Tarifa kissed Martin deeply outside his lean-to as he held her suspended in his arms. She had taken one of his fatigue tops because Martin had shredded her blue shirt trying to get it off her. He lowered her to the ground slowly and smiled sheepishly.
"I'm sorry about your shirt." He said.
Tarifa smiled and kissed his nose. "I like yours better anyway. I can smell you on it, and it soothes me." Tarifa saw his eyes change quickly, and then return to normal. His smile had faded as well. "Martin… what is it?"
"Your mother is not far away. She's watching us." Martin told her quietly.
Tarifa made no move to remove her hands from where they rested on Martin's bare chest, and she leaned forward to place her head there as well, a sigh of disappointment escaping form her lips.
"You can come out of the shadows mother." Tarifa spoke loudly. "We know you are there." Palina's figure took shape as she walked from the front of the transport slowly. "How long have you been there mother?"
Palina stopped and looked at them. "I've been here long enough to hear what I needed to hear." She replied. She stepped forward and removed the shawl she wore from around her shoulders. "Come Tarifa, we must get you back before your father realizes you are gone." She draped the shawl over Tarifa's shoulders effectively hiding Martin's fatigue top in the dim light.
Tarifa turned to look at her. "Mother I…"
Palina shook her head. "You do not need to explain anything to me Tarifa. I have been and still am a female elf and I am not unknowing of the desires that run in your blood daughter. Your secret is safe with me child."
"Mama…"
"Go on now! Before your father notices you. Zaala waits for you by the side of the tent." Palina spoke. "Go!"
Tarifa turned and kissed Martin softly one last time before turning and moving quickly off into the night. Palina watched her daughter until she was gone and then turned slowly back to Martin. He was watching her with those eyes, his face unreadable.
Palina looked at Martin and spoke softly. "Her position does not grant her very much freedom, and even less emotion Martin Hunter. I…you have given her back her virtue and her inner strength. I thank you for that."
Martin stepped up to her and looked down into her face. "I can not begin to explain what I feel for Tarifa ma'am." He said softly. "It has taken me all of my life to begin to understand the emotions that I feel." He saw Palina look at him.
"I do not understand." She said.
"The Holy One as you call him, he was like a father to me." Martin said. "I was the first of my kind, and some things were left out when I was born. The ability to understand emotions was one of those things. It wasn't done on purpose, it was simply forgotten. My interaction with others throughout my life has taught me to understand what I feel. I can not put into words what I feel… but I can tell you this. I would gladly give my life without a second thought if it meant Tarifa would be safe. I do not know what the future holds for either of us… but I do feel that we will always be there for one another."
Palina gazed at Martin for a long moment, knowing he meant every word he had just spoken. "I believe you would Martin Hunter. I believe you would." She said. "You must hide your liaisons with Tarifa for now. It would seem you need each other now, if for nothing else than the touch of another."
"Palina… I did not…" Martin started to say.
Palina shook her head. "Your words are not needed Martin. I have seen for myself what type of man you are. And you are not entirely human either. We are elves Martin… and the Holy One created us to enjoy sexual relations with another who stirs us, not hide them or be ashamed of them. At this moment in time, the two of you have found a rock of sorts anchoring both of you, and that rock is each other. The physical pleasure is merely a way for the two of you to deepen that relationship."
"I will never hurt her." Martin said.
"I know. I must get back before Tareif sees that I am gone as well." Palina spoke. "I hope we see more of you Martin Hunter." Palina turned and headed back quickly towards their tent.
Tarifa and Zaala were still outside the tent when she returned and Tarifa came up to her immediately. "What did you say to him mother?" She asked.
"Now is not the time." Palina told her.
"I want to know what you said to him mother!" Tarifa asked again, her voice a little louder.
"What's going on out here?" Tareif's voice interrupted them. He pushed aside the tent flap and looked at them.
Palina stepped in front of Tarifa and looked at her husband. "Is it so difficult to understand that I am having a mother to daughters talk with my children Tareif? Go back inside husband, we will be in shortly."
Tareif grunted and did as Palina told him. Tarifa gripped her mother's arm.
"Mama," She pleaded.
Palina looked at her and touched her face with a warm smile. "You must hide your meetings with Martin Tarifa." Her mother told her. "It will cause problems with the Council. They will think he is using you."
"Mother he is not!" Tarifa insisted. "I go to him because I chose too. He makes me feel… he makes me feel…"
"He makes you feel normal. Like a woman again?" Palina said with a smile. "Your soul mate will come in time daughter. For now… enjoy your liaisons with Martin. You deserve to be normal as well."
Tarifa looked at her surprised. "I… I did not think you would tell me that mama." She said.
Palina smiled. "I was your age once Tarifa and I have not always been married to your father. And he is very handsome."
Tarifa looked at her mother stunned, "Mother!" She exclaimed.
Palina chuckled and tucked her arm under Tarifa's. "So tell your mother… how is he in bed?"
MOUNTAIN CITY
To call the capital of the High Elves enormous would be an understatement. As Tarifa led Martin and the others up to the front gate, they could clearly view the city stretching as far as they could see. Much of the city was built into the trees themselves, while a good portion also occupied the ground. There were massive bridges spanning hundreds of feet across, and huge walkways that circled upwards around the centuries old trees. There were parts of the city that had metal and concrete foundations, and others still that appeared built from the very roots of the trees themselves. Impressive would not have been a word that described it well enough and it showed on their faces, making the Dragoon soldiers smile to themselves. The Dragoons had seen many impressive things at Martin's compound, and seeing his reaction to their city told them he was not as arrogant as they had first thought.
Tarifa, her mother and half the Dragoons went in one direction, with Tarifa casting a longing look back at Martin. He smiled to her, and did not pay attention to where he was going. The thick low hanging branch hit him square in the face and knocked him backwards out of the saddle to land on his back. Tarifa and her sister had been watching and they both burst into laughter, as well as the Dragoons that had remained with them. Even Martin's team could not contain their laughter, and watched their Skipper sit up on his ass, a very embarrassed grin on his face.
Martin looked up at them. "Not much of a horseman I guess." He spoke a huge smile splitting his face and then he was laughing along with the others.
This did not go unnoticed by the Dragoons or the elves that had seen his mishap, and it showed them that Martin could joke about himself easily, and did not think of himself superior.
Martin had brought eight members of his team, including Anja. They had been the first to come to earth, and they almost always worked together. Anja had become their defacto medic, and by now everyone knew she was sleeping with both Danny and Julie, and while that did not bother them in the least, to a man and women they all knew she was still madly in love with the Skipper. All of them wore complete body armor and carried their weapons slung across their shoulders. It apparently was not uncommon to move about on the planet heavily armed, and the elves did not seem at all bothered by the fact they were all very heavily armed.
Their horses were led away by half a dozen elves and they entered into a large lift near the main entrance. Martin's eyes expertly took in the defensive positions and the weapons emplacements that were set up, his face showing no emotion. He knew his team was doing the same. One of the very first things they had been taught was how to survey an objective and how to make it more defensible. The lift carried them straight up at incredible speed, and they realized it was powered by what sounded like a hydraulic platform. Radama had returned with them and he saw Martin's surprised expression as they ascended.
Radama had learned a great deal in the three days he had spent with Martin and the Genomes, as well as the humans. He was a Lieutenant in the Queen's Royal Guard, and one of the most highly trained elfin warriors within their ranks. He realized three things in the first few hours walking with Martin around the compound. He learned that Martin abhorred any type of pomp, and most of his team and many of the humans called him not by his rank, but by his name. He learned that the man he walked with was the quintessential warrior, and Radama learned that his combat training was completely inferior to what these Genomes knew and were capable of doing. Knowing that Radama had set out to learn all he could, and he was ecstatic when he realized the Genomes were more than willing to teach him.
"The lift is controlled by a central control computer located on the third level." He spoke, stepping up beside Martin.
"How many levels are there?" Martin asked.
"Nineteen total, but that includes the very top level which extends above the trees and is nothing more than observation and landing platforms for the air ships we have. We can raise and lower them if Alliance aircraft are detected by our radar." Radama answered.
"Your defensive arrangements are excellent." Martin told him honestly. "Who designed them?"
"I did." Tareif answered gruffly from behind them.
Martin turned to look at him. "Impeccable sir." He said.
"Lieutenant Radama, you will reveal nothing more to our guests unless specifically given instructions to. Is that clear?" Tareif spoke.
Radama bowed his head to Tareif, "As you order War Master." He spoke.
Martin met Tareif's glaring eyes with a calm gaze of his own, completely unafraid of the man. "It was meant as a compliment sir." He said.
"I do not need your compliments on my defensive positions Commander." Tareif barked. "You know nothing of me or my people and their capabilities. You are an outsider!"
Martin nodded slowly. "Yes I am. An outsider who can tell you if you trim back the branches on some of the trees you can set up the mortars you have to cover the entire valley as well as a three mile perimeter around this city."
Tareif's eyes widened, as did the eyes of several Dragoon soldiers and Radama. "How… you know nothing of our defensive capabilities! What you say is nonsense!"
Martin smiled. "The markings of a 120mm mortar make very distinct marks in any surface where they sit, sir." Martin told him. "So far I've seen nine…"
"I've marked six." Danny spoke.
Martin smiled again. "That's fifteen mortar positions we have detected and we've only been here twenty minutes. I assume you use them for direct fire support of the wall, and that you have enough of them to circle the city. As I said… if you cut some of the branches from above say a third of the positions, you can cover the entire valley as well as a three mile perimeter around the city and triple your defensive capabilities." Martin shrugged. "But that is just an observation from an outsider."
Martin turned back around to face away from Tareif, his face emotionless to everyone. Tareif could only stand there, his eyes still wide but growing angrier by the minute.
Martin looked around the quarters he and his team had been provided and he could only smile. The large central room was very well furnished with several couches and chairs and a small counter bar in one corner. There were half a dozen smaller doorways off the main room that led to small but comfortably furnished sleeping rooms. There were four windows, and a door that led out to a balcony. The room was circular in design, and was built into the tree they were in, but also equipped with very modern amenities.
Martin looked at Radama as he stood in the doorway with a smile at the reaction of the others of Martin's team as they set about exploring the room. "Thank you Radama." He spoke.
"The Queen apparently does not share her father's distrust of you Martin Hunter. She ordered you be escorted here. These are the finest guest quarters that we have in the city, and only the most honored of elves have ever stayed here." Radama told him.
"What about you Radama?" Martin asked.
"I have seen first hand what you are capable of Martin Hunter, as well as saving the life of the Queen I am sworn to defend. You earned my trust the moment you killed those who assaulted her on your station." Radama told him. "Milady asked that you be allowed to settle in and then she requested that I escort you to the Grand Chamber to meet the Council of Elders."
Martin dropped his pack and nodded at Radama. "Let's go." He said, "Master Chief, will you make sure the children don't break anything?"
Tony smiled from where he stood and nodded his head, "Got it Skipper."
Martin left his HK leaning against his pack, but still had the K12 strapped to his thigh, as well as a large fighting knife strapped to his other leg. Radama motioned him out into the corridor and they began walking towards the sunlight at the far end.
"Do you have relations with any of the human settlements Radama?" Martin asked.
Radama shook his head. "There are several smaller human settlements that do not agree with the way elves and others are enslaved and used, but they are powerless to stop it. They sit in the shadow of more powerful settlements and are protected by them, and so must conform to their laws." Radama replied. "The Queen has forbidden all contact with human settlements for this reason. She will not trade our people or any elves into servitude or slavery just for arms and ammunition. We have learned to become expert weapons masters, with blade and guns."
"This forest and these mountains must be overflowing with natural resources." Martin said.
"They are." Radama told him. "There is gold and minerals and all types of resources that the humans need. They are becoming bolder in their forays into our land, taking what they can not produce themselves. We beat them back when we find them, but our territory is vast, and what many do not know is that not all of our people are warriors."
Martin nodded. "That is usually the case." He spoke softly.
"The Alliance will not come into the deep timber and mountains after us." Radama spoke. "Every time they have we have slaughtered them. But each battle has losses, and slowly our army is shrinking in size until we can no longer cover all of the human excursions into our lands."
"What do they do to your villages if they are discovered?" Martin asked.
"Those they do not kill are sold into slavery after they are broken." Radama answered.
Martin looked at him. "Broken?"
"The females are raped repeatedly until they are near insanity. Then they are injected with a very addictive drug that keeps them submissive. They use this drug to then control the females, most of them ending up sold to slavers in the large cities of the Alliance east of the Big River." Radama answered.
"And what happens to the men?" Martin asked.
"They are beaten and whipped and subjected to even more horrible tortures." Radama answered. "Some are raped as well and turned into sex slaves for the Alliance citizens who prefer men over women. Most are sold into forced labor camps and relegated to working the most dangerous mines that are left and they are used as beasts of burdens on the Western Island."
"The Western Island… what's that?" Martin asked.
Radama nodded. "It was once called California, but after the Great Fire caused a massive earthquake, a chasm was created and the ocean rushed around the land and formed the Western Island."
"What's on the Western Island?" Martin asked him.
"It is where all of the slaves are processed." Radama answered. "From the Western Island they can be sent anywhere in the world on the big ships or flying craft. It is maintained by the Alliance, but everyone uses it. At any given time there are thousands of elves and other new species waiting for shipment."
"Wait a minute… new species?" Martin asked him surprised. "You mean like that thing you call a Grizz beast?"
"Yes. They were designed to hunt whatever they are programmed to hunt." Radama answered. "There are rumors that some escaped the genetic facility due to their intelligence. They supposedly escaped into The Wastes and were never heard from again. The radiation that saturated The Wastes denied access to it for hundreds of years. It is only recently, the last sixty years or so, that anyone has been able to go into the area. It is here that the Alliance discovers some of their fiercest monsters, mutated by the radiation"
"Exactly how old are you?" Martin asked him.
Radama smiled, "One hundred and fifty-three." He replied. "But I am young by elf standards. The oldest among us has four hundred and forty-one years. He was one of the first created by the Holy One. He served on the Council of Elders until he stepped down last year due to illness. It appears however, Martin Hunter, that you and your team are now older than even our oldest Elder."
Martin grinned. "Yeah… I kind of guessed that."
Radama motioned through the double doors they had arrived at. "Inside you will find the Council of Elders. They are similar to what in your time would be called a Senate." Radama grinned when he saw Martin roll his eyes. "Each one represents one of our twelve major cities, as well as the surrounding smaller villages and towns. Ministers Treblar and Thalami you have already met. Some of them you will find to be openly friendly, others not so friendly."
"I get that a lot." Martin told him with a smile. "Is Tar… the Queen with them?"
Radama did not allow the smile he felt show on his face. Radama had heard the howls of pleasure from his Queen on the Raptor, and he had seen flashes of the incredible attraction between them as well. He nodded. "The Queen presides over every meeting of the Elders. She will be present."
"Ah… cool." Martin said turning as the doors opened and another Royal Guard came out dressed very similar to Radama.
"The Council will see you now." He spoke.
"We will talk again Martin Hunter." Radama said.
Martin nodded. "I'd like that."
Martin watched him turn and head back down the corridor, and then he looked at the new guard who was directing him inside the room. Martin shook his head.
"Man I hate politicians." He muttered to himself before walking into the room.
EDEN
She opened her eyes to the glare of false light and the feel of soft clean sheets against her skin. As her eyes focused she was able to make out more detail of the room she was occupying. There were pictures of strange men on the wall, as well as a long bookshelf filled with what appeared to be ancient copies of writings in pristine condition. Her oriental features were quite obvious due to the darker color of her skin, and the slight slant of her brown eyes. Her shiny black hair had been washed and now smelled slightly of cinnamon, and was splayed across the pillow. She was naked underneath the full length white sheet, and she clutched the sheet to her very firm breasts, the coolness of the room causing her nipples to stand out prominently against the fabric. She sat up quickly, her mind clearing even more and she remembered the strange looking flying craft that had picked up her and twenty of her fellow elves from the Alliance's finest brothel in New Richmond. They had flown into the sky and landed many hours later at an unknown place. The Alliance Minister Deval had been traveling with them, and all they knew was that they were being offered as gifts to new allies.
Anisa turned her head quickly when the door to her right opened and the tall human exited what appeared to be a bathing room. He was clad in Khaki pants and black boots, his upper body bare. She took in the graying hair on his chest and his almost entirely bald head. He was lean for a human, not overly muscular, but Anisa could tell he was in superb physical condition. He lowered the towel from his face and she saw his eyes settle on her. Anisa had to hold back the gasp, as his eyes were the deepest blue she had ever seen.
"You're awake?" Admiral William Wallace III spoke tossing the towel over a chair and moving to the side of the bed.
Anisa scampered to the far side of the large bed as he sat on the edge and held up his hand.
"I am not going to hurt you." Wallace spoke softly. "I know the hatred and mistrust you have of humans, and I now know why, but I can assure you I will not hurt you."
Anisa bowed her head, "As you say Master." She spoke timidly.
"My name is William Wallace or Bill for short. My name is not Master." He told her.
Anisa looked at him, sensing something very strange about this human. His weathered hand reached out slowly and gently took her chin, lifting her face to look at him.
"Don't do that." He said to her.
"You… you are my Master. It is forbidden to look at you directly!" Anisa spoke quickly, casting her eyes downward again. She heard him sigh heavily. "May I ask… may I ask where I am Master?"
"These are my quarters on EDEN." Wallace replied. "You arrived two days ago with that sick Alliance bastard Deval."
"My Lord you must not speak of the Minister in such a way!" Anisa spoke quickly, expecting the slap at any moment.
"I'll speak about that perverted sonofabitch however I like." Bill responded. "He makes me sick. What is your name?"
"I am called Anisa Milord." She answered.
"Are you hungry?"
Anisa felt her empty stomach begin to growl with hunger. It was unlike anything she had felt at any time in the past fourteen months of her captivity. She reached up to a spot on the back of her neck where the drug dispenser was, only to discover it was missing. The dispenser was something all slaves had implanted upon their capture. The drug that was pumped into their system made them more docile and unresisting, but it also acted as an appetite suppressant, and Anisa had grown accustom to it.
"It's gone." Bill spoke softly, getting to his feet. "I had it removed. I also had you pumped full of a detox solution to purge the drug from your system. That's why you are still groggy and weak. Your natural elf healing ability will begin to assert itself soon enough." She felt him settle back to the bed and hold out the shiny red apple. "You need to eat to regain your strength, but you need to start slowly."
"Milord… I… I don't understand." Anisa told him, her voice quivering in fear.
"You came here two days ago with Minister Deval. This facility is called EDEN and it is on the moon. He brought you and twenty others as gifts to the man who now controls this station. You were offered to me as part of that gift." Will told her. "I accepted as a way to earn and keep his trust."
"You… you are my Master then." Anisa said.
"No I am not. I don't own you! Nobody owns you." Bill said. "Look at me."
"It is not allowed Milord!" Anisa said.
"Look at me!" Anisa took a deep breath and slowly lifted her face towards him; her eyes closed tightly, expecting the blow to come from any direction. "Now open your eyes."
Anisa felt the tears well in her tightly shut eyes. "Milord… please, it is… I…"
"Open your eyes Anisa."
Anisa dropped the sheet, exposing her firm breasts and smooth flat abdomen. "Please Milord… I will do whatever you wish. I will suck your cock! I… I am considered an expert at sucking cock Master! Or you can fuck me! Whatever you desire, but please…"
"Open your eyes!" Bill spoke more forcefully now. "And stop talking like that!"
Anisa's eyes popped open at the obvious command tone of his voice, and she saw him holding something in his arms. It looked like a bundle of clothes that rested in his lap and his blue eyes gazed at her. She watched those eyes take in her nakedness; saw the flash of desire in them, and then it was gone. He leaned over and brought the sheet back up over her nakedness.
"Listen to me. I am playing a role." Bill told her. "You are now part of that role. I will not hurt you, or force you to do anything. That part of your life is over now. I got these clothes for you. I understand that slaves are not allowed to be fully clothed, but I did the best I could in trying. I hope you like them." Bill set them on the bed in front of her, and drew back his hands. "I had a female friend bath you, but if you wish to shower, it is through that door. I'm going to make you some breakfast so that you can regain your strength."
"You… you don't wish to take me?" Anisa asked with clear surprise in her eyes.
"No. Breakfast will be ready in about twenty minutes." Bill answered her. He smiled at her before getting to his feet and walking out of the room without a second glance back at her near naked form.
Anisa sat on the bed dumbfounded and staring at the door as it closed behind him.
.