To Clan and Conquer (Clan Beginnings)

by Tracy St. John

  Piras stared at him. The smirk he wore faded from his expression. There was a flash of hurt. “You are not clanning with that upstart first officer. You’re thirty years older than him! He’s a child compared to you!”

  Lidon kept his gaze steady. “I didn’t say I was clanning with Tranis. He’s mature beyond his years, but things have not reached that point yet. I don’t know that they ever will.” He leaned forward. “The issue has nothing to do with the first officer. Piras, the fact that I’m looking to other men, that I would pursue another Dramok for companionship and fulfillment tells me more than anything else we are not suited for one another.”

  Piras shook his head, as if trying to wake himself from a bad dream. “You’ve always had commitment issues.”

  “With you. I feel completely capable of clanning with Imdiko Degorsk without a second’s hesitation. All I lack is a Dramok compatible for both him and myself.”

  Inside, Lidon winced. No matter how carefully he tried to do this, it still sounded brutal. Maybe there was no good way to break off a relationship, especially one that had gone on as long as theirs.

  Despair was giving way to anger. Piras’ whole body seemed to clench. “This is insane. You’re leaving me because I don’t want that silly creature as my clanmate?”

  “Partly. But mostly because I simply can’t see you as my clanmate.” Lidon shook his head, remorse filling him. Regret that he had to hurt Piras. Regret he’d wasted fifteen years of both their lives trying to make things work. “We’re better as friends. As captain and his commander. My heart is not in it for more. I’m sorry.”

  Piras’ lip curled. “You’re twice the fool as that Imdiko. Especially if you think your young Tranis is going to give you what you want.”

  Lidon knew things would only get ugly from this point. Piras was feeling too much betrayal right now to be anything but livid.

  The Nobek stood. “I must attend my duties now.” He turned to leave.

  “I have not dismissed you, Weapons Commander.”

  The tone was pure Dramok, giving no quarter, expecting immediate obedience. Lidon stopped and turned back to Piras.

  He looked at the man he’d been with so long, looked at him as a lover one last time. Piras was an exemplary captain, a brave and excellent if temperamental leader. Unfortunately, that leadership had never translated into being the head of a clan. Professionally, Piras was a very different man from the one Lidon knew in private. He had wasted many years hoping Piras would become the Dramok he thought he could be.

  Glowering, Piras spit out, “You are dismissed.”

  Lidon let him go, in his heart and his head. It wasn’t that hard to do, telling him loud and clear that he had made the right decision. They were nothing more than captain and crewmember now. He gave his commanding officer a formal bow. “Yes, Captain.”

  He turned sharply and left the office. The Nobek hoped there would be no repercussions from his decision as far as his career was concerned. He reasoned Piras was a strict but fair captain. Lidon trusted duty would win out over personal issues.

  * * * *

  The colony of Wetor was a pleasant little outpost on an otherwise dark world. With no moon and Kalquor’s sun too far away to light it, orbiting space reflectors provided the illusion of daylight. With twenty-seven hour days, terraforming treatments, and atmospheric chargers, it seemed a piece of Kalquor itself had been transplanted onto what had been a desolate rock. Here, alien species of plants and animals were raised, providing the Empire with favored foreign cuisines without the danger of invasive species altering the home planet.

  Just as pleasant was the colony’s governor, Dramok Artmak. His darker-than-usual skin and calloused hands told Tranis he wasn’t content to merely administrate from behind his desk. This was a man used to hard work outdoors. He also had some sense of grandeur, greeting the landing party’s arrival in well-cut clothes and his long hair tied back in a neat queue. His speech was impeccable, his manners blameless. Tranis found himself fascinated with Artmak’s mesh of differing qualities: farmer, diplomat, and gentleman.

  At this moment the landing team of Piras, Tranis, Lidon, and Degorsk sat in a portion of Artmak’s office, comfortably lounging on overstuffed seating cushions around a polished black table. The governor poured them a concoction of aromatic nuj tea, spiked with a natural stimulant. It was midday on the colony but night hours on the destroyer.

  The governor frowned as he poured. “It makes no sense anyone would want to destroy Wetor. We are nothing more than a farming colony. Not only that, but we’re on the Joshadan border.”

  Piras said, “It made no sense those mining and manufacturing colonies alongside Joshadan space would be destroyed either.”

  Lidon sniffed his tea and had a sip. “Yet here we are, facing an unknown enemy.”

  Tranis swallowed a bite of meat cake. It was made of an animal he wasn’t familiar with, raised on the colony. All the food presented to them had been grown and raised here. The exotic flavors were quite delicious, if foreign.

  Keeping his mind on the task at hand, he said, “You’ve seen nothing suspicious at all? Nothing that might be a scouting party, nothing strange flying in your space?”

  Artmak shook his head. “Nothing of the sort. Nor have any of our workers reported anything amiss. I would think the defense station would have picked up any such anomalies first, anyway.”

  Lidon told him, “They should, but the ones belonging to the other colonies have been destroyed, just before the colonies were hit. We have to assume they got little warning.”

  “Have you alerted ours?” Artmak finished pouring and took up his cup, sniffing the aroma wafting from it with pleasure. He almost appeared more concerned with the lunch and its presentation than the danger that might be approaching. However, Tranis noted how carefully he listened to their every word and the methodical way he had of drawing information from them.

  The first officer answered, “The defense station is on high alert. They have gone to deep space scan instead of the usual maintenance probes.”

  Artmak passed a dish to Degorsk. “You like the occhi spines, Doctor? Please, have more. They have just come into season and will be no more delicious than right now.” As Degorsk accepted the delicacy, the governor returned to his musings. “Bi’isil and Earther weaponry. We haven’t had a disagreement with the Bi’isils since that border altercation … was it six or seven years ago? And what could Earthers possibly want with us? We’ve only just heard of their race. I do try to keep up on current events, isolated as we are here.”

  Lidon snagged a meat cake, his fourth by Tranis’ count. “My vote remains with the Tragooms. The facts don’t all fit with their usual patterns, but I just can’t escape the feeling they’ve got a hand in this,” he told them.

  Piras didn’t even look at him as he spoke. “Your personal history might be prejudicing you too, Weapons Commander.”

  Tranis saw the brief flare of anger in Lidon’s eyes at the dismissive tone. Piras had been damned cold towards the Nobek since their private talk earlier today. He wondered what had passed between them. He wondered if it would mean trouble for the colony’s defense. Hopefully, the two men could put personal issues aside with danger on the horizon.

  Degorsk wiped his mouth, his eyes darting between Piras and Lidon. He’d picked up on the tension too. He turned his attention to Artmak. “What medical personnel do you have, Governor?”

  “Quite adequate for our needs. Most of the farming is automated, so there are only fifty of us for that. We have one surgeon, two general practitioners, and seven on-call medics. They’re often idle, but regulations stipulate we keep that many in case of emergency.”

  “Facilities?”

  “Also more than get used.” Artmak chuckled, as if amused by the whims of regulations. “Full body scanners, two operating theaters, up-to-date pharmaceuticals, so on.”

  Lidon’s brow arched. “But the medical department is not more protected than say, this buildin
g?”

  Artmak frowned. “No. This whole colony is dependent on the early warning system, our satellite-based defense field, and the fighters docked at the defense station. We do have underground storage units, but nothing is shielded.”

  Lidon pushed his plate away. “That defense field is the same type as used by the other colonies. There was no sign it did a bit of good for them. We may have to be ready to evacuate the colony if trouble shows up. How many shuttles do you have, Governor?”

  “Five … no, four.” The governor’s frown deepened. “Our fifth crashed three weeks ago, but since it’s harvest time, we haven’t gotten around to fixing it yet. The ones that still operate are capable of handling our population, if it comes to that.”

  Piras nodded. “That will do then. Commander Tranis, I’d like you to have a look around the colony, get a lay of the land. Think emergency shelters in case of surprise attack. Check those storage units in particular.”

  “Yes, Captain.” Tranis drained his cup of tea. It was good stuff, and he felt alert. He stood.

  Piras cut his eyes towards Lidon. His tone stiff, he said, “Weapons Commander, see what defenses can be put in place for the same eventuality. We still don’t know exactly all we’re up against, so think along the lines of big. Consider not so much offense as simply holding out until the fleet arrives.”

  Lidon was every bit as formal. “Yes, Captain.” He got to his feet, managing to rise gracefully despite his leg brace.

  “Doctor, inspect the medical facility. Help them make it as ready as possible for heavy casualties.”

  Degorsk snapped a nod. “Install gutters for heavy blood flow. Check.”

  A grin pulled at Tranis’ lips, but the stony look on Piras’ face killed all humor.

  Degorsk got to his feet and bowed. “Apologies, Captain. I will go at once.”

  Artmak rose. “I’ll show you the way.”

  Degorsk walked past Tranis on his way out, pulling a wide-eyed uh oh face as he went. The Dramok bit his lip to keep from laughing. That damned Imdiko was going to get them both in trouble with his antics if he didn’t behave.

  Tranis followed him out with Lidon on their heels. Piras’ gaze was narrow as they strode past. The first officer decided to accomplish his tasks as quickly as possible and find Lidon immediately afterward. He could hardly wait to get the Nobek alone to find out exactly what was going on.

  * * * *

  It had been a rough day. Tranis had finished filing his fifth – and hopefully final – report. He took the opportunity to duck away from the rest of the crew and colony’s workers to be alone. He stood at the edge of the cluster of buildings, looking over a newly harvested field. Huge bins of grain at his back hid him from everyone else.

  He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of mown grasses and grains. He loved space travel, but opportunities to be planetside, especially on a colony as nice as this, were always a treat. It felt good to stretch his body outside the tight confines of the destroyer and to breathe fresh air.

  Approaching steps warned him someone was heading his way. Tranis turned in time to see Lidon round the farthest grain bin, his nose pointed slightly in the air. The Nobek had tracked him. Growing close to his scent, he’d purposely made his approach loud enough to be heard. He’d wanted Tranis to know he was coming. Despite the limp, Lidon knew how to be silent.

  The Dramok looked at the nearing weapons commander with admiration. If he was in the market for a clan and his youth wasn’t such a deterrent, he’d want Lidon for his Nobek. The man was just too perfect.

  Lidon stopped a few feet away. “Am I disturbing you, Commander?”

  “Only if it’s to revise my damned report again. Otherwise, you’re most welcome.”

  Lidon shook his head. “I simply wanted to see you.”

  Tranis warmed at the statement. He nodded to the field in front of him. “I was just thinking how perfect this field would be for a kurble match.”

  Lidon drew close, one side of his mouth lifting. “You’ve barely recovered from the last game. You enjoy punishment that much?”

  Tranis arched an eyebrow. “Depends on the punishment.”

  Lidon’s grin lit his whole face. “Tell me why you’re so damned competitive. Besides the need to prove you deserve your rank despite your youth.”

  The Dramok shrugged. “Five Nobek brothers. Every last one of them is a hero to me. Two are high commanders for our ground forces, one owns a security company used by the financial sectors of various worlds, and the other two are Royal Guards.”

  Lidon seemed suitably impressed. “Those are high standards to live up to.”

  “I want to be worthy of their esteem. They invested a lot of time and effort on me. They contributed funds for my specialized schooling. I have a lot to prove.”

  “Some people crack under that kind of pressure.”

  “Not me. I guess I get off on it.” Tranis didn’t want to talk about himself. He wanted to know if the latest gossip was true. “So, you and Piras are no longer a pair I hear.”

  Lidon snorted. “Every few weeks, that rumor makes the rounds.”

  “Oh.” He felt a twinge of disappointment.

  “This time, the rumor is true.”

  Tranis looked at the Nobek’s face. Lidon looked as serene as a ferocious member of his breed could. If the breakup was bothering him, he wasn’t showing it.

  Tranis swallowed. “I have to assume I’m part of the reason that’s happened. No wonder Piras is riding my ass so hard. I haven’t done one damned thing right all day where he’s concerned.”

  “He has been uncommonly brutal to everyone.” Lidon said it as if commenting on nothing more particular than the weather.

  Tranis had every idea the rough treatment would only continue. He blew out a hard breath. “I sure wish we had time for a game. It would help me blow off steam.”

  Lidon turned to regard him. His purple eyes held warmth Tranis was glad to see. The Nobek said, “I regret our liaisons have had a negative effect, Tranis. It’s my fault he’s treating you so harshly.”

  Tranis returned his gaze, inhaling the other man’s delightfully feral scent. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve enjoyed you very much.”

  Lidon’s half-grin was back. “I still wouldn’t mind making it up to you. There are other avenues besides kurble to blow off steam.”

  He gave Tranis a long, slow look, his gaze running up and down his body. The Dramok’s breath caught under that hot, evaluating stare. It was as if the examination had weight. Tranis thought he could actually feel it on his chest, abdomen, groin, thighs. His cocks twitched. Warmed. Filled.

  Lidon turned away, walking towards the next field over. On that plot, the long grasses hadn’t been harvested yet. One could lose himself in the ten-feet high stalks of alien grain. Tranis followed him deep into their shelter. His pace was almost as silent as the Nobek’s. Only the occasional breeze made the blades around them rattle.

  Lidon turned to him, and Tranis reached for the other man. The Nobek abruptly lunged, knocking him on his back. The next instant, Lidon’s face was against his neck, and the needle plunge of fangs drove deep into his flesh.

  “Bastard!” Tranis yelled.

  He struggled, but Lidon had wrapped his good, strong leg around both of Tranis’ and pinned them against his braced leg. His bearhug trapped the Dramok’s arms against his sides. Tranis fought against the capture, but he didn’t use full strength. He didn’t want to injure Lidon’s crippled leg. Somehow that was more important than asserting his usual dominance.

  The drugging flow of intoxicant was weaving into his senses, taking him over. Tranis became less aware that he was being overcome and more intent on the body covering his. He felt Lidon’s hard erections against him, pulsing heat through their formsuits. The Dramok groaned and rubbed up against his foe as much as the tight grip on him would allow. Desire was making him as susceptible as the euphoria now coursing through his veins.

  Lidon’s fangs withdrew, an
d he lifted to look down on Tranis. “I expected more of a fight from you, Dramok. But I suppose I know why you didn’t put up one.”

  The Nobek rubbed his groin hard against Tranis’. The younger man moaned and arched against him, rubbing back. Lidon’s hard, strong body felt so good on top of his.

  Even with intoxication making his thoughts sluggish, Tranis knew he didn’t dare tell the proud Nobek he’d held back because of Lidon’s injury. He scowled. “Okay, so I like it when we fuck. I haven’t been bitten in a long time though. I don’t know that I like feeling this weak.”

  Lidon grinned. “I like it. You look good under me.”

  He leaned down and kissed Tranis. The feel of hot breath, firm lips, and stroking tongue against his mouth had the Dramok gasping. Lidon’s kiss was demanding, searing all rational thought from Tranis’ mind. He broke free enough to wrap his arms around the Nobek, arching to rub fierce arousal hard against his belly. His tongue shoved into the other man’s mouth, demanding a taste.

  Lidon broke the kiss with a growl. “You just can’t let control go, can you?”

  Tranis gathered his scattered brain cells enough to form a coherent sentence. “Sorry. I’m a Dramok.” He strained and managed to roll them over so he was on top.

  Lidon grinned. “So you are. But you’re bitten, so I’m taking charge this time.”

  His head darted up, and he seized Tranis’ throat between his teeth. With a powerful lunge, he threw him over, spinning quickly to straddle his thighs. The Nobek growled and the vibration of it thrummed throughout Tranis’ body.

  Usually, the dominance display would have Tranis instantly battling for supremacy. But with Lidon’s intoxicant short-circuiting his usual instincts, he could only moan and writhe beneath the other man. He wanted to please him. To give Lidon his body and be sated in turn.

  Lidon sat up. “Lie still.”

  The words seemed to brand in Tranis’ brain. He stopped moving against Lidon, but his body shook with need. He wanted the Nobek so badly. His insides knotted.