Resilience (Warner's World Book 6) (42 page)

“It’s Essena” said Fenton to Chusium.

“I have not gone through all of this just to hand everything over to the Resistance” replied Chusium. “Give me that” he demanded and Fenton gave him his communicator.

“Now listen to me” said Chusium.

“No, you listen to me father” said Essena “we don’t command the forces necessary to challenge let alone prevail against the Imperial Guard. That was the weakness I warned you about. We either seek help from those who can or we perish.”

Chusium was holding up the flow of bodies into the elevator. He felt the press of their physical presence but it was the emotional turmoil swilling in his own head that caused him the most stress. He was paralysed with fear.

“Come on Sir” said Fenton and he turned Chusium and shoved him into the elevator before he could react. The doors closed and they descended. When Fenton retrieved his communicator he put it to his ear but the connection had been terminated. ‘We’re in a right royal pickle now’ he thought to himself. ‘Essena better come through damm quick.’

One councillor who did not follow the throng was Palmidius. He took the opportunity of all the chaos to slip into one of the rooms off the main corridor. He was now sure Kornola was behind the political coup. He was also confident that it would be Nestor Quazor instigating the military coup outside. He had long believed in the need for a firm hand. He would rather have a dictatorship than chaos. He had been aligned closely with Emilius Quazor and felt confident he could do a deal with Nestor. He just needed to stay safe long enough to stitch up the deal. He opted to seek shelter under the large heavy desk. It wasn’t edifying but security has its price.

Meanwhile in the FIA HQ Essena called in her comms manager and asked “I need to put a call through to Brigadier Miokin.” She looked deadly serious.

Her comms manager was suitably surprised but he had just heard of a report about the walkers outside the council chambers. He was putting two and two together and then trying to come to a decision about where his best interests lay. “Of course Maam. Directly.” He gave a slight smile that was met by a slightly stronger one from Essena.

When her comms manager put her through it was a female voice that greeted her. It was one she recognised as belonging to the head of ISS. She had dealing with Angina Slirinus off and on for years now. She had always been cordial but it was a cautious sounding Angina which hailed “Yes Essena, what can I do for you.”

Essana was surprised. “I thought you were dead?”

“Don’t believe everything you hear.”

Essena explained what was happening, though she didn’t mention about her or her father’s role in the assassination of Emilius Quazor. But the penny had dropped for Angina. “I understand” said Angina in measured voice that conveyed a hint of compassion but no more than that. “But I am not sure what you expect of us.”

“We need to defeat this coup and that means defeating the Imperial Guard.”

“Well that didn’t work out too good for us last time did it” stated Angina.

“But you are holding them at bay now aren’t you?”

“Well let’s say neither side has an upper hand. But it would not be in our interests at this juncture to mount an attack on Slidwon. The best I can offer you is sanctuary. I can’t say any more than that on this call. If you want to accept my offer of sanctuary then we can talk face to face and I can tell you more.”

It was not what Essena had hoped for. Her spirit was deflated. But then a hard streak within her reminded her that it was better than death. “OK I accept your offer. How do we get through to you?”

Chapter 37. Mt Pesminitar 1900, 3 October

Ivan crunched up the packaging on their field tucker. He recoiled at the thought of how it had nearly gone up in smoke when he had pulled the plastic strip that was supposed to start the heating process. But he smiled at how Jasmin had insisted they do it the old fashioned way and actually light a fire.

She had overridden all his concerns about the risk of starting a major fire. In fact the more he reflected on it he had to admit that she had that effect, of removing his concerns, on just about everything. ‘Yes we’re so compatible’ he thought. ‘And tomorrow will be our last day out here just the two of us.’

He looked to her and her big brown eyes were smiling at him. The rest of her face was sublime, completely relaxed. He smiled at her. She reciprocated.

The embers of their small fire were glowing in the early evening twilight. There was still just enough light to make out their expressions. The sound of the falls below them and the creatures of the night provided the soundtrack. The scent of the trees wafted around them on the wind that was now freshening.

Ivan took the branch they had found on the ground on the edge of their little clearing and made his best effort at extinguishing the fire. But he felt Jasmin’s hand restrain him. He saw her head shaking, so he dropped the branch and when she patted her thigh he leant back and lay his head on it. She ran her long fingers through his short blond hair and then massaged his scalp. How he loved that.

“You’re too good to me” he said softly.

“I know” she replied softly.

“We’re good together aren’t we?”

“We are” she said in an equally soft and measured tone.

He adjusted his position so he was now virtually lying down with his head in her lap. His eyes were focussed on the sky above. She continued to massage his head. Her eyes casually scanned the tree line.

“When this war ends will you marry me” he asked. He did not shift his focus from the sky above.

“I’d marry you right now” she replied. Her eyes too kept scanning the tree line. Well at least until Ivan rolled over onto his stomach and used his hands and arms to raise his torso so he could look her in the eye.

“Really?” he asked.

She nodded with a smile. He came up onto his knees. She did likewise and they kissed. It was full of warmth and love and Ivan felt a wellspring of joy rise up and fill him. There was tenderness in that moment that he had not experienced before. He had the realisation that it was her gift to him and he was overwhelmed with gratitude.

At the same time Jasmin felt an enormous strength envelop her. She felt so secure, so supported and she knew it was because of him. It was his gift to her. She too felt enormous gratitude.

They stayed in each other’s arms neither wanting to break the spell or end the moment. Eventually a gust of colder air motivated Jasmin to say “Come let’s get under the covers.”

They crawled into their tent. Ivan being a tall man was spatially challenged by the interiors but he didn’t mind. It gave him an excuse to cuddle up to his lover.

They took their time making love. It was slow and tender without a word save for a gasp from Jasmin as she came followed by a heavy out-breath from Ivan as he too climaxed.

It was still relatively early and neither fell asleep. “You may as well move in with me” said Ivan in a soft measured voice.

“It is a nice cabin” replied Jasmin in a soft measured voice.

“You know, we still have a day left.”

“We do.”

“We could get married tomorrow.”

“We could” said Jasmin in her soft unexcited voice. “There’s only one problem with that” she added.

“What’s that?”

“My mum won’t be able to come.”

“I thought you weren’t on speaking terms.”

“We aren’t, but she is still my mother and she deserves to be there…and my dad of course.”

“Ah, so you won’t marry me right now after all” said Ivan a little louder and with a measure of excitement.

Jasmin sat up, the covers falling down off her breasts. She leaned over Ivan, her breasts touching him. “Now listen here Ivan” she said with plenty of authority. “I stand by what I said. If you can get my parents out here tomorrow, I’m up for it.”

A big smile came over Ivan’s face, partly because of the dander he was now witnessing in Jasmin and partly because her breasts were rubbing over his chest.

“Up for it?” he asked loudly. “You make it sound like a challenge.”

Jasmin shifted her position so she was now on top and straddling him. She let her breasts rub from side to side over his face. “Well being married to you will be a challenge” she said quite loudly. She felt him getting excited and reached down grabbing his member. “See!”

With that he pushed on her shoulder and rolled her over in one motion. She rolled over again to escape his attempt to pin her down. But in doing so ran out of room. She scrambled onto her knees but was quickly reeled in when he grabbed her hips.

“Oh no you don’t” she exclaimed as she felt him thrust towards her buttocks. But he held her tight and entered her. “You brute” she shouted. But then she began to laugh. Ivan too started laughing until she said loudly “Don’t stop! Faster!”

Ivan wasn’t sure he could last much longer, but then she let out at the top of her voice “Oh yeah!” They both collapsed back onto their covers. The tent collapsed in on them and they both laughed at the top of their voices.

Chapter 38. Neeblo 1200, 4 October

Meelanda watched the broadcast from Slidwon for the first time. She couldn’t believe it. “How could they?” she exclaimed. A few minutes later she was on a call to Felis.

“You did send that signal, didn’t you” she quizzed Felis.

“Yes I did. It should have arrived yesterday morning well before this. Let’s not assume anything” Felis told her. “This has only just arrived in. I am sure we’ll get some analysis from Angina directly.”

“What a disaster?” she exclaimed.

“Well at least Quazor’s gone.”     

“Yes but we have a new imperialist to deal with now.”

An hour later another news report came in, this time reporting on the coup by Nestor. Felis received it first and hailed Meelanda. “We have another Quazor back in power.” He went on to explain and ended with “There will be no easy take over now.”

An hour later it was Meelanda’s turn to report that the councillors had defected to the Resistance and would lend their moral support to the cause.

“But that counts for little these days” replied Felis.

“On the contrary” countered Meelanda “It speaks volumes. If we destroy this Nestor Quazor then we and we alone will get to shape the future.”

“That all depends on us winning over Istridium. There will be no back door here. It will be a stand up fight, winner take all.”

“Which is why I must be there” said Meelanda.

“No, that’s not a good idea. I counsel against that strongly.”

“Don’t you see Felis. I do not pretend to think that I could contribute anything physical or mental to the outcome.” She deliberately paused. “But like the councillors you so easily dismiss I can contribute something morally. What is it that Pious so often quotes? Aah yes, ‘morale is to physical as ten is to one.’ I like that saying a lot.”

“Sometimes I wish the good commodore would keep his sayings to himself” replied Felis.

“Tell Veego I will be ready to accompany him when the Ark Royal Group arrives.”

“If you insist Maam.”

“I do.”

Chapter 39. Resolute over Q2 2100, 4 October

Dave entered his cabin after having a quick word with Ivan at the conclusion of dinner. His ‘quick’ word ended up taking him an hour. By the time he got back to his cabin he found the wall on his side of the bed packed with bags. Rihan was at the small desk on her console. She had a serious demeanour.

“Boy you’ve been busy” said Dave.

“Yep” she said without diverting her focus from the console’s screen.

Dave took a quick look at the screen. Rihan was going through various procedures for her new ship. He knew what it would be like for her tomorrow as she tried to stand up a brand new ship. He was glad, in a way, to have passed that baton on.

He opted to undress and take a shower. As the water flowed over him he reflected on the last few days and his current state. He recognised that he definitely felt better than before the leave. Since his breakthrough two days ago he only had one ‘bad’ dream and that was of Ginty coming out of Mintoslum. It wasn’t as intense as previously. He was getting better.

‘Back to work tomorrow’ he said to himself. ‘Yes I can do it’ he admitted to himself.

He dried and dressed in his shorts and tee. After cleaning his teeth he looked at his face in the mirror. The dark rings under his eyes had gone. He rubbed his hand over his face, feeling the pull of the stubble and then a smile came over his face. “But tomorrow’s not here yet” he said.

He exited the ensuite and stood behind Rihan. She ignored him, her fingers swiping to access some more information. Dave began to gently massage her scalp. She normally enjoyed that sensation but this time she tilted her head to frown at Dave before facing back to her screen.

But Dave was not to be deterred. With his arms around the back of her chair he began massaging her shoulders and neck. She gave her head a little shake as the tension released. She was wearing her silk gown. Dave found its slippery surface difficult to gain purchase and apply the pressure he needed to. So he slid his fingers under the top of her robe to get a better grip on her flesh at the back of her shoulders.

He could see a smile creeping onto Rihan’s face as he worked on the spine. She rolled her head back allowing more room to move his hands further down. He took advantage and went wide as well causing the gown to loosen a little more. Her eyes darted down to her cleavage which was now in full view. She looked up to see that Dave’s eyes were focussed there too.

“So that’s your motive” she said softly. She hit the release on the back of the chair and lent right back. Dave had to quickly pull his hands out from her gown. He began massaging the front of her shoulders. But soon the temptation was too great and he extended his fingers down over her breasts, rubbing over her nipples gently before cupping her breasts and drawing his fingers under the outside and coming back up to the top.

She let him repeat the movement, letting out an audible sigh of appreciation. She pecked Dave’s cheek as he leant over her for the third pass. He kissed her back lightly but she brought her left hand up behind his head and pulled him to her. Her tongue parted his lips and they both felt a surge of passion.