Hey y'all! well here we go...last few chapters! it's going to get kinda intense for them, so prepare yoselves! lol anyway, thank you all for reading, and for your likes/follows/reviews. Please review! xoxo


Samira hurried down the empty corridors, her clothes still slightly damp from her time in the shower with Siberius. She fought back a smile at the memory of his lips on hers, his hands on her body, and walked quicker to her chambers.

Pushing the door open, she slammed it shut behind her and leaned against it, grinning. How had her entire world been upended like this? The Lord Marshall of the Necromongers showed her affection above others.

If asked to explain her feelings for Siberius she would be hard pressed to find the right words. Or rather, she had the words, but she was fearful of saying them out loud.

"Oh girl, you're in so much trouble!" she whispered to herself. Latching the door behind herself, she began to strip off her clothing and hang it over the hooks in the corner, ensuring they would dry and be out of the way.

Her small quarters were neat and orderly, using all the space to its optimal benefit. Samira had hung red curtains over her single window looking out into space, and it often bathed her room in a warm glow. A colorful woven rug from her mother's house on Helion Prime graced her floor and kept her feet warm.

Pulling on a pair of soft cotton sweatpants and a loose long sleeved shirt, Samira set her kettle on to boil water for a cup of tea before settling down in her small chair with her newest book from the library. A few minutes later she sipped contentedly on her tea, whiling away the hours.


Siberius stood in the large chamber with his other councilors and listened to them as they prattled on about the things that had been happening in the fleet for the past week. Frankly, he was only paying half attention.

He was thinking about his time with Samira earlier, and how he had cut it short. He hadn't wanted to, but she was right, he had tired, and he knew she had her own emotional bounds that he couldn't push.

The thought that he wasn't taking what he wanted as he was accustomed to, as he used to, was a bit disconcerting. But there was something about this woman that made him stop and take notice of what she had to say and what his actions meant to others.

It was something he had rarely done in the past. The Dame had encouraged taking power and prestige at any cost. She had been open with her affection in the pursuit of their advancement, and had never stopped him from doing so as well.

He wished he could thank her for making him strong enough to rule his people, but he could only hope that he had the continued strength to find the person who had tried to bring them down.

Siberius looked up from his internal reverie and saw that all eyes were on him, faces expectant. His frown deepened, "Apologies Councilors, I was pondering your generous counsel. Please repeat what it is you last said."

His second, Niles cleared his throat, "My Lord Marshall, we have received word from Kryon. They will accept the terms that we have set forth. We are three days out from Kryon, and would like to resupply at their moon, Ignis."

Vaako considered, they had been travelling through deep space for some time, and their supplies were low, but he disliked putting the fleet at risk so close to the source of the disease.

He shook his head, "No, where is the closest planet or moon on which we can restock?"

Niles waved a hand over the map and the planets rose from the ether, "The closest planet is that of Aequus, the largely oceanic planet. They will have much fresh fish and fruit."

Vaako nodded, "Good, we will take a frigate to restock the empire and then from there we go to Kryon. Do we have any further intelligence on who it was that created the disease?"

Niles shook his head, "No my Lord, the rulers of Kryon are being tight lipped on that information if they do have it."

Frowning Vaako shook his head, "I don't like this. Keep our warfleet at the ready."

Niles nodded, "Yes my Lord."

Vaako sighed, he was already tired, looking around at the faces of the councilors he knew they had more for him, but all he really wanted was to sleep until they reached Aequus, and then take Samira to the beach.

"What else do you have for me councilors?" he asked with a heavy sigh. Ruling was not always about what you wanted.


Siberius collapsed onto his throne-how he hated that word-and ran a hand over his face. Now he had to hear from a group of petitioners. At least an hour. He waved to the breeder slave standing nearby, "Bring me water and fruit."

As he watched the man walked away, eyes cast down, subservience in every line of his body. When the man came back he cleared his throat, "Thank you. What is your name?" The breeder looked up at him with a wild, fearful expression before fixing his eyes on the floor.

"T-Tiberius. My Lord." Vaako could see the man shaking and wondered at it; did he and his people really instill so much fear in others? But when he remembered how Samira used to be around him and how she came to be on the ship, he relented.

"Tiberius is a good name. There was a Lord Marshall Tiberius" he spoke softly. The man's head bobbed to his words, "Very good My Lord. I am humbled to be named as such a man." Vaako twisted his lips, the Lord Marshall Tiberius had been insane.

This man was probably a better person than he had been. He leaned forward and spoke softly, "Do you miss your home Tiberius?"

The man stilled and then looked up at him, a faraway look on his face, "I do my Lord. The wheat fields of Helion glowed in the sun like nothing else. And the worship songs brought such peace to my heart to hear."

Looking into his face, Vaako realized that he was more than a slave on the ship, he was a prisoner. The large door leading into the throne room thunked open and the first of the petitioners walked in, disturbing the rapport that had been built between the two men.

Vaako leaned back into his throne and waved a hand, "Whoever is first, come forward."

For the next two hours he took petitions, growing slowly wearier. It wasn't until Samira stood before him that he noticed that the room had emptied of all but her and Tiberius. She gave Tiberius a warm smile, "Thank you for coming to get me Tiberius."

He smiled back at her, "Of course sister."

Vaako frowned at her, "What are you doing here?" he asked her, his voice coming out more gruff and sharp than he intended.

Samira smiled patiently, "Tiberius came and got me when he noticed you were tiring. I told you not to push yourself. You were dying a day ago. So now it's time for some dinner and then bed."

Vaako sighed and stood, shaking his head, "If it's what the healer orders, then who am I to argue?"

"The Lord Marshall?" Tiberius joked softly. Vaako looked over to him surprised, and then laughed, "Too true Tiberius! Good man."

Shaking his head, Siberius walked slowly beside Samira back to his quarters where there was already food waiting in the dining area. He glanced over to her and smirked at the look of pride on her face, "You think of everything don't you?"

She grinned at him, "When it comes to patient care, and that patient is a stubborn pain in the ass…yes!"

Samira laughed at the shock on his face and guided him to his chair, pouring him a glass of juice to go with the plate of hearty meat, potatoes, beans and a healthy side of fresh fruit. Sitting across from him, Samira filled her own plate and waited for him to begin eating.

They ate in silence for a few moments until Siberius spoke, "We're going to Aequus in a day for resupply, have you ever been there?"

Samira shook her head, "No, I've heard many good things about it though. The wealthy on Helion Prime would go there for vacations. Is there a chance I would be able to see its surface?" she asked hesitantly.

Siberius smiled, "I should think so. I'm still a recovering patient, I need my healer with me at all times" he quipped, watching as her face lit with happiness.

"Oh Siberius, thank you! But…I don't have the proper clothing to accompany you to any formal functions….should you want me there…"she spoke hesitantly, still not sure what their relationship was.

He waved a hand dismissively, "I'll have some made for you. It won't take long at all." Samira stared at him for a moment and then nodded, still unsure.

Siberius could sense her hesitation and reached a hand out to lift her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. "What's wrong Samira? Do you not want to go?" he asked softly, his voice low and rough.

Samira swallowed and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again to lock eyes with him. "I-I want to…but I don't know in what capacity you want me there."

Siberius sat holding her face in his hand, contemplating her words, trying to formulate a response, but didn't know what the right thing to say was. He couldn't take her as his consort; the other Necros would try to kill him for it.

When he looked into Samira's eyes, she could already see the apology there, and she felt her own eyes well up. She closed her eyes and wrenched her head away from him, inhaling sharply, fighting the tears. Siberius sighed deeply, knowing he had hurt her, but knowing there was no other way, not yet.

"Samira, if I take you to Aequus as my consort, the other Necros will try to either kill me, or you. And I couldn't bear to see you hurt, do you understand?" he asked softly, his voice rough with emotion.

Samira shook her head, "I understand…but I think you are taking the easy path. Love isn't always easy Siberius. And if you love me, you should take a stand for that." She stood and looked at him, "I'm going back to the med bay, if you need anything, you know where to find me."

She walked away without looking back, not wanting him to see the tears that rolled down her cheeks.


Samira tended to the recovering Necros in the med bay for the next few hours, making sure they were fed and still had fluid IV's. They would all need a few more days of rest and medicine before she was comfortable with them returning to work.

The only reason she had allowed Siberius…the Lord Marshall back to his duties, was because he was the Lord Marshall, and she really had no control over what he did, regardless of how much he professed to care about her.

When the last of the Necros were sleeping comfortably, Samira left the med bay and went back to her quarters, shutting the door softly behind her. She was physically and emotionally exhausted. As she undressed and slipped on her shorts and tank top, she looked out her small window and saw Aequus approaching.

Its seas fluoresced at night, and the result was breathtaking. Turning off her lights, Samira curled onto her bed and stared at the wondrous sight until her eyes grew heavy with sleep.


The next morning Samira rose early to check on her patients in the med bay. She was pleased to see them recovering well, and spent the next hours tending to them, as well as working on synthesizing a true cure from the antibodies in her blood.

It wouldn't be done for a few more days, probably not until they reached Kryon, but they would have a definite treatment. Working intently, she hardly noticed the hours passing.

A knock at her door made her look up, surprise written on her delicate features when she saw Niles standing in the doorway. He smiled, "Samira. The Lord Marshall needs you, he is feeling unwell."

Despite her displeasure with him at the moment, a ripple of concern went through her at Nile's words. Grabbing her bag, she asked, "What's wrong? Does he have a fever? Cough?"

Niles shook his head, "No…but he seems very tired. And weak. His breathing is labored." Panic shot through Samira at that. Grabbing up a concentrated dose of the treatment she had created she put it in her bag along with treatment for pneumonia, and myocarditis.

Running out of the med bay, she heard Niles right behind her. She shoved people out of her way, barely registering their shouts of indignation. Arriving at the Lord Marshall's quarters she shoved the doors open and found him on the couch, paler than usual, sweaty and looking at her with fear in his face.

Moving quickly to his side she donned her stethoscope and listened to his lungs and heart. Both were laboring. "Shit shit shit!" she whispered. She should never have let him get up and about so soon.

She ripped the earbuds of her stethoscope out and looked up to Niles, "Help me get him to bed, now."

The other man nodded and helped her lift him and assist him with getting into bed. Samira set up another IV, this one with treatment for the myocarditis that was setting in. She grabbed his arm and inserted the IV, fear making her gentle.

She looked up and saw his fear too, and held onto his hand, rubbing the back of it gently. "Easy now my Lord, all will be well" she whispered, addressing him respectfully, knowing Niles was still there.

Siberius was scared. It hurt to breathe, and he wanted her to lie beside him and tell him it would be ok. "Please don't leave Samira…please" he pleaded, his voice broken.

Samira shook her head, "Of course not my Lord. I am going to give you another treatment derived from my blood. It's stronger. It will work with what is in your IV. You will feel much better soon, I promise."

He nodded and watched as she injected the treatment directly into his IV, and it began to flow into his body. He glanced over to where Niles was watching them with a very curious expression on his face. When he realized the Lord Marshall was watching him he came closer.

"Niles, how much longer till we are at Aequus?" Siberius asked his tone still strong and commanding, even if his voice was weak.

"By dinner tonight we will be docked" Niles responded. Nodding, Siberius sat up, wincing as his IV tugged, "Good, restock, and then let Kryon know we will be on our way as soon as we speak with the people of Aequus. That will buy us a day or two for me to recover."

Nile nodded and departed with a final glance back at the pair, who had moved closer upon his departure from the room.

Samira reached a hand forward to brush back a strand of hair that had fallen into Siberius' face. His eyes drifted shut at her touch, and she sighed, an unhappy sound.

He opened his eyes and found her studying him. He opened his arms in an invitation for her to join him and hoped she would take it.

Samira hesitated a moment and then kicked off her shoes before moving to the other side of the bed and snuggling into his side. Siberius tucked his arm around her and pulled her closer, her head tucked under his chin.

He inhaled softly and once again smelled her sweet cinnamon scent, and felt calmed. He closed his eyes and after a moment spoke quietly, his voice rough with emotion, "Samira…I'm sorry. I'm not a good man. And I'm not good with emotions. I've been trained to be a warrior and a leader…not to care about those that I hurt. Because we feel so little pain, we care little for the pain of others."

He opened his eyes and tilted his head down to look at Samira, who was looking determined not to cry. He reached his hand up and tilted her face up so he could meet her eyes, "Samira…I care about your pain. I don't want to cause you pain. Please forgive me."

Samira stared at him and then nodded, her tears spilling over onto her cheeks, her hand going up to wipe them away quickly. She leaned in and kissed him quickly, taking him by surprise. "Now hush and get some rest, healers orders" she whispered.

Grinning, Siberius followed her orders and closed his eyes, falling asleep quickly, his heart content. Samira took longer to fall asleep, her heart and mind still wrestling over Siberius' words. All she wanted was for them to be happy, yet it seemed every time they got close to it, something messed it up. Hopefully things would be different after their mini vacation on Aequus.