Araman stood watching the distant stars pass by the oval shaped glass as the ship silently slipped through the endless darkness to the rendezvous just beyond Oleander territory. The convoy contained five troop ships, three carriers and Araman’s, the lead ship.
The trek to Araman’s chagrin had taken too long as it was. Oleander’s Scout ships were causing too many detours and getting harder to avoid. With each detour the longer wait it became for Araman and Santari to extract the Novena delegates. Their time was becoming very precious.
The past week had been planning every detail of his mission. The long hours and missed meals were beginning to take their toll on Araman. He rubbed the back of his neck and turned away from the bland sight.
He stopped and watched the tiny figure sleeping curled up in a ball with his robe wrapped tightly around her. He wanted to lie down beside her and hold her in his arms but a briefing to the General in the next few minutes took precedent. Araman just wanted to feel her warmth against him, letting him know there was life outside of maneuvers and missions.
Brea hadn’t complained of being denied his company or the long lonely hours she spent cooped up in the quarters. He hated doing this to her and it was beginning to eat at him. In the back of his mind he promised himself he would make it up to her some how.
Brea stirred in her sleep. Araman glanced down to see her eyes were swollen and puffy. Her dainty little jeweled nose was red matching the color surrounding her lashes. He wondered how long she had been crying for.
“Araman?” Her voice was soft and full of sleep calling out for him.
He moved over to her and sank on the edge of the bed beside his concubine. He reached out a hand and smoothed her hair at her temples. A small hand reached up and caught his.
“I am here Lyra.” Araman let her take his hand to her cheek as she rubbed her face against the back of his hand.
“Only for a moment longer.” Brea said dropping his hand as if it had just burned her when she realized what she was doing. “Then you will be gone and I will not know if you are safe are not.”
Araman’s brows met as his blue eyes met her pale green ones. “You worry about me?”
Brea nodded her head tearing her eyes from his and dropped her gaze. She could feel the tears threatening to return from earlier. “I miss my pet... I am afraid.” She whispered.
“Of what?” He dipped his head to hers to catch her gaze. He wanted to erase the fear from her eyes.
“That it will happen again.” Brea tried to avoid his eyes. “I will lose you and I will spend another eternity trying to find you.”
Araman pulled her into his lap and held her, kissing her forehead then her nose.
“I feel the separation too Concubine. I know you are here alone and left with your thoughts the majority of the hours.” His warm blues eyes washed a wave of sweetness over her. “You, my Shinwa witch are never far from my thoughts.” Araman gave her a light squeeze before lifting her off.
“I must give the General a report.” He stood up. “I promise to be back as quick as I can.” Araman gently offered, kissing the top of her black and gold head.
He left her standing by the bed nodding as he walked towards the door silently cursing his duties coming first. For just once he wanted something in his personal life to come first. Araman entered directly into the lift taking him to the war room several flights below in the belly of the ship.
The General’s face was larger than life on an entire wall glowering as Araman walked in. He made a huff when Santari arrived shortly after. A cigar went to his lips as he blinked at the two men expectantly.
“Sir.” Araman nodded slight. “Information from Oleander is getting scarce. With the delegates in their possession, their security has increased making it difficult for drops. The moles are lying still at the moment under my direct orders. It could trigger a very hostile situation if one of ours ended up caught and dead.”
The general nodded removing the cigar from his mouth. He cleared his throat and stared at the underling. “He’s your team?” Santari did not miss the tone of sarcasm in his superior’s voice.
“He has intimate knowledge of the inner blueprints of the quadrant, where the prisoners are kept. The less I arrive with, General, the better chance we all have of going home.”
Herse nodded his fleshy head. “Quite right Son.” His brought up a piece of paper missing the exchange of looks between his two subordinates at his reference to Araman. He read the notice of the details of their mission. It was simple, get in, get targets, and get out. He lowered the paper.
“And how do you propose to begin said plan?”
Santari stepped up beside Araman. “In four days time there will be a shipment of arms to their recently acquired moons. We plan on hitching a ride.”
“Possible trap?” The general raised an eyebrow.
“Usual amount of risk Sir.” Santari shrugged.
“In the meantime, I’m sending you a new set of orders until your men meet with your transport.” The screen went blank. The silver wing insignia appeared on the screen. A piece of paper spit up from a console behind the two men.
Santari reached and read it. A slow smile spread across his face. “You’re not gonna like this one.” He shook his mahogany head at Araman.
“Why?” He snatched the paper from his underling’s hand. Araman read the instructions.
“What in Frigg is he thinking? Sending Brea along to play the role of wife?” His jaw clenched.
“It’s not like you’re the one who has to make contact and extract all information by all means.” He let out a laugh. “Especially that.” He pointed out to Araman. “Including all methods of sexual espionage.”
Araman looked over to Santari. “Commander, do you not find it odd, you have been granted leave to use sexual espionage?” He put the orders into the paper chute intended for the micro-incinerator, destroying the paper trail.
“I see the importance Commandant. Who ever this Sub-mistress of warfare is, she knows something about something we need to know.” Santari put his hands on his hips. “Frigg I hope she’s at least my age. If she’s ugly, I can always close my eyes. If they’re old, they’re probably somebody’s grandmother. Eeeew” He emphasized his last utterance with a shudder.
Araman was not amused by his Commander’s antics. “You will do what it takes Commander.”
“And will you Commandant?” Santari raised an eyebrow at his old friend. “Will you obey direct orders and bring your little concubine you are so protective over?”
Araman’s eye narrowed at his underling’s challenge. “You are stepping very close to insubordination, Commander.” He growled. “Make yourself ready, we leave in three lunar hours for Orpheaus Six.” He stormed out of the room.
Araman brooded as he headed to the lift. He was to be the silent partner on Santari’s mission. It was too delicate a situation to trust to underlings in lower ranks with the mission. He understood the General’s reasoning. He didn’t understand the reasoning for including Brea on the ruse unless it was to ensure he brought her along.
He could have simply used his businessman cover. Araman stepped into the lift and commanded it to take him to the deck quarters. He stood with his arms crossed and a hand rubbing his chin.
Araman and his concubine were to act like Terrian newlyweds in the tropical world of Orpheaus Six. A thought of Brea’s coppery skin against the creamy sands of the pale lavender ocean flashed into his mind. She would look good in a Terrian bikini.
He stepped out of the lift to Brea smiling at him. Araman decided that maybe some time in a mystical place would suit his dark little concubine. It was after all Santari’s mission. He was only there to retrieve if needed.
“You did come back.” Brea was more pleased than she had expected to be and her sparkling eyes showed it.
“Yes Concubine, I came back.” He walked passed her and over to a small console on the wall by the bed. “We have been asked by the General to escort Santa
ri to Orpheaus Six for a short furlough.” He felt a stab of guilt lying to her. It was for her own safety, he reasoned silently.
“Does that mean, I go with you?” Brea clarified.
“Yes.” Araman’s fingers flew across the keys of the console putting in the requirements for clothes for the mission. “Hold still. I’m scanning you for your attire.”
“Why would I be allowed to go with you?” A red beam came from a small eye in the middle of the ceiling. A thin horizontal line stretched across her and followed her shape despite the long tunic she wore cinched at the waist.
“You are my concubine, issued to me as part of my personal gear. You are with me at all times.” Araman tapped another button on the smooth surface when the scan was complete. “Some times it will be nice to share such a place like Orpheaus Six with you. Other places it may not be.”
“Are your furloughs to designated spots?” Brea asked as a hidden panel on the wall beside Araman opened. Neatly folded in two piles were complete wardrobes including undergarments. He nodded with a shrug before turning his attentions to the clothes.
“It was either there or a trip to the ice world of Amortney.” Another panel opened and he pulled out two nylon suitcases. One black and one pink. He laid them on the bed and motioned her over to him.
“Ice world?” Brea stood by him and took the clothing he offered. He looked to the opened suitcase. “Ah,” softly escaped her lips when she understood him. She put the clothing into the case.
“It is a desolate planet in the middle of a dead solar system. The sun has been fading for eons leaving the planet with little heat. Its entire surface is nothing but ice and bitterly cold winds. The military thought it would be a good place for a furlough location for civilians and military. Also providing a service for other travelers.”
“On a planet made of ice?” Brea gaped at him.
“Yes one can almost see the configuration of a tree or a hillside underneath the layers of ice.” He said dryly. “The sun never really rises or sets. It just sits there slowly fading. The ice can have a pearl reflection against the gray sky. It can be very breathtaking.” He told her handing her personal cleansing products. “Your breath hangs in the frigid air like a cloud when the wind is still but those are a rare day. You cannot go out during black out. The freezing temperatures could kill you instantly.”
Brea shrank back. “Why would any one want to go there?”
“It’s the military’s idea of a fun time.” He said drolly zipping up his case. Brea nodded and stepped back. “Here go put this on. I think you will like it better than your Olean tunic.” Araman handed her another little bundle.
She set on the bed and lifted the footless leggings in black. Brea gave it a questioning look before gazing to Araman.
“What do I do with these?” She asked.
“They go over your legs. You put them on feet first.” Araman showed her.
“Like when you dress in the morning.” Brea looked down to the leggings. “And these are comfortable?”
“It’s a Terrian style. I thought it would be nice to relax without rank or status for a few days.” His eyes smiled tenderly to her as he watched her break out into a smile.
She stepped into the leggings. The material slid against her skin like the way his hands touched. Brea’s eyes glanced up to Araman’s whose eyes were following the garment’s ride up her body to be neatly tied at the waist with a ribbon. His look promised Brea much passion on Orpheaus Six.
Araman watched as she wiggled into her jumper style dress accenting all her curves with the scoop neck and wide shoulder straps. The deep black shimmered like the coppery color of her skin adding to her mystique.
He stepped up behind her to zip up the dress. Dragging a finger just before the zipper closed the gap on the exposed skin left a wake of tiny tingles along her spine. He dropped his head to her neck hidden by her spirals of black and gold allowing himself to enjoy her savory scent becoming more exotic every time Araman neared her. He felt her back fold into him.
She brought a hand up and glided her hair back as she exposed her neck allowing him to taste the sensitive area. His teeth grazed a path shooting searing volts of electricity throughout her body. A groan escaped from Brea’s lips.
She heard a chuckle in her ear. “I promise you Concubine to take you to places you have never known.” Araman lifted his head and stepped back as Brea turned around. Her pale green eyes flaring in color.
“I think I should be the one promising you that.” She smiled. She looked past him to a figure standing in the door of the lift. Brea’s smile faded and her head dropped lowering her gaze. Araman’s head whipped around at her reaction.
“What now, Santari? I said in three lunar hours.” Araman turned towards him.
“I realize that Commandant.” Santari nodded curtly to him and then to Brea. “My apologies Brea for disturbing you.” He turned seriously to Araman. “But I think you would want to see this.” He held up a small disk.
Araman nodded and followed Santari to the small computer desk at the end of the tiny galley, meant more for hot beverages than actual cooking. He popped in the disk and pressed a flat button on the panel below. Santari looked back to Brea who was looking at the shoes Araman gave her before following his Commander.
“This was taken by our spy probe on the Weir moon in the southern sector. Note the distortion coming from behind the orbit.” Santari pointed out. “An Oleander scout ship. Now watch.”
The screen revealed an Olean flyer like that of Araman’s coming into range of the probe. As the vessel flew past, another ship appeared from nowhere and fired on the Olean flyer. The small screen lit up in a ball of sparks.
“That was a decoy.” Santari pressed another button and the disk popped out. “It was set up to relay sensors to the probe. The Oleander ship was detected by its distortion passing by an object. As this space is filled with a multitude of objects it was easy to detect. They are able to transport a beam into the internal system without our ship’s computer’s knowledge. This beam will shut down its intended target.”
Araman stared at the blank screen. “I was the test subject. It’s why they allowed my escape. They pulled my cloaking device.” He swore under his breath not to alert Brea.
“My team managed to find a frequency trail that lead to the middle of Oleander’s capital Valu. It is in the southern quadrant of their warfare division where the delegates are being held.”
“What are the thoughts?” He watched as his underling switched the disk around and popped it back into the thin slot.
“It’s the heart of the transporter.” He clicked a button on the panel. “This is the building the frequency emits from. The same building the delegates are held in.” Several sides of the plain brown building flashed. He glanced over to his Commandant. “One door in and one out. Once the targets have been extracted, the building and its contents should be destroyed.”
“The problem is Commander they can always rebuild.” Araman stared at the drab structure.
“I thought you would point that out. My team is working on obtaining the prints for the secret weapon but with the activity on Oleander it’s making it next to impossible. A scan would offer more information.” Santari suggested. He watched his Commandant gaze thaw when it rested on his concubine. Araman agreed with his underling.
“I have not told Brea it is a mission to protect her. I have suggested that we are on furlough.” Araman instructed Santari. “Our meetings will have to be brief and alone. Brea must be kept from it.” He watched her plaiting her hair resisting the urge to go over to her and bury his face and hands in the soft spirals drinking in her soft spicy scent.
Santari broke into a mocking smile ignoring the pangs of envy in his own heart. “But of course Commandant.” Rolled out his mouth nonchalantly. Araman whipped his head in the commander’s lazy bored tone. His blue eyes iced over.
“Commander, I need not remind you that as my concubine, Brea is a security fact
or.” Araman spoke through his teeth. Santari did not miss the warning of his tone.
“Your concubine,” his words were serious, “Commandant, will be given every amount of consideration that would be given to you Sir, if anything should happen to her.” Santari gave his head a nod in salute to Araman.
“If I have it my way, Santari, nothing will happen to her.” He glanced back over to Brea as she finished her task with her hair. “She is fearful enough.”
Santari gave his superior a puzzled look. “Is there something I am not aware of and should be?”
Araman looked over to Santari’s worried expression. “My little Shinwa concubine has it firmly entrenched in her mystical head that I will bring her death.”
“No doubt my gallant Commandant that you reassured her to no avail.” Araman shot him a warning glance as Santari reached over and ejected his disk and turned off the screen. “In that case,” Santari’s sienna eyes met his superior’s “Commandant, I add my voice to yours in the pledge of protecting your little concubine.” He said sincerely.
Santari had been the one to arrive after Sonya’s betrayal and help the General in the cover up, not that his superior would have been questioned for his actions.
He broke out into a grin. “She has made things a lot more interesting around her since she has been issued to you.”
Araman scowled at his underling who was bowing to Brea as she approached. She looked shyly over to Araman dark face.
“Do I look Terrian now?” She held her hands open for Araman’s approval.
Santari took hold of one of her hands and twirled her around. He let out a whistle then leveled his gaze to Araman. A slow sardonic smile crossed his lips.
“No Terrian woman could ever hold a candle to you Brea.” Santari gave his commandant a nod before turning his smile sweetly to her.
She looked up to Araman and then over to Santari. The look the two men exchanged told her she had been correct in assuming a Terrian woman had somehow betrayed the Commandant. She smiled and put her hand into Araman’s.
“Perhaps,” her pale green eyes melted the ice in Araman’s as she looked up at him. “Terrian women should be looked upon as disposable.” The soft tone in her voice challenged.
Araman's Aria Page 8
