RIBUS 7

by Shae Mills

  Chelan herself was submerged in a sea of contradictory feelings. She did not know this man, but her trepidation was eclipsed by her euphoria. Despite his unfamiliarity, she was irresistibly drawn to him, her potent emotions nearly overwhelming her. She closed her eyes tightly as she focused on her new and strange sensations. Her whole body tingled, his touch sending spasms throughout her being that felt like dull aches... painless, warm aches of desire. She felt weak as though drugged, her muscles nearly unresponsive, yet they quivered under his powerful embrace.

  Chelan's throat was dry. Her heart pounded in her ears. A flush of embarrassment flooded over her as she tried to deal with her almost unwelcome and unexpected arousal. But her body betrayed her no matter how desperately her mind denied it. This had never happened before. It was not supposed to happen so soon with someone so unfamiliar, especially with this man. She was his prisoner, and she should abhor him, but she did not.

  Chelan clutched Korba's hair, drawing him closer still. She took a long, lingering breath. His male scent was exotic and heavy; it seemed to blur her senses. She found she wanted to immerse herself in him, to taste his skin, to coat herself with all his ethereal body had to offer. Her eyes glazed in confusion. One minute she wanted to push him away and run, the next minute she wished he would cover her with his muscular body and smother her with his male essence.

  She quivered again as she felt him tenderly stroke her back. Were these intense feelings due to her dire situation, her need for comfort, or were they true romantic feelings, elicited strictly by his flawlessly splendid masculinity? For the moment, she did not care. She reveled in his strength, praying he would never let her go. She was hopelessly enamored.

  Then, shockingly, she felt an irresistible urge to kiss the handsome man. Never in her life had she ever initiated any sexual act with any man. She had always been too shy, too insecure, and too afraid. The intensity of her desire now shook her to her very core, and an alien heat invaded her body, weakening her defenses.

  Chelan released her grip from his neck and hair, and slid her hand to his shoulder. She felt his arms release her slightly as she pulled back. She faced him and gazed into his eyes, now alight with a blue flame. He touched her cheek with his fingers, stroking over her chin and down her long, slender neck. Chelan trembled, her breath catching as she looked at his firm, inviting lips.

  Korba's heart nearly stopped as he stared into her deep, dark eyes, a proliferation of emotions flowing from them. Fear and uncertainty were intermingled with undeniable and unmistakable desire, and the Warlord was staggered by the intensity of his own emotions. His eyes moved down to her pink lips, and the jolt of electricity that hit his body caused him to gasp, his whole being consumed by passion. His fingers stopped their gentle caress of her soft neck, and he held her jaw firmly, praying that she would not deny him a taste of her sweetness. He watched her eyes close, and he dared to take his first kiss. Instantly, a tidal wave of sensation surged through him.

  Chelan felt herself craving his sensual touch, everything about him mystifying. He was cut of stone, yet his lips were soft. He was raw power, yet he was gentle. He was her nemesis, yet he was her protector. She was the fly trapped in his web, and right now she had no desire to escape. She was his.

  Korba's hand slid to the back of her neck, and he held her tightly as his tongue traced her lips. He wanted her, every part of her, and he pressed his lips firmly to hers. As she wilted in his arms, he entered her willing mouth, savoring all that was given.

  Chelan felt as though he was swimming through her, his febrile heat melting her from within. She wanted to give herself to him and to savor all that he embodied. She wanted him, all of him, and nothing else. He was everything.

  Korba was submerged in sensations so powerful, he felt himself besieged with a hunger he could never hope to satisfy. Every fiber in is body wanted to liquefy around her and in her. She was pure sexual nectar, and he wanted to consume every last drop of her.

  His hand began down her pretty throat, seeking more, when suddenly she cried out, startling him. A severe cramp seized her, and she clutched at her back. Korba's movement was instantaneous as he threw his arms around her waist and neck, supporting her as she arched back toward the bed. Chelan's chest heaved as she grappled for relief.

  Korba reached for the bodice of the gown and ripped the pretty white dress from her as though it were tissue, unconcerned at the moment with her sense of modesty. "Over!" he commanded, helping her to roll. Kneeling over her, he pressed his thumb and forefinger deep into her lower back, hoping that her pressure points matched those of his people. Chelan cried out as he penetrated her bruised flesh. Korba ignored her protest, continuing with his pressure, the incapacitating muscle spasm quickly surrendering to his manipulation. As soon as he felt her relax beneath him, he was off the bed and gone.

  Chelan struggled to regain her breath. "Oh, god!" she blurted. "I don't believe this!" She coiled onto her side and grasped for the sheet to cover herself. Korba's return caught her eye, and she drew her legs up and hugged her knees defensively. But she could do no more. She was utterly exhausted from the pain.

  Korba unfolded a length of strange-looking fabric before her. Laying it on the bed, he coated it with the familiar yellow ointment. She watched as he moved with speed and dexterity, his gloved hands working expertly.

  Kneeling over her again, he spoke. "Okay, back over you go."

  Chelan shook her head. "No," she moaned. "I can't." But Korba deftly rolled her to her stomach and slid the sheet away. He started to work over her with his hands.

  Chelan finally emitted a small sigh of relief. He continued with her a while longer and then stepped off the bed. He picked up the fabric and laid it over her back, smoothing it down carefully. Once he was satisfied that the material was correctly placed, he sat beside her and covered her with the blankets.

  "There," he soothed, "that will produce some long-lasting effects."

  "Will I ever get better?" she asked, with a note of despair.

  Korba smiled down at her. "Sure you will. I'll make sure of that personally."

  "Thank you," she whispered.

  "A good night's sleep will help," he added, tucking the blankets tightly about her. "I'll check in on you later." He hesitated for a moment, and then leaned forward and kissed her cheek. His lips lingered as his fingers laced through her hair.

  Chelan was instantly drawn to his sensual caress, and she shifted herself just enough so she could look up at him. His thumb brushed over her lips, his eyes intent upon her. He was stroking her with just a look, and she was once again under his spell.

  "I will return," he whispered, his deep voice husky with desire.

  Chelan could only nod as she watched him rise and fade into the shadows, a comforting glow encircling her. She adored this man. And for the first time since her unfortunate abduction, she felt safe and serene. She snuggled down into the sheets, hugging the pillows to her face. His scent surrounded her, enveloping her with his power and strength. She was in his bed, and for the moment, she never wanted to leave.

  Chapter 16

  Korba sat calmly, watching the information pour over the screen, his superior mind deciphering and cataloging the pertinent information. When the last of the data scrolled by, he turned off the monitor and sat back in his chair, mulling over what he had read. He reached to the console in front of him and pressed a switch.

  "Bridge," came the response.

  "Have Tarn come to my quarters immediately," Korba ordered.

  "Yes, my Lord."

  Korba returned to his reclined position, resting his jaw on his fist while his left hand tapped methodically on the arm of his chair. This was going to be very intriguing, he thought as he waited patiently for Tarn's arrival.

  Suddenly, his thoughts switched to Chelan, and he swung the chair around in the direction of his sleeping quarters. She had been asleep for a long time, and he expected her to awaken soon. He just hoped that she remained quiet long enoug
h for him to finish with Tarn. After all, for all Tarn knew, the alien was still in Manza's care, either that or dead, and Korba did not wish to enlighten him. Coping with Dar knowing about the woman was quite enough.

  The thought of activating a security field across the entry to his chambers flickered through his mind, but that seemed excessive. If she chose to make an appearance, then he would just have to deal with his Second-in-Command.

  Korba caught the flash of the indicator switch in his peripheral vision, and he stood. Tarn ushered himself in and removed the hood of his shroud.

  "You received the information also, I trust?" Korba began.

  "Yes, Sire, and I'm not sure quite what to make of it."

  Korba set his jaw and eyed Tarn closely. "I think ROPE has finally tried to parasitically invade the Rigilean system."

  Tarn hesitated momentarily. "That does not entirely make good sense, my Lord."

  Korba offered Tarn a seat, taking one himself. Tarn nodded his thanks and sat somewhat stiffly. He continued. "The Rigilean system is a large, closely-knit group of planets. They have long supported the Empire, and they have nothing that would be of interest to ROPE." Tarn paused, looking directly at his Commander. "They have neither mineral nor military wealth to offer to either the Empire or ROPE, and their location is hardly strategic to either side."

  Korba knew that everything Tarn said was true, but his mind searched for alternatives. The Rigilean system had consolidated thousands of years ago, long before the Empire had even been conceived. The system consisted of about 130 nondescript planets, all of which had advanced early. Adequate forms of space travel had been developed initially, and the same propulsion technology was still in use today.

  Each planet in the system had resources and technology with which to trade with the others, and they had set up a near-perfect system of commerce and support among themselves. Korba had long speculated that the Rigileans could have been the forefathers of their own Empire. But their particular group had coexisted so well together for so long, and their people were so committed to a peaceful existence, that they had found no reason to expand their borders or to antagonize other cultures.

  The Rigilean people, having reached a mutually agreeable and homeostatic existence, had never bothered to advance themselves much beyond their ancestors' technology, and really had no reason to join the Empire. But negotiations went forward, and in return for supporting the Empire in political decisions, the Empire promised to protect the Rigileans militarily if the need should ever arise. This coexistence had been maintained for centuries now, with relatively few problems. But suddenly, things had changed within the planetary system itself.

  Information had leaked out that the planetary network's main governmental body was having substantial trouble for the first time in a very long time. Sources indicated subtle backstabbing and a general trend toward upheaval, along with a lack of consensus in the decision-making processes. Although the system was nowhere near collapse, Ticees had decided to alert Korba and ask the Warlord for his opinion.

  Korba and the other Warlords were not diplomatic negotiators. The RIBUS battle cruisers were used strictly as instruments of war, but Korba realized that the battleships would pass within a month's round-trip journey by long-range fighters to the hub of the planetary system, the reason, no doubt, that Ticees had decided to alert Korba at all. It would be easier and more practical to investigate and quash anything now than send out a contingency later if it proved necessary.

  Korba looked intently at Tarn. "How is their surveillance technology?"

  Tarn searched his memory. "I think the last reports indicated that, although they had improved it, it is far from ideal; simple satellites, simple radar, simple telescopes, but sufficient for their purposes."

  Korba pondered this carefully, for it fit the pattern emerging from his own deliberation. He knew that the Rigilean planetary system was extensive, with many uninhabitable planets and asteroid belts. It would be a hard system to patrol adequately without technologically advanced equipment and cutting-edge fighters. But the Rigileans had never had a reason to upgrade.

  Korba decided to try out his preliminary assumption on Tarn. "Could ROPE set up breeding colonies on obscure planets, planets out of the detection range of the main Rigilean system?"

  Tarn shrugged. "ROPE would need a huge contingency of ships to keep the colonies going. They would require vast quantities of supplies and life-support systems, as planets like that would be totally hostile without such equipment. With such a large influx of manpower and material, the Rigilean system would have to be blind not to detect them at some point."

  "Negating that, if ROPE could set up colonies without detection, how many planets could be involved?"

  Tarn thought for a moment and then kicked off with his feet, sending himself along the Command Center to one of the main computers. He began to think out loud. "The entire system covers most of Sector 9 and contains approximately one billion individual solar systems." His fingers moved along the panels, and numbers and images began to form.

  Korba reached forward, transferring the data to the main viewing screen. Then stretching to his left, he pulled a switch.

  "Communications," came the reply.

  "Link me directly to Commander Dar," Korba ordered.

  "Yes, my Lord."

  Not more than five seconds passed, and Korba heard Dar's voice. "Any trouble over there?"

  "No," relayed Korba. "Did Ticees send you the report on the Rigilean system?"

  "Yes. I've just finished reviewing it."

  "I'd like to talk to you about it immediately, if possible. I have Tarn sorting through some information for me. For security reasons, I would prefer that you come here rather than establishing a ship-to-ship link."

  "Right away," Dar answered, and clicked off.

  Korba leaned back again and watched the screen. Planetary systems and their statistics flashed past as Tarn manipulated the information into a usable form. Then Tarn began to verbalize his thoughts again. "Let's assume that ROPE would use only uninhabitable planets of class-M status, those requiring the least amount of life support." Tarn allowed the computer to sort through the choices set by his parameters. "Then, they would probably select only those class-M planets that possessed constant black spots or dead zones, areas out of reach of Rigil's surveillance."

  Tarn continued to work as Korba watched his Second-in-Command. The slightly older man was a great Commander, and Korba knew that some day he would have his own ship. Tarn's mind was precise and methodical, and he never excluded anything from the realm of possibility. He was considering all the relevant factors exactly as Korba himself would have.

  Tarn was intent on his work as he studied the screen. "With just those two basic parameters, there are five suitable planets, but all five planets are within range of sensors." Tarn turned to Korba. "The Rigileans would pick up the heavy traffic. I have no doubts."

  "What about light traffic?"

  Tarn looked at Korba with surprise. "For what you suggest, that is impossible, even for class-M planets."

  Korba ignored Tarn's correct conclusion. "What about light traffic?" he pressed.

  Tarn turned back to the computer and began working in silence. Korba initiated his own research, both men working side by side and exchanging information. Soon, the main doors parted, and Dar strode in. The Commander paused just inside the main entry and removed his shroud, revealing full flight gear. Taking his helmet off, he shook out his mane of hair. He looked at Korba's questioning face and walked toward him. "A fighter was faster than a transport," he volunteered, and smiled.

  Korba stood and greeted him, and then both men turned toward the main screen. Tarn kicked back from his position and glanced up at the display as he stood. Turning, he faced Dar briefly, bowing his head in respect. "Commander Dar," he acknowledged.

  "Tarn," came Dar's address. He paused and smiled slyly. "Good to see you again, especially back in full capacity."

  T
arn smiled back awkwardly, shooting a glance at Korba, who tried to ignore the comment.

  Korba's mind was suddenly catapulted back to Chelan, and he shifted his weight restlessly as he sought to keep his mind on the problem at hand.

  Tarn interpreted Korba's uneasiness as an indication that the Warlord had still not fully forgiven him for allowing the alien on board.

  Finally, Korba broke the tension as he looked up to the screen again. "Okay, let's get on with it," he ordered.

  Dar looked up and studied the display. "The Rigilean system," he acknowledged to himself. The images rotated slowly as planets and stars moved in and out of view. Five of the planets flashed faintly. "What's with them?"

  Tarn nodded. "They're class-M planets with blind spots capable of harboring clandestine ROPE colonies..." He hesitated, looking at Korba. "I suppose," he added almost defiantly.

  Dar raised his brows and looked at Korba. "ROPE colonies?" Dar's eyes narrowed. "ROPE breeding colonies?"

  All three men were silent for a time. Dar stepped closer to the screen and studied it. Then he turned to Korba. "Even so, those planets are within sensor range of the Rigilean colonies. The communiqué sent to the Empire indicated only governmental dissension. There was no mention of ROPE colonies or of any heavy foreign shipping detected." Dar pointed to the screen. "Even though they're near the periphery of the system, and even with their dead zones, they are within the commercial lanes of the colonies. Alien ships bringing in the amount of equipment and supplies required would surely—"

  Dar stopped abruptly. At the same instant, Tarn dropped into his chair, the two men arriving at the same conclusion simultaneously.

  Korba smiled at their revelation. "ROPE would have to slowly infiltrate the government and the economic system. With personnel in strategic areas of shipping, commerce, supplies, and transport, they could begin to surreptitiously drop off provisions to the rebel planets. Some of the Rigilean transports are so large that significant quantities of supplies could be taken out in mid-flight, and no one would be the wiser. People within the commerce section could juggle figures, and no one would suspect sabotage as the Rigileans are not used to dealing with deceit and corruption. ROPE could still smuggle in the odd supply ship with the necessary equipment for life-support systems, as the Rigilean surveillance system is far from adequate. In fact, it borders on pathetic."