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Chapter Ten

S tar

We get off at the last stop before the top of the mountain. I let Ar’Tok drag me toward the edge to show me this latest vista, but my mind is thinking of nothing but what just happened on the train.

Ar’Tok just said he loved me! Wow. And I said it back. Double wow. A sane person would be scolding herself right now, wondering how crazy she is, but I’m not going there. I’m going to double down on this feeling—wallow in it, luxuriate in it.

I’ll be honest with myself, I fell in love with Ar’Tok before we met. I hate to sound like one of the romance novels I read, but we’re soulmates. Well, except for the swacheck music. But that’s the exception that proves the rule.

I envision the pictures I used to plaster all over the bridge when I talked to him. The handsome Simkins with the bronze skin and brass-colored horns. Then I steal a glance at my handsome Simkin of pale skin and patterned red scars that scream of his character. I like this male better. Mom used to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. She was right. The male holding my hand is the most handsome male I’ve ever laid my eyes on.

We’re standing a respectful distance from the edge, admiring the beauty. It seems that for every foot higher we progress up the mountain the more amazing the view.

The rocky mountain rises behind us, but here toward the edge, it’s flat and grassy. Ar’Tok pulls me with him as we skirt the perimeter. He stays on the outside, keeping me safely away from an accidental fall.

Only a few people exited the grinton at this stop, most of them were waiting to exit until they hit the peak at the next stop. I noticed little Shamdah and his mother re-board the train before it left. Sweet boy. The way he talked to Ar’Tok touched my heart.

“Is that a cave?” I ask, pointing between bushes that almost obstruct the view.

“Want to explore?” he asks.

He tugs me with him as he picks his way through the thick foliage. From some angles it looks like a wall of sheer rock, but from other angles I could swear there’s a cave back there.

We finally arrive at the spot and it’s simply rock, no cave, just interesting shadows.

“We’re away from prying eyes,” Ar’Tok says with a sly grin. “I don’t want to embarrass you, but we could sneak some kisses, couldn’t we?”

He pulls me against the rock, which is cool to the touch because it’s hidden by foliage. The moment seems so ineffably sweet as I wait for his beautiful face to dip toward me, finally breaching the final inch to touch his warm lips to mine.

His cirr grip my head, pulling me closer—as if I had any desire to pull away. His kisses morph from sweet to desperate in the blink of an eye. It’s as if he can’t get enough of me, as if he’s tasting me, committing me to memory.

The last time we discussed it, I told him I wanted to go back to the Misfit . How could I possibly leave him now? As soon as I’m not breathless from his kisses I need to tell him I want us to stay together. The idea of inviting him to join me on the Misfit flits through my mind, but I don’t need to be alone and isolated anymore. Neither of us does.

We’re making friends on the Fool , and they’re such great people. Now that they’ve taken on the new males they rescued from planet Trent, they’ve got a lot of mouths to feed. My hacking income can help.

Ar’Tok has kissed me senseless. My eyes flicker shut and I grab his horns near his head. When he sucks in a swift aroused breath, I know I shouldn’t have done it. It’s not fair to make him so horny when I can’t fulfill him.

Pulling away before I make matters worse, I grab his hand and walk deeper into the brush.

“Ar’Tok, it looks like we’ve found a cave after all.”

It’s tucked into an outcropping that’s hidden by boulders and shrubs.

“Let’s pretend we’re explorers,” I say excitedly. “Maybe we’re the first people to find this place.” I know this is ridiculous, millions of visitors traipse up this mountain every year. We can’t be the only ones who’ve discovered this place, can we?

We’re completely unprepared to enter a cave. Although we’re both wearing heavy boots and layers of clothing, we don’t have a laser light.

Even though we can’t really explore, this provides a solution to our other predicament—the horny predicament. We could definitely sneak far enough inside to explore each other—naked.

Maybe Ar’Tok has the same thought, because he asks, “Where are we on time? I want to make sure we don’t miss the last grinton . I wouldn’t want to piss off the evil little cartel male.”

“Yeah, that would be whack. It’s 1420. We should be back on the grinton in forty minutes. That gives us just enough time to . . .” I raise one eyebrow, toss him a wicked smile while I lick my lips, and boldly pull him through the mouth of the cave.

Barely inside, I back against the inner wall, grab him by the collar of his yellow slicker, and pull his head to kiss me. His gentle hands war with his cirr to touch my cheeks. Although I’m the one who began the kiss, Ar’Tok takes control, his tongue spearing into me, tasting me, as I taste him.

I pull away, grab his horns near his scalp and ask, breathless, “Did you just tell me you love me?”

Without waiting for his answer, I kiss him, exploring his mouth, losing myself in his sweet, spicy vanilla taste. He lifts me up and I spread my legs wide. I wind up with my clit notched against his straining cock, which garners a surprised gasp from me.

“I did,” he says breathlessly when he pulls away far enough to try to make out my features in the dim light. “And as I recall . . .” he nips my bottom lip, pulling it between his teeth. “You said it back.”

His cirr comb through my hair, as if they’re seconding his pleased announcement and thrilled with my response.

“Yes. I believe I did,” I admit, not certain he can see the happy smile stretched across my face. Wiggling, I try to get down. I want my hands free to skim along every plane and angle of his hard body. We have less than fortyty minutes before we catch the grinton and I want to make the most of it.

I’m panting with desire; my blood is pounding in my veins. We kiss for long minutes. I’m not only drowning in the joy of the powerful feelings coursing through my body, but I’m exulting in the knowledge that we’ve both acknowledged our love for each other. This is the happiest day of my life!

He sets me down next to the wall, and before I slide my fingers under his shirt, I glance at my wrist-comm.

“Crap, Ar’Tok! We need to get moving. Now!”

He grabs my hand and begins to pull me to the opening when the rock floor beneath me gives way.

My mind barely has time to register my shock as I fall down a narrow tunnel, feeling every scrape and pull of the jagged rock, then hit with a hard thud.

Ar’Tok

She was in my grip! One moment I had my hands on her and the next she slipped right out from under me and disappeared. The rock was solid under our feet, at least it felt that way. But it must have been thin enough that Star’s slight weight cracked it open. I tried to grip her wrist, but she fell like a heavy rock down the hole.

“Star!” I call, but hear no answer.

Kneeling, I see nothing but the black tubular walls of a narrow tunnel. A piece of her yellow coat, smaller than the palm of my hand, clings to a jagged piece of the newly-created passageway wall.

I snatch it before it, too, falls, and press it to my mouth as if it was my beloved herself. My wrist-comm says we have five minimas before the last grinton leaves. The little station wasn’t manned. Even if I run, the vehicle will have pulled out of the station before I get there. This mountain will be deserted until the trains start again tomorrow morning.

“Star!” I call again, but hear nothing in response.

My eyes are better accustomed to the light by now. I’m on my hands and knees, peering into the hole. I think I see her! It’s her yellow coat in a crumpled heap, twenty or thirty fiertos down.

I try to use my wrist-comm, but we’ve been out of range since the first grinton stop. I could leave the cave, trying different spots on the mountain to hope for a signal, but that would be a waste of time—time we don’t have.

Since I was old enough to play, I hung like a fresta from the bars at the top of my cell. My upper body strength is prodigious. If my shoulders can fit through this hole, I can shimmy down. Somehow, I’ll figure a way to bring her back up—I have to.

I slide into the hole, press my outer thighs against the jagged rock and lower myself down. The moment when I loosen my grip from the top and am fully underground, I allow myself the fleeting thought that there’s a chance neither Star nor I will ever emerge. Shaking my head to dislodge that thought from my mind, I lower myself through the narrow channel deeper into the chasm.

It also strikes me that it’s not just our lives hanging in the balance. If Star doesn’t meet Ergonn in less than four hoaras , he’ll be gunning for every one of our friends.

Friends. It’s an interesting moment to realize I value the others on the ship as my friends.

I shut all those musings down and focus only on the task at hand.

The tube is narrow. At times, I have to drag my wide shoulders against craggy rock in order to slip downward. Other times I have to bend my arms at the elbow and press outward with all my might to keep from falling.

I hear Star’s agonized groan. Relieved breath leaves me in a loud huff as I realize that was the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. It means my Star, no matter how bruised, battered, or broken, is still alive.

“Star. I’m coming. Can you see me?”

I continue inceing downward, cautioning myself with every movement to be careful and take my time so I can rescue my beloved.

“Ar’Tok?”

“You fell, Star. The rock underneath your feet must have been paper thin and opened to a lava tube.”

“You have a rope?”

“I’m shimmying down to get you.”

I’m close enough now that I drop the final six fiertos , landing with a jarring thud a few fiertos from her.

It’s pitch black down here. I can barely see her yellow slicker in the scant light falling through the shaft.

Kneeling next to her, I order myself to see her, to be able to inspect her injuries, but it’s too dark.

“Where are you hurt, love? How bad are your injuries?”

My hands find her neck, feeling for broken bones—a broken neck would be the worst thing.

“I don’t know. I hurt all over. That’s probably a good thing, at least I’m not paralyzed.”

“Thank the Gods,” I breathe. “I just want you out of here. We’ll figure everything else out when we’re back outside.”

“When are the rescuers coming?” she asks.

“It’s you and me, love. Don’t worry, I’m going to get you out of here.”

Now that I’m here, I realize about twenty flaws in my plan. Let’s face it, there was no plan other than climbing down here. The tunnel was so narrow I barely got through it in places, how am I going to get us both back up there?

I think it through, heave a big sigh, and decide there is no time like the present to start moving.

“I imagine you’re pretty banged up, Star. I can’t fix any of it. Getting you up this lava tube is going to hurt. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

That’s my Star. The Star who breathed in sync with me during those interminable hours when I was on my way to rescue her. How did I earn her implicit trust? I have no idea, but I hope I’m worthy of it.

After tearing my slicker off, I gently pull off her backpack, then her slicker, paying close attention to her soft moan when I bend her right arm.

“Think it’s broken?” I ask.

“It hurts a lot, but I don’t think so.”

I picture a sling in my mind, similar to one I saw a female on the train carry her baby in, then recreate the design by tying the two slickers together. Within minimas , I’m standing with Star cuddled against my chest, held tightly by the yellow contraption.

After pulling the straps of her backpack as loose as they go, I help her drink as much water as she wants, then slide my arms through the extended pack straps while it’s still clinging to her back. It’s another binding that will keep her from falling.

When I moved her legs into position, although she was trying to be stoic, she couldn’t contain her squeal of pain. Although there’s no doubt in my mind she broke her leg, there’s nothing I can do but get her up this tube as quickly as possible.

“Hold on!” I jump into the tube and try to get a handhold. My hands don’t gain purchase. I land back on the ground with a hard thud, forcing a grunt from Star. I just increased the difficulty tenfold because even though I can’t see my hands, I can feel blood slicking my palms.

“Sorry, Love.”

“Quit worrying. I’ll handle the pain, you handle the climb,” she sounds so brave even though I can tell she’s in so much agony that every word costs her.

I say nothing, just leap to grab an outcropping of rock again. I succeed this time, and can now begin the laborious process of pulling both of us upward, one painful, awkward lurch at a time.

As soon as I’m fully enveloped in the tube, I use my legs to assist the process. At times my feet help by finding footholds, at times I press my thighs against the rough rock surface, using them to lever upward. Pressing outward with all my might, my legs alone keep us from falling as my hands reach for higher ground.

We’re two-thirds of the way up when we reach the tightest part of the passage. I haven't heard a peep from her for long minimas . I assume she passed out from the pain, but I see no choice other than to keep laboring upward.

“Star!” I call.

No answer. This is probably for the best; scraping against the unforgiving rock won’t hurt her until she regains consciousness.

I press my back, now unprotected by the slicker, hard against the rock. Every bit of pain my back absorbs as I press with all my might, ensures a bit less pressure my Star will have to endure.

My cirr have a strong grip on her. Some of the thin strands have a stranglehold on her hair, the thicker strands are twined under her arms as if her life depends on it. It does.

My feet edge us upward and my hands grab and pull and finally manage to grip the top of the chute.

Using all my upper body strength, I pull us out of the chute and heave myself on my back, taking care to put no pressure on Star. I allow myself a few modicums to lie here, my breath heaving, and my arm and leg muscles quivering from exertion.

The moment I catch my breath, I ease to my feet and carry her outside to inspect her in the fading light.

Dear Gods! Even though she’s still strapped tightly to me, I can see her right thigh is bent all wrong. Did she just make that journey up thirty fiertos being tugged and pulled and thrown around like a child’s doll? And without a word of complaint? If I didn’t love her before this moment, I surely do now.

“The last grinton has long gone, Star,” I say although I assume she’s still unconscious.

She moans and her eyes flicker open.

“How’s your pain, love?” I peer down at her head on my pec.

“Can you get us down the mountain?” she asks, evading my question.

I check my comm and then hers—still no signal. “Do you think Ergonn will follow through with his threat to kill us all if you don’t show up tonight?”

“You were there,” she whispers through gritted teeth. “What do you think?”

“I’ll get you there. On time.” I vow.

I double-check the ties binding us together, then begin our descent.

Although most of the travelers we saw today took the grinton , there were a few who struck off on cleared paths. I find a trail and increase my pace to a jog even though I know that every footfall makes a concussion, and every concussion must rub bone on bone for Star.

“Should I slow down?” I ask, even as I speed up. Not only am I racing against breaking Ergonn’s edict, I’m racing against the setting sun.

“No. Keep going,” she urges.

I hear voices up ahead, and see two males traveling the path. They look well up to the task of the hike with proper footwear, coats, and backpacks.

“Help!” I call to them.

They’re reptilian. Most reptilian races aren't known for their compassion and altruism, but these two respond immediately to my call.

“Ho!” they say.

“My female fell thirty fiertos . I believe she has a broken leg. We must get down quickly. Can you call our friends to meet us at the bottom of the mountain?” I slow to a walk, and they follow me as I keep going.

“Halt!” The elder says. He has gray whiskers sprouting in odd places from his jowls. “Stop.” He opens his backpack, pulls out a thin silver warming blanket, and wraps it gently around Star.

“Thanks,” she whispers.

He tips a water flask to her lips, then offers, “I have painkillers.”

“Yes.” I say as Star says, “No.”

“Ergonn needs you there at 1900, it doesn’t matter if you’re out of it. As long as you’re there you fulfilled his demand. If he has to wait a few hoaras for you to be sober enough to do your work, so be it,” I tell her

“Okay.” She nods.

“Tell me what these are,” I say. “Our doctor will need to know.”

“Here,” he tosses me the bottle of pills. “Tell me how to comm your friends. We’ll run ahead of you, comm’ing every few minimas until we get a signal and reach them. They’ll be waiting for you at the trailhead.”

“I don’t know how to thank you,” I call after them as they run down the path ahead of us.

There are narrow rocky patches where I’m forced to slow to a walk, and a few spots where I have to traverse with hands and feet clinging to precarious ledges all the while trying to protect the precious female secured to my chest. But we continue downward.

I have a bad moment where I wonder if those two reptilians lied to us and aren’t going to call our friends at all, but my comm lights up a minima later with a message from Zar, On our way. Dr. Drayke and Nova are with us. He’ll patch Star up in the hover and we’ll get you to Ergonn’s on time. Stay safe.

It’s dark now, luckily I can make my way by Paragon’s two moons. Both are slivers of light, but between the two of them, I can see the path, which has now widened. We’re almost down the mountain on a much flatter incline than the course we took to begin our journey. When I glance over my shoulder toward the top of Kimanji, I can’t believe I came so far carrying Star.

I hear voices up ahead and identify Zar, Dax, and Shadow. Dr. Drayke is talking, too.

“You’re going to be alright,” I tell Star, but she’s out. Hopefully the pain meds the reptilians gave us are giving her some peace.

The two reptilians are at the hover waiting, I guess, for us to arrive safely.

“I can’t thank you enough,” I call to them when I’m a hundred fiertos away. “Can I give you credits?”

“No. Thanks. Go in peace.”

How many messages do I need to receive today to realize that people of all races and in all places have the ability to be kind? This is a revelation.

The doc and Nova are racing a hover-stretcher toward us, and a moment later Star’s on it. As soon as we’re in the hover-ambulance, Shadow lifts off and Dr. Drayke gets to work. I don’t ask how my comrades commandeered this vehicle; I’m just glad they did.

Before I’m aware of what’s happening, the meticulous blue doc has cut the fabric of Star’s thick pants from ankle to waistband and is inspecting her worst injury.

“Dear Gods!” I say, the words barely croaking through my parched lips.

“Nova,” Dr. Drayke says, “get Ar’Tok some water to drink, wash his wounds, then swab them with antiseptic, then cover anything that needs it with plas-film.”

“No,” I insist. “Just focus on Star.”

“Up until two minimas ago, you were in charge, Ar’Tok. You were her rescuer and protector. Two hoaras from now you’ll resume those duties. Right now I am absolutely in charge. Am I clear?”

“Yes,” I say reluctantly, knowing he’s right.

“A femur fracture is painful. It’s the biggest bone in the body and will take some time to heal. It will not kill her. Do you understand? Your female will be fine. Got it? Leave this to me and Nova.”

Even though Nova is working on my body, my full attention is focused on what the doc is doing to Star.

I glance down to see my clothes are shredded, my skin is littered with scrapes, and bloody gouges. I’m sure my back is even worse, and as I suspected, my palms are cut to ribbons. It means nothing. I’m too concerned about my female.

“Dax!” Dr. Drayke calls to the huge male in the front seat. “I need you back here.”

I crane my head to see what’s happening on Star’s stretcher, but Drayke’s large frame blocks my view.

“Nova, how is he?” the doc asks.

“Battered and bruised. I had the medbot do a scan, no internal injuries of any kind.”

“Good. Dax, here are your instructions. Nova is coming over here to help me. You are to keep that male on his stretcher. If he tries to sit up, I want you to do anything up to and including an uppercut to his jaw to keep him horizontal. Am I clear?”

“Yeah, doc.”

“Why?” I ask.

“The medbot, Nova, and I are going to be setting the broken bone back into place. It isn’t going to be pretty. Or gentle. Or silent. In addition to the meds the reptilians gave her, I administered additional painkillers. That doesn’t mean she isn’t going to make noise. Don’t get in the way. Trust that we’re doing everything we can.”

“Hold on!” Shadow shouts as he swerves. I would have fallen off my stretcher if Dax hadn’t caught me. I glance at Star, she’s strapped in at the waist and Nova and Dr. Drayke are holding onto her.

Dax pointedly puts his huge frame between Star and me.

“I know it busts your balls to lie here, but there’s nothing you can do for her,” Dax says softly.

I feel a pang in my chest. I’m powerless. I have to leave it to the doc and his mate, Nova, to tend to the female I love. I can only lie here.

“Dr. Drayke’s a good medic. He’s patched most of us up over the past months. He’s gifted. Your female is in good hands, brother.” Dax bends to my level, his kind face filling my field of vision.

Guilt forces my gaze to run from his. Even in my condition, with Star being operated on only a few fiertos away, I have to set him straight. Gladiators are a tight-knit community. They call each other ‘brother’ with affection, as if they’re all members of the same club. A club I’m not a part of.

“I was on my way to a gladiator auction,” I admit, “but I’m not a gladiator. I’ve never been in an arena. I’d never even held a sword until Zar gave me one a few days ago.”

Dax clasps my wrist, ensuring he doesn’t harm my damaged palm, then dips his face even closer to mine. I can see his pores and the sincerity in his green eyes.

“You don’t have to be a gladiator to be called a brother, Ar’Tok. Pain is pain. Suffering is suffering. Strength is strength. I don’t give a drack if you fought in the arena. You’re a warrior . That makes you my brother.”

My eyes flare in surprise and I swallow to hide the tidal wave of feelings swirling inside me. To be accepted on this level, with the depth of feeling Dax just shared with me, it’s overwhelming.

I grasp his forearm, ignoring the pain screaming from my palm, and ignoring the noise as the doc and Nova murmur to each other over Star’s comatose form. Dr. Drayke kept reassuring me that Star will be fine, I want to trust that.

I allow myself to feel welcomed, fully accepted for the first time in my life.

“Thanks, brother,” I say. My voice is tentative, but I grip Dax with even more force than before.

“When we’re back on the Fool though, you and I are going to spar. I don’t know your story, Ar’Tok, but it’s obvious you have one.” He glances down my nude body, obviously referring to the roadmap of pain written there. “When I’m done teaching you how to defend yourself, I’m going to teach you how to attack. When I’m done with that, you will know what it feels like to walk in the world without fear.”

His green eyes give me a look hard as steel. “That will change your life, brother.”

“I’d like that,” I say as there’s a brittle snap, then I hear Star moan in agony.

“The worst is over,” Drayke says efficiently before I can muscle my way off my stretcher, push Dax aside, and assault the medic. “Now it’s just a matter of putting an air cast on her leg and treating her minor injuries. Nova, can you work on Ar’Tok while I finish with his female? Dax, you did well.”

I see enough out of the hover windshield to know we’re speeding through the streets of Drachau, the city where we’re staying.

“Time?” I ask.

“We’re twenty minimas away,” Shadow says as he makes a hard right turn that threatens to fling me onto the floor.

“Time,” I ask again, my tone tense. I assume he didn’t answer my original question because we’re going to be late.

“1850.”

“We’re going to be late?” I ask, feeling panicked. Ergonn may not follow through with his threat to kill all of us if Star doesn’t arrive on time, but the first person he’s going to hurt is Star.

“I’m comm’ing him now,” Dax says from his front seat. “I’ve sent several written comms and am trying to contact them verbally. I’ve apologized and said we’re caught in traffic.”

“His response?” I bite out.

Dax says nothing, which tells me he received a response, just not an encouraging one.

“How’s Star?” I ask Nova when she hands me the black leather kilt I was issued as part of Star’s protective guard. I don’t know who had the presence of mind to grab it before they came to get me, but I’m grateful to have it.

Nova’s quiet a moment, as if she’s having a discussion with herself in her head. I forgot I was told that when people of Drayke’s race mate they develop a mind-link with their spouse. Drayke was obviously talking to her.

“She’s fine, Ar’Tok. She’ll recover perfectly. You know what’s cool? This will give you the opportunity to help her convalesce. That’s how I fell in love with Drayke. He did the sweetest things when he was taking care of me. The best?” she says, a smile beaming on her pretty face, “My handsome blue male told me fairytales.”

As if she can’t keep her hands off him, she walks the few fiertos to him, kisses his blue cheek, then turns back to me.

“Try it,” she tells me with a wink. “When we’re all off exploring the rest of the Pleasure Planet, you feed your female with your own hand,” she laughs as if it’s an inside joke with her mate, “and tell her children’s stories. I guarantee it will produce excellent results.”

The restrained doctor, the male who never joins in the other males’ dirty jokes or songs, the male who always keeps his posture rigid and his thoughts to himself, reaches out and swats his female on the ass. Instead of scolding him, or batting his hand away, Nova laughs out loud.

“Here we are,” Shadow announces.

“Star’s completely out,” Drayke announces. “Let’s hover-stretcher her into the warehouse before I give her the antidote to the pain meds. She’s going to hurt like drack, but it will wake her up. I hope whatever she has to do can be done quickly. As soon as she’s finished, I’ll administer more medication.”

Shadow screeches the hover to a stop inside the warehouse. Dax and the doc stretcher Star into the open room.

Ergonn’s bodyguards are here, but they’re not shoulder-to-shoulder hiding their boss.

“Where’s E?” Shadow demands as I ease out of the hover taking care not to cut myself with the sword hanging from my belt. I’d been lying down for the better part of an hoara as we sped from Kimanji. Now that I’m standing, I feel every scratch, scrape, and bruise sustained on the climb up that hole.

Glancing at Star, I see she’s completely out of it. I’m glad.

Ergonn enters, flanked by two additional guards. The disparity in their height shines a spotlight on how short the male is.

“You’re late,” he scolds, even as he notices the tech genius is comatose on a stretcher.

“A slight mishap,” Shadow answers with a shrug. As always, the male is full of swagger.

“I’ll administer the antidote to the pain med in a moment,” Dr. Drayke says. “Ar’Tok, can you lift her and put her in a chair in front of the computer before she wakes?”

Eager to be of help, I stride to the stretcher and slip my hands under Star’s slight frame. I haven’t touched her in an hoara and the physical connection eases my heart.

When her limp form is in her chair, my hands on her shoulders keeping her from falling, the doc administers a shot. She moans, low and soft in the back of her throat, then the sound intensifies, and her eyes pop open.

“What?” she asks, disoriented and looking around.

“We’re at the warehouse, Star. I know you’re in pain. Dr. Drayke has set and cast your leg, your right shoulder is bruised, he gave you an antidote for the pain meds that knocked you out,” I tell her softly. “You simply have to check your programming, survey that the bots are doing their work, and we’ll give you something for the pain and then get you back to our room at the hotel.”

“You’ll need to show me verification,” Ergonn demands, “and tell me when the project will be completed.”

“Yes, Sir,” Star says, her fingers already flying over the keyboard, her shoulders hunched so her face is only inches from the screen.

“What does this say?” she’s squinting as she points to a line of code.

“I can’t read your language,” I tell her.

She makes a few keystrokes and when the text changes to Simkin, I give her the information she needs.

“Double vision,” she whispers.

We work like this for long minimas , her asking me to confirm that what she’s writing is correct.

“Done!” she announces less than an hoara later. “Sir?” she calls to Ergonn. “See? Here and here it shows that the bots have infiltrated all Federation computers in the Ariz and Procul sectors.

“These dots signify the level of penetration. The greens are complete, the yellows represent those that are over half done, and the reds are less than half. If you look at the grid, you’ll see that the reds are deeper into the system, and needed to bypass several greens before my bots could get to work on them.”

Ergonn, standing tall, is face-to-face with Star as she sits. He leans closer to the screen, scrutinizing as she points to various dots on the grid.

“We’re actually ahead of schedule, Sir. Have no fear that we’ll be done in four more days as promised. I’ll be happy to meet you back here to show you progress in three days' time on one condition.”

His head snaps in her direction, clearly stunned that the female would dictate demands to him.

“You dare impose conditions on me?” he snarls.

She nods. “Next time we need to agree upon the time of our meeting. And you’ve got to allow a little leeway in case of an emergency.”

He scowls, but agrees, and I carry Star back onto the hover. When I move to put her on the stretcher, she shakes her head.

“Your lap, Ar’Tok,” she says. After receiving more pain meds, she nestles against me, then falls asleep within minimas .

Star

The last two days are a haze of pain, meds, hugs, and Ar’Tok’s sweet caresses. I feel decidedly better today.

“What time is it?” I’ve been sleeping off and on around the clock, so even though sunlight peaks between the heavy draperies I have no idea whether it’s early morning or late afternoon.

“Breakfast time,” Ar’Tok’s voice is gentle and encouraging. It’s one of the things that got me through the pain over the last few days. “Feel like an outing? I have a small surprise planned for when you’re ready.”

“Food!” I demand. “Then an outing.”

“Tonight’s your meeting with Ergonn. It’s our last day on the Pleasure Planet.”

“Sorry I ruined it for you.” Poor Ar’Tok has been imprisoned here with me the last two days when he should have been exploring all the things on his bucket list.

“Are you crazy? I got to lie in bed all day with the prettiest girl in the galaxy. Nova was right, feeding you with my own hand was an experience. Frankly, taking care of you was far more fun than climbing Kimanji.”

“Anything would be more fun than climbing that mountain. Well, actually, it wasn’t the climbing that was a bummer, it was the falling.”

“My Star’s back! I love that mischievous smile on your face.”

He feeds me fruit dipped in cream, and thick slabs of bread slathered in jam. I lick his fingers after every bite.

“If your leg wasn’t broken, I would tear off your clothes and bury myself in you.” His brown eyes spear me with a molten gaze as he bounds up and carries me to the shower.

After carefully helping me wash and dress and tucking me back in bed, he calls, “I’ll be back soon,” as he scoots out the door.

A few minutes later, he returns to the room with a hover-chair. It’s set up so my right leg can stretch out in front of me.

“Oh, you got me a sexy ride!”

“Only the best for you, Star.”

Once I’m ensconced in the chair, he hands me a box wrapped in purple cloth with a golden ribbon. “Happy Blessed Peace Day, my Love.”

I’ve never received anything so fine. My whole life my parents ordered things delivered by drone, but the way this package is wrapped, along with the luminous look in Ar’Tok’s eyes, makes me feel special.

“Go ahead,” he urges when he sees my hesitation.

The box doesn’t weigh much, but it takes up most of my lap. I take my time, pulling the ribbon inch by inch.

“Hmm, what could this be?” I ask, knowing he’ll keep a secret and never tell. Shaking the box, it makes no sound, but I feel the soft slide of fabric inside.

“Clothes?”

He just shrugs, giving nothing away as he bends on one knee to be closer to me.

Finally, I toss the ribbon to the floor and open the box. Inside is shimmering silver fur. My fingers slide through it and my eyelids flutter closed as I luxuriate in the feeling. I’ve never touched anything so soft.

“What type of animal is this?” I ask, hating that something had to die to produce this. I have to admit though, I love the velvet touch of the fur.

“Synthetic. No animals were harmed for this.” His gaze is flicking back and forth across my face, trying to read my expression.

“Even better!” I pull the fake fur out of the box and see that it’s a small blanket.

“They call it a lap blanket. I wanted you to have it for our little outing today.”

Moments later, he’s brought me in my hover-chair to the back entrance of the grand lobby. Before he pushes me outside, he tucks the blanket around me as if I’m the most precious thing on the planet.

“The Multi-Pleasure Hotel is known for its gardens,” he explains as he hovers me farther from the building. We pass through a tall, arched wooden arbor gate. It’s intricately carved and so large it almost dwarfs my huge companion.

Once inside, it’s like a secret place. The air is more humid, the sound of the birds is sharper. Trees of every color curve over the stone pathways.

“Look at that one!” I point to one with turquoise bark.

“I think the scarlet is even prettier,” Ar’Tok says.

We stroll . . . well, he strolls, I get pushed around like an Empress. We’re like two kids, pointing things out to each other, laughing, enjoying the brisk temperature.

“This is it,” he announces when we’re almost to the back of the enormous garden. “Close your eyes.”

I’ve seen the changing of seasons on countless vids, but to be here, noticing the riot of colors, is fascinating. We saw nothing like this on the mountain the other day. I seem to recall my mom telling me that with the changing of the season some trees turn colors and lose their leaves, while others are ever green.

“It’s so beautiful and you want me to close my eyes?” I grouse as I follow his direction.

As soon as my lids are closed, he pushes me into the deepest part of the gardens. He stops walking as he admonishes, “No peeking.”

Then it hits me. I’m bombarded by a dozen amazing smells at once.

“Ar’Tok! What is this?”

“They call it the scented garden,” he murmurs, his lips next to my ear, his cirr jumping at the chance to caress my cheeks.

“Scented garden. It sounds magical.”

“It is. You’ll see in a moment when I tell you to open your eyes. But for now, just enjoy the fragrance.”

My dad bought my mom a very expensive bottle of perfume years ago. She cherished it and rarely wore it, telling us she was saving it for special occasions. The bottle was still half-full when she died. I wish she’d allowed herself to enjoy it more. Dad told me I could have it, but the smell reminded me too much of her and made me cry.

But this? This wonderful smell fills me with joy.

“I described something just like this when you were still on the Misfit ,” he murmurs in my ear. “Like it?”

“I like it Ar’Tok, but I love you for thinking of it and bringing me here.”

His warm lips graze my cheek. My heart bursts with love for him. He lifts me into his arms and sits us down.

“You can open your eyes, Love,” his voice is deep and tender.

I’m on his lap as he sits in a large burnished metal sculpture of a humanoid female of indeterminate race. She was obviously built to hold a person. My Ar’Tok is in her lap, I’m in his. His warm brown gaze holds onto me like I’m his lifeline, which is ironic because that’s backward. He’s the one I’ve been holding onto since the day I heard his deep voice over comms.

“This place is magic, Ar’Tok.”

He doesn’t tear his gaze from mine as he nods. “You’re all the magic I need, Star.”

He rocks me as he kisses the top of my head.

“You deserve so much, Star. You deserve to see everything you’ve only read about. You deserve to do everything on your bucket list. Would it be too presumptuous of me to want to be there with you when you do?”

I twist in his lap, my bad leg comfortably supported by the statue’s flowing kimono, and press my palms to his cheeks. “What fun would it be without you, my love? And who would rescue me when I fall through lava tubes or try to breathe without oxygen?”

“Do you want to stay on the Misfit ? We could get it up and running again and—”

“Twenty-one years on that bucket of bolts is enough. I think it will be wonderful to start a new life together. I think we both stumbled into heaven. We have new friends, we’ll be able to travel the galaxy together, we both have jobs we like . . . you do like comms, right?”

“Yes. It’s fun, and besides, that’s how I found you.”

“Well, no more flirting with strange females, right?”

“I don’t find you that strange,” he jokes.

“I love this face,” I stroke his cheek with one knuckle. “I especially love it when you smile.”

His smile broadens and I tip my head back so he can kiss me. His lips are warm as he sighs into my mouth.

“Take a few more deep breaths, love, because I’m going to get you back to our room and see if there are other things you love about me besides my smile.”

Wiggling, I feel his hard cock pressing against my bottom. “Hurry!”

He sets me back in the hover-chair, tucks the lap blanket around me, and takes off at a run.

“Goodbye, scented garden,” he calls as he runs over the grassy path.

“Goodbye, turquoise trees,” I say as I wave.

“Goodbye, calling birds,” he says as he slows a bit when we emerge through the wooden arbor gate.

He keeps a good pace though, as we scurry through the grand foyer with its high, domed ceiling, purple and gold decorations, and gawking patrons. They have to know we’re running to our room to make love. I smile as I realize I don’t care.

As bold as I felt on our wild run through the hotel, I feel shy now that we’re here and the door is closed.

“I’m going to give you pleasure until you order me to stop,” he says, his tone so low and gravelly I wouldn’t know it was him if I wasn’t looking.

“You’ll get no complaints from me.”

He kneels in front of me and gently pulls my shirt over my head. My bra joins it on the floor moments later. When he stands between my legs to shimmy my pants off, I wish he’d taken his clothes off first. If he had, his cock would be within my grasp. Flashes of the exciting things I’d like to do to it fly through my mind.

He’s careful not to hurt my leg, which is feeling no pain thanks to Dr. Drayke’s medical magic. Before I know it, I’m naked in the middle of the bed, waiting for him to join me.

He pulls off his blue t-shirt, then stops to look me up and down. My mouth dries as I inspect him. Every time I see him naked I notice something different. Today, I’m drawn by the perfectly sculpted steel muscles lying under his pale skin. Then I notice the red lines that mark his abuse.

I shake my head as if I can shake those thoughts out of my mind. Every one of those scars made him the male he is today—the male I love. I love every line that brands him.

This isn’t the shy Ar’Tok I met less than two weeks ago, the male who expected me to run from him at every turn. This Ar’Tok stands proudly, his hands on his waistband and a small smile playing at his lips.

His hips begin to sway as if he’s dancing to music only he can hear. My teeth gnaw on my bottom lip to keep from ordering him to remove his clothes and join me in this bed. His long, strong fingers play at his waistband as he sways to the nonexistent music.

“Stop teasing me,” I order. I can’t wait another second to feel those hands on me. He just shakes his head slowly, a silent scolding, and keeps dancing. His movements are more flagrant now. More sexual as his hips change direction.

Instead of beckoning me from side to side, he’s thrusting now, driving his cock toward me in rhythm with his mind’s imaginings.

“You’re a bad male,” I grumble, noticing the needy desperation between my legs. I feel my pulse pounding there.

He turns away from me and resumes the side-to-side motion. If my leg wasn’t broken, I would bound off the bed and yank his pants off to see what the muscles in his fine ass look like as he dances for me.

“Nice males don’t tease their females like this,” I scold.

“You might think I’m not nice now, Star,” he says to the far wall, “but by the time we’re done today you’ll change your mind.”

“Come change my mind.” I pat the bed, unable to hide my pout.

He turns in slow increments, allowing me to admire the perfection of his form from every angle, then pulls his pants off and steps out of them.

“You’re wicked sexy, Ar’Tok. I’m going to take up photography just to capture you like this.”

A sensuous smile slashes across his face as he dances to the foot of the bed, then kneels between my feet. He begins moving his way up my leg, first with nibbling lips, then nipping teeth, then swiping wide swathes with the flat of his tongue.

Taking care not to hurt my right thigh, his huge hands open me wider as he awakens every nerve ending up the runway of my left leg. Every highway has a terminus, and I know right where I want that tongue to stop.

“I’m dripping wet for you,” I whisper.

“I see,” he replies, although he barely turns his attention from the task of lighting me on fire. His head is scarcely above my knee when I feel his fingers whispering against my outer lips. They’re so slim and gentle, I soon realize it’s his cirr .

Lifting my head off the pillow, I see the army of cirr are attacking me. They’re sliding along the inside of my upper thighs, some of the long, thick ones are gripping right at the crease where my leg meets my torso. They’re gently pressing me apart, opening me wider. They’re acting in unison: caressing, exploring, stoking my fire.

“Holy shit, Ar’Tok.” I want to say more. I want to tell him this is the sexiest feeling a woman could imagine. For a moment I wonder if I should tell him to stop—it’s too overwhelming to tolerate. But no, I’m not going to ask him to stop. I’ll never ask him to stop.

He nips his way up my inner thigh as his co-conspirators, especially the thin, facile cirr, stroke my most intimate spaces. They trace the edges of my lips, flick my clit with exquisite erotic movements, then invade me.

Ar’Tok is purring; his chest rumbling against my leg. I can feel the vibrations migrate up my flesh and lodge at the apex of my thighs.

I thought my reward would come when he laid his exquisite mouth on me, but his cirr are doing a fine job as they braid themselves into a thicker strand and press into me, mimicking the rhythm Ar’Tok’s hips were dancing to only minutes ago.

“Too good!” I tell him as two cirr pluck my clit and the thick braid thrusts into me in a delicious rhythm. Ar’Tok’s breath drifts across my skin. His face is inches away from my core as he watches, allowing his cirr to force me over the edge.

He grabs my hip bones, pressing me back into the bed as I buck against him in bliss, calling his name over and over.

Before I have a chance to catch my breath, his marauding cirr attack again, bringing me to the peak of pleasure almost immediately. My orgasm crashes over me in bigger swells than last time, and then the buildup begins again.

Wave after wave of pleasure surge over me as his cirr pluck and invade and thrust and tease and force me into ecstasy time after time.

My thigh and belly muscles are quivering, my throat is dry and raw from screaming in satisfaction. I’m contemplating begging for mercy when Ar’Tok rolls me onto my good leg. He jumps off the bed, gathers every pillow in the room, and gently bends my right leg and places it on top of the pile.

After sliding behind me and spooning, I feel his thick cock sliding through my drenched nether lips.

“How’s your leg?” his deep voice rumbles in my ear.

“It’s not my leg that’s killing me right now. Fuck me, Ar’Tok.”

His shaft is covered in my juices as he slides against me, ramping every cell in my body even higher. I wonder if I’ll die if he doesn’t penetrate me soon.

And then he slides into me in one swift movement, filling and completing me in a way his cirr could never do. No, this, this joining of flesh is what I crave.

His hand reaches around me, brushes my aching clit as he pounds into me, and brings me to fulfillment twice before I hear his guttural groan of contentment.

“Leg okay?” he asks as he pulls the covers over us, then kisses everywhere his lips can reach. His cirr get in on the act, combing through my hair, patting my cheeks, and stroking my neck and shoulders.

The deep rumble in his chest has changed timbre. It’s lower, deeper. I’m getting to know his moods. His in-the-middle-of-sex purr is at a higher, faster rate than his happy-to-be-hugging-you purr.

“Give me a moment, love. I’ll be back at it in no time,” he says.

“More? Can we . . . take a break?”

“I told you I wouldn’t stop until you ordered me to, my love. Is that an order?”

I playfully poke him with my elbow, then snuggle closer, wiggling my tush until he’s flush against me.

“But . . .” I admit, “we could totally do this again later, right?”

He chuckles, kisses my neck with a loud smack, and falls asleep without further ado.

Ar’Tok

My cirr were just hair until I met Star, then they grew a mind of their own and started showing her affection well before I found the nerve to do so. I never dreamed they’d inject themselves into our lovemaking, but I didn’t hear Star protesting.

Star’s alone in the bathroom after I helped her with her shower. I’ve packed everything in the room. We’ll bring it with us to the warehouse, then the whole group will pick us up in a hover-bus and we’ll fly to the Fool’s Errand .

Even though I have faith in Star and am sure her programs have worked well, I still feel a bolt of fear slice up my spine as I wonder what Ergonn will do if her bots haven’t performed properly.

I’m wearing my black kilt; my sword swings at my hip. A week ago I felt inadequate, like I couldn’t protect my female. But I got her down Mount Kimanji and I know if there’s a battle tonight I will fight to the death to keep her safe.

She steps out of the bathroom wearing a pretty purple dress she borrowed from Willa. She grabbed the golden bow from the present I gave her and attached it over her right shoulder. It’s a sweet nod to both me and Blessed Peace Day.

“I’ve never seen you in a dress, Star.” She takes my breath away. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep my hands off you tonight.”

She rewards me with a broad smile. It seems she loves my compliments. Good. I could sing her praises all day long.

“And look at you, my handsome guard.”

She hobbles to me, the aircast helping her keep her weight off her right leg. Pulling me to her, she admires us both in the mirror.

At first, I see only my flaws—jagged red stripes covering white flesh. I look all wrong for a Simkin. But I focus on my beautiful Star’s face. She’s not seeing any of that. She couldn’t be, because she’s beaming.

“Look at us, Ar’Tok. Light and dark.”

Her skin is tawny, mine is pale. Her hair is black and brushed to a shine, mine is thick white cirr . We’re different as night and day—and together we’re beautiful.

“Somehow we belong together,” I tell her, and I believe it.

Star, me, and her three other guards hover to the warehouse, Shadow glides us in before the door is open all the way. I lift Star into the stark room and deposit her on the chair in front of the Hardimon computer. Ergonn is here, concealed behind his guard.

Star’s competent fingers pull up the correct program, and her face is tight as her eyes scan the screen. She nods, still serious.

“It’s done. It’s perfect,” she announces, her eyes still scrutinizing her work.

Ergonn, his deeply-lined face skeptical, shuffles over on his squat legs.

“Show me,” he demands.

Star points at the dots, now all green, blinking like little round sentinels. “These indicate every possible way into your computer network system. The dots are like palace guards at the gate, they won’t admit anything with a Federation identifier.

“I have a feeling you have a few contacts inside the Federation,” she says half as a question, half as a statement.

“Perhaps.”

“Why don’t you see if one of them can hack into your system?” She cocks an eyebrow.

Ten minimas later, he nods at her and says, “It just went live.”

She points to the screen, and all the dots keep blinking green.

“All systems go,” she says as she cocks her head. “That’s our cue to leave. I wish I could say it was a pleasure doing business with you.”

Along with every gladiator in the room, I stiffen. Why would she insult the head of the cartel at this point in the endeavor?

“You didn’t find this process pleasant?” he asks, his head cocked in confusion.

“Worrying that you were going to kill us all because I was five minutes late after almost dying? Not pleasant.” She spears his gaze with hers.

“Rules are rules,” he says, as if that explains everything.

“Sometimes you have to take emergencies into account,” she replies levelly.

I glance at all my male comrades. Zar’s mouth full of sharp teeth is hanging open. Dax’s green eyes are wide and his back is stiff as a tree trunk. Little Star doesn’t seem fearful in the least.

“My apologies then,” he says sincerely. “I thought this went splendidly and I look forward to doing business in the future. Since I’ve offended you in some way, I’ll even throw in payment for the alcohol drunk on Fornication Island. My accountant informs me the cost is prodigious.”

“I think my days of working planetside are over. I’d be happy to help you remotely, just as my father did for several decades.”

“I knew you weren’t the original ‘O’,” he says. “Perhaps you’re even better.” His face approximates a smile—it looks like it took great effort.

“Comm me anytime,” Star says as she rises, then hobbles over to him, pulls the golden bow off her shoulder, and fastens it to his. “Happy Blessed Peace Day.” She smiles.

We take that as our cue to leave. One of Ergonn’s males will return our shuttle rental. I carry Star onboard the hover-bus as we join all of our friends. The new gladiators we recently picked up from planet Trent, the ones who were staying on Fornication Island, are shoulder to shoulder in the rear. Usually they’re a rowdy lot, but today they’re silent.

“I think they’re hungover,” Dax whispers loudly.

“Shhh,” Erro says as he holds his head with both hands.

I look back a second time to make sure my eyes didn’t deceive me.

“Are we one short?” I ask, trying to picture all the gladiators to figure out who’s missing.

“I was going to make an announcement,” Zar says, his face worried. “Wrage has been missing for days. Callista has been searching the Intergalactic Database to find him. So have the Paragonian authorities. There’s nothing more we can do here. We’ll continue to search. We may have to travel as a result of any clues we get. Right now we have nothing.”

His news is met with quiet discussion as we all wonder what happened to one of our crew. I didn’t know him well, we were usually on different ships, but I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose the companionship I’ve found here.

The quiet doesn’t last long because Grace stands in the front of the hover and leads us in a round of ridiculous Earth songs. “This Old Man,” I understand, but ‘knick-knack paddywhack’ doesn’t translate no matter how I try to make sense of it.

I like “When You Wish Upon a Star,” especially the part that says no request is beyond your reach. Although I never dared wish for anything as amazing as my North Star, she’s here with me now. And even more amazing, she wants us to stay together.

I memorize every word of the lilting lyrics. I’ll sing it to her in private some time—I love that the title has her name in it.

I let the sound of singing fade into the background as I focus on the beautiful female in my arms. She’s got a dreamy smile on her face as she cuddles even closer to me.

“You haven’t stopped purring all day,” she whispers into my ear.

Really? I hadn’t noticed. She’s right. This is my body’s response to happiness.

“And you, my love?” I ask. “That wide smile hasn’t left your face except when we were in Ergonn’s warehouse.”

“This is my body’s response to happiness.”