Starlight Gleaming Ch. 16

"Life of Ranji!" I snorted. "I don't smoke. And there's nothing wrong with some beer once in awhile."

Bilan grinned. "I noticed you did not deny the pussy-poking duties. Wonder dick! Now it could be that I saved your sorry hide because you are my brother and I like you. But just maybe it's because I love my wife more than I want to go dipping my wick somewhere else. Or maybe I value my dick and don't want it injured from severe overuse - which if I tried to take care of six women with healthy, strong needs, my pecker would surely perish a valiant but sad death and deprive my Rana of her due. And we both know that depriving my wife is a big no-no. Yeah. I saved your butt to keep Rana happy. So count yourself lucky, Ranji Kandikan."

"And it was your brotherly duty to disabuse me of the notion that you rescued me because you actually liked me. Thank you, Bilan."

"You're twenty-two. That's how many years of backlog crap that I owe you. We should have grown up together, and then you could have had your colored pencils and toy swords taken from you when it was time to do so, and rubbed your face in the mud when you needed it. I'm just getting started, Ranji. Just getting started."

"Despite your nefarious plans, Bilan, I think Janetta will have something to say about it. And she plays with knives. And she's really good with them."

"Hmm."

I added the final parts to my uniform. Neckerchief. Grade pins. Lanyard. Put the holstered pistol onto my belt. Affixed House name and unit badges.

"Not going to shave?" he asked.

"Nope. You're dying of hunger, remember?"

"I want to see how your women take it."

Retrieving my toiletry supplies, I grabbed my duffle bag, and we exited. Since he knew his way around the base somewhat, I let him lead.

"If that's all that happens, I will count myself lucky. Seriously, how are Rana and your boys doing?"

He laughed. "Gods above, Ranji, my boys love it at your parents' place. They are running out in the trees and crashing through the brush like maniacs. I have never seen them so happy! And they call your mother Grandmama - which she likes, by the way. And she is spoiling them both rotten. And Rana? She's decided we're having another child."

Pausing, I glanced at him. "Do tell."

"It's done. She's practically glowing, she's so happy. And since she became pregnant, she's become insatiable. And I mean, she wants it all the time!" Then Bilan lowered his voice to a whisper. "Ranji, she even uses her mouth on me! Sometimes she has me squirt it on her breasts. Then she smears it into her skin and says she loves it! It must be the country living, because I don't recall Rana being like that when we were at High Guard."

We exited the room and I let him direct us down the busy hospital corridors.

"Sounds like you have problems that other men would covet."

"I have a happy family, Ranji. Actually, I've never been happier myself than I am right now. My wife loves me and can't enough of me. My boys are full of joy and laughter and they are growing like weeds. I have my own command again, I'm protecting your parents, and sometimes I get to come rescue my brother."

"Sounds like the life of Bilan isn't so bad either."

"The women would say, 'don't jinx it,' so, don't jinx it for me."

"Bilan, you understand the particulars of the situation, like the names of the civilians, shouldn't be mentioned to others? Now that I've met her mother, I would like to see them reconcile, especially now that they don't live together. If Janetta finds out about my visit, it might set her against her mother and get her thoroughly pissed at me."

"It just so happens this mission is classified, so you're in luck. But I hope you are planning on telling Janetta sometime down the road."

"I will. Once she's talking to her mother again."

"Good. Secrets between spouses and lovers never work. They poison the well both drink from."

"That's the gods' truth."

We soon arrived at the hospital cafeteria. Already at the table were the three policemen from Uiyatiwitz. I knew the first names of two, but between in all the rush and having my head cracked, I had never learned the police corporal's name.

Seated at a good-sized table, they rose up as we approached. With them were the medico sergeant and the third sergeant from the helicopter ride.

Introductions were made. Both of the Ground Service men had been with Bilan during their trip aboard the freighter, Free Wind. The medico sergeant was Taygatchu and the third sergeant was Barato.

From the policemen I learned their full names. The police corporal was Chian Tlocasetsi, and his partner from under mattress was Lehkitl Cuapa. The man who'd taken a bullet for me was Tu'ul Tolama. Corporal Chian's partner, assigned to protect Zaniyah and the others, was Chenu Piatsi.

Since they were already eating, I dropped my duffle bag onto the bench beside them, and Bilan and I got into the buffet queue. I wasn't sure about any of the food. Cafeteria food was generally hit or miss, with miss being the usual outcome. The last meal I remembered eating was the breakfast I had shared with Meeno and his family, two days before. While I was sure the medical staff had given me some nutrients by IV, I was hungry for something solid.

As we made selections, Bilan let me know the better choices. I paid for both of us, and at the table, I was almost prepared for some of the dishes to be prank-worthy. You know. Either super-hot or so bad it needed a health warning with the phone number for emergency services. But all the food was decent, and in a couple of cases, pretty good. Bilan gave me a look about half-way through the meal, letting me know he'd expected my suspicions, and making me worried about it had been enough of a tease.

I really had a brother!

Tu'ul, of course, had been seriously wounded, but all three of them were now fully healed, having received nano-treatments. Being civilians, their expenses shouldn't have been covered. I glanced at Bilan, and he simply said, "It's all covered."

Corporal Chian was particularly grateful. Prior to their call to Teela's house, he'd been taking a lot of antacids for heartburn for months. The medical scans during their profiling discovered his stomach cancer. The nano-bots cleaned it out at the same time as his wounds were healed.

As he had been the least injured, Lehkitl had called in to use sick leave for himself and the others. They were unpaid for their off-time, but at least their jobs were safe. After their discharge, all three were pretty excited about surviving their adventure.

Bilan's men were quietly amused, listening to them recount and then embellish each other's version of events. The corporal had given me his flash-bang grenade, but I'd never had the chance to use it. In the story told at the table, though, we had killed at least five attackers with a couple of well-placed grenades, with plenty of satisfying explosions and associated mayhem. Bilan had brought a full platoon of men, two teams split equally between the two AHH-22 Raptors. As the tale continued, the amount of gun play and the size of the participating rescue forces grew larger and larger as the young men vied for a grander recollection. The number of enemies killed and wounded continued to expand, too.

"Lord Kandikan?" Lehkitl ventured.

"Yes?"

"After they brought you back, you were whispering something. What was it? If I'm not being too presumptuous?"

I was a bit fuzzy about that. I looked at Bilan, and he answered. "He was reciting specifications about the helicopter we were riding in."

Tu'ul gave a puzzled look. "Why?"

I shrugged. "Someone told me - probably you, Taygatchu - that I needed to keep my eyes open, and to stay awake. I recognized the helicopter we were in, and I just started reciting what I knew about it."

Lehkitl asked, "Are you a pilot, my lord?"

Tu'ul elbowed him in the ribs. "He's in the Imperial Air Service, you numbskull! Of course he's a pilot!"

Bilan and his men laughed at that.

"Yes, I can fly," I replied. "But that's not my job in the Air Service. Part of my time is spent checking records and supplies. The other half is security, doing things like you do. Catching bad guys. Protecting people. Helping others in case of accidents. Even helping people get to work safely and on time. And I do a lot of paperwork."

"So... you're a military cop?" Lehkitl asked.

I nodded.

The two younger policemen grinned at me. Corporal Chian nodded thoughtfully.

"Bilan?" I asked. "Do you have any specific orders about me?"

"Get you back to your parents' place safely. You have sealed orders waiting for you there."

"I see." Sealed orders? Not another assignment!

Then I realized the impact of what he'd told me earlier. My mother had had days to interrogate Janetta and the others. Days!

Knowing my mother, Janetta and Zinja might resist saying too much, but Ixma and Cholan would be putty in her hands. And Calia? She was my Personal Servant, but Calia was also like a daughter to my parents, and the two had had years to become as thick as thieves.

Seven hells.

Hopefully, Sisi and Mina along with Bilan's boys were keeping Mother sufficiently distracted, and Janetta wasn't climbing the walls.

I could only hope.

"Besides, Ranji," Bilan added, "There's a mortuary urn with your name as the sender, by way of Nazca Proving Grounds." He looked at me curiously.

Deedee's ashes. It would be good to lay her to rest, in a place where she would be welcomed if she were still alive. She deserved that much from me.

"Right now," I said, "We need to return to Uiyatiwitz. These fine warriors need a ride home, and I have some other luggage to pick up. I'd also like to meet the house manager I hired. Plus, Meeno and his family are coming back with us."

"More work for your mother?" Bilan asked.

"Not if I can help it. They're Free Farmers and I'm taking them on. Things are tough in this area right now, so I'm setting him up on some land that yet to be purchased near our home."

Bilan checked his watch. "Barato? Go call the Gate and see if the trucks with the work crew have left yet."

The sergeant got up and hurried off.

"Trucks?"

"Tortoise and two ChoCac escorts. Seems a certain Lady insisted that her friend's house get some repairs done. Bullet holes that needed patching. Windows and doors that needed repair. Surprisingly, your boss agreed."

Barato quickly returned. "They were just heading out, Lieutenant. They'll swing by here and pick us up. Should be by the front entrance in five minutes."

So, like that, we collected our gear and headed out.

A short time later, two all-wheeled ChoCocs with heavy machine guns took up station outside the front of the hospital while the Tortoise opened up. Inside, four rows of seats had been removed to stow cargo and supplies. Next to the crates were seven combat engineers led by a senior sergeant, all lounging in the front by the driver. The engineers made room for us. Drinking beer.

Once we boarded, Bilan and his men settled in. Barato and Taygatchu pulled out the foot rests and closed their eyes.

Bilan glanced at them, then turned to me. "I'd like to chat more, Ranji, but except for a few hours, I've been up the last thirty-six. ETA for Uiyatiwitz is about nineteen- or twenty-hundred hours."

"Don't let me stop you," I told him. "That was one of the first things I learned in boot. Sleep and eat when you can."

He nodded, pulled out his own foot rests and was quickly fast asleep.

As the vehicle moved, I slid back one of the viewing ports. Tu'ul and Lehkitl moved closer to the engineers, who shared their beer and, seeing the officers distracted, quietly resumed their card game.

Corporal Chian got up and moved closer to me. "My lord?"

"Go on, Corporal. If I don't like it, I will tell you so, but I won't punish a man for being honest. You and the others did right by me. We shared battle and shed our blood together. That makes us brothers in arms. I won't forget that."

"Thank you, my lord. You deserve the credit, though. The shields, your tactics - they carried us through."

"We were lucky. And your shotgun in close quarters helped a lot. I've only been in a few fights, but afterward I see so many ways things could have gone wrong. And even with the very best equipment, men, and training, one can still get killed."

"Will there be fallout for us after you leave?"

I sighed. "I don't think so. That's not much reassurance, I know. If you run into trouble, get a message to me through Lady Zaniyah's house manager. You should have my contact information from earlier. Let me know and I will try to do my best to make it right. I'm a Warrior officer, but I'm not very high in rank, and that limits what I can do, especially since my current duty station is on the other side of this continent."

"I understand."

"On the other hand, if you or the others feel yourselves in danger, I would be willing to hire you on as house guards, either protecting Lady Zaniyah or far away from here."

"I appreciate your offer, my lord, but I don't want to leave my city. I have family here. If it's not too personal, are you two really brothers?"

"As in shared parents? No. Our kinship lies in our respect and affection for each other. We made the choice to become brothers. Lord Monaycote saved our lives. He is a true Warrior, a brave man who acts with honor. It is my privilege to be his brother."

"I should blush at such praise," Bilan muttered, his arms still folded and eyes closed.

"Hey! I thought you were asleep!" I told him. "Not fair to be listening in, you know."

"What Lord Kandikan doesn't say is that he himself is the same kind of Warrior. A man of honor, worthy of friendship and loyalty. If I have saved him, it should be known that he has save me and my family in return."

"How am I supposed to properly praise you when you pipe in? Now that you've heard it, don't let it go to your head," I warned.

"Stop worrying, Ranji. My head will never get bigger than yours."

"That's probably true," I admitted.

"No, Ranji, you're doing it wrong. Little brothers aren't supposed to give in like that."

"I thought we decided that because I outrank you, that you're the little brother."

"You decided that. I didn't agree. Besides, I didn't tell you but I'm getting promoted at the end of the month. We'll be the same grade and I will still be the older one. Ergo, you are the little brother."

"Congratulations, Bilan. How about we agree to be twins?"

Corporal Chian quietly laughed.

"Perfect," Bilan replied. "Twins separated by different mothers. I can live with that. Goodnight, Ranji."

"As twins, we can skip the lost years of missed mayhem and assume we got along famously. Goodnight, Bilan. Anything else, Corporal Chian?"

He shook his head. "No, my lord. Thank you."

It was quiet the rest of the way to Uiyatiwitz. Which was a good thing. Without a laptop, though, I was bored, and soon found myself drifting.

* * * * *

When we arrived, the vehicles pulled up in front of Zaniyah's home.

One of the engineers opened up the back door and lowered the ramp. It was twenty-one hundred hours, and the sun was long since gone. While the policemen, Bilan and his men, and I exited, the engineers unhooked the hand-trucks and began unloading their supplies.

Parked in front of the Tortoise was a single police cruiser.

I glanced up, looking for starlight gleaming, but the sky was cloudy, the air cooling for rain. The outside lights on Teela's porch were on, but there were no street lights. Insects buzzed about, and bats flew by, scooping them up. Around the table closest on the porch to the front door sat four men drinking beer. Jerro, Deechak, Meeno, and policeman Chenu.

I stepped up onto the porch, and Bilan stood beside me. The other policemen waited behind us.

Chenu got up, grinning in delight. "You guys are all right! Last time I saw you, all of you were hurt! And his lordship had to be carried out."

Corporal Chian told him, "They put us in the healing tanks, Chenu. Fixed everything."

Lehkitl added, "The Ground Service has great laundry facilities. They got the blood out, and patched the holes, too."

"It's nice to know we're good for something," Sergeant Barato murmured.

Bilan snickered.

Lehketl looked chagrined. "I didn't mean it like that. You guys saved our lives."

"Come on, everyone. Let's all go inside so I can pay the accounts due." I headed inside Teela's home.

The women were gathered around the table in the dining room. Zaniyah, Teela, Eesa, and the new house manager, Pelita. Little Keemo slept on a thick blanket in a box, on the floor between Eesa's feet.

Teela and Zaniyah both jumped up and rushed over, wrapping their arms around me. "You're alive!"

Surprised, I looked at Bilan. He just rolled his eyes.

"I'm fine," I assured them. "If we can all just sit down, I'd like to settle up with every one here."

The two women returned to their seats.

I dug out my wallet, counting out a one-hundred credit note each to Jerro, Dechak, and Teela. "I promised each of you twenty for your labor. The rest is a bonus."

Teela stared at it for all of two seconds, then pushed it back toward me. "You stopped the men attacking Zani. And you stopped the men who broke into my home. The Ground Service is fixing up the damage. There is no further debt."

Then she cleared her throat, giving sidelong glances at her grandsons. Jerro gave a deep sigh before pushing the money back to me. Equally reluctant, Dechak did the same.

"Are you sure?" I asked them. Teela had her pride. I could see the men wanted the money, but they followed her direction.

"All right," I nodded. "You provided safety and succor to Lady Zaniyah. She is my family. If you need anything, let Perlita know."

"Zani's my friend, Lord Kandikan," Teela replied. "You've paid her House debt. But there's no debt between her and me. However, if you're set on obligating yourself, come back and visit. Same payment as you made before." Then she grinned at me.

Dechak and Jerro both slapped their palms to their faces. Zaniyah blushed furiously, but remained silent even as she glared at her friend.

"Ahem. While I appreciate your hospitality, but I do have prior commitments, Teela. Police Corporal Chian, and policemen Chenu, Tu'ul, and Lehkitl. You were hired to provide protection. I would like to provide a bonus to you."

Chenu looked uncomfortable. "I... I don't deserve one. You fought them. I didn't."

I shook my head. "That's not so. You did as you were instructed. You stayed with Lady Zaniyah and her friends, protecting them. What matters is that when the others ran, you and your three compatriots stayed. No fight is ever won without each warrior doing their part. You knew the men who attacked were dangerous and skilled killers, but you held to your post. Had they gone to the basement first, you would have met their wrath. You were as brave as the others, policeman Chenu."

"My lord," Chian said. "Lady Zaniyah paid us for our service. Tu'ul had his heart murmur fixed. I had my cancer cured. Our wounds have been healed. Lehkitl even won seven credits from the engineers. We're men of honor."

I shook my head. "No, more than that. Your enemies are dead and you are still standing. To me, you are Warriors. If any of you decide you want to enlist, contact me and I will get you assigned to my command."

"Lord Kandikan's recommendation is good enough for me," Bilan added. "If Lord Kandikan is unable to respond right away, I will honor his word. And would take you on if you chose Ground Service instead."

"We are city police. This is our home. And we will honor the pledge we already gave. We'll check this neighborhood regularly from now on," Chian answered.