Starlight Gleaming Ch. 17

Nodding, they followed my words.

I told them what happened during the "pairing" process that Stryker and the others had devised, the fights I had to protect Deedee as my partner. The staring down of Stryker over Raltikon's life, the fight with the sergeants afterward, and getting shot. Deedee, having been a nurse, knew how to keep me from bleeding out before I could be returned to the tanks for healing.

"Things settled down after that," I said. "Stryker's reign was finished, and we finally got started on the training."

"You slept with her, didn't you."

"Yes, I did."

Janetta looked away, absorbing this new admission from me. First Teela, and then Deedee.

"I liked Deedee, and she was a good officer. What happened between us... I'm no psychologist, but having her there made a huge difference, Janetta. It helped me hang on, and to survive the nightmares. She didn't have anyone she was close to, and she fell in love with me. I have you, Janetta. I also have Zinja, Ixma, Cholan, and Calia. I also had my daughters to live for. Knowing all of you love me and were waiting for my return helped me endure. Deedee was my friend, and she held me. And she needed to be held, too."

"This is hard to hear, Kandikan. I don't say what you did was wrong. Both of us can still be ordered to fuck by someone who outranks us. And you made a good case for Teela, even though I'm still not sure if I will be able to look at that old woman ever again with a straight face. You are the only man I want. I share you with my flight crew because your relationship protects them due to your rank, and now that they have had you, they want you. I want them to be happy. You make them happy, Ranji. And despite my reservations and my jealousy for Calia, she has been good at keeping Ixma focused and keeping the household running well. She also gives really good massages."

I smiled at that.

"But this Deedee? I have to think about this. I gave permission to share you with my crew, and I recognized your prior relationship with your personal servant. Each of those women in turn recognize my claim on you. Deedee didn't outrank you, yet you fucked her. And I had no say in the matter."

I didn't say anything. She wasn't wrong. But I don't think I would have survived mentally without Deedee either.

There was silence for several long moments, growing more awkward by the second.

Bilan broke the quiet, asking, "How did she die?"

So I told them what happened at the cliff. And what Field Commander Chatolklan's response to those events had been.

"I blame myself for what happened at the cliff," I added. "I knew Stryker had it out for me, but I was so focused of going home, I didn't even double-check the orders. Deedee and the others -- those deaths are on me."

Janetta looked at me oddly. "You're telling me that Field Commander, who spent three days torturing you, suddenly dropped everything and ran once he knew that sergeant from Tikún was arriving?"

"He's not a sergeant," Bilan said, surprising us both. "But go on, Ranji. You had a mission. I'm pretty sure I know what it was, but Captain Tlacotli here should know it as well."

"Uh, yeah. I was tasked with tracking the commander to his estate and killing him. So I did. I barely escaped with my life, and used up a lot of luck."

Bilan waited for me to continue, then raised his eyebrows, looking incredulous. "That's all you're going to say?"

I shrugged. "Apparently his brother is also in Imperial Security, and he discovered my presence there. In fact he discovered my identity pretty quickly. And when I got online, he tracked me to your mother's house, Janetta. I took care of the first hit team. There were only two, but I had a concussion by that point. I wasn't in very good shape by the time the second hit team arrived."

Janetta jumped up, knocking over her chair. "Concussion? Hit teams?"

"I told you, your mother hit me with a frying pan."

Bilan shook his head at me. "I thought you were going to tell us everything, Ranji. Makes me wonder how much you left out about your time at Sparantzlo."

"What do you mean?" she demanded from him, keeping her gaze on me.

"What I mean is I talked to those city policemen who helped Ranji out," he replied. "I also had time to talk to Teela and Lady Tlacotli. I had two days to gather information while Ranji's injuries were healed."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a sealed plastic baggy and tossed it onto the table next to me. It had bits of wood and metal fragments.

"What's that? And you, Bilan, explain what you meant!"

"There was a report of two AHR-17 Kites having to be field serviced out of Defiant War Base about the same time Ranji was up north. Both of them were damaged by 8.5mm armor-piercing rounds. Just like those there."

Janetta scrunched up her face. "You shot down... two military helicopters?"

"They were shooting at me." I remembered having to dig out the tracking chip, and how close those rockets had been. It had been a very near thing. I looked at the baggy. "I thought the clinic had gotten all the pieces of metal and wood out. Guess they missed some."

Bilan cleared his throat, but said nothing more. Both stared at me. Waiting.

"Okay. I shot one in the rear rotor while it was turned away. Took a couple of rounds. I figured out they were tracking me by my chip, so I had to dig it out and crush it. They lost track of me, so they opened the hatch to try and find me under the trees, so I shot the gear box. Took three rounds. That left me two rounds for my rifle. One lousy magazine of ammo!"

Seeing her look, Bilan righted her chair before she sat all the way down. He asked, "How far were those shots, Ranji."

"The first was probably about fifteen hundred feet, I guess. The second helicopter was maybe half that distance."

"Uh huh. On the run, hitting moving targets in the air. How many rockets did they use?"

"Does it matter? The man was the base commander. He let Stryker, Charunt, and Belton torture me. And there had to be other men involved, because whenever the doors opened, I could hear the screams of other men and women being tortured. I hated them for what they did to me! They peeled the skin off my back, and laughed about it. They threatened you, and the others while they raped me. Threatened to rape you and torture all of you. Even... even rape and kill my little girls."

It was too much. It all came back, and all I could do was slide down to the floor and cry. Chatolklan, Stryker, and Belton were dead, but Charunt was still out there. Somewhere. And Tonca. I needed to kill Tonca.

Janetta came to me then, sitting beside me and putting her arms around me, murmuring to me.

I leaned into her, sobbing into her neck, then pulling her tighter. When I managed to get a breath, I pulled back to look at her. "Don't you see, Janetta? I love you and I will kill anyone who threatens to hurt you. But what I'm doing isn't just for you. It's also for Zinja and Cholan and Ixma. It's for Sisi and Mina, too. So they can walk down the street and not have to be afraid they will be raped by someone who thinks he's entitled to do so."

She pulled me close, hugging me until I mastered myself.

Wiping my eyes and my nose, I mumbled, "I'm sorry. Those are memories... I'd rather forget."

My brave Warrior gave me a rueful grin. "Ranji, I killed the lizard that raped me, but I was a mess, too, afterward. I hurt all over. And I needed to be held, and you were there for me. I'm not happy about your relationship with Deedee Marin, but I think I understand it better now. You are my ground support. I need you there to come home to. I leaned on you that night, and you did everything right. You took care of me and my crew when we were hurt. You can lean on me, too. Isn't that what you tell me? That we're partners?"

I had to kiss her, so I did. Better still, she had love in her eyes when she kissed me back.

Getting back to my feet, she kept at least one arm around me.

Bilan looked at me, then said, "All right. I'll tell what I've pieced together, and you correct me, all right, Ranji?"

I nodded.

"Okay. So when Janetta's mother hit you on the head with the frying pan, it was pretty serious. A lot more serious than anyone realized. You passed out twice after you came to--"

"Three times," I corrected. "When I went next door, I had another dizzy spell, and passed out again."

"Three times," Bilan amended. "Later, toward dinner time, the street gang terrorizing Janetta's mother showed up and assaulted the two free farmers that Ranji had taken on. Meeno had some nasty bruises, so we put some Nu-skin patches on to help with the healing. Ranji shot three of the gang members, killing one outright, then knifed their leader."

"No, I guess I had issues four times. When I had my gun on the leader, I started to blank out but came to just in time. He grabbed my pistol and tried to shoot me. Fortunately, the safety was on, so I took him down and killed him."

"Lucky is right." Bilan shook his head. "Right after the patrol car showed up to deal with the gang, two men posing as police showed up. They moved in on Ranji, but Ranji suddenly shot one and fought hand-to-hand with the second one. Knock-down and rolling around in the street even. What tipped you off?"

"My name tag was in the wash, yet these supposedly-local cops knew my name."

"Yeah. Right after the fight, he passed out again, this time for a few hours. Lady Tlacotli used the money from the men Ranji killed to hire some policemen to protect the house. Apparently some of the street gang had escaped, and the two women were worried about reprisals. What they didn't know was that a second hit team was on its way. I was nearly there when Ranji finally woke up and answered my call. He killed their sniper and wounded another one. He and those three policemen used those Starkline riot shields to good effect."

"They blew the door with explosive charges," I said. "The shotgun at point blank range really helped a lot. The corporal fired three or four times, hitting a lot of unprotected areas. Neck, hands. The blast threw me against the wall. I managed to get a few shots off before I passed out again."

Bilan nodded. "As I mentioned earlier, Captain. The concussive blast probably sped things up, and he was dying. It was real touch-and-go all the way back to Mohingo War Base."

Janetta punched me in the arm. Hard.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Almost dying on me. Several times! If you had died on me, I'd have to go to the underworld, just so I could kick your ass!"

I laughed.

Scowling, she glared at me. "What's so funny, Kandikan?"

"You and Zinja and your mother."

She punched me again on the shoulder. Same spot.

"Ow!" I rubbed it. "Knock it off!"

"Explain what you said, Kandikan!"

"Remember I told you about having to go to the beach with Commander Orchid, to save the women and children? Before I left, Zinja told me that I'd better come back safe, or she was going to have to kick my ass. Your mother basically said the same thing -- that if I got hurt on her account, she'd make sure I'd pay for it because you needed me."

"She thinks I need you?"

"Not like that, Janetta. I told her I would always support your love of flying, even if it meant we could never get married. The only thing she was sad about was the prospect of never having grandchildren. But that's not strictly true, is it."

She looked at me with surprise. "What are you going on about?"

"You and me. We could have children together, you know."

"What? Are you crazy?" She whirled on Bilan. "Are you sure they fixed him right at Mohingo? Because I'm not sure he's a hundred percent in the head."

He held up both hands. "I only know what the doctors told me, Captain. However, they did warn him that if he had any memory issues, to get checked out."

"This isn't a memory issue," I said. "My mother has a genetic defect. She couldn't carry a baby to term, so her handmaid acted as a surrogate. We could do the same."

Her mouth dropped open. Then closed.

"By the gods, you don't have to decide now," I assured her. "But it is an option for us. Think about it."

She just nodded.

"What about you, Bilan? You said you had things to tell me, too."

"Just before I arrived at Mohingo, my men and I helped do some housecleaning for our mutual friend at Tikún."

"Really? Do tell."

"Not much to it. We found a few moles that were loyal to other masters and took care of them. I was filled in on your assignment up north, and his concerns about your safety. When they removed the bomb from my chest, he told me about the memory alteration."

"Bomb!? You had a bomb in your chest?" Janetta stared at Bilan.

"Minister Supay's idea," he said. "To prevent anyone in Imperial Security from giving out information while under sedation or truth drugs. Ranji had a bomb, too. But the bombs were removed, his and mine."

She looked at me, then at Bilan. "Imperial Security put a bomb inside both of you? Wait... you're Imperial Security, too?"

Bilan looked at me. "I was. Not anymore. At least, not officially anyway. Captain, you don't know the truth of how Ranji and I met. And it's not the way Rana says it happened. We actually met at High Guard. I was part of the team that arrived with Commander Orchid. After Supay put out the order to have Orchid killed, he proceeded to kill all those who had acted with Orchid to save the women and children from being drowned. Supay tried to kill all of us. The women, the children, and all those on the beach with Commander Orchid that fateful morning, regardless of who they were or what they did. Ranji helped save me and my boys. Maybe it was Supay that paid the sea captain to try and sell us as slaves.

"Oddly, or interestingly, my ex-wife is named Teela, too. Anyway, Ranji helped me make an honorable choice regarding my former life, and became my blood brother, pledging to protect my boys. After he helped us escape, he saved all of us again by sending Styen with us on the ship to make sure we arrived safely. The old me is gone, and I don't want that life back. I am Captain Bilan Monaycote, husband of Rana, father of Powan, Mika, and one yet to be born. And, I'm Ranji's blood brother."

"Hey, Bilan! Don't forget that when the assassins tried to kill my parents, you were there right beside me, willing to risk yourself to help save them."

He grinned at me. "What are brothers for?"

There was a knock on the door. Bilan got up and answered it.

A female sergeant stood there. "Captain? Lady Kandikan wants to know if you and the other officers will be returning for lunch?"

Bilan glanced at the clock, then nodded. "We have a few minutes to finish up yet. Please let Lady Kandikan know we will be returning within half an hour."

"Sir!" A salute, then she left.

Leaving the door open, he turned to me. "Lieutenant Kandikan, you still have your Talon to service. We're waiting on you."

Chuckling, I nodded. Moving over back to the work table and working quickly, I finished up what the sergeant had already started. I was done in just a few minutes.

Wiping down the pistols, I put the Talon into my hip holster, and the Caiman into the shoulder holster. I closed and set the lock on the rifle case.

Once we exited the room, the Master-at-arms gave us a friendly nod as he passed us, heading back to clean up our mess. I noticed the general attitude of the men and women of Bilan's command. They were respectful, busy, and more important, at ease. On the way out, I noticed the Unit Protection Order in large letters posted on the wall beside the main exit. The CPN in front of Bilan's name was freshly painted. Janetta noticed it and paused, looking at both Bilan and then to me before continuing out.

The guard outside signaled, and Bilan's ChoCac pulled up. Being the junior officer, I got in front beside the driver. Both Janetta and Bilan rode in back for the trip back to the house.

As we passed through the gate, Janetta said, "Those Protection Orders. It really is spreading, isn't it."

"Yep," Bilan answered. "I did it for Ranji's sake. But now that it's done, I'm glad of it. It is the right thing to do." Then he reached into his satchel and pulled out a sealed envelope. Reaching over the seat, he handed it to me.

It was addressed to me, and from the Air Ministry. I opened it.

I was to be in Tikún by fourteen hundred hours, three days from today, for further orders. Seven hells, I thought. Then I read that Janetta and her flight crew were ordered to accompany me.

"What is it, Ranji?" Janetta asked.

I passed the letter over to her.

"Think we'll get a chance to visit Chingli Point again?" she asked, giving me a fierce grin.

"That would be nice," I replied. And it would be, too.

"Think I will get to meet this sergeant you know?"

"I haven't a clue."

"Just letting you know, Lieutenant, that if you are going away again, I will hunt this sergeant down and express to him my great displeasure."

"I wouldn't advise that," I said.

"I, too, would not recommend that course of action," Bilan added.

Janetta just growled. I wasn't sure if it was in frustration, defiance, or both.

Yeah. Probably both.

* * * * *

Lunch was pleasant, over too quickly, and then we retired to the drawing room.

At Calia's suggestion, Sisi picked out a book for me to read to her. Janetta snuggled in on one side, to which I was pleased about. Sisi sat on my lap. And Ixma, with Mina, sat on my other side. Bilan had to return to duty, but his boys parked on the floor at my feet, while Rana sat on a nearby couch and Calia massaged her feet.

While I read, we were sometimes interrupted by moans from Rana. My mother and Zinja just grinned at Rana knowingly. Lower back pain and achy feet were a common complaint -- or so I've been told.

Mika kept telling his mother it was rude to make noises while someone was reading aloud.

"You're right, but I can't help it, Mika," Rana explained. "My feet hurt so much, and Calia is making me feel better."

Despite the interruptions, the story was well received, and the children went to lay down for a nap.

Janetta seemed to need to be close to me, and since she knew about my orders, I didn't blame her. After the children left, she laid her head on my lap. The other women hung out with us, but let her be the center of my attention.

When she started to drift off to sleep, I got up and scooped her into my arms.

Opening her eyes lazily, she quietly asked, "What are you doing?"

"Taking you to my room so you can sleep."

"Will you stay with me?"

"I will," I assured her.

"Okay." And closing her eyes, she snuggled into me.

* * * * *

Later that evening, when I was checking my email, I received a message from SrLT Sisi Beytindl. She would like to come and pay her respects, but as Deedee wasn't family, she was unable to take time off for several days yet. I went in search of Bilan, and he informed me that if she needed a ride, he would see that she had transportation both ways. So I wrote back and explained that we would have the ceremony for Deedee the next day, as I my own orders were to leave soon, but that Captain Monaycote would see to her travel needs, and she was welcome to come out to pay her respects. I told her again that Deedee had saved my life several times, including the final time that cost Deedee her life, and that my family would consider it an honor to have her visit the grave.

My mother was sad to hear that my visit was to be so short, and almost immediately went to make a call to my father.

An hour after dinner, my mother found all of us hanging out together in sun room. It was dark out, but the girls were playing with their tablets with their mothers while Janetta, Cholan, and I checked our email. Calia had just left to provide some lower back massage to Rana.