by Candace Sams
She sat up and stared at him.
He simply shrugged in confirmation.
“That’s it! That’s your ‘secret code’?” she asked while making quotation marks in the air with her fingers.
He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “The Condorian excrement never broke it!”
“God! Allied ground forces are being commanded by idiots!”
“No,” he said in a patronizing fashion, “it’s actually quite brilliant.”
“Please … enlighten me.”
He frowned at her and used his most condescending tone of voice. “As you know … the standard ship-to-ship, allied authentication system is very simple. It only takes a few keystrokes or negligible hologram manipulation to engage … depending upon how old the com console is. Furthermore, it can be changed immediately if it becomes necessary. And since the message would be coming from Aigean’s ship … a woman who’s helped us in the past … it doesn’t really make any difference if the damned thing is read by a fleet admiral or some probationary cadet,” he clarified. “By regulation, the communication still has to be delivered to the recipient … and that will be General Elias Shafter.” Soldar moved closer to her. “The ‘code,’” he responded with equal sarcasm and by making the same quotation marks in the air with his fingers, “is just fine!”
“And if our fleet doesn’t ever get a message, what then?”
“If there’s no information coming from the Venus in two weeks, it’s to be assumed this mission failed and the strike will take place regardless. At least there’ll be a few of those bastards that won’t ever fight another day, and Aigean and her crew will finally be free from tyranny, even if it’s in the afterlife,” he asserted. “Satisfied … Admiral Markham?”
Lyra gasped and shook her head in shock. “You know … I just don’t get it. We’ve got some of the best intelligence people there are. Sad to say that there aren’t enough … but we’ve still got good ones,” she told him. “So whose bright idea was it to use a code a monkey could break?” She held up her hand when he would have spoken. “Oh, I realize it’s simple. That’s why it was designed. It’s meant for allied troops to talk to each other from one ship to another and it designates minor chatter.”
Soldar turned away. “You don’t understand — ”
“Explain it to me!”
“Lyra, you and I — ”
“We … what?”
“I suspect you and I are the only allied survivors on this planet, Lyra.”
She was momentarily taken aback. Her brow furrowed and she chewed on her lower lip for a moment. He waited for her response and was suddenly sorry to have even said anything.
“What does that have to do with someone not devising a more elaborate transmission code for this mission?” she asked.
He carefully considered his words, but truth was the best option now. “Lyra … there’s no one left!”
She shook her head in confusion. “What exactly does that mean?”
“When did you land on this rock?”
She tucked a stray curl behind her ear before swallowing hard and answering. “Four days ago. My unit was tightly packed until a photon trungeon bomb blew up right in the middle of us. We were scattered after that.”
“My team landed three days ago. Rather, we tried to land,” he solemnly advised. “My superiors told us on the way down to the surface that six of Earth’s galaxy-class fighters had been totally destroyed.”
“Six … n-no … that c-can’t be,” Lyra muttered as she shook her head in denial.
“It’s true. Five of our own regency dragons-of-prey were taken out.”
“But that would mean — ”
“That’s right,” he sadly summed up. “The Craetorians only have three vessels left in this entire sector. Earth has one. The allied fleet here has been decimated. There were just too many Condorian battle cruisers and we hadn’t a chance.” He ran one hand over his face and tried not to look into her stricken gaze before continuing. “With the exception of the Earth ship, the Craetorian contingent is being manned mostly by a class of cadets and their trainers. We’re down to sending children into war,” he bitterly told her.
Lyra looked away but not before he saw her shaken expression.
“The remaining craft are badly damaged. There are a few engineers and technicians left alive to make repairs. The message we’d be sending from the bridge of the Venus has to be encoded in a way those cadets understand and can immediately relay. That’s why the frequency will be the same we always use between allied vessels. Simplicity is best when life support systems are compromised and injured kids are at the helm.” He glanced up at the sky. “There isn’t an encryption officer among them. All of those were on flag ships, not the older destroyers that survived at the back of the fleet.”
“I understand,” Lyra softly acknowledged. “Even with the lowest power available, basic communication and its enabling codes remain functional.” She gazed at him and slowly nodded. “I apologize.”
“No. I should have told you sooner. I don’t know why I didn’t except I was waiting to see if we’d even survive our first night on that enemy-infested pleasure ship,” he said in a less harsh tone. “Just understand we have two weeks to make first contact with our fleet. Sooner is better than later.”
She slowly nodded.
“If either of us can get reliable information and get on the bridge — ”
“And assuming Aigean can get control of her com systems — ” she interrupted.
“Just transmit what you can to the remaining allied vessels, Lyra. If you think you won’t get another chance, order our remaining ships to fire on our location. But in the event our transmissions keep coming regularly, those cadets will relay whatever we send to the closest allied base of operations in this sector. They’ll have to remain in deep space to stay away from the Condorian cruisers.”
“Soldar, you know we’ll only get one shot to transmit before the Condorians are all over us!”
“Others hoped we might have a little longer.”
Lyra dragged one hand through her hair. “This is insane. You know that, don’t you?”
“The nearest Allied flag ship is in the Degar System. Even though our cadets sent distress calls, it will still take weeks for help to arrive. The Condorian battle cruisers will have moved on, and will have attacked other civilizations. I’d like to think we could avenge our dead before that happens. We could strike a great blow to their pride and offer some measure of honor for our dead.” He gently grasped her upper arms and pulled her closer. “If two of us can infiltrate and destroy a group of Condorian officers on their pleasure craft, it could go a long way to boost morale. And our warriors desperately need that now.”
Lyra returned the gesture by gripping his biceps. “If General Shafter is still alive then it’s his corsair that survived. A star-class Earth corsair is meant to travel fast and maneuver. It’s small and carries a crew of eighty-five,” she said as she gazed into his eyes. “If there aren’t any more surviving allies on the ground, then there’re only — ”
“Eighty-six Earthers alive in the entire sector. That includes you. Your calculations are correct,” Soldar finished.
She continued staring at him as the news sunk in. “Once the Degar vessels arrive here, there’s only one fleet between this planet and Earth.” She actually began to shake. “Using the latest wormhole charts … Earth is only seven months away.” She lifted one hand and wrapped her fingers loosely around her throat.
The astonished expression on her face grew more intense but she said no more.
Once again he found himself wishing they were in some other reality. If she couldn’t get her emotions under control, they wouldn’t last a single night on the Venus.
But honesty wouldn’t allow him to find fault with her r
esponse.
He was scared too.
Chapter 3
Soldar wasn’t sure when Lyra collapsed on the blanket and finally fell asleep. She was exhausted and the events of the day were brutal. Emotion had drained her as it had him. His new partner simply couldn’t stay awake any longer. Especially not after having endured a firefight resulting in a chase through the badlands. All while wearing heavy armor.
He fought depression and gazed into the distance wishing he hadn’t had to tell her that truth. But she’d insisted on questioning the transmission codes they’d use if they ever got the chance.
Just before she’d slumped to the blanket and fell into deathlike slumber, there’d been a terrible look in her face. If he had to name the expression, it was very like defeat. But he finally stretched out next to her and took the liberty of pulling her close. Something told him she wouldn’t mind.
Everything seemed so hopeless. Their struggle now was ludicrously ineffective in light of the facts. Having voiced the allied situation, he needed to be close to someone who was on his side, someone who understood the desperate stands in space like this one.
In her sleep, Lyra responded to his caresses on her shoulder and hip. She scooted backward, toward him. Her slender, tight little body pushed against his frame as if, in her deep slumber, she wanted to meld her form to his. The result of such blending, ever it went unchecked while she was awake, would yield a discharge of energy that could rock the universe. In his gut, he knew that the joining of any other two souls wouldn’t be more powerful. They were living their very last days and that enhanced every emotion. Every single feeling whether one of happiness or sorrow was so much more exaggerated. Every touch, every kiss was more powerful.
His blood fired.
Now he felt his body’s acceptance for what had to come. With every fiber of his being, he believed it was no coincidence Lyra Markham had run down that canyon, straight into his life.
If their end was to be — and there was nothing to offer hope for life — he’d throw everything he had into their final days. He’d use their cover to pleasure her so thoroughly that the energy from their union would last forever. A part of his soul and hers would filter into the universe, as his Creator led him to believe. In that way, they’d never really die. They’d never be apart. Their fusion would go on.
Perhaps the situation was causing him to lose perspective. He’d faced death so many times, but never with such a sense of utter despair. And never with a tempting little enchantress as his partner. He didn’t believe in coincidences. Nothing happened by accident. She stirred in his arms so he took that opportunity to pull her closer.
“You’re so warm,” she murmured against his chest.
“As taxed as you seemed, I’m surprised you’re awake,” he said as he nuzzled her hair. “The temperature dropped. I can get more blankets.”
She barely shook her head, but kept her eyes closed. “No. Don’t move. Please don’t get up, Sol. I-I’d like to have you near.”
“Sol?” he murmured.
“That’s what I’m gonna call you,” she softly told him. “It means sun.”
“I know. But I don’t get the reason for the reference other than the rather impudent shortening of a superior’s first name,” he teased.
She reached out, pulled a portion of his hair forward and said, “It’s because of this … your hair.”
He knew she was blocking their grave circumstance with mindless chatter. He’d engaged that psychological ploy on a number of occasions. “Its color reminds you of a sun?”
“It’s bright. Even out here in this half-light. And you remind me of something else,” she told him as she stared into his eyes. “You remind me of a hero in an old Earth legend. His name was Thor.”
He gently stroked her back while she stretched out against him. “I’m afraid I’m not familiar with Earth myths. As to the length of my hair, it’s a tradition. It’s not necessary to wear it this long, but I wanted to hang onto as many of my world’s customs as I could … while I could.”
“I understand. If you don’t think you’ll ever see home again, every detail of your culture seems crucial.” She took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “Maybe this Aigean person won’t come.”
“And maybe the Condorians will lay down their arms, ask forgiveness, and we can all go home friends?”
“I can dream. Even if it’s only for a few more hours.”
He wrapped his arms around her protectively, and took the opportunity to stroke her hair since she’d touched his so gently. “You’re still very tired.”
“Not so much,” she advised, and proved it by maneuvering her body on top of his while continuing her steady, deep gaze into his eyes.
Soldar saw the molten look in her stare and knew what she wanted. Apparently, she’d reconsidered her request to delay sexual contact for their “act.”
His body responded instantly and he readily opened his mouth for her kiss. This was a custom he knew his race and hers shared. And it had been so very long since he’d felt a tender touch or a woman’s lips. She’d be the last he’d touch. He’d be her last lover.
He let his tongue entwine with hers and felt heat drill into his body. That molten sensation hadn’t been present in ages. Even his most ardent lovers in the past had never dredged this encompassing, flooding sensation of passion. Blood rushed into his penis. He was rock hard in an instant. But then he’d been ready for an erection since meeting this woman. And when he heard her moan deep in the back part of her throat and felt her hands splay across his shoulders, only the sound of an approaching craft routed him from the embrace.
“Someone’s coming,” he blurted and was on his feet in an instant. From beneath the blankets, he retrieved the laser weapon and saw Lyra pull a Condorian blade from its hiding place beneath a rock. Her weapon would do little good unless a hand-to-hand confrontation ensued. Still, he admired her courage. Any enemy facing her would see the blade as it was clearly marked with Condorian edges and half-moon designs on the handle. They’d know it had been removed from a fallen fighter.
Long years of battle experience forced them simultaneously to their knees, to make smaller targets of themselves. The craft glided over the top of a nearby hill. If its occupants fired on them, he and Lyra were better off close to the ground.
He held off using his laser when the unmarked craft — bearing a very humanoid looking male pilot — put the conveyance in hover mode several yards from where they crouched. As it came closer to the ground, another cloaked figure became visible. This person was seated in the back of the open, elliptical-shaped, silver transport. This being, however, didn’t bear the fair-colored complexion that he and Lyra shared. In the hazy light, the female he stared at appeared blue or green. Her hair was very pale and cut quite close to her skull.
“Elderian,” he blurted when a tall, lanky woman with pointed ears stood.
“An allied world,” Lyra responded as she sighed in relief.
Soldar noted how Lyra didn’t re-sheath her blade. He understood her caution as he kept his own weapon ready. Whoever this Elderian was, she could easily give them away. Some civilians did that to allied troops when they mistakenly thought Condorians might let them live.
He stood beside Lyra as the hovercraft passenger stepped off her vehicle and walked toward them. Because of the sand and rocks beneath her craft, the lady had to pick up the hem of the long, expensive, whitish gown she wore.
“I’m Aigean Florn,” she announced in perfect Earth English. “I see you’re wearing clothing my employees mistakenly discarded from my ship.” She looked them over. “Who are you?”
Soldar stepped closer to Aigean. “I am Soldar Nar — obviously from Craetoria. In the last message you sent, you welcomed someone of my race to board the Venus.” He didn’t want to say too much, in case she’d been found o
ut and was being monitored. This woman might want to help the allied cause, but she could just as easily betray them in a desperate bid to keep herself alive a bit longer. His words were meant to sound as innocuous as her greeting, and as though she’d sent some missive for entertainment at a time while she still could.
“I asked for five men of different races. Not one man and one woman,” Aigean responded as she cast a disdainful gaze toward Lyra. “Some of my most discriminating clients desire men to service them.”
He stepped closer to her. “Am I not the perfect, brawny, virile male for the job?” Perfect, brawny, virile male were the code words she’d asked to be used. If she didn’t respond appropriately, he’d know they were being monitored. If that was the case, Aigean would have to take the lead. He had no other instructions.
Aigean glanced over her shoulder and nodded toward the pilot.
The pilot let out a sigh of relief, and slumped into his seat as if he’d been frightened.
Aigean faced them again and spoke more candidly. “You are safe, Craetorian. All is well but I had to make sure. As I stated, there was no mention of bringing a woman with you.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint, but the four men who originally landed with me are dead. A Condorian trench torpedo hit our transport. I was the only one thrown free. This woman is an allied fighter I hooked up with in the badlands. We’ll have to suffice.”
“How the hell do we know we can trust you?” Lyra asked.
Aigean moved in front of her and boldly looked her over. “What is your name, girl?”
“I’m Lyra Markham … Master Sergeant with Earth Force. First Defense Platoon, Tenth Earth Regiment. I got cut off from the last battle near the Plageian Escarpment. The Colonel and I met when he saved my life.”
“Colonel?” Aigean blurted.
Soldar nodded. “That is my correct rank. Again … it was my unit that was supposed to have served as your new entertainment, Ms. Florn. To keep the mission intact, the sergeant and I have agreed to present ourselves as an erotic duo. This was an alternate plan we hoped you could explain.”