The Mohell. Twisting A Balance of Power

By Mr. David R. Dorrycott

A Republic of Earth Story

Part Two

Transfer

It was always dangerous to leave the safety of the natives makeshift headquarters. Even more so to return to land, any land. Especially land so irradiated that nothing could survive more than minutes outside of a radiation suit. Yet this once lush fertile tourist paradise was the closest safe and uninhabited land to the Mohell base. Not even the Empire landed here, only sending an occasional random drone in high flyover. They knew better than to chance wasting good electronics to hard radiation. Now though before the twelve radiation suited figures sat a strangely designed craft. A type not seen by the Empire. At least, not to any Imperial who survived the encounter. Even for the Mohell is was still a strange design, for it had been built by humans and thus had strange, difficult to look upon angles. For humans were not native to their little galaxy. To one set of eyes though the stealth shuttle was old home week.

“ROE Splinter. Stealth shuttle” Captain Underwood explained as he triggered something in his hand. “I’ve sent the all clear, now we better move fast. That drone is due back in eighteen minutes.” He reached down, picking up the heavy pack that had arrived with him. It had come with equipment, it was leaving with technical data and histories. Beside him the furred female Captain Hemi Resall lifted her own bag. This one filled with clothing and a very few personal items. Walking quickly to the silent shuttle they waited as the crew unloaded several crates from the cargo area, then tossed their own gear into the now empty cavity.

A uniformed human female walked up to them, nodding to the crew before saluting Underwood. “Lieutenant Nina Saracen. I’m taking your place sir.”

Underwood laughed. “Scraping the bottom of the barrel aren’t they Nina. You were bottom of the heap when I left.”

“I still am sir. I volunteered for this. Besides, I’m the only one in Intel besides you who speaks the Mohell language worth a damn. Anything I need to know?”

“Petite winged creature called a Meth. Looks as innocent as a two year old. Seriously do not upset her, she is a born killer.” He pointed to a battered looking heavily armed male feline. “That gentleman is Sargent Cortell. He WILL get you where you are going. Do what he says without question and you’ll be fine. Other than that, my reports on my desk.” He indicated that Hemi should board before him. “Sorry about the quarters Saracen, maid service in these one star hotels is terrible.”

Nina just laughed in response. “And men don’t clean. All right, better get humping. There is a new patrol craft upstairs that has maybe a ten percent chance of spotting you. Falcon patrols watching, so if the bogie gets too nosey they’ll pop it. See you in a year.” She shook her superiors hand, then turned to grab her own heavy bag as though it were filled with crumpled paper. Within nine minutes of arrival the landing site was empty. By the time the Imperial probe arrived there would be hardly enough heat signature left to interest it.

In the underwater base Major Emell Corditor greeted his new human liaison warmly. “I’ll miss Underwood” he admitted. “He is a good man.”

“True” Nina agreed. “Still there is a major difference between him and I sir. Other than our sexes. You see Major, I play chess. And I brought a board with me.”

Emell’s face lit up at those words. It was a game he had learned from the humans, and one that he very much missed. “Wonderful. Well then. Just let me show you to your quarters then we can get caught up. I must warn you though that we are evacuating this base within weeks. It’s the radiation. It has gotten too hot here as you humans define it. Underwood has the location of our next base for your people. That is if we can pull this off.”

“Pull what off sir” Nina asked.

“Underwood said to tell you to think Trojan Horse. Whatever that is.”

“I see.” Nina noted the small figure in armor that walked just in front of the alien Major. “That is the Meth I was warned about” she asked.

“Xress Meth. Her race are true evolved vampires. Underwood explained her as something like a Mexican vampire bat, but we never had anything like that on our planet. Now with all this radiation anything is possible. Anyway, don’t make any sudden moves around me or towards me. She’s faster than, the term is oiled lightning?”

“Greased lightning. Close enough. “ They stopped in front of a closed hatch. “Underwood’s old haunt. Clean linen waiting on the bed but everything else is what he left. Nothing’s been taken or touched. Settle in. When your ready a man will be outside your door to bring you to me.” He saluted, accepting Nina’s odd salute in return then left, his little shadow keeping close to him.

“Cute butt” Nina whispered. “For a cat.”

Major Corditor though was having his own problems, and they in no way involved his newest human visitor. His problem walked carefully only two steps away from him, drifting in front, to the side and behind him as they approached the command center. Never in the same position more than a few seconds. It would, he had determined, make it impossible for an Assassin to know exactly where she would be at any one moment. Already more than one preoccupied member of his command had felt her wrath. To stumble into the Majors path, or Goddess forbid bump into him was to find oneself on the deck with an hot RoE issued mass driver in ones face. Try as he might, he had not yet managed to more than inject a touch in civility into his new... slave.

He hated that word, slave. His race hadn’t had slaves in over four hundred years before the Empire arrived. Though history gave many reasons for the death of slavery, the real truth was that with industrialization and reliable mechanical devices it had become too expensive to support slaves. Only after the last slave had been freed had the social scientists, historians and ‘proper people’ added their own self-centered slant to the cause. And now here he was, a slave owner. Yet the only other choices he had been given were worse, unthinkable or horrifying. He could marry her, thus making her a free citizen. He could sell or give her to someone else. A deadly dangerous idea as he would lose all control over her instantly, or he could order her to kill herself. Unready for any of those choices he was still dealing with things as they came. Reacting. But she did have a cute butt he had to admit. Just the right amount of tail sway...

Thankfully they arrived at their destination before his thoughts could wander further down that dangerous path. Xress, as always entered the new room first. To date three people had challenged her presence. Two had, after he explained things, accepted his new companion. The third. Well, some people never learned. It was hoped that Air Commander Gabbin would be out of sick bay within the week. He had tried to backpaw the woman. The Doctors had managed to save his arm, but his elbow would never be the same.

“Thank you for waiting gentlefolk” Emell said as he closed the hatch behind him. A sharp smell of seawater struck his nostrils, warning him that another leak had lifted its hairy head. “Has anyone anything new to add to our evacuation plans?”

“Only one question” his communications officer, a rather battered looking older male admitted. “What are your plans for this base?”

Emell flicked his ears towards the man. He asked few questions, most of them clear and concise. “Three days after we leave here a transmission will ‘leak’ from a floating antenna. It should take the Empire about five minutes to locate it, another twenty to send a strike team. As soon as sensors detect sufficient targets, a one ounce anti-matter present that has just arrived will be opened. There shouldn’t be enough of this base remaining to tell the Empire anything worth knowing. Now, any further questions?”

There were none so Emell offered his paw to Xress. Accepting his paw the tiny creature leapt to the tables top, catching her balance by fluttering her wings in complex patterns, all without thinking about it. “Xress will now explain her part of this disaster. Keep your questions simple, she has just begun learning our language” Emell explained. Stepping back he watched as the surprisingly intelligent reptile explained her plan.

“Dark Dragon currently orbit awaiting call-down” Xress explained bluntly. “Will take small force. Return old House Draco. Correct radio there. I call down Dark Dragon. Force search for supply. Hope even one Draco survivor. Bring ship here. Load what remain. Many trips as need. Then to next home. Question?”

“Why can’t we just leave tha planet” that same communications officer asked. “Take off to Dorntell and help defend them?”

Xress did not answer immediately, for she was looking at that problem from every angle that she could think of. After all, these people could not know Imperial Star law that well. If at all. Not yet. Finally though she did answer. “What are unaware of” she continued in her halting Mohell language. “Law Fleet. Private ship not leave. Not without Royal decree. Then inspected. Not possible.”

Another officer spoke. “Still, we can use the ship to transport to another location on the planet?”

“Yes. Draco dead this planet. Empire not certain that yet. Since Draco lands ruined. Then Draco move. Many member die. So move more safe place. Is normal.” Her great wings fluttered as if a light wind has struck them. It was a gesture native to her, exactly like someone shrugging their shoulders. “Best chance.”

“Then how many of our people will you need?” he asked again.

“Fifteen. Three day hump to Draco.”

It turned out that there were no further questions. The days of working out to the littlest detail each action had gone when the Empire dropped hydrogen bombs on Mohell’s main cities. Turning his attention to Major Corditor the older male nodded. “Send them out” was all he said before preparing for the next project.

“Xress” Emell ordered, still amazed at how fast the little reptile, no dragon he corrected, turned to face him. And how complete and utter her attention was. “Pick your fifteen. Get out, get the ship and whatever else you can find. Leave no witness’s. We start now.” He knew that she would only understand at best half his words, but they would be the important half.

“Sergeant Cortell” she announced, jumping off from the conference table to run out of the room. Never walk when its important Emell had noticed. Walking wasted time.

Sergeant Tornik Cortell had just returned from bringing the new human back. Having finished a barely adequate meal he was looking forward to a day of R&R, that was until the tiny Meth arrived. “Sergeant Cortell. Have orders Lord Major Corditor. Come with me. Pick fourteen best.” Then she was off, headed for the armory unless he missed his guess. With a grumble about alien’s with more energy than they deserved, and a look towards his waiting bunk he shoved his aching feet back into his boots, grabbed his pack and started yelling names as he followed the blue-grey scaled female. Such was the life of a grunt. The feline would have been amused, but not at all surprised to discover that not only the Imperial Marines, but even the alien human ROE Marines felt exactly the same.

And it did take three days. Three long hard days of dodging Imperial patrols, watching out for survivors who were scavenging anything that they could find and the odd pack of surgs. Originally long domesticated, the once loved pets were now roaming in dangerous packs that would, and had ripped their previous owners to shreds for food. Surgs they killed on sight, it was the only choice as the packs would follow hoping for a kill. It was around ten am when they first sighted Draco’s ruins. Once a proud Natural History Museum it had been turned into the invaders home, then in turn been reduced to wreckage by the resistance. “There are people there” Cortell warned Xress after his scouts returned. “Fourteen by our count, none Imperial. They look to be Jelseese.”

“Vehicles” Xress asked, giving the sergeant her full attention. He too had discovered how intimidating that attention could be.

“One. Looks to be a paneled vehicle. Not large though.” He offered her his viewer, which showed the vehicle in question.

Xress took a careful look at the vehicle and smiled. “Is House Draco vehicle. Must be survivor. Jelseese only slaves. Very low intelligence. Useful nothing else. That good.” Returning the device she stood, opening her wings to their full extension. It was an impressive display the sergeant had to admit. Xress’s wings had never been designed to flap, thus true flight was forever denied her. But she could glide. Even carrying her own weight in cargo. This he already knew, but just how those great wings dwarfed their owner when fully outstretched he had been unprepared for. Nor those interesting natural patterns within them. Now he knew why she ate so much, not including her blood meals. Energy to feed those hungry wings, even as thin as they were. Folding her wings back into her armors waiting pods Xress picked up the RoE rifle she had been given. “We take. Now.”

Take proved to be exactly what it meant. Faced with sixteen heavily armed troops, one of them the well known (to those slaves at least) House Favorite the slaves simply made way, bowing as the group passed them. Not one of the Jelseese carried a weapon Cortell noted, though he still didn’t trust them. Eventually they found the source of command, a sleeping young Yakullkah female. She was the Mohell marine noted, perhaps seventeen or so years old, as his world counted such. Not even close to an adult as the imperials counted such.

“Tarsol” Xress called harshly as she came close. Her words were in the Imperial language, thus the furred marines had no idea what was going on. Only that they were to trust this little woman.

At her call the alien reptile woke, turning calmly to look at her visitor. “So, you return to your masters” she answered in greeting. “Kill that one. He is not working quickly enough” she ordered, pointing to one of the working slaves. “You may then drink his blood.”

“Maybe Xress drink your blood” the dragonet corrected. “Xress now belong Lord Major Emell Corditor. No longer House Draco slave.”

Tarsol shrugged, laying back down on her bed. “So be it. Law is Law and who was once House Favorite is now my mortal enemy. Then I die. The last of House Draco in this system. Come, take your meal.” She actually lifted her head, exposing her neck. “For I am paralyzed. I will never walk again. Better a gentle death than this life.”

Walking up to the prone female Xress examined her by the simple act of running her claws through one of Tarsol’s bare legs. There was, she noted, no reaction. Not even as blood welled up. “How?”

Tarsol laughed. “Secure room. The door closed upon me. My spine was broken before the slaves could stop it. Come, take my life. Let me leave this cursed world behind.”

Very gently Xress leaned over Tarsol’s body, deftly removing the hand-gun sitting beside her. It had not even been hidden she noted. “You not kill self?”

“Imperial Representative ordered me to rebuild. Look around you rodent. Rebuild what, with what? No, I had not the courage. But I have always wondered how it would feel. To be fed upon by you.”

“Perhaps. One day. Slave Tarsol. Not today.” Xress stood away, tossing the hand-gun towards her military escort. She studied the woman’s reaction, expecting disbelief, anger. Yet all Tarsol did was accept her new position with a sigh. “Yes, you rebuild House Draco. New place. As slave to Lord Major.”

“Imperial Lady, to shattered animal, to slave. What House do I now serve?”

“Serve Mohell House Corditor. Citizen this world. Hide as Nova House Draco.”

Tarsol looked at Xress and her force with wide eyes. “You are serious?”

“Yes.”

Laughter escaped the reptiles mouth. Bright, bubbling true humor. Finally she calmed down, wiping tears from her eyes. “I think then that I wish to live, until your new House is crushed. You know that this has been tried before on other worlds. Many times.”

“Yes. Never with Tarsol Draco as Imperial face.”

Tarsol laughed again. “No. And not with an Imperial Meth either. Very well My Lady, your slave awaits your slightest wish.” She giggled again, waving around her. “Your House awaits your slightest wish.” Then she laughed again.

“Has she gone insane?” Sergeant Cortell asked from near Xress.

“Some. Yes. House crushed, body broken. Great strike. Tarsol was dancer, painter. But not bad insane. Thinks Nova House Draco great joke. Accepts. Tarsol Draco always dreamer. We find Comm chamber. It heavy armored. Call Dark Dragon now.” Behind her a Mohell private carrying a heavy pack began moving.

Major Corditor sat in what had become his command chair, lightly tapping one extended claw on the chairs plastic arm as he waited for a report. Four hours earlier a burst transmission had come in. RoE technology had again proven, without even trying, how much more advanced it was than even the Imperials. Three full days of video, reports and scientific data compressed in a burst of energy that has lasted all of part of a second. The feline knew that his own race would probably have considered the burst nothing more than static, they had barely recognized the Imperial transmissions before the first attack. “Anything” he asked no one in particular.

“No further transmissions sir” his current com-officer reported. He glanced that way, noting that the one armed female was busy with her equipment. Deciding not to bother her he turned to the human beside him. “Your opinion Lieutenant” he asked.

Nina shrugged. “Your aware as well as I am how long it takes to bring in one of those lizards ships, unless they are assault ships. Add to that, where in its orbit was at the time of transmission. This you have as good an idea as I do sir. If Particle had been able to stick around she could have lazered us a real time feed, but we need her home now. There is just too much space to keep track of and we have too few ships.”

“Sometimes it is hard to believe that you humans can’t do everything” Emell admitted. “Your weapons are from science fiction, your ships slip in and out of Imperial nets at will. Even your computers make the best we had before the invasion look like sticks and rocks stacked upon each other.”

Nina nodded in agreement. “Its simply technology differential Sir. In most cases, as far as we can tell you were about eighty years behind the Empire. You had just learned how to enter sub-space for example. Just like in most cases they are about two hundred or so behind us. They have rail guns just like we do for example, but theirs are huge ship mounted monsters best used for bombardment of fixed targets. Our ships are several times faster, better gunned and tougher. We have hand portable rail guns for example. Its simply years of R&D. We could sure use a lot more information about their society and technology though.”

“Incoming burst” the comm officer abruptly announced, ending the conversation. “Expanding data.”

“She talks like a robot” Nina noted.

“She is trying to forget that her husband, son and parents were in Ulger Falls when the Empire reduced it to ash” Emell whispered as quietly as he could. Human ears were not as sensitive as Mohell ears, and his were not as sensitive as that ex-Imperial slave he owned now. Things were so relative. Humans were slower than Mohell, Mohell slower than Meth and the forever damned Yakullkah were slower than humans. But they were tougher. So much tougher. A fact that the humans understood. And the humans picked up things so fast. Two unrelated bits of data became volumes of information in minutes. Of the three races he was certain which one would rule these stars when this war was over. He just hoped that the humans would accept his race as partners, not dust to be trampled upon. A glance at his alien visitor and he noted the gold ring on her finger, the way humans indicated their marriage status. “Your husband is safe” he asked.

“Safe. Back home” Nina answered. “My ship wasn’t supposed to be involved in the exploration.”

Back Home. How the humans referred to the place that they had come from. That place that they could never return too. Her husband was safe. Back Home. His thoughts were interrupted by the Comm Officer informing him that the video was ready. “Show it” he ordered. Whatever had happened, they couldn’t help from their position.

Sergeant Cortell’s face abruptly appeared on the biggest screen, his fur matted, dusty and in need of a serious grooming. “Sir. Sergeant Cortell here” the marine’s rough voice announced. “We have the ship. I repeat, we have the ship. We also have an Imperial prisoner. A Draco female. Xress reports that she has lost some touch with reality but believes that she is still usable. We are loading supplies as we can find them. Estimate return to base in seven hours. Xress also reports that she has updated the ships databases and Sir? Imperial Planetary Control bought her story. Neck head and beak. Cortell Out.” Instantly the signal ended.

“Gotta love your communications technology” Emell admitted. “All that in a hundredth second burst. Amazing.”

“We brought our best with us sir” Nina replied. “We hoped for peaceful contact, but only a fool comes unprepared. Though honestly we had hoped it wasn’t a one way trip. We certainly didn’t know that we would end up so far away that even Null-space radio couldn’t reach home.”

Major Corditor stood, rubbed his fur covered face and stretched his tail. “Too long in one position. Nothing more we can do but send the subs out. Not until they return. I hope that you find a way back home to your husband Lieutenant. Until then. Would you join me for a meal?”

“Delighted” the human agreed.

Sergeant Cortell and his men had finished their sweep of the Imperial ship. As Xress had promised, there were no Imperials aboard. In fact there was nothing living aboard, as even the hydroponic tanks were dry. While half his crew guarded the slaves who were still loading supplies he made his way to the ships medical area. There he found Xress standing beside a bed holding their captive. “How is she” he asked, his dry throat making his voice rough.

“Close madness” Xress answered. “Many great hurts. We see.” She turned to the medic, explaining certain controls then started to walk out. “Sergeant” she called, causing Cortell’s fur to rise. She spoke as though he were under her command and it bothered him. Still he followed. Orders were orders and he certainly didn’t know how to operate this ship.

They ended up back on the command deck, with Xress settling into a seat that had obviously been designed for her. “You’re a pilot too?” Cortell asked, obviously surprised as no one had bothered to tell him this fact.

“I help design Dark Dragon” the Meth answered. “She my ship.” Pulling a console around to face her she started touching controls. “Update complete. Load complete. Call in marines only.”

Cortell tapped his radio three times, the agreed upon signal for his people to load up. “What about the slaves?” he asked.

“Your orders. From Lord Major” she countered.

“Return with you, this ship and any useful Imperial prisoners we can get.”

Xress nodded in agreement as she continued her work on the console. “Same me” she agreed. “Leave no witness. All aboard?”

“All my people are aboard” Cortell reported after checking his communications moments later. “Hatches are now clear. What about those slaves?”

Xress’s answer was to seal the ship, then fire Dark Dragon’s lift rockets at just enough thrust to hover a dozen or so feet above the ground. For a few minutes a horrified Cortell watched, his visible fur bottled out as the little dragonet guided Dark Dragon over the site, then lifted for cruising altitude. “Slaves gone” Xress answered. She easily noted the felines reaction as she turned Dark Dragon for the sky. “Major order leave no witness. Was fastest death could think of. They feel nothing. That fast.”

“I... I... Its just such a shock. They were helpless.”

“Remember. Your planet helpless. Tell first they see. No free feline in Empire. You armed so if not Draco mercenaries must be Mohell Resistance. Cover lost first one finds any Imperial.” Xress turned the ship, heading for where the undersea base was. “Not unusual subjugated native take service to House. We use against Empire. Yes?”

Sergeant Cortell though turned and left the bridge. It was an act he hadn’t been ready for, a barbaric act. An act of destruction that had to be done he understood. Still it slammed home even more how much his life had changed since the Empire had arrived. For the rest of their trip he remained with his men, and kept his own counsel as to what he had seen.

Late that same evening the Imperial House ship Dark Dragon sat near the entrance of Marda’s ancient ruins. Its engines cooling as cargo was systematically transferred from cargo bays into those ruins. Ruins paw carved long ago out of solid limestone cliffs. Ruins that even after thousands of years shown with greatness, greatness of a civilization of which very little was remembered even before the invasion. It was the perfect place to build a false House. For the Empire adored grand creations. As long as they owned them.

Although Dark Dragon’s living areas were almost empty two important figures remained. Xress, as pilot could not leave the craft until the local Planetary Administrator had accepted Draco’s claim on these lands. Those claims could not be made until at least tomorrow. Not because of scheduling, but because the Mohell doctors were certain that it would take at least that long to find the correct drug cocktail required to control Draco’s last daughter. Unfortunately Tarsol Draco had found time to think. Or she had slipped further into madness and despair. In either case she had abruptly decided to be difficult. Very difficult.

Dark Dragons other important inhabitant was Major Corditor. The feline was still studying the ships systems under Xress’s tutelage and thus had temporally taken quarters aboard. He had earlier ordered Xress to those quarters to await him while he spoke with his own people in secrecy. Xress though didn’t worry about being excluded from such meetings. As a slave she had preformed her duty. Having done so there was no further reason for her to be on the Bridge unless her new owner felt she should be there. Tomorrow she would be needed to back up Tarsol Draco’s claim of course. An event the dragonet looked at as nothing more than standard House politics. With Xress apparently still under Draco ownership, the Planetary Administrator might not even bother to inspect the site before granting ownership. That though was tomorrow. So for now she remained in her owners quarters, cleaning her armor.

When Major Corditor finally entered the room Xress quickly laid down the legging she had been inspecting, throwing herself to the floor as a slave must when in the presence of her owner. “I have prepared your quarters Master” she reported, waiting his orders. She heard the hatch slide shut. Thump closed then the electronic whine of a lock engaging. It always surprised her that no one else could hear that sound. Yet her Master had not spoken.

“You murdered unarmed people today” Major Corditor announced. “Why.”

“Slaves would tell all. When found Master” Xress explained. “Orders not leave witness behind. Had no place aboard ship. Decision was wrong?”

“No. Your actions did upset a lot of people Xress. But these are people who still believe that this is nothing more than a nightmare. One they will soon wake from. You did what I ordered without question. That is all that matters. Now stand up.”

Xress stood, keeping her eyes from that furred face she now accepted as her owner. Her God. “How may Xress please Master” she asked, pitching her voice into that soft seductive tone she had been trained to use since almost before hatching.

Emell walked around the standing dragonet, his furred tail whipping about in agitation as he studied the near naked form before him. She was so small, nearly childlike. A face of pure innocence that could change in an instant to deadly rage. A child. Until one looked closely. No child had those muscles. No child wore those mature curves and certain not that intelligence. No child wore weapons as though they had been born with them. No child killed so effectively. He thought that he knew what she expected. What she probably wanted herself. But not from him. An unbidden image abruptly flashed through his mind at those thoughts , shaking his resolution. It had been so long and she was very willing, extremely desirable. No he decided, squaring his mental shoulders. Not from him!

“You may sleep there” he decided, pointing towards an overly stuffed soft object in one corner of the room. “I will sleep alone tonight. Have you eaten?”

“Yes Master. As ordered. And bathed.” She neglected to inform him that her bath had been cold. Bone chilling cold, for she had bathed alone and slaves were not permitted warm water in such instances by Imperial law.

“Very good. I have been instructed that we not be interrupted unless it is an emergency. So I don’t expect to be yanked out of bed more than five or six times tonight. You will allow that.”

“Yes Master.”

“Good. Then finish what you were doing. I’m taking a shower, then crashing for the night.”

Xress cocked her head, looking at her Masters bed for a moment. “Crashing?” she asked. Emell had earlier informed her that between them, there were no foolish questions. Otherwise she would never have asked.

“It is actually a human term” the Mohell admitted. “It means to sleep a very deep sleep caused by exhaustion. We use the word foch, which means to den. In either case the action is the same. Further questions?”

“No Master” the little winged woman answered. Even as Emell entered the bath Xress was back to inspecting her armor. It was long after Emil fell asleep that Xress finished her own work. Setting the last bit of cleaned, inspected armor aside she crawled onto the chase that had been her previous masters, now was her new masters. It was cold in the chamber, but the feline in his fur and covered with blankets never noticed. Xress though, with no fur and only a very old torn slip for clothing did.

As he expected Emell was woken during his night. Even before he could lift his head Xress was at his door, weapon in hand. “I told you to expect this” he reminded the dragonet as he fought to wake up. His new bed was simply too comfortable, it kept trying to drag him back into sleep.

“Yes Master. Not know is our people. Imperial spy.”

“Ah yes.” Dragging himself out of his warm and very comfortable bed the Major yawned, stretching as he demanded who was holding his call button welded down.

“Corporal Forl Sir” came the answer. “Message from the subs, priority Gal. Second code is Reflect.”

“That’s my.. Our people” Emell explained. He studied Xress as she returned to her chase, curling back into a tiny ball where he’d told her to sleep. She looked so helpless, but in so many ways proved that she wasn’t. But the room was cold and well... He didn’t need her sick, there was no telling when he would get back and she wouldn’t take care of herself unless ordered. Dragging on his jacket he made a decision. “Xress. Get under my covers and keep my bed warm” he ordered, opening the hatch as he said so. Then he was gone.

Behind him Xress leapt into his bed with a cry of glee that would have surprised the feline. Her new master wanted her, he just wasn’t ready to admit it. Dragging the covers over herself Xress inhaled the scent of her new master. It was a wonderful scent. Earthy, with a touch of spice. Not at all the musty smell of her Draco master. More like the wonderful scent of her last Mistress. Even as tired as she was it took the dragonet some time to warm up, and to stop looking for new scents under those covers.

Major Emell Corditor woke from a deep sleep. A kind of sleep he hadn’t experienced since before the invasion. Yawning, he tried to stretch only to discover that he couldn’t move his arms. Instantly he was awake, expecting to find himself restrained. Well, he was. Sort off. His slave was in bed with him, and she had wrapped her wings around him like a robe. Now how...

The feline calmed as memory slowly returned. Obviously Xress wasn’t attacking him, and strangely she hadn’t woken. He was certain that she should have woken at his slightest movement. But... Then he remembered. Remembered coming back to his temporary quarters after a very long meeting with that human female. Remembered undressing, remembered crawling into bed naked.. “But I didn’t order Xress out of bed” he whispered.

“No. Master not make Xress leave” that soft inviting voice answered his words. So she hadn’t been asleep. “Xress make Master happy?” the dragonet asked as she appeared to mold her body against his like a second skin.

“Sir” he corrected gently, “Needs to answer natures call. Xress must too. So if you will release me I will be as quick as I can.”

“Xress do” the dragonet agreed, pulling away quickly.

The feel of her soft wings sliding across delicate fur caused a reaction Emell did not desire, so he hurried to the head, shutting its door behind him. Behind him, on the other side of the door Xress simply looked, and smiled. It would not last long, but it was a gentle thing to see while it existed.

Half an hour later, having recovered from his unexpected morning and now in uniform Emell decided to have a meeting of the minds with his unwanted property.

“Xress” he said, holding his voice firm while remaining as calm as he could.

“Master” the dragonet asked, immediately turning from donning her own armor to grant the feline her entire attention, though her eyes did avert as normal. It was a fact that bothered Emell. In his entire life no one had ever given him their full, undivided attention. Yet this little creature did so every time he spoke to her.

"First, stand up" Corditor ordered. Xress fairly flew to a standing position, eyes still slightly averted. With only her leggings on it made an interesting sight the feline realized. "We're going to get a few things straight here" he decided, walking closer to examine the woman.

“Yes Master.”

Corditor stopped, looking at the waist high woman in front of him. No complaint, no begging, just the truth. "Fine, first, my name is Emell Corditor. For now you may call me Major or Sir. No my Master, Lord or My Lord understand?"

"Yes Sir" Xress answered promptly. "Major in public, Sir in private. I will not forget."

Corditor sighed, 'I don't doubt it at all' he thought to himself. "Second, no more kneeling. Period. You look me in the face when I talk to you, and anyone else that speaks to you. Understand?"

"Yes Sir. I understand" Xress replied, slowly turning her face to Corditor's.

For the first time the man caught the full effect of the dragonet's face, then her eyes met his. It was almost a body blow. "My God..." he whispered before he caught himself. "I can see now why you were your last Lords favorite. Listen, some of my people are coming to talk to you. I want you to answer them truthfully, to the best of your ability. No conjectures unless asked. Just what you know. Then I'm sending you back to my quarters with my yeoman. I want you to clean up, then she will take you to sickbay. Any questions?"

"None Sir" Xress admitted

The doors chime stopped their current conversation. "Enter" Corditor called.

Two men and a woman entered, all looked tired, worn. "You wanted to see us Sir?" the leader asked.

"Yes, I think your going to find Xress here has some information you may find useful. Xress, I have to get back to work. Get dressed and then answer their questions. I'll send someone to guide you when these people are done." He looked to the leader. "Interrogation room One. Two hours Lt." he ordered. "Two hours only. If you want more time tomorrow let me know. I want her to rest, eat, clean up and get seen by the Doctor." He nodded, leaving the four alone.

Exactly two hours later a young female security officer entered the room that Xress had been taken too. "Times up people, scat" she ordered curtly.

"But.." one of the intelligence team started.

"Times up, now unless you want me to kick your tails out. I suggest you start moving, now." The three grumbled, but gathered their recording devices and filed out. Nodding at the departing group she returned her attention to Xress. "Call me Less, its short for Leschssel. I’m the Major’s personal go-fer. He orders, I do. Major Corditor ordered me to take you back to his quarters and make sure you took a hot bath. Then get you a meal and take you to sickbay. While the doctor is checking you over I'll report to him and get further instructions. Any questions?"

Xress shook her head no. Not knowing how to address the armored woman named Less she decided keeping her mouth shut was the best answer. Standing from her place on the floor she mutely followed the woman out, catching only a glimpse of Major Corditor as they returned to his quarters. He did indeed look extremely busy, as all three intelligence officers were talking to him, their excited voices clearly legible across the chamber. "Do you realize what..." one was saying, his words cut off as the chambers hatch abruptly closed.