Thread: The Space Between The Stars (A Corsair/Mim Adventure)

He awoke to a soft body pressed against his side, and a soft hand gently stroking his morning erection. Youre awake, a husky voice purred, breath hot on his ear. I was afraid Id have to start without you. He shifted a little, rolling slightly to face his companion of the evening, the Contessa Alexis de Subray , cupping one of her breasts as she continued stroking him. And would that have been so bad? he murmured, teasing a nipple erect with his tongue. Letting me wake up to you pleasuring yourself? She arched her back, offering more of herself to his mouth. I much prefer this, she replied, squeezing his cock, to my fingers. Youll have to show me, he smiled, rolling atop her. His lips found hers, drinking deep. Gould I... A fist hammered on the door, sending echos through the room. John! John! He ignored it, in favor of tracing the curve of the Contessas throat with his lips as she shifted her legs, opening herself to him. His length slid over her, drawing a sigh from both of them. John! Damnit, John, this is important! He sighed, staring down into the Contessas dark eyes. Id better check, he sighed, or we wont get any peace. Prince Johnathan Theodore Logan Harker slipped from the bed and padded across the hardwood floor, pausing just long enough to throw on a robe before opening the door a crack. Im in the middle of something, Phil, he hissed, catching the dark-skinned man on the other side just as he was raising his fist to knock again. Cant it wait ? Sir Phillip Trip, his adjunct and half-brother, handed him a bronze-colored tube. No, he replied. Read that. Right, right. John placed his thumb on the cap, allowing the message tube to read his thumb print and compare his DNA. Then h twisted the cap open and extracted the sheet of printed film. Whoa, hecsaid after a momen. What is this? -- Married? he bellowed. And to one of the Rastafari heathens ? What are you thinking ? I was thinking, replied His Royal Majesty Robert Jordan Graves Harker ,that it was the culmination of a year of highly sensitive negotiations bringing an end to our decade of war with the Kingdom of the Milky Way. Milky Way? John sneered. Those arrogant kaffirs rule perhaps five hundred stars and think they can lay claim to the entire galaxy! And you... That is enough ! thundered his father the king. This is already agreed to, and you will not defy me! Not in this! John glared at his father, then sighed. Its that important, then? It is, the king replied. Tell me why, John said. I cant reason without data, father. Ill do better than that, the king answered. Ill have the architect of the peace tell you. -- The Stellar Union, Commander Joseph Adam s stated, faces an existential threat. He tapped a control on his belt, and a hovering machine projected a holographic image of a ship of unknown design . Five years ago, this vessel destroyed the heavy cruiser Agamemnon . Since then, several more have been sighted, leaving destroyed colony worlds in their wake. John studied the image carefully, memorizing the information displayed alongside it. How many worlds, and where? Forty-three, Commander Adams replied. All on the leading edge of the Sponward March, corewards. Forty-two in five years, Philip murmured, considering. At the risk of sounding callous, that is a pinprick to the Stellar Union. It hardly warrants being declared an existential threat. Single ships have done this, the Commander replied. And the attacks are escalating. Twenty colonies were destroyed in the past twelve months. The Architects project that, if we cannot find and stop these entities, half the Stellar Union will be wiped out within a decade. -- The Architects, John sneered, parrying the thrust of the training work . The Union puts their faith in machines that think. Sliding his blade down the works blade, he riposted and drove his point at the mechanisms heart. It partied with a second blade. A failing of Old Earth, yes, Philip agreed, sipping from a goblet of wine as he watched the Prince fence. But do you disagree with the projection? No, John replied, turning a counterattack aside. Not in any meaningful way. Based on the data provided, a first-order analysis confirms their analysis with an error margin of plus or minus fourteen months. Philip watched his half-brother strike home. Still, Im surprised Parliament confirmed the treaty. Towling sweat from his face and vest, John accepted a cup of wine. They almost didnt. Even with the Stellars presenting the evidence in closed sessions, it passed with a simple majority. And now youre to be married to a Rastafari princess, Philip laughed as John slumped into the seat next to him. Any idea what shes like. John leaned his head back, calling details to memory. Princess Ysra Rusayla Qosi, he said in the sing-song pattern of mnemonic recall, holds the title of Warden of the Eastern Milky Way. She is the half-sister of King Adjatay Urujuani, and... Yes, yes, Ive read her file as well, Philip laughed. Do you know what she looks like? No, John answered. Extrapolating from her half-brother, I have full confidence that she will be darker than me, and a three-quarters confidence that she will be lighter than you. That should make the Lords happy, Philip chuckled. They might riot if an African ascended the throne of Hyades. -- They still might riot, Prince John whispered. The assembled throng in the Cathedral of Hubbard roared in delight at the pronouncement of the official from the Stellar Union. Not Commander Adams, but a diplomat from Mars. John leaned a little closer to his brother, trying to be heard. Which one do you think she is? No idea, Philip hissed back. He nodded at one of the women . But I may have to chat her up, when this is over. No kidding, John murmured. Shes been eying you ever since she came in. Prince John, called the ambassador. It had been decided that he would preside over the betrothal, while the question of the marriage ceremony was being worked out. Step forward. Here goes nothing, he murmured, striding out to meet the ambassador. Princess Yusra, the ambassador called. Step forward. It was a struggle not to react, as the darkest-skinned woman in the party - the one his brother had been planning to talk to - stepped forward. Her? he thought wildly, trying not to stare. Shes black as space! The Lords will never accept this! Take her hand in yours, the ambassador stated. With the briefest of hesitations he did so. She hesitated as well, and his trained perceptions caught a flicker of disgust in her carefully controlled expression. Her grip was warm and strong, like that of a trained soldier. Was she one? The Rastafari has strange ways, after all. Carefully, the ambassador wrapped a slim platinum chain about their linked hands. Let this act, he declared, symbolize the union of these two noble houses and the peace between these two nations. Sure , John thought. Right until Im murdered in the revolution. Last edited Aug 21, 2018