by Shae Mills
Chelan pondered the long list of concerns flooding into her head, but she had no desire to hold up the Telesians any longer. All her questions would be answered eventually. “No. Not at this time,” she whispered.
Korba looked at Fleur and addressed the entire Telesian delegation. “Well then, gentlemen, I will see you all again soon.”
Everyone bowed to Korba and Chelan in unison, and then the Telesians filed out. When the doors finally closed, Chelan turned to Korba. “I cannot go through with this,” she uttered frantically.
Korba was momentarily surprised. “You what?!”
“I do not want any lives risked because of a whim.”
“This is no whim, my Lady.”
“You said it was a project for me. I no longer want it. Too many have already died—”
Korba placed a finger to her lips. “It is merely a project that I have dedicated to you. I myself want her back, with all my heart and soul. And now too much has been put into action. The gears are in motion. They will not grind to a halt because of a little danger.”
“A little danger?! How can you order your men and women to put their lives at risk like that? And for what—a ship that was long ago replaced by many others?”
Korba furrowed his brows at her. A low rumble emanated from his chest. “You forget. My crew are warriors. Every day they prepare for death. It does not matter if they fight an enemy in space or on the volatile decks of RIBUS 7. In fact, the odds of my crew faring well on RIBUS 7 are much higher than their odds on the battlefield. And we both know the statistics there.” He reached for her and hugged her tight, nuzzling in under her hair. His voice suddenly became deep and seductive. “She is more than just any ship, and we do not succumb easily on any battlefield, my Lady.”
Chelan’s eyes closed and her heart fluttered, one of his hands rounding over her breasts.
He inhaled her scent. “We conquer all, no matter the odds, and no matter the mission.”
Chelan held onto his forearms as he leaned her back, laying her upon the conference table.
“B-but...,” she stammered.
His ebony-clad hands lifted her knees and pressed them into her chest. “But nothing,” he breathed huskily. He looked down at her and raised her gown. “RIBUS 7 is mine, and I will take her no matter what the cost.”
Chelan gasped as his thick shaft pierced her hot folds.
“And you are mine too, my Lady, and I will have you, no matter the cost.”
Chelan reached for his luminescent hair, pulling his body down to meet hers. “I am already yours, my Lord,” she whispered.
Korba sank himself deeper into her. “And mine alone,” he returned in a baritone rumble.
Chelan wrapped her legs about his waist. “Yours alone...,” she repeated softly as her lips took his aggressively.
Korba placed his hands on either side of the table near her head. He released her mouth and stared down at her. “I love you, my Lady.”
“I love you, my Lord.” And she opened herself wide to him as he sheathed himself to his base.
She was his alone. There were no others. And his possessiveness was blatantly obvious. He desired two things in the galaxy exclusively: RIBUS 7 and her. He would have them both no matter what the price.
She stared up at the galaxy’s most feared Warlord, the obsidian devil filling her small body perfectly. He was also hers, completely. And she too would make sure of that, no matter the price. They were in harmony. They were one for all time.
Chapter 13
CHELAN STARED OVER Salinger’s shoulder, watching him manipulate the holographic display sent back by the rover. “It looks untouched,” she whispered.
Salinger nodded almost imperceptivity. He moved the rover to the center of RIBUS 7’s private Command Center and began a slow 360-degree sweep.
First in sight were the main doors. Arcing to the right, the entrance to the sleeping chambers came into view. At 90 degrees came the entrance to the workout area. Farther yet, at nearly 180 degrees, all the consoles, the computers, and panels came into view. And then finally, the rover completed the 360-degree rotation.
Chelan let her breath out. “What else?”
Salinger looked over a steady string of numbers. “Ambient air temp: 10 degrees Celsius. Gravitational pull, ahh, about 1.3 of your Earth’s, air quality—perfect by Iceanean standards.”
Chelan straightened, furrowing her brow. “How can so much of the ship be destroyed, yet one of the most strategically important places remain untouched?”
Salinger shrugged. “I suspect that with the ship fatally crippled and Fremma already gone, they had no further need to try to breach her very core. Besides, we know Fremma was commanding from the forward Bridge at the time of Talon’s attack, and that was completely destroyed.”
Chelan turned away from the warrior and scratched at her brow. “I guess,” she mumbled.
Salinger swiveled in the command chair, folding his gloved hands neatly in his lap. “What disturbs you, my Lady?”
Chelan turned around, running her fingers through her hair. “It still makes no sense, really. The private Command Center is an integral part of the command process on all the ships. To leave it unsullied to this extent is too unlikely.”
“Actually, the fact that the personal Command Centers are so important is the reason they are so heavily fortified. They are the heart of the ship, and therefore the hardest area to breach.”
Chelan nodded. “I suppose, but it still feels...” She exhaled a long, slow breath. “It just feels too surreal.”
“I do not understand.”
“The power from the one semifunctioning engine room—it ebbs and flows, waxes and wanes. Yet in some specific parts of the ship, most importantly, the personal Command Center, all is normal. It sustains the atmosphere, the gravity, and the temperature, unfailingly.”
“The links were not severed, my Lady. Again, that area of the ship is covered by redundancies, for obvious reasons. And other, less important parts of the ship are still thus serviced by the power. That is what makes her salvageable.”
Chelan slumped into a chair next to him. “I know. But for some reason this makes me wary.”
“May I ask of what?”
Chelan stared at the console. “I have not the faintest idea. The ship has been scanned and scoured repeatedly over the month since we arrived.” She looked up at the main screen. “She draws me to her with warm, beckoning arms. She pulls me, almost demanding my presence, yet she scares me senseless with so many uncertainties.”
Salinger stared at her. “You are aware of our Lordship’s uncanny sixth sense. Have you discussed this with him?”
Chelan glanced into his azure eyes. “Yes, but there are no explanations. Until he relents and allows me to board her, there will be no answers forthcoming that sate my feelings.”
“He fears for your safety.”
Chelan smiled. “I know.”
Salinger nodded. “I am sure that as she becomes more stable, he will allow you to board her. But that will be some time off.”
“Yes, well, I will just have to be patient.”
“I will return to the recon center now, if you permit. I believe the Cleosan Ambassador is due here shortly to discuss supplies.”
Chelan nodded and rose to see the warrior out. Then she returned to the image supplied by the rover, the perfect holographic display still before her. As always, she was awestruck.
Within moments, Korba stepped through the main doors with Ilan and Zane by his side. “Good morning, my Lady.”
Chelan smiled at all three men. “My Lords,” she greeted warmly.
Korba gave her a brief hug. “The Cleosan Ambassador, Embrose, is on his way here as we speak, with a small delegation. Today’s talk will be short. We will hammer out specifics and details later, with the Telesians present.”
Chelan nodded and then peered past Korba as the main doors opened once again. Korba’s guards filed in, flanking the Ambassador and six othe
r Cleosan men. Korba strode up the stairs and extended his hand to the main man. “Ambassador Embrose. A pleasure, as always.”
Ambassador Embrose took Korba’s hand and then bowed deeply. Upon rising, he smiled warmly. “My Lord. I cannot possibly express how pleased I am to see you well and in the flesh. So many unfortunate events have unfolded since our last meeting.”
Korba nodded. “No more unfortunate than what unfolded before we came together. Overthrowing Talon was nothing compared to the devastation he wielded throughout the Empire. But no matter—all is well now, Ambassador.”
The Ambassador nodded. “I thank the stars every day, my Lord, that that is so. The whole galaxy is a much superior place under your governance.”
Korba smiled and then turned back to his men. “Ambassador, you know Commanders Ilan and Zane?”
“Oh yes. Good to meet you once again, gentlemen.”
They nodded back to the Ambassador and his men. Then Korba stepped down to Chelan and took her by the hand. “May I introduce you to my mate, the Lady Chelan.”
Ambassador Embrose descended the stairs toward her, his tall, lithe body almost appearing to float. Then he stopped before her and fell to one knee. He kissed her hand reverently and rose. “My Lady, at last we meet.”
Chelan curtsied demurely. “A pleasure, Ambassador.”
He stepped back, still smiling at her. “I am happy to be in your service, my Lady. I hope we can provide all that your people require.”
Chelan nodded. “Thank you, sir. His Lordship speaks very highly of you. I am sure everything will go well.” She studied the man as he turned his attention back to the Warlords. All the Cleosan men were tall, well over six feet. Yet they looked frail, their sallow, almost translucent skin stretched tightly over their gaunt frames. She could see no hair anywhere, their overall appearance reminding her of some cancer patients she had once met on Earth. The men all wore flowing robes of pale yellow and beige, the chosen colors only augmenting their sickly complexions.
“My Lords,” Embrose began, “I will not keep you long. I know the Telesians have yet to put together their final projections. However, in anticipation of the large amounts of materiel required immediately, we have mines all around the world in full production, along with several on our satellite planets.”
Korba nodded with appreciation. “And what of the alloy fabrication?”
“Ah yes, well, from records of the previous requirements for RIBUS 7, our factories are working at maximum output using those statistics. As your actual requirements are fed to us, adjustments will be made.”
“Those actual requirements will change with time, as you know,” said Korba. “Right now we are tending only to those areas needed to restore the basic infrastructure. We will branch out from there as more areas become secure. That is when full production will be needed.”
“We have already prepared for that. As your requirements for the most sensitive areas are being attended to, we will be going ahead and producing mass quantities of your more basic needs. Fabrication of corridor moldings and external shielding panels are already under way, as we can determine from live schematics supplied to us depicting the damage that these needs will be vast.”
Korba nodded. “As usual, your foresight and efficiency are commendable, Ambassador. You have never failed in fulfilling our requirements with the utmost in speed and quality.”
“We have been in the service of the Empire for a long time, Sire. We are intimately acquainted with the requirements of your RIBUSes, both new and, in this case, slightly used.”
Everyone laughed. Korba’s eyes shone. “Regardless, to drop everything to attend to our labor of love here is both admirable and exceedingly accommodating.”
Embrose smiled. “Even my people are well aware of what we have been invited to participate in. Resurrecting the Empire’s most exalted battleship is both an honor and a privilege. And I am glad you are pleased, my Lord. You have always been more than fair and kind with us. It is indeed a pleasure to serve you.”
Korba smiled. “As the details progress I would wish that you come up with a compilation of items and services that would best suit you as payment for all of this.”
“We will, my Lord. Also, as you know, I will be overseeing most of the details myself, planetside. I like to be as personally involved with the work as possible. If it is still favorable to you, you will now deal directly with my Emissary?”
Korba smiled. “Your man has always been more than brilliant, Ambassador. I have enjoyed working with him, in all capacities.”
Embrose bowed. “Well then, my Lord. We will take our leave now and bid you the best of luck.”
“I have no doubt that all will progress well, Ambassador, with you at the helm.”
Embrose smiled warmly and then turned to Chelan. “I hope to see more of you, my Lady. I have always enjoyed dealing with Korba over the years in his capacity as Warlord for Ticees, and then during the dark times. I look forward with even more enthusiasm in dealing with him in his role as Emperor. This welcome I extend also to you.”
Chelan almost blushed. “Thank you, Ambassador. I too hope to see you again soon.”
And with that, the Ambassador and his delegation were ushered out.
As soon as the doors closed, Chelan turned to Korba and whispered. “Is there no sun to sustain their planet?”
Korba chuckled. “Why do you ask, my Lady?”
Chelan glanced into the inquisitive faces of Ilan and Zane. “They are all so pale. They look almost albino. In fact, they are so translucent, they render me nearly queasy just looking at them.”
Ilan smiled. “It is quite the opposite, my Lady. Their system is a binary star system. Cleos is bathed nearly in perpetual sunlight and is as close to a desert planet as one can get.”
“Are they not indigenous then?” she asked.
“Oh yes, but for millenniums now they have built their cities underground to escape the heat. Thus, the translucent skin and blue-white eyes. In fact, a scan of the planet surface would show little sign of human life. Animal and plant species indigenous there rule the surface while the Cleosans rule the subterranean.”
Chelan looked back at Korba. “Fascinating.”
Korba laid a hand on her shoulder. “You will like them, Chelan. They are a very peaceful people.”
“What are they likely to require in payment for their work and material?”
Korba turned and sat down in the command chair. He pulled her into his lap. “Our protection, of course, as an ongoing concession. They lack any military might worth mentioning, and they have no planetary defenses. In the past, we have supplied them with numerous food staples that their arid planet cannot. Also, we supply and upgrade technology that is valuable to them for the running of their mines, and whatever is required to help ease their subterranean existence. Monetary compensations have also been made.”
Chelan looked up at Zane and Ilan. “You have met them in the past also?”
“Briefly,” replied Zane. “As Warlords, we actually had little to do with them directly. Because of the protection supplied by our people, we have had brief encounters. But I know his Lordship here has had extensive interactions with them in the not-so-distant past.”
Chelan’s brows rose in surprise, and she looked to Korba quizzically. “The Ambassador did mention having dealt with you during the dark times.”
Korba smiled. “A discussion for another day.”
Chelan nodded to all the men. “Okay. Well then, what is next?”
Ilan took in a deep breath. “When my Lord gives the okay, the repair crews will hit RIBUS 7 like a swarm of insects.”
Korba nodded. “That is correct. Tomorrow, I will board her personally to take a look myself, and then—”
“I am coming,” Chelan said.
“No, you are not,” Korba returned.
Ilan and Zane glanced at one another. Zane bowed to them both. “I think it is time for us to leave, Sire.”
Korba
laughed. “That is it—run when the going gets tough. But thank you. We will speak again soon.”
Zane and Ilan nodded and then graciously took their leave.
Chelan clambered out of Korba’s lap as soon as the main doors shut. “Yes, I am.”
Korba stood, his now glacial eyes icily scrutinizing her. “I will not risk endangering you.”
“You promised you would never leave me no matter what the battle.”
“That was with respect to military missions that required my long absences. I am not leaving you. RIBUS 1 practically sits on the decks of RIBUS 7. In fact, for my comfort level we are too damn close as it is. There is the very real chance that powder keg out there will blow up, and we are on the thin edge of not being able to get out of the way quickly enough.”
“Regardless, if she does explode while I am sitting back here, how will I manage then? With you blown to oblivion, what am I supposed to do? Run the whole damn Empire on my own?” she challenged tersely.
Korba stepped up to her, his eyes narrowing. “If you have to, yes. And with all my advisors available to you, you would do a fine job.”
“That is not the point!”
“I know, but I will lose you to no man or machine, and certainly not to that bilge heap of a ship out there. Taking you there is an unnecessary risk.”
“And you, the ruler of the known galaxy—going there is not an unnecessary risk for you?”
“If all hell breaks loose, I am in a better position to both deal with the situation and survive it than you are.”
Chelan pointed a finger at him in frustration. “Once again you take unnecessary risks while at the same time seeking to cage me.”
“I seek—” His words broke off. His eyes softened and his shoulders slumped. “I seek only you. I live only for you. I function each day simply so that I may be with you at each day’s end. I would simply die if anything should ever happen to you. I will be honest. I have lost you twice before, once to Ticees and the Dead Zone, and once to Talon and the war. There will not be a third. If you were to perish because of a decision I made, I would take my own life in an instant, with no second thoughts.”
