Her Alien Commander (12 page)

Phahlen stared at the screen before him, taking in little of the star-scape on the display. His thoughts were filled with his little prisoner, the human female who was probably trashing his quarters even as he sat here. She possessed a rebellious streak that she did little to disguise, though he had no doubt he could convince her to bury it, at least for the next few hours. She had proven malleable enough once he laid a few well-aimed stripes across her delectable bottom and he would be more than happy to repeat the lesson.

Or would he? Spanking a female was second nature to him, to most Vahlean males in fact, though they had little opportunity to hone their skills at home these days. That fact rendered his current situation even more urgent, more imperative. Vahle had no choice but to repopulate, and they needed to accelerate the process as much as they were able. Their people had few options, but those that did exist included the acquisition of females who would be forced to breed, if need be. Several compatible worlds had provided female convicts for the purpose, though the women had always elected to come to Vahle willingly in exchange for freedom, of sorts. Caria had been offered no such choice so he could sympathise with her anger, her resentment.

He was also starting to form a better appreciation of her conflicted feelings. For security reasons he had had to listen to Caria’s transmission to Earth before authorising it to be forwarded to her parents. It gave him no pleasure to hear that she had loved her previous partner, though why that should be of any moment whatsoever was a mystery to him. Suffice it to say that it bothered him. He was also not unmoved by her groundless optimism regarding the prospect of an eventual return to her home world. He knew that was unlikely, hopeless even. But he had no wish to be the one to crush her dream even though allowing her to continue in that forlorn hope might be even more cruel.

But his sympathies only stretched so far. Caria had been on board the
Luminaire
whilst her crew had committed criminal acts across the galaxies, and she had benefited from those crimes even if she hadn’t personally attacked other worlds. And he had only her word for it that she hadn’t. Caria was no shrinking little mouse; the evidence was there in the way she’d behaved when she’d first encountered him. He rubbed his balls in rueful remembrance. That had been close; if she’d succeeded in flooring him, as she’d clearly intended, they would both be dead now.

“Commander, the Galeians are all safely disembarked. Shall I set a course for the Sagitarian sector? Our sensors detect thermal activity on two small worlds there.”

Phahlen turned to regard his second in command. “Yes, Baren. Carry on, please.”

The lieutenant issued the commands and prepared coordinates for their next scheduled stop as Phahlen continued to gaze into the monitor. He was stirred from his own thoughts when the officer addressed him again.

“I trust there have been no difficulties with the Earth woman, sir, not since all that fuss earlier. Is there anything you need me to do on that score?”

“What? No, no, she’s fine. I’ll make sure she causes us no further problems. Private East was helpful in keeping her calm so I’d appreciate some more of his input, if you can spare him.”

“I’ll roster that in, sir. The poor little female will be glad of the company, I expect. This must all be very new to her.”

“Poor little female…” Phahlen echoed, unable to keep the scorn from his tone. “Tell that to the beings whose homes were destroyed and families murdered by those thugs.”

The lieutenant shrugged and eyed his commander thoughtfully. “I saw little enough of her, to be sure, but she didn’t strike me as a violent criminal. She was terrified of the Galeians.”

“They treated her badly and she probably thought we would just hand her back to them as their prisoner. Don’t be fooled, though, Baren. Until we know for sure that she is safe
,
I intend to assume that Caria presents a danger to this ship. She is of use to us so she is to remain unharmed, but she is still a prisoner, and security around her will remain tight. Make sure all crewmen are aware of this, and no one is to enter my quarters without permission.”

“Yes, sir.”

The lieutenant said the correct things, but Phahlen sensed his dissatisfaction. He turned in his seat to fully face his deputy.

“You have something to say, Baren?”

“Just that it wouldn’t harm to investigate the circumstances a little more fully. We have access to the records and charges from Earth, and the testimony of the Galeians, but the female claims to be innocent.”

“How do you…? Ah, Private East.”

“Yes, sir. She spoke to him, and he reports that she appeared genuinely shocked at his statement that she had been convicted of a crime, especially one with such severe consequences. I could enquire more carefully into the facts, seek to establish a defence if one is to be found.”

Phahlen’s eyebrows shot up at that. ”You believe we should set her free?”

The lieutenant shook his head. “That won’t be possible, will it? Even if she was our guest rather than our prisoner, she would still be confined to this craft until we have cause to land on a friendly world, one from which she might seek passage back to Earth. And until such time…”

Phahlen stroked the bridge of his nose and considered Baren’s words. Whatever the circumstances, Caria would be with them for the foreseeable future. His second in command was right about another thing too; it would do no harm to investigate her claims of innocence though he harboured little doubt on the matter himself.

“We have an attorney-mediator on board; we might as well make use of his talents.” The ship’s complement of the
Empyrean
included a Vahlean, who was expert in interstellar law. The usual function of this officer was to negotiate with planets not familiar with the process of thermal extraction and the benefits such harvesting would yield for all races with space travel capability. Trans-galactic protocols were in place that authorised their activities, but those occasionally required explanation or even enforcement.

The attorney-mediator’s skills were not limited to this, however. He could readily access relevant Earth legislation and refine the legal arguments that placed Caria in Phahlen’s custody.

“I shall brief him, sir.” Baren appeared content. He returned to his usual station at the controls of the
Empyrean
and Phahlen returned to his perusal of the astral landscape.

Might his little human be less culpable than he had given her credit for? Phahlen doubted it. Caria was powerless now, his prisoner, but given half a chance…

He had to remain tough, for the sake of his crew, his ship and his home world. She mustn’t be allowed to escape, nor should she be encouraged to imagine she was anything other than a convicted criminal, his to punish for her crimes. He believed in restitutional justice, and Caria could repay her debt to interplanetary society by providing healthy daughters for Vahle. The sooner she accepted that, the better.

He resolved to demonstrate to her exactly what her status in this transaction was. It was somewhat belated for that; he should have made a better job of it by now but so far his efforts had been thwarted by his own misplaced sympathies. He found it uncomfortable to see her so frightened, and as soon as he got her naked all his resolve tended to evaporate. He was incapable of harming her, really harming her. He would inflict pain to discipline her or to enforce her obedience, but he wouldn’t see her injured. This made it all the more imperative that she be spared Earth justice.

He summoned another crew member to take over his observation post, performed final checks to ensure that all other functions were within accepted parameters and their progress steady, then he handed control of the vessel to Baren.

“I’ll be in my quarters if you need me.”

* * *

Phahlen wasn’t sure what would greet him when he entered. Caria had been angry when he left, hurt even, he surmised. His final words to her had not been kind, and he wouldn’t have been surprised to find her deliberately defying him even if it did earn her another thrashing.

The living area was deserted, though the table still bore the remains of their game earlier. It needed to be tidied, but that could wait. His little human could not.

He moved across to the door to the sleeping chamber and hit the control to open it. He let out a breath, only then realising he had been holding it. Caria knelt in the centre of the room, facing him. She was naked. Her head was bowed, her hands rested on her thighs though they were palms down rather than up. He would need to correct that, but otherwise she had obeyed him. Perhaps he was getting through to her.

He approached the still, small figure and stood over her for several moments. She tensed but didn’t move.

“Good girl,” he murmured. “You did well.”

She didn’t acknowledge his compliment.

“You may speak to me, Caria.”

“I have nothing to say. Sir.”

Ah, like that then. Outward obedience, inner defiance. He had work to do.

“Turn your hands over, they should be palms up.” He hardened his tone a little. She obeyed him at once.

“Thank you. Now you will go and kneel on the bed, right in the centre.”

She got to her feet and moved over to the bed. As she turned her back to walk away from him, he admired the still faintly visible welts left by the strap yesterday and wondered if he might need to brighten them up a little in order to regain her respect. If so, he was minded to use a paddle this time.

When she was settled in the middle of the bed, he moved to kneel behind her. He picked up the wrist cuffs from their previous encounter and tossed them onto the coverlet in front of her. “Put those on, then raise your hands above your head, Caria.”

Her breath hitched as she did as he instructed her, though she was unable to fasten the cuffs tight. Phahlen took each of her hands in turn and adjusted the cuff before sealing it in place. He then shuffled back to allow her the space to lift her arms.

A ring was built into the ceiling above the bed. Phahlen flicked a switch on the wall to lower it, then he quickly fastened the cuffs to it. He adjusted the height a little, so she could no longer rest her bottom on her heels. He smiled to himself as she glared at him. So much for her outward display of subservience.

“Are you comfortable, girl?”

“Not really, Commander, but I’m sure that’s what you intended.”

He walked slowly around the bed, surveying her from all angles. He took his time before answering. “I intend to fuck
you, but the rest is negotiable. If you choose to make things harder for yourself, then so be it.”

“I did as you told me,” she protested, craning her neck to keep him in view as he moved behind her. “There’s no need to spank me again. This isn’t fair…”

“I decide what’s fair now, Caria. You no longer have that right. And I never said I intended to spank you.”

“Then why—”

“Because I choose to, girl. And because punishment takes many forms.”

“I don’t understand.” She tugged at the restraints that held her in place. “Please, let me go. I won’t be rude or sulky, I promise.”

Ah, so at least she knew what had sparked her present dilemma. That was something.

“Excuse me, Caria. I won’t be a moment.”

He left the room, heading for the housekeeping station. “Thermal beads, five in number, ranging from one point five to four centimetres in diameter. And a spanking paddle, forty centimetres…” he paused to consider, then, “…made of wood.” As he collected the items from the hatch he heard her calling after him, her voice breaking.

“Phahlen, where are you? Please, I can’t… Please don’t leave me here.”

What the…?
He strode back through the door to be met by her tear-streaked face. He had only been gone for half a minute at best. He rushed to the bed and dropped the items beside her, then took her face between his hands.

“I’m here. I wouldn’t leave you, not like this. You can trust me, girl.”

“I couldn’t see you, and—”

“I’ll get a housekeeping station installed in here, then you’ll be able to keep me in sight. Unless you’re blindfolded, obviously.”

She shook her head as colour drained from her features. Phahlen made a mental note, no blindfold. He waited until her features steadied and colour began to seep back into her complexion before he released her and picked up the thermal beads. They appeared innocuous enough, he supposed as he rolled them across his palm. He glanced at Caria. She was nervous, but the sensuous little minx was curious too, and made no attempt to conceal her fascination. She looked at his hand, her eyes lifting from the objects to his face.

“What are those, sir?”

“Thermal beads. Have you come across these before?”

She shook her head, and he noted that she was chewing on her lower lip again, a sure tell that he had her undivided attention.

“They’re clever little toys. If I apply pressure, like this, they heat up, or cool down. This tiny switch on the side determines which way it goes. They’re set to warm up now, see?” He closed his fist around the small orbs. After a few seconds the heat caused him to open his fingers again and he tossed the balls from one hand to the other before dropping them back onto the bed. He allowed a few seconds for them to cool, then he picked up the smallest one and stroked Caria’s thigh with it.

“Oh, that’s hot.”

“Yes, a little. Personally I prefer to use them cold.” He adjusted the switch then squeezed the ball in his hand again. The temperature of the bead plummeted; in moments it was as though he held a ball of ice in his fist. He stroked her thigh again by way of a demonstration.

“Ooh!” She jerked away from the frigid orb. “That’s… I don’t like that, sir.”

“No? In that case these little toys will be useful for delivering a memorable lesson. But first, we need to connect them together…” He collected up the rest of the beads and laid them in a line across his hand, then closed his fist around them again. This time when he released his grip, the beads no longer rolled freely but were connected, as though threaded together on a cord. “Electromagnetic linking,” he offered by way of explanation when he saw the expression of disbelief on her face. “This is science, not just one of the conjuring tricks you are so fond of on your planet.”