim note.

"Well, about those that may give you trouble…we'll keep an eye on them…that way you can concentrate on the command without too much distraction."

Right. I have enough distraction with Lady Harriet. I wonder if Clea remembers her from the academy.

"So, is it JG or Delorita, Major Zohra?" Galdin asked.

"I feel more comfortable with Jina Gari than Delorita," Zohra sighed, shrugging her shoulders, embarrassed at the discomfort a name gave her.

"Yeah, I remember those fights you got in when someone would call you Delorita. You were easy pickings for those that wanted to fight you," Clea nodded.

"Goddess. I remember. Idiots…the good part is I learned to make my battle skirmishes short so the teachers wouldn't have a chance to see what all the noise was about."

"Indeed!" TeaSdak poked at her rib. "Well, with the names Major Delorita Jina Gari Zohra of the House of Athena, a lot of people will want to shorten it."

"That is a mouthful," Galdin giggled. "Well, Jina Gari or JG it is among friends and Major Zohra officially. We will tell the others."

"So, enough! What has been happening? How goes it with sister Megan and the others?" JG shifted the conversation off her.

For the next few hours they caught up on news, and when Zohra tried to discuss military matters she was redirected to more pleasant subjects. Clea informed her that she needed at least one more day of rest. When JG's yawns were too frequent, her visitors took their leave reluctantly.

Sleep came quickly, to JG. Her dreams were many and mixed from a restlessness in her subconscious that seemed to have a lot of business to take care of. In one dream she was frantically trying to find Lady Harriet Montran. It was very important to find her. She had to tell her something. She wanted to explain to her about the Dragon Dance. Perhaps her Watcher did not know that she had become bonded with her by linking with her during the Dance. Then there were the terrifying dreams of being under someone's power. Doing things she did not want to do. She was dimly aware of Carol holding her and stoking her forehead. Each time she woke Carol encouraged her to return to the dream and work it out. JG shuddered but returned each time. Carol was there to walk the dark shadows with her.

After nearly three hours of fighting her unnamed terrors JG finally relaxed in Carol's arms. After Carol left, JG's dreams turned towards a different subject. In her dream she was carefully preparing for the Dance. The ritual consisted of a food fast, burning a specific incense, praying to the right guardian and wearing the right color of clothing to heighten the right type of energy.

The sacred grove had the right atmosphere with the sun rising above the treetops appearing to set their tips on fire. The mere thought of the Dance opened up the thinker to its energy and influence. Each time the Dance was practiced mentally or physically, it sent vibrations out, calling for the Watcher to be present on some level. The spirit of the Dance blessed her…and her lifemate…by drawing them both together for the Dance of Attraction, the second Dance in the series. But this time, in her dream, as she lit the candles and made the offerings, she had Lady Harriet's image in clear focus. She saw her standing before her in the sacred grove also dressed in the ritual clothing. She held two candles. When she was done with her part of the Dance, the candles would be burnt halfway down. Lady Harriet would then plant them into the ground, and they both would complete the Dance, the Dance of Commitment. Eyes darkened by the night light, glittered in the candlelight, as they watched her began her part.

She leaped and spun around in the movements to build up the qi to merge her energy with Lady Harriet. At the final leap she felt the same light feeling she had when she had inadvertently danced for Cadet Montran.

The final stand after the leap was not the end of the Dance, for as she stood still letting the energy that was radiating all around her body drain into the ground Lady Harriet began her part.

As her lifemate stood close to JG, stretching slowly into the salute to the guardian of the Dance, JG could feel their energies commingle, sending a sexual rush through both of them. Lady Harriet moved through the ritual steps that would seal their union, dancing erotically and sensually to further stimulate the qi that was to lead to the consummation of their vows as bonded lifemates.

The strength it took to resist the urge to reach out and touch Lady Harriet left her body shaking with the strain. The light cloth clung to the athletic body of her lifemate, igniting a fire of desire so fervent that her insides were trembling more than her legs. She breathed in the smell from the herbs and trees to keep focused, hoping the end the Dance was near and they could finally consummate their bond in the sacred grove, among the wildflowers and guardians of the forest, and the tall redwoods of ancient Earth.

***

When Major Zohra awoke, she felt tired but her mind felt clearer than it had been for a long time. Perhaps being so focused on staying alive had its side effects. Someone was buzzing for entrance. Slipping on a robe, she entered the sitting room.

"Enter."

"Sister, Major! You lazy soul! You are still in bed when your sister tribe is waiting for your appearance to celebrate your promotion?"

Malchi and a group of her sisters swarmed through the door to grab their long absent member, and dragged her out of her quarters to where they had a party going on. Major Zohra was dumped into a hot tub along with an already soaking wet Megan Vanster in a welcome back celebration, and from the banner across one of the walls, her promotion. There was fun and frolicking as everyone became drenched and if anyone was left dry, it was not for long. Chants and outrageous songs were filling the air as JG's name was tossed back and forth with teasing and a joyous affirmation that her presence amongst them had been missed for those nine years of covert work.

While JG was drying off, she looked over the group. They were in various stages of dressing while some remained undressed getting a massage or tending bruises. Oddly enough she did not get the same thrill she use to get at being conscious of this intimate connection they shared. JG glanced in the nearby mirror, studying her reflection. She was too thin, she thought. But it was all muscle. The scars she needed to give her status in the Black Rose group were gone along with the tattoos, with the exception of one that covered her back. It had been hidden under a fake skin that was like a blanket of tattoos the Black Rose liked to cover their bodies with. The large owl across her back was from her Sister House. The talons rested on the curve of her rump with wings lifted spreading across her muscled shoulders.

The one thing being in the Spartan's did was keep her in top physical and mental form. Her eyes caught Clea's worried ones in the mirror looking at her.

"I had not seen this side of the Lair," JG remarked as she finished dressing in the uniform they had supplied her. It was from the sisterhood, the dark green with the usual ribbons and gold corn husk for her collar, marking her new rank.

"It is the second hallway from the elevator. Quite a large city, this Lair. The rooms on this side are more like luxury barracks. There are eleven levels with five being residences, which shall be filled within three days. Those who were not bonded reside on this level. The are quite a few large eating areas that also serve as meeting halls and or gaming rooms. Quite nice," Clea explained. "I don't ever remember staying in a barracks this comfortable. I think I'll put in a request to the Sister House." She smirked at the picture of seeing the expression of Mother M'dwa at the request.

"Three people to a room, three rooms to one sitting area. We are in the public bathing area, and as you can see, a very big tub and swimming pool do it justice."

"Next door is the dojo with the latest and greatest in warrior training with holographic instructors, mind you," Megan Vanster added as she fastened her sash of the sisterhood around her slim waist. "Beats our quarters in the other city, no?"

JG glanced at Megan. She thought there was edginess in her voice.

"What is Lt. Montran up to?" JG asked instead.

"Lady Harriet is being taken care of by the shamans. They have suggested that she be removed from all combat plans." Megan's contempt was not hidden.

Oohh. Now I think I know what has her on edge. Damn. Lately she's been getting awfully vocal about the titled, and a bit nasty when Captain Montran's name is mentioned. I thought it had been for show. Maybe not. This does not feel right.

An uncomfortable thought had her shifting her shoulders under the uniform tunic. She wondered how she would feel towards her if she found out that since her father's death, she had inherited a title and land. Why did it matter what Megan Vanster thought? JG sighed and shook her head, bringing her attention back to the conversation, which had the others looking uncomfortable from the tone of voice Megan was using.

"It is justified Megan," her voice was uncharacteristically gentle, thinking of the captivating green eyes that she had wanted to study, as they reflected the mercurial moods of the woman. Inwardly she realizing this was not in character for JG, but she was no longer a Black Rose. She was a CO of her Shield House. "She was taken prisoner by Chaney's guard the other day. They gave her to Painmaker to get information out of her. You know after that type of treatment any soldier is taken out of combat until they get a psych val."

"I heard she's an empath," Malchi remarked. "You know they can't do violence to another without harming themselves."

Major Zohra flinched at what was revealed to the others…but, then, they would know sooner or later, and now would be a good time. Everyone needed to adjust their prejudices about the titled, shamans, empaths and whatever else came up, and get focused on their job…to protect the portal and Lady Harriet Montran.

Major Zohra's thoughts returned to the orange haired warrior whose merit she found sound and desired her to be part of her team…for more reasons than what could be called honorable.

"And she had served as a Spartan captain in the most respected troop, don't forget that! And it wasn't so respectable until she shaped them up!" Sandra pointed out firmly. "That means she earned her rank. If she asked to join our sister shield House of Athena, I would welcome her."

JG hid her smile. Sandra had never been silent with Megan's outspoken prejudice.

Megan was not impressed or amused. "How can she be an empath and rise to the ranks of captain, and in the Spartans, within two stan years legitimately," she challenged the others. "It's just hyped up class propaganda about one of their own. She didn't even finish off her four year contract!"

Some of the others thought about it.

"You are talking about something you don't know about Lt. Vanster," Major Zohra's voice reverted to an official tone. "I had a chance to skim over her records, since Guardian has a very detailed one on her…and I would imagine on us all," JG commented dryly. "You also know very well that Lord Chaney had been trying to kill her for over two years…she had every right to leave, especially after he had her entire troop set up." Her eyes narrowed and looked hard at Vanster that was not looking like she was listening. "Lt. Vanster, I will not have someone within my officer's ranks practicing character assassinations or passing on subversive garbage about one of our assignments, due to personal prejudices. If it continues, I will bust you or anyone else down a rank and assigned to another unit. Do I make myself clear to everyone here?" The Major's voice was low but her anger was evident.

"Vanster," she resumed to make herself perfectly clear, "you need to chill out. You're a damn good friend and soldier…don't bug out on me now."

Megan did not look penitent to the others. "So, I take my reprimand with a grain of salt. Not to change the subject too abruptly, but what happened to Captain Miller and the others?"

"They are in a lockup somewhere around here," Zohra wondered if she should say more. By order of the General, who saw fit not to pass on the why of her orders to her, the others were to remain locked up. "He would have killed us all had he tried to take over the portal," she added.

"That's what Jenie was saying." Clea nodded.

"Jenie?" JG asked.

"That was the xomoph that sat with you while you adjusted to the new programming," TeaSdak joked.

"That's not funny, TeaSdak," JG shuddered.

"I'm only making light of it to ease your discomfort, Jina Gari. So lighten up." She bumped her hip against Zohra's getting a bump back, but TeaSdak could see her take a deeper breath, as if taking her suggestion seriously.

"So what are the plans for protecting this place from Fermin's takeover?" Milent changed the subject, selecting a neutral topic.

Chapter 20

"Alexandra. Alexandra! Alex!"

Alexandra woke with a start. The lights in the room came up slowly revealing the quarters she had been staying in on Merker's Outpost. Or was she? Something was different. It felt different. She threw the covers back sliding out of the warm bed to examine what was raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

If you don't locate this difference soon, you will die.

She paused in her search. "Isn't that being a bit melodramatic?" She shook her head. This is not the normal conversation she would have with herself.

Melodramatic? That's not even a word I would use.

Suddenly she stiffened and looked around her once more...this was not Merker's Outpost. Was this a dream? She looked around her for something that would give her a solid clue. No butler was waiting for her. The door that she had not noticed before opened and a butler came out.

"No! Not that model!" she said exasperated.

She was in a dream! Why this dream? What was she here for? She looked around again trying to look for something that had a symbolic meaning to her.

There were noises coming from behind what should be the bathing area's door. She cautiously approached the door and touched the open button. A part of her pointed out that the open button is really near the bed and that it would have opened anyway as soon as she was in front of it.

Oh, be still! she told herself critical self sternly.

The scene on the other side of the door was a tropical forest with a swirling mist that was thicker than a bowl of ozoa. She heard an unfamiliar creature's call and then another, but they sounded from deep within the forest.

She walked slowly, hoping not to stumble over someone or something. Her toe kicked a log that appeared out of the mist and foliage, nearly causing her to fall. She managed to hang onto her stunner and locator as she grabbed onto the top of the damp log to prevent herself from tipping over it. For a moment, she looked at the two objects in her hand as she braced herself on the log. How could she possibly have missed a log that was waist high, until the last minute and what kind of junk was this? She had never seen a stunner like this or a locator. What gave her the idea that these were what they were?

Instinctively she spun around to see what was behind her. Her heart leaped into her throat, her breath held as she waited.

Now don't be doing that! she admonished herself. If whatever was happening was roughly following her thoughts, she did not want to see her heart moved to where it did not belong.

A pair of bright yellow eyes peered out at her from the mist.

Why would eyes scare me? It just may be some small creature perched on a limb. She held her stunner pointing down, not willing to shoot at something that simply scared her. What part of her did not believe that this was something to not be frightened of? Well, her bios were getting out of kilter and if she did not step back into her body, her physical self was not going to be able to handle the situation. She had not realized she was distancing herself. Back in her body, she became engulfed with fear that wrapped around her limbs, immobilizing them, preventing her from fleeing. However, with the return of her other self brought a warm calming presence that started in her lower abdomen and spread out to frozen body parts. Once the fear was replaced with caution, she moved forward to see what the eyes were about. The thought occurred to her that as a Spartan she would have shot first and then investigated. It also occurred to her that with all the time that must have passed she would have been dead if the yellow eyes were dangerous.

Wow. I'm getting better at this stuff.

The mist cleared as if pulled into a vacuum and standing with a very pleased expression on his face was a four-foot dwarf holding a pole with two eyes at the top…the yellow eyes.

"Okay. Now, let's move on," he nodded at her.

The scene quickly changed and Montran found herself standing on the lip of a very restless volcano, that spitting tongues of flaming liquid about. The trembling under her feet gave her the feeling it was ready to go up. There was a figure leaning over the lip with a measuring device trying to get the readings. That certainly was pushing job efficiency and dedication to the extreme, Harriet thought. The figure was dressed in a silver suit to prevent the intense heat and toxic gasses from overcoming the scientist.

Harriet looked around for the transportation or way out the scientist would take. To her dismay, she saw the small hovercraft being dragged down by a new lava fissure.

Harriet cried out and the figure near the lip jumped up startled and looked around for where the yell came from. A line of profanity from inside the helmet in a feminine voice came from the figure, as she saw her transportation being slowly swept away. Harriet was quickly at the woman's side as she instinctively felt the volcano prepare itself for a few stiff shakes. The roar in the core of the volcano increased. Harriet dragged the stunned woman further away from the lip. Frantically they both looked for a way out. If this was another dream, surely she could create a rescue…

Another craft came swooping down between the vapors and smoothly glided beside the scientist. It did not settle on the trembling ground but hovered at a comfortable level. The door opened and Harriet's heart leaped when she spotted a smiling Alan in the pilot's seat.

"No!" Harriet yelled.

Harriet did not know if it was from her yell or if maybe the woman realized that Alan was dangerous but she leaped back from the tempting possibility of leaving the volcano's erupting top.

Harriet looked frantically around for another way out when she noticed that there was a worn path not covered with lava. The scientist headed for it and Harriet followed behind her, terrified as Alan followed. The scientist reached the beginning of the trail before Harriet and dived headfirst down the trail. Harriet could see why, for a flash of light hit the trail before Harriet. Harriet willed herself beside the fleeing woman who was further down the barren volcano's sides. They were both on their feet and dodging around boulders and patches of molten lava that was cracking outside of the once confining cone walls.

If this is a dream, why not just dream of a safe escape, Harriet thought. The figure that was running before her stopped, and spun around to face the surprised Harriet. She angrily pulled off her mask.

"What do you think I've been trying to do? But I keep having this same stupid dream! And who in hades are you?" she demanded.

Harriet put out a hand to touch the orange haired woman on the shoulder to calm her down. It was as she rested her hand on the woman's shoulder that Harriet picked up the foreign energy emanating from around her.

"A sonic hydra. Someone has set one around your sleeping area," she murmured to the woman.

The woman's eyes opened wide but Harriet had not time to say anything more as she felt herself jerked back to the emptiness where she usually began her dreams.

The pause was brief before she found herself standing on a wall facing a spectacular view of a sundown on a Wield world. Now how did she know it was sundown? Her breath caught for the scene was all too familiar.

Which Wield world is this? If you limit your experience to the one you're more familiar with you'll limit the potential of the dream, she reminded herself.

Sharon was sitting on the wall.

"It is sundown on MageWield, my home planet." Smiling, she patted a space near her for Harriet to join her.

"You are from MageWield?"

"Yes, Harriet. You already knew that, you just don't remember a previous visit you made here."

Her smile was warm but it was not that of a lover.

"No. Those days are past, as you have already noted. We were good for each other when we were with each other. Now we must move on and share our lives with others."

Harriet blushed as her thoughts went to Carol, but that was in the past too.

Sharon nodded. "We opened up parts of each other that only the love that we could give could open. Do you understand that? Yes. Love is very important in all relationships, just as commitment. We can no longer commit to each other because our paths have parted and will not cross as they have in the past. You blush when you think of Carol…but you are mistaken that it was just a fling, for want of a better word for something you felt you had no control of. Nothing is wasted if you remain present in the experience. Chaos is an important part of the life experience. You must try to remain in it and not organize it…it will give meaning when it has finished its process." Sharon watched the colors change around Harriet's head. It may seem like new information to her but it was not. The difference was that now she was ready to take it with her back into her conscious self.

"You gave Carol something in your relationship with her, just as she gave you something in return."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you asked Carol if she felt you were taking advantage of her?"

She nodded. "But…I'm not sure if she was just saying that because it was part of her program."

"You gave her permission to speak her mind. With metrapeople the behavior chips cause them to see things as yes and no, do and don't. Their life is not in color or shades of gray even if it seems they are acting 'normal.' In the technical term of what a metraperson is, I was never one. I never had the chip implant."

Harriet lifted her eyes to look into the amused slate gray eyes of a…lover. How did she know that that was something that weighed heavily on her mind?

"I will hold you very close to my heart, Harriet. You had shown me what I was missing in my own single-minded purpose…opening my heart to share with another was just as important as having a purpose."

Harriet nodded numbly, tears stinging her eyes.

"You have been questing for a meaning to the Dance." Sharon smiled, at the increase of Harriet's pulse, and the change of colors around her. "The Dance you witnessed as a cadet was a dance of Attachment. It is a commitment to join destinies on a higher level. It's the second dance of four. It is very sacred and powerful in that if the two people who become involved were not destined to walk similar paths…it would evoke a change. That is why the first dance, the Dance of Invitation has to be danced. In this dance, the guardians of this ritual for bonding, are called upon to find one's lifemate in this life time. Then in dreamtime, the two souls meet and decide whether they want to be lifemates in this life. You had already accepted the Dance of Invitation when you were a young girl, just before your first menses. In your dreams you had requested to see who this was and one day, when you were visiting a temple to honor your moon time, you had met her. Do you remember that time?"

"Yes!" Harriet looked at her surprised. "I…I had dreams of her that night…they were…embarrassing to me at the time."

Sharon nodded, "When you had witnessed Cadet Zohra dancing the sacred Dance that she had thought was going to be a practice dance to bleed off the energy your nearness was creating, you both had pulled each other into the sacred energy. As strong as your life source is, if you did not wish for this attraction to take place…you would never have witnessed the Dance of Attachment. The guardians of this ritual would not have permitted it." Sharon smiled as she watched Harriet think about what she was telling her. The colors that shot out from her aurora told her that Harriet was pleased with this information.

Harriet shook her head. "I wasn't sure just what I was feeling so soon after being exposed to the pheromone gas."

Sharon's eyes sparkled with laughter. "That certainly did confuse a lot of what was going on around you. It is time for you to dance the next Dance of commitment to this person. You know the Dance already. Your master at AltaLA had taught you the Dance but under a different name to keep its higher purpose hidden from the uninitiated. Remember the four dances of the seasons?"

Harriet nodded, imaging the dance steps in her mind and feeling the energy the movements generated.

"Connect all four in one dance and that will be the dance you will dance after Zohra dances hers." Sharon leaned toward her, "Remember." The breath from her whisper tickled Harriet's ear. "After this meeting, we will not contact each other again."

Harriet could feel a knot form in her stomach.

"Alan must not know that we are still in contact. He has hired someone to test the ethers and this person will know and locate us both. It will only make things worse for you." Sharon touched Harriet with her second finger at a spot near her left ear. "That is my gift to you, my Love. May your journey on the path of enlightenment bring you profound joy."

Chapter 21

Harriet's eyes fluttered open as her other senses stretched out to identify her environment and gauge its security to her. The lights in the room started at a soft glow then moved up two degrees. Sitting up she wiped the tears that were leaving tracks into her hairline. Taking a deep breath, she released it and could feel the ache in her heart lessen.

She knew about my Dancer. So…after all this time…all that we have experienced separate…we are still bonded. Amazing. I knew that.

Harriet could feel her anxiety level raise at the possibility that Zohra was not aware of this on a conscious level; after all, she had been in covert operations for so long and just maybe…

We're merely on the same planet; it doesn't mean anything…yet, the touches from the captain and the dreams she was having suggested she was kidding herself. Was her Dancer having them too? No, she was probably busy trying to get rid of the Spartan programming and reconnecting with her sisters…and maybe with an old friend, the one she had been with at the Academy. The older cadet she had been seeing seemed like the type that would not part with her prize easily.

Harriet was aware that she was telling herself this just in case her Dancer was not ready to reconnect. Sooner or later, she was going to have to ask Zohra about the Dance and their involvement to see if they both were on the same…path?

I need a shower and one of Ald's back rubs. A poor substitute from what she had lately been treated to. Well, it was nice while I had it.

"Good morning, Guardian," Harriet started her day.

"Good morning Lady Alexandra."

Harriet laughed. "It will take a while for me to get use to hearing someone call me by that name again. So, what's the news of the day? Have I missed something planet shaking?"

"Very planet shaking…the Vine's forces have secured New Century City. However, they are still looking for the alowan and any others that may suddenly appear. They have moved to Mi City. The prisoners captured so far, have been moved off planet for questioning and safer keeping, just in case something does happen to the city and everyone will have to evacuate quickly. The war forum that is in place until the new governing body has been elected and renamed, has assigned the Sisters of the Shield to protect the Lair. And, your captain has been promoted to major of the security forces here."

"My?" Her eyebrow rose for a moment. "Major, huh? What a big headache," she reflected, glad it was not her command. "Well, until I get my orders from the Rear Admiral, I'll try and keep out of the way." That's a relief. She'll be too busy to…well… this is a laugh. I'm going to have all this time to do nothing but think about us and what if…and she will be too busy to think about anything but protecting this place against Alan's arrival. This bonding thing is going to be on hold forever it seems.

She retracted the bed and began her chi gung and then Tai Chi exercises. From there she moved to work on the moves Zohra had introduced her and Carol to. The small holographic fighter that she had working with her was nimble and short, giving her a challenge. Finally she closed the session, feeling pleased with her workout. Chuckling to herself, she thought that the next encounter she had with the bad guys, she would be leaving them in the dust. The bathing door slid open as she neared it, and steam rolled toward her, as well as a rush of cold crisp air. It was as if the open door was sucking it towards her. Harriet held her breath as her mind tried to work out the difference between this scene and the one in her dream.

All right…no mental alarms…the door opened like it should…the butler is handing me a robe…she sniffed the herbal scent that was hanging in the thick moist clouds. The steam was so thick she could not see past the first sink.

A whoop followed by women's laughter reminded her that she shared bathing facilities with Carol-Maa. Harriet closed her eyes for a moment, at the thought that she would no longer have Carol's companionship to herself. The slap of a hand on the water followed by laugher had her embarrassed at listening to what she was not present for. Opening her eyes, the sounds receded. Sighing she headed for the shower.

"Lady Alexandra! Come and join us!" Carol's voice called her through the clouds of steam.

Harriet paused, torn between wanting solitude and curious to see who was with Carol. Moving through the warm and moist steam cloud, she found herself standing near the lip of the tub with the origin of the steam rising from the bubbling tub and the air temperature dropping to freezing above the bathers. Her skin tightened from the cold.

All conversation stopped as she appeared out of the mist. Her heart quickened when she saw Zohra sitting in front of Carol getting a massage. She looked away confused at whether she was unsettled with Carol or Zohra. Were they now lovers? Her eyes moved to study the other three women whom she was not familiar with. The two Alterian's were sitting intimately close as a couple would. Both were watching her with curious gray eyes, their dark iris centers wide open as they studied her. Harriet moved her eyes to look at the third women and was met with a hostile if not resentful look. The colors whirling around her were decidedly not friendly.

Sgt. Vanster, Major Zohra's partner. She flushed when she realized she was relieved that the Major and Vanster were not sitting as lovers.

The alterian nearest to Vanster waved to a space that was on the other side of her lover and directly across from Major Zohra. Zohra was moving to sit at a comfortable distance beside Carol, which Harriet could not help but feel pleased that there seemed to be no relationship there also. Harriet stepped onto the first step and found the water a little hotter than usual. While she waited for her body to adjust, she looked towards Carol-Maa who was watching her with a mischievous smile.

"Well…since Mistress Jina Gari, oops, I mean the major, or Carol-Maa are being slow to do the introductions, my name is Galdin," the alterian nearest her introduced with a smile. "This is Clea, my lifemate, and that's Megan," she indicated Vanster. "I would like to thank you for sharing your tub. Ours is filled with too many wild women to carry on any type of conversation below a yell..."

"And then there is the countless interruptions a major suffers through. Especially our JG who has picked up a reputation for…hmmm…being a disciplinarian and everyone that likes that kind of stuff, is looking to be disciplined," Clea added with a mischievous grin tossed toward Zohra who gave no indication of how the comment affected her.

"I'm Alexandra Montran. I am pleased to share your companionship in our tub," Harriet returned the smile and nodded to the other two women before lowering herself onto the second step.

She had quickly decided on the informal introduction of first name and clan, thus creating no social or military rank. Since Montran was titled and from an old clan for her to merely introduce herself with her first name would have been a social insult to those in her company, indicating she did not wish to share that part of herself with them.

Turning to Zohra her eyes were captured in the dark orbs that were watching her. She resisted the impulse to spend more time staring into the dark pools.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Major."

A small smile curled at edges of her lips, but she said nothing.

So, that is your usual self. Few words shared. Your troops must love your briefings, Montran thought. "Good morning Carol-Maa, atmosphere?" she asked Carol-Maa as she breathed in the heat.

"It is warmer than what I am use to, but our guests were reminiscing about their visits to the hot springs on a planet far from here. I was homesick for my water and this seemed to be a nice way to take care of what we all missed."

"Which brings us back to the conversation we were having," Vanster interjected.

"Ahh, yes. This House of Aphrodite," Carol-Maa nodded. "I am not clear on my Host's explanation of this Cave ritual you were alluding to," Maa said referring to Carol.

Alexandra laughed with the others, her face turning red at wondering what Carol had shown MaaSaa in her mind.

"Galdin worked there for about seven years, she could probably tell you about it better than I." Vanster gave her a wicked look.

Galdin made a face at her and started in a monotone, as if a bored moderator. "The Cave is a level below the Dungeon. It is by invitation; whereas, the Dungeon is for the casual customer to experience the dominatrix world. The Cave has its regular members with a few special women and two men, presiding over the membership." Galdin nodded to JG, her voice changing as she began to warm to the explanation. "For many years Mistress Jina Gari was a favorite when she was in town. Later Megan became a mistress, and mischief was afoot," she smirked. "But, that was after she passed the sub test under the lash and tribulations, Mistress JG was obligated to put her through. It was quite fun, because it was the day we picked to celebrate JG's promotion to Captain in the Athenian Shield Maiden's Guild. It was only the three of us that knew what we were celebrating…but it went on for… what …two or three days and nights?"

"Ooooohh yeah, baby, beat me, tie me up and spank me! That was a hell of a celebration!" Megan grinned.

They all laughed. Everyone imaged their own version of the major dominating Megan or anyone else for three days. Unabashedly, Alexandra easily pictured Zohra in a dark bodysuit, paddle in hand, circling her victim slowly…drawing out the victim's passion with every little bit of a sting…Alexandra shifted her position in the tub to change her focus of thought.

"I think the manager of the House will be soliciting JG to put in appearances to keep up her business," Galdin teased.

JG is it?

Alexandra watched Major Zohra wave her hand in indifference. "Doms are a common find on Sesstra IV, Galdin."

Clea leaned across her lover and remarked to Vanster. "I hear you were getting your own following, you heart breaker," she teased.

"I had a reputation to keep up. But I do miss that one number that called herself, Niki. She had a nice scream when she came." Then Megan Vanster gave a good imitation of it. The others oohhed and made the appropriate noises while Alexandra concentrated on Zohra's reactions.

"Oh, that all important tradition that Mistress JG over there had started. Bloody moon! It's a pity those men in your group weren't very good, otherwise Claire would have paid to have the troop visit on slow weeks," Galdin grinned. "When you two hit town, there was not enough room in the Cave to accommodate all those that wanted to be subs, slaves and voyeurs," she mocked. "The other mistresses went on vacation, except a few that wanted to experience the whip under the Dark Mistress."

"Right. You mock, but if no one has told Claire of our whereabouts, I'm sure she has agents looking for us, contract in hand, for us to visit on a regular basis," Megan told her with a smug look.

"Hmmm. My Host has interesting experiences in that sort of sensual play. Perhaps we shall do some more experiencing," Carol-Maa told the others.

Smiles were passed between the others, and then there was silence as everyone enjoyed the atmosphere and their thoughts.

Alexandra was hoping Carol-Maa was not referring to anything recent in her history. The conversation resumed but Alexandra felt and heard a pop inside her head, quickly followed by a feeling of heightened sensitivity with everyone in the water. She slowly breathed in as she realized she had somehow established a link with the group.

Water intensifies connection with those in its environment! Gedaliaha reminded me just…yesterday.

She could feel the sensuousness the two women next to her were feeling for each other as they discreetly touched under the scented waters. It caused her own desire to make physical contact with Major Zohra, a compelling need. Carefully she breathed in as she could feel the fire the couple shared move into her already hot body. Alexandra concentrated instead on the water that was alive and its essence enhanced by all those in its fluid. Like a moth to a flame her attention moved to Major Zohra, where she picked up edginess.

Was it because of the discussion of her role in the Cave? Did it bring back memories of someone who was special? Vanster…was her slave for a while. No, it's not that type of edginess…does she feel my intrusion?

Major Zohra's emotions shifted as Alexandra tried to drop the link. She was fearful the major would think she initiated the intrusion. As a way to break the connection she shifted her eyes back to Vanster, where dark brown eyes were staring at her openly antagonistic. Did she know that she had touched them without their conscious permission?

"So, you're the legendary…Captain Montran," Vanster's voice sounded churlish and challenging.

"Legendary?" Her heart skipped a beat as her defenses went up and she shifted to another level of awareness. There's more to this than what she is saying.

Colors whirling around Vanster were changing to a dangerous off shade of red with tinges of a dirty brown and the off green color of …envy? Why was she envious of her?

"It's rather 'heroic' with you being the only one that came back," she returned sounding more petulant.

Alexandra locked eyes with Vanster as her temper rose. It was something that was not open to discussion and if Vanster really was interested, she could look at the official documents, which for all she knew were languishing on some official's desk waiting to be investigated for misappropriation of military personnel for private use and unethical behavior of a Committee member in satisfying a personal vendetta. She was not going to have her past challenged by the likes of anyone in this tub, least of all, by Vanster if they did not take the time to investigate their charges before making them.

"Do tell. And what is your expertise to make such a comment, rumors perpetuated by Lord Chaney, your master?"

Vanster flinched and broke eye contact, not so much from what was said but the pressure that rose against her. She suspected it was from the two women sitting next to her. It irritated her that they would even defend this pariah of respectable societies. She was just another lazy leech of upper society. Wherever she had run off to she should have stayed there. For a moment she remembered that Lord Chaney was the reason she was back in Committee space, but that was a mere detail easily ignored.

"Lt. Vanster," Major Zohra's voice was low, with menace, "confine yourself to your quarters and wait for my return."

Vanster glared at JG for interrupting her 'game.' They were not on duty and 'she' was no longer their assignment. She held her breath for a moment, wondering just what got JG so pissed. She was taking her promotion too seriously, she thought.

The emotions in the water intensified and Alexandra shifted uncomfortably.

Then Vanster rose from the water in a smooth motion, pulling herself out of the tub. She headed to the door to Carol-Maas quarters ignoring the towel the bot held for her.

Helgas Moon, I gotta get out of this water. Alexandra looked toward Major Zohra, worried.

"I apologize, Lt. Montran. That is a breech of the sisterhood's standards of conduct and is not tolerated," Major Zohra explained embarrassed, both for Lady Alexandra and the sisterhood. What the bloody moon is going on with Megan!?

Alexandra looked up as Zohra rose in the water as if to follow after Vanster. Alexandra frowned. She would never leave a function after a disciplined soldier; it gave them too much power, like a misbehaving child.

"Perhaps her Black Rose persona needs a reality check."

The major gave Alexandra the barest of nods that she understood.

"Would you mind if I asked, why you remained in the Degas troop when you realized that they were used as bait?" Galdin asked gently.

The feeling in the room had changed dramatically after Megan Vanster left and Alexandra did not feel uncomfortable with the question.

"I…still ask myself that question…getting different answers." She closed her eyes to be back to the first day she stood before her troop, feeling the trepidation in the air as well as the open antagonism between the CO and the troop gathered in a sloppy formation. Opening her eyes, she ran the palm of her hand over the bubbling waters.

"I remember our first introduction to each other. They were insolent and didn't care about anything. The condition of their barracks was…awful, to say nothing of the ill-fitting and dirty uniforms they were dressed in. Their equipment was…old and something I would expect a band of poor rebels to have." She took a deep breath and looked into Galdin's dark gray eyes. "When I realized what their purpose was…bait with no means of defense...I could not let that happen. It was not right."

"You felt sorry for them?" Clea asked hesitantly.

"Oh…no. By their personnel records they were not nice people. I felt they needed to know how to survive…beyond the military perspective. I wasn't quite so articulate at just what I wanted to do at the time…I learned that from them…and they learned from me. We taught each other how to live in the midst of brutality and imminent death, with dignity and with compassion. It took me five stan years to understand that and four to get over it."

"Compassion? You were killing defenseless people." Galdin responded, without rancor.

"Ha! We were defenseless. Our weapons were so outdated the people we were dropped into the middle of to cause havoc had better stuff and that worked. We became a raiding party, instead of bait. We collected their equipment and supplies. Remember, we were not there to do damage to these people, we were there to get them to shoot at us so other troops could pinpoint their location and shoot them. We felt compassion for these people because they were like us, bait for a political machine that didn't care about the rightness or wrongness of the skirmish."

"You sure surprised a lot of people when your troop kept coming back from assignments with so many intact."

"Hmm. It surprised my troop too. I had to get as many out alive as possible on the first skirmish we had together…to show them that they were not as powerless in the outcome as they believed."

"We all think you did a wonderful job, Captain Montran. Even if it did not work out in the end."

Alexandra took a deep breath to prevent the pain from coming back. She had thought she failed. She was the only one that survived in the end and not without emotional scars.

"Thank you. I need to get some things done. May the water and its essence impart health to you all," Montran pulled herself out of the tub quickly, before anyone could object, feeling the connection break as she left the water.

Ald was at her elbow as she disappeared in the swirls of steam, holding a towel. She decided a cold shower was exactly what she needed.

Goddess, Montran, get yourself together. It's not Vanstar. I can handle attitudes and prejudice. I've been doing it since a child! Something else must be happening.

She rested her forehead against the cold tile, sorting through what she was experiencing. Her senses heightened and her thoughts moved from erotic visions of Major Zohra to lights flashing in all colors. Blinking for a moment, she realized she was seeing the energy of the wall in front of her. The smell of the vegetation, the damp earth their roots sank in, the sounds of water dripping from leaves was all magnified.

"Blasters!" she whispered under her breath. It's a cleansing. Oh, Goddess. I forgot. But…why? She stumbled back into the bedroom. "No…visitors!" Holding her midsection she doubled over. Whom is this for? Lord Chaney? It wasn't intentional. I don't understand. Ohhhh. I think I should have paid more attention in class on recompense. "Offf, argh!"

Moaning, she dropped her face into the carpet oblivious of the softness. A sudden piercing pain in her forehead sent her rolling onto her back.

Yep! It's for Lord Chaney. Why?

The pain brought tears to her eyes as she tried not to cry out. She had to endure it for a few moments, she reminded herself. Before her vision cleared she could hear Guardian's voice from far away.

"Yes?" she managed to get out between clinched teeth. The tingling in her fingertips and toes began, burning as they moved up her limbs. She rolled onto her stomach and buried her face into the carpet trying to let the process move on without resistance. The pain stopped suddenly and she relaxed back on the rug, feeling her sweat trickle down the sides of her face. It felt nice to be laying in the softness of the rug.

Why hadn't Carol and I made love on the carpet before she…?

She sat up too quickly and had to hold onto the side of the bed to prevent herself from toppling over.

"Lady Alexandra? Are you alright?" Guardian asked again sounding concerned.

"Yes. Yes, I'm fine," she returned in what she was hoping, sounded like a normal voice.

"The sisterhood has been trying to get in touch with you to offer you an invitation to their dinner tonight. They asked me to try."

A giggle escaped from Alexandra and she clamped both hands over her mouth to stop any more from escaping. She had no intention of giggling through a boring night with women who labeled her as legendary, just because she did not want to die. She giggled again.

"Lady Alexandra, are you sure you are okay? I can contact LaDea Gedaliaha but you will have to unlock your quarters. Normally, I honor such requests for privacy but…

"I …am fine," she started out with a serious voice but quickly slapped both hands over her mouth as more giggling threatened to leak out.

"Well, then…the dinner is at 0700, in the Baling Area."

"Hmm," she managed to get out. She did not let her hands uncover her mouth for the name of the area nearly had her bursting out in uncontrollable laughter. She knew exactly whom she would like to do some 'bailing' with. She heard him sign off and also found that to be hysterically funny. For the next ten minutes, though it seemed longer to her sore sides, anything that came to mind sent her into gales of laughter. Mentally she remembered the hormones laughter released being necessary to heal what feeling pain had released. Singing would have done the same thing as laughing…Oh, no. You don't want to sing, Harriet. You can't carry a note even in the shower. Which caused her to laugh even harder.

Gradually she could feel the giddiness leave. She weakly rose to her feet as she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of the robe the butler held out to her. Alright…two down…what comes next?

"Bach?" she called softly, "Chumut tea, please." After two quick sips pain to her stomach nearly caused her to drop her cup of tea. Bach was quick enough to grab the cup before it dropped to the ground with her. Her legs were shaking as her stomach tried to turn itself inside out. She had not remembered this with Kela's death. But she had not caused Kela's death, she reminded herself. This was certainly more painful than she remembered it. She was not aware of how long this episode lasted. Somewhere between breaks of dry heaves, she felt someone lift her and hold her close. Her body continued to shake with the pain her stomach suffered. If she remembered right, this would be the fear the victim had experienced. He must have had ulcers, she thought.

Abruptly she found herself standing outside of her physical body watching Major Zohra cradle her while Gedaliaha wiped her face. She dispassionately observed herself staring with a wide-open vacant look while her body tried to curl up in pain. What was the pain from now?

"His anguish the first time he molested a child," an unfamiliar voice softly told her. "Go back into your body."

She drifted back into her body that was now lying quietly in the arms of her comforter. Major Zohra's arms felt strong and comforting, and the heartbeat at rest, thumbing against her back added to her feeling of security. A heat of desire between her legs nudged her to the awareness that she would have to do something about her attraction to Major Zohra soon.

Abruptly she found herself standing at the edge of the volcano again. The same women's figure from her previous vision was leaning over the lip taking measurements. This time she turned around on her own accord and faced Alexandra. Behind Alexandra was her craft, being engulfed in a hot flow of lava. The woman raised her hand and commanded it to stop. When it returned to its proper position she headed towards it without concern, passing by Alexandra. She stopped in front of her, which surprised her.

"Thank you, whoever you are. I owe you…and I don't forget my debits."

Alexandra was jerked back quickly, just what her teachers had warned her not to do when astral projecting. She felt so disorientated she clutched the carpet to find some form of stability. When her eyes came back into focus she found Gedaliaha's light brown eyes looking down at her calmly.

"Alexandra."

Sighing Alexandra closed her eyes for a moment. She could hear the heartbeat of the person holding her and feel the person's concern.

She struggled to stand up.

"Not so fast," Major Zohra commanded and gently pushed her to sit with her back against the bed.

The connection Alexandra felt as she leaned against the major was intimate, though they had not acknowledged each other in such a relationship yet.

"Drink this," Gedaliaha guided a cup of the strong tea to her lips.

It was strong and tasted terrible. She could not keep her face from wrinkling up in a grimace. As soon as it hit her empty stomach it spread soothing warmth that worked itself down to her toes and other places that she found interesting. She would have to remember that herb.

Feeling better she looked into the dark eyes of Jina Gari and she found herself blushing. The nearness of her became difficult to ignore. Alexandra took a deep breath to quiet her heart and the thrumming that vibrated throughout her body. It was like being under the influence of the pheromone gas. Jina Gari, I like that name.

"You missed the dinner that was to be given in your honor," Gedaliaha remarked as the two women assisted her to her feet.

"That's okay," Alexandra mumbled as she tried to stand on her own, but her knees were shaking, "I'm not up to eating right now."

Gedaliaha guided her to a chair in the front room. "Why did you go through a jokarash?" Gedaliaha asked concerned.

"It was for Lord Chaney," she admitted feeling embarrassed.

"I thought you would have cleansed yourself already," Jina Gari remarked. "How are you feeling now?"

This was an odd conversation coming from Gedaliaha. The term jokarash was not spoken of and least of all in front of someone who not initiated into shamanism. She looked into Gedaliaha's eyes again. Alexandra leaped up looking around her frantically. This was not Gedaliaha and this was not her quarters. The familiar porcelain statue was missing from its corner pedestal.

Abruptly she was back in her bedroom lying on her back. She could hear the door chiming from the frontroom. She slowly rolled to her feet and steadied herself on edge of the bed. She was still wearing her robe though it was eschewed.

"Computer, release the lock. Enter," she whispered hoarsely.

Gedaliaha and some of the people she had met during Carol's gathering came in concerned. She did not dare move from the support of the bed so she remained sitting.

"We felt a breach through our protective wall," one of the shamans informed her.

"Are you alright?" another asked touching her shoulders as if to test her energy. It probably was erratic.

Gedaliaha said nothing as she studied her room, looking for something. Gedaliaha picked up the object that was lying on the top of the small table near the bed.

Alexandra became aware of the pressure behind her ear. It was what she experienced aboard the Spinner's Tale. Now she understood. "A sonic hydra," she muttered.

Major Zohra had slipped in the room with the others unnoticed by Alexandra.

Alexandra bent forward, holding onto her stomach, nauseous from another beam of energy from the sonic hydra. One of the Shamans sat next to her supporting and lending her his energy. The tallest found the sonic mechanism stuck to the corner of the bathing door. He deactivated it and laid it in Gedaliaha's palm.

"The one you call Vanster," Gedaliaha murmured looking towards Major Zohra.

Alexandra's heart quickened. Was this still part of the dream? She brushed her hand across her eyes as she tried to sort out her feelings. A calming hand on her shoulders brought her bios back to normal. Gedaliaha was smiling into her eyes. They were the shaman eyes she remembered, dark pools whose depths were unfathomable.

"I have come to invite you to a sisterhood dinner. There are members that wish to meet you," Major Zohra spoke to her.

"I…"

"She will be there, Major."

"0700 then, if that is not conflicting with anything you have planed."

Alexandra caught the humor.

"No. Alexandra needs something to keep her mind busy. Socializing is just the thing," Gedaliaha did not take her eyes from Alexandra's as she spoke. There was amusement in Gedaliaha's eyes when Alexandra's expression turned to disappointment at the thought that she would be attending.

"I will tell the sisters. And…I will handle Megan Vanster."

"If you can find out how she managed to elude my security checks I would appreciate you letting me know. It seems there have been a lot of breeches lately." Guardian did not sound pleased.

"I can tell you part of it now. She wanted to see how the other half lived so Carol-Maa invited us to her quarters and the use of her bathing facilities. Vanster had used the toilet facilities earlier before we all ended up in the tub," Major Zohra admitted.

"My monitors did not pick up that someone entered Lady Alexandra's room," Guardian noted regrettably.

"Perhaps we need to reexamine everyone that has been part of this operation." Major Zohra suggested looking uncomfortable. Bloody moon, maybe it's better the others remain in confinement. Between Vanster and myself, our loyalty has been rather flawed…compromised is a better term. What has gotten into her? Has she lost herself in her role?

Alexandra did not care who handled it. In fact, she wanted to be left alone. Tiredly she rubbed her temples. Which parts of her dreams were true?

Major Zohra nodded at the others and glanced Lady Alexandra's way. Alexandra had lifted her eyes at that time and for a moment both exchanged looks.

My Dancer, what are you thinking?

The others left with Major Zohra. Gedaliaha remained sitting in a comfortable chair across from Alexandra who was sipping tea that Bach had prepared for her.

"Alexandra, tell me more about this?" She held up a small object she had not been able to figure out what it was.

"Oh, I think one of the people we rescued from the smuggler's dropped it. I've been meaning to give it to Maud, Guardian's assistant so she can find out who owns it."

"I see. Well, consider it returned. I will take care of it. Now, tell me everything about the dreams, Alexandra," Gedaliaha compelled her. If Gedaliaha had not used the 'command voice,' Alexandra knew she would not have told her everything. Shaman's had the ability to compel others to do their bidding, putting their will behind their voice.

"I don't know what is real and what was corrupted," she confessed.

"He can't create dreams. The sonic hydra allows a trained person to go into the dreams of the dreamer and mettle," Gedaliaha explained. "It has been noted in the Counsel of Rings meetings that we shamans are against such a mechanism for this very reason. But, to your dreams. Do not leave anything out," she commanded.

Alexandra frowned as she tried to remember where it all began. She started slowly, including the last dream and of her reaction to Major Zohra's nearness.

Both women were silent after she finished, wrapped in their own thoughts.

"If I may," Bach politely interrupted their thoughts, "I am also programmed for monitoring sleep and can give you a bit of information you may find useful."

"Well, go ahead," Gedaliaha invited.

"The first dream was tampered with but not from the device. The second one was on a different wavelength. It stimulated a different part of the brain as well as the normal centers making it a true dream that should be interpreted by a dream interpreter. However, the device became activated during the next dream sequence and allowed corruption and a foreign energy pattern to enter the room."

"Wait a moment. How was the first able to tamper without the device?"

"It was some sort of energy that stimulated my command module. I did not want to endanger the sleeper so I let the dream end, and then canceled the energy by sending out its polar opposite. Very simple."

"Guardian must not be happy about the intrusions into his security systems."

"I have not synced with Guardian due to a malfunction in my outlet, therefore Guardian does not know of this."

"I do now," Guardian's voice came over the intercom. "I came when my name was mentioned," he explained. "It seems there are many gaps in my security system. Major Zohra has some of her sisters working on it."

At the mention of the major, Alexandra's ears perked up. She glanced at Gedaliaha who was still talking to Guardian, but her eyes were on her. With a red face she looked down at her folded hands.

Jumping from one woman to another. What is wrong with me?

"Well, Alexandra," she asked, "what are you waiting for?"

"What?" Alexandra looked up puzzled. "Oh." The dinner she was not in the least bit interested in attending. She would only know the major. "I don't really see the importance of going to this…" Gedaliaha was not going to buy any of her excuses, she thought as she looked at her.

"Don't tell me that you don't know anyone. You know Major Zohra and the others that were in the tub you shared. Sharing a tub naked makes for a relationship that is more than that of an acquaintance. And with your channels opened, well…bathing in water amplifies the feelings of your fellow bathers… That's why most empaths try not to make love in the water too often…very potent and heady stuff."

I knew that. Wait a moment! Didn't she already tell me that? Goddess! I'm so confused. Either I feel it's like I've heard it already or I seem to be a step behind in remembering this stuff.

***

Chapter 22

As Major Zohra scanned the faces of the sisters, some of whom she did not know, she realized that if she had known that her work with Naboths Vine would keep her from her sisters for so long she would have not taken the assignment so readily. She breathed deeply taking in the scent and energy that a group of women exuded. Now she was able to appreciate the differences of camaraderie between the Black Rose and her sisters.

She let a slow quiet sigh out. While she was a Spartan she kept tight control of her dreams and any wishful thoughts for this type of companionship for fear of giving herself away. She had been alone for the first two years, until she transferred into the Black Rose. Then she made contact with Galdin in the House of Aphrodite. It was not until three stan years ago that Vanster and Roberts joined the squad. Her eyes clouded at the thought of Marilyn Roberts. She was still held in the containment cells by order of General Aglauros with the rest of the Black Rose team.

Why?

Her eyes fell on a soldier, whose eyes reminded her of the many women and men she met in the Cave. Shifting her thoughts uneasily, she recalled her respites in the House of Aphrodite. For appearances, she had spent time in the Cave, dealing out pleasurable pain to those that wanted the scared and lean muscled dark leather clad warrior to lay red stripes of the lash over their bodies, and then do with them as she wished. It was erotic for her and there were women that she looked forward to seeing regularly. When Megan Vanstar joined the Black Rose team, she found Megan was interested in playing the same dominating role over the men and woman that frequented the room.

The members of the Cave determined when the training period for sub to dom was sufficient. Megan had spent time with all the Mistresses and Masters of the Cave before she was initiated from sub to dom. To Megan's credit, she was not maliciously abusive; she loved her role and was good at it, knowing intuitively how much her slaves could take. Zohra smiled. Those visits to Aphrodite's House were reprieves they both lived for, not just for the sexual release but because neither had to worry about who was gunning for them. Zohra looked at her hands that had tightened around the baton she was holding, without seeing. Without that safe harbor would she have survived? She did not think so.

A touch on her sleeve caused her to redirect her attention to Captain Chilali. They exchanged knowing glances and then Captain Chilali nodded to the young warrior who looked like she had a message.

"Major Zohra, the shamans are preparing for the meld with Takenya and the Eunit."

"She is no longer Takenya, Cpl. Gwen," Captain Raizel gently reminded her.

Gwen's face turned a blazing red at making a simple error in front of three commanding officers.

Lt. Machi shook her shoulder gently with a smile on her face.

Major Zohra's eyes stared above the heads of the women as her eyes darkened.

"Takenya, Sheila or Carol, has played one of the most important parts in this deadly game," she said softly. "She had given up her personality and knowledge of her history to become Sheila in order for us to get the necessary inside information into Lord Chaney's operations. As Carol she will meld with another to go into dimensions we know nothing about, and as warriors we will probably never experience, nor care to. I do not believe that I could ever do something like that no matter how great the cause," Major Zohra admitted to those around her.

"JG, you lived undercover as a Black Rose for seven years!" Lt. Machi pointed out. "And two years before that as a common Spartan soldier. That is a long time to play a role."

Major Zohra finally drew her eyes from the distance she had focused on and looked deep into Machi's blue eyes. "If I had known what it would be like, I would have been too fearful to have even taken the assignment."

Captain Chilali's strong hands gripped the powerful shoulders of her major kindly. "We all look back at where we started and ask ourselves the same thing: if we had known, would we have chosen the path we took or if we had known would we have even tried. That is the luxury of looking back. Be grateful, sister Major that you have survived to express your fear. There is no shame in that."

When Capt. Chilali looked into the major's eyes, she saw a strength that she envied for it was wrought from a different flame and promised a depth in spirit that she cared not to develop in this life. She well understood what Major Zohra was talking about.

"Captain Raziel, signal the sisters from the House of Esther that it is time," Major Zohra directed.

Through a communicator, Captain Machi spoke with the group that was waiting in Waterland, as prearranged with the shamans. They were to make sure that Carol's meld with the Enuit was as comfortable as possible. The Sisters of Esther were skilled in dealing with the spirit of people.

Captain Machi touched Major Zohra's elbow, nodding towards the food on the table to remind her that their dinner was getting cold. Major Zohra ate little when she was intent on a problem, so her staff made a consorted attempt to make sure she ate, as they knew their Major General would not be happy at her thinness.

***

Major Zohra was sleeping lightly when she was aware of a presence about her. She recognized it, but remained still. She realized that Lady Harriet Montran was dreaming of the Dance. Breathing in deeply, she let the familiar feeling take over as the images of her and then Lady Harriet danced the Dance of Commitment. The strong vibration of the energy it created shook her as she endured silently the climax that always ended the Dances. She waited until her head cleared and her insides stopped shaking before getting up. It was Lt. Machi's watch. Restless she headed to the rec room. There she found Clea and Galdin sitting in a corner talking to a transformed Carol-Maa who was rocking with silent mirth at something Galdin was describing.

Carol-Maa's eyes rose to meet Major Zohras. The eyes that stared deeply into hers captivated Major Zohra, pausing her heartbeat.

"Hello, Major." The voice was deep and it vibrated against her senses stirring her desire.

"Now don't you be messing with JG, Carol-Maa!" Clea laughed.

"I should hope you don't," Major Zohra gave a short laugh. "I would not have the strength of Lady Harriet to resist bedding you right where you sit."

Carol's eyes twinkled. Leaning forward she whispered, "You need to do something about my Mistress Alexandra."

"Alexandra?"

"Yes, she has also changed and is more than Harriet," Carol-Maa teased.

Major Zohra's eyes were unreadable as she thought seriously about it. Clea and Galdin exchanged knowing glances. After talking with Carol-Maa, they realized that Zohra still felt attracted to the woman they first knew as Cadet Montran, and that neither woman had done anything about it. They were as amused as Carol-Maa about the situation. It certainly was not like Mistress JG who had her personal world under her control.

"Now, don't you two start," she growled at her two friends catching their smirks.

"I was just telling Carol-Maa about the Stalioous Isles," Galdin said instead.

"What a honeymoon it was! We had the springs all to ourselves," Clea smoothly continued with the story. "It's an exhilarating experience for your body to be immersed in heat and the air you breathe is so cold it nearly freezes your lungs."

"Why would you want to experience such extremes?" Carol-Maa asked astonished.

"It is rather difficult to explain unless you experience it yourself," Clea nodded.

"The idea of being immersed in water is appealing. I miss my own environment," Carol-Maa admitted.

"Hey, gang," Lt. Megan Vanster plopped herself at the table, stretching her legs out underneath and nodding towards Major Zohra in greeting.

"Carol-Maa this is Megan. She worked undercover with JG," Clea introduced. "They called her the Red Mistress," Clea added in a low whisper they all heard.

Megan's eyes wavered under the penetrating eyes of the transformed woman. "So, what's going down?" she asked Major Zohra.

"We were talking about the exhilarating experience we had on our honeymoon, and it had to do with a very hot tub of herbal waters and freezing cold temperatures in the air," Galdin answered instead, feeling annoyed at Megan's attitude of late.

"Well, to recreate that mood here is out of the question. It's crowded and you would have to spend too much energy arguing with everyone to go along with it." Megan turned to Carol-Maa. "I hear your quarters are quite elaborate compared to our barracks."

"Well, I would be happy to show you and we can try this atmosphere you speak of," Carol-Maa offered graciously.

"You don't have to offer twice." Clea jumped up pulling Galdin with her. "I hear there are more selections of moods in each room than here," she smirked at Major Zohra.

***

Clea was having fun directing Ald to set up the tub with the atmosphere of Isles as she remembered it. Ald and her argued over her memory, if the conversation with a bot could be called an argument. It seemed that Ald had the environment program for that site. The others merely soaked, as the waters gradually became warmer and the temperature outside of the tub dropped with the snowcapped tips of the mountains appearing around them.

"Well, I must say, the heat certainly has its merits."

They all laughed uproariously as Carol-Maa gave JG a wink.

"JG, you really need to relax," Carol-Maa took her arm and coaxed her to sit in front of her. Her hands expertly found her tight muscles in her back and shoulders and began to work the tension out of them.

"House of Aphrodite. In the Cave. Remember that, JG? Give her a whip, her dark tight fitting outfit, gauntlets included, and a handful of subs, and she will relax just fine," Vanster grinned.

"What is this House and Cave? Carol has many images of…Hmmm… experiences I am not familiar with. I don't quite understand why someone wants to be tied up and beaten," Carol-Maa puzzled.

They all burst out laughing including Carol-Maa. Carol-Maa enjoyed the feeling that it sent into the water for in the water it magnified everyone's feelings giving Carol-Maa an intimate insight into each person. MaaSaa knew exactly what Carol had explained but the sensuous feelings it aroused in the water were so different in his own world. He wanted to further experience it so he feinted being clueless at Carol's suggestion.

JG ignored the reminder and whatever message Megan was sending. Instead, she concentrated on the back rub for she did have sore muscles from her short workouts with her sisters who were bent on beating her at every mock combat game she was challenged to participate in. She smiled at the competition that was to stretch the opponent's skills, not to injure, as it was with the Black Rose.

JG felt Lady Harriet…Alexandra's energy and looked up to see steam rushing about as if a door had opened. Carol-Maa's hands continued to knead her shoulders while the talk continued on around her. After a few moments Carol-Maa called out to Lady Alexandra to join them.

JG kept her attention fixed on the back rub trying to contain her interest at seeing her again. Her eyes did not have to seek Lady Alexandra 's to know that she was standing nearby. The power emanating from her made her skin prickle. Looking up, her breath caught at the sight of the effect the cold had on her skin. Her nipples were hard and the aureoles were puckered. It was difficult to prevent herself from licking her lips.

Her energy is more intense…and there is something else.

JG looked at the others to see if they noticed. Clea and Galdin, a sensitive species, did. JG glanced at Vanster and could see that this may not be as relaxing a time as it had started out to be.

Fires of helios, what is with Vanster? I gave her a direct order to behave.

The thought of talking to her again caused her to hesitate. Vanster's reminding her of the times they had sex in the Cave, where she had made Vanster her willing sub for the proper amount of times before Vanster could become a Mistress, told her there was some unfinished business there. Was all this from jealously? It had been a mistake for them to get sexually involved while undercover. She could have done the required dom time with her without the sexual part…but it was a weak moment in her life…she was hoping she was not going to regret it. Sometimes, she felt her reputation as a Dom's dom was too restrictive on her relationships…but as her eyes studied Lady Alexandra…her lips curved into a small smile. There was only one relationship she was interested in pursuing right now.

She watched Lady Alexandra's well-shaped legs enter the water, then up to her thighs where her bright orange pubic hairs were a contrast against her creamy white skin, and then past the muscled stomach. Her erect nipples were then quickly covered with only her shoulders showing above the bubbling water. She did not have the body of a flight officer. But, then, she was not like any flight officer she had ever met. The water seemed to hum against her skin when Lady Alexandra became fully immersed.

Jina Gari…Major…don't let your imagination be getting away with you. JG moved to the side of Carol-Maa to get a better look at Lady Alexandra. Clever Clea had directed her to sit opposite of her. She struggled to concentrate on the conversation as her awareness of the woman across from her seeped into her pores and ignited a heated desire to have her. She could feel the rings in her nipples tighten as her nipples became swollen with need…a need she had been harboring for so many years. She had dared to dream of her when she was alone and safe in the House of Aphrodite, sometimes taking those desires to others when pleasuring herself would not take the edge off the energy. There was no lack of partners who were willing to become anyone she wanted.

Does she have dreams of us? Yesss. The Master said dreams were the means of communication when none other was possible.

JG blinked a few times to refocus. She needed to concentrate. A soft touch, a connection through the water, caused her to hold her breath. Thinking it had something to do with the herbs in the water, JG studied Clea and her partner to take her mind off the effect the tingling touch was having on her body. However, their dark gray eyes were now almost black which told her that it was not just her that was feeling a change in the water.

"So, you're the legendary Captain Montran," Vanster's voice challenged. It was almost a sneer.

"Legendary?" the chill in Lady Alexandra's voice was as cold as the air above the tub.

What in the bloody moon does she think she is doing? This isn't a Spartan bar. It was natural for one Spartan to challenge another in a public place, especially a Black Rose Spartan…NO! Vanster is an officer and she knows better to challenge another officer. It's a breach of etiquette and all rules of civility, especially in a private bath!

"It's rather a 'heroic' feat that you're the only one that came back," Megan continued taunting.

The comment took everyone by surprise.

"Do tell. And what is your expertise to make such a comment? Propaganda from Lord Chaney, your master?" The voice was so cool and controlled yet the power from her was sending very scary vibrations through the water and in the air above them. JG fancied bolts of lightning would start forming in the steam cloud above them.

"Lt. Vanster," Major Zohra kept her voice soft, however she knew how to project menace, and she had all those years of practice in the Cave. "Return to your quarters and wait for my return." Megan! You've been trained as an officer. It's things like this that got you busted down the ranks. Helgas bloody moon you could have been a captain by now!

For a few moments Major Zohra was uncertain if she would do as she ordered, but maybe Vanster too felt the snappy energy around them. Vanster's athletic form rose smoothly from the water and onto the bathroom's floor in one motion. Lady Alexandra made no move, but Zohra rose from the waters in case the confrontation would go further.

However, Vanster left the room. The only noise was from the tub's bubbling waters and the women's breathing as they all let out sighs that nothing more came of the verbal trade.

"I apologize, Lt. Montran. That is a breech of the sisterhood's standards of conduct and is not tolerated," and is not going to go unpunished! She's overstepped her friendship here. I can't bust her any lower in the officer's ranks. She's going to lose her officer's standing! Helgas Moon, Megan!

JG was debating whether to follow after Vanster to give her more than a piece of her mind.

"Perhaps her Black Rose persona needs a reality check."

JG quieted the turmoil that was clouding her judgment. Lt. Montran was right, going after Vanster now was not a good idea. After nine years of being a Dom, she should know that this was a control issue. But what had set Vanster off? It went against the sisterhood teachings…even the Black Rose had rules and 'Captain Montran' was a hero that all Spartan's shared. She is a legend. Was Vanster having problems facing a live hero that obviously did not meet with her expectations?

JG gave Montran the barest of nods that she understood. The tension in the air and in the water was grinding against her nerves, calling for some type of action.

Galdin then asked her a personal question. JG was not only surprised that Lady Alexandra answered it, but at what she said. Her heart went out to her and her admiration increased as she heard her explanation of why she had remained with the doomed troop. She would not have remained, leaving them to their fate…or would she? She took a deep breath, realizing it would have angered her and she would have also taught them to fight back. But that was a long time ago. Today…she would have found the person who had dumped such a burden on a troop and knocked him off. However, Lady Alexandra had done that already, though not intentionally.

"I need to get some things done. May the water and its essence impart health to you all," Lady Alexandra's voice brought JG's attention back to her.

The others quickly recovered and wished her well.

When the water from the shower turned on, Clea shook her head in relief. "It's no wonder she is so intense. She is getting ready for a cleansing."

"What?" JG looked at Clea startled.

"The spiritual kind," Cela added.

"Oh. What for? Since when does telling off a rude person warrant a cleansing?"

"I am only telling you what we feel," Clea tapped JG's foot under the water with her own. "Perhaps she has forgotten to do so after," Clea hesitated, "after killing Lord Chaney. From what Carol-Maa had told us, it has been very busy before we arrived."

JG cursed to herself. What about the episode in the bathing room a few days ago? JG looked toward Carol-Maa, who shook her head.

"I am not familiar with this. What is it?"

"I don't know if you would have witnessed it. It takes a few stan hours. If done in the presence of another it usually is with someone that can assist the process," Galdin offered. "It's the act of compassionately experiencing the death of the person whose life one takes."

Carol-Maa frowned for a few moments, and then Carol offered, "she has only been experiencing nightmares…what she had gone through a few days ago was for something else."

"It would not be in dreams. She would have to be present, in an awakened state," Galdin explained.

"The shamans need to be told if they don't already know. She needs someone to guide her through this, JG. It does not look as though she knows what is going on or she would not have stepped into this water," Clea advised.

"General Aglauros is worried that Lady Alexandra is …vulnerable to outside influences." Galdin watched JG and let a moment of silence pass before adding, "No one had notified the sisters that there was an empath in the Spartans and still it has not been made official, so it is assumed…"

"No one knew!" Major Zohra returned in a low intense voice. "I'm sure her brother does not know, or she would never have been permitted to join the Spartans. From what she had told us," she glanced at Carol-Maa, "she had closed off her empathic senses when she was a child. Is that possible?" Her own family should have known!

"No. However, it is possible to tone down the sensitivity, but its part of her, like using an arm or a leg."

Captain Zohra felt aggravated at what this implied. It had been one of her jobs to find irregularities among the various Spartan troops, just as it was with other covert operators, and they had all missed it. The more she thought about it the more she became furious with herself, for she had thought Captain Montran's influence over her troops had been some charismatic influence. She had failed then and now. She had not thought to learn more about empaths when Lady Alexandra's sensitivity increased. Major Zohra felt the pressing needs of her duties in the form of a headache, and she was not wearing her second skin that could diminish it. She rose from the waters irritated.

"The shamans knew there was an empath in the Spartans," Carol-Maa informed them. "They see her experiences as part of her path…to learn discernment in her understanding of compassion.

"Discernment means that no one can help her directly, until she asks for help…and she must learn who to ask it from," Clea gave Zohra a sympathetic smile. "However, why she chose such a difficult path…an empathic soldier…" she shook her head mystified, "I would like to hear her reason."

"It's a deep question, Clea. I don't think she would know at this point…and I don't think the shamans will share such information with us…or anyone else," Galdin added. "Just like in the warriors. We have our strange customs and practices…which sometimes makes no sense if you think about it. If one needs help, why not go to the nearest expert…why only someone from one's clan, shield house or group?"

"For the same reason why we don't tell anyone about our rite of passage," Clea explained. "It's no one else's business," she lowered her voice into a sexual drawl, drawing a wet finger across her lover's lips.

"How long does this process take?" JG asked a bit grimly, attempting to ignore her fear for Alexandra that was tying her stomach in knots. Would she ask for help? She somehow did not think she would…until she was in trouble.

"Sometimes two hours sometimes less," Clea answered, lifting her arms out of the water and looking at her reddened skin, as steam rose from them in the cold air. "It depends on the emotions she had at the time of taking Lord Chaney's life…it will also depend on her level as an empath. From what I remember of my lessons, the higher the level you are, the more difficult the cleansing. I guess it's expected that those of a higher level should have tricks up her or his sleeve other than taking a life to solve the problem before them."

"But I saw the replay of her fight with Lord Chaney!" JG protested. "There was no evidence of intention to kill him! It's one of those new preprogrammed swords!"

The two alterians exchanged looks.

"Well, then." She's at a higher level than we thought, Galdin directed to her mate. "JG, she's on a level we are not familiar with. To know more…you will need to ask the shaman, LeDea Gedaliaha. She has been her mentor…in dreamtime. That much we can tell you."

JG knew that piece of information was not something shared with many outside of the intuitive groups. Her guess was the two Alterians were sent to gather information for the sisterhood on the formidable Lady Alexandra, since she and others had failed. She sighed internally. Lady Alexandra's case had been mishandled from the word 'get-go.'

Thank you, Galdin, she silently thanked her old friend.

JG climbed out of the tub and padded to the door to Lady Alexandra 's quarters. She wrapped the towel around her steaming body, ignoring the cold air that momentarily surrounded her until she stepped out of the mood scene. Standing in front of the door she was unsure as to whether sit it out with her or to let her alone. However, the door did not open when she pressed her palm against the identifier.

"It is locked," Guardian informed her.

"I see." JG returned to the tub, however it was empty. The others had moved to Carol-Maas quarters, dressing and talking softly.

Carol-Maa watched JG empathically. Though her face was not readable, her emotional struggle was palatable.

Clea and Galdin left after a nod towards the two.

"Come back soon," Carol-Maa called out to the two women as they left.

They smiled and waved back at her. "Indeed, we shall. Since you like water, we have a lot of natural spas and water places to introduce you to."

JG was slowly fastening her uniform when Carol-Maa sat on the bed directly across from her.

"You two are lifemates."

JG looked into the eyes of the transformed Carol. They were disturbingly different.

"What do you mean?"

"I felt it in the water. You know that water heightens emotions between those immersed in its essence," Carol-Maa laughed a throaty laugh. "Carol had known of the attraction between her Mistress and you when she was first introduced to you, which was not in the water. The connection is easy to see for some." The disturbing eyes went green. "My Mistress needs you, Major Zohra. She has been waiting for a long time for someone…and I think that it was for you. Am I right?"

JG looked up from the boot toe she had been inspecting carefully.

"I…have been hoping so." She sighed and stood up.

"Why are you waiting to consummate it? The longer you wait, the more intense the energy around you two becomes. Soon, even the blind shall feel it," Carol-Maa teased.

JG gave a short laugh. "I guess we are just waiting for the right time to get together. Maybe after this is over." Gawds! I hope not. I don't know what may happen with Alan involved.

"I admire your will power; however, if you don't do something soon…" Carol left it at that and JG knew that it was no idle warning. The Dragon's energy was not something to put off indefinitely. It caused all sorts of havoc, like people you're not interested in groping you in one place or another. The energy was either expressed by you, or by others towards you. The idea of someone dragging Lady Alexandra into a corner to mate was met with a snort and a twisting in her gut.

JG left the room to start her vigil outside of Lady Alexandra's room and found she was not alone. A group was waiting patiently outside of her quarters, speaking in muted tones. LaDea Gedaliaha spotted her immediately and signaled her to approach.

"Major Zohra, Alexandra's exotic dancer," she teased in a soft voice.

Major Zohra blushed. Of course a shaman would know. The Dance created an energy that vibrated in the nimbus around the two individuals that a sensitive and most certainly a shaman could feel or see. She sighed to herself, wishing she could see what it looked like. She certainly knew what it felt like.

"We have been discussing a need for a bodyguard for Alexandra."

"We?" she asked suddenly suspicious. "I hope you don't mean shamans. A soldier is better suited."

"And that is what the military command center also believes," Gedaliaha laughed. "Both of Alan's targets are here, in this part of the planet. Alan would, without doubt, damage the planet looking for her should we move her to another place on this outpost. If she leaves the planet it would split Alan's forces, but it would put innocents in danger of Alan's rage." Gedaliaha watched the dark eyes. "She is the bait to draw Alan and as many of his army as possible into this sector. I understand you had been assigned the job to be her personal bodyguard." Gedaliaha smiled into Major Zohra's alarmed eyes.

"Personal! I wouldn't go so far as to…"

"Excuse me, LaDea Gedaliaha and Major Zohra. I have a message from the Central Command," Captain Raizel interrupted, bowing to the shaman.

"Yes, Captain?" Major Zohra asked.

"Rear Admiral JoCastas has promoted Lt. Montran to Lt. Commander and we were thinking of giving her a party tonight…"

"Lady Alexandra is what?" Major Zohra shook her head. "What has Rear Admiral JoCastas to do with Lt. Montran?" According to Guardian's records on Lt. Montran, she had been stationed for the last seven years on a science vessel. The difference between acting as a babysitter to the scientists aboard the science vessel Nettle and working on a flagship of the Centurian forces that oversees the raids on outlaw and smuggler bases is big!

"She's been her commander for the last seven years, Major. Lt. Montran had been assigned to the Nettle to re-learn ship navigation by patrolling as a scout in that area. During that time she had been splitting her duties aboard the Ziggy, assisting with the planning of raids on outlaw and smugglers dens in that sector." Captain Raizel smiled at the Major's surprised face. "Nothing was mentioned of her so word of her whereabouts and what she was doing would not reach Lord Chaney who had developed a peculiar animosity towards her. And then there is Alan Fermin, whom we all have learned has an obsession for her. If Lord Chaney knew she was helping to close down some of his dens of operation, it would have further infuriated him and he would have sent the order out to his agents to hunt and take her out, and then Alan would also get involved. As, now."

"So." Her eyes narrowed as she thought of how the 'detailed' records on Lt. Montran from Guardian had left out some important particulars. "This was information from whom?"

Captain Raizel grinned. "The Rear Admiral notified our Major General. It's a gesture to open up a working relationship. She did not want us to think that she was giving Lady Alexandra, errr, Lt. Commander Montran, any special treatment. The Rear Admiral based the promotion on her actions aboard Spinner's Tale and here on the outpost. According to Lt. Montran's transfer orders from the Nettle to the Ziggy, was that her performance would be reviewed for promotion as a flagship officer aboard the Ziggy following her reassignment."

"I guess they forgot to notice she was in the service of the Committee," Major Zohra remarked dryly.

"Weeeelll, no. The Rear Admiral denied her transfer as soon as she had become aware of it, as the provisional clause reads that she can, therefore making it, as she called it, an abduction. Lord Hadrian, Lady Alexandra's brother, had notified her CO as soon as he knew she was picked up by some freighter's captain. He didn't know who by and asked Admiral JoCasta to assist in locating her."

"Abduction?"

The Captain smiled. "It was an unsanctioned procurement of a Collective's flag ship officer, which according to the rules of 'borrowing' a military person of one side by the other, does not apply to flag ship officers or any other officer. Gawds, can you just see some of the Committee 'borrowing' top officers for one reason or another from the Collective and the Collective reciprocating? The agreement was only for noncoms and it was to be agreed upon before hauling the person off. Anyway, scuttlebutt is that when the Admiral got word that Lt. Montran disappeared, no one heard a word that wasn't an expletive for half a stan hour. Never knew anyone that could curse that long, aside of a Black Rose," she smirked.

"Right. Lt. Commander, huh? Too bad she has no ship to serve on at this time to give her something to do." Her mind however, was providing her with something that would most certainly have those green eyes flashing annoyance at her. Flagship officer, huh? And she never even hinted… "Maybe she won't mind giving us some input," she mentioned to her Captain.

Her Black Rose noncom prejudice of flagship officers had her momentarily wanting to jerk Commander Montran's chain a bit, and there was also a part of her that wanted to dominate this woman that she could not stop thinking about. Frowning she decided to find out what else Guardian had left out from her 'detailed' records. She was going to have a talk with him later…and let him know she was not interested in any more briefings.

"So…the sisters want to have a party."

"Yeah. What a treat. Two big parties in two days. You know we'll party over anyone's good news," the captain laughed. "I got to hear Major General Aglauros' one word comment after she was passed the information about Lady Harriet. Did you get the hint…General Aglauros referred to her as 'Lady,' regardless of her rank?"

"It's understandable…she's seen some harsh treatment these last three or four months and needs a break from command."

"I also heard the news that you inherited titled land and all the stuff that goes with it, but…General Aglauros said it was not to be even whispered about, until she discussed it with you upon her arrival…" the captain frowned at the major, wondering what the problem was with her inheriting title and lands. "Well, you have some worrisome assignments. You will be spread thin," she commented, returning to a less intense subject.

"I have a very good team around me, Captain," she reminded her. "And…I agree with General Aglauros, keep the inheritance quiet, will you? I need to think about that a bit. Has the team from the Southern Rim reported anything yet? I'm sure the shamans would be interested," she said it for the benefit of LaDea who was a bit too amused at the news the captain was delivering.

"They have not reached it yet, Major."

Major Zohra looked at her timepiece. "They should have..."

"JG, give them a break. They are not as used to this environment as yourself. As you said before, this is a training mission as well as an information gathering expedition," the captain interrupted her with a smile.

Major Zohra took a deep breath to settle herself. "Right. Right you are Captain. Thank you for reminding me."

The three looked toward the door to Lady Alexandra's room that finally slid open.

LaDea Gedaliaha was quite satisfied with the news. It pleased Gedaliaha that General Aglauros was not aware that her daughter had found her lifemate and had danced for her in their last year at the Academy. It was not wise for many to be aware of that type of attachment. Lord Chaney would have used that knowledge against both of them. As lovers they would be a formidable team. Both had their own powers. However, once the general arrived…she would see it. She was going to have plenty to say to the shamans…and no doubt to her daughter. LaDea Gedaliaha sighed quietly and entered into the room for a more immediate problem. An outside influence was penetrating their shaman protection grid and it was centered on Alexandra.

***

When Major Zohra stepped into the room she stayed far enough away from Lady Alexandra so their energies would not touch. After the bath she was more aware of her than before, and now that she knew more about her, she was unsure of just who Lady Alexandra was. Worried, she looked at the pale face that did not look like a party would enliven. Sleep would be a better recommendation. Tight-lipped she listened to the shamans identify the energy as coming from Megan Vanster.

Megan. You are not acting like the cadet and warrior I know. When did you change? The healers are the next level down. If they were able to help me they should be able to help her. Maybe that was why Roberts is still in the cells below with the other soldiers. She was hoping that was it and not something else.

Bloody moon!

***

Chapter 23

Alexandra slipped the soft boots over her calves as the bathing room door chimed.

"Enter!" She thought she had unlocked her doors. Perhaps Guardian had taken to locking up her room.

"You have locked your door?" Carol-Maa asked surprised.

The dress that fit the contours of her body gave a good outline of what was beneath it. Alexandra looked into Carol-Maa's eyes and smiled appreciatively.

"I hadn't realized it was locked. I don't think anyone will be looking better," she remarked as she circled Carol's body admiringly. A part of her wanted to reach out and touch someone that had at one time felt comforting and…familiar.

"We thought you would like some company, since you are alone."

A warm feeling of gratitude filled her. "I would. Thank you. And I'm sure that MaaSa would like to be surrounded with a lot of new information on life outside his small aquarium," Alexandra joked to cover her feelings of attraction.

"It is indeed interesting. Not just the view but to experience the customs!"

"Well, don't forget you are seeing it from a woman's perspective, and you will be surrounded by women warriors. If it gets to be too much, you can join the shamans."

Carol laughed her deep throaty laugh. "MaaSa's friends are mostly male and I am getting enough of their view of life. I think it only fair that he share the differences."

A chime at the front door interrupted their laughter.

"Enter!" She pulled her protectorate lieutenant's uniform into place. The butler had produced it and had it laid out for her when she had finished showering. She was embarrassed that added to it was the gold braid that indicated she was assigned to a flagship. She would rather have dressed in something else. She was going to stand out like a thoroughbred in a draft horse's corral. Usually noncoms and officers that worked in the battle pits did not particularly like what they considered lily white snot-nosed boot lickers to the high ranking officers that sent the pit workers to their deaths in some pretty stupid battle plans. Alexandra sighed and mentally prepared for the remarks she would overhear.

A young spear maiden stood blushing at the front door. She had a bouquet of flowers in her hand. "Lady Alexandra, I mean, Lt. Montran…I have come to escort you to the dinner." She blushed again as she handed Harriet the flowers.

"Why, thank you!" Well, this is a good start.

They were beautifully scented and would go well next to the ones Carol had received, which still looked fresh cut.

"Lady Alexandra. A private message has arrived from Rear Admiral JoCastao," Guardian announced.

"Great timing," she muttered, pulling nervously at her tunic to make sure it was in place. "Now she wants to talk. Maybe a ride out of here."

"We will wait in the corridor," Carol-Maa nodded.

Nervously Harriet stood in front of the monitor. "Transmit."

***

*

A stunned Alexandra joined Carol-Maa and the young maiden in the corridor.

"Are you alright, Mistress Alexandra?" Carol-Maa's voice was concerned.

"Yeah, yeah. Just had some…interesting news. Let's get this party over with, okay? It's times like these that I wish I could get shit-faced," she muttered in a low voice that only Carol-Maa could hear.

"Ahh. Hmm."

Alexandra suddenly remembered her manners and turned to the young woman.

"What is your name?" Alexandra asked to be sociable and to cover up the uncomfortable feeling she was getting about this dinner...or was it with the news she had just learned.

What could possibly happen at a dinner party thrown by a group of Amazon Warriors? Plenty. Especially if they have drums and mead. Maybe I can take a jug back to my quarters and quietly pass out. Shit…

The young girl stammered out something that sounded like Dohre.

Alexandra brought her attention back to the young woman. Where had she heard Dohre before?

"Are you Mea's cousin?" she asked surprised. That was dragging up some childhood memories.

"I am," the young girl got out between gulps.

When the doors swished open Alexandra stopped in surprise. Before her were rows of tables, just as a barracks eating hall would look like, and above the center table was a banner congratulating Lt. Commander Alexandra Harriet Montran of the Centurion Corps of her promotion.

Oh, helios fires! She told them!

The roar in the room Alexandra had thought at first was from the sound of blood rushing in her ears, was actually a chant, rising and falling in pitch.

Carol-Maa leaned close to her ear. "Your Admiral JoCastas had mentioned to General Aglauros, her counterpart, that since your own command was not able to celebrate with you, perhaps the sisterhood could extend that congratulations in their place. I heard a captain remark that they love to celebrate another's good news."

Lt. Commander Montran felt hands shaking hers some too hard and some with a lot more meaning than congratulations. She mechanically smiled and replied when asked a question and moved around as a well-trained politician. Meanwhile her eyes tried to find Major Zohra without appearing to. The red in her cheeks remained as did her embarrassment. Carol's breath tickled her ear again. "She's watching you from behind that tall blond near the green pillar."

I need to talk to Admiral JoCastas and her method of notifying me about this promotion. It's not that I don't appreciate their message of welcoming me into their gathering…but...damn…I guess they aren't like the Spartans about their dislike of flagship officers, which I certainly know some of them have a right to be.

The women were finding their places at the table with the young girl still at her side, guiding her to hers. "Your place is over here. For both of you." She smiled at Carol-Maa who had been teasing her and bringing her out of her tongue-tied self.

Commander Montran smiled when Carol-Maa turned to her and pulled out the chair that was for her. The food dishes were a variety from many different planets and cultures, covering their table.

"Do you like your party?" a familiar voice asked near her elbow.

The warm feeling that filled her from the sound of the soft voice surprised her. Oh, Goddess. I gotta really tone these senses down!

Taking a steadying breath before replying, Alexandra dared to glance at the source of her pleasant distress. "I did not realize my time on the Spinner's Tale counted towards my review."

The boisterous noise covered Major Zohra's reply.

The usual bantering and storytelling followed, as there were three women that seemed to have the tongues of bards.

"Commander tell us a story!" someone shouted after the last finished.

At first Alexandra did not realize they were referring to her until Major Zohra tapped her arm. When the silence that followed broke her own reverie she realized they wanted her to tell them the usual war story. She could feel a cold feeling creep up her legs. She gripped her mug tightly as she tried to push the last drop her Degas troop made out of her mind, which was the one they were clamoring for.

"Telling it is where the healing comes from," Major Zohra encouraged her. "There are only friends here. It is time you released the guilt," she told her knowingly. "We would not have asked if the shamans had not said you were ready."

Alexandra did not want to look in Major Zohra's face. She knew she was right. That was why the stories were told among comrades, to share loss. That was what she had always told her own soldiers, who had a lot of guilt to leave behind.

Slowly she rose to her feet. Her eyes glazed over, as she looked inward for the memory of that day. As she recounted the story she did not mention that she had felt the moment they were on the shuttle that something was off. The drop pilot was not their usual. Did the others feel it too? They were especially quiet that day. She had thought it was because it was following a week off. She had just returned from her own vacation but she had not visited Gedaliaha that time. Why? Her awareness of what was around her dimmed while she spoke of the last stand the Degas troop made, distancing herself from the pain and not mentioning that she was captured and had to watch the few left in her troop tortured to death, or of her own torture that she had survived for some reason.

Finished, she sat down and sipped her tea that had become cool. The chant started slowly then was picked up with a drum that beat the rhythm of a heartbeat. It was a healing chant. She felt the energy vibrate around her as she also chanted with them and then felt the vibration surrounding her dissolve the weight of the deaths from her shoulders…at last. Until it was gone she had not realized it was there or how heavy it had been.

The drumming and chants stopped. Another stood and began a story. It was a relief that it continued on. Alexandra finally looked up and gazed around her as the others broke off into cheers from the last story. It was a happy story, which a good bard would tell after a sad one. Alexandra picked at her food as she heard more stories and songs. She was getting restless. Her eyes tracked toward the major and found her watching her. For a few moments both stared at each other.

Blast her unreadable eyes, Alexandra thought as she broke her gaze. She searched for Carol-Maa wondering what they were up to. A group had surrounded Carol's form and there was laughter coming from the small group. Alexandra smiled.

"It looks like your friend is having a great effect on the sisters."

Alexandra turned to look at Major Zohra. She caught something in that remark.

"That duo is on a search and gather mission for information," she returned.

"It must be difficult for you."

Alexandra smiled not breaking their gaze. She had been reading Major Zohra correctly, though there was no change in the major's expression.

"Carol and I are friends. Our sexual attraction was from the pheromones Sheila emitted."

"So I heard."

Alexandra nodded as she read the energy between them. A warm flush crept up her as they continued to study each other.

A woman came to their table and whispered something in Major Zohra's ear. She stood up and there was regret in her eyes when she excused herself. No one took her place and the others kept a polite distance from her. It was a good time to slip out.

Walking down the corridor she was lost in thought until a slight buzzing of energy had her looking around her startled. The energy connection was soft at first then the summons from someone came in strongly. The intensity increased as she hurried toward her quarters. She nodded curtly at the two women standing guard outside of her quarters.

What is happening with her? What is Alan up to?

When she entered her room she was already preparing herself to enter the sacred circle. Pushing the chair aside, a space was arranged for a protected circle while Alexandra chanted a protection song Kela had taught her. Blue energy appeared as the circle formed, lengthening into a wall with thin spikes of white fire that shot up into the ceiling. Closing her eyes when the circle enclosed her, she welcomed the stranger, her hands held in the mudra pose for protection.

"I am here to repay a debit. I have heard that Alan had a virus developed that is aimed at your capture. May the light of Shua follow you," she raised her hand and drew a sign in the air, then she vanished.

Still in the center of the circle under its protection, Alexandra started to search for Alan. Looking for the dark cloud that was particular to him made it easy. His energy was repugnant. She could see him raving at someone or something on the bridge of a private space vessel. The console was not the typical design. Only one chair was elaborately designed, and that one was worn. He had changed a lot since cadet days. Spittle unnoticed was on his chin as he banged his fist on the other chair's arm. He was not at the height of his manic phase but it was enough for the cloud to be around him. An alarm suddenly appeared on his console. Distancing herself, she pulled back far enough to study the planet he was near. Pealnet, located two stan days from four corners. There were five tiny ships from the Collective laying a net around the planet. She wondered what Alan wanted on that planet. Alexandra sought out Admiral JoCastao and found her closer to Merker's Outpost. Her bridge was busy with setting up a defense against some smugglers they had found. They appeared to have been surprised because instead of running, they were moving forward, as if they were backed in a corner. Alexandra nodded. They must have laid out a trap in the other directions and the admiral was driving them into their own trap. For a moment, she hovered over the Rear Admiral as she watched tensely the battle play out on the bridge screen.

For the brief moment that she was in Alan's space there were ideas swirling around his head, images that she needed to put together, though she felt an urgency to pass something on to the admiral. She could not put it together so she left.

Moving back to the space above Merker's Outpost again, she searched the energy patterns above the planet, looking for some of Alan's malignant traces. But, there was too much unusual activity around the planet for her to look at each thread and find traces of Alan. It had to be Iota, the city they had not visited. It was poisonous to them and MaaSa was not recommending the visit. It also was close to the Southern Rim, which had caverns that could hide a drop ship that holds up to twenty soldiers. Again the nagging question of why was Alan using up all this energy to destroy a portal. Because, it would effect all the portals. So what? What was in it for him? Was it just to make a name for himself? No. He would have sent his name to the newscasters if he were going for the fame end. Then why? Just for spite? For that matter, why is he so focused on her? She did not understand obsession at this intensity…a psychopath's madness. There were only drugs and death that could help someone this ill. She wandered over stretches of the planet, looking for something out of place. The Southern Rim was her destination. However, she did not study it for it long. She could feel herself getting tired. She was going to have to practice this more. She remembered in class her teacher had told the class it should not make you feel tired. If you get tired then you are not using the universal energy. She was tired.

Kela, her childhood teacher, would have been proud of her for her spirit made a smooth transition back into her physical body. The energy from her protective shield pulsed with life, warning her that someone had attempted to penetrate it.

Alexandra dropped the shield and found her quarters full of visitors. Gedaliaha was sitting on the couch quietly talking to the others that were patiently waiting for Alexandra to finish her business. Major Zohra was sitting in the corner, watching everyone…and then their eyes met.

"Alexandra," Gedaliaha called her attention back to the group. "We all felt the breech, but it wasn't Alan or his agent, so we let it through." She and the others waited.

"I…had a warning from the woman I had told you that was at the volcano. She said Alan had a virus made specifically for me." She took a deep breath to ground herself and eliminate the fluttering in her stomach. "I - saw him. He's in a ship, near Pearlnet. Probably gone now."

The others nodded. There was a jump gate near by.

"I think that we should explore Iota," Alexandra hesitantly suggested, knowing she was stepping on Major Zohra's authority. "MaaSa spoke against it, but…I think we should find out why."

"You're not going," Major Zohra told her firmly.

Alexandra surprised herself when she blushed. The major moved from her lone position near the door to stand in the group around the small detailed table that Alexandra was finding fascinating to study at the moment.

"No. I would be out of my element…." she admitted and then thought that Lt. commanders and majors sent others for things like that anyway. Unless the major was getting cabin fever and was talking more of herself. Alexandra looked up at her, wondering if that was it. They both were startled when they caught each other staring back, and then Alexandra broke the gaze and glanced at one of the shamans.

Major Zohra nodded, feeling a little off balance. "I have a team already assembled to scout out that area. Their outersuits will be finished by Guardian's bots by noon." She hesitated before adding, "We have discussed with MaaSa about that third city, Iota and why he advised you against visiting it."

"How did you know about that conversation?" Alexandra asked surprised.

"We had reviewed your visit to the Waterland, Commander." A raised dark eyebrow gave Alexandra the impression she asked a really dumb question.

Of course she's going to go over all the tapes and information Guardian has. She's responsible for the protection of the outpost.

Alexandra looked down at the tea that was cooling near her hand. Absent-mindedly she swirled the tea.

"That is all?"

Alexandra looked up into the shaman's eyes. "Yeah. Just a warning and a glimpse of Alan. I was just thinking that…something does not feel right."

"You and a lot of others feel the same way. When you figure out just what it is, let us know." Major Zohra then moved to the door. "I need to see to my patrols that will be returning, and those ready to move out." Her gaze lingered on Alexandra for a brief time, and then she left.

Alexandra felt a longing to join her, if only for the relief of boredom. How many days can she find entertainment in pounding a holographic fighter before looking for a real person to pound on? She no longer had Carol to…visit with. She spent a lot of time studying and enlightening the sisters.

The others in the room also left behind the major.

Alexandra rubbed her forehead. She could always go crazy and try to figure out what the warning was all about. "What does she mean by a virus?" Alexandra muttered to herself.

"You need to get some sleep. Which reminds me, you have been assigned a bodyguard. She will be with you at all times."

"Hmmm?" Alexandra looked up at Gedaliaha, not hearing.

Gedaliaha patted Alexandra's shoulder. She decided to let the major handle the news. "Dreams have always been a good place to find answers. May your dreams guide you to safety, Alexandra," she wished and then left Alexandra to her thoughts. The shamans had a lot of work to do. The portals were important and they needed to find out where Alan intended to strike before he arrived to kidnap Alexandra. They all were certain he would attempt to kidnap her. They could feel the intention all around him.

Alexandra sagged onto the couch, resting her head on the back. She let her thoughts wander, flitting from one thing to another.

"Guardian!"

"Yes, Commander?"

She winced from the title. Another thing to adjust to. "When I first had shipped on board the Spinner's Tale, I had found her computer programs all..."

Guardian started to laugh.

"Was that your work then?"

"No. The virus was from the Black Rose. They have a vendetta against a chief on Spinner's Tale. He is responsible for taking a contract out on one of their members. I tamper with information gathering applications, not life systems."

"It was a clever virus." Running her fingers through her hair, she leaned forward on the couch, peering down at the carved scene that would up the base of the small transparent tabletop. "If I were Alan, and wanted to get onto this planet undetected, I would think about how to disable you without your knowledge and anyone else's…and there have been a lot of holes in your programs lately."

"That word 'virus' has bad memories. I have taken many precautions to prevent another to enter my system."

"What if the virus was introduced from one of your smaller bots, like in Century City?"

"Ahh. You believe the virus Alan has devised to get to you is in me."

"If I can think of that, I'm sure an agent or Alan would. He is very invasive with his tampering and very clever. Do you remember when I asked, well I did not ask you, I had asked Ald or Bach about the emergency system? All bots are programmed with their immediate functions and for other things they have an autolink to the main data bank for. I asked an essential question and they under normal circumstances would have linked up to you to give it to me, a guest. Instead, I had been referred to you for any more information. Bach had said he hadn't linked with you for a while."

"Hmm. I see your point. Now that you mentioned it, I have not had a download report from your section. That is odd that I should overlook such an important break in my communication system when we are close to being invaded. You didn't order privacy, like locking the doors?"

"I unlocked the doors," Alexandra answered surprised. "I thought you locked them to protect me." She sighed rubbing her forehead. "So much going on. I would not go downloading any information from these bots," she advised. "If Megan Vanstar was able to get as far as she did…she may have also accessed bots in this area…as well as Century City where she's barracked for two years."

"I shall contact Major Zohra. I shudder at the thought of being invaded with another virus. But I am in this for the duration. Good day to you Commander, and congratulations on your promotion."

"Thanks." Alexandra leaned her head against the couch and closed her eyes smiling as she thought of Major Zohra. Her jaw stretched into a yawn as she found a more comfortable position on the couch.

So many people around her but it only takes one mad person with enough ingenuity to hire people to do what he could not. That means he probably has more than one Vanstar planted. He was going to keep playing his hidden spies to keep the outpost's security off balance and so he did not have to waste his metrasoldiers and so that everyone would distrusting each other until he was ready to make his move.

Blast him and his madness!

Wearily she closed her eyes.

***

*

A slow awareness crept into her sleep; accentuated with a pain in her neck where a crick was forming due to the angle her head was in. The Dancer's presence was nearby. It was not the sound of movement that woke her but her energy that tickled her own field as she silently passed by. The intensity changed as Major Zohra's search moved her out of the frontroom. Alexandra breathed in slowly and deeply as her body hummed from the contact. In the connection she felt the major's hyper-alertness and focus on securing the room. Her heart quickened as she felt the major return. The soft sound of movement in the chair that was directly across from her, told her the major was finished with her inspection.

"Did you find anything?" she asked in a soft voice. Alexandra felt through their connection an emotional surprise from Major Zohra and then amusement.

"Your abilities have sharpened, Milady," her voice was almost inaudible, but the words were distinct, meant to carry no further than their ears.

There was a time when Alexandra would have distrusted anyone who used a term only those on her planet used, but she could feel an undercurrent of another type of edgy energy that gave her goose bumps.

Alexandra opened her eyes and in silence, they regarded each other. Both realized this was the first time they were alone with each other. What they were looking for neither would have been able to say, but after an undetermined amount of time, a silent agreement was arrived upon. Acceptance.

"So…" Alexandra started slowly, "what matter brings you to my quarters?" Her heart pounded, though she knew it was not for pleasure. Suddenly she remembered Gedaliaha's mention of a bodyguard. Without thinking, she started to laugh.

The dark eyes watching her seemed to warm, but not so that Alexandra could notice. If she did not alter her sight and see the colors in her aura, she would not have known that the dark haired warrior was amused.

"Your laugh is for?" the major asked, in a soft voice.

"I…just remembered something Gedaliaha had said." Alexandra laughed again and looked down at her hands to prevent herself from getting giddy. The thought of Zohra body guarding her and how brought a blush to her face.

"And that was?" the major prompted.

"She said I'm being assigned a bodyguard. I take it you're clearing the place before my bodyguard arrives. Don't trust her or them?"

"I'm the most qualified, given my familiarity with the outpost…and other things," her voice trailed off.

"Ah."

There was another long pause as they both took advantage of the time they had alone. Alexandra was hoping her guards would take their time about arriving. Her eyes studied how a small muscle twitch in the warrior's jaw was giving her the impression the major was attempting not to laugh about something.

"So…" she started again but could not think of anything to say. Instead, she turned to reach for her cup of cold tea. Alexandra heard a quick movement and felt an iron grip around her wrist. An electric charge went up her arm and down to her stomach. Concentrating on what the major was trying to explain to her was difficult as her body shivered from the touch, and did other distracting things.

"I would rather you eat and drink only what is from the sister's kitchen from now on." Major Zohra could feel the rapid pulse under her fingertips. She smiled to herself. Lady Alexandra's eyes were wide open and easily read. "You make an easy target," her voice was softer and huskier than what she had intended. Major Zohra let her hand drop, reluctantly.

"I'll keep that in mind, Major." The energy from Zohra was distracting.

Major Zohra extended a hand to Alexandra. "You would be more comfortable in your bed. Less chance of getting a neck ache," she continued in a normal voice.

"Hmm." Alexandra reached up for the proffered hand. The touch was like fire that traveled up her arm, burning in a nice way.

Oh, Goddess. Got to tone this connection down! I'll never be able to sleep with this energy charging my own.

The taller woman pulled her up and towards her without stepping back, prolonging the feeling. In Zohra's energy, Alexandra's senses vibrated with sexual feelings they both were putting out, escalating to a throb she felt strongly in her sex. For what seemed another long moment, they stared boldly into each other's eyes, reading the same message.

Zohra released her hand and stepped back.

Automatically Alexandra turned toward the bedroom…as if nothing had happened, through her clitoris was throbbing with desire and her insides quivering. She needed a cold shower and time to bring her feelings under control. Silently she cursed herself for not having the nerve to take the woman she knew had the same desire as herself into her arms and drag her down onto the soft carpet. A chuckle tickled her throat at the thought of how likely it would be that she would be able to wrestle the warrior to the ground if she did not want to go down. Of, course it could be fun trying. After Zohra spent all those years as a dominatrix in the Cave, she certainly was not any time soon going to let another lead. Muffling the giddiness that threatened to escape from her lips in the form of a giggle, she concentrated on undressing. It took some edge off her need.

The butler had turned down the covers at both sides of the bed with two sleeping gowns on the edge. Alexandra stopped short and then turned to face the major.

"You're my bodyguard?" she asked not sure if she was reading this right.

"Uh, huh. Like I said…I'm the best qualified."

"No offense meant…but isn't that highly irregular for a major to babysit a…well, anyone for that matter?"

"No. Not in the sister's guild. It's the best qualified gets the job."

"So, what happens with the outpost security?" she asked nervously, but not because she was worried about the security.

Zohra gave a small smile. "You don't think I can handle more than one job? It's being taken care of," she reassured her. "We've already begun the third phase. Guardian and Charles are being moved into their cloned bodies, as we speak…earlier than what they had planned but, it is safer. The main computer is being combed through to see where the tampering is, and we placed the outpost on the original program rather than the backup…, which we found, is working just fine. If the primary is contaminated, chances are the backup is too. Guardian's name, by the way, is L'uenbeng."

Both women smiled and then Alexandra started to chuckle. "I hated his text book at the academy."

"Not many people liked his challenges on ethics…a blunt approach, but…"

Alexandra blinked at the memory of one of the chapters on sacrifice of one for many and the many for one. She now understood why he was so adamant on why Carol was not going to be used…well, she was in a different situation now.

Alexandra studied Zohra with altered sight and could see the colors around her. She wondered what both of them were going to do when Alan did arrive. She had no intention of living indefinitely as a metradame of Alan's for anyone. With the awakening of her intuitive abilities, she realized it would be a tool Alan would misuse, and that she would not let happen. Alexandra picked up her robe and disappeared into the bathing room irritated at the situation. She needed to figure out how to prevent her abduction, and what to do if she were abducted. It would have to be something that did not call for decisions that were final…like taking her own life rather than letting Alan turn her into a monster. One thing she learned early on in her military career, though she did not always practice it, there was always the chance of rescue and there was always someone that would come after her. Why she was so lucky…she did not want to ask. She just was grateful it happened.

***

*

Major Zohra eyes followed Lady Alexandra's naked form as she walked into the miniature jungle. The sight made her stomach tighten. Letting out a long breath she chided herself for not saying what she really would have liked to say…words...tender ones she was out of practice in using. Giving short terse orders to men and women who groveled at her feet, she was more accustomed to…and comfortable with.

Looking down at her hands, she smiled and then chuckled. Here they were. Together and alone. This is by far the best assignment I've had in a long time.

For a moment the image of Lady Alexandra in her Spartan captain's dress uniform, adorned with battle ribbons, her hair worn close to her scalp, leaving an orange shine to her head, standing with the retired sergeant major at his retirement party came back to her. The battle-scarred soldier had pulled out of his well-worn traveling bag the holographic image, and showed it to her as he became more maudlin with the drinks she was plying him with. He had a collection of pictures of his party, but only one JG had been interested in.

The old man was in a bar swapping stories with other soldiers. He became incensed when another retired soldier made a snide comment about Captain Montran's survival while her troop did not. Good war stories do not fade away, though the details change, and some in less glorious troops were jealous when they faced one of the actual members of a legended troop. If Zohra had not intervened, she knew there would have been a death between the quarreling drinkers. She had taken aside the retired Spartan and quieted him down. She got him stinking drunk is what she had done. He was on his way to a relative's wedding and had done what he had promised himself he would never do again; visit a bar that Spartans frequented. He wanted to have no more to do with that life and memories. She knew he was experiencing survivor syndrome and that was a heavy burden to carry.

[You have to promise to tell this to no one, he had started.

Her cynicism nearly had her just putting him on a shuttle for his next stop, but she made no move to do it. She reluctantly admitted to herself that she wanted to hear about Captain Montran.

"There's this feelin' like we're all connected and we get real focused, like…yer gonna think I'm crazy, but it's like we're one. It's just awesome." He wiped the back of his hand across his numb lips. "Just awesome!" he breathed reverently and then his head hit the table as he passed out.

She had admired his loyalty to what she considered was a charismatic leader; after all she was also under this Montran's spell. What a fool she had been. What was the old saying about being too close to the situation? Too emotionally close she was…and she had promised herself she would not let something like that happen to her. Not until this assignment was over.]

Her thoughts returned to when she found Lady Alexandra earlier sleeping on the couch with her head tilted in a position that would put a kink in most people's neck. Not sure how she was going to explain that she had been assigned as her roommate al la bodyguard, she decided to put off waking her and instead, checked the rooms looking for likely places that Alexandra could retreat to if Alan should gain access to her room. She wanted to commit them to memory.

If he got in, it would be at the cost of a lot of expended energy and lives. It was not easy to get through the protective field the shamans and the ships above the planet had around the outpost, but it was not impossible. Then there was the worry about the alowan. What was he up to? The best trackers in both the sisterhood and brotherhood were not able to find him. It was as if he just vanished. Back to his own planet? He sold information to the highest bidder. Did he also sell information to Allen?

Her thoughts returned to Lady Alexandra. She repeated the name a few times to herself, smiling that after so long…here they were. When she had finished her inspection of 'their' quarters, she had settled herself across from Lady Alexandra's sleeping form just to watch her. There was enough distance between them for Alexandra not to sense her, but within view, so that when she did awaken she would not do something both would regret. Again the image of wrestling Lady Alexandra into a non-threatening position turned the corners of her lips up into a smirk.

What was Lady Alexandra really thinking when she blushed? If she had not danced for her, would she have been attracted to the orange haired cadet? Again, the image of the young cadet with the cascading orange hair beaded in the traditional style of her culture came back to her. Oh yes, she would have been attracted to her, but she would have thought the woman would not be interested in the likes of her, not because of class prejudice. That she was certain of, but because they were so different…but it would not have stopped her from initiating a conversation.

Frowning, she replayed in her mind the tapes she had recently reviewed of Lady Alexandra from the moment she had set foot on Merker's Outpost. She had told Guardian she wanted to review everything, not trusting his so called 'detailed' or briefing reports anymore. She and her staff observed Lady Alexandra up to the confrontation with the now busted Sgt. Vanster.

They had laughed mirthlessly at the pranks, some of them taking notes, until she met up with Lord Chaney. Then they were further stunned at the change in her bios after Sheila sprayed her with the pheromone gas. What they had all thought as a joke, was not funny anymore when the victims bios changed so radically. When Carol wore Guardian's outersuit her bios, like Lady Alexandra's, were elevated so high they all wondered how the heart could take the stress. Again Zohra grinned. Her fellow officers were all impressed that a flag officer was so skilled in non-lethal attack methods, while she admired her refusal to revert to her Spartan training. Major Zohra knew how deep the training was ingrained in soldiers.

And she's an empath. She breathed in deeply thinking of what that may mean, and cursing that she was not sure. She scheduled a talk with the shamans the next afternoon, to work out the finer points of what they expected her to do in protecting Lady Alexandra.

The major heard the shower turn off. She rose from the bed and pulled out a small packet she had in her leg pocket. She was fastening it to the wall above one of the pillows when she felt Lady Alexandra standing next to her.

"What's that?"

"An intruder alert."

The personal magnetism that emanated from Alexandra tickled her senses. She wondered if Lady Alexandra was aware of the effect it had on others. Poor Dohe was so distracted that she was stuttering for the rest of the night. Nor were the other sisters unaffected. Some handled it by staying away from her. Warriors were not use to the type of energy she exuded. And after she told the details behind the Degas' troops last drop, which were rumored about, she knew she won over any warrior that had misgivings of her before then. The sisterhood, if for no other reason than to honor the officer who tried her best to save her troop, would honor the Degas troop at the yearly remembrance for fallen comrades. No one deserved the type of death her father had arranged for them. Her father, her mind spat angrily. What angered her was the misery and guilt Lady Alexandra felt when it was her father who was at fault for it.

Damn you! If she had not killed you, father…I would have! Be damned with your inheritance and its honors…honors over the dead you sacrificed for your petty accumulation of things!

She turned back to face Lady Alexandra. Her eyes were even with hers. With the subdued lighting in the room, her dark centers opened wide giving Zohra a view of her soul, if she cared to look in. Zohra's heart tightened but she did not look any deeper. She was not ready for that. Zohra could feel Lady Alexandra's eyes were on her as she stripped and handed over her cloths to the butler.

What was preventing her from pulling Lady Alexandra, who would be willing, towards her and making love to her in the shower, on the bed, or on the soft carpet? Or, to dial a mood and take possession of her on a beach or to the dark Cavern in the House of Aphrodite? They were going to be lovers, but when? What was she waiting for? She was the one who always controlled the situation. Was that why Lady Alexandra did not move on her as her eyes showed they wanted to? Or, was it because she was not sure? Lady Alexandra knew about her sexual preferences and from what Carol-Maa had told her, from one of many of their conversations together, they had dialed a mood to the Cave. What Carol-Maa did not tell her was who was the sub or if Lady Alexandra liked her visit. A smile curved her lips as she remembered the quickened heartbeat under her fingertips when she had grabbed Lady Alexandra's wrist earlier, the flushed face and the unmistakable smell of a women aroused. Oh, yeah. She liked it.

In the shower, Zohra loosened her long hair from the leather thong and thought of how it would have been to run her hands through Lady Alexandra's hair when it was still long. She closed her eyes thinking of the pleasure of holding her close and feeling her body respond to her touches. Zohra leaned her back against the tile. Her nipples hardened as the water beat on the rings, sending ripples of pleasure to her yoni. The memory of how Lady Alexandra's hands shook when they touched during the workout sent shivers down her. She reached out and changed one of the water nozzles so it was even with her bare mons. Her hands pressed against the back of the tile she leaned on as the water faucets bounced water against her nipple rings and her clit ring. Groaning softly, she imagined Alexandra's face between her legs, taking care of her swollen clitoris that was aching for attention. Her climax was quick, and weakly she held on until she could stand no more. She slid to the bottom of the shower floor letting the warm water beat a comfortable tattoo on her shoulders as she pulled herself together. The release served to bleed off some of the sexual energy, making it more bearable.

She's not going to make the first move, Jina Gari. You're the one that's into the dominating thing, so get on with it!

She finished her shower and waited impatiently as her hair blew dry. She slipped on the robe Ald offered her and returned to their room. She found the room lights low, indicating that her bed partner was sleeping. She glanced around the room again before disrobing and slipping between the covers, ignoring the nightgown that lay on the edge of the bed.

***

*

Alexandra felt a vibration before the audible sounded. She was out of the bed and on the soft carpet looking about her frantically when the sound bleeped out. She did not know whether it was real time or in a dream until the noise sounded and it grounded her with such frightening certainty. The discordant sound had her gritting her teeth.

Zohra was awake the instant she felt Lady Alexandra move and was startled to find her not next to her as she crouched on her side of the bed. Orange curly hair sticking out in all directions with wide green eyes peering over the hastily thrown back covers from the other side of the bed, for some inane reason appeared to be too funny not to respond to. Zohra was holding her sides with laughter as she stood up.

"I guess that's your intruder alarm." Lady Alexandra slowly straightened up, tugging at the nightgown that was twisted around her body.

"Yes," Zohra finally got out. "I should have tested it before so you could…you moved before it sounded," she blurted.

"I heard a buzzing in my ear," Alexandra shivered when she remembered it was Alan's attempt to control her dreamtime.

"Major is everyone all right?" a concerned voice came over the speaker. It was not Guardian's, Alexandra noted concerned, then remembered he had been moved to a biological body.

"Yes, Sgt. Major. Did you get a fix on the sender?"

"Sure did, Major. Admiral JoCastao has been notified."

"Great. Out."

"Out, Major."

Alexandra tried unsuccessfully not to study the naked body before her without appearing to. The sight of the slender athlete so close sent a strong desire through her.

The major's eyes were openly fastened on the outline of the hardened nipples pressed up against the sheer nightgown Alexandra was wearing. With a small movement from her, the gown that was bunched up in spots fell into place. She swallowed, hoping it did not look like she was drooling.

She's beautiful, two thoughts echoed.

JG climbed onto the bed and crawled over to Alexandra's side of the bed, extending a hand to Alexandra who was watching her with undisguised need.

Nice sleeping gown. It shows her off in a luring way. One day…I'll have to wear one for her.

Alexandra's eyes followed the sleek muscled body that crawled over to her side of the bed, extending a hand. Gold nipple rings that dangled from dark brown taught nipples glinted in the soft light. Willingly Alexandra allowed the major to guide her back into bed.

Zohra pulled the covers over Lady Alexandra as she settled on her back.

"What's wrong?" JG asked as she noticed the tenseness in her face.

"Everything, at the moment."

"I can do something about that," she offered in a provocative one.

"What's that?"

"Roll over on your stomach and I'll demonstrate for you." She grinned at Alexandra's hesitation. She knew Alexandra's desire to be touched would cause her to do as she was directed.

JG waited for Alexandra to position herself right. "Better," she said softly, pushing the blankets neatly to the foot of the bed. She lifted Alexandra's pillow out of the way and dropped it on top of hers. From her view of the cloth-covered shoulders, Alexandra's shoulders were tense, but she would take care of that. She rubbed her hands together to generate more qi before placing them on the taut shoulders. A soft sigh barely heard, if she had not felt it from the warm body beneath her hands, gave her an indication that Alexandra was at the first stage of relaxation.

She studied the profile of the pale face on the bed, as her hands began their work. She prodded and felt the knots, working them out gently. Softly she pushed the short curly hair off her neck, as she moved her sensitive thumbs over the spine, feeling for anything out of place. Wistfully, she remembered how her hair looked when it was long, reaching past her buttocks. She would love to feel the long hair tickling her as they made love. Thoughts of what caused her to cut her hair had her fingers digging a little harder than she intended.

"Hey! Ouch!" Alexandra flinched, abruptly rolling away from Zohra.

The nightgown twisted around the athletic body, tightly wrapping around breasts with erect nipples protruding tantalizingly. JG held her breath as she waited.

"Gari!" It was a pleading voice, whispered so low it was almost a groan.

JG put her hands on Lady Alexandra's shoulders and slid them down to her hands, their fingers intertwining. She held them in place as she bent down to kiss the inviting lips.

Alexandra groaned in the major's mouth as a tongue brushed her lower lip.

Both women's breath deepened and hearts beat faster as the major's tongue pushed past the lips that opened wider. JG broke the passionate kiss and moved her lips to an exposed neck, moving the trapped wrists so they were above Alexandra's head. She moved to straddle her hips. The body beneath her quivered between her legs, and her lips continued to move along her neck kissing and alternating gentle sucks with bites and hard sucks that were sure to leave marks.

"Gari, please, take me," she implored, as her body pushed up against Zohra's wet shaved center, trying to convey what her hands could not.

"Not yet my, Milady," she whispered, letting her breath tickle the sensitive ear.

Alexandra's mouth found hers again and hungrily told her what she would like to do to her in other places, while her hips undulated against her.

"Please, Gari," she begged again.

"Please…what?" she returned in a husky voice.

"Take me…take all of me," she whimpered.

"Sometimes something easily given isn't worth taking," she teased.

"Gari!" the voice changed from pleading to exasperation. Alexandra surprised her by flipping her over and reversing the pin.

"Then, it will be I who will do the taking," she said in a low voice that sent silvery shivers down Major Zohra's spine. "And you can tell me later, if it was worth being taken." She lowered her mouth to one of the jeweled nipple rings and pulled until her captive cried out, arching her back as white-hot pain shot from her nipple to her yoni. JG growled with desire as Alexandra held her down and played with each nipple and ring.

Alexandra paused, for a moment. "Computer, set mood, the forests of Fania, near the stream, afternoon, midsummer, sun, with cool breeze." She leaned close to the major's ear. "I want to see you in the sun light, Gari."

Below her, JG felt the texture of the soft bedding change to a hard ground with the grasses thin blades, tickling her skin. She looked up into the darkened eyes of Alexandra. She could smell the forest around them; hear the stream trickling nearby and the noises from wildlife around them in the mid-afternoon.

"You know, it's not safe to be near a stream, in the wilds, in the afternoon," JG worried as she felt Alexandra shift her weight.

"Hmm. Maybe, that's what I like…the danger of ravishing you surrounded by wild animals."

JG laughed nervously, while feeling the excitement ripple through her. "Oh, joy. I do hope you have the safeties engaged because exciting the wildlife with our lovemaking is not something I would advise experiencing." She was speaking from experience.

"Just you and me, Jina Gari." Alexandra slid further down the muscular body, taking her time and letting her wetness leave a damp scented trail over JG's stomach, and her thigh. JG lifted her leg between Alexandra's thighs, halting her decent effectively. Unhurried, Alexandra sucked on the hard nipple, running her tongue around the puckered skin while her fingers played with the nipple ring on the other. Her other hand was busy stroking the thigh that she was rubbing her engorged sex slowly over, as she could feel the fire build in her own belly. She could feel Jina Gari's excitement building in their connection, intending on drawing out their first climax.

JG pulled the silken gown over Alexandra's head, tossing it to the side. She stared up though the treetops, as Alexandra's lips fastened on her nipple, biting hard enough for her to nearly cum. JG moved her hands to fasten onto the white globes of Alexandra's buttocks, pulling Alexandra closer so her swollen labium was pressed against her thigh. She rocked at the rhythm Alexandra set. Alexandra controlled the pace, building both their energies to a point of nearly climaxing and then changing the focus, building up their energies again…and then moving her attentions to another place on JG's body, not letting her find a release.

"Alexandra! Woman, you're going to drive me to frustration!" JG squeezed Alexandra's buttocks as she once more almost exploded. JG moved a finger along Alexandra's cleft, gently prodding at the puckered entrance to her anus and then sliding into her hot vulva. Alexandra nearly jumped at the contact, but JG held her firm with her other hand on her hip.

Jina Gari caught a breast in her mouth and bit the nipple, feeling Alexandra's clitoris tremble against her leg. Alexandra cried out, dropping her hands on either side of JG to hold herself up.

"I…don't want to cum yet!" she groaned. "Not yet…just a…little longer!"

"Goddess woman! Soon!" JG did not know why she was putting it off, but her own labia were engorged and humming with need. A touch, that was all she needed and she would climax.

"Need...to…build…" Alexandra murmured as her lips pressed against Jina Gari's, claiming them. She pushed JG's leg down, sliding between her legs. Their mons, one bare and one with wet curly hairs, rubbed against one another as tongues clashed and hands tweaked nipples. JG thought she was going to die. Suddenly, she was peaking and this time, she knew even a tweak of her clit ring would not stop it. It was like a big wave roaring as it approached. She could not hear if Alexandra said anything, but when the boom came, for a moment she wondered what happened to her. She was drifting in a place that made her want to burst out crying…it was so beautiful. She knew she was sharing a space with Alexandra, and her presence filled her and made her so joyous, she could feel herself shouting out. For a long moment, she hung there, and then as she dropped back to feeling…it was like a second climax…her body falling over a precipice and it was a big feeling, nothing she could describe, nothing she felt she needed to describe…it was just a feeling thing. And then…she felt Alexandra trembling against her. She could feel her climax, as if it was hers. This was more than what the Dance hinted at what would happen.

JG pulled Alexandra close to her, brushing off the leaf that had fallen from the tree they were under.

"I remember now. Prolonging the climax is to build up on the sexual energy. Are you trying to make a love charm, Lady Alexandra?" she murmured against her ear.

Alexandra laughed throatily. "Hmm. No need."

JG knew it was the truth.

The heat from the sun that was beating down on them was erotic, and JG wanted nothing better than to continue getting to know Alexandra in an intimate way. She rolled on top of Alexandra, moving her lips over her mouth, chin, jaw line, and down her throat to her breasts. She spent time on each nipple, as Alexandra's fingers played with her two nipples rings, coaxing groans from her when she gave a tweak to her nipple or the ring. Steadily she moved down her body towards the orange mound that smelled of their commingled essence.

"Gari, take me with your mouth," she coaxed, "quickly!"

"Alexandra," she returned in a low voice, her own center throbbing with the request. Now you want it quick? You're gonna wait a while.

Suddenly, she was flooded with sensory stimulus as Alexandra opened her senses and connected them in a mutual sexual haze. The vibration was erotic and the intensity had JG trying to hold on to her will power to not give in to Alexandra's immediate need that was pounding against her swollen flower, making the ring on her lower lip hum. She could feel herself drowning in the sensations from the touch of their bodies. Alexandra's hands buried themselves in her hair, sending shivers up and own her spine as strong fingers stroked her scalp.

Jina Gari kissed, nibbled and licked the wet thighs of her sweet victim and continued to tease, pressing her lips and tongue into the swollen and wet lips that undulated against her face. Alexandra's body was moving with greater urgency. JG finally flicked her tongue over the hard nub. Both women could feel the rising of the force that rocked their bodies simultaneously, leaving both of them spent on the forest floor.

JG rolled partially off her, not want to break contact. Both women clung to each other letting the vestiges of their love making fade to a pleasant trill.

JG kissed Alexandra's forehead and sighed.

"What?" Alexandra asked her voice muffled from being buried in Jina Gari's neck.

"Alexandra, would you be offended…if I asked you something?"

Alexandra smiled. It was going to come up sooner or later.

"You can ask me anything."

"Was that almost as nice as….making love…ahh…"

"Under the influence of the pheromone gas," she finished for her. "Two different types of sensations. Just knowing that it was a contrived affect, an obsession that…we didn't really control, takes something from it. It was fucking for the sake of release. We," she whispered seductively, "on the other hand, can drive each other crazy because we want each other. Don't you think that this is so much better than a drug that causes desire for a stranger, Jina Gari?" And, I didn't bring her into my consciousness, as I did you. Never would I do that with anyone but you.

The major's body tingled at the voice. She let her free hand stroke her lover's body, and then moved it to her orange hair. She was glad that she had not made any moves on her as a Cadet.

"What are you thinking, Gari?

JG could not believe her body shivered when she called her by that name.

"I was remembering when we were cadets and I first saw you."

Alexandra smiled as she could now go back to those memories without experiencing the darkness.

"And when was that?" Alexandra asked, curious if it was in the dark glen or the tavern.

JG took a deep breath. Did the glen count when she performed the Dance? Actually, she felt her in the glen and did not see her until they were in the tavern.

"The tavern."

"Hmm." Alexandra was silent as she thought about it. "It would have changed a lot of things if we had met then."

There was a length of silence as both thought on this.

"When I first saw you in the infirmary, I did not recognize you because you changed your face." Gently she laid a palm on her cheek.

JG smiled. "Being a recognizable personality has its disadvantages in the covert business."

Alexandra pulled JG's face to hers and gave her a long and passionate kiss.

Some things are better when delayed.

Yeah.

"So," Alexandra breathed after the long kiss ended. "Where do we go from here?" We're due for another Dance.

JG stroked the face tenderly that was smiling at her. "This is so different than…what I'm use to."

Alexandra pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment, then decided that they must have no secrets between them that could cause harm in the near future. "I was wondering how you could so…easily fit in the Black Rose."

"Ah."

Alexandra felt the change in the major as a door slamming shut; however, she could also feel other things going on so she waited.

"End program." JG rose from the bed, accepting a robe from the butler that was ever ready. Alexandra also rose and followed JG as she moved into the sitting room.

A good cup of strong tea would be appreciated right now, but there was only water they had brought back with them. They both settled on the couch, at either end angling their bodies so that they were facing each other.

"I…don't really know how to explain it." JG looked up at the face that she had dreamed of often. She studied it as if trying to memorize it.

Alexandra waited patiently, also taking this time to study the stranger's face in front of her, yet feeling the familiar deeper connection that reassured her that it was the person she had so long ago bonded with.

"I guess it's because I have thebien genes, which makes taking on a role easy and just as easy to discontinue it and put on another." Would you believe me if I said I need you?

Alexandra smiled, leaning forward and cupping JG's face between her warm hands. "You can fool most people, but there are some things…" she gently kissed her lips feeling hands wrap around her wrists.

"Are you sure?" JG asked hoarsely, as her heart pounded loudly in her ears.

"Well," Alexandra breathed huskily, "if you aren't sure yourself, you can spend some more time convincing me…but, maybe another time when we're not so tired."

JG laughed. "You're right. I am tired…" but I don't think I can sleep right now.

However, she let Alexandra tug her to her feet and led her back into the bedroom.

"Lie on your stomach and I'll show you a trick I learned about putting someone to sleep, in a gentle way," she chuckled when she felt JG start to resist, pushing her back down on the bed.

It took all of fifteen stan minutes before JG's breathing slowed to that of someone sleeping.

Thank you, Sharon, for that handy tip. Alexandra rolled off the sleeping woman and settled down for what little time she had left for sleep.

***

Chapter 24

It seemed she had only slept an hour, when the chime sounded.

Both Alexandra and the major were immediately awake.

"Goddess!" Alexandra breathed.

"Good morning, and for the Goddess part…hmm, I have on quite a few occasions been called that." A voice came over the intercom.

"Clea! What time is it?" JG asked trying to shake the fog from her thoughts.

"Late, Major. We let you sleep in just in case you had problems getting back to sleep after the intruder alert."

Major Zohra could hear the smile in her voice.

Alexandra rolled over Jina Gari and headed for the shower almost laughing out loud at the muffled groan from her lover when she tugged on her nipple ring. The shower came on and JG had difficulty resisting the urge to join her.

"What did you say, Major?"

"Uh, what is the status?"

"Teams are reporting in. Intruder alerts occurred in Century City too. It hasn't been determined yet if it's some of the metrasoldiers that are still loose, computer glitches…or the missing alowan. No gate disturbances so we know there aren't any alowans joining him or him leaving. The general thinks he's still here."

"Yeah. The shamans do too and half my command staff. Did we ever get a number on how many of Alan's soldiers are still loose?"

"No report on that yet. Maybe at the afternoon briefing. They skipped this morning due to the trouble, so you haven't missed anything yet."

"Okay. I would like to look at the reports they've prepared so far. Are captains Chilali and Raizel available? "

"Well, if you would unlock the door Sgt. Malta can come in and leave off a report with you. The two captains are still sleeping. They went to bed four stan hours ago."

"Let me know when they wake. I'll open the door for Sgt. Malta. Give me a moment to shower and dress."

Alexandra was out of the shower quickly, towel drying her short curly orange hair that was sticking out in different directions, but looked sexy to Zohra.

"I'll hold them off while you prepare for company, Major." She smiled a crooked grin.

JG's lips caught Alexandra's as they passed.

"I think you need to dress before you have the sisters in a dither at seeing their legend in her sleep ware."

Alexandra snorted.

The butler had her new uniform, with gold braid and new bars ready for her.

"Helgas Moon. What a tailor you got here," she muttered to no one in particular.

The door dinged as she pulled her boots on.

Enter!" Alexandra called as she stomped them on and walked into the sitting room closing the bedroom door. Commander Montran stood waiting as two soldiers wearing the sister's uniform entered looking around for their major.

"Good morning. Would you like to sit and get comfortable? Care for something to drink?" she asked trying to be a good host until their major was ready.

One of the women raised an eyebrow. "Commander, were you not told that it is unsafe for you to drink anything that has not been prepared in the sister's kitchen?" Commander Montran smiled. "Ahh. Thank you for reminding me." She refrained from telling them that what she was offering was from the sister's kitchen. However, if they were going to treat her as 'brainless' she would go with that rather than embarrassing everyone. Silently she sighed at her awkward position of not being of use to anyone as anything more than bait.

Another chime sounded.

"Enter," she called again. Two more women entered carrying food and beverages. Her stomach growled its approval.

Commander Montran laughed at the startled looks she got. Then they all laughed. By the time the food was set out Major Zohra stepped out of the bedroom with her hair bound and dressed in her uniform.

The women saluted smartly for their major. Alexandra left the room to give the soldiers time to give whatever verbal report they needed to give Major Zohra without her presence. When she heard the door close she returned to their breakfast.

Major Zohra watched Alexandra's face as she selected what she liked from the plates. She had changed since last night. Or was it her? Her face turned a little red when she remembered Helen's quizzical look as she received the status reports. They would all be asking the big question.

"Did they ask you?" Alexandra asked as she carefully chewed a fruit with a pit.

"Ask me what?"

"If you did it with their legend?"

JG stopped the movement of bringing the food to her mouth.

"Are you going to let that label bother you?" Sighing she finished chewing her bread.

"They didn't ask verbally." JG finally said. She picked up another slice of the dark honey bread and added some apple butter spread on it. "I think I'll add to the rumor though…about your sexual prowess," she smirked, and then looked up at the sparking eyes of her lover.

"Gari!" Alexandra blushed, and shook her head. "As if…as if I'm…I think I'll just stick with one rumor at a time."

"That would be no rumor, Lady Alexandra." Laughing, she caught Alexandra's wrist in a vise like grip over the table and pulled her towards her. "Lady Alexandra Harriet Montran," she breathed in her ear, "are you accusing a fellow officer of lying?"

Alexandra could feel the passion in her capturer's voice and knew the pounding of her pulse in her captured wrist was telegraphing her own response.

"Are you going to arrest me? Restrain me…tie me up…in leather? Hmm?"

"Blast this table," JG laughed and released her. Alexandra came around the table to grind her mouth into JG's pushing them towards the wall.

She was not going to let Gari get away with the passion she kept igniting in her. Alexandra wondered if this was going to be as distracting as the pheromone gas. As she pushed against Gari's hard body Gari twisted Alexandra around and pushed her into the wall hard with lips still together. Alexandra's fingers intertwined behind Gari's head, bringing her face closer to hers as if she could not get close enough while Gari reexplored Alexandra's trembling thighs.

"Gads!" Alexandra gasped when both took a moment to get some air. "We've got to finish…"

"The Dance," JG finished for her breathing heavily. She rested her forehead against Alexandra's letting the sexual feeling lessen. For a few moments, they remained embraced letting their heart rates slow down.

The door chimed and opened. LaDea Gedaliaha strode in and seemed not concerned with their embrace.

"How are you both feeling?" she asked seriously, studying them and then nodding as if she had already received an answer.

"Fine." Alexandra cleared her voice, as the major stepped back allowing them both to resume their seats at the table.

"What's happening?" Major Zohra asked as she picked up a fruit.

"Rear Admiral JoCastas' group found the person that Alan was using to invade dreams. She was able to reason with him by promising immediate protection for him and his family for any and all the information he has on Alan. Alan has the habit of putting the fear of death in everyone that works for him so he or she is usually too eager to take the offer of a new identity for information. He had overheard Alan talking about a program that was used to contaminate Guardian's system. Must be the virus you were talking about, Alexandra. He is sure Alan did not know he knew or he would have killed him."

"Uh, huh," Major Zohra agreed. "Alan does not like the right hand knowing what the left hand is doing," Major Zohra remarked. "The backup system is being studied to find out if there is a pattern that can be cross checked with the primary. So far, the original program is doing fine. But it's not updated to what the outpost was before the shut down, so we're doing updates after we cross check information on what the scouts come in with their findings."

Gedaliaha nodded her head as she rose to go. "The meeting with the shamans is for later this evening, Major. We're rather busy at the moment, but we do need to talk. Until then...my heart to yours." The door swished close after her.

"Well, shall we go and see what the troops have been up to, Lt. Commander Montran?" Marjor Zohra asked Alexandra with a smirk. "We can use your experience as a flag officer," she added seriously.

"Why, thank you Major Zohra. Though, I would feel better taking copious mental notes at your meeting."

"Copious mental notes? Does that mean you plan on sleeping through my briefings?"

They picked up the plates and were stacking them when the door chimed. "Enter!" they both called.

The door came open and help arrived to gather up the uneaten food. Alexandra could feel Zohra's demeanor change as she faced her sisters. She stepped back from the table and waited as the women cleared the table.

Alexandra reluctantly did the same. Startled at a change in the room, she turned to face the door. Standing in the doorway was Vanster. Her sharp intake of breath had Major Zohra spinning around.

"Megan!" she called in surprise. Helgas Moon! They didn't tell me she was released. Who released her without telling me?

"Good morning, Major." Vanster's terse voice returned.

"Sgt. Vanster," she returned smoothly. "You're here for something?"

Major Zohra moved to stand in front of Alexandra to break the eye contact between the two women.

"I have a message from the sisters, Major."

"We were just on our way."

"We?"

"Yes. Lt. Commander Montran and I," she returned firmly.

Alexandra did not wait to hear anymore. She passed by the sergeant, resisting a shudder from the energy she had around her. Major Zohra followed in her wake and the reluctant Sgt. Vanster in tow.

***

Chapter 25

The recreation room was full of off-duty warriors, and the noise level was high until they were spotted. Zohra was sure it was Commander Montran's uniformed figure that brought the room to near silence. The sister's uniforms were dark olive green, with red trim while the Centurion uniform was dark blue trimmed in gold, with the added gold braid on her left shoulder, identifying her as a member of fleet flag staff. Then, it could also be the energy emanating from her trim form. Not as powerful as it had been the previous night, but it was still enough to lift the hairs on her arms. Was her energy less because they made love? She sniggered to herself at the arrogant thought. As if…

However, she was putting out less energy, or maybe she was less sensitive to it. Mentally she added it to her list of subjects to discuss with the shamans.

A small smile curled up the corners of her lips. She glanced at the woman beside her, who had everyone's attention. She could feel something go out from her lover. It was smooth…a connection that flowed out to the group like a stream of water over a dry riverbed. Was this what the old Sgt. Major was babbling about? What would the sisters think? However the conversations resumed after greetings were exchanged and nods. It was as if they did not notice it. Then she felt it settle around her and then connect to her.

Wow…amazing! Major Zohra rocked back on her heels a little to regain her equilibrium as the new sensation immersed her. She could feel the power of being one with so many. It was a heady feeling, just as the old Spartan had told her. Could the others feel it? No one seemed to notice. She glanced at Vanster who had been maneuvered away from them. Why had the old veteran Spartan noticed it and not her sister warriors? Alexandra must have felt her disorientation for a gentle touch on her arm, and something whispered in her ear refocused her. What word did she use? Whatever it was she was grounded instantly.

"They won't feel it until you use it," a soft voice informed her.

The major blinked a few times and then resumed her walk into the room.

"Oh, is that how it works," she muttered. She heard the commander chuckle.

At the planning table the officers surrounded Major Zohra while Commander Montran stood silently just behind her, listening. Major Zohra's field execs, and scouts reported what was happening in all the cities that were being brought back on line. They needed them up and running in order to monitor any life signs in them. The alowans were starting to appear around different parts of the planet, both interior and on the planet's surface. They had to be stopped before they could get a strong foothold in the outpost. So far three sighting of them had been made, during the night. Perhaps that was the reason for the alarms throughout the cities.

The major confirmed Lt. Malchi's verbal and written rebuke of the officer that dispatched Vanster to their quarters. It was the same person that had given a sloppy assessment of the Southern Rim.

"Before this gets out of hand," Major Zohra told Captain Raizel, "reassign her now, off this planet."

The captain nodded. "I'm not sure how she got picked for this assignment, but she stirring up trouble with her off color jokes about you and…" she paused, wondering how to finish it.

Major Zohra looked around the table at her staff officers. "I will not have anyone…demean a fellow soldier…or anyone else for that matter, in my troop! Is that understood? This is not the Black Rose troop or some Spartan troop that thinks demeaning another makes them tough. I've had enough of that attitude."

The others looked at each other and then back at their CO.

"So…just what do you want us to do with…anyone that mouths off, Major?"

They all knew the captain was referring more to Sgt. Vanster than Lt. Mucha.

"Ship her or him out. There are three ships above us and I'm sure there is someone on one of those ships that would love to exchange places. There always is. Just make sure everyone knows what is expected of them."

"Lt. Clea, can you post that?"

"Love to, ma'am," she replied with a grin. Boy, would I. There are a few others that got here somehow that that I'm ashamed to say are sisters.

"Did you say something, lieutenant?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'll post it," she repeated.

"No, no. I thought you had something else. Well, captain, what else have we got?" she turned her attention to Captain Chilali.

"Good news and bad news. Alan's spacecraft had been found two days from here on auto pilot…abandoned and booby trapped."

"Okay. Keep on that information." Turning to Lt. Heleni she asked, "What have you learned about the programming on the main system?"

"We've made great progress. It's Agean. They are very talented in implanting subroutines that could cause either great damage or great programming delights. Now we know what to look for. We have the brothers working on one half of the problem and our sisters on the other half. It will cut time," she added confidently.

Major Zohra nodded and moved on to the next issue. For the rest of the afternoon she moved her people around and kept after the younger ones to keep up the physical exercises to prevent them from being sidetracked with all the luxury toys the Lair had for their entertainment.

Occasionally Major Zohra would steal a glance Alexandra's way only to see her dark malachite eyes gazing at nothing in particular. Her sigh brought a questioning look from one of the warriors.

"Is that not right, JG…Major?"

"Let's give it some more thought," Lt. Melchi suggested.

"Why don't we break for dinner?" a voice at her elbow suggested.

She turned gratefully toward her companion.

"Commander Montran, that is a splendid idea," Major Zohra said uncharacteristically, for she was known to work though dinnertime, eating little herself.

The others laughed and began to call out for dinner to be served.

"While our table is being set I want to have a word with someone. I shall be back shortly." Major Zohra put a hand on Alexandra's shoulder to let her know she wanted to go alone. Alexandra had no intention on rising; she was tired and hungry.

Major Zohra's unease about something did not go unnoticed by her team leaders, who had also been asked to not accompany her.

Carol-Maa had joined Alexandra at the table having returned with the patrol that had visited Avanstar. As their eyes met, Alexandra grinned from the look of mischief in Carol's eyes.

Now what is that about?

Alexandra picked at the food placed before her. Carol-Maa's conversation with some of the leaders did not keep her attention. From Alexandra's position, she could watch Major Zohra as she questioned one warrior that was shaking her head and looking unhappy.

Alexandra brought her eyes back to the table as one of the leaders coughed. She had been exposed to a gas and the tea she was given was assisting in the body's efforts to clear her lungs.

She returned her attention to Major Zohra who had moved to speak to a young man from Naboths Vine. He had a message. When he left another person entered the room and with this person she felt a new vibrant energy reach out to those in the room…touching gently. Sitting up straighter, Alexandra could feel a light touch to her connection. The touch remained but the person did not intrude into her link, merely…monitored it. Alexandra had a feeling she was reading her or trying to identify her.

Curious, she watched as a cloaked figure moved unnoticed behind a group of laughing warriors. Whoever it was, Alexandra was certain she would be investigated closely before the person made her appearance. She had never heard of anyone besides herself who experienced such a link with a group but she suspected it existed. Nothing is new in the multiverse, her teachers had told her. She spotted the cloaked form again, much closer. Slowly, she withdrew her contact with the group, letting the stranger take over. Still no one turned to acknowledge the presence of this visitor!

Major Zohra returned when the leaders were nearly finished eating. She sat next to Alexandra and ate sparingly of her dinner.

Though they sat with space between them, Zohra's elbows brushed against her energy field. Ripples of a tickling feeling touched Alexandra. As lovers, they had their own link, and it was strong. Alexandra could feel the effect their touching had on Zohra. She smiled to herself and made a note to take advantage of it later. Zohra was so distracted that she had discreetly moved a little further away. Alexandra understood her need to stay focused. This momentary distraction caused her to loose sight of the cloaked visitor, though she was not worried. She relaxed in her chair, watching the cloaked figure openly approach their table. Still no one around them seemed to notice the figure's approach.

Major Zohra could no longer resist looking at Lady Alexandra. Green eyes were staring intently before them. She looked in the same direction and saw nothing at first and then a familiar ripple in the air. She knew exactly who it was. Major Zohra looked at her plate for a moment to recenter.

Oh, Goddess. She's going to know about Lady Alexandra and I. And she's going to know it's not a sudden kind of thing. Oh, Mother, are you going to be upset that I've been keeping this secret from you?

"You are not eating enough, Major Zohra," a familiar voice spoke above her. Major Zohra jumped startled with the others who also recognized the voice. The figure Alexandra watched approach pulled the hood from her face.

A cry had gone out and the room filled with the roar of warriors as they recognized their major general. Obviously, they were use to this unusual type of entrance. Alexandra stood with the others. When the cheering died out, Major General Aglauros regarded her adopted daughter. She had not seen Zohra physically since she had gone undercover as a Spartan. Nine years was a long time to be parted from her beloved daughter. Tentatively she sent out a touch towards her. She felt the connection between her daughter and Lady Alexandra.

Lovers…lifemates! My daughter has been keeping secrets…and for a good reason. Helgas Moon, we would not have let her take on this long mission had we known…but Lady Alexandra…would we have been able to protect her? I wonder if she is as stubborn as they say.

She did not look towards Lady Alexandra but rather studied Major Zohra intently. Major Zohra reddened slightly but kept her eyes level with the Generals.

"I say again, daughter," she said softer, "you are not eating enough."

She then turned her attention to the others. "I would like to hear what has been going on first hand. When we are finished, Major Zohra and Lady Alexandra will retire to their quarters and get some needed rest." Major General Aglauros raised an eyebrow at Lady Alexandra's frown. Both women looked tired and she could only image why.

For another hour with both the major and general listening, the leaders reported on their assignments and assessments of the various parts of the cities that Major Zohra had them visit, including Iota. Both women nodded, as they listened intently not interjecting anything.

Lady Alexandra watched the connection that played between the two women, not concerned about her exclusion from the meeting, after all, she was not a sister nor officially involved with the ground security. Her uniform from another group helped isolate her from the others. Alexandra's mind wandered. It was brought back to the group when she felt the general watching her.

So, my daughter is lifemated to the legendary empathic Spartan captain, and now a commander with the Centurions. Can't blame her for leaving Committee space. Easier on an empath if she wants to continue working in the military.

When the rumors had started about a Spartan troop marked for death by a powerful committee member, was actually coming back alive from their ill fated drops, she had sent her agents out to learn more. A trained empath among the Spartans was unheard of. So much death and violence would burn a sensitive out if not traumatize them. For an empath to also have the gift of Galiel, the ability to form a connection with others, was not so unusual. Military intelligence of all branches of the services kept records of such people. However, no one thought she had either ability and her agents as well as others that had investigated her, just put it down to luck and talent…all but the shamans.

The general glanced at her daughter and then the commander.

So, did they form this bond in the Academy…when Zohra rescue her from that crazy Fermin kid? It had to have been then. A long time to carry a torch for someone.

"Perhaps you would not mind if I visited later?" the General was facing Major Zohra when she asked but generals don't really ask, even if their voice inflection is courteous enough to make it sound as if it is a question.

"Yes. I will have some plans…"

"Daughter, please relax. Take time to eat. I know you very well, and I can see that because you have not had a mother or a lover to scold you to eat regularly, you have let yourself get too lean."

This exchange did not seem to be new for the others laughed as if they had heard it before.

"Mother, you always say that. I do eat," was the muttered response.

"You pick," another voice told her.

"Bese! You old war dog!" The general turned quickly and hugged the other woman.

Bese gestured to the two women standing a little behind her burdened with food and drink. "I am sending these sisters back to the major's quarters with food that will not spoil quickly and with liquids to store."

"Good!" the general rubbed her hands. "Now we will get some healthy meat on those muscles of yours, my daughter."

The general turned to Alexandra this time. "Lady Alexandra, I hope you will go easy on our major. She has not had a vacation for a long time and needs some respite from the worries of command."

Alexandra shifted slightly as she tried to keep her thoughts clear. What was she implying, that she was to service the major? To baby sit her? Well, that was just about what the major was assigned to do with her, she reasoned. However, her eyes flashed a warning at the general as she tried to keep her temper under control.

"Until I get my orders, it's the least I can do," she returned evenly. She intended on talking to LaDea Gedehelia about this turn of events or Admiral JoCasta. Right now, she would rather be with the shamans. She knew she was feeling this partially because of the remark but it was also because…she felt a stranger.

Helgas Moon! I hope this gets over soon. Just get me back to the Ziggy! She groaned inwardly at the problem that would cause. It meant that she would be separated from her Dancer whom she only just was getting to know. She realized no matter what her new position in this operation was…she did not want to part from her lover for long. She sighed to herself heavily.

I would rather be here miserable than away from her.

"I will visit you in a stan hour. I don't want to keep either of you up too late," she dismissed them.

Major Zohra face was unreadable during the exchange but Alexandra could feel her discomfort. Major Zohra nodded and with a firm grip on Alexandra's elbow, hurried out of the room. The warriors followed quickly with the baskets of food and drink. Major Zohra leaned close to Alexandra, "She was only joking, Lady Alexandra. She does that to test your mettle."

Alexandra's arm was tingling from Major Zohra's touch. She pulled her arm from her grasp. "I don't appreciate being told my duty is to service you."

"That's not what she had meant. I believe she was referring to your reputation for attracting trouble. I am still your bodyguard, so she must be expecting trouble," Zohra's voice trailed off as she thought of this. "As we all are."

"Trouble?" Alexandra turned to her to argue but Zohra had turned to one of the women to speak with her. Alexandra tried to drop back unobserved to let the three converse, but Major Zohra put her hand to her elbow, keeping her abreast of her.

"It's rather difficult to guard someone who is behind me." Their eyes met and Alexandra saw nothing in them to indicate anything other than duty.

Damn those unreadable eyes, was her mental message to Major Zohra. In return she was unsure if the look returned was that of amusement or annoyance. Did she know what she was thinking?

The door opened as the group approached. The two guards at each side of the door nodded at the major. Zohra restrained Alexandra with her outstretched arm from stepping over the threshold while she waved the two women guards forward.

"Now wait a stan minute!" Commander Montran exploded. "I am perfectly capable of looking for T&Ts or any other oddity as anyone here. I've also been in the room longer and would know what is out of place!"

Major Zohra looked at her surprised. "I have no doubt of your skills Lady Alexandra, but these warriors need the practice."

Alexandra could actually feel her face heat up with anger. Again she was being addressed as Lady Alexandra. She was not going to just be bait!

"But, I can see you are going to be trouble if you don't have something to do," Major Zohra gave her a little grin and gestured for her to enter the room to join the security sweep of their quarters.

It took less than ten minutes with the four of them. Major Zohra made a mental note to check the small bot doors that Lady Alexandra checked. She had not thought of them. She would like to include her in on her own protection but her CO had relieved Lady Alexandra of her military responsibilities on the outpost, which she could do since Lady Alexandra's admiral had not called her back to service. Sighing, she was not looking forward to the visit from the general. She had seen the fire in Alexandra's eyes when her status was announced in front of the troops and was glad it was not her those eyes were glaring at. But the general had stood firm as if unaffected. That was her mother alright, remembering her own heated arguments when a young girl. She had been head strong, but not as strong as her adopted mother. Looking back, as she had done many times, she had been right to keep her from doing some of the things she wanted to do. Like leap from a ship in space blindfolded. It sounded safe since they were in an AEG but when her mother pointed out what if one of them decided not to retrieve her, for a joke. How was she going to remove the blindfold and who was going to bring her in. As much as she had fought her mother on it, she was glad she had told her no such stunts. And as much as the other athlete's needled her about her acquiescing to her mother's rules, she stuck to them. There were some athletes she would not trust her life with and she did not want to push her luck that that would be who she would draw to handle her. While Zohra's mind wandered, she waited for the search to finish.

The two guards had also noted the places that Commander Montran checked that they had not thought of. They would not make the same omission again and would pass it on to the others as well.

Finally, Major Zohra and Lady Alexandra were alone with the baskets of food and water containers setting on the table.

"Why do they concern themselves with your eating habits?" Lady Alexandra asked to break the heavy silence.

Zohra took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I have always found it difficult to eat much when I am involved in…projects," she admitted.

"Oh." Alexandra smiled into the dark eyes feeling the desire to drag her off somewhere alone.

"Is that so?" Zohra returned in a low seductive voice.

The voice sent a shiver down Alexandra. She wondered what they could do in less than an hour. Uncomfortably she got up and went into the kitchenette for some water.

Major Zohra's was quickly at her side, hands tightly wrapped around her wrists firmly pulling her away from the dispenser.

"You must not…" she stopped as she caught Alexandra's eyes. She got the point. However, their bodies were touching and Alexandra's hand that had reflexively pulled free slid around Zohra and pulled her closer to her. Alexandra buried her face in her neck and kissed her. Zohra touched Alexandra's face softly and pulled her mouth to her own. Alexandra groaned as she pushed against Zohra and felt her mouth ravaged with a strong thrusting tongue. Her knees threatened to give out as she leaned back against the sink for support. Zohra's hand traveled down Alexandra's side and then between her legs searching for her hot spot.

"Geri," she whispered.

Zohra did not realize it was she who groaned as she cupped the patch between Alexandra's legs and imagined it wet and swollen. She put her thigh between Alexandra's legs and rubbed her leg against her feeling the heat that was coming from her.

Suddenly Alexandra groaned and pushed her away. She turned her back to her and tried to pull herself together.

Company!

The chime sounded and Major Zohra realized she had been holding her breath.

"Goddess!"

"Enter," Alexandra said in a normal voice.

Major Zohra looked up at her and noticed that her cheeks were red. She laughed to herself thinking General Aglauros would not miss that. Alexandra must have thought the same because by the time the door had opened they were back to a normal flush.

"Good evening Lady Alexandra, Major Zohra." It was LaDea Gedehelia's voice that greeted them. General Aglauros was close behind, followed by two senior members of her staff and a grinning Carol-Maa.

General Aglauros did not waste time with idle chitchat.

"Lady Alexandra," she began, indicating that they all seat themselves in the front room.

"You are in a very difficult spot. And I want you to know that I, we, are all aware of it," she went on as she and the others took their seats. There seemed to be an urgency to get the meeting over. "Not just because of your social standing and military standing but also because you are part of a very dangerous and obsessive psychopath's plans, and therefore the 'bait' in our attempts to capture him. If we do not…the harm he can cause is tremendous."

This time the use of 'bait' in referring to her did not cause her to cringe; perhaps Gedehelia's presence gave her more presence of mind.

"We know that it is the Lair that he will be focused on. It has both you and the portal. Normally we would have separated you and the portal so that he had to work harder and spread his troops around, but the Seers have seen that that is what should not be done. He would increase his terrorist acts and many innocents would suffer."

"You are the key to this siege he is planning," one of the others added.

"I think the key to the siege is somewhere in the computer's system," Alexandra interrupted impatiently.

"You may well be right, Lady Alexandra. We have dumped the core three times and each time we have put everything back together, the virus is still there," another senior staff member admitted.

"What is the first thing or the second thing the computer links to when it comes back up?"

"The cities."

"And then, the subroutines within the cities with their utility bots. I feel certain it's one of the bots either in the city or here," Alexandra explained.

"That will take a long time to determine which one it is…unless…we add our own program in the main one that will somehow tease it out."

"I would check the bot in Megan Vanster's quarters first and the rest of the other Black Rose members."

"Perhaps, Lady Alexandra, that would be a good place to start. Lt. Catlina, pass that on."

While the voices continued to discuss which city the main computer first contacted, Alexandra remembered the global diagram of the various cities on Merker's Outpost that the computer had presented her. There was an odd color in one of them. Blank when it should have been green or gray. "Helgas Moon." She slapped her forehead. "Not to change the subject so quickly but, I just remembered something."

"And that is?" the general encouraged.

"His back door."

"What do you mean? We have searched the cities for any break-ins, including Iota." Major Zohra objected.

"We would have known," Carol-Maa also objected.

"When I first came here, I asked the computer for a schematic of where I was in relation to the Spinner's crew. The sections were represented as green, gray, and one blank. The outline was there, indicating…"

"It was erased."

"Yes. It makes sense. If Alan's agent gained access into the computer's memory he would be able to rewrite some of the lines. Did the back up, when it went on line show any differences."

The others shook their head.

"So, maybe the back up has been tampered with then. Guardian said that he was still building up the cities when the original was written. The only reason why the original was set aside was that it wasn't as powerful as the backup and primary." Major Zohra explained.

"That sounds plausible. If a virus is introduced…the backup is the first line of defense until the virus is eradicated."

"So, after we find the city he may have tampered with, we will know where Alan is planning a surprise visit, and we can have some of our troops waiting to greet him."

Alexandra and Major Zohra shook their heads.

"By now, they have moved from their point of entry. They are probably just waiting for a preset time or a command."

"We would have felt them," Carol-Maa objected again.

"Alan's presence is known when he's in his psychotic state. When he's on his meds, like a good little boy, he would be hard to locate." One of the attachés mentioned.

LaDea Gedaliaha shook her head in disagreement. "That ill cloud about him makes his presence easy to detect whether he is on his meds or not."

"I don't think the planet's spirit would be bothered with, say a troop in stasis, or a stash of poisons unless there was a present danger to the planet's well being," Alexandra guessed.

"So Alan, being clever, knows that we will eventually figure out the virus, or some of it, and expects us to focus on that area. He'll probably have some troops entering there, a small sacrifice for a bigger plan," Major Zohra nodded thoughtfully.

"So, we are back to, what is he up to with all this plotting? What is the purpose of knocking out portals? It's easy enough to say he is obsessed with Lady Montran, but what is it about the portals?"

Zohra shifted uncomfortly and then suggested, "We all have studied what to us appears to be madness, in an obsessive person. My belief is that Alan is causing all this havoc as misdirection so he can grab Lady Montran and leave this system. I agree with Lady Montran that he already has his raiders here, waiting for some kind of signal to awaken."

Montran nodded giving Major Zohra the barest of smiles. "It's just a thought, but I'm sure Alan knows that his presence can be felt by a shaman."

"So, you think he would send someone to kidnap you rather than come himself?" one of the aids asked.

Montran hesitating, remembered her brief touch with Alan in his space craft. She shook her head. "No. One thing I am certain on…he will come for me himself."

The general nodded studying the commander for any sign of weakness in her composure. "You eluded him too many times. I agree also. You, Lady Alexandra are his only goal and everything else is merely to keep us busy, because this time…he means to accomplish what he and others have not been able to and he does not plan to be around where anyone cares about rescuing her. Most probably he has plans already made to settle on a planet we have no authority on."

A length of silence passed.

"But, we owe protection to the portal, to this planet, and to the Galaxy citizens who Alan may terrorize to seize Lady Montran and where he plans on settling. So we must stop him, dismantle his private army, and if need be, die in the process. On that day our cry will be 'It is a good day for a battle.'"

"So," General Aglauros went on, looking around her, "we'll also search for any transmitters and for a place to hide a spaceship. Chances are if they are in stasis, it will be aboard a ship. What better way of escaping, then on your own ship that is already on the planet? One more thing, Lady Alexandra," General Aglauros nodded toward Alexandra, "I understand you have some talents that could use a bit of smoothing out. We need to teach you to shield yourself so you can protect yourself against any further subconscious or conscious mental attacks. And also to tone down the energy you are putting out."

Montran's pulse quickened.

"Please, put yourself in a restful state," LaDea Gedaliaha voice compelled.

Montran went into an immediate trance both willingly and from the command. From a far away voice, she heard the directions and she was asked many times after each step was explained for her to repeat them. In her minds eye she practiced it and each time she was instructed to adjust her energy and to try again. She did not know how many times she went through the practice but she was growing weary. Moreover, it was getting more difficult to concentrate.

She woke to feel Geri nuzzling her neck. She was leaning over the back of the couch.

"If you don't wake up and get to bed, I'm going to..." she growled in a low voice.

Laughing, Montran gave a tug to pull her into her lap. However, Geri pulled away from her and tugged her to her feet. "This will be the last time we will have the luxury of feeling our skin touching," Geri told her in a husky voice.

Chapter 26

"Damn her! Damn that freak!"

Alan flung the data disk across the room shattering an art piece he had paid a large sum of credits for a mere two standard weeks ago. The impressive art sculpture occupied a corner where it was hard to miss and for Alan, it was a tantalizing object to destroy. It was an impulse buy that had caught his attention while he was waiting for a ride to the office and after studying it for weeks he felt he knew just where the weak spot of the piece was. The pleasing sounds it made as its main column collapsed, with smaller pieces flying in different directions, did not disappoint him. The intent and action to destroy was against the implanted chip's programming. Pain laced across his forehead and scalp, burning deeper paths across familiar territory in his cranium, and sending shivers down his spine. It was an intense feeling that he interrupted as pleasure.

"How dare she defy me!" he continued after a slight pause.

One of the few people that Alan tolerated insolence from closed the door to his office to prevent the shrill screeching from being heard by other renters that may be passing the outer office's business door. Hemmitt was Alan's private secretary of four stan years, which was an anomaly in a society that had a low social tolerance for outward displays of physical violence. If Hemmitt was not dependant on Alan's high wages, he would have done as most and found a safer job.

Hemmitt picked up a large sliver of the shattered mirror that had imbedded in a chair. He had the mirror installed after he witnessed Alan's first episode, telling him he should watch the sideshow. Consequently, Alan was able to judge when he needed to start up his drugs again. He was never crazed enough to not know when his reflection showed the wildness in his dress that was one of the symptoms of his manic phase.

"This is how you look to your fellow business associates, like a rabid animal. If any of your father's business associates see you like this, you will be looking at a one way ticket to HinterWield," Hemmitt reminded him in a soft and respectful tone.

Alan caught the mirror's sharp edge, gripping tightly while his eyes bore into Hemmitt's. Blood pooled on the flat surface of the mirror then dripped down the mirror's shard. The plopping sound of each drop hitting the carpet was not lost on either of them, but Hemmitt wisely choose to ignore it.

"And you think you can do better?" Alan asked in a dangerously low voice. Spittle hung from Alan's beard that refused to be neatly trimmed into place. His eyes glinted like tiny beads of blackness through slit eyelids.

Hemmitt's emotions ran hot and cold, between amusement and fear. "No. I'm a secretary, not a businessman."

"Fence sitter!" Alan spat out, his body increasingly becoming tense, as if waiting for some sign from Hemmitt that would give him another outlet for his rage.

"As long as it's a flat surface, I can manage."

A vicious picture appeared in Alan's mind of a pointed shaft being run through Hemmitt's rear and out through his mouth, with visceral hanging on the end of the shaft. The pain that shot through Alan's brain from the taboo images he conjured up, made his eyes flutter. Unconsciously, Alan wiped the spittle with the back of his hand scattering blood drops on him and the carpet, as he looked around for the daily planner.

Hemmitt held it out to him. Alan grabbed it from his hand, though not in anger but from habit, leaving drops of blood on the secretary's hand.

"Well, what is the plan for the day?" he asked himself in a singsong voice. "Hmm." He looked back up at Hemmitt, "Get me Slinger."

Hemmitt nodded and left the room, not daring to wipe the blood off his hand until he was finished with his assignment. Getting out of Alan's presence was more important and the sooner Alan got involved with his own projects, the more he left Hemmitt to managing the office.

If the salary were not as high as it was, Hemmitt would never have taken the job working for le fol Fermin. Hemmitt was his family's way out of a dead-end life of poor jobs in an overcrowded city of people. Though there was a population limit, and restrictions on new residence buildings it was difficult to keep out the migrants who were willing to live in over crowded rooms.

Hemmitt located the card with Slinger's number on it. When he reentered the office, he found Alan drawing circles on a piece of paper. He had been doing that a lot lately. Handing the card to Alan, he quickly left to let Alan handle his private business. Hemmitt dutifully noted that Alan had allowed the medibot to attend to his bloodied hand.

A stan hour later Slinger called back with a fake voice and fake location.

"I have a job for you." Alan's voice was hard and demanding.

"Isn't that why you called? Get to the point!" the voice retorted.

"Find me a channeler."

"You can do that yourself. They're on every corner in your city."

"Get me a channeler that has no scruples." Alan had to control himself with this person, or there would be no business, and he was very good at what he did.

"Hmm. Now that will be a problem. I'll see what I can do." The communication was broken.

Alan looked at his timer. "Erggggggg!" He slammed the timepiece onto the table, ignoring it as it bounced onto the floor. Slinger again evaded the trace. It was just a game he alone played. Alan conveniently forgot the last time he had tracked Slinger. It was to his bathing room. The souvenir that was left scared Alan enough that he no longer took baths. To further reinforce Slinger's disapproval, he did not answer Alan's calls for three years. It was about a year now, since they renewed their business, and Alan found he was gradually starting to see if he could find him again. This obsession to find him was causing Alan to put aside his caution.

Alan rubbed his temples, more from habit than from the after effects of the chips retribution. A giggle that had nothing to do with laughter escaped through his tightly drawn lips. Alan felt contempt for the science establishment that put the chip in his brain.

Over-indulged bigots. They should have studied their own research on the repeated application of pain. The body eventually adapts to constant pain stimulation and soon, the pain is perceived as pleasure.

A laugh started at the back of Alan's throat and soon he was rocking back and forth with his arms wrapped around his body, laughing mirthlessly until what he was laughing about was forgotten.

Suddenly he jumped up from the chair, clearing the top of his table with a sweep of his arm, pushing everything onto the chair he had vacated, demonstrating some control in his madness. Anxiously he spread his small stick pieces out on his cleared table. Each piece represented a person and a place. Only he knew what each represented. It helped him put plans together and see how they would work to his liking. He giggled in a high-pitched voice as he mentally likened what he was doing to the corner bone thrower.

Chapter 27

Alan had called for his personal flyer two weeks later. He was leaving Hemmitt behind to handle his end of the family business, while he took care of his little web of information gathering on those he wished to do harm. The cost was a substantial amount of credits so Alan's expectations were high.

Alan rocked back and forth in his pilot's chair as he hummed a little tune. The humming kept him from thinking of some things that the chip would punish him for. Alan had no idea where he was going; Slinger set the destination. It was to protect the channeler, no doubt. Alan gloated to himself. The channeler had respect for him. People did things for his father because he had money. Alan had the real power - fear. It was a greater motivation than money. He knew this because he feared his father and knew just how powerful that was. He continued to rock while he thought of his childhood and Rene. He liked Rene. She listened to him and told him jokes.

"The freak!" he shouted suddenly. The pain was instant and expected. He had it down to what thought caused what intensity of pain. He used it as a stimulant. A grim line formed on his lips that passed for a smile. He will teach those scientists. He had a plan. Alan kept rocking himself lost in darkness where there were no thoughts, just a numbing blackness. He had found this place after the chip had been implanted and while his body endured hour after hour of pain as he fought the program, another part of himself was here, nice and safe. He was furious he had agreed to the implantation and furious at the weakness in him that had thought he should have to pay for Rene's death.

Like quicksilver, his mood changed. His Rene. This metradame she now was, was not his. This was a real…"Freak!" he screamed again. However, he lacked the feeling behind it. He suddenly became worried. What if the chip no longer would respond to his thoughts? He would be alone. No, it was there. He could make it work. His thoughts turned to his nemesis, Lady Harriet Montran. Thinking of her never failed to bring him pain. She thought she was better than his Rene.

"She would not die!" he screamed to the computer console. The pain did not fail him. He kept raging, letting the pain take him. He would pay her back. He knew he could get her. However, that freak would not let him have her. She kept watch over her.

"You're probably fucking her, you freak!" he shouted again. His fantasies of what he wanted to do stopped before he could start them. The chip would not allow him to think of physically harming Lady Harriet. He fumed. Nevertheless, he would get around that. He had in the past. The chip had a specific recognition for any memory of her but he was use to the pain and was able to think along some lines of her before he had to break off from too much stimulation.

The computer chimed. Alan woke up with a start. The computer chimed again. Where was he?

"What do you want?" he yelled.

"What do you want?" a quiet voice asked him.

"Are you the channeler?"

"What do you think?"

"Well if you are you should already know what I want!"

"You want someone located. A young woman. Your sister."

"She's supposed to be dead!" he shrieked. The pain of the chip sent a chill to his heart. They lied to him. Did Rene know too? He would ask the freak. Yes, he would ask her, the treacherous beast. His Rene would not lie to him…but the freak would. He now only had the freak. His bodyguards should have protected her, he thought angrily, slamming his fist down on an unpadded part of the chair. That was what they had been hired for. They failed in their job.

"Where is she?" he suddenly asked in a soft voice.

"Where you left her. Your time is up."

"What do you mean my time is up? I am paying you. Your time is up when I tell you it's up!"

The communication was cut and his ship started to go into a free spin. Alan as usual was not sitting in the chair but rather balanced on the arm as he talked. As the ship dropped its gravity, Alan started to raise and spin as well.

"Stop! Stop! You will get paid."

He dropped to the ground as the normal gravity level returned, his leg tangling with the armrest of his pilot seat. Angrily he drew himself up and flopped into the seat, his face growing red.

"You have three seconds to hit your transmit button. If it does not go through, you and your ship will be all alone out here until some other stray ship happens by."

Alan hit the transmit button, adjusting his collar that had become too tight. He liked this channeler. He will have to use him again. After five minutes, his ship powered back up and headed back to his office. On the return trip, Alan was rocking back and forth wildly as he skirted around the issue of what to do about his sister still being alive. He was not in the mood for any more jolts of pain. He wanted to go back to his stick pieces. They were what told him that she was still alive. Yes. Now that he had figured out how to word the question or to puzzle out the answers, the answers have never been wrong.

***

Dr. Sharon Teal received a message from Alan two days later asking about his sister that he had poisoned. Sharon did not bother answering it but she did warn those on MageWield that he knew she was alive. She sighed. He was getting better at this game he insisted on playing. She had seen him in her astral travels playing with his stick pieces, moving them about and muttering to himself. It was not time yet for him to inflict his sickness on some of those that he had drawn into his web. Harriet did not have enough strength.

***

For a while, Alan was bedeviled with small things that kept getting in his way and sidetracking him from his plans. However, he was persistent. Alan was spending another afternoon raving at everything and destroying anything in sight. Hemmitt did not try to calm him down. He had decided not to stay out the contract years and at his next pay, in three days, he would be gone. He had seen Alan smugly play with his sticks. He knew what they were. He had his own soothsayer he jokingly called her. She had given him the information he needed and she cut ties with him. She did not want to be seen in Alan's dark cloud.

His desk chimed, indicating Alan was calling for him. A dark chill climbed up his spine. It was just as the soothsayer had said it would feel…dark and slimy. Hemmitt shivered and then quickly rose from his desk. He quietly closed and locked his door behind him, and then left the building through the underground corridor to avoid being seen. He abandoned his planned escape and used his wits. He had used them before he got a job with Alan and he could use them again. His destination was where he had sent his family, in the Collective's territories out of Alan's reach. He would send an agent to retrieve his funds he had been saving a little later. Alan would not be able to legally take him to court for not fulfilling his contract because he was smart enough to have documented Alan's breaches with sanity and sent the information to a lawyer on a planet Alan had no influence on, in Collective space.

***

"Well, where is he?" Alan demanded. The pale part time help was shaking with real fear. His fear was so palatable that it excited Alan. He toyed with the frightened man until he remembered his father's warning. If he lost another employee, he was on his own. No one wanted to work for him.

"All right get out, you fool!" He waved the man out. He marveled at his power to make grown men lose control of their bowel functions. He sniggered to himself. He would have to get Slinger to look for Hemmitt. Yes, that was what he would do.

Urots tits! Hemmitt has the calling cards.

Since Alan periodically destroyed things in his office, Hemmitt kept copies of everything that was important in his office. Alan left his office and made his way to Hemmitt's office. The door was locked.

Now, who has the key? Security. Of course.

"Mr. Fermin, you have a call on your private line. It's your father."

Alan looked up guiltily. Did his father know that he had stopped taking his medication again? Quickly he returned to his office and before he picked up the line, he measured out his medications and shot them in his arm one by one.

"Father!" he gulped as one gave him heartburn. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting." His head started to buzz. That was from another of the medications. Without thought, he tapped his left eye where it was most annoying.

"I was just looking over the…"

"Alan, I want to see you now. I'm at the Hilltop. And stop babbling!" The picture of his father faded.

Now what was happening? Annoyed, Alan quickly pulled out his pieces. What was going on? he muttered to himself. He pushed them about annoyed. Something was wrong here. Why were things not looking familiar? He kept pushing them around trying to let his mind relax and see what was shown him. Angrily he swept them to the floor and stomped on one of the pieces. One of the chemicals started affecting his mood. Collapsing back into his chair he closed his eyes and let the soothing comfort it elicited move into him. He hated this feeling. There was nothing of interest that happened in this quiet state. This had been the longest he dared to be off his meds. How long was it? His mind started to clear as another chemical kicked in. Yes, he could understand a lot of things. It was frightening at what he knew. He got up and picked up his pieces. He would take them with him. It angered his father when he saw him play with his little figures but he did not have to know he had them with him. He did not want to be without them for too long and his father's meetings usually took weeks. His little pieces were his little messengers.

Where was his little Hemmitt? he wondered as he searched around the desk. He looked at his clock and realized a stan hour had passed. His father would be asking why he had not called in his flight plan yet. Damn him! He meant it for both men.

His interoffice communication line buzzed. "Mr. Fermin, your father is asking when you plan on leaving?"

Alan did not believe his father asked. His father never asked. His hands shook as he realized he would have to leave a piece behind. Did Hemmitt take it? No, he could not have. His box of figures was always near him…except…except that one time when he went to see the channeler. Alan grimaced at this lapse in awareness of his little people. He glumly looked around once more. Fear of his father overrode his need to find the missing piece. It would have to wait until he got back. Then he would move all the furniture to find it, he told himself reassuringly.

Tucking his box firmly under one arm and grasping it securely with the other, Alan gave a voice command for his office door to lock, a clear indication for the cleaning staff he never saw to not enter his room. Quickly he left the building, forgetting to call ahead to have his ship readied for travel. Hemmitt usually took care of such details for him. He also had failed to remember to call for transportation. He was too calm to rant at the part time help for failing to know what was needed. Instead, he handled each task one-by-one, focusing on that one task until completed and then going to another.

As the full effect of the chemicals coursed through his system he was able to arrange to have his ship readied and supplied for two weeks travel without causing a scene at the docking yard. However, beneath the calm exterior he was cursing Hemmitt, though not able to plan his demise at this stage of the drug action. He remembered to send his father a message that his ship was being prepared and he would be there as soon as he could. Another advantage about the chemicals was that he could talk directly to his father without his voice quivering. He often thought of this frustrating aspect in his relationship with his father that whether on his meds or off he feared him. Sighing at the complexity of this disturbing problem, he reminded himself he had things to do. After registering his flight plan and getting his flight slot he returned to his residence to pick up some personal belongings, then spent the rest of the time in his ship catching up on reports so that he would be prepared for what his father would invariably bring up, the business.

Two stan hours later a welcomed chime interrupted his struggle with a very boring report.

"This is Ship Ahoy at your aft bringing you fresh supplies and tasty treats. Prepare yourself for insertion!" the jaunty bot announced over the com channel.

Alan leaned over to the control panel and tapped a button that would shut the alarms down for that section when the hull was breached. He checked a meter to be sure the supplies he ordered were loaded. Satisfied, Alan returned his thoughts back to the family business, the report forgotten. He thought about his contributions to his father's holdings. While he was in his psychotic state, he was able to see patterns in things, which the meds blocked out. Alan was sure his father was aware of it for he did not press him as much as he used to about taking his meds. He was only adamant when Alan went into public or for official business.

Chapter 28

Five months had passed since Alan's father had summoned him to tell him that Lord Chaney felt their petition for a seat on the Galactic Committee of Families and Communities was dead due to his problems. Alan had thought his father would be devastated and retributive towards him but he should have remembered that he was a businessman who made a fortune before his third child arrived and knew how to roll with losses. It was the only clue he had that his father valued his abilities over a seat on the GCFC, the Committee's lower floor.

Alan paced in his small craft as it made its way to the frontier where he had another meeting with the channeler. Once his father let go of the notion to belong to the Committee he started a plan to destroy the one he felt responsible, Hadrian DeMonte. Lord Chaney had pointed out that Lord DeMonte made a motion on the floor to dismiss their name from the list as unacceptable. Of course, Lord Chaney omitted that he and the rest of the counsel agreed without any argument. That information Alan got from his spy, but he did not want to further anger his father.

His father wanted Lady Harriet Montran, Lord Hadrian's sister. It would kill his spirit, his father had told him. The problem with this announcement to Alan was he wanted Harriet Montran for himself. Another reason why Alan did not tell him about Lord Chaney. Lord Chaney had connections he did not and had somehow managed to legally kidnap Harriet Montran who had left Collective space to visit her family.

For three months, wearing her physically and psychically down, they had her wandering space without any contact with family or friends. They had effectively isolated her. Meanwhile he had other business to attend to. He found another channeler that had the ability to enter into the dreams of others and he needed to make sure he knew where his loyalties were. Jeriad had been working for him now for a month and from what his spies told him, he was ruffling the feathers of those he had been paid to disturb.

He picked up his notebook again and tried to decipher his handwriting from when he was in his psychotic state. He knew it was what he was intending to do to Harriet Montran once she was in his possession. He was going to have her turned into a metradame! He wanted her to be aware that she was his. Her memories were not going to be wiped. He wanted her conscious of her powerlessness to deny him anything he asked, no… whispered to her to do. Maybe even kill her brother…and his siblings. Then he would watch what it was like for an empath to kill. He heard they experienced the same pain their victim did…he would make sure he taught her how Decker tortured his victims. He could feel a sexual thrill starting but the pain from his implanted chip brought the feelings to a sudden stop.

A small beep on his communicator brought him to the present.

"Yes?"

"Alan. It's Decker. The bitch got away on Merker's Outpost! Ya gotta get these Spartans outta here. They're lookin' for her and you can't trust them," the voice whined.

Alan felt the color drain from his face and his heart stop. He bit back a sardonic reply. That news did not seal Decker's fate for he was already living on borrowed time. One thing at a time, he told himself calmly.

"Were did she escape to?"

Decker recognized the dangerously calm voice as scary trouble.

"Somewhere surface-side, out in the sand. But I fixed her suit so she can't breathe good air. It's just a matter of time before I find her body. I got my people out searching the area for her now. But…if the Spartans find her…"

"That's a pretty big planet, Decker," his boss reminded him quietly.

Decker hated it when his boss was on meds. "We got a bug on her. Soon as the winds die down we'll pick her up."

Decker was being too cocky. Alan knew when he was too sure of himself, the man was hip deep in chicken shit, and Alan hated chickens.

When Decker hung up, Alan sat in his chair to think. It would be useless to throw his little figures for they only made sense when he was not on his meds. He checked his scanners impatiently looking for the channeler's ship. Nothing. He looked at his timer. Not for another standard hour. He had got here early as the channeler requested. More than likely to make sure Alan was not going to set a trap around him. Why would he? He had the man's family hidden away.

"Spinner's Tale, this is Alan Fermin on the Rouster, come in."

"Spinner. This is Martinez, Alan. Come on in."

"What's going on Martinez?"

Alan got an earful, which had him pacing his small cabin again. He also talked to Captain Miller being interrupted as he tried to enforce his will on the man. He had problems buying Miller and not just because he was Lord Chaney's man, but also because he was a Spartan…a Black Rose Spartan. Not even his metrasoldiers could better the Black Rose troop. Killing them off like Lord Chaney did the Degas troop he had already found out…was not possible without him losing his own life before the plan was even put into effect. He had already received his warning. Too many exBlack Rose soldiers would carry out the order willingly…to exile him on a planet that was not inhabited by an intelligent species. He began to panic at the thought of being closed in…nowhere was safe in Committee space. Collective space was out of the question…they would send him to a rehab center. It was not like the Weild prison world where inmates were as dangerous as the planet. It would be worse because they would kill him with kindness, making sure he was on his meds and taking care of himself. It terrified him at the thought to never be able to have a mad moment and to be watched all the time.

Frantically Alan pulled out a book that he kept hidden for disasters, fumbling with it until his shaking hands grasped the book firmer. Things were not looking good. He had slowly built up his own army. They were from quality warrior stock 'procured' from closed planets that still practiced brutal warfare. They were his muscle to carve out an empire on a planet that was so far away, it would take a little over a year to get there on the fastest ship money could buy…except if you traveled in a portal. His expeditionary forces found that there was a portal on his planet that connected to Merker's Outpost. He had never heard of a portal until then. Since neither he nor any of his agents could use it, the connection had to be terminated. Thinking of his planet, safe and away from the over explored galaxies, calmed him. He just had a few things to do before he could leave.

He looked back at the meaningless writing in his book. He turned the page to a diagram. That he could understand. It showed how his army was divided into four groups. A fingertip touched the first circle. That was his first group that was preparing an assault on HinterWield. He moved his finger to the second circle. That group was in sleep stasis hidden on Merker's Outpost. He tapped the third circle. They were testing the defenses of the guardian computer on the outpost while the last and largest, was waiting for him on his planet, Arnica. Perhaps it was time for a slight adjustment to his plans.

"What do you want Fermin?" a weary voice came over his ship's intercom.

Alan jumped, dropping his book on the deck. A smile appeared on his face.

"I want to make sure you do as we have agreed upon."

"I don't back out on deals I close."

"So I've heard. However, I like to take out insurance. Am I understood?"

"You are."

Alan cut the communication. He had made sure the channeler got the message that his family was missing, as he was halfway to their meeting place. Alan rubbed his hands together. "Let the games begin." He smiled gleefully and then frowned. "If you are dead Lady Harriet Montran, have no fear. I have a remedy for that. I own you!" He slammed his palm down on the hard surface of the console, letting the sting of the surface pass before moving onto his next plan.

"Computer on for coded communication."

"On," the voice told him.

"To Santeeies aboard the Shadow Fox. There's a change in plan. Move to plan Sigma." He thought again about the plan before ending the message. It would leave one ship at HinterWield to assist the four prisoners he originally wanted free, to join him on Arnica. The other ships would be deployed to the seven planets his agents told him also had portals. If one was destabilized, one of his agents had told him the others would also be. "Find the portals and destroy them. Send."

He smiled. He was going to go out of this planet system with a very big bang. He reprogrammed his ship to head for MageWield. His codebook to release the soldiers he had on Merker's Outpost and the coordinates for his next destination were hidden there. He did not like to keep all his plan books in one place.

He was a day from MageWield when in his idle time, he scanned the news channels. He was brought to his feet while watching a rebroadcast of the major scandal that shook Committee space. According to the newscaster, it forced a major reorganization to the elected galaxy group, the GCFC. The very thing that had been whispered for over ten generations had finally come about.

As he scanned the other channels, he found the same news adnauseum, with two exceptions…one was that Gustaf Fermin, one of the wealthy heads of family, had died from a heart attack in his swimming pool and his oldest son was wanted for banishment. The other was that Lord Chaney's death brought out heirs claiming a piece of his vast estate. As pictures of the various claimants flashed across the screen, interspersed with the non-grieving widow and his angry daughter, Lady Varina Chaney, who was making accusations against the claimants and their legitimacy, Alan ceased to listen as he fell back into his seat. His bios rose and as they teetered toward danger to his health, the medibot became activated and administered a sedative to the unresisting patient.

***

Alan spent a few days making sure it was safe for him to land on MageWield to secure his book. Due to the restructuring of the Committee, activities by various cartels that operated outside of the law thought to take advantage of what they thought would be slow response from law enforcement. So finding him was not their priority, or so he thought. But to make up for it, the Committee had exposed to the public, via the news media, not just his father's illegal businesses under the Fermin name, but his crimes against the society that had granted him a stay of banishment a little over nine stan years ago. Therefore, he had to use his hidden accounts and credits as he moved on with his plans.

Hours before he arrived at MageWield, he received more bad news. One of the guards he had left to watch over the channeler's family reported that their prisoners had disappeared. While he was shouting at the soldier, the intruder alarm went off on his control panel. He hit the scan but nothing showed up. Wiping the back of his hand across the scraggily beard, Alan paused to take stalk of the situation.

"Why did the alarm go off?" he muttered confused. Aggressively he punched in the key combination for system diagnostics and while it ran, he paced in the small space in the cockpit. His thoughts filled with fear that it was the ghost of his recently deceased father. He shouted in rage, pulling at his beard and long hair in agitation. He would have to leave his plan book.

Suddenly smiling he remembered he had everything under control. He had a back up plan. He stopped at a small waystation, where he kept his new ship, The Trojan Horse. He sent his personal ship, The Rouster, on a preplanned evasive flight. Once he was safe in his new ship, he was able to focus again on his plans: capturing Lady Harriet Montran and then escaping out to the frontier, to Arnica. Just knowing what his future was going to be gave him a feeling of peace.

Chapter 29

"Major."

Both Alexandra and Zohra looked up from the map they were studying with some of the unit leaders. Major General Aglauros was off planet in a conference with Rear Admiral JoCastao, Commander Ironsides, Admiral J'mai and a monk from Bea.

"This came in from Commander Mora. A confirmation of Naboths Vine's suspicions of Alan's movements in another sector in another galaxy."

Zohra took the hand held message unit and laid it on the table so everyone around could read it.

Goddess! How far is his sickness going to reach and infect others? Alexandra looked up at the profile of her lover, worried.

Dark eyes looked into hers, as if knowing what she was thinking.

"He has landed five regiments of metrasoldiers on a planet out that far?" Lt. Malchi asked unbelievingly. "That was labeled off limits for settling since it is already inhabited by various civilizations that are still developing their technology."

"Just his type of place," Major Zohra mumbled as she returned her attention to the data unit. We're going to have to end his reign of terrorism here, on Merkers. "I wish I knew where he redirected his troops from HinterWield. I guess he decided to let go of the plan for a mass prison escape."

"That's a relief," one of the officers muttered.

"Ten ships have been intercepted and Naboths Vine has a group of seasoned soldiers encircling them."

"A battle is planned?" Alexandra's asked softly. What if they get through as they did the other times?

"That is the way of metrasoldiers. They are programmed killers. They will also kill themselves to avoid capture," the major answered. Death is their only way out of this servitude, Love. I wish for your sake that there was another.

"That first message is probably from an investigation launched about one stan year ago by Naboths Vine. They had sent a battle cruiser out towards this planet in the frontier space, to see just what he's been doing out there." One of the others added. "Hopefully they don't have too much damage to undo."

"I hope they realize that Alan will have set traps along the way that only he knows the passwords to," Alexandra forewarned. It's like he's everywhere. This will have to be brought to an end…but how, without perpetuating this practice of killing to avoid more killing?

"Alan Fermin has been studied by Naboths Vine for a long time. If they have learned anything else, it's not to trust him," one of the others nodded.

"The Vine has figured out how Alan's group has been slipping by them and now with that trick no longer working, they are in the process of herding his metrasoldiers here." A finger pointed at a place on the map where there were no jump gates to destabilize and no nearby planets they could crash land on and disappear into the wilderness or mass populace. "Then they will engage them in battle. It is regrettable to lose so many lives when they don't have a choice in their destiny," Lt. Hai remarked.

Death, to all those that had not chosen to be drawn into his madness. Will this really help? Am I putting more of those I love and those that I don't know in jeopardy by just being here? Maybe it would be better if I were on a ship out in space instead of on this living planet, endangering everyone. Would Alan go after the portal if I left?

Major Zohra could feel uneasiness in her lover's body. It seemed the more they were around each other, the easier it was to pick up on each other's mood shifts. She guessed it had to do with both her genetic makeup and Alexandra's empathic side. What a pair, she thought.

Looking up at the others, the Major suddenly realized she was tired and by the looks of the other women, they were too.

"Let's call this meeting to an end." She turned to one of the serving women who were refilling water goblets, "D'ea, can you get the commander and me something light to eat from the kitchen that we can take back to our quarters?"

"And Cha tea," Alexandra added quickly.

The two women left the hall with their dinner and a hot pot of tea…alone…after much discussion with the women who wanted to carry their food and drink back to their quarters for them. The halls were busy with activity as shamans and soldiers moved at all hours on business that never seemed to end.

After the door closed behind them, Alexandra laid what she carried on the table turned to Zohra who laid her burdens down.

Hold me, Geri, as if this were the last, please.

JG opened her arms and let the orange haired woman nestle close to her.

Please have faith, my Love.

They stood in quiet embrace for a long moment until JG finally ended it. "Let's eat then get some sleep," she suggested, tenderly touching Alexandra's face with her finger tips.

Tiredly they both sat and ate not passing much conversation back and forth. Tiredly, JG rose, kissing Alexandra on the head, as she remained seated, wondering if her lover had the energy to make it to bed.

"Come on. A quick shower then bed," JG coaxed, pulling her up.

Sharing the shower was not so bad, both found. JG seated the protesting Alexandra on the seat in the shower.

"When is Guardian and Charles, I mean L'uenbeng and Charles going to be fully merged with their biological bodies?" Alexandra mumbled as she felt the warm water cascade over her.

Alexandra leaned forward as Zohra's lathered hands spread soap in her curly hair then ran soapy hands down muscular shoulders and around the back of her head eliciting a groan of pleasure from both of them.

"Another week. They need to go through a psychological round of sessions to be sure that they are not traumatized or resentful, otherwise known as suicidal, at going from being ubiquitous to just like any other bio…needing sleep, food, getting rid of bodily waste as the rest of us, and having to read some material more than once to understand it." She leaned over and kissed Alexandra's forehead. "Come on. Let's get some sleep," Zohra told her partner as she finished rinsing off. She took Alexandra's hand and gently tugged her out of the shower.

Both fell into bed holding onto each other as they slept.

Chapter 30

Alexandra's inner alarm went off and in reflex, she was crouched at the side of her bed before she was completely awake.

Alan?

She could feel Major Zohra's split reaction to her movement following her to her side of the bed using her body to shield her from the front room doorway.

Where?

Alexandra became acutely aware of the body she pressed against.

He's not here.

Something's not right.

"We need to dress, now!" Alexandra whispered.

Major Zohra let out a small breath of hair in exasperation at the unnatural stillness. The lights in the room had not come up as their bio readings increased into a wake state, only the outlines of the doorways could be seen due to the soft glow of light that always marked the exits.

Both women moved to the closet, which they had to push to open.

"Nothing is coming on," Alexandra remarked as she continued to glance around her, pulling her second skin out. "I hope I'm not putting this on backwards," she muttered. She extended her senses, tentatively reaching out into the front room then around their sleeping area. Nothing. If the lights in the room had come on she would have thought she was imagining something was wrong.

Both pulled some clothes down in the darkness hoping whatever it was would match the boots that were directly below the suits.

"Hmm. Let's move over to the bathing room. It has a separate life support and a few places we can escape in until things get back to normal," her partner whispered.

"Sounds like an ideal place to sneak in and out," Alexandra chuckled as she followed JG. "Hopefully we won't have any visitors taking the same advantage."

"Yeah, by now everyone knows about it," the major whispered back as she moved to the bathing room door that did not open.

"Hey. We can't be going into those places without our outersuits." Alexandra went back to grab the two suits that were hanging on the back of the closet door. Both women quickly donned them on, grateful when they were able to see in the darkness through the helmet's visor.

"Disengage your camera," the major ordered through the mic.

"Good idea," her lover agreed.

They closed the bathing door behind them and with the aid of the outersuits helmet found the small bot hatch.

Hera's tits! "The latch is…not releasing," JG grunted as she moved her body into another position nearly knocking Alexandra off balance.

Don't waste time with that. Alexandra grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her over to another cleaning bot's storage. She moved the small cleaning bot out of the way and was about to crawl in when the major stopped her.

"Hey, I go first," she whispered.

A muffled explosion came from the other side of the bathing door, then more. Alexandra followed JG into the small space, going in feet first so she could close the door behind them. It was not a dignified exit as JG impatiently, pulled Alexandra out of the bot chute by her feet and pushed her into the maintenance tunnel.

[Too dangerous to stay in these conduits. We gotta get outta here.] the major signed with her hands. Alexandra nodded and followed her figure as she started a fast pace down the tunnel, her footsteps barely making any sound. Alexandra accessed her own internal map and realized that they were heading towards the travel tube.

Travel tube? Looks like you have a wild rebel streak, my dear. Oh joy! We are going to hear about this when we return. I don't think the general's description 'to find a safe place until the area is secure' meant to hide out in another city, but then…some people are more creative than others in situations like these.

The area was dark as both women slid out of the maintenance tube. Their helmets showed no life forms around them. JG selected a car from the collection in the side rail that could be activated with a push. While JG sat behind the controls, Alexandra pushed it out onto the rail.

Figures she would take the drivers seat. Helgas Moon! If this were any heavier, I would be overloading my suit with panting that would out do a woman in labor. Next time…she pushes and I steer!

She hopped into the small car as it moved, with JG starting it up. It quickly moved down the rail, further into the heart of the planet.

Neither spoke on their silent journey. The major used hand gestures when they slowed at rail crossings where Alexandra needed to get out and move the lever to change the direction of the tracks, then move them back again to avoid detection of their where abouts. Alexandra suspected that JG was heading to the erased area on the planet map. It was a tip of Iota. When the expedition to the area was not as detailed as Major Zohra and her staff would have liked, she suspected the major would do something about it, though not like this. The woman and some of her cohorts had already been moved to another assignment, off the planet.

On this adventure, Alexandra was merely along for the ride. She knew this was not the time for Alan's arrival. Whatever trouble they had left behind them in the Lair, was probably something Alan thought up to test defenses and rattle everyone's nerves. Besides, she was getting bored too, and thinking more about it, was looking forward to some action.

The car began to slow down. JG's hands moved over the controls guiding the car to a safe stop. According to the data files, this area was once a thriving metropolis, with a busy transport area that utilized the Southern Rim as an airport.

As they stepped out of the cart, the major signaled to Alexandra her intent to investigate the area that had little information on it.

Alexandra smiled and mouthed a disbelieving 'no kidding,' at the smirking face behind the mask.

Neither trusted their communication links so they used standard Spartan hand signals. Alexandra noted that the area they were in had no breathable air for their species. Carol-Maa had said the planet had continued to nurture its own planet species in some of the cities. She wondered if this was one of the places where the planet's natural life forms lived.

Alexandra stopped in her tracks. Helgas Moon tides, woman! Of course! MaaSa isn't a solid form…he could be referring to another dimension that our eyes can't see or our sensors are not picking up! We only scan for what we know! Dahh! So, this could still be a thriving metropolis, like Waterland.

JG who was moving to the tunnel opening turned to peer at her partner whose hand on her shoulder had left suddenly. Alexandra brought her hand up in a gesture as if to slap her forehead.

JG signed to her concerned.

Blasters, Gari. How do I explain this to you? Alexandra thought frustrated. She pulled JG against the tunnel wall and signed the spelling of the Enuits of Waterland.

JG shook her head and turned quickly to see a shadow pass by.

Gari, listen to me, please! Alexandra pleaded mentally.

JG turned back to look at her surprised.

Gari, can you hear my mental speech?

JG's eyes opened wide as she nodded.

It's got to be this planet and the intensity of our thoughts. I believe the beings that are here, are like the Enuits. We cannot see them, but they are here…everywhere. The city is still here! Alexandra imagined the solid world and then something that was as shadows existing superimposed over the solid.

JG looked puzzled then nodded in understanding.

Well, that explains the shadows moving around, Major Zohra thought partially relieved. Now she just had to figure out what their intentions were. JG signed to Alexandra that that was what she was seeing before them.

Alexandra's eyebrows rose and she moved in front of her lover to see around her. She stilled herself and shifted her awareness to another level. She nearly fell back into JG when the shadows took on a more visual form of swirling colors.

There is a whole city here! Alexandra took a deep breath and watched the movement of images, as they appeared to be going about their business. Some glanced her way but did not alter their direction.

The major tugged on her sleeve, demanding an explanation at what she was seeing.

Gari, there's a whole city here! There's movement of shapes, beings, like they are very busy. Some see us but they don't seem to care. Alexandra's fingers moved quickly repeating what she thought.

JG sighed mentally. She was hoping another meld would not be called for here. Then there was this new development in their relationship. Reading each other's minds was not something she was comfortable with. She was really going to have to be careful with what she thought. A sudden grin made its way to her face, and she gave Alexandra a quick look.

No need. A small group of forms are moving toward us. Uh, oh. I sure hope the energy that's dancing around them doesn't mean we're in trouble.

JG moved immediately in front of Alexandra, facing forward but not knowing exactly what she was facing. They were still gray unclear shadows to her.

Relax your eyes, Honey. It's like when you relax to meditate. She put her hands on the soldier's shoulders to help her.

JG felt Alexandra's hands rest on her shoulders and the effect on her vision was almost immediate. She breathed in slowly at the shift in her sight. Some of the energy forms appeared to be approaching at a fast clip and were in whirling colors that she needed to determine were threatening or not.

Relax just a bit; they see us as…too bright…probably from our emotions, Alexandra coached.

The major changed her thoughts to less defensive ones hoping that was what Alexandra meant, but not wanting to be too trusting or let whatever they were facing to think they were easy pickings.

The energy patterns, as Alexandra identified them, stopped just short of the entrance of the tunnel they were standing in.

Well, Gari, here is the test…

Alexandra slipped from around JG and taking the major's gloved hand pulled her out of the tunnel with her. She stopped two boot lengths outside of the tunnel.

In Alexandra's mind, she tentively connected with the spirit of the planet and sent a respectful thought of blessings upon it. Both waited as the various colors around them mixed closer to one shade with occasional lights of other colors flickering across what was now a cloud before them.

Greetings Offworlders, a soft voice whispered in both their heads. Images appeared as a question as to why they were in their city again, uninvited as well as unwanted. Another question came asking if they had they come to finally remove…the image that appeared in their minds was a ship with life forms lying in sleep pods.

Goddess be blessed! We found his hidden cache of soldiers! Major Zohra let out a noisy sound of air as she realized their luck in finding it.

The major sent out an image of herself and Alexandra looking over the ship and its crew and showing that they and others would remove the object that were, in their minds, trespassing.

Gari, they don't want others…they will only let us through.

JG nodded turning toward Alexandra. She received the same image in her mind.

Alexandra formed in her mind a question to the life forms if it would be permitted for them to use their voice communication links. They both received an affirmative response.

"Let's go see what's in this ship, Major."

"Yeah," the major agreed starting up the path that cleared of life forms. "I was getting a headache with the mental stuff," she muttered to her lover.

"Ah." Alexandra let JG take the lead. She rested a hand on her shoulder as she extended her senses to feel around where they were. A smile formed on her face as she touched a small creature's awareness that was living in the foliage that their eyes could not see as they passed. In this other dimension life existed all around them sending little jolts of energy through Alexandra as she connected with them.

JG turned her head slightly to look at Alexandra and found her eyes vacant as if her thoughts were elsewhere. She returned her attention back to the trail, careful to pick a smooth path so that her distracted partner would not trip.

The two were led to a vast cavern that had an opening to the surface. Both could see and hear the effects of a windstorm in progress on the planets surface.

Alexandra felt the ship before they saw it.

The major returned to gestures as she informed Alexandra they would circle the crater the ship was resting in and from different angles, to study it. Both women settled across from each other looking down on a lip that appeared to be over a latent volcanic bole. Apparently, the ship was using the energy from the volcano to keep the ship running, thus not using any of the ships systems that would put out an energy signature that could be scanned.

Gari? Alexandra sent out a thought to her partner. When JG looked up, she motioned that she had spotted what appeared to be a way down to the lip.

Cautiously both made their way to the opening between two rocks hoping they would not run into any traps. They were disappointed for there were T&Ts down the entire side. Both recognized the illegal and legal traps and trips that covered the entire side that would have given them easy access to the ship.

An image appeared to Alexandra and she turned in surprise. One of the life forms was wavering near them. The image showed her another way to the ship….it involved just jumping off the edge of the crater.

Alexander had to stifle a laugh. In her mind, she pictured two things that could happen to their more solid life forms if they jumped. One was that they would hurt themselves and the other of the noise that it would create when their bodies dropped on top of the ship.

Alexandra thought she felt puzzlement from the light form. She returned her attention to her partner who was looking around for another way down that. Suddenly Alexandra felt herself lifted and as if on a wave of energy was carried over the rim and set next to the ship's outer hull. The major was quick to follow. Another laugh threatened to escape Alexandra as she found their newfound allies more than willing to…probably do anything, to get the foreign object out of their environment.

JG's look of astonishment turned into a look of relief as she pulled on Alexandra's arm to again move in a circle and study the ship for a way in. Both met at their starting point. All the outer doors were tightly shut and had traps set to go off if anyone attempted to enter.

On impulse, Alexandra put a question to the life form that was following her. Both women were shown a picture of a leakage in the structure that was dumping toxic waste in their environment. It was no wonder why they were angry about the ship being here.

JG and Alexandra moved up a slight incline where they could get a view of the top hatch. Through their helmets, they could see a small leak of breathable air. Neither could see any traps around the area.

JG pressed Alexandra's arm for her to step back from their perch, and then she leaped into the air landing with barely a sound on top of the ship's hull, with the assistance of their new assistants. Alexandra followed, quietly thanking the two shadows.

The top hatch had not been locked properly and therefore did not take much for them to open it and enter. Major Zohra was about to seal the hatch area and release breathable air for them when Alexandra's hand held her from sealing it. There is one that is following us. It would like to be let in.

JG pushed the latch up but a mere hands breath when a colorful swish of something slid in. Then she closed the lid tight and released breathable air for them but slowly to make sure the life form would not be affected.

When the readings gave them, an all clear both removed their helmets for conversation.

"Well?" Alexandra asked JG softly.

"We look for the pods," JG returned just as softly.

"Why not just put this thing on autopilot and let our ships topside do the rest?" Alexandra asked, not wanting to search a ship that could have many unfriendly traps. Alexandra saw the disappointment in her lover's eyes.

"Hon, there's plenty of time for a challenging adventure, but not now," Alexandra consoled her partner.

JG glanced at her and saw the amusement glittering in her green eyes.

Helgas Moon, she thought surprised. I am disappointed. I think I've lived too long with the constant adrenaline rush as part of everyday life.

The Black Rose would have, as a team, swept through the ship, regardless of the traps, just to take possession of a ship that belonged to the enemy. It was what they did and did well. However, Alexandra was right. They did not want to call attention to themselves, especially when they just left a bad situation in the Lair.

"Right." Suddenly her face broke into a grin. "Promise?"

"Promise what?" Alexandra asked as she followed JG's figure in another direction.

"Promise about the adventure."

Alexandra rolled her eyes. "Warriors…always out for a life and death thrill," she groaned softly.

Alexandra quickly set the ship on auto and reenabled the beacon so the moment it went active it would send out its identifier.

"Let's get out of here," Alexandra had a bad feeling. "Quickly."

JG looked around for anything that was a threat, feeling the same.

As the two raced back to where they had entered the ship an image of a guard bot, armed to the teeth, flashed in both their minds, compliments of the life form that was with them.

JG had her helmet on and whispered a curse word that Alexandra picked up in her helmet. She altered course and ran down another corridor in the ship, grabbing the handrails and sliding down to another level. Alexandra was close behind. The back of her helmet gave her the picture of guard bots released from their wall storage slots as the ship began to power up.

Alexandra remembered in the schematics of the freighter there was an emergency hatch for dumping unwanted cargo on each level. "Garbage," Alexandra muttered as she leaped over a small cleaning bot that was rolling around.

JG's forward motion stopped and she turned to catch Alexandra who bumped into her. She pushed her back a few yards. There on the wall was a symbol for waste dumping.

"Helgas Moon, we're on the save wave length," Alexandra muttered as she hit the release and as the motion of the ship indicated it was starting to raise, and JG who was behind her pushed her out first. They dropped onto the floor of the cavern as the ship moved to exit out of its hiding place. The life form that had attached itself to Alexandra's shoulder in the ship now hovered just above them, as if watching the detested ship leave its space.

"Are you alright?" JG asked as she rolled to her feet and surveyed the area then back to Alexandra who watched the departing ship from her reclining side.

"Yeah. Well…I guess we can get back to the Lair. By the time we do get back the excitement of this ship will have died down."

"I think our appearance will just get them all up again." There was a smirk in Major Zohra's voice.

"Gari, Hon, I have a feeling…you are going to be needing a close eye kept on you when you get bored."

JG looked at her startled and then chuckled. She turned her attention back to the shadows that were around them.

"We're going to have to figure out how to remove the explosives in the volcano."

It took a lot of image exchanges between both women and the life forms to convince the natives that they lacked the equipment at the moment to safely remove some of the traps. There were some that Alexandra did not recognize and was hoping JG did. The agreement they came up with was that they would return to the Lair, get what they needed and return…alone.

As the two were sitting in the car heading back toward the Lair, Alexandra was watching JG's face as it fell back into the unreadable mask.

"So…did you recognize all those traps?" She thought she would talk about something neutral.

JG lifted her dark eyes towards her lover. "No."

"Hm." Alexandra thought about this while she watched the face before her that was now looking happier that she had something to work on. "This is an adventure," she offered.

"Yeeeya, it is at that," JG turned to look at her. "Am I being rationed on these or, do I get my pick?"

"Hm. Well, you are a CO with some status. I guess some of them you can pick. However, I remember once hearing that everything is an experience and it's just how you approach it that turns it from a disaster to an adventure."

"That was the hog wash they sold you when you were in boot camp," JG snorted, but she smiled and leaned back as the car neared the Lair.

Alexandra shook her head and laid it back against her seat, closing her eyes. She wondered if she was that challenged when she was in the Spartans. She decided she was not. She was too worried with staying alive and keeping those whose life she was entrusted with the same and that was no fun or adventurous.

Both reentered the Lair rather cautiously. Alexandra sent out a mental call for LaDea Gedehelia and received a warm welcome back. She smiled until another touched her mental connection. Major General Aglauros' reply caused her face to blush. Major Zohra who caught the flushed face, smiled.

"I take it you've reached someone?"

"Hmm. Your mother."

"Better you get it than I. She's nicer to you," JG returned. She nodded to the first group of warriors guarding the tube area. The corridors they walked through looked blackened, with art objects that once adorned the area, gone. Small clean up bots were already resurfacing the walls. The two headed for Com-C.

The room was filled with sisters, shamans and Brothers of the Shadow, all members of Naboths Vine, both women thought. The two levels that monitored the screens were filled with soldiers moving and talking either through headsets or to each other. A figure was in the chair in the center moving about as a Gruff. The energy in the air was charged with anticipation, excitement and anger.

Alexandra was hoping the anger was not directed at them. They told the life forms they would be back soon to clean up the off world mess. She wondered how that was going to go over with General Aglauros and General Hayes of the Brothers who was commanding the forces in Century City.

***

Chapter 31

A day later Alexandra woke from disturbing dreams. Where is the fear from? Is it from me or something contrived by Alan? And just what is this fear?

The warm body next to her stirred, then a hand moved from her arm to her neck. Tickling the back of it.

She adjusted her body so she was looking directly into the dark Thebian eyes that were more readable to her these days. The mind link they had between them was becoming stronger, so that it initiated without thought.

"What is bothering you, Milady?" Jina Gari teased as she let her hand slide down her lover's ribcage and onto the strong thighs that could wrap tightly around her in such… She sighed as she brought her thoughts back under control.

"I was trying to figure out what I fear the most about Alan's planned invasion of this planet. I've come to the conclusion that it's not the invasion…I think it's my fear of…experiencing Alan's rage."

"Hmmm. I thought Mother showed you how to ward off his feelings."

Alexandra lifted a hand from the wrist she was resting on and brushed a stray strand of dark hair out of her lover's face. She could feel the sexual energy her lover was radiating and it settled around them like a delicious sensual cloud.

"His rage is…on different levels. Yes, I can deflect his anger, but…what does that do? He will simply find ways to grow in power and continue to hurt others."

"So…you're saying he will have to be…killed?"

"Yes…I admit that crosses my mind often."

"I don't wonder." She had seen what his madness had done to others and felt like she did about her father…he deserved to have his life ended. However, she knew that as an empath, if Alan died at Alexandra's hands, unless she was careful, she would sink into his madness when she reexperienced his death.

"But, you are hesitant…?" JG asked uncertain.

"Well…to send him into the Land of the Dead when he is maddened…will only cause more havoc. You see…he will carry that madness into the next life because he will not wait for adjustment or the time normally a soul takes to process his or her previous life with advisors."

"Soo…" the major wondered if she really wanted to hear this, "what do you propose?"

"I'm thinking that if he was on his meds and we can talk to him, explain to him that it is time for him to move out…" Alexandra could see JG was not buying it and stopped.

"Alexandra, Honey, I don't think it will work. First of all…do you know of any mad person who would appreciate being told 'Hey, before we take your life…we would like to explain the principles of madness and the proper way of dying.'"

"Yes. I do."

Major Zohra sighed. Of course you do. "Maybe it's because I've been around a lot of real crazy people and lived like them…that I don't believe that will work for someone as far gone as Alan. He's been given more chances than most and he has not taken advantage of his borrowed time to get with the program. He has no sense of feeling for others so how can he feel any remorse or understand 'justice' in the larger framework?"

"I'm not suggesting sending him to a colony that encourages that type of behavior like HinterWield, because he will find a way out…and be even more terrible than he is now. I can see his madness. His condition will and is deteriorating with times passage. No chip or drugs will change or slow him down. I can see this," she told her lover softly. "I just believe that before his life is taken he be pointed in the right direction instead of being left adrift in this dark cloud he has drawn around him."

JG rolled on her back and thought about it. She was a warrior that lived in the present, unless it was a military action that required some thought of the repercussions of the maneuver, but the thought of souls and another life…that was for shamans and the other Holy People that did that for a living. That was too far in the future for her. Her reactions were dependent on instinctive and quick moves without forethought and ponderous thinking of right and wrong. That lament was for later in a bar or after battles when regrets were spoken about quickly and then left there…in the bar or on the battlefield. Warriors did not need something that would come back and haunt them when they were in a life and death situation.

Alexandra smiled and leaned over to kiss JG's closed eyes. Rising, she moved to a cleared space to begin her morning meditation with the expectation to move on to the exercises JG would lead her through.

Major Zohra sighed then rolled out of bed. Since she was teaching Alexandra exercises that worked on self-defense stances, she had thought it only fair that she learn the meditation stretches and poses Alexandra did in the mornings. It was an effort to remain stretched out in one position for so long.

The chiming on their quarters came when they were a quarter through an exercise that required speed and accuracy, which Alexandra was far off on both, when compared to JG. While the major answered the door Alexandra took that time to wipe her brow and take a gulp of liquid. Captains Chilali and Raizel were at the door dressed for a workout.

"Well…looks like Commander Montran is warming our major up for us. Here I thought we would get that pleasure." Raizel laughed with an upraised eyebrow at Lady Alexandra who looked the worse for wear.

"Right, I've warmed her up for ya," Alexandra replied relieved that someone had rescued her. Jina Gari was working her harder than what she had the last few days and she was sure it was because she had a lot of energy she was used to expending and had been curtailed because of her new bodyguard duties.

Major Zohra laughed at the others and before she asked…

"Major Zohra, why don't you go workout with your sisters for a while. I'm scheduled to be with the shaman's most of the morning so I probably won't need a bodyguard.

"Well…actually, a small group of Centurion soldiers were left behind so you would not feel alone and will be assigned to you when Major Zohra is occupied elsewhere." She grinned at the two women. "Major General Aglauros had talked to Rear Admiral JoCastao and they thought someone should give Major Zohra a break from her bodyguard duty every now and then so she doesn't become too edgy and find herself some mischief to get into taking you with her."

Major Zohra raised an eyebrow at the three that were laughing at this remark.

"Well…we have been saved from ourselves then," Alexandra smiled at her partner.

Another chime interrupted them as Major Zohra and her sisters discussed what type of exercise was better for warming up.

A soldier dressed in the Centurion's uniform saluted and nodded towards the group of women.

"I'm Cpl. Provo, here to escort Lt. Commander Montran to the shaman's meeting."

"Hello, Royd," Raziel greeted. "They have you in escort services?"

A big smile formed on the red face. "It's better than being topside, Captain Raziel."

"Sure is!" both Major Zohra and Commander Montran chorused.

***

Neither woman saw the other for the rest of the day. The shaman's meeting was on Alan and how to contain him. A representative from Naboths Vine and other services that were affected by Alan's behavior were also there to make their position clear that Alan had to die. There was no cure for him, no safe place to put him, nor anything short of altering his brain pattern to keep him alive. Making him mindless to serve the rest of his life out was not accomplishing anything in his life path, they all agreed.

Commander Montran wondered how many were aware that one of the Sha'Kars from the city they had visited was sitting in on the meeting beside Carol-Maa. Carol-Maa knew.

***

Major Zohra had her work cut out for her. Major General Aglauros probably figured it was safer to give her daughter something challenging to do rather than wait until JG could no longer take being inactive. A group was trapped between cities by explosions set by the invading forces they had routed from Century City and Major Zohra was in her best element as she and her team figured out ways to get them back safely.

***

Chapter 32

Alexandra was floating in the tub with Carol-Maa, Clea and Galdin letting the comfortable silence between them seep into her pores like a moisturizing cream. It was a soothing experience to be wrapped in an energy that was both supportive and invigorating, amplified by the waters. So, the effect of her lifemate's presence into the bathing room was like a different tone entering the pleasant hum that surrounded the four relaxing in the tub. Alexandra's eyes fluttered open as she realized she was near. A smile creased her lips as she got her feet under her.

"Hmm. Will you excuse me a moment? I think Major Zohra has returned."

The others chuckled and resumed a conversation they had dropped when the soothing atmosphere overcame their sensibilities. The question was again asked how the Black Rose squad escaped from their confinement and how they knew exactly where Alexandra was quartered.

Alexandra poked her head in the shower where her lover was rinsing off her day's work of sweat and dirt.

"Hi," Alexandra breathed in the spray as she stepped up against the body she had been picturing most of the day.

JG's hands were filled with suds as she was trying to scrub off the tiredness that was weighing her arms down from the work she had been doing to dig out people from a cave-in. They found themselves on her lover's shoulders then roamed down to the rounded curve of her buttocks where they stopped as they pulled her even closer to her.

"Well…this is nice shower service," she started but did not get much else said as a mouth was placed over hers and consumed her tongue and whatever else the hungry lips covered.

It was a long moment until they reluctantly broke for air.

"Goddess! We've got to get the ceremony done soon! I'm seeing your naked body everywhere!" Alexandra groaned as she finally paused to give them both some air.

"Hmm. Someone's going to think we got into lust gas." Jina Gari whispered as she nibbled the neck she had been picturing most of the day.

Alexandra chuckled again. "I finally found a shaman that would talk to me about this Dance thing…uuh, hmm. That feels good," she paused to enjoy the giddy feeling her lover's hands caressing her body was giving her. "I think I kinda escalated it."

"How?" JG breathed as she grabbed some skin on her neck and bit it.

"Ah, uhmmm, ouch." She giggled before she answered. "I've been dreaming of the next dance."

JG laughed and pulled Alexandra into her. "Good. That means I don't have to show it to you. That would cause us both to…well; let's just say…that pheromone gas would pale to it."

"Hmm. Potent stuff, huh?"

"So I've heard," she replied.

"Well…if the images were of just you naked…that might be okay…it's what I'm doing to those images of you that may get me in trouble," Alexandra chuckled.

Zohra pushed her lover back a little. Her dark eyes were curious. "Well…you shall have to show me just what you've been imaging…later when all this is done with."

"Hmm. Come on. I don't want to even be reminded. Water, lusty thoughts and a tub of friends is more than I am willing to handle." Alexandra sighed as she stroked the gold ring that nestled between her lover's legs. "We have company and I think the subject I left is about… escapees and spies."

"Hmm. Everyone seems to be talking about it." JG padded beside Alexandra as they went to join the others in the tub.

"Jina Gari, where have you been keeping yourself?" Clea asked as the two women slid into the tub.

"In dark and dusty places, out of trouble."

"Hmm. I heard you wanted to question the Black Rose yourself."

"They went against all rules of a Spartan, and most of all, against the tradition of a Black Rose member. Spartan against Spartan is not done by a Black Rose," she repeated for the hundredth time. It seemed no one was listening.

"Well…maybe it was you they were after…deciding you were a traitor and therefore no longer a Black Rose or Spartan."

Major Zohra shook her head. "Even if that were the case…it is handled differently…this was a breech of conduct…an open assault to destroy everything they could reach. Wanton destruction does not indicate they were serious of taking out a target."

"Perhaps a chip implant?" Alexandra asked.

"None could be found."

"Well…there is low level voice hypnotics," Galdin suggested.

They all were silent for a while.

Alexandra stirred. "Whatever it was…they had to have someone on the outside release the locks and with enough knowledge to circumvent the alarms."

Major Zohra looked tired. "I am going to sleep on that mystery. Come on," she firmly grabbed Alexandra's arm and pulled her out of the tub, nodding to the others. "We're doing some of Lady Alexandra's exercises at 0600 in the gym tomorrow. Anyone want to join…we'll see ya down there."

Carol-Maa who had been quiet up until then smiled. "I would love to participate."

Alexandra gave her lover's back a surprised look. What's the hurry? And why the sudden change of our workout to the dojo? Alexandra caught up with her as she was pulling down the covers on the bed. She tackled her pulling her onto the bed and for a while, they wrestled with struggles becoming less and less. Alexandra's questions were forgotten since the first one was answered.

***

Chapter 33

Alexandra was not able to sleep after their lovemaking. A feeling of anticipation and foreboding increased until she had to leave their bed. Quietly she walked into the front room and waved at the two guards that were silently moving about the room making a routine inspection to keep themselves alert.

Alexandra decided a shower would be a good place to go for space and to take a cold shower to clear her senses. As the water flowed over her, she felt the familiar touch of the Sha'Kar from the Shadow City. An image of a ship, soldiers, and some of them in her room appeared in her mind. Then she began to feel the presence she had been fearing. The presence became intense to the point…

"Goddess, a breach!"

She was out of the shower and in their room to find Alan and Vanster with a weapon pointed at the falling Gari.

"No!"

Vanster's weapon quickly fired at Alexandra. She felt her body burn from the shot as her ability to stand left her.

Errrggg! It's a stunner just like that kid used.

Alexandra was quickly gathered and hoisted onto Vanster's shoulder. She grunted from air forced out of her lungs as she bumped on Vanster's shoulder as she ran down a dark corridor. For a moment, she saw blackness and then was dumped onto the cold floor of a ship. She could feel the Sha'Kar hovering over her concerned.

Why are you here?

While her body struggled to fill her lungs with air, she closed her eyes and focused on the ship's movement as it shifted to evade whoever may be chasing them. Her hearing picked up Alan's shouting and finally an angry Vanster, telling him to shut up, that she knew what she was doing.

It did not seem long that they were back in space and jumped through the gate to another part of the galaxy.

The face that appeared above hers was an older bearded face of Alan. He wiped the spittle from his mouth with the back of his hand and Alex knew she was looking into the eyes of someone not sane.

"Well Lady Montran…" He let his eyes roam her naked body picturing where he would give her pain. His hand went to his forehead as pain laced his head. "When I get this chip removed…I have a future planned for you. A future that is meant to give me…great pleasure and you…a new purpose in life."

Alexandra could see his eyes cloud over as the chip sent another unpleasant stimulation to his brain. His eyes were glistening from the pain.

Alan was too hyped up to want the pain and he realized it could easily escalate causing him to become unconscious. They had a month of travel before they could stop at the illicit hospital ship. There he would have his chip removed and one implanted into his victim. Moreover, he did not intend to let his captured Black Rose soldier kill herself or sabotage the ship while he was incapacitated. He returned to his seat next to Vanster after he instructed the medibot to give a shot to his is captive to prevent her from becoming active. He would have liked to have made it something painful, but like all medibots, it had ethics.

Alan barely glanced at the Black Rose soldier his agents had seized when they had captured Sgt. Major JG. Both had a chip implanted. Vanster was his game and JG was Lady Varina Chaney's. Alan wanted a Black Rose member he could control if he should ever need an inside agent with his supposed friend, Lord Chaney. The chip escalated Vanster's class prejudice and for fun, Alan had a subliminal running in her quarters that influenced her dislike of Lady Alexandra. He smiled thinking of getting Lady Alexandra to torture Vanster or maybe the other way around. He stroked the wild hairs on his chin in contemplation.

"Strap in," a gruff voice ordered.

Alan hated to strap in and ignored her.

The next maneuver was to evade the droids that suddenly blipped on the screen. Vanster grabbed Alan's shirtfront and thrust him back into his chair as he tipped out on the first shift.

"Strap in you fool!" she repeated angrily.

Alan hastily did, and realized that he had an expert behind the controls as his enslaved pilot escaped not only the droids but also the monitors that would have set off the net that disables craft that were illegally trying to pass through the gate.

Alexandra was left to bounce around. It was the Sha'Kar that protected her from any more bruises by lying an energy blanket around her, its own body.

***

Chapter 34

Zohra felt the air change around her and rolled to her feet on Alexandra's side dismayed when her ears caught the sound of a shower. Vanster was standing in the doorframe looking around.

"What's going…" Zohra's words froze as she felt the stunner's impact. She fell to the ground a victim of paralysis that burned through her numbed limbs. As she fell, she could see Alexandra and hear her yell.

Agonizing through the return of feeling, she crawled to the front room to see what happened to their guards. Both lay on their backs, eyes opened to the ceiling shaking from the effects of the stunner. She kept pulling herself to the door where she could hear pounding on the walls. Suddenly the door opened and soldiers poured in…too late.

Lt. Malchi reached Zohra and pulled her into her lap stroking her forehead as the spasms ran up and down her limbs as the second stage of recovery started. Vanster had used a painful setting that did not kill but would make the victim of its blast think twice about being shot again. It was the same type of stunner Captain Miller gave to the Alowan.

"Get her into some hot water," LaDea Gedaliaha ordered. "Move the others into the pool also. It will cut down on the pain and speed up the recovery."

LaDea Gedaliah quickly moved into the bathing room pulling out of the cupboard some herbs and tossing them into the water. She turned up the heat regulator. Carol-Maa slid into the water and was handed Zohra's shaking body.

Tears rolled down her cheeks from the cry of pain her frozen voice cords could not shout. Fire shot up her limbs, burning, it seemed, every cell in her body. She closed her eyes and tried to center herself as Alexandra had been teaching her.

"Find your peaceful center, Gari," Alexandra instructed her.

"I don't have a peaceful center. I have a focused center," Gari returned, being a little upset that the general ordered her to light duty. The general laid out the facts; she had been working for nine years without a break and deserved some rest while there was quiet. She did not need a break. She was fine. However, she was forced to admit, she enjoyed the private moments with Alexandra. So she gave it another try, paying closer attention to what her lover was telling her.

"Gari, it's there. Just a little beyond that focused center. Come on. All warriors need to find this place just as much as that focused center you use to fight from."

Gari breathed deep and let her breath out slowly as Alexandra demonstrated for her. She opened one dark eye and peeked at Alexandra. Alexandra shook her head and with a smile, leaned forward until their foreheads touched. She closed her deep emerald green eyes and Gari could feel a stillness wash over her. It was…beautiful.

Finally Zohra rose from the hot water, furious. "Helgas bloody moon, that woman is dead!" She pushed against Carol-Maa's arms that had been supporting her but she would not let her go. The arms around her tightened. Out of frustration, Zohra leaned back against the bare breasts shouting her anger and fear…for Alexandra. Zohra finally gave in to the sobs that hurt her chest from holding the emotional pain she was experiencing. She cried out the loss and the pain of being deceived by an old lover and someone she had thought she knew.

Finally exhausted she was helped out of the water. The guards already recovered, had left.

"Now…we can get to work!" General Aglauros nodded from the front room. Let's meet in five stan minutes in Com-C. Should give you time to dress, Daughter."

***

**

The meeting room in Com-C was filled with top officers and shamans.

General Aglauros began the meeting as soon as Major Zohra took her seat.

"This is where we are right now. On Merkers, we've got five sections that are under siege by soldiers…they are Alowans. They have found a way to open up tunnels from their failing planet to here. We are attempting to contain them. We have also stopped Alan's teams that were sent to destroy seven portals. Thank you brothers for your work on deciphering his black book." She nodded to the tall red headed Lord Hadrian DeMonte.

Major Zohra studied the man noting that there was only a slight resemblance to Lady Montran until she noted the set of his shoulders. Stubborn.

"Now…we need to find Alan. Our spy has sent a message that they are in route to the Shiae, which is an illegal hospital ship that removes chips and implants them. It's a month's travel and that is without taking evasive maneuvers. Thanks to Brother Regas we were also able to discover who was Alan's plant in the Black Rose, our sister Megan also known as Vanster."

Major Zohra clutched the arms of her chair and the shaman on one side of her touched her hand gently.

"Because of that…we were able to use Vanster." Aglauros shook her head sadly. "Lt. Ninan of the Black Rose, who is Brother Regas, had known that Vanster was under Alan's thumb for a long time and was monitoring her. We could not tell you, Daughter, in case it would change your relationship with her. Alan had a chip implanted that was difficult to locate to enhance her hate for the upper class. We've dissolved it. Her quarters in the City was wired to give her hypnotic suggestions to hate Lady Alexandra in particular."

Aglauros held up her hand at Zohra's comment that was on her lips. "Daughter, we dissolved the chip and countered the suggestion but…she had to continue to act her role, just as we had to let the Black Rose escape from their prison. In two days our counter suggestions should be overriding Alan's hateful program. Sister Megan is not as hateful toward the classes as much as one may think. She is resentful…but not hateful. She will rise to the occasion when she realizes how Alan had used her. I have faith in her."

Mother! I hope you are right for the woman I have bonded with in my heart…is at her mercy, Zohra prayed silently.

"We have a ship watching the Shaie. Alan will not get any help there."

General Aglauros continued with her summarizing and enlightening the others of the military and political goings on in the Galaxies.

The meeting seemed to go on for a long time and the calming effect of the touch on her hand was wearing off. The ache she was feeling started to leave her empty and lost. It seemed the further Alexandra moved away from her the deeper her depression.

"Daughter," Major General Aglauros called again.

Zohra lifted her head and blinked a few times. She looked around startled for the room was empty with the exception of her mother.

"I think you need to keep busy."

Zohra shook her head trying not to cry. She could not believe how intense the pain Alexandra's departure was.

"You had not danced the third dance, I take it."

Zohra shook her head, as she was unable to speak. "No…time," she finally got out.

Aglauros pulled her warrior daughter towards her and held her as she wept. Aglauros sighed. She knew she should not do it, but…"There's a ship leaving in a stan hour to check out Alan's abandoned ship. It's been monitored long enough to know he's not around, but it does have traps on it…and you are the specialist in that field…"

Zohra kissed her mother on the cheek, knowing she was stretching rules. "Thank you, Mother."

Chapter 35

"All right, come about easy," Major Zohra was outside the hull of the Star Chaser, dressed in a top of the line AEG suit that soldier's normally do not get. The Collective's Lt. Commander Planin, who was second to Captain Itk of the Star Chaser, provided it. They were the same height and stature.

Major Zohra found one bomb trip at the portal opening for a life pod release. She pulled herself out of the way, as the pilot eased the ship closer to the hatch opening. Though Captain Itk was the boss of his ship, she was the boss over this recon mission and had directed him not to order a coupling hull to hull. With the umbilical tube, they would be able to quickly break away if they should need to. As the tube slowly extended she grabbed the edge and pulled herself inside, tumbling and twisting, as the tube continued its progress to come up gently against the hatch.

"Contact….Seals are secured….Readings are good to go," she reported in her com. She felt the breathable air rush around her and braced herself for the heaviness that would follow environmental stabilization within the umbilical tube.

Air inside the ship was breathable according to the readings, but one could never be sure what would happen.

The personnel from Star Chaser were to leech as much data from the ship, then let her go just in case Alan returned or the ship had other purposes.

"Corporal, don't step there." Zohra halted the young solider before he placed his foot down on a plate that could be rigged. Zohra was tense, but not from the job. This was everyday stuff for the Black Rose. She took a deep breath to bring focus back into herself, examining what was going on, separating personal issues from business.

Corporal Stik slowly withdrew his foot, sweat beading up on his upper lip. His eyes watched the major as her eyes stared at nothing in particular. As long as she remained still, he would too.

"Wait here…don't move or touch anything." Something stunk.

She found a body, nearly dead, in one of the staterooms.

"Corporal, we got a live one, barely, in the third state room on the right. Send in a medibot, stat!"

Zohra completed her meticulous inspection of the ship where the two communications experts were going to be working.

"Do not go anywhere without telling me…that includes the can. Am I understood?"

The two nodded.

Bloody moon. Something feels wrong about this ship. Why didn't he sabotage it when he left? Why just leave a body to rot with a few traps…it's like he doesn't want to damage the ship's hull integrity…why?

Standing in the cockpit, she looked around at the controls. It could be a four crew ship or just one pilot. It was a luxury ship that carried five small cabins, seating for eight and a cargo bay that could be packed with a months worth of trinkets bought on Centur I. Centur I's inhabitants were twice Zohra's height and everything on Centur I was big and cheap. Sighing she decided to check his call logs.

"Hmmm. Now what do we have here? He deleted everything but the backup files. He must have been in a hurry to have forgotten," Ensign Haital muttered to herself.

"Ensign Haital, do you think we can get a dump of these files? Looks like they go back a while." Major Zohra was reading over her shoulder.

"Major. By these dates, he hasn't erased his backup files for two stan months….hmmm. Someone has been downloading these files and then erasing them when the download has completed…see, here is the loop code."

"When was the last time they were downloaded?"

"According to his docking logs, at his family's dock on Selen. The logon is from his family business…do you think he downloads his own files?"

"Maybe, but if so he would have remembered to clean them out when he did his main databank. Maybe his father or…someone in the business. Keep checking to see what else you find."

"Right, Major."

While she kept one eye on the ensign to be sure she would not run into a trap of some kind, Major Zohra checked the furniture in the cockpit. Two chairs were very comfortable looking, the pilot and co-pilot chairs, but one that was designed differently, looked like it was used more. Leaning closer to get a look at what was shoved between the well-worn seat and back, she kneeled down and began a careful exploration with gentle probing.

Carefully she drew out a box that had elaborate carvings. "Helgas bloody moon," she breathed. It had to be the box Alexandra reported Alan used to read the time line. She opened the box cautiously and was rewarded with tiny sticks that had been carved into partially recognizable figures. She could not mistake the two orange tipped stick figures, one that had painted breasts and very long orange hair that was longer than the stick. Some of the others she was not sure of…what she was sure of…was that Alan would return to the ship.

"Everyone, abandon ship!" Suddenly the ship's board came alight.

"What the…"

"Major, I didn't touch any of the controls!"

"Captain Itk, get out of here! Follow at a discrete distance and run silent. Everyone, he may read life signs so get in the pods."

"Major, there are only two!"

"It's a luxury model so I'm sure there's room for at least three. Just don't breathe deep and we'll be fine."

Zohra removed the piece that represented Alexandra and put the box back where she had found it. Looking around she nodded and joined one of the other crewmen in a second pod. Even if it was a luxury model, it was a tight squeeze since they were wearing AEGs.

Bloody moon! I hate these small places.

***

Chapter 36

"Alan, leave her be," Vanster growled. She had left her pilot's seat to see why Alan was not answering her.

He was squatting next to the unconscious figure, tracing invisible lines along the bare body that had bruises and cuts from their rough ride out of the Committee's space. He was not acting harshly yet, as the chip would render him unconscious.

"Shut up, bitch!" he snarled at her and continued with his fascination of watching the skin of the partially conscious woman twitch from his touch.

He did not hear Vanster as she lifted him off his feet and pinned him against the ship's bulkhead. She did not say anything just watched as Alan's eyes suddenly took on a look of fear.

"We're approaching the point your ship should be arriving. I don't like the idea of dragging that ship here when we don't know if anyone's aboard or if there is a plant on it. So, I'm pretty testy right now and I am not in the mood to see you play when you should be up front getting ready to board your ship! Now, get dressed!"

She dropped him to his feet.

He struggled to stand up straight.

"And get her stored in the pod," Vanster ordered and turned to return up front.

"Why?" he demanded, his voice bouncing off surrounding bulkhead, reminding them they were in a small space.

Sgt. Vanster walked back towards him, schooling her voice into a reasonable, nonthreatening tone. "Because, if this is a trap we'll want to get out of here quick. You said you have the pod set for that planet on the other side of this galaxy, right?"

He nodded.

"Well then, you have something to bargain with….knowledge of where she's headed. We see any trouble, I'll jettison her off and…there's your guarantee."

Alan nodded. "She's important. Her brother will want to save her. He'll want her back."

He hefted the body up and lumbered to the lifepod, dropping her unceremoniously into it. He checked the setting to make sure it was set for Arnica. One of his sisters had been sent there on a colony ship, before it was revealed that it was already inhabited. No one wanted to pay for the colonists return and he doubted any of the colonists wanted to return. He smiled as he thought of their reunion and what he would do to her and her offspring.

He slammed the lid of the pod down. He contemplated on whether to put her in stasis now or wait.

"Alan! Get in you gear and get up here!"

He hit the activate button. He would not have much time to play with her anyway.

Vanster watched the Rouster that was on autopilot, sail into view on her screen. Hiding behind the space debris, she plotted possible places a tail could be waiting for them to appear. Nothing. The Trojan Horse's systems were brought back online.

Alan was reading the same readings looking for anything that would show the ship was followed. If he had his stick people, he would have been able to ask them. He was going to start his restless pacing but a glare from the Black Rose soldier had him reseat himself. He consoled himself that for now, their lives were in her hands...but he ultimately held hers in his hand or actually, on the back of his hand. Her life was dependent that he not send a transmission to the implanted chip that would cause her death…a painful death at that.

He was quite pleased with the things the metralab produced, though only the elite could afford the cost of the outlawed devices. They were manufactured on HinterWield, the prison colony, originally to keep the violent inmates subdued, until a scientist with another agenda took over the management of the colony. Through this contact, he had finally found a scientist that knew how to remove his chip without the side effects. Inmates at the prison colony were his practice subjects. He had plenty of volunteers, as most wanted their chip removed.

"Don't touch that!" Vanster angrily hissed at Alan. He was about to send a life reading probe to the ship.

"If the ship's being followed they will sense our probes. Let me handle this!"

Alan withdrew his hand guiltily. He had not thought of that. He sighed and got up from the chair. He would pace in the anteroom. He was on half meds and felt himself strangely adrift, but he did not want to be too tranquil.

Vanster ignored the man that had enslaved her and continued to study the ship and the surrounding area. Her instinct told her returning to the Rouster was not a good idea, but she had no vote in the decision. The slight bump from contact with the hull of the Rouster had her fingers quickly verifying that the hatches were lined up properly, okaying the lock releases to allow for the opening up of the two hatches, while coaxing the sluggish controls to angle their combined bulk to stay near the center of the debris trail to avoid easy pickings should a patrol ship show up.

"Alan, get your butt over there and back quick!" Sgt. Vanster ordered.

Alan hit a small button that would deactivate the traps he had mined the ship with, unlatched the opening of one ship and then the other that was to his favorite ship. He regretted leaving the Rouster. Too many people would recognize it as his and the Trojan Horse was a newer and faster model.

What he wanted was left on his chair, which had probably slipped between the seat and chair back. Cautiously entering the bridge, he sniffed the air. The odor of Hemmitt's fear and body excrements were thick in the air. Breathing shallowly and working frantically to pull his precious box out from the crease of the pilot's chair, he looked up to a fist that slammed into his face. Alan's legs neatly buckled, dropping him onto the carpeted deck of his ship unconscious.

[Alan! Bloody moon!]

A ship appeared on her screen, it was broad on Trojan Horse's port quarter. She hit the disengage switch. The moment the lights showed her the hatch was sealed and no longer connected, she dropped Trojan Horse beneath Rouster's belly and rolled her to the other side of the Rouster and then fired the ship behind debris. Alan not replying, not even with his death switch, meant trouble. She weaved in and out playing a dangerous game of hide and seek around the moving space junk until a reasonably good spot in a large asteroid appeared, where she could hide the ship. She shut off all systems that would give a reading of her location…and then the waiting game started.

Sgt. Vanstar leaned back in her chair and considered her options in the darkened bridge. She was still alive, that meant Alan was probably powerless at the moment. The need to move out of range of his device was overpowering, but she squelched it knowing it was not a good idea. Instead, she returned to the back of the ship and checked on her live cargo.

I could just release her…no, not yet. Then I'll have to listen to her mouth. Damn prissy class. They should just stick with their never-ending parties.

After what would pass as half a stan day, Sgt. Vanster decided to make a break for it. She had no doubt the patrol ship was still around, but she had an appointment to keep. Alan not returning made it easier to keep the appointment. She was not naive to believe that he would let her go, minus the implant, after she had helped him kidnap Lady Alexandra Harriet Montran, so she had made her own arrangements. The ship's power came online quickly with the console lighting up with readings. Trojan Horse was the top of the line model, and it had a lot of extra do'dads that she guessed Alan did not even understand. If she were going to steal a ship, this would be her first choice.

The space eddy that the large asteroid was drifting in was nearing the jump gate. She read the tactical to see when the gate's deflector would begin to exert its influence, gently pushing the flow around the gate. Then the autotrawlers would scoop up the space trash and haul it away, while the real space debris, unless it was of value, would be left to drift. She intended to hit the gate with all the gs that could be mustered. Once through the gate, they would not know where she headed. Before her break from the eddy, the sensors picked up a ship that was right on her tail.

"Bloody moon!" Just as the Trojan Horse leaped forward, the ship suffered a shot dead astern. It was meant to disable her engines, however, the Trojan Horse was better protected than the average law abiding citizen's vessel would be. However, the impact sent the Trojan Horse too far forward. It put her at the wrong angle to make it cleanly into the gate. The ships tactical immediately began to reposition the ship with abrupt and evasive maneuvers that Sgt. Vanster had preprogrammed. The sudden moves caused her to miss hit the intended engage button… or so she thought, but the ship went into hyperspace. Off balance, she was tossed, knocking her unconscious. The Trojan Horse obediently moved forward, through the jump gate and to a preset destination, without the help of its injured pilot.

It was days later that Vanster opened her eyes to a screen that showed stars moving by quickly. "Blazes!" she muttered in a daze. Breathing deeply a few times to get her bearings, she let the two days of subliminals soothe her conscious. Tears streaked down Sgt. Vanster face as she lay on the deck, realizing her fears of retribution and of Alan's program of distrust and hate were no longer foremost in her mind…and most of all, that the chip had been removed. Her greatest fear was being controlled by another, unwillingly, and after getting a close-up of Alan's madness, she felt she was justified in the panicked feeling that always was there. Once more composed, her military training kicked in and she rose to check the ship's systems.

"Helgas bloody moon!" she whispered softly. "So, we are on our way to Alan's planet….and no overrides." She sighed. "Well, Lady Alexandra, it's you and me for eight months if all goes well. At least this vessel has more power behind it than the little pod he put you in. I had better send a message to the general, she's gonna want to know what the hell I've done with Lady Alexandra. Bloody moon, what a mess."

Finished with that she turned to his databanks, wondering what she was going to have to bear for the next eight months. The program was easy to access. It was something that would give a faint-hearted person nightmares. "This guy is sick. I gotta pull her outta that pod until I can clear the program buffer and put something else in there."

I hope she's not going to wake up swinging. This will be a hell of a time to see who has a meaner punch.

The lid cleared her forehead and she waited as the pale body in the lifepod's chamber gradually began to take on some color.

***

*

Alexandra could feel the menace around her though she could not move away from it. The touch of Alan running his fingers over her bare body would have had her trembling if her body was able to respond. He must have injected her with something after Sgt. Vanster brought her aboard.

She heard the harsh voice of Sgt. Vanster ordering him back to his seat after securing her. That was nice of her considering she was responsible for her being here.

She is frightened.

You are here!

Yes. I wish to go to this place that the other had imagined. It is a place where my ancestors had once been.

Alan dumped her unceremoniously into the lifepod and since she could not move any limbs, could not rearrange herself more comfortably. She did not have any more time to speak with the Sha'Kar as the pod's deep sleep program started immediately. The images coming from the subliminal began their terrorist program, however, the sentient realizing the images were causing Alexandra discomfort, interfered with the program, halting transmission to her.

It seemed only moments later Alexandra saw before her a life form that was like a shapeless cloud of millions of tiny cells letting off of sparks of energy, and giving an outline of the form.

You are being awakened by the one you refer to as Vanster. She is worried you will hurt her.

Alexandra's waking mind placed her in a sleeping pod, in Alan Fermin's ship, and no telling how much time had passed. Do I have reason to? Alexandra meant it to be sarcastic but the sentient form did not seem to notice.

No. She is no longer angry. She is worried about your health.

Where is the other one, the male that was with her?

Gone.

Alexandra's eyes blinked with the subdued light overhead. The life pod's nurturing bed adjusted as her bios picked up, and then the lid folded out of the way.

"What's…." her voice cracked as her dry throat tightened.

Water was offered with a long straw that flexed to her supine angle.

Even though her wits were a still a bit scattered, she could feel the difference in Vanster. For that, she was grateful. She was not in any position to defend herself.

"What's going on?" she asked in a stronger voice.

Vanster took a deep breath….

"The short version would do for now…like where are we?" Alexandra suggested.

"On our way to Arnica, a planet Alan was setting up as his empire."

"Oh. I take it an override is not possible."

"Not unless you want the whole life support system to shut down, and even then, the ship will continue on its flight path."

"He sure was determined to reach this place. Does he have some clothes on this ship?"

"Yeah. In one of the quarters, he has all sorts of uniforms for himself and clothing. I guess he couldn't make up his mind just what he was going to model his uniform after."

"Can you give me a hand? We'll go take a look."

A few hours later the two women had exhausted themselves looking into his containers and finding, weapons of various designs, clothing, games from the handheld to the holographic, and seeds.

"Wonder why he picked these seeds?"

Two stomachs growled at the same time. Both women looked up at each other and laughed.

"Let's hope his choice of food stuffs is better than some of his other choices."

While the two sat in the cockpit eating a small meal, Alexandra tried to figure out what they were going to do for eight months.

"I suggest we ride the eight months out in the pods. Boredom in this small craft can do some nasty things to your mind. But first, we need to check his data banks. I know I'm not going to like Alan's form of entertainment," Alexandra mumbled around her sandwich.

"Hmmm." Vanster nodded with her mouth full. "You're right. While I was waiting for you to wake up…I went through his program files. They are not for the normal person. However, the original pod program is in the backup files. We could look at it and see if that's going to give us less nightmares and then add some stuff from the ship's library."

"Have you ever been in one of these lifepods?"

"No, Ma'am. We trained in their use and how to do some minor repair work on them and run diags…but there is no way I wanted to be stuck in one of those…"

"Are you going to be okay with getting in it?"

Vanster laughed abruptly. Alexandra watched the colors of her energy field around her change, grateful that she was seeing another side of this soldier. She had entertained Alexandra during lunch, with stories of JG both in her role as the Dungeon Mistress and as a soldier in the Black Rose. They were funny stories, and Alexandra was aware she was keeping the scary ones back. That was okay with her. She did not want any more scary thoughts to go with her when she went back into the sleeping pod.

"I trust you, Lady Alexandra, but with the Black Rose, we never knew who was the enemy or who had a contract out on any one of us. We were lucky Lord Chaney didn't want us out of action for any length of time. He wasn't a nice guy and treated those that worked for him as expendables…with the exception of the Black Rose. I guess the few of us that lasted as long as we did, he saw us as some kind of warrior blood. Didn't stop him from sending us into some pretty messy situations though. Once your troop, the Degas, was gone, the Central Command found they liked the idea of dropping a trained group in the center of the enemy's camp, and letting them work their way out…just as if you had trained the Degas. The Black Rose felt honored to take up the role and obligated to succeed."

"Why ever for? We didn't kill anyone. We just stole whatever supplies we could, set off alarms and pretty much left them in a panic, before we ran like hell back to where our ship was supposed to be waiting for us."

Vanster laughed ruefully. "Your troop made us look bad. We were supposed to be the meanest and the most daring…and here was the Degas troop, a group of misfits no one wanted, doing the impossible…fighting their way out of the enemies' camp, creating havoc and dismay within the enemy's lines…and surviving. We admired you. Did you know the Black Rose tip their first drink to the memory of the Degas troop…not just because of you, but for what the troop represented. Against all odds." She took a deep breath. "I'm really sorry about the last drop, Commander."

Alexandra nodded. She waited expectantly for the tightness and the heavy feeling of guilt that often accompanied the memory but it did not come.

"They were great soldiers, Sgt. Vanster. It is good of you to remember them and I hope you continue doing so."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Alexandra studied Vanster, looking for an annoyance at her for addressing her by her demoted rank. However, she could not see any discomfort only a small smile. It was going to take some getting use to this changed person.

Both rose without anymore said and head for the communications closet.

"Well, let's see what he has in this library that is not obnoxious, violent and or repugnant." She tapped one title, "Arnica. Hm, this can be useful. But, it's not official. Let's not add it to our slumber fest of entertainment. No telling what's in it on a subliminal level." Her finger moved to another, while Vanster was tapping her fingers on the console. "You know, there is no way for us to know what he tampered with and what he has not. Best that we have a quiet ride for those eight months."

"Here, here," Vanster agreed. "They guy is too creepy to think he would have something that didn't have a sick twist to it."

"Hmm. Let's go study his records instead. Then we can decide when we'll get into the pods."

After clearing a space in the cargo area, the two worked out to get rid of the frustration and jitters about their preprogrammed trip. According to Alan's records, he had a small army of metrasoldiers preparing a castle for him. They read the reports the soldiers sent back. These soldiers were from one of the closed and violent planets, so it was not unusual for them to butcher people and burn their homes, which by their reports, was exactly what they were doing. However, the planets inhabitants were not taking his soldiers takeover quietly and were fighting back. Alan's soldiers could not move outside of the castle without at least one returning dead or injured.

Alexandra wondered what the Sha'Kar was going to do while they were sleeping. "Incoming message." The computer's voice announced.

Both women hurried toward the cockpit, plopping in the chairs expectantly.

"Go ahead," Montran commanded when both were sitting in their chairs.

Rear Admiral JoCastao's face came on the screen.

"Well, Lt. Commander Montran and Lt. Vanster. I am glad to see the two of you doing well."

"Admiral JoCastao," Montran acknowledged. Montran could see Vanster react to the title.

"As you know, once you are into the slipstream we can't pluck you out of there and I won't ask you to do anything that crazy."

Commander Montran nodded. She had no intention of being in a life pod and ejected into the wake of a larger ship. The lifepods did not have the capability of sustaining a life form for the adjustment of that sudden drop of forward motion.

"We are sending a ship to back you up, Catching Butterflies, though it has not left port yet. Since it will be traveling a lot faster than your vehicle, we have enough time to assemble an appropriate crew. They will assist Emperor's Last Chance that was sent to Arnica a year ago to find out what Alan was up to. The two ships will subdue Alan's soldiers, access the damage they have done to the inhabitants and see if we can do something about it. Within this data flow is the latest information on the planet sent by the Emperor's Last Chance. It was received a few weeks ago, so by the time you arrive, it will be stale, but it's something. Catching Butterflies and Emperor's Last Chance have official duties…and limitations; therefore, we need you two to do some gathering of information. There were colonists sent there…that should not have been with weapons they should not have taken with them. Commander, do what is necessary. Have you anything to say?"

"Yes, admiral…I…" Vanster started.

"You have been awarded the lowest officers rank of lieutenant until the review board is sure your attitude was due to a chip implant. The board has also put you under Lt. Commander Montran's direct command until your return."

Vanster was silent, but by the slight color in her cheeks, and the flashes of color around her, she knew she was pleased on some level.

"Ahh, admiral," Alexandra cleared her throat, embarrassed that she was asking something personal. "Is…Major Zohra alright?"

"Ahh. Your lifemate. If all goes well, she should be joining you two. She's in the Rouster, following at a slower pace. But we're hoping Catching Butterflies will catch up with her and give her a ride the rest of the way. You all should be arriving about the same time. We are hoping she can give them the slip and join up with you somewhere on the planet. We need to know what's going on with the colonists," she reemphasized.

Alexandra's face colored at the public knowledge that Major Zohra and her were something more than friends, and then nodded, relieved that it was officially noted. It would make their life easier. Her thoughts then returned to their new assignment. Something about the colonists was bothering two political powers enough to send three officers to go looking.

What's up with that?

"What of Alan?" Lt. Vanster asked worried.

"He and the ship he was on, was blown up by mercenaries. Our rescue ships were too late to save the crew but we did inflict heavy damages on the band that attacked them."

There was a moment of silence as both took in the news. Alexandra could not prevent the smile that warmed her face as she thought of who was soon to be following.

"Safe journey. And…do come back safe. Your sisters, Lt. Vanster are already missing you, and Lt. Commander…I would like to award you your command bars myself."

"Thank you, Ma'am. I appreciate your confidence."

***

Chapter 36

"There she is. Now don't kill her. She still thinks she's working for Alan," Major Zohra cautioned. The major was standing on the bridge of the Rouster, Alan's ship keeping an eye on his drugged relaxed form that was safely restrained in a police energy net and at the same time watching the Collective's ship as it moved to intercept the Trojan Horse. She could feel Alexandra's presence near but not the familiar feelings when their thoughts were able to touch.

When the Trojan Horse took off, Zohra's cry of dismay had Alan's eyes blinking in surprise. The medication he was on kept him mellow and quiet.

Zohra grabbed him by the collar and shook him. "Where are they headed?"

He shrugged his shoulders smiling oafishly. "I don't know. Maybe it's going to keep my appointment, or…" he waved his hand, "maybe it's going home."

Major Zohra sped their vessel to the rougue hospital ship he had an appointment on. It was a month's travel, but on their second day…they received a message from Sgt.Vanster.

Zohra was furious. Alan could not understand her frustration.

"If you want you can follow her."

"I don't have a ship!" Zohra fumed. "It would be great if this ship didn't sustain damage to her life support. In case you didn't notice we're on backup life support."

"This is a Deluxe Belton. The backup is just as strong as the primary."

"I know what a D-Belt is!" Zohra suddenly understood. "Bloody moon, of course! But they have to be prepped….this is your backup ship." Major Zohra felt like slapping her head. Alan always had backup plans and his ships would have backup capabilities.

"The Trojan Horse is my back up, though it's newer and faster. We can take Rouster to the shipyard and get her upgraded. I've meant to… just haven't had the time," he informed her with the idiotic grin on his face of someone that was high on drugs.

"In case you've missed it. There is a small war going on and personal ships do not have priority. Let's go take a look at the stasis pod."

Zohra stamped back to the small cargo area to look it over with the others and Alan following in her wake. The supply log showed it had been serviced recently for up to a ten stan year trip.

"Goddess! How far is this planet?"

Alan shrugged his shoulders. "In the Trojan Horse, eight months, in the Rouster about a year. If you just go by pod, its short of two stan years."

"Corporal, run tests on this system and set it up to my bios. While you're doing that, I'm going to dump whatever he has in his database for the trip and download the information from the Zip. I don't trust anything he has set up here."

"Major, are you sure about this?"

"Yes. Let's move on it. I've got some catching up to do!" Goddess, JG. What happens if she's not there? She's getting there months ahead of you and lots of things can happen.

"Yes, Ma'am." He nodded.

You, Ensign…Halsey. Send a message to command of my intentions. Get it off as soon as possible. You there, move Alan to the Zip."

In three stans hours the computer's database was reloaded with the necessary information she was going to need and Alan and the Corporal had been transferred over to the Zip. The admiral gave her the okay and an assignment. The Counsel of Rings was concerned about some of the people that were illegally sent to Arnica under the guise of setting up a colony, with weapons of mass destruction.

Zohra slammed her hand against the bulkhead angrily. "They're ready to wipe out a civilization just so they can start their own farms! Damn hypocrites. Damn politics," she muttered.

"You're going to like this, major." The ensign walked over to her smiling. "We can shut the life support down completely on this ship, letting you survive in the pod. That way, the ship can cruise faster…get you there in less than a year. But, before you pop open the pod hatch, remember to check out the settings in the ship. I'm putting an AEG suit in your pod just in case."

"Hell of small space to dress," Zohra muttered, but she was pleased. She was also cleared to chase after Alexandra. If they found the portal, and they were able to use it, maybe they would be home sooner than planned.

Before she slid into the hibernation chamber, she whispered to the corporeal, "Tell the general, I'll miss her, but I'll be home as soon as I can."

The corporal nodded then sealed her in the pod located in the reinforced cargo bay. He waited for the console to signal she was in deep sleep, then again rechecked the bios, running diagnostics when a life form was in stasis. Satisfied, he returned to the Zip.

From the bridge of the Zip, Capt. Basla watched the ship engage on autopilot and head for a planet in another star system called Arnica.

"Transmit, the major is safely in transit. Now, let's go home troops. We've got one dead-beat fugitive to hand over to the judicial magistrate and then we're back to patrolling in our own sector."

Five small ships appeared on the Zip's screen before they engaged thrusters. Shots from the ships started the moment they appeared on their screens.

Capt. Basla was a fighter and the smuggler's intent to not let them leave alive was easy to read in their attack approach.

"Send out another bot, ensign. We may not get out of this alive."

***

Chapter 37

Rear Admiral JoCastao slammed her hand on the arm of the chair in agitation, as the reports kept coming in on attacks on strategic military and commercial sites by smuggler's ships. The attacks started on civilian ships, but soon the real targets were made known.

"Rear Admiral, I have a message from LaDea Gedaliaha."

"Yesss!" JoCastao tapped the small button on her console. After a few moments she tapped the button again and slid out of her command chair. She nodded at her first officer.

First Officer Wing Commander BenWai smiled and whispered into what seemed like thin air. "It's a go."

Those on the bridge gave silent gestures of approval with fists pumping in the air or rubbing their lucky stones with anticipation. Silence, even on the bridge, was practiced as if their quarry, the unsuspecting smugglers would pick up any loud noise they made. It was time to close the well-planned trap.

"Drop the array and bring it online as soon it's ready. Call me in my quarters. You have the bridge, Cmdr."

Rear Admiral JoCastao hurried into her quarters to read the 'for her eyes only' reports that would be pouring in from others that were sent out on 'protect at all cost' deployments. Her assignment was Merker's Outpost, to prevent the Alowans from taking it over.

***

**

"Captain, Major General Aglauros reported the seal over the planet is in place."

Lt. Malchi nodded as she returned her attention to the screens in Com-C.

"Move into phase five, and notify the Captains and shamans. Sgt. Major, notify Cmdr Hayes of that bottleneck on screen Omega. Lt. Menja!"

A thin figure that was resting her bones on a wall near the entrance to the Command Center was quickly at Lt. Malchi's side.

"Time to move out," she informed in a soft voice to the translucent face that nearly towered over her when the lieutenant stood up straight.

The lieutenant wasted no time in farewells as she quickly left the room, gathering other thin translucent figures as she made her way to the elevator.

***

"Sir, we have a message of a bottleneck in the outer city."

"Send Company C. It's time for them to prove whether their reputation was earned in a bar or in the mud."

Cmdr. Hayes sat in the main chair, watching the screens in Century City's Com-C that had been reactivated. His officers were effectively deploying troops where the invaders appeared, keeping them contained, and when able, sending them back through their transporting devices and destroying the grounder so they would no longer be able to get a homing fix.

"Sir, Rear Admiral JoCastao on a secured line."

The commander nodded and closed his eyes for a moment, closing out the distracting businesses as he telepathically linked with his lifemate.

"Greetings, husband." A warm feeling wrapped around his skull then moved to his body as the connection completed.

"Greetings, my beloved wife. Good news?"

"It is going well. All the portal planets have the new array in place and attacks against them, both inside and outside are being repelled. The smaller smuggler ships are doing damage, but the cadets are hanging tough and ferreting them out."

"It is going too well, my love. We must not let our troops be deceived by our victories."

"Ahh. Your point is well taken, husband. There are members of my crew who are already celebrating this war as won by us. It seems for such a well-planned attack by the outlawed planets and their agents, that they would not have spies in the right places. Do you not think also?"

"Exactly."

"Stay safe in the Circle, my beloved husband. I wish to take that vacation to Celone IV with you before the end of this month."

"And I too, my beloved wife. I look forward to the baths in Falls Shed."

"Beware of the Miten's Bark."

"And you too, my love.

Commander Hayes opened his eyes and let the presence of his lifemate slowly seep out of his pores as his eyes focused on the screens in front of him. The image of the dog of death, the Miten, faded away as well.

"Evens! What in Helgas Moon tides is that group doing?"

"Ensign Evens moved to the screen his commander was staring at horrified.

"Easy Seven! Come in! Easy Seven..."

Before their eyes the team was overwhelmed and run-over by a well-prepared invading force that moved quickly out of sight of the cameras.

The ensign looked back at his commander. "I…I'm sorry Sir. I was watching this other monitor." The ensign looked pale, and he should be, though there may have been nothing he could have done had he seen the vortex opening before the invaders entered and scattered. It was part of war, but there was still a suspicion in the commander's mind, as he knew they were winning too many skirmishes to call it luck.

The commander waved him to silence as he looked over the other screens. The other soldiers looked back at their assigned monitors uneasily.

"Lt. XeMxx, report to Com-C." the commander softly ordered from his chair.

Ensign Evens, returned to his assigned screens nervously ordering a replacement group out to the area that was just lost.

The hiss of the door opening and entrance of a young soldier went mostly unnoticed as everyone was pouring their attention on their assignments.

"Ensign Evens, you are relieved of duty until a proper investigation can be made. Lt. XeMxx, you are to take his place. Guards, escort the ensign to his quarters where he is to remain until called for," Commander Hayes held up his hand at Evens' expected objection. "It's standard procedure, you know that ensign. When I get a chance, we'll talk. Now quickly, we don't have time for this."

Cmdr. Hayes returned his attention to the monitors, letting his mind take in the mistake, the timing, and what a group of enemy soldiers in that part of the city meant. Under standard procedure, to minimize the damage of the mistake, he would send out the Spartans who had been cleared as clean agents. He would also send out the team that Evens sent out…no, if Evens is under suspicion, he would counter any commands the ensign issued. Cmdr Hayes tapped the button on his console that would bring up personnel files. He remembered reading about one soldier who had specialized in search and destroy missions on his own home planet.

He was one of the kidnapped bodies Alan had procured to make into one of his metrasoldiers. He was lucky that a group of undercover operatives had rescued him and several others from a smuggler's ship destined for an illegal laboratory ship. By then, knowledge of the planned invasion was known to HQ of the Counsel of Rings, and a line officer made the decision to enlist Carl McHenry's assistance. In return, he was given a barter chip to petition for placement on a planet that was suitable for his lifestyle after the invading forces were subdued or in three stan years, depending which came first.

"McHenry." a soft voice returned his summons.

"You heard?" Cmdr Hayes asked, knowing the answer.

"Yeah."

"Take care of the problem."

Cmdr Hayes leaned back in his chair feeling confident in this person's ability.

His attention went back to the screens noting the team sent to replace Easy Seven had eliminated the possibility of any more troops coming through at that point. However, all it takes is one team of highly skilled killers to put a big dent in their defense operations. Killing was not what they wanted to happen on Merkers Outpost. Rendering them unconscious or inactive was their aim. McHenry, to his credit, was willing to work within those parameters.

He looked at the alarm console. One was amber, indicating they were under siege. One was red, which indicated there was a breech in their defense line, and one was green, which showed they were in active combat mode. Everyone should be on the look out for….

"Captain Shi?"

"Yes, sir?"

"What do you think about Evens?" Cmdr Hayes asked quietly over his throat mic.

"Well, if he is part of the conspiracy, he would, if he could, try to help them further…like set up a diversion."

"Hmm. Sounds right. Is there anyone that Evens avoided?"

"Sir?"

"I'm thinking, the second spy would have to be someone he has not come into contact with, so that we could not pin him with guilt by association."

"Right, you are Sir. We're checking out his pals, we'll also run a report on different angles for his counterpart."

"Hmm. Try the innocuous, like the cook or maintenance personnel. Lock out any further changes to the system. Change to another code."

"It will put us out of sync with the Lair, Sir."

"That's okay. It will be expected. Get the shuttle ready. Send the Spartans with an empath out to the Southern Ridge. I think there may be more surprises over there."

"Right, Sir. Should I notify the Lair before…?"

"Yes. Give them a coded update. And Captain? Handle this yourself."

"Understood, Sir."

Cmdr Hayes tapped his fingers on the console watching the scenes unfold before his eyes.

Well, Evens…let's see what you've set into motion here.

***

Lt. Malchi read the 'YEO' message again. A breech in Century City.

She turned to face the screens to her left studying Ensign 'Elga, who was in charge of monitoring the section that Major General Aglauros felt would be an ideal place for an invading army to hide out and gather before striking the Lair. Few of the line officers knew that she had taken her elite guard with a few others to that part of the planet. Her ship with a skeleton crew was hovering over the planet monitoring the array, as Rear Admiral JoCastao and her ship, Star Jumper, moved to their next assignment, containing the flow of traffic at the jump gates near Merker's Outpost.

At shift change as the new members moved to their assigned screens, Lt. Malchi noted the young woman who took Cpl. JeFe's place. He nodded to her as he gave her an update of what he had seen and listened to any questions she had.

Lt. Malchi exchanged looks with Lt. Mi,u. Both were curious why the roster they had prepared was changed.

Lt. Mi,u moved to the young woman who was wearing the badge of the Centurion.

"Corporal…Jen."

Lt. Mi,u had beckoned Cpl. JeFe back to watch the screens as she talked with Cpl. JeFe.

"Yes, Ma'am. I know I'm not on the roster, but Bumper isn't feeling well…so I volunteered to take her shift. I'm certified, Ma'am."

Lt. Malchi kept her eyes moving around the screens watching for anything that may happen while their attention was being diverted.

Screen Zed had a slight flicker, which she noticed the technician that was monitoring did not take note.

"Captain Raizel, we may have a hit," she whispered softly in the mic Guardian had provided them.

"I see it. We're on it, out."

Lt. Mi,u checked out her credentials then nodded to Cpl. JeFe he could leave.

What a coincidence that she has all the qualifications of a communications tech, yet she was assigned to kitchen detail. Lt. Malchi raised her eyebrow at Lt. Mi,u.

"She reported the only opening left for duty here was kitchen and she wanted to be in on the action so she took it. She started out in the Corps as cook's assistance then studied communications."

Lt. Malchi nodded. "Check out the soldier at Zed."

Lt. Mi,u walked over to the person in question.

"Soldier, where is your relief?"

"Don't know, Ma'am." The soldier did not take her eyes off the screens she was assigned to.

The door behind them swished open and an embarrassed ensign came rushing in.

"Ensign Ho reporting late for duty, Ma'am. I…my alarm didn't go off. I'm sorry, Ma'am."

Lt. Mi,u returned salute and nodded for her to replace the other soldier.

The shaman's were edgy about not being able to find just who the group was that were acting as spies. They only could tell Major General Aglauros there were five of them. They were part of a group that sought to influence the new organization of the Committee to lift some of the restrictions on allowing planets that were bent on genocide warfare from traveling in space. The idea was to keep the atmosphere in chaos so they could slip representatives onto the new board without too much in depth examination, just to get the military back in full service.

Captain Raizel's job was ferreting out whom the spies were. Her ability to take unconnected events and see commonalities made her one of the best line officers that oversaw covert operations.

The small events that were happening around the Lair, odd inconsistencies, was telling Raizel that whoever was the leader of the invaders, knew what would confuse sensitives, what would distract the energy flow of a group, and how to infiltrate. Capt. Raizel suspected someone trusted was either tampered with or working for the other side.

Capt. Raizel pulled up the screen with the information on Sgt. Vanster and Major Zohra. Both had chip implants. There had to be a pattern in their disappearances from their group and area. If she could pin point where it happened, she would have a better idea of who would have enabled their disappearances for the time needed for their surgery.

***

[Lt. Malchi?]

"Lt. Malchi, here."

[Ma'am, Capt. Raizel has requested your immediate presence at a meeting with the shaman's.]

"I'm on my way; out." Lt. Malchi was just off her shift and was looking forward to a nice soak in a tub, alone, with soft music, and a massage from the bot.

Muttering curses under her breath, Lt. Malchi slipped her shoes back on and was thinking about why Capt. Raizel did not call her over the small throat mics.

"Speak on. Maddi?" she whispered softly.

[Bian?]

"Did you call for me?"

[No. I was just thinking of retiring to a nice warm bath with Sula. Is something the matter?]

"I got a message that you requested me to a meeting with the shamans. Now."

[Alright. Who notified you?]

"I did not recognize the voice, nor ask a name." Blasters. What a time to get slack.

[Well…this seems to be part of the war, having us question motives, orders, calls. Let's go see what is happening there. Meanwhile, I'll alert the others to keep an eye on where we are not.]

"I'm on my way. Out."

At the two women's arrival to the front of the meeting room for the shamans a young shaman was standing outside the door and held up his hand in greeting.

"You are on time."

"Is there something going on that we need to know about?" Capt. Raizel asked concerned.

The door slid open and Shaman Bu,tom leaned out the door. "Would you care to join us?"

The two women entered and found twelve sitting in a circle and four on the outside. Some were apprentices, but in name only, for many made a lifetime of apprenticing to various shamans of different species to insure in their next life they would return in a higher state.

"We have news that Major Zohra and Lady Alexandra are safe…however….we believe they are in stasis." LaDea Gedaliaha informed the two women.

"Stasis! Life-pods? Where are they headed?"

"And why?" Capt. Riziel added to Lt. Malchi's question.

"It's one of those unforeseen things that happens. They are safe. We don't know where they are headed until they reach their destination," another offered.

"Wait a moment. Major Zohra was going to investigate Alan's ship. Where would Alan's ship go if programmed for long distance travel, but to that planet Naboths Vine said he was setting up for his escape," Capt. Raziel slapped her thigh.

"Sounds like it. Well, they will be missing a good fight here."

"What was your meeting called for?" Lt. Malchi asked curious.

LaDea Gedaliaha smiled for a moment then nodded to the thin translucent Moridian.

"There is a presence that is wandering here. I have felt it and on occasion heard its thoughts. It is looking for a friend."

"A…" Capt. Raziel stopped.

"What does the enuit say?"

"Carol-Maa says it is one of the Sha'Kar from the Shadowy City. S'he has communicated with it. It says that it's friend came to the Lair with Major Zohra and Lady Alexandra. They have told you nothing of this?"

Both women shook their head.

"Well, then. We can not help it if its friend has left the planet with one of them."

LaDea Gedaliaha nodded. "I think it is more than likely to attach itself to Lady Alexandra. Shala, tell the Sha'Kar that it is headed to Arnica, a planet that is half a stan year of our time from here, provided you have a fast ship. I do not think they have such ships at their disposal." LaDea Gedaliaha looked at the two soldiers.

"No. If it's a life pod it will take about two years, a private vessel like Alan's ships would take about eight months to a year. A military ship or even one of the newer models would get there in less than a year."

Shala's eyes closed to slits for a moment then opened. She nodded. "It has heard your thoughts." Shala paused a moment. "It has offered…to help us ferret out these offworlders we are fighting…if we help it to get to Arnica."

LaDea Gedaliaha nodded as if she expected this. "Capt. Raziel?"

"I know Rear Admiral JoCastao, Major General Aglauros and Lord DeMonte will all be interested in sending a ship to Arnica. Let me find out if they will agree on an extra passenger. I have no doubt they will accept." Capt. Raziel bowed to the group and before exiting. "Was there more?"

"No."

As the two officers hurried down the hall, Raziel glanced over at Malchi. "So, sister, what do you think?"

"I think, our sister Zohra, has not finished her journey. It was nice to see her after so many years, though."

"Uh huh. At least she has a better job this time."

Raziel laughed. "Bian, I some how do not think chasing after Lady Alexandra is going to be any easier than keeping an eye out for her. Either she is finding trouble or trouble is finding her."

Malchi grinned. "Enough to keep the warrior blood strong in our aging sister. No?"

Both laughed.

Malchi stepped aside to let Raziel enter her quarters first. Malchi and Raziel settled in chairs while Sula waited on them. When everyone was settled, Raziel nodded to Sula and she settled in her pose to began a link with one of her sisters who was with Major General Aglauros. Sula nodded that the link was made.

"A sentient of this planet has offered assistance to direct us to the whereabouts of the offworders if we provide it with transportation to Arnica, where the shamans believe Lady Alexandra and Major Zohra are headed," Raziel explained softly.

Sula's eyebrow rose but did not show any other emotion.

The wait seemed long and both women were napping when Sula took a deep breath, signaling she was ending her communication with her sibling.

In Sula's immediate family there were five sisters and two brothers and they all shared an uncanny telepathic connection that could not be interfered with by an outsider. The siblings offered their services to Naboths Vine with the agreement that whatever they participated in would not endanger any of them. They were scattered to keep up a communication link with spots considered high priority.

"It has been agreed by those with the authority to allow the Sha'Kar to travel to Arnica on the new ship, Catching Butterflies."

"When this is finished…I shall request a long vacation." Lt. Malchi told her companions seriously.

"You and a lot of others." Capt. Raziel laughed.

"Yeah. It is an interesting adventure to think about. I would like to get back to my warm bath and hopefully, uninterrupted sleep. I bid you both pleasant dreams."

***

Chapter 38

"Come!"

The door made a sibilant hiss as it slid open. The group that entered shared a suppressed excitement that Lord DeMonte recognized. It was the excitement of exploring the unexplored and interacting with new species. The political powers in the known galaxies were still adjusting to their own borders that were expanding and had not set out any long distant explorations, aside from companies that wished to make a profit on frontier settlement.

Forty-seven officers stood before him. They represented the crew of over a thousand that were from both the Collective and what had once been called the Committee. The new organization had not voted on a name yet nor completed selecting new members. Some of the members Lord DeMonte did not trust while others he felt he knew too little to be trusting the life of his sister/cousin with. Lord DeMonte had little experience with the Collective except through intermediaries and his brief meetings recently on Merker's Outpost.

The crew for Catching Butterflies was in their last stages of preparation. This meeting was merely a formality with the security officers, to reaffirm the purpose of the mission. The crew was composed of military and nonmilitary personal, to report on the condition of Arnica, halt Alan's soldiers and see if any damage control measures would have to be made.

"Reporting for duty, High Counsel." Newly promoted Captain Melchi, head of the infantry security team, moved one step forward from the others then stepped back in line.

Si'en from the Counsel of the Rings rose from the table. It was agreed he would represent all parties that had interests in this ship's business. The Counsel of Rings was the highest authority in dealing with matters between the various galaxy political parties.

"You have your orders, Captain Melchi. Render Alan Fermin's metrasoldiers harmless and bring back as many as you can, clean up whatever mess you can without creating a worse problem…and return safely. My heart to your hearts."

The group moved out of the room. Their excited talk was cut off as the counsel doors shut behind them.

Lord DeMonte did not want any more continued talk with Lady Varina whose presence made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, nor to be cornered by C'hi A, from another group that he did not trust. Their doubled efforts of cornering him before the meeting, thus preventing him from talking to Lady Ja,uma, had him suspicious. He escaped quickly behind the departing crew, and moving in the opposite direction down the hall. He closed the emergency stairwell door behind him, and grabbing the banister, took the stairs down, two at a time.

He was on the next level waiting for the elevator that part of the crew was on. The door opened and Captain Melchi, her first and second officers and a few of her crew were standing in the elevator silent, as if the stopping of the elevator halted their conversation.

Lord DeMonte stepped in and inserted a key. The car resumed its movement to the next stop. The group got off and crowded into a small room.

"Well, what did you find?"

"There are twelve spies among the officers and about fifty-six among the crew. However, we don't know if they are along to do harm."

"Was everyone checked for chips?"

Captain Melchi nodded. "With the new information we have, we can scan for them easily. They will all be replaced tonight." She frowned. "I sure hope those officers haven't figured out yet that this ship is more than a deep space science vessel."

Lord DeMonte shook his head. "The Collective has been working on it for only a short time. The added technology is donated by the Guardian on Merker's Outpost as a thank you for putting his cities back on line without Alan's virus. We haven't seen the likes of this stuff so you shall be testing it too."

Captain Melchi nodded.

"It's time I left. May you ride the tides safely and good health to you all."

"We shall bring her back safely, Lord DeMonte."

A quick grin appeared on his face. "Likely it will be that she brings herself back."

The others laughed.

***

That night, the ship took off early, leaving behind the unwanted members and stopping off after a few gate hops, to pick up their replacements.

After a month of doing a shake-down and getting acquainted with their new ship and 'toys' the entire crew was in their sleep pods for the rest of the ride. The Sha'Kar moved alone in the corridors and rooms, pinning for a friend. They would be in stasis for six stan months, slower than what they would have liked to go, but the Sha'Kar might be harmed moving faster.

Behind them, they left Merker's Outpost secured and back into private hands, with a new group of scientists arriving to work on moving metrapeople back into their own productive lives. Dr. Sharon Teal headed the team. There was still a scattering of fighting going on around what once was called Collective space. They were planning on reassembling in three stan months as the United Cooperative. One of the first big issues on the table was reviewing the requirements of closed planets to become members of interstellar travel.

***

END

To be continued in Arnica.