Soul Sibs

Chapter 1 – Family

Ana von Lou Shte’ik of Clan Koof’na sipped her coffee as the thought she’d been ignoring for the past four days forced its way into her head. Two days ago was the year anniversary of her joining to seven Te’ik in tans-dal, a soul bond. Seven men and women had judged her worthy to guide them as healer and head of their clan; bestowing her with the title and rank of Shte’ik. Minutes after she was accepted as their soul sister she had literally run into tor-in, highly trained warriors of the Rakki Imperium.

She had asked them to protect the Te’ik and offered them a place as permanent clan tor-in as a reward for keeping the Te’ik from being killed. The attacking warriors were the private guard, of a healer that had wanted to claim Clan Koof’na as twenty-third clan. While the tor-in were protecting the newly ranked clan, she managed to get knocked unconscious.

When she woke, she found herself being cared for by Amber Eyes. A male Karrish who was covered head to toe in a pelt that ranged in shades of honey to chocolate. She’d been at the spaceport bar celebrating, it had been her intention to find a male Karrish lover. Ana blushed as she remembered the softness of his pelt upon her skin, her fingers flexed as she remembered running them through his fur. She repressed the sudden hunger that blossomed within her and sighed in relief as she checked the emotional barriers she had learned to construct.

The tans-dal had initiated a telepathic connection with each of the Te’ik. Any strong emotion she felt, was also felt by her soul sibs. Before the newly formed healing clan had fled Bra’ket, her passion for Amber Eyes had caused a mating bond between one of the Te’ik and one of the tor-in. For her, the most difficult side effect of the soul bond was the telepathic connection. As they raced through the stars toward the planet Shi, the Te’ik’s personalities had pushed in on her mind.

In an attempt to retain her sanity she learned everything she could about the physiology of other races out in the Rim. The lessons worked to distract her mind for short bursts of time. However, anytime she attempted to rest for longer than a few hours she woke up drowning in one of the other’s thoughts. After experiencing an emotional breakdown, she produced her first mental barrier.

The result of her emotional breakdown was a closer bond to Thea. Thea was the youngest and gentlest of all the Te’ik. She was also the most sensitive to the soul bond between herself and Ana. In the hierarchy of clan, it was to Thea that administration of a healing camp fell and she was a gifted administrator. The eldest of the Te’ik Meena, had tried to teach her to shield her thoughts from theirs. It was a lesson learned by all Te’ik that were accepted as mind-sib by the race of creature called kry-an. Not only was Meena bonded to Ana, through a soul bond, but she was mind bonded to the kry-an Tesl’d.

The kry-an looked as confused as any animal had a right to. They looked to be a combination of wolf and komodo dragon. They had large mouths full of wicked looking teeth, leathery skin, lupine shaped ears and ice blue eyes that glowed with intelligence. They were massively built, powerful hunters and had been adopted by the Te’ik as protectors. The race of the Te’ik were, for the majority pacifist, unless they were bonded to a kry-an.

There were two ways to bond to a kry-an. A mind-mate, the bond that happened when the kry-an was young and of the age to impress, or mind-sib, the bond that occurred between kry-an and one the individual kry-an considered to be a worthy companion. Both bonds were considered a high honor by the Te’ik. The bonded always dedicated themselves to protecting the dwindling numbers of kry-an, in an attempt to stave off extinction of the race.

Clan Koof’na had three kry-an, each had a mind-sib in one of the Te’ik. Kumo was mind-sib to the kry-an male Dorath. There was not one without the other. She was the most adventurous of the soul sibs and the most curious about the kry-an’s true nature. Ana had felt her determination to discover the needs for successful propagation of the species. The race was dying, and it hurt Kumo that her Dorath would not live on after they’d both passed into the soul realm. Dorath was the largest of the kry-an and potentially the fiercest because of it.

Ferin of the unending stomach, Ana grinned to herself remembering all the foods he’d inflicted upon her in an attempt to broaden her Terran palate. Just the thought of spluknik soup still made her feel nauseated. He was the most honest of the soul sibs, his internal filter had melted somewhere and he said what he thought, if only to her in mind voice. His mind-sib was called Maul. She was in charge of the kry-an of the clan. She had been the one to initiate the tans-dal with Ana.

Meena, was the last of the Te’ik mind bonded to a kry-an. Her mind-sib was Tesl’d, the more playful of the two male kry-an. A picture of Meena laughing as one of her soul sibs told her a stupid joke, flitted through Ana’s head. If Thea was the gentlest of the soul sibs, Meena was the most joyful and it was through her that the kry-an were allowed to play and act as though they were not grown into bone crushing adults. Meena gave all of herself to the kry-an and her clan. She was confident that her clan sibs would find a way to protect the kry-an. She held faith that Ana would protect their clan with her last breath, just as she herself would.

Thea’s eyes were such a light lavender they were almost silver, they reminded Ana of sterling roses. Thea was the softest hearted of all the soul sibs. You could see it in her every breath that she wished nothing ill luck or hardship. She was truly gifted with healing camp organization and it had almost broken all of them when she had been injured on Traxis VII.

Seeing their sister’s long white hair matted with blood, and feeling the pain that Thea had suffered because of injury was not a memory that was easily forgotten. Ana was thankful that none of the sibs were at strength to see what she had unleashed upon the soldiers of both the Blue Family and Yellow Family in retribution for Thea’s being injured. If her gentle soul sib ever found out, she would weep with pain at the death that was caused in her name.

As Thea was the gentlest, Kia was the most mercenary. She had bonded to tor-in Sorrell while Ana had been with Amber Eyes. A picture of Kia wrapped around the black furred Karri male, stayed for a moment and brought uncomfortable feelings to the surface of Ana’s mind. She pushed the feelings aside as she thought about Kia. She was devoted to advancing the prosperity of the clan and ensuring that they would have the resources to remain independent. She was intelligent enough to know when to leave Ana to her own devices and mercenary enough to be acceptable to an ancient Tagashi.

Her twin was Rio. A picture of his knee length silver braid dragging through some weird fluid as he played with his beloved machines, flashed into Ana’s mind’s eye. His lavender eyes were the most intense of all the sibs, especially when he was angry. He was violently opposed to the treatment of his people by the Karrish. Though he had only twice been in a position to help his fellows and that was before they’d become a clan. Ana would have to ask the others how they could help other arraya Te’ik clans escape bonded servitude.

Tashi, the picture of her nestled into Alastair’s lap with the twins on either side of her calling her Fairy Queen Tashi, danced through her memories. Tashi was the second most gentle of the soul sibs, she would no more consider hurting another being than she would voluntarily leave her clan. She glowed when she was teaching the twins and Ana wondered if she wanted children of her own.

The other person in their clan that nearly glowed was Martyne. He was of the Te’ik race, but not of the seven soul sibs. She had encountered Martyne in a place called the soul plane, a place between the physical world and death. Those of his race that were able to traverse the soul plane were called Forsaken, by the Karrish. They were branded and if their ability was strong, they were exiled and abandoned.

Martyne, had been the one who had taught her to shield her mind from the others. She would always be thankful to him for that as well as his willingness to explain what the other Te’ik felt they had no right to. Most of all she appreciated his patience and honesty when explaining matters of Te’ik or caste to her. Unexpectedly, she could harness Martyne’s energy from the soul plane and use it to heal. Unlike with the other Te’ik who had to be physically touching her to pass her the energy that their race created and a Shte’ik used to heal.

She and Martyne had discovered what they were capable of while she healed the injured from the port accident. There had been a young Karri who would lose her leg, if her injuries weren’t stabilized. To their surprise, the energy channeled to her over the soul plane lasted longer and healed more injured then when the Te’ik channeled their energy directly into her.

They had only tried it the one time and Ana hadn’t told the others about what they’d done. Her ability to channel the energy that the Te’ik created, was already different from other healers. She had no doubt that this was one more thing that would isolate her from the others of the Healing Caste.

When she soul bonded to the Te’ik she had become a member of the Healing Caste of the Rakki Imperium. A place no Terran or anyone of any race beside Karrish had ever held. This made her an enemy of the Shte’ik who led the caste. It also made travel to Rakki, the home world of the Karrish, suicidal and that was the reason they had come to the planet Shi.

The Rakki Imperium had ruled space ever since the merchant Tagash had brought them the ability to fly through the stars. For five thousand years the Imperium stretched its borders and without mercy absorbed every race into itself. Only the Tagash had been able to withstand the might of the Imperium, until the Terrans were attacked.

The Imperium had not anticipated resistance. It had been assumed that lack of space flight meant a lack of martial ability. After a single massive battle, where every troop transport and every craft that entered Terra’s atmosphere was destroyed. The Imperium ceased its attempt to conquer and focused upon protecting its territory.

In an effort to protect itself, the Imperium negotiated with several other races on its outer most territories and the Federation of Aligned Worlds was created. Inclusion in the newly created Federation required acceptance of past action immunity. No member was allowed to take action against another, due to prior actions of other member races. In this way the Imperium ensured that it would not suffer retribution for the attempted invasion of Terra.

A multi-species council first approached the Terrans and not one space craft attempted to land on earth, until contact was made. It had been the Merchant Tagash, with their conical shaped bodies, four large appendages, wide mouths and expressive facial appendages that initiated communication between the newly formed Federation and the Terran governments.

The Tagash were as strange to Terrans as the dinosaur raptor looking Gizian, the second race to make contact with Terra. The other races to establish relations with Terra were bipedal and humanoid. The bird like Toras, the orc built Tollatech, the cold climate Cori. The feline like Karrish, were the last ones to approach the Terrans. By the time Terrans were convinced to be included in the Federation, they’d engineered space craft from the wreckage of the Karri fleet. After Terra joined the Federation, Terrans were released out into the ‘verse.

‘And that’s me,’ Ana sighed, ‘a Terran among the other races.’ Until she’d convinced the Irish menace, Alastair McDevon, to join up with clan, she’d been the only one. Even though her soul sibs and the tor-in had learned English while she’d been in a coma, it was nice to have others of her own race around. Alastair’s children Ryan and Fiona, were as welcome as his niece and nephew, the twins, Camille and Cameron.

‘A year, they’d only been a clan for a year,’ she thought. Ana chewed on her lip as she thought of her own contribution to the strength of the clan. Most days she didn’t understand why she was allowed to remain. Nearly all of the painful things that had happened to them could be traced back to her. The memory of her soul sibs being stabbed and beaten unable to defend themselves pushed into her mind as Amber Eyes’ voice rolled through her once more. He had told her, ‘They are Arraya, they are without a master, without a Shte’ik they can neither retaliate nor defend.’

Ana opened her eyes and looked out over the familiar view of the wilds of Shi as she said to herself, I can only hope they find me worth the trouble.

You are worth the trouble Shte’ik, Sorrell replied quietly as he moved out of the shadows, Whatever the future brings, you are worth the trouble.

Ana stared at her black pelted Karri tor-in unsurprised that he heard her, Been there the whole time? she asked him.

Sorrell neither smiled nor removed all emotion from his face. The Shte’ik did not appreciate the façade of the tor-in. He knelt before her and wiped the tears from her cheeks as they fell from her beloved eyes. When will you accept that you are the fire heart of our clan, without you we are allowed to be nothing. Without you, he rested his hand over her heart, our heart and soul are empty. He continued to speak into her startlingly green eyes, You push us all past our endurance and somehow we are not devoured. We become stronger, Even when you act foolishly and risk yourself for those who are not clan and risk us all becoming arraya once more.

Ana replied, I don’t understand, as she stared into his blue-black eyes.

Sorrell smiled sadly as he replied, We know, we all know. Yet it surprises us at every change and every challenge that suddenly reminds us, Even Serva.

Ana snorted her disbelief.

Do not doubt it my Qattan, he said softly, his heart in his eyes.

Ana’s heart sped up for a moment, he had called her that once before. In the Karri language it meant, beloved mistress and was only used by a male who had given himself to a female of a superior status.

He continued to stare into her eyes as he said, Your people do not have caste law driven into the soul plane of your existence. What in your heart was the most logical action, violated thousands of years of Imperial domination of the universe. No one, except for you, Even considered a way they could help the Te’ik. They accepted Imperial Caste law, where you did not. He kissed her eyes, before he rested his head against her own and held her face, We would not have you understand, he said softly in Karrish. When you understand, your fire heart will be less Terran and more Caste. We do not crave this, no matter the fear that freezes our hearts at the thought of losing you.

Ana sighed as she accepted the comfort of her tor-in and through him that of her entire clan.

After he felt her fire heart beat steady within her chest he drew back and his eyes twinkled, Come, McDevon has made Terran bal’astral to apologize to you and I believe he has a request of you as well. It is time to see your Clan Shte’ik and show them that you are recovered from your reckless behavior during the days of the port accident.

Ana rolled her eyes at Sorrell’s attempts at humor, You are not funny, she retorted, you do realize this don’t you?

If my Shte’ik says I am without humor, I am without humor, he retorted in his blandest tone. My Shte’ik speaks only the law of her clan.

Ana snorted as she glared at the tor-in, Sure and you’d look sexy in ballet slippers, she teased him in English, knowing that he’d have to look up ballet slippers and would not find it amusing. Just the thought of it made her smile mischievously as she Ventured out of her rooms for the first time in seven days.

Chapter 2 – Tidings

She moved quickly toward her favorite lounge. She burst into it after Sorrell opened the door for her and called out, Alastair McDevon you’d better have made me an entire batch of the Ethiopian Black to apologize for the trouble you’ve caused me!

Alastair spasmed at the sudden bellowing of his name in English. He glared at his daughter who was laughing into her hand as she watched him. Now lass, he purred at the petite, green eyed, brown haired, American spit fire, as he turned to face her.

Ana advanced upon the unsuspecting blue eyed Irishman as she narrowed her eyes and poked him in the chest. Do you have any idea how much of an uproar you’ve caused in the fourth and fifth work crews? Her voice was silky and dangerous as she spoke to him.

Alastair paled, The fourth and fifth? he squeaked.

Ana nodded and asked, How exactly do you think that sixth crew got their name? her eyes narrow as she stood toe to toe with him. She was several inches shorter than he was and nearly a foot shorter than every other member of her clan. Now the others are demanding to be named second and third crews of Rraya McDevon, do you understand what that means? she asked in her most demanding voice.

He shook his head silently.

Didn’t think so, she replied as she pushed him into a chair. She pulled one up across from him and dropped into it. By adopting sixth hold crew as first crew of Rraya McDevon, you have changed the duties of each of the seven members of that crew yes?

Alastair could only nod.

No problem right?

He hesitated.

Because of the elevation of their status to a prime crew in Clan McDevon, she hissed, They are no longer under the protection of the Clan Hold and neither are their families.

Alastair paled.

Oh now we begin to see, she growled at him, enjoying this immensely. The hold work crews were fed, and their families provided for by the Hold. Now, it will be the duty of Clan McDevon to provide for an additional forty-eight dependents and that is without the addition of the fourth and fifth crews. Since Rraya McDevon is the Prime Merchant Clan of the Koof’na Clan, the dependents rightly expect to be housed here in the accommodations given to Rraya McDevon, along with all their dependents. So tell me Alastair, she growled his name, Why shouldn’t I declare Clan McDevon arraya or simply arrange for an accident to befall you and absorb it into the core of Clan Koof’na?

Alastair stared into the glittering eyes of the Shte’ik of Clan Koof’na and suddenly understood, why she could do the things she did. Lass? he pleaded, Don’t do anything I’ll regret.

Ana couldn’t hold the laughter inside any longer and it erupted out of her. Her eyes watered. Her breathing was irregular and labored as she grinned through the laughter induced tears. She caught Alastair’s scowl and laughed harder. Oh, Maker, she sighed in common, that face was worth all the trouble.

Alastair pouted at the Shte’ik and said, Lass, you are quite frightening when you take it into your mind to be. He looked around the filled lounge and frowned as he asked, Was that necessary?

Ana replied, Unfortunately it was Alastair, I wasn’t joking when I told you about the specifics of what you’ve done. Suddenly Rraya McDevon has become responsible for an additional forty-eight beings of various ages and abilities. It was very irresponsible of you to not forward the petition to Tashi as you should have. I hear she’s revoked your right to add to your clan. Fortunately that prohibition is only in regards to non-core clan members or else, you wouldn’t be able to claim any more family members as clan.

Alastair sighed as his head bowed, There’s at least another three dozen at home, he sighed.

Well, Ana said, I guess it’s a good thing that Kia thinks Clan McDevon is a good investment and expects delivery of two cargo vessels within the next ten days.

Alastair looked up quickly with his face filled with wonder.

Don’t get overly excited, the price of the second vessel is a loan from your superior clan to Clan McDevon and the payment for it, will come from off the top of the sales of Clan McDevon, she told him.

Alastair was stunned silent as he blinked at the Shte’ik in surprise.

I believe Rio, she smiled at her soul-sib and said, Is interested in piloting the second vessel, he hasn’t been to Terra. You’ll have to negotiate a budget with Tashi as well as Kia. You will undoubtedly have to defend your choices of trade goods to within an inch of your life. Watch out for Kia, she’s as mercenary as they come. She glanced at her soul sibs.

Her gaze shifted to the tor-in. All of the clan tor-in were present within the lounge. She flinched as she caught Serva’s irritated gaze the dark brown pelted Karri female’s golden eyes were glittering at her in irritation she would not voice. She was flanked by Tallin, the honey colored male Karri and Fa’kar, the female Darvish whose skin was nearly the same mottled color as the stone that was used to construct the Hold. To Fa’kar’s left stood the Cori tor-in Runes and Jervis. As did the rest of their race, the two Cori had skin that gave the appearance of being frosted, silver eyes and stark white hair. They stood only inches taller than Ana, but were no less deadly opponents than the Karri or the reptilian Darvish. Ana glanced at Ra’tek, the male Darvish that she’d woken from a coma before the Spice Wars. His skin was less mottled than Fa’kar’s and his eyes were a brilliant orange.

All of the tor-in were watching her intently so she said, You will also submit to the presence of clan tor-in. Clan reserves the right to protect its investment. She glanced around and asked, Do you have any questions for me?

Alastair blinked several times before he asked, The bairns?

Are clan obviously, she answered quickly. They are not yet fluent in common or in FAW history, geography or politics and that will be addressed on planet and as we travel.

Alastair nodded relieved. He glanced at his daughter, Fiona?

I would prefer to remain father, she replied in broken common.

Alastair grinned at her, before he glanced at his son and asked, Ryan?

I’m learning to repair the fliers, the teen replied irritated at being questioned.

Alastair’s smile faded for a moment as his eyes rested on his eldest, I’m glad you’ve found something that interests you mi boy, he replied.

Ryan nodded.

Stop being so dramatic you Irish menace, Ana growled, You’ve at least a week on planet. You’ve merchandise to sell and mouths to feed as well as clan to get to know, she ended with a saccharine smile. Tashi will present you with the amount Clan McDevon will be expected to contribute to its clan’s upkeep.

Alastair shook his head as the sparkle returned to his eyes, You free for the next week Lass? he asked with a rakish grin.

Don’t you wish, Ana snorted in reply.

Alastair chuckled as he said, I do indeed, your skills are inspired.

At that moment one of the Hold’s servants interrupted, Shte’ik, there is a delivery for you.

Curious, Ana moved out of her chair and sighed when Sorrell and Serva fell into place next to her.

It took Ana a moment to recognize the merchant. She bowed politely, Merchant, what brings you so far from your stall?

The Tagash merchant, bowed his head and his upper appies held out the boxes, I apologize to inform you that the containers of the flavorings did not all survive their rapid placement, when you left them by my stall to attend those at the port.

Ana glanced at the boxes and smiled her thanks, Thank you Merchant, in my haste I had forgotten my purchase. Would you take bal’astral with us, one of our clan has recently prepared the Terran kind.

The Tagash hesitated for a moment before he said, I would be pleased to accept.

Ana turned and waited for him to accompany her into the lounge. She smiled at him once more as she asked, Merchant?

Bari al Va’glyss, he replied before he bowed to the assembled.

Has returned to me a most wonderful purchase from his stall, she bowed to him once more. I have invited him to take Terran bal’astral with us in thanks of his care.

Alastair grinned as he poured the Tagash a mug of coffee and handed it to the merchant.

Ana cleared her throat.

He grimaced and poured her one as well, then started to serve the others in the lounge.

Everyone politely ignored the random twitching of the Tagashi’s facial appies, except for Camille who found them very interesting and she asked in English, Why does he do that?

Ana replied in English with no inflection in her words, It is like a happy smile for his race, do not bring attention to it, the Tagash become offended when they cannot control their emotions,

Why? Cameron asked curious.

We will discuss this later, Ana smiled at the twins, you are being rude speaking in a tongue the Merchant does not understand.

I mean no offense, the Tagash Merchant interjected in English, I do not wish you to think that I tricked you. He bowed his head to Shte’ik and to the younglings, Your Shte’ik is right in her speech, my race do not like to admit that we cannot control our own emotions at all times. Her explanation was short, he replied. The movement of a facial appie can have many meanings, that unpredictable movement of the one moving now means I am experiencing pleasure. If it were to move steadily back and forth, he moved his upper appie as an example, I would be anger filled and, his upper appie pulsated, if it did this, great joy would be filling me. He was pleased with their curiosity as he said, There are many more movements, for now you have understanding.

Camille moved forward quickly and asked, May I touch it sir?

Surprised he replied, Carefully youngling, they are highly sensitive.

Camille nodded and reached out and caressed the moving skin, she giggled when it caressed her finger in response, It is very soft, she said, amazed.

That is enough Camille, Ana said softly.

Camille smiled as she nodded her head, Thank you Sir.

Come my younglings, Tashi grinned, Do we not have to check on our surprise?

Ana stared into her cup as she waited for the Tagash merchant’s appies to stop twitching randomly.

The female youngling is very curious, he announced after he’d recaptured his emotions.

Ana replied, She is.

Alastair pulled his chair closer to the merchants, "Merchant al Va’glyss, your fair trade is known through Shi, if you had no other reason than the Shte’ik’s purchase you would have sent a runner