Starlight Gleaming Ch. 10

She gave a sharp nod and walked briskly out of the hangar.

I watched Janetta, as I walked toward her. Slowly, calmly. Janetta was a trained warrior, but I knew she was wounded. I didn't know how bad. She had good hearing, and I expected her to turn and see me. She had incredible reflexes, and she could be deadly. I remembered the nauyaca viper, on Chingli Point. It had dropped silently down from the branch next to me. Her casual snap, sending her knife whizzing by my head, had saved my life.

As I reached the doorway, she put down her pen. I took in the bloody claw marks down her back, the patches of blood soaking through, at the neck of her jumpsuit. 'Oh, gods,' I thought.

I managed to get the first syllable of her name out, and she had the Wampag Talon pointed at me, her hand shaking. She stared blankly for several seconds, then seemed to recognize me.

"Ranji? Ranji?" Janetta stood up and immediately cried out in pain, falling back into the chair.

I gently took the pistol from her hands, flipped on the safety, and stuffed it into my pocket. "I'm here, baby. Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere!" She wrapped her arms around me, trying to pull herself up. I helped her. Leaning against me, she squeezed me tight, and began to sob. I saw the other half of her face, and it was a mess. Her left eye was almost closed, and there was bruising from her cheek to her neck.

Seeing such a strong woman letting loose that way was deeply disturbing. That it was Janetta, was a dull knife twisting in my heart. "Come on," I told her quietly. "There's an ambulance waiting. Let's go see a doctor."

Janetta stiffened, mastering herself. "No, Ranji, not like this. Take--take me to the shower. I need to get clean."

The look in her eyes, pleading to me, was all it took. "Okay, Janetta. Lean on me. I'm here for you."

Slowly we made our way to the open shower. Holding on to me, I helped her take off her boots.

Janetta loves those things. She spent over three hundred credits for them. Almost knee-high, they are steel-toed, thick leather, high-end, regulation combat boots. Water-proofed, they have an added seam that ends at the ankle. Two heavy, adjustable brass clamps that lock into place, creating a snug fit on her legs. Open them up, and they slide easily right off the heel. Drop your feet in, close the clamps, and they are on your feet, good and tight. And right then, I was so glad they weren't the cheaper, lace and snap kind, that I would have had to cut away.

She whimpered the whole time I took off her left boot. Her foot was horribly discolored.

"That looks broken, Janetta."

"Yeah."

Once free of the boot, Janetta kept it from touching the ground. Unsnapping the cuffs, I then unzipped her jumpsuit, taking in the tears in the lower half, that revealed her crotch. Using me to remain steady, she closed her eyes, taking slow, ragged breaths. The torn bra fell away. I pushed the jumpsuit off her arms, then down her body. The light, tough material slid down, pooling at her feet.

A massive bruise along her left rib cage. Bruising on the left side of her neck, a bite mark at the base of the other. Not made by human teeth. Difficult to see the bruising because of the large tattoos, but there were scratches on her breasts. Long claw marks on her back. Her broken foot. Multiple bruising on her inner thighs. Semen dripping from her battered sex.

There are few things more horrible than seeing a loved one in pain. You wish and pray for the power to take it all away. That's the measure of love, isn't it? That you love someone so much, that when they are in pain, it makes you want to weep with rage, and hurt whoever caused it. My brave warrior had killed her attacker, but she had suffered for it.

"I love you, Janetta." Taking her arm, I helped her to the shower, and turned on the water. She leaned into me again, as the warm water cascaded over the both of us.

For several minutes we stood there, holding each other. Then she took a deep breath. "Ranji, you're still dressed."

"Yes, I am," I agreed. "And I don't care. I'm here as long as you need me."

"Get me some soap. There's some in my locker."

"What about you?"

"As long as you don't take too long .. I'll be all right. Having you here means so much. Just being here, you are helping me get my bearings."

I retrieved her soap from her locker, and hurried back to her. With a sigh, she leaned back in to me. I lathered up, and began working her back, and the bite on her neck, generously soaping the gouges, letting the suds, and blood, run freely. Janetta hissed while I worked.

I loosened her hair clasp, stuffing it into my shirt pocket. Pouring a generous helping into her scalp, I worked her hair, taking my time to wash it thoroughly, and then to rinse it. Janetta held on, and I felt her tension ease. When I was done, she looked up into my face. "You take such good care of me. I love you, Ranji Kandikan. Give me the soap. I need to do this myself."

I handed it to her, and bracing herself, she lathered between her legs. Whimpering, she rubbed fiercely. I let her go on for a while, but finally I reached for the soap, gripping her wrist. "It's done, Janetta. It's time to go see the doctors."

"It's. Not. Clean yet." Refusing to look at me.

I turned off the water. "You are the fighter pilot. What's my job?"

"Take care of me .. and my crew." She looked at me then.

"There's not a thing that anyone else can ever do to you, that will take away your perfect warrior's heart, or mar your beauty, Janetta. Let me take care of you."

I picked her up and carried her into the office, sitting her on the desk.

"The reports, Ranji. They'll get wet."

I moved them away. "Rest your feet on the chair. I'll get some towels, and a new jumpsuit for you."

After I got her dried off, I emptied the first aid kit, and applied the remaining Nu-Skin patches onto her back. Then I helped her into a fresh jumpsuit, from her locker. Her foot was visibly swollen. Janetta, though, was calmer, content to watch me, as I tended to her. I collected her boots and brought them to the office. The ruined jumpsuit went into the trash bin. Grabbing the stack of papers from her desk, I headed out of the office.

"Hey! Where are you going with those?" she demanded.

"We are going to the hospital. You are under orders to have them ready, by end of shift tomorrow morning. I'm getting them delivered for you."

She blinked. "Oh. Okay."

I approached the Imperial Security officer waiting by the bay doors, a senior lieutenant. Most of the vehicles and soldiers were gone. Two ChoCacs remained, a four-door passenger vehicle, and the ambulance. Two armed troopers stood guard nearby, with the officer.

"Thank you for waiting," I told the security officer. "She's almost ready. I need two favors. This stack of papers need to go to the Second in Command, of the 233rd, at the end of shift, tomorrow morning. The second favor is that someone follow us, in her HueCac, to the hospital. When she is discharged, I'd rather she not have to walk. Is that acceptable?"

He took the papers, glancing through them. "I'll see they are delivered. And I'll have someone follow you to the hospital. It's impressive that she killed him. Draconians are stronger than humans are. Getting his cloaking and camouflage generators, that's the coup of the century."

"I'm not surprised at all. Lieutenant Tlacotli is a Jaguar Warrior, and an Eagle Warrior. Today she's had two people she cared for hospitalized, survived a nearly fatal sabotage of her aircraft, and tonight she was raped, and badly hurt, but she killed him in single combat. Her superior officer ordered her to have those papers done. Rather than be treated for her injuries, she worked until her orders were completed. That warrior has a heart that won't quit. Many have tried to take her down, but she is still standing."

"Duly noted, Sublieutenant. Duly noted."

Back in the office, I gave Janetta her boots to carry. A kiss, and then I carried her out to the ambulance.

As we headed to the hospital, I pulled out her brush and began doing her hair. Janetta sighed and closed her eyes. By the time we arrived, I had her hair brushed and contained once again within her jaguar hair clasp.

* * * * *

For the next three hours, I waited while the doctors examined Janetta. The foot was broken all right. Three cracked ribs. Several shots to prevent infection from the bite, and claw marks. They were going to wrap the ribs, and send her home with basic pain relievers. Before I could get into their face, the medical staff looked at the computer screen briefly, suddenly changed gears, and prepared to wheel her off for the nano-treatment.

I hurried to speak to her before they forced me away. "Janetta, they aren't going to let me stay with you. I'll be here waiting, until you return."

The sedatives were kicking in already. "Go check on Cholan, and Ixma, Ranji. See how they are. When I wake, I want .. I want you to tell me."

So I wandered down to Reception. I was prepared to fight, and if necessary, hurt someone to get any information, but there was no need. Once I got through the line, I asked about them, and once I showed proof of identity, I was given Cholan's medical status and her room number. The same for Ixma as well.

Ixma was considered well enough to be discharged in the morning.

Cholan's surgeries and the nano-treatment had gone well. Her face and chest were in plaster casts, to immobilize the injured bones while she healed. She had been heavily sedated, since arriving at the hospital. It was after visiting hours, but I didn't care. I was surprised to find an Imperial Guard inside her room, though. Once I was identified, my presence wasn't challenged.

At her bed, I kissed the top of her head and touched her hair. "Get better fast, Cholan. We need you."

Up two floors and on to another wing to see Ixma and Zinja. They, too, had a guard, but he stood outside. Once I passed inspection I quietly slipped inside.

I found them spooned together on the bed, Zinja's arms protectively around her daughter. They were all right, and seeing them like that brought a smile to my face.

Turning to go, Zinja sat up and whispered to me. "Lieutenant? I thought you went home for the night." She looked at her watch, frowning. "Has something happened?"

I stepped closer to their bed. "One of the bastards that hurt Cholan, and Ixma, attacked Janetta at the hangar. She's alive, but she's hurt pretty badly. I'll come by about seven, and take you to see her. Then I have to head to work."

"Did she kill him?"

"I don't know the particulars, but I'm assured he's quite dead."

"Was she ..?"

"Yeah."

Zinja swore quietly. Then she shook her head. "One of the gods of chaos sure has a thing for her, Lieutenant. If I could figure out which one, I'd give up a year's wages to buy favor for her."

"Her attacker was draconian."

"Gods above!" Then she grinned. "Our Lieutenant, she's a tough one!"

Ixma mumbled in her sleep.

Zinja caressed her daughter's hair gently. "She was having a rough time sleeping. They gave her something to knock her out. Should be awake by morning, I would think."

Shifting, Ixma half rolled onto her stomach, then her hips began to grind into the bed. "Mmm, Ranji," she murmured.

I looked at Zinja, who burst out laughing. "Isn't that a kick in the pants! Hears your voice, and it sets her off. No doubt but what she's dreaming about, now!"

My cheeks felt hot. I had no problem riding Ixma in front of her mother, her commanding officer, and her crew mate. But watching while she had an erotic dream, somehow seemed too personal, too intrusive into her private thoughts. Even if it involved me.

"Oh, don't be like that, Lieutenant," Zinja told me, as if she had heard my thoughts spoken aloud. "The girl's got it bad for you. And I'd rather her have a wet dream, than wrestle with night monsters. Besides, there's nothing wrong with a woman craving the touch of a good man."

"You think I'm a good man?"

"Lieutenant, don't you worry about that. You are doing fine." Then she gave me a wicked grin. "You do real fine."

Ixma ground her hips into the mattress, sighing.

"You're not going to help her get off?"

"Good night, Zinja. I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night, Lieutenant."

I went to the room assigned to Janetta. Again, there was a guard on duty.

Janetta hated Orchid. And Orchid was brusk -- harsh even -- and coldly efficient. But I kept seeing evidence, that despite appearances, Orchid showed that our lives mattered to her. Two men died because she had assigned them to keep watch on me, Janetta, and her crew. The thoroughness of her examinations, and the mercy shown to Sowitwee. The unprecedented plea for all the service women, including soliciting the support of the Empress herself, to render justice. Nearly seventy-two hours since I'd met her, and I would not be surprised to learn she had not slept a wink. I'd had a few hours each night, and I felt beat.

The words she said when I first learned Melannee's alternate identity, came back to me. "Don't believe everything you hear about me." A simple request to give her the benefit of the doubt, to not judge her by appearances. And her request that I be her friend, just before she donned the role of Orchid. How hungry would I be for a friend to trust, if I lived a life full of lies? The transformation showed it was a role she played, like an actress in an entertainment vid, but a role that demanded attention to detail, or face death.

I knew nothing of Melannee's background, but the bare tale of her birth. How could one talk of the rape of their own mother, and the bastard child that resulted, with such jaded contempt? There was no doubt that Ixma had been blessed by the love of her mother. Had Melannee been reminded of, or even punished, for the rape that caused her birth? I could speculate to no useful end. I hoped that one day I'd hear Melannee's tale in fuller measure, and until then, I realized I was prepared to give her the friendship she had begged of me.

Setting my alarm, I settled into a chair. "Private? If they come in and I don't rouse, will you please wake me?"

Remaining at attention, the guard nodded. "Yes, sir."

* * * * *

The guard had to shake me, I was that far gone. Two orderlies wheeled Janetta into the room, with a nurse overseeing the process. They moved her to the bed.

I pulled myself to my feet.

Janetta herself was out cold. Drugs, pain, stress, and lack of sleep, can wear you out, that's for sure. I noticed Nu-Skin patches all over the massive bruises on her neck, and ribs, and a fresh plaster cast on her foot.

"Where are her boots?" I asked.

"Personal items are stored until checkout," the nurse responded. "Or until requested, and approved, by the primary physician."

"As long as you don't lose them," I warned her. "If you do, I won't speak for the safety of the one who lost them."

"Yeah, she's real tough right now," the nurse nodded, dismissing my warning. She looked at me speculatively. "Are you going to try and climb into bed to be with her?"

"If I can," I admitted.

The nurse scowled, but instructed the orderlies to move her back off, and widen the bed. It was barely wider than a single, but with the rail on one side, we could squeeze in. Finishing the chart notes, she informed me that if I removed the IV on Janetta's hand, or tried any sexual shenanigans, I'd be banned from further overnights.

"Yes, Ma'am," I replied, removing my shoes. Once they moved her back onto the bed again, I slid in next to her. And without waking, Janetta sighed and curled into me.

"Okay," the nurse grudgingly admitted. "She seems to like you, so you can stay." Then she destroyed any bluster, by laying a blanket over us.

A kiss to the forehead of my warrior, and I was out.

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