All That Glitters Ch. 08

"Oh," Henadi began, then looked up sharply at the implication that Fiona meant Capt. Liana Dostier, "OH!!" She said a little louder than she had intended.

"So," Fiona said, looking to Raymond. "Are you interested?"

"In you, or in her?" Raymond inquired with a slight smile on his lips.

"In her, silly. I have enough on my plate!" Fiona laughed.

Raymond looked at Henadi and gave her a very charming smile. "Yes, I am interested," he affirmed, much to Henadi's delight.

"Good. Get out of my office," she told them. "I have things to do for the rest of the day regarding the civilian side of Liramor-23. I don't want to see either of you again until tomorrow."

The two couldn't get out of her office fast enough, much to Fiona's amusement.

***************

Raymond and Henadi stopped off at her room to pick up an overnight bag. Raymond then brought her to his VIP suite. It was the bigger room, and he had brought in some food, so they wouldn't have to leave for meals at the mess.

Henadi was very much surprised at the size of the suite. There was more than enough room for a dozen people. She was even more surprised by the bathroom which actually had a water shower that was big enough for five people!

"Have you every had five in here," she asked him rather coyly, pointing out the large shower.

"No, but I have had three in here," he admitted. "Would you like to join me in the shower?" he asked her while flexing his eyebrows.

Henadi giggle at that but assured him she would. She pulled him toward the bed and started to remove her clothes. Raymond followed suit. Raymond watched transfixed as she removed her blouse. She was wearing a sheer and stylish bra. He smiled when he saw it.

"Were you anticipating something?" he asked when he saw the bra.

"No, but I'm glad I wore it now," she replied. She waited a bit for Raymond to catch up and was surprised at the deep scars on his chest and side.

"Why didn't you have them removed?" she asked him a little confused, touching the scars.

"Each of them is a lesson for me," he admitted to her. "Each has a story to tell. Some of them good, some of them bad. Each is a reminder of both what I have done, and what I have been through. I couldn't remove them without removing some of me with them."

Henadi looked into his eyes and saw the pain there. The need for acceptance, the need for understanding. She didn't need to say anything about the tattoo. She knew what it meant, as would anyone who saw it. Now, with the significance of the scars, she better understood the meaning of it.

She removed her pants, and then her bra. Raymond's eyes lit up a little when he saw both a truly graspable ass, and her beautiful breasts.

Her breasts were a delightful handful, heavy and rounded but not sagging in nature. The light brown of her skin darkened noticeably around her areola, along with the thick nipples that stood out noticeably from them. Raymond smiled. He could hardly wait to touch them!

Henadi giggled at his look, sounding more like a schoolgirl than a soon to be navy captain.

Raymond removed his pants and it was Henadi's turn to look. The front of his boxers was heavily tented. She bit her lower lip as she took in the significance of the size of the tent! She couldn't wait and reached out to help him with his boxers. What was exposed was all that she had hoped for and perhaps a lot more!

Raymond smiled at the look on her face and reached out to help her with her panties. Together, they moved into the bathroom and the waiting shower.

Malihan Hospital, Green's World, Harn Star System, 20 Light Years from Terra

Sean was strapped to his hospital bed, angry at not being able to scratch the rather annoying itching in his legs. Dr. Marina Holdar had finally been satisfied with his weight gain and had begun the process of regenerating his legs.

While the process was only mildly painful, it was annoyingly itchy, for which reason his hands and body, were sturdily strapped to his bed. Not being able to scratch the itching was driving him near mad. Even the temptation of his favorite holo-vid crime novels could only temporarily take away his frustrations.

Dr. Holdar had assured him that the itching would subside in time, but it had already been three weeks since the procedure had started, and the itching was getting worse, not better.

The new legs didn't really look like much more than irregularly coloured slabs of flesh. He could almost see the bones beneath the limited layer of flesh. Dr. Holdar had been in earlier to do something to then end of the stumps, assuring him that his 'knees' had now started to grow. Sean wasn't able to make that out yet. His mind still straying to the damnable itching!

Ayesha and Heyya were both in the room, currently helping him bath. It was back to sponge baths again, as the temptation to scratch was ever present in his mind. They even had to spoon feed him as they couldn't trust him to feed himself without the need to scratch the itch. Normally, he would have one or the other in the room, usually Ayesha as Heyya was more often away in her pursuit of her doctors' degree, but today both were present. Ayesha too was working toward becoming a doctor, but she was more than a year behind Heyya in her studies.

They two nurses had just finished up Sean's bath and redressed him when Dr. Holdar came storming into the room.

"Heyya, you will report immediately to administration room six," she said rather sternly.

"Is something wrong, Dr?" Heyya began but was immediately cut off by Dr. Holdar.

"Now!" she snapped at the nurse.

Heyya looked around, wondering what was going on, but then meekly left the room.

"Dr. Holdar," Sean began, "Is there something wrong?" he asked rather timidly of his doctor.

"Never you mind what is going on," Dr. Holdar told him with a no-nonsense tone, and promptly left the room, leaving Sean and Ayesha wondering what had happened.

It would be six terrible fear filled days before they saw their friend again, and under greatly different circumstances for them.

Liramor-23, Piscium Star System

Several days after the Liramor cargo vessel left for Liramor Prime, the SPV Katran came into the system and requested parking instructions with the platform. The sleek ship was a purpose-built luxury passenger vessel sometimes used as a cruise ship for the rich. It had 1150 luxury suites/cabins for guests and room for 350 crew. Today, it came with medical specialists to assist the 815 former slaves, who would stay with their assigned charges after arriving on Terra. It also had several large, luxury shuttles to bring the medical staff and one other to the platform.

Senator Wasim Andjuran had arrived with the Katran. Someone Henadi Noor knew well and thoroughly despised. Andjuran was an Elder in the Church of Andanii, which her family followed. They believed in a God who demanded total obedience from his followers, meaning, they followed the dictates of the Elders. Women were subservient to their menfolk and obedient to their husbands.

The church was fanatically religious right, and Henadi had no idea how Andjuran had become one of the Senators of Anuura. She thought that the old adage 'The squeaky wheel gets the grease', was the probable reason he achieved the position. While her church was relatively small by the standard of the planet's population, it was quite vocal.

Henadi's father was an Elder in the church. Her father was strict but, Henadi thought, fair. She believed him much unlike many of the other Elders, especially Andjuran. Unfortunately, Andjuran's clique controlled the church.

While Henadi loved her family, she had wanted to pursue a degree in engineering but knew that would never be permitted. So, she had tricked her family into allowing her to leave the planet for an education in child education off world and, changed her degree while at university. Citing the ongoing War to her family, Henadi had joined the TUSN to keep from going home.

Over the next fourteen years, she had made a career in the Navy. A career she would never have on her home planet, as her family would have relegated her to that of mother and housewife.

Fiona stood at parade rest, attired in formal Navy black and white with appropriate medals, as she waited for the docking of SPV Katran, and Senator Andjuran.

Fiona had decided to meet the Senator in Navy Dress Black. She reasoned, that if she had to be subservient to this man, it would be easier for her to do so as a female Commodore from the Navy, vice as the female Dir. of Liramor-23.

She was standing front and center in front of the hatch when the airlock cycled and a short, thin, well dressed man stepped from its embrace. In a breach of protocol, he stepped up to Fiona and forcing her to recognize him.

Fiona noted the very brief look of disdain that passed over his face, a look that was quickly quashed and replaced with a smile that definitely did not reach his eyes.

Fiona could see that the man did not like to look up at a taller woman, did not want to be greeted by a woman, and thought the lesser of her because she was a woman. All before he pushed his feelings aside and gave her that rather non-charming smile.

Fiona gave him a snappy salute. "Commodore Fiona Marsh, commanding Piscium System and Director of Operations for Liramor-23 Mining Platform, Senator," she told him.

The Senator had not extended his hand to receive the traditional handshake, so Fiona let her hand return to her side after the salute. His eyes trailed to her right to take in Capt. Raymond Clark, impressive in his full-dress uniform, and to her left, to take in!!!

"Why is this vile creature here!" He snarled as he stepped into Fiona to put himself well into her personal space. Fiona did not move back, forcing him to step back from her, causing anger to briefly flare on his face once more.

"That CREATURE, is Cdr. Henadi Noor, my Aide-de-Camp. Be advised, sir, that as my aid, she WILL be in all meetings that I attend. And as the Director for this platform, and Commodore for the Piscium system, that will mean any and all meetings that take place on this platform that you will be part of. Is this understood, sir?" She snapped at the Senator.

Once again, a look of pure hatred passed over the Senator's face but was quickly quelled. At least the man knows when to hold back his public displays. Fiona thought gratefully.

She looked to her left to find one of the platform's Runners, fortunately a male, and directed him to show the Senator and his entourage to VIP Suite E. Without a word nor backward look, the Senator and his team of three followed the man to the elevators.

"I do not like that vile little man," Fiona said to her immediate group. A sentiment that Cdr. Noor heartily agreed with. "Fortunately, he is only here for a couple of days. I want someone with him at all times. I don't know why that man is here, but I don't like coincidences," she finished.

**************

The Runner quickly brought the Senator and his staff to VIP Suite E, entered the suite with them and locked the door behind him. Turning, he made a hand gesture to the Senator that was instantly recognized by all in the room.

The Senator was fuming at how he had been addressed by a mere woman, of all things, so it took him a moment to recognize what happened.

*Esteemed Elder, it is good to meet with you in such a far off and God forsaken place,* the Runner began, speaking in High Andanii, which was the language spoken by members of the Church of Andanii.

*My son, I am heartened to find one of our own in this strange and distant land,* the Senator returned, showing his surprise. *How is it that you are here in this strange place?*

*I am Fayad Ouihya, fourth son of the house of Ouihya, as such, I have no place in my family's future. So, I must make my own future and one day, with Andanii's blessings, found a house of my own. I came here because the pay is good. I send money to my family, and a Tithe to the Church, which I expect is being put to wise use,* Fayad stated as he bowed to the Elder, no hint of disrespect presented to the Elder in his comment.

*All Tithes to the Church are being put to wise use, helping the poor and helping the church expand its place on Anuura.* Andjuran said with a fatherly smile. He did not need to tell the young Fayad that the Church's financial officer was one of his own followers.

While some money went to help the poor and expand the Church on Anuura, much of the Church's wealth lay hidden to those not within Andjuran's inner circle. Most of the money went to help expand Andjuran's own reach in Terran political circles. A vile place where money greased many palms and procured many favours.

*Why reveal yourself to me, my son?* Andjuran asked.

*Elder, this is a Godless place, filled with those that do not respect the authority of our Church or even their own heathen Gods. You would have no access to anything here, but I can be your eyes and ears here on the platform. I can find out that which you wish to know. As a Runner, I can go anywhere on the platform, join most meetings, speak to the high and the low. A Runner, moving about the platform is not an unusual occurrence. I can be of great service to you, Elder,* Fayad affirmed.

The Senator thought for a little while, then gave Fayad a list of things that he needed to find out. When the Runner left, Andjuran turned to his right-hand man.

*Najmaddin Anduura, go as my Senatorial representative, seek out information on the Great Battle that took place here.* This was spoken with a tone of contempt as to how great the battle actually was. *See what you find,*

Wasim Andjuran was in his element. Secrets were what allowed him to flourish in the Senate. Secrets that other's kept, secrets that he kept for others, secrets that he kept from others, and secrets of others that he used against them. His smile at those thoughts was not one that would be found on the face of a good man.

************

Fayad was wandering the halls of Central Command when he came across Cdr. Noor. He told her he had a private message for her and directed her to conference room two and sealed the door.

As soon as they were secured inside, he once again made the hand signal that he knew she would understand. At her look of surprise, he quickly brought his finger up to his lips to warn her to silence. Touching his ear, he moved close to her and spoke very quietly to her in High Andanii.

*Revered sister, there is a snake in the garden. A snake with many ears. This snake is looking for information. Information specific to that of the Pirates. This snake wishes to know what new information is available on the whereabouts of these heathens,* Fayad told her in a near silent whisper.

*Why would this snake want this information?* Noor asked. *What does it mean to him?*

*This I cannot tell you. But you should know, my father is now an Elder of the Church. Made so on the death of Elder Ahmad. A very suspicious death. Those Elders who oppose Andjuran, have serious suspicion cast upon them by members loyal to Andjuran, some have been cast out, but most have been relegated to miner roles as Elders after opposing Andjuran. Some, such as Elder Ahmad, have conveniently, for Andjuran, died,* Fayad told her.

*With you being ostracized by the Church, I had not intended to identify myself to you, but this snake must be dealt with before he blackens the good name of Andanii,* Fayad finished with the bow and hand motions that church members gave to their God, motions that Henadi immediately duplicated.

*I will give you the information we want him to have. But it will not come to you through me. I will send another Runner to complete this. Go about your tasks as requested by the snake. But tell him nothing until you have received word from the other Runner. You will know what must be withheld from your own work once you have heard from us. Make a copy of whatever you give to this devil,* Noor advised.

The two quickly left the conference room, leaving by separate doors and moving in different directions.

****************

Cdr. Noor went immediately to conference room one where she knew her principal was. She found her with Capt. Clark, Adm. Ramison, and Adm. Heist. Noor requested that the room be sealed before she let Fiona know what she had just discovered.

"This is not good," Fiona said, stating the obvious. "What reason would he have to want this information?"

"He does not need it," Adm. Heist confessed to those in the room. "He is not part of the Intelligence Oversight Committee. But he has always been more knowledgeable of things than he should be, things that should only be known to various Committees, many of which he is not part of."

"He is going to use his presence here on the platform as justification to look into things that the Senate should and would want to know," Fiona speculated. "But, not being part of these Committees, he should not be looking into things that are strictly their purview. We can use that to keep some things from him. The question is, how to do that without raising his suspicions?

"Why he wants to know the locations of the Pirates is another issue. That is something that we must keep from him." Fiona concluded.

"Agreed, and I think I know how to do that. Leave that with me for now. I need one of your Runners to be attached to my team for a couple of days. Someone I can send to Fayad. Someone who you can trust to keep secrets," Heist requested.

Fiona nodded, and unsealed the room. The next few days would prove long and tiring.

**************

Najmaddin found a great deal of resistance to his inquiries. Miners were clannish and notoriously silent to those who were not of their own. But Najmaddin was good at his job. He knew how to speak to people, how to gain their trust, how to find weaknesses, and how to exploit those weaknesses to his own purpose.

He soon discovered a few facts about the Pirates that he knew Andjuran would want to know.

*Honoured Elder, there is much conflicting information on the platform regarding what was found out about the Pirates,* Najmaddin began. *Much of what I have found is speculation on the part of the platform's workers, but some of it is news of events that you are interested in.*

* It seems that eight locations for Pirates have been identified. Five of those are in Sector Forty-Two and are now no longer active. Of the three in Sector Forty-Three, two have had probes sent to them. One is not active, but another is.*

*There were plans to hit at this site within the month, but those plans have been stalled by one thing or another. It is likely that they will not be ready to strike against this known location until well into the next month.*

*All on the platform are aware of the presence of the aliens. They believe that many new technologies will be available soon, but soon is a relative term.*

*There is a ship, the NS Wimple, that is dedicated to the scientific search. There is also a ship, the NS Kindalla, that is dedicated to the defence of the Piscium system.*

*The other ships here came for the battle against the Pirates and will soon leave,* he finished his report to his superior.

*You have done well, as expected Najmaddin. We will see what information Fayad brings,* Andjuran said, smiling.

The biggest surprise for him was discovering that the presence of the aliens was real. He had to do something about that. The aliens were true heathens. His fellow humans could be brought into the fold, heathen only in their lack of respect to the one true God. The soulless aliens, however, were something else completely. They would have to be destroyed, purged in a war necessarily headed by the Church of Andanii. Guided, naturally, by his own hand...