Josephine lingered by the bedsides of the wounded warriors. All was quiet and peaceful since she had administered more painkillers. The battlebots had done a good job of shredding the skin of the Milisarian Knights with their laser weapons. Internal organs were riddled with holes from the guns they also carried. Everyone in the infirmary would heal, but not for many weeks. The battle would be over very soon. Tomorrow would most likely be the final day on this planet. She hoped she had been telling the truth when she soothed the wounded by telling them their families would be welcoming them home shortly.

Urim was waiting for her in the control room. He should be resting, but was pacing back and forth instead. He paused as she entered. "I have set the last line of resistance in motion. Six groups of colonists, each with a knight to lead them, are climbing the mountains to set explosives. The final battlebot will be out of service by morning. By tomorrow night we shall know who keeps this planet for their species. This is the last quiet night in camp."

Josephine replied, "Then you must use it wisely. Have something delicious to eat and drink. Go to your quarters and get a real night's sleep. You have done all you can at this moment."

Urim smiled sadly. "I cannot sleep, nor do I wish to. It may be my last night to live, and I have a much better plan on how to spend it." He walked to her slowly and gathered her into his strong arms. It was quite a shock to feel four arms, rather than the usual two, wrapping her in warmth. He bent and placed his lips on Josephine's for a long, slow kiss. He pulled back and rested his head on hers and whispered, "Please, spend tonight with me. I want to be with you. You haunt my dreams and my waking moments as well."

Josephine relaxed in his embrace. She felt as if she could melt into him. This was what her body and mind had been longing for. She whispered back, "You are in my dreams too. I think I came all this way to find you. Yes, I will gladly spend the night with you." She gasped as he lifted her from the floor and hurriedly carried her to his quarters. He slammed a fist against the door's control panel, effectively shutting out the rest of the world.

His lips returned to her mouth and overwhelmed her senses. Heat infused every inch of her already tingling body. Her lips and teeth parted to allow his tongue inside, where it explored every inch and left her breathless. She let her hands roam over his hard muscles as she had imagined doing since the day they met. She shoved trembling fingers under his shirt feeling the need to touch his bare skin.

Urim's mouth moved from her mouth to her jaw and then to her neck. He kissed the spot where her pulse beat erratically. His hands cupped her backside and tugged her closer. She bent backward, and he took the opportunity to let his kisses wander down her collarbone and over to the tops of her breasts. He grimaced when his lips met the rubbery material of her bodysuit. He said, "I had forgotten. You cannot breathe well without the aid of this attire. We must stop, for I wish you no harm."

Josephine replied, "Please, don't stop. I will be fine if you leave the oxygen tube near us. In a closed room, it will add enough to the air for me to breath. I want to be with you." To prove her point, she began to tug at the rubber suit. As her shoulders emerged, he tore at his own shirt and flung it to the floor.

Josephine shyly pulled the suit down and freed her breasts. She blushed a bright red to match her glorious mane of hair. Urim asked, "Why do you change colors when you are unclothed? You did so in the cove, and you are doing it once more."

She sighed, "It is a human weakness. When we are embarrassed or excited, blood rushes through our bodies and heats our skin. It is called blushing. Those cursed with red hair seem to blush easily." She crossed her arms over her chest and refused to look him in the face.

Urim lifted her chin in a gentle hand and said, "Do not hide yourself from me. Your response to showing me your body is charming. I find your hair color to be intriguing and have always wanted to touch it." He let her hair sift through his fingers. "It is soft, like the silk we get from Earth." His awe gave her the courage to drop her arms, leaving her chest uncovered. He reverently ran shaking fingers over the orbs and cupped them in his palms.

Josephine's nipples became pointed, causing him to be curious. He gently rolled each one between his fingers. She moaned, and a molten heat traveled to her core. Her eyelids drooped as lust overcame her. It was time to take control. Her hands skimmed over his six pack and up to his chest. Two could play this game. She mimicked his movements, rolling his nipples with her fingertips. She felt him shudder and smiled.

Urim pulled at her clothes. "You are wearing too much. I desire to see all of you as I did when I rescued you in the cove."

Josephine giggled nervously. "There is an old saying on Earth. It goes: I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Do you understand what it means?"

He started laughing and replied, "I understand perfectly. It is not a problem. You may remove my clothing whenever you wish."

Taking him at his word, Josephine untied the lacings of his pants and slid a hand inside. She clasped his hot member in her small palm. Her fingers couldn't close around its width nor reach down to its base. The idea of having something so large inside her made her knees weak and her center wet with desire. Urim's pants fell to his feet, and he stood proudly at attention before her. Amazingly, his member grew harder and began to pulse in her hand.

"It is now your turn," he declared. He sounded curt and out of breath. Her eyes traveled up his chest and noticed that she could see his heart beating in his translucent chest. It was pounding so hard she swore it would rip through his skin at any moment. "As you can clearly see, Milisarians also have a reaction to excitement."

Josephine released him and stepped backward. She slowly eased her suit down her hips in a sensuous striptease. She heard Urim swallow hard when the garment passed her thighs and she was naked before him. He grabbed her and pulled her close. Skin against skin, they made their way to his bed. He laid her across it, and all gentleness fled. He attacked her body as if she was nourishment for his starvation. His warm mouth covered her breast and sucked it hard. He gave the same attention to the other side. At the same time, his four hands managed to touch every inch of her nakedness. A pair of his hands eventually cupped her buttocks and his thumbs teased her moist mound. Not to be outdone, she delved between their bodies and ran her hands up and down his shaft, paying extra attention to the sensitive tip.

Urim rolled them over and rubbed her entire body over his quivering shaft. His breathing became harsher as the fever pitch of desire mounted. Josephine grinned mischievously and wriggled out of his grasp. She slid down his chest, past his stomach, and took him into her mouth. He was so large that only the top portion fit, but it was enough to make him roar. She licked the end of his member, and he sat straight up in shock. The new sensation proved to be too much for the powerful warrior, and he exploded. Josephine drank every drop. He growled and said, "It's payback time."

He fell back on the bed and brought her with him. Lifting her high above his head, he brought her directly over his face. He lowered her, and she was impaled on his tongue. Her body began to jerk with need. He answered her silent cry and lapped at her wetness. She tossed back her hair and screamed his name. Lightning struck behind her eyes as she let herself go. Urim sucked her dry.

She crawled down into his waiting arms and rested on his chest. Neither had experienced such an intense encounter in their lives. They clung together and gently caressed each other. Sexual tension rebuilt, and they began to kiss. Their initial needs satisfied, it became a slow dance that led to an emotional coupling. Urim slid inch by inch into Josephine's heated sheath. Her body relaxed and stretched to accommodate his large member. Moving as one, in a rhythm as old as time, they drew sustenance and courage from each other. Tomorrow might be the last day they ever experienced anything, but tonight they made memories that would follow them even after death. As green eyes stared into brown ones, they released the tension in mind-altering orgasms.

Shortly before the sun rose on this fateful day, Urim kissed Josephine farewell and headed to face his destiny. She cried silently and dressed. Her battle would be fought on board the spaceship. She would endeavor to save the wounded warriors from death and send them home to Milisaria. Determined to be useful, she wound through the hallways to prepare the infirmary for the incoming injured.

The warriors that could heal without her constant attention were moved to their own quarters, making room for the next wave of wounded. They came quickly and brought with them news of the war. The final battlebot was destroyed. Twenty Milisarian Knights lay dead in the cargo hold. Five more had yet to be recovered. Scouts had sent word of hovercrafts hiding at the base of the mountain. Urim had taken his share of the knights and was circling around behind them. He would try to eliminate the computer controllers by shooting down or blowing up the hovercrafts. The world was oddly quiet as Ixia followed his plan. The Milisarians were allowed to gather the injured and dead, while the androids closed the trap in the mountains.

Josephine replayed the night over and over in her head. She had discovered a connection with Urim so much deeper than she had dreamed possible. Her feelings for him were almost too much to bear. Now, it was too late to tell him of her discovery. She had fallen undeniably in love with the alien knight. It was a harsh reality that she had found love on the brink of this world's destruction.

The initial explosion came at noon, from the southern mountaintop. It was felt across the entire planet. The colonists must have used tons of explosives. Josephine was surprised the mountain had not come tumbling down. Her first reaction was to run out of the spaceship and see what was happening, but she didn't. She had promised Urim that she would stay hidden inside from Ixia's prying eyes. She sat down in a corner and curled into a ball. Her heart ached for the men who were waging war over an uninhabited planet. How stupid and naive she had been to think this journey would bring redemption. She closed her eyes against reality and let her thoughts go to the reoccurring dream. Last night had brought her clarity. In the dream, she was on Milisaria. Urim was just out of reach. The children were those she would never bear. She was blaming Urim for not stopping the war that would bring her death. But, the dream was wrong. It was Josephine who had not stopped the war. She began to sob for the things she and Urim would never share.

An unusual sound came from the doorway. Expecting more wounded, Josephine lifted her swollen, tear-stained face. Her sobs turned to horror. Ixia and an armed android stood there. Wounded knights tried to rise and face the intruders, but the android cut them down. Ixia, in her head once more, declared, "If you do not wish all these giants to die, you must come with me without a fight. You are to be executed as a traitor. It will bolster the courage of the Pura and salvage my pride. You ruined my surprise, and I have lost much of my army."

"Earth will destroy your entire species with the touch of a button if you execute me." She courageously stood and walked toward him. "I will gladly give my life with the knowledge that you will be wiped from the universe."