Starlight Gleaming Ch. 11

I blinked. Janetta told me that after she killed the Assistant Commandant, she had returned the family picture to her mother's home. That was just over two years ago. I looked at her, but Janetta continued playing with her hands, no longer focused on Innati.

"Ah." Innati powered down her laptop and put it back into her satchel. Flipping the switch on the small cube, the television overhead blinked back on as it went into her pocket. "Lieutenant Kandikan, are you getting things into motion?"

"I hadn't had a chance to tell anyone yet. I just got the news this morning."

Janetta stared at me, her face paling. "Your orders came? When--when are you leaving?"

"I don't know the exact date. Sometime in the next seven to ten days."

Wiping her eyes, Janetta gritted her teeth. "I am a Warrior! I'm not going to sob like some lovesick housewife. I'm not. No. Not happening!"

Zinja reached over and casually flicked her ear.

"Ow! Second Sergeant, what the fuck?" Janetta glared at her.

"First, Captain, when it comes to him, you are in love. And you have it bad. The last time you denied your feelings, things almost went to shit for everybody, you included. Sir. You aren't his wife, but you are his woman, and that's almost the same thing. Let him know you want him. Tell him you will miss him terribly, every single day he's gone, and that you will hurt him if he doesn't miss you the same way."

A hint of a smile crossed Janetta's face at the last bit.

Zinja raised her eyebrows. "Do I need to flick your ear again, sir?"

"No, once was enough." Janetta looked at me with a perverse twinkle in her eyes. "If you don't miss me, Ranji, I get to hurt you. Got it?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Loud and clear, my Queen. I will miss you terribly, every single day."

I noticed Innati slipping out of the room.

Janetta looked at Zinja. "Do you love him, too?"

"I do, sir," Zinja quietly admitted.

"I'm pretty sure I know Cholan's feelings. Ixma? Do I even have to ask?"

"When you met the Lieutenant, sir, you didn't know it, but you were a wounded eagle. His love helped you heal. When he put his neckerchief over my hair, I felt safe. I'm no warrior, but--"

"Stop!" Holding up her hands, Janetta looked at Ixma sternly. "You just stop, right there. First, you are a warrior, Corporal. That uniform says so. Second, you killed a draconian. By yourself. Gods above, girl, you emptied nearly half the clip into the fucker. You are raw, but there is no doubt in my mind. You are a Warrior. Third, --"

"I pissed myself!" Ixma yelled, then turned away, ears burning. Her shoulders slumped. "I wasn't brave at all, sir! I was so scared .. I -- I peed my pants. I'm no warrior."

Zinja started to speak, but she caught Janetta's look.

Her voice gentler, Janetta continued. "Corporal, that doesn't matter. Scared or not, you had the presence of mind to get the gun out of the glove box and defend yourself. He is dead and you are still standing. Remember that. In fact, Corporal, when I get out of this damn hospital bed, the first thing I want to hear from your lips is that you are a Warrior, that he is dead, and you are still standing. Understood?"

Ixma turned around to face her. "Yes, sir."

"Now, where was I, Corporal? Oh, yes. Third, a simple yes would have sufficed. I know how you feel about him. Trust me, I do. But now I want to know, where do you get off interrupting me when I'm speaking to you? I am your officer. Answer me, Corporal!"

She shrugged. "You're naked, and you are in bed, sir."

Someone snickered. It was Zinja, her eyes glinting in merriment. No attempt to hide her amusement.

"You think that's funny, Second Sergeant?"

"Yes, I do, sir. And there's a logic to it, too. I told you, she feels free to talk--"

"In the bedroom," Janetta finished, sighing. Looking at me, she patted the bed. I sat back down beside her. Janetta took my hand and gave it a squeeze.

Doyya cleared her throat. "Lieutenant? I don't mean to interrupt, but, you are leaving us?"

"Temporary. We aren't going to have a lot of time to shake things out before I have to leave. I'll be gone ten weeks, but then--"

"Hey!" Janetta grabbed my arm. "Six, Ranji! You told me six weeks! What do you mean, ten?"

"But then I'm returning back here," I finished, turning to face Janetta. "Until today, that's what I was told. I'm guessing the other time is training related to my promotion. I don't know. It was a surprise to me, too. Believe me, I will be counting the days until you are in my arms again."

She glowered, staring at the wall. "Maybe it's a good thing. Honestly, I don't think I can keep my hands off of you for two whole months. I don't want lizard scum to be the last thing inside my pussy!"

"You know I can't come inside you, Janetta. I want you, too. But I am not going to endanger your life. But I can still lick your pussy, Janetta, and drink up your woman juices. And, my fingers can do their magic, too."

Doyya coughed, turning away, blushing. Even Sowitwee looked surprised, but then he grinned at the disclosure.

"Corporal Sowitwee, while I'm gone, I will count on you to aid and assist Lieutenant Lovyanchiti. I am asking, as a personal favor to me, that both of you check up on my family, and make sure they are doing all right."

Both of them nodded. "It will be an honor, sir," Doyya said.

"All right then. It's going to be a bad storm tonight. Doyya, get home and get your vehicle under cover." The HueCacs were under two tons weight, and during hurricanes, could roll or get tossed about and broken.

Despite my admonition, Doyya hung around.

"There's a storm coming in?" Janetta asked.

I looked at my watch. "The main storm should hit in about an hour, give or take. Winds should reach in excess of a hundred rads. It should taper down by tomorrow afternoon."

"Zinja? You drove my HueCac, didn't you. Go home, all of you, now," she said. "I'd love to have you here, Ranji, but you need to be at work in the morning. You have your own command now. People are depending on you. Put my HueCac in the hangar, and drive them home. Keep my crew safe. Come by tomorrow for lunch or dinner. Better yet, bring me some real food! And a bottle of Blue Agave metl juice, while you are at it. Ranji, I expect plenty of kisses and you groping my tits."

Getting up, I leaned over, and cupping her face, gave her a long, passionate exploration of her lips and mouth. "I love you. And I will do my best to keep them safe."

Moving my hands down, I gave her breasts a good fondling as I looked into her eyes. Janetta hauled my face down for another eager kiss. I rolled her hard nipples, and she moaned into my mouth. When she was done, she pushed me away.

"You have your orders, Kandikan. Turn to!"

We started to leave the room, but Ixma called me back. "Cholan's awake, sir. Cholan, we brought your laptop. It's right there, see?"

I went over to Cholan. With the brace holding her jaw closed, I couldn't easily reach her lips, but I did kiss her forehead. She grabbed my hand and used it to squeeze her breast.

"Way to go, Cholan," Ixma laughed.

Her brown eyes were full of emotion. "Ove oo, too."

"I love you, too, Cholan. Get better. We all need you."

As we exited into the hallway, a nurse sailed by, entering the room.

"Sowitwee, I expect you are staying the night here with your wife."

"Yes, sir."

"Stay until it's safe to travel, after the storm has passed. Either Doyya or myself will come by to get you after lunch time. If the roads are dicey, one of us will give you a call, and you'll stay here. Later, when it's time for your wife to get discharged, you let us know, and one of us will drive her to your quarters. I don't want her to have to walk across the base. Her body has already had some bad shocks. We don't want her getting a cold or pneumonia right after leaving the hospital. Dismissed, Corporal."

"Thank you, sir. Good night, sir." He saluted, and strode away.

"Ixma?"

"Lieutenant?"

"Once Nariya is home, I want you to make sure she's able to get around okay. Will you do that? And if you think it's necessary, hire a domestic from the labor pool at the Commissary, to help her until she's on her feet."

Ixma grinned. "I'll do that, sir."

There was a sudden crash from inside the hospital room. The guards darted inside, followed by the four of us, our weapons drawn.

The nurse stood in the corner, nervously covering her face. "I just dropped the bedpan!"

Weapons holstered, the guards went back outside.

I reached into my satchel and brought out the Wampag Talon. Made sure the safety was on, and handed it to Janetta. I also handed her a full, spare clip. "I almost forgot. I bought this for you today. You know how to use it."

Janetta took it, removed the clip from the Talon, examined it, and slid it home with a click. "You brush my hair and you give me weapons. Get out of here before I forget myself and have my way with you."

Finding her courage, the nurse frowned. "There are guards outside the door. She's not supposed to have a weapon. It's against Naval policy."

I scowled at her. "Neither one of those guards are wearing a weapon that will hurt the people that put these two women in here. That gun stopped both of them. If their friends decide to come back, those guards may slow them down, but they won't stop them. The pistol stays."

The glares from Doyya, Zinja, and Ixma helped, I think.

Holding up her hands, she said, "I did my duty. I'm out of here." And she left.

"Let me know, Janetta, if they try and take it from you," I told her.

She nodded, grinning. As we went out the door again, I heard her say, "Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot. Tomorrow, I want my engine checked."

I laughed all the way to the elevator.

* * * * *

Outside the hospital, the wind had picked up, gusting up to fifty rads or better. The rain was going all out, too. The hurricane was in full storm mode, and by the lightning strikes along the ocean, it was going to be a big one.

Doyya said a quick goodbye, and her HueCac quietly zipped down the street, its head and tail lights disappearing into the rainy night.

Zinja and Ixma got into Janetta's vehicle, and I got into mine. I followed them through the gate and across to the base. Ixma opened the hangar doors, and Zinja drove inside. Both of them struggled to secure the bay doors. I got out and lent a hand. By the time we were done, all three of us were soaked.

Hopping into the ChoCac, we headed home. Zinja got into the front seat, Ixma slid into the back.

When they saw the HUD display on the windshield, they both remarked on it.

"It's a lot better than the HueCac," Ixma said. "We got bumped around a bit when the wind came down on the cross streets. I can feel the wind inside here, but it's no where near as noticeable."

"It's a heavier vehicle," I replied.

"It's a shame we're getting your seats all wet. We'll get you home and into bed, sir," Zinja told me, wiping the water from her face. "That new Lieutenant of yours, she said she's worried about you getting sick. She's right. You need a good solid night's sleep. Our Captain, she saw that, too. Otherwise, she would have let you stay the night again with her."

Ixma leaned forward. "But tonight's your night with him, Sergeant."

"He's tired, Ixma. I'll give him that nice blow job I promised him, and he can sleep in his own bed."

"But--"

"I know what you wanted, girl. Our bed is too small for all three of us. And it's not right sleeping in the Lieutenant's-- I mean, the Captain's bed without her there. It just isn't."

"I was counting on having him tomorrow!" Ixma complained. "If you wait, that means I have to wait, too." She turned to speak to me. "I really want your cock inside me, Ranji."

"Corporal!" Zinja snapped, glaring at her daughter. "When you are intimate with him, you can use his first name. When he's dressed and in his uniform, you will respect his rank! Do you understand me?"

Ixma sat back, her voice petulant. "Yes, Second Sergeant. I hear you."

There was a pause, then, "I really want your cock inside me, Senior Lieutenant. You can bone me hard, sir, just as hard as you like, and I would really like it, sir. I would love to feel your hot, warm, Senior Lieutenant's seed coating my womb. I would do my best to come all over your nice cock, too. If I screamed, I assure you, it would be with the utmost respect and love. Just thought I should let you know, sir."

Another pause. "Is that better, Second Sergeant?"

Holy--!

I glanced away from driving in the rain at Zinja, her face faintly illuminated by the lights from the dashboard. Stunned is the best word for how she looked. "It'll do, Corporal. It'll do."

Then we were there, pulling into the driveway. And the headlights caught a small child pounding on our door, soaked in the blinding wind and rain.

Zinja was out of the vehicle in a flash.

Ixma and I quickly joined her.

Trying to be heard over the wind, she yelled out, "Sisi, what are you doing out here! You should be at home!"

"Pappa hurt Tishtin, and he's hurting Mamma! Mamma told me to run, run away, and .. and I came to you."

"Ixma, take her inside, get her out of those wet clothes. One of my undershirts. Sisi, you go with Ixma and you stay with her, do you hear me? I'm going to try and help your Mama."

Ixma nodded, picking up the small girl. "Come with me, Sisi."

Zinja looked at me. "Will you back me up, sir?"

"Yes. A moment, first."

Setting my satchel just inside the door, I went to the back of the ChoCac, and sliding inside, grabbed the backpack from the floor, and set it on the seat beside me.

I loaded two clips for the two Talons in the bag. When the first Talon was done, I gave it to Zinja. "Put that in the glove box, please." I finished with the second one and slipped it into my belt. I checked the Chon in my holster, re-secured it, and then handed Zinja my stunner.

She took it, nodding. I retrieved my flashlight from under the driver's seat, and we both exited the ChoCac.

* * * * *

We hunkered down against the howling wind and rain while Zinja led the way. We ducked through the gap in the fence, where I saw two slats laying in the marshy grass. I followed her through and around to the front of the cottage.

The lights were on inside, but the front door was open. Rainwater coated the floor. I motioned for Zinja to move to my side, away from the doorway. Using the flashlight, I rapped on the door frame. "Security! Coming in!"

Poking my head around the corner, I scanned the room. Table knocked over, dining chairs on the floor, two of them broken. Food on the counters, uneaten. Cups on the floor, one broken, three laying in pools of some liquid drink. The cottage was smaller than our own building. The kitchen, dining, and living room area were combined into one central room.

One set of bloody footprints trailing into the bedroom. Adult sized.

The flashlight went into my pocket. I drew my gun, skirting the one stuffed chair as I hugged the wall.

Peeked briefly through the open doorway, into the darkened room. Bodies on the bed. A man sitting up. I pulled back, hugging the wall.

"I am Lieutenant Kandikan! I'm here to make sure everything is okay. I'm armed and coming in. No sudden moves."

"You can .. come in," he said.

I reached in and flipped the light switch. The first thing I saw was the combat knife in his belly and the blood soaking his pants and the blanket. A third sergeant by his rank. By his side, was his wife. From her open eyes and marks on her throat, I was pretty sure she was dead. A small boy, probably no more than two years at best, lay on his other side, also unmoving.

Zinja, coming in behind me, kept the stunner pointed at him.

Putting my gun away, I checked the boy. No pulse. He watched me, but otherwise remained where he was. Moving around the bed, I checked the woman, too. Both were dead.

"You have my girl?" he asked me.

"We have her."

Turning to Zinja, he said, "They liked you, Sergeant. You can keep Sisi. But if .. if you don't want her, put her down quick. Don't let the slavers take her."

"Why?" I asked him. "Killing your own family? Why did you do this?"

"Auditors coming tomorrow. Couldn't stand the .. the thought of them being slaves. Separated." Red rivulets suddenly trickled out of his mouth.

I let out a long breath, suddenly feeling very old. "So you were stealing. And look what it got you."

"A man's got to take care .. of his family. The dorms .. they were miserable. No room to play. No place to be alone. Not enough money to make ends meet. I didn't ..." His eyes began to droop. "Don't make Sisi .. a whore. Please." A final exhale, then he went limp.

Zinja slammed her hand into the wall. Slammed it again and cracked the plaster. I reached her before she completed her third swing. Then she was in my arms, burying her face into my neck. "That little girl, she's only four years old!"

"Let it out, Zinja. I'm here."

She cried for a bit, and I held her. Then, taking a long, deep breath, she started putting herself in order. "I need to be strong. For her. I know what she's going to go through."

"No," I corrected her, holding her in my gaze. "You had it worse. Family wiped out, you lost your home, and you were raped, beaten, and left for dead."

"Did I? I was fourteen, nearly a grown-up. I could meet the facts head on. She's just a child who has lost everyone important to her--"

"Not everyone. She knew enough to come looking for you. And with time and love, the ache will fade, tempered by new memories. How did you meet them?"

"It was shortly after we got here. Sisi was playing hide and seek with her little brother. I saw her in our yard. I went outside and she introduced herself, friendly and chattering about anything and everything. Asked me if I was the tallest woman in the world, she did. You were living at the dorms at the time. Like us, they were being gouged for money, and had almost nothing to live on." Zinja looked me head on. "I gave them extra bags of flour and vegetables. Kids need to eat."

She waited for my reaction, that she'd used the money I gave them to feed others. I smiled at her. "That they do. Do you plan to keep the girl?"

"I -- I don't know, sir. It's not in me to give up on kids, and this is none of her doing. But kids are a lot of work. We don't have a lot of room ourselves. And I'd need the Captain's permission."

"I'll have to take your word for how much work children are. Ixma says you are the best mother in the world, and I'd have to say, based on the woman you raised, you have to be right up there."

Her lips quivered at the praise. She wiped her eyes, taking deep, steadying breaths.

I continued. "I don't intend to let this girl Sisi get sold into slavery or worse. And I absolutely will not let her be killed. If we didn't have the means to take care of her, I don't know what I would do, honest truth. But we do. If you don't want her, I will send her to my parents. They will find a place for her. But if you want to keep her, I will support you."

I pulled the neckerchief tied to her braid forward. "See this? It's not just sex. It's a commitment, Zinja. You leave Janetta to me. There is no need for you to sit through the next part. Go home. I need to call this in."

Zinja looked at me, eyes glittering. "You are a good man, Lieutenant. Best I've known in a good long while. I'm sorry I lost it there."

"Seven hells, Zinja. You have nothing to be sorry for. They were your friends."

"Him, not so much. Bossy and too quick with the switch. But the others? Yeah. A good woman and good kids. See you at home, sir." She handed me the stunner and kissed me on the cheek.

* * * * *

After she left, I called Air Security and explained that I'd found a murder-suicide. Three bodies. The dispatcher acknowledged the call. Twenty minutes later, two cruisers arrived. Followed by one with Imperial Security. The morgue unit arrived last.