by ‘Conundrum’
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Beka/Rev (yes, Rev.)
Disclaimer: These are characters that were created by someone else who has the copyright to them. I just borrowed them in homage. Please don’t repost this.
*
PART I
Rev looked at Beka Valentine across the dining room. For a couple of days now, she had been acting slightly odd. It was just the two of them at the moment. He crossed over to where she was sitting, her brows wrinkling in frustration. He noticed that she was eating Porasian brine shrimps.
"Beka, are you feeling well?"
She snapped back, "Of course I am, what do you want?"
"Merely some conversation, but I fear that I am intruding."
Her features softened a little. "No, Rev, you’re not the problem. I’m just a little frustrated. Coming up on that time of the month, you know."
Now it was Rev’s turn to wrinkle his brows. "What do you mean?"
"Well," was it actually a blush? From Beka? "It has been a long time since I’ve taken any leave. Usually I can find someone to help, in the week before, you know… Bobby used to do, well. I wish you could help me, Rev, but I’m afraid it’s something I’ll have to take care of myself." She rose to leave. "Unless… nevermind. Thanks for being concerned."
The Reverend Bohemial Fartraveller didn’t know what she was talking about, actually. He wanted to help, but was quite baffled. Humans, he mused, can be so convoluted. Beka was one of the most forthcoming humans he had ever met. It was one of the reasons he had enjoyed working for her, and enjoyed being on Andromeda with her.
"Rommie, privacy mode, please. I need some information."
"Privacy assured, Rev. What would you like to know?"
"I assume you were monitoring our conversation a few moments ago. What did Beka mean when she said, "the week before?"
"I am not positive, Rev, but I believe she was referring to a complex of symptoms that was once referred to as Pre-Menstrual Syndrome. For many women, one week before their menstruation cycle begins, certain hormonal imbalances create certain problems physically and psychologically. Among them are moodiness, anxiety, irritability, depression, breast tenderness, cramps, headaches, bloating, and swelling."
"And human women go through this every month? Why gender is necessary is beyond me, except that it seems more preferable than Magog reproduction. Sometimes I wonder if the Divine isn’t actually a creator of mischief. Why has there been no cure found for such a condition?"
"Some women do, and some do not, experience these symptoms, Rev. Many ideas have been proposed and tried, but the hormonal imbalances are extremely difficult to manage. Some women find help in exercise and nutritional changes. Some find relief in stress management techniques or massage. I would assume that, from Beka’s comments, she is in a minority of women who find increased libido during this period."
"Interesting. Thank you for the information."
"Is there anything else I can help you with, Rev?"
"Yes, in fact, you could. There are some artifacts that I would like to have created, if you don’t mind."
"Perhaps Harper could assist you."
Rev considered that. Harper was a good man, but Rev wasn’t sure Harper would understand. "No, Andromeda, it is really your assistance I could use. Here’s what I need…"
*
PART II
The next evening Rev stood in front of the door to Beka’s quarters, the rough bag swinging at his side. "Beka, are you available?"
It took a moment for her voice to come through the door. "One minute, please." She sounded a little out of breath. The door opened, and Beka was in a soft kimono-like robe. It was slightly disheveled – did she just throw it on?
"How can I help you, Rev?"
"Actually, Beka, I thought it is I that can help you. Can I come in?" As he entered her room, he took in many things at a glance: things scattered here and there absently, the mussed sheets of her bed, and a distinct aroma in the air. "I was reflecting on our conversation of yesterday, and I realized that you are under a lot of stress as our first officer and Captain of your own ship. I hoped that I might bring some relief to you."
Beka stared at him, a little disbelief pursing her lips. "Thanks for the offer, Rev, but I don’t know that you can help."
"Could we try something?" he asked. "Lay down on the bed, face down." With a slightly dazed expression she did so. He pulled out the roller from the bag, one of the things Rommie had fashioned for him. It was a nice shade of transparent blue, a roller with tapered handles that Rev’s claws could manipulate. He gently applied it in the hollow between her shoulder blades.
"Oh my, that’s nice…." Beka mumbled. Rev kept rolling it back and forth, up and down. Beka began humming softly, a little sub vocal moan. She probably didn’t realize that Rev could hear it. He quickly learned that he could see how he was progressing by the tone of it. He activated the switch that made it vibrate, ever so lightly. She became a little more vocal.
The edge of one of Rev’s claws caught on the neckline of her gown a couple of times. It caused a problem in Rev’s rhythm. "Beka? Beka, your robe is getting in the way."
"What? Ohhh…." She undid the belt of the robe, shrugged it off and threw it a few feet away. He took a moment to look at her before starting again. While he didn’t see the beauty there as a human might, he could appreciate and marvel at the magnificence of her muscular form. He took in her waist that swelled into her pleasant buttocks, and delightful thighs. He looked at her and saw beauty at rest.
As Rev reapplied the roller, he could now move it up and down freely. He took longer strokes. The roller moved from just below her shoulder level, down to the cleft of her bottom. She began sighing more openly. "This is incredible, Rev."
Several minutes passed of working it up and down. Up and down. He decided to move the roller down to her calves, and the soles of her feet. After a couple of minutes on each side he moved to the space above her knees. She giggled a little, inexplicably, as the roller moved up towards the top of her thighs. He lifted the roller.
"Don’t stop now, Rev!" she cried. So he set it back down again, the vibrations rippling her skin gently. As he worked the area between her mid thigh and the lower end of her bottom, her humming grew more tense. Was he doing this wrong? He pulled the massager off, hoping that he hadn’t made a mistake.
Beka rolled over and looked at him. Her eyes held a question and a challenge simultaneously. "Are you tired, Rev?"
"No not in the slightest. I was afraid that I was doing you harm."
She smiled at him. "No, please continue, but be careful. My breasts are…"
"Tender?"
"Very. I don’t know if you can do anything."
"I can try." He reached down into his bag, and retrieved the second item: a small oval form. He tapped it twice and it began to buzz very gently, almost subharmonic. He very carefully applied it to the lower curve of her breast. It was designed to move easily across the skin. Very slowly he started making small circles with it.
Her smile told him it was working properly. He moved it very carefully around the surface of her breasts. He had always been amazed by the mammary tissue of human females, how it changed its shape and form while still being supple. Rev took delight in watching her nipples grow more firm as he worked. Beka’s breathing grew more labored and intense. While continuing his massage he took out a second oval, activated it, and began to manipulate both breasts at the same time.
Beka began shifting a little in the bed, as Rev moved one of the vibrators down onto her abdomen. Her smile, beautiful even to a Magog, continued to show him he was still doing things right.
For just a moment the dark half of Rev came forward. It would be so very easy, with Beka in the state she was in. Red Plague wanted several things at once: dinner, and a host for children. Then she smiled again, and Rev remembered why he was actually there.
Beka’s left arm reached down between her legs. She started rhythmically moving her hand over her hair between her legs. Her moans turned into little whimpering noises, and she started rocking her head. She let out a small shriek as Rev moved his claws so that the ovoid covered part of her mound. Rev was amused that her hair began to shift colors randomly. Her hand came away as he moved the vibrating flattened sphere in small circles.
She managed to pant, "I just… wish… you could… could…" Rev was grateful for his conversation with Rommie as she was making his equipment. He filled in the details and set aside one of the ovoids. He picked up the roller again, which was still buzzing gently. He could insert the tip of one of the handles inside her. She moaned when he did it, and started bucking it gently.
"Yes, Rev, please fuck me!" He began to do so, by moving the handle of the roller deeper in her, then withdrawing it. After a few minutes he withdrew it completely. "NO!" she shouted at him. He smiled as he reinserted it. Rommie does a most excellent job in design, Rev thought.
They continued on, alternating massage and masturbation, until Rev could see during a break that her eyelids were drowsy with sleep. Rev could have gone for several hours, but Beka needed the rest, too. As he packed up his little kit she smiled at him and asked, "Will you come back again?"
Rev gave a tight smile that on any other Magog would mean dinner was served. He had other things in his bag that he hadn’t brought out this time. "I wasn’t planning on leaving the ship anytime soon."
Now it was Beka’s turn to smile, "Good. And thanks for your help – I’m going to sleep deeply all night long." As Rev left her quarters, Rommie was cheering inside her central processor.
*
EPILOGUE
The following day Dylan Hunt and Seamus Harper were on the bridge. Dylan saw both Rev and Beka entered the bridge together, both about five minutes late. Dylan pondered it for a few seconds, and decided that Beka had been showing enough signs of stress lately. There were some things it was better for a Captain to not notice.
He nodded politely to them. Beka gave a little sheepish wave back, as Rev nodded with his usual deportment. Dylan passed along the ship’s status and headed down for dinner. Beka slipped into the pilot’s chair, almost wiggling into it. A panel clattered hard to the deck at the aft starboard station. Seamus Harper looked at Beka as she swiveled the chair around.
"Boss, I’m sorry…." Harper began, but Beka interrupted him with a smile.
"It’s OK, Harper. Just make sure you don’t blow up the ship."
Harper was a little confused by Beka’s behavior, and thus knew it was time to turn on the bullshit. "Hey, Bekaaaa, it’s me! I have about the same chance of that happening as Rev developing a sex life!"
Beka giggled at him, swiveled the chair back on an even more confused Harper, and prepared for another wonderful day on Andromeda.