Previously:
New Byzantium, Milky Way Galaxy, March 2119
"Don't waste my time with posturing. I'll double your fee if you're successful. If you're not, no amount of money will help you," Kemal warned.
"It will be done."
"Good night," Kemal said.
"Wait a minute. Who's this?"
"Lady Mary Crawley. She'll be part of the British delegation. I want her spared," Kemal ordered.
"That will depend on how close she is to the blast zone."
"Make it happen. Your success depends on her remaining alive," Kemal informed him.
"Yes, Minister."
Once he was left alone again, Kemal smiled and looked over to the bath house where he had brought Mary on her last visit. He recalled her shapely body spread out on the lounge chair, her eyes closed and chest rising with each breath. He had kept himself under control back then – barely. Next time he wouldn't need to be so cautious.
"God save the Queen," he grinned.
Chapter 10:
HMS Andromeda, Mothership Class Spacecraft, Milky Way Galaxy, April 2119
Matthew slowly opened his eyes and looked lazily up at the stars above. He spent a while just lying still and watching them, bright streaks of light crawling across his vision. The ship was cruising in the lower range of ultra-lightspeed, fast enough to reach their destination in the mandated three weeks, but without putting too much of a strain on the engines and still allowing a brief glimpse of the scenery outside.
He took a deep breath, a small smile brightening his face. Though the ceiling of his bedroom was not actually a window, he enjoyed having the view of space projected on to the smooth surface. It was soothing and a bit humbling to see just how vast the galaxy was as they traveled through it, every point of light another faraway star system with its own planets and, in some cases, inhabitants. It was far easier to find perspective when one had actual proof that Earth and humans were not the centre of the universe.
Now nearly two months since he had come out of stasis, he was beginning to feel more normal. Being back on Earth had helped him reset and focus on what he needed to do to once again take the reins as Captain of the ship. When the crew returned from leave, he returned to active duty. Sitting in his usual chair on the bridge felt awkward at first, even though the crew adapted to his presence seamlessly. He wasn't there often, keeping to himself, mostly, not wanting to disrupt the process that had worked so well while he was incapacitated. Most of his time was spent in the hangars with Alex and Tom, overseeing the squadrons and joining in with pilot training. He wasn't decided yet on just how many flight missions he would take on. It wasn't usual for a Captain to leave the ship. Still, he liked the solitude of being in the harness and linked to his drone, his mind clear of everything except flying.
Turning his head, he grinned at the sleeping beauty next to him. Well, he didn't want solitude all of the time, to be fair.
Mary lay on her side, facing away from him. Her long brown hair fell down behind her, a few loose strands and the odd tangle making her seem much more real to him. They always fell asleep spooned together and sometimes broke apart in the night. He raised up slightly and took his time admiring her, his eyes lighting up as he lifted the blanket a bit to steal a peek at her naked bottom.
Ever since their trip to Monaco and the Riviera there was an added comfort between them. He didn't know whether it came with just the time spent together or some new understanding they had forged, but he was grateful for it. Being with her away from the ship and on vacation reminded him of how much he had missed her, missed just having her close, her presence.
She had gently told him to quit apologizing for turning her away before and to get over it, and he had, but his regret and embarrassment turned to quiet gratitude, a happiness that he had not let her slip away. They fell back into their comfortable rapport so easily, able to tease each other and debate and argue without reservation, even spend time apart during the day before coming back together at night holding no grudges or concerns. Everything was permitted and they seemed to revel in the openness they now shared.
His fingers ghosted up her arm and softly pulled at her shoulder, turning her on to her back. She swallowed and breathed, adjusting to the new position, her eyes remaining closed.
He smiled devilishly and ducked beneath the blankets.
Her skin was warm from sleep, soft and pliant beneath his lips. He kissed her knee, then her thigh, moving slowly and deliberately upwards as he settled between her legs. She moved her hips in small circles, still clinging to that lovely space between sleep and lucidity but responding to his touch all the same.
Her scent enflamed him, the proof of her arousal making his daring thoughts turn all the more lustful. He was well aware of just how wicked she could be in bed, her cold and careful demeanour in public nothing but a false front when she was with him in private. Still, to know that her desires matched his, that she was just as willing as he was to indulge in all the dark fantasies that he was sometimes ashamed to admit, filled him with a drunken sense of wonder and confidence. Men who wanted her wanted to possess her and claim her as a trophy for their own egos, thinking her beauty and aristocratic upbringing meant she was docile and demure. He knew the truth. She could be just as demanding and ravenous as him, if not more.
It all started with a soft kiss, a touch she might not even have felt if she wasn't already hot with anticipation. She pursed her lips, trying to stifle the moan threatening to leave her throat. It wouldn't do to encourage him just yet. He was already delirious knowing how turned on she was, surely. She hadn't refused his morning attentions once since he started the ritual back in Monaco. Yet, she was certain that he would stop if she told him to. This was hardly him taking advantage of her. It was more accurately her luring him in.
She couldn't help but marvel at how different things were between them now. It wasn't just the incredible sex. They were free now. There was no sneaking around, no fiancée to avoid, no fear that this was tenuous or fleeting. She was more sure of having his love than when he was engaged to Lavinia, and she was more certain of how much she loved him than during the first time they dated when they were younger.
His tongue drew her open and she had to grit her teeth now, thankful that his head was still covered by the blankets so he couldn't see her face twist with the effort to contain herself. God, that wicked mouth of his was so bloody good. His large hands parted her thighs and she let him, her limbs still boneless in his grasp. He gave her slow strokes, ruthlessly keeping her suspended in that beautiful dreamland where everything felt so much more intense. She could picture him behind her closed eyelids, his blue eyes, his smiling face, his roguish lips and tongue plundering her depths. She could swear this was something out of one of her VR programs if it didn't feel so incredibly, incomparably better.
"Matthew," she hissed, unable to stop herself as he pushed a finger inside of her. Her hands moved down and found her breasts, fondling herself while he picked up his pace. When he added a second finger, she lifted her hips, moving with him now, all pretense of being asleep gone.
"You taste delicious," he drawled and she blushed, the wanton need in his voice almost sending her over right then. She opened her eyes and gasped, harsh breaths spilling from her parted lips.
He had moved the blankets down his shoulders, revealing himself to her. Their eyes locked, his mouth continuing her blissful torture. Her pulse raced at how depraved she must look to him, hair disheveled across her pillow, mouth agape, eyes dark with want while her fingers played with her breasts and her legs spread lewdly. Her rational mind found the entire scene scandalous. A proper Lady did not open herself up like some willing whore to allow a man to feast upon her. The darkness within her loved it all. Let him worship her, devote himself to her pleasure.
It was the least he could do after what she did for him last night.
Her eyes fluttered shut when he moved up and flicked his tongue across her spot, three fingers now pushing inside of her and touching exactly where she wanted. The familiar tightening in her stomach urged her on and she canted her hips towards his eager mouth, the promise of a mind-numbing release drawing ever closer.
"Matthew," she mumbled, her back arching. "So close…I'm so close…"
His free hand squeezed her ass as he kept building her up.
Her eyes shot open and found his. Through her delirium, she felt wet fingers circle beneath her and probe lightly.
Her breathing quickened as she teetered on the precipice.
He watched her closely, his one hand continuing to thrust while his other teased and waited.
"Do it," she rasped.
Her eyes shut and she threw her head back when he obeyed, a moan, long and loud, flying from her as she went over. It hit her in waves, heat and shock and sheer pleasure shaking her. He slowed down only slightly, letting her ride it out before he kissed her and drew back.
She watched him through half-closed eyes, groaning when he made a show of licking his fingers, his eyes staring at her all the while. He crawled up her body and she opened her arms to him, bringing him in close and savouring the taste of his kiss.
"Good morning, Captain," he whispered, turning them over so she could snuggle against him.
"Mmm, good morning," she replied, making herself comfortable. "That was a most enjoyable wake-up."
He chuckled and kissed her softly. "You're just too irresistible, I'm afraid."
"No doubt the fact that you insist I sleep naked contributes to that," she remarked, arching her eyebrow at him.
"I don't insist. It's merely a request," he replied innocently.
"Well, perhaps I will choose not to honour your request tonight, then," she stated.
He face fell. "If you prefer."
She laughed and kissed him lightly. "You're so very easily teased."
He shrugged and smiled at her. "It seems that I have very little restraint where you're concerned."
"That's good to hear," she smiled. "I can't say I have much myself, especially when you are being so very attentive."
"I aim to please, my Lady," he smirked.
She reached up and caressed his face. "Was this why you moved the staff meeting to after lunch? Expecting to have your wicked way with me this morning, did you?"
"I thought everyone could use the extra preparation time," he answered seriously before smiling again. "And no, I wasn't expecting it, but very much hoping so."
She laughed as he kissed her neck. "We need to shower, darling. You smell like sex and sweat."
"As do you. It's quite alluring," he noted.
She slapped his chest. "Shower. Now."
"Very well," he sighed, sitting up. "Shall we?"
She smiled and took his hand, slipping out of bed and leaning against him as they headed for the bathroom.
Everyone seemed to be in good spirits when they convened for the senior staff meeting. Alex and Anna were already seated, whispering to each other and laughing. Edith was standing next to Sybil, the two of them watching the display on the wall showing some video of cats dressed up in period costume that they had found. William Mason sat near the back, fidgeting nervously.
"Let's get started," Matthew declared, pulling out Mary's chair for her and helping her sit before taking his own place at the head of the table. "I want to go over our arrival on New Byzantium."
Everyone took their seats as the entire table lit up. A projection of the massive city emerged before them, turning slowly so that everyone could see.
"I don't like the location or configuration of their port," Matthew noted. "It's far too enclosed and with too few exit routes. I would rather we dock outside the city and use shuttles to ferry the delegation back and forth."
"Can we do that?" Sybil asked.
"No, unfortunately," Mary shook her head. "We already used the port the last time we were there. To avoid it this time would be an insult to the government."
Matthew frowned. "So, since we must dock there again, we'll need to use the squadrons to keep us and the delegation protected at all times, while still maintaining propriety."
Mary smiled at his choice of words.
"The New Byzantium air force is basic at best," Alex noted. "We won't need to worry about them getting in our way. There may be some people surprised to see us patrolling."
"We'll stay on the perimeter mostly. It shouldn't be too disruptive. Mr Mason?" Matthew called.
William swallowed and touched his tablet. Several drones appeared above the display of the city.
"By using satellite drones, we can increase the range and magnification of the ship's sensors," William mumbled. "The fighters will also be reconfigured so we can track data as you patrol. The location of the delegates will be monitored at all times, as well as vitals and local video and audio."
"So we'll see exactly where they are and what they're doing, even from the ship," Anna noted.
"Yes, erm, exactly, yes," William replied.
"Anna, you'll have the bridge while Mary is with the delegation," Matthew said. "There are some dinners and events that we must attend, but that is when we'll have to be the most vigilant. If the insurgents are planning anything, those would be the most likely times to strike."
"I've looked at the venues. They're all in the city centre and there isn't very much clearance for fighters to escort you," Alex commented pointing to a group of buildings lit up in blue. "Security drones will be with you but they didn't exactly work last time."
Mary frowned at the mention of their abduction.
"We'll have teams on the ground at the ready," Matthew said. "The key will be to try and detect and intercept the threat in advance if we can. If it ends up being a confrontation at close quarters, we'll have to trust in the drones and the government forces. We can't bring an army in with us. This is supposed to be a peaceful negotiation."
"What would the insurgents gain from disrupting the negotiations?" Sybil asked. "I thought they took Mary, Anna and Alex because they wanted to draw us here."
"Their plan, if you can even call it that, was to overthrow the government," Mary stated. "They wanted our intervention, but not our direct involvement. If we sway the government to ally with us, we'll effectively have control of this entire region, as well as the trade routes. They have a vested interest in making sure that doesn't happen."
"Why would the New Byzantium government want this either?" Edith asked. "What's in it for them?"
"Hard to say," Matthew shrugged. "Closer ties with Britain, or any Earth government would increase commerce, particularly tourism. Security would be enhanced since we would bring more of our forces here. Beyond that, I can't say. Our government sees a lucrative opportunity. Theirs, I'm not so sure."
"That's for Evelyn and his team to deal with," Mary noted. "We just need to keep them safe."
"And ourselves while we're at it," Anna remarked.
"All right, let's try and run some simulations with the new scanner configurations. Alex, let me know what patrol formations you think would be best. Sybil, see what works better for you – monitoring vitals of the delegation from the Infirmary or being up on the bridge. Anything else?" Matthew asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
"Right. Thank you, all," Matthew nodded.
Evelyn rubbed his hands together, glancing about as he wandered down the hallway. He was greeted by crew members every so often and gave them a dignified nod. Though none of them knew who he was, his uniform and stripes denoted his rank and they gave him the token salute that he was due. He appreciated the effort. Anything to distract him at the moment was most welcome.
Her door loomed in the distance and his pulse jumped slightly. He frowned and chastised himself for acting like a schoolboy. He was an ambassador and the most important man on this mission! She was working for him, technically. There was no need to be nervous.
His eyes widened and his stomach churned when her door opened and Captain Crawley emerged with a smile on his face.
"Evelyn!" Matthew exclaimed in surprise. "Hello."
Evelyn swallowed and nodded, his throat suddenly dry. "Matthew. How are you?"
"Well, thank you," Matthew replied. "What brings you…ah, you've come to see Mary?"
"Yes," Evelyn replied a bit too quickly. "Yes, if she's in?"
"She definitely is in," Matthew replied, smiling a bit too cheerfully under the circumstances, Evelyn thought. "Come, I'll walk you through."
Before Evelyn could protest, or escape, Matthew turned back and the scanners quickly detected him and opened the doors to Mary's quarters.
"Matthew, no!" Mary called from within. "We can't just spend all day and night cooped up here doing nothing but…"
"Mary, Evelyn is here," Matthew spoke up, bringing the man through the foyer and into the living room.
"What? Oh! Evelyn! Hello!" Mary recovered, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I was wondering when you might come by."
"Yes," Evelyn muttered, smiling tightly at her. "I was quite busy with preparations. Still am, really."
He averted his eyes and looked down at the carpet. Mary was wearing her uniform, or the skirt at least. Her jacket was slung across a chair, leaving her in just a thin sleeveless crop top that was far more form-fitting than he knew standard uniforms to be.
"Well, I'm sure you have plenty to catch up on," Matthew declared, giving Mary a knowing look. "I'll just be on my way. Evelyn, I'll see you at dinner tonight."
"Yes, Matthew, of course," Evelyn struggled, not quite looking up at him.
"I'll see you out, Captain," Mary said sweetly. "Evelyn, please have a drink and make yourself comfortable. I'll only be a moment."
"All right," Evelyn mumbled, heading over the bar and briefly considering pouring himself something quite strong.
Mary walked with Matthew over to the foyer and glanced back to make sure they were out of sight before she gave him a punch to his shoulder.
"Why did you bring Evelyn in here?" she demanded, her voice low and sharp.
"He came to pay you a visit," Matthew grinned. "I was only being courteous."
"You should have left him to ring to be let in," she scolded him. "What if I hadn't been dressed yet?"
"Then I suppose you would have given him the thrill of his life," Matthew nodded.
She punched him again, harder this time.
"I knew you were dressed!" he chuckled. "I made sure before bringing him in from the foyer. Come on, darling, you know I would never do that to you. I quite like that I'm the only one who gets to look and touch."
She rolled her eyes.
"Your guest is waiting, darling," he joked.
She shook her head at him, her eyes narrow. "Why are you so eager for me to visit with someone who has been in love with me for years?"
"He's been infatuated with you for years, there's a difference," he replied. "Are you saying that I shouldn't trust you?"
"No, of course not," she scoffed.
"Good, because I do trust you. I trust you implicitly, Mary," he smiled, his eyes never leaving hers.
She swallowed. "Don't do that."
"Don't do what?" he asked, leaning towards her.
"Don't get me worked up like this before going to talk to Evelyn," she hissed.
He laughed and kissed her softly on the cheek before moving to her ear. "But that's why I am so trusting in you, my darling. How could I not be after what we just did mere minutes ago?"
"Matthew," she growled in warning.
"Was I good to you?" he asked, his voice at its deepest and seductive best. "Did I make you cum for me?"
"Stop it. You know very well that you did," she wanted to be angry but it came out more as a purr, which only made her more bothered.
"How many times?" he demanded.
"Matthew," she bit back a moan.
"How many?" he pressed.
"Twice," she choked out.
"Ah, yes, now I remember," he growled. "A pity that Evelyn didn't show up earlier. He might have gotten an eyeful."
"Go," she ordered, shoving him back.
He smirked and kissed her hand. "Be nice to him."
"I'm always nice to him," she retorted, arching her eyebrow.
He smiled knowingly and left.
She rolled her eyes and took a moment to calm herself before going back into the living room.
"I'm sorry, Evelyn," she called, putting on her most courteous smile and coming over to him.
He handed her a glass of soda water with lime and nodded as he raised his own glass. "He's just as charming as ever."
She laughed and took a sip of her drink. "He is. Now, how are you? I hope you've settled in well enough?"
"The Andromeda is more comfortable than any other ship I've ever been on," he replied, going over to sit down with her on the sofa. "It's nicer than some flats in London."
She laughed and nodded. "I'm glad to hear it. We need you rested and in top form for the negotiations."
He smiled. "I'm sure it'll all be fine. The talks won't be difficult, I imagine."
She looked at him curiously. "Do you think so? I thought they would at least evaluate all of their options before making a decision. Won't they want to speak to the Americans and Canadians at a minimum?"
He took a sip and shrugged. "Our offer will be far better for them. Military support is probably even and we have a distinct advantage."
"And what is that? Our impeccable British manners?" she teased.
He laughed. "Yes, there's that. On top of that, though, we are the only true power that can help them with their ore deposits. They would be foolish to turn us down."
She blinked. "I see. Yes, there's that, of course. Still though, the Canadians are known for their mining technology. Wouldn't they be a strong competitor?"
He nodded. "They are quite strong, yes, but their expertise is mainly with different fuels. We have far more experience with Element 8000 and the government knows it."
She took a sip, looking away to process the information. Element 8000, or Starfire as it was more commonly called, was one of the more rare substances in the known galaxy. It was considered the 'perfect matter' for its ability to be crafted and blended for use in a myriad of applications. Starfire helped power the ship's engines, was grafted on to the ship's armour and particles of it were even woven into Mary's jewellery. It didn't exist on Earth, which made it even more in demand.
"They must be demanding a steep price from us for access to such treasure," she noted.
"It's nothing compared to what we can do with it," he smiled. "Their technology isn't as advanced as ours. We estimate that the planet holds over a hundred times more volume than what they've projected. It's one of the biggest troves in the galaxy."
"A hundred times?" she repeated.
He nodded with excitement. "We don't think the Americans or Canadians even know the full extent of it. That's why we have to lock it up."
"And you believe you have the ear of the government?" she questioned.
"You've met Kemal," he nodded. "Not only are we on good terms, he understands the advantage of having ties with us. He's been working towards nurturing our relationship for over a year now. He's on our side."
"And what does Mr Pamuk gain from this alliance?" she asked.
"What do you think? We don't forget our friends, do we?" he stated. "He's a very important man to have in our corner. He's powerful and only gaining more influence."
"And we will support his rise," she remarked.
"Tacitly, yes," he agreed. "The true extent of the ore deposits won't be kept secret forever. When they determine just how much we've fleeced them, there will be push back. Having Kemal in the government to smooth things over will help immensely."
She nodded and sipped her water.
"Kemal is looking forward to seeing you again, by the way," he added. "He was quite pleased to hear you would be attending the welcome dinner with me."
She smiled. "It will be good to see him again. Our last visit was unfortunately cut short."
He nodded. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen again."
"Thank you," she replied. "How have they been handling the insurgents?"
"Kemal assures me all will be made safe," he answered. "There will always be protests and opposition. Not everyone has the foresight to understand that progress is necessary and inevitable. We have no reason to fear. New Byzantium was built on tourism and being a haven for visitors. With the flagship of the fleet behind us, no one would dare try anything."
She smiled politely and took another drink.
"Now, enough about work," he smiled. "I was hoping that I might convince you to give me a tour. I haven't seen the entire ship yet."
"Of course," she nodded. "We can take your group and get everyone through in one go."
His smile faded slightly. "That sounds lovely."
Alex frowned as he looked at the simulation model of New Byzantium floating before him. On cue, miniature fighters representing his squadron swooped in from the left and circled the city in an organized patrol formation.
"Pause," he called, freezing the drones and the city in place.
He tilted his head and looked at the arrangement of the fighters from several angles.
"Display combined scanning range," he ordered.
Large green spheres glowed around each drone and spread out across the city.
"That's too close," he shook his head. He reached out and pointed to one fighter and it lit up at his touch. He moved the fighter over and down before doing changing position of some of the other drones as well.
"Play from the beginning," he commanded, sitting back on the sofa.
The simulation ran again, this time with the scanners covering more of the city.
"Better," he mumbled.
His hands dropped down to his lap to idly stroke the pair of thin legs resting across his thighs. His fingers traveled down to her feet and tickled her soles lightly.
"Stop!" Anna whinged, looking up from her tablet at him.
"What?" he asked, looking over at her in confusion.
"You know what! Stop tickling me!" she complained.
"I'm massaging your feet," he objected.
She frowned. "You're tickling me and you're distracting me from my lovely show. Besides, you're supposed to be working."
"I am working!" he stated. "I just increased the efficiency of our scanning by 12 per cent."
"Well done. Keep going," she sniffed, going back to her tablet.
He huffed. "Why are you watching Alderian soap operas? They aren't even in English."
"There's subtitles," she replied, her face still blocked by the tablet. "Quit bothering me and get back to work."
He shook his head and turned back to the display. "Send simulation to Captain Crawley."
'Simulation sent,' the computer confirmed.
"There. All done," he declared.
She lifted her tablet and looked at him suspiciously. "That's nice, but I'm still watching my show."
"Love, I thought we were spending the day together," he noted.
"We are spending the day together. We're on the same sofa, aren't we?" she replied, hiding her smile with the tablet.
"You know what I mean," he grumbled.
"Thirty-seven more minutes and this episode is over. Now hush," she snapped.
"After this one's over, you'll just want to watch the next one," he whinged.
"Then the sooner you let me get on with it, the sooner I'll be done, won't I?" she retorted.
"I suppose if I had four arms and flaming red hair like Mr Dumb Ass on your show, you'd actually pay me some attention," he snarled.
"It's Dumazzone," she corrected him. "And he has blue hair now. He just changed it last episode and he looks even more gorgeous."
He sighed. "I thought this was our 'on' day."
"It is," she nodded. "Tonight, you're on."
"Until then, it's Alderian soap operas, apparently," he frowned.
She lifted her tablet and looked at his petulant face. Setting the device aside, she slipped her legs away from him and sat up on the couch.
"Hon," she began, leaning into him and resting her head on his shoulder. "You're far more likely to get me pregnant if I'm relaxed and into it, don't you think?"
"Yeah," he agreed, looking at her carefully.
"And how relaxed and into it do you think I'm going to be if you deny me my show and annoy me all afternoon?" she questioned.
"Not very," he muttered.
"Exactly," she kissed his cheek. "Now, be a good boy and massage my feet and let me watch my show. I promise that no four-armed alien, no matter what his hair colour, gets me nearly as hot as you do."
"Promise?" he challenged.
She laughed and nodded. "I do. It's just a bit of mindless fun, that's all. Better?"
"No, but I suppose I can hang on for tonight," he smiled.
"Good. No more whinging and maybe I might wear that collar that you like so much," she teased.
His eyes went wide as she kissed him quickly and settled back down on the sofa. Her legs returned to his lap.
"I don't feel any massaging going on," she noted.
He swallowed and rubbed her feet, his imagination close to bursting.
"Men," she muttered to herself, smiling and going back to her show.
Millennial Hall, Royal Palace, New Byzantium, Milky Way Galaxy, April 2199
Matthew took another sip of wine and blinked to stop himself from having more. He was already on his third glass and it was only halfway through the meal. Between the speeches, the entertainment and the usual glacial pace at which these formal affairs moved, he had to drink to keep himself awake and for something to do. Before leaving the Andromeda with Mary, Evelyn and the rest of the delegation, he had taken the appropriate medicine to limit the effects of alcohol, but he reminded himself that pacing was important as he looked around the room.
In the spirit of encouraging amicable negotiations, the two sides made sure to mix before taking their seats, not wanting to appear as if they were divided into separate factions. Accordingly, he was sitting nowhere near Mary, who was on the other side of the dais in the middle of the head table with Kemal Pamuk and Evelyn, while he was sitting with the Minister for Agriculture and her junior assistant. Since there was very little agriculture to speak of on New Byzantium and its surrounding area, the Minister was drinking and gossiping away, leaving Matthew effectively on his own.
His brow furrowed for a moment when he heard Mary's laugh. He had told her that he trusted her and he did. The weeks of watching Evelyn follow her around the ship and stare dazedly at her were annoying, but once the Viscount left them alone, she more than made it up to him. He knew he had nothing to be concerned about, however, meeting Mr Pamuk for the first time raised his guard.
The young minister was like any other politician with his disarming manners and clever words. He thanked Matthew again for his crew's intervention the last time they were here and greeted Evelyn as an old comrade. His warm smile and kiss on the hand to Mary were courteous enough to seem normal, yet with just enough of a hint of something else to linger in the memory. He was smooth, this one, knowing exactly how to behave to remain within the boundaries of his station while still making it clear he was more than just a government representative. He wasn't just Evelyn's ally, but a friend to Britain. He wasn't just an acquaintance to Mary, but possibly more.
Matthew disliked him from the beginning.
It was unfair to say anything to Mary. She had been upfront with him about her first meeting with the Minister and it was part of her role to mingle with Evelyn and Pamuk tonight. It wasn't as if this was the first time a man dared to flirt with Mary in front of him, and given all they had been through, he couldn't claim any moral high ground when it came to how she responded to such attentions. No, his concern wasn't so much what would Mary do, but what was Pamuk's agenda? If all he was after was getting Mary into his bed, that was no threat. Matthew didn't see the man as being a lustful fool, though. There was a calculating nature beneath his pleasant façade, a sense that everything he did, every smile, every word, every laugh and touch was deliberate and part of some overall plan. This proposed alliance was about money and lots of it, and that was motivation enough for some, but just as Matthew believed that Pamuk wasn't just looking to lure Mary into a quick tryst, he also thought the man wasn't only about making some quick cash. The millions that could be funnelled his way from the exploitation of Starfire was nothing to disregard, of course, but men like him didn't just want money and women. They were after power above all else, control over all they surveyed.
Kemal Pamuk wanted to be a king.
Matthew tried to ignore Mary's laugh and looked around the grand hall. The old building featured soaring columns that met a dome of coloured glass high above. There were statues and displays lining the walls, row upon row of them that stretched up to the sky denoting grand moments in the history of both the colony and the region back on Earth from which it received its name. He felt as though he was sitting in a temple or museum, the air charged with tradition and importance. It was a bit refreshing to see the government valued its past and didn't just build towering behemoths of metal and flashing lights.
From their arrival, all had proceeded without incident. The security presence was noticeable, but not oppressive. After two days of getting acclimated to their surroundings and installing Evelyn and his delegation in their hotel, the official beginning of talks kicked off with a formal greeting and the exchange of gifts and pleasantries. With Evelyn and his team off to preliminary meetings, Matthew and Mary were able to go back to the Andromeda and oversee the deployment of the satellite drones and the squadron patrols. They were left alone for the rest of the day until it was time to get dressed up for tonight's dinner.
"More wine, sir?" the waiter asked, coming to Matthew's side.
He looked over at his glass with just a swallow left in it.
"Thank you," he nodded.
"The Deputy Premier is taking a hard stance on some of the issues," Evelyn noted, taking a bite of his vegetables. "I do hope it's more for show than anything else."
"There will need to be compromises," Kemal replied, glancing over at Mary and smiling knowingly. "You can't expect us to just give in on everything. Isn't the fun in the fighting back and forth?"
She smiled and sipped her wine.
"I think we're being more than reasonable and we're prepared to give a little, but not too much," Evelyn replied.
"The people here aren't looking for a saviour, Evelyn," Kemal stated. "Most would be comfortable keeping our independence. The government recognizes the benefits of aligning ourselves with an Earth power, but we won't lose our identity."
"I highly doubt we're forcing you to start taking afternoon tea and driving on the other side of the laneway," Mary remarked. "It seems to me that New Byzantium is receiving most of the advantage here, and there ought to be some acknowledgment of that."
"How so, Lady Mary?" Kemal smiled. "Do enlighten me."
She smiled and nodded. "This is an important colony, we all know that. You sit in a most favourable location and your reputation as a destination for traders and tourists alike speaks for itself. Ultimately, however, you're a colony of merchants, a place of commerce. You've always relied on your reputation as a safe haven to guard against any unsavoury elements infiltrating here."
Kemal nodded slowly. "All true."
"We know that is a naïve position to take now," she continued. "Whether it be insurgents, terrorists, smugglers or slavers, New Byzantium is vulnerable. You require a strong presence to deter anyone who might want to cause harm as well as encourage visitors to continue to flock here. We can provide that. The might of the British Navy is well known."
"If what you say is accurate, we could achieve the same result by hiring security details," Kemal replied.
She laughed. "Mercenaries? You don't honestly believe that is comparable, surely?"
"Maybe not," Kemal allowed. "However, I like to know the true motivation of a man. At least with a hired army, they make no apologies over what they want."
"And neither do you, do you, Kemal?" Evelyn chuckled.
Kemal kept his eyes on Mary. "No, I don't."
"Beyond our armies, there is far more that we offer," she added. "Your immigration problems remain, you have issues with providing healthcare and education to such a transient population and your expansion plans have been derailed by infighting and competing interests. We have the resources to assist with all of that, bring some structure and process to everything."
"You English and your strict adherence to everything being done in an orderly fashion," Kemal laughed, shaking his head.
"Of course," Mary nodded. "There's truly no other way."
"Perhaps," Kemal conceded, smiling at her. "I like to think there's room in all things for spontaneity. Sometimes, letting go and seeing where fate might lead can be most enjoyable."
"Mr Pamuk presents a very glossy view of fate," Evelyn smiled. "Sometimes, allowing life to dictate what is to happen can lead to painful results."
Kemal nodded and smirked at Mary. "Sometimes, one must endure a bit of pain to achieve satisfaction."
"If you're content with the way things are, what do you wish to achieve from these negotiations?" Mary asked.
"I believe that a closer relationship with you would be most beneficial," Kemal nodded. "It must be a true alliance, though. We are not in these talks to become British subjects. That is why I say that we must both give and take, come together to build for the future, to create something worth having."
"How poetic," Mary smiled, sipping her wine.
"With visionaries like Kemal to work with, I remain confident that these talks will be productive," Evelyn agreed.
"Do you have a vision for the future, Kemal?" Mary asked.
Kemal nodded. "I have many visions, Mary. To me, the future looks bright, indeed."
"We could use a sniper. Wait for them to leave for their shuttle. There's plenty of open sightlines."
"It would be too easy for them to extrapolate our location from the trajectory of the shot. Security is at its tightest when they're coming and going. When they're inside the venue is when they believe they're safe and they relax their guard."
"We have two agents inside the hall now. They're only equipped for abduction."
"No, tonight is reconnaissance only. We've got enough on the patrol movements and guard shift changes. We'll give them a few days of peace before we strike."
HMS Andromeda, Mothership Class Spacecraft, Milky Way Galaxy, April 2119
"All right, let's hear it," Mary sighed, removing her earrings and placing them on the jewellery tray.
"Hear what?" Matthew called from the bedroom.
She looked herself over in the mirror's reflection one last time before rising from her vanity and going out to join him.
"I'm ready for my scolding," she declared, going over to her side of his bed and slipping beneath the blankets. "What incensed you more? My laughing with Evelyn or dancing with Mr Pamuk?"
He frowned at her before settling down against the pillows. "I wasn't incensed. You were doing your duty."
"Duty doesn't usually involve flirting and dancing," she noted.
He closed his eyes. "You're entitled to have your fun. Would you prefer that I keep you shackled and prevent you from speaking, rather?"
"Obviously not," she scoffed.
"Exactly. So why should I scold you? It would annoy you that I'm being possessive, so I shall not," he replied easily.
She rolled her eyes. "You're no fun."
He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "You don't need to make me jealous to get me riled up. I'm quite ready to ravish you as soon as you give the word."
She grinned. "I know. I just do very much enjoy feeling your furious eyes on me."
He huffed and quickly grabbed her.
"Matthew!" she squealed, laughing as he brought her into his hold and kissed her fiercely.
"Enjoyed yourself hanging around those idiots tonight, did you?" he demanded.
She laughed and wriggled in his grasp, kissing him back at every opportunity. "Fine! Fine! No, no I didn't!"
"You're bloody right, you didn't!" he snarled. "Politicians. They're fools, the lot of them."
"Be kind," she smirked, turning to straddle his hips. "You want those fools to do their work quickly so we can leave this place."
"Highly unlikely," he grumbled, stroking her back, his fingers ducking beneath her silk camisole to massage her bare skin. "They have to put on a good show to make it seem as if they fought hard to work out a deal."
"Yes, I suppose that's right," she shook her head. "We'll be here for at least a week, probably two."
"Mr Pamuk seemed as dazzled by you as I expected," he stated.
She nodded. "The man is relentless and has the most ridiculous innuendos. Still, we can't underestimate him. I feel as if he hasn't shown his hand yet."
"Isn't it straightforward? He helps us sign this deal and we support his rise to power," he explained.
"I thought that was the way it would play out as well," she agreed. "There's something more, though. I can't quite describe it but he seems all too smug for someone who is supposed to be on our side. He and Evelyn were sparring quite often tonight. It was strange."
"Well, they were clearly competing your for your regard. Men do strange things for such a valuable prize," he joked.
She frowned and pinched his chest. "It wasn't only that. He has his own priorities, that's for certain. The question is how much does it mesh with ours?"
He blinked. "What did Evelyn tell you about the Starfire again?"
She paused in recollection. "He said we estimate it to be far larger a deposit than the government does. Why?"
"If the ore is what swings this deal in our favour, what makes this a win for us, we had better be right about it. What if Pamuk knows far more than he lets on?" he suggested.
She frowned before her eyes widened. "What are you saying? Kemal knows that there's more ore than the government believes?"
"Possibly," he nodded.
"That would make him drive a harder bargain, or at least try and broker a better deal for his side, but Evelyn said they don't have the resources or technology to exploit the reserves on their own," she said.
"Yes, but what if he doesn't actually care about any of that?" he suggested. "He doesn't strike me as someone who loses very often in negotiations. If he hasn't mentioned the ore yet and he's going along with Evelyn's plans for the most part…"
She blinked. "Maybe he knows that there's actually less ore than Evelyn thinks."
"Exactly," he said. "How does Evelyn know? He's never been here. There's never been any survey teams sent here from our side. He's relying on scans and the last time we were here, our scanners were mostly unreliable."
"Having a foothold in this sector is still worth something," she remarked. "The Starfire is a bonus, really."
"I doubt that your father would agree, otherwise he would have told us about it from the beginning," he replied. "We need to do some digging, figuratively and literally."
"We could use the squadron patrols as an excuse," she nodded slowly. "Maybe even fly out to where the insurgents' underground base was and go from there."
"It may be that Evelyn is right, but since we're here, let's try and get a better idea of what we are actually dealing with," he suggested, moving his hands down to her waist.
She nodded and smiled. "You know, darling, I was expecting that you would be enraged when we got back here."
He looked up at her as she pulled her camisole up and tossed it over her head.
"I thought you would want to punish me for my shameless behaviour," she teased, shaking her hair out so it fell down her back.
"I should think you'd be insulted if I claimed to treat you as my property," he mumbled, his eyes falling to her bare breasts.
"Maybe, but I don't want you to be entirely indifferent, either," she replied, circling her hips slowly upon his lap.
"So I shouldn't be a possessive brute, but I also shouldn't stand for you paying attention to other men? You can't have it both ways," he frowned.
"I can if I want to," she drawled, arching her eyebrow and running her fingers up her sides and across her breasts.
"And do you? Want to?" he swallowed.
She grinned and leaned down, licking his face slowly. "I suppose there's only one way to find out, darling," she whispered.
He grunted, his hands reaching around to cup her bottom.
"Why don't you show me who I truly belong to?" she purred. "Fuck me and make me say your name."
He reached up and took hold of her hair, drawing her back so she could see his fierce eyes glaring up at her.
"Remember that you asked for it," he warned.
She moaned as he flipped them over and put her on her back.
New Byzantium, Milky Way Galaxy, April 2199
"Falcon-1, hold position. There should be a passage off to your left," Anna advised, frowning at the display in front of her.
"I see it, Command," Alex replied, turning the lights of his drone towards the cavernous tunnel carved into the rock. He pivoted the craft in mid-air and eased it over, avoiding the outcroppings and heading further underground.
What few Starfire mines were operational around the colony were small and rudimentary. The British plans were to bring in large mining platforms that were much more efficient and could run around the clock. It took two days for the Andromeda crew to gather surface samples and compare them with the existing scans to see where the larger deposits were supposed to be located. Once they mapped out the surrounding area, they sent the fighters out to explore further, which brought Alex's drone to a vast underground network of caves, tunnels, grottos and pools. So far, he had managed to fit into some tight spaces, but the trove of Starfire ore that was supposed to be a few metres below had yet to show itself.
"Command, I'm moving into position to take the shot," he advised.
"Copy, Falcon-1," Anna answered.
"Mr Mason, ready on scanners," Matthew called, surveying the scene from his chair on the platform above Anna's station.
"Ready on scanners, Captain," William answered.
"Let's hope we find something of note," Mary frowned, standing at Matthew's side.
"Falcon-1, you are free to proceed," Anna stated.
Alex brought up his targeting computer and pinpointed two areas further down the tunnel.
"Firing probes one and two," he announced, pulling the triggers.
The missiles blasted from beneath the wings of the fighter drone, lighting up the dark cavern and blazing a trail as they curled into the distance.
"Two kilometres to target zones," William called as everyone watched the large screen on the command bridge showing the missiles tracking through the tunnel.
"Falcon-1 pulling back," Alex relayed, turning the fighter around and heading back from where he came.
"One kilometre, eight hundred metres, six hundred, four hundred, contact," William called as the missiles buried themselves in the rock far below, punching craters and unloading their payload of thousands of tiny probes.
"Telemetry is coming in, signal strength is strong and holding," William announced, watching his monitors.
On the screen, a large green field began to spread as the probes fanned out and sent their signals back to the ship. Mary and Matthew watched closely, their eyes glancing over to the data scrolling across the side of the large display that filled one wall of the bridge.
"Starfire ore is confirmed," Anna stated, watching her display.
"The concentration is low," Mary muttered, frowning at the screen. "Isn't this supposed to be one of the larger deposits?"
"Mr Mason, cross-reference the readings against the estimates we have," Matthew ordered.
"I already did that, sir, it's holding around 17 per cent of the previous estimate," William responded.
Matthew looked at Mary in concern. "17 per cent. That's practically nothing, barely enough to cover the cost of bringing all of the equipment and setting up processing stations."
Mary nodded. "It doesn't bode well certainly."
"Ms Smith, recall the squadrons and give out the next set of test sites," Matthew commanded. "We have to go through at least half before we bring our findings to Ambassador Napier."
"Aye, Captain," Anna replied. "Falcon-1, surface and proceed to secondary site. Coordinates transmitting now."
They all watched the viewscreen as the drones left their positions and moved off across the desolate terrain.
"I hope that today didn't discourage you too much," Kemal smiled, walking casually beneath the bright lights of the entertainment district.
"Negotiations always take time," Evelyn shrugged. "I think some of your fellows are being overly difficult for the sake of posturing, but that's not surprising. I just hope they don't believe it will be an effective strategy."
"Your reputation for not being easily intimidated precedes you, Evelyn," Kemal chuckled. "I told you. Allow them their theatrics. We're making progress. That's all that matters."
"We've got agreement on the minor details, yes, but eventually we're going to have to tackle the major issues, if only to say that we have," Evelyn shrugged. "I'll let them beat their chests for a while more, but not for too long."
"Fair enough," Kemal nodded.
"Where are we off to now?" Evelyn asked, glancing around at the nightclubs, restaurants, lounges and other businesses still open so late into the evening. "That bar from last night was quite fun."
"Because the bartender was a tall brunette?" Kemal joked.
Evelyn smiled sheepishly. "Maybe."
"You can admit it to me, Evelyn," Kemal laughed. "It isn't as if your feelings for Lady Mary aren't entirely transparent."
"Mary and I have history. Our families have known each other for generations," Evelyn explained. "I will always have great affection for her."
"Great affection. That sounds like something a friend would say," Kemal shrugged.
"We are friends, quite good friends, in fact," Evelyn huffed.
"And are you so content to remain so? Is being her friend all that you wish?" Kemal challenged.
Evelyn frowned. "What do you care?"
"You're my friend, Evelyn," Kemal stated. "I look out for my friends. When I see a friend suffering, I try and help."
"I'm hardly suffering," Evelyn protested.
"You're suffering from being stuck as Lady Mary's friend," Kemal countered. "Allow it to go on for much longer and that's all you'll be."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Evelyn demanded.
"No woman enjoys being a mind-reader and you're not being up front about your feelings," Kemal noted. "Mary is an assertive woman. She respects a man who has ambition and knows what he wants. What is your plan? To be nice and eventually she'll just fall into your arms?"
Evelyn scoffed. "No."
"You don't have a plan because you're afraid of rejection," Kemal pressed. "That's why you'll never win a woman like her. You need to step up, be more proactive."
"And how do I do that?" Evelyn frowned.
"Show her that you're far more than just a polite friend," Kemal replied. "Make her see you in a different light and she will consider the possibility that you could be more than just a friend."
"You make it all sound so easy," Evelyn shook his head.
"Many things in life are easier when one is willing to actually make an attempt," Kemal said.
Evelyn looked at him suspiciously.
"Here we are," Kemal declared, nodding towards an ornate set of double doors. "Let's go in and chat more about the new you."
"What's this?" Evelyn asked, looking up at the building.
"It's one my favourite bath houses," Kemal explained. "It's quite relaxing. A few hours in here and all your worries will melt away, I promise you."
Evelyn looked over the place carefully for a moment. "Have you brought me here before? It seems familiar."
"Most buildings in the district look the same after enough drinks," Kemal chuckled. "No, this is your first visit, unless you've been out on the town without me?"
"No, I wouldn't know where to begin," Evelyn shook his head.
"Good. So, allow me to show you some of our unique hospitality. I expect they must have a masseuse with long, dark brown hair," Kemal smiled.
Evelyn frowned at him before throwing his hands up and heading through the doors. "Why not? I may as well try it since I'm here."
"That's the spirit," Kemal nodded, putting his arm around the ambassador's shoulders and ushering him in. "We'll clear your mind of everything that's troubling you. You'll love it."