Til'Ma had seen many similar female and male harems in her time serving the Hulk'Zif Duchy. But even without prior knowledge, it was quite obvious to anyone that this was a harem, the majority of the pampered women who lounged within lying erotically upon the sea of pillows, wearing transparent dresses that left nothing to the imagination. A few were even completely naked, rubbing oil into each other's skin, whispering with masked giggles as they studied the Lady Vickie.
“She is the newest personal concubine to Baron Tuhbil, please make her at home.” A guard threw Lady Vickie towards the women of the harem, and she tumbled across the stone floor before the pillows, sliding to a stop at their feet. The harem immediately went to work, striping Lady Vickie of her clothes, then staring in amazement at the only piece of jewelry she adorned; a gorian necklace.
“What is this?” one of the women asked as she reached forward, but fell back with a grunt as Lady Vickie landed a palm to the woman's midsection, sending her tumbling across the room into a pile of pillows.
“That is mine and you shall never touch it!” Lady Vickie's eyes burned with a primal inferno, the lady Til'Ma knew, having finally returned.
“Drug her!” one of the women shouted. A servant rushed forward with an injector in hand before Til'Ma could react, missing a perfect opportunity. Lady Vickie turned, but was too slow, the injector pushed against her neck before she could counter and its loud hiss telling the injection had been successful. It took only moments before Til'Ma noticed the familiar effects.
It was Noble's Delight.
Lady Vickie fell to the floor, rolling while clutching her necklace, her breathing heavy. The women circled around her, gawking at the sight, laughing and poking, moans of barely contained ecstasy escaping Lady Vickie's lips at every touch. Til'Ma held herself back, ignoring the rest of the giggling servants, knowing she must wait for a more opportune moment.
“We need to get her out of here,” the whispered words penetrated her ears, making her realize her mistake, she having been too fixated on her lady. She started to turn, noticing the guards had moved from the room, and found a fully cloaked figure standing beside her.
“Put this on.” A palm sized breathing mask was forced into her left hand. She didn't think twice, quickly placing it over her mouth and nose as the person in the robe deftly rolled a tiny cylinder into the center of the room. One of the women noticed it roll by, stopping her harassment as she reached for the device, obviously confused. With a silent pop, gas exploded forth, quickly spreading throughout as the women dropped to floor as one.
The robed figure rushed forward, placing an injector to Lady Vickie's neck, who had also fallen silent, having inhaled the same gas as the others. She came awake, eyes wide, filled with the desperate need of pleasure born of Noble's Delight.
“Help her!” Til'Ma moved without question, placing her arm around her ladies waist while trying to ignore the moans of ecstasy it caused to burst forth.
“This way,” the voice cracked and Til'Ma noticed for the first time that the robed figure was actually a man. She desperately followed, leading her lady toward what appeared to be a solid wall. Suddenly, three of the moss stones on its face vanished, a hidden door appearing in their place. The robed man hurried through without pause, Til'Ma and Lady Vickie following close behind. The narrow, secret passageway where they found themselves was tight, barely wide enough for two people to walk abreast. Lady Vickie moaned when they bumped against a wall.
“Try to keep her quiet,” the man hissed. Til’Ma forced her hand over Lady Vickie's mouth, smothering a scream of pleasure. After a few minutes moving through the dimly lit passage, the man stopped, Til'Ma almost crashing into his back. He turned down an even narrower passage that was almost completely pitch-black.
“Hurry!” the man urged, his words echoing eerily through the silent corridor. She plunged into the darkness, trying to keep her balance as she continued to hold her hand over Lady Vickie's mouth. After what felt like an eternity, she stumbled into the back of the man who had again, stopped without warning.
“Here,” he banged the wall, and the outline of another hidden door appeared, then quickly slid open. They moved through to find Sir Georigi's remaining guards lounging in a large barracks.
“They took Sir Georigi! You have to save him now or he will be killed!” the man shouted. The group of confused guards pulled their gazes from the nude Lady Vickie to the robed man.
“What's going on?” a guard who appeared to be in charge came forward.
“This colony is under the control of Duke Zehman, he plans on killing Sir Georigi and making Lady Vickie his concubine. I've saved Lady Vickie, but I will not be able to save Sir Georigi on my own. He is being held in the basement prison.” The guard looked at Til'Ma, seeming to not believe the robed man's words.
“He speaks the truth, the guard captain and the men who were with him are dead,” Til'Ma felt no emotion as she spoke, her only concern her lady.
The guards moved. “Armor up and someone grab Lady Vickie a jumpsuit!” the guard in command ordered. The guards who had begun gathering around them rushed back to their bunks, strapping combat armor containers to their backs, which liquefied, flowing over their entire bodies as if alive, then solidifying into a perfect layer of tilitium reactive combat armor. The robed man grabbed a jumpsuit and threw it to Til'Ma.
Lady Vickie moaned as Til'Ma fought to force her limbs into the tight jumpsuit. The guards, awaiting orders, started fidgeting uncomfortably as more moans escaped her lady’s lips.
“She was drugged,” the man in the robe explained. The guards nodded understanding before returning to their preparation. After a few minutes, and some whispered words, Til'Ma was able to coerce Lady Vickie into allowing her to secure the jumpsuit and force her to her feet.
“How do we reach Sir Georigi?” the leader of the guards asked, all 88 remaining guards having finished arming themselves.
“Through the escape tunnels, they provide access to the entire building. But I can only bring two of you with us. The rest need to create a diversion. Can you bring up a schematic of the colony?” the robed man asked as a portable PDU was provided. After a few moments an overhead view of the Barrier Oasis Colony was projected in the air before them.
“Your shuttles are locked down, so we will be unable to escape into space. First, we need to get you into hiding,” he pointed to a pyramid shaped building that appeared to be a good distance from where they now stood. “This is the recruitment and service building. The men who run it are loyal to the king. If we can get you there, they should be able to hide you until help arrives,”
“That's at least twenty kilometers. They'll be all over us before we even make it half that far,” the lead guard said in response, sounding skeptical.
“Abandoned underground water tunnels run from here,” the robed man pointed as the map rotated down, providing a close-up view of the underground section in question. “To here,” he moved his finger along the tunnel, stopping directly under the building they needed to reach. “Your men will have to fight their way to the transport tube and take it to sub-basement five. The door to the water tunnels is locked, but you can break it down and seal it with charges.” The robed man glanced at the explosives attached to some of the guards armor.
“Sir, they have a barricade setup 50 meters down the hall with a repeater arc!” one of the combat armored guards shouted, the metallic tone of the suits filter unable to hide a voice full of concern.
“What about Sir Georigi?” the lead guard asked, undeterred.
“I know exactly where he is being held...so once we free him, we'll enter the new water tunnels and take an access hatch to meet you in the abandoned waterway...here,” the robed man pointed to a section of the underground tunnels where they intersected. Again, the guard looked dubious, but still nodded without complaint. “Give us thirty minutes before you start your escape,” the robed man instructed as he stood, moving back towards the secret passage. Til'Ma pulled
the still moaning Lady Vickie to her feet and dragged her behind as the lead guard pointed to two others, who fell into the rear.
“Good luck,” the guard said with a quick salute.
“You too,” the robed man responded before he vanished into the passage, closing the door behind them. They turned back the way they had come and after a few moments entered a larger, lit passage, similar to the one that had connected to the baron's harem. They froze, a shout catching their attention from beyond the wall, but it quickly passed.
“We must make haste...” the robed man whispered as they continued on.
After about 20 minutes of hurrying down the dimly lit passage they came across a small elevator. It was a tight squeeze, but they all fit inside. The ride was slow, much slower than a normal transport tube, taking almost 10 minutes for them to reach the bottom.
“I should have told them to wait 45,” the robed man muttered under his breath.
“Why are you helping us?” Ti’Ma asked. The man froze, then looked in her direction.
“Because I despise Duke Zehman and Baron Tuhbil. They are evil, despicable men that torture others for their own amusement,” venom seeped from his every word. Til'Ma nodded, content that the man was of no harm to her lady.
“I'll kill the bastard...” Lady Vickie mumbled, voice hushed, but still seeming to retain some of her senses. The elevator door opened and the robed man rushed out first.
“This way,” his whisper echoed ominously through the narrow passage. She let the two guards go first, then moved out behind. They walked even slower than before, the robed man appearing to be extremely cautious.
“Here...you two...” he breathed, pointing to a wall that looked like all the others. “There will be guards, usually only one or two, but there may be more. When this door opens, the guard post will be to your left and the cells to your right. So if we're lucky, they won't be looking this way.” The two guards nodded and moved in front of the hidden door. A tap brought it open and the guards rushed out, firing their combat arcs without pause. Til'Ma closed her eyes, listening to the fighting erupting just beyond, and the all too familiar sound of death filling the air.
“Let's go!” a metallic voice shouted into the passage. She forced her eyes open and rushed out behind the robed man. One of the Sir Georigi's guards lay dead, the other kneeling beside him.
“Six...” the guard said simply as Til'Ma looked down the hall to see the smoldering remains of the enemy guards lying on the near side of a small barricade that must have been the guard post. They quickly moved on, easily locating the cell containing Sir Georigi.
“This one!” the robed man shouted as he called up a PDU on the wall adjacent the door, entering a code that caused it to slide open.
On the floor of the dark, empty room, covered in blood and sweat, was an unconscious Sir Georigi.
*********
A soothing clarity freed his mind, breaking the grip of darkness that encased all thought. An image of a shackled Lady Vickie appeared first, followed by the words of the baron pronouncing her fate, and their horrible meaning becoming painfully clear. But torment washed away his new found clarity, and his vision of the captured Lady Vickie.
His eyes shot open, his mind screaming to retain the revelation, only to find Lady Vickie's face, flush and pouring sweat mere millimeters from his own. She seemed to be wincing in pain, one of his guards standing tense at her side.
“We need to move, Sir Georigi,” the guard urged, his metallic tinged words rattling though Georigi's throbbing mind.
“What's going on?” he asked, voice hoarse. His memories were hazy and the last thing he could clearly recall was an explosion, then Vickie lying motionless on the floor. Something else started to appear, a bearded face, pronouncing some horrible fate.
“No time...” A robed man kneeled beside him, his touch shattering the memory before it fully returned. He was forced to stand, being led into the hall before he had a chance to react. His vision was still foggy, but he could tell something was amiss with Lady Vickie, who was hunched over, being helped along by her servant, Til'Ma.
“Are you injured, Lady Vickie?” he questioned, voice cracking with every word. Her fiery gaze fell upon him and he almost gasped as he noticed she hadn't been wincing in pain, as he first thought, but holding back pangs of pleasure.
“She was drugged...Noble's Delight...it's makes people more susceptible...” the robed man explained as he started down the hall.
“Did he...was she...” Fear and anger rose within him, pushing aside the pain. Whoever is responsible will pay!
“No, I made sure to get her out before Baron Tuhbil arrived,” the robed man replied, calling forth a wave of relief.
“Can you stand on your own?” Georigi nodded. The robed man released him, handing him a laser arc when he steadied, before moving to the front, next to his combat armored guard.
“Follow.”
They started trotting down the narrow hall and Sir Georigi, after an initial stumble, took Lady Vickie from Til'Ma's arm, causing her to shiver and a moan of desire to escape her lips.
“I need you now...” she whispered, her free hand caressing his chest as she kissed his swollen cheek.
“I'm sorry, Lady Vickie, but we must escape with haste,” he told, voice having almost fully cleared. She moaned her displeasure, but still pulled her hand away, allowing him to carry her fully and hurry after the two men vanishing down a hallway up ahead. When he reached the spot where they vanished, he gasped when he saw a dead body lying motionless in front of a small opening in the wall; one of his guards.
“How...” he asked in disbelief.
“There were six of them,” Til'Ma said from behind, her words oddly unemotional. He looked farther up the hall, seeing the still smoldering pile of dead guards, their tattered green robes revealing where their loyalties lied.
“In here,” a hushed voice instructed and Sir Georigi hurried into the small opening where it had originated. A dimly lit, narrow passage ran in both directions. The guard and robed man waited just within, closing the hidden door once they entered, then urging them to follow in haste. After only a few minutes of running down the passage, the robed man slid to a stop and kneeled, rapping hard on the stone floor. A door slide open and the sound of rushing water assailed his ears.
“It's only waste deep, but running fast,” he looked at the guard. “There should be a hatch on the side of the tunnel in the direction the water is flowing. Stop in front of it and steady yourself in case one of us slips.” Sir Georigi frowned as he thought of what would occur if he lost his footing in the fast running water. The guard nodded and vanished down the hole. They huddled together, their rapid breaths barely noticeable in the face of the waters rumble, waiting anxiously for the guard to locate the hatch. It felt like an eternity had past when a voice rose from below.
“G...Go!” the guards amplified shout sounded over the rushing water. The robed man lowered himself into the rushing water.
“Next! Go!” the guard shouted. He looked at Til'Ma, who nodded, then dropped swiftly through the hole.
“Go!” He took a deep breath, tightening his grip on Lady Vickie, then plummeted into the water. His muscles froze and he almost lost his grip on Lady Vickie as ice cold water shocked his system. But he was somehow able to keep his feet and grip steady.
“Over here!” He could barely hear the guard's words over the rushing water, the utter darkness being all encompassing. He slid his feet slowly across the slimy surface, trying to resist the unrelenting pull of the fast flowing water.
“This way!” The voice became louder as he bumped into a metal body, which forced him towards a hole in the side of the wall, just above the water’s surface. He pushed Lady Vickie through, who cried as he released her into the waiting arms of Til'Ma, then climbed out behind. The robed man helped pull him through as the guard followed, sliding the access port shut.
The robed man dropped to the floor, breathing heavy. “Now we wait
,” he said.
“May I ask...for what?” Georigi stuttered.
“Your guards,”
“They are alive?” he asked, surprised, having thought most would be dead.
“When I left them, yes, but they had to fight through a fortified position. I doubt many will make it alive.” His infant hope vanished. He hugged Lady Vickie close, trying to ignore her roaming hands.
“You have not given me your name, sir?” he asked, the pitch of his voice rising as Lady Vickie found her target.
“Assistant Administrator Illion.” The man's face appeared in his memory and wonder took him.
“But why?” he asked, the silent darkness only broken by their rapid breaths.
“Because Duke Zehman killed my family...and it's about time for my revenge,” Sir Illion’s voice became throaty, the hatred that seeped into his words seemed to make the very darkness ripple. “And you will all help me...oh yes......you will all help me...” his voice faded and Sir Georigi found himself nodding.
“I'll help...” Vickie's ragged words broke the silence as she seemed to gain some semblance of her mind, but before he had a chance to respond, she growled and attacked him.
“Let's move down a ways...” he barely heard the muffled footfalls as their companions moved a distance away, and he finally surrendered to Lady Vickie's drug laden lust.
Chapter 12
Sasha's ghostly vision soared high above Alutia'Earth's colorful landscape as if taken by an imaginary wind. The foliage blurred as it moved ever faster, only to slow when the towering central pillar of Alutia Palace came into view over the distant horizon.
Her vision started to descend, diving through the rippling morning mist, providing her a glimpse of the densely packed native flora shifting abruptly to the vastly dissimilar array used for Alutia City’s biological buildings. She tried to grasp the unexpected sight, so much of the city having changed over the past 45 days she was away. But her vision flew much too fast, swooping towards a landing pad jutting from about half way up the side of the central tower of Alutia Palace.
The Noble Petty, Complete Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 2) Page 36