2a. Musing
St. Thomas, June 2571
Within five days of Cortin's arrival at the New Denver hospital,Shannon had managed to get three Brothers working there, with orders tokeep him informed of anything and everything she did. His agents'first report, the following day, told him that Cortin was underconstant guard by a minimum of two troopers, and usually had CaptainMichael Odeon with her during the day.
As the report continued he frowned, wondering if he shouldn't laughinstead. Odeon had brought her texts for the Academy'sInquisitor-specialist students, and that evening the course's aceinstructor had spent several hours with her. Cortin, studying tobecome an Inquisitor? Not only didn't it seem her style, he wouldn'thave thought her capable of the toughness or the deliberate violence itrequired.
He could be wrong, he acknowledged--he'd been wrong before, about herand other humans too--but it seemed impossible he could be that farwrong. In his harshest moment, he couldn't truthfully call her exactlysoft . . . but on the other hand, he'd never respected her for herresolve. He'd be astonished if she turned out to have the necessarytoughness now--but if she did, he certainly wouldn't hesitate to makeuse of it. Because if she were able to pass muster as an Inquisitor atall, the Bitch would be the Systems' best--a suitable punishment forany of his men who managed a particularly bad foulup.
As reports continued to come in, it became clear that she was not onlyexcelling in her studies--Illyanov's evaluations said she was doingquite well, which for him was extravagant praise--she was apparentlyenjoying them, which Shannon found almost impossible to believe. Thiswas only the theoretical work, though, he reminded himself. While heconceded that she could endure considerable pain, the question waswhether she could deliberately administer it.
And that answer would have to wait. In the meantime, he had a campaignto plan.
* * * * *
Cortin was recovering faster than Shannon liked. That she wasrecovering at all, of course, was unfortunate--but given that, hecouldn't honestly be surprised at the speed of her recovery. It lookedlike her return to duty would be about the time that collection ofSpecial Ops men--and the woman auxiliary who'd once been his"lover"--was complete. He was concerned about that; the necessarylimitation of his powers made him dependent on normal systems ofinformation, and security around the gathering was unusually tight.Since there were similar gatherings in every Kingdom, it was obviousthe Sovereigns were planning something that promised no good for theBrotherhood and his plans, but he couldn't find out what without takinga risk of alerting Cortin.
Since there was nothing constructive he could do about that, he lethimself reminisce about the auxiliary. Eleanor Chang, since ageeighteen a professed Sister of the Order of the Compassionate Mother ofSuccor and known as Sister Mary Piety. Shannon had a particulardislike for that order, since they specialized in caring for seriouslywounded or ill Enforcement troopers, sometimes accompanying them asmedics.
That was Sister Piety's specialty, and she'd been handling one of itsmore difficult aspects when he'd encountered her almost a year ago.He'd been on St. Ignatius then, picking and training some of hissubordinate raid-masters, and he'd given in to the urge for somerecreation. That had taken the form of a raid on the clinic whereshe'd just brought a trio of wounded from her last mission, and it wasa raid he remembered with considerable satisfaction.
The clinic was in the country, to let the troopers recover or die inthe most pleasant surroundings the Order could manage--and it wasremote enough that Shannon and his raiders could take their time, withtroopers and nuns alike. Piety caught his attention immediately, beingthe youngest and most attractive of the women as well as the mostspirited, and he promptly claimed her for himself. His subordinateswere welcome to the rest.
To his satisfaction, she fought him. Not with any skill, but withenough energy and determination to excite him as no woman had in fartoo long. Stripped of her habit, she was even more attractive--andbetter yet, she continued to fight, even as he pinned her arms andforced her legs apart. Starting into her, he felt resistance that toldhim his hopes of her had been fulfilled. He paused, relishing that forsome moments while he made certain adjustments to his body. Herespected courage, even in an enemy; add that she'd managed to remain avirgin, surrounded by Enforcement troopers, and he was inclined to giveher a fair chance. Like the pre-Empire Terran game show, if she saidthe magic word, she would win--not money, but her life. And herfighting had bought her a clue to that word.
Her eyes widened as she felt the change. She struggled harder, shakingher head and gasping negation, but her sudden panic was no match forhis strength. He rammed into her all the way, savoring the hot bloodthat flowed out of her when he ruptured the membrane.
She screamed his name, winning her life--though Shannon took pleasurein the certainty that she'd rather die. She shivered under him, herscreams gradually subsiding to sobs, until she was close to passing outwith pain and horror. Shannon could have kept her conscious, but he'dbe having her again later, and there were the troopers to play with; hefinished in a series of rapid, violent thrusts, then kissed her roughlyand pulled out.
* * * * *
"One more before we go, sweet Piety." Shannon's voice was almostgentle; over the last six days, he'd developed an unusual--and, hethought, delightfully perverse--fondness for the nun. It was nothinglike his feelings for Sara, his mistress; those were totallyunprecedented, not simply unusual. He couldn't pinpoint the reason hehad taken to Piety, though it probably had something to do with thefact that she managed not to hate him. Fear, disgust, revulsion--hecould read all of those and more, even pity. But there was no hatred.
"Please," she said tiredly. "Not again . . ."
"One last time, then we will part." It was unfortunate that she nolonger fought him physically, but he'd learned to get the sameexcitement from her emotional upheavals; when he picked her up and theybegan to boil, he came to his full size almost immediately. "I'mafraid there won't be a show to entertain us this time, though. Yourformer companions and patients are beyond even my power to revive."Not precisely true--it was more accurate to say he no longer thoughtthem worth the effort--but it was close enough for her. "Still, theact itself should be entertaining enough."
He put her on the floor, and was starting to mount her when anintriguing idea occurred to him. He smiled slowly and stood, pickingher up again, and carried her outside to a sweet-smelling grassy areasurrounded by peonies. He put her down again and this time lay besideher, gently caressing, using his powers to soothe her.
There was still fear when she stared at him. "What . . . what are youdoing?"
"Making sure, sweet Piety, that this time it's you who enjoys me." Yes,that revolted her very nicely. He stilled her beginning objection witha long kiss, then smiled down at her, continuing both his physicalcaresses and mental pressure. "I've kept you sane," he said softly."The refuge of insanity is one you can never take, now, and there's nopoint in hoping I can't do something else equally simple. You willremember this week clearly, and today will be by far the worst.Because you are going to enjoy me, in the full knowledge that I'mcompelling your pleasure as thoroughly, if not in the same way, as Icompelled your pain and the others'." He smiled, running a hand downher belly to tease thick curls. "I'm sure you've heard I can be askillful lover when I want, not so?"
"Yes." His compulsion was working; he could sense her starting torelax.
"Good. I had planned to leave in a few minutes, but a properdemonstration takes time; you'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"I . . . think so."
"You will, believe me."
* * * * *
She did, though it wasn't as easy as he'd told her or expected it wouldbe. He'd felt her mental strength, but her tenacity and resiliencestill surprised him, finding any gap in the net of compulsion heimposed, which made it nearly half an hour, instead of a few minutes,before he was able
to make her feel the pleasure he wanted. He pausedthen, thinking. While he respected her courage, her unexpectedresistance at this late hour had irritated him, and he wanted to takeit out on her. So should he make her cooperate with him, rather thansimply remain passive and enjoy whatever attentions he chose to giveher?
He smiled slowly. Yes, that would certainly add spice, and it wouldmake her memories all the more painful. With the groundwork laid, thattook only a few moments, and she was eagerly returning his caresses.
He took his time with her, knowing that the thoroughness of herenjoyment now would determine how much she suffered later. He'd toldher there would only be one more act of intercourse, so that was whatit would be. He'd said nothing, however, about details, so he playedwith her, teasing her with repeated small orgasms by mouth and hand,letting her know silently that these were only preludes. He felt--andhelped--her desire grow with each one, building into desperate need,until she was writhing against him, begging and frantically strugglingto get him into her.
It was a temptation to reject her at this last moment, but he resistedin the interest of future pleasure. He obliged her, giving her thetremendous orgasm he'd teased her with--starting with his entry,prolonging it through a coitus that would seem to her like hours, andpeaking it when his own climax sent jets of icy fire into her.
He left her body first, smiling down at her. "You liked that, didn'tyou, sweet Piety?"
The nun sighed happily. "You know I did . . . does that really have tobe the last time?"
"I'm afraid so." Shannon rose, still smiling. "I've enjoyed you alot, but I have to get back to work, and it's time for you to reportour little party to the nearest Enforcement post. You can tell themeverything except my name and how you knew me; all they need to know onthat subject is that I'm the Raidmaster. Not just a raidmaster, theRaidmaster. You'll be sure to point that out for me, won't you?"
"Of course."
"Very good." Shannon double-checked the barriers he'd raised to keepher from the refuge of insanity, then he released his othercompulsions. She reacted beautifully, her expression turning frompleasure to revulsion as she retreated from him, turning to run butfalling to her knees racked with convulsions of nausea.
* * * * *
Shannon's attention returned to his surroundings. He'd left St.Ignatius then, thoroughly satisfied with the interlude, and memories ofSister Piety had cheered him several times since. It was aninterlude he dared not repeat now, though. Cortin might sensesomething as simple as using his power to modify his physicalattributes, and now that she was personally aware of him thanks to theattack, she'd have to sense his use of it on others.
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