Dream A Little Dream

Part 9

The following morning Doov was up ahead of me. I found him in the kitchen when I finally got down. He was bright and chirpy. As I walked into the room he got up and kissed me on the cheek.

"Morning. It's a lovely day!"

"Looks the same as yesterday morning."

"My who's the grumpy one today."

"I'm stiff. It's all that exercise yesterday."

"Have some tisane. I've got some vialak oil, I'll massage the worst bits if you like.."

"I'm not a lammak, you only use vialak oil on them. When they get sprains after racing."

"Guaranteed to relieve even the stiffest joint."

"More like remove all your skin." I stretched. "I'll go for a long hot soak after I've eaten. That'll do the trick."

I sat down and helped myself to some of the raagbread. There was some sweet preserve and I spread it liberally on the slice. The bowl in the centre of the table was piled high with fresh fruit and I took a piquat and a zemillion.

"I'll eat these in the bath."

"Decadent."

I grinned.

"Absolutely. What's on the must do list today?"

"I've got to attend a planning meeting and if I remember rightly, this morning you've got a session with your protégés."

"I'd quite forgotten."

"Is it that boring?"

"Could you find the inside of a photon engine wildly exciting?"

"I see what you mean."

"By the way I'm having tea with Chiana this afternoon. Do you want to give me a message? I'll see if we can get it through."

He looked serious again.

"Indeed I do. It's in both our interests to settle this matter amicably. I need to know why they want the asteroids."

"Oh I think I can answer that one."

"You can?"

"There's a lot of Yttrium on two of them. A rare element and used in communications chips. The Peacekeepers use a lot and they haven't had a good skirmish in a couple of cycles. I think they're getting bored."

"It's worth all that trouble to them?"

"They could probably find another source, but some of the generals want to get more conquests in before they retire."

He looked at me, incredulity written all over his face.

"They'd got to war just for the so called glory?"

I nodded.

"Frell me, they're as bad as Wotin and the others."

He sat glumly regarding his half eaten pelfowl egg. I rescued mine from the bowl in the food heater. I was hungry. We hadn't eaten a great deal the day before.

"You still want to send Scorpius a message?"

"What you've told me makes it even more imperative I talk to him. Face to face. Have to find a neutral location."

I went upstairs and had a long soak. My how things change about. How would Scorpius receive Doov Kovitlan's suit?

********

Tea with Chiana was a welcome change from the base and it was nice to have a bit of female talk. Doov had given me a holostick.

"Guard that with your life. What's on it would be called treasonous in some quarters."

"Namely General Wotin's."

"Got it in one. Neither of us are on his invitation list. I won't repeat what he called you this morning. It was all I could do to keep my temper and dignity."

I'd secreted it on my person. Short of a total body search, which was unlikely due to my new prestige in engine repair department, Doov's stick was safe. Chiana was her usual bubbly self.

"I hear you may change your mind about staying with our admiral. What's out mutual friend going to say?"

I shrugged.

"What can he say? He's a friend, a good one, but he doesn't own me. "

I leant over confidentially to her.

"I've fallen in love. After all these years. I've never felt this way before."

Was it my imagination or was she disturbed by this piece of news? She gave me a strange look, but soon she was soon back to her normal self.

"You're blooming whatever it is. Is he good company?"

"Excellent. You can have a serious conversation with him on so many topics. He seems to appreciate me for my brain as well as my body."

"Speaking of bodies. Is he still giving yours regular exercise?"

I giggled like young girl. "It just gets better. We're so comfortable with each other. It's never been as good before."

I looked dreamily out of the window.

"My only regret is that I can't give him a child."

She gave me that strange look again.

"You can't?"

"No, my hormones played up a few ahns ago. I stopped ovulating prematurely. Didn't bother me before. Had no desire to have the encumbrance of a youngster. But now..... Oh well there's nothing to be done about it and Doov accepts it. Says as long as he's got me nothing else matters. It means the end of his house's main bloodline though. There's only his cousin. He said his brother and father were murdered. I think he suspects the cousin had a hand in that."

"Thank the Goddess you and I don't have dynasties to worry about."

"How are the girls getting on?"

"You remember our little Morgul?"

"Yes , she was lamenting the fact that she only got small lovers."

Chiana grinned, "Well she's having a joining next week."

"Tell me more who with? A Mindaran?"

"You're not going to believe this. A Thallassian."

"You can't be serious?"

"Totally. She's about a metron and a half and he's two and a half. He just picks her up and tucks her under his arm. They're totally besotted with each other. I do hope it lasts."

"Any reason why it shouldn't."

"None that I can think of. What do you think their offspring will be like?"

"The mind boggles!"

**************

Chiana had promised to get the holostick to the depository and from there it would be forwarded to our mutual friend. I informed the admiral.

"There's not really anything else to be done, Doov. We'll just have to be patient. It may be a while before he can get a message back to us."

"I wish I had more patience. It's a useful commodity. I'm told that Scorpius is renowned for his."

"It is one of his virtues."

"Tell me. Do you think he'll respond favourably?"

"I should think the last thing he wants at the moment is a full blown war. It would disrupt commerce too much. He has quite large commercial interests."

"I didn't realise he was a man of affairs."

"Few do. They only see a despised inquisitor or a scientist skilled in many regions some of which are regarded as dubious, to say the least, by his enemies."

"If you trust him it's good enough for me."

**************

A lunar cycle passed. My small team of engineers had successfully repaired most of the old engines. Those that couldn't be resurrected had been dismantled for parts. To celebrate the end of the project I took them into town to the latest holoflik. Afterwards we were walking quite happily to the Targon Eatery. I'd found out that the Thallack was female. In fact she'd proved to be quite expansive in her personality since I'd been attacked. We were having a girls' night out.

The eatery had a varied menu, reflecting the wide variety of species present on the planet. We all found something we liked.

"Well where are we going after we've eaten?"

Kal Valoor asked, waving one of her eating sticks in the air. I raised my eyebrows.

"You suggest something. I haven't exactly had time to explore the night life."

A muffled giggle from the Nalin girl Cala. I smothered a grin.

"I didn't realise my life was so expertly scrutinised."

"Oh it's not meant nastily, rather the opposite. You see the admiral's been the subject of female fantasy round the base for a long time. Unattached and handsome."

"And rich." Added the Thallack. (I never did find out her name.)

"So you see when you turned up and it was obvious he was completely enthralled by you, you were absorbed into the base folk lore."

"Ah, and you try to imagine what we do?"

Giggles all round.

"It really doesn't take much imagination. One only has to look at the pair of you when you arrive in the morning. It's written in large print all over you. 'Highly satisfactory night'."

"I never realised that we were so transparent."

"We think it's lovely, so romantic."

"And we heard you're going to stay."

"I can't wait to see a tiny Doov Kovitlan." The Thallack had gone all dreamy eyed. I didn't enlighten them that there wouldn't be a child, ever.

"I suggest we go to the Rat House."

Cala the Nalin made the proposal which was eagerly taken up by the other two.

"What's at the Rat House?"

"Only a Morgul with the most delectable body we've ever seen!"

Kal Valoor was in a dream world. Cala grinned.

"It'll be our third visit this weeken."

"He really must be something."

"Oh do come . I know you'll agree with us. He's divine!"

I succumbed to the pleas. It was fine for me to be seen in such a place because I was escorting the young girls and I had to admit I was curious. I'd long been the connoisseur of fine male bodies and I was interested to see what they classed as exciting. Morgul dancers of both sexes were in great demand in many places of entertainment. I was recognised by the doorman and we were ushered into the main hall. We were shown to a table directly in front of the dance floor.

"We never get as close as this."

"We can't afford to be as close as this", said Cala.

"Rank does have its uses."

I ordered us a jug of Sra Nekter, a mildly alcoholic concoction which was fruit based. The girls were on duty next morning and I didn't think they'd want thick heads. They were merrily chatting away.

I took a look round and got a shock. In a dark corner, not noticeable unless you really looked, was a familiar face. The two forms had their heads together. It was obvious they were conniving something. Then one of the figures got up and left. I noticed it went through a rear door. My mind really wasn't on the black and gold Morgul dancer, but the girls were enraptured, especially when as part of the dance he dropped a kiss on the top of the Thallack's head. We left after a couple of ahns, I saw them back to their quarters and sent the flier back home. Doov was in bed reading through a batch of dispatches. His face brightened as I came in the room.

"Good night?"

"The girls will all be in a dream tomorrow."

I told him about their crush on the Morgul. He chuckled.

"I remember when I was their age. I was completely sure that I was in love with a Genyk hybrid."

"I thought there were only a few of them."

"That's correct. Anyway I was totally bewitched."

"What happened?"

"She showed me her collection of eyes."

"Ah well that would be off putting."

"Lost all interest immediately."

Natira had a collection of eyes . Scorpius had told me so. I'd got undressed by this time and slipped into a surik silk night gown.Turning back the bedclothes I slipped in beside him. He looked at me.

"So serious. What's the matter?"

"It may be something or nothing."

"Go on."

"I saw Wotin at the Rat House huddled in a dark corner with.. with."

"Spit it out Azareel. With whom?"

"A Scarran!"

He emitted a low whistle through his teeth.

"Now that is interesting."

He appeared to be deep in thought.

"No records of one entering our spaceports so therefore he's here illegally."

"It's not good is it?"

He hugged me.

"No it's not but don't you worry about it."

"I'm having tea with Chiana tomorrow afternoon. She's got an answer. A message from the depository.  She'll give it to me then."

"The sooner he and I meet the better. This is definitely a sinister turn of events."

He slid down the bed and I curled up in his arms. He had his face buried in my hair. We went to sleep like that.

Part 10

******************

Doov had been correct in his observation about the length of the ceremony. It went on and on and on. I found myself yawning covertly behind my hand. I was sandwiched between Doov's friend the Luxan general, and a thin Delvian Corps Leader, who smelt of fish. The general glanced at me and whispered in my ear.

"The worst's over, just winding up now."

"Thank the Goddess for that. I feel I'm glued to this seat."

"You probably are. They were recoated especially for today."

There was a grin on his weatherbeaten face as he said this. Finally the ceremony was completed and we all dispersed. After thanking my people I took my flier back home to change. As I expected Doov wasn't back. I slipped out of my trews and tunic and put on a flowing blue robe with a broad gold sash. My hair, I noticed was getting long, I should have to find someone to cut it. Chiana would know of a suitable hairdresser. I closed the door and got into the flier for the short trip to the Dragon's Tusk.

*****************

Chiana and I hugged each other as I met her in the entrance hall. The comfortable greeting of old friends. She led the way to her private rooms.

"Have a seat."

I sat down gratefully on a soft comfortable chair.

"Whew. I needed that."

"But you've been sitting all morning at the ceremony."

"Have you ever spent three ahns on one of those portable seatings units?"

She shook her head.

"I don't recommend it. My backside's got dimples where dimples shouldn't be."

"Shall I tell you what the answer from our mutual friend was now or will you wait until we've had tea?"

"I think I'd better know."

"Well he sent the message in a letter, obstensively from your legal advisor."

She handed me the sealed and folded sheet. I opened it. To an outsider it would have meant nothing. It just appeared to be the report of how my investments were doing. Chiana was looking expectantly at me.

"And?"

"He suggests a meeting in three days at the Jessali pleasure planet."

"Sensible. There's no reason why men of any faction shouldn't visit Jessali. It's in neutral territory."

"Doov will be pleased. He feels that this may prove to be a chance for peace."

"I think it may be the last one."

"What will you do if there's war? After all the Nebari aren't part of the Dominion?"

She chuckled.

"Don't worry about me. I'll probably do better than ever. Many more officers in high command. They won't bother me. I provide a service they need."

"You're sure?"

"Yes. But what about you?"

"Doov and I will have had the formal uniting ceremony before the end of the next weeken. I will be a member of his family. Anyway they're stiil falling over themselves not to annoy me because of my technical skill."

I stretched out my legs.

"Did you know he employs the Society of Kaa for his protection?"

"No I didn't. He must have some good reason to fear for his safety then?"

"He says he has enemies within the family and without."

"I don't doubt that. He's been the one voice of reason in the military command for quite a while. He's probably stepped on a lot of toes."

"He's got them to protect me too."

She gave me a strange look.

"He thinks you're in danger then?"

"By association, he said."

"That's likely."

She rang for tea.

"How's our little Morgul getting on with her Thallasian?"

"They've moved to Sharnos. Said they wanted to be well clear if there were going to be hostilities."

"Sensible people."

She whispered confidentially.

"Actually I think she may be pregnant."

"So soon?"

"They didn't hold back before the joining."

"That would explain it."

"He treats her as though she was the most precious thing in the universe."

"To him she is! I know exactly how he feels."

"Doov means so much to you?"

I nodded.

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing, Azareel? I know our mutual friend won't be happy with your decision."

"I told you before. He doesn't own me. I live my own life."

I could see that look of worry on her face, but before I could ask her what that matter was, tea arrived and the opportunity slipped away. We chatted about everything and nothing and she promised to attend the uniting ceremony. It was a couple of ahns later when I left the Dragon's Tusk and dusk was falling.

The flier took me straight home and landed on the forecourt. As I got out I was immediately surrounded by members of the black clad Society of Kaa.

"Madam please accompany us. Your life's in danger and we are under instruction to get you off the planet."

"But what about Doov? Is he coming too?"

The leader looked at me his eyes impassive, his features hidden by his mask.

"I regret to inform you that Star Admiral Kovitlan has been assassinated."

"Nooooo.. !"

I screamed at the top of my voice and my knees buckled. I was scooped up by one of the order and deposited in their multiseated flier.

"There's a freighter waiting at Spaceport Alpha to take you home. It was diverted on instructions to collect you."

I was trying my hardest not to cry. I didn't think these hardened men would appreciate floods of tears. How was I going to live without my liquid eyed love? My very existence seemed futile. The tears started to creep down my cheeks and I felt one of the men gently push something into my hand. It was a fibre face wipe. Looking up I could see the compassion in his eyes. I knew he'd also lost someone dear to him. Numbness crept up my limbs , a lethargy born of disbelief. Perhaps if i shut my eyes and wished, he'd be standing there his arms open, welcoming me. I opened my eyes and found myself still in the flier in transit to the spaceport.

The tears flowed and I couldn't stop them. Eventually I was exhausted. One of the men handed me a container of water.

"You'd better drink Ma'am. You'll get dehydrated otherwise."

I drank but my throat felt as if it was constricted down to nothing, so difficult did I find it to swallow. All I could see ahead of me were endless years of blankness, no joy, no love, no me. I felt dead inside. Sick and hollow. An empty shell. Doubtless I would go through the motions of living, but there would no longer be any meaning to it. We arrived at the spaceport and the flier drew up alongside a rather battered old freighter. One of the Society picked me up and carried me carefully up the ramp to the airlock. The captain was a grizzled old veteran who indicated that they should put me in one of the command seats. He strapped me in, gave the society salute and left.

******************

The Peacekeeper medical officer watched as the woman was brought aboard. She was evidently in shock. No wonder after having heard such bad news. She'd have to keep a careful eye on her charge. She met the eye of the captain, a commando veteran. He gave the merest nod. Walking over to where the woman with short golden brown hair sat, she applied the hypotube of sedative to her neck and pressed the button.

 *************

Scorpius was pacing up and down the floor in his main laboratory. His well laid plans had so nearly gone astray. He hadn't allowed for the fact that Baadan could fall in love, something which had nearly wrecked the whole operation. Indeed he been going through various scenarios of how to retrieve her without raising suspicion when the news came through from one of his operatives that the Admiral had been killed.

He immediately sent out a coded message to the Society of Kaa. It was a failsafe he'd put in place to come into play if Baadan's life had ever seemed to have been under threat. The freighter had been plying to and fro between the near planets, just waiting for his command. Its crew were all Peacekeeper military in disguise.

The information he'd received from her databanks would prove invaluable in defusing the situation. Surprisingly he'd found himself to be strangley disturbed that she found lovemaking with the Interon admiral so pleasant. He wondered just how long the old engines she'd helped to repair would hold out. Hopefully not too long. It was his intention that Doov Kovitlan's death would not be in vain. His death might have prevented the suffering and cataclysmic destruction of a full blown war. He was sure that he could use the assassination to show his High Command just how internecine was the idea of a war especially if the Scarrans were brought into the affair.

The door alarm went and the lab door slid aside to admit Braca leading a group of medics wheeling a stretcher. The medical officer made her report to Scorpius.

"Thank you lieutenant. I trust she'll shortly recover from the shock?"

"I should give her at least twelve ahns more under sedation Sir."

The scientist nooded.

" I think that would be wise."

She saluted and left,  the medical team behind her.

"Is there anything else you need Sir?"

"Not just at the moment Braca. I shan't need you until second watch tomorrow."

"Very good Sir."

There was the sligh swish of the door as it closed. He went over to the stretcher.

"You're looking very pale Baadan. Still not much more for you to go through. I'll just put the Azareel personality to the back of your mind and re-install your own."

He had thought about removing Azareel altogether, but it seemed a waste. One never knew when it might become useful again. Two things he didn't intend to submerge were her acomplishments in the arts of love and engine maintainence. Giving her a complete check out before putting her in the Aurora Chair, he discovered something which made him gasp. It was inconsistant with something she'd said on her transmission bursts. He checked his original notes and gave a sharp intake of breath as he noticed certain figures and went through the proceedures he done before she left as Azareel.

"I don't think you're going to be very happy about this Baadan."

He made up his mind not to tell her, initially that was. She'd discover it for herself soon enough. Picking her up, he fastened her in the chair and started the reversal programme.

Part 11

"Wake up Baadan Come now open your eyes."

I came to hearing the soft insistent voice and being gently shaken. My head ached and I didn't really want to open my eyes.

"Just leave me alone. Hell, I feel like death warmed up!"

I heard a soft chuckle.

"I suppose that is a difficult state in which to exist."

I suddenly put name to voice.

"Scorpius!"

I opened first one eye and then the other. He was standing over me, looking well pleased with himself.

"The same my dear. Just try to sit up."

I made a half hearted effort. Putting his arm round me he raised my torso upright and altered the couch to support me. I noticed that I was still attached to various tubes and wires.

"Why all the Christmas decorations?"

"I presume you mean the fluid drips and the connections to your monitors?"

"Oh that's what they are. I feel like a retro unit under a scan."

"An apt comparison. I think another few ahns and they can be disconnected."

He moved his face close to mine and moved my fringe out of my eyes.

"Tell me what's your last memory before this?"

I screwed up my face in concentration. Memories seemed shadowy. I suddenly had an image of getting up from my computer.

"I was going to get something to eat. Why? What happened?"

"Do you recall me telling you I had work for you?"

"Vaguely, but you wouldn't tell me what."

"I also said I'd tell you after you'd done it."

He stroked my cheek.

"You excelled my expectations, my dear girl. Total success."

"But I don't remember doing anything."

"Baadan didn't do anything but Azareel did."

I moved my arm, the tube was annoying me. He lifted it out of the way and looped it up onto its stand.

"I think you're going to feel quite irritable for a while."

"Who the bloody hell's Azareel?"

"Profanity won't make you feel better."

"Speak for yourself," I muttered grumpily.

"Azareel, my dear Baadan, is your hidden sister shall we say. Another personality created to carry out my task."

"You've messed with my brain!"

"Temporarily, yes. Don't worry though, Azareel won't make her presence known to you, she's sleeping deep inside your head, just as you were when she was using your body."

"Why's she still there if her usefulness is finished?"

He licked my cheek in a proprietorial manner. Tapping me on the head he replied jauntily, "Why waste an excellent tool. I may need her again."

"I won't help you again ever."

His face looked like a solemn mask.

"In case you've forgotten Baadan, you're completely subject to my wishes. My whims, my desires. You will do exactly what I instruct you to do. Unless you want to be returned to a holding cell that is."

I muttered under my breath forgetting his acute hearing.

"I shall overlook that observation. You are not totally recovered. Tomorrow you should be feeling a great deal better. I shall show you exactly what you've been doing as Azareel."

He lowered the back of the couch and gently laid me down. The cover had slipped and he arranged it over me in an extremely careful fashion. I looked at him, into his unfathomable grey eyes. He smiled, his thin black lips parting just a little.

"Sleep a little more my dear."

He added something to the fluid container. As I started feeling drowsy I thought I heard him saying softly, "Precious girl, you're guarding a treasure"

But I might have been mistaken.

******************

When I woke next I was in Scorpius's quarters on his couch. The covers were tucked round me. I turned over and stretched. I was alone. Then the memory came back of Scorpius mentioning his surveillance units. Alone I might be but unobserved certainly not. Sitting up I realised that I was naked. A wicked thought came unbidden into my head. I wondered just who monitered the watchful eyes in the quarters. Scorpius must have realised that I'd need to use the sanitary unit and that I'd no clothes. I also realised that he enjoyed the discomfort of the Peackeepers to his actions. They would view me being unclothed as not really acceptable. In some matters they were almost fanatically Puritanical. The idea was extremely amusing and it struck me that it wasn't one I'd have had previous to my unremembered excursion.

I did what I needed to do in the privacy of the cubicle. It contained shower and the equivalent to a WC. I emerged clean and comfortable and as there was nothing on which to dry myself I wrapped the bedcover round me. I was starting to feel cold. The normal Sebbacian room temperature was below what I found comfortable and well below Scorpius's ideal one. I was just looking at a ceramic on one of his shelves when the door opened and he came in.

"I was correct in my prediction. You're looking totally recovered."

He licked my forehead, which was I now understood a greeting he reserved for old friends.

"My dear, you're shaking."

He grasped my by the shoulders.

"What's wrong?"

"No.othing." My teeth were chattering, "I'm cold."

"We can soon remedy that."

He opened the package he'd brought in with him and produced a bodysuit. I climbed into it gratefully. The warmth was lovely. I sighed as I fastened it.

"I do completely understand. It's delightful to be warm again. Now here we have the rest of your uniform."

Which consisted of a red and black sleeved jacket in a soft material which smelt like leather and shiny trousers and banded boots. He saw me smelling the tunic.

"Auroch calfskin. I thought the adult hide would prove too stiff for you to wear."

"I love the smell of leather. What's this on the collar?"

"My personal sigil. Should give you access to most places where there are Peacekeepers."

I felt a quiet confidence. Looking in his face I could see that the threat he'd made the previous day had been empty. He'd no intention of returning me to the holding cells. Something had happened in my blank days which had substantially altered his view of my importance. He brought over a portable holoscreen similar to the one connected to the Aurora chair.

"Sit down for a while and I'll show you exactly what you've been doing for me."

He had several holosticks in his hand. Scrutinising them he selected one and placed it in the replay unit. As the machine sparked into life he sat down in the other chair. I could see that he was watching me carefully. The replay began and I was in the arrival hall of the spaceport. For two ahns he played the recordings. Finally the last one was finished, I'd been surrounded by the House of Kaa and it faded out.

I just sat there speechless. Words failed me. Finally I managed to stutter, "I, I did all that?"

A slight smile touched his lips.

"Surprises you doesn't it?"

"I was a...a."

I just couldn't bring myself to say it.

"A courtesan I think is the word you're seeking. A very respectable profession in most of the galaxy, though from your reaction I would say, not on Earth."

"In some cultures, yes, but not in mine."

I was somewhat stunned by the revelation. 

"That man, the admiral, the look in his eyes...."

"Quite simply my dear he was completely in love with you."

"Oh!"

"The transmitters and databanks worked exceptionally well. You realise that this is only a fraction of the data you gave me?"

"Did I betray him?"

He looked at me. Was there just a touch of compassion in his look?

"No, Baadan", he replied softly. "That was never in the plan. Unfortunately he was assassinated and I had to retrieve you rather speedily."

I felt a tinge of sadness.

"He looks.....looked such a nice man. Did I like him?"

He smiled again, ruefully.

"Rather too much for my comfort. You wanted to make it a permanent union."

"Oh and you'd have minded?"

"Strangely my dear, yes."

I sat there, the thoughts flooding through my mind, over two earth months out of my life and I knew nothing about it other than the recordings Scorpius had.

"Did you get the result you wanted?"

"I can avert a crippling galactic war with this intelligence. That was always my prime objective."

"It would affect commerce too much and your holdings."

He gave me a shrewd look.

"Indeed it would."

I was silent again. He just watched me, like a cat watching a mouse.

"Come here Baadan."

He patted his knee. I got up and sat tentatively on the edge of his knee. His arms wrapped round my waist and pulled me close to him.

"This was more what I had in mind."

I twisted sideways and looked up at him. He absentmindedly brushed my fringe out of my eyes.

"I've got to get a haircut."

"It won't get in the way at all."

He kissed med gently to start with but suddenly he growled and his tongue was inserted between my lips and the tiny shocks began. He removed the tunic and trousers and picked me up and placed me on the couch. He ripped open the front of my body suit and began his assault on my body. The gentleness was gone, he had been too long without satisfaction due to my absence.

The look I'd seen in his face was that of posession. He'd claimed me. His nips only inflamed me, I could never remember feeling so aroused . Finally I was just repeating "Scorpius, Scorpius, Please".

I felt the initial penetration of his strange phallus, then its full expansion once it had gained entrance, the stimulation on my vaginal wall. I screamed, the sensation was so intense. He lay on top of me for a while. Both of us spent, both of us had completely surrendered to the surfeit of pleasure. He sat up and fingered the red marks on my breasts and shoulders.

"I shall have to be more careful. You are a more fragile species than many. I don't want to make this unpleasant for you."

"I wasn't complaining."

"Mmm. but there's another good reason why I must treat you carefully."

"Don't I get to know why."

"Oh I don't think so."

And with that remark I had to be satisfied.

 **************

 The next weeken was filled with consolidating exactly what Scorpius had left in my mind from my excursion as Azareel. She had been far more outgoing than me and had a confidence I hadn't yet achieved. My brain now knew the complete ins and outs of photon drive engines and advanced hyperdrive, which was a little secret between Scorpius and myself. The Peacekeepers hadn't a clue that it existed.

"This hasn't been discovered on Earth yet."

He looked up.

"I know. I don't think they're quite ready for it yet."

"You could be right."

He chuckled.

"Having see the mess they can get into with combustion engines and primitive rockets, I shudder to think what they do with more advanced power sources. You'll have to be extremely circumspect when you return."

I brightened.

"I'm going to go back then?"

"Yes quite shortly I think. There's a little job you can do for me."

I groaned.

"Not Azareel again. You know she knew more positions and sexual themes than I'd even suspected were possible."

"I didn't remove them because they can come in useful for you."

"I don't propose to become what she was. I draw the line at that. I'm no Mata Hari."

He laughed.

"Oh I do realise that."

He whispered in my ear.

"I won't be deserting you on Earth. I shall pay you regular visits, you can show me some of Azareel's acomplishments then."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just pick up your life as before."

"Only?"

"All your contacts will be monitored as I did when you were Azareel. It's totally unobtrusive, you'll never notice."

"Why would you want a spy on Earth?"

"It's part of a business plan. I need to keep the planet stable, so I need inside information."

I looked at him suspiciously.

"Is that all?"

"I don't lie."

"But you can be sparing with the truth."

"Oh I agree, but I have no military aspirations regarding your delightful but backward planet."

He touched my cheek.

"Just think you'll be possession of the most technically advance data on Earth. What would your military give for it?"

"It'd make the Aurora Chair look benign. Interrogation methods are still somewhat crude."

"They'd go that far?"

"You'd better believe it."

"Perhaps you'd be safer with it hidden."

"Why should they be suspicious?"

"Why indeed?" I

went to sleep curled up beside him that night, happy in the knowledge that I was going home.

Part 12

From that time on Scorpius insisted we use only Earth time terms and speech.

"I can't risk you dropping a bell."

I burst out laughing.

"Is that what your translator came up with?"

"Is it incorrect?"

"It's dropping a clanger'".

"I was trying for an idiom for making a mistake."

"I hope mine didn't make mistakes when I was in the Gouralt Dominion."

I'd only just learnt that I'd got a translator unit similar to his embedded between the two frontal lobes of my brain. Most species in the galaxy relied on translator microbes, a genetically engineered answer, which were introduced when they were young. They hadn't worked on him, hence the tiny leaf like translator.

I would, I realised, when I got back to Earth be able to communicate in and understand any language. An ability I should have to hide. In my work, I already used three languages, knowledge of others, well I could say I'd been studying during my time off. I did have a flair for them so I didn't think anyone would notice another couple.

"How have you covered my absence?"

"Unfortunately, you contracted a rare disease and had to be taken to a specialist facility."

"Surely they'd check."

"Be assured it exists. I own it."

Yet another surprise from him. Business interests on Earth. He was still delighting me sexually and I said to him after one experience.

"I'm going to miss this."

"Why else do you think I'm arranging a semi permanent hyperspace conduit to your apartment?"

"Ah I knew there just had to be an ulterior motive."

Since my return I'd been feeling fine and my face looked somehow.. well tranquil. The day before my return, he ran through what I was to do.

"Actually, you don't have to do anything special. Just live your normal life, see your usual friends, be yourself. The chip transmitters and data holding banks will do the rest."

"Can it be detected?"

He smiled wryly.

"If they didn't detect it in the Gouralt Dominion, then it's highly unlikely that they will on Earth. If they did, I'd retrieve you immediately."

"Are you sure you're not planning to invade Earth?"

 He ruffled my hair.

"Think logically Baadan. What possible strategic or military advantage could it give me? A small backward planet on a spiral arm well away from the centre of galactic politics."

"Well put like that."

"My interests are purely of a business nature. I see an opening to start a lucrative business there."

"Aren't you going to tell me what?"

His forked tongued flicked my forehead as he said good-naturedly, "Later, when I've worked it all out."

*****************

He returned Baadan the next night to her apartment. He'd made sure that the janitor had had it cleaned and that there was a supply of food in. Before he'd left they'd played a game of chess and she had been surprised to find out how much better she was than previously.

"You are able to work out moves further ahead than before, therefore your game has improved."

He still beat her but it took longer. Back in his quarters he decided that he would retrieve her in about seven earth months. He wanted to make sure that she had the best attention during the last two months of her pregnancy. She had been speaking what she believed was the truth when she told Doov Kovitlan she couldn't have children. He had build Azareel on the basic character of Baadan and he hadn't realised until later that what he thought to be a malfunction in her hormones had been the result of normal deterioration in earth females. He'd used Sebbacian women as his mark and it was now obvious to him that they could bear children for a lot longer in their life spans than earth ones. And that they hade considerably longer life spans, though not as long as his own.

Any way the one of the outcomes of his repairing the systems had been that Doov Kovitlan would soon have an heir. Scorpius had been named as administrator of the admiral's will. Everything he owned had been left to Azareel. He'd make sure that Baadan knew after the birth of her son. He felt sure that she would delight in making over the majority of the estate to the infant, to be inherited on his majority.

He also had a feeling that when she dicovered her condition she would be somewhat put out.  When he'd had her in the Aurora chair, he'd noticed that she wasn't exactly fond of children. He thought that would change when she saw the baby for the first time. From what he'd been able to glean in a roundabout way from his staff, it seemed that having your own child often changed a reluctant mother into a contented one.

There was also residing in him a little spark of excitement. He'd have to be surrogate parent to the infant. A new experience and a responsibility. From a political point of view the child was a boon. Scorpius had always fully intended that after a suitable period, Baadan should carry their child, a daughter.

His intention now was the union of Kovitlan's son and their child. It should be possible even with a shared parent, but he'd have to check and double check that there would be no genetic problems. That union would ensure the stability of their part of the galaxy in the foreseeable future.

As for his project on Earth, well if he got the right information he would be able to control the currency markets and then ensure world stability. After all no one wanted to take a vacation in a place where violence could erupt at any moment. He fully intended to make Earth the number one vacation stop for the galactic holidaymaker.

Realising that the people of Earth hadn't yet been exposed to alien species, for a start he'd have to restrict the vacationers to those species who resembled Humans. He drained his glass with a satisfied grunt and wondered how long it would be before Baadan started transmitting.

 ***************

I woke the next morning for the first times in several months, in my own bed. "Get back in your routine", Scorpius had said. I put the coffee on and showered. My hair dried while I was having breakfast. I dressed in my business suit, navy blue with a red blouse. I always wore a trouser suit. It had been one battle I'd won with my superiors, all male. Once the suggestion had been made that their wanting women in skirts was devisive as well as sexist, the objections had petered out.

I felt a bit nauseous after I'd had breakfast but I put it down to nerves. It was going to be the first time back at work after a long while, I was bound to be nervous. I did the dishes, slipped on my coat, grabbed my briefcase and went down to the garage to collect my car.

 Pete the guy, who does the general bits and bobs around the place, looked up from filling the sand buckets.

"Hi Ellie! Good to have you back. You OK now?"

I smiled at him, he was always in a good mood.

"Good to be back and yes I'm completely recovered."

From the covers on the seats it was obvious that my car had been serviced. Seemed that S had irons in quite a few fires. I slipped out onto the street and made my way to the freeway for the ten minute trip to work.

You didn't really drive to work, you crawled. This morning seemed worse than usual. Perhaps it was that I hadn't done it for a long time. The ten minute drive stretched to twenty before I turned into the road leading to the main security gates.

Presenting my pass I realised that the marine guard was new to me. I parked my car in my allotted spot and went up to my section. I keyed in the code and entered the main offce, to be enthusiastically greeted. Everyone seemed to be glad I was back. It really was a good feeling. I pointed to the door at the far end of the office.

"Is he in?"

"Came about ten minutes ago. He's been like a bear with a sore head while you were away."

"It'd be because of the coffee."

"He must drink gallons of the stuff."

The door opened and loud deep voice shouted out, "That you Ellie Jay?"

"Yes I'm back General."

"Then get your delighful ass in here pronto. I haven't had a decent cup of coffee in nearly three months."

Followed by the grinning faces in the office I went in and closed the door.

"The Big Black Bear", was standing in the middle of the room.

"I'm employed as a political analyst, not a coffee maker."

 He surprised me by giving me a hug. I was swamped by his huge arms and when he released me he looked down at me and said, "Ellie Jay Krantz, welcome back."

I could see from the expression on his big black face that his sentiment was genuine. He'd always had a soft spot for me and after the death of his wife had been trying hard to persuade me to go out with him.

"I've got tickets for the game. Thought you might like to come."

Usually I turned him down as gently as I could, but this time I just said, "Give me a bit of time to get back into things. I'll think about it"

His face lit up. I put the coffee on to percolate and went back to his desk.

"You can fill me in about what's been going on while I've been away. Then you can tell me what you and the rest of the chiefs of staff deem to be the latest problem spot."

I was back in the groove. I wondered what S was making of the Big Black Bear and his addiction to coffee. He'd promised to come about once a week, and I felt myself looking forward to his visits. Strange how things had turned out!

Next after this - a short 3 Part connector Story "Prejudice"

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