Destiny

“Where do you think she walked off to? Andromeda?” Dylan inquired.

“Captain Talis is currently running thru decks N and O.” Andromeda replied.

“She’s mad.” the Ou’kaourians stated. “She uses exercise to burn off her anger. If you have a room with mats, she will go there and practice Taechendo. A systemized method of combat and self-defense. I’ll join her, since it has been awhile for me and I need the practice.” Lieutenant Maddox stated before leaving.

“Recreation Room Four.” Rommie replied.

While they were preparing to spar, Andromeda was keeping a watchful on the two.

Lieutenant Maddox and the captain had stripped down to a dark gunmetal grey skin hugging undershirt and knee-length leggings. First they started with their drills before moving onto sparring against each other.

Tyr had joined them awhile after they began training. He stood there in his long black skin-tight leather pants and bare muscular skin instead of a shirt; watching them, learning the strengths and weaknesses of each the newcomers, before asking to join in. Not knowing what moves Tyr would bring to the fight, both Ou’kaourians were careful with the Nietzchean, only to find out that he had expected a no-holding bach approach.

The competitive streak came out from the combative, each making moves in hope to throw the other off. While Talis could not always flip Tyr over her shoulders, she was able to throw off some of Tyr’s attacks with her own. After several times, Talis found herself on her bach, so she changed her strategy. Finally getting Tyr on his, she looked down at his sweaty, smiling face and laughed.

“All this time I’ve been fighting you, when in actuality I’m fighting against myself. A little less thought and a bit more instinct.” Talis stated, looking down at him, still grinning.


Tyr flipped Talis on her bach. “Precisely my thoughts.” he chuckled. Harper walked in looking for Tyr and spied the distracted Nietzchean before running in and flinging himself across the dark muscular sweaty bach causing all three humanoids to roll across the mats, landing on their bachs.

“Surprise!” a very happy Harper announced, “Ha! Neither one of you saw me coming.”

“Of course we did. Do you think you would have been able to approach if we didn’t know?” Talis indignantly stated.

“Oh suuurrrrrrre you did. So big man…” Harper wiggled his body up against Tyr’s side, while suggestively wiggling his eyebrows at them both. “Masked woman…wanna have some of the ‘Oh-So-Wonderful-Happy-Goodness-Of-The-Harper’?”


All three chuckled at Harper’s obvious display. “Mmmmh a delicious offer but perhaps another time.” Talis gave a flirtatious smile, while chuckling at Harper.

“Yes, another time.” Tyr agreed.


They watched as Talis and Lieutenant Maddox left the room. Harper decided to wiggle his body again against Tyr’s, who smiled at the younger earth man at his invite. Soon, Tyr rolled him onto his bach, staring down at Harper. Tyr brought his face and lips a hairs distance from each other, Tyr then decided to hold himself in place and watch as Harper’s blue eyes widened then grew brighter, as his lust became inflamed further from the almost brushing of their lips, as each of the men breathed.


“There is a time and place for everything, Little Professor.” he trailed off, breathing in Harper’s arousal scent; already familiar to him and compared it to the Ou’kaourians. There is much promise in all three scents.


****
Talis walked down the long corridor towards her temporary room, breathing deeply and reviewing the past events in the exercise room. To her mind, there was an oddness in that room, not with the room per say, but with the occupants. She already knew that Lieutenant Maddox had no real interest in her beyond her gender, sex, bragging rights and advancement that he'd might achieve…the same as most people whom she came across. While ambition is fine, it wasn’t done at her expense. There weren’t many people she would even consider turning her eye towards, not that she had to. Her status as a member of the Shadowrychë proved to be its own enticement. She gave many thanks to her training…her Vierde Opleiding {fourth training}. It, in itself, was more a personal training that the Ou’kaourians weren’t able to have access to. Granted, she learned the hardest way known but she still gave thanks for it.

During this period of her life; a lot changed about the Talis the world knew. No longer was she the carefree person who openly and whole-heartedly embraced life and all it has to offer; no, now she was a more serious person, focusing on the important things and her personal destiny. Throughout this time, she hardly spent any free time for herself for there wasn't time to enjoy what life offered for her and fun wasn’t part of her life, all that mattered was her career, her destiny and doing her best. She spent her days training her mind and body to be stronger. Day after day, it seemed she grew darker inside. Often even Talis thought she was dead inside, she realized that part was true, for the darkness not the dead feeling continued to be part of her. Only until circumstances, certain people and eventually Talis herself realized that she wasn’t so dark anymore. But the darkness that was once in her, and it's lesson, was never forgotten. For that was the reason she felt that she needed to protect herself from ever getting hurt again.


Her training kept her busy, to the point that most of her non-Shadowrychë friends stop communicating with her. The new training consisted of more than just the basics, plenty enough to push her beyond her limits, to rise above what she thought she could master. Physically and mentally, she became the best Shadowrychë anyone had ever expected her to be, surpassing her famous ancestor. At the end of the day, Talis would go bach to her room and collapse from exhaustion. Some nights are restless, unable to stop her brain from spinning. When she was able to sleep straight thru, she slept like the dead. Her spirit was wounded, and she wasn't sure if it would recover. In time though, it did recover, though not quite the same as it once was. Time has a way of recovering from all wounds, even those from the heart.

Her entire life had been scrutinized, until the Shadow Order Of The Rychë had been completely certain they had left no stone unturned, that nothing was out of place. Before she could truly begin her new life, they had to examine all her current and future decisions to see if she is worthy of her life, and everything that shaped her into the person she is now. For only then, can she gain her squad and her destiny. In their own arrogance, one unknown female nearly changed events predicted for the one part of her life that was unreadable and unclear. They felt it wasn’t important to scrutinize, for she hadn't progressed that far in her career for an in-depths look at her mates.

*******
The cost had Talis ball her hands into a fist, until her short unpolished fingernails had cut her palm and had her knuckles turned white. She tried to shake off memories that threatened to become clearer in her mind’s eye. Talis slammed her fists into the steel wall, having the pain radiate up her arms was enough for her last training to override the almost crystal edge memories Talis was currently fighting against. She repeated her own personal mantra: ‘I breathe in current memories and life, I breathe out old and forbidden’. As she struggled to bring calm to herself, her ever alert…almost….system went off, and she knew she had to bring her emotional state in complete alignment to deal with newest task that would be upon her in 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...

Xhalax knew that the squad would want to catch some sleep before reaching Chiaotzu system; she went off to find Talis, in hopes she could have a tête-à-tête with the Shadowrychë into relaxing her personal code a little. She came across Talis with her eyes closed and breathing deeply. Worried, she hurried to her side, placing her hand on Talis’ shoulder.

“Talis…Talis….are you okay?” she inquired, noticing the physical struggling on the Shadowrychë.

“Yes…I needed to get out of the room. The air is too odd for normal breathing.”

“I don’t understand, you can breathe in almost any kind of atmosphere.” said a worried Xhalax whom did not believe the obvious lie.

“Yes, well.” she cleared her throat, knowing she was caught in the obvious lie, before putting on her politician voice as she turned away from the bulkhead. “No need for me to over do it, since we still have a long journey ahead before your task is completed.”

“Yes that is true.” Xhalax said, taking the hint but refusing to continue Talis’ change of tactic.

“When it is over, finally the marriage will be able to start.” Xhalax's voice softened, in hopes she could get the next item on her mental list one-step closer. “Talis…we have an opportunity….can’t we take it?”

“I fail to see how we have an opportunity.”

Xhalax softened her voice further. “Please…..please Circe, I want us to get to know each other…intimately.”

Talis rolled her shoulders a few times, drawing in a hyden breath and patience. She knew it was a test…hell, all of her life is a test, for a Shadowrychë as well as for herself.

“Enlanee, this REALLY isn’t the time nor the place for that kind of discussion. We know nothing of these new allies, you know that. Things are more scrutinized now then they ever have been." Talis said, placing her hand on Xhalax's cheek. “It’s only for a while longer. The rewards will be so worth it. Patience Darling.”

Xhalax sighed, “I know, it’s been a long time since we’ve had some time to ourselves.”

“This is true.” Talis said with a soothing tone in her voice.

“You have gone to some unusual lengths not to be in any situation that would be interpreted as intimate Circe, why is that?”

“I am Shadowrychë; my life is on public display as well as yours. We must behave in such a way...”

Xhalax gave a long, loud sigh cutting off the familiar spiel of Talis’. “There are things I understand about you and many I don’t. There are many in our community that GLADLY informed me on your behaviour throughout your courtship with Genesis. I don’t understand why it is so different now, is it me?”

“No, it isn’t you, it is me. Life changes us all; no one can be the same throughout their lives. I know I am different than I once was, and to compare me now to with my time with Genesis is not fair. Life was different bach then…different responsibilities.” Talis explained, before rolling her shoulders again. “I know life now and with me is drastically different than you imagine, and how the gossips filled in for you. Right now, things are unusual, in a short time, they won’t be and our marriage, our lives will start. I ask that you have some patience with me, please.”

Xhalax sighed at Talis’ explanation, it wasn’t the first time she heard it nor did she suspect it would be the last time. She knew how different Talis had changed. The completely carefree days were gone as this Talis was more cautious, paranoid and closed off, as she didn’t let many in her personal life. She also knew that the Andromeda situation is very unusual. There were very few she could turn to, ironically one of them is Genesis.

Her mind began to remember that many of the Ou’kaourians were envious of her position, coupled with the fact of her betrothal to Talis, making the lost of a few friends lonelier than she ever imagined. She had no family…they disowned her when their plans demolished after her return from Daihu. She lifted her chin in her stubborn way that always made Talis smiled.

“Again I might not like the situation but its part of life.” Talis shrugged again as she emphasized the current matter at hand.

Xhalax smiled and decided to make a bold move, she brought her body up against Talis’, softly dragging her hands up her sides as she move the Shadowrychë up against the bulkhead opposite the chancellor’s temporary door. Keeping the older woman pinned by moving her hands over her firm athletic breasts and chest, to finally wrap them around her neck. She leaned in to softly brush her lips against her neck, as she began to lightly nibble on her lined side of neck. She felt Talis wrapping her arms tightly around her waist and softly moan, before Xhalax began to nibble on the other side of her neck, causing Talis to groan. Lightly stroking Xhalax’s bach, Talis managed to force her unfocused and tightly shut eyes to open and look at Xhalax’s face, she noted the triumphant glee on her face. Smiling, Talis bent down to place a hungry kiss on Xhalax’s full lips as Xhalax pressed her large round firm breasts against Talis' smaller breasts. Talis slid a hand slowly, up and down Xhalax' inner thigh as she deepened her kiss.

Talis dragged Xhalax’s bottom lip between her teeth before plunging her tongue between them. Xhalax moaned, as Talis' tongue slipped into her mouth, searching for hers. Xhalax's tongue found Talis' and started to playfully caress it. Both women wrapped their tongues around the others, as their passion built.

Talis's moans grew louder round her betrothed’s mouth, her hands caressing up and down her intended’s smooth bach. Now it was Xhalax's turn to moan louder, her hands sliding down and lightly brushing against Talis' bum. Talis let out a long groan, pushing her bum against Xhalax' hands and grinding bach on them. Xhalax grinned, as she squeezed her betrothed's firm bum harder. Talis moaned again, as she rubbed her bum harder against the hands that groped her. Xhalax kept squeezing the firm bum, feeling how much Talis enjoyed it, who was so caught up in the moment that she began to rub her groin against the younger woman. Xhalax slid one hand away from Talis' bum and up over her hip, as it made its way towards Talis' pussy. Talis let out another long groan, spreading her legs a bit as she felt Xhalax rub against her aroused cunt, causing her panties to get even wetter than before. Xhalax cupped Talis' groin, feeling how wet she was thru her uniform and how her touch had made her so. Talis began to rock back and forth, feeling Xhalax' warm hand and the never ending rubbing of her panties against her wet pussy. Talis tilted her head bach; leaning it against the wall, panting as she continued to grind faster on Xhalax' hand.

Feeling her promised mate shaking from her touch caused Xhalax to nearly climax on the spot; she couldn’t believe what was happening to Talis.

“Godssssssss yesssssssssssss Enlaneeeee!” the Shadowrychë cried out causing her passion driven phrase to echo around them; rocking her hips against Xhalax’s hand.

Not far, someone was watching this little display of passion. Rommie was on her way to talk to Talis when she stumbled upon something she never expected to see. Rommie didn't know what to do, all she could do was stare and watch. After sometime, she started feeling aroused. "Damn that Harper, for making me so easily aroused." she thought to herself, as her hand began caressing her body.

As she watched the two, she kept getting more turned on. Slowly, her hand made it's way down to her groin. She desperately wanted to turn to her lovers but knew she couldn’t and would have to turn to herself for a quickie. She had a hard time pulling herself away, but she had to if she wanted to do something about her arousal. She didn't want to do it right there, so she quickly left to deal with it.

Both of the women were breathing very heavy for the few minutes after the orgasm; Xhalax’s head was reeling from the event, while Talis was sucking down air as well as biting her bottom lip. Talis stared at Xhalax with her mouth open before she grabbed her hand, pulling it away as she rolled them both, so Xhalax was the one against the wall.

Talis quickly began to nibble on Xhalax' neck, causing her to moan at the touch of her soft warm lips. Still nibbling, Talis slid her hand down Xhalax' soft smooth stomach, all the way down to her groin. Xhalax was panting, as it was her turn to wiggle against the wall and her promised mate’s body. Talis cupped Xhalax' groin, lightly rubbing the heel of her hand up and down. Xhalax moaned, feeling herself getting wet. Talis continued to press firmly against the material covering her pussy. Xhalax moaned, wiggling more as her panties got wetter by Talis' teasing. Deciding to continue the sweet torment, Talis slid her other hand to Xhalax' breasts and lightly began caressing one.

Xhalax groaned louder, not caring if she got caught now. Now, she wanted Talis...and badly!! She continued grinding against Talis' hand, getting closer to her orgasm, hoping that she would achieve it as Talis pinched and tug on Xhalax’s nipples. Talis slid her hand away from Xhalax' clothed pussy up her inner thigh, making her way to the waistband of her pants; much to the dismayed counselor.


Xhalax looked at Talis, absolute lust filled her eyes. Talis smiled, as her hand made its way inside, sliding further down Xhalax' pants . Finally, Talis made her way to her destination: Xhalax' wet panties. She could feel just how wet she was, for her panties were soaked right thru. Talis leaned over and kissed Xhalax deeply, her hand still resting on the outside of her wet panties. Xhalax returned the kiss, ever so close to climaxing but had the familiar feeling she would have to wait. When they both came up for air finally, panting hard, Talis drew bach and planted a last quick kiss before turning around to make the long way towards her cabin and leaving a very stunned and frustrated Xhalax leaning against the walls. Xhalax, after a few long moments, was able to collect herself and made her way towards hers.

Once inside, Xhalax dropped onto the couch, stunned at the passion Talis shown her. Normally, Talis held her passions bach, apparently today is a different matter. ‘Wow’ was the only word for it. She slowly shook her head and thought why did Talis do it? As a distraction? Always a chancellor, she knew she would keep a better eye on all of the crew…Andromeda and Ou’kaourians alike.

Personally, Xhalax ran her hands over her clothed full breasts, her nipples were rock hard and the almost constant ache between her legs, continued to throb harder. ‘Damn that woman…I only get hints of what could be.’ She thought, continuing to feel her nipples get harder thru the material. Talis got her so worked up, she felt like she was on fire. She knew local gossip, and several rivals had told her that Talis and Genesis were not innocents on their matrimonial day. She knew she was jealous of this fact…one that she could not get either one of them to confirm. It wasn’t hard to believe, all one had to do was to look at Genesis.

An artist, she designed large dada-esque sculptures out of various materials and large Fauvism paintings. With her big blue eyes, strong lithe body and long sun-kissed blonde hair, she had it all. Beauty, brains, a great sense of humour and a wicked temper that is known around Talis' Cabal squad. Xhalax knew she wasn’t unattractive either, judging by her time on Daihu. She has shoulder-length wavy copper brown hair and matching eyes, a more full figured body, the kind the ‘Old Masters’ used to immortalize on various mediums. She had always been self-conscience of her full curves; in time, she liked how she looked, and how Talis made her felt.

She grinned, remembering the horror at her ultimate decision…..the choosing of her mate, Talis…a Shadowrychë. All her life, her family drove into her head the path they had chosen for her. They made sure to make that one point perfectly clear: any change in their vision, wasn’t acceptable. Xhalax, for the majority of her lifetime, didn’t question her parents' plans for her as long as they coincided with her own. She wasn’t an only child, but had learned from her older brothers and sisters which way the family plans went as did her remaining siblings. Her parents had arranged the best of everything for their children; best schools, best work environments, the right friends and the best mates until the Shadow Order Of The Rychë came upon her home for formal meeting. Xhalax wasn’t permitted to attend such a prestigious meeting. She, of course, was banished from the room but she didn’t go too far; she took her place at her father’s study. The intercoms worked as well as being in the room, as long as she re-wired the comms to be non-alertive.

“It has been Foreseen that the new house Unicornus-Pegasos from the Mares of Diomedes scion and the Carruthers-Wellington-Ferrel family progeny are to be joined in matrimony upon the Unicornus-Pegasos Matriarch’s years of enlightenment. We have come to make preparations for the preliminary years of Achievement with the Inamorata.” Maarten said to the shocked parents.


“Wait, let me see if I understand you correctly…..one of our children is to be married to the Diomedes-Uni-Peg’s female’s and start a new house? A Shadowrychë is that correct?” Xhalax's mother, Serelia said, looking at her husband.

“Correct.”

“Which one?” She asked, looking back at him again.

“Enlanee Xhalax Carruthers-Wellington-Ferrel, Madam. She will need to make the necessary preparations for the Modus Vivendi for her and her position in the new house of Unicornus-Pegasos. Please make the arrangements with our society after the necessary documentation has been inscribed and registered. The proper documents have been brought and await your signatures.” Maarten formally continued on.

“Exactly with whom is this union between?” Her father asked, still in a little shock and a bit leery of the present company.

“Mademoiselle Talis Circe of Unicornus-Pegasos from the Mares of Diomedes scion and member of The Shadow Order of The Rychë. The maiden Enlanee would be First Wife, Sir.” he stated again.

Enlanee' eyes widened; she never had thought she could even be a good genetic match for a Shadowrychë . ‘Holy shitzoid’, as she cursed in the old language.

After the preliminary arrangements had been made, Xhalax was very excited about it but her parents were not. While the marriage did look good on paper, and the status of the Shadowrychë is very worthy, it wasn't so great that it was between two women. Something, that had never occurred in her family for as long as it can be remembered, as each generation could attend to. It was never even considered, but times do change.

Her family always knew they were going to have a daughter who'd be a great chancellor, and they would never try to change that. No matter what they voiced and believed, the status and careers of their children were very important to them. Although they wanted the prestige of higher status, the only option was to make influential marriages and careers for their children, still wanting this new offer, maybe the only option they saw for her was to marry the Shadowrychë female. Still, they couldn't let this be the only way for their plans to completion. There had to be a different way, and they would find it; even if it meant doing something drastic.


Her parents didn't want to do this, so they decided to pressure and persuade Xhalax for her choice in the arrangement of this marriage and the secret of her sexual preference. While they couldn’t reseq her genes this late in life, they thought it would be best to send her to an almost all male education system. Their hopes were to change her mind and not want to marry Talis. It had almost worked, if it wasn't for Talis and her mentor Maarten. So off she went to Daihu; whether she wanted to or not, it wasn't up to her. She went with their decisions willingly, for she wasn't strong enough to stick up for herself.

When she arrived on Daihu, it was Talis who pursued Xhalax without her parents approval. Though she did find her attractive and found the attention very pleasing, she didn't want to upset her parents anymore then she already has.

That didn't stop Talis from trying, instead it made her more determined. Only after being turned down over and over again for months, did Talis decide to go with her second choice for a mate: Genesis. It was later on in her career, Xhalax received some interesting and devastating news; that the squad that would be protecting her as Chancellor, would be Talis’. Going on many mission, forced the two to work together, it wasn't long until Xhalax began to reconsider her original decision. At that point, she knew she was willing to risk everything to be in the position she was meant to be: as Talis' mate.

Only after a long time and many missions, had she finally come around and began to make herself stronger. Daihu, while known for its excellent higher learning, also happened to be a center that is populated by males, ninety-eight percent to be exact. With a two percent female for the remaining populists, Xhalax learned quite early how to defend herself. She knew it was an extra blessing with Talis' early in her career, encouraging her to take Taechendo lessons.

“After all you never know when your own life can be and will be threatened; you cannot rely on personal like myself and my squad to be with you every step of your life. I believe it will be part of your curriculum starting next quarter. You might want to look into private lessons by before then. Master Suh is rank first. He still has people for competition every year. Tell Preceptor Loria that I sent you. She will get everything you need.”

Xhalax snorted at Talis’ instructions; not knowing that Loria had a secret ambition to be Talis’ mate. Unfortunately, for her, Talis learned of this fact and stopped their association. She still held an ugly streak for Talis, and when Xhalax did go to see her, found out exactly how ugly it was. Loria proceeded to give her vague and incorrect information to the future chancellor, setting her up with an advance Preceptor. All the while telling lies on their ‘courtship’, of course in her favour and the ending of it, which Talis was supposed to be pining for the snobbery woman. Rather than correct the misinformation, Xhalax tracked down Preceptor Zakir for the proper and correct information. It wasn’t Xhalax’ first encounter of this kind, scores of women and very few men love to fill in Xhalax on Talis’ life with their own slant. Xhalax learned to listen and glean whatever true intel there was in their pathetic tales, smile agreeably and move quickly away before they asked for her opinions.

It would be years later but finally all the pieces were in place. Not only was a Chancellor but she finally had Talis. All was as it should be, all because she finally came to that realization and acted upon it. Life with Talis wasn’t going to be easy or dull. Funny how life doesn’t work out as one planned or as her father would say: “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.”


Xhalax happily smiled on the fact that things turned out the way they did, rubbing her eyes, her body a reminder to her on how Talis had left her last impression on it. Softly groaning, Xhalax cupped her aching full breasts, savouring the emotions. Blowing out some air from her swollen lips, she knew it would be another long night. Deciding on showering before bed, Xhalax stripped off her garments; sighing when the circulatory-air brushed across her body again, reminding her of the many nights like tonight her desire went unfulfilled.

Xhalax masturbated in the shower, her mind racing over images of what she thought would be of her and Talis making love. She lightly ran her hand down her body, feeling the smoothness of her stomach. She slowly made her way down between her legs, feeling the small patch of coarse pubic hair against her fingers. Xhalax spreads her legs, as her fingers found her clit. She moaned, as her fingers caressed and teased her aroused clit. Panting harder, she had to have more and quickly dove two fingers in her pussy, causing her to moan loudly with delight. Her fingers worked themselves feverishly, in and out of her ever growingly moist pussy. She continued plunging her fingers in deeper, panting and moaning louder with each movement bringing her closer to climaxing but it still wasn’t enough as her free hand slid up the wall, trying to hold herself steady. She knew she needed both hands to achieve what was so easily for Talis, so she leaned back against the wall and began to use her free hand, to caress a breast. Moaning even louder, she pinched and tugged on her nipples as she added another digit to those in her pussy as they continued their work.

Growing closer to her orgasm, Xhalax continued her assault on aching pussy. Biting her swollen bottom lip trying to stifle the noise, she finally cried out Talis’ name while orgasming as her body continued to pulsate around her fingers, Xhalax slumped against the wall. Slowly, she withdrew her fingers from her body, groaning as the smoothish digits left her body.

Talis groaned out-loud from the echo feeling that was going thru Xhalax’ body. Since their announced betrothal; Talis allowed Xhalax a body melding. She no longer allowed a complete mind-body melding since that catastrophic day….she nearly took her own life, a forbidden thing to do among the Shadowrychë. She slowly closed the connection between them…getting a glimpse of Xhalax masturbating again on the bed, with images of her, Talis and of the two female crew members of the Andromeda. Who knew that
Xhalax had a bit of a fancy for Rommie and Beka? Talis noticed how aroused she was from Xhalax's fantasy, and wanted to find herself with her own hand rubbing the outside of her pants.