Miranda's Destiny - the unexpurgated edition

by Candace Smith

  Zulien’s shock finally abated somewhat. Most warriors were mated with the Amarzonians, a large elegant woman for the formidable warriors. What would an Amarzonian be doing on an outer world? He finally composed himself enough to find his voice. “Might I ask what lineage she hails from?”

  Ethram looked into the warrior’s eyes and waited until he was sure he had his full attention. “She is a Celestial, a true Ancient, Commander, and with so many of their worlds swallowed long ago, I am still searching her heritage.”

  Zulien was bewildered, as he glanced at the other warriors’ faces, and those of their Amarzonian mates who had joined them on the bridge when the news of the procurement vessel’s hailing quickly circulated. Celestials were always petite, even the males from what he had studied. Ethram saw the confusion in Zulien’s face and smiled with relief at the warrior’s concern. “There is no mistake, Zulien. She is your mate. Perhaps, it is because she will require your protection.”

  Zulien thought about that for a moment. “Commander, thank you for the extreme sacrifice of traveling to the outer worlds. I look forward to claiming…” He was still rattled by the news.

  “Miranda, Commander,” Ethram said softly. “She has been named Miranda.”

  “Miranda.” The name rolled off Zulien’s lips as if it was the first word, the only word, he had ever spoken.

  The communication line was silenced. The warriors and their mates crowding the bridge quietly digested the news that a Celestial, an Ancient, would be joining their group. It was Taliquant who finally spoke up. “Commander,” he cleared his tight throat, “Zule, I am so pleased for you, sir.”

  Zulien could hardly contain his feelings. “Thank you, Tali.” He belatedly realized how badly his friend had hoped the mate was his own. “I guess this proves the gods do not want us to give up hope.”

  Berslan shuffled his feet in agitation. “Commander, I feel it in my soul that my mate has decayed.”

  “Berslan, this is every man’s decision, and no one here faults your path or your judgment.”

  “Thank you, sir. I know my course is true.”

  The warriors and their mates retreated to the lounge for a celebratory toast. The mates were excited with the news another female would be joining their ranks, and everyone planned to research the archives on Celestials. None of them had ever met an Ancient before, and they wanted their Commander’s mate to feel welcomed. Taliquant, second in command, realized Zulien would be distracted, and decided to ensure the ship maintained on alert with such a valuable mate soon to board.

  Zulien had a queasy, light feeling from his stomach to his groin. His mother had some knowledge of the Ancient ways. She practiced what was remembered of the lost Old Religion, and was one of few who could manage visions. He decided he needed her advice. How in the worlds am I supposed to mate with an Ancient?

  Zulien entered his quarters, studying his home for the last three centuries. A woman had never graced its interior and the colors and furnishings were dark and heavy, like his moods. The maroon carpet was wearing thin, and the bedclothes…when was the last time he had requested new ones? By the stars, how can I bring my mate, much less a Celestial Ancient, into this dungeon?

  He poured himself some wine, and sat down in the heavy chair at his desk. A twinge of guilt tightened his gut as he realized he had not spoken to his mother in years. When her calm golden face filled his screen he said, “Mother, I trust all is well?”

  “Zule,” she always used his boyhood name, “you have found your mate.”

  Zulien was momentarily silenced by her statement. “Yes, she was procured in the outer worlds by the Isotant.”

  “It does not surprise me. Ethram’s grandfather located me for your father. It is such a shame he will have no son; their instincts are rare. I am being rude and wasting your valuable time, Zule. Did you need to speak with your father?”

  “No mother, it is you I need to speak with. Ethram has told me my mate is a Celestial.”

  His mother laughed in her musical way. “I told you that when you were a boy. Why are you so surprised?”

  “Back then, I did not understand your vision. Mother, she is Celestial,” he repeated. “This makes no sense to me. I am at a loss as to what I should do. If my mate were ever found, I always imagined an Amarzonian. Celestials are incompatible with warriors, but Ethram assures me there is no mistake.”

  “Zule, has Ethram discerned what Ancient race she heralds from?”

  “No, mother. He says he has exhausted his means for searching.”

  “Then, I ask you son, do you seek my advice concerning your mate?” His mother’s calm face stared back at him.

  He knew she would never presume to offer suggestions to a named warrior, even if it was her son. His strong façade faded. “Please, mother, she is my mate, and I need to know how to ensure her well-being.”

  “Zule, you will need to protect her, and it will not be long before news of her discovery is known. I admire Ethram, but he is a practical procurer and will be returning to the Magistrates to collect his boon for her. Her mere existence, even if she is unaware of her importance, makes her a target for the hierarchy. You must claim her, and then make her as comfortable as possible until you can get back on planet for your mating ceremony. That is my advice to you, son.”

  Zulien digested his mother’s warning. “Have you seen her lineage?”

  Zalana’s smile broadened further, and her eyes filled with emotion. “Zule, she is the last of the Atlantians.”

  His mouth dropped open. By the stars of all the inner worlds, why would the gods and goddesses trust him to care for the only known priestess of the Old Religion? It was presumed the race had been destroyed before the inner worlds reorganized, thousands of years ago in the confusing Battles of Chaos.

  “Zule,” his mother waited for his attention, “you have been chosen for a reason. You must bring her home to us for your ceremony.”

  The warrior felt a painful, anxious feeling. He needed to get to his mate and protect her. “Thank you, mother. I will contact you when we are nearing Shallistar. If you truly believe there is danger, would you be willing to arrange the ceremony so we can be prepared to leave the surface quickly?”

  “Zule! If you dare deny me the privilege of honoring my new daughter-in-law with her ceremony, I will put you over my knee again. Trust me, your father will hold you down.” Her laughter chimed through his bed chamber.

  Zulien smiled. He had not realized how much he had missed his mother’s laughter. “I do not wish my mate to see me in such a disadvantaged position, and I bow to your wishes. I will contact you when we are close to planet.”

  “I hope to see her before then, Zule. The ceremony must include her wishes as well for it to have true meaning for her. Be the considerate man I have raised. She will be highly intelligent but unable to protect herself, and goddess knows what abilities she may have. You must let her know you will protect her, and that she must obey you for her own safety. It may be wise to hold Taliquant’s ceremony at the same time. Would you ask him if he would like me to contact his family and arrange it?”

  Zule’s brows knit together. “Mother, Tali’s mate has not been procured.”

  The golden complexion blanched slightly. “I do not understand, Zule. In my vision, the two mates have been close for years and I did not see them separated.”

  “Is it possible she was left behind? Why would Ethram not have sensed her?” Zule was already making plans to contact the Commander as soon as he finished speaking with his mother.

  “I have no idea, but I have a bad feeling about this, Zule. Sign off and contact Ethram immediately.”

  Zulien could not remember ever seeing his mother look so scared, but that was her expression: scared. He walked quickly to the communication bridge, hoping he did not run into Taliquant. As boys, Tali often joked about the visions his mother had, until she had correctly predicted that he, the mere son of a merchant, would one day become a warrior.

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nbsp; Zulien stepped out onto the bridge, and was relieved to find Letang sitting alone at the helm. The rest of the crew was still in the lounge, gossiping about the Celestial.

  “Commander, congratulations. I thought you would still be celebrating, sir. ” The Lieutenant shook his hand.

  “Thank you, Letang.” Zulien studied the man a moment. Letang could be trusted to keep news contained, he was sure of this. “Raise the Isotant on screen. I need to speak with Ethram immediately.”

  Letang had been on board when two other mates had been procured, and he knew the warriors were anxious for any information about the women they had waited for so long to be discovered. They would call the procurement vessels for the slightest descriptions of their women, and he wondered what the Commander would be asking.

  “Isotant, this is the Battleship Quillant.”

  “How may we be of service, Lieutenant?” Ballion had misjudged by a mere five minutes, when the warrior would be calling for specifics about his mate.

  “Commander Zulien would like to speak with your Commander.”

  Ballion was miffed at the slight. He knew almost as much as Ethram about the Celestial. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  Letang repeated, “Commander Zulien would like to speak with your Commander.”

  Ballion sighed and stood up. “Yes, Lieutenant.” Ballion found Ethram in the Celestial’s chamber, watching her sleep. He relayed the Quillant’s request and Ethram followed him to the bridge. “How can I help you, Commander?”

  “We may have a problem,” Zulien began.

  Ethram noted the Commander’s uncomfortable expression, and considered his words, trying to gauge the seriousness. “What kind of problem, Zulien?”

  “There was another warrior’s mate near the Celestial. You did not get a reading on her?” Zulien watched Ethram’s face fall.

  “The signal from your mate’s gene was very strong, Zulien, probably because she is an Ancient. Why do you believe there was a second woman?”

  “I just know there was, and we must leave it at that for now. Is there a way to check?”

  Ballion considered the boon for a second Celestial and nearly fainted. Ethram glanced at the charts and replied, “It will take another day to get back within range of this outer world, and I am not sure I can read through your Celestial’s beacon to discern a second one.”

  “Perhaps we should hasten our meeting with you and transfer my mate off your ship,” Zulien suggested.

  “You are that sure there is another?”

  “There is,” Zulien affirmed.

  Ethram was completely distraught at the thought of leaving a precious mate behind. “We must hurry, Commander. I sensed the planet was to be swallowed soon after I procured your mate.”

  Zulien paled. How could he ever tell his best friend that his mate was decayed? Any argument from Tali that he had given up hope of finding his mate was dispelled when Zulien saw the tears he was holding back at Ethram’s announcement that the mate procured was not his. “Letang, arrange the coordinates for the rendezvous.”

  Letang remained calm through the startling transmission. He had already anticipated the Commander’s request, and had quickly altered course to intersect with Isotant’s path before it reached the outer worlds. “I have increased speed, Commander. We should meet up late tomorrow morning.”

  “I trust you understand the need for discretion?” Zulien asked.

  “Yes, Commander.” Letang reached out in total breach of protocol and gripped his arm. “Zulien, by the stars, we will get there in time.”

  Zulien cleared his throat. “We must, Letang.”

  After the Commander left to go to his quarters, Letang called down to the lounge. Nemiste was supposed to relieve him in an hour, but he told the warrior he could remain at the celebration with his mate. Vasilla arrived on the bridge shortly after the discussion.

  “I was hoping you would be joining me soon, Letang,” his mate pouted.

  The young warrior smiled at his tall, gentle mate. He indicated for her to sit next to him, and he explained the situation. Mates kept no secrets from each other. His thumb began absently stroking her large brown nipple through her sheer caftan, and she purred. “I am the best pilot on board, and the only one other than the Commander and the crew of the Isotant who understands how imperative it is to expedite our travel.”

  Vasilla laid her head on his shoulder and stroked his swollen shaft through his breeches. “I am so proud to be the mate of a warrior who will do this for his friends, Letang. Commander Ethram should be commended on his willingness to transport back to that volatile outer world with his knowledge of its impending destruction.”

  Letang chuckled. “Trust me, Vasilla, the Commander will be taking his commendability in a large boon and a petition for promotion. His Minoc may end up with his own vessel after this.” Letang made some adjustments to the course as Vasilla dropped to her knees and her hands worked to unclasp his breeches. The battleship sped through the darkness.

  Her tongue began to lap gently at the smooth flesh, and her soft hand stroked his sack. She was careful not to distract him from his mission as she brought him to a gentle climax. Letang brushed through her curls, and he gazed into her adoring eyes. He refocused on his navigation, determined to aid a brother warrior in the procurement.

  Taliquant had secured the ship and gone back to his quarters where the Parina was already naked and waiting for him. She swayed her hips as she walked forward and wrapped her arms around him, quickly scanning the depressed emotions.

  “What is your pleasure, Tali?” she purred.

  “I just want to lie down for a while.” The dejection in his voice caused her scanning lights to blink rapidly.

  The android took his hand and led him to the bed. Her fingers slowly worked at undressing him, and her lips followed her fingers down his chest as it was bared. “You are sad, Tali. What can I do to comfort you?” The android’s banks were frantically scanning for the proper movements and responses to ease the warrior’s discomfort.

  “Just stay here for a while.”

  The Parina finally settled on the immense, oppressive despondency of the loss or decay of a mate. “Your mate is unwell?”

  “I have no mate,” Tali snarled. “Just shut up and suck me.”

  The Parina obediently followed his orders. She released his engorged cock from his breaches and her tongue split on either side of his shaft, tickling each testicle as her mouth dropped over his cock. Taliquant gripped her hair and forced himself deeper down her throat, ending in an unfulfilling climax.

  When the procurement vessel had hailed them, he had convinced himself the mate would be his, and when his best friend, Zule, was confirmed, his emotions collided between happiness for his friend, and the bereft emptiness he had been living with for centuries.

  Zulien slept fitfully. The impending mission to collect Tali’s mate was second in his reeling thoughts only to those of his Celestial, Miranda. He sensed her in a black pit, alone and frightened, and she was trembling with a desire she could not appease. He tried to reach out to her, but he knew it was impossible until she received his sash and oath. The bedclothes tangled around him as he fought his way to her, finally waking him in a panic that his mate was lost to him. Her sobs echoed in his head, fisting around his heart.

  Giving up on hope of further rest, he rose on shaky legs and sat at his desk. He began researching the little information he could find concerning the Atlantians, and was slightly dismayed when he discovered he was correct in his assumption they were a smallish race. Some data indicated they had pale luminescent skin and large crystal blue eyes that always appeared moist, and it was thought they had the golden hair of the suns.

  Zulien knew his mate carried the gene, but her physical nature would have been changed on this new, primitive planet as the bloodline thinned. He had no information on this outer world, and thus, no information as to what characteristics may have been altered through the generations. S
he could have the green scales of a Minoc for all he knew. Not that it would matter. Their mating gene was matched so they would be attracted to each other regardless of physical appearances, still… he hoped she did not have scales.

  An hour later, Letang knocked on his door and waited to be recognized. Zulien opened the door. “We will be docking with the procurement ship in an hour. Commander, there is a vessel approaching us fast from the Raliquest Quadrant and I have had no success in hailing signals on any channels.”

  Zulien considered his mother’s warnings. “Is there a chance our communication with Isotant was compromised?”

  “Yes, sir. Absolutely. The Isotant was barely within the inner worlds and had to use an open communication port to hail us.” The Lieutenant was shifting his weight in uncharacteristic agitation.