Becoming a Gift

Sharon Best, Aurora Universe, Copyright 1995,1996,1997

Home Page: http://www.indra.net/~sharonb/aurora.htm Email: sharonb@indra.net

(Aurora Universe materials are strictly for Mature Readers over 18 years of age!)

The Fine Print

IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY EXPLICITLY SEXUAL OR VIOLENT MATERIAL, ARE UNDER THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN YOUR STATE, PROVINCE OR COUNTRY, OR IF EROTIC MATERIAL IS PROHIBITED BY YOUR LOCAL LAWS, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER!

The sexual acts and occasional violence described in these stories are only fantasies and would be impossible for real living people to perform! These stories are strictly for the private non-commercial enjoyment of the authors and of those who share an interest in this genre.

While the names of some of the characters in these stories may be similar to ones used by mainstream comics publishers, the actual characters described diverge significantly from any characters of the same names depicted by any other publisher or author. Their powers, their origins and the explicitly erotic nature of their actions are all unique to these stories. Any resemblance between any character in these stories and real people is also unintentional. This story is a work of fan-fiction if it involves trademarked names from other publishers and is otherwise an original work by the author(s) denoted below.

License is granted to freely copy or distribute this story as long you give the author(s) below credit and that you leave this notice in place on all copies. I explicitly DO NOT grant the right to use any of the contents of this page for any commercial purposes whatsoever! I'm not making any money on this, so you shouldn't either!

It is my goal that these stories, along with my Web page and its contents, will forever be free for reading by anyone of legal age, anywhere in the Milky Way galaxy. However, permission may be requested for use of this material in other galaxies by writing the author and describing the place and purpose for such use.

This story is strictly for us 'grups', for those of us who remember the comic books and their limitations and who dare to go where the comics could not go. And for those of us who still have a fertile imagination, a love of fantasy, a sense of wonder and an appreciation for All The Myriad Ways...

And, most importantly, despite the comic book theme of these stories, they contain erotic material that makes them COMPLETELY UNSUITABLE for younger readers.

Note from Authors: This story takes place as the same time our Heroine Aurora is battling side by side with the Green Guardian. The secret agencies of some of the governments in the world are beginning to become cared of the newest threat to their power, Sh'Lyra. This is about a different kind of heroism and maybe betrayal. There are about six chapters in the works so please bear with us.

Becoming a Gift

By Janissa with many thanks to Imurill

As the word gift echoed in my mind I struggled to sit up. I had a vague idea of somehow stopping Elen-at leaving the room and making her explain about what I had just overheard. Something about me being a gift. Jenny, damn her, with one small hand, kept me form moving. As a wave of weakness and nauseous hit me I laid my head back down and pleaded "Jenny tell me what is going on. What do they think they are doing?" Before she could answer the anger I was beginning to feel made itself known "This is the 20^th Century for God sake, not the 10^th century, slavery is not legal and I, for one, have no intentions of being a, a GIFT for someone."

Jenny just winked at me like she knew something I didn't. I was so frustrated that I could only stutter for a moment as I glared angerly up at my companion. While I was glaring at Jenny, an older woman wearing a white tunic entered the room. She took one look at my red face and interrupted Jenny before she could answer. In a stern voice that cracked like a whip and left no room for argument she ordered "Be silent slave girls." Looking into my startled eye's she added "Girl, you are very lucky you are still alive. If any other Arion Prime had found you, you would be very dead right now. Fortunately for you Elen-et is not a normal prime. Now as you might have guessed I am your Doctor and you will obey me until I say you are fully healed. Now be still while I put this cream on your skin, I am to old for any nonsense." While she had been lecturing me she approached and knelt down by the low divan I was on. She looked perhaps 75 or so and somewhat frail, yet her every movement indicated controlled power. She set down a sealed glass jar of some type of greenish gel with purple and gold swirls in it.

Biting my tongue I decided to show a little respect. "Look Doctor, I only want to know what is going on and why am I here?"

Opening the jar she took a long thin flat metal spatula, like what I would use to ice a cake. As she began stirring the gel she looked me in the eye. "Now hold still, this will hurt at first but it is the only medicine powerful enough to help your skin to regrow to your former beauty." Then with a smile she added, "after the stinging is over it will feel very good."

Sucking in my breath, "you are a Prime aren't you, are you going to kill me."

She laughed, almost a cackle, which turned into a cough. Catching her breath she smiled for the first time, "No one has called me a Prime for a long time girl. And I am too much a pacifist to even think about killing anyone, not even an enemy of my people."

"Then let me go."

Shaking her head at my naivety she pulled the spatula out of the now weird looking gel, with a playful smile she slap some the stuff on my right breast. I hissed, it was extremely cold, so cold as to be painful. My face must have shown it's shock, as I sucked in my breath I wondered "What happen to my invulnerability, I have not felt pain for almost a year now."

As if she knew what I was thinking she smiled as she began to smear it all over my chest, staring intently at her work. "You are wondering how you can even feel this stuff aren't you. Well don't feel so bad this stuff is designed to work on you. Fortunately for you I am, if I say so myself, one of the most knowledgeable doctors on supremacist's physiology in the Empire." Looking thoughtful she amended her statement "Excuse me, was the most knowledge Arion expert, I guess we are not longer part of the empire."

Taking a deep breath she added more goo on my stomach. Speaking calmly as if she wanted to reassure me she started talking. "I guess you can say you are in the hands of the best Doctor on earth. As for your current health, you are healing very nicely and soon this stuff will no longer be necessary. Perhaps one more treatment after this, I'll have to wait and see. I confess that I am curious as to happened to you. Most of your injuries looked to me as if you had been caught in a huge nuclear blast, perhaps at ground zero. All I know is what Elen-at told me. You appeared in a blast of light that vaporized half an office building, yet caused no other damage, screaming NO loud enough to shatter windows over half a mile radius then fainted. When you were brought to me I was not sure you would even survive. Most of your skin on your body was almost completely gone, in some places several layers deep. All of your hair had been burnt off and several spots on your body were raw and bleeding."

"For a couple of days you really had me worried, I was not even sure that you would survive. An Arion Prime would not have, and for that matter a I don't believe a normal Velorian would have. The problem with so extensive skin injuries and burns is the victim usually dies from shock. The pain is extreme, but fortunately you never quite woke up all the way, so you never really had to experience the pain. It should be stinging a little right now, bear it if you can."

I was confused, I could remember nothing of what had happened to me. I vaguely remembered a bright white light. Suddenly I sucked in my breath as my skin began to sting. To distract myself from the stinging I asked the Doctor "Will there be much scaring?"

"Hmmm" she smiled warmly at me for the time and shook her head. "I didn't know at first. But you are healing quite nicely now. With the aid of this stuff I am putting on you, your skin will be as beautiful, if not more so, that before."

The stinging pain hit a new level and I gasped again, bitting my lip, trying my best not to cry as I felt a single tear leak from my eye. The pain was becoming so intense, it felt like a thousand bees stinging me as she smear more of that evil stuff on me. Already almost half of my upper torso was covered. The pain seemed to grow more intense by the second. I could no longer stop my legs from moving, as if I could run away from the pain. I was almost drumming my heels against the soft cushions.

The old woman looked startled as she looked up at my face "What's wrong child, are you in a great deal of pain." Franticly I nodded my head, I was bitting my lip so hard I could taste my own blood.

"Oh Draze shit, I am old fool." Quickly putting down the gel she reached down and parted my legs. Without a by your leave she parted my labial lips began to play with my clit. "Jenny start using your tongue and fingers to stimulate her sex now. As I discovered almost a 20 years ago their kind has a very strong sex drive. Her arousal will drive the pain away. I have no other means of dulling the pain. Hold her legs up, silly I have to continue working the salve into her skin."

Despite my pain, I felt extremely humiliated as I felt Jenny's strong fingers and tongue begin to work on me. In my mind this was almost rape. But I was to weak to effectively struggle. "Noooo" I gasped out, yet despite my wishes my blood was proving stronger than my will, my body betraying me. A part of me was surprise at how fast Jenny was able to get my juices flowing. I began to curse the doctor softly as Jenny proved that she was right about me. As I arousal increased the pain became bearable. But she was wrong in that the pain never went away, but the pleasure Jenny's tongue and fingers were generating within me overwhelmed my senses. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of pain and pleasure, the two mixing and intertwining. I could not stop myself from moaning and crying at the same time.

"Hush, I am sorry my dear, I have so little real medical experience with your people. In fact it was how I got that experience that got me banished to the R&R ship almost a year ago. You see the Warrior Caste, stupid brutes really but they are the law, has always made sure the few of your kind I have seen were very dead. Not much bedside medical skills required for that type of work. How's the pain, going away, the stinging should last only another few minutes or so."

Struggling to focus myself I nodded to her. My eye's must have looked glazed as she stopped to looked check my eyes as I groaned again, only this time in pleasure as Jenny pushed several fingers inside of me and found my spot. I could not help arching my back. She laughed and continued to coat my body with that damn stuff.

"Hold still I am almost done, now where was I, oh yes! A young heroine named Laurie, lovely blond hair by the way, had been almost crushed by a bridge. I retrieve her almost dead body, brought her to my lab and healed her. She was to be used for experimentation and then to be consigned to the R&R ship as a pleasure slave. Her blood was not as pure as yours, nor was she was as strong as I suspect you to be. I felt sorry for her, she was so beautiful, and had a true warrior's spirit. In fact it was her spirit that I felt sorry for. I had gotten to know her quite well and I was sure she was not mentally flexible enough to have survived all the brutal rapes that were going to happen to her. So I allowed her to escape. Unfortunately my part in her escape was later discovered and I was sentenced to be raped until I died, at the R&R ship of course. I remember being very frighten, but determine not to show any fear at my fate. Besides over the years I had grow to truly detest the Arion Empire."

I could not stop moaning softly as I struggled to listen to her. Very gently she began to coat my face and head. "Mind you, I was not to frighten about the rapes, as a non-warrior I had been raped often enough when I was much younger and pretty. But I didn't want to die like that. As my last act of defiance, before my freedom was taken away, I made sure that all records of my genetic research and discoveries were destroyed. Fortunately for me my little act of defiance was not discovered until after I was led naked to a shuttle and taken to the R&R ship. I wanted to kill myself but being a prime, even an old one, means all the usual means of killing oneself was not possible. So imagine my surprise when Sh'Lyra herself meet me at the shuttle door, took me into her office and interviewed me. You could have knock me over with a Pulsas feather when she offered me another chance, as her ship's head doctor."

"Well I am done now, Jenny keep it up for another ten minutes or until she

orgasms, then have her drink at least one glass of that special drink and

then let her sleep. Stay with her make sure she gets some sleep and call

me if any of those idiots try to talk to her until I okay it. Now I have to

talk with those fools outside, no doubt they will want to continue their

little game with this poor girl. And I have to get ready for my chess

game with the Admiral." I barely noticed the doctor leaving the room,

muttering to herself, as Jenny expertly brought me closer and closer to euphoria. The Doctor had been right, as the stinging faded my skin seemed to be tingling with pleasure.

Several long wonderful minutes later I screamed as my climax finally took completely control over me, Jenny not allowing me to stop or catch my breath, caused orgasm after orgasm. Complete rational thoughts were no longer possible for me until finally she allow me to slide back to earth. I closed my eyes, so tired that sleep was all I wanted at that time. I gasped as Jenny suddenly twisted my nipple hard. "Drink this now, then you can sleep." She lifted my head up and held me, making me drink this foul tasting stuff. After gulping down the last of the foulest tasting stuff I had every had the misfortune in tasting she gently laid my head back down. Muttering some curses of my own about doctors, medicine, and nurses in general, I feel into a deep sleep. The last thing I remember was Jenny watching me with a thoughtful expression.

WAKING UP

A man's soft voice woke me up. I still felt tired so I kept my eyes closed as I listened. "Jenny are you sure you are all right. I heard from the Doctor this morning that you were very sick last night. Listen is there anything I can do for you."

"I am just fine Mr Sikes, maybe even better than fine. As for what you can do for me, need I remind you that I am now their slave! However much you want to call it undercover work, the fact remains I am their slave for now, maybe forever."

"Jenny I knew your Dad, I wish there was something I could do."

"Sir, John, I wish you had the power to do something about this as well, but you know as well as I that we have no real say in this. I just wish there was something we could do for her. She is a hero and I think this is wrong, we are supposed to be the good guys."

He grunted and replied "Jenny, when you volunteered to go into deep cover you knew that you would sometimes have to do things you did not like, some illegal, that you would never dream of doing as a cop. Well this is no different. You and this woman will be our deep, sshhh...someone's coming." In a slighter louder voice he ordered "Jenny get your little naked ass over there and fetch me a drink."

I cursed silently to myself, "just my luck, just as the conversation was beginning to shed some light on my situation." A door opened up and a familiar deep voice asked "John, what are you doing in here. It is dangerous for you to be seen here, she must remain our secret until she is fully healed and given to Sh'Lyra. Need I remind you that if we are discovered by the wrong parties we could all die, at the very least she would be killed."

"Yes, yes, you are right Captain, I apologize, I just wanted to see how she was doing. After all a lot is riding on her."

"John, there are very dangerous beings in this compound that are quite capable of making you and me disappear in a flash of smoke. As for her, don't get your hopes up John, we are not even sure she is a Velorian."

"But I thought the Doctor said she was."

"John, the Doctor is old, perhaps even partly senile. You have to understand that Primes normally don't live that long. Generally speaking they die a violent death, I don't remember ever hearing of a Prime dying from old age. So no one knows just how Primes fare with old age. Also, she is very unusual Prime, as she is a pacifist. That too is almost unheard of in a Prime. If it were not for her intelligence I am sure she would have been killed a long time ago, as an example to all others."

John responded in a voice filled with disgust "Christ, how can you guys live like that. Why don't you revolt and kill all these so called Primes."

The captain responded angerly, his tone of voice raising as he spoke. "What makes you think we have not tried. Your world would already be defeated by now if it wasn't for the high commands reluctance to send in a thousand Primes to this world. Like the empire has done to every other world. You would already know how hard it is to fight beings thousands of times stronger, tougher, almost invulnerable, and so much faster than you as to make you seem like a gnat. Your strongest non-nuclear weapons would barely be able to harm them. Plus these Primes would be all armed with superior weapons, attacking you from a base your primitive weapons could not damage, let alone reach. I have seen over 50 worlds die, read about several hundred more, most of them far tougher or more advance than yours. All of them have fallen. So don't lecture me earthman on how to deal with my own race."

In an apologetic tone John quickly apologized "Hey, I'm sorry Lazur, but if you feel so strongly about the Primes is it wise to trust Elen-at or the Doctor?"

"I trust Elen-at, that is all you need to know," Lazur growled. "As for the Doctor we had no choice in the matter, she would have most likely have died in the hands of any other doctor. If she had not died then she would have been hideously scarred, useless to us."

"Okay, okay, you said your own race, I thought you told me you were a Beta, not a Prime."

"Beta's are related to Primes, just as we are related to you, but we are treated little better than slaves. Come, let us leave, I do not want to arouse any unnecessary suspicions. Beside, how do you say, we got off on the wrong hand this morning. I wish for us to be close allies and not bicker like school kids." The captains tone of voice changed, I knew he was giving an order but his voice suddenly seemed gentle and compassionate as well. "Slave girl, wake her up in an hour."

The door opened again as they walked out with John responding "Captain, that's foot, got off on the wrong foot, not hand."

I could hear Jenny move about the room. I was startled when she broke her silence, "You can open your eyes now sleepy-head, their gone. You have slept for over 18 hours, do you feel better, can you stand on your own?"

As I sheepishly open my eyes I realized with a start I did felt stronger, my thinking clearer. The buzz from the gold making me feel very aroused as well as a little drunk, but unlike yesterday I could feel no pain. Now it felt like I had a very mild case of sunburn. "How long did you know I was awake?"

"Ever since the Captain entered, your nipples give you away. When you are awake they are more erect. Besides I think you have a thing for the good Captain." I stuck my tongue out at her as she smiled back. "Come on lazy, stand up. The Doctor told me this morning that I could give you a very gentle bath. After the bath some food and then I am told Elen-at will come back into see you again."

Not moving I asked "Jenny what is going on, please tell me."

She sighed and looked briefly disgusted, like she was not looking forward to discussing this with me. "Lets just say there are deals within deals and I am not really sure what is going on anymore. In this place the walls have ears and I am considered by some to be nothing more than a pleasure slave." She paused fro a breath, reached out with her left hand and gently stroked my cheek while smiling sadly. "And you my new friend, had better get use to that idea as well. I want you to remember that even slaves can still work for the common good." Then she kissed me with a strength and passion that made me forget my questions. I groaned in her mouth as my last thought was "Gods, is she a talented kisser." My pleasure increased as I realized I no longer felt any pain. Needless to say my nipples quickly grew large and hard, rigid with desire. Again I was disturbed by the thoughts of how helpless I was in my gold bondage and how that knowledge seemed to intensify the pleasure of the kiss.

Not letting me catch my breath she whispered with an impish smile "Now its time I bathed you sexy." She giggled as she picked me up as if I was a baby. I gasped as I knew I was not a light woman, besides all the gold on me had to be heavy. Yet she lifted me without straining. She laughed out loud at my puzzled expression. "The Doctor told me I have you to thank for my new found strength. Apparently in trying to distract you from all that pain yesterday I ingested enough of your juices that I was mutated."

She smiled and kissed me again as I blushed beet red. After the kiss, feeling like my emotions were on a runaway train, I had to look away from her. I noticed for the first time that a new addition had been added to my room. There was a huge tub set up behind the bed. Kissing me again she stepped in the tub and lowered me into warm water. She stared at my face as she asked me several times if I was feeling any pain at all. Believe me I was delighted to discover I felt no pain at all. I had once read about a burn victim and how sensitive to heat they were for a long time.

Gently as a mother would bath baby she bathed me. I asked her several questions, all to no avail. She refused to answer any further questions of mine. When I insisted she found a very effective way of shutting me up. She gently slid two fingers in me, her strong thumb rubbing my clit.

Groaning in pleasure, I tried to stop her, catching her wrist in my hands. To my amazement she was now stronger than me. "Ohh, for that you need to be punished," she whispered and then giggled. She teased me for several minutes, keeping me right on the edge of a orgasm. As my clit engorged with blood she began to rub it harder and harder, her lips and teeth assaulted my nipples and I discovered that I could still feel some pain. Yet the pleasure she was giving me mix so well in with the pain that I could no longer tell one from the other. My need for release kept building and building, but she did not allow me to climax. She played my body like a fine instrument until I was so tense I thought I was going to break. I began to babble, begging to her to allow me to come. After an eternity of torture by pleasure she brought me over the brink into heaven. My body shuddered out of control as climax after climax washed over me. Kissing me she continue to keep me in heaven until I lost all track of time or thought. Moaning in pleasure herself she kissed me hard and keep kissing me until the orgasms stopped and I calmed down.

Sighing, her own nipples erect state betraying her arousal she finished my bath. Lifting me out of the tub she stood me up and patted me down with the softest towels I had ever felt. I felt very helpless as the short chain connecting my ankle bracelets prevented me from walking. As she dried me I stared over her shoulder at a mirror set in a wall. The woman looking back at me looked strange yet sexy I thought. I had dreaded looking into a mirror ever since I was told I had lost my hair. My head was almost bald, just a faint blond fuzz on my head. I watched my image blush as Jenny made me squat, spreading my legs, so she could dry me off between my legs.

Jenny smiled when she noticed me watching myself. "Don't worry beautiful, your hair should grow back just fine. Besides I love you just the way you are."

I snorted and grinned, "That's just because you can push me around and do what ever you want with me."

Laughing she picked me back up and set me gently in a chair. We laughed and joked for over an hour while she feed me by hand. About an hour later feeling clean and comfortable again on my bed Lt Elen-at walked on my room. Which I now thought of as my cell. I had a several questions for Elen-at, and some anger to vent, but Jenny seem to know what was on my mind. Before I could speak she sat down placing my head on her bare leg. She kept a finger on my lips while she gentle stroked my temples.

Growling in frustration I tried to relax and listen to Elen-at story.

Elen-at

"Good Morning, before I continue my story I want to tell you what had happen on our ship weeks earlier, when we first arrived on earth."

"Your Aurora and her friends had really damaged our ship. It took all of the ship's remaining power and Sh'Lyra impossible strength to get both ships down safely. Captain Lazur was a perfect picture of calmness, steadying the entire crew, as he guided the badly damaged ships down to earth. She remembered how she couldn't help becoming just a little aroused at the sight and sound of him."

The next twelve hours was a blur as Sh'Lyra, most of the other primes and a few technician's spent a lot of time hiding the ship. My assignment was to get the both ships weapons systems up and working as fast as possible. Everyone on the ship was working except for the prisoners. It was during this time that we all got an inkling that Sh'Lyra had changed. Or perhaps she was only showing her true colors. It was clear to everybody that no one worked harder than Sh'Lyra yet she still managed to make her command presence known to all. Don't get me wrong, she was not nice, but now she seemed to be on fire with purpose. Before she always struck me as a strong woman in the system. Now every moment gesture or word seemed to radiate excitement. Where the rest of us were scared, after all were all had the death penalty over our head now, she looked almost happy. It took me a while to realize it was the challenge of fighting and making her own empire that was driving her.

As a side duty, while the weapons were being repaired, I was on the bridge tracking the various work detail. It was there that I witnessed two deaths. One of the few remaining male primes, a huge and heavily muscled, with his work crew, was assigned the task of camouflaging one of the big main airlocks, now to become our main entry way. After ten straight hours of work his beta crew was beginning to show their fatigue. Apparently he decided he was not satisfied with the work of a Beta so he causally ripped her arms off and then started to rape her bleeding body as an object lesson to the rest to work harder. I could tell the woman was in shock, and would soon die.

I could see everything that was happening on my monitors. I had never witnessed something like this before, but of course I had heard that this was not an uncommon means of motivation. Fortunately or unfortunately, depend on who you were, at the time three other officers and I were briefing Sh'Lyra on the over all progress of the repair. I gasped, suddenly angry at what was happening. Sh'Lyra either heard me gasp or sense something was going on, probably both. In my short time under Sh'Lyra command I had never seen her truly angry before and now I never want to again. As I briefed her on what was going on, showing her the screen, her face turned dark with emotions and her eyes became so intense as to be almost painful to look at. On my home world, a small unimportant planet within the vast Arion Empire, there is are several spooky stories where the monster is called a Death Angel. A female creature, unstoppable, as being of great beauty with a dark mission, usually pictured with great black wings. For the first time since I was five years old what I had always pictured a Death Angel to look like was forever changed, she now had red hair.

In a whispered that shook the walls in the briefing room she uttered "Send a medic team. Key this scene throughout the entire ship." She moved so fast that even I had trouble seeing her. With a touch of a button Captain Lazur relayed her orders as I watched along with a dozen others. In less than a minute Sh'Lyra flew out of an airlock and landed behind the man. Sh'Lyra is a big woman, but I had never met this prime before and I had no idea just how big he was until she landed next to him. She slightly taller than him, but he still drawfed her, his shoulders easily twice as broad as her.

I found out later that all the beta's on the ship knew about this prime, even though he was recently assigned to this ship. He gloried in his abilities to instill fear in weaker beings. I guess he was like one of those disgusting boys in my childhood that liked to pull the wings off of little Narachs.

With a speed that was a blur even to me Sh'Lyra moved, grabbing his arms

and yanking them behind his back. That poor beta woman was still

impaled on his pole as he struggled to free himself. I could see that

Sh'Lyra was having difficulty in holding him, but I could not figure out why until he was turned around. She was trying to his massive wrists, behind his back, but his wrists were so thick that she could not get her hands around them. Sh'Lyra solved that problem by grasping just his thumbs together in what must have been a painful grip. She reached between his legs, grabbed his balls and squeezed, not hard enough to kill, but he immediately went soft. Sh'Lyra lifted him over her head with one arm while she caught the badly injured woman. While she eased her to the ground she show extreme control over her heat vision. She cauterized the beta's wounds, preventing her from dieing.

Monica, her eyes reflecting her emotions asked "Is the woman still alive."

"Yes she is, in fact she is one of the most intensely loyal cyborgs we now have on this ship. Sh'lyra had her enhanced."

After stopping her from bleeding Sh'Lyra shifted her grip on the man. She was so fast and skilled that he never had a chance. Her left hand caught his throat and began to squeeze. He fought for a minute or two, but for all his power he had not more effect on her than a iceberg hitting the sun. She order the medic team to save her, then ordered everyone of us to work for another two hours then get to sleep. We were all to be in the main briefing room in thirteen hours.

What she did next amazed and awed every single person on this ship. She spun around faster and faster, until she was a blur even to the eyes of a prime. Suddenly she threw the semi-conscious Prime like he was some sort of stuff doll. We all heard a triple sonic boom as he just vanished from sight. Only our online tracking systems were able to follow him. When Sh'Lyra returned to the bridge she ordered me to I tracked him and post his progress to the rest of the crew. This is hard to believe but I swear he left the earths orbit and was heading towards the sun. Of course it would take him quite a while to get there but it was hotly debated about whether or not he would be dead before he reached the sun. Over the next few days I made sure that his progress towards the sun was posted though out the ship."

The next few hours after Sh'Lyra had thrown the Prime literally off this planet were extremely tense, with everybody walking around, as the earther's say, as if on eggshells. Finally Sh'Lyra ordered everybody to get some sleep, and she made sure that no one had access to any stimulants. Nine hours later everybody began to assemble in the great briefing room. I was surprise to see even Sh'Lyra personal slaves there, all quietly kneeling down. We had all heard of her slaves and some of us had seen some of them a time of two in the ships corridor. but never all together. They were all very beautiful. I could tell that all of the males and many of the females watching them looked excited.

Anyway the room was crowded, almost everybody was there except those in the hospital with injuries to severe to move, a doctor or two, a hand full of engineers, and some security personnel manning their stations. Even the prisoners were allowed in the room. I know because I had to make sure that those people were secured in their seat . I could hear nervous whispered snatches of conversations from the crowd as I stood on the stage next to the Captain. Everybody was wondering what was up. Everybody knew we had broken away or deserted, if you like, from the Arion fleet. The Captain had told me that the only thing holding this crew together now was fear. Fear of Sh'Lyra, fear of this planet's protectors, Aurora and Kara, and the far greater fear of death by the Arion Empire.

I could hear snatches of conversations dealing with how badly our ship was hurt, how our engines were ok, but we lacked the proper controls. Some were discussing how many of our key control panels had been destroyed and in several places the hull was breached or over stressed. Others were discussing our lack of spare parts. One thing an R&R ship does not have is a lot of spare parts. Spare parts are for the ships of the line. Also how we desperately needed more heavy weapons for the ship if we were going to become pirates. I remember how Sh'Lyra had questioned me and my counter part, he was from a fighter we had captured, at great length about our knowledge of various types of weapon systems.

I was scanning the faces of the many Prime's sitting in the front, when Captain Lazur leaned over and whispered in my ear. He told me over ¾ of the primes left on board were women . Most of whom he knew to be very loyal to her. Of the 15 male primes, many were older men, Lazur told me most of them had been with her for over ten years.

Sh'Lyra entered the stage with a presence that quieted the audience as soon as she entered. She began simply enough by telling everybody what had happened and that she had decided to break away from not only the fleet but the Arion Empire itself. In a powerful voice that carried across the huge room she began to tell of all the atrocities the Arion empire had committed, one she had seen and ones she had help accomplish. How little freedom we all had compared to even the lowly terran worms, as the fleet like to call the earth people. How every one of the terrians had more freedoms than we did. No beta's had to be convinced that her words were true. I could see that most of the primes didn't seem to care less until she told them how many primes she had been ordered to secretly kill by higher command. Many of whom were sitting in this very room. Then her tone changed, in a voice that seemed to cause the walls to vibrate she offered anyone who wanted to leave the ship to leave, without fearing punishment. After saying that she stood there in front of us, majestic, almost regal bearing, quietly looking each of us in the eye. The silence seemed to be louder than her words. Before anyone could move she raised her voice again and began to talk about unheard of freedoms. On her ship as of now she was eliminating the Prime and Beta casts. No longer would how far someone could be promoted be dependent on how strong someone was. No longer did Beta's have to fear death at the hands of Primes. Granted under her command we knew she had never really been all that strong on the Prime vs Beta thing anyway, but the effect of her simple words was electric. For many it turned their worlds upside down. Now she announced advancement would be by merit alone. Plus she was giving complete sexual freedom to the crew. Where before one had to be very careful, being gay was punishable by death you know.

No one moved nor made a sound as she then listed all the advantages they had if they stayed with her, not the least was having a Krytonian on their side. Her friendship with several very powerful terran's, that we were two ships strong, one a very deadly fighter craft. She didn't sugar coat our chances of staying alive. She told us what we all pretty much knew, that in the eyes of the Arion empire we were all criminals and hence sentenced to death, regardless if we followed her or not. So the choices we had were limited. We had to decide if we wanted to; hide for the rest of our days on earth, try to survive on earth long enough to contact the Arion Empire and then hope we were not put to death for not trying to fight her, or follow her and live outside of the Arion Empire. In other words in the eyes of the Empire we would become at best a rebel or a pirate, and at worse traitors and deserters. All punishable by death.

Then she began to tell us some of her plans. Not enough to give her away if some of us left and betrayed her, but she was so upbeat. So confident in her and our abilities that she could and would succeed where others had failed, that I vowed to follow her. She never laid out in detail her plans but she hinted enough that we all knew it was a gamble but that the odd were the best the house had to offer. To many the promise of freedoms unheard of was all they needed. For myself and many others it was the chance to try to truely live and perhaps win against the Arion Empire.

She said what we all knew about the condition of the ship. But she promised that until the ship was repaired she would make sure the ship would be as safe as it could be. By hiding and working behind the scenes we would be able to accomplish a lot more than by any overt action.

Sh'Lyra then made it very clear that she wanted every bodies decision within the hour. Anyone who want to leave could do so, she gave her word that she would transport them just outside of a large city on earth. What she said next startled everyone, she say some of us may be thinking of challenging her for command of this ship. Now was not the time to fight and she would kill anyone so foolish as to jeopardize the safety of the ship and its crew.

She projected two months of hard dangerous work would required before she would be satisfied the ship was well protected. At that time she promised to met anyone in the arena in hand to hand combat. She promised that she would wear enough gold to reduce her strength to equal her challenger strength level, even if it was at beta level. I was shocked and I could tell Captain Lazur was shocked as well. Two of the male primes and several female primes just licked their lips, looking pleased at her announcement. But as I thought about it I realized that by laying down her challenge she had not only brought time for herself, but now several dozen people would stay instead of leaving the ship.

She dismissed everybody, telling them to log in their decision within the hour. One hour later only five people left the ship, two primes and three beta's, of whom two were part of the captured crew of the fighter craft. The rest of the captured crew members stayed on board, including their weapons control officer. I decided to kept a recording of her speech for study, later you can watch it if you want.

Five hour later she held a command briefing for the officers only. There she told us what our first objective was. We all knew we needed a base of operations, a small country would do. But how we could take control and not attract the wrong attention we didn't know. She had thought of a way around that by deciding to use the criminal element. In fact by taking over the major criminal organizations on earth we could control and influence a lot of very powerful people in secret. Become the power behind the throne if you will. The criminal organizations would provide us the economic means to own manufacturing plants and thereby having parts developed and made for our damaged ships. She explained how she intended to use the money generated by her criminal organization to get the governments to look the other way or to actively help us.

The beauty of this plan was we would not end up fighting the entire world or alert the Arion Empire. In fact many earthlings may end up helping us. She knew that the Arion Empire would not be watching the normal criminal organization. They were only interested in various terrorist groups and we would be very careful not bother them, so as not to alert the Fleet. It was the opinion of Captain Lazur and Sh'Lyra that the Admiral of the fleet would assume we had left this solar system for parts unknown. The last place he would look for our 5 mile ship was on earth.

After she laid out the general plan we pounded out the details, surprised at how much information on the enemy we had. It was soon apparent to Lazur and myself that Sh'Lyra had been very busy the last couple of days if not weeks. Her earth friends had amassed all the data we needed to develop a invasion plan. We struck at night and by the dawn we were in control of seven major illegal drug producing organizations, worth billions of American dollars. Using her friends connections to contact the right people in the government all of our activity were ignored. Just like on one of your gangster movies, it was easy to bribe the officials.

Within three weeks we were in control of several crime families as you call them in America, Mexico, and South America. That was why I was in a fire fight with some of your American gangsters. We had to maintain a low profile as Sh'Lyra did not want our actions to attract the wrong type of attention. So we jammed the radio signals your police operated on, and attacked the gangsters, using shunners whenever possible. We were lucky and only one squad member was killed. We captured over fifty and killed maybe 25 others. Inside the warehouse was a different story. My people was not as constrained. Plus Sh'Lyra had arrived. The gangsters had no chance at all. But I believe slave Jenny can tell the story better than I."

Without moving my head I looked up at Jenny. She had a haunted expression on her face as she remembered, her finger no longer tracing a pattern on my lips. Tersely Jenny began to speak, "It was like a scene from a bad B-flick. My knees felt very weak as I stood next to Pat and watched this incredible redhead, this woman, catch a bullet, a very heavy caliber bullet, that somebody had just shot at her head. Her armed blurred again, she gave some orders and then stared right at Mr Henrica. The realization of what she had just done washed over me. She was the mark and the mighty Hunter had struck and she had just caught his bullet. As she rapped out orders I looked at her with open admiration and felt myself shudder with another orgasm. I found myself unable to stop my left hand from cupping my breast as my other hand slide down my body and press my loins. I could feel my toy within me vibrating, sending waves of pleasure rushing though my body, tearing any intelligent thoughts I could form apart. I moaned again as a climax stole my breath, blushing as the slave girl looked at me with lust and envy in her eyes."

"I was in no condition to really understand what Pat said but suddenly he stepped back and whipped out a gun, cursing like a marine. I felt an instance of fear for the redhead and reacted instinctively, before I could think about what I was doing, of course it probably help that I hated Pat with a passion. I threw myself at his arm or I should say tried to. But those damn high heels tripped me up on the even warehouse floor. Instead of knocking his gun hand off to the side, but I slipped and fell in front of his gun. You ever have or hear about one of those live and death instances where time seem to suddenly slow down and you can see everything happen but can not do anything about it. That happen to me, I stared in horror as his finger tighten on the trigger knowing that I was going to be shot in the face. I watched, wanting to scream, call my Dad one more time and tell him I loved him, anything but be in front of that gun."

"Then like a terrible goddess come to life I watched as she moved, far

faster than anything should be able to move. Her powerful hand struck

far faster than the bullet. I heard a gunshot, and a woman screaming,

realizing somewhere in the back of my mind that I was the one screaming, as I fell to the floor. Her hand was in front of the gun."

"Time snapped back to normal as I watched in horror and wonder as she open her hand, a hot mangled bullet falling from her fingers. In the blink of an eye she grabbed and crushed Pat's gun, including his hand. I felt faint as blood squirted from between her beautiful long slender fingers. Her forearm muscles barely flexing as the gun deformed into so much useless metal. Mr Henrica was very pale, then he turned and ran as if the devil herself was after him and maybe he was right. With Pat groaning, falling to his knees in pain. She signaled with her hands as the rest of Pat's and Mr Henrica bodyguards opened fire on us."

"The fight lasted maybe three seconds. I have to give credit where credit is due, I think that the only person who was thinking clearly was Abe, Pat's large bodyguard and whom I had always thought of as a stupid moron. He dropped his gun as if it was a hot potato, fell to his knees and held up his hands. The other two still standing and the six in the rafters died from several weird looking hand gun that fired thick red beam, like in the movies with lasers except the beams were not pencil thin. Surprised at the sudden silence, I looked around in amazement as I realized that for ever one of Henrica's people right behind them was one of hers. In just seconds she had captured everyone of the mobsters."

"Watching the others I almost missed Mr. Henrica fate. She let him run

until he was over 75 feet away. Then in a voice that did not allow any

emotions she told everyone exactly what she was doing to him as violet

beams leaped from her eyes and burned his legs off. It took him a long

time to stop screaming. I fainted I think, I woke up stripped naked,

except for my panties and toy still within me. I was next to the other naked girl. I remember that it hit me like a low blow to the gut, all the pain and humiliation I had gone though for the last year, as an undercover agent, was for nothing. In second she had done what the FBI with years of hard work had not been able to do. I briefly wondered if she would be worse or better than Henrica."

"Looking around I noticed that we were pretty much alone, the nearest group of people over twenty five away. The tall red head had left, her people were rounding up Henrica's men over by Henrica's moaning form. The other girl, the naked one, started talking to me as soon as she noticed me move. "Hi, my name is Vicky, or Victoria to you, my Mistresses Sh'Lyra will be back shortly to claim you as a slave, you slut." When I just looked at her like she was crazy, she slapped me hard on the face. "You are now a slave too," she hissed, "and I am senior to you." The slap didn't really hurt but it was the straw that broke the camels back, I lost it. Screaming like a mad woman, I launched myself at her, I was so furious I forgot all of my martial arts training. I pulling her hair back with one hand and punching her in the stomach with the other. Victoria screamed back, proving to be tougher than I thought. We both ended up rolling back and forth on the dirty warehouse floor, punching and pulling each others hair. She was stronger and heavier than me, but a lot slower. I was beginning to win when she grabbed my toy, my vibrator and pushed it deeper in me. Shocked I grabbed her wrists with both hands. Laughing a cruel laugh she proceeded to pin me down on the dirty floor, trapping my arms with her strong legs. I cried as she raped me with my own toy."

"I don't know if it was the laughter in the back ground or the vision of me

being raped before other by a naked woman, or if I was simply too aroused

to begin with, but I came with scream. She forced me to climax after

climax until Sh'Lyra came back, over twenty minutes later. Victoria

immediately stopped and released me, going rigid with fear as Sh'Lyra

looked at her with an amused, thoughtful gaze. I blushed in shame, for

behind Sh'Lyra were a bunch of people including Lt Elen-at. In a daze I

was pulled to my feet, one hand held behind my back, and pushed along with the others by Victoria. I don't clearly remember what Sh'Lyra said but she proceed to kill Pat like you or I would a fly."

Lt Elan-et interrupted "That's only partially true Jenny and you are glossing over some details. I'll finish the story from here." Taking a sip of wine she looked me in the eyes, "We had learned the hard way, from our previous dealing with criminals, that we would have to make an example of someone, perhaps several people. We had found that a show of strength, power and the willingness to kill now would prevent trouble later. After a bit of research we had learned several interesting facts about the people we would be dealing with. The Intelligence Department had uncovered several facts including the information that Pat Monica was the one person most likely to be cause trouble no matter what we did. He was a murderer, theft, assassin, and worse. So we recommended to Sh'Lyra that she used him as an example for the others. We find that your criminal element, like all criminals, response well to threats, force, and rewards. As to why we were trying to recruit criminals, obviously we need manpower to run the organizations. If Sh'Lyra was able to convince these men and women to switch their alliance to her, so much the better.

Sh'Lyra, had the captive gangsters surround her, in a big circle, leaving a

clear space in the center about fifty feet in diameter. She gestured at

Henrica who she held straight out before her in one hand and said "All

those who wish to follow him can vanish just like him," She tossed him

up in the air and vaporized him with her heat vision. The only things that

fell to the floor was ash and tiny melted lumps of metal, coin and keys

from his pocket. Fear permeated the air as she looked everyone in the

eye and give a little speech to how they would all be better off under her

than against her. Then she offered to demonstrate to everyone just how

powerful she was. At her signal Pat was pushed into the ring, glared

defiantly at her, his gun hand still dripping blood on the floor from his split and mangled fingers.

One of my men stepped into the ring carrying a number of earth weapons, laid the weapons at Pat's feet and stepped back, out of the way. Addressing the crowd in a voice that carried from one end of the huge warehouse to the other she said "My name is Sh'Lyra and I propose a simple wager. If any of you men or women can injury me even scratch me, using whatever you can, including those weapons, in five minutes time, I will leave you all alone. I will leave the states. If you cannot injury me, then you will work for me. This is no trick, many of those weapons are fully loaded. However be warned, if they cannot injury me after five minutes and they will not, I will personally kill any of you still foolish enough to oppose me. Pat, to give you added incentive, you should know I intend to kill you anyway."

Pat grunted, his eyes showing for a moment his fear. One of terrans yelled "Some wager, your people kill us if we kill you."

Sh'Lyra looked bored as she causally inspected her nails. Captain Lazur step up and addressed the crowd. "In answer to you question, No, we will not interfere. No we will not leave the warehouse as we don't want you to run away. Yes any or all of you can help that man. Yes, she will stand still and not move at all while you attack. Lt Elen-at here will start the clock in one minute. You have that long to decide what to do."

Pat turned to his people and ordered "Ok people, lets kill this bitch!" His

two large body guards leaped to the pile of weapons. After waiting to

see if the bodies guards were killed a few others started to move forward. Pat's expression turned ugly as he shouted at the one still not moving "Come on you fuckers, get you cowardly asses over here now and pick up a gun."

A crisp clear command rang out, "Stop!" The voice continued "If three large men can not kill her then rest of you will not be able to either."

With a scream of rage Pat whirled towards the speaker. Three men

scrabbled to get out his way, not wanting to get shot by Pat. Behind

them was a man looking almost bored, leaning causally against a crate and

looking at his nails. He was a barreled chested man, barely 5'5", wearing

a hat obscured his features. Without looking up he continued calmly

talking as if he was ordering a glass of water from a waiter. "What Pat!

Are you going to shoot me and waste a bullet? Your time five minute

grace period has started. I strongly suggest that you first kill her and then you can kill me if you want. The rest of you fools step back out of the line of fire. If you want to be the Don, then prove yourself before all of us Pat."

Shaking with rage Pat replied "Fuck you Weasel, two second after she is dead so are you." Snarling he whipped back around at Sh'Lyra. Sh'Lyra just stood there, watching Weasel as if she had spotted a gem hiding in the mud. I could see that her bottom was slightly tense. I assumed that she was using her flying abilities to prevent any movement on her part no matter what the terrans did. I had watch her do this very same impressive trick four times now. Of course it was meant to be impressive.

As Pat turned towards Sh'Lyra I turned to stared at Weasel, wondering what Sh'Lyra saw. "So that was Weasel" I thought. Despite our research into this crime family we knew very little about this person. In fact he was little more than a rumor. Weasel had been one of Henrica's top people, yet no one knew anything about at all about him, not even where he lived. Sh'Lyra's friends in the FBI had no record on him at all, just vague rumors of a power broker called the weasel that always worked behind the scenes. He was not someone our intelligence people liked. To them anyone smart enough to not reveal themselves during an entire criminal career was someone they believed to be a security risk.

At the first gunshot I looked back at Pat who had a wild look in his eyes as if he knew he was going to die, but was determined to go down fighting. Signaling his two henchmen he walked up to Sh'Lyra, firing his gun while screaming "Die you bitch!" His bullets started to ricochet off her stomach, her perfect skin unmarred as the steel jacketed rounds shredded her shirt. Her muscled ab's proving to be far tougher than his steel jacketed bullets. One ricochet badly wounded another gangster standing just a little to close. The sound of Pat's pistol was overwhelmed when his two lackeys opened fire. The larger one was using a gun that fired a small cloud of pellets at her, which made a dozen holes in her clothing each time it fired. The other man was using the same type of gun that I had encountered in the alley way.

I almost yelled a warning to Sh'Lyra until I remember she was a pure

Krytonian. I confess I was very curious as to what if anything it could do

to her. Unlike the others the man took careful aim at her chest and

squeezed the trigger, controlling his shots. Round after round slammed into the softest part of her body. Her breasts bouncing and swaying with every impact, her clothing disintegrating before several dozen eyes revealing her perfect breasts. I was amazed, the same bullets that stung me left her smooth skin unmarred by the impacts. But I could tell that she was being effected by the action of these men, or rather the bullets. After several shots her nipples began to show her excitement.

The gunman began to aim at her nipples, I guess they are natural aiming point for men. I could see Sh'Lyra tense, in sexual excitement I am sure, as bullets began to slam into her nipples. Her nipples grew to almost an inch thick and over an inch and a half long as bullet after bullet stimulated her breasts and nipples. For over a minute he proved how good a shot he was by hitting her time and time again on the nipples. Sh'Lyra had her eyes closed, obviously enjoying herself. I thought that perhaps this was the first time since the capture of Aurora that she was feeling truly stimulated. Once again I found myself admiring her self control, I would have been fondling myself by now.

When my clock indicated to me that five earth minutes had passed I shouted "times up," not really expecting her attackers to stop. To date, in the four cities we had taken, no one attacking Sh'Lyra stopped at my call. So I was surprised to see the large man drop his weapon. I was not surprised to watch Pat, snarling in rage, an insane gleam in his eyes, rush her with a knife. The other body guard stopped shooting only when his boss started to cross into his line of fire.

Sh'Lyra right hand casually swatted him in his lower rips. As you have heard Pat was a large man but the impact did not slow her hand down one iota. Everyone heard the sounds of bones snapping as Pat was flung like a giant rag doll. The sickening crunch of Pat's broken body was the only sound you could hear as he flew fifty feet sideways, stopping only when it became impaled on a forklift's prong. A few of us guessed that Sh'Lyra had deliberately aimed for the forklift.

Sh'Lyra looked at the other man who still had his weapons in slack nerveless fingers. Before he could react she stepped up to him, reach out and crushed the weapon in his hands, his scream of pain echoing the warehouse. Bits of bone and blood sprayed several people after she calmly flicked his forehead with her index finger, the top of his head shattering.

Sh'Lyra ripped a scrap of cloth from what what used to be her shirt and wipped her bloodly finger off. Smiling she asked clamly "Now is there anyone here that wants to challenge my takeover."

For a long ten seconds no one dared move or speak. The silence was broken by a calm pleasant sounding voice speaking as if he was not facing death. Weasel spoke up "I too am fond of gambling and I would like for you to consider a option Sh'Lyra. I can double your profits within a year provided you allow me to run your crime organization here in the city. If I don't produce then you can kill me."

With a smile Sh'Lyra stared at the Weasel like a predator. "No, but it's refreshing to see someone with guts. However your offer fails to take into account one thing, your life is already in my hands. I have a counter offer, you will work with and train two of my people to help you run this organization. During this time you will be in complete control of this organization. If you fail to double my profits within six months, you lose that control. However, if you are loyal to me, you will have little to fear except displeasing me."

Weasel nodded his head and half bowed before her, "I accept your leadership Sh'Lyra, these men will listen to me and they will follow you." Silently Weasel added "And for now I will follow you, until you stumble."

Elen-at stopped speaking and stared at me thoughtfully. She said "I guess there is not need to tell you about all the adminstration and other boring stuff. To my mind the Weasel assumed control of the organization far to easily. Much later I heard rumors to the effect that maybe the Weasel has always ran the organization and he managed to fool even us. When I mentioned this to Sh'Lyra she just smiled and told me to carry on."

Before Elen-at could say more her communicator went off summoning her to duty. She got up without a word and left the room. Jenny leaned down and kissed me, then said "I bet you're dying to know just what all of this has to do with you?"

"I think I know, you want me to fight Sh'Lyra right!"

Jenny arched her eyebrow and sat still for a moment. "Depends on your view point."

"What the heck do you mean by that Jenny?"

Before Jenny could respond to my question Mr John Sikes walked into the room without knocking. "Hello, remember me, I am special agent John Sikes from the FBI. I bet you are curious about how the FBI got involvment.

With just a little bit of edge to my voice I sarcastically spoke up "No, not really John, in fact I am surprised it's not the CIA or some other agency, like the army maybe."

John looked startled for a moment, staring at me as if he did not think I was capable of speech. "Yes, well, hmmm, your country needs you and I figured this would be the best way for you to get a handle on what we want you to do."

Struggling not to lose my temper I stared at him, thinking "He's lucky I am wearing all this gold or he would be a pile of ash right now." My God, he reminded me of all those mindless government breauracratic clones I had the misforture to deal with when I was helping to rescue all those trapped people. The first painful lesson I had learned was never lose your temper at them, it was a waste of time. I mentally groaned, sometimes being mature was just not worth it. I giggled at the thought of just what my sister Kara would have done, more than likely she would have just tossed him far over her shoulder or vamped him with her sexy looks. Taking a deep breath I decided to hear him out, "Okay what do you want?"

"Look, for what's it's worth I am sorry you are involved, and if I had the power I would rescue you, but I don't." Suddenly, he no longer looked like Mister cool FBI, instead, standing before me I saw a tired, scared, intellingent man trying to do his best in a hopeless situation. I blinked, focusing my attention back on his words. "One week later my secretary entered my office bearing a letter from a Mr Lazur, she stated that it arrived in an official FBI envelope. Basically he offered to return my missings agents and help us bust one of the major New York crime families. In the letter were three photo's of the missings agents. The last two sentences in the letter informed me that I was being watched as I read this letter. That he wanted to meet me in five minutes, across the street in a coffee shop. If I agreed I was to pick up my jacket and leave my office now. Without going into why, who, or what I suspected, I grabbed my jacket and left."

"Well to make a long story short I met with Lazur and Lt Elen-at. After a

simple, but quiet demonstration of strength they convinced me to met

privately with his boss and perhaps form a partnership. They needed the

FBI's knowledge, know how, and offical cover. They offered the chance to

control crime in a manner we never dreamed possible before. Don't look

at me like that! I am not a blind man. I knew what we were getting into

and knew that only a handful of people would agree with me."

Pacing back and forth in front of me he continued "Two days later I met with Sh'Lyra. The meeting proved to be an eye opener. Working in Washington DC, at the level I do, I have had the pleasure or misfortune to meet a lot of want-to-be power-brokers. So I knew the type and that Lady has plans within plans and is dangerous with a capital D. She told me what I had already suspected, that controlling crime for her was a means to an end, nothing more. That she and some friends planned on helping to defend Earth from a Arion invasion. She briefly described what forces our planet was facing. As bad as this sounds if not for recent events I would not have believed them."

Despite my anger I was curious, so I asked "What recent events?"

He looked at me like I was stupid or something. "What, Oh, thats right. I forgot you are from another dimension or something." As he rambled on about how impossible it seemed to him that I was from another dimension he quickly pulled out a very small flat device that reminded me of a CD player, yet only one quarter the size. He flipped out an ear phone and plugged it in, handing the soft ear jack to Jenny. Jenny smiled at me as she placed it in my left ear.

He ran his hand though his grey and black hair once, his face suddenly

looked haggard and drawn as if he was remembering something very

painful. Pointing at the player he press a button. He rambled on about

increased terrorist actions world wide and their meanings while gesturing

to my ear. Closing my eyes I listened to what was being played. I was

not to surprised to hear his voice telling me to listen to this recording

closely. That we were being listened to but not watched.

I raised an eyebrow and resisted an urge to say "Duh!" As he ignored my

stared I decided to listened carefully to the recording as he played spy

versus spy. "Monica, this recording was made just two days ago. We,

parties within the US government, are hoping Monica that you can help us

save the world. Less than three months ago a massive nuclear explosion

woke us up to the Arion invasion. One of our top secret nuclear bases

was invaded and destroyed by one lone Arion Prime and other woman who used to be fully human named Monique. The Prime, a woman named Kirrin, was literally dragging Aurora, the so called Protector of this earth, unconscious behind her. From what we could piece together from the evidence and from a very friendly low powered Velorian named Laura, the Arion Prime was a rouge prime, slightly stronger than a normal prime. Apparently she was trying to kill Aurora. It was a shock to the ego of many high powered people and the military to realize that even a nuclear weapon could not kill a Velorian, because she survived. It proved to be damn scary to find out that one lone being caused hundreds of thousands of lifes lost, millions of acres of land ruined, land and cities now radioactive, and literally several hundred billons of dollars of damage. And she is still at large."

My face must have show my shock as John turned to look me square in the eyes he stared at me with a frightening intensity as he continued to ramble on about how terrorist attacks. The tape continued, "Many people consider the government to be stupid, slow and hopelessly bogged down in red-tape. And in some cases I have to agree with them. But not in this case. That explosion, for all the harm it did, set wheels into motion. Wheels that have been slowly turning until then. We don't have time to go into details now but decades ago select members of our government, primarily within the CIA, FBI and DOD, knew about the Arions and other extra-terrestrial life. In a hanger in secret Air Force Base remains of bodies and wrecked ships were and are being examined. While we learned a lot, we still had no clue as to their intentions. Actually little was known about them except that compared to us they were superhuman. Almost a decade ago our best Generals and a top-secret CIA Think-tank huddled together in secret for almost six months. Based on two old corpses, a wreck ship, lots of tiny bits of information, several CIA reports on the Cold War, and a lot of assumtions what they came up with was truely frightening. Recently I was allowed to read this report."

"In essense the report details that the single greatest threat to mankind

was from a force from space, of unkown size. The scientists were

certainly the force was very large as the wreckage showed evidence of

mass manufacturing. From intelligence and counter intelligence reports

from Russia and the US it was apparent that someone was deliberately

trying to create friction between the superpowers. Some thought that

the aliens were trying to get us to destroy ourselves. Why was unknown,

perhaps it was a game to them. But was was certain was that they had

managed to inflitrate agents into our government and several other

countries as well. Also that whoever they were they were not very

subtle, but processed great strength. A hand print was found on a

deformed steel beam. What was also apparent was that dirt poor third

world countries seemed to be ignored, unless they were a hot bed of terrorist activities."

"At that same meeting the Generals, based on what they knew about the aliens, made a prediction that was taken to heart. They predicted that if we didn't prepare, if the Arions or others decided to take a direct hand, the aliens could conquer us within two week tops, destroy us even faster. So a desperate plan was put together which included forming the first military fighting force, dedicated to fight aliens using secret funding, a so-called black operation. As time progress we discovered that the primary threat was the Arions. From a defector we learned that their race is composed of two castes, the Primes and the Betas. The Primes were the rulers and the one with superpowers."

"According to this defector we learned that our worst assumptions were correct, that we were in a war for our survival. But we an edge, just as the deep thinkers pridicted beings of vast strength and invulnerability like the Primes, have little use or skill at intelligence or counter intellingence. While it is true that the majority of the Arions are Beta's, who are slightly stronger than a normal human, they are treated like dirt by the Primes. Beta's are better at the spy game than Primes, but the Beta's have a long way to go to get to our level."

"Another plus for our side came as a surpise to us. Just last week we

discovered that while their weapons, material, and most of their military

technology is far beyond ours, we hold the edge in computers and

micro-technology. Jenny has additional infromation which she will brief

you on later, when it is safe to do so. Now, as to how the US Government

see's your role." The recording stopped.

I opened my eyes to stare intently into his own. Before listening to his recording I had been angry that these bastards were drafting me without my consent. Now I found myself still angry at him but I could understand his desperation.

Before he could say a word to me the door to the room opened up.

Walking into the room with a thoughtful look on his face was Lazur and

Elen-at. Jenny with a quick flick of her wrist yanked the earphone from

my ear and crushed it between her fingers. John, smiled and stood to

greet the others while palming the tiny CD player.

Lazur smiled like a tomcat about to eat a small tasty bird. With an edge

to his voice that spoke of an command he gestured to a chair "Sit down

John, sit down and relax." After everybody sat down, Elen-at perched on

the edge of my bed, he steepled his fingers together and drawled "I would

be most interested in hearing what you intended to tell her about her

role." My surprised at being discovered dissappeared when John winked

at me. I was wondering how he could be so calm as Luzar obviously knew

about John's recording. Soft hair fell over my face as Jenny leaned over. Glancing up it suddenly occured to me how we were discovered and kicked myself mentally for not thinking of it immediately. I shook my head at my slowness, I guess I was just not used to thinking about all my powers yet. I felt like saying "Duh Primes can see though walls and hear incredible well."

In a voice ladled with sarcasm Luzar continued "for both of our sakes I hope you learn more caution, to even fear a supremist abilities before you assume you know all of their capabilities. Elen-at not only watched you hand her a earphone but she is able to listen to your recording. Sh'Lyra took twenty Primes, including all those suspected to be not completely loyal to her on a mission."

Turning to face me Luzar smiled softly at me. Not for the first time I

thought he had a great smile. I could not stop myself form smiling back,

suddenly very conscious of how naked I was. My nipples tighten in

excitment as I could see his eyes roam over my body. I almost chuckled

as his pants showed that he too was getting excited. Clearing his throat

he shifted gaze to my face and grinned at me, "Good Morning, I hope you are feeling better today. The doctor will be in to see you in an hour." Deepening his smile, he clapped his hands together, and sat on the edge of my bed. "Well to use one of the earth's colorful sayings `it's time have a talk like a chicken."

Elen-at rolled her eyes, Jenny giggled and I could not help smiling. Lazur, unawares of his mistake, continued talking, his tone taking a more serious tone. "So as to why we need you and would prefer your cooperation. As you know earth is under attack by the Arion empire, but for now the attacks are limited to efforts to manipulation of your various countries. The goal is to trick you into destroying each other. As to why, it is rumored that the high command do not want to anger the Ancient Ones."

"Who?" John asked.

Luzar sighed "It is a belief of my people that our race was geneticly engineered from your people by a race know simply as the Ancient Ones."

Johns disbeliving grunt and look prompted Luzar to add "I am not a

historian nor a genetic scientist so I cannot offer you any proof. But as a

full Captain of the fleet I am privy to some rumors and information that

others are not. Now as I was saying, terrorist action are the extent of

the attacks for now. However that may will change, there are several

high raning officers though-out the fleet and the army that now believe that the Ancients Ones are dead or long gone. As the exspense of fighting a limited action here on earth raises so does the chance of the high command ordering a all out attack, not to conquer but to destroy.

Sh'Lyra knows this and intends to fight. Yes Yes, I know you Velorian

protectors have that same mission but ask yourself this, if a thousand

primes along with a million beta soldiers attack just how much of this

planet could you really save. The present technology on earth is to

primitive to pose a threat. It is Sh'Lyra belief and I agree with it that

the only way to save earth is if the Arion Empire was attacked from another direction, otherwise every city on earth will face extinction."

What the Captain had said triggered memories I had subconsciously buried. I gasped and must have cried out as memories exploded into my mind. I stared inward, in horror, tears flowing down my face. The same thoughts echoing in my mind, "OH MY GOD, We, I, failed to stop the Bomb." Sorrow crushed my soul as the bomb, the others, millions of innocent people being burned alive, flashed before my eyes as I sobbed in someones arms.

I gradually became aware of Jenny's soft breast against my cheek as I

cried in her arms. Elen-at was sitting close to us, her hand lightly

patting my shoulder. She looked like she wanted to comfort me but she

was unsure how.

Sniffling I mentally gathered myself together, composing myself. I mentally vowed that I would never allow that to occur again. Patting Jenny on her thigh I mamaged a weak smile on Elen-at, thanking her for her concern. "I am Ok now, I just remembered what had happened to me."

Forcing myself to look out at the others in the room I nodded at Luzar and John's concerned looks. Digging my nails into the palms of my hands I whispered "I understand the dangers all to well now, so what do you want of me?"

For the first time Luzar looked slightly unsure of himself. Taking a deep

breath he stared me in the eyes. "As Elen-at has mentioned to you

earlier Sh'Lyra is going to allow any crew member on this ship to challenge her to hand to hand combat in less than two days. Sh'Lyra has promised to fight them wearing enough gold to reduce her to their strength level."

Curious I interrupted him and asked "Why is she doing something as stupid as that?"

Luzar rubs his chin and looked thoughtful. "She has not bothered to tell me. However putting myself in her place I believe she is trying to unite her crew and replace fear with respect and loyality. In the Arion Fleet fear of death and having nowhere to run are the main factors holding any crew together. Here on earth, with no fleet security to find them, only one thing is stopping mass desertions, Sh'Lyra charisma and leadership. Sh'Lyra knows she needs the skills and training this crew has in order to have a fighting chance against our old Empire. No one being, no matter how powerful, can defeat the Arion Empire, but a well train and loyal force might hurt it, maybe even make it withdrawl."

"So this is a chance for her to show the crew that she will be fair to

everyone under her command. Sh'Lyra vision of the future has excited the

crew, however we know of a handful of Primes and beta's that do not

share her vision of our future. They may try something foolish during a

combat. For instance they could wait or force a Beta to challenge her.

With that much gold on her, like there is on you now, the Primes could easily capture her. Once she is captured I and my command staff will most likely be killed or captured as well. Thats why we are going to give you to her as a gift."

That was the wrong thing to say. My anger flared up again and must have

shown on my face as he quickly added "Now before you get angry let me

explain." Taking a deep breath he held up one finger "one, you would be

dead if not for us." A second finger went up "two, regardless of your

wishes you will be given to Sh'Lyra. But we took this time to talk with you because we want, no, need your help. Most of the crew would not or can not except you any other way. To much hatred to try to overcome on such short notice. Besides that many would view you as an enforcer of Sh'Lyra will. To try to change that attitude now may well cost Sh'Lyra her chance to firmly establish her leadership. Later yourstatus may well change."

"Elen-at and I intend to give you to her a day before she can accept any challenges. Your presence, a full Velorian Protector, may put a stop or at least cause them to rethink their plans. After all Sh'Lyra is the only one capable of fighting and beating you on this ship. Now obviously we would like your cooperation. If you are chained up like this, your presence will not be nearly as effective, if you were bound by her will alone. So if we have your word of honor that you will not try to escape, that you will act like a loyal slave to Sh'Lyra. Then your bonds will be reduced until your strength level is close to a Primes. If everyone knew that you could rip the gold off with your bare hands then no one will challenge the only force capable of subduing you. At least not as long as Sh'Lyra and you are in sight of each other and we all know how good supremacist eye-sight is."

"As for John, why he is so excited about you being given as a gift is fairly

simple. As a slave you will be part of the crew. Therefore you can if

you so wish you could challenge Sh'Lyra. Oh, you may be strong but I

doubt very much if you are as strong as Sh'Lyra. But even if you are as

strong or stronger than Sh'Lyra, I know she is far superior in martial arts.

In fact I sincerely doubt Sh'Lyra has an equal though-out known space."

I snorted and wrinkled my nose in thought as I digested his words. Jenny clapped a hand over my mouth as I began to cuss the two men out using every swear word I knew. I was being used as a desperate measure by to men playing games. Tomorrow I was to be given as a slave to a Megalomanic and then challenge this same kung-fu manic for control of a five mile ship. Shit, I should have stayed normal!

Sharon Best, Aurora Universe, Copyright 1995,1996,1997

Home Page: http://www.indra.net/~sharonb/aurora.htm

Email: sharonb@indra.net

(Aurora Universe materials are strictly for Mature Readers over 18 years of age!)