“You are a very naughty, willful Earth female, and while I do adore you, and wouldn’t change a thing about you, I believe you need something more,” he growled, clutching her hair and jerking back her head. “Something that will leave you breathless and weak, something that will keep you out of trouble while I’m gone.”
“Like, uh, what?” she stammered, startled by his sudden, fervent attention.
“Like this!”
With his free hand he grasped the neckline of her dress, and with a sharp tug, ripped it in two and yanked it off her body. She gasped, then yelped as he landed several hard swift slaps on her naked behind before throwing her across the back of the couch and delivering several more.
“Valodar—” she gasped, shocked but thrilled by his amorous attack. “I feel—”
“No talking,” he sternly instructed, and grabbing her wrists, he wrapped his long fingers around them and pinned them against the small of her back, then sent his free hand between her legs. Electric shocks sparked through her pussy, and totally overcome, she moaned loudly and bucked back at him, wriggling her sex against his hand.
“There, Earth female, appropriately subdued,” he said huskily. “When you need it, I will bring you to heel. Clear?”
“Ooh, yes, Sir Valodar, yes!”
“Now you will orgasm until you are melted underneath me.”
Without warning his member rocketed from its pouch, its stiff hardness taking her breath away as it plunged into her soaked strait, and as it began its vigorous stroking, his fingers continued to spark her clit.
The first climax was already upon her, and pulling his hand from between her legs, he swatted the sides of her bottom. She howled as the hot smacks united with her orgasmic convulsions, but as they abated, he gave her only seconds before his telescoping Xanhood drove itself against her inner walls, shooting her into another explosive release. He continued to manipulate her sizzling seizures, riding her through climax after climax until she was almost sobbing, then pressing his hot tingling fingers against her clit once more, he pulsed against it like a fast beating drumstick.
“Ooh, I can’t believe it,” she wailed, “it’s happening again…”
The fresh orgasm clutched her with powerful spasms, and they tumbled through her one after the other. She thought she heard him groaning, but her screams were so loud she couldn’t be sure, and when the convulsions finally passed, and he released her wrists and stepped away, she was a rag doll.
“Two Earth minutes exactly,” he said warmly as he gently lifted her and laid her on the couch. “I believe that will have settled your restless spirit,” then leaning over her, he softly kissed her, sliding his gloriously moist purple lips over hers.
“I… uh…”
“Hush,” he murmured, touching his finger to her mouth. “Rest. I’ll be back to say goodbye shortly.”
Though she could hear him moving around, her eyes were closed and she had no energy with which to open them. Every part of her body was tingling with the most delicious pins and needles she’d ever felt, and she was sure she was drifting on a cloud of cotton that was floating on a sea of serenity.
Chapter Twenty
Ellie woke with a start. Valodar had gone. She recalled the soft kiss on her lips, the mumbled goodbye, then she remembered something else. Whispered words.
I love you, Ellie Blake. Whatever happens, remember that I love you.
Had he really said that, or had she dreamed it?
He had covered her with a soft blanket, and sitting up, she saw her torn dress on the coffee table, as well as a tray with some snacks, an empty mug, and a carafe of something. She picked it up and tilted it toward the mug, letting the dark brown beverage spill out, then took a tentative sip. Coffee? Perfect, and just the way she liked it, with the cream and sugar already added. Letting out a sigh, she tasted one of the morsels. It was sweet and delicious, but then her mind began to wander.
Would Tavlon be in touch with her? She needed to know what was going on. There was no way she could just sit around and wait. She’d go nuts, but she knew how to get to the commander’s office, and after drinking her coffee and finishing off the delicious treats, she decided to shower and head over there.
Rising to her feet, she moved through the bedroom and into the closet, and as she looked at the various garments hanging on their strange hooks, she paused, recalling how Valodar had torn off her dress and taken her with such power and control. A delicious shudder of pleasure rippled through her stomach, and she leaned back against the shelving for support, but as she did, she felt it move. Suddenly, the entire side of the wall began to turn. She jumped backwards, watching it rotate, then dropped her jaw.
“What the hell?”
Studying the various screens, knobs, and switches on the control center, she thought it looked remarkably Earth-like. Compared to everything else she’d seen, it appeared almost antiquated. Why would he have something so primitive? She knew she probably shouldn’t touch anything, but the large screen in the center was calling to her, mostly because there was bright green button with red button next to it. Was green and red universal for on and off?
“Should I do this?” she mumbled, hovering her finger over the green. “Probably not, but…”
Unable to resist, she pressed. There was a clicking sound, and to her delight the screen came to life with a colorful zigzag pattern. She let out a hoot of happiness, and as the image became clear, she found herself looking at what she was assumed was the Terminus.
Xans were scurrying around, there were lines of black gleaming pods, and though they were similar to the ones that had been transporting her through the hallways, they appeared to be larger, they had appendages on each side, and on the roof, what looked like a fin. Along the walls she spied various pieces of furniture piled up. Were they waiting to be transformed into fake fighter pods?
“That has to be why they’re there,” she mumbled. “I wonder if this thing has volume.”
She started toying with a few dials, but rather than offer her sound, the image began zooming in and out, and the angles changed. She quickly discovered which controls did what, and she began panning over the entire area. It was fun, and then she saw him, and freezing the frame, she stared at his image.
Valodar! In all his glory!
She zoomed in. As always, he was wearing only trousers and his layered necklace, and he looked big, very big. She flashed back to the moment he’d muscled up in front of her, and as she studied his physique, he appeared to be even broader, taller, and more powerfully built than she remembered, but he didn’t just look physically powerful, he looked important. He was standing on a deck above the floor of pods staring down at the buzzing activity, his arms were crossed, and it was obvious he was in charge.
“Oh, I need to hear you,” she grumbled. “Why the heck can’t I find the darn volume?”
Dropping her eyes lower, she noticed a horizontal slit, and at the far edge was a knob. Cautiously, she began sliding it across.
“Yay!” she exclaimed, hearing a cacophony of sounds.
For the first time she heard his language. It was nothing like English, or French, or German, or any tongue she’d heard. It was a series of sounds rather than words strung together. It was astonishing, but even more astonishing was that the necklace around her neck had been responsible for translating it. The thought made the control panel in front of her seem even more incongruous.
Wishing she could understand what was being said, it occurred to her that her necklace should be doing the job. Why wasn’t it? The sound was low, so she slid the lever further along, and to her delight the translator began to work.
“You are such a clever girl, Ellie Blake,” she said happily, listening to all the chatter and understanding most of it.
Though Valodar wasn’t saying much, when he did speak, his voice was easy to discern above the general noise. His authority was clear, and zooming in on his face, she saw his heavy frown of responsibility, but she also saw
something else. The color of his eyes.
They were dark. Dark meant worry.
Was there something he’d not told her? What was it he’d whispered?
Whatever happens, remember that I love you.
“Whatever happens?” she gasped. “What does that mean? Shit.”
Spinning around, she glanced at the clothes, and grabbing a black tunic dress with a sparkling beaded neckline, she pulled it over her head. It was loose and comfortable and fell to her knees, and sliding into some black slippers, she hurried out, dashing down the hallway to Commander Tavlon’s quarters. There was no door frame, just the seamless stream of wall, but his Crest of Stature told her where it was, and she pressed the blue button on her necklace. Nothing happened. She knocked, then banged, but received no response. Looking up and down the hallway, she saw only emptiness. That was normal, but it felt different, as though everyone was locked away in their quarters, or was she imagining things? Her heart began to pump, and knowing her mind could easily go to places it shouldn’t, she took a breath and told herself not to be an idiot.
“The Terminus!” she exclaimed. “I need to go to the Terminus, I need to find him, and I need to make him tell me what’s really going on, but where the hell is it? A pod, I need a pod. Dammit, what button do I press?”
She knew she couldn’t remember because she was beginning to panic, so taking another breath, she consciously calmed herself, and then it came to her. It was the stone that looked like a cat’s eye. All it took was a touch, and seconds later a pod was zipping toward her. Nervously she stepped inside. There were no controls of any kind, and though she’d been a passenger, it felt strange to be sitting in an unfamiliar moving vehicle, alone, with no way to steer, or brake, or accelerate.
“Be brave, Ellie, this is a breeze,” she mumbled, then said, in a loud, clear voice, “The Terminus!”
Immediately the pod took off, whizzing through the hallway, turning down corridors and through walls that opened in front of her, but as it continued on its journey, she began to wonder why every wall was letting her pass. Was her collar that powerful? It hadn’t opened the door to Commander Tavlon’s quarters. Maybe Tavlon had left and locked up. Locked up? She’d not seen a key since arriving. Keys. They didn’t exist.
The pod began to slow, snapping her back to attention. It turned down a short hallway, then moved through a dark red wall that sported odd symbols and slid up, rather than parted, and she found herself in a hallway unlike all the others; the pale lavender walls were now red, like the door, and the floor was the color of dark charcoal. Her pulse ticked up. She sensed she was nearly there. Would Valodar be angry?
“Shit, is this a really bad idea? Maybe I should go back. Crap. No. I need to see him. I need to know what’s really going on. There’s more, I know there is.”
The pod was creeping slowly forward toward a glossy black wall. Her heart began to hammer. She’d arrived, she was sure of it. Would the wall open up for her like the others? Did she want it to? She did, she didn’t, she did.
The pod stopped, and suddenly, a dark purple beam appeared at either side. Terrified, she sat stock still as it zigzagged around the pod, then caught her breath as the laser-like beam widened, flooding her with its light. It abruptly disappeared, and to her utter amazement the wall opened. Surely her collar wasn’t responsible for this access! But it had to be. There was no other explanation.
She waited, and though the pod didn’t move, its roof rose up. It was time to walk. Hastily jumping out, she hurried forward, and turning around, she saw the wall close behind her. Her goose was well and truly cooked. She had no idea how she could leave even if she wanted to.
Pausing, she looked around. She was in a short hallway and it was frighteningly quiet. Suddenly scared, wishing she’d stayed home, yet at the same time, thrilled that she was there, she ventured forth, her footsteps silent on the soft, rubbery floor. The hallway veered right, and she saw various doors on either side, with double doors at the end; regular doors, with frames, and clearly discernible. Shaking her head, wondering why the area was so completely different from rest of the station, she decided to go straight to the doors at the end. Resisting the temptation to peek into the rooms as she passed, as she reached the double doors they swung open.
“No surprise there,” she whispered, and with her heart now madly racing, she walked through them, immediately stopping in her tracks. “What the hell?”
She was on a landing at the top of some stairs, and below her was everything she’d just seen; the rows of fighter pods, the piled-up furniture, even the platform where she’d watched Valodar standing with such authority, his powerful arms crossed in front of him, but the immense area was completely deserted, and all the pods were open, the roofs raised in readiness.
“Okay,” she mumbled, “this is a bit scary.”
As her eyes traveled across the gleaming black eggs, she noticed one sitting by itself in the very front row. There was something emblazoned on its side, and with no one there, she decided to be brave and have a quick look around. Climbing down the stairs, she walked through the expansive space, and as she moved through the pods, she could easily see inside, and it was obvious which were real and which had been created from the furniture. The fakes were empty shells, and though there wasn’t a great deal to see in the real pods, they at least had a dashboard and a seat.
Moving slowly to the lone pod in the front, she saw what was shimmering on its side: Valodar’s Crest of Stature. She paused, staring at it, and standing there, alone in the immense space, the glossy fighter pods in perfect rows ready for action, surrounded by deathly quiet, knowing she was in space, really truly in space… it was a spine-tingling, mesmerizing moment.
Deciding she’d pushed her luck, and continuing to wander around the Terminus was probably a bad idea, she turned to leave, but as she did, she noticed shining silver suits in neat piles on a counter just a few steps away. Intrigued, she decided to take a quick peek before making a rapid exit. They appeared to be exactly like the one Valodar had made her wear for her trip down to Earth. It felt like eons ago, and she couldn’t believe it had been only a few days.
“Or rather Earth days,” she muttered to herself.
A sudden bang made her jump, and pulse racing, she ducked down and darted back to Valodar’s pod for cover. She could hear voices, and but they were low, and she peered over the pod.
Xans were coming in from several different doors, stopping at various points and donning suits laid out on other counters. She froze. Now what? Scenarios began darting through her brain.
If she stood up, would she be putting her life at risk? Would they immediately think she was some kind of intruder? Would they shoot first and ask questions later? Doubtful, but it could happen. Would her presence embarrass Valodar? He was their leader. How awkward would it be if she suddenly popped up next to his pod?
“Shit, shit, shit,” she groaned. “What the hell was I thinking?”
The voices were drawing closer, and she decided her only option was to hide in the pod, but then she realized she was still holding the suit. Could she put it on and fake her way through the crowd to make her escape?
Bad idea; if one of them said hello, or stopped to talk to her, then what?
“Quiet, please.”
It was Valodar’s voice. The room fell silent, and risking another peek, she saw him standing on the same platform she seen him on when she’d watched him from the closet. The Xans were gathering below him. With all their attention focused on their leader, she could probably sneak away. Yes. That could work, and keeping low, she took a few steps, then stopped.
Was she walking away from the chance of a lifetime? She could try to get out and risk getting caught, or… she could slip into Valodar’s pod and hide in the back. She could stow away.
She had the suit!
It was a no-brainer!
Keeping as low as she could, she moved back, climbed in, clambered over the seat, and crawled into the dark
empty space at the rear. Kicking off her slippers, she pulled off the dress, shimmied her way into the suit, then settled back to listen to the remainder of Valodar’s speech.
“…most dangerous, and the most important mission we’ve ever undertaken. It’s possible the future of our four quadrants, even the freedom of the galaxy itself, could be at risk. Are you ready?”
A shard of panic sliced through her heart. Dangerous? The future peace of the entire galaxy? Was it true?
“We must hold them back until the fabricated pods are in place, then accelerate to maximum speed with no pause. You’ll have barely enough time to get back before the blast,”
“What the hell are you talking about?” she mumbled under her breath. “What blast?”
“Any last-minute questions?”
“Monitor Valodar,” she heard someone call out, “what about you?”
“With the greater power of my pod, I’ll be back at the same time as those of you docking here. Now let’s show those Sparians what we’re made of. Into your pods.”
She could hear them running. There was no turning back now. The dress was black, the interior of the pod was black, and turning it inside out so the shiny beads around the neck wouldn’t show, she burrowed against the wall and covered herself, praying he wouldn’t see her when he climbed in. Taking a long deep breath, trying to still her racing heart, having no idea what she was about to face, she’d stay quiet and hidden the entire time. Or at least she’d try.
“Fuck,” she mumbled. “I cannot believe I did this, I absolutely cannot believe it.”
Chapter Twenty-One
As Valodar leapt into his pod, he saw something sparkling on the seat next to him. He was about to reach for it, but there was no time. The roof of the pod had already closed, the hangar doors had opened, and the whirring of the whiplash takeoff mechanism lasted barely a blink before catapulting him from the platform. The pods behind him shot forward a nanosecond later, and as row after row exited the Terminus, they fell into formation, creating a line around the perimeter of the station. It appeared fearsome, but with only half the fleet, there were large gaps between them.
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