The Aledan PSION: The Aledan Series Book 1

by Myers, Christine

  Within days of leaving Earth, Hankura started switching their ship schedule over to Aledan time so they would be in sync by the time they arrived.

  "We are life mates? Married just like that?" Michelle looked at Hankura and then at the pieces of plastic in her hand. Voice prints, retinal patterns, and some vital statistics along with the proper answers to pertinent questions were transmitted to the Aledan Central Statistics data bank over the com. These yielded their affirmative reply in the form of two small plastic sheets. One contained an agreement to a lifetime marriage contract.

  "We're married," replied Hankura. "It's not exactly what I had in mind, but it satisfies the law. You'll be allowed to live on Aledus at my family's agro complex for at least a few days without being processed. We can pay our respects at the Fountain of Narcaza in Salla after we're settled. By marriage to me, you are now an Aledan citizen. A life mate contract is the only way an alien psi-path can gain citizenship on Aledus. Otherwise, you'd only be allowed to remain for a few weeks."

  "I see." Her glance fell to the plastic sheets in her hand. One was a copy of their marriage contract, and the other was her identification plate.

  She could read them now. With Hankura's help, she had learned very quickly to read the complex language. It was predominantly an old Wholaskan tongue adopted by the religious cult that had originally settled Aledus a millennium before. She had mastered Aledan, and now he was teaching her the modern Wholaskan dialect used mainly on Velran where Hankura had spent his last twenty years.

  Looking at the ID plate in her hand, she frowned. "Hankura, this says my name is C-h-e--e-l-l-e--just Chelle--nothing else. Why did you take my name away? I'm Michelle Marlow."

  "Of course, you are. But Michelle Marlow doesn't translate into Aledan. Since we use only one name here, Chelle is the closest I could make of Michelle. On record, you are Che-ell Marlow-Narcaza. My family is descended from the Narcaza line. I thought having an Aledan name would make things easier for you on Aledus--for both of us. Do you mind . . . Chelle?" Beautiful, Michelle Marlow-Narcaza . . . Che-elle is only a word. It doesn't change all that you are.

  "Chelle?" She pronounced it `shell,' drawling the `e' slightly.

  "Pronounce it any way you like," Hankura smiled. He could sense that she was more bewildered than angry at the severing of one more tie to her troubled past. He moved closer and took the plastic sheets from her and put his arms around her. Her mouth was soft and warm against his. I--you--us--love--all that we are--I--you--we--love . . . love . . ..

  In their naked state, it was simple for Hankura to lift her up and slide his cock into her. He turned and pressed her back against the bulkhead. He fucked her hard and fast while she encouraged him with love words and sounds of pleasure.

  Ludren finished his bath and pulled on a robe. A short white autocart brought him the cold glass of yash he'd ordered, and he picked it up to take a sip. At the bleeping from the nearby comcell, he almost dropped his glass. The sound filled him with anticipation---and fear. Ludren fumbled to tie the robe as he hurried down the hall to the adjacent room. His hand shook as he touched the screen and waited. Would it be his son? Or a stranger telling him Hankura was never coming home?

  Momentarily, the image of his son and an attractive red-haired woman filled the screen. Because they were still outside of the Aledan star system, Ludren's acknowledgment would be delayed for several minutes.

  "Ahh, my son. It is you," Ludren murmured in delight. "You must have read my thoughts."

  "As you can see, I have survived my visit to Earth. I got the fuel crystals I needed there. I've commed to let you know that I will be coming home in six days with Chelle," Hankura said and smiled down at the woman beside him, his arm around her shoulders. "Che-elle is from Earth, and we have filed a life mate contract with the bureau of statistics. I hope the family will welcome her as you will me . . .."

  "I haven't had a real family life since I was very young," said Chelle. "I'm looking forward to meeting you all."

  "We are psi-bonded," added Hankura. "Be happy for us." He paused to give his mate an affectionate squeeze. "I'll contact you as soon as we're in system for landing instructions. It'll be good to see you all again. Acknowledge."

  The automatic device had barely finished recording Hankura's message as Ludren eagerly began broadcasting his reply. "We're looking forward to your arrival, my son. We'll prepare a special welcome for you and your wife. You and Che-elle have my best wishes."

  Now that he had finally heard from Hankura, Ludren wished some of the rest of his family were home so he could share the good news. Natar was out for an evening of gaming in Salla with their other two children and their free-mates. When she returned three hours later, Ludren caught her in his arms excitedly and swung her around in a circle as she entered the dome.

  "Hankura is coming home in six days! He commed while you were out. He got his fuel crystals on Earth, and . . .."

  "What do you mean he's bringing his wife?" she demanded. "He has taken a wife from that savage world? In a life mate contract? Good Mother of Life! She could ruin everything." Natar's emerald eyes blazed with anger, and Ludren set her back on her feet.

  "Natar, don't! Our son is a man with a man's needs and desires. You can't treat him like the frightened boy we sent to Velran twenty years ago. You must accept him the way he is, or you will hurt him even more than he has been hurt." Ludren admonished and tears filled her eyes. "Che-elle is a beautiful woman, and he says they're psi-bonded. Come see the recording. They look so happy."

  Natar gave a grudging nod and allowed him to lead her to the comcell. Natar watched silently, starting to cry as it ended with the two frozen into a loving pose on the screen. "She is beautiful," Natar sniffed.

  "And she must love him very much to leave her world with him. You of all people should know how frightening that can be," Ludren stated pointedly. "We must make her welcome here as you told Capra we must welcome Hankura. He might leave if we don't accept her." His tone grew gentler as he continued.

  "No. I don't want him to leave. I will be good to his mate. My son and I have lost so much time together--but it was worth it for his mind to remain free . . ..

  Hankura stared at the ship's interior upper hull while Chelle slept with her head nestled in the hollow of his shoulder. He couldn't sleep. The Arius Mran was dead on course for Aledus. There was little more for them to do but wait for the ship to take them into the Aledan system.

  He was tired, but there were so many things on his mind that could be denied no longer. The ship was taking them closer and closer to Aledus, now three days away, and he could only guess what would be waiting for them. Although he could never actually lie to his psionic mind-mate, he barely hinted to Chelle the problems that would be facing them. He couldn't conceal the truth any longer . . ..

  Hankura wanted to see his family and get to know them again, yet he couldn't forget his bitterness at their parting when he was a boy. Instead of bidding them farewell, he had told them he hated them all. To ease his guilt, he reminded himself of how lost and alone he was on that huge passenger freighter among strangers who saw to his needs because they were well paid to do so. His primary attendant Lucy had helped just a little.

  As he had stepped off the shuttle in Velran, he'd felt completely abandoned. It didn't matter that it was a world holding one of the oldest and most magnificent learning centers in the Galaxy. It didn't matter that intelligent beings of all kinds came from as many strange and different worlds to study every subject imaginable. Or that it had been established before the dawning of man on Earth. What mattered was that he had been sent there alone.

  Casir was the one who had made it bearable for him in the beginning. Being psi-paths of similar ability, they eventually established an amiable rapport that began a solid friendship. Casir's companionship and morale support helped him progress from that first frightening day and adjust to a student's life on Velran.

  Then there was Delmran, a Velran native who also shar
ed their quarters. He was a good friend to both boys. Knowing both Hankura and Casir were on Velran alone, he invited them to his home during holidays and vacations. Delmran's parents treated Hankura and Casir like family. They'd had some good times. Even after Delmran left to join the military, his parents still had still expected Hankura, and Casir to spend holidays and vacations with them. They had been like a second family for Casir and him.

  Now that part of his life was over, and he was on his way home to visit and begin his career.

  But home was a world where psi-paths or Psions were treated as a problem minority with laws abridging their rights and freedoms. It was a world where psi-path children were taken from their families to be conditioned in the proper use of their psi-powers---and to their "proper" i.e. inferior place in Aledan society.

  Conditioning. Call it programming, education, whatever; it was mind control--brainwashing, pure and simple.

  The children were taken and isolated from their families and each other. For orientation, each child placed was in a room that was no more than a cell. For as long as it took, they were left alone with machines meeting their physical needs and no more. These children, no older than ten, were kept alone until they would do or believe anything that was required just to lay eyes on another human being. Stripped of their self-esteem, they were easily fitted into the established mold, a degrading code of conduct.

  Any regression or deviation from the set standards was treated with pain therapy in the neuro cells. One session was a journey into hell itself.

  Even with these controls and conditioning, psions were usually socially shunned and harassed by psi Normals. Psions were forced by law to wear identification patches on their clothing. This alerted Normals to their presence wherever they went. According to Aledan government, controlled exclusively by Normals, Psions were an unpredictable group which required special restraint. No laws prevented a Psion from reading minds or using mental telepathy, but let one defend himself at Hankura had done on Earth with his mind, and the Psion would be punished.

  A Normal could kill a Psion and get away with it. Execution was preferable to what they did to Psions for such a crime against Normals. This did nothing to quell the growing animosity between the two factions of society. It was the cause of most violent crimes on Aledus. And while psions empathized with each other, they would readily betray one of their own to save themselves from harsh penalties despite the emotional repercussions to themselves.

  There were a thousand worlds where he and Chelle could live in harmony with the inhabitants. Aledan life offered an extensive list of hardships for them to endure.

  What made him keep this from Chelle? Considering the bitter parting from his parents, he wished he had ignored his mother's pleas to come home. He didn't see how he could stay on Aledus for long. He should have refused, but his guilt for the things he had said and his longing to see his father prevented him. Now he was afraid that he had made a terrible mistake.

  What about Chelle? She still had so much to learn. Now that she could read, she wanted to attend the university as he had. He regretted suggesting it because of the potential problems she would face as a psion. Her red and blue psi-patch would single her out as an alien born psion, and that would compound the problems.

  Chelle trusted him completely, he had hidden all of this from her. What have you hidden? Hankura sensed her probing him. Sensitive to his worries, she had awakened to mentally eavesdrop on his musings. Hankura looked away from her probing gaze and sighed. Then he opened his mind and shared his thoughts with her because she had the right to know and because he couldn't hold them inside any longer. I'm sorry I kept it from you. It wasn't fair to you.

  Her feelings were mixed, and she didn't respond for several moments. Then she half turned and raised herself up on one elbow beside him tracing her fingers along his jawline. I've sensed your worry about going back to Aledus for a long time. But I knew it was something you had to do for yourself as well as your family. I wish you had shared all of this with me before. If you weren't working so hard to keep this from me, you'd know it wouldn't change my mind about coming with you.

  Forgive me, She-ell. I fought hard to hide it from myself as well as you. Mother is strong and likes to be in control. At times, she seemed to smother me. She won't want me to leave Aledus, yet I doubt we'll be able to stay more than a few years.

  Because our children could be psions, too. We couldn't send them away alone as you were sent. Growing up with no family is hard. I could no more send our children away than I could have sent you from Earth without me. I knew there was a secret bothering you when I agreed to come with you.

  Her eyes were warm with tenderness, and she caught her breath in a soft little sigh. She leaned closer, and he took her into his arms, molding his lips to hers and caressing her with his hands.

  Oh, my Chelle. I-you-we-love . . . Your skin is so soft and smooth to touch . . . Your lovely breasts, your hip. I feel the pleasure of my touch as it pulses through you . . ..

  And you are strong, yet I always know gentleness in your embrace.

  Passion took them to an alternate universe of their own, plunging them into a pool of water, symbolizing the melding of their spirits and the depth of their passion. The water bubbled warm in the center of that pool, rising with their desire, and shooting steadily higher in the ecstasy of their physical union.

  Chelle moaned softly in pleasure as Hankura entered her. And we are one, mind and body and soul . . . I-you-we-love . . . I am in you, and you are in me. Feel me all around you, deep inside this warm, dark place--squeezing, drawing you deep inside. You fill the emptiness of my body . . . I need you so much. I-you-me-we-love . . . sweet love . . . love. . .

  Hankura groaned in pleasure as he climaxed in the throes of her erotic fantasy. Momentarily, she climaxed as well, falling into that warm pool of passion with him. Never had a woman satisfied him so completely.

  "Ah, my Chelle," he laughed happily and hugged her. "How I love you! In your reckless spirit, I could find the courage to do anything." Then he kissed her again. Before I found you, I felt lost and alone far too often . . .

  Like being in the corner of a dark empty room with the echoes of your heartbeats pounding in your ears. The room closes around you, trying to crush you with its emptiness. But it's only fear. Together, we can push it away . . . I-you-we are strong.

  Hankura murmured inarticulately as he slid his hands to the small of her back and pushed deeply into her. Again, they were captured in the fountain of their passion, and nothing else mattered. Time and space might cease to exist before they would note its passing in the dimension of their union.

  CHAPTER SIX

  "Now do I have all this straight?" Chelle asked while Hankura locked the Arius Mran into orbit around Aledus. "Don't use telepathy with Trevin and Capra, but reading them is okay if I'm careful."

  "And don't initiate telepathy or try to read my mother," he added. "I don't do that either. It's all right if you read father; and once you become acquainted, he'll readily accept your telepathy. I can't say about Capra or Trevin. They were too young when I left."

  ""Oh Mother!" Chelle muttered nervously. "I don't know if I'm ready for this."

  Hankura grinned, sliding her a sidelong glance. "That makes two of us. But we'd better get ready. We'll touch down within half an hour. Will you double check ground clearance for the complex while I get us angled for descent?"

  Chelle nodded.

  Ground side at the complex, Natar and Ludren fidgeted, shifting nervously while they waited for the Arius Mran to touch down. Trevin and Capra were equally anxious but outwardly more subdued.

  All four fixed their gazes on the ship as it slowly descended.

  "Ah, now I see. Chelle is a psion, too," Natar whispered. "Oh, Ludren! They are psi-mates!"

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes. I know the Serene Perception. It's rare, but I've sensed it twice before---when I was a child, and a few years ago. There was a couple with t
he Paskien Dancers." Natar smiled wondrously. "There is no doubt that Chelle does belong with Hankura."

  "I'm glad to hear you say that." Ludren smiled, a little relieved. "It'll please our son, too."

  "Both psions," Capra grumbled to her older brother.

  "I might have known," mused Trevin.

  "All right, you two." Natar chided with a warning look. They're both uneasy about meeting us. Don't you dare make it harder for them."

  "We're keeping an open mind, Mother," Trevin quipped in an ironic tone. Whether we like it or not.

  The ship settled on the pad with the engine roar gradually lessening to silence. Sliding open the hatch, Hankura jumped lightly to the ground, turning to lift Chelle down. She slipped a shaky hand into his, and he squeezed it tightly as he tensed at his family's hesitant approach.

  Natar was so eager that she broke into a run with open arms extended to embrace her son. "Hankura!" she cried, hugging him fiercely. "You have gotten so tall! I've missed you so much."

  She looked up him through large, emerald eyes like his own. Her ebony hair fell in soft waves to her shoulders and was held back from her face with a jeweled metallic band. No one would have ever guessed she was sixty-one. She hardly looked forty.

  Soon, as Natar released Hankura, Ludren embraced him with tears misting his eyes. I've missed you, too. I loved you then, and I love you now. I had no choice. A Normal accustomed to being engaged in telepathy, Ludren held those thoughts for Hankura to read them.

  I know, Father. I just wish I were given a chance to know whether I could have adjusted to life here. I was hurt. You must know--I could never hate you. Perhaps it was the only way. And it seemed there was something in Hankura's eyes, too.