Falco Invictus: On the Forge of War (5 page)

“They... are not like us.”

Frederika hid her irritation and pushed
forward. “Und what does that mean?”

“Genetic engineering has remade them into
more than human beings. Yes they have –”

“I am Ch'Kran, of the house of Trakan,”
boomed a baritone voice.

All heads turned as the owner stepped onto
the deck. Concealed in a charcoal-gray cloak the Falcanian walked
before the gathered females. He carried himself with an heir of
superiority. Slowly he turned to inspect his charges, the exotic
dancers meant for his Lord Drakonis's pleasure.

“Ch'Kran means 'he who brings chaos and
strife',” Mia whispered. “A Telchar, one of they're religious
figures. Like angels, –”

Ch'Kran's sapphire eyes zeroed in on the two
women. The inner talon of his right tri-claw boot tapped on the
deck. “I am the Padishah Shotar, Sharr Khan Mingh Drakonis's eyes
in the outer kingdom. What I see, he sees.”

The Falcanian stared directly at Frederika.
She swallowed hard at the Falcanian as she met his gaze. He
projected an animal magnetism which she had never felt from any
other human being. A primal surge coursed out of the cloaked being
and penetrated her own core.

He had white-bronze skin, yet his features
were hard to place. At moments they seemed very Asian, but when she
looked again they appeared European. Her eyes fell to the
tri-clawed boot and its robotic talon that clacked on the deck. For
a brief moment she noticed what she thought to be an armored
tail.

Ch'Kran walked over to her, grinning. “Very
lovely. Exquisite.”

Frederika didn't flinch as he touched her
cheek. It wasn't the first time a horny male pushed into her
boundaries, she had encountered more than her share given her
profession as a spy for her nation, yet Frederika had never been
inspected like this. She was surprised at herself. It wouldn't have
been the first time she'd had to put a male in his place. But with
this Falcanian, she couldn't help herself and let the unasked for
contact go without reproach.

“Good. You do not flinch. I think Sharr will
like you.” Ch’Kran grinned. “My Lord enjoys haughty women.”

The Falcanian turned his attention back to
the rest of the females to finish the inspection. A few minutes
later, he stepped on a small podium. “The Falcanian Khanate bids
you welcome. Once we reach Vorkrür, your time among us shall be
filled with many interesting sights. All your needs will be tended
to. Food, clothing, and anything else that will make your stay with
us more pleasant shall be provided. When you leave, you shall
receive many gifts as compensation for your time. We Falcanians
only ask that you obey our law and respect our traditions.”Again
Ch'Kran glanced at Frederika. “In your cabins, you will find the
first of your gifts given to you by my Lord Sharr Khan. Go now and
rest. We have a long journey ahead.”

The
Chrysanthemum Maru
broke
moorings, and left the dock to head for open sea.

Luck was with her, Frederika and Mia were to
share the same cabin. The genetically enhanced girl at last could
get some answers she hoped about these Falcanians. On her sleeping
mat, Frederika came across an unusual flower. Its long yellow
elliptical petals were splotched with vermilion and pulsed with a
soft luminance. She touched the dew-covered stem only to find that
it wasn't moist. It just appeared that way.

How strange, Frederika thought.

“It's a
Ziral-Kheigra
. It means
‘light-cat’.” Mia rolled over onto her stomach atop her futon. “The
last time I came there were these most scrumptious saffron
candies.”

“You speak Falcanian?”

“No, but after a while you pick things up.”
Mia grinned. “Besides, the flowers grow all over the island under
the large trees. The forest is interesting at night. Wait till you
see the air squid.”

“An air squid? You're kidding, right?”

“They’re very real and a few other new,
strange kinds of beasts.”

“I can't wait to see all these new
creatures.” She placed the flower next to her and looked at Mia.
“Speaking of new species, you were telling me about Falcanian
biology before we boarded.”

Mia hesitated for a moment. “Falcanian
biology is not a thing we should speak of. But what you wonder is,
do they have wings?” Mia nodded. “Yes they do, and to see a
Falcanian soar the skies is a thing I will always remember to my
dying day.”

“I bet it is most awesome.”

“Your questions will all vanish at Vorkrür.
I promise.” Mia confessed. “It's just that they don’t like to talk
about their biology to outsiders.”

“Why?”

“It's one of the few taboos that Falcanians
have.”

Frederika sighed. Clearly, either Mia did
not know or she was unwilling to discuss what she knew about
Falcanians and their physiology with her. To push the matter
further might endanger her operation.

“Why are you here?” Frederika asked,
changing tactics.

“My family was killed in a border skirmish
three years ago and I have a little brother I need to care for. I
earned enough last time to keep us up and running, though even that
wasn't sufficient for my brother's needs.” Mia's amber eyes filled
with tears. “Philip, my brother. He... he’s blind.”

Frederika's heart was moved by Mia's plight.
Born in superior health and not likely to contract anything but a
genetic specific disease, Frederika did not know what it was like
to be sick. In this day of genetic therapy such injuries could have
been corrected though it was only an option if one belonged to the
middle and upper classes.

“I hope I can strike a deal with Hawk. See
if he will have his genetic engineers correct Philip's vision.”

For a few minutes, the two women sat in
silence. “Why are you here?” Mia finally asked.

“Me?” Frederika searched for a believable
lie. “I seek knowledge.”

“Knowledge?”

“Jah! I want to learn more about this D’Har
Tarik.”

“I’d have thought a tourist visa would be
better for such things?”

Frederika allowed herself to laugh. The
girl's logic was on target. “Well, there seemed to be more
dividends in this vocation. Having the ruler of a nation shower you
with gifts for a few weeks of your time isn't a bad way to learn
about a culture.”

“I can understand that. But...” Mia blushed,
“are you a stripper by choice?”

Frederika grinned widely. “When I think the
payoff will be better for my needs, I have been known to utilize
my… assets as a career choice.”

[Vanguard Island: Narshin Thryak Palace,
Evening]

Nadia lounged in Sharr's luxurious nest. An
arm slung over her abundant bare breasts, she wore nothing except
skimpy Persian blue panties and metal bands on her upper arms. The
Queen’s brunette locks were clipped back and gold hoop earrings
sparkled like reflected fire from her pointed ears. Nadia smoldered
a cobalt gaze in the direction of Sharr, now returned to his lair.
She swished her armored tail.

Like a predatory animal, filled with lust,
his eyes narrowed at the gorgeous sight of her.

The Shotar ran a hand up the cinnamon curve
of his mate’s thigh and found the place in the small of Nadia’s
back where the Garuda joined to her spinal column. She exhaled at
his firm caress as he worked that erogenous spot just how she liked
it. The Shotar kissed her and then pushed her face forward onto the
bed. He moved her streamlined tail aside and hooked his thumb into
her panties, to slide them off her long, smooth legs. He moved his
hand over her exposed flesh. A moan escaped her lips. She turned
her cheek as his mouth kissed her, her almond eyes closed
completely lost to the pleasurable sensations of her own body.

Sharr kissed his way over his mate’s tan
form and paid special attention to a mole on her right shoulder. He
continued to enjoy her warm flesh which left an aftertaste of mocha
and sweet almonds on his mouth. He teased her with his every touch.
At last Sharr reached the aerodynamic Garuda that embraced the
contours of Nadia’s luscious body. Designed to give a Falcanian the
power of flight the Garuda in fact was a cyber-organic “jet pack”
coupled to the body by a molecular bond. Fine metallic purple
feathers covered Nadia’s own Garuda. Mid-back two retractable
compact thrusters lay hidden for aid in launch. The ailerons were
rooted to the body in the upper most triangular mass and powerful,
artificial muscles were used to flap the great wings. The Garuda
tapered downward to meet the tail bone and became a dangerous
plated tail.

Fingering Nadia’s tight sheath to make her
ready, he found that already she was warm. Moist. Hot. And he
wanted to make her even wetter. She jerked and sighed while he
teased her slit. Engorged, Sharr penetrated her. In a spasm of
pleasure Nadia cried out, her translucent glassy rose-colored wings
twitched with each thrust. Sharr slid in and out, pushed his
hardened member into her, driving on her pleasure. Beneath him she
bucked and clawed at the silk bed sheets. Her back arched and
pulled him in deeper. Sharr pressed more aggressively and growled
as he and his mate climaxed together. He explosively spent himself
as her orgasm milked him dry.

He pulled out of her with a pop and gathered
her in his arms. Sharr kissed the top of her head. Nadia enjoyed
his warmth and closeness. Just the two of them sharing this one
quiet moment together.

“I want you to restart your cycle.”

“You... want another child?”

“Yes,” Sharr said. “its time to move past
Krada's death.”

After the traumatic gestation of her twin
girls the Maharani had halted her own reproductive cycle. Falcanian
females produced ovum in a similar fashion as a male manufactured
sperm which made them forever fertile. They could, at will start
and stop their generative turns.

Typical male!
Having had his fill,
and expressing his request, Sharr promptly dozed off.

Nadia watched Sharr as he slept. She touched
his cheek. It was one of the few times that the worries of the
world did not show on his fierce face. He kept a protective hand
around her waist, even as he snored, lost to his labors. However
Nadia's sleep did not come so peacefully; she sensed change off on
the horizon.

Among bright stars Nadia stood. The lights
were those many minds joined together in the Falcanian over-soul. A
single green egg formed in front of her. She reached out for it,
felt the life throb inside the large ovum. The Queen knew she could
not be pregnant, for she had yet to restart her cycle. But the
Lords Of Char were clear - she must bear a new child for her
Shotar.

The egg cracked and a bright green light
blinded Nadia. When the light diminished, a girl stood before her.
A blonde. And definitely not a Falcanian. Rather “normal” human
waited with her in the cybernetic world of Char. Nadia examined the
young woman's features, a picture of beauty. Her heart shaped face
marred only by a single freckle under her right eye. Emerald eyes
burned with determination. The girl carried herself as if she were
a princess, born of the highest blood. “Who are you?” Nadia
asked.

Pulled abruptly from the primal core of the
Falcanian group mind, Nadia woke with a shock to see that Sol rose
and now cast an early morning light across the ocean. Sharr still
snored beside her. Nadia reached out a hand toward a nearby table,
a stainless steel cup slid into her fingers. Shes swallowed the
water in a single gulp, refreshed by its icy coolness.

Finally she pushed the covers aside,
stretched, and got out of the silken nest. Her tail swished behind
her as she strode naked across the room. She stepped up to the
elliptical window, and gazed downward on the port below. The
picture of the cracking egg remained in her mind. Nadia glanced
back at her mate. Sharr wanted another child, a son no doubt. She
wanted to give him that, but dare she risk another pregnancy?

On deck Frederika was pleased to see that
the sun had begun to rise warm over the ocean. It promised to be a
fiery sunrise, glorious and exhilarating to behold. She glanced
around. Only a few crewmen were on the deck. But Ch'Kran was there.
He did not stand, rather he perched on a crossbar in the center of
the deck. The manner in which he sat reminded Frederika very much
of some kind of hunting creature that scanned a field for a small
animal to swoop down upon. She walked over to the Falcanian, yet
remained a few feet out of his reach.

Ch'Kran continued to silently scan, his face
hidden in a gray cowl.

“Morning,” Frederika said. She looked with
interest at the perched Falcanian. He had removed his cloak and his
translucent burnt-orange wings were on display. Barely extended,
they caught the first light of the sun which cast a diffused orange
halo on the deck.

She noticed the tri-claw boots to be very
functional and articulate in construction, true talons. The boots,
similar in style to Japanese tabi, clutched the crossbar and split
into two parts. They reached up the knee, with forward talons
mounted on each toe section, the longer inner-claw joined to the
boot at the big toe. The rear talon, flexible and tactile like the
front claws grasped the wood and added fresh scars to the worn
mahogany T-bar.

Frederika resisted her urge to reach out and
touch the Falcanian. She was not sure he would respond well to such
a violation of his boundaries. Besides, Ch’Kran sat there as if he
were prepared to spring forward in attack which made Frederika
maintain her distance. Was this typical of his kind? Frederika
hoped not for he seemed aloof and untouchable.

“How long before we reach Vanguard
Island?”

“Not long.”

She nodded. She knew he wouldn't give her
any specific time for he understood that much could be extrapolated
from such information. The vessel did not take the straight route
to his homeland due to security reasons.