Chapter 7

How many different ways could she rephrase the line, "I don't want to bond with you?" Appolus had been quite polite and listened patiently to her objections, but his constant reply had been "It will be dealt with at the Ministry." He sounded like a broken record, and she was ready to scream in frustration if she heard that answer one more time. They had reached the building quickly in a hover car, and she hoped that all would be resolved once they spoke with the Counselor of Vessels at the Ministry.

The Ministry was a soaring white building with huge bronze doors that opened to reveal a cathedral ceiling awash in a soft blue glow, and a long aisle lined with radiant red glittering gems. The walls appeared to wave gently like a majestic purple curtain swaying in a breeze. Judy was awe-struck when she entered, and she stood, mesmerized by the sight before her. As she stepped onto the floor, it lit in a swirl of multi-colored patterns. She noticed that her foot created intense colors that circled away from her body in quick, tight concentric circles. Appolus' footstep, on the other hand, created a slow rhythmic pattern that looked like a spring uncoiling away from him.

Appolus bowed deeply to her as several men appeared to take them away to separate quarters.

"Do not fear, Miss Judy. These Tier 3 males will prepare us for the ceremony. When we appear in front of the Counselor, all will be explained."

"But…"

Judy had no chance to object as she was whisked away to a small room. With no translator available, she was at the mercy of the men who prepared her. There was little for them to do, however, as they simply placed a purple veil on her head and draped a long flowing cape around her shoulders. She was then lead to the top of the aisle again, where Appolus, clothed in a similar purple cape, was waiting for her. He wrapped his arm around hers, and led her down the aisle to the Counselor who was clothed in glowing golden robes that emitted their own rays of light. Judy felt as if she were being hypnotized as she proceeded down the aisle with Appolus. After greeting the Counselor, Appolus turned to Judy and captured her lips in a long, imprisoning kiss.

At that moment, the doors swung open and three figures appeared at the top of the aisle. Penny and John stood side by side, with Don sitting on a hover bike next to them. John and Penny called her name and attempted to walk down the aisle, but were stopped by an invisible force field that wavered like a curtain of plastic when they attempted to walk through it. Don felt as if he was hallucinating. He was reliving his dream, and the thought of leaving crossed his mind as he remembered how happy she had been with Appolus. John and Penny started banging on the force field with their fists and shouting Judy's name over and over again. Their actions brought Don back to reality and he realized that he couldn't leave without being sure that this was what Judy wanted. He backed the bike up a few feet, revved its engine, put his head down and hit the force field at full speed, shattering the wall that held them back.

The enchantment of the ceremony was broken as Don stopped short of the couple. Appolus immediately stepped between the hover bike and Judy, not allowing Don to have access to her. She screamed Don's name and attempted to step around Appolus, but the Counselor held her back. Don, however, was determined to intervene.

"Out of my way, Golden Boy," he warned.

Appolus stood straighter. "I have claimed Miss Judy as my vessel. You are a weak one. You cannot procreate and are, therefore, not worthy to claim her."

By this time, John and Penny had reached the base of the aisle, and Don stretched his arm out to hold them back.

"My 'worthiness' is not the issue here. I won't interfere if this is what Judy wants."

Appolus bellowed, "I am a Tier 1 male and my claim takes precedence over any objections! She is my vessel and, therefore under my control. You, weak one, will be dealt with by the Ministry of Extermination, which is what you deserve!"

With that statement, he swept his left arm across Don's upper body and knocked him off the hover bike, which went skidding towards the wall. Don was furious, grabbed Appolus' ankles, and pulled his feet out from under him. Before Appolus could react, Don lay atop him, with one hand holding Appolus' face to the floor and the other holding his arms locked behind him.

"Now who's the weak one, Goldie?"

Appolus kicked his legs uselessly, as Don's had him pinned to the floor. The Counselor released Judy and she crouched down beside Don and Appolus.

Don turned to her and spoke with sincerity underlining every word. "Tell me what you want, Judy."

She removed the veil from her head and whispered, "I want you."

His eyes watered and he tightened his grip on Appolus, who groaned in pain. Don then continued, "But I read your journal. I can't give you everything you want. This might be your only chance for… for motherhood. Think about that. I don't want you to ever regret sacrificing that for me."

She knocked on his protective wall again, this time hoping that she could wield the sledgehammer hard enough to destroy it. She repeated the words that she had said to him all those months ago on the cliff. "Even if I had a hundred men to choose from, you know I'd choose you."

And he remembered his response, but this time he replied with confidence. "Yeah, I do."

The sound of chaos came from the doorway, and then Maureen marched down the aisle with laser pistol in hand. She was being led by Kairon and behind her were the males who had prepared Judy for the ceremony. Maureen pointed her laser at Appolus while John helped Don off of him. The native males took hold of Appolus and dragged him away.

Don embraced Judy and they engaged in a deep, penetrating, soulful kiss. The floor lit up in colorful concentric circles emanating from them in the center in a slow, rhythmic pattern, much like those that a gently fallen leaf might create on a still lake.

Upon seeing this, the Counselor knelt before them and recited several lines in his native tongue while holding a palm over each of their heads. He then placed both his hands on Judy's shoulders and sang what sounded like a prayer, then did the same to Don. He took both of their right hands and brought them together, surrounding them with his own. He touched his forehead to the tips of their fingers and completed his prayer. Letting their hands go, he nodded and smiled brightly at them.

Don and Judy looked at each other, dumbstruck. Maureen had tears in her eyes as she met her husband's eyes. He returned her heartfelt stare and then smiled warmly at his daughter and the man he had come to regard as a both a friend and a son.

"I think you're bonded!" he exclaimed.


Maureen and Penny opted to return to the Jupiter with John. Through the use of Kairon's translator, The Counselor invited Don and Judy to spend the night in a secluded room of the Ministry reserved for newly bonded couples and they accepted, with John and Maureen's blessings. Before leaving, Kairon couldn't refrain from asking Don about how he had overpowered Appolus.

"High school wrestling."

"Wrestling?"

"It's a sport."

"Sport?"

"You know, recreation."

"Recreation?"

"I'll tell you what… Meet us at the Jupiter 2 in the salvage yard for lunch tomorrow, and I'll explain it all to you." He turned to Judy and murmured, "Right now, I need to turn my attention… elsewhere."

After settling into the room, Judy found herself lying in the middle of a large, warm, satin encased bed with Don beside her. She ran her hand along his muscular arm and chest to his neck. She leaned closer and brushed her lips across his then nibbled his ear, which made him shiver in pleasure. She returned to his lips and engaged him in a long, lingering kiss. Don's hands softly slid over her body as he made love to her the only way he could. Sliding down her torso, he held her hips and nudged her legs open with his chin and snuggled comfortably between them. She was slowly enveloped in an aura of pleasure. As her tension mounted, she caressed his head with her hands and moaned, "Don't stop, oh please, don't stop." Her body suddenly arched and she shuddered with a final gasp of pleasure.

They lay together in exhaustion for quite a long time, he with his head on her belly and she with her hand in his hair. Finally, he made his way back up to her face and kissed her deeply and slowly until they had no more breath other than what was passed between them. After unsealing his mouth from hers, he turned onto his side and held her close.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"For what?"

"For giving up so much and still loving me."

"That was the easy part. The hard part was getting you to believe it."

Guilt masked his face as he closed his eyes, regretting that he had caused her pain. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. Just let me love you, because I am committed to you now and always."