Too late now.
That opportunity may never come again.
She pressed her knuckles against her mouth until the bones ground against her teeth. I will not cry. The moment passed and she opened her eyes, tapped the switch to turn off the cleansing programme. It was time to face a new day and ensure she fulfilled her obligations in keeping these women safe.
She would not fail anyone else.
Before leaving the tube, her eyes caught her distorted reflection in the flexi glass. She pulled a face at her image and ran a hand through her hair tugging at the ends. No, there was nothing there to evoke any feelings of overwhelming passion in the opposite sex. She had learned that lesson from Scott too well.
So why her? A sickening mixture of confusion and anxiety churned deep in her gut. Chewing her lower lip, Alana stepped out of the cleansing tube to find Jessamine leaning against the curved wall, examining one of her long black braids.
Alana snapped her teeth together and did her best to evade the keen glance her friend shot at her. It was apparent she was not going to be able to keep the events of the night before undisclosed.
“We’ve all been ordered to assemble in some room on a different level. Norman called it ‘The Claiming Room’. I’m a mite curious as to what’s goin’ on. Any suggestions, Captain?” asked Jessamine.
“Some.” Alana finger combed her hair. She reflected on the passage of words she had with Commander Tarak. Perhaps it would be best to keep her suspicions to herself for a while longer. She chose her words with care. “I believe it’s an area where these aliens will claim a slave, that is, one of us.”
“Wooah there, honey. Surely you’re not serious?” Jessamine’s brown eyes flashed with annoyance. “There ain’t no way I’m gonna be dragged off by some hideously deformed monster. I do my own claimin’.”
”It might relieve your mind somewhat to know they’re humanoid,” Alana said wryly while smoothing out the wrinkles on her trousers.
“Humanoid?” Jessamine’s jaw dropped open. She emitted a soundless whistle. “Get out of here. Tell me, tell me everything.” She grabbed Alana by the arm and dragged her over to the bunk, thrusting her down so quickly, Alana whacked her hand on the metal bar at the base.
“Ouch!”
She scooted over on her bottom and rested her head on the wall. The wall flexed giving the impression it moved against the weight of her body. She frowned and pressed her fingers against the smooth surface. It was supple and made a faint rippling movement.
How strange. Her friend’s loud voice interrupted her musings. With a sigh, Alana brought her attention back to the matter at hand.
“Come on, give,” Jessamine repeated. Her face softened. “That bad, huh?”
Alana sat up straight and looked at her, chin up, determined. “I made a wrong decision and one I will not be repeating.”
“If that guy hurt you—I’ll make sure he pays.” Jessamine’s brown eyes glowed fiercely.
“He didn’t hurt me. He was wonderful.” She covered her face with her hands and shuddered.
“Uh huh.” Jessamine enfolded Alana in her arms.
After a few moments, Alana lifted her head and gave a wan smile at her friend. She disengaged herself. “Sorry.”
“Not a problem. The best cure-all I know for dealing with stupid acts from the opposite sex is to eat mountains of double chocolate fudge ice-cream.” Jessamine’s voice dropped to a wistful murmur. “Now, I just bet there’s no such thing as ice cream on this metal death trap.”
Alana chuckled. “If you came up with a way to make ice cream, you would make a fortune.”
“Maybe we could get Norman, here, on the case. Ice cream and coffee.” Her friend smiled in empathy. “You know you don’t have to tell me anything, if you don’t want to.”
“I know.” Alana heaved a weighty sigh and mumbled, “I can’t believe I had sex with some alien.”
“You did say he was humanoid, honey. Soooo, does this mean he is all humanoid?” Jessamine ventured after a few moments.
“All humanoid,” Alana said with emphasis. She placed her hands in her lap and faced the other woman. “It was the most amazing moment of my life and I’ve had quite a few adrenaline moments.”
Perplexed, Jessamine’s brow furrowed. “So what’s the problem here?”
Laughter burst from Alana. She grinned at her friend. “You’re right of course, but this is not how a leader should be acting. Jumping into bed with the first available man. Not when there is so much at stake. What was I thinking? I’m a thirty-three-year-old woman not some sex mad teenager.”
“You are way too hard on yourself. Accordin’ to my analyst, sex is the best way to release stress. And let’s face it, this sure has been one hell of a stress ride so far!” She winked. Amusement crinkled tiny lines about her mouth when she grinned. “Now don’t shoot me, honey, but I’m thinkin’ this could work to our advantage too.”
Alana looked at her questioningly.
“Here we have a guy who appears to be the leader of some seriously powerful race, totally gone over you.”
“Please.” Alana did the eye roll thing. “It meant nothing.”
“Huh, tell it to the marines. No Alana, you think about it for a minute. Forget your rigid standards about protocol and really think. What if I’m right? I’ll bet everythin’ I own, which at the moment is what I’m dressed in, this guy comes back for more.”
Heat suffused Alana’s face as she pondered her friend’s words. She couldn’t deny her attraction but she also knew her uncharacteristic behaviour could be a by-product of the extreme circumstances she found herself living. That plus her long years of celibacy! Celibacy could be the same reason for Tarak’s eager response too, she decided. A queer pang of disappointment pricked her heart.
“No.” Alana shook her head. “I’m certain it was the natural reaction of a man who has not been with a female for a while. Your guess last night is, I believe, all too true. It appears they are in the market for sex slaves.”
”Now, hold on a second.” Jessamine scowled. “I sure don’t like the idea we have no say here.”
“I don’t like the idea, period!” Alana frowned in turn, then added through clenched teeth, “We are not slaves.”
“I ‘spose not. The sex part sure sounded good. Did I mention how long it’s been since I broke up with Ivan?”
Alana snorted. “No and I don’t want to know. Time for us to join the others.”
“So are we gonna tell them what we suspect is goin’ on?”
Alana scooted to the edge of the bunk and stood, fisting her hands on her hips. Her steady eyes met Jessamine’s worried brown ones. “Yes.”
“I ‘spect we’re in for another fun mornin’. Lead on Captain, I’m right behind you.” She grinned. “Oh and don’t forget, I’m still waitin’ for the details.”
Laughing, the two women exited the chamber and sauntered arm-in-arm along the corridor.
“Heads up,” ordered Jessamine when they entered the meeting room.
Alana, suppressing a smile at her friend’s pseudo-military demeanour, paused in the doorway. In an automatic reaction, she checked for multiple exits, danger, aliens, but the compartment was void of all except her fellow travellers. She noted the other women were either sitting on the floor in small groups or milling aimlessly around the open space.
They all turned towards her. Anxiety wrenched through her empty stomach. She straightened her shoulders, putting on what she privately termed her ‘war’ face, one which hopefully exuded confidence and calm.
She strode further into the room and listened while Jessamine requested their attention.
“We have a situation here, ladies,” began Alana. She crossed her fingers behind her back. “The good news is I don’t believe we will be participating in any weird scientific research. At least, not here. The bad news is the aliens who are actually humanoid, will be joining us here soon to coerce our compliance into quite a different situation.”
Silence reigned while she explained her and Jessamine’s theories. When she had finished, a tide of whispered conjectures, frightened giggles, and agitated voices rose to a wave of noise that washed through the room.
“Well, that wasn’t so bad.” Jessamine smoothed a manicured finger over her dark brows as she surveyed the occupants.
“Early days yet.” Alana grinned. Her eyes widened as Norman, who had hurried to her side, waved a small metal object over her person.
“What are you doing, Norman ?”
“I am checking, Alana, to ensure you are not damaged.”
Alana blushed and tried to ignore her friend’s grin. Oh boy! She hoped like hell no one else had noticed her absence last night.
”Of course I’m not hurt. I’m perfectly okay, now put that thing away,” she said her voice sharp with embarrassment.
Norman blinked like a startled owl then pursed his small mouth into a sulk. “If you insist.”
Alana rolled her eyes as he made an issue out of stuffing the object into one of his pockets. From across the room she saw Elise waving her hand in the air and calling out to her.
“So are we going to meekly accept this situation?” Elise yelled over the hubbub of noise.
Silence fell. The women turned once more towards Alana.
“What I propose is we play this by ear, using our intelligence and common sense,” Alana’s voice rang out with cool authority. “We are no man’s slave. Don’t forget what I said about these blokes’ honour. I believe it’s against their code to use force against a woman. This, ladies, will give us the upper hand.”
“This is a nightmare, an awful nightmare,” Linette shrieked.
Alana hurried to her friend’s side. She placed her arm about the other woman’s shoulder and drew her aside. “I know. I still keep waiting to wake up too,” she murmured. “Unfortunately this is really happening and you need to accept this, Lin. We need to keep our wits about us if we’re to survive and get back home.”
Her heart sank at the anguish in Linette’s face. Unease prickled her skin as she heard the desperation in the other’s voice.
“I don’t think I can do this, Alana,” Linette whispered.
”Sure you can, Linette. I believe in you.” Alana smiled with calculated reassurance. “Remember, their honour demands they don’t force an unwilling female. So you just say, no. We will survive.”
“Truly? You really believe we can go home?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Very well. I’ll try.” Her answering smile wobbled on her lips, a mere shadow of her normal confident manner.
“Well done,” Alana said and buried her doubts for the moment.
She took advantage of the women’s preoccupation with this new development to ask a few discreet queries from Norman. His response alleviated her concerns about any of them contracting an alien sexual disease. She didn’t understand everything he said but if she understood correctly, most diseases had been genetically eradicated from the Darkon people many years ago.
A piece of information she chewed over while staring absently into the distance. Unease teased at the back of her mind but before she could pinpoint its origin the hissing of an opening door captured her attention.
Her heart rate sped up.
He was here.
“Action time, ladies.” Alana strode to the centre of the room to stand in front of the other women. A movement at her side signalled the reassurance of Jessamine’s presence.
”Here we go again,” Elise piped up from her other side and Alana’s confidence surged.
With such friends as these, surely they would continue to survive.
The Commander entered, a contingent of his men at his heels. She stood up straighter.
From the other women came gasps, quiet whispers as they registered the aliens’ appearance. Gone were the protective amours of the warriors. They were clad in matching uniforms which consisted of form hugging pants of some midnight-dark, supple material, knee high boots, belts with a small array of weapons attached. Nothing whatsoever covered the bulging muscles of their sable-skinned chests and backs. Their faces were hard and tense. Their black hair flowed down their backs.
“That sure is some serious eye candy,” muttered Jessamine in Alana’s ear and she had to agree.
The warriors’ aura was breathtaking. The atmosphere in the room crackled with the flames of sexual danger. Determination and need was etched into every visage. Alana’s heart sank as she realised their chances of winning this battle were slim. A quick glance at the other women revealed a few were actually patting their hair, tweaking at their clothes. For some of them at least, the prospect of engaging in sexual activities with men such as these was not going to be a serious issue.
At her side, her best friend was practically drooling. Alana gritted her teeth at Jessamine’s enthrallment. “Pick your jaw up from the floor, Jess!”
”I can’t help it. I’ve surely never seen such men. Check out those muscles! They look as if they’ve been hewed from rock. I’d always imagined aliens as tiny and scrawny.” She made a rapid fanning motion in front of her face with her hand. “Oh moma, here comes your candy from heaven. If a man looked at me the way he’s lookin at you, honey, I’d melt on the spot.”
“Shush,” Alana admonished.
The phrase ‘girding her loins’ flashed across her mind before she met Tarak’s eyes as he strolled towards her. She sensed her friends edging away from the power of his presence. She didn’t blame them. The intensity of his gaze caused a peculiar rolling sensation in the pit of her stomach, similar to what she had experienced on a roller coaster in Cedar Point, Ohio. She frowned at the sudden lightening of her spirit. Careful! Remember you’re merely a tool for his pleasure. Her mouth tightened. She lifted her head, her gaze steady.
“Well?” She gestured with her hand. “Care to tell me what this summons is all about?”
Alana noticed the hint of amusement playing about his mouth, deepening the grooves at the corners of his lips. Her initial embarrassment at coming face to face with her lover of the night before fled as irritation at his smug countenance rose. He looked far too pleased with himself. The urge to wipe clear his complacency had Alana’s hands curling into fists.
“This is the Claiming Room, where I and my men will claim our slaves,” he returned evenly.
“We are not slaves!” Alana winced at the rising anger in her tone.
”You are in no position to argue with me. As Commander Tarak el Rajan I have decreed your status. That is an end to the matter. Your fellow captives will be claimed and sent to the Analysis Chamber.”
Gasps came from Jessamine and Elise who were crowded together behind her. Dismay hit her as she struggled with the translation of his words, worried over their import.
Was this the research Norman had warned her about?
She sank her teeth into her lower lip aware the Commander watched her with hooded eyes. Deep in thought, she almost jumped out of her skin when his fingers trailed over her cheeks and across her jaw. Warmth from his touch spiralled down her body. Her face heated under the intensity of his regard.
“The Analysis Chamber,” he said in his quiet deep voice and to Alana’s unease, seemingly answering her unspoken thoughts, “is where everyone is scanned for illness and disease. You will be issued with standard clothing which signifies your class and then given into the care of your warrior.”
“What type of standard clothing?” Alana asked. She decided to ignore his statement regarding their ‘class’ and ‘care’ for the moment as she just knew she would not like his answer.
The Commander seemed surprised and a little ill at ease. “Female slaves must wear specific clothing. Err, it is a long garment, very comfortable.” A wolfish smirk split his dark features.
”Uh huh!” snorted Jessamine. She moved closer to mutter into Alana’s ear. “Probably transparent and very draughty. We’ll be sure to catch our death of cold.”
The Command
er’s gaze left Alana’s face to examine with interest her companion. She heard her friend choke back a sound of fear, then let out an explosive breath of relief when he turned away.
“Interesting how some of the females are different in colour, shape of face and form and yet you say you are from the same planet.”
“Same planet, but some of us are from different countries with different cultures,” Alana answered.
Her toes curled within her heavy flight boots when he smiled. Mesmerised, she stared at his well-shaped lips parting over strong white teeth. Her bones dissolved, melding with her thrumming blood, which heated and sizzled along her veins. Not good, not good screamed through her head.
“My slave, Alana. Walk with me and tell me of these countries,” he purred and took her hand to pull her into step with him.
Alana attempted to draw her hand out of his grasp to no avail. She stared back at her friends. Jessamine was busy fluttering her long dark lashes at two warriors who were regarding her with interest. When the warriors stalked towards them, Elise inched back into the crowd of women leaving an open field to the other woman.
The warriors circled the room in twos and threes. Alana observed how every now and then one of them would stop before one of the women, stroke a hand over their hair and move closer.
“What are they doing?” Anxiety cramped her stomach.
“Be easy, my Alana. They are choosing their slaves.” He drew her hand through the crook of his arm and imprisoned her hand with his. His touch though gentle seemed to burn through her skin. “The females will not be harmed. Explain to me the dynamics of your world. The more information we learn will enable us to ensure your transition as slaves is painless.”
Startled their minds could run along similar lines, Alana frowned, staring morosely into the distance, aghast at the comfort his attitude afforded her. Their goals could not have been more opposite but at least both of them wanted to keep the women unharmed.
Perhaps they would discover they shared other similar objectives as well?
She turned her head to find him studying her. Her face warmed as his gaze dropped to her mouth. She found herself remembering the ardency of his kisses, the feel of his warm lips against her skin.
Legend Beyond The Stars Page 9
