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HEARTFAST
"OUTSTANDING READ!
"HeartFast was not just a satisfying romance, it was also a mind-teasing mystery and science fiction read as well. Visual imagery was well written, and the mystery surrounding the unsanctioned handfast skillfully told. While I can usually figure out what's coming, this story kept me guessing to the end.
"Emotionally conveyed, StarLight and Master Hunter's story was equally touching, painful and poignant to read. I look forward to further stories in this new series."
Christine
Simply Romance Reviews
Other Books by Author Available at Whiskey Creek Press:
www.whiskeycreekpress.com
Runner's Moon: Jebaral
Runner's Moon: Tiron
Runner's Moon: Simolif
Sandeflay
With thanks to all my co-workers, friends, and fandom fellows.
Bless you all.
Announcement
Three seats were still empty.
Master Hunter watched in silent amusement as Deceiver glanced around the meeting room. It was obvious the Guardian leader was irritable, which he had every right to be.
One empty seat in particular drew his attention, and he forced himself to tear his eyes away from the gleaming padded chair to check the clock. Eighteen minutes. They were cutting it too damn close. No wonder Deceiver looked fit to be tied.
The man uttered an obscenity and slammed his fist on the communications toggle in the panel before him. The suddenness startled everyone already gathered in the room.
"Dammit, Disaster! Where are you?"
"Don't get your tights all in a twist.” A sultry feminine voice laughed in response. “We're less than seven minutes away."
Hunter's eyebrows went up in surprise, but he managed to keep his smile hidden behind one hand. This was Deceiver's battle, not his.
"StarLight? What are you doing piloting? I didn't assign you to pilot that mission! Will someone please tell me she's not piloting?"
A second voice replied. Even through the slightly fuzzy transmission Hunter could hear the man was mortified. “Uhh, sorry, Deceiver. Star's piloting."
"Dammit!"
A soft, warm laugh reverberated over the speakers just as the Guardian leader closed the comm.
Deceiver's rise in anger was too much. Hunter chuckled in spite of himself. The flushed face of his superior immediately turned to confront him. “I fail to see what's so funny about the situation,” he almost barked. “If StarLight's at the helm, you know as well as I do that she's going to put some kind of damage on the ship. And that's another headache we don't need at this time."
In a way, the man was probably right. StarLight's piloting skills were not among the best, even if her reflexes were acute. And a damaged spacecraft was the last thing they needed at the moment.
Hunter let his eyes rove over to the vidscreen. He and Deceiver were good friends as well as fellow workers. Deceiver would sometimes open up to him, knowing Hunter would keep what he heard in confidence. The man had admitted to him not too long ago that their coffers were becoming dangerously low, and they would continue to be that way until the Hall of Magistrates met at the end of the year to renew their yearly allotment. In the meantime, they had to count every bean and stretch every credit as far as they could. Unless some grateful client or wealthy patron decided to bless them with a monetary thank you for a job well done before then.
Sighing, he stretched his legs underneath the big oval table. Star shouldn't be piloting, plain and simple. Yes, Deceiver would forgive her for a few dents and dings, but not if she managed to put a sorely-needed transportation ship out of commission for any extended length of time. Worse still, StarLight was not known for her promptness. The woman couldn't even make it to their morning meetings on time. Hell, Hunter grinned, she would probably be late for her own funeral.
This time, though, she had to get the rest of the crew here before the announcements were aired. Missing the broadcast, which was mandated by law, was unforgivable, even for a Guardian.
"Who did you order at the helm?” he asked Deceiver.
"Bruiser."
"Well, that explains everything.” Hunter spoke for them all. If there was a fan club for StarLight, Bruiser would be its president. The big man worshiped her.
"Just you wait, Hunter. One of these days you'll be facing the burden of leadership, and you won't be smiling during that interim, I guarantee."
"I just find it hard to believe you never thought she'd try to put herself in the pilot's chair and take Transport Two for a spin.” Hunter chuckled. “Besides, she said she'd be here in less than seven. The announcements won't be for another...” he glanced at the chronometer above the huge screen on the opposite wall, “eighteen minutes. They'll be back in plenty of time."
"Speaking of having plenty of time, care to join the pot?” Time Merchant called from across the room. “Odds are good we might recognize someone on the roster."
Hunter waved off the man's offer. Deceiver shook his head. “As long as it's not me,” the leader muttered.
Hunter agreed. “I second that. It's rather a blessing that Guardians are exempt from the lottery."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that,” a voice piped up from down the table. Hunter had to sit up to spot Morning Fire. The petite woman was normally subdued and often quiet, rarely volunteering any information. But when she did speak out, her observations were almost always correct. To Hunter, as well as to the rest of the group, Fire was like a younger sibling, teased and often taken for granted. Until something occurred that reminded them how potent her laser-bright powers could be.
Corona swiveled around in her chair to stare at the redhead. “Why would you say that? Do you know something?"
Hunter saw the tiny woman press her lips together. So did everyone else.
"Oh, Fire, you know something!” Animator leaned across the table. “What? What have you heard?"
"Fire, are you keeping secrets?” Sender joined in. Hunter watched Sender throw a glance at her sister as the twins exchanged unspoken communication. Seeker could delve into another person's thoughts, but wouldn't without that person's consent. However, Fire must have been giving off pronounced brainwaves because Seeker grinned and nodded her head. “Fire's keeping secrets!” Sender announced jovially.
Morning Fire shrugged while a smile tickled her lips. Immediately the other Guardians gave her their undivided attention. Hunter found himself leaning over the table and straining to hear what she would say next. Fire couldn't stay mum for long. Having a propensity for shyness, she didn't like being in the spotlight.
"It's nothing definite,” she murmured as her face turned as red as her flaming hair. “It's just the word I've heard out on the street."
"You're stalling, Fire,” Corona crowed. “Give! What's the word on the street?"
"That there might be a Guardian drawn in the HandFast lottery this month."
Hunter was unaware of falling back into his seat as stunned silence blanketed the group gathered around the onyx table. Several pairs of eyes flickered from one of their number to the other. Hunter locked gazes with Deceiver. A Guardian HandFasted? Not only was it preposterous, it was impossible. Maybe Morning Fire had heard wrong.
No. Fire never said anything unless she was one hundred percent certain. The woman's intuition was almost psychic.
It was Seeker who tried to put things into perspective. “Why is everyone acting so surprised? Aren't all of us graded as Supreme?"
"Yeah, but considering the type of work we're involved in...” Provoker fingered his small goatee, a habit he had whenever he was thinking. Turning to face their leader, he wondered aloud, “Think it's possible, Deceiver? I mean, even though we deal with life and death circumstances on practically a daily basis, would the Committee allow our names to be placed in the lottery?"
Corona gave a snort of derision and leaned back in her seat. “Unless they placed that Guardian on inactive status, there wouldn't be any sense in it. Besides, do you honestly believe the Committee would be so stupid as to lock one of us into a HandFast? I mean, think about it! The first two weeks alone you have to mate with your partner at least once a day. And then a minimum of three days per week for the remainder of the year until the woman conceives. Heavens, we've been on missions that would throw that little requirement law right out the porthole the first week alone!"
"Not to mention the danger factor,” Hunter commented. Already his mind was racing, wondering if the Guardian chosen would be a man or a woman. There was no doubt in his mind Fire's prediction would come true. It was just a matter of trying to outguess the Committee's decision. “We all know the lifespan of a Guardian isn't exactly conducive to parenthood."
He glanced up at Deceiver who had gotten back on his feet. The leader threw up a hand and attempted to quell their growing worry. “Well, whether or not there's a grain of truth in the rumor, I say let's not even consider such a possibility. I've been a Guardian for almost eighteen years, and there has never been one of us included in the HandFast lottery."
A warning bell went off, signaling the return of the transport ship. Hunter glanced at the doors leading to the bay as they waited for some sound or notice that the woman piloting Transport Two had touched down with more enthusiasm and less finesse than was needed. He was as surprised as everyone when the last three members of their group came striding in a couple of minutes later, wearing big smiles and no contusions.
"Well, will wonders never cease,” Deceiver grumbled. “You're late. You said seven minutes. You took nine."
StarLight gave a flippant shrug of her shoulders. The movement made her long black hair gleam under the recessed lights. “Hey, I knew you'd be worried if I came in too fast. You'd also worry if I took too long. So I split the difference and pulled her back. Put your precious transport number two back into her chute with more care than you take when you bathe your tush, Deceiver."
The remark made Hunter grin in amusement, which he was careful to keep concealed. StarLight really did care about Deceiver's opinion of her. But why the young woman continued to parade such a devil-may-care attitude puzzled him.
Beside him the Guardian leader chose to ignore her last remark and turned on the vidscreen as he asked, “Any further problems with the Bedorsians?"
"They're doing well,” Bruiser offered. “They saw our ... reasoning."
Hunter immediately narrowed his eyes at the giant taking his seat. Deceiver chose to make no comment. The lottery results would be announced soon, and the entire planet's populace was required by law to listen to the names of the twenty couples being HandFasted that month. As soon as the announcements were over Deceiver would get a full report on their mission. It was standard procedure.
So why did StarLight give him a mock salute in reply?
Hunter chewed absentmindedly on the knuckles of one hand as he kept track of the lithe figure dressed in midnight black. StarLight was the only female member of the Guardians who chose to wear a full-length body suit as her uniform. And she filled it out to a perfection that was almost too painful to observe. But the ebony costume, with its ever-changing pattern of stars running over its surface, did its job well in camouflaging the woman against the darkness of space. As well as the thick flow of raven hair she wore loose down her back. He'd seen her just once in regular clothes, with her hair pulled back into a long tail thicker than his wrist. The woman was intimidating no matter what she wore.
What if she was the Guardian to be named in the lottery? Instantly his mind and his body rebelled. No. It wasn't possible. Not StarLight.
With a cold, grim purse of his lips, Hunter beat down that thought with mental fists. Star was untouchable, despite her reputation. The men in her past he could overlook. They were before he met her, before he got to know her. Before he got to feel her shivering and cringing in his arms, against his chest, as she cried for the children they'd left to die on Follusia.
Those other men he could overlook. He could even forgive her dalliance with Provoker. But the idea of knowing another man would have permission to touch her, even if she didn't want him to...
Touch her. Caress her. Make love to her. Create a baby inside her.
He shook his head to clear it and concentrated on the screen overhead. When he had entered into Guardian training a little more than two years ago, along with Time Merchant, Star had joined a day earlier. The three of them had finished their training and first mission together. Since then, Hunter had lost count of how many times she had saved his butt in the heat of battle, and he hers. But that's what Guardians did. They watched out for each other with even greater care than they did for the worlds they were sworn to protect.
Sixteen Guardians. Ten men and six women with extraordinary powers and abilities who were honor bound to give their lives to defend their little corner of the universe from whatever and whoever chose to threaten it.
Snorting softly, Hunter tried to ignore the woman sitting a few seats away as the screen flickered to life. Fortunately the announcements were always short and to the point. Afterwards Deceiver would call their meeting to order.
This is the Committee's list of Handfasting participants for the month of Ordoris, in the year eighty-four sixteen. Announcing pair number one ... Julath Cavadar and Piel Forsham. Pair number two...
On the other side of the table he could see Corona making a bet with Time Merchant and Bruiser as to whether any of the names called out today would include someone they knew or associated with outside of the Guardianship. In the past there had been one or two surprises, but so far no one Hunter could claim to know personally. In fact, there was a very little chance he would since he wasn't originally from this world.
...Vandrath. Pair number eight ... Ovella Weslitt and...
From the corner of his eye Hunter caught Star shifting in her seat. She crossed her legs, and from his vantage point he could see the long, lean line of her calf and booted foot. Despite her bravado, despite the fact that she often came back with a smartass answer every time she was chewed out for something she'd mishandled, and despite the fact that she put on a very nonchalant air to her fellow caste members, Hunter always suspected the true StarLight remained buried from prying eyes. She was damn good at her job. Screw that. She was better than good. She rivaled Bruiser and Condemner when it came to sheer ability.
...Collan Forbes. Pair number thirteen...
Hunter knew he secretly nursed a private wish to get to know her better. It was almost a fond desire to be close friends. Maybe closer than friends. Once, he tried to block any further ideas from his mind. Guardians were like an enlarged family with multiple siblings. Not that there hadn't been any romantic interests developed in the past. There had been, but those had quickly died back into a comfortable working companionship. The few Guardians who eventually married had found their mates outside of the enclosed group, not among those they practically lived and worked with every day of the year. It was easier that way, he had been told several months ago. Nothing could be more dangerous or distracting for a Guardian involved in a life or death struggle than to have to worry about a spouse equally in danger.
Guardians were comrades. They relied on each other. Trust was their greatest strength. And although Hunter knew Star would readily give up her life to save any one of them if she needed to, that didn't stop him from dreaming of a time when they could have a quiet walk together in the botanical gardens and just talk about things. Things like their past. Their families. Anything, as long as it didn't involve what they did on the job, or any one of the thousand problems they dealt with day in and day out.
Pair number nineteen ... Satall Tru and Vista Forde. And finally, pair number twenty...
The Committee Chairman paused to nervously lick his lips. The act instantly had Hunter sitting on the edge of his seat. Around him the others had ceased to breathe as they also leaned forward. The Chairman never paused like this. He never stopped to glance nervously aside. And he never looked as if he was contemplating the impact of his next words. But at that moment Hunter could see that the man's face had gone a shade just short of doughy as he swallowed hard and read the last pair of names from his list.
Terrin Dilyric and Udo Vosstien. Remember you have three days to report to the Hall of Magistrates for the Handfasting ceremony, or be held in contempt and face possible banishment. This announcement is now closed.
The screen went blank but the silence that filled the hall thickened to the point of choking. It was as if an unseen presence reached into the room and began to throttle every person sitting in total shock.
Somehow Hunter's eyes locked onto the form seated four chairs away. His entire body refused to respond, unable to pull itself out of the frozen void encasing him. From a distance a high-pitched shriek tore into his ears, and Star slid from her seat to collapse onto the floor.
Beside him Deceiver breathed aloud the words he would remember for the rest of his life. “By all that is holy ... StarLight and Master Hunter? HandFasted? Oh, damn them! Who gave the Committee the right to put our names in the lottery?"
Hunter was vaguely aware of how hard he was gripping the table. All of his blood seemed to have rushed out of his body until he felt he would pass out at any moment from the enormity of what he had just heard.
And he had heard it. They all had. It wasn't a trick of his imagination. Neither was it a cruel joke. No wonder the Committee Chairman had nervously licked his lips before announcing the last pair of names. The Committee had breached that barrier no man dared to cross before. In all the centuries that had passed since their world had suffered through the gaseous nebula, in all the years there had been Guardians, the lottery had always exempted its defenders. But that was to be no more.
Hunter managed to take a shaky breath. Even as his heart continued to pound, it felt as if his blood was pooling into his stomach where it churned nauseously. If he got to his feet he doubted he would be able to remain standing.
Today not one but two Guardians were condemned to the impersonal answer to the survival of their people. Two of them, he and StarLight, would be HandFasted for the length of one year for the sole purpose of procreation.
Deep, wrenching sobs came from the black-clad woman bent over on the floor. Morning Fire hovered over her closest friend and tried to console her, but nearly everyone's eyes were turned on him. Accusing eyes. Expectant eyes. Provoker sat back with a big grin on his face. Bruiser paled in shock as Hunter knew he would. The expression on the big man's face was like that of a small child who had seen his favorite toy crushed beyond recognition. Everyone was aware that the giant had placed Star on a pedestal the first time she had saved his hide from the Turaki Abevians. And since then he adored her with undisguised passion.
Remember you have three days to report to the Hall of Magistrates for the HandFasting Ceremony, or be held in contempt and face possible banishment.
Hunter tried swallowing but his throat remained hot and tight. There would be no leniency from the Committee. No asking for an exemption. No changing their minds. Heavens knew enough people had tried in the past. The Law was the Law, and it was absolute.
Worse still, it was his life and duty to uphold those same laws that had suddenly made his future a total mockery of all he once believed in.
Unable to bear another second inside the room, Master Hunter winked out of existence, removing himself from their sight as he used his power to teleport himself directly to his private chambers. If the team was smart, they wouldn't try to approach him for the remainder of the day. And if Deceiver had any news to impart, or assignments to pass out to them at the meeting, at that moment Hunter couldn't care less. He just needed to get away from their stares.
It was difficult enough not to think about what the coming year would mean.
Waiting
She heard a tentative knocking on her chamber door, but she refused to acknowledge it. Without her reply, the room would not let the visitor enter. No matter. Star didn't want visitors anyway.
"Star? Please. You'll feel better if you talk about it."
Damn her, but Star knew her close friend was right. More often than not, whenever she was besieged by a problem, she knew that talking it out always gave her a sense of serenity. And sometimes she was able to figure out a reasonable solution.
Unfortunately, this would not be one of those times.
"Go away, Fire."
"Don't do this, Star. I know it's tearing you up inside."
She tried to sigh, but it came out as more of a hitching breath, restricted from the tears she'd shed. Too tired to argue, she gave the door permission to open, but she kept her back to the portal, keeping to the small ball she'd drawn herself into on the bed. Presently the edge of the mattress dipped as her friend took a seat beside her, and a small hand began to rub her back.
"Talk to me, Star,” Morning Fire begged softly. Star could hear the remnants of the woman's own crying in her voice.
"Damn them all,” Star replied low and heatedly. “Does anyone else besides me see the irony in this?"
"Irony?"
"Yeah.” She laughed softly, humorlessly. “When I became a Guardian, I swore an oath to uphold the laws ... and now all I can think about is how to break them."
"You're not going to try ... are you, Star?” the petite woman broached fearfully. She knew all too well her friend's wild and reckless nature, but she couldn't believe the woman would go so far as to press the Committee's hand into banishing her from the planet for not obeying the laws of HandFast. To her immense relief, Star shook her head.
"What would be the use? My life is here. My home is here. Guardian Command was and still is my only dream in life. Who knows, Fire? Maybe I won't conceive after the end of the year, and things will go back to the way they were."
"But what if you do?” The question hung heavy with the possibility.
Star gave a feeble shrug of one shoulder. “I can't think about that right now. A baby.” Her voice trailed away, but not before Morning Fire caught the shadow of wistfulness in it.
"Have you ever thought about having a baby?” she asked gently. Reaching up, she pulled back a handful of the thick, glorious mass of hair so she could at least see her friend's profile facing away from her.
"Yeah. I mean, what woman hasn't? But not like this. Not this ... cold ... damned, impersonal lottery crap. I want a husband, a man who loves me so much that I feel giddy and helpless and completely in his control. And I want to have his baby, created from all that love."
A shudder ran through her. Involuntarily, Star drew her knees up closer to her body. A cool hand caressed the side of her face.
"You're not going to like what I'm about to say,” Morning Fire began hesitantly, “but you know I've always told you how I felt. Yes, the lottery is unfair. And cold. And impersonal. But you're luckier than most."
This time Star rolled over to give her a friend an incredulous look. “What do you mean, I'm luckier? Where do you get off giving me such crap?"
"Look, Star. Stop and think for a moment.” Morning Star began to tick the reasons off her fingers. “Less than forty percent of the population is ranked superior. That means that fewer than four out of ten women can even have a baby. For us to be in that small percentage is a blessing in itself. Just think of all the women who want a child but can't, or aren't allowed.
"Two ... Master Hunter's not a perfect stranger. You've known him for two years. You've fought side-by-side, you've saved each other's butts more than once, and you've seen each other at your best and worst."
"He's my co-worker, for heaven's sake!” Star almost yelled back. “I'm supposed to work with him! What's that going to be like now, huh? How am I supposed to face him in the morning after we've been spending the night...” Her face suddenly went stark white as a mental image of her next words flared in her mind. Without realizing it, Star grabbed a pillow and shoved it against her abdomen, and curled back around it as her friend shushed and tried to console her.
"What I meant to say was that he's not a total stranger. Think of the women who've only been given three days to know the man they have to give their bodies to, knowing they may be stuck with him for a full year.” Tucking a long length of curls behind her friend's ear, Morning Fire smiled. “Who knows ... you may not have to go the full year."
Rolling her eyes at that bit of information, Star groaned loudly and hugged her pillow tighter.
Not go the full year. If she conceived before the year was up, that would automatically release her from the HandFast. Her job would then be to deliver a strong and healthy child, hopefully a superior-rated child, and thus ensure the survival of their people.
"Give me another reason why I'm so damned lucky,” she snapped hotly.
"You'll still be living here at Command. You both have your own chambers. You won't be forced to cohabitate like so many couples must.” Taking a deep breath, Morning Fire added, “And you have us to support you."
Long minutes passed as the two women remained in quiet companionship, while outside they could hear the busy comings and goings of the city. Presently, Star softly asked, “What are the others saying?"
Morning Fire let out a long sigh. “We're appalled. Except for Provoker. Just once I'd like the chance to wipe that smirk off his face.” She gave a worried stare into Star's face. “Star, you're not the only one who is feeling devastated and betrayed."
Slowly, Star nodded. “Yeah. I bet Bruiser is pretty well down in the dumps right now."
"I'm not talking about Bruiser. I meant Hunter."
Star shot her a dark look. Nodding, Morning Fire continued. “Have you ever stopped to think of how he's feeling? Have you even given a moment's thought as to what might be going through his head right about now?"
"Some friend you are! I'm the one who has to be the bank! He just has to make a daily deposit!"
"He has to make as great an emotional and physical commitment as you do! Perhaps even more!” Morning Star argued angrily.
Bolting upright in the bed, Star pressed her lips together as she tried to contain the bitter words she wanted to say. “Oh, really? How do you figure that?"
"At least you get to care for the baby! You get to nourish it in your body. You get to feel it growing. And afterwards you get to nurse it, and love on it, and you'll always have that attachment to it for the rest of his or her life. But Hunter ... once the HandFast is absolved, do you know what the laws do? They restrict him, just like they restrict all HandFasted fathers."
"I thought all HandFasted fathers didn't care what happened to their progeny. After all, it was never their decision in the first place to procreate. And the laws make it clear that once they've fulfilled their obligation, they are no longer bound or even required to acknowledge the child as their own,” Star replied. But the venom had faded from her voice.
Reaching out, Morning Fire took both of her hands in her own. “You know, as we all do, that there have been a few, rare cases where the HandFasting couples have decided to remain together and keep the child. Stop and think, Star. Think about Hunter. About what we've seen and know about him. Do you honestly think he would abandon any child of his seed?"
"Hunter doesn't love me. At least, not like that,” Star wearily accepted as fact.
"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't care about his baby.” She gave her friend's hands a squeeze. “I know you too well, Star. This whole mess has you terrified. But what I think frightens you more is the possibility that you'll fall so helplessly in love with your baby that you won't be able to give it up."
She could feel Star's hands trembling in her grasp. Without warning, the woman had launched herself into her friend's embrace, where a fresh torrent of tears shuddered out of her.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, and the velvet canopy of the night sky unfurled overhead, Morning Fire tried to soothe the woman who had become the sister she'd never had in real life. It would be a long while before she left the chambers after Star had finally fallen into an exhausted sleep.
In the hours after Morning Fire had left, Star lay in bed and thought back on what had been said. Fire had been right to remind her about Master Hunter's feelings. The man would not be impervious to this ordeal. He was just as much a pawn of the Committee as she was. He would suffer equally under the laws of the HandFast.
In these past two years she had come to know the man almost as well as all the other Guardian men. And the one thing that had set him apart from some of the others was that he was always withdrawn, as if he was keeping a large part of himself hidden away from them. Like a secret he couldn't or was afraid to reveal.
Men wore their hearts and emotions on the front of their uniforms. They were like Bruiser, large, infatuated, open-faced, but so sweet and sincere. Except for a few, like Provoker, who delighted in pushing everyone's buttons. But that was the man, and he couldn't help himself. It was like he couldn't completely shut off his power. Just turn it down to a trickle at best.
Rolling out of bed, Star threw a soft gown over her bare skin, and left her chambers. One of her favorite places was the atrium and botanical gardens, which were less than a five-minute walk away. She could sit for hours at a time and just think, or let the heady perfume of the place keep her from thinking. But at that moment she wanted to escape. Get away from the reality of the day's events.
The chronometer inside the small foyer told her it was the middle of the night, but the atrium was never closed. It was on Guardian property, and one of the many truly safe places to roam at night in the city.
This late at night she saw one lone couple strolling at the far end of the huge enclosure. Quickly, Star descended the short staircase and sought out the private little alcove she always went to when she wanted solitude. A year ago she'd placed a tiny bench inside, and the surrounding foliage effectively hid her from sight. Very few people, if any, knew of the cavity inside.
Once she pushed aside the enormous leaves, Star could feel her tension draining away. The bench was padded; the air inside the atrium was warm and rich with the scent of growing life. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the bole of the huge sciatta tree. If she fell asleep here, it would be a blessing.
Her ears caught the whispers and giggles of the couple passing close by. Their happiness sent a spear of pain into her heart, and a single tear threatened to spill from under her lids. They were the lucky ones. The ones who had found the one person in their lives they wanted to share forever with. And if they were truly blessed, both of them would be rated superior, which would enable them to have a child whenever they were ready and wanting one.
They would never be forced to procreate. They would never have to subject themselves to a total stranger in order to fulfill an edict sent down eons ago.
Eons ago, after their world had passed through the poisonous nebula that had killed millions of people, and permanently rendered more than half the remaining population unable to bear healthy children.
Couples paired off, but she had read that it took a while for doctors and scientists to discover why some babies survived, and why others were born so horribly deformed that they rarely lived more than a few years. Once the genetic coding was formulated, it was easier to track which children would be safely born, and which would not. A man or woman with a superior genetic coding guaranteed the survival of their species. But a person who may have been born of superior parents may not carry that same genetic coding. If he or she didn't, then they would not be permitted to reproduce. And even if they tried anyway, their offspring never survived past the age of two or three. After several generations, those without a superior rating no longer tried to see if they could beat the odds.
In the meantime other methods of procreation were attempted. StarLight had heard of some of them. Unfortunately, scientists found that in vitro fertilization and fertilization outside the womb were successful in less than one for every one million couples. For some reason they could not explain, once any part of a sperm or egg left the donor's body, zero viability was guaranteed. The only way any success could be found was in the way nature had originally intended. Procreation through consummation.
While scientists battled against the inevitable, the superior ranked adults left were not reproducing quickly enough to offset the balance. There were hundreds of thousands of genetically adequate men and women living and working and surviving, but not having babies.
Thus was born the HandFast lottery. And the laws. Laws even she could not break because once she had taken the oath to be a Guardian, she knew she was subject and answerable to all their decrees. That much had been clearly spelled out to her.
At first, the outcry of anger and resentment against those laws nearly threw the world into a bloody civil war. It was many decades later, when no other reasonable answer could be found, that the HandFast was accepted as an unfair but necessary fact of life.
Every month, twenty couples were drawn for the ceremony. Every man and woman, once they reached the age of consent, had their names placed in the lottery. If they created a child, they were showered with gifts and good wishes. If they didn't, there was no condemnation. Everything was made as simple, pain-free, and easy on the couple as possible.
And, miraculously, the HandFast worked. The population blossomed, slowly but inexorably.
Star understood the odds of eventually being chosen were long. There were people she personally knew who never had their names called. In fact, she had never worried she'd be forced to participate, especially since she was a Guardian.
Yet now...
There was a rustle of the leaves. It was a faint sound, but in the dead of night it alerted her. Star opened her eyes and stared at the thick wall of tree branches that kept her out of sight. The last thing she expected was the deep voice softly speaking her name.
"Star. We need to talk."
Her heart thudded to a stop in her chest. Suddenly it seemed as if the moist, earthy smell around her had turned cloyingly sweet and stifling. There was no way to avoid him. No way she could. At least, not for the next year. And heavens knew she would never be able to avoid him if they both chose to remain as Guardians after all of this was over.
"Push the leaves aside. It's not far,” she said softly.
The enormous branches bowed out of the way, and Master Hunter stepped carefully into her private grotto. She watched as he scanned the small enclosure. Her first impulse was to ask him how he'd found her, but she swallowed the question before it ever left her mouth.
He was the ultimate Hunter. He could find anyone, or anything. That was his power.
She noticed he was wearing a simple jersey and casual pants, and with a start Star realized she'd never seen him out of uniform. A second later, a hot flush of emotional pain swept through her as her next thought betrayed her. You'll see him soon without any clothing.
Images of what his body might look like underneath that thin layer of fabric came to her. Hard, sculpted muscle. Thick muscle. Thick.
Bowing her head to hide her embarrassment, Star waited for him to speak. After all, it was he who had sought her out, not the other way around.
Dark blue eyes turned on her. His face was clouded with his own pain, yet he kept his voice low so as not to carry. “Star, I wanted to make a few things clear before the ceremony."
"What kinds of things?” She lifted her face to find him standing less than a yard away. “I don't blame you, if that's what you're thinking."
A tiny smile lifted the corner of his mouth. He had a good face, a rugged, handsome face. And a very nice smile. There had been many times in the past when she'd sought his comforting hug after a hard or stressful mission. Heavens knew he was much easier to talk to than, say, Condemner or Challenger. He had a quick mind and terrific instincts. Even Corona once grudgingly admitted he was the person most likely to follow Deceiver as leader once Deceiver's reign of command was over.
"You come here often,” he stated flatly. Before Star could open her mouth to ask him how he knew, he answered her. “You put that bench here, didn't you?"
"Yeah.” Taking a deep breath, Star smoothed her gown over her legs—a gesture that was not lost upon the man intently watching her.
"I wanted you to know that, after much deliberation, I am forced to admit I have much to be thankful for that you were named as my mate."
Narrowing her eyes at him, she demanded, “What makes you say that?"
"Because I've fought alongside you. I know more about you than any other regular man would. I know how you react under stress. I've seen you happy. And sad. And annoyed. And frightened. I trust you with my life, and you feel the same. Plus we have the protection of our fellow Guardians. We will fulfill our obligation, Star, yet keep our business lives apart from our personal ones. It's the only reasonable solution I can see to this thing."
"How do you feel about being a father?” she whispered, watching his face. What she saw was a brief flash of pain, which surprised her.
"I can't say for certain what I'll feel. Or do. I can't seem to wrap my mind around that concept. Not just yet."
"Did you ... did you ever want children?"
"Eventually, yes. But with a woman of my choosing.” He paused to assess her emotions at the moment. “I'm sure what I'm saying is really not much different from what you were wanting."
Star shook her head. “You're right,” she admitted in a low voice. “I wanted to find a man to fall in love with. Who loved me. And we could make babies together.” Take another ragged breath, she continued. “We can still have that, you and me ... after this is all over with. At least we won't be obligated to each other once I..."
Another hot sweep of fire rushed over her, and again her thoughts betrayed her. Once you press yourself into me. Taking me over and over until I get pregnant and have our baby.
Hunter didn't seem to notice her reticence. “One more thing. And I promise this to you, Star.” He waited for her to look back up at him before he said, “You will be the one to say when and where. I will never force anything upon you, and I swear I will never intentionally hurt you. Yes, I know we'll be under some very strict guidelines, especially in the beginning, but I will leave it entirely up to you to let me know when and where to fulfill our duties. Will that be satisfactory for you?"
Tears flooded her eyes as Star realized the enormity of what he was offering her. He would not force anything upon her. He would let her set the pace for their sexual encounters, letting him know when she was ready to accept him, and where they would do it. Mutely, she nodded.
"It's the only way I believe we can get through this,” Hunter admitted gruffly. “I know the burden on you is greater. If there's anything I can do to make it easier, let me know."
"Thank you.” Raising a hand to her face, Star wiped away the wetness on her cheeks. She was dimly aware of the gentle swoosh of sound that followed his departure as he teleported out of the enclosure.
Oddly, the little talk seemed to have helped. The next few months would be unbearable, but at least the man to whom she would have to give her body was not a stranger, as Morning Fire had reminded her. He was Master Hunter. A fellow Guardian. A friend. A very strong and powerful man.
And, not surprisingly, a gentle human being.
In a small warehouse near the outskirts of the city, the four men arrived thirty minutes apart, each of them on foot. They all came through a different doorway or passageway so as not to attract attention. It was also pitch dark; every source of outside light had either been extinguished or removed. Once they were inside the building each man pulled out a small emergency lamp from their pocket. A pale blue beam guided them into the inner room where they would meet.
They were cautious and extremely fearful. And they had every right to be, because what they had planned, and what they had already set in motion in order to obtain their grand design, would cost them their lives if they were ever found out.
In the small room devoid of furniture they stood in a circle, facing each other. Despite their emergency lamps, each man's face remained in shadow. Only their voices distinguished one from the other.
"What is the word on the street about the HandFast?” asked man number one. He was tall and striking in appearance. From his attitude it was clear he was a man accustomed to being obeyed.
"The people are appalled and titillated at the same time,” man number two replied with a smile. “They're going to be glued to their screens to catch every morsel the news media throws their way about StarLight and Master Hunter."
"How is the media fixed to receive updates?” man number three quizzed. “Remember, no word must ever leak out that those two were never part of the original lottery."
"Don't worry about that,” two snapped, quickly dismissing the man's concern. It was a bold move, and one that could have easily antagonized three, but he dared because the man would be nowhere if it hadn't been for them.
"What's the word in Guardian Command?” man number four spoke up with his soft, cultured voice. He was the man the other three feared. He was the instigator of all they were risking their lives for. He was the one who had brought them together in the first place.
Two nodded, another smile oozing over his face. “I heard StarLight collapsed soon after hearing the announcement."
"Any chance they'll try to buck the law?” one questioned.
It was three who laughed with a mixture of humor and self-assurance. “Let them try. They haven't got a valid point. Deceiver has already contacted Committee Head and demanded to know when and why the Guardians had suddenly become part of the lottery populace."
"How many days do we have before implementing Phase Two?” four inquired almost nonchalantly.
"Our window is eighty-two days. There is no way StarLight won't be pregnant before then,” One answered.
"You seem awfully confident.” Four gave the man a cautious eye. “Remember, if she isn't with child within our time frame, we'll have to cancel this whole agreement, and there won't be another chance. No other opportunity. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Again, two snickered in reply. “The doctors have not released the information about the Primes, and they won't. So don't worry. Just consider it valuable luck that we would find a male Prime within Guardian Command that we could join to StarLight. No ... trust me. If she isn't pregnant by the end of the first two weeks, you are welcome to send a small collection of your favorite, hand-picked men to pay me a little visit."
Laughing aloud, he added, “I promise you, we'll never have to wait the full eighty-two days, my friends. We shall accomplish the impossible before the end of this month. Just you wait and see."
"And Master Hunter. No problem there, right?"
"No way.” Two grinned.
One breathed out noisily through his nostrils. “The end of the Guardians. I never thought the day would finally come."
"Don't count on it yet,” four roughly barked at them. “Until we get confirmation that StarLight is with child, I will continue to watch my back. And I suggest you three do the same. What we're planning has never before been attempted, which is why no one, not even the Guardians, will ever expect it. But if we fail...” He left the sentence unfinished knowing each of the other three would finish it on their own.
After another couple of minutes firming their next step, they left the same way they'd arrived, until there was nothing left in the warehouse to show a meeting had ever taken place that would permanently change the world, and the lives of every person living on it.
Including the complete annihilation of the Guardians.
Interim
Seeker glanced up to furtively look at the woman seated next to her. For the past two days neither StarLight nor Master Hunter had said a word about the upcoming HandFasting ceremony. But it was clear to all by the strain on their faces it wasn't far from their thoughts.
They continued to do their jobs with the same skill and determination as needed. What few words passed between them had been no different from normal banter during a mission, yet all of Guardian Command had come to a screeching halt the moment the two names had been announced over the public media system.
Tension had descended upon the entire Guardian compound. The complications were just beginning, and they would only multiply as time went on.
HandFasting couples were given an extreme amount of privacy, not to mention leniency. StarLight and Master Hunter would have neither. They would be forced to remain encapsulated within the group, visible every hour of the day to their co-workers and the media. Although there was a “step-down” of business after dark, no Guardian went completely off the clock. It was a twenty-five hour a day job, every day of the year. At any moment the claxons could go off, signaling the need for one, or for all, to rise to the call and give their help to whatever emergency had arisen.
The only exception would be those Guardians injured and placed on the restricted access list, or those more permanently indisposed, and placed on the inactive list. At that moment, all sixteen Guardians were in perfect health.
Soon, however, one of them would have no choice but to withdraw from the active duty roster.
"Establishing orbit around Terminus Four in six minutes. Star, come take a gander at this baby,” Challenger called from the helm. Almost immediately his face flamed a bright red as he realized his slip of the tongue, and he silently cursed himself for his stupidity.
As she unbuckled her harness and went forward to catch a glimpse of the derelict asteroid that had drifted into intergalactic shipping lanes, she patted the man on the shoulder to show there were no hard feelings. Challenger gave her a grateful look. “Foresee any problems moving it?” he inquired.
"No.” She added a shake of her head.
Behind them, Morning Fire, Seeker, Master Hunter, and Condemner were adjusting their equipment. “See the liner yet?” Condemner asked.
"Not yet. Wait. Yeah. There she is.” Star motioned with a nod.
The others crowded to the front to view the crippled passenger liner that had blundered into the misguided asteroid. It would be their jobs to find all the passengers and crew, give aid to those most in need, and make enough repairs to the ship so it could be towed back to the Pyrar system where Stellar Police would take over from there. Had the SP Force tried to tackle the job on their own, it would have taken days, if not weeks, to accomplish everything the Guardians could do in one day's time.
But the one thing the Stellar Police couldn't do was move the rogue asteroid out of the path of more oncoming ships, and give it a gentle enough push into a safer and more secure orbit, well out of range.
That was StarLight's job.
"We're ready,” Hunter announced.
Commander nodded as they all opened the inner door to the airlock. Four Guardians in their clear, protective suits and helmets, and StarLight, who wore just the inky black body suit and over-the-ear walkie-talkie, moved inside the chamber. She had no need for an oxygen helmet, and although they had seen her do what she could do nearly a hundred times in the past, Commander and the rest of the Guardians continued to stare in silent awe as the woman crossed her arms in front of her face as the outer doors to the ship opened to the void of space.
Star lifted up and away from Transport Two without the benefit of any propulsion unit. She drew her power from the gravitational fields she claimed were like bands of ribbons circling every planet. If they were near a sun or cluster, her strength would be even greater, and it then became evident what her full-length suit could do. It acted like a magnet, absorbing the invisible forces feeding the cells in her body, giving her the strength and ability to draw incredible mass either toward her, or away from her. With her raven hair, she blended into the blackness of space.
"Luck's with us,” she called over her headset. “The ship is floating free of the surface. You guys can go ahead and board her, then I'll push her away from the asteroid before I take this lost little rock for a walk."
"Any chance we'll get sucked up by that blue dwarf?” Commander eyed the system's tiny sun in the distance. Even this far away, and despite its size, it could still pose a problem.
Several hundred yards away, Star appeared to be free-floating away from the asteroid. “I can feel it tugging, but it's too weak. Let's just not take our sweet time out here, all right?"
"We copy that,” Condemner agreed from the disabled liner's airlock.
Once inside, Morning Fire pressed her hands to the ornate wall paneling, and the interior of the enormous luxury liner began to glow with her infusion of light. Finding the survivors was made easier by Master Hunter's unerring ability in locating everyone on the passenger list.
As Morning Fire and Condemner rounded up the guests and crew, and gathered those being brought in by Hunter, they provided medical attention to those in need. Seeker kept track, matching a body with a name, sometimes having to delve into an unconscious mind to find the identity.
Outside, Star gently pushed the ship far enough away so it wouldn't become entangled in the gravitational field she would throw around the rogue asteroid before hauling it away. The work was hard and mind-consuming, leaving her unaware of the man who had paused in his searching to stare at her from one of the many viewports.
It was rare these past two days that he could watch her without her knowing. Now that he had the chance, and none of the others were nowhere near to catch him, Hunter granted himself the luxury of drinking in the sight of the woman who, by this time tomorrow night, would be giving her body to him.
He was terrified beyond anything he'd ever encountered before in his life. At the same time, he wondered if his heart could beat any harder or louder than it already was.
Terrin DiLyric, a.k.a. StarLight, was above them all. Strength, beauty, ability, bravery—she was her own enigma. No one knew where she'd come from when she had applied for membership into the Guardians two years ago. No one knew if she had any parents, but some had wondered aloud if she was the child of a HandFast—a child given away by both her true and adoptive parents because they had discovered how different their daughter was from normal children. Such incidents were reported to have happened.
Staring down at his hands, Hunter clenched his fingers into white-knuckled fists. Tomorrow he would know every velvet inch of her. He would touch her, taste her, learn the exquisite expanse of her iridescent skin, and then he would plant his body into hers and give her his seed. Every night, at least once a night, for the next fourteen days and then a minimum of three nights per week as required by law.
A shiver arched through him, and his skin tightened inside his environmental suit. He had no knowledge of the groan coming from deep inside his chest until he saw the telltale breath on his faceplate.
She moved like a dancer, with grace and liquid movements. Her impossibly thick hair was spread out behind her like a cape. He had felt the texture of that hair just once, and its memory had never left him. There were nights when he thought he could feel it across his bare arms, like the softest satin gown.
Like the pale yellow gown she had worn that night he'd found her in her secluded little hideaway in the botanical gardens. The gown that had clung to her moist skin inside that humid alcove. The moment he had entered her territory, he knew he had invaded something so private, she had never shared it before with anyone else. And for long seconds he had thought about backing out and leaving.
Almost.
He could hardly breathe as his eyes had fastened upon the pulse in her neck, visible just under the flawless skin. Her eyes were huge, amethyst drops. She was more terrified of what was to happen than he was, and her nervousness had been enough to reach inside him and draw out his protective side.
If they were unable to create a child from their union, Udo Vosstien swore to himself she would walk away from this HandFast knowing she had been cherished, and cared for, and protected every single hour of every day of the year they were together.
It was the least he could give her.
"Hey, Hunter, what's the holdup? Seeker says that's not the last of them."
"Keep your shirt on. Seeker, how many?"
"Two, both men."
"Got it,” Hunter acknowledged, reluctantly turning away from the viewport. He quickly found the last two, dragging them back to the main dining hall where the temporary triage had been constructed.
Condemner glanced around, his hands on his hips, as he summed up their work so far. “Looks like we're about ready to start heading back to Pyrar. Star, how's it going out there?"
"Terminus Four has a new moon. Come look! She's so pretty and full!"
Hunter smiled to himself. Star loved what she did. And despite the fact that she could literally make the earth tremble beneath one's feet, she seemed unfazed by the extent of her power. Otherwise, if she ever got truly peeved at anyone or anything, there was no telling how catastrophic her retaliation could be.
"Okay, everyone! Listen up!” Condemner got the attention of the survivors, who were already gathered in rapt attention. They knew they were being rescued by the Guardians, and like typical fans, they were torn between the jeopardy of their situation, and wanting to get closer to their heroes.
"Are you the Condemner?” one young man asked, gazing up at the big man.
Giving the kid a quick smile, Condemner continued. “You're going to feel some uneasiness for a while as I tug this liner back to the Pyrar system. The gyros are not stable, so if you get queasy, well, sorry. Once we get there, the Stellar Police will see that you get back to your own homes safely."
"What happened to our ship?” someone called from the back of the dining hall. Altogether, there must have been around four hundred people total, including crew.
"You hit a rogue asteroid,” Morning Fire told them. “The ship is intact, and no one is in danger."
Like the others had done in the secured room, Hunter removed his helmet to save oxygen, not thinking, when attention suddenly diverted to him.
"Hey! You're Master Hunter! Is it true? Are you being HandFasted to StarLight tomorrow?"
The question suddenly created a swelling of noise from the crowd. One voice in particular stood out. “That's StarLight out there moving the asteroid away!"
Almost as one, the entire crowd sought out every available viewport in search of the nearly invisible woman against the starry background. Those on the port side of the ship could see Transport Two hovering less than a hundred yards away, the enormous white, florescent G across its tail section marking it as a Guardian craft. And floating near the main viewport near the nose of the craft was the object of their search.
"Hey! There she is!"
"Where?"
"Near the nose! Oh, mother of all heavens! How lucky can one guy get?” one voice inquired with honest jealousy.
It was a woman's voice who responded. “Well, speaking from a woman's viewpoint, StarLight isn't getting too bad a deal herself."
Immediately over a hundred female eyes turned to rake over Master Hunter's strong, muscular figure. Almost to a one, he knew their eyes had drifted to the lower edge of his tunic, fantasizing about both his size and skill. As their attention shifted onto him, Hunter felt his face infusing with heat, and he knew he had to get away from their scrutiny. The sooner, the better.
"If that's all, I'll wait over in Two,” he curtly informed his teammates, and locked his helmet back over his head. Without waiting for their answer, he blinked out of sight and transported himself back onto their ship.
It would leave Seeker and Morning Fire to care for the survivors as Condemner and Star led the liner back to safety, but at the moment Hunter didn't care. It was enough to be the object of their intense scrutiny. It was a totally different thing to have to stand idly by and listen to them compare his possible reproductive qualities as if he were a stud animal in a research project.
In the pilot seat, Commander glanced over his shoulder. “Hey. Weren't you supposed to stay onboard and help with the victims?"
"Seeker and Fire are taking care of things,” Hunter replied in a cautious voice.
An eyebrow went up on Commander's face. “Something happen over there?"
"Yeah. Star, can you read me?"
Her reply was hesitant. It was the first time he had addressed her directly in front of others since the announcement, and she knew their teammates were listening in.
"I copy, Hunter."
"Do not board the liner once we reach Pyrar,” he told her in a flat, emotionless voice.
There was a moment of silence. Then, quietly, she replied, “Copy that."
"You giving Star orders now?” Commander inquired softly. Hunter turned around as he removed his helmet.
"Just saving her a little embarrassment,” Hunter explained after squelching his headset.
He didn't have to say anything more. Commander knew immediately what he was implying. Giving a nod, he turned Transport Two around, bringing it behind the crippled craft, and they followed the spaceship until they reached their destination.
Once the mission had been cleared, and everyone was back on board Two for the trip back to Guardian Command, Star gave Hunter a quizzical look, still perturbed by his unexpected command. Morning Fire noticed her friend was about to question him, and grabbed her hand to drag her over to the empty seat beside her instead.
"Fire."
"Hush and strap yourself in."
"I was just going to—"
"He did you a favor,” Morning Fire hissed softly in Star's ear.
Star held her tongue until Commander had locked in their coordinates, and they were cruising back home. Turning to the woman, she waited for an explanation.
Giving her friend an irritated grimace, Morning Fire kept her voice low so no one could overhear, even making Star bend over so she could hear her. “Those people saw it was you and Hunter in the rescue party."
"So?"
"So, they started asking a bunch of questions about the HandFast. And ... and they started making a lot of insinuating remarks. A bunch of men were ogling you from the viewports, not to mention the women practically undressing Hunter with their eyes. That's why he asked you not to go into the ship."
"He told me, not asked me,” Star corrected her.
Morning Fire shrugged. “Let it roll off, Star. He was doing you a favor, because he knew you'd be hit up with the same behavior if you went inside. You ought to be thanking him, instead of acting all hacked-off.” She scowled. “Heavens know I was plenty angry with them myself after Hunter left to go back to Two. All those crappy, personal questions that aren't any of their business anyhow. How can people be so insensitive?"
Pausing, Star started to glance over her shoulder where she knew Hunter was sitting in the aisle seat at the back of the transport ship. She stopped herself, closing her eyes instead and leaning her head back against the seat cushion.
Now that the mission was over, unless something else popped up that evening, there was nothing to eat up the hours before she and Hunter were to appear at the Hall of Magistrates for the ceremony. She would have the night to think about what was about to happen to her. To them. And if she got any sleep at all, it would be a miracle.
Star tried to swallow, but her throat suddenly felt incredibly dry. Space walking always did that to her, leaving her parched and dehydrated. Throwing her harness off her shoulders, she got to her feet and started down the aisle, toward the back where a small kitchenette held refrigerated drinks. She grabbed a bottle of cold water, then snatched a juice she knew Hunter preferred. One didn't work closely with a person for over two years without catching on to a few idiosyncrasies about him.
Walking back down the aisle, she casually dropped the juice into his lap, not stopping to see his surprised look, or the equally surprised expressions on the faces of those who had witnessed the little exchange.
Once she returned to her seat, Star buckled herself back in and reclined back to enjoy her water. It was going to be long ride home, but it was going to be an even longer night.
Sighing noisily, Star closed her eyes, oblivious to Morning Fire's humming along with the music in her headset, and tried not to imagine what the women thought they could see when they tried to mentally undress Hunter.
She would find out for herself soon enough.
Preparation
When Transport Two finally landed back in the bay at Guardian Command, it was already dark. Everyone headed for the dining room for a quick bite before dispersing to their separate quarters.
Each Guardian had his or her own suite of rooms. For privacy's sake, the men's section was on the opposite end of Command Central from the women's. Around courtyards which included a manicured garden and free-flowing pool and fountain circled twelve spacious suites. At present two suites were empty on the men's side, six on the women's, allowing for the inclusion of more Guardians whenever prospects presented themselves for membership.
History had never seen a full complement of twenty-four Guardians. At the most there had been twenty, but retirement, injury, or death had decimated the ranks. A Guardian never had the luxury of going home “after work". Work was life. Danger was just a fact of that life. And Guardian Command was home.
Which was why the naming of two Guardians for the HandFast lottery had caused such controversy. A Guardian never made commitments, much less anticipated what life would be like a month, or a year, in the future. To expect two Guardians to deliver a child within a year was almost a ridiculous notion, as there was the very real potential that one, or both parents, could be dead within that time.
Rather than eat in the dining room, StarLight had turned to head for her rooms, preferring to take a light meal in privacy, when Deceiver caught her attention and motioned her over to where he stood in the doorway leading deeper into Command Central.
Silently, she followed him into the narrow passageway where he stopped and turned to face her once he was sure their conversation couldn't be overheard.
"I just wanted to let you know Committee Engineers were here today. I let them into your quarters,” the Guardian Leader informed her.
Giving him a confused look, Star asked, “Why?"
"They put a testing device in your communications console."
The information made her take a shaky step backwards. Deceiver watched her reaction carefully. Although he was her leader, he was a friend and fellow Guardian first and foremost. And this whole HandFast thing had knocked him for a loop as hard as it had affected everyone else.
"I was told to tell you all the instructions are there. All you have to do is turn it on, and it'll walk you through the ... procedure. Sorry, Star. I had no choice but to let them in."
Nodding slowly, she managed to flash him a watery smile. “It's all right, Deceiver. If you don't mind, I think I'd like to go ahead and retire for the night."
Deceiver nodded as well. “Oh, but one more thing. The rest of us would like to know if you and Hunter would want us to be in attendance at the ceremony. I mean, since family is allowed, and we're the closest thing you both have to family."
Star raised a shaky hand to her forehead. “I don't know, Deceiver. Ask Hunter. I'll abide by whatever decision he makes. I'm too tired to think right now, not to mention what tomorrow will bring."
Without saying another word, she abruptly left the man alone in the passageway that felt as if it was steadily squeezing all the air from her lungs. She had to get away to somewhere she could be alone to think. Or, better yet, to some place where she wouldn't have to think. Where she could just let the worries of the world fall behind her.
Once outside in the courtyard, she could breathe easier. The night was warm; the air was filled with the scent of flowers blooming in the little garden. A hedge of enormous mutaska blossoms gave her a small amount of privacy, the wide orange flowers shielding the door to her chambers from any prying or passing eyes.
Star glanced quickly at the next door a dozen yards away. That chamber was empty, as was the one on the other side. It hadn't been set up that way, for each woman Guardian to have an empty apartment on both sides, but through attrition, the coincidence had fallen naturally into place.
She had almost reached the small platform leading up to the door when she felt the presence of another person. Without having to look up, she knew at once who stood inside the shadows. “Hunter?"
"I won't take much of your time,” he promised softly, in case another Guardian was crossing the courtyard for her suite of rooms. “We have to get a couple of details worked out first."
"Come inside. There's no sense in us standing out here. Door, open."
She stepped through the doorway as the room brightened its lights to welcome her. Three steps into the room, and her eyes fastened on the shiny metal plate inset into her communications console nearby. Although she had been warned about its installation, seeing it there still managed to stun her into immobility.
Hunter came up behind her, and noticed where her eyes were riveted. “What's wrong?” he asked gently.
"It's the testing device. Deceiver told me the Committee had it installed today."
She bowed her head and rubbed her forehead. It was all too sudden. Three days was not enough time to acclimate oneself to the finality of what she would have to do. Or how drastically her life would change because of the luck of the draw.
"Uhh ... speaking of Deceiver,” she added, “he wanted to know if we wanted the rest of the gang to accompany us to the ceremony. I told him it was up to you."
She couldn't look at him. He was too close to her, even though—when circumstances had been different—she had been held against his chest on numerous past occasions. For comfort. For warmth. For protection. She knew how strong he was, how rock hard his muscles were beneath that rich brown uniform. How she always felt better with his support.
Her body shuddered, either from memory or anticipation, she couldn't tell. She only knew she felt like a caged animal heading for slaughter.
As though he could sense her uneasiness and inner pain, Hunter crossed his arms over his chest. “The ceremony is set for nine in the morning. Rather than us going over separately, I think it would present a stronger front if we went together."
Star sighed loudly. He was right. They needed to show the rest of the world they were still Guardians, despite the HandFasting. “When and where should I meet you?"
"Eight-thirty, up on the roof. I'll have a shuttle pod waiting for us. And ... I'll tell Deceiver to ask the rest to stay here ... if that's all right with you. They can view it on the screen, along with the rest of the populace. I have a feeling the hall will be a madhouse tomorrow."
Once again, his instincts were correct. All the news media could talk about for the past two days was her and Hunter. They were making history. Her life was not her own to live anymore. At least, not for the next year.
Suddenly, something Morning Fire had told her made a lot more sense to her. Lifting her eyes, she could see Hunter studying her with undisguised worry creasing his face. “Thank you,” she murmured.
He started slightly. “For what?"
"For helping to make this transition as painless as possible. And ... and for protecting me against that crap Fire said was going on in the starliner today."
She watched as he gave her a sincere smile. Hunter always had a warm, genuine gift of making people feel more at ease whenever he gave one of those rare smiles. “Isn't that my job?” he teased her lightly. “You look out for me, and vice versa. Speaking of ... even though we have the ceremony in the morning, we'll be on the clock. But, personally, I don't want to go over there in uniform. We're going to be in the spotlight enough, without standing out in the crowd. That's the other reason why I'm here. Would you mind wearing a regular gown tomorrow, and then we could come back to Command and change into work clothes afterwards?"
Giving him a weary smile, Star agreed. “I don't mind. Sounds good.” She watched as he uncrossed his arms, and a look she couldn't read flashed over his handsome features.
"I meant what I told you over at the botanical garden the other night,” he reminded her gently. “You will be the one to determine when and where. It'll be difficult, but if we concentrate on the work, we might be able to keep our business life separated from our private one, regardless of what the media wants to say or predict."
Taking a quivering breath, Star clenched her hands into small fists. “For the time being, then, we'll meet h-here.” Damn, but her knees were shaking. Quickly she walked over to the small, overstuffed chair by the huge picture window, and sat down. “Are you scared, Hunter? Please. Tell me you're as terrified as I am."
"Terrified? I can't begin to tell you how I feel,” he admitted, letting her hear his own pain he'd been keeping from her. “The only thing that's getting me through this is the knowledge that it's you, Star. The only thing."
At his confession, she glanced back up at him. For a split second she almost wished she could run back into his embrace and let him cuddle her, like he had in the past whenever she'd needed it. Closing her eyes, Star prayed she hadn't lost that permission from him.
"I'll see you in the morning, then,” Hunter dismissed himself. “Eight-thirty."
"On the roof,” she reiterated.
There was the slightest movement of air against her skin, and she knew he was gone. Transported out of her chambers as silently as if he'd gone out the door. But he hadn't used the door this time. Not to leave. He would spare her any emotional agony he could, and prevent others from seeing him come and go.
They would never have the luxury of privacy that the other HandFasting couples were allowed. They would not be given quarters apart from friends and families, so they could concentrate on their duties. On their requirement to reproduce.
They would have to make do with serving their planet and the other worlds, while trying to keep to the laws that demanded more of them than any other Guardian had ever been forced to endure.
Fire was right. Star nodded through her tears, as she clasped her arms about her for warmth in the suddenly chilly room. If it had been anyone else besides Hunter...
Ceremony
As he had suspected, the Hall of Magistrates was surrounded by the media and public waiting to catch sight of the two Guardians who were scheduled to participate in the HandFasting at ten a.m.
When StarLight had appeared on the roof that morning where he was waiting with a small hovercraft, Hunter felt a sudden rush of wooziness come over him at the sight of her.
She wore a gown the same deep purple color as her eyes. Her thick hair had been pinned to the back of her head, with tendrils curling down around her shoulders. If she looked beautiful in her tight-fitting uniform, she was incredibly stunning in the thin layers of sheer material that covered her down to her slippered feet.
After she had secured herself in the upright, locking harness beside him, and flashed him a weary smile, he'd taken the craft up and piloted them the direct route to where the ceremony would take place. During the brief trip, he glanced over at her, noticing the faint shadows under her eyes, and knew she'd probably gotten no more sleep than he had last night.
As they approached the hall, Hunter chose to land on the second story parking area, which was normally reserved for Committee members. Thankfully, Guardians were allowed to park wherever they chose. Even though this wasn't a business venture, Hunter didn't think anyone would argue his placing a vehicle with the Guardian insignia splashed across its surface in a restricted sector.
To his surprise, he felt a cold hand snake its way into his as they headed for the elevators that would take them downstairs to the main audience chamber. Glancing at her, he sensed her trepidation. It was like a discoloration on an otherwise perfect countenance, but it did nothing to stop the painful hammering of his heart. Hunter cursed himself for his thoughts. They were nowhere on the moment at hand but on the night to come. His body began to tighten, forcing him to fight back.
"Are you going to be all right?” he whispered, knowing he must look as pale as she did.
Giving him a barely perceptive nod, Star began to chew on her lips nervously.
As the elevator doors opened, and they exited down the tiny hallway, emerging into the cavernous hall, they were spotted by nearly a dozen news crews, who began to descend upon them like a swarm of insects. Immediately, Master Hunter went on the defensive, keeping StarLight slightly behind him as they faced the multitude.
"How are you both feeling this morning?"
"Are you anticipating tonight?"
"How do your fellow Guardians feel about all this?"
"Any chance they'll be here to watch the ceremony?"
"What are the possibilities your child could have a special ability? Maybe become a future Guardian?"
Taking a stance, Hunter allowed a trace amount of his domination powers to emanate from him, until the media felt the initial shadows of fear and slowly began to back away, giving the couple room to continue across the hall.
He rarely had to use that part of his ability, but on this occasion Hunter was glad to know he had the power to give the “prey” that sense of being hunted. Of being stalked. Targeted for capture or annihilation. As he let it seep from him like an invisible pulse, he could see the growing fear in every person's eyes the moment before they instinctively reacted, and pulled back.
As they reached the center of the hall, the majority of the other called couples had also gathered. In their faces Hunter could see the same trembling defeat reflected. As he looked over at StarLight, who had never let go his hand the entire time, he could tell she was also noticing the fact that they were not alone in their feelings.
"Will the couples please take a position on one of the Fasting squares?"
Hunter led Star to one of the designated marks on the floor of the hall. A moment later, a representative from the Committee stopped between them. A familiar blue ribbon rested in his grasp.
Around them, the room hummed with talk. Hunter grimaced knowing his and Star's images would be plastered across every vidscreen that could receive the transmission. Without realizing it, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze for reassurance. She returned it with one of her own.
"Couples, please hold out your right hands and grasp them firmly."
StarLight switched hands, giving Hunter her right. Immediately the representative symbolically wrapped the wide ribbon around their hands, starting from Star's wrist and ending around Hunter's. Once he was done, he left the hall, as did nineteen other reps. The booming voice coming from overhead continued.
"The HandFasting Ceremony is ordained by law. Listen closely as each of these laws is given to you.
"Law number one. The HandFast is for the duration of one year, starting from the date of this ceremony, the sixteenth day of the month of Ordoris, in the year eighty-four sixteen.
"Law number two. The HandFast is solely for the purpose of procreation, and the continuation of our species. Refusal to follow the edicts of the laws will result in permanent loss of citizenship, and expulsion from this world.
"Law number three. Once conception occurs, both parties are automatically dismissed from the HandFast, and neither will be held responsible for any further acts.
"Law number four. If there is no conception at the end of one year, both parties will be allowed a rest period of one year before being readmitted into the lottery.
"Law number five. If the conception is lost due to natural means, both parties will be allowed a recovery period of three years before being readmitted into the lottery.
"Do each of you understand and agree to abide by the laws of the HandFast? If so, say ‘I do'."
Forty voices echoed their agreement. Hunter's eyes cut to Star as he felt her grip tighten in his. He was not surprised to see tears on her cheeks.
"Legislator, has each party been given adequate time to read the edicts mandated through these laws, and has each party understood them?"
A tall man climbed the short steps to a podium at the far side of the hall. At the question posed to him, he nodded and responded. “Yes, they have."
Edicts. Hunter remembered when that piece of mail had flashed upon his private viewscreen in his chambers the day before. He'd read through all forty of them, each one detailing a specific requirement of the laws, before signing off that he'd understood and agreed to abide by them. Some of the edicts were callous and to the point. Others allowed for some leeway of definition.
Another squeeze of his hand brought his attention back to the present. Star gave him a fleeting smile. They were in this together, and for the umpteenth time Hunter gave silent thanks they had been spared the most harrowing part of the HandFast ordeal—forced copulation with a total stranger. There had been incidents in the past where a couple had met with a disastrous end when one member turned out to be extremely cruel or dangerous.
"So be it,” the booming voice proclaimed. “Each party present today has been duly sanctioned. Go forth this day, and good fortune to you all."
That was it. Short and simple.
Reaching for the length of blue satin, Hunter began to unwrap the ribbon from their hands when he heard her softly spoken concern. “Hunter?” A glance up to see her wide-eyed expression made him whirl around. The media was bearing down on them like starved animals racing for a meal.
"Can you slow them down?” he asked, not expecting to see the twinkle in her eyes that suddenly appeared with her quick grin.
"Gladly."
She threw out her free hand in the media's direction. Before they were aware of her gesture, the floor beneath them began to vibrate with increasing activity. Many immediately lost their balance, falling and tripping others who tried to escape the landslide effect of catching each successive person behind them. The floor continued to undulate; the tiles cracked and split as they rolled forward and back, and bits of wood and dust swirled in the air above them.
Hunter and Star took advantage of the disruption, and raced for the elevators. Once they reached the safety of the second story parking lot, they stopped to assess their next move. Their shuttle had been spotted, as they knew it would be. Already two news shuttles were circling overhead, waiting for them to emerge.
"You know, I never thought I would see the day I didn't like being in the spotlight when it came to being a Guardian,” Star commented irritably under her breath.
Hunter chuckled. The remark was so much like the old StarLight. “The media is going to make this year a pain in the butt,” he observed.
She snorted in response. “Well, best defense is a good offense. I'm in the mood for a good old-fashioned chase.” Tilting her head at him, she smiled playfully. “How about you?"
"All right, but I'm flying,” he told her, and they bolted for the craft.
The chase was over before it began. Even the most seasoned pod pilot was no match for Hunter's expertise at the controls. The sound of Star's laughter as they raced for the sanctuary of Guardian Command was like the sun breaking out from behind a dark cloud bank. It had been too long since Hunter had heard it, and he smiled in spite of himself.
As they landed inside the bay, the rest of the Guardians were there to meet them.
"I hope there was a reason for that bit of fancy flying I saw on-screen a few minutes ago,” Deceiver dryly commented.
"The news media was out for blood,” Hunter replied without humor, locking the controls before stepping out of the craft. “I detest being prey."
"Yeah. We saw Star throwing a whammy at them inside the hall,” Blender grinned.
Animator added, “Deceiver's already gotten a call about repairs.” The blonde woman with enormous brown eyes threw back her head and laughed. “I would have done the same thing to those newsmongers, Star, except I probably would have given the floor little bitty teeth, and let them have a go at chomping away at them."
They were interrupted by a loud wailing, the signal of an in-coming distress call. Almost to a man, they all raced for the main communications area, where Deceiver answered the panel.
A smoke-stained face stared out at them from the viewscreen. Behind him they could see the extent of damage from what had been a major disaster.
"Guardians! We've had two fuel cells suddenly go up, taking out nearly four square kilometers of the manufacturing plant and surrounding area. We need help! We have missing personnel, and we need help in containing the other tanks so they don't go up, too! Can you help us, Guardians!"
"We're on our way!” Deceiver responded. “Send us the coordinates, and we'll be airborne immediately!” Over his shoulder, the Guardian leader called out, “All right, everyone. Disaster, power up Three. Every single one of us is on this mission! Board up. Hunter, Star, we'll wait for you to change."
"I'll meet you there,” Hunter said and vanished.
Deceiver turned to ask Star if she would follow, but she had already raced out of the room. Unlike most of them, where wearing a uniform was merely a way of distinguishing themselves from the rest of the populace, everyone knew she needed her special suit to help her absorb and control her abilities.
Just in case she needed the coordinates, he threw the location of the plant onto her private viewscreen, then turned to race for the ship that was already hovering, ready to take off.
Less than five minutes later, they were streaking toward their mission.
The call came through a secured line via a frequency no longer used by modern technology.
"Is everything in place?"
"Almost. Another couple of days, and we'll have all we need. The only thing that's impeding progress is your end."
There was a snort of derision. “StarLight and Master Hunter are HandFasted. I've paid plenty to get them listed in the lottery, but their price is well worth it, knowing how they're going to be instrumental in our defeating the Guardians."
"We have only seventy-nine days left,” the voice warned with a threat clearly intended.
"And, as I've told you before, there is nothing to worry about. Did you see the looks on their faces when they were in the hall? Did you watch their expressions? They've worked together. Who's to say they haven't already been humping in the sack? You know about StarLight. I have it on good authority she's slept with almost every man at Guardian Command. No ... Like I told you earlier, if our lovely little tramp isn't pregnant after the initial two-week period, you can send your toughest men to knock down my door and rough me up. Take your aggravation out on me."
"Don't worry. I will,” the doubtful voice promised.
The call was ended simultaneously, and no record would ever exist of it occurring.
Confession
Little Nexus was the smallest of the double moons circling Vai'ilit. Both moons were nothing more than enormous deposits of Birisium, the mineral that made up the basic component of all power cells.
Initially found in a soft powder, Birisium was liquefied, purified through several passes in a hot iridite bath, and the resulting pure form could then be poured into any shape or size needed.
The only danger in handling Birisium, despite it being a potent source of power, was during the sterilization process—and then it was the iridite, heated to a temperature well over three thousand degrees, that would cause any worry.
The iridite was stored in huge vats, or tanks. Alone, it was a harmless chemical. Stored alone in separate tanks, Birisium was harmless. Put together, the two were basically harmless. Yet, if any one of a number of any third chemical was introduced to the combined elements, disaster was immanent and guaranteed.
Someone had introduced one of the destructive third elements, and now a large chunk of Power Plant Number Eight had become so much dust in the outer atmosphere.
It took Transport Three exactly twenty-one minutes to reach Little Nexus, which lay roughly three parsecs from the home world. By the time the Guardians landed beneath the atmospheric bubble, which simulated an oxygen-rich atmosphere, and began to assume command of rescue procedures, StarLight was already present, lifting and shifting mammoth-sized chunks of debris away from the blast zone, negating their gravitational field and easily moving the pieces that now weighed no more than a few ounces. Master Hunter had arrived ahead of her, his abilities allowing him to transport vast distances as far as five parsecs away. So far he had recovered one survivor and six casualties, and taken them to the med unit.
A handful of supervisors were gathering around Provoker, with schematics and diagrams of the plant, which took up nearly four hundred square miles, to give him a grasp of the enormity of the attempt. As the Guardians shouldered the bulk of the recovery effort, things began to move with more efficiency. Provoker may be a huge pain the backside, Hunter admitted as he delivered another body and saw how smoothly the chaos was being handled, but the man was a genius when it came to strategies and coordinating multiple situations and emergencies.
For the next two hours the sixteen slowly managed to contain the blast, while rescuing and recovering the dead and injured. During that time, everyone was focused on the job, as the lives of innocent workers and engineers depended on them.
StarLight drifted downward, toward a portion of a tank wall that was nearly ten feet thick. Resting on its side, it looked more like a section of a roadway in the middle of the scorched burn mark that was all that remained of this area of the plant. From the corner of her eye she spotted Challenger running in her direction. He waved at her, and she lowered herself to the ground to see what he needed.
"Can you help Corona up in Area Eight?"
"Sure. Where's that?"
"Hit the sky and head in that direction,” he directed, pointing. “She'll flash you when you get close."
Nodding, Star took off, keeping just above the remaining towers so as not to miss Corona's burst of heat signal. She didn't have to wait long or look far. The woman had her hands full, keeping an opened vat full of iridite up to temperature. The stuff had to be cooled very slowly, or else it could explode with almost volcanic force. The last thing anyone needed at the moment was to have to deal with large globs of scalding liquid metal flying through the air and landing on them.
Blender stood beside the woman, pushing waves of cool air into the liquid. A few yards away, Provoker stood with a couple of plant supervisors. Seeing her land nearby, he gestured for her to join them.
"Seeker and Hunter have found a small pocket of survivors on the back side of the iridite,” he told her. “The heat's too intense, but Corona can't lower the temp any faster than she and Blender already are doing it. Is there any way you can lift the vat of iridite and keep it airborne until we can get out the survivors?"
Star eyed the vat with a worried eye. “Lifting it won't be the problem. It's keeping the liquid stuff all in one place. It'll start spreading the moment I drop the gravitational field, and then I'll have to concentrate on trying to keep it all scooped together.” She turned back to him. “I wish I could be more positive."
"Is there another vat we could put the stuff into?” Provoker asked the supervisors.
They shook their heads. “Tanks are built as needed. We don't keep any spares around."
"We have to get to those survivors. How many are there?” StarLight tried to figure out a way around their predicament. If there weren't that many, Bruiser could aide in pulling them to safety. He and Disaster. They were the next two fastest men, after Hunter.
"StarLight!” It was Sender. The woman's eyes were enormous blue-green mirrors in her face. Her skin was red and rough after close proximity to the raging heat as she helped to transport the injured away from the blast zone. Stumbling to a halt in front of Condemner, Sender bent over, gasping for breath. The fire and heat was sucking all the oxygen out of the air, making every breath feel as if it was being strained through thick soup.
Laying a hand on the woman's shoulder, Star bent closer to catch her thinned voice. “They need you up front. Hurry!"
Without waiting to ask any further questions, Star lifted from the ground and rushed back in the direction from where the woman had come. Seconds later, she entered a scene of organized pandemonium. Before she had a chance to take in the flurry of frenetic activity, Seeker grabbed her arm the moment her feet touched down.
"You've got to lift that mass of molten ore now!” the woman shouted above the din.
"If I do, the stuff will go flying everywhere!” she shouted back just as Deceiver joined them. “Is there any way to contain it if I do?” Star turned to their leader for a suggestion.
Like Seeker, his face was raw from the heat. “How many recoveries are we looking at?"
"There's one survivor left,” Seeker swore. “Hunter and I both feel him! But it's too dangerous in there!"
"Where is Hunter?” A quick glance around didn't reveal the familiar brown uniform among the fast-moving figures in the distance.
"He's going back behind the vat!” Deceiver answered.
"What?"
Seeker tugged her arm, her every movement showing her frustration and desperation. “He thinks he's faster than that crap, Star! Twenty seconds! Thirty at the most! Can you lift the ore for that long without losing it?"
"Reach for it, Star!” the Guardian leader urged tersely.
Clenching her jaws, Star threw out a hand. “Get these people away from here!” Before they had the chance to acknowledge her demand, she jumped into the air and began circling the huge, shattered tank, keeping as far to the outer edge as possible to avoid being scalded by the flames. In the past hour it had become evident the explosions had not been an accident. Someone had sabotaged the production, but for what reason was still unclear. It would take Time Merchant a few days before he could unravel the whole mess and find out who had planted the incendiary devices, and subsequently who was behind the entire event.
Her eyes scoured the ground, searching for Hunter. For some reason her body had grown cold, knowing he was getting ready to plunge into the blazing inferno. Did he honestly believe he could withstand the intense pressure and heat long enough to save the last man remaining inside?
Something had to be keeping the plant worker from being roasted alive. Something that kept most of the molten ore away. Something which made Hunter believe he had a chance at rescuing—
She saw him directly below. He was close to the edge, closer than he should be. Even from where she hovered over him, she could see how the temperature had burned him. For a fleeting second she wanted to place her cool hands on his face to soothe him.
"Hunter!"
He glanced up and spotted her, and flashed both hands twice. Twenty seconds. He needed twenty seconds; that was all.
She nodded, pulling back so she could lift the vat from the side, instead of from directly below her. She'd have more leverage that way, more chances to see if anything was about to “drip", and catch it before it did.
Twenty seconds. Oh, please be careful.
As if he could read her mind, Hunter flashed her a confident grin. Then he was gone.
Killing the gravitational field around the vat was not a problem. Star knew she had lifted masses thousands of times heavier. She had moved entire planets by manipulating centrifugal forces and magnetic fields. But for some reason she couldn't fathom, the broken shell of the tank holding nearly a million cubic feet of molten ore was a riskier threat than rogue moons or lost asteroids.
Raising the vat to eye level, Star began counting.
One thousand one. One thousand two. One thousand three...
Oh, please, Hunter. Hurry!
The same thick walls which kept the superheated ore safely inside the tanks was also keeping the last survivor alive and relatively unscathed, although the air around him was as hot and thick as boiling steam.
Hunter transported into the almost impossibly tiny space where the walls had caved in, then folded over, to create the pocket of life that cradled the unconscious man inside. Grabbing the man by his duty vest, Hunter glanced around in the absolute darkness, looking for any other sign of life.
There were a few powers he'd never told the Guardians he had when he'd applied for membership two years ago. They had been delighted just to accept him with the abilities he'd revealed to them. But he had other gifts, some of which he'd used surreptitiously in the past, but never where anyone would notice them. For some reason, Hunter had felt he needed to keep some part of who he was just to himself.
Having this man unconscious was what he needed in order to zap him out of that confined deathtrap. No one had to know he could transport another body with him. Nor did they need to know how he was able to find just the right, exact area to appear.
Hunter smiled. If anyone cared to think beyond the obvious, they would catch on to, or at least suspect, why he was able to avoid materializing inside a solid object or another person.
Holding onto the limp body, Hunter popped out of the hidey-hole, suspending himself and the injured man in the netherworld he entered when going from one place to another. He could see everyone scurrying about, trying to secure the area from dangling pieces of metal scattered by the blasts.
Nearly parallel from him, he spotted Star, hovering a few feet off the ground. Her body was tense, rigid with worry and fear as she concentrated on keeping the shifting liquid above and away from where she thought he had gone to rescue the man. From where he drifted, Hunter could see the tightness in her face, how her eyes reflected the white-hot ore, and for a split second the realization slammed into him that they were but an hour or two away from joining as one in every physical sense. The thought started his hands shaking, as well as causing an uncomfortable tightening in his groin, and Hunter swore at himself.
He had to find a place safe enough to bring the man back into the natural dimension, yet protect them from discovering eyes. Hunter found it in a huge panel of construction steel lying at an angle a few yards away. A heartbeat later, he was laying the man along the ground and collapsing to his knees beside him, rasping for breath. Another half-dozen heaving lungfuls of air, and Hunter shakily got to his feet, holding on to the panel for support, and emerged into the line of human traffic.
"Star!” His voice was raspy, his esophagus seared by the heat, but she heard him call her name. As she quickly lowered the vat and turned toward him, he didn't miss the relief washing over her face. Pointing back behind him, he hoarsely called, “This man needs a medic, quickly!"
She gave him a curt nod and zipped away, riding the magnetic and gravitational currents as lightly as if she had wings. Hunter watched her go with a sigh.
He couldn't help himself now. He couldn't keep himself from studying her, his eyes sliding over her body in a way he'd never studied her before. Her body suit did nothing to hide the perfect lines encased inside. She was long-limbed, with a narrow waist, sweetly curved butt, and high, round breasts.
The memory of the few times he'd held her in his arms came back with a vengeance. Of those times she had sought him out for comfort after a particularly rough mission. Or when she had fallen asleep against his shoulder, knowing he would see her safely back onto the ship.
Once she had been overcome by a fit of weeping over the death of that Follusian child she'd risked her life to save. That loss had come at the end of a hard, emotionally draining assignment, and one where she'd cried until she'd had no more strength to continue.
Now that he thought back on it, StarLight was prone to flirt with every man at Guardian Command. She would laugh, and tease, and play practical jokes on them all, especially Bruiser, who would let her toss him into the heart of the sun if she wanted to. But she had come to only him when she'd needed emotional support. She never flirted with him. Never teased. Never joked. It was almost as if she avoided him when they weren't on the job, and Hunter often wondered why he'd been excluded from her select circle.
Until now.
Was it possible he was the only one she trusted?
A part of him trembled with anticipation. But an even larger part of him trembled in fear. What would happen if she was unwilling to accept him? Although he had the right to force her, could he do such a thing? History was full of HandFast cases where the interaction had been nothing more than a mutual fulfilling of their obligation—a simple, hurried, physical act, performed at the required intervals, with no emotional attachment.
Yes, there were some couples who used the ritual as an excuse for unrestricted sex. There had even been couples who had jumped the ceremony, and begun their own coupling before it had become official.
And there had been cases, although so few that one had to search deep into the archives to find them, where the HandFasting couple had gone on to extend their joining after the year was up, into a permanent situation. A marriage.
But these cases were among the small minority. Until now, the most one could expect was a quick pregnancy, and reaping the financial spoils of early fertility.
Hunter grimaced at the prospect. Damn them. The Committee paid the expecting couple a nice bonus for a swift procreation. And if a child was delivered, another nice monetary payment was sent to the new parents. A superior rated child heaped even larger benefits. Hunter didn't know which was worse—the forced intimacy, or the blatant payment for peddled and procured flesh.
He glanced back at the man lying behind him. As he'd suspected, the worker was beginning to awaken. His body was in excruciating pain, and as he came to, he would begin to feel the extent of his injuries.
Quickly, Hunter went over to quiet the man and assure him help would soon be arriving. The engineer opened his scalded eyelids to find the Guardian kneeling over him.
"G-Guardian?” the man rasped through a raw and swollen throat.
"Lie still. Medical attention should be here shortly,” Hunter told him.
"You're ... Master Hunter, right?” The man coughed, and the sound of it was almost too painful to hear.
"You shouldn't talk. You're in pretty bad shape, but you'll live."
"You got me ... out. Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Hunter glanced outside to see if a medic was on his way, but a slight tug on his sleeve drew his attention back to the survivor.
"You were Hand ... Fasted ... with StarLight."
He was immediately on the defensive, and gave the weakened man a cautious stare. To his astonishment, the man grinned in spite of the agony it must have cost him.
"I was ... HandFasted,” the man confessed.
Suddenly, Hunter was no longer apprehensive. The man wanted to tell him something, and it was rare that ex-HandFasters revealed themselves, much less gave out any information about what they had gone through. Squatting down next to the engineer, Hunter moved closer.
"I ... married her,” the engineer went on, surprising Hunter even more. “You may find that ... that sharing something that profound, and that humiliating ... it may draw you closer.” Giving Hunter a wink, the engineer tugged on his sleeve again. “I watched you on the screen. You two, you were scared, but you have something between you already."
Managing a small grin, Hunter disagreed. “Sorry to disappoint you, sir, but Star and I are not a couple. We haven't even dated."
"Well, then, it's time you two had a-a ... talk. Declare how you ... feel ... to her.” The man coughed again with scorched lungs. “But I know what I saw. Take care of her. Treat her with respect and dignity. It'll pay off, I promise you, but only if you want it to."
A noise outside drew Hunter's attention away from the man lying before him. Two medics burst into the small enclosure, and immediately began treating the survivor. Hunter stood and backed away as they airlifted the survivor onto a small field diagnostic bed and led him away to where an evac medical ship was waiting.
Several yards away, StarLight stood grounded, watching the man being carried away. Hunter approached her slowly, until he knew she was aware of him standing just behind her.
"Star.” His voice was soft, meant just for her ears. “When?"
Her whole body tensed, as if it had suddenly turned into ice. His powers felt her fear, like syrup running thick and slow in her bloodstream, as she accepted what he was asking her.
When do you want me to come to you tonight?
He could almost envision what was going through her mind. The mental calculation of time between this planet and home.
"Ten,” she whispered in return, a heartbeat before she launched herself into the sky.
Hunter watched her go until she was a tiny speck in the distance. Then he headed over to the medic tent to have his skin regenerated before going back to Guardian Command.
He knew this night, their first night, would only be the beginning.
Tolerance
She had felt him behind her, and it was as if he had lit up every nerve ending in her body.
When?
Tonight, her mind kept echoing over and over. Tonight. Tonight. Tonight. Tonight.
She'd had to get away, but even the clearing skies hadn't offered her a release from the emotional torment. There was no escaping the inevitable. There would be no going back once it was over.
Tonight. Tonight. Tonight. Tonight.
Far below she could see things were wrapping up. The emergency was over. Soon, everyone would pile back into Three for the trip home. Except she could fly back by herself, since it was a short distance.
And she would have to fly back. She couldn't find some out-of-the-way moon and use it as a hiding place, like she used to do when she had been unable to take any more of whatever foster home she was in at that time. When everything had come down on her—the teasing, the cursing, the ranting and raving and threats and dire predictions.
As her power had developed, so had her body. By the age of fifteen, Star had found herself in possession of a woman's physique, and an awesome ability. It had been partly out of necessity, and mostly out of defiance, that she'd settled upon the skintight body suit as her choice of attire. It absorbed the dark, invisible fields thrown out by the stars, which fed her as much as food filled her belly, while it also flaunted her flawless body, daring men to look but not touch.
She had never been ashamed of the way she looked, even though enough people had tried to beat her pride out of her, mentally and physically. Which was why she'd finally had enough before her eighteenth birthday, and took to space, abandoning everything and traveling from planet to planet, discovering people and dangers she'd never believed existed. Surviving day by day, week after week, year after year.
There was no one out there she cared to trust, much less commit herself to. It had been by accident that she'd come across the Guardian transport ship with four members aboard. They were struggling to avoid the wormhole that had appeared out of nowhere, and threatened to swallow the craft. She'd collapsed the wormhole, then guided the disabled ship down to the nearest planet.
They had stepped out of the ship to stare slack-jawed at her, astounded by her powers and her looks. She was twenty-two and just beginning to bloom.
That was two years ago.
Since then, being a Guardian had given her a sense of belonging, and more of a family than she had ever experienced in the past. There had been a couple of the men she had briefly dated, but neither had lasted more than a week. They were good friends, more like big brothers. And, besides, the last thing she was looking for was an emotional commitment. She'd done just fine, not having anyone or anything wrapping around her heart. Life was so much better without that kind of weight dragging her down.
There had been one person, though, whom she'd never been able to figure out. Master Hunter had always been a quiet sort, keeping mostly to himself after hours. He was polite, but he was also strong and extremely trustworthy. Star often found herself drifting over next to him whenever an assignment got particularly hairy. It was as if she instinctively knew he could deflect any nastiness that threatened her, and heavens knew the first time she'd fallen against his warm wall of a chest in total exhaustion, she realized he would never take advantage of her. There would never be a stray hand to “accidentally” squeeze her bottom, or fingers running across her breasts.
He was safe and safety. And it had been a relief to find him like an ever-present force whenever she needed him. He was always there for her. He always would be.
He was her guardian Guardian.
Which made the HandFast all the more terrifying. She was losing the man to whom she'd never had to worry about losing control. She was losing her friend and protector.
Her next thought came unbidden to the front of her mind. What kind of lover would he be?
Would he approach the act with the cool, impersonal persona she saw nearly every day?
No. She shook her head. When she'd sought his embrace, and the safe protection of his arms, knowing she wouldn't have to face any rankling or teasing as long as he held her, there had been a sense of tenderness in the hard muscle. In the way his warm hands stroked her hair that turned her into soft putty.
She put on an extra burst of speed, and a moment later she zipped through the outer atmospheric lock, away from the little moon and out into space.
What good was it doing to keep torturing herself with the what-ifs? No matter how much she was dreading the coming night, it would come. It would happen. He would take her body, whether her mind and spirit was in it or not. She could lie there, like she was supposed to, and let him have her. Use her, then leave. But she didn't have to give him her heart. He couldn't take her soul or her spirit. She would always keep them shielded from further hurt and degradation.
Do it and get it over with. And pray I conceive soon, instead of having to endure the entire year.
Morning Fire watched her friend head into the sky. She felt someone come up behind her and stop to gaze up at what she was watching. It was Disaster.
"These next few weeks are going to be a bitch,” he told the petite redhead. His voice echoed what they all knew to be the truth.
"Where's our black-haired planet duster going?"
Both Guardians turned around to see Provoker getting ready to climb up the short set of stairs into Transport Three. He was grinning as he followed the ebony-clad figure until it was out of sight. Snickering, he added, “She must be in a big hurry to crawl under the sheets tonight."
The off-color remark sent a flare of white-hot anger through the other two Guardians. Morning Fire opened her mouth to angrily retort, when she caught sight of the person appearing just behind Provoker, his eyes narrowed at the man in front of him. There was no doubt in her mind Master Hunter had heard Provoker's caustic comment, and it hadn't sat well with him.
Provoker saw her expression, and realized she was staring past his shoulder. Turning around, he came face to face with Hunter's white-faced displeasure. “Something bothering you, Hunter?” he casually inquired, even though he knew why the man was irritated. “Shouldn't you be scooting along as well? I'm sure she's waiting for you."
None of them expected the deadly cold voice that came from the man standing stiffly to the side. “Provoker, by right of HandFast law, I am now StarLight's protector and defender. So heed this warning, because I'm only going to give it to you once. If I hear another word come out of your mouth that causes Star any pain, physically or emotionally, you will answer to me. Are we clear?"
To Morning Fire and Disaster's astonishment, Provoker threw back his head and laughed aloud. “Good heavens, Hunter! You sound like the jealous bridegroom! What's the matter? Is your pride bruised because you're not going to be her first?"
A look of intense darkness crossed Hunter's face, and it was enough to make Provoker step back in shock.
"My memory is long, Provoker, but my patience is short. Don't force my hand. Don't even think you want to."
Without waiting for an answer, Hunter blinked out of sight. Silence bit the air around them, and several pairs of eyes turned to the man standing half-in, half-out of the ship. Both Animator and Corona had come in on the tail end of the two men's exchange, and now they were also waiting to see how well Provoker would take the challenge. When he simply shrugged and continued up the stairs, Corona turned her nose up at the man and sneered.
"Blazes, Provoker, you can be such an asshole."
She spoke for all of them.
Abandoned
It was a little after nine when StarLight landed back at Guardian Command. The night was beautiful, and on any other occasion she would have accepted its gift.
She had no idea if Hunter was returning on his own or taking Three back. It didn't matter anyway. She had told him to be here at ten, and he was nothing if not punctual. Two years of habitually being two to five minutes late for morning meetings had taught her that fact, especially when Blender had teased her about it, and compared her to Hunter's on-the-second appearances.
Her chambers were overly cool, or felt that way. She debated whether to raise the temperature a bit, deciding against it at the last moment as she headed for the cleansing stall.
Stripping off her uniform, Star paused to stare at her body. It had been a long, long time since she'd actually looked at herself. A week never went by that someone didn't compliment her on her looks, either her face, her hair, or herself in general. She was used to it, and normally she'd reply with a shy smile and word of thanks, despite the other's lack of sincerity. More often than not, the person doing the complimenting was only interested in seeing how far he could get.
Tonight, though, she turned to the glass enclosure, to her reflection on the shiny side of the cleansing stall. A hand went up to cup one full breast. Fingers touched a flat, unresponsive nipple. She felt nothing. It was almost ... disappointing.
Had Hunter ever complimented her on the way she looked? She didn't think so; she was sure she'd have remembered if he had. He hadn't even said anything that morning when she'd met him for the HandFast ceremony.
It didn't matter anyway.
Climbing into the cleansing stall, StarLight stood beneath the warm spray of detoxification rays and turned up the intensity, relishing in the needlelike stings that stripped away the old cells and bacteria from her skin. Doing her hair took a bit longer, as its length and thickness kept her from being quick with it. When she was finished, she stepped out into the coolness. Her skin glowed.
Walking naked into her chambers, she wondered what she should wear. A light gown? Or nothing at all?
A second thought immediately took place of the first one. Where should she be when he arrived? Already in bed?
Almost unbidden, she wondered if he would be quick about it. After all, it was no more than a few moments of thrusting on his part. Just enough to come inside her. Then he'd be gone. Quick, efficient, painless. Then she could take a sleeping aid and get some rest.
Like a belly ache. Some slight discomfort. Take the medicine, and in the morning everything would be good as new.
Oh, dearest heavens...
The sting of fresh tears burned in her eyes. How would she be able to endure what was to happen? Wasn't it enough she was willing to sacrifice her life for this planet? Why did they also demand her small amount of pride, as well? Sniffing, Star went over to her bureau and pulled out a lightweight slip she usually slept in, and dragged it over her head.
"Lights out,” she spoke aloud, and the room was plunged into darkness. Absolute darkness, as the single window on the other side of the room was still shuttered.
Making her way over to the bed, she sat down on the edge and waited.
For the first time in his life, Hunter floated in the netherworld, overlooking Star's chambers, and watched a woman perform what should have been a private and personal act. He saw her stare at her reflection in the wall of the cleansing stall, saw her touch herself, and the realization of why she was doing it pounded into his conscious with heavy nails of guilt.
By all that is holy, Star, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever known. There isn't an inch on your body that isn't perfection. Why do you doubt yourself?
He wanted to go to her at that moment, but it wasn't yet ten, and he was a man of his word.
As she cleaned herself, he felt his own body responding to her gentle curves. His hands gripped into tight fists as he tried to control the ballooning ache that was devouring his sanity each developing minute.
Carefully, he floated closer to her, close enough to touch, and he studied her face, trying to decipher her mood. Her open emotions were raw and honest in what she believed was a moment of absolute privacy. She didn't act like the wanton who craved sex for the sake of it, as he'd heard said of her in the past. Provoker often bragged about what had occurred between them the short week he had dated StarLight, but the woman he described couldn't be the same one who tentatively touched herself, her eyes filled with pain, and doubt, and tears.
He followed her into the bedroom where she nearly broke down before turning off the lights. She didn't want to see him. That had to be the reason why she sought the comforting darkness. If she couldn't see him, he would become nothing more than an anonymous shadow. A few minutes of physical duration, who quickly dissipated into the night once it was over. And, in the morning, she could face him without having to put the face with the figure.
StarLight didn't know he could see in the dark. It was another strength he hadn't told them about. Of course, the ability wasn't as strong or as precise as his vision was in the light, but he could see clearly enough—enough to tell who was who, and be able to read writing if needed. Now he watched as she sat on the edge of the bed and bent over, burying her face in her hands.
On the panel chronometer in her communications console, the numbers flashed ten p.m. Taking a deep breath, Hunter transported into her chamber, by the door.
She knew he had arrived before he had a chance to say a word. She sat up, her back stiffening, but she called out anyway, to be certain. “Hunter?"
"Not tonight, Terrin,” he answered softly, still keeping his distance. He wanted her to believe he was unable to spot her in the dark. It would be easier for her keep the disassociation. “It was Udo Vosstien who was HandFasted to Terrin DiLyric. Not Master Hunter and StarLight. When I come to you, I am Udo."
He saw her nod. “Udo,” she repeated, almost too soft for him to hear. She had been crying. Her voice was rough, and her cheeks bore twin tracks of wetness, like tiny silver drops of rain. Gently he moved over to her and knelt before the bed. One small hand rested on her knee; he took it in his own, and she trembled gently at his touch.
"Wh-what do you want me to do?” she asked him. Her voice shook, and Hunter frowned. The woman was honestly terrified, but why? Did she actually believe he would brutalize her? Was the idea of coupling with him that appalling?
Dearest stars in heaven! Please tell me Provoker didn't manhandle her! Cold anger flushed through his veins at the thought of what a fellow Guardian might have done to her. If the man had taken away any chance for Star to enjoy the act, Hunter promised himself to make damn certain Provoker would never again have the ability to destroy another woman's pleasure.
But tonight, he couldn't think any further about it. It no longer mattered. He was here, and now that he could touch her without any hesitancy, without any guilt, his body was beginning to urge him toward completing what he was there to do. Her warmth was like standing beneath a glowing sun and relishing its life-giving heat. This close to her was affecting every sense he possessed. Already he could feel his heart slamming against his ribs in anticipation. If he hadn't already been kneeling, Hunter knew his legs would have given out on him.
Lifting his other hand, he laid his palm against her cool cheek, and he caressed her moist lips with the tip of his thumb. Her captivating eyes searched the darkness, trying to focus on him. The tip of her tongue emerged to swipe where he'd stroked her, and the sight of her licking her full lips nearly sent him over the edge. He felt the muscles in his lower abdomen bunch into a tight, aching knot. It took nearly all his willpower not to dive into her moist mouth and body, crushing her against him. The HandFast laws allowed him to do whatever it took to complete the act, just short of brutality. Hunter sliced that thought out of his mind with deadly determination. Star would accept him willingly. Willingly, and—with every hope—with reciprocating tenderness.
StarLight felt his light, tentative strokes against her mouth, felt the tickling sensation over her lips. Involuntarily she ran her tongue over her lips to stop the sweet torture, and he removed his hand.
His body shifted, and then there was a solid, undeniable warmth pressing against her legs. Warm hands grabbed her shoulders, and Hunter lowered her down onto the bed.
"Hunter?"
"Udo,” he repeated. His breath smelled like spices. Tingling, exotic spices.
She felt his face lower to where her neck and shoulder met. The strap of her slip slid down her arm, where he lifted her hand to remove it. The thin material eased away from one breast, and before she could comprehend what he was doing, his warm, rough hand cupped the rounded softness. Slowly he massaged her, taking the nipple between thumb and forefinger, rolling and gently teasing it until it stood erect. Star shivered at the sensation. His gentleness surprised her. More so the feeling of aliveness coming into her body. Without being aware of her actions, Star lifted herself into his palm.
"Your skin is like satin."
"Thank you.” She managed a small smile then wondered why he chuckled softly. “What?"
"Do you like what I'm doing?” he asked.
"It's ... it's nice."
"Let me make it nicer,” Hunter murmured, and a moment later his lips began to tease her flesh. His hot mouth scalded her. His tongue was a flame of heat, plunging and licking around the tight bud, until he finally closed his teeth over the button-hard tip and gently nipped it.
Star cried out and threw her hand out to stop him. Deftly Hunter caught it by the wrist, then slowly lowered it to his shoulder. As her palm touched his bare skin, her whole body stiffened. A sizzling bolt of fire slithered down her arm, straight into the center of her belly, and she jerked her hand away in shock. Heavens! She knew he had well-honed muscles beneath that tunic he wore. She'd seen his upper body on two occasions, on missions when they had been working under extreme heat and humidity, when the men had been forced to doff the upper part of their uniforms as they labored to finish the job. Under the glistening sweat, her eyes had been unable to tear away from the sight of his body as corded muscles rippled, his strength undeniable. She'd just never imagined how wonderful his flesh would feel under her fingers. How firm. How ... exciting.
"Udo..."
He released her nipple, nuzzling it tenderly before telling her, “I'm going to make love to you tonight, Terrin. I want to bring you joy, so if there's something I do you want me to repeat, you only have to ask. And if I do something you don't like, all you have to do is tell me to stop, and I'll obey."
She felt the other strap sliding down her other arm. A moment later, her upper body was open to him. A slight movement, and the edge of the bed dipped as he sat beside her.
A warm hand cupped her other breast, holding it as if it would shatter without warning. His head lowered, and his mouth devoured the round globe. His tongue threatened to rob her of her sanity as it twirled and stroked, and finally sucked hard upon her.
Raising her hands, Star wove her fingers into his thick, curly hair. She'd never been able to do this before, even though she had longed to know what the dark brown locks felt like. It surprised her to know his hair was as erotic as the rest of his body promised to be.
Hunter continued to savor her breasts, until their peaks were tight, aching points. Star wanted to touch them, but he kept her hands away, which left her with only one other place within her reach.
On him.
His neck and shoulders were rock hard, covered in velvet soft skin. Although she had expected as much, separating the belief from the reality was like a ball of pure energy barreling through her body. Even her toes tingled. Trailing her fingertips over his biceps, she could feel a ribbon of goosebumps rising in their wake, and she smiled again.
"What makes you smile this time, Terrin?” he breathed against her belly. He continued to love her with his mouth. With his tongue. Nipping her with his teeth, not hurting, but tickling. Teasing. His breath burned her as he continued downward.
She started. “How did you know I was smiling?” she whispered.
"I sensed it.” His hands were pushing her slip down past her hips with excruciating slowness. His mouth was making a pattern of kisses over her abdomen and lower belly, and now there was no way she could deny the building pain of needing him that was overtaking her. Every breath she dragged into her lungs was saturated with his overwhelming male, spicy scent.
"What makes you smile, Terrin?” he repeated. His fingers lightly brushed her hips, and she lifted her body at his touch. When his tongue dipped into her navel, it scorched every nerve sizzling directly to her womb.
"What you're doing..."
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No ... don't stop."
"Tell me how you feel,” he urged.
She tried to tell him, but all she could manage at that moment was a deep, dark moan. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She wasn't supposed to fall apart at his touch, praying he would never stop.
He was working down her body. The slip was over her hips and on its way to her knees, and Hunter continued to explore every inch of her. It was a torture of the most exquisite kind, where a feeling she'd never felt, but knew in her heart as desire, swirled inside her like a galactic whirlpool.
When he reached her feet, the slip disappeared. Slowly, Hunter moved back up the side of the bed, stopping at her waist. His large hands cupped her breasts again, and started massaging them, teasing the nipples, keeping them stiff and pulsing.
Suddenly, without warning, he released her. Star's eyes flew open wide as she felt his hands reach between her thighs and gently spread her legs. Her hands shot downward, to be stopped by his careful grasp.
"Udo..."
"Trust me, Terrin."
His body moved from the side of the bed. Then there was a little jiggle coming from the foot, and she discovered he was kneeling between her thighs. This time she couldn't stop the little whimpering sounds coming from deep within her as he stroked her skin, starting at her swollen nipples, and running down to the juncture of silky curls between her legs.
It was building inside her, whatever this sweet, unbearable pain and pleasure was that he was bringing to her. His hands held more power in them than the brightest star in the heavens, and he was launching her headfirst into its molten core.
"Don't fight it, Terrin. Let yourself enjoy it. Find your joy,” his voice pleaded in the darkness.
Her hands found his arms, and she sat up to find that chest she knew so well, knew it even without the dark brown material covering it. There were fresh tears on her face, but she had no memory of shedding them. “Udo ... what are you doing to me?” The voice she spoke with wasn't her own. It belonged to another woman who was feeling this raging need tearing her up inside. He was radiating heat, and suddenly she knew she had to feel him against her. Skin on skin. Body on body. Grasping his arms, she tugged on them as she lowered herself back down on the bed.
He moved again, and with a loud gasp of pleasure, Star felt him lower himself along her entire length. A moan, the like of which she'd never uttered before, welled up inside her, and she clutched him tightly against her. He was as solid as forged metal, covered in suede-firm skin. Firm, yet soft. Such a contradiction of terms. As his chest meshed with hers, his nipples meeting hers to press against them, she tugged harder at his neck. Whatever he was doing, whatever they would accomplish tonight, it had to be something wonderfully unexpected. It had to be better than this slow, boiling liquid churning inside of her, threatening to explode.
Hunter lowered his face into the valley between her neck and shoulder, and lightly licked the delicate skin. Slender fingers traced along his back and down his waist, stopping around his hips then moving up. He was a blanket of the most perfect warmth. A barrier of absolute strength. Her guardian Guardian. But more than that, he was a man bringing her something that was indescribable. Without any doubt, Star knew that what he was doing to her was more than what the HandFast called for or required. It was more. Everything more. More desire, more heat, more deliciousness than she could express. Thrusting her hips upward, she met his, and felt the rod of silk-covered steel between her thighs, seeking entrance. A rod that quivered, then—shockingly—lengthened and grew harder.
Her whole body ached for something she couldn't ask for because she had no idea what it needed to get rid of this burning, throbbing want that was centered between her legs and roiled in her lower abdomen with increasing agitation. Her nails dug into his upper arms and shoulders, silently letting him know she wanted more, and she trusted he would know what to do to cure her of this debilitating disease.
"Udo ... please...” The urgency was a plea, her undeniable need for release and the crashing climax her body was straining for.
Kissing the moist skin under her jaw, Hunter positioned himself over her. Slowly, steadily, he started to press deep into her flesh—
And found a barrier blocking his entrance.
His body instantly froze, his head flying up and his eyes widening as the enormity of his discovery blasted back him into reality.
No ... No! No!
His mind tried to argue with him, but his body could not dismiss or deny what he was feeling, despite her incredible wetness. Star writhed beneath him as she tried to pull him deeper into herself. Tiny sounds of her pleasure filled the room; her hands pressed against his hips, urging him to continue.
"Terrin.” He kissed the little hollow where her neck and throat converged. He was breathing heavily as he fought the temptation to take his pleasure of her. His hips jerked slightly, as if they had a mind of their own. Demanding completion. Demanding domination. “Terrin, you've never had a man before, have you?"
She tossed her head as her breathing quickened. In the darkness he could see the beads of sweat covering her face. Her breathing was shallow, her heart pounding at nearly twice its normal speed. “No,” she finally whispered back. “Why? Does it matter?"
Oh, damn, damn, damn!
He pressed his forehead against her cheek. Cursing himself for believing the tales. For accepting the word of a man he now knew he could no longer trust. He had promised her he would never hurt her, and he would have to break that promise. “Terrin,” he began again, lifting his face so that it was barely an inch above hers. “Terrin, forgive me,” he begged.
She opened her mouth to ask him why when he suddenly thrust deep into her, breaking her barrier with his forced invasion. Star cried out with pain, and her body stiffened beneath him. He heard her sobbing at the violation, and without warning she started beating him about the head and shoulders with tightly clenched fists. Quickly, Hunter gathered her wrists together and held them just above her head, pressing them into the bed and keeping her pinned as she continued to fight him. If he kept his grip strong enough, she wouldn't be able to levitate him without taking herself along.
"Get off of me, dammit! You're done, now get off of me!"
"I'm not done, Terrin. We're not done. It's not over yet.” He spoke soothingly, trying to calm her as his own body cried for release. He was all the way inside her, and she was a fiery agony he'd never known before in his life. Like wet satin. Tight, wet, burning satin.
Her shoulders shuddered, and she wept openly from the torment he'd wreaked upon her. “Why?” In a tiny voice, she condemned him. “Why would you hurt me like that?"
"I'm sorry, Terrin. It couldn't be helped. But I promise you, I'll never hurt you like that again."
"Promise me? Oh, damn you, Udo Vosstien! Go ahead and finish. Do what you have to do, then go away. Leave me alone, do you hear me?” she cried bitterly. “Just ... get it over with then go away!"
He released her wrists, and was relieved when she didn't try to strike him again. Taking the utmost care, Hunter repositioned himself over her before reaching back and lifting her knees at a slight angle. He'd hurt her in the worst possible way. Now it was up to him to make her forget he had done such a thing.
Her body held an inner fire that burned him every time he sunk himself into her. Her virgin flesh trembled and molded around his stiffening shaft with untried muscles. She was more than perfection to the eyes. She was perfection to the nth degree.
Steadily but tenderly he moved inside her, pulling out at a slower pace before diving deep and thick at a faster speed. His senses were tuned as high as he could make them as he sought her responses, sought her acceptance. He covered her. And filled her. Took absolute control and conquered her fears for her. And within the deepest recesses of her body she began to open herself up to him. Hands, which had struck him, reached up to clutch him and he responded to her unspoken passion by giving her more.
Her skin was perfumed with her womanly juices, her sweat, and her musk. Tasting her, Hunter finally relinquished the tenuous hold he'd somehow kept on his raging hunger, placed himself in her hands, and he melded into her over and over and over. Her moistness was pure honey; her tightness was the most incredible suction pulling on him, draining him, keeping him iron-hard and on the edge of sanity.
All thought left them. The demands of the HandFast were tossed to the solar winds, and right behind them they threw away the last of the restrictions that had kept them apart. She had been made for his love, and for his lovemaking. She fit him, as he fit her. Her curves to his angles. Her tender flesh to his skin. He had prayed for the chance to get to know her better, perhaps gain more than her friendship. By all that was holy, he was getting that wish—and more. Much, much more.
Hunter pounded into her, steadily, then increasing in speed and pressure, urgently slapping flesh against flesh, taking her and loving her, and sensing her accelerating spiral into the heavens. Star was crying out now, but they were cries of her rising passion, of her imminent release, which was beginning to flood every part of her. She convulsed at the last desperate moment. A second later she went supernova, sending every particle of her body into spasms. Her body clamped down on him, squeezing and scorching him. Two more thrusts, and Hunter erupted, sending them both crashing headlong into oblivion. They flared like two heavenly bodies in the finality of their climaxes, and their bodies remained floating among the stars as wave after wave of the purest pleasure coursed through them. As he poured himself into her, he could feel her pouring out her trust and dependency into him. She needed him, now more than ever. Needed. And wanted.
The first thing he grew aware of as sanity returned was that Star was weeping again, but now her face was pressed tightly into his chest, her hands and arms wrapped around his neck. He held her as he had done in the past, but now he did so with an undercurrent of emotion that threatened to shred him into little pieces. He wanted to keep going, to keep loving her. To push her over another orgasmic precipice, and then another, until her screams of release flooded the room. They could make love all night—Hunter shook his head as the thought hammered into his brain. Spending the night inside her. Taking her again and again until there was nothing left of either of them. He groaned as his body betrayed him and began to tighten in anticipation. There was no way. No way. Oh, but by the brightest heavens, a man could dream, couldn't he?
Kissing her sweaty forehead, he started to pull away. She hesitated for a second, finally releasing him so he could leave as she had ordered him to.
Before she could open her eyes to face the overwhelming darkness, she knew he was gone. Transported out without a word. Or a goodbye.
Suddenly the room felt cold. She felt cold. Without thinking, she reached out with her hands, only to encounter air.
You told him to leave. Crossing her arms over her breasts, Star turned onto her side and curled up into a ball. You told him to go away.
Yes ... but how was I supposed to know? How could I have known?
Udo was gone, and for the first time in her twenty-four years, Terrin DiLyric detested the fact that the other side of the bed would remain void. The sense of loss was too much to bear. He had taken his warmth and that incredible act he'd performed inside her, and removed himself ... and it was all her fault. She was abandoned, once again all alone as she'd always been. But this time there was no one to blame but herself.
Suddenly Star no longer found comfort in the darkness. Instead, she faced a long, empty night with the barest memory of momentary pain, and the lasting memory of the most wondrous gift she never knew existed. A gift of blinding desire and passion ... and belonging...
...to Udo.
Ache
The alarm on her communications console awoke her. Slowly, threads of reality wove their way back into her brain, until the final tapestry of the night before was revealed to her. Moving carefully, StarLight raised into a sitting position and pushed her hair away from her face. She felt hollow, yet it was only an emotional emptiness. Her body felt the complete opposite.
She was sore, but it was such a beautiful pain. Like a faint heartbeat centered between her thighs. As she started to move off the bed, her eyes caught the sight of dried blood on the sheets, and she froze.
She'd bled? Or did Hun—Udo? Why was there blood?
Star got to her feet and went into the cleansing room, to find further streaks of dried blood on her inner thighs. Her initial thought was that she'd started her flow, but she wasn't due for another three weeks. In the bright light she examined herself for further signs of last night, but there were no bruises or other marks to prove what had happened. If it had happened.
No. It had happened. She also had dried semen on her, and her skin seemed to bear the faintest traces of him where he'd licked and suckled all over her body. There was a warm throbbing deep in her lower abdomen, and her breasts were tender, her nipples so sensitive she could barely touch them. In spite of herself, Star smiled.
So this was what it was like to have sex.
No. She hadn't had sex last night. What Hunter had done to her hadn't even been remotely flat and passionless as plain sex. Without any doubt, she knew it as the truth.
I'm going to make love to you tonight, Terrin, he'd told her.
Make love.
Yes. They had made love. Enough to fill the galaxy. With a repercussion that had to have shaken the planet on its axis.
But was it supposed to be like this?
Star walked over to the communications console, to stare at the testing device. Punching the button to turn it on, she quickly read the directions written across its display.
Her body would produce a hormone every time she had sex. Her body would produce another hormone if she conceived. The tests would verify the first, and hopefully determine the second. By law, she had to prove she and Hun—Udo had performed their duty within each twenty-five hour cycle, or face legal ramifications. And it couldn't be with another man other than her HandFast partner. Somehow the tests would show if it was his seed or someone else's that was inside her.
Placing her hand on the shiny metal plate, she felt it turn warm and hum, and then it shut itself off. The Hall of Magistrates would get a report soon, and both she and Hunter would get a readout on their personal monitors. If the readout was negative, he would be coming to her again tonight. But if it was positive...
Star paused, her hand still resting on the metal testing plate.
If it was negative, he would be coming to her again tonight. Before she was aware of it, moistness tickled between her legs, and the pulse in her womb grew heavier. Shivering, Star felt an echo of last night's soaring ecstasy sweep through her, and she felt weak.
If by some miracle she was pregnant, Hunter wouldn't be coming back to her. But he had to. “He has to,” she barely murmured to herself in echo. She had to have him again. She had to feel him cover her, warm her, and she needed to have him place himself back inside her so she could experience that unbelievable perfection again.
But that was wrong, wasn't it? Was she supposed to want her partner like this? Was she allowed to feel this kind of ... oh, dearest heavens, what kind of feeling was she having? She couldn't even describe it. All she knew was that it had brought her a happiness she'd never known in her life. A happiness that threatened to override all her senses.
But how could she feel like this, when everything she'd ever read, and everything she'd ever heard about HandFasting never mentioned this?
Was what she was feeling wrong? And, if so, why was being deliciously fulfilled and happy and wanting more of it wrong?
Another thought hit her as she stepped into her uniform. What if Hunter couldn't do it to her like that again? What if what they had shared last night had been it? And there was no more?
No. No. She shook her head and jerked the body suit up over her hips. As the crotch snuggled up against her still slightly swollen flesh, Star trembled. All day long she would be reminded of last night. The suit would rub along her breasts and between her legs, and with each movement of the shifting material her mind would think back on his warm hands. On the way he'd caressed her. On the pressure and feel of his body.
"Oh, dear heavens, how am I going to make it through today?” she breathed aloud.
By the time she'd finished getting ready, there was barely fifteen minutes left to have a quick breakfast before the morning meeting began. And although she was known for being habitually late for the meetings, this was one morning where her being tardy would not be in her best interest. Everyone knew what she and Hunter had been doing last night, and they would have to face the stares of their fellow co-workers.
Star gritted her teeth. It would be damned hard, but it was something they had to do.
She lifted over to Command Central, and went in the side door as she normally did every morning. When Deceiver had taken the reins as Guardian Leader, he'd adopted a very casual attitude toward their meetings. Instead of making everyone filter into the meeting hall, when most of them weren't morning people in the first place, he usually set the pace for the coming day while they were still hunched over their meal and cups of brew.
Entering the double doors to the dining hall, StarLight was instantly aware of all conversation coming to a complete halt. Doing her best to ignore it, she went over to the dispenser and punched up a quick meal, then took her tray over to the nearest table where Morning Fire always saved her a place. It was another minute before talk resumed, but by then she was uncomfortably aware that all eyes were still on her, watching her with an intensity that was quickly becoming unnerving.
Desperately she wanted to raise her eyes from her plate to see where Hunter was, but she didn't dare. She might accidentally catch him staring back at her, and at that moment she couldn't chance it. There was no telling what she would do or say if he was. Thank the heavens Fire was keeping up a tireless train of chatter to cover the awkwardness.
A scant minute after she'd found her seat, the dining room doors opened again, and the room went totally silent. Star glanced up to see Hunter walking into the room—
He was walking into the room. Like the others, she was speechless to see something they rarely witnessed. Master Hunter never walked into a room. He transported in, appearing from out of nowhere. This morning he acted as if what he was doing was nothing out of the ordinary as he went over to the dispenser to get his breakfast, and the realization of what he'd done stunned her. Star dropped her gaze. He had deliberately shown up late, and in that manner, to take the others’ attention off of her.
"Good morning, fellow Guardians,” Deceiver boomed at them with a smile. The man was up and on the job every morning at five a.m., with a cheery disposition and an equally sunny smile. Star groaned.
"We have a full duty roster this morning. No emergencies, thank heavens, but there are three missions we'll need to take care of first thing.” The man looked down at his hand, at the portable computer nestled in his palm.
"We had a parking ramp collapse into the harbor on Pinirius X. It was a storage facility, so there's no casualties. Just the need to get the vehicles out of the liquid before the fuel cells leak and contaminate the entire harbor. Bruiser, I want you, Disaster, Commander, and Condemner to handle that one. You'll take Transport Three.
"On Fieo First and Fieo Prime, we have a missing herd of villi. Now, all of you know how much the Fieowans base their entire economy, not to mention their lives, on every villigamen. So don't think of this as a minor mission. If we recover them quickly, we might get a handsome donation for our coffers. Seeker, I want you to take Sender with you, and use Transport One.
"Finally, we have more of the Cortakian ships drifting into Badagrite space. StarLight, this one's for you. Remember, the Cortaki will jump all over our asses if even one of their prized derelicts gets even the smallest scrape or dent, so treat them like fine jewels and haul them some place where they won't bother anyone. Wish we didn't have to tackle this one, but if we leave them where they are now, they'll end up sooner or later in the shipping lanes. Hunter, you'll pilot Transport Two."
The assignment surprised everyone.
Star stared open-mouthed at their leader as Hunter's voice from behind her questioned, “Why are you sending me on the Cortakian mission, when I'll better serve over on Fieo First and Prime?” He was behind her, at the next table over, but she didn't dare turn to look at him.
"Well, first off, Transport One is only a two-seater,” Deceiver began.
"And Fieo is less than two parsecs away,” Hunter continued. “I don't need a craft for that short a distance, and you know that. You're wasting me if you don't assign me to Fieo. Send someone else to pilot Star over to take care of those derelicts."
"I don't even need a transport,” Star interrupted, getting to her feet. “Badagrite space is just four hours away, if I hustle. I can go on my own. I know the area. I've been there before. In the past."
The room grew very quiet as Deceiver stared from one to the other. Taking a deep breath, he let it out noisily, and crossed his arms at chest-level. “All right. It's time I let you know. I got special orders this morning from the Committee regarding you two. It seems they've enacted a few extra edicts when it comes to you and Star, Hunter."
Star gasped, as did several others around her. “What? More edicts?"
Deceiver nodded, making it clear he wasn't happy with the additional restrictions, either. “For the duration of the HandFast, wherever I send the one of you, I'm under orders to send the other. So if I send you out, Star, I have to send Hunter as well. And vice versa."
"Why?"
"Because you're under a twenty-five hour restriction. And if something unexpected should happen, and everyone here knows exactly what I'm talking about, because we've all had our share of ‘unexpecteds’ occur in the past, but if something should happen where you're unable to return to Guardian Command in time to perform your duties and report in, by having the both of you together on an assignment..."
Deceiver stopped, yet it didn't take much for anyone to finish what he meant.
"So why are you making us take Transport Two?” Hunter spoke up in a soft voice thick with anger. “Why not send us in One, which is also faster?"
"Because Two has more room,” Deceiver replied. Lifting his face, he stared dully into Star's enraged countenance. “And the Committee had a testing device installed in it, as well."
More room? As the implication struck her, Star's mouth dropped open to voice her indignation, but a rising cackle of glee interrupted her. Whirling around, she glared icily at Provoker, who was laughing with outright delight at this new turn of events. Without warning, she snatched her mug of scalding brew and threw it at him, hitting him dead center in the middle of the stomach. Burning hot, potent brew went soaking into his red and black uniform, and the man yelled in pain. Before anyone could react, StarLight strode stiffly out of the dining room and headed for the bay.
While several Guardians went to Provoker's aid, Hunter floated into the man's field of vision. As a tiny smile curled the corners of his mouth, Hunter made certain the man noticed him before he popped out of sight.
Star started as she burst through into the transport's cabin and nearly collided with Hunter. For the span of a heartbeat their eyes met and held, and she could feel herself trembling. If Hunter noticed, he said nothing, but grinned gently.
"Whoa, Star. Settle down and buckle yourself in the co-pilot's seat. We're taking off now, before Provoker can track us down.” He stepped past her and pulled the door to, locking it, then closed the inner hull door.
While he made preparations, she strapped herself in and ran through the pre-flight procedures. When Hunter took his place in the command chair, he handed her a communications earpiece. Star reached out to take it from him, and their fingers brushed. The effect jolted them both with its intensity, leaving Star shaken and almost breathless. With numb hands, it took her several tries before she managed to get the earpiece in place.
"Command, Two is ready for takeoff,” Hunter droned into his headset, hoping to mask his feelings. Her nearness was already beginning to serious affect his concentration, not to mention the affect on his body.
"Copy that, Two,” Time Merchant acknowledged. “Hold while I get clear space overhead."
There was no telling how long they would have to wait to get clearance to proceed. Closing his eyes, Hunter tested the waters to see where Star's emotions were ranging. As much as he had detested Provoker's raucous reaction to Deceiver's announcement, secretly he was glad for it. When Star had entered the dining hall, she literally radiated apprehension and worry in enormous waves. Something was bothering her, and he knew he was at the root of it, but he wasn't able to detect whether she was sad or happy. Now she was furious, and it wouldn't take much for her to vent all over again. He was accustomed to her fits of temper, and he could handle those well enough.
"Two, you're clear."
Thank heavens. “Appreciate it, Merchant. See you soon. Okay, Star, let's go take care of this idiotic nonsense."
He lifted the transport with consummate skill, taking it straight up until they entered the upper mesosphere. From there he aimed the nose toward the Badagrite system and slammed the throttle into light drive, which would take them all of sixty minutes, give or take thirty-seven seconds, to get there.
The missive arrived by private carrier. Four smiled to see the rare piece of paper being handed to him. The man knows how to play the game.
Inside, inscribed in the man's own hand, was the first bit of good news to reach him.
The Committee has sent out affirmation that StarLight and Master Hunter are abiding by the laws of HandFast. Countdown has begun. Hopefully my next message to you will be news of her pregnancy.
Meanwhile, the forces are steadily growing on Exaltima's moons. And the first bath of nimboid cloud arrived on Cerrus yesterday.
The plan is moving swiftly and steadily. Our end is holding up. Let's see how quickly your two Guardians keep up their end.
Smiling again, four read the note a second and last time, then placed the valuable paper in the refuse bowl before igniting it. As the last wisps of blackened pieces curled and fell into powder, four turned to his communications console and punched on his viewscreen.
The media would get word of StarLight and Master Hunter obeying the HandFast. It was two's job to keep the hungry public abreast of the Guardians, and to use the news in swaying the masses’ opinion with regards to their beloved heroes.
Four was going to enjoy watching how far they could push the private organization, and especially the HandFasted couple, before sparks began to fly.
Desire
He watched her moving the Cortakian ships as easily as moving a floating object through water. Her body was beyond graceful. It was almost hypnotic in the way she bent and lifted and turned.
Memories of last night lay just below the surface. Hunter tamped them down, although the temptation to relive them was almost too much to control. It had been years since he'd been with a woman. Three, in fact. But every time he had bedded one, he had done so, trusting his heart to let him know if this one was the right one. If, this time, he had finally found the woman he could share his life with. The one who would always be there, beside him, unwavering in her love and dedication. It only took one night for him to determine the truth. In the way she reacted. In the way she responded to him. Until last night, Hunter had not sensed any kind of permanency with another.
Until last night.
Star had trusted him, but he had shattered that trust as surely as he had shattered her virginity. Yet in the moments that followed, he knew she had forgiven him, albeit without words. In the moments that had followed, he had found a part of her she'd kept hidden and protected from everyone, just as he had kept the secrets of his additional powers from the rest.
There was a core of absolute fear and loneliness locked inside her, but she'd opened the door a tiny bit to let him glimpse inside. And when he had accepted her trust, he had begun to fill that cold pit of fear with his love.
Hunter felt his body jerk at his unspoken confession. He loved her. He knew it, without any doubts, or any questions. How long he'd loved her, he didn't know, but last night had cemented his feelings for her.
Then, miraculously, he had sensed her welcoming him in. It had been tentative, almost shy and cautious in the way she'd reached for him, both physically and emotionally. But her acceptance was what had allowed her body to experience his gift to her, and her willingness had launched them both into the miracle of their release.
StarLight was his predestined other half. And, heavens and HandFast be damned, he would never let her go.
"Crap! These things are ugly!"
Hunter smiled at her admission. “Ugly to us, but the Cortaki take great pride in their beauty,” he responded through his headset.
"No. Star's right. Those are some damned ugly ships,” Time Merchant countered from his seat at Guardian Command, where his job today was to coordinate all missions while they were off-planet.
"Ha, ha. Told you so,” Star sing-songed, teasing him.
Hunter watched her moving outside the transport's viewing window as she launched another monstrosity of metal in the direction of the Amman system. That system had been dead for over four thousand generations. The ships could float there forever and never come in contact with another inhabited system.
She noticed him watching her, and she waved. Three down, one to go. They'd be finished soon.
"Hunter?"
It was Deceiver, cutting into the transmission.
"Yeah, Deceiver."
"Can Star copy me?"
At the mention of her name, Hunter felt his body stiffen. Suddenly he knew the reason for their leader's call. Star must have also figured out why the man was hailing them. “I copy, Deceiver. What do you have to tell us?"
"Word just came in from the Committee. Affirmation of acceptance but negative on conception.” His breath blew out noisily over the transmission. “Sorry, guys."
"We copy, Deceiver,” Hunter told the man. “Merchant, can you give us sixty seconds?"
"Yeah, Hunter. Sixty seconds. Go."
He heard the telltale click of the transmission between them and Guardian Command going silent, leaving him and Star alone to have a brief but private conversation. Taking a shaky breath, he called to her.
"Star?"
"Yeah, Hunter. I heard.” Oddly, she didn't sound disappointed.
Hesitating slightly, he asked, “When?"
Her answer was not what he expected. “Give me a moment to think. I'll tell you when I come in."
"Copy,” he managed to acknowledge just as he fell heavily back into the pilot's seat.
Affirmation of acceptance. The Committee got confirmation that he and Star had performed their duty. But the negative on conception meant she wasn't pregnant.
Tonight he could go back to her, and they would try again.
Tonight.
There was no trying. He and Star were no longer doing their “duty” to obey the laws of HandFast. In one night, in each other's arms and in each other's bodies, they had gone far beyond that, and there was no turning back.
But what if she had been pregnant? By the laws of HandFast, he would have been free to walk away, never again forced to couple with her. Damning himself, Hunter knew he could not accept just the one night with her. Yes, he'd left a bit of himself inside her before he'd returned to his own quarters, but he had also left behind a larger chunk of his inner self. He'd given her his heart, to keep and nurture beside hers. So that every night thereafter when he took her body, he would find it whole and well and filled with her love in return.
Her love.
Hunter knew she was falling in love with him. She didn't know it herself. Not yet. Perhaps soon, but not now.
What would happen to them once he impregnated her? They would still be Guardians. They would still work together. But how could things ever be the same again?
"Oh, hell."
Star's irritated comment brought Hunter back to the present. Quickly he scanned the area to see what might have caused her to make such a comment, when he saw the reason. A deepflyer had gotten caught in the derelict spacecraft she was angling away. The immense creature was fighting the craft, its wings hung up on the many tentacled arms of the spaceship.
"Hold on, Star. I'm on my way."
He had put on a deep space suit while on their way. The helmet sat on the seat directly behind him, and he snatched it up to snap it into place. After a couple of quick drags to check the airflow, Hunter popped out of the craft to help her untangle the mess.
"What's going on out there, guys?” Time Merchant asked after reestablishing communications.
"We have a deepflyer stuck on the last ship,” Hunter told him as he moved closer to the creature. Star was already trying to untangle one of the deepflyer's four wings from the ship. With a sudden jerk, the wing came free, and she tumbled end-over-end before straightening. That left one wing held fast on the other end of the Cortakian craft.
"Watch it, Hunter. It has a mean disposition,” she warned him.
"Not a problem. I'll just pretend it's Provoker,” he said dryly. In his earpiece he could hear Time Merchant chuckling. The man could be trusted not to tell.
The deepflyer tried to claw at him as Hunter reached the trapped wing. When the man deftly eluded its grasp, the creature tried to snap at him with its wide maw. Hunter ducked under the craft's arm a split second before the mouth closed over where he'd been.
Too close. Hunter softly mouthed an obscenity.
"Hunter?"
"I need a distraction, Star. Or else this thing won't let me near enough to free it."
"One distraction, coming up.” There was a brief pause, and then she added, “If there's something you want me to do, you only have to ask."
Hunter felt his whole body flare at the words. His words. Not an exact quote, but enough of what he had whispered to her last night for him to understand what she was telling him. He sprang backwards to avoid the descending claws. “Star! Doesn't this thing have a craw?"
"Yeah. I think so. Dammit, Hunter, but my schooling was limited."
Rather than ask her what she meant by that remark, he diverted the question to Time Merchant. “Merchant, don't deepflyers keep small meteoroids in the craw to help them digest protonic matter?"
"My schooling was centered around being a top-ranked girth man for the web ball team, but, yeah, what little I remember from my sciences, that sounds about right."
"Star. Flare up."
Behind the deepflyer he saw StarLight spread herself until she resembled a five-point star, her fingers stretched out at shoulder level. An aura of violet light circled her, and the effect on the creature was instantaneous. Its serpentine neck bent backwards as the magnetic field she was generating pulled the deepflyer closer toward her, the metallic substances in the meteoroids inside its body reacting to the draw.
No longer in danger of being bitten or clawed, Hunter hastened over to the trapped wing and managed to unhook it from the spacecraft. A second later, Star released her hold on the creature, and the deepflyer gave a huge shake of its ebon body before flitting away into the void of space.
"Well, you're welcome,” Star sarcastically remarked to the departing shape.
"I take it you got it loose,” Time Merchant remarked.
"Yeah. Mission accomplished. We're coming home,” Hunter told him.
"Right. I'll inform our great leader. Good job, you two."
Drifting to one side, Hunter watched as Star regained her gravitational hold on the remaining craft, none the worse for wear even after its meeting with the deepflyer, and began to turn it toward the Amman system. She lifted her arms to give it a push. Almost simultaneously, one of the engines of the long-dead ship burst into life, firing the last of its fuel in a two-second burst that caught them both unaware. Birisium power cells never decayed, but after years of non-use, they were known to become unstable. The struggle with the deepflyer must have been enough to trigger the last remaining power.
Star was caught directly in the center of the blast, and Hunter screamed her name as he launched himself toward her.
She was tumbling out of control away from him. Quickly he adjusted his trajectory and popped directly into her path. He caught her in his arms as Time Merchant demanded to know what had happened. With the man babbling in his earpiece, Hunter scanned the unconscious form, checking to see if she'd suffered anything permanent. Relief washed over him as she moved slightly in his embrace, and deep violet eyes opened to see his face mere inches away.
"Hold, Merchant!” Hunter yelled at the man, then turned to woman he was holding. She'd lost her earpiece, leaving her without the ability to hear him or talk to him.
Still dazed, Star glanced down to find herself cradled against that strong chest as he launched them back to the transport ship.
Once they reached the outer door, he started to lower her legs to free up a hand, but her arms went around his neck and refused to release him. Hunter pressed her closer, silently acknowledging her request. After all, he had told her if there was anything she wanted him to do, all she had to do was ask. At this moment, she was asking.
"Hunter, for heaven's sake, what happened?” Deceiver had joined Merchant at the console.
Using his elbow, Hunter pressed the button to seal the airlock and begin decompression. “That last ship had an unexploded power cell. Star must have triggered it somehow, and she was caught in its backflow."
The airlock light went from red to green, and Hunter jabbed at the wall panel to open the inner door. StarLight continued to press herself against him.
"Is she all right?” Deceiver asked worriedly.
"I think so. She lost her earpiece, so I can't ask her. We're going back inside Two. I'll run a diagnostic on her there,” Hunter informed them. “Apparently whatever power she has that allows her to move about space without a protective suit was enough to save her."
The inner door opened with a loud whoosh of air. Hunter carried her over to the nearest seat and started to lower her into it. Reluctantly Star released her hold, keeping her face averted from his gaze. Once he pulled off his helmet, he knelt before her. “Are you all right?"
Star nodded slowly. “Yeah. I managed to hold my breath, so I didn't inhale any of the fumes. Thank goodness it was a short burst.” Beating her thigh with a closed fist, she angrily swore at herself. “Stupid! I know better than to face an exhaust."
Sitting back on his heels, Hunter touched his headset. “Did you copy that, Command?"
"We copy,” Time Merchant replied. “Ahh, geez, life is not going to be dull with you two around, is it?” he teased lightly. Instead of waiting for a reply, Merchant said, “Three's run into a snag. I'm going over to see what I can do to help. I'll get back to you in ten minutes.” A crackle followed his words, and they were left alone.
Hunter got to his feet and fetched them both something to drink from the kitchenette in the back. Handing her a bottle of water, he then grabbed a medical scanner from the console and checked her vitals.
"So, what's the prognosis, Doctor Vosstien?” Star wryly asked, taking a long swig from her drink.
"It confirms what you've already told me. You didn't suffer any ill effects from the blast. At least, none that I can read. Thank heavens."
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Were you worried?"
"Of course I was. Why wouldn't I be?” He returned the scanner to its slot before going back to where she sat, and taking the seat directly across from her.
"I mean ... if something happens to me, then you'd be released from the HandFast. That's all.” She was reaching out to him emotionally, almost in fear. Without question, Hunter knew she was wondering if he still resented the laws that were binding them together, because she no longer did. At this stage he had no idea what kind of response she needed from him, but he had to say something. Or else that small step they'd made last night might be lost.
Yet, it was too soon to admit his real feelings to her. Not until she also understood the emotions she was feeling and unconsciously nurturing.
Removing the headset, Hunter thumbed the switch to turn it off. Star watched with widened eyes as he lifted his face.
"Is that what you think I'm in this for, now?” he murmured softly. “Just to make a baby with you?"
"I ... I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"
"No, Star, why don't you tell me? When do you want me to come to you tonight?"
He watched her take a quivering breath. This close to her, he sensed her fear palpitating from her like a second heartbeat.
"Eight,” she finally managed to tell him.
Hunter nodded. It would be nighttime then. Another moment of lovemaking in the safe anonymity of the dark. “Eight,” he echoed, and got to his feet to return to the pilot's seat.
It wasn't until after they hit hyper light speed that Star took her seat next to him. Hunter brought them smoothly around the Indii pocket, then glanced over to ask her a question, when he saw she was sound asleep, her head resting at a slight tilt against the back of the seat.
He couldn't take his eyes away. The blast from the engines had wiped her out. That, on top of everything else they'd been going through.
Hunter felt his body responding to her again. His pants were almost painfully tight as he battled with his common sense. Inadvertently, his eyes went to the rear of the transport's cabin. It has more room. His imagination went wild.
When she had thrown herself in his arms, he would have given anything to shred the protective suit from his body so he could press her as tightly against him as possible. Right now he wanted to unbuckle his harness and move over to her, and put his mouth along the white column of her neck. To taste her, and savor her warmth and smell. There was no reservation in his mind that if she awoke when he was doing it, she wouldn't object.
It has more room.
What was to stop them from peeling off their uniforms and diving deep into each other back there, back where the blankets were stored at the rear of the ship? To feel her envelope his erection with her unbelievably tight muscles. And her heat—her heat that was like a flaring sun, branding him, setting fire to him. Making him feel that when he ejaculated inside her, the rest of his body would also explode in ecstasy.
An invisible hand reached inside him, gripped him, and shook him violently.
He was thinking madness. A groan came from the pit of his agony, and Hunter was forced to blink several times to clear the almost reddish cloud that had covered his vision.
Would she send him away tonight? He'd gotten the impression, just before he had crawled out of their bed, that she was regretting her earlier words. But when she'd released him, he had gone ahead and honored her request, although it had nearly killed him to separate from her.
Please, Terrin. Give us the entire night together, and I promise to share the heavens with you. He fought to cool his ardor.
He hadn't slept well the rest of the night. Before the first light of dawn had touched the city, he was back at her chambers, hidden inside his netherworld, to watch her sleep. To see that she had also tossed and turned, like he had.
By all that was holy, she was the most agonizingly wonderful thing to ever happen to him. Yes, he was her protector now, but after that little incident this morning with Provoker, she had reminded him how well she could take care of herself.
He smiled. Eight. Why had she picked an earlier time? He may never know the reason, but there was no way he would be late going to her tonight.
No way in the world.
Promise
They were gliding past glittering scarlet suns, riding the waves of their gravitational pull as smoothly as if they were inside a ship. He was holding her hand, letting her show him how to let his body drink in the intoxicating fields of power that gave her strength and the ability to do what she could do.
Star turned her face in his direction, and Hunter smiled gently back at her. This was the only way she could show him how happy he'd made her. To give him this gift of power and flight.
They swooped over a spiral nebula, and it tingled along their skin with a million tiny fingers as they fell headfirst through clouds of iridescent greens and blues. She couldn't remember ever feeling like this. This giddiness. This all-encompassing feeling of perfect joy.
Hunter squeezed her hand to get her attention, and then he reeled her in, next to him. Against him. Against his warm, wide, strong chest, where his heart became a steady, soothing beat in her ear. A beat that matched the pounding of her own heart, until they were one sound. One body. One love.
Star opened her eyes, disoriented. Her skin tingled, but then she remembered being caught in the blast of that Cortakian ship. She would have to take a long cleansing bath before all traces of the Birisium were washed away.
Now she remembered. Lifting her head, she could see their planet looming larger and larger through the transport's viewscreen.
"Copy that, Merchant. We'll be setting down in ten minutes."
She swiveled around to see Hunter bringing the craft into the upper atmosphere. He shot her a quick smile. “Welcome back. Sleep well?"
She started to say something else, but swiftly changed her mind. “Forgive me."
"For what? Are you still strapped in?"
She looked down at herself and nodded. “I slept the whole way back?"
"And snored loud enough to wake the dead,” Time Merchant's voice chuckled over the ship's call system.
It was then Star realized Hunter wasn't wearing his headset, and remembered that hers was missing, too. “I do not snore, Merchant!” she heatedly retorted, but smiled in spite of herself. The playful bickering was familiar and comforting.
"All right, all right. I was wrong,” Time Merchant conceded. “You didn't snore. But, good heavens, what you talked about! I'm surprised Hunter didn't shut down the communications feed because of it!"
Star shot her partner a half-fearful, half-cautious look. He returned with another slow grin and a shake of his head. If she'd really said anything that could have caused her any embarrassment, she knew he would have done exactly what Merchant had suggested.
The tug of gravity was already guiding them into the planet's skies. Far to the west, their sun was beginning its descent below the horizon. Star glanced at the chronometer in the console. It was nearly seven; she had told him eight.
At the realization, she felt her body go tense with expectation. Her heart beat against the walls of her ribcage and ricocheted off her lungs. If she closed her eyes, she could almost feel his hands touching her. Stroking her. Arousing her with a force greater than the suns that flung her across the universe. Heightening her senses until she was forced to beg him to do what he wanted, do anything he wanted, as long as it was as mind-searing as it had been last night.
"You sure you're all right, Star?” his voice penetrated her thoughts.
"Med Lab is waiting at the bay to take you in for examination,” Time Merchant reminded them.
"Med Lab? No, wait—” Star began to protest.
"Orders, StarLight,” Deceiver told her, cutting into the conversation. “As per HandFast edicts. ‘If any party should become ill, or associated with any illness—’”
"I know the damn edicts!” she angrily growled back at the man.
"Star."
She jerked her attention back to Hunter. He knew why she was mad. No, not mad. Afraid. Anxious. Fearful of missing their eight o'clock rendezvous.
"I can count on one hand how many people I've known who have felt the blast of a Birisium power cell and lived. They need to check you out, to make sure you're in full health,” he urged her quietly.
"But...” She started to say more, but knowing others could overhear them stopped her. To her surprise, Hunter nodded, raising his eyes to the overhead speaker.
"No ‘buts,'” Deceiver responded. “Don't worry. They can't detain you overnight for observation.” As usual, Deceiver had some notion as to her reticence, but this time he was a little more off the mark.
Hunter brought the craft into the docking bay, where a small medical lab had been set up to examine StarLight. She unbuckled herself and got to her feet, and strode over to the hull doors, ready to unlock them as soon as Hunter gave the all-clear. Once the ship had settled in and began to power down, she reached for the handle, only to have a pair of arms suddenly encircle her, and his hands stayed hers for a moment.
He was pressed along her back, fitting behind her as firmly and perfectly as if they had been created to fit that way. She could feel the heat of his body through his uniform, and she remembered how well that heat had covered her and penetrated her last night, warming her from the inside out. His face was bent low over her neck, allowing him to whisper in her ear where he couldn't be heard through the ship's speakers.
"I want you well, Terrin,” he caressed her ear with his spicy breath, and she shivered. “I'll be waiting for you when they finally release you, don't worry."
"Hunter..."
"Yes, my heart?"
"Udo...” She wanted to ask him to stay with her while they did their tests, but she hesitated. Did she have the right to ask him to remain by her side? Other than their moment to procreate, she really had no rights over him, no hold to keep him.
Slowly, she shook her head as she bit her lips to keep from asking. Behind her, she felt him move slightly as he stepped back and withdrew his arms.
And then he was gone.
It was as if he had opened a huge void inside her with his disappearance.
Opening the doors, Star moved slowly toward the lab where a half-dozen physicians were waiting to check her out. She was halfway across the bay when Hunter's last words came back to her, nearly causing her to stumble.
Yes, my heart?
My heart?
Oh, sweetest heavens! Please tell me he meant it!
She closed her eyes and swallowed. Somehow, knowing he had called her that, even if the words may have meant no more to him than a casual love name, was enough to give her the patience to withstand their prodding and poking for the next hour and a half.
Hunter materialized into his chambers to shower and change, when he noticed the blinking light on his communications console. Striding over to it, he punched in his personal code, and the viewscreen lit up.
He had two messages. The first was from the Committee. Curious to see how they would notify him, he opened up the mail.
"Udo Vosstien. The Committee has found that you have complied with the edicts of the HandFast law this past cycle. However, conception was found to be negative. Resume your normal duties. Good fortune."
Not only short and sweet, but painfully blunt, Hunter told himself. Good boy, Udo. You coupled with your partner, but you didn't quite finish the job. Now go back to her tonight and do it right this time.
"Screw them,” he muttered angrily, punching up the second message. The moment it flashed onto the screen, he stared at it in disbelief.
Well, it was only right they contacted him. When was the last time he'd gone to see them? At least a year, maybe a bit longer.
Hunter checked the clock. Barely five minutes had gone by. He could go now and be back in plenty of time, if he hurried.
Taking a deep breath, Master Hunter sent a quick missive to Command where he would be, and how long he thought he'd take, and then he left, transporting himself nearly six and half parsecs away, to a small planet on the farthest side of the Tri-Secular galaxy.
His mother was fixing supper when he popped into the corner of the kitchen where he'd always appeared when he'd been a kid growing up. Cara Vosstien glanced up, instinctively knowing when her oldest child was around, and she flashed him a big smile. “Udo! Your father said you'd come if we sent you the message."
Hunter wrapped the woman in an enormous hug, and kissed the top of her head. “Where is Dad?"
"Outside, messing with the engine of that slider he bought a month ago. Udo...” Cara stepped back to examine her son's features, checking him out to see how he was faring as only a mother could. “You know why we contacted you, don't you?"
"Yes, Mother. Let me go get Dad—"
The sound of the kitchen door opening to Vall Vosstien's ranting interrupted them. “...going to have to get another set of valves for that slider, Cara,” the man irritably commented a moment before he saw the tall figure standing in the kitchen. A look of absolute delight came over the older man's face. “Udo!"
Father and son shared a hug, and the three of them walked into the living room to visit.
"Where's Dallin?” Hunter inquired about his younger brother as everyone took a seat.
"He'll be home shortly. He got accepted by flight school,” Cara told him proudly. “He has six more months of training, and then he wants to apply to the Corps."
Hunter nodded, smiling. Vall Vosstien still worked for the Corps as a fighter pilot, and was known by many as one of the best. It was no surprise that both of his sons would have the same talent at the helm. “I just now got your message,” he confessed. “That's why I'm here."
"Well?” Vall scrutinized his son. “Tell us about her."
"There's not much I can tell you. We were ... stunned would be putting it mildly. No one thought a Guardian would be placed in the HandFast lottery,” Hunter told them quietly. He was hunched slightly over, resting his arms on his legs as he used his hands when he spoke. It was a habit he had that he'd never quite broken himself of.
"You were stunned,” Vall hooted. “Your mother and I were ... well, even though this world doesn't participate in such a barbaric practice, we keep up with the news coming from there. We couldn't believe you would consent to being part of such a thing."
"Because I am a Guardian, that's my home world now,” Hunter explained. “As such, I'm considered as much a citizen as any of them. Don't think I was happy to hear my name called out, because I wasn't.” He paused for a split-second, then added, “Not at first."
Cara leaned over to place a hand on his arm. Her face reflected her worry for her son's welfare. “You've spoken before about this StarLight woman. What kind of person is she?"
"Yeah, Udo. Tell us the truth. We've been getting an earful of all kinds of stories about her,” Vall said darkly. “And most of them I don't like retelling."
"I can imagine,” Hunter began, recalling the falsehoods Provoker had been feeding them these past couple of years. The man was going to be made to confess his sins before this was all over. Confess, and then pay.
"You know what they call her around here, don't you?” his father continued. “They call her a first-class slut. They say she's given herself to almost every man at Guardian Command. She's not even from that world, we've heard."
For one of the rare times in his life, Hunter allowed his darker side show itself to his parents. They knew at once he was infuriated by the man's remarks.
"There's a man I work with who has been viciously spreading those same rumors. He dated Star for about a week, soon after she became a member, and all he's been able to brag about since then is his conquest of her in bed. Dad ... Mother ... I swear to you now, Terrin was a virgin our first night of HandFast."
The response he got from the two people sitting before him was what he'd been hoping to see. “Oh, by all that's holy,” Cara breathed aloud. “Then why would people say such things about her?"
Vall answered her question. “It's obvious. It's because of that skintight uniform she wears. She flaunts everything she has, and she doesn't care what people say about her when she does."
"You're wrong there again, Dad.” Hunter had to take a deep breath to steady himself. The last thing he thought he'd be doing tonight was defending StarLight to his own family. “Star needs the suit to help her soak up the magnetic fields that power her abilities. It's like a second skin for a reason. As for the flaunting...” He made a little gesture with his hands. “The real Terrin is hidden deep inside herself. She's either ashamed of her past, or something happened to her she never wants to remember. Either way, the persona she shows is just a mask. Trust me. Inside she's a frightened, lonely person seeking comfort. Solace."
"And you think you're the man who can bring it to her?” Cara asked gently.
"Yes. I hope to. Only time will tell, though, won't it?” Glancing at the chronometer strapped to his wrist, Hunter got to his feet. “Look, I'm sorry, but I'm on a time clock here. I need to get back to Command.” Pausing, he wondered how to continue, when his mother stepped directly in front of him and stared up into his eyes.
"Udo?” She peered into him, like she'd always been able to do all his life. “When will you bring her here for us to meet?"
"Soon, I hope. You'll get to meet her soon."
"I thought the purpose of a HandFast was quick and impersonal impregnation,” Vall commented, but there was no vindictiveness in his tone.
"Well, there are always exceptions,” Hunter admitted. He gave his mother a quick kiss to her cheek. Glancing back up at his father, he told them, “Don't believe everything the media says. They're only spitting out what they've been fed, even if it's bile."
"Udo ... if ... I mean, when she becomes pregnant, what will you do? What will become of the baby? I mean ... it'll be your child. Our grandchild. Can you walk away from it like the HandFast says you must do?” Cara stepped back into her husband's embrace as she waited for her son's answer.
Placing his hands behind his neck, Hunter rubbed the knotted muscles caused by stress. “Right now I'm fighting another battle. Once I've won that one, then I can concentrate on what you've just asked me. Goodnight, Mother, Dad. Tell Dallin hello for me. Tell him I'm sorry I missed him. I'll send word next time before I pop in, so you can be prepared."
Before they could respond, Hunter disappeared from sight to return to Guardian Command. A minute passed in silence, then Cara leaned her head back to look up at her husband. “Udo has committed himself to her."
"For certain?"
She nodded. “Beyond a doubt. He loves her. Now he's ready to fight for her."
"And ... what about the baby?"
She smiled softly. “One battle at a time, my heart. Allow him to fight one battle at a time."
Passion
It was after eight when Hunter returned to Guardian Command. His first destination was the transport bay to see if the medics were still examining StarLight. To his relief, they were just wrapping up. He hadn't lost any time with her.
Keeping within his netherworld, he watched and listened to the physicians as they ordered her to get as much rest as possible.
"HandFasting demands an extreme emotional toil on the participating couples,” one doctor in particular advised her. “That, along with the physical demands, will wear you down and make you vulnerable to any sickness passing along. And since you're also a Guardian, you're going to be a hundred times more susceptible to exhaustion. Do you understand me, StarLight?"
Star nodded.
During her lecture, another physician had managed to worm his way beside her, and now he laid a hand on her back in a supportive gesture. Hunter noticed, with narrowing eyes, that the man's hand was gradually making its way down her back, to where he could rest it around her waist. A bit more, and it would soon be on her derriere, and Hunter had no doubt that was the hand's intended destination. Drawing closer, he waited for the man to make his move so he could accost the idiot amid witnesses.
As the other physicians turned to leave, the impulsive doctor turned to Star and gave her his best bedside smile. “I was wondering if you would allow me to be a bit forward,” he began, ignoring the apprehensive look on Star's face. “If I'm going too fast, just let me know, and I'll be happy to wait. But I was wondering ... after the HandFast, and after you've dealt with taking care of the child and sent it off to its parents ... would I be allowed to ask you out for dinner? Or perhaps take you someplace special you'd like to visit?"
Hunter felt the rush of anger darken his eyes, until he saw an almost exact expression come over Star's face.
"How dare you ask me that when I am HandFasted,” she breathed heavily, letting her resentment fuel her growing temper.
"I know I'm a bit off-base here, but I didn't see when I would have another opportunity to ask you,” the young man ventured.
Hunter saw the hand slip downward, and apparently Star felt it as well. What happened next took him completely by surprise.
A shrill scream of sheer terror erupted from the physician's mouth as he was hurled straight up into the ceiling of the transport bay, his body released from the planet's gravitational pull. He hit the flat part of the ceiling with a resounding whump!, and the screaming abruptly ended. The man was out cold.
Materializing a few feet away, Hunter slowly applauded the woman's ingenuity as the other doctors came running to see what had happened. Right behind them were Morning Fire and Deceiver, alerted also by the man's cry of terror.
"What happened?” one doctor yelled.
"He propositioned me, then he groped me,” Star snapped hotly. “Asshole,” she added, almost as an afterthought. Hunter couldn't help but laugh.
"Let him down, Star. I think he's learned his lesson."
"I doubt it,” she mumbled, but lowered the man to the floor anyway so his fellow physicians could examine him. “If you people are done with your examinations, I'd like to get off this damn table. I'm starved, Hunter. Can we go get something to eat?"
"Yeah. Come on. Let's go raid the dining hall."
Star gave him a cursory once-over. “You're still in uniform? What have you been doing while I was with the docs?"
"I'll tell you later,” he promised as they walked toward the doors that exited into the courtyard. The dining hall was situated on the opposite end, across from the small topiary garden.
"What time is it?"
"After eight. Don't worry. We have all night."
They casually strolled over to the dining hall, neither one of them talking. They were lost in their individual thoughts. On what the coming night would bring. It wasn't until they entered the empty room that Hunter broke the silence.
"Are you sure you're all right?” he asked her as they settled at a table over plates of fresh fruit. The jama berries were in season and exceptionally sweet. They both had agreed they didn't need anything heavy before retiring for the night. It was well past the regular dinner hour, and they found themselves alone in the dining room.
"Got a clean bill of health and a lecture about getting enough rest.” She lifted violet eyes to his blue ones. “Easier said than done,” she said, popping another berry in her mouth.
Hunter got up to fetch them both a bottle of water. Handing hers over, he uncapped his and took a long drink.
"So, tell me. Where'd you go?” she asked.
"What makes you think I went somewhere?” he challenged her with a smile.
Star squinched her nose right back at him. “Because I have this feeling that once you call it a day and go back to your quarters, that uniform comes off first thing. I'm right, aren't I?” When she got a small smile in answer, Star leaned over the table and gave him a playful shove against his shoulder. “Come on! Admit it! I'm right, aren't I?"
"You're right,” he admitted, reaching for more berries. “Now what do you want me to do? Applaud your astuteness?"
Star snorted. “Men."
Now she got a laugh from him. Taking another drink of water, Hunter saw her watching him intently. “What now?"
"That's twice in less than half an hour that I've heard you laugh."
"And that's odd because..."
"You don't laugh, Hunter. In fact, you rarely smile. You're so damned serious all the time. And I mean all the time.” Nibbling on another berry, Star kept searching his face. “What kind of man are you, Udo Vosstien? You're nothing like the others. In fact, sometimes I wonder if someone didn't just make you up."
"No. I was born, just like everyone else."
"Where?” She rested her cheek in the palm of the hand she'd propped on the table.
"It's a small planet. Abernath."
"In the Plo Corra system? Past Tri-Secular?"
He raised his eyebrows at her. “That's the one."
"It's a pretty planet. Awesome hot star. There's a galactic fighter squadron based there, isn't there?"
"Yeah. My father's a squad leader."
Now it was Star's turn to look surprised. “Your father's still alive?"
"Yes. And my mother. I also have a younger brother who's just entered flight school. He wants to become a pilot, just like Dad."
Hunter watched as Star jumped to her feet and went to get them slices of melon, bringing the bowl back to their table. “Tell me more about your family. Do any of them have powers?"
He shook his head. “Just me."
"Sometime you're going to have to tell me about it."
"About what?” he gave her a curious look.
"About how you found out about your power. How your parents ... how they accepted it.” She lowered her eyes and pretended to search the bowl for a suitable slice. Hunter knew better.
"Tell me ... what's it like having a family?” The question she posed answered a hundred of his. Even if she never said another word, he knew Star had no one to go home to. No family, no parents, no siblings. It explained so much of the emptiness he'd found inside her. In just a few short days he had discovered more about this woman, who now meant everything to him, than everyone else knew, even after working with her these past two years since she'd become a Guardian.
"That's where I was earlier,” he admitted, picking up a melon slice. “While you were being examined."
Her eyes widened. “You were? But Abernath has to be ... what?"
"Just over six parsecs away. Closer to six and a half."
"Dearest heavens, Hunter! How far can you transport yourself?"
His honest answer was in the shrug of his shoulders. “I've managed fourteen in one jump, but it was an emergency, and it damn near did me in."
"Wow.” Star stared at him in wonder, and Hunter found out he liked surprising her. Without thinking, he glanced at his wrist chronometer. “What time is it?” she whispered.
"Close to ten."
"Already?"
He glanced back up to her, and their eyes locked. Several heartbeats passed where neither one made the initial move to leave, although they knew they would have to. Sooner or later. There was their duty still awaiting them. Duty that no longer frightened them, but which promised a delirious, heady experience they both had been unable to keep out of their minds all day.
Star could feel that sensation of free-falling overcoming her, making her giddy. Between her thighs she could feel a wetness leaking into her bodysuit. There was a heat building down there that only one thing could extinguish. She knew her breathing was quickening, but she was unable to stop herself. Across the way, she could see his own rising heat glittering in his eyes. He looked ready to consume her in flames hotter than the molten core of any sun. Oh, sweetest heavens, what had this man done to her?
"Hunter ... what's happening to us?” Her breath was sweet from the fruit as she leaned over the table to get closer to him. She could see his hands, one gripping the table, the other his nearly empty bottle of water. Hands that could evoke something wondrous from within her. Hands she wanted on her now, touching and stroking, and making her crave him with fevered pitch.
"I don't understand it myself, Star, but I hope it lasts,” he murmured in return. He slowly leaned toward her to caress her forehead with his lips. Despite all they had gone through, she still radiated that incredible feminine scent that was just her. Only her. After last night, after he had left her, he had refused to remove all of it from his skin. Even now there were traces of it still on his arms and neck. “Go refresh yourself. I'll be there shortly."
Star nodded and removed herself from the table. Hunter watched her go, then quickly cleaned up their mess and left for his own quarters.
Fifteen minutes later he transported himself into her bedroom where she had again doused the lights. This time she was standing by the large window, looking out. The shutters were open, allowing for the night sky to glitter across the room. In her diaphanous white gown, she was like a spirit ready to haunt his dreams.
Quietly he approached her and placed his hand on her shoulders, bending his head so he could nuzzle her temple. To his surprise, Star backed up until she was pressed firmly against him. Unconsciously he slid his arms down hers until he reached her hands. Fingers intertwined, a brief squeeze of silent communication, and he lifted her arms with his to wrap her in a solid hug across her chest. Her sigh of contentment was audible in the still night.
"You know ... our lives are difficult,” she whispered, tilting her head back. Hunter was placing a row of tender kisses along her shoulder and neck, and she wanted to feel the side of his face with hers.
He paused. “Yes, they are,” he agreed, his cheek brushing hers.
"Then ... let's not complicate things further."
She felt his body tense behind her. “What are you trying to say, Terrin?"
"Please tell me this isn't all because of the HandFast. I mean ... the way you touch me. The way you kiss me. The way you...” A soft moan vibrated in her throat as his tongue found the tender spot beneath her ear.
"Make love."
The sound of those words, spoken in his rich voice, made her knees go weak. Thank the stars he was holding her firmly.
"The way you make love to me. Please tell me that if there hadn't been the HandFast, that you would've touched me the same way.” She waited for his answer, hoping he would say what her heart was begging to hear. Even if he had to lie, or make something up, the emptiness inside her needed to be filled with any kind of light.
Warm lips nuzzled her ear, sending little chills down her spine. A breath of fiery spice tingled her cheek. “My heart, I've been wanting to love you like this for two long and lonely years. HandFast or no, nothing will stop me now from giving you every moment of joy I can. Expect to be loved and cherished like you've never been before. I can promise you that much ... and more, if you'll let me."
She turned slightly and lifted her face for his kiss, needing to seal his vow with her own.
It didn't come.
"Udo?"
"Yes?"
"Kiss me?"
He hesitated. “No."
"No?” She tried to turn around to face him, but he kept her back to him. “I thought you said you would do whatever I wanted."
A strong, warm hand pushed back her waterfall of hair, and the very lips she'd dreamt of taking hers began to place tiny kisses along the back of her shoulders and up the back of her neck. Star closed her eyes and let him have his way with her, knowing this night would bring her even more rapture than the one before.
His breath stopped once again to tickle her ear, and he answered her. “When you can face me in the light, Terrin. When we can make love without the shadows and the darkness, and you can accept me for all that I am, then I will kiss you. And I promise you, I will kiss you like no other man has ever kissed you, or will ever kiss you."
His promise left her weak, held up only by the strength of his arms. His hands had her pinned against him, the same way his arms had pressed her along his body back in the ship.
"When I can, and you do,” she swore softly, “I will never let another man kiss me. Not after you."
He lowered his face to her satin shoulder and tongued it lightly. Star gasped, then trembled. Her hands clutched his, their fingers still woven tightly, but she didn't try to push his away or remove them. Suddenly, he let her go, and she nearly collapsed backwards as she felt his hands slide up her back, stopping at her shoulder blades.
This time when he lowered both straps at the same time, the gown drifted on its own to the floor, leaving her to glow in the starlight. She heard his quick intake of breath.
"Sweetest heavens, Terrin. Now I know why you took your name,” Hunter whispered against her warm skin. She was literally shining with an almost translucent inner light. Her body pulsed slowly, her inner glow throbbing delicately like a distant sun. Mesmerized by the sight of her, Hunter could only stare in fascination. Without the skies to reflect upon her, he would have never known.
She knew this happened to her, and she had been waiting by the window for him on purpose. So he could discover this wondrous phenomenon for himself.
His hands slid over her quivering flesh, finding her beautiful breasts, and warming them in his palms. Her nipples were already tight and solid. At his touch, they thrust expectantly into his hands. “Are you cold?” he whispered.
"No."
"Then why are you trembling?"
"Because ... because I can't wait."
Her confession was more potent than the strongest drink. Hunter smiled. She was so close to admitting the truth to herself. So close.
"Your joy will come when your happiness exceeds your greatest wish, my heart,” he lovingly told her. His hands continued to massage her breasts, teasing and gently squeezing the nipples, rolling the taut tips until she began to squirm with anticipation.
"What is my greatest wish?” she asked him breathlessly. She pressed herself more forcefully against his body sliding a little at a time against the lightweight shirt and lounging pants he wore. A tiny smile curled the corners of her mouth as she felt him responding. Beneath the thin material, she'd found his length of warm steel along her buttocks. It jerked, growing larger until it spread her cheeks and sent crackling heat cascading through her.
"You'll find out later,” he promised, his mouth caressing her back.
Gradually, Hunter began to lower himself down her body, using his lips and tongue to taste her. To breathe in her scent, which was unlike anything he'd ever smelled. As he buried his face along her spine and back, his hands followed down her front, likewise worshiping her stomach, her ribs, her waist and hips. When he reached her buttocks, he nipped them gently, without hurting her. Sucking the fragrant flesh. Licking it. To his delight, Star giggled at the sensation. “What are you doing?” she almost accused in a light voice.
"Tasting you."
"You bit me."
His answering chuckle came from deep within his chest. His breath was a puff of fiery hot air against her skin. “You taste incredible."
"If I have a bruise there in the morning, I'm biting back,” she warned, but her voice was purring. Playful.
His fingers found her mound, playing with the baby-soft hair before sliding further still. He ran his tongue lazily down the valley between her buttocks. As she moaned from the feelings he was giving her, she unconsciously shifted her weight, and her legs parted slightly. It was the opening he sought, and he dipped his fingers deep into her.
The effect on her sensitive flesh nearly sent her careening into the window. Instinctively, Hunter grasped an ankle, stopping her ascent, and he laughed softly as he brought her back down to the ground.
"Heavens, Udo! What did you do to me?” Her voice was still shaking. Gradually she turned until she faced him, or faced his shadowy figure. Without thinking, she lifted her arms and embraced him. “What are you doing to me?” She shivered, burying her nose against his collarbone.
"Nothing. You haven't given me the chance ... yet."
"Yet?"
For too long Hunter knew he had held back, keeping his own raging desire on a leash while he brought Star unknown pleasure. They would have many, many more nights to explore each other. Even if she conceived, it would not be the end of what they had. Of what they had become to each other. This night, their second night together, would only be the beginning of a lifetime of such nights.
Carrying her over to the bed, he lowered her down onto the covers and quickly shed his own clothing. When he kneeled down above her, she had already lifted her knees for him.
"What's this?” he whispered, smiling. His hands trailed down the incredible softness of her inner thighs, finding and clasping her hand that was waiting for his at the folds of her lips. He followed her insistent tugging, letting her draw him over her until he blanketed her with his whole body. She let out a long, slow breath of pleasure as he settled on top of her.
"Yessss..."
"Do you like this?"
"I love this,” she admitted without thinking. Hunter felt the strong tug on his heart.
It was late. They had endured a long, strenuous day. It was time they were both rewarded for their patience. And growing, undeclared love.
Grasping her hips, Hunter slid slowly, long, and deeply into her. She was already wet. Impatient, almost. He felt her momentary rigidity a second before she melted. She murmured his name when he balanced his weight on his arms and buried his face in her sweet-scented hair.
"What?"
"Why ... why didn't it hurt?"
"It won't ever hurt again, my heart. Last night was a one-time-only hurt,” he whispered, and he withdrew the smallest amount, until she arched her back. Plunging hard back into her tight, quivering flesh, he was blessed to hear her moan with pleasure. Her hands found his face, and she entwined her fingers in his hair.
"I love your hair,” she half-whispered, half-giggled. “It sort of does its own thing. Every time I look at you, I just want to reach up and comb it with my fingers."
"Oh, please,” Hunter confessed with another chuckle. “When I was growing up my mother was always doing that to me. She still does."
He moved into her again, pressing himself as far as he could without hurting her. Star arched upward again, taking his full, rigid length as he repeatedly penetrated her, and relished in the rays of erotic delight shining through her. His thick girth dragged over sensitive nerve endings, scraping over the inner flesh until she screamed for more. He was moving at a gradually increasing rate now, but he had no idea how much longer he could control it. From the moment she had sheathed his whole thickness, he knew he was completely at her mercy. She rocked him in her embrace, feeding his soul with her acceptance, her growing desire for more. Her hunger for him was as vast as his was for her.
He was right and good for her. He was everything she'd wished for, and it would break her heart if he never told her the truth. If he never gave her that chance to reciprocate. If she never admitted it to him, and thus allowed him to finish what he'd started—warming the emptiness inside her, until all the coldness was entirely melted away, never to return.
Laying his cheek against hers, Hunter arched his back and began his final assault on her body. They were moving as one, gasping for breath and pounding faster and harder as he strained to reach the deepest part of her. He could feel his muscles tensing, preparing for that roar of thunder to deafen him. His spine stiffened, and when his orgasm shot through him with blinding pleasure, he cried out, every cell in his body shaking violently with his release.
Dimly he heard Star crying out, felt her core go white hot, and he was set on fire as her muscles clamped down on him almost painfully.
They both were drenched in sweat and drawing in great, heaving breaths of air when Hunter finally managed to roll onto his side, dragging Star into his arms. Refusing to let her go, he was equally reluctant to withdraw himself from inside her. They weren't fulfilled. Not yet. Not by a long shot.
She clutched his arms as she nuzzled the skin under his chin. Hunter felt her hands sliding up his chest, finally circling his neck and locking themselves there. “That was too soon,” she shyly admitted.
"Yeah. It was. Sorry."
"But it was ... nice.” Her lips touched his chest, the tip of her tongue lightly tasting him, tasting the salty sweat. “So nice,” she purred as her breathing slowed.
Neither of them was aware of falling asleep, still melded as one.
Friendship
He awoke to the feel of soft lips teasing his male nipples. Her mouth was warm. Moist. Her tongue tentative as she tried to do to him what he had done to her. As he lay there, letting the sensation of her virgin exploration curl through him, too late he realized his reaction, and he remembered he was still encased within her.
"Terrin, what are you doing?” he murmured with a voice that revealed his growing desire. It was still dark out, meaning it was the middle of the night. Without opening his eyes, she was a vibrant presence in his arms, and a warm and silken length pressed against him, around him. One velvet thigh was resting on his hip.
"Discovering what you taste like. Seeing if I want a bite.” Her own voice was fuzzy with sleep. He wondered if she had dreamt about them, like he had.
Star lifted her face, raising her hand until she made contact with his jaw, his cheek. “You know, I don't need a light to see you."
She wanted to be kissed, but her confession didn't change his requirement. He looked down as he took her hand in his and kissed the palm. “Nice try, my heart, but my condition still stands."
He could feel himself thickening, lengthening, vibrating with anticipation. So could she.
"What are you doing?” she breathed against his chest.
Drawing her tighter against him, he buried his lips in her hair. “I want to make love to you again.” His voice was tight with his growing need, but it couldn't be helped. She was so perfect. So desirable. Twice in one night ... did he dare to hope?
She looked back up at him, or tried to. “We can do it again?” There was almost a sense of relief in her surprised request.
Hunter chuckled at her innocence. “Why not? The edicts never stated we couldn't do it more than once per night."
"I know. I ... I just thought it was implied.” Star pressed her breasts against his skin, and he felt himself growing hotter at her touch. Her hardened nipples were sending slivers of molten lava straight to his groin.
"But if you don't want to do it again,” he began, meaning to tease her. He was interrupted by a hard thrust of her hips against his as she impaled herself further on him.
"Shut up and make me crazy."
The alarm was an irritating sound that broke through the clouds of sleep to awaken her. But that was the reason why she'd set it on such a ear-grating noise. Star knew she wasn't a morning person, and it took quite a bit of rousing to draw her out from under the warm covers.
He was gone. She knew it without needing to roll over and check. It was daylight, and she wasn't quite yet ready to face him full-on in the intimacy of a moment like this. Not yet, but soon. Already he had managed to penetrate that barrier of silence, urging her to talk with him, tease with him, feel more at ease together.
And there was also the matter of his kisses. He wouldn't kiss her until she could accept him in the stark light of day. In a way, Star sighed, knowing what was waiting for her would make the wait more than worth it.
Reaching over, she grabbed the pillow he'd slept on, and dragged it over to where she could smell it. Star smiled as she lowered her face into the indentation. Yes. It was there. That spicy scent she knew that was his and his alone. Without realizing what she was doing, she clasped the pillow in her arms and hugged it.
They had made love twice last night. Not once, but two glorious times. But, for some indefinable reason, she didn't feel completely satisfied. She wanted him again. And again. And again. She wanted him to lift her into the furthest reaches of space and never, ever stop making love to her. To never release her from that wide, protective chest, or those strong arms.
Oh, dearest heavens help her. She couldn't get enough of him. Even after two nights of world-shattering climaxes, even after her body had collapsed, melted, and reformed itself within his embrace, she remained hungry for more.
Star felt her body jerk with the memory.
She didn't remember falling asleep after that first time, but she remembered coming to and realizing he was still there. She remembered her happiness to find herself held against that chest, knowing the feeling it gave her was more than she could contain.
She had wanted to touch him and feel more of his overwhelming strength that was like the strongest steel covered with warm, scented skin. When her fingers brushed his nipples, she'd felt them react, and suddenly she'd had the irresistible urge to see what they tasted like.
Sweetest heavens, he was a feast all unto himself. No wonder he also loved doing this to her.
She didn't know he had awakened until he'd moved. And then he had moved inside her. That exquisite, rock-hard part of him that had begun to spear her all over again. Stretching her and burrowing itself deeper into her, until she felt she would explode like a solar flare.
Another shiver raced through her, shaking her hard.
Oh, crap. I'll never get through today if I keep thinking about this. Get your butt out of bed, Star, and get moving!
At the thought of her rear end, Star rolled out from under the covers and rushed into the cleansing chamber, turning around in front of the shiny door of the enclosure to see if he'd left a bruise on her skin.
Not even a red mark. Damn him.
Ten minutes and a quick shower later, she was striding into the dining room for breakfast. This time she ventured a look around, noticing that not everyone was there yet. Including Hunter. She got her tray and sat down next to Morning Fire.
"Hey."
Star cut her eyes at her. “Hey, back."
"How are you feeling this morning?” her best friend inquired.
Across the table, Corona lifted her face to stare at them. Seeing their comrade's questioning glance, Morning Fire explained, “Star got caught in the backwash of a birisium power cell yesterday."
"Docs said I was okay,” Star tried to make light of it. “I'm fine.” She reached for a jama berry, and paused with the fruit almost to her lips.
Her skin was tingling, and the sensation was reaching further into her, soaking into her muscles, and even into her bones. Hunter had entered the room. She knew it for fact. Somehow, her body had acclimated itself to his, so now she would know whenever he was around, whenever he was close to her. She swallowed, hard. Would the tingling increase when he got nearer?
Closing her eyes, Star tried to sense where he was.
Left. Behind.
She turned to look. He was exactly where she thought he'd be, talking to Challenger about something.
"Gooood morning, fellow Guardians!” Deceiver greeted everyone cheerfully. “Hope we're all well-rested and brimming with enthusiasm this morning!” Despite the answering groans and one badly-thrown, wadded-up napkin, he continued. “All right, to the business at hand. No emergencies, and no assignments this morning, so we're going to take advantage of the lull to make repairs and bring all the equipment up to par. Morning Fire, Time Merchant, Disaster, Blender. You four take care of communications. Don't forget to check the aerials up top.
"Bruiser, Commander, Challenger, Provoker, I'm going to need you on Transport Three. Take care of those little meteorite holes as soon as possible. You guys were lucky yesterday. Speaking of luck, how are you feeling this morning, Star? Any problems?"
All eyes turned to her before Deceiver got a chance to explain. “Star got caught in the backwash of a deteriorating birisium power cell. A full two-second burst, right?"
She nodded. “No problems so far."
"Good thing Hunter was there to haul you back into the ship. If I'd sent you out alone, like you'd wanted me to, there's no telling where you would be right now.” His tone was stern, but Deceiver's eyes were caring. “Don't question my orders again, hear me? So, today I want you, Seeker, Sender, and Hunter to help me work on getting the diagnostics on all three ships in line. We had some foul-ups yesterday, and fortunately none of them cost us a life. Corona, you, Condemner, and Animator need to resupply all three ships and let me know what we have to stock up on. Any questions? Good. Haul out and get started as soon as you're done with breakfast. If we finish at a decent time, and we don't get any emergency calls, the rest of the day is yours to relax.” He gave them a mock salute and left the dining hall.
Soon after, the other Guardians began filing out and heading toward the transportation bay. Star found Morning Fire waiting to walk with her when she exited the dining hall. They fell into step, just like old times.
"Gee, Star, we haven't had a chance to get together for the longest time. I miss talking to you,” the petite redhead confessed.
Flashing her a small smile, Star replied, “So do I. But you understand why I haven't invited you over lately."
Reaching out, Morning Fire took her best friend's hand and gave it a squeeze. “Remember, I'm here if you need to talk.” She watched Star's face intently, hoping to see some sign of the woman she knew come to the forefront. What she didn't expect was the look of deep sorrow in those violet eyes.
"Yeah, well, maybe I'm overdue. The heavens know I could use a confidant right now."
Morning Fire paused, still holding onto StarLight's hand, and forced her to turn and face her for the moment. “Please. Just tell me this, and I won't ask you anything more about it. Is he treating you well?"
Dropping her face for a moment, Star heaved a big sigh, then looked back up. “Yeah. That's the problem. I think ... I think I ... oh, crap, I don't know, Fire. I'm so confused right now. Just give me a little longer to think about it, all right?"
Silently, they continued over to the bay where Deceiver and Hunter were pulling hand computers out of the cabinet to help with the ships. Tossing Morning Fire a palm unit, Deceiver told her, “I'll run the numbers on the ships so you and your team can get them aligned with Command Central. Star,” He tossed her a unit also, “take the numbers from Hunter and go back into Command to make certain they line up. Sender and Seeker will also be working to see if we can't get everything to stand up in perfect order as well."
"I'll begin with One,” Hunter told her.
"Then I'll take Two,” Deceiver said, and turned and left.
Star glanced back over at Hunter. His attention was focused on aligning up the settings on his computer to begin work. Walking over to him, she waited, hands on hips, until he realized she was still there. He glanced up in surprise to see her intently studying him, and he almost smiled.
"What?"
"You got off damned lucky today,” she murmured softly, her face never betraying any emotion.
"Lucky? How?"
"There's no bite mark on my butt."
Having said what she wanted to say, Star turned on her heel and began to stride away, but not before she heard his soft laughter at her back.
What neither of them saw were the stunned looks on the other Guardians’ faces.
Sometimes, stamping her booted feet as hard as she could on the ground felt good. It was a safe way to work off frustration and angry energy. Star stomped her way into Command and threw herself into one of the chairs by the communications console. As she began adjusting her palm unit to receive the signals from Transport One, Blender walked in to open the relays, then walked out, leaving her alone.
Now her whole body was one vast ache. She had been right; when she'd gotten closer to Hunter, it was as if she had entered an ion storm. Even now every inch of her skin buzzed. The only time she knew it would stop was when he touched her, grounding their connection when flesh met flesh.
It had been bad enough being loved by him that one night. Two nights in a row, and twice in one night, and she was a mess.
A soft groan escaped her as the muscles between her thighs convulsed. Wetness began to soak through the fabric of her body suit. Their mandatory introductory period was for fourteen straight days. She and Hunter had survived two of them. Unless she conceived, they had twelve more to go before moving to the three-nights-per-week period.
I'll be dead by then. Star's computer screen lit up. He already has claimed my body. But would he want to claim her heart?
"What are your numbers, Star?” Hunter's voice came over the tiny speakers in the palm unit.
"We're off point zero zero four three."
"Copy that."
She dropped her face into one shaking hand. They needed to talk. Really talk. She and Hunter needed to get out into the open what they were feeling—
She suddenly went cold. But what if Hunter wasn't feeling the same things? What if...
He called you ‘my heart'.
In her other hand, the palm unit beeped. She had to calm herself before telling him, “Hunter? We have alignment."
"Copy. Switching over to Two,” he acknowledged. The sound of his silky baritone almost took her breath away.
Oh, sweetest heavens, what am I going to do?
Her eyes stung from the tears welling up. “Oh, crap. No. No,” she breathed out heavily, but there was no way she could avoid it any longer. No way she could deny it. Not any more, no matter how much it terrified her.
She loved him.
As hard as it was to admit, as difficult as it was for her to say it aloud, her heart had taken Udo Vosstien and folded him inside her. He was there now, keeping her warm and alive. Feeding her blood with his strength. Filling her head with his spicy, exotic scent.
There was nowhere she could go now without searching for him in the crowd. No place where she wouldn't feel comfortable without having him by her side. No night that could pass without wanting him there to keep away the chill.
And loving her. Making slow, intoxicating love to her. Or taking her to the brink of madness with his blinding assault.
"How does it look now?” Deceiver's voice asked over the comm link.
Star took a deep breath and glanced at the readout. “Come down point two four degrees."
"Copy that."
"Star?” It was Time Merchant, coming in to do some more adjustments. “Are you all right?"
"Yeah.” Wiping her arm across her eyes, she managed a ragged chuckle. “I'll be fine."
"What about now?” Deceiver asked.
She tried to swallow around the lump in her throat, but it was difficult. “Still off. Point zero nine zero."
"Copy."
A hand squeezed her shoulder. “Want anything? Something to drink?"
She managed a wan smile as she glanced up at the tall, dark-haired Guardian. “No thanks, Merchant. I promise, I'll be fine."
Giving her a slight nod, Time Merchant left the room. As soon as he was out the door, Star crossed her arms on the communications panel and rested her face on them.
If she kept her eyes open, she could see him, but he was Master Hunter, in his sable brown uniform and his wide shoulders and narrow waist. And those long legs. Only when she closed her eyes did he become Udo Vosstien. A faceless figure in the darkness who brought her unlimited happiness. Who turned her body and her mind inside out.
When you can face me in the light, Terrin. When we can make love without the shadows and the darkness, when you can accept me for all that I am, then I will kiss you. And I promise you, I will kiss you like no other man has ever kissed you, or will ever kiss you.
A whimper escaped her. Immediately a familiar figure was standing beside her.
"Star?"
It was Morning Fire, there to give her whatever comfort she could. Slowly, Star turned toward her friend and buried her face in the woman's shoulder. As she wept openly, small hands stroked her hair.
"Merchant said you might need me,” Morning Fire told her. “He didn't tell me you were upset."
"What am I going to do, Fire?” Star whispered, not lifting her face from the woman's shoulder. She was afraid of falling completely apart if she saw any sign of pity in her friend's eyes. And she knew she would.
"What has he done to you?” Morning Fire demanded in a soft, tight voice filled with anger.
For some reason, the thought of the tiny woman going after Hunter to seek revenge painted a ludicrous picture in her mind, and Star laughed in spite of herself. The laugh turned into hiccups. “He's made me fall in love with him,” she admitted, and finally raised reddened eyes to seek Morning Fire's response.
The computer link beeped. Pulling away from her friend's embrace, Star picked it up and checked the readout. “Deceiver, we have alignment."
"Copy. Hunter's on Three."
"Copy. Star, I'm sending those numbers to you now."
As she waited for the panel to light up, she could feel Morning Fire keeping a tight grip on her arm with one hand as the other continued to comb her fingers through StarLight's hair. It felt soothing.
"What have you got?” Hunter's voice inquired.
"A big, whopping one two zero point eight eight zero degrees off."
"Copy that."
Star lowered the comm link with a thump. It was as if she no longer had any strength left.
"Oh, damn, Star. Does he know?"
"No. I haven't told him."
"Why not? Does he love you?"
"I don't...” She shook her head. “I don't know."
"Well, dammit, one of you needs to say something!"
Giving a weak giggle, Star answered, “Don't you think I already know that? There's so much I want to talk to him about, but I'm too scared to. This ... all of this is so new to me. And on top of everything else, we're having to follow the HandFast laws—"
"Give me a readout, Star."
"Still off, but it looks better. Point one one one five."
"Copy."
She started to put the computer down, when Hunter's voice suddenly came back over the speakers. “Star, is there a problem?” His voice was softer and definitely concerned. They both knew he wasn't asking about the alignments. Damn his abilities; he'd sensed something.
"Just talking to Fire. Never mind me,” she told him before thumbing off the switch.
"All right. Now I'm wanting to get to the bottom of this. Confession time, Terrin DiLyric. Were you in love with him before the HandFast? Or afterwards?"
"I don't know for sure. I know he's always been someone I could go to when I needed comfort and protection. Maybe the HandFast made it definite. All I know is that, when the first report came back from the Committee, I was praying it was negative so we could be together again. I'm ... I don't want to get pregnant, because once I do, he'll be gone. And what we've shared,” she trembled, “it'll be gone, too.” It felt so good to tell Morning Fire everything. To get it off her chest and let a calmer head help her sort things out. Help her to get a fresh perspective on things.
A hand brushed a lock of midnight-colored hair from her face. “So, what are you telling me, Star? That you think you're the only one in this relationship who's lost her heart? That once you conceive, it'll be over between you, and things will go back to the way they've been? Because if that's what you're thinking, you're stupider than I took you for."
Star blinked at her in disbelief. “Why does it make me stupid? It's fact. Hunter can walk away without looking back. HandFast law allows him that."
"And what do you want him to do, instead?” Morning Fire questioned her. “Where do you want this relationship to go? Where do you think it can lead, if anywhere?"
"I don't know!” Jumping to her feet, Star took three steps away from her chair, when a voice from her dreams came over the comm link.
"What are my numbers now?"
Morning Fire stared at her friend but saw only desolation in the pale face.
"Star?” Hunter repeated.
Striding quickly back to the console, Star snatched up the computer. “Point zero three three. Almost but not quite."
"Copy."
"Here.” She thrust the comm link toward her friend, then turned and started to leave the room.
Morning Fire called out to her. “Where are you going?"
"I don't know! Out! Out of here. It's too stuffy. Too closed in. I got to get away. I'm going out to get some fresh air,” Star threw back over her shoulder, and hurried out, leaving the petite woman to finish what hadn't been her job.
Sun Dance
She hadn't lied when she told Morning Fire the room was closing in on her. She had spent too much of her life floating free amid the vastness of space. That was the biggest reason why she'd had the huge window installed in her quarters. The thing took up nearly one entire wall, but at night she could imagine herself back up there, drifting lazily among the galaxies. Sometimes she missed being out there, but at other times she was so very grateful for the companionship she'd found with the Guardians.
The outer door flung open at her touch, and suddenly she was flooded with glistening rays of energy. A long minute passed as Star remained in the doorway, eyes tightly shut, and soaked up the hot, white light.
It reminded her of when she was a little girl, and when things got too bad at home, she'd sneak out of the house and drink in the bright sunshine. She called it sun dancing, and suddenly she knew she needed to feel the star's healing forces again, just as she used to all those years ago.
Sun dancing.
Giving herself up to the magnetic fields, Star felt herself being lifted as gently as a breath. It was warm. Soothing as a balm. As intangible as it was life-sustaining. And it felt wonderful.
Suspended high in the air, Star stretched out her body, reveling in the midmorning glow. With her legs straight out, her toes pointed, her arms perpendicular to her sides, she tumbled slowly through the air as her body suit sucked the energy from the star and coated her skin with its power.
Tumbling, rotating, moving gradually over and under in spirals and loops, the sun continued to bathe every inch of her with solar kisses, removing the dark circles under her eyes, and giving her strength.
"Oh, good heavens above! What's wrong with StarLight?"
Time Merchant and Disaster had gone over to Command to see what was holding up Morning Fire, when they'd caught sight of the black-clad woman overhead. Less than a minute later, several others had joined them in watching Star's slow undulations nearly fifty feet above the courtyard, and she continued to rise.
When Star hadn't answered his last diagnostic check, Hunter had popped over to find out why, when Morning Fire dragged him outside to see for himself. It was Corona who finally voiced the unasked question.
"She said she was feeling cooped up inside. That she had to get out,” Morning Fire told them, yet no one could tear their eyes away from the almost hypnotic way Star was moving. It was like watching a ballet being performed in zero gravity.
"Is she doing that because she's in pain?” Blender asked.
Condemner snorted. “Does she look like she's in pain?"
"Looks more like she's happy to be up there,” said Animator. “Good for her."
Walking up next to Hunter, Disaster said, “By all that's holy, Hunter. Two nights with you, and look at her!"
He was looking at her. For the life of him, Hunter had no idea why she was up there with her arms outstretched, as if she was trying to embrace the whole world.
"Yeah, Provoker. You never said anything about her doing something like this when you were dating her!” Commander called out, trying to rankle the man.
"Yeah. Well, that's because I gave her enough of what she needed, so that she didn't have to do that,” Provoker replied, making his insinuations crystal clear.
No one saw the attack. No one was prepared for the swift justice doled out to the man who suddenly was lying on his back in the middle of the courtyard, the breath knocked out of him, leaving him writhing in pain. Nearby Hunter stood panting heavily.
Several gasped in shock at the suddenness of it all, but it was Sender who covered her mouth with one hand and pointed at the infuriated Guardian with the other.
"For the past two years I have heard nothing come out of your mouth about StarLight that wasn't inflammatory or derogative,” Hunter said in a deep voice filled with danger. “I warned you earlier, Provoker. I am now her protector and defender, and I say the slandering is coming to an end. Now."
He raised his head so that all could see his face, knowing what they would see.
Morning Fire choked and clutched Bruiser's arm for support. “Oh, dearest mother..."
Moaning softly, Provoker managed to roll over onto his side. He held his ribs as he tried to breathe, finally lifting his eyes to stare into a face heavy with suppressed anger. He blinked, and then realized he wasn't seeing things. Hunter's eyes had gone black. Totally black, like glittering holes from the deepest part of space. Wisps of blackness circled him like hungry animals waiting and watching for the right time to strike.
"And I told you, you don't scare me."
"Then maybe it's time you, and everyone here, found out why I am called Master Hunter."
The man blinked out of existence. A split-second later, Provoker convulsed. His eyes bugged out of his head as the man tried to scream, but no sound emerged from his throat. His face reddened, almost to the point of turning purple, and he nearly passed out, until Hunter popped back into sight three feet away, his body as shadowy as a nightmare.
"I own you now. I control you. You are mine, and you will do as I say or face my consequences.” Hunter's voice rolled icy and thick over the man lying prostrate on the ground. “Now, with everyone here as witness, you will confess that you never bedded StarLight. Tell the truth for once in your life, damn you."
"Screw you,” Provoker finally managed to choke out, although it nearly cost him.
Hunter glanced up. “Fire. Go find Seeker.” He turned back to face the man now lying curled up. “Last chance, Provoker. Are you going to confess? Or will I have to punish you further while Seeker draws the truth out of you?"
The look that passed between the two men was searing. Several seconds passed, until Provoker suddenly threw up a hand in surrender.
"All right! All right! The truth! I never touched StarLight. I never bedded her. She never ... she wouldn't even let me lay a hand on her. Everything I've been telling you has been a lie. There! Happy now?” he shot at Hunter.
Slowly, Hunter straightened. The nightmarish image that had covered him started to fade away like morning fog. The black eyes lightened until they were once again sky-blue. He started to turn and walk away from the man on the ground when Provoker scathingly called out, “Great heavens, Hunter, you're acting as if Star was a virgin when you took her at HandFast."
Hunter paused for a split-second, but it was enough for everyone to grasp the truth.
The courtyard suddenly came to jarring life, blaring out the claxon's warning. To a man, they began running toward Command. Cursing himself, Hunter realized what he'd just done, but it was too late to do anything about what had occurred. After making sure Star had heard the alarm, he went ahead to see what the emergency was.
"Well, here's a little tidbit that might amuse you."
Three sat back in his seat and waited for the man to continue.
"Our little bitch wasn't a bitch after all."
One bushy eyebrow ascended. “Get to the point,” he grumbled.
"Our so-called reliable source at Guardian Command just confessed to the rest of them that he's never slept with StarLight. In fact, the woman was a virgin until HandFast."
"Are you sure about that?"
"I can check with the doctors,” two suggested.
"You should have checked with the doctors in the first place, you idiot!” three grated between clenched teeth.
"It doesn't matter anyway. I just got today's readout. She and Master Hunter are still doing the horizontal dance."
"But no pregnancy."
Two sighed noisily. “No. No pregnancy."
Four chewed on an already ragged thumbnail. “Then how can you be so sure they're both Prime?"
"Because neither one of them came from here. As far as we know, StarLight is from a solar system several hundred light years from here. It took her four years alone to wander over into our corner of space. On the other hand, Master Hunter comes from the galactic base over past Tri-Secular."
"Abernath?"
"That one. Yeah."
"All right.” Four slammed a hand on the edge of his desk. “Have you relayed this bit of news to the others?"
"Not yet. I came to you first,” two smoothly lied.
"Then go ahead and let them know. And when you find out anything more, get back with me."
"Oh, you can rest assured I will,” two promised, closing communications.
Ombitra
"We have a breach in the defenses on Greater Biris!” Deceiver called out. “We have reports of incoming air attacks, and ground troops are subjugating the populace. Every man on board Three this instant!"
As they piled into Transport Three, StarLight landed a few feet away from the ship and hesitated. Seeing her there, Deceiver gestured for her to enter. “Let's go, Star. This is an emergency run."
"I'll follow,” she told him, and started to rise.
"No deal. Get your butt in here now!"
"I can't, Deceiver! I've been sun dancing!” she snapped in return. Instantly, all eyes were watching from the viewports.
Her uniform was no longer jet black with white pinpoints. It was totally white, covering her like a skin of pure light. As she moved back into the shadows, that area of the bay lit up with an incandescence that flooded every inch of the floor, up to the ceiling.
"We don't have time to argue about this. For the last damn time, get in here!"
Her answer was to lift off and spurt away into the sky.
Letting go with a scathing expletive, Deceiver closed the door and ordered take-off. Within seconds the largest carrier of the Guardian fleet rose from its bed and nosed upward into the sky, with a blinding white light tagging beside it.
As they lifted, everyone remained glued to the viewing ports to keep StarLight in sight. She didn't even seem to be exerting herself as she flew parallel to them. Hunter kept one eye on her as he piloted the transport into a smooth arc, then set a course for the Fonn Biris system.
"Hunter."
At Deceiver's call, he glanced up at the main viewport in front of them and saw Star eyeing him from beside the craft. She was signaling, moving her hands in a fast rotation.
"Light speed. When are we going into hyper light drive?” Hunter interpreted as he reached for the manual controls on the panel. “Deceiver, does she actually think she's going to follow us when we hit hyper speed?"
"Star can haul ass, but she's not that fast,” Bruiser said from the co-pilot seat.
Drawing a finger across his throat, Hunter gestured toward the door with his thumb. “Get in the airlock, Star,” he muttered, knowing she couldn't hear him.
She rotated her arms again. They were clocking near light speed, but she didn't appear to be losing ground. Then, to everyone's surprise, she grabbed one of the ship's outer foils, lowered her head, and closed her eyes.
"Heaven's crap! She's planning on hanging on?” Disaster yelled.
"Not if I can help it.” Hunter was already out of his harness straps and heading for the rear of the ship.
"Hunter! What are you doing?” Deceiver shouted at him.
"Going out and fetching her. When you see her gone, ram the throttle, Bruiser."
"How in the world..."
"I can move at hyper light speed,” he announced calmly, and then he was gone. Without a protective suit.
They raced for the front viewport to see what would happen. For several seconds StarLight remained clutching the outer foil. In the blink of an eye, she was gone. At that same instant, Hunter was back in the rear of the transport, holding the astonished woman in his arms.
Quickly he released her and stepped back as Star slowly got to her feet and glared angrily at him. “What in all creation do you think you're doing?” she cried out at him. “I'm practically toxic!"
"Then get into the airlock and ride out the rest of the way in there,” he ordered her. He tried to brush the patterns of white light clinging to him, but they only dimmed. And burned. Worse, holding her had been like having a huge fist pounding into his gut, leaving a hard, undeniable ache of desire surging through him. He had gone hard almost instantly. For the first time, Hunter was glad the upper portion of his uniform came down to mid-thigh.
She turned and slammed her hand on the airlock switch to open it, but something in her body language set off warning bells in his head. “Forget it, Star, you can't go back out there. We just went into hyper light."
"I'm getting off this transport,” she snapped.
"No. You're not."
Whirling around, she opened her arms, as if she was about to flare. To her dismay, Hunter merely kept his ground, his arms crossed over his chest, his head tilted to one side as he let her play out her temper tantrum.
"Who do you think you are? You can't order me about,” she demanded angrily, although some of her wind had been let out of her sails. If he didn't flinch then, he wouldn't back down now. Dammit, but there was no way she could explain to him why she was being so recalcitrant. At least, not in front of everyone.
"I have every right to tell you what to do if I think you're about to do something very stupid. And you know as well as I do that you wouldn't have made it through hyper light by holding onto the ship like that."
"You don't know that for certain. I thought it was worth a try!"
"Not this time,” Hunter argued. “Later on, if you want to be stubborn and unruly, go right ahead and jump into a black hole if you care to. But right now, take your glowing little carcass out into the airlock and stay there."
"Why can't I be stubborn now, instead of later?” she huffed, her chin lifted in defiance. She was breathing heavily, light pouring off of her like a white flood. She was definitely losing this verbal battle, but for some reason she was glad.
His answer was not what she expected to hear. “Because right now you are my woman, and I'm going to take care of you, even if it kills the both of us. Now, are you going out there peacefully? Or will I have to pick you up again and dump you there after I put a seal on the outer hull door?"
She stared at him as the air about her head and shoulders fairly crackled. A stomp of her foot showed she was relenting, and they all watched her go into the airlock and close the door behind her.
"Bruiser, go ahead and seal the outer hull door,” Hunter ordered as he resumed his seat.
Silently, Bruiser did as he was told.
"Are you all right?” Animator leaned over and asked Hunter from her seat directly behind him. Her eyes raked over the still-glowing splotches on his dark brown uniform.
"Yeah. She burned me, but it couldn't be helped. Is everyone strapped in? It's going to get bumpy."
"Hunter.” Deceiver pulled up next to him. “How did you do what you just did? I thought you weren't impervious to space."
"I'm not. But if I transport quickly enough, I seem to remain inside a little pocket of air.” As he adjusted their course, Hunter waited for the next question he knew was inevitable. Surprisingly, Deceiver didn't ask it, but instead returned to his seat, making Hunter wonder if the man was even aware of what everyone had seen. Mentally shrugging his shoulders, he steered the ship around the Gammandi system, expertly avoiding a meteor storm, and kept an eye on a growing wormhole off their port bow.
He slipped a headset on, even though there was no one back at Command to hear him. But there was a speaker inside the airlock. “How are you doing in there?” he murmured softly to her.
There was no answer for a long while. Then he heard a click when she hit the transmit button. “I'm getting cold."
"Your body is cooling down from your sun bath. Do you need a blanket?” Beside him, Hunter could see Bruiser eyeing his one-way communication.
"No. I'll adjust. Soon. I hope."
"Thirsty?"
"Yeah. Very."
"Corona?” Hunter called out to the only other Guardian who could handle extreme heat.
"Yeah, Hunter."
"Can you take some water out to Star? I'll lift the airlock door just enough so you can roll a couple of bottles inside to her."
"You got it."
"Thanks, Hunter."
"You're welcome. Bruiser, I need twelve percent horizontal on those spoilers."
"Twelve percent. Check."
"I got the water,” Corona called back up the aisle.
"Right. Star, move back a bit and she'll roll you the bottles."
Eight seconds later, the water was delivered, and Corona had resumed her seat.
"Hey, Hunter. What makes you so sure you're going to survive this next year?” the man beside him asked then chuckled.
Casting his eyes at his co-pilot, Hunter replied cryptically, “Let's just say we've gotten adjusted to each other."
"Hunter?"
"Yeah, Star."
"Can they hear me talking?"
He glanced down at the console. The intraship speakers were dead. “No."
"Good. Back there, when you said I was your woman ... you said now, but not later..."
"We'll talk about it later,” he told her, knowing everyone could at least his side of the conversation.
"Am I your woman?"
"I have a blue ribbon to prove it.” That last remark raised a few eyebrows.
"But not later,” Star persisted. Literally trapped inside the tiny airlock, she had nothing to do during the trip but think. “You mean, after I get pregnant.” Her voice sounded flat.
"When was the last time you did that sun dance thing?” Hunter tried to steer the conversation onto a safer path.
"Oh, gosh. I think I was seven or eight. I remembered how it made me feel good. And avoiding answering me isn't going to work, Hunter."
"Copy that, Star."
Time Merchant moved forward a bit. “If you go through the outer edge of the Miers system, it'll cut a good half-hour off our trip."
"The Miers system borders the Polis nebula,” Deceiver pointed out. “It's too dangerous."
"I can skirt the nebula, Deceiver,” Hunter assured him. “Merchant, give me a countdown. Star, hang on."
Hunching over the pilot seat, Time Merchant closed his eyes and began chanting. Less than a minute later, he tapped Hunter's shoulder. “Giving you five, starting ... now! Four. Three. Two. One. Go."
The transport ship bucked, almost spinning on its nose as it slipped past the poisonous nebula and zipped like a streak of light around the rim of the Miers system. The instant the viewport cleared, they could see their destination looming ahead and rapidly growing closer.
"Damn fine flying!” Disaster crowed. “Makes me wonder why I haven't put you in the pilot seat more often. Where did you learn to maneuver like that?"
"My father is a squadron leader for the Third Fleet over on Abernath. Guess it's in the genes. All right, everyone. Pulling out of hyper light in three ... two ... one."
The lights inside the ship flickered, but every Guardian seated remained surprised by the confession they had just heard from the man at the main console. No one knew where Hunter had come from, or that he had family. In fact, the man never talked about himself at all. Suddenly, in the space of a couple of short days, all that had changed.
As they entered the atmosphere surrounding Greater Biris, the diamond-bright ships hovering over the agricultural planet sparkled like dewdrops after a spring rain. Yet, for all their beauty, their threat was ten times more dangerous.
Challenger groaned from where he sat. “Ombitra. Holy crap, a whole fleet of them!"
"Fill me in, guys,” Hunter asked as he struggled to bring the big ship in.
Time Merchant backed him up. “Yeah. Ditto for me. Who are the Ombitra?"
From where he stood, leaning over the pilot's seat, Deceiver clenched his hands into white fists. “We last fought them four years ago. They're ruthless. Scavengers. Killers. They rape whole planets of whatever they can get from them, then suck them dry of energy before moving on. They invaded the Daanara system and we went in to repel them. Bloody. Merciless. We lost two Guardians before it was over. I lost two close friends."
"Conquest and Redeemer,” Bruiser named with a hitch in his normally gruff voice.
Over his headset, Hunter heard Star swear in shock. “Where do they come from?” A thought of the worst possible scenario flashed in his mind, pinning Hunter to his seat in agony. He fought the mental image of Star lying lifeless at his feet, and suddenly it started to become more difficult to breathe. Closing his eyes, he battled his inner demons and won ... barely.
"We don't know,” Disaster shrugged, having joined them up front. “They never hit the same part of our region twice in a row. They've always been random attacks. Random targets, random times. There's never been any rhyme or reason as to when or where they hit. There's no way to predict where they'll show up next, or when. But we haven't had a call about them in almost four years, and that was a fight I still have nightmares over."
Deceiver left them suddenly to go over to the one of the communication boards fitted against the side of the ship, near Bruiser's elbow. Hunched over with a hand pressed to the headset, the Guardian leader spoke with the leaders and officials of the planet below to let them know they had arrived.
"What's their weaponry?” Time Merchant inquired as Deceiver's voice droned softly behind them. Along with Master Hunter and StarLight, he had become a member of the Guardians two years before, and they were considered the rookies, being the most “recent” inductees.
"Some kind of high-energy photon burst,” Provoker said. He was getting ready to join Deceiver at the console, to begin outlining strategies for the rest of them.
From his seat beside Animator, Condemner started to ask a question, but waited as Hunter ducked the ship into a darkening cloud bank. It was a good call. The ship's hull coating would make it almost invisible to the Ombitran vessels while they were inside. A light blinking on the console below caught his eye, and he noted Hunter flipping the switch to unlock the outer hull door.
"The Birisian council says the Ombitra ceased firing at least three cycles ago. Casualties are light, but there's a tremendous amount of damage to property. They also said that when we pulled out of hyper space, the craft began moving for the first time.” Deceiver fed them the details as he interpreted.
Provoker tossed his head toward him. “We're going to need some reconnaissance. We need to know where those ships are going. Star should be able to handle it."
"Star, did you get all that?” Hunter paused, listening. “We need to do some recon. Hold on. We'll get you a headset."
Deceiver was already moving to take her one. “I got it.” He was stunned to see Hunter instantly right behind him. “What are you doing?"
Giving his leader a slow grin, Hunter reminded him, “Wherever one of us goes, so goes the other. Or did I remember you reading that particular edict wrong? Besides, you know the two of us can do a bit more damage working as a pair. And I seriously doubt you want to unleash Star on those guys single-handedly."
Deceiver frowned. “All right. But I want your headsets on at all times. We need to hear what you hear, when you hear it, and what you're doing. Copy?"
"We'll be all right, Deceiver,” Hunter promised, giving him a solemn look. Dropping his voice, he added, “Trust me. I would never jeopardize the team. And heavens know I can't let anything happen to Star."
Deceiver never got the chance to respond.
Hunter was gone.
Reconnaissance
Star was on her feet, waiting for him when the inner door opened. He could see her suit had reverted back to its normal black, but her skin continued to glow. She was fully charged and ready to fly.
Silently she took the headset from him, at the last second letting his fingers clasp hers. She glanced up to see his worry for her reflected on his face, turning his eyes an almost stormy blue. He mouthed two words. Be careful. Nodding, she waited until the outer doors opened, then stepped out into the open sky.
"How do we handle this?” she breathed. The fog surrounding them was making it difficult to see their intended targets. “Where are we going, Hunter?"
"Let's take it ship by ship, Star."
"What? You're going to pop inside an Ombitran vessel just like that, and get a quick look-see?” Star snorted.
"Don't you underestimate what I can and can't do.” His gentle admonishment stung.
"How do you plan to proceed?” It was Deceiver, listening in, and reminding Star the entire ship could hear what she and Hunter were saying, although only a few would be able to respond back.
"Tell us what the Ombitra look like,” Hunter asked. His powers wouldn't focus until he got some idea as to what he was looking for.
He wasn't in the ship. Star glanced around. Where in the world was he? He had to be nearby. Her skin was buzzing, telling her he was within at least ten or so feet from her, but the air surrounding her was empty, and she knew he couldn't fly like she could.
"Hunter? What's your location?"
"Nearby,” he answered obliquely. “Deceiver?"
"Tall and leathery. Some are a dark red. Others black or brown. We've never been able to figure out if the different colors signify anything. Let's just say that if you see a really ugly cuss, that's an Ombitra."
"Oh, gee, thanks,” Star remarked sarcastically. In the background she could hear some of the others laughing.
"How do you feel about blazing a little trail across the sky, Star?"
"Just tell me in which direction. Are you thinking diversion?"
"Precisely. Just make it big, bright, and fancy. Take it west to east, and be sure to drop out at the horizon; make it look like a burnout."
"Gotcha. Anything else, oh bossy one?"
"Yeah. Go straight back to the ship when you're done."
His last remark rankled. But she knew that if she argued, she wouldn't win. The man had a hold on her that was as solid as her love for him. No. If she had other plans, it was best to keep mum and play her hand when it was time.
"Star?” He was waiting for her reply. She hoped she sounded adequately pissed off but accepting.
"Yeah. Back to the ship. Copy."
There was a slight hesitation. “All right. When you get in position, let me know."
"Careful, Star,” Deceiver's voice echoed.
Star nodded, even though she knew they wouldn't see her, and headed away from where the Ombitran vessels were scattered. When she flared, it would take her close within their proximity. By making it look as though she was a rogue meteorite heading toward them, the enemy would keep a close eye on her in the event of a possible collision.
A few minutes later, she looped around and came to a halt. “I'm ready, Hunter. But I have to tell you, if I flare, it's going to burn this headset up. Commander still hasn't come up with a piece of equipment that can withstand the full brunt of my magnetic forces."
"On my count then,” Hunter intoned.
"Star?” It was Commander, obviously cutting in on Deceiver's headset. “When you get back to the ship, you're welcome to kiss my butt. Nothing has been built that can take your magnetic forces, so don't drop the blame in my lap, woman!"
Star broke up laughing, along with the rest of the ship. To her delight, Hunter was laughing as well.
She no longer tingled, which meant he was nowhere near her, but something just didn't add up. Hunter popped from one place to another, and depending on how far apart the two locations were determined how quickly he got there. Unless he had been in the ship, there was no “place” where he could have been and still make her body respond. And Star knew for certain he hadn't been on the ship.
"Star, on my count. Ready?"
"Put your shades on people. I'm still revved up from my little dance,” she smiled.
Was it her imagination, or was there a strange quiet coming from Three?
"Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Go!"
She arched her back, holding her arms perpendicular to her body, and exploded in multi-colored incandescence. Her body flared white, and then went into a spectrum of light no human or alien eye could view straight on.
Pushing away from the planet's gravitational field, Star hurtled like a flaming comet, up into the edge of space before curving downward and racing faster and faster toward the western edge of the void. It was only the second time she had done this trick since she'd become a Guardian. A smile of satisfaction creased her lips as she imagined her teammates glued to the viewports to watch her burning across the sky with a tail of blues and reds and oranges following her like a long, iridescent train.
She took her time, keeping herself as brightly lit as she could manage. Hunter wanted a diversion that would keep the Ombitrans’ attention focused on her. To keep the ruse lifelike, she rolled and tumbled sideways, imitating a chunk of space debris burning up in the atmosphere. Later she knew she would feel drained and not worth a damn, after expending such tremendous energy in this wild, exuberant burst. But right now, she could almost scream for the sheer pleasure of not having to hold back.
Once she passed over the glittering, angular ships below, Star gave it one final “burnout” burst, simulating the last dying gasp of a fallen star, and went immediately to black. Over and over she tumbled downward, hoping there was enough air between her and the ground to cushion her fall and slow her enough to where it wouldn't hurt too much when she landed.
The hillock of wild grasses kept her from breaking any bones, but the impact still managed to knock the wind out of her. Long minutes passed as she lay there, gasping for breath. Her suit was solid black; the coalescing pattern of stars normally flowing across it had been burnt into temporary darkness.
She managed to roll onto her back when a familiar feeling washed over her. Closing her eyes, she waited for his touch. The sound of his voice.
"Star? How are you doing?"
She opened her eyes to see him kneeling down beside her. Damn, he looked so good, especially with that little worry line running across his forehead.
"I'll live, but I'm going to be black and blue tomorrow, let me tell you. Did it work, boss?"
He grinned at her. “It worked. I managed to get a good look-see during your light show. Can you manage to get back to Three on your own?"
"Yeah.” She tried to sit up amid aching muscles. The groan that escaped her was unexpected. Hunter's expression shifted from relieved back to worried. “It's all right,” she reassured him, holding out a hand so he could help her up. “Think of it as doing an exercise you haven't done in a long time, and finding out afterwards which muscles you'd been neglecting."
She started to say more when Hunter jerked his headset off and thumbed the switch, turning it off. Before she could ask him why he'd done that, strong hands reached out and pulled her up onto her feet, where warm arms wrapped around her until she was securely held against that marvelously protective chest she adored.
Quietly, Star buried her face in his neck as her arms tightened around his shoulders. Several seconds passed as they stood, encased in each other's embrace. It felt so natural and perfect, with his hands holding her along her lower back and ribs. Pressing her tightly, possessively against him. The feeling was more comforting than she could remember.
A pair of lips brushed her temple, making her wish again that she could accept him in the light. She was slowly getting to the point where the thought of it no longer frightened her, but it would be a while longer before that could happen. But until she could, he would not touch her lips with his. In the past, the first thing any man she had dated had wanted to do was to mash his mouth against hers. Sometimes sloppily. Sometimes hard. Often hurtful, as if force and pressure were the hallmarks of a passionate kiss.
Hunter had kissed and tongued and nibbled almost every inch of her body. She knew his mouth almost as intimately as the rest of him. Only, they had never truly kissed. The lack of it made her lips hungry to feel them. She wanted to know, needed to know if he could burn her soul with his hot mouth as easily as he burned her skin.
And I promise you, I will kiss you like no other man has ever kissed you, or will ever kiss you.
A shiver ran through her, and Hunter squeezed her tighter. “Talk to me, my heart,” he whispered in her ear.
Pressing her lips to his throat, where his neck was bare above the collar of his tunic, Star wanted to ask him a hundred questions. She had to know, for the sake of her heart and her sanity, would he still be within her reach after she conceived? They would still be Guardians. That was their life's duty. But was what she was feeling also running through his veins? Did his heart leap whenever she entered the room, like hers did? Did he spend nights tossing and turning in bed because it had become too empty and too cold? Did he caress himself when he was in his cleansing chamber, and imagine a lover's touch upon his skin?
A lover's touch...
"Udo.” It was more breath than word. His mouth found her pulse beneath her ear as he freed a hand to push away her wealth of glossy black hair, and his tongue sent sparks all the way down to her toes.
A tinny beep sounded. With an abruptness that surprised her, Hunter suddenly released her and stepped back, jamming the headset back on and thumbing the mike open. “Yeah, Deceiver. Be there in a sec."
Star felt her skin contracting in the rush of cold that swept over her, as his warmth was no longer keeping her comfortable. As she watched him answer the comm link, it dawned on her that they had just held each other in the full light of day. In uniform. With her mind and her body reaching for him, and now watching him as he stood staring at her with those blue eyes she would love to fly in.
Hunter.
Udo.
Hunter.
She blinked. Udo.
Udo.
Her eyes dropped to the notched neckline of his uniform, seeing it for the first time, not as the attire he wore daily when he was a Guardian, but as just another piece of clothing keeping his body hidden and apart from hers. She couldn't see any buttons. No fasteners that she could tell. How in the world did he put it on? Screw that—how did he take it off?
Her gaze dropped further. He was wearing boots. Were they ankle high? Or higher? It was hard to tell with his long pants.
"Star?"
Slowly, she lifted her eyes to see a gentle smile on his face. Did he realize what was happening to her? Could he grasp the miracle that was coming over her? A small, tentative smile lit her face, and Star gently shook her head. “No,” she murmured quietly so the headset wouldn't pick up her voice. “Not now. Right now my name is Terrin."
Her eyes centered on his mouth. He had a beautiful smile. A perfect smile. A loving smile. It had the power to make her happy just to dwell on it.
"My name is Terrin, Udo. And I think I've fallen in love with you."
There. It was out, and she wasn't frightened any longer. She hadn't planned on telling him. Not now. And certainly not like this. But it sounded like the most natural thing, to tell him. To admit that, in fact, it felt...
He stepped closer to her, close enough to block the sunlight. His hand reached up to her face, and Star closed her eyes, ready to feel him nuzzle her cheek or her temple, as he always did when he lowered his face.
Her world came to a shattering halt as his mouth came down over hers. Taking her sanity, claiming her heart, drawing everything away from her until she could no longer breathe. Or think. Or have any other sensation numbing every nerve in her body except for the giving and taking caress of his lips.
Life was in his lips. He gave her life. Intoxicating, soul-shaking, mind-blanking life. He held her cheek with one hand, and his lips possessed hers until she could do nothing but fall weakly against him and let him have absolute control of her. Hoping he would take her over and over. Feeling his tongue delving as deeply into this part of her body at this moment the same way he'd taken her virginity in her lonely little bed back at Guardian Command. Taking her further and further away from here and now, until the center of her universe was contained in the length and breadth of one man. One friend, one teammate, one incredible lover.
A soft chuckle vibrated in his chest. “Think?” he asked with his spicy breath and that deep voice that filled her head with memories of passion-filled nights. With promises of more to come.
"I swear by all the stars in the heavens, Udo,” she somehow managed to confess as his lips sipped her like precious water. “I love you."
A thought flashed through her mind, and the moment was ripped apart as she gasped for breath and shoved herself away from his embrace. Eyes wild with dread faced him as she stared at the headset still braced around his ear. “Please tell me,” she managed to gasp, motioning toward the device.
Had they heard? Had she just confessed her deepest feelings to Hunter, just to have the rest of their colleagues hear them as well? Oh, please! Please, no!
Hunter continued to watch her, an amused smile gracing those incredible lips, as he pulled the headset off and held it out to her. The light on the side of the transmitter glowed red. Red, not green. He had turned it off right after he had spoken to Deceiver.
The others didn't know. And they wouldn't know, until she was ready to tell them. Relief gushed out of her in a whoosh of breath.
Hunter started to reach for her again, when a blast tore through the ground less than a mile away from them, but the earth beneath their feet erupted, sending them both tumbling backwards. “Get to the ship!” he yelled at her.
"Not without you!"
"Don't worry, my love. I'll beat you there.” And he was gone.
With an extra burst of speed, Star raced straight upward, searching for the transport. It wasn't until she was engulfed within the clouds that she realized what Hunter had said to her. This time he hadn't called her “my heart". He had called her “my love".
Closing her eyes, Star bit her lips to keep from crying.
Clock
Guardian Transport Three began to sink down through the clouds. Star could see they had already begun evasive maneuvers, meaning the outer hull door would be sealed, preventing her from boarding immediately. Because nothing could bar Hunter from passing through solid metal, she knew he would already be onboard. Okay, so she had been ordered straight back to the ship. She'd have to wait now until the all clear was given before she could do that.
Another blast passed high and to the right, missing them by a wide margin. The Ombitrans were firing at random. Either that, or they had no idea where their target was hiding, and were hoping for a lucky hit.
She kept close to the ship, following it down to where it settled in a narrow valley, hidden from sight by a tall copse of vining plant life. Three's force field would protect her from being bathed in residue from a direct blow, but as long as it was on, she couldn't approach to board, either.
A massive wind began blowing from behind, nearly tossing her to the ground. Three reeled, rocking sideways as it deployed its landing gear.
Picking herself up, Star tossed her hair back over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at the massive enemy craft passing over them from nearly a mile up. It was searching for them, knowing somehow that they were there. Somewhere. She hesitated, knowing she needed to communicate with the rest inside, but the diamond-like behemoth floating past was too great a temptation. Despite the fact that it was moving slowly, there was a chance it could step up its pace at any second and head out into space before she could get another earpiece.
"Let's see how you feel about a little extra propulsion,” she muttered as she launched herself directly at the underbelly of the beast.
As she drew nearer, the shiny skin over the hull winked at her. Lifting her arms, Star sent out a tiny pulse of magnetic current. The ship sucked her up against itself as smoothly as gliding across a sun's corona.
Pressed along its bottom hull, Star felt its pulse beating across her muscles, a steady, stinging tempo that threatened to give her a headache if she didn't pull away soon. But she had found out something that would give her a distinct edge when it came time to fight this enemy, and Star wondered if the rest knew the information.
Carefully she detached herself from the hull and let herself freefall until she was clear of its passing backwash. She remained airborne, watching the Ombitran vessel fade into the distance, and waited for it to be safe enough away. Only then did she drop back planet-side to join the other Guardians.
They were gathered inside a small clearing in meeting formation. As she landed lightly on her feet, she started to tell them about what she'd discovered when Deceiver descended upon her with sharp and bitter words.
"Since when have you decided you are no longer part of this company?"
Stunned by his accusation, Star took a step back. “What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you flying off on your own without checking with us first to see what our plan of action was. Who do you think you are, engaging the enemy on your own?"
"I didn't engage the enemy!” she hotly shot back. Throwing her glance in Hunter's direction, she was shocked to see an equally furious expression clouding his face. “I couldn't get back into the ship!” she defended herself. “What else was I supposed to do?"
"When you're ordered to go back to the ship, we expect you to go immediately after you've finished your assignment,” Hunter growled at her with that low, threatening edge to his voice she had heard in the past. He stood with his feet planted apart, arms crossed over his chest. There was nothing in his countenance that resembled the man she'd confessed her deepest emotions to a short while ago.
Now she was completely confused. Yes, he had told her to return to the ship, but she hadn't been the only one who had been standing on that small hillock, locked in a frantic embrace.
"You could have revealed us to the Ombitra,” Bruiser admonished her.
"Is that what everyone is getting so upset about?” Star demanded, now on the verge of tears. It was enough she was on everyone's black list at the moment. That was nothing new. Heavens knew she wasn't a stranger to facing their accusations.
It was Hunter who had her thoroughly flustered. Again, she sought his eyes for some sign of the man he'd been a few minutes ago, but a stranger was facing her at that moment.
Taking a few steps back, she tried to explain to them why she'd broken protocol. “The ships were heading out. I-I thought I could tail them a short distance. Maybe get lucky enough to find out something. I know how to keep from being spotted! Dammit, Deceiver, I didn't harm anyone!"
"No, but you're starting to go more and more on your own when it comes to pulling stunts like this. That's not teamwork, Star. That's not what being a Guardian is about,” Deceiver continued. His coldness was as hurtful as it was the truth.
"Hey, girl, what do you think we could have done if you'd somehow gotten blasted by that thing up there?” Disaster tried to reason in a calmer tone of voice.
Morning Fire stepped forward, knowing her friend was quickly becoming more upset. “They're right, Star,” she explained in a gentler tone. “It's just like when you ran off to go sun dancing, when there was still the job to finish. You've got find a way to get what needs to be done, done. We all have problems facing us. Although heavens know your situation ranks right up there among the worst, life still goes on. The job still goes on. We depend on each other with our lives. So when you run off to ‘get lucky', as you call it, you did harm us. You put a hole in our defenses. You created a way for the enemy to reach us, if they'd managed to capture or hurt you."
The ground quaked momentarily, throwing everyone slightly off-balance for a second. Instinctively, Star rose a few inches above the undulating grasses, and watched her fellow Guardians adjust to the disruption.
Her hands were clenched, but not as tightly as the cold knot in the middle of her stomach. They were making it sound like she'd deserted them, when that had never been the case.
Again, her eyes shot at Hunter. This time, however, he was watching her with a hooded expression, as if he could read her thoughts. For some inexplicable reason, she wanted to get away from their hurtful accusations and damning stares. Yet ... she would have given anything to be able to fly into Hunter's arms and let him soothe her. She wanted to feel his fingers threading though her hair, hear him murmuring loving words into her ear before sliding his warm lips down her neck.
Hear him murmuring loving words...
Her breath caught in her chest, and the pain of revelation lanced through her heart. Hunter had never told her he loved her. Yes, he'd called her “my heart” and “my love,” but the actual words had never been spoken. Not out loud, and not to her.
Her eyes went dark with the ache that was tearing through her lungs as she was forced to face the truth. Hunter didn't love her. Those were love names he'd used. They meant no more to him than if he'd called her by her first name.
He had wooed her untested heart and virgin body with the ease of an experienced seducer. And she, always the fool, had fallen for it. Yes, he had done his part to make the HandFast as painless as possible, despite the additional hardships and restrictions. He'd done his part too well. And she had fallen so deeply in love with him, there would never be any escape from it, no matter how far she flew. No matter how long she wandered.
"I didn't ask to become a Guardian,” Star reminded everyone in a choked voice, and noticed the surprised expressions on their faces. Rising a bit higher, she felt tears making cool tracks down her face. “You asked me, remember? You invited me to go back to Guardian Command with you and join up. You knew I had been wandering through the galaxies for years. You knew how I was, how I had been alone ... how I had been forced to be alone for all those years. I joined you because I was tired of wandering. Because I thought I should give you the chance to give me something stable in my life. And now ... and now you berate me for acting on my instincts?"
"Star, we're not berating you for anything,” Animator called up to her. “We're just trying to make you understand we're a stronger force if we stay united. If we know what everyone else is doing, and something happens, we can be there to back you up. We protect each other. We care for each other."
"But I've become a hindrance to you,” Star reminded them. “You said so yourself. I'm the hole in your defenses. If something comes down, it'll probably be because I inadvertently allowed it to."
"Star!” It was Morning Fire again. Star wondered why her friend's face was as wet as her own. “What do you think you're doing?"
"Maybe it's time I no longer placed the Guardians in any kind of danger,” she admitted softly. Her hands were numb; her body was a heavy mass, an empty, lifeless void. If she wasn't around to bring about any kind of trouble, then they would be able to regroup and close that hole. Without realizing it, she floated higher into the air, away from them.
"Terrin."
His voice jerked her back as easily as if he'd tugged on her physically. Opening her eyes, she saw where he had moved until he was directly below her.
"Come back down, Terrin,” he ordered her. Not asked. His voice was less harsh, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Her heart could barely manage to keep beating, despite the pain.
She shook her head. “I know what the edict says. If one of us should break the HandFast, the other is not made to bear the blame. So they won't punish you, Hunter, when I don't return with the rest of you."
Sensing in her voice what they'd been dreading to hear, Corona cried out, “Star, no!"
"We're stronger because of you, Star!” Sender said, lifting her hand upward as if she could grasp an arm or leg, and pull her back down to the ground.
"Doesn't matter. I'll still break the rules. I'll still run off without warning. Without ... permission. I can't help being who I am. Or what I am ... just another freak. Someone everyone says they need, but no one really wants. Not the ‘me’ part, anyway. All everyone will ever see is the ability and the body, never what's inside."
A ragged breath shook her. Lifting her face, Star saw that the last of the Ombitra had left the planet. Didn't matter. They'd show up again later, somewhere else. There would be no fighting today. Good. It would give them the time to gather together, to fill whatever gaps needed to be filled once she was gone.
She'd had two years with them. Heavens, that was the longest she'd ever stayed in one place since she'd escaped her home world. But it was time to move on. She had become a liability. It would be better for them, safer for them, once she was gone.
"Star.” They were spread out below her, calling to her, reaching out to her, yet his voice alone carried straight to her soul. “Star, it doesn't matter where you go. I'll find you."
"Not if I go far enough,” she choked.
"There is no place ‘far enough'. I'll find you."
Sudden rage raced through her. Looking down at Hunter, she cried, “Don't you understand? I'm releasing you from that damned HandFast! You're free! The Committee will come down on my head, not yours!"
Tears were coming faster now. She had to go. She had to find a spot someplace in the ocean of empty space, where she could curl up and weep as loudly as she wanted, without anyone condemning her for her weakness. For the lost friendships she thought had been enough to make her happy. And for the fact that she had given herself to a man her heart would never let her forget for as long as she lived.
"It doesn't matter, Terrin, and you know that. You know we moved past the HandFast after that first night. We no longer need it, you and I."
She lost height at his confession, nearly tumbling to the ground. Eyes widening, she stared at him. The man who stood below her never moved. Never raised his arms toward her. Never made any kind of gesture, other than the words he spoke aloud. To her. In front of everyone standing behind him.
Unable to believe what she had heard, Star slowly shook her head. “Nooo.” What she meant by her denial, she couldn't explain, but it left her in a slow rush of air as she covered her eyes with her hands, and her body began to lift away of its own accord.
A burst of energy surged through her, and she was away from the planet, heading deep into the blackness of space.
Seeing her rising, Hunter felt her despair squeezing all life and breath from her. She was exhausted mentally, and after the starburst, physically. She wasn't thinking straight, which meant the ghosts from her past were welling up from the icy pit inside her and digging their fingers into her sanity.
I can't help being who I am. Or what I am ... just another freak.
A freak? No one had ever called her that. That wasn't a word they bandied about, not among the Guardians. Not among fifteen others who fit that description just as easily, if it came down to pure semantics.
The moment she began to drift upward, he knew she was leaving. She honestly felt as though her presence would spell more harm than good to the group. And that by leaving, she was assuring them a better chance of survival.
Star was not fleeing to find a chance to center herself. Not this time. She was leaving for good. The emotional overload was too much, and it was bringing out too much of the past for her to handle.
A heavy hand clamped down on his arm. Hunter started, turning to see Deceiver's pale face staring into his. “What's wrong? What did we say or do to make her leave?"
"She believes she brings more harm than good to the group. Deceiver, her life before joining us was filled with nothing but ridicule and rejection. Star's escaping, rejecting us before we do the same to her.” The truth clawed at him with steel-tipped talons, ripping his heart apart.
"Can you get her back?"
"I'll get her back,” Hunter swore. “Even if it takes the rest of my life."
Swallowing hard, Deceiver managed a weak smile. Turning to the rest, he barked, “All right, everyone. Provoker, give us something to do to help get this world back on its feet."
"Hunter!” Time Merchant waved at him from the door of the transport. “Urgent communications. From the Committee."
Faintness washed over him, forcing him to erect walls around his sanity as he strode into the ship and saw the blinking light on the console. Taking the headset from Time Merchant, Hunter placed it into his ear, then punching in his personal code to accept the message. Behind him the two men watched in silence. After a brief period, Hunter closed the relay. “Negative.” A second later, he slammed his fist into the wall beside the viewport.
"Go,” Deceiver ordered softly. “Go. We'll be leaving here as soon as we restore a sense of stability back to this place."
Time Merchant spoke up. “One more thing, Hunter. And it's important."
Hunter turned around to face the two men.
Straightening his shoulders, Time Merchant confessed, “That call came in just a minute ago, but it was delayed due to the distance. We're a long way away from home, Hunter, but your clock is almost due. It doesn't matter when we lift off now. By the time we get back, you and Star will be late reporting in, and you know the Committee will be out for blood the moment we land."
"If we go back without her, the blame will fall on her,” Deceiver reminded him. “Star was right. The HandFast will be cancelled between you. But if she ever comes back, justice will be merciless to her."
Nodding, Hunter breathed in deeply. Shakily. “She's fast, but I'm faster. I need to leave now."
"How are you going to convince her to come back to Guardian Command?” Deceiver asked.
"That's secondary,” Hunter told him. “First I have to convince her that I love her."
Hearts
He was forced to stop in the Bera Addaredon system, at a medium-sized planetoid used as a storage facility for the three livon-rich moons currently being mined. He was eleven parsecs away from Greater Biris, but he had no idea how long he had been moving through space. Time was inconsistent from galaxy to galaxy.
If there was one thing to be thankful for, Star was being consistent. She was heading in a straight line. She was also heading directly away from Guardian Command.
Hunter ran a weary hand over his forehead. Exhaustion was dripping off of him, but he knew that if he was tiring, so was she. Her energy wasn't inexhaustible. She had to regularly siphon energy off the suns to keep herself at peak form. The burst she'd used on Greater Biris to draw attention to herself had taken a lot out of her. Other than the handful of small stars he had passed, none had been close enough to give her any direct rays, which meant she was either on reserves, or totally depleted by now. After coming so far, if she'd kept her speed constant, Star was not too far ahead of him.
Struggling to his feet, Hunter shut his eyes and concentrated on his target. Following her trail was less like pursuing a quarry, and more like releasing himself to the call of his heart. She was in every pore of his skin. He could feel her from the soles of his feet to the top of his scalp. He could even taste her on his tongue, where her scent caressed his palate.
Two nights. They had shared two nights, and she'd become like his own blood.
The netherworld protected him during his flight past a hundred moons and planets. Its only drawback was that it wasn't oxygen rich, which meant he had to find worlds where he could breathe and restock that thin bubble around him. As he slipped effortlessly into gray, mistsy nonexistence, his body reached out, calling to her.
Terrin.
Time Merchant and Deceiver had stared at him when he had told them he had to convince Star he loved her. Oddly, though, they didn't seem surprised, other than hearing him declare it. A tiny smile creased the corners of his mouth. How many of them already suspected the truth?
A tiny shimmering of color rainbowed from behind an asteroid belt circling an uninhabited planet below. The phenomenon should not have been there, as the coloring faced away from any light source. Hunter felt a tug in his bones, and he dropped to check it out.
When he finally spotted her, for the span of several heartbeats he almost allowed his terror to swallow him whole. She was lying sprawled inside one of the million craters spotting the back of the largest asteroid. Motionless, there was no sign of breathing, no sign of life coming from her. Hunter drew closer. The asteroid had no atmosphere. If he left the void, he would die almost instantly, but definitely, and with extreme agony in the airlessness of space.
A tremor ran through her, and her eyes flew open. Her mouth formed a single word.
No!
He watched as she painfully got to her feet, and at that moment it hit him. She could feel him. She could tell he was there, as surely as he could sense her. How, he couldn't begin to understand, but the knowledge gave him both a sense of security while at the same time it also posed a problem. How would he be able to approach her if she could “see” him coming?
Star was weak. The star pattern on her body suit barely moved. Her face was pale. Wan. Her violet eyes were enormous saucers.
Taking the risk, Hunter coalesced for less than a fraction of a second before retreating back into the void. But it was enough time to drop the earpiece in front of her.
Star saw the tiny communications device materialize near the toe of her boot, as if by magic. Long moments passed as she stared at it, warring with her emotions. Fighting with her need to hear his voice, even though she knew that if she relented and put it on, all that she had accomplished thus far would not matter anymore.
Hunter watched her body tremble as he softly urged her to, “Pick it up, my love. Please. Please. Take it and put it on. Let me talk to you. Let me tell you how this flight is going to kill us, but I don't care. I don't care anymore, not as long as I'm with you. Not as long as the last thing I ever see is your beautiful face. Pick up the earpiece, Terrin. Please."
She bent to retrieve the earpiece, and Hunter finally knew her love for him was greater than her worst fears and despair. He waited for her to slip it on. Waited for her to speak first.
"I know you're there. I can feel you. You're so damn close.” Her voice was a ghost. She was past exhaustion, as was he.
"Terrin."
At the sound of her name, Star almost convulsed, tightly shutting her eyes as she clenched her fists in front of her.
"I can't ... I can't take any more, Udo,” she told him. Her confession sounded thin and far away in the vacuum of space. “Why won't you let me go?"
"Because if I do, I will lose what's left of my sanity. I love you, Terrin. So much, that if I have to follow you for the rest of my days, I'll do so without any reservation. I can't let you go. I never will."
She shuddered again, then lifted off the asteroid and headed once again in the direction she'd been traveling all this time. Hunter easily kept pace beside her. At one point she turned to look directly at him, or at the emptiness where she knew he should be. “How do you do that? Since when have you been able to do that?"
"I've always been able to do this,” he confided in her. There would be no secrets between them. Not any more. “What you've seen me do these past two years is only half of my powers, Terrin. There is more I can do, but I've never revealed them to the group."
"Why? Why not use them for the benefit of the group?"
"I didn't say I didn't use them. I just never let the rest know I had them. As for why, I guess it was for the same reason you've kept the real you hidden away from us.” He paused slightly, then added, “I need you like air, Terrin. If you won't return to Guardian Command, neither will I."
They flew over a cluster of small, ineffective wormholes before Star glanced back in his direction. “Where are you?"
"There's a netherworld, a void of sorts, that I enter when I go from one place to another. It's how I can determine where to reappear. I can see where I am before I materialize, and prevent any injury to myself by not appearing inside another person or solid object."
For the first time since that moment on the hill, he saw a faint smile tug at the corner of her mouth, and it gave him hope. “I wondered how you were able to keep from doing that,” she murmured. “So ... how long can you stay in that void of yours?"
"All night ... if I want to."
His unspoken meaning crystallized in her mind. “You've been in my chambers before? Watching me?"
"Yes."
"You ... you...” She tried to swallow, but she was dehydrated, and becoming more so. “After that first night ... you stayed, even after I told you to leave?"
He breathed gently into the microphone. “Yes,” he admitted truthfully. “I left but I came back."
"Why won't you let me see you now?"
"The void is protecting me. If I materialize, the vacuum will suck me dead. I have no suit on. No oxygen helmet."
"Then how were you able to drop me the earpiece? Was it like when you pulled me into the transport?” A thought suddenly struck her, and Star abruptly halted to peer back over her shoulder.
"They're back on Greater Biris,” Hunter told her. “Or ... they're probably on their way back home by now. Either way, we're too far away for our signals to reach them. As for the earpiece, I took the risk of materializing for a nanosecond to release it. It was a tricky maneuver, but I had to do it."
She lowered her face. Hunter watched as a wide range of emotions waged war across her lovely features. “I want ... to see you,” she whispered, barely audible. Ashamed of her weakness and need as she relented. “I hate speaking to nothingness."
"We'll have to find someplace with an atmosphere."
There was such a place, a planet another half-parsec away. Weak, yellow rays of sunlight filtered over its desert terrain, but it was capable of sustaining life forms, if such existed on its surface. The moment Star's booted feet touched the ground, Hunter stood before her. Before she could say another word, to either question him or beg him to leave, he swooped over her, crushing her against his chest. She sobbed his name.
Their relief and exhaustion overcame them, and Hunter pulled her down on top of him as they collapsed onto the packed earth. She didn't cry out, but her body was like ice. Tightly, he kept her safely encircled within his embrace as he kissed her temples and forehead.
Neither of them was aware of falling asleep, nor of the fact that they clutched each other with desperate hands.
Hunter awoke first, aware of the woman still lying across his body, in his arms, forever in his heart. He closed his eyes. He was tired beyond all description. There was no way he could estimate how long it had been since they had eaten. Or had anything to drink. But he had found her. He had her with him, bound tightly to him with chains of love and flesh, and that was all that mattered.
Star stirred. Her voice simultaneously echoed in his ear and earpiece. “What do we do now, Udo?"
"What do you want, Terrin? My life is yours. Whatever you say, I'll be there."
He felt her snuggle against his chest. “I wish ... I wish this damn HandFast was over."
"So do I.” Immediately he felt her stiffen, and he knew why. “I don't want every time we make love to become public knowledge,” he added, and felt her stiffness melt away.
"We can't ... we can't go back to Guardian Command ... can we?” There was finality in her voice, as if she had almost accepted the fact for truth.
Hunter stroked her hair, noticing how she curled more tightly against him with the touch. “We can always go back, if that's what you want."
"How?"
Taking a deep breath, Hunter first pressed a kiss to her hair. “There's always a way. By the way, right after you left, we got a message from the Committee. Negative, my love."
The obscenity that escaped her lips made him chuckle. Slowly, Star raised herself up on her elbows until she could look down into his face scant inches away. “I love being a Guardian,” she confessed, “but I can't take them chewing me out for something I can't control. Either they accept me as I am, or...” Her voice faded away, yet her eyes remained locked onto his.
Hunter reached up to caress her full lips with his fingers. They parted at his touch, prompting him to plunge his hand to the back of her head, digging into the silken curls, and pulling her to him, taking her mouth with unspoken passion.
Instantly he rolled over, until his body pinned hers against the ground. Star whimpered against his assault, then reached for him. Demanding more. Needing more. Unable to wait another minute for his love that had become as essential for her existence as air and water.
Faintly she felt him remove their earpieces, then his tongue began to taste the sensitive skin under her ear, following an invisible trail under her jaw as the rest of his body moved over hers. His erection was rigid and heavy, pushing between her legs with an insistence that was drowning her sanity in lust.
"This damn suit is burning me, Terrin. How does it come off?” he asked in a guttural voice.
She pulled a hand from where she'd unconsciously buried it underneath the back of his tunic, and reached up to where the suit flapped together at her neckline, right above her left collarbone. Once she started to peel it off, Hunter grabbed the edge of it and followed through, gliding past the side of one perfect breast, underneath her arm, down her ribs, hip, and leg, to end at her built-in boot. Getting up on his knees, he jerked off the one boot. Star sat up to pull her foot out of the other one, withdrawing her other leg from the uniform. Two seconds later, she had shimmied out of the suit.
"Now, your turn,” she ordered him. To her amazement, she watched as the tunic came off in one piece, up and over his head with a single movement. That was why she couldn't figure out the closures—there weren't any. The boots were calf-high, she also found out. And the buttoned pants had no pockets.
"My tunic has pockets,” Hunter laughed softly, reaching for her. Drawing her back on top of him as he stretched out on the ground.
Star kissed him, devoured him, unable to believe how hungry she was for him. His hands were on her buttocks, keeping her hard and fast against the silky rod of thick steel seeking her entrance. Sitting up, she stared down at him lying beneath her. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and a breathy giggle escaped her.
"What?” he smiled up at her.
Another soft giggle erupted, and Star slowly shook her head in disbelief. “Light of day,” she finally managed to admit.
Hunter tilted his head back a bit, then his gaze returned to her. “So it is."
This time, she laughed out loud with delight.
His hands came up around her waist, leaving a trail of warmth as his fingers reached her breasts. Star watched as his thumbs and forefingers made little circles around her dark red nipples, then plucked them. The lance of desire that speared her made her close her eyes and moan breathlessly.
"Now I can marvel at every inch of you,” he murmured as he continued to play with her body. He cupped the round, full globes and tenderly massaged them. Star watched in fascination. Vaguely she wondered if the growing heat in his eyes was a reflection of hers.
"By all that is holy, Terrin, I love you."
His declaration bathed her in a happiness she never believed possible.
As she let her soul accept him as her truth, she felt his hands grip her hips, and slowly raise her above him. Incredible heat touched her triangle of raven curls, penetrated her folds, and then a thickness of indescribable deliciousness began to spread her. Fill her. Penetrate and worship her. She couldn't believe she could take all of him within herself without any pain.
Throwing back her head, Star let out a deep groan of satisfaction. “Udo!"
She could only weave her fingers over his warm chest as he worked her up and down over him. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she wondered if this time would count as yesterday, or today, or tomorrow. But then it no longer mattered as Hunter increased the pace, ramming her faster and harder over him.
She closed her eyes and gave herself up to ecstasy, tiny cries bubbling out of her throat with every thrust. At some point she wondered why he kept her on top, when it dawned on her. He was protecting her skin from being abraded by the rough ground, taking the coarse irritation upon himself.
She took him again and again, struggling to fit him deeper into her every time her muscles closed over him. The only sounds were their panting breaths, soft grunts, and the wet, slapping noises they were creating. Her knees locked around his thighs to keep herself from flying away. Her long, thick hair bounced and flowed over them in midnight waves. Still, he took her relentlessly, and Star wished he would never stop this torment that made her weak with desire.
His explosion took her by surprise a second before her own body erupted, jerking her across his chest as his pumping slowed, and eventually came to a gradual stop. They were gasping for air in the thin atmosphere. Coated with sweat, they found themselves shuddering from the tumultuous waves washing over them, breaking over them, gradually slowing with gentler and gentler movements.
Unaware of her arms sliding around his neck, Star bent over and kissed his skin where his pulse fiercely beat near the surface. “Take me home, Udo,” she whispered, snuggling.
His answer was the feel of his arms tightening around her waist.
Arrest
"Damn them all!"
Deceiver turned to Commander who was piloting Three back to home bay. They had taken the long way back, without the benefit of any shortcuts, in the false hope they would intercept Master Hunter and StarLight along the way. It wasn't until they'd punched through the surface of their home world that they admitted the two might not be returning any time soon. If ever.
Now, as the Guardian transport ship approached the docking station, everyone could see the half-dozen police craft and two official vehicles used exclusively by the Committee parked in the middle of the concourse.
"What are we going to do, Deceiver?” Corona asked softly. Everyone was tired. They had eaten from the supplies packed aboard the ship, but it had been a long, exhausting mission. To a man they wanted to retreat to their beds for some much needed rest once they landed. No one wanted to mess with whatever nonsense the Committee was determined to instigate the moment they were on the ground.
The Guardian leader frowned. “Nothing. There's nothing we can do.” He sighed loudly. Whatever he said to the authorities, he knew the others would back him unflinchingly.
As they expected, the moment the outer door was opened, two uniformed police flanked them as they emerged from the craft. Overhead in normally restricted airspace, news shuttles hovered. Filming. Reporting.
A tall figure in a black tunic approached the group, stopping less than ten feet away as his eyes raked over them. They all knew who he was searching for.
"I am Serien Tark. I'm chairman representing the Committee in charge of upholding the laws and edicts of the HandFast. Where are Master Hunter and StarLight?"
"They're not here,” Deceiver spoke out, taking a step toward the chairman, singling himself out.
Tark screwed up his face. “What do you mean, they're not here? Where are you hiding them?"
"Not hiding them anywhere,” Deceiver answered noncommittally. “You're welcome to check out the transport if you think we're keeping them concealed.” To his surprise, Tark gave a nod to the two policemen standing beside the craft, who immediately disappeared inside. The action suffused him with further resentment.
"Then you know where they are,” the Chairman accused.
"I sent them on a search mission,” Deceiver lied. Well, half a lie. Behind him, the other Guardians kept straight faces. “We met with the Ombitra on Greater Biris. Because of their flying abilities, I sent Hunter and Star to tail the enemy ships, hoping to get an idea as to where they came from."
"You realize that by doing so, you violated the edicts of the HandFast."
"How so? I read no such edict that would prove I'm in violation,” Deceiver snapped.
"You removed their ability to report back to the Committee,” Tark replied smoothly. “You interfered with StarLight's need to be tested. That makes you culpable and liable. Captain?” Motioning to one of the police, the chairman pointed to Deceiver. “Arrest this man and charge him violation of HandFast edicts."
"And while you're at it, arrest yourself,” an angry voice demanded from behind them.
"Hunter! Oh, thank the heavens!” Morning Fire spoke aloud, voicing everyone's relief. They all stepped back in surprise when the man suddenly appeared in their midst.
Immediately the Chairman pointed toward Hunter. “Arrest that man and charge him with HandFast violation."
"And take Chairman Tark into custody as well! He has violated the edict proper!” Hunter reiterated as two armed police approached him. A quick, fiery glance at the two officers made them stopped in their tracks. “If you think you're going to be able to get your hands on me, better think again,” Hunter growled at them as barely visible wisps of darkness began to swirl around him.
Tark raised his hand to repeat his order, but this time the captain of the troop made him pause. “Hold and desist,” he ordered the chairman, and turned toward Hunter. “Explain yourself. You claim violation of an edict proper. That's a very serious charge. Can you back your claim?"
"Damn right I can,” Hunter said, motioning toward the chairman. “He has deliberately prevented StarLight from being able to test and report back to the Committee."
Tark protested with widened eyes. “You lie!"
Hunter turned on him with a darkening look. “Being chairman, it was you who ordered the installation of a testing device in her personal quarters, wasn't it?” His eyes narrowed. “Well?"
"Yes. What of it?"
"And you also ordered a testing device installed in Guardian Transport Two, did you not?"
"You're not making any sense!” Tark shouted. “You've been given every opportunity to comply with the law, and you failed!"
"Kind of hard to test and report in when the transport you're using doesn't have the device in it,” Provoker spoke up with a lazy drawl. Grinning mischievously, he added, “Or, at least, it would seem that way to me."
Several seconds of silence passed by. Swiveling his head to where the chairman stood as still as stone, the captain raised an eyebrow at him. “Is this true? Do all the transports have testing and transmitting devices on them?"
"The damn thing's on Two,” Hunter reiterated. “We took Three to Greater Biris. You know our job, Tark. You know what we do. Are you going to tell a whole planet of people that your damn laws and edicts supersede their lives?"
As they waited for the chairman's reply, every Guardian scanned the area. StarLight's presence was noticeably absent, and they worried that Hunter had not been able to bring her back.
Suddenly, Bruiser pressed a meaty hand to the headset still on his head, and a huge grin broke over his face. He nudged Time Merchant, who tapped Deceiver on the back. Turning around, the Guardian leader saw Bruiser's wide smile and the man pointing a finger up at the sky. He glanced upward, but the sunshine was blindingly bright.
"You still violated HandFast,” Tark finally repeated. “The facts are the facts."
"And my orders are my orders,” the captain told the man. “Anyone found responsible for keeping any couple from performing their duties shall also be held in contempt, and brought before the courts for punishment and sentencing.” He started to grab the chairman by the arm, when an officer called out.
"Captain! Look!"
Star drifted downward as she stared at the little scene unfolding below her. Lightly her feet touched the familiar earth before she took her place directly next to Hunter. Her body suit pulsed; the flow of patterned stars moved across her figure like a free-flowing stream. The rays of their sun had done much to give her back some of her strength, but she was still weak from hunger and thirst, not to mention dead-on-her-feet tired.
"Arrest that woman,” Tark directed.
As the two officers started toward her, Hunter blocked their way, his eyes suddenly becoming black and threatening. The air around them both visibly grayed. “Touch her, and you'll suffer nightmares for the rest of your lives,” he promised them softly. It didn't surprise him when the two men stepped back several feet in frightened response.
"Captain!” the chairman yelled. “Do your duty!"
"Wait, wait, wait a minute.” Holding up his hands in mock supplication, Provoker stepped forward. “I think there's a way we can come to an amiable solution here. Chairman, do you have a testing device on you, by any chance?"
Tark threw the man a scathing look. “Why do you ask?"
"Well, it seems to me that this whole shouting match boils down to the fact that, a, Star never tested and reported in like she should have, but, b, she couldn't because of a small technical glitch."
Lowering his eyebrows at the Guardian's negotiator, he asked, “What kind of glitch?"
"A faulty connection between the seat and the communications board,” Provoker dryly responded.
Several Guardians, including police, fought to contain their laughter as the chairman stared uncomprehending back at Provoker.
Shrugging, Provoker continued. “What if Star goes ahead and tests now? Would that satisfy both the Committee and the police? At least, until you get a testing device installed in the other two transports?"
"She broke the law,” Tark reiterated.
"Yeah, and you gave her no choice,” Provoker reiterated. “Sounds to me like a stalemate."
Pivoting back around to face the chairman, the captain had to agree. “If you insist on us taking StarLight in, we'll be forced to include you as well. It's your decision, sir."
Another full minute went by as the chairman glanced up at the media swarming overhead, and at the man and woman giving him heated stares. Not to mention the other fourteen Guardians looking like they were also ready to take him to task. There was no way he would be able to talk himself out of this predicament, not after he had made such a to-do about putting a testing plate in the Guardian transport. It had never occurred to him to put one in the other two ships. His oversight was damning.
Throwing out his chin, he conceded. “Test her now. We'll wait here for results before we proceed any further.” He tossed a hand out at one of the police officers, who dutifully went over to the chairman's vehicle and pulled out a small briefcase from the back seat. He walked back over to where the Committee representative stood and placed it on the ground, opening it.
Star's eyes dropped to where the familiar silver plate twinkled in the sunlight, and her face burned red. Silently, she walked over to the case and knelt before it. Throwing another hateful look at Tark, she turned on the device and slammed her hand on the disk. It hummed and grew warm. Seconds later it was all over. Getting to her feet, she moved toward the chairman until she stood less than a yard away from the man.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?” she accused him, barely able to contain her anger. “You thrive on seeing others humiliated, don't you?"
The last thing she expected to see was the smirk that came over the chairman's face. “You realize, of course, that if the test proves you and Master Hunter have not performed your duty, I'm off the hook."
Star's temper flared to the point where she almost raised her hand to strike him. It took every ounce of willpower for her to turn her back on him and walk back to stand beside Hunter.
A minute ticked by. Then two. Then three. Before the fourth minute had elapsed, the briefcase beeped, and a red communications light blinked. Smiling, Tark leaned over and flicked on the viewscreen to read the message.
When he didn't straighten up, the captain went over to see why. A smile came over the officer's face. “Well, what do you know? Duty performed. It's your call now, Chairman. Do you still want to press charges for failure to report in as required? Because if you do, my offer still stands."
Looking soundly defeated, Tark shook his head. “No. I won't press charges.” Pivoting around to glare at the couple, he added, “Not this time. All right, Captain, tell your men to pull out."
"Don't forget to order the news shuttles out of our airspace,” Deceiver pointed upward with a forefinger.
They watched as the Committee representative and his entourage pulled out, escorted by the six police units. Overhead the news media finally flitted away, having gotten enough fodder to fill several broadcasts. Once every trespasser had evacuated Guardian Command, the group descended upon the weary couple. Star sagged heavily against Hunter, who wrapped a protective arm about her waist. The cloud of protectiveness he had used to envelope them in dissipated. Lifting her easily into his arms, he carried her into the dining hall where Morning Fire hurried to get them something to drink.
"Heavens, we never thought we'd be seeing you again!” Disaster admitted as they watched Hunter place her on a bench just inside the doorway before dropping next to her.
"How are you feeling?” Corona asked. They all could see the two were suffering from total exhaustion.
Pouring some water into her hand, Star wet her face. She cuddled, unashamed, next to Hunter, snuggling against his side. “Forgive me, Deceiver. I'm a fool."
"Yeah, but you're a cute fool,” Hunter teased her, eyeing her over his water bottle.
Cutting her eyes at him, Star burst into laughter. At her response, all tension seemed to drain out of the room, and the group huddled closer to the couple in comfortable companionship.
"How far out did you go?” Seeker inquired tentatively.
Hunter ran his hand through his hair. “I don't honestly know,” he admitted. “I'm not that familiar with that section of the universe. But it was at least thirty, maybe thirty-two parsecs distance."
"You two need to eat something,” Animator suggested. “At least we ate aboard the ship."
It was Star who managed to shake her head. “I'm too tired to eat. I just want to rest. Please."
"I ditto that,” Hunter said softly. Wearily. It was difficult even to think.
"We're all tired. Let me check the boards and see if there's any emergencies out there,” Deceiver told them. “If not, I'm declaring tomorrow time off. Sleep in, guys. You deserve it. Oh, and, Star?” He bent down over her, keeping his voice low.
Bleary-eyed, Star raised her head from where she had been resting it upon Hunter's shoulder. “Yeah, Deceiver?"
"Next time you decide to go gallivanting all over the universe, try to keep it closer to home, would you, please? For the sake of all our sanities?"
To his astonishment, the woman leaned over and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Yeah. All right. Goodnight, Deceiver. Can we go to bed now, Hunter?"
Several around them who had seen and heard her response stared slack-jawed as Hunter slowly got to his feet and drew his arms around Star. The last thing they heard before the couple popped out of sight was his murmured warning.
"You might feel a little dizzy, but don't worry. I have a tight hold on you."
One and four slammed into two's office in red-faced fury.
"Dammit, Tark! What the hell were you thinking, accosting Master Hunter and StarLight like that? Plus you took the media with you!” Four roared.
"Everything we've been working for, and you almost ruined it! Ruined it, you arrogant asshole!” one yelled with equal ferocity.
Throwing an arm at the black vidscreen mounted on the wall behind him, four demanded, “Have you been watching the news? Have you watched the little play enacted for the benefit of the populace? You looked like a total idiot! You even sounded like a total idiot!"
One snorted. “Provoker even crawled a good one up your ass, and you never caught it,” he sneered.
Tark rose to his feet, white-faced from their initial charge. “I held up my end,” he defended hotly.
"Oh, yeah. Like a real professional,” one replied sarcastically. “Glitch between the chair and the communications board. He was talking about you, you worthless piece of dung!"
Four leaned over two's desk, resting his hands on the edge as he moved his upper body closer to the man still standing behind the length of furniture. “If you weren't so far deep into this thing with us, I'd have my men come over and plow a new haircut in that pretty skull of yours."
"Look. I know you're mad at the moment,” Tark tried to placate with a soothing tone. The other two would have none of it, knowing the man too well to be affected.
"We're not mad,” one denied. “We're about ready to have your balls for breakfast!"
"In one fell swoop you've managed to turn public opinion completely against the Committee,” four announced. “You've ratcheted up the masses, and now they're almost ready to pick up arms and protect their beloved Guardians against incompetents like you. Please tell me you aren't rated superior, so I can at least have some piece of mind there won't be any further generations of your kind in the future!"
"It doesn't matter,” Tark told them. “It won't matter once StarLight becomes pregnant, and we can proceed with our plans. Everything else is in place and waiting. Gentlemen! Calm down and get a fresh perspective on things. All right, so I inadvertently took us back a couple of steps—"
"A couple of steps?” one snorted derisively.
"The damage has been done, but it's not permanent. Speaking of, have you made your own arrangements for where you'll be when the attack begins?"
One and four nodded silently.
"How about—"
"You don't worry about us,” four interrupted. “We'll be safe and ready to take over once the Ombitra have had their fill."
Tark smiled. “Good. Soon, gentlemen. Soon. You see ... I had another reason for why I did what I did today.” As the other two gave him doubtful looks, two's smile broadened. “Normal testing plates only register the two secreted hormones. But the device I had with me tests for a third hormone."
"Third hormone?” one questioned.
Nodding, Tark told them, “The hormone that tests for fertility. StarLight is ovulating. Any time now we'll get the answer we've risked everything for. And when it comes, you'd better be prepared, because there will never be another chance."
Strategy
The room slowly came into focus, letting Star know she was back in her quarters at Guardian Command. Sunlight poured through her open wall window, bathing everything in warm whiteness. At first she wondered if the past dozen hours had been a nightmarish dream, or if they had really happened, until a familiar tingling sensation crept over her skin, leaving behind large swaths of goose pimples. A tiny shiver ran through her, and she smiled into her pillow.
He was behind her. Sharing her bed. It was daylight, and he had stayed through the night, until the morning.
Rising up onto her elbows, she turned her head to look at him. He was lying on his stomach, arms buried underneath the pillow that supported his head. He was facing toward her, his eyes closed in sleep. After he had brought her over, they had shucked their uniforms and crawled under the sheets, barely managing a goodnight kiss before letting unconsciousness take over.
Glancing over at the communications panel, Star checked the chronometer. According to it, they had slept the through the rest of yesterday and all of last night. Their twenty-five hour cycle would be up in another hour and a half, but for some reason the thought didn't bother her.
Slowly, she slid out of bed and padded into the cleansing chamber to use the facilities. Next, she turned on the shower to remove the residue she had accumulated on her flight. That was the only bad thing she detested about space. There was so much detritus floating around out there, it was almost like maneuvering through a soup of negative ions and atoms. The stuff clung to her suit with a vengeance, and sometimes it permeated through to adhere to her skin.
As the cleansing rays stripped the invisible filth from her, the stinging bath also masked his approach until a pair of hands circled her waist, startling her. Star whirled around, and was crushed against a warm chest as a pair of lips descended upon hers. She could only hold on for dear life as her body surrendered.
"You left me alone in bed.” He caressed the words against her mouth.
Opening her eyes, she smiled into his sparkling blue gaze. “I thought you were asleep."
"And deny me the chance to enjoy sharing a shower with you?"
Star laughed. Was it possible to be this happy? Raising her arms to encircle his neck, she gave herself up to his kisses. His mouth was gentle but demanding, leaving her dizzy from the heat they were generating between them. Gradually, Hunter lifted her off her feet and pressed her back along the stall's rear wall, out of direct contact with the spray.
"What are you doing?” she asked with a hitch in her throat. His body was a blanket of incredible warmth. His engorged rod had already managed to part her thighs, and now only needed permission to slide into her inner recesses.
His mouth had found her ticklish spot along her neck as his thumbs did their incredible dance over her nipples. Heavens, he could melt her without even having to make love to her. She groaned and wiggled her hips.
Silently answering her unspoken demand, Hunter lifted her knees and tugged her legs around his waist. Pulling back slightly, Star felt him positioning himself, and then a massive length of sheer pleasure speared her, stretched her, invaded her. Star jerked at the invasion and cried out. The wall behind her was unforgiving, keeping her solidly in place as her body took his assault.
Hands twisted in his hair, she tried to match him stroke for pounding stroke, but her hips were kept absolutely still in his iron grasp. Her breath came in gulps as her mind tried to assimilate the barrage of sensations pouring over her. Their bodies were melding as surely as if their flesh was melting and reforming into one being.
She could feel her body stretching, forcing itself to accept all of him. She hadn't been completely wet for him. Not at the beginning. But when he'd begun to move inside her, it was like her juices had gone into overdrive. There was barely time to breathe within his driving rhythm.
At some point he whispered something to her, but her brain no longer registered anything other than the most incredible feelings building inside her. She heard his dark, animalistic voice, but she had no idea what he said. But her body did. And her body responded. She was on fire, burning brighter and hotter than she could ever imagine becoming.
He was Master Hunter. He was her master, and she was his. He had claimed her heart and her body, and now he had total dominion over her. Dominion over her senses, her mind, and every scrap of feeling that she was capable of. As her soul began to ascend into the outer stratosphere, his hands gripped her hard, forcing her to accept his control. Forcing her body to succumb to his hungry demands. Keeping her own hunger acutely attuned to his. So that when she climaxed, her soul took off like a comet, blazing with unrestrained power and beauty.
Hunter's grip kept her body earthbound as he came with almost volcanic force. He had lost control of his instincts long ago, and allowed his own body free rein with hers as he buried his face in her luxurious, black hair.
Their bodies slowed, their minds flowing back to grasp some comprehension of normalcy. Carefully, Hunter lowered her legs from around his waist as he withdrew and stepped back. Star trembled when he gave her a long, tender kiss before he released her.
Eyes slitted, she watched him step into the cleansing spray to wash away yesterday's grime. Leaning against the back wall where he'd left her, she studied him without embarrassment, from the dark, curly, brown head of hair he kept short, over his undeniably handsome face, down over his broad shoulders and wide chest, across his ribs and stomach, to his semi-erect penis, and past those long, lean thighs and legs. The man is perfect. She smiled.
They were still very tired, but once they got something into their stomachs, the day would perk up considerably.
"Udo?"
"What, my love?"
"When was the last time you made love to a woman?"
He glanced over his shoulder at her. He'd turned his back to her, and Star grinned as she gazed at his rear. Damn fine ass, too. Just ripe for a nibble.
"About a minute and a half ago, if my feeble memory serves,” he answered.
"No. I meant ... before me."
This time he stopped rubbing down to turn back around to look at her. “Three years ago,” he told her truthfully.
"Have you ... made love ... to many women?"
"Depends upon your definition of many,” he said softly. “More than a handful? More than two handfuls?"
"Udo."
Reaching out, Hunter cupped her chin in his hand. His eyes caught hers and trapped them within his jeweled blue depths. “I've never made love to a woman unless I was certain about my feelings for her. When I was sure it was love between us. Of course, I was wrong back then, but even so, I've never regretted my actions. All my life I've trusted my heart. I knew that one day it would let me know when I had finally found the one person who would be my eternity. You are the only woman I've taken to bed where my feelings weren't allowed to be part of the criteria. But when I think back on it now, I think I may have already fallen in love with you from the first day I was introduced to you. Back when we were forced to go through those damn timed trials during our initiation.” He shook his head. “I just never knew it for what it was until our first night together."
"What made you certain?” He had finished and moved to the side to let her have her turn underneath the cleansing spray.
"When you told me to leave you when we were finished, but you were crying inside for me to stay."
Star blinked at him. Hunter laughed softly at her violet-eyed astonishment. “Another one of those powers you told me about?” she asked. “The ones no one else knows about?"
"As a hunter, I need to know what my prey is feeling. I need to know if she's frightened, and prepared to run. Or if she's angry, and ready to face me and fight. I know your emotions, my heart. I know your sadness and your happiness, and I know some of what you're keeping locked deep inside yourself, away from me. I hope, maybe someday, you'll trust me enough to tell me everything."
I hope, maybe someday ... Her eyes grew rounder. Was he implying what she prayed he would? Before she could ask, Hunter turned and stepped out of the stall.
"I'll meet you in the dining hall for breakfast. I need to go over to my quarters and get something to wear."
Something to wear? She paused to look back at him. “Hunter? Would it ... I mean..."
Did she have the right to ask him to bring some of his things over to her quarters? To ask that he become a more permanent part of her life? Was that a wish she had the privilege to dream at all? His blue eyes calmly waited, but her courage gave out. “Never mind."
"Your feelings just spiked when I mentioned getting something to wear,” he told her gently. “Were you going to ask me something relating to that?"
She shook her head and lied. “No. Never mind."
"Uh-huh.” He remained leaning against the doorjamb a moment longer. He knew. He knew she'd flat-out fibbed, but he didn't appear upset. “Well, then, may I ask you a question?"
"Fair's fair."
"You might want to start thinking pretty soon about joint quarters, in case we have to go the whole year. In the meantime, would you have any objections to me bringing over a few of my things, so I won't have to go popping back and forth between here and my place? You could leave a change of clothing over in my quarters, as well."
She turned her back to him and leaned into the spray, trying to hide the overwhelmingly happy smile that broke over her. “No. I don't mind."
"Good. Another thing, and this one's also a request. Tonight, would you mind if we spent it over at my place?"
Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt a warm flush rise into her face. Unable to speak, she nodded.
"Oh, one last thing. Don't forget to hit that damn testing device before you come join me,” he reminded her with a wink and a grin dancing around his lips when she whirled around, open-mouthed. “Don't want all my hard work this morning to go down the drain.” At her gasp of indignant astonishment, he laughed and dematerialized.
Star finished her bath and quickly changed into a pair of casual pants and midriff top after swatting the testing device. Declared days off were rare, and one of the few times everyone could doff their uniforms and enjoy regular clothing. As she was running a brush through her hair, there came a knock on her door.
"Star? Are you awake?"
"Door open,” she ordered, not stopping what she was doing as Morning Fire tentatively scanned the room before entering. Laughing, Star assured her, “He's not here."
The petite woman ran over to throw her arms around Star's waist. “Dearest heavens, you don't know how worried I was yesterday.” Rearing back, she swatted her friend on the arm. “How dare you run off like that!"
"So shoot me. This past week has been hell.” Star paused. “Well, parts of it has."
She noticed Morning Fire taking in the messy bed, especially the double set of indentations in the sheets and pillows. Hunter had taken the uniform he'd worn yesterday back with him when he'd left. Hers was still lying on the floor where she'd flung it. Other than the bed, there was nothing to indicate he'd spent the night with her.
Star smiled at her dearest friend. The woman had on a soft, comfortable blouse and matching pants, instead of her scarlet and gold uniform. Her dark red hair was clipped behind her, not loose like she normally wore it. Unless a person knew better, the woman could pass for a young girl. Sometimes, Star noted, most Guardians could easily merge into the regular populace once they put on everyday clothes. She, on the other hand, would always stand out, no matter what she wore.
Finishing, she laid the brush back on her vanity, and went over to the wall closet to find and slip on her shoes.
"You're happy, aren't you?” Morning Fire asked, her eyes carefully scrutinizing every move.
"Yeah. Very happy. Why? Is that a crime, too?"
"We're all talking about it. You and Hunter."
"Everybody knows, then?"
Morning Fire snorted softly. “We were doubtful at first. But now that we're certain, we're overjoyed for you. Most of us, anyway. Bruiser's been positively glum ever since we got back."
"Well, it's not like we were expecting it to happen,” Star told her. “Let's go eat. I'm famished."
They strode out of her quarters and headed for the dining hall. “What's going to happen now?” Morning Fire quizzed.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean ... well ... this is the real thing, isn't it?"
Star smiled slightly. “Yeah. It's the real thing. The real permanent thing. But there's nothing we can do right now, not while we're still bound under the rules of HandFast."
"What'll happen once it's over? Think Hunter will ask you to make it a permanent thing?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Star admitted, “It doesn't matter whether he does or not. We'll always be together now. Nothing will ever separate us. We've given our hearts to each other."
As they walked into the dining hall, almost everyone was already present. Before she could get a tray, both Animator and Corona ran over to give her enthusiastic hugs.
"We're so happy for you,” Animator confessed with a giggle. “After all you've had to go through, it's about time something good came out of this whole mess."
Corona nudged Star's arm. “Tell us. Is this permanent?"
"For me it is,” Star answered softly.
"While they're still bound by the laws of the HandFast, there isn't much they can do,” Morning Fire explained.
"He'll ask you,” Corona nodded confidently. “I just know he will. Good heavens, the man risked his life to find you."
The tingling sensation came to her, and Star unconsciously reacted to the feeling. The other three noticed her sudden stiffening, and Corona laid a steadying hand on her upper arm.
"What? What's the matter?” Animator asked.
Smiling, Star blinked the haziness from her eyes and shook her head. “Nothing. It's just that ... I know when Hunter's nearby. I guess ... I guess I've become attuned to him.” Closing her eyes, she gave them a gentle smile. “Behind me. To the right.” She tilted her head, and added, “Now he's moving left, along the wall."
"Gee, that's amazing!” Morning Fire giggled as they watched the man in question maneuvering across the room. Giving her friend's hand a tug, she ordered, “Come on. I thought you said you were hungry."
Star allowed her friend to drag her over to one of the dispensers, where she got a tray and drink. From the corner of her eye she could see that Deceiver and Hunter were discussing something, but she knew he was just as aware of where she was in the room as she was of him. Damn, but he also looked good in everyday clothes.
Once she got her food, Morning Fire led her to an empty table. Star barely had time to drain her first glass of juice when Hunter joined them.
"Morning, Fire,” he jovially greeted the redhead.
Morning Fire gave them each a questioning glance. “Is that my cue to leave you two alone?"
Hunter smiled. “You're welcome to stay. I figured that, since our secret's out of the bag, it wouldn't hurt if we publicly spent a little more time together."
"This table has four chairs,” Deceiver commented, coming to join them. “Is the last one reserved? Morning, Fire. Star, how are you feeling this morning?” He set his tray down and joined them as well.
"Better,” Star admitted. “The more sun I take in, the stronger I'll get. Anything on the boards this morning?"
"Just a couple of requests. No emergencies, thank goodness. No, I was discussing with Hunter what happened after he left to go after you yesterday.” After taking a big sip of brew, the Guardian leader continued. “I know you and Hunter haven't tackled head-on with the Ombitra, but their behavior yesterday was suspect."
"Suspect? How so?” Star questioned.
"Once we got over to the populace, to see how much damage had been done, we found that the majority of ruin had been restricted to the outlying fields, away from the towns. That's not like the Ombitra."
"What are you thinking?” Morning Fire broke in.
"Seeker thinks it may have been a diversionary tactic,” Hunter told her.
"For what purpose?” Star asked.
Deceiver had no idea. “It was like they were there to draw us to them. Testing us, for some unknown reason. Then, just like that, they throw out a few proton blasts to clear the way, and disappear into space."
"Yeah. Just about the same time Hunter got the communiqué from the Committee,” Morning Fire said.
Star paused with a bite halfway to her lips. Her eyes flew over to Hunter. “You didn't tell me we got a message from them. Or did you?"
"I did, and I distinctly remember hearing you let go with one of your more favorite curse words when I told you.” He grinned.
"Oh, yeah. I did. Sorry. I forgot."
"But if we had been forced to engage them, how would we have done so?” Morning Fire continued. “Nothing we did four years ago seemed to make any difference. It was pure luck that we managed to bring down that mothership. Otherwise, they would have overrun us."
"I don't know if we have enough sheer force to bring another ship down,” Deceiver admitted. “We've gained Provoker since the fiasco, plus Time Merchant and you two,” he waved a hand at Star and Hunter, “but that doesn't guarantee us enough manpower to defeat them. The transport ships aren't equipped with armament strong enough to go to war with. We are our own weapons. And we face our battles with the intent to resolve them peacefully, not with force."
"And there was very little I could gain while I was inside their ship,” Hunter told them. “The place is a maze. I'll need more time to snoop around. What I did discover, though, was that there's a dark green Ombitra who seems to be their leader, of sorts. At least, I saw several defer to him when I was watching."
"We never knew there was a green version. It's a tiny piece of information, but every piece helps to put the whole picture into perspective, sooner or later."
"Why are you needing to use brute force to bring down their ships?” Star asked Deceiver.
"Because nothing else works. Not return photon fire. Not laser fire. Not friction missiles. Nothing."
"Screw the artillery. Just cut off their gravitational fields, and they'll drop like rocks,” she calmly told him.
The entire room went silent.
"Star, repeat that,” Hunter asked her softly as she glanced up from her food in surprise.
"I said, cut off their gravitational fields. The damn things are using the same power source I use. One little burst of magnetic energy, and I was flattened up against the skin of one of them.” She blinked to see everyone staring at her in shock. “What? Didn't you already know that?"
"Star, why haven't you told us this before?” Deceiver asked.
"I tried to, but you started ragging on me about running off without permission. Remember?"
"Star."
She looked over at Hunter.
"How hard would it be for you to bring down, say, one of those vessels?"
"By cutting off their gravity? Ha. Shutting stuff down is child's play. It's being asked to generate something that drains me."
Deceiver turned around in his chair to directly face her. “What would be easier for you? Shutting off their gravity? Or creating a magnetic field to hold them down?"
"I just told you, Deceiver. Shutting down is like closing my eyes. It's nothing. But if I have to make something, like a magnetic field, it would suck all the energy out of me. If you put me in direct contact with a sun, I could pretty much maintain a hold on them indefinitely. But then it would be their strength against mine, since we'd be drawing from the same power source. And, frankly, there are more of them, and they're also bigger than me. Wouldn't be a long battle."
After a moment's pause, Deceiver leaned back in his chair, a huge smile erupting on his face. “Well, I'll be damned. I think you may have just answered our prayers, Star. Commander!"
"Yeah, Deceiver?"
"Did you hear Star?"
"You bet your green-clad hide, I did."
"How difficult would it be to create a magnetic disrupter? Give us that edge we need to defeat them in the future?"
"I'm already on it,” the man affirmed as he hustled out the door.
"Better make sure you let me know when you turn that disrupter on,” Star warned him. “Otherwise, there's no telling what kind of havoc you'll play on my system."
"Do you really think we'll meet up with them again so soon?” asked Morning Fire.
"There's no telling, but at least we have a better chance this time than we did in the past. Thanks, Star. It seems this time your instincts were correct,” Deceiver conceded.
Getting to his feet, the Guardian leader bid them a good day, picked up his tray, and left.
"Well, seeing as how we have the whole day to be lazy, I'm heading into the city to go shopping. Get in a little walking. Want to come with me, Star?” Morning Fire asked her friend. However, the moment she looked at Star's face, she knew what her answer would be. Star and Hunter had their eyes locked on each other over cups of brew.
"No, thanks, Fire,” Star replied softly. “However, a walk sounds delightful. Lots of sunshine will do me a world of good.” The last part of her statement was not directed at her friend.
Morning Fire grinned. “Not a problem. Next time, then,” she said, and bid the couple good day.
"A walk?” Hunter reiterated.
"Yeah,” Star nodded, unable to resist smiling herself. “In the light of day."
Gardens
Challenger joined Animator and Disaster at the window to see what they were watching. Across the courtyard, Hunter and Star were talking as they slowly strolled in the direction of the botanical gardens. At one point something Star said must have been funny, as Hunter openly laughed.
Animator shook her head. “I've never seen them like that. Hunter's so serious most of the time."
"Yeah, well, look at how much Star has changed,” Disaster pointed out. “I never thought we'd see her this calm. Content, almost. Tamed."
Snorting, Challenger said, “She's not tamed. Not by a long shot. But she's more careful. Less reckless."
"That's what I meant. Less reckless,” Disaster agreed.
"Even after yesterday?” Animator asked.
"Yeah.” Challenger nodded. “Especially after yesterday."
Silence descended again as they continued to watch. It was Animator who observed, “Isn't it odd? The only two of us who don't have to walk ... and they're walking?"
"Not really,” said Disaster. “Hunter can't fly, and Star can't disappear. What else could they do?"
"Think he'll propose?” their female counterpart grinned.
Challenger grinned. “Who knows? If he's smart, he'll keep the arrangement just like it is, with no strings attached. Ow!” He quickly jerked away from the wall that had suddenly pinched him, and gave Animator a surly look. “Women!"
Disaster laughed aloud as they chased each other out of the dining hall. The day was certainly starting out on a good note.
Once they reached the botanical gardens, they were relieved to find it empty. Of course, it was still early morning, and most people didn't descend upon it until late afternoon or evening.
They had talked of unimportant things. Or, at least Hunter had. Childhood things mostly. Anecdotes from growing up. About teasing his younger brother. That part seemed to interest Star the most, until she finally admitted to him that she had no siblings. That confession would soon lead to others. There were years and years, and layers upon layers of old scars he would have to work through before Star was finally healed and whole.
He smiled. They had the rest of their lives to get to that point, if they needed to.
He had taken her hand when they had entered the enormous crystalline building housing the plants. That small touch made them both hesitate and turn to look at each other. Bringing her hand to his lips, Hunter graced it with a caressing kiss, and was delighted to see her responding smile.
They descended the stairs and began strolling down the walkway. Knowing Star was reluctant to speak about her family, he turned the discussion to the four years she had wandered through space, prior to her joining the Guardians.
"Let me get this straight. When you got hungry or thirsty, or needed a place to sleep, you just found the next inhabited planet and offered your services for a fee?"
She nodded. “Every planet has their own disasters to deal with. Fortunately, there are plenty of humanoid species, and water is always a basic commodity.” She made a face. “Of course, when it came to food, there wasn't always the most appetizing meals offered. Sometimes you had to decided whether to hold your nose and suffer through it, or go hungry.” She rolled her eyes at him. “I held my nose a lot of times, let me tell you!"
Hunter chuckled and squeezed her hand. “Were you StarLight back then? Or did you choose that moniker when you joined the Guardians?"
"People called me Star long before I left my home planet.” She paused, lost in her dark memories. Hunter gave her arm a little jiggle to bring her back to the present. The trick seemed to work. “So when everyone asked me who I was, I said ‘Star'. I added the ‘Light’ part when I came here."
"Then, if I may ask ... is Terrin DiLyric your real name?” he inquired softly. They were passing a bundle of fragrant blue blossoms. Star paused to inhale their heady scent.
"Yeah. Terrin is my real name. But DiLyric is the name of my—” She stopped as a tiny shiver went through her. “It's not my mother's or father's,” she managed to say before that emotional gate closed and locked.
Pulling her into his arms, Hunter sought her lips. She eagerly gave herself to him, needing his love to provide adequate solace. Long minutes passed as they savored each other's warmth and touch. It wasn't until hearing the sound of people entering the gardens that they were forced to break apart and continue on their walk.
"Hunter? Can we talk now?” Star ventured.
"I thought we were already doing that."
"All right. Can I ask you a very personal question, then?"
"You can ask me anything, Terrin. You know that."
"What will happen to us if we go the entire year and don't make a baby?"
"Then the HandFast is cancelled between us,” he told her.
"That's not what I was asking,” she protested weakly. Almost fearfully.
"Then ask me directly."
"Are we ... I mean, will you..."
Hunter stopped, bringing her to a halt as well. Silently he watched as she tried to find the courage to ask him, her face averted from his. “Go on,” he urged gently.
Star lowered her face. A quick, deep breath, and she said, “Fire asked me this morning if what we felt was the permanent thing."
A pause.
"What did you tell her?” he asked. Instinctively his power focused on her.
"I told her ... I said it was for me."
"Why can't you ask me outright what you're dying to ask?” Hunter inquired tenderly.
"Because I'm frightened of you,” she admitted in a tiny voice.
"How do I frighten you?"
"You have this tremendous power over me. I've given you my body. And now my heart. Many, many people have tried to control me. Command me. Own me. But no one has ever taught me to love them. Or allowed me to love them back. Not until you."
She pressed her cheek to his chest and closed her eyes, sighing with contentment. Hunter brought his arms around her, feeling her relaxing against him. She was afraid, but not fearful. The difference confused him. “Talk to me, my heart. Ask me. What's the worst I could tell you?"
"No,” she whispered, more breath than sound.
"No, you won't ask? Or is ‘no’ the worst I could tell you?"
"Later, Udo. Give me time to work up the courage. Please."
"Take all the time you need, Terrin. I'll still be here."
His confession was the right thing to say, and Hunter realized she'd been seeking a future, or at least the promise of a future. Some kind of future. Any kind of future, as long as it was with him. He felt her tug on his shirt, and he looked down at her. She lifted her face to him, wanting his kiss. Unfortunately, the small cluster of people who had entered the gardens were moving closer. And even though he and Star were not in uniform, their faces were too well known.
Grabbing her hand, he hurried down the pathway in the opposite direction, away from the group. It was almost by chance that they stopped just a few yards away from the little hideaway Star loved to escape to. Exchanging glances, they silently dipped beneath the sheltering leaves, until they were safely inside.
"You know, you could have popped us out of here,” Star smiled.
"What, and miss the thrill of the hunt?” he teased back.
They found the tiny bench she'd put there, and sat down side-by-side. Inside the dense growth, no sound entered from outside, making Hunter wonder how much sound would permeate to the outside walkway.
"Hunter."
He turned to find her face inches away. Her lips were moist. Beckoning. She still waited for his kiss. This time he obliged.
Her tongue was tentative. Exploring his mouth and tongue with inexperience, but eager to learn. Gently he sucked on it, feeling her respond, feeling her heat rising inside her. A low moan began in her chest, like a fluttering vibration, and a deliciously evil thought came to him.
"Terrin?” He pulled away from her mouth and waited for her to look at him. “Ever imagine what it would be like to make love with your clothes on?"
A delicate eyebrow went up. “On?” Immediately thereafter, both brows went down. “You're teasing me, right?"
"I would never tease about making love to you."
She reared back slightly to look into his face. “You're serious? Why would we want to make love with our—Oh! Here?"
To answer her, he captured her mouth with his and pulled her into his lap. Star remained pliant and willing. Curious to find out how such a thing was possible, especially in a semi-public place such as the botanical gardens. Knowing without any doubt that he would never risk her being humiliated in front of strangers.
His hands found her breasts, easing underneath the midriff top and tenderly kneading them. Her breath hitched, and she gasped twice when he laid her backward across his lap. His burning mouth lowered over her nipple, scorching her skin through the thin material, and rousing her with an intensity she never believed possible. The blouse became wet, and draped over the taut peak, outlining and revealing its dark red beauty. Hunter took it back into his mouth, suckling both cloth and nipple as his hand continued to caress and massage the firm globe. Another firm tug between his lips, and then he closed his teeth over the ultrasensitive tip. Star nearly climaxed.
"Udo! Mercy!” Her entire body was shaking as she reached up for him. Already little beads of perspiration freckled her skin. Her cheeks were a bright pink.
"Now for the other one,” he murmured, adjusting her across his lap and reaching for her other breast. Star closed her eyes and tried to prepare herself, without success.
It seemed that every movement of his tongue and mouth on her nipple sent slivers of magnetic fire directly to her womanly core, forcing her body to create its own moistness to counteract the burning want growing stronger and more demanding between her legs. It had only been an hour since they'd made love in the cleansing stall, yet her body felt as empty and bereft as if it had been a hundred hours.
"Udo, what are you doing to me?” she moaned so softly, he almost didn't hear her. It wouldn't have mattered anyway. He didn't need to answer her. He just needed to keep doing what he was doing to her. Keep doing it over and over, and never stopping.
Suddenly, Hunter raised his head from her breasts and lowered her slowly back onto the bench. Moving out from under her, he reached up and unfastened the front closures on her pants.
"I thought you said we were keeping our clothes on,” she somehow managed to remind him. Her voice was thick with lust. Her body felt heavy, ripe, and ready for the release she knew he eventually would bring to her.
"Patience, my beloved,” his equally thick voice responded softly. “The best is yet to come."
He tugged on her pants until they cleared her hips and buttocks, but they remained draped around her thighs. When he lowered his head over her tangle of short, silky curls, Star had to grasp the edges of the bench to keep from shooting skyward. Her body arched as his tongue invaded her most private possession, and she felt his hands clamp down on her legs to help hold her down, spreading her thighs apart.
Hunter ravished her, dipping deep with his tongue as Star fought to keep her sanity. His mouth scorched her. Branded her. Once he found her throbbing nub, he pulled it between his lips, and rockets exploded in her blood. When she believed she could no longer take the torture he was dealing out to her, he raised his face to stare at her flushed one. Both of them were breathing in short, heaving gasps.
"Don't be afraid of what I'm going to do to you,” he begged her. “I will never hurt you, my only love."
Before she could respond, Hunter pulled her off the bench, turned her around, and placed her kneeling on the ground, bending her over with her back to him. Star laid her hot cheek against the stone bench's cushion as she heard him dealing with his own clothing. A moment of silence, then his hands were adjusting her, parting her ass cheeks until her pants restricted further movement. Lifting her buttocks a bit higher, Star felt him move closer. And then she felt him sliding hot and thick into her. He speared her, nearly slicing her in two.
Her back stiffened, her head flew upward, and her fingers gripped the bench with whitened knuckles. She bit her lower lip so hard, she tasted blood. “Udo!"
"Am I hurting you?” his loving voice came from behind her ear. He was leaning over her, bracing himself on the bench as well.
She shook her head. “No ... but ... dearest heavens, Udo ... oh, great stars!"
He withdrew, then plunged back into her, reached further into her innermost core than he ever had. Planets danced inside her head, and a great vortex of power opened up to swallow her whole.
Hunter made fervent love to her, pounding into her, and taking her repeatedly to peaks she had never experienced before. Star shuddered at the onslaught, then begged for more. At some point she knew he had released the bench to grasp her hips. Now they were rocking with a force she couldn't imagine. Her heart threatened to explode, and still he continued to piston into her from behind, faster and deeper with each thrust. When it seemed the universe couldn't contain any more of the unimaginable sweetness he was pounding into her, a storm of immense magnitude swept down and consumed her just as it also consumed him. It welled up and overflowed with their blistering release, leaving them breathless and gasping, their muscles like so much formless water.
Star collapsed over the bench. Hunter covered her, also reaching for air, and their bodies shook with the strength of their aftermath.
Riptides of their orgasms continued to swirl inside them, keeping their blood at the boiling point. Sweat dripped onto the bench seat and ground around them. It would take so little to ignite their hunger again.
After a while, Star managed to whisper, “And you expect me to just get up and walk out of here as if nothing has happened?” It was all she could do not to close her eyes and succumb to the delicious call to sleep. But the feel of his semi-hard penis tugging between her thighs was too delicious to let go.
Chuckling, Hunter managed to rise up on his knees, also pulling Star up on hers, and draped her limp form against his chest. As one hand trailed down to the wet juncture between her legs, his other hand braced her across her chest, his fingers idly stroking one covered breast. His mouth found the curve of her neck and shoulder, and he nuzzled the damp skin above the collar of her top. “Give me a moment. I have something to show you."
She giggled, reaching to clutch his arms. “More?"
Taking another ragged breath, he told her, “Watch."
When he had taken them to her quarters yesterday, after their encounter with the Chairman of the Committee, Star had been semiconscious, and mostly unaware of their returning, except for knowing that he had transported them there together. This time, she would have a front-row view of what he had been seeing every day of his life since he'd first discovered his ability when he was five years old.
They left the protection of the little alcove as Hunter took them back to her bedroom. Star watched in wonderment as the world disappeared into a tiny tunnel of gray. Within seconds, she saw her room looming closer and closer, until she could almost reach out and touch the objects inside. Yet the air remained misty and surreal, the room painted in faded shades of black, white, and varying grays. She turned her head slightly in his direction as she wrapped her own arms over his that were holding her underneath her breasts. Their pants remained draped around their knees. The cheeks of her bare buttocks nestled his enlarging erection, and the thought that they might be making love again so soon after this last time sent prickly fingers of delight surging through her blood.
"We're still in that void you told me about,” she whispered. She felt him nod against her hair. She could also hear his breathing becoming rougher, rumbling in his chest. Holding her like this was taking its toll on his sanity, and she smiled with delight. “If you were here, and I was there, and you spoke, would I hear you?"
"Yes. But when we were in space, since sound doesn't carry in a vacuum—"
"We needed the headsets,” she finished for him.
"Hold on. I'm going to drop us on the bed,” Hunter warned a split-second before the grayness disappeared. They tumbled onto covers that had suddenly come to vibrant, colorful life, eliciting a shriek of laughter from Star.
Immediately Hunter was bending over her and staring down into her face, into her eyes, with undisguised love and growing passion. “Any regrets, my Terrin?"
"For what?"
"For anything. For the HandFast. For this. For..."
"You know what your problem is, Udo Vosstien?” she asked as she reached for him, searching for his mouth. “You're too damn serious."
Strike
They were kicking off the rest of their clothing, on the verge of enjoying a second bout of vigorous lovemaking, this time face-to-face, when the emergency claxon started blaring its loud, bone-rattling honk. Hunter and Star froze for a second as their bodies re-centered themselves and their minds shifted into Guardian mode.
Without a word they jumped off the bed and rushed to change into their uniforms. When Hunter reached into her closet and pulled out his familiar dark brown costume, Star paused for a moment to stare at him open-mouthed, having expected him to pop out to get dressed in his own chambers.
"Why do you think I was late to breakfast this morning?” he said softly and grinned.
Of course, he was ready before her. The body suit took a extra couple of seconds to smooth down. Giving her a quick kiss, Hunter told her he'd see her over at Command and dematerialized. Less than a dozen heartbeats later, Star was flying out the door.
"Transport Three!” Provoker yelled up at her, detouring everyone over to the bay.
As soon as she touched down, the claxons went silent, and the ensuing lack of noise rang just as loudly in their ears. Star ducked into Three with Sender and Seeker on her heels. They were all there except for Deceiver and Commander. Hunter was already at the helm, with Time Merchant in the other seat.
She was about to take an empty seat next to Morning Fire when Animator stopped her. “Hunter said he wants you up front, behind him,” she informed Star.
Star glanced forward to see Hunter's eyes watching her from the reflection in the viewscreen. Nodding, she relinquished her seat to the brown-eyed blonde, and went up to take the chair directly behind the pilot. The new arrangement was not lost on anyone, as Animator always sat in the second forward seat. After so many missions, and after working many years together, everyone had fallen into a comfortable, unspoken seating arrangement when it came to traveling in the Transports. The change was noticed by everyone.
"Heavens help us, what is that thing?” Disaster called out with amusement when Deceiver and Commander finally arrived. As the Guardian leader slammed and locked the hull doors, and Hunter began to lift them off the cradle, Commander secured the blocky contraption he and Deceiver had dragged into the back of the craft.
"That's our magnetic disrupter,” Deceiver answered them. “It's the Ombitra again, gang. And this time there're casualties. Hunter! Did those coordinates come in?"
"Fed in and digested. Hold on to your armrests, everyone. We have to hit hyper light as soon as we leave the upper atmosphere,” he warned them.
They waited until the ship was in clear space, and had shifted to follow the flow of particle light, before Deceiver gave them the bad news. “They took out a MultiGem airliner with three hundred passengers and crew. They're massed outside the Melini quadrant, close to Barnadi and Barandi Prime."
"That's less than a parsec away from the main interstellar lanes,” Condemner noticed. “Are they heading in that direction?"
"The distress call didn't say. Sorry to spoil the day off, folks, but duty always comes first. Star, looks like you're going to get to test that little theory of yours."
All eyes turned to catch her reaction. “Don't worry. It will be a pleasure.” She smiled cockily. In the viewscreen, she could see Hunter's small smile as he chuckled lightly.
The remark sounded exactly like the old StarLight, and they immediately felt less anxious. If she was at full power, and if her previous discovery held true, there might finally be a chance at defeating an enemy they had never been able to defend themselves against.
Transport Three slid through space at full speed, gliding over two gaseous nebulas so smoothly, they were over and behind them before anyone realized they'd passed by. Hunter's skill at the helm impressed even Condemner, the veteran pilot of the group.
"Did you ever think about joining the Corps, like your father?” he queried as they rounded an uninhabited star system.
"It crossed my mind,” Hunter admitted.
"What made you decide to become a Guardian, if you had a chance to be part of the Corps?” Bruiser asked from his seat behind the co-pilot. “You're too damn good. You would have made a name for yourself."
"A lot of things affected my decision, but making a name for myself wasn't what I was seeking."
Provoker let out a loud laugh. “You may not have been seeking it, but it bit you on the ass anyway."
Star saw Hunter shoot the man an unreadable look, but it was gone as quickly as he'd given it. Looking out the viewscreen, she was uncomfortably aware of the fact that she and Hunter had been at the point of merging into another soul-melting session of lovemaking before they had been interrupted. Now that she'd had the chance to settle and collect herself, her body was remembering that fact for her. The momentary delay while getting into the uniform and boarding Three had been just that—a momentary delay. Now that she was still and had time to reflect, all she could think about was the hot hardness of his body, the wonders his mouth had been performing on her, and how close she had been again to that perfect pinnacle.
Leaning back in her seat, Star crossed her legs, but the rasp of her uniform between her thighs only heightened the sensation. She still bore his scent and his possession of her from their time in the gardens. There had been no time to clean up when the claxons had sounded.
A small shiver went through her, centered in her abdomen, then exploded into a thousand miniature fires. Star gritted her teeth to keep from moaning aloud. Oh, damn. Look at what's happening to me.
"Departing hyperspace in three ... two ... one. We're coming up on the Melini-Tarmi system,” Hunter informed them as the ship jiggled. “There's going to be some jostling as we get around these outer planets, so make sure you're securely buckled in."
Star opened her eyes to find his gaze directed at her. She couldn't quite figure out why he appeared slightly amused, until it hit her.
As a hunter, I need to know what my prey is feeling. Your feelings just spiked when I mentioned getting something to wear.
Oh, dearest heavens! He knew exactly what was going through her mind, as well as through her body. “Wipe that smirk off your face, Hunter,” she breathed softly so only he could hear.
Her answer was a grin and a slow shake of his head as he concentrated on their entry, making her hope he was having just as much difficulty keeping his mind on the moment at hand as she was.
They soared under a ring of asteroids as they approached the quadrant where the Ombitra had been reported. It was Bruiser who sighted them first. “Heads up. Cruisers at two o'clock."
There were eight of them, looking eerily beautiful, like a string of etched teardrops.
Star undid her harness and got to her feet, leaning closer to the viewscreen to examine how they were grouped. At her elbow, Hunter softly whispered, “Think you can take them?"
"Won't know until I try, right?” She smiled back.
Deceiver moved forward to join them. “Star, we're going to let you have first crack at them. All you need to do is see if you can stop them dead in their tracks. Nothing more. Got that?"
At her nod, the Guardian leader turned around to address the others. “If Star can immobilize just one of them, we'll know we have a chance. But if she can't touch them, we'll try Commander's disrupter and keep our fingers crossed. Everyone in a suit. Now. No sense taking any more risks than we have to. Hunter, you, too."
"Hey, Deceiver?” Time Merchant swiveled around in his seat. “Incoming communications."
"From who?"
As the man honed in on the signal, Hunter handed Star an earpiece. She stared at it before taking it from him. Their eyes locked, and an unspoken message passed between them. Their exchange, although brief, was noticed by everyone watching them.
As Star entered the airlock, Time Merchant reported back, “It's from the Committee. For Hunter and Star."
"Lock it in,” Hunter ordered. There was no time to stop what they were doing, just to listen to another recorded message. It would have to wait.
The door closed behind her, and they watched Star shoot away from the ship as they donned their protective suits. “Oh, this will be a piece of cake,” Star cooed over the intercom. “Melini-Tarmi is a double star system!"
Deceiver touched his headset to answer. “Yes, but they're small stars. Are you sure you can soak up enough juice to put one of those ships into a spin?"
"Negative to negative, or positive to positive? This should be an interesting experiment. Hunter, can you put a little more distance between us? You might be right at the edge of my throw."
"Copy that, Star. Retreating one spacial mile."
"Hunter."
He glanced over to see Time Merchant's hand on the communications toggle. “What?"
"Committee has put a code one on their message."
Everyone halted what they were doing, and turned to stare at the bridge.
Outside, Star was positioning herself between the double suns and the Ombitran ships, which hadn't moved since their arrival. It was almost as if the enemy had expected them, and was waiting to see what the Guardians had to offer. Hunter turned back to Time Merchant. “Lock it in,” he repeated.
"I did, but they're sending in an override."
"I'm going to aim for the lead ship,” Star's voice told them. In the distance she was a graceful acrobat lifting her arms, her body extended in a perfect arch, but compared in size to the Ombitra, she was a mere speck.
One ship. That was all she had to affect. One ship.
"Hunter!” Time Merchant called out again, just as override took effect.
"This is a class one communications durective from the Handfast Committee to Terrin DiLyric, also known as StarLight. Do not, repeat, do not use Starlight powers! Answer affirmative that message has been received! This is a class one communications directive from the Handfast Committee to Terrin DiLyric, also known as StarLight. Do not, repeat, do not—"
Hunter reached over the console and manually turned off the volume on the override. The signal continued to come in, but at least it was no longer blaring over the ship's speakers.
"By all that's holy, what is that all about?” Disaster asked.
Reaching for his headset, Time Merchant switched their signals over to a different frequency, and Star's voice suddenly bubbled in overhead.
"...to do, Deceiver? Please advise."
"Repeat, Star? We just redirected your signal,” Deceiver responded.
"What do you want me to do?” Outside, they could see she was hovering but unmoving.
"It's a class one directive, Star. Do not use your powers. Come back to the ship,” Deceiver ordered her.
"But—"
"No buts, Star,” Hunter interrupted. “I agree, there had better be a damn good reason why the Committee sent a class one, but right now's not the time to discuss it."
"Want me to send the affirmative?” Time Merchant asked.
Hunter nodded. “Maybe it'll shut them up and get them out of our squawk box so we can get our work done without any more interruptions."
"Which means we go to Plan Two,” the Guardian leader announced. “Commander! It's your game now."
As ordered, Star returned to the ship, but opted to remain outside and help the others mount the disrupter onto the side of Three. Once it was secured, Commander aimed it at the nearest enemy vessel, and turned it on.
"This is starting to get under my skin,” Corona muttered through her headset. “Why don't they move? Why don't they fire at us?"
"Yeah,” Provoker agreed. “It's like they're ... waiting for us to do something."
"Waiting to see what we got,” Morning Fire breathed. “After all, it's been four years."
Glancing over at the woman floating nearby, Commander said, “Better watch from inside the ship, Star. I don't know what kind of kick this thing will have, or if there will be any side effects."
She nodded and went inside the airlock. If the untested disrupter had any kind of power, at least the transport's hull would protect her.
"Deceiver, we're ready,” Commander informed.
"All right. It's your project. Go for it."
Aiming the bowl-shaped antenna toward the enemy vessel, Commander said, “Beginning with a dozen short bursts, just to see what they do. Mark. On five. Four. Three. Two. One. Firing."
The disrupter burped a dozen times, spraying invisible magnetic charges at the glittering ships. Fifteen Guardians held their breaths, hoping for some sign the machine had made a dent, or at least scratched the surface.
Eight crystalline Ombitran spaceships remained in a tight, unmoving line.
"Crap!"
"It's all right, Commander,” Deceiver tried to soothe the man. “Let's try a continuous stream this time. A ten-second flow, for beginners."
"Copy, Deceiver."
Inside the airlock, Star felt the dozen bursts rip through her. The pain was substantial, but the shock was greater. They pierced her with invisible knives, leaving behind bloodless wounds that nearly sent her careening into the side of the ship. Through her headset she could hear the order for Commander to fire a single stream. Slamming her hand on the big red palm lock, the inner door slid open and she fell inside just as the disrupter hummed.
It was like locking her entire body in permanent stasis, stopping her breathing, stopping her heart. Shutting down every functioning synaptic nerve until the universe no longer existed. Star gasped once before losing consciousness and all signs of life.
For the duration of nearly half a minute, she was listed as clinically dead.
Confirmation
Star gasped as her starved lungs sought to breathe. Her whole body convulsed as nerve endings came to bright, flaming life, and she cried out from the pain. She could feel her skin tingling, and a wave of warmth invaded her senses. A calming passed over her, through her. An unspoken reassurance told her she would be all right.
Someone had covered her in a blanket. Vaguely she could tell she was lying flat on her back. Taking another deep, raspy breath, Star somehow managed to turn her face toward the presence she knew was there. “Udo?"
"I'm here,” his voice quickly confirmed. It was loving, and hoarse with tears.
"The ... disrupter..."
"It's off, Star. Oh, dearest heavens, I'm sorry. Forgive me. I had no idea it would do that to you.” It was Commander's voice, also filled with tears, regret, and anger at himself.
"Ombitra?” She struggled to open her eyes. Her lids felt like they were glued to her lower lashes.
"They're gone.” This time it was Deceiver.
Focusing, Star found her center and discovered it was totally depleted. Somehow managing to turn her head back in Hunter's direction, she weakly said, “Need ... sun."
The blanket was removed. Strong arms lifted her, cradled her. She heard the whoosh of the airlock, then the void of silence as the pressure dropped. Over the headset still in her ear, Time Merchant's voice said, “Positioning the ship twenty-two thousand spacial miles from Melini-Tarmi. This is as close as we can get, Hunter, without the gravitational pull dragging us in."
"Copy that, Merchant. Thanks,” Hunter responded. His voice vibrated in her ear.
He adjusted her head upon his shoulder, protecting her against his wide chest. Star felt a smile reach her lips. Bliss would always be within the circle of his arms.
The outer hull door opened soundlessly, and Hunter launched them toward the small double star. Almost immediately, despite the fact that the two yellow suns were weaker than the one at home, she could feel herself filling and warming from their touch.
"Star?” His voice was tender. He could sense her growing stronger. Slowly, Star opened her eyes to see how dark and troubled she appeared, reflected in his blue ones.
"Hey, big boy. Fancy meeting you out here.” She smiled gently.
"Oh, crap, Star. You nearly scared the life out of me!"
"So I passed out. No big deal, Hunter."
He shook his head, and over her headset she could hear the others’ reactions. “No, my heart. You didn't pass out. You died."
This time she stared at him. “I what?"
"For about thirty seconds, you were gone. The ship confirmed it.” He paused, knowing the rest in the ship could overhear, but realizing he no longer cared. “I thought I'd lost you."
The little double stars were working their magic. Nuzzling her cheek against Hunter's shoulder, Star told him, “It's going to take a lot more than one of Commander's gizmos to put this tough bitch down."
Ghostly voices tittered in her ear as the two of them floated just beyond the ship. After another five minutes, she could move her arms and legs.
"You said the Ombitra are gone?” she asked, letting them hear her returning strength in her question. Hunter took her cue and returned them to the airlock.
"Yeah,” Deceiver said. “When we saw you fall into the ship, I yelled for Commander to kill the switch. Hunter reached you first, and when the computer told us you had no vital signs, it was total confusion in here. Some time after that, Corona noticed the ships were gone."
"So you don't know if the disrupter worked or not,” Star wondered aloud.
"We were in a panic,” Morning Fire's voice filtered in. “We dropped our defenses. Why the Ombitra didn't take advantage, we have no idea."
Inside the airlock, Hunter started to set her on her feet, but Star reached up to hold fast to his neck. He gave her a loving look as he held her tighter.
As the inner doors closed behind them, Hunter finally released her. Almost immediately the others crowded around her to welcome her back. Star glanced over at the man standing near the kitchenette, and strode over to him. Guilt and shreds of grief clouded his face as Commander lifted his eyes at her. Wordlessly, Star wrapped her arms around the man's neck and pressed her lips to his. He remained standing there with a dazed expression, and the others stood in shock at the tableau, unable to believe what they were seeing. Star's body suit may have left little to the imagination, but she had always made it known no hand was to touch her, and no man was to make any unwanted advances. Which was why rumors and untruths about her supposed sexual escapades made such juicy gossip, and made it too easy to accept the possibility that the frigid space queen hid the heart of a tramp. This show of warmth and forgiveness was as unexpected as it was unbelievable.
Rearing back, Star gave the man an understanding smile before wagging a finger under his nose. “Hey, you didn't know it would do what it did. And you did warn me to get out of range. But the next time you have to mess around with anything magnetic, Commander, give me fair warning first, so I can get my butt off-planet. All right?"
The man expelled the air he had been holding. “All right,” Commander promised.
"Speaking of off-planet,” Deceiver broke in, “we need to reconnoiter and try to figure out why the Ombitra basically hit and ran. Why didn't they fire on us when we arrived? Why strike once, then sit back and watch us? Why slip away when we were at our weakest, without any further show of aggression?"
"This is getting freakier and freakier. In fact, these last encounters don't add up.” Condemner rubbed his temples. “If I hadn't seen they were Ombitra for myself, I would have sworn it wasn't the same enemy."
"Hunter."
They all turned toward Time Merchant, who had returned to his seat at the bridge. “Another message is coming in from the Committee."
"Did you send in the affirmative?” Hunter asked.
"Yeah, but this one is labeled as their response."
"Good.” He strode over to the panel and flipped the switch to open two-way communications. “I want to know why they think they can order Star to cease using her power, when there was every chance she could have—"
"Affirmative received that Terrin DiLyric, also known as StarLight, has not used Star powers while on assignment. This is a class one directive from the HandFasat Committee. As per orders from med lab, Terrin DiLyric is not to Star powers. Repeat. Terrin DiLyric is not to use Star powers. Med lab has confirmed that exposure to Star powers would seriously harm or destroy developing fetus. This is a class one—"
Star stumbled backwards as the words continued to blare over the transport's speakers. A hand flew up to her mouth as her skin turned cold, and all the blood pooled to the center of her chest. Exposure to star powers would seriously harm or destroy developing fetus.
Understanding was a gut punch, knocking all the wind of out her, and she bent over with a small cry. Powerful hands reached out and grabbed her, and suddenly she was being held in his arms as her mind tried to cope with the news.
"...extend our congratulations to the HandFast couple. As per directive, this HandFast is officially ended, and both parties are released from further responsibility. Terrin DiLyric is hereby ordered to report immediately to med lab for testing, indoctrination, and counseling. This is a class one directive from—"
Time Merchant's hand slapped the toggle, shutting off the announcement in mid-sentence. A smug grin came over him. “They didn't have an override order on that one,” he smiled.
A long, uncomfortable silence filled the spacecraft. All eyes were on the couple holding each other, and especially on the woman trembling almost uncontrollably.
"It's over, Star,” Hunter spoke softly. “It's finally over."
Star managed to nod as she squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her face against his throat. After another minute had passed, Hunter pulled away and picked up the blanket that had been used on her earlier, draping it around her shoulders. She let him guide her to her seat, and Blender buckled on her harness as Hunter took the pilot's chair.
"Hunter, are you up to this?” Time Merchant asked gently. The announcement may have shocked them all, but the emotional impact of it was worse for Hunter and Star.
They watched as the man set the course into the ship's computers before bringing Three around for their voyage home.
"Yeah,” Hunter finally said with a voice set in stone. “Make sure everyone's strapped in. Going into hyper light in five. Four. Three. Two. One. Now."
Conversation was at a minimum during their return trip. Hunter never spoke except to give directions to Time Merchant, who did his job with his usual efficiency. In her cushions behind Hunter, Star sat in a silent huddle, knees and booted feet drawn up into the seat. To all she seemed asleep, wrapped inside the blanket, face buried into the material, her long, thick hair spread like a curtain over her features. Few could guess what was running through her mind. Few wanted to.
Star was pregnant. The HandFast was over. Now they could go on with their lives as if nothing had happened. As if nothing had occurred. The reasoning was almost laughable.
Every Guardian knew something had happened between Hunter and Star. Something miraculous that wasn't supposed to happen. Something no one had expected to happen. And now they were ordered to go back to the way things had been before the HandFast? Maybe it was possible for other couples, but not for these two.
Morning Fire couldn't take her eyes away from the shivering figure in the next row over. These next couple of days would determine two very critical issues for her best friend, and her heart ached to go over and put her arms around the woman.
Would the love they had discovered be strong enough to withstand the aftermath of the HandFast? And if it was, where would it take them? What kind of future could they have if they were to remain at Guardian Command?
Could both of them even stay at Command? Or would one of them find that being in the everyday presence of the other too much to handle? Too much to bear? Too impossible to focus on the job?
Her eyes shifted to the man stoically bringing the transport out of hyper light drive. What was he thinking? Was he relieved it was over, relieved to be free of the duty? What would he do next? StarLight's life was now in the hands of the Committee and the Med Lab. For the next nine months, every minute would be monitored until the baby was born. After that, she would be allowed up to another year to nurse and care of the infant, if she so chose. Or she could release the baby to the adoptive parents at delivery. It was easier for the HandFasted woman that way, she'd heard. It was much more difficult if the woman was allowed to bond with the baby first, but it was her right if she so chose to do it that way.
"Fire."
The thin whisper came from Animator seated next to her. Morning Fire turned to look at her.
"Are you going over to talk to her?"
"When she curls up like that, she's not in the mood to talk,” Morning Fire told her. “I'll wait until she gets back from the med lab, when things have quieted down a bit."
Animator nodded and leaned back in her seat. There was too much to think about at the moment. Between the HandFasted couple, and the threat of Ombitra, just returning to the familiarity of home was their only respite at the moment.
Hunter brought the ship into the bay with his usual smooth delivery. As they had been yesterday, the med lab team was waiting for their arrival, except this time there was no equipment set up. They would take StarLight directly to the hospital from Guardian Command.
Letting Time Merchant finish powering down the engines, Hunter swiveled his chair around until he faced Star, still in her little ball. Reaching out, he helped her get to her feet, unbuckling the harness that kept her secured. The others watched as he walked her over to the doors and hit the release latches.
"Udo?” Her voice was for his ears only.
"Yes, my heart?"
"I'm ... afraid."
"So am I."
They exited the doors together, to find a half-dozen technicians and doctors prepared with a transport bed. Star lifted her face to look at Hunter, seeking something, a word or a look. They were both numb. Words were not easy to find.
He helped her onto the transport bed, and a tech covered her with a thin blanket. Their eyes remained on each other as Star was lifted into the back of a med lab unit, and contact was not lost until the door closed between them.
Hunter snagged a passing doctor as the rest of the Guardians slowly disembarked behind him.
"Star was inadvertently caught in the flow of a magnetic disrupter. It stopped her heart, and ship's computers pronounced her legally dead for twenty-seven seconds, until we managed to get her back into rhythm."
The physician frowned but nodded. “Thanks. We'll have to keep her overnight for observation then.” A smile suddenly brightened the man's face, and he added, “Oh! And congratulations, Master Hunter!"
"Yes. Congratulations, Master Hunter!” Serien Tark ambled up slowly toward the brown-clad Guardian standing on the concourse, in front of the returned ship. Hunter's eyes went icy blue. He hadn't heard or seen the Committee Chairman's vehicle when it had arrived.
Giving Hunter an oily smile, Tark reached into his jacket and extracted a gold-colored diskette. “I have to admit it, there aren't many HandFast couples who manage to complete their duty in four short days like you and Star did."
"Tark, you're not welcome here. Say what you have to, then leave. We have work to do,” Hunter told him coldly.
Tark glanced from the stone-faced man to the others standing directly behind him. The Guardians fiercely protected and defended their own, even more than they did for the galaxy they watched over. Tark knew that if he angered Master Hunter, the rest would follow suit. He held out the gold diskette. “Here's your payment voucher, in full, as specified in the edicts."
Hunter eyed the diskette but didn't reach for it. “Payment for what?” His tone could slice steel.
"Early conception. Your half of the bonus. I'll have to wait for StarLight to return before giving her her half."
The silence that fell over the concourse grew thicker and colder with each passing second. Suddenly Hunter snatched the diskette from Tark's fingers.
"Corona!"
"Yes, Hunter?"
Tossing the voucher into the air, he ordered, “Burn it."
A flame of laser-white intensity danced from her fingers, incinerating the diskette into nothingness before it could hit the ground. Tark watched the little demonstration with amusement.
"Will that be all, Chairman?” Hunter asked in that voice that promised serious retribution if Tark remained at Guardian Command a second longer than he needed to be.
"For the moment, I'm done.” The man smiled gratingly. “And so are you. On behalf of the HandFast Committee, thank you again for your cooperation."
Having completed this part of his job, Tark turned and walked back to where his vehicle had remained idling until he was finished. The Guardians watched as the last shuttle pulled away, and the news media, which had gathered like carrion feeders overhead, sped away to break the news.
Once calm descended, and they were left alone to resume some sense of normalcy, the work began. Commander enlisted Provoker and Challenger to help him remove the disrupter from the ship, while two others cleaned and rechecked supplies used onboard.
Deceiver walked up to the man standing quietly with his arms crossed and his head bowed. Placing a hand on Hunter's shoulder, he asked, “Is there anything I can do?"
"Yeah, Deceiver. I need a few hours off.” Hunter took a shaky breath. “I know this is a bad time, with the Ombitra playing hide and seek with us, but I'll take a wrist alarm with me. So if something comes up, call me, all right?"
"You sure about this, Hunter? I don't have any problems with you taking a day or two, even with the Ombitra hovering over us."
"Yeah. I'm sure."
Tossing a look in the direction where the med lab units had taken Star, Deceiver asked, “What about her?"
"Don't worry about Star,” Hunter whispered. “She knows she has my heart. We're going to get through this.” He turned his head to give the man a grateful look. “Thanks, Deceiver. I won't be gone long, but I think my parents need to hear about this from me before they get the media's version."
Deceiver opened his mouth to reply, but the man had vanished. Scratching his head, the Guardian leader walked back to Three to check to see if the ship was ready for the next time they would need it, then locked it down for the night.
Like the rest of the Guardians, there was no way he could foresee what was waiting for them. Or how soon it would happen.
And when it did happen, the devastating consequences that would occur, would change the lives of every person on the planet, including taking the lives of friends, families, and loved ones.
Honesty
She hated hospitals. They had an overpowering odor of sickness and death that the personnel tried to mask with other smells.
When the med lab unit arrived, she could no longer take lying still while they poked and prodded her, taking a sample of this and a sample of that. The moment the back doors opened, Star threw off the light blanket and got back on her own two feet, daring them to put her back on one of those transport beds. No one did. It seemed no one wanted to challenge a Guardian, even if she had been ordered not to use her unique abilities.
The news media crowded the outer entrance. Word had swiftly gotten out that StarLight was pregnant. It seemed that nearly every doctor and tech from every part of the hospital were waiting for her appearance, and she didn't want to disappoint them. She had been put through enough humiliation with the HandFast; her temper fairly boiled beneath an ultrathin layer of patience.
Striding inside, she stood among them like a glorious night creature from space. Her body suit roiled with anger and power. Her thick, black hair flowed behind her in waves down her back.
"StarLight. Please follow me,” one nervous intern requested.
She gave the woman a heated glare. “Where?” she asked curtly. Yes, she knew she shouldn't take her frustration out on these people. They were only doing their jobs. But, then again, they were no different from the public who took the tours of Command. They were curious and hungry to see up close one of the legendary Guardians, especially one that was creating HandFast history.
Star had seen that look on their faces so often in the past. It was the same one she and Morning Fire would see whenever they'd go shopping, or browsing, or just be out aimlessly walking around inside the city. Guardian Command was off-limits to the public, except for sections that were open at certain times for tours, like the botanical gardens. In most cases, the only time the public could come in close, direct contact with one of them was when they voluntarily ventured out among the populace.
"I'm taking you to your room where you can change,” the intern replied with a tic in her smile.
The comment drew everyone's eyes to Star's revealing uniform, and for the first time she felt extremely vulnerable in her star suit. Clenching her hands into fists, she gave the woman a curt nod, and started to follow the woman toward a turbolift. The crowd followed right behind her.
Star knew how her body moved. She knew how men looked at her. How they talked about her behind her back. How they thought she didn't know what they spoke about, or what they insinuated about her. It never bothered her before because she didn't have to live among them. She didn't work with them, or trust her life to them. The Guardians were her family, and they were all that mattered to her. And they didn't speak about her ... at least, not that she was aware of.
This time, though...
"—only had to spread her legs four times. Thanks to StarLight, she's won me—"
Star stopped abruptly; two doctors barely avoided plowing into her from behind. She turned and stared down the conjoining corridor at the two suited individuals who had made the comment. As the men noticed the small crowd halted a few feet away, they also saw the ebony-clad woman glaring at them with undisguised fury. “Thanks to me, you've won what?” she demanded in a voice crackling with power.
She stared, astounded, as one man gave her a self-satisfied smile. “I won the pool, StarLight, thanks to you. I bet it wouldn't take you long to work off the HandFast. Not with your appetites."
"My appetites?” She could feel the skin on her face tightening as it paled. “How dare you,” she breathed softly. “How dare you assume such horrid things about me."
"Hey! I only called it like everyone else sees it.” The man chuckled. “Don't tell us you're not the hot little number who satisfies all the men at Guardian Command."
The accusation stunned her. “I'm the what?” she gasped. Whirling around, she scanned the faces of those standing around her, and the proof of their beliefs was clearly etched on their faces. “All of you? You think I'm ... I'm..."
Anger choked her. White, suffocating anger welled up to where she could barely draw breath. There was nowhere to fly, nowhere to escape. Tears glittered on her lashes before she could stop them.
"How could you be so hateful?” she demanded in a soft voice. “You know nothing about me. Why would you assume such terrible things about me?” She glanced down at her uniform, waving a hand in front of her. “Is it because of my body suit? I have to wear this in order to soak up the sun's energy. My suit helps me to direct my powers. It keeps me intact."
"It doesn't explain away the escapades,” a voice from the back uttered anonymously.
"What escapades?” Star turned back on the two men still standing nonchalantly in the adjoining corridor. “What was it you called me? A hot little number?"
The man who had won the pool began to chuckle, and Star's eyes widened in astonishment, two spots of bright color reddening her cheeks. “It's a good thing you can't use your star powers for the next nine months. Looks like you won't be needing that skintight body glove, either. Damn, but Master Hunter must have had a blast with you."
She didn't know what crushed her worse. The man's blatant and unabashed denigration of her morals and feelings, or the fact that the people behind her said nothing to defend her because their thoughts also ran in the same direction.
Turning on her heels, Star hurried to the turbolift, and tried to forget the sound of cackling that followed her. Eyes continued to follow her, but Star couldn't help the humiliation that radiated from her like a gray aura. She was a miniature sun unto herself, with a core of anger that seethed hotter with every passing minute.
Suddenly, all of Provoker's past jibes seemed weak in comparison. She raised a hand to her mouth to try and hold back the sobs that wanted to spill out of her constricting chest.
Once they reached the private suite, Star was finally given some privacy to strip out of her uniform, and don the hospital-issued loose top and drawstring pants. Carefully, she folded the uniform she could never, would never give up, and placed it at the foot of the bed. Sitting barefoot on the edge of the mattress pad, she bent her head and waited for whatever tests they had to do next. She wanted Hunter with her. She needed him, more than she had ever needed anyone or anything before in her life. With him there, their taunts and accusations would mean nothing. They wouldn't be able to touch her. Not with their words. Not with their stares. Not with anything.
"Udo."
She tried to breathe, but it was difficult. That thick block of anger remained in the center of her chest, clogging her throat.
"Udo. My love. Where are you?"
Behind her, the suite's door opened. Star turned around to see a team of doctors converging on her.
The tests were beginning.
A little more than three hours later, they were done. Star was carried on a hoverbed back to her room, where a tray with her dinner was waiting for her. Once the rest of the staff had left, she grabbed the bottle of water and retreated to the narrow window to watch the stars emerge in the night sky. The cool glass felt good on her skin where her forehead pressed against it. The water helped her parched throat.
Her body felt dirty, especially now that so many hands had scraped and examined and sampled her, as if she had been nothing more than a living buffet. But during it all she had managed to keep her sanity by closing her eyes and projecting her heart into that netherworld Hunter had shown her. There, the world took on shades of white and black and gray, and nothing seemed real. Nothing could touch inside her, although they would try.
They were primarily concerned about her reaction to the magnetic disrupter. If Star saw the business end of another medical probe, she swore she would come back to the hospital the second she was able to use her powers again, and personally melt every damn one of them she could find.
"Miss DiLyric?"
Wearily, Star turned away from the window. The woman intern from earlier was back.
"Is there anything you need? You really should rest now."
"When can I get out of this place?” Star asked coldly.
"First thing in the morning, as soon as the doctors determine neither you nor the fetus suffered any ill effects from your experience today."
The fetus. It wasn't even big enough to be called a baby yet. No bigger than a drop of rain, but its genetic profile was already being mapped. Given another couple of days, she would be handed a full report, letting her know every detail about the child she would be bringing into the world.
Her child. Her and Udo's child. A humorless chuckle escaped her. What was it he had told her this morning? That he didn't want all his hard work to go down the drain? It had been a joke. A comment to lovingly tease her. Neither of them had known that at that moment they both had become parents.
The intern left her alone. Finally, thank the heavens. It was going to be sheer torture, trying to make it through the night alone.
Four nights. It had all started four nights ago, Star recalled with surprise. Less than a week ago, none of this had existed. Four days, and her life was forever changed. Forever wonderfully changed.
For two of those nights she had made herself suffer by not letting him stay the night. Then there had been that moment on that little arid planet way out in the middle of heaven-knew-where. They finally had loved in the daylight. Loved and rejoiced, and discovered aloud what they had needed to tell each other.
He loved her enough to give up everything. She loved him enough to give him everything. Together, they were ready to face their future.
"Where are you, my heart?” she muttered softly into the window.
It was late. The others would be retiring to their beds by now. That, or staying up a while longer to check out what was on the vidscreen. Vaguely, Star wondered how much of a to-do the news was making of her pregnancy.
She glanced over at the tiny communications panel beside the bed. It wouldn't be hard to put a call in to Guardian Command. She knew Hunter's private code. But would he want to hear from her?
Why hadn't he come to her? What was keeping him away?
Biting her lower lip, Star prayed it was some point of Guardian business that was preventing him from coming to see her, and nothing to do with their feelings for each other.
She lifted the bottle to her lips, to find the container empty. She had no recollection of drinking it all. Dropping her feet to the cold floor, she started toward the bed when a familiar tingling descended over her like an envelope of love. Before she could utter his name, warm arms gathered her against him, and she was swept into his netherworld.
His lips promised sweet passion, drawing away the hurt and anger that had tried to destroy her earlier. As he held her tighter against him, Star wrapped her arms about his neck and tried to lose herself in his kisses. In his love. In the way his body curved against and protected hers. In his heat, and his heady, spicy scent.
Moments later she felt herself falling onto the firm give of a mattress. No word had passed between them, yet they had already shared a thousand thoughts. Eagerly, almost frantically, they shed their clothing, then came together with a hunger that surprised them both.
Hunter spoke her name, repeating it, caressing it with his breath, his lips taking hers as his body merged into hers. He loved her, and showed her that love with slow, gentle movements.
Curling her fingers in his hair, Star tried to give back all that he was giving her as warm tears slid down into her temples. He still wanted her. The HandFast was over, and he still wanted her. The realization burned all the way to her soul.
"My heart. My Terrin. My beautiful, brave, incredible love. I thought I'd lost you.” He stopped moving, planted deep within her, and she could feel how their bodies pulsated. “I thought I'd lost you,” he whispered again. This time she could hear how the pain had torn him apart.
Slowly, carefully, he lowered himself over her, until his full weight was almost pressing down upon her. Star sighed at the feel of him. At the glorious, wonderful heaviness covering her. Then, to her shock, she felt his shoulders heave slightly. His face was buried in the curve of her neck; his mouth and tongue soft against her throat. Hunter wept silently as he cradled her in his arms and along his body.
She held him. Her hands tenderly stroked and touched him. Reassured him. Until he finally lifted slightly off of her and raised his head to gaze down at her. The room wasn't completely dark, but at that moment Star knew she wanted to see his face. She wanted to see herself reflected in eyes so blue, they were the color of pristine water planets. “Lights on,” she called out softly.
Oddly, the lights didn't respond.
A deep chuckle reverberated in Hunter's chest. “Lights on,” he commanded. Instantly the room responded. Then Star knew why, once her eyes had adjusted.
"We're in your quarters?” she accused him softly, glancing about. The furniture looked similar, but the room definitely reflected Hunter's past and specific tastes.
Her eyes fixed on a holographic image sitting on his communications panel a few feet away. It was an image of four people—an older man and woman, Hunter, and a younger, slightly altered version of Hunter.
He saw where her eyes were gazing, and he leaned down to brush his cheek against hers. “How are you feeling, Terrin? Forgive me for swooping in and rushing away with you like that."
"Why did you bring me here?” She smiled, turning back to him.
Hunter moved his hips, dipping into her the smallest bit, but enough to remind her of their intimate connection. He loved the blissful expression that always came over her face when she reveled in their mutual passion. “Because I asked you this morning, remember? I said I wanted us to spend the night at my place tonight."
Star arched her neck, her eyes tightly shut as she savored his possession of her. There was nothing he didn't command of her, or couldn't demand of her. “This morning?” she groaned softly. “Good heavens, Hunter, it seems like this morning was years ago.” Looking back up at him, she suddenly grinned and giggled, and playfully slapped him along one broad shoulder. “You got me pregnant in the shower!"
His reply included one melting smile. “Welllll, I did tell you I didn't want my hard work to go down the drain.” He quickly kissed her before she could form a retort. Immediately, the kiss deepened. It wasn't long before Star tugged at him, begging for him to make harder, faster love to her. Desire was a rapidly widening pool of inescapable need, sprinkling them with a thin sheen of perspiration.
Pinning her head against a pillow, Hunter took total possession of her mouth, driving her insane as he exerted the strength of his love over her. Star searched over his warm skin, finding the small of his back, then reaching the firm buttocks nestled between her thighs. There was no other way she could think of to let him know she wanted him to bring her to the edge of their universe but to dig her nails into the meaty portion lying beneath her palms. Hunter gasped sharply from the pain, jerking his head up in surprise.
With her mouth free to speak, Star stared at him with heavy-lidded eyes. “Did you ever think you'd be making love to a pregnant woman?” she asked in a voice like a gentle vibration.
"Not unless she was my wife.” He bent low over her to nuzzle her face. “Not unless she was you."
"Udo."
"Hush. I've been aching for you ever since your body flooded me this morning with memories in the transport. Do you know how damn hard you made it for me to concentrate?"
She started to reply, but somehow the incredible things he was doing to her just melted all thought out of her mind for the next hour.
It was much, much later after two wringing episodes of raw, lusty sex, when they found the world was no longer centered inside the small bedroom. They had no idea what time it was. They had no desire to find out. They were spent but replete, solidly held against each other amid the tangled bedclothes. Sleep was a breath away.
"Udo."
"Shhh.” He moved just enough to ease the cramp in one arm.
"I just wanted to tell you..."
And then it came back to her. Lifting her face, she tried to get his attention, but his eyes were closed. “Wife?"
The arm draped around her waist gave her a gentle squeeze in reply.
"Udo, please talk to me."
He kissed her forehead, keeping his lips against her skin so he could continue to caress her in that manner. “I want this baby, Terrin. I want us to raise it together. You and me.” Bending his head lower, he whispered, “Tell me what you want, my love. If you feel differently, I'll accept your decision."
"I don't know what I want,” she admitted with all honesty. He would sense her truthfulness, so there would be no misunderstanding between them. “But I do know I can't go back to the way I was. The way it used to be. I can't ever spend another night without having you next to me.” Shifting slightly in his embrace, she told him, “All I'm sure of is that I want to remain a Guardian. And I want to spend forever with you."
His breath tickled her skin. “I've read and reread the bylaws of Guardianship. There is nothing stated that forbids Guardians from being married.” He paused to smile as she stiffened against him. “There is nothing that states that Guardians cannot have children, or raise a family.” Her tenseness grew more acute, and he had to bring it to her attention. “Why the anxiety?"
"That's twice now you've mentioned...” Star faltered. Smiling, Hunter tasted her brow.
"Mentioned what? Staying together?"
She couldn't tell if he was serious, or playing with her. Damn him. This one-sided sensing irritated her, and her irritation was evident in her tone. “Don't bandy about with words like ‘wife’ and ‘marriage', Udo. Don't. Don't tease my heart. It's taken me years to trust anyone enough to open it this much. You've never betrayed me, but it was easier to give you my body than it was to give you my love."
"Then will you love me enough to do this, Terrin?” He nuzzled her temple, inhaling her sweet scent and her warmth. “For the sake of our children?"
"Children?” Unable to breathe, Star lifted her face and opened her eyes. In the room's dimmed light she saw he was watching her. Waiting for her. “I can't sense you. I've spent my whole life fighting suppositions and innuendos. I need to hear the words from you, as clearly as you hear and feel it from me."
"Then I'll put it as bluntly as I can. I want to be your husband. I want you to be my wife. I want to be able to make love to you every moment possible whenever we're not out in the field on assignment. I want to share what time we have in this existence with you beside me, and I want to spend every night with you in our bed. I want you and me to bring more children into this world. But more than anything, I want your love and all of your heart.” He paused, finally adding, “Can you face such a possible future with me, Terrin?"
"As Guardians?"
"Dammit, Terrin. What do I have to do to convince you?"
"Nothing.” She leaned into him, happy to feel his arms drawing her closer to his hard body. “I was already yours the second night you came back for me."
"Why ... you little hussy.” He chuckled as he kissed her, tickling her lips with his breath.
She smiled into his mouth. “Shut up. That's no way to talk to the mother of your daughter."
When she heard his quick intake, Star giggled at the rare opportunity to get the upper hand with him.
"Daughter?"
"Mm-hmmm."
"Any chance she could turn out to be just like her mother?"
"Oh, good heavens, I hope not!” Star exclaimed as Hunter laughed out loud.
As they cuddled, they continued to laugh softly and talk about the future and things that might be. Soon their breathing slowed as they finally fell asleep.
Light years away, death and destruction began to take on the form of an Ombitran mothership, and the immense craft slowly started angling toward the home planet of Guardian Command.
"Success."
"Success."
Four men stood around the small table in the tiny room at the back of the empty shop.
"Damn. Four days,” three smiled. “I still find it hard to believe."
"And you're certain they have no suspicions?” one inquired again of two.
"None. Absolutely none,” Tark promised.
"And the Ombitra?” four asked, more for his sake than the others'.
"Ready and waiting. I personally delivered the cloud to guarantee it being there on time, and they have already tested it on an uninhabited planet, so as not to draw the Guardians to them before it's time."
"And you've sent the new edicts to Guardian Command, telling them StarLight is to remain planetside?"
Nodding, Tark insisted, “Once the Ombitra begin their descent, there will be nothing to stop them."
"When are they scheduled to arrive?"
Offering the others his best professional smile, Tark said, “They're already on their way, gentlemen. That's why I called you here tonight. Make haste and be off this planet before one o'clock tomorrow afternoon, or find yourself the nearest grave. Because once they're finished, there will be nothing left of this world except for scorched earth."
Reassignment
The best thing Deceiver liked about starting his day at five in the morning was that he could get a lot of little things accomplished before the others were up and filing into breakfast. It was also the quietest time of the day, and probably the least hectic. It allowed him time to think. More than that, he could sit and let his powers spread out before him like a well-thought-out diagram.
When he'd taken the reins of leadership four years ago, after Redeemer had been killed during the their last tangle with the Ombitra, Deceiver never believed he was capable of directing the remaining twelve Guardians. In fact, if truth be told, he never thought they would take him into their membership when he had originally applied more than a dozen years ago.
It was hard to explain what he did. Explain or define how he could detect falsehoods. How he could follow the most intricate plot, and unweave it one twisted thread at a time. How he could tell, when they had encountered the Ombitra that they were going to form a net to trap the Guardian vessels.
He could “read” the enemy. Just like he could read anyone about to strike if he was within sight of them.
In battle he was indispensable. In times of conflict, he was the Guardians’ pivotal point.
And, although he couldn't put a specific name or finger on what was bothering him, Deceiver knew that something major was about to happen with the Ombitra.
He sat back in his chair, fingers templed in front of his face, and let his mind open up. As it had since he'd first discovered his ability when he was a skinny kid in primary school, and the target of bullying by the bigger boys, the bluish-gray grid opened up, quickly expanding to fill the room. Almost at the same time, the bits and pieces of information he'd mentally stored began to coalesce into sections of the grid, creating a pattern. Creating a whole that he and the others could see when he was ready to call it up again for review.
That little nagging in the back of his brain had begun the instant he had heard the HandFast Committee Chairman announce StarLight and Master Hunter among that month's participants. His power had kicked in, as it often did whether he wanted it to or not. That part of his ability he couldn't control, but neither did he want to. Too many times in the past his “instincts", as the others sometimes called it, had saved their butts.
The nagging had grown until their encounter with the Ombitra on Greater Biris. Suddenly there was a full-fledged alarm going off in his head. Ever since that moment Deceiver had absorbed every minute detail he could remember. And he remembered everything.
As the grid filled in, his nervousness increased. Putting his power in a temporary stasis, he checked the time. Nearly half past five. The others wouldn't be heading for breakfast for another couple of hours. Morning meetings were always at eight a.m. prompt.
Deceiver groaned. At this rate, he'd have a nice new ulcer to add to his collection.
At his elbow, the communications board lit up with an incoming call. Eyebrows descended as he glanced again at the chronometer. There could never be any good news coming into Guardian Command at this time in the morning.
"Guardian Command,” he briskly answered.
"This is Doctor Clearlian at the hospital. Would you please advise StarLight that she broke protocol when she left the hospital without doctor's approval?” The ticked off voice of authority on the other end put a hint of a smile on Deceiver's face. Good old StarLight. Up to mischief as usual.
"I take it you need her to return as soon as possible?"
Was it his imagination, or did the physician make a little exasperated sound? “We promise to release her first thing this morning."
"Are you finished with your tests?"
"For the moment, but she'll need to start coming in at weekly intervals in order for us to monitor the baby's development. When we sign off to let her return to Guardian Command, she'll be given a list of dates she'll be required to comply with."
"I take it, then, she won't be allowed to venture off-planet."
"Definitely not,” the doctor snapped peevishly. “As of yesterday, StarLight was placed on the disabled list. We've let her know she is not to use her powers. Not even flying. She is not to risk the child in any manner."
No flying? Deceiver couldn't imagine Star not flying for one day, much less for nine months. And to remain cooped up at headquarters? He groaned inwardly without letting the man on the other end of the transmission know how he was beginning to dread the coming months.
"Very well, Doctor Clearlian. I'll have StarLight return to the hospital within the hour, but we need her back with us before eight. Will that pose a problem?"
"Not at all. Thank you for your cooperation ... Deceiver, isn't it?"
"This is Deceiver."
The man thanked him again and killed the connection. Deceiver drummed his fingers on the panel and stared at the row of switches.
So StarLight went AWOL last night. Why wasn't he surprised? What he wanted to know was if Hunter had had a hand in her escape.
Who am I trying to kid? Reaching out, he punched a button to buzz Star's quarters. A full minute passed without her answering, and Deceiver frowned. Where would she have spent the night? As if you don't already know.
"Computer. What is StarLight's location?"
"StarLight is in Master Hunter's quarters,” came the metallic response.
For the life of him, Deceiver couldn't wipe the smile off of his face. The HandFast was ended. For all intents and purposes, Hunter and Star were no longer bound to each other, and they were free to go their separate ways.
The HandFast may be over, but there was no denying Hunter and Star were bound to each other in a way now that would not end that easily. Dammit, but Deceiver envied them and hoped it would continue.
As he was reaching to buzz Hunter's quarters, he paused a moment to consider. Was there anything in the bylaws preventing them from making it a permanent issue? Quickly he scanned the rules embedded in his mind but found nothing that could keep the two from taking their relationship to the next level. Odd, but he took comfort in the fact, and hit the switch.
Five seconds went by. Then ten.
"Yes?” It was Hunter's voice, sounding bored. Or half-asleep.
"Hunter, this is Deceiver. Sorry to wake you, but the hospital just called. They're miffed at Star's disappearance. I gave my word she'd be back within the hour, and they promised she would be released in time to return before our morning meeting."
Deceiver waited for the man to make some comment about her being with him in his room, but Hunter simply replied, “Very well, but I'm staying with her until they dismiss her."
"See you at breakfast, then. Deceiver out."
Flipping the toggle, a grin came over the Guardian leader's face. And, heavens help him, he couldn't get rid of it.
The tunnel grew wider, but the hospital room remained gray and fuzzy. They could see it was crowded with several physicians, waiting for her arrival. And the staff didn't have pleasant expressions on their faces.
Star looked at Hunter, and pointed to the one spot where there was enough room for them to appear. He nodded, angling for it.
Once he had awakened her to let her know he had to take her back, Star hadn't argued the fact. She knew she had left without permission. It was gratifying to know she wouldn't have to be there long; she'd be able to retreat back into their comfortable lives before roll call.
But what had made her happier was Hunter's no-nonsense remark that he would stay with her until the doctors said she could leave. Knowing he would be beside her gave her an inner glow of peacefulness. There would be no hateful or hurtful remarks thrown her way with him at her side.
Through the misty haze of the netherworld, Star and Hunter could hear the men talking about her. Hunter kept them out of sight a few moments longer in order to listen.
"...any kind of punishment for leaving without approval?” one doctor asked.
Another physician gave a rueful grin. “Punish a Guardian? Tell me you jest."
"You're just upset you didn't have a longer chance to work on her yesterday,” a third man slowly drawled.
"Can we hold her for more exams?” the first doctor questioned. “There's still the possibility the child could inherit her parents’ powers. Or maybe evolve with her own abilities."
"Tell you what,” the third doctor suggested, “we'll let you be the one to tell StarLight she has to remain longer for more tests. How does that sound?"
"What do you think she's going to do?” the first doctor challenged. “She's forbidden to use her powers. What can she do about it, other than protest?"
The second doctor laughed softly. “It's not about what StarLight will do, Doctor Finnan. It's the other Guardians you'll have to deal with. I told Deceiver she would be back by eight. I will not break my word."
Hunter took that as their cue to appear, and he faded into view as he held Star in his arms. As expected, the people gathered in the suite turned with open mouths as they appeared. Completely solidified, he released Star, setting her feet down on the floor before finally letting her go.
Star took advantage of the lull to take a small step away from him, and lifted her chin. “I came back, as you requested. Just give me my release, and we'll be gone."
It was Doctor Finnan who cleared his throat. “There may be a few more tests we'll have to perform before—"
"Tests?” Hunter spoke up. “I don't think so. I think you've done all you need for the moment. Star may not be able to use her powers, but that restriction doesn't apply to me."
Finnan took umbrage with the comment. “I don't know if the HandFast Committee told you, but your responsibilities have ended, Master Hunter,” he fired back. “You no longer can dictate to her, for her, or to us for that matter."
Casually crossing his arms over his chest, Hunter gave the man a calm, yet dangerous look. “On the contrary. I'm here acting on my responsibilities as a Guardian. Star is going through a rough, emotional patch right now. I'm here at her request to provide assistance in case she needs any, and to escort her back to Command when she's been released from your care."
"That still doesn't give you the right to tell us what tests we can't and can perform."
"I don't want any more of your tests,” Star heatedly hissed. “In fact, I would be interested in finding out if any of the other HandFasted women have had to endure all I was put through yesterday."
Hunter frowned at her comment. He was getting the sense of something that had made her emotionally sick to her stomach, and it wasn't making him happy. There was more than a grain of truth to her remark, and Hunter wouldn't let it go until it was resolved.
With Hunter stepping in, Finnan relented with a shrug of his shoulders. “So be it. Where's the release?"
The young female intern who had helped Star the day before handed him the computer unit. Marking his ID, the doctor left the crowded room. Star watched him go, when she spotted two other figures hovering near the door. Hunter felt a shockwave go through her, and he tried to determine her sudden tenseness.
"What are they doing here?” she asked tightly to no one in particular.
Doctor Clearlian glanced over his shoulder. “They're from administration. They need to sign off on your release, as well, then notify the Committee."
Star's eyes narrowed as she kept her nervousness in check. Her show of bravado would fool the others, but it set Hunter's nerves on edge. Why did the two suited men in the back upset her?
"I don't want them here,” she insisted. “Let them sign off and make their reports somewhere else."
"We have every right to be here.” One of the men grinned. As the administrator's eyes raked over Star, still in her hospital top and pants, Hunter could literally feel her skin crawl.
"Star, what's wrong?” he asked her in a concerned voice. Soft, but loud enough to be heard by the others. He saw her shudder slightly, but she gave nothing away. Nothing, except for the fact that she balled her hands into fists, a sure sign of her distress.
"There were some comments made to StarLight yesterday,” a wavering voice told him. It was the woman intern.
"Doctor Perlakian!"
"Doctor Perlakian, you are dismissed. Please leave immediately,” the administrator ordered.
"No!” Hunter cocked his head toward the woman who remained defiantly against orders. “Doctor Perlakian, please continue. What kind of comments?"
The woman paused. If she went against orders, it would mean her job, her internship, and all the hard work and long hours she'd put into trying to gain a position on the hospital staff.
But she was also a woman, and her woman's dignity had rebelled at what she had witnessed the day before. Even if the rumors were true, StarLight didn't deserve the harassment and crude remarks thrown at her.
These two people were Guardians. If need be, she could go to them for help if the next few days got to be too much to handle. That thought gave her the courage to continue.
"Mister Soscht told StarLight that she had won him the hospital pool by getting pregnant within four days of the HandFast ceremony. I believe the term he used was ‘a hot little number who satisfied all the men at Guardian Command.’”
Hunter could feel his anger rising, as well as Star's. From the intern's testimony, he knew what she said was the truth because Star's anger had flared at the memory.
"Is this the truth, Mister Soscht? Did you make those comments to StarLight?"
"My words were taken out of context,” the administrator shot back.
"Your comments were made in front of witnesses, and a crew of news media,” Perlakian reminded him.
"In front of witnesses?” Hunter echoed. He didn't try to quell his anger at the man. As the darkness within him rose to the surface, he could see the others in the room reacting to the change coming over his countenance.
Soscht, however, seemed oblivious to the fact that he had entered extremely dangerous territory. “Doctor Perlakian, you may empty your office. Your termination is effective immediately."
"By right of Guardian Law, there will be no retribution toward this woman for speaking the truth,” Star commanded. “Her job is safe."
"What else was said ... or insinuated?” Hunter asked. His eyes turned black with his power at the two men being accused. “Remember, I will know if you are being untruthful."
The room hushed further, every eye watching the administrators’ reactions. Waiting for their admissions. When none came, Hunter glanced at Star, silently asking her. Although she dropped her eyes from his questioning look, the redness in her face was all the answer he needed.
"Apparently, it seems I'm not going to get a direct answer from either of you. In that case, I'll just pop over to the media center and see what they have on file."
"It was an innocent remark. No one was hurt,” Soscht retorted, trying desperately to save face.
"He said that with StarLight's sexual appetites, you must have had a blast with her."
The room froze the moment Doctor Perlakian uttered the comment. If Hunter followed through and went to the media, he would discover everything brought out had been the truth. There was no way Soscht and his companion could deny what had been said.
The gray swirl started to rise around him, giving him a direct link with his prey.
"Hunter."
Hunter started at the touch of Star's hand on his arm. He hadn't realized how deep into his power he had descended until she brought him back. Turning to her, he saw her shake her head.
"It's been said, and the media has it. There's nothing we can do or say that will ever change their minds. Leave it.” Fighting back tears, Star pointed at the hand unit in Doctor Clearlian's possession. “Code it and let me go. Otherwise, I will not be able to prevent Master Hunter's pronouncement upon you."
Quickly, the rest of them complied, including the two administrators.
"There,” Soscht said, shoving the unit back at the nearest physician. “But I still fail to see why you condemn me for speaking out like I did. Yes, I made those comments. But you're being hypocritical to claim to want the truth about what I said, when what I said was also the truth."
"You spoke lies,” Hunter breathed. “You spread lies to damage StarLight's reputation, and to smear her good name with your foul remarks."
He turned to Doctor Clearlian. “I am placing the burden of proof on your shoulders. I want a statement made to the media, and to the public, and it will be done with expediency. StarLight's name will be cleared today, this morning, or else I will let the other Guardians know of this hospital's duplicity. You knew for a fact that she had to report in before the HandFast ceremony to prove she wasn't already with child, and that she was free of any illness or disease that would prevent her from participating. You knew, Doctor Clearlian, that Star was a virgin the first day of HandFast, and yet you allowed this kind of behavior to circulate throughout your administration?"
"I was not present when it happened,” Clearlian defended himself.
"Maybe not, but the guilt will rest on you until this entire fiasco is cleared. You have four hours, Doctor."
He let them see his fury in the sweeping clouds of black anger circling around his body. In the fathomless darkness in his eyes. As he reached for Star and picked her up in his arms, he turned back to the group inside the room to accost them with a final word of warning.
"For their insensitive reactions and attitudes, it would be best if Mister Soscht and his cohort were summarily dismissed from their duties, since they've made it clear that the interests of their patients have never been their primary concern."
If he remained a second longer, Hunter knew he would do something he might regret. He'd said enough. With Star clinging to him, they vanished to return to Guardian Command.
It would be interesting to see what would happen next.
Instincts
It was seven thirty-five when Deceiver strolled into the dining room. Everyone looked up as he entered. Conversation died. Something was up, and he wondered what had happened.
"Hey, Deceiver, have you seen the vidscreen this morning?” Blender casually inquired.
"Sorry, no. Been busy with a bit of speculation,” Deceiver responded, letting them know he'd been using his ability to do a little research. “Why?"
"StarLight snuck out of the hospital last night. The news is reporting it as if we're harboring a fugitive.” Time Merchant shoved a thumb behind him. “Did you know if she came back here?"
"Yes. I also know Hunter took her back this morning and is staying with her until they officially dismiss her.” While the group digested that piece of information, the Guardian leader went over to the dispenser for his own breakfast.
"She and Hunter stayed together last night?"
It was Sender's voice coming from behind him. Sighing loudly, Deceiver turned back around to face their questioning stares. “Yes. Is there a problem with that?"
Disaster glanced at the others. “Not really. But isn't it time we stopped beating around the bush here and started getting some straight answers? I mean, we've been tiptoeing around this whole mess of the HandFast ever since it began, and I for one am sick and tired of it all. Can somebody tell me, straight up and truthfully ... are Star and Hunter in love? And are they going to make it permanent?"
"You're right. It's time to get everything out in the open."
All eyes went to the outside door leading to the courtyard. Hunter let the door swing behind him after allowing StarLight to enter the room ahead of him. Second glances went to Star, who was no longer in uniform, but wearing a pair of dressy pants and a long-sleeved, pale yellow shirt. Numbly they watched as Hunter took her hand and led her to where the others were sitting.
"Everything go all right at the hospital?” Deceiver asked quietly.
Hunter shook his head. “We had problems. Or rather, some of the hospital staff have a problem. Be looking for a retraction through the news in a couple of hours."
"Retraction?” Corona parroted. “What kind of retraction?"
"Who am I going to get a call from, Hunter? What kind of trouble should I be expecting?” Deceiver asked with a sigh. He glanced at Star, flashing her a grin. “Good morning, Star."
"Morning, Deceiver. Let me explain. The entire time I was at the hospital, I didn't have to endure just the poking and prodding and countless instruments jabbed at me. Those men enjoyed putting their hands on me, and laughing and joking about it, because they were all thinking the same thing.” She looked around the room to make her point clear. “I was told, in front a crowd of hospital staff and media, that I was a slut. I was told I'd bedded every male Guardian here, and that my becoming pregnant after four days was not so surprising in light of my ‘appetites'.” She took a shaky breath. “I don't know what hurt worse. The fact that I couldn't deny any of it, because they wouldn't believe me. Or the fact that you might have thought the same thing, and never came to me for the truth."
Commander opened his mouth first. “Star..."
"Let me finish first,” she begged him, and looked back at the others. “Just because I wear a very tight body suit doesn't make me a slut. You know how much I depend on it to centralize my powers. You know how it helps me soak up and store energy. Have I ever done anything, anything, to any one of you guys, to make you think I sleep around?"
"You've flirted with almost all of us, at one time or another,” Disaster commented.
"Yeah, but we all have. And we still do,” Animator spoke up. “Are our reputations on the line, too?"
"Deceiver.” Star's gaze drilled into him. “With Seeker here in the room with us, where she can easily spot a falsehood, have I had sex with you?"
"No, you haven't,” Deceiver replied calmly. “With the exception of Hunter, you know every man here will also deny that fact."
Her eyes lit on Condemner. “Pommer, you were one of the crew I rescued from that wormhole. One of the first to ask me to join. Do you believe I was promiscuous prior to my becoming a Guardian?"
"I never thought about it, until after you'd started dating Provoker, and then we...” His voice trailed off, and all eyes went to Provoker. This time, the man had the grace to blush.
"If you think I went to the media, and started blurting out any sort of lurid details, you're wrong. Check with Seeker."
Seeker backed him up. “He's kept it within the group,” she confirmed.
"So ... what ... or who took it outside the group?” Hunter voiced aloud.
The room stilled. It was unbelievable that any one of the Guardians had broken that unspoken code of confidentiality. If there was anything permanent between them, it was the indisputable fact they could be totally open and free among themselves, without ever having to worry that something would be made public.
Before she was asked to do so, Seeker slowly started walking around the room, stopping briefly behind each Guardian and laying a hand on a shoulder or arm. A few moments, and she moved on to the next one, seeking their betrayer. The tension made the air feel as if they were being forced to breathe through water.
Rounding one table, she approached Provoker, and everyone watched him flinch at her featherlike touch. When her face paled suddenly, Seeker was quick to explain. “Provoker, you're a major asshole, but you've kept our secrets safe.” She shuddered, then turned toward Bruiser.
Instantly the huge man was on his feet and backing away. “Keep your hands off me,” he growled.
"Why, Bruiser? Are you hiding anything?” Deceiver inquired. “Let Seeker touch you."
"No one's touching me unless I want them to,” Bruiser announced nervously. He continued to move backwards, making it clear he wanted to put as much space between himself and the woman walking steadily toward him.
"Bruiser?” Star called out, confused. “What's wrong?"
"Seeker?” Deceiver asked.
The woman's eyes were drilling holes into the giant man's psyche, as surely as if she was punching them physically. Seeking his truth. Seeking out what he was trying to hide. “Come on, Bruiser. Give it up. I'll get it out of you one way or another,” she threatened in a thick voice.
Bruiser's face reddened with anger. He knew Seeker could back up her threat, having seen her take an enemy's head and almost drive the man insane until he'd opened up to her mental probing.
With a roar of anger, Bruiser picked up one of the dining room tables and hurled it into their midst. Hunter grabbed Star and jerked her out of the way of the projectile as the man raced from the room. Within seconds, he was on the man's tail.
When he was certain where the Guardian was heading, Hunter materialized next to the closest intercommunications panel and flipped the toggle. “Deceiver! He's running for the transport bay!"
"Don't try to take him by yourself, Hunter!” the man warned.
"Won't need to get physical,” Hunter muttered to himself, grinning. “Let's see how Bruiser likes a taste of being dominated."
Bruiser was inside Transport One and warming her engines when Hunter popped into view a few feet away. “Going somewhere?"
He was answered with another roar of anger from the giant. The transparent shield slid shut over the cockpit, cutting off the sound of his protest. Hunter slowly shook his head sadly. “Sorry, chum, but I can't let you take off without an explanation.” Closing his eyes, Hunter drew upon his dark powers, and a second later he winked out of sight.
The other Guardians rushed into the bay to find Bruiser still sitting inside One, the engines primed and ready for lift-off. Except the man was staring straight ahead, unblinking and unseeing. Frozen in a tableau of disbelief and pale, wide-eyed shock.
Hunter materialized near the hull of the ship, and the last wisps of blackness swirled downward to the ground before disappearing. He straightened, taking another couple of seconds before turning around to face them.
"Cripes, Hunter! What did you do to him?” Condemner gasped.
Instead of answering him, Hunter nodded to Seeker. “Can you check him out?"
The woman hurried over to the small two-seater as Deceiver thumbed the release switch on the communications board nearby. The bubble over the cockpit slid open, and Seeker climbed inside to read him. Several seconds passed in silence as she bowed her head over the immobilized man. Giving them a sad look, she announced, “He's comatose. I don't know what you did to him, Hunter, but I can't get anything from him but what's on the surface.” She glanced at Deceiver. “But it's enough. We're in trouble, Deceiver. Big trouble. This is a lot more than just sullying Star's name. A lot more. Disaster, can you help get him out of the ship? He's going to need to go to the hospital."
Together with Challenger and Condemner, the three men managed to pull Bruiser's limp body out of the cruiser as Time Merchant called for a med lab unit. When the medics came to examine the unconscious man, Deceiver told them Bruiser would be dangerous when he finally awakened, and to keep him under constraints at all times.
"He's suffering from a form of psychosis, so don't believe anything he babbles. Contact us immediately when he comes to,” the Guardian leader ordered, and they all watched as the hulking figure was airlifted away. “All right, everyone. Let's get back to the meeting room and discuss this."
Star found a cup of hot brew waiting for her when she took her assigned seat. She didn't have to guess how it had gotten there. It was simply nice to know he had thought of her. After they had returned from the hospital, he'd taken her directly to her quarters so she could shower and change, and they had shared a quick breakfast in the room, until time forced them to leave for the dining hall.
As the last of them took their seats, Deceiver remained standing at the head of the oval-shaped table. “Sender, I want you to monitor the vidscreen for any breaking news about us."
"Got it,” the woman said, reaching for an earplug.
"Hunter, tell us what you did to Bruiser.” The order was curt and unforgiving. “Where did that power come from, and why haven't we been made aware of it before now?"
Hunter lifted his face. There was no remorse in his eyes. “There are many aspects of my powers I haven't put a name to, but I've used them in full view of everyone here."
"Like the fact you can transport someone with you?” Morning Fire pointed out, glancing at StarLight.
"That, among other things. What I did to Bruiser was show him a possible scenario. He was determined to get off-planet in One. I just gave him a little nightmarish daydream of being lost in the void, without radio contact, without power, and with his oxygen slowly depleting. His mind couldn't keep its hold on reality, and it shut down. Once he comes to, it will take him a while to reestablish himself, but he'll be fine afterwards."
"You didn't touch his mind?” Seeker questioned, leaning over the table to glance down the way at him.
"No.” Hunter shook his head. “I just ... inserted something into it."
"I can testify to that,” Provoker raised his hand. “The man plays bitch with your head, but he doesn't have the ability to hurt you himself. You do it all on your own."
"Very well. Seeker. What did you discover when—"
"Deceiver, we have news,” Sender broke in, immediately throwing open the vidscreen for all to see.
"...Take you to the news conference where Doctor Syman Clearlian is prepared to make a statement regarding the Guardians,” a voice announced. The image was shifting, refocusing, and then they were seeing a small podium in front of the hospital. A few seconds later, Doctor Clearlian stepped forward with a computer unit in his hand.
"My name is Doctor Syman Clearlian. I am the physician in charge of all HandFasted couples, and I am responsible for all information regarding those participating. I am here today to pass along some information, with the hope that a lot of erroneous rumors may be settled.
"Sadly, it has been brought to my attention that members of my hospital staff and administrators have purposefully been spreading gossip and other statements that have been untrue with regards to Terrin DiLyric, also known as StarLight of the Guardians. Miss DiLyric, while recently undergoing tests at this hospital, was met with numerous charges against her. Unfortunately, because these charges were false, they caused immense distress and anxiety for her.
"As you know, all HandFasted couples are required to undergo a physical evaluation prior to the ceremony. This ensures that each person is healthy enough to participate. Miss DiLyric underwent that same evaluation, and was found fit to proceed. But certain details of her evaluation were kept confidential, as required by law. I have been given permission by Miss DiLyric to allow some of those confidential details to be made public."
Doctor Clearlian paused, thin-lipped, before continuing. It wasn't difficult to see the man would be glad when the whole thing was behind him.
"Terrin DiLyric underwent her examination two days before the HandFast ceremony. At that time, she was documented as a virgin, intact and whole. Therefore rumors that cast aspersions about her, that run contrary to that information are false, and must cease immediately.
"On behalf of this hospital, I apologize again to StarLight for the emotional suffering she endured while she was here. And I want to assure her that those on staff responsible have been reprimanded. I also want to send out fair warning to others who wish to disregard this broadcast, and continue to spread such rumors. If you continue, know you will be held liable for criminal prosecution. Thank you for your time,” he abruptly concluded, and left the podium.
The Guardians watched the man adroitly avoid answering any of the media's questions as he ducked back into the safety of the big building. Sender closed the transmission, and everyone swiveled their seats back around.
Clearing his throat, Deceiver broke the silence. “Back to the business at hand. Seeker, what did you discover when you examined Bruiser?"
"He's involved in some sort of business that has something to do with an invasion."
"Invasion?” Condemner asked. “By whom?"
"I don't know,” the woman shook her head and shrugged. “The same thought kept repeating over and over in his head. ‘One o'clock. One o'clock. One o'clock.’ He had gone too deep inside himself. I couldn't glean much else, other than what I just told you.” She looked at Hunter. “If you hadn't stopped him, we wouldn't have that much to go on. But because you did, we don't have anything more."
"One o'clock.” Deceiver lifted his face and projected the grid he had been working on that morning. The shimmering, mentally-projected image rotated slowly until he had it facing the others to where they could read it. One small rectangle flashed, and the phrase “one o'clock” grew visible inside its borders. “All right, everybody. There it is. Look at it. Study it. Let's see if we can't figure something from it."
"Not until we've settled one last piece of unfinished business!” Animator slapped her hands on the table and got to her feet. Turning to face the woman seated two chairs away, she asked, “Give us the final answer, Star. We're dying here, dammit! Are you and Hunter committing to each other, or aren't you?"
Disaster got to his feet as well. “Let me be among the first to apologize, Star. I believed the rumors, and I helped to spread them, although...” He shot a disgusted look at Provoker. “...although I wasn't the one to claim you as one of my conquests."
Star opened her mouth to reply, when Provoker turned to her. The room quieted in anticipation. “Yeah. I'm an asshole. And Hunter tore me a new one that day you went sun dancing."
They saw Star shoot a look at Hunter, who gave a small nod to acknowledge the man's comment, but said nothing. She turned back to Provoker.
"You ... are ... the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life, and I was beside myself when you agreed to go out with me. I mean, here I was, with this measly little negotiation power, and I was getting to take you out in public. To be frank, I loved the attention. I loved sharing your spotlight. I found out I didn't want to lose that importance, even after you told me you didn't want to continue dating any longer. That's ... I guess that's why I went a bit berserk and began spreading gossip about how we had been lovers."
Star paled at his admission, but remained quiet, allowing him to finish.
"The rumors were already out there. I just ... added some fuel to them. But not outside our group. Seeker can attest to that. I never went outside our group to make the accusations. I'm sorry, Star. I'm not saying I won't make any more cracks about you. I can't help myself, and I hope you understand that, as it's part of what makes up my power. But I promise I will do my best never to humiliate or hurt you intentionally again."
Nodding to Hunter, Provoker waited for the man's response. Instead, Hunter deferred to Star. “Thank you for clearing the air, Provoker,” she managed to say. “I'm ... I'm not going to say I forgive you. Not yet, anyway. I'm having a hard time believing any of you could say such things, and the rest of you believed it!” Another thought came to her, and Star whirled suddenly on Hunter. “Did you believe them, too?"
"Truthfully, for the most part I tried to ignore Provoker. But, yes, I'm just as guilty."
"Hunter!"
"But it's no longer relevant,” Hunter told her soothingly. “We have a lot more important things to worry about at this moment. Doctor Clearlian has cleared your name and reputation. We have the Ombitra hovering around out there, waiting to strike again. One of our own is about to undergo testing at the mental clinic ... not to mention you and I have a wedding to plan, and a future to prepare for our daughter,” he added, almost as an afterthought. And grinned.
"I knew it!” shrieked Morning Fire, and rushed over to give her friend a hard hug.
Deceiver watched, grinning broadly, as everyone descended upon the couple with congratulations. It wasn't until Time Merchant let out a shrill whistle that their attention shifted to the man listening in at the communications console. During their meetings, Merchant volunteered to man the emergency lines and incoming calls.
"Star? There's someone outside wanting to see you."
"Outside? Outside Command? Who?” she asked, pulling away from Sender's embrace.
"Someone who claims to be a Doctor Perlakian. What do you want me to tell her?"
"Tell her nothing,” Star said, getting to her feet. “I'll go see what she wants."
They watched her leave, taking her long-legged stride out the door and reminding them of the fact that she would be earthbound for the next nine months. Even so, seeing Star walking from one place to another was still an unusual sight.
"All right, everyone. Can we get back to business now?” Deceiver tried to bring order back to their delighted chaos. Bringing his grid out of stasis, he reminded them, “If there aren't any more questions that need answering right this second, let me recap because we appear to have a one o'clock deadline. That's a little more than four hours away, and the chronometer is eating up the time."
Liaison
Clutching the satchel close to her chest, Devorah Perlakian approached the kiosk outside the parameters of Guardian Command. The tour guide looked up at her and flashed a smile.
"Good morning! That'll be fourteen creds, please. Tour's been delayed for thirty minutes, due to an unexpected emergency."
"No. I'm not here for the tour. I need to speak with StarLight.” She kept her voice low, hoping that the small crowd gathering outside the confines and waiting for the eight-thirty tour wouldn't notice.
However, the guide appeared skeptical, as she should. They were loyal to their jobs, and to the people inside. “I'm sorry,” the woman replied brusquely. “Direct contact with the Guardians is prohibited."
"No, no, you don't understand.” Devorah withdrew her hospital ID from her pocket and handed it over. “I'm Doctor Perlakian. I need to return StarLight's uniform to her. She left it at the hospital."
After Star and Hunter had disappeared from StarLight's hospital room, it hadn't taken long for Doctor Clearlian to dismiss everyone as he angrily stalked out. Since it was her job to pick up and tidy all loose ends, she had gone back one final time before housekeeping descended to ready the suite for a new patient. Hers was a menial job, more defeating than showing what she was truly capable of doing, but at least she was doing some good for the people.
StarLight's stay had been brief. There was nothing personal Devorah would have to have shipped over to Command. No flowers or private communications. No forgotten articles.
Opening the tiny cabinet next to the sink, she had stood in shock at the sight of the jet-black garment lying folded on the shelf. Without thinking, Devorah had snatched it, stuffed it inside her lab coat, and hurried from the room.
She spoke to no one as she half-ran back to her office. Once inside the tiny cubicle, she'd pulled out the uniform and placed it on her desk. It was StarLight's body suit. There was no mistaking it. The outer layer vibrated to the touch as patterns of stars winked and moved across the surface. What was it StarLight had said? That the suit helped her with her powers? Running the tip of her finger inside the meshlike fabric, an almost electrical feeling crept up her arm. Devorah jerked her arm away, unable to tolerate any more of it.
If she mentioned the fact that she had the suit, she knew it would be taken away from her so that some self-important authority figure could return it personally. But after this morning, Devorah knew Star detested authority figures. She had watched Hunter and Star's body language with expert eyes, and without question she knew the couple were bound to each other body and soul.
Just like she knew that her job, although secured by StarLight's claim of Guardian Law, would soon become a living nightmare. She had violated the unspoken code of protecting each other's back. Grimacing, Devorah knew she couldn't protect or defend anyone who had no compunction about defaming others. She couldn't work with or work for people who cared so little for humanity, yet put the false mask of caring on their faces whenever it suited them. Whenever it promised to line their bank accounts, or bring them a little more glare from the spotlight.
In a few days, her position would be made so unbearable, Devorah knew she would be forced to quit, just for the sake of preserving her sanity.
Placing the garment into her satchel, Devorah had grabbed the few personal items on her communications console she couldn't leave behind, placed them into the bag, then typed in a quick message to administration. Once it was sent, she'd walked out of her office and out of the hospital, and went directly to Guardian Command.
At the kiosk, the tour guide gave her a doubtful grin. “Yeah. Really. You have StarLight's uniform?"
"Who has StarLight's uniform?” a bystander overheard. Immediately the growing crowd of people were gathered around the doctor, demanding a look-see. Devorah held onto the satchel for dear life.
"Please. Is there any way you can contact her inside and let her know she left it behind this morning after her dismissal? I'm telling you the truth."
Nodding, the guide demanded, “Let me see it, then."
Sighing, Devorah opened the satchel enough to reach inside, and drew out one of the long sleeves. A minuscule comet-like burst of white spiraled around the cuff before shooting up to the shoulder and disappearing. The people huddled around her gasped.
"Wow, that's really hers!"
"It's not made of any real material, is it? What is that stuff?"
"What's it feel like?” the person next to her asked.
Devorah shrugged. “It feels like ... it stings if you hold it too long. Burns. If you touch the inner layer, you get a shock up your arm."
"Well, didn't StarLight say she needs the suit to help her contain her powers?” a nearby tourist responded.
"What was the name again?” the guide inquired.
"Doctor Perlakian,” Devorah told her.
The guide nodded, reaching for a headset.
As the people gathered around her continued to watch the dancing pattern evolve along the sleeve, Devorah watched the guide's facial expressions. The woman appeared genuinely surprised when she finished talking to whomever it was who'd taken her call.
"Doctor Perlakian? Uhh ... StarLight is coming out to speak with you. Personally."
"What?"
"Holy heavens! StarLight?"
"Wow! Up close and personal! What a booster!"
The crowd grew more excited. Smiling, Devorah thanked the guide, and everyone turned toward the doors they knew Star would be emerging from.
Within moments, a figure dressed in a pale yellow blouse and dark tan pants came around the corner. At first it was difficult to believe it was her. The normally loose and flowing cape of curling hair was clipped back with several small, jeweled hasps. But there was no mistaking that walk, that graceful, almost boneless flow of her body. As the figure drew closer, they knew it was StarLight.
The crowd drew closer to the perimeter, and tried not to breach the defensive shields. Halfway across the courtyard, Star halted and lifted her hand to her face.
"Release gate four,” she spoke into the comm unit she'd brought with her.
The low humming around the crowd ceased. They looked up expectantly at the Guardian standing a dozen yards away.
"Doctor Perlakian?"
Devorah nodded.
"Come on,” Star waved at her, beckoning. “It's safe."
"I-I hope I'm not interrupting. I just came to return your uniform. You'd left it in your room."
Star took a few steps closer and smiled. “That's kind of you. I wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. You were just doing your job, and I was being a first-class bitch. Come. Let me try to make it up to you.” She beckoned again. This time Devorah didn't hesitate.
Stepping over the circle of reddish stone tiles that marked the edge of the protective shield, the physician walked over to where the Guardian waited.
"Reactivate gate four,” Star ordered into the comm unit. “Come on. Let me introduce you to everyone.” She grinned, and took the intern's arm to lead her back to Command Central.
Devorah followed alongside the woman taking her into the interior of the citadel. She was in a daze, never expecting the kind of welcome she'd received. The most she had hoped for was a quick return and the chance to apologize one last time for administration's unforgivable behavior. The last thing she had expected was for StarLight to apologize to her, and invite her in.
The public didn't go in without a phalanx of guides to escort them. And the lucky few med techs who were allowed to make emergency runs to Guardian Command were handpicked from a select pool of applicants.
Having a Guardian personally show one around was unheard of.
Devorah snuck a look at the woman walking beside her. She was glowing, a happy smile creasing the corners of her full lips. Star was perhaps an inch, no more than two inches taller than she was, but there was no way she could compare herself any further with the woman. In fact, there was probably no other female in the universe who could match Star's physique or beauty.
They passed through another door, down a short hallway, and suddenly they were inside Command Central. Around an immense, elliptical table of shining onyx, the other Guardians ceased their discussion and watched the couple enter the room. Hanging suspended in the air was a glowing, bluish-gray grid of some kind, wavering like a holographic image.
Taking her arm, Star led her over to stand near an empty chair. “May I introduce you to Doctor Perlakian. She came to return my uniform I'd left at the hospital."
"She's also the person responsible for breaking their unethical code of silence, and letting me know what kind of nonsense those people had been saying about Star,” a voice behind her commented. Devorah turned around to see Master Hunter smiling at her. “Thank you again for your assistance."
"You're welcome."
"That was a brave thing you did,” a woman a few seats over noted. Devorah searched her memory. Corona. Yes. Her name was Corona, and she had the ability to exude tremendous amounts of heat and pressure.
"Thank you, but I only did it because I'd had it up to here with their treatment of Star. No woman deserves the kind of blasphemy they were giving her, whether it was true or not. And unless someone spoke up, it would continue.” She looked back at Master Hunter. “I realized your protecting StarLight extended far beyond the HandFast edicts. These next few months are going to be hard enough without her having to face that kind of behavior every time she has to go in for a checkup.” Taking a shaky breath, Devorah shook her head. “It should be better now. I hope."
"Is that why you've quit the hospital? Because it should be better?"
The critical voice came from a Guardian watching her with piercing brown eyes. Devorah cursed herself for not paying more attention to who each individual person was, but her job had prevented her from pursuing any kind of private life. That included being aware of anyone or anything outside of hospital business.
"I'm sorry. You are..."
"Seeker,” the brunette answered, smiling. She waved at the woman sitting next to her. “This is my twin sister, Sender.” The blue-green-eyed brunette also smiled in greeting. Devorah saw the family resemblance. Twins, but not identical. Fraternal.
"You quit the hospital?” Star queried. “Why? Your job was secured."
"I know you evoked Guardian Law,” Devorah admitted. “It would only be a matter of days, though, before they would make my life unbearable, and force me to leave.” She gave them a watery smile. “Never mind. Here. Let me return this.” She reached into her satchel and withdrew the uniform, handing it to Star.
"What are you going to do now?” Hunter asked.
Devorah shrugged. “There are other hospitals. Other clinics. Don't worry."
"Wait a minute."
A man she instantly recognized stepped around the table and approached her.
"You were among the refugees we evacuated from Sira Tarella Four, right?” Commander inquired.
"Sira Tarella went nova a little over a year ago, but I don't remember working it,” Blender interjected. “Where was I?"
"I think you and Provoker were thinning out that little disagreement between the Tercians and the Vaternaki,” Deceiver reminded him.
"Oh, yeah. That's right."
Commander stared down at the intern. “Pardon my saying so, but why are you a measly intern over at the hospital? Weren't you in charge of some sort of medical school on your world before we evacuated the population?"
Devorah remembered the pandemonium and fear as clearly as if it had happened last week. Their sun had begun fluctuating a few years before, and growing steadily worse in the following months. Sira Tarella didn't follow the usual path of taking several millennia to burn out. She was determined to do it in a matter of months. Fortunately, once their scientists had figured it out, the Guardians were there, along with the Stellar Police, to get the nearly two million occupants off the planet and safely ensconced on other worlds before the sun flared one final time.
Before she had let herself be carried off, she'd made certain every one of her employees, their families, and each patient from her small hospital had first been evacuated. Devorah recalled Commander coming into the doors of her clinic, moving like a whirlwind as he snatched her up into his arms and carried her over to the transport. Their eyes had locked, and for several heartbeats she wondered why the man hadn't just sent her along with the rest of the group being corralled together.
Looking up now into the man's light brown gaze, she nodded. “It was the only job I could find at the time. Hospital policy states every new employee must go through an internship and indoctrination before working up the ladder to full staff. Doesn't matter what your previous position was, or how many years you had invested in it.” She gave him a rueful grin and laughed gently. “Guess it's back to the bottom rung."
"That's crap,” Star exclaimed. “You defended me. You deserve better treatment than that."
It was Provoker who spoke up, bringing forth his capacity as negotiator. “You know, Deceiver, we really could use a med tech on site, not to mention a liaison between us and the city."
The one Devorah knew as Disaster spoke up. “He's right, Deceiver. We're always needing some kind of medical attention, and having to constantly call over for a med lab unit gets to be a pain in the butt. Not to mention having to run over to the hospital for simple things like checkups."
"If we had a physician on staff, we could avoid all that,” Corona interjected. “What if we had a serious, life-threatening emergency? By the time a unit got here, it could be too late. After all, none of us have any kind of medicinal power."
"N-neither do I,” Devorah hurried to say. “I don't have any kind of ability, other than what I know and what I've learned."
"But it's a gift and an ability none of us have,” Deceiver smiled. “It may not radiate from you, but you have it just the same. I can finagle the funds to equip the clinic we have here with what you need. That is ... if you're willing to take the job."
Star grabbed the woman's upper arm. “I have this really bad taste in my mouth whenever I think about having to go back every week for an exam. If you did it here, you could send in the reports."
"You would be doing all of us a favor, not just for Star and myself,” Hunter added.
"Are you sure? I mean, there's no precedent."
"Provoker wouldn't mention it if it wasn't feasible and necessary,” Sender told her.
Devorah lowered her face, ashamed to let them see the tears welling up in her eyes. Work with the Guardians as their personal physician? When no other civilian had ever been known to work so closely with the tight-knit group? Much less been asked.
"Doctor Perlakian.” It was Deceiver. Slowly, she raised an embarrassed face, and swiped at the wetness on her cheeks. “Is there family you're having to consider? Forgive us for our haste, and for not considering this earlier before we'd asked you."
"No, no family,” she admitted with a shake. “My mother died on our home world. And I've ... I've been too wrapped up in trying to get a decent practice established to have any sort of private life."
A warm voice floated into her ear. “You know, if you took one of the women's suites, you could live on-site. Unless you'd rather live in the city and commute every day."
Star's smile was unavoidable. Giving the woman a grateful look, Devorah nodded, then she suddenly became all business. “But on the condition that when I give you a direct order, you follow it,” she said sharply, although the twinkle in her eye softened her tone. “I can be as hard-nosed as you, Miss DiLyric. Go against my medical advice, and I won't promise to make the examinations easy on you."
Hunter barked with laughter, as well the others. Star gave the doctor a grateful hug, which Devorah returned in kind. It took a few more minutes before everyone had calmed down.
"All right. What now?” Star inquired, looking to Deceiver.
"It depends on where Doctor Perlakian wishes to establish her residence.” The Guardian leader tilted his head at the woman.
"My name is Devorah, and I think it would be best if I was on-site around the clock. Experience has shown me that emergencies and the need for medical attention aren't relegated to just daylight hours. With this group, I'm betting that goes double."
Deceiver nodded. “Good. We have a room available over at the women's quarters. When you're ready, bring your things over and settle in. In the meantime, Star, we have a small matter of the Ombitra to discuss."
Star turned to the woman physician. “Deceiver will fit you for your collar at a later date,” she grumbled. “If you go out the way we came in, Time Merchant will see that the shield is down to let you leave."
Giggling, Devorah thanked her. “I'll be back as soon as I'm packed. Who do I notify when I'm ready to come on the property?"
"Here.” Commander handed her a small pocket comm link. “Give us a yell in that."
Nodding, Devorah left the room as the group resumed their discussion. She was walking in a daze now, slowly digesting the turn of events of the past few minutes. She was the Guardians’ official and private physician. Won't the boys at the hospital spit nails when they find out?
Smiling, she wished her mother were still alive to see what her only child had managed to accomplish, even if it was unintentional and unexpected.
Another thought suddenly raced through her. Better get your rear in gear, Devorah, and start learning the names of your new employers. It wouldn't do for a doctor not to have a complete medical work-up and information on each of her patients. And they wouldn't be just average patients, either. With each of them having their own unique powers, it would mean an extra headache when tending to their individual needs.
Glancing at the little comm unit with its inscribed G nestled in her palm, she shivered with anticipation. There would be a lot of work ahead of her. She smiled. Yeah, but there would also be a new family and friends waiting for her when she returned.
It was a thought that warmed her all over.
Attack
"This is crap."
Star's sudden outburst reflected what the rest of them were feeling. It had been two hours since they had settled down to study and discuss Deceiver's grid of information. Twice they'd had him reformulate and reenter the information into different graphs, but nothing continued to make sense.
"Take a break, everyone.” Deceiver sighed loudly. “We'll resume in fifteen."
As the others got up to get a drink or exercise their legs, Star reached overhead and stretched, arching her back over her chair in one, long, smooth pull of muscle. The tingling sensation over her skin became more intense. She didn't have to open her eyes to know he was standing beside her.
"Feel better, now that we have our own physician on staff?” Hunter asked, leaning against the table.
Yawning, Star answered, “Yah, ah-hah. Ummmhhh. Oh, wow. What a headache. Rub my neck, would you?” She lowered her head and pointed to her shoulder muscles. Two warm hands obediently started kneading the tenseness away.
"Hey, no fair. What's this with a personal masseuse?” Corona giggled as she headed off.
"I'm entitled. I'm the pregnant one, remember? I get special treatment. Ohhh, Hunter, that feels good."
"I know what would feel even better,” Provoker began, stepping off the short podium.
Hunter and Star threw him identical black looks. “Provoker!” they chorused together.
The man threw his hands into the air in mock surrender. “All right! I give up! Not another word!"
Within minutes the two found themselves alone in the meeting hall. Hunter took the opportunity to drop a kiss on the bared skin right above her collar.
"Tsk, tsk, Hunter. What's the matter with you? And in broad daylight, too."
"You know, Provoker had a point."
Star rolled her eyes up at him. “I won't argue with you."
"We have fifteen minutes."
"Can't even work up a good sweat in that amount of time,” she quipped, although the familiar wetness was beginning to dampen her pants.
"It'll cure your headache, I guarantee."
"All right, but can we do it again where the clothes stay on? To save time,” Star hastily added. Hunter grinned, proving she hadn't fooled him in the least.
A moment later, they had vanished from the hall.
They made it back in twelve. Rather than appear immediately in the meeting hall, Hunter materialized them outside the door leading from the courtyard, and he and Star walked in together. If anyone noticed anything, nothing was said.
Taking her chair, Star's eyes went back to the dimmed grid, now hovering in stasis over the table. When Deceiver resumed the meeting, it would power back up into bright luminescence.
She blinked, rubbing a hand over her forehead, then blushed. Damn! The man had been right! Her headache was gone. A tiny smile curled over her lips as she tucked one leg underneath her. Their quick coupling had left her sensitive and hungry for more. What she had hoped would be a repeat of their escapade in the botanical garden had ended up being a new and completely different position altogether. Good heavens! How many different ways were there to make love?
She glanced down the table, but found Hunter's chair empty. At that moment the tingling came over her again like a sudden shifting, and a bottle of water tapped her on the shoulder. She reached up to take the drink, glancing over her shoulder to see him give her a warm smile and a wink before he went to take his own seat.
"I saw that, girlfriend,” Morning Fire drawled slowly as she plopped down beside her. Star blushed again. “Gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘quickie', doesn't it?” she leaned over and whispered.
"Fire!” Star gave her friend a look of wide-eyed astonishment.
"Hey, don't mind me. I'm jealous."
"We'll begin in two more minutes. Merchant, please beep whoever's still not here and tell them to make it snappy,” Deceiver ordered.
For the umpteenth time, Star glanced over at the grid and tried to make some kind, any kind of sense out of it. Taking a drink of water, she let her eyes slide over the words inside each section. It was more of a timeline than a listing of events. This happened. Then this. Then this happened after that.
She started to take another swig of water, when a memory stuck. Pausing with the bottle against her lips, Star wandered back in time.
Magnetic. Pull. Force. Evacuation. Pull. Withdrawal. Pull.
Oh, damn! It was right there, at the edge of her consciousness. Right ... there.
"Sender, where's your sister?"
Sender glanced up from the portable vidscreen in her lap. “She ran back to her room for a sec. Why?"
"What's up, Star?” Time Merchant called over the table.
"I don't know, but something's tickling at the edge of my mind,” Star confessed. “I can't explain further, but it's irritating as grit.” Spotting the woman she needed coming through the door, Star called out to her. “Seeker! Come here a moment, would you?"
"Yeah, Star. What's up?"
Tapping her temple, Star told her, “A memory's stuck. Right here. Regarding something that occurred when I pulsed the Ombitra ship back on Biris. Can you draw it out for me, please?"
The woman made a face. “I'll see what I can do. No promises, though.” She reached over and placed a hand on Star's forehead. Both women closed their eyes and concentrated.
Magnetic. Pull. Force. Reaction. Pull. Withdrawal. Reaction. Pull. Evacuation.
Reaction.
Reaction.
"Oh, damn!” Both women pulled back in surprise.
"What, Star?” Deceiver asked.
"It withdrew."
"What withdrew?” Hunter asked, leaning over the table.
"The ship,” Seeker whispered. “The ship withdrew after Star had pulsed it."
"What are you talking about?” Condemner asked. “Are you telling us the Ombitra left Greater Biris because of Star?"
"That's exactly what we're saying,” Star snapped. “That damn ship pulled away because I had pulsed it."
"That's nonsense!” Blender exclaimed.
Bending over, Deceiver asked, “How great a pulse?"
How great? Star shrugged. “Not a whole lot. Four to six flexes. No more than six. I was only testing the hull to see how it responded."
"Yeah, but six flexes is enough to disrupt any minor magnetic field, if held long enough,” Commander noted. “The disrupter pulses at twenty flexes per burst."
"Yeah. Remind me again how that felt, Commander,” Star teased.
Hunter broke in. “When you set the disrupter to stream, how great was the output?"
Commander thought back. “At the least, forty, maybe fifty flexes. It could go higher, but I didn't have a chance to find out how high."
Star shivered, and her reaction was noticed by everyone.
"Surely you can put out more than fifty flexes,” Commander asked her.
Nodding, Star told them, “Oh, yeah. I can generate up to a hundred and eighty flexes if I have to. More, if I have a nearby star to feed off of. But receiving them ... it's like punching someone. You may be able to dish it out, but it's taking it in return that may do you in. The transport couldn't protect me when you turned the disrupter on. I would literally have to be on the other side of a planet in order to stay out of range."
"That's a moot issue anyway,” Deceiver reminded them. “You're planetbound for the remainder of your pregnancy. That goes for flying, too."
"Oh, like I'm going to forget that small issue,” Star groused.
Animator giggled, drawing their attention. “This is just too freaky, you know? I mean, a week ago, would anyone have thought we'd be discussing the Ombitra and Hunter and Star's baby in the same breath?"
A wave of laughter ran through the room, and Provoker restated the obvious to get them back on track. “All right, let's assume the Ombitra left because Star had clung to the bottom of their craft. Are we going to assume from those few minutes that they were afraid of facing Star? Or ... what do we need to assess from this information?"
"Yeah, Deceiver,” Blender said. “It'll be one o'clock in less than two hours. What's going to happen then?"
"You know what we don't know?” Hunter spoke up quietly. When all eyes were on him, he continued. “We don't know how big the Ombitran fleet is. With the exception of the mothership, every craft looks exactly like the one next to it. How many were there on Greater Biris?"
Time Merchant shook his head. “We don't know. We saw ... what? Six? Seven?"
"How many outside Barandi?"
"Eight."
The information coalesced onto the grid.
"Deceiver.” Corona waggled a finger at the chart. “What if there were eight on Biris?"
Everyone stiffened, the same thought coming to them all simultaneously.
"Eight ships? Plus the mothership?” Seeker murmured so all could hear.
"Deceiver, how many ships did you battle four years ago?” Hunter asked.
"I know exactly how many there were,” Disaster answered. “Eight. Eight big gorgeously beautiful but lethal monstrosities."
"But you brought one of them down, right?” asked Star.
"We brought what we thought was the mothership down,” Condemner told her. “We found out later it was the flagship, but not the mothership."
"Hold it. You mean the mothership and the flagship were not the same?” Hunter inquired.
Several Guardians shook their heads and said no. “But taking down the flagship stopped them,” Corona continued.
"But not permanently,” Sender finished.
Star looked at Deceiver. “What happened to the flagship?"
"The occupants were dead inside,” Condemner told her. “It looked like they had died before we grounded them. The ship started to become unstable, so I trashed it before it could cause any damage."
"Are there any remains I can check?"
"Star, even if there are, you're not going anywhere near it,” Hunter suddenly ordered her. The warning expression on his face and in his tone brooked no argument.
She glanced over to see the hardness in his eyes, and relented. He was right. No telling what she might find. It could be something immanently dangerous, and she had to start thinking of the baby first. “All right,” she nodded. “Forget I mentioned it."
Her sudden acceptance took the rest of them by surprise, and Provoker let out a slow whistle. “Damn, Star. You should've gotten pregnant sooner. Talk about mellowed out!"
She tried to give the man one of her well-known dark scowls, but at the last second she started giggling and couldn't stop. Before they knew it, they were all laughing, releasing the tension of the past few hours, and easing into a more relaxed frame of mind.
Which lasted all of thirty seconds before the claxons went off.
Immediately everyone was on their feet, waiting for instructions from Deceiver, who watched the man plugged into the communications console.
Time Merchant raised a face waxy with fear. “It's the Ombitra. Approaching the Tor Sigura system. They used the Galloping Nebula as cover to hide their advance."
"Everyone to Three!” Deceiver cried, then turned to Star. “Sorry, Star. You'll have to man the boards while we take this one without you."
"Dammit, Deceiver!” she cried out in frustration as the rest rushed out, leaving her behind.
The Guardian leader cast eyes at the man waiting for him to leave, nodded, and hurried out to where everyone was gathering in the transport bay.
Hunter stared at where Star remained standing by her chair, her body shaking from anger. She raised her head to see him watching her, and launched herself into his arms. “Udo!"
He held onto her tightly, feeling her shivering through her clothing. “We'll be all right, my heart."
"I'm terrified something might happen."
"If it does, it does. We can't control the future. But if something should occur...” He lifted her face until he could see into her violet eyes. “Know that I love you with a passion that will last long after we're both gone. You are my life, Terrin. You have a part of me growing inside of you. Keep her safe, for me."
"You will return,” Star ordered him, her voice quivering as her arms gave him a little shake. “Promise me, Udo. Promise me, dammit!"
He answered her with a tender kiss. “Now get over to communications. If I can't have you beside me, at least I can have you with me that way.” Before she could respond, he stepped back from her and vanished.
Letting out a little scream of anger and fear, Star took off running for Command Central. If she couldn't be with them in body, she could be with them in voice and spirit. Either way, she would be with Hunter every moment he was apart from her.
Reunion
"Where is Hunter?” Deceiver yelled. They were buckling themselves into their seats. Although no one questioned why the seat directly behind the captain's chair remained empty, their thoughts were on the fact that this would be the first time they would be without StarLight.
The disrupter was secured in the back of the transport. Time Merchant was taking second. All they lacked was their pilot.
"Right where he needs to be,” Hunter answered, popping into his seat and reaching for his harness. “Are we ready, Merchant?"
"We're a go."
"Course set in?"
"Fed and digested. There will be some turbulence when we rise,” Time Merchant warned him.
Hunter nodded as he lifted the ship from its cradle. Overhead the bay doors opened to a gathering storm cloud. “We'll go into hyper light at the three mile marker,” Hunter told them, preparing them for the jump. “Command Central, how do you read?"
In the overhead speakers, Star's voice returned strong and clear. “You're hitting on all thrusters."
"Copy that. How are we looking for time?"
"Approximately twenty-four minutes, give or take fifteen seconds.” Time Merchant grinned.
"I'll give you those fifteen seconds.” Hunter smiled. “Going into hyper light in ... five. Four. Three. Two. One. Go."
Their entry was as smooth as a breath of wind. Stars slid by on streams of liquid light as they tunneled through infinity toward their destination. During the short flight, talk was minimal. As they neared Tor Sigura, Hunter set the controls to bring them out of hyper light. A jiggle and a slight lurch was all that let them know they had reentered regular space. That, and the fact that the planets were once again stable objects suspended in the void.
The Galloping Nebula loomed in the distance. Somewhere just beyond were eight Ombitra vessels, and one mothership that outstripped them all in size and power.
"We have entered normal space,” Time Merchant called out. “How's our connection, Star?"
"Receiving you crystal clear,” she replied. “By the way, Hunter, your time was twenty-four minutes and three seconds."
"So I owe you twelve seconds. Put it on my bill."
"You can count on it."
Tapping Hunter on the shoulder, Deceiver pointed to an unusual darkness slowly fading from their starboard side. “What could it be?"
"It's not a wormhole,” Commander noted. “Not enough rotation."
"Yeah,” Challenger broke in from the next row over. “If I didn't know better, I'd say it was the residue left from something going into hyper light."
"Uhh ... Hunter?” Time Merchant looked up from his console.
"Hey, everyone! We have company!” Corona shouted out, pointing out her viewport.
There was silence for a nearly a full minute, when Deceiver asked, “What's going on out there?"
"Hold on. Transferring you over,” Time Merchant called into his headset. Glancing up at the Guardian leader, a big smile pasted over his face. “You're going to love this! Okay, First Commander. It's all yours!"
"Hailing Guardian Transport Three!” boomed a deep voice through the overhead speakers. “This is First Commander Vosstien, of the Regimental Third Fleet, reporting in. Do you copy?"
Everyone froze to hear the page, and all eyes locked on the man sitting in the pilot seat.
"Hellllllooooo, Dad. Glad to see you finally made it,” Hunter calmly acknowledged.
"Well, you made it awfully damn difficult to turn you down. How's everybody doing onboard?"
Glancing up at their reflections in the viewscreen, Hunter could see the other Guardians staring at him in mute surprise. “Guys, I would like you to meet my father, First Commander Vall Vosstien. Dad, remember your manners and say ‘hi’ to the rest of the gang."
"Hello, everyone! Oh, and, Udo, your mother sends her love."
"Copy that, First Commander.” Hunter grinned. “What did you bring for us to play with?"
"A damn lot of squirts!” Provoker blurted out. Outside Three, space seemed littered with armed one-man battle craft.
"We brought all we had,” Vosstien announced. “One hundred seventeen Dristoll winged Bats, each with doubled armament, and two hundred twenty-one Core Vapors, each bearing a full load of six magnetic heads, as you requested."
"Damn!” Time Merchant breathed.
"Hey! Big brother! Bet you think you're a big deal, driving that transport, don't you?” a new voice called out.
Hunter closed his eyes for a second and groaned aloud. “Oh, crap! Dallin! What in blazes are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in flight school?"
He was answered with a chuckle. “Well, some of us were just meant to go directly to the head of the class,” Dallin answered.
"Dad?"
"Don't worry, Udo. He has strict orders to remain at the rear of the fourth guard. He's only along for the ride to provide an extra load of weaponry. Besides, if you remember, you were about the same age when you began piloting your first Bat. Speaking of, my men need to know what to set the triggers for."
"What weaponry is he talking about?” Deceiver asked, now that he was able to grasp the fact that Hunter had called upon the renowned Squadron fleets from Abernath.
"He needs to know how much pulse to give the heads of the magnetized vapor coils,” Hunter explained. “Dad, I'm going to let you speak to the expert about that. Star, are you still with us?"
"Present and accounted for."
"Dad, I would like for you to meet your future daughter-in-law. Star, say ‘hello’ to my father."
There was a pause as Hunter gracefully lifted the ship over the outer banks of the Tor Sigura system. Around the cruiser, three hundred plus armed craft mimicked his movements.
"Hello, First Commander Vosstien,” Star's voice softly responded.
"Well, it's finally nice to get a voice to go with the name,” Vosstien teased gently. “So, I hear you're going to make me a grandfather?"
When no reply came over the speakers, Hunter chuckled. “She's a bit shy at the moment, Dad."
"Star? Shy?” Animator spoke up, then made a rude noise.
"I heard that!” Star shot back, to everyone's amusement.
"Dad, tell Mother it's going to be a girl,” Hunter told his parent.
"Hot damn! I'm going to be an uncle!” Dallin piped in.
"So when are you going to make it official, Udo? Your mother's getting rather anxious to make the trip."
"Uhh ... Star and I haven't discussed the details. Yet. Merchant, give me eight percent on the spoilers."
"Eight percent. Check."
"Aww, what a booster! I'm going to have a Guardian for a sister-in-law!” Dallin hooted.
"What's the big deal? Having a brother as a Guardian wasn't good enough for you?” Hunter demanded, then chuckled.
"Yeah, but now I can tell people StarLight's part of the family, too!"
Groaning loudly, Hunter burst into laughter. “Do you copy that, Star? My little brother is a fan of yours."
"Guess I have that effect on the Vosstien males,” Star purred, eliciting another round of laughter. “Uhh ... Hunter?"
"Yeah?"
"Storm's really picking up over here. How are you reading me?"
"Loud and clear. Why?"
"There's a bit of static feeding in. Hold on, let me switch to another antenna.” A second later, she was back. “Speak to me."
"We're approaching Tor Sigura. No sign of Ombitra."
"Damn. Still staticy. Oh, well..."
"Hold a second, Udo. Switching channels,” Vosstien announced, then vanished.
"Dallin?"
"Yeah?"
"You stay where Dad put you, understand me?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Trust me. I want to sit back and watch the Guardians kick Ombitra butt."
"I don't think the Ombitra have butts,” Deceiver chuckled.
"Hey, is that Deceiver? Mega-great!"
"Wow. Who would have thought the Vosstien family would be our own private cheering section?” Animator dryly quipped.
Hunter glanced up at her reflection and smiled.
"What made you go out and enlist the Squadron?” Deceiver asked, bending over the cockpit to eye the system passing below them.
"It was a joint offering,” Hunter explained. “The Squadron's been itching to face the Ombitra for some time now, but just never had the opportunity. They've had the ability to equip their weaponry with magnetic heads for quite a few years. Plus I felt we could always use the extra help.” He turned his head to look at the Guardian leader. “This didn't come about until I went home to let them know Star was expecting. I was going to fill you in, but everything happened quicker than I expected. Sorry, Deceiver."
"Not a problem.” He clapped Hunter on the shoulder. “It was a pleasant surprise. Star! You still with us?"
"Trying to. Tell the fleet to arm the first round of heads at sixty flexes each. We'll work up from there after we see what kind of impact they have,” she advised.
"Copy that. Pass it along, Hunter."
"As soon as we reestablish contact."
Less than a minute later, Vosstien came back. “First Fleet Commander to Guardian Transport Three. We have a visual on the enemy."
"Copy that. Please let your men know to arm their first round of missiles at sixty flexes each. Once we see how much impact they have, we'll arm the rest accordingly."
"Copy that. Watiss! Notify the other squad leaders."
"Copy!” an unfamiliar voice barked.
"Udo, you have eight prime targets emerging from behind the nebula at point six two degrees mark."
Hunter immediately took the transport into a dive, putting the outer ring of a pockmarked planetoid between them and the Ombitra. “We have a magnetic disrupter onboard we're going to use first. I'm going to park between the fifth and sixth moon so we can set it up on the outer hull."
"Copy that. We'll pull in and watch."
"Negative, Dad. Take the fleet and withdraw back about two hundred spacial miles. This thing has a kick to it."
"Better listen to him,” Star broke in. “Damn thing will eat your breakfast for you if you're not careful. Hunter ... something's wrong."
Everyone onboard stopped what they were doing to listen.
"What, Star?"
"I'm getting ... I'm getting this itchy feeling all over my skin."
Hunter shook his head. “I don't understand. What do you mean, ‘itchy feeling'?"
"Something magnetic. Polarizing. I can't explain it. I'm not wearing my suit, so I can't deflect it, but I can feel it."
"Could it be because of the storm?"
They could hear her let out a long sigh. “That's probably it. That, and nerves."
"Wait a minute!” Corona got to her feet and froze. “First Commander Vosstien?"
"Present,” came the voice over the speakers.
"How many ships were spotted?"
"Eight."
"Eight? By all that's holy, where's the ninth ship?” Challenger blurted out.
A sense of impending dread began to steal over Hunter, like a widening pool of sickness. “Dad, verify eight ships. We need to know if any of the ships are larger than the others!"
"Fifth fleet! Give us a visual confirmation! How many enemy ships do you see?"
"Eight, First Commander!"
"Are any of the ships larger in size or scope?"
"No, First Commander! All ships are identical in size and shape. They look mighty pretty, like a bright chain of jewels on a necklace."
Breathing suddenly became a painful effort. Hunter turned a pale face to Deceiver, who whispered, “Where is the mothership?"
"We can't worry about that,” Commander broke into the moment. “Park this thing and let me get the disrupter outside. Let's kick some nonexistent Ombitra butt!"
As Hunter brought the ship to a standstill, the others climbed into protective gear and untied the machine from its moorings. Slipping on his own oxygen suit, Hunter adjusted an extra headset over his ear.
"Star, do you copy?” A steady stream of static answered him. “Star?"
"Ombitra craft on the move,” Vosstien warned. “They're breaking formation!"
"Copy that!” Commander yelled from outside the hull. “Hunter, roll the ship to give this thing as wide a path as possible."
"Copy, Commander,” Hunter said, dropping back into his seat to perform the maneuver.
"Give me ten more degrees!"
"Ten degrees. Check."
"That's it! Hold! All right. Let's see if this thing can at least give them a headache."
A loud humming filled the spacecraft, sending vibrations down to the bone as the disrupter spewed its flow of depolarizing magnetic waves. Space appeared to shimmer where the stream sliced through it.
Hunter glanced down. “Computer confirms a direct hit!"
"Then tell us which one!” Condemner barked.
Glancing out the viewscreen, those left inside could see the eight vessels converging on the first planet. None appeared damaged or slowed down by the disrupter.
"Looks like they're heading for Tor Sigura One,” Vosstien announced.
"Any reaction to the disrupter on your fleets?” Hunter called out.
"Negative. Can that thing go up another notch or two?"
"Copy on the notch,” Commander replied. “Moving the trigger to the top position. Hold on to your helmets, everyone! Firing in three, two, one, now!"
The humming no longer hummed, but wailed. It was a low, deafening roll of thunder that filled their heads and threatened to vibrate their brains out of their skulls. For ten seconds the disrupter screamed through the void of space before shutting itself off. Another ten seconds passed as the Guardians gathered themselves back into a whole.
"We have another hit,” Hunter informed those outside.
"Copy that. Second from left!” Challenger crowed.
In the distance, the ship indicated appeared to be struggling. “Challenger, can that thing go again?” Deceiver yelled.
"Yeah, but can we take it?"
"Udo!"
The cry came over the speakers and every headset being worn. Hunter felt his gut turn into solid ice. “Star?” The connection was poor at best.
"They're here!” Star cried out.
"Who's there? Who?"
"Ombitra!"
Time Merchant scowled. “Huh? How?"
"Can you give us a visual?” Deceiver called to her. “Run the antenna from the roof! Merchant! Throw it on the viewscreen!"
The front window at the nose of the cruiser went black as they waited for the connection to reach them.
"Commander, what's the enemy doing?"
"Just hanging there,” Commander answered.
"First Commander Vosstien, are you and your fleets still at ready?"
"Just aim us and fire."
On the viewscreen the blackness dimmed to gray. Slowly, as if the camera was peering through heavy fog, a bulky shape began to take shape at the upper edge of the screen. Hunter felt the ice encasing his heart and lungs.
"Oh, dearest heavens, no...” Seeker sobbed. “No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no!"
Slowly, inexorably, the immense Ombitra mothership was descending toward the planet, almost directly on top of Guardian Command.
"Star! Get into Transport One and get the hell out of there!” Hunter yelled.
"It's too late!” Her voice came faintly over the speakers. “It has some sort of cloud adhering to the underside of its hull! It's burning everything on its way down! It's ... oh, dearest mother ... listen! Can you hear them?"
"Hear what?” Hunter asked, pressing his headset tighter into his ear with one hand.
They all strained to listen.
Faintly. In the distance. Screaming. An indefinable roar. Shrieks of agony. People dying as the Ombitra closed in.
"Star! You've got to get out of there!"
She was weeping uncontrollably. “I can't, Hunter. The ship has blanketed the whole city with this burning cloud. I can't tell how far it extends.” She coughed, then gasped for breath as she made an adjustment. The antenna swung downward, and they could see the tops of buildings taking on a rim of black outlined in glowing red. As the cloud pressed lower and lower to the ground, the rim of burning iridescence ate through the structures as cleanly as a knife passing through the air. The tops of trees caught fire, then completely disappeared as the rim devoured its way downward.
The sound of screaming grew louder as more people were caught in the sweeping, overwhelming destruction. And as many of them sought refuge from the beautiful ship of death, they were melted into hissing mounds as surely as if they had been tossed into the heart of the sun.
Hunter felt his legs go out from under him, and he fell onto his knees beside his chair.
"This itching is unbearable, Hunter,” Star's tear-filled voice filtered through. Overhead, the viewscreen blacked out when the rim digested the antenna. It wouldn't be long before it took out the communications tower, breaking their contact with each other.
"Terrin ... please ... whatever you have to do...” he begged softly, knowing she was trapped. There was no escape for her. No escape for any of them.
"It has a magnetic base,” she tried to let them know. “But it gets its power from the sun. Block the sun, Hunter! Don't use the disrupter. Block! The! Sun!"
"Star, save yourself!” Deceiver called out.
"I have no choice!” she cried. “I can't let all these people die, when there's a chance I can stop it!” She tried to control her sobbing, but her terror and despair filled the interior of the transport ship as surely as if she had been standing among them. “You know the Ombitra won't stop until it has scorched everything to the ground. I have to stop it. I have to try!"
"Star, if you use your powers, you'll kill the baby!” Morning Fire called out. Her shoulders were shaking as her heart went out to the woman trapped in an inescapable dilemma.
"I have no choice!” Star called out. The signal began to falter, snapping and popping in their ears. “Udo!” Her signal was faint and barely audible. “Please ... my love ... forgive me!"
The signal vanished, leaving behind the white noise of space.
Hunter buried his face in his hands as the enormity of what was happening back on their home world bore down on him. He couldn't think. He couldn't react. His body refused to move from where he had collapsed. Chills ran throughout his body, until he thought he would pass out.
In the distance he heard Challenger repeating, “Block the sun! She said to block the sun!"
"Copy that!” Vosstien's trembling voice came over the speakers. “We can take these warheads and explode them to form a curtain between the Ombitra and Tor Sigura. Fleet One! Navigate two two eight zero degrees!"
The fleets of spacecrafts broke into four separate formations under the command of the man leading them. Because the tiny one-man fighters were faster and more agile than the larger, bulkier Ombitran vessels, they were able to dodge and regroup within minutes behind the glittering ships.
"Udo! We need you to bring the cruiser up from behind those moons, and set yourself up as a target. Give us some sort of diversion! Udo? Udo!"
"C-copy."
Where he got the strength, Hunter had no idea. His mind was a void, without thought other than the vision of Star's face floating in the foreground. Hot tears refused to let him see the control panel, and he swiped at them to clear his vision long enough to bring the ship out of hiding.
His brain went on automatic, giving the Ombitra a ready and willing target. As the chain of ships drifted into their necklace formation, the fleets from Abernath fired three rounds of magnetized warheads into a rectangular pattern.
As Star had predicted, the magnetic influx negated the power source the ships needed to navigate. Like falling leaves, the Ombitran ships fluttered and slowly began to drift off in different directions, unable to stabilize themselves, or to regroup.
"On my count, fire at will!” Vosstien yelled. “Mark! Three! Two! One! Fire!"
Outside, Commander opened the disrupter, aiming it dead center on the nearest droplet-shaped vessel. The Ombitran ship shook and shimmered, helpless without energy or the ability to defend itself. A billion tiny cracks seemed to creep over the hull, spreading and flowing outward in a widening pattern. Another violent shake, and the craft came to a dead standstill. All light went out of it, leaving a grayish, freely floating chunk of debris. No longer powerful. And no longer a thing of beauty.
In the distance, a second, then a third ship fell to the Squadron's unrelenting attack. A fourth. A fifth. One by one all eight vessels were extinguished as the Guardians watched.
And all became utterly still as one final thought entered everyone's minds.
What was waiting for them when they returned home?
Loss
A hand settled on his shoulder. It took a bit for him to realize he was still sitting on the floor of the transport.
"Hunter?"
It was difficult to concentrate. The iciness that had stopped his heart and frozen his blood was gone, but the chill remained. How could he ever be warm again, with Terrin gone?
"Hunter."
Blinking slowly, Hunter lifted his face to see Deceiver staring down at him. The man's eyes were filled with concern and grief.
"It's over. The Ombitra have been defeated. If it took them four years to recuperate from losing their one ship, it will take them longer than our lifetimes to recoup after today. Take a seat. Disaster will pilot us back home."
Hunter took a deep breath. His muscles wouldn't move at the moment. Wouldn't obey his mental commands. He was no longer master of his own body.
He could still feel her body against his. Still sense her on his skin. The last time they had made love had been hurried but blinding, filled with burning kisses, soft laughter, and tender words.
A pair of steellike hands gripped him by the arm and helped him into the seat behind the pilot's seat. Star's seat. The seat she had occupied yesterday. The seat she had curled up in when they had found out she was carrying their child.
"Thanks, Condemner,” he whispered.
"Anytime, my friend,” came the gruff reply.
There was the sound of someone crying somewhere behind him. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the present, but the past was too strong.
He had promised Star he would try to return to her. He would keep that promise. He was returning, but she would not be there waiting for him.
Please ... my love ... forgive me!
She was a Guardian. She took her oath above anything and anyone. She knew she had no choice but to try to stop the Ombitra mothership from destroying their world. Even if it meant her own death, and the death of their unborn daughter. Her last words to him begged his forgiveness for what she was going to do.
"Merchant?” he managed to say aloud.
"Yeah, Hunter?"
The ship shook violently as it entered hyperspace. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Hunter made a note to give Disaster pointers on how to make that entry a bit smoother.
"How far are we from Command?"
"At this moment, sixty-seven point eight parsecs."
Condemner immediately spoke up. “Hey, no way, Hunter! Don't even begin to think about transporting yourself that far!"
"We're in hyper light drive,” Time Merchant reminded him. “Wait until we come out of it."
A shudder went through him. Someone gave his shoulder a squeeze from the seat behind.
"My father?"
"His last transmission said the fleets were returning to Abernath, but that he would be seeing you soon. We kind of got the impression he'll be hopping a starliner as soon as he can to come be with you."
Hunter managed a nod. That sounded like his family. They would come to give their love and support. Star would have adored being part of his family. It was the kind of home life people dreamed of, with two parents who were still crazy about each other, and a sibling who teased and fought and argued and shared a thousand memories with him. Hunter counted himself blessed for having that kind of childhood. And when he had found out the kind of empty childhood Star had suffered, he knew she needed the stability they could offer, and which he could bring her.
It had taken him a while, but once he realized he was in love with her, Hunter knew what his life was meant to be. What his life should be. He wanted that same kind of home life that his parents had given him. He wanted to cherish Star, and with their love, bring their children into the world to raise and teach. Forty, fifty, sixty years down the way, he could see themselves, still crazy about each other, despite time's passing.
He shook his head. Nonsense, Udo. You're thinking madness. Stop it. Stop right now.
There was whispering all around him. The others were trying to keep him from hearing. Someone sniffed, then there was another. More crying. Hunter suspected there was more he was unaware of.
He couldn't shed any tears. No yet. Not here, and certainly not now. The coldness remained locked inside of him, and he was almost thankful for its numbing effect on his heart. But once it thawed, he knew he could not stay at Guardian Command much longer. At least, not until he could stand to walk the halls and not see the shadow of her spirit beside him. Not until he could sit in his chair in the meeting hall and not hear her voice echo in the room. Not until he could sleep through the night and not feel her in his arms, lying warm, sweaty, and sated on his chest.
"Coming out of hyper light in five. Four. Three. Two. One. Mark."
The ship did another sideways lurch, and Hunter couldn't help but feel a tiny smile tug at the corner of his mouth.
"Hunter, we're less than a parsec away,” Deceiver announced. The news sent a surge of power and purpose through him. He managed to unbuckle his harness and get to his feet. “I'll meet you there,” he told the Guardian leader, then disappeared to race to the surface to find what remained of their world. Of his world.
The netherworld tunneled through space like a protective inner chamber, keeping him safe from extreme cold or heat, keeping him oxygenated, keeping him alive. Hunter raced straight to the one place he had last known her to be—Command Central.
As the room opened up, he stepped from nowhere into normal space, and the first thing that struck him was the smell. It was the smell of a million fires burning every object within reach. Burning everything with equal indiscrimination—buildings, trees, animals. Human flesh. The stench was suffocating. It was almost second nature to gag at the overpowering odor.
It was the smell of charred things still smoking from the destruction wreaked upon them.
Hunter blinked. Command was still standing. It had not been scorched to the earth, as he thought it would be. That could only mean one thing.
Star had succeeded.
But at what price?
"Star?” he yelled aloud.
At the console the seat was facing away. Her headset lay on the floor where she'd thrown it in her haste to leave.
He forced himself to center himself and look for her. Or look for some trace of her. That was his power, his ability. Look, Hunter. Look and find where she went. Focus. Concentrate. Where she could be at this moment. If there's the least little bit of her remaining on this planet, find it.
His skin flashed, then drew tight. It was if every pore on his body opened up to find her trail.
Outside.
Something was drawing him outside. It called to him as surely as if he could hear it with his ears.
Outside.
A beeping sound drew his attention back to the communications console. The transport bay doors were opening, meaning Three was about to dock. Turning, Hunter headed for the outside door. Once he opened up the door and stepped outside, the full impact of the destruction stunned him into immobility.
The city was covered in thick gray smoke from fires that continued to burn. But there was no massive Ombitran mothership descending. Instead, the sun shone brightly as it always did in the late afternoon.
From the ground up to about fifty feet, the city and their world had survived. Beyond that, nothing existed. Buildings, which had reached far into the sky, were burnt stubs, trails of black smoke curling into the blue sky. Anything that had extended beyond fifty feet was gone, fried to a cinder and blown away into nothingness.
The world held an eerie silence, the likes of which he had never encountered before in his life. Nothing moved. The city had come to a complete standstill in the aftermath of what it had been forced to endure.
Hunter turned around to glance back at Guardian Command. Its upper two stories were gone, obliterated as smoothly as if the training facilities, Commander's labs, and the atriums had never existed. Not to mention all of the communications towers and antennas. It was like some extraterrestrial hand had drawn a perfect horizontal line above their world, then scoured everything above that line.
His power called to him. It told him to continue walking. That what he was seeking was just ahead, yet not too far.
He moved with jerky movements, like a puppet under the control of a child with untrained hands. He followed her trail across the courtyard, around the inner ring that branched off to the meeting hall and the women's quarters. He sensed a crossing of the path. She'd gone to her rooms to change into her suit, then returned to face the enemy. She ran this way. Not flown. She hadn't flown. The doctors had told her flying might endanger their child.
Hunter stopped, nearly swaying from the knowledge that Star had protected their daughter until the very last moment. Until that time she could no longer avoid the inevitable.
Rounding the side of the building, Hunter found himself in the open area facing the perimeter. A hundred yards of wide-open space lay between the fence and Guardian Command. Just beyond the fence was the kiosk where the tour guides would assemble the public for the forty-minute tours.
Beyond the fence he could see a burning shuttle lying in the street. A body was draped over its side. There was no movement he could see coming from the city on this side. The place was like a tomb.
His power urged him forward, yet warned him his search was almost over. Striding over the immense slabs which paved the open area, Hunter kept his eyes downward, scanning for whatever his power prepared him to find.
Almost halfway across the courtyard he spotted the wide puddle of blood pooled across the black rock. He didn't have to touch it to know it was Star's. He didn't have to sniff it to detect her scent.
Impotent rage surged through him, blinding and choking him until he fell to his knees. He hadn't been there for her. He hadn't been able to protect her, or to give her any comfort or love in her last moments.
Still, the tears wouldn't come. His grief wouldn't release itself. Clenching his fists into tight, white-knuckled balls, Hunter let himself flow through his powers, and released all thought to the abilities which had never betrayed him. Until a tiny flame of realization caught, held, and grew brighter.
She had bled. Where, then, was her body?
He blinked away the darkening haze. If she had been a victim of the burning cloud, there would be residue. Charred remains, perhaps burned beyond any possible recognition, but residue nonetheless.
Running his hands over the stone, he could see where the blood had been invaded. The puddle was not perfect; there were scuffmarks and smears inside, and rivulets running outside where the surface tension had been broken, allowing drops to overflow. Someone had removed her body.
Hunter pushed his senses, searching, deciphering, hoping to detect anything that could give him a clue.
There were footprints, no more than the barest imprint. The edge of a shoe.
He concentrated harder.
The tiniest scent of perfume. The tang of disinfectant.
His heart rammed into his ribcage as his brain reacted. Perlakian. The doctor had been here. Whether she had returned to move in, to give aid, or to seek sanctuary from the horror taking place, she had been here. And she had taken Star's body...
...to the hospital.
Hunter disappeared, appearing almost an instant later inside the hospital, and the total chaos within. Doctors and nurses were running in their haste to take care of the most critically injured. Interns and techs were knee-deep in triage. The pandemonium was nerve-wracking. Every floor above the third level of the building was gone, handicapping rescue efforts even further.
Some of the transport beds held victims whose bodies were almost totally burned. Others lay stretched out on the floor. The less injured sat propped up against the walls of the corridors, waiting for medication or a fresh dressing. Hunter knew the rejuvenation tanks would be filled to capacity.
A doctor rushed by, not seeing the Guardian in his haste to answer another emergency call. Hunter snagged his arm and pulled him out of the flow of traffic. “Where's StarLight?” he almost growled at the harried man.
It took a moment for the physician to recognize the man holding onto him. “Master Hunter! Oh, thank the heavens! They took StarLight to rejuvenation unit two—"
It was all Hunter needed to hear. Before the man had the chance to say more, Hunter popped out.
Eons ago, after the nebula had sterilized over half the world's population, all medical facilities had begun extending their labs and storing other critical equipment below ground level, in the event of another catastrophic fallout. The rejuvenation tanks were on sublevel six.
He materialized in the vast, dark hallway. Down the corridor he could see each set of double doors which opened into the medical units containing the life support systems. unit four was to his left, three to his right. He quickly began walking toward two.
As he neared the doors leading into two, Hunter became aware of a figure standing just outside in the hallway, features hidden in the dim light. When he got closer, he saw her standing there, as if she had been waiting for him. Knowing without a doubt he would come looking for the woman lying just inside the double doors. He couldn't read her expression, but her voice stopped him cold.
"Hunter, prepare yourself."
"I ... I can't sense her, Devorah. Why can't I sense her?"
"I have her on life support. It was a miracle I found her as soon as I did, but her heart had already stopped. I don't know how long she'd been without air."
"What about...” He held his breath, thinking he was prepared to hear the worst.
"She lost the baby,” Devorah whispered.
He thought he could steel himself against the knife slicing into him, but he had been wrong. Somehow he became aware of the physician's arms encircling him, and Hunter pressed his forehead to her shoulder until his body stopped trembling.
"Hunter. Hunter, she saved our world. She was willing to pay the price, so that the rest of us could live."
Gradually, he found he could stand on his own. Turning toward the doors, Hunter entered unit two.
She was lying in a horizontal tank. Her body lay submerged beneath the clear, gelatinous, sterile fluid that slowly undulated over her skin and muscles, keeping her hydrated and protecting her against outside germs and diseases. An oxygen mask covered her nose and mouth. Tiny tubes disappeared into the veins in her neck and shoulders, feeding her body and circulating her blood.
Her skin was an ugly, brownish-gray color, mottled with dark purple bruises where blood had oozed through her pores. Her face was flat against her skull. Her eyes were sunken. Her entire body skeletal. She had given everything to stop them.
Moving closer, Hunter bent down to gaze at her lying unconscious inches away. “Why can't I sense you, my love?” he whispered, knowing she had no way to hear him.
The rejuvenation tank was keeping her alive. She was clinging to a very slender, very fragile thread, and the part of her that was Terrin was so deep inside her, Hunter could no longer grasp her essence.
"What happened?” he asked the doctor standing a few feet away. When he got no immediate answer, he turned to look at the woman. “Can you tell me what happened?"
"All I can tell you is that there was this big black thundercloud coming down. I thought it was a really bad storm. We all thought that. I was busy packing, and thinking I might have to wait until tomorrow to move over to Command, when I heard the first screams. There was this ugly hissing sound of things burning, only it was louder. Like when you stick something hot into something cold. The air was full of smoke and cinders. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see much of anything, except for this cloud overhead that was getting bigger and bigger, and closer and closer. I-I found a shuttle and managed to take it back to Guardian Command. I was hoping to find someone there, but the place was empty."
"How did you get inside?” Hunter asked, eyes narrowing.
Devorah pulled the comm link that Commander had given her out of her lab coat pocket. “I remembered what Star said to disable the outer perimeter sentries. I tried it, and it worked. I began looking everywhere for some sign of you. Somehow I found the transport bay, and I saw that the biggest ship was gone. That's when I knew you had all departed, but I couldn't believe Star had left against medical orders. So I kept looking."
The physician paused, lowering her face until she was no longer looking at him. “I heard screaming outside. I found a door and went outside, and that's when I saw the spaceship above us. I went back inside and called for Star, hoping she would hear me. I found another door leading outside, but I was too scared to leave the safety of the building. Somehow I felt that if I stayed inside, I would be safe. So I kept running."
The woman threaded a shaking hand through her russet-colored hair. It was then Hunter noticed the smears of blood on the woman's coat and pants. Star's blood.
"I heard ... I heard this ... I don't know if it was a sound, or if it was a feeling. I just knew that something was happening outside. Something bad. Then I heard the most awful ... the most horrible sound I'd ever heard in my life, and I started crying. I was in this little room with a lot of little vidscreens in it. I fell against one of the chairs, and I was crying. When I managed to look up, in one of the screens I saw Star. She was outside. She had her suit on, and her arms and legs were spread out, like she does when she flares, only she was lying on the ground. There was blood coming from her mouth, and ears, and eyes, and...
"I heard a rumble, like a deep roll of thunder, then everything was quiet. I waited another minute, to make certain I couldn't hear any more of the hissing sound of things burning. Then I went outside to find Star. When I finally found her, she was bleeding out. I did what I could to give her immediate aid and stop the bleeding. I was able to get her on the shuttle and bring her here.” Biting her lips, Devorah admitted, “I told them Star had saved us all. That there was no one else at Guardian Command. We put her into the rejuvenation tank, and I've placed myself in charge of all her needs. I'm not leaving this unit until I find out, one way or another, whether she'll make it. I promise you, Hunter."
He lowered his head until his forehead rested against the side of the tank. Closing his eyes, Hunter tried to imagine what Star must have been thinking before she faced the Ombitran mothership.
"Where were you?” Devorah's voice floated to him. Her tone was accusing.
"We got an emergency summons from the Tor Sigura system. The Ombitra were sighted there, and prepared to attack. But when we got there, we realized the mothership was not among the others. It had been a trap. We'd been tricked into leaving Command and the planet, so that the mothership could take our world. Only ... only they never expected Star to be here. Or that she would be able to bring them down."
"Were you able to defeat the Ombitra at Tor Sigura?"
"Yeah.” He nodded slowly. “Yeah. Their fleet is decimated."
There was silence between them; silence which extended into long minutes. Finally, Devorah dug her hands into her coat pockets. “I'll go get another chair,” she told him. “It's going to be a long night."
When she had left, Hunter's eyes went back to the still figure inside the tank. There was a foot of gel between him and Star, but it might as well have been the universe between them.
"My love, remember what I told you before I left?” His eyes told him the emaciated figure inside the tank couldn't be the same woman he had caressed a few hours ago. His heart knew differently. She wasn't dead. Not yet. Unless there was a miracle, she would be. With time, her body would begin to fail, until no amount of mechanical stimuli or medical treatment could bring her back.
"I told you I love you with a passion that wouldn't end, even after you and I were both gone. I mean it, Terrin. Even if I never see your beautiful eyes looking at me again. Even if I never hear your voice speak my name again. Even if I never hold you in my arms again, I will never stop loving you."
Reaching up with one hand, Hunter touched the side of the tank as the gates inside him finally opened, and he wept.
Investigation
He had shut down his powers, literally leaving himself blind and deaf to everything around him except for the figure floating inside the rejuvenation tank. Yet, when the hand touched his shoulder, he didn't flinch or react with any surprise. Sooner or later he knew they would find him. His headset he'd tucked into one of his tunic's pockets would have led them to him.
"We saw Devorah outside. No change?"
He replied with a slow shake of his head. His concentration remained fixed on Star, on her breathing, her pulse, on that emptiness inside of her that needed to be filled with her bright spirit.
From the corner of his eye, Hunter saw Corona approach the tank. The woman had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and red. “I can't believe she could do that to the ship,” she murmured.
The remark pricked him, reminding Hunter he had no idea what Star had done to stop the Ombitra mothership. Looking up at the man standing beside him he frowned. “Do what?"
"You didn't get a look at what was left of the Ombitran vessel?"
"Sorry. My ... mind was on other things."
Deceiver pulled a comm link with a viewscreen from his vest pocket. After punching a few commands into it, he handed it over to Hunter. “The security cameras caught all of it."
Devorah had said she'd hidden inside a small room filled with vidscreens. Hunter knew she meant the observation room, which was used to check on the security cameras located around and outside the courtyards. Because their antennas were internal they hadn't been affected by the burning cloud.
Taking the link, Hunter watched the hastily edited scenario on the tiny monitor.
There was Star, running off-camera, toward her quarters, as he had suspected. A moment later, by editing time, she was running back the way she had come. This time she was wearing her body suit. The cameras watched her round the corner of the far west wing, on the opposite side of Command Central, and stop to stare at the darkness engulfing the city from above. The picture was foggy and getting harder to pick up because of the cloud and the smoke thickening the air. But he could see her start to flare, her arms and legs spread out the way Devorah had said she'd found her.
Suddenly she stopped and pulled her arms in, crossing them over her chest as she bowed her head. For a moment her shoulders shook, and Hunter groaned softly to see her stroke her abdomen with one slow hand. A goodbye to their child they would never see.
Throwing her arms outward, above her head, she pulsed, sending out an invisible magnetic bubble to see what she was fighting. She pulsed a second time, even stronger. And a third time, to the point where her face went white from the strain.
Slowly, Star opened her eyes, and there was no mistaking the terror and finality in them. Hunter's hand was shaking as he watched her lie down on the black rocks and arrange her body in the one formation that would maximize her power.
She couldn't use the sun, as it was blocked out by the cloud and ship. Therefore she was left with one last alternative—to soak up the magnetic fields surrounding her from within their planet, siphoning it into herself until she could release it in one enormous push.
The ship was coming down, drawing inward. She would have to give everything she had to push it away. The craft was drawing its strength from their sun. Star had to use the planet's.
She closed her eyes, concentrating. Then, without a sound, the camera vibrated violently.
One push. One attempt. One chance.
Her body arched slightly before sagging to the ground. A puddle of blood slowly began to form underneath and around her.
The view shifted, more quick editing. This time it was the Ombitra mothership, hanging like the finest jewel of fire in the heavens, with a roiling black cloud of death clinging to its underside. The camera zoomed in when a puff of wind parted the cloud a tiny bit.
No. Not wind. Wind didn't affect the cloud. It was Star's pulse.
Her second pulse flattened the cloud, a visual confirmation telling her she was on the right track. The third pulse was strong enough to reveal a small portion of the underbelly of the ship. Hunter's eyes widened to see the craft hesitate a fraction of a second.
A fraction. It had been all the proof she'd needed.
The cloud parted, revealing a neat hole in the center. The magnetic reverse thrust slammed into the silver hull like a giant invisible fist. Sections of the understructure buckled, and the craft wavered.
It tried to right itself. Tried to regather the burning cloud that had been secured under it. But whatever the ship had used to keep its weapon focused on the planet was no longer working. Somehow, that delicate hold had been lost, and now the cloud was rimming the ship, eating it an inch at a time.
The camera caught the mothership careening into a cluster of buildings on the edge of the city, brought down by its loss of control. There had been no sound on the video feedback, for which Hunter was grateful. Handing the comm back to Deceiver, he turned his gaze back on the figure in the tank.
"Several of us are over at the ship, cleaning up what's left of the Ombitra, and trying to contain what's left of that cloud. Commander's going to see if he can't get a handle on what it's made of. How it works. I ordered the rest to begin with rescue operations."
It was a subtle hint he was needed to help. Getting to his feet, Hunter felt a tremor go through him. “Where do you need me?"
"Animator is directing operations over near the Hall of Magistrates. Can you manage it?” The man didn't try to hide his concern for his friend.
"Yeah."
"Hey, Hunter?"
Glancing up, he spotted Morning Fire walking into the unit. She moved stiffly. “It's too damn dark in here. Where's the sunlight?"
"We're sixty feet underground,” Devorah tried to explain, when Hunter's mind switched out of neutral.
"Sunlight! Dear heavens, she's right! Devorah, Star won't get her strength back until we get her into direct sunlight."
"How do you propose we do that?” the doctor asked. She had followed the Guardians into the unit after directing them from the corridor. “You can't move that tank."
"I bet Commander can rig up a solar lamp,” Deceiver said, lifting the comm link to his mouth. “Commander, do you copy?"
"I copy. You're not going to believe this, but we have Ombitran survivors."
The news surprised everyone. “Copy that, Commander. What's the status on that cloud?"
"Contained, but it was a tricky nuisance. We're having to handle it with suits on."
"How soon can you get over to the hospital? We have a need for your expertise here."
"What are you needing?” Commander asked.
Hunter took the comm link from the Guardian leader. “Commander, we're needing a direct solar feed underground. Star has to get as much sunlight as possible if there's any chance for her."
"I'm on my way, Hunter."
He tried to hand the link back to Deceiver, who waved it away. “Keep it, Hunter. Now, get out of here and make Star's sacrifice worth it. Help us bring this city back to life. If there's any change, Devorah will beep you first."
Hunter nodded and vanished at the same time. Almost a breath later, the space beside Deceiver began to waver, like a distortion in the air. The Guardian leader didn't move as Commander's figure slowly filtered into view. The man solidified, until the distortion fell away, and Commander took a deep breath.
"Wow. That's always a rush.” He chuckled once Sender's power faded. His eyes caught sight of the figure in the rejuvenation tank, and the man took a shaky step back. “Oh, sweetest Star."
"We need direct feed, nothing artificial,” Deceiver told him. “Can you bring her the sun from sixty feet up?"
Commander shifted his horrified gaze from Star to the physician taking readings at the foot of the tank. Devorah gave him a wavering smile. “Don't worry. I'll bring her sunshine, even if I have to go out and carve a chunk out of the damn star myself."
He started to take a step forward, when Deceiver suddenly threw an arm across Commander's chest. “Wait!"
The air in front of them had begun to waver, meaning Sender was delivering another person, or a package. Unlike Hunter, she had no way of knowing if what she was sending would materialize into empty space. It was a tricky maneuver, but one she was able to pinpoint with some measure of certainty if she used the feed from a comm link as a guide.
As the form took shape, they were surprised to see Sender bringing herself over from the Ombitra craft. As soon as she was whole, the woman shook herself and turned to Deceiver.
"I'm going over to get Seeker. Where's Hunter?” Her expression on her face was as hard as her tone of voice.
"I sent him over to the Hall of Magistrates to help Animator search for survivors."
"Well, we're going to need him for something a lot more important,” Sender responded tightly. Her body was wound up and quivering with her growing anger. Raising her hand, the two men saw the empty cylinder she'd brought with her.
Deceiver took it from her and turned it over in his hands. “What's this?"
"Look at it real good, Deceiver,” she almost growled.
"There's a direct light over on the wall,” Devorah told them, knowing they needed something stronger than the dim, filtered glare filling the room. Deceiver walked over and found the button she was talking about. In the brighter fluorescence, he examined the cylinder more closely. It didn't take him long to discover what had put Sender on edge.
"This is a packaging tube from...” He stopped and glanced up at the woman Guardian. “The HandFast Committee?"
"The Committee's seal is right there.” She pointed, jabbing a finger at the paper remnants on the side of the container.
"What was in this?” Already his mind was rebelling over the discovery, but Deceiver forced himself to start dropping each new discovery into the grid he had formulated earlier.
Sender shrugged. “I don't know, but it's giving off from freaky vibes. I want to see what Hunter can get from it."
"What I want answered is why the Ombitra have this.” Lifting his comm link, Deceiver barked into it. “Hunter! We need your powers back at the hospital.” The man materialized before Deceiver could ask for a confirmation. Without giving any prior explanation, he thrust the cylinder into Hunter's hands. “Tell me what you perceive from this thing."
Giving the threesome a puzzled glance, Hunter turned the empty tube around in his hands, closing his eyes to concentrate. As he read what his powers were telling him, Commander tapped Deceiver on the shoulder, then pointed to the ceiling and Star. Motioning silently to Sender, he gave the signal he was ready to go back to Guardian Command in order to begin work on the solar light. Sender obliged, reaching out and taking his hand. He was gone just as Hunter lifted his face.
"You got this off the Ombitra mothership.” It was a flat statement. Deceiver nodded. “What's a container from the Hall of Magistrates doing in Ombitra hands?"
This information surprised the Guardian leader even further. “We could see what was left of a HandFast Committee seal on the outside, but are you certain it came from the Hall?"
Hunter's eyes began to darken. “Each building has its own special taste to me. Not a taste that I can put into my mouth, but a feeling. A combination of odors. Call it what you will. The materials used to construct the building. The people in it. I know this cylinder came from the Hall. I sense someone's trace on it, someone I've met before, but I'm blank at the moment who it is. But the scent is unmistakable. Someone from the Hall gave this to the Ombitra, and I'm going to hunt down whoever did, and also find out what was in this tube.” A glance at Sender told him she was ready. “We'll need Seeker's help."
"We'll meet you there,” the young woman told him, already vanishing from view.
"Hunter, keep me posted."
He gave the leader a curt nod, and disappeared after casting his eyes at the woman in the tank.
Mumbling a choice curse word to himself, Deceiver grimly told the physician, “I need to go back to Guardian Command so I can help Provoker coordinate rescue efforts. Don't worry, Devorah. We're going to get to the bottom of all this."
"Do you think ... are you thinking there was come kind of conspiracy?” she asked in a hushed voice.
"I don't know what to think. I just know there has to be a damn good reason why the Ombitra mothership was here, using a weapon we've never seen before, when the rest of her fleet was more than sixty-seven parsecs away attacking us.” He clenched one hand into a fist. “A damn good reason,” he repeated.
The message was terse.
Mothership destroyed. Ombitran fleet destroyed. Guardians are still in force, althought word is StarLight is on life support. You're on your own.
One cursed loudly and vehemently, ramming his fist into the viewscreen until the lightweight panel shattered under the impact.
If one shred of evidence had been left behind, they would all soon be discovered.
It was only a matter of time before they would find out whether they had gotten away with it, despite their failure. Or if they would have to pay for their audacity with their lives.
Revelation
"Deceiver!"
The Guardian leader slammed his hand down on the speaker button. “Go ahead, Seeker!"
"We need to gather! Code two!"
"Copy!” His other hand reached for the all call button. “All Guardians! Code two! Repeat, code two! Meeting room now!” Not half a minute ago he had come to the meeting room by himself to begin construction on a new grid with the old information. Previously he had done a timeline to try and figure out the whys and whens of the recent Ombitra attacks. Timelines were basically standard procedure, but with the discovery of the capsule, Deceiver had come to the sudden realization that standard wouldn't fit this situation.
Before his hand lifted from the button, Hunter materialized on the other side of the room. The air beside him began to shimmer, announcing Sender's entrance. It was Seeker who made the trip first, followed closely by her sister.
Deceiver noticed something immediately wrong with Hunter who stood unnaturally still. Small, blackish vapors swirled around him at a dizzying rate. Hunter's eyes had gone solidly black, the expression on his face barely suppressing the rage growing inside him.
Grabbing his arms with both hands, both Sender and Seeker tried to lead him over to the table, but he was as rigid as stone. He was deep within his darker power, and there was no pulling him out of it this time.
"What's wrong?” Deceiver asked.
"The news isn't good,” Sender told him. Her face was flushed, which told him they had discovered something major. It would explain why she'd called a code two—emergency meeting with a major development.
The panel below him beeped. It was Commander. “Deceiver, I'm working on this light for Star. Do you want me to leave it?"
"Your mission has top priority. Leave your comm open,” Deceiver ordered.
"Copy that."
Glancing back at the man standing less than thirty feet away, Deceiver thought he saw a flash of gratitude in Hunter's eyes. Seeker had left Hunter's side and taken her seat at the table.
Morning Fire, Corona, and Blender were first to rush into the room. Seeing Hunter made them all skid to a halt in cautious wonder.
"Holy crap ... what's going on?” Blender asked, giving Hunter a wide berth as he went to his chair.
"Hunter is still on the trail. He's put himself in a sort of temporary hold so we could come here to tell you what we've found,” Seeker answered. Her words were clipped. There was no mistaking she was on the verge of tears.
Disaster came running in, followed quickly by Time Merchant, Animator, and Condemner. Like the others, they cast wary looks at the man now completely surrounded by gaseous-type clouds of darkness. When Provoker rushed in, he skidded to a stop. “Well, the man did say his moniker was Master Hunter,” he calmly reminded them. “I pity the poor bastard he's set his sights on."
Animator sighed loudly. “Yeah. Welcome to the side of Hunter we've seen little of.” She swiveled around to face Deceiver. “He's too far deep inside himself, isn't he?"
"Why did you call code two?” Provoker questioned.
"I called it,” Sender corrected.
"Challenger's still out—"
"Not any longer. Let's get this show on the road,” Challenger interrupted, barreling into the hall. Spotting Hunter, he did a double-take like all the rest. “Will someone tell me who the unlucky prey is?” he almost whispered.
"Commander's on the comm, listening in,” Deceiver informed them. “He has strict orders to get a lamp on Star asap as his priority. What did you find out, Sender?"
"All right.” Placing her hands palms down on the table, she took two steady breaths to first calm herself. “Let me first have my say, because you're going to blow your lids. We went to the Hall of Magistrates to find out who had handled the cylinder. It was Serien Tark.” Seeing them all open their mouths to question her, she quickly held up a hand. “Please. Wait. It gets worse. Between the three of us, we found no communications that would implicate Tark, but there was one odd thing. The man left on a Varla Cruisemaster this morning at ten a.m. There was a verification message on his personal viewscreen. So Hunter called up the cruise lines, pretending to be Tark. There was a message waiting for him to be picked up. Are you ready for this? Sis?"
Next to her, Seeker read the short message she'd transferred to her comm link. “Mothership destroyed. Ombitran fleet destroyed. Guardians are still in force, although word is StarLight is on life support. You're on your own."
Silence fell over the room as the impact of the message sank in.
"You're on your own?” Corona echoed. “Who is on his own? Tark?"
"Who sent the message to Tark?” Blender whispered.
The bluish grid came to bright life before them, and Deceiver quickly shuffled a few of the details, adding the new information they'd gleaned.
"It's coming to me now,” he told them as his thoughts began to automatically adjusting minute details into a cohesive pattern. Once the pieces were reassembled, the other Guardians began to see the scope of what they had been up against.
"By all the stars in the heavens,” Morning Fire gasped. There were noticeable gaps in the grid, but there was enough to make them all blanch in shock.
It was Condemner who turned his head to glance back at the man standing at the other side of the room like an immense nightmare. “Hunter's after Tark,” he announced. “Hunter? Can you hear me?"
The man lifted his face. “I'm here,” he acknowledged with a voice that chilled them to hear.
"Don't kill him,” Deceiver ordered. “He will have to pay for his crimes."
A smile that sent a shiver up several spines came over Hunter's shadowy features. “Oh, you can be sure I'll keep the man alive. But I can't promise the state of his sanity."
A second later, he was gone.
Morning Fire shuddered. “I can't believe he's the same Hunter we've known for the past two years. It's almost like ... like he's..."
"He's after the man who delivered something to the Ombitra, who then came after us. Us. Not our world. Not the Tor Sigura system. Us. And who had every intention of killing StarLight,” Sender said. “Tark may not have been on this planet when the mothership arrived, but he's just as guilty. Because of him, Hunter's child is dead, and maybe StarLight as well, and Tark will be made to answer for it."
Deceiver sent them all back to helping with the rescue efforts as the city slowly and painfully dealt with the dead and destruction. It was Blender, later that evening, when they returned for a bite to eat before going back to resume digging out the survivors, who announced that the cylinder had contained a special antimatter field. Despite his superb chemical and analytical skills, he confessed that what the field had suspended would remain a mystery until they were given more information or clues. But he was dead certain the fiery cloud that the Ombitra had used was at the heart of it.
As night descended, Commander finally returned from the hospital to tell them the solar light had been erected. All that was left to do was to place a small, mirrored plate in orbit above the planet so that Star could receive the sun's direct rays at all hours. Otherwise, she would only get sunlight during the day. Provoker volunteered to take Transport One up to set the mirror, causing a few eyebrows to raise. “Hey, I may be a first-class asshole, but I still care about her, all right?"
Commander nodded. “I'll help you load it in the ship,” he told Provoker, and together they left for the bay.
It was nearly midnight when the Guardians began to file in one at a time, exhausted and overcome by what they had witnessed as they'd tended to survivors, and tried to help get life back to some semblance of normalcy.
Deceiver felt a hand at his elbow as he shut the communications console down for the night, and switched it over to automatic answer. If any calls came in while they were asleep, they would go directly to his private chambers first.
"Deceiver, what's the word on Star?” Animator asked wearily.
"Devorah's still with her. She told me Star's vitals haven't changed. She's still needing the unit to breathe for her, and to keep her heart pumping."
"Are there any further signs of brain activity?"
"No. None but the most basic. But we're hoping with the sunlight flooding her, it will bring us something good.” He patted her hand and tried to give her a comforting smile, knowing he failed miserably. “Go get some sleep. I'm suspending morning meetings so we can get back to helping clean up at first light."
"What about Hunter? Has he been in touch?"
"No word, but there's no telling where Tark went. He got a big head start before the Ombitra attacked."
The woman nodded, walking quickly away so as not to embarrass herself in front of the others. Blinking back his own tears, Deceiver shut down the console before following her out the door.
None of them would get any real rest that night.
Duplicity
The loud buzzing brought him out of deep sleep. Groggy and semi-conscious, Deceiver first reached for the button on the small console beside his bed. “Guardian Command,” he tried to answer, fighting the last dregs of sleep that refused to let go. There was no telling how long he had been tossing and turning, searching for a few minutes of escape. It was a miracle his body had finally collapsed on its own to give him what little sleep he'd gotten.
There was no response on the emergency call, yet the buzzing continued. Belatedly, Deceiver realized it wasn't the Command board summoning him. It was the little comm link he'd set beside it. The comm connecting them to Hunter. Suddenly, sleep was beyond him. “Yeah, Hunter! I copy!"
White static played over the tiny but powerful speaker. It would take several seconds for their communication to travel over the vast distance separating them.
"Deceiver. I got him. Coming in.” The man's words were harsh and direct. The Guardian leader shivered unconsciously. If the dark part of Hunter was terrifying to behold, an exhausted one would be even more dangerous.
"Copy, Hunter. We'll be waiting for you."
What was it Hunter had said a few days ago? I can move at hyper light speed.
Was it just a few days ago? Heavens ... Deceiver ran a hand over his face. It felt more like all of this had taken place months ago. Or years ago.
Crawling out of bed, he went over to the main communications panel and fed in a wake-up call to everyone, rousing them out their beds and ordering them to the meeting room to await Hunter's arrival.
Ten minutes later they had gathered back into the main hall. The chronometer read a little after three in the morning. On their way from their quarters, everyone was reminded of the destruction brought about by the Ombitra mothership. The normally clean night air was still thick with smoke and the burnt stench of death. The stars above their world no longer twinkled like pieces of broken glass.
As they waited for Hunter, Deceiver put a call in to Devorah to check on Star's condition. “Yes?” the woman's voice came back, answering his buzz. She sounded very weary, but awake.
"Hunter is returning. I thought I could give him an update when he got here,” Deceiver said.
There were a few moments of silence, then came Devorah's cautious pronouncement. “Don't put any hope in this, but the sunlight has changed her skin tone. It's no longer that muddy brown color, but resuming its natural shade."
"Anything else? Any sign she's resuming breathing on her own?” A glance around those seated at the table showed they were as hungry for some good news as he was.
"No. Is Commander there?"
"I'm here,” the man spoke up loud enough to be heard over the link.
"Is there any way to increase the exposure?"
"You mean, add more sunlight?” He paused to think. “The exposure she's getting now is as much as the mirror can hold."
"But what if you added another mirror?” the physician inquired.
"She's not wearing her suit. We don't want to fry her,” Sender spoke out.
"Then put some kind of gauge on it so the amount of exposure can be lowered and raised when needed,” Deceiver said. “Commander, it's all yours."
"Copy. Mirror number two will be launched as soon as we're dismissed from here,” Commander promised.
Another fifteen minutes went by as they patiently waited. It was Challenger who asked, “Any idea where Hunter was calling from? How far out he was?"
Deceiver shook his head. “No idea. I just know there was at least an eight-second lag between us."
Blender did a quick mental calculation. “At hyper light speed, that could be as far as forty parsecs away."
"Don't forget he's bringing another body back with him,” Time Merchant said. “That could slow him down."
"Actually, it was forty-three parsecs,” a hollow voice announced.
Everyone turned to see Hunter standing in the same place they had last seen him. This time, there was another staring in glassy-eyed shock at their sudden entrance.
Serien Tark fell to the floor as Hunter released his grasp on the man. From the man's appearance, they could see he'd been jerked out of his own bed from wherever Hunter had found him.
Once he knew he was free from Hunter's grasp, Tark scrambled over to the meeting table to plead for their protection. “I c-claim right of Guardian law!” he stammered. “Protect me from that lunatic. He's going to kill me!"
"It's no more than you deserve,” Hunter's voice echoed in the room like black thunder. He lifted his face to the others. “Seeker, strip the man of everything you can get."
It was taking every ounce of willpower for him not to squash the man's psyche like an overripe fruit between his mental hands. They needed the information locked inside the HandFast Committee Chairman. But once they obtained it...
"N-n-no! I claim—"
"You have no claim to Guardian law,” Disaster said, heatedly. “Guardian law does not protect murderers on the run from prosecution."
"Then I give myself up!” Tark screamed, glancing over his shoulder in nothing less than absolute terror.
Leaning over the table, Time Merchant softly promised, “Oh, you can be sure you're giving yourself up. And as soon as we get some answers from you, you'll be handed over to the Stellar Police."
"Give us any lies, and we can't guarantee what Hunter will do,” Provoker grinned. “After all, it was his woman you tried to have killed."
"And it was his unborn child you managed to slaughter,” Morning Fire breathed heavily. Her face was dark red with anger.
"Wha—What do you mean ‘his woman'? The moment StarLight was declared pregnant, the HandFast was over. Hunter has no right under HandFast law to continue to claim right over her,” Tark tried to argue.
"Terrin and I were committed to each other,” Hunter announced slowly, menacingly. “We were going to exchange vows, and raise our child as a family.” He narrowed eyes the color of burnt stars at the cringing man by the meeting table. “What was in the cylinder you gave to the Ombitra?"
"Wha—what cylinder?"
"Wrong answer,” Corona murmured. At that same moment, Tark's eyes bugged out in sheer terror. The man gasped for breath, his face turning blue as his lungs fought for air.
Then it was over. Tark fell onto the floor, choking and coughing, fingers clawing at his throat as he tried to draw air into his tortured windpipe. “Screw you, Hunter!"
"Answer the question,” Condemner continued. “What was in the cylinder?"
"Go ahead and try to fight us,” Animator grinned without humor. Her normally liquid brown eyes had become as hard as the look of determination on her face.
Seeker laid a hand on the man's back. Tark was unaware of her until she let out a small cry. “Nimboid cloud. Something called the Nimboid cloud,” she told them.
"Did you deliver the Nimboid cloud to the Ombitra?” Disaster asked.
Tark opened his mouth, then abruptly shut it with an audible sound. It was clear he believed that if he didn't answer the question, he couldn't be accused of giving a false answer.
"Wrong choice,” Corona murmured again as Tark let out a shriek that made them all flinch. The man whirled about, breaking contact with Seeker, and struggled to crawl away. Throwing his head up, the man shrieked again and dropped to the floor with a thump. Incredibly, he was still awake. Whatever nightmares Hunter had planted into him had not caused him to pass out. Tark lay quivering on the polished floor. Little mewling sounds came from his throat as the man struggled, eyes closed, with the inevitable.
Determined to find the answers for herself, Seeker got down on her knees and planted both hands on the man's body. Taking a deep breath, she sank far into the inner recesses of the man's mind. Seconds ticked by. Then, quietly, the Guardian began to reel off the bits and pieces she managed to read as they dislodged from Tark's grasp and floated up to where she could reach them.
"Corin Sassidy. Ombitra want the outer ring of planets from our system. Guardians in the way. Remove Guardians. Remove threat."
She swallowed hard and readjusted her hands. “Two prime. Prime Guardians. Prime. Not born on this world. S-StarLight. Master Hunter. Serien Tark put names on HandFast list. N-not in ... not in lottery.” She shivered. “StarLight. Dangerous. Dangerous. StarLight could ruin the whole thing. Magnetic. Mag—"
"She could ruin it for all of us,” a weak voice beneath her said. Tark remained curled in a ball near the table. “The Ombitra wanted the outer planets."
"Why?” Disaster asked.
"They're almost solid pelsium. They need the pelsium. I don't know why they need it. They just do. They ... they could come in and just take it by force, like they do with other planets, but they feared StarLight.” The man's voice was low. Defeated. He had been broken.
"Because of her powers with magnetism?” Condemner questioned.
"Yes.” Tark blinked. His body was no longer his to command. “That's why they hadn't attacked in this region of the galaxy before. They had seen what StarLight could do. They ... they sent a contact to Sassidy. Offered him ... offered him more wealth than he could ever imagine. Than we'd ever seen. All we had to do was help kill the Guardians, help remove StarLight, and they would let him, let us have it. It was ... so much wealth."
Sender leaned over the table. “Why put StarLight, and Master Hunter, for that matter, in the HandFast?"
"What did you mean by prime?” Provoker prodded.
Tark tried to lick his dry lips, but his mouth was devoid of all moisture. “They were the only Guardians not from this world. They were most likely able to reproduce quickly. That's why they were HandFasted."
"Why?” hissed Morning Fire. “Why did you want Star to have a baby?"
"N-not have a baby. Just ... just get pregnant. Clearlian said—"
"Clearlian?” Deceiver repeated. “Doctor Syman Clearlian?"
"It was Clearlian's responsibility to place the restrictive edicts on StarLight once she got pregnant. H-he promised us that she would place the safety of her child over...” Tark closed his eyes and shuddered.
"Go on,” Animator ordered. “Or else Seeker will drag it out of you. Unless you'd rather Hunter reasserts his control over you."
A moment passed for the man to collect himself. “She wasn't supposed to sacrifice the child. She ... she was supposed to die under the onslaught. Under the nimboid cloud."
The soft sound of weeping told them that Morning Fire had succumbed to the horror the man was revealing to them. Turning a hateful look on the man, Disaster growled, “You ... and Clearlian ... and Sassidy ... you plotted with the Ombitra to destroy this planet? You deliberately placed Star and Hunter on the HandFast list so she would get pregnant and sacrifice herself and the baby, because you thought she wouldn't fight the Ombitra to save this world instead? Because you thought she wouldn't deliberately kill her own child to save others? Have we got that right?"
"You monster!” Corona screamed and started for him. Three pairs of hands stopped her from using her powers as she leaned into Time Merchant's warm embrace and sobbed loudly.
"But you didn't count on her pulsing the Ombitra ships beforehand, did you?” Deceiver half-smiled in sorrow. “You didn't know we had already found a way to stop them, or at least slow them down."
"Or that Hunter would have the fleets from Abernath show up when the Ombitra had their ships trick us into going to Tor Sigura. They thought that by dividing us and luring us over there, they could conquer us. By drawing us away from here, and away from Star, it would be the end of everyone and everything on this planet.” Challenger crossed his arms over his stomach and bent over in his chair. “I think I'm going to be sick."
A minute of relative silence stretched into two. Morning Fire managed to calm down enough to take her seat, but Corona remained clutched in Time Merchant's arms. It was Sender who resumed the interrogation.
"Where is Clearlian and this, this Sassidy person?"
"I don't know,” Tark admitted. Seeker raised her tear-stained face and nodded. The man honestly didn't know. “I told them to be off-planet before one o'clock, because that was when the mothership was scheduled to appear."
This news jolted all of them. Shaking, Animator asked, “One o'clock? Didn't Bruiser keep repeating one o'clock?"
Giving the man beneath her a rough shake, Seeker loudly demanded, “Tell us how Bruiser knew about the one o'clock deadline, damn you! Let me see!"
"He was our contact inside Guardian Command,” Tark feebly replied. “He was the one who told us StarLight and Master Hunter were from other worlds. He was the one who kept us informed on how the HandFasted couple was complying with the edicts. But he ... he didn't tell us they had committed to each other."
"Don't fret about that point,” Provoker smirked. “They didn't exactly come out and tell us, either."
"But she ... she sacrificed the child anyway,” Tark said, more to himself than to the others. “She wasn't supposed to, but she did. She killed the baby."
"The child's blood will be on your head,” Hunter intoned for the first time since the questioning began. “As will the blood of thousands who died from the nimboid cloud.” Lifting his face to Deceiver, he said, “I'll find Clearlian and Sassidy, and bring them back to face charges of genocide. I'll—"
The man started, turning his head away as if hearing something he couldn't identify. Suddenly, the swirling mists of darkness dissipated. At the same instant, Hunter's eyes lightened to their normal color, and all traces of his dark power vanished. “Terrin?” he managed to croak in a soft voice before he disappeared from sight.
"Deceiver!” It was Doctor Perlakian, calling over her handheld comm link. Deceiver hit the relay switch.
"Yeah, Devorah!"
She couldn't contain the joy in her voice as she told them, “We have visible brainwaves! Star's breathing on her own now!"
This time there was no holding back their tears.
Awakening
It was the barest movement of the woman's eyelids that first alerted her. Then the fingers spread apart a fraction of an inch. But the trembling was there—in breath, in muscle.
Devorah's eyes flew to the monitors as she mentally began to tick off the seconds.
Heart rate up. Breathing increasing. Her blood pressure is stabilizing. Brain activity is spiking. Dearest heavens, thank you!
StarLight was waking up.
Jerking the comm link from her coat pocket, the physician was talking into it before she realized she'd forgotten to thumb it on first. “Deceiver! She's waking up! Deceiver!"
"We copy!” came the man's voice. In the background, she could hear cheering. Unable to keep her own happiness contained, Devorah went over to the rejuvenation tank to wait.
From the corner of her eye she could see the air shimmering in front of the wall. Slowly, the figure of Morning Fire appeared into the room. Four days ago, when definite brain activity had come back to Star, the others had realized they all couldn't gather in the small unit. It was decided that Hunter would be called first. But in the event he was gone, or unable to show, Morning Fire would take his place.
As the petite woman shook off the effects of Sender's power, she gave the physician the news. “Hunter's still under the sedation you gave him to sleep. But Commander's gone to check on him to see if he can be roused."
Doctor Perlakian nodded. The man had gone on a three-day hunt to find the missing Doctor Clearlian, and the man known as Corin Sassidy. He had found the physician on a resort planet on the other end of the FonDasi Jetty, nearly eighty parsecs from home. Corin Sassidy had been detained on the third moon of Erath Six by the Stellar Police, after being identified by several citizens from the bulletins the Guardians had released. Although Deceiver had ordered Hunter to rest, that he would send Transport Two to bring the man back, Hunter had defied orders and gone to retrieve the suspect himself. No one doubted that Sassidy's mental health would suffer on the trip back.
When he had returned, Hunter had been a walking shell of his former self. He was beyond exhaustion. His body was about to give out completely, having gone without food or drink for almost three days, and pushed beyond all normal endurance. Although he had kept in contact with Guardian Command, Hunter had been driven to find everyone responsible for the Ombitra attack on their world. For Star lying comatose in a rejuvenation tank. And for the death of his unborn child.
Devorah had told Deceiver, the last time the man had come by to check on StarLight personally, that Hunter called her at least twice a day to see what the latest news was. He knew he wasn't of any use just standing around the hospital, which was why he was determined to seek out and find those responsible as soon as possible. While the prey was still under the assumption they were safe while the planet grappled with survival and clean up after the attack.
Because once Star work up, he swore he would never leave her side.
Which was why Devorah had given him two shots when he had returned. One shot to put him to sleep, and keep him asleep, until his body was able to awake on its own. The second shot was to give him enough energy to sustain himself, until he could start eating on his own again.
There was another movement in the tank, causing Morning Fire to hiccup through her tears.
"There's no time for that,” Devorah told her, fighting her own tears. “Help me get her up and out of there.” Normally she would have called upon an intern or nurse to help her, but this was StarLight. And as the Guardian's official physician, Perlakian was damned and determined to care for her charge without any outside interference, if she could help it.
Together, they braced themselves against both sides of the rejuvenation tank and reached inside the clear gel, each hooking one arm under a knee, and weaving their other arm together beneath Star's shoulders and neck. Slowly, they pulled the figure free of the life-sustaining substance and carried her over to the transport bed Devorah had brought in the day before.
Laying her down, the physician withdrew a pan and several soft, dry cloths from under the bed, and placed them on the padding between Star's legs. “Help me wipe the gel off of her, so we can get her dressed in something that'll keep her warm."
Together they began to wipe the woman dry, beginning with her arms and legs, dropping the soiled cloths on the floor and reaching for clean ones as they tended to their work.
"Are you going to keep the tubes in her?” Morning Fire whispered. The smaller tubes, which ran from the bank in the wall and into Star's shoulders and neck, were keeping her blood pumping, and feeding her internally.
"Just for a short while longer. As soon as I'm satisfied she can make the move, I'm having her transferred to the clinic over at Command."
Morning Fire gave her a surprised stare. “The clinic?"
"Yes.” A small smile rested in Devorah's eyes, as well as on her lips. “Deceiver's been updating the clinic while I've been here. He promised me he would have it ready for Star in two days’ time."
"Well, that explains why we've been having so many deliveries,” Morning Fire commented. “And here I thought Commander was trying to upgrade his labs."
"Devorah?"
Pausing, the physician reached inside her lab coat and pulled out her comm link. “Speaking of you-know-who ... Yeah, Commander?"
"Hunter's still out."
"What are his vitals?"
"They register as normal. What do you want us to do?"
"Nothing. He's still trying to regain his energy. Leave him be, but leave some sort of message to let him know we've moved Star out of the rejuvenation tank."
"You won't have to leave him a message,” Morning Fire told her with a grin. “Star told us they were attuned to each other. She could tell he was near her before he popped into view. And the other morning when Hunter returned with Tark, he did almost the same thing when Star's brain activity picked up.” Her smile grew wider. “He'll know the moment he wakes up. That is, if she doesn't wake him up first."
Once they finished wiping down Star's chest and belly, Devorah rolled her onto her side to wipe down her back. Morning Fire took on the challenge of trying to clean the gel from Star's long black tresses, with little luck.
"This is impossible,” she breathed. “It's going to take putting her into a cleansing stall to get all this crud out."
"Well, get as much of it as you can,” Devorah told her. “She can't lie on it with the stuff clinging to it."
"We're going to need more cloths, then. We're almost out."
"I'll notify housekeeping to bring some down. But in the meantime, I'll run over to one and get what's stored over there. I won't be but a minute,” Devorah promised, and hurried out the double doors.
Morning Fire kept her eyes on the woman beneath her hands as she gently wiped away the clear jellylike globs. She knew Doctor Perlakian hadn't left the unit, with the exception of the two brief times she'd returned to Guardian Command, and her new quarters, in order to take a quick shower and get a clean change of clothes. The physician had taken all her meals, and managed a few short naps, in the unit.
There was a movement, which Morning Fire ignored. Doctor Perlakian had told them that the tank had kept Star's muscular mobility alive, and sometimes there would be a spasmodic reaction as a result. She continued to wipe off the hair, taking it one small handful at a time, when she heard Star take a deep, sudden breath. Immediately she looked down into the woman's face, searching for any sign of returning consciousness.
Faintly the thick, black lashes fluttered, and gradually opened as violet-colored eyes tried to focus. Lying on her left side, away from the bright intensity of the solar lamp, she wasn't facing directly into the glare.
"Star?” Morning Fire moved her mouth closer to Star's ear. Her hands trembled where they clutched the mattress underneath. “Star, can you hear me?"
Star's lips moved beneath the oxygen mask, but her words were unintelligible. Taking the risk, Morning Fire began to remove mask when Devorah reentered the room and saw what she was doing. Quickly, without questioning the Guardian's actions, she rushed to the transport bed.
A tiny breath of air emerged from Star's parched lips. They made the faintest movement, and Morning Fire bent lower to place her ear closer. “What, Star?"
"...nn ... yyu ... Udo."
"He's ... he's asleep, Star. He's ... completely exhausted. When we explain why later, you'll understand,” she whispered gently to her dearest friend.
No look of comprehension flashed in Star's glazed eyes, but her next words made it clear she had heard. “T-tell ... him..."
"Tell him what, Star?"
"I ... killed ... baby."
The tears suddenly rose hot and demanding. Morning Fire had to take several calming breaths before she felt steady enough to reply. “No. Star..."
"Does h-he ... h-hate ... me?"
"No, Star,” Morning Fire tried to assure her, shaking her head as she pressed her forehead against her friend's. “Hunter loves you more than you will ever know. He knows, we know, that what you did was the ultimate sacrifice. You stopped the Ombitra mothership. You did it, Star. You saved our world.” She pressed a kiss to the woman's cheek as Star's eyes slowly closed. For a long moment she thought the woman was again asleep, when Star made a one more comment.
"Tell him ... tell ... Udo ... I want ... his ... babies."
Unable to stop crying, Morning Fire nodded, although Star was already unconscious. “I'll tell him, Star. I promise.” Looking up, she could see tears streaming down the doctor's cheeks, and she smiled. “Is she going to get better now?” she asked, her voice hitching.
"You know what they say,” Devorah intoned. “Love can perform miracles where modern medicine can't. Now, help me get her dressed. Disaster said the clinic's ready. He'll be here shortly to help take her to Command."
Future
She was swimming in space, moving with long, leisurely pulls of her muscles. Her whole body felt free and alive, floating amid the vast darkness like a tiny mote of life. She was tired, but that was all right. Other than a tightness in her stomach, letting her know she hadn't eaten in a while, she could go on like this for another parsec or two before she needed to start looking for a planet where she could land and search for a meal.
There was an immense star ahead. A giant white. It was bright and powerful, giving her enough energy to wipe away all her weariness if she'd let it. Star lifted her face toward it. This part of the galaxy was unfamiliar to her. But, then again, all during those four years she had wandered aimlessly through the universe, every cluster of planets and stars had been strange new territory for her. She'd just never realized how lucky she had been not to have been killed, or so seriously injured or infected to the point that it killed her.
That sun, whatever its name was, felt good. Her skin was drinking it in, revitalizing her, keeping her warm and content. She felt...
Star paused. She was free of the heartache and abandonment she'd been forced to endure back on her home world. But something niggled in the back of her mind. Something that was trying to tell her of a strength and a love that was keeping her protected and safe.
Looking around, Star tried to find what was giving her that growing sense of comfort. It was coming closer, and it was so large and enveloping, she welcomed it without fear. Opening her arms to take it into herself, she smiled as it swallowed her whole instead, and her happiness had no boundaries.
"Terrin. My heart."
For some odd reason, her skin tingled, and the tingling continued to raise little goosebumps all over her body. It was like being bathed in a smile.
"Terrin."
Slowly she managed to open her eyes. The sun-with-no-name continued to flood her with life and warmth and light. Until a shadow stepped under it, blocking it with his body, and throwing a halo of rays around his silhouette. The tingling increased, until it became a gentle buzzing that spread all through her muscles.
The shadow coalesced and took shape. Form. A face. A name.
It took effort, but somehow she managed to raise her hands and arms a few inches as she whispered his name. “Udo."
He crushed her against his wide, warm chest. The sense of love and comfort that had swallowed her now became real. Touchable. She could savor it, relishing in his strength and undeniable power.
His lips touched hers with gentle caresses. A hand cupped her cheek and jaw. It was all she could do not to whimper at the sweetness. Her body was still weak and brittle, but she was alive. It would be several more days before she would be well enough to rejoin them, fit for duty. But for now she didn't care how long it would take for her to fully recuperate. Not as long as he was here to hold her. Kiss her. Love her.
Gently Hunter pulled her away from him, letting her head rest against his chest. Vaguely she noticed he was not wearing his brown uniform, and a tiny smile creased the corners of her mouth. “Took a day off?” Star murmured hoarsely.
"You could say that.” His voice rumbled deep inside his chest.
"How ... h-how long was I...” she began, snuggling against his neck.
"You were comatose for four days. After Doctor Perlakian moved you into the clinic here at Command, you were out for another three days. How do you feel?"
"Like Condemner ran me down with Transport Three,” she breathed.
There was laughter coming from all around them, and Star realized they were not alone. Opening her eyes, she was able to lift her head a tiny bit and see everyone watching them. Tears were evident on several faces. “So much for subtlety,” she quipped in a soft rasp, earning another round of soft laughter and a careful squeeze from Hunter's arms. Her throat itched. She tried to clear it, but the dryness made it difficult. Before she could ask for water, Hunter was holding out a tube for her to suck from.
"I think they're just happy to have the old StarLight back,” he said, planting a kiss on the top of her head.
Several pleasant seconds passed as she breathed him in, savoring his familiar, comforting spiciness. Until a memory returned like an unwelcome visitor. She shivered, her skin growing cold as she lifted her face to look into his calm, blue eyes. His features blurred for a heartbeat, until she blinked away the rising tears. “Udo..."
"I'm listening."
"I ... I kill—"
"Hush,” he commanded suddenly, sternly, placing a finger against her lips. “I never again want to hear you take the blame for something you had no control over. You were right, Star. You had no choice. Either way, our child was destined not to live. If you hadn't fought the Ombitra, you would have died, as well as our child. But you did fight. And although the baby is gone, you survived. There will be other children, my heart. At least, that's what Fire told me you said.” He grinned at her in that way that made her melt. Not giving her a chance to respond, he added, “Devorah said you should have enough strength back in a couple of days so you can stand unassisted."
"All right.” She accepted what he said, until she lowered her brows in puzzlement. “Why is that important?"
"Would you rather be sitting in a transport chair when we take our vows at the Hall of Magistrates?"
"But ... I thought...” She lifted a shaking hand to her mouth as she searched his face for some sign that he was teasing her. But his eyes were sincere, if not a bit amused.
"Thought what? That the only reason I wanted you was because of the baby? Better get that thought out of your head right now, Terrin DiMackerlyn."
Her eyes flew open in shock. Hunter nodded. “When you told me DiLyric wasn't your real name, I had to find out the truth. Otherwise the marriage wouldn't be valid."
"Then ... you know.” Her eyes flew over to where Seeker stood in partial shadow. They had delved into her mind to find out that much, but what else had they discovered?
"I learned quite a bit,” Hunter told her gently, as if she'd voiced her last question aloud. “But we can discuss the rest later, when you're comfortable enough to discuss it with me. In the meantime, I believe the girls are wanting to help you shop for a gown, and all that other stuff you think you'll need."
"Not until she's had a bit of solid food and more rest,” Devorah ordered with a smile.
"But ... two days?"
"The life of a Guardian is uncertain at best,” Morning Fire broke in with a tremulous smile. “Grab what you can, when you can. After all, a lot can happen ... even in four days."
Hunter started to lay her back down, when Star grabbed a handful of his soft shirt, lifting her face so she could whisper in his ear. “Two days? And then we can sleep together again?"
Pressing his lips to her hair, he replied breathily, “Better get your strength back soon, my love. Because once you return to our bed, I'm not letting you leave it for at least a week."
Family
"How's your section doing?"
Feesha glanced up at her supervisor and gave her a brave smile. “Most of them are doing fine. That family over in sixteen is getting antsy, though."
Vlestill stuck her head around the side of the kitchenette and eyed the three people in the sixteenth row of seats. “Oh, you mean the one I think of as Commander? Probably worried about some big diplomatic whoop-tee-doo he has to attend."
"No.” Feesha shook her head. “I was talking to them earlier, after we'd gone through the storm. The woman said they were on their way to attend their son's wedding."
"Well, it couldn't be helped. That ion storm came up suddenly. There was no way we could avoid it,” Vlestill sniffed. “We'll just have to be late landing.” She gave sixteen another good stare. “Is he with the Fleet?"
"I think so. That uniform is quite impressive."
Giving her subordinate a smirk, Vlestill commented, “Are you meaning the older gentleman? Or the cute younger one beside him, who is also wearing the insignia on his blues?"
To her satisfaction, Feesha blushed furiously, but continued to serve her passengers.
The Trans-Galactic Cruiseliner was making good time, despite the delay. Even so, the passengers in row sixteen couldn't help but realize they would be late for the biggest event in their son's life.
"Hey! Everybody! Look outside!” someone yelled from the back.
"Is that a Guardian transport?"
"Holy stars! It's the Guardians!"
"What are they doing?"
"Looks like they're banking with us!"
Outside, just off the cruiseliner's port side, the silver-gray ship came up even. On its tail, the huge, white, florescent G was unmistakable. As everyone scrambled over the seats to watch it through the viewports, the craft did a little undulation, eliciting a bark of laughter from the people sitting in sixteen.
"I would recognize that jiggle anywhere,” the older man chuckled.
A moment later, a figure popped into the cruiseliner's cabin, arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his handsome face. “You're late,” he addressed the family.
"Great stars in the heavens! Master Hunter!” someone cried.
"Is that Master Hunter?"
"Why isn't he wearing his Guardian uniform?"
Stunned, the passengers froze in place as they watched the man address the people in sixteen.
The older man shrugged almost casually. “Can't help it if an ion storm came after us, and the pilot of this cruiser doesn't know how to belly-flop out of it.” He eyed his son in the deep blue formal attire he was wearing. “Thanks for coming to get us."
"We have to hurry. I'm going to have to take you over one at a time,” Hunter told them. “Otherwise, you'll miss the ceremony if we wait for the cruiser to land. Mother?"
The woman rose to her feet, to be lifted into her son's arms. Without another word, they both popped out of existence.
"This is going to be so mega-great.” The younger man grinned. “We're going to get to ride in a Guardian transport!"
Moving up to where she could address the other two, Feesha started to ask a question, when Hunter rematerialized.
"All right, Dallin. You're next."
"Think I can have a go behind the controls? Just for a minute?” the young man asked as Hunter wrapped his arms around him.
"Not for a second,” the man flatly stated, and they disappeared.
"Sir?"
The older man left behind turned to look at the cruise attendant. He lifted an eyebrow at her in response.
"Sir ... you're Master Hunter's parents?"
"Yes,” the older man smiled warmly.
"Then you're on your way to attend his wedding to StarLight, right?” Feesha confirmed. It was all the news could talk about since yesterday, when the two Guardians had publicly announced their coming nuptials. Just wait until her roommates back at flight school heard about this one!
"Correct."
They were interrupted by Hunter's final reentry. “Ready, Dad?"
"Good luck!” Feesha managed to call out before the two men vanished from sight.
As everyone watched from their viewports, Guardian Transport Two gracefully rolled away from the liner, and began to descend out of the airspace normally designated for cruise ships. Within seconds, a veil of sparkling lights covered it, and the ship jumped into hyperdrive.
"How do you feel?” Devorah asked for the fifth time.
Star rolled her eyes at the woman. “I learned to fly before I learned to walk. I promise, if I start to feel wobbly in the knees, I'll just float at ground level."
"I'm already feeling wobbly in the knees,” Morning Fire confessed.
"Count me in on the wobbly, too,” Sender admitted, entering the alcove where last-minute checks were being made. “Guess who just came in?"
"Who?” Animator asked. With the exception of Star, they were all wearing their uniforms. Even the men would be wearing their Guardian uniforms—all save Hunter. They were determined to show their support and strength in numbers when they ringed the couple exchanging their vows.
"Bruiser.” Glancing at Star, Sender said, “Seeker says the man is truly repentant of what he did. He wants to come back to the fold."
"That'll be Deceiver's call, not mine,” Star told her.
"He's miserable. He wants you to know he never wanted to hurt you. He was just jealous of everyone else getting your attention. He didn't know it would get worse after you and Hunter—"
"He besmirched my name. Gave away our secrets to the enemy and the public.” Star stopped and bit her lower lip, then continued. “How can we ever trust him again?"
Shrugging, Animator said, “We won't know unless we give him the chance."
A timid knock on the door interrupted their discussion, and the portal opened. Everyone stared at the older woman standing there looking wary but determined as her eyes scanned the room. When they fell on Star, a definite softness came over the woman's features.
Star glanced down at her dark blue gown that outlined her body, and billowed out behind like wisps of twilight. Her thick hair was held back with two jeweled barrettes, allowing her to show off the creamy skin of her neck and shoulders. She knew she looked nice in the gown, but now for the first time she wondered what others would think. More importantly, what Hunter would think. Or his parents. Uncertain what to say, she said the first thing to enter her mind.
"I'm glad to see Hunter was able to get you here in time."
"Star, do you want us to leave?” Devorah asked.
"No. Please stay. We're all family here.” Cara Vosstien smiled, and stepped further into the small room. Her eyes never left the woman, still pale and noticeably thinner after her ordeal. Despite that, she was all the more achingly beautiful in person. “I just ... I just wanted this chance to finally meet you before the ceremony. I mean ... after all, Udo has told us so much about you. About what you've sacrificed. You know, when Udo told us he was applying to become a Guardian, I thought it would only be a matter of time before we got word that he had been killed while rescuing some poor soul. Never in our wildest dreams did we think he would find someone to love, much less want to commit himself to. You must be one very remarkable person."
"Not to mention someone who's rewriting Guardian history.” Corona grinned.
Another knock at the door interrupted them. This time it was Challenger, barging in. “Time to up the ante,” he joked, and stopped to stare at the bride. “Good heavens, Star! You would look devastating wrapped in a garbage sack!"
Star burst out laughing. “I'm going to take that as a compliment. Is everyone prepared?"
"Including every news media outlet from here to Port Cendaria."
"Are you sure you don't need a supporting arm?” Devorah asked one final time.
The look she got in reply spoke volumes. “I have my supporting arm waiting for me,” Star murmured.
They waited for Cara Vosstien to return to the main hall, where her husband drew her beside him with a loving arm. After her, the other Guardians filed out to form a distinctive ring around the couple.
Amazingly, Star didn't feel light-headed or wobbly in the knees. She was too busy imagining herself flying inside the deep blue depths of the eyes of the man watching her approaching him. The man who would take her into his arms so they could be wrapped in wide ribbons of silver as the Magistrate pronounced them husband and wife, and who, later that night, would take her again into his arms as she joined him in their marriage bed.
They knew life was uncertain for a Guardian, but now they had their love to make what life they shared fulfilling and beautiful.
And Udo and Terrin were determined not to waste a single second of it.
Tour
"Excuse me, sirs, but you need to stay with the rest of the group,” the tour guide told the small pack of young men. The visitors had reached the corridor adjacent to the transport bay, where a huge floor-to-ceiling window allowed them to view what was going on inside without interrupting the Guardians from their work.
The guide pursed her lips in agitation. Like so many of the men who took the tour, regardless of age, they came here to gawk at the female Guardians, especially one in particular. It didn't matter any more that StarLight was married. Just the sight of her was enough to get any man's blood pressure rocketing. And since her return to full-duty last week, the woman was even more captivating, if that was even possible. Married life definitely agreed with her.
Today the Guardians were on base, not having been sent out on an emergency. They were taking the opportunity to work in the transport bay, repairing the damage done by the Ombitra. The uppermost section of the bay had once held a balcony running from Commander's labs, overlooking the ships, to the training facilities. All of the labs had to be replaced, including the training rooms, and a new balcony constructed, along with the portion of roof that had been fried away.
A low whistle of appreciation came from the small cluster gathered at the window.
"What do you see?” a voice whispered from the back.
"I see female perfection,” one of the men whispered in return as two others nodded.
The guide grinned. The men had no idea what was happening. But a quick glance through a tiny opening in their midst, and she understood why they were salivating.
StarLight had floated down from where she had been working on the roof, and parked herself less than twenty yards from the window. At that moment, with her back to them, she was bent over and smoothing the skintight black uniform along her ankle and calf, her slender fingers running up the length of her leg, around her thigh, and over her buttock as she removed the creases in the fabric. Her gestures were slow and deliberate, and it was obvious she had no inkling of the audience she was attracting.
"Oh, sweetest heavens, I hurt just watching her,” one young male groaned.
"You and me both. Dearest mother, and to think Master Hunter gets to have her every single night."
One man shook his head in agony. “Some men have all the luck."
"Yeah, but if it hadn't been for the HandFast, do you think they would have fallen in love?” another man questioned as he struggled for a better view.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Doesn't matter now, anyway, does it?” the voice in the back whispered.
The tour guide had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
"Nuh-uh,” the young male agreed. “I just know that if I ever find a woman half as brave and half as beautiful as StarLight, I would lay claim to her and never let her go."
"I'll be sure and let her know you said that,” the voice in the back chuckled softly. “I'm sure she'll appreciate the compliment."
The group of men hesitated, then reluctantly, fearfully turned around to see Master Hunter standing behind them with a self-satisfied smile on his face.
"M-Master Hunter,” the youngest male began to stutter, knowing they would need to apologize for their behavior, and quickly. Word had gotten out about the punishments the man could dole out with his previously unknown powers.
To their surprise, Hunter held up a hand to stay their defense. Then, without saying anything further, he popped out of sight, reappearing less than a heartbeat later a few feet away from the object of their adoration.
A smile came over Star's face, and she straightened up, turning toward the man waiting for her. Walking over to him, she lifted her lips for his kiss, and the people gathered at the window made noises of appreciation.
They watched as Hunter spoke a few words to her, the glass making it impossible to hear what was being said inside. But they saw Star turn around to look at the faces pressed to the window. To their surprise, she blew them a kiss, then gave them a wink before Hunter snaked an arm around her. Together, they walked over to the far side of the transport bay where four other Guardians were gathered to get instructions from Corona.
Taking their actions as her cue, the tour guide loudly cleared her throat for everyone's attention. “If everyone will continue to follow me, please. Our next stop will be the clinic that's just been renovated for the newest member of the Guardian team, Doctor Devorah Perlakian. Now, if you will remember, it was Doctor Perlakian who was instrumental in saving StarLight's life after Star defeated the Ombitra mothership..."
The crowd obediently followed the guide to the next section of Guardian Command. All except for the small boy who couldn't tear himself away from the enormous window.
Knowing that at any moment his mother would come back looking for him, he pressed his forehead against the glass and swore he would one day become a Guardian as strong and as brave as any of them.
"I will. I'll come back as soon as I can, and I'll apply for membership, and you'll be glad to have me,” the nine-year-old vowed, never taking his eyes from the men and women gathered at the rear of the bay. And as he continued to press his hands against the thick, unbreakable glass, his fingers began to sink into the indestructible material.
Linda loves to write romance with a fantasy or science fiction flair. Her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel. By day she is a kindergarten teacher, wife, and mother of two who lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf Coast. But at night she delves into worlds filled with daring exploits and highly sensual romance.
You can e-mail Linda from her website www.LindaMooney.com.