TWENTY ONE
FOR BETTER TOMORROW
Note: This chapter contains strong sexual references. Reader's discretion is advised.
Review corner:
jdoug4118: I think we all know where this is going. I have to warn you, though, I do not like easy romance. So stay tuned and don't blink…
New Helic City,
Central Continent, Planet Zi,
February 25, 2128
Sun rays peeked in between the blinds, languidly caressed Saskia's face as she lied on her belly. The warmth of the sun massaged her bare skin, interspersed with Royce's teasing fingers that gently – playfully – stroked every inch of her body. And when the mood struck him, his moist lips found their way to her velvety skin, paying homage to the long valley connecting the nape of her neck down to her ample butt cheeks.
Saskia rewarded each ministration with a gratified moan.
The night was magical, like nothing she'd ever experienced before. She learnt some dribs and drabs the mechanics of lovemaking, but she had no idea what it did to her body, or how much pleasure she could stand without fainting. So far, her most thrilling moment was the first time she broke the atmospheric boundary with her Gilvader. This one trumped it by a long mile. It was so intense the aftershock still lingered long after the fact: profuse sweating, leg shaking, breasts tingling, and lack of coordination.
"Woooow…" Saskia sighed in between labored breathings. "That was just… wooooww…."
"Now you have found place between man's arms," Royce quipped, planting butterfly kisses on Saskia's shoulder blades. "How does it serve you?"
"Raw," Saskia cooed blissfully. "Primal. Savage. Wild. Yet… heavenly. Immaculate. Divine. It feels illicit, dirty as mud, making me feel like a slut. But at the same time, it is beyond holy, and I'm not worthy of it. It humbled me, yet I yearn for more."
"Don't we all?" Royce chuckled, amused by Saskia's analysis of their lovemaking. "Bearing witness to your moans and cries, you were far removed from being humbled."
Saskia felt her cheek burn. She understood Royce was just making innocent fun of her expressive enjoyment in the heat of passion, but somehow it felt like an insult. She already felt undignified; Royce comment made her feel like she didn't have decency at all.
"You mocked me," she whimpered.
"A mere jest, told in but good nature," Royce quickly recoiled, trying to salvage Saskia' mood from his insensitivity. "Apologies, words fall out of turn. Truth told, I never beheld such sight as you fall to orgasm – and your noisy exclamation of it."
"Is that fact?" Saskia giggled sheepishly. Her cheek turned even redder. She only had hazy recollection of what she actually did at the height of the moment, but she knew it involved things she was normally ashamed of doing. "You don't think less of me?"
"Far the opposite. My body aches for your warmth again."
"Aww, Royce," she playfully slapped Royce's hand. "But it's so unfair, you blessed me with so much to take yet so little to give. For once I lost all inhibition and control over own…"
"Twice," Royce shot a mischievous smile as he kissed the small of her back. "Twice, babe."
"Oh no…." Saskia buried her face in her palms, utterly embarrassed by the realization that she had taken the lion's share of their lovemaking. And she hated the fact that while she could focus only on her own pleasure, Royce remembered the rest of the affair. "Apologies, I have never lain with a man before. I know not how to please you…"
"None required, love," Royce intertwined his fingers with her dank hair. "It is but a privilege, to hold a woman in the moment of passion, regardless her experience."
There was a twinge deep inside Saskia's heart as Royce comment flowed. She figured it was not the right time to bring up past exploits, but she just couldn't let it go, especially after the encounter with Cassiopeia. She just couldn't hold the urge to measure up against a woman she had considered as 'enemy', and the woman who had tried to kill her.
"So how many women have you held in such regard?" Saskia turned to look at Royce's face.
"We shared but one night yet you already seek past relationships?" Royce chuckled as she squeezed Saskia's butt cheeks. "What importance does it hold?"
"A lover's favor," Saskia propped her head with her arm. "I gave you my maidenhood. Don't I merit privilege into deepest place, concealed to all but she whom bears the most meaning?"
"I fear you will not like the view…"
"That is mine to accept," Saskia rubbed Royce's cheek, "or deal with. As for you, I demand but honesty."
"Very well," Royce sighed in defeat. He leaned back for a more comfortable position. "The first one was Ginger. She was my babysitter, merely two years older…"
"You laid with your babysitter?" Saskia scoffed in disbelief.
"I told you this is too much for narrow minded!" Royce grimaced. "Let us move on from the subject…"
"No, no, I want to know," Saskia snuggled closer to Royce. "Apologies, no more interruption."
"She started it. She took my maidenhood. I didn't even like her, yet my curiosity got the best of me." Royce's face turned sour. "She left a short while after, fearing for the wrath of my father lest he found out. He didn't, and I moved on to high school to meet Lynn. Short brown hair, hazel eyes, fine pieces of ass. She and I met everyday after school, at an abandandoned playground. Then I went to the military and she wouldn't follow. She had mind toward health science, and married a doctor.
"Academy was slacking in terms of relationships. Couples were determined by mere availability. Had a few romps prior to settling with Allen. She was not a sight to behold, but she could do wonders in bed. We screwed each other's brain out on daily basis. But fortune didn't smile at me as she met another cadet, then decided I didn't measure up against him. Fine, good riddance! Got a few more romps until I joined Rottiger.
"And then, there was Cassiopeia. I will not hold tongue: she was good. Smart, talented, dedicated, smoking hot… We were great together, on the battlefield and beyond. Yet she was narrow minded and failed to see the big picture. She took Rottiger side and chose to hunt me down, as if our past meant nothing to her."
Saskia listened while grazing her fingers on Royce's fine chest hair, making sure that Royce had finished with his story. She brushed her cheek on his shoulder, purring, "So?"
"So? So what?" Royce didn't know where she was going.
"So how do I stand among those women?"
"The tallest," Royce turned her over to look into her eyes. "Bless Mother Zi for letting you fall to my arms."
While Saskia was glad to learn her place in Royce's love regimen, she still had a grudge against his past behavior. Again, she knew it might not be the best time to bring up past transgression, but everything between them had to be resolved before she could move on.
"What is the Ultimate Zoid?" she blurted.
"Now?" Royce's body stiffened. "You have disposition to deflate mood, you know that?"
"Heart yearns to know the man who plucked flower," Saskia smiled mischievously. "Tell me, why do you hold tongue? What is Ultimate Zoid, and why does it stir your heart?"
"Your mind absent knowledge of such thing?" Royce rolled on the bed and gazed upon the ceiling. "Ultimate Zoid is a myth, a legend of old, that somewhere in the corner of Zi, there exists a zoid far exceeds anything we have seen. A zoid that can bring down a nation by so much gaze upon it. A zoid with the firepower of an army. A zoid with no equal."
"There is no such zoid," Saskia said, gently, so as not to sound patronizing. "In my old days I was a master tech at Helic Military. My knowledge of zoids is profound; there is no such thing as a zoid capable of taking down a nation." She paused, thinking of one small possibility to connect to Royce's explanation of the Ultimate Zoid. "Perhaps King Gojulas is most akin to Ultimate Zoid, yet given all the chances, you wouldn't see it bring down Guylos Empire by itself. As great as it could be, it would need support to survive a war."
"The days of King Gojulas have passed, and we live in a new era," Royce replied. "Smaller, faster, yet more powerful zoids roam Zi from coast to coast. What if I tell you that such zoid does exist? Hidden far beyond the reaches of eyes, waiting to be found by but the most worthy of man?"
"How did you come upon this?" Saskia squinted.
"Scriptures, prophecies of Ancient Zoidians, evidents," Royce said enthusiastically. "See stronger zoids rise to life everyday. One of them will stand a titan among others as the Ultimate Zoid. I shall see myself the patron of it."
"Thus your sudden infatuation to Fuzors," Saskia deducted. "A vain effort to find the Ultimate Zoid."
"Fuzors exert great power, but lack endurance," Royce closed his eyes and sighed heavily. "A fact I learnt the hard way. I desired its power, but the more thought, the more heart convinced that Fuzor is not the Ultimate Zoid. It is too much flawed to bear the name 'ultimate'."
"Do you even know what you seek?" Saskia lifted her head from bed. "Cassiopeia warned me that you were after my zoid…"
"Gilvader is not the Ultimate Zoid," Royce cut her off. "It is fast, the fastest among flying zoids, but it is not unstoppable. It had been beaten, by a zoid of lesser grade. Cassiopeia conceived deceit to throw you off guard. To break our synergy. I desire nothing of Gilvader. I move toward it to hold Neo Zenebas from laying hands on it. There is no other purpose."
"I am but a fool," Saskia sniffed. "Apologies, my heart was heavy with jealousy."
"The fault lies with Cassiopeia," Royce said while stroking her hair. "She would do anything to win. There is nothing to be done to change what has passed. We must look towards the coming days. Complete our quest. Take back your zoid, then destroy Neo Zenebas once and for all."
"I fear you have forgotten about our quest," Saskia replied, "overshadowed by pursuit of Ultimate Zoid."
"I did none of such," Royce moved on top of her. "Yet presently I have but one quest: to ravish you until you are sated."
Saskia closed her eyes and started to entwine herself with Royce. Just then, her comset rang.
"It's Mio," Saskia said as she scrambled her comset. "Fortune might be smiling on us." She rolled onto her stomach before establishing comlink, making sure the other side could not see Royce naked beside her. The president's daughter appeared on her screen, looking upbeat as always, but her attitude immediately went south as she noticed something unusual about Saskia.
"Miss Mio, I pray you bring good news," Saskia greeted her.
"I do, indeed. I am able to procure the location of your zoid. Woff Muroa brought it to Neo Zenebas secret lab, Western Continent. The lab is well camouflaged and well concealed from naked eyes, but I have the coordinates. Take note that it is well defended too. Breaking in is nigh impossible. But I shall send you supply delivery schedule that you can put to work. It is your only chance."
"Miss Mio, I am in your debt," Saskia said with utmost respect. "Much gratitude."
"I have put my acquaintanceship with Empress Muroa in line to satisfy your intent, because heart believes you are a woman of good standing," Mio continued. "This information could see my relationship with Empress Muroa ended in flames. I trust you will put this information to good use."
"I shall see it done as you wish," Saskia replied. "Once again, much gratitude. The heart swells for such kindness."
"Saskia, are you with someone?" Mio suddenly noticed something. "Do I seize some proceeding?"
"Uh, no…" Saskia fibbed. "Why perceive such a notion?"
"Your tongue is leaving you," Mio snorted. "And you speak with… Oh My God! You're with him, aren't you? The Rottiger Captain?"
"We're… uh, we…" Saskia didn't know how to react.
"You little whore! You spread legs for him, didn't you?" Mio chimed gleefully. Gone was her stern attitude, replaced with childlike outburst. "How was he? Did you find him agree to your liking? I shall share some counsels for next time…"
"Apologies, I do not feel comfortable discussing the matter over the comlink," Saskia snubbed. Mio's choice of words turned her face completely red.
"Hey, you owe me," Mio kept on babbling without missing a beat. "I walked a great length to satisfy your intent. Now you do the same for me. How was the night? Good? Great? Mindblowing? Or just 'meh'? Come on, share everything between sisters!"
"Miss Mio, please understand," Saskia said, half pleading. "I find this matter very private, a privilege but for me and the man."
"A mere hint, please, just a little," Mio kept on pressing. "One word: How was it? Good? Bad?"
"It was…" Saskia didn't see how she could get around Mio's charge. "Amazing."
"Aha! And here I thought you would never have a boyfriend!" Mio crackled. "Well then, enjoy the gift of flesh. I still expect a full report upon the matter. Worry not, you will hear my part. Perhaps we can exchange tips and tricks to enhance skills for the coming engagements!" With that, Mio cut off the comlink.
"That bitch!" Royce grumbled as he started to get up. "I shall find my fingers around her neck!"
"She was merely being herself," Saskia giggled. "A bubbly spoiled girl absent sense of gravity."
"One whose worth has expired. Death shall do her justice." Royce put on his clothes. "Nonetheless, we have our destination. I shall make arrangement with a transport liner. Let us move out before daylight burns too hot."
"One moment," Saskia replied languidly. "I kind of fancy Mio's last remark… that I have a boyfriend."
"A babble worthy of none," Royce snorted. "Put clothes on and see yourself ready."
"I never have a boyfriend," Saskia mulled. "Would you be mine?"
"What?" Royce stopped dead in his track. "We were lovers for one night. The fact shouldn't elevate our relationship to a higher strata."
"Do you fear commitment?" Saskia blurted, miffed by Royce's unexpected reaction.
"I fear nothing. I merely strife to maintain professionalism." Royce grabbed his pants. "The mind recall you were the one said that feelings would not affect professionalism and conduct, and we would regard each other with honor and respect."
"Royce, Babe, put ears to work," Saskia grabbed Royce's arm, forcing him to look at her in the earnest. "I gave you my maidenhood. A deed heavy of burden, that I would not do at the whim of mood, nof I would do for random man, even though he rides a white horse or a magic carpet, saves my life, and treats me like a princess. I can but do it once, and by Mother Zi I do it for the man I care, for the man I… I…" she stuttered, then regained composure but failed to hold back tears, "… for the man I love. So you see, this is a one way trip for me. I have no way back to maintain professionalism. Either I live by your affection, or stand a fool."
Royce froze, utterly stunned by Saskia's tearful confession. "I had not thought it that way," he said awkwardly. "Do not take this wrong; I fancy you. I fancy you over all women I have tasted and filled. Yet I am not in favor of committed acquaintanship presently. Your gift of womanhood is much appreciated, but it shouldn't come with emotional restrain. A thing of no consequence."
"It is for me," Saskia replied somberly. "I preserved chastity toward presenting it as a gift for a man of worth. I seek not of a marriage. I merely desire a form of commitment, an acknowledgment of your value as the beneficiary of my treasure."
Royce averted his eyes, sinking into deep contemplation for some time. His eyes wandered, but avoided Saskia the entire time. In the end, he let out a long sigh before saying, "What would you want me to commit?"
"Your flesh," Saskia smirked. "Your mind. Your will. That you shall not entertain or love another woman as long as you are with me."
"Alright," Royce replied in defeat. "You would not see me with another woman, in flesh and in spirit."
"Gratitude," Saskia said with a newfound joy. "Now ask me the same thing."
"Does it have to be this complicated?" Royce complained.
"Yes, yes, it does! Ask me to commit to your heart and soul. Ask me to be your girlfriend."
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Royce muttered under his breath.
"Yes!" Saskia chimed like a little girl.
"I fear you just made a terrible mistake," Royce sneered.
"I am a big girl. I can afford mistakes." Saskia leaned on Royce's shoulder. "Let us celebrate!"
"Set mind aside from lustful establishment, a new quest is upon us," Royce gently pushed Saskia away. "We must leave for Western Continent and reacquire zoid. And see Neo Zenebas destroyed. Then, we celebrate."
Saskia didn't know if Royce felt the same way she felt for him. He didn't look like he was thoroughly excited about their new relationship, and he was more interested in her before she threw all the commitment stuffs in his face. Perhaps Royce was right. Perhaps she was making a terrible mistake. She had never been in a relationship before, she didn't know everything about it, or all the bile that came with it. But just like she said, she can afford some, ones she might have to pay dearly, painfully, in the future.
But for now, she would just enjoy the ride.
"The death of Neo Zenebas, then," she smiled as she put on her clothes. "I shall see your oath fulfilled."