AnK - Black Moon Rising

Black Moon Rising

By: ElegantPaws with all due deference to Yoshihara Rieko

Edited by: Ainzfern

Key Pairing: Raoul/Katze

Rating: Mature

Parts: WIP – 22 of ?

Reviews are fuel.

“To my dear, intelligent, romantic, darkly sensual friend Angua.
No life is unremarked, so long as it touches another on the journey.”

~~~

SJW-Mc aka ElegantPaws

Chapter 22 of ? – An Unremarked Life (Post OVA)


The future was born today in a hail of light.

Hair the colour of burnished copper glowed in the incandescence that pierced the darkness of space in fluid waves, answering the first invisible strike upon the planet’s surface. Katzen marvelled, as she always did, when tentative fingers of light rose into the starless inky blackness coming to rest in pearlescent streaks of color upon the port bow of the Abyss.

“Magnificent,” she murmured softly to no one in particular, taking the Com pad from Memnon, her First Officer, whose silent presence always gave comfort.

No two planets were ever alike in the process of terra-forming. The soup had to be just right though essentially comprised of the same twenty four elements requisite for humanoid life.

Gray eyes studied the readout with satisfaction; so far, so good.

Carbon, the quintessential ingredient that would enable the formation of complex molecular structures, in short order was first. It would speed up the evolutionary processes. Her eyes lazily passed over hydrogen. Nothing but a place holder for a future generation she would never know; somewhat sad really. Still its presence was essential and proportionate to organic needs to come.

Katzen nodded meditatively, oxygen and nitrogen in abundance to aid in the fixed establishment of key enzymes crucial for mammalian habitation and the base flora that would come first. Phosphorous, sulphur and calcium, requisite for the existence and propagation of carbon based life in general, just enough without poisoning the fledgling atmosphere that should begin forming within the next forty-eight hours.

Lambda had done well in its calculations.

The planet chosen had anomalous twin moons whose gravitational pull and attendant erratic tidal flows had proved a bit of a challenge, particularly when it came to timing of the setting of the biochemical charges, hence Lambda’s presence.

“Excellent. Lambda is performing to spec.”

“It is, Sir.”

Katzen grinned at her ensign. “Looks like you owe me a few credits. You were so sure the A.I would blow it.”

Uncomfortable silence followed the flip statement. Tal never lost well, particularly to the inanimate entity orchestrating his helm in a symphony of rapid fire amniotic bursts, well beyond his own manual dexterity.

Taking the high road, Katzen smiled softly, deciding to leave well enough alone. This apathy to artificial intelligence had always been part and parcel of the human race, particularly with those disquieted by the concept of an A.I functioning beyond rudimentary repetitive tasks. Lambda was the next step in sentient life and the sooner some got use to it the better.

A radiant corona of bright, blue white light encased the planet’s surface now.

“This never grows old, Mr. Tal.”

“No Sir, it never does. You were right. I couldn’t have done this one. Too many variables for one being to handle and the margins for error are non-existent.”

Katzen long braid flew as she spun in surprise, bright gray eyes shocked at the abrupt admittance. “Thank you, Mr. Tal. I think you underestimate yourself, but the sentiments are appreciated.”

Tal nodded, returning his attention to monitoring the display, effectively ending the discussion.

Katzen knew Lambda was far better equipped to deal with the compensatory computations and disbursements, on a molecular level, of the soup in this instance. The A.I had been specifically designed for this tour to compensate for Amoi’s biochemical inconsistencies and subtle elliptical shifts.

She had laboured a five years on its design with her partner, the erstwhile and often mercurial Dr. Wolf. All that was left to complete was its biomechanical form and to instil the intrinsic drive to survive.

Lambda was light years ahead of the other positronic prototypes. Almost sentient in its ability to adapt, reason, and learn. In short, the ground had been laid for an intellect whose exponential growth would in no way be hampered by their absence, while they seeded other worlds for man’s expansion.

It would have been a lonely, thankless task for a mortal to safeguard the nursery that was Amoi in its infancy. Not so the A.I, who would perform flawlessly unhindered by the intrinsic human need for companionship. Her best work truly and she would be sad to leave it behind in stasis awaiting their return for the ground breaking but there was nothing for it. Split second timing over the next seven years were a requirement to set the bio-engineered subatomic charges that would begin the osmotic process of what Mr. Tal, had euphemistically called, God Juice.

Amusing, considering he was an avowed Agnostic.

The shadow side of the planet’s surface was a dim silhouette as veins of light lit beneath it in undulating veins, creeping slowly as they shifted rotation, away from the electromagnetic currents caused by their invasive sabre like laser strikes.

“Match its rotation, Mr. Tal. Let’s take one final look.”

“Yes Sir, matching rotation.”

Turning vivid humourless gray eyes to her ensign, Katzen wondered if she would ever get use to the antiquated command hierarchy. Then again, she was a scientist, not military personnel. This ship was a means to an end. Her crew of twenty would be leaving soon enough for another star system. It would be another light year before they returned to harvest the newly formed garden Lambda would be left to attend.

What had once been a solely military recon vessel had been refitted for scientific exploration that was still lethal in its ability to defending itself, if necessary. It had never been her choice to Command but as the highest ranking infidel aboard, it fell to her with the demise of Shiryu.

Katzen sighed. His death remained unexplained. How in hell had he managed to get beyond the airlocks without anyone noticing and be spaced of all things?

She shivered at the memory as the computation pad was handed to her. Putting the disturbing visual aside of what was left of a once vital being, Katzen returning her attention to the formerly unprepossessing sphere below her. There was nothing to recommend it as it journeyed through quiet, sepulchral space but the twin shining discs orbiting like sentinels, holding a secret as yet unrevealed.

Katzen only hoped they were to be harbingers of good, these silent twins.

It was never going to be a beautiful world. It would never have natural resources to speak of, but it would grow prosperous through trade within the Commonwealth. It would be a planet of science, technology, and rebirth; a place to harvest knowledge and pursue excellence, unfettered by the mundane pursuits of survival for survival’s sake. Only the best and the brightest would come here eventually. It would become the envy of the Commonwealth Alliances. This mission alone and the genetics samples left under guard would stack the deck in its favour, given time.

The Commander knew she would not live to see it, but it did not matter. The seeds had been planted. Katzen stroked her still flat stomach and smiled. Nor would he, but the generations to follow might and in the end, it was the continuity that truly mattered.

She stretched lazily, “Calling it a day, gentlemen; All yours.”

“Yes, Sir, six hundred hours?”

Katzen nodded, returning the dais and Com pad to her second in command, who had remained silent and distantly observant. “Anything anomalous...”

“I know where to find you and with whom.” Memnon intoned, his cerulean eyes danced with merriment as he took his place. “Thanks for warming it up. Get some food in you. The sapling can’t live on air alone, Sir.”

“Careful Aggy, one might actually think you cared.”

“As if...Sir. Good Night.”


~~~BMR~~~


A tired smile graced sharp patrician features. She inhaled deeply of the pleasing scent of incense upon entry to her quarters. Soft ambient light greeted careworn eyes. As always, that singular thought rose again of its own volition.

What in hell had possessed her partner, the Chief Medical Officer, to reposition the bed so that it was the first thing you saw when entering. Only twice had she fallen asleep on the couch, there was absolutely no reason for this peculiar form of ergonomics. One thing in its favour however, it was very off putting for anyone to visit off hours.

An evil smile curved full lips. There might just have been method to his madness after all.

The bed had been their focal point on the year long journey. They did everything in it. They ate. They slept. They...well, made their son.

On nights like this when fatigue made her covet that most sacred of spaces, those long, powerful arms that held her like a porcelain cup were always ready to hand. His schedule was controlled, hers, not so much.

“I saw...hungry?” was the soothing indulgent tone, whisper soft, that came from the shadowed silhouette that lay prone upon the bedding. Gray eyes, now dark accustomed, languidly studied loosely crossed legs in disreputable military issue sleeping gear that had seen better days, but he wore it well.

“You never wear the tops, do you?” Katzen offered sauntering into the room with a grin. “Not that I am complaining of course,” she added quickly kicking off far too heavy boots that had never been laced to her mate’s fastidious annoyance.

His face remained in shadow as he placed the thin bound novel to the side of the bed and folded those much loved arms across his bare chest for show. With a perverse grin she began to slowly strip, knowing her audience would be nothing but rapt attention; he was so predictable, come to think of it, as was she.

Katzen crawled onto the bed with a tired groan and kissed welcoming, soft lips. She licked her own before settling over his warm thighs with nothing between them but the thin filmy material of her underwear and the aged cotton of his nightwear.

“Chocolate? Where’d you get Chocolate, Doctor?”

She glided her hands over a smooth, hot, sleekly muscled chest with a petulant sigh, while lowering her head to savour those lips that had been cheating her. “You’ve been holding out on me, Mr. Wolf. Not nice. Not nice at all.”

A light smack to a not particularly ample but well curved rear.

“Ow!”

“I believe it is tit for tat, Mrs. Wolf, particularly as the Commanding Officer in question only saw fit to inform the Chief Medical Officer about the new crew member approximately seventy-two hours ago.”

Katzen sighed.

“... and only because of the regularly scheduled physical of the crew, not because...”

Straddling Radulf’s hips more firmly, Katzen stretched like a sunning feline, thoroughly enjoying the feel of those non regulation curls at the base of a strong, resilient neck.

He purred contentedly.

“Can you blame me? Some of us, who shall remain nameless, have a tendency to be overly protective and somewhat interfering. I am the Commanding Officer. My current physical state bears no irrelevance to our mission.”

“Perhaps to you, woman. Not to me.”

Their noses touched briefly, his warm breathe caused gooseflesh to form upon her skin. This was the nice bit, she thought nibbling his lower lip playfully.

“Boooring, too much talking. I have need of chocolate. I have need of you, Mr. Wolf.”

Strong hands grasped her waist firmly and stroked the curve of her back in ever expanding circles of warmth. “Not going to work, my love, however enticing. We must discuss this.”

Ignoring his wasted attempt at censure, Katzen continued.

“Is it secreted upon your person, Sir? Must I resort to feminine wiles to find it?” Katzen murmured softly wriggling her hips and chuckling with wanton satisfaction. “Oh dear, someone appears to be in complete agreement with me.”

“I hardly think you, pretending to be a mission specialist and hanging by a tether in space, possibly endangering my offspring, falls in the line of duty, Red. Precautions must and will be taken as I see fit. Those genetic samples do not merit undue risks.”

“Irritating, overbearing...” she smothered his lips and ground her hips with a hiss against her favourite ally in arguments such as this. It always had the desired effect.

“Egotistical. Selfish.” He retorted between soft, wet kisses, gently rolling her to the warm surface of the bed. “Controlling... maddening... woman.”

“Ahh but would you have me any other way, Mr. Wolf?”

They regarded each other in the stillness as moonlight crept across their quarters towards the bedding, where the last remnants of clothing were quickly dispensed with.

“No. I would not.”

At first the kiss they exchanged was almost chaste, growing in intensity as their skin warmed then heated in a tangle of limbs and sheets.

Katzen moaned in pleasure as deft, well practiced fingers sought and found her readiness and she cupped the delectable well muscled backside in a possessive hold and rocked her hips eliciting a pained answering groan.

His feral grin held promise as did the teasing thrust of lean hips. “Incorrigible little creature, what shall I to do with you?”

“Well for starters...oooh... yeeeesss, Mr. Wolf.” The sharp intake of breath and the welcomed feel of her mate’s hot, thick length cleaving her slick mound caused her pulse to quicken in anticipation.

“Mmmm...more you wicked, wicked, evil man.” She writhed beneath him, willing him to enter her and stop the teasing grind.

“Yes, I am that, Red.”

Long fingers, with irritating slowness, undid her braid.

“A bit of punitive ravishing is in order.”

“Promises, promises, Mr. Wolf, I still want chocolate...later”

“Later.” Radulf conceded, suckling a pebbled nipple as the twin moons silently observed the ritual of renewal.

~~~BMR~~~


His pressure and core body temperature had spiked twice in the last hour as he mumbled nonsensically and thrashed about, trying desperately to remove the covers from his overheated, flushed skin. Raoul observed with growing disquiet the rapid eye movement beneath closed lids. It was as if the mongrel were in a dream state at times with the sudden stillness that overcame him, before the illness presented again.

The Elite’s eidetic mind ran through the dealer’s medical history with growing trepidation. Raoul willed his naked fingers to stop trembling while pressing the cool compress to the mongrel’s wide forehead and adjusted the pillows beneath Katze’s now damp head.

How well he remembered another such instance, though not in his bed at the time and certainly without an audience as now with Deek hovering in the background, a mixture of curiosity and dread warring on his wizened face.

All the rudimentary tests had returned negative results, thankfully. The Elite’s brow furrowed. Was that a positive under the circumstances, when clearly some manner of antigenic determinant had taken hold?

Katze’s skin had gone ice cold in a matter of seconds but at least he was quiet again. This respite invariably lasted ten to fifteen minutes, just enough time for him to return to his lab and revisit the samples. He must have missed something in his fervour.

Rising, the Blondie headed purposefully towards his bedroom door, meeting the anxious, guilty expression in Deek’s dark eyes with cold indifference.

“Remain here until I return. Do nothing further. Dismissal is still an option.”

“Master?”

“Come now, Deek. I speak of the immunosuppressant you casually placed in his coffee out of spite. It has served to exacerbate his current condition.”

Deek’s eyes lowered with genuine fear and shame. “It was not my intent.”

Raoul dismissively waved the manservant aside. “Neither here nor there, Deek, we will speak of this further. Consider it fortuitous that your attempt at giving him, what you would commonly term ‘the trots’ is the least of his worries at the moment and might have just saved his life. His antibodies are on full alert and fighting a battle of epic proportions within.”

The Furniture hurriedly stepped aside and fully into the bedroom to attend his new duty, monitoring the wretched pale wrath-like body well ensconced in his Master’s bed. Such a loathsome sight, this very thing he did not want.

Jupiter could be cruel in its trickery. Irony was he had merely meant to inconvenience the wanton mongrel, who clearly had forgotten his place as the dregs of Ceres.

Dark eyes scanned with annoyance the pale, patrician features marred by the scar. Too old to be a Pet. Too damaged to serve as visual aid to coital bliss when observed and yet, disarmingly attractive in his maturity, the cut of bone and body, though lithe and now unhealthily pallid, still flawless in a preternatural way.

He had only meant to forestall any further amorous goings on between his Master and the unconscionable creature and now this, he thought carefully dabbing the damp forehead and feeling sorry for himself.

~~~BMR~~~


So cold his teeth chattered and yet the bindings remained hot against his angles, midriff, wrists and neck. The cold metallic surface below his back was unforgiving in its frigidity.

“Be careful. He is coming to; quite strong this one and remarkably attractive considering his lineage.”

Katze heard the metallic clink by the side of his head. ‘Must be the implant, but why could he hear them conversing?’

“I told you, be quiet. He is feigning unconsciousness. Look at the brain stem. Active, completely aware, do not be fooled, gentlemen.”

A malicious chuckle above his head and welcomed warmth as a shadow bent over his face. ‘Heat, body heat, unusually high, either an Elite or a droid of some kind.’ Katze stifled the urge to cringe.

“Well, if little boys will insist on playing games. Why not give him something worthy to focus on, Sir Niiro? Pain usually does the trick for these mongrels. They do not bear it well at this age, or any age for that matter.”

That indifferent sigh at his feet, he had heard it once before and the scent, very pleasing. Katze willed the male at his feet to move closer, perhaps, though the beam of light narrowed his vision. Perhaps he could catch a glimpse of this being, who had yet to actually hurt him other than the constant probing of his flesh and the pin prick of pain elicited by the stilos used occasionally.

“Sudan, you have a thing for pain, don’t you, preferably not your own? Leave the child. He has already been chosen for the Mink household. Undue damage might interfere with our experiment in the long run. These things require a delicate balance.”

An undignified snort as a probe entered his nostril and pierced the membrane of his nasal cavity.

Katze screamed as the scented one came closer with a hurried step as his voice grew in richness and censure.

“Now really, Sudan, was that entirely necessary?! The wretched little creature is bleeding all over the place. We are never to harm the First One’s derelict progeny!”

“Says who? He’s nothing more than a mongrel of no use and most certainly of no significance.”

“He will be, you flatulent ass! He will be!”

~~~BMR~~~

Pale amber eyes flew open as Katze sprang from the bed defensively and peered open mouthed at the Furniture accusingly, Raoul’s arms came about his shoulders. The dealer felt the warm trickle and licked his upper lip, tasting his own salty, acrid blood.

Wiping his fingers below his nostrils, the dealer realized he was bleeding by the smear. “I remember, Raoul. I remember Sir Niiro. He attended my, my...alteration at Guardian but he was there for something else. He mentioned the First Ones.”

Deek flinched, not a thought he personally wished to revisit. It has been painful. It was always painful with very little care given to the procedure. They were mongrels after all. They never merited care.

“Head back, Katze. You’re getting blood all over my carpeting.” Raoul admonished, pinching the mongrel’s nostrils as he eased his naked form back onto the corner of the bedding.

“Why am I naked, Raoul? I mean,” Katze eyes met the pinched dark irises of Deek. “Sir Am.”

“Time for social niceties later, Katze, lie down.”

As if in afterthought the Elite regarded his Furniture. “Leave. Your presence is no longer required. Prepare sweet tea. No additives mind, you would not begin to fathom the consequences should you disobey this order.”

Deek bowed deeply, wholly perturbed by the care with which his Master had laid the mongrel prone and covered the dealer’s naked form with infinite care.

“Stop fighting me.” Raoul hissed, inserting the white gauzy material in increments up the dealer’s nasal passage.

“Feels weird and it tastes bitter.” Katze responded petulantly.

“Curatives are not meant to be flavourful or appetizing, Katze. I am attempting to cauterize the wound. Do be still.”

“What wound?” Katze stilled the broad palm in irritation. Raoul’s bland expression left much to be desired for a bedside manner.

“Some manner of implant has been dislodged by your hyper kinetic activity in the last thirty minutes. Before you ask, I have no idea of its purpose.” Katze wriggled in protest, observing the small green con atop the bloody gauze with fear.

“Be still, damn it or I will be forced to anaesthetize you!”

“Fuck that! What the hell is it? You bastards just do as you like with us and don’t expect protests! Your boyfriend did this. I remember.”

The dealer’s failed attempt at a swift swipe, only served to irritate the already intractable Elite. “Do not take my concern for granted Katze. He was not my ...boyfriend, merely a colleague with shared interests.”

Katze snorted. “Right, cause everyone goes around painting their colleagues like a besotted lover.”

Raoul’s arm rose with the crumpled gauze as he prepared to pocket the sample. The urge to strike that importunate mouth was great, but he resisted it, though his face said otherwise in its cold, furious regard.

Katze stiffened and prepared for the worst, almost willing it as he glared back at the Blondie, expectantly.

“Go ahead, you want to, Raoul. Riki’s right about your lot.”

The Elite had bitten. “About?”

“When all else fails, strike your perceived lesser. Fear works a treat, Sir Am.”

Piercing green eyes studied pale luminous amber. “You want me to strike you. So I won’t.”

Katze leaned back against the soft bedding and in turn regarded the handsome flawless visage in front of him. “You won’t cause you don’t get the same charge out of it, like he does. You’d only enjoy it if I showed genuine fear, instead of resignation. Kind of denies you the pleasure of conquest and you are all about the conquest, Raoul.”

Raoul Am’s head turned quizzically with a half smile about full lips. “Even now in a less than attractive stance, you are attempting to seduce me; intriguing, but to what end? What are you trying to placate within that sordid, fertile mind of yours mongrel?”

“I need to be right about this, thing we have.”

The Elite placed a hand under the stubborn chin, forcing jewel toned eyes to look back at him. “No, you need for me to live down to your lowest expectations. You need for me to hurt you, so you can be right.”

Katze blinked in confusion. “What do you want from me, Sir Am?”

“I should think that obvious, Katze.” Raoul sighed and regarded his handiwork impassively. Perhaps not the most aesthetic of sights, Katze was a sweaty mess, and the two bloody medicated strips did not present the most attractive of pictures, but he smiled nonetheless. “Rest. We leave for the auction, soon. I am having your man Donovan bring you new vestments and that thing, undoubtedly will be accompanying him.”

“What’s wrong with my clothing?”

Raoul rolled his eyes. “Aside from being wholly inappropriate for such an event, some damage was done in extricating you from them, during your ague.”


The dealer glared with annoyance. “You fuckin’ ripped them, didn’t you? Have you any idea how much they cost!?”

Waving dismissively, Raoul stood. “Most unsuitable and left very little to my imagination, or anyone else’s for that matter. Hardly appropriate attire for the Auction, one might come away with the impression your services were for hire; possibly a quick dalliance by unaccustomed clientele. ”

Katze’s eyes narrowed. “I’m charging you for damages and I don’t come cheap.”

“Of this I am perfectly aware. It took near on five years to bed you, finally with the aid of chocolate.”

The redhead twiddled his nose. The damn things were uncomfortable. “Got any? I need to get this bitter taste out of my mouth.”

Raoul’s pale brow quirked in question as he sat atop the bedding and marvelled at how quickly, the mongrel’s mind moved from pillar to post. “What in Jupiter’s name are you speaking of now, mongrel?”

Katze huffed in annoyance. “Chocolate, Raoul. I want chocolate if I have to lay here like some invalid.”

“Ask nicely and I will see what I can do in that regard. Now tell me of your memory and Sir Niiro.”

The mongrel snorted indignantly and folded long arms across his chest. “As if. Chocolate first, personal gossip second.”

It was Deek’s turn to see. They were oblivious to the dance.

The Master at the degenerate’s side, gentle voiced and back no longer ramrod straight as he leaned forward and carefully extricated each bloody cloth, tilting the head of the mongrel back, examining his handiwork with care. The dealer’s eyes remained at half mast. His defensive posture abating with each touch of soft finger tips against his skin.

Where had he seen that manner of care before? That low, decrepit table and the laborious task as scented oils were applied in the library without complaint in an almost silent meditation. Each knick and groove of time cared for and nurtured.

In this instance, cooling compresses were applied and deft fingers, smoothing damp bangs back away from a handsome flawed face. It was the allowance of so personal a touch that surprised the Furniture.

Though Katze’s outward countenance remained fixed, the dealer did not resist almost moving into each tentative touch of broad palms.

Deek sighed, regarding the hot sweet tea atop the tray. Chocolate tea was apparently preferred.

He would fix it before asked. It was the least he could do under the circumstances.


Author's Note

Happy Easter. Let me know.

EP