Shalia's Diary #3 Page 14

  We joined the frantic stampede of women through the corridor, going straight to Betra’s office where we were supposed to go first in an emergency. He was already surrounded by the rest of his charges just outside his office door, looking about worriedly until he saw us coming. The relief on his face was obvious as we joined our group.

  “Okay, everyone stay with me,” he announced as we crowded close, yelling to be heard over our frantic questions. “We’re heading for the shuttle bay. Once we’re there and in our escape ship, I’ll explain what is going on.”

  “Escape ship!” came the chorus from ten frightened women. Someone called out, “But we haven’t started our drills for that yet!”

  Betra’s smile was both tight-lipped and soothing. “No, but I’ve been trained and you’ll be fine if you stick close. Now come on.”

  He led the way, gently setting aside panicked women from other groups who blundered in his path as they sought out their own liaisons. When Betra saw women he recognized, he called them by name, giving them direction.

  “Carolyn, Dramok Dryr is right over there. Go to him and he’ll tell you what to do. Marla, don’t just stand there and cry, sweetheart. Your liaison is on our way, so walk with me until we get there. Justine, stop bossing everyone around and go to Imdiko Irgna like you’re supposed to. He’s been trained for this and you haven’t.”

  Through the madness and mayhem, Betra was a beacon of calm. Even setting the sexual relationship we’ve developed aside, I am damned glad he’s my liaison. The rest of my group would agree; we all followed him in a quiet bunch, like ducklings confidently following their mama.

  The sirens abruptly cut off and a heavy voice – I thought it might belong to Captain Wotref – spoke in Kalquorian over the PA system. Betra paused to listen, and we stopped too and waited. After Wotref finished his spiel, Betra turned to smile at us.

  “The emergency is over. However, you’ve all done well so far. Why don’t we go ahead and continue to the shuttle bay to practice our first evacuation drill?”

  We murmured assent though it looked like most of us had been roused right out of bed. Being in a group after the scare felt good right now, especially having Betra there. We and a few other groups kept trooping down the corridor.

  “Are you going to tell us what happened?” Candy asked.

  “After the drill,” Betra promised. “For now, I need you to keep quiet with all your attention on me in case I need to give you direction.”

  We soon packed into an in-ship transport, which is sort of like an elevator. Betra said, “Shuttle bay seven. Mataras, remember that location if for any reason you can’t get to me, though I won’t leave the area until I have accounted for all of my group. Where are you to go?”

  “Shuttle bay seven,” we chorused like school children.

  “Perfect. You are assigned to Shuttle 407. The shuttle’s number corresponds to its docking space, so if you get confused, you can ask any crewmember where it is. Repeat your shuttle number please.”

  We dutifully did. The transport stopped and opened out into the shuttle bay, and we moved out.

  I saw why Betra thought we might get confused. It looked as if hundreds of the sleek oblong shuttle craft were housed in that space. I remembered being in there, or another bay just like it, when I’d first boarded the transport. However, I’d been looking at it through a blur of tears. Having just left Earth, my dads, and Weln behind, I’d been too overcome with grief to pay much attention to my surroundings.

  Even though there was a lot more room to fan out in here than there had been in the corridors, we remained in a tight knot as we followed on Betra’s heels. He explained that our shuttle was in the fourth grouping to the right of the in-ship transports as we exited, which meant it was all the way on one side of the bay.

  “You Mataras will be in the second wave of evacuations, should we have to leave the ship,” he told us as we passed shuttle after shuttle. “We think waiting enemies would target the first few escaping ships. That’s why the first wave will be decoys. Pay attention; your ship is on the front row of this grouping. It’s really not that hard to find.”

  He led us to our assigned shuttle. “Our group is among three that will be boarding this, so get on fast. Go as far to the rear as you can and take your seat.”

  The hatch was open, allowing us to follow Betra’s directions. We were apparently the only group assigned to this shuttle running the drill, so our little group of ten ended up crowded in the back of the shuttle. We sat.

  “Immediately upon sitting, activate your seat’s restraint field. For those of you who don’t remember where that is located, it is the red button on the side of your left armrest. Once you’ve activated it, strap on the manual harness. We may be taking off in a hurry, so be sure to secure yourself right away. It could be we’re in for a bumpy ride. It’s important you’re ready for that.”

  Betra moved up the aisle between the double rows of seats, ensuring we’d strapped ourselves in good and tight. His grin was that of a proud father.

  “Excellent! Everyone is properly secured. You did well this first time. In the future, if you are not on our level in our section when alarms go off, com me immediately to let me know where you are located. From there, you will come directly here. If I am not here yet, com me to let me know you have made it safely onto your shuttle. If the alarms go off and you are in the Matara living area, come straight to my office to report. Questions?”

  We seemed pretty clear on what it was we were supposed to do. When no one piped up with any queries, Candy said, “Now will you tell us what the hell happened a few minutes ago?”

  Betra chuckled at her impatience. “A few small Tragoom raiders decided to try their luck. They failed miserably. Only one got away from the destroyers escorting us.”

  That earned him a few cheers. Yay for dead Tragooms. Despite Betra’s grin, I noted the tension around his eyes.

  “Are we in any other danger?” I asked. “Those raiders don’t pose any real risk to us, do they?”

  Betra’s expression sobered more, and everyone got quiet. His tone careful, he said, “It could be the raiders we encountered were a scout detail sent by a chieftain in a larger, more dangerous ship. We will remain on high alert for some a little while longer.”

  That was not such good news. I had another question. “Is there the chance we could be boarded?”

  Betra drew a deep breath. “If the destroyer escorts were taken out, there is that risk. It’s all the more reason for us to be ready to get off the transport if we must.”

  I thought about that. Escape was the best possible option if Tragooms got on board. Yet I had some ugly memories of being in a nearly inescapable situation in which I and others had almost died. Sometimes you get boxed in with nowhere to run. Matt King leering at me before locking a bunch of us in a room and setting the building we were in on fire is still an image I see far too clearly. I have no intention of ever getting in that situation again.

  If I have to get in every Kalquorian’s face on this transport, someone is going to give us women blasters and teach us how to use them.

  January 14

  Yesterday, after much consideration following the near evacuation we’d undergone, I consulted with my group and Betra. During the impromptu meeting, I outlined my ideas on how we Earther girls needed to have access and training on blasters. I impressed on Betra what had happened to me and Candy at the Academy. I insisted on how being armed might have kept us from being locked in and nearly killed in a burning building.

  I have to give our liaison credit. Betra didn’t pooh-pooh my concerns even once. He offered no condescending bullshit on how the manly Kalquorians would keep us all safe and to not worry our pretty little heads about such things. He listened, asked a few questions, and asked the rest of the group what they thought about the matter.

  “I was there with Shalia,” Candy said. “I’ve never felt so trapped and helpless my entire life as when I was forced to give up the bl
aster I had. I want to be able to defend myself. I agree we should be armed and trained.”

  Katrina said, “You’d better believe it. I was terrified yesterday when we were attacked. Maybe a blaster won’t help us in that situation, but at least I’d feel like I had some sort of chance if we got boarded before we could escape.”

  The others agreed that they’d been scared as well and that feeling helpless had only made it worse. They all wanted to be armed and trained properly ‘so we don’t shoot our own feet off’ as someone said.

  Betra nodded to us all. “I’ll arrange a meeting with the weapons commander of this ship about the matter. He’d be the first hurdle to getting such a thing to happen. If everyone is in agreement, Shalia and Candy can represent you all at the meeting since they’ve had actual experience with the issue.”

  It was agreed on. First thing this morning, Betra called Candy and I to his office to meet with Weapons Commander Nobek Oses.

  My first thought when I came into the room was ‘Hello, mountain pretending to be a man.’ I’d been impressed with the amazing physique of Oses when he was at least 30 yards away. Up close, he was even more astonishing. Heaven help us all, the Nobek was just so muscular. He made Betra look like a twig.

  It was hard to notice his face when there was all that chiseled body filling my gaze. But yes, Oses does have a head on top of all that steel and granite made flesh. His curly hair falls past his shoulders and frames an intense face. He’s not classically handsome, but I found him striking nonetheless with those piercing eyes, flared nostrils, and full lips that someone could nibble on for days.

  Did I mention the pregnancy hormones are seeming to make me like brute masculinity? I had the wild urge to pull Oses’ formsuit off and lick every inch of him. I mean, I LITERALLY wanted to lick him ... yes, tongue out and slurping all over those hills and crevices. Why can’t I crave normal stuff like pickles and ice cream, for crying out loud?

  Betra had Candy and I sit down as Oses bowed to us. I noticed his nostrils flaring wider still when he looked at me, and I was reminded that I had that funny pregnancy smell that the Kalquorians find so enthralling. Oh boy. If the commander started following me around, I didn’t know how I’d say no – especially if he consented to that weird urge I have to lick him.

  The weapons commander said nothing, however, and his expression kept a pleasant if savage respectfulness. He remained standing, as did Betra.

  “Thank you for seeing us,” Betra began. “We’ll try to not take up too much of your time, but the Mataras have some very pressing concerns about their safety.”

  “I can always make time for you and your charges, Imdiko,” Oses said in a rough voice that filled the room. His gaze went from me to Betra and held there.

  Betra averted his gaze from the weapons commander. Again, I had that sense of something between the two, some kind of tension between them. I wonder what is going on there.

  Betra wasted no time in explaining our wish to be armed and trained. Candy and I described to the attentive Oses what we had gone through back at the Academy, which was the long and short of our case. Much like Betra the day before, Oses didn’t downplay our fears or tut-tut our abilities to take care of ourselves.

  After some discussion, he said, “I can understand your feelings on the matter, Mataras. While it is unlikely we’ll be boarded, there is always a chance for it to happen. After all, we were sure Tragoom raiders wouldn’t dare bother us with two destroyers keeping watch, yet they tried our defenses anyway.”

  He smiled, softening the harsh planes of his face. Oses might not have been conventionally handsome, but I still found him fine to look at, especially when he smiled. “I will consult with the ship’s officers as well as Fleet Command on the matter. I will tell them I support this measure you have suggested.”

  Candy and I expressed our enthusiastic thanks. Betra also added his gratitude, still refusing to look Oses in the face.

  “I appreciate you doing this for us, Commander,” he said. “We won’t take up any more of your time. Shalia, may I speak to you in private before you go?”

  I had the idea that Betra was subtly telling me not to leave him alone with Oses. There really was something weird going on with those two.

  The weapons commander bowed to all, and Betra returned the respect. I perched in my chair as Candy and the impressive and tongue-tempting Oses took their leave.

  As soon as the door shut behind them, I invited Betra, “Come on. Spill the beans.”

  “Beans?” He looked at me with puzzlement.

  I had to laugh at Betra’s confusion. He speaks English so well that sometimes I forget he’s not entirely up on our slang. “Tell me why Oses freaks you out.”

  Betra scowled. “I don’t want to talk about the weapons commander.”

  I eyed him. “Betra, if I didn’t know that you aren’t into boys, I’d swear there was a bad breakup between you two or something.”

  The Imdiko got up and paced as he spoke. “No Shalia, there is nothing between Nobek Oses and myself. He simply wishes there was and refuses to face the fact there never will be.”

  “Oh.” It was clear to me now. “Oses has a case of unrequited love. He’s not tried to force himself on you, has he?”

  “Thank the ancestors, no.” Betra drew himself up and took a deep breath. “In all honesty, Oses has been quite respectful about not trying to force me into his bed. He seemed to understand when I told him I have no sexual interest in men.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  My liaison’s smile was bitter. “He still comes around and asks me to join him for meals and entertainments. He seems to think that I’ll eventually change my mind about him.”

  I could tell Betra really had issues with the situation, but I couldn’t resist teasing him just the same. “That’s what you get for being so irresistible and yummy.”

  That earned me a smile. “Am I irresistible to you, Shalia?”

  I snorted. “You must be. I was sure I wouldn’t want to have sex again after what happened with Nang and having my heart broken by leaving behind Clan Dusa.”

  Betra came over and leaned down, his hands propping him on the armrests of my chair. Our faces were only inches apart. “Poor Matara.” He kissed me.

  Ah yes, poor me. Stuck in a lustful situation with an all too accommodating Kalquorian. I returned that kiss with interest, my hands eagerly exploring his formsuited chest, abdomen, and points south.

  His eyes half-lidded with pleasure at my touch, Betra whispered, “I am always delighted to take care of your needs, pet.”

  “Prove it.”

  I got an evil grin for my challenge. I’d almost forgotten how demanding Betra had been during our previous encounters. He reminded me in a hurry.

  Stepping back from my chair, he motioned for me to stand. “Up. Panties off.”

  That commanding tone had me on my feet and drawers down around my ankles almost before Betra had stopped talking. My pussy gushed in anticipation. It was like a switch had been thrown and my only thought was to do whatever he wanted. When it comes to sex, Betra reminds me a lot more of Dusa and Nang than he does fellow Imdiko Weln.

  Once I was sans panties, he made a twirling motion with his finger. “Turn around and kneel on the chair. Legs wide apart. Hold onto the back of it.”

  I could see where this was going, and I liked the idea fine. As soon as I assumed the position, Betra pushed my skirt up around my waist. His hand caressed my upturned ass.

  “That’s my pretty pet. So obedient too.”

  He reached in front of me to untuck my blouse. Still stroking my butt with one hand, he pulled my bra up to free my breasts. Feeling the warmth of his palm cupping one mound drove a moan from my throat.

  “So soft. Lovely,” he praised me.

  The hand on my ass slid down. Betra slid two fingers in my pussy and pumped in and out. He plucked at my nipples, bringing bright warmth all over. I flooded his hand.

  “That’s my girl
. Soft and wet. Perfect. I like how you beg me to fuck you without speaking a word.”

  I trembled as his hands coaxed me into a high level of arousal. My hands clutched the padded top of my chair as my insides melted into a spill of hot lava. I felt wanton and helpless at the same time, submissively offering myself to Betra.

  “That’s it, pet. I feel you shaking all over.”

  His fingers left my pussy. I whimpered.

  “Hush, sweetness. I need to get your tight little ass ready for my primary cock to fuck it.”

  Betra’s fingers landed on my anus and pressed into it. I gasped and opened to him, letting him stretch me. His fingers twisted all about, easing the muscles loose.

  “Oh yes, pet. That’s very nice and tight. I’m going to enjoy feeling this around my cock. You like getting your ass fucked, don’t you little girl? Yes, I know you do. You’re dripping on the seat.”