The Noble Petty, Complete Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 2)

by Craig Gerttula

  She then recalled having a serious discussion with Trent about how to best reprimand the captain of the ABF Sasha, Captain Daiyu, along with what commendations should be provided to her and the crew, for their foolhardy, but still valiant actions. Except, something else had happened during the discussion, something that lay in a dense fog that Sasha could not fully recall. An odd drink had been provided, but not by Gil'Da or her other servants; so by who?

  A featureless face floated in her memory, then steadily became clearer, before appearing fully in her mind's eye. It was Vickie. Why had I not thought it odd at the time? She wondered, knowing it clearly strange, Vickie providing her drink, and, as would be expected, everything after her first sip was a blur.

  “Ahem,” a loud cough broke her free of her thoughts as the lights came on in her bedchamber.

  The noble bed she shared with Trent within their inner apartments on the ABF Sasha was packed with her ladies. Regalia and Vickie cuddled to Trent's left, while Tiana and Yukie slept, spread-eagle, to her right. Trent lay almost completely beneath her, his eyes shut, still lost in peaceful slumber. She kissed his cheek softly, before turning to see who had entered their bedchamber unannounced. Standing ridged in the open doorway was Gil'Da, her head servant, face of molten steel, as if she was holding back her consternation with all her might.

  “Sir Illion would like to know if you and Sir Trent are available for lunch, Your Grace,” Gil'Da stated, her words bereft of all emotion.

  “Yes...that is fine, Gil'Da,” Sasha responded, sitting up an elbow. “Do you know what happened last night?” she asked drowsily, regretting the question as it escaped her lips.

  “Oh yes, Your Grace. After dinner you and Sir Trent seemed to forget your manners, yet again...poor Belia almost had a heart attack when she entered your sitting room to find Regalia and your ladies, ears plastered to the bedchamber's door...listening to the sounds...oh the sounds!” Gil'Da lamented, burying her face in her palms. “Where did I go wrong? I'm sorry, Your Grace. You are a fine lady, but I wish...I wish you would have more “discretion”.” Gil'Da recovered quickly, always uncomfortable questioning nobility. But Sasha felt as if a weight had left her soul. Her ladies must have entered the bedchamber after the fact, or so she hoped.

  “Mmm...yes, Sasha, you must be much more careful. I've heard enough; oh, my duke, my Trent, to last a lifetime,” Vickie stirred, releasing Regalia and sliding closer to an unsuspecting Trent. Sasha swiftly rolled over him to block her advance, and was rewarded with a seductive hand on her hip.

  “That may be my fault. I thought you meant for me to give her...” Til'Ma, another of her servants, who had entered quietly behind Gil'Da, voice faded when Vickie stared daggers in her direction.

  “Vickie! What did you give me?” Sasha pushed her away with a shout. Vickie grinned, crawling across the noble bed and out of Sasha's reach, then moved behind the waking Regalia to hide her face in the young girl’s tumbling golden locks.

  Sasha's gaze turned to Til'Ma. “What did she order you to do?” Til'Ma went pale, stiff as a statue, her eyes shifting between her and Vickie, unsure if she should betray her old master for her new.

  “I'm sorry, Lady Sasha. Vickie said she wanted to make you more susceptible for the continuation of your previous sleeping arrangements...so I...I slipped some concentrated Ethanol-B into your beverage...or thought I did. I confused it with Noble's Delight,” Til’Ma explained. Sasha felt her anger rise, turning her glare back to Vickie, who was now hiding under the covers with a giggling Regalia.

  “Your Highness! You were ever the lady...you even dropped your gown and provided the rest of us a fine show,” Tiana mocked, cutting off her retort. She spun to find both Tiana and Yukie blushing furiously while adorning wide, dirty grins that would be a better fit on perverted old men. Embarrassment started replacing her anger; was I really walking around nude? Terra and Lia, her and Trent's catillians, appeared from within Trent's curly, dirty brown locks, squeaking and hooting in delight as they hopped into her exposed cleavage, appearing to sense her rapidly shifting emotions.

  “But Trent had to ruin it! I almost saw it. Why wouldn't he let me watch?” Yukie pouted, Tiana giggling alongside, her twinkling eyes providing Sasha a new hope. That Trent must have carried her into the bedchamber when she first lost control.

  “What is this?” Trent whispered in muffled confusion as tears crept into her eyes.

  “Oh Trent! What did I do? They say I made such a scene,” Trent's expression turned dubious, but a tiny smirk quickly appeared on his lips as he seemed to realize to what she referred.

  “You were rather “aggressive” last night, my love. But we made it back just fine. I'm mor-.” Sasha cut him off as she stared angrily at the now laughing Tiana and Yukie, who slipped out of bed and darted past the group of servants who had gathered in the doorway.

  “Sasha, you didn't do anything wrong. We should not have been eavesdropping and Vickie really just wanted to help, since you have been ever so lonely without Trent,” Regalia explained, her big, baby blue eyes peeking out from under the covers.

  Sasha felt the last of her anger drain. “Thank you, Regalia, I know you meant no harm. But Trent and I do fine without any assistance!” she raised her tone as Vickie began inching closer, then, realizing Sasha was still irritated, grabbed the giggling Regalia under one arm and exploded out of the bed, throwing the sheets over her and Trent to mask their escape. Sasha threw the sheets clear and sat up, shaking her fist at her retreating ladies.

  “Gil'Da, tell Sir Illion we will be ready in an hour,” Gil'Da bowed, her expression softening as if knowing the facts made her doubt Sasha less. Her gaze turned to Til'Ma as Gil'Da exited. “Til'Ma...as much as you might love Lady Vickie, she is no longer your master. So, with that in mind, you will be assisting me with my revenge,” she smiled mischievously. Til'Ma, whose skin had stayed a ghostly white, curtsied as it started returning to its normal pink hue.

  “Anything, Your Grace...and thank you,” Sasha waved the servant over.

  “Go to the crew and tell them...” Til'Ma's cheeks went crimson as Trent choked, coughing when he overheard her planned revenge.

  Oh yes, I can also play this game, she smiled deviously, watching Til'Ma exit. The moment the door slid shut, she kissed Trent deeply, giving in to the rising lust that she blamed on the lingering effects of the Noble's Delight.

  *********

  Trent's knees wobbled precariously, threatening to fail at any moment as he took another step. He reluctantly accepted Sasha's support, who braced her arm firmly about his waist when she sensed his weakness. Alutia Guard Private Fit'Oni tried to take up position on his other flank, but Sasha shooed him away, the look in her eyes telling the man she would handle this matter personally. The shaking quickly subsided and they continued their slow trek through their apartment onboard the ABF Sasha, heading towards their formal dining hall and waiting guests.

  His left leg buckled and he sway, Sasha barely able to keep her grip as he stumbled against the crimson colored wall, about to curse his failing. But he held his tongue, knowing there was little he could do to solve the weakness's source, he having severely damaged his motor cortex during his foray on Heclutia, making even the simplest movement exceedingly difficult.

  He'd suffered a severe concussion when he and Sasha were thrown from their shuttle's combat tube during the initial stages of Lady Vickie's rescue operation. He recalled little of the incident and what happened next. But apparently, he and Sasha had led a petty uprising against the ruling noble, Baron Tuhbil, who had been mistreating the petties. It was during this encounter that his severe concussion became severe brain damage.

  From the less then thorough explanation he received from Sasha, she unwilling to fully recall the memory of the incident, one of Baron Tuhbil's guards had tried to force his head through a stone wall. The injury was further aggravated when he tumbled, or jumped as Sir Seb'Losh explained, from the landing pad during the final battle.

&
nbsp; It was an injury that could be easily healed, he knew, if he chose to stay within a medical tubed for a couple weeks, allowing the specialized nanites and nutrient liquid to repair the damaged tissue and neural pathways while separating his consciousness.

  He shivered at the thought. His past experience with tubing making any prolonged entry an unacceptable proposition. He had made this clear to the starship's medical officers, who knew any tubing would end after the minimum amount of time required for his safety had passed.

  “Are you alright, my duke?” Sasha asked, her loving concern calming his nerves. He forced a smile, nodding in reply, not certain he could trust his voice. With a look that told him she knew exactly what he was thinking, she helped him back to the center of hallway, then forced open their bond to flood him with a river of soothing emotions. He returned his own love, but found his fear slip through as well, which he'd thought hidden, locked deep within his heart. Sasha's eyes flashed, a new tension appearing within. She moved before him, placing a hand on his cheek and the other on his hip, expression turning serious.

  “Trent...what's going on? You're not...” her question trailed off as he shook his head carefully, raising a trembling hand, knowing she would ask if he was dwelling on his past, his fits of sudden depression still threatening to emerge from just below the surface.

  “No...but my body doesn't seem to want to listen to me...” his explanation seemed shallow after the night before, when he had little trouble forcing his body to listen. The hazy memory caused him to blush.

  Sasha gently caressed his cheek, constant worry in her eyes. “You will be fine, my duke. Medical Officer Ru'Lut explained that the nanites are still repairing the tissue and neural pathways in the areas of your brain that took the worst of the damage,” she reassured while leaning in to kiss him, lingering for a moment, allowing him to force his trembling arms around her.

  “I'm sorry you have to see me like this, my love...my weakness. I know it's not my fault, but like this I...I can't protect you, and we need to save Sir Georigi and...and...” his voice trailed off as the knowledge of what was to come returned, but faded as his mind seemed to have trouble grasping exactly what it meant. Sasha went stiff, face frozen, unreadable, and Trent knew he had made her angry.

  “Why do you call this weakness? Is it weakness that you were injured while saving me, saving Hec'Ure, saving the petties?” her bottom lip began to tremble. “I hate it. I hate when you place yourself in danger. But I know you must or you would not be you. But this injury is because you are strong, stronger than anyone else in the universe. You are my love. You are my duke. You are my Trent......and no matter what happens, I would never think you weak!” Sasha exclaimed. Their bond erupted open and he felt the torrent of the raw emotions behind what she spoke. He felt her pride at his actions, her unyielding respect, and most of all, her undying love; a love so deep that even if he wanted to escape its grasp, he never could, it having become a part of his very being. Tears came to his eyes as he embraced her, his arms steady, finally listening to his mind.

  “Once again...I'm sorry, my love, I...I doubt myself and realize too late my words are foolish and hollow, harming those around me. Sasha, please...again, tell me,” he whispered, doubt reappearing. Doubt he thought vanquished since after their wedding.

  “Trent...look at me,” she placed both her hands on his cheeks and forced him to look into her emerald eyes; such beautiful eyes. “I love you and will never betray you. My words are the truth and you are the greatest man in the universe. No matter what your mind may tell you. Do you think I would love you if this was not so?” she explained clearly. His mind spun, he recalling his vow, the vow from his time on Earth, then again on Alutia'Earth. But he didn't, the words melting in his mind, being dragged into a vortex that began to absorb his consciousness.

  “Sasha...something...someth...is wro...” he looked at her, or thought he did, her head becoming cloudy as his vision split.

  “Trent! Trent! Look at me! Trent!” Sasha’s words were distant. He felt himself falling, but was held up by her embrace, the darkness completely enveloping his vision.

  As his consciousness began to fade, he reached out with his mind, trying to grasp onto a solid image, the only image that remained clear within his vanishing thoughts; the image of Sasha.

  “Sasha!” he shouted, or thought he did, her presence enveloping him within the utter darkness.

  “Trent! Oh Trent! Open your eyes, please!” Sorrowful words of pleading responded through their bond. He pushed harder, grasping onto her desperate emotions, dragging them closer.

  A flash engulfed his mind.

  A small meadow of knee high grass interspersed with a multitude of wild flowers from Earth surrounded him, their many sweet aromas and vibrant colors assailing his senses. They seemed to enter his mind through his eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and touch simultaneously. The mystifying sensation was euphoric.

  Small, swirling globes of pure white light rose from the grassy meadow, passing through him like they, or he, were ethereal. They continued into the darkening sky, joining a swirling coalescence to vanish into a black core that his mind told him shouldn't exist, the meadow being bathed in pure white light. Amazed, he turned his gaze forward and froze, a chill crawling across his skin.

  Beyond the few meters of luscious green grass and colorful flowers lay an unbroken landscape of white, as if covered in a thin layer of freshly fallen snow, extending far beyond sight in all directions. He slowly climbed to his feet, finding himself clothed in a wispy white shirt and pants that left little to the imagination. He thought hard about how he came to be in this bizarre world, but no memories existed. Moments before his mind began to fade, he recalled Sasha standing before him, darkness and despair filling him. Then nothing, as if he'd been teleported away, or more likely, his mind had collapsed, him and his surroundings a fantasy, a dream world. But if that was true, why did he feel the strange itching in his mind, the same as when he first learned of his BC Node, when his genetic makeup was altered on Earth. The memory of how he'd scratched that itch returned, and just like he had done at that time, he concentrated; reaching out for the voice, not the expected metallic one, but that of Sasha.

  “Trent!” Her shout surrounded him, echoing unnaturally across the bizarre landscape. Again, he reached out with his mind, this time grasping onto the voice, onto the person behind it, and suddenly, she appeared.

  “Trent....oh Trent, my duke!” Sasha leapt into his arms, hugging him fiercely, and they tumbled through the grassy meadow, kissing, again and again.

  “Sasha...is that really you?” he asked, doubting that she could actually join him in this dream world. She momentarily pulled away, staring at him in confusion, then, as if blinders were removed, she noticed the world around them, eyes going wide with wonder.

  “Trent it...it is me but...but where are we?” she asked, bewilderment filling her every word.

  He followed her quickly shifting gaze across the white landscape. “I don't know...the last thing I remember is collapsing and trying to call out for you as the darkness...” he let his explanation fade, unable to think of a proper way to describe the feeling of falling into a vortex of dark despair.

  Sasha nodded, appearing to be lost in her own thoughts. “Yes...that's it. I remember you calling out to me. I tried to respond, but I do not think you heard me. Then...then you did call out, and I grabbed hold and...and here I am...” she said with wonder. It was unbelievable, her being in his dreams. If that is where we actually are, Trent thought, still skeptical. They carefully climbed to their feet, holding each other close, neither wanting to let go, fearful of what may befall them.

  “Do you have any idea what is going on?” he asked. She slowly shook her head, a playful smile appearing on her lips, out of place in their current predicament.

  “I remembered,” her playful smile spread and her excited words brought back memories, from not that long ago.

  Two ghostly apparitions appeared in the
green meadow beside them, slowly coalescing into two people he immediately recognized. One, a woman with long, silky black hair and the face of a goddess wearing a too tight red jumpsuit, her bosom threatening to burst free, and the other, a man, with curly, dirty brown hair, covered in a thick layer of dust, wearing a similar jumpsuit, but of blue and white.

  “Trent...that's us. What's going on?” Sasha asked in disbelief, surprise and excitement trying to force their way into her words at the same time.

  “I just remembered the first time you said that to me...when we first met and...” the apparitions faded and they were again alone in the meadow. Sasha stared at him, furrowing her brow in thought. He ran his hand through her long, silky black hair without thought, the touch seeming real. Another memory appeared.

  A naked man and woman lay in each other's embrace before them. Trent blushed as he realized what he was seeing. The grip on his arm tightened as a gasp escaped Sasha's lips, a hand covering her mouth in disbelief.

  “Trent that's-,” Sasha started, but was cut off as she pulled herself closer to him, watching the scene of their past lovemaking unfold before them, then fade into nothingness.

  “What is this,” she whispered to nobody in particular. But Trent knew this was a dream, his dream. It was the only explanation.

  “It's my dream,” he said. “Ouch!” he yelped as he felt a painful pinch.

  “Not a dream?” she asked, half in mirth.

  “No,” another memory returned, born from the place of those better left forgotten, and the ghostly image of he and Sasha again appeared, watching another hazy figure intently. They were back on Earth, in the underground research lab.

  “If this isn't a dream, why do my memories keep appearing before us?” he asked as the apparitions of Captain Trelic faded, much faster than the previous.