The Companions

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The Companions - book excerpt

Arrival

Resting near the railing, I was enjoying the crisp air blowing from the open viewport overlooking the beautiful forest greenery below. Like an open gallery, a section of windows lined the entire corridor. The cold air was allowed to flow freely through the interior, and I always liked the idea of passing my time here, just thinking.

The Station Victoria lay quiet this evening, except for a few commanding officers here and there conducting class. A group of cadets marched near me and a few other off-duty officers scaled the nearby rails to my right and left, examining the forest below. They looked restless, as if awaiting something. Their restless bodies edged closer to the rails and their enthusiastic eyes pierced the surrounding corridors in search and in longing. What were they looking for? I could only wonder.

It was close to the end of the year. The first signs of winter had been obvious for weeks, leaving an icy kiss on the Station’s corridor. The chilly winds had started to blow—soon it would be time for the winds to stop whisking throughout the corridor. The cheerful comfort of the breeze would have to end, for it would soon be too cold to keep the windows open. I knew I would miss that, but the drapes would be drawn and I would have to adapt.

The corridor opened into a large interior space and, in the center, there were sitting areas and tables, a recreational area to pass the time, more than anything else. It was a perfect setting for reading a novel, catching up with assignments or just lying back and having a quiet conversation. I had used this place to hide away from the daily demands of military life. To find comfort in the peace that was difficult to acquire during the long stretch of time one did in Victoria. One could consider military life to be like hard time in prison.

Once again, other officers near the rails caught my attention, their smiles reflected the excitement exploding from their faces. It was obvious something was happening. My head lifted, and my eyes were drawn towards the entrance carefully watching the doors. I could almost sense the atmosphere change around me; the other officers sensed it too.

In that moment, the new recruits entered. Strong youthful fresh faces, men dressed in their cadets' navy-blue uniforms, marching into the Station under the commanding officer’s strict watch. However, it hadn’t been these men in military uniform that captivated others, but those that followed right behind.

A line of beauties appeared through the entrance a step behind the cadets in perfect form, led by the scholars and perfectionists of obedience. The Royal Companions had arrived.

Standing near the entrance; my face turned slightly sideways as I noticed them just a short distance from me. My eyes, caught and bound by their perfect forms, had abandoned the beauty of the landscape down below for the more appealing sight behind me. I only had to turn to see the dozens of muscular young men being led into the corridor from where I stood.

The Station was especially for them, a place for learning and lecturing, as it was for the new recruits in uniform who were taught in a variety of classes concerning the basics of the Empire by Imperial officers like me. In fact, I had taught in some of the classes but had been out for the following two weeks on Imperial leave.

Sure, it was known Companions were trained for the pleasure of the Royals—trained to keep them company and submit to their every wish, no matter what. However, the real test was among the military personnel. The real challenge that would prove they were fit to become Companions of Royalty. Though only high-ranking officers were ever granted such a pleasure, sometimes the lower-ranking ones had the opportunity, when a disobedient Companion had to be disciplined. And these men here today, I thought, watching the batch of beauties enter, knew that and longed for the chance of just such an occasion.

In a momentary dreamy state, I saw him with the others. He was a lovely thing, dressed in royal blue—the color of a Royal Companion, which suited his smooth, bleached skin. His hair was long and red, like a fiery cape spread over his broad shoulders. He had a boyish face with a crooked smile and large gray eyes.

The robes of a Companion hardly concealed them and were worn to actually reveal certain parts of their bodies. The Companions’ strong and muscular arms, along with their pale chests, seemed to invite and delight a quick purchase. The purpose was obvious—indulgence and seduction.

The redhead walked with the others; two single lines divided the Companions from one another. They were separated steps away from each other to keep them from making contact. Their hands were clasped against the backs of their necks, their eyes lowered, and always instructed to answer only when spoken to and obeyed.

They stopped near the entrance behind the marching cadets. The scholars encircled their students, carefully walking alongside them; each one on the opposite side of the lines to provide discipline where it was needed. The scholars were harsh and the sound of the whip against such beautiful skin delighted and widened their smiles.

The sound of the whip echoed in the cold, chilled corridor; faces remained still, yet eyes slightly swerved to catch a glimpse from those on the rails, and a few of the cadets. The lash struck two champion beauties immediately on the buttocks, however, with incredible control they lowered their gaze without so much as a quiver or whimper. It amazed me, how well-disciplined they were.

The scholars had done their work and, proudly, one of them turned in my direction as if noting my approval. One might have asked: Who were the scholars? Lower-ranking Imperial officers, perhaps, with the pleasure every man desired? To toy with young men, to tolerate their beauty and resist falling in love with them.

In fact, they were merely dark priests of seduction—students of the craft –a special order set forth by the Emperor. Admiral Patrick could have been considered one, a teacher perhaps, in the field of seduction.

Nonetheless, I won’t get into the topic of Admiral Patrick, that’s a different story altogether. However, I will say this, Admiral Patrick was too strict in his duties to ever consider such a delightful compliment, even though he had learned from one of the very best.

The scholars led the Companions away. It was then that the redhead’s eyes caught sight of my longing stare. Only in that moment did I regret ever dismissing the chance offered by the Empire to consider becoming a Companion during my reassignment period. I was one of the very few ever given such an opportunity for my hard work.

I felt myself go limp as his eyes found me by the rails. The sparkles in his gaze sent a shock of pleasure to every inch of my body before it fell and abandoned me.

“Why did I refuse?” I clung to the rails as the pleasure passed through me.

Now it was too late and the hope of ever seeing such a chance was beyond my grasp. The best I could hope for was a promotion, or through good behavior to win myself another such opportunity. Who was I kidding—when such an opening was offered, one was a fool not to take it, and that’s what I was, a fool.

Beyond the Station antechamber, officers walking by stopped to examine the newly arrived batch of beauties with awe. Immediate disappointment spread over their faces as a glare from the scholars and superior commanding officers seemed to remind them that they would be denied this pleasure, unless special discipline were required from lower-ranking officers.

The Companions marched and disappeared from view, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him. The wonder in his eyes, the gentleness in his step. For a Companion who was a willing servant, there was a sense of rebelliousness in his eyes with a need to be tamed by the right person.

There was also that conceited little smile spread over his face that was inviting as well as controlling. It had a great power over me, a force that was, without a doubt, overwhelming. The smile that said, “Conquer me! Will you take the challenge?” I certainly would, I thought with humorous delight.

I couldn’t think, nor could I move—the feelings had frozen me in place. Only when I almost lost my balance and gripped the railings a tighter did I spot Commander Peterson approaching.

“Gabriel!” His soft voice called over to me. I gazed back as he stepped over to my side next to the railings, and I turned to immediately salute but stopped myself.

“Lieutenant, when did you get in?” There was a great amount of excitement in his voice. His eyes flashed at me into a delightful smile. He ignored my attempts to salute, giving me no time to answer, and embraced me tightly. Then laid a single kiss on my cheek, though I felt his intentions were to kiss my lips. He resisted this. So, like him to be such a professional officer, even with me.

Sometimes he reminded me of Admiral Patrick. And those thoughts alone hounded my mind and made me uncomfortable when I was around the Admiral, because I couldn’t stop thinking about Eric in the same manner, bent in front of me in a position that would make anyone blush.

What did it take to win his approval? I only knew one man that had, the prince.

“Why didn’t you send word you were coming back sooner?” Commander Peterson asked, looking slightly hurt and yet delighted to see me.

“I didn’t expect to,” I smirked, as he now rested his own hands on the railings next to me.

Bored and frustrated with civilian life, I frequent the civilian bars on nearby planets in search of adventure. Finally giving up I dragged myself back to the one place that could both entertain me and occupy me.

Commander Peterson’s green eyes stared at me hard. I could sense how much he had missed me. The curve of my lips invited his longings, and rising desires, the ones obvious on his handsome face. Though older by a few years, Peterson—or Eric, his first name—didn’t show his true age. Always a strict officer whose control over others had won him my admiration, respect and my love.

I was only 20 years old when I first came to the Empire; it was during the first months of training that I grew to know him and later fell in love with him. Back then it was he who led me like a lost puppy, but over time, things seemed different, and now I saw the same weakness in his eyes that had been in mine at the beginning of our relationship.

I curved my lips slightly, revealing the dimples on my cheeks—a feature that Eric said was the envied and admiration of others.

“I just got back. I couldn’t take it anymore. I was bored out of my mind. There’s nothing out there to do. Unless you want to roam the wastelands and local bars of Toliana. Not my thing.”

“Ha! Ha! Your funny.” Eric grinned, foolishly mocking.

“Besides, there’s more drama here in the Empire than out there or anywhere in the galaxy.”

“Is that a fact? Well, I’m one to agree with you on that.” he chuckled, back with a crooked smile, and when he laughed, he was a handsome devil.

His full lips tucked in, and his eyes sparkled and became tearful. Like he hadn’t had a good laugh in a long time. In fact, he had once said that I was the only one who could ever make him laugh, and now I could understand why. Before, his natural actions or his mannerisms never concerned me as they now seemed to.

“That’s why I left the Zec a long time ago,” he added, referring to the fact that most of the drama in the Empire was on board the Zec, and partially because of Admiral Patrick. In that sense, he was not far from the truth, but I never joined in when he indirectly meant to insult the Admiral, whom I held in high esteem.

When I didn’t laugh, he fell silent, and as I glanced toward the window, he edged closer.

“I have time to spare before I have to go back on duty. I'd like to spend it with you, if I can. I’ve missed you dearly, Gabriel. I honestly didn’t expect to see you return so soon.”

Eric smiled warmly, drawing his hand closer until it was resting upon mine.

He then gripped my hand. He would have kissed it if we had been alone, but again, his professional demeanor kept him in place. On Station Victoria he was as well-respected as he was hard-working, known in the Empire as a devoted officer esteemed by his peers and colleagues. Yet, when we were seen together, there was always envy in the eyes of others. I was regarded as the handsome one. I was sure my good looks were the cause of the cruel unspeakable whispers and rumors about me.

When I came forward with these claims to Eric, he insisted people were jealous of our relationship and to ignore them. But I couldn’t—I simply couldn’t. These things enraged me, so that over a period of time I couldn’t concentrate on my work and became a nervous wreck. Eric, worried and concerned about my health, took it upon himself to silence the rumors. Once again, he became the cruel and harsh gentleman officer that had driven the arrow into my heart. He had salvaged the remainder of my dignity, for what it was worth, and showered me with apologies—as if this had somehow been his fault. I assumed, in a sense, he was partially to blame for not stopping the rumors before they had escalated.

“How can I? I just got back,” I uttered, but was it that?

I could easily walk back with him to his private chambers and do as I pleased. I had no one to report to but him, and he could so easily make up an excuse for my absence if I needed it.

In the past, it was I who begged him for a moment of his love, it was I who wanted his company and I who didn’t care about regulations and those irritating rules and concerns. Now things had changed, and it was he who had put aside his rulebook and concerns to be with me.

His gaze fell upon me, and it seemed the desires boiling inside him would no longer remain hidden. Just then I felt that if I didn’t give in to his wishes, he would drop into my arms sobbing like a helpless child.

“You know you don’t need to concern yourself with that.”

Of course, I knew that, but what delighted me more? The very fact he asked me, or seeing how easily he would break his own rules simply to be with me?

“Yes, I know,” I whispered, turning away from him, longing for an excuse to wander from him and see what trouble I could find on my own now that I had returned.

I was bored. Bored with how easily I could manipulate him. Bored with the idea that I could get away with just about anything.

“Don’t you miss being with me?” he immediately and boldly asked, so that it surprised me as well as impressed me.

I wondered whether he was slowly growing tired of my distance or simply realizing what a fool he had been to allow me such freedom over him.

“Of course, I do,” I answered slowly—hesitating was a habit of mine when answering him.

“Then, what’s wrong? Are you upset with me?” he asked again, sounding as tame as a pussycat.

The hopes faded from me as I continued to gaze out the huge viewports of Station Victoria at the arriving vessels and the shouts of officers all around us interrupting the flow of my own thoughts.

“No, of course not. It’s nothing really. I guess all I really need is some excitement, that’s all. I left here hoping to find something out there, but I was disappointed when I didn’t. Now I feel like I’m back to where I started.”

I tried to look up at him and, again, my innocent eyes had overpowered him, and he now wrapped his arms around me.

“Are you sure that’s all that’s bothering you and that it has nothing to do with us? Let’s face it, we didn’t see eye to eye before you left. I didn’t want you to leave angry with me, but I also didn’t want to stop you from doing whatever you wanted to do. I want to protect you, but I know I can’t always.”

He pressed his lips inward and lowered his eyes.

Only then could I see his true age and wisdom as the words poured from his lips and from the features of his firm expression. He seemed fatherly and nurturing.

“No. No, it's not you. It’s me. Sometimes I don’t know why I do the things I do—nor why you put up with me.”

I actually felt like a spoiled lover, nuzzling to his older lover, clinging to him for protection and understanding, as only he could give to one as wickedly handsome as me. One who could so easily convince, with loving embraces and innocent eyes, an older man whose only fear was to be left alone.

“I do,” Eric smiled. “It's because you are dear to me and I love you.”

He squeezed me close and held me tightly.