Immaculate Deception -- Chapter 5: Vengeance Dance

Khetyr stuffed the last of his gear into his jump bag under the watchful eyes of Lt. Teeg. She stood quietly near the door to his quarters, arms folded across her chest. He knew a commando squad was awaiting him in the corridor, set to escort the remainder of the Team to their transport. He still had not broken the news to the Team they would be leaving EL-Vashti behind. They would be distressed to be sure, but like himself helpless to change the situation. The Genetics Directorate proclamation was final.

Khetyr turned a cruel gaze on Crais’ minion. It was met with the same blank expression she always wore and a slight lifting of her right eyebrow.

“How does it feel to be passed up for your Captain’s adversary?” he asked her, his voice a knife’s blade.

Her pale eyes narrowed and her mouth tightened.

“To know he would prefer a mortal enemy to his loyal second as the mother of his child?” Khetyr baited her again.

“How does it feel to know you betrayed your Team Leader. . .your lover. . .to save your own neck?” Teeg rebutted, expressionless. She would not give this eema the satisfaction of her emotions. “I don’t envy your position when Regulator EL-Vashti learns the truth about her situation. I expect she’ll find a way to avenge the betrayal, don’t you?”

Khetyr winced and knew she was right. His life would be worthless once EL-Vashti knew she was in fact pregnant by Crais. There would be no part of the universe, even the Uncharted Territories, which would be far enough to escape her wrath.

“Am I wrong in assuming your captain will apprise her of the full details once his plan is finished?” Khetyr asked, knowing the answer.

“Of course,” Teeg replied, smiling slightly and walking slowly toward him. “Wouldn’t you were the roles reversed? You mistook him for a fool simply because he is a first genner. Stupid, really.”

“Only a first genner would have done something as unspeakable as this,” he countered savagely.

“And only a highborn trelk like your Regulator would have assumed Captain Crais’ guilt simply because she sees him as inferior.” Teeg snapped standing only denches from him now, her ghostly pale face hard, eyes like daggers looking up into his. “An inferior would not be at the head of a command carrier group.”

“We were just following the orders of the IAD,” Khetyr said trying not to flinch from the frosty gaze.

“And who would have had the meevunks to level such accusations in the first place?” Teeg pressed. “A jealous highborn no doubt.”

“No,” Khetyr said finally knowing it no longer mattered. Nothing mattered now. “Someone from the Special Research Directorate.”

“SRD?” asked Teeg.

“The Scarran half-breed, Scorpius.” He admitted. “He approached the IAD. We’re here at his instigation.”

“Scorpius!” hissed Teeg with the first true emotion he had seen on her face. Disgust. Revulsion.

“He went directly to our High Magistrate with his allegations.” Khetyr continued. “We were assigned outside of normal channels.”

She stared unblinking into his face for several long microts. At last she turned away from him and strode to the door.

“It would be in your best interest not to breathe a word to anyone about this or your mission here.” Teeg said over her shoulder. “Captain Crais will see to it any lapse in security is. . .justly punished.”

Khetyr said nothing further but nodded his understanding.

“Instruct your Team to be ready for departure in 4,000 microts,” Teeg ordered. “Your pilot will be waiting aboard your transport.”

With this she left him to his packing and uneasy conscience.

** ** ** ** **

Khetyr entered the Team’s conference room, saying nothing. The dour look on his face spoke volumes. The Techs and server stood dutifully awaiting his orders. He bit his lip and inhaled sharply. They were utterly loyal to EL-Vashti of course. They would not be tolerated on her Team otherwise. Many of them had been with her since she came to the Directorate, predating his membership on their Team by many cycles. This would not go down easy with them. Only their fear of repercussions would keep them obedient and silent.

“Pack your gear immediately,” he instructed them. “We’re returning to the Directorate in 3,200 microts.”

“Without Regulator EL-Vashti?” asked the Information-Processing Tech with disbelief.

“We are under orders from Captain Crais to depart at once.” The doctor replied. “We are not to discuss this matter further. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.” Said the Tech. The others echoed him but the expressions on their faces were a mixture of anger and loathing.

Khetyr saw this and shook his head in defeat. Could they guess his complicity? What would happen if they knew? Just as he predicted before they left the Directorate, everything was falling apart. Worst of all was knowing Crais not only had EL-Vashti at his mercy, but would sire a despised child on her.

“Yotz!” he swore kicking a nearby chair.

** ** ** ** **

EL-Vashti stood sullenly in the upper level of Crais’ quarters. His physician was running a scanner over her as a Medical Tech took blood samples. Crais sat nearby on the lounge seat, eyes never leaving her. The self-satisfied pout on his full lips made her rage flare again. He fully understood the humiliation in this for her and was savoring it like a sweet candy.

“She is in excellent health, sir.” The doctor informed him, his face carefully blank. “Everything is indicative of a successful ovulation with proper stimulation.”

EL-Vashti tried not to shudder at the thought of it. She closed her eyes and kept her mind focused on getting the ordeal over with.

“Outstanding,” Crais smiled motioning to his server who came forward with a bottle of massage oil and appropriate ritual attire for her. “I will call for you again when the process is complete, doctor.”

The medical personnel bowed to Crais and departed hurriedly. Crais laughed deep in his chest as he crossed his legs and made himself more comfortable on the lounger.

“They must sense my eagerness to begin,” he smiled at her.

“Spare us both, Crais,” she snapped murdering him with her gaze. “Just let’s get down to it and be done.”

Crais nodded to his server who began to carefully undress EL-Vashti. He watched as the hands, so accustomed to tending his needs, revealed the pale, softly muscular form of his prize. Rounded shoulders, long neck, pert peach-sized breasts, narrow waist and very long and shapely legs. Crais sighed with appreciation. Pity they got off on the wrong foot, he mused eyes drawn to the narrow triangle of dark pubic hair. She suited him in so many ways.

The server motioned for her to lie upon her back on the massage table. He reached into a bowl of ritual oil on a nearby table, rubbing a liberal amount between his large palms. Beginning with the pressure points on her feet, he stroked, pressed and vibrated each with consummate skill. EL-Vashti wished it were anyone besides Crais so that she could enjoy the sensuous preparations for the ritual. She closed her eyes and silently thanked her lover again for saving her from the ultimate disgrace of Crais’ child.

Watching her reactions intently, Crais wet his lips and felt his own response. Having their roots in ancient Sebacean culture, the massage and ritual served to stimulate ovulation in the female. The primitive herbal aphrodisiacs originally used had long ago been replaced with hormonal stimulants and aromatheraputic scents that achieved the ultimate goal, conception. It could be an ecstatic experience for both participants. It was also said to achieve its deepest effects in those couples who were long-term mates.

Tradition dictated he should perform the massage himself. He yearned to with every fiber of his being but knew handing it off to his server would further debase and enrage her. It would have no effect on the outcome. The ovulatory agent his physician had given to Khetyr was foolproof. No matter what he did or did not do in the mating process, as long as he ejaculated inside her, she would conceive.

Crais sighed audibly as the server moved to EL-Vashti’s breasts, kneading and circling them expertly until even the darker areolas shone with oil in the dimmed lights. Her lips were pressed together and he knew she was fighting her own natural response to such stimulation.

“Impossible not to enjoy it, eh Liliina?” he asked with a laugh. “Our race has spent thousands upon thousands of cycles perfecting it.”

The server, having completed the massage, helped EL-Vashti to her feet. She was slightly unsteady as he began to dress her in the ritual clothes; a soft, close fitting tank top and gauze-like skirt whose hem brushed the tops of her bare feet. Once finished, the server gathered his tray and left silently.

Crais roused himself from the lounger and came toward her. EL-Vashti’s gaze was like venom. He circled quietly, never touching her, only nodding his approval. Her long legs could be seen in the slits that ran from groin to hem in the wispy black material. The pale flesh against the dark cloth was a delicious contrast.

“It suits you,” he whispered at last.

He motioned her toward the bedchamber and followed a few paces behind.

** ** ** ** **

“Get that gear stowed, we’re leaving” Ordered Officer Sun to one of the IAD non-coms. “Don’t make me say it another time.”

“Don’t order my Team personnel, Officer.” Barked Khetyr as he came around the transport to the boarding ladder. “They are IAD and not in your chain of command.”

“Understood, sir,” she replied snapping to attention. “I am merely trying to keep to the timetable set by Captain Crais.”

“I understand that, Officer, but I will not have my people abused by a grunt,” Khetyr retorted before boarding the transport.

Officer Sun took it for what it was and boarded the ship behind him. Obviously the Team physician was more than a little displeased by the pairing of Crais and the Regulator. Like all Peacekeeper pairings, it meant little in the long run. She took none of it very seriously, though she had to admit she’d truly wanted a son for Crais’ sake if for no other reason. It meant so much to him, this founding a House, almost as much as his brother. Tauvo Crais was coming within a day or two to take command of her prowler division. That would improve his mood considerably. So would a son by the IAD lieutenant.

Officer Sun shook off such thoughts and got to the business at hand. Sitting in the pilot’s chair she found she had to adjust the restraint straps to allow for her large belly. Her usual wry, lop-sided smile brightened her face. She was genuinely pleased with the pregnancy. Something maternal was blossoming in her. She hoped it would not be the only child for her.

“Your first birthing?” Khetyr asked as he came into the flight area.

“You should not be here, sir.” She informed him, looking down at her console.

“I won’t touch anything important,” he assured her strapping himself into the seat beside hers. “I asked you a question.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied pretending to be preoccupied with the instruments before her. “It is my first.”

“Genetics Directorate pairing?” he pressed further, his eyes intent.

“No, sir.” She answered. Where was he going with this?

“Accident?”

“No, sir?”

“Well, that is irregular.” He observed charmingly.

“Pardon me sir, but why do you ask?” she said looking at him.

“Professional curiosity.”

“As a physician or an IAD Agent?” she countered.

He laughed revealing a smile filled with perfect white teeth. He was being deliberately provocative with her.

“Both perhaps,” he said finally.

“Am I under any suspicion,” she asked as she eased the transport out of the Mhultaan’s docking back.

“Everyone is under suspicion.”

“Is that the IAD motto?” she shot back, shifting with the angle of the ship as they banked into their new heading.

“If not it probably should be don’t you agree?” he said almost teasing.

“Not to be disrespectful but is there a direction you are heading with this, sir?” she asked flatly watching the Mhultaan recede in the rear viewer on her console. It’s engines engaged and it swiftly became indistinguishable from the surrounding stars.

“Perhaps I’m only making polite conversation, Officer.” He said just as flatly.