For A Brother's Honor

FOR A BROTHER’S HONOR

Book Three of THE PROTECTORIT

By Kelly L. Tharp

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 K.L. Tharp

Cover design by K.L. Tharp

With graphics from 123RF

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A quick thank you to all my friends who have helped make this novel possible. Susie O and Kelley P for all your support, plus your editing was invaluable. For all my readers, I thank you for being so patient while I got book three written.

Despite their attempts to kill each other, the High Lord Omnidian Ki changed and fell in love with his wild mountain wife. When the High Lady Jinni jAndra Ki fell in love with him, the whole galaxy changed. History of House Ki: Omnidian’s Book

Chapter 1

Doctor Kathleen Mary O’Donnell awoke to the hum of the Lady Jinni’s great engines. Stars flowed by overhead along with the realization that she was no longer just Kathleen O’Donnell from Earth. She was now the High Lady, Kathleen Mary O’Donnell Nuabi Ki and her husband, wow that sounded weird, was the High Lord, General Tammaru Ki, an alien warrior who didn’t want a woman in his life, never-mind his head. And she was in his head for sure because they were telepathically, and empathically connected by some demented twist of fate. She closed her eyes and checked that ethereal portal that connected them.

Tammaru was gone from their quarters, but his essence was stirring with colors. He was active and busy. She curtained the portal knowing he was at work running the vast military of the galactic Councillorship of the Twelve Expanses and hated to be interrupted by her intrusive womanly thoughts. At least she had the huge bed glad to herself. Sleeping with a man who was the exact genetic duplicate of the man she’d fallen in love with, at least physically, was unnerving. In reality Tammaru Ki, the High Lord Protectorit, and Omacron Ki, his brother and clone, were as different from each other as two identical men could be.

Kathy took a deep breath and stretched. The stars out the window at the head of the bed were backlit by soft glowing reds and yellows of distant nebulas. She sighed. You are no longer a doctor from a small ER on the Oregon coast, O’Donnell, she whispered. As a High Lady and the Protectorit’s wife she was now a member of the galactic Elite. Her newly adopted father was an endangered species and her husband was a genetically engineered human who wanted to kill her the night they met on the dark cold Oregon beach. It was all so long ago.

Her new husband’s official title was the High Lord Tammaru Ki, Lord of House Ki, Governor of the First Order of the First Expanse, Holder of the Black Throne of Power and the two-thousandth and fifty first High Lord Protectorit. And, still the great tormentor of Earth women she thought fighting off the frustration of laying cuddled against his muscular body all night knowing that unlike his clone Omacron, Tammaru was sworn to celibacy. Yet, strangely, he insisted they sleep together. His reasoning was that since she always complained about having to follow galactic protocols and he was aware that Earth married couples generally slept together, well - they would follow this one custom of hers. After all, it would be a simple thing for him to comply with. The subject of sexual frustration on her part was not brought up, nor did she offer to bring it up for it would be like explaining sex to a monk. The man was an enigma. He was literally genetically designed and trained to hold ultimate power and yet was trying to be a husband, something he was not programmed for.

She snuggled deeper into the sheets. Tammaru called their joining a bonding, explaining it was more than a telepathic link; it was instantaneous sharing of feelings, knowledge, and to a certain point, the physical skills that went with each other’s knowledge base. It was that connection that saved her on Earth when she lay dying on the beach. Tammaru had intended to shoot her, or just leave her there to die. But when he felt her telepathic touch he couldn’t let it happen. Kathy wondered, did he sometimes regret not following his first choice.

Tammaru and Pimmnidiat, the empathic President of the Councillorship, were on Earth to obtain a sample of heroin. Their analysis of crystal snow, a drug that was killing miners in outer space, showed that geo-biologically it had ingredients from Earth. The now dead, or executed to be exact, Governor Zendarick Pinquad was using Crystal Snow to dope his miners into higher production levels. Pinquad didn’t care that Crystal Snow was killing them; his only concern was fulfilling his plot to destroy Nuabi and take over the Far Rims --- what were a few dead miners.

That’s when she met Tammaru, when she was dying --- dying for the first time. She had dropped to her knees, the cold Pacific Ocean wind in her face, her warm blood oozing through her fingers from the gunshot wound in her side staring at Tammaru’s dark ominous figure, a banshee she had cursed in the dark not realizing she had telepathically touched his mind. It had stopped him in his tracks. His brilliant red eyes had flashed when she had asked, What are you? Kathy remembered his reply --- If the gods are cruel, your future. Well, the god’s were cruel and here she was married to a man who didn’t want her, but had risked all to have her.

She buried her head under the covers. Just yesterday, or last light as it was called on spaceships --- or space cities, she’d signed her life away. The formal signing of their marriage was done before hundreds of vid cameras capturing the moment for posterity. The formal marriage contract had been hand calligraphied in rare inks with swirling script and pictorials, on hand-made parchment, a rarity in space. It stated their marriage, a political one, only had to last one SSR, or about fifteen Earth months. Kathy wondered, did Tammaru’s deviation from protocol of placing her sword of Nuabi point down in front of his signifying a marriage for life, rather than horizontal, hold president over a piece of parchment? He believed the mental bonding condemned them to be together for life. He even told her that someday the bonding would lead them to love each other --- as few mortals ever dream of.

She shivered under the warmth of the covers. Did she want to share such closeness with him, with anyone? Did she have any choice? Political marriage or not, Tammaru would never let her go as long as they were connected. Marriage, or not, she was, in fact, a prisoner, albeit a well-kept one. Kathy peered back over the covers to see expensive furnishings, some thousands of SSRs old, hand woven carpets with the black crests of House Ki, ancient galactic artwork in gilded frames greeted her. She was housed in a museum. All I wanted to do was to go home, she whispered to the ancient artifacts. But, she had lost her home, her career, the man she loved, and yes --- her freedom.

Get your butt out of bed, O’Donnell, she reprimanded herself, abhorring the melancholy that was engulfing her. She threw the sheets aside glad that at least she was headed home, ostensibly to see her family, but in reality to say good-bye forever. The thought of her mother brought a chuckle. What she was going to say to mom? She sat up in the plush bed and whispered, Hi mom. Yep, I’m alive and guess what, I’m married to a space alien, have an alien Healer’s stone implanted in my forehead, don’t even ask about my hair, and my new dad is a 200 year old endangered reptile. She shook her head knowing her first patient back on Earth would be her mother and the coronary the woman was going to have.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and gently stretched so as not to overstress her new skin. She’d been out of the bio-form named Ekcy only five lights before her royal wedding. Governor Pinquad’s last act was to try and kill her when he’d fired his fighter’s wing cannons. She should have died, but Tammaru brought her back. She still had to wonder why? Was he saving himself? "Well, you’re alive, O’Donnell, married to him, and there is no denying that he won, he got what he wanted, control over you and the bonding.

She slid off the ginormous bed onto the warm ancient carpet with a sigh. God she was morose. Keep telling yourself you’re going home, Kathleen, she said, though it was just for a visit, Tammaru kept reminding her. She padded across the plush carpet to the personal room rubbing her forehead. The living crystal centered in the middle of it was giving her a headache. In the luxurious bathroom she checked herself in the mirror over the black marble sinks. Her sparkling hair was a pile of jumbled curls cascading in all directions. The beautiful green emerald glinted, but the skin surrounding it was hot, red, and tender. You look horrible, Dr. O’Donnell. The stranger in the mirror frowned. Mom will never recognize me, she said to the stranger and stripped off Tammaru’s black tee shirt she’d purloined to sleep in.

You are awake, my wife.

Kathy screamed and lunged for the towel, before realizing where the voice came from. Morning, Tamm. And would you please knock before entering my head. I’m buck-naked getting ready for a shower.

It is not as if I can see you, Kathleen. His thoughts were punctuated with warm hues of orange and yellow humor wafting through the portal to her mind. But then maybe . . .

Stop it, she pathed to him. If I can hear you then it’s . . . well, it’s like if you can think to me, then you can see me. So, go away. His mental chuckles faded as she threw up a curtain over the portal in her mind. The contact lasted only a heartbeat, but it told her he was at a desk somewhere below her on another level of the ship working on Protectorit business. She took a deep breath and stepped into the swirls of warm mist they called showers aboard a spaceship.

Finished with her morning care, Kathy donned a comfortable long black dress with soft black ship boots, and then headed into the living area. The color palate of her wardrobe was going to be very simple from now on, basic black --- in everything. It had to be a galactic conspiracy to force her to wear dresses for the rest of her life. She made a beeline for the kitchen, prepared herself a cup of mara and raided the scantily stocked refrigerator for cheese and ook bread. Once prepped with food and the galactic equivalent of coffee, though a poor comparison, for mara was so bitter she had to dump four to five sweet cubes in it to make is palatable, she sat down at the counter next to a view of space. Munching her breakfast she activated the com screen recessed in the tabletop and found the galactic equivalent of news.

The Pleadian announcer smiled as he stated, All are still celebrating a wedding of legend, the High Lord Protectorit Tammaru Ki to his indomitable Lady Kathleen Mary O’Donnell Nuabi. The historic ship they are on is reportedly somewhere near Milos on its way to the Main Gateway. We have been informed from Protectorit sources that the Lord General is taking his new wife home to her undeveloped planet-bound world of E-Soli to see her family. Oh, how will they feel knowing a child of E-Soli is now a rare Protectorit’s wife and, with her marriage, peace has come to the galaxy? The purple Pleadian’s cheek flaps fluttered in excitement. We understand that after the High Lady Nuabi’s first public gala on Melos there will be an Expanse-wide celebration on the renamed Tenth Expanse capital planet of Darnoc, named for the Noble Pirate Lord and new Governor of the Tenth Expanse, High Lord Kufu Darnoc Dra . Stay tuned for a vid tour from the museum of historic ships on the Protectorit’s vessel, the Lady Jinni. You will see inside the famous ship where, as we speak, the High Lady Nuabi is settling into her new royal life.

Kathy swallowed her Mara. Don’t think I’m going to be doing much settling, mister, she muttered to the screen. And Kufu was not planning a celebration, he was planning revenge. Her burley pirate pal knew she hated dressing up in the gilded finery her station now called for at such state occasions, and he was going to see to it that she suffered. She smiled remembering how Kufu had roared like a lion when he was informed that he was now the High Lord Darnoc Dra of the newly reestablished House Darnoc Dra, making him a legitimate political figure and an Expanse Governor; thanks to Tammaru’s uncontestable appointment of him to that position as part of the military clean up after the war. Kufu’s days of leisurely drinks in Louroy’s were over and he blamed Kathy for the loss. That reminded her, Pinquad’s fighters had razed most of the town of Old Anwash during the war, including Louroys quaint little sea side tavern.

She hit the com call button to place a call to Nuabi Prime and Old Anwash. She needed to find out how things were going. Did Louroy and his two neon-pink cats, Ip and Ud survive? Did they stop Pinquad’s fighters before the destruction of the old library? Had the Nuabi Healer’s Council started researching Heroin to cure Bullgully’s? The com call menu lit up. She typed in ‘Nuabi Prime - Old Anwash Hospital’. It was the only building she knew hadn’t been destroyed because she had been standing on its roof when Pinquad blew her away. It was satisfying to know that Tammaru had also quickly blown to him to bits. The screen blinked --- All outgoing com lines are busy ---.

So much for calling home, she said and took her dishes to the sanitizer. What to do next? She entered the living room and stopped under the wide clear overhead dome with billions of stars streaking by. They must be on a run between jump points. During jumps there was only empty space out the windows and of course, one’s usual nausea associated with jumping across time and space. Luckily jumps didn’t take more than a few seconds.

Kathy checked out the formal living room. The place was decorated comfortably enough that she could sit on the furniture without feeling guilty that she was sitting on a museum piece, which she was. The door to the small garden was open. She headed over to take a look at her private greenhouse, but before she stepped in there was a soft tapping from the main door. Kathy turned back, fluffed her bangs over her nasty looking forehead with its red festering wound circling the emerald Healer’s stone and said, Come.

Widgin stood there with his cue-ball size wide-eyed look of innocence. Hi Kaffy, he said peeking into the apartment. What you doing? Widgin not doing anything. He padded into the living room and looked up at the overhead dome and stars. Don’t think Prime warriors know what to do with Cadet Widgin. Widgin lonely, so come to see you, High Lady Kaffy. He turned, frowned, and with his usual blunt truthfulness confessed, Widgin bored.

Kathy smiled. So am I, Widg. I don’t think the Protectorit knows what to do with his High Lady either. She headed for the garden doorway. Let’s go explore."

They headed for the small dome of the pristinely kept garden. There was a short hallway lined with black rose bushes that opened up into a gently curving clear steal floor-to-ceiling dome jutting out beyond the port hull. The walls were lined with living green mats of oxygen producing greenery laced with exotic orchids. Kathy checked out a small vegetable patch in one corner. One small parsley-like shoot rose up out of the dark loamy soil. A plant stake next to it proclaimed it to be a --- Root-tig ---. In the center of the dome, radiating out from a central water fountain, were flower beds with more of the rare black rose bushes of House Ki. She took a deep breath of the gardenia-like aroma laced with an earthy scent of soil. Widgin went straight for the fountain and wiggled a suckered finger in the rippling water. After a thorough inspection they returned to the living area where Widgin flopped on the sofa to watch the stars while Kathy returned to the personal room to bandage her forehead.

Ready to head out, Widg? Kathy said stepping around the white leather sofa to see a data pad on the black radil wood coffee table labeled: Museum Guide to the Lady Jinni. Let’s start our tour with the art-gallery just outside the door, she said swiping her way through the guide.

Oki Diki, Kaffy, Widgin piped back and hopped over the couch.

He followed her out of the apartment to the hallway. Paintings and holo photos covered the walls. She keyed up data on each Protectorit portrait and pointed out the Great Lady Jenni jAndra and her famous husband the Great High Lord Omnidian Ki. Widgin stared in awe.

Who is this? he asked looking up at another stately Protectorit.

The Prime didn’t have the bulk of Tammaru, or the High Lord Omnidian, but didn’t look too lean either. Kathy checked the guide. This is Tammaru’s father. She smiled sadly at the elegant looking man in the painting. The High Lord General Osidran Ki, she said. He was assassinated by Governor Pinquad when Tammaru was only twelve SSRs old. Pinquad admitted to having Tamm’s father killed. Osidran knew House Pinquad was behind the genetic alteration of the Nuabiene’s staple protein source, purple root, which in turn led to the disease Bullgully’s that is killing Old Shaw’s race, she went on to explain. I hope my theory on the correlation between purple root and heroin leads to a cure for the Nuabiene, she added. But, it did lead to the Nuabiene Elders approving my adoption by Old Shaw, which made me the High Lady Nuabi, which allowed Tammaru to marry me to end the Edict, which Omacron was going to do before he got himself killed. She took a deep breath and then sighed.

Widgin knew that Kathy was engaged to Omacron. Om died in the battle for Nuabi’s doorway protecting Tammaru. Everyone was in on making me the last royal princess of House Nuabi so there would be a human daughter to marry a son of House Ki to fulfil the dictates of the addendum and thus end the Edict.

Her life was a series of domino’s falling into place, all leading to her standing before Tammaru and Omacron’s father. Mirimu said Osidran forced his marriage to his Seedbearer convincing her House Ki needed a Seedbearer for a political pack between Houses, She said to Widgin. That’s how the High Lady Mirimu was born. Miri said the Great High Lady Ki never wanted the marriage for she was trained to be a Seedbearer, not a wife. I guess Miri was a pawn, like me. Though, Tamm said his father doted on her, she added wishing she could have known the tall stately man in the painting. His Polynesian features were a testament to Tammaru’s genetic line that started with the Great High Lord Omnidian Ki.

She stared up at the painting. Osidran’s brilliant red irises were framed by perfect black hair. A hint of a smile echoed in his dark rose lips. He was alone in the picture, no Great Lady stood next to him. She knew it was not protocol for a wife to be in a Protectorit portrait, which said something for Omnidian and Jinni. Kathy was Tamm’s Seedbearer was on the other side of the Councillorship residing on Tammuseti, for she had the feeling from both Miri and Tamm that they preferred to be as far away from the Great Lady Ki as possible.

Kathy herded Widgin to the lift where they descended to the next floor down, the diplomat’s guest quarters. The lift swished open to a central hallway with apartments on either side. Kathy switched their location on the data pad. The museum guide stays that the High Lady Jinni jAndra often used this ship for diplomatic missions, she read as Widgin and she left the lift. They peered into a small communication center with dark com-units. At the bow end they surveyed a small formal dining area surrounded by floor to ceiling windows to space. Kathy perused the map while Widgin looked out the windows.

On the third floor down they found more diplomatic quarters located in the middle of the level with the hallways on the outside next to long windows that skirted the length the ship. Below this level are conference rooms, military staff quarters and a whole floor that’s a huge gym, she read as Widgin opened doors to empty suites and peeked inside. Below the gym level are the officer’s conference rooms in the aft section and toward the bow, the main com-center. She bent down to show Widgin the pad, See here where it juts out from just under the bridge. Tammaru’s office is at the bow above his private hanger deck. Below that there are staff levels and the kitchens, then the huge hanger bays and engineering. This ship is huge.

Kathy joined Widgin to explore one apartment. It had a desk in the living area, a nice bedroom and adjoining the bedroom its personal room with a soaking tub designed for a water species like Widgin. Kathy smiled when her little green buddy eyed the luxury wishfully. Let’s see if the water is on, she said and activated the tap.

Widgin’s eyes popped up when clear water surged out of the golden faucet and the tub began filling. Real water, Widgin whispered in awe.

Yeah . . . I know how you feel, pal. Sonic showers will never replace a good old bath. Let’s fill it and you take a good soak, you’ve been away from the City ponds for a full light.

Widgin stuck his suckered fingertip in the warm liquid. You think it is okay? Widgin not get in any trouble?

Kathy patted his shoulder. Well, if there is water to this tap then I think this unit has been approved for use. Maybe we are picking up a Frozene ambassador when we get to the Far Rims. Tammaru said something about a committee of Planetary Sociologists coming on board. She looked around for towels and found one behind a panel. Here, you soak and I’m going to go take a look around and be back for ya in a little bit. Two levels down is that gym. Wow, it even has a cube ball court, a gun range, and drill area. Maybe I can get someone to teach me how to play cube ball sometime."

When done we go see fighters, yes? he asked enthusiastically. Widgin hear big Primes talk about flying down to a military base on Clobe, a small planet just before we come to Milos.

How about after mid-meal, Kathy said turning off the data pad.

She left Widgin happily peeling off his coveralls and headed down the hallway toward the bow. She went down to the next level just to see what was there as she’d seen large windows slanting outward from her quarters above. The lift opened to a dark hallway that split around more center rooms. Starlight lit her way as she wandered down the starboard hallway. The level must be on minimal power until such time as it was inhabited, she thought. Kathy followed the red carpet until it stopped at carved radil wood doors. They slid aside with a soft whoosh. She stepped inside to find a huge library with a panoramic view of space peeking out between tall wooden bookshelves.

Her steps were muffled by the light gray carpet. Right in front of the entry was a round sunken lounge area with shiny black desks and the black screens of computers. She followed around the upper walkway encircling the sunken reading area. At the other end of the circle pit were plush black and white leather chairs, sofas, and assorted large pillows interspaced with a couple of mushroom-like stools for various alien anatomical backsides. She stepped up to a black and green grained radil wood bookshelf filled with real paper books. Gilded lettering proclaimed the books titles; Governments for Intelligent Species, Governing and Leadership of the Populace, Military History of the First Expanse, and one was titled, A Seminarian’s View of Tammuseti History. Many where in languages she’d never seen. Kathy slipped one off the shelf and opened it. The pages were inked in an ornamental script like the Irish Book of Kells with illustrations and motifs framing the text. She put it back and finally walked up to the tall windows pointing toward the bow where she found a lone chair facing the window. Someone used to sit here looking out at the stars while reading. Kathy ran her hand over the back feeling the soft ancient material. Did the Great Lady sit in this chair? Kathy stepped in front of it and sat down. It was wide enough for her to curl up with her feet tucked under her comfortably.

Any suggestions for living with a Prime Elite, Jinni? she asked to the chair, patting the arms. She heard only the hum of the ship’s engines many levels below. I didn’t think so. Kathy stood up feeling like she’d just sat on the Papal throne. She followed the other wall out of the library to head for the exercise level. You’re just going to have to learn how to deal with being married to the Lady Jinni’s great great great grandson on your own, O’Donnell.

The doors to Jinni’s library hissed shut. She took the lift down to the gym level. Her long soak in Eknaf had left her weak and her endurance was pitiful. She’d just gotten up and was already wishing for a power nap. The lift stopped abruptly, jarring her knees. The Lady Jinni’s old lifts could use some updating she thought rubbing her thighs. She stepped into a wide well-lit corridor that gently curved around like a high school running track. She faced a large double door which swooshed aside as she walked up to it.

Inside was a huge gym. Magnetic resistance weight machines lined the starboard side. Black and red wrestling mats carpeted the floor beyond them. She stepped over to her right where there was a large red workout area marked with black dots. The entire area was outlined by a line small white bumps. Gun-metal blue trash-can sized robots hung along the wall to the right. Kathy walked over the red floor to get a closer look at the little robots noting the floor felt spongy. Then she realized that the sponginess was a carpet of air holding her about an inch above the deck. She carefully shuffled over to the robots. They looked like gnarled old gnomes waiting to attack anything that walked by. Two big red optic sensors sat in the middle of an oval shaped head attached to a smooth round body. Their underside had four stubs of hover nodes. She glanced around the empty gym. Well, not much going on here, O’Donnell. She headed back outside to explore further.

Stepping into the hall, Kathy heard a rhythmic thumping coming from just around the corner. Suddenly, six big, burly, and very naked, Tammuseti Prime Elites came jogging around the corner. Oh my God, she gasped and darted back through the gym door. The thumping sounded just outside the doorway. She held her head against the wall with her face buried in her hands. The sound of footfalls quieted. Then the gym door swished open.

My Lady?

Major Shadua Onihamu, Tammaru’s First Prime’s voice, came from directly beside her. She squished herself closer into the wall.

Is everything all right, my Lady, Shadua voice held a hint of alarm.

Yes, just fine . . . great. Don’t let me interrupt your jogging, Major, Kathy said into her hands clamped tightly over her closed eyes.

You are sure?

I’m just fine. You can go on . . . thank you . . . bye bye. Kathy peeked out the side of her fingers and saw a firm bare muscular leg and quickly ducted her head back into her hands. See you later, Major Shadua. She waved her arm in the general direction of the doorway.

His footsteps headed out of the gym. After a moment Kathy dared a glance into the hallway. Empty! Blind panic took over and she raced across the hallway to the lift. The doors opened just as the sound of footsteps came from around the corner again. She leapt inside and hit an upper level button, any upper level button. The lift doors closed just as a naked leg came into view. Kathy squeezed her eyes shut and tried to still her racing heart.

Kathleen . . . what is the matter? Are you in trouble?

Rocking on her feet Tammaru’s telepathic voice caught her at full embarrassment. I’m fine, Tamm. I just wasn’t prepared for . . . ah, well . . . Before she could stop herself the image six naked men running at her popped up in front of the portal to him. Tammaru’s emotional colors swirled into sherbet orange humor, with bluish resignation, and a touch of green pique that she was ignorant of the ways of men and that her emotional reaction had interrupted his work.

Kathleen, you are a doctor. You work with naked bodies all the time. Please keep your emotional reactions under control. I am trying to work.

His frustration pulled her up short. She quickly pathed back, the naked bodies I see are sick or injured and don’t jog around looking like a nude football team on fourth down. And I’m sorry if I interrupted you. I’ll stay off the exercise level from now on.

* * *

Or at least keep your shields . . . Tammaru winced as she slammed her mental shields down hard enough that it felt like she’d hit him in the back of his head. How did she shield so well? He must have her teach him. With his superior emotional control he would be the better to keep the two of them shielded from each other. After some experience he should be able to maintain mental shields between them and only drop them when he needed to contact her. Tammaru frowned. So far he had not been able to create shields, well, not like Kathleen’s. His expertise lay in breaking through hers, usually after she had done something insane, like try to rescue a fighter pilot whose ship was caught in a malfunctioning magnetic screen. Tammaru coded his approval on a missive wondering if being bonded was going to mean constantly being interrupted by her emotional spikes. He inwardly shuddered at that thought. He could not go through life with her wild emotions battering at his mind every waking sancto . . . he would soon want to space himself. He activated a connection to Major Shadua’s personal com. Major.

Yes, Lord General.

Could you possibly find time to teach my Lady wife the Shinalli mediation for emotional control, Tammaru asked. He wouldn’t order his Major to spend personal time with Kathleen, but he knew Shadua would do it as a favor. Shadua was one of the few people who knew he and Kathleen were bonded and would understand the need.

I believe I can spare some time when we return from the inspection of Clobe base after late meal next light. I will set up an appointment with her.

Thank you, Tammaru said to let him know it was a personal request. I need to be able to get some work done without her . . . ah, shall we say, interrupting me all the time.

Her interruption would not have something to do with her just having been on the exercise level, would it? Shadua asked with a bit of mirth coming through the com line.

Tammaru smiled to himself. I believe it would behoove your men to do their exercising with a certain amount of clothing on. It appears my Healer wife is not used to seeing naked Prime Elites coming at her during their workout. He heard Shadua’s chortle.

I will inform the men, Lord General. Shadua out.

* * *

Kathy wrestled the small sofa around the end of a bookshelf in the library. She wanted to place it next to the black plush chair, so both she and Widgin could have room to spread out and read books while enjoying the view. Now pull from your end Widgin and I’ll push mine. With a good shove we’ll be free of the corner. She bent down and started to push.

Oki Diki, Kaffy, Widgin said and with a grunt pulled on the arm of the plush sofa.

Kathy pushed. The sofa’s resistance on the carpet suddenly gave way and the small divan slued around the corner of the bookshelf throwing her off into a wall panel. A loud ping echoed from the panel as it popped. Oh great, I broke my spaceship. She pushed herself up off the floor. A piece of the panel was angled out from the one next to it. Kathy tried to push it back into place only to have the whole floor to ceiling panel swing open. She looked inside. Hey, Widgin, come here.

Widgin hopped on top of the sofa and padded over the cushions to look over Kathy’s shoulder. What’s that, he asked pointing.

Kathy picked up the folded piece of cloth. It was a light blue and green dasha, similar to the intricately pleated black headdresses that Prime Elites wore, but too small for a Prime Elite. It had a fringe of tiny blue and green glass gems hanging down from along the brim that would partially hide a person’s eyes. Kathy turned it over. There was a small wafer thin black communication disk tucked against the lining. Wonder who’s this was?

Don’t know, but there is more, Widgin said as he slipped over the arm of the sofa and suckered himself to the inside of the door to take a closer look. Widgin do not think anyone has been in here in Antebe SSRs. He blew dust off of a lump and picked it up.

Kathy’s eyes went wide. She quickly made sure her shields to Tammaru were up. That’s a gun, Widg. She took it from him and drew the small weapon out of its holster. It fits me.

Maybe it belonged to her, Widgin whispered with awe. He looked at Kathy, his cue ball-sized eyes popped up to full height from his round cranium. This was her ship.

Kathy felt her own awe. Do you think? It suddenly felt as if she was handling the Shroud of Turin and she put the weapon back in the holster. Maybe we shouldn’t be messing with this stuff. She put the holster back on the shelf and then aw a book. What’s this?

About an inch thick, it was bound in soft blue leather, worn from use, not just age. She blew the dust off and gently opened the front cover. The title on the first page read: Lady Jinni jAndra Ja’Ary Ki – Personal Log.

Oh my god, this is her stuff, Widgin. Kathy turned over a few pages. Gently curving Cyrillic script filled each page in perfectly lined hand as if the writer used a straight edge for each line. This is her diary. Kathy started to put the book back on the ledge, but stopped short of doing so. Ya know Widgin, she looked down at her friend. I don’t think anyone knows this stuff is here. She peered deep into the closet. Another small shelve held a pile of folded clothes, a pair of small boots, and further in was a petite spacesuit with an EVA pack. I mean . . . this ship has been in a museum for hundreds of SSRs, if they had known these things were in here these items would have been removed for posterity sake.

Widgin nodded. Widgin agree. We should tell Lord General, yes?

No, Kathy blurted out and tapped the side of the panel. I think I would like to take a look at this diary first. Maybe it can give me some insight on how to live with a Prime Elite. After all, the Great High Lord Omnidian was a Prime and Tammaru’s a Prime. Kathy closed the panel and gave it a push. The latch caught. She pushed on the exact spot again and the door popped outward. Someone would have to know exactly where to push on this to open it. No wonder this stuff has been hidden for all these SSRs. She kept the diary along with the beaded dasha and shut the door again. I’ll just read it first and then tell the Lord General we found memorabilia from his long dead ancestor the Great Lady Ki. She hid the book under the cushion of the sofa. The dasha she’d take back to her quarters for a closer look. Let’s get the sofa in place and find the kitchen level. I’m starved. How about you, pal?

Widgin so hungry he could eat molo melon flies. He nudged the sofa a bit further in, and satisfied that it was in position, hopped over it to head out between the bookshelves.

Five levels below the library they exited the lift to the support staff levels and walked through a maze of corridors bustling with crew. Finally, they heard pots clinking off in the distance. Personnel, some in Protectorit black, and some in the gray blue of the general corps started to notice them. Kathy smiled back at the occasional glare with the feeling that this was not a floor she should be on. She slipped on Lady Jinni’s dasha glad that that it fit, and tucked in her sparkling hair. The stares diminished. She and Widgin found the source of clanking pots. Kathy stepped up to the open kitchen doorway and nearly bumped into a tall blue skinned Valalman who halted in front of them. He wore the black Protectorit uniform of a Lieutenant Colonel. The starched white cloth draped over his arm reminded her of Ispep, the banana-shaped maître d' in her favorite restaurant back on the City. The Lieutenant Colonel frowned at them.

What are you doing on this level, Mistress?

Ah, Cadet Widgin here and I would like to get a mid-meal tray? Kathy took in a deep breath of delicious stew wafting out from the kitchen. It smells great, she added with a smile.

The officer didn’t return her smile. He turned his stern glare on Widgin. I have no Frozene listed as part of the High Lord General’s retinue. We have no food stuffs for a Frozene. What are you doing here?

Widgin gave the man a wide grin and replied, Widgin new cadet. Don’t think High Lord General planned on me. But, that is oki diki, Sir. Widgin saluted small fist to chest. Widgin got used to eating humanoid rations aboard the forgotten Gateway. Just need some ook bread and murble cakes if you have some. Widgin drink anything liquid. He blinked his eyes in and out of his cranium as he added, Well, no alcohol type drink. It makes us Frozene sick.

The man scowled even more. Before he could shoo them off Kathy piped in, Can’t we just get a small tray of something . . . anything extra you have laying around.

He returned his focus on her. You, dear lady should be waiting on your mistress and not down here wasting my time. Do you not cook for the Lady Nuabi in her apartments? He paused for a moment before adding, Though I have had no requests from her chef for food items.

Kathy grimaced at the thought that apparently everyone assumed she had a full retinue of servants. She thought fast. Widgin started to say something. Kathy grabbed his shoulder and checking the officer’s name badge, replied, Ah, my dear Lieutenant Colonel Mrug, I’m sure it would be okay if you gave us a little something to tide us over until late meal. As for the High Lady’s chef, well there was little time for her to make plans for her meals what with her just getting out of the bioform, and then the wedding, plus she is new to her Elite status and has no retinue. The man raised one dark blue eyebrow. Well, except for me, that is. And, as there are little supplies in the High Lady’s apartment kitchen, I thought I might order some.

The Lieutenant Colonel took a short irritated breath and pointed behind him. Alright then, go see Corporal T’Koot. He will supply you with something. And tell the Lady Nuabi that I will schedule a meeting with her personally to go over her culinary and nutritional needs.

Kathy gave the man a quick curtsy. Thank you so much, Lieutenant Colonel Murg. I’m sure the High Lady will be most pleased.

The man headed off as Widgin gave her a look of we’re-going-to-get-in-trouble-again. I don’t think they’ll throw us out the airlock, Widgin, she whispered taking his hand. They found a short purple Pleadian. His name tag said Corporal T'Koot: Master Cook. Kathy made their request for food.

I will see that we have ample foodstuffs on board for a Frozene next light, Corporal T’Koot jovially stated patting Widgin on the head and handed him his tray of ook bread, murble cakes with a tall frosty glass of sweet herbal tea.

Thank you, Kathy said and picked up her tray with a bowl of delicious smelling stew and plate of just-out-of-the-oven steaming butterbread. She also had some of the sweet tea, but asked for hers hot. Spaceships were notoriously a bit on the chilly side. Are you getting a delivery next light, she asked making polite conversation.

No, little mistress, the Corporal replied. We will be at Clobe. The Lord General has a base inspection scheduled. It’s a right big honor for such a small base to have the Lord General himself inspect. And since Clobe has excellent markets for fresh produce I requested a pilot to take the supply shuttle down to stock up on supplies afor we get to the Far Rims.

His comment reminded Kathy of something. Ah, Corporal T’Koot . . . you wouldn’t have room for a couple of extra shoppers on that shuttle, would you?

The Corporal plopped a pile of potatoes into a serving dish and then sprinkled a blue spice over the top before handing it to a waiting server along with a large soup tureen of the stew. There is always room for a little woman on my supply shuttle. He gave Kathy a wink. Someone hollered his name from across the kitchen. I’ll be there in a sincto, Elgis. Can’t you see I’m talking to the High Lady’s maid? Now, where were we little Miss?

Kathy smiled knowing that all too soon this poor Corporal was going to be horribly embarrassed to learn who he was flirting with. But she’d come this far incognito she didn’t have the heart to correct his misconception. Thank you so much, she said sweetly. I just need to get the Lady Nuabi some . . . ah . . . personal items.

He nodded and then when another voice yelled over the din of clanking pots and pans he shrugged his shoulders apologetically. So sorry, little miss. I must get busy. We have some pretty big Primes to keep fed aboard this ship.

I agree with the big Primes idea, some of those guys are huge, Kathy replied. And thank you for taking time to get my friend and me our mid-meal. I will to see you next light.

Kathy headed out the door with Widgin. With Jinni’s dasha on the stares from the staff were minimized as they headed back to their new hide-a-way in the library to eat.

Kaffy going to ask Lord General about going shopping, yes? Widgin asked between bites of ook bread. Can Widgin go too?

Don’t know why you can’t come along. And, I guess I’d better mention it to Tammaru, she replied chewing on a piece of hot steamy butterbread. I’ll talk to him this light’s down. I’m sure it won’t be any big deal.

~~~

Chapter 2

No.

But . . .

No!

I won’t get in anyone’s way. I don’t even have to go with you. I just want to . . .

I said no, Kathleen. This is an official military inspection and no place for a woman.

Kathy folded her arms in frustration. Aren’t I a Captain? she pushed her honorary induction into the Protectorit’s service after the battle for Nuabi Prime to see if it would work. Tammaru’s brows furrowed --- he wasn’t buying it. Tamm, I just need to get some . . .

Kathleen, I said no. Now please find something else to apply your overabundance of enthusiasm to, I need to get some Protectorit missives out before the men and I leave. Tammaru reached out for his cape. The black mass of nanites fluttered and stretched out to connect with his hand, swirled around his solid muscular arm undulating up to his shoulders, where the living material latched onto Tammaru’s silver shoulder brooches like a cat --- a very deadly cat. He raised one eye brow at her.

Kathy huffed in indignation. The mental portal between them opened from his side. She did not hide her irritated mottled green flickers of aggravation, laced with tinges of gray-blue resignation that she was not going to accompany him to the surface of Clobe. Oh, just go to work, she sputtered and stormed into the kitchen to get herself another cup of mara. She obviously wasn’t going anywhere. She heard the door to their quarters hiss open and close.

Kathleen, we are taking fighters. There is no room for passengers and remember how you reacted when you de-orbited onto Nuabi Prime. I was not there, but your sleep memories come through quite forcefully at times . . . you were terrified. I will not risk your limited skills to let you try and fly a fighter, nor will I risk a fighter to your limited flying skills, he pathed entering the lift at the end of the hallway.

Kathy plopped a sweet cube into her mara without answering him. He was right that she did not want to repeat that hair raising experience and, she knew he was not going to show up at a military base with her sitting on his lap as he had done the night he took her to Aquinas. There was another alternative but she quickly buried it under her ire.

Kathleen . . . you are not experienced enough and you know I’m correct in this, yes?

He was getting out of the lift on the administrative level where his office was located. His emotional colors weren’t displaying irritation, just swirls of his usual blue black indicating his sense of honor to be about on Protectorit business, business that did not include her.

Yes --- she pathed back to placate him. Their instant rapport told her he knew her answer for what it was, but he let it stand. Kathy shielded the portal so he could get to work without her annoying thoughts leaking through to him. And she was annoyed. She plopped down on the tall bar stool next to the kitchen counter and keyed on the com screen. No news, so she tried to make a call to Nuabi, and once again, all com lines to or from, the Lady Jinni were busy. Damn.

The round porthole to space caught her frustrated gaze. Tammaru was not going to relent to let her go officially so --- she was going to go anyway. She’d already booked passage on the supply shuttle, which deleted the need to fly. What Tammaru didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, if she could keep her shields up. Checking the time, she raced into the bedroom, grabbed the bead-fringed dasha of Lady Jinni’s she’d hid in her closet, and put it on. At least she could make an intership call. Corporal T’Koot’s purple face smiled into the screen.

Just wanted to confirm your departure time, Corporal. Cadet Widgin and I will meet you down in the port side shuttle bay in one sancto. We promise to not be any trouble.

You are most welcome, little miss. Though, in all my SSRs of cooking for his Lordship I never have had a little miss on one of my supply runs. But, I understand your need to attend to the new High Lady Nuabi and our Frozene cadet can help me pick out appropriate foodstuffs for him. I haven’t cooked for too many Frozene. The Corporal’s hearty smile was warm.

I’ll see you in one sancto, Corporal. Kathy cut the connection with a renewed sense of achievement. She wouldn’t be bothering Tammaru or his military inspection if she went down via the supply shuttle. And if she wore Lady Jinni’s dasha no one would know who she was, so no need for any kind of fancy protocol. There was probably some kind of ridiculous formal protocol if the Protectorit’s new wife were known to be landing on planet. She preferred anonymity. Exhilaration lifted her dower mood. Finally, she was going to go somewhere. She dressed and went to find Widgin.

* * *

You sure we won’t get into trouble? Widgin asked as he waddled along beside her.

I’m never sure about getting into trouble when it comes to Tammaru, but I need to get some personal items Lady Mirimu forgot to pack for me. Corporal T’Koot will be with us . . . we’ll be safe. Kathy checked her shields and reinforced the mental picture of her sitting in the library for good measure. A moment ago she sensed him taking off out the port side flight bay in a mottled profusion of pastels with his deep inner pleasure at soaring through the dark abyss of space. He loved flying and the freedom it brought him.

Kathy and Widgin walked into the starboard forward-shuttle-bay, or starboard FSB. Deck crews were uncoupling a small shuttle from atmospheric fuel lines while others were loading crates into the open back of the sleek little ship. Black clad personnel were everywhere, busy with the everyday tasks it took to operate a ship like the Lady Jinni, a ship larger than the Queen Mary. Corporal T’Koot’s short frame stood out by the side boarding ramp to the shuttle. Kathy grabbed Widgin by the hand and headed toward their transport making sure her purloined turban from Lady Jinni’s secret closet was firmly on her head and covering her glittering hair. The fringe of small beads she’d discovered were real blue topaz and emeralds. They hid her white irises well and it was to everyone’s best interest if she stayed incognito. The Corporal thought she was some lowly maid and she didn’t want to get him in trouble.

Ah, little lady, Corporal T’Koot greeted them jovially. Come, we are about to depart. He ushered them toward the boarding ramp.

Thank you, Corporal. I appreciate you taking Widgin and I along. Kathy let Widgin go first. Her little pal lugged a heavy shoulder bag with some of his tools up the loading ramp. He hoped to find a tool shop that had calibration equipment for pump pressure calipers and torque bolt sequencers and other strange looking equipment. Widgin had hidden the tools on board prior to his trying to rescue her. He’d purloined the tool kit from a Master Woblat on the Tenth Expanse entry station on his covert mission with Pimmnidiat and Mirimu after they had stuffed Master Woblat, and his other cohorts, into a crate heading to Zentext V.

Widgin stowed his gear and they secured themselves in the seats, behind the pilot and co-pilot. The open cargo compartment behind them held gray metallic containers ready to be loaded with supplies and foodstuffs. The Protectorit’s tri-sword with a black rose crest stood out like a beacon on their sides. Kathy held a small credit chit she’d secreted into a coat pocket before leaving the City. The little blue card from the Intergalactic City Bank held her meager medic earnings. She had kept it ever since she’d escaped from the City when she thought Tammaru was going to kill her. Since this trip was unauthorized she sure couldn’t ask Tammaru for money.

The irony of her escape from the City during Pimmnidiat’s betrothal celebration could only now be appreciated. She, Widgin, and Tharinon, had listened to Tammaru’s conversation with Pinquad by secretly hiding in the air ducts above the security room. She kept Tammaru from knowing what she was doing by blocking the portal to him with images of the ball. In truth she had also blocked herself from knowing that Tammaru was setting Pinquad up to get information on the lost gateway, which would allow him to better aid Nuabi, but not break the Edict. Letting Pinquad think he wanted her dead was a ruse. It was just the start of him using her to end Councillorship political problems, which culminated with their marriage.

Corporal T’Koot finished his conversation with a deck tech and entered the shuttle. He sat in the co-pilot’s seat and was quickly followed by a big black-clad Tammuseti Prime. The Prime’s red eyes frowned when he turned to Kathy and Widgin sitting behind him. Kathy smiled nonchalantly. He was lean for a Prime Elite, though still intimidating.

"I did not know we were to