Kala tilted her head for a moment and relaxed her barriers to seek out other telepathic minds on the Reverence. She realized in the time she was gone, Tangl had moved them off the ship. This saddened her, but she still refused to allow Tangl to see it.
“Put this on.” Tangl handed her a psionic blocker that was to be worn around Kala’s neck. The locking portion was on the front of the neck. “It will eliminate your psionic abilities.”
Kala complied with the order, and placed the collar around her neck. Once the lock clicked into place, she heard a buzz emitted from the blocker, and felt a shift that inhibited her abilities. She remained outwardly emotionless, even though she was overwhelmed by anxiety.
“Now, you are permitted to return to your quarters until 2000 tonight. At that time you will report to the kitchen and return it to proper operational standards. Until then, you are dismissed.” Tangl sat back in her chair with an arrogant and cocky attitude about her.
Without a word, Kala stood, and exited the room. When she arrived at the quarters she formerly shared with Phelian, Merx, and Henessa, she found Rouen outside waiting. When he saw the collar around her neck his anger was obvious.
She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “Not out here.”
She entered the code to unlock the door, and it slid open. Both entered the room, and sat on the couch. She began to fidget with the collar trying to remove it. It didn’t budge, and she felt her own anger surface further.
Rouen also attempted to remove it, but was unable to.
“She planned this.”
“That much is obvious. We need Merx or Sira to look at this.” Rouen fiddled with the collar for another few moments. “What are you going to do?”
“My job, for now. She can’t touch the crew of the Enpassant. We know their positions and responsibilities are safe. Zaren now commands her crew, and that means everyone below him will be fine. He’ll make sure of it. Until I can do otherwise, I’ll do what I must.” Kala was obviously angry, and unable to hide it any longer. “When I’m able, I need to find Dak’s Senate contact as well.”
“What exactly is your job, Kala?” He finally relented, and sat on the couch next to her.
“Whatever a slave does when summoned.” Her tone was sharp and angry.
“Kala, I’m sorry. I… never expected that this would... I mean, I knew she was upset, but to take things to this extreme? To take a mate so as to exert control over you? Yes, her first mate was damaged. She did eventually turn on herself, but this woman has taken things too far.” Maddux shook his head. “It wasn’t even your fault.”
“Yes, I’m aware. She doesn’t know the listening stone is sewn into some of my clothing and she’s unaware of the gifted necklace I’m wearing. I still have limited use of my abilities, she’s just not aware of it. It does give me a bit of a struggle to get through with this so close to my psionic lobe, but it’s not impossible.” Her fingers absently fidgeted with the lock.
“Can I help in some way?” he asked, concerned for her.
“Stay in contact with our team. I’ll keep an eye on Palrion, at least to hopefully continue to slow things for him. We will get him home. That’s where he needs buried, and that’s what we’ll make sure is done. Until then, we’ll just buy our time.” She leaned back on the couch trying to figure a way out of this situation, but knew it would be some time before the opportunity presented itself.
“You need to eat. We both do. Let’s grab lunch.” As he stood up, he heard the comm panel in her quarters alert her of an incoming message. He wanted her to ignore it, but doubted she would.
She looked up at Rouen before relenting, and walking across the room to answer the alert on the panel. She pressed the button to open the voice connection. “I’m here.”
“Good,” crackled a raspy male voice over the system. “You’re required in my quarters now. You have several items that need completed, Kala.”
“I will be there shortly.” Her tone was controlled, but not without frustration.
“You sound less than pleased, Kala.” The voice crackled through the panel again.
“I am fine.” With great effort, she added, “Sir.”
“Good. Good. I will see you in a moment.” He cut the connection.
Kala turned to Rouen. “Evidently I’ll be eating some time later. I’ll catch up with you as I’m able. You are the only other psionic mind on the entire ship, so you won’t be hard to find. Tangl’s transferred or removed all of the others.”
Maddux shook his head. “Okay, I’ll go grab some food and we’ll talk tonight. In the mean time, I’m not as restricted as you are, so I’m going to fill them in on everything. If I’m able, I’ll get over there to see them all.”
“Sounds good.”
Both exited the room and walked off in opposite directions. Kala moved directly to the captain’s quarters. As she rang the alert outside of the room, she heard a noise within before her captain’s new mate opened the door. As she stepped in she was unable to identify anything out of place or of significant concern. Before she could turn to her master, he placed his hands on her shoulders.
“That is far too familiar of a gesture. Your wife may take offense to that.”
He laughed. “Kala there is no love loss between Kathryn and I. She is a marriage of need, and I, one for her position security. I assure you, you my dear, are and will be a savored delight. When you left the training vessel I was unsure when I’d be able to recall you for further duties.”
He moved his hands from her, and walked past. “Come, sit down. Let’s discuss some things.” He took a seat on the couch, and Kala sat in a nearby chair. He looked at her for several long moments. “I have made some decisions about what will be expected of you from here on out.”
“I’m listening.”
“You know what kind of companionship I seek from you. As my slave, you are obligated by Xenonian law to comply, punishable by death should you select otherwise.” He relaxed in his seat, and appeared to take pleasure in what he was discussing. “As you know, such compliance will be something we shall both enjoy. I will see to it.” Kala remained silent. “You will be required to become comfortable with the idea, until you are purchased, or released by choice or a champions fight. I see no reason to believe that you will be sold, and I know what I seek, I will have.”
Kala looked at him, her options running through her head. She responded, “Understood.”
“Now, I’ll not do this by force so we’ll begin with various steps to make you more comfortable with your obligations. Let’s start by simply getting comfortable with each other shall we?” She remained silent. He pressed her, trying to encourage her to welcome the interaction. “Well then, are you enjoying your position on the Reverence?”
“No.”
“Did you take pleasure in the temporary transfer and being among others of your kind?” He continued his efforts to press her to engage in the conversation. Even as he did, he found her behaviors worth punishment, but held back from such action, for now.
“Yes.”
“See, this is good. We’re talking.” He smiled to hide his frustration. “This is a good start, Kala. Feel free to say whatever you wish or ask anything you’d like to.”
She looked at him, no emotion clear in her mannerisms or tone. “Why do you insist on this banter? You consider me beneath you, even though the blood of Xenonia runs through my veins as it does yours. You talk to me in a manner that indicates I am not worth what you are, but I have risked my life for our people without question or hesitation. You have not.
“You have rested in your protected gender position, and have not formerly become employed by the military, as you forced me to do. Do not put pretenses on with me. You want one thing, and that is to dominate me in a manner in which I have not given to another person. One of which I have little desire to share with anyone. If I wished it, I could call forward a champion. I have one that has sworn his direction to me. One that could separate you with a
mere thought. However that is not the design, nor my desire.”
Her lack of emotion set him more uneasy than he could have anticipated. “Fine, no further pretense.” He leered at her. “Remove your jacket. I want a good look at my purchase.” She complied, and remained seated as she did. He began to rub himself through his pants, imaging what he wished before he continued to speak to her. ”You will return here to share my bed, tomorrow. You will comply as you are ordered or I will have you put to death, which is exactly what Tangl is hoping for. You may leave for now.”
Kala stood. Her face was devoid of emotion. She left the captain’s quarters and her master’s husband behind. The moment the door closed behind her, her stomach churned, and her hearts throbbed painfully within her chest. Everything about him seethed disgust and horror to her. His mannerisms and lust for her made her ill to consider what would be done to her.
Her mind focused on trying to figure a way out of this situation without revealing how ineffective the psionic blocker was on her. She didn’t want to compromise her people, but she knew she had to deal with this before she was compromised. From the way Tangl’s mate spoke, her time was running out fast. As she moved through the halls back to her quarters, she fidgeted with the collar again and again trying to remove it.
She whispered, as she entered her quarters, “I need to reach him. I don’t have another safe hope…”
She searched for the large listening stone she occasionally saw Henessa use, and couldn’t find it. She clutched the small one around her neck and focused all of the energy she had to reach the Enpassant telepathically.
~Henessa, I need your husband or Sira to help me with something.~
After a few minutes Henessa projected back, ~Rouen told us about what happened. Merx was already requesting permission to come on board the Reverence, but he was denied, twice.~
~I expected he might be. Nessa, they want to punish me as a slave.~ Kala projected as her discomfort continued to rise. ~The master expects I will be her husband’s lover. Nessa I can’t do this.~
~Kala, calm down. We can find a way out of this. What if I offered a champions challenge?~ Henessa was trying to think about the options, but she had so little knowledge about slave laws that she wasn’t sure what her choices would be.
~You can’t. You’re bonded. It has to be a prospective mate. No, I won’t jeopardize Rouen like that, and… to be honest, I’m not sure he’d survive it. I heard what they each have in mind for me. Rouen’s emotions for me would make him easily manipulated to them. I can’t do that to him.~ Kala’s voice shook.
~You can’t let them kill you either. You’ve fought to keep them alive. You’ve saved dozens of people, and you’ve risked yourself no differently than they have. There is no excuse for this. I know there is no one on this ship that will just sit idle.~ Henessa’s words were full of passion and anger, but she was lost about what to do.
~Tell everyone I’m grateful for whatever they can do. I need to unlock the collar.~ Kala started to work with the lock again, trying to take it off.
~Let me see if Merx can help or not.~ Henessa fell silent in Kala’s mind for several moments and then she projected again, ~Merx said to stand in front of a mirror, and look for a small white or green switch. He said that if you can pull it out, it will unlock the collar at least enough to shut off the psionic blocker.~
Kala stood up, and crossed the room. Standing in front of the mirror she looked for the switch for several long moments before she finally located a small green one. Although she had small hands, she couldn’t grip the part easily enough. When she finally had enough of a grip on it to pull, she everything she could to move it, but it didn’t budge.
~Nessa, this isn’t easy.~
~No, it won’t be. According to Merx, psionic collars were designed to enslave us originally.~ Henessa cringed as the words were projected across space.
~Understood.~
Kala continued to work with the switch, adjusting and moving things about trying to get a better grip on it. Finally, it pulled out a little bit. The small amount allowed her to get a better grip on it, and she pulled harder. It slid further out, and she grabbed it one more time. This time it pulled free from the collar, and it released from her neck. She quickly took it off, and placed it on the table in front of her. More relaxed, and with a stronger connection she projected to her friend, ~Thank you. Now I need to find out how to deal with this situation. If you learn of options, please advise me.~
~You sound much better, and you know we’re going to. Sira’s already researching.~ Henessa tried to be comforting, but she knew this was a difficult situation.
~If Sira’s researching, I know an answer will be found.~
She smiled taking comfort that her friend was already doing what she did best, finding answers. Kala then retreated from Henessa’s mind, and reached across light years to the one person she believed able to help her. When she touched his mind, she heard him listening to a ship’s blessing. She held onto her link, but refrained from conversation as the ship was christened the Rexion. She remained silent as the ceremony continued with the names of the first senior staff, and her captain were announced. She remained patient while they listed his career achievements, and named Yatrell captain. His good news brought her some comfort. This made the topic easier to approach. ~I need to speak with you, Yatrell.~
After he completed a speech to his new crew, and gave the initial orders to take possession of the vessel, he reinforced the connection without additional response. He and his first officer moved onto the ship first. His emotions were layered and confused, making it hard for Kala to discern his current state of mind.
She waited for him to be alone.
The moment he sat behind his new desk, he looked down at the mound of incoming requests and frowned before he projected back to her sharply, ~What is it Kala? I’ve got a lot going on right now.~
Everything around him spun out of control with the new ship. He had mounds of new tasks, a new crew, and training overwhelming his senses. His telepathy had only begun to deal with the plethora of new minds entering and leaving his vessel as he prepared to leave the spaceport. The ceremony for Rex’s memorial, and the christening for the Rexion, both honoring his mentor, were held on the same day. Orders received indicated he and his new crew were to meet with the fleet immediately. His mind raced through his day repeatedly, as his eyes reviewed the incoming information.
~Yatrell, I need help. My master is back. The Fleet Commander has taken him as her bond mate so as to subject me to her in a civil manner. She still harbors hate for me over the injury and loss of her first mate.~ Kala’s voice shook as she projected to him.
~Her first mate? In the attack from Greshna? That was at least a year ago. Maybe more.~ Yatrell looked over one of the requests, and responded as quickly as he could. ~That wasn’t your fault. I’ve got more paperwork… tablet work than any other job I’ve held. What do you need my help with?~
~My masters are attempting to force me to do something that I am not physically willing to provide to anyone prior to a proper bonding ceremony. I …don’t have an option any longer. Either I need a champion to fight for my freedom, or I face death tomorrow.~ Kala attempted to reserve her tone, but she was overcome by the depth of the emotions, and the pressing nature of her situation.
Another Senate order appeared on his tablet. ~Death? Kala just sleep with him. I can’t be running off to defend your honor just so you can stay pure. I have a ship to lead now and people to defend. The Senate is assembling all of the available ships and sending us to the Ven border while the engineers work on the remainder of the available ships.~ He grumbled as he reviewed a few of the incoming requests.
~Yatrell, if it’s not this it will be something else. Tangl wants to put me to death.~ Her voice betrayed her sense of desperation. She knew by Xenonian law that she was subject to their decisions or death. This was her only way out. She couldn’t understand why he was missing how severe the situation was.
~Not without other complications. Yatrell… please, I’ve only one real hope, and that’s you.~ Her projection was shaky as tears streamed down her face.
After reviewing the latest updates and ship counts he leaned back and closed his eyes. The refit timetables were extended ,and the new designs weren’t coming fast enough.
~Kala, even if I could do this, how would I get there? I can’t divert a crucial ship in this fleet to come save your honor. Deal with it on your own. Leave me out of this.~
He cut her off, and erected as good of a barrier as was possible to prevent further intrusion on the matter. He then set to work on the incoming requests and information. Even as he worked, he could feel himself growing more concerned for her, and the situation he had so adamantly refused to become involved in.
Kala collapsed into an exhausted pile of emotional pain on the floor of her quarters. Hopelessness and pain were her guides into a depressive sleep.
When Kala finally woke, her kitchen shift had long since begun. She dressed in a new uniform, and attempted to wake herself enough to clean the kitchen well. When she arrived, there was a disaster of dishes, dirt, and calamity piled high waiting for her to tend to. As she made her way through the cleaning, her mind still focused on her conversation with Yatrell. She ached for his help, and was met with rejection and pain. Her life was on the line, and he firmly left her to suffer and die. Tried as she did, she couldn’t get her mind to let go of that pain.
~*~
Yatrell spent the entire night feeling restless. He tossed and turned and found himself waking up more times than he bothered to count. His mind whirled of images and thoughts he couldn’t fully comprehend. The only constant in it all was Kala. His mind echoed with questions and layers of fear mixed with angst. The one question that was clear to him, even when he woke, was how could he turn his back on the woman he loved? He ached and his body trembled.
Nebula Nights: Love Among The Stars Page 138
