Blood War 1: Last Stand of the Legion: Rift (46 page)

SOL SYSTEM

EARTH

CITY STATE NEW YORK

CONFEDERATION NAVAL HEADQUARTERS

FLEET NAVAL HOSPITAL

Nani was sleeping in one of those weird chairs that they kept in patients rooms. Since her own treatments were finally over and she only had rehab to contend with she had taken to sleeping in Hu's room. While her legs and shoulder had taken considerable reconstruction and regrowth of bone it was nothing compared to Hu. His shoulder was as bad as hers and he had additional wounds to his liver and kidneys. They had to be replaced and allowed to heal before they could start on his legs. They were the biggest job and would take the longest.

The strange looking regrowth chambers covered both
his legs to the thigh. Lights and various display panels glowed softly in the dark room as they monitored the progress of the regrowth. Arteries, veins, muscle and bone were being grown back to replace Hu's legs. Bones hurt the worst and he was still in the bone growing stage. He would be for a few more days. They were supposed to keep him sedated, given the stress that much pain put on his body but he was groaning in his sleep again.

Nani's head snapped up and
she was surprised when she saw his eyes open. He wasn't supposed to wake up during the regrowth. He was so gaunt that if Nani had not been at his side for so long she would not have recognized him. His massive muscles had shrunken under the stress of his recovery. His eyes were hollow and exhausted but when he saw her he was able to smile a small smile.

"What are you doing here?" Hu said in a whisper.

"Well, I had to take care of you throughout Rift so I figured I might as well continue the job."

"Take care of me? I think I was the one that was taking care of you."

"Is that right there, miner boy," Nani said with smile.

It was good to see him try to joke. The he groaned and arched his body in pain.

"Nani, Nani it hurts so bad," Hu said.

Nani glanced at the readouts over his bed. She had learned to read them through her own
recovery. The pain level was off the scale. It was never supposed be that high. Nani grabbed the call button and called for a nurse.

"Yes, what do you need?" the bored voice of a nurse replied.

"He needs pain med's, where is his dosage?"

"The nurse will be there soon. She is attending to someone else right
now."

"Tell her to fucking hurry
," Nani said.

She watched as Hu writhed in pain, it broke her heart to watch this incredibly strong man who had risked his life for her time and again not to mention saving it to suffer so much. This was not the first time they had missed his meds, but it was going to be the last time.

The nurse rolled in, it was the latest in robotic nursing assistants. It did all of the mundane jobs for the human nurses like giving pain meds but it was not a human it was a rolling box with arms and a screen for a face.

"How are we? We seem to be in pain?"
it said.

Nani reached between the
mattresses and pulled out the rail pistol she had another Rift veteran sneak in for her. She took careful aim and put three rounds into the robot. The rounds knocked the thing all the way out into the hall where its screen exploded sending pieces everywhere. A human nurse showed up at the door, took one look and ran away screaming for security.

Hu reached
for Nani's hand and grabbed it squeezing hard against the pain. If he had not been so weak, he would have crushed her hand. She could hear the running footsteps of the security guards as they approached the room.

It was a man and a woman in Legionnaire uniforms. They had their own rails drawn. Nani recognized Vlla Wakiza and Con Harkan
, two of the best. They had managed to be in the thick of it and still got through Rift unscathed. When they saw it was Nani, Wakiza said,

"Nani what the fuck? We thought we had a crazy."

"Naw, just me."

"That by definition is a crazy
," Hakan said. He holstered his rail. "What's the scoop Nani?"

"It's Hu
, their regrowing his legs and you know how painful that is and they are not keeping up with the pain. They sent that goddam machine in here and I shot it. I want real people taking care of him."

"That's the guy with
the shovel. Right?" Wakiza said.

"Yeah, he saved my life two different times with that shovel."

Wakiza smiled and looked at Hakan. Then she said,

"We got this Nani."

The two stepped out into the hall; they made quite a pair, they were both Rifts so they towered over the nursing staff. Nani could hear voices raised then more running feet. Hu arched and squeezed her hand again. It wasn't long before a doctor was at the door.

"Hello corporal, I am Captain Zhad."

Everybody knew who Zhad was and what he had done on Rift. He was practically a god to them all.

"Doc
, he is in a lot of pain and that goddamn thing had not been giving him enough pain meds."

Zhad looked at the clear plastic sheet computer he was holding. He scrolled through Hu records.

"You two were at the Alamo weren't you?"

"Yes, sir but you were at the Garage."

The doctor seemed to appreciate the compliment coming from a trooper.

"Look I
am technically in charge of all the Rift patients. I should have had Hu on my close watch list and so somebody is going to get an ass chewing and reassignment."

He scribbled several note
s on the plastic then put his thumbprint to the orders.

"Now first
, would you mind giving me the pistol before you scare the nurses to death?"

Nani hesitated but because it was Zhad she trusted him. She handed the pistol to him. He passed it back to Hakan who put it in his belt.

"Good, now I won't have to treat anymore rail injuries. Next I have upped his pain meds and have ordered a cot in here for you. If you are going to sleep in here you might as well be comfortable."

A human nurse rushed in with two syringes. She gave Hu the first. His hand immediately relaxed
its grip on her own hand. Then she approached Nani.

"I ordered a little something for you too. So you can get some rest. We
are going to need all the good hands we've got in the next months."

"But..."

"I also assigned Wakiza and Hakan as personal guards for you two. If there is any trouble from any other doctors or nurses they are to shoot first and then call me. So you can get some rest."

Nani smiled as the nurse gave her the shot. She glanced at the door and saw Wakiza and Hakan standing with their arms crossed, no one was going to threaten those t
wo; Nani felt herself begin to relax. Hu still held her hand as Zhad walked out of the room. She put her other hand on his and put her head down  on the bed. She was soon fast asleep.

SOL SYSTEM

EARTH

CITY STATE NEW YORK

CONFEDERATION NAVAL HEADQUARTERS

AXEC AIJUBA
'S QUARTERS

The door chimed softly. Aijuba glanced at
the nude figure in the mirror one last time. She had carefully combed her white Mohawk into an upsweep style that she liked for special occasions. She had applied enough makeup to emphasize her eyes and the deep red lipstick that was traditional for the ceremony. She wore her nipple and navel rings. Her rejuvenated body looked as it had in her youth, muscular yet feminine. She wore the rings her parents had given her for this occasion so many years ago on her left hand. She never thought she would ever have the opportunity to use them. Now she could hardly wait. She slipped on the traditional black silk robe and left it open. She moved toward the door, her heart pounding with excitement. She opened the door.

"I was beginning to wonder..."

Dasan stopped the moment he saw her. He had never seen Axec like this before in all their years together. She looked; well she looked like only Axec could, both powerful and sexy at the same time. He could not take his eyes off of her he just stood there and stared.

"Aren't you going to come in Dasan?" Aijuba said.

Dasan walked in and she closed the door behind him. The lights in her quarters were dimmed. She had placed a large black rug in the middle of the floor. Soft Wolf songs played on the sound system. She took him by the hand and led him in, she moved with the wonderful muscular female swagger she used when they were alone.

"What..." Dasan started to say.

"Quiet." Aijuba said.

She led him to the edge of the rug and said
,

"Please take off your shoes
, then kneel on the rug with me."

Dasan struggled with his shoes as he watched her slowly let the robe slip off those wonderful shoulder
s and knelt down facing him. When he finally managed to get out of his shoes. He stood staring at her not knowing what to do next.

"Please kneel facing me."

Dasan did as he was told, too confused and excited to do anything else. Aijuba reached over with those beautiful powerful hands of hers and took his, and then looked him in the eye.

"As you know I am a Wolf
, therefore I am considered a mongrel by many."

"Axec you know I don't care about that."

She placed a finger on his lips to quiet him.

"On Wolf women judge a man by his actions in battle and out. Once we have seen enough we decide if that man is worthy of our commitment. I have been at your side through much. I have seen you in situations that would test the strongest Wolf and you have always been strong, true to your beliefs and your command. Therefore I have decided to commit myself to you. As you know that means I will not commit to another ever again. I wish to give this ring to show my commitment to you. As you know on Wolf a man can accept this commitment but he does not have to give the same promise. It is up to him. Some males have several commitments so that the strongest will be fathered. You can also refuse my commitment because you do not think I am worthy."

Aijuba took off one of the rings on her finger. It had her family's crest and her name on it. She held it out to Dasan. Dasan was stunned. Wolfs never reached outside of their own breed. It was a huge leap out of the norm for a Wolf; only Aijuba would have the courage to face the consequences of such a choice. They had been together for so long he realized that he had committed to her long ago. There had been other women when they had been apart for long periods but there was no one else that he felt the way he did about Aijuba. He was hers and had been for a long time, this was simply a confirmation.

"Then
do you accept my commitment?"

"Yes, I accept. I have been committed to you for a very long time."

Their eyes met. Axec took the ring and slipped it on the ring finger of his right hand, the sword hand as their traditions said.

"I know. I decided you were the one a long time ago, I had to let you discover it."

"What?"

"Once I
had decided you never had a chance," Axec said with a smile.

Dasan threw his head back and laughed.

"Women, no matter what the breed."

They smiled at one another for a long time enjoying having finally had the time to let their feelings for one another out.

"I know if I want to commit to you, there is something I must do also." Dasan said.

Axec looked him.

"Are you sure? You know what this means to a Wolf."

"I am sure
, My Wolf."

Axec held her left hand out.

"Take the ring off of my left and place it on my right hand, my sword hand and we will be committed."

Dasan took the ring off her hand. It had his name and his colonel emblem on it. He slid it on the ring finger of her right hand. They wore each
other's name on their sword hand.

"Do you accept my commitment?" Dasan asked.

"Yes, I accept your commitment."

"Now what
?"

"You must take me and make me yours. I will put up a fight so by overcoming me you have sealed my commitment."

Dasan smiled. He grabbed her and shoved her to floor. Axec tore at his clothes until he too was naked. They made love as it were the first time, fiercely with Axec fighting and making love all at the same time until she cried out with pleasure. Her fingernails left long scratches on his back.

They rested in each other arms, their bodies slick with sweat. Dasan stared into those beautiful dark eyes, his hand gently roaming over her sleek muscles.

"Do I have to do that every time now or can we just make love the way we usually do it?"

"Was it so different?" Axec said with a smile.

"Axec, why now? We have been mates for a long time, we just have not made it official."

Aijuba was serious for a long moment then said
,

"Yes we have
, but it is different now as you well know. We will not always be at each other’s sides during the coming battles. We believe that an official commitment is forever and will last even after death. I wanted such a commitment."

"My Wolf will always be at my side."

"As you will be for me, but this way I have given myself to you and made you mine."

They lay there
, staring into one another’s eyes, enjoying the feel of the naked bodies entwined until Dasan said,

"Does the ceremony require we lay on the floor all night
? It is very uncomfortable on my new pieces parts."

"No, but you can always get on top. I've been told I am a very comfortable bed
," Aijuba said.

"Now that you mention it
," Dasan said and kissed her. He moved over her and she moved to accept him again. This time they made love.