Dominated By Desire

by Barbara Donlon Bradley

  Storm did. Her reaction told him she still hadn’t accepted this reality one hundred percent yet. He had a chance. He hovered nearby, waiting and watching for any hint on who created this fake world.

  ****

  Watching the ambassador marry affected her oddly. Heather blamed it on the coma. She had been married to the man in that dream and watching him marry another hurt her deeper than she thought possible. A tear slipped down her cheek but she was able to remove it before anyone else saw it.

  What she needed was a drink. Too bad she could drink all night long and not feel any effects. Once the ceremony was over they were allowed to mingle while the governments set up a receiving line. Something Heather wasn’t looking forward to. It was hard enough from standing in the back of the room, how was she going to remain professional that close to him?

  The line started and they were one of the first groups after the Vespian high council. Heather kept her eyes averted so she wouldn’t accidently catch the gaze of Storm’s mother or the people who told her she was their daughter.

  Her head started to swirl. This was a lot harder than she thought it would be. Claiming to have a headache and begging permission to seek medical attention for it she raced out of the reception and leaned against the wall. Why was she having such a hard time trying to keep reality and her dreams straight?

  Everything she had been through seemed so real. Now she knew it was all in her head so she should be relieved. Why wasn’t she?

  Heather did go to the med center. She knew her boss would be checking up on her if she didn’t.

  “Lieutenant? What brings you here?”

  “Got a slight headache at the reception.”

  “I told your boss I didn’t think it was a good idea for you to attend that thing. You’ve just started working again and knowing about your fantasies it would be hard on you.” He took a scanner and ran it over her.

  She didn’t like the fact he called her alternate reality a fantasy, but she took the shot he gave her and headed back to the reception. On her way she heard her name being paged and went to the nearest communication panel to answer it.

  “Lieutenant, I have a new assistant looking for you.”

  “Assistant? I didn’t ask for an assistant.” She rubbed her head. Was there something she had seen on this, long before the coma?

  “I believe you were to pick one before you were hurt and declined. Since you’re better the admiral has assigned someone to you to start immediately,” a female voice informed her. “I’m sending him to you now. Be nice.”

  “Great. Make sure he’s in his formal uniform.” She shut off the communication and walked back into the reception.

  “Feeling better?” asked her boss.“I was until I found out I had to babysit someone.” She nodded to a young man looking all flustered. “My new assistant?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.” He was all smiles as he settled himself beside them.

  “Assistant?”

  “Yes, sir. As per the admiral. Tried to get out of it before my accident but it looks like I have to train him anyway.”

  “You’ll be fine.” Her boss touched her arm. “You still need to pay your respects to the ambassador. He did ask about you.”

  “Yes, sir.” She swallowed hard and tugged on the jacket of her uniform.

  Heather headed to the now dwindling line, new assistant in tow. “You don’t have to follow me everywhere.”

  “Yes, Ma’am, I know, but after everything you’ve been through I thought you’d like the company.”

  Heather looked at him. Young, handsome, he was going to turn a lot of heads. What caught her attention the most was his eyes. A vivid gold with an amber ring. Just like Storm’s.

  She needed to get a grip on herself. They reached the ambassador pretty quickly.

  “Lieutenant, I’m glad to see you back on your feet.” He smiled at her and she smiled back.

  “Thank you, sir.” She shook his hand, confused by the sensations when she touched him. There was no thrill she had felt before and when she looked him in the eyes she only saw the gold of his eyes. The amber ring was missing. It was like he wasn’t really the ambassador, but some imposter. She puzzled over this as she headed back to the table they had been assigned. Heather thought about asking if the ambassador had a standin this evening, but decided it was probably her, not the ambassador, that was wrong and her question would only raise more questions about her sanity.

  Everyone took their seats with one vacant one next to Heather.

  Her boss picked up the place card. “Who is Myh Eart?”

  “I am, sir.” Her assistant responded as he sat down beside her. “I guess my name had been added to the invitation list when the admiral realized I’d be here by the wedding.”

  Heather shot him a look to quiet him down. He smiled at her, but remembered his rank.

  Small talk was the conversation at the table as the meal arrived. People let her know how happy they were to see her back at work. She nodded and thanked them, hoping they would let it go pretty quickly. She wanted the night to end as fast as possible but it seemed to just drag on.

  Most of the questions after that were aimed at her new assistant, so keeping him quiet so he wouldn’t get into trouble wasn’t working out in her favor. She found his answers to their questions vague, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone else.

  It just didn’t feel right.

  ****

  “Well? Did it work?”

  Storm kept hearing his uncle but he was trying to ignore him and focus on the scene in front of him. He had to excuse himself so he could focus on the voice in his ear. “Yes, uncle it worked. She believes I’m her assistant.

  Now, can I get back? I don’t want to have her suspect anything out of the ordinary. She already seems to have problems with some of the things I say and do.”

  “Just remember you are an Earth officer and not her mate. You step over that line too soon and you will give yourself away to whoever is doing this to her. Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?”

  “No. She’s surrounded by the same people as when I met her. If there is someone manipulating this whole thing then it should be one of them.”

  “Not necessarily. He could be waiting for her to truly accept this fake reality before he enters. Be very careful.” His uncle patted him on the hand.

  “I’ll be here when you need me.”

  Storm closed his eyes once again and entered Heather’s mind. He never thought to do this, even though the doctor recommended it. What did the doctor know before he had his mind wiped?

  Heather sat in the chair, not really eating anything put in front of her.

  She pushed the food around on the plate a little but nothing appealed to her.

  No one else had that problem.

  “Lieutenant, eat or I’ll have you sent back to the medical center.”

  “Just not hungry, sir.” She pushed her plate away and stood up. “If you don’t mind I’d like some fresh air.”

  Storm watched her retreating back, wondering what to do. “Perhaps I should go with her.”

  He stood up as well and started after her. He heard one of the men there say you know we should stop him, and the other said let him learn this one on his own. Our lieutenant knows how to put people in their place. So he knew to tread carefully.

  He kept her in view but didn’t approach her.

  “Ensign, why are you here?” She didn’t look at him.

  “I was told to be your shadow, Ma’am.” He waited for her to turn toward him, hoping he hadn’t overstepped any personal boundary.

  “So the only way I’m going to get rid of you is to duck into the ladies room?” She turned to look at him, confusion filling her eyes.

  “If you feel you must run from me.” He wanted to take her into his arms so bad. “I read your file before I came here so I know what you’ve been through.”

  “No one knows what I have been through.” She turned her back to him.

 
“You’re having problems figuring out which reality is right. This one feels like it should be right, yet there is a part of you that knows your other reality was right.” He smiled when she turned back around and looked at him.“Problem, Lieutenant?” Her boss had stepped out onto the terrace with them. Storm wondered how much he had heard.

  “No, sir. Just trying to explain to the ensign that I need time to myself every once in a while.”

  “Well the couple is beginning their first dance and you’ve been requested to join them on the dance floor with the family.”

  “Excuse me, sir?”

  “I know it’s a bit unorthodox but they want to honor you for saving the ambassador’s life. You’ll dance with his best man.” Her boss turned and went back inside, expecting her to follow him.

  “This is crazy.” She rubbed her head, her voice soft like she was talking to herself. “There was no best man. There was no reception on Earth.” She had totally ignored Storm’s presence which he found as a good sign. That had to mean she felt comfortable with him.

  Heather headed back into the main ballroom, awaiting her fate. A man, definitely Vespian, approached her once the rest of the family started dancing. Storm didn’t recognize him. Could he be the one orchestrating all of this?

  He wished he could get closer to hear what was being said. That the man brought a smile to her face worried him. They only danced the one dance then Heather joined him on the sidelines.

  He wanted to know what was said so badly, but pumping Heather for information just made her quieter. She headed back to the table. Several of the officers had already left because of their schedules the next day. “Sir, have I fulfilled all my duties?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “I was due at the security center about fifteen minutes ago.”

  “I thought you asked to be relieved of that duty?”

  “Yes, sir, but I still had a few days on the books and it would have messed up the rotation if I asked to be relieved so I kept them. Besides, it will be good for my assistant to see what happens there as well.”

  “Let him see the boring as well as the exciting?”

  “Yes, sir.” She smiled. “Am I dismissed?”

  “You are.”

  She nodded and headed out of the reception.

  He was happy to be away from there as well. Maybe now he could get a chance to talk to her. “You seemed to enjoy his company.”

  “Who?” Heather walked toward her office. She nodded to the young woman behind the desk before walking into security.

  The young woman stopped him and asked for proper id. He pulled out something from his pocket and presented it to her. Once he was cleared he followed Heather. She saluted another officer.

  “You are relieved.”

  “Thank you, Lieutenant. Did you enjoy your evening?”

  “I’m glad it’s over. That’s all.” She took her jacket off and pulled the tie loose. “My uniform’s still here?” She hadn’t used her locker since she came back.

  “Yes, Ma’am. No one touched your locker while you were gone.” He punched a few keys on the keyboard then stood back so she could do the same thing. Storm couldn’t keep his eyes averted when she bent over and swore he caught a flash of red when she signed in. “See you in the morning.” Heather nodded and walked to a row of doors. Opening one, she pulled out a uniform. She stepped into a darkened office to change. “You plan on wearing that getup all night?”

  He looked down at the formal uniform. “No Ma’am, but the rest of my uniforms are in my room.”

  “I’m sure the world won’t disintegrate while you go change.” Fully dressed, she pulled up data on the screen, giving leave by ignoring him.

  He had no clue how everything was laid out in her mind so he ducked into a small alcove and willed his clothes to change. The uniform was strange to him but he found it comfortable. Hoping he had allowed enough time to pass, he walked back into security.

  ****

  Heather found Myh a little strange, yet there was something comforting about him. She stared at the data on the screen without really focusing on it.

  And the best man. Very charming, but there was something about him that didn’t sit right.

  And Storm. He seemed so different from the man she had known.

  The beautiful golden eyes that smiled at her were gone. If she didn’t know better she’d swear her new assistant had them. Each day got more confusing instead of settling down and making sense.

  Myh came into the room with a smile on his face. She smiled back. She liked efficiency and his quick change said volumes on that.

  “You need to sign in.” She pointed to the screen. After pulling up his information so he could sign in for the first time. “Um, interesting.”

  “What?” he followed the instructions then turned to look at her.

  “If you merge the letters of your first and last name it spells my heart.” She felt just a little twinge. That was Storm’s endearment for her.

  “How about that.” He gave her a smile that reminded her of those heart melting ones Storm gave her.

  She needed to get a grip.

  “Is that the file we’re working on?” He brought her attention to the file she had on the screen.

  “Yes.” That was what she needed. Something to distract her from her thoughts.

  “What language is that?” He asked her quietly. Like he didn’t want anyone to hear him.

  She looked at the screen. Her eyes saw English there. His question confused her. “What do you see?”

  “I don’t know. I’m versed in fifteen different languages but I don’t recognize that one. It looks ancient though. Like it’s some sort of dead language.”

  Heather rubbed her forehead again. The ancient language was probably something she made up in her dream which was why she could read it, so why would it appear here? Her mind fought the conflicting information racing through her head.

  ****

  Storm watched the confusion spread across her face. She didn’t understand what was going on. The world they stood in became unfocused for a moment before she seemed to find her center and everything solidified again.He knew though. Her mind was trying to tell her this wasn’t real by bringing up things that were. Unfortunately it was being a little too subtle about it. Perhaps he needed to help it out a bit.

  He found the work her mind had them doing boring, but he did see patterns emerging. It put her on a task to solve an ancient Vespian proverb.

  She saw it as a security issue. Until she saw it for what it was, the two of them would be stuck in her mind.

  The woman at the desk called for Heather. Storm looked up to see the best man standing there.

  “Oh, no. I don’t need this right now.” She said it softly. Rubbing her hands against the material of her uniform she stepped out of the office to where the other man stood.

  “I thought I would visit?” He didn’t seem to be comfortable here in her world.

  “Sorry. I’m on duty right now and can’t leave.” She looked at the young woman who was caught staring at her guest. “Thought you were leaving with the rest of the Vespian party.”

  “I was allowed to stay behind to help finish up the treaty. Perhaps we can see each other when you’re off duty.”

  “Perhaps.” Heather didn’t want to commit to anything with this man.

  Storm wished she would call him by the name he might have told her so he could start a search for that person when he spoke to his uncle. “I’m sorry, but I must get back to work.”

  She walked right past Storm so he stayed by the door and listened a little more. “That didn’t go well.”

  “The lieutenant is very work orientated. It takes a lot to get her to notice anything else. They don’t call her ice princess for nothing.”

  “Then I’ll just have to keep trying.” The man left then and Storm went back to work with Heather.

  “Who was that?”

  “You saw him earlier.” She gave him a min
d your own business look.

  “I meant his name. I wasn’t aware that the ambassador traveled with anyone other than his basic staff.”

  “I was a bit surprised too. He said his name was Ialog. Been friends with St – the ambassador for years.”

  “Interesting.” It had to be the one who took her. He didn’t know anyone by that name. At least he had a name to work with. He only hoped it was the man’s real name. “He seems to be attracted to you.”

  “Ensign, I think you are overstepping your boundaries.”

  “Sorry, Lieutenant.” He might have pushed a little too hard there. Time to change tactics. “I have a twin sister at home and our relationship allowed me to say whatever I feel.”

  “Really? A twin?” It hit a cord in her. “What is it like to have a sibling?”

  “A pain.” He laughed. “But she was also my best friend as we grew up.

  She’d tell me things she couldn’t tell anyone else.”

  “Must have been nice.” She started to sound drowsy and he noticed the image around him started to blur. They must have given her a sedative.

  He opened his eyes. “She is very stubborn.”

  “Which is why she is such a good match for you. Did you learn anything of value?” He handed Storm a drink.

  “I have a name, which I need to give to the team so they can find out if the person exists.” Storm took a sip of the drink and winced. “What is that?”

  “Something to help you maintain the mind link.” His uncle pulled the glass away. “Each time you go in it will get harder if you aren’t careful. You need to keep yourself separate so she can see that the world she is trapped in is fake. If you lose sight of that how will she ever see the difference?”

  “Fine.” He walked to the computer station and contacted one of the men. “I have a name for you. Find out whatever you can.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Storm transmitted the data and turned back to his uncle. “There seems to be a new man coming into the picture.”