“I can open the armor from the inside Seles,” he said as he turned his wrists. The armor unsealed itself and allowed him to step out of the armor.
“Why are you interested now?” he asked.
“Because, Mira…”
“OH,” he said. He looked like a deer in headlights. What should I say to her? Would she even believe me? Oh! What the hell am I supposed to say?! Tell the truth Brian, and hopefully she’ll believe it! “Nothing happened last night.”
She was surprised. “But why did Mira?”
“I swore I wouldn’t tell anyone about her problem. All I can say is Mira needed me last night, like when you needed me in the cave.”
“Brian, I…” She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to her level. She kissed him clumsily on the lips. After a moment she pulled away.
“Let’s try that again. This time let me lead the way,” he said. She didn’t pull away as he kissed her passionately. Another minute passed before they stopped kissing.
“You’re beautiful Seles.”
She gazed into his eyes again. “I want to stay with you. I…” she trailed off, blushing heavily.
He held her tight. “If you came to seduce me, you succeeded.” He started rubbing behind her ears.
“Brian…” she closed her eyes and sighed in pleasure as he rubbed her ears.
He stopped. “Are you sure about this? I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
She brushed his light beard with her hand. “I came here to take advantage of you.” Seles purred again. She held him close. ‘I want you.”
“I know, I feel the same,” he said.
Chapter 21 – Personal Relations
Brian woke late the next morning. Glancing to his side he felt Seles holding him. I guess that wasn’t a dream after all. He brushed her ears. She woke up, groggy and confused.
“Good morning,” he said.
“I really did stay here last night, didn’t I?” she asked as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
She looked at the skimpy outfit on the floor. “I can’t believe I put this thing on,” she said as she slipped it on. He stood up and put his pants on.
“You’re really sexy Seles,” he said. He hugged her. “I hope you enjoyed last night as much as I did.”
She blushed. “I never knew what sex was. It was strange, but…good.”
A silent moment passed before the door buzzer rang.
“Brian, are you still sleeping?” Mira asked through the door.
They looked at each other, paralyzed by the situation. He whispered to her, “Go into the bathroom and get dressed, and try to keep quiet.” Seles nodded and grabbed her uniform as she snuck out of the room.
Brian went to the door and made sure Seles was hidden. He opened the door and saw Mira. “Sorry, I guess I overslept.”
“That’s okay. I wanted to talk with you anyway. Can I come in?” Mira asked.
He made sure everything was clear. “Sure, but only for a few minutes. I need to talk to the captain about some things before rehearsal.”
Mira stepped in and looked around. He walked over to the closet and grabbed some fresh clothes. After putting them on, he stepped into his exoskeleton and placed his rakna blades on his belt. Once finished, he turned Mira, who seemed interested in his bed.
“What is it?” he asked.
She picked something off the bed. “What’s this?” she asked playfully.
He went over. “It looks like an earring. Did you lose it when you stayed here?”
“You know I only wear one earring. Whose is this?” she asked a little more forcefully.
“Umm…about that, ah…” he trailed off. Suddenly, a crash came from the bathroom.
Mira looked at him and pointed at the other room. “What was THAT?”
“I guess trying to hide it from you isn’t going to work,” he said with a false smile.
Seles emerged, cursing and limping. She wore her uniform and looked annoyed. “Brian, you really should organize your rooms better.”
“I’ll fix it later today.” He stood helpless as the two girls squared off and stared at each other.
“Can I have my earring back? It’s very important to me,” Seles said.
“I’ll give it to you, but I want to know what was going on in here last night,” Mira said with a wicked grin.
Seles whispered something into her ear. Mira’s eyes widened. She looked at Brian, blushing. “You didn’t, did you?”
He sighed, “Yeah, whatever Seles said. Please don’t spread it all over the ship. I don’t want another day like yesterday.”
“Is that why you need to see the captain?” Mira asked.
“Yes, and I should get going right now,” he said went to the door. “I’ll see you in a little while Mira.” He looked back at Seles. “I’d like it a lot if you came back soon Seles.”
The door closed behind him and left the two women alone. A long moment of uncomfortable silence ensued.
“So, how was it?” Mira asked, breaking the silence.
Seles turned red. “It was good. It felt strange, pleasurable, and a lot of other things.”
Mira closed hers eyes and sighed. “I’ll have to come by and try him out myself.”
Seles’s eyes began burning again. “What!”
Mira looked at her with a smirk on her face. “It’s a small price to pay for my secrecy.”
Seles calmed herself down. “I’ve got to get to the shuttle bay or I’m going to be late for my training session.”
* * *
Valis sat I the captain’s room and stared at a monitor when the door com buzzed.
“Captain, I need to see you,” Brian said.
“Come in,” She replied.
He walked in with the door closing behind him as she turned off her computer. “What is it?”
Brian knelt down. “Last night, Seles stayed in my room. This time, something did happen. This is something you didn’t want. All I ask is you don’t punish her.”
She motioned for him to stand up. “This was going to happen sooner or later. As long as you don’t cause issues amongst the crew, I won’t need further reporting from you.”
He looked her in the eye. “It’s not my intention to cause trouble on your ship,” he said.
“I trust your judgment. You’re not the kind of man to run around causing harm,” she said.
“I have to go now, my final practice is today,” he said as he turned to leave.
“One question,” she said.
He stopped. “What would that be?”
“Who initiated relations, you or Seles?”
“She did,” he answered.
“Interesting,” she said as he left.
* * *
Brian quickly made his way to the auditorium. He saw Mira standing on the stage, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he joined her.
She searched for the words. “Brian, I want to know something. What do you think of Seles?”
He took her hand. “I was brought here by force and felt like I was going crazy. Everything felt so unreal. I felt like I was dreaming. She was the first person I spoke to, the first person I felt was real. Seles grounded me when I needed it the most. Without her, madness would’ve taken me.” He paused. “She’s very special to me.”
“And what about me?” she asked.
He ran his hand through her hair. “You’re sweet and beautiful Mira, one of the best I’ve ever known. I admire your ability and have enjoyed the last three months. I’ve learned a lot, and promise to keep your secret. I know one thing; I don’t want you to disappear from my life.”
“This feeling you have for Seles, is it the same with me?”
“No, you and Seles are different people. I feel one way for her, and differently for you.”
“What if I came to your room like she did?” she asked, blushing.
“I wouldn’t
mind. Pleasure, like pain is very important for one to experience,” he said.
“Why do you say that?” she asked.
“Because it tells us we’re alive.”
Chapter 22 – Blade Dance
The next day began with the Avoni going silent in port on Dega Jul, with all crew members filling the auditorium. The main lights were on at the moment and the stage was dark. Most of the bridge crew sat at the front, save for Valis, who had opted to sit at the center of the audience. She saw anticipation in their eyes and smiled, confident in her decision. The lights turned off and everyone sat down. The room hushed as a single beam of light illuminated Mira, dressed in a special white dress with matching boots and gloves. Behind her, Brian knelt in the darkness, wearing his exoskeleton armor, long dark green cape, and matching rakna blades.
Mira addressed the audience of two hundred and eighty crew members. “Welcome everyone. Today I have a special performance for your enjoyment. I present to you the candidate, Brian Peterson, of Terra Prime.”
A light shined down on him. He stood up and bowed. Mira turned back to the crew. “A hundred and fifty years ago, the last living Rakna Maigar, Gaelic Kein, performed for the last time on this day. Silence is what we have heard all these years, but today, that changes. Brian’s skill with blade and song are second to none. I know he will impress you.”
The crowd cheered. Brian drew his rakna blades and warmed up with a quick display of spins, thrusts, and slashes. The crowd was amazed at this display of speed and skill. The sound of his swords was that of an acoustic guitar. Mira took her opening stance, Brian followed with his.
“In the beginning, there was Kali. The goddess who created us, nurtured us, and gave life to us,” Mira said.
The pair proceeded with the twelve songs of Kali. Every three songs a short intermission of five minutes was given. The holographic images Brian gave off of his armor created vivid imagery of the great battles and stories of Kalaidian history, with the illusory people being completely black, with no faces. After an hour of dance and song, Mira and Brian left for the last intermission before the Finale.
“I didn’t think this would be so exhausting,” Mira said before taking a drink of water.
Brian did likewise. “Only one more left to go.”
She smiled. “This one isn’t what they’re expecting.”
“It’s not my song, just one I heard long ago and really liked. I’ll credit those who made the original,” he said.
“But they didn’t use a pair of blades, or have anyone as pretty as me as back up,” she remarked.
“Well Mira, shall we?” he said as he offered his hand. She joined him.
“Yes, we shall,” Mira said as they left for the stage.
The room darkened again. Brian moved to the front of the stage with a single beam of light shining on him. The crowd quieted as he addressed them. “The Cou don e Kali is a sacred ceremony steeped in tradition. The song to complete this ceremony is normally the Hymn to Kali, but I will not be performing that song.”
The crowd gasped with whispers moving about the audience. Brian began again. “I’m human, not Kalaidian. So I thought I should perform a song from Earth, with much story and meaning behind it. It’s a classic rock song, a style of music unknown to your people. I present to you, Stairway to Heaven, originally performed by Led Zeppelin.”
He drew his swords and spoke the command to change their sound. Mira took her place in the dimly illuminated back. He was to perform the electric guitar and vocals while Mira covered everything else. The auditorium went completely black save for the two on stage. The background resembled a forest from Earth. Tall, human sized figures danced around them, matching Brian’s blades and voice. One figure was a female ghost, slightly transparent compared to the others. During the song the ghost matched the lyrics of the “Lady”. As the song continued, the crew was dazzled by the speed of his movements. Suddenly, all but the figure of the “Lady” disappeared. She stood at a split in the path. Brian’s singing stopped as he began performing the guitar riff, except he used dance movements, along with sword spins, slashes, and thrusts to make the music. Mira matched his speed doing the drums and support music, dancing and twirling in time. When he reached the peak of “Stairway to Heaven”, his blade dancing was so fast they could barely see him. As the song neared the end he sang the closing lyrics. At the end, the “Lady” found the “Stairway to Heaven”, and began climbing the steps. As the song ended, both Brian and Mira posed in beams of light. The background hologram faded away as the music ended. He closed his eyes and wondered why they were taking so long to applaud. Didn’t they like it? He opened his eyes as the crew began cheering loudly. He smiled and looked back at Mira, who was smiling as well. She stepped forward and waved to be heard.
“Did you enjoy that my friends?” she asked the crowd.
A cheer came out, saying “Yes, More, Again.”
She turned to Brian. “Then I present to you, Brian Peterson, Rakna Maigar in name and fact.”
She went to the back of the stage and picked something up. She handed it to him. He glanced at the white rose as the crowd cheered for him to throw it. He closed his eyes and kissed the rose before tossing it into the crowd. The room went silent. He opened his eyes to see the crew staring at the captain. She held the rose.
He stepped off the stage. The crowd parted until he stood in front of her. He knelt and offered his hand. “Valis, as the Lady of the Rose, I’m to serve you for the night.”
“Yes, and you’ll serve me well,” Valis replied as she took his hand.
* * *
Brian and Valis enjoyed a fine meal at the table in her quarters. Pictures of landscapes from various worlds lined the walls, as well as pictures of Valis in her younger days.
“I have something to ask you,” she said.
“Ask away.”
“What are your thoughts on the future?”
He looked at the pictures on the walls. “I want my freedom. I want to feel the sun on my skin and the wind in my hair. I want to see more Valis.”
“I see,” she said as she took something from her desk drawer. It was a silver circlet with a single leaf angled to the left. She walked over and placed the circlet on his forehead. “This is yours Brian. From this day onward, you’ll be ranked as Lieutenant Commander, my second in command. I’ve watched your growth carefully, and I’m glad I took the chance of letting you stay.”
He nodded before saluting. “I’ll be ready for duty tomorrow. What about going outside? I know if I walk around like this it’ll cause problems.”
She smiled. “I have a simple solution in mind. When in public, I want you to wear this.” Valis went behind her desk and pulled out a large metal helmet. It matched his armor’s color and motif. “Not only will this hide your identity, it has many features to add to your armor. Here, try it on,” she said as she handed the helmet to him.
After putting it on and locking it into place, he saw Valis’s heat register. “Is this okay? Can you hear me?” he asked with a voice sounding like a robot’s. He noticed she was laughing.
“Daes did a great job,” she said, shaking her head. “You look just like a Keinien Android.”
“What are those?” he asked.
“Keinien Androids were common a hundred years ago. For a long time we used Androids to fill the males’ role on the battlefield, until it was decided ninety five years ago to decommission them. When in public the crew will refer to only your rank, not your real name or species. You should also get used to being called Maigar, since that’s your title,” she explained.
He took the helmet off and put it down. “It feels weird wearing this.” She came close and took his hand.
“Before going on duty tomorrow, I want you to see Celi,” Valis said. “She’s been pestering me about a physical for months now.”
“No problem,” he said.
“But before that...” She began picking at his armor. “I’d like to give you a thorough phy
sical myself.”
“Anything you desire my Lady.”
Chapter 23 – A Doctor’s Call
Valis jumped out of bed and desperately searched for something.
“What is it?” Brian asked as he threw his clothes on.
Valis quickly put on her clothes and circlet with the three leaves. “I have to be on duty in less than 10 minutes.” She checked herself in the mirror and fixed her hair. “I want you to report to Celi immediately. Afterwards, go to the HDC. Kivi will be waiting for you there with a few gifts,” she said as she ran to the door. She looked back and smiled. “By the way, come back to my room sometime soon.”
He put on the rest of his clothes and armor. Looking in the mirror, he placed the circlet with a single leaf on his forehead. On his way to sickbay, he noticed a number of the crew stopping to salute. He returned each one and said thanks. Walking into sickbay, he found Celi and Mira waiting.
“I’m here for the check up,” he said.
“Thanks for coming,” Celi said as she led him into the medical lab. Mira followed and closed the door behind them.
Celi turned to him. “Please remove your clothing.”
Seeing their strange smiles he shook his head and complied. They took turns scanning him over. The large monitor in the middle of the computer equipment showed two pictures, one of Brian when he first came onboard, and the one they were in the process of finishing.
“You’ve improved your physical condition quite a bit,” Celi said.
“Six months living in whatever hell your commander can think of does that to a person,” he said. “Can I put my clothes back on?”
“Sure,” Mira said. “We’re almost finished.”
“There’s one more sample we need from you,” Celi said. Mira continued the data comparison.
He donned his armor and locked it into place. “What do you need?”
“I need a sperm sample from you,” Celi said. “I have everything else for my research other than that.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Do you have something I can use as a container?”
Heaven Saga 1: The Lost Hero Page 11
