Wednesday, October 10, 2012

WIP Wednesday - Clan Beginnings 1: To Clan and Conquer



So ... Degorsk.  Our funloving Imdiko is not exactly what Tranis expected out of a destroyer’s head medic when he first meets him.  And is Weapons Commander Nobek Lidon actually flirting with Degorsk?  Surprises abound for the new Dramok first officer:

            The destroyer’s handsome head medic had just about finished putting Tranis’ face back to rights.  He seemed extremely amused; not just at Tranis but with everything going on around him. 
            Dr. Degorsk gave Lidon a sidelong look.  “A Dramok that plays kurble.  Did you put him up to this, Lidon?”
            Tranis turned his gaze to the weapons commander, who sat on the treatment table next to Tranis’.  These two were on a familiar name basis?  Funny.  The joke-cracking doctor was nothing like the stern Nobek.  He couldn’t imagine the two of them being close enough to use names. 
            Lidon looked between doctor and patient and smirked.  “He invited me into his game, Doctor.” 
            The Imdiko’s eyebrows shot up.  “You’re kidding.  No, not possible.  You don’t know how to tease.  Maybe you were hit on the head?  No, that’s the least vulnerable part of your body.”
            Tranis was shocked.  The medic was baiting Lidon, making fun.  And yet Lidon just sat there, a strange half-smile on his face as he regarded Degorsk.
            Tranis gave the Imdiko his full attention.  Degorsk was about his height, his body made up of lean, sinewy muscle that his long-sleeved formsuit did nothing to conceal.  The hands wielding a skin suturing device over Tranis’ face had long, dexterous, almost dainty fingers.  His clean shaven, sharp features were softened by his easygoing smile, which showed off perfectly straight, white teeth.  His waist length blue-black hair was worn in a thick braid.  Tranis had a sudden vision of all that hair loose and spread over a pillow.  He was still slightly aroused from the kurble game.
            The rest of the medical examination and treatment section wasn’t nearly as pleasant to look at.  Injured Nobeks who’d been involved in the game took up all the tables with medics running scanners over their battered bodies and various healing instruments fixing the worst injuries.  The Nobeks were grumbling about being tended, of course.  They only submitted to what was required so they could return to duty on time.
            Several runners were vomiting from the kurble ball poison.  The sound rocked Tranis’ still complaining stomach.  It groaned loudly.
            Degorsk’s grin stretched his face.  “It speaks!  You’re looking a little green, Commander Tranis.  Shall I grab a basin?”
            Between clenched teeth Tranis muttered, “I’m fine.”
            The Imdiko snorted and set the suturing device down.  “Injured Nobeks are a pain in the ass to deal with.  Now I have to treat masochistic Dramoks too?”
            He grabbed Tranis’ hurling hand and looked the swollen appendage over.  Tranis hissed at the slight pressure of Degorsk’s grip.  A noxious scent issued from the blue-tinged flesh.
            The medic took an appreciative sniff.  “Smells like good income, were I in private practice.  A beachside retreat at the very least.  Damn my love for duty and Empire that keeps me poor.”
            While Tranis gaped at the man’s antics, Lidon shook his head.  The Nobek’s smile was getting larger, and he watched Degorsk intently.
            Tranis didn’t know whether to be pissed off or amused.  He scowled, deciding indignation was the best option.  “Do you offer any treatment or just talk your patients’ ears off?”
            Degorsk gave him wide eyes, but his smile never wavered.  He shot a look over his shoulder at Lidon.  “He’s a mean one, isn’t he?”
            Lidon pressed his lips together as if to keep laughter in.  Then he said, “Five older Nobek brothers.”
            Degorsk rolled his eyes.  “That explains a lot.  I’ll add a lack of humor to the list of disabilities in your file, First Officer.  Excuse me so I can get you your treatment and salvage your ears.”
            He moved towards a bank of shelves lined with bottles and jars of medications.  As he passed one of the examination tables, he peered into a bowl of puke a sick Nobek had balanced on his thighs.  Degorsk ordered the attending medic, “Don’t let the dining hall have this for soup base, okay?”
            Tranis shook his head and looked at Lidon, whose gaze kept watch on the irreverent doctor.  “Is he always like that, or is he drunk?”
            Lidon never took his eyes off Degorsk.  “It takes a great deal of time to learn to appreciate the doctor’s attempts at humor.  He is … unique.”
            The warmth in the Nobek’s tone made Tranis wonder at the relationship between the two men.  He watched Lidon watch Degorsk with fascination.  How could a Nobek of Lidon’s serious nature be so obviously captivated with the offbeat Imdiko?
            Before Tranis could come up with a way to ask such a question without offending and getting his already kicked ass kicked some more, Degorsk returned with an injector.
            The Imdiko told Tranis, “The computer says this concoction will calm your belly, soothe your pain, keep your hurling hand from falling off, and give you the biggest cocks in all the Empire.  That should sweeten your demeanor a little.”
            Lidon ducked his head.  He made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snicker.
            Amusement was getting the upper hand with Tranis as well.  Smothering his own smile, he told Degorsk, “You are the strangest man I’ve ever met, Doctor.”
            “I’ll take that as a compliment.”  He injected Tranis in the long muscle of his neck.  Immediately, the nausea and throbbing of the Dramok’s hand lessened.  He couldn’t help but sigh with relief.
            “That’s all the thanks I need,” Degorsk said.  He turned to Lidon.  “Show me some leg, you hardass Nobek.”
            Lidon slowly pulled his formsuit off, having removed his leg brace as soon as he’d gotten up on the table.  Tranis pulled his mud-encrusted clothing back on, trying not to appear too interested in the body being revealed in front of him.  It wasn’t easy.  Lidon’s chest and arms were chiseled to perfection, powerful muscles rippling all over as he moved.  He slid the pants part of his formsuit off his good leg first, showing off a thigh and calf of knotted strength.  His ass was carved granite.  A pair of semi-erect cocks slipped into view. 
            The torn formsuit peeled away from Lidon’s right leg, and Tranis sucked in a breath.  He stopped pretending he wasn’t really looking.
            The man’s thigh and calf were crisscrossed with scar tissue, as if a demented child with unformed handfuls of clay had finished off a masterpiece sculpture.  There were hollows where muscle should be bulging and spongy lumps in other places.  Lines of lighter flesh where skin had been forged back together stood out against Lidon’s brown skin.
            Tranis swallowed.  He knew he was staring and that the other two men were looking at him, but he couldn’t help himself.  With utter admiration, he said, “Now that is a war wound.  I am more honored than ever that you played at my side today.”
            Lidon nodded proud acknowledgement.  Degorsk rolled his eyes.  “He even sounds like a fucking Nobek.”
            As the doctor examined the weapons commander’s game injuries, Lidon put his mouth close to the Imdiko’s ear.  “When is the last time you were around a fucking Nobek, Doctor?”
            Tranis’ eyes widened as Degorsk flushed at the obvious innuendo and moved his head so the smug Lidon couldn’t get so near. 

3 comments: