Star Rider and Bonds of Love: A Sci-Fi Space Opera with a Touch of Fantasy

by Heidi Skarie

“It all started when I first met Seetva. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen—in a purely sensual way. Her hair is long and silky; her brown eyes sparkle like jewels; her features are those of a goddess and her body is smoking-hot. One look is enough to make a man wild with desire.” Zac flushed beet-red, making the freckles on his face stand out even more.

  He cleared his throat. “I felt myself coming under her power from the very first time we met. I couldn’t get her out of my mind. That night, she came to me in my dreams. She was so alluring; she whispered to me in her silvery voice, compelling me to come to her. I was drawn to her, yet at the same time I was terrified of her. Onolyn appeared and I tried to follow her, but she disappeared into the mist. You know how disjointed dreams can be.”

  Michio nodded. “Go on.”

  “I woke up in a trance with an overwhelming urge to go to Seetva. I took an aircar to her home and walked right into a trap. I wish to God I’d been able to resist her. A battle raged within me and gradually my higher self withdrew.” Zac sat on a log, overcome with emotion and buried his face in his hands.

  Michio put his hand on Zac’s shoulder. “What happened next? You need to get it all out.”

  Zac started talking again in a barely audible whisper. “After that, it was a living hell. I was no longer in control of my body. Seetva surrounded me with her evil power and I was helpless against her spells. When Onolyn came to rescue me, I saw her as an enemy, a demon coming to get me. I… I hit her hard enough to knock her unconscious.” His cheeks turned crimson again with shame. “I put Onolyn in a cage on Seetva’s orders. Yet, at times I managed to break away from Seetva’s power long enough to bring food and water to her. It was a hard time. All was a dark illusion, a waking nightmare.

  “By the time Erling and Hendora found us, I was completely under Seetva’s control. I didn’t see them as friends, but as evil demons coming to attack us. I pulled out my gun and told Onolyn to get their weapons. Erling let Onolyn take his, but Hendora drew hers. We both fired. She missed me, but my shot was true. I should’ve been the one to die. I— I might have shot Erling as well, but he called on Master Bakka and broke the spell. I don’t know exactly how—it’s not all clear to me, but I do remember you appeared before me inwardly and the Higher Force became so strong that the sorceress was no match for it.

  “When I woke up, I was freed from her power, but then I discovered Hendora was dead. Only then did the real horror of what I’d done hit me.” He and Michio sat in silence.

  At last Michio cleared his throat. “Seetva is a powerful sorceress and you’ve never been trained to fight black magic. Hendora was partly responsible; she panicked and fired. You wouldn’t have shot her if she’d yielded her weapon. When the three of you first meet Seetva, Hendora should’ve realized the danger you were in, since she was the more experienced field agent. It was a trap and you were all entangled.

  “Zac, let go of the past and move on,” Michio continued. “In your line of work, you’ll often be in situations where you’re responsible for other people’s lives. You’ll just have to do the best you can, taking the experiences as they come. Sometimes you’ll make wrong decisions. Mistakes are part of learning and growing. If you never make any, you’re probably not stretching and challenging yourself.”

  Zac hung his head. “Erling and Onolyn must blame me—though Onolyn insists she doesn’t. I feel ashamed when I’m with them, knowing what I’ve done.”

  “They both understand what happened and value your friendship. Queen Koriann has great confidence in you. She wouldn’t have appointed you Captain of the Royal Guards if she didn’t. You’re young for the position, but she felt it was more important to have someone she trusts completely than a more experienced man. I know because she discussed the decision with me at length. You have to go on, Zac. Accept what happened; learn from past experience.”

  “I don’t feel worthy of being a student of the Secret Teachings,” Zac said, in anguish.

  “Hendora died in the physical, but she lives on in the Inner Worlds. We’re immortal beings. Hendora is in a much more beautiful world than this one. I can take you to see her, if you like.”

  Zac’s eyes widened. “Can you really?”

  “Certainly.” Michio sat beside Zac on the log. “Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to relax your physical body. Now imagine a river flowing by. This river is the Eternal Life Stream. Into that stream, throw all your fears, doubts and guilt.”

  Zac went into contemplation. After a few moments Michio said, “Now place your attention on Spirit and I’ll come to you.” Michio moved into the Inner Worlds and helped Zac leave his physical body.

  In this world we can move by our thoughts, Michio said telepathically. Put your attention on Hendora. Michio pictured Hendora in his inner vision and she was instantly with them.

  Hendora looked much the same as she did when alive in the physical world, but she radiated love and compassion. This love flowed out from her toward Michio and Zac.

  Hendora’s words came to them in thought impressions. I bear you no ill will, Zac. I understand and forgive you. Know that I’m glad to be here and happier than I was in my earthly body.

  Zac felt a wave of love pour over him while Light coursed through him, burning and cleansing him.

  Thank you, Hendora, Zac said telepathically.

  Zac and Michio followed Hendora into a pleasant sitting room. They all sat down and talked about the experiences they had together in the physical world. Then Hendora talked about her new life and all she was learning and experiencing.

  At last Michio said it was time to go. He and Zac placed their attention on their physical bodies and instantly returned to them.

  “Thank you, Michio.” Zac embraced Michio and tears of joy rushed to his eyes. “It was a wonderful experience. I will treasure it always. I feel like a great burden was lifted from me.”

  ***

  A few days later, Michio carried a tray with breakfast on it into the bedroom. Toemeka sat in bed, nursing the baby with a contented expression on her face. Despite her reluctance to give up her life as a Coalition agent, her maternal instincts were strong. He thought she was better suited to her new life. She seemed more at peace, as if she’d come into harmony with her true purpose in life.

  “I brought you some breakfast.”

  “Thank you, it looks good.”

  He set the tray on the night table and took the baby from her so she could eat. He felt a surge of pleasure as he put Baymond against his shoulder and gently patted his back. He’d never paid much attention to babies and was amazed at how much enjoyment his own son brought him.

  “You look tired,” Toemeka said, her fork halfway to her mouth.

  “I walked the baby half the night. If he doesn’t get his days and nights figured out soon, I’m going to let him cry it out.” Michio sat down on the bed, taking a piece of toast off her tray and biting into it.

  “He’s too young to know day from night. He’s not used to this world. Think of what a shock it must be for him after being in the radiant regions of the Inner Worlds. When I look at him, I see that divine spark of Light that many people lose as they grow older and experience the pain of this world. I want him to know we love him.”

  “Love, yes, but not that he’s the king of the roost like he has been so far.”

  “You don’t need to get up at night. I have to get up with him anyway to nurse him.” She looked at him with such a distressed expression that he relented.

  “I’m as soft-hearted as you are, despite what I say. I won’t let him cry for long, but he has to start getting straightened around. I’ve been glad to help with the baby. I’m just tired.” He leaned across the tray and kissed her tenderly.

  “Why don’t you rest for a while?”

  “I’ve gotten behind in my work,” he sighed. “I’ve got manuscript deadlines to meet.”

  “I had an interesting dream last night.”

  “What was it about?”

/>   “I was with you, Koriann, Erling, Zac and Onolyn. Other people were there too, but I didn’t know them. You were teaching a class. When I first woke up, I didn’t remember the dream. I just knew I had a significant one, so I contemplated on it until bits and pieces came back to me. I heard the haunting music of a flute off in the distance and a soft, bluish light all around us. We were in some type of auditorium. I heard you speak, but I can’t remember what you said.”

  “It sounds like a meaningful dream.”

  “Well it was, but what I want to know is, did it really happen?”

  “If you can’t believe your own inner experiences, how are you going to believe me?”

  “You could reinforce it.”

  “I could,” he replied, lifting the baby down from his shoulder. Michio held the baby on his forearm with the infant’s head in his hand. He was so small that his entire body fit between Michio’s wrist and elbow. “You sure are tiny,” he said, smiling at the baby.

  “What an evasive answer. You’re no help.” Toemeka sounded annoyed.

  Michio looked up in surprise. “Wasn’t I?”

  “You didn’t interpret it, tell me it was real or tell me that you remember it, too.”

  “You have to learn to believe in your own dreams—not rely on me. You didn’t need any help interpreting it. It wasn’t that type of dream. If you want me to be more helpful, may I suggest asking the Inner Master to take you back and help you remember whatever experience you had? We can discuss it in the morning.”

  “Are you saying it was real and doesn’t need to be interpreted?”

  “I’m saying I want you to rely less on the outer and more on the inner.”

  “All right, I’ll try to go back tonight, but if you’re as evasive tomorrow as you are today, I’m going to beat you up,” she kidded.

  “You can always tell a true seeker by their degree of determination.”

  She laughed.

  ***

  Toemeka stood by the cradle, gazing down at her five-week-old baby as he slept. “I wonder when your daddy will be home,” she said. “He’s been gone a long time.” It was a warm spring day; she was barefoot and wore a sleeveless dress.

  She heard steps behind her and turned around smiling, expecting to see Michio. The color drained from her face when she saw Cadmus standing there instead. The shock was so great, she swayed on her feet and grabbed the bedpost for support. Here was the man she had seen in her nightmares. It didn’t seem real. How could he be alive? Yet there was no mistaking his distinctive facial features and large physique. He was the same as she remembered him, except an aura of negative, psychic power surrounded him now, as if he’d been studying the black arts.

  “Hello, Toemeka,” he said in an eerily calm voice.

  His familiar baritone sent chills through her. “I thought you were dead!” she gasped.

  “Only seriously wounded. I told you once I wanted you and I always get what I want. I’ve come for you; you’re mine.”

  “I’ll never be yours.” Raw terror pounded through her. She took a step backwards, wondering how to protect her infant son.

  He noticed the cradle and his eyes narrowed. “I knew you were married, but I didn’t expect a baby.”

  “Don’t touch him!” She felt dark psychic energy radiating from Cadmus as she inwardly surrounded Baymond and herself with a shield of Light. “Please leave us in peace. I’ve done nothing to you. Go now and there won’t be any trouble; kidnap me and Jaipar’s military will retaliate.”

  “I’m not afraid of Jaipar’s military.” He crossed the room and grabbed her by the wrist. “Come peacefully or I’ll have to teach you who your new master is.”

  “Let me go!” She tried to wrench her wrist out of his grasp. He twisted her arm behind her back, forcing her to turn around as he pinned her wrist between her shoulder blades.

  “Are you ready to come peacefully?” he asked, giving her arm a hard jerk. She cried out in pain, then nodded submissively. He let go of her wrist and put his arm around her waist, pulling her against his muscular chest.

  “You’re so intoxicating.” He ran his hand through her long hair. “I’ve thought of nothing but having you for my own. You’ve become an obsession.” She jabbed her elbow into his abdomen and he grabbed her wrists and held them both in one of his large hands, still standing behind her. “Do you intend to put up a fight? There’s no one to help you. I made sure Michio was gone.”

  Terror sliced through her. Her dream was coming to life.

  He released her and gave her a shove. “Let’s go.”

  She stumbled forward, then swung around to face him. “Please, Cadmus, don’t take me from my baby. Something could happen to him.”

  “Why should I care what happens to your baby?”

  “Don’t you have any human decency?”

  “I gave it up when I aligned myself with Samrat Condor.”

  “Let me take some things with me,” she said, stalling for time.

  “I’ll buy you whatever you want.”

  “I’d like a few of my own things.”

  “I’ll give you five minutes. If you try anything, I’ll kill your baby.” He stepped over to the cradle.

  Toemeka’s chest constricted in horror. “Stay away from him. I don’t have any weapons.”

  Quickly, she pulled out a travel bag and threw in a few belongings. She glanced at Cadmus who was staring at the baby with a glowering expression. She found an eyebrow pencil, scribbled Cadmus on the bag label, and ripped it off.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, turning toward her.

  “Just getting my makeup,” she said in a shaky voice.

  “What are you hiding? Do you have a gun in that bag?” He came over and grabbed it, dumping its contents on the floor. Toemeka clutched the label in her hand. “What are you so nervous about?” he demanded.

  “It’s not every day I’m abducted!” she snapped back. “What did you expect? That I would welcome you with open arms?” She dropped the label behind her.

  He smiled. “Now you’re behaving more like the woman I remember. That was a nasty scratch you gave me the last time we were together. It’s time to go.”

  Toemeka picked up her bag by the strap and swung it toward him. He grabbed it before it could hit him, wrenching it from her and throwing it to the floor.

  “You intend to put up resistance?”

  She glared at him, her anger overriding her fear. “You can’t get away with this. Michio will hunt you down.”

  “If he does, I’ll kill him.” He pulled her close and kissed her with brutal savageness. She kicked him ineffectively in the shins, struggling to get free. At last, he released her. His eyes held a cruel, lustful look. “I should take you right now!”

  She slugged him in the stomach. He lifted her off the ground and bodily threw her across the room. She crashed into the bedside table, her side hitting the table edge with intense impact. She crumpled up in agonizing pain as the room tilted and whirled around her. Her vision blurred and she felt lightheaded.

  “Want to play more games?” Cadmus asked, glaring down at her.

  She stared at him with dread, while hearing the baby’s cries fill the room.

  “Get up!”

  She grasped the table, attempting to pull herself up. Cadmus grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet. She cried out in pain, her body broke into a sweat and vomit rose in her throat. She swallowed it back down.

  “What is it?” he demanded.

  “My side,” she gasped, clutching it. “I think I broke a rib.” She swooned and Cadmus gathered her into his arms. She was hardly aware of anything but the searing pain, stabbing into her side like a thousand needles.

  “We have to get out of here.”

  She gazed at the cradle, distressed at the thought of never seeing her child again.

  Baymond lay on his back; his little face was red and his tiny hands clutched into fists as he continued to scream. She sent him love while inwardly reachi
ng out to Michio. Come quickly. Baymond needs you; I need you. She was in such agony that the inner communication wasn’t clear and direct. Her hand went to the heart locket that hung around her neck as she thought of Michio.

  Cadmus’s eyes followed her gesture. He snatched the locket from her, breaking the chain, and threw it on the floor. “You’ll wear no man’s gifts but mine.”

  He carried her downstairs where two of his men waited. When Toemeka saw them, she was terrified that Michio would arrive home and be killed. What chance did he have against three men? All hope of being rescued drained away and her fight and strength left her. She broke down sobbing against Cadmus’ thick shoulder.

  He took her outside and lifted her into an air-car. They traveled at high speed for what seemed like an eternity to Toemeka with her pain-ridden body. She continued to weep until she was drained of tears and only partially conscious of what was happening around her. Her side ached unmercifully and every jerk of the vehicle caused new waves of torturous, stabbing pain.

  At last the car stopped. Cadmus got out and lifted her into his arms. “We’ll be on the ship in a few minutes. You can rest there,” he said.

  Once inside his cabin, he placed her on a bed and sat beside her. She caught a glimpse of tenderness in his eyes, but when her eyes met his, the look was immediately replaced by an unyielding expression.

  “It’s your own fault you got injured. You shouldn’t have resisted me.” He lifted a bottle from the dresser and handed her some pills. “Take these.”

  “What are they?”

  “Something to help ease the pain.”

  “I don’t want them.” She turned away from him. The roar of the engines started up and sorrow filled her. She didn’t know if she would ever see her husband and child again.

  Cadmus sat on the bed next to her and pulled her into a sitting position. He put a pill in her mouth and forced her to swallow it with some sweet-tasting liquid. She lay back on the bed, resting again. After a while, bright colors started flashing through her head, then they turned into evil cartoon-like figures.

  Master Bakka, where are you? I need to feel your presence, she thought. What did he give me? Distorted images clouded her mind and sent her into a terrible region in the lower astral world. Monsters and other grotesque creatures appeared. “Go away! Go away!” she moaned.