Sister Katherine (33 page)

Still, one would think the captain would be in a better mood.  Weapons Commander Lidon had reported he’d found the codes to breaking through the Earther defense grid two hours prior.  The way had been cleared for the invasion force now fighting their way to the Earther transport’s position.  All was ready for the attackers to fly into the vortex gateway on the other side of the grid.  The wormhole passage would take the Empire’s fighting force right into Earth’s atmosphere, hopefully taking the planet by surprise and forcing it to surrender.

For the moment, however, all was quiet.  Despite the captain’s grim aspect, Tranis looked quite recovered from his injuries following the Tragoom attack.  His muscled arms crossed over his wide chest, and the determined Dramok looked as unassailable as Simdow had ever seen him. 

Nothing about the captain should have struck anyone as extraordinary.  He was average height and average sized for a Kalquorian.  Yet Tranis projected an aura of supreme confidence that made him seem larger than the norm and much more powerful.  He was undoubtedly what most referred to as an apex Dramok, a leader of leaders. 

Simdow knew he had a bad case of hero worship when it came to his captain, but others not so enamored had also commented on the air of supreme authority Tranis projected.  He was the youngest captain in the fleet’s history and had even been offered the rank of admiral two years earlier, which he had turned down to Simdow’s shock.

It was this paragon of might that Simdow now approached hopefully.  He bowed as he claimed Tranis’ attention.  “Captain?”

Tranis came out of whatever grim thing he’d been contemplating to blink at his first officer.  “You’re still here, Commander?”

“Yes sir.  I wondered if you have a moment?”

“Of course, Simdow.  What’s on your mind?  Or is this a private matter?”

Simdow shook his head.  “No sir, we can discuss it here.  One of the destroyers has put up a posting for a first officer.  I was wondering if you’d mind putting in a recommendation.”

Tranis gave him a half-smile.  “Hmm.  The glamorous world of being on the fleet’s front lines has always been your hope, hasn’t it?  I suppose you hope to be a captain of one of those ships someday.”

“Doesn’t every man?”

“I didn’t.  I turned down command of a destroyer six years ago.”

Simdow stared at his captain, stunned by that information.  He knew Tranis was more than capable of commanding a warship; in fact, he couldn’t understand why the Dramok wasn’t already doing so.  That Tranis had actually turned such an opportunity down seemed more impossible than when he’d not accepted the rank of admiral.

Feeling he might die of curiosity, Simdow ventured, “Captain?  May I ask why?”

Tranis’ almost-smile remained.  “There was more than one reason, but the most important was that it was best for my clan.”

“They – they didn’t want you to command a destroyer?”

Tranis chuckled.  “My Imdiko was adamant I take the destroyer commission.  There was quite the loud argument over the issue.  You know how Dr. Degorsk gets when he’s mad.”

Simdow couldn’t repress a grin at that.  For all Degorsk’s joking, when the man was angered he was almost as much a terror as Weapons Commander Lidon.  His language on the spyship’s bridge when Tranis had been hurt had impressed and shocked even the Nobeks.

Tranis continued.  “As for Lidon’s reaction to my being offered a destroyer, he had long served on such a vessel and was content to continue to do so.  I’ll admit, being offered such a post certainly stroked my ego.  But it was not a good thing for the welfare of our unit.  I had to do what was best for my clan.  All other considerations were secondary.”

Simdow still felt astonished over the incredible sacrifice Captain Tranis had made.  It made him wonder if he could give up his ambitions.  He thought of setting aside his need to make his family and clan proud in order to benefit others, especially if those so important to him objected to it.

Tranis smiled, as if guessing Simdow’s consternation.  He told him, “Being a Dramok is a lot of responsibility, as I’m sure you’ve figured out.  You have to be concerned with the welfare of every single person as head of the clan.  Now that we have Mataras, that responsibility has grown ever more in importance.”

Being reminded of his wonderful Katherine brought shock anew on Simdow.  He’d only been thinking of himself and making others proud of him when he’d applied for the destroyer post.  He suddenly realized that working on such a vessel would mean being separated from her.  Certain classes of warships, like destroyers, raiders, and even spyships, could not house civilians for any appreciable time.  If he and his clanmates continued to work aboard anything more dangerous than a transport, Katherine would be forced to live for vast stretches of time alone on Kalquor.

Things had certainly become complicated.

Feeling as unreal as if he’d been punched in the head several times by Miv, Simdow said, “I guess I have a lot to think about, Captain.”

Tranis nodded.  “Absolutely.  I myself must consider what my next step will be now that I have a Matara.  If you still want that recommendation, I’ll be glad to give it to Fleet Command.  You’ve been an excellent first officer.”

“Thank you, Captain.”  Simdow spoke the words with numb lips and bowed before leaving the bridge.

Simdow felt his legs wobbling slightly as he headed for his quarters.  He wouldn’t trade Katherine for all the prestigious posts in the fleet.  But that left the question, what would he do now about his career?

Things weren’t looking any better when he reached the quarters.  On the long lounging seat Katherine called a couch, Vadef held their miserable-looking Matara on his lap.  Miv sat next to them, holding Katherine’s hand.  All three looked terribly upset, and Simdow rushed over in an instant.

“What’s going on?  What happened?”

Katherine sniffled and tears ran from her eyes.  Vadef made a comforting sound before answering.  “Mother Superior … the woman in charge of the colony and the children … has forbidden Katherine from seeing the little ones anymore.  Our Matara has been upset all day.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”  Simdow let Vadef see how angry he was.

Vadef winced at his tone and expression, but he didn’t drop his gaze from meeting Simdow’s.  “You were on duty, my Dramok.  I could not interrupt the first officer’s shift over his Matara’s tears, not when she hadn’t been physically harmed.”

Simdow thought of his responsibilities to ship and crew.  Of course Vadef couldn’t break into his day with news of an emotional upheaval.  Even if Katherine had been in some sort of physical danger, Simdow couldn’t have left his post. 

During the Tragoom attack and afterward, Commander Lidon had been forced to remain at his post even when his Dramok Tranis had been so badly hurt.  Duty didn’t end just because a clanmate suffered harm.  It made Simdow’s conversation with Tranis only minutes ago all the more worrisome.

Vadef continued.  “Fortunately, Weapons Commander Lidon gave me leave to see to her. I’ve been with her all this time, so she hasn’t been forced to grieve alone.”

Miv winced.  His usually controlled demeanor had been cast aside by a storm of emotion.  It made Simdow wonder if Miv was simply upset because Katherine was, or if something more was going on with his Nobek.  Unfortunately, the answers to that had to wait.  Katherine was the center of the clan, and therefore her needs took priority. 

Simdow knelt down and stroked her cheek, wiping away the tears.  “My poor Matara.  The little ones are more important to you than anything, aren’t they?  You’ve been denied access to them because of us, haven’t you?”

Her face crumpled, and a sob escaped.  Simdow thought his heart might break alongside hers.  She was in agony and it was his fault.  Despite all his efforts to make her forced clanning as easy as possible, he had still harmed her and continued to do so.

His head hung down.  “I am sorry our clanship has brought you so much pain.”

Katherine’s gasp made him look up.  She gazed at him in shock.  “Oh no, Simdow.  You’ve made me happy.  I thought I’d never have the opportunity to have my own children.  I didn’t think I could ever fall in love again, and yet I have.”

All three men stared at her.  Simdow’s heart stuttered in his chest at her words.  “Love, my Matara?”

She blinked.  For a moment, anxiety and confusion appeared on her expression, then it cleared.  Her tone firm, she said, “Of course.  You love me too, don’t you?”

For a moment, joy crowded out Simdow’s worries.  Katherine loved him.  His Matara loved him.

A smile so big it hurt spread over his face.  “I believe I loved you from the moment I saw your picture.  Even before I heard your voice or touched you, I knew deep down you were the only woman I could ever want.”

Miv nodded.  “There has been no one … nothing more important to me.  Everything else has fallen away.” 

The fierce Nobek looked more shaken than ever.  Simdow wondered what was going on with his clanmate, but once more, he knew it had to wait.  For now, everything was all Katherine and her admission of love.

Vadef simply stared at Katherine when she looked to him for reassurance.  Her lower lip trembling, she said, “Vadef?”

The Imdiko’s mouth opened and shut a few times before he finally managed to say, “I – I am struck dumb.  I’m too happy to speak.  Of course you own my heart.”

Katherine laughed at that, but the sound she made was still filled with more sadness than joy.  Despite that, she looked at them all with a sense of peace.  Belonging.  Love.

Her gaze ended up on Simdow.  She took a deep, shuddering breath.  With fresh tears streaking down her face, she said, “Perhaps it is best I don’t see my girls again.  I don’t think God would object to our union, but my little ones have to go back and live on Earth where such things are taboo.  Unthinkable.  Mother Superior has perhaps done me a service.  I’d hate to think they would remember me as a horrible, evil person—”

Her voice caught.  Unable to continue on, she put her hands over her face and cried as the men petted and held her.

His throat tight with suppressed agony, Simdow said, “Tell me what we can do to make you feel better.  Anything in our power, we will gladly do.”

After a few seconds, Katherine emerged from the shelter of her hands.  Her eyes were bloodshot, her nose bright red, her face tear streaked.  Yet Simdow knew she was the most beautiful creature alive.

Her voice choking, she answered him.  “I can think of one thing.  The one thing that has always given me relief.”  She raised her gaze to Miv’s face.

* * * *

Katherine hoped the Nobek would be up for what she needed almost desperately.  As his eyes darkened and a predatory knowledge chased away the torment in his face, she saw he was.

Miv’s gaze slid to Simdow.  His voice deeper than usual, he said, “She wants to be scourged.”

The Dramok’s expression also shifted to one of carnal hunger.  A bolt of excitement shot through Katherine’s guts to see all the men responding to her request with looks of anticipation.

Simdow licked his lips as he looked her over.  “I can think of no better person to deliver such release as what she requires, my Nobek.  Proceed.”

Miv rose from his seat next to Katherine and Vadef.  As he rummaged in a nearby drawer, the former nun realized her Imdiko had ceased to stroke her gently.  Instead, he held her tight against his body, his eyes intent as he gazed into her face with an expression of almost menacing want.  Beneath her thigh, she felt how hard he had become.  She had found her perfect lifemates indeed.

Miv turned to her, a flogger with many tails in his hand.  The moment she saw it, a sense of peace enveloped Katherine.  She looked at it, and her gaze ran up the arm of the man who would wield it.  Left bare by his sleeveless formsuit, Miv’s vein-laced muscles seemed larger than ever.  She knew he’d never use all his strength against her, as much as she might wish it.  Just seeing the power he could command made everything in her head go quieter still.

Vadef stood, setting her on her feet.  He and Simdow stripped her of the Earther fleet uniform she’d worn that day.  They led her over to an open space in the room, just around the table of the sitting area and a few steps away.  She was turned to face them, putting her back to the intent stare of an extremely aroused Miv. 

“Brace your hands against our chests,” Simdow said in a low voice.

She did so, and their hands covered hers.  Miv’s cool hand swept her long hair forward, sliding it over her shoulder to cover one breast.  Katherine shivered in anticipation.  Her body clamored for the bite of the thongs.  It also awoke sexually, sending yearning through her core even as her mind stilled.

Behind her, Miv said, “From the marks you wore before Dr. Degorsk healed you, I know you can tolerate a great amount of pain.  However, you must promise to tell me if this becomes too much at any time.”

Katherine nodded.  “I will.”

“Do you remember the word to use if this becomes too intense?”

“Sholt.”

“Excellent.”

Vadef said, “We’ll keep a careful eye on her as well.”

Miv’s voice turned growly with excitement.  “All right, my beloved.  We will begin.”

A second later, the first scattering blow peppered the right cheek of Katherine’s ass.  The tiny stings were sweet to her, not tormenting at all.  She was actually disappointed at how little it hurt.  It would never be enough to take her completely out of her head the way she preferred.

Another splash of sparkling pain on her left buttock, a smidge harder this time.  The sound of the knots hitting her flesh made Katherine think of light rain tapping on a window pane.  Soothing, but still not what she wanted.  However, there was one nice thing about this:  it was Miv disciplining her.  The fact she was being held by two of her men while the third administered the hurt excited her body.  Even if she didn’t achieve that wondrous euphoria scourging herself offered, she would still get a sensual kick out of Miv’s efforts.

Miv struck her bottom with his flogger several more times.  The strands of leather snapped harder against her with each blow until Katherine’s breath began to quicken.  Now he treated her to little flashes of fiery torment, using more of his formidable strength.  Much better.  She could feel her inner thighs turning slick as her sex responded.  Her butt was turning hot, the heat building with each second.