Legend Beyond The Stars (12 page)

“Heads up,” ordered Jessamine when they entered the meeting room.

Alana, suppressing a smile at her friend’s pseudo-military demeanour, paused in the doorway. In an automatic reaction, she checked for multiple exits, danger, aliens, but the compartment was void of all except her fellow travellers. She noted the other women were either sitting on the floor in small groups or milling aimlessly around the open space.

They all turned towards her. Anxiety wrenched through her empty stomach. She straightened her shoulders, putting on what she privately termed her
‘war’
face, one which hopefully exuded confidence and calm.

She strode further into the room and listened while Jessamine requested their attention.

“We have a situation here, ladies,” began Alana. She crossed her fingers behind her back. “The good news is I don’t believe we will be participating in any weird scientific research. At least, not here. The bad news is the aliens who are actually humanoid, will be joining us here soon to coerce our compliance into quite a different situation.”

Silence reigned while she explained her and Jessamine’s theories. When she had finished, a tide of whispered conjectures, frightened giggles, and agitated voices rose to a wave of noise that washed through the room.

“Well, that wasn’t so bad.” Jessamine smoothed a manicured finger over her dark brows as she surveyed the occupants.

“Early days yet.” Alana grinned. Her eyes widened as Norman, who had hurried to her side, waved a small metal object over her person.

“What are you doing, Norman ?”

“I am checking, Alana, to ensure you are not damaged.”

Alana blushed and tried to ignore her friend’s grin.
Oh boy!
She hoped like hell no one else had noticed her absence last night.

”Of course I’m not hurt. I’m perfectly okay, now put that thing away,” she said her voice sharp with embarrassment.

Norman blinked like a startled owl then pursed his small mouth into a sulk. “If you insist.”

Alana rolled her eyes as he made an issue out of stuffing the object into one of his pockets. From across the room she saw Elise waving her hand in the air and calling out to her.

“So are we going to meekly accept this situation?” Elise yelled over the hubbub of noise.

Silence fell. The women turned once more towards Alana.

“What I propose is we play this by ear, using our intelligence and common sense,” Alana’s voice rang out with cool authority. “We are no man’s slave. Don’t forget what I said about these blokes’ honour. I believe it’s against their code to use force against a woman. This, ladies, will give us the upper hand.”

“This is a nightmare, an awful nightmare,” Linette shrieked.

Alana hurried to her friend’s side. She placed her arm about the other woman’s shoulder and drew her aside. “I know. I still keep waiting to wake up too,” she murmured. “Unfortunately this is really happening and you need to accept this, Lin. We need to keep our wits about us if we’re to survive and get back home.”

Her heart sank at the anguish in Linette’s face. Unease prickled her skin as she heard the desperation in the other’s voice.

“I don’t think I can do this, Alana,” Linette whispered.

”Sure you can, Linette. I believe in you.” Alana smiled with calculated reassurance. “Remember, their honour demands they don’t force an unwilling female. So you just say, no. We will survive.”

“Truly? You really believe we can go home?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Very well. I’ll try.” Her answering smile wobbled on her lips, a mere shadow of her normal confident manner.

“Well done,” Alana said and buried her doubts for the moment.

She took advantage of the women’s preoccupation with this new development to ask a few discreet queries from Norman. His response alleviated her concerns about any of them contracting an alien sexual disease. She didn’t understand everything he said but if she understood correctly, most diseases had been genetically eradicated from the Darkon people many years ago.

A piece of information she chewed over while staring absently into the distance. Unease teased at the back of her mind but before she could pinpoint its origin the hissing of an opening door captured her attention.

Her heart rate sped up.

He was here.

“Action time, ladies.” Alana strode to the centre of the room to stand in front of the other women. A movement at her side signalled the reassurance of Jessamine’s presence.

”Here we go again,” Elise piped up from her other side and Alana’s confidence surged.

With such friends as these, surely they would continue to survive.

The Commander entered, a contingent of his men at his heels. She stood up straighter.

From the other women came gasps, quiet whispers as they registered the aliens’ appearance. Gone were the protective amours of the warriors. They were clad in matching uniforms which consisted of form hugging pants of some midnight-dark, supple material, knee high boots, belts with a small array of weapons attached. Nothing whatsoever covered the bulging muscles of their sable-skinned chests and backs. Their faces were hard and tense. Their black hair flowed down their backs.

“That sure is some serious eye candy,” muttered Jessamine in Alana’s ear and she had to agree.

The warriors’ aura was breathtaking. The atmosphere in the room crackled with the flames of sexual danger. Determination and need was etched into every visage. Alana’s heart sank as she realised their chances of winning this battle were slim. A quick glance at the other women revealed a few were actually patting their hair, tweaking at their clothes. For some of them at least, the prospect of engaging in sexual activities with men such as these was not going to be a serious issue.

At her side, her best friend was practically drooling. Alana gritted her teeth at Jessamine’s enthrallment. “Pick your jaw up from the floor, Jess!”

”I can’t help it. I’ve surely never seen such men. Check out those muscles! They look as if they’ve been hewed from rock. I’d always imagined aliens as tiny and scrawny.” She made a rapid fanning motion in front of her face with her hand. “Oh moma, here comes your candy from heaven. If a man looked at me the way he’s lookin at you, honey, I’d melt on the spot.”

“Shush,” Alana admonished.

The phrase
‘girding her loins’
flashed across her mind before she met Tarak’s eyes as he strolled towards her. She sensed her friends edging away from the power of his presence. She didn’t blame them. The intensity of his gaze caused a peculiar rolling sensation in the pit of her stomach, similar to what she had experienced on a roller coaster in Cedar Point, Ohio. She frowned at the sudden lightening of her spirit.
Careful!
Remember you’re merely a tool for his pleasure. Her mouth tightened. She lifted her head, her gaze steady.

“Well?” She gestured with her hand. “Care to tell me what this summons is all about?”

Alana noticed the hint of amusement playing about his mouth, deepening the grooves at the corners of his lips. Her initial embarrassment at coming face to face with her lover of the night before fled as irritation at his smug countenance rose. He looked far too pleased with himself. The urge to wipe clear his complacency had Alana’s hands curling into fists.

“This is the Claiming Room, where I and my men will claim our slaves,” he returned evenly.

“We are not slaves!” Alana winced at the rising anger in her tone.

”You are in no position to argue with me. As Commander Tarak el Rajan I have decreed your status. That is an end to the matter. Your fellow captives will be claimed and sent to the Analysis Chamber.”

Gasps came from Jessamine and Elise who were crowded together behind her. Dismay hit her as she struggled with the translation of his words, worried over their import.

Was this the research Norman had warned her about?

She sank her teeth into her lower lip aware the Commander watched her with hooded eyes. Deep in thought, she almost jumped out of her skin when his fingers trailed over her cheeks and across her jaw. Warmth from his touch spiralled down her body. Her face heated under the intensity of his regard.

“The Analysis Chamber,” he said in his quiet deep voice and to Alana’s unease, seemingly answering her unspoken thoughts, “is where everyone is scanned for illness and disease. You will be issued with standard clothing which signifies your class and then given into the care of your warrior.”

“What type of standard clothing?” Alana asked. She decided to ignore his statement regarding their
‘class’
and
‘care’
for the moment as she just knew she would not like his answer.

The Commander seemed surprised and a little ill at ease. “Female slaves must wear specific clothing. Err, it is a long garment, very comfortable.” A wolfish smirk split his dark features.

”Uh huh!” snorted Jessamine. She moved closer to mutter into Alana’s ear. “Probably transparent and very draughty. We’ll be sure to catch our death of cold.”

The Commander’s gaze left Alana’s face to examine with interest her companion. She heard her friend choke back a sound of fear, then let out an explosive breath of relief when he turned away.

“Interesting how some of the females are different in colour, shape of face and form and yet you say you are from the same planet.”

“Same planet, but some of us are from different countries with different cultures,” Alana answered.

Her toes curled within her heavy flight boots when he smiled. Mesmerised, she stared at his well-shaped lips parting over strong white teeth. Her bones dissolved, melding with her thrumming blood, which heated and sizzled along her veins.
Not good, not good
screamed through her head.

“My slave, Alana. Walk with me and tell me of these countries,” he purred and took her hand to pull her into step with him.

Alana attempted to draw her hand out of his grasp to no avail. She stared back at her friends. Jessamine was busy fluttering her long dark lashes at two warriors who were regarding her with interest. When the warriors stalked towards them, Elise inched back into the crowd of women leaving an open field to the other woman.

The warriors circled the room in twos and threes. Alana observed how every now and then one of them would stop before one of the women, stroke a hand over their hair and move closer.

“What are they doing?” Anxiety cramped her stomach.

“Be easy, my Alana. They are choosing their slaves.” He drew her hand through the crook of his arm and imprisoned her hand with his. His touch though gentle seemed to burn through her skin. “The females will not be harmed. Explain to me the dynamics of your world. The more information we learn will enable us to ensure your transition as slaves is painless.”

Startled their minds could run along similar lines, Alana frowned, staring morosely into the distance, aghast at the comfort his attitude afforded her. Their goals could not have been more opposite but at least both of them wanted to keep the women unharmed.

Perhaps they would discover they shared other similar objectives as well?

She turned her head to find him studying her. Her face warmed as his gaze dropped to her mouth. She found herself remembering the ardency of his kisses, the feel of his warm lips against her skin.

This will not do
. Involuntarily her grip tightened over the hardness of his arm. “Very well. I’ve already mentioned in our world we hold positions of power and responsibility.”

Irritation rose when he chose to ignore her challenge, courteously urging her to continue. Well, he wasn’t the only one who could be polite. Social etiquette had been drilled into her by her mother often enough. Alana smiled in her best hostess manner. “Our planet is made up of many different countries and cultures. Within each country, often different races
co-exist. Several countries have joined to form a united government and that’s where I’m from. We have the right to choose our religion and beliefs. To attend schools of our choice, most marry to please themselves and people are free to work at whatever they wish. We vote for whom we want to govern us and we have the right to voice our opinions and concerns when we think our governments are wrong.”

“And peace reigns in such chaos?” Tarak’s voice was ripe with disbelief.

Alana bit her lip and admitted, “Well no. Not always. There have been many conflicts, some with massive losses of life.”

“I am surprised any of you still live. Worlds with differing beliefs must be governed with a firm hand.”

“Are you talking about a military dictatorship?” Alana responded hotly. “Where the ruling power enforces its will onto others? Where people are subjected to a reign of fear to ensure their compliance?”

The Commander’s eyes met hers and she could feel her face scorch at the amused expression on his face.

She itched to take him down a notch.

“Always there must be rules. Without law there is descent into darkness,” he said.

Damn him to unerringly voice one of my deeply held beliefs
.

“You say there are no slaves on your planet, then everyone is equal? There is this freedom of which you speak so passionately, available to all? All people have access to food, safety and riches?”

Alana scowled and scuffed her boot across the floor. “No. Many countries are rife with poverty and disease and unrest.”

“Aaaah. Then those who hold the riches and power, they do not protect and give aid to those who suffer.”

“Once, I admit our world was like that but now it’s not so simple.”

“No?”

“No!” She whirled to face him. “Our planet is over-populated. Violent weather patterns wreck havoc and destruction across our lands. Our resources are diminishing by the day. We are facing tremendous odds. The major powers have formed an alliance called the United Earth Corporation in a desperate attempt to share equally, what remains. But it isn’t easy. There are still some who wage war for a greater share of our resources.” She paused to suck in a deep breath. In her heart, the burn of defeat seared like a wildfire. “The traders spoke of a new-earth. A planet where we could begin again. They gave us hope. And our leaders took it with greedy hands.”