by Cher Hollis
She hadn’t been able to decide if it was really him or if it was some kind of armored suit. It was his head and chest that confused her. They looked as if they could be some kind of helmet, added to a rib-carved chest plate.
Khan had stopped ahead of her, and then he turned as if he looked back at her. She could sense his edginess. She knew he commanded all the Esa and she thought he had to be very tense with the enormity of leaving the Makkars.
She could see his eyes were almond-shaped curves and sloped toward the center. When she had chances to look closer into them, she’d seen they had an inner texture that was black and looked bottomless. His eyes looked so real and so alive.
Khan had what looked like four small slits on the side of his muscular neck. He had what she thought of as two very powerful arms and legs attached to a straight, brawny torso. His chest was deep red angles, which looked like strong, bulging muscles, and she was attracted to his power and magnitude.
The attraction was even more tempting when she realized what power she had over the fierce and lethal aliens. But her fascination was toned-down by the strangeness she felt at how the Esa were all male, but they didn’t appear to have all the normal parts a man had, except for what seemed like sinewy roping muscles.
Looking ahead, Balice could see Khan had finally stopped and he waited for her. From a distance, it looked as if he was attaching his hand weapons. Esa hands were flat with four digits, which were not often seen in the beginning, because of the menacing hand weapons they wore over them.
The right-hand weapon was a lethal looking half circle of polished steel type material with three lance points, called an Eslic. The left-handed weapon was of the same alien material, in a half circle with a scooped out center, called an Esloc.
When in battle all Esa carried a long cylinder-shaped sheath across their back that was secured by a wide black strap over their massive red chests. The sheath held an alien weapon that became different forms of swords.
However, the most lethal weapon the Esa carried, Korpal had said was like UED’s IR’s. The Esa called their weapon an Esk and they wore it strapped to their upper arm. Korpal was a weapons fanatic and he was awed by the Esk’s capabilities, but he’d been angry that no Variant had been able to fire one.
It seemed the Esk could only be fired by an Esa.
Korpal had set up a demonstration of all Esa weapons, in particular the Esk. When the time had come to show the Esk, Balice had watched the Esa place their hand in a gloved pouch below the barrel of the weapon. When they did that, their entire body became charged with a flaming radiance.
It was as if their body was powering the Esk and a red glow had moved along their tall torsos. On impact of shooting the weapon, there had been a thunderous crack, as rippled space had hit the target and dissolved it into a circular hole of nothingness.
Balice shivered at the memory of how Korpal had demanded that a human be shot to judge the Esk’s effect. Korpal had picked a Variant man out of the gathered group as easily as if he were God. And even worse, the Esa had followed Korpal’s orders without hesitation, making him that God.
She’d been sick when she’d seen the look of egotistical satisfaction on Korpal’s face and she’d turned her head away, then she only heard the thunderous clap of death.
Korpal had exclaimed, “Look, it has eaten a huge bloody hole all the way through him!”
Balice had choked on dismay, and it wasn’t the first time she’d been horrified by Korpal’s cruelty. She had learned fast, in his world, Korpal was the master. At Duvall Station, there hadn’t been any Variants who were his equal, to challenge that. Secretly, she’d been glad when she’d been taken off Duvall, because she thought she might have found a way to escape his dominance.
Balice’s thoughts stopped when she saw another Esa had stalked up to Khan. She was about twenty paces from them, and she could see the other Esa also wore the black armband of central command. Glancing to her right, she noticed a crowd of Esa who faced the inside wall of the Kalic.
She wondered what they were doing as she slowly approached Khan, while she tried to place the Esa that was with him. She was certain it wasn’t Flagg, because he had a stouter build. Flagg was Khan’s second in command, and she thought he was somewhat nice for an Esa.
Balice cringed as she recognized the Esa, who was gesturing at Khan with rapid-fire hand motions that looked threatening. It had to be the alien that Korpal had named Marco. Khan and Marco never got along, and she wondered why Khan let Marco stay in central command. Marco was a barbed alien with scary impatience.
She stopped going toward them, unwilling to go closer to the two towering Esa when they were together. Instead, she decided to settle her curiosity and she glided to the right, where she heard the hummed drones of Talis, which were coming from the crowd of Esa.
When she moved around the side of the half circle of red aliens, to get a better look, what she saw there made her step forward into the open space with an exclamation.
“No!” she blurted, before she was able to stop herself.
Her exclamation made the two Variant men, who stood beside the inner Kalic wall, turn to look at her. That interruption made them lose hold of their prisoner, who tried to dart away, but she was quickly recaptured by them.
Balice knew the captive woman’s name was Rose. She was a middle-aged Variant woman with short gray hair. Rose had no hope to win against her captors’ brute strength, but still she fought them as they chained her wrists high onto the inner Kalic wall. They gagged her, and then the two Variant men turned to leave, coming in Balice’s direction.
Balice had been afraid this kind of abuse might start happening, but she’d hoped it wouldn’t. It must have been ordered by Korpal, to guarantee larger crowds of Esa could better view women, so the Esa would receive the Talis Korpal had promised them.
Balice thought if the women would just be more compliant, then they wouldn’t have to be chained in place. She loved to have men look at her. She knew she was a feminine exhibitionist. But she also knew most women were not like her, and they were embarrassed and even humiliated by what came naturally to her.
Her heart went out to poor Rose. She didn’t like to see anyone forced.
“Balice, you could entertain a hundred more, if we hung you up there dressed the way you are,” one of the Variant’s called, as he approached.
The two men stopped close ... really too close, and she stepped back. She didn’t like the sound of their lecherous suggestion.
“Who told you to do this?” she demanded.
“Korpal, of course. Too bad he said nothing about you,” the other Variant said, with a suggestive leer.
“But—” she’d started to protest only she knew she had to help Rose, so instead she gave the odious creeps her best fake smile “—I will dance for you! I’ll dance for all the Esa here, if you will just take her down.”
Balice winked at the men and smiled, trying to tempt them.
“No time for dancing,” a bass voice snapped behind them.
Balice turned and saw it was Khan with Marco right beside him.
Immediately, her eyes sparkled with challenge, and then she twirled away with a lilting laugh.
“And who will stop me?” she asked, as she finished her pirouette a few feet away, where she stopped to rotate her curved hips in an enticing way. “Will you let her down? I’ll make it worth your while.”
The two Variants eagerly nodded and started back toward Rose, while Balice began to dance. She let the natural seduction of her movements create the song, and she glided into the center of the Esa, where she provocatively swayed her body. She raised her hands over her head with the motions of her dance, then she looked over her shoulder and tried to pick Khan out of the crowd of large blood-red aliens.
She saw him as he stalked away with powerful strides. She was sorry that he’d left, because she wanted to try to settle his anger by paying particular attention to him with her dance.
Bali
ce danced for longer than she should have, and she’d totally entranced the pack of Esa. She stayed long after the Variant men had released Rose and taken her away. When she finally stopped, with the need to catch her breath, the Esa that circled her were droning like a blasting Nuvo-rock concert.
Quickly, she started away from them, and she looked back to make certain they’d all stayed in place and hadn’t tried to follow her. She decided they must have been satisfied with her dance, because they remained like statues as they watched her leave.
Having caught her breath, she started to hurry, because she knew Korpal was going to be angry with her for making him wait.
Balice saw Korpal first, when he marched directly toward her out of the central command sphere. He was angry; she could see it on his angular face with his dark gray eyebrows ruthlessly lowered.
“Where is Khan? I ordered him to find you!” Korpal stopped in front of her and his steely gaze drilled into her.
Balice was too surprised to answer, because she’d been certain Khan should have already been there.
“Did you see him?” Korpal’s big hand clamped heavily to the side of her neck and his dark eyes shot anger down on her. Balice had intended to tell him what she’d done; stopping to dance, but she was prevented by a voice behind her that sounded as if gravel were being grated together.
“Your female’s dance gives many markers of Talis. I would see her do it again, like she just did for all my Esa.”
Balice turned slightly to see it was Marco, while Korpal’s hand tightened on her neck. “This is what kept you?” Korpal spat.
He released her neck to grab her wrist, and then he started to drag her back toward the command sphere, as Marco followed.
“Korpal, let me explain,” she exclaimed, while she tried to keep up with his enraged march.
“It makes me furious to be kept waiting,” Korpal snapped.
Balice winced again. “Korpal, you’re hurting me.”
“Khan!” Korpal exclaimed, and he stopped their forced march.
Balice winced as she looked around Korpal to see the long, powerful strides of Khan as he moved toward them. Somehow, she felt her fear begin to edge away.
“To your duty!” Khan commanded, and he directed the order at Marco, as he stopped in front of them.
“As you command,” Marco clicked, then he stepped around Khan to enter the central command sphere.
Because of Korpal’s punishing hold, a helpless whimper escaped Balice. Then Korpal’s mouth opened with an angry slant, readying to blast her, but Khan’s snapping bass sounded through their translators.
“I commanded the female to dance for the Esa at docking level. My Esa have been too long without the Talis they must have.”
Khan’s sharp words had cutoff Korpal’s tirade, and then suddenly he released his painful grip on her wrist. Balice rubbed the spot he’d hurt, as she gratefully looked up into the blackness of Khan’s eyes. Her eyes were wide, because she realized Khan had lied for her.
Korpal seemed to be soothed with Khan’s explanation, and he said, “I have ordered women to be placed around the Kalic for viewing. Soon, Khan, we will have many more females that will give our legions Talis.”
“It shows the Esa what they left the Makkars for,” Khan said.
Korpal lifted his hand with a dismissive wave. “You may go back to your duties, Khan,” he ordered arrogantly.
After Khan stalked away, Korpal waited only a moment before he forced her up against the inside Kalic wall and he covered her mouth with a demanding kiss. Balice knew she had no choice but to accept it, so she met his attack with equal fervor. It was the only way she had to try to calm his anger.
“You must not keep me waiting again,” he warned, and then he released her with a meaningful glare. “Now follow me. This is my first triumph, of many to come, Balice. Bask in the power with me,” he ordered.
His lean features showed excited satisfaction as he offered his arm, then he guided her into the central command sphere.
Balice had wondered when she’d first seen the outside of a Kalic what the rounded central spheres would look like on the inside. It was an amazing sight with extraordinary alien devices and equipment attached along the inner circular walls, where many Esa worked at the various posts.
When Korpal entered the sphere, all the Esa stopped their duties and turned to him. Every one of them bowed to Korpal, waiting bent over until Korpal released them.
“You may rise,” he proclaimed. Then in her ear, he said, “I don’t expect them to kneel while they’re at their duties. A bow is enough.”
Korpal had a superior swagger as he strode to the enormous brown command chair in the center of all the activity. Balice tried to keep the amazement off her face. She could barely believe the more powerful Esa would bow or kneel to anyone, or even that Korpal had the power to make them do it.
After she’d followed him, she stood at the side of the imposing chair, while Korpal ran his hand along the back of her shoulders, which were bare because of her halter-top.
“I plan to leave the daily details of command to Khan,” Korpal explained. “My interests are in the overall picture.”
Balice turned to him with a smile. She knew how to please him, even if at times it made her feel uneasy.
“You should take on a title, Korpal,” she said, hoping to reclaim his approval.
He had a look of arrogance as she felt his large hand squeeze her shoulder. “You’re right, my luscious treat. What do you think it should be?”
She tried to cuddle closer to him, as much as the chair would allow, grateful for his improved mood.
“Lord, like your last name. Lord of the Esa, or Lord Korpal,” she said, with as much lightheartedness as she could manage.
“Good ideas, but how about Dictator of the Universe or Supreme Ruler? I like those much, much better.” Korpal’s narrow lips lifted with a superior sneer.
Balice forced a small laugh. “I love Supreme Ruler.”
Korpal leaned back with a smug look. “These Esa are really children. They know nothing about the rest of the universe.” He spread his arms wide. “They are aggressive, rough, and untamed, and I will have to hold unbending authority and power over them. They were completely subservient to the Makkars, and now they will bow to me.”
His declaration was lofty and bold, while a look of deeper satisfaction spread across his lean, striking features.
Knowing that he would like it, she said, “As you command, my Supreme Ruler.”
She moved around to the front of the chair and nudged between Korpal’s knees, and he grabbed her hips.
His voice was husky, “You’re worth all the men I had to fight on Duvall to take you as mine.”
Balice knew Korpal could be attractive and charismatic if he chose to be. She also knew about his darker side. A side that her coquettish ways had a hard time overriding.
She thought to take advantage of his improved spirits.
“Korpal, I saw two Variant men chaining one of our Variant women to the wall on the main level.” She ran her hand provocatively along Korpal’s inner thigh, and she pouted as prettily as she could. “Do we have to do that to our own? I know I could convince our women to walk or dance freely among the Esa, as I do. They could reach more Esa that way.”
Korpal’s expression turned down and his large hands clamped hard to her wrists, which stopped her sensual play. His dark eyes narrowed.
“Do I detect disobedience, Balice? It was my direct order that she be exhibited.”
“No, not disobedience.” She pushed closer between his legs with a suggestive nudge, while she flashed him a tempting smile. “I only thought I could help. They are Variants after all.”
Korpal jerked on her wrists, which lifted her upper body against his chest. Then he released her wrists, and his hands clamped over her bare midriff, while his gaze drilled hers.
“I would have you bed an Esa, if I thought it would further my goals,” he said, fierc
ely uncaring. “I’d like to see if it could be done. Should I make you try it?”
Balice struggled against his hold with horror and indignation. “Korpal, you wouldn’t!”
He lowered his mouth to her ear. “I would do it in a second and there is nothing you can do to stop me, is there?”
He raised his head and locked his gaze onto hers with the coldness of an ice planet. She knew he expected her to answer, and she hated herself for giving in.
“No, I can’t do anything to stop you,” she said, just catching her voice from shaking.
Having confessed her vulnerability, Korpal released her.
“You are a voluptuous piece of woman, Balice, but that only goes so far in the world of men and their political goals. To subjugate the Esa, I must control the women. Variant women or natural born, it makes no difference. To that end, I have ordered our Variant male comrades to become wardens of our women. The women will be quartered together and put under guard. No female, except for you, will be allowed to walk alone among the Esa. The women must do as I command or pay the consequences. It’s for a higher purpose, and they will see that in time.”
Balice cringed inwardly, but outwardly, she didn’t let any of her internal turmoil show, as she used her best fake smile.
“They will see, Korpal, I’m sure of it.”
Her self-reproach grew, because she was glad that she wasn’t the one being locked away or hung up in chains.
“What about Ramon, have you made progress with him?” Korpal asked, as he leaned back in the imposing command chair.
“Yes, Korpal,” she replied dutifully. “He seems to like me, and I promised to visit him every day.”
“Good and you will continue to build a close relationship with him. I want him to become attached to you, Balice. Do whatever it takes and I do mean whatever it takes. Is that understood?”
Korpal’s sculpted eyebrows rose with the question as he waited for her response.
“Yes,” she answered, while inwardly she cringed.
