Disclaimer
The characters in the story are a product of my own imagination and hopefully have no resemblance to any living persons. But if it does it is entirely coincidental. Some of the places mentioned are either fictitious and or adapted to suit the plot of the story.
Sex: This story contains sexual content of a graphic nature between consenting adult women, thus if you are not 18 years old and not allowed to read content of this nature, please move on to other suitable stories.
Acknowledgements: Finally…the end. This far Afterglow has been the most difficult story to write for me. What made it so much easier were the readers who encouraged and supported me throughout the process. I can't thank you enough. To all the beta readers (rleef, Steph, BMac and J. Falconer) who worked with me on the story, thank you for your input. I swear I couldn't have made it without you. Lots of love, SW.
Archiving : This work is copy written and should not be posted anywhere else without the writer's expressed permission.
Feedback: Constructive criticism is appreciated, so feel free to drop a line or two at steinwillard80@gmail.com or sent me a friend request on Facebook .
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PART 13 - Conclusion
Hem's eyes rested on Nael who looked even more brooding than usual. She noticed that Nael was simply pushing her food around the plate. That was a worrying sight, because Nael had a huge appetite when it came to food… and it seemed women too. The dark head lifted and stormy blue eyes met Hem's before they flitted away again. It was obvious that Nael was hiding something. She raised her goblet to her lips and allowed her eyes to stray to the other end of the table.
The Senator was her usual aloof self. Except for a curt greeting before they sat down for lunch, they hadn't spoken any words yet. Hem was actually relieved that the woman decided to keep to herself. Having claimed Palmer before her subjects and family, no one but she had the right to look at Palmer with anything more than friendship. As stated by Pharmac Law, Hem had the right to call out any person who pursued Palmer. She felt her anger bubble to the surface. The Senator would not stand a chance.
Hem felt a small touch on her knee and turned her head to smile at Palmer. She saw a gentle plea in the blue eyes. She hadn't even noticed, but she must've stared at the Senator too long which made Palmer fear her intentions.
“What's wrong?” Palmer asked softly.
“Nothing, Dura,” Hem said as she reached for the hand on her knee. “I was just thinking.”
Palmer frowned. “Obviously not happy thoughts. You were scowling.”
Hem shook her head. “You need not be worried, my love.” Hem felt slightly guilty at the lie. A blind man could pick up on the tension between Nael and the Senator. She had hoped that nothing had transpired between the two, but for the past hour the two of them had carefully avoided looking at each other. Palmer would be devastated if she was to find out had something happened between the two. Hem will have to deal with this…discreetly. She squeezed Palmer's hand. “Everything is fine.”
Palmer gave her a hesitant smile before she turned her attention back to her lunch. She was immediately drawn into a conversation with Neitor and Kalt. When Hem's eyes trailed back to the Senator, she found the woman's green eyes resting on her. She raised her goblet in acknowledgement and received a curt nod in return. They would have a talk soon and she hoped her observation was simply misinterpretation.
The rest of the lunch progressed well and Hem, having been drawn into a conversation with Ignul, found herself enjoying the girl's company. Ignul had recently returned from a patrol assignment near Pendulum and Hem was interested to know how she found her position as a guard. It was a bit worrying to think that Ignul would be spending most of her time away from Pharm. Where would it leave Elyst? From the tender gazes the two shared between them, their love was obvious. Would Elyst cope having her mate spending so much time away from her?
She reached for her glass but her hand stopped halfway when the Senator spoke.
“Can we assume that the Yram has been concluded, Principal Hemheri?”
Hem lifted her eyes to meet the Senator's. At first glance the woman looked composed as usual, but Hem could hear a slight edge in her tone. What was she up to now?
“Yes. The ceremony has run its course,” she said evenly. Then it hit her. How could she have forgotten about this? Her eyes flew to Palmer and found her lover looking at her with wide, anxious eyes.
The senator wanted them to leave.
****************************
Palmer's heart was beating fast, and she could actually hear the blood rushing through her veins. No! I'm not ready to leave Hem and the girls just yet. She read the same worry in Hem's eyes. Panic rose inside and bubbled over, causing her to tremble. These past three days she'd become so used to her role of mother and partner that she had almost completely forgotten about her captain persona and responsibilities to Terran.
“We have to be back on Terran the day after tomorrow according to our schedule,” the Senator said firmly.
Palmer knew it was true. As a safety precaution the Council had insisted on a date of return, since they didn't know how things would pan out on Pharm, If they were not back by the set date, Spacefleet military ships would infiltrate Pharm space to retrieve them. Palmer could imagine the disaster such an invasion could cause. Their short stay over here had revealed that the Pharmacs were very territorial. Any invasion of their privacy would not be tolerated.
A deathly silence fell around the table at the Senator's announcement. Palmer felt a large hand clasped hers and she squeezed it with obvious desperation. Hem looked unruffled, Palmer thought, but she could sense the Pharmac's misery in the tight grip on her hand.
Palmer admired Hem's calm as she addressed the Senator. “You promised to stay for the Yram , which you did. For that my daughters and I thank you.”
Palmer felt tears well up in her eyes. Once back on Terran, it would take months, probably a year, before she could ensure the smooth transition of her responsibilities to another candidate before she could return to Pharm. She had no idea how she was going to get through a day without her family. A year sounded like torture.
A soft sniff sounded and Palmer's head jerked in the direction of Kalt. The girl's face was wet with tears and Palmer's motherly instincts kicked in immediately. She quickly leaned over to her daughter and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Hush now, sweetie. This is not a final goodbye.”
Kalt arms tightened around her as she cried louder. For a moment Palmer feared that in her distraught state, the girl might break her ribs. Fortunately, Nael and Elyst came to stand behind Kalt's chair, their hands resting on their sister's shaking shoulders. Over Kalt's shoulder, Palmer caught Neitor's eyes. The Pharmac girl had a look of concern and helplessness on her face. Palmer knew that the girl wanted so desperately to comfort her girlfriend, but knowing that she had only today with her babies, Palmer couldn't get herself to let go of Kalt…yet.
“I understand that you will miss your mother, girls, but she will be back for visits,” Hem's deep voice came from over Palmer's shoulder. Palmer was surprised by Hem's gruff tone and her reference to ‘visits'. She gave Kalt a gentle squeeze and moved out of the embrace. The girl was immediately claimed by her sisters who were hovering protectively.
Palmer didn't have to look, but she knew everyone in the hall was looking at them as she turned to Hem. Hem's eyes were darker than usual, causing the orange flares to glitter brightly.
****************************
Hem refused to show any vulnerability in front of her Advisory Council, her parents, guests and most certainly, the Senator. But she envied their daughters for having that freedom to reveal their emotions. If she could, she would have crawled over to Palmer on her knees and placed her head in her lover's lap. She would beg Palmer not to leave her again. Instead she settled for holding Palmer's concerned gaze.
“Shall we meet in the private lounge?” she asked softly. After a small hesitation, Palmer nodded. Hem felt Palmer's hand searching for hers and quickly held out hers.
Please don't leave.
After sharing a long gaze, they reluctantly returned to their meal. After the Senator's bombshell everyone seemed to have lost their appetite. Hem noted with dark satisfaction that the Senator herself was only pushing her food around on her plate. It served her right for spoiling her and Palmer's first official meal as a couple, Hem thought.
Her eyes shifted to her daughters and she shook her head in amusement. The girls were squeezed in between Kalt and Palmer's chairs. Hem made a mental note to give them time to spend with their mother today, as long as they knew to leave the night time hours for her.
**************************
The door had barely closed behind Hem before Palmer spun around to pierce Hem with a sharp look.
“Visits, Hem?”
Hem blinked at the vehemence in Palmer's voice. “Do you not intend to come for visits?” Hem asked carefully. She could not understand what she'd said wrong. Her heart sank suddenly. Unless, of course, Palmer wasn't planning on coming to see them again.
Palmer came to stand before Hem, her face lifted so their eyes could meet. “No, Hem,” Palmer said firmly. “I do not plan on coming for visits.”
Hem had to physically restrain her hands from touching her heart, which she swore she could feel it shattering inside her chest. How could she have been so wrong about them? They loved each other and had three beautiful daughters together. It was natural to assume that Palmer would want to stay in touch…see her daughters grow up and maybe come to see Hem too once in a while. She dragged her eyes away from Palmer's when she realized that the blonde's face was becoming blurry. She hated it when her eyes betrayed her emotions. A soft fingertip touched her cheek and Hem was forced to look back at Palmer. The blonde had a gentle smile on her lips.
“You really don't know, do you?” Palmer asked tenderly.
Hem just looked down into Palmer's eyes. The blue orbs held such love. In the confused state she was in, the expression of love was all that kept her from crumbling in falling to pieces at Palmer's feet.
“I do not intend to come for visits, because I am planning on coming to move here for good, my love.”
Hem blinked in shock. Planning to move here for good? Did she hear Palmer correctly? Hem placed her hands on Palmer's shoulders, terrified to hope too quickly, too soon.
“What do you mean?”
Palmer rolled her eyes at Hem, an act so distinctively Elyst that for a moment Hem was distracted. It was still fascinating to discover how many of the girls' strange mannerisms actually came from Palmer.
“I want to live with my family,” Palmer said evenly as her eyes searched Hem's.
Looking at Palmer with the widest smile Hem knew she'd ever given anyone, she was taken back to her conversation with Sandra yesterday. What was it again that the older Middleton matriarch had said. ‘If she has declared her love to you then she had already made her choice.'
Hem cradled Palmer's face in her large palms. This time she wasn't ashamed when she felt tears trickle down her cheeks. This moment warranted something memorable…like tears. “You chose me.”
“I already did…eighteen years ago,” Palmer whispered softly as she stood on tiptoe to reach Hem's lips. Hem eagerly lowered her head to accept Palmer's kiss. When the kiss ended, Hem rested her cheek on Palmer's head.
“Your mother told me that you've chosen me already, but I didn't fully understand what it meant.” Hem held Palmer at arms breadth so she could see Palmer's eyes. “I thought I could have you only on short visits and that was more than I could've ever hoped, Dura. To have you with me forever…” Hem's voice faded off. She had to blink a few times to stop the torrent of tears coursing down her cheeks. She took a shuddering breath when she felt Palmer's arms tighten around her waist. She rested her chin on the crown of Palmer's head.
“How do you expect me to stay away from you now, Hem? You have given me so much more than I ever thought I deserved. I love you and my daughters so much and my place is with you,” Palmer said softly.
“I love you, Captain Palmer Middleton,” Hem whispered.
**********************
Palmer had reluctantly taken leave of Hem since she had promised Kalt and Elyst and their partners that they could go for a walk after lunch.
They were at an inn across town having a drink after their visit to the Art House, the Pharmac Centre of Biology and the Winery. Palmer had enjoyed their excursion so far but her mind kept returning to Hem and the fact that she was leaving the next morning. It had taken all her discipline not to tear into the Senator after lunch when they had all regrouped at their flyer. Nor did she have the right to. Their departure date was agreed upon on Terran and the Senator was right in keeping to it. But it still hurt to think that she might not see Hem in almost a year.
A soft touch on her arm pulled her back to the present. With a slightly embarrassed smile she turned to Elyst.
“I'm sorry, my love, did you say something?”
Elyst returned the smile. “You look worried.”
Palmer threw a quick glance around the table to see who else was privy to their conversation. Kalt, Neitor and Ignul were engaged in a lively conversation about last night's Yram . She turned back to Elyst. Thoughtful blue eyes studied her sombrely.
“I'm not really worried,” she said softly. She could see in Elyst's eyes that she knew that Palmer was lying, but Palmer didn't think it was fair to worry her daughters any further. Kalt had not taken the news of Palmer's pending departure well. Elyst and Nael were more reserved in their reactions, but if the girls were in the slightest bit like her, Palmer knew they were worried too.
“But you are worried about returning?” Elyst said as she took a sip from her drink. A sad smile touched the young woman's lips. “Mother will miss you terribly.”
Palmer swallowed hard. Hem. My Hem. “Not as much as I'll miss her,” she whispered. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered waking up in Hem's arms for the second time on the moon. Hem's eyes were brilliant with love. Her arms, so tender and strong, cradled Palmer against her side. For a long moment she had lain there, looking up into the gold and black eyes, etching the beautiful face on her mind. There were simply no words to express her feelings at that moment. Staring at her love was all she was capable of. Palmer knew then as she knew now that she would always remember that moment until she died.
*********************
Hem felt like screaming and breaking things. However, centuries of discipline had taught her to keep her emotions buried under a thousand layers of duties. As she put on her breastplate, her heart ached at the thought of not sleeping next to Palmer on the blonde's last night on Pharm. When the Council pulled her away soon after lunch nothing had prepared her for this.
“The warriors are ready, milady,” a curt voice said behind her. Hem nodded and jerked the last of the laces into place. Maybe, just maybe, she might be able to deal with this quickly and be back before Palmer even knew she'd been gone.
“Thank you, Memyr,” she said.
Junene Opli would surely know today what it felt like to have the wrath of the Pharmac Principality loose on him. Peace and stability was imperative for Humer. More than half of the universe depended on Humer's produce. Opli was aware of that and that was the main reason he tried to destabilize the small planet in the first place. Pharm could easily use the current political situation to their benefit, but the divine directive of the Pharm was to regulate peace and prosperity throughout the universe. Gaining power was not a priority, not when one lived for thousands of years. Over taxing Pharm's present resources would mean that generations to come would have to exploit other planets to feed Pharmacs. Hem could envision how easily Pharmacs could begin to abuse their powers to support their own. The powers they had were immeasurable and when unleashed on those beings of lesser resources, could prove disastrous. Exploitation was not the way of Pharmac and there was no way Hem was going to allow such an abhorrent standard to take root under her reign.
“I will be with them shortly,” she murmured. Memyr left and Hem's head lowered until her chin rested on her chest.
“There's a reason why you were born to lead and not I.”
Hem spun around to find Ahalpa standing a few feet behind her. For a brief moment Hem felt absolute envy towards her sister. She stopped just short of cursing her divine birth. Too many sacrifices had been made to bring her where she was. That morning, nine hundred and eighty five years ago, when Redla woke up to find her six month old daughter's eyes had shattered into a kaleidoscope of gold and black, they knew they had lost all right over their baby girl. For the next thirty years, Hem had been raised by the Sacred Council in the alternate Pharm world. It had taken them close to a century before Redla and Ehno could reclaim their rights as parents to the next Pharmac Principal. Life had not always been easy. Hem had struggled to reintegrate into the life of a commoner on top of struggling to accept the two women everyone told her were her parents.
Fortunately she had grown to like and love her parents again and life began to make sense again. Two centuries later Ahalpa was born. Even with the vigorous training and the many duties she had to perform as part of her journey to prepare her for her future role as the leader of the most powerful race in the Universe, Hem was happy. They were growing into a normal family. She adored her baby sister. Ahalpa was extremely intuitive and her being here showed that the Pharmac captain cared about Hem's mental state at the present moment.
“Will you please tell Palmer that I had to leave?” Hem's arms hung limp at her sides. “I will not have the time to tell her.”
Ahalpa stepped forward in a rare show of affection pulled Hem into a tight hug. Since taking office, Ahalpa had refrained from showering Hem with hugs and kisses as she was used to when Ahalpa was a child. Hem had missed the show of affection but knowing her sister to be very much like their warrior mother, had not bothered her sister about the absence of the well-missed tokens.
“All your life you have protected and nurtured others. Not once have you been the recipient,” Ahalpa whispered softly in Hem's ear.
“I have always felt loved and appreciated in your presence, little sister.”
Ahalpa drew back and Hem's heart melted at the love she saw in her sister's eyes. “I have felt the same in your presence. I still do.”
The sisters hugged again. Hem brushed a kiss on Ahalpa's cheek. “Please tell Palmer.” She stepped away and lowered her eyes. “Also tell her that I love her.”
Ahalpa placed her hand over Hem's heart. “I will, sister.” With a tender smile at Hem, Ahalpa left the war room, leaving Hem feel a little more positive about the coming battle. At least Palmer would know where she was.
*************************
Palmer rolled over and punched the pillow. She slowly opened her eyes and sighed. One night with Hem and she felt as if her ability to sleep had left with Hem. She sighed again. For the umpteenth time the thought of how she was going to survive without Hem echoed through her mind. If only Hem could've been here to put her mind at ease. Instead, her lover was almost two thousand light years away from Pharm, quelling a rebellion. Not that she condoned violence, but she really hoped her lover whipped the person's butt who was responsible for Hem not being here with her. She rolled onto her side and with a squeak surged into a seated position. She warily eyed the large, dark silhouette standing in the door leading to the balcony.
“What…Who's there? Nael?” She hadn't seen Nael since after lunch. Knowing how overprotective her lastborn was, Palmer assumed immediately that her midnight visitor was her daughter.
“It's not Nael,” said a strangely familiar voice.
Palmer reached over the bed for the light. She blinked as light flooded the room and blinked again, this time in surprise, at the identity of her visitor.
“Captain Ahalpa?”
Ahalpa smiled. “Always so formal, Captain Middleton. We're family now and I'm of the belief that the use of titles amongst family utterly unnecessary.” The Pharmac came to sit on the bed, causing the mattress to sag slightly under her weight. “Please call me Ahalpa.”
Still not sure why the Pharmac was in her bedroom, Palmer studied the woman closely. Could it be that the Ahalpa was hoping to move in on her sister's territory? For there was no doubt that Palmer was indeed Hem's. The whole Pharm knew that by now. Ahalpa surely received the memo, too. Ahalpa must've sensed her discomfort, since the Pharmac slowly came to her feet and put some distance between her and the bed. They regarded each other for a long moment.
“I've been a diligent spectator in Hem's life for as long as I can remember. She's been through a lot in her life. As soon as the Council found out about her being the next Principal, she was taken from my parents to an alternate dimension. She was subjected to so much to prepare herself for the role she was to assume.”
Intrigued, Palmer sat up straighter and patted the place on the bed next to her. After a moment's hesitation, Ahalpa lowered herself onto the bed. She gave Palmer a small smile of appreciation.
“Hem was born to serve and protect. The only chance at a bit of love or affection was ripped from her at a very young age when she was taken from our parents. Even when she was returned to us, it took Hem close to a century to accept that a parent's love is unconditional and could flatten mountains if it meant keeping your child safe.” Ahalpa was quiet for moment. “As a child I've sensed her need for affection and also her fear of allowing it lest it be taken from her again. I've made it a point always to show her how much I loved her.”
Palmer's heart clenched as she listened to Ahalpa's impassioned words. This was the first time she was giving an insight into both Hem and Ahalpa's lives. She reached out and curled her hand over Ahalpa's. The Pharmac looked down at their hands. Palmer's heart warmed exponentially for the woman who had been there for Hem when Hem needed someone.
“When she became the Supreme Leader of the universe, I thought she would not need my attention anymore.” Ahalpa sighed deeply. “What more could she need, I thought. She was feared and revered by almost every being in existence. But I was wrong. I was so wrong to withdraw my attention.” Ahalpa's head lowered until it rested on her chest.
Palmer gently squeezed Ahalpa's hand, encouraging her to continue. She wanted to know more. She needed to understand the love of her life better. Only then maybe might she be able to be to Hem what Hem truly needed.
Ahalpa closed her eyes. “Today when she had to leave, I've realized just how scared she was of losing you. You were the beginning of the most wonderful period of her life and when you claimed her as yours last night, you became her everything. Pharmac offspring grow up and leave to start their own lives, but our mates are the only thing we can hold onto forever.”
Palmer recalled Hem's reaction to Neitor and Ignul and she understood Hem's response so much better. Hem was not only scared of losing her girls, she'd been terrified that Palmer would be leaving her too.
“Oh, Hem,” Palmer whispered softly as her eyes filled up with tears. Had she known what she knew now, Palmer wouldn't have approached Hem's insecurity with such nonchalance.
“She didn't want to leave today,” Ahalpa continued. “That was the first time I've seen her fighting duty to be with someone. The girls are a different issue. Hem convinced herself that their protection was part of her duty. As long as she could keep the universe from erupting in chaos, the girls were safe.” The Pharmac squeezed Palmer's hand as she searched Palmer's eyes. “She needs you more than she has ever needed anything else. That makes you the most powerful woman in the world.”
Palmer sat in stunned silence as she allowed the words to sink in. Hem would abandon her duty and position for her. It was almost too unreal to imagine that she could have that kind of power over such a powerful being. Did Hem truly love her that much? A tendril of fear ran down Palmer's spine. It was frightening to think that she could inadvertently influence the future of the universe. Hem's beautiful eyes swam before her mind's eye and Palmer smiled tenderly. Hem would not forsake her duty for her. She was too honourable a person.
Ahalpa came to her feet, bringing Palmer back to the present. “You need to get dressed. I want to show you something,” Ahalpa said softly. With her initial wariness of Ahalpa completely gone, Palmer jumped out of bed to get dressed.
*************************
Hem skewered the smaller alien with a deadly glare. The audacity of these rodents to think they could set an ambush for her. Blinding fury filled her as recalled how, as soon as they landed on the planet, a torpedo missile had slammed into her chest. The power of the rocket and the unexpectedness of attack had stunned Hem for a moment. That was enough time for a swarm of K'melti warriors to circle her and opening fire on her with their phasers. She was invincible but not completely immune to physical pain and the earlier, powerful blast of the missile and incessant stings of the phasers were taking a toll on her patience. With pain feeding her anger, she had grabbed the nearest tree and pulled it out, roots and all. She had stormed the rodent-like mercenaries and swung wildly. Just like she'd done three days ago, she had to flatten a great number of warriors before their General had surrendered.
Now, as she looked at the K'melti General, Hem felt the same rage bubbling in her blood. She had come to Humer , ready to rip Opli's head only to find that the K'melti had actually invaded Humer, baying for Opli's blood. It seemed the scientist had made outrageous promises in exchange for the backing of a K'melti army. Promises he reneged on. She had arrived just in time to save Opli from the wrath of the bloodthirsty K'melti General. Hem had heard of the man before. His modus operandi was intimidation and extortion, but that was some of the lesser qualities he was renowned for. General Ypme derived immense pleasure from skinning his victims alive and decorating his war room with his enemies' cured skins. It was very terrifying experience to go through just by the sound of it. As a matter of fact, she could hear Opli's teeth still clattering together; almost an hour after she'd snatched him right from under the General's sharp blade. He'd been so close to being the latest adornment to the General's apparently expansive collection of wall art. She threw a quick glance at Opli who sat next to her. Opli hadn't moved from her side since she'd rescued him. Looking at the General and the look he gave the scientist, it was clear why Opli had been shadowing her the whole time.
Casting a quick glance at the dark sky through the slit in the tent, Hem's jaw clenched. In a few hours, she would have to bid Palmer goodbye and the way it was going she might be too late to do that. She wanted to wrap this up, but the stubborn General refused to consider Opli's offer of compensation. Moving quickly, she reached out and grabbed the General by his snout and pulled him across the table until he lay before her in startled silence.
“Claiming Humer as compensation is out of the question. Thus I would recommend you think a little farther than your snout, General.” She squeezed the fleshy snout for good measure and watched with satisfaction as the General's beady eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “Opli is offering to replenish your army by reproducing the soldiers you've lost in his failed coup. Maybe you should reconsider, because if you try to invade Humer again, I will come for you myself.”
She let go of the alien's snout and rubbed her hands together. “So,” she said almost cheerily, “what's it going to be?”
An hour later, Hem stretched to her impressive height and left the K'melti tent without a backward glance. She needed to get to Palmer.
“Principal Hemheri, if you please,” a voice stopped her just as she was about to take flight.
Turning around, Hem had to keep herself from rolling her eyes. “Opli.”
The lizard-like alien quickly stepped forward. “I wanted to thank you for saving my life today. I know you could've easily let it go the other way.”
Hem smirked. “I was tempted, yes,” she answered truthfully and watched as the scientist blinked in shocked. “But pettiness is not a feature Pharmacs consider virtuous.”
Opli seemed to relax slightly. “More reason to be grateful for your intervention.” He smiled at her. “Please forgive my forwardness, but I believe congratulations are in order. The news of your bonding has reached us too.”
Hem's eyes narrowed. That was not what she had wanted. Next, every renegade in the universe would be out to capture Palmer to get to Hem. Opli must've picked up on Hem's displeasure with the news for he quickly spoke up again.
“The news was met with jubilation here. You are held in high regard by the Hume and many other realms. It was about time that you find someone deserving of your selfless generosity.”
It was Hem's time to blink at the alien. High esteem? She had lived long enough to know that being feared was not always advantageous. Fear birthed hatred and Hem would hate to have any of that malice directed at Palmer. She searched the alien's eyes and found them open and sincere. Maybe things had changed, but Hem was still wary of the sudden acceptance of her as the Supreme Leader of the Universe. She'd have to give it some time and see what happened.
“Thank you, Opli. Stay out of trouble. I might not be able to save your scally hide the next time.”
Opli nodded. “I owe you my life and for that I will promise to always keep you updated on any happenings which might affect you or your loved ones.”
Hem stared into the split eyes of the alien for a long moment. She had never made use of spies in all her centuries as Principal. Until Palmer was safe on Pharm it would be useful to have someone besides herself to look out for Palmer. She gave Opli a curt nod and took to the air.
**********************
“Are you sure this will work?” Palmer asked suspiciously and looked at Ahalpa.
“Of course it will work,” Ahalpa said as she straightened Palmer's collar. She stood back to admire her handiwork and nodded her satisfaction.
Palmer shook her head slowly. “No offense, Ahalpa, but I feel a little stupid in this outfit. I don't see why I should wear this? She…”
“I didn't ask you outright, but I have the feeling that you trusted me,” Ahalpa said levelling a steady gaze on Palmer. “Do you really think I would steer you wrong?”
Palmer exhaled loudly. “Ok.” She looked down at her outfit and groaned softly. It looked like an outfit a waitress on Terran would wear. It consisted of a short leather skirt and a bodice, if it could be called that. It showed more of her abdomen then it was covering. Red was also not a colour she particularly liked. When Ahalpa brought her to this cave-like storage facility on the outskirts of Moser , Palmer was stunned by the items she found there. Her surprise was even bigger when Ahalpa told her that this was Hem's personal storage facility and that all the items collected over the years of Hem's travels to other planets. There were a great number of items from Terran ranging from automobiles, long plays, compact disks, clothing and books. When she turned to Ahalpa it was to find the Pharmac grinning wildly like a child in a toy store.
“As a child I loved it when she brought me here,” Ahalpa exclaimed. “She would read to me and pushed me around in that wheeled mobile.”
“Pushed?” Palmer looked at the outdated semi-trailer truck.
“Well, yes,” Ahalpa said quickly. “It's toxic to the environment.”
Palmer was still trying to wrap her eyes around the image of Hem pushing a little sister around in a massive truck, when Ahalpa held up the outfit.
“Here it is.”
After long and terse discussion as to why Ahalpa wanted her to wear the ridiculous outfit, Palmer reluctantly conceded. She was glad that Ahalpa hadn't insisted she wore the outfit leaving the facility to the palace.
Dressed in the outfit, Palmer had to admit that apart from the uneasiness of the outfit, she liked how the soft leather stretched over her body, hugging her curves. She blushed slightly at the amount of thigh the short skirt showed. Maybe she was too hasty in agreeing to this. If Hem had truly fantasized about her in this outfit, as Ahalpa claimed, Palmer was sure Hem would've told her so. They had a long discussion on the moon, getting to know each other. Surely Hem would've mentioned it.
She turned to Ahalpa. “I'm not so sure about this anymore.”
Ahalpa's smiled. “Just try it out. There is no harm in trying, is there?”
“Okay,” Palmer said half-heartedly. “Just know that this is the last time you get to do this.”
Ahalpa bowed deeply. “Thank you, milady. I will be at the ship tomorrow to accept your gratitude.” After saying that, Ahalpa left.
Palmer stared at the closed door, her nervous returning with a vengeance. What if Hem didn't like the outfit on her? What was she going to say? A soft crunching sound coming for the balcony caused her to spin around. She gasped when she found Hem standing in the doorway leading out to the balcony.
With her hair ruffled and uniform zinged in places, Hem looked wild and dangerous. But what caused Palmer the most alarm was the pieces of crushed debris falling from the spot where Hem's hand was closed around the marble arch. Fearful, she raised her eyes to Hem's face and felt a chill run down her spine. Hem's eyes were almost solid black with thin golden lines breaking the midnight eyes. She hates it, was all Palmer could think about. She absolutely hates it.
“Hem?”
Hem blinked twice and pushed away from the arch, advancing on Palmer. Her heartbeat accelerated at the strange look in Hem's eyes as the Pharmac came closer.
“I…I can explain, Hem,” Palmer gasped out, willing herself not to turn and run. Closer up, Hem looked even larger than usual and her body was shaking violently. Noticing the later, Palmer forgot about the outfit as concern took over. “Are you hurt?” She reached out to Hem and was surprised when Hem lowered her head to allow her to touch her cheek.
“Later,” Hem growled in a deep, husky voice as she searched Palmer's eyes. “Remind me to thank Ahalpa for this.”
A soft squeak left Palmer's lips when Hem's hands clutched her hips and she was hoisted off her feet and carried to the bed. As she was deposited on the bed, Palmer tried to sit up, but Hem quickly covered her with her body.
“Hem?” she croaked, still a little fearfully.
“Later, Dura,” Hem whispered with her lips against Palmer's. “I cannot think straight now nor do I think I have the ability to string another coherent sentence together. Let me love you.”
A brilliant smile formed on Palmer's lips. “You like this,” she whispered back, flicking her tongue over Hem's lips.
Hem moaned softly. “Let me show you.”
Palmer pushed her fingers through Hem's hair as she parted her lips to reach her beloved's kiss.
*********
Epilogue
Six weeks later…
“Rebecca, we cannot hold this off any longer. The issue needs to be dealt with immediately. If she was to find out about this, I'm afraid of what she would do,” Senator Harold Burns said urgently.
Turning away from the widow she'd been staring out, Senator Rebecca Keane fixed a cool look on her aging colleague. If possible, Harold looked even older than his eighty nine years today.
“Rebecca?”
Pulled back from her reverie, Rebecca shook her head. “We need to talk this through first. There are issues such as how she managed to enter our realm without any detection.”
Harold threw his hands up in air. “I don't know why you're doing this, but I fear you will get us all killed. Not to speak of Captain Middleton. If she were to find out we will turn an ally into an enemy we cannot afford to have. Please, don't do this.”
The Senator's eyes narrowed at the sound of Palmer's name. She hadn't thought about Palmer. As a matter of fact she had tried her hardest to keep the woman from her mind since their return from Pharm. Palmer Middleton belonged to someone else and the knowledge still hurt. At present Captain Middleton was on a tour visiting all the other worlds to finalize the last missions on her itinerary as well as to do scout for suitable candidates to take over her responsibilities. A wave of pain and regret washed over Rebecca and she ruthless pushed it away. What's done was done. She had to concentrate on the future now. When she spoke, her voice was calm, belying the turmoil inside her.
“I'm not doing anything wrong, Harold. I assure you I'm simply fulfilling my duties of protector of Terran and the realm. If our defences could be breached so effortlessly, it must mean that we have to find the weakness and reinforce our safety protocols. You surely understand that, don't you?”
For a moment they locked eyes. Rebecca was the first to look away. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Harold slowly come to his feet.
“I understand, Rebecca, but I don't understand why you would risk so much for something we could solve in a less provocative manner,” the old Senator said in a resigned tone causing Rebecca to look back at him. Harold rested his hands on the desk, his eyes sad. “We have enjoyed relative peace with all the other realms and I had hoped that when I die, I would leave my children and grandchildren still enjoying the stability, I, in my capacity as a leader, have set out to create for them.” He gave her a stern look. “But all we have worked so hard to attain will be lost in the blink of an eye when the Pharmac Principal comes looking for her daughter.”
Rebecca was silent as the old Senator shuffled out of her office.