Jana’s gaze touched on today’s outfit on his bed, as each display garment had been chosen for her. She lifted the gossamer sheath and fingered its fine texture. It was as soft as a cotton ball and as light as a butterfly’s wings. Mellow hues of rose, green, and blue splashed softly across the diaphanous voile, shimmering on the translucent material like costly oils mingling on an artist’s palette. She lifted the matching rose bandeau to be worn underneath, her only other garment. It was an outfit definitely selected to hint at every feminine attribute while cunningly exposing none clearly or wantonly. Rose silk slippers lay beside a small cluster of matching leaves for her hair.
Jana snatched up the colorful garb and was about to shred it with her bare hands. She forcibly quelled that impulse. Why not give in one last time and get this ordeal finished! Jana pulled on both garments and the slippers. She went into the bathroom to arrange her hair and attach the leafy adornment. Terror washed over her. How could she submit to such indignities? She was about to be exhibited and sold as a legal slave, to be taken away by a stranger, away from the only security and home and friends she had! She would be torn from the arms of the only man she had ever loved. She would be forced to mate with her owner. How could she endure such horrors? How could Varian allow them?
Varian entered the bedroom. “I was about to see what was keeping you so long, moonbeam. We have to go. It’s late.”
Jana winced. “It’s only two-thirty. Isn’t the auction at three?”
“The bids will be taken then, but you should be…there earlier.”
“For one final exhibition? Let’s not keep your clients waiting, Commander,” she said, struggling to hold back her tears and protests.
Varian frowned. “I have a farewell gift for you, Jana. Hopefully it will remind you of the good times we’ve shared and of our close friendship.” He pulled a gold filigree band from his pocket and slipped it on her left ring finger. Without realizing the significance of this ring style and finger placement to Jana’s people, he was hurt deeply by her reaction to his gift.
Jana stared at the delicately braided circle which was imbedded with chrysoberyl gems, the exact shade of her multicolored eyes! In spite of its beauty and extravagance, she was greatly disturbed by its similarity to a wedding band. Was his action innocent or mockingly cruel? No matter, the ring could not remain on her finger or leave with her! Jana had the petrifying feeling that Varian was going through with this auction and “farewell.”
“It’s very…beautiful and…exquisite. But I can’t accept it. It’s far too expensive and…personal. I need no final reminders of our days together.” She removed the ring and pressed it into his hand. “I can’t take it, not today.”
“Then I’ll hold it until you feel you can accept it and wear it,” he replied.
Jana forced her gaze to meet his. “After the auction, that day will never come. You’ll understand my reluctance when you understand our significance behind such a gift. I think it’s best if we say our farewells here in private. When we leave this ship, I expect your protective charade to be in full force, for one final episode. Now I understand the value of your farces.”
When Jana turned to leave, Varian seized her with possessive fierceness and held her tightly. She was alarmed by his inexplicable behavior, his restrained fury. If he wanted her, why was he getting rid of her! “You’re hurting me, Varian! I can’t breathe!” Varian loosened his grip, but did not release her. “You said we were late,” she reminded him, hoping to spur him into frantic motion. In a way, she did.
Varian captured her face between his hands and murmured urgently, “I want you, Jana Greyson.” He would be gone soon. There was a chance he might never return from this perilous mission to Earth. The imminence of their brutal separation chewed viciously at him.
Her eyes blinked in confusion. He had not said need in a sexual sense, but “want” in an emotional one. “Is it too late, Jana?” he countered before he claimed her mouth in a crushing kiss which was filled with all of the hunger he was experiencing and wanted her to share.
Jana’s senses began to spin wildly. She found herself beneath Varian on the bed, hungrily responding to his fiery onslaught of brief madness. Could she make him forget the time and miss the auction? Could she love him so urgently he would change his mind? Jana totally and ardently surrendered her lips, body, and will to him. The decision of control would be left in his hands! As far as she cared, only Varian Saar and their mutual passion existed.
Varian moaned in rising need as he sensed her total submission. With suddenly awkward fingers, he worked on the closing on her sheath. He had to get her garments off and feel her heart beating next to his. He needed their bodies to join in blissful rapture. He needed comfort in this time of anguish.
The communicator buzzer sounded. It persisted until he pulled away to answer it, swearing angrily as he did so. “Dammit! What is it now?” he ranted as he struggled to gain control of his wayward emotions.
“Sorry to disturb you, sir, but the shuttle is waiting. It’s past time to leave,” came Nigel’s apologetic reminder.
Varian inhaled deeply as he made the only decision he could. To take her this close to her auction was selfishly insensitive! “We’ll join you shortly, Nigel. Prepare to leave.”
Jana brazenly and desperately caressed his cheek. “So much for my last lesson. I would swear the mood, time, and place could never be better. I need you, Varian Saar, and I want you,” she shamelessly confessed.
Varian gazed down at her. Did he dare turn away from his duty to the Alliance Force, to his grandfather, to Jana’s world, to himself? Did he dare ignore or risk all for her, including both of their lives? In six months, he could…
Jana perceived his hesitation and pressed him. “You could postpone the auction for an hour or so. You could claim I was ill.”
“What about all those buyers who are eagerly awaiting your fate?”
“Let them wait. This is a farewell gift I won’t refuse.” She enticed him in another way. One last chance to influence him, to halt this madness…
“Don’t tempt me, woman. I might forget myself.”
Varian shoved himself from the bed. “Are you positive you don’t want the ring, Jana?”
“Wanting it isn’t the problem, Varian. I can’t accept it.”
“As you wish,” he murmured.
Jana’s control snapped. “As you wish, as you wish, as you wish! Damn you, Varian Saar! If I had my wish, I would—”
When she halted her outburst, he rashly demanded, “You would what?”
Jana glared at him. Varian dared not dwell on the matter. He escorted her to the shuttle. When they arrived at the assigned location, Jana’s gaze widened in irritation. The room was huge, as was the stage. On the platform sat an imposing podium and three stools. There were fifteen small tables and chairs positioned several feet apart. On each table, there was a pen, one piece of paper, and one envelope. The room was well illuminated with multiple recessed lights, five of which were directed at the podium on the stage.
She mentally sneered, All the better to see you with, my dear…
Varian seated Jana on one of the platform stools. He joined Nigel at the podium and the two talked in whispers. His tension was mounting. None of his foes had been entrapped or foiled, nor had Canissia or Baruch, who, he was convinced, was the traitor on his ship! He wondered if he was making terrible mistakes in judgment. What if one of his enemies or rivals bid higher than Draco? What if this whole secret matter went awry?
The buyers began to enter the room, one or two at a time. Soft chatter and laughter reached Jana’s ears. She remained poised like a statuette. Pride and contempt shone fiercely on her face for this affair, although her expression was guarded. Many of the bidders had familiar faces from her travels, some smiled and nodded politely at her.
Jana barely contained her apprehension when her gaze touched on the smirking face of Moloch Shira. Was it too late for rescue?
Varian stepped
before Jana’s line of vision. Her gaze sought solace from his. If only he could hold her for a moment, an instant. “You’re actually going through with this sale, aren’t you?” she had to ask.
Varian realized that Jana had expected him to prevent it. No wonder she had been so unconcerned; she hadn’t believed the auction would take place! “I can’t stop it or participate, Jana. I’m sorry if you believed otherwise.”
“Look me in the eye and swear this is what you want.”
For her protection from his enemies during his lengthy absence, Varian did as she asked, the hardest thing he had ever done in his life. If he lived forever, he wouldn’t forget the look on her face as he stated, “I swear it, Jana Greyson.”
Jana ordered herself not to behave like a deranged fool in front of the others and Varian. She merely stared at him as she allowed his words to sink in.
Nigel made the announcement: “Everyone is present now. Shall we begin?”
The ten Maffeian bidders were introduced: two avatars, three zartiffs, four private citizens, and Councilman Draco Procyon. Attending, but not bidding, were Councilman Segall Garthon, Supreme Commander Brec Sard, Rigel’s Avatar Lopear, and Alliance Supreme Council leader Kadim Tirol Trygue.
Varian joined Nigel at the podium. He told the attentive audience all about Jana, then had Nigel bring her to the front of the stage. He ended his speech with: “The opening bid is five hundred thousand katoogas. You have ten minutes to view her, select your offer, record it, and hold it until Lieutenant Commander Sanger collects them. You may begin your deliberations now.” He set the clock on the podium to ring in ten minutes.
Jana glanced at the ticking clock, at the men before her, then at Varian Saar’s profile. She knew this was no joke, no trick, no illusion.
Just as the clock on the podium was ticking away on his and Jana’s entwined destiny, the intergalactic clock was ticking for a monstrous catastrophe. And just as both clocks had alarms set for him, Varian knew he must deal personally with both episodes. It was strange how the imminent doom of Jana’s world had brought them together and was now tearing them apart. It was strange how this alien creature had inspired a secret scheme to end two intergalactic rivalries; now both foes—the Trilonis and the Tabrizes—were seeking to use this same radiant weapon against him. How strange it was that life seemed to travel in repetitive circles.
Jana jumped when the buzzer sounded her fate. Varian ordered Nigel to collect the envelopes. Nigel glanced at Jana and sent her an encouraging smile. Jana refused to look at Varian. She bravely kept her gaze locked on Nigel and his progress. When he accepted the last envelope from Draco, she inhaled deeply to slow her racing heart. Soon, it would be over.
Varian broke the seal on the first envelope and the reading began, but Jana only heard the amounts and one name: “2,850,000; 3,275,000; 2,700,000; 3,400,000; 2,925,000; Moloch, 4,000,500…” Varian glanced at the belligerent smirk on the man’s face. He wanted to seize him by the throat and strangle him.
Jana’s gaze flew to Moloch’s sneer, and she feared she would faint or retch.
Varian unsealed the next envelope to read on. She heard only the amounts: “3,950,000; 4,000,000; 3,975,000…Varian broke the seal on the last bid and stared at it. He glanced at Draco and arched a brow inquisitively. “Councilman Procyon, 8,888,888,” he said.
Jana’s gaze shifted instantly to Draco’s smiling face. If her life had depended on it, she couldn’t have prevented the beaming smile from exposing her relief.
A flurry of reactions engulfed the room: sighs of regret, offers of congratulations, merry jokes, and whispers of surprise. Moloch glared malevolently at Varian before he stormed out. Two other bidders continued to appraise Jana and to discuss her enormous beauty and value; it was easy for them to see why Varian had wanted Jana, but not why he hadn’t bid on her. They, like others, assumed the Alliance officer was sated with her. Already Draco was receiving offers to purchase her, extravagant offers! He grinned and shook his head, pleased with his success.
There wasn’t a man in the room who didn’t question the emotions of Draco Procyon, the wicked behavior of Varian Saar, and the absence of Ryker Triloni. Slowly the room emptied of all bidders except the winner. Jana ignored Varian as she approached Draco. She impulsively hugged him and said, “Thank you, Draco.”
“I am a damn lucky man,” Draco admitted, pleased at Jana’s reaction. “I was afraid my bid would be insultingly low. I just carried off three expensive business deals, and my cash flow wasn’t at its best.”
“Low? No one else came near you. You won’t regret this; I promise.”
Draco smiled genially and said, “Every man in this room knew you were worth much more. You see, Jana, we men have this terrible habit of trying to sneak things over on each other. Each man let it be leaked that he was offering one or two million, then each raised his bid. I fooled them all.”
She pressed with false eagerness, “Can we leave for my new home on Karnak? I can’t wait to see it; I’ve been told it’s very beautiful and serene.” Jana flashed him a smile of gratitude. She wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible. She didn’t want to see Varian or speak with him again.
“I’m afraid you can’t come home till morning. I’ll prepare things for your arrival. Varian will deliver you and your papers when he collects my payment.”
“You can’t be serious?” Jana protested frantically. “I belong to you now. Surely he can trust you to pay him tomorrow? I thought you two were friends?”
“Friendship and trust have nothing to do with a business transaction, Jana. I’m afraid I can’t take control of you until payment is made. It’s too dangerous to carry that much money. The law states: possession after the payment is made, and ownership papers are signed and sealed by the officer in charge. Don’t worry, everything will be fine. You’ll be home before lunch tomorrow.”
Jana’s face grew red and she trembled. What was Varian pulling? Why hadn’t he revealed this stipulation to her this morning? “Surely you don’t mean I have to return to his ship until morning? I can’t spend the night there again.” The look on her face and tone of her voice expressed her anger.
Draco was vexed by Varian’s cruel demand on this gentle creature. No matter how much his friend wanted these last few hours with his secret love, it wasn’t right to force a shameful situation on her. Jana did not know this auction had been fixed. She did not know that Varian had supplied the money for Draco’s bid. Jana did not know she would live as his guest until Varian, her real owner, could settle his life and retrieve her. Jana Greyson thought she belonged to him, and he wished she did…“I’m sorry, Jana, it has to be this way. It won’t come between us,” he added kindly, wondering if that was her main concern.
Jana searched his understanding gaze. How lucky she was that this man was so kind. “I can’t,” she murmured. “Please, isn’t there something you can do to convince him to release me?”
“I’m certain he planned your auction too late for a winner to take possession of you today, just in case things didn’t go to his liking,” Draco hinted. “The banks are closed, so no winner could claim you until morning. That would give Varian the time to alter a bad situation,” he explained.
“But you aren’t a ‘bad situation,’ “ she refuted. “You’re his friend, a member of the Supreme Council. Why can’t he let go peacefully?” Jana ignored Draco’s speculation about Varian’s concern for her safety.
Draco attempted a different tack to calm her. “Don’t antagonize him, Jana. You’re too close to freedom from him and a chance for happiness. Don’t risk spoiling the birth of a new life. Varian can be a stubborn, volatile man.”
Varian and Nigel joined them. Jana shifted closer to Draco and glared at her captor. All three men were aware of Jana’s fury.
Varian remarked, “I hope you two are pleased with the auction results. You really pulled a clever and costly maneuver, old friend.” He openly congratulated the man who would take her from his side
and bed!
“I couldn’t be more pleased, Varian,” Draco commented casually.
Jana forced a smile of agreement. “I should be heading for Karnak with my owner, not back to your ship, Commander Saar. Surely you can trust your good friend not to welsh on his word? Such a requirement is degrading.”
Varian comprehended Jana’s point. He scanned her fiery eyes and read her emotional distress. “Sorry, moonbeam, but regulations must be followed. I can’t show favoritism with my friends. Draco understands and complies.”
“In his place, I wouldn’t,” she boldly declared. She flashed Varian a glare which said she despised him.
* * *
It was very late when Varian returned from his final meeting with Tirol, Brec, and Draco. In a few hours, he would he heading back to the Milky Way Galaxy to check on the progress of the meteor and to rescue more Earthlings. Varian was anxious to see Jana, to find some way of convincing her this sale was for the best. Yet, he still couldn’t afford to drop even a tiny clue to the truth…
Varian was surprised to find Jana missing from his quarters, as it was extremely late. Surely she wasn’t hiding from him, mocking him? Comprehension struck him like a hard blow. He hastily made his way to the quarters where she had been originally assigned. He suppressed his humor and respect for her cunning, for this matter was grave and painful to her. He approached the quiescent figure lying in bed in the semidark room. He gazed down at her and mentally apologized. Sorry, love, but your anger and fatigue cannot deter me tonight.
Varian sat down on the edge of the bed and spoke her name tenderly. She was dressed scantily in a chocolate-brown nightgown of the softest satin with ivory lace trim. An intoxicating floral fragrance invaded his nostrils and stirred his imagination. Her silvery blond tresses were spread around her head. He caressed her cheek. She did not move or speak, as if asleep.
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