Laser (7 page)

“Coming from a male perspective, it does not. It is quite hard to look away from the silver skin. You have the grace and beauty of a classical statue.”

“That is due to your brother. My own body didn’t move half this well.”

He set his cup down and offered her his hand. “Shall we do some combat training?”

She slid her fingers along his. “Sure. Do you want to get dressed first?”

He winked and held her hand in front of them as they headed for the stairs. “This wrap is enough. I don’t want an unfair advantage.”

She grinned. “If you insist.”

An hour later, she grinned down at him, sweat dripping from her cheeks as she pinned him to the mat for the fourth time. “You aren’t trying.”

He wriggled under her, her hands on his wrists kept them tight to the mat. “You are cheating.”

“I am naked. Only using the limbs of my body.”

He narrowed his eyes and bucked against her. “Let me up.” His words were growled.

She felt the prod of his erection against her inner thigh. “It seems you are already up.”

Lee giggled when he fumed and slowly got to her feet, retaining her hold on him. When she was up and he was kneeling, she let him go and jumped back as his arms snapped forward to grab her.

“You are quick.” Lukar grudgingly got to his feet.

She chuckled. “When you fight naked, you have to be quick.”

We are approaching the Oekkuadi Station. Time to get into formal wear, such as it is.

“
Stinger
says we are approaching the station. Time to get ready.” She patted him on the butt as she passed and then laughed and raced up the stairs.

She heard the hissing growl behind her and wondered briefly at the wisdom of taunting a throwback to an ancient race. Wezians seemed to have a sense of humour, but all races worked on their own basis for comparison. Perhaps scampering off during foreplay was considered rude.

In her quarters, she snapped into her suit and greeted it warmly. A matching warmth came from the suit itself and literally wrapped around her.

The suit rippled around her and she smiled. There was a friend who had her back. It was a good feeling.

The black wrap covered her hips to ankles, and the makeup only needed a minute to apply. When her hair was straight and she felt as pretty as she was going to get, she headed to the command deck.

Lukar joined her with a wink as they approached the station. He settled into the pilot’s seat and filled her in. “Alhuradia Nastuacon is the bride. She will be our charge from the moment we dock to the moment she enters the room to consummate her marriage. Once she is officially wed, we have authorization to leave, the mission complete.”

“Why us?”

“The ceremony requires one woman and one man. Both must be warriors and both must be unrelated to either species, neutral parties.”

“How have they done it in the past?”

“Members of the Imperium court have filled in.”

Lee couldn’t stop the questions. “Why does she have to be escorted at all?”

“The Oekkuadi are an intelligent and invasive race. They took over Metskiat until the local populace managed to fight them off. The locals are incredibly strong but they lack the intelligence of the Oekkuadi. It is considered fair that a female of the invaders be the mother of another generation of Metskiat royals, but no Oekkuadi can set foot on Metskiat again. By consummating the marriage on the station, she will be ritually transformed by custom into her husband’s kind.”

“Ooookaayyyyy.” She supposed that her own family’s wedding rituals would be just as strange to an alien eye.

“One day, I will tell you how the Wezians formalize a union. Here is a hint, we do it in public.” He waggled his brows at her and began a series of button tappings and slides.

“Why doesn’t
Stinger
bring us in?”

I do not like to dock. I hate scraping my hull.

“I don’t know. I just know I was told to always fly into stations on manual assist.”

Lee covered her grin and nodded.

The station got larger, and he settled them against the docking locks.

“Her family and the government officials will be at a ceremony near the launch area. We will meet them and take possession of the bride at that point.”

She nodded, and when she felt them lock in place, she released her harness and got to her feet.

His uniform was different, a solid deep blue that matched his hair. The webbing design was still in play but it was tighter. Even his hair was tied tightly and flowed down his back in a neat tail.

Lee sighed. “Maybe I should look into a bit of a wardrobe.”

He held her hand out again and walked with her toward the stairs. “The Metskiat have a good fashion sense, they might be able to assist you.”

“I don’t have anything to pay with.” She made a face.

“You have earned two missions’ worth of pay. That is enough for a wardrobe.”

“We will have to look into it later.” She was suddenly nervous and her fingers closed tightly on his before they walked down the stairs toward the door that would start this assignment.

Chapter Nine

The gathering was indeed just inside the dock area. Lee was surprised to see so many folks here for what seemed a traditional hostage exchange.

Sting introduced himself and Laser, and they were escorted to the dais with the government representatives. They were to stand and witness, waiting for their cue.

“For our crimes against the people of Metskiat, we offer this bride to atone for our family and our race.” The family stepped forward with the bride swathed in a rainbow of fabrics.

The tawny skin of the Oekkuadi were pale but the faces were determined. The mother and father each took one hand of the swathed creature and pressed her hands to their cheeks. The siblings lined up and did the same. Based on the ages and heights, the young woman was indeed the oldest of the family.

“For our crimes and our atonement, I offer myself to the rulers of Metskiat.” The woman’s voice rang true.

The politicians came up, knelt and she touched each of their cheeks. Her delicate hands were all that was visible behind her veils.

Laser watched and listened to the music. When the interlude was over, it was finally time for Laser and Sting to step forward.

Sting spoke for them, but it was Imperium Common so Laser could understand.

“We take guardianship of your daughter. Her safe delivery to Metskiat is our highest priority.”

Laser saw that they were waiting for something else. She stepped close to the bride and the other woman touched her cheek. Laser was the only one who saw that the woman pulled her hand back with a jerk.

“Be safe with us, Alhuradia Nastuacon.” Laser smiled toward the point where the woman’s eyes were under the veils.

The bride nodded and turned toward her people, bowing low and then turning her back. That was the signal.

Laser guided her off the dais and back to
Stinger
with Sting on the bride’s other side.

Laser was a little surprised, but she accepted the new arrangement when the hold had been transformed into a casual living space. She coaxed the bride to the couch and helped her to sit.

Sting headed up the steps and left them alone.

Laser smiled at her charge. “Do you want to remove those veils?”

Alhuradia sighed. “I can’t, but if you could fold them off my face, that would be nice.”

Laser lifted and folded layer after layer until the tired young woman’s face and simple toga-styled dress was exposed.

“I am sorry that whatever you felt made you flinch.”

Laser stood near her guest until Alhuradia motioned for her to sit.

“I apologise for my flinch. My talent is to take in the most memorable moment of someone’s life and hold it to myself. Your recent trauma is very much in your mind, and I felt the pain and panic.”

Laser made a face. “Apologies. I was unaware of your talent or the custom.”

“It is unique to my family, but we came up in the roster and I will do what I can to keep the peace.”

“Have you met your husband?”

The bride looked at her like she was stupid. “Of course not. Our kind no longer mix. I have spoken to him on the com though. Sobax is a good sort, and we will get along well.”

Sting says to tell you that we will be at our destination in four hours.

“Can I get you something to eat or drink?”

The bride smiled. “You really don’t know what the protocol is, do you? No. I cannot eat or drink until I arrive at my new home. It is unpleasant considering I was not allowed to eat after sunset last night.”

“Why not?”

“A weak and hungry bride won’t usually run. I believe that is the reason.”

Laser made a face. “Well, I guess that leaves vids.”

“Is there one of your species? I am interested in others of your kind. You have a strangely organised mind. Highly intelligent but you wear your pain as part of your personality.”

“It isn’t that painful.” Laser blushed and quickly pulled up the first Champions vid, taking the broad spectrum of the first five women to be considered prime examples of their occupations.

Alhuradia watched the vid intently and blushed at certain points.

Laser sat with her, and after the Terrans, they moved on to the Guardians. When
Stinger
gave her the notice that they were docking with the Metskiat station, Laser waited until she felt the docking click before standing up and dropping the veils over Alhuradia’s face.

“We have arrived.”

A chuckle came from the bride. “You kept me occupied. Well done.”

“One does what one can.”

When the young woman got to her feet, Laser tidied the folds of the veils and asked, “Can you see where you are going under that?”

“Yes. The veils are woven to be thinner in the centre. It is like walking through a rainbow fog.”

Sting came down the stairs and nodded. “Ready. They are waiting in the customs area.”

The bride shivered. “This is the part I have not been looking forward to. I apologise for any discomfort this may cause you, Laser.”

“I am ready for it. Shall we?”

Alhuradia’s body tensed, but she moved toward the hatch.

Laser and Sting followed.

The hallways were empty of all personnel as their party moved toward the customs area. The bride straightened her shoulders and entered the room when two of the huge Metskiat held the door open for her.

A woman with chestnut brown skin stepped forward. “Why do you come before us daughter?”

“To repay for what was taken, to mix my blood with yours, to bring a brighter future.” Alhuradia knelt.

“All worthy goals. Now, why do you stand before me?”

“I was raised to become Metskiat. I hold nothing else in my heart but to live and grow on your world.”

Laser watched as Sting stepped forward for the next question.

The matriarch looked him over. “Has she been touched since she left her world?”

Laser stepped forward. “I touched her when I escorted her down the halls.”

The matriarch focussed on her. “Did you now? Come here, creature.”

Laser did not like being called a creature, but she stepped forward and faced the matriarch in front of those assembled.

“Touch me as you touched her.” The matriarch was staring with narrowed leaf-green eyes.

Laser reached up and placed her metal palm against the woman’s face. Then, stroked her forehead and touched her arm.

The matriarch blinked. “Right. Well. That is fine then, Guardian. Step back until you are needed.”

Sting took her hand, and they stepped back to watch the rest of the ritual welcome. Every member of the groom’s family was assembled, and they stood in a circle as Alhuradia walked around with a slow, steady pace. Once per circle, someone would reach out and take a veil.

It symbolized the removal of the old life and old species.

The male who removed the veils was always the same and it was then that Laser realised it was Sobax.

It was silent when she was down to the light toga and standing in front of her husband.

The matriarch said, “Do you accept your bride, Sobax Ormiettik?”

He looked down at Alhuradia and nodded. “I do.”

“Then, removed the last portion of her old life and join her to you.”

Laser fought a tear when the gathered family turned their backs toward the bride while Sobax slipped the dress from her shoulders, cutting the cords at the waist so that it puddled at her feet. Her sandals got the same treatment.

Sobax reached behind him and snapped his fingers. He draped a length of fabric around his wife and picked her up in his arms.

The matriarch nodded and Laser and Sting followed.

Laser walked slowly back to
Stinger
with Sting holding her up. “You know what? Miss a chunk of your regular circulatory system and alcohol hits you like a ton of bricks.”

Sting chuckled as she lunged against him and flattened him to the wall.

“You’re pretty.”

He laughed. “Two drinks and I am pretty. I will remember that.”

“There is a bird on my world that has that colour on it.” She caressed his cheek.

“Really? Is it masculine?”

“Well, it opens its tail feathers and shows off to intimidate the other males and draw in females. Its feathers are prised for this very colour.”

He laughed and lifted her off her feet. “I can’t believe that Alhuradia will name her first girl Laser.”

“Hey, I drank to that. It sounded good.” Laser looked at the ground so far away. She hung onto him for dear life.

“Why are you trying to strangle me?”

“It is high.”

“Yes, you are. Let’s get you into bed so you can face whatever we are doing next.”

* * * *

Sting realised that he was talking to an unconscious woman. He grinned and took her to his quarters, tucking her in, armour and all.

Trying to pretend to be unmoved during the obligational voyeurism had taken its toll. The moment someone offered her something to drink, she had grabbed for it with both hands.