A/N: Thank you if you left a review of the last chapter. I think I've caught upi with all my responses. Some of the PMs have been fun. If you're planning on reading ERB's Mars books, you can find the first five free on Project Gutenberg.

Thanks to MarkeyDeSad for the beta again. I do keep asking him how he's getting on with the next chapter of "Revenge of the Fish" and he keeps telling me he's working on it, so be patient if you're waiting for that.

Chuck and S'ra are on the final stretch before reaching the city. Their time alone is coming to an end.

Exo
Chapter 6: Realization

S'ra woke before Chuck. Her cheek no longer hurt and her shoulder felt better too. She was desperate to get them both uncovered. This wasn't just because they felt restrictive.

She slipped out of Chuck's embrace and sat up. She tried to undo the knot in the vine around her face. However, before she got far, she felt Chuck's fingers wrap around hers, stopping her. "Let me," he said.

She dropped her hands and he quickly undid the knot and carefully unwound the vine. Then he very carefully pealed back the conith leaf. She watched his expression closely as he said, "Hardly any scaring." There was no deceit in his eyes.

"Can you remove the one on my shoulder, as well?" she asked.

He did this, just as carefully. She could see the scar left from that wound, but it had healed. She felt enormous relief, but that wasn't all she felt.

She pulled her backpack to her and grabbed two pieces of gritch, pushing one into his mouth and the other into hers, after she'd told him to chew quickly. They both did so and when they had both swallowed it, she pushed him backwards. He looked surprised when his back hit the moss, but did not object when her lips crashed into his.

She had been yearning for this since their last kiss. All their talk of love since then had just increased her desire. She knew they should start their day with food and continue their journey, but she couldn't wait any longer.

This wasn't a tender kiss, but one full of passion. She really needed this. His hands pulled her closer and he kissed her back with just as much passion. She could tell, he wanted this as much as she did.

She sat up in his lap and removed her top. She wanted to really feel him against her.

Chuck couldn't believe this was happening. The woman whom he loved was initiating their first time. When she stripped off her top, he saw perfection and had to kiss it. She obviously liked that, but didn't let him continue for long. She wanted all clothing that separated them removed and he quickly complied with her wishes, as he wanted it too.

The way he looked in awe made her feel wonderful, but then his hands explored and she groaned in pleasure. When he sat up and his lips came into play, her eyes rolled back into her head.

Shedding their other clothes took little time. Both stopped and stared at what they found.

What he saw next was yet more perfection. He could see, and was thankful, that they would be able to couple without any problems. That just increased his desire for it to happen. S'ra obviously felt the same.

S'ra could see that they would have no problems. They were completely compatible. Better than she could have hoped, in fact. They quickly put that to the test.

They both gasped in pleasure when it happened. She sat there once they were fully together in that most intimate of ways. She looked at him with such love in her eyes that he hardly wanted her to move.

For S'ra, it was the best feeling she had ever experienced. She sat there for a second or two, getting over the initial sensation before they continued. When they did, it was everything she could have hoped for. Better, in fact.

They were so in tune that they finished together, both crying out, relishing how it felt and the fact that the other reacted the same way.

As she slumped down onto him, he wrapped his arms around her naked body holding her tightly against him. This felt amazing too. Much as he loved having his arm around her when they were clothed and falling asleep, having their flesh pressed together was so much better. He now knew it wasn't just emotional love, but physical too. Both wonderful with this amazing woman.

S'ra felt like she never wanted to move. She'd had sex before, which had been such an unsatisfactory experience; this was quite the opposite. If this was what her love life was to be like with Chuck, she was such a lucky woman!

Eventually, she got off him. "Thank you, Chuck. I've been wanting that for some time. Needing it, even."

He looked at her naked body as he replied, "I couldn't have even imagined anything so wonderful, S'ra. Both to look at and to feel."

She felt like doing it all again, but they needed food. She brushed her palm over his cheek. "You really know the right things to say, Chuck."

He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her down onto him again, kissing her deeply. She could feel he was ready for more, but she pushed herself off him. "We need to eat, Chuck." He pouted, but didn't argue.

Eating naked, as they did, was a very different experience to normal. Neither could keep their eyes off what had always been hidden to them.

Once they had finished eating, she was soon lying on her back and they repeated what they'd done before, this time with him on top, being very careful not to hurt her due to his heightened strength.

They had been walking for two hours after that magical experience. Neither felt the need for words, but the physical contact of hands held with fingers entwined, provided the link both needed.

When they finally stopped to eat the last of their meat, S'ra finally spoke about what had happened. "Chuck, I feel like I forced myself on you."

"S'ra, I wanted it, but wouldn't force myself on you. I'm not like that. I doubt myself and what others think of me. It surprises me someone as wonderful as you could be interested me at all, least of all that way."

S'ra was shocked to hear this. "Chuck, you are better than any man I have ever met. I realized that very quickly. I have been interested in you from the start, but physically interested for over a day. I didn't know if you were built like us down there, but I wanted to know and experience it, if possible." She held his gaze, a bit nervous about admitting this. "I have done that before, but nothing ever felt that good."

He gripped her hands. "I've had done it before. Quite some time ago. I have never seen a body as amazing as yours before and it has never been as good for me, either. I can't stop thinking about what we did." He sighed. "I know we need to keep moving, but all I want to do, is pull off your clothes again."

She laughed at that and teased, "Just pull off my clothes?"

"Oh no. Not just that."

S'ra felt it too. "Sadly, we do need to keep going or I would pull them off myself. Yours too." She loved the look in his eyes at the thought of that.

She stood and held out her hand. "Come on."

As they walked, getting close to another forest, Chuck asked how far they were from the city and what would happen.

"We should get near enough to the city to be able to find transport before sundown. However, when we get to the forest, I want to remove your beard and we both wash in the river. This forest is safe. No predators.

"Then, the habitations start about two hours beyond it. We should be able to reach where I need to go less than an hour later."

She wasn't surprised when he asked, "Can I wash you?"

She grinned. "Only if I can wash you."

"Will there be sex involved?"

She laughed out loud at that. "Much as I would love that, we don't have time." He pouted. "You will have to save yourself until later."

"At your parent's house?" he asked, with a worried look.

She shook her head, "No. I have my own. You won't meet them until tomorrow."

Chuck was relieved. The idea of having sex in the same house as parents he had just met terrified him.

"What do I do while you report?" he asked.

"You can either wait or come in with me," she replied.

That was a surprise. "Can I do that?" he asked. "I would have thought I wouldn't be allowed."

She nodded. "You saved me, remember. That means you saved the mission. They will probably want to thank you. Besides, they will want to meet the first visitor from another planet."

That brought a frown to his face. "I don't want them doing tests on me, S'ra."

"I won't let them," she replied.

He was dubious about her chance of success on that, but didn't want to suggest otherwise.

He walked in silence for a while after that.

Chuck sat very still. He was frozen in place. Frozen with fear. He had always shaved himself, but was being shaved by S'ra. He trusted her completely, but that knife was so sharp!

"You can breathe," she told him.

He certainly did not want to talk while she was doing it. She took the blade away from his neck and leaned away from him, chuckling. "That's a very, very sharp blade," he pointed out.

She grinned. "Of course it is. How else could I slice through necks so easily."

He could see her eyes twinkling, but couldn't stop himself from gulping at the image she created, which just made her laugh.

She gave him a quick kiss, then whispered into his ear, "I am being very careful, Chuck. I don't want you getting hurt again."

"Good."

"Deep breath, then," she said and moved in to finish his neck before moving to his face.

When she finished she told him it was time to bathe. He was so happy. His neck and face survived with no cuts and now he and the most beautiful women on two planets stripping down in front of him, to bathe in the river. What could be better? Well, he knew the answer to that, but, as she said, there was no time.

Once out of her clothes, S'ra grabbed his hand a stepped into the water. She waded in until the water reached her waist and then released his hand and dived in. Chuck just stood and watched her gracefully swimming around under the surface. She was as stunning swimming like that as she was on land.

She burst out of the water in front of him. He just wanted to grab her and kiss her, but she slipped out of his grasp with a laugh. Then she told him to dive in and get wet so they could wash.

When he rose from the water she was walking back in carrying the clarek. He reached out his hand to take it, but she pulled it back. "I go first," she said with a big smile.

Chuck found that being washed by someone else was a very sensual experience. He groaned as she continued. "You are making this very difficult for me, S'ra."

"I will find it the same, Chuck," she replied.

When she handed him the clarek, he was so revved up that he had to calm himself before starting. He found that washing her was just as exciting and her moans when he washed parts of her made it very hard not to just turn her around and make love to her.

Chuck had never even showered with Jill, so this was a totally new experience for him and he absolutely loved it. S'ra felt the same, also experiencing something totally new.

They did, however, keep it to just washing and climbed out of the water and dressed. She looked at him and beamed. "You look fantastic, Chuck. I liked the beard, but you are more handsome shaved."

He grinned at her. "You look fantastic with or without clothes, S'ra, but I think I can control myself more with you like this."

She gave him a kiss and took his hand to walk back to the backpack and to continue the journey.

S'ra was absolutely right. Two hours later, they did reach the first buildings. She led them to the local administration building there and they were quickly given a vehicle to take them to the city.

Before they left in it, S'ra used a device that Chuck assumed was a communication tool and called ahead with the news. He wondered if that would mean she didn't have to do anything else, but he was wrong. She still had to report in person.

They climbed into the vehicle. It was like a cross between and car and a hovercraft. It had no wheels, but ran on a cushion of air. He loved it!

Within an hour they reached their destination after passing through more towns and plenty of country side in between. He asked what the people out there did, and she replied that most grew the plants eaten by her people, but some reared animals also eaten.

He paid more attention then to what he saw as they proceeded.

S'ra loved that he was so interested in her people.

On reaching the military base, she leaped out of the vehicle and looked at him. "Coming?"

"You don't think I should stay in the car?" he asked.

"Only if you want to, but I, and probably the generals. would prefer you to come in."

He got out and followed her in.

They eventually reached a room facing a set of five older men, some with gray hair, but most either blond or redheaded.

The man in the middle, clearly the leader, said, "We heard your message, Senior Scout S'ra. Explain why we need to worry."

This was the first time Chuck had heard her title and was surprised. He listened closely to her words.

"Commander Thrace, I observed the Frakku horde sweep through the northern town of our neighbor state of Pallain as if they had no defenses. The horde did not move east to the capital but south, in this direction. At the speed they were moving, I thought they would reach here in less than twenty days."

"So, we have a couple of days less than that to mobilize our troops," the man next to the commander observed.

S'ra shook her head. "No, General Flack, somewhat less. After flying for a day, my flier was hit by a xynth and I crashed and had to make my way on foot. It has taken five days to get here. If I am right, the horde will reach Grillain in no more than fourteen days."

The commander then asked, "And who is this that you bring before us?" He was looking straight at Chuck.

"This is Chuck of Urth," she told them. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. He saved my life twice on our journey."

The commander held Chuck's gaze. "Then we thank you, Chuck of Urth. We haven't heard of your state, where is it?"

Chuck still wasn't sure that telling them was a good idea, so he replied, "Far away." He hoped that would be enough.

The man furthest to the right said, "We have explored the whole world. Where exactly?" He obviously wasn't going to be fooled.

Chuck reluctantly admitted, "I am not from your world."

The room was silent and the expressions of the seated men either dubious or extremely surprised.

The commander said, "You can't be from one of our moons or your weight would pull you to the ground. So, where?"

Chuck decided honesty would be best. "We have devices that can see the remote stars and their planets in close detail. When we saw your planet, I looked closer and then found myself on the planet, with no clothes or possessions."

"So, you were spying on us?" the frowning man to the far left asked.

Chuck denied that. "We didn't even know if there was life on the planet."

"So, you were just 'observing' us," the man to the far right said.

Chuck nodded. "We are fascinated in all stars, but really want to know about planets. Finding one that could also support life is part of that." He looked at that man. "Visual explorers. Unlike yourselves, we will never be able to physically do so on this planet."

"And yet you are here, doing just that," said the man just to the left of the commander.

"I don't know how that happened, but I doubt it is something we could repeat," Chuck said.

"We should imprison him. He is a threat," the man to the right of the commander stated.

S'ra cried out, "He is no threat! He is our friend."

The commander spoke up again. "A single man can be no threat. He has helped us by his actions so far. His planet, however, may be a threat. We will not imprison him unless our governor demands it." He looked at S'ra. "Will you take responsibility for him?"

S'ra nodded. "I will, Commander Thrace."

"Good. I will discuss this with our governor." The commander then looked at Chuck. "I suspect our scientists will want to meet with you." Looking at his generals, he stated, "We have preparations to make for the horde."

S'ra and Chuck were dismissed.

Once they reached her vehicle, she took him to her home. "It's your home as well now, Chuck," she told him.

Thy embraced each other, fully ready to embrace a life together.

Tomorrow, she would take him to see her parents. She hoped they would behave.

A/N: End of day five and they have reached civilization. Next chapter, Chuck will meet her parents, and the two of them will discover what the older couple have prepared for their daughter.

Any thoughts on this chapter?

Glossary (pronunciation in brackets)

People:

B'rack (Bur-Rack)– S'ra's previous boyfriend (we never meet him)

Flack (Flack) – one of the generals under Commander Thrace

Frakku (Frack-Ku) – purple-skinned savages

S'ra (Sur-Rah) – first person Chuck Bartowski meets on the new planet

Thrace (Thrase) – military commander of the city state Grillain

.

Plants and animals:

Clarek (clar-Rek) – plant that produces leaves that people use to clean themselves

Conith (Con-Eeth) – leaves of this plant produce fast-acting, healing liquids

Deak (Dee-Ack) – small plants that manage to grow in the crevasses of rocks in the mountain ranges

Gritch (Grit-Ch)– flesh of this plant used to clean teeth and breath

Ixtag (Eecs-Tag) – black-colored predator that live in forests

Landic )Land-Ick) – deer-like herbivore

Pake (PayK) – plant, the flesh contains pain-killing properties and is used for that purpose

Vetia (Vet-Ia) – leaves of this plant very flexible and used by Chuck to cover himself. Sap burns people from the planet but didn't affect him

Xaxic (Zacks-Ick) – foul smelling leaves of this plant used to ward off predators

Xynth (Zinth)– flying predator

Zryth (Zreeth) – stone-colored cat-like predator. Related to the ixtag

.

Places:

Garverd –(Gar-Vert) mountain range

Grillain (Grill-Ain) – city state S'ra comes from

Niteth (Nee-Teth) – largest of three moons that circle the planet

Pallain (Pall-Lain) – neighboring city state

Retith (Ret-Teeth) – the planet Chuck was now on

.

Other:

Bract (Br-Act) – nutritious bars carried to eat when access to other food hard to achieve