Jailed

by Viola Grace

  Finally, her body began to shiver again, her channel gripped his cock and squeezed tight as his thrusts increased in speed.

  He held her hips tightly, and she felt the prick of his claws against her skin. She let out a low moan as her channel contracted rhythmically around him and he continued to move inside her. She was still jerking with the shocks of her orgasm when he let out a roar and she literally felt him flexing inside her.

  He groaned and sank with her to the bedding, kissing her neck and stroking her hair. Kori shivered and smiled to herself. She had survived hospitality. It was one for the books.

  Chapter Three

  Kori went for a sunny afternoon at the beach with Nikada. Norod had left two days ago, after fulfilling his duties as host. Nikada didn’t say where he was and Kori knew it would be impolite to ask.

  Nikada smiled at her, the bright light painted her a lovely gold. “I still can’t believe that you picked my brother over me.”

  “It wasn’t a direct competition. I simply am not attracted to women. While I am sure I would enjoy your attentions, I would have no urge to reciprocate and that would make me feel guilty. Well, after a while.”

  She grinned and got comfortable in her Masuo beachwear of strips of fabric that covered her groin and breasts. The Masuo was a living organism that used the host for survival. It could form any piece of clothing that the wearer could imagine, as long as all layers connected in some way.

  Nikada laughed. “I do love your honesty. It is refreshing when so many would flatter me to get into my bed and then leave me the next day.”

  “I won’t get in your bed, but you also know I have to leave.”

  “I know, but for today, enjoy the sun.” Nikada stretched luxuriously and lay in the chair, completely relaxed.

  Kori smirked and tried to mimic her but knew that she fell far short. Norod’s claw marks were still around her hips, but she had found a bathing suit design that masked the small punctures.

  He was gone. He had kissed her good night, stroked her cheek and left her in a cloud of relaxation and musk. It wasn’t the worst goodbye she had ever had, but his leaving the house had surprised her.

  Kori received a message. There was the possibility of a long-term assignment as a records keeper on a space station. The final negotiations were happening that very day, but it was up to the species to say whether or not they would accept a Terran on their station. The Yalki were said to be rather fussy.

  She would check her messages in a few hours to see if they wanted her. She crossed her fingers that she could get a new job and stop sponging off her friend.

  Despite Nikada’s enthusiasm, Kori had been raised to pull her own weight. She had worked from the moment it was legal, all through school and right up until the moment she had left Earth for an adventure in doing her job on new worlds. It wasn’t nearly as exciting as she had once imagined.

  Clerical work was the same throughout the universe.

  After five hours, Kori was a little sunburned and shocked out of her shoes. They had accepted. A transport was being sent for her and she didn’t need to do anything except be at the spaceport when she was notified of their arrival. She should expect transport in three days.

  She took a quick shower and met Nikada for dinner. When they were both halfway through the meal and conversation had lulled, Kori said, “I got a contact from the archive.”

  “Did you?”

  “I did. I will be out of here in three days.” She twisted her lips and watched her friend’s expression.

  “Oh. I had hoped you would be here longer.”

  “I am very sorry. It was not my intent to cause you distress. I merely have to get back to work to earn my living. I can’t live off the generosity of friends.” Kori inclined her head.

  “I know what you think, but it is no strain. We could support nine more like you if necessary.”

  Kori sighed. “I can’t not do something. I have worked all my life and this vacation coming after my time in Janial is too much relaxation. I have to put myself into action.”

  Nikada cocked her head. “Can I come for a visit?”

  “I don’t know. Do you have any business on Yalki Station?”

  The look of confused distaste on her features betrayed Nikada’s disdain. “You are going to work for the tree people?”

  “I am guessing that I am.”

  Nikada sighed. “I guess that if that is where you are, that is where I will have to go.”

  Kori grinned. “Well, we have three days. What kind of trouble can we get into that doesn’t involve being arrested?”

  Nikada snorted. “You are no fun, but I think we can go on an aerial tour of Wyencar Prime. Let me show you what you are rejecting.”

  “I am not rejecting you, just a life without a job. With all of your automation and your lack of crime, you don’t need an archivist or a court reporter. Those are my only skills.”

  Her friend laughed. “I talked to Norod before he left. Those are not your only skills.”

  It took a bit to gain a blush from her now but that comment managed it.

  “Right. Well, tour?” She tried to redirect the conversation.

  “I will arrange it for the morning. You will love it.”

  Kori sighed. Three days left in paradise. She was quite sure that being in love with her surroundings was going to haunt her during her time at the space station right along with her memories of her night with Norod.

  Wyencar was going to mark her for the rest of her life. She just knew it.

  Three days later, she stood at the spaceport with a bag of items that Nikada considered essentials. With all of Kori’s possessions destroyed on Shiloss, she was literally wearing nothing that she had purchased on her own. Her friend had footed the bill for the entire ensemble.

  Kori promised herself that she would pay Nikada back at the earliest opportunity.

  The ship that landed surprised her. It was a Guardian vessel and exceedingly sleek.

  A cheerful woman with purple hair came out of the ship and looked at her. “Korianne Genner?”

  “Yes.”

  “I am Garden, this is my ship the Emerald Fairy and my mate Mercury is inside. Welcome aboard.”

  The woman’s eyes gleamed in welcome and when Kori got close, she could see the Terran features. She kept her mouth shut until they were inside and the ship was sealed. “You are from Earth.”

  “And you are as well. As is the bride of Yalki. Come on in and be seated. Emmy doesn’t like to lift off without me at the helm.”

  “Fair enough. How long until we get to Yalki?”

  “Twenty hours flying time. If you don’t mind staying awake, it has been a while since I talked with another Terran that wasn’t wired to one of these ships.” She waved her hand in the air and continued to lead the way through an entire green space before reaching the cockpit.

  “Emmy, a seat please.”

  A seat unfolded from an invisible panel on the wall.

  Kori took the hint and strapped in just as a man in a Guardian uniform came out, his skin had a silvery gleam, but his eyes only skimmed over her. He was fixated on Garden. “Are we ready for takeoff?”

  “Yup. Strap in. Wyencar Prime’s temperature makes for a wild rise.” Garden smiled and settled into a throne-like chair that definitely had a vine component.

  Mercury settled in a seat similar to Kori’s.

  As the ship shuddered upward, Kori was glad for the restraints.

  She clutched her bag to her and held onto it as they climbed higher in the sky until the bright colour faded to dark and they were in space, heading toward Yalki Station.

  A chime rang out and Mercury released his harness, coming over to greet her. “Hello, I am Mercury.”

  She extended her hand. “Kori.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Kori. Garden has mentioned that you are one of her species. I have not seen one of you unaltered before.”

 
; Garden hissed, “Mercury, that’s rude.”

  “Is it?”

  Kori smiled. “I understand, and I am not offended. There was nothing exceptional about me to boost and no damage to repair. I am as I was born, and I will die the same, I have no doubt.”

  Garden got up from her seat and grinned, “You never know. You could meet someone and have yourself altered to match his species. I see you have already changed your hair.”

  Kori pulled a hank of the blue hair forward. “Ah, right. This was a gift from a friend. She wanted me to look as alien as I could so no one would think I was a mutant Wyencar.”

  “Is that what she told you? There are trackers in those nanites. She wants to know where you are at all times.”

  Kori winced and nodded. “That sounds like something she would do.”

  Nikada had probably put more trackers in her bag, but Kori wasn’t worried. She was going where she said she was going; there was no problem with being caught in a lie.

  “How long were you on Wyencar?” Garden gestured and Kori followed her.

  “A week. It was an eventful week.”

  “Well, for off worlders, it isn’t precisely an easy vacation spot to get to.” Garden was fishing around for details.

  “Ah, well, I met Nikada in Janial and we became friends. I stayed at her family home.”

  “You mean her home. The Wyencar are matriarchal. The men don’t usually own more than a family business. They never own a home.”

  Kori blinked, wide-eyed. “I had no idea, and they never mentioned it.”

  Garden led the way to a galley and served Kori a cup of tea before pouring one for herself.

  “Now, tell me how you ended up in Janial.”

  “I stepped in a puddle on a world that worships water.”

  Garden paused with her cup nearly to her lips. “What?”

  “You heard me. Shiloss. I broke one of their water taboos, so they had me chucked in prison until they could decide whether they wanted to kill me nor not. Fortunately, they decided not. They destroyed all my stuff and set me loose, but then, I had to look for a new position. So, my friend got out around the same time as me and she offered me some time on Wyencar.”

  “I am still grappling with it. You stepped in a puddle and ended up in Janial? That is bizarre.”

  “Welcome to my world, so to speak.” She shrugged and sipped at the tea with a smile.

  “You are wearing Masuo as well.”

  Kori blinked. “It was another gift from Nikada.”

  Garden got a faraway look and nodded. “Oh dear. Nikada Ru. No wonder you were able to get clearance to Wyencar so quickly.”

  Kori tilted her head. “Is there something in her files?”

  “She is the head of the prime family of Wyencar. They are not big on etiquette or flash, but if she speaks, the council listens.”

  “What about her brother?”

  Garden’s vision shifted again. “Norod Ru is one of the few men who is authorized to own his own home and other properties. He runs a shipping empire for the Ru family and has many holdings off world, as does his sister.”

  “What made them a prime family?”

  “Their ancestor, Dorina Ru, was a first contact member who managed to put treaties and trade routes through their system into effect, for a small profit. She was sought out by a number of other families and had nine children with four different fathers. It was the beginning of an empire, but the Ru’s have never been fussy about insisting on their position. They look just like everyone else.”

  “Aside from Norod running the shipping interests.”

  “Well, aside from that. He seems to make quite the profit, so they are delighted to let him run things.” Garden grinned.

  Kori looked around and she waved her hands, “So, this is quite the ship.”

  “It really is. The Emerald Fairy is sentient and contains enough research materials to keep scientists busy for years. We are a flying greenhouse. It is why we have a link with Yalki and its host. They are experts at producing a variety of customized plant life and we are only too happy to transport it under guard.”

  Kori looked around. “And Mercury?”

  “Oh, he is my mate and he acts as security. My ship likes him, so I put up with him.” Garden chuckled.

  Kori smiled and enjoyed her tea. “You seem pretty full here, is there a place in the main hold where I can crash?”

  “You can. We normally keep our guests on ice, but it has been so long since I have been near another Terran, aside from the bride of Yalki, that I am eager for conversation.”

  Kori grinned. “Me too.”

  Her parting with Nikada had occurred an hour before Kori was allowed on the tarmac and waiting for the guardians. Her friend was eager to learn of her adventures but was willing to wait for a few weeks while Kori got her bearings.

  Kori was expecting a visit within a week of her contact with Nikada.

  Chapter Four

  Two days of girl talk and camping out in the hold later, Kori was ready to begin her new job.

  Garden was great, as were her mate and the ship, but they made Kori want to start her own phase of Terran history.

  Docked with the Yalki Station, she waited by the hatch for the pressure clearance to allow her to exit. Her goodbyes had already been said along with several see-you-soons. The Emerald Fairy was a regular visitor to Yalki Station.

  The moment the door opened, she stepped through it and onto the platform of the station. At the end of the doorway, she faced three creatures with the lower half of their faces covered by masks. Garden had explained the masks as she had the bride of Yalki.

  It was odd to think of a human as having married both the moving aspect of a planet and the planet itself, but she had heard of Alliance Avatars and Terran women, so it wasn’t too much of a stretch.

  “Archivist Korianne Genner?” One of the dark-eyed women spoke.

  “Yes.”

  “Welcome to Yalki Station. I am Yoani, this is Torriana and Weshei. We will be your escort around the station until you get your bearings. Please come this way.”

  The women inclined their heads as their names were read out and they turned as one to lead her into the station. They escorted her through customs and waited while she was scanned and registered with the Yalki government.

  Once that was done, they took her to her quarters and gave her a quick tour. “I am sorry to press you, Korianne, but the Host and Bride are here and they would like you to attend their next negotiation. Our previous record keeper could not withstand the station air. She had to return home. You became available at precisely the right time.”

  “I am glad I could be of service.” She set her bodysuit into more sober colours and looser lines. With quick movements, she braided her hair into a thick column down her spine and nodded her readiness. “Ready when you are.”

  The three women looked delighted that she was so eager to get to it. They led her through the station and a number of checkpoints where men in masks stood at attention.

  The high security got her attention and Kori began to clue in that this was not a simple matter of note taking.

  She was escorted into the boardroom and shown her station. Yoani ran her through the procedures and what was required of her and the three women left her with a pot of tea and a comfortable chair.

  Ten minutes of learning the system and setting up later, the doors opened on either side of the boardroom and a woman with an elaborate hairstyle and human features came in with a Freyalki man on one side while some Saburan lizard-folk came in the other door and both took seats at the table.

  Kori poised her fingers and began to type.

  Six hours later, Kori was exhausted, but the agreement was ready to be signed. Honour had driven a hard bargain, and the host had been content to let her ask all the probing questions. The Saburans had given in to her every whim, but then, they were rather in a nasty set of straits. They
had blown up one of their main feeding grounds with a targeting incident. They needed plants from Yalki in the worst way.

  The agreement broken down simply, the Yalki would provide the seeds of a fast-growing food source and the Saburans would offer them a negotiable corridor through their space that the Yalki could trade at their leisure, for one century.

  Kori slid the three copies out, and the host signed one, the Saburans the other, and then, they exchanged the data pads so that they could complete the ratification.

  Once those signatures were in place, they took turns on the final copy for the space corridor maps archive.

  When everything was signed, Kori sent the documents to the respective archives and waited for the pings. The moment she had complete confirmation, she nodded. “The agreement has been logged. It is complete.”

  “Thank you, Archivist.”

  She nodded and became still while the host and bride shook hands with the Saburans.

  Once the lizard-like folk had left, Honour grinned and came around for a hug. “Get up, cousin.”

  Bemused, Kori got to her feet. “Um, we are not related.”

  “Out here, we are as close as we get.” Honour hugged her tight.

  Kori smelled the Terran skin, but under it was crackling energy and the hint of green. “And yet, you are not completely Terran anymore.”

  Honour grinned. “No, but I have a baby on the way, so I will accept that things have changed.”

  Kori looked at Honour’s flat belly. “When are you due?”

  “In a month or so. You will be invited down to the planet to meet the baby when she arrives.”

  Kori was confused. “How?”

  “As the Bride of the Host and Yalki, I can’t bear a child. I don’t age at a normal rate, so while I can conceive, the pregnancy would take close to a century or more. By using a Yalki volunteer host, I can have a child and still fulfill my duties.”