Episode 68

                                    

                                          

Episode 68
Salex
"How long has it been since Lieutant Adra last checked in."
"Only an hora, Commander," my currently communications lead murmrued as I leaned over his workspace. 
"Oh," I cleared my throat, "Very good. Continue on."
I straightened, then began to pace around the room once again. Many Trenzian's heads followed my movements and I deliberately slowed the pace. I was supposed to be the self-assured leader. 
Instead, I was a pacing, sweating, stressing nightmare. Groaning, I forced my feet for the door and once beyond it found myself facing the familiar hum of our main corridors. But I didn't know where to go. My best friend had gone into dangerous territory to aid his mate in finding her peace. And my mate, my beautiful, heavily pregnant mate would be in our quarters. I could go there, wait to hear from Adra on his successes with Kait. 
But there were things she didn't know. That I didn' tknow if I was ready fo rher to know. 
It was tucked into my communicator after I'd left the showers after training this morning. A tiny note, the writing on it scrawling. 
"You have a traitor," I mouthed the words again. "The Losskee is in danger."
I had instantly crumbled the note and then sprinted to my rooms, finding my mate tucked into our nest, content, her hand resting over the big belly that took up nearly her entire form now. 
A traitor. I had never had considered that my position on the human omega's may not be something that every Trenzian wished for. That had been an immature angle to miss. Of course where there was change, there would be those who pushed back. But I had thought that after seeing what options might come out of this change, others would simply be jealous.
Not that they might not want it to happen. 
So when I declared that we would fall on Oren's side during the change of Prime power, I hadn't considered the reality that there would be those who would want to stop us. 
And now. A ship in danger. 
That meant I needed help. And with Adra off-ship, it was going to be more complicated than I'd imagined. But there were others that had a very vested interest in our new relationships being kept intact. 
The surrogate matches - the males on my ship already committed in the least to the younglings that would be eliminated by any danger to the ship. 
I pressed a hand to my chest, considering my next move. Bayes, I would reach out to him first. He was stationed in this wing and as head engineer, he would have intimate knowledge of the ship's internal workings. He would be the best case scenario if there was any attacks to the functionality of the Losskee. 
Next would be Kahyne. The older warrior was more familiar with the warriors on board than I would ever be. He lived his entire life among the soldiers and trainees. If there was dissent somewhere he would be able to find it. 
I did not risk using my communicator for this. Kahyne's room was nearby to my own and Bayes fall below, closer to the engine rooms. I marched off, finding Kahyne's room in an instant. 
I knocked once, blinking in surprise when a petite, dark haired human woman swung the door open wide. "Kahyne, I told you I'm fine...."She trailed off, cheeks suddenly a dark pink as she shrunk away from me. "You're not who I thought you were."
I remembered her from the council meeting, the shy way she had asked questions. I pressed a hand over my chest in respect, then bobbed my head, "Rae, I'm pleased to see you. Do you happen to know where Kahyne is?"
She closed the door half-way, her slender form pressing against the doorjam. I could almost hear the rattling of her heartrate as she observed me. "I don't, he is usually close by. But I just haven't–"
"Commander," A low, rasp of a voice spoke behind us. Rae and I both leaped, looking over my shoulder at the large warrior who stood there. Kahyne's gold eyes flickered briefly over me before settling on Rae. His gaze roamed her from head to toe, then apparnetly deciding that she was alright, turned his body to me with a small bow. "What can I do for you?"
"How did you–I pointed at the door and then to him?"
"I offered Rae my room after our last meeting. She was not sleeping well in the soldier's barracks."
"Ah," I nodded, "How did you get here so fast?"
His serious expression pulled in a small smile, "I am faster than I look, Commander. Now, how may I assist you? Unless you needed Rae's assistance. She is a talented healer."
"Really?" I looked quickly at her before turning back to Kayhne. "Good to know, but I need to speak with you Kahyne."
We both stole a glance at Rae, who seemed to cringe away from us. "I could leave for a minute, visit one of the other girls."
"No," Kahyne and I said simultaneously. 
"You stay, Rae. Kayhne and I can speak and walk at the same time."
She nodded, one hand tucking her hair behind her ear as she continued to watch Kahyne. The warrior must've noticed, and I could see the way his stalis shivered a little, making it hard for them to stay knotted as he leaned towards his surrogate. One arm slipped out, pressing against her side with a gentle reverence that had me hiding a smile behind my hand. 
"You know how to reach me if you need me," Kahyne said softly, his rough voice barely audible. Rae leaned into him for a moment before stepping back into the room with a nod. 
"Shall we," I said, knowing that if we didn't leave soon, this male was going to stare at her for another chunk of time that we didn't have to waste. 
Kahyne shook his head, and waited until the door slipped shut. Once it was closed we moved out into the hallway. I elbowed Kahyne the moment we passed around a corner. "May I speak frankly, captain?"
Kahyne's purple skin appeared darker over his prominent cheekbones. "Of course."
"You and your surrogate seem to have a very positive relationship starting."
"Rae is," Kahyne breathed out hard, "She is everything I could've imagined. I know she is unsure about this situation, but having her hear, it fills me with comfort and joy I have never known."
I clasped his shoulder as we marched towards engineering. "I'm pleased for you, old friend."
Kahyne shared one of his rare smiles. "Thank you Commander. Now, if you don't mind, where are we going?"
"Engineering," I answered with a sigh. "We have a problem."
***