“Let me go, Zanton. I alreadytold you I’m tired.”
“I’m your fiancé andJaipar’s protection. You should try harder to please me.”
“Jaipar has a strong militaryas well. Your country needs this alliance as much as we do.”
“Haklute isn’t recoveringfrom ten years of military occupation and a battle for theirfreedom.” He pulled her close. “Fair Koriann, my blood runs hotfor you.” He pressed his lips against hers and thrust his tongueinto her mouth. She tried to push him away, but he was solidly builtand only amused by her resistance.
“It’s time I tasted my futurewife,” he said, raising his head and easing his grip on her. Shetook a stumbling step backward, her breath coming in gasps.
He tore open the front of hernightgown.
“Guards! Guards!” shescreamed.
He grabbed her and spun heraround so her back was against his chest and his hand covered hermouth. “Hush, my pretty, you’re going to enjoy this.”
The door swung open and Chandrarushed into the room.
“Get out,” Zanton yelled,tightening his hold on Koriann.
“You’re the one who’dbetter leave. Koriann’s bodyguards are right behind me.”
“Fraken idiot!” Zantonreleased Koriann.
She grabbed her robe off thecouch and slipped it on as Captain Orneil, entered, followed by oneof his men.
They paused just inside the doorand the captain said, “Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”
Koriann wasn’t sure how torespond. She couldn’t very well ask her guards to escort her fiancéout. “I heard a noise in my bedroom,” she said. “After thesniper shooting today I thought it might be another assassin.” Sheglanced at the entrance of her sleeping chamber.
“We’ll check it out.”
Once they had gone into thebedroom, Koriann said, “Zanton, leave at once or I’ll have myguards throw you out.”
He clenched and unclenched hisfists. “You can’t bar me from your room forever.” He spunaround and stormed out.
Koriann sank onto the couch,trembling.
“Are you all right?” Chandracrossed over to her.
“Yes, but from now on I wanttwo of my bodyguards posted at the door to my room. Under nocircumstances is Zanton to be admitted.”
“I’ll see that your wishesare carried out. But King Zanton’s right. You can’t bar him fromyour room forever.”
The guards returned and thecaptain said, “There isn’t anyone in the bedroom, but it was agood idea to check it.”
“Thank you.”
“We’ll guard your door.” Hestood there, still not leaving.
“What is it?” she asked.
“You look shaken. What gave yousuch a fright?” His voice softened. “Is there something else Ishould know?”
She’d always trusted thecaptain. He was a man of worth, but she couldn’t tell him she wasafraid of her own fiancé. “No, I’m just jumpy. It’s been along day. Thank you for your concern.”
Once they left the room, Koriannturned to Chandra. “What did you find out about Erling?”
“He left.”
“Oh, no!”
“That’s not all. Toemeka wentwith him.”
“No! She was shot and had a badfall. She shouldn’t have gone on a mission.”
“She did though.”
Koriann heart sank. If anythinghappened to Toemeka, it would be her fault. She should have guessedhow Toemeka would respond.
“Don’t fret. They’re bothheroes. They freed Jaipar and are now working to see that it staysfree.”
“But why would she go when sheshouldn’t even be out of bed?”
“She must have felt duty-boundto follow orders.”
Koriann nodded. Duty sheunderstood. That was why she was marrying King Zanton.
13
Mission on Flo Shah
Toemeka awoke when she heardErling say, “We’re here, Toe.” Groggy from lack of sleep, shelooked around. “Where’s here?”
“Flo Shah. A guard is comingover. Remember you’re Anubec and I’m Ryan. We’re both datatechnicians.”
“Yeah, I remember. This isn’tmy first mission, you know.” Toemeka climbed out of the ship, hersore hip aching. Sweltering heat engulfed her and the air was filledwith the heavy scent of thick vegetation. The base was carved out ofthe tropical jungle that bordered it on all sides.
“Let’s see your orders,”the guard said. They showed him their fake orders and the guardstudied the documents with a puzzled frown. Finally he said, “Reportto Sergeant Rashid. He’s in the third barracks.” He pointed tothe building.
During the short walk to thebarracks, Toemeka felt stifled from the oppressive heat. When theyentered the barracks, the cool air-conditioning was a relief.
“Are you Sergeant Rashid?”Erling asked the man behind the desk. He nodded and Erling andToemeka handed him their orders and IDs.
Rashid typed Ryan Tajima into thecomputer and a file appeared on the screen that included Erling’sphoto and a detailed report of his background and experience. Thesergeant checked Toemeka’s ID next. An altered photo of her in aRaptor uniform appeared along with a file on her. Toemeka wasimpressed with how thoroughly the Coalition had created undercoverIDs for them both.
After studying the reports Rashidsaid, “Everything appears to be in order. Vez, come here!” heyelled. A man-sized creature with scaly, reptilian skin and two slitsin its face instead of a nose slithered over. “Vez, give these twonew arrivals bunks and uniforms then take them to the data chamber.”
Vez led them to a large room thatsmelled of sweat and dust. Long row of cots and lockers flanked eachside. Vez pointed to two cots in the middle.
“These bunks are open. I’llget you some uniforms.”
“Don’t you have separatebarracks for women?” Toemeka asked.
“Oh, you’re a female of yourspecies? I thought you were a short humanoid male. We don’t getwomen here much, so there aren’t separate barracks. I’ll be backshortly with your uniforms.”
As soon as he was out of the roomToemeka said, “Why would the Coalition send me to a male-base?”
“He didn’t say it was anall-male base,” Erling replied. “He just said they didn’t getmany women.”
“I can’t share barracks witha group of men.”
“We won’t be here long.”
“We’d better not be.”Toemeka stuffed her travel bag into a locker.
Soon Vez reappeared with uniformsand handed them to Toemeka and Erling. Erling unzipped his flightsuit, but Toemeka didn’t move. She was creeped out with Vezwatching her every move with obvious curiosity. Moveover, she didn’twant him to see the bandage on her shoulder and start askingquestions.
Erling looked from her to Vez.“Vez, would you mind leaving so Anubec can change?”
“This isn’t a private place.Besides I’d like to see what a female humanoid looks like withouther clothes on. No need to be modest. I have no interest in matingwith a human.”
“I don’t have
