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Message-ID: <57647asstr$1211667002@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: Rachael Ross <rache696@yahoo.com>
Subject: {ASSM} Talis (pt.2) by Rachael Ross (M/f(tg) Romance, SciFi, Oral, Anal, Transgender, Teen)
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Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 18:10:02 -0400
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See attached file. 
 


      
<1st attachment, "talispt2.txt" begin>

Talis by rache

   Copyright 2008 Rachael Ross for BFG Productions in association with
Severe Discipline Entertainment http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/rache/www/index.htm
email: rache696@yahoo.com.  Story Codes: M/f(tg) Romance, SciFi, Oral,
Anal, Transgender, Teen Synopsis: Kelly is a sixteen year old girl trapped
in a boy's body.  As if that wasn't bad enough, Kelly's parents want their
son back; her boyfriend is married; and now aliens have attacked the Earth.
Sometimes life really sucks.

   Note: This is part two of a two part post.  You must read part one prior
to continuing past this point for your own safety and my peace of mind. 
Thanks -rr

   =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

   Talis (continued)



   "Kelly Michaels?" another man asked me, standing just inside the doorway
with a clipboard and this was getting old fast.

   "Yeah," I frowned.

   "We've got a seat for you right there," he pointed and there were a lot
of seats.

   The plane was spacious, like a regular passenger jet would be if it was
all business class instead of coach.  The seats were large and there was a
lot of room between one row and the next, but there were only about a dozen
of us scattered throughout the cabin.  We were all between about sixteen
and twenty five maybe, boys and girls, healthy and confused and not saying
much.  The man with the clipboard, who looked like he was in the army
except he was wearing blue coveralls, was joined by another man and the two
of them walked around, making sure we were all strapped in with seat belts.
They ignored our questions, such as they were.

   "Where are we going?" a guy asked, a little older than me maybe and
sitting two rows back.

   "Forget it, man," another guy said, sort of an old hippie looking guy
sitting a couple rows in front of me and on the other side of the center
aisle.  "They won't tell you anything."

   "Why not?" I wondered, having a lot of questions of my own.

   "Cause they're Nazis," he replied loudly and pointedly at one of the men
who ignored him.  "We're kidnapped now.  Disappeared, you know?"

   "Disappeared?" I swallowed hard, "What does that mean?"

   "Don't you watch the news?  People are disappearing all the time!" he
looked at me and his nose was pierced with a gold ring.  "This is how it
happens..."

   "What?  Shut up!" some woman started saying and she was crying.

   "Cool it, buddy," another man said, early twenties and sitting way
behind me.

   "...In broad daylight," the man kept talking.  "In front of your
friends. In front of your kids.  Nobody can stop them.  Nobody will see us
again..."

   About that time the air force guys decided to give the man a shot of
something.  To calm him down, they said.  He put up a little fight, but in
the end he took his shot anyway, and it just scared the rest of us like you
wouldn't believe.  Then he was very quiet.  It was a long time before
anybody said anything else after that.

   "Hey," the man several rows behind me had moved up and now he was
leaning forward, whispering to me.  "Kelly, right?  I heard the guy say
your name.  I'm Matt."

   "Hi," I said, turning my head and kind of wondering why he was talking.
Nobody else was, but most of them were sleeping it looked like.

   "Hi," he smiled and it was a nice one.  "Did they tell you anything? 
The guys who picked you up?"

   "No," I shook my head.  "They just asked a lot of questions."

   "Me too," he said and paused for a second, so I thought Matt was done.
"Denver looked kinda nice.  I've never been there before."

   "Yeah?" I wasn't sure what that meant exactly.  "Where were you from?" I
asked, expecting him to say Los Angeles probably, or maybe New York or
Chicago, but he surprised me.

   "Boise," Matt said and the look on my face made him smile.  "You know,
Idaho?  Potatoes?"

   "Oh," I felt my face redden.  "Sorry, I just...I thought you were um,
like me."

   "Like you?" he smiled with confusion and we hit a little air turbulence
so his head sorta rattled between my seat and the empty one next to me. 
"Wait a sec..." He changed seats, getting out of his and then squeezing
past me so he could sit next to the window.  "...There, now we can talk."

   He was smiling and so I smiled back, thinking Matt was pretty cute, but
that just made me seriously miss Christian.  I wondered what my husband was
doing and if the nurse had called him like she promised.  I hoped so.  I
hoped he could find me and get me back.  This had to be some kind of
mistake or something and I kept thinking of what that crazy guy had been
saying and it still scared me.  More than ever.

   "So, what did you mean when you said, you thought I was like you?" Matt
asked me and he'd turned a little, leaning against the molded plastic wall
next to him.

   "I thought you came from LA or something," I said.  "I mean, I thought
everyone here was a, you know..."

   "A survivor?" Matt nodded.  "That's where you're from?"

   "Yeah."

   "I'm sorry, I thought you were from Denver," he looked genuinely
apologetic, but he didn't need to be.

   "No," I said.  "I'm not.  Me and my husband were relocated and..."

   "Husband?" He smiled and looked at my hands, but I didn't have a ring
yet.  "You're married?"

   "Yeah," I said, looking into Matt's brown eyes without flinching.  I was
so used to the lie after just a couple weeks and really, it didn't feel
like a lie at all to me.

   "I never woulda figured that," Matt smiled.  "I guess I should have
though."

   "Why?" I laughed lightly.

   "Because you're so beautiful..."

   "Come on!" I rolled my eyes.

   "...Seriously," Matt grinned.  "You're gorgeous.  I just...Married,
okay. That sucks."

   "Yeah, yeah," I giggled.  "That's...Okay, thanks."

   He'd laid it on kind of thick for a second there, but I won't say I
didn't like it.  There wasn't anyway I was gonna cheat on Christian, of
course, but being talked to by a guy, a cute guy...I dunno.  Probably I
just really needed something like that just then, you know?  Something that
didn't scare me, or raise a bunch of questions that nobody could answer. 
It was almost normal, except for where we were and why and all that.  I
missed normal a lot.

   "Anytime," Matt said and I was aware of his eyes on my legs, on my bare
thighs beneath the hem of my skirt.  It had ridden up a little and I wanted
to pull it down, but I didn't want him to see me doing it for some reason.

   "Uhhm, so you're not married, I guess?" I asked, just cause I really
didn't know what to say.

   "Me?  No, I go to the junior college," he shrugged.  "Mechanic's school,
you know, fixing cars."

   "Cool," I nodded.  "There aren't a lot of cars around anymore though."

   "Yeah, I know," Matt snorted.  "That sucks too.  I have a '72 Nova I
built out, sitting in my driveway with exactly one gallon of gas in it."

   "A what?" I didn't really know what he was talking about.

   "I just start it up once in awhile, for a minute or two," Matt sighed.
"I put my life into that car."

   "My husband's car is in a ditch," I said.  "The army made him leave it."

   "What kinda car?"

   "A corvette," I said, "one of those old ones, like when they first
started making them."

   "Really?  What, like a '57 or something?" Matt looked excited and I
shrugged.

   "I guess," I laughed.  "I don't know.  It was a convertible.  That's all
I know."

   "Well, any guy that drives a Vette is okay with me," Matt decided.  "I
like his taste."

   I blushed when he said that cause it was obvious the man was talking
about more than just my husband's car.

   "It's nice making a friend," Matt said.  "I mean, I don't believe what
that guy was saying or anything, but..."

   "You don't?"

   "Nah.  We'll get back home.  What do they want us for?  Probably some
test or something, I don't know."

   "But they'll let us go home, right?" I asked.

   "Yeah," Matt nodded.  "Hell yeah, but that's why I'm glad I met you. 
Wherever we're going, I know I won't know anybody there."

   "Me too," I said and I was feeling scared again and probably Matt could
tell.

   "You know me now though, right?" he put his arm around me, although I
was hardly aware of it at the time.  It just happened.

   "Yeah," I smiled and then I felt his fingers sorta squeezing my
shoulder, like drawing me a little closer and I was suddenly confused.

   "We'll just stick together, okay?  You and me Kelly," he whispered and I
was looking into his soft brown eyes.

   "Ummm..." I swallowed hard and I wasn't sure what we were doing.  I knew
what it felt like, but I'd only had one boyfriend and I didn't know this
guy at all and...

   "Shhh...It's okay," Matt said softly and his other hand, his left hand,
was touching my face, pulling some blonde hair back.  "You don't have to be
scared, Kelly."

   "I'm marriemmpphh..." I was being kissed and it was a surprise.  It
shouldn't have been.  I'd seen it coming, like totally, but still it
surprised me when Matt's mouth found mine and I just sat there like a
statue while his tongue played with my lips.

   "See?" Matt licked his lips and smiled.  "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

   "Don't..." I fumbled for words "...Don't do that to me.  Please?"

   "Why?  It's good, right?" he was stroking my shoulder, pulling me to
stay close.  "I just want to have some fun.  We're not bothering anyone. 
Look, they're all sleeping."

   "How can you do this?" I was blinking and trying to understand, not only
what I was feeling, but how he could be so calm.  So...Normal.

   "What do you mean?" Matt asked, reaching for my hair again with his
right hand and I tilted my head away from it.

   "I mean, we're on an airplane," I said.  "We're kidnapped, or something.
We don't know where were going, or why..."

   "I just go with the flow, Kelly," the young man chuckled softly.  "You
should try it."

   He kissed me again and I brought my hands up between us.  He'd pulled me
around to face him, so much as we could in those seats, and I pressed my
fists to his chest.  But his mouth was on mine, his tongue slipping between
my lips and somehow...I was so confused.  I didn't know what I was doing.
The confusion and stress, the frustration, it all seemed to overwhelm me in
the form of Matt and his relentless insistence on touching me.  Kissing me.
Holding me.  And I did want to be held, I couldn't deny it.  I felt small
and vulnerable and I needed a protector.

   My mouth opened and I might have moaned, or sighed perhaps with the
realization that I wasn't fighting.  I wasn't exactly eager for what was
happening, but I wasn't kicking and screaming.  I was letting Matt do what
he wanted with me.  He kissed me deeply and my own tongue moved against
his. My fists became palms and my palms pushed against Matt's chest, but
not enough, not away.  I was touching him too, that's all, and it was
invitation for more.

   "Oh, please...No..." I whispered, feeling guilt rise up like bile in my
throat.

   "Shhh..." Matt's hand was on my small breasts, moving back and forth
from one to the other.  I was still dressed, but I didn't feel like it.  He
was pushing and pulling my bra, a training bra of all things, moving it
across my flushed skin with his attentions.  My blouse was loose and the
man didn't bother with the buttons, he slipped his hand beneath it and then
under my bra as well.

   "Oh god," I breathed, breaking another kiss as I felt his fingers find
my left nipple.  It was swollen and tender, burning cold with excitement
and if he was disappointed with my lack of breasts, Matt didn't show it. 
He pinched my nipple hard, making me wince and draw a sharp breath, but I
didn't pull back.

   "You're so beautiful," Matt said into my ear, his cheek rubbing mine. 
"See what you do to me?"

   "What?" I was blinking and numb, my head spinning as he took my left
hand and put it on the lump of his cock.  "N-No...I don't want to..." I
protested, but I didn't move my hand and Matt silenced me with another
kiss.

   I felt like I was melting, my hand pressed against his trousers, feeling
his manhood trapped there, swollen and pulsing weakly with excitement.  My
body burned, my tits especially as the man continued to massage my nipples,
rubbing them with his thumbs, pinching them and making me shiver.  And
kissing, we were making out, there's no other word for it.  I was open for
him, our tongues moving back and forth from his mouth to mine.  I had my
left hand on his shoulder for some reason, clutching at the guy while he
seduced me.

   "I...I can't do this..." I said, blinking and licking my bruised lips.
"We have to stop."

   "No we don't," Matt whispered and his hand had moved from beneath my
blouse to my bare thigh, sliding along the inside of my leg and working my
skirt a little higher each time.

   "Matt...Oh God, please...I'm married..."

   "He'll never know, Kelly," Matt promised me.  "Doesn't this feel good?"

   "Yeah..." I sighed and then caught myself, "...No...What am I doing?"

   "Relaxing," he said.  "Letting all that stress go away now."

   His hand moved higher between my thighs and I knew my cock was hard. 
He'd feel it soon, his fingers were almost brushing my panties.  I closed
my legs, or tried to, and I reached down, but somehow none of that was
working.  Matt's tongue was in my ear, tickling me and then he'd bite it,
nibbling my ear lobe and sucking it for just a second.  I was still holding
his cock, gripping it through his pants and feeling it nice and hard now,
thick as well.  I was losing it completely, forgetting even my guilt as
Matt was making me feel so good in the middle of all that confusion.

   "Yeah..." Mat sighed and his hand was cupping my sex, but not the moist
pussy he expected.  My girlish cock filled the man's palm through the thin
cotton of my underwear and I could feel his hesitation.

   "Change your mind?" I asked softly, catching my breath and expecting him
to leave.  I was almost relieved at that thought, almost rational.

   "I just go with the flow," Matt said and he gave my cock a squeeze, a
gentle but deliberate caress, and then he was kissing me again.

   By the time our kiss was broken I'd found the buttons on Matt's pants
and freed his swollen erection.  It was thick, but not huge and not so long
as Christian's, I thought.  I'd never been with anyone else and I felt a
rush of excitement to realize I was actually holding a stranger's cock in
my small fist.  I hadn't gone looking for another man, but now I had one
and I pumped his cock slowly while Matt watched me and rubbed my straining
penis through my panties.

   "Suck it for me," he whispered.  "I want to see it in your mouth,
Kelly."

   Matt pulled me down and I wasn't trying to stop him.  His hand on my
head was gentle, but firm, and I leaned over and finally just slipped out
of my seat altogether, so that I was squeezed between the seats and
kneeling on the thin carpet.  I kissed the tip of Matt's penis with pursed
lips and then my tongue, teasing him for a moment before opening my mouth
and letting his cockhead inside.  He was hot and musky and his skin had a
slight tang of salt to it, velvet soft skin over hard muscle beneath.  He
was no different than Christian really, and I sucked him easily.

   "Oh, that's it.  You're so beautiful like that, Kelly," Matt was saying
while he stroked my hair.  "That feels great, oh shit, baby...Suck it for
me, yeah."

   I just kept my lips tight around him, bobbing my head up and down half
his length.  It was nice like that and I used my tongue to give him real
pleasure, tickling the underside of his cock, washing around the smooth
glans thoroughly.  Spit and precum leaked from the corners of my mouth, the
wetness that I couldn't swallow completely, and I used my hands to work it
into his skin until his cock was wet and shiny all over.  I pulled his
balls free as well; big ones too, plum sized orbs that surprised me with
their size.  I rolled them in my fingers and finally dropped my mouth down
low to suckle them one at a time between my lips.

   "Fuck, girl..." Matt groaned, forgetting all about my own penis
apparently, "...Suck my balls, Kelly.  Goddamn!"

   "Shhh..." I lifted my mouth, taking a deep breath and shushing him.

   "Don't worry," he grinned and then he was pulling me up, taking
advantage of our little pause.  "Turn around, like this...I have to fuck
you!"

   "What?  No...I can't do that!" I blinked at him and it was probably
silly saying no after sucking his cock.

   "Yeah you can, you got me ready to explode..." Matt said and he was
trying to get me to sit on his lap, kind of, with my back to him. 
"...Don't be a tease, Kelly."

   "I don't want to!  I'll suck you..." I was gasping and twisting my body,
pulling my arms away as he'd grab for them, "...Matt, stop...You can cum in
my mouth, okay?"

   "I want to cum in your ass," he laughed and then really grabbed me
tight, pulling me back with a little whumph as the air was knocked out of
both of us, I think.

   "No..." I said again, but Matt's right hand found my face and he turned
my head and forced another kiss between my lips.

   I was on his lap, with his cock trapped awkwardly between his belly and
the small of my back, one of his hands holding my body, pressed against my
tits, and the other holding my mouth to his.  I was kissing him too and
that little struggle had somehow made me even hotter.  I liked it that he
was making me do it, that he wasn't letting me say no.  It was making it
really good for me and by the time our kiss ended I was already lifting
myself up, flexing on my knees as I leaned over the seatbacks in front of
us.

   Thank God there was a lot of room on that plane, enough room for us to
do what we had to anyway.  I held my butt over Matt's hard cock while he
lifted my skirt, tucking the hem into the waistband so it would stay out of
the way.  He pulled my panties to the side and spread my ass with his
thumbs.  I had to reach between my thighs and feel for his cock, pulling it
out and aiming it blindly for my tight little hole.  For all my protesting
earlier, I was the one doing it, feeding another man's cock into my boy
pussy.

   Guilt surged through me as I felt Matt's cockhead stretching my anus
slowly.  I was dry back there, but he wasn't.  His penis was leaking a lot
of precum and that was going to be enough for us.  I let the man pull me
down by the hips, stretching my asshole with a dull burning sensation, but
nothing more painful than that.  It felt good being filled and I was
gasping with pleasure as my rectum was opened slowly by the pressure.  I
shut my eyes against the guilt, the betrayal of my husband, but I did want
this.  I needed it and when I had every inch of the man inside me I rocked
my ass in a delicious grind, wanting to feel his cock massaging my
sensitive prostate.

   I hugged the seatback in front of me and Matt held my hips, pushing and
pulling me up and down.  It was fucking, nothing more than that.  His cock
was sliding back and forth easily and when I looked over my shoulder I
could see the man smiling, staring at the place where his manhood
disappeared into my flushed body.  I'd lost my own erection by then, as
often happened when I fucked, but that didn't make it any less good for me.
I had my orgasms, for lack of a better word.  The emotional release that
made my body shudder and my asshole tighten with rapid contractions.

   "Oh fuck!" Matt gasped, unprepared for the sensation of my rectum
squeezing his cock like a soft fist.

   He came quickly after that, pulling me down hard, and I turned my head
for his urgent kisses when I felt the first indistinct pulse of his semen
being released into my bowels.  I rolled my ass like I was trying to screw
myself down, tightening my tummy and thighs and squeezing my ass to milk
the man's balls for every drop of cum.  I sucked his tongue like it was a
small cock, pursing my lips around it while Matt's hands slid under my
blouse and my hopelessly askew bra.  He was grabbing my tits and squeezing
hard, digging his fingers into my taut flesh and that too was a pleasure
all its own.

   My own cock spasmed then as well, surprising me as I hadn't even known
it was hard again.  Sperm spilled into my panties and I found myself with
tear stained eyes, breathing hard and still impaled on Matt's hard cock. 
He let me come down, both of us really, but mostly me.  He let us relax for
several minutes and regain our wits, and then he fucked me again.

   =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

   It was dark when we landed and had been dark for some time.  I'd cleaned
myself up in the lavatory, ignoring one man's knowing smirk and another
girl's frown as I went in.  She looked about the same age I was, but not so
pretty despite her big tits.  I ignored the catty look with a little smile
all my own, hoping she saw the cum stains on the insides of my thighs
before I washed them away.

   "Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened until we're ready to
disembark you," one of the air force men said, but not over a loudspeaker.
He just said it loudly, cutting through our little whispers as we all
looked at one another and wondered where we were.  Some people asked
questions, but there weren't any answers coming from the crew.  Big
surprise there.

   It was a few minutes before the cabin door was open and then we were
called by name, one at a time to leave the airplane.  I was the third one
called.

   "Kelly Michaels?  This way please..."

   I swallowed hard and I was scared, but there wasn't anything I could do
about it.  The only good thing I could think of was that they wouldn't fly
me six or seven hours away from home just to kill me.  Would they?  I
didn't think so, but I didn't even know who "they" were.  I took one last
look over my shoulder, finding Matt with my eyes and he smiled back, but I
think even he was a little frightened.  We were going with the flow now,
weren't we?

   It was hot, that was the first thing I noticed.  Hot and kind of humid,
with thick salty air.  The ocean was nearby, a lot of ocean probably, but I
couldn't hear or see it, just smell it.  Mostly I was blinded by the really
bright lights, huge towers of lights, like at a football stadium or
something.  They were all over, planted in fresh concrete seemingly at
random, and we were at an airport, I guessed.  I mean, we had to be since
the jet had landed there, but it wasn't like a real airport with a terminal
and a bunch of jets and a lot of people.  This one was more like...Under
construction, it seemed to me.  Half-finished buildings were in the
distance and I could see people working on them.  Trucks drove around, and
bulldozers too.  It was busy, but there weren't any other airplanes I could
see, so maybe it wasn't an airport at all.

   "Down here, watch your step," a man said, standing at the bottom of some
steep stairs and I came down slowly.  "Kelly Michaels?"

   "Yes...Ow!" I jerked as he stabbed me with a pin, or a needle, or
something.

   "Okay," he was looking at a little Gameboy looking thing while I rubbed
my arm.  "Have a seat.  Are you hungry?  Thirsty?  Do you need a bathroom
or anything?"

   "Just answers," I said, giving him a dirty look.  "Where am I?"

   We were sitting on an electric cart, like a golf cart, and the man was
driving us away from the plane and towards the biggest building around.  It
looked brand new, all glass and steel mostly, or aluminum maybe.  It was
shiny anyway and big, like I said, a dozen stories high easily.  All the
lights were on too, from what I could tell, but there weren't any signs or
anything, nothing to tell me what the building was for.

   "Baja California," the man said, surprising me since I was so used to my
questions being ignored.  "The Pacific side, near Bahia Magdelina."

   "That's a big help," I frowned.  "Why?"

   Things returned to normal then as he ignored my question completely,
pretending like he was preoccupied with parallel parking that little cart
in front of the building.  He stepped off and made a little motion for me
to do the same and it wasn't like I was gonna argue.  What would be the
point?  So I got off the cart and we walked together into the building,
which was spotless, cool, and pretty empty as far as I could tell.  We were
in a lobby, I guess, or something like one, and the man didn't hesitate but
started walking us through the over-sized foyer and then down an extra-wide
hallway to some elevators.

   "Where is everyone?" I asked, since the place was almost spooky, being
so big and bright and deserted.

   "Working," the man said.  "We have a lot to do."

   "Oh," I nodded, like that made sense.

   "Until three weeks ago, none of this was here," he sounded almost proud
of that.

   "Wow," I said.

   He pushed the up button, so that the arrow on it lit amber.  There was a
down button too, so I guessed there was a basement.  It didn't take very
long for the elevator to arrive and he swept his arm like we were on a
first date, inviting me to enter first.  That seemed silly and I didn't
know what to make of this guy as he pushed the number 3 button.

   "We're not going to the top?" I said just to mess with him a little.

   "Do you want to?" he asked and I almost laughed because he was serious.

   "I don't know," I shrugged.  "What's up there?"

   "Nothing," he said.

   "Fuck you," I looked down and he was pretty good at messing with people
himself, I thought.

   The elevator doors opened after a brief ride and I stepped out without
waiting for his good manners.  Another empty hallway, but at least this one
had a sign.

   "Transport?" I asked him.

   "That way," the man agreed, pointing to the left, the same way the arrow
on the sign did.

   "What's that mean?" I wondered.

   I found out when we got there, passing through a set of automatic doors
that whooshed open.  It was chilly in that place, almost cold in fact, and
I had little goosebumps on my arms suddenly.  It was a good sized room and
I thought it looked kind of like that old Star Trek television show, since
there was a platform and six big glass tubes mounted like pillars between
the floor and ceiling.  There was nothing in them and they actually looked
kind of dark, but the word transport was in my head and aliens and
so...Star Trek, why not?

   "What is this?" I asked, staring at the man now, demanding a real answer
and he nodded.

   "It's a transport system, between Earth and the command ship in orbit,"
he told me.  "The aliens want to meet you."

   "No...No way," I shook my head and took a step back.  "This is crazy."

   "It's perfectly safe," the man said and I was aware of other men now,
wearing white coveralls and looking like doctors or scientists or
something.

   "What did I do?" I asked him.  "Why me?"

   "I don't know," he said.  "But they asked for you."

   "I don't want to go!" I felt my eyes welling up with tears.  "I want to
go home!  I want my husband!  I want my mom and dad!"

   I was crying then, ready to fall because I missed my parents so badly
just then, even more than I missed Christian.  I wanted to wake up in my
bed and this same wave of depression had engulfed me countless times.  Now
I had a good reason for it.  I wasn't going to fight; I didn't have that
kind of strength.  I just wanted to go home.

   "Let's get her in the tube," someone said and it was like a dream after
that.

   =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

   "Drink this, it'll make you feel better," a voice was saying and my head
hurt, my eyes didn't want to open.  "Transport can be disorienting the
first time."

   Someone was cupping the back of my head, lifting me off a pillow it
seemed, or a cushion, and I felt something cool and wet on my lips.  It was
sweet, but not overpowering and without much else for flavor.  Sugarwater,
I thought, but it went down easy and it did make me feel better.

   "Can you open your eyes?" the voice asked and it sounded old, maybe, but
male or female I couldn't tell.

   I opened my eyes slowly, ready to close them again if I had to, but
wherever I was, the place was softly lit.  Not dim, but glowing with a
yellowish light that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere all at
once. It was kinda nice actually and almost soothing in a way.

   "Good," she said, or I think it was a she.

   The person speaking looked kinda like a cavewoman, and not Raquel Welch
in that old movie, but like one of those reconstructed prehistoric
ancestors you see in museums.  She had sunken eyes and a big bony brow, you
know?  A crooked nose and thick lips.  If I'd had to make guesses about
what the aliens looked like, this wouldn't have made the list.  Not in a
million years.

   "Not what you expected?" she smiled, sorta, except it was scary.  "We're
Talis."

   "Alice?" I blinked at her, shrinking back slightly as I noticed her big
hairy hands and swollen knuckles.  She was holding the crystal glass I'd
been drinking from.

   "Talis," she repeated patiently.  "But Alice is nice too."

   "What do you want?" I asked softly, glancing around the room, but the
glow just seemed to fade into black.  I couldn't see any doors or windows
or even any other furniture but the recliner sort of thing I was laying on.
Talis was sitting at the foot of it, leaning over me.

   "I want to be your friend, Kelly," Talis said.  "I want to know you
better and help you understand what's happening."

   "What?  Like uh, you wanted a pet human and you picked me?" I was
pulling myself up slowly, sitting up and bringing my knees to my chest.

   "No, not like that," she said.  "It's an interesting idea though."

   "Glad you think so," I said, hugging myself.  "When can I go home?"

   "I'm not sure," Talis said.  "Once I've decided, then we'll know."

   "Decided what?" I asked.

   "Now that's a very large subject and I think you should rest first," she
said and her voice, her words were gentle, but that face...

   "No, I'm not tired.  I'm just..." I sighed, "...I'm tired of not
knowing, that's all.  Can't you just tell me?"

   Talis seemed to consider that for a moment, looking at me in the face
and I noticed her eyes were blue, which seemed totally out of place.  They
were intelligent too, I realized, as if I couldn't already figure out that
she wasn't a Neanderthal beating rocks together in a cave.  I mean, she
looked like she knew everything, or wanted to anyway.  Curious, intelligent
blue eyes, that's what she had, and I found them somehow reassuring.

   "My species doesn't live the way you do," she said slowly.  "We're more
like a virus, you might say."

   "What?"

   "We require a host organism to support us, like this one," she touched
her fingers to her chest.  "Talis comes from another planet, a very distant
planet, and we've been together for a very long time."

   "You mean..." I was struggling to catch up with her, "...you're inside
her?"

   "Exactly, residing in her DNA for all practical purposes," Talis agreed.
"She's my host and together we live."

   "But," I swallowed hard, "what happened to her?"

   "She's here, we're both here, speaking to you now," the creature smiled.
"She didn't die.  She didn't cease to be herself, Talis...Evolved."

   "You're two people?" I blinked at that.

   "It may be hard to understand, I know," she said patiently, but I shook
my head.

   "No," I said softly, as much to myself as Talis, "I can understand that
part."

   "Can you?" Talis seemed surprised by that, but pleased as well I
thought. She let it go and I didn't want to explain.  "We're more than just
two, Kelly.  Every host survives through me."

   "What does that mean?" I frowned, cause now I was getting lost again.

   "A body doesn't last forever, Kelly," she said, "but memories do.  A
person's hopes and dreams, their triumphs and tragedies, all the things
that make a person who they are can survive through me."

   "You're saying that Talis is...What?  Just your newest host?  That you
did this before?"

   "Many, many times," she nodded.  "Soon I'll have to move into a new
host, someone young and strong, but more than that.  I need someone with a
fertile mind, intelligent and imaginative."

   "What?" I shrank back from her even further.

   "You're not the first human I've met, Kelly.  There have been others
since our arrival, but they were...Unsuitable emotionally."

   "I don't think..." I blinked rapidly; the alien couldn't be suggesting
what I thought she was!

   "This body is dying," she said.  "Talis is nearly a hundred years old,
by your calendar and her race is not a long lived one.  Our body is tired
and needs to sleep."

   "No," I said.

   "We'll talk more about this after you've rested."

   "You can't have my body," I swallowed hard.  "I'm using it.  It's mine!"

   "It will always be yours, Kelly," Talis was standing.  "Nobody can take
it from you, not even me."

   "Good," I nodded, looking around wide-eyed and wanting to run.  "So,
just send me back home, okay?  Find somebody else and..."

   "We'll see," she said with that gentle voice I suddenly hated.  "We have
time to discuss it first.  This isn't a small decision for either of us."

   "There's nothing to discuss," I told her.  "You killed my family.  I
hate you!"

   "I understand," she said, perhaps sadly, I couldn't tell and it didn't
matter anyway.  "Rest now."

   She was gone, stepping out of the light and then gone.  It was a neat
trick, but I'd seen better.  I got off the recliner and walked around
slowly, checking the place out.  If I went too far, out of the light, more
lights would turn on for me and the ones behind me go out.  I found a
bathroom that way, a pretty typical one too, except there wasn't any toilet
paper, just a spray nozzle kind of thing and a bar of soap.

   "Stupid aliens," I shook my head, wondering how anyone who didn't have
toilet paper could conquer the earth.

   There was a table as well, kind of sitting in the middle of the room as
it turned out.  There were fruits in a bowel, some kind of bread, I
guessed, except it was crunchy like a big cracker.  A pitcher with that
sweet water in it too and I had some of that, but I wasn't especially
hungry.  I didn't find any doors though, no exits, so it was like I was a
prisoner, which makes sense.  They wouldn't want some earthling running
around on their spaceship pushing buttons or whatever.  If I could have,
I'd have pushed every button I found til something blew up.

   I could save the earth, I thought.  Avenge all those people the aliens
had killed.  My mom and dad and even Christian's wife, his ex-wife, I
corrected myself.  I was his wife now and I almost felt bad about some of
the stuff I'd said about her before, when she was still alive.  I'd only
hated her cause she'd been married to the man I loved, but I didn't even
know her.  I hated thinking about stuff like that, especially when I fell
asleep; it always gave me bad dreams.

   When I woke up the room was dark, but someone somewhere must have been
watching me because the lights came on right away.  That made me kind of
nervous because I wanted to use the bathroom.  I wanted a shower too.  I
wanted to change clothes and eat pancakes.  I wanted to have coffee with
Christian and listen to him complain about missing his car.  I wanted to go
home.

   At least I got to pee and take a shower and if any aliens were watching
me, well, I hoped they got a good thrill out of it.

   "Stupid aliens," I said, putting on my panties, which were stained with
cum from stupid Matt making me cheat on Christian.

   So then I had to spend ten minutes worrying about that, because today
was a new day and now I had even more guilt to live with.  God!  I'm away
from my husband for a couple hours and I let the first guy who comes along
fuck me?  Matt wasn't that cute!  How was I gonna explain that?  It wasn't
like I could lie to him; Christian always knew when I was feeling bad about
something.  I hated myself for ten whole minutes, like it was a luxury or
something, and then I had to set my self-pity aside because Talis was back.

   "Can I go home now?" I asked, knowing the answer to that dumb question.

   "No," she said.  "Eat first, and then I'll show you the ship.  Would you
like that?"

   "Can I push buttons?" I asked.

   The alien cave woman let that question go, but she was determined that I
eat.  I had half a mind to go on a hunger strike or something, but it
wasn't like I didn't have enough problems already.  My real hope was that
we could have our little discussion, come to an agreement that my body was
mine, and go our separate ways.  Talis could go to hell and I'd go home,
that seemed fair to me.

   "Do you have coffee?  Or hot cocoa or anything?" I asked her seriously.

   "No, I'm sorry," she said.  "I know this isn't what you're used to."

   "You can say that again," I frowned, picking up an orange from the bowl
and peeling it slowly.

   "Once we're joined...If we're joined," she smiled at me, "you'll be much
more comfortable.  I'm still learning about you and your people."

   "You speak English pretty good," I said.  "Where'd you learn that?"

   "Certain quantitative data can be implanted into the brain through
biochemical processes.  Languages, for example."

   "Sure," I nodded, having zero idea what she was talking about.

   "It's very much like having memorized the information and through
subjective use, learning how to apply it," she explained.  "Unfortunately,
like all memories, the data deteriorates over time."

   "Of course," I rolled my eyes.  "So you're saying you're gonna forget
how to speak English pretty soon?"

   "Eventually, although application of the data slows the deterioration
process significantly," Talis said.  "By then I will have found a human
host, however, and I'll no longer require the implant."

   "Hmmm..." I chewed my orange slowly, "...Just make sure you don't get
someone who speaks something stupid, like Japanese or something.  Nobody
understands what those guys are saying."

   "No, we've decided English will be our primary language," Talis said. 
"Largely for technical considerations, but there are certain political
aspects as well."

   "Are there a lot of you guys?" I wondered.  "Or did you just come by
yourself, or what?"

   "There are many of us," Talis agreed.  "Our empire is not one of
conquest, but rather assimilation."

   "You have an empire?" I blinked at that, but I guess it made sense. 
"What does assimilation mean?  You conquered Earth, right?"

   "Earth is now part of the empire, its resources will added to the whole
and likewise it will share in the empire's wealth," Talis said.  "Your
people will benefit, believe me, your planet will prosper as it has never
done in the past."

   "And that's why you blew up Los Angeles?" I asked her.  "Cause you're so
darn friendly?"

   "There are certain necessities..."

   "You killed my parents!  Do you have any idea what that feels like?" I
stared at her and the alien didn't look away from me.  "What would you do
if someone did that to you?  Huh?"

   She didn't say anything and I was blinking back tears, ready to lose it
again.  Here was the person, the creature, who had blown up not just LA,
but so many other cities as well.  Without warning, without reason, she
just came along and did it.  I wished right then I was someone bigger and
stronger, someone who could grab her by the throat and squeeze.  But all I
could do was cry.

   "Answer me!"

   "My requirements for a host do not change," Talis said and I started to
interrupt her, but she held up a hand.  "From planet to planet, over the
long millennium, they have always remained constant.  Aside from a specific
DNA structure, certain factors regarding age and health and social
background, I require someone who has suffered loss."

   "Loss?"

   "I ordered the destruction of your cities, it's true, and that necessity
did not please me.  By joining with you, I will feel your loss, Kelly. 
I'll share your grief and yes, I'll share your anger as well."

   "I don't believe you," I said.

   "Every host I have joined with has lost loved ones by my order," Talis
watched my eyes with hers and I knew she was telling me the truth.  "I
don't apologize for it, but nor do I revel in the death of so many
innocents."

   "Then why do it?" I asked, my tears seeming to explode from my eyes. 
"Why?"

   "We've tried other methods," she said.  "Less drastic measures in the
past, on planets like yours.  The result, invariably, has been far worse
than what happened to Earth."

   "What could be worse than what you did?"

   "Watching your people tear themselves apart," Talis sighed.  "The planet
doesn't unite under a common flag, a central government, and join the
empire.  Nations look for advantage; they bargain for technology and
conspire for information, which they use to assure their prominence.  Other
nations resist this.  Wars are fought, world wars with weapons of mass
destruction.  The empire gains nothing from this and your world is reduced
to ash."

   "We wouldn't do that," I said, wiping at my eyes.

   "You've killed yourselves over much less than what we offer, Kelly,"
Talis told me sadly.  "Therefore, we come to your fractured planet,
eliminate your ability to wage war, and rebuild it in a manner of our
choosing."

   Talis left me to think about that and I doubted there was a person
anywhere less qualified to judge her words.  I was sixteen and alone and I
knew nothing of politics or people.  I wanted to believe she was wrong,
that she was lying to me, but I couldn't find a good reason.  She could
have told me so many other lies, but she hadn't.  Talis had looked me in
the eyes and admitted to what she'd done.

   Did she regret it?  I thought so, but it didn't bring my parents back to
me.  How many of those people now dead would have given up their lives
willingly if it meant saving the planet as a whole?  If it meant saving the
human race?  Would my mom and dad have done it to save me?  That's what
Talis was saying, if I understood her correctly.  I just didn't know and it
hurt to look for answers.

   =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

   "I'm frightened," I said.

   "I understand," Talis nodded and we were in one of the ship's medical
bays, lying side by side on examination tables of some sort.

   "We're ready, Duchess," a technician's disembodied voice floated out of
the darkness above us.  "Program initiated.  Standby."

   "You never did explain the politics," I sighed.  "You said you would."

   "An hour from now and you'll know as much as I do about it," Talis
actually laughed, a rare sound and not altogether pleasant.

   "Did you like being Talis?" I asked a minute later, because we were
still waiting and I was nervous.

   "I will always be Talis," she answered patiently and I was still having
difficulty understanding that.

   "And after today you'll always be me, right?" I closed my eyes and drew
a deep breath, feeling drowsy.  "Will I still be me?"

   "Of course you will, Kelly," Talis promised and her voice was far away.
"You'll see."

   I opened my eyes and felt exactly as I had before I'd fallen asleep.  I
wiggled my fingers and toes, inventoried my parts and took a deep breath. I
seemed the same physically, although I also knew that my DNA was altered,
and even now my body was adjusting to the lifeform that infected me.

   My memories were intact as well.  I knew my name and recalled Christian
clearly, with a deep longing to be near him.  I remembered my parents and
the pain of losing them.  The things that made me who I was remained and I
nodded my head, grateful that Talis had been telling me the truth.

   "Talis." I slipped naked from the table and stood close to her, reaching
out to stroke her face and hair with my fingertips.  "Sleep now.  Sleep
well, my old friend."

   I leaned over to kiss her forehead and I had tears in my eyes.

   "Eva," I said after a long moment and I was joined by one of my
servants, a slender girl with blue skin and silver eyes to match her long,
fine hair.

   Eva wore a plain white shift from her shoulders to her thighs and
sandals on her feet.  Kelly had never seen Eva before, but I knew her
intimately now and smiled with renewed pleasure at her graceful motion.  It
was the reason I'd bought the girl, a dancer from a world full of them,
Eva's unearthly grace.

   "Mistress," she bowed her head and then dressed me in a simple robe of
scarlet, the color of my office.

   We left the medical bays and unlike my previous experiences over the
last forty-eight hours, now the ship was busy, animated by a large crew who
deferred to my passage with bowed heads.  I recognized many of them, if not
by name, then by sight.  They were all humanoid, gathered from a myriad of
planets throughout the empire, and soon humans from Earth would be added to
their number.

   Halfway to my quarters we were joined by Ellicent, my personal
assistant, secretary, and confidante.  She was Riavean, an ancient race and
among the first to join the empire.  Her home planet of Riave was located
nearer the galactic core and we shared a certain kinship, her race and
mine. She was very much like a sister to me in many ways and I depended
upon her greatly.

   "I've made preparations for Talis," Ellicent said without preamble,
falling into step behind me.  "After the ceremony she'll be interred on
Earth, as you've ordered."

   "I want to see it first," I said.  "She missed her home very much.  I
should have liked to bring her back."

   "I understand," the Riavean agreed.

   She had elfin features, prominent cheeks and a tapering chin beneath a
broad forehead.  I'd always enjoyed looking at Ellicent, not in a sexual
way, but with an appreciation for her beauty which was considerable.  Now I
had a new perspective, a human perspective, and I thought her blood red
eyes gave her a vampiric quality.  They were formed as almonds with the
points turned downward at the bridge of her nose.  Of course the sharp
fangs in her mouth only reinforced that image, but her golden hair and
caramel skin suggested nothing of the kind and it was an interesting
contrast.

   "Send Aris to North America, to Denver in Colorado.  I want a human
named Christian Michaels brought here," I looked over my shoulder at
Ellicent.  "I want him to go personally and tell Aris not to frighten the
man.  He's my husband."

   "Yes, Mistress."

   "And tell him to pick-up some toilet paper while he's down there," I
shook my head and then caught Horus coming towards us, full of good news, I
was sure.

   "Toilet paper?" Ellicent asked.

   "Cousin, how radiant you look!" Horus smiled, but I didn't believe any
of it.  "I almost didn't recognize you."

   "Pity," I smiled back.  "Did you come all the way up here just for
that?"

   "Talis..."

   "Kelly," I corrected him.  "Or Mistress, if you like."

   "Kelly, of course," Horus ignored my barb.  "No, actually I've come for
a perfectly good reason.  The disposition of force is wholly
unsatisfactory..."

   "Don't ask for more troops," I said, sensing where this conversation was
going.

   "Two legions of shock troops, that's all," Horus said.  "There is strong
resistance in Asia Minor and the Middle East.  Religious fanatics. 
Extremists who won't limit their rebellion to geopolitical boundaries."

   "Strong resistance?" I looked at him as we continued to walk.  "How many
of our troops have they killed?  How many dropships and gunboats have we
lost to these rebels?"

   "None," he admitted.  "That isn't to say we're secure, only that time
and opportunity have favored us thus far."

   "Is the station secure?" I asked him.

   "Of course," Horus replied.  "Construction is on schedule.  We'll be
able to begin full scale operations within the month."

   "Then we stick to the plan," I said.  "The one we agreed upon, remember?
Once the station is operational, we'll begin rehabilitation with North
America.  The rebellion, as you call it, will have to be dealt with through
political and economic coercion.  Human coercion."

   "Coercion," Horus frowned and finally dropped his head just far enough
to insult me.  "As you command, Mistress."

   "He'll go to the emperor," Ellicent said after Horus had left us.  "He
has friends at court."

   "I know," we entered my private quarters.  "I'd expected him to be more
imaginative than this.  More troops..." I sighed, "...We have to minimize
our presence.  He's a fool."

   "That's why the Emperor sent him here." Jericho was waiting for us and
at his word the great curving bulkhead around us became transparent and I
was greeted with a view of the Earth rotating slowly some thirty thousand
kilometers beneath us.

   "To punish me?" I looked at Jericho and he was nothing but a hologram
created by the computer, but it was easy to forget that.

   "Or test you perhaps," Jericho said.  "I have your morning brief
prepared."

   "Later," I waved that idea away.  "I want a bath first.  Eva..."

   "Yes, Mistress," she was already preparing the tub, or more of a pool
really.  A deep bath formed of short marble steps had appeared in the
center of the room and it was filling quickly with water.

   "You're male?" Ellicent asked a moment later, watching as Eva removed
the robe from my shoulders, letting it fall carelessly around my feet.

   "You didn't know?" I laughed lightly, pleased that I'd actually kept a
secret from my best friend, albeit unintentionally.  "No, I'm female. 
This..." I looked down at my soft cock and hairless balls, "...is simply
the universe having a little fun with me."

   "I understand why you were chosen, then," she said.

   "Did you think I would be uninterested in her otherwise?" I asked
Ellicent, mocking a pout.

   It was funny speaking about myself that way, because the alien and I
were completely one, but my point of reference changed as I desired to
express our once separate opinions.  For the old Kelly it would have been
quite maddening, but the new me was very comfortable that way and Ellicent
seemed to understand perfectly.

   "The Emperor will be pleased, but I suppose you considered that," she
said, taking a seat on a divan nearby.

   "Actually, I hadn't," I answered, stepping into my bath as Eva held my
hand.  "Ellie, don't be angry with me."

   "Never," the woman said without smiling, "but you might have consulted
me first."

   "You couldn't have changed my mind," I giggled, looking around Eva as
she'd removed her shift and was now joining me in the steaming water.  This
was very much my morning ritual and I saw no reason to change it.

   "I think you're lovely, Mistress," Eva smiled.  She sat opposite me and
the bath was large enough that I could stretch fully, letting the girl work
her hands across my body as she desired.  It was as much a massage as
anything else and wonderfully relaxing.

   "Hmmm...Now tell me of York," I said, closing my eyes.

   "The Emperor has commanded that Cerberus be opened for settlement at the
earliest opportunity," Ellicent said.  "The Crown Prince has been tasked to
negotiate with Lord Bertrayne for passage through his space..."

   "We should crush him," I frowned.  "I don't understand the Emperor's
reluctance."

   Eva took my left foot in her hands and then her mouth, kissing and then
sucking my toes gently while she stroked my calf and thigh.  I opened my
eyes then, just to see her, and the girl was entirely beautiful.

   "Bertrayne controls the Gyre Nebula and the space within it.  He uses a
technology we haven't been able to duplicate and as you know any ship
entering the nebula is vulnerable..."

   "Except his," I pulled my foot from Eva's mouth and gave her the other.
"It is such a small space..."

   "Small and vital, Mistress," Ellicent said.  "We can't go around it. 
York will make the alliance..."

   "And his favor will grow, while we sit here and watch."

   "...and Cerberus will be settled.  I think we must focus our attentions
there.  It will extend your reach considerably and new space is always
filled with opportunity."

   "Yesss..." I sighed, leaning back and watching Eva work her long pink
tongue around my toes.  "I'll go to Court, it's been entirely too long
anyway." I paused, giving Ellicent time to protest, but she didn't.  "I'll
speak of Cerberus with the Emperor.  Have the Interior Ministry draft a
settlement plan and Lord Erid can prepare his brief."

   "He's been waiting for an appointment," Ellicent smiled.  "He thinks
you're going to replace him."

   "Let him.  Inform the Marshall I want Plan Yellow updated.  Quietly. 
Don't go through Heward."

   "You intend to attack Bertrayne?"

   "When it's ready I'll want to see the General Staff wargame the
assualt." I said.  "York's diplomacy may provide us with a decisive
advantage."

   "Very good," Ellicent nodded.

   "And arrange for me to meet with that trainer, do you know the one?" I
pulled my foot away and held out my arms for Eva.

   "Claudius?  You wish to enter the games?" Ellicent asked, and then
waited patiently as I was engaged in a kiss.

   "When in Rome..." I smiled, brushing a lock of hair from Eva's silvery
eyes.

   For a moment I wished I was a real boy, just to know what it would be
like making love to a girl like her.  She didn't arouse me in that way,
however, and it was enough to simply love her.

   "Admiral Heward requests an audience," Jericho interrupted us,
flickering to life near Ellicent.

   "Speak of the devil," I sighed and pushed Eva way so I could roll over.
"Wash my back now."

   "Yes, Mistress."

   "Very well," Ellicent answered the computer.  "Send him in."

   "Admiral, what news?" I asked the man, turning just enough to see him
lower his head in ceremonial deference.  He was my military liaison with
the general staff and young for his position, but capable and wonderfully
ambitious.

   "My Lady, one of our mining colonies, Orthos-Nine was attacked twelve
hours ago," the Admiral lifted his face.  "We lost a full shift and nearly
two weeks of polonium production.  The frigate Naiad was patrolling less
than a parsec away at the time.  She responded to the distress signal, but
by the time Naiad arrived..."

   "I see," I frowned slightly and put my chin on my crossed arms, making
it clear that I didn't.  "Why didn't this frigate detect the raider,
Admiral?  That's why it's out there, isn't it?"

   "They reported a sensor malfunction shortly before the attack," the
Admiral shifted uncomfortably.  "The commander of Naiad is the second son
of the Marquis de Windham."

   "Ah..." I nodded as it was clear enough now.  "...Execute him, I'll sign
the order.  Send a battle squadron to Windham to deliver the traitor's head
to his father."

   "Mistress..." Ellicent would offer me a different solution, but only
because it was her duty.

   "Do you dispute my interpretation of these events, Admiral?" I asked,
cutting her off.

   "We are in accord, Mistress," Heward bowed his head.  "The crew will be
interned and scanned, of course.  The saboteur will be found."

   "You have your orders then," I dismissed him and looked at Ellicent,
knowing she was impatient.  "Oh, very well, get on with it then."

   "You have your daily briefing with Jericho at 0800...Which was thirty
minutes ago, I might add..." Ellicent recited my schedule as she had to and
it only rarely varied.

   I was responsible for over a thousand systems, countless planets and
their resources.  All of them with their unique problems demanding my sole
attention.  We were on the borders of colonized space, at the edge of the
empire, and so we had piracy and raiders, uprisings and mutinies and
rebellions.  Trade routes to establish and maintain, taxes to collect, laws
to enforce, and a million other things beside.  That I'd fought tooth and
nail for the position didn't make me feel any better.  There was much glory
and power to be gained, but the precipice was ever beneath my heels.

   I depended upon men like the Marquis de Windham, and he upon the counts
and various nobles beneath him.  Executing the captain of the Naiad was
necessary, the Marquis would understand that, but it would cause tension
that I didn't need.  The battle squadron would send the old man a message,
perhaps even insult him, but again it was necessary for the good order of
the empire and he'd be reminded of his place in the greater scheme of
things.  Sons could be replaced, miners and their equipment as well, but
two weeks of production...

   "The good of the empire," I sighed softly.

   "...Mistress?" Ellicent paused and I waved at her to continue.  We were
already running late and the day had just started.

   =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

   "Christian," I stroked his face and watched him stir groggily.

   "Who hit me?" he asked weakly, managing a weak smile and I kissed at the
corner of his mouth.

   We were in my chambers and I'd redone it in a classical Grecian style
just for us.  There were marble pillars and braziers of cast bronze,
burning around us.  A fountain and the pool I'd bathed in earlier with Eva.
Much of it was an illusion, holograms created by the computers, some of it
was real.  The bed we were laying upon was real enough and I'd undressed us
both while Christian had slept.  The transport was clumsy and taxing on the
body, but for the time being I'd prohibited the use of shuttles, even
though it inconvenienced us greatly.

   "I missed you so much," I whispered, sliding my hand own the man's
chest, following the trail of fine hair that led to his cock.

   "Kelly," he smiled and opened his eyes for me.  "I'm having the
strangest dream."

   "I know," I said.  "I'm having it too."

   I lifted my eyes and Eva nodded, filling a glass with water and she
brought it over carefully.

   "Drink this, Master," she said, but Christian heard only the bird-like
trilling of her sweet voice.

   "It's alright," I said as he jerked with surprise, not understanding
until just then that we weren't alone.  "It's good for you, like Gatorade,
kinda.  You need electrolytes."

   "She's blue," Christian said and then swallowed as Eva held the glass to
Christian's lips.

   "Yeah, she is," I giggled, watching him drink slowly.  "Pretty cool,
huh? I call her Eva because her real name is kind of long."

   "Oh," Christian nodded and licked his lips.  I think he was looking for
a sheet to cover us with, since we were quite naked and I was fondling his
cock in my gentle hand, coaxing it to thicken with desire for me.

   "It's okay, you don't have to be shy or anything," I smiled.

   "Why not?" Christian asked and I just shrugged and laughed at him. 
"She's an alien?"

   "Well, duh!" I smirked a little.

   "No, I mean..." Christian swallowed hard and turned his eyes from Eva to
me.  "...She's one of the ones who destroyed LA?"

   "Eva?" I shook my head.  "She's a servant."

   "Then who..." Christian let his head fall onto the pillow.  "...What's
going on?  Where are we?  What are we doing here?"

   "You have a lot of questions, I know," I pressed my body to his, kissing
Christian's chest and putting my right leg over his thighs, stroking him
that way.

   "They just told me I was going to see you," Christian said and he seemed
to wake-up suddenly.  "Are you okay?  Did they hurt you, Kelly?"

   He was trying to sit up, to examine me, I thought.  He remembered that
he was my husband and supposed to protect me and I just smiled, pushing him
back down.  I had so many things to try and explain to him and I barely
knew where and how to start.  I was afraid he'd reject me, once he knew all
of it.  Afraid that he wouldn't love me anymore and I needed him. 
Christian was my link to the past, to who I was, and without him I'd be
lost completely.

   "I'm fine.  They didn't hurt me at all," I assured him, spending more
kisses on Christian's body so that he held me tightly and kissed the top of
my head.  "Nobody will hurt either of us, I promise."

   I worked my way down his body slowly, loving Christian with my mouth and
hands until I could take his cock between my lips.  He wasn't hard, not
yet, the stress and the toll of transport made that difficult, I imagined,
but I was making it feel better.  Eva left us, but not completely, merely
moving out of the light.  I knew she wanted to watch us and I wouldn't
dismiss her in any event.  Christian would have to get used to her, and the
rest of my entourage as well.  We'd have precious little privacy and yet,
for all practical purposes, all the privacy in the world.

   Christian hardened for me after a few minutes and I grinned happily as I
straddled his hips with my knees.  I'd readied myself in preparation for my
husband's arrival, letting Eva wash me thoroughly and apply a wonderful
ointment to my anus.  I was moist and hot and Christian groaned with the
sensation of penetrating my asshole with his swollen cock.  I felt no pain
in it and I arched my back, rocking my hips so that we could work his penis
back and forth inside me.  It was a slow, deliberate fuck and I wanted to
make it last as long as I could.

   When Christian told me he was close, I stopped moving and just held him
inside me, pressing my palms to his chest and feeling the strength of his
beating heart.  I looked into his eyes, letting him see how much I loved
him.  My own cock was hard and wet, my freshly shaved scrotum resting on
his damp skin.  Christian caught his breath and tightened his fingers
around my waist and after a long moment we were fucking again.  It was
everything we needed right then and when he finally did cum, helpless to
stop himself from filling my body with his seed, I found my sex with my
fingers and joined him.  I collapsed onto his body, kissing the man I loved
with every ounce of passion I possessed, spending my orgasm between our
flushed bodies.

   =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

   "Lights, Jericho," I said and we hadn't slept for much of the night, but
soon Ellicent would be coming to start my day.

   "Who's Jericho?" Christian asked me and we'd both been awake for
sometime, not speaking but just touching the way lovers do.

   "He's my computer," I said as the lights came up.  "Good morning."

   "Good morning," Christian smiled.

   "Ellicent is here.  Would you like breakfast?" Jericho asked in English.

   The computer had taken form and I'd changed his appearance the previous
day so that he looked like my old science teacher.  Tall and thin and
serious, but I'd liked the man and hoped he'd gotten out of LA before it
had been destroyed.  If anyone should have been a computer, I thought, it
was Mr.  Burdett and who knows, his first name could have been Jericho for
all I knew.

   "Coffee and bagels," I agreed and while I hadn't found time to instruct
Jericho on all of my human idiosyncrasies, I'd made sure he'd at least
gotten breakfast right.

   "Breakfast in bed?" Christian chuckled, but he was confused by it all.
Eva had appeared, of course, with a fresh robes for us.  My usual scarlet
and royal blue for Christian.

   "Good morning, sleep well?" Ellicent marched into the room and her
question was rhetorical at best.  "Veils, Jericho."

   "Uh..." Christian froze when he saw her and Ellicent largely ignored
him, fixing her crimson eyes on my husband's just long enough to decide he
wasn't a threat.

   "This is Ellicent," I said, "my assistant and chief counselor."

   "Oh," Christian started fixing his robe again while Eva finished
dressing me.

   "She's my best friend too, so..." I grinned, "...be nice, okay?"

   "Me?" Christian blinked and I knew he wanted to say something about
vampire aliens, but probably didn't know where to start.

   "I'm your only friend, Mistress," Ellicent smiled, showing off her fangs
and her English too, since it was brand new.

   "Mistress?  Wait...You have an assistant?  And a servant and that
computer guy?" Christian was frowning, trying to figure it out.

   "I have a planet too," I said, gesturing to the transparent wall behind
him and Christian about had a heart attack when he saw the Earth, I think.

   "Oh shit," he said after a few seconds of silent contemplation and by
that time our breakfast table was ready.

   "I guess I'd better explain, huh?" I bit my bottom lip and I felt
vaguely guilty, but not about anything in particular.

   It was just the form my nervousness was taking and I knew the alien part
of me didn't understand it at all.  Welcome to the club, Talis, I thought.
This is what love does to a girl.  I felt my tummy tight and I was
frightened not by what I had to say, but that it might cost me Christian's
love.  I was scared of losing him, more than anything else in the universe.

   "I think so," Christian agreed and he looked nervous too, but did take a
seat at the table with me.

   Eva stood off, waiting patiently in case I needed her, while Ellicent
busied herself with Jericho, the two of them going over my schedule, I
imagined.  They worked closely together anyway and it gave her a good
excuse to let me speak with Christian alone, although she'd be unhappy with
the time lost.  The woman should have been born Swiss, I thought, she had a
fetish for time.  I'd made it clear to her though, that time was exactly
what Christian was going to need.

   "I'm the Duchess of Cepheus and Protectorate of the Spinward March," I
said.  "Except Duchess is our word for it, um, but I guess it works.  We
use those kinds of titles, like they do on Earth, you know?"

   "You're a duchess?" Christian didn't know if he was supposed to laugh or
not, but the corners of his mouth went up and I smiled nervously.

   "I'm not explaining very good, am I?" I frowned.  "See, there's sort of
an alien inside me now..."

   "What?" he wasn't smiling then.

   "This alien is like in my DNA, like part of me.  It's in my brain too,
so we're like one person, see?" I was speaking faster.  "It doesn't hurt me
or anything; it's not even like conscious.  It doesn't talk to me.  We just
know what we're doing...Kinda.  I mean, not now cause it was never married
to a human before, but..."

   "How do you get it out?" Christian asked and he was totally serious.

   "Get it out?" I shook my head.  "It can't come out.  I told you, we're
one person."

   "So, I'm really talking to this alien right now, huh?" Christian leaned
forward, looking into my eyes and he seemed cold then.  "Duchess, that
means you're in charge right?  Did you kill my wife?"

   "Christian, it's me," I said, reaching for his hand, but he drew back.

   "You did do it," Christian nodded.  "You're not Kelly.  She wouldn't
have joined you, not after that."

   "I am Kelly.  I'm your wife.  Christian, you have to let me explain,
okay?" I begged him.  "I was mad too.  I wanted to kill her, but she
explained it to me."

   "And you would know?" Christian shook his head.  "You'd understand about
something like that?"

   "We did what was necessary," I told him then, dropping the pretense that
I could separate myself from what Talis had done.  "For the good of the
empire and the Earth."

   "Yeah, you're the alien," Christian nodded slowly.

   "I'm the alien," I agreed.  "A hundred years from now, when the
generation born today has closed its eyes forever, what happened to Los
Angeles will be a rumor.  The reality will be a world free of cancer. 
Faster than light travel to other stars.  A unified earth without war, or
hunger, or poverty.  That's why your wife died."

   "That's bullshit," Christian said.  "A pipedream.  No one can promise
those things and I don't care who you say you are.  You're not God.  You
don't have the right to kill innocent people."

   "I know that," I said.  "The alien knows that.  It's why it chose me,
because of my parents.  It knows the pain I feel, the anger inside and it
wasn't fair.  It wasn't right, Christian, but I swear to you, it was a
sacrifice that had to be made."

   "Why?" he asked, just as I had.  "Why not just come down and shake
hands? You bring the cure for cancer and they'd throw you a fucking
parade."

   "Some people would want more than just that," I said.  "The earth must
be united with a single people, to a single purpose, sharing the same
resources and technology without borders or limitations.  The empire is
here and even if we ignored your planet, bypassed the earth without a word,
there are others who wouldn't."

   "What do you mean, 'others'?"

   "Earth has been discovered now.  It's on the map, so to speak, and there
will be traders and merchants, prospectors and slavers, all looking to
exploit this system," I said.  "Some of them would sell weapons and
technology, trade for resources and rights which belong to your race, not
to individuals or nations.  Think of the traders coming to North America
and buying land from Indians for glass beads.  Selling guns to tribes so
that they could war with their neighbors and each other."

   "I think we're a little smarter than that," Christian said.

   "Are you?" I asked him.  "Are you so far removed from prejudice and
greed?  The empire is ten thousand years old and we aren't."

   "You're not perfect, huh?" Christian almost smiled at that.  "I thought
you were selling utopia?"

   "No, nothing like that," I sighed.  "We're bringing you the future,
that's all, and with it an obligation to see it used responsibly.  The
empire will serve you and require your service.  We're not altruistic, we
want prosperity and security for our people, the same as you.  Subjugation
is neither efficient nor reliable and so we offer a partnership instead."

   "And we're the junior partners?" he did smile.  "You sound like a
politician."

   "I'm first cousin to the Emperor, sixth in line to the Onyx Throne," I
looked at my husband, "I'm also human, Christian, and I will never forget
that.  Earth is not a junior partner, as you put it.  I love my planet and
I won't see it tearing itself apart.  Nations will war if given
opportunity. I've removed that threat and given our people a motive to
unite."

   "By blowing up cities, right," Christian said and we were back where we
started.  "I got that part."

   "Would Russia, China, France...Would any of them stand for a United
States of Earth?  They'd resist and those nations would destroy each other.
Or the aliens would take a side and half the earth would be rendered
uninhabitable by the end of it."

   "Well, you blew up the United Nations, so I guess we'll never know,"
Christian said.

   "This way, for the moment, the earth is united against us.  They've
suffered common disaster and share a common enemy.  They have to rebuild
their economies, overcome great difficulties and it won't be easy, but soon
we'll begin a program to rebuild the planet.  We'll provide technical
assistance, food and manufactured goods, and help establish a centralized
government."

   Christian didn't say anything and I couldn't tell if my argument was
convincing or not.

   "Jericho, give me a map," I said without looking at him.  "Show us the
Spinward March, please."

   "Of course," the computer replied and a second later the view of earth
was replaced with a rather confused holograph of the galaxy and I waited
while Jericho refined it for us.  He knew what I wanted.

   "Highlight Sol," I said and one point of light began to flash yellow. 
It was near the edge of one spiral arm of the galaxy and quite unremarkable
in any way.  "Give us the boundaries now."

   A large portion of the arm was enclosed in red, like a trapezoid from
the core at the widest edge, to the earth, which was on the shorter edge.
It looked small compared to the galaxy as a whole, but in reality it was a
space larger than it's possible to imagine.  I'd spent thousands of years
expanding the empire, a hundred lifetimes easily, and now I was trying to
justify that expanse of experience to one human being over breakfast. 
Yeah, that's what love does to a person.

   "Now just show us the alpha systems, Jericho," I said.  "How many are
there?"

   "One thousand two hundred and fourteen," he said.  "Including Sol."

   "Those are just the systems where we found humanoid life, Christian," I
said, "and there are thousands more.  Hundreds of thousands of planets and
moons for your people...our people...to explore and colonize.  What started
around a small fire in Africa grew into villages, and then kingdoms and
nations.  Soon that tribe will become a world among many and all of them,
Christian, have suffered to take that final step."

   We sat in silence for a few minutes, with Christian looking at the stars
while I looked at him.  He was thinking of his wife, I thought, and perhaps
me as well, wondering who I was now.  That had been the alien talking, not
Kelly, and so perhaps he didn't believe me.  But the stars didn't lie and
the significance of what was happening couldn't be denied.  The loss of
life was tragic but hardly catastrophic.  The human race would endure and
in the wake of tragedy, achieve greatness.

   "Are you okay?" I asked him and Christian nodded slowly.

   "I'd like to be alone for awhile," he said.  "I need some time."

   "I know," I agreed.  "If you need anything, just call Jericho."

   "Right," he took a breath and I reached for him, but changed my mind.

   "I love you," I told him.  "I'll be back in a bit.  Eva. 
Ellicent...I'll take my briefing in the chancellery this morning."

   We left him sitting there and I wasn't entirely happy with the argument
I'd made, or with Christian's reaction to it, but there was little else I
could do.  I wasn't looking for forgiveness anyway, just understanding, or
at least a willingness to be patient.  If he stayed, I thought, if he
didn't ask me to let him go as soon as I returned, we would still have a
chance.  Otherwise, I'd know that I'd lost him forever.

   There were soldiers outside my chambers as we exited, a full squad of
janissaries, my personal guard, dressed in black armor and carrying
flamers. They did not come to attention as a ceremonial guard would and I
looked at Ellicent, but said nothing for the moment.  Eight of them stayed
with us, ahead and behind, while the others remained at the doors.  They
were not there to guard Christian, but to ensure his safety and if he
stayed I would have to explain this as well.

   The chancellery was directly above my quarters and below the flag
bridge, occupying twenty-four decks at the bow of the ship.  From these
offices the Duchy of Cepheus and the Protectorate of the Spinward March was
governed.  It was linked to the much larger and permanent bureaucracy on my
home planet, the capital world of Cepheus, as well as Delphi, the home of
the Emperor and apex of the empire itself.  Every system under my authority
was connected with Cepheus and through that planet with the chancellery.

   We passed through the immense cabinet chambers where my ministers were
waiting with their secretaries and assistants.  My chief steward was there,
my master-at-arms and Admiral Heward as well, along with my chamberlain and
a number of retainers.  In adjoining antechambers would be diplomats and
nobles, representatives waiting to petition my offices for one reason or
another.  Sycophants and courtiers and the inevitable trappings of power
were unavoidable, but I did my best to discourage them and Ellicent had
very little patience for such things.

   "Out, leave us," Ellicent said, emptying my private offices, which were
hardly that.

   A dozen secretaries scattered like birds, slipping through doors
carefully hidden in the well appointed d�cor.  Unlike the rest of the ship,
which was sparse and utilitarian by design, the chancery offices were built
of wood and stone in a style copied from the ancient nobility of Cepheus
and my ancestors.  The walls were paneled with dark wood and hung with
tapestries of mythical beasts.  There were graceful statues and slender
columns of marble reaching for the vaulted ceiling high above.  It was a
lot like a museum, I thought, and a cross between ancient Greece and
Buckingham Palace, or something, and the idea that it was mine was both
mundane and exciting.

   It's impossible to explain how I felt, being so familiar with all of the
knowledge and experience of Talis, and yet I was seeing much of it for the
first time.  I felt as if everything in my life up to the moment I was
joined with the alien had been a dream.  I'd woken up to the reality of who
I really was and gained a new perspective, a fresh insight into something
old and too well understood.  I believe that pleased the alien, for it gave
me a great sense of pleasure, and we were inseparable in our thoughts and
emotions.

   "Am I different?" I asked Ellicent when we were alone.  Eva was there,
of course, and my guards, but they didn't count.

   "What do you mean, Mistress?" she asked, taking a seat while I walked
around the spacious room, touching things and just seeing them.

   "Am I different than Talis was," I looked at her.  "Different from the
one before her?"

   "Yes," she smiled at me.  "You're different than she was."

   "Better or worse?" I wondered and then laughed, because this was a
useless discussion.  "I grew up fast, didn't I?

   "I don't know," Ellicent said.  "You've always been childlike in many
ways."

   "Is that good or bad, Ellie?"

   "A little of both," she shrugged.  "It gives you a moral advantage that
your enemies don't understand."

   "But?"

   "They see it as a weakness and take encouragement there," Ellicent said.
"Particularly your distraction with your husband, it won't pass unnoticed."

   "He needs time," I sighed, moving to sit with her.  "He needs me to
explain.  So many things Talis was able to ignore, knowing I'd understand
once we were joined.  I can't do that with Christian, I have to explain
everything."

   "I know," Ellicent nodded and we were quiet for a long minute.

   "What do you think of him?" I asked.

   "Me?" she pursed her lips.  "He's a good looking male.  Smells good
too."

   "He does, yeah," I grinned, leaning against her.  "You should have one."

   "I have many," she laughed.  "Every night."

   "I mean a human, an earth man," I said.  "You'd like it."

   "They look fragile," Ellicent stroked my hair.

   "Aren't we all?" I turned my head and kissed her palm with a little
sigh. "Alright, you can tell me now."

   "Horus," Ellicent said and I nodded, sitting upright on the leather
settee.  "He contacted Delphi, as we expected."

   "I don't imagine his report was favorable," I sighed.  "Who is he using?

   "The Baroness Eolinne of Fenna," Ellicent said.  "She's found recent
favor in the Emperor's bed, it seems."

   "Horus should move quickly then," I smiled.  "I know the Emperor's
tastes; she won't be there long."

   "He is moving quickly," Ellie didn't return my smile.  "Heward has
scheduled your inspection of the port facilities on Earth."

   "When?"

   "Three days from now," she said.  "A regiment from Third Guards will
provide security during your visit."

   "He always was ambitious," I said.  "Who else is involved?"

   "We're still working on that, Lord Chasse Feydeau will make his report
this evening," Ellicent said.  "There will be others."

   "Yes," I considered that for a few minutes.  "Eva, some tea."

   "Mistress," the girl nodded and I watched her leave.

   "Do you have someone?" I asked Ellicent.

   "That girl of his," she agreed, "the pleasure slave."

   "The one he's is so proud of?" I gave Ellie an appreciative look.  "Very
well."

   "And the Admiral?" Ellicent lifted one thin eyebrow.

   "Your tea, Mistress," Eva had returned and I took the cup from her
hands.

   "Amuse yourself," I said, taking a sip and it was hot and sweet.

   "Thank you, Mistress," Ellie smiled, flashing her fangs before drinking
from her own cup.

   "Bring everyone in, Eva.  I'll see Admiral Heward first, I think," and
as Eva did that, I looked at my tea.

   "I had her scanned three days ago," Ellie said.

   "Do it again," I took another sip, wondering if we were paranoid enough.
Assassination was extremely rare in the empire, mostly because it was so
rarely successful.  Like any other crime, however, all that was required
was motive, means, and opportunity and it wasn't hard to anticipate my
cousin's plans.

   There had been five attempts to kill me, three of those coming quickly
after I'd assumed the position I now held.  The last attempt had been three
lifetimes ago.  A few of my generals had wanted to carve out a little
empire of their own and I'd purged the army in the months that followed.  I
reckoned that a mistake now, looking back on it, and so this time I would
try and minimize the bloodletting.  Horus, because he was a legitimate
threat and heir to the throne, would have to die.

   Heward as well, but for entirely different reasons.  I'd sponsored his
career, ensuring his assignment to important posts, arranging his timely
promotion.  As the young captain of a light cruiser, I'd taken him for a
lover and shared his bed.  I'd given him what he wanted and all I asked for
in return was his unswerving loyalty.  He'd betrayed me and I wondered what
Horus had promised him.  Probably a position on the General Staff, I
thought, because it was what the Admiral wanted and I'd been unwilling to
push him that far.  He was too young for it and there came a point where
favoritism became counterproductive, particularly with the military.

   Ambition and patience are so rarely found in the same heart, I thought.
That's what made Ellicent so dangerous and the reason Heward would die.  I
hoped he'd appreciate it as much as I did when the time came.

   "My Lady," Admiral Heward went to one knee on the carpet and then rose
slowly.

   "Admiral, what do you have for us today?" I asked pleasantly.

   He glanced at my guards, the janissaries posted at intervals around the
chamber looking inward.

   "Admiral?" Ellicent spoke up and she was holding a thin notebook, her
link with Jericho, and making notations with her fingernails like she was
scratching a kitten.

   "My Lady, the battle cruisers Damon and Pythias are prepared for transit
to Delphi at your convenience," Heward reported.  "With your permission I
have augmented their complement of gunboats with a squadron of fighters
from the Vesta."

   "I made the request through the Defense Ministry last night, Mistress,"
Ellicent said, drawing a frown from the Admiral.

   "Very good," I nodded.  "Security?"

   "A full cohort of janissary guards," Ellicent said.  "Captain Alustre is
screening them personally.  He wants to impress you."

   "He always does," I agreed and the captain of my personal guard was a
very capable man.  "Forgive us, Admiral.  Please continue."

   "Of course, Mistress," Heward bowed his head.  "The Naiad arrived early
this morning, about oh two hundred hours.  The crew is being scaned as we
speak and Captain de Windham's head is enroute to his father with the Sixth
Battle Squadron."

   "Good," I nodded.

   "I've already told the Minister of Interior to draft a letter to the
Marquis," Ellicent informed me.  "He's still considering the matter, but
suggests that if de Windham makes issue, we recall the consul and appoint
the Lady Preston as charg� d'affaires."

   "And she'll carry the letter," I smiled at that.  "Go ahead, Admiral."

   "Finally, Mistress, in light of your impending trip to Delphi, I've
scheduled your inspection of the starport construction site.  Lord Horus
has made arrangements for the three North American presidents to be in
attendance."

   "Did I receive your note on that?" Ellicent narrowed her eyes, flicking
her fingers across the computer screen in her lap.  "Ah, three days from
now?"

   "Yes," Heward nodded.

   "Is that good for me?" I wondered and Ellie nodded.

   "You have some minor appointments that day," she shrugged.  "Nothing we
can't reschedule."

   "Tell Horus I want all the national leaders there," I said to Ellicent,
but it was meant for Heward as well.  "The Central American republics must
not be excluded.  There's to be no preferential treatment given.  No
anthems.  No flags.  No ceremony."

   "Yes, Mistress," Ellicent answered, making the proper notations.

   "We need more than the usual security," I said and looked at the
Admiral. "I want a show of force down there; you know how these things
work."

   "Of course, Mistress," Heward agreed.  "I have a regiment from Third
Guards ready to deploy to the site.  All I need is your authorization."

   "Only one regiment, Admiral?" I cocked an eyebrow doubtfully, but I just
wanted to hear him justify it.  That regiment was the weapon Heward planned
to kill me with.

   "It's an armored assault regiment, my lady," he explained.  "Five
thousand shock troops, three hundred heavy lancers, two mobile artillery
brigades..."

   "Impressive," I held up my hand with a soft smile.  "A regiment will do
just fine."

   "Yes, Mistress," Heward smiled back at me.  "Forgive me."

   "Alright, anything else?" I asked, standing up and looking at Ellicent.
"Make sure the Admiral understands my requirements.  This is our first
meeting with the humans, I don't want any surprises."

   "Mistress," Ellicent and Heward both dipped their heads and I left the
room with Eva and my bodyguards.

   I reentered the council chambers and took my seat at the head of the
table, which was oversized and opulent like everything else in the room. 
My ministers, of which there were nine, bowed and finally sat once I was
comfortable.  It was a busy room, with secretaries and assistants in and
out constantly and I was going to spend the next several hours governing my
small portion of the empire the way most people imagined it was done, with
a lot of boring talk, heated discussions, and plain old negotiation.  It
was hardly necessary that I be there and for the most part I was to be an
observer.

   Every system was part of a Barony, largely administered through planets
like Earth, where an indigenous humanoid population existed.  Above the
Barons were Counts, and above them were men like the Marquis de Windham. 
He answered directly to me and I answered to the Emperor alone.  I retained
all military power, of course, with some small exceptions.  The nobility
existed to serve the Empire and govern by proxy in the Emporer's name.  It
was a well-worn system of goverment after ten thousand years and if not the
most efficient possible, it compensated in other ways.

   Ellicent would be joining me shortly.  I'd made it a point to leave her
alone with Admiral Heward largely so she could invite the man into her
bedroom.  Riaveans, like so many other creatures found in nature, had
invested most of their aggression and cunning in the female of the species.
It wasn't unheard of for the males to be killed immediately after mating,
or even during the act, as the female would nourish themselves on their
lover's blood.  Supposedly it heightened the pleasure for both of them,
although I certainly wouldn't know, and most of the deaths were accidental
as the female simply lost her self-control in the throes of orgasmic bliss.
Or so they claimed.

   Like I say, I didn't know if that was true or not, but I had little
doubt that Admiral Heward would soon be learning the truth of it.  Ellicent
was more than merely attractive and the Admiral was young and confident,
and the pleasure of fucking my closest advisor before she was murdered
would certainly appeal to him.  They wouldn't let her live after killing
me, her position and knowledge would make her far too dangerous.

   Ellicent rejoined me while the Minister of Finance discussed trade
surplus and deficiencies between systems in the Mesale Sector.  It was
hardly interesting and obvious to me that a planet whose primary export was
agricultural foodstuff probably shouldn't try to sell it to a planet where
the indigenous people were carnivores.  They'd be better off manufacturing
toothpicks, I thought, but I couldn't say that.  I had to listen closely
and nod every once in awhile, knowing that in the end, new and better trade
routes would be established and the empire saved once more.

   "I have a date tonight," Ellie said in my ear, leaning over my shoulder.

   "Good," I nodded, thinking of Christian and wondering if he'd stay or
leave me to dream alone.

   =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

   By lunchtime I was ready to get the news, good or bad, and I made my
excuses, trusting my deputies and ministers to handle the day to day
routine with their usual efficiency.  If there were matters that absolutely
required my attention, they'd be presented in due time.  For the moment I
needed to see Christian.

   I found my husband in my private chambers, much as I'd left him.  The
map was gone, replaced by a view of Earth and of the moon rising behind it.
It wasn't any larger than when seen from Earth, but it was so much clearer.
The moon looked close enough to touch and Christian sat in a leather chair,
watching it while he contemplated his private thoughts.

   "Eva, prepare lunch for us," I said and Ellicent had remained behind in
the chancellery.

   Christian didn't turn at the sound of my voice and I approached him,
kneeling beside his chair and touching his leg where his blue robe had
fallen away.  I was afraid to speak, so I merely stroked his bare skin
lightly, wanting to lay my head there, but I didn't.

   "Penny for your thoughts," I ventured after some minutes, unable to
stand the silence between us.

   "Why did you do it," Christian asked finally.  "That's what I can't
figure out, Kelly.  What did they say to you to make you agree to this?"

   "I didn't want to," I answered slowly.  "At first, I was really mad, you
know?  She kept saying I'd understand later."

   He didn't say anything so I figured I had to keep talking.

   "Then she told me that we had to start over, kinda.  Earth, I mean,
because we were like babies and the things they were going to give us, the
technology and all that, it was like a gun if we weren't careful."

   I moved around in front of him, between his legs and put my elbows on
Christian's thighs.

   "She told me that it was a sacrifice my parents had made for me.  That
all those people had made for everyone else.  Like Nagasaki and Hiroshima
had been sacrificed so that everyone would know how dangerous that new
technology was.  Like if it hadn't happened, if people didn't see what
atomic bombs could do, they wouldn't believe it and then everyone would
die."

   I searched Christian's eyes, but he was just waiting.  Listening to me
patiently.

   "I still didn't believe her right away.  I didn't care and I told her
that.  I hated her and I wanted her to go away, but I knew she couldn't.  I
thought about my parents a lot and your wife too.  I'm sorry I said the
stuff I did, before it happened.  I wish I hadn't now.  She...I know you
loved her."

   "Yeah," Christian sighed and he touched my hair.

   "I was here two days already and most of the time she was talking to me
and I started thinking...I know it sounds bad, maybe, but I've never been
anyone, you know?  I've never been what I was supposed to be.  I've never
been happy, except with you.  I was thinking how I wasn't a boy or a girl
and what she said, some of it...I felt like an alien anyway.  Sometimes. 
Other things too, like I hadn't even finished high school.  I was just
going to live in Denver and try and be happy.  Try to make you happy, and
then we'd get old and never have kids or anything and then just die and I'm
so scared of that.  I shouldn't be, but..."

   "Kelly," Christian was looking at me and I was crying.

   "I felt really sad and I dunno, selfish.  I mean, she was saying things,
telling me about the stuff she did, the stuff we would do.  How if I joined
with her she'd be part human and we'd help the Earth.  We could make up for
the bad stuff that had happened.  We'd make it better and I wanted to
believe her.  I didn't want my parents to die for no reason.  And...And I
wanted to be something special, maybe, something important."

   "You are special and very important," Christian was holding my face in
his hands, wiping at my eyes with his thumbs.  "I love you."

   "Do you?" I blinked at him.  "Do you still love me?"

   "Yeah," Christian said.  "I love you so much, Kelly."

   "I love you too."

   I closed my eyes and finally had the cry I'd been waiting for.  I buried
my face in his lap and it hurt, oh God, did it hurt.  I was shaking and
Christian was there to comfort me and I wrapped my arms around him as tight
as I could.  I'd never let him go.
   =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- the end rache696@yahoo.com

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