by Calista Skye
"Your queen knows about me?"
"She does."
"Is it because of my parents?"
"It is."
"Will she try to-" Dani cut off her question. There was definitely a sound from outside, a crackling sound as from...
"... frequency. Bravo wing calling all Space Force personnel. Respond on any frequency."
"That's my helmet!" Dani exclaimed and jumped up from the chair. "Space Force is here!"
She climbed out and onto the top of the saucer, got her helmet and put it on. "Bravo wing, this is Sergeant Smith responding."
"Copy that, sergeant," a businesslike voice said immediately. "We have your beacon. Pick-up in two minutes. How many can we expect?"
She thought hard. Crixael would probably not go willingly into captivity. "One to pick up, Bravo wing. Smith out."
She climbed back down, put on her battle suit and got her gun. "They're going to search this saucer. If you don't want to be a Space Force prisoner, you might have to kill some of them. Crixael, I'm probably guilty of treason for saying this. But if you have any way of escaping, I think you should use it. Now."
A smile was playing at his lips. "Will it be bad for you if I come along?"
"For me? No, I don't think so. Some unpleasant questions to answer, perhaps. But I think bringing back a damn Ethereal as a prisoner of war would cancel out any negative things. And I have to stress that you would be a prisoner. For a while, at least."
"But we would be together. More or less."
She had to be honest with him. It wasn't even hard. "Probably less, Crixael. They'll keep you secure and it will take them a good while to check you out."
"But in time we would be together."
His eyes were hopeful, and her heart broke once more. If all else failed, she would use her influence with her mother to make sure of that. Heck, she would threaten to kill herself over that. And she would mean it.
"Yes."
He got to his feet, reached over and placed his palm against the side of her helmet. She leaned into it.
"I'd like to see you as a hero," he said. "I think you need it."
22
Everyone tried to play it cool. They really did. But when they arrived on the Copernicus, all the personnel kept such a respectful distance from Crixael and Dani that she had to smile. Some who were unprepared gaped openly, especially the women they passed. Some drew back from the spectacular Ethereal and backed into walls. One officer took a panic-stricken step backwards, tripped over a piece of equipment and fell on his back.
She walked beside him, and she had easily persuaded the hastily assembled guard escort detail not to try to put chains or cuffs on him. She had also suggested that he should be given a decent cabin, and not be thrust into a cell. She saw no reason to explain to anyone that he didn't have quite as many powers as they might think. She wanted to give the impression that he was there of his own free will. Which was true enough, as far as she knew.
At the infirmary, the medics carefully cleaned his torso with water, making sure that all the pads they used to wipe off and soak up the dried blood was collected for later study. They were astounded to see that he no longer had any injuries, as if the blood didn't come from him at all.
Dani's own check-up showed that she was slightly dehydrated and had a slight hormone imbalance, The doctor on call found it normal considering the stress she had been through, but stated that he would send the blood sample to deeper analysis to be on the safe side.
- - -
They did find a good cabin for Crixael. An entire company of Space Marines had to hurriedly vacate their quarters, and Crixael was installed in their commanding captain's quarters.
Dani looked around the cabin. "Wow," she said, genuinely impressed. "A porthole to the outside, even. And this is five times the size of my little shack."
"Hmm," the Ethereal said with a bemused smile on his face. "Five times zero still isn't a great deal. We'll see how long I'll need it for."
There were many armed marines in the room, so Dani couldn't say anything important. "I'll come by if I can," she said.
"I'm sure you will," Crixael said and raised his eyebrows in such a suggestive way that she was sure all the others in the room had to realize what he meant. She was able to keep from blushing, but just barely.
"Okay," she said and turned to leave. "See ya."
The door was closed and locked, and four marines in full battle suits were placed outside the door. Along the corridors there were thirty more, and there was three in the cabins on each side of Crixael's. The whole section was sealed off with barriers, and a patrol craft was stationed outside that section of the hull, flying in lazy circles outside his porthole.
"We can't keep him if he doesn't want to be here," Lieutenant Veierland said. "But we feel that we have to do what we can anyway."
- - -
It was the most important thing that had happened to Space Force for twenty years, and the first debriefing took six hours. Dani told her story as completely as she could. But she didn't mention that Crixael had less special powers than everyone assumed and that he was in disfavor.
And that meant that she couldn't mention Queen Benirsheba either. And she couldn't say most of the things he had told her. And the sex... she couldn't go within a mile of that.
In the end she was completely exhausted, trying to fend off the questions that got too close for comfort and keeping track of what she did and didn't want to talk about.
Her helmet recording of the battle with the Vlon was viewed many times. The helmet appeared to have trouble with picking up much that Crixael said, and sometimes he flashed in and out of the image, but that was what everyone was expecting anyway, based on the experience with Ethereals the first time they had attacked Earth. Electronics just didn't work too well close to them.
"Well, sergeant," General Tanh said at last. She had been put in charge of the investigation of the incident. "Your story has holes big enough to fly the whole Copernicus through. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that it's at least partly because of your exhaustion and distress at seeing the members of your squad die. If you had seen it, I mean. But you were miraculously inside a flying saucer in the company of an Ethereal right when the bomb went off, killing everyone in Camp Epsilon. Hopefully your story will check out better when the Supreme Commander arrives. Dismissed."
23
"Hell of a thing," Kienle said and lit a very illegal cigarette. "They sure seem to seek you out. But I guess it hasn't hurt you any."
He had excellent contacts all over the ship, and lots of people seemed to confide in him. Probably because he was the only civilian most of them knew on the ship. And he was good at putting pieces of information together.
Dani held Bella in her hands, and the alien feline nuzzled her neck with her oversized snout. She was not a beauty, with one missing ear and at least two tails gone, but she had an affectionate streak that made her seem like a mix of cat and puppy. "Got me out of a couple of days of Penal Battalion, anyway."
Kienle exhaled a puff of gray smoke. "Oh, they suspended the rest of it? Least they could do. But you can never be too sure with the Space Marines."
"I don't know about suspended. I just know I'm not down there anymore."
"I heard you negotiated a local ceasefire with the Vlon. I'm sure they didn't tell you, but everyone is as impressed as all hell, from the general staff on down. And cooperating with an Ethereal, even. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a serious medal in this for you."
Dani sighed. "I would. They don't like my story. It's not complete. Holes you can drive this ship through, they say. They're right, too."
"Yeah? Well, it's complicated stuff. I heard the Supreme Commander is on her way. Racing here in the Tycho, they say, burning up the engines so hard, they'll probably have to scrap the whole ship afterwards. I'm sure she'll make sense of it. You seem to have impressed her, at least."
Dani looked away. "Maybe. There's a firs
t time for everything."
Kienle must have picked up something in her tone. "Yeah?" he said, taking another puff. "You got some history with the Supreme?"
Bella was getting impatient, and Dani had to use her hands to keep the rotating tails from hitting her in the face. "You could say that. She's my mother."
For once, she had the pleasure of seeing the all-knowing Kienle stunned. He blinked at her behind his antique glasses. "She's your mother? The Supreme Commander? Queen Olivia of Brax? You're... you're King Ator'aq's daughter?! But your name...?"
"...is not Dani Smith. I'm Princess Danai'a of Brax. Very hush-hush, doc. I'm just telling you because we're friends and it's starting to feel weird to not be able to talk about certain things."
"Princess Danai'a! Of course. I don't recall having seen a picture of her... of you, I mean... for a while. But I wouldn't have guessed..."
"That's the point, I think. Every picture and video of me and my brother were always subtly changed, so that we won't be recognized. It's a security thing, they say. It allows us to live relatively normal lives. So far, at least. Now it looks like that whole royal thing has caught up with me at last."
Kienle stared at her for one more second, then was back to his old unflappable self and took a last pull of his cigarette. "Maybe. I can tell there's a lot of stuff going on here that you can't talk about. But I appreciate the honor. Your secret is safe with me. Uh, Your Highness."
Dani laughed and placed her hand on the scientist's forearm. "Oh no, you don't. Dani it is. We're friends, remember?"
"Of course. Huh. Imagine that. A princess being sent to a penal battalion. I think you just might be the first in history. But I'm glad, in a strange way. It means that our Supreme Commander doesn't play favorites. It fits the image I have of her. Completely clean and straight-laced. No nonsense. I like it."
24
"My. Fucking. Stars. I never thought anyone like that could ever exist. Like, ever. Anywhere. I had to change my panties twice after he came aboard. I mean, just knowing that... hunk is here somewhere gets me all... just, totally... ready to go. Fired up. He just radiates sex from every pore. Does he even have pores? I mean, he's too perfect. Of course not. No pores. Just... hotness. Gods, I saw you two pass me in the hall, and then I just had to come back here and, you know... um. Don't worry, I changed the sheets afterwards, it's okay."
After the nice cabin they had placed Crixael in, Nichole's cramped sergeant's quarters seemed downright tiny. But that didn't bother any of them.
"He has an attractive quality to him," Dani agreed, sitting on Nichole's bunk with crossed legs, stroking Bella. "And it doesn't get any less up close."
Nichole's eyes shone with excitement. "Oh gods. Can you tell me anything about it? No, right? It's okay. I can just picture it. You and him, on the alien planet, fighting Vlon side by side. Does he talk much? No, never mind. I shouldn't ask. Top secret. Hush-hush. Of course I would never tell a soul."
Dani hid a smile. Nichole was the worst tattletale in the company. "Of course. But you know how it is. Top secret, a matter of civilizational security, blah blah blah. They'd send me to the Penal Battalion for keeps if I spill the beans."
Nichole drank water from a wine glass. With an Ethereal on board, all alcoholic drinks were banned. Everyone had to be sharp and ready for any eventuality at any time.
"Yeah, probably. Of course there is no Penal Battalion anymore. Wiped out for good by that bomb. Weirdest thing they'd seen, I hear. Killed everyone except the Vlon. And you and hunk boy, of course."
Dani shuddered. The sight of the battle suits of her squad members, empty and dissolving into dust at the slightest touch... And if it hadn't been for her impulsive urge to volunteer, she would have been among them. "Don't remind me. That bomb was the worst thing I've seen. Turned the sky green and killed the guys instantly."
"You think it they wanted to kill you?"
"The Ethereals? Maybe. Or they wanted that one Ethereal. His name is Crixael. I don't think that's a secret."
"Why would they aim for him? Is there a civil war among the Ethereals? Or is it just that they don't like him?"
No, this was too dangerous. She didn't think that Nichole would run to General Tanh with anything Dani said, but it was better not to put her friend in a position where she might have to reveal a private conversation. "I don't know. Anything happen here while I was away?"
"In two days? Nah. Kelson and Callahan are involved in some way. She's all moony-eyed, and he's been hitting the gym a lot. And I've been seeing a little more of Gren from Maintenance. He's not so bad after all. Come to think of it, romance seems to be blossoming all over this ship after we saw that Ethereal the first time. Maybe it's the danger. Damn, girl, you're being all tight-lipped. But at least you can tell me this: Are you crushing on him? You have to be, right? Heck, I've seen him twice, from a distance, and I'm about ready to say 'I do'. To just about anything he'd ask, to be honest."
Dani stroked Bella's extremely short, but immensely fine fur. How much could she tell Nichole? She was itching to tell someone. She was just about bursting at the seams.
She couldn't stand it and took a deep breath. "Holy balls, that man is crazy hot. Totally supernatural. Does weird things, acts like he completely owns the world, casually tells you your own deepest secrets straight to your face like you're wearing a sign. And he doesn't make fun of you for them, just accepts you for who you are. Totally direct, totally honest, pulls no punches, takes no shit. Fights with a damn pole and disposes of a thousand charging Vlon without breaking a sweat. So dangerous you can see your own death in his eyes and you're truly grateful every time he doesn't just kill you. So hot juices are dripping just from one look. Has damn stars in his eyes. When he's angry, the room gets darker, for goodness' sake. Girl, I'm crushing like a schoolgirl on a teenage singer, actor and model all rolled into one."
Nichole squealed and clapped her hands with glee, her eyes shining. "I knew it! I knew that even ice princess Dani couldn't resist that guy. Finally someone who ticks all your boxes, too."
She reached over to high-five, and Dani couldn't hold back a happy grin. "You can't tell anyone, Nicki. Not even if they ask. Okay? But I just had to tell someone. Oh stars. So totally hot. And so dangerous. And then he smirks and you just melt and you're still a little scared of him and you feel it all the way down to... well, you know.."
Nichole gave her a crooked smile. "You were alone on that planet with him for a good while. In some kind of spaceship, they say. Did you... you know? Act on it?"
Dani looked down again. She probably shouldn't admit it. But she could come pretty close. "I think maybe some acting was done. Just a little." Yeah, two sensational rolls in the hay by now.
Nichole just stared. "Are you serious? Something happened? With you and that Ethereal?"
Dani shrugged. "Nothing that big, really. Just made out a little. Barely touched. But it was nice."
It had been much more than just nice. It had changed her, and she couldn't imagine going back to sex the way she'd always had it before. Who could go back to clueless, selfish marines or anyone else after having experienced that with a god?
"I bet it was," Nichole said drily, obviously realizing that there was more to it. "I'm sure he finds you plenty hot as well. Every guy here does, that's for sure. 'Cause you got that booty."
25
No one was allowed to see Crixael, least of all Dani. She spent a day just chatting with Nichole and Kelson and others in her squad and playing games and passing the time. The atmosphere on the Copernicus was electric. Everyone seemed to act differently, to adhere more to protocol and regulations, to do their jobs just a little better. It was, Dani thought, the way a warship would feel if there was a king or emperor visiting and everyone wanted to make an impression.
It was erotic, too. It seemed that maybe only the women could feel it, because the males were just their own horny selves. But there were many secret trysts, as if the women on board became much more receptive
to male advances and the males just thought that they would get whatever they could while that window was open.
Dani wasn't even tempted. The only male she would consider was in a cabin all by himself, surrounded by guards and waiting for her mother to arrive and interview him. That was a task too sensitive to leave even to General Tanh.
The rumors were that he was a model prisoner, completely calm and polite. Dani wondered how an Ethereal would pass the time in captivity. He struck her as the kind of person who was easily bored.
She missed him desperately.
26
To keep her thoughts occupied she went to see Kienle again.
"Any news, doc?" she said and looked around the huge storage room and laboratory with all its exotic things.
"Yes," Kienle said, and for once he didn't light a smoke. "I was going to ask you to come down here."
She raised her eyebrows. "You were? That would be a first."
"There's a first time for everything, as someone told me just a little while ago. Dani, I'm about to commit a breach of regulations."
"Then breach away. You know now I feel about military regs."
He seemed worried, and constantly shoved his glasses further up on his nose. "I do know. But still. This is probably a big breach. They can easily fire me over this one."
Dani leaned against a glass counter with some sort of exotic fabrics inside. "Then maybe think twice, doc. I'd hate to see you go. As in, seriously hate."
The scientist nodded. "I have thought about it, and I have made my decision. After all, it concerns you, and you showed me a lot of trust recently by telling me who you really are. I find that I want to be worthy of that trust."
"And I'm sure you are. What is it?"
He got a tab from a counter. "You know that when the medics take a blood sample for analysis, they send it here. Analysing samples is one of the things I do. Well, they took a sample from you when you came back with the Ethereal."
