the pilot toward the back of the transport. He could have felt many things at this point in time — satisfaction, achievement, happiness, even relief. He’d followed his mate’s and his mother’s directive - for the most part anyway — and secured his place as first husband and most favored son. He’d no longer be compared to the brother who’d haunted his every move since reaching adulthood. Instead, that brother would be dependent on his generosity as first husband. He had everything he’d ever wanted spread out before him. Why then, was it that he felt like the lowest life form in the galaxy?
~~~
After transport 3V4 was fully docked and secured, the doors on its airlock released and the pilot rose to exit the small ship. “May I be of additional service?” he asked, when Ko'San continued to sit where he was and stare into the air before him.
Ko'San blinked then focused on the pilot. “I did not hear your question,” he said.
“May I be of additional service, General? We are back on Command Warship 1, and you’ve not attempted to disembark yet.”
Ko'San looked around the ship and glanced behind the pilot to the open door of the transport. “No, thank you. You may go. I will follow.”
The pilot gave their salute — a forearm and fist over the chest — and left the transport.
Ko'San slowly rose from his seat and without looking anyone in the eye, quickly and quietly made his way to the quarters he and Ph’eel had been assigned when they arrived. He suddenly felt sick to his stomach and didn’t wish to speak with anyone.
As he walked through the door and into the living quarters he shared with Ph’eel, Ph’eel jumped to her feet. “Is it done?!” she asked excitedly.
He looked at Ph’eel, finding himself disgusted by her very pretty, very dainty, very perfect appearance for the first time in his life. “It is,” he answered, moving to walk past her and into the cleansing chamber.
“Is she dead?” Ph’eel asked giddily.
Ko'San stopped and turned to look at Ph’eel. He knew his place, had been raised to believe that his female was the only thing in life that mattered other than honoring his own mother, but at this moment all he wanted to do was get out of her sight. He didn’t answer, he simply turned and went into the cleansing chamber, the door sliding shut behind him. He stood in front of the large mirror that reflected his image. He looked at himself wearing Lo’San’s uniform. He looked into his own eyes, until he could bear it no longer. “What the hells have you done?” he whispered.
Then he heard Ph’eel’s voice as she spoke to his mother on a vid com on her personal tablet. “All is well!” she proclaimed, laughing happily.
“Excellent. Remember, no one was here tonight but myself. I’m going to sleep now, you should do the same. Tomorrow will be very trying for us all,” Mee'ta answered.
~~~
Lo'San and Lau'San walked out of the simulator room smiling, talking, and patting each other on the back. It had been a long, long time since they’d been able to bond as they had today. They’d spent hours with Lo'San giving Lau'San a personal tour of the ship, then finished up the evening, and most of the night engaged in games in the simulator room.
“I’m starving! A meal?” Lau'San asked.
“Yes!” Lo'San answered, before looking down at the wrist communicator he wore. His brow creased when he realized how much time had passed, and that Synclare had not attempted to contact him once during that time. “I’d not been aware of how long we’ve been away. It is late into the night. Surely Sink Lar would have missed me by now,” he said.
“I’m sure your mother has things well in hand. If either she or Sink Lar were needing either of us, she’d have contacted us. They are most likely both soundly sleeping by now,” Lau'San said.
Lo'San thought about it. Synclare had needed a bit more medication than usual and if she’d awoken and still been in pain, his mother would have tended to her, so she most likely was sleeping just as his father had stated.
“You’re most likely right, and I don’t wish to wake her just to assure myself I’m not needed. If she needed me, I’d know,” Lo'San said. “Very well, let’s share a meal, then return to my quarters,” Lo'San said.
“Excellent,” Lau'San answered.
It was a couple of hours later and well past 2:00A.M. when