Passionate Desire

by Barbara Donlon Bradley

  The moment she stepped into the opening the hallway lit up. “Don’t remember that happening before.”

  They continued down, with Heather stopping every once in a while to read a passage or line written on the wall. “According to this, the compound is this way.”

  “It’s written on the wall?”

  “We used something like this on Earth for frequently visited places like hospitals and major landmarks. Colors would guide you to your destination.” She touched a few more alcoves and found herself in the biggest command center she had ever seen. The lights came on along with most of the equipment.

  “Glad to see you found me, Heather.”

  Fear pierced her heart. She turned around, looking for however the voice belonged to. “Who’s there?”

  “I am the main system of this compound.”

  “You talk?” Technology had gotten very advanced but computers who were intelligent enough to carry on an interacting conversation was still a little beyond them.

  “Yes.”

  “Um, Heather?” Anseri stood in the doorway. “It won’t let me in.”

  “That is the leader of the ruling council. Check your data banks, I’m sure you have information on her and know she means no harm.”

  The force field holding her dropped so she could enter the room. She looked around in awe. “This is phenomenal.”

  “I know.” Heather grinned. Maybe now she could get the answers to the questions she had. But first she needed to find out what was going on with Storm. “Can you tell me where my mate is?”

  “He is in the main council chamber screaming your name.” The image of Storm and her brother looking agitated and shouting at the ceiling filled the screen.

  “Oh dear.” He was going to be very angry. “You might want to show him how to get here or he might tear the whole place down to find me.”

  Within a few moments she could hear him bellowing her name.

  “In here, my heart.”

  “What do you think you’re doing?” He found his way blocked when he tried to enter the room. She could leave him there until he calmed down, but by the way he was glaring at her she feared it would have the opposite effect on him.

  “Computer. Clear them for entrance. The angry one is my mate and future leader of this planet. The one behind him is my brother.”

  The force field dropped and Storm stalked into the room. He was pissed. He stepped up to her and started to crowd her backwards. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Trying to find answers.” She held her own as he tried to intimidate her. Backing down wasn’t in her nature. “What have you learned about Toki’s disappearance?”

  “Nothing.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “It seems there was nothing recording when she disappeared.”

  “Computer, do you know who I am talking about when I speak of Toki?” She still looked up at her mate, waiting for him to realize where he was.

  “Toki.” A life size three dimensional image popped into existence near one of the computer bays. Storm stepped back from her when he heard the new voice. His sister’s image caught his attention.

  They walked around it as data streamed beside the image. The data moved with them.

  Heather saw her real name displayed. No wonder why she didn’t want to tell her, it was very close to one of their swear words and Heather would have slaughtered it.

  “You found it, didn’t you?”

  She nodded but wasn’t sure if he saw since they were all staring at the display. “Can you do this with each of us?” Within seconds their images loaded. Heather was amazed. She had never seen anything like it before. She walked around her image. It showed the twins, her human name as well as her Vespian name. Along with vital statistics, it also showed mental ability, physical abilities and her potential.

  “Let’s get back to Toki. Could you show us what happened to her?” A screen next to her activated to show Toki walking across the garden area. Someone approached her and she walked off with them.

  “That can’t be true.”

  Heather placed an arm on Storm to calm him down. “Computer, can you show us everything she did since arriving on the planet this morning?”

  The images started from the moment her feet hit the tarmac. It showed them walking at normal speed. Heather sped it up several times so they wouldn’t have to watch it in real time. Hours passed in minutes. They were now in their rooms when Kuarto helped her with the wall building. Heather sat on the floor with him across from her. Storm and his sister spoke. She slowed the speed down, although it was still going too fast for them to hear what was being said.

  “She doesn’t look happy.” Heather leaned into Storm. “What did you say to her?”

  “Just reminded her of her obligations.”

  All three of them were in Heather’s mind when Toki said something to herself and left the room. “Computer, what did she say?”

  The computer backed up the section in question and replayed it in real time.

  “Everyone went to the party but me.” A sigh escaped her as she exited their rooms. She went out the entrance that would allow her to walk through the gardens on her way to her rooms. She noticed a man following her.

  “Look, I’m not in the mood. Go find someone else to pleasure.”

  “But you are the one I wish to speak to.” The man she spoke to stepped out of the shadows and Storm just about leaped at the screen.

  “How did he get on this planet? Our security should have stopped him.”

  “Ialog has an ancient device that can override any security program you have in place.” The computer answered Storm’s question. “Do you wish me to pause the recording while I rectify that?”

  “You can do that?” asked Storm.

  “Yes. I was built by the same people who built that device. I can override any of their technology but I only take commands from an ancient.”

  “Let’s finish the recording first,” said Heather. “We need to see how we can get her back as quickly as possible.”

  The image started back up. “Come on, Toki.”

  “How did you get here?” She looked at him innocently.

  “Do you know who I am?”

  “Sure. You’re that man who came to see Kuarto. Wanted him to do some work for you.”

  “So why are you here?” He watched her like he was waiting for her to make a mistake.

  “The future rulers wanted my husband to care for Heather while she is pregnant. Since they were sterile before, they were worried she could have complications.”

  “Why him?”

  “He’s the best.” She tilted her head and looked at him. “Isn’t that why you want him?”

  “So where is he now?”

  “Working with Heather.” She looked down for a moment like she was searching for words. “I snuck out because I needed a little air.”

  “Did your husband tell you that he decided to take the job I offered and you’re supposed to come with me while we wait for him?”

  “No, and I think he would have said something.” Before she could move he grabbed her by the back of the neck. He snapped something onto the top of her spine.

  “That should make it easier for you to keep up.”

  She tried to walk back toward the doors she came out of, but found she didn’t have control of her motor responses anymore.

  “Sorry. This special device will allow me to keep better tabs on you.” He pressed a button and had her walking in the direction he wanted. “We’ll send a message to Kuarto to let him know where you are as soon as we’re in orbit.”

  “You can stop the video now.” Heather crossed her arms over her chest and confronted her brother. “He took her to make you work for him.”

  “Then I have got to go.”

  “No.” Storm blocked him from moving. “Then he’ll have you right where he wants you.”

  “I can’t leave her with him.”

  “She’s my sister and I’m not any happier
about this than you are, but we need to think of a plan before you go charging off.”

  “Do you have your data with you?” She looked at her brother.

  “Sure.” He pulled out his scanner and handed it to her.

  “Computer, can you analyze this data?”

  “There is data on a lot of people on this device. Can I assume you wish me to analyze anything pertaining to you?”

  “Yes.” Heather wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what it could find. “Wait. I want the data on my eggs.”

  “A clone from the original. Sterile.”

  “Why?” How can the egg be sterile? She thought maybe it was part of her protective mechanism but she would think this system could see through that.

  “I’m not sure what you are asking.”

  “I am with child, but I was sterile before. So was my mate. How can I be pregnant yet have sterile eggs.”

  “Because your mate carries a catalyst. Your eggs were designed to only carry certain DNA. Without the catalyst you would show sterility.”

  “I’m not sure I understand now.”

  “If we were to remove an unfertilized egg from you right now it would read as sterile. That is a result of your ancient blood. If that was to be fertilized it would take a particular DNA strand. Not a common one. Your mate has that DNA.”

  “What about Al?” Kuarto asked.

  “Al?”

  “Ialog. The man who took Toki. Does he have the DNA strand?”

  “No.”

  “Then how does he plan on fertilizing the egg?” Kuarto asked.

  “Perhaps he has the DNA in a test tube somewhere,” said Heather.

  “Or perhaps he doesn’t know this important piece of information.” Storm looked at her brother. “We can use this tidbit in our favor too.”

  “I can almost see those tiny wheels in your head turn. What do you plan?”

  “Still working out the details.” He turned to Heather. “You should have never come down here without me.”

  “Couldn’t help it.” She touched his heart. “Your mother and I ended up in a corridor and the computer didn’t give me a chance to go back and look for you.”

  “This system has been waiting for her to come for a while. I’ve been following her for years, waiting patiently for her arrival. Then I waited for her to start looking for me. Now all she needs to do is ask the right questions.”

  “Right questions?” She looked at her mate. “What sort of questions?”

  “That one I can’t answer. Think of it as a security code. Without the right question I can’t unlock the rest of the system to you.”

  “There’s more?”

  “Much.”

  “Why me?”

  “Because you are ancient.”

  “Which I don’t understand. How did I end up with so much ancient blood in me?”

  Chapter 9

  Storm set up for Kuarto to leave the planet and be sent to the first space dock available. Al said he would know when he was looking for him and he hoped it would be quick. He needed to make sure Toki was okay. It was his fault she was taken. The one thing he had worked hard to avoid was haunting him now.

  He spotted a young man sitting on the other side of the bar. He had been watching him for a while. When he walked outside the young man followed. Was he the one Al had waiting for him? He wasn’t much of a contact. After the kid had been sitting there for an hour or so Kuarto had the bartender send him whatever he was drinking.

  The young man came over once he got the drink. “Why did you send this?”

  “Because I got tired of you staring at me.” Kuarto looked at him for a moment before turning his attention back to the bottles lining the bar in front of him.

  “Sorry. You Kuarto, right?”

  “Yeah, what is it to you?” He took a sip of his coffee. The kid was a bit stupid too.

  “My boss wishes to speak to you.” He sat down next to him.

  “There are a lot of people’s bosses who which to speak to me.” Kuarto looked at him. Why hadn’t the kid approached him? Why did he wait for Kuarto to make the first move? “What makes yours so special?”

  “His name is Al and he has something that might interest you.” He place a small holographic chip on the counter, pressed a button and an image of Toki loaded.

  “Anyone could have made this.” At least he knew she was safe when the video was made. He kept his relief to himself and acted bored instead. “She ran away from me a few days ago.”

  “She didn’t run away.” The young man pressed a button on the chip so he could hear her voice. “Al wanted you to hear this.”

  “Al told me you had taken his job offer and said I should go with him and wait until you could get away. He feared the Vespians would try to use me as leverage to keep you on the planet. I wanted you to know I’m safe and waiting for you.” Then her voice ended.

  “So you saying Al took my bride?” he glared at the young man. “Not what I would consider conducive to get me to work for him.”

  “He was hoping she would be an incentive to get you to say yes.” He picked up the device and slipped it into a pocket.

  He looked at the kid through the mirror behind the bar. Kuarto was already suspicious of the way his contact was being handled and he was going to get to the bottom of things in his usual style. “He has made it hard to say no.”

  ****

  He stood in front of Toki and hoped he hid his relief at seeing her okay. He had to continue with his act and hoped she would pick it up quickly. Al walked into the room before he had a chance to speak to her.

  “Good to see you, Doctor.” Al took his time walking around the room, looking and touching different things randomly. “Glad you decided to join us.”

  “You made it sort of difficult to say no.” Kuarto watched him, wondering why he was acting a bit strangely. Another thing that made him suspicious. “I thought she got her memory back and ran away by the way she just disappeared.”

  “Sorry about that, but I needed your expertise and she was the one thing I thought would sway you.” He looked at Kuarto then, making him wonder what he suspected. Was he on to them this quickly? He did seem to know Toki. Did he know she was Storm’s sister?

  “You’re lucky I ran into your man.” He was going to continue to play along since he had a job to do. “I was going to go home and tell the people who sent her she ran away and see if they would let me get another wife.”

  She looked at him, confusion etched on her face. “But I didn’t run away. He told me you wanted me to go with him.”

  “He lied.” He offered her his hand which she took. “I don’t work for liars.” He walked toward the door, but stopped when her hand pulled from his. Turning, he found her rooted to the spot. The fear in her eyes warned him something was up.

  “Show him your neck, my dear.”

  She turned around and showed the device on the back of her spine.

  “That is my insurance that you will help me. She might be your wife but I have control of her body, if you try to leave before I’m ready.”

  “And how do I know you’ll let us go once you get what you want?” That piece of metal answered his questions. Al did know and probably had figured out her amnesia was a ruse.

  “You don’t, so don’t anger me. I can be quite giving when you do as I ask. Not so much if you push me the wrong way.”

  “Threat taken.” He stared the man down. He wasn’t about to change his ways and act like Al frightened him when he didn’t. Kuarto wasn’t thrilled with the turn of events but still believed he could get them out if he had to. “Understand, I do this under duress, and as a hostage I’m not obligated to help you in any way. Too bad you didn’t wait until we left the planet on our own. I don’t like Vespians. Find them too bossy and demanding. But you’re the same way.” He reached for Toki’s hand once more. “So where are we staying, or do you plan on not letting us sleep until you get what you want?”

  “Show them to their roo
m.” Al walked from the lab he had ready for Kuarto. He wondered if he pushed just a little too hard.

  The man who he had met at the space dock took them to a darkened room. Kuarto turned on lights and closed the door on him before he could say a word. He knew they couldn’t really talk but he wanted her to know he was there for her. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She stepped deeper into the room and looked around. “I am sorry for the confusion. I wasn’t aware you didn’t know what had happened to me.” She discreetly pointed to several listening devices.

  “I blame him, not you. I should have known you wouldn’t have left me the way I thought you did.” He also spotted the camera recording them. “Has he tried to do anything to you? Hurt you in anyway other than that device?”

  “No. Frightened me a bit and this thing hurts.” She gestured to her neck.

  “Let me see what I can do.”

  She gave him a confused look. “You sure you want to upset him?”

  “Really don’t care right now. He can see and hear everything we say and do so we have no privacy. The least he can do is let me make my wife more comfortable.” He stepped up to her and brushed his fingers across her neck. Little goose bumps jumped up on her skin. That skin was red and angry around the device. He gave her a topical treatment. Drugs didn’t work on her so he wasn’t sure if anything he did would help. The redness faded a bit. “Better?”

  “Much.” She turned and gave him a smile. Did she say that because of the cameras?

  He had been so worried about her he didn’t think, just reacted to seeing her so close. He closed the distance between them, softly pressing his lips to hers. She responded, opening her mouth, offering herself to him. He pulled her into his embrace, twining his tongue with hers. She tasted so good. He took his time savoring the moment between them. He finally broke the kiss.

  “I’m sorry you got caught up in the middle of all of this.” He rested his forehead against hers.

  “What could you have done different?”

  “I don’t know, but I’d like to think I could have protected you.” He tightened his hold on her. He felt her chuckle. “I see.”

  “What?” She looked up at him.