by Shae Mills
Chelan kissed him. Then with her finger, she traced down his face and over his lips. “I understand all of this, but I have to admit, I truly want the adventure. I have watched, for the first time, all that you have put into action here... all the plans... all the might you have set into motion, and it is amazing. And once all is secure down on that planet... to ride alongside you, to feel the thrill and the exhilaration... I want that. And this situation, this low-threat situation—this is my perfect opportunity.”
Korba took her hands in his and held them to his lips as he kissed each finger one by one. Then his shoulders relaxed. “Tell you what. We shall see what the morrow brings. I will be monitoring all from here. You may watch also. If everything is to my satisfaction, then you may come with me. If there looks like anything untoward may happen, then I will remain here also.”
Chelan sagged into him. “I accept all of that except the last part. I know you have always strived for excellence, and I know you are the indisputable best in all that you do. If things are questionable down there, then you will need to go. I know that you will not knowingly put yourself in mortal danger. After all, we need important information. With you present, there is the greatest chance for the best outcome.”
Korba grinned. “That, my Lady, is not entirely true. What I excel at is the battle. Terig is there with me to assure that I remain on my best behavior while he does all the negotiating and information collecting that I would rather simply dispense with.”
Chelan laughed. “That is so true, but you will have your eyes peeled throughout the process, and you will quite possibly see strategic things that Terig may miss, so, between the two of you, all will go perfectly.”
Korba swayed back and forth with her in his arms. “If I end up taking you, and you get a thrill out of the adventure, are you going to want to become a warrior?’
Chelan’s lip quirked. “Not likely, my Lord. I do not have the thirst for blood that you do, but I am sure that watching you in action will no doubt stir my ardor to a fevered pitch, longing for the favors of the warrior to whom I am forever happily bound.”
Korba’s eyes flared. “Mmmm... Then I may have to take you on a few more missions.” And he scooped her from the floor and started with her into their chambers.
She held onto him tightly. “By the way, I do not believe you ever got around to delivering the punishment you promised me the other day.”
Korba let her feet touch the floor beside their bed. Then he stripped her and himself without saying a word. Standing before her naked, he instantly hardened. “I shall have to add to that punishment, you know, for today’s added stress.”
Chelan smiled coyly and took a step back from him, watching every muscle in his body stiffen to her move. “I do not know about that,” she said to bait him. “I may have to resist...”
Then she shrieked as he grabbed her, instantly throwing her to her tummy on the bed and pinning her. With one hand holding her wrists together behind her back, his other hand swept her thighs apart. He leaned over her, his hot breath on her neck. “Your punishment begins now.”
Chelan gasped as he speared into her. This was going to be pure ecstasy.
Chapter 30
UPON RAKE, DAWN CAME, and with it, the Empire. Out of the heavens, on Lucifer’s wings, ebony birds of prey descended. Korba stood in the Central Command Center, surrounded by his top officers. Links to all operational systems on board the RIBUS and on the ground were wide open. Everything was being displayed on the expansive panorama of screens that encircled the entire Center. Three-dimensional diagrams and readouts periodically dropped down in front of Korba, all information prioritized for his attention by both the computers and the officers on the ground. Everything in the Command Center was linked to the Bridge, all data being fed simultaneously to both arenas.
Chelan, dressed in her uniform and shroud, stood just behind Korba, well out of the way of all the activity. One again, she was mesmerized by the mind of the man before her. Though the Center was relatively quiet as everyone methodically attended to their tasks, to her it appeared to be absolute chaos. There were so many displays and screens to take in, so many lights and sounds, that she felt truly overwhelmed. But Korba managed to process it all, seemingly as casually as if he were reading a simple book.
In his hand, he held a control device, and without looking at it, he manipulated it when necessary to bring into view what he needed to attend to most. At times, screens flickered past his line of sight so fast that Chelan had no idea how he even knew what he was looking at, let alone how he could process the material, but he did so, flawlessly.
Then, as afternoon approached, one of the Communications Officers stood. “Incoming!” he announced, and the entire Command Center fell silent.
“Center screen,” Korba ordered.
A visual link of a warrior on the ground appeared before them. “Rake is secured, my Lord. There was some minor resistance in the beginning, but they quickly realized all was futile. The city here, if I may call it that, is contained, and the leaders, the Troke, as they call themselves, have been isolated and are ready to do business.”
Korba nodded. “And the size of the city, populationwise?”
The officer spoke. “Sensors and a preliminary count put it at just over twenty thousand inhabitants. But you were right—many of them live just subsurface. Total count is now closer to fifty thousand. The Troke were shielded by enclosures manufactured with the incorporation of trace amounts of the Zenatropium. By applying a little persuasion to some of the common citizens, we know we have rounded up all of the Troke and escorted them to a central holding area.”
Korba nodded. “Casualties?”
“None on our side. A few here and here on theirs in the beginning, but the surrender came swiftly.”
Korba glanced at another screen. “No air force deployed?”
“No, sir. Nothing was able to get off the ground. And what they do have here and on the other planets is marginal at best.”
“No sign of Imperial interventions, past or present?”
“No, Sire. And if Talon did procure their services, it was done so by force with no exchange of goods.”
“That we know of...,” Korba added. “The terrain for thousands of kilometers around that city is virgin wilderness. Anything could be hidden.”
“Understood. We are ever vigilant. As for now, all seems clear for your arrival, my Lord.”
Korba nodded. “The head of the Troke. What is his name?”
“Withlow Taves, Sire.”
“I have the coordinates for him and the rest. We will be landing at our prearranged site far away from the main city. As planned, I want to survey some of the surrounding country on foot before entering the city.”
“Yes, my Lord. Mounted ground troops are combing the immediate area as we speak. Everyone is prepared.”
“Flight Deck One will notify you of our departure. We will be there soon.” Korba severed the link. Then he looked around the Command Center. “All operations are to continue as planned until I arrive back. Everyone has their orders.”
He hesitated momentarily as he scanned his crew, but not a single person moved. Satisfied that everything was understood, he turned to Chelan and, taking her by the arm, ushered her out of the Center. Yanis and a huge contingent fell in behind them as Korba strode along the main corridor. He looked down at Chelan. “It seems you are in luck, my Lady. Welcome to your first adventure.”
Chelan had to do everything in her power not to jump for glee. Instead, she simply smiled and hustled along to keep up.
Once inside the main flight deck, activity really ramped up. The noise was almost deafening, and as they approached a large group of fighters, Korba stopped her. “You will be with Yanis. On the unfathomable chance that I take a hit or my fighter fails, I want us separated. The same goes for Yanis. I would never want a fortuitous volley from somewhere to take both of us out at once. Yanis is normally my wingman, but this time we will mainta
in a substantial distance. We will be in constant contact, however.”
Chelan nodded and then smiled up at Yanis. With nothing more to say, she was led to her fighter where Yanis helped her into the cockpit. She looked over to Korba as he secured himself into his Primary fighter, and then all went black as the hood of her Secondary fighter sealed tight.
Holographic displays formed all around her, and Chelan braced herself for the trip. There wasn’t going to be any scenery for her to take in this time. This was a military maneuver, and not a sightseeing trip. Then she heard Yanis speak through the Comm. “Inertial dampening system is up... Airlock is down... And... we are... off.”
Chelan never felt a thing, and with the ID system employed, she knew she wouldn’t unless something went drastically wrong.
The trip from the RIBUS to the planet took only minutes, and then she heard Yanis again—“All systems shut down, restraints released. We are here”—and the cockpit cover slid back.
Chelan took her helmet off and then shielded her eyes against bright sunlight. The air was cool and laden with the scent of woodsmoke, but from where was impossible to deduce. She set the helmet down and began to climb out of the fighter.
Her feet had just touched the ground when Korba came up beside her and spoke. “We are in a clearing high in the mountains. The city is about twenty kilometers south of us. We will be going by Centurion.”
Chelan’s attention then snapped upward as fighters overflew the area, cyphers flashing.
Korba nodded to her. “They are our direct protection.”
Chelan went to speak, but suddenly the sound of hoofbeats reached her ears. From behind them, a wall of ebony approached. “Ohh...” was all Chelan could utter.
The lead Centurion thundered up to them, dug in his hooves, and came to an abrupt halt. Then he reared up on his hind legs, neck arched, and his wings unfurled, buffeting them with blasts of air.
Chelan was speechless. As his front hooves slammed down, his obsidian eyes flashed. Spellbound, she watched as his wings folded and melded seamlessly to his body. Then he bowed his head, and Chelan watched his ears.
“Shabizar, at your service, my Lady.”
The other Centurions gathered about, and they too bowed. Chelan finally found her voice. “It is wonderful to meet you again, Shabizar, and on a much more hospitable planet weatherwise.”
Shabby’s eyes warmed, then he looked to his right as another stallion stepped forward.
The stallion signed. “And I am Zar, my Lady. I will be Korba’s mount for this segment of the operation.”
Chelan nodded. “A pleasure to meet you once again, Zar.”
Just then, Terig arrived, dressed in an Imperial uniform and shroud. He bowed to her and smiled, but remained silent.
Korba addressed everyone. “Officers on the ground indicate all is still secure. Let us mount up and be on our way.”
Chelan looked at Shabizar and her first thought was, how was she ever going to get on his back? Then he walked up to her and smoothly sank down onto his front knees before her. The Centurion still towered above her, but Korba took her by the waist and effortlessly hoisted her onto Shabby’s back. As the stallion rose effortlessly to his feet, Chelan let out a small gasp. Once again, the ground seemed a frightful distance away, and she automatically gripped his mane tightly.
Korba and Terig vaulted on to the backs of their mounts, as did throngs of warriors. Then Korba faced them all as he drew out a large rifle-like lazgun. “The Centurions have been briefed on the grid we will be traversing. We are looking for hidden grottos or formations that appear suspicious. Sensors in the air indicate all clear, but it may not be. Once in town we will head straight for our prearranged meeting area with the Troke. Are there any questions?”
No one spoke, and with a quick hand signal from Korba, all were in motion. Shabby automatically came up beside Zar, and Korba smiled at Chelan. “You will remain by my side along with Terig. In the event of a problem, there is something you must do.”
Chelan nodded. “Anything.”
“There are alternative plans in case of battle or ambush. Shabizar knows what to do and where to head. All you have to do is lie flat on his back and hang on as tight as you can. Centurions can cover the ground at a phenomenal speed. Shabizar knows where to take you, and there will be air cover both from above and at the rendezvous points.”
Chelan nodded. “No problem. I will hang on for dear life.”
Korba smiled again. “Also, keep an eye on his ears now and again. He will keep you informed of things, especially if we are separated for some reason.”
Chelan nodded again, and with that, Korba pulled his hood over his head and into the surrounding forest they melted.
In some areas the brush was thick and in others it was rocky, but Shabby was as surefooted as any creature, and exceptionally quiet. Chelan kept her eyes trained on her surroundings, marveling at how Earthlike the foliage was. Of course, there were exceptions, some strange plants catching her attention now and again, but for the most part, it was like taking a ride through the forests of home.
Chelan glanced at Korba. The huge man in his black shroud astride the massive charger was an impressive sight. Then a motion caught her attention off to her right and her heart took off, but she soon relaxed as another warrior materialized from the shadows of the trees. He signed to her. Sayak was his name, one of Korba’s many officers, and she nodded silently to him as he continued on a parallel path beside them.
Then it happened. Sayak was off through the trees on his Centurion and a shout was given. Korba looked to her and signed, “Get down low!”
Chelan hugged Shabby with her knees and clenched his mane for all she was worth, and the two Centurions, side by side, were off at breakneck speed. Through thickets and over windfalls they went, more shouts from the forest reaching her ears. Then suddenly they broke into a small clearing, and there before them about forty mounted riders formed an ominous ring, all surrounding a hooded figure who stood in the center, one warrior holding the person tight.
Korba and Chelan came to an abrupt halt, and Korba vaulted off Zar. With lazgun pointed at the figure, he approached cautiously.
The man holding the struggling quarry nodded to Korba.
Korba signed, and the warrior wrenched back the hood of the prisoner.
Chelan sucked in a breath. It was a young woman. She was dressed in what could only be described as layer upon layer of rags, the cloak looking like a conglomerate of tattered pelts of some sort. She had long brown hair; her eyes were wide with fright. But despite all, she was beautiful.
Korba drew back his hood. “Speak! Who are you?”
The woman finally ceased her struggles as she panted for air. Then she shook her head wildly.
Korba drew closer, his eyes never leaving hers, his gun still trained on her. “Tannis!” he barked.
Tannis answered from the right, where he remained mounted. “Yes, my Lord. She sprang up out of a shielded area in the rocks not one hundred meters from here. The shelter was actually disturbed by one of the Centurions, or we would have never found it, or her.”
Korba nodded. “Tighten the rest of the patrols. Narrow the grids. Watch for any rock outcrops and alert the air command. Also, send a message to the men holding the Troke, and ask what this area is to them.”
“Yes, my Lord.” And Tannis took out a communications device and began sending the orders.
Korba took a few more steps and then lowered his gun. The warrior holding the woman grabbed her hair with one hand and wrenched her head back. Korba drew a combat knife and showed it to the woman.
Chelan felt her stomach knot, and she became still as stone.
Korba’s voice was a low growl. “You speak Iceanean?”
The woman nodded. “Yes,” came her strained reply.
“Who are you?”
“No one. I am a simple worker living in the Outlays.”
Korba’s eyes narrowed. “What are the Outlays?”
>
“These areas...away from the Troken.”
“The Troken?”
She swallowed. “The larger cities controlled by the Troke.”
“Where you were found by my people—you live there?”
She shook her head. “That is where I was hiding. My home is not far.”
“The shielded blind—there are many?”
“Yes. We escape to them if the Troke come for us.”
Korba lowered the knife. “Why do they come for you?”
“For fresh workers, for the mines.”
Korba took some time to think. “You know who we are?”
She hesitated, and then nodded almost imperceptibly, the motion difficult with her head held firmly by the warrior behind her. “You are of the Empire.”
Korba became very still, and Chelan quit breathing. She could tell Korba was on edge, but she knew not entirely why.
Korba stared at the woman. “The people of my Empire have never been to this planet before. The Empires of the past have not been for centuries.”
She swallowed hard again. “I have no knowledge of that history. I live a simple life here. We are foragers. Our life is that of basic survival.”
“Is that what you were doing out here, away from your home—foraging?”
“Yes. Our dark time is coming. The weather will get very cold. We must harvest as much as we can before that time descends.”
“How many of you live in this Outlay?”
Once again, she havered, as if reluctant to divulge too much. “About one hundred.”
Korba nodded and then his eyes narrowed even more. “So, if you know little of the Empire, how is it that you speak Iceanean? And how is it you assume we are of the Empire?”
The woman lost all the color in her face, and suddenly, she fell mute.
“Speak!” Korba roared. But the woman only cowered.
He raised his knife hand, and Chelan instantly slid from Shabby’s back. Warriors all around braced themselves as Chelan approached the trio. Drawing back her hood, she stepped up to the frightened creature, and smiled.
