by K. Aten
The doctore sighed. “I have a full dae of surgery scheduled, most of which I’ll have to do the hard way as it is partly a teaching session. No rest for the wicked I say!”
“Well that is completely unacceptable! You should get some sleep on the way there.”
Gemeda shook her head. “I only have a standard ticket, love. It’s a short hop after all...you know how Medi Corp doesn’t like to waste cred.”
The lt. commander stood and gathered her trash. “You’ll sleep in my cabin, I insist. I have plenty of space since the powers that be saw fit to put me in the first class segment. No one will bother you there, not even me. I can while away my time anywhere.”
The good doctore stood as well and quirked a smile. “What if I ask you to bother me?”
Castellan shook her head in consternation. “Not even then. You know I love you dearly but the time for that is long past, Gem. And you need your sleep much more than you need a quick tupping.”
Gemeda pouted but was secretly pleased that her good friend cared more about her welfare than about sexual gratification. She stood and tossed her own trash in the receptacle. “All right then, lead the way, ser!”
They didn’t have any problems until they reached her sleeper segment. One of the two guardians stopped them as soon as they came out of the pass through and into the door of their segment. The taller of the two serious, though young, looking guardians blocked the hallway. “I’m sorry, ser, but no guests are allowed in the Connate’s seg.”
Castellan stood fast in the face of his young surety. “Do you know who this is?” He shook his head. “This is the renowned medican, Doctore Gemeda Shen. And since this is also my segment, I say this woman is allowed.” He gave a shake of his head and she narrowed her eyes as she took in his rank insignia. “We seem to be at an impasse. What is your name, Lieutenant?”
He stood straight in the face of her authority then and gave a proper salute. “Lieutenant Gentry Savon, ser!”
She looked around at the other guardians that had come from the small lounge area to see what the disturbance was about. Gemeda put her hand on Castellan’s arm. “I can just go nap in one of the passenger segments. There is really no need for a fuss.”
“No, you will do no such thing.” She glanced around, looking for the person in charge. “Where is your captain? I wish to speak to them.”
Savon swallowed nervously. “I am the acting unit leader, ser. Our captain has not been replaced since the unfortunate, er...cycle incident.”
Lt. Commander Tosh settled her authority around her like a cloak. “Well then, Lieutenant Savon, I suggest you will need to ask permission for me to bring a guest aboard this segment.”
“But who do I ask, ser?”
She smiled. “I would imagine that you should ask the ranking officer.”
He swallowed. “Erm, that would be you, ser.”
“So it would.”
The fellow to the left cleared his throat and held up a single finger. “Um...”
Castellan turned her icy gaze to him and Dre. Shen held back a snicker at the look of fear that washed over the young man’s face. “Yes, Specialist?”
“Actually, ser, the ranking person on this segment would be the Royal Sovereign, Connate Dracore.”
“Of course it is.” Tosh sighed and rubbed her forehead. She turned her gaze back to the hapless lieutenant. “I suggest you go ask permission then because I’m not growing any younger.” They continued to hesitate and she had a feeling the Connate left instructions not to be disturbed. But it wasn’t her problem. “Now, Lieutenant! Because you either elicit permission from Connate Dracore or I will write my own permission slip and you will not like the ink I use.”
Lt. Savon knew exactly who Castellan Tosh was and he had no want to be on her bad side. “Yes, ser!” He saluted then spun on his heel and marched down the hall toward the Connate’s cabin.
Dre. Shen and Lt. Commander Tosh watched as the soldier in charge of the Shield unit timidly knocked on the Connate’s cabin door. Gemeda leaned closer to Castellan and whispered in her ear. “Is this wise...possibly incurring the wrath of the Royal Sovereign?”
The lt. commander just laughed. “She’ll get over it.” She quieted when the Connate answered her door and they both listened to the conversation. They couldn’t see Connate Dracore because she remained in her cabin but they heard her voice well enough.
“I thought I left instructions not to be disturbed, Savon!”
“Yes, Connate Dracore, but I was sent to ask your permission to allow a guest onto the first class segment.” He shifted nervously from foot to foot.
The Connate’s voice came back sounding both annoyed and curious. “A guest? For me?”
He shook his head regretfully. “No, Sovereign. It is Lieutenant Commander Tosh’s guest. She wishes to bring a woman into her cabin but we had explicit instructions not to let anyone else on the segment. With the exception of you and the Lieutenant Commander—”
“By the ocean depths...this is what you’ve interrupted me for? I don’t care who this Tosh is tupping. She’s on this segment so she must have proper clearance. Let her have honey and leave the bees alone, Savon! Now off with you!”
Sensing an imminent explosion from the honorable soldier, Gemeda immediately grabbed Castellan’s wrist to catch her attention and delay the angry outburst. “Tosh...” When she had the other woman’s attention, she continued. “Let me. I’ve spoken with the Connate on a few different occasions. She is bright but gets utterly involved in her work. Let me speak with her.” Castellan nodded but her teeth remained clenched. Gemeda pitched her voice loud enough to be heard at the end of the railer segment. “Connate Dracore, you may want to watch who you call honey in the future!” As soon as the words left her mouth there was an exclamation down the hall.
“What the...” Olivienne’s head popped out of the door and stared down at the other two women. “Doctore Shen? I had no idea that was you Savon was going on about!” The Connate left her cabin and walked toward Castellan and Gemeda.
The medican gave her sardonic grin. “Clearly. Do you always leap to assumptions so?”
The Connate grinned back. “Do you always pick up handsome soldiers on the railer?”
A noise something like a pained growl came from Castellan’s throat. “I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t speak about me as if I weren’t here.”
“And I would appreciate it if you would keep your assumptions to yourself in the future!”
Dre. Shen looked back and forth between the two women and sensed some deeper strife beyond the meeting of the past few meens. She turned to her long-time friend. “What have you done now, Tosh?”
“It wasn’t me! The almighty Royal Sovereign Connate Dracore kept the entire railer waiting because she couldn’t be bothered to be here on time!”
Blood rushed to Olivienne’s face as anger began to rise. “How dare you speak about matters you know nothing of! There was a very valid excuse as to why we were late to the platform!”
The good medican sensed something building that was going to lead to no good, and the Connate’s guardians clearly had no clue what to do with the arguing pair. Both women were above the men’s pay grade. She tried to interject. “Ladies...”
Castellan snorted. “Oh yes, I’m sure there was. Not used to getting up before nine hundred are we?”
Gemeda tried again with no effect. “Ladies...”
“For your information, Lieutenant Commander Tosh, we were late because the Queen requested a number of secured cases be removed from the Temple of Illeos to be brought back to the Temple of Archeos. We were nearly to the railer platform when we got the missive and had to turn back. I will be sure to let my mother know that we inconvenienced your travel plans when I return!” Olivienne’s last few words ended in a shout, which caused all the guardians and the medican to step back. The only one that held her ground in the face of the Connate’s anger and threat was Castellan.
It was in th
at moment, as she took in the flushed face and heaving chest of the angry sovereign, that Castellan Tosh was struck by the strangest wave of attraction. Castellan wanted to shake Olivienne Dracore, to push the woman against the wall of the railer until she could make her see reason. It was an odd urge and it made her pause. She normally liked her acquaintances a bit less bold, and quieter for sure. Connate Dracore was neither of those things, squared. But despite all that, and despite the fact that the stubborn sovereign had infuriated her to no end, Castellan had the suicidal urge to move closer to the irate woman. But she didn’t. Typically being one of level head and sound mind, the lt. commander could see that she herself was in the wrong.
While Olivienne Dracore may have made an assumption about the nature of her guest, Castellan made the first assumption before the sovereign had even boarded the railer. She was at fault first. In a move that startled all parties present, Lt. Commander Tosh took a step back from Olivienne and saluted her then moved into a low bow. It was a symbol of deepest respect, or apology. “Please forgive me, Connate Dracore. You are correct in that I made assumptions about you this morning, and I said things that were both inappropriate and unjust. You have my sincerest apology. As for Doctore Gemeda Shen, she is a longtime friend who has a busy schedule tomorrow so I was going to let her use my cabin to rest on our way to Gomen.”
Olivienne looked at the medican and Gemeda nodded her head. “It is true, I did come here to rest.” She got a twinkle in her eye and added a little more because she knew it would embarrass the good lt. commander. “Though only after she shot down my attempts at seduction.”
Castellan sighed and looked up toward the celling of the railer, silently reciting every line of the Code of Archeos. Olivienne merely laughed at her embarrassed countenance. “My apologies as well, Lieutenant Commander Tosh. It seems we were both guilty of false assumptions.” She turned to face Gemeda and bowed slightly. “And to you as well, Doctore Shen. I didn’t not mean to cast aspersions on your character.”
“No harm done, Connate Dracore. I accept your apology.” She looked back and forth between the two previously arguing women. “Well I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly not going to sleep just yet. Your little row has energized me quite a bit. Would either of you happen to have some portea or golden mead?”
Olivienne smiled at her suggestion. “I happen to have a full bottle of portea given to me by the largest vinier in Ostium. I see no reason not to share it with friends.” Castellan made a pained face at her words but conceded that becoming acquaintances with the stubborn woman was significantly better than screaming at each other. “Besides, I’m ready for a break.” She held out her elbow toward Gemeda and, charmed, the medican accepted the escort down the short hall to the segment lounge. Castellan sighed again and paced stoically behind them.
The lounge had one comfortable couch bolted to the floor of the railer segment, as well as three more low-slung and well-padded chairs. Once Olivienne deposited Gemeda on the couch, she excused herself to fetch the bottle of portea. There were glasses already secured in a cabinet next to Castellan’s chair, so she set the book she had been carrying on the low central table and made herself useful by retrieving three of them. Her mind whirled in strange eddies, thoughts about the Connate, and their interaction. They were interrupted by her friend. “So what was that all about? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you lose your calm.”
Castellan looked up at Gemeda. “It’s not completely unheard of you know. I am just an average Psi after all.”
The doctore laughed loudly and startled the nearest guardians. “You were never average, my dear.”
“Have I missed all the humore, or did you save some for me?”
Gemeda waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, it wasn’t really a funny thing, merely a funny response. Castellan here was being humble like always, despite the fact that she makes even the most upright soldier look unsavory.”
“Oh?” Olivienne turned her violet gaze to the officer in question realizing that she had indeed committed a grave injury to the attractive woman’s character. “And here I accused you of bringing back a woman to tup! I am double sorry for my accusation and offhand remarks then.”
Castellan snorted with laughter and had to move the now full glass of portea away from her mouth. “Oh, I am hardly that upright, Connate Dracore. But I will admit you besmirched my honor a bit with your words. No worries though, I’m right as rain now.”
Olivienne smirked back at her over the top of the burgundy liquid in her glass. “Oh, you certainly are.” Tosh was startled by the bold flirt of the sovereign’s words and Gemeda hid a smile behind her own glass. Right that moment she would have given anything to continue traveling all the way to Tesseron, if only to see where the two women in her presence ended up. Sparks like that didn’t happen without some sort of chemistrae.
The silence turned awkward after a meen. Castellan’s book caught Gemeda’s attention when she set her glass of portea down on the low table. “What are you reading, Tosh? Still whiling away your time puzzling out the Divine Mystery?”
Castellan shrugged and leaned forward to move the book out of sight. “When I have time, which isn’t often.”
Before she could reach the novel it was snatched up by the Connate. “What is this, you follow the Divine Mystery? Seriously, or just as a curiosity?” She flipped the book over and her dark brows rose up when she read the title. “By the depths...serious it is then! This is a great book. I think you’ll like it a lot since it pieces together much of the literature concerning the Maker’s motivations.”
Tosh looked back at her both surprised and interested. “Oh yeah? I can’t wait to get further in then. Sadly I’m only at the beginning.” Part of what made the Divine Mystery so intriguing wasn’t just the fact that no one knew who the people were that built the great pyramids, or where they came from. They also didn’t know where the Maker’s had vanished to. And it wasn’t easy to translate the documents as one would assume either. It was tedious and painstaking work. Each new vellum of information only deepened the mystery. It was like putting together puzzle pieces in the dark, when the picture kept changing. All people like Olivienne could do was to keep gathering those puzzle pieces for the interpretists to translate. Somedae they would solve the mystery, but that dae was nowhere near.
The trio of women drank their portea and spoke on a variety of subjects. Both Olivienne and Gemeda informed Castellan of all she’d missed in the four rotos that she’d been living in Dromea. In return she told them of all her observations about the Atlanteens and her thoughts of their motivations. After nearly two oors of conversation, Gemeda excused herself to go rest in Castellan’s cabin. Olivienne also apologized to the lt. commander and said she had to get back to her stack of untranslated vellum and the document she had found in the Temple of Illeos. Left to her own devices, Castellan reclined on the couch and dove into her book. Every so often she’d look up in the direction the Connate had retired, wondering about the unusually fast flame of her ire earlier. She eventually shrugged it off. After all, everyone had buttons to be pushed and some were better pushers than others. She sighed and tried her best to put Olivienne Dracore from her mind.
Chapter Five
CASTELLAN HAD ONLY been reading a short time when she was interrupted by the Connate’s senior guardian. “Commander Tosh...”
She looked up at him and immediately knew something was gravely wrong. “What is it, Lieutenant Savon?” She marked and closed the book, placing it carefully on the low table, then stood and straightened her uniform.
He swallowed nervously. “Ser, I’ve had a precog. We need to stop at the next town but we don’t have much time.”
Immediately concerned, she grilled him for details. “What are your channels?”
“Intuition, but lower. Prescience and telesthesia, both average.”
She thought for precious secs. “Do you know what the problem is, or is it not distinct enough yet?”
He sho
ok his head. “I’m sorry ser, I don’t know yet.”
Castellan held out her hand. “If you’ll allow me to touch you, I believe I can see the precog with my telepathy. Do you consent?”
Sure of her capabilities and strength, he held out his hand. As soon as their skin met his telesthesia channel unexpectedly opened and they both saw a hazy image of an island in the middle of a rapidly rising river. Five Psi, children by the size, appeared to be trapped. Lt. Savon gasped and pulled his hand away. “It’s you! You triggered my remote seeing so you must be the one they need!”
Rather than answer him, Castellan strode over to the teleo that was mounted on the wall of their lounge. She rang the pilot and he answered right away, aware that the call was coming from the Connate’s segment. “Pilot Thot Binier, how may I assist?”
Castellan wasted no time with pleasantries. “Pilot Binier, this is Lieutenant Commander Castellan Tosh. We need to make an emergency stop at the next town. Do you know what it is called and if it’s near a river?
“Yes, ser. The town is called Vesper. It’s not a regular stop so they only have a small platform. The platform is right before we cross the Mir Altaq. It’s a good thing you called when you did, we’re less than ten meens out. I’ll voteo ahead and let them know we are stopping. Binier out!”
Feeling a vague sense of urgency, Castellan jogged down the hall to the Connate’s cabin door. She knocked and kept her emotions under tight control. “Connate Dracore, we have a situation.”
There was the sound of shuffling on the other side of the door then it slid open. “Situation?”
Lt. Commander Tosh nodded, ignoring the flutter of attraction that was as unwelcome as it was inappropriate. “Yes, Connate. Savon had a precog and it seems I am needed at the next town. There are children in danger.”
Olivienne leaned over and grabbed her pistols from the work space. She slung a satchel across her shoulders, then stepped out of the cabin. No matter the situation, her mother trained her to never go anywhere unarmed. “I assume you informed the pilot?”
