by Candace Sams
“What difference does that make to me? If what I’ve heard is true, I’ll be little more than a piece of property with no will of my own.”
“I did not have this color chosen because of what you might think. It is another way to taunt the Valkyrian. He threatened me with death when I touched you. I saw a look in his eyes I have not yet seen for any of his crewmen. I believe you are quite special to him, even if you deny any connection.” He considered the stone once more.
“I will hold this in front of him right before I crush it and blow the dust into your face for you to breathe. The color will be a cruel reminder of what he has lost and what I took from him. For the short time he has to live, he will see me have you over and over. He will witness you engaging willingly. In this way, I think it will hurt him much more than if I simply rape you. By force, he believes your heart is still free, and that you may still escape one day because only your body was taken. With this stone, I can make you want me and no other. You will never want to leave me at all.” He paused for a second, then smiled slyly. “It serves another purpose as well.”
She glared at him but said nothing.
“You will be no trouble aboard my ship if you have no will but that which I give you. You will not be sneaking about, opening and closing fuel valves to destroy me even at the cost of your own life.”
“You’re wrong about Captain Mann. He means nothing to me and vice versa. He’s only acting as duty requires, trying to keep me as safe as any member of his crew. I may have stowed away on his vessel, but he still feels responsible for me.”
“I do not think that is true. I know when a man wants a woman. And he is charmed by you.”
He lifted a strand of her hair, and she tried not to shudder in disgust.
“There is much in you to captivate a man. Though you are small, you have an intriguing air. You are brave and your coloring is unusual. All Ussarian women have hair black as night. Yours is dark golden with streaks of sunlight all over. Even I, with my sturdier resolve, find you most interesting. Having you come to me willingly will at least be entertaining. And it will certainly destroy Mann’s arrogance.”
“Look, you’ve read this all wrong,” she insisted. “He doesn’t care about me in that way. The Captain would lock me up—just like you. I broke the law. I’ll say it again, I only tried to give him a chance to escape because I didn’t want to be raped by you or your men.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I do not believe you. As to rape, it will not be an issue if you agree to the sex act. That is the law and the captain knows it. That is why using this stone will hurt him so profoundly. Do you not see the irony in the situation? You will be agreeing to something he will find abhorrent. His final moments of life will be filled with agony, and I will see it on his face.”
Rape was rape if she’d never meant the act to happen and especially when he used any kind of drug to muddle her thinking. But Goron clearly saw it differently. “Why do you hate Captain Mann so much? Other than being just one more enforcer, what’s he to you?” Though she knew the answer to her questions, Goron didn’t seem to realize she was still buying time. He liked the sound of his voice, so she kept him talking.
Goron involuntarily clenched his empty hand. “Several years ago, he and the three crewmembers with him helped kill my younger brother. My plan to lure them to Chiron was forged for two reasons. The first to acquire Lucent Stones and their mind controlling properties. Thanks to the ambassador, I accomplished this before Captain Mann and his crew ever landed here.” He examined the stone he held again. “The second reason was more personal. I wanted to have my revenge against as many of the original group who murdered my brother. Two are still free. With the capture of the Valkyrian and his crew, I have four of the original six. Those who are left alive will forever ache for their lost friends, even as I grieve for my sibling. And as long as I live, I will seek the deaths of those remaining two enforcers. Having the Lucent Stones will help me in that quest.”
There was no sense talking to the man. She’d been at the Mr. Interstellar Feller competition and knew Burl had killed himself. Yet, it was to her advantage that Goron believed she knew nothing of those events.
“Look, I’m sorry for your loss,” she uttered, “but I still don’t see why I should be made to pay for something I had no part of. I only stowed away. I did nothing to you.”
“You are a victim of circumstance. As I have already stated, the captain will find your compliance unendurable. His pain will give me joy.” He tilted her chin up using one forefinger. “But I see multiple uses for you, little pretty. To waste your life is not advantageous to me.”
Charlie tamped down a retching sensation. The subject was all about what he needed, not who else got hurt. She tried yet another angle.
“I don’t see how a gemstone could possibly render me amenable to anything. I mean, you’ve explained how you use it, but not what it actually does to make me ‘compliant’ as you would like.”
“The stone’s dust is powerful. Whether you accept its mind controlling properties or not is of no concern to me. You will not even remember that you breathed in the dust.”
“But how do you know you’re not under control? What if that man who retrieved this one stone grabbed a pocketful? Or maybe the rest of your followers have looted some and have put you under their control.”
He laughed until tears of mirth filled his eyes. “You are amusing.” He grabbed a hold of her upper arm and began to tug her back toward the group of restrained enforcers. “My men were chosen because of their close ties to my family. They are loyal to me and will not mutiny as long as I maintain control. But if I thought they would, I’d certainly use the stones to control them.”
So much for her attempts to cast doubts in his mind. “A-and you w-won’t kill me? I’ll be allowed to live as long as I keep you amused? You aren’t going to get even with me for destroying the ambassadors’ ship and for helping the enforcers escape?” she asked, firing questions at him while pretending to care more for her own safety than anyone else’s.
Goron stopped just long enough to answer. “Since you seem to know about vessels and how they operate, one use I might have for you is keeping my command ship in working order. I have no mechanic and must rely on those at outposts where we sometimes hide. These shadowy technicians are of poor quality and ask high prices. Even if I used the stones on them to avoid payment, that will not increase their skill. You, I think, are much more qualified for technical duties else you would not have so easily been able to destroy Caul’s transport. What you did was ingenious,” he said as he nodded slowly. “I admire that, especially when brilliance comes wrapped in such a nice little form. You have qualities I cannot induce with any amount of mind control. I will bed you by night; you will work for your keep by day.”
“Sounds peachy.”
“As to helping the enforcers escape,” he continued, “I was considerably outraged by that maneuver and the stinging kick you delivered. But, once again, I will have you to warm my body during the night. That will be worth the small inconveniences you have inflicted. As I have said, what is more important is that I see horror on the Valkyrian’s face when you breathe in the dust and I take you in front of him. Afterwards, I will slaughter his crew by the slowest, most torturous means possible. By the time my admiral arrives with his staff, and I am ready to end the captain’s life, the Valkyrian will be begging to die. I will gladly oblige and my brother will finally rest in the afterlife.”
He leaned down and slowly smiled. “As to the ambassador’s vessel, you were right to assume it was always mine. Caul was to have used it to get to Dagor Prime System where he would have loaded it full of diamonds, put it on auto pilot and sent it into deep space. I then would have picked up the craft and given the booty to my men as a reward for their loyalty. This payment from Caul was to buy my silence.”
“If any of his people knew what he’s done, they’d lock him away for life.”
“That wil
l never happen, little stowaway. His payments would have garnered my protection against scavengers near Dagor Prime System.”
She took note of the past tense used concerning Caul but said nothing. “So that’s it? He only gets protection out of all this?”
“He had my vow I would never raid Dagor Prime System as I and my people have raided Lucent. He was to continue to offer up rare gems for that promise. But you are quite intelligent for a mere woman. I think you see through that ruse. Do you not, little pretty?”
“Sooner or later, you’re going to kill the ambassador.”
“I only needed him to help me get my small craft into Lucent’s atmosphere without detection. I bribed him with all kinds of false promises so he would have two large crates of the Lucent Stones ready when I arrived. He betrayed his friends, the constables guarding the stones, and even his office. What honor is there in a man who would do these things? He is not worth placing under mind control, not when I can use my stones more productively and on more highly-placed officials throughout the galaxy. And not when he has already been so ridiculously compliant!”
She tapped her temple in pretended acknowledgement and admiration of his plans. “I see. This is quite a brilliant plan,” she gushed. “With the power of the stones, you don’t need any of his damned diamonds. Nor do you need any safe harbor where you and your men can hide. You’ll be able to make anyone give you anything you desire. No fuss, no muss.”
“You are quite clever. I will take pleasure in bedding you. And the desire I induce using the stones will make your experience equally satisfying. We shall both have made a good deal. Indeed, you will enjoy the sex we share so much the Valkyrian’s pride in protecting you will be quite crushed. I cannot wait to see the expression in his eyes. It will make up for his part in my sibling’s murder.”
“Again, I offer my condolences. That is quite tragic,” Charlie said, shaking her head in mock pity.
“It is doubly so since, if Burl had waited just a short time, many more of the stones would have been located. His only mistake was in thinking only a handful would ever be discovered. He believed there were not enough of them to do him sufficient good as mind controlling elements. He craved the money he would get for them. That was what led him to pretend to be a contestant in the Mr. Interstellar Feller pageant.”
“He was hiding among the contestants?” She knew the answer full well, but let him keep talking. As long as he did, she and her friends remained alive.
“He and a small group of our kinsmen pretended to be Ussar’s contenders for the pageant crown. They were to have met an anonymous buyer on Earth. The only reason they were allowed to land on the planet was for diplomatic reasons. No one entering the contest legally was disallowed. As long as they had no criminal record.”
“I see,” she mused. “Burl had no criminal record anyone on Earth knew about.”
He shook his head in anger. “Poor Burl”. He could not have known he’d be killed savagely and any of his men remaining alive would be incarcerated back on Lucent; the same place from which the stones were originally stolen. He did not know Trask would be cowardly enough to torture his men into telling all they knew. It was from those incarcerated kinsmen I found out their torturers names. I bid them keep their silence of these affairs so I might seek retribution and later gain them their freedom.”
“So, you’ll go back to Lucent and get them out of jail?” Charlie asked.
“No. They are dead now. But they will be remembered for their honor and courage when Lucent is destroyed. Chiron, too, will be destroyed. So if such stones exist here, they will never be mined.”
“And you’ll have the only stones in existence.” Charlie shook her head at the level of betrayal Ussarians employed. “Well, that’ll teach me to stow away just to ride in an old antique. I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Not to be long-remembered, my tiny sweet. I promise you will burn for me once I make the suggestion. Just breathe in the dust and do not fight me. You will be well rewarded with my sexual prowess. Just give in easily and make the Valkyrian rage from your efforts.” He ran his hands through her hair then glanced toward the horizon.
“The sun is coming up. Your lovely locks will shimmer in its light, like Ussarian gold. But you are much more than a pretty, little morsel. You are a realist. Like me, you know what you want and will do what it takes to achieve an end.” He smiled. “We shall both have what we seek. You get to live, I get to know hours of joy in bedding you, and the captain suffers. Come along now.”
Charlie looped her hand through the big oaf’s arm in a semblance of willingness that made him smile even broader. She tamped down another desire to vomit. After charming the bastard to this point, throwing up on his boots wasn’t likely to gain trust.
It suddenly occurred to her she’d flirted her way into his good graces, the same as some of the Miss Milky Way pageant contestants had hit on Datron. Hence Datron’s annoyance with them.
But that was the major difference in the Valkyrian and the Ussarian. One wanted substance and honesty, the other wanted control and acquiescence. Now, she’d be at Goron’s mercy unless she could use her brain to get out of this situation.
The one bright spot in all of this was Caul thought he’d used Goron. The ambassador would pay the ultimate price for the betrayal of his people on Lucent. And Goron, too, would get what was coming to him. If her future lover thought the admiral of the Ussarian fleet would let him keep any of those Lucent Stones―and all the power inherent in their possession―Goron was crazy. As Caul had betrayed his duty, Goron betrayed Caul. And this unnamed admiral would take the booty if he had to kill Goron to do it.
One life after another would be forfeit over those damned stones. Anyone touching them had a target on his back. That was why she wouldn’t feel remorse concerning her actions. If Goron somehow complied with his admiral’s demand for the stones, two different scenarios presented themselves.
One, she’d still be taken aboard Goron’s vessel after seeing Datron, Clitus, Gilla, and Electra die. And she’d be mind-controlled into having sex with someone.
The second scenario was that this admiral wouldn’t be given the stones and Goron and his crew would fight to maintain control of them. In which case―and she’d already put her money on it―Goron and his men would die. Either way, she wouldn’t want to live that much longer, even without the disease in her brain. Not since her friends and Datron would be dead.
As she saw it, Goron’s ship would still end up flying in the admiral’s squadron. The vessel would be considered spoils by whatever side eventually got to keep the stones. But rigged as it now was, most of the Ussarian vessels flying near it would never reach their home world. She’d be dead when the explosion occurred, or she’d be dead on Chiron if the admiral didn’t want her. That was the most preferable option since she’d be lying beside her friends.
Everything considered, hope seemed lost. But some small spark of fire remained. She still nursed an ember of optimism that the good guys could win. That was the only reason she didn’t try to grab Goron by the balls, induce his wrath and thereby her own quick end. Something told her to hang in there for just a while longer.
She glanced heavenward and put her trust in the one great force that’d never failed her.
****
Datron realized Gilla, Electra, and Clitus were struggling with their bonds even as he did. Their guards simply watched in amusement, knowing there was nothing their prey could do. He kept his gaze on the huge Ussarian leader standing next to his miniscule stowaway.
Charlie and Goron’s discussion had probably taken a few minutes but it seemed like an eternity. The woman took crazy, insane chances with her life. If she was being honest about the situation concerning her health, then her absurd actions made some kind of twisted sense. In her mind, whatever was wrong with her couldn’t be changed. She’d dance to the demon’s tune in order to give them more time.
“Charlie,” he whispered, and then struggled h
arder when Goron returned with her arm looped through his.
Charlie looked resigned—as though she knew what was about to happen and accepted it. But then, she turned her gaze away from Goron and stared straight at him.
There it was again, as he’d seen it so many times tonight.
A flashing expression of hope that shot straight into his heart and gave him courage when there wasn’t reason for any.
She’s got something planned.
****
Goron unhooked Charlie’s arm from his and made a great pretense out of kissing her small hand.
Charlie tried not to wipe the slobber on the leg of her jumpsuit. She stood and waited for her captor to do or say what he would. Time was winding down now. She had to make her play soon.
“Wait here, pretty,” Goron instructed. “Things will go well since you have agreed to cooperate. I will finish what led me to this moon. I will then contact the admiral and tell him I have the Valkyrian ready for slaughter. For seeking and gaining vengeance on my family’s behalf, my name will be honored on Ussar. You will enjoy what spoils I do.”
He then strode toward Datron—whose beaten face, body, and wings were surely only a precursor for what was to come.
As Goron planted his feet apart before the captain of the Hyperion, he held up the small blue-green stone for Datron and the other captives to see.
“This stone is the means by which I will have the stowaway you so valiantly tried to protect. See how it shines in the early morning light, Valkyrian? See how it is so like the color of her lovely eyes?”
Datron glowered and struggled against his restraints.
Charlie saw the raw-edge fury on wing man’s handsome face, still marvelous even after all the beatings he’d endured.
“For the time you have left, remember this stone. Your little stowaway will be mine for the rest of her life. She will care for no one but me and will bear me many sons. And they will go on to be brave, virile warriors who will fight and kill enforcers.”
