Paradise IV
a/n Enter Emperor Staleek. My compliments to the costume designer and to Duncan for his portrayal of him. I must have something for royal and regal armor. FYI Midge is my OC too.
Scorpius reread the first entry of the journal again and felt his heart plummet. She's a half breed like himself. Obviously of different parentage, but none the less, like him. He's not alone. Covering his startled mouth, he turns back to where Alyssum wandered off to. Could this be the reason she saved him? Could this really be true that there is another successful breeding-experiment and from the Peace Keeper side, no less!?
A wealth of brand new questions begin to spawn in his head, but before he can grasp on to any one thought though, his stomach growls. Oh, right, food. The loose folded paper in his other hand flaps in the breeze drawing his attention. Not only did she give him a list of chores to do (groan) but also instructions for meals, cleaning, and bathing.
He looks down to himself and has to agree with her, he does need to bathe. It's only been a matter of a few days that he has been able to stay conscience for a whole day's cycle and yes, he does reek.
"Well I guess a good story will just have to wait a little while," he pats the journal with a sigh of put-off. He looks over the notes again and sees what he needs to do to prepare for bathing. It's not at all like his days aboard a ship where you just activate the controls and wa-la, a shower. No, this will take time to stoke a fire and heat water….
Looking over to the two barrels at each corner of the cabin front he checks the notes again:
Water in the east barrel is straight from the waterfall and needs to be applied to the plants and used for cleansing of dishes and cloth. The western barrel is from the lake itself and contains additional minerals and properties that our unique physiology can take in. More than that, needs. Use that for bathing and for meals. It will kill the plants, but we need it for survival. You will become sick if you do not ingest it several times a day. I find the blue flower petals help with the taste of the alkali water. Oh, that is the one plant that DOES need western-water once a day.
Scorpius looks it over once more. So the blue Bird of Paradise plant thrives on this same alkali water that the Scarran body needs. Intriguing. This will need more research. Well there is something to occupy his mind during the days. First things first though is to get the water warm and into the tub.
Rising and taking the journal with him, he finds his legs stronger and his lungs breathing easier today as well. His chest muscles must be healing from the blow he took during the crash. Stopping at the doorway, he looks around but sees no sign of the crashed pod. So just where did she find him and how far did she drag him back here? And once more, why?
Stomach growls put all those thoughts away once again and he begins his preparations. While the water heats on the wood burning stove, Scorpius eats a simple meal of fruit and left over bread. He smiles seeing she has concealed a vacuum box inside the wood and stone cabinet. There are several loaves of bread that will stay fresh for at least a week within this unit. Maybe she does have cold storage too, he chuckles to the ingenuity mixed with humble primitive setting. Eating he looks over the rest of her detailed notes. She must have worked on this last night while he slept the night away.
Once the water is warm enough for bathing, he pulls the large table away from the wall which the 'bathtub' is stowed underneath and near the stove. Smart move. The water doesn't have to be hauled very far and the tub has multiple uses. Pouring the warmed caldron of water into the cut-down cargo container, he can see this Alyssum (and who ever she used to live with) are no simpletons. Survivalists. She may have been cast away, but she is no idiot. Most certainly if she has survived here for fifteen years mental as well as physical strength have been granted to her.
Scorpius peels off the simple light weight night shirt and looks down at himself. There are a few nasty bruises still healing here and there but it looks like nothing had been broken in the crash. Well, maybe one rib, but that's nothing too surprising it was quite a violent ending to the small craft. What is surprising is to see his actual skin in the natural daylight. His body still maybe lithe and have lost some muscle mass due to his convalescing, but wow. He's only used to seeing this much of himself only under misty-harsh florescent lights. Not under the nature of a slightly yellow sunlight with real UV rays. Yes it's not direct sunlight through the windows but still… He is very much a male. For the first time in a very long, long time, he lets his hands touch his own body.
No gloves. No cooling suit. His skin actually FEELS. Not just the tender skin of a naked chest or belly, but the palms of his hands as well. When was the last time they touched anything naturally? Yes Alyssum's wrist, but that was a grasp, not a caress like this. He's not touching himself in a an arousal need, no nothing like that. This is an amazement of his own form.
He is alive. He feels. He lives. He lives?
A sigh pull of his stomach muscles in and then puffs all the air out of his chest. With that, his hands splay down his narrow chest, trim belly, Scarran-boned hips and then fall to his sides empty. Down he looks to his form. So much of it is Sebacean but there are most certainly Scarran attributes. The hips, the apex of the hips that used to please Natira and Sikozu, the thighs of a Sebacean but the tiny versions of Scarran footing. Once more the diaphragm pulls in the air only to be expelled from the chest in a deep sigh.
He lives… like this.
The rustling sound of paper catches his eye again and he sees the journal on the counter's edge. A rueful smile pulls from his lips and he picks it up to set it on the table's edge where he can reach it once settled into the warm bath.
Thoughtfully, Alyssum had left a change of clothing, a basket of soap and wash rag and even a thick piece of cloth to use as a towel. Scorpius can feel his cheeks warm to her tenderness. A tenderness that very few have given him. Once more he can feel the ping in the back of his heart for someone but can't name or picture them.
Shrugging the ping aside, he climbs into the tub and lets out a deep Scarran groan. Oooh how his muscles love the feel of this warm water surrounding and supporting his healing body. It feels so sinfully delightful. He lets himself slide all the way under the water. Feeling it cover his face and head-top he sighs delightfully. Pushing only his nostrils and mouth up to the surface, makes the air exchange and back under.
The castaway enjoys the pleasure of this simple bath and soft scrubbing to his tingling living skin. He can see what she meant by it feeling wonderful on his skin. Already he can feel a difference. Even with the soap scrubbing the dirt away, he can feel the elements of the water revitalizing his body.
He's not sure how long he sat there rejuvenating in a the water before he knew he needed to stop being lazy and get to work. The journal is still sitting there practically calling him to read it, but he knows there will be time to read it after he gets a few other tasks completed. The bedding most certainly needs to be washed as does the night shirt he's been living in for who knows how long.
Rising out of the water, it makes him laugh to feel himself chilled. An open and delighted laugh. He picks up the towel and buries his face into it while trying to remember the last time he laughed in good humor. Most certainly he has laugh, but most of the time it's in disgust or mirth, not real humor. This time it is a full fledged laugh of delight.
He scrubs the towel into his deep Scarran facial structure and then carefully around where the rod-assembly releases on the side of his head. It feels odd. Carefully he traces over it with his finger tip. A new layer of skin is sealing over it! If it opens, it's going to hurt like hell and then some, but then again, maybe it won't have to if he stays on this regiment of alkali water. Turning while he pats down his bruised and healing rib, he sees the pitcher drying in the open window.
The blossoms are blue and purple with the pod being crimson red. Ohhh, the water… the flower. They are part of his healing process. That broth she fed him must have come from the pulp of the bulb. The blossoms are mere snacks and treats, but the bulb must have very real healing properties. He can't get away from the plant.
His finger reaches out to dip into the grove of the purple blossom… just like the one he used to have on his command carrier. The one he sent away… his memory fails him at that point and he turns aside to finish his current tasks.
He finishes drying himself off to tuck the towel around his hips and reads her instructions for laundry. Simple enough, (so he thinks), he sets more water to boil and stoke up the fire with a bit more wood from the pile next to the door. What he hadn't anticipated what how heavy wet linens can be on arm muscles that could barely lift a fork a couple days ago.
With a grunt and trudging to keep the wet sheets from dragging through the dirt, he gets them tossed over the fence to dry. By the time he makes it back to the cabin to change into the dry clothes Alyssum had left for him, he's exhausted. It's all he can do to dip the pitcher into the barrel and pour himself something to drink. The water might be bitter, but it's no worse than some of the burning intoxicating drinks he's consumed in the past…a lifetime ago.
Leaning his hands on the stone counter he looks out to the fabric drying in the sun and then up into the sky. Two completely different worlds, two completely different lives. Which would he prefer? Much the same question he has been asking about his heritage, on a bit reversed. Which side would he like to kill more? The one that created him or the one that betrayed him?
With a sigh he looks to the journal and decides it's time to get some questions answered about his savior and shove his own painful ones aside once again. So he gathers up a simple meal and heads back outside to the fresh open air that smells and feels so different than the confined life he had in vast open space. That complexity makes him smile again as he settles down propping his moccasin feet up into the opposite seat and opening the journal to the second page.
My mother was a loyal Peace Keeper soldier who had a body strong and sturdy but with the grace of a master hand-to-hand fighter. She may have looked imposing, but she could curl and strike in ways people didn't think was possible. Grace and tenacity.
She hated the Scarrans like most loyal Peace Keepers did for an unknown reason. She had been told ….
As Scorpius read, he could very easily feel himself being drawn into the situation…
"Officer Midge, we have a mission if you are willing to attempt it. It could be life threatening though if you are caught or exposed."
The skilled and solid female officer curtly nods her head even though she is as parade-rest.
"We need someone to infiltrate the Scarran elite quarters and extract something,"
"It would be my privilege to do as ordered, Sir." The auburn braided soldier replies.
"Sit, Midge. It's not going to be that easy," the Commander and Doctor motion to her. They all sit at the table presented and the doctor takes a deep sigh.
"We know that the Scarrans are trying a forced breeding program on captured Sebacean women. So far they have been unsuccessful, but we think we have a key that they don't."
"Permission to question?" Midge raises a slight hand. A soft nod is giving and the lower ranking soldier continues. "Why do we want in on this idea?"
"We can't let them succeed on something so… damaging. If they are successful in creating a hybrid and are able to slip one of theirs into our ranks…"
Midge nods understanding, "So even though we must remain pure and untouched, we can not allow them to slip a spy in where we can not counter?"
The commander smiles, "Not only are you skilled, but also intuitive. These are skills that could help you with this mission, if you decide to try."
Midge's head tips ever so curiously, "And just what exactly do you need me to extract? One of their captured prisoners?"
The doctor slowly shakes his head, "No. Scarran male semen."
Midge grimaces for she's sure the can't mean from the source. "Ahh, like from a lab?" She hopes. Both higher ranking officers shake their heads and Midge's professional stance slips to a rueful frown, "Yeah, didn't think so."
The officers respectfully give her a chance to back out but when she doesn't turn green to the thought of getting this close to a powerful foe's intimate fluids, they press on lighting up the table before them with their plan for infiltration.
"Emperor Staleek is celebrating his coronation day. There will be plenty of dignitaries and other officials in attendance. If you can get close to one of the elite and … do what you need to we have various collection devices to keep it viable once you get back."
Midge then pokes a finger into her French braid, "Ah and what is your plan for me to even GET close enough to extract the sample?"
From there the Doctor and Commander go into the plan they had for a device to hide her actual biology. The "jewel" that will be riveted directly through her skin and attached to her sternum thus to get knocked loose and blow her cover will blend in with the ruby studded corset-style bodice costume, this will look like nothing more that a marked jewel adhered to her body. No one will suspect it of being an image-changer device.
"We can hide your biology from their electronic scanners. We can't protect you if they used the heat-wave on you. We can give you fake papers, but it will be all up to you to conduct yourself. I know you are trained as a foot soldier and not as an elite higher class so if you feel you can't pull it off let us know now."
"Do you have any material I can read before I head out so I can at least learn some of the protocol and not get myself shot or turned into THEIR next experiment within the first five minutes?'
For the sense of humor under stress, the Commander grants her a chuckle. "Of course."
The Doctor chuckles as well, "Tell you what, let me get some scans and samples so we can finish the device. While the technicians do their job, you can read."
And that's just what was done. Needless to say, Midge passed out when the jeweled image-changer was punctured to her chest bone. With next to no time to recover from the transformation of Sebacean to hidden-Scarran female of mid-elite rank, Midge now finds herself swathed in black leather and scattered red jeweled accents to her corset curves and the four strips of floor length leather that make up her skirt. Her normally smooth tanned skin now is a pale grey leather-textured feel and look to it.
Carefully making her way through bejeweled room, Midge is quite surprised to see the only Scarran decked out from head to toe in red pointed leather slipping into a back alcove of the room. To her well trained eye he looks like he is trying to hide. Scanning the room swiftly she can see who from. A female in a gilded hat of black and red is on the prowl. Glancing back, the elegant and regal leader actually looks defeated in the way his head is hanging. Midge may not like Scarrans but there is one thing she hates more, Cougars: females out only for political exploits through sexual advances.
Yes it's true she will have to seduce one of these males to complete her duty, but she's not going to entrap him forever with blackmail and false promises. That's just, wrong. If you want a position, you need to achieve it by your own merits, not ploy your way to the top. Midge moves.
Sliding into the corner, she puts her back to the Emperor and faces the crowd. Even the body guards are searching for him. "Crouch, Sire," she whispers. She can hear the female approaching and reaches back blindly to catch him by a hip spike and tugs down.
"It's your job to guard him! So how can you be guarding him if you aren't BESIDE him. You stupid oafs!" The snobby female dictates.
The soft creak of expensive leather and slight pressure of bundled leather against the back of her calves lets Midge know the high ranking red official has followed her advice and sunk down behind her smaller stature.
Striding straight into Midge's face, the arrogant one snarls and sniffs, "I don't know YOU!"
Midge doesn't budge and just casually sips her elegant drink. This female is no different than some of the bullies in her class who used to like to make fun of her solid bone structure and call her a boy. Funny, but now her taller, huskier frame is actually making her a formidable foe and a spy at the same time. Makes her smile and take a bite of the Bird of Paradise blossom ever so slowly. Then with an arrogant cant of her own head, retorts, "That's fine. I don't know you either. So I guess it's a draw."
Snobby thrusts her face into Midge's, "If you see the Emperor, you BEST tell him I'm looking for him."
Midge shrugs ever so lightly, "I'll think about it. (another bite) Oh, I did… not happening." Snobby growls and there's a vibration at the back of Midges legs which translates to the powerful leader silently laughing. To keep herself from losing it, bobs him slightly with the ball of her heeled boot. He catches that heel. Midge swallows hard and her face falls. He lets the toe of her boot rest on the floor, but his glove-clawed thumb is pressing a soothingly circle into the hallow of her ankle. He really appreciates her protecting him, and they don't even know each other.
Snobby misinterprets the change on her face as fear and worry and takes advantage of it. "Look at, Sebacean …" she hisses it out as a cuss which would be all to funny to Midge if Staleek wasn't soothing her right now in one of her hot spots. "Let me make this clear, don't cross me. I have powerful allies who will not only strip you of your jewels and your garden, but will use your hide as my next wall covering."
Staleek's hand stops, Midge gulps down because he hasn't let go. This warm grasp just further undoes her. He's holding her footing securely- under his protection. Right now she is learning that not all Scarrans are as evil as told. Staleek is not being a wimp in hiding, there's just times that this position is too much and weighs too heavy for even his proud and strong spiked shoulders to carry any more.
Midge sips to drink to wet her throat and then presses on, "I'll have the plaque engraved for your new decoration, 'The one that wouldn't bow to the bitch'. Kill me if you need to, I'm a soldier dying is why I do, but I do not cave to pettiness, so save your breath and move on to someone who will give you the attention you want." And with that, looks past Snobby catching a bodyguard's eye.
The guard is used to being stoic and holding his tongue in political functions but this is just, wow. It's one thing to protect your leader physically, its another to protect his time and energy. With a flick of his eyes down, he lets Midge know, he sees a hint of the Emperor's regal attire. With ever the slightest of adjustment, Midge slides that foot out of the clawed hand and plants it on the ground in a firmer and wider stance. It blocks the Emperor further and also makes her look more imposing even if her low cut bodice is not fighting attire.
With a snort and a huff, Snobby turns on her heel and shoves the guard out of her way. With a smile to his dark lips, he approaches, "M'Lady, I shall take over now."
He stands beside her and gives her a warm smile. She doesn't move but does continue her drink. She hands him the rest of her crystal decanter of blossoms, "In that case you are going to need these more than I." Chuckling ever so slightly, he takes it.
Their tall regal leader rises and places a light clawed hand to Midge's sturdy but very much female hip, "Would you please accompany me with a walk?"
Rolling her head to the back to look up she tries to tease, "Are you sure you should trust me? You don't know me."
The claw slips further forward with a warm guiding push, turns it towards him, "If you truly hated me, you would have left me there to writhe in her torture. The kindest thing you could do right now is plunge a dagger into my chest."
Midge is melting in his soft words but deep strong tone. His hand that wields power and control is guiding and asking for her soft company.
The guard helps her answer by lifting her glass from her hand and as the waiter passes, replaces the empty with two full ones. Staleek winks to his guard and takes them both then nudges his crested head towards the secret door in this alcove. "Good night, Sire," the guard warmly encourages, "M'Lady I leave you in trusted company," as if Emperor Staleek will be her body guard this time.
Midge is flattered and stunned. With a special mark on the wall touched, Staleek walks through a hologram and leaves her to decide if she wants to follow. She does.
Midge finds herself on a rooftop terrace bathed in moonlight watching the glimmering dragon-like scaled spine of the Emperor's regal attire flex and sway ever so slightly in his glide. Each one of those Bird of Paradise-like triangular scales swish and move ever so graceful in their nested link. A graceful male sway. His head is erect and proud but this time not for his titled-position, but for his private life.
This was the last thing she thought she would find on this mission. She was here to milk a male an just herself back home. She was not supposed to… understand a leader. She was not supposed to… Care? She swallows down her fears of getting lost between mission and the bigger picture of this 'man'.
Staleek stops at the lip of the roof where the view is over the vast city he rules. Still holding a cut-crystal goblet in one hand between three claws, he uses that pointer-claw to silently and softly beckon her to enjoy the view at his side. Using her best elegant glide, makes her way to his side and takes the goblet he offers. Silently they look over the empire. One as citizen, one as an invader. One with a sigh of home, one with a sigh of wonder to all she knew.
He doesn't say 'thank you'. She says nothing back. He doesn't pull her into his conquest, she doesn't lean in to impose on him. They drink in the liquid, the sight before them and the warmth of silent comfort. He reaches under and pulls the gloves and dress gauntlets off laying their long spiked limp forms on the waist high wall. With a bare hand now, lays his neck back and releases his head crest as well to lay it with the other false spikes. With a deep sigh, he gives her a smirk.
Seeing that he is releasing some of his regal appearance, she gives him an amused grimace and lifts a booted foot into to her palm. She rests her hip to the wall for support and plucks the catches loose and lets the torture device clunk to the floor with a deep sigh of relief. He leans his own hip to the wall and watches her to drop the second one as well while letting her head lay back and let the starlight bathe over her.
"Damn that feels so good," she sighs closing her tired eyes.
A deep chuckle warms her even more, "Come here."
That does roll her head back shooting him a curious but warning look. He smiles shaking his head ever so slightly. "No, not that. Just trust me for a moment," he offers and open palm.
She lays her own gloved one in his bare one, and he tugs gently. To her surprise, he slips his other hand around her solid waist and lifts her ever so slightly so he can slide his booted feet under her bare ones. Now she is quite curious, but he holds her respectfully to his stronger broader and warmer form. With that graceful sway of his again, she finds he is dancing with her. Her face flushes and plunks to his breast plate only to make him chuckle again.
"Isn't that just what politics is all about? A dance? Gracefully and carefully moving ourselves around in circles to keep everyone in check."
"Staleek, if you don't like it than why be Emperor."
His hand soothes up and down her spine, "I never said I don't like to dance." She raises her head to look into his soft red eyes. He pulls her hand over his heart, "I love my race and the advances we have made. I love the potential we have, I just don't happen to agree with every move that is made for those advances. We don't have to be barbarians in everything we do. We have so much more potential and so much to offer of people would just listen to us."
Midge's own hand cupped behind his jeweled collar rubs a thumb into his nape. Her heart is racing. This wasn't part of the plan at all. She's not supposed to sympathize with her enemy, she's supposed to rob them and beat them.
"Please stay with me tonight. Please don't leave."
She can't believe she is saying this when the opportunity to complete her mission is right there within her grasp. "I-I…can't."
He frowns but presses her hand to his heart a bit warmer. "I don't want a consort, I want a confidante. Please, just… sit with me a while?"
Her brow furrows, "Y-you shouldn't trust me."
"Your heart is racing, you are scared. If you were here to kill me you would be so calm and already have a shiv in my neck or spine. If you were here to gain political power through sexual blackmail, you would have already made your advance. If your partner is stealing the royal jewels right now, he won't get far in hocking them for they are marked. So, what is left for you to do to me?"
Her throat swallows hard, "Break your heart."
"I don't have time for love, but I could really use a friend. Please, come enjoy the starlight and peace with me for a little while."
Scorpius' jaw drops. Staleek found comfort in the arms of a Peace Keeper spy. He rolls over and continues reading.