Stardust And Shadows

by Janelle Taylor

  Varian allowed his emerald gaze to adore Jana. “It seems my bride is hungry for my company elsewhere. You did drop by at a most inopportune moment, Cass. Perhaps you can send advance notice next time.”

  “Bride? Did you say, bride? Surely my audiotranslator is broken.”

  His heart pounded wildly when Jana came to sit on the edge of his chair and placed her arm across his shoulders. Her fragrance filled his nostrils and teased his senses. The sheer covering gave him a view of the exquisite territory he had explored well in days past. “You heard me correctly. Jana and I are married, very married,” he murmured in a husky tone to annoy the flabbergasted redhead who was gaping at them and sending off rays of hostility.

  “You’re what? Surely you jest?”

  “Married. Sixteen days ago to be precise.” He felt his body flame as Jana ignited his passions by ruffling his hair and stroking his chest, all the while devouring him with her multicolored gaze of liquid caritrary.

  Jana allowed her hand to halt over his heart to test her effect on him. It was pounding swift and hard. As she trailed her fingers up his neck, she found his pulse point throbbing there. He appeared amused by her wanton behavior. She traced her fingers over his lips and admired him with her eyes. “You’re keeping my husband from some very important and enjoyable business. Will your visit take long?”

  “I can’t believe you would do something so stupid, Ryker. How could you marry this … this alien?“

  “By freeing her first. She’s no longer a charl, Cass. She’s my wife, an Androasian princess, my heir, the future mother of my children. Careful how you speak about her. She now possesses far more wealth and status than you do, and more power. In addition, if anything happened to me, she inherits Trilabs, your supplier. If I were you, I’d be nice to her.”

  “Be nice … to her? You freed her?”

  “How else could I marry her? I twisted Tirol’s arm and he couldn’t refuse me my request. I am irreplaceable to him and the Alliance. Jana adores me and does anything I desire. If you care to check, our marriage has already been registered and announced. I’m surprised you haven’t heard that news by now; the Tri-Galaxy must be humming with it. I suppose you had important business to handle. I hope you got it accomplished.”

  Canissia caught the clues in his words. “Yes, I did, no thanks to you. Shall we talk in private? Or does your new wife know all of your secrets?”

  “We’ll go outside. I need fresh air anyway so I can think. Jana is most attention consuming.” To Jana he said, “I’ll return shortly, my love.”

  “I’ll await you in our suite, my darling.”

  Canissia glared at the Earthling as she said, “Well, I guess you have more bewitching power than I imagined. It seems we both got what we wanted. But I’ll have the last laugh; I always do.”

  “Don’t count on it this time,” Jana replied. “And you’re right: with Ryker, I do have everything I could possibly want. I’m sure you hoped otherwise, and I’m happy to disappoint you.” Jana refused to mention or congratulate Canissia on her approaching marriage to Varian.

  Outside and away from the house, Canissia whirled on him and demanded, “How could you do that to me?”

  “Marry a beautiful and delightful slave who obeys my every command? Thanks to my brother, she was free to wed me. You aren’t in any trouble over her abduction. Everyone believes you helped Jana escape Varian to come to me. Before she goes out in public, I’ll tell her the whole story. By then, it will be too late for her to say or do anything about it. I’ll make certain she’s carrying my child. Jana would never give up her baby to have a man. And Varian would never want her back with a Triloni in her belly.”

  “That isn’t what I meant. I don’t care about you and that piece of cheap flesh cozying up in bed. I’m talking about you trying to kill me. Your little scheme didn’t work. Oh, it killed Zan all right, but you missed me.”

  “What are you talking about, woman?”

  “I don’t trust anybody, Ryker, especially a man like you. I had Zan go to the planet for the Zenufian water and mix it with the Myozenic acid there. It exploded and killed him. If I had done it on my ship …”

  He feigned surprise. “Exploded? He must have mixed it incorrectly. Did you give him my instructions? Did he follow them?”

  “Of course!” She repeated verbatim what Ryker had told her.

  “What about the salt, Cass? Didn’t you tell him to add one cup to the water to balance and stabilize the contents before adding the acid?”

  “You never mentioned that part.”

  “Surely I did,” Varian argued with the glowering female.

  “You did not. Instead of dissolving every inch of him and pouring his remains into the soil, it blasted him to pieces we had to collect and bury. I’m lucky no one was around to witness and question the bloody incident.”

  “Don’t be stupid, Cass. You’re far too intelligent to think I would try to kill you. You’re too valuable to me alive. You supply me with too much information and do too many favors to get rid of you. Where else would I get a direct link to the Supreme Council and their secrets? I need you.” He watched her fume and reason on his words, then relax and smile.

  “I suppose you’re rights but it was suspicious and scary.”

  “I’m sure it was, but don’t let your imagination run wild. We’ve been allies for too long to let a misunderstanding come between us. What about your crew? What did they say about the explosion? Can they be trusted to keep their mouths shut? We can’t afford trouble.”

  “I convinced them it was a terrible accident, and they believed me. Why shouldn’t they? I pay them enough for their loyalty and services. If any of them starts to doubt me, I’ll arrange for the Moon wind’s destruction with all of them aboard. If so, I’ll expect you to replace my starcruiser. Its loss and the accident will be your fault, not mine.”

  He grinned and teased, “If I omitted part of the instructions, then you’re to blame. You did distract me that day with your gift of Jana and news of her daring abduction. Don’t unsettle yourself again; I’ll replace your ship if it goes that far to protect us. Speaking of favors, tell me, Cass, how did you get rid of our problem, Lieutenant Baruch?” A noise behind him caused him to turn to check it out and he missed her reaction. It was only an android doing gardening work. He turned and smiled at her. “I’m surprised you haven’t boasted of your cunning to me about such a daring and dangerous feat. You made him vanish forever right under Varian’s nose, no clues or witnesses, none that Zan is out of the way now. How did you do it?”

  Canissia stroked the man’s chest as she purred, “Poor Zan, I hated to get rid of him. He was very good in bed. Out of it, he followed my orders without question or hesitation. But he loved me, and that’s dangerous. A lover can be forced to do anything to save his heart’s desire. I couldn’t let that happen.” Canissia explained, for a second time.

  Varian allowed her to continue caressing him while he probed for clues. “That was very risky and very clever. I’m pleased with you and your precautions. What about Moloch? How did you do away with him?”

  On guard now, the suspicious redhead explained, then listened to his praise of her talents, again for the second time. She knew something was wrong. He acted and looked like Ryker, but Ryker already knew the things he was questioning her about with such eagerness for details. She knew Ryker used a disguise to conceal his close resemblance to his half brother, as genetic law determined. Of course, most people thought Ryker truly had blond hair and green eyes. Wouldn’t it be just as easy for Varian to—

  “I suppose Moloch’s sister won’t suffer too much over his loss. She’s always craved his position as the eleventh richest person in Maffei.”

  She concealed her tension and doubts from him. “Yes, she has. I’m sure she’s in Kahala about now,” Canissia murmured, knowing Ryker Triloni had been told on her last visit not only about the deaths of the two spies but also the necessary one of Moloch’s sister who had surpris
ed her while carrying out one of those deeds.

  The evil redhead smiled and licked her lips in a seductive manner as she concluded she was with Varian. How far would he go to conceal his ruse? “Why don’t we go to your complex to sneak in a few hours of fun? You know I have skills that little alien doesn’t. I can please you far more in thirty minutes than she can in her lifetime.”

  “Settle down and cool off, Cass. You know we never get that close. Not because you haven’t tried and tempted me on every visit, but I never mix business and pleasure. I gave you enough Jacanate and Moondust on your last visit to keep yourself amused elsewhere for a long time. Surely you haven’t used it up already? Where have you been?”

  The cunning female realized the man before her knew what had happened inside the complex but not during their talk outside before her last departure. She guessed how. “After that accident with Zan, I stayed out of Maffei for a while. You do know the Androasian and Pyropean boundaries are being heavily patrolled now?”

  “Because of that Milky Way mission you told me about. I’m sure the Alliance doesn’t want any of their spies getting through to warn their leaders about the imminent departures of so many starships. I hope you aren’t angry with me over that misunderstanding?”

  “Of course not. But I am miffed by your stinging rejections. I would have been the perfect lover or wife for you, Ryker.”

  “Except you crave Varian more and you don’t trust me completely.”

  “You wouldn’t dare harm me. I have evidence incriminating you in some of my past activities. Some of it ties you to Taemin. And my crew is prepared to send an emergency message to Star Base if you attempt to betray me or kill me, today or any day, my sexy genius.”

  “Cass, Cass,” he admonished. “We’re allies and friends. I wouldn’t harm you. There’s no need for such threats between us.”

  “I hope not, Ryker, because I’ll take you down with me if I go. Your little bride doesn’t know anything about your business affairs, does she?”

  “Nothing, and it will remain that way. Jana is for exquisite display, motherhood, and pleasure alone. She’ll do wonders to brighten my dark image. And, flaunting her as my submissive and adoring possession will torment my half brother. Unless you get Varian’s mind off her.”

  “Is she as good in bed as Varian’s lack of self-control implied she was? Do you drug her with Jacanate to get rid of all inhibitions, drug to force her to obey your every command?”

  “I don’t discuss my sex life with others. But Iwill say, she’s pleasing.”

  “Then why don’t you bring her with you to my party next week. It will give you the perfect opportunity to show her off to everyone. I’m sure, if you work hard and long, you can have her bred and enthralled to you by next Friday. You two can stay with me and Father after you arrive on Mailiorca.”

  “If I had known how to reach you, I could have told you I’ll have to cancel out on your party. Jana and I are leaving Tuesday to visit with Grandfather. He hasn’t met her. That takes priority over a social occasion.”

  “How exciting for you both. I’m sure a visit to Kadim Maal is important to you at this time. If you change your mind, let me know.” Then I can plan a real party, you fake. You won’t get a chance to arrest me, you bastard. If I suffer, so will you and plenty of others. While you play your little game, I will have time to escape and to plan my revenge.

  “You look pensive. Was there something else, Cass?”

  “Nothing. I’ll be on my way so you can amuse yourself with your obviously compliant and mesmerized slave. I’m sure you’re eager to climb atop her and slip inside that lovely body. I bet you drive her wild with your skills. I’m envious; I wish it was me being probed by you and this treasure.”

  Varian grasped her hand and moved it away from his manhood. Her crudity revolted him, as did her touch. He hoped Jana wasn’t watching them through the reflective transascreens. “Behave yourself before I have to explain this to my wife. Guard that evidence against me well, woman. If it falls into the wrong hands, I will kill you. I don’t like threats.”

  “Nor do I, Ryker, you handsome devil. As soon as I’m convinced that explosion was an accident, I’ll destroy all the files.”

  “How will you make that discovery?”

  “After I make certain I’m not in trouble for kidnapping Jana Greyson. If you did cover me, I’ll cover you.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Varian watched the woman leave. An Elite Squad member would be trailing her the moment she left orbit. He needed to tell him to confiscate the evidence against Ryker following her arrest. He smiled and whistled, happy about his accomplishment.

  Canissia boarded her shuttle to return to her cruiser. She observed the blond from a window, grinning in what he assumed was a victory. You fool. I know you’ll have me followed, but you underestimate my cunning. Before this day ends, I’ll elude your spy. Soon, my unattainable rake, you and that alien bitch who stole you from me will be dead. I know the perfect way and person to help me carry out my revenge.

  “I’m sorry for my misbehavior, Ryker, but I couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t resist playing a trick on her after what she’s done to me. I’m not usually a vindictive or spiteful person, honestly. I only wanted her to see that she hadn’t delivered me into the jaws of death or destruction.”

  “You really put her down, Jana. I’ve been wanting us to do that for a long time.”

  A long time? “We did a beautiful job. Thank you for letting me help. I was afraid you’d be angry and embarrassed and call me down in front of her. I’m glad you didn’t. Besides, you said she had the hots for you.”

  “Hots for me?”

  “That she lusts for you,” Jana clarified the English slang.

  He chuckled. “I’m not upset or displeased. I suppose you saw her trying to entice me again?”

  “No, I was changing clothes,” she lied, as she had witnessed the vexing scene. “You should have summoned me to break her fingers and claw out her eyes in defense of my private property.”

  “She was so flustered that she left without mentioning her upcoming marriage or even why she came here.”

  Why did he have to keep reminding her of that event? “I hope she doesn’t remember and return.”

  “She won’t. I gave Kagan Command Ten; that means she’s not allowed to pull into orbit around us again without prior consent to visit.”

  Something in his expression and tone said he wasn’t telling the truth about what had sounded like a military order. “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “I should get busy. I’ll see you at dinner.”

  “I shall eagerly await your return.” Though he took no action on them, she saw how her mood and suggestive words excited him.

  Jana snuggled on the sofa with the books he had given to her. She felt that the more she learned and the quicker, the sooner she could get into his labs with him and the easier her task of conquest would be. If she failed to make herself pleasing and indispensable, her life could be in jeopardy. In this world so far from her own, there were far worse fates than being this elite alien’s wife and research assistant: death or being sent to another—horrible—owner. At present, she was a free woman, but that could change, by his laws. He could divorce her, take away her freedom, and sell or give her to a terrible stranger. She possessed the status and wealth that she needed for survival; and she mustn’t risk losing them. She also wanted to prove to Varian and Canissia that she could survive by her wits and courage, that she could rise above the lowly station in life to which they had condemned her.

  Jana learned from one book that no charl reproduction had been tried with test-tube babies to avoid a physical mating with other races. Nor had the alien captives become simply breeders to men who had other wives, as in concubine or harem customs on Earth. Since the Maffeian females lacked ovums, nor could the captives be used as surrogates. The practice had created families, and that was good. Yet, after fifty years of inbreeding, their current ge
nerations were made up mostly of cross-bred people. The charl practice had ceased to be needed and would soon not exist at all. How could the Maffeians logically and emotionally resist freeing their mates? How could they look down on charls as unworthy of being wives when their children carried the blood and genes of those aliens? With Martella Karsh and others lobbying for changes in the law, surely it would be a reality soon.

  Jana flipped to the section on truth serums and brain functions. She found Ryker Triloni’s name and his products mentioned many times. Again, she noticed the rote responses he had given her. It was the same with other sections she perused. She couldn’t help but wonder why a genius like Ryker would explain those things with quotations from a book to another scientist. She searched for any passage on post-hypnotic suggestion or mind-doping and found none listed. If athletes on Earth could blood-dope or carbo-dope for sports competitions, why couldn’t someone mind-dope with information? In a way, students did it when they crammed for tests. Glutting the brain for an exam was like pulling out a cork in the head to pour in facts needed for retention for only a brief time. Was mind-doping possible on this grand scale?

  There were medical and research labs with specimens and a botanical garden aboard the Wanderlust, with ample opportunities for any person to observe and learn, as if by osmosis. Two scientists were in residence: Dr. Tristan Zarcoff and Lieutenant Commander and First Officer Nigel Sanger. In addition, perhaps these aliens’ schooling was more—

  Stop it, J. G., you’re letting your imagination run wild again. If it were possible for you to glean clues from these books, he wouldn’t have given them to you and told you to study them.

  Jana tossed the books aside and walked to the telecom. She wanted to see if it would respond to her voice command, see if she could catch a news program to learn anything valuable.. She repeated the verbal orders the alien had given to the system. As expected, it did not respond. So much for his “wife” of two weeks and a “free” woman being allowed communication or viewing of the world beyond the confining Darkar! She returned to the sofa to continue her research.