Surreal

A.N. This chapter is not set in stone yet, I may hit it with the editing bat a bit later.



“Why’d you have to do that?”

Jubek Canesh, former scryer of the Tolatrian Empire glanced over at his traveling companion, Woen Bestros. They were currently in a newly created underground tunnel that served as their hideout ever since their arrival in Samian several days prior. The tunnel was located to the west of the city; the entrance hidden behind a series of boulders.

“Why’d I have to do what?” Jubek asked calmly as he removed his purple hooded robe revealing his fuchsia hair as well as his white attire beneath that consisted of loose fitting slacks and a long sleeved shirt that hugged his upper body like a second skin.

“I thought we agreed to be as discreet as possible. Confronting those guards was entirely unnecessary, you could have easily snuck away,” Woen didn’t hide the agitation in his voice.

“I was growing bored playing the inconspicuous detective,” Jubek replied as he leaned against the smoothed out surface of the rock wall.

“Well next time you plan to go rogue, how about you let me in on it?” Woen sighed before removing his black cloak.

“So that you can spoil all my fun?” Jubek winked at him.

“I’m serious, Jubek.”

“I see that you are – let’s kiss and make up.” Jubek was stopped quite literally at arms length as he attempted to run into Woen’s arms but his silver-haired companion wasn’t having it. “Hmm, I see you’re going to make me work for it.”

Woen put some distance between them and pulled a tiny device from his vest pocket. “I’ve got what we needed; I was able to slip this off a guard. It’s one of their communiqué devices. I should be able to hack into their database with it, and if the person we’re looking for is indeed in that brothel, then we’ll be able to find him. That’s if this isn’t one big waste of time.”

“And so what if it is? We’re having an adventure.” Jubek chuckled at the sour look Woen shot him. “Oh admit it Woen. You were bored out of your mind in Tagasus. Hardly anything exciting ever happens there anymore due in part to your all powerful in-laws; namely the Queen and her brood. The last fun you truly had; was when you first traveled to Andrenon and met me.”

Woen knew Jubek had a point but would never admit it to him; the scryer was too brash by far. Their on and off again relationship they’d entered into two years ago had been one of the most exhilarating experiences of Woen’s young life. He was the first to admit that Jubek could be insufferable at times, but the flamboyant scryer always found a way to make Woen forget about that which usually had something to do with their voracious sexual appetite for each other.

After becoming involved with Jubek, Woen had realized how very much like him he once was. Woen too had a flare for the dramatic which he normally expressed with his cousin, Prince Devo Sventos. They’d had many a fun time together before Devo had settled down and was now mated with a family. They still spent time together but it was different now that Devo had his mate and the twins.

“Did you see the red-head at the bar?” Jubek asked.

“What of her?” Woen had not taken much notice.

“Remember our discussion about finding a third partner for that threesome you promised me…”

Woen turned and gave Jubek his full attention. There was a look of incredulity on his handsome face. “Are you drunk? She’s one of their Commanders. What makes you think she’d want to do anything other than locking us up and throwing away the key? Besides, I didn’t think women were exactly your forte.”

“They generally are not, but I could imagine the exciting positions we could end up in with her thrown in the mix.” Jubek began. “I was close enough to her to smell her desire, she is a kindred spirit. You may not be on board now, but perhaps later after we get to know her a little better. For I’m almost certain we’ll be seeing her again.”

Woen sighed before giving Jubek his back as he once again glanced down at the communiqué device. Although he had no intention of engaging in a threesome with an Elite Den official, he decided to let Jubek enjoy his fantasies for now for he had larger matters to concentrate on. He began to press a few buttons on the device buy didn’t get very far before his traveling companion once again interrupted him.

Woen almost forgot what he was doing when Jubek came behind him and slipped a hand between his legs to cup his crotch. The skilled fingers there quickly stroked and worked him into a fine arousal. He felt Jubek’s hot breath against his neck before his wet lips collided with the skin there. Woen closed his eyes as he reveled in the feel of Jubek’s fingers as they fondled him while his tongue created a tingling sensation on his neck.

The device was quickly returned to Woen’s pocket before he turned around to find his companion completely naked. The matching silver studs in Jubek’s ears and navel winked at him. His sun-kissed skin seemed to glow and his hardened pink cock sported a creamy, bead of pre-come at the tip. The lust in those slightly iridescent pink orbs could not be denied. Woen suddenly found himself kissing those soft lips, his tongue delving deep to taste the sweetness of the scryer’s mouth. They’d made love countless times over the past two years of their relationship and each time was always a mind-blowing experience. Woen had to admit that among the lovers he’d had in the past, the scryer definitely won hands down.

Jubek grinned against Woen’s lips as he realized he’d managed to work his sometimes stuffy lover into a heated frenzy. He quickly peeled off the man’s black vest and soon it lay forgotten on the tunnel floor. The scryer continued to kiss him while tweaking both flat nipples between his fingers. He pressed his naked body against Woen’s half clothed one, grinding his own cock against the leather material of his lover’s pants.

“Do you want to be inside me?” Jubek asked calmly as they finally broke the kiss.

Woen’s response was a breathy, “Yes.”

Jubek grinned as he gave Woen another brief kiss; “First things first.”

Jubek knelt before his lover and quickly unbuttoned his pants. He then pulled them down Woen’s hips and thighs in one quick tug that allowed his partner’s thick cock to pop free. He deposited the pants at Woen’s ankles and waited for him to step out of them. Woen had barely done so before Jubek was stroking his hard dick between one hand. He lifted the fleshy appendage up towards Woen’s muscled stomach and began to lick at the rounded balls below. There was a light sprinkling of pale, silver pubic hair on the meaty orbs. Jubek adored the feel of them in his mouth.

Woen glanced down at Jubek through half lidded eyes filled with passion. He knew he’d had something important to do just moments ago, but it seemed Jubek was fond of taking his mind off such things. He felt as the scryer moved from one ball to the next, sucking each into his warm mouth and creating some of the most indescribable sensations.

Woen’s breathing had increased and continued to do so as long as Jubek denied his throbbing meat the feel of his moist mouth around it. Woen knew the scryer did it deliberately in order to heighten Woen’s passions to a lofty point. He saw when a stream of pre-come escaped his cock-head and spilled onto Jubek’s fingers that still clutched at the rigid staff. The scryer finally released his balls from his mouth then took those sticky fingers and began to suck on them delicately.

“Mmm,” Jubek reveled in the taste of his lovers’ essence.

Woen began to poke Jubek’s face with the tip of his stiff cock, indicating what he wanted from the scryer. He gasped when Jubek once again grasped his penis by the base of the shaft and began to rub the leaking head against his gorgeous face. This action left a wet trail of pre-come on the scryer’s cheeks, lips and forehead. The sight was so erotic that Woen thought he’d spill himself right there and then. His body jerked and convulsed as he squeezed his eyes shut to delay himself further. When he opened them once more, he saw Jubek looking up at him with a knowing look in those fuchsia eyes. The man grinned up at him before engulfing the tip of Woen’s cock between his lips.

Jubek heard the moan that escaped Woen as he finally sheathed the man’s stiff cock in his mouth. Almost immediately he’d brought his lips down to the base so that they pressed against the fine pubic hairs that cradled Woen’s sex. The scryer’s throat constricted around the cock that would have gagged a lesser man. He was aware that the pleasures invoked by the deep throat would be far greater than what oral sex normally entailed. The penis in his mouth throbbed and hummed as if it were a separate living entity. Jubek enjoyed pleasuring Woen. At the start of their rocky relationship, it proved to be the one thing that would calm the man’s ruffled feathers after many arguments or disagreements.

Jubek was slightly surprised when he felt Woen’s fingers in his hair that sought to get his attention. He glanced up at his lover; cock still stuffed in mouth and recognized what Woen needed. He removed his lips from Woen’s dick with a popping sound before moving up his length to stand before him. Jubek was aware that Woen had impressive stamina; in the past they had engaged in sexual forays that continued for days on end. However, today it seems the man was ready to find release a bit sooner. When Woen lifted Jubek’s body against his, the scryer’s long legs quickly wrapped around his lover’s slender waist. Soon he found himself pressed up against the smooth rock wall and Woen’s hardened cock entering his moist hole.

Woen sighed in partial relief as he buried his rigid member into Jubek’s warm depths. He opted to stay that way for a moment as he reveled in the pleasures of Jubek’s hot ass. He felt the scryer sucking at his collar bone, nipping the skin lightly. If Woen wasn’t capable of healing himself, he’d have an impressive hickie after this was all over.

Woen finally began to move; he pounded against Jubek harshly unmindful of the hard rock wall his lover pressed against. Their relationship simply didn’t consist of lovemaking. More often that not, they engaged in hard fuck sessions like this one. It was the thin line separating pleasure and pain that made such experiences so exhilarating.

Jubek also brought his hips forward to meet Woen’s thrusts. He loved being fucked by this man but was even more thrilled when Woen had finally agreed to engage in a threesome with him. They had yet to pick the third person for none of Jubek’s previous options had yet appealed to Woen. He had hope for the red-haired Commander yet, but they’d have to wait and see.

A moan escaped Jubek’s lips as Woen stroked inside him just right. His own hard cock pressed between both their bodies had been leaking a stream of pre-come for some time now. He felt his balls tighten against him and knew he was very close.

A grunt of pleasure escaped Woen’s lips as he began to come deep within Jubek’s body. His cock-head seemed to spurt endlessly as it released his pent up passions. He was aware of Jubek’s own release that had splattered against his chest. Once Woen’s now deflated organ slipped out of Jubek’s ass, he released his hold on the scryer and allowed him to leave the wall. Woen moved to retrieve some cleansing naps from one of their sacks, but Jubek stopped him.

“Why waste them? I know a better way to clean up,” Jubek winked at him. He leaned forward and began to lap at the sticky secretion he had left on his lover’s chest. He’d barely completed the task before he felt Woen’s cock rise against him once more. “Oh sorry, did I do that?”

Woen lifted Jubek and brought him the short distance to their padded bed roll. “Feigned innocence is not something you’re very good at.” With those words, Woen lowered the scryer to the bed and wasted no time before entering him.

Jubek sighed happily beneath Woen as he was once against penetrated by the man’s magic dick. He realized his lover would not be pleased that they’d wasted all this time later when his passions were no longer impeding his thoughts. However, Jubek was not in a hurry. He felt no urgency in this mission which was partly the reason he’d allowed the guards to confront him. When he wasn’t fucking his brains out he longed for adventure and something told him that what they were involved in here was only just beginning.

~*~

“Where were you?!” Kisku thundered. He’d summoned both Rais and Soiph to him after he’d heard Soiph’s report about the incident with the scryer in the bar.

“I was tending to another matter,” Rais replied calmly.

“And this matter; was more important than finding out what these scryers want?” Kisku’s black eyes bored into Rais. His Captain had never failed him before, but this error was unacceptable.

“Sir, may I point out that even if the Captain had been there – it’s a distinct possibility that we may not have been able to subdue him,” Soiph felt the need to defend her partner.

“You work together as a team; your special weapons work better when there’s two of you, do they not?” Kisku asked.

Soiph merely nodded in reply but was silent.

“Dian, is this not the reason why you refused to allow me delegate Shuoy the Cadence Palace Captain position; because you’re a TEAM?”

“Yes sir,” Rais replied.

“Then explain to me why only one part of the team was present?!” Kisku’s dark eyes blazed with anger. “You know what, both of you get out of here. I’m calling the Tolatrians and getting to the bottom of this.”

“Sir, If I may I think that will be a mistake. My gut is telling me that these scryers are incognito for a reason – I don’t think they are here with the Tolatrians’ blessing,” Soiph stated.

“Well your gut isn’t exactly going to get them out of my city now is it, Commander?” When no reply was forthcoming, Kisku continued, “Dismissed, both of you.”

After leaving the angry brothel owners’ office, Soiph followed Rais back to his office in silence. She’d sensed something in Rais’s voice when she’d contacted him before confronting the scryer. She knew something had been wrong and was dying to find out what had happened.

Rais could almost sense the multitude of questions that were running through his second-in-command’s mind. He decided to speak before she could utter a word. “Soiph I may have to take a leave of absence – I feel unfit to lead at the moment.”

It was rare it ever happened, but Soiph was actually speechless. She decided this was for the best as she allowed him the time he needed to get the matter off his chest.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me; I’ve had this post for ten years and not once has this ever happened.” Rais rubbed his fingers against his forehead as he sought for the words to admit to his partner that he’d done the unthinkable. “Instead of being at your side in battle today I was with Chav. He explained to me the reason he attacked the client.” Rais sighed before continuing. “He thought he’d displeased me in some way and wanted to be punished. So, he did what he believed to be the only way to make that happen.”

Rais strode behind his desk as he fought to find the words to finish telling Soiph the whole story. “I went and got him from the dungeons and took him to a healing room. Then,” and with a heavy heart, “I returned him to the Atrium.”

Soiph knew Rais well enough to read between the lines and understood what he was trying to tell her. Although as far as she knew, this had never happened to the Captain before so she had no instances to draw from in the past. However, she was almost certain that Rais was telling her that he’d fallen in love with Chav. It all made sense now; the way he had withdrawn within himself when the slave had spoken the words; and his annoyance over her referral of Chav as a lying whore.

Guards becoming involved with slaves was not unheard of. There had even been instances where the guard had tried to escape with a slave in the past. The repercussions for such actions were severe which served as a deterrent. However, this never occurred that often as most of the guards recognized they could have everything they wanted at least sexually from said slave.

But then there were men like Rais who had a good heart. He’d worked hard to get to his position and had made some ruthless decisions in the past. It didn’t change the fact that he had remained untainted by all that went on within this facility.

Soiph never imagined this would happen to Rais, but the main question was, “Where do you go from here?”

“I don’t know and I’m pretty sure Draymond won’t like hearing this,” Rais replied.

Soiph shook her head, “I doubt he’s going to let you take this leave until the mess with these scryers is over.”

Rais nodded his agreement. “ Yes I know, but I’d still like all orders to go through you for the moment.” After he got her to agree he took the conversation in a lighter direction. “So, you have nothing else to say? No berating me?”

Soiph gave him a knowing look. “I’ll forever be on your side Captain, you have to realize that.”

“Hmm, I may have just ruined one of the best partnerships this side of the galaxy.”

Soiph grinned at his attempt at humor even in a dire situation like this. “Well it’s not over; don’t go counting us out yet.” She winked at him and was glad when she finally got a smile out of him.

~*~

Erik sat on deck with his feet up on the computer console as he flipped through a digital book. It was a romance that wasn’t particularly exciting as one of the main characters was playing hard to get. Erik pressed the button to close the book and that’s when he noticed a red light flickering on the key panel. Before he could even press the button to find out what was wrong, an alarm began to blare throughout the ship.

{Warning, Ships environmental functions are fluctuating.}

The automated voice repeated with the ships’ alarm. Erik quickly pressed the flashing button to learn what was causing the problem. Apparently the ship had just passed near a solar flare and as a result the environmental controls had been damaged. This was a potentially serious issue for they relegated the entire ship’s life support. He quickly pulled up a map of the vessel to see the infected areas. The red areas indicated where the life support was malfunctioning. Erik felt his heart begin to beat faster when he recognized that Ja’el’s bedchambers were in the red. Without another thought, he dashed out of the bridge and down the metal corridors. He hoped he wouldn’t be too late.

Ja’el felt as if there were a dead weight on his chest. He couldn’t understand it but it was as if the very breath was being crushed out of him. His limbs felt heavy and he couldn’t move, what sort of dream was this?

Suddenly, Ja’el’s eyes flew open as he realized he couldn’t breathe and that his dream was in fact a living nightmare. He choked and gasped for breath as he felt his lungs begin to collapse under the lack of air. As black spots began to blur his image, he realized he was about to die a man full of regrets.

As Ja’el prepared to meet his maker, he suddenly felt the warm feel of lips against his own as they breathed air within him. He closed his eyes and concentrated on this infusion of life that he barely felt himself being lifted and taken out of the room.

Erik continued to breathe air within the suffocating Talion until they arrived in an adjacent room of Ja’el’s quarters that was one of the areas in the green. He felt Ja’el take a deep breath and realized that he’d live. Armed with this knowledge, Erik was still reluctant to remove his lips and did so slowly.

Ja’el stared at Erik unsure of what had just happened, until he heard the ship’s computer speaking.

{Environmental Control Function Restored.}

“What – what happened?” Ja’el found his voice was raspy and barely recognizable.

“We’d grazed a solar flare,” Erik explained as he continued to hold Ja’el against him, fearful the man would slip away if he let go.

Ja’el pressed his face against Erik’s bare chest as he realized just how close he’d come to death. Such things were known to happen because solar flares could be unpredictable in space and the ships were basically a sophisticated piece of machinery that were still subject to their surroundings. Just like that, his life could have been snuffed out and his goal of reuniting with any surviving Talion’s gone. If Erik hadn’t arrived when he did, Ja’el was certain he would have died.

It just occurred to him that his bodyguard had entered his room and given him mouth to mouth without any breathing gear of his own. Was Erik crazy to have done this or had he been driven by the need to save Ja’el’s life that he hadn’t stopped to take precautions? The Talion was surprised that it had even been possible for Erik to share his breath with him while remaining conscious himself.

“How – how did you save me?” Ja’el asked, his voice had returned to a recognizable whisper.

“Sheer will,” was Erik’s simple response as his smoldering green eyes regarded the Talion in his arms.

If Ja’el hadn’t just been through a near death experience he would have smacked the bodyguard for being so cocky. Instead, before he’d even thought it through he was pressing his lips firmly against Erik’s. Almost immediately his protector responded in kind, threading his tongue through their lips with passion-filled intent.

When he felt the pad of Erik’s thumbs on his bare nipples, it occurred to Ja’el that he’d be getting to know his bodyguard much better over the space of the next few minutes. Since Ja’el had been in bed, all he was currently wearing was a pair of thin, silk shorts. Erik partially shared his state of undress and was simply clothed in his black, leather pants.

Ja’el felt the unmistakable bulge at Erik’s thighs and found the man’s desire thrilling. Just a day ago he would not have had such sentiments. He sighed with pleasure when Erik broke the kiss and lowered his lips to Ja’el’s pink nipples. He laved his tongue against the right nub, flicking it back and forth creating the most inexplicable sensations within the Talion.

Ja’el saw when Erik moved lower, clutching the rim of his shorts between those long fingers and tugging downward. His semi-hard cock popped free as he felt his bare buttocks press against the soft rushes of the carpet. He felt suddenly shy, as he lay naked before Erik’s hungry gaze. Ja’el’s breathing increased as he watched Erik spread his thighs before lowering his mouth to the Talion’s quivering dick.

Erik quickly engulfed Ja’el’s penis between his lips and sucked deeply. He twisted his head from side to side for added friction and was pleased when the cock in his mouth rose to firm fullness. He removed his lips and placed two fingers between them. Once they were sufficiently moist, he placed those fingers at Ja’el’s opening. His other hand clutched the younger man’s rigid manhood as he slipped the fingers within him. He was pleased at the look of pleasure that crossed his lovers’ beautiful face. And this was only the beginning, there was so much more to come.

Ja’el found himself pinching his own nipples between his fingers as he reveled in the feel of Erik’s magic fingers. He was so hot for his bodyguard right now that he found it hard to believe that only moments before he was practically on his death bed. He felt wonderful now, as if his lungs hadn’t been ready to collapse and his life cut short.

“Take me,” Ja’el’s voice sounded foreign to him, but he knew exactly what he wanted.

Erik paused to remove his pants before kneeling between Ja’el’s spread legs. He used a glob of pre-come that had escaped the tip of his erection to moisten the shaft in preparation for penetration. After taking a moment to line himself up, he thrust in deeply, a moan escaping his own lips as he was soon buried within Ja’el’s warm depths.

Ja’el hooked his right leg against Erik’s calf, anchoring himself in place as his bodyguard thrust in and out of him. He was unmindful of the fact that his ass would no doubt suffer from rug burns after it was all said and done. A contended sigh escaped his lips as Erik grasped Ja’el’s cock and began to stroke it to the pace of his thrusts.

A part of Ja’el had been so afraid to let this man get close, and for good reason. The fact that they were currently engaging in mind blowing sex was one factor. How difficult would it now be to part ways with him once their mission was over? They had crossed a forbidden line in their working relationship. Ja’el found it difficult to concentrate on such thoughts when Erik was pumping in and out of him with swift, steady strokes. Before long, he felt his creamy release leave his body to stream over the fingers that continued to clutch his now slick dick.

The erotic sight of Ja’el’s ejaculation sent Erik over the edge. He grunted softly as he emptied himself within his lover’s delightful body. He then lifted Ja’el onto his lap without separating their bodies to claim those soft lips with a kiss.

Ja’el returned the kiss and marveled at Erik’s skills in this particular department. Once the kiss waned, his eyes locked with his bodyguard. “You saved me.”

“I’ve never heard making love referred to in that way.” A soft smile tugged the corner of Erik’s lips as he teased him.

“I have to say that I no longer regret bringing you along.” Ja’el felt when Erik’s penis still imbedded within him once again hardened. “In more ways than one.” He quickly took the initiative and began to pump his body up and down atop the erect member.

Erik’s green gaze radiated passion and pure lust. This was a new beginning for him and Ja’el and he for one intended to savor it.

~*~

“Have you ever been to Samian before, Erik?” Ja’el asked as they sat in the observation room looking at the stars whooshing by through the large windows. Ja’el was actually seated in Erik’s lap as the bodyguard held him close in his strong embrace.

“Yes,” Erik replied before nuzzling his lips against Ja’el’s soft neck.

Ja’el sighed blissfully. They had been making love almost non-stop since three days ago after the life support incident when Ja’el finally realized he was ready to take this big step and once again enter a relationship. Of course they’d stop to eat and take showers but the private time they were enjoying now was the first in a long time that didn’t include phenomenal sex.

Ja’el couldn’t quite understand it, after each lovemaking session he’d have the stamina to keep going. Erik didn’t seem bothered by the incessant screwing either. In fact it was almost as if Ja’el was drawing his strength from the bodyguard. He shrugged it off as Erik simply knowing how to take the initiative in bed. This certainly was nothing to complain about.

“So tell me, what is it like?” Ja’el laughed when Erik’s tongue began to tickle his neck.

“Hmm?” The bodyguard seemed more interested in what he was doing to Ja’el than making conversation.

“Samian, we’ll be there tomorrow afternoon; I figure it’d be good to hear from someone who has been there.” Ja’el pulled himself away from Erik slightly to indicate to the bodyguard that he was serious about them just ‘talking’ this time.

“It’s your typical, bustling trade port – oh with a huge whorehouse.” Erik was about to run his hands over Ja’el’s back and ass when the younger man suddenly moved out of his reach. Erik sighed as he saw Ja’el get comfortable on the sofa next to him.

“Tell me more,” Ja’el said with a smile.

Erik leaned back with his arms folded across his chest. “What do you want to know?”

Ja’el would not have been this direct with Erik if they hadn’t spent the last three days getting to know each other so well. At least they had intimately. “Have you ever been to the brothel?”

Erik raised a dark eyebrow in Ja’el’s direction. “I’ve never needed to pay for sex,” Was his truthful reply.

“Of course not, look at you. I’ll bet you’ve never had anyone force themselves on you either.” Ja’el lowered his gaze as painful memories began to flood his thoughts.

They might have spent a lot of time fucking themselves silly over the past few days, but there were still a lot of things that his young client kept strictly to himself. Their sex had been incredible and Erik knew he wasn’t dealing with an inexperienced man. Had Ja’el been sexually overt before the tragedy with the Tolatrians, or was that something that came about afterwards?

“Are you speaking from experience?” Erik felt the need to ask. There were a lot of secrets he was keeping from Ja’el as well but for a very good reason. Yet he wished the younger man would trust him enough to open up completely.

Ja’el considered his time at the mines personal baggage; which is why all the information he had shared with Erik thus far had been about happier times and his life on Talion before the Tolatrians came. He didn’t want to burden his new lover with all he had been through.

“Anxiety is what’s speaking right now. I get to find out tomorrow if my mission once again comes to a dead end and if I’ll have to start all over again.”

“Well if you don’t find what you need tomorrow, I have nowhere to be and I’ll be happy to continue helping you,” Erik smiled at him.

“Thank you,” Ja’el flew into Erik’s arms to plant a wet kiss on his lips.

“I can think of another way you can thank me,” Erik stated as he slowly began to unbutton the other man’s shirt.

~*~

Woen stood at the entrance of their tunnel hideout gazing upward at a large lumbering ship that had come into view; its destination was Samian. He recognized the vessel’s design; it was a Tolatrian war ship. He felt when Jubek pressed his naked body against his from behind.

“Come back to bed,” Jubek whispered against Woen’s neck. He was disappointed that his lover had already dressed and now seemed to have other things on his mind.

Woen turned to give Jubek his attention. The scryer’s sun-kissed naked body usually never failed to turn him on besides the fact that they’d spent most of the night fucking each other’s brains out. Today however, he could resist Jubek’s allure by the sheer fact that they could very well be in grave danger. After giving Jubek a once over he turned his attention back to the ship that was almost out of sight.

“Ah, so we have company.” Jubek came to stand next to his lover, unmindful of his nudity or the semi-hard, pink cock that hung between his slightly muscular thighs.

“You know why they’re here. You’re wanted for treason and no doubt that ship is bursting with scryers and mediators out for blood,” Woen stated.

“I took them on before, I can again.” There was a half smile on Jubek’s beautiful face.

“Right and exactly which army is going to distract them this time while you rig their ship to blow?” Woen raised a silver eyebrow in his direction.

“Maybe I can enlist the aid of that pretty red-head,” Jubek teased.

Woen’s silver eyes bored into his lover. “Are you finally willing to admit that we may be in over our heads here?”

“Hmm, you could be right,” Jubek began. “But of course we can always return to Tagasus at any time.” He mock saluted Woen before saying, “Ready to tuck tail and run when you are.”

Woen recognized Jubek’s taunt. His saucy lover was basically daring him to cut their adventure short before the fun had even begun. The part of him that was so much like Jubek simply couldn’t let that happen. “Get dressed; we may have some unfinished business left here yet. Who knows, maybe the arrival of the Tolatrians may even flush out the one we seek.” Their search of the Elite Den database had not revealed the one they sought. So, now it was time to turn to other methods of finding him.

Jubek grinned, “Now you’re talking.” He quickly took Woen’s advice and got dressed.

~*~

Erik stood with Ja’el in the golden lobby of the Elite Den as they awaited a Commander Shuoy to greet them. The bodyguard was once again dressed in his long, green trench coat with black leather pants and matching boots. His companion had also resorted to his J. Leighton persona via the AC injector; although Erik hadn’t been happy about it.

Erik remembered what Ja’el had told him that afternoon, before the ship made its descent into Samian.

“I trust you to protect me, but this is also my way of protecting myself.”
The Tolatrians had a price on the heads of any surviving Talion’s. Yet Erik had to wonder if that was the sole reason Ja’el wore the ugly mask, or had something else happened to him in the past that prompted its use. He was grateful they didn’t have to wait too much longer before a buxom red-head in a tight-fitting black uniform entered the hall and headed for them.

There were several elevator pads surrounding the room, the high ceiling boasted a half dozen chandeliers that filled the hall with light. The yellow, marble floors reflected the light bathing the entire area in gold. The amber colored flowering plants and gilt colored walls reflected the high stature of the establishment.
There was a small podium located in the center of the lobby which is where Erik stood with Ja’el; they were soon joined by their host.

“Greetings, I am Commander Soiph Shuoy. I regret to inform you that Lord Kisku Draymond is otherwise occupied today and will not be able to meet with you.”

“Is there no way he can fit us in? Even for a few minutes?” Ja’el asked.

“Not today, I’d be happy to reschedule a meeting in a few days time,” Soiph offered.

“A few days? That is unacceptable; we traveled long and far to get here and Mr. Draymond should have been made aware that we would be arriving soon.” Erik began forcefully. “If you can not make this happen, then I want to speak to someone who can.”

Soiph stared at the green-eyed stranger who was so handsome he made her toes curl. She didn’t know what was the matter with her. First she’d found herself fantasizing about that pink-haired scryer she’d met a few days ago, and now she was almost certain she’d brand the image of this man’s face in her mind for later use. Either way she could tell they had no intention of leaving and she wasn’t quite ready to have them thrown out on their ear yet. She’d need to refer to someone else who was better at diplomacy than she.

“Captain Dian, could you come to the lobby please? I require your assistance,” Soiph spoke into the radio at her waist. After a few moments she received Rais’s reply.

“On my way, Commander.”

“He’ll be here shortly,” Soiph forced a smile. It was particularly hard to do considering the Tolatrian war ship that was now parked in their docking bay. A representative of the General as well as a bevy of guards and a few scryers had been onboard. She wasn’t quite sure where they were now, but the representative and Draymond had been squirreled away in his office for some time. Soiph was glad she didn’t have to think further on the matter when her handsome partner entered the lobby.

Rais greeted the newcomers with firm handshakes. He was a bit unnerved by the green-eyed stare of the larger man. Something told him this exchange would not be particularly pleasant.

“Welcome to the Elite Den,” Rais began. “I understand that you are here to see Lord Draymond. Well he is indeed otherwise occupied; we’ve had some unexpected guests arrive only today. We can offer you room and board in our guest quarters while you wait giving you full use of the brothel and its perks during your stay here.”

“My client has an important matter to discuss with your Lord Draymond; it shouldn’t take too long,” Erik stated.

“Your client? Are you his legal advisor?” Rais questioned.

“No, I’m his bodyguard,” Erik replied truthfully.

Rais returned his attention to the smaller man next to the bodyguard. “So you are Mr. Leighton. What do you have to say on the matter?”

Erik would have bashed the blue-eyed man’s skull in if he hadn’t thought Ja’el would be displeased. They were getting nowhere and these two were just here to stall them.

“I would like to see Mr. Draymond today if it’s at all possible,” Ja’el stated. He hadn’t minded Erik doing the talking for him. In fact he’d felt safer having the attention diverted away from him.

“It’s like I said, that simply isn’t possible…”

“By the gods!” Soiph exclaimed.

Rais glanced over at his partner and wondered what had prompted her outburst.

“Captain, call for back-up immediately – he’s here.” Soiph didn’t wait to explain further as she began to weave her way through the crowded lobby towards a hooded figure in the right corner of the room.

“I’m afraid you’ll both have to leave at once; we’re about to go into emergency lock-down.” Rais didn’t spare the newcomers a second glance as he took off in Soiph’s direction while speaking softly into his radio.

There was a confused expression on Ja’el’s face as he glanced up at Erik who didn’t seem in the least nonplussed. “Erik, what do you think is going on?”

Erik was glancing in the direction of the red-head woman who was now confronting a hooded man. “Follow me.” The bodyguard placed his hand on Ja’el’s shoulder to make sure he obeyed as they walked to the elevator pad in the northern corner.

“Well I’ll admit it; you have more balls than I thought you did to come here,” Soiph said to the hooded figure wearing purple standing with his back to her. She hadn’t drawn her weapon because she wanted this confrontation to happen before he took the defensive. She watched as he slowly turned around to face her, and then pushed his hood off revealing his face.

“I didn’t want to disappoint you,” Jubek said with a grin on his glossy pink lips.

“Well the gig is up; we know the Tolatrians didn’t send you and they’re here right now.” Soiph half expected to see surprise on the scryers’ face, instead he simply gazed at her with a half grin on those attractive features. “You already knew,” She surmised. “Did you want them to come?”

“Hardly, the Tolatrians never know how to throw a good party. You on the other hand am certain would make a very exceptional hostess.” Jubek’s bright pink eyes gave her the once over as he licked his lips.

Soiph felt a sexual shiver run down her spine as she once again was at a loss for words. She’d never expected that this man could do this to her.

“Commander, now!”

Soiph glanced back at Rais who had come to back her up, he now had his short staff out and had begun to rotate it in a spinning fashion. She quickly performed a back flip to put some distance between her and the scryer before pulling out her own staff and doing the same.

Jubek watched them curiously; they were not spinning the staffs in his direction, what sort of attack was this? He barely took notice when a dozen Den guards arrived and began to order the rest of the patrons out of the lobby.
“No matter what happens, don’t move from this spot and stay behind me,” Erik whispered to Ja’el as they crouched low behind a tall plant to watch the scene unfold before them.

Jubek was slightly annoyed when the guards began to fire their phasers at him before all the potential clients were even out of the structure. There was a bored expression on his face as he idly shadow-stepped back and forth out of their line of fire. When a phaser shot hit a passerby, he thought perhaps to take this fight elsewhere, but soon realized that he couldn’t. Jubek made an attempt to teleport out of the lobby but realized that something was physically stopping him from doing so.

The scryer returned his attention to the two guards wielding their now glowing baton sticks and suddenly it hit him exactly what they were doing. Those short staffs were magically endowed, he’d realized this when he’d first encountered the red-haired diva. She’d attempted to capture him with it, but apparently that wasn’t all it could do. The entire lobby was now encased in a spiritual barrier that would allow him to teleport within the area but not outside of it.

“Very clever,” Jubek gave a short clap.

“Take him,” Rais ordered.

The guards attacked, coming at him from every angle. Jubek pulled a long, transparent glass staff from within his robe. It appeared to be filled with a clear liquid as he used it to parry and deflect phaser blasts. One by one the guards fell around him, only to be replaced by more that seemed a continuous swarm from the elevator pads.

Jubek decided to change tactics and raised his palm firing a high intensity energy beam at one of the elevators. If reinforcements couldn’t get to him then this would be over soon. Sparks flew as he destroyed the electrical wiring which even caused some of the plants to catch on fire. He noticed two men who had been crouching near the northern elevator pad before the plant next to them burst into flames. One of them stood up and glared at him.

Jubek gave his attention to the tall man wearing the green trench coat and saw when he said something to his companion who then moved further away from the burning plant but continued to crouch low. He noticed when the green-eyed man returned his attention to him, before pulling the hilt of a weapon from within the folds of his coat. A large blade extracted from the hilt in three short bursts.

The scryer parried a guard’s attack without even taking his eyes from his new opponent and quickly tossed the already forgotten man on the floor. He wasn’t surprised to see the newcomer charge him. He braced for impact, confident that he could take him without needing to teleport away. When their weapons collided, Jubek was suddenly lifted and thrown several feet in the air. A lesser person would have crashed in an unceremonious heap, but Jubek’s agility allowed for him to land on both feet. He was stunned when his attacker didn’t offer him a reprieve but was once again charging him. This time he teleported out of range, and planned to reappear behind the charging man with the advantage.

After completing this tactic, Jubek was stunned to find himself bleeding when his attacker reversed his charge and quickly slashed him across the chest. Impossible, it was almost as if he knew what move Jubek would make. He saw when the man once again moved to strike and wondered if he’d be forced to save himself or if Woen would finally join the battle. Either way, he was going to have to make a decision exponentially quickly.