Previously:
Jocasta, Milky Way Galaxy, January 2119
"Are you angry with me for flirting with Tony? I imagine that you are," she mumbled. "I don't have any excuse or explanation. I just got a bit carried away, is all."
She cringed as she trailed her fingers down towards his hand.
"It was cruel of me, I know, and selfish," she nodded. "It was nice to be adored for a little while, to have someone's attention and not be…not be burdened."
She closed her eyes and covered her mouth for a moment, a tremor shaking her.
"You can be angry with me when you wake up," she declared, looking at him and finding her voice. "Any punishment you want, you can have it, all right? Just…just keep fighting, darling, please. I'll find a way. I will."
She rose on shaking legs and turned for the door, the air around her suddenly becoming heavy.
Chapter 3:
Beta 15 Moon Base, Milky Way Galaxy, January 2119
"The performance truly peaks when in the upper range of output. We see less degradation to the thrust capacity and a consistent top end speed, sustained over a constant period of several hours. The applicability to smaller engines is limited, in my view, but for the larger configuration that we run onboard the HMS Andromeda, the upgrades proved quite a marked improvement. It demands the commitment of pushing the performance into the upper range and keeping it there to sustain maximum thrust. The impact on cruising speed is minimal, however, having the data that we now have, it gives us confidence to push the engines to their limit knowing they will be able to hold up."
The audience nodded along to Edith's presentation, murmuring amongst themselves and pointing to the schematics and three-dimensional video that played behind her. Edith allowed a slight smile across her lips, pleased to have everyone's attention for once. Though the room was full of engineers, hardly a crowd that Mary or Sybil would find impressive, these were people that Edith had studied with, learned from and read about, and to have all of them hanging on her every word was thrilling.
"She's loving this," Mary smirked, leaning over and whispering to Sybil as they watched Edith wrap up her presentation.
"Of course, she is, and well-deserved I say," Sybil replied. "Allow her this little victory, darling. She doesn't get as many opportunities to shine as you do."
"She doesn't get any opportunities at all because she's an engineer," Mary laughed quietly. "I'm pleased for her, honestly. Impressing the technician set, good for her."
Sybil rolled her eyes and applauded heartily as Edith took her bows.
"Finally. Right, that's done," Mary sighed, rising to her feet.
"We still have the reception, remember," Sybil warned as they turned for the aisle.
"How could I forget? I'm looking forward to it immensely. The conversation will be absolutely captivating with this lot, I'm sure," Mary deadpanned, giving her sister a knowing smile.
They made their way down to the stage and stood by while Edith held a lively conversation with a group of engineers. Eventually, the admirers dispersed and Edith hugged her sisters.
"Well done, darling," Sybil nodded. "I didn't understand half of it, but it sounded quite impressive."
"Quite impressive," Mary agreed.
"Thank you," Edith nodded. "I know this was a bit of a show for Papa, but I quite enjoyed it."
"At least one of us did," Mary shrugged.
The three sisters made their way out of the auditorium and took a stroll through the campus. The reception was beginning shortly and this was a rare occasion where there was no need to change or freshen up beforehand. Even Edith wasn't particularly concerned with whether they impressed anyone at the reception or not. Her speech was good enough and there was more than enough interest for Papa to work his connections back home and play the politician. The sooner they finished with their duties representing the Royal Star Navy, the sooner they could leave for New Byzantium. Each of them had different reasons for wanting to resume their flight and lingering on Beta 15 held no real appeal for any of them. It was an assignment that none of them chose, and after so many years in space, they had long ago lost interest in doing anything they didn't fully believe in, particularly where Papa was concerned.
"Did you see anyone you recognized in the crowd, Edith?" Mary asked as they made their way towards the reception.
"I did, actually," Edith nodded. "Evelyn is here."
Mary blinked in surprise. "He is?"
"Who's Evelyn?" Sybil asked, frowning at the name. "I don't recall an Evelyn."
"The Honourable Evelyn Napier," Edith explained. "He's a diplomat, more or less, but his family goes back as far as ours."
"He's very well connected, more than Papa even," Mary added. "His office helped me set up the visit to New Byzantium. What's he doing here?"
"What does he ever do? Representing the Navy, of course. I'm surprised that he came all this way to participate, but maybe he got word that you would be here," Edith joked.
"What?" Sybil looked at both her sisters curiously.
"Shut up, Edith," Mary shook her head. "Evelyn is a friend, that's it."
"He's a friend because you've decided that's all he'll be," Edith smiled before nodding to Sybil conspiratorially. "Evelyn has been pining for Mary for years, since their Academy days, I would say."
Mary rolled her eyes.
"I'm stunned that I've never heard of this Mr Napier," Sybil laughed. "I thought that Tony was the only one who pined for you."
"No one is pining for me," Mary protested. "It's the 22nd century. There is no such thing as 'pining' anymore."
"She's right," Edith shrugged. "Tony probably has a VR program of her to keep him warm at night."
Mary rolled her eyes.
"Oh God, he probably does!" Sybil exclaimed. "That's horrible! Aren't you angry about it?"
"I can't stop someone from creating a program that has me in it. No one can," Mary shrugged. "There are laws against it, but no one is going to police all the VR programs that exist in the galaxy. If that's what he does, then so be it. As long as I know nothing about it, I couldn't care less. He'll never have the real thing."
"I suppose," Sybil allowed.
"I bet his programs are rather imaginative," Edith continued. "Evelyn's are likely just re-creations of past events. He's a bit more boring that way."
"Evelyn is a darling," Mary said lightly. "It will be good to see him, but we're friends. That's all. What he chooses to do in private is none of my concern."
"Just as what you choose to do in private is no one else's concern," Edith teased. "But then, I suppose you don't include Tony or Evelyn in any of your programs."
Mary blushed.
Edith and Sybil smiled knowingly as they entered the reception hall.
"How soon can we leave and go back to the ship?" Alex whispered.
Anna kept her polite smile on her face but gave him a warning glare. "Behave. We're at an official function."
"This is an engineering symposium," he complained, undeterred. "We've put in more than enough facetime already. So, when can we leave and go back to the ship?"
"What makes you think that even if we do go back to the ship that you'll get what you want when we get there?" she asked lightly, nodding to another engineer as she began to walk.
He frowned, keeping up with her. "You can't possibly be enjoying yourself right now. You're as bored as I am."
"Even if I was, that doesn't mean I'd be interested in any of what you're suggesting," she countered.
"What else would you want to do?" he demanded. "We're both going to be busy with preparations on our way to New Byzantium. The hours we have to ourselves before we leave orbit will be the most free time we get for the next week or two."
She smiled at his desperation. "I've been studying the different factions involved in the immigration dispute on New Byzantium. One can never be over-prepared, you know."
"You can study another time," he growled.
She turned to face him and slowly sipped her drink, her eyes playful as she looked up at him. "That almost sounded like an order."
"Take it however you like," he replied. "I want to leave this stupid symposium and take my wife back to the ship."
She grinned at his perturbed expression. He was always so calm and collected in battle, her husband. He had the fastest reaction times and processed information quicker than anyone else in the fleet, approaching artificial intelligence levels somehow. Yet when it came to her, he came undone so very easily, and she couldn't help but love him when he acted like this. The whinging and petulance weren't always welcome, of course, but the way he cast aside formality so quickly delighted her. They had their own language, their own way of communicating, a side of themselves that they only reserved for each other. She imagined that most couples were the same and she didn't pretend that they were special in that, but having gone most of her life believing she would never have such a bond with a man, she never failed to revel in it now that she had it.
"All right," she said, looking at him mischievously. "What do you have to offer me that is more appealing than studying?"
He blinked. "Are you being serious right now?"
She smirked. "I find studying to be quite stimulating. I couldn't just give that up without receiving a markedly better offer."
"I think I should hold more appeal than a pile of immigration reports," he grumbled.
She smiled teasingly. "I take nothing for granted, including you. That's why I need to be convinced."
He regarded her warily. She was supposed to be the more prim and proper of the two of them, but he knew better than most that her staid ways were merely for show, to keep the respect of the crew and temper Mary's impetuousness. In private, Anna could be just as bold and brazen as anyone, and she was apparently in a mood today.
"I'm waiting," she reminded him.
"I'm sure that you can imagine how time spent with me in our bedroom would be more enjoyable than studying," he said, leaning in and keeping his voice low. "All the wicked ideas that come to your mind are nothing compared to what I have in store for you, love."
She grinned and lifted her head, speaking softly in his ear while maintaining the appearance that they were just carrying on a normal conversation.
"That's terribly vague, isn't it?" she challenged. "I'm afraid I'll need more specifics."
"Specifics?" he choked out, glancing around to ensure they weren't being observed or overheard.
"Yes, specifics. Details," she explained, her voice sounding bored and indifferent. "I can hardly be expected to change my plans based on a general promise."
He fumed, glaring at her and looking around once more. He was hardly against flirting with his wife, but being surrounded by strangers at an engineering symposium wasn't the time or place.
"If you were to tell me that you were going to tear my clothes off the moment we reached our quarters, that is something specific," she continued, drawing his attention.
"Anna," he growled, his body tensing as she idly ran her hand across his chest, a seemingly innocent gesture that was anything but.
"If you told me that you're going to lift me up and pin me against the wall while you take me hard and fast, that would be the level of detail that I could use to consider my options," she noted, her calm demeanour masking the scandalous words spoken for his ears only.
Not for the first time did he curse the poorly designed dress uniform trousers he was forced to wear.
"Let's pretend that I've told you all of that and more," he struggled, his fingers shaking with the urge to just usher her out the door right the instant and back to their shuttle. He wasn't even certain he could wait until they returned to the ship at this point.
"That's hardly very original if you just adopt my suggestions," she frowned. "You're supposed to be convincing me."
"God, Anna," he struggled, his blood racing through his veins.
"I'm going to go and talk to Edith and Bertie," she advised. "When I return, I hope you've developed a compelling argument, otherwise it seems I'll be studying by myself when we get back to the ship."
He huffed in frustration as she shot him one last teasing glance and sauntered away to go and congratulate Edith on her presentation.
"Edith was quite well-spoken," Evelyn noted, nodding to Mary and sipping his drink. "She had the entire audience hanging on her every word."
"She's the one for you if you want to hear about power displacement and effective ranges," Mary nodded, smiling to herself. "I'm not nearly as well versed in engineering. I just order the jump to ultra-lightspeed."
"You have other skills that hold men enthralled," he noted, smiling at her smugly. "A speech from you would have the hall filled beyond capacity surely."
She looked at him curiously. Evelyn was hardly smooth with his words when it came to women. A career politician, he often spoke to her as if he had practised his lines well in advance. Even his slight frame and smoothly combed brown hair, his polite smile and placid brown eyes revealed a man who thought deliberately and carefully on everything he did. He was handsome in a normal and bland sort of way. She liked him well enough, he had always been kind and friendly to her, and unerringly courteous. Hearing him flirt now, with a surprising modicum of skill, amused her greatly.
"And yet there doesn't seem to be anyone else here overly interested in my company," she replied, smiling at him mischievously. "How do you explain that if I'm supposedly so enthralling?"
"They're all engineers," he answered. "They're either ignorant as to who you are, or they're too intimidated to approach you. Either way, I'm glad."
"You're glad?" she questioned, arching her eyebrow.
He smiled. "I am. I don't like having to share you."
She smiled and sipped her wine. He was really quite adorable in his effort, she thought. In a room full of engineers, he shone by comparison.
"You're on to New Byzantium shortly, aren't you?" he continued.
She nodded. "As soon as possible. We've been delayed by this stopover. I'm eager to reach the colony."
He looked at her seriously. "It will be a challenging review, Mary. There is unrest among the immigrants and word is that living conditions in the outlying districts are difficult. Our past attempts at understanding the situation have all been deterred. If you are able to gain access to the information we want, your findings may not be as favourable as the government there would like."
"I'm not going there to endorse anyone," she stated. "I want to delve into what's going on there, and see for myself how things are being run. If the immigrants have legitimate complaints, I want to know about them. With all due respect to whoever has been sent before, sending the largest ship in the fleet has a decidedly different impact. They'll know we're serious about the situation there and that we won't tolerate political games."
He nodded. "Well, I'll warn you now that the Immigration Minister who will be hosting you is a bit of a charmer. He's risen up through the ranks through trading in favours and forming alliances. He's quite adept at glossing over the hard questions and using his appeal to win people over."
She smiled. "You sound as if you don't care for him."
"On the contrary, I like him very much," he nodded. "The problem is that so does everyone else. He has a way of ingratiating himself to others, even those he's only just met. A brief time with him and suddenly you feel as if you share a long-lasting connection. It makes asking the hard questions rather difficult when he's so adept at deflecting them."
She laughed. "I'll be on my guard with the Minister."
"Kemal," he said. "Kemal Pamuk. He prefers to be addressed without his formal title. I believe he thinks it makes him more endearing, humanizes him a bit so that people aren't as suspicious. He'll see your visit as a meeting of dear friends rather than a review of government policies and practices."
"Ah," she acknowledged. "Well, so long as he doesn't get in my way, I'm sure that Mr Pamuk and I will get along just fine."
"Dr Crawley."
Sybil turned at the sound of her name. Her eyes widened and she quickly swallowed her wine. "Mr Swire! Hello! What are you doing here?"
Reggie Swire smiled and nodded. The older man gave her a benevolent look and cast his arm towards the engineers mingling all around them. "I'm doing some consulting for one of the companies here. I saw that your sister was speaking at the symposium so I thought I would come and see. How are you?"
"Well, thank you," she managed. "We're only here briefly. Now that Edith has given her presentation, we'll be heading out soon."
"I see," he replied. "Well, please give my regards to your sisters. Edith did very well, I thought. I saw Mary earlier but she was rather occupied so I didn't want to intrude."
"I will. Please give our best to your family as well," she answered.
"Certainly. I am so very grateful for all that your family has done. The scholarship in Lavinia's name was such a lovely gesture. I still tear up a bit thinking about it now," he chuckled, wiping his eyes. "She would have been appreciated it just as much as I do."
She smiled politely. "Yes, well it was the least we could do. She was dear to Matthew and so she was dear to us."
He squeezed her hand fondly and wandered off to speak to some of his associates. She watched him for a few moments before shaking her head and turning away. Walking briskly through the reception, she found her husband by the buffet table and quickly gave him instructions.
"I'm going to get Mary. We need to leave," she told Tom quickly. "Go around and spread the word that everyone should make their way back to the ship."
"Will do. You all right?" Tom asked, looking at his wife in concern.
"Fine. I think we just need to get going, is all," she muttered, touching his arm and heading off to find her sister.
HMS Andromeda, Mothership Class Spacecraft, Milky Way Galaxy, January 2119
"All right, let's come to order please," Mary called, sitting down at the head of the long table. "I promise to be brief. I just want to go over our mission objectives for when we reach New Byzantium."
Anna, Sybil and Edith all watched on as Mary swiped her fingers across her tablet and images of the colony came up on the large screen on the wall. It was a large city really, housing millions on an otherwise harsh but resource-rich planet.
"New Byzantium is technically our colony since its founders came from Earth. Over the years, it's changed from a basic trade outpost to a significant commercial centre in the sector. It continues to be mainly a human colony, while the government has remained mostly autonomous for some time now. Our government leaves them alone, and theirs continues to send resources back to Earth," Mary explained.
"The immigration problem they're having is with human settlers or refugees?" Edith asked.
"A bit of everything, unfortunately," Mary sighed. "New Byzantium requires a rather costly investment from anyone who wishes to live in the more coveted neighbourhoods in the central part of the city. Most who come to the colony don't have such funds, which usually leaves them relegated to the outskirts where conditions are not as favourable and development not as advanced."
"They have to live in ghettos," Sybil noted gravely.
"They do," Mary nodded. "Since it's a question of economic resources dictated by the free market, there isn't anything particularly illegal about the immigration policy. They aren't discriminating based on race or species, and they aren't doing anything that isn't already done on other worlds, including Earth."
"The immigrants haven't taken too kindly to the situation, though," Anna commented.
"Exactly. There are rumours of an organized insurgency massing outside the city walls where most of the immigrant population lives," Mary advised, switching to images of the poor areas outside the city. "It isn't our concern specifically, since New Byzantium is entitled to police its own colony. However, the appeals for Earth governments to intervene are growing stronger, which is why we're going to survey the situation."
"Is there a legitimate complaint amongst the lower classes or are they just frustrated with their lot?" Edith asked.
"Likely a combination of both," Mary answered. "Those in power seldom enjoy sharing it. Immigrants are mainly forced into the cheap labour occupations and that keeps them from earning enough to rise above their station. It's a perpetual cycle. The difference now is that there are enough people who are no longer willing to abide by the way things are and they're not being far more vocal."
"If you're going to tour the less developed areas, you'll need a security detail," Sybil noted.
Mary nodded. "I expect that the government will try and dissuade us, but we can at least go and see the living conditions for ourselves and report back."
The screen flickered and a handsome man with curly light brown hair and piercing dark eyes filled the screen.
"Who is that?" Edith exclaimed.
"Kemal Pamuk, Immigration Minister for New Byzantium," Mary answered, glancing at the screen. "He'll be our main contact once we arrive. Evelyn set up the visit for me."
"He seems a bit young to be a Minister," Anna remarked.
"And far too good-looking," Sybil added.
Mary rolled her eyes. "He's a bit of a superstar there, apparently. His last few visits back to Earth have received glowing reviews. He wasn't responsible for establishing the policies that are causing his government problems, but he's been enforcing them."
"So while you're busy with the handsome Mr Pamuk, what do you want the rest of us to do?" Edith asked.
Mary frowned at her sister. "Anna, Alex and I will form our delegation, together with security and a group of surveyor drones. We want to make this seem as routine as possible. There's a far more important mission that I need you and Sybil to deal with."
The screen switched from Kemal Pamuk to a large metal structure with a circular dome and towering pillars.
"There's been word of certain holistic medical practices emerging on New Byzantium," Mary explained. "The methods aren't officially sanctioned and thus far there've only been sporadic reports on results in animals and plant life, however, there seems to be a developing field in cell regeneration and toxin isolation in particular."
Sybil exchanged a concerned look with Edith. "It's a lot of rumours."
"Exactly, which is why I need you to see if there's any truth to any of it," Mary nodded. "This is the Temple of Divinity. It's here where people have been volunteering for treatments, though there's no known cases of healing in humans beyond anecdotal evidence. See what you can find."
Sybil nodded slowly. "I can do scans from the ship and go and tour the facility, but we're rummaging around in the dark at best. There's no telling if anything they do will be compatible with Matthew, or if it will even affect his infection levels."
"I know that, Sybil," Mary snapped. "Just investigate and see if anything they're doing could be of any use to us."
"I wouldn't be comfortable applying anything we do find there without intense experimentation first. Since we can't tell them why we are interested in their methods, they might be reluctant to let us in," Sybil guessed.
"Do what you must," Mary said firmly. "I don't want to mention anything to Mr Pamuk and give him leverage against us. Officially, we're there to observe and nothing more. Use the time we have to delve deeper into whatever they may have developed there."
"I just want to make sure you're being realistic, is all," Sybil warned.
"Sybil, whatever cure we ultimately find will be the first of its kind. No human has ever recovered from Matthew's condition. Accordingly, we may as well try anything and everything we can get our hands on. It's not as if we can do anything to make things worse for him!" Mary scolded her. "Don't give me excuses. Just do your job and find something."
Sybil looked away and nodded slowly. "Yes, Captain."
Mary sighed. "Anna, I'll let you know when we have an itinerary from Minister Pamuk. Edith, keep the engines hot. I want to get to New Byzantium earlier than scheduled so we have time to do preliminary scans before we need to meet with the government. I'll also need you to reconfigure the probe array so that we can pinpoint whatever Sybil might need. Sybil, figure out a way into the Temple, and remember that your part of the mission is strictly confidential."
The women around the table nodded.
"Thank you, all. Dismissed," Mary ordered.
They all rose from their chairs and left the meeting room. Mary returned to her Captain's chair on the bridge while Sybil and Edith returned to their respective departments.
"We're ready for the jump to ultra-lightspeed, Captain," the pilot confirmed. "Course for New Byzantium plotted and the route is clear."
"All ahead full," Mary declared.
The engines glowed brighter just before the large spacecraft launched forward and disappeared from its orbit around Beta 15.
Anna approached her quarters filled with trepidation. The mission briefing had done very little to ease her nerves about what they might find on New Byzantium. The plight of the immigrants was serious but they had encountered far worse in their travels. She wasn't concerned about the safety of Mary and her sisters on the planet. For whatever political struggles were occurring there, New Byzantium still remained a human city and even the most reckless of insurgents would be insane to attack the crew of the leading ship in the fleet.
No, she felt anxious because she saw something in that meeting, something that was becoming more and more common and making her more and more concerned.
Her Captain was faltering.
She knew better than most not to question Mary on anything involving Matthew. When he was first put in stasis, the implication was clear. Mary would go to the end of the galaxy to try and save him, and as acting Captain, her command was absolute.
That was months ago and while Anna had no idea if a cure could even be found for Matthew's condition, she trusted that Mary would balance her personal mission with the overall duty to her crew. So far, she had done nothing to put anyone in danger or compromise any of their actual objectives. Anna still believed that Mary would never willfully do anything so reckless, but the cold and careful veneer that she wore was beginning to show cracks.
Anna could tell that the continued failures were now weighing on Mary more than ever. Mary snapped at Edith all the time, but she very rarely raised her voice with her youngest sister. Sybil's comments had been reasonable, yet Mary cast them aside with fury. There was a hint of desperation now, a heightened urgency to make any progress. Matthew could remain in stasis indefinitely, but Mary didn't seem to be comfortable with that, as though she had some personal timetable in her head and every passing day was a small defeat for her.
Sighing to herself, she glanced quickly at the retina scanner and the doors opened to her quarters. There was very little she could do at the moment. They were going to New Byzantium and they had their orders. She would just have to watch Mary closely and ensure that her frustration didn't spill over into her work. As her second-in-command, Anna was the one to keep the Captain calm and level-headed, even in the most trying of times. There wasn't anything she could say to deter Mary from continuing with her quest to help Matthew, but she could try and ensure that her personal vendetta stayed in step with the greater duties they all owed to the ship and its crew.
"Alex?" she called, frowning when she found their living room empty.
"Hey," he replied, coming into the room with a tablet in his hand. "How was the briefing?"
"It went as expected, for the most part," she replied, watching him carefully. He was still wearing his uniform and had a rather serious expression on his face. "What are you up to?"
"Just doing some studying," he replied, sitting down on the sofa. "I think I've mapped out a route that allows Mary to see a decent amount of the outlying neighbourhoods and also gives us clear sightlines to anyone who might be watching us from above."
"Studying?" she questioned, coming over and sitting down next to him. "That's rather diligent of you."
"I want to be productive with my time," he mumbled, his eyes remaining on his tablet as he reviewed the known military forces on New Byzantium. "If it's just us that are going into the city, I want to be prepared."
She smiled and reached for her own tablet. Turning slightly, she leaned back against him and began reviewing the mission briefing that she already had memorized.
"Who's that?" he asked, frowning when he glanced over at her screen.
"Kemal Pamuk, Minister of Immigration for New Byzantium. He'll be our contact when we arrive," she explained.
"He seems young to be a Minister," he noted drily.
She smirked. "That's true. Worse still, he's absolutely beautiful."
He coughed. "Do you think so?"
"I think most women would think so," she replied easily. "He's clearly ambitious, quite fit and must be a skilled speaker. That's an alluring combination."
"Politicians are all liars," he huffed. "If you want a man who you can never trust, have your fill."
She laughed and shook her head. "I doubt that Mr Pamuk is a man one looks to for a long-lasting relationship built on trust."
"What good is he then?" he asked.
She sat up and turned towards him, a playful look in her eyes. "I'm sure that he's a wonderful distraction."
He glared at her. "Is that what you think?"
"I didn't consider it until now," she replied, sitting up on her knees and moving closer to him. "Maybe he likes seducing delegates who come to visit his city?"
"If that's true, then Mary will need to be on her guard," he replied.
She shook her head, a teasing smile baring her teeth. Casting the tablet aside, she rested her hands on his shoulder and leaned towards him. "He wouldn't dare try anything with her. She's the Captain of a Mothership."
"You think that her title will deter him?" he questioned.
"It's more likely he will be put off by the amount of effort that would be required," she answered. "He would probably rather set his sights on someone who can be more easily turned."
He grunted as she pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
"You know what I'm talking about, don't you, hon?" she whispered. "You know what it's like to want to seduce a naïve demure woman and make her yours?"
"Anna," he sneered, his arm reaching around her and drawing her closer.
"The Minister is quite gorgeous, but he's not you," she drawled, turning his head towards her and kissing him softly. "He's not my powerful, wonderful, sexy husband. Not even close."
"So you don't want him?" he mumbled, kissing her back, his other hand reaching over and fondling her arse.
"He'll be nice to look at, but no, I don't want him," she promised, slipping her tongue past his lips. "I want you. Only you."
"For a woman who claims to want me, you've been making me work for your attention as of late," he complained, his hands tugging at her uniform top and slipping underneath to caress her bare skin.
"I can't allow you your prize so easily," she giggled, humming when his fingers found her breast. "Don't you pilots love a challenge?"
"I love you," he retorted. "I don't care for foolish games. Making me beg is cruel, don't you think?"
"I only do that because I know that it infuriates you. I find it quite hot when you're all riled up for me, actually," she grinned. She reached around and undid the zipper of her top and discarded it. Her bra followed quickly as his fingers undid the clasp easily and tossed it aside.
"Consider me riled up, then," he growled, kissing a trail from her mouth down to her breasts. "You know I want you all the time, love."
"Mmm," she smiled, closing her eyes and cradling his head as his lips and tongue flared her arousal. "Well, you can have me, then."
"No more studying?" he questioned, teasing her sensitive flesh.
"None at all," she shook her head, groaning as he pulled her on to his lap, his mouth still ravishing her chest. "No more work, no more duties, just you fucking me senseless for the next several hours."
"That's not very ladylike language, Commander Smith," he drawled before closing his lips around her breast again.
"I've never claimed to be a lady," she sighed, swallowing as he kept building her up.
He grunted and picked her up easily. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders and her legs locked across his waist. He brought them down the hall and into their bedroom, kissing her heatedly before he set her down. She eased herself on to the bed and leaned back, a dark look in her eyes. He kneeled before her and tore at the rest of her clothes, hastily throwing her boots, stockings, skirt and panties aside in his haste.
"Alex!" she moaned, falling back to the bed and turning her head into the duvet as he spread her legs and plunged his tongue into her centre. She was already worked up from his earlier attentions and when he added two fingers she reached down and wound her hands through his black hair. Her body arched towards him, her hips grinding against his wicked mouth. He swept his tongue over her spot once, twice, three times, and his fingers rubbing up against her pushed her over the edge. She cried out in pleasure, panting as he drew out her release with his tongue and fingers. She fell back, her arms dropping to her sides, her pulse racing at the sight of him rising up and crawling over her.
"Much better than studying," he chuckled, kissing his way up her body and capturing her lips.
She purred into his mouth, tasting herself and feeling the warm weight of him on top of her. After several moments, she pushed him on to his back and rose up to loom over him.
"Let me show you how well I've learned my lessons," she smiled sultrily, undoing his shirt and kissing his bare chest.
He watched her with a stupid smile on his face while she pulled his trousers off and stripped him naked. Taking hold of his length, she grinned up at him knowingly before taking him in her mouth.
"Anna," he groaned, his hand clutching her blonde hair, pulling her tresses free from the tight bun she usually wore on duty.
"Do you remember when you taught me how to do this?" she asked lightly, licking him all over. "Do you remember when I told you I'd never done this before?"
He grunted in response.
"You like getting it from a superior officer, don't you, Lieutenant Commander? You like how you're the only man I've ever done this for?" she taunted him, taking him in again and stroking him with her hand.
"Yes," he growled through gritted teeth.
She brought him to the precipice before easing him back and starting over again. His legs were tight and tense, his hands balled into fists at his sides, hanging on to prolong the sensations she was giving him. She wiggled her naked bottom back and forth, knowing the sight of it drove him crazy. Eventually, she released him and kissed his thigh. Moving up his body, she rubbed her breasts against him, grinning as he cringed and clung to control.
"How do you want to fuck your wife, Alex?" she asked, licking his ear suggestively. "Do you want me on top, or on my hands and knees so you can pull my hair?"
"Anna, fuck," he sneered, staring up at her captivated.
"I've been so bad making you wait," she whispered. "Fuck me from behind and spank me, hon. Make me scream for you."
She kissed his cheek and turned around, crawling up to the headboard and raising her hips wickedly. He rose to his knees and came over to her, fondling her ass and wrapping an arm around her front.
"Yes!" she cried as he thrust forward, quickly burying himself all the way. "Fuck me!"
He reached up and closed his hand over hers, clutching on to the headboard as his hips gained speed. She turned her head and kissed him sloppily, arching her back and taking him deeper. He raised up and took hold of her hair, tugging on it while he increased his pace. He felt her clutching at him, squeezing him, the heat between them ever rising.
"Give it to me, Alex! Give it to me!" she wailed, her loud cries enflaming his blood. He could never truly get used to how filthy she became during lovemaking, so different from the way she was in every other aspect of her life. He smacked her ass hard, doing it again when she moaned from the contact. She soon tumbled over a second time. The sight of her writhing before him making him snarl and grab hold of her hips. He pushed in as far as he could over and over, the sound of their bodies coming together spurring him on. With a final gasp, he pulled her back against him and filled her until he was entirely drained.
They collapsed to the bed still joined, their heartbeats pounding against each other. Eventually, he withdrew and turned on to his back, gulping in air while keeping hold of her.
"Mmm, much better than studying, indeed," she laughed, cuddling up to him, their bodies warm and slick from their exertions.
"You are incredible," he chuckled, kissing her forehead and hugging her close.
"You're fairly adequate, yourself," she smiled against his chest before laughing as he tickled her sides. "Stop it!"
"Care to revise that last statement?" he asked.
"Mmm, I don't think that's wise," she said sleepily. "If I tell you that you're so good that you make me want to be a dirty whore for you all the time, you'll never give me any respite."
"That's true," he agreed. "I would be shocked to hear you say that, though."
She laughed and kissed his warm skin. "Do you honestly need me to say it? You know what you do to me, surely?"
"It's just nice to hear how much you desire me every once in a while, that's all," he replied. "It's usually me saying how much I want you."
"Well, allow me to regain my strength and I promise you'll be hearing plenty from me, hon," she said playfully, stretching her leg across his thighs.
"Do you want to shower?" he asked.
"Not yet. We're going to be building up another sweat soon enough," she answered.
He kissed the top of her head and stroked her back, his body already responding to the prospect of another round with his wife.
"What about you?" she asked softly. "New Byzantium is well-known for its escorts and entertainers. Will you be partaking in the local delights along with your division?"
He huffed and took hold of her hand. Drawing it down his body, he placed her fingers around him and growled thickly when she stroked him.
"You know that you're all I want or need," he assured her. "There are plenty of male escorts and dancers around as well. You and Mary planning a girls' night out?"
"No," she shook her head, running her fingers up and down his hard flesh. "I've got more than enough right here at home. I don't need to go out and pay for it."
He smiled and kissed her.
"Is this all because of me?" she asked mischievously, grinning as he swelled in her hand.
"It's what you do to me," he replied. "Years of marriage doesn't affect how I much I want you, love. If anything, I want you even more now than I did before."
She turned her head and kissed him tenderly. "That's a very bold statement, husband. Show me."
He smiled and pulled her on top of him.
New Byzantium, Milky Way Galaxy, January 2119
Sybil walked out of her office and over to the hidden door at the end of the hallway. Placing her hand on the access pad and looking into the retina scanner, she waited for the seamless portal to give way before slipping inside the dark chamber within.
"Darling, we're coming out of ultra-lightspeed," she called, coming up to Mary. "You need to get to the command bridge."
Mary nodded silently, her hands braced on the glass dome covering Matthew. She made no effort to leave.
"Mary, get going," Sybil urged. "The sooner we get down there, the sooner we can try to help him."
Mary nodded, her eyes remaining on Matthew's resting face.
"You love him," Mary said finally.
Sybil blinked. "Of course, I love him. He's practically family."
Mary shook her head. "You love him more than that."
Sybil sighed and gazed down at Matthew. "He saved my life. I can never forget that."
Mary took a deep breath. "The two of you have always been close. You're the little sister he never had. Do you remember when he punched that friend of yours for trying to steal a kiss at your birthday party?"
Sybil nodded, looking down at Matthew and smiling sadly. "He's always been my hero. Tom knows I'd leave him in a heartbeat if Matthew ever asked me to, not that he ever would, obviously."
Mary laughed knowingly. "I think Tom might love him even more than we do."
Sybil smiled at that. "If we're going to take on the Crawley girls, we've got to stick together. He was the first one to reach out to him in the beginning. Never judged him. Never acted as if he was superior. Tom was enthralled with him after that."
Mary nodded. "That was so very long ago, wasn't it?"
"It was," Sybil sighed. "We thought we knew everything about exploring the galaxy but we were children, really. I thought we'd all be together forever."
"We all did," Mary whispered.
"Darling, you know that I would do anything to bring him back," Sybil pleaded. "I just don't want to see you get your hopes up when we have no idea what we're doing, really. I remember what it did to you when he left the first time. I remember how devastated you were when he came back with Lavinia. I love Matthew, but you're my sister. I can't bear to see you hurt like that again."
Mary cringed. "The pain of those times pale in comparison to how horrible it's been these past few months. I'm only half myself without him, Sybil. We have to bring him back. We just have to."
"Have you thought about what will happen if we do, though?" Sybil asked quietly. "He'll remember, Mary. He'll remember all of it."
Mary frowned. "Let's get him back. I'll worry about the rest of it afterwards."
Sybil watched her sister leave. "Yes, Captain."
The ship reached port after navigating a rather tricky descent. The planet is surrounded by numerous rings of orbiting rocks that must be traversed to get inside the atmosphere. New Byzantium was built on the coast of a great sea and as the large spacecraft came in, there were strong winds that buffeted it from all sides. After docking and disembarking, however, the uncomfortable journey in was mostly forgotten.
Mary smiled, glancing around while the sleek shuttle transported her and her party towards the parliament buildings. New Byzantium is teeming with activity. It's all bright lights and towering skyscrapers, personal vehicles flying about and spacecraft coming and going. There's a pulse to the city, a vibrancy that she can feel. It's intoxicating and alluring, such wealth and luxury, ambition and progress on full display. Even the government hall is beautiful and artistic, with soaring arches and glass everywhere, so unlike the boring structures that she's visited on other worlds. When she exits the shuttle, there's a pleasant floral hint in the air that seems to invigorate her. After feeling somewhat despondent during the trip here, her mood is much better having now reached the metropolis.
"Everything is so clean," Anna remarked, falling in step next to Mary as they strode down a long and wide corridor.
"It's quite impressive," Mary nodded, looking up to the soaring ceiling above. "You can feel a history here, a sense of culture, and yet, this is one of the more advanced cities that we've ever visited."
Alex followed behind them, his eyes taking in the area around them, calculating angles and seeking out positions that might leave them vulnerable. New Byzantium is secure and there's no reason to think there would be any opposition to their visit. Still, his instincts are on alert, the drones escorting them giving him a bit of comfort, but not enough to be completely at ease.
"Lady Mary."
A crowd of people gathered before them and the group seemed to part slightly to allow a man dressed in an impeccable suit to step forward and offer Mary his hand. Kemal Pamuk isn't tall or particularly imposing, but he does have a presence about him. His staff stand at attention and there seems to be a sense that everything waits on him, as though he's commanding the room.
"Minister," Mary nodded, placing her hand in his.
"Kemal, please," Kemal nodded. "I'm sure that Evelyn told you how much I hate being called 'Minister'. It makes me feel so old."
Mary smiled in acknowledgement. "Kemal, this is Anna, my second-in-command, and Alex, leader of our flight wings."
Kemal nodded to both of them before turning to Mary and gesturing towards a far door. He placed his hand on her back briefly to gently guide her in the proper direction and walked with her at a comfortable pace.
"I expect that you want to get straight to work," Kemal stated. "I've arranged for all of us to tour the outlying districts this afternoon. There will be a series of meetings with some of the interest groups there and you can conduct your surveys. My staff will provide the route to your people so that you can plan appropriately. I also have a package of information on who you will be meeting and the latest debates in our parliament on this issue."
"Thank you," Mary nodded. "You're quite thorough."
"You say that as if you're surprised," Kemal smirked.
"I know that it's a delicate topic, the conflict with the immigrants," Mary replied. "I expected you to warn me that going to tour the districts would be too dangerous."
"It's not entirely safe, no, but your visit would be quite useless if you didn't get to see the area for yourself. We have nothing to hide here, Lady Mary. The system isn't perfect, but immigrants have far more opportunities for advancement than they would have you believe. I think you'll see that," Kemal noted.
"Your relations with the interest groups must at least be cordial if you are venturing there personally," Mary remarked.
"We tolerate each other, though it all rests on a knife's edge. I'm hoping that your arrival will put them on their best behaviour," Kemal answered. "Besides, it would be negligent of me to send you there unescorted. I shall make it my business to keep you from harm, I promise."
"Thank you," Mary nodded.
"While we work, your crew is free to make use of my staff to make their stay here as enjoyable as possible," Kemal continued. "I've made sure there are no official receptions or needless appearances to take away from your time here."
Mary smiled in surprise. "That's considerate of you."
"I'm sure that you've attended far more than your share of receptions and ceremonies," he chuckled. "You're here to do a job, and I want to help you do that job."
"I'm pleased to hear it, although I would like to visit your city beyond my assignment," Mary replied. "The little I've seen so far is quite impressive."
"We're very proud of it," he agreed. "Once we've toured the districts, stay by me and we'll see the city together."
Mary smiled and continued on to a convoy of vehicles waiting for them.
"Anything?" Edith asked, the doors closing behind her as she came into the darkened room.
"They use quite a lot of bionics and implants," Sybil replied, looking up at the bank of screens before her. The drones accompanying Mary, Anna and Alex were sending back data from the areas they traveled. Combined with the ship's sensors, they allowed Sybil to get a detailed look inside the Temple of Divinity and any other building she wanted to examine in the surrounding area.
"See this?" Sybil pointed at one screen. "That's a video of one of their procedures. They were able to isolate a specific nerve toxin in the body and keep it from spreading, which is quite impressive. However, once they isolated it, they amputated the limb and replaced it with a bionic leg."
Edith frowned. "So their holistic cure is to cut off the infected area entirely?"
"It's not particularly holistic, though there is some logic to it," Sybil admitted. "The problem is that such a procedure would never work on Matthew. He would lose his legs at a minimum and I can't even guarantee that we would get it all."
"We're going to have to get down there for a closer look," Edith muttered. "There must be more to it than cutting people's arms and legs off."
"If we can figure out how they are able to isolate specific cells and transport them to areas of the body, that might be a start," Sybil thought aloud. "Let's get moving. Mary's tour is wrapping up."
Mary frowned in concentration, her fingers moving over the tablet as she checked over her notes. She paused and reviewed what she had written, going over her impressions from her visit to the districts. Eventually, she set the device aside, satisfied for the moment that she had gotten everything down.
"Well?" Kemal asked, smiling at her from across the table.
"The interest groups have a point," she replied, rising from her chair and going over to the window. "Healthcare, emergency response, security, even variety of groceries – they're all deficient in the districts compared to the city centre."
"They are," he agreed, standing up and going over to her side. "But they are available. There's a difference between objecting to the provision of government services and claiming that they don't exist at all."
She nodded slowly. "I did perceive a disorganization to the interest groups. They seem to be very good at complaining but not so much at offering solutions beyond the government throwing more resources their way. All the same, you have a clearly disgruntled segment of your population, Minister."
"Kemal," he smiled. "I don't believe we are on the verge of an uprising as some would claim. It would be squashed out rather quickly, for one, and no one wants the ugliness that would come with it."
"The British government would certainly look unfavourably on the use of force against a disadvantaged community," she noted.
He smirked. "Perhaps the British would like to offer some tips from its own history as to how to handle an angry mob?"
She arched her eyebrow at him. During their tour, there were mild protests, people lining the streets to shout at the government vehicles passing through. However, when they emerged for their meetings, Kemal was calm and relaxed, greeting each of the leaders of the interest groups and treating them all with courtesy. They aired numerous grievances to Mary and Kemal raised no objections, even though it was obvious that some of the complaints were clearly embellished or fabricated. For a man who supposedly relied on charm and wit to get his way, she found him diligent and focused, able to easily quote her statistics and policy arguments and also cut to the substance of each issue raised. He had the confidence of someone who had worked very hard to speak knowledgably on the matter and he wasn't merely parroting the government line, but speaking from authority and experience.
"Whatever incidents you are referring to are long in the past," she replied. "What matters now is what you intend to do in response to what you face."
"It won't be solved immediately, and we'll never satisfy everyone, but we are taking steps," he answered. "We're raising the minimum wage and reducing the tax rate on the lower classes. What the interest groups need to understand is that by putting money back in the pockets of the immigrants, the government is empowering them to take control of their own destiny. We won't be held responsible if they go and waste all their additional pay on drugs and prostitutes."
"Some might say that you're giving them the means to keep themselves ensnared in the districts for the long term," she remarked. "Without the ability to aspire to higher level jobs, you're merely making their lives a bit more comfortable, but not actually giving them the means to move on."
"We're giving them more freedom within the limits of what the law allows, the same as any citizen in the city centre," he countered. "If they're looking for a gilded path to the middle class, they won't find it here. On New Byzantium, we work to improve our lot."
"I'm not so sure that they're asking for a golden route, but rather a less painful one," she replied.
"Sometimes we must endure a little pain in order to achieve satisfaction," he said, looking at her intently. "The middle class suffers to try and join the upper class. There's always another level to aspire to, Lady Mary."
She nodded. "Well, I've done all that I can for today. I want to investigate some of their claims further to see whether or not there are specific policies that are discriminatory towards them."
"Of course," he agreed. "You may resume your review tomorrow. A shuttle is ready to take you back to your ship. I was hoping that I might interest you in a tour of the city, however."
"Well, if you're going to take me to visit the most popular tourist attractions, I'm not interested, I must say," she smiled.
He chuckled. "No, I can promise you that I'll take you places that most visitors have never seen. I'll show you the true New Byzantium."
"Very well," she nodded. "Let's meet in an hour?"
He took her hand and kissed it, flashing her a set of perfect white teeth. "I'll be waiting."
"The question is what do we do once we isolate the venom?" Sybil explained, all eyes in the room watching the simulation projected on the table in front of them. "The healers here usually amputate, cut out the affected area altogether. It's not as simple as excising a tumour, for example, but it's similar. The problem we have is we can't surgically remove the venom. We can't just reach in and pull it out or even laser it away. We now have a method to make sure it doesn't spread to the rest of his body, but we still don't know how to remove it entirely."
Mary frowned, watching the simulation carefully. "You can't draw it out through his organs?"
Sybil shook her head. "That's been the problem from the beginning. If we try and move it through his bloodstream, or even through his liver and intestines, it would likely kill him. We wouldn't be able to contain it before it spread out of control."
"And there's too much of it to isolate it in a small area?" Edith asked.
"We can't just send it all down to his toe and cut it off, no," Sybil answered.
Mary sighed and rose from her chair. "Well, we at least know how to stop the spread and separate it from his other cells. That's significant. Well done, Sybil."
Sybil nodded. "There's some more digging I can do, but as far as the methods I observed, this is the only part that's worth anything to us."
"I expect our review will be done tomorrow, so you've got another 24 hours, maybe 36 at most," Mary advised. "Get some rest tonight and you can resume tomorrow."
"Where are you going?" Anna asked, watching as Mary headed for the door.
"I'm taking a tour of the city with Kemal," Mary replied.
"You're going unaccompanied?" Anna questioned.
Mary rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. His security detail will be watching over us, I expect."
"We'll monitor you from here just the same," Anna advised. "We're already tracking the crew members who have disembarked to see the city tonight, so we'll add you to the list. I'll have Alex and Tom on alert, just to be safe."
"Fine," Mary nodded. "Enjoy your evening, all of you."
Edith and Sybil glanced at each other as Mary left the room.
Kemal Pamuk was true to his word. Rather than take Mary to see a view of the city from an observation tower, or line up at one of the immense monuments that drew large crowds, he brought her to a small restaurant tucked away in a side street of the entertainment district. They ate delicious local food, the mood loud and cheerful as other patrons laughed and chatted away at the surrounding tables. No one bothered them and the guards who accompanied Kemal kept their distance. For several hours, she basked in the anonymity of just being another person out on the town enjoying the evening.
After dinner, they strolled through the area. He showed her small shops that sold tapestries still woven by hand in a style that went back millennia. It seemed he always knew where there was another hidden treasure – an art gallery featuring paintings that moved and shimmered, non-descript coffee counters that served strong, thick, invigorating drinks, even pastry shops with sweet delicacies that reminded her of home.
"What do you think of my city now?" he asked, smiling at her as they walked.
"It's even more impressive than I imagined," she replied. "I feel like one of the locals, rather than a visitor from a distant planet."
He laughed. "Well, you can't be considered truly one of us until you've tried our most sacred tradition."
She arched her eyebrow in question. "And what would that be?"
"A proper visit to one of the baths," he answered, showing her his teeth again. "Some say the waters are healing and have spiritual qualities. Most people here don't know the history or origins. They just like having a bit of a sweat and a massage at the end of a long day."
"And what about you?" she asked. "Do you enjoy the baths?"
He nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "I had planned to enjoy one tonight regardless of whether you decided to come along or not."
She regarded him for a moment before raising her chin in challenge. "Take me there."
He bowed his head and gestured for them to keep walking.
"William, are you still reading the Captain's location?" Anna asked, looking at her display screens.
"She's still at the same restaurant, Commander," William replied.
Anna frowned. "For almost three hours?"
"All her vital signs are normal. The Minister is there and his security remain nearby," William answered.
"Must be quite a meal they're having," Anna muttered, looking away from her screens and picking up a tablet with possible route calculations for their next stop.
Mary sighed as soft hands massaged her back. She could feel all the pent-up tension and stress of her daily routine melting away, leaving her delightfully relaxed and boneless. When she first arrived at the elegantly decorated building housing the private bath, she didn't know quite what to expect. She and Kemal were soon separated and she was escorted by a female attendant to change into a soft robe. The first room she was brought into was quite warm, the air fragrant and heated. After a few minutes, she was perspiring and feeling quite at ease. The attendant returned to bring her to a cold pool to wash and the contrast in temperature was refreshing, albeit a bit of a shock at first. Just when she was getting used to the frigid water, she was brought to another room and her female attendant was now working all the knots out of her muscles.
It felt glorious.
Throughout her visit, she hadn't seen anyone else, not even Kemal. Being alone allowed her the luxury of gazing at the ornate tiles on the floor and walls, basking in the hot air of the first chamber and unwinding in the chill of the pool. Onboard the Andromeda, she rarely got the chance to take a proper swim. Showers were for getting clean and little else, and she never had time for a soak or just to lie back in her bath and take a moment for herself.
She was soon wrapped in a fine robe and had her hair covered with a soft towel. The female attendant escorted her through to a gorgeous room with a high ceiling and large screens on the walls with images of flowers and waterfalls. Invited to recline on a chaise, she smiled and lied back, her skin feeling clean and warm.
"Lady Mary."
She smiled as Kemal came into the chamber, a towel wrapped around his waist.
"How did you enjoy your bath?" he asked.
"It was great fun," she answered, smiling as he came to sit down in the chaise next to hers. "What is the purpose of this room?"
He glanced around, a smile on his face. "It's a cooling room, designed for bathers to meditate and rest following the bath and massage. People spend the most time in here. They find it the most pleasing part of the visit."
"Mmm, I can understand why," she agreed. "Thank you for bringing me here. I've had a wonderful time."
"I'm glad," he nodded. "Let me show you one last thing."
He pointed towards a screen on the far wall and she gazed at it, her head resting on the pillow beneath her. She blinked as the waterfall seemed to pour out of the display and flow towards her.
"What?" she mumbled.
"Keep watching," he said soothingly.
The room seemed to fade around her, leaving only the waterfall and Kemal. Flashes of colour whirled around her, drawing her attention as she looked left and right. Her mind told her to sit up but she didn't move, her breathing growing heavier as she tried to follow the lights dancing around her.
"This room allows us to delve into the mind, Lady Mary," he stated, his voice firm in her ears. "Here we can see what you keep inside so as to better understand you, to know who you truly are. I believe I have a good idea from one look at you, but it helps to be sure. The hot air room, the cold bath, even the massage and the air you breathe in here, they all helped prepare you for this, made you more easily pliable."
She continued to stare at the shifting lights. All around her, the screens lit up with different images. There she was with Sybil and Edith as children, playing beneath the large tree in front of her family home at Downton Abbey. On another screen she was graduating from the Academy, smiling brilliantly as she posed with her group of friends.
"A high achiever who always craved more," he noted. "That was already quite obvious. Now, what about him?"
An image of Matthew appeared before them. He was dressed in his crisp Navy uniform. He turned and smiled as Mary came to his side. Taking her in his arms, he laughed before kissing her softly.
"Interesting," Kemal nodded. "Your husband?"
"Matthew, my darling," she whispered, her eyes unfocused. "He left me."
"How sad," Kemal shook his head. "And yet how convenient that you are currently unattached."
His eyes raked over her body, the robe doing little to hide her svelte form or her curves. He licked his lips and rubbed his hands together.
"We have all night together, Lady Mary," he nodded. "Your crew believes we're still back at the restaurant. Scanners are so easily manipulated when you know how."
He rose from his chair and came to her side, sitting down on the edge of her chaise and staring at her prone body.
"What will you report back to your government about our immigration issue?" he asked.
"I need more information before determining that," she replied.
He frowned at her answer. "And what are your impressions of the New Byzantium government?"
"Undecided at the moment," she said dazedly.
"Strange," he muttered. "You're not supposed to be able to give vague responses."
As he pondered her answers, his gaze strayed to her body once more, her bare legs stretched out over the chaise, the hint of her chest that he saw through the folds of her robe. He smiled and leaned closer to her.
"I don't know when we will ever meet again after tomorrow, sweet Mary," he grinned devilishly. "So let us have tonight."
"No, I belong to Matthew," she gasped, her eyes still staring vacantly at the lights bouncing off the ceiling.
"But he left you," Kemal noted.
"He'll come back for me. I know he will," she whispered. "We belong together. We always have."
"You can still be faithful to him," Kemal advised. "He never has to know that anything happened between us."
"I can't," she shook her head slowly. "I won't."
Kemal sat up, a perplexed look on his face. He reached out and waved his hand over Mary's eyes. She blinked but didn't move, still staring up at the ceiling.
"First stage trance and full interactive responses, but not susceptible to suggestion," he frowned. "How is that possible?"
After watching her for several more moments, he rose from the chaise and shook his head. "Good night, Lady Mary. I will see you again in the morning."
She kept looking up at the lights as he left the room.
Kemal sighed as he walked down the hallway and approached the female attendant who had been assigned to Mary.
"Let Lady Mary rest for a while longer before you return the room to its normal state," he instructed. "I'm going to change and meet her back in the lobby."
"Yes, Minister," the attendant bowed. "That seemed to be a brief visit."
"It was," he admitted tightly. "Lady Mary's mind is far more difficult to penetrate than I expected, and I won't risk playing with a Captain who is not entirely controllable. One wrong turn and the spell would be broken and we would be found out. I'll just have to hope we make a favourable impression upon her so that she won't condemn us in her report. Carry on. Oh, and have my usual suite prepared in an hour. Bring a friend if you like."
"Yes, Minister," the attendant bowed.
He stomped off down the hallway towards the change room.