Fusion (Crimson Romance)

by Candace Sams

  “Aigean last relayed that Condorians searched for and destroyed any required rescue equipment she had, including transmitters. She barely managed to get a last one off the ship. Obviously, it included information I’m telling you.”

  She stared at him for a long moment. “I don’t understand what your unit could do now. Even if you could disguise yourself, get on Aigean’s ship, and slowly gather information about future battle plans, how would you transmit it? Every civilian aboard will be watched. The bridge would be well guarded.”

  “There is one more chance. It’s a plan Aigean previously suggested in the event we had no options. We’re at that point.” He pushed his hair back and wiped sweat from his eyes.

  “This is gonna suck, isn’t it?”

  “It’s the last chance to get aboard the Venus,” he said.

  Lyra sighed. “Okay … let’s hear it.”

  “Once the Condorians overran her ship, it was obviously impossible for Aigean to contact Allied HQ via her own bridge. She hasn’t any encryption codes that would validate her transmission and, as you say, the bridge is constantly watched.”

  “May I speak freely, sir?”

  “Please do.”

  “The Condorians would have enacted their own locking codes into the Venus’ com system.”

  He tilted his head in acknowledgement. “Very good! You know your enemy’s battle tactics, Sergeant. But this is the part where I delineate the last chance I spoke of.”

  “You actually think you can unlock those codes and transmit battle plans after the captain of the vessel or some of her crew was suspected of leaking information?” Lyra rolled her eyes in contempt. “Sir … if the Condorians were watching her and staff before they suspected anything was wrong, what the hell do you think they’ll do to secure their battle plans now? You have a better chance of slipping in and out of hell than getting on that bridge! In fact, any stranger who gets near the Venus will probably be killed.” She lifted one hand in supplication. “As you’ve said, the only rational reason Aigean and her crew are still alive is that they’re still servicing the Condorian officers. Can’t you see that the Condorians might take out that crew today, tomorrow, or any time they choose? How long do you think you’d have?” Her entreaty was met with silence. Lyra noted his steady gaze and that his expression remained undaunted. She tried once more. “Sir, please … there are about a hundred reasons why this won’t work. I may be some lowly Sergeant, but I’ve got sense enough to see that trying to get on the Venus is suicide! We can ill afford the useless loss of another spec-op boss.”

  “I have my orders, Sergeant. I’m to get on the Venus and deliver to the allies what information I can, by whatever means and for as long as possible. Had I failed, one of my team was to pursue the same plan. Fortunately, the enemy didn’t know who my men were or what they were up to when we took a barrage of laser fire while trying to land. We were just another group of allied soldiers for slaughter.” He leaned forward. “But since they are dead … I now have you,” he finished while pointedly staring at her.

  “I’ll try again,” she insisted. “Your mission doesn’t make any sense. Listen to reason!”

  “You speak, I’ll listen. But I will never be convinced to quit.”

  “Colonel … you said yourself that your supplies were all destroyed. I assume that included some kind of disguise to get you aboard. How is a Craetorian — a man from a known allied planet — supposed to get on a pleasure vessel where Condorian officers are fucking themselves crazy? You’ll be killed on sight. Even if you could pass yourself off as someone from a different race, you’d be another male vying for the attention of the sex servants. The Condorians wouldn’t stand for that. Hell, I’m surprised that someone didn’t suggest cosmetic surgery to make you and your team look like Condorians. On an operation like this, that would be necessary! You should have been better briefed, given fake credentials, and assigned fake names and backgrounds that would make sense if checked against some database.”

  He slowly smiled. “You don’t know everything, Sergeant. There are a few mysteries in this universe that even you Earthlings haven’t unraveled.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “If Aigean didn’t think this would work, she wouldn’t have suggested a plan that would get her and her people slaughtered immediately. What would be the point?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m asking, sir.”

  He continued his argument. “According to her, the Condorian admiral on her vessel has developed a taste for men. Even those from allied planets are tolerated as long as they assert their neutrality and will make themselves available to any kind of pleasuring. They’re useful for a time, even if eventually expendable.”

  “Th-that’s insane,” Lyra declared.

  “It’s true enough. Men from numerous brothels have been recruited to have sex with enemy officers. Condorians find having intercourse with these so-called neutrals is not only exotic, but highly enticing.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking, Colonel … why?” Lyra choked out.

  He raised his brows. “Why does one man want to bed another? Or why do the Condorians want to bed men from allied planets?”

  She let out an exasperated gasp. “I meant … why would a Condorian tolerate anyone from an allied planet? They don’t believe in neutrality. Unless they want to take over a pleasure vessel to screw some doomed whores!”

  Soldar suppressed a grin. “Don’t you see, Sergeant? What one can’t have is always more appealing than what comes easily. Not only that, but this particular admiral takes pleasure out of using men from worlds he believes he’ll one day conquer. For him, it’s like collecting trophies. It’s like rubbing salt into a wound, as you Earthers say.”

  She simply shook her head in disbelief.

  “For this plan … I was to be the new, willing entertainment. As I’ve told you, another of my team would have taken my place if I’d failed. It would have appeared as though they’d also been recruited as male whores,” Soldar continued. “We were to go after enemy battle plans as long as the Venus remained on this planet’s surface. Any of us would only have issued a strike command on the vessel when we could no longer obtain information.”

  “Sir — ”

  “Aigean has a constant flow of incoming, unusual sexual delights,” he insisted. “She offers her sex servants obscene amounts of money and attractive benefits to work on her vessel. Many professional prostitutes can’t or won’t ignore such lures when their families are starving or their homes have been destroyed by war. Her other employees remain out of loyalty to her and fear for their compatriots should they be caught escaping.”

  “I-I was wondering how she kept her vessel staffed under such conditions,” Lyra mused.

  “It seems that many of her employees have no place left to go,” he explained. “The Venus is their home. Aigean takes care of them. Her staff is willing to endure the Condorian presence, their sexual proclivities, and threat of death. Many of them want the chance to get their hands around a Condorian’s thick neck. They wait for some way to avenge a dead loved one or their entire families.”

  “So she says. But — ”

  “Her information has never been wrong. As to her people, Aigean keeps them in check. She’s been ordering them to bide their time. She’s playing with the enemy and knows it’s a dangerous game. As I’ve said, patronizing and catering in a war zone are the reasons why she’s survived.” He momentarily lowered his head. “It was unfortunate that she lost some of her crew when they wouldn’t admit to any covert operation. But those lives weren’t sacrificed in vain.”

  Lyra chewed on her lower lip and stared into his eyes. “Did she say how her people were discovered? And do you trust her when she says that the Condorians still don’t know who was sending us information? This could be a trap.”

  “That�
�s occurred to me, Sergeant. But the Condorians would gain very little by luring a few of us into some snare. Such a scheme would hardly be worth the trouble. Especially since my men and I took pains to remain ignorant of current tactics in this area. We simply knew nothing in the way of upcoming battle strategy that could be tortured out of us,” he admitted. “To address the rest of your concerns … Aigean was insistent that her employees’ deaths be avenged. She relayed that they were caught hiding distress beacons in their quarters though none of the devices contained covert messages. Six were questioned and tortured. They gave up no information, and were slaughtered in front of the rest of the ship’s crew as an example.” He lifted his hands in a convincing gesture. “To clarify Aigean’s purpose, she clearly stated that she’d have ‘blood for blood.’ It was she who came up with this new plan.” He then held up one fist as a show of solidarity. “I believe her. She hasn’t betrayed us yet.”

  “So there’s no way to talk you out of this crazy scheme?”

  “None. And to specifically address your concern, Aigean told us the origin of her prostitutes has never been an issue with the Condorians. All of the men with me were from different races. It was left for her to explain my presence, or the appearances of those men on my team who followed. She led us to believe that this would be no problem since the current Condorian admiral wants … virile men. As stated, he has a predilection for those from hostile worlds.” He shrugged. “I guess I’ll do.”

  Lyra gasped in frustration. “Sir … are you okay with this? Really? I mean … how can you live with the idea of doing such a thing? I can’t imagine a worse assignment. Not even if you dropped me onto some planet full of flesh-eating parasites. And what if this plan is somehow exposed? Aigean Florn and all her employees will certainly be slaughtered as spies, right along with you. They won’t be given their shot at vengeance. They’ll just die when you get caught. So we’re right back to where we started.”

  “You don’t give up, do you?” he declared as he shook his head in exasperation. “We were willing to take the chance. We were ready to engage in any sexual fantasy to get the information we need. The Condorians are so sure they’ll eventually annihilate us that they cannot imagine we’d go this far,” he insisted. “They believe us too weak and frightened to even contemplate such a ruse. And that’s exactly why it might work. We’re playing to their egos,” he attested. “Where secreting battle plans in distress beacons was more efficient, we’re now forced to engage more dangerous tactics. We simply must, Sergeant. We’re running out of time and people. The Condorians are eradicating us, one planet and one race at a time. We’ve no choice left!”

  “But — ”

  “Don’t go sanctimonious on me, Sergeant! Spies like me have used sexual allure for a very long time. I’m not the first nor shall I be the last. We have men and women in brothels from here to the Antares Alignment who are doing this same thing, under circumstances that are far less comfortable than the amenities provided on a class-five pleasure vessel. I can do it because using sex to get information has always been a ploy, throughout known history, and even on your world if I recall my studies.” He snorted. “I remind myself the information I get might just save lives. Up to and including the lives of my family. And besides, while I have my orders I’d have volunteered for this had the opportunity been given. I know exactly what I’m in for. So get over it! It won’t be the first time I’ve been aboard a prostitution vessel, having sex with some man. In fact, I find a certain amount of smug pleasure in bedding an enemy who thinks me too inferior to play mind games. For me it’s the ultimate test of my abilities. So … if it makes you feel any better … let’s just say I’m a bit sick that way and be done with it,” he smilingly finished.

  She wasn’t so sure he was telling the truth, but it was his choice. “All right. So you’re into this. But what’s my part?”

  A very long moment of silence followed.

  “I think you already know what you’d have to do,” he eventually uttered. “After having explained my place in this charade, there should be no doubt. You’ll now replace my team and will come in after me if I should fail.”

  “I’d actually have to let a Condorian … even one of their slightly more controllable officers … screw me?”

  He simply raised one brow in confirmation.

  She stood up, stalked away, and put her hands on her hips. After cursing to the sand beneath her feet, she angrily returned and knelt by his side.

  “Sir, how do you know … I-I mean … w-what I’m trying to ask is — ”

  “Just spit it out, Sergeant.”

  “Sir … thanks again for saving my life. I don’t assume that I’d have lived much longer, but every day I do is a blessing.” She took a deep breath. “What you’re asking is too much.” She licked her suddenly dry lips and tried to continue. “We are being eradicated. There’s no doubt about that. But I couldn’t let one of those sons-of-bitches near me. I-I couldn’t!”

  “Aigean’s people do it every day. We’ll be pretending to be just two more of her employees.”

  “I know, sir. But I have other … personal concerns.”

  “Explain,” he urged.

  Lyra swiped her hand across her forehead and tried to continue. “Those of us from Earth take our birth control meds and are inoculated with STD vaccines. None of us is allowed into battle if we aren’t one hundred percent clean. The rules are standard in all Earth units. No one can afford to be on the front lines if they’re sick. All our remaining medical supplies are being syphoned for those who’re fighting. We don’t have meds for soldiers irresponsible enough to put their pleasure ahead of our survival.” She shuddered and tried to keep going. “There are some incurable strains of VD in existence. There’s a rumor out there about some crap a few Condorians have. It’s some sickness that’s supposed to be so virulent that shots won’t help.”

  “Should we sit back and hope they die of it? Is that what you’re suggesting, Sergeant? Because that rumor you’ve just expounded is the same damnable one I heard two years ago. And even if it’s true, I can assure you that there are multi-trillions of Condorians who will wipe us all out while we pray to some higher deity for their demise. In short … we don’t have time for a rumor to work!”

  “That’s not what I’m … ” Her words drifted away before she sighed heavily and tried again. She held out her hands in a supplicating gesture. “Sir … you couldn’t possibly believe these Condorian animals would accept using a prophylactic. They’re nasty, filthy lechers. It’s just one more reason why female fighters keep spare rounds in their weapons … if you get my meaning and I think you do. Rot is rot and I can’t let some bastard touch me if he’s been infected.”

  He simply stared.

  “It would be better if I died in battle.”

  Soldar put one hand on her shoulder and lowered his voice. “Listen to me, Sergeant … if the Condorians aren’t stopped, all our deaths are certain,” he firmly promised. “I’m willing to die on this mission. You must use your wits and think — ”

  “Of what, sir? The only thing fighting women can think about is their dignity and what will happen to our children when those vermin get to Earth. You’re dismissing my concerns over the issue because it’s a moot point. But it isn’t.”

  “Creator’s blood! You have children? And you agreed to fight — ”

  “No, sir. I don’t have kids but I would have liked to someday. In fact, I don’t have any family left, thanks to the Condorians. But there are little kids on Earth I don’t want those vermin near. That’s why some Earth women are here, trying to stop them now. But I’ve gotta tell you … there are ways to die and then there are ways to go out in pain, agony, and with less dignity than a warrior deserves. I always knew dying was probable. I took that into account when I signed up. All Earth women do. We know we have to fight. There’s no choice. But I don’t put my
self in a position to ask for what you’re suggesting. If it comes down to dying, I’ve made up my mind to meet my maker like the men in my unit. I accept no less.”

  “I acknowledge your fear,” he softly argued. “But what if we succeed in saving other lives, Sergeant? Isn’t that why you joined Earth Force to begin with?”

  “Yes, sir. It is,” she woodenly agreed.

  He let out a long, slow breath. “The best we can do is live long enough to get information back to the allies. We’ll die when we’re caught. That truth negates your anxiety over your future health,” he sadly reiterated. “It’s our oath to save as many of our people as we can before leaving this life. I’ll do that by any means necessary. We must fight until the last breath leaves our bodies. The only difference that this mission will make is in the numbers we might be saving. We might warn thousands of innocent people to escape, even if it means certain death on some future battlefield.” He lifted one hand and put his palm against her cheek. “The longer allies last, the greater the chance for all our races to survive. We have to consider the majority and put aside personal concerns. Others are suffering, so we must take comfort in the fact that, for however short a time, we outwitted the enemy. Keep thinking about that and nothing else. You signed up to fight. This is just one more way to do your duty.”

  She finally lifted her chin, and stared at him for a very long, poignant moment. “Is this an order?”

  “I’d rather you came willingly.”

  She pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger then pointed to the barrens in the distance. “If I run right now, will you use one of your last rounds to shoot me? I’d be refusing a direct order. You’d be well within your rights. Nobody’d question anything since my superiors already think I’m dead. Besides, you won’t live through this irresponsible mission long enough to damage my record!”

  “If you run, I’ll chase you, tackle you to the ground, and bring you right back here,” he told her as he pointed toward the dirt at his feet. “You’re alive against all reason. You must make use of this chance.”