Planet of the Valkyries

by Callista Hawkes

  “You’re not out of the woods yet, your majesty.” You growl at the so-called Pirate Queen. “Now talk before I change my mind and throw you out of the nearest airlock.”

  “There’s an inoperable goods airlock within the hold.” She tells you as the marine fastens handcuffs around her wrists. “It’s on the right hand side as you enter. Inside, we are holding a high value prisoner.” You nod and reach for your communicator.

  “Squad two?”

  “Just sweeping the hold, Commander.” Comes the prompt reply. You pass on Risa’s information and moments later, the disembodied voice reports in. “It’s a young woman, Commander. She looks pretty shaken up, but otherwise okay. She’s not too talkative, so recommend getting her to sickbay as soon as possible.”

  “I agree.” You reply. “Squad one and two, rendezvous at the airlock. We’re done here.”

  A few minutes later, you reach the airlock. Squad two are waiting for you with the young woman. She is tall and slender and wearing what may have once been a fine teal coloured dress, but is now little more than filthy rags. Her black hair is wild and tangled and her pale skin is darkened with grime. Her brown eyes widen as she looks fearfully over your shoulder at the handcuffed Risa behind you.

  “It’s okay, miss, she won’t hurt you. You’re safe now.” You tell her. “I’m Commander Kyle Chase from the United Earth Ship Ranger. We’ll get you aboard and get you cleaned up and checked out.”

  “Thank you!” She throws her arms around you and presses her lips to yours. You find yourself kissing her back before you remember where you are and pull away.

  “We need to get back to the Ranger.” You mumble, feeling your face flush. The woman nods, blushing beneath the grime herself. You all file into the transparent umbilical tube and begin the short walk back to the battered white hull of the Ranger.

  Once back aboard, you dismiss the marines who take Risa to the brig. You escort the young woman to the sickbay and into Doctor Thorne’s care. She remains silent and even your gentle enquiries as to her name or what planet she is from are answered only with timid, wide-eyed silence. Once the doctor has her patient, you visit your quarters to remove your body armour and shower before returning to the bridge.

  “How’s the Ranger holding up?” You ask the helmsman.

  “Shields and weapon systems still offline.” He replies. “I’ve taken us a safe distance from the pirate vessel. In fact, looks like she’s ready to blow.” You glance up at the view screen as a series of explosions rock the green hull of the pirate vessel. You shield your eyes as it disintegrates in a dazzling flash of bright light.

  “Lay in a course for the nearest outpost so that we can effect repairs.” You tell him. “I’ll check on the captain.”

  You enter the sickbay, finding Doctor Thorne just inside the door with the long ward lined with beds stretching away to both sides.

  “How’s the captain?” You ask her.

  “She’s suffered a concussion.” She replies, glancing towards a hospital bed at the far end of the ward. “I’ve patched her up and I’ll keep her in for observation for the next twenty-four hours, but she should be fine.”

  “And the girl?” You ask.

  “She’s resting.” The Doctor nods towards the other end of the ward. “She’s had a rough time of it, but she’s physically unharmed. Guest quarters have been prepared for her. I was about to discharge her and allow her to convalesce there.”

  Check on the captain

  Check on the mysterious young woman

  Deciding that the captain is your priority, you make your way to the other end of the ward. Captain Madison, her head bandaged, is sitting up in her bed and studying a handheld screen.

  “I thought you were supposed to be resting, Captain.” You tell her.

  “Just making sure my ship is in safe hands.” She smiles. “Despite the fender-bender, it looks like you’ve neutralised our pirate problem.”

  “Yes and added another soul to the ship’s complement.” You reply. “A wretched, bedraggled looking girl we found caged up in the hold.”

  “Ah yes, Doctor Thorne mentioned you’d rescued a damsel in distress.” She chuckles. “Sounds like the good doctor hasn’t seen fit to tell you her identity.” Her grey eyes sparkle.

  “It must have slipped her mind.” You reply dryly, leaning in closer, your curiosity piqued.

  “Princess Elektra of Antares Prime!” She grins. Your eyes widen as your mind reconciles the grimy features of the pathetic girl you rescued with the famous and beautiful face of the heiress to the throne of Antares Prime.

  “Fuck.” You murmur.

  “Not the word I’d have used,” The captain smiles, “But I agree with the sentiment. I have already contacted the royal family. They have dispatched a royal frigate to rendezvous with us tomorrow. In the meantime, you had better introduce yourself to our royal dignitary and see that she is looked after in the manner in which she is accustomed. High Command will assign us both to some decrepit rust bucket of a freighter if we drop the ball with this one.”

  “Aye, Captain.” You reply, turning to leave.

  “Kyle?” She calls out. You pause and glance back at her. “Best behaviour, eh?”

  “Of course.” You grin.

  As you walk the length of the ward, you can see the princess sitting on the edge of her bed. She is a far cry from the wild-eyed creature cowering in fear. The grime has been washed from her body and the ragged gown replaced with an elegant cocktail dress, perhaps donated by one of the crew. Her brown eyes flick towards you as you approach and she rises, brushing a few loose strands of her now immaculate dark hair from her face. Tall and slender, her regal bearing seems to have reasserted itself and her skin now glows with a youthful radiance.

  “Your majesty.” You bow stiffly as you reach her.

  “Commander Chase.” She smiles politely. “Please, there is no need to be so formal! You saved my life after all. I haven’t had a chance to thank you.”

  “Just doing my duty, your highness.” You reply.

  “All the same, I owe you a great deal.” She smiles, this time more naturally, her brown eyes holding your gaze. While you have seen her face a hundred times on various vid feeds over the years, she is even more beautiful in person and you find yourself captivated. Realising that you are staring, you tear your gaze away.

  “It is an honour to have such a distinguished guest aboard.” You tell her, taking a small step backwards.

  “I expect no special treatment.” She replies.

  Offer to give her a tour of the ship

  Escort the princess to her quarters

  “Make it quick, marine.” You nod, turning away. A moment later, you hear a single shot and the sound of Risa’s body hitting the deck. “Good job. Let’s rendezvous with squad two and prepare for immediate evac.”

  “Affirmative.” He replies, glancing back with grim satisfaction at the corpse of the Pirate Queen. You make your way back through the narrow corridors of the vessel, klaxons sounding all around you as the ship’s safety systems continue to lose their battle to prevent the reactor going critical. Squad two awaits you at the umbilical tube.

  “The hold has been swept and cleared.” The squad leader reports. “All hostiles eliminated.”

  “Excellent.” You reply. “Now let’s get out of here before we end up trapped in the funeral pyre.” The marines follow you back through the transparent umbilical tube linking the vessels and you dismiss them and make your way to the bridge.

  By the time you step onto the bridge, the Ranger has already withdrawn to a safe distance.

  “Looks like she’s ready to blow any moment, Commander.” The helmsman tells you, swivelling in his chair. You glance towards the small green shape of the stricken pirate vessel in the centre of the view screen. Small explosions blossom over its hull before a moment later it explodes in a brilliant flash of light.

  “I’ll note the time in my log and record the exemplary conduct of the crew to
day.” You reply. “Lay in a course for the nearest outpost. We’ve got some repairs to make before we continue our voyage.”

  You watch with satisfaction from the captain’s chair as the Ranger slowly and carefully docks with the spindle shaped Outpost Seven.

  “Hard lock achieved.” The helmsman tells you.

  “Very good.” You reply.

  “Commander.” The communications officer calls out. “Maintenance tells us that the artificial gravity system may be temporarily offline when they implement repairs in four hours’ time.”

  “Noted.” You reply. “Issue a ship-wide warning.”

  “And Ambassador Hathaway has requested your presence in her quarters.” She adds. You sigh. It never rains but it pours.

  Go to Ambassador Hathaway’s quarters

  Decline the invitation

  “On my way.” You reply, making your way to the turbolift and taking it down to E Deck.

  “Ah, Commander! Come in.” Ambassador Hathaway smiles, standing in the doorway as the door sighs open. She is dressed in a long, flowing black gown tied at the waist with a narrow sash.

  “What can I do for you, Ambassador?” You ask, stepping into her chambers, the door sliding shut behind you. The lights are off and the only source of illumination is the silvery starlight shining through the large window at the rear of the room.

  “I just wanted to thank you in person for your heroics on the bridge today.” She smiles. “I owe you my life as does every other man and woman aboard.”

  “Just doing my job, your Excellency.” You reply.

  “You military types, always so formal!” She chuckles. “And please, call me Charlotte, at least while we’re off duty.”

  “As you wish... Charlotte.” You smile.

  “There! You are human after all.” She grins.

  “They do try their best to drum it out of us at the academy.” You reply dryly. Charlotte laughs, her eyes twinkling.

  “A sense of humour too!” She laughs before turning away and moving across the room towards the window, the stars twinkling against the inky black canvas of space beyond it. As you join her, you realise she is gazing at her reflection in the glass.

  “You know,” she sighs, “Time is a cruel companion. Inside, I still feel the same as I did when I was in my twenties, my body firm and toned, my skin smooth and youthful, my hair lustrous with not a grey strand in sight. Yet I look at my reflection and see this middle-aged woman staring back at me. I wonder if I am too old now for this life. There are plenty of younger diplomats who still have the fire I seem to have lost.”

  Agree

  Reassure her

  “Ambassador, you are well respected throughout the cosmos.” You tell her. “Your experience alone is without equal.”

  “Sounds like you’re saying I’m old.” Charlotte smiles humourlessly.

  “I think you are in your prime.” You smile. “I never had the pleasure of meeting you when you were younger, but while you may have looked youthful, I can’t imagine you will have been any more beautiful a woman than you are today.” You see her reflection smile, genuinely this time. She looks up at your own reflection, studying you for a moment before slowly turning towards you.

  “That’s very kind, Commander.” She replies. “I wonder if you would stay and keep me company for a while. I would enjoy a little more of your flattery.”

  “I have finished my shift and have no other immediate plans.” You reply.

  “Excellent.” She smiles. “Do you enjoy a drink?”

  “I’ve been known to drink the occasional Andromedan ale.” You admit.

  “I prefer something a little stronger.” She tells you, reaching into a locker on the wall and pulling out a short, stout bottle with a brown liquid inside.

  “Whisky.” You raise an eyebrow. “From Earth?”

  “Scottish. Single malt.” Charlotte replies, setting the bottle down on a low table before a couch. You whistle.

  “Expensive.” You comment.

  “Very.” She chuckles, pulling out a couple of glasses and pouring a healthy measure into each. She sits down and gestures for you to join her on the couch and passes you one of the glasses.

  “To the mission.” You raise the glass.

  “To the crew of the Ranger and the gallant Commander Chase.” She smiles back.

  The whisky is far better than any of the synthesised whiskies you have ever tasted and the ambassador is only too keen to keep your glass topped up. She is good company and you talk all evening about your lives and what you have seen and done. Eventually the conversation turns to your love lives.

  “I would like to tell you it was my ex-husband that was the cheating scumbag, but I’m afraid it was me.” Charlotte smiles sadly. “Several weeks away at a time is a long time to abstain when you have as strong a libido as mine, so I must admit, I gave in to temptation a number of times. I don’t blame him for divorcing me. I would no doubt have done the same had our roles been reversed.” She takes a sip of her whisky before brightening. “But enough about me. Now tell me, Commander, how is it a handsome man such as yourself is still single?”

  “I’m too busy with my career.” You shrug.

  “Bullshit.” She snorts. “Captain Madison is married and her duties are at least as demanding as your own.”

  “I guess I’m just not ready to settle down.” You admit, feeling a little uncomfortable at being pressed. “I enjoy my freedom too much.” The ambassador laughs heartily.

  “There’s a lot to be said for that.” Charlotte murmurs, holding your gaze and placing her hand on your thigh. Her lips part slightly and she begins to slowly lean into you. Your alcohol addled mind is not so far gone as to be blind to what is about to happen. You have just a moment to react.

  Allow her to seduce you

  Get up and make your excuses

  “Perhaps you’re right.” You reply. The Ambassador’s eyes widen in surprise. “Don’t take it the wrong way.” You quickly add. “Your career has been exemplary, but it seems that perhaps you don’t have the drive for it that you once did. However, you are still at the peak of your powers, so why not make this your swan song? Brokering a lasting peace between the Earth Alliance and the Aurigan Empire would be your crowning achievement. You could retire gracefully at the top of your game.”

  “You’re right.” She smiles. “I need to stop being so self-indulgent and concentrate on doing my job. Thank you, Commander, your counsel has been invaluable.”

  “My pleasure, your Excellency.” You nod and turn to leave before pausing at the door. “And for what it’s worth, I think you are an elegant and handsome looking woman.” She turns from the window and smiles broadly.

  “Thank you, Commander. I needed that.” She tells you. Feeling yourself blush, you nod and hurry from the room in the direction of your quarters.

  The next three days pass without incident as you continue at maximum speed through hyperspace towards Aurigan space.

  “We might actually arrive on schedule.” You comment to the seated captain as you stand beside her on the bridge. At that moment, red warning lights flash up on the communication officer’s console.

  “Captain, we’re receiving a distress call!” She reports. “We’ll need to drop out of hyperspace to receive it.” The helmsman glances questioningly over his shoulder.

  “You and your big mouth.” Captain Madison glares good-naturedly at you. “What do you think? Shall we respond?”

  You have a duty to respond

  The mission comes first

  “Ambassador, I must be going.” You slide off the couch and scramble to your feet, the room spinning a little.

  “So soon?” The Ambassador blinks, her face falling.

  “It’s uh... it’s late, ma’am.” You stutter, backing away towards the door.

  “Of course.” She replies, quickly recovering her composure. “It has been a most enjoyable evening, Commander and your company has been a pleasant distraction.”

&nbs
p; “And yours, your Excellency.” You reply, the door sighing open next to you. “Goodnight.” You hurriedly step through the door into the corridor before dashing back towards your quarters.

  The next three days pass without incident as you continue at maximum speed through hyperspace towards Aurigan space.

  “We might actually arrive on schedule.” You comment to the seated captain as you stand beside her on the bridge. At that moment, red warning lights flash up on the communication officer’s console.

  “Captain, we’re receiving a distress call!” She reports. “We’ll need to drop out of hyperspace to receive it.” The helmsman glances questioningly over his shoulder.

  “You and your big mouth.” Captain Madison glares good-naturedly at you. “What do you think? Shall we respond?”

  You have a duty to respond

  The mission comes first

  Perhaps the alcohol has made you lose your inhibitions, but the truth is that you had found the ambassador an attractive and handsome woman long before she opened the bottle of whisky. Besides, you remember the captain’s words when she first came aboard: ‘You are to see that our guest’s every need and requirement is satisfied.’ You would be disobeying orders to refuse the ambassador! You lean into her and your lips meet, kissing tentatively at first. You reach for her, your fingers in her blonde hair. A moan escapes her lips and you feel her relax into your embrace. Your tongue flicks against hers and you kiss slowly and tenderly. Her hand has continued up your thigh and you flinch slightly when her fingers cup the growing bulge in the front of your trousers. She pulls away and smiles up at you.

  “I was worried I might frighten you away.” She whispers.

  “Not at all.” You grin. “It’s flattering to be seduced by a beautiful older woman.”

  “Mmm, I think I’ll focus on the ‘beautiful’ rather than the ‘older’. She smiles. “Besides,” She gives your hardening cock a playful squeeze, “This tells me you are sincere. Mind if I take a closer look?”