Alien Interludes Read Online Free Page B

she’d only been a mere Earther nurse before coming to Kalquor.
    At least she didn’t have the embarrassment of the Royal Guards dogging her every step in the mental ward. They waited for her on the next floor. Jessica was determined Narpok wouldn’t catch even the slightest glimpse of an unfamiliar, thus potentialy threatening, armed male.
    Involving herself in the actual running of the planet kept Jessica busy. She could have gotten away with existing only as the mother of the next emperor or empress; she hadn’t been trained for such responsibilities as the ones she now undertook. Not like Narpok had. Yet Jessica took her role of empress head-on, like she did everything else. It was her strength and curse.
    She’d also taken on the seemingly thankless chore of tending Narpok for a few hours three times a week. The broken Kalquorian bore the presence of just one man consistently; her primary psychologist Imdiko Govi. Other members of the psychiatric team that she saw routinely might escape her notice entirely or send her into a terror-filed fit.
    With only two other women trained as nurses in the entire facility, Jessica had stepped up to the plate, sitting with, feeding, and bathing Narpok like any other assistant. She didn’t mind the work. She only wished the eyes of her former enemy would blaze with life again. She’d give anything to hear Narpok hurl insults at her once more. Lifeless silence from a body that stil breathed was unnerving. Heartbreaking.
    Jessica was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she walked right into Ajonel, one of the ward’s orderlies. Jessica bounced off the hard, tal body of the Imdiko as he stepped out of a patient’s room.
    “My empress!” He grabbed her by the arm, steadying her on her feet. “I am so sorry. I did not see you there.” Jessica gasped breathy laughter. “The fault was al mine, Ajonel. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” She didn’t bother to ask if he was okay. The Kalquorian, like most his brethren, was a wal of muscle. Their colision probably had al the effect of a fly landing on his arm.
    “You are leaving early?” He looked over her shoulder. “Matara Narpok is al right?”
    “She’s fine. The Imperial Mother is tending her today. Apparently I’m working too hard for my mother’s liking.”
    “You do work hard.” Ajonel frowned as if troubled, his broad features going dark. He wasn’t a terribly handsome man with too heavy a brow and a bulging crooked nose. Frowning definitely detracted from his looks. “You are going back to the Royal House?”
    Jessica was a little taken aback with the Imdiko’s familiarity. Most Kalquorians not on the council or part of the Royal House’s staff kept a respectful distance. Stil, she was a regular fixture at the hospital now. She should expect a little more friendliness as the staff grew used to her, especialy since she was often seen joking with Govi and head surgeon Flencik. “Not right away. I have a few other things to attend to.”
    Like a good fuck date with my mates. I bet you’d get quiet in a hurry if I shared that.
    She had to restrain a naughty giggle.
    “Have a good day, my empress.” Ajonel bowed and resumed his rounds, his steps quick as if running behind on his work.
    “You too, Ajonel.” Jessica continued on her way, keeping a more careful eye out to avoid walking into any more living wals.
    She passed newly built and stil empty areas as she hurried on towards the hospital’s in-house transport, anticipation growing as she contemplated spending some time with her clan. The new construction on the psychiatric wing of the hospital was coming along wel. They’d need every inch of it too, what with al the traumatized Earthers pouring in. Most of the patients were women who’d spent time in Earth’s detention camps. Scarred, mutilated, beaten, and starved, their mental states were in shambles. Convicted rightly or wrongly of sex crimes under Earth’s old regime, they’d been made to