“There’s a vessel heading straight for us. Changing course.” The ship was coming in fast and changed its trajectory to match our own. “Shit!” I changed my heading once again. Communications picked up the ship’s distress call. I used the hand controls and took my ship up and behind the ship that had been on my tail. Then, with the ship’s robotic voice command function, I answered the distress call. “Care to explain?” I asked the other ship.
A young male replied, “Request assistance!”
“Identify yourself.”
“Cadet Cedrenus, Inquisitor Branch, leading a training team, sir!”
“Let me speak to your commanding officer.”
“He’s unconscious. There was an explosion.” The calm quality of Cadet Cedrenus’ response made me think this was all a ruse to capture my team. I continued to evade their stealth ship as it attempted to lock on and target my own.
“Request visual confirmation,” I said.
After a failed static-filled attempt, an image of a young man with smudges on his face appeared on my communications console. I made sure that he couldn’t see us.
Sparrow observed the monitors behind him. “Tell him to cut power to all systems except life support.”
While I relayed her order and watched as it was carried out, Dario joined us on the bridge. My heart sank when the other ship’s internal monitors showed the Commanding Officer, an Inquisitor, unconscious and bleeding in their emergency medical unit.
“Well, shit.” I stomped my foot in selfish disappointment. “Sparrow, it’s time to drop our ruse. I’m going to need all available power diverted to propulsion.” I opened communications and noted Cadet Cedrenus’ shocked expression when he saw me.
“Princess Probus!”
The other young men on his team gawked at us.
“What happened?” I asked. It was a relief that the other ship had stopped targeting us like a missile, but I was angry that my chance to become an ensign had been blasted.
“We diverted power to propulsions in order to reach Naxa ahead of a team we are tracking. The feedback loop fed into targeting and overloaded.”
“And, the unregulated power created an explosion in your reserve energy coils. Yeah, yeah,” Sparrow said while shaking her head in obvious disgust.
“Attaching magnetic grapples,” I said. I could hear them thud into place through communications.
“Let me see the readouts on the medical unit,” Tracy said.
I set course for Naxa at a safe towing speed. Tracy did her best to provide assistance, but the Inquisitor needed a physician.
“Princess Probus, why are you out here alone?” Cadet Cedrenus asked.
Unwilling to admit that we were his prey in the training exercise, I said, “How dare you question me?” in as snooty a tone as I could manage.
“Princess, forgive me. I mean no disrespect. However, as a loyal subject, it is my duty to report to my superiors in case you are in danger.”
“Don’t you dare.”
Sparrow motioned for me to stall as she began typing furiously away at her console.
I said, “If you must know, my royal attendants and I have thought of nothing more than getting Dario away someplace private. It can be so tiring always being encumbered by others when all we want to do is explore a traditional Laconian relationship.”
Tracy played along. She stared up at Dario with her solid black eyes and ran her hand over his uniformed chest.
“He won’t be communicating our whereabouts to anyone, Princess,” Sparrow said.
I gave her a nod of my head without breaking eye contact with Cadet Cedrenus. He and his team were having a hard time breaking eye contact from Tracy and Dario. Dario grinned, put his arm around Tracy, and walked with her to the habitation area.
In an insipid tone, I asked, “Well, you believe me. Don’t you?”
“Yes, yes, Princess Probus.” He was blushing.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you, but you forced me to answer,” I said in a pouty whine.
“Oh, no. Vice Admiral Galerius is the most fortunate male in the universes. I am embarrassed that I must impose upon females on a pleasure trip for rescue.” I did my best to hide my anger. “I assure you, Princess Probus, that I will not speak of this to anyone. After all, there is no other plausible explanation for why you and your ladies would be in route to Naxa in such a small ship as opposed to traveling in the Empress.”
“Well, Papa knows with whom I am and where we are going. We will tow you to Naxa, but you had better not tell the reporters or anyone else where we are or what we want to do to Dario, or I’ll be cross with you.” I pouted at him and ended the communication. “Well, at least the Parvac male chauvinism I have come to expect didn’t disappoint me.”
Sparrow looked at me with frightened eyes.
“Sparrow, what’s wrong? Is it the ship?”
“No, Teagan. I don’t want to be intimate with Dario,” she said quietly as she blushed.
“Oh, I know. I lied. I didn’t want Cadet Cedrenus to know that we are the team that his team is trying to catch.”
Sparrow sighed in relief.
“Um, Sparrow, you never have to do anything you don’t want to do, even if it’s having lunch at a place you don’t like.”
She looked puzzled. “You are a member of the ruling House of the Parvac Empire.”
“So? I’m also your friend and adopted sister-in-law.”
Dario was shaking his head and chuckling to himself. “I don’t know whether to thank you or duck my head in shame.”
“Why?”
“Those boys think that three beautiful women have absconded with me intent on my seduction.”
Tracy said, “I don’t understand. In the Laconian Sector, especially on Aurilius, no one would think twice about our explanation.”
“Perhaps, but in the Empire, it is quite the opposite. For a male to share intimacy with a female other than his wife is shameful. If any of you were sneaking off with several males to a private location, it would be perfectly acceptable.”
“Oh, well. I can clear your good name later,” I said with a smirk.
I alerted the land port official on duty on Naxa that I was hauling in a damaged vessel with a seriously injured Inquisitor onboard, but I allowed the ship’s automated voice to speak for me. Then, I got a cup of coffee and felt sorry for myself. When we arrived on Naxa, an officer talked me through docking procedures with a tow. By the time our vessels were safely docked, medics had arrived to care for the other team’s commanding officer. I called and hired a transport to pick us up in our stealth ship’s small transport bay. It was snowing on Naxa. Sparrow, Tracy, and I bundled up as best we could and covered our heads. Other than adding a coat over his uniform, Dario made no effort to keep from freezing.
“I want a hot bath,” I grumbled.
“I want to stretch out,” Tracy said as she lifted her hands up in the air.
“Massages. Is there a spa?” I asked.
Tracy smiled and nodded.
After we had taken our seats and been driven from our ship, I sealed and locked the transport bay door. “What the heck. Let’s go find the beacon and enter our code. We may as well finish, even though it’s too late. Driver, please take us to these coordinates.”
The driver stopped at a storage building not far from the land port. Together, Sparrow, Tracy, and I entered the small space of maybe three-by-six feet.
“We tried. That has to be worth something,” Sparrow said.
“Yes, and we finished what we started,” I said as I entered our code into the beacon. It scanned us before it deactivated. “Okay, ladies. I think we have earned some time at this fancy resort Tracy picked out.”
Freezing, we got back inside of the transport with a smiling Dario. Pulling out my vid-screen, I called Yukihyo.
“Lady Wife, were you successful?”
Frowning, I shook my head. “We finished, but it took us too long. We had to tow in another vessel. How are my babies?”
Yukihyo smiled. “Excellent. Their grandmothers are spoiling them. Neema’s molar has broken through her gum, so her temper has improved. You look tired. Have you slept?”
I grinned. “No, I napped a little. I really wanted to win this.” I shrugged, but even with the distance separating us, Yukihyo could sense my disappointment. “If it is okay with our husbands, my Ponidi sisters and I would like to relax at a resort before flying home.”
Yukihyo said, “Stay there. Enjoy it. We will come for you in the Empress. With the training exercise at an end, there is no reason for the four of you to travel in such a small vessel.”
I perked up. “Good idea! We will anxiously await your arrival.” I turned to Dario. “That’s okay with you, right?”
“I think it is an excellent idea. I have promised to teach Lady Sparrow how to sled.”
Speculation filled me. “I’ve never gotten to do that either.”
Yukihyo laughed. “Enjoy yourselves, Lady Wife.”
“Don’t you need the name of the resort?” I asked.
“I know where you are,” Zared said from somewhere nearby Yukihyo.
“Alright. I love you all. See you soon.” I put my vid-screen away and tried to warm my hands.
Sparrow stared through the transport windows in fascination at the tall snow-covered trees lining the road.
“Could you turn up the heat?” I asked our driver as I tried not to shiver. At least the next planet where we would be vacationing was the blissfully warm Thalassa.
The lodge where we were staying had been built on a hill, and warm yellow light shone through its cheery windows promising a respite from the chill seeping into me. Our driver pulled to a stop under a grand covered driveway that had been constructed of stone and wood. Dario offered me his arm while the driver unloaded our meager packs. A uniformed doorman held open the thick wood door for us, and we eagerly escaped from the frigid cold and into the warmth just as a second transport had begun its ascent up the long driveway. The four of us approached the concierge.
“Welcome! How may I be of service?”
Dario said, “The ladies and I would like your best rooms, and they wish to enjoy all available amenities.”
When the concierge’s eyes alighted on me, they almost bulged out of his head. He bowed so low that I feared he would knock himself unconscious on the polished wood counter. A beautiful older woman floated across the room to us on the arm of a Parvac Colonel. She was stunning with rich, dark skin that Tracy and I eyed jealously. It made me long for Thalassa and the beach even more. A younger woman walked behind them, and it was obvious that the couple before us were her parents. We ladies curtsied to each other while the men saluted.
“Princess Probus, welcome to our humble establishment. We are deeply honored by your visit,” she said.
“The Lady Dacia and I extend our hospitality to you and your entourage for as long as you wish to stay. I am Colonel Tomas Dacia, and this is our daughter, Terre. Our sons are at various installations throughout the Empire.”
“It is a pleasure to meet all of you. However, as we were attempting to travel incognito, how did you know our identities?”
Giving up our charade, Tracy, Sparrow, and I pushed back the hoods of our jackets. I turned my head in time to see Cadet Cedrenus and his team approaching us. My annoyance increased.
Colonel Dacia said, “Inquisitor Cormac Gordian made all of the arrangements for your stay and for the young cadets who he personally assigned to serve as your guards. However, I assure you that I run tight security here at the resort.”
Sparrow snorted and said, “Hopefully, they won’t blow us up.”
I rolled my eyes. “Wait until I see Cormac. I was hoping to relax, not to babysit,” I said under my breath.
Dario laughed.
Cadet Cedrenus and his team marched across the elegant foyer, came to attention, and saluted. “Princess Probus….”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Cormac ordered you to guard us. If we leave, we’ll let you know. Why don’t you and your team go and enter your code into your beacon or something?”
“Our participation was forfeited when our commanding officer was forced to intercede on our behalf.”
“Sorry about that. How is he?”
Cadet Cedrenus said, “We were assured that he would make a full recovery.”
I nodded and arranged with the concierge to send the Inquisitor some flowers. Then, with my unwanted guards surrounding us, we took the lift up to our rooms. My room had suites attached to it. Leaving my pack on the floor, I trudged into the bathroom, filled the tub, and enjoyed a much-needed soak. An indeterminate amount of time later, a signal for entry at the door prevented me from drowning in the tub after I had dozed off. After wrapping my hair in a towel and covering myself with a luxurious complimentary bathrobe, I answered it. Sparrow stared back at me. I moved out of her way so she could enter.
“What are you wearing?” I asked in surprise as I evaluated her attire.
She twirled around for me in a pair of pale-blue cargo pants, a matching T-shirt, and a thick floor-length sweater of blue, white, and pink. “Xavier placed an order at a local store and had clothes delivered for me.”
Jealously, I said, “That was thoughtful.” Then, I pulled crumpled black pants and a shirt from my pack and dressed.
“Tracy and Dario reserved a table for us at the restaurant.”
“I just need to dry my hair.”
A few minutes later, I discovered that Jazon had shown his wife the same consideration. Her long-sleeved floor-length dress of cerulean blue looked soft, warm, and comfortable. With the exception of my leather jacket, I was dressed like the cadets who had tailed us down to the restaurant and now stood guard at the exit into the lobby.
I rolled my eyes. “Have they been fed?” I asked Dario as he held out my chair and then Sparrow’s.
“Yes, Princess.”
The restaurant was full of lively chatter. Having heard of our arrival, the locals had flocked to the lodge.
“It’s a good thing you got us a table when you did,” Sparrow said.
Every table was full of women, their husbands, and a few of their grown children, most of whom were male. My guards and I were the most underdressed people in the room, including the waiters. My Ponidi sisters and I impressed Dario with our ability to demolish each dish that was set before us. My mood improved as my belly filled.
“That was delicious,” I said as I sipped my cappuccino.
“Let’s go to the big steaming tub to soak and watch the snow. Then, we should get some sleep, so we can do activities after breakfast. It will be daylight at six in the morning,” Sparrow said.
“Soaking tub? What kind of activities?” I asked.
Without expression, Sparrow said, “Snow activities.”
“Fine. Let me order some things.” I pulled out my vid-screen and began searching for clothing stores.
Dario looked over my shoulder and said, “That won’t be necessary.” He pointed toward the lobby where several bags were being carried inside by a delivery man and loaded onto a baggage cart.
“Did you do that?” I asked Dario.
Tracy said, “No, the Empress saw to your wardrobe. She told Jazon and Xavier that they should do the same for us. Your order must have been larger.”
“Momma thinks of everything. Hopefully, there’s a swim dress in one of those bags.”
“Why?” Sparrow asked.
“For the hot tub.”
“Clothing isn’t worn in the water, Teagan. Come on,” Sparrow said as she grabbed my hand.
As we walked by Cadet Cedrenus, I asked, “Could you please toss those bags inside of my room for me? Just leave them by the door, and I’ll put them away later.”
He saluted me as though I had given him orders for a planetary siege.
Tracy, Sparrow, Dario, and I went up to the spa floor. We were greeted by attendants who showed us into a changing room. Sparrow waited impatiently for us to disrobe and then tossed towels to us. Copying her, I secured mine around my chest. Tracy and I exchanged glances as we followed her into the pool room and over to one of the large hot tubs overlooking snow-capped mountains. The view through the picture window was breathtaking.
“Dario, come over here!” Sparrow ordered. She dropped her towel and stepped down into the hot bubbling jets of water. Sparrow gave me an impatient look.
“What the hell,” I grumbled as I mimicked her.
Tracy kept her towel around her, gradually lifting it as she lowered herself into the water in an attempt to hide her flesh. She tossed it aside once she was seated. Her cheeks had either turned red from the embarrassment of being naked in public or from the water’s temperature. Having no compunctions about nudity, Dario carefully folded and set aside his towel before joining us. Tracy visibly stiffened, and I couldn’t help but laugh. She started splashing me in the face.
“Stop! I’m sorry!” I said while laughing at her. “I know how you feel. I got in trouble with my Momma for wearing swim dresses into the Palace pool.”
“If my mother could see me now, she would faint,” Tracy said.
“My mother is a whore. I don’t think she’d care,” Sparrow said.
“So, how’s Gary?” I asked to break the tension that comment had caused.
“Good.” She rested her head back against the tub’s rim and stared out at the snow. “I should ask Xavier to buy us a house here. It’s pretty.”
“You can stay at our creepy family cabin for free whenever you want,” I offered.
“You don’t like it?” Tracy asked.
“I had a frightening experience on Naxa once. Kaoti protected me, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get over it.”
“Oh, Violet told me about that. I’m sorry, Teagan,” Tracy said.
“I need to teach you both to fly,” I said.
Sparrow said, “I’m getting Xavier to teach me to drive first.”
I tilted my head back and closed my eyes. The hot water and bubbling jets worked away at my tension. Soon, my mind went blank, and I began to doze.
“Oh, it’s time for our massages! Come on,” Tracy said.
“Huh?”
Dario laughed at my expression. I yawned and wiped at my eyes with wet hands. Smiling male attendants stood ready with dry towels.
“Vice Admiral Galerius!” Tracy half screeched and half whispered.
His huge erection strained against the towel he had wrapped around his hips. “Such a reaction is only natural when in the presence of such beautiful women.”
“If Jazon were here, he’d use it as a handle to toss you out into the snow.”
“If Jazon’s hands were anywhere near my erection, it would vanish.”
I laughed picturing the scene in my head.
Our massages were given to us in a room with warm crackling fires. Warm oils mixed with freshly crushed herbs were rubbed into my skin, and then strong fingers worked away at all of the tension of the last few days. Then, heated stones were applied to my back. Tracy had to wake me up when it was over, wrap me in a robe, and walk me back to my room with our arms linked together. I blinked tiredly at Cadet Cedrenus who was in my room holding a pair of panties that he was putting away in a drawer.
Ignoring him, I crawled under my blankets and fell into an exhausted sleep. The next thing I knew, someone was signaling for entry. The annoying sound didn’t even stop after I had flipped over my slobbery pillow and covered my ears with another one.
“Stop. I’m coming.” With a scowl on my face, I opened the door.
“Well?” Tracy asked. “Aren’t you going to get dressed?”
Tracy and Sparrow were both dressed and held jackets and gloves.
“What time is it?”
“Five,” Sparrow said.
“Coffee?” I asked as I stumbled into the bathroom.
“Yes, in the restaurant. I’ll pick out your clothes,” Tracy said.
After a few moments alone in the bathroom with barely enough time to wash my face and brush my teeth, I was rushed to dress and dragged downstairs.
While I was yawning in between sips of coffee, Tracy said, “Try not to be so enthusiastic.”
“I was tired, and I can’t remember the last time I had such a big bed all to myself.”
After breakfast, one of the resort’s guides drove us a short distance up into the snow-covered mountains on the property. Tracy had reserved the area and the guide for the morning. Cadet Cedrenus and his team had tagged along wearing snow gear that they had either purchased or been provided. The guide took out a yellow, curved, plasti board, sat on it, and demonstrated our objective. He sped down the slope with snow spewing up into the air around him.
I frowned. “It looks steep. Maybe, this is too dangerous for our first snow activity.”
Dario put his big strong arm around me. “I’ll be right here. Don’t be afraid.”
Tracy rolled her eyes at me, pulled her hat down over her ears, and pointed with one of her gloved hands. “Teagan, look.”
She pointed to a slope that was a few miles away from us. It was just as steep as the one where we were, but it was overrun with children who looked a little older than Neema.
“Fine. Whatever.”
I wasn’t sure she had even heard me since she had already hopped onto one of the plasti boards belly first and was speeding down the slope. Fearlessly, Sparrow followed.
Dario took a board, sat on it with his feet braced in the snow to either side, and held his hand out to me. “We’ll go down together.”
Unsure if it was a good idea, I decided not to be a coward. After I was seated, Dario put his arms around me, counted to three, and then lifted his feet up onto the board. Cold wind kissed my face as we slid down the hill. I screamed and laughed, feeling silly for being afraid. We all ran back up the slope and continued sliding down and having races until we were hungry and frozen.
Next on Tracy’s agenda was the sauna, followed by the hot tub, and finally lunch. Afterwards, she had us floating above the treetops on a guided hover gondola tour. Sparrow was intrigued by all of the animals we saw and got Xavier to watch them with us on her vid-screen. When I managed to get a moment to rest, I called Yukihyo.
“Having fun?” he asked.
“Yes, but stars! Tracy and Sparrow never slow down. They are like Neema and Niklos after too many cookies.”
“Jazon and Xavier will tire them out when we arrive in the morning,” Yukihyo said in his sexy deep monotone.