Sister Katherine (43 page)

He smiled in relief.

Miv shook a flogger at them.  The tails made a dry, whispery sound that excited Katherine.  “Up on your knees, Vadef.  Support her weight with your hands on her ass.  Katherine, keep your hands low too.”

They obeyed, with Katherine wrapping her legs around Vadef’s waist once more.  Now the Imdiko was in control of their movements, holding her up with his arms while thrusting his hips to make love to her.

Miv pulled her long hair aside, draping it over her shoulder.  He stood over them, his cocks waving in the air as he flicked one flogger towards Vadef.

A whisper of sound, a tiny spatter of leather against flesh.  Vadef’s breath caught and he tensed all over, but his rhythm as he drove into Katherine never wavered.

Another whicker of noise, and flashes of light pain sparked across Katherine’s upper back.  She moaned and jerked against Vadef.

Miv’s arms moved almost lazily as he flicked the leather against their vulnerable flesh in turn, seemingly expending no real effort.  However, the stings constant biting into her skin made Katherine writhe and whimper against Vadef, the sweet agony growing with the passing seconds.  Her back felt like it was on fire.  Meanwhile, the gasping Imdiko continued to drive against her, his thrusts getting harder and harder as if spurred by the flogging he also received.

Pain and ecstasy reached towards each other, streaming together to merge into one mind-stealing sensation.  Katherine felt the telltale uncoupling of her thoughts, that wondrous floating away where past disappointments and fears for the future disappeared.  Now was the only time, here was the only place left in the universe.  Nothing existed but the scorching of her flesh, inside and out.

Vadef’s voice sounded euphoric even through his ragged gasps.  “My Matara … your hand … on our Nobek … he needs you.”

The Imdiko’s words broke through the drugged elation holding Katherine’s mind.  She blinked slowly, her glazed eyes sighting on the dark brown sexes jutting a couple inches from her face.  Plump and rigid, Miv’s upper cock wept a pearlescent tear as she stared at it.

As if in a dream, Katherine’s hand raised up to grip the Nobek’s primary shaft.  It pulsed warmly against the palm of her hand, betraying Miv’s rapid heartbeat.  She was amazed anew by the feeling of moist, silky skin over unbreakable iron.

Katherine’s hand slid to the base of the eager flesh.  Tension thrummed through Miv’s body, but he did not miss a beat as he continued to treat her and Vadef to his perfect punishment skills.  The flogging had completely transmuted now; all Katherine felt was heat and growing ecstasy to complement the peace filling her head.

She stroked Miv in time with Vadef’s thrusts.  In a dreamlike haze, she saw the Imdiko take hold of their clanmate’s secondary cock and stroke as well.  Miv shouted, but he still never lost his rhythm with the floggers. 

Rising.  Falling.  Stroking.  Euphoric pleasure flooding her body.  Bright elation in the core of her growing hotter every second.  Katherine leaned over to enclose the tip of Miv’s penis in her mouth, sucking on the juices she found there.  Her center glowed brighter still, expanding until light bloomed white hot, filling her body with tumultuous energy.

Through the fog of climax, she noted the strikes on her back faltered and stopped.  Cries rose around her.  A sweet and savory flood filled her mouth.  The stave planted deep in her womanhood throbbed as it streamed wet and warm within her.  Katherine was aware that her body seemed like a marionette jerked on its strings by a cruel puppet master, yet her mind floated in bliss.  The heated tide of orgasm only drove her further into nirvana.

She wasn’t sure how long she dwelled in the quiet headspace that lasted well after the lovemaking had ended.  Reality encroached inch by inch as the men gently washed her lax body and treated her welts with medicinal cream and a pain inhibitor.  Katherine was still quiet and relaxed when they at last sat down to eat.  Simdow had taken her over and kept her on his lap as they fed her along with themselves.

A bit at a time Katherine regained her usual senses, emerging from that happy floating realm.  She didn’t mind returning at all, not with Simdow, Vadef, and Miv waiting there for her.  Not when she came back to the knowledge that her girls would remain with her for as long as was needed, where she could love and take care of them.

Leaving her head was a pleasant escape, but the real world wasn’t such a bad place either.

Chapter 20

The Galactic Council of Planets gratefully accepted Simdow’s proposal for a temporary orphans’ colony on Europa.  With the situation in the initial stages of emergency help, it was obvious that the rescue effort was still in a state of flux.  For the moment though, it seemed Katherine’s children were safe and secure.

Even more gratifying was that ten of the elder nuns had elected to stay on to help.  They also had a starting contingent of almost fifty Kalquorian support personnel, most of whom had volunteered for the assignment.  For only a little more than 40 girls, it at first seemed overkill to have so many Kalquorians assigned to Europa.  However, more children were soon to come.  Simdow was sure he’d be asking for even more help within a few weeks.

Their first day back on Europa was all about moving in.  Mother Superior’s former office offered the best space for those in charge to work, and that was where Katherine, Simdow, Vadef, and their Head of Security Nobek Besral decided to set up a temporary headquarters.  Miv was on hand to assist Besral.  As supplies poured in they would eventually have their own offices, but for now they were forced to share the convent’s few resources.

Delighted to be back in a familiar setting, the girls ran all over the convent.  Sometimes they raced into the office, squealing and laughing as they checked on their guardians’ progress.  They were often in the way, but no one minded the frequent interruptions.  Nuns popped in from time to time with questions and to shoo the exuberant youngsters out.

“You can’t blame them for being a little crazy,” Vadef opined as three girls slunk out under Sister Ophelia’s firm but patient gaze.  “They were in that tiny room on board the transport for several days.”

Nobek Besral scowled.  The elder Kalquorian was a big rock of a man, nearing the age that he’d planned to retire.  He kept his graying hair tied back in a neat queue.  He’d come on board to help the orphan’s colony after his ship had taken over the captured Earther crew of the transport and the elder nuns who had elected to leave. 

Katherine had at first been hard pressed to figure out his motives for volunteering to head up Europa’s security.  That changed when she saw how his face, lined from years of frowns, eased when Sister Cheryl was around.  The unclanned Nobek had apparently found something to calm his heart after over 150 years of a battle-torn life.

His current temper had nothing to do with the excited aspirants that kept racing into the room and disrupting his work.  As fierce and unused to children as Besral was, he’d exhibited only patience with the girls.  Instead, his current bad mood was fueled by the horrendous lack of technology on the colony.  His fingers thudded hard against a keyboard as he gave vent to his frustrations with the archaic computer Mother Superior had used.

Besral’s gruff voice was as polite as he could manage as he said, “No offense to your people, Matara Katherine, but the technology leaves much to be desired.”

She nodded sympathetically.  “We had to work with hand-me-downs, donations, and whatever we could scrounge.  This colony was low in priority.”

Vadef folded his arms over his chest.  He seemed to have given up trying to make a com with a cracked casing work.  “That makes little sense.  One would think matters of the spirit should be the highest of concerns to a religion-based government.  A convent should have therefore merited the best equipment.”

Katherine sighed.  “One would think.”

Simdow alone appeared serene about the battered technology they had inherited.  “That will change.  The supply and relief ships will be here tomorrow, so be sure you have your list of needs ready.  Make sure you ask for extra, too.”  He gave them all a devilish grin.  “When the Galactic Council and Kalquor counter our request for fifteen computers with ten, we’ll have exactly what we need.”

Miv arched a brow at his Dramok.  “Just listen to yourself with the conniving.  You’re a politician already.”

Even Besral joined in with their laughter.  When the hilarity subsided, Simdow was quick to point out, “Not quite.  That reminds me; military governorship falls under the ground troop purview.  We are no longer a part of the Kalquorian fleet, my clan.  We’re officially soldiers now.” 

His words brought worry to Katherine.  Her stomach churned uneasily as she paused in her inspection of the room’s wiring schematic to look at her clan.

She asked, “Are you sure you’re okay with this?  After all, this isn’t what you planned for your lives.”

Her three men looked at her and smiled.  Besral glanced around at them, sketched a bow in Simdow’s direction, and quietly left the room.

Simdow walked over to Katherine and gathered her in his arms.  “You’re right.  I hadn’t planned for this at all.  This is much better than what I had in mind for my future.”

He smiled at them all.  “I have my clan.  I have my Matara.”

Miv grinned and added, “Everything else pales in comparison.”

Marci suddenly dashed into the room with Darci chasing on her heels.  The two girls shrieked with happiness and ran straight to Miv.  The Nobek scooped the sisters into his arms and laughed.  He told them, “Only a fool would choose other than this.”

Marci chortled.  “You’re no fool, big brother Miv!”

“Indeed I am not, my warrior sister.”  He arched a brow at the pair.  “Sister Cheryl came in here a few minutes ago looking for you, my younglings.  Aren’t you supposed to be helping with lunch preparation?”

Darci grabbed Marci’s hand, wriggling to leave Miv’s arms.  He set them down as the older girl cried, “We forgot!  Come on, Marci! I don’t want demerits our first day back!”

They ran out, yelling at each other to hurry.  The clan chuckled at the girls’ antics, and Simdow said, “I miss nothing of what I’d originally set out to do.”

The enormity of what lay ahead of them impressed itself on Katherine, and she had a moment of panic.  “Some of the parents and guardians will never be found.  More orphans and children of the missing are already on their way here.  Who knows how many there will be in the end?”

Simdow squeezed her close and planted a comforting kiss on her forehead.  “We will welcome and care for them all.  It is a momentous task, but we can do it.”

Vadef nodded.  “We are theirs, for as long as they need us.  We will see to it no one is left wanting.”

Katherine looked from one man to another, her heart swelling in renewed recognition of her good fortune.  “Have I mentioned how wonderful you are and how lucky I am to have you?”

Miv grinned.  “Yes, but feel free to tell us all you like.”

That earned another round of laughter, and they set about their work once more in good spirits.

* * * *

That night everyone sat together for dinner in the dining room.  The aspirants sat in a group, their two tables loud and boisterous with unrestrained enthusiasm as they settled into familiar environs.  Katherine could detect an undercurrent of concern still present, but for the moment all of the girls seemed determined to hope for the best when it came to reuniting with loved ones.

The Kalquorians also grouped together, their attitudes ones of ease.  There was much work to be done, but the war was over.  The end had come with great tragedy, but horror had eased back now that a sense of purpose had been returned to these men.  The infectious laughter coming from the aspirants’ tables made even the fiercest-seeming Nobeks grin.

For the most part, the remaining nuns also clustered in a little group, keeping affectionate tabs on the girls.  The one exception was Sister Cheryl, who sat with Nobek Besral.  The unforeseen pairing had initially been greeted with wide eyes from the other nuns and titters from the youngsters.  However, no one protested.  Cheryl smiled shyly at her dinner partner and occasionally laughed over something he said.  For his part, Besral was far more animated and at ease than he had been while he’d helped set up the cramped office the convent’s new leaders momentarily shared.  Katherine noted the seasoned Nobek’s gaze rarely left Cheryl’s face.

Katherine sat with her clan, enjoying Sister Miriam’s baked spaghetti dish.  As she ate her last forkful, Simdow closed his handheld computer with a satisfied air. 

He reported to them, “There are two supply ships that were part of the invasion force coming into orbit now.  They will bring us the first shipment of things allocated for this colony tomorrow morning.  More items like food and medical supplies, along with an actual doctor and a couple more medics will show up in a few days.  We’ll also get more security over the next two weeks.”

Katherine nodded.  “Wonderful.  It’s good to know more of what we’ll need is falling into place.  When are the first orphans scheduled to land?”

Vadef said, “In a month, along with Ashley’s parents.  I also received word that five more transports are being lined up to pick up more children from the rescue sites.”  He grimaced.  “I was told to expect a large number of children on those.”

Miv’s brows drew together.  “Can we handle it?”

Simdow nodded.  “The convent’s containment is being enlarged to accommodate twice the number this colony can accommodate.  Its current rating is for 800 people.”

Katherine felt a little dizzy to think of the population explosion that would happen soon.  “Maybe the current containment can take 800 people, but our agricultural fields were just big enough for the 200 of us in residence.”

Vadef rubbed her back to comfort her.  “More food is on the way and we’ve sent out a call to men in the fleet with farming experience.  We’ve received 70 responses so far.  Don’t worry.  We’ll keep up.”