Dream

: MAIN STORY
: The Alembic Plot

Saturday, 29 February 2572



Odeon was too edgy to sleep, too nervous about Joanie's prospects for

recovery even to rest well, and more than a little apprehensive about

the Brothers, so not long after midnight he gave up his useless attempt

to sleep. He dressed quietly in the dim night-lighting, careful not to

disturb the others--especially Piety, napping at the table. With a

patient to care for an herself the only medical person who knew about

Cortin's surgery, Chang slept grudgingly, not letting herself get

comfortable for fear of not waking if Cortin should need her. Odeon

didn't think it really necessary, but he wouldn't order anyone to be

less conscientious in their specialty than they thought wise.



He slipped outside, chuckling ruefully at himself. Sis wasn't the only

one taking unnecessary precautions; here he was putting himself on

guard duty in a Royal residential compound with the Crown Prince and

Princess present! If that wasn't redundant, he didn't know what would

be; he'd have the proverbial snowball's chance against anything that

could get past the kind of security this place had. Still, he felt

better when he'd made a tour around the shelter and settled himself in

a lawn chair beside the door.



It was a mild night, a bit cooler than usual for this time of

year--good sleeping weather, and the smell of the roses was relaxing.

Maybe out here he could catch a nap after all, so he wouldn't be a

total loss in the morning--wouldn't want to be a zombie when Joanie

woke up! And he was a Tracker, trained to wake instantly if he heard

anything unusual. He settled deeper into the chair, closing his eyes.



* * * * *



The man approaching him was impossible. For one thing, he was

inhumanly attractive, almost beautiful--but the clincher was his

uniform. Enforcement did have some good-looking older officers; it had

never had a white uniform, or a star for rank insigne, or a Kingdom

emblem that looked like a spiral galaxy. This had to be a dream, then,

so Odeon settled in to play along and enjoy it.



It seemed reasonable to assume that a star outranked even an eagle, so

he stood, coming to attention as the man neared.



"At ease," the stranger said, smiling. "You need have no fear for your

Joanie, Michael; she'll be fully recovered when she wakes."



"Thank you, sir." Odeon had no doubt the man knew precisely what he

was talking about, and it was definitely reassuring.



"But you'd like to know how I know." The man smiled again. "I'm an

aspect of the Triune you worship, Michael, in a form I hope you'll

find--" He broke off, chuckling. "Not comforting, certainly, or even

reassuring, but at least not threatening. I'm here to give you a

heads-up, and maybe more if you want it. You've thought for a long

time that Joanie's something special, haven't you?"



Odeon nodded, glad that this was a dream. If it'd been real, he

would've been too stunned to function--because the man looked like an

older Jeshua, and that was entirely too much for him to accept as

reality with any degree of calm. As it was, he managed a nod. "Yes, I

have."



"And you're quite right, she is." The man paused. "The White Fathers

taught you well, but human interpretations do tend to modify even the

most accurate prophecies. Can you accept both that fact, and the

accompanying one that I cannot, for your own sake, give you all the

details just yet?"



Odeon hesitated in turn, then nodded, slowly. "From anyone else, I'd

say no--but from you, I can manage."



The man smiled. "You please me, my son. The White Fathers called this

the Time of Chaos, though Time of Change would be more accurate,

particularly where the lives of those on your team are concerned. Joan

is the herald of the Promised One, and will act as that one's surrogate

for a time, though she will not be asked to bear that burden

permanently, and would be far happier if she isn't forced to

acknowledge her temporary Protectorship."



Odeon frowned. "The Protector's Herald and acting Protector herself?"

That didn't seem particularly plausible, though he had to agree Joanie

wouldn't enjoy being put in either position.



"You are a wise man, Michael. And properly skeptical, as a police

officer must be." The man raised his hand. "But it's your devotion

that has to take precedence now, and it has to be focused on her."



"With all respect, sir, I don't understand."



"Remain her friend and guide, as you've begun. Completing her destined

tasks will be both difficult and dangerous, particularly since she must

remain largely unaware of that destiny, and her powers must remain

mostly latent, until the true Protector manifests." He gestured, and

they were inside, standing beside the cot that served Cortin as a

recovery room, with Chang on the other side.



The man kept his attention centered on Odeon, though he was clearly

addressing Chang as well. "When she wakes, the final phase begins.

You will be severely tried, Michael in particular, by pain and loss

great enough that you will be sorely tempted to reject me." He raised

a hand to forestall Odeon's instinctive denial. "I said you would be

tempted; I did not say you would succumb, though even Cardinals are not

immune."



Odeon frowned again. In the light of last month's murder of Pope

Anthony and Cardinal McHenry's near-unanimous election--he was now Pope

Lucius--that had an ominous sound. "There was something fishy about

the Papal election?"



"Let us just say that were his true identity known, most people would

prefer a fish in that position. The former Cardinal McHenry introduced

himself to Sister-Lieutenant Chang as the Raidmaster."



Odeon stared at Chang, then at him. "The Raidmaster--are you saying

that Shayan is the Pope?"



"The Cardinals' free will includes the freedom to accept temptation,"

the man said drily. "Yes, he's managed that. But for now balance must

be maintained, which means giving Joan a core group he can't touch, and

nudging temporal authorities to give her mundane power to match his.

All of which will have to be done without her knowledge, or she loses

her temporary immunity before she's strong enough to fight him. If

that's how she chooses to handle it."



Gently, he pulled the coverlet down to Cortin's waist, then touched her

breasts. "If you choose, you two will be her chief support--and for

that, you'll need support yourselves. You've both offered your lives

to me and been accepted. That hasn't protected you from sin, because

that's part of the Protector's covenant. And it's too early for it to

protect more than her core group--but if you're willing to surrender

that fragment of your free will so you can serve her fully, I can give

you the help and protection you need to do it."



"You've got it," Odeon said without hesitation, and Chang nodded.



"I expected no less of you," Jeshua said, obviously pleased. "Then

drink from her, for hers is the protecting and healing Milk of Life."



Chang obeyed immediately, but Odeon hesitated, looking at the drop of

white that had appeared on her nipple. "Even for that," he said

softly, "I can't take advantage of her. That's not the way to help

her."



"I admire your integrity," Jeshua said, "but that need not concern you.

I foresaw this possibility; she'll feel and enjoy your drinking.

Though she won't understand it until the time comes to make this

available to everyone."



Reassured, Odeon bent to his Joanie's breast and drank. Her milk was

warm and sweet, so full of the promised life it was almost

intoxicating--and he could feel her pleasure in it, could feel Sis'

emotional pain and scars fading to nonexistence, could feel God's

Presence surrounding and enfolding them.



He was reluctant to release her even when he could drink no more. The

unity he'd felt with her, and through her with Sis, was too right for

him to want to leave it.



"There will be other times," Jeshua said. "Only one drink is

necessary--but once all can partake, she will feed you again and often,

both as part of your loving and as a remembrance and renewal of the

unity you've just felt." He smiled. "That doesn't mean she won't

continue to lactate; she and those who accept her will have special

gifts, you and her other staff and priests in particular. It only

means that until then, her milk will be no more miraculous than any

other woman's. You and Piety are the ones who'll choose those to serve

her and give them milk or seed."



That part made sense; Odeon was used to both priestly functions and

delegation of authority. It was what Jeshua said about Joanie's milk

being part of their loving--with Joanie the Protector, even just

temporarily, he couldn't possibly--



Jeshua chuckled. "Of course you can, and will. You don't love her any

less because of what you've learned; why deprive either yourself or her

of the most powerful physical expression of that love? It's also

something both of you want, and I certainly have no objection." He

smiled.



Odeon returned the smile, unable to resist the other's charisma. What

he said did make sense; he'd wept when Joanie'd lost that pleasure and

consolation, and now that she had it back, it'd be unfair for him to

deprive her. Not that he wanted to deprive either of them; it just

seemed incongruous that he make love to an Aspect of God. Knowing that

she was, anyway; it'd seemed normal enough before. Still . . . "You

know I'll do anything she needs--or just wants--me to do."



"I know," Jeshua said. "To your credit, my son, though you don't

really need it." He turned to Chang, touching her head gently. "Any

more than you do, daughter. You've had the special help you needed;

now your suffering is over, and you may conceive whenever and with

whomever you wish. I assure you, your child will have a distinguished

family."



Chang bowed to him, her expression at once radiant and serene. "I will

leave those choices to the One Who healed me, with gratitude."



"So be it." Jeshua smiled, covered Cortin again, and was gone.



* * * * *



Moonlight in his face brought Odeon awake, frowning. That dream had

been decidedly peculiar, not at all his usual type--much too realistic,

for one thing, so much so that it seemed he could still taste Joanie's

milk. What had gotten into him?



More disturbed by the dream than he cared to admit even to himself, he

got up and stretched, then made another tour around the shelter before

going in. The activity helped--until he saw Chang's tear-stained face

and haunted expression. He joined her at the table, glancing at

Cortin--no, nothing obviously wrong--before touching the medic's hand.

"What's wrong, Sis?" he asked quietly.



"A dream, no more," she said. "I should not have let it disturb

me--though it seemed so real I find it hard to dismiss as I should."



Two overly-real dreams not only on the same night, but apparently at

the same time . . . "I just had one of those myself," he said. "If

yours matches, I think we can count on interesting times ahead--tell me

about it."



When she finished, he rubbed his scar. "Word for word, and as close to

action for action as possible with you in here and me outside. Not a

dream, then, was it?"



"No." Chang managed a shaky smile. "To live in interesting times is

an ancient curse of my people, did you know that?"



"I'd heard," Odeon said. "This was a blessing, though." He fell

silent. "If we can believe the visions, anyway. On the other hand,

Shayan is the Father of Lies, and his only absolute limitation is that

he can't create life. He could be trying to trick us."



Chang shook her head. "I have felt Shayan's touch, Michael; I would

know it anywhere, and that was not he. More, what benefit would he get

from such trickery?"



"None that I can think of," Odeon admitted. "And I don't really

believe the idea myself--comes from a career of questioning everything,

especially when there's no physical proof one way or the other."



"There is a form of proof possible," Chang said. "If either of us can

do something we know to be sinful, the vision was false. If not, which

I am certain is the case, it seems safe enough to assume its truth;

even in my most cynical moments, I cannot believe that Shayan would

render a human incapable of sin, even if such lies within his power."



"I can, under one condition, but since I don't believe he's capable of

love--especially where Enforcement people are concerned--I agree with

your conclusion."



Odeon thought for a minute, then made the attempt, with a total lack of

success. Giving the nun a half-smile, he shrugged. "Can't violate the

First Commandment, at any rate. I can consider it intellectually with

no problem, but when think comes to do, no way." His attempt at a

humorous grin turned into an elated smile. "Sis, it's great! I've

been praying for this since I was a boy and learned what the Protector

would do--I not only can't sin now, I can't even want to!"



Chang gestured him to quiet down before his enthusiasm woke the rest;

it was still well before normal time to get up, and waking someone

unnecessarily was rude at best. His pleasure was infectious, though,

and she couldn't help returning his smile. "I feel as you do,

Michael--though I still find it difficult to fully accept that I am

actually living in the Protector's time. I am somewhat surprised that

I am able to accept it at all."



"Me too--so I imagine that's part of the help we were promised. We

couldn't accomplish a whole lot if we were too stunned to function, and

from what he said, we're going to have to start functioning almost

immediately."



"True--though we will be able to say nothing about this."



"Not right away, no," Odeon agreed, "but we'll have to tell the rest

soon. And anyone else we think should be part of her core group. I've

got some pretty good ideas about who I'd like to see in it, too. Brad

and Ivan definitely, Their Highnesses--odd as it may seem--very

possibly."



"I believe it would be difficult to find better, if they are willing."



"We'll ask when we get the chance. In the meantime--" Odeon hesitated.

"I don't know about you, Sis, but I never expected to be living at the

end of one age and the beginning of another, even though the monks who

raised me said it was possible and I always wanted to see the

Protector."



"My feelings also," Chang said. "I had hoped for such, but not really

anticipated it either." She smiled. "I always wished to be both a nun

and a mother, and that seemed to be the only way it would be possible.

So while I, like you, am frightened, I am also looking forward to the

experience."



"From what he was saying, you're going to be more a priest than a

nun--but I know what you mean." Odeon studied her carefully. "I

gather that being healed means yau'll be able to join the action

now--and want to?"



"Indeed, as eagerly as you. Were it not that I have responsibilities

to my patient, I would wish to enjoy you immediately." She looked

toward the sleepers, then back to him. "I find that strange,

considering the circumstances of my previous sexual experience. But it

is also undeniably true. I desire you, and I will undoubtedly desire

the others when opportunity presents itself."



"They'll be as glad to hear that as I am, though they might find it a

little hard to believe at first. Whatever we tell them later, we'll

have to give some sort of explanation for that almost immediately."



"I see no problem there; the truth, in part, should do nicely. All

know I have been praying for this; I need only say my prayers have been

answered. I need not say how directly just yet, though I agree that we

will have to do so eventually."



Odeon chuckled, pleased to find his equanimity returning. "True. It

looks like you may not be with us too long, though, if He sends you a

child right away."



"It is in His hands--but He said Joan will need us both, so either I

will not conceive soon, or He will find a way for me to remain with

her."



"Any preference as to the father?"



"Not of the fertile men I know. Were he one, and the choice still

mine, I would choose Tiny."



The gentlest of the team, except for Piety herself. A natural choice,

Odeon thought, smiling. "He'd make a good father, I think. And it's

not completely out of the question, with the same kind of help you've

already had."



"True." Chang smiled briefly. "We shall see, when the time comes."



* * * * *



"How do you feel, Captain?"



"Mmm?" Cortin opened her eyes, to see Odeon and Chang standing over

her. "Not bad--it's done?"



"It is done. The procedure went quite well. You feel no pain?"



"Only the usual in my back. No sensation where you were working."



Chang gave them a thumbs-up, smiling. "Precisely as it should be; you

are fully healed, and the algetin has worn off. You are again capable

of intercourse, and I believe enjoyably so. Though it may take you a

few times to become accustomed to the different sensations."



Cortin licked her lips apprehensively, sitting up but keeping herself

covered with the sheet. Mike had said it'd be an order of magnitude

better, Sis said it should be enjoyable, and she trusted them

implicitly--so why in God's name was she suddenly so apprehensive at

the prospect of something she'd enjoyed so much before? Her last

experience had been horrible, granted, so maybe the apprehension was

normal . . . She forced herself to calm. None of her people would

hurt her, she knew that; at worst, she'd have no feeling. No physical

feeling, she corrected herself. Making love with Enforcement men had

always been fun, and usually gave her a comfortable, cherished feeling

whether she climaxed or not. She'd still have that, which was

something to cling to. A big something.



"There are some things you should know before beginning," Chang said.

"While you are again capable of arousal, you must understand it will

not be the same; you will have to make allowances."



Cortin nodded. "I understand. Can you be more specific?"



"I found it necessary to provide muscular support for the replacement,"

Chang said. "I attempted to tie the necessary relaxation into the

arousal mechanism, but I am a medic, not a surgeon; I do not know if I

was successful. Should arousal not relax those muscles sufficiently to

permit penetration, you will have to do so consciously."



"I think I can manage that, if I have to. What about climax?"



Chang shrugged, smiling regretfully. "You will have to tell me," she

said. "You are not physiologically equipped for such, yet my studies

tell me it is as much a mental as a physical phenomenon, so I cannot

say you will not experience it."



"That's all I can ask," Cortin said. "I owe you, Sis; what can I do

for you?"



Chang smiled. "You owe me nothing, Captain; restoring your ability to

function is reward enough. And I have news of my own. You are not the

only one to be restored; my prayers have been answered."



Cortin laughed, her apprehension dissolved in the nun's evident

pleasure. "Wonderful! When? Who'd you celebrate it with?"



"Last night. No one as yet, not with a patient under my care and

myself the only available medic."



"In which case it's a good thing I don't need medical care any longer,"

Cortin said with a grin. Then she turned to Odeon. "Where are the

rest, Mike?"



"Tiny's outside playing gardener; the rest are up at the Manor visiting

Prince Edward's security troops. We thought it would be a good idea to

let you check yourself out without a crowd."



"I appreciate the consideration, but my team's not a crowd." Cortin

cocked an eye at him. "Since I know you wouldn't pull rank for a

personal matter, were you the one to stay because we were lovers

before?"



"That did make him the reasonable choice," Chang said equably.



"And Sis has more than a passing interest in Tiny," Odeon said.



"Then I'd suggest she invite him in," Cortin said. "While she

does--any news?"



She meant professional, not personal, Odeon knew; he shook his head.

"Nothing worth mentioning. The Brothers are still laying low, and

aside from confirming what you found out about the Shannons, Ivan says

the Detention Center Inquisitors have been drawing blanks."



"What about the one we brought with us?"



"Dave and Ivan teamed up on him, but unless you count some

entertainment, they didn't get anything useful."



"Blast! Not wishing anyone anything bad, but I'll be glad when this

stalemate breaks."



"You aren't the only one," Odeon agreed emphatically. "Morale's as

good as you could expect, maybe a little better, but everyone's itching

for some action." He made a wry face. "Group therapy can only do so

much, even when you've got a bunch of compatible enthusiasts. Which we

definitely do, even with you out of action."



"Good." Most Enforcement men were heterosexual whenever possible, to

Cortin's gratification, but had no hesitation in enjoying each other

rather than doing without; if they weren't compatible, morale suffered.

"Nobody's getting shorted or exploited?"



"No. Everything's as smooth as we could hope for, and everyone's

looking forward to having you join in."



"I plan to," Cortin said, then turned to Chang, who had come back in

with Pritchett. "Unless you'd recommend otherwise?"



"As I said, you are fully healed," the medic said. "I see no reason to

hesitate, even with our misnamed Tiny."



"Well endowed?" Cortin asked Odeon, grinning. She'd never seen her

communications specialist naked, to her disappointment; in Middletown

he'd used the Elysian Gardens, and here, she'd been unconscious.



"Nicely in proportion, at any rate," Odeon replied with an answering

grin. "And his stamina's nothing to sneeze at, either--he gave me a

ride yesterday evening you wouldn't believe."



The big man grinned. "You flatter me--and I love it."



"No flattery intended," Odeon said, straight-faced. "Just doing my

duty, keeping the CO informed. Of course, I imagine she'll see for

herself here shortly."



"If not," Chang said, "I will be most disappointed. When I was praying

for a normal trooper's sexual attitude and abilities, I did not realize

the strength of the drive I was praying for. I confess I am finding it

difficult to keep my hands to myself."



"Why try, then?" Cortin asked. "Neither of you is on duty, there

aren't any civs around, and Tiny looks willing enough."



"More than willing," Pritchett said, extending his hand to the medic.

"I need a shower first; care to join me?"



"That sounds most enjoyable."



"Attractive couple, aren't they?" Odeon asked appreciatively as the

pair disappeared into the bathroom.



"Very," Cortin agreed. "Sis deserved a miracle if anyone did, and

Tiny'll be good for her." She let the sheet drop--and found out why

Odeon was wearing a robe at this time of day; he was naked. And, she

thought with satisfaction, as beautifully and excitingly male as she

remembered.



Odeon looked at her, afraid that what he'd learned of her early that

morning would block his normal reaction to her. To his considerable

relief, he discovered it didn't; if anything, it made her more

desirable. The remembered taste of her milk sent a surge of thrilling

warmth through him, focusing in his loins.



Cortin grinned at her second's fast arousal, holding out her arms as

she felt half-familiar, half-strange sensations in her belly. "It's

nice to have a dependable second--especially one who's properly

respectful."



Odeon glanced down, smiling at her familiar banter. "Yes, ma'am. The

Academy did stress respect for one's superior officers, and the

importance of a proper stance of attention."



* * * * *



They lay for awhile when it ended, catching their breath, then Odeon

withdrew, caressing her affectionately. "You seemed to enjoy that--and

it's the best I've ever had."



"Enjoy?" Cortin looked at him, trying to sort out her feelings.

"That's . . . I don't know. Too weak a word." She smiled at him, a

bit tentatively. "Mike . . . it was like climaxing, the whole

time--and when you did, it was . . ." She hesitated, searching for

words, then gave it up as hopeless. Even a poet would have trouble

describing what she'd felt! "I can't describe it, except that it was

like being filled with liquid fire--and I'm still tingling from it."



"So what's the verdict for tonight? Rest or recreation?"



"Recreation, definitely. After supper, though."



"Bradford and Illyanov have been making it pretty clear they'd like in,

if you're willing."



'Willing' seemed like a pretty weak word too, Cortin thought. It

didn't seem her drive was any stronger than it had been, so maybe it

was the length of time she'd had to abstain, but the idea of as wide a

variety as she could get--and as much--was overwhelmingly attractive.

"I assume you told them I would be?"



"Not exactly, though I did say you'd enjoyed men from outside your team

in the past. Sweet Mother, I couldn't even be sure you'd want me,

after what the Brothers did to you!" Until he'd been told this

morning that she would, and he'd only become positive when she'd

claimed him . . .



"There's a major difference between an enemy assault and a friendly

tussle," Cortin said drily. "I was a little nervous at first, I can't

deny that, but it didn't last long. I didn't notice you having me held

down, or using broken bottles, or gun barrels along with threats to

blow my head off from the inside."



"You never told me that!" Odeon exclaimed, horrified.



"I . . . had a hard time talking about it until now. Even during

debrief, with all of Colonel Bradford's skill. I still do, a little."



Odeon embraced her, swearing to himself. What he had known was bad

enough--but he hadn't imagined rape with a gun barrel, and he didn't

want to imagine any parts she'd still have trouble talking about. Brad

was right--they had to get Joanie out of the field, somewhere she'd be

safe, before the Brothers had a chance to get hold of her again, off

limits or not, and maybe do something even worse. Between himself,

Brad, and Ivan, they should be able to find some way to get her into a

safe job willingly! "It's okay, Joanie," he said softly. "We'll take

care of you."



Cortin started to pull away, protesting that she could take care of

herself, then she settled back into his arms. Mike meant well, she was

sure, and it was nice having him hold her. "We'll all take care of

each other," she agreed. "And yes, do invite Ivan and Brad

along--we'll make a real party of it."



"That sounds like fun." Odeon gave a theatrical sigh. "Which I

suppose means I should get up and call them."



"No need," Chang said, startling them both; they hadn't realized she

and Tiny were back until she spoke. "We will do so, though that will

give you only a few more minutes."



"Every little bit helps," Odeon said. "Thanks, Sis--Tiny."