Chapter 5

JG was crouched in a water ditch with other soldiers. They had been dropped in what was thought a safe spot to begin their deployment to surround the enemy troops, but their spotter was mistaken. Outnumbered and exhausted after being driven to their present location, the troop was taking a moment to mentally and physically regroup.

"Corporal JG," a voice whispered near her elbow.

"Yeah," was all the energy she wanted to waste on small talk.

"The Leut's dead and so is the Sarg. That makes you…"

"Shit." Now she knew why the troop was scattered. She rubbed her forehead. "Are we Black Rose or not?"

"JG, you gonna give a pep talk?" he tiredly whined.

"It's time to prove our name. We're gonna go in splatter shot mode."

The assault on her troops began before everyone had moved into their assigned spots and she was getting angry that her sharp shooters had no effect while the other side was getting hits. This was not how she remembered…

The scene changed quickly to her kneeling amid the dying and dead. The stench from days of body rot was gagging her and the others.

"Here they come! Bayonets!"

Automatically, Private JG pulled her bayonet out of its sheath and locked it into place at the end of her rifle. She could hear some of the others praying. Not her. She was a survivor creating her own luck and with hard work. She was going to take death to the enemy. Let them come.

And suddenly the enemy was upon them. The din of shouting, dying and screams were all around her. She blocked and pushed and toppled anyone that came close to her. She was moving steadily forward, into the ranks of her attackers. The hated enemy.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" a voice shouted somewhere.

But she refused. She knew what that was like and had promised herself she would not do it unless her life or Alexandra's life depended on it.

"You will kill!" the voice shouted again, but she refused, knocking another soldier unconscious, but this time a fire shot through her nerves, dropping her boneless into the mud of blood and human waste.

The stench in the trench was suffocating. Bodies were wasting in various stages with no water for the survivors. JG did not dare take a deep breath.

"Here they come! Get out there and kill the enemy!"

JG's lip curled back and her mind shouted a defiant no. Again pain shook her body with convulsions and into darkness.

This time JG was standing with others on a dry dirt field. She did not have to look behind her to know there were hundreds of soldiers dressed just like her. She held a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. They were waiting for their generals to give the order to charge.

"Atttaaaack!"

JG refused to run and was trampled by those behind her.


Chapter 6

Captain Bian Melchi bolted up from her cot, knocking her companion onto the floor. Shaking her head into wakefulness she tried to identify where the alarm was coming from.

"Bian!" her bed partner grumbled, rolling to his feet. "What the hell is that about?"

"Oh, Feta Morga!" she gasped and reached for her com. "Delta delta Captain Onry…we have a problem."

[Can't this wait?] the captain's voice returned. In the background she could hear another alarm go off. For the last two weeks Catching Butterflies had been running on yellow alert. The strain was evident in the Captain Onry's voice.

"Birds of prey," she whispered.

Curses came over the com link.

[In the E-room…ten minutes,] he growled.

Captain Melchi was already in the shower. She was not going to sit in a room filled with fellow officers smelling like she spent the night making love…which she had.

Running down the passageway ten minutes later she stopped at the lift breathing heavily, more from apprehension than exhaustion. The elevator opened with Lady Dell, head science officer and Lady Malu, first officer of Catching Butterflies. They stepped aside to give her room. They too looked as if they had just been awakened. Silence was heavy in the elevator as it rose to the fifth deck where the war room was located. They were joined by Melchi's second in command, Lt. Visu and her recent love interest, Lt. Commander Beka, head of Catching Butterflies security.

Captain Onry was already in the room drinking a strong cup of kelapa. Also at the table were the four heads of the koan, leaders of the sensitives and healers, DeDe, Trin'ette, Una and Zytka. They wore grave expressions. The new arrivals quickly took available seats.

Captain Onry nodded at Melchi to go first.

"Trouble with my connection to Major Zohra."

"What kind?" Lady Malu asked.

"Someone is interfering with her thoughts…big time."

"Telepathic influence?" Captain Onry asked.

"No. It would have to be given willingly…this is not the case. She has thebieuan genes from her father's grandfather and elf from her mother. By the strength of the interference, I would say a heavy amount of drugs and machine are enabling the intrusion."

"Our last transmission from them was that they were going to C'cogi, a space station orbiting the planet, Marigold. They were going to drop off the family they rescued and check out the sights. Our historian reports Marigold is primarily inhabited by elf but other species have been settling in specified communities. It was not an agreement made willingly. It was part of a peace pac made by a collection of planets called Talog Collage," Lt. Commander Beka reported. He tapped his screen to download the latest on the three soldiers. "Looks like they took the opposite route around that cloud debris than us."

"How long for us to get to C'cogi?" Captain Onry asked his First.

"A week if we keep our speed to what the locals move at or one and half days if we hit our top," Lady Dell replied.

"Captain to the bridge. Lt. Benie?" Captain Onry called.

[Benie here, Captain]

"We're going to come about and head for C'cogi space station…best possible speed. What can you give me? Tops."

There was a moment of silence. [Engineering reported 8gs if you need it, 6 comfortable. Capt?]

"Give it 7 for a day. Engage when ready. Send a note to the division heads I'll update them shortly. Captain out."

[Copy, Captain. Out]

Captain Onry took a deep breath and released it, looking around the table then back at Captain Melchi.

Those sensitive to the ship's motion could feel the slow down and arc as the ship took on its new headings.

"The koan called me right after you did, Melchi. Right now all they can sense is trouble for Lady Alexandra and Major Zohra. Lt. Vanster seems to be oblivious to what is going on with her shipmates so I will assume they have been separated."

"I have a bad feeling about this, Captain," Melchi said slowly. "If someone messes with the major…and with what she learned on Arnica…someone is going to be in a mess of trouble."

"What do you mean?" Onry asked already taxed by the recent disappearance of two SEC ships he was supposed to be monitoring for the long trip home.

The SEC ships were programmed to avoid a danger and to notify their guardians when a course change was initiated. They did not. The command staff determined that the debris cloud registered as a danger to the SEC ships so their helm altered course accordingly. Butterfly and Emperor were able to follow them until the last 24hrs when the debris field interrupted their sensors. Since then, both ships had been combing the area for any sign of the two prison ships. So far they had no success.

"She won't kill unless pushed to defend herself, her bondmate or Vanster. She's changed, Captain. However, she can do a lot of damage and it may be to herself if someone is trying to influence her."

"Commander Beka, Lady Malu and I have been discussing whether we should just head for a space station and tell the local authorities we lost two ships with dangerous prisoners. It looks like that decision has been made for us."

Commander Beka looked like he bit on a sour stick.

"Commander, want to share with us your thoughts?" Onry encouraged.

"Sir, we all had the opportunity to see Major Zohra's skills during her competition with the Queen's commander of the Kiuzu guard. If someone should turn her into something like the metrasoldiers…"

Lady Dell, head of the science staff nodded her head. They all had cause for alarm. She would be someone's one woman army. She glanced at the message that was just sent from her third shift staff. "We've located Rouster. The coordinates put it at the space station C'cogi. Right where we're headed."

The captain nodded. "Good. Well, let's get some sleep…if we can. In the morning… O-ten-hundred. We'll work on a plan. Keep me posted, Bian - Koan."


Chapter 7

Alexandra's eyes popped open. She lifted her arm and found her hands shriveled from soaking too long. "Gads," she mumbled. How come I feel so tired? Didn't we just wake up? Where's Gari? She's supposed to wake me when she got back. "Gari?" rising from the tub, she called out concerned. A disquieting feeling filled her. There was no Gari.

Toweling herself off quickly she walked around their suite looking for JG. "I wonder if she met someone downstairs and lost track of time. No. She's not like that." Feeling anxious, she sent out a mental hail. Nothing. Maybe it was the station. From her experiences on various planets and space stations, some had a subaudible sound wave running to prevent the unscrupulous from invading other's dreams or thoughts.

Alexandra dressed, planning what to do. First, she needed find out where Zohra was. That meant going back to the ship and activate the bio locators. It also meant disturbing Vanster. She feared that Zohra may have been abducted by the Recruiters. Alexandra stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath and quieting her heart and thoughts. Was she over reacting?

No. One of us is missing. We are in a hostile environment…the recruiters are looking for likely candidates and helgas bloody moon, she would be a great draft pick, except she's already taken…by me! Concentrate! Don't panic here.

She slung her pack over her shoulders and picked up Gari's. She was even more concerned since she did not leave with it.

The moment her hand touched the door to open it she knew there was trouble on the other side. Turning quickly she headed for another exit. There too she felt the same danger. Looking out the window, she cursed at that option. She headed into the bathing room and remembered the utility closet she had opened when looking for extra towels. Every hotel had a secret entrance and that was where she found this rooms. Opening the door wide, she pressed and leaned until the cupboard clicked. Pulling it out, she peered into the dark corridor. Hearing nothing, she entered, closing the cupboard behind her. Dim lighting came on.

She ran as quietly as she could, intending on putting as much distance as she could to their room. Stopping suddenly she studied the glowing emblem over one exit, and then opened it. She came out behind a stack of towels. Next to her was the attendant's desk where a busy pursuer was taking reservations. Wrapping a huge towel around her head and body she escaped to the locker rooms where she tossed the towels, and escaped to the full elevator car.

When the elevator door opened the bustle of the occupants pushed her forward into the lobby where she melted in with a large group of noisy people. Behind her angry voices were yelling. They were directed at an official of the station. There was a group of hotel personal in their hotel uniforms gesturing at a uniformed woman whose dress was military. Her bushy brows rose and fell with each punctuated yell.

Where is Gari?

The group she was surrounded by were tall, bulky, and loud. They wore garish outfits that stood out from the other milling citizens, and smelled of a strong pungent odor. Being slightly shorter she remained hidden. Like a cup in a wave she was swept toward the beach, only in this case they were heading towards the dock. Peering between her living pillars Alexandra spotted soldiers dressed like the poster recruitment ads. They moved out of formation to stand along the walkway, scanning the citizens. The civilians' resentment against their intrusion was giving Alexandra a stomach ache. Her priority changed to putting distance between the two groups of energy.

Her tourist group moved onto a shuttle where everyone took a seat and pulled out tokens that were similar to what the trader gave her the previous day. Fumbling with her purse, she pulled out a token that looked like the others. The attendant moved down the corridor, pushing a small wheeled box that the passengers dumped their tokens in. At the moment she was not concerned about where the shuttle was heading only that she get off the space station.

Gari where are you? she plaintively called. Nothing. Alexandra rubbed the back of her head where a headache was building up. She had not had a headache in a long time. Leaning back with her eyes closed, her fingers searched for her acupressure points, along her hand, arm and back of her head, getting a little bit of relief. She focused on relaxing before she worked out what she was going to do next.

The shuttle landed on Marigold. Alexandra had a plan. She needed allies to help her find Gari. Or maybe she should see about getting something to settle her stomach. The headache receded but not her upset stomach.

Helgas moon, this is not a good time to catch some blasted foreign virus! Alexandra looked around the station for something that could give her information on finding the local magistrate. Alexandra glanced back at the group she had arrived with. They were met by four elves dressed in the same clothing as they. Everyone was laughing and gesturing to the outside where large open transportation vehicles were waiting. She moved behind a pillar with frescos painted in subdued colors and scenes depicting stories that always had elves either in diplomatic meetings or celebrating an important event. On the walls were hints of Marigold's cultural development and advancement into space travel. The floor was a display of the stars in their galaxy and how far they had explored.

Well, that's helpful but…not what I need right now. I need to find a way to contact Vanster.

She exited the building, into the soft sunlight were the heat was cooled by the air from the surrounding snow capped mountains. The last of the vehicles with her colorful companions moved off. Singing and whoops faded out as they turned a corner and disappeared out of sight.

Disorientated from the sudden rush of thoughts from many life forms, Alexandra leaned against a tree waiting for her senses to adjust. It was astonishing how being on the ship for a month she had forgotten what it was like to be in tuned to other life that was vibrant with its own destiny. A whoosh from the arrival of another shuttle brought her eyes back to the airfield. The shuttle slowly maneuvered into position and settled on its mark. The moment the shuttle doors opened and the occupants spilled out the ground beneath trembled from the discord of the new arrivals. They were hunters. Alexandra knew them from her own experiences in the Collective and Committee space.

Helga's moon, Vanster! Mentally were you dialing an adventure without asking us? she mockingly asked silently. Hiding behind the tree she looked around for an escape.

Cripes! I feel sick and I have hunters on my tail…and I lost Gari. Her despair was adding to her nauseous feeling, she realized immediately as her stomach took a plunge as if she were on her first drop in a troop ship.

A tram nearby caught her attention. Quickly she moved to it and hopped in, fed it a coin and it replied in a language she did not understand.

"Repeat please," she asked frantically, wondering if it would since she was not speaking the same language.

An elf with pale gray eyes stepped up to the tram and pressed two selections and then nodded to Alexandra. "Safe journey, stranger."

Before she could reply the tram moved off with a jerk, knocking her back into her seat. Alexandra turned around to watch the group she had her misgivings about.

"Oh, oh. That's not very friendly," she muttered as three of the soldiers pulled passengers out of a tram and got in themselves. They did not seem to be concerned about the angry group they were leaving behind. She leaned back in her tram and studied the interior.

"Alright, no buttons, no steering wheel, and no pedals. That's one way to keep the tourists on the trail and not go traipsing on their own. But…ugh." A pain in her gut had her clutching her stomach with one hand and holding onto the seat arm. With all the new feelings rushing through her she was not sure what the pain was about. When the pain eased, she noticed the tram had begun its ascent into the mountains. The mountainside was covered in a greenish blue carpet speckled with bright yellow and orange flowers, with rocks and boulders scattered about. That disappeared as she got higher. Trees began to replace the meadow while one third of the mountain was a rock face of gray and red stone. Faces were carved into it but they were worn and lost much of their defining features. The ride took about an hour, giving Alexandra time to study the terrain. She could feel the air getting thinner as they neared the summit. That could work to her benefit since JG programmed their living space with the same mixture.

The tram slowed as it turned a sharp corner and Alexandra jumped as it rounded the corner out of sight of the one following her. Pausing to get a feel for the area she took off towards a thin line that looked like an animal trail. She wanted to find a place where she could communicate with the guardian of the area or spirit of the planet…not just out of respect but out of immediate necessity. After interacting with the divas and various guardians on Arnica, Alexandra's sensitivity to these various spirits gave her an appreciation of their importance and how helpful they could be.

Alexandra heard the tram above her and she flattened herself on the other side of a tree. Hunters were good at what they did because they had species attributes ideal for this type of endeavor or the individual honed her or his talents to track. This group was not fooled for long and less than two stan minutes she heard a yell and knew they would be jumping from their ride as she did and back tracking for her scent.

Alexandra glanced up at the trees to see if tree travel was possible but her stomach and headache warned her that it would not be a good idea. She had enough lead to set a false trail but they had enough of them to send someone on each trail she took precious time to set, so she would only be wasting her lead. She found a stream bed but it was too rocky and filled with storm debris to help.

Alexandra leaped off the path, catching an overhanging branch and pulled herself up. She was pacing herself well, but the coming and going of her stomach ache was slowing her down. Leaping to another branch, she crossed back over the stream and jumped onto a boulder and slid behind it to rest and take stock. She needed to start setting traps. She was sure that was why they had not caught up with her, they were being careful to check for traps.

Emptying the side pocket of Gari's pack she found the wire and rubber band she had in mind. Quickly she set her trap moving further from the first and set a second. She felt her pursuers' nearness. She moved on. Even if they found her traps, it would slow them down further because now they would know she did know how to set them.

Further up she back tracked. She found a tree a boulder leaned against, making it easy for her to climb it. There she waited within view of her trap.

The lead hunter was Carbou. When he paused with his muzzle lifted to sniff the air one of the other hunters passed him and fell into her trap. The unfortunate thing for a fellow hunter was that while a hunt was in progress, whatever injury you received, you were responsible for yourself. After the hunt, someone would come back to see if you were okay. She had extended her trap so that those going around her trap would also be injured. She had whittled small darts and attached it to the rubber strip. It was a beginners trap…but she did not want them to know much about her.

Never leave home without your kit, and always be sure it has something for every occasion, Alexandra quoted a Spartan adage that JG and Vanster liked to say it originated with the Black Rose.

As the others moved on she moved to where the fallen hunters were. She wanted some answers. The two were unconscious. Their energy fields were not moving as an awakened person's would. Checking the uniforms she found what could be termed weapons. Those she confiscated with the intent to remove a tempting weapon from use.

Back she went up the trail they had traveled. Near the tram trail she found what could be called a trash bin and into that she tossed the weapons. Moving on up the mountain she could hear the cry of a Carbou giving the call of the hunt.

Great. Obviously he thinks I'm a worthy prey and he has to announce it to the world that is listening. Every stray carbou is going to be here. This is not good for me.

Pausing at another curve on the tram trail she looked down the side of the hill.

Those idiots! Their marching up the hill and damaging the plant life. Oh, gawds. I've brought destruction to the area. This is not going to bode well with my introduction to any guardian around here.

Putting her head down for more speed she missed the turn and went over the edge of the trail. Bouncing painfully into a tree she dragged herself around it. Feeling numb on one side from the impact she took a few moments to gather herself. Gari's pack was hanging in front of her and her own on her back. She was sure if she was not this well protected she would have hurt herself.

I really am sorry about what I'm bringing here, she apologized.

One set of footsteps trampled above her and passed where she had fallen. Then came another. There were three missing. She took out two so that left one more.

If you can show me the way…I will remove myself and these people," she offered to the guardian.

A small pixie the size of her fist appeared eye level with her, it wings creating a breeze.

"Ya brought those Recruiter's nosers with ya," the small figure accused. "The queen shall not be pleased with ya a'tall."

Recuiter's nosers. I thought so, she thought with disgust and then promptly felt panic for Gari's welfare and then Vanster's.

"I'll show ya all a way out…" And the pixie disappeared.

A cry from above her went out and a net was tossed out.

"Shit!" Alexandra watched as it floated above her and then started to drop. However, she dived over the cliff, spotting water below. She was hoping that it was deep enough for her to dive under and not so deep that she would have to leave her packs behind.

Her dive took her across a threshold…cold… then, she fell onto a carpet at the feet of the pixie that suddenly grew in size. Landing on a pack was not comfortable. She imagined the impact on her spine probably would necessitate an adjustment.

"Ya followed me!" it accused waving both hands at her angrily. "Ya will git us both inta trouble!"

In a blink of an eye Alexandra and the pixie were surrounded by various members of the fairy world. The pixie quickly shrunk back to it's tiny self. Elves, tall and short, round and thin, with pixies, and brownies…and all very irritated as well as surprised, pointed sharp objects at her. She was surrounded.

"You crossed the threshold…uninvited into our realm," a tall thin gray elf told her.

"If I was uninvited…I would not be here," Alexandra countered. It was something she had learned from Queen M'Lu. Nothing happens in another's realm without the ruler's knowledge or permission. So she was challenging these people to prove that she had no right to be here. It would mean she would be taken before someone of more importance …but there was no telling how long that was going to be.

Alexandra's hand went to her midsection, feeling a sudden pain, but she kept her attention on the elf in shimmering robes. He finally nodded. Others her height assisted her to her feet.

She was escorted to a room that was comfortable…but it was to be her prison until she was granted audience. Her packs were removed and taken. Alexandra sank on the bed, gripping her stomach that was cramping. She curled into a ball and sent Zohra and Vanster wishes of prudence and better fortune.

****
In Alexandra's dream, her heart was pounding as her pursuers came into sight. She had no weapons but she did not need them.

"Halt," she ordered, holding her hands before her. Her hands were not like she remembered.

The soldiers, dressed in unfamiliar uniforms, continued to charged her.

"Guardians, slyths and ancestors, I call for your aid…give me your blessings and strength to stop them…harming non in your realms."

From her palms a light bounced into a bolder and from it a rock wall appeared blocking the mountain pass.

She turned back to her path and with less urgency she moved forward. A bright bird dropped on a branch before her and she merely glanced at it.

"It's about time, brother," she told the bird as she passed it.

"Well you're not the only one with problems," the deeper voice from behind her informed her. She glanced back and a lad her age fell into step with her.

"Where's mother?" she asked.

"Which one…Jina is set on catching Elkin and Andra is surrounding the other forces in the bog. And then there's the aunties and uncles who are caught in the spell and trying to find a way to break out. They are giving me a headache."

"Helgas moon we were so unprepared!" his sister told him disgustedly. "Do you have what we need to undo the spell?"

"Yes. I was waiting for you. Ha! Wait until mothers hear about this! One day back from school and look what we can do!"

"It's not amusing. It's not everyday one of our uncles sets his troops to invade our lands…especially when it's at a wedding he arranged!"

Alexandra bolted up from her bed breathing rapidly as if she had been running.

Her eyes tracked to the elf that was dipping a cloth into a dish another held. By the head band and ring on her finger she was from a royal house.

"Greetings, friend of the portals." Her voice was genderless while her eyes were unlike any Alexandra had ever seen. She blinked her own and did not dare to stare too deeply.

The attendant left, leaving the bowl of herbal waters behind. The odor from the bowl coyly tantalized her nose, bringing alertness to her thoughts.

"Fribeth cannot see the Gorb much less cross it without the Queen's or King's blessing. I feel the influence of Arnica," she smiled. "And how is the royal house of Gei?"

"Queen M'Lu is ruler of Allint. Her mother has stepped down and now mentors the Kiuzu for her daughter."

The elf gave a nod, looking pleased. "It is how we see it."

"You're a guardian of a portal," Alexandra whispered excitedly. She had the same odd color in her aura as Maa, the Copoc that was guardian of portal Mer on Merker's Outpost. She did not realize this oddity until she had seen Queen M'Lu's aura.

The elf laughed with the sound elves were known to enchant others with. "I am Guardian Oonagh, Queen de Danaan Portal in the fairy realm. I can see now how you found gorb, the gateway into our fairyland. I congratulate you on your bondmate on your pregnancy."

"Pregnancy…who's pregnant?" she repeated faintly. "Oohh! JG is pregnant! That's why I've been feeling…nauseous? Because of her? Oh! Wow!" Alexandra's heart sped up at the thought.

Queen Oonagh smiled. "You do not feel your own pregnancy? For an empath as sensitive as you…that is odd." She looked worried for a few moments and then looked relieved. "You both have been distracted by the last of the Shunja's energy," she informed her. "In our land it is a month before a newly married couple appears publicly."

"It can't be me!" In a lower voice she added, "I'm unable to bare children." Images of why made their way to her consciousness. The knife once again twisted inside of her, and the sickening feel of her own blood dripping down her legs was not as great a pain as seeing what was left of her troop tortured to their deaths. She thought she had dealt with those memories and put them where images were not so real.

Queen Oonagh leaned forward and touched her head and then her heart chakra, easing the anguish of the memory.

"Your body was healed on Arnica. It was part of both Queen's blessing upon your union." She smiled. "I can feel their handiwork. What is in your heart is what still lingers and that you must heal…and it will with time."

"They…can do that?"

"Anything is possible on Arnica."

"Oh." She really did not know what to think about the news. She had never thought to have children even when she had the ability. Alexandra suddenly felt fear for their child and then it left. "Wait until Gari hears this news," she murmured and then groaned. "Arnica. That's about two months ago…well, at least we won't have to worry about me getting pregnant whenever we make love…we'll just return to Arnica when we feel we need another to keep us busy."

Queen Oonagh merely smiled. It gave Alexandra an uneasy feeling that she was not telling her everything.

"Wait a moment…in my dream…there were two children…me?"

Oonagh nodded that she was correct.

"Helgas moon!" She rubbed her face in embarrassment. "Twins! This is going to take the clan by surprise."

Queen Oongah rose. "The king and queen of this fairyland wish you to join them for supper. I will inform them you shall be ready for tonight. Until then," she gestured to a see-through door that led out to a garden. "Please sooth yourself with the peacefulness of our gardens. The wood nymph is interested in speaking with you since you had offered to contact her."

"Ah. Excuse me Guardian Oongah, but have you news of my bondmate or Lt. Vanster?" she realized that news of them was probably nil since the two were not on the planet.

"Tonight. The king will give you news. Rest."

Chapter 8

"I told you not to let her live!" an angry Boreon DeLeon shouted at the uniformed general. General Tatolormufamesambula, head of the only recruitment organization, showed no response to the person venting his temper. Like with all the pretentious political figures he dealt with in the past, letting them vent gave the sensors a lot of information that could be used in the future.

The person he was referring to was one Major Zohra from the purple fuzzed faced official's part of the universe. Emissary Boreon DeLeon had something to fear from her. The general was impressed with the soldier's ability to escape from his soldierclass and had to have a group of bounty hunters assist. She also defeated the training program which was no easy feat. She had defied the powerful drugs and shorted out four machines she was hooked up to. Credit wise, it was better to let her go. In the old days she would have also been given the golden award allowing her free living for the rest of her life; however, he was running the programs now and there were other uses for such people. He was shipping her to his private research center. His scientists were excited at the idea of such a brain to experiment on.

General Tatolormufamesambula turned his lizard body to his aid that approached the two. Cl'mandata was furious that someone should be showing so much disrespect to his General and was nearly flickering his tongue out in agitation.

"General, entrance to the ship had been denied. It appears the code supplied does not work," Cl'mandata reported in an irritated voice and pointedly ignoring the loud visitor.

Emissary Boreon DeLeon's bargaining chip was based on what he could give to these people. It was imperative that he give them a way into the Molta, the SEC ship that contained the metrasoldiers without damaging the goods.

"I gave you the code, underlining!"

"It did not work," the general told him evenly, giving a sign to his assistant to let him handle this foreigner.

"Take me there! I will show your underlings." Actually this was working better than what Boreon had planned originally. The emissary turned on his heel and led the underling out. Frankly, he was glad to get out of the office of the prissy pretentious general.

The general touched the sanitizer, cleansing his room and scenting it with mint. He went back to his desk and administrative tasks. He chuckled to himself at the emissary's thoughts that he easily picked up.

He picked up his com when it buzzed.

"Go ahead," he ordered crisply.

[The other got away to Marigold.]

"Did I not tell you that you they were good? We need to test our soldiers against them! Where is the third?"

[That sidhe took her to the Pleasure House.]

General Tatolormufamesambula thought for a while. "If she steps out, grab her."

There was an intake of breath and then the wise advice. [General,] the voice lowered as if not wanting even the air to carry this conversation. [She may be a sidhe from Unseelie Clan, but still… I think we have been pushing the sidhe too far already.] He had no need to tell the general that all the planets were getting restless under his recent liberties.

"Then do it when she's not looking. Chances are she'll use her up and then discard her. It'll put her in the mood, will it not?" the general laughed at the rumors that sex with a sidhe left the partner feeling extremely virulent. Since he had not met anyone personally that had the experience, it was just another worthless bit of rumor. His caution about the sidhe was from childhood and he kept reminding himself that he was the leader of the only recruitment company and therefore should not be giving into these fears. His fingers traced on his desk top the warding off sign he saw his mother do often.

"Send out a team to track and capture the other…" he added before hanging up. Another challenge and they better not fail! Though he would not admit it, even to himself, his first defeat after a long time reawakened the challenge of competition. His knee-jerk response was to beat the victor to death, or to send her to his labs. He had two more to try to best. His war counsel was bringing a plan together and he was sure they would disappoint him. If they did not fear for their lives, they should.

General Tatolormufamesambula formulated his own plan for how he was going to conduct a war against two individuals. He went over in his mind who to bring to this hunt. His private laboratory had been finding drugs and genetic enhancements to improve his fighting stock and now was his chance to test it on military from another galaxy. His tongue flitted out of his mouth, tasting the victory in the air. His battle vignettes had become soldiers with genetic modifications versus drug enhanced soldiers. No one was more interested in the war reenactments than he and his scientists. Now he could test each group out on a foreign adversary and if all went well…

General Tatolormufamesambula paced. For the last few years he had been thinking of expanding his armies and challenging other star galaxies. With the major he would be able to gather information of where she came from and her experiences.

The general thought about going over to the laboratory. He wanted to speak with Ventor Sujay.

He hit his com. "Get me Ventor Sujay at once."

[Yes, General Tatolormufamesambula.]

It was not long before his connection was made.

"Ventor Sujay! How is our new arrival looking?"

[General Tatolormufamesambula! This is a pleasant surprise and so is your new addition to our specimens. Where did you get her? She is magnificent?] then suddenly his voice got nervous. [Ah. She is pregnant. If the…]

"Then don't tell anyone," the general told him impatiently. "Surely you have some kind of experiment you always wanted to do on an empath forming."

[Emapth! You don't say!] the ventor's voice took an upswing. As a matter of fact, he had always wanted to see what would happen if negative sound waves were vibrated around an empath as it formed in the womb.

"Now, how is the business?"

[Ah, General Tatolormufamesambula, it is doing well…we lost three subjects…but it was expected. We found the average stress a sidhe can withstand. Also…]

The general listened with half an ear. He decided he was going to visit the laboratory and he knew the ventors did not like him around because his thoughts disturbed their experiments with the brains of the sensitives. But he wanted to see this major.

[General Tatolormufamesambula …are you there?]

"Yes. I'll be visiting tomorrow…"

[General Tatolormufamesambula can you wait for maybe four more days? We are in the middle of some very important tests and your arrival will…]

"Four days then." He hung up and called his secretary in. He needed his office cleaned again.

Chapter 9

Megan Vanster thought her eyes were going to roll into the back of her head if Arax brought her to climax again. Though the drugs were keeping her body from shaking from the exertion, she knew under natural conditions her limbs would be boneless. Two days had passed and she was praying for the third to come quickly. She felt sorry for herself.

Weakly she pushed Arax from her. She pulled herself out of the pool and nearly fell flat on her face trying to lift herself out of the tub.

Arax laughed teasingly at her. "And you thought you would be too much for me." She effortlessly rose from the waters and assisted her lover onto the bed. Vanster melted into the bed not even attempting to moan.

Arax watched the lashes behind the dark eyes blink as if the lights were too bright. She dimmed them and then lay next to her lover, stroking her skin until she fell asleep. Her fingers followed the deep cuts in her muscles liking the feel of the strength they projected, knowing it was only a physical display. Vanster was easily manipulated when her courage or strength was challenged. But Arax liked her. Beneath all of the bravado, she was funny, courageous and loyal. Arax also saw her fears and prejudices, hidden even from herself.

Pleased with herself she leaned back on the bed poster. Suddenly she rose from the bed looking about her in jerky movements, sensing from one angle and then moving to another. The air shimmered around her and then a daoine sidhe from Tuatha de Danaan appeared. The tall slim elf looked around noting everything in the room including the unconscious form of her lover.

Arax had never heard of the sidhe being able to project in form off the planet.

"I am Win, the messenger," he told her quite proud. She was sure it was because of his being able to appear off the planet. "Queen Freenah and King Jonetha command you to bring the fribeth to the gorb by this night at high moon." And he was gone.

Arax sighed disappointedly looking at her lover. "Maybe it is for the better. You need some rest before I show you more of this pleasure art."

She sat next to the slumbering warrior and thought of how to get to Marigold when she did not have credits and nor did Lt. Vanster. Frowning, she remembered there was a return of credits for the male she did not use…but that would not pay for her entire fare. She did not dare ask her mother and her current husband. He was angry with her about her rebellious attitude against his wish for her to marry a miner on the moon colony. He thought it was a profitable arrangement for everyone; however, to her, it was against her sidhe nature. Sidhe did not do well on moons she had pointed out to him and then to her mother. She was sure he was trying to get rid of her because it was time for her to go out on her own…but he had a ship and she did not.

A sudden idea came to her. Lt. Vanster had a ship. Leaning near her ear, she whispered what she wanted, using all her skills in persuasion. A fairy with a mission could talk a leprechaun out of his pot of gold, her mother used to tell her.

In her sleep Vanster stirred and even shook her head, but it took longer than what Arax's pride would have guessed. A dark brown eye peered into her slate gray eyes and then the other brown orb appeared.

"What are you doing?" she asked groggily.

"Waking you. We have been summoned," she informed Lt. Vanster. She guessed Vanster would understand the importance of the summons since she was in the military.

"By whom or who," she muttered as she rolled to her side and pushed up. "Ohh!" she exclaimed as her weight settled on her tender genitalia. She looked over at the young elf. "Who would ever have believed…" she left the rest unsaid, because Arax knew exactly what she meant and grinned with pride.

"I had more planned for the day and into the night…however," her face became serious. "We need to get to Marigold and I don't have transportation…"

"We or just you? And why? Is there something you haven't told me about you that I should know?"

"We were summoned by Wen. He is a daoine sidhe from Tuatha de Danaan."

"De Dannan you say? Is that where you're from?"

"He is not from my tuatha. My mother's ken is Solariaan. He did not say why we have been summoned. It is not wise to ignore a summons from any tuathas' leadership."

Vanster's interest pricked up at the mention of de Danaan. It was the name of one of the portals that had access to other planets. Gotta get word of this to JG. It was times like these when she really did wish she had some kind of telepathic power.

"Well, let's get ready then," she yawned, cracking her jaw. She looked over at Arax. "Care to join me?"

****
Vanster hopped around on one foot as she looked around for her other boot. Arax fished it out from under the bedsheets that were entangled on the floor.

"So, how do we get to the planet if we don't have enough credits?" Arax asked.

"If someone asks you to be somewhere…they usually make sure they supply you with the transportation or means unless you already have it," Vanster told her sensibly.

Since Arax had never dealt directly with the sidhe outside of her mother's tuatha, she listened to Vanster. However, she had her doubts. She also wondered why Vanster, who could be very stubborn, was so willing to make this journey.

"Lt. Vanster?" she asked as she watched her tug her tunic into place.

"Megan," she answered. Then looked up and turned a little red in the face. "My friends call me Megan."

Arax's eyebrows rose nearly to her hair line. She wondered how this woman got such a name of honor… She shook her head. Perhaps in her homeland they did not know how much reverence the name Megan held in other star systems. Arax smiled thinking of what it was like to explore new worlds…and in that brief moment she felt a hot desire to see for herself what it was like.

"Megan," she mouthed feeling the roll of the words on her tongue as she spoke it in her language.

Megan's eyes blinked and then darkened with pleasure. "That's nice the way you say it." She walked over to her and kissed her gently on the forehead. "So, what is your question," she nodded towards the door, indicating she was ready to leave.

"What if a ride is not waiting for us?"

"Then we won't be wherever they asked us to be. We need to stop at the desk downstairs. I need to contact the Major and Commander and let them know of my whereabouts…" she looked at Arax expectantly.

It was Arax's eyes that caused Vanster to jump back into the room, flinging the door shut. It did not shut but rather hit two people that were charging in the room. Vanster easily handled the first two and locked the door before the others could help.

"That is wrong!" Arax shouted as she followed Vanster who was pulling her into the bathing room.

"Helgas moon, we're going to have to go out that door." She spun around pulling Arax with her as they headed back to the front door.

"They cannot 'recruit' you! You have been registered as being with me!"

Vanster turned around suddenly nearly knocking Arax off her feet, however she was agile and quickly stepped back.

"What did you say?"

"I registered you as my interest…they cannot harass you. That is why I followed you…well that and because I like you."

"When we have more time…you have to explain just what the helgas moon you are talking about," she got out between clenched teeth. "Now, can you fight?"

Arax looked insulted. "Of course! When I was younger…"

"I'm talking about now," she cut her off quickly.

"Yes."

Vanster motioned for her to stand behind her. In case they had something to fire at her she picked up a chair. She pulled the door open and tossed the chair. It was quickly covered with darts.

Vanster followed after the chair looking for the surprise advantage. There were only two agents. She flipped a pillow at one and before she could do anything, Arax knocked out the other with a flying kick.

"I am impressed," Vanster told her hurriedly as she frisked one of the men for weapons.

Arax picked one and removed enough weapons to keep her in business on a street corner for at least a good day while she manipulated the prices for the highest bidder.

Even if Vanster did not understand the weapon she took it anyway. She would get Arax to show her how to use it.

There was no one at the front desk or in the lobby. It confirmed to both women that it was an illegal bust. As the two women ran out front a hover craft dropped down and an elf opened the door and waved the two in. Arax hesitated not recognizing the sidhe and not liking his smirk at all. It was enough for Vanster and she darted around a tram and then ran up the street, having faith that Arax would follow. Right now, Vanster was worried about the Major and Commander. If they were after her, would they go after those two?

"This way," Arax called ducking into a side street. The hover craft tried to keep up with them, but the by the alarms that were going off in the space port city, something was wrong. The sidhe tailing them disappeared. Above them hung laundry stretched on ropes from one side of the street to another two floors up. Vanster knew that was what saved them from the hover craft.

"Who was that?" Vanster asked breathlessly as they stopped to get their bearings.

"I don't know. He looked like a recruiter but I've never seen a sidhe being in such a dark business."

"I already belong to a military corps…Major Zohra made that clear in the docking office," Vanster complained.

"Lately, that does not mean anything. If they think you are a good prospect…you are drafted. The longer you evade them the higher your value as a fighter becomes. Whoever catches you will get a bonus. That is how this business of war games has become."

"Well if they get too close I'm gonna hurt them. We've got to get to some kind of communicator so I can get hold of my shipmates."

Arax pulled her into a sheltered doorway. Recruiters were at both ends of the alley.

"We should think about taking your ship…it may be the only safe place," Arax suggested.

"No," her tone firm. "For one…that would be an obvious place for me to run to and therefore full of traps. Two, we are outnumbered. I need to find the Major and Captain." Helga's moon I have to find out if they are all right.

"We need to get to Merigold," Arax told her with conviction.

"Why?"

"If anyone can help, it would be the sidhe. They know more than anyone else."

"After I conta…." Vanster suddenly grabbed her head and dropped to the ground. Pain shot through her eyes and head, reminding her of Alan Fermin's control over her. Then the pain left, replaced with a headache that nearly blinded her.

She realized the slight Arax was carrying her over her shoulder.

"Let…me…down," she huffed as the air was jolted out of her with each hop to another ledge and sending stabbing pains through her head.

Gently she was set on her feet. Arax grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

"In my pack…something for headaches," she gasped as she stumbled along.

"In a bit. We have to get out of here."



Continued in Section 3