Scerior

by Jilly Bowling

  Acorus sent Osega back to his ship to get in touch with them, telling him to hide behind the moon and keep his small ship out of danger. He didn’t have the fighting power to take on the Xenorii. Passing through the asteroid belt, communication was difficult so they would pause on the other side and Acorus would deploy his ships. Jo couldn’t relax. Fastened into her seat for the journey through the belt she felt totally useless. Acorus was busy making plans and preparing orders to be delivered once the fleet was through the belt, so Jo could not turn to him for consolation. Still, she knew she’d rather be with him then back on Scerior not knowing what was happening.

  Once through the belt, the fleet paused while Acorus issued his orders. He was deploying his fleet around the planet but until he knew how the Xenorii were deployed he had kept his plans fluid. Approaching Earth they could see through their long range viewers that there were many explosions over the USA and Canada, Britain and Western Europe. Fewer explosions could be seen over China, Japan and Russia but over Africa, Australia and the Middle East there was no sign of fighting. It looked like these countries had been subdued already.

  So Acorus decided to concentrate on the countries that were still fighting. Once the Xenorii were destroyed in those areas he would turn his attention to the weaker countries.

  He sent two ships to Russia and one each to Japan and China with orders to only take them on if they were sure of victory. If the Xenorii outnumbered them, then they were to return to the main fleet over Europe and North America. With all the windows shielded and a force field around each ship, the fleet headed to Earth.

  ***

  On Earth Ghera and Octpa were making for Natalie. Osega’s spying technology had pinpointed where she usually lived. But as they travelled through America they had grave doubts about whether she would be there. The whole of America was under attack. Small towns had been wiped out completely. Cities were fighting for their lives, with Xenorii and human fighters darkening the skies, exploding in mid air or falling to Earth. The human’s new weapons were giving the Xenorii some problems, but it was clear that they would triumph eventually.

  The Xenorii star ships were concentrating on missile sites and the largest cities so the countryside was one of the safest places to be. Citizens were leaving cities and towns on any transport that they could find. There was no electricity, telephones, television, radio, mains water or sewage. Battery radios could pick up some local stations operating from generators.

  As the two spies neared the town where Natalie lived, they beamed a message to Osega asking for help in pinpointing her. Most national security agents had fled underground with the president, but Natalie had been on leave at her parent’s house, as her mother had just passed away. Many years earlier her father had built a nuclear bunker under his house, and when they realised what was happening they had locked themselves in there. The senator had installed top of the range communications and his power supply came from wind power with the turbines hidden among the hills that surrounded his house.

  Before girls had been returned to Earth they’d had a microscopic transmitter installed in their bodies. Mainly to ensure that they weren’t abducted again. Therefore all Osega had to do was tune into Natalie’s transmitter. But to do this he needed to leave the shelter of the moon. Advised of this Acorus despatched a star ship to protect his spy ship. Once in the correct position Osega quickly found Natalie and directed his spies to her position. Within hours Ghera and Octpa were standing outside the bunker. Delighted to find an intercom hidden in the rubble of the house Ghera spoke into it.

  The senator answered, to the spy’s relief, and when the senator asked who he was he replied “I am a messenger from Lord Acorus and Lady Jo-Anna. Ten years ago they returned you to Earth after you had been abducted”.

  Natalie spoke then “How can I believe you, when aliens are attacking our planet?”

  “Lord Acorus needs your help. Our fleet is here to save Earth from the Xenorii. You should know that the Sceriae would never attack Earth; we have protected you for centuries.

  Now we want to save Earth from the Xenorii. They are an evil species who will use humans as food!”

  There was a grinding noise and a concrete slab moved slightly. Just enough for Natalie to see Ghera and Octpa.

  “You are like Acorus, Quickly, come in”.

  Ghera and Octpa waited until the gap was large enough for them to slip inside. Following Natalie down a sloping corridor to a small lift, only just big enough for them to squeeze inside they descended slowly. At the bottom they entered a decent space, made as comfortable as possible with chairs and bunk beds. Around the walls were stacks of boxes, full of foodstuffs and water. The senator was standing pointing a gun straight at them. They raised their hands over their heads careful not to make a suspicious move.

  “Why are you here?” the senator asked

  “Lord Acorus wishes to send his fighter ships to destroy the Xenorii fighters, but he is worried that the human fighters will attack his ships. So we need to get a message to your president”.

  “The president is deep underground, fighting for our country” the senator said.

  “It is not only your country that is in danger. Your whole world will be decimated. Do not think you can beat the Xenorii alone. Their star ships will move over Earth wiping out your civilisation. Then when you can fight no more they will round up all the humans left and take them for their blood. These creatures live on the blood of any animal they can catch. Human blood will be very sweet to them” Ghera answered.

  “What do you want us to do?” Natalie asked.

  “We need to make your president listen to Lord Acorus. What he intends to do is destroy the Xenorii’s star ships, then once his fighters are safe from Earth’s fighters, they will destroy the Xenorii fighters. Already he is targeting Xenorii star ships, all over your world”.

  Turning to the senator, Natalie said “I believe them Dad. The Sceriae are the only thing that can save earth. We must persuade the President to listen, and he must persuade the British as well”.

  Looking thoughtfully at his daughter, Ghera and Octpa the senator nodded his head and led them to a small room full of equipment.

  Chapter 59

  The starfleet was now in position to attack the Xenorii. All over the world the Sceriae were stalking them. Jo was sitting in her chair on the flight deck watching her world being destroyed. Tears were running down her cheeks. In her worst nightmares she had never imagined such devastation. The whole world seemed to be on fire.

  Issuing orders quietly and calmly Acorus was standing by a viewing screen, waiting for his ships to be in the optimum position for opening his attack on the Xenorii. A communication screen lit up and Osega’s voice came through “General Acorus, Ghera and Octpa have found Natalie. She is communicating with the president’s bunker”.

  “Well done. We are ready to destroy the Xenorii’s ships. Tell Natalie to persuade the President to watch the Xenorii over the USA”.

  “We are doing that now, sir”.

  Acorus spoke to the weapons controllers and ordered them to fire at the Xenorii’s ships over America. At the same time the captains on the rest of the fleet fired on their targeted enemy ship. All over the world Xenorii ships were disintegrating just inside Earth’s atmosphere and their fighters were losing their bases. Over America, Xenorii ships were now being attacked by humans and Sceriae. With nowhere to hide they tried to escape across the Pacific or Atlantic, but British fighters joined the fight over the Atlantic and the Japanese were waiting across the Pacific

  The Xenorii star ships had been destroyed over America and Europe, Russia, China and Japan but in the southern hemisphere the Xenorii were in greater numbers. As usual they had gone for the weakest countries first. They were now entrenched in Africa and Asia. There were no cities left on those continents and many people had been taken prisoner.<
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  Australia had fought as hard as it could but its cities were gone and its people were hiding in its remotest areas. Many had died resisting capture and there were bodies everywhere.

  Over the southern hemisphere the sky was dark with Xenorii star ships. The Xenorii fighters that fled south were the luckiest as many managed to reach the safety of their starfleet. The Sceriae fighters didn’t follow the Xenorii south, but some of the Americans did, and the star ships picked them off from hundreds of miles away.

  American officers were screaming at their men to return north, but their blood was up after seeing their country devastated and millions killed. Once the enemy’s ships started picking them off they tried to return north but only a few made it.

  On his flight deck Acorus was shaking his head in disbelief, where was the discipline?

  Not one of his soldiers would dream of disobeying a single order. Turning away from the viewer Acorus saw Jo sitting there with her fist in her mouth and realised how distressed she was. Going to her he pulled her to her feet and removing both their helmets put his face against hers “Don’t cry, my love” he murmured “We can save your world. But will your people listen to us, or will they resist change?”

  Jo sniffed and replied “I honestly don’t know. It’s not just our politicians and soldiers that have to be convinced that we want to help, not conquer, but the ordinary citizens”.

  “It is strange that citizens vote your leaders into power and then vote them out again. Where is the continuity, the trust in your leaders?”

  “The trouble is that one person in power for a long time worry’s us. Men turn into dictators and despots if they have too much power; they will be wary of you because you are all powerful” Jo told him.

  “But we have the council and all our citizens can tell us of their worries. No one is ignored”.

  “The Sceriae are one people. I know you have other species living on Scerior, but we have so many different nationalities in our countries that things are really mixed up. Maybe if there was one government for the whole planet, like on Scerior it might be better, but who would lead that government. If it was an American or Britain people from other countries would fight against them”.

  “Now that so many humans have been killed by an alien species, they might band together as just humans, not Americans, British or African etc” Acorus asked hopefully.

  “I pray that they can” Jo said burrowing her face into his neck.

  “Now I must talk with America’s president and Britain’s prime minister, I will have them brought here and we will give a banquet and have talks with them”.

  “Erm, you ought to include Europe, Russia, China and Japan or they will feel ostracized”.

  “My stars! Is this planet worth the aggravation?” he wondered.

  “Well, you seem to feel that its females are” Jo snapped.

  “That’s it. We’ll get rid of all the males and just keep the females” Acorus grabbed Jo’s hand as she went to slap him.

  “Seriously Acorus, you will never have had to be so diplomatic. Each country will need to think that you are treating them in the same way or they will start fighting among each other”.

  “It seems to me that the only way Earth will survive is if I take over as the final authority” he was frowning as he saw the difficulties ahead.

  “You’d better talk to them first before you decide if you want the aggravation” Jo warned.

  “The first thing to do is pick them up and bring them here. While I arrange that would you ask our cooks to prepare a lavish meal for this evening?”

  “You’re very optimistic that they’ll all come”.

  Acorus laughed “You know how persuasive I can be”.

  As Jo went to do his bidding Acorus set about sending messages to as many countries as he could. His fifteen star ships were circling Earth keeping an eye on the Xenorii. Their ships had landed on the continents which they had conquered and disappeared from sight.

  The Sceriae were now searching for unusual materials on each continent. If it didn’t belong on Earth then it was alien and would be pinpointed as an area to be watched.

  They could see huge crowds of humans being corralled like animals. Some would be butchered for meat and some would be saved for their blood. The unluckiest would be used for their blood and to amuse the Xenorii. Females and young boys were the unluckiest. In some of the remotest and inaccessible areas humans were hiding. The Sceriae did not attempt to rescue them yet as one mistake would show the Xenorii where they were. Acorus was waiting for his remaining star ships to arrive before he launched an offensive against them. Also he wanted to include the humans in his plan, not because he needed them but for their self respect.

  ***

  Once Acorus had spoken to each country’s leaders he left his officers to arrange for them to be picked up. Each leader was worried about Acorus’s intentions and wanted to bring body guards with them, but when it was pointed out that body guards would be useless in space, they agreed to go alone.

  Passing the officers mess he saw that all was being prepared to impress his guests. Deciding that it would be political not to wear his armour, he went to his quarters to shower and put on civilian dress. Jo was already there. She had showered already and was having a massage to calm her nerves.

  She was going to eat with some of the most powerful men on Earth. They might see her as a turncoat, a traitor. How would they treat her?

  Kheta came in with Acorus and helped him with his armour, then after he’d laid out a very smart and formal midnight blue tunic and trousers, he left.

  Tjai finished Jo’s massage and laid out one of her most highly embroidered floor length tunics and matching skin tight trousers then she too left them. Jo slid off the massage table and wandered into the bedroom to put on her most beautiful jewellery. Then she sat on the bed brushing her hair. As Acorus strolled into the bedroom, naked as usual Jo could see that he had more on his mind than dressing. His eyes glinted and he was smirking at her knowing that the sight of his perfect body turned her on.

  Holding her eyes with his he licked his lips and said “Come here, my Lady. You shouldn’t be sitting wrapped in a wet towel, you’ll catch a chill”.

  “Thanks, but my towel is perfectly dry”.

  “Oh but I can tell that you aren’t” he replied advancing on her.

  She knew it was impossible to resist him, so didn’t. Pulling her towel loose he slid his hands round her waist cupping the cheeks of her bottom and holding her against him.

  Nuzzling her neck he asked if she was alright.

  “I’ve been better” she replied “It’s not everyday you see your home destroyed. And then these world leaders tonight. I’m worried about what they think of me. I know that’s silly but they are so much more experienced than me”.

  “Jo-Anna, I had hoped that Scerior was your home now. And don’t forget, you are Lady

  Jo-Anna, one day to be Queen of Scerior. Also you are my partner, and I am more powerful, more experienced than any of these men, so who cares what they think!”

  Putting her arms round him Jo cuddled into him “Scerior is my home now. But I still love Earth. It is a beautiful planet. It has so much beautiful animal and plant life even you would be surprised”.

  Tipping her over onto the bed Acorus lay on top of her kissing her tenderly “Don’t worry; we’ll do everything we can to help Earth recover. You’ll be an important part of the rebuilding as you are human and know what is right for Earth”.

  Returning his kisses Jo felt her doubts disappear in the arms of this strong male. Instead of teasing and playing Acorus made gentle love to her, making her feel needed and important to him. Moving in perfect unison they climaxed together and just lay holding each other for a long while afterwards.

  They were disturbed by a kno
ck on the door, so Acorus grabbed Jo’s towel and wrapped it around himself, then called ‘come in ‘. A soldier popped his head round the door and saluted him. Jo had disappeared into the bathroom but heard what the soldier said, “General, all the humans are about to be picked up. They will be here very soon”.

  “Thank you; tell the officer in charge of the landing deck that we will be there shortly”.

  As the soldier left Jo hurried back into the bedroom to get her clothes. Pulling her trousers on and the dress over her head, Jo tried to tidy her hair, “Look what you’ve done. I look a mess. I’m sure they’ll all know what we’ve been doing” she said starting to panic again.

  “You look stunning. And if they know that I’ve been loving you, they’ll be sick with jealousy!”

  Once Acorus was dressed he took the hairbrush from Jo and brushed the back of her hair until it fell in a gleaming wave down her back.

  Jo laughed “If our enemies could see you now, they’d wonder where the Lord General was”.

  Eyes twinkling he replied “I’m still here, biding my time until I can find an excuse to unleash that monster on you. Just give me a reason to be angry, I beg you. I would love to spank you again!”

  “Huh, I’m not stupid enough to do that. Come on we’d better go. Are you sure I look ok?”

  “You look dreadful, but you’ll have to do”.

  Jo flapped her hands at him and walked to the door. Hurrying to the landing deck they arrived just as the fighter ships carrying many of Earth’s leaders were coming in to land. The deck was lined with Sceriae soldiers all standing to attention, looking alien and formidable. Belain and the other most senior officers had already arrived and came to stand behind Jo and Acorus. Bending close to Acorus’s ear, Belain told him that the ten star ships left on Scerior were through the wormhole and heading to join them.