“Acorus once said, when Tsu got married, that you have to make sure your minds are compatible before you mate. You know, if you think about it, it’s much the same for humans. Lust for another doesn’t last but admiration, liking and enjoying each others company does. Love is a wonderful bonus too, but I’ve come to the conclusion, that if you don’t like your husband love is a tenuous thing”.
Tchu smiled “It is true, which is why we are so careful and private when it is time to choose. I like my mate, which is why we have so many children, and I made sure they chose carefully when it was their turn. Which is why I have so many grandchildren”.
Jo laughed out loud “You little devil, there was me thinking you disapproved of the way Acorus and I enjoy each other and you’ve been quietly behaving in the same way with your mate”.
“Not the same way, I never threw food and dishes at Kahdra, or injured him with a `flying food dish` as Lord Acorus called it, when you damaged his head!”
The two friends laughed delightedly and Tjai joined in saying “If I threw things at my mate he would expire in surprise”.
“You have a good relationship too, don’t you?”
“Yes, we have been together for five years and have two offspring, a male and a female. We like each other well enough but not as easily as Tchu and Kahdra. They never argue, it’s sickening. “ Tjai shook her head.
“Oh, the Escorii actually argue?”
Tchu frowned “Only in private and very quietly. Our males can’t stand discord”.
“I would be their worse nightmare”. Jo laughed.
Together they said “Oh you certainly would!” and they giggled, remembering the tremendous fights Jo had had with Acorus.
“Well, all I can say is making up was painful, but ,oh so good”. Jo started giggling too, and the three sat there laughing together.
Then they were thrown off their chairs as the ship gave a mighty shudder and the action stations alarm sounded throughout the ship. Jo leapt to her feet and hurried into her armour; once she was secure she ordered Tchu and Tjai to their safe area and hurried through the ship to the flight deck. Everywhere off duty Sceriae were making their way to their action stations, calmly but speedily.
On the flight deck Acorus was in his seat firing out orders in Sceria, the window shutters were down and the force field was in place. On seeing Jo he waved her to her seat without pausing, but when she was seated and her harness was in place he automatically checked it. Jo knew he was too focused on whatever had attacked the ship to answer any questions, so sat quietly, he would tell her what was happening when he had a chance. The communicators were full of voices from the other starship captains and by concentrating hard Jo could make out what was happening.
Evidently a large Xenorrii fleet had been lying dead in space waiting for Acorus’ ships. They had fired simultaneously on each starship and inflicted some damage on ever one. Luckily the Sceriae’s force fields reacted automatically to any attack so that one shot per ship was all that had landed.
Surprisingly the enemy fleet had then split up, half heading in the direction of Scerior and half towards the wormhole to Earth’s galaxy. Obviously the Sceriae captains were wanting to chase them but Acorus was suspicious, it was a strange thing to do. Why hadn’t the attacks been followed through? Why split the fleet?
Acorus had immediately communicated with Belain, to see if any Xenorrii were attacking Scerior, but no, all was peaceful in the space around their home. The ships Acorus had left on either side of the wormhole would be under attack by a superior force but should be able to prevent them getting into Earth’s galaxy. It seemed to Acorus that it must be a ruse to split their fleet. But why?
The first thing he’d done was to send a message back to the wormhole to warn them, and also to pass the warning on to Allorus to be on high alert. Between the ships at the wormhole and Allorus’ forces, Earth was well protected.
The small fleet of Xenorrii ships heading towards Scerior would be no match for Belain’s army and half of Acorus’ fleet. So it was to be expected that Acorus would split his fleet and chase the Xenorrii.
He turned to Jo “The Xenorrii want me to halve my fleet, although we know that half this fleet, and the other ships, either at the wormhole or Scerior, would be more than a match for half their fleet. So what is their game?”
Jo narrowed her eyes “It doesn’t seem to make sense. We know they’re not stupid, disgusting but not stupid”. Then a thought struck her “They must have more ships! They know you’ll protect Earth but will lead the rest of our ships to protect Scerior; they’ve laid an ambush of more starships!”
Acorus nodded “Devious, but I have lived with a devious female for many years and I too can think deviously. You have just confirmed my thinking exactly”.
“Mph, I’m not devious, I just think laterally, like most women. So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to send fake messages, to Belain, pretend to split my force. Then I’m taking the whole fleet to Scerior as quickly as possible”.
He proceeded to do just that speaking in Sceria, knowing that the enemy would intercept them. Then he sent a coded message to Belain, and to tell his fleet to make all haste to Scerior.
Chapter 20
As Acorus’ fleet was making all haste to Scerior, Allorus had received his father’s warning and sent extra starships towards the wormhole, putting the remainder on high alert and scrambling his fighter ships to patrol Earth closely.
He had been on duty for hours and was thinking of handing over to his second in command, for the first time since their wedding Rebecca was safe for him to make love to. The Sceriae had improved on the human’s contraceptives and after only five days Rebecca wasn’t ovulating any more.
As he spoke to his lieutenant a message came in that a Xenorrii starship had erupted out of the deepest trench in the Pacific, fighter ships were harrying it and a starship was moving hastily to cover its escape from Earth’s atmosphere. Allorus immediately took over and put all his force on full alert. It was obvious that this escape attempt was a ruse to draw starships back from the wormhole to protect Earth. He was secure enough in the strength of his army not to panic and do what they wanted, so he waited to see what would happen next.
The fighter ships weren’t managing to do much damage to the Xenorrii starship and none of their fighters had ventured out from their mother ship; however the Sceriae fighters were managing to keep it on a trajectory that would take it out of the atmosphere straight into the path of the starship stationed just outside it. Allorus held his nerve and trusted in his starship captain, who was talking calmly over his communicator telling Allorus that he was in position to destroy the enemy ship as soon as it was safely outside Earth’s atmosphere, far enough away not to cause any damage to Earth.
The Xenorrii ship ploughed into the outer belt and appeared to be burning up.
“He’s going to sacrifice his ship and his men to do damage to the atmosphere!” Allorus warned, desperately worried that the enemy’s plan would succeed.
If it did Earth would be subjected to a shock wave that would have cataclysmic consequences. Never experienced before on any planet it could be the end of life on Earth.
Allorus ordered his fighters pilots to fling themselves at the larger ship and try to force it out of the atmosphere, telling them to use weapons never before used on this planet. Similar to a flame thrower they threw out freezing nitrogen and he hoped that by freezing the exterior of the starship it would prevent it from burning up.
The brave fighter pilots, human and Sceriae, attacked Earth’s atmosphere on a suicidal trajectory, spewing forth their freezing nitrogen; the sky grew grey and snow started to fall all over the northern hemisphere. Fighter ship after fighter ship started to burn up until they had the idea to fly through the nitrogen of the ships behind them. Some of the courageous p
ilots lost their lives as their ships just became too hot, but the plan was working, and soon the enemy ship was outside the atmosphere. As the fighter ships followed it they peeled off to either side hoping that their ships would cool down enough not to kill them. If they could cool down they could reach the safety of the starship.
The Xenorrii ship turned as if to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, its captain unwilling to give up on his desperate plan, and the Sceriae captain had no choice but to destroy it immediately. Earth would feel the shock but it would not be as devastating as if it blew apart actually in the atmosphere. The Xenorrii ship was hit dead on and disappeared in a cloud of dust and the shock wave tumbled some of the Sceriae fighters to their doom, while others managed to flee to either side.
On Earth, tectonic plates moved especially in the oceans and on old fault lines. Small islands in the Pacific disappeared and in America, California disintegrated. Hundreds of thousands of people, who had just regained their hope of a rebuilt life on Earth perished, and many more were left homeless once again, but the majority of people in the Sceriae’s new towns survived and once again Earth had been saved from extinction.
Allorus, although shocked to his core, kept his cool and fighter ships and even human helicopters, that had survived the Xenorrii’s first attack, were sent to rescue any survivors in the badly hit areas. First aid stations were set up and the efficient Sceriae and Escorii swung into action. Once the first shock had settled some tsunamis kept occurring and survivors were quickly moved from the areas that were effected to higher ground. All who had survived the initial blast were taken care of.
The leaders of various countries were so stunned by the events that were unfolding around them that they all turned to Allorus for help. He calmly took on all their problems, still in charge although he’d hardly slept in days; he hadn’t seen Rebecca at all as she had gone to help in the hospital in the new town, close to old Washington. He did receive reports from there so he knew that she was safe, although tired and distressed at what had happened again to her people.
As usual, with humans, fights broke out over food and shelter and Allorus had to send parts of his army all over the world. Luckily some countries had formed their own security force so with their help, local squabbles were easily sorted out. Very occasionally some of the outlaws were executed on the spot, in times like these strength had to be shown and justice was swift.
The starship that had destroyed the enemy ship had been badly damaged but had managed to pick up the fighters that had survived and limped back to Earth. They were greeted as heroes, even though they were distressed at what had happened to Earth. Allorus took the time to visit them in hospital, to tell them that they had done more than anyone had expected, and saved life on this planet; their comrades who had died would be remembered by name in Earth’s future history.
When he had spoken to each pilot personally he went in search of Rebecca, finding her in the emergency room, covered in blood as she held a young pilot’s hand, while the Escorii placed their wonderful pain machine over his badly burned legs. His face was screwed up in pain and he clutched Rebecca’s hand as if it were a life raft. Then the machine was in place and switched on. The agony and fear on his face slowly drained away as she talked to him as if he were her child, and gradually he relaxed and his hand lay limply in hers. Rebecca stepped back as the doctors moved around him treating his horrific burns. He had flung his ship so fast into following the Xenorrii starship that it had heated as if it were a furnace. It had not exploded as had some of his fellow pilots ships and he had flown it through a stream of nitrogen, which had cooled his ship but left him with badly burned legs as if he had leaned them against molten metal. Bravely he had managed to land on the mothership before he had passed out.
Finally Rebecca looked up and saw Allorus. To his delight she ran to him and flung herself at him so hard he took a step back. Then his arms swept around her and he held her tightly despite his armour. Moving away from the emergency room he went to set her down worried that his armour would bruise her but she clung to him and cried “Please don’t let me go, just hold me please!”
Realising that she needed this, he held her and waited while her tears came and she cried herself out. She didn’t seem able to stop so he waited patiently. Eventually her sobs turned to gulps and sniffles and he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her gently.
“Come my love, you are exhausted, let me take you home”.
“I can’t leave, they need me, there are so many injured”.
Allorus sighed “You will be no help to anyone if you collapse. You’ve been on duty for days, and I am going to make sure you eat, shower and sleep. That is an order from your master. Don’t argue with me Rebecca!”
She looked up quickly, quite ready to argue, but when she saw the look in his eyes, a mixture of love, worry and mastery, to his surprise she demurely said “Yes master”. But the look in her eyes warned him not to see her as subservient and once again he thrilled that this strong woman was his.
He spoke to the Escori nurse in charge and she agreed that Rebecca must eat and rest, so reluctantly she allowed herself to be relieved by another nurse’s aid and Allorus led her to his transport and very quickly they were back on his starship.
Back in their quarters Rebecca suddenly felt shy, she hadn’t been alone with him since before their wedding and she wasn’t sure how he would be with her.
“First we must shower and I’ll order food to be brought”. Noting her shyness, he continued “You go first while I get out of my armour and order the food”.
Relieved she grabbed a kaftan out of her cupboard and went into the bathroom. Gratefully removing her bloodstained clothes she stepped into the shower and sighed with pleasure as the hot water came on. Closing her eyes she rubbed scented shower gel all over her body, luxuriating in the silky feeling, then suddenly she tensed as Allorus’ hands gently smoothed the gel over her shoulders and back. Massaging the tense muscles in her neck and shoulders he smiled as she relaxed into his hands. He followed her arms down to her hands and back to her shoulders, then he worked down her spine until he reached the tight curve of her buttocks. Gently kneading the base of her spine he delighted when she moaned and pressed back into him. Emboldened he allowed his fingers to pass her hips to enfold her stomach, and when she didn’t tense he continued to wash her, occasionally allowing his fingers to work down to her groin and when she didn’t protest, her sex. When she groaned and opened to him he pulled her back to him and she squealed as she felt his iron hard erection against her spine. Laughing he bent over and kissed the sensitive hollow of her neck, his fingers continuing to explore her. She relaxed against him and gave herself over to the feelings flooding through her. She loved this alien male, but part of her was still in awe of him, his power, his strength, his very size overcame her occasionally, but she knew he would never hurt her. Push her to her limits but never too far. One of his hands had left her sex and moved to her breast, cupping it in his large hand he continued to kiss her neck and explore her sex until she felt that she might explode.
Finally he turned her towards him and in one fluid movement moved her up to straddle him. Her legs wrapped around him naturally and her hands clasped around his neck. His straining shaft touched her sex and she opened to him allowing him access. Cupping her bottom in his hands he slowly entered her causing her to gasp and throw her head back. This pushed her body onto him and it was his turn to groan. Controlling his desire he eased further and further into her causing her body to ripple and try to suck him in even further. He could control himself no longer and surged forward until he hit her core, causing her to scream and dig her nails into his neck. But as he slowly withdrew her body didn’t want to let him go and he took a step forward until her back was against the shower wall. Once she was tight between the wall and his chest he gave himself over to his lust and surged back into her. Picking up his rhythm he ignored her
screams and yelps and drove them both to orgasm.
Gradually Rebecca sagged into him, exhausted. Pulling out of her he set her on trembling legs and turning the water on again soaped and gently washed her. Once she had relaxed he washed himself then when the hot air came on he turned her until she was dry, rubbing her hair through his fingers to dry that too, then not worrying about himself he picked her up and carrying her through to the bedroom laid her in the bed, covering her with the sheet.
Food had been laid out on the table so he filled two plates and pouring two tumblers of wine carried them to the bed. Setting her plate on her lap and her wine on the bedside table he tucked into his food with gusto. Rebecca picked at her food then as her tummy rumbled, she laughed and realising that she was starving tucked into her plateful too. Once they had satisfied their hunger they started talking about the new disaster that Earth had suffered.
“So many dead injured or misplaced,” Rebecca said sadly.
“Yes, I’m afraid the Xenorrii out manoeuvred us this time. If not for the bravery of our pilots, human and Sceriae alike, it would have been a global disaster. All life on Earth could have perished if their starship had exploded in the atmosphere. It could have been similar to what wiped out the dinosaurs”.
Rebecca shivered “Do you think there are any more here?”
“No, if there had been they would have erupted out of the depths at the same time. If they had managed for two or three to blow up, that would have shattered the planet. Then your universe would have been in trouble”.
Scerior Part II Page 17
