Starlight Gleaming Ch. 20

Sisi embraced me, her little arms hugging me tight. "I love you, Tenant."

"I love you, too, baby," I murmured as I hugged her back. "So very, very much."

When she let go, she climbed over and gave Mina a hug. After they hugged, they got off the couch and went around the room, saying goodnight to everyone.

At the beginning of our story times, Tarragon and Salvia had stayed at the edge of the room, eager -- no, rather they were desperate to hear the stories as the other women were, both for the sharing together as a family and for the entertainment. While still shy, the young girls were adapting quickly. Participating in the family exercises, Calia was also giving them supplemental academic instruction -- teaching them to read, write, and count with Sisi and Mina in the afternoons. To go along with that, both had been gifted with learning tablets, and Sisi sometimes helped them navigate the menus. Calia had quietly laughed while the servant girls had surprised me one afternoon, greeting me with tearful gratitude after receiving their gifts. To their credit, the girls worked hard, scrubbing bathrooms and floors, doing laundry and dishes, and whatever else Calia needed help with.

As the story was over, the two servant girls rose slowly, bowed respectfully first to me and then to Janetta before heading to the kitchen to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. What surprised them both was that Sisi called out to them, "Terra, Salvia, wait!"

While they paused, unsure what was happening, Sisi went up to them, holding out her arms.

The sisters knelt down. Tarragon said, "You need something, Little Mistress?"

"Everyone here is family. Tenant said so." Sisi hugged them in turn, and the young women hugged her right back, obviously touched by Sisi's gesture, then left to attend their duties.

Zinja gave me a shoulder bump and a sidelong glance as she muttered, "That's our girl."

Reaching over, I took Zinja's hand and gave it a squeeze, and bumped her back. "Yes, she's our girl."

My warrior winced as she moved her recliner into a seated position. After a calming breath, she nodded to Sisi. "All right, Sisi. What's the status? Is everyone safe and sound and accounted for?"

Sisi looked around the room, then standing straight, she nodded. "Yes, Captain. Everyone is safe and sound."

"Excellent report. Thank you, Sisi. Sleep well."

Instead of leaving as she usually did, my daughter remained where she was.

Janetta raised her eyebrows. "Is there something else, Sisi?"

Her face serious, she said, "Yes, Captain."

"Go on, then. Spit it out."

"Tenant says we are all family. And Mama Zinja says everyone needs love. 'Specially family."

" And?" Janetta prompted, looking puzzled. "What's your point, Sisi?"

"You should have a magic hug, too, Captain. To help keep you safe."

Janetta raised her eyebrows. "You think I need a hug?"

Sisi nodded, her face serious. "Mama Zinja says you help Tenant keep us safe and take care of us. You also give us cookies."

You could have heard a pin drop.

Janetta paused, then nodded thoughtfully, keeping her eyes locked on Sisi. "You're right. Sharing cookies is a big deal. I would be honored to have one of your magic hugs."

As she leaned down, Sisi threw her arms around my perfect, beautiful warrior, giving her a good squeeze and a kiss on the cheek. Jenetta held the hug an extra second or two, then let go with an affectionate pat on the back. "Thank you, Sisi."

"You're welcome, Captain." Then she took Zinja's hand, and us four adults trooped upstairs to help the girls get ready for bed. After the brushing of teeth and last trips to the bathroom, Ixma and I stood off to the side. She was snuggled in my arms, and her head against my chest as my arms moved gently across her back.

Calia came in as Zinja helped the girls climb to their place in the middle. Ixma shifted, and Calia joined us in a three-way hug -- one woman wrapped each in each arm. Calia leaned up for a kiss, and we enjoyed a short, yet leisurely kiss.

I love you so much, she said, her thoughts coming clearly into my mind.

She'd done this to me several times before and I was becoming used to hearing her speaking directly into my mind. I took my time and finished the kiss. "I love you, too, Calia."

She smiled, then said, "Your turn, Ixma."

Ixma tilted her head, and we savored a kiss.

Oh, Ranji, I love and want you so much! Her right hand squeezed my butt, and she rubbed her belly against me.

Ixma? How--? Startled, I broke the kiss.

Then both of them giggled, delighted by the look on my face.

I told you it would work, Calia thought to me.

You're right! This is amazing, came Ixma's thought.

At my own astonished thoughts, they giggled again.

"You can do it, too?"

"No, Ranji," Ixma assured me quietly. "I needed Calia's help to do that."

Then both disentangled themselves and crawled into bed.

Zinja, standing on the other side of the bed, watched me with amusement. "Must have been some kiss, Commander."

I just nodded, taking in the impact of what had just been revealed.

As Zinja started to head out, Sisi called to her. "Mama Zinja, wait!"

"Wait for what, Sisi? I gave you a goodnight kiss already and it's time for sleep."

"Aren't you going to hug, Calia?"

Raising her eyebrows, the tall Oexecan woman put her hands on her hips. "I'm sure she doesn't need one from me."

"But Mama Zinja, she needs your hugs, too. Ixma says your hugs are magic, just like mine are. Ixma is my sister, and she says Calia is her sister, so that makes you her mama, too."

Zinja looked at Calia. "Well, isn't this awkward."

Surprise had flashed across Calia's face, but then she gave a gentle smile to Zinja. "I won't say anything if you don't want me to, but I would love a hug from you. I promise it won't hurt, Mama Zinja."

Ixma snuggled Mina as she looked at her. "Please, Mama?"

"Fine." She moved back around the bed to where Calia lay. Calia sat up and Zinja leaned down for a brief hug.

Ixma prompted, "Okay, what do say when you get what you want?"

Three voices chimed out, "Thank you, Mama Zinja," and a belated, sleepy, "Thank you, Gamma Zinja."

"Is this going to be a regular thing?" Zinja asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Would that be such a bad thing, Mama?" Ixma asked in return.

Her face softened. "No, baby girl, I guess not. Good night." And she strode out the door.

Immensely pleased with her success, Sisi settled down next to Mina and the two girls embraced, closing their eyes. "Love you, Mina."

"Love you, Sisi," was Mina's mumbled reply.

Turning off the light, I closed the door. I stopped by the bathroom again to say goodnight to Cholan, who had just finished her own nightly ablutions. After sharing a couple of kisses and a long hug, she was delighted that I tucked her in, with a few extra kisses.

Then I walked down the hall and entered the master bedroom. I could hear Zinja brushing her teeth in the bathroom.

My naked warrior moved stiffly to the bed. Janetta had taken a fall from a wet floor earlier in the day and badly bruised her hip. Once she was on the bed, I checked the Nu-skin patch, which was fine, and then gently rubbed in some of that pungent yet effective ointment provided by Calia into my lover's achy muscles. Janetta winced as I worked, but sighed in gratitude when I was done.

"If it's this sore in the morning, I suggest you take some sick time," I told her. "Maybe get it confirmed it's just a bruise at the clinic. You might have fractured it."

"It's much better than it was," she replied, shifting slowly to the center of the bed.

Zinja brought her a glass of water and a pair of pain blockers. As all of us were tired, Janetta spooned Zinja, and I snuggled up behind my injured warrior and closed my eyes.

* * * * *

Part 2 -- Premonitions and Ghosts

* * * * *

It was Calia's terrified scream that woke up everyone.

Zinja vaulted out of bed, flying out of the room and across the hall.

Janetta grabbed her father's Chon 44 and I snagged my Talon and followed right after.

By the time we got there, Zinja was sitting on the edge of the bed, comforting a worried Sisi. Ixma held Mina.

Looking up at me from the couch, Calia wiped at her eyes, apologetic. "I'm sorry I woke everyone. It was just a bad dream."

Janetta and I both set the safeties on our weapons. Then she looked at the clock and grumbled. It was just after zero-two hundred hours. Holding out her hand, I handed her my weapon and she limped back to our bedroom.

Her scream must have been loud, but I'd heard it clearly, through two closed doors. Then I blinked. I wasn't so sure I hadn't heard her terrified cry in my mind. If so, that meant she no longer needed touch to communicate with her mind.

In the meantime, she needed comforting. Sitting beside her, I pulled her into my lap. "I don't recall you ever having a bad dream before."

Zinja and Ixma gave me incredulous looks.

"Ranji!" Ixma exclaimed, "During the time they were hurting you, Calia had bad dreams all the time! Calia even had to move back to the basement so the girls could sleep, and one of us traded off to keep her company. When the dreams stopped the first time, we all breathed a sigh of relief. But when they started hurting you again, her nightmares restarted. And she seemed to know when you were badly injured, too."

"I'm so sorry," Calia repeated morosely.

Ixma gave her an emotional smile. "It's all right. Everyone's here and safe. Ranji's here and obviously all right. Maybe you should talk about it."

Calia looked at me. Cholan and Sowitwee appeared at the door. Cholan, in her nightie, held a foot-long screwdriver, and Wit, in a pair of shorts, carried the shotgun, ready to do mayhem.

The bedroom Wit shared with his wife and father was at the other end of the house. With the soundproofing, it shouldn't have carried that far. Yet there he was.

"Everything okay, sir?" Wit asked me.

"Seems it was just a bad dream," I assured them.

Instead of comforting them, my words caused Cholan and Sowitwee to focus on Calia with concern.

"Come on, Calia," Ixma urged. "Tell us about it. Maybe it'll help."

Calia shook her head, getting off my lap. "I will, downstairs, but not here. The girls need their sleep."

"All right," I said. "Let's go downstairs then. Maybe brew you some tea."

"Did you have a nightmare, Calia?" a worried Sisi asked Calia.

She nodded to my girl. "It's nothing for you to worry over. I'll talk to your Tenant, and it'll be better. I'm okay now. You should go back to sleep."

Mina, not understanding, rolled over and closed her eyes.

Sisi got out of bed. Calia kneeled and they shared a quick hug, then Sisi returned to bed. I could see Ixma wanted to come with us, but instead she laid back down with the girls. Zinja gave the three of them a quick kiss and a murmured goodnight.

After closing the door, Zinja told me she was returning to bed. "You'll let us know what's going on in the morning, sir?"

"Sure." I put my arm around Calia as we walked down the hall. Cholan and Sowitwee quietly walked behind us.

We gathered downstairs at the table, and Calia put a kettle with fresh water on to boil. Wit reassured a worried Nariya, her hands rubbing nervously around her round belly. He gave her another kiss, and escorted her back to bed, then sans weapon, he returned to the table. Cholan sat on the other side of me.

When the four of us were settled, with hot tea steaming in cups, I said, "Tell me what happened. What did you dream about?"

Both her hands around the steaming cup, she nodded. "The dream was good at first. We were at the school, at the First of Summer Festival. The cafeteria was packed. Everyone was happy and laughing. The children had just finished their play, and all the parents were clapping and congratulating them."

Calia used the sleeve of her nightshirt and wiped at her face. "Ixma, Mina, and Sisi were there with me. Even Sowitwee and Nariya were there, too, congratulating Sisi and Mina for their parts in the children's program. Then we moved to the cafeteria for lunch. People were smiling and talking, lining up to get food, when suddenly..."

She gave a shuddering breath before continuing. "It was like the whole world fell apart, Ranji. My ears rang, and I was knocked off my feet. When I landed, I couldn't see at first from the dust. I tried to move, but couldn't. I thought at first I was trapped, but I reached down, and I saw my legs were torn to shreds, and blood covered my hand. Then the pain started, and it hurt so much!" She looked away, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Beside... beside me were your girls, Ranji. I saw Sisi first. She was crumpled amid broken debris. She wouldn't wake up, no matter how I called to her or shook her. Ixma... was half-buried with rubble, and... and all I could see was Mina's little hand. The rest of her was covered by huge blocks of concrete. Dust and smoke was everywhere, making it hard to breathe. Then, in the distance began to hear many sirens. It was awful, Ranji! I was so scared they were all dead! That's when I screamed."

Moving over to her, I pulled her up and drew her in. She buried her face into my chest and sobbed.

The First of Summer celebration was in two days, coinciding with inspection by the Air Marshal's team.

Once upon a time I would just dismissed it as stress or a bad meal. But not now. Not with Calia.

She had known when I was being tortured, and every adult in this home knew it. I'm convinced she was there when Deedee said goodbye to me. I had thought it a dream, but that no longer felt true. And there was the duel against the general when I'd been poisoned. I had no doubt whatsoever that Calia had reached out across the war base to save me, leaving her weak and exhausted for two days.

Her psychic abilities seemed to be growing. Could this be some sort of foretelling? My job was the security and safety of this war base. I couldn't ignore her dream.

Cholan got up and turned off the stove. Distraught, Calia had forgotten to do that. When she turned around again, there was real worry on Cholan's face. Sowitwee, too, looked troubled. It was clear they didn't see this as a figment of her imagination either.

"All right," I told Calia, rubbing her back with one hand. "So you think there's a bomb at the school. All right then. We'll check it out."

She shuddered as she looked at me, then closing her eyes, she nodded. "Thank you, Ranji."

"Nothing to thank me for, Calia. I sincerely hope you're wrong. But somehow you know things. If we find something, well, with your warning, we will save a lot of lives." Guiding her to a chair, Calia sat down, and I pulled my chair closer. Cholan and Sowitwee moved closer as well.

Sowitwee looked at me. "Are you waiting until morning, Commander?"

"No. Doing a thorough search of the school will take hours. I'll get dressed and head in now. If there's nothing there, we won't alarm the parents and staff unnecessarily. If we find something, we'll be able to keep everyone out." I took one of Calia's hands and kissed the back of it. "Drink some tea. It'll help you relax."

I stood up, and Sowitwee did as well.

"Wait for me, sir. I'll get dressed and join you." He left the dining room.

Cholan handed me a hand towel, and I used it to wipe Calia's face. At my encouragement, she blew her nose, mumbling about it needing to be washed anyway. As I leaned over, she accepted my kiss.

"Cholan, you keep her company, but both of you should head back to bed soon."

I thought everything was settled, but Calia suddenly gasped, and with both her hands shaking, she knocked over her hot tea. She stared toward the entryway, her face ashen.

Cholan hopped up and grabbed another towel to sop up the steaming liquid.

Pulling her close, I said, "Calia! What's wrong?"

"It's Stimmi," she whispered, laying her head back against my chest, her voice full of anguish. "He's here. He's naked and covered in blood, and... by the gods, there's a huge hole in his chest! He says... someone took 'Mara. He says she's in great danger and he's pleading with me. He wants us to save her." She looked up at me, fresh tears spilling down. "Sergeant Stimmi's dead, Ranji. They cut out his heart!"

Then she began to sob.

* * * * *

Part 3 -- Searching for Answers

* * * * *

While Cholan comforted Calia, Sowitwee and I got dressed for work.

Janetta woke back up as I gathered things, so I quickly told her what had happened.

"You actually think she sees ghosts?"

"I do. Sisi and Mina saw the same ghosts at one of the houses we looked at before we picked this one. With everything else she can do, why is seeing the dead so farfetched?" I slipped my shoes on and stood, reaching into the closet for my weapons and vest.

Wincing, Janetta got out of bed and Zinja joined her. I pulled her in for a hug and a kiss, then held out my other arm out for Zinja.

"Be careful, ground support," Janetta said. "Bombs are nothing to fuck around with. Let us know what's going on, will you? I honestly hope it's just part of that same dream. As for the other? I like Yalcamara and Stimmi. They're good warriors. It would piss me off if something happened to them."

I nodded in agreement. "I may be tied up for a long time, so if you have a moment and you haven't heard from me, feel free to give me a call. In the meantime, try to get a bit more sleep, will you? Both of you."

"Yeah, yeah," Janetta grumbled. "Might as well go take a long hot shower and then go in early."

"Get your hip looked at, Janetta. As bad as you've been moving, you're in no shape to fly."

She grumbled at me as she headed into the bathroom.

Zinja gave me a quick hug before letting me go. "I'll see she gets looked at, sir."

A quick goodbye to the ladies downstairs, and Sowitwee and I went outside to the Air Security cruiser. Once we were buckled in, I started it up. The power lights lit up the dash. I flipped on the outside lights and headed for work.

"AI, contact Air Security Dispatch, please."

"Voice print confirmed. Greetings, Commander. Processing command."

There was a short pause, then, "This is Air Security Dispatch. What is the nature of your call?"

"This is Commander Kandikan. Please let the Shift Commander know I'm coming in. When I get there, I want to confer with him. ETA six minutes. That's all."

"Confirmed, Commander. CO inbound. Notify Shift Commander. ETA six minutes. Dispatch clear."

"When we get in, Wit, check the boards to see which of those special dog units are on duty down at the airfield. I know they usually work in pairs, but call one of them in. I want at least one of those dog teams helping us search the school."

"Yes, sir." He paused a moment, then said, "I thought I heard Calia say Stimmi's dead?"

"That's what she said. And that Lieutenant Tchanoonka was kidnapped."

"By all the gods, I hope not," Wit said, worried. "I'll put in a request for a safety check for them both. Do you think it's because of what happened at Copán?"

"I don't know, Sergeant. Like you, I hope they are both okay. If someone did hurt them, I will do my best to put whoever did it into the ground."

He glanced at me. "Llam nuqan, sir."

"Llam nuqan."

I pulled into my parking slot and we headed inside. Per my instructions, Sowitwee headed for Dispatch to locate the dog teams on duty and request a patrol cruiser check by Yalcamara and Stimmi's cottage. To my knowledge, they were taking a few days of well-deserved time off.