Taking the Steel

Taking the Steel



Chapter the Second: Change of Engagement



Time Setting: Years prior to the events in Halo: Combat Evolved and “The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor,” about six months after the end of “Taking the Steel, Chapter the First: Parry and Riposte.”





Rtas ‘Vadumee did not know how much longer he could stand having SpecOps recruit Kusovai sleeping in his bed, cuddling up to him in his sleep like a hatchling with its mother, and inspiring him to ever more depraved and explicit dreams, before he lost his mind.



He’d been suffering through it for six months and more, and now it had reached the point where ‘Vadumee loved going on missions, no matter how dangerous, just because it meant he’d have company that night and get to hold Kusovai again. Then he’d be awake half the night, tormented by erotic fantasies, praying to the Rings that innocent little Kusovai wouldn’t guess what was going through his head.



It couldn’t last and it didn’t—the beginning of the end occurred one day while the lower-ranked SpecOps soldiers went through a training exercise led by the other SpecOps Subcommander, Elka ‘Raininee. With nothing to do, Subcommander ‘Vadumee had gone down to Stores to join Quartermaster Fil Storamee’s infamous crud game. After getting his ass soundly whipped by the Quartermaster, he’d quit and gone back to his stateroom, only to find Kusovai in his bunk again, curled up in his blankets reading The Arts of Combat.



“What do you think you’re doing here?” ‘Vadumee asked, folding his arms across his armoured chest. “’Raininee’s training exercise doesn’t count as a mission.”



Kusovai, as usual clad only in his jumpsuit, peered up at him innocently as he set the book down. “I got lonely.”



“Don’t you think you should go make some friends your own rank?” It was hard to be impatient with the recruit when he looked so cute, but it was for his own good.



“I like being with you, si…Rtas.” Kusovai could sense his troubled mood. “Or…oh. Do you want me to go?”



“Kusovai, I…”



“If you’ve got a consort coming over, I understand…I’ll get out of here…” He got up, and when he reached for his armour, his hands were shaking.



‘Vadumee put his hands on the boy’s upper arms. “I don’t have a consort coming, Kusovai. You know I do not mate.”



Kusovai blinked at him disarmingly. “Don’t you like mating?”



‘Vadumee snorted. “I never said I didn’t like mating. I said that relationships outside SpecOps break down because of the nature of our work, and that one-night stands feel awful.” He sat down on his bed.



“So why don’t you mate with somebody in SpecOps?” Kusovai asked, sitting beside him.



“Because after every mission, I’m stuck in a bunk with you,” ‘Vadumee retorted irritably. It was an unfair judgment. ‘Vadumee was not particularly interested in any of the other SpecOps personnel, most of whom favoured casual orgies with one another and a handful of whom were bonded and therefore, according to ‘Vadumee’s personal sense of honour, off limits. Kusovai seemed nervous, but ‘Vadumee was too agitated himself to think clearly. Why couldn’t the rookie stop talking about sex?



Kuvosai lowered his head as he asked quietly, “So, um, so why don’t you mate with me?”



The question crashed through ‘Vadumee’s thoughts like a maelstrom.



“You’re too young,” ‘Vadumee said dismissively, because he could not, dared not, go down this road.



Kusovai sat up straight, pushing his shoulders back and raising his head and generally looking even more delicious than usual. “I’m an adult. I’m a SpecOps warrior. I’m old enough to take responsibility for my actions.”



“You don’t even know what you’re doing,” ‘Vadumee growled.



But Kusovai thrust his mandibles right up in ‘Vadumee’s face and growled back, “So why don’t you teach me?”



Rtas drew back, before his body overrode his brain and started acting out all those fantasies he’d been tormented with ever since Kusovai had saved him in battle. “Having your Subcommander take advantage of you,” he said with disgust, because self-disgust was the only thing keeping his urges under control. “Mating you for the first time. Doing all the things lovers do. What would you think of that?”



“I don’t know,” Kusovai answered honestly, and then he looked ‘Vadumee square in the eye and added, “I guess I’ll have to wait until you actually do them to me. Then I can tell you what I think of them.”



‘Vadumee clenched his mandibles together so hard that it hurt, because the very idea of doing those things to Kusovai made his shaft ache. He could hear the rookie breathing in the silence, his breath coming fast, and then Kusovai spoke.



“I think about that sometimes,” Kusovai whispered softly.



“About what?” ‘Vadumee asked slowly, sure he had to be misreading the boy.



“About you doing those things to me.” Kusovai ducked his head submissively, laying it on ‘Vadumee’s shoulder, closing his eyes as he confessed. “Showing me those things for the first time.” He swallowed hard and continued. “Sometimes it wakes me up at night. Sometimes I lie here wondering what it would be like if you woke up and started to touch me…”



Oh, by the Holy Rings. ‘Vadumee remembered lying awake for hours, night after night, fantasizing about rolling over and seducing Kusovai…what if, on the other side of the bed, the rookie had been imagining the same thing? If they’d both been thinking it, why hadn’t they done it?



Rtas ran his hand gently over Kusovai’s shoulder blades, savouring the shape of the boy’s muscles, wondering if it would really be so bad to…



…yes, it would, and if he didn’t get out of this bunk right now he’d be giving Kusovai a full sexual education in the next few minutes.



“Listen,” ‘Vadumee said with a snarl, “let me make this clear. I’m going to the head, and if you are still in this cabin when I get back, I am going to slam you down in that bunk and mate with you until you are black and blue, do you understand?”



Without waiting for Kusovai’s reply, Rtas stalked into the head, slamming the door behind him. Still growling, he cranked the shower over to full cold, stripped his jumpsuit and stepped in. He was so horny it hurt.



The chilly water knocked the breath right out of his lungs, but he gritted his mandibles and forced himself to fight the pain, like a thousand icy needles lancing his hide, until his shaft retreated back up into his body and his frame stopped shaking with desire and need.



Finally, he turned off the water and towelled himself dry, taking comfort in the scant warmth of the towel which only seemed heated because he himself was so thoroughly chilled. He opened the door and started growling again, because he could still smell Kusovai’s lingering scent and he just knew it was going to keep him awake and horny all damned night…



There was still a pile of black armour on the floor. Armour that wasn’t his.



Condemnation! There was a lump in his bed, too. A lump that was not just blankets and pillows.



‘Vadumee, naked, moved across the room and ripped the covers back. Kusovai blinked up at him guilelessly, his sweet expression completely at odds with the fact that he wasn’t wearing a damned thing under the blankets.



Rtas was taken aback. Kusovai certainly had nerve—that was no surprise—but did he really know what he was getting into?



By the Rings. The rookie’s soft grey skin covered a well-muscled chest, powerful forearms, a trim waist…



“What do you think you’re playing at?” he demanded angrily. “I told you…”



“That if I was still here when you got back, you’d mate me till I was black and blue,” Kusovai replied. “And here I am.” He offered ‘Vadumee a tentative smile.



And ‘Vadumee was lost.



He could no longer think that Kusovai should have his first experience with a youth of his own age, or that he’d had better battle focus during his period of celebacy or even how awkward this would be tomorrow morning, because right now his hands were roaming Kusovai’s chest and exploring the rookie’s body.



Kusovai nipped at his neck and ‘Vadumee moaned…the nips were tentative and careful, but they felt so very good…the boy had to have been listening in on the conversations of adults, because he knew a partner would like that…



Then ‘Vadumee remembered Kusovai tearing through the Humans with his twin swords, and the SpecOps subcommander realized that he ought to stop thinking of Kusovai as a boy.



Kusovai was right—he was an initiated adult, a SpecOps warrior, and after this many battles, not even a rookie any longer. Kusovai had definitely earned the right to choose his own sexual partners…so it was time for ‘Vadumee to shut up and enjoy, and let the consequences happen in their own time.



‘Vadumee slipped into the bed, pressing his chilled body against Kusovai’s. The young warrior gasped, “You’re…you’re so cold.”



“Warm me up,” ‘Vadumee growled, and the next thing he knew, Kusovai was pressing his body aginst him and rubbing him all over with his hands. It felt even better than his dreams. Cold? Not for long.



Kusovai whispered into ‘Vadumee’s earbud, “Teach me what to do, Rtas…help me please you…”



“What would please me right now,” ‘Vadumee replied softly, “is for you to lie back and enjoy.”



And ‘Vadumee began to indulge all those forbidden thoughts, because if he was going to hell on the express route, he might as well enjoy the trip. He stared appreciatively at Kusovai’s body, then reached out his hands to explore. He watched Kusovai’s eyes widen when he touched the rookie’s intimate places; heard the purr begin in his chest; felt his heart racing under ‘Vadumee’s caress. He saw Kusovai get shy, and close his eyes…later, he saw the young warrior peeking at him from half-closed lids, hardly daring to watch what was being done to him and yet unable to look away.



Most of all, he knew the rookie did not yet know what he liked, and so he took it upon himself to help the young Swordsman find out. ‘Vadumee discovered that too light a touch would make Kusovai giggle and squirm, but too rough of one would make him cringe and shrink away. He liked to be handled gently but firmly, with a combination of tenderness and reassuring authority.



Kusovai seemed to have a thing for having his tummy rubbed; it would make him stretch and purr, displaying his body to ‘Vadumee without a hint of shame. And when his shaft was handled…well…then he made little whimpering noises in his throat and keened in mindless desire. When Rtas quickened his strokes, Kusovai began to speak his name in pants, over and over and over again. ‘Vadumee brought the young soldier right to the verge and then let him down gently, rubbing his belly and thighs.



Kusovai let out a sob, pressing himself desperately against ‘Vadumee. Rtas smiled smugly and began to build the rookie up once more; Kusovai clutched at his shoulders desperately.



“Do you like this?” Rtas whispered, knowing the answer already, but wanting the intense turn-on of hearing Kusovai say it.



“I love it,” Kusovai said, with that raw honesty that ‘Vadumee adored. “I love it…but…please sir…if you like what you see, please…” His words burst out in a rush. “Pleasedon’tstopthistimeplease.”



Rtas smiled. “I won’t,” he whispered. “Now let me hear you cry.”



And ‘Vadumee used his tongue to moisten his hand and then resumed.



Kusovai gasped, his eyes huge with surprise, as a long moan of delight escaped between his mandibles. His whole body shuddered, right on the verge of release. The poor rookie probably hardly knew what was happening to him; his hands dug into ‘Vadumee’s shoulders, holding to his Subcommander for support and protection as his body quaked in a way he could not control.



And then a scream of joyous completion ripped its way out of his throat, flaring his mandibles wide, causing his whole body to arch as he spasmed helplessly, emptying himself for ‘Vadumee.



When Kusovai collapsed, he lay still, panting, as ‘Vadumee neatly mopped him up with the edge of one of the sheets. ‘Vadumee could not help a contented purring as he stretched himself out over his new consort. The young warrior was amazingly responsive, eager, and shamelessly vocal about his pleasure. It turned Rtas on more than he imagined possible.



‘Vadumee ran his fangs ever so lightly over Kusovai’s shoulder. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”



“By the Rings,” the young warrior moaned, “you’re amazing…I never knew…never guessed anything could feel so good…” He pressed his body to ‘Vadumee’s, holding on tightly, as if trying to sink right into him. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” He opened his eyes, and smiled up at his Subcommander. “Is there more? Please?”



So much for guilt. How could ‘Vadumee feel badly when Kusovai was so disarmingly insatiable?



“Roll over,” ‘Vadumee whispered hoarsely.



Kusovai obligingly knelt on all fours, head bowed. ‘Vadumee could see the young soldier’s body quivering with nervous anticipation.



Oh, yes, Rtas remembered how it felt to be in that position. And he had more experience now than Anno ‘Ahpamee had had on their graduation night, because he and ‘Ahpamee had been one another’s firsts, and there had been much fumbling and embarrassment and accidental pain until they’d figured out what was what…



No, this would be perfect for Kusovai.



Rtas controlled his own eagerness in order to carefully mark out the spot on Kusovai’s neck exactly, the place which evolution had given the Sangheili so that mothers could carry hatchlings without ripping their children’s hide open with their razor teeth…the spot which, once bitten, caused an Elite’s body to involuntarily relax, preventing a child from struggling and injuring itself by flailing in another’s grip.



‘Vadumee bent over and licked that place, causing Kusovai to moan and shudder, and then he nipped the young warrior hard, right where he’d planned.



Kusovai collapsed, lying perfectly vulnerable before him. The young soldier was gasping, his eyes wide with surprise, his head turned sideways on the pillow.



‘Vadumee knew it could be frightening when one’s own limbs would not respond. How much more so, for one who had become a blooded warrior before ever experiencing this? Kusovai, for all his youth, was a dangerous opponent, one who was used to fighting his entire life for what he wanted.



Rtas struggled with the urge to mount Kusovai right there. Instead, he stroked the young soldier’s back, placed his face next to Kusovai’s and murmured, “If you’re frightened, you can stop me…give the word and I hold you until your strength returns.”



Kusovai moved his head just a little, laying his mandibles submissively under ‘Vadumee’s and replying, “I trust you, ‘Vadumee…take me. Please.”



And with Kusovai’s surrender, ‘Vadumee’s desire could no longer be denied.



‘Vadumee made himself go slowly, pressing gently until Kusovai yielded. He moved himself ever so slowly, like knocking at a door, nudging himself deeper and deeper with each thrust until Kusovai’s body relaxed and accepted him. The young Minor—not a boy, but a warrior—moaned and began purring. Rtas could feel the vibrations through Kusovai’s back and against his own chest. Soon ‘Vadumee’s purr rumbled in counterpoint. Kusovai felt so good…by the Rings, how had he kept his hands off of him this long? Only because he hadn’t known how incredible this would be... Rtas felt tears spring to his eyes, because he knew now, and how long would he be able to go without enjoying him again?



He felt his urges sharpen, almost painful in their intensity. He took a firm grip on Kusovai and thrust harder, deeper, hoping he wasn’t hurting his new mate but desperate for release. Judging by Kusovai’s repeated use of the word “yes”, his consort was liking it too, and that knowledge was the last incentive Rtas needed to do exactly what he craved and bury himself to the hilt in Kusovai’s hot and eager body…again…again…



‘Vadumee felt his world shatter as an unbelievable wave of pressure burst from him, sending the universe spinning. The coming-down feeling was not like floating, but like plummetting from a height, terrifying in its intensity, ruthless in the way that it stripped him of all his confidence and control.



“Rtas?” Kusovai’s mouth was half-muffled by the pillow. “Sir?”



‘Vadumee drew in a deep breath and disengaged carefully, holding the young warrior close. Kusovai was quivering like on that first night, clinging to his chest, and Rtas was suddenly frightened that he’d hurt him. “Are you all right?” he asked, his heart in his throat.



Kusovai nodded wordlessly. Tears streamed from his eyes.



“Hold me?” he managed.



“Yes,” ‘Vadumee replied. “I’m here.”



Kusovai closed his eyes and relaxed, appearing to drift off to sleep. ‘Vadumee, made drowsy by the waves of pleasure still coursing through his body, did the same. On the edge of his hearing he thought he heard Kusovai murmur, “I love you, Rtas.”



But of course he had to be dreaming by then.



*



Rtas woke up in a rush from another illicit dream in which…



No dream. Or maybe it had started out as a dream…maybe that’s why his shaft was out and ready for action…but the hands touching him there were very, very real.



‘Vadumee sucked in a breath and opened his eyes.



Kusovai was smiling down at him in the dim light of the stateroom. The rookie nuzzled his cheek and asked innocently, “Again?”



*



At first it was comfortable, waking up with Kusovai cuddled against his chest. ‘Vadumee admitted that he rather liked the rookie’s company; now if only he could get rid of those inappropriately deviant thoughts of his, the questions like “what would Kusovai look like naked?” The thought stopped dead when Kusovai shifted in his sleep, rubbing his warm velvety skin down the length of ‘Vadumee’s body, and Rtas sat bolt upright in shock.



He didn’t have his jumpsuit on. Neither did Kusovai. He was feeling incredibly mellow and contented and…



Oh, by the Forerunners, that hadn’t been one of his inappropriate dreams. He really had spent half the night mating with Kusovai.



Rtas stared down at Kusovai in dismay. He hadn’t the slightest idea how to go about this now.



The last time he’d mated—the only time he’d had a one-night stand—he’d done it in someone else’s cabin, and the warrior he’d mated with had gotten out of bed and left him the second they woke up in the morning.



‘Vadumee’s experience only looked impressive next to a complete innocent like Kusovai. With exactly two ex-lovers under his belt, Rtas ‘Vadumee had no idea of the proper procedure for hurrying a sex partner out of your cabin the morning after. He certainly didn’t want to leave Kusovai alone here, feeling dirty and scared the way he had. And it looked like Kusovai was in absolutely no hurry to go anywhere.



He settled for poking Kusovai in the ribs, but the young soldier appeared quite worn out after the night’s exertions because he wasn’t waking up. Finally, frustrated, ‘Vadumee put on his best drill voice and snapped, “Minor Domo Kusovai, stand-to!”



Kusovai’s eyes flew open and he almost jumped out of the bunk. ‘Vadumee reached out his arms and caught him; the Minor landed on ‘Vadumee’s lap. The two Elites stared at each other, both somewhat dazed, until finally ‘Vadumee groaned, “Do you have any idea what people are going to say?”



Kusovai blinked sleepily. “Nothing.”



Rtas clicked his mandibles together in frustration. The rookie had no idea how the world really worked. “What? Do you honestly think they’re going to resist the temptation to…”



Kusovai yawned. “I mean, nothing they haven’t been saying already.” He slipped off of ‘Vadumee’s lap, stretched luxuriously and nestled back under the blankets, perfectly at ease.



‘Vadumee’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean, that they haven’t been saying already?”



Kusovai peered up at him. “Rtas, I’ve been sleeping in your cabin after every mission for the past six months. People notice.”



‘Vadumee growled, “I thought you were being discreet.”



The young warrior heard the menace in his tone and sat up to face him, growling back, “Even coming up the hall with my stealth cammo active doesn’t hide the fact that your stateroom has started to smell like me to anyone with a working nose.”



Rtas was dumbfounded. His reputation as a celibate hadn’t held, it seemed. He choked out, “How long…”



“Oh, everyone thinks we’ve been banging for five months or more. It’s seriously at the point where almost nobody talks about it because everyone already knows. As of yesterday morning, the only people on Seeker of Truth who were not aware of all the amazing sex that we have been having were you, and me.”



Rtas sighed. “Well, I suppose that makes everyone, now.”



His mind flashed back to a moment two weeks before, when a new pair of rookies had arrived and SpecOps Commander ‘Coradee had made a comment to him about whether he intended putting them through their paces like he had with Kusovai. ‘Vadumee had thought he meant battle training. Now, though, the Commander’s double entendre became horribly clear.



‘Vadumee scowled and folded his arms. “They’re going to think I prey on rookies, you know.”



Kusovai yawned, “If the new guys show up here looking for sex, permission to smack them, sir?”



“Oh, are you going to just move right in, then?” ‘Vadumee asked caustically.



That finally got through to Kusovai. The young warrior sat up in the bunk, suddenly uncertain, clutching the blankets around himself. “You still want me here, don’t you, si…Rtas?” He quivered, swallowing nervously. “I wasn’t that awfully bad, was I?”



Rtas was overcome with the sudden urge to care for the other male. He put his arm around Kusovai and drew him against his chest. “You were wonderful,” he murmured in the younger Sangheili’s earbud. “But take a moment and think about what you want. If everyone thinks you belong to me, you’ll never have any shot at finding a real mate. Nobody on Seeker of Truth is going to want to cross a SpecOps Subcommander.”



Kusovai’s jaws quivered, as though he was on the verge of tears. “I thought…” He choked. “I thought I already found a mate.”



Mate? Him? Impossible.



Ah, this was part of growing up, ‘Vadumee mused. Having your heart broken. Learning how to go on…



…but dammit, he didn’t want to do this to Kusovai, not even for the young warrior’s benefit. What he wanted was to do the greedy thing, to lock Kusovai up in his stateroom and keep him all for himself.



“Kusovai,” he said quietly, “I’m almost twice your age. Shouldn’t you be taking up with a nice young soldier, maybe one of those two new rookies?”



“I don’t want a male my age,” Kusovai argued, ripping himself away from ‘Vadumee. Rtas felt his skin ache at the loss of contact. “I want you—I loved you from that very first night—but…”



“Love,” Rtas interrupted with a sneer. “You don’t know anything about love yet. You don’t know that sometimes when you love someone, the best thing you can do for them is stop being selfish and think about what’s best for them.”



“Oh yeah?” Kusovai retorted. “Well, what is best for you, then? Sitting around in your cabin alone? Feeling like it’s a bad thing that you’re too faithful to go around having casual sex? Pretending you’re so cool and controlled that you don’t even notice the so-called noble sacrifice you’re making by having no life outside war? And now you’re trying to push me away. I may not know everything you know, but I do know this—nobody’s ever made me feel like you do, and I thought I was good for you. So if you think I’m not your equal yet, for Forerunner’s sake, please teach me!” The young warrior’s rage ran dry and tears poured out of his eyes.



He reached out a hand and touched ‘Vadumee’s chest, eyes questioning, pleading…



“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Rtas argued, and it was breaking his heart, because what he really wanted was for the rookie’s delusions to last forever.



Kusovai pulled away with a sob, jumped out of the bed, grabbed his jumpsuit and armour and retreated into the head, slamming the door.



Rtas started climbing into his clothing, feeling numb and dead inside. Moments later the bathroom door flew open, and a quick blur of camouflaged SpecOps Elite fled across his cabin and out the door.



And ‘Vadumee had no experience to draw on that could tell him what he should do now.



*



The barracks were mercifully deserted; all the other Minors were elsewhere. Kusovai sprinted between the rows of narrow, single-sized bunks and flung himself into Berth 28, sobbing into his pillow. He wasn’t sure how long he cried; every time he thought he was all right, he’d get a flashback to the night before and burst out weeping again. He thought ‘Vadumee had loved him; his body still ached from the expression of it. He couldn’t understand why ‘Vadumee had taken care of him for so long if he didn’t love him. Had he done something wrong? Why wasn’t he with Rtas right now where he belonged?



And then a cold voice cut through his thoughts.



“Hey. Rookie.”



Kusovai sat up in his narrow bunk, wiping at his eyes. Through the haze of tears, he could see three large forms standing in the doorway.



“I heard you were the one who liked putting out for superior officers.”



Kusovai’s mouth went dry. He recognized the three 812th Infantry warriors who’d tried to pick him up in the bar that first night he’d went home with Subcommander ‘Vadumee. It looked like they’d gotten a promotion, because their leader was now wearing Subcommander rank tabs, while his two buddies had upgraded to red Major armour.



“You heard wrong. Go away,” Kusovai retorted, but even as he turned his head away, his earbuds were listening and his hands were sliding under his pillow, reaching for the hilts of his swords.



He could hear them moving up the rows of bunks towards him. Slowly he swung his feet over the edge of the bunk, waiting until they were almost in lunging reach before he turned around and stepped into the aisle.



Yes, they were coming for him. He tilted his head. “You are aware of the Supreme Commander’s policies on forced matings, aren’t you? He’ll slice you up and throw you to the Jackals if you lay one finger on me.”



The leader chuckled, “Oh, I don’t think so, soldier. You see, I’ve got two witnesses here saying you loved every second of it.” His buddies leered at one another. The Subcommander continued, “And of course, everyone on board knows that the only reason you’d make a fuss is for fear of what ‘Vadumee is going to say when he learns that you’ll bang anything with rank on its shoulders.”



Kusovai did not dignify that with an answer. Instead he lit his blades—first one, then the other.



The Subcommander did not take the hint. He resumed his advance, saying, “Two? Aren’t you overcompensating there, boy? Well now…”



Kusovai held his ground, waiting, waiting. The leader lifted his hand, hooking the fingers into claws, reaching out for Kusovai’s throat.



The second those fingers touched his hide, Kusovai exploded.



His first move was not with the blades but with his leg. He bent his knees and rammed his thigh plate hard into the Subcommander’s unarmoured crotch. As the Subcommander doubled over in pain, Kusovai kicked him in the face and sent him flying onto his back.



The two Majors roared and rushed in, only for each of them to find a sword point shining between their mandibles, less than an inch from piercing the backs of their mouths. They dared not even close their mandibles for fear of having them sliced off, so they were trapped there, frozen in place with their mouths hanging open.



From the door of the barracks came the sound of applause. On either side of the door, shadows flickered as cloaking shields deactivated, revealing the bone-white Ultra armour of SpecOps Subcommander Rtas ‘Vadumee and the shadow-black and blood-red Commando armour of SpecOps Commander Arde ‘Coradee.



*



Subcommander ‘Vadumee stood beside Commander ‘Coradee in the door of the barracks and applauded.



‘Coradee stepped forward. “You two,” he said to the pair of Majors. “You will report yourselves to the brig and await my arrival. Understood?”



There was a second of motionless silence before Kusovai lowered his blades enough for them to nod in agreement. They turned, cringing, and walked away.



Commander ‘Coradee walked up to the fallen 812th Subcommander and cuffed him. “You, you miserable piece of filth, are a disgrace to your rank. I would gladly relieve you of it, but in the end, your punishment is not up to me.”



The 812th officer started smirking, as if certain that his own Commander would not punish him.



“Your fate, and that of your two associates, will be left to the Supreme Commander.”



The officer’s eyes widened in horror.



‘Coradee continued mildly, “As I recall, the last officer convicted of rape got thrown in a cell with a pair of Brutes and…well…he didn’t enjoy it very much. You should be grateful your attempt was not successful.” ‘Coradee paused, considering, then slammed his fist down on the back of the offender’s neck. That much force, right in that spot, caused the 812th warrior to pass out cold.



‘Vadumee nodded formally to his superior. “Thank you, sir.”



‘Coradee nodded back. “My pleasure. I will not tolerate that sort of treatment to my subordinates.” His tone sharpened. “How much of that encounter did you witness?”



“All of it, Commander.”



Kusovai hesitantly approached the two officers. “All of it?” he asked, watching ‘Vadumee carefully.



‘Vadumee nodded. “I’ve been cloaked in this barracks for some time.”



Arde ‘Coradee extended his neck, as if peering at Rtas through the helmet that hid ‘Coradee's face. “But you did not intervene.”



‘Vadumee shrugged. “I did not need to intervene. As you can see, Kusovai is an excellent swordsman. He had the situation well in hand.”



“Yet you called me on your comm unit for help,” the Commander said.



‘Vadumee nodded. “I thought those three pieces of excrement would die better on a suicide mission against the enemy than on the points of Kusovai’s blades. It would be a pity to waste resources, such as they are.”



Arde chuckled. “Undoubtedly.” He turned his attention to Kusovai. “I’m sorry that had to happen to you, son, but you handled it with great maturity and exceptional skill. Rest assured that no matter what the rest of the ship might say, I’m well aware that your official recognition springs from your fighting skills and not from the nature of your relationship with Subcommander ‘Vadumee.”



Kusovai folded his arms and muttered sullenly, “I haven’t got a relationship with Subcommander ‘Vadumee…sir.”



Commander ‘Coradee tilted his head.



The young warrior kicked at the floor. “At least I don’t any more.”



‘Coradee looked at his Subcommander questioningly. ‘Vadumee shifted his weight from one leg to the other, fidgeting, and said, “You didn’t ask why I was cloaked in this barracks to begin with, Commander.”



Arde ‘Coradee’s voice hinted at a smile under his helmet as he replied, “Then I suppose I will leave you two to your…discussion…and take this miserable excuse for an Elite to the brig.” The SpecOps commander walked out, dragging the prisoner behind him.



Kusovai and Rtas faced one another. The younger Elite watched ‘Vadumee warily. “So you were cloaked in the corner, spying on me.”



“I was cloaked in the corner trying to figure out what to say to you. How to apologize for being a patronizing ass. Kusovai…” He folded his hands behind his back. “Kusovai, you were absolutely right. You are an adult, and a warrior, and you can take care of yourself. Even as your Subcommander, it is not my place to dictate your personal life or tell you what is best for you. Those have to be the choices you make on your own.”



“You have choices to make as well,” Kusovai replied, stepping nearer. “I know what I want. I think the best thing for me is to spend…” His voice wavered. “To spend my life with you. But that’s not going to make a lot of difference if you don’t want me.”



Rtas wrapped his arms around the younger Swordsman’s shoulders. “I do want you,” he murmured. “By the Rings, I love you, and sometimes I think I want you more than I should.”



“And I think,” Kusovai retorted, “that I’m not the only one here who needs taking care of.”



‘Vadumee grinned. “Did you know, you really do have some nerve for a rookie.”



Kusovai grinned back. “Oh dear. Sir, I think you ought to take me back to your stateroom and punish me right now.”



‘Vadumee looked around the barracks. “Then pack your bags. For your first punishment, you’re not sleeping here ever again.”



Kusovai’s eyes sparkled. “Yes sir.”



***FINIS***