Tae: Talonian Warriors (A Sci-fi Alien Weredragon Romance)
Page 31
Josephine worked quickly and precisely to save as many as she could. She examined each face, searching in vain for Urim. Either he was among the dead, or he was uninjured. She prayed for the latter. She continued, nonstop, until every warrior had been treated. She made one last round of her patients to be sure they were resting and out of pain, then went to find Urim.
She found him slumped in a seat in the main control room of the ship. He had washed away the dirt and blood of battle and fallen asleep assessing his losses. Under his large, scarred hand was a list of the men who had given their lives in battle. He had carefully recorded each name so that he could give them the honor of reporting the deaths to their loved ones himself. Underneath the mighty muscles was a heart of gold.
Josephine hated to wake him, but she knew he would never forgive her if she didn't give him time to come up with a plan against Ixia's androids. Before she shook him awake, she planted a soft kiss on his furrowed brow. Even in sleep, he appeared to worry and strategize. She had barely touched his arm when he leaped from the seat. He spun, in search of his sword. "Urim, it's okay. You're in the ship. The battle isn't anywhere close. Calm yourself."
He stopped spinning and stared at her. " How did you get away without Ixia seeing? Did he banish you for warning me about the androids?"
"He doesn't know that I warned you or that you were spying on the camp. When I left the mountain that day, I found him searching my dwelling. He made it clear I was only there as a servant and therefore had no rights. I was treated as a prisoner. My quarters were guarded around the clock. I wasn't allowed to leave without an escort. If I wanted to go to the cove, four of the crew would go as well." She snorted and said, "He claimed it was for my safety, but I knew better. I would rather take my chances here and care for your knights than stay there and die alone. Am I welcome?"
Urim replied, "You will always be welcome aboard any ship I command. Thank you for treating my warriors. They deserve the best of care. You still have not told me how you got away. It must have been difficult."
"I used a surgical knife known as a scalpel to cut through the thin metal at the back of my dwelling. The guards didn't cover the back since there wasn't a doorway. I used the shadows provided by the mountains to slip away unseen. Your trail made the perfect getaway without running into a battle."
"Very clever of you," Urim answered. "It is good you made it safely to the encampment."
"I am afraid I have brought you some grave news," Josephine began. "I passed by a bonfire where Ixia and his crew were making plans. I overheard what he said, and it wasn't good."
"Come and sit down. You have spent hours treating the wounded. Rest while you tell me of Ixia's plans." Urim led her to a long, soft seat by a viewing window in the control room.
Both of them sat and tried to relax.
Josephine outlined Ixia's plan. "He is going to proclaim a cease-fire once the battlebots have all been destroyed. He imagines you will take that time to gather the dead, as do I. He expects that you will lower your defenses during that time. On this, I don't agree. He is already sending groups of androids to many places in the mountains. His plan is to completely surround your camp. While all of your people are gathered together in one place, he will signal an attack. The androids are to swarm in and kill everyone. He wants no witnesses to the slaughter to remain."
Urim was not happy. His concern was reflected in the darkening of his eyes. This information was a game changer. If they were surrounded, there would be no escape route left. If he chose to retreat, there would be nowhere to go. He had one chance to stop a complete slaughter. "I must leave you momentarily to give new instruction to my knights."
"What are you going to tell them? Have you got a new plan already?" Josephine inquired.
"It did not take long to realize I had only one option," Urim explained. "I must send a contingent in each direction. They will lay explosives on the mountain and set them off as the androids arrive. Many will break through, but it will leave fewer to enter the camp and spoil their surprise. I will take some knights and go after the hovercraft to bring down the computers that control the androids. Stay inside the ship. If all goes wrong, we will retreat to the ship and leave this mess behind. The explosions will have ruined all of our hard labor anyway."
"I will meet you back later. I need to make another round in the infirmary. There are some wounded that need almost constant care." She reached up and touched his face. "I am so sorry that you have lost so many. I saw the list you were making. The families will greatly appreciate you remembering every name of those who gave their lives. You're a good and thoughtful man."
He removed her hand and clasped it in his own. "Do not elevate me to such heights. I would have done them a greater service had I left when you requested it. They would still be alive to greet their loved ones. Even now, I should be leaving, yet I stubbornly remain. We all may die due to my stubbornness. Good is not a word that should describe me." He kissed her palm and left to give orders to his troops and Josephine went to see about her patients.
Chapter 13
Josephine
Josephine lingered by the bedsides of the wounded warriors. All was quiet and peaceful since she had administered more painkillers. The battlebots had done a good job of shredding the skin of the Milisarian Knights with their laser weapons. Internal organs were riddled with holes from the guns they also carried. Everyone in the infirmary would heal, but not for many weeks. The battle would be over very soon. Tomorrow would most likely be the final day on this planet. She hoped she had been telling the truth when she soothed the wounded by telling them their families would be welcoming them home shortly.
Urim was waiting for her in the control room. He should be resting, but was pacing back and forth instead. He paused as she entered. "I have set the last line of resistance in motion. Six groups of colonists, each with a knight to lead them, are climbing the mountains to set explosives. The final battlebot will be out of service by morning. By tomorrow night we shall know who keeps this planet for their species. This is the last quiet night in camp."
Josephine replied, "Then you must use it wisely. Have something delicious to eat and drink. Go to your quarters and get a real night's sleep. You have done all you can at this moment."
Urim smiled sadly. "I cannot sleep, nor do I wish to. It may be my last night to live, and I have a much better plan on how to spend it." He walked to her slowly and gathered her into his strong arms. It was quite a shock to feel four arms, rather than the usual two, wrapping her in warmth. He bent and placed his lips on Josephine's for a long, slow kiss. He pulled back and rested his head on hers and whispered, "Please, spend tonight with me. I want to be with you. You haunt my dreams and my waking moments as well."
Josephine relaxed in his embrace. She felt as if she could melt into him. This was what her body and mind had been longing for. She whispered back, "You are in my dreams too. I think I came all this way to find you. Yes, I will gladly spend the night with you." She gasped as he lifted her from the floor and hurriedly carried her to his quarters. He slammed a fist against the door's control panel, effectively shutting out the rest of the world.
His lips returned to her mouth and overwhelmed her senses. Heat infused every inch of her already tingling body. Her lips and teeth parted to allow his tongue inside, where it explored every inch and left her breathless. She let her hands roam over his hard muscles as she had imagined doing since the day they met. She shoved trembling fingers under his shirt feeling the need to touch his bare skin.
Urim's mouth moved from her mouth to her jaw and then to her neck. He kissed the spot where her pulse beat erratically. His hands cupped her backside and tugged her closer. She bent backward, and he took the opportunity to let his kisses wander down her collarbone and over to the tops of her breasts. He grimaced when his lips met the rubbery material of her bodysuit. He said, "I had forgotten. You cannot breathe well without the aid of this attire. We must stop, for I wish you no harm."
Josephine shyly pulled the suit down and freed her breasts. She blushed a bright red to match her glorious mane of hair. Urim asked, "Why do you change colors when you are unclothed? You did so in the cove, and you are doing it once more."
She sighed, "It is a human weakness. When we are embarrassed or excited, blood rushes through our bodies and heats our skin. It is called blushing. Those cursed with red hair seem to blush easily." She crossed her arms over her chest and refused to look him in the face.
Urim lifted her chin in a gentle hand and said, "Do not hide yourself from me. Your response to showing me your body is charming. I find your hair color to be intriguing and have always wanted to touch it." He let her hair sift through his fingers. "It is soft, like the silk we get from Earth." His awe gave her the courage to drop her arms, leaving her chest uncovered. He reverently ran shaking fingers over the orbs and cupped them in his palms.
Josephine's nipples became pointed, causing him to be curious. He gently rolled each one between his fingers. She moaned, and a molten heat traveled to her core. Her eyelids drooped as lust overcame her. It was time to take control. Her hands skimmed over his six pack and up to his chest. Two could play this game. She mimicked his movements, rolling his nipples with her fingertips. She felt him shudder and smiled.
Urim pulled at her clothes. "You are wearing too much. I desire to see all of you as I did when I rescued you in the cove."
Josephine giggled nervously. "There is an old saying on Earth. It goes: I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Do you understand what it means?"
He started laughing and replied, "I understand perfectly. It is not a problem. You may remove my clothing whenever you wish."
Taking him at his word, Josephine untied the lacings of his pants and slid a hand inside. She clasped his hot member in her small palm. Her fingers couldn't close around its width nor reach down to its base. The idea of having something so large inside her made her knees weak and her center wet with desire. Urim's pants fell to his feet, and he stood proudly at attention before her. Amazingly, his member grew harder and began to pulse in her hand.
"It is now your turn," he declared. He sounded curt and out of breath. Her eyes traveled up his chest and noticed that she could see his heart beating in his translucent chest. It was pounding so hard she swore it would rip through his skin at any moment. "As you can clearly see, Milisarians also have a reaction to excitement."
Josephine released him and stepped backward. She slowly eased her suit down her hips in a sensuous striptease. She heard Urim swallow hard when the garment passed her thighs and she was naked before him. He grabbed her and pulled her close. Skin against skin, they made their way to his bed. He laid her across it, and all gentleness fled. He attacked her body as if she was nourishment for his starvation. His warm mouth covered her breast and sucked it hard. He gave the same attention to the other side. At the same time, his four hands managed to touch every inch of her nakedness. A pair of his hands eventually cupped her buttocks and his thumbs teased her moist mound. Not to be outdone, she delved between their bodies and ran her hands up and down his shaft, paying extra attention to the sensitive tip.
Urim rolled them over and rubbed her entire body over his quivering shaft. His breathing became harsher as the fever pitch of desire mounted. Josephine grinned mischievously and wriggled out of his grasp. She slid down his chest, past his stomach, and took him into her mouth. He was so large that only the top portion fit, but it was enough to make him roar. She licked the end of his member, and he sat straight up in shock. The new sensation proved to be too much for the powerful warrior, and he exploded. Josephine drank every drop. He growled and said, "It's payback time."
He fell back on the bed and brought her with him. Lifting her high above his head, he brought her directly over his face. He lowered her, and she was impaled on his tongue. Her body began to jerk with need. He answered her silent cry and lapped at her wetness. She tossed back her hair and screamed his name. Lightning struck behind her eyes as she let herself go. Urim sucked her dry.
She crawled down into his waiting arms and rested on his chest. Neither had experienced such an intense encounter in their lives. They clung together and gently caressed each other. Sexual tension rebuilt, and they began to kiss. Their initial needs satisfied, it became a slow dance that led to an emotional coupling. Urim slid inch by inch into Josephine's heated sheath. Her body relaxed and stretched to accommodate his large member. Moving as one, in a rhythm as old as time, they drew sustenance and courage from each other. Tomorrow might be the last day they ever experienced anything, but tonight they made memories that would follow them even after death. As green eyes stared into brown ones, they released the tension in mind-altering orgasms.
Shortly before the sun rose on this fateful day, Urim kissed Josephine farewell and headed to face his destiny. She cried silently and dressed. Her battle would be fought on board the spaceship. She would endeavor to save the wounded warriors from death and send them home to Milisaria. Determined to be useful, she wound through the hallways to prepare the infirmary for the incoming injured.
The warriors that could heal without her constant attention were moved to their own quarters, making room for the next wave of wounded. They came quickly and brought with them news of the war. The final battlebot was destroyed. Twenty Milisarian Knights lay dead in the cargo hold. Five more had yet to be recovered. Scouts had sent word of hovercrafts hiding at the base of the mountain. Urim had taken his share of the knights and was circling around behind them. He would try to eliminate the computer controllers by shooting down or blowing up the hovercrafts. The world was oddly quiet as Ixia followed his plan. The Milisarians were allowed to gather the injured and dead, while the androids closed the trap in the mountains.
Josephine replayed the night over and over in her head. She had discovered a connection with Urim so much deeper than she had dreamed possible. Her feelings for him were almost too much to bear. Now, it was too late to tell him of her discovery. She had fallen undeniably in love with the alien knight. It was a harsh reality that she had found love on the brink of this world's destruction.
The initial explosion came at noon, from the southern mountaintop. It was felt across the entire planet. The colonists must have used tons of explosives. Josephine was surprised the mountain had not come tumbling down. Her first reaction was to run out of the spaceship and see what was happening, but she didn't. She had promised Urim that she would stay hidden inside from Ixia's prying eyes. She sat down in a corner and curled into a ball. Her heart ached for the men who were waging war over an uninhabited planet. How stupid and naive she had been to think this journey would bring redemption. She closed her eyes against reality and let her thoughts go to the reoccurring dream. Last night had brought her clarity. In the dream, she was on Milisaria. Urim was just out of reach. The children were those she would never bear. She was blaming Urim for not stopping the war that would bring her death. But, the dream was wrong. It was Josephine who had not stopped the war. She began to sob for the things she and Urim would never share.
An unusual sound came from the doorway. Expecting more wounded, Josephine lifted her swollen, tear-stained face. Her sobs turned to horror. Ixia and an armed android stood there. Wounded knights tried to rise and face the intruders, but the android cut them down. Ixia, in her head once more, declared, "If you do not wish all these giants to die, you must come with me without a fight. You are to be executed as a traitor. It will bolster the courage of the Pura and salvage my pride. You ruined my surprise, and I have lost much of my army."
"Earth will destroy your entire species with the touch of a button if you execute me." She courageously stood and
walked toward him. "I will gladly give my life with the knowledge that you will be wiped from the universe."
Chapter 14
Urim
Urim was beneath a hovercraft, cutting through wires that would bring it down, when the first explosion came. It shook the entire planet and knocked him off his feet. Android parts came down the mountain like a mudslide. Metal arms and heads slammed into the hovercraft. They sped forward to escape the pounding pieces, leaving Urim flat on his back. His troops were in the same shape. Without a target, he rounded them up and sent some up to help the colonists and others to guard the ship. He was halfway up the mountainside when the second explosion came. It was closely followed by two more. The planet rumbled in protest.
Urim climbed faster and higher. Among the metallic pieces, he began to see flesh and bones. These were the remains of the colonists who had set the charges. Urim fought back nausea and continued to climb. The familiar sound of swords striking metal rang out from the summit, along with the sound of screams as the androids found a target. He pulled himself the last few feet and joined the war. He cut off an android's head, but it continued fighting. He skewered it on his sword, and it shot a colonist. Anger exploded from Urim, and he became a killing machine. He tossed the android off the mountain and waded into the melee. In one hand he held his sword and in another a gun. His second pair lit explosives and tossed them among large groups of the enemy.
All around him, his people were dying, knights and colonists alike. Bloody corpses and body parts littered the ground. He regretted his decision to stay and fight. He could hear Josephine in his dream so clearly saying, "You could have stopped this." If only he had heeded the warning, so many would still be alive. Covered in his own blood and that of others, Urim continued to fight. Until they struck him down, he would not stop. His knights would not die in vain.