The remaining five had settled into life on Scerior. Two had taken mates and with the expertise of the Sceriae doctors had become pregnant and had female children. One had trained to be a doctor and two were teachers and all were dedicated to Scerior.
Nearly all young Sceriae males now had mates and had settled down to domesticity Scerior /Earth style. The only unsettling occurrences had been reports of sightings of Xenorii spaceships. The rumour was that many Xenorii had managed to survive the Sceriae attack. They had been deeper inside their planet than Acorus had known. Unfortunately all Acorus had was rumours. He had taken a force of star ships to Xenor but found the planet completely deserted.
The Xenorii race had disappeared.
As Jo turned over Acorus woke up “You’re not getting up yet, are you?” he asked pulling her towards him.
“Yes I am. Don’t forget that we have a meeting with the council this morning”.
“Damn, I had forgotten. But we have time for a cuddle” he said kissing her gently.
“We had quite enough ‘cuddles’ during the night” she laughed pulling away from him.
“Are you saying no? I thought you had learned not to do that” he said as he pulled her back to him. “Behave...” was all Jo got out before he captured her mouth again and made her forget the need to get up.
Much later as Acorus lay there, finally satiated, Jo hopped out of bed and hurried into the bathroom. She showered quickly and dressed in a highly embroidered tunic and trousers. Brushing her hair as she left the bathroom she said “Get up lazy bones; we’ll hardly have time for breakfast as it is”.
Acorus groaned and rolled out of bed. He was of course, naked, and Jo marvelled that his body still was as beautiful as it was when she first met him. He saw her looking at him and grinned so she picked up a pillow and threw it at him.
Catching it he said “Throwing things again. It just shows how you enjoy having your bottom smacked” and he started towards her.
Jo squealed and hurried out of the bedroom closing the door firmly behind her. The living quarters had been redecorated by Jo. There were still comfortable sofas and chairs but in one corner stood a large television. There was a mixture of human and Sceriae art on the walls and large soft rugs on the floor. Great vases of flowers and greenery stood on small tables dotted around the room. It had a comfortable mix of human and Sceriae design and Jo loved it.
One bedroom was a room for Jo and Acorus’s latest daughter, Jessica who was eighteen months old and went to nursery two mornings a week to become happy there. The third bedroom was now Jo’s office. Julie ran it, but two Escorii worked there, only sending major problems to Julie who would then let Jo know about them. Going into Jessica’s room Jo found her daughter sitting at a little table using crayons to draw flower on a sheet of paper. As with all the half breeds she was extremely advanced like a Sceriae, but full of love and laughter like her mother.
Seeing Jo she jumped off her little chair and flung herself at Jo saying ‘Mummy’ in Sceria and English. All the human/Sceriae girls spoke Sceria and English and could communicate telepathically with the Escorii. A beautiful child of Sceriae build, with Jo’s fair hair and Acorus’s bright blue eyes she was a joy to be with. All their daughters were extremely beautiful and at ten years old Jacki was the height and build of a fifteen year old human girl. She already flirted with the young Sceriae males whenever she could but was proud of her birth and never overstepped the mark. The young males treated her with deference, which she took as her due. Another six years and she would have hundreds of aspiring mates.
Hugging Jessica, Jo asked her what she was going to be doing that day. With glee she told her mother that it was a nursery day. Turning to Tsu, who had returned to Jo eight years before after giving birth to her young, Jo asked whether Jess had eaten all her breakfast. When Tsu said that she had Jo kissed Jess and left her to have her outdoor clothes put on.
Back in the living room Tchu and Tjai were laying out breakfast. As Acorus joined them the Escorii who worked in the office came in and after bowing to him and Jo went into the office to start work. Sitting at the table they helped themselves to food and started the agenda for the council meeting. Since Ileya had died the hospital had been moved to a large premises nearer to the city. Those rooms had been turned into a large meeting room and the main reception room was now given over to entertaining ambassadors from other planets. The second reception room was now a large dining room for official dinners.
There was no longer any guards stationed inside the house. But each exterior door still had two guards on duty.
Tsu came through the living room with Jess, who on spotting Acorus, flew to him shouting ‘Daddy’ in English. He stood up and when she reached him caught her and threw her into the air again and again. Giggling Jess said ‘Again’. But Tsu came to her and said “Come, you don’t want to be late for lessons”.
Kissing her Acorus put her down saying that he’d see her later. When he was at home he went with Jo to the nursery every day to see his children. He loved the girls he’d had with Kylie and Julie but had to admit that Jo’s girls were something special although he succeeded in not showing it. The male children he’d had with Ileya were now mature and were choosing what they wanted to do in life. Unsurprisingly most wanted to be soldiers but quite a few yearned to be doctors, like Ileya. Being male of course, meant that they had to fulfil their army duties too. All were proving to be strong and intelligent and Acorus was extremely proud of everyone.
All in all life was good. Now that they only abducted girls who were in trouble. Jo’s conscience no longer worried her. She enjoyed her trips to Earth and more and more of Earth’s goods found their way to Scerior. The Sceriae had looked at a lot of Earth’s technology and adapted it for their own use, hence the television in Jo’s living room. One of the favourite things taken from Earth were DVD’s of film, television shows, wildlife and gardening programs. Films about space or aliens brought great amusement to the Sceriae. They kept a close watch on Earth and worried that the humans would destroy their world and themselves.
There was much discussion in council meetings about whether they should interfere or not.
The Middle Eastern countries were still fighting amongst themselves. Countries in Europe and the United States of America were still trying to be peacemakers, and young American and British soldiers were still dying needlessly. Many Sceriae males believed that they should take over Earth in the same way as they had the planets in their galaxy. All the planets that had Sceriae bases on them were peaceful places to live. Sceriae law worked well everywhere. Acorus ruled with a light hand and the Wracki, Terrans, Pinaarans and Chomanay lived happily together, moving freely between the planets. However they knew that the Sceriae would not countenance any trouble makers. But Earth was so fragmented with so many different races, all human but there the similarity ended. To control them would mean constant fighting and the Sceriae did not want that. So they observed but didn’t interfere.
America had reacted as Jo had said they would, covering everything up and coercing the returned females into keeping quiet. So the Sceriae returned all rejected females to them, as they didn’t want countries where the slave trade flourished to be on guard against them. After a leisurely breakfast Acorus and Jo went through to the meeting room to wait for the rest of the council.
An agenda for the meeting was placed before each chair, written in Sceria for the Sceriae and English for the humans. Jo picked hers up and leafed through it, “That’s strange; there was no report yesterday, from the spy ship via the two star ships patrolling the wormhole inside Earth’s galaxy”.
“Mmm yes, that is strange. Excuse me while I speak to our communications centre” Acorus hurried from the room.
As Jo waited for him to return she read through all the other reports. There was a report from the base on Zaa-wrack, two Wracki ships, in the last
week, had not arrived when they were scheduled to.
Frowning Jo suddenly shivered, feeling a strange dread; she searched her papers for more unusual happenings. A Terran ship had reported seeing a Xenorii ship two weeks ago. Andea, Pensus and other members of the council entered the chamber and greeted Jo. As they were about to sit down, Acorus came in looking worried. Taking his seat he reported that there was still no communication from the two star ships.
Then Jo pointed out the report on the missing Wracki ships and the Terrans report on seeing a Xenorii spaceship. There was silence in the room as each council member thought their own horrific thoughts. A knock on the door heralded Belain. He was in armour and saluted Acorus.
“The fleet will be ready to leave in two hours, General. We will have fifteen star ships ready to go and a further ten will follow as soon as they are fully crewed”.
“Well done, brother, I will wind up this meeting and meet my captains on my ship in one hour”.
When Belain had gone Acorus told the council what he feared. He believed that the Xenorii had found their way through the wormhole to Earth’s galaxy.
It would not take them long to find Earth itself!
As soon as they could Jo and Acorus hurried to their quarters. When they arrived, Kheta was preparing clothes for Acorus to take with him. His armour was freshly cleaned and waiting for him. As Jo entered she called to Tchu to pack for her and prepare her armour.
“You’re not coming” Acorus said causing Tchu to look at Jo anxiously.
“What do you mean? Of course I’m coming” Jo said quickly.
“No, not this time!”
Turning to the Escorii Jo asked them to leave them for a while.
“Why can’t I come?”
“This may be a full blown war. It’s no place for a female”.
Jo was angry now “No place for a female! I’m not just a female, I’m your partner, Earth is my planet. I can help if you need to speak to the authorities and I’m human, I understand the way that earth is. I won’t stay behind!” and she stamped her foot.
Acorus glared at her. He knew how stubborn she was. She wouldn’t back down. He loved her strength but at times it really angered him. She was standing glaring back at him with her hands on her hips. His eyes glinted as he looked at her and then he licked his lips.
Taking a step back, Jo snapped “Don’t you dare, this is serious, Earth could be in grave danger”.
Holding out his arms he said “I admit defeat, you can come, but you obey me immediately”.
Flinging her arms round him Jo said “Of course, General”.
Going to the door Acorus called the Escorii back and then went into the bathroom to put on his armour. Jo told Tchu what to pack for her, then she too went to put on her armour.
All was bustle at the dock. As far as the eye could see, star ships were floating on the water moored to static buoys. Floating supply ships moved between the dock and each ship. Acorus’s ship was moored at the dock and Sceriae and Escorii were hurrying up and down the loading ramps.
Jo. Acorus and Tchu hurried aboard. They had stopped at the nursery for a very short time, so that their children wouldn’t be upset when they didn’t see them for a while. Hurrying to the flight deck they were joined by the captains from the fleet. Jo sat quietly as Acorus told his officers of his concern that the Xenorii had found Earth. Because of their armour, their faces showed no shock, but the atmosphere on the deck became very tense.
“We must come to Earth’s aid. I won’t dwell on whether it is our fault that the Xenorii became interested in Earth’s galaxy. But it is my fault that they weren’t completely wiped out. So I am honour bound to stop them taking over Earth” Acorus told them “Now we must prepare for all eventualities”.
Plans were made and each captain was given his orders, the quartermaster Escorii came to report that all star ships were completely armed and provisioned and each captain saluted Acorus and left for their ship. Belain was last to leave and before he did Acorus clasped his shoulder and told him to take care.
“You too brother”, he replied saluting and then he too was gone.
One by one the star ships lifted slowly off the water, then once they were flying, in a flash they were out of sight above Scerior’s atmosphere. Acorus’s ship was last to leave and as he joined his fleet they all switched on their lights and saluted him. Then he pointed his ship into deep space and headed towards Earth faster than the speed of light. Within days they were at the wormhole. No Xenorii ship had been seen but Acorus was worried that they would be waiting on the far side of the hole.
This time he was going through first. He insisted that Jo left the flight deck and went to their quarters. She didn’t argue, although she was worried about him. He had enough to deal with, without her being difficult. The star ships were to pass through with the Sceriae equivalent of two minutes separating them. That was a long time in space, but any faster could disrupt the hole.
Acorus’s ship erupted from the hole with all his weapons firing. The Xenorii had left two ships to protect the hole and as Acorus appeared one ship took the full force of his weapons and disintegrated into a trillion pieces. The second Xenorii ship came in fast; they had certainly improved their ships and weapons while they were hiding. Acorus flung his ship sideways and the Xenorii missed him. The second star ship erupted out of the hole also firing their weapons. This was the plan Acorus and his captains had made and the reason he had flung his ship sideways. The Xenorii ship was hit on one side, but was still able to fight back. Acorus swung his ship round and opened up with everything he’d got, and the Xenorii ship disintegrated just as the third star ship was flung out of the hole.
As each Star ship passed through the wormhole they joined Acorus, hovering well away from the danger of their own fleet’s weapons.
Once all were gathered they carried on towards Earth at top speed. Jo spent most of her time on the flight deck. They were moving so fast, with shields over all the windows, that there was nothing to see, but she wanted to be where the action was. As they neared the asteroid belt a communication screen flashed. Then Osega’s voice came through speaking Sceria “Mayday, mayday; any Sceriae ship who can hear, answer please”.
Acorus hurried to the consul “Osega, this is Acorus, what is your position?”
“Thank the gods. I have just left the asteroid belt. I fear that the ships on guard there have been taken. The Xenorii are attacking Earth. I was on my way to get help. They have overwhelming numbers”.
“Stay where you are we will join you” Acorus ordered telling his pilot to home in on Osega’s ship.
Turning to Jo he said “Come we will eat, there may not be time later” Then ordering that all the crew should take the chance to eat, he led Jo to their quarters.
Once there he took off his helmet as did Jo, Tchu and Kheta brought food but she could hardly force it down. However Acorus forced her to have a decent meal and ate his fill. Then he made her have a shower and insisted that they lie down and rest for an hour. As an experienced soldier, he knew that they had to eat and rest while they could.
He also sent Kheta and Tchu to eat and rest. Jo thought that she wouldn’t sleep but cuddled in Acorus’s arms she did doze off. Acorus catnapped and when Jo was fast asleep he quietly left her and went back to his flight deck.
They were nearing the beginning of the asteroid belt and were close enough for Osega to travel from his ship, to the starfleet. When he entered the flight deck he looked exhausted, but he gave his report smartly and quickly.
He was stationed on the far side of the moon. His spies on Earth had reported that the British had invented new telescopes that could pick out manufactured objects and differentiate between them and natural objects. As he didn’t want to alarm them he had kept his ship well hidden. The Sceriae already knew that the USA and Britain had spent
billions on weapons to protect them from aliens. They had managed to keep these secret, there had been rumours but no concrete evidence.
Originally the Sceriae had been amused for no matter what the humans did, the Sceriae weapons were far superior, and if they’d wanted to they could have swatted Earth like a gnat. Now Acorus was hopeful that these new weapons might give pause to the Xenorii. They might just keep the Xenorii at bay until the fleet could get there.
The problem was that they would not differentiate between Xenorii and Sceriae. How to tell them that they were there to help?
Osega had been given food and drink as he continued his report. When he saw the Xenorii, he knew it was pointless to attack them, so warning his spies on Earth what was happening, he had flown away from Earth, in the opposite direction to where the Xenorii were. His idea was to get to Scerior, or find a star ship, and warn Acorus that Earth was being attacked. He was delighted that Acorus was here already but worried sick about his spies on Earth. As Acorus was questioning Osega about the strength of the Xenorii fleet Jo joined them.
Greeting Osega as an old friend Jo then sat and listened to their conversation. When Jo heard that it was Ghera and Octpa stranded on Earth, she was concerned but said that if anyone was to be stranded they were the most able to look after themselves. Then Acorus brought up his concern about the Americans and British not differentiating between the Sceriae and Xenorii. Osega suggested sending a message to the American president telling him that the Sceriae were there to help.
Jo pointed out that he would be in a deep bunker somewhere. They needed to reach someone who would be able to get to the president. Then Jo remembered Natalie, the senator’s daughter who they had returned to Earth. What was she doing now, ten years later? Their spy network had kept an eye on all the American girls who had been returned so Acorus had an officer check through their records. An easy task because of their technology. It was quickly discovered that Natalie was now an agent with the national security agency. That couldn’t be better. If they could get a message to her she should be able to take it higher. Ghera and Octpa were in America, could they get to her? And would the authorities believe her?
Scerior Page 55
