Defender: A Terran Times Tale (7 page)

Her burn was a pale gold, her tan line was light but still visible. “Okay, how is that?” Alder rolled out of bed and put on a wrap, his erection held down by tight fabric. “It is lovely. You are lovely.” He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder.

“Thank you. Now, which way to the village square?”

He grinned. “I will take you. Come along.” He took her hand and led her past Hasja, out into the morning light.

Scotia inhaled deeply, the green scent of everything around her settled into her lungs. The heat wrapped her comfortably, and she smirked at how easily she adjusted to the temperature.

They walked along a path made of mulch, soft on their bare feet. A woven wall of vines holding back the jungle created the path. After twenty feet straight out the door, a wide space opened before her, and Scotia got her first good look at the village she was now a part of.

Kiosks, vendors, fruit and a smokehouse all gathered in the wide area. A teahouse served folks who were taking a leisurely break in their day.

Lilli and Orriko were obvious by their clothing alone. Lilli’s black leather ensemble had been daring when Scotia first saw it, but now, the leather seemed horribly warm to her.

Scotia walked to Lilli, and the other Terran smiled and greeted her with a hug. “You know, Orriko told me to dress light, but I can see now that I should have put less substance into it.”

The teahouse owner waved them over, and Orriko smiled. “Our table is ready inside. Hopefully, the shade will mitigate some of the heat.”

Lilli took Scotia’s arm and tugged her away from Alder before he could do more than peck Scotia on the cheek.

Inside the teahouse, the scents of herbs and fruits were refreshing. The owner showed them to a table and inclined her head. “Good morning, Bael Scotia. Hasja will have fed you, but I will get you some citrus tea. It will brighten your day.” Lilli and Orriko raised their eyebrows.

The owner cleared her throat. “And your friends as well. Would you care for some baked goods?”

Lilli nodded. “Please. Something with a lot of fruit. I have a sweet tooth.” The owner bobbed her head and left, returning in a minute with a pot of tea for the table and several delicate cups carved of wood.

Lilli turned to Scotia. “Bael Scotia? What have you been up to? I mean, aside from blowing the station. Good work by the way.”

“Um, I just went to the village beach party, and the next thing I know, I am Bael Scotia.” Orriko raised his eyebrows. “Really? I heard that you killed one of those huge eels with your bare hands.”

“Well, there was that, but that was instinct not deliberate action.” She shrugged and checked on the steeping of the tea. The scent was lovely, so she poured three cups, offering them to her companions before taking her own.

“The Heshi usually start with using your own instincts and building on them.” Lilli smiled. “I have a talent for being bossy, and here we are.” Orriko scowled.

“Did she order you to come here?” Scotia was shocked.

He nodded grimly. “She rarely uses it on me, but she was very worried about you.”

Scotia took Lilli’s hand. “I am fine. I feel fine if a little scorched. Is there a way to get an injectable UV protectant for me? I don’t want to spend my life burned or swaddled.”

Scotia sipped at her tea.

“I think there might be something left in medical, but if not, I am trying to put together enough for a drop shipment. Do you want something aside from the anti-scorch meds?” Lilli smiled.

“I will think about it. Oh. Can you send a message to Sarah Marks and see if there is any record of the Admar building a gate to Ikanni? I mean, while they were masters of space manipulation, they were not known for their spacecraft.”

Lilli looked to Orriko, and she raised her eyebrows. “What do you know about how your people came here?”

“The tale is that we came in waves, that we left Admar. No one ever said how.” He shrugged, and his red eyes went wide when the owner placed a plate covered with berries, fruit, syrup and some flaky pastry in front of Lilli. “What the hell is that?”

The owner smiled as she dropped a matching confection in front of Bael Lerock. “Speciality of the house. Enjoy.”

Scotia was laughing at the appalled expression on his face as he poked at it with the eating prong.

Lilli just lifted the entire mass to her face and jumped right in.

She sat and watched Lilli devour the pastry then her hungry look as she stared at Orriko’s plate. “Orriko, I think she wants what you are eating.”

He gave his mate a wary look and passed her his plate.

Lilli bit into the pastry with savagery.

“So, how pregnant are you?” She looked at the other Terran with amusement.

Around a mouthful of pastry, Lilli mumbled, “How did you know?”

“Well, there are your eating habits and your mate is exceedingly cautious around you, so you are either rabid or you are pregnant.” Scotia refilled everyone’s tea.

Orriko sighed in relief and lifted his own cup.

“Thank you for figuring it out. She swore me to silence, and she used the voice of command.”

“Lilli!” Scotia shook her head.

“I know, I know. It was horrible. I am horrible. I am just a little more moody than usual. Forgive me, love?” Lilli looked at Orriko.

He scowled. “Wipe your face, and I will think about it. It looks like you gnawed your way through a wild animal covered in syrup.”

Scotia snorted and laughed as Lilli carefully removed all traces of her savagery.

Orriko got to his feet, came around and kissed his mate, licking his lips. “Actually, that is pretty good. You are forgiven this time.” Lilli laughed then turned to Scotia, “Now, tell me how you can put your clothing on and have it stay in place. Are you using staples?” Scotia explained the dressing methods and the fact that she was using only two pieces of light fabric to cover everything. “It is great. I get boob support, and I am open to the breezes.” Lilli chuckled and sighed. “I have to admit, I am very happy that you and Kaia are on Ikanni. It makes me feel less like a prisoner and more like the member of an elite group.”

“Me too.” She reached out and took Lilli’s hand. “Me too.”

They let Orriko go and talked for hours about the speculation on the baby’s colouration and how old it would be when they introduced the Heshi to it.

Alder finally wandered in and had a seat.

“How goes the visit, ladies?” Lilli inclined her head. “Bael Whiccan, I am pleased to see that she is in good shape and not stressed by your abduction.”

“I apologise for the stress I induced in your home. It was only my intention to see my mate and get to know her.”

“Did he?” Lilli looked to Scotia.

“Not until after I completed my mission. You know how it goes. Mission first and fun second.” Alder reached out and placed a kiss on her hand. “And now the mission is over, so the fun begins.”

Lilli sighed and put her chin on her fist. “I think I need to head home for a nap. You are welcome to visit anytime, but you may want to bring a sweater.”

Scotia got to her feet, and Lilli got to hers. They hugged and Lilli disappeared.

With a smile, Scotia turned to Alder. “Thanks for letting her come to visit.” He inclined his head and got to his feet. “Come on, Hasja has lunch ready.”

I
n the next three weeks, Scotia learned that her new talent extended to repulsing bugs and killing the occasional ambush predator in the jungle. She learned to harvest the herbs and seedpods that were used for the majority of the healing creams and lotions.

“The shot that Lilli delivered will not hurt you?” Alder was frowning as he stood with the hypo poised.

“It may make me sick for a few days, but it will keep me from burning every night.”

“I like putting lotion on you.” It had become an evening ritual before she began to feel the burn. The cream also acted as a lube, so things went from soothing to slippery in a hurry.

“You can still put the lotion on, but the pain and the damage to my skin isn’t pleasant. So, this will thicken my epidermis and reduce my ability to burn.”

He nodded and gave her the shot. There was a hiss, a feeling of cool and then a tingle down her thigh. The shot in her backside was going to be felt for the rest of the day, but she didn’t have any problem hanging around the village and getting a local cooking lesson from Hasja and Alora. The two women did more squabbling than teaching, but with Aldeen sitting next to her, Scotia found the information she gleaned fascinating.

She shivered and smoothed her wrap down over her hips. “Well, there is that taken care of.”

“Was it worrying you?”

“Well, damage to human skin can have strange effects. I don’t doubt the abilities of the healers, but I don’t want to give them extra work in a few years.”

Scotia was finally feeling at home on Ikanni.

She was earning her keep and enjoying her life.

The stress of blowing objects was gone. The only thing she had to work on was subsistence farming and preserving of fish and fruit for use during storms or travel. Even though all Ikanni had the talent of transport, few did more than walk a few hours from home.

Alder wrapped his arms around her. “I am glad that you are thinking in terms of years, Scotia. I have been harbouring doubts that you were not going to turn and run back to the stars.”

She turned in his arms. “Why?” She caressed his face and watched him try to formulate the words.

“You did not have a choice. You had a purpose that did not involve your life revolving around Ikanni, unlike Kaia and Lillibeth. You could easily return and resume your earlier life.” She smiled softly at him and flicked the point of his ear with her finger. “Stupid. There is no leaving Ikanni without you, and since you are tied here, I am as well. You are my anchor, and I will be with you as long as you are walking this world. Yes, that is a threat.”

He kissed her and swung her around in a circle.

“The sweetest threat that has ever been uttered.” She laughed and held tight, and when he set her back on her feet, she asked him something that had been bothering her for weeks. “How does everyone know what Thaxis’s bedroom looks like? It is driving him nuts.”

He whispered the answer in her ear, and his hands roamed over her.

She laughed at the explanation and vowed to tell Kaia the next time she saw her.

* * * *

“So, when Thaxis was first put in charge of the town, one of the previous Bael’s lovers took a painting of his bedroom and gave it to her new husband, the Bael of a dessert village. He circulated the painting, and suddenly, everyone knew what the bedroom looked like.” Kaia laughed and put her hand over her belly as she laughed. “That explains it.” Scotia raised her hand. “That isn’t all. It has become a test of manhood to pop into Thaxis’s room and back again. The boys do it as teens and dare each other.”

Snorting loudly, Kaia hooted. “Boy, are they going to be surprised in three months. Thaxis is building a new house for us. The old place is being turned into a shop.”

Scotia giggled. “That will be interesting. I look forward to it.”

“How did you find out?”

“Oh, Alder has caught some young males pulling similar stunts around the village. With a species that can transport at will, scavenger hunts take on a whole new meaning. For a week, I was unable to get dressed in the mornings. All my clothing was considered a trophy.” It was winter at Kaia’s home, and Scotia had thoughtfully put on an Alliance bodysuit with insulation before visiting.

Kaia was not allowed to transport. Thaxis was too worried for her safety and health. Her acceptance of her Heshi had been rushed, and he wasn’t taking any chances with his mate or his child.

Kaia rubbed her abdomen and the bump lightly. “When do you think you will start a family?”

“Oh, I have at least six months before my birth control wears off. That is plenty of time to get used to the rhythm of the ocean and swimming every day.”

Kaia snorted. “The moment this baby is in my arms, I am coming for a nice, long, warm visit.”

“So, that is nine months from now? I will pencil it in my notebook.” She grinned.

“What? I am already four months pregnant.” Scotia looked at Kaia, “Didn’t they tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“It is a thirteen-month gestation for Admaryn. You are going to do an entire year and a month.” Scotia watched Kaia’s expression of horror for a full minute before she burst out laughing. “I can’t believe you fell for that.”

Kaia smacked her, and Scotia went intangible just before impact. “You are sick, Scotia.”

“Yes, and yet, with Lilli, the closest thing you have to a sister out here. Enjoy me.” She flung her arms wide, and they continued their visit until the sun was setting and it was time for Scotia to get home. There was a beach party happening that night, because there was always a beach party. It was cruel to taunt Kaia, so Scotia simply hugged her and left.

With the heat wrapping around her, she walked to her wardrobe and took out a dark navy clothing set.

It was time to wrap her arms around her mate and whisper teasing promises into his pointy ears.

Finding ways to entertain herself without computers, books or tech was surprisingly easy, and Alder was her favourite toy.

This continues the plot I began in
Command
and continued in
Conflict
. The Ikanni are all settled in, but for me the question remains…how did they get there?

Perhaps it will be answered another time… perhaps not.

In two weeks, we find out where Teeny is going on vacation and how a Terran will deal with being swept into an annual mating hunt with herself as the prey in
Defiance
.

Thanks for reading,

Viola

Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there.

She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time.

In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.