Chapter One

The Orulawn Confederation was a section of the universe that was know to be uninhabitable by human standards. It's systems were filled with planets and orbs that were rugged and hostile. The people were barbaric in everything they did. In the past, they took anything they wanted from other systems by force. As of late though, the Federation had made Orulawn raids into other systems unprofitable. The only thing left to do was make a peace of sorts. At least they would have trade. With peace negotiations going on there was no attacks, no one to pursue them. Just the boring humdrum schedule, still, they were wary of ships in their sectors.

Although they were built much as humans, they were offended by the term humanoid. Most Orulawns were tall and muscular, with a light blue complexion. Their hair was averaged from being a whitish blue to dark lavender. The horned ridges outlining their faces edged their hair, their skin was tough though very smooth.

One would have thought that with skin so soft blue as theirs that at least they would have been calmer by nature, but that was not the case. The more agitated they became the bluer their skin.

Their mode of dress was all ursh, or leather, and armor. These people were battle orientated. They had been for centuries. Dealings with humans and other life forms they had come into contact with hadn't been the most pleasant of experiences.

The frontier was not really the place any young officer want to be but at least, despite the lack of female company, there had seldom been a lack of action or entertainment. With the peace treaty this changed. Lieutenant Ankor Thorn was on his first assignment in space, serving about Winded Death, under Captain Tankon. Thorn was bigger and heavier than most Orulawns. His body was defined and solid. His oval face was perfectly framed by the horned ridge which resembled a princely crown. It held back his light lavender hair which fell to the middle of his back. He had dark amethyst eyes. Purple eyes were rare even for an Orulawn. In most cases only the higher caste Orulawns had his shade of eyes. They were outlined and shadowed by long dark lavender lashes. His nose was not so long as the average human, it was narrow and well formed.

His quiet demeanor leads others to tease him but they quickly learn that unless they outranked him it is dangerous to tease him, cross him, or offend him in anyway. During recreation periods he practices and then others see just what kind of warrior he is. He fights furiously and viciously. He carries a grudge with a ruthlessness that would make his ancestors proud. He is not a warrior to take lightly. He formed a comradeship with Gordak and Tankon, a bond based on the common hatred of humans. They spend quite a bit of time on the holoplane exercising and killing holographic humans. With the new peace treaty being worked on, it may well be the only fighting they get to do. Still, any excuse is a good one for sparring.

"Thorn, you really ought to take it easy on the rest of us. Most of us aren't as big as you are" Dorkoff remarked

"Then beware of who you call 'feminine eyed' Thorn looked pointedly at the communications officer.

"Yes, you must watch what you say to our young Lieutenant, unless of course you're bigger or out rank him. It doesn't hurt to have both going for you" Gordak interjected walking up form behind them and draping an arm over the shoulders of each young officer.

"But Dorkoff is right, Thorn. You should shake off this stiff posture. But hopefully that will change soon. Someday, some female is going to turn your world around. I would wish it would be before we have to deal with the humans." He paused thoughtfully " Humans are strange. The race has changed in the last twenty five years. I can not forgive them anymore than you can for the deaths of my family but the times are changing." Gordak advised.

Winged Death is out in the farthest reaches of their apace doing a routine military sweep when their sensors pick up a derelict craft.

"Captain Tankon, you're requested on the quarter deck. Captain Tankon, you're requested on the quarter deck. The comlink buzzes in Tankon's private quarters.

"What is it Dorkoff? I'm slightly indisposed so make it quick." The Captain responds, irritated that his relaxation period is being interrupted.

"We've detected a ship. A life form scan indicates one being, a human. This sign are faint, as if barely alive"

"I want as much data as you can retrieve from the computer and send it to the conference room. Inform the commanders and Lieutenant Thorn to report to me there, Tankon out"

Lieutenant Ankor Thorn walked briskly from the exercise deck to the conference room. The summons had been urgent, although since the peace negotiations he couldn't think of anything which could possibly be urgent.

Stepping through the portal Thorn saluted his captain and took his seat. There were many senior officers at this meeting, another sign that something special was going on.

"We have come across a derelict ship drifting in space. There is one life form detected aboard and that life is a human. I summoned you all here to determine how we intend to proceed in handling this situation."

"Why is this human an issue. Turn it over to its own kind and be done with it" Gordak grumbled.

"Turning the human over to the Federation would be good for peace negotiations " Dorkoff commented.

Tankon watched the faces of his officers. Gordak and Thorn looked extremely displeased. Others looked excited. Another chance for adventure, and with a human! Most Orulawns had never had contact with a human, had read the history and seen communications, but never actually had dealing with them. This could be an opportunity to learn about the race they were about to make peace with.

"It has been suggested to me that we rescue the human and keep it with us for a short time for study and observation. That is IF we can keep the human safe from any hostility. I am asking my officers to put away any bad feeling for humans in order to achieve this end. Do you think we can achieve this?"

The room was abuzz with excited murmuring from young officers who looked forward to the opportunities that a human would afford them.

Gordak knew that Thorn would resent a human presence but he also knew his duty to the Confederacy. Something he himself could teach Thorn.

"Captain, I would like to assure you that, between myself and Lieutenant Thorn, the human could no safer anywhere else in the galaxy".

Thorn jumped at the mention of his name. He stared at Gordak as if he'd grown an extra head. He couldn't believe he'd just been volunteered to play nursemaid to a human! Especially from another who hated humans.

"I have no love for humans but I know my duty to my government, as well does Lieutenant Thorn" Gordak added so that Thorn didn't revolt on the spot.

"Very good Commander. Then I will assign Lieutenant Thorn to lead the expedition to the derelict ship to retrieve both computer logs and the human aboard.

Thorn strode down the corridor with a disgusted expression. Just his luck he thought to himself. He had to retrieve a human. "Engineer Fravre, please find the control deck and transfer all the computer data to Winged Death. Crewmen Jert and Phanto, please check the large chambers. Corporal Bacvas, you check these smaller chambers on the rooms on the right hand side of the corridor" Thorn ordered.

"Yes Sir"

Thorn walked by each room on his side of the corridor. There were several chambers in each large room. He came to a chamber that contained only one room and decided to look into the room. He found feminine clothing like none he'd ever seen. They were bright colored and very soft. They were designed like none he'd ever seen before. He was amazed.

The gases in the suspension chamber keep them from viewing the human inside. The rest of the party reports that the lights are out and only decayed bodies are left throughout the ship. No doubt we've found the human, Thorn thinks to himself. Even though he can't make out any details, the case is small enough to hold a child. That was something Thorn dreaded the thought of.

Lieutenant Thorn set the controls to bring the human out of animation. The case starts clearing and a form emerges. The lights flicker wildly. The case opens and the mist begins to clear. The face and body of a young lady becomes discernable.

Her body is covered with a peculiar sheet wrapped around her. Her skin is a pale pink, soft and supple to the touch. His hand had stroked her smooth cheek without his realizing it. He jerked his hand back as if burnt. He is stunned, he's never reacted like this before or felt this way before. The faces of his warriors tell him they think and feel the same. He watched her eyes as life began to pour back into her body. The eye lids fluttered yet did not open. The one feature thus far that set her apart was her flaming red hair. Her heart shaped face and almond shaped eyes, although closed, were definitely not the typical human. It wasn't until she opened her eyes that Thorn's world stopped revolving, his universe caved in. The most brilliant glowing emeralds he'd ever seen shone back at him. Her eyes.

He never heard of a human having such coloring! They were usually extremely pale and their hair either without coloring or dark. He'd never heard of RED hair or of brilliant eyes. She was a vision even by Orulawn standards. The brilliance of her coloring made her something of an artist's creation.

The sheet thing wrapped around her covered one shoulder and from her chest down to just below her hips. There was more of her shapely body revealed then covered. She would have been truly magnificent if her skin had been blue and her face had the bone ridging outling her face. He could have fallen in love.

It took a few seconds for him to realize that her vision hadn't returned yet. By the time he'd collected himself, she was beginning to be able to see dark silhouettes.

He realized that the murmurs were his men talking, exclaiming over the girl's obvious beauty.

"Bacvas, pick the girl's belongings and bring them aboard our ship. I have no want to stay aboard a ship of decay and death" he picked up the girl and started to a clear space so that he could be teleported to Winged Death.

She was disorientated, not sure of anything. She felt as though she was waking from a dream. Her sight was fuzzy. She felt as if being laid on something hard and cold. Her eyes closed again and she fell into a normal slumber.

The doctor examined the girl. The medical records were limited at best, but she seemed fine from what he could tell. Her organs seemed to be located in about the same locations as Orulawns and all seemed to be functioning at a normal capacity. Her breathing and heartbeat were strong and steady. Woredo recorded everything possible for the medical professions future study of the human race. Thorn left the girl to the doctor and reports to Captain Tankon.

"I have delivered the human to doctor Woredo, Captain"

"Good. She is resting comfortable I assume?"

"Yes Sir She opened her eyes for a few moments but Doctor Woredo says she's in a normal state of slumber now. She's extremely small, child size. Was anything useful found in the computers on who she is?" Thorn ask

"I have studied what little data there was to be transmitted. Apparently she is a princess. Her father was over thrown and killed in a revolution. The offspring were sent into space; basically they were exiled instead of executed. Ships which were fully automated and equipped with suspended animation chambers were fueled to the max, and sent into space, carrying the children out of the concern of their government. She is Laticia De Nu Moray, daughter of King Stephen and Queen Doreena. She was all of sixteen years old when shipped into exile. According to the data, that was five hundred and one years ago." Tankon informed his lieutenant.

"Is she pretty, if a human could be considered pretty" he asked absently.

"If a human could be pretty, she would be beautiful as no other human ever seen. Her apparel is very different and I've never known ANYONE to have red hair! Her eyes are such a brilliant green they could be used to power lasers if they could be kept and still retain their luster." Thorn exclaimed.

His amazement couldn't be contained. But then so had Tankon been told by yet another who couldn't keep his amazement hid either. The Captain smiled ruefully. This girl would have the whole crew up in arms before something was done with her.

"I would have a look at this new found trinket. Would you care to accompany me to the medical facility? I would see to our acquisitions health myself before I report finding her to the embassy."

"If you wouldn't mind I have some other matters to attend before I return to check with the doctor" Thorn said stiffly. He was obviously eager to be any where else but the medical center. So the young lieutenant was more affected than he led on. He was so stiff, a plank would be easier twisted.

"Very well Lieutenant. You are at ease. Go find some relaxation" Tankon ordered smiling.

Thorn entered his quarters and laid down to relax. By the Lords, what was wrong with him? He felt so strange when he saw the human girl. He hated humans yet she had such an intense effect on him. He wanted to touch her, to feel the fire that her coloring promised. He wanted to ravage her as his Orulawn ancestors would have. Nothing short of rape would describe what he wanted to do to her. He couldn't figure out why in all the universe he'd never felt this wild fire passion before and even more baffling to him was why he felt this for a human!

He drifted off but peace was not to be found even in sleep. Fire and emeralds invaded his dreams, tormented his slumbering mind. It seemed as if he moved in slow motion, through a cold mist. He was searching for something. It was the same dream that had been occurring for the last few sleep periods. This time however there was a subtle difference. As he moved he felt warm. The air was cold but he felt as though he were approaching a fire. A mountain loomed before him and it seemed to be an active volcano, covered with sparkling gems and foliage like he'd never seen before. This cold mist seemed to turn to steam the closer he got to the volcano. He climbed to the top and found a statue at the top but he couldn't make out any of the details. Suddenly a racket seemed to be buzzing in his head. Slowly the dream faded, he realized that the racket was a wake up buzzer. He sighed and got up, realizing that he'd slept in his uniform. He changed and started for the control deck.

Thorn stepped from the lift and onto the deck. The communications officer turned to ask him a question but seeing his expression made him think twice. Commander Gordak watched his second and smiled. He already heard that the human was most unusual, red hair no less, and at least half her body was bared to sight. She seemed to be completely at odds with everything he knew of humans. He couldn't wait to get off duty and be able to investigate this new enigma.

"What do you think of her, Lt?" he asked casually.

"Who?"

"Why, our human of course" he said still watching the computer decipher and translate the data taken from the derelict ship.

"I don't think of her" Thorn answered sourly

"It seems that she is a royal princess. Princess Laticia De NuMoray" Gordak read from the screen.

"She was sixteen at the time she was placed in animation, about five hundred years ago. Ah, here's something interesting. She's a warrior! She was overwhelmed and knocked unconscious in the final battle. Her status saved her form being raped so she was still virgin."

"So Captain Tankon told me. Does everyone know we have a human princess aboard?" Thorn complained.

"In the yeomen's reports they claim that she is beautiful, that she has red hair and green eyes. Is this true?" Gordak asked doubtfully.

"Aye, she has hair the color of flame and eyes of emerald" he told his commander. Gordak looked up at Thorn. Something in the young officer's voice sounded strained. He decided he needed to take a trip to the Health deck. This female must be a rare find. The yeomen had sung her praises as though she were a goddess and now Thorn was behaving strangely.

Captain Tankon stepped through the portal quietly. Doctor Woredo was examining the sample under his glass. The only sounds were that of machines operating and light breathing. The girl lay sleeping peacefully on a bed across the room. He couldn't tell much from where he was except that she was tiny.

"Captain, I didn't hear you come in. What can I do for you this day?" he asked cheerfully.

"I have come to check on our newest acquisition, this rare jewel that we seem to have stumbled on to. My men tell me that for a human she is a goddess." He explained.

"Humans have a stone called opal that resembles her skin, white with a golden inner glow. Her eyes are like brilliant emeralds, and her hair is like molten lava, a perfection of gold and fire." Woredo appraised her beauty with prose.

Tankon's brow rose. This girl seemed to inspire romantic poetry from every man who'd seen her thus far.

"Well, let's have a look at her. I've already studied the computer files on her and feel that I know her. I would like to see this exceptional young human. At once a valiant warrior and a beauty to set men to writing verse" he laughed. Woredo led him over to the girl saying "what do you mean warrior?"

"It seems she was one of the castle and her father's last defenders. The Queen and royal ladies fought to the death, and all of the remaining children, male and female alike, fought in the final battle. They were all trained warriors. It might be advisable to remember that. Spilling blood will not bother her. She has already taken more than one life in battle" Tankon cautioned the doctor.

"Indeed, she is a beauty: her fair skin is like pure anthrop, the golden glow is a vital sign. He looked down at the young girl and his breath caught in his throat. She was indeed the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. His first thought of her beauty were as if he were to recite a poem. One had to think of the most beautiful, vibrant things in the universe to be able to describe her perfection. If he had misgivings before they doubled now. He would have to do something in order to keep control of his men and keep the girl safe. He wasn't sure what to do. She affected any and all men who looked upon her. The man most lost to her was the man who fought hardest against the feeling she inspired. Lieutenant Ankor Thorn,

Tankon turned to the doctor, "Let no one see her. I don't want any mishaps" he left the health quarters quickly and return to his quarters. He had to get this girl off his ship.