Merker's Outpost

by I. Christie

  "That was the hog wash they sold you when you were in boot camp," JG snorted, but she smiled and leaned back as the car neared the Lair.

  Alexandra shook her head and laid it back against her seat, closing her eyes. She wondered if she was that challenged when she was in the Spartans. She decided she was not. She was too worried with staying alive and keeping those whose life she was entrusted with the same and that was no fun or adventurous.

  Both reentered the Lair rather cautiously. Alexandra sent out a mental call for LaDea Gedehelia and received a warm welcome back. She smiled until another touched her mental connection. Major General Aglauros' reply caused her face to blush. Major Zohra who caught the flushed face, smiled.

  "I take it you've reached someone?"

  "Hmm. Your mother."

  "Better you get it than I. She's nicer to you," JG returned. She nodded to the first group of warriors guarding the tube area. The corridors they walked through looked blackened, with art objects that once adorned the area, gone. Small clean up bots were already resurfacing the walls. The two headed for Com-C.

  The room was filled with sisters, shamans and Brothers of the Shadow, all members of Naboths Vine, both women thought. The two levels that monitored the screens were filled with soldiers moving and talking either through headsets or to each other. A figure was in the chair in the center moving about as a Gruff. The energy in the air was charged with anticipation, excitement and anger.

  Alexandra was hoping the anger was not directed at them. They told the life forms they would be back soon to clean up the off world mess. She wondered how that was going to go over with General Aglauros and General Hayes of the Brothers who was commanding the forces in Century City.

  ***

  Chapter 31

  A day later Alexandra woke from disturbing dreams. Where is the fear from? Is it from me or something contrived by Alan? And just what is this fear?

  The warm body next to her stirred, then a hand moved from her arm to her neck. Tickling the back of it.

  She adjusted her body so she was looking directly into the dark Thebian eyes that were more readable to her these days. The mind link they had between them was becoming stronger, so that it initiated without thought.

  "What is bothering you, Milady?" Jina Gari teased as she let her hand slide down her lover's ribcage and onto the strong thighs that could wrap tightly around her in such… She sighed as she brought her thoughts back under control.

  "I was trying to figure out what I fear the most about Alan's planned invasion of this planet. I've come to the conclusion that it's not the invasion…I think it's my fear of…experiencing Alan's rage."

  "Hmmm. I thought Mother showed you how to ward off his feelings."

  Alexandra lifted a hand from the wrist she was resting on and brushed a stray strand of dark hair out of her lover's face. She could feel the sexual energy her lover was radiating and it settled around them like a delicious sensual cloud.

  "His rage is…on different levels. Yes, I can deflect his anger, but…what does that do? He will simply find ways to grow in power and continue to hurt others."

  "So…you're saying he will have to be…killed?"

  "Yes…I admit that crosses my mind often."

  "I don't wonder." She had seen what his madness had done to others and felt like she did about her father…he deserved to have his life ended. However, she knew that as an empath, if Alan died at Alexandra's hands, unless she was careful, she would sink into his madness when she reexperienced his death.

  "But, you are hesitant…?" JG asked uncertain.

  "Well…to send him into the Land of the Dead when he is maddened…will only cause more havoc. You see…he will carry that madness into the next life because he will not wait for adjustment or the time normally a soul takes to process his or her previous life with advisors."

  "Soo…" the major wondered if she really wanted to hear this, "what do you propose?"

  "I'm thinking that if he was on his meds and we can talk to him, explain to him that it is time for him to move out…" Alexandra could see JG was not buying it and stopped.

  "Alexandra, Honey, I don't think it will work. First of all…do you know of any mad person who would appreciate being told 'Hey, before we take your life…we would like to explain the principles of madness and the proper way of dying.'"

  "Yes. I do."

  Major Zohra sighed. Of course you do. "Maybe it's because I've been around a lot of real crazy people and lived like them…that I don't believe that will work for someone as far gone as Alan. He's been given more chances than most and he has not taken advantage of his borrowed time to get with the program. He has no sense of feeling for others so how can he feel any remorse or understand 'justice' in the larger framework?"

  "I'm not suggesting sending him to a colony that encourages that type of behavior like HinterWield, because he will find a way out…and be even more terrible than he is now. I can see his madness. His condition will and is deteriorating with times passage. No chip or drugs will change or slow him down. I can see this," she told her lover softly. "I just believe that before his life is taken he be pointed in the right direction instead of being left adrift in this dark cloud he has drawn around him."

  JG rolled on her back and thought about it. She was a warrior that lived in the present, unless it was a military action that required some thought of the repercussions of the maneuver, but the thought of souls and another life…that was for shamans and the other Holy People that did that for a living. That was too far in the future for her. Her reactions were dependent on instinctive and quick moves without forethought and ponderous thinking of right and wrong. That lament was for later in a bar or after battles when regrets were spoken about quickly and then left there…in the bar or on the battlefield. Warriors did not need something that would come back and haunt them when they were in a life and death situation.

  Alexandra smiled and leaned over to kiss JG's closed eyes. Rising, she moved to a cleared space to begin her morning meditation with the expectation to move on to the exercises JG would lead her through.

  Major Zohra sighed then rolled out of bed. Since she was teaching Alexandra exercises that worked on self-defense stances, she had thought it only fair that she learn the meditation stretches and poses Alexandra did in the mornings. It was an effort to remain stretched out in one position for so long.

  The chiming on their quarters came when they were a quarter through an exercise that required speed and accuracy, which Alexandra was far off on both, when compared to JG. While the major answered the door Alexandra took that time to wipe her brow and take a gulp of liquid. Captains Chilali and Raizel were at the door dressed for a workout.

  "Well…looks like Commander Montran is warming our major up for us. Here I thought we would get that pleasure." Raizel laughed with an upraised eyebrow at Lady Alexandra who looked the worse for wear.

  "Right, I've warmed her up for ya," Alexandra replied relieved that someone had rescued her. Jina Gari was working her harder than what she had the last few days and she was sure it was because she had a lot of energy she was used to expending and had been curtailed because of her new bodyguard duties.

  Major Zohra laughed at the others and before she asked…

  "Major Zohra, why don't you go workout with your sisters for a while. I'm scheduled to be with the shaman's most of the morning so I probably won't need a bodyguard.

  "Well…actually, a small group of Centurion soldiers were left behind so you would not feel alone and will be assigned to you when Major Zohra is occupied elsewhere." She grinned at the two women. "Major General Aglauros had talked to Rear Admiral JoCastao and they thought someone should give Major Zohra a break from her bodyguard duty every now and then so she doesn't become too edgy and find herself some mischief to get into taking you with her."

  Major Zohra raised an eyebrow at the three that were laughing at this remark.

  "Well…we have been saved from ourselves then," Alexandra
smiled at her partner.

  Another chime interrupted them as Major Zohra and her sisters discussed what type of exercise was better for warming up.

  A soldier dressed in the Centurion's uniform saluted and nodded towards the group of women.

  "I'm Cpl. Provo, here to escort Lt. Commander Montran to the shaman's meeting."

  "Hello, Royd," Raziel greeted. "They have you in escort services?"

  A big smile formed on the red face. "It's better than being topside, Captain Raziel."

  "Sure is!" both Major Zohra and Commander Montran chorused.

  ***

  Neither woman saw the other for the rest of the day. The shaman's meeting was on Alan and how to contain him. A representative from Naboths Vine and other services that were affected by Alan's behavior were also there to make their position clear that Alan had to die. There was no cure for him, no safe place to put him, nor anything short of altering his brain pattern to keep him alive. Making him mindless to serve the rest of his life out was not accomplishing anything in his life path, they all agreed.

  Commander Montran wondered how many were aware that one of the Sha'Kars from the city they had visited was sitting in on the meeting beside Carol-Maa. Carol-Maa knew.

  ***

  Major Zohra had her work cut out for her. Major General Aglauros probably figured it was safer to give her daughter something challenging to do rather than wait until JG could no longer take being inactive. A group was trapped between cities by explosions set by the invading forces they had routed from Century City and Major Zohra was in her best element as she and her team figured out ways to get them back safely.

  ***

  Chapter 32

  Alexandra was floating in the tub with Carol-Maa, Clea and Galdin letting the comfortable silence between them seep into her pores like a moisturizing cream. It was a soothing experience to be wrapped in an energy that was both supportive and invigorating, amplified by the waters. So, the effect of her lifemate's presence into the bathing room was like a different tone entering the pleasant hum that surrounded the four relaxing in the tub. Alexandra's eyes fluttered open as she realized she was near. A smile creased her lips as she got her feet under her.

  "Hmm. Will you excuse me a moment? I think Major Zohra has returned."

  The others chuckled and resumed a conversation they had dropped when the soothing atmosphere overcame their sensibilities. The question was again asked how the Black Rose squad escaped from their confinement and how they knew exactly where Alexandra was quartered.

  Alexandra poked her head in the shower where her lover was rinsing off her day's work of sweat and dirt.

  "Hi," Alexandra breathed in the spray as she stepped up against the body she had been picturing most of the day.

  JG's hands were filled with suds as she was trying to scrub off the tiredness that was weighing her arms down from the work she had been doing to dig out people from a cave-in. They found themselves on her lover's shoulders then roamed down to the rounded curve of her buttocks where they stopped as they pulled her even closer to her.

  "Well…this is nice shower service," she started but did not get much else said as a mouth was placed over hers and consumed her tongue and whatever else the hungry lips covered.

  It was a long moment until they reluctantly broke for air.

  "Goddess! We've got to get the ceremony done soon! I'm seeing your naked body everywhere!" Alexandra groaned as she finally paused to give them both some air.

  "Hmm. Someone's going to think we got into lust gas." Jina Gari whispered as she nibbled the neck she had been picturing most of the day.

  Alexandra chuckled again. "I finally found a shaman that would talk to me about this Dance thing…uuh, hmm. That feels good," she paused to enjoy the giddy feeling her lover's hands caressing her body was giving her. "I think I kinda escalated it."

  "How?" JG breathed as she grabbed some skin on her neck and bit it.

  "Ah, uhmmm, ouch." She giggled before she answered. "I've been dreaming of the next dance."

  JG laughed and pulled Alexandra into her. "Good. That means I don't have to show it to you. That would cause us both to…well; let's just say…that pheromone gas would pale to it."

  "Hmm. Potent stuff, huh?"

  "So I've heard," she replied.

  "Well…if the images were of just you naked…that might be okay…it's what I'm doing to those images of you that may get me in trouble," Alexandra chuckled.

  Zohra pushed her lover back a little. Her dark eyes were curious. "Well…you shall have to show me just what you've been imaging…later when all this is done with."

  "Hmm. Come on. I don't want to even be reminded. Water, lusty thoughts and a tub of friends is more than I am willing to handle." Alexandra sighed as she stroked the gold ring that nestled between her lover's legs. "We have company and I think the subject I left is about… escapees and spies."

  "Hmm. Everyone seems to be talking about it." JG padded beside Alexandra as they went to join the others in the tub.

  "Jina Gari, where have you been keeping yourself?" Clea asked as the two women slid into the tub.

  "In dark and dusty places, out of trouble."

  "Hmm. I heard you wanted to question the Black Rose yourself."

  "They went against all rules of a Spartan, and most of all, against the tradition of a Black Rose member. Spartan against Spartan is not done by a Black Rose," she repeated for the hundredth time. It seemed no one was listening.

  "Well…maybe it was you they were after…deciding you were a traitor and therefore no longer a Black Rose or Spartan."

  Major Zohra shook her head. "Even if that were the case…it is handled differently…this was a breech of conduct…an open assault to destroy everything they could reach. Wanton destruction does not indicate they were serious of taking out a target."

  "Perhaps a chip implant?" Alexandra asked.

  "None could be found."

  "Well…there is low level voice hypnotics," Galdin suggested.

  They all were silent for a while.

  Alexandra stirred. "Whatever it was…they had to have someone on the outside release the locks and with enough knowledge to circumvent the alarms."

  Major Zohra looked tired. "I am going to sleep on that mystery. Come on," she firmly grabbed Alexandra's arm and pulled her out of the tub, nodding to the others. "We're doing some of Lady Alexandra's exercises at 0600 in the gym tomorrow. Anyone want to join…we'll see ya down there."

  Carol-Maa who had been quiet up until then smiled. "I would love to participate."

  Alexandra gave her lover's back a surprised look. What's the hurry? And why the sudden change of our workout to the dojo? Alexandra caught up with her as she was pulling down the covers on the bed. She tackled her pulling her onto the bed and for a while, they wrestled with struggles becoming less and less. Alexandra's questions were forgotten since the first one was answered.

  ***

  Chapter 33

  Alexandra was not able to sleep after their lovemaking. A feeling of anticipation and foreboding increased until she had to leave their bed. Quietly she walked into the front room and waved at the two guards that were silently moving about the room making a routine inspection to keep themselves alert.

  Alexandra decided a shower would be a good place to go for space and to take a cold shower to clear her senses. As the water flowed over her, she felt the familiar touch of the Sha'Kar from the Shadow City. An image of a ship, soldiers, and some of them in her room appeared in her mind. Then she began to feel the presence she had been fearing. The presence became intense to the point…

  "Goddess, a breach!"

  She was out of the shower and in their room to find Alan and Vanster with a weapon pointed at the falling Gari.

  "No!"

  Vanster's weapon quickly fired at Alexandra. She felt her body burn from the shot as her ability to stand left her.

  Errrggg! It's a stunner just like that kid used.

  Alexandra
was quickly gathered and hoisted onto Vanster's shoulder. She grunted from air forced out of her lungs as she bumped on Vanster's shoulder as she ran down a dark corridor. For a moment, she saw blackness and then was dumped onto the cold floor of a ship. She could feel the Sha'Kar hovering over her concerned.

  Why are you here?

  While her body struggled to fill her lungs with air, she closed her eyes and focused on the ship's movement as it shifted to evade whoever may be chasing them. Her hearing picked up Alan's shouting and finally an angry Vanster, telling him to shut up, that she knew what she was doing.

  It did not seem long that they were back in space and jumped through the gate to another part of the galaxy.

  The face that appeared above hers was an older bearded face of Alan. He wiped the spittle from his mouth with the back of his hand and Alex knew she was looking into the eyes of someone not sane.