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Starlight Gleaming Ch. 15

Assassins, and then Sparanztlo, the Seventh Hell

by T.J.Skywind ©

Please note that this chapter contains some very dark elements, including sections of indirectly describing torture and non-consensual male on male anal rape.

While I am not personally a fan of BDSM, I am aware enough to know that those practitioners are generally ethical in their behavior to their partners; a dominant-top recognizes and respects the concept of a "safe" word, and understands that losing control is a serious, potentially life-threatening issue, one that may require intervention. (Thank you, writer Jerry Stahl and actress Melinda Clarke for Lady Heather from the TV series CSI. 'Pirates of the Reich' caused me a lot of clarifying introspection.)

Torture, on the other hand, is simply and purely evil. And underneath all the lies told to justify its use, those who practice torture do so to indulge their inhuman desire for unadulterated cruelty. The inclusion of such scenes are not for shock value but to convey the dangers of unregulated power; when torture is allowed, compassion is the first casualty, and restraint and justice quickly follow. Survival itself under such rule becomes a matter of luck or caprice.

There is also a section where a frank discussion of a character's past incest experiences takes place. It is clearly marked.

For those made uncomfortable by such literary images, feel free to skim or skip the offending section, or simply wait for the next chapter, which I hope will be exciting, engaging, and satisfying for those following this series of tales.

For those in the service, especially the US military, I am quite aware that when one says soldier, that means army. Those in the navy are sailors, not soldiers; a marine is a marine (and always a marine); those in the air force are airmen (even though they were once the army air force), and those in the coast guard are coasties.

In the Empire of Chimorro, all the military services are part of the Warrior social caste. Even an enlisted person who was born into the Free Farmer Caste socially outranks a Guild Caste whil"e on ac"tive duty. (Guild Caste is the highest common, or non-noble rank in the Empire. Remember, enlisted military service is the means for upward social mobility.) While the various Imperial services recognize the differences between their branches, even to fostering rivalry as to which is the best branch, the shared social caste means more than any differences between the various branches of service. If someone says that those of the different branches are 'all soldiers of the Empire', and while individually someone may feel their branch is better than the other services, the phrase is readily recognized as a reference to the more important shared social caste.

* * *

Thanks to my reader, gyfurune, who helps catch my mistakes. My debt to him continues to grow. Any errors that slip through are my own.

Summary

The humanoid reptilian draconians use personal cloaking technology that allows them to either become invisible or to disguise themselves as any human they wish to mimic. The cloaking also acts as a personal body shield, protecting them from most projectile weapons. The draconians are allies to the Aesir-Vedans, one of the three pre-eminent world powers. The other two are Atlantis and the Empire of Chimorro.

Captain Janetta Tlacotli, Ranji's lover, barely survived the attempt on her life by a draconian assassin, and managed to thwart the self-destruct mechanism, allowing the Empire to capture the technology. Attacking the Imperial research facility outright would provoke war with the Greys and their Atlantean allies, as well as other alien races.

Arjun Kandikan is getting too close to understanding how to create and manipulate energy fields. Even no longer working, the captured draconian technology will radically speed the process to the Empire creati"ng its o"wn defensive field technology.

To punish Arjun for leaving Veda and to sabotage the Empire's efforts, the draconians have initiated their plan to kill both father and son together."

"Ranji Kandikan, Senior Lieutenant in the Imperial Air Service, has left his family at High Guard "War" Base under the pretense of visiting his parents; his immediate goal is thwarting the assassination plot to kill his father, Arjun Kandikan. And regardless of how successful the rescue effort, afterward, Ranji must then leave for Sparantzlo, the training center for the feared Imperial Security to become an agent himself in order to protect his family—even if it puts him closer to the attention of Minister Supay, the head of Imperial Security and the most powerful man in the Empire after the Emperor, while hiding his allegiance to Itznacoco."

* * * * *

The hard jolt of the Condor's giant wheels making contact on the airfield woke me up. We'd arrived at Sentry War Base. As I stretched, scores of others did the same. It was several minutes before the huge, six-engined transport slowed to a halt. Then it turned and began to move slowly off the airfield and toward the terminal.

Standing up, I removed the ear protectors, stuffing them into the slot behind my seat. I collected my duffle bag and waited with the others to debark.

The rear ramp finally opened and we formed up into a queue to exit into the predawn summer morning, the air mixed with the smells of fuel, machines, and the ocean breeze coming from the north.

At the bottom of the ramp, three Air Security with tablets passed us through, scanning our ID cards, confirming and recording our arrival. I followed the others heading to the line of people waiting by the airport terminal. Some ran to meet loved ones. The rest of us headed into the brightly lit building for food, phones, or transportation elsewhere.

Just inside the doors, I was surprised to find Styen Topangiti and Lieutenant Bilan Monaycote waiting for me.

Delighted, I started laughing as I moved to them. "What are you two renegades doing out here at this time of morning? It's not even daylight yet."

"Waiting for my prodigal student to return home," Styen grinned. "How are you, Master Ranji?"

"Much better now," I told him. It was good to see them. I hadn't heard from either one of them since their departure from High Guard. Dropping my duffle, I gave Styen a solid hug with both arms, which he returned. Then I gave one to Bilan who also greeted me warmly. "I guess this means I don't have to rent a vehicle to get home?"

"No, sir," Bilan said, smiling at me. "We wouldn't dream of it."

Styen looked at me rakishly. "I don't know. Maybe we should make him walk. The exercise would be good for him."

Bilan gave him a conspiratorial look, his eyes merry. "Hmm. Maybe we should at that."

"It's two hundred and forty-two rads!" I exclaimed. "It would take me at least a day or two to cover that much ground."

"Ah, the sheltered life of the Imperial Air Service," Styen sighed, shaking his head dramatically. "Why, when I was in the Ground Service, we were up before dawn, and we had to walk fifteen rads just to get to the mess hall. All of it uphill, rain or shine, often with a full day-pack. After a hard day's training, it was fifteen rads, uphill, back to the barracks."

Bilan burst out laughing. "I think I was at that training center!"

Uphill both ways? I snorted in laughter.

Styen grabbed my duffle and we headed out through the terminal, then out to the parking lot. At the sedan, he tossed my bag into the back seat. I recognized it as the same one I'd ridden in during my last visit.

Styen went for the driver's side.

Pushing over my duffle, I got in the back seat behind Styen. "So how was the voyage?" I hadn't heard anything from either one of them about their journey aboard the freighter.

"A close call," Bilan answered, getting into the front passenger seat.

"Tell me what happened." I looked at Styen, then to Bilan. "I want to hear everything."

Styen powered up the ChoCac, and he began driving to the main gates.

After buckling in, Bilan partially turned to make talking easier. "Apparently the captain of the ship decided we were worth too much as slaves for him to pass up. As soon as he was a hundred rads from the port and outside the Navy's patrol radius, he turned east, bound for the slave blocks of Port Iago."

"Iago!" I exclaimed. "With a ship full of more than two thousand Chimorran citizens, and those mostly women and children. Probably to the slave farms of Iberia or the mines of K'mer. Greedy bastard! What did you do?"

Bilan nodded at my assessment. "They knew we were military. After all, we had the uniforms, didn't we? My squad and I were rounded up and under guard pretty fast. But then they started rounding up every man among the refugees, including servants and slaves. Then older boys. Putting them into separate holding areas. They also grabbed any woman who wasn't cowed, stowing them in another, separate cargo hold. Styen, though, managed to evade capture. Then he began taking them out. Once he reached us and freed us, it didn't take us long to seize control of the ship. I myself shot the captain in front of the crew. The third mate agreed to take us where we were supposed to go. We lost Rimanchu. A good man. Stippan and Taygatchu took serious hits, and will be out for weeks, if not longer. But at least now they are recovering at Paxilman. Only Styen, Barato, and myself escaped unscathed. We shared watch on the third mate until we reached port."

Paxilman was the Ground Service hospital at Sentry War Base, adjacent to the bustling port city of Tohingo.

"It was ugly, though, Ranji." Bilan shook his head. "Some of the sailors had pulled out some of the prettier women and were 'breaking them in.'"

"Raping them, you mean," I corrected quietly.

He nodded. "Those six, I ordered tossed over the side. The last two wouldn't go until we shot them. So we did. Then we tossed them. The ship was down to one-third crew by the time we were done, but we made it to Tohingo without further problems."

Then I saw Bilan close his eyes briefly, then swallow.

"What else?" I prompted.

Bilan looked at my former tutor, his face full of emotion. "Styen saved my Rana and my boys. The first mate had broken into our cabin. He hit Powan, who tried to defend his mother. He's only six years old! Hurt him bad. Even Mika was knocked about. But before that piece of filth actually... raped her... Styen arrived and killed him. Then he rendered first aid to my boys."

Bilan, his face and voice full of emotion, turned his gaze to our driver. "I owe Styen more than I can ever repay. I am forever in your debt, too, for sending him along. But I would rather have that debt than the alternative. Thank you, sir."

I held up my hand, pointing at the scar on my palm. "We are Warrior brothers, Bilan. I know you are trying to be respectful of my rank, but save it for formal occasions. I am your brother and you are mine. I will protect your family with all that I have, just as I know you would defend mine. Please call me Ranji."

"Ranji." Bilan nodded, smiling. "I'm still not sure why you offered to be my brother, but I seem to be in your debt. Again. You saved my Rana, and then sent your man, Styen, to keep watch over us. I am grateful, believe me. Yet I would like to understand why you go to such efforts on our behalf. Will you tell me why?"

I remembered the man who loyally stood by Melannee and myself on the beach, risking his life for her. The intensity of his love for his sons. His willingness to act honorably under desperate conditions. And that his own memories of all these things were buried, hidden by the memory alteration technology of Imperial Security, in an effort to protect him and his family from Supay's rage.

"I do it, Bilan, because I know the measure of your heart," I answered. "You are a brave Warrior, loyal and true to those you love. While I am distressed that you and the others were in danger, and that you lost a good man, I am pleased more than I can tell you that Styen was so helpful." After a short pause, I added, "Besides, Rana is a sweetheart and a gem, so if she likes you, you rotten scoundrel, your mangy hide must be worth something."

Styen burst out laughing and I joined him. Bilan blinked, and then he laughed with us. "Too true," he admitted. "She is a gem and a sweetheart, indeed. I was blessed the day she became my wife."

I blinked at that. He might never learn the irony of that sentiment.

Asking more about his boys, Bilan told me of some of their explorations of my parent's estate gushing with praise of the welcome he and his family had received.

Knowing Sentry War Base and the city quite well, Styen took the Valley Expressway, bypassing downtown Tohingo itself. In a short time, we were heading southeast through Caibo Valley, making our way toward the Shtomar Mountains and home. So close to the equator, at five hours after midnight, the eastern sky was already beginning to show the light of pre-dawn.

I yawned.

"There's more, Ranji," Bilan said. "We took the money from the captain's safe. It's a fortune. There's a hundred thousand Imperial credits in bank notes. What should we do with it?"

Stretching, I took a deep breath. "Pay for your two men at Paxilman to get nano-treatment. Set aside twenty thousand for yourself, Bilan. Give a ten-thousand share to each your men, including one for Styen. And don't argue with me about it, Styen. As long as I live, you will have a home with us. But fortunes change, and I want you to have something of your own set aside."

Styen just glanced at me in the mirror, saying nothing.

"Pass Rimanchu's portion on to his next of kin," I continued. "Give it to them with the provision they see to his proper burial - if that hasn't already been done. Make sure your men know they are not to go wild on spending, nor admit to how the money came to them. We don't know if some of that money belongs to others. Drive home the idea that we don't want to attract undue attention. That should leave around twenty thousand credits. Give it to my mother. Tell her to use the funds to help offset taking care of the refugees or however she deems best."

"It is a good plan, my brother," Bilan replied. "I thank you for your generosity."

"How else are you going to decently take care of your wife and sons on a Lieutenant's pay? Get the boys learning tablets and some nice clothes for Rana. Maybe buy some stocks toward retirement."

I felt good. To my mind, the money helped offset the madness that cost Bilan and his men their former lives.

Styen just glanced at me again. I had spent a lot of time under his tutelage, learning martial arts and equally important intangibles like honor and duty. Then he gave an approving nod before turning his attention back to the road.

Styen's approval meant a lot. I loved him like an uncle. Not only had he imparted to me some of his considerable combat skills, but his sense of duty and honor as well. Those were debts that could never be repaid but through love and devotion.

I yawned again.

Bilan noticed it. "Grab some shut eye, Ranji. We'll be back to your parent's estate in about two hours."

"All right. But first I want to know, how is that you two were there to pick me up?"

"I got a call from a Senior Sergeant Itznacoco - from Tikún of all places! I've never been there, but he said he knew you and that you were inbound with an ETA of zero-four-thirty this morning. He seemed to know all about Rana and my boys, too, asking how they were adjusting. He told me to bring Styen along. How does he know of us?"

"Probably from my personnel jacket. You are officially listed as my blood brother, Bilan." I shook my head. "Fascinating. Do either of you know why I've come here, today?"

Both men shook their heads.

"I'm apparently a secondary target, but there's a plot by the Aesir-Veda to kill Father. It's partly in revenge for leaving the Kingdom of Veda, but more because he's getting close to some important breakthroughs."

I could see I had their attention. "Father's work on energy fields is vital to the Empire. We've been exchanging secured emails since my posting to High Guard, and he's been catching me up on some of the research. In a year, maybe less, we hope to have a working shield capable of deflecting energy weapons. And that's just the beginning. Apparently the Aesir-Vedans are worried - or at least their draconian allies are. There have been eight draconians killed in the last two months that I'm aware of - all at High Guard or in nearby Capisco. Two of them died yesterday, in another attempt on me. Janetta Tlacotli, the love of my life, managed to survive the attempt to kill her, and in the process, she even prevented the auto-destruct of the draconian. Imperial Security has recovered its personal shield and camouflage technology intact."

"Holy gods, Ranji," Bilan muttered. "That's huge."

Styen voiced his agreement.

I continued. "There have been recent military advances by both Atlantis and Aesir-Veda, aided no doubt by their respective alien allies. Their engines and aircraft designs are suddenly advancing by leaps and bounds. Once they get shields and energy weapons, it will be a dark day for the Empire. Our military won't stand a chance! Mastering this captured tech, and what my father is working on, will help keep us on par with our rivals. And, it will bring us closer to the day we can challenge the Greys and draconians themselves."

"Challenging the aliens? Are you serious?" Bilan asked. "To what end?"

"The possibilities are endless, Bilan!" I answered. "Instead of taking days to travel to the moon, it will be but a matter of hours. Colonies on the other planets become possible. Soon, visits to other star systems, and even more human colonies. And that's for starters."

"Human-built starships? We're decades from that. Maybe centuries even."

"Only because the aliens are interfering. Part of that interference is this plot to kill Father. Imperial Security - by way of the Atlantean Huginn but without their knowledge or cooperation, of course - told me to expect a message about the circumstances of my birth. That expected message arrived late yesterday evening. Supposedly it was from Calia, but the sender obviously did not know she was at High Guard. I knew immediately it was a fake. But the message was designed to draw me here, and so here I am. And it also means there is at least one Aesir-Vedan agent in my parent's household, in position to kill Father. At least one."

"Are you sure about this, Master Ranji?" Styen asked. "What about Imperial Security? I thought they thoroughly check out everyone who visits or comes to work there. And if they knew about the threat, why didn't they increase the family's security?"

"I'm sure they do check everyone out. I'm just guessing, but probably to avoid letting the enemy know their plot had been uncovered. And yes, I trust the source of this information."

It was the first thing Melannee had warned me about when she and I first met. Perhaps it had been discovered by Melannee herself. Knowing her, I would not be in the least bit surprised.

"I am counting on both of you to help prevent my father's death," I told them.

"Whatever you need," Styen replied.

"A chance to fight at your side? I'm your man!" Bilan confirmed eagerly. "Do you know anything about how they plan to do it?"

"Only the trigger word. Which means the assassin or assassins might not even be aware they have been programmed to kill. Deep hypno-conditioning would be a way for someone to bypass Imperial Security scrutiny, even one using truth drugs."
"What's the trigger word?" Bilan asked.

"Persavati."

He frowned. "Is that a name? Or some foreign word?"

"It was the name of my mother's hand-maiden. She was killed shortly after I was born, by Vedan operatives trying to stop my parents from reaching the Empire. My speaking her name in front of my parents is supposed to trigger the attack."

"Don't worry, Ranji," Bilan assured me. "We will stop them."

Styen glanced in the mirror at me. "Master Ranji, are we to try to take prisoners?"

"Your practical expertise here is much greater than mine. What are your thoughts?"

"From what you've told us, it sounds like even seconds will be vital. A quick kill may be all we can manage and still save your father. And you, too. I would rather be safe than to risk either one of you."

"Any prisoner would no doubt delight Imperial Security. However, I agree with you. We take no chances with my father's life. Stun or disable if you can do so without a chance of failure. Kill if you cannot be sure."

They both nodded, then became quiet as they thought over the information I'd given them.

Taking Bilan's advice, I exhaled slowly and closed my eyes.

* * * * *

I don't know what it is, but whenever I approach home, I wake up. I know, home is High Guard, where Janetta, my daughters, and the other women I love live. Still, the home where you grow up is also home, full of its own memories. Maybe it's the play of light through the tropical trees combined with the sound of the rubber tires on the concrete road, or even the subtle turns of the road itself. Perhaps we just know deep down when we approach a place that is familiar to us?

In any event, we were only a couple of rads out when I came awake. After clearing my eyes and my throat, I spoke.

"Bilan? When we get there, I want you to go in first. Have Rana tell one of the servants that she and your boys will take their meal in their room this morning. The absence of your family will not cause suspicion, and there is no reason to endanger them. If anyone asks why, say they are spending some family time together."

"But what about you?" he asked. "If I do that, how can I be there to help you?"

"When we arrive, I'll stretch my legs. We'll wait outside about twenty minutes. Styen and I will circle around, through the garden, entering into the house through the sun room. Remember, protecting my father is top priority. If he's here, I'll wait until your arrival before I attempt anything. If he's not there, we'll talk after the meal and make follow up plans."

Bilan looked at me, then nodded. "As you wish, Ranji. Thank you for this honor, this chance of helping to protect your family. May the gods smile on us this day."

Styen pulled up by the garage and shut off the engine. Bilan immediately headed inside while Styen stood watching me stretch. Shaking his head as he heard my body make popping noises.

"You still have the stunner?" I asked him.

"In my jacket pocket, fully re-charged," he replied. "You are moving like an old man, Master Ranji. Whatever is the matter with you?"

"Except for a couple of nights, I haven't had a good night's rest in weeks. Tonight, it was three hours in the Condor and another two sitting up in the back seat of the ChoCac. Seems like every time I turned around, someone was getting hurt. And by the gods, there's always so much to do." Continuing my stretches, I told him about the break-in the night before, and Anton's injury.

Styen's face was incredulous. "Three Atlantean riffraff broke into your house? How in the world did they get onto an Imperial War base? How did they get past gate security?"

So I quickly filled him in on Commander Voyacherno, the two attempts on me, and the other recent events.

Styen was right, though. My body was tight and fidgety. I needed a long, hot shower, a deep massage, and a couple of days of solid sack time. And a lot more regular exercise. Not that I'd really get any decent sleep, mind you, missing Janetta, my girls, and the other women. Noticing I had trouble putting my palms flat onto the ground, I frowned.

I saw his disapproving look, and I nodded. "I know, I know. Whatever I say is just an excuse. The one thing I can control is myself, and I need to take the time to keep myself in shape."

As we started around the main building, Styen asked, "Do you need me to return to High Guard while you're gone?"

"Yes, please. I would really appreciate you being there. Plus, it would allow Anton to return here to his wife. Janetta's a straight-up hard-ass in a fight, but she can't do it alone. The rest of them will fight given the chance, but they don't have the training or the experience to respond quickly. And Calia, Nariya, and my daughters are helpless."

"Don't be so quick to write off Calia. She's kept up her exercises. If cornered, she can defend herself."

"She knows the skills, but I've never seen her use them against another person. And even if she did, she'd grieve afterward over the violence."

"But she would be alive," he assured me.

Turning the corner, we followed the building until it was met by tall, wooden fencing.

"Ixma and Sisi have had one practice session on the first Jaguar kata. So if you go back, helping them begin regular self-defense training would be appreciated."

"It would be an honor," he said, smiling.

He unlocked the gate and we entered the garden. While Styen locked it again, I scanned around, taking in the tropical herbs and flowers that my mother spent so much time managing and cultivating. She kept three gardeners busy full time. Of course, there were many changes from the last time I was there. And yet it all somehow seemed the same.

We entered the main house, sliding open the sun room's large glass door.

My mother and Muni, her primary personal maid, entered at almost the same instant.

"Ranji!" my mother exclaimed, holding out her arms as she advanced on me. "It's so good to see you! I've missed you so much, my son."

Kissing her cheek, I embraced her, savoring the comfort her arms gave me. "It's good to see you, too, Mother. How are you? And how's Father?"

"I'm fine, and he's here, finishing his breakfast. I decided to take a chance and wait until you arrived so I could eat with you. I really am pleased to see you! When your father learned last night you were coming today for a short visit, he made arrangements to stay home. Just for you, you scamp!"

Then she narrowed her deep brown eyes. "Just how long is a short visit, my son? And Grandchildren! I want you to tell me - from your own lips, mind you! - all about these two girls you have adopted. What are they like? How did it come about? Did you bring them along? I am eager to meet them."

To emphasize her point, she looked around me for any small girl children I might have tried to sneak past her vigilance.

I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm not exactly sure how long the visit will be, Mother." Then I took a deep breath, the danger to my father demanding my attention. "I hope it will be a few days. I don't know. A lot depends on what happens today."

"It is good to hear you laugh, but now you look so serious. What troubles you, my son?"

I looked at Muni, my mother's handmaid. She was my mother's trusted servant, and her companion for more than ten years. It was just the four of us present. Perhaps I was being paranoid, but the draconian camouflage technology nagged at me.

"It will all become clear very soon. Come, let's go see Father."

"I want to go into the garden first, to gather some orchids for the table. You go ahead. I'll only be a moment-"

Grasping her arm, I shook my head. "Surely that can wait until afterward? Please."

Startled, she looked at my hand firmly gripping her wrist, taking in Styen's impassive face, then looking at me.

"I'm sorry, Mother. That was rude of me." I released her. "Shall we take breakfast together?"

"As you wish, Son," she quietly replied.

I stepped back, gesturing with my arm. "After you, please."

Muni paused to follow behind me, but I shook my head. "You first."

Styen quietly pulled up the rear.

As we strode through hallways toward the center of the house, nervous tension built within me. Even though the temperature inside was cool, I began to sweat.

Entering the dining room, I saw my father in his usual place at the head of the table. The remains of his breakfast were just being cleared. Seeing us enter, he set down his hot tea and newspaper, rising up. Mother reached him first, and they lightly kissed.

"No flowers, Shanti?" Then he whispered, "Shona. My love."

"Pyar shir. My precious tiger," she breathed, touching her forehead to his as he clasped her hand into both of his. For a second, deep affection was mirrored between them before hiding once again behind propriety. "Ranji's just arrived, so I've decided to wait to get fresh flowers until after breakfast. I want to hear his news."

Pulling out her chair beside his own, she smiled as he helped her sit next to him. Then he turned to me, holding out his arms. "It's good to see you, my son!"

"I've missed you, too, Father. You and Mother both."

We hugged briefly, then I moved to my usual place at the other end of the table. I found myself glancing around for Calia to enter and take her place beside me. Focus, I reminded myself.

Seated again, my father replaced his cloth napkin onto his lap. I saw him smile knowingly at me. "I half expected to see her, too. Calia is where she should be, taking care of you and your home. Things are working out with her there?"

"They are, indeed," I replied. "She and Anton have been invaluable. I've asked Styen to go back to High Guard so that Anton can return here."

Muni poured tea for my mother, then stood against the wall, out of the way. Sometimes in private, Muni took her meals with my mother, but never when there were guests present.

At that moment, Bilan entered the room. Spotting me, he took the nearest chair beside mine.

Mother smiled at his entrance. "Our dashing young Lieutenant. Thank you for driving half the night to bring our son home. We are in your debt."

"Styen did the driving, Lady Shanti. I just kept him company. And I was happy to do it," Bilan replied.

"Where's Rana? Surely your charming wife and your handsome boys be joining us?"

"They are indisposed at the moment. A bit later, perhaps." Bilan glanced at me.

"Nothing serious, I hope?" Mother queried.

"They are just taking their morning meal privately this morning," he answered evasively.

Frowning briefly, Mother glanced at me, then carefully sipped her hot tea. I could see her curiosity, but she politely left it at that.

I scanned around. Aside from Muni, there was the young servant girl I'd seen during my last visit home. She gave my father a refill of his tea. Beechan, another long-time servant, stood by the serving cart. Styen positioned himself near the large windows, close to my father, dividing his attention between the room and keeping watch outside the large windows.

The young girl filled Bilan's cup, and then mine. Hot, black tea with milk and cardamom filled the air. The familiar scents infused me with calm.

"Bilan, I find their absence a real deprivation," Mother said at last. "Your sons are so well behaved, and they remind me how much I miss the sounds of happy children running about. But since Ranji's here, I sincerely hope he will satisfy my curiosity about my new grandchildren."

I did not miss my mother's piercing gaze pointed in my direction.

"I wrote to Father about Sisi and Mina, asking him to share the information with you," I replied. My father nodded at that. "I sent along the only pictures I have of them. Calia and Ixma have had newer ones taken, and I've asked Calia to send copies to you as soon as she's able to do so."

Mother shook her head. "Ranji, that's not acceptable. You've written very briefly about them, but I have yet to see them or even talk to them on the telephone. You have formally adopted them, giving them our House name. What do their names mean?"

"Sisi is the Tacanan word for happiness. And she certainly seems to embody that. Mina is Sharanahuan for butterfly."

"Sisi Kandikan. Mina Kandikan." Mother said them slowly, testing how the words fell from her lips. Then she shook her head. "Ranji, I won't be satisfied until I hear their voices and hold them in my arms. Until then, they won't be real to me."

"What would you have of me?" I asked her.

"I want to hear how this all came about. And who is this Ixma? The last time you were here, you talked about how much you were in love with a woman named Janetta. Have you a new lover now?"

Beechan prepared dishes for my mother and set it in front of her, then returned to his place beside the cart. Mother nodded her thanks at him.

"Ixma is Mina's adoptive mother," I explained. I had already written about all this to Father, and I'd no doubt he'd shared it with her earlier. "Zinja is mother to Ixma and has adopted Sisi."

Breakfast was a delight. Masala eggs, with slices of avocado and sour cream. A large spoonful of blueberries with slices of papaya on the side. At both ends of the table were baskets filled with hot, freshly-made parathas, covered by a small towel to keep them warm. A bowl with soft butter beside them.

"There are two different women who are mothers to my granddaughters? That would make..."

"Sisi is Mina's aunt, yes."

Beechan placed food before Bilan and me. I suddenly realized I had completely missed dinner the night before. I also realized that things wouldn't happen until I myself provoked them. During basic and more so during the survival courses, we learned the maxim: eat when you can and sleep when you can, because you never know when you'll be short of either.

Picking up a fork, I dug in. Flavors and spices, hot and cool together going down was exquisite. I made pleased noises while I quickly reduced the portion on my plate. Eating fast was also quickly learned in boot.

"Ranji?" Mother prompted. "What about that Janetta you raved about? How did you meet these two? And are you... being intimate with... both of them?"

My father sipped his tea, his eyes on me. Carefully setting down his cup, he just nodded. He, too, wanted to hear the tale.

"Janetta is my love, the woman who fires my heart. Zinja, Cholan, and Ixma are Janetta's flight crew."

"So you're still together with this Janetta?"

I nodded, my mouth full. Swallowing, I said, "As long as she'll have me. For my part, I'm completely in love with her."

"But why isn't Janetta their mother?"

"She didn't know about them until after the girls were adopted. She was in the hospital when I adopted the girls. Janetta wasn't happy about it at first, but she's coming around." I remembered Sisi giving Janetta her magic hug, and Janetta's adroit handling of Sisi's attempt to finagle three cookies. Although, come to think of it, Sisi did get that third cookie!

I scooped up another bite. I was making good headway on my plate.

"How is she handling Calia's presence? Is she treating her well?"

I nodded. "She and Calia have an understanding. Janetta made sure I had some time with Calia and Ixma before I left last night."

Mother coughed as she tried to swallow. "Excuse me? So you are intimate with this Ixma as well? And your Janetta is okay with this? Three women are -"

"Five," I corrected.

"Five?" she repeated. "You're... you're... I'm sure I don't know what to say to that, Ranji. Arjun! Our son has acquired a... a harem!"

My father gave me an odd look, like he wasn't sure if he should be proud of me or shocked or a mixture of both.

Styen knew about the situation, but hadn't had time to learn the circumstances. And Bilan, too, was curious.

"I didn't set out that way, Mother, I assure you. It just happened." I grabbed my second paratha, using it to collect eggs for another bite. "Janetta has my heart, and Calia will always have a place with me. Zinja and Ixma are now mothers to my girls, so I am bound separately to them as well. And Cholan, well, she's dear to me, too. I love them all, in different ways, but love them I do."

"How does sleeping with five different women just happen, Son?" she asked tersely.

"Zinja, Cholan, and Ixma are Janetta's flight crew. They service her aircraft and help keep her safe. When they were living in Tikún, they had some protection because they lived in the Women's Barracks. But at High Guard, we live together in one house. While Janetta keeps them all pretty busy, they are more vulnerable. I marked Ixma first, partly because she was with me, but partly because as a corporal, she was the lowest ranking member of Janetta's crew and the most vulnerable."

"You... marked her? What does that mean, Ranji?" Mother looked alarmed. "Tell me that's not some sort of tattoo like slaves get!"

So I explained how wearing the neckerchief of an officer gave the enlisted women some protection from being forced into sex by other enlisted and even some officers, based on the rank pins on the neckerchief.

To my mother's puzzled expression, Bilan confirmed my words. "In the military, because we wear our rank for all to see, a man knows instantly the status of the woman he encounters. A woman of lower rank can be ordered to submit to sex and has no recourse but to obey the order. An enlisted woman who can find an officer as her lover benefits from his rank, even when he's not there to protect her. In fact, because the woman's status is so readily known, a woman being ordered to have sex happens a lot more often than among the civilian population."

After sipping her tea, Mother looked at me. "So these neckerchiefs 'mark' them as belonging to you?"

I nodded, taking a long drink of my own tea. The cardamon and black leaves smelled heavenly. "Yes, they do. My name's not on the neckerchief, but my rank is. But to add credence, I gave them each charge cards to my account, so that if they need to get things, I don't have to be there. The cards have my name and theirs. Even Janetta has one - though that took some persuasion. She's a proud and independent woman."

"Well, I'm not sure that was a wise thing, Ranji! Is this a separate account you created for them? Oh, tell me it's not full access to your personal account! You're not married to a single one of them!"

Even my father raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Mother, they've had the cards for almost two months, and I trust them. Correction. I trust them with my life, Mother. Each one of them. They are fiercely loyal to Janetta, and they have come to love me, and I have come to love them in return."

I remembered Cholan's heartfelt declaration that after our first time having sex that I'd made her feel like a human being. Ixma's astonished, heartfelt joy experiencing gentle love. Zinja's resistance born out of loyalty to her officer followed by her eagerly taking me as her lover.

"All right, Ranji. Obviously you feel strongly about it. But this marking them, surely that didn't mean you had to have sex with them?"

I chuckled. "Of course it did. Janetta insisted on sharing me because her honor demanded it. She refused to let them wear the neckerchiefs without there being a real relationship to back it up. She is a Warrior and to her, that means she does not lie. If I wasn't sleeping with them and that fact came out, it would be a serious matter for all of us. And all three women are happy with the arrangements. You have to understand, too, that as much I would love to marry Janetta - and yes, I feel that strongly about her - she can't get married without having to leave the service. She lives to fly jets, and I love her too much to take that away from her. If I foolishly even tried, all I would do is alienate all four of them. To marry any of the others would force them to leave the military, and that would cause a hardship to Janetta, as she would have to replace them. Janetta, too, rightly points out that as officers, we too are at the beck and call of those of higher rank."
My mother flushed. "Do you mean that you have had to -"

"While at Tikún, Janetta was required to submit almost daily, and sometimes more than once. I've had to be with those of higher rank as well. As a woman, and more, as a beautiful woman, Janetta has had to endure it a lot more than I ever had to deal with. I became aware, too, of how many in my own unit endured in silence. Which is why when I got my own command a couple of months ago, I issued the first Unit Protection Order."

To her puzzled look, I explained, "It's an order forbidding forced sex between other members of the unit, regardless of rank, and includes their civilian spouses and family members. Consensual sex is allowed, but ordering another to submit is no longer allowed within the unit. Now, those outside the unit - if they are of higher rank, they are not bound by the order, but without question it gives people the option to say no. More important, it gets them thinking that it's no longer a given right. Several other units have also adopted the order, and it's growing in popularity, with a lot of men supporting it, too. Yes, there's resistance, and in some cases, it's quite vigorous. Still, it's a price I am willing to pay."

Mother looked at Father before returning her attention back to me. "How many others have become protected by this Order of yours?"

"The commander of my associated unit has two companies - a few hundred people. Some of the units are small. Janetta's commander has amended his previous orders about Janetta so as to make it affect the other women in his unit, but that's another hundred or so. A marine lieutenant heard about the order, talked about it with his wife, and issued the order for his own company. Probably the most influential, though, is Commander Barankoshto of the 67th Armored and commander of the 1st brigade. She is well liked, and she's issued it for those under her command. That's another fifteen hundred. Chances are it will spread to the rest of her division. People are talking about the Protection Orders, Mother! The main effect is to treat forced sex as the crime of rape, the equivalent of assault. Morale in those units adopting the Order has been amazingly positive."

I remembered the bus of women who helped us move into our new home, and their shouting out, "Llam Nuqan - we work together". The sheer love and admiration in Janetta's words last night, talking about how much the Protection Order meant to her.

"Words elude me, Son," my mother said, then giving my suddenly smiling father a warning look before continuing. "On the one hand, I'm appalled by your living situation. I am eagerly looking forward to meeting your new daughters, but five women! Some would say you are overly enjoying your male privilege. I believe you when you say they are willing. I believe you feel you are acting honorably, and I trust you, my son. Still, I will feel better when I can see for myself how you and they interact. Yet this other news you bring is remarkable. Fantastic even! If enough people in the military adopt this Protection Order of yours, it could filter out to the other castes! Imagine, women having the right to say no. That's... words escape me, my son."

"That's the hope," I agreed.

My father burst out laughing as I realized what I'd said.

"No, no! What I meant was I hope it spreads," I protested.

My mother looked shocked for several seconds, then glared at my father.

"Not that you... oh, gods. I am truly sorry, Mother." I bowed my head.

"Don't blame him, Shanti. Look at the boy. See the dark circles under his eyes? He looks exhausted."

Mother looked back to me, and her face softened. She appeared about to say something, but my father added in, "Still, it was pretty funny."

She whirled. "Arjun! That is not very nice of you."

"Agreed," he chuckled. "But who else can I tease and talk to if not you? And you know that I absolutely adore you."

Narrowing her eyes at him, she said, "Arjun, I love you. But right now I don't like you very much."

"I promise to make it up to you later," he said with a smile.

"Ranji, you I forgive. Your father is right. You do look tired, and now I will worry more about you. Calia should be taking care of you. I will talk with her about this. But the news you bring about these Protection Orders, it fills me with such pride and such love. I am very aware that I enjoy a life filled with privilege and protection, and that when my husband isn't laughing at my expense, he truly is a good man."

"There it is." My father grinned.

Ignoring him, she continued. "What prompted you to do this?"

"You did. You and Father. I grew up seeing how it could be - no, how it should be between a man and woman, a husband and wife. Janetta, too - seeing a bit into what she's had to endure for simply being a woman. I keep hearing how a woman can't fight, but a woman can shoot as well as a man. And Janetta's aerial combat ratings are incredible. I saw her and her crew forced, Mother. It changed me. Made all the things I knew in my heart that were wrong and made it personal. With the way things are now, half of our potential as a nation, as a people is locked away. Until women are on a parity with men, the Empire will never reach its full potential, and its people will never be truly happy."

Bilan turned to me. "You are my brother. I have seen this, and turned my eyes away. You have not. I hope to refill our decimated company with some recruits from Sentry War Base. For my Rana and for my sons, I will issue my own Unit Protection Order at the next opportunity."

"This morning you asked why we are brothers. This is why, Bilan. This is why."

I decided that it was time to deal with the matter at hand. Stopping the assassins. I pushed my plate away, setting my napkin onto the table beside it.

"Shall we retire to the lounge?" Mother asked. "You've given us a great deal of news, but I want to know more details and my rear is tired of this chair. I want something with a bit more give to it while we visit."

"Yes, the reason for my visit. I need to discuss that with the both of you, right now." I gave meaningful looks to Styen and Bilan, both of whom took note.

"Are you going back to that War Base after your visit with us?" Mother shifted in her seat. She wanted us to move, but so far, her desire to not miss a word was overriding her sense of comfort.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I have a training assignment afterward."

"How long will you be away?"

"At least ten weeks. Maybe more."

"That's a hundred days, Ranji, almost a third of a year!" Mother took a sip of her tea, long since cold, frowned at it, and set it back onto the table.

"Trust me, Mother. I and they all know that. While am glad to see you both, there is a reason why I came, and why it was at such short notice. Late yesterday I got a strange, disturbing email."

My father had picked up his newspaper, but then set it down again.

Bilan's hand moved under the table, slowly inching toward the heavy stunner in his holster. I unhooked the strap on my Talon, and flipped off the safety.

"Supposedly this message was from Calia," I began. "That in itself was quite odd. Calia is now living with me. Why would she send me a message when she could simply wait until I got home from work? Even more puzzling was that it was so poorly written. Still, all those things are irrelevant. The important part was the message itself. It stated that you are not my mother, but that my real mother was Persavati, your-"

The effect was immediate.

Shrieking, the young serving girl grabbed a knife from the table and charged around the table toward my father. More immediate to my mind was Muni, who snatched up a knife from the table, and being so close, stabbed my mother in her side.

"Rakshasa kuttiya! Randi backarchodu! Marana, bhula se deva!" Muni hissed. "Demon bitch! Whore fucker of goats! Die, forgotten by God!"

The look on Mother's face! I didn't know if it was the pain of the blade or the words that cut deeper.

Styen moved, and with two quick blows, deftly felled the girl, and then grappled with Muni.

I started to rise when I got plowed from behind. Beechan drew a very sharp dagger and moved to bury it within me. Bilan reached over me, using one hand to keep the knife away from me, while the other pointed the heavy stunner and fired point blank. To no effect. I saw the flare of golden sparkles and my guts went cold.

With a swing from his other hand, the draconian easily knocked Bilan away.

"Haramzadi! Bastard child!" he growled at me. "All your gloating will come to nothing! All your plans will become dust. After I kill you I will eat your children and enslave your women. Keep them chained and naked. I will fuck them every day, and they will curse the day they ever met you!"

With one hand, I tried to hold back the dagger, but the draconian was stronger. Before he could add his other hand to the blade, I managed to put the pistol against Beechan's guts. Sparing it a disdainful glance, he actually laughed. "Stupid monkey-"

I fired. Over and over.

He looked shocked as the fleshettes tore into his guts. Then he tried using his weight to drive the dagger into my chest. I lifted the muzzle higher and fired again. Beechan jerked, his claws suddenly ripping into my arm. I gave him two more rounds.

Anger crossed his face, then disbelief as his grip weakened. "No. Impossible!"

I forced my leg in between us and kicked him away. He lay there, twitching. Standing up, I put three shots into his head.

"Shanti!" my father cried. "Shanti, don't leave me!"

Coming around the table, I saw the girl and Muni lying motionless on the floor.

Blood soaked Mother's right side, the knife still embedded in her ribs. My father held her in his arms, cradling her, tears falling. Styen examined her wound.

I kneeled by Styen. "How bad is it?"

"Bad," Styen replied. Reaching up to the table, he grabbed more cloth napkins and pressed down, packing them around the wound. "We dare not remove it in case it's hit an artery."

My father gave me a helpless, despairing look before focusing back on his wife. "Oh, my love, my Shanti."

Bilan stood next to me. One side of his face was darkening from the blow he'd taken. "Ranji?"

"Secure the girl and Muni, Bilan. Metal cuffs, not plastic restraints." Reaching to my belt, I handed him my own. "Use truth drugs, whatever you need to do, but don't let them die or commit suicide. I want to know how they got to Muni, and how this girl passed inspection! And where's the rest of the damned security?"

"Ranji, she really needs a hospital," Styen said. "She's bleeding too much."

"Then let's go!" I snapped.

He shook his head. "The clinic in Ofiya has limited facilities, and half the time, the doctor is out on house calls. The nearest hospital is in Tohingo. Paxilman and the civilian hospital both have Nano-Treatment facilities there. But they are over two hours away. I don't think she'll make the trip."

"What about the Sunskipper?" I demanded.

My father shook his head. "That's no good, Son. The pilot is away on leave."

"I can pilot the shuttle!"

Hope suddenly filled Father's face. "That's right! You can!"

"You need to move, Lord Kandikan," Styen told him. "I need to come around and pick her up from the other side so I don't jostle the knife."

"No, I will carry her, Styen." Leaning down carefully, he lifted her up into his arms. Pale and unconscious, my mother suddenly appeared fragile, even frail.

Just then, a Ground Service corporal entered the room. "My Lord, the servant Beechan has been found... in a closet - Holy gods!" He lifted his radio microphone. "Alert! Alert! There's been an attack inside the main house. Main Dining Room! Lady Kandikan appears badly injured. Some servants have also been injured. We need the Medico Sergeant here immediately!"

Outside, a distant klaxon began.

The shuttle bay was offset from the main house, built into the hillside behind and beneath the main residential structure. I led the way as we hurried through to the rear annex, where I accessed the coded elevator that would take us down. Bilan and the corporal kept pace, squeezing in with us. The elevator descended.

The doors opened and we moved from behind the blast wall and into the main hangar proper. In the center was the Sunskipper, a sub-orbital shuttle, and the most advanced aircraft known to Chimorran aerospace. It is a joy to fly. The main body of the shuttle is built fairly low to the ground, needing only a short ramp to enter the passenger-cargo area. The Sunskipper didn't have a great deal of range, but with one turbine under each wing and one at the rear, it is amazingly fast. And right now, speed mattered a great deal.

None of the maintenance crew appeared to greet us. In addition to the pilot, normally there were a minimum of four men assigned to care for the aircraft.

Hustling ahead of the others, I opened up the main door of the shuttle and entered first. With some quick adjustments, four seats quickly converted to a railed bed. My father gently laid my mother down and settled in next to her.

Unhooking my weapon belt, I handed my pistol and its spare clips to Bilan. "The fleshettes are the only thing we've found that's effective against draconian body shields. Take it."

"What should I do? And what about you?" he asked. "And what will you do for protection?"

"Stay here, Bilan. Protect your family. Interrogate the prisoners. I need you to find out how that draconian got into our home!"

Styen looked at me. "I should come along. Your father and mother will need protection."

I nodded. "Strap Mother down, then both of you get belted in. You need to leave, Bilan, right now. We'll be back as soon as we can. Maybe you can salvage some of that breakfast for your wife and boys."

He smiled grimly as I guided him out. "Good luck, Ranji! To you and your mother."

"Get clear of the shuttle, at least thirty feet. Behind that barrier near the door is best. I'm going to crank up the engines and then hit sky. The jet wash, if it catches you, will throw you against the wall like you were a rag doll. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir!" He buckled on the Talon, saluted, and hurried to the protected part of the shuttle bay, physically hauling the protesting corporal along with him.

I secured the door, then moved to the pilot's seat. I didn't have time for a pre-flight or external exam. Protocol was that it was supposed to be kept ready to go at a moment's notice. Hopefully, no one had interfered with that protocol.

Slipping on the headset and securing the seat harness, I started flipping switches. Banks of light flickered on. There was a deep hum, and with another switch, the engines ignited and deep rumbling could be felt throughout the craft. The next switches started up the internal air system, and fired up the maneuvering jets. Reaching up, I flipped on one entire bank of avionics - the ID beacon, ECM, ECCM, MAWS or Missile Advanced Warning System, radar, and the transponder visible to civilian air traffic. Power and fuel read one hundred percent. All systems were active and good to go.

"Styen, is Mother strapped down?" I began rotating the shuttle, and tapped the remote to open the bay doors.

"Yes."

"You both buckled in?"

"Yes," they informed me.

As the bay doors widened, a squad of Ground Service swarmed into view, waving weapons. I switched the external speaker. "Clear the shuttle bay! Emergency medical departure! Clear the flight path or I will run you over! On my mark, take off in fifteen seconds! Mark!"

Bilan added his own shouting, ordering and waving the soldiers out of the way.

Out of the big bubble windows on the far side, I saw legs on the ground, poking out from around some crates. One of the crew?

Using the speakers again, I called out, "Bilan! Once we're airborne, check the hangar for the flight crew. I can see a body."

He gave me the hand signal for message received. I disengaged the outside speakers.

The restraining cable was still in place, but I also locked the brakes as I carefully opened up the throttle to the halfway mark. The sound in the bay became a deafening roar as the engines screamed to life. Soldiers covered their ears, grimacing at the noise, finally deciding it was better to run clear of the hangar doors.

A second glance to confirm. Fuel tanks full. Power readings - normal.

Raising the flaps, I hit the release. Catapulting forward, we burst out from the shuttle bay as the energy slammed us back into the seats. Pulling back on the wheel, we lifted, and within hundred feet, we were fully airborne. Up came the landing gear as I engaged the HUD. Then I began radio communications as I scanned the sky around us.

"Sentry War Base Control Tower, this is Sunskipper 2, come in. Sunskipper 2 calling Sentry War Base. Come in, please."

Keeping low, I kept the shuttle less than five hundred feet above the tree line, hugging the surface as close as I dared.

"This is Sentry Control. No flight plans are on file, Sunskipper 2. Please identify nature of flight and pilot."

"Sunskipper 2 with a medical emergency. Lady Kandikan, wife of Lord Arjun Kandikan, injured by knife wound and bleeding heavily. She is aged forty-six. Injury site is center of right, possibly lower lung or liver. She is in need of immediate medical attention. Repeat, in need of immediate medical attention. Please have medevac transport waiting for our arrival. Pilot ident, Senior Lieutenant Ranji Kandikan, serial one-two-four-chan-kay-seven-seven-qwa-mun. Medical emergency, requesting priority clearance." I glanced at the dash chronometer and calculated. "ETA to Sentry is eight minutes."

Radar and MAWS suddenly gave me fourteen separate tones. Images populated the HUD. Sentry War Base was first to show, and then others blinked in, filling the screen.

The second was from a UFO on my left rear, rising up from the ground, hovering in place. The third was from a second UFO, also rising, about three hundred rads east of us.

Computer identified both UFOs as draconian craft.

"Kali's throbbing cunt!"

The rest were SAM batteries; four were outside Sentry, two at Paro about seventy rads to the southeast, one was at nearby Bresh to the southwest, and surprisingly, two batteries from home! One tone was a combined read from the Combat Air Patrol flying above Sentry War Base. The last one was a satellite ping.

I was suddenly a popular boy, and none of the reasons were good ones.

Then the tones from both draconians went solid. My guts went cold.

I dropped us lower, hugging the tree line, while kicking back and forth on the rudder to fly in a horizontal zig-zag.

"Sentry, I have two draconian aircraft, repeat two alien aircraft with active targeting locked. Taking evasive action!" Over my shoulder, I yelled, "Hang on back there. It might get rough!"

The Sunskipper had a score each of flares and chaff bursts, as well as a defense computer to help against close-ranged targeting. That's it. No offensive weapons at all. The Sunskipper depended on its great speed to escape danger. Besides, the Sunskipper flew so fast that it overran any projectile gun or missile in our current air weapons inventory.

But against draconian ships and their advanced alien tech? This might be a very short ride. However, I didn't plan on giving up without a fight.

The CAP in front of me split into two formations; four craft continued circling near the base while the other six turned to our direction and rapidly closed the distance. Alarms on the HUD flickered, and the second draconian craft shifted, suddenly appearing immediately behind us. A proximity alarm blared in the cabin.
Trees blurred as we careened barely above them.

"Alien UFO One firing, two plasma cannons," the computer intoned. Defensive alarms sounded, adding to the noise as the lower right of the HUD rapidly updated. "UFO One is identified as draconian, Scout class, Predator IV designation. UFO Two is draconian, Enhanced Scout-Escort class, Gorgon II designation."

Flares and chaff were useless against energy weapons!

"Oh, gods," I muttered, banking us hard left toward the river. Miss! Miss! Miss!

The Sunskipper's air-defense computer immediately sucked power as the frequency jammer kicked in, and two bursts of chaff rapidly ejected, one lower right, the other to the upper left, desperately attempting to distract the alien ship.

I couldn't help feeling like I had just dropped my trousers and painted a big red target on my bare ass. The draconians wanted us dead, and after so many failures, they now had us dead to rights.

At that moment, the six Lightnings screamed by.

"You catch that Tiger Leader?"

"Affirmative, Tiger Ten. Sentry Control, two - repeat: two - draconian scout craft confirmed. They appear to be shooting at each other. Second craft now returning fire on the first."

In seconds we were over the river. Lining us up with the waterway, I dropped us to about a hundred feet above the deck. The tree line gave us some bit of cover. We passed by dozens of boats on the water. I hoped we were high enough not to sink anyone with the jet wash, but I didn't dare go higher.

"Sentry Control, acknowledged, Tiger Leader. Proceed with escort. Do not engage draconians unless fired on first. Repeat: do not engage draconians."

"Confirmed, Control. All Tigers, weapons are secure. Tiger Three and Tiger Four, escort the chick back to the nest. Everyone else, heads up. Attention, Sunskipper 2. Do not deviate from your declared flight plan or we will treat you as hostile and fire upon you."

"Wilco, Tiger leader," I replied.

Fantastic. Make that a blinking, neon-red target on my ass. With an arrow pointing right at my sphincter.

Two Lightnings came about and fell in behind us. The other four interceptors kept rear guard, ready to jump in between us and the draconians.

"Sunskipper 2, this is Sentry Control. You have priority clearance. You are cleared for emergency landing on runway two-eight-zero. Repeat: Runway two-eight-zero. Emergency vehicles are on standby."

"Sentry Control, this is Sunskipper 2. Runway two-eight-zero, confirmed. Decelerating in ten seconds."

Once the forest gave way to farmlands, I quit hugging the widening river and straightened my flight path, climbing to two hundred feet. A steady proliferation of more dwellings, vehicles, and people zipped by beneath us. We were still pretty low, and the sleek, shiny Sunskipper followed by the two black fighter aircraft screaming above them no doubt made for quite a sight for those on the ground.

I never did open the throttle past the half-way mark. We would have overshot the base if I had. For the fighters to have kept up, they must have been running their engines with their afterburners engaged the whole way, sucking down huge amounts of fuel.

"Beginning turn for runway two-eight-zero," I announced to our escort, throttling down to one-quarter power.

Then suddenly, we were over the War Base. I cut power again, keeping the nose up. Spotting the runway, I made adjustments to our flight path. Dropping the landing gear, I pulled back gently on the wheel. The Lightnings suddenly shot past us and climbed for the sky. The screech of wheels hitting the ground, then the drag of sudden contact reducing our speed a bit more.

We were down, rolling quickly down the airstrip.

Vehicles zipped out from the sidelines, sirens blaring and lights flashing. Imperial and Air Security cruisers, two ambulances, and three fire trucks chased us down the tarmac.

Throttling down, I worked the brakes as I engaged the reverse thrusters. When we finally came to a stop, I idled the engines.

"We're here!" My heart pounding, I unbuckled, heading for the main hatch.

Styen and my father jumped up, my father leaning over my mother. "Stay with me, Shanti," he urged.

A score of vehicles surrounded us, lights flashing. Once the door was opened, I moved out of the way. Father carried Mother out, and Styen followed them both.

I'm not sure when I had started crying, but tears ran freely down my face. It all hit me at once. Fear for my mother's life. Blood had soaked much of her dress, and her face was even paler than when we'd set out. A glance back to the large pool of blood where she'd lain. Relief we were back on the ground, safe.

I wiped my eyes as they entered the ambulance. In seconds, lights flashing, it zipped away, followed hotly by two cruisers. The second ambulance and fire trucks took off in another direction at a much slower pace.

Take a breath. Take another one. Nice and slow, I told myself, leaning against the doorway. I was determined not to give in to the shakes.

I realized I still had the headset on, and that Sentry Control Tower was avidly trying to get my attention. Two Imperial Security entered the shuttle.

My mother was hurt and I wanted to leave this craft right where it was and haul ass to the hospital. Yet the fact remained that the Sunskipper was a high-tech aircraft, normally flown only at night, and when not in flight, it stayed hidden in its storage bay, away from prying eyes and possible recording devices. Yeah, I had to get this bird off the field. I also knew that the Imperial Air Service does not like unusual events.

Security noticed the blood on the seats, and waited quietly while I responded to the control tower.

When the tower was done giving instructions, I nodded to them. "Have a seat. It's not safe to stand while this thing is moving."

One, a lieutenant, dropped into the pilot's seat. "That's my seat," I informed him. "Take the other one."

While he moved, the sergeant, took a seat in back.

Following the directions of the line marshal with his direction wands, I taxied the Sunskipper off the field toward a hangar. The remaining security cruisers escorted us.

I had no doubt I'd be stuck dealing with the Air Service until everything was properly checked at least a dozen times to make sure nothing was amiss, and that the Sunskipper was safely secured under guard. Based on the emergency circumstances, I didn't see any problems. I was a qualified pilot and trained to fly the Sunskipper. A bit green perhaps, but still I was checked out.

Even so, Imperial and Air Security brusquely escorted me off the craft and kept me busy for three long hours, going over all the minutia, comparing data from the flight recorder and radio logs to my statements. I wondered sourly if they didn't have anything else to do.

They didn't even offer me anything to drink. They grudgingly agreed to let me have tepid water in a plastic cup. Getting a urine break was like pulling teeth. Four of them kept me company while I pissed in the urinal.

Then I was ordered to another interrogation room to debrief about the aliens, and how exactly was it again that my mother became injured. More hours dragged by. My voice grew hoarse. Breakfast now a distant memory, I was short on sleep, and on top of everything, I was worried about my mother. Requests for more water were ignored.

"So, after the servant stabbed your mother, what did you do?"

"I answered that six times already."

"Humor us."

I'd had had enough. "Kandikan, Ranji, Senior Lieutenant, Imperial Air Service. Serial number one-two-four-chan-kay-seven-seven-qwa-mun."

There was a short pause.

"We're all on the same side here, Lieutenant," an Imperial Security captain said.

The other three, previously a little bored, suddenly looked at me with renewed interest.

"With all due respect, that does not appear to be the case," I growled. "I am certified to fly the Sunskipper."

"Funny, that's not what your records show, Lieutenant."

"I was at Nazca Proving Grounds eighteen months ago. I'm certified to fly the Sunskipper!"

"He was at Nazca," one said.

"But there's no certification," countered another.

"Seven hells. Someone's screwed with my personnel records?" "Kandikan, Ranji, Senior Lieutenant, Imperial Air Service. Serial number one-two-four-chan-kay-seven-seven-qwa-mun."

The door opened, and in walked an Imperial Security Field Commander. No House name tag, I noticed. But that was par for Imperial Security. He was an older man with his brown hair going to grey in a ponytail, and he carried a briefcase.

To the disappointment of my interrogators, he gave a jerk of his head, and they quietly got up and exited.

Once they were gone, he faced me directly, looking at me steadily for several long seconds. Then, sitting down, he pulled the briefcase onto the table, unlocked and then opened it. Reaching in, he pulled out a folder filled with papers, and what looked like an aerial topo map on top. Closing up the briefcase, he locked it and set it down beside his chair.

Tossing the folder onto the table, he said, "Those are your travel orders and your flight plan." Glancing at his watch, he continued, "Waiting off the queue on runway one-four-zero, there's a PE-15 fueled up and waiting -"

"What about my mother?" I snapped at him. "I've been here for hours. I want to see her! I want to know if she's all right!"

Interrupting a superior officer was never a good idea, but at that moment, I didn't care.

"You have a phone. Call your father." Calm. No emotional response to my outburst. "Your flight is scheduled to leave in forty-five minutes, Kandikan. It's an eight-hour flight to Sparanztlo if you go by way of Cuzco, but only four hours if you fly direct. The winds in the mountains at night, however, make a direct route risky. Even so, you are supposed to report for training tomorrow at zero-five hundred hours. The shorter flight is highly encouraged. Highly."

"I'm flying there? I thought the location of the base is supposed to be secret?"

"It will be," he replied. "One way or another. And you flying there is part of your orders. It's not your place to question them. Nor is it mine."

"What about my gear?" I asked. "And a change of clothes? I left everything at my parent's house."

"Everything you need is already on the aircraft. You don't need anything else. You are going to an elite training facility, not a holiday resort!"

Glaring, I took a breath, then pulled out my phone and dialed.

My father picked up on the second ring. "Ranji? Where are you, Son?"

"I'm still with Security, dealing with the mess. How is Mother doing?"

"They gave her an immediate transfusion right off. She is in the nutrient tanks right now. It was a close call, but they assure me they got to her in time. It would be good for her to see you when she wakes. Will you be here soon?"

I kept my eyes on the man across from me. He stared right back.

"It appears not, Father. Please give Mother my love. I've been ordered to leave immediately for my next assignment. Keep Bilan and his men there at the house for your protection. I trust Bilan. Have him review the household security. Whatever changes he recommends, support him. And, as soon as you and mother are safe at home, I want Styen to go relieve Anton."

He paused, then said, "I understand, Son. I know your mother will be disappointed, but I will explain it to her. Thank you, Son. You saved her life."

"I'm glad you are both alive. It could have gone very badly. I love you, Father."

"I love you, too, Son. Please take care of yourself, and call us when you can."

"I will. Goodbye." I slipped my phone back into my pocket.

Without another word, the Imperial Security officer stood, collected his briefcase, and exited the room.

Opening up the folder, I quickly scanned the map and the flight plan. The last part of the flight would be tough. The regional weather report showed an incoming front due later that very evening. While it was mid-summer at High Guard War Base, south of the equator, it was winter time.

The weather report for the Nazca Proving Grounds, somewhat south of Cuzco, indicated gale force winds. Snow and ice would be everywhere at the higher elevations, and flying over the mountains could become treacherous. Updrafts, downdrafts, and changing wind shear. It could get very messy really fast. At least I didn't have to worry about the engines freezing. The PE-15 was rated for ultra-cold conditions. Its onboard sensors would activate the batteries to keep vital systems from freezing.

I also reflected on the draconian ships. Why did one intercede, protecting us? Was it the Order of Quetzal? It was the only reasonable explanation. But, since I couldn't ask them, I didn't dwell on it - only on the result, which was that we were all still alive.

On the one hand, knowing about the assassination plot ahead of time had been vitally important. Yet if my father was so vital to the Empire, why hadn't there been more effort on the part of Imperial Security to keep him alive? Why was it left to me? I already knew the Minister himself was corrupt. The only thing that made sense was that the divisions in the upper Houses must run deeper than we were led to believe. And why was there no closer medical help?

People, important and powerful people, were arraying themselves against me, but there were also good, solid people lining up with me and my family. And all this hinted that things were going to get bigger and uglier as I went along.

Supay was the Minister of Imperial Security. His actions with the sale of children meant he was actively dealing with our political enemies for the sake of money. The casual way he destroyed a Condor and its crew, and putting hundreds of men and women to death on a whim? That was enormous power, but it also spoke of a deranged mad man.

My heart aching and full of anger, I had to pull myself back to reviewing the flight plan several times. I wanted to see for myself that my mother was all right. And I already missed my family at High Guard. With just over three hours of rough sleep on the Condor and barely two hours during the drive home, the fight at home and the tense flight, followed by almost six hours of interrogation, I was exhausted. But that seemed to be my usual mode of operation these days. Flying alone into a winter storm at night, high in the mountains, was going to make for a grueling, desperate night. I was going to need a lot of cahault and stim tabs.

When I was done scanning through the folder, I exited the building and made my way back to the airfield on foot. Fortunately, the airfield was close and I somewhat knew my way around Sentry War Base.

I quickly located the Albatross by matching the number on the wing to one on the flight plan, and I began checking her over.

Summoning a nearby private, I offered him sixty credits to go to the cafeteria and grab me two pre-packed meals, a thermos of cahault, a pack of stim tabs, as well as two bottles of water from the base cafeteria. If he was back within the hour, he could keep the change. At the outside, the cost for everything would be ten credits. Privates made one hundred and forty-three credits each month. He moved quick.

Dropping the folder and map onto the front passenger seat, I performed a full pre-flight check of the craft, taking my time to do it right. Then I did it again. Everything appeared normal. The PE-15 Albatross isn't fancy or large, but the two engine craft is reliable, capable of carrying three tons of cargo, and can go for long stretches without full maintenance if needed - a major consideration for front-line use. This one looked well-used, but also well taken care of.

"Hello, girl," I murmured to the craft. "Pretty soon, it's going to be you and me up there, all alone. Let's say we have a quiet trip, shall we?" I patted the fuselage for luck.

A corporal with a small duffle and a parachute walked up and tossed the duffle bag onto the seat, covering the folder and map. Then he tossed in the parachute. I came around the craft and approached.

"What's that?" I asked, pointing at the duffle bag.

"Tikún Travel said that you should take these with you, and asked that you keep both together." Reaching in, the corporal clipped the duffle bag handles to the parachute. "Just in case, Lieutenant. Your travel agent is looking into what happened. He also asks that you take care when you arrive that things are less stable than they were once thought to be."

Great. Itznacoco's worried, which means I'm jumping from the frying pan and straight into the fire.

I leaned into the craft and scanned the parachute. I'd had the basics at the Academy, but I firmly believed that if I was a good enough pilot, I wouldn't need to practice jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft. I'd done a dozen simulations, but never jumped for real.

Inside the duffle bag was a standard emergency field kit. Caiman 35 pistol with holster. Two spare clips. First aid kit. Lighter. Compass. Combat knife. Canteen. Wool blanket. Three Meals Ready to Eat. Wait. Ground Service MREs?

Someone hates me, I thought, frowning. I mean, really, really hates me.

I stuffed the folder into the duffle bag, keeping the map out. When I turned around, the corporal had quietly disappeared. Great!

I put the pistol and combat knife onto my belt and felt a bit better. But the Caiman inspired very little confidence. I wanted another Wampag Talon.

After a latrine break, I liberated a flight suit, slipping it over my uniform. The PE-15s have decent cabin heaters, but even with that, the alpine weather always seemed to leave my legs feeling cold. The extra layer of clothing would help.

Fortunately, there was also a flight jacket in the back seat, so I wasn't going to freeze right away. Climbing into the Albatross, I started up the engines. The private drove up and handed me the food, obviously worried I would change my mind about the nearly fifty credits in change. I waved him off and he was gone, grinning like a maniac. It was the last of my spare cash on hand. I had food to help compensate for my missed lunch and dinner during my long hours of questioning.

An hour later, I was in the air, heading south by southwest. Once I was two rads above the deck, I put on the autopilot and grabbed the thermos, pouring myself a cup. I took two stim tabs, then digging into the paper sack, I grabbed the top sandwich wrap, peeled back the paper and started eating.

Ugh. A bit on the soggy side. Ah, well. It was food. More importantly, it was not a Ground Service Meal, Ready to Eat. The chocolate coffee was hot, strong, and overly bitter, but it helped make up for the sandwich's deficiencies. Stuffing the paper sack into the duffle bag, I ate and worked on gaining more altitude for the trip over the mountains, keeping my ear to listening to the weather updates.

For the next three hours, I steadily climbed higher and higher, heading south by southwest toward Sparantzlo. According to the map, it was in a remote valley smack in the highest part of the Sky Mountains, the huge mountain spine that ran the length of the southern continent.

As time passed, the west winds picked up, and it began to get rough. Like currents in a river, the winds whipped faster through crevices and gorges. After a while, I was fighting snow and sleet as well as the wind.

Yep. Winter weather, all right. Dangerous stuff.

Even with the cabin heater cranked, it grew cold, so I pulled on the flight jacket. I was pleasantly surprised to find a winter cap and gloves stuffed into the large pocket lining the inside. I put them on. And, because I had to climb higher yet, I slipped on the oxygen mask.
As I neared my destination, I was getting tired. The clouds above were blacker than night, and sometimes all I could see out my windshield was the one solid cloud bank. Visual was impossible, so I was depending entirely on my instrumentation to avoid smacking into a mountain, struggling to avoid being blown into some cliff face by shifting, high winds.

I kept myself busy, talking to the aircraft, encouraging her to treat me right by getting me to my destination safely.

The computer kept me updated with radio beacons and radar sweeps. Climbing over one peak, I started a slow descent. According to the map, I was less than fifty rads to the landing field. Fighting the headwinds had added almost ninety minutes to the flight time. I was exhausted, but decided against another round of stim tabs. I tossed my empty thermos into the duffle.

Fortunately, the cloud cover cleared up as I approached the mountain ridge. Then over the top! Even better, a half-moon shown temporarily, lighting up the snow-filled valley with grey light. Although the lights were out, I could make out the smooth line of the snow-covered runway. I sighed with relief.

Flipping on the radio, I announced myself as the folder had indicated I should. "Red Jaguar base, this is Lost Albatross coming home. Come in, Red Jaguar base."

That's when the MAWS lit up, letting me know two SAM sites had me targeted. I glanced up. My ID transponder was broadcasting normally, reporting its military status.

Then both tones went solid. "Two missiles incoming detected," the computer spoke.

Seven hells!

The defense computer fired two flares while I dove, banking hard left. I came around a short rise and both missiles, having lost targeting lock, followed the flares into the mountain behind me. The concussion of the explosions buffeted the Albatross.

Reaching over, I immediately throttled down, then grabbed the parachute. Over one arm, then the other. I barely got the top clasp in place when I had to pull hard on the wheel to fly over the ridge suddenly looming in front of me.

Almost immediately both SAM sites locked onto me again. I dropped to under five hundred feet.

When the tones went solid, I banked hard right while pulling up, and the computer ejected two more flares. I carried the climb up to a slow barrel roll.

The explosions bracketed me, shaking the craft hard, and then my right engine coughed and died, spilling black smoke into the eerie grey-lit night.

"Two missiles incoming. Defensive weapons exhausted. Evade. Evade."

Releasing my safety belt, I struggled against the wind to shove open the door, then I kicked my way free of the wounded Albatross. With less than eight hundred feet to the ground, I yanked the rip cord immediately, and the high winds jerked me about, sweeping me hundreds of feet higher into the night sky. Icy wind bite deep into my exposed skin. Gods, it was cold!

Both missiles hit the aircraft, and heat from the fireball was intense. My fuel tanks had been three-quarters full. Then I saw half a wing spinning upward, heading right for me, looming larger and larger.

"Fuck!"

The fifteen-foot wide section spun wildly. The flat of the wing hit me like a giant fly swatter. Then a sensation of spinning. Falling.

* * * * *

When I awoke, I hurt all over. I started to move, but the pain was too intense. I groaned, and it quickly became a whimper. Even my ears ached.

"Good. You're awake. Don't move about. I'm pretty sure you have a concussion. And you have a massive set of bruises on your left side. Except for your nose, nothing seems broken, and I didn't find any open wounds. I put Nu-Skins along the ribs, so that should help with any tenderness. Unfortunately, you also have frostbite on your ears, the tip of your nose, and in most of your fingers. There's a nano facility at the base, though."

Opening my eyes, I saw we were in a small cave, with a fire going. Crouched by a small fire was someone covered in an alpine fur suit. The voice had definitely been female.

Bending over to avoid the cave roof, she approached, carrying a steaming cup, and handed it to me. "Careful, it's hot. Sip it slow."

I was wrapped in a thermal blanket inside a double-sized sleeping bag, sitting up against the cave wall. I tried to take the cup from her, but my hands shook too badly and I couldn't seem to get a grip. She steadied my hands, bringing it to my lips.

My lips were dried and coated. When I sipped, it was bitter. I also tasted metal in my mouth, but as the hot liquid went down, the metallic tasted cleared. Blood, I thought.

With her snow goggles sitting on her forehead, all I could see of her face was her pale blue eyes and the white skin around them, and her light brown eyebrows. Blue eyes in the Empire were a rarity. The only non-brown-eyed persons I knew were myself, my parents, Ixma, and Melannee - and I knew Melannee was Atlantean by birth.

Taking off a glove, she held up her index finger. "Follow it."

She moved it side to side, up and down, then nodded.

"Who -?" I croaked out.

"You must have taken a beating coming down. Lieutenant Deedee Marrin, Ground Service. We only found out late yesterday afternoon that you were flying in by yourself. Kartin, my partner tried to reach the SAM control station, but obviously he didn't make it. I haven't heard from him since just before you were shot down," - she glanced at her watch - "And that was seven hours ago."

I'd checked the temperature just before I entered the valley. Minus thirty. With wind chill, it was minus one-fifty. Unconscious, I would have frozen to death within less than an hour.

"You saved me," I said hoarsely.

"You aren't directly in the Minister's gun sights yet, but someone is working hard to burn your ass, Lieutenant Kandikan. My bosses are trying to prevent that from happening. You are going to have to be light on your feet to avoid becoming a casualty."

"I will do what I can," I rasped out as earnestly as I could.

"Drink down the rest of it, and I'll give you more. Caffeine, electrolytes, and pain meds. Sorry about the frostbite. I saw you go down, but it took me almost two hours to reach you. If not for the rocks providing some cover, you'd have frozen to death."

I started to lift up, and my whole chest suddenly flared hot. Bad idea!

"I'll have to help you walk out of here," she nodded, taking the cup back to the fire and refilling it from a pot. "It's not going to be easy. But this is Sparantzlo, and they will consider this experience a good test of your survival skills." She returned with a fresh cup and helped me get the bitter liquid down. "Welcome to Sparantzlo, the Seventh Hell."

"Wonderful," I muttered.

When I finished it, I started having trouble keeping my eyes open. She rinsed out the tins and the small pot with snow, then secured them.

"You're going to make it, Lieutenant," she said, lifting up part of the thermal blanket and sliding in next to me. "The storm is back, and won't lift for several hours. Snuggle up and I'll keep you warm."

Before I could say anything, she pulled me close and I faded out.

* * * * *

Once we left the protection of the small cave, the wind and light both became factors in our travel, adding difficulty to the rocky, mostly ice-covered terrain.

It was slow going. My entire left front was badly bruised from the impact with the wing fragment. Besides my lower fingers, several of my toes were also dead. My hip hurt, too, and I wondered if it was just bruised or maybe worse. The Nu-Skin patches over the ribs helped, but it still hurt badly to walk and climbing was worse.

While my companion had some winter gear, I was not as well dressed for the cold or the terrain. The flight jacket helped some, but by the end of the day, my core was chilled and my eyes burned.

We didn't even try to speak. Trying to yell against the wind was futile. When we were moving, it was all I could do to focus on moving itself, and block out how hard it was to suck in the freezing air. My aviator glasses hadn't survived my hard landing. Within a couple of hours, I began to suffer snow blindness as well.

Deedee had brought along an extra pair of snow boots and thermal pants, which helped keep me alive. I had to take frequent breaks. I broke out into sweat, and my vision swam. Once, I had to stop and heaved my mostly empty stomach into the snow. Because of me, we didn't make much progress the first day. Shivering, nauseated, and my head throbbing, by afternoon I was done in. We found a nook against some rocks and bedded down together in the double sleeping bag again.

"H-How d-did you f-f-find me?" I chattered.

She leaned against me, using her body to shield mine from the wind. Lips near ears made talking easier. "Short range tracker in the duffle bag," she explained. "It helped me find you."

Opening two protein bars, she gave me one. To make them edible, she had kept several stored inside her clothing, using her body heat to keep them soft and chewable. The bars were followed by water with several pain pills. Slowly, they eased the pain in my body, head, and eyes, and we talked a bit while I warmed up.

"Once we get to the top of this ridge, we'll reach my snow sled. It's only a few hours to the base from there. Another day, maybe two the way you are now."

"A sled... is good." I shivered, my eyes closed.

"Here." She unzipped her own coat, shirt, and then opened my jacket and unzipped both the flight suit and shirt underneath. Wrapping her arms around me, I felt her bare chest against mine. The heat was intense. She felt like a soft but oh-so-warm radiator! I just closed my eyes and shook. The cold of my skin made her nipples harden like small nails as she pressed herself into me.

"Gods, you're cold! Skin to skin will help you warm up faster," she assured me. "When we reach the base, you will be assigned a training partner. Ask for me. Deedee Marrin. And remember, expect that you will be monitored at all times, so be careful what you say and who you trust. There will be times during training when you are away from the base itself. Save any questions for then."

"All right."

I felt a splash hit my cheek. Opening my eyes, I saw her weeping silent tears. In the quickly fading light, I saw the cloth cover protecting her face was loose, revealing her narrow chin and full lips. Even so close, though, she was blurry to my partially blinded eyes.

"Are... Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm sorry. My radio has been on since I set out. There's still no word from my partner, Kartin. He must be dead. And that means we're on our own out here."

Meaning if anything happened, no one would come looking for us.

"I'm sorry for your loss." It was all I could think of to say. A man had died trying to save my life. Deedee had endangered her own as well, coming out into this storm over rough, mountainous terrain to rescue me. I shivered as a tremor of cold ran through me. "Will his death put you in danger when we get there?"

"No, I don't think so," Deedee replied, sniffling. "We didn't arrive together. Before coming here, though, we had trained together for about three months. He was decent. Not too demanding about me giving him sex, and sometimes it felt nice. The rest of us came by transport from Nazca. Whatever possessed you to try and fly here on your own?"

I should have been furious. Would have been. Instead, I just added it to my list of injustices. "When I was at Sentry War Base, I was ordered to fly myself here." I kept my eyes closed while I talked because it eased my burning eyes. I'd stopped shaking, but still felt chilled. As I warmed, the pain in my hands and feet grew.

"So someone planned to have you 'accidentally' shot down," she concluded. "I know you are important because of who sent Kartin and me to look out for you. Who are you and what have you done to garner so much effort to get you killed?"

Haltingly, I told her about the Drug Plot, breaking the child trafficking ring, and that we had instituted Unit Protection Orders at High Guard War base.

Deedee frowned. "Unit Protection Orders? What are those?"

"Forbidding forced sex between anyone within the unit, including spouses and civilian family. Naturally, we can't force this on those of higher rank. But one has to start somewhere. Once people get used to the idea, it's my hope it will begin to grow on its own. Filter out to the lower Castes, too."

"But - that's unheard of. Incredible even! You mean a woman can actually say no?"

"Yes. And not just women. Men, too."

"I've never heard of a man who doesn't want sex."

"It happens. A woman of rank demanding it of a subordinate. Then there are men who prefer men, just as there are women who prefer women."

"Yes, of course, you're right. Still, I can't believe it! No ordering you to spread your legs and take it? You actually instituted those orders and no one... objected?"

I managed a small smile. "Yes, I did. And yes, there have been objections. Even so, the idea is spreading."

For long seconds, she said nothing. I just shivered against her bare heat.

"No wonder people are trying to kill you," she said at last. "You threaten the old order big time. By Inti's holy light, I think you are going to be a very dangerous person to hang out with."

"I've heard it described as trying to survive an avalanche."

She snorted. "Considering our current predicament, that's appropriate, and hopefully not predictive."

"You still want me to ask for you as my training partner?"

"Of course!" she answered tersely, frowning. "I am a Warrior, Lieutenant, and I follow orders."

"I meant no insult to you. The fact that you saved my life at the risk of your own means I can trust you. I just wanted to give you an out."

"In that case, you are welcome. But let them know you want to be my partner." She gave a small smile. "You've stopped shaking. That's a good sign."

"You're very toasty. Still cold, though. Please, my friends call me Ranji."

"I've been ordered to keep you alive. Why do you want to be friends?"

"You saved me yesterday, and right now you are doing it again. I'm sort of odd that way, but I am well-disposed toward you, Deedee Marrin."

She laughed. "Gratitude, with humor. All right. I accept. Hello, Ranji."

"So how ever did you get a name like Deedee?"

"Why, it's a small bird in southern Je State. I'm told that's the sound it makes."

"In Vedan, it means sister."

Deedee laughed harder. "So according you, your sister's bare teats are keeping you warm?"

"I'm an only child, but I see your meaning. Deedee the bird it is, then."

"Do you have any notion what you are going into?" she asked, more somber.

"Not a clue."

She shuddered.

"This will be my second time around," she said. "I was here two years ago. Since then, I have a new identity, and I've had some genetic alterations, including new fingerprints, so I'm sure I'm safe from discovery. With my white skin and blonde hair, I can pass as Aesir or Atlantean. Some people discriminate by skin color. I... I hope that doesn't put you off."

"No," I said with a smile, thinking of Melannee. She'd worried, too. "I actually like blondes, and you have pretty eyes. My parents are full Vedan, Deedee. I have experienced some of that prejudice on occasion. No, you looking white doesn't bother me one bit. I hope you don't mind that I'm not copper colored."

"Thank you. And no, skin color doesn't matter to me. Anyway, most of the instructors here are brutal. The Minister is big on humiliation and degradation to break independent thinkers. Try to not lose your temper or your mouth. After your arrival, they will torture you. I won't kid you, Ranji. It's brutal. They will beat you bloody, break your bones, cut you until you scream, and they will stick their cocks in you because you are helpless. If they hurt you too badly, they just throw you into the tanks, let the nanobots fix you up, and then they start again. You're in pretty bad shape, so they might start you out with a couple of hours in the tanks before working you over. For you and me, it'll be even worse. You're decent looking and it will attract their attention. Me, I'm a woman, so it's a given. It's... harsh and deliberately cruel, Ranji. They ask things they already know, over and over. Demanding basic information about your past, your family, or your previous assignments. Assessing your ability to resist, finding out what or who you value and your will to live. Then a few days to heal. Remember, however bad it gets, it won't last forever. Hang on to that thought while they're hurting you. If you survive, you will be matched up with your partner, and... and..."

This was how they trained Imperial Security agents? Trained... for what?

"And?" I prompted.

"There aren't a lot of women," Deedee said, refusing to look at me. "All pairs must have a leader. They call them dominants and supports. Male pairs are forced to fight, to determine who is the dominant partner. The... The first one to shoot sperm into the other's ass is judged dominant, and the others... well, they call them 'pussies in training.' Dominants must fuck their partner regularly, and the trainers inspect them for traces of semen. It's not... a pleasant experience. Dominants can even demand to fuck others who aren't a dominant."

"Seven hells. What about the women?"

"What about them? If you drip with someone else's semen, you are a support person. That's how your role and status are assigned here. Women are biologically incapable of ejaculating semen."

"I'm sorry you are going to endure this for me." Even with my own eyes blurry, I saw pain in hers. "There's more. Tell me, Deedee."

She studied me for several seconds. "After all the pairs are assigned, all the men take turns having their way with any women present. It goes on... for hours."

"They gang-rape the women?"

"To prove your stamina and courage, once they are done with you, you have to make it to your quarters under your own power. No healing is allowed until the next day. And at the end of each week, they celebrate again. I couldn't even... coming back here... It's not something I ever wanted to repeat. But I follow orders."

Deedee shook, and not from the freezing cold.

I slipped my arms around Deedee and held her. Kissed my cracked lips on her forehead. She looked surprised, then held me in return.

After a bit, I said, "So you being my partner has a benefit for you, too."

"Is that so bad?"

"No, Deedee, it's not. And I think you are amazingly brave."

She didn't say anything, but I felt her gaze on me.

"I believe in the Empire, Deedee. This is my country. We are losing the tech race against Atlantis and Aesir-Veda. But we have a chance - if we all pull together. To me, that means men and women working together for the good of the Empire, side by side as partners. That can't happen if women are afraid of men, and ending that fear starts by people having the right to say no."

She didn't comment.

I took a long breath, waiting for the dizziness to pass. "I'm not sure what or how, but I won't stand by and let them hurt you, Deedee. Not if there's anything I can do about it."

"Your words are getting slurred. I think the meds are starting to work. Go to sleep, Ranji. We'll talk later." She adjusted the sleeping bag, then settled in beside me, resting her face in the crook of my arm.

And I descended into darkness.

* * * * *

Getting up early, we ate a small breakfast of more energy bars and melted snow. We packed up the sleeping bag and blankets, and set off. Or rather, Deedee did the work. My hands were wrapped in gauze and oozing. Using them to grip anything was almost impossible.
I moved slowly and my eyes still burned. I could tell Deedee was growing frustrated with my pace, but she said nothing about it.

Fortunately, the clouds darkened during the day, so my eyes only felt as if they were being stabbed by glass shards instead of being scraped out of my sockets. By early afternoon, we finally reached the top of the ridge. While I rested, she searched for her sled, now buried under the snow. Besides the easy transportation it offered, another storm was moving in, so we had to hurry.

Some hours later, Deedee found the sled and came back for me. She tied me to her back, and I hung on as best I could.

It would have been easy to become depressed. I was badly hurt, and I was walking toward men who would make my current pain feel like a toe-stub in comparison.

The wind picked up as the afternoon faded away, and several times we had to stop, or slow way down, so Deedee could navigate between rocks and bushes now hidden by snow. After I fell off once, she tied me to her back. It was several hours after dark when we finally reached the outer perimeter of the base.

* * * * *

(The next section has scenes describing male on male rape. For those who object, skip ahead to the next break mark.)

After we were examined, Deedee and I were separated.

Sparantzlo was as horrifying and brutal as she'd warned me about. After being checked over by the medical staff, I did spend two hours in the nutrient tanks, letting the nanobots replace my dead flesh. Afterward, I was taken to a room where I was held down and received the worst beating I had ever experienced. Some of the new flesh on my fingers fell off under the battering.

My main torturers were Group Captain Stryker, and Sergeants Charunt and Belton.

There were others who inflicted pain - and sometimes they joined my main tormenters. All I know is that when the door opened, sometimes I heard the distant cries of others undergoing their own agony. These three, however, burned themselves into my memory. And when they weren't beating on me, I lay there too weak to move, grateful to have the beating stop.

On the second day of my so-called testing, while I was tied to a stanchion, they used rubber batons, focusing on my kidneys. It hurt so bad I openly wept. Not satisfied, Stryker brought out a flogging whip and gave me thirty lashes. While the pain burned, Belton dumped a bottle of rubbing alcohol over my bleeding back. Agony seared away all thought. When I came to, gasping at the intensity of more pain, I was being whipped again. This time it was Charunt. When he was done, Belton laughed as he doused me again. I just passed out.

Their work on my kidneys was thorough. Hours later, still tied and unable to move, I pissed blood.

To clean the room, they simply turned on the sprinklers until the room was deemed clean enough. I simply lay there, too hurt to move, shivering from the cold. Mentally, I was in a haze.

That was followed by twelve mind-numbing hours in the nutrient tanks. Enough time for the soft tissue damage to heal. Not nearly enough to finish restoring my fingers or heal my ribs. Later I awoke in my bed, Nu-Skin patches over my back and hands. Too much in pain to get up, I rolled onto my side and pissed in the bucket.

The next day I was back in their torture room. Stryker, Charunt, and Belton broke two ribs, then using a small, ultra-sharp knife, began peeling the skin off part of my back, section by section, all the while demanding to know about my family and the people in my life - information readily available in my personnel file. Why did all Janetta's crew have an officer's neckerchief. Were they truly mine? Was I really fucking Janetta's crew or was I lying about it? How did it feel to fuck Doyya? Surely I was fucking my sergeants! Why not? Were they diseased?

While I bled, they used it to lube their cocks, and each of them took turns raping me. Then Charunt showed me a lemon, which he peeled and then forced into my bleeding rear. I was too hoarse to do more than croak out my protests before passing out again. Each time I woke, pushing that burning, acidic fruit out of my burning ass was all I could think about. They left me like that for hours. Tied up, battered, and in agony. When I finally expelled it, I sobbed with relief.

Janetta was right. It hurt to shit afterward.

Then they brought in the bullet ants. A sting to each limb. After the third one to my back, I passed out from the agony.

They drugged me up again, and I spent three solid days in the tanks as the nanobots went to work. The removal of the ant venom was so intense I wept with relief. Afterward, I slept for almost twenty-four hours.

Each time I slept, I dreamt vaguely of the women that I loved and of my girls. I woke up totally convinced of their love for me. Memories of them helped me endure.

The justification for all the brutality I'd experienced was supposedly to make me tough, willing to face extreme pain to complete whatever assignment I'd been given.

However, torture had been discredited more than a century earlier as a means of obtaining useful information. It was proven over and over to be totally unreliable. A person will say anything, even lie, to stop the pain. Especially lie. Truth drugs were effective, quick, and did no lasting damage.

No. These were sick bastards who got their jollies inflicting body-breaking injuries and pain, and they used the nano-technology to fix the damage so they could do it all over again.

Styen had drilled it into me that a Warrior who uses his intelligence and makes use of opportunity more often walks away from a fight. Deedee, too, had warned me to watch my mouth. I bit back my anger and bided my time.

I also felt ashamed. During the time they had brutalized me, I had not spared a thought or a prayer for Deedee Marrin, who I knew was enduring the same inhumane torture. I knew there were others here, too, but Deedee had saved my life. The only thing I could think of to justify my lack of concern was simple survival. I held on to the fact that I knew if I just held on, I could get through it. If Janetta or one of the others had been trapped here - by all the gods, forbid! - I honestly didn't know if I could have spared them a thought until right then, when my mind and body weren't fighting to survive. That admission both troubled and saddened me. I would like to think that Calia would have told me I was only human. If anything, I was more convinced about my love for my family.

Once I was done with the self-reflection, I thought about what they were doing here. The stated purpose was a complete fallacy of stupendous dimensions. Worse was that their casual brutality that necessitated the use of nano-treatments to repair the damage. I wondered how many died because these maniacs got carried away. Many in the Empire were denied access to the nano-treatments because of the expense, yet these bastards casually used the technology to indulge their sick lust to inflict pain. They clearly had no sense of control. But then I realized that if someone were exposed to this for a prolonged period, it could destroy one's personality.

I was repeatedly told I was 'Vedan trash.' That insult I could deal with, but it was difficult, knowing they used the color of my skin as a pejorative. I knew the color of one's skin did not make the person; it was what was in one's heart and how one acted in a crisis that made the person. I knew I was a loyal citizen of the Empire. Again, it was the sure knowledge of my family waiting for me at home, that helped me heal. The faces of Janetta, Zinja, Cholan, Ixma, Calia, Sisi, and Mina filled my thoughts and gave me comfort.

Almost as disturbing was my absolute loathing for Stryker, Charunt, and Belton.

Profoundly painful were the foul descriptions of my mother and father, and of Janetta and the other women that I loved. Stryker, Charunt, and Belton should have stopped there.

They didn't.

They found the names of Sisi and Mina in my service jacket, and went on about all the depraved, sick things they would do to them. I knew that much of it was simply psychological warfare, designed to break me. Or so I desperately hoped. The alternative was too horrific and despicable to imagine.

I loved Janetta with all my heart. And I'd put myself in harm's way to protect her. I'd do the same for Calia, Zinja, Ixma, and Cholan. But my children? I found a spark deep within myself, and there I forged a cold, cold rage. No one threatened my children. No one. And woe betide anyone who hurt them.

Still, I knew envisioning myself wallowing in the blood of Stryker, Charunt, and Belton was not healthy. That, too, was a trap leading toward the same perverse thinking underpinning this farce. In between naps, I focused on letting go of some of my anger and hatred.

When the medicos finally discharged me from the medical ward, I was issued an Imperial Security uniform with its grey piping, bereft of name or insignia, shown where to get some food, and where I could sleep.

No discussion, no apology, nothing. Here's your new uniform and move along.

I had worn my Imperial Air Service uniform with pride. The Imperial Security uniform gave me no satisfaction whatsoever. I knew it didn't have to be that way. This perversion was ultimately Supay's doing. Itznacoco, Melannee, and other good people were working to save the Empire. They were doing what needed to be done. I needed to take my place and serve the Empire, not Supay. And I would use whatever access to knowledge and power I gained to protect my family.

I returned to my tiny room and slept for hours. Later, I woke up surprisingly refreshed. Settled even.

That evening, someone came around to my room. We were summoned to a training room, covered with mats on the floor, and a podium at the front.

At the beginning, all of us recruits had been gathered together before being separated for our "endurance" training. There had been twenty-seven recruits in our cohort. But once sessions began, I'd not seen any of the others. Tonight, only twenty recruits entered the room. Seventeen men and three women. Two men and five women were simply gone. I saw Deedee Marrin and was relieved. Saw her hollow eyes, and I ached inside. Knowing that whatever she'd endured, it had been for my sake. How can one ever pay such a debt?

Captain Stryker and Sergeants Belton and Charunt were already there, waiting for us. Stryker stood behind a podium and the sergeants flanked him, smug looks on their self-important faces. At first, all I could think of was how much I wanted to kill them. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down.

We were ordered to completely strip, and leave our clothing at the door.

I was surprised at the mats. The spongy rubber felt strange against my bare feet. Deedee had warned me about this, too.

Most of the men had the initial tattoos showing they were either a first or second degree Eagle or a Jaguar Warrior. I was one of four men that did not have any tattoos at all. Physical combat didn't worry me. Styen was an advanced master of Jaguar and Snake schools, and he even knew some Eagle katas. I had been prepared by a dedicated teacher.

On our arrival, I'd already made my request for Deedee Marrin to be my training partner the day I'd arrived. At the time I had been laughed at. "Too soon for that! First, you have to survive being properly conditioned."

Stryker explained we were to be paired up with a partner. On each team, the "dominant" one was the team leader. Just as Deedee had warned, you became team leader by ejaculating inside your opponent in front of the rest of the cohort.

Now that they were finished brutalizing us, we were expected to brutalize each other. All in the name of Imperial Security.

Deedee and other two women tried to remain calm. But it's difficult stay calm when you "know at the end of the event you are going to be one of the three people who will be gang-raped.

I think it was then that I began to understand, on a deeper level, that this was what women within the Empire lived with all their lives. With but a word, you had to expose yourself and endure. As Janetta had once told me, it wasn't the act of sex itself that she and the others objected to. No, it was being taken without the social ability to resist the assault on their body, and that dry penetration could and often did tear sensitive flesh. As women, their only protection was their Caste or rank, and having adequate male protection.

All this added fuel to my rage, yet also hardened my resolve to make the Unit Protection Orders universal throughout the military. It might be my sole accomplishment for my life, but if so, it would be a good one! Once embraced by the military, social change for the civilian population would become possible. Whether the noble classes would accept the change - well, hopefully, they weren't that stupid.

I moved beside Deedee, but so did three other men, and they were openly ogling her. The other two women were also surrounded by aroused men. Deedee looked at me with hope. I nodded and smiled at her.

One of the brazen young men took his cock and began stroking it, telling Deedee that he was going to enjoy ripping her apart and hearing her scream.

"I see a lot of men are eager to get started!" Stryker announced gleefully. "Since the cunts have attracted so much attention, the men will fight single rounds to knockdown, pin, or knock-out for the right to have them at their beck and call. When two men fight, if the winner does not fuck the loser, the loser becomes open to the first man who can mount him and fill his ass. Be warned now, that if you have lost one fight, you cannot forego mounting your opponent."

Stryker looked around the room. "Remember: leaders are dominant. Supports are expected to submit to their leaders. That means physically as well as socially. Be advised that the role, once decided here, will be enforced throughout the remainder of your stay and will affect your future assignments and future promotions. If you lose your fight, your ass gets filled and you become a 'pussy in training.' You become the fuck toy for your leader. Any loser who resists getting fucked after today will be severely punished. Duels for the right to fuck someone else's pussy or pussy-in-training will be considered.

"I see that Teegart, Majoha, and Fronkiatl have indicated they want ownership of Bacholet. I can verify that both of her holes are tight. Teegart and Fronkiatl will fight for her first, then the winner will fight Majoha. Once that's decided, the men wanting Prina's pussy will fight for her. Then we'll see who fights the Vedan Trash for Marrin's holes. Since he was hot for her when he arrived, he will take on all challengers."

Some of them laughed.

Okay, I admit it. At that moment, I imagined the blood of Stryker, Charunt, and Belton running over my hands as they died, and it felt good. Then I chastised myself. I needed to focus, not fantasize.

Stryker continued. "No fatal attacks are allowed, and anyone who kills their opponent will be shot, right here, no reprieves." For emphasis, he withdrew his Chon .44 from his side holster and set it onto the podium. "Understand this, all of you. You are the property of Imperial Security. If you die here, you will be tossed into an unmarked hole in the ground. There will be no temple rites. To everyone else on the outside, you will simply disappear.

"Now as for these fights. Anyone who is injured in a challenge will get no considerations. No healing will take place until tomorrow after dawn. Winners will be expected to assert their dominance. You will fuck your partner when ordered to do so, and when you stop, the hole you fucked better drip with semen. During the rest of your training, support members will be regularly checked as will their underwear for cum stains and blood. If you aren't fucking them regularly, you will be disciplined. Two such failures will result in your dominant role being open for review. You do not want that to happen."

What a load of shit, I thought. Institutionalized rape has nothing to do with the security of the Empire.

Since I was in the third fight, I stretched while the others crowded to watch the first two fights, keeping myself close to Deedee. Besides, I wanted to make sure she wasn't harassed.

Minutes ticked by, as each fight began and resolved. Both of the losers were pounced upon and quickly beaten by other men to hoots and catcalls as they were pinned to the mat and raped.

By the time it was my turn, the men had grown eager for blood, ready to see who was going to be the next victim. More than a few sported erections.

My first opponent was Kormunat. As he did a couple of quick loosening moves, I called out. "Marrin, do you submit to me?"

"Yes, I submit to you," she answered, puzzled.

"Llam nuqan, Marrin! We work together!" I said. Turning to the four challengers, I said, "You heard her. She is now mine and under my protection. Walk away and we're done."

Kormunat laughed and launched himself at me. We traded blows and blocks, moving and circling. Four inches taller and a bit heavier, twice he landed hits. A clip to the chin followed by a solid, numbing hit to my left shoulder. I needed to adjust for his longer reach.

Then he overextended himself. I pounced! A solid punch to the nose, followed by a triple to his chest and stomach. While he staggered, blinking at me, I wheeled and gave him a roundhouse kick, putting my foot solidly alongside his head. Down he went. Yanking back his arm, I put my knee into his back and pinned him. Helpless and spitting blood, Kormunat slapped the mat and yielded.

Jumping back, I looked around.

Almost before I was out of the way, another man pounced, quickly re-pinning Kormunat to the floor. My former opponent struggled, to no avail, yelling and cursing while his attacker mounted his ass dry, savagely pumping into his bowels. In less than a minute, the man on top grunted. Grinning, he pulled out, and semen dribbled from Kormunat's battered, bleeding orifice.

Some laughed at the scene. Scowling, I rolled my head, then rubbed my shoulder.

A pause for me, while two more fights for the other women resolved. The losers again were subjected to quick pins followed by anal rape.

Janoose was my next opponent. He was bigger than Kormunat and wider, and maybe fifty pounds heavier than me. Ah well. Warriors don't always get to pick their battles.

I repeated my offer to Janoose to yield the floor to me.

"I will enjoy taking her from you," he growled.

"Llam nuqan, Marrin!"

"Llam nuqan," she repeated. It was obvious she was unsure what I aimed for, but she followed my lead.

I crouched as he slowly advanced, beginning the third Jaguar kata. The fourth Snake was a perfect counter. As I expected, on the fifteenth second of his attack, he moved into an overhand strike. I dropped, using my hands to brace myself on the ground and I kicked out, hard. My heel connected with the soft flesh of his groin. With a cry and a wheeze, he toppled over, clutching his balls.

I moved out of reach and stood up, keeping my eyes open.

Like sharks, three men struggled to roll him over and be the one into his ass. Two of them grappled, and while they were distracted, the third man shoved himself into Janoose. The man's swearing devolved into humiliated tears.

My revulsion at this travesty grew.

The two men realized their prey was in the process of being snatched from them. Together, they turned to tackle the third man, who was already pumping away, but Stryker ordered them to stop.

These were supposed to be Warriors. Imperial officers! Could a lifetime of Caste values be undone in such a short time? I sincerely hoped not.
Stryker scowled at the two men struggling. "When Daronu is done fucking Janoose, you two will fight each other next!"

They were dismayed, one having been in line for Bacholet and the other for Prina.

I felt no pity for either one of them. Both had sought an easy victory over a wounded opponent, so they wouldn't be raped by their "partner" for the duration of their training.

Daronu finished up, and I snatched the opportunity, announcing, "Marrin belongs to me. When I beat the last challenger, no one gets her but me for the remainder of our time here. Full stop."

Captain Stryker looked at me with interest. "Now, everyone knows women are for fucking. Explain yourself, Vedan Trash. Why exactly do you get to deny the others their right as men to fuck pussy?"

"I am a Warrior and an officer," I replied, narrowing my eyes. "She has made herself mine. I protect what is mine. Full stop."

Stryker scowled thoughtfully, then gave me a feral smile. "If you beat the remaining two challengers, Vedan Trash, I will consider your request. Now to make it interesting, the other challenges will wait until all the fights with Vedan Trash are concluded. That includes you two morons. The next fight with Vedan Trash is with Keltoc, the third challenger. If you beat Keltoc, Vedan Trash, you will immediately face Raltikon, the fourth challenger. Winner gets Marrin's cunt. And any other hole he wants to take."

Stryker himself gave it away. He tried to keep his eyes on me, but for a fraction of a second, he glanced behind me.

I ducked as I turned.

Keltoc's arm whizzed overhead. I countered with a snapping strike to his left knee, and as he dropped to the mat, I landed on him, slamming my elbow into his collar bone. I felt the bone give way, and Keltoc yelled in agony.

Rolling away clear of bystanders, I spared an angry glare at Stryker before I looked for Raltikon.

Yeah, I really wanted Stryker dead, and I was nearly ready to do it myself, despite the fact that he outranked me.

While Keltoc was rolled over and brutally taken, I moved toward my last opponent.

Raltikon surprised me by raising his hands. "I withdraw my challenge. I prefer an opponent who is more at my own skill level."

Stryker growled, "You challenged him for Marrin's hole! You. Will. Fight!"

"Raltikon!" I called out. "Do you submit to me?"

"I submit to you," he answered.

Several of the others waited to see what Stryker would do next. Raltikon had publicly surrendered to me. By the rules of the Warrior Caste, the fight was over and he owed me service.

Drawing his pistol, Stryker pointed it at Raltikon, snarling, "I said, fight! You will follow orders or you will die, right here."

"Don't resist," I muttered, hoping he heard. Grabbing his arm, I whipped it behind his back and pressed his face down to the floor.

"Yield!" I ordered.

Slapping his free hand on the mat, he said, "I yield!"

I released him and quickly backed off.

One of the bystanders tried to jump him, but Raltikon used his hands to pivot and swept out with his legs, knocking his opponent down. Landing heavily onto his foe, Raltikon used his greater weight to advantage and punched twice, then followed up with shots to the gut. Before his opponent could counterattack, Raltikon rolled him over and had him pinned. Stroking himself to hardness, he hissed, "You're mine, Fortri!"

(End of the rape scenes.)

* * * * *

I saw Stryker's fury as he drew a bead on Raltikon. Using an upward block, I ruined his shot. His pistol discharged as it careened across the room. Stunned, all eyes were on the two of us.

I was in Stryker's face. "Warriors Code! Raltikon and his service belong to me by right of combat! He's mine! You try to hurt him again, and despite your rank, I am within my rights to defend him, even to using lethal force. That is Imperial law! Do you challenge me, officer to officer, Warrior to Warrior, for Raltikon? Do you, Stryker? Speak up! I can't hear you!"

Stryker tried to hold his gaze, but after several seconds, turned away. Then he shoved at me, forcing me back. "It's Group Captain to you, Vedan Trash! Belton! Charunt! Finish up here!" He snatched up his pistol from the floor, holstered it, and stormed out of the room, crashing through the door on his way out.

Everyone watched him leave, then turned to look at me. Stryker had capitulated to me, in front of everyone. I had their attention.

"I protect what is mine," I told them. "Always."

Charunt snarled, "You two, fight like the Captain ordered. Vedan Trash, you better fill Marrin's cunt or it won't count."

Furious, I moved toward Charunt. The two men preparing to fight fell back gave way before me.

"I am an officer, you tapir's prick! You might have some authority right now - sergeant! - but I am Warrior Caste and you best remember that. Marrin is also Warrior caste, an officer, and she belongs to me. You have zero authority over her. When I am out of here, I will pay my debts. I already loathe you. I warn you now, how you act from this point forward is absolutely crucial to your survival. From this point forward, you will address me as Lord Kandikan, Senior Lieutenant, or Sir. Anything else is disrespectful and will be dealt with. Do I make myself clear, Sergeant?"

Belton moved his hand to his pistol.

"Sergeant Belton!" I growled. "Think long and hard before moving another inch for that weapon. It is only because I am an Imperial officer that I have not killed both of you for your insults to my House and to my family. Draw your weapon on me and, sure as the sun rises, I will kill you."

Charunt stared at me. "Don't do it, Belton."

Belton glanced at Charunt, then dropped his hand. "It isn't right," he whined. "They're supposed to be under our control."

"We are officers and you are enlisted," I continued, glaring at them both. "I suggest you both vanish. Now!"

Belton broke out in a sweat, growing more alarmed.

"We have our orders," Charunt countered, continuing to stare back.

"Unless there is anyone here above Senior Lieutenant, I am now the senior ranking officer in this room. I don't care what you've gotten away with before, but your insolence toward officers is at an end. You will give every officer here the respect due their grade, and if you fail to do so, I will punish you as well as remind you to respect your betters. Am I clear, Sergeant?"

"Yes," Charunt said, glaring, then grudgingly added, "sir."

I heard other people gathering behind. I had asserted myself and now Charunt had capitulated. Stryker had fled. However, I knew Charunt was going to be a problem.

This little freak show of Stryker's might play in the criminal areas, but not here. Turning, I spied the last two combatants. "Stand down, you two-"

Just then, four men grabbed me from behind. Despite my struggle, they held me securely. I looked at their faces. Keltoc was one. I didn't know the other three, but I did memorize their faces.

"Let me go right now," I demanded, "or when I get loose, I will hurt you!"

Charunt gave an evil grin, strode up and punched me in the guts. Belton drew his pistol, turned it around, and tried to hammer me alongside the head. I jerked out of the way, but the edge clipped me. Twisting and snarling, I kicked Belton in the chest, knocking him down.

Charunt dodged, then moved back in to pound me further.

Marrin jumped onto one of those holding my arms, distracting him.

What happened next, I did not expect.

Raltikon slammed into both the men holding my left side, knocking all of us over.

Jerking, twisting, and rolling, I was nearly free!

Charunt managed to avoid getting entangled. Charging up, he kicked me in the ribs.

Pain lanced my side, but I grabbed his leg. Rolling and twisting, I knocked him down as I got free of the tangled mess. Charunt tried to get to his feet, but I whipped around and swept out with my leg, taking his feet from under him. Hooking his flailing arm, I pinned him onto the floor, ending with my legs scissor-locked around his neck. Squeezing my legs tight, I choked him.

Oh, I was so tempted to kill him! Returning some of the pain he'd given me and others, however, would give me some satisfaction, so I broke his wrist.

Charunt screamed into the mat.

I remembered his threats about Sisi and Mina, laughing as he spoke in lurid detail of how he would enjoy hurting them. So I broke his elbow, too.

Charunt's screams became a shriek that broke into a heaving sob.

I released my legs from his neck and got up.

With two major joint injuries on one limb, moving was going to be a problem for him.

Then I saw Belton stumble to his feet. His pistol had been knocked away and he dove for it. I caught him just before he reached the weapon. I snagged his hair, spun him around and introduced his face to my knee. Since I was sure he hadn't heard me, I introduced my knee to his face a second time. While his nose spurted blood, I kicked his legs out from under, and he fell flat onto the mat. While he was dazed, I lifted his nearest leg and punched the knee sideways. Cartilage crunched. Belton wailed, grabbing his ruined leg.

Picking up his pistol, I took a couple of seconds to suck some air, rubbing at my head and wincing at the pain in my ribs. My hand came back bloody from my temple, where Belton had clipped me. After a quick rub to clear my eyes, I checked the pistol. I blinked. A Mark 12 that fired .32 caliber rounds. PUG Munitions. An Atlantean weapon!

Except for those already battered, nearly everyone was now involved in the brawl. This had to stop. I fired a round at the ceiling.

Surprised, people fell apart, staring at me.

"Warriors!" I roared out. "Form up at attention. Two ranks. Turn to! Move, move, move!"

As they scrambled, some faster than others, I glared at them. Seeing the pistol, everyone's attention was on me.

"All right. I am a Senior Lieutenant in the Imperial Air Service. I am Warrior Caste. I intend to make myself the head of this cohort. Do any of you equal or outrank me? Raise your hand."

No one responded, their eyes glued to the weapon in my hand.

"Marrin, come forward." When she did, I handed her the pistol. "If anyone challenges me by right of combat, I acknowledge their right to do so. Marrin, do not let anyone else interfere."

She nodded. "Solo duels only. Yes, sir!"

Then she looked at the gun, whirled, and stormed over to Belton, giving his injured leg a hard kick. "Explain to me, you putrid piece of filth, why you carry an Atlantean weapon!"

"Lieutenant Marrin! Stand down! It's a good question, but save it." Turning to the rest, I took a deep breath. "Now it's just me. If anyone one feels they can take me on, I will honor the challenge. But once it's decided, you are mine."

Before anyone else could answer, Raltikon spoke up. "No, sir. I am your man. Any challengers have to go through me first." After wiping the blood from his lip, he elbowed the man next to him. "Fortri!" Both of them were developing first class shiners.

He glared at Raltikon, but then nodded. "Challengers will have to go through me, too."

There were a couple of sullen glances, but no one opposed me.

Exasperated, I looked at him. "Raltikon, why did you do that?"

"I submitted to you in good faith. You repaid that by saving my life. Stryker was going to kill me."

"Yes, he was," I agreed. "All right. As of now, I am in charge, and I have a few things to say. I have no clue who is in charge of this fucking circus, nor do I know what kind of fall out there will be. But as of now, I am your officer and all of you belong to me. You five in the back, pay attention, but you will go to the pile of clothing and you will get dressed. When you are done, fall back into line, and the next five will do the same, until we are all dressed like human beings."

I gave them the officer's pledge to act with honor, to not waste their lives foolishly or to abuse them without cause. I made clear that I expected them to apply themselves to their training, and to act as Warriors, not as animals, and to honor their military oaths. I saw surprise and recognition on a few faces. Then I told them effective immediately, a Unit Protection Order was in place, and then I explained what that was.

That really got their attention.

"I tell by the looks on some of your faces that you aren't sure that you heard me correctly. Rest assured, you did. I am your commanding officer and that is my order. No one forces another to have sex. Full stop. If you want to fuck each other, both parties must agree. Women included. If I hear the words 'stop' or 'no,' I will intervene. I will expect each of you to not only abide by this order, but to help enforce it. Failure to do so will piss me off. I will not negotiate on this issue.

"All of you are Warriors, the nobility of Chimorro. Men and women both. Break this rule and it's as if you challenged me to a blood duel. Expect me to respond accordingly. You are trained military officers. You have sworn to defend the Emperor and the Empire against all enemies, even if it cost you your lives. Or, so you once vowed when you entered military service.

"However, the rules and orders we've received since arriving here are completely at odds with the codes and conduct expected of a Warrior and military officer. That is unacceptable and it ends now! We are Warriors and we will abide by the honor codes of the Warrior Caste or I will know the reason why! I intend to so abide, and I demand the same from all of you. Am I clear, Warriors of Chimorro?"

"Sir, yes, sir!"

I took a breath. "Any questions?"

One raised his hands. It was one of the last two male holdouts that had been ordered to fight by Stryker.

"Do we still have to fight?"

"No," I told him. "You two are training partners. What you both agree to do in the privacy of your own quarters is up to you. From this point forward, there will be no fighting amongst yourselves, except to defend yourself. And any fucking from this point forward must be mutually agreed upon."

"Fucking pervert," Charunt wheezed. "You'll never get away with it."

I could not believe him! "Charunt! How did a prick like you ever make sergeant? I warned you about giving officers due respect. You obviously need more punishment."

As much as I wanted to hurt him some more, I thought it was time to share. "Lieutenant Marrin, Charunt needs disciplinary instruction. Please be so good as to break his other arm."

Marrin beamed in delight. "It's a dream come true. Thank you, sir."

I kept my focus on the others, who watched the still very naked Marrin put the hurt on Charunt.

"No! No! Wait, wait, wait-!"

There was a crunch and Charunt wailed. There were more than a few grim smiles at his pain.

Since it was our turn, we walked to the rear of the room and gathered up our clothes. I returned to the front and quickly dressed.

Those who serve in the armed forces may tease or even deride the other branches. But underneath it, there is also respect for those serving in the other branches. Soldiers learn the song of their own branch of service. More than a few soldiers know also know the first verse of the other services. I built on that. "If you know the words, sing along with me."

My voice is only fair, but I began with the first verse of the Ground Service March.

By the second line, everyone sang with me.

As we sang, recognition and then pride could be seen. Next, we sang the marches for the Air, Naval, and Marine Services. Then we sang the Imperial Anthem, loud and strong.

As the notes faded, I put my hands on my hips and nodded to them, trying to catch the eyes of each and every one of them.

"Very good. I see that with but a little reminding, you remember that you are Warriors of Chimorro, sworn to defend the Empire against all who would do the Empire harm. Remember your pride! Remember your honor! When you recognize this next bit, I expect you to join in."

Holding my fisted hand over my heart, I recited my oath as an officer of the Imperial Air Service. Startled, the others raised their hands and followed along. The names and the service branches differed, but the rest of the oath was the same for everyone. We pledged our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to the defense of our nation.

Raising my fist into the air, I shouted, "Air Service, Ground Service, Naval Service, Marine Service! Llam nuqan! We work together!"

They raised their fists, shouting along with me. "Llam nuqan! We work together! Llam nuqan!"

It was on the fourth shout that Stryker and others burst into the room. The guards were all armed with heavy assault rifles, the officers with drawn pistols. I had wondered about the upper ranks. I'd seen two other captains and some lieutenants, but no one higher than Group Captain.

Somehow I wasn't surprised to see the field commander from Sentry War Base leading them.

The same one who'd ordered me to fly to Sparanztlo so I could be shot down.

"What's going on here?" bellowed the commander.

"Morale building," I answered, clear and loud. "All of these Warriors belong to me."

Incredulous, the field commander pointed to his shoulder board and demanded, "Do you recognize my grade?"

"I recognize the insignia. It indicates Field Commander. I am Senior Lieutenant Ranji Kandikan. I am a Warrior and an officer in the Imperial Air Service. Who are you? And what is your House name, Commander?"

"You are a cheeky piece of -" Stryker began, but the commander cut him off.

"I am Field Commander Chatolklan, Imperial Security." He paused, then raised his eyebrows at me. "Do you have nothing to say?"

I shrugged. "What should I say? Did we previously meet at Sentry War Base?"

If he admitted we had, his orders for me to fly here had nearly gotten me killed and wasted a perfectly good aircraft. If he denied it, then Imperial Security was rife with draconian agents and they seriously needed to clean house.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Yes, we met. And what in blazes does that have to do with anything?"

"I've run into a lot of draconians in the past couple of months, alien spies and saboteurs using their camouflage technology to impersonate Imperial officers. If you had denied it, either one of you would have been an alien spy, and neither one of you to be trusted. Since you say it was you, and you actually ordered me to fly here, I just wondered why you just didn't try to kill me outright, instead having me shot down."

"What do you mean by that, Kandikan?" The commander glared.

"As soon as I cleared the eastern ridge to this valley, both SAM batteries opened up. Despite the fact that my aircraft was broadcasting a military identification code. I survived, but the Albatross was blown to bits. Someone cost the Empire a valuable aircraft. And they tried to kill me, to which I personally take exception. I have to wonder strongly, do we have unfinished, personal business? Did you plan my death, Commander? If so, I'd prefer a direct challenge, Warrior to Warrior, instead of a cowardly, so-called accident."

If the commander was lying, he did a good job. He flashed a look of surprise, and then he looked at me with interest.

"If that had been my intent or my orders, I would have shot you at Sentry War Base," he said at last. "The loss of the aircraft was unfortunate. You, however, appear none the worse for wear. The same can't be said for Sergeants Charunt and Belton. What do you have to say to that, Kandikan?"

"I am a Warrior officer. I was tired of being treated with disrespect by an enlisted man, especially one that has worked so hard to earn my hatred. I informed them both that such disrespect was at an end. I also reminded them that every other person in this room outranked them. They not only objected, they laid hands on me - an officer - and suffered accordingly."
The commander gave a slight nod, then turned his attention to Stryker. "This is your fuck party! You and your men were allowed to indulge yourselves as long as you maintained control. It appears that you have not only lost that control, it's been taken by Kandikan here. This will go into your record, Stryker. If you are to have any authority here, you need to fix it, right now."

Furious, Stryker glared at me and drew his pistol. I charged, closing the distance. Eyes widening, his aim drifted. My left arm exploded in agony as the pistol barked loudly. The next second, my right fist hit his chest hard enough that his sternum audibly popped.

Stryker choked for air, trying to bring up the pistol for another shot. Pushing my battered left shoulder in to spoil his aim, I brought my right fist down on his collar bone. Stryker went down and I followed him. Using my weight to pin his weapon hand, I hammered his face, over and over until he quit struggling.

Pushing myself up, heaving for air, I removed the pistol from his hand.

"If you kill him, Kandikan, I will be forced to kill you, too."

I glanced at my bleeding shoulder. Blood pulsed out, soaking my shirt. I tossed the pistol onto the floor, out of Stryker's reach. I started to feel light-headed, but looked up. "Warrior's Code. They are mine by right of combat. Mine!"

"Agreed," the commander replied. "Tropan, get these four into the tanks. Bala'charanker, escort the others to their new quarters. Access to the cafeteria and library only, until their officer returns to them."

It got harder to follow along. As I sagged over, I saw pale blonde hair, then Deedee's wide, pale blue eyes. Felt her digging at my wound.

"Stay with us, Lieutenant," she urged. "You can do it!"

Everything went dark.

* * * * *

When I finally came to, Raltikon was seated in a chair nearby, reading a book. My throat burned.

Noticing I was awake, he put the book down, collected a cup and after filling it from a water pitcher, held it while I sipped. My shoulder ached. I drank it all before even attempting to speak. Even after clearing my throat, my voice croaked. "How... long?"

"Five days, Lieutenant. It was touch and go there. Marrin says you lost more than two liters of blood. They kept you in the tanks for two solid days. Marrin raised a ruckus, saying you needed at least three. Did you know she used to be an emergency room nurse? She kept pressure on your wound until they got you into the tanks. She saved your life. There's five of us who have kept watch on you. Marrin wanted to stay here the whole time, but we insisted that she take time to eat and sleep. Besides, we reminded her that we all owed you and some of us wanted the opportunity to pay you back."

I finished the glass and lay back. "Owed me?"

He looked serious. "You reminded us of what we are supposed to be. Warriors, the best of the Empire, living by a code of honor. The torture made us forget that. As for me, you not only save my life, you helped save my honor. I owe you a life debt, Lieutenant."

"I'd rather have a friend." Careful not to snag the tube going into my arm, I lifted up my right hand.

"Done! And done!" He grinned, clasping it. "Jaynobro Raltikon, Tacana State. Friends and family call me Jay. I'm the second son unfortunately, and thus my reason for enlisting, but that's the breaks one gets."

"Ranji Kandikan, Caribe State. Only child."

My voice suddenly got hoarse, so he gave me more water to drink.

Then he pulled his chair in closer and filled me in.

Thus far, there had been no sign of Stryker, Charunt, or Belton, and they all agreed that was a good thing. The commander had ordered nothing further was to happen until I recovered from my injury. Even so, there had been a lot of testing - testing of knowledge, skills, psych evaluations, even some things the rest of them puzzled over. In the meantime, the group talked in the evenings and got to know each other. Deedee's place as my Second had been enforced by the majority. I was the leader, and she was my partner.

The two biggest items of discussion were the Protection Order and the fact that I'd been shot down upon arriving at the base. Deedee Marrin had confirmed she'd seen it happen, and that she had rescued me. I had told her of Commander Orchid's radio broadcast endorsing the Order and why, and she in turn told them. A few of the men grumbled, but most were okay with it, and they enforced it among themselves. Unsurprisingly, the events at High Guard were news.

"Those designated as team supports seem to be the strongest supporters for the Order, but even some of those designated as team leaders agree the Protection Order is a good policy. I count myself among them."

I raised my eyebrows.

"What?" he asked. "You don't believe me?"

"You seemed... so eager to fuck Fortri."

Raltikon looked contrite. "Yes. And truth to tell, it felt good in a petty sort of way. Our families are neighbors and long-time rivals. Once we got to talking, however, we realized that neither one of us had any real, personal reasons for the rancor. Our families probably won't understand, but we're working things out between ourselves."

Nodding, I closed my eyes.

"You've had a rough go. Marrin said the bullet shattered the upper humerus and a bone chip nicked your artery. We almost lost you. Marrin says you have another session in the tanks tomorrow morning. Get some rest, Lieutenant. We'll keep an eye on you."

The machine next to the saline drip beeped, and the second, smaller bag began dripping into the mix. Pain eased and I fell back into darkness.

* * * * *

Warmth and pressure forced me back to awareness. As I became aware of it, the cause of my wakefulness was my bladder. The pressure was a warm body sharing my bed. It was then I realized I had a hand full of breast, and the nipple was hard. The very female body that I was wrapped around trembled, her breathing a shuddering gasp.

Pushing her away, I asked, "What? Who?"

When my eyes first adjusted, I saw the blonde hair and thought it might be Melannee, but I quickly realized it had to be Deedee.

She shifted and turned. Her face and neck were flushed. "Why-Why did you stop?"

"I have to pee really bad," I told her.

Comprehension dawned. "They removed the catheters and support tubes earlier this morning. Here. Let me help you."

Getting up, I saw that all she wore was a simple tee-shirt as she helped me over to the toilet. Too unsteady to stand, I sat down to empty my bladder. As she waited for me, I caught sight of the blonde hair framing her lower lips below the hemline. Once my toilet was done, I looked up at her.

"Deedee, what were you doing in my bed?"

"You were restless and I got cold. As soon as I crawled in next to you, you put your arm around me and settled right down. Your Protection Order doesn't cover when people are sleeping. I know I didn't ask first, but I didn't think you'd mind." Then she looked worried. "Are you angry with me?"

I let out a breath. "Getting angry would make me a solid core ass. You have saved my life several times now, and you've been taking care of me, too." I saw the hard points tenting her tee-shirt. I shook my head. "I'm sorry about taking liberties. I didn't know it was you."

"I know that," she said, helping me stand. "I've heard you say a few names. Some I couldn't quite make out. You already told me you're in love with Janetta. You also talked about Calia and Ixma and maybe others. If it's not too presumptuous, it seems you seem to have a lot of women in your life."

"I suppose I do," I admitted. She waited patiently while I emptied my bladder. Then she helped me back into bed.

Reaching into her pile of clothes on the chair, Deedee produced two protein bars. Pouring a glass of water into a cup, she opened both and handed them and the cup to me. "Eat."

I realized I was famished, and I quickly scarfed them down and finished off the water. Deedee refilled the glass for me, and I drained that, too. When I was done, she put the cup back beside the pitcher, turned down the lights, then made to climb back into bed with me.

"What are you doing?" I asked her.

"Getting back into bed, Lieutenant. It's late, and I'm cold again." Uncertain, she pursed her lips. "I know you didn't know it was me in your bed. But you were warm, comforting, and really gentle. It felt... nice. I'm not any of your women, but it's nice to be held and... please don't make me leave."

I had asked for us to be friends. It was a possible complication, but sometimes friendship was exactly that. You are either there for your friends or you aren't really friends.

"This is what you want?"

"Yes, I want to be with you."

"Climb in, Deedee. And it's Ranji when it's just us."

Smiling, she slipped under the blankets, snuggling close. I put my free arm around her.

"You know that I'm not asking you to do anything," I reminded her.

"I know," she said with a sigh. "When we were out there in the snow and I was keeping you warm - I don't know - you just felt good to hold onto. When this assignment is done, we probably won't see each other ever again. I'm not asking for anything permanent."

"Indeed?" Having eaten something solid, I found I was actually waking up a little.

"I've had a lot of time to think about your Protection Order, and what that means."

"I meant every word, Deedee. Rest assured about that."

"When I was sent here, I knew we were to be paired together. I assumed you'd take me whenever you wanted. Despite what I did to Charunt, I don't generally like violence. Watching you fight, I knew you weren't staking ownership. You were protecting me. And knowing I could tell you no? That I had a choice? When they jumped you and tried to beat you up, I became enraged. I couldn't let you fight alone. It was my fight, too! Raltikon and Fortri helped. Even Janoose. Hearing you issue the Protection Order, hearing those words actually spoken aloud! It was liberating!"

"It has to apply to everyone for it to be effective."

"This quest of yours is so big," she whispered. "I'm all in a jumble inside. If it's doing that to me... You don't know how much turmoil this will cause. And that makes me afraid for you, Ranji."

"I can't stop, Deedee. It's the right thing to do." I brushed her hair back away from her ear. She made a pleased sound, so I stroked her hair. "I have two daughters at home. Sisi and Mina. They are changing my world. I didn't realize it at the time, but it was Ixma who made everything so simple and clear. She told me she knew I was going to love my daughters as much as I would any son. Sex can be casual and fun, but it can also be so intimate. Rape is dehumanizing. When Sisi and Mina grow up, I don't want them to experience that kind of fear or pain."

Her head against my chest, she sniffed, and I felt her tears. "That's one of the reasons I volunteered for covert service. Atlantis and Aesir-Veda are the enemy. But for women, things are better there. And just when I'm nearly ready to leave, I meet you." Her hand moved slowly along my ribs. "My father... disowned me when I entered the Ground Service."

"Service to the Empire is an honor. Why would he do that?"

"I was a girl. They used to have parties for my father's superiors. To gain favor. Our house slave, Ila, was too sick, so I became... the entertainment. I cried and bled a lot. The men... afterward they told me they liked it because I was tighter than Ila."

"Even your father?"

"Afterward, he hugged me. It was the first time I can recall him doing that."

"What about your mother? She let this go on?"

"She told me I should be grateful to help my father's career. That giving the men their due would be a foretaste of marriage."

"That sounds awful, Deedee."

"It was. So on my sixteenth birthday, I didn't even wait for daylight. My bags were packed and I was at the Recruiting Station before breakfast. He found me later that day, but at sixteen, it was legal for me to enlist. Once I signed the papers, I belonged to the Empire, not him. There was nothing he could do to prevent it."

"At least you got out."

I felt her shaking. "I don't want to talk about that anymore. I just wanted you to know how much your Protection Order means to me."

I hugged her, stroking her back. What could I say to her? It was so outside of my own experience. What happened to Deedee was monstrous. I had arms to offer comfort and words of assurance that she still valued, despite what others might say. I couldn't force her to believe them. She had to do that on her own. Daughters had every right to expect their parents to protect them, not treat them like property. It was my hope the Protection Orders would be the keystone to bringing these old ways tumbling down.

Deedee sniffed again and wiped her eyes. "When you talk about your women, I hear such love in your voice. You sound happy. I want to know more. How do you juggle three women all at once? Do they know about each other?"

I laughed. Then I took a breath and laughed some more. "Three? Deedee, I have seven women in my life!"

She jerked upright, eyes big. "Seven!"

"Well, Sisi and Mina are my daughters, so they are mine, but not like that. It's all very complicated. Are you sure you want to hear about it?"

Deedee assured me she did, and it didn't take much persuasion. I talked about how I first met Janetta, our trip to the mountain, the nights in the hangar hanging out and getting to know each other and her flight crew. Then my wish to protect Ixma, and how and why Zinja, Cholan, and Ixma became my lovers. About Calia's love and patience that had taught me so much. And how much she'd helped keep everything together while Janetta, Zinja, and Cholan were in the hospital.

I talked for hours. She got up twice to get me water.

Deedee quickly realized that because of their age, the girls couldn't be mine by blood. So I talked about the Drug Plot, and how Sisi and Mina came to be orphaned, about the child trafficking ring we broke up, and adopting them both.

Deedee sighed. "It's too bad women officers can't wear neckerchiefs in their hair."

"Once the Protection Order becomes universal, it won't be needed."

"I bet your Janetta would wear yours if she could," she replied. "Yes, unofficially the neckerchief protects enlisted women. But it also openly marks them as your women, Ranji. I never realized it before, but it probably has as much symbolism as a marriage ring. Your Ixma saw that when she put one on Calia. In the short time that I've known you, I have no doubt they wear them with happiness and pride because it marks them as your women."

That was an astute observation. Even Janetta had noticed how obsessive Ixma was about her neckerchief.

"Maybe, too," she continued thoughtfully, "that's why women officers aren't allowed to wear neckerchiefs."

I had never made the connection. Deedee was right. Only male officers wore the neckerchiefs. Only enlisted women with officers as lovers wore them.

Deedee yawned, so I told her to close her eyes and get some sleep. She kissed my chest, then turned around and shifted until I spooned against her back. Taking my hand, she held it against her belly. In a short time, her breathing deepened and she was asleep. Listening to her, I thought of my family, focusing on the good memories, following them where they led, until sleep claimed me.

* * * * *

Hours later, I awoke and I was hard. Deedee was stroking my cock and moving her hips closer to her wet groove. All I knew was that my bladder was screaming it was full.

"That's going to have to wait," I told her. As I felt much stronger, I went to the toilet under my own power, did my business, washed and stood before the bed. "Do you need to go?"

"I went earlier. I'm good," she replied, pulling back the blankets. Deedee no longer wore her tee-shirt.

"What time is it?"

She looked at her watch. "Zero-four hundred. We have plenty of time."

I climbed back into bed. "Just because I got hard doesn't mean you have to do anything, Deedee."

"I know. And I appreciate the choice. I want to. It's okay, isn't it?"

"You aren't worried about pregnancy?"

She shook her head. "No. Why should I?"

"What about the nano-treatments?" I persisted. "They make birth control ineffective."

She gave me a strange look. "Ranji, there's an add-on module to the software that works with the nanobots to prevent conception. They figured out how to do that, like, at least ten years ago."

What? Seven hells! I angrily thought. And why hadn't Janetta and the other women been given that option during their hospital stay?

Deedee's hand caressing my cock defused my anger. Seeing my face, she said, "Stryker and the others were brutal. I haven't been with anyone since them, and... before that, I can't really remember when I was with someone because I wanted it myself."

I just sighed.

"We're friends, aren't we, Ranji? Being together like this is even better than when we were out in the snow. I know you some, and... right now, I want to be treated and touched like a woman in the arms of a caring, gentle man. I know you have people you love back home, but would you mind? Please?"

In answer, I pulled her in close, kissing her. Tentative at first for both of us. Reaching out, testing our responses and gauging the other. Then she sighed, opening her mouth and I explored her face, her lips, her tongue. Making little cries, Deedee tried to wriggle underneath me, eager to bring my erection to her full, pouty lips, but I broke the kiss.

"Not yet," I told her. "I want an introduction to your body first."

"What - What do you mean?" she asked, suddenly unsure.

Nibbling on her neck and earlobe, Deedee gasped, then turned her neck to give me more access.

"Ohh, Ranji. That feels so nice. I'm tingly up and down my back, and... and I want to feel you inside me."

"I'm just getting started," I breathed near her ear. She shivered.

One hand held her close while the other stroked her mound, teasing her outer lips. Her legs opened to give me access, and I stroked along her damp slit, spreading her growing moisture around. Rubbed around her mound, circling and sometimes pressing at the base of her clit.

Deedee rocked her hips, moaning as I kissed her, nibbling and breathing onto her neck. When she stiffened, then jerked as she whimpered, my hands eased off the direct stimulation while giving something to grind her mound against. Shuddering and heaving in my embrace. When the tremors ceased, she hungrily kissed me.

Once again, Deedee tried to guide me in, but I resisted her urging. "Not yet."

"But... But I'm so wet! I'm ready, Ranji. Really I am."

"Just wait," I told her. "It'll get better. Trust me."

After licking and nibbling along her jaw and the other ear, I meandered down to her breasts. Her hands ran along my back as she made appreciative noises. I kneaded her soft flesh, tweaking and rolling one nipple, while my mouth sucked and licked the other, laving the aureole until it puckered and hardened. I switched, and her breathing deepened and she began to moan. As if her breasts were temples of worship, I gave them due homage. Savoring their texture, the hardness of the nodules around her nipples. Teasing the nipples until they were rock hard.

"That's so nice," she murmured, gasping as she ran her fingers through my hair. "Most men will squeeze them, but not really pay them any attention. Or they squeeze too hard."

Moving one leg between hers, she began to rub her swollen pussy against it.

When I released her nipple from my mouth, her leg drew up, pushing at my butt. Grinning, I shook my head at her. She whined in protest.
I kissed my way down her belly.

"What - What are you... You can't! Oh, that's so... so perverted, and oh. My. God. You are so kinky! But it feels... unh! Oh, Ranji, don't stop! Oh, gods, please don't stop!"

Using my hands, I splayed her legs apart and the tip of my tongue traced along her fat, ruddy lips. Kissing her folds from top to bottom, I traced the edges of her lower lips with my tongue, enjoying the tangy taste of her arousal. She shivered, opening her legs wider. Pressing into her slick groove, I split her lips apart, licking at her moisture. Deedee gasped, then moaned deeper. Around and up and down went my oral probe, careful to avoid her clit. Licking up the juices that now dripped from her opening center. Kissing them. Her hips rocked and pressed against my face, while small cries escaped from her.

Sucking in all her lips into my mouth caused her to yelp and buck, and flicking them with my tongue made her heave for air. Clutching my hair, Deedee began to cry out. Her hard little nubbin of joy made its appearance, so I moved up and ran my tongue around it. Her cries rose with her growing urgency. Muscles in her belly tensed, and when I rapidly flicked her clit, she arched her back, shaking while her hands gripped my head harder, pulling me against her sopping center.

On the third trip from top to the base of her pussy and back up again, I slipped in two fingers and probed the outer part of her trembling flesh. Pumping as I laved her erect nubbin of joy, she pressed herself at my mouth. I turned my fingers and sought the diamond of flesh just on the roof of her tunnel. A little attention and Deedee thrashed about, calling out my name, moaning in approval. Rubbing the roughly textured area, I rapidly flicked her clit. Heaving for air, her body shaking as her lower cavity throbbed and pulsed against my tongue. Liquid flowed out and I eagerly moved lower and drank it down. It was her third release.

When I tried to move back to her clit, she gasped, covering her sex with her hands. "No, no! Too much!" I touched her hip and she jerked, then groaned and quivered.

Moving back up, I drew her in and caressed her, while she trembled in my arms. Tremors ran through her, causing her to whimper. When I brought my mouth to hers, Deedee grabbed me, trying to devour my mouth.

"Oh, god. That was so wicked and... so amazing!" Her eyes were full of delight.

"Ready?" I asked.

"I'll beg if you want me to! I feel your hard cock along my leg and it's driving me crazy! Please, Ranji. Pretty please? I want you inside me. I need you so bad!"

"I think you're ready now."

Spreading her legs wide, her hand clasped my cock and tugged it toward her swollen, flushed entrance. "Oh, gods, yes, I'm ready for you. More than ready. Really, really, ready."

Once my crown pressed inward, her legs wrapped around me, heels pushed against my butt, urging me deeper. Gasping and moaning, her hands caressed my chest. As I pressed deeper, her eyes went wide, dilating with full arousal. When I felt my balls caress her wet lips, she gave me a look of wonder.

"Don't move," she gasped. "Give me... Give me a moment to get used to you. Oh, Ranji. You are... stretching me apart, and your shaft is so thick and hot. It's almost too much. I feel you, all the way, deep down inside me, brushing my womb. Ah! Oh gods, oh gods!"

After a few breaths, she nodded, and I began to rock. Deedee moaned and moved with me. Tears began to spill from her eyes.

"Are you okay, Deedee? I'm not hurting, am I?"

Her eyes wide, her hands gripped my shoulders as she began to thrust back at me. "Don't stop! Oh, holy Inti, please don't stop! You feel... wonderful."

Grinning, I leaned down for a kiss.

I lengthened my strokes, and she met me, thrust for thrust. Then she urged me faster and harder. With the deeper strokes, the pace increased. The wet, squishy sound of our flesh moving together, coming together and pulling apart, over and over.

A tingling began around my crown. Deedee grunted each time my balls slapped against her ass.

Pausing a moment, I pulled her legs up onto my shoulders, opening her up even wider to my penetration. Her face lifted and she watched me moving in and out of her wet core. Eyes glazing, she whimpered. I moved a little higher, so my angle was sharper, giving her clit more stimulation from my shaft plunging into her drenched, hot cavity. Frowning, she concentrated intensely on trying to take me as deep as she could with each push into her slick, welcoming sheath.

Then I began thoroughly exploring her intimate center. With each downward driving p"lunge into her eager body, my hips slammed against her, parting her anew, over and over. My balls slapped wetly against her ass, soaked from her own arousal.

The emptiness of withdrawal, the spreading fullness of my flared crown inserting itself within her sex, followed immediately by my shaft filling her tunnel of pleasure all over again. Grunting, I worked within myself, in and out of her tight pussy. Deedee's mouth hung open as she stared, her grip on my arms tightening.

Tightness built down in my balls, and in response, I thrust even harder. Coiling and winding, quicker and quicker, the pressure built. Then I felt my hard length swell inside her. Growling I shoved her into the mattress, pressing myself into her clasping, slick channel as hard and deep as I could, feeling my crown brush her womb. Our eyes met as the first hot jet of semen sprayed forth, coating her inner sanctum. Deedee's eyes rolled back as she screamed, wildly bucking her hips as I pulsed again and again, filling her with my seed. Suddenly her walls gripped and undulated along my length, milking me for all I had to give. For several long, intense seconds we focused on her sex surrounding mine, caressing my length as I moved within her, coating her insides with my seed.

As throbbing sensations began to fade, I let down her legs. Deedee shivered, panting. Leaning down, I nuzzled her cheek, then lightly kissed her lips. Her eyes opened and found mine, her face unreadable. She looked stunned.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I never knew it could be like that. For a while there, all I could feel was you deep inside, coming in me, filling me up. It was... beautiful."

"I also had a good time, Deedee."

"And... and you didn't mind putting your mouth down there?"

I grinned. "Not at all. I rather enjoy doing that."

"Amazing," she murmured, smiling. "Does that mean you will do that to me again?"

I laughed low and quiet. "Sure. But not right now. Let's take a little time to enjoy just lying here together."

Nodding, she closed her eyes and shivered.

Soon, I softened and slipped out. There was quite the wet spot beneath. Deedee reached over to the floor and picked up her tee-shirt, using it to wipe herself, then laying it over the spot. Laying side by side, we kissed and held each other until it was time to get up for breakfast.

* * * * *

For two days, our unit met together for meals and I joined the others in the extensive testing. Some were physical, but there were also hours of written and oral exams, and even some obvious ethical tests.

After my return from the tanks, I couldn't help notice her overall change in demeanor. Within the first week of her sleeping in my room, Deedee became happier, smiled easier, and even began cracking jokes with the others. Without a word between us, by the second week, she moved her things into my room and it was done.

For the first several nights, Deedee crawled into bed next to me. We'd hold each other and talk a bit until we fell asleep. And sometime during the night, she'd wake me, moving over me as she pressed her wet sheath down over my hard shaft. Grunting and rocking her hips, she'd work herself up and down until she came. Sometimes I kept thrusting upward until I exploded inside her steamy heat. As often, though, after she came I'd roll us over and I'd lick her pussy to another release before entering her again.

The cot was snug with the two of us; there was hardly room to move, but she seemed content to be with me. Frankly, having her there through the night helped me, too. The torture had affected me deeper than I initially believed or even realized. Deedee urged me to talk about my feelings, even to cry if I needed it. We gave each other a couple of nights, letting out the pain while the other held on, giving permission to express while acting as an emotional anchor.

As her comfort with me grew, she didn't bother with waiting until I was asleep. Deedee just undressed, and if I was slow, she'd help me, then press herself against me. And she wasn't shy about waking me early for morning sex, too.

Once the testing was complete, we began training, one week per subject. Four were selected for me, three were my choice.

That was when I had my first experience with the memory helmets. The connections were painful, intense. In the neck and the ears. Months of classroom learning or physical skills transferred into memory during an hour of time. Followed by another hour of heaving into a trash bin, and a blinding headache for another four hours. It made for an exhausting day.

The rest of the week was spent honing skills, either in writing or in physical demonstration and practice, to help solidify our understanding and integrate it into our skill set.

After dinner, there was time in the library, playing some sports or visiting the media center, though we still did not have electronic mail access. Then to bed.

I gave her more oral attention, which she quickly decided was her favorite. But she insisted that afterward I enter her until I come.

We didn't get to spend every night together. Sometimes the training classes demanded our attention for days at a time. For example, the first subject I was trained in was advanced survival, covering temperate, tropical, and desert environments. Part of that was preparing shelters and sleeping alone for a few days at a time. I also learned a lot about plants, animals, and insects to watch out for, and which ones could be used as food.

My second class was learning to become a sharpshooter, followed by sniping classes, working with a spotter, and then practicing solo. Learning how to use and strip down five different types of rifles, and rebuilding them under twilight or blindfolded conditions. The virtual shooting range, with hostile and friendly targets, was challenging. Melannee had told me I would be trained in wet work, and it looked like she was right.

The third class was in rock climbing and mountaineering. The fourth was advanced security systems and procedures, including learning the software modules on my laptop.

For my own electives, first was advanced energy physics, and I took two separate sessions, basic and intermediate mastery. I had to ask for it, as it wasn't initially "available. I wanted to help my father with his research, and as the son of a priest-class scientist, I was entitled. I passed the written test at the end of the week with a ninety-two percent comprehension score. What it meant for me was that I could begin aiding my father more actively in his research, working on the mathematical proofs and giving my input on designs. My skills were entry level, but once I returned to High Guard, I would be entitled to wear a gold aiguillette or shoulder cord on my left shoulder. It would denote my new dual status as a Warrior Priest.

The last skill set I selected was martial arts. Thanks to years of training with Styen, I was already advanced in both the Jaguar and the Snake schools. I selected mastery of Eskeirat, an Atlantean style focused around tumbling and throwing.

As we neared the end of our training time, there was speculation among the cohort on where they would be assigned.

* * * * *

(Incest experiences are discussed in this next section. Skip to the next section to bypass this topic.)

During the days when I wasn't away for extensive skill drill, Deedee and I continued to spend a lot of time together. We'd wake up and shower together, sit beside each other at breakfast before collecting our lunch kit, and going to our own training. In the evenings, we'd gather back at the cafeteria to socialize with the others for a while.

After sex, she initially refused to talk about her own family, while prodding me for details about my own, especially growing up. Mindful of the fact that we were monitored, I told her stories of my sometimes misspent childhood, while trying to be careful about saying anything that might be used against my parents.

More than once we both woke from nightmares of the torture we'd endured. I cannot emphasize enough how much it helped to talk with someone who'd experienced it. We each understood the loss of control, the helplessness. Sometimes we just held each other and cried. Those times with Deedee helped the process of healing, and stopped my nightmares, and I'd like to believe I helped her in turn. Sometimes, she just reached for me, and I think the physical contact, intimate and gentle, was as much a balm for her as it was for me.

Deedee often remarked about how this time at Sparantlo was so much different from her previous experience. Of course, the first twenty-three days, when we'd both been tortured and raped, it was a repeat for her, and she told me, more than once, she'd nearly broken, but that it was the little bits that I'd told her of myself and my family that had kept her going.

A few years older than me, she looked younger than she was, and part of that might have been the genetic changes. Raltikon had informed me earlier that she'd been an emergency room nurse at Paxilman Hospital for six years. Also, she admitted that her parents had stinted on her education, so that after her enlistment, she had to take a lot of supplemental classes before the Ground Service allowed her to enroll in the nursing program.

When I mentioned that I'd taken my mother there for her stab wound, Deedee assured me they were well trained and dedicated to healing, and that despite the often emotionally draining part the work, she had loved nursing.

"So why did you leave? Why join Imperial Security?"

"It was the new section head," she answered. "He was demanding, rough even during the so-called performance evaluations, which is him judging how well we praised his fucking. I wasn't alone in his attentions, of course. I had applied to become a doctor, and his evaluations made that impossible. None of the other doctors were willing to make a recommendation if it meant going against him. I had no money and no family. It got so I dreaded going to work. He repeatedly refused my transfer requests. I heard later that he'd been transferred from Paxilman's ER staff, but by then, I was already committed to Imperial Security."

Giving her a hug, I kissed her forehead.

She snuggled in closer before resuming. "I used to think my life was so unfair. And when I was ordered back here, I wondered if I had offended the Sun God Himself to curse me in such a way. But now I think back on all the things that have happened to me, and I realize that I was put here to save you."

"I'm just a man, Deedee. And I'm certainly no saint."

"And yet you are changing things. Sparantzlo is a training base now, not the hell I endured during my last time here. I'm not being raped several times a day and gang-raped every weekend."

I shook my head. "I endured twenty-three days of torture. I have no idea how you managed more than a hundred days - and then you came back, knowing you'd face it again? Deedee, don't let anyone ever tell you that you aren't a Warrior. I honestly don't know if I could have done what you did."

Sitting up, she looked at me. "But you stood up and stopped it, Ranji. You made the difference. You."

"I just reminded people of who they were. When you are being tortured, it's easy to forget. Even begin accepting that harsh cruelty if it will give you a little peace. That's part of the evil, how it seduces us to justifying what is unjustifiable. And that's what Stryker and the others counted on. Calling it their indoctrination. No, Stryker and the others? They're just sick bastards and they are a disgrace to their uniforms."

Snuggling back into the crook of my arm, she sighed. "All I know is that, with you, I feel safe. And I want to show how grateful I am."

"Now don't misunderstand me. Having you to sleep beside has helped me, and I treasure our time together. But you never had to give me your body, Deedee."

"I know. Now, more than ever. It was because you didn't demand it that I wanted to give myself to you."

"Deedee..."

"No, Ranji. I did it as much for me as for you. We both needed the comfort. And it matters to me that it was my choice. It matters so much."

Getting up, she straddled me, moving down until her still-damp pussy rubbed my flaccid cock.

"I'm trying my best to resist falling in love with you... and I'm not succeeding very well." She put her finger to my lips. "Let me finish, please. I know you have a family and that you long to return to them. I've never been with a man who didn't see me as a hole to dump seed into. To them, Deedee the woman was an after-thought, if they gave me a thought at all. I haven't had many friends in my life, and you are the first man who's treated me as a friend.

"But now? When you kiss me, I get damp, and when you touch me, I start to get wet, anticipating, hoping, even eager to feel you enter me. Whenever I had my monthly cramps, you didn't force me anyway, or call me diseased. Instead you held me. Massaged my back. Treated me with the same kindness and respect you've always shown me. I know that most of the time, I'm the one initiating the sex. It's because you make me feel so good, Ranji. And knowing that it's my choice to be there? That I can say no to you, and that's the end of it? It's like a small, low level cum going on all the time."

I chuckled. "Deedee, you've never said no to me."

"I do so! All the time. Tonight you asked me if I wanted more rice at dinner. I said no, and... why are you laughing? I know what you meant, but don't you see? You ask me what I want all the time. And when you use that marvelous tongue on me, you asked me to tell you what feels good, what I wanted more of, and what wasn't so arousing for me. That matters, Ranji. That matters."

In the near complete darkness, I felt the spatters of tears hit my chest.

"That's why I'm doing this, Deedee. The sex we have feels good, physically and emotionally. Don't ever feel like you have to do it because I want it."

She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. "What, you think I'm going to pass up a chance to get one of those mind-blowing orgasms when you use your mouth on me? I don't think so."

"I'm glad you like that. The whole point is choice. And respect."

"That's part of why I want you so much. You treat me with respect. Sometimes you're gentle and sometimes a little rough and demanding, but always there is respect."

I gave her hips a squeeze. She laid back down against my side, burrowing close. I put my arm around her.

"I know you're curious about my family, but you've never pushed. I... I haven't talked about them because I'm ashamed. You already know what my father made me do for him." She wouldn't look me in the eyes when she said this.

"It wasn't your fault. You said your parents disowned you when you enlisted?"

She nodded, then wiped at her eyes. "Yes. When he found me, I'd never seen him so angry. My mother was furious, too."

"Just because you got away from him?"

"I have a brother, Raysheen, and a younger sister, Teemiana. As his daughter, I was father's property, his to give to anyone he wanted. Teemiana was to be saved. Married off as a virgin." Sniffing, she shivered. "When they found me, father was in his uniform. When he learned that the contracts had already been signed and filed, he... he ordered me to drop my trousers, and in front of everyone at the recruiting center, pushed me against a desk and... and... he said I should get a taste of being a military slut. While my father was hurting me, Mother screamed at me, calling me selfish, ungrateful, and faithless, telling me that my sister would have to take my place. I was a Ground Service whore who would be taking cocks my father didn't approve of. While Mother yelled, Father kept hitting me while he took me."
"Hitting you! It was bad enough he was raping you. You weren't resisting were you? Then why? Was he just that angry?"

Deedee smiled sadly. "Probably that was part of it. But he had another reason. When someone hits you, your muscles tense. A man hits a woman during penetration so she will clench on his cock, increasing his pleasure. Sometimes after those parties my back was a mass of bruises."

Appalled, I took a long breath, trying my best to keep calm. She needed my compassion, not my rage. "You are a gem, Deedee. Your father, however, is a complete and utter piece of filth. And your mother? Allowing him to rape his own daughter, calling you names while humiliating you in public? You are my friend, Deedee, a comrade in arms. I owe you my life several times. Knowing he hurt you like that both hurts and angers me, because you did not deserve any of that. None. You deserved to be loved and... There's more, isn't there? Go on. Get it out."

Taking a breath, she plunged on. "When he finished, he let me go and I just fell to the floor, crying. Then they both began kicking me. Almost immediately, Ground Security came and they had to stop. Even so, I was covered in bruises and had several cracked ribs. My father tried to order them to rape me too, but they refused. They said that I was obviously injured and needed medical attention. Enraged, Father spat on me, swearing he would deny my right as Warrior Caste to enter the Ground Service as an officer. I would be declared dead, and be forced to enter as enlisted. But I wasn't dead, I protested. That's when they pissed on me."

In the old days, if a family member was being disowned and disinherited, they were beaten, and then urinated upon in public as they were denounced. Unless there were relatives willing to take pity on them, such individuals often ended up indentured unless they had skills to transition to Guild Caste. Many simply starved. Sons, though, were almost never disowned. However, the beating and denunciation were nowadays considered sufficient. Deedee's parents were definitely old-school.

I held her, rubbing her back and kissing her until her weeping quieted.

"You made it, though," I told her. "You proved them wrong. You even made it to full Lieutenant, despite your father's efforts."

"He tried, though. Commander Sayongkeetee called him to his office the next day. I had to be there since it affected me directly. The commander first chastised him for injuring me. I belonged to the Ground Service now. Willfully damaging Ground Service property, the commander called it. When my father said that I should not be wearing officer cadet insignia, the commander said that it was too late. Because he'd been a frequent guest and knew me intimately, he'd signed the verification that I was from a Warrior House, and that such was already part of my official record. Frustrated at being thwarted, my father told me if I ever tried to come home, he would kill me."

I brushed away some of her tears. "I'm so sorry you endured all that. Deedee, you are better off without them. Think of how many people you have helped. You have positively impacted so many lives!"

She looked at me, and I realized that no matter how vile and foul they were, they were still her parents. I sighed. "It must have been awkward and difficult for you."

Deedee nodded. "It was. The commander then reminded my father that, as he had already announced my death, I was technically a ghost, and that if he killed me, it could lead to heresy charges against my father."

Dealing with ghosts was strictly the province of the Priest Caste. "So this Commander Sayongkeetee wasn't a complete scumbag, then?"

"No, he was," she said, correcting me. "Until I left for boot, I had to make myself available everyday just before lunch time. But at least he didn't hit me."

While she had cracked ribs and was hurting from the beating. What a piece of work! "No wonder you wanted under-cover duty overseas. Deedee, what a nightmare! I thought you were amazingly strong before."

She sighed, laying her head on my chest, quiet for long minutes. Taking comfort in our physical closeness. I was starting to doze when she suddenly spoke again.

"I wish I could have grown up in a family like yours."

"So do I."

"But not yours, Ranji," she added.

"What? Why not? I thought you liked hearing about my family!"

Deedee lifted her head and gave me a searching look. "I do. "But if I was a member of your family, we could not do what we just did a while ago."

I rubbed my eyes while thinking that one over.

Then her eyes narrowed. "When I say my name is Deedee, what do you think -"

"A bird!" I exclaimed. "You are a bird from southern Je State!"

Raising her eyebrows, her hand drifted down to my cock, stroking it. "Oh, Ranji. Did you just lie to me? When you are fucking the shit out of me, when you say my name, are you secretly thinking... I'm your sister? Be honest now."

"No, I don't. Only child here, remember? Why would I spend time thinking about a sister I don't have, and then imagining being inappropriate with her? It's complete bollocks."

She looked at me sideways. "I don't know, Ranji. You're the one who pointed out what my name means in the Vedan tongue. If you were my brother, my kind, strong brother, I'd still do you."

"I was raised to respect women. In my family, you would have had no reason to seek me for sex. If you keep bringing it up, I'm going to start calling you Marrin."

"Okay, okay."

"Besides, Calia slept with me. We were pretty much inseparable."

"If I had been your sister, would they have bought me my own personal servant? A slave boy to keep me occupied?"

That stopped me a moment. "Mmm, I don't know. They bought Calia because it was the thing to do for young men. Women aren't... well, they are supposed to be more chaste." He paused for a moment, thinking. "Probably not. And, I agree it's not fair to buy personal servants for the sons but not for the daughters. The right to say no is only a first step toward equal rights, but that's what I must focus on. I won't let myself get sidelined by trying to do too much too fast."

"Equal rights for men and women?"

"I believe it's needed."

"I know what you meant when you said I belonged to you. But that day when you fought to be my partner, you told everyone that I was yours. Then you kicked their asses to enforce your claim. I know you didn't mean you owned me, but the symbolism for women is strong, Ranji. Girls are conditioned to think of themselves as the property of men. We are there for the pleasure of men, not our own. After the fight, you were the leader. The dominant male. And even when you know it's conditioning, the feelings still run deep. They shape expectations, even dreams and goals. And then you talked about the Protection Orders! Demanding we respect each other. Telling us that sex was no longer a male right but to be negotiated. On the one hand, you freed my body and at the same time, my heart and my soul. Yet there you were, the image of what so many girls are told to wish for. A virile man who would claim me, own me, while treating me with kindness."

"But I don't own you, Deedee. I wouldn't want to own you. It wouldn't be right."

"I know that. That's part of what makes you so charming, so attractive. I count you my friend, Ranji. As much as I try, I no longer think of myself as your friend, but more simply as yours. Your woman."

"Deedee..."

"I'm not asking you to take me on, to make me part of your household. Say the word, though, and I would do that in a heartbeat. But... I asked if I could be assigned to Capisco instead. Be one of your undercover contacts there. I've already mastered Hanseeyeet, one of the languages of the Seven Nations."

"I don't know what to say. We've been through a lot together, and you will always be important to me. Gods above know that you deserve to be happy. I am not a good deal. When I am home, there are five women wanting my time and attention. Would you be truly happy sharing me like that? And I'm a father myself. I want to spend time with my daughters, getting to know them. Would it be better for you to go back to sleeping in your own room?"

She gasped. "What? You'd send me away?"

"I was just asking."

"Aside from the fact that... oh, gods, I love you, Ranji! I get what you say, but it doesn't change my feelings. Not a whit. Just... Just think about how the others will see it. I'm your Second because you claimed me first and you fought for me. And we're openly lovers. You are the leader, Ranji. I'm your woman. You won't have to say anything, but the fact that we no longer share a bed will reflect badly on me. And anything you do say will just make it worse. So please, don't make me go away."

She was right. I wasn't used to thinking about relationships in that way. "I'm sorry. I don't know what to do to make this easier for you."

"You're the first really good thing that's ever happened to me, Ranji Kandikan," Deedee said, choking up a bit. "I don't want to be anywhere else but here, with you." She then sobbed, and I held her until the balm of sleep claimed us.

(End of discussion of incest experiences)

* * * * *

The first thing she asked when we woke up was, "Do you hate me?"

I shook my head. "Do you know that you amaze me? You endured a hellish home life and managed to come through Sparantzlo twice, and you're still sane. How could I hate you?"

She got fresh clothing and towels for the shower. "For being needy. For wanting more. I knew when I moved in with you that there was little chance of it becoming permanent. Those arms of yours, Ranji. I mean, you make me feel crazy-good, and I love feeling you come inside me. But it's your strong arms holding me. I like that the best."

"I like holding you, too."

I stripped the sheets and blankets off the cot. They needed to be washed.

"You tell me there are men supporting these Protection Orders. And from some of the reactions here, I can see you're right. But for a lot of women, it's going to be a more visceral event. Some will hate you, revile you for changing their world. Even if it's a repugnant situation, they see instability as a threat. The mothering or nesting instinct, according to some. Many more women will honor you. Some may even come to venerate you, worship you even. You have shown that you are a leader. The adoration will follow. Believe me."

I must have looked perplexed, because she continued speaking.

"I made my request to go to Capisco, but I don't hold out any hope it will be accepted. We will probably never see each other again for decades. If ever. I mean, the plan is for me to marry an Aesir or Vedan man as part of my assignment. Have children with him. The irony is, I grew up believing I didn't have a right to my own body, so it wasn't so much to give it away for my country. But you changed that. For weeks I've had a taste of that respect and control over my own body, a sense of freedom that keeps growing."

She looked sad now. "I know you want to return home to your family, and there's very little likelihood that it will include me. I need you to know, Ranji, that while I'm with you, I feel loved. You fill an emptiness in my heart. I love you. I tried not to, but there it is. This morning, I realized something else. Ranji, you are my hero."

I snorted. "I'm just a man, Deedee, not someone from legend. Trust me, I make plenty of mistakes."

"I know. I'm still working things out in my head."

"Whatever else happens, we will always be friends. If you need me, let me know and I will do what I can to aid you, and if I can, I will be there in person."

I grabbed my own clothes and towels and, naked, we left our room, heading for the communal shower.

About halfway there, she got that saucy look again and smiled at me. "In the meantime, I'd love it if tonight you had your way with me. You know. Drilled me over and over until I came on you. And came and came while you filled me. Just one of my fantasies."

My hand hit her bare butt cheek before she could dodge away.

Yelping, she jumped. Seeing my look, she turned and ran, shrieking down the corridor with me in hot pursuit.

I caught up to her at the showers, and to the amusement of many onlookers, they laughed as I caught her and pinned her to the wall.

"Whatever she did, show her what for, Lieutenant," Janoose remarked.

Giving me an arch look, she said, "I got him to chase me. And that's what I wanted him to do." Wrapping her arms around me, she pulled me down for a kiss.

Some of the hoots and laughter turned my way. When we broke for air, she slipped away and under the shower.

Picking up our fallen towels and clothing, I had to laugh, too.

* * * * *

We were finally nearing the end of our time at Sparantzlo. Only ten days of wrapping up to do. Ten days of us being together.

As we had for the past few weeks, after dinner, Deedee and I retired to my room. As often as she could get me erect, she wanted me inside her. Sometimes hard and fast, but more often, just wanting me to move enough to keep hard while kissing and touching while talking.

On this particular night, I noticed she had a new tattoo covering her entire back. And her pale hair was a foot longer, hanging to the middle of her back and tied off in a simple braid.

"You must have spent some time in the tanks today. The tattoo looks like it's been there for ages."

"Yes. What do you think?"

She smiled and held still while I examined it. Aesir runes within a stylized Ouroboros snake, and within the snake's circle was a pattern of some sort. Mostly green and yellow, with black and red highlights. The runes were green and bordered in black. And the tattoo didn't look fresh, but rather like it'd been in place for years.

"This design, is this some sort of family marking?"

"It is," she said with a pleased smile. "My Aesir House name is Ulgirfrid."

I walked us over to the bed. After pulling back the blankets, I settled in, and then she climbed in beside me. We kissed and groped each other, I tongued her to a couple of rousing orgasms, after which she pulled me up and urged me to take her hard. So I did. Then we settled down, with me spooning her.

Later, she woke me up again, her mouth sucking me to hardness. Then she climbed on top and rode me until she came. When I filled her almost immediately, she orgasmed again. Sliding off, she lay beside me, holding each other until we fell asleep.

In the morning when she felt my morning erection, she got on her hands and knees and told me to just give it to her.

Of course, this routine meant we didn't get much sleep. After several days of this, we got as far as kissing before the lack of sleep got the better of us.

The next night, though, Deedee was withdrawn, only wanting to be held.

I let it go for two nights, but on the third night, as we climbed into bed, I normally turned off the desk lamp by the bed, but this time I didn't. I wanted to see her face. "What's bothering you?" I asked. "Have you heard about your request?"

"I had a dream," she answered, closing her eyes as she laid her head on my chest.

"What sort of dream? Last night?"

"No, the night we just fell asleep. I prayed, asking the gods for happiness."

"Tell me about it."

She shrugged. "Wasn't much to it. I was in a forest when I heard the flapping of a large bird. As the sound of its wings approached, I was both eager and afraid."

"Go on."

"An enormous bird landed on a large branch. As it turned to me, I was suddenly on a mountain. Down below was a huge valley, the trees mixed with fog. The bird called out, 'Deedee! Deedee!'" Then she looked at me sadly. "I was notified today that my request for assignment change was denied. In two days, we will go our separate ways."

"We knew it wasn't a likely chance. It doesn't change our feelings for each other."

"Make love to me, Ranji. I want to feel you loving me."

So I did. We spent a long time just kissing. I massaged her back, then her breasts, and added in my tongue and mouth. For even longer, I happily drank from her dripping center. After her third release, we kissed again until she recovered. Then I entered her, and for long minutes, we gently touched as I slowly stroked into her depths. We changed positions several times. Spooning her. Her on top, facing me. Then facing away. Her on her hands and knees as I slid in from behind. Then with me over her again, covering her body with mine, finally pushing into her, faster and faster until we both exploded together.

Sweaty and relaxing in the afterglow, she clung to me. I shifted onto my side, and she snuggled into the crook of my arm.

"That was beautiful," she whispered. "Thank you."

Making a pleased noise, I said, "I should thank you. I liked it, too." Kissing her forehead, I closed my eyes. "By the way, you didn't finish telling me your dream. What kind of bird was it? Could you tell?"

"It was an owl," she said quietly.

The meaning of an owl differed, depending on the tribe or group, but almost always it meant some sort of supernatural message. Sometimes an owl was seen as a protector or a herald to victory in war. For some within the Empire, owls might even represent family members or friends, or were guardians of one's soul. But for many of the tribes of Chimorro, an owl was a servant of the underworld or even a harbinger of death.

"It just means a change is coming," I assured her. "That's all. You made your request and it was denied. Nothing more."

She didn't say anything. And during the night I woke often, finding her still awake. Holding her close, I nuzzled her and whispered how much I cared for her, and my wishes for her to find someone who made her happy. She would squeeze my hand or arm, but she never said anything.

* * * * *

The next morning Captain Stryker showed up at breakfast. No longer Group Captain, which I was pleased about. I hadn't seen him since I'd broken his sternum. Stryker announced that several of us needed a practical demonstration of our mountaineering skills. Belton, reduced to Corporal, attended him.

There were five of us who had learned or already knew mountaineering - Daronu, Tlingkotl, Angbarcho, Heeter, and myself. Stryker ordered that after breakfast, we were to collect our gear, as all five of us were heading outside the base within the hour. We were to climb a hundred-and-seventeen foot cliff, covered in snow and ice. Very dangerous, but considering some of the other excursions the others had made in the past weeks, not entirely out of the ordinary.

Suspicious, Deedee and Raltikon insisted on coming along. Grudgingly, Stryker agreed.

Belton drove a winterized, fully-tracked ChoCac, pulling a trailer. Stryker, Deedee, and Raltikon rode inside the heated ChoCac, while the rest of us rode in the partially covered trailer. After two hours of riding, they dropped us off.

We hiked to the base of the cliff while they motored back and around, taking the trail to the top of the cliff. They would drop us a safety rope and wait for us to complete the climb.

To prove our skills, however, we were to use hands and pitons only.

In the deep snow, it took us about three hours to reach our destination. Finding the ropes, we geared up and began our ascent. Angbarcho and Daronu went up first. Then it was me, followed by Tlingkotl and Heeter.

Despite my admonitions, Angbarcho and Daronu advanced quickly up the cliff. Their speed, however, owed to the fact that they were not using pitons to secure their positions, relying heavily on the rope. I tried to chastise them, but over the growing wind, it was impossible to communicate with them effectively. When we reached the top, I intended to have words with them both.
We passed the eighty-foot mark when I suddenly felt a stabbing pain in my leg. Crying out, I looked down. Tlingkotl had a combat knife in one hand. He'd already cut me once. Only the thickness of my boots had prevented it from being a major wound. While I was trying to get away, he was busy trying to stab me again.

I checked my connection to the piton, then counted out four feet of line. As he reached up for me, I released my line and dropped. I aimed both feet at his face. The steel cleats made short work of his protective cloth cover, ripping into the flesh. Two solid kicks and he was out of action, bleeding profusely as he hung limply from his line.

Heeter looked up, his covered face unreadable.

"Are you going to try any shit?" I bellowed.

He shook his head.

I released another three feet and dropped near Tlingkotl. When I pulled my own knife out, I glanced down. Heeter looked at the knife, then nodded. I cut the line. Heeter and I watched as without a word, he dropped silently away, falling to the snow and icy rocks below.

Some of the blood from my leg dripped onto Heeter. The wound hurt, but didn't feel too serious. Trusting the cold to slow the bleeding for the remaining distance, I sheathed my knife and focused on climbing.

Then the safety line suddenly went slack. Screams came from above us. Angbarcho and Daronu had nearly reached the top, but no longer secure, they simply fell away from the cliff.

"Heeter! Lose the secondary!" I released the clip and hugged the cliff. The rope and both men tumbled by, shrieking as they fell to their deaths.

Incredibly, a shot rang out from the cliff top, followed by another body tumbling and screaming to his death. Corporal Belton. The gun shot and their cries bounced from one side of the valley and back again.

Seven hells! What is going on up there?

Before I had a chance to react, there were two more quick reports, the gun shots reverberating back and forth. I was stunned as two more bodies came down. Flailing and screaming like Belton, I recognized Stryker. The second one, blood on the front of her white suit, didn't move. Without her head cover, her long pale hair trailed in the air behind her like broken wings.

No, no, no!

"Kali's throbbing cunt!" I yelled, removing my face cover. "Raltikon! Raltikon!"

No answer came from above.

Glancing down below, I saw the six bodies sprawled out in the snow. And then I had to look away, knowing that Deedee was among them.

I needed to focus and get off this cliff. Climbing as fast as I dared on the slippery, rough terrain, I ascended. Heeter kept pace behind me.

We were within ten feet when another line of rope dropped down beside us. Knowing there could only be Raltikon above us, I trusted it wasn't a trap. Grabbing on, I heaved myself up the last bit, hauling myself over the edge. At the top I saw Raltikon, his face pale, sitting in the snow against the ChoCac's wheel well, bleeding from a bullet wound.

Once I was secure at the top, I helped Heeter up.

Then I hustled over to Raltikon. He gave a half-smile, but didn't even try to talk. It was bad. Blood trickled from his mouth.

"Heeter, open his suit!"

Pulling off my pack, I opened the first aid kit, pulling out the largest Nu-Skin patch inside. Ripping off the back, I helped Heeter pull his shirt up, revealing the oozing wound. I slapped the patch on, rubbing and pressing it to his skin.

Together we got him into the back seat of the ChoCac. Then I took one of the hand-held radios and put my face cover back on.

"What are you doing?" Heeter exclaimed.

"There may be survivors. I'm going to repel down. I'll call you on the radio when I'm there. Once I'm down, haul up the rope and drive down the trail. Keep Raltikon perched upright."

"It's over a hundred feet down to the bottom! No one could have survived!"

"There's snow. I know it's not much, but there's a chance. Angbarcho or Daronu might have made it."

In the ice, using only pitons and hand holds, a hundred feet took half an hour to climb. It was less than a minute to repel down. A couple of times I slipped, once badly, but I recovered without anything more than a bang or two against the rocks.

Once down, I unhooked and called Heeter. "I'm down. Haul up the rope."

Six bodies. It took only a few minutes for me examine them.

I ran to Deedee first. Blood covered the front of her suit. Ripping off my glove, I checked for a pulse along her neck. She was gone. Two red blemishes marred her white snow suit.

Swearing as I moved, I checked the others. Daronu was dead, too. Angbarcho was badly hurt, but still alive. He'd had the good fortune to fall on Daronu, and was thus spared the rocky ground. I relayed the information to Heeter.

"The other three?" he asked.

"They can rot in hell," I snapped. "Tlingkotl tried to kill me. No doubt at Stryker's urging. None of our people had guns. Deedee and Daronu are dead because of him. And if we don't hurry, he will have killed Raltikon and Angbarcho, too. Damn Stryker's black soul to all seven hells!"

Despite the growing wind and snow coming down, Heeter made it to me in under an hour. As I waited, I wrapped Angbarcho into a thermal blanket. By chance, I even discovered Stryker's pistol in the snow.

"What happened, Lieutenant?" Heeter asked.

"Isn't it obvious? Stryker wanted to kill me, and he didn't care if he killed everyone else to do it. Marrin and Raltikon saved us."

Because of Angbarcho's injuries, we laid out the back seats so he could travel flat, and we moved Raltikon to the front seat. I rode in the trailer with Deedee, Daronu, and the gear.

Heeter drove us as fast as he could over the snowy ground. Every few minutes I tried to raise the base on the hand-held radio. Sometimes Heeter tried it from the ChoCac. All we ever got in response was white noise.

Between the attempts to raise the base, I alternately cried for Deedee and swore out my hatred for Stryker and Belton. I'd never lost anyone close to me before. She had been my friend and my lover.

As we approached the base gates, using the radio, I told Heeter to drive right up to the main building. Guards from the gate ran up, weapons drawn. Ignoring them, I helped Heeter with the injured.

Heeter put the bigger Raltikon over his shoulders while I scooped up Angarcho in my arms. The guards reached us as we entered the building.

There was chaos, but medical staff soon arrived with gurneys. Heeter and I stayed with them all the way to the infirmary, while I gave the doctor the run down on the events. Angbarcho and Raltikon both went straight into the tanks.

Fortri and a few others showed up while we watched them work from the observation deck. I told them what Heeter and I had seen, and Heeter added his nods and confirmation.

"Stryker really tried to kill everyone?" he asked.

I was pissed and hurting. "Raltikon knows what happened. But if I had to guess, I'd say he and Marrin saved our asses. If not for them, Heeter and I would both be dead. Angbarcho, too."

Fortri paused, then said quietly, "Ground Service."

"Ground Service," all of us echoed.

Then Janoose noticed there was blood pooling on the floor by me, and a medico was summoned. He cleaned it out, gave me five stitches, slapped on a Nu-skin patch, and told me I was done. The insulated trousers had taken most of the damage.

Daronu and Angbarcho shouldn't have depended on the secondary safety line, but I wasn't going to smear their names. Daronu paid for that mistake with his life. This entire mess, however, was Stryker's doing. Belton had to have been in on it, too.

"What's going to happen to the bodies?" Fortri asked.

"Good point. Thank you. Majoha and Kormunat, I want you to go to the main entrance, and make sure that nothing happens to the bodies of Daronu and Marrin." I gave Stryker's pistol to Kormunat. "We are Warriors. They died in the service of their country. Even if we have to do it ourselves, they are getting proper burial rites."

Saluting, they hurried off.

As the others watched the medical staff work, I resolved that there was no way I would allow Deedee to go into an unmarked grave.

She and Daronu deserved a Warrior's pyre, and I would take her ashes. She would be buried in a marked grave at my family estate. Deedee deserved that much. And I didn't care if I had to be a screaming bastard to make it happen.

While I brooded, four armed guards showed up with Field Commander Chatolklan.

"What's going on here?" he demanded.

"That's what I'd like to know," I retorted.

"Where's Captain Stryker?"

"Dead, and good riddance, too, the murdering bastard. He killed Daronu and shot Marrin."

Chatolklan stared at me balefully. "According to the report I saw, this joy ride was your idea, and Stryker was trying to stop you. Now he's dead. Lieutenant Kandikan, you are under arrest for the murder of Captain Stryker-"

"Ask the others," I began. "This was Stryker's doing. He was your lunatic -"

I dodged a rifle butt aimed at my head. I got in a decent counter punch against the guard beside him. I missed the second rifle butt from behind.

* * * * *

(The next two short scenes describe torture. Feel free to skip ahead.)

When I woke, I was gagged, naked, and tied to one of those torture chairs. Chatolklan was there, along with two strangers wearing plain black. Both held rubber batons.

"When I'm done with you, Kandikan, I'm going to know who your contacts are and all your secrets." Chatolklan picked up a scalpel from the table in front me, examining it closely before setting it back down among other cutting knives. "And then the fun will really begin. But first, some softening up. You know the drill."

With a nod to the two guards, they laid into me.

Thankfully, it wasn't long before the darkness took me.

* * * * *

I don't know how long I was out. But each time I came back to awareness, they barely got to work on me and I passed out again.

The third time, my back burned in agony. They had peeled the skin away again. I guess they thought the pain would keep me awake.

Just as they reached for my gag, I faded out again. The last thing I saw was a furious Chatolklan.

* * * * *

I awoke on the floor of my room. I hurt all over. I tried to move, but that caused searing pain. I tried to cry out, but all my parched throat could muster was a croaking noise.

Swearing a plague on all their Houses, I emptied my bladder. It seemed like an eternity that I laid there as the urine slowly turned cold. Eventually, I passed out again.

* * * * *

As I came to, I realized I was in the tanks. Then I felt the cold sedatives kick in, and I faded out once more.

(End of torture)

* * * * *

The next time I awoke, I was in a hospital bed. And I was surprised to see Senior Sergeant Itznacoco, except he wore a plain black uniform with silver piping, devoid of rank or insignia. It was strange to see him thus. I kept thinking he should be wearing an Imperial Air Service uniform.

He still had the same short, salt-and-pepper hair, square jaw, and stern visage.

A stranger in green medical clothing stood beside Itznacoco. By his manner and the chart he was examining, I presumed him to be a doctor.

"He needs rest," he told Itznacoco. "He's had a lot of physical trauma in the past week."

"It can't be helped. I can only stay a while longer." He gave a nod of dismissal, and the doctor exited the room.

Itznacoco turned to me. "I'm sorry, Son, about how this has all worked out. Marrin was a good agent. I just found out about her request for re-assignment yesterday. I would have considered it."

"Marrin was a Warrior. She and Daronu both deserve a Warrior's burial. I also want her ashes."

For two long breathes he stared at me. Then raised his eyebrows.

"Deedee was my friend," I explained. "More than once, she saved my life. At the end, she gave her life to save me and Heeter. I'll bury her at my parents' estate. I don't care what policy is, I won't let you or anyone else put her in some hole and forget about her."

"For your information, Lieutenant, that's not my policy. Never has been. I don't treat my people like that. I'll arrange for the pyre to be ready tomorrow morning, after breakfast."

Having prepared to argue, I exhaled, relieved. "Thank you. I'd also like the names of those who arrived with this cohort and died."

Comprehension flashed across his face, and he nodded in approval. "I've heard from the others what you did. Claiming them as your own, like a real Warrior. The things that have happened here have forced my hand a bit, but now that I know how bad it was, I see that it was for the best. I'll see you get the information. This whole mess has upset the timetables for a dozen operations. I also understand that you survived getting shot down. Should not have happened. Instead of attending to business, Chatolklan was dipping his wick into four women in his private bordello. He got wind I was coming and he's fled to his home territory. Once you are on your feet, your first mission will be to go and take him out."

"It will be a pleasure," I growled. "After that, what next? Can I go home for a while? What about my family? Janetta and the others? My parents? How are they?"

"I will authorize your return to High Guard with time off to visit your parents and to bury Marrin. Your actions saved your mother. Intelligence is still pulling their hair about the two draconian ships, and they are going crazy trying to figure out why the second ship protected you from being shot down."

"I think it probably belonged to the Order of Quetzal."

He raised his eyebrows. "I'm surprised you're even aware of them. Very few people know about that group. What makes you think it was them?"

So I told him about the attempt to kill me in the naval hospital at High Guard, and meeting Isha.

"Fascinating. Especially the news that the Order also thinks you're worth saving. Now I'm wondering why I didn't hear about this attempt on your life from Captain Tikleet. My own fondness for you continues to grow, Lieutenant, but don't get any ideas that I won't put you in harm's way if necessary. The welfare of the Empire comes first, and I expect that attitude from every Imperial Security agent in my command."

He had my attention.

"In any event," he continued, "the mess about the Sunskipper is cleared up. Someone removed your certification and clearances. Several other things in your records were also discovered to have been altered as well. Backups provided a clean copy of your service file, which has been restored. If anyone touches your file, I will know about it.

"As for High Guard?" Itznacoco paused, then sighed. "There were some injuries, but no one in your household has died. To protect them, I've ordered your household, including Captain Tlacotli, to stay at your parents' home. I've also temporarily transferred your command to Ground Security, at least until your return. You can get the particulars from your people when you return. I would prefer it if you finished your mission and your visit to your parents as quickly as possible. And yes, I'm reviewing the recommendations provided by Lieutenant Monaycote. Two further attempts have been made on Commander Barankoshto's life, and the entire Division is ready to attack the Air Service in retaliation."

I didn't say anything. If anything, I understood how the 67th Armored felt. The Commander was an honorable Warrior and a decorated combat veteran. She cared about her troops and they knew it. I couldn't exactly call her a friend, but I respected her a great deal.

"I'm working with Bantochi and Paritchul to see if we can avoid bloodshed," he added.

Bantochi was the Air Service Marshal, the highest ranking officer in the Air Service, and he served the War Minister directly. Paritchul was the Ground Service Marshal.

I blinked at his revelation.

"If it works out," Itznacoco continued, "I'll be relying on you to fix this. And I will give you the tools to do the job."

"All right," I replied.

"In the meantime, try not to get killed." He gave me a nod and then left.

The doctor came back into the room. After he checked me over, and after I ate and drank plenty of water, I was allowed visitors.

The rest of the cohort came by to see how I was. Raltikon and Angbarcho were fully healed, so I must have been out for a while.

"You made it!" I exclaimed at him.

He nodded ruefully. "Almost didn't, Lieutenant. Thank you."

"Heeter, Raltikon, and Marrin deserve credit, too. It was a team effort."

"Yes, sir," he said, grinning, and Heeter clapped him on the back.

"Raltikon. I can guess what happened, but I need you to tell it to me in your own words."

Though I'm sure they'd heard it before, everyone quieted down to listen.

Raltikon cleared his throat and began.

"It was a good thing we were there. It was clear from the onset that Stryker was agitated. He kept looking over the side, watching your progress. All of you were making good time. At the three-quarter mark, he pulled out something. Marrin and I both heard a beep. 'What did you do?' she demanded. Talking with Heeter later, we figured Stryker had given Tlingkotl some sort of signal. Heeter recalled seeing a small light flash from his belt.

"Stryker, however, quickly grew impatient with how things were progressing. He ordered Belton to draw his pistol on us. I was close to Belton so I grabbed his arm and we struggled. Stryker pulled his own pistol and shot me, but I managed to kick Belton over the edge. Before Stryker could shoot me again, Marrin sprang into action, yelling and distracting him. She took two shots at close range. I could tell she was hurt bad, if not killed outright. But her momentum took them both over the edge. She was a brave Warrior, Lieutenant. Stryker would have killed the rest of us, for sure. She died honorably."

"Ground Service," I said.

They all snapped to attention. "Ground Service!"

"The funeral pyre will be tomorrow after breakfast," I told them.

"It will be our honor to attend," Raltikon said. "Llam nuqan! We work together!"

The others repeated the phrase.

"Remember that phrase," I told them. "Never forget that you are Warriors in the service of the Empire. Tonight, you should relax and enjoy yourselves. You have survived Sparanztlo."

Amid nods and chattering, most of them departed.

Soon, it was just Raltikon, Fortri, and myself.

"Why are you two still hanging around here?" I asked. "You should be getting shit-faced like the rest of them. You've earned it."

Raltikon looked at Fortri, and he nodded back. Both looked at me. "We've asked that if it's possible, that we be assigned to work with you. The general said that he'd look into it."

I shook my head, giving them my best sorrowful face. "Now why would you two go and do a foolish thing like that?"

"We're your men, Lieutenant. You saved my life. I don't forget debts. And Fortri's my friend. We want to post together."

"You took a bullet for both me and Heeter at the top of the cliff, Raltikon. We're brothers in arms."

Fortri looked at me, then back to Raltikon.

"You, too, Fortri," I told him. "If it happens that you two get assigned to me, I'd consider it an honor to serve with you both." I held out my hand to the shorter man, and he grinned as he shook it.

Raltikon continued talking. "You missed a lot while you were in the tanks, Lieutenant. There was a sudden influx of new people, and then most of the old ones disappeared. The rooms where they were torturing people have been dismantled. I think things will be different for those who come after us."

"I hope so. The Memory Learning was impressive and helpful. The rest of it? A bunch of certifiably sick bastards running wild to no good purpose."
They gave me sober looks. They'd endured the torture as well.

"I'll be fine," I assured them. "See you in the morning. Now get out of here."

Raltikon nodded, then stepped back and snapped to attention. Fortri echoed him. "Yes, sir!" they replied. Then, grinning like fools, they left.

A medico sergeant came in, looked at my chart on the clipboard, then wrote on it. Looking in a cabinet, he pulled out a clean, black uniform with grey piping, underwear, socks, shoes, and a box with grade pins. Setting them onto the end of the bed, he looked at me. "You're discharged, Lieutenant. As soon as you're up for it, you can leave."

Then he departed.

I was a bit wobbly at first, but I disrobed and got dressed. As soon as I opened the door, another medico came in, and began stripping the bed.

Exiting the infirmary, I made my way to my room. I passed a few people, hurrying to other tasks.

And there it was. Deedee's duffle bag on the floor next to mine. I was surprised to see my laptop bag between them. I'd left that in the car at my parent's house. Picking up the laptop and Deedee's bag, I set them onto the bed. Opening her duffle, I proceeded to go through it. Most of it was the bare essentials, and what I'd come to think of as a hallmark of this forsaken place.

Finding a closed, thin binder, I pulled it out and opened it. Primary documents for her new identity. Birth certificate. Immunization records. Secondary school graduation. The pictures attracted my attention. The ones of her at a younger age were faked, of course. There was a nice full color portrait. Her pale blue eyes, blonde hair braided in the Aesir style, a demure smile on her face. At the back, I found her Aesir travel card.

I removed everything but the portrait from the binder. The binder would protect the picture from damage during travel. Everything else was manufactured and potentially dangerous to possess. I put the binder into my own duffle bag and then closed up Deedee's duffle bag, tossing it onto the floor.

Looking at the laptop, I sighed. I knew I'd have no access while here. But while on my way to kill Chatolklan, there'd be some travel time, and should hopefully have intranet access. Incoming mail would catch up, and I could send messages to Janetta, my parents, and the other members of my family.

Setting the laptop back under the bed, I stretched out and took a shivering breath. I felt empty and sad, reflecting on my dead friend.

Deedee had had a brutal life, and she'd turned that around and become a nurse. But the harsh loneliness of her life, without support, or protection of family, had haunted her.

When I had taken command of the cohort and put the Protection Order in place, and "then, as the weeks went by, I watched hope grow within her, like it was a tangible thing. We'd become friends as well as lovers. With the hell we'd both endured, having someone to hold, had been a real, undeniable comfort.

I wondered what kind of life she would have had, living in Bringdisgam, near the Aesir naval base of Ys. Would she have found a good man to love her? If she had children, would they have given ease to her heart? I had wished that for her. But now it was all vanished opportunities. I suppose that was part of the ache of loss. All that future gone. All her bright possibilities wiped out because of a worthless bastard who did not deserve to wear his uniform.

We were soldiers. Warriors. With our profession, death is a constant companion, and who gets carried off the battlefield is almost always a bitter surprise. I knew there would be more losses in the years to come, more people who would leave an empty hole in my heart. The truth of that realization made the hurt for Deedee even deeper, knowing that she was only the first.

At that moment, I wanted so much to see my mother and father. To reach out and grab Janetta, and squeeze her so tight that she squeaked. Hear her say my name with love in her voice. Feel the loving comfort of Calia, Ixma, Zinja, and Cholan. Shower my girls, Sisi and Mina, with hugs and kisses, over and over. To make sure all of them knew how much I had missed them and needed them.

Tears are not the enemy of a Warrior. Warriors are full of passion. The best ones are passionate, I think. Zinja had told me that. How a mother cat, knowing she would likely die, will take on a pack of dogs to protect her kits. True Warriors care about those they serve with, and they protect them - with their lives if need be. Like Deedee had. Mourning them is acknowledging their loss to us.

I wept again for her. At first, silent tears. Then I cried heartfelt sobs for Deedee Marrin until a restless sleep carried me away.

In the altered state, I knew I was dreaming. For a long time, I lay struggling in the darkness, grieving. I soon became aware of a warm, feminine presence that approached and then embraced me; a presence that was then joined by another feminine presence.

The ache within my heart eased. I knew with certainty that I was loved by them both. Gentle pressure on my lips, and the first one faded away. A goodbye, but also a sense that it was okay. A feeling of being warmly embraced by the second presence, and knowing somehow that my grief was shared and understood. There was a deep familiarity with this second presence, surrounded by an enduring love. Calmer, I slipped deeper into sleep.

* * * * *

The next morning, I woke up exhausted, yet more emotionally settled. I remembered the strange dream and puzzled over it.

It shouldn't have been possible, but I was sure, without a doubt, that the second spirit had been Calia. Had the first one been Deedee? It comforted me to believe so, that she'd heard my grief and come to say goodbye.

Deedee's dream, too. Had she been warned by the gods about her impending death?

Calia firmly believed in spirits - which made sense because she sometimes saw the dead. My mother believed we sometimes came back, born into new lives, sometimes with people we'd known before. Mother had often said that it wasn't just love for my father, it was that he had felt like an old friend the first time they'd met. It was for that, as much as for love, that convinced her to marry my father, after just meeting him, despite her family's objections.

I really didn't have any fixed religious views, but these dreams - if dreams they were - added to my belief we were more than just our bodies.

After finishing packing my duffle bag, I took a shower and dressed. Slipping on my laptop bag over my shoulder, I headed out.

Breakfast in the small cafeteria was a somber affair. Several talked, but they did so quietly. Our cohort was down to seventeen now. While we ate, a sublieutenant, carrying a briefcase, entered, looked us over, then moved to stand next to me.

"Lieutenant Kandikan?"

I turned to look at him. "That's me. And you are?"

"Sublieutenant Chayhoon. When you are finished with your meal, I will escort you to the mortuary."

Several faces looked at him in surprise.

Fortri said to Chayhoon, "We were told there wasn't one here."

Chayhoon nodded. "It hasn't been used in a long time, but the cremation vault has been opened and the area cleaned up. The furnaces are operational again." Turning to me, he said, "There was no religious preference in Marrin's file. I was told to ask you if wanted a priest to officiate."

I shook my head. "She was a Warrior. We will give her a Warrior's send off."

"Very well, Lieutenant. I'll sit over here and wait until you are ready. And please, take your time with your breakfast. I'm in no hurry."

Glancing at the rest of the cohort, I nodded. "You heard the man. Eat, but no need to rush about it."

Even so, the quiet whispering ended, and breakfast was quickly finished.

"Form up," Raltikon said, "Column of twos behind the Senior Lieutenant."

So we marched from the cafeteria, through the underground labyrinth of Sparantzlo base, to a previously closed off area past the previously empty front desk - people were setting up a computer workstation as we went by - where we entered a large austere room with polished wooden benches, lined in rows, facing a podium. Behind the podium were three metal rails with wheels along the tracks, consoles at one end and heavy steel doors against the other.

Two of the tracks held bodies wrapped in white cloth. One male, one female.

I went up to the podium and powered up my laptop. While the others got seated, I asked Chayhoon, "Daronu and Marrin?"

"Yes, sir."

I looked through my files, finding the one I sought: Ode to the Fallen. I'd put it on for the funeral at the sea shore, after Sisi and Mina's rescue. It had seemed prudent to keep it available.

Then I noticed a blinking icon in the notification tray. Still no intranet access, but there were two new files. The list of the dead recruits, including their full names, service, and grade. The second file was Deedee's personnel jacket.

A quick glance into the second confirmed her parental information was present. Her service photo was a bit of a shock. It was Deedee, but her skin was a dark copper. She had dark brown eyes, and dark, almost black hair complimenting her beautiful face. It was a service photo, taken after graduating as a nurse. You don't smile for those kind of pictures, but I noticed her eyes. They weren't happy.

With a sigh, I closed her file and opened the list.

After clearing my throat, I began.

"First I'm going to say a few words. Then I'll read 'Ode to the Fallen.' After that, since Daronu and Marrin were Ground Service, we'll sing, first verses only, the marches for the Ground Service, Air Service, Naval Service, and Marine Service, in that order. We'll finish off with the Imperial Anthem. While we are singing the anthem, Lieutenants Angbarcho and Heeter will come up to the consoles and push the start button on their console and then return to their places.

"Now all of you know how I feel about women Warriors, and I've made it plain how strongly I feel about the Protection Order. I know several of you have been sexually active, but I've seen no overt stress and no one's come to me to make a complaint. I'm sure I owe some of you thanks for your contributions."

There was some laughter, and both women blushed furiously.

"My life has been saved several times by women warriors. I have fought beside some brave women in firefights. My second in command, back home, took a bullet in defense of an Imperial Security officer and nearly died. She was trained as a clerk, but she fought bravely, all the same, because I asked her to. The love of my life, Captain Janetta Tlacotli, interceptor pilot, killed a male draconian in personal combat. I have also fought beside brave men. What the women and the men have in common is that all of them are brave, loyal, and capable. All of them, men and women, want a chance to serve our great Empire. All the women want is to be able to trust the men beside them to protect them as fiercely as they do their brothers in arms. An expectation that men take as a given.

"Now when we arrived here, there were mad men in charge, who tried very hard to make all of us forget that we were Warriors, that we are part of the Empire's noble class. Along the way, these maniacs murdered seven of us. But we didn't forget our honor. We remembered the oaths we swore, to live by the Warrior Code as military officers. And the dead here with us did not forget either.

"Lieutenant Daronu died because he happened to be in the way of one of those mad men. Lieutenant Raltikon was gravely injured, and Lieutenant Marrin died, saving Lieutenants Angbarcho, Heeter, Raltikon, and myself. It is our privilege, our duty, and our right to acknowledge their bravery and to mourn our dead. We stand here, firm in our resolve to go forth and serve the Empire and to continue protecting each other. If you wear the uniform, you are brothers and sisters in arms. Until they show you otherwise, anyone and everyone in uniform deserves your respect and your loyalty. Give it to them, and demand it of them as well.

"All of the following dead have served the Empire honorably and given their all in defense of our people and our way of life."

Looking down, I paused a moment, then began reciting their names.

"Ami Bratochanok, from Tacana State, age nineteen. Software Specialist. Lieutenant, Imperial Ground Service. Thank you, Warrior."

"Honor, duty, loyalty, bravery, and service to the Empire," they echoed.

I read off the others, one by one, for all nine dead, saving Deedee for last. I'm not ashamed to say I had to take a calming breath to finish.

I read all three verses to Ode to the Fallen. Afterward, I came to attention, did an about-face, and holding a salute, I sang out the first verse to the Ground Service March.

"To arms! To arms!

Answer the call to arms!

Warriors brave and strong and fleet

Wielding sword and lance and bow

Shatter our enemies, bring them low

Grind our foes into defeat!

For the Empire! Warriors valiant!

Blessed of the Sun most radiant!

Answer with pride, the battle horn

Deal our foes defeat with scorn -

Proud and brave Warriors of Chimorro!

Undefeated, Warriors of Chimorro!"

The others quickly joined in, their voices filling the small room. The other service marches followed.

When we began the Imperial Anthem, Angbarcho and Heeter moved by me, Angbarcho strode to the console by Daronu and Heeter went to the one by Marrin. Perhaps an irrelevant detail, but it stuck with me.

Metal clanked and the heavy doors moved aside as we sang out loud. Gas hissed and flames ignited, momentarily bursting out, and licking the frames. The bodies of the dead rolled forward, to the cavernous maw of the furnaces.

After the doors dropped clanged shut, I held the salute for a count of ten before releasing it and doing another about face.

"Warriors of Chimorro, thank you, each one of you, for your service."

"For the Empire," they responded.

"You are dismissed."

As people began to move about, Sublieutenant Chayhoon waved his arms. "Please, all of you head to the main classroom. There you will be given your sealed travel orders, and possibly given equipment. If you have not yet packed, please do so after you receive your orders. Do not open your orders until you are in the air." He looked at his watch. "A transport is already here, and will depart in exactly four hours for Nazca War "Base. From there you will travel to your next assignment. After you are packed and have your orders, proceed to the cafeteria. Lunch will be served early. Wait there until the Load Master from the transport comes to get you. Do not miss the transport or you will meet the new base commander, and I do not recommend that meeting."

Someone barked a short laugh. Several others grinned.

As the others shuffled out, I looked at Chayhoon. "What about the dead?"

"The furnaces will operate for an hour, and then it takes two hours to cool, sir. Lieutenant Daronu's remains will be shipped home to his family. I'm told that Marrin's family was informed, but the remains were refused. I understand that you have asked to take them."

"That is my honor," I replied. Her family did not deserve her. "What exactly did they say in response?"

He looked embarrassed as he consulted his tablet. "Our daughter is long dead. Throw the whore out with the trash. It is signed, Group Captain Keel Haynocksitl, Commander, 1143rd Maintenance Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division, Defiant War Base."

"Taking those bullets saved Lieutenant Raltikon and the rest of us. It wasn't a one-off for Lieutenant Marrin. When I first arrived here, I was" badly injured. She went out into the middle of a winter storm to rescue me, at some danger to her own life."

"I will see that you have her remains before you leave, Senior Lieutenant," Chayhoon assured me.

* * * * *

As promised, I had the sealed urn and the mortuary box before take-off. Taking out the binder with her picture in it, I put it into the box with her urn. The box was marked with the address of my parents' estate.

A separate marked mortuary box, for Daronu's remains, was also loaded, with destination and travel orders stamped and attached to the top and side.

We boarded another Albatross. There was room for forty men loaded with combat gear, so there was plenty of room for fifteen men and two women to spread out, so we did.

Once we were in the air, safety belts came off, and they clustered together to open their orders. They really weren't supposed to, but they talked. Some were returning to their original posting. Others, to new locations and positions.

Raltikon hooted. "I'm going to High Guard War Base, to work in Air Security! Promoted to senior lieutenant! Hey, Lieutenant Kandikan, isn't that were you're from?"

I nodded, smiling at them both.

Fortri exclaimed, "Hey, me too! We're going to be posted together, Jay. I've also been promoted to Senior Lieutenant!"

"Hey, Pen, I can't believe it. Both of us as senior lieutenants!"

I smiled at them, pleased by the news. I was sure that was Itznacoco's doing.

Raltikon and Fortri checked each other's paperwork, just to be sure, grinning like lunatics. Then they showed their papers to me.

I handed them back their orders and travel papers. "Take off your doubles."

Surprised and quieting, they removed the double pips on their shoulders. They watched as I removed my triples as Senior Lieutenant. I put one onto each of their shoulder lapels.

"It is my privilege and honor to convey upon you these symbols of rank," I told them. "Congratulations."

Both straightened in their seats, saluting until I returned it. Then they looked at the triple circles on their right shoulder and beamed in pride and delight.

Most of them had at least one grade advancement. Four had advanced from Sublieutenant to full Lieutenant, so Raltikon and Fortri passed their doubles over.

"What about you, sir?" Fortri asked.

Mine was in a binder. Opening the seal, I saw that behind the travel papers and orders, was another sealed packet. I scanned through the sheets of paper. Having been a Senior Lieutenant for a short while, I didn't expect any changes in grade, and I didn't see anything in the packet about it.

Focusing on the travel orders, I learned I had an hour at the terminal, then I'd be on a north-bound flight to Raydam, capital of Chuman State. After completing my mission, I was to return to High Guard, pending reassignment of duties.

I frowned. What the Seven Hells did that mean, pending reassignment? Janetta and the rest of my family were there. I did not want to move to another duty station!

The others saw my look and waited for me to speak.

"Short-term special assignment. Then back to High Guard for me."

Feeling their eyes on me, I looked up. "It's fine. Just... not quite what I expected."

Janoose spoke up. "Lieutenant, before it gets too late, I just want to say I regret things I said and did. You held on to honor, never wavering. You showed us how a true Warrior acts. It's been a privilege, sir."

He offered me his hand. I reached over and shook it. "Privilege was mine as well."

Closing up my paperwork, I put it into my duffle bag.

"One thing," Janoose said. "Where did you learn your hand-to-hand training? You didn't have any temple marks on you, but you kicked several of our asses, and in short order."

I couldn't help smiling at that. "I learned it from Styen. He used to be in the Ground Service."

Janoose went white. "Styen? Do you mean Second Sergeant Styen Topangiti?"

I nodded.
"Second Sergeant Styen was the Fight Master at Copán War base," Kormunat said. "My father still talks about him."

"Mine, too," Janoose said. "You actually know him personally?"

I couldn't resist grinning. "Raltikon and Fortri will probably meet him at High Guard. He works for my family now."

Several rolled their eyes and laughed.

"Oh, gods! That explains so, so much," Janoose said, grinning ruefully.

Others nodded, looking at me with new respect.

"Next time we're in a fight, I want you on my side!" Teegart exclaimed.

The others laughed.

They devolved into chatting amongst themselves over their own boot camp experiences, those of their fathers, and speculating about their new assignments.

Three hours later, we descended to the military airfield of Nazca War Base. The Albatross set down smoothly.

Collecting our gear, we hustled out, heading for the terminal. Raltikon and Fortri waited for me. I made sure the mortuary boxes were collected.

"Will you have a drink with us, sir?" Raltikon asked.

"You're both the same grade as me now. It's Ranji." They smiled at that. "Wish I could. My flight leaves in about an hour. I have to find gate seventeen and catch a Condor. Tell you what, though. When I get back to High Guard War Base, we'll have a drink, and I'll introduce you to my family and my command."

Initially disappointed, they smiled at the offer.

Fortri said, "I'll hold you to that. Let us know when you get to High Guard, sir. I mean, Ranji. I'm Penimits. Pen for short."

"Jay for Jaynobro," Raltikon added.

We shook hands, then we entered the building and parted ways. They headed to High Guard, and I was going north to kill Field Commander Herroto Chatolklan of Imperial Security.

After that I was homeward bound.

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