She awoke the next morning, in his embrace. She had forgotten how good it
felt to be in his arms. It had been too long since she had felt the warmth
and tenderness of his embrace. Crais rolled over on to his back. She rolled
on to her side and propped her head up on her arm. She watched him sleep
and found herself admiring him. He looked at peace, less dangerous,
especially with his hair free of its tight queue. She couldn't resist
touching his hair. It was incredibly soft. When he awoke he saw her
watching him. "How long have you been watching me?"
She reached for his hair again, "I don't know. A while. Forever."
"Do you like what you see?"
"I do. I believe you still owe me a trip to a commerce planet," she teased as she rubbed his goatee.
He grabbed her hand, "So I do. Talyn has been searching since the Vigilante left. He has not yet located one," he began kissing her hand.
"I think I can find a way to keep myself occupied in the interim," she purred.
"Hmmm. I don't know if I can handle that much attention from you, but I shall try my best." He embraced her in a kiss before she could argue.
Later that day, Talyn informed Crais he had located a commerce planet that did not appear outwardly hostile to Sebaceans. Everyone gathered in command to view the information about the planet. "Looks like a suitable planet. It should not take too long for Zhaan and me to find what we need," Madina announced.
Crais looked at her, "You and Zhaan?"
"You are still wanted by the Peacekeepers. Not everyone may have heard that you are supposedly dead. Stark is also wanted and his appearance is quite distinctive. The two of you may draw too much attention."
Crais attempted to argue, "Zhaan is also an escaped prisoner."
"Yes, but she no longer appears as she did in the wanted beacons. You barely recognized her and you have met her in the past. Someone who has never met her would have a hard time identifying her as the same Delvian, especially since she will not be in the company of one of the other escaped prisoners."
Stark chimed in, "She has made several excellent suggestions."
Crais glared at Stark before turning back to Madina, "It seems I will not win this argument, Madina. Two arns should be sufficient. If it will take longer than that contact us. I will have Talyn continue to attempt to locate a signal from Moya."
"Two arns should be more than enough. Hopefully when we return you will have news about Moya. I look forward to meeting the others." Madina turned and left. She stopped by her quarters on her way to the transport pod to get some currency and grab her pulse pistol. She had managed to save a fair amount over the cycles on the Xerrin. She didn't know how long it would last and didn't know what she would do to earn more.
Zhaan was waiting for her in the transport pod. "I'm afraid I don't have any currency, Garrix."
"Please, Zhaan, call me Madina. And don't worry about the currency. I can lend you what you need and you can pay me back when you are able," Madina began prepping the pod for launch.
"That is very kind of you, if unexpected."
"Unexpected that a Peacekeeper would help an alien? Bialar, we're ready to launch, and will contact you when we land."
Acknowledged, Madina. See you in a couple arns, responded Crais.
"Yes, very unexpected. I know Peacekeepers are taught the importance of racial purity and discouragement of socializing with aliens."
"That is true, but my newly deceased status has caused me to rethink that stance. Many of the places I will find myself traveling will be populated by non-Sebaceans. I figure it is time to broaden my horizons."
"That is much more open minded than Crais was when he came to us."
"My circumstances are a little different than Bialar's. I am one of the rare Peacekeepers who didn't exactly toe the party line at all times. Of course it led to my being placed in command of a decrepit old carrier patrolling one of the most boring sectors of space we control. I was surprised they let me keep it for five cycles."
"And you have no desire to return to the Peacekeepers?"
"Not really. I have been relegated to a career of dead end desk jobs. I have no reason to return. I won't advance and I won't have the ability to prove myself in combat. Death is the better fate."
"And Crais, do you think he would return to the Peacekeepers?"
Madina considered this question for a few microts, "I don't think he agrees with what is going on within the Peacekeepers at present. Unless things change I don't see him going back." She then contacted the spaceport to receive clearance and began the landing cycle. Once they had taken care of the landing fees, which Madina had to convince the port master to lower to a more reasonable rate, she and Zhaan proceeded to the market. Naturally every merchant was trying to shove their wares upon the two women. Zhaan was polite to them while Madina just ignored them.
Stark looked over at Crais after the two women had left, "Are you sure this was a good idea, letting the two of them go down there alone?"
"If you didn't think it was a good idea, you had an opportunity to object," Crais told him sharply. "I have found that Madina is more than capable of taking care of herself. She is, or rather was, a Peacekeeper."
"That is part of what worries me. There are times I can see the possibility that she can be something more, but other times the Peacekeeper in her is very strong. She didn't turn us in this time, but maybe later she would."
Crais considered Stark, "For all the time you spent talking to her, you did not learn much did you? She was a good Peacekeeper, perhaps better than me. I think she held onto what being a Peacekeeper really meant. Even if she did regain favor for turning us in, she is not the ruthless person that I was. It would not be long before she once again lost favor. You have come to trust Aeryn, have you not?"
Stark paused, "Yes, yes, I have. But Aeryn was not so senior a Peacekeeper. I still don't trust you completely."
Crais stared out the view port, "That is very wise of you."
"I may not trust you, but I was very surprised at what you did. You risked death for you and Talyn to help Crichton."
Crais turned and glared at Stark, "I did not help Crichton. I did what I did for myself. Just because it helped Crichton achieve his goals was mere coincidence. I helped bring down Scorpius and regained respect in the eyes of my crew, even if they never admit it." He then stormed out of command.
Zhaan found a merchant who was selling clothes to her liking. She picked out a couple of outfits. Madina just waited for Zhaan to finish. "There are a couple of outfits that would look good on you."
"You must be joking. Me, wear something from here? All I'm looking for is a couple of shirts and a jacket. I don't see myself wearing anything from here."
Zhaan picked out a couple of outfits and handed them to Madina. "Here, at least try these on. If you don't like them you have lost nothing but a little time."
"You won't leave me alone until I do, will you?"
"That may be a little harsh. I am trying to help you 'expand your horizons' as you said," Zhaan smiled at her. Madina snatched the clothes out of Zhaan's hands and stormed to the dressing room. The first outfit was dark green pants and long sleeved form-fitting top. "That looks very good on you, my dear. It really brings out the color in your eyes. Let me see the other one."
"I feel uncomfortable in this. I have worn a uniform all my life."
"You look beautiful. It will take time for you to get comfortable wearing other clothes."
Madina took her time changing into the other outfit. Zhaan began browsing through some of the other merchandise. Finally Madina came out. She was wearing a sleeveless red dress that had a tight bodice and a knee-length flowing skirt. "This is not very practical."
Zhaan looked up, "It's not supposed to be practical, it's supposed to look feminine and make you feel feminine. You look quite lovely and not at all like a Peacekeeper."
"I feel exposed and vulnerable. There's no place to carry weapons."
"Madina, violence is not always the solution to every problem."
"Maybe not, but it's the one I know best." Madina began looking at herself in the mirror, evaluating the dress.
"It's not too late for you to learn otherwise. The majority of the universe survives without resorting to violence. I think you should get them both. I think that Crais will appreciate them, especially the red one."
"Why would I purchase clothes based on what Bialar would think? I should purchase those that I feel comfortable in."
"You have much to learn about the rest of the universe. A woman is like a beautiful flower. She must accentuate her beauty to attract the attention of the male. Once she has his attention, she must do something to keep it, to stop him from being attracted to another."
"That is absurd. I'm going to put my clothes back on." Madina dressed rather quickly. Despite what she had said, she purchased both outfits. After they finished at the boutique, they proceeded back out into the bazaar. Zhaan also got Madina to purchase some perfumed oil. After that they visited a merchant who sold clothes to Madina's liking.
"Drab colors must be something genetically ingrained in Peacekeepers. I had the same discussion with Aeryn many times."
"I like dark colors. They hide dirt and blood and can provide camouflage. It's very practical."
"Perhaps I can help you see the beauty of color."
"That may be a difficult task for you. I think it is time we return to Talyn." As they were walking back to the spaceport they saw a wanted beacon. Madina went over to pick it up.
"Hey you can't take that!" shouted an unsavory looking alien.
Madina shoved him up against the wall and produced her pulse pistol holding it up to his throat, "As a bounty hunter I will need it to identify my quarry. Do you want to fight me for it." Madina had a very dangerous look in her eyes and her voice was ice.
The alien tried to back away and stammered an apology, "N-n-n-no. Y-you can have it."
"I though you might see it my way," she shoved him before moving on. They made it back to the pod without incident. Madina contacted Crais from the pod as she began start up cycle, "Bialar, we are on our way back now. Our trip was without incidence."
Crais replied, Talyn is prepping for your return. I have news for you when you return.
After Madina closed the comms channel Zhaan looked over at her, "Without incident? I don't know that that was completely honest."
"It was honest enough. We weren't hurt and didn't hurt anyone. I consider that to be without incident." Crais and Stark were there to meet them when the landed. "I think we should leave the area immediately."
"Why, you said your trip was without incident?" Crais sounded concerned.
Madina slammed the wanted beacon onto the maintenance bay console, "This is why." The beacon played.
"Talyn, plot a course deeper into the Uncharted Territories."
She reached for his hair again, "I don't know. A while. Forever."
"Do you like what you see?"
"I do. I believe you still owe me a trip to a commerce planet," she teased as she rubbed his goatee.
He grabbed her hand, "So I do. Talyn has been searching since the Vigilante left. He has not yet located one," he began kissing her hand.
"I think I can find a way to keep myself occupied in the interim," she purred.
"Hmmm. I don't know if I can handle that much attention from you, but I shall try my best." He embraced her in a kiss before she could argue.
Later that day, Talyn informed Crais he had located a commerce planet that did not appear outwardly hostile to Sebaceans. Everyone gathered in command to view the information about the planet. "Looks like a suitable planet. It should not take too long for Zhaan and me to find what we need," Madina announced.
Crais looked at her, "You and Zhaan?"
"You are still wanted by the Peacekeepers. Not everyone may have heard that you are supposedly dead. Stark is also wanted and his appearance is quite distinctive. The two of you may draw too much attention."
Crais attempted to argue, "Zhaan is also an escaped prisoner."
"Yes, but she no longer appears as she did in the wanted beacons. You barely recognized her and you have met her in the past. Someone who has never met her would have a hard time identifying her as the same Delvian, especially since she will not be in the company of one of the other escaped prisoners."
Stark chimed in, "She has made several excellent suggestions."
Crais glared at Stark before turning back to Madina, "It seems I will not win this argument, Madina. Two arns should be sufficient. If it will take longer than that contact us. I will have Talyn continue to attempt to locate a signal from Moya."
"Two arns should be more than enough. Hopefully when we return you will have news about Moya. I look forward to meeting the others." Madina turned and left. She stopped by her quarters on her way to the transport pod to get some currency and grab her pulse pistol. She had managed to save a fair amount over the cycles on the Xerrin. She didn't know how long it would last and didn't know what she would do to earn more.
Zhaan was waiting for her in the transport pod. "I'm afraid I don't have any currency, Garrix."
"Please, Zhaan, call me Madina. And don't worry about the currency. I can lend you what you need and you can pay me back when you are able," Madina began prepping the pod for launch.
"That is very kind of you, if unexpected."
"Unexpected that a Peacekeeper would help an alien? Bialar, we're ready to launch, and will contact you when we land."
Acknowledged, Madina. See you in a couple arns, responded Crais.
"Yes, very unexpected. I know Peacekeepers are taught the importance of racial purity and discouragement of socializing with aliens."
"That is true, but my newly deceased status has caused me to rethink that stance. Many of the places I will find myself traveling will be populated by non-Sebaceans. I figure it is time to broaden my horizons."
"That is much more open minded than Crais was when he came to us."
"My circumstances are a little different than Bialar's. I am one of the rare Peacekeepers who didn't exactly toe the party line at all times. Of course it led to my being placed in command of a decrepit old carrier patrolling one of the most boring sectors of space we control. I was surprised they let me keep it for five cycles."
"And you have no desire to return to the Peacekeepers?"
"Not really. I have been relegated to a career of dead end desk jobs. I have no reason to return. I won't advance and I won't have the ability to prove myself in combat. Death is the better fate."
"And Crais, do you think he would return to the Peacekeepers?"
Madina considered this question for a few microts, "I don't think he agrees with what is going on within the Peacekeepers at present. Unless things change I don't see him going back." She then contacted the spaceport to receive clearance and began the landing cycle. Once they had taken care of the landing fees, which Madina had to convince the port master to lower to a more reasonable rate, she and Zhaan proceeded to the market. Naturally every merchant was trying to shove their wares upon the two women. Zhaan was polite to them while Madina just ignored them.
Stark looked over at Crais after the two women had left, "Are you sure this was a good idea, letting the two of them go down there alone?"
"If you didn't think it was a good idea, you had an opportunity to object," Crais told him sharply. "I have found that Madina is more than capable of taking care of herself. She is, or rather was, a Peacekeeper."
"That is part of what worries me. There are times I can see the possibility that she can be something more, but other times the Peacekeeper in her is very strong. She didn't turn us in this time, but maybe later she would."
Crais considered Stark, "For all the time you spent talking to her, you did not learn much did you? She was a good Peacekeeper, perhaps better than me. I think she held onto what being a Peacekeeper really meant. Even if she did regain favor for turning us in, she is not the ruthless person that I was. It would not be long before she once again lost favor. You have come to trust Aeryn, have you not?"
Stark paused, "Yes, yes, I have. But Aeryn was not so senior a Peacekeeper. I still don't trust you completely."
Crais stared out the view port, "That is very wise of you."
"I may not trust you, but I was very surprised at what you did. You risked death for you and Talyn to help Crichton."
Crais turned and glared at Stark, "I did not help Crichton. I did what I did for myself. Just because it helped Crichton achieve his goals was mere coincidence. I helped bring down Scorpius and regained respect in the eyes of my crew, even if they never admit it." He then stormed out of command.
Zhaan found a merchant who was selling clothes to her liking. She picked out a couple of outfits. Madina just waited for Zhaan to finish. "There are a couple of outfits that would look good on you."
"You must be joking. Me, wear something from here? All I'm looking for is a couple of shirts and a jacket. I don't see myself wearing anything from here."
Zhaan picked out a couple of outfits and handed them to Madina. "Here, at least try these on. If you don't like them you have lost nothing but a little time."
"You won't leave me alone until I do, will you?"
"That may be a little harsh. I am trying to help you 'expand your horizons' as you said," Zhaan smiled at her. Madina snatched the clothes out of Zhaan's hands and stormed to the dressing room. The first outfit was dark green pants and long sleeved form-fitting top. "That looks very good on you, my dear. It really brings out the color in your eyes. Let me see the other one."
"I feel uncomfortable in this. I have worn a uniform all my life."
"You look beautiful. It will take time for you to get comfortable wearing other clothes."
Madina took her time changing into the other outfit. Zhaan began browsing through some of the other merchandise. Finally Madina came out. She was wearing a sleeveless red dress that had a tight bodice and a knee-length flowing skirt. "This is not very practical."
Zhaan looked up, "It's not supposed to be practical, it's supposed to look feminine and make you feel feminine. You look quite lovely and not at all like a Peacekeeper."
"I feel exposed and vulnerable. There's no place to carry weapons."
"Madina, violence is not always the solution to every problem."
"Maybe not, but it's the one I know best." Madina began looking at herself in the mirror, evaluating the dress.
"It's not too late for you to learn otherwise. The majority of the universe survives without resorting to violence. I think you should get them both. I think that Crais will appreciate them, especially the red one."
"Why would I purchase clothes based on what Bialar would think? I should purchase those that I feel comfortable in."
"You have much to learn about the rest of the universe. A woman is like a beautiful flower. She must accentuate her beauty to attract the attention of the male. Once she has his attention, she must do something to keep it, to stop him from being attracted to another."
"That is absurd. I'm going to put my clothes back on." Madina dressed rather quickly. Despite what she had said, she purchased both outfits. After they finished at the boutique, they proceeded back out into the bazaar. Zhaan also got Madina to purchase some perfumed oil. After that they visited a merchant who sold clothes to Madina's liking.
"Drab colors must be something genetically ingrained in Peacekeepers. I had the same discussion with Aeryn many times."
"I like dark colors. They hide dirt and blood and can provide camouflage. It's very practical."
"Perhaps I can help you see the beauty of color."
"That may be a difficult task for you. I think it is time we return to Talyn." As they were walking back to the spaceport they saw a wanted beacon. Madina went over to pick it up.
"Hey you can't take that!" shouted an unsavory looking alien.
Madina shoved him up against the wall and produced her pulse pistol holding it up to his throat, "As a bounty hunter I will need it to identify my quarry. Do you want to fight me for it." Madina had a very dangerous look in her eyes and her voice was ice.
The alien tried to back away and stammered an apology, "N-n-n-no. Y-you can have it."
"I though you might see it my way," she shoved him before moving on. They made it back to the pod without incident. Madina contacted Crais from the pod as she began start up cycle, "Bialar, we are on our way back now. Our trip was without incidence."
Crais replied, Talyn is prepping for your return. I have news for you when you return.
After Madina closed the comms channel Zhaan looked over at her, "Without incident? I don't know that that was completely honest."
"It was honest enough. We weren't hurt and didn't hurt anyone. I consider that to be without incident." Crais and Stark were there to meet them when the landed. "I think we should leave the area immediately."
"Why, you said your trip was without incident?" Crais sounded concerned.
Madina slammed the wanted beacon onto the maintenance bay console, "This is why." The beacon played.
"Talyn, plot a course deeper into the Uncharted Territories."