by I. T. Lucas
Leia doubted that had been the reason. Meroll was an arrogant asshole, and no one liked him. Not the type of personality suitable for an Interstellar ship’s captain.
Jacques Kirk, now that was another story.
He’d finished second in class, not first, but Leia had known even back then that he was going to surpass Meroll and achieve greatness.
It hadn’t been intuition or some other mystical foreknowledge that had brought about this conviction. Even at sixteen, Leia could recognize that special quality that made someone a leader, and Kirk had it. He’d been everyone’s favorite, and that included her.
After the graduation ceremony, her infatuation had switched from Meroll to Jacques, but unlike the first one, the second hadn’t waned over time.
Ten years later, her heart still made a little flip every time his name was mentioned.
“What if I summon a human mate?” Leia blurted.
“I guess it would be okay if you choose a man from our territory. There are still some pure humans left. But I’m afraid that those from other parts of the world would not understand our ways.”
“What if he did? Would you be okay with that?”
“I would prefer for you to preserve our bloodline and mate a Krall, but I can’t prohibit you from summoning a human. We can’t afford to appear discriminatory.”
“I think it would be good for our reputation, and that’s more important than bloodline. Perhaps if I mate an outsider, maybe someone well-known, it would lessen the prejudice against us.”
“Do you have anyone in mind?”
“Not really. I was just mulling over the idea.”
It was a lie. Leia did have a particular human in mind, but until recently, Jacques hadn’t known that she existed. Now that she was about to board his ship, he probably had read up on the little-known Princess Leia of the Krall. But he still didn’t know Leia the person. Not yet, anyway.
She intended to change that.
“Fortunately, this voyage gives us time to ponder the possibilities.” The queen pushed up from the couch and pulled Leia into her arms. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m coming back in four months. I’ve been gone longer than that before.”
While getting her masters in inter-planetary relations, Leia had only returned home twice.
“Yes, that’s true. But the Mars colony is close to home. I knew I could hop on a transport and come to visit you anytime I wanted. Now you are going to travel light years away.”
12
Gregg
Aka Captain Jacques Kirk
“The Krall delegation is ready for transport, Captain.” Jack’s new security officer stood at attention, her back straight, her shoulders back, and her eyes focused somewhere over his left shoulder.
After all the years B’Kala had spent in the academy, mingling with humans and a dozen or so other species, she was still a Kongelian through and through. Which was a good thing. She was fierce and strong, and there wasn’t much she couldn’t handle.
Except for a friendly smile or some indication that she found his jokes funny.
But then nobody was perfect.
“Lead the way, Commander B’Kala.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jack stopped next to the ship’s counselor. “Commander Vugg, you are with us.”
Dealing with the Krall delegates was going to be a pain in the ass, but Vugg’s calming influence was going to help.
The one Krall Jack had the displeasure of knowing had been a fellow cadet at the Interstellar Academy, and the guy had been a conceited, self-absorbed bastard. The fact that Meroll had gotten the best grades, or that all the female cadets had drooled over him, hadn’t helped endear him to the other male cadets, and especially not to Jack.
After Meroll had quit Interstellar Fleet, Jack had hoped never to see the bastard again, but fate had other ideas. Jack’s ship had been the only one scheduled to arrive home in time to pick up the delegation, and the voyage to the Krall planet wasn’t a big detour from where he needed to be next.
Meroll’s name appearing on the list of delegates hadn’t even been a big surprise. Not only did the guy come from one of the leading Krall noble houses, but he was also uniquely suited to play the role of a smooth-talking politician.
Hopefully, the other Krall delegates weren’t as bad, but given their reputation, there was little chance of that. They were no longer called the demon horde, and the current generation was genetically mostly human, but people had long memories, and the sins of their ancestors were never going to be forgotten.
“Put a smile on your face,” Vugg said quietly. “You look like you have a sour taste in your mouth.”
“I have no experience dealing with royalty. And if Princess Leia is anything like Meroll, then she is going to be a royal pain in the ass.”
On his other side, B’Kala retained her impassive expression, but he’d caught the slight twitching of the corner of her lips.
So, the Kongelian had a sense of humor after all.
“You’ve seen the news. She is soft-spoken, eloquent, and a knockout.” Vugg smiled. “If the princess gets on your nerves, I’ll gladly take her off your hands. Alternatively, you can endure by imagining her naked.”
He had done that already. But he wasn’t going to admit it. A typical Krall, the princess was tall, with dark olive skin and black glossy hair. What he found most appealing, though, were her tiny fangs.
In the interview he’d watched, Leia had done her damnedest not to let them show as she talked, but he’d caught a peek, and for some inexplicable reason, the sight had gotten him hard.
And that was another reason to dread the hosting of the damn delegation. Lusting after the Krall princess was unacceptable.
“Captain.” Thomas saluted as they entered the transporter room. “The delegation’s luggage was delivered to their quarters.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant.”
Marina, the other crew member he’d assigned to see to the delegates’ needs, looked bothered.
“Is there a problem, Ensign?”
“I added the raw meat program to the dispenser, but it looks and tastes off.”
“Don’t worry about it. They can eat regular food.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jack turned to the transporter’s operator. “Whenever you are ready, Lieutenant Bronson.”
“We are ready to initiate transport,” the lieutenant announced.
“Five to beam up,” his counterpart on Earth replied.
“Initiate.” Bronson tapped the display.
Jack watched as the five figures materialized, ignoring Meroll and focusing on the one in the center.
The princess, in her full royal regalia, looked formidable and stunningly beautiful. In person, she was much more impressive than on screen or even on the holo-projector.
“Welcome to the Orion, Princess Leia.” He walked over to the platform and waited for her to step down. “Captain Jacques Kirk.” He offered her his hand.
The smile that spread over the princess’s face softened her features, making her appear more approachable, more human. “Thank you for granting us passage on your ship, Captain. In the name of the Krall, I thank you.” She bowed her head in the manner of her people.
For her, he would keep up the pretense of having been given a choice and magnanimously agreeing. “Welcome aboard. It is my duty and my pleasure.”
Leia nodded. “Let me introduce my fellow delegates.”
“You know Meroll of house Progall. You two graduated from the academy together.”
“Good to see you, Kirk.” Meroll offered his hand, the haughty grimace on his face belying his friendly greeting.
“Same here.” Jack shook the hand he’d been offered. “So, what have you been up to since leaving the fleet?”
Meroll smirked. “I find politics much more intriguing.”
13
Leia
As Leia caught herself staring into Jack’s blue mesmerizing eye
s, she forced her head to turn and looked at her fellow delegate whose hand Jack was now shaking.
Humans had such variety of color, while the Krall, even after many generations of intermarriage, all shared the same boring dark colors. Maybe that was the reason their traditional robes were so brightly colored. It provided the variety and individuality that nature did not.
But even among humans, Jack’s eyes were unique. She hadn’t seen any of such vivid turquoise color, and his hair wasn’t just some old plain brown either. It was a warm chestnut. He was very tall for a human, and the formal dress uniform complimented his athletic build, showcasing his broad shoulders.
A truly fine male in every respect.
Would her mother approve of her issuing him an invitation?
Now that she was standing in front of him, though, her plan to do so seemed silly. It had been a girl’s wishful thinking, and not the calculated decision of a grown woman who was also a political figure.
Unlike her friends, Leia wasn’t free to choose a mate.
Most humans were not familiar with Krall nobility’s mating ritual. At best, the Captain would find it odd; at worst, he would regard it as barbaric.
His security officer, on the other hand, would understand. The Kongelian practiced similar rituals.
Once the delegates had all shaken hands with the captain, Jack turned to Leia. “Let me introduce my security officer. Commander B’Kala of the house of Torgas.”
Leia had heard the name during her studies. The commander’s house was an old and respected one.
“I’m honored to meet a daughter of the house of Torgas,” Leia said as they shook hands. “Your line is legendary.”
The commander smiled, her sharp teeth gleaming white. “The honor is all mine, Princess Leia of the Krall.”
From her studies on the Kongelians, Leia knew that they smiled only on two occasions; when greeting someone they were hoping to befriend, or when issuing a challenge. She was quite sure that the commander intended the first and not the second, but perhaps later on she could ask B’Kala to train with her.
Leia smiled back and tightened her hand on B’Kala’s, letting her feel the strength of her grip. She was an accomplished fighter, but she’d never sparred with a Kongelian before.
It would be interesting to compare techniques.
Heck, who was she fooling? Leia wanted to see if she could beat the security officer in hand to hand combat.
Human females were no challenge for Leia, nor were most of the Krall whose blood was much more diluted than hers.
But a Kongelian, now that was a challenge,
“And this is Counselor Vugg,” the captain said.
The counselor looked human, but his name suggested that he was of Akonian descent.
“Princess Leia, it is an honor to meet you.” He offered her his hand.
“The honor is mine, commander.”
Once all the introductions were finally done, Jack gestured with his hand toward the exit. “Let me escort you to your quarters, Princess Leia.”
She followed him out of the transporter room and into a wide hallway, her fellow delegates and several crew members walking a few steps behind them.
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Please call me Jack.”
“Not Jacques?”
“I prefer Jack.”
“Then you must call me Leia. Every time someone says princess, I look over my shoulder thinking they are referring to someone else.”
“Really?” As he grinned, two dimples formed in his cheeks, making him look devilishly handsome. “You don’t use the title at home?”
“Only in official ceremonies, and those are few and far between.”
“I thought your people were big on formality.”
“We used to be. Very few of the old customs are still observed, and only by the nobility.”
He cast a quick glance behind his shoulder at Meroll. “In preparation for your arrival, I’ve read a little about your history. Not much is known.”
“We are a secretive people.”
“Yes, that was one of the things mentioned. Which, obviously, made me even more curious about you.” He stopped in front of a double door. “Here we are. The keypad is ready for your voice input.”
As she programmed the door to respond to her voice commands, her fellow delegates continued down the hallway to their assigned quarters.
Only Meroll glanced at her and the captain and then frowned.
“Would you like to come in?” Leia asked as the doors opened.
She could practically feel Meroll’s eyes burning holes in her back.
Jack nodded and followed her inside. “I hope you find your accommodations satisfactory.”
Taking a long look around, she chuckled. “What is this, the royal suite?” She hadn’t expected such lavish quarters on a starship.
“Indeed, it is. As your title implies, you are a royal.”
“My title is pretty meaningless. We are part of the Earth Federation. The monarchy is symbolic.”
“Perhaps, but I think your distant relatives were very impressed that a princess was sent as the chief delegate.”
“About that. The report we were given on them was far from complete. I was hoping you would know more and could debrief me on the way.”
He nodded. “If it’s agreeable to you, after you settle in, of course, I would like to invite you to dine in my quarters, and we can talk over dinner. I had the chef prepare a special meal for you and your fellow delegates.”
That was disappointing. She’d hoped to spend some time alone with the captain.
“They would dine with my officers, of course.”
Much better.
For a brief moment, Leia debated whether she should change out of her traditional robes. She’d donned them for the live televised broadcast of the delegation’s departure. She looked good in them, the bright colors complimenting her natural ones, but they were cumbersome, regal, and designed to intimidate.
Except, if she ever decided to go ahead with her crazy plan, and summon Jack to a mating ritual, it was all about the female intimidating the hell out of her chosen male and fighting him every step of the way.
To have her, he would have to prove himself worthy.
“I don’t need to settle in. If you are ready, we can dine right away.”
Jack grinned, the two dimples making a reappearance. “I was hoping you’d say that. I’m ravenous.”
14
Jack
“Then we should definitely not delay, Captain.”
Given the slight smirk lifting one corner of Leia’s lush, red-colored lips, she hadn’t missed his double entendre.
Jack’s raging attraction to the Krall princess was totally unexpected. Nevertheless, he should have refrained from making suggestive comments. It was inappropriate and could get him in a lot of trouble, but unless he was completely off, Leia was sending him signals that she was interested.
Nothing was overt, and he might have seen what he wanted to see, but the way she had looked at him, and the way her voice had gotten just a little huskier when she talked to him couldn’t have been just his imagination.
When they got to his quarters, Leia paused at the entrance. “I hope you didn't give up your suite for me. This one is not half as lavish as the one I’m staying in.”
He motioned for her to follow him to the dining table. “I’m a single man, and my needs are modest. The guest suite is designed to accommodate a family or a dignitary with several servants.” He pulled out a chair for her.
“I see.” Leia arranged her robes before sitting down.
He loved the way she moved, so graceful and elegant. Did finishing schools for princesses still exist?
“I let the chef know that we are ready to dine,” he said as he sat across from her.
“I thought that everything aboard an interstellar ship came from dispensers.”
“It does. But we have a chef who is in charge of programming
it, and from time to time she likes to prepare meals for special occasions the traditional way.”
“I would hate to trouble her. I have no problem with dispenser meals. The imitation never tastes exactly as the original, but it’s close enough.”
He waved a hand. “Moria would have been mad for being denied the pleasure of preparing a special welcome meal for the delegation.”
Leia dipped her head. “In this case, I’m looking forward to sampling her cuisine.”
“Can I offer you a drink while we wait for dinner to be served? We’ve programmed the dispenser with several Krall favorites.”
She smiled. “I would like to try something new. Can you offer a suggestion?”
“What kind of drinks do you like?”
“I have a high tolerance for alcohol, so I would like something potent, but I also have a very discriminating taste, so I would like a sophisticated flavor that will take me by surprise.”
Had the drink description been meant as a double entendre? Was the princess flirting with him? Or was he interpreting everything she said through the prism of his own attraction to her?
Jack chuckled. “Well, that rules out Kongelian brews. Potent as the fires of hell, but not exactly sophisticated.”
As he pushed to his feet, Leia glanced around. “Can you point me toward the facilities? I would like to freshen up before dinner.”
“The second door on the left.”
“Thank you.”
As Leia ducked into the bathroom, Jack walked over to the dispenser and ordered their drinks. “Two Monrevian twisters on ice.”
As they materialized, the doorbell chimed.
“Enter.” He took the drinks to the table.
A young Ensign rolled in a cart. “May I set the table, Captain?”
“Thank you, Ensign, but that won’t be necessary. You can leave the cart, and I’ll take care of the rest.” Having the guy hovering over them throughout dinner would have been annoying.