by Gun Brooke
“This is insane. I can’t understand why Jacelon would keep me in the dark. I’ve been undercover as a civilian captain for years. Damn!” Slapping her right armrest, she pressed her lips together to stop from saying anything that might make matters worse.
“Dana, please. This is a mission that can’t fail.” EiLeen’s voice changed, losing its flippant tone. “Lots of people depend on its success. I ask you to trust me, and your admiral, and help me reach Revos Prime—or a vessel that can take me there. Quickly.”
“I can’t hand you over to just any vessel.” Aghast, Dana envisioned such a scenario ending in total disaster with her as the scapegoat. “This shuttle can’t travel much faster than this, which means it’ll take us at least three weeks to get to Revos Prime.”
“Then we need to use another type of spacecraft.”
“Yes.” Dana agreed. “Let me work on a plan for us to do that without the official hassle.”
“Are you saying you’re prepared to accept my orders?” EiLeen raised one eyebrow in a trademark example of her ever-present disdain.
“No. I accept Jacelon’s orders, and that’s it. If they coincide with your suggestions, then fine.” Dana motioned for EiLeen to change seats with her. “I need to make course corrections.”
“Very well, by all means.” EiLeen rose to switch seats.
As they passed each other in the confined area between the chairs, Dana accidentally brushed against EiLeen’s arm. Her skin erupted with goose bumps. The soft scent engulfed her, traveled along her senses, marked her. She glanced at EiLeen, wondering if she’d noticed anything. It was hard to tell as EiLeen had her superiority mask slapped on so hard, no personal expression was readily distinguishable.
Dana pulled up the star chart that showed every miniscule civilian space station. “Your idea has some merit,” she said, muttering. “If we lose this shuttle and move on in another…um, acquired ship, we could go faster and make things harder for our ‘friends.’ By the way, who are they? Or is that beyond my security-clearance grade?”
“I honestly couldn’t tell you. I know what they want, or at least I think I do.” Sitting down with her usual elegant grace, EiLeen tapped her lips with her index finger. “They’re well financed, well connected, or they wouldn’t have half a squadron of ships at their disposal, let alone people ready to die for the task at hand. Ridding ourselves of this rowboat of a shuttle gets us to Revos Prime faster, that much is clear, but how do you propose we do that?”
“I can see only one way. Look here.” She tapped the star chart. “This space station is a sordid little run-down pleasure dome where outcasts and shady characters gamble their hard-earned, or stolen, credits. What many of them have is really nice ships. That’s how they stay clear of the SC patrols.”
“Don’t the SC patrols close down such places as this station?” EiLeen leaned in close, her hair tickling Dana’s temple as she placed a hand on her armrest.
“They try, but as soon as they do, someone toggles the empty station somewhere else, and the word spreads fast among these people. It doesn’t take them long to have it up and running. Sometimes rich and very bored passengers who travel with the Koenigin ask us to detour to one of these stations. I never do, but their requests make me aware of their location. Or last known coordinates, at least.”
“So, what’s your plan?” EiLeen supported herself against Dana’s knee as she perused the star chart.
“Steal a ship, of course.” It was a thrill to see EiLeen’s eyes widen at her words. She held back a wry smile as EiLeen nodded thoughtfully, an odd look on her face. She actually appeared a little impressed.
“It’ll take us about four hours to reach the station. At our current speed, that should give us about two hours, wouldn’t you say, to obtain another vessel. A fast one, at that. Any idea how to go about it? I mean, nobody would leave their ship unsupervised at such a place, and there are just two of us.” EiLeen’s star-shaped pupils shrank as the light from the stars outside hit them.
“I think they’ll perceive us, two women traveling alone, as quite harmless,” Dana said. “I do have a plan, but you might not like it.”
“As long as I don’t have to sleep with any of them to procure a ship.” EiLeen straightened and looked regally at Dana.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Dana managed to say after nearly choking on EiLeen’s words. “No sex for favors or coercion—that’s not how I operate.”
“No sex.” EiLeen tilted her head again, a movement that clearly indicated that she was trying to probe Dana’s mind.
As Dana hatched the plan of their heist, she briefly touched her temple. Oddly enough she still felt EiLeen’s soft and silky strands caressing it. She was starting to think she was imagining things and was due for a long vacation, so she squared her shoulders and pulled at her coverall. She missed the protection of her leather-like jacket, but no garment invented or designed would protect her from attraction, welcome or not. “For my plan to work, I’ll need your full cooperation, no questions asked.”
This statement did not sit well with her ex-majesty. Her lips suddenly pinched, her eyes a stormy color of pale gray, and her body language rigid, EiLeen nodded slowly. “Against my better judgment and only because Admiral Jacelon praised your service record and your ability to, and I quote, ‘think on your feet.’ That is a weird expression, but I understand the meaning. You’re very good at being undercover.”
Dana’s cheeks warmed at the matter-of-fact praise. She wasn’t used to being the subject of a humanoid sensor sweep like this. It disconcerted her and made her nervous. The fact that EiLeen’s steadfast, scrutinizing once-over left her breathless was shocking as well. Not only was it completely unprofessional to react physically to those placed in her care, but she hadn’t allowed herself to feel anything of a personal nature for a long time. This woman, almost twenty years her senior, was way out of her league, socially and, according to EiLeen’s description of her new duties, professionally. Still, she couldn’t allow herself to be concerned about that. She needed to get them to the illegal space station before their pursuers showed up.
A lot was at stake and their lives depended on it.
Chapter Five
EiLeen walked over to the narrow alcove that held a bunk bed. Reluctantly admitting she was bone-tired, she lay down and pulled a blanket over herself. The propulsion system had a soothing effect as it hummed and reverberated throughout the hull. She closed her eyes and immediately saw the vision of the blond beauty that was her captain. Dana Rhoridan infuriated her at times, but her undisputed courage and allure were as mind-blowing as they were unexpected.
EiLeen admired Dana’s fierce nature, but she didn’t welcome the attraction she experienced. She had no time for such complications in her life at this point. She had so many obligations—perhaps even more than when she was queen. That was another refreshing aspect of Dana—she didn’t bow and scrape or try to bask in the royal glory like so many others did. Instead, Dana seemed to question and challenge her every chance she got, which of course also annoyed her.
Turning on her side, EiLeen held the blanket close to her chest. What would Dana’s hair look like when not pinned up in that austere bun? Would it curl around her fingers or…? Gasping at where her train of thought was taking her, EiLeen pressed a hand to her chest as if to calm her suddenly racing heart. “Really.” As she muttered into the pillow, she tried to erase the imagery of lacing her fingers through long blond tresses of hair, or even burying her face just like so.
“I set the alerts on high sensitivity so we can both rest for a few hours.” Dana’s voice made EiLeen jump. “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”
“I’m fine. I can take the helm if you like.”
“Not necessary. The computer will alert us if we need to correct anything manually or if sensors detect anything remotely suspicious.” Dana climbed into the upper bunk and gave a muted moan as she settled onto the mattress. “Stars and skies, I’m sore.�
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“Are you all right?” EiLeen peered up at the top bunk.
“To quote you, I’m fine. Just sore. I’m pretty sure you’re feeling it too?”
“Feeling what?”
“The tendons, the muscles, and fatigue. We need some emergency rations. We haven’t eaten since dinner.”
“Tell me where they are, I’ll get them.” EiLeen sat up.
“No need to get up. You’ll find some rations and enhanced water in the cabinet to your right. This shuttle will sustain us for more than two months.”
“How utterly comforting.” Knowing she sounded pesky and out of sorts, EiLeen opened the cabinet and was soon munching a tasteless ration bar. “Would it hurt anyone to spice it up a little?” she muttered around the bite. “And make it less like paper?”
“They’re nutritious but definitely not gourmet fare.” Dana chuckled and leaned over the edge of her bed. “Actually, they’re not too bad once you get used to them.”
“Yes, they are. They’re awful.” It was impossible not to return Dana’s smile when she saw the impish look on her face. It was refreshing to see the otherwise stern captain joke. Suddenly Dana’s hair came undone and tumbled down toward her. She drew a deep breath as the fragrant masses of blond locks swayed right next to her. Without thinking, she touched them reverently. “Oh. Such beauty.”
“Damn. That was my last clasp. The other two broke earlier. Sorry about that.” Dana turned a pretty shade of pink. “I know. I should cut it to a decent length. My commander tells me that all the time.”
“No!” Stopping herself from gushing, EiLeen shook her head. “That’d be a crime. You have beautiful hair.”
“And this is a totally surreal conversation to have aboard a star shuttle while hounded by thugs.” Twisting her hair into a low knot, Dana snorted. “But thank you for the compliment. I guess it’s a sign of vanity to keep it like this.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” EiLeen turned on her back and gazed up at Dana. “Sometimes it’s hard to remember that we’re also women, really just regular people with hopes and dreams like everybody else. We give so much of ourselves to our nations, to the SC, and it’s all about duty. I admit that at times I’ve felt completely drained. Depleted.”
“Was that why you abdicated?”
EiLeen flinched. “No.” She wanted to share the reason, but habit, perhaps more than anything else, made her remain silent.
“Sorry. None of my business, I suppose.” Looking awkward, Dana disappeared from view.
“It’s all right. I’m just not used to talking about it. It’s not really a secret or interesting, but I didn’t abdicate because being a queen exhausted me.”
“You don’t have to explain if you’re uncomfortable.” Dana’s face showed up again. “Mind if I join you a bit? I’m certainly not comfortable hanging upside down.”
“By all means.” Her heart rate increased when Dana climbed down and even more so when Dana sat down next to her, pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around them.
“Then share what you can…and want, please.” Dana looked so young with her hair once again tumbling around her shoulders.
“Oh. All right.” Hating how she dithered, which was something she never did otherwise, EiLeen took a breath. “I was never meant to be queen. My brother, however, was groomed from day one of his existence to be king. We even went to different types of schools, which is why he and I had a different outlook on things.” She plucked at her sleeve and then pushed herself up into a half-lying position against the pillows. “I had traveled incognito for years, seen other worlds, visited Earth and Corma multiple times and observed how their societies thrived in complete democracy. I felt Imidestria’s government was reactionary and old-fashioned. When I was crowned, it was as if my life was over.”
“Why was that?” Her eyes darkening with sympathy, Dana placed a hand on top of EiLeen’s foot.
“I enjoyed working as an ambassador of sorts. But I was a prisoner at the palace, and the only other place I saw regularly was the Manbular Nesto. That’s our governmental building in Imicaloza, our capital.”
“Yes, I know. I’ve been to Imidestria several times, but I’ve seen only the main sights while on leave from the Koenigin.”
“Then you know, it’s a large, not very beautiful structure, and it’s even less appealing inside. Anyway, I was dreading having to be the one with the ultimate, if not complete, power. My first session at the Manbular Nesto…it was horrible. The things the local politicians and businessmen bring before their queen is astounding. I broached the idea of altering the ruling system. If Imidestria was to gain membership in the Supreme Constellations Unification of Planets, we needed modernizing. Getting rid of myself, so to speak, was the first step. I proposed a course of action that would make me obsolete, but it took much longer than I had hoped.
“Then, four years ago, the moment arrived. Finally I was ready to hand over my role to a democratic, freely elected government. I was free, or so I thought. As it turned out, SC Intelligence made me an offer that was too good to pass up. I realized that working as an undercover liaison would let me remove myself from Imidestria and not hinder progress. I could use my status as former queen of Imidestria and gain access to the inner circles on most worlds within or outside SC space.” Tipping her head back, she closed her eyes. “It was in my interest, and I suppose in the SC’s as well, that I cultivate my image as a luxury-loving, harmless ex-royal bitch.”
“Even when it deterred potential personal relationships,” Dana said softly.
EiLeen flinched and snapped her eyes open. “Yes. Quite.”
“Sounds lonely.” Dana seemed unaware that she was actually rubbing gently along EiLeen’s lower leg.
“It can be. As you know, that’s the nature of the beast, so to speak, when you work undercover.”
“Yes, but I don’t feel I have to act out of character every single day.” Dana frowned.
“Who says it’s out of character?” Laughing mirthlessly, she tried to ignore the escalating tingling where Dana’s hand now merely rested against her shin.
“I’ve only known you for, what is it? A little more than a day? I think I’ve seen enough of how you conduct yourself when we’ve been alone together to claim that you are not that one-dimensional. I’m sure you can be—what did you call it—a luxury-loving bitch? Oh, quit glaring at me. I mean, that’s hardly all you are. If you were, no way you’d give up the throne, risk your life like this.” Dana suddenly stared at her roaming hand and then yanked it away. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” A lump, immovable and nearly choking her, sat in her throat at Dana’s words. “Believe me, not many people dare to touch me. Really haven’t for many years.”
“Wha—? Really?”
“You sound surprised.” EiLeen chuckled at Dana’s baffled expression. “Well, apart from an endless series of hand-kissing, which I detest now, apparently my level of intimidation forestalls any potential attempts. Until just now.”
“I find it hard to believe that someone as lovely as you doesn’t happen upon people brave enough to do more than kiss your hand.” Dana tentatively shifted and placed her hand on EiLeen’s ankle. “Why are you frowning? Surely you know you’re attractive?”
“If I’m frowning, it’s because I wonder about your motives. Why would you suddenly call me lovely, touch me, and act so interested in why I abdicated, etcetera?” EiLeen knew she was pushing Dana away like she did with everyone else, but it was how she operated, what she was used to.
“Hey, no need to be pesky. I have no other motives, or agendas, than getting us out of this mess alive. As for this,” Dana said in a low voice and squeezed EiLeen’s ankle lightly, “I think you know I have no reason to lie or be obtuse. We have a break right now before things get dicey again, so it’s just me, responding to you. You confided in me, and if you regret it, I can’t do anything about that, but I appreciate you leveling with me. Regardless of your former status I can safely say
I’ve never met anyone quite like you. You’re something of an enigma. You intrigue me.”
Only her many years being scrutinized by an entire world kept EiLeen from gaping. Who but this nearly ethereal-looking young woman had ever spoken to her like this? Like she was a normal, feeling person, a woman who elicited an emotional response within another person. She shied away from asking herself which response exactly, but couldn’t deny that the unexpected touch, chaste as it was, stirred new and surprising feelings.
“You expect me to believe that you’re intrigued by me, not the former queen part of me or even the undercover-agent part? Just me?” The very idea was unfathomable. When had anyone ever asked about her as a humanoid being?
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Dana leaned her chin on the top of her bent knees. “We have,” she checked a built-in chronometer in the bulkhead, “three hours before we reach the space station.” Dana slid closer. “Unless you tell me in no uncertain terms to go back up there, I’ll assume you don’t mind if I…stay.”
“How can you be so bold?” EiLeen’s heart hammered now and made her dizzy. “You sit there, looking like this water-lily fairy goddess. If I hadn’t seen you in action, I would’ve thought you were too fragile, too beautiful, to be anything but a model or a pampered actress. Then again, all I have to do is look into your eyes to discern your strength, your character.”
“Not sure if this is all flattering, but believe me, I’ve been underestimated before while out of uniform.” Dana shrugged. “I’ve set a few people straight over the years. When I was younger, I had a lot to prove, and I did, constantly, until I convinced my superiors I’d earned my promotion.”
“And on a personal level?”
“What personal level?” Dana snorted and tossed her hair back with an impatient flick of her hand. “I’ve lived and breathed the Koenigin ever since I assumed command. As you surmised, only L’Ley knows my double duty, and of course my chef.”
“What are you suggesting, then, since you seem reluctant to return to your bunk? I admit that you have me at a disadvantage.” Cautious, she gazed at Dana, down to her hand where it still rested on her ankle, and back at her eyes.
