Aablar the Neanderthal Ch. 12

Fearing for Caitlin's life, Aablar has been talked into giving himself up to the pursuing Zon by a strange apparition. He has fallen into the hands of the ruthless Diana Tragina and her elite team of Palace Guardians. Even as the Zon rejoice, Caitlin finds herself unable to join in the celebrations wholeheartedly. In the meantime, Princess Deirdre uses the Aablar incident to good advantage in the election campaign to succeed Queen Hildegard.

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1. Parting her red ceremonial robes, Deirdre plumped her breasts through her tight-fitting red bustier. Then adjusting the silver chain around her waist so her short ceremonial sword hung just so, she knocked on the door of the command stateroom. Diana's melodious voice floated out, 'Enter.' Deirdre tapped the door panel and it slid noiselessly aside. Diana was sitting in her favorite leather club chair by a porthole, dressed in her combat uniform, except for the plumed helmet, that was on an end table beside her. When she saw her visitor, she immediately stood and came forward, saying, 'Principal, you need only have summoned me …'

'Oh, I have Caitlin with me in the Royal Stateroom, and I wished to see you alone. In just over an hour we will be arriving in the City, where you will make your triumphal entry. You'll be the center of attention and there will be no chance of privacy.'

Deirdre's recommendation of Diana for the Purple Garter had been passed unanimously at a virtual meeting of the Council of Principals held over the comm. As the recipient of a high honor returning from the field, Diana would be received with a triumph. This involved a triumphal march from the airport to the Temple of Artemis on the peak of the Acropolis, where there would be a service presided over by the Queen herself. In the evening, there would be a Triumphal Ball at the Chateau Reine, to which all priestesses, huntresses and their guests would be invited. Diana was still slightly embarrassed over the whole affair. 'I would rather have had a bar added to my Order of Merit,' she had confided to Alexandra. 'The Purple Garter is just too much for what I've done. I wasn't killed in combat for Hera's sake!'

But now as Deirdre parted her robe, she embraced her warmly and rubbed nipples, saying, 'You do me great honor, Princess Deirdre. How can I serve you?'

Deirdre remained in close embrace and ran her fingers through Diana's loose, pale blonde mane and traced the outlines of her fine cheekbones. Deirdre was one of the few Zon who matched Diana's height and her cornflower blue eyes were on a level with Diana's pale gray ones.

'Diana, you cannot imagine how I regret our falling out. It took this awful incident to make me realize how important you are to the sisterhood,' here she paused. 'And to me.'

She drew Diana even closer, feeling her full breasts with her own small, pert ones. Then she kissed her on the lips, her tongue probing and seeking response. Diana felt heat forming in her belly and descending to her loins. She knew that very soon she would be unable to resist the advances of the beautiful princess. She managed to break the kiss and step back, still with her hands on Deirdre's shoulders.

'Princess, you are dear to me and I ever aspire to follow your lead. However, now …'

But Deirdre stepped forward and continued to kiss her temple and stroke her silky hair, saying, 'Kiss me, dearest Diana. Oh, how I have missed you!'

'Princess, I …' Deirdre's hands now came around and began kneading Diana's full breasts through the thin lyntronex of her uniform leotard. Her nipples were already puckered and now quickly stiffened in response to Deirdre's expert ministering. When Deirdre's lips traced a path along her cheekbone and to her own lips, Diana's mouth opened and her tongue twined around her lover's. Her formerly inert hands buried themselves in Deirdre's honey blonde hair, holding her tight as their mouths worked on each other's.

It had been many years since Deirdre had experienced Diana's passion and it surprised her a little with its force. Diana's nimble fingers found the ties of Deirdre's bustier and impatiently unthreaded them till she could loosen the garment and pull it off. Then she reached under Deirdre's short red skirt and found her crotch, massaging it expertly through her thin thong panties. Within a few moments, she stripped the panties down and over Deirdre's knee-high laced boots.

Deirdre's hands were not idle and she found the clasp of Diana's belt and unfastened it. The belt, weighed down by the laser pistol, sword and other leather pouches, felt to the thick carpet with a muffled thud. Then she unzipped Diana's uniform leotard and pulled the garment apart, pausing to admire Diana's wonderfully firm breasts with her lips. Then she peeled the leotard off her shoulders and down over her thigh boots.

Minimally clothed now, their hungry lips returned to each other's, their bodies rubbing, breast against breast, nipple against nipple, mewing sounds escaping them as their excitement rose. Diana's mouth followed a path down Deirdre's long neck and to her firm little breasts with their eraser-like nipples. She kneaded Deirdre's breasts as she sucked on the nipples, causing them to become even harder. She dropped to her knees, her hands now massaging Deirdre's firm rump and her tongue tracing circles around the tiny swell of Deirdre's belly. She teased her lover, her tongue darting down to the edge of Deirdre's cunt and then back to her belly. Deirdre moaned, 'Oh Diana, Diana, you are driving me insane!'

Finally, she yielded to the princess's entreaties and her mouth found Deirdre's nether lips, kissing and sucking, her tongue darting into the tight orifice of her vagina. Deirdre lost herself to passion now, crying out, 'Don't stop, oh, don't stop my love!' These cries served to heighten Diana's own passion and she felt the wetness forming in her cunt. She transferred her attentions to Deirdre's clit, finally driving her up over the edge. Deirdre held Diana's head tightly in her grasp as she rotated her hips and came with powerful spasmodic contractions, crying out, 'Oh, Hera! Oh, Athena! Mother goddess! Oohh!! Oohh!! Oohh!!'

Her knees felt weak and gave way. She collapsed into Diana's willing arms. Diana nuzzled her neck and hair and half carried her gently to the wide bed. They snuggled and Deirdre's fingers traced the ridges of Diana's abs and then the edges of the red shield painted around her belly button. She was just beginning to work on Diana's cunt when Diana's comm. channel pinged. Deirdre kissed her and said, 'Ignore it, Diana, close your comm. channel for a few moments.'

Diana was sorely tempted, but demurred. 'Let me just see who it is,' she said, slightly breathless in her passion. She opened the channel and heard Alexandra's smooth tones.

'Cornelle, I am setting up the order of protocol for the debarkation at Atlantic City,' she said. 'As the triumphal victor, do you want to the savage in your control as we process to the Queen's dais?'

Alexandra's voice brought Diana back to the present.

'Yes, I will control the savage,' she replied, not completely succeeding in keeping the breathlessness out of her voice.

Alexandra's tone changed from formal to a softer, caressing one. 'Can I see you before we form up for debarkation?' she asked.

Deirdre's hands continued to work on her cunt and Diana felt her hot breath on her throat. It was difficult for her to think straight, with Deirdre's adept attentions. Finally, in a faint voice, she said, 'Come to my cabin in ten minutes.'

Diana closed the comm. channel and Deirdre ceased her ministrations, content to play with one of Diana's still hard nipples. She cocked a quizzical eyebrow.

Diana's expression showed traces of embarrassment.

'I tried to tell you as soon as you came in, Princess,' she said seriously. 'I have been thinking of going mono.'

'And I assume that Lady Alexandra is the lucky girl?' Deirdre made it sound like a statement, rather than a question.

'Yes. But I haven't asked her yet.'

'Mono' or commitment to a single sexual partner, with legal trappings with regard to the joint ownership of property was a well-established Zon institution. However, it was much more frequent amongst commoners than amongst the aristocracy and the huntress/priestess elite. Since children were brought by the State, the Zon had no need for a family unit. Temporary co-habitation was the norm, so that property passed from mother to eldest daughter with no complications.

Deirdre hugged Diana tightly and kissed her again on the lips.

'She will be lucky to get you,' she said sincerely. 'You are the best of us all. Oh! You have just returned to my arms and now you will leave my embrace forever!' Then Deirdre's eyes twinkled mischievously. 'You realize that if I become Queen, Alexandra will become my handmaiden, with all the requirements of that position?'

Diana flushed. "I was hoping that as Queen you would promote her.'

'Oh, she is much too young to be a cornelle,' said Deirdre. Then, seeing Diana's concerned expression, she relented. 'I am only teasing. Of course if I win the election, I will re-assign her.' She became more serious. 'Her mother and sister will take a dim view of this.'

A mono between Diana and Alexandra would entitle the Guardian Cornelle to half of the Scheel estate on Countess Dorothea's retirement. As an aristocrat of minimal abilities, highly placed commoners like Diana were anathema to her. Alexandra's younger sister, similarly undistinguished, would be equally upset.

Deirdre slid lazily out of bed, stood and stretched luxuriously, dressed in little other than her red boots, wrist bracers and choker. She put her arms in the air in mute command. Diana hurriedly got out of bed, got her bag of lotions out of the bathroom and proceeded to anoint Deirdre. She had just completed dressing the princess, when there was a knock on the door, signaling Alexandra's arrival.

'Anoint yourself in the bathroom, Diana,' said Deirdre. 'I will receive Alexandra on your behalf.'

Diana disappeared and Deirdre called out, 'Enter!'

Alexandra entered with a puzzled expression and bowed on seeing the princess. Deirdre beckoned her and as she approached, parted her robe and rubbed nipples.

'Diana is just freshening up, my dear,' said Deirdre blandly. She patted her maternally on the head and smilingly continued, 'It has been so long since I have seen you informally, Alex. I remember you playing with Caitlin in the d'Orr palace when you were a young girl. Now look at you – a Quinta in the Cohort of Palace Guardians, handmaiden to the Queen! Dorothea must be so proud of you.'

Alexandra blushed with pleasure under the princess' praise. In truth, Dorothea was rather jealous of her daughter's success. Alexandra often envied Caitlin her glamorous mother.

Moments later Diana emerged from the bathroom, thumbs hooked in her gun-belt, and Deirdre took her leave.

As soon as they were alone, they embraced fervently and kissed with passion. Diana's passion was stored up and she would very much have liked to make love, but she knew that time was now short. She wanted to speak to Alexandra before they arrived back in the City.

Diana spoke first. 'Alex, by now you know how much I care for you. I have a very serious question for you and please don't feel constrained to answer me immediately. I would like to ask you to go mono with me.'

Alexandra's face lit up further and her smile was incandescent. So before she could answer, Diana continued. 'Before you answer, please think about the difference in our positions. Think about the reaction of your mother, who may well cut off your allowance till she retires. You must know that I could not live under her thumb in the Scheel mansion. You would have to live with me in my quarters in the Legion barracks.' Here she paused again. 'But I do love you, Alex and I offer you everything that is mine.'

Alexandra's eyes continued to shine. 'Oh, Diana, I would live with you in the Northern wastes if that were necessary! This is the happiest day of my life! Of course I will go mono with you! I will! I will!'

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2. Captain Hebe Nevis was in the command chair as the 'Andromeda' began her final approach into Atlantic City. Above, Captain Rhea Candaris held the 'Thetis' on a circular course at ten thousand feet waiting for the larger airship to touch down. All of the distinguished company on board were on the bridge – Princesses Deirdre and Andromache sat in check captains' chairs, while Cornelle Diana and Quinta Lady Alexandra stood in full combat uniforms on the overlooking flying bridge. Hebe noted that the apron of the Atlantic City airport was bare – all the other four Zon airships were away bringing eligible Zon voters and curious commoners back to the capital for the election. Before taking over the con from her first officer, she stood to face her august passengers.

'Princesses, we are now in our final approach to Atlantic City. I suggest that you join the honor guard on the launch deck to prepare for debarkation. The Queen's reception party is at the airport. Princess Andromache, will you require assistance?'

Andromache shook her head. Nonetheless, as she stood up, Deirdre came and took her elbow. The 'Andromeda''s descent was as smooth as silk and she gently waved Deirdre away. Her step, however, was delicate. The medical procedure she had undergone was a serious one and she was still slightly sedated to ward off the pain of the repairs that had fused her jaw and cheekbones back into their original form.

Hebe now concentrated on bringing the huge airship in for landing, a very delicate and skillful task. The 'Andromeda' was well over a thousand tons and had to be landed with her keel precisely positioned on a prepared landing pad.

Neither princess had a handmaiden on board, so Diana and Alexandra quickly clambered down the steps from the flying bridge and took up positions behind them. Diana, the senior officer, took up station behind Andromache, who was the senior of the two in Zon protocol. Alexandra, quite used to this position since she served as the Queen's own handmaiden, took up station behind Deirdre. The four of them made their way down the companionway to the central elevator bank of the ship.

'Deirdre, we should agree on a recommendation to the make to the Queen regarding our lost sister, this Leia,' said Andromache as they walked.

'She has actively participated in an assault on the sisterhood,' said Deirdre grimly. 'She has committed treason, which is a military offense so she will come up before a military tribunal.'

'Treason is also a capital offense,' said Andromache gently. 'Do you really want her shot?'

Deirdre was silent for a moment.

'No,' she admitted finally. 'She was born in the wild and knew nothing else. A shame we did not find her when she was younger! Now, I understand from Medica Dannae that she is almost three months pregnant and the fetus was almost certainly fathered by the savage Aablar.'

'It is also male,' said Andromache. 'Since I find you sympathetic, Deirdre, I suggest the following. My priestesses will guide her through a gentle period of re-programming. She knows and trusts Medica Dannae, who is a priestess of the Temple of Artemis. Let us place her with Althea, under the wing of Dannae. They can recover together. I will arrange for Dannae to abort Leia's fetus under general anesthetic, so that she can be led to believe that she miscarried. I am confident we can re-integrate her into the sisterhood.'

Deirdre was doubtful.

'Medica Dannae is not a psychiatrist,' she said. 'Don't you think that Lady Althea should see one?'

'Do you think that Lady Caitlin should see one?' Andromache's tone was slightly teasing.

'No, I suppose you are right. Both Caitlin and Althea can have a minimal psychiatric screen and we can decide on that basis whether they need anything more.'

They had descended to the launch deck now. Both squads of Palace Guardians on board were arrayed in ceremonial combat uniforms with highly polished plumed helmets and swords. They all had their horses, with splendidly turned out tack. Seignora Megara held the bridle of Diana's huge stallion in addition to her own horse. Alexandra's horse was hitched to a D-ring on a bulkhead. Guardian Felicia Andrus held one of the reserve horses that had been readied for Princess Deirdre and had a blanket and plumes in the colors of the Pentheselia Legion.

All the Guardians and other airship crew dropped to one knee on the entrance of the princesses. Andromache bid them to rise. There was a ground speeder anchored just by the main hatch and both Leia and Althea were in it along with Guardian Dar-Ella who sat in the driver's seat. The speeder's wings flew flags with the arms of the Temple of Artemis and of the Royal House of Spalding. The front seat was vacant and awaited Andromache. Even as the party proceeded on to the launch deck, the voice of Captain Hebe's first officer came over the ship's comm. 'Five minutes to touchdown.'

Andromache smiled and took her place in the speeder at the head of the debarkation party. Diana turned to Deirdre, saying, 'Princess, I beg of you to take my horse, it is improper for your highness to ride a reserve stallion.'

'Nonsense, Diana,' returned Deirdre with a smile. 'Today is your triumph. You must show how glamorous the foremost huntress of the sisterhood is!'

Alexandra had disappeared for the moment from the launch deck. Now she returned with two other huntresses, holding the lead chain to Aablar's collar. Again his wrists and ankles were shackled, but this time he appeared much more docile. He walked with a painful shuffle – every step was agony. His swollen and disfigured face drew a collective gasp. Alexandra handed the lead to Diana, her left hand on the butt of her laser pistol. But Aablar remained meek. Caitlin, attired in the formal combat uniform of the Household Legion and holding another reserve horse, watched intently from the rear of the launch deck.

'One minute to touchdown,' the first officer came on the ship's comm. again. Everyone on the launch deck mentally counted down the seconds and then there was an amazingly gentle bump as Captain Hebe set the huge airship's keel down on the landing pad stays.

There was now a flurry of activity as the huntresses all mounted their horses and formed up behind the speeder. As Dar-Ella started the engine of the speeder, the huge main hatch began to open with a whine. The speeder led the way down the ramp, Dar-Ella driving it at a slow walking pace. As soon as it was clear of the shadow of the airship, Andromache stood on the small reviewing platform that slid out of the dashboard. Aablar shuffled a few paces behind the speeder, the long lead chain from his collar arcing up to Diana's left hand on her magnificent white stallion. Deirdre rode behind Diana and the Guardian cavalry squads rode behind her.

Huntresses cordoned off the airport apron and behind them was a huge crowd – almost the entire population of Atlantic City had turned out to witness the Triumph. In front of the huntress cordon was a smaller crowd of huntresses, priestesses and commoners related, mono'ed or co-habiting with returning personnel. In front of this crowd was a raised dais with two steps leading up to it. On it was gilded throne and several lesser seats. The Queen and all senior Zon dignitaries were on the dais. As soon as Andromache's speeder emerged from the airship, the Queen rose and all the dignitaries followed suit. A roar erupted from the crowd. A second, louder roar, as well as cries of 'Cornelle Diana! Hurrah! Our champion!' arose as Aablar and Diana came into view. As the mounted huntress squads came into view, the crowd began a raucous rendition of the Zon anthem: