Merker's Outpost

by I. Christie

  "Compassion? You were killing defenseless people." Galdin responded, without rancor.

  "Ha! We were defenseless. Our weapons were so outdated the people we were dropped into the middle of to cause havoc had better stuff and that worked. We became a raiding party, instead of bait. We collected their equipment and supplies. Remember, we were not there to do damage to these people, we were there to get them to shoot at us so other troops could pinpoint their location and shoot them. We felt compassion for these people because they were like us, bait for a political machine that didn't care about the rightness or wrongness of the skirmish."

  "You sure surprised a lot of people when your troop kept coming back from assignments with so many intact."

  "Hmm. It surprised my troop too. I had to get as many out alive as possible on the first skirmish we had together…to show them that they were not as powerless in the outcome as they believed."

  "We all think you did a wonderful job, Captain Montran. Even if it did not work out in the end."

  Alexandra took a deep breath to prevent the pain from coming back. She had thought she failed. She was the only one that survived in the end and not without emotional scars.

  "Thank you. I need to get some things done. May the water and its essence impart health to you all," Montran pulled herself out of the tub quickly, before anyone could object, feeling the connection break as she left the water.

  Ald was at her elbow as she disappeared in the swirls of steam, holding a towel. She decided a cold shower was exactly what she needed.

  Goddess, Montran, get yourself together. It's not Vanstar. I can handle attitudes and prejudice. I've been doing it since a child! Something else must be happening.

  She rested her forehead against the cold tile, sorting through what she was experiencing. Her senses heightened and her thoughts moved from erotic visions of Major Zohra to lights flashing in all colors. Blinking for a moment, she realized she was seeing the energy of the wall in front of her. The smell of the vegetation, the damp earth their roots sank in, the sounds of water dripping from leaves was all magnified.

  "Blasters!" she whispered under her breath. It's a cleansing. Oh, Goddess. I forgot. But…why? She stumbled back into the bedroom. "No…visitors!" Holding her midsection she doubled over. Whom is this for? Lord Chaney? It wasn't intentional. I don't understand. Ohhhh. I think I should have paid more attention in class on recompense. "Offf, argh!"

  Moaning, she dropped her face into the carpet oblivious of the softness. A sudden piercing pain in her forehead sent her rolling onto her back.

  Yep! It's for Lord Chaney. Why?

  The pain brought tears to her eyes as she tried not to cry out. She had to endure it for a few moments, she reminded herself. Before her vision cleared she could hear Guardian's voice from far away.

  "Yes?" she managed to get out between clinched teeth. The tingling in her fingertips and toes began, burning as they moved up her limbs. She rolled onto her stomach and buried her face into the carpet trying to let the process move on without resistance. The pain stopped suddenly and she relaxed back on the rug, feeling her sweat trickle down the sides of her face. It felt nice to be laying in the softness of the rug.

  Why hadn't Carol and I made love on the carpet before she…?

  She sat up too quickly and had to hold onto the side of the bed to prevent herself from toppling over.

  "Lady Alexandra? Are you alright?" Guardian asked again sounding concerned.

  "Yes. Yes, I'm fine," she returned in what she was hoping, sounded like a normal voice.

  "The sisterhood has been trying to get in touch with you to offer you an invitation to their dinner tonight. They asked me to try."

  A giggle escaped from Alexandra and she clamped both hands over her mouth to stop any more from escaping. She had no intention of giggling through a boring night with women who labeled her as legendary, just because she did not want to die. She giggled again.

  "Lady Alexandra, are you sure you are okay? I can contact LaDea Gedaliaha but you will have to unlock your quarters. Normally, I honor such requests for privacy but…

  "I …am fine," she started out with a serious voice but quickly slapped both hands over her mouth as more giggling threatened to leak out.

  "Well, then…the dinner is at 0700, in the Baling Area."

  "Hmm," she managed to get out. She did not let her hands uncover her mouth for the name of the area nearly had her bursting out in uncontrollable laughter. She knew exactly whom she would like to do some 'bailing' with. She heard him sign off and also found that to be hysterically funny. For the next ten minutes, though it seemed longer to her sore sides, anything that came to mind sent her into gales of laughter. Mentally she remembered the hormones laughter released being necessary to heal what feeling pain had released. Singing would have done the same thing as laughing…Oh, no. You don't want to sing, Harriet. You can't carry a note even in the shower. Which caused her to laugh even harder.

  Gradually she could feel the giddiness leave. She weakly rose to her feet as she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of the robe the butler held out to her. Alright…two down…what comes next?

  "Bach?" she called softly, "Chumut tea, please." After two quick sips pain to her stomach nearly caused her to drop her cup of tea. Bach was quick enough to grab the cup before it dropped to the ground with her. Her legs were shaking as her stomach tried to turn itself inside out. She had not remembered this with Kela's death. But she had not caused Kela's death, she reminded herself. This was certainly more painful than she remembered it. She was not aware of how long this episode lasted. Somewhere between breaks of dry heaves, she felt someone lift her and hold her close. Her body continued to shake with the pain her stomach suffered. If she remembered right, this would be the fear the victim had experienced. He must have had ulcers, she thought.

  Abruptly she found herself standing outside of her physical body watching Major Zohra cradle her while Gedaliaha wiped her face. She dispassionately observed herself staring with a wide-open vacant look while her body tried to curl up in pain. What was the pain from now?

  "His anguish the first time he molested a child," an unfamiliar voice softly told her. "Go back into your body."

  She drifted back into her body that was now lying quietly in the arms of her comforter. Major Zohra's arms felt strong and comforting, and the heartbeat at rest, thumbing against her back added to her feeling of security. A heat of desire between her legs nudged her to the awareness that she would have to do something about her attraction to Major Zohra soon.

  Abruptly she found herself standing at the edge of the volcano again. The same women's figure from her previous vision was leaning over the lip taking measurements. This time she turned around on her own accord and faced Alexandra. Behind Alexandra was her craft, being engulfed in a hot flow of lava. The woman raised her hand and commanded it to stop. When it returned to its proper position she headed towards it without concern, passing by Alexandra. She stopped in front of her, which surprised her.

  "Thank you, whoever you are. I owe you…and I don't forget my debits."

  Alexandra was jerked back quickly, just what her teachers had warned her not to do when astral projecting. She felt so disorientated she clutched the carpet to find some form of stability. When her eyes came back into focus she found Gedaliaha's light brown eyes looking down at her calmly.

  "Alexandra."

  Sighing Alexandra closed her eyes for a moment. She could hear the heartbeat of the person holding her and feel the person's concern.

  She struggled to stand up.

  "Not so fast," Major Zohra commanded and gently pushed her to sit with her back against the bed.

  The connection Alexandra felt as she leaned against the major was intimate, though they had not acknowledged each other in such a relationship yet.

  "Drink this," Gedaliaha guided a cup of the strong tea to her lips.

  It was strong and tasted terrible. She could not keep her face from wrinkling up i
n a grimace. As soon as it hit her empty stomach it spread soothing warmth that worked itself down to her toes and other places that she found interesting. She would have to remember that herb.

  Feeling better she looked into the dark eyes of Jina Gari and she found herself blushing. The nearness of her became difficult to ignore. Alexandra took a deep breath to quiet her heart and the thrumming that vibrated throughout her body. It was like being under the influence of the pheromone gas. Jina Gari, I like that name.

  "You missed the dinner that was to be given in your honor," Gedaliaha remarked as the two women assisted her to her feet.

  "That's okay," Alexandra mumbled as she tried to stand on her own, but her knees were shaking, "I'm not up to eating right now."

  Gedaliaha guided her to a chair in the front room. "Why did you go through a jokarash?" Gedaliaha asked concerned.

  "It was for Lord Chaney," she admitted feeling embarrassed.

  "I thought you would have cleansed yourself already," Jina Gari remarked. "How are you feeling now?"

  This was an odd conversation coming from Gedaliaha. The term jokarash was not spoken of and least of all in front of someone who not initiated into shamanism. She looked into Gedaliaha's eyes again. Alexandra leaped up looking around her frantically. This was not Gedaliaha and this was not her quarters. The familiar porcelain statue was missing from its corner pedestal.

  Abruptly she was back in her bedroom lying on her back. She could hear the door chiming from the frontroom. She slowly rolled to her feet and steadied herself on edge of the bed. She was still wearing her robe though it was eschewed.

  "Computer, release the lock. Enter," she whispered hoarsely.

  Gedaliaha and some of the people she had met during Carol's gathering came in concerned. She did not dare move from the support of the bed so she remained sitting.

  "We felt a breach through our protective wall," one of the shamans informed her.

  "Are you alright?" another asked touching her shoulders as if to test her energy. It probably was erratic.

  Gedaliaha said nothing as she studied her room, looking for something. Gedaliaha picked up the object that was lying on the top of the small table near the bed.

  Alexandra became aware of the pressure behind her ear. It was what she experienced aboard the Spinner's Tale. Now she understood. "A sonic hydra," she muttered.

  Major Zohra had slipped in the room with the others unnoticed by Alexandra.

  Alexandra bent forward, holding onto her stomach, nauseous from another beam of energy from the sonic hydra. One of the Shamans sat next to her supporting and lending her his energy. The tallest found the sonic mechanism stuck to the corner of the bathing door. He deactivated it and laid it in Gedaliaha's palm.

  "The one you call Vanster," Gedaliaha murmured looking towards Major Zohra.

  Alexandra's heart quickened. Was this still part of the dream? She brushed her hand across her eyes as she tried to sort out her feelings. A calming hand on her shoulders brought her bios back to normal. Gedaliaha was smiling into her eyes. They were the shaman eyes she remembered, dark pools whose depths were unfathomable.

  "I have come to invite you to a sisterhood dinner. There are members that wish to meet you," Major Zohra spoke to her.

  "I…"

  "She will be there, Major."

  "0700 then, if that is not conflicting with anything you have planed."

  Alexandra caught the humor.

  "No. Alexandra needs something to keep her mind busy. Socializing is just the thing," Gedaliaha did not take her eyes from Alexandra's as she spoke. There was amusement in Gedaliaha's eyes when Alexandra's expression turned to disappointment at the thought that she would be attending.

  "I will tell the sisters. And…I will handle Megan Vanster."

  "If you can find out how she managed to elude my security checks I would appreciate you letting me know. It seems there have been a lot of breeches lately." Guardian did not sound pleased.

  "I can tell you part of it now. She wanted to see how the other half lived so Carol-Maa invited us to her quarters and the use of her bathing facilities. Vanster had used the toilet facilities earlier before we all ended up in the tub," Major Zohra admitted.

  "My monitors did not pick up that someone entered Lady Alexandra's room," Guardian noted regrettably.

  "Perhaps we need to reexamine everyone that has been part of this operation." Major Zohra suggested looking uncomfortable. Bloody moon, maybe it's better the others remain in confinement. Between Vanster and myself, our loyalty has been rather flawed…compromised is a better term. What has gotten into her? Has she lost herself in her role?

  Alexandra did not care who handled it. In fact, she wanted to be left alone. Tiredly she rubbed her temples. Which parts of her dreams were true?

  Major Zohra nodded at the others and glanced Lady Alexandra's way. Alexandra had lifted her eyes at that time and for a moment both exchanged looks.

  My Dancer, what are you thinking?

  The others left with Major Zohra. Gedaliaha remained sitting in a comfortable chair across from Alexandra who was sipping tea that Bach had prepared for her.

  "Alexandra, tell me more about this?" She held up a small object she had not been able to figure out what it was.

  "Oh, I think one of the people we rescued from the smuggler's dropped it. I've been meaning to give it to Maud, Guardian's assistant so she can find out who owns it."

  "I see. Well, consider it returned. I will take care of it. Now, tell me everything about the dreams, Alexandra," Gedaliaha compelled her. If Gedaliaha had not used the 'command voice,' Alexandra knew she would not have told her everything. Shaman's had the ability to compel others to do their bidding, putting their will behind their voice.

  "I don't know what is real and what was corrupted," she confessed.

  "He can't create dreams. The sonic hydra allows a trained person to go into the dreams of the dreamer and mettle," Gedaliaha explained. "It has been noted in the Counsel of Rings meetings that we shamans are against such a mechanism for this very reason. But, to your dreams. Do not leave anything out," she commanded.

  Alexandra frowned as she tried to remember where it all began. She started slowly, including the last dream and of her reaction to Major Zohra's nearness.

  Both women were silent after she finished, wrapped in their own thoughts.

  "If I may," Bach politely interrupted their thoughts, "I am also programmed for monitoring sleep and can give you a bit of information you may find useful."

  "Well, go ahead," Gedaliaha invited.

  "The first dream was tampered with but not from the device. The second one was on a different wavelength. It stimulated a different part of the brain as well as the normal centers making it a true dream that should be interpreted by a dream interpreter. However, the device became activated during the next dream sequence and allowed corruption and a foreign energy pattern to enter the room."

  "Wait a moment. How was the first able to tamper without the device?"

  "It was some sort of energy that stimulated my command module. I did not want to endanger the sleeper so I let the dream end, and then canceled the energy by sending out its polar opposite. Very simple."

  "Guardian must not be happy about the intrusions into his security systems."

  "I have not synced with Guardian due to a malfunction in my outlet, therefore Guardian does not know of this."

  "I do now," Guardian's voice came over the intercom. "I came when my name was mentioned," he explained. "It seems there are many gaps in my security system. Major Zohra has some of her sisters working on it."

  At the mention of the major, Alexandra's ears perked up. She glanced at Gedaliaha who was still talking to Guardian, but her eyes were on her. With a red face she looked down at her folded hands.

  Jumping from one woman to another. What is wrong with me?

  "Well, Alexandra," she asked, "what are you waiting for?"

  "What?" Alexandra looked up puzzled. "O
h." The dinner she was not in the least bit interested in attending. She would only know the major. "I don't really see the importance of going to this…" Gedaliaha was not going to buy any of her excuses, she thought as she looked at her.

  "Don't tell me that you don't know anyone. You know Major Zohra and the others that were in the tub you shared. Sharing a tub naked makes for a relationship that is more than that of an acquaintance. And with your channels opened, well…bathing in water amplifies the feelings of your fellow bathers… That's why most empaths try not to make love in the water too often…very potent and heady stuff."