Guardians of Vesturon 2 - Resurrection

by Hargrove, A. M.

  Maddie took form in the main generating station, and she immediately went to work. She set charges in every vulnerable space she could. Then she made her way to the security station. She veiled herself and walked right in and set more explosives. Lastly, she made her way to their main surveillance station. She set her shadar on self- destruct, and then, she buzzed Sharra. When she materialized on Sharra’s ship, she yelled, “Get out of here now!”

  Sharra slammed the ship into super propulsion, and they sped away. Moments later, they felt the magnetic waves from the detonations smash into them, rocking the fighter around mercilessly, like a ship at sea during a hurricane. Maddie and Sharra were thrown around the vessel like rag dolls, crashing into things. When the ship finally settled down, they both pulled themselves up, assessing the damage.

  “Well, that was fun! I felt like a pinball bouncing around,” Maddie declared. She laughed and then looked down at her shirt. She felt the warmth spreading across her stomach and saw the blood seeping out. She lifted her shirt to see a long gash.

  “Oh, brother. For the love of God, I wish that for once I could walk away from something injury free! Sharra, please tell me you have a magic wand on board?” she asked.

  “I never leave home without it! Stand still a minute,” Sharra told her.

  She reached out with the mending device and held it over Maddie’s laceration. After a few seconds, Maddie started to feel the heat of the device healing her wound. Minutes later, she was as good as new.

  The two females looked at each other, and suddenly, they started laughing.

  “I wished I had been a bee on the wall over there when they lit up like an Easter tree!” Sharra exclaimed.

  Maddie laughed even harder. “Gosh, Sharra, I have missed you,” she said, launching herself in Sharra’s arms. “By the way, it is a fly on the wall and a Christmas tree!”

  “Oh, yes… well that too! I have missed you as well!”

  They reminisced over the explosion and how the Xanthians, or what remained of them, would be out for blood.

  The transcom lit up, and Xarrid’s voice reverberated through the ship. “Where are you? What is happening? The convoy arrived with Rayn, and he is in medical right now. What is taking you so long?”

  They both let out a huge burst of laughter, and after a spell, Maddie was finally was able to form a whole sentence. “We will be there shortly. We had to take a slight detour.”

  “What do you mean detour?”

  Sharra replied, “We will explain when we get there.” Then, they both broke into guffaws once again.

  Xarrid didn’t quite know what to make of it all, so he simply said, “See you in a bit then,” and signed off.

  Sharra and Maddie could not get a grip on themselves. They were rolling on the floor, howling with laughter, with tears running down their cheeks when a voice lit up their transcom once again.

  “Commander Yarrister, this is ground control. We are locking on to your ship and will bring you in to the docking station.”

  “Thank you, ground control. We are ready to dock.”

  The girls were arm in arm and still giggling when they exited the ship. Therron and Xarrid were waiting for them with the angriest of expressions upon their faces that Maddie had ever seen.

  They cornered the girls and exploded, “What did you do? Are you mad? You could have died—the both of you!”

  Maddie and Sharra just giggled in response, and Maddie added, “I just gave those jerks a taste of their own medicine. Now I have to go and see Rayn.” She took off in a sprint and left them staring at a blank space.

  Chapter 6

  As soon as she could, she located Julian. He gave her a rundown of Rayn’s condition. Overall, he would be fine. They had repaired the cornea on one of his eyes, and they were hoping the other would be fine in a day. The Xanthians had burned them with a photoblast. Julian felt that in time, they would both be as good as new. One was severe enough to warrant a transplant, but Julian wanted to see if it would heal on its own. If it wouldn’t, Julian would do a synthetic transplant, and Rayn would be as good as new. Rayn’s sight had already returned in one of his eyes.

  Julian had repaired all of Rayn’s fractures, which included several ribs as well. He had infused liquid nourishment and fluids into Rayn’s body. Rayn was currently resting.

  “Maddie, you need to go through the decontamination chamber before you go to him.”

  She did as she as instructed, and she quickly flew to Rayn’s side. He was lying on the gurney, so she crawled up next to him and put her arms around him. “I don’t care if you want me here or not, but I am telling you right now that I refuse to leave your side. I will not leave you until you are better, and you will just have to deal with it.”

  Maddie didn’t know if he could hear her or not, but when his hand picked up a tendril of her hair and lifted it to his nose, she knew he was awake.

  “It is my turn to thank you this time. You came for me when I thought I was lost. I do not want you to leave my side again ever,” he whispered.

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. You’ll have to kick me out if you want to get rid of me!”

  “Maddie, can you lay on my other side? I want to look at you, and I cannot see you with this eye that is covered.”

  She crawled over him, but while she was in the process of changing sides, he grabbed her and pulled her down on top of him.

  “Rayn, love, I hardly think this is proper.”

  “I hardly care what is proper and what is not.”

  Tilting her head to the side, he whispered in her ear, “I am sorry for acting like a horse’s behonkas, and I never want to be without you again. You are truly a sight for sore eyes, Sunshine. I have never seen you look more beautiful than you do now.”

  She stared at his face, cupping his cheek, brushing her thumb across it. He left her speechless.

  Maddie stayed by Rayn’s side, never leaving him for the tiniest of moments. She acted like a mother bear protecting her cub. After hours of trying to assist her, Rowan and Annalise threw their hands in the air and left the medical facility, knowing full well Rayn would get the best of care.

  ********

  Two days later, Rayn was healing and looking much more like himself. Maddie had been with him continually, never leaving his side.

  “I shall like to bathe, and I mean a true bath. Do you think Julian will allow it?”

  Maddie left in search of an answer. When she returned, she informed Rayn that they were going to the palace. Moments later, they materialized in his bedroom. She assisted him into the bathroom where she began running water in the bath. While the tub filled, he shaved, and they both brushed their teeth. Then Maddie helped him undress. He was still clothed in some of his prison attire, and he stepped out of it and crumpled it up. He grabbed Maddie’s shadar and destroyed the foul garments. When he finished, he turned toward her. Her eyes were averted since he was naked, so she handed him a towel to cover himself. She stripped down to her bra and panties and went to help him in the gigantic tub.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “I am helping you bathe. I cannot leave you; you could fall and hurt yourself.”

  “Maddie, now I must say this is not proper. I am naked, and you are nearly naked. I do not know if I can tolerate being in the tub with you as such.”

  “Be that as it may, I am not leaving your side—propriety to the dogs. I have been without you too long, and if we cannot control ourselves in order for you to have a proper bath, then that doesn’t say much for us, does it? Besides, this tub is gigantic so get in now and I will help you bathe.”

  He tilted his head, giving her an inscrutable look. Then, without another word, he allowed her to help him step down into the hot sudsy water.

  A moan escaped from him, and Maddie smiled. She knew how wonderful it must feel to him. She picked up the large bathing sponge, squirted a huge dollop of soap on it, and lathered him up, starting with his arms. She scooted behind him and
massaged the soapy sponge into his neck and back, once again, eliciting moans from him. She moved to his legs and feet, taking her time, kneading his muscles along the way. Then, she began the process of scrubbing his hair, massaging his head as she went. She shampooed it twice for good measure, and when she was finished, she helped him to his feet. Lastly, she took the handheld sprayer, and she thoroughly rinsed him from head to toe. She grabbed a thick, fluffy towel and wrapped him in its folds, drying him in the process.

  When Rayn ambled toward the bed, she told him that she would be in there momentarily. She stripped off her bra and panties and jumped in the shower quickly washing and shampooing her hair. Then she let the air dryer finish her up. She threw on Rayn’s robe and joined him in the bedroom.

  He was sitting on the edge of the bed, and she brought him a pair of boxers and helped him step into them. He handed her the towel and she hung it in the bathroom and brought back some lotion. Maddie rubbed his arms and legs with the soothing cream and then moved to his chest. She tried her best not to, but she couldn’t help her fingers when they traced gentle patterns across his chest and abs. She was saddened by the amount of weight that he had lost. His ribs poked out like a set of stairs. She leaned down and kissed them. She held his face in her hands and gently touched her lips to his and then ordered him to lie on his stomach.

  She straddled him and began massaging the lotion across the muscles of his back, gently kneading them. Next, she worked on his neck, the back of his arms, and then his legs. When she was finished, she leaned down, and brushing her lips against his ear, she asked him if he needed anything else.

  He shocked her when he flipped over and held her tightly to him. He nodded and whispered one word, “You.” Then, he kissed her, gently at first. He held her tightly, and his kiss deepened as he invaded her mouth with his tongue, dancing within its depths, sliding around her lips. She felt the electricity flowing between them, and she moaned into his mouth. His kiss turned from gentle to possessively controlling, taking from her as much as he could. She felt his desperation and his need for her. She felt him trying to quench his thirst for her, but never quite reaching satiety. She gave it all back to him.

  He eventually pulled back and just stared at her. His eyes darted over her, and then, he sat up and asked her to stand. He questioned her about what she wore beneath her robe. When she told him nothing, he asked her to put some clothing on. She wanted to know why, but he wouldn’t tell her.

  She ran up to Sharra’s room and asked to borrow some clothing. She donned a bra, some panties, a pair of tights and a black shirt, and she ran back to Rayn’s room where he waited for her.

  When she neared the bed where he sat, he cocked his head to the side as if he were inspecting her.

  “You have lost all of your curves, Sunshine. What happened?” he quietly asked.

  Staring directly at him without flinching, she whispered back, “I am told I have been living much like you, eating only for nourishment, working most of the time, and spending my free time exercising to the point of exhaustion.”

  He gently took her by the chin, and first, he studied the angles and planes of her face. Then his inspection moved to the defined muscles of her arms and legs. He pulled her closer until she stood between his legs. He lifted her shirt and inspected her stomach. He softly ran his fingers over the scars from battle with the heptamorg and the new scar she had from her most recent injury. He traced the firm planes of her abs, running his fingers up, down, and sideways.

  “Take your shirt off.”

  “Wwwhat?”

  “You heard me. Take. Your. Shirt. Off,” he repeated in a low murmur.

  His whispered demand left no room for argument. She obeyed him with trembling hands, not sure of where this was headed. She would love nothing better than to completely disrobe and jump into his arms, but she knew better than to think that would happen—Vesturion rules and all.

  “Turn around.” Rayn began inspecting the multitude of scars she had received since her stint with the heptamorg and her little friend Ondine, walking his fingers over and across her back.

  “Face me, please.”

  Maddie turned around and faced him, her eyes cast downward.

  “Look at me, Maddie,” he demanded.

  She lifted her eyes to see tears in his. He pulled her into him, wrapping his arms tightly around her, burying his head against her.

  “Please,” he choked out, “don’t ever do anything again that could even remotely, with the tiniest of chances, have the possibility of marring your beautiful body. Sunshine, I don’t ever want to think of you in danger, in pain, in anguish, or even sadness. I have caused you a great deal of this recently, and I promise never to willingly or knowingly do it again. But, in return, I want you to promise me the same: that you won’t ever put yourself in harm’s way for anything again.”

  She looked at him, nodding, and said, “Rayn, I promise except where you’re concerned. I would walk through the fires of hell to save you, and I mean it.”

  His eyes raked over her again, and he declared, “Bloody hell, I would never have thought it was possible, but you are even more beautiful than ever, Maddie.”

  He lay back down on the bed and opened his arms. Maddie wasted no time crawling into them.

  “Rayn, I want us to be united. How do you feel about today?”

  He raised a brow at her saying, “Can we wait until I lose this eyepatch?” They both laughed. “After all, I want to have my strength when we celebrate our unification!”

  Chapter 7

  Maddie and Rayn requested everyone’s presence in Rayn’s bedroom. They were all standing around the bed when Rayn began.

  “We know this is highly unusual, but we have decided that we would like to have our unification ceremony today or tomorrow at the latest.”

  Everyone began speaking at once, until Rayn held out his hand saying, “Wait! Please, hear us out!”

  When the room fell silent, he continued, “As you all know, Maddie and I have been through some difficult trials and tribulations, and with this recent episode, we have concluded that we have waited long enough. Simply put, we want to be together as soulmates should. Now, that is not to say we do not want a celebration. What we would like to propose is to be united tonight and then plan for a formal ceremony culminating in a traditional reception. Vesturon does not have to know we have united. We can keep it our little secret. Then, when we have our official and formal ceremony, everyone will think we are newlyweds, as they say on Earth!”

  Sharra jumped in and said, “Oh, I think that is a wonderful idea! And then, I also still get to plan the party for when you truly tie the bow!”

  Rayn looked at Maddie and said, “Sunshine, let me handle this.” Maddie was giggling when Rayn turned to Sharra and said, “Sister, it is ‘tie the knot’… not bow.”

  “Oh, yes... well that too! In any event, as long as I can still be the party planner, it is all ok with me.”

  Xarrid ran into the room yelling, “Newsflash, everyone! The Xanthians have pulled back all of their aggressive forces, and they are calling for a universal cease-fire. Chancellor Druaha is currently on his way here under a heavily escorted armada,” Xarrid announced.

  “Maddie, it looks like your covert strike did the trick,” Therron said.

  “It was a well executed mission, and we had a grand time, did we not, Maddie?” Sharra asked.

  Rayn looked at Maddie, shaking his head. “Would you care to explain this or do I even want to know?”

  “Only if you promise not to get too angry with me. I did it before I made that promise to you.”

  Rayn rolled his eyes, shook his head, and listened to how Maddie had gone back to Xanthus and had singlehandedly taken out a quarter of the planet, including their entire communications and security systems. He had to take several deep breaths to calm himself as he thought of how much danger in which she had placed herself.

  “I am here and it is done. Do you remember what I told you
earlier? I promised not to do anything dangerous unless it involves you. I was so angry with those scumbags that I let my fury fuel me in order to accomplish my mission. I was determined to pay them back for what they did to you,” she squeezed his hands as she spoke.

  Rayn just stared at her grinning. He knew he would have his hands full where she was concerned. He wondered how he would ever be able to get any work done with her around; she was a full-time job in itself.

  “Rayn, I cannot believe you are thinking that!” Maddie said with great indignation. The rest of the family laughed.

  Rowan stepped forth and inquired, “Maddie, there is one thing I would like to know. How is it you were able to free Rayn so quickly?”

  There was a moment of brief silence while Maddie looked up at everyone sheepishly. “Well… I think I might possess the Power of Command.”

  You could have heard a pin drop. A snicker escaped from her as she took in the looks of astonishment on their faces.

  “Would you care to expound on that Maddie?” Rayn queried.

  “Yes, well, I thought initially I was feeling anger. It started happening awhile back but the first time it intensified was the other day when you informed me of Rayn’s capture. Remember when I tore the door off the hinges?”

  Rayn raised his brows, questioning her, while everyone else nodded. At the time they, too, believed her anger to be the cause. Xarrid explained the occurrence to Rayn and relayed how Maddie was the one that incited them to plan his rescue.

  Maddie continued, “I don’t think it was anger that caused that. It may have been partly due to my anger, but prior to that I had been feeling this surge of fierce heat emanating from my core and radiating out to the rest of my body. When I was on Xanthus and Druaha tried to play hardball with me, the feelings began to escalate. Then when the guard refused to let me in Rayn’s cell, I just commanded him to shut the power source down. A glazed look came over him and he left to follow my orders. As soon as I heard the shield power down, I entered Rayn’s cell and well, you all know the rest of the story.”