by T. J. Quinn
My cock was getting hard again already, and Zoe raised one leg and put it around my hips offering her pussy to me. “You want me again, baby?”
“I want you always,” she whispered.
I raised her up and pushed easily inside her and kissed her. She mewed in her throat as I did, raising her other leg to wrap around me This time I took her slow, kissing all over her face and neck, praising her and murmuring endearments. I made her come at least two more times before I did and the third time we came together.
I remember thinking if it never got any better between us, it was perfect. I’d known I loved her almost from the beginning, but I wanted to tell her when I wasn’t inside her coming.
After we finished, I gave the command for water and got a soapy sponge from the dispenser in the wall to wash her. Then I shampooed and rinsed her hair before I kissed her tenderly under the spray.
She took the sponge from me and freshened it with more suds and washed me from head to foot. We kissed again while we dried. After we got out of the shower, I kissed her again, caressing her face with one hand, holding her close.
“I love you, Zoe,” I told her finally, looking her in the eyes. “My beautiful mate, I love you with all my heart.”
She gave me a brilliant smile and cupped her hands over my cheeks. “I love you, too, Argen,” she said, “wholeheartedly and completely. …and not just because you’re the sexiest man alive.” She added the last with a naughty little giggle.
We hugged for a long time before we went to our bed. It had been a long day, and we were tired.
Before Zoe, the long periods in space between missions could grow monotonous with little to do. There was always physical training and scut work to maintain the ships. Of course, we still had that, but not as much on the Kurellis as on our Dreadnaughts. The ship was so new it was barely broken in. Most of the bugs had been worked out on the first trip to Farseek.
Zoe and I would have been there by now, if not for the Sargans wrecking “my” ship, so we had to abandon it. I was initially disappointed, mainly because my ship was lost. Being on the Kurellis, was no real hardship. It was built for long colonial runs with many amenities for the passengers to entertain themselves. The gym on the staff level was better than the ones on the Dreadnaughts for training.
We did our fitness routines and then held semi-contact fighting matches to keep our skill sharp. It took Commander Maktu’s ground force just a few days to complete maintenance on their combat armor and weapons. As part of the pilot team, I only had my sidearm to worry about.
I had a pilot rotation every third day. Flying the Kurellis was no major challenge. The AI did most of the work, while the pilot team just monitored the autopilot. The real work would start when we got to our next target. I would be assigned to one of the shuttles, Dreadnaught Four had confiscated from the Sargan battlecruiser they destroyed. I would shuttle refugees up from whatever planet we were going to. Our exact destination was a well-kept secret.
In any case, the time between missions meant I had plenty of time to devote to my relationship with Zoe. Along with the gene therapy I’d received after Julconi, Zoe helped me get past the misery I had suffered at the hands of the Sargans. She was my heart.
Chapter Eight
Zoe
I look back on our time after losing the Redid Rauner and traveling the Deng Yar system as a time of enchantment and growing love between Argen and me. Not only was he an exquisite lover but he was also caring and interested in me as a person. We had fun together, and I liked being with him.
Whoever woke up first would kiss the other one awake and more often than not we’d end up making love. Sometimes just thinking about it could make me wet, and that sensitive nose of his can always tell when I am even thinking about sex with him. He’s almost always more than happy to oblige. Sweet, dear man.
We had nearly four months to kill on the Kurellis. It was a long trip to the next rescue, but it took an extra month on the circuitous route the pilot team chose. After we downloaded the records from the Redid Rauner, it became clear how the Sargans were tracking us.
They had figured out what we were doing, by analyzing their records on the people they stole from Farseek. Then they set up patrols of battlecruisers in the most likely places our command team might choose to raid by how many Uatu people were enslaved on a given target. There were important targets closer to Consortium space than Deng Yar, but Command chose that one precisely because it seemed the least likely target, we would pick. It was too close to the Sargus Empire stronghold where many battlecruisers and carriers could be called in to play.
We had weekly staff meetings on the ship where Commander Maktu updated us on progress and discussed strategy for the upcoming mission.
I became increasingly concerned as we got closer to our target after what happened with the Rauner. Argen was going to be right out there, flying an unfamiliar shuttle with minimal defense weapons---nothing that could take out a battlecruiser.
“Don’t worry, Zoe. I’ve got the operations manual, and it’s not that much different than other shuttles I’ve flown,” he told me. “It’ll be fine.”
“I just can’t forget what happened with that Pican ship.”
He shrugged. “Sometimes these things happen. I’m not that hotshot anymore. I don’t want to lose anyone… And I don’t want to miss the rest of my life with you and the children we will make.” He grinned and cuddled me close.
I rested my head on his chest as my mind went to making children. But we just held each other, and it felt good just to cherish each other for a few minutes before the staff meeting.
Commander Maktu’s entire team of twenty-five, and various other personnel along with our fantastic four assembled in one of the larger conference rooms for an update.
“I have a lot to tell you, now that I have been authorized to share it with you,” Maktu began. “We have not been released from our membership in the Consortium because they did not accept our resignation. Nor did they terminate our contract to defend the Consortium. Instead, they officially announced that all our activities since recovering Halor Governor Evzen Guryon’s daughter from slavers were not sanctioned by the Consortium. They stated unequivocally that we were acting independently of the Consortium.
“While we have been off in the galaxy trying to retrieve our people, the Consortium council made good on their promise to investigate the raid on Farseek. It was quite a shock to discover who was behind it.” Maktu paused, pacing back and forth at the front of the room for a few seconds to control his anger.
“It was none other than Governor Guryon of Halor,” he revealed.
There were gasps and murmurs of “Why?”
What could he have possibly had against Farseek? They were primarily agricultural with those products their primary export to worlds like Halor that were predominantly industrial.
“It seems that Guryon had invested in an agricultural colony intending to supply the Consortium with the same products as Farseek. However, our transportation costs undercut his prices, and he was losing money. Never mind that he was probably the richest son of a bitch in the Consortium and he destroyed our world for money!”
There wasn’t much that could shake Commander Maktu, but he was enraged and outraged. I had only seen the vids, but he and his team had been there to see the destruction and the bodies and the survivors. The Farseek population had been decimated. Women, children, families---none had been spared. Those not killed were captured. Only the land and dwellings in remote locations were left intact. It took the commander a minute or so to control his emotions before he could go on.
“The governor has been arrested as the traitor he is, and his assets have been seized and diverted into reparations to Farseek. But that will only replace things. It’s not going to bring back the thousands that were killed in the raids. Nor will it get back our people who have been enslaved. There is no way he can ever pay for what he’s done to our people! Torturing him every day for the
rest of his life would not be enough. Killing him would be too easy. That fucker looked me right in the eye and never gave a hint to what he had done when I took his daughter back to him.
“It would have been so easy to grab his scrawny throat and choke the life out of him!” He paused to pace again. He looked like he wanted to punch something or break something.
It made us all pretty angry. Because of that man’s greed, Argen was taken and tortured as a slave. All of it was done out of selfishness.
“The Consortium council has revised their requirements for their defense, exempting Farseek from providing protection to the consortium until our population is sufficient to maintain the defense of our own world as well. They even made a formal apology. The worlds assembly believed our world was too remote to be attacked by the Sargus Empire. That is exactly why we knew that someone in the Consortium aided them. Their payment was the thousands they took as slaves.
“Obviously, finding out who did it is not going to make it better. In addition to selling us out, Guryon was also selling prohibited tech to the Sargans that would compromise Consortium defense. They are still investigating his finances to uncover the extent of his illegal activities.
“They are also reaching out to the United Alliance of Worlds with the information we got from the Redid Rauner and Lieutenant Sahvin Kazza. The Consortium believes aligning with the Alliance could be the support we need to bring down the Sargus Empire.
“However, we all know how bureaucracy works. It could be months or even years before it comes to fruition. At least it’s a start.
“Now, let’s get on to the mission ahead of us. Reconnaissance teams had already been on Deng Yar Five for a month gaining intel on where the Uatu people are to rescue. The information so far indicated there were seven primary locations. With an estimated five thousand people to evacuate it will likely take several days.
“Dread Four tapped into the central AI on Deng Yar to locate them more quickly. Then the recon team went in to seed them with information on the pickup locations. They went in at night for the cover of darkness.
“We had two Dreads stay back in the Farseek system to secure it. The other eight will be with us. I won’t lie to you, this is probably our most dangerous mission yet. Even with twenty-seven shuttles running relays, it’s going to take days for us to get all our people and those who want asylum on Farseek off the planet. The longer we stay in the system, the bigger the odds that the Sargans will discover our operation.
“All our combat teams will be on the ground securing the pickup sites. We’re hoping for minimal opposition by going in at night, but they’re looking for us now---especially after Julconi. The Dreads will protect the shuttles, and we will protect the ground operations.
“Any questions?” He paused, looking around the room with a rueful smile. “Oh, I almost forgot, Guryon is also funding our missions, so when we get back to Farseek, you will all receive your back pay. I know that’s small consolation for what we’ve lost. That’s it.”
Most of us just shook our heads at the last. We were never concerned about being paid. Our basic needs were being met. Getting as many people out of slavery as possible was always foremost in our minds.
Slowly, people got up from their seats. Argen and I drifted toward Commander Maktu, joining Harper, Scarlet, and Nora with Pyrr Avantu, and Sahvin Kazza, their respective mates.
“I suspected Guryon knew more than he was telling when I went to collect our payment, but I never guessed what he was really hiding,” Maktu said. “I’ve known for a while, but I was only authorized to share that information now.”
“It really doesn’t change anything,” Harper said. “There is no punishment severe enough to make him pay for what he did.”
“By supporting the Sargan slave trade, he got his own daughter kidnapped, and us too,” Scarlet said.
“But we’re the lucky ones,” Nora put in. “Conditions on the slave ship sucked, but we weren’t beaten or tortured like Sahvin and Argen.”
“Everything that happened landed us here to these wonderful guys,” I said, smiling at Argen and our friends.
I caught an affectionate expression from Argen and saw the other men looking at my friends in a similar way.
“It’s just about time for second meal, why don’t we all go together?” Commander Maktu suggested.
Of course, no one refused. It seemed that he needed our comradery as much as we needed each others’. In the months we had been with the Farseek Brigade cum mercenaries, we Earth women had learned the Uatu warriors were some of the fiercest in the galaxy. But they were also the most loving mates we would ever find.
If our time together was coming to an end, I knew I wouldn’t change a thing except what they had suffered. They had changed our lives for the better. For the next two weeks before the mission, I planned to cherish every minute with my beloved Argen.
Chapter Nine
Argen
“I wish I could go with you,” Zoey lamented. “And don’t tell me it’s too dangerous. I think I would rather die with you than live without you.”
She looked up at me, her beautiful brown eyes full of apprehension.
“Nobody is going to die if I can help it.” I slid my arms around her and pulled her against me, just holding her. “You will have plenty to do once we start bringing people up. Time will pass quickly, and I will be back for third meal with you.”
Zoe laid her head on my chest, hugging me as she let out a sigh. “These months with you have been the best of my life. But I still want that house in the country and those kids you promised we would make, so don’t you go get killed on me Argen Trematu!”
As she said the last, she looked up at me and smiled uncertainly.
“I love you too,” I said then kissed her lips softly. “Try not to worry. I’ll be fine.”
Of course, I didn’t know that. I knew there was a lot that could go wrong with the whole operation. I would deal with them as they came. Worry was too close to fear, and fear could paralyze a person so they couldn’t function. I just wanted to get this done so we could all go to Farseek and start our new life together.
It was hard leaving Zoey behind on Kurellis to begin my shuttle duties bringing up our people from Deng Yar. We both had jobs to do, and we both knew the risks. But then, as Zoe had said more than once, it could happen anywhere, anytime. One of us could die or be killed, and the other would be left alone.
I didn’t want that for Zoe or myself. In my ten years as a warrior, the possibility of death was always there, though it wasn’t something I thought about much. I was part of a team, and the people I worked with were my brothers and sisters. My younger self almost learned the hard way that I could cause the deaths of my comrades in arms by failing to do my job properly.
It was one thing to take chances with my own life, but not theirs. What I did that day in my fighter almost caused someone else to die in my stead. I would rather die myself than carry that responsibility and guilt for the rest of my life---not that I have a death wish.
My months with Zoey gave me more clarity on what was important in my life than ever before. The time as a slave and then an inmate on Julconi also changed me. I knew the depths of despair. Then I found Zoe and learned about ecstasy. But it was so much more than great sexual pleasure with her. It was exquisite.
Zoe is solmatu, my soul mate. Her love is unconditional, like mine for her. She brought joy into my life and allowed me to put the last two years behind me. We planned a life together to make a family and raise children together.
I had some land on Farseek, and there would be a home for us there when we got back. I refused to think that we might not make it there together. Some might think the life we planned was not that exciting, only Zoe and I agreed that we had had more than enough excitement to last the rest of our lives.
As I walked to the shuttle in the landing bay of Farseek Dreadnaught Four, I was remembering how Zoey and I stood holding each other in front of the door o
f our cabin before we left for our assignments. I was thinking how I loved holding her like that with her body tight against mine and her arms around me holding me. She pressed her face against my shoulder, and I stroked her curls, savoring the warmth of her body through our clothes. More than that, I knew beyond any doubt that I was loved.
Zoey was the most exciting thing that ever happened to me.
Four of our Dreadnaughts were already in the Deng Yar system when Kurellis arrived. Another four were at the edge of the system just beyond the orbit of Deng Yar Eight. Not long afterward we put into orbit of Deng Yar Five, and I shuttled over to Dreadnaught Four on the shuttle with Commander Maktu’s combat team. They dropped me off on Dread Four and then shuttled down to the planet while I picked up the Sargan shuttle. From there I went down to the planet for the first load of refugees. My landing target was designated number Three at the edge of one of the largest cities called Jarlem.
Commander Maktu’s ground team was running security at my landing spot. The shuttle from Kurellis went down and dropped off the combat team. People were already lined up by the landing site with bags and bundles of their meager possessions to board either shuttle. They picked up the first load to go back to Kurellis.
Most were Uatu, but many were not. We took them regardless. The other shuttle was taking off, and I was coming into land when the local constabulary arrived to try to stop us from “stealing” their slaves. The Dread One combat team easily subdued them. I watched through the hatchway at the loading ramp as a steady stream of people converged on Landing Three.
It appeared that the estimates by the recon teams were considerably lower than the number of people that were arriving. The advance team had done an excellent job of spreading the word.
