Tristan sat in the lounge section of his quarters, staring out the view port. Countless stars shone back at him. The Milky Way arched across thick and dense in this region of space. The ever-present hum of the ship masked Aesia’s breathing as she lay sleeping in the bed across the room.
The steward had knocked to tidy his room, but Tristan had sent him away.
Aesia was an integral part of the plan he had devised and had to be willing to help. It would put her in danger, something Tristan was reluctant to do, but he could think of no alternative.
“Tristan?” Aesia’s sleepy voice interrupted his train of thought.
“Yes, I’m here.”
He stood and walked over to the bed. She stretched languorously and smiled up at him. Her long hair scattered across the pillow framing her face. “What time is it?”
“Late afternoon.”
“Oh, you let me sleep.” She held up her arms. “Come here.”
A while later they sat at Tristan’s dining table, eating an evening meal he had delivered to his quarters. He waited until Aesia had finished.
“Aesia?”
She looked up, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “Yes?” She tilted her head to one side.
“I have a plan to speed the ending of this war I need to discuss with you.” He sensed her demeanour harden.
“And punish those who murdered my father?”
Tristan nodded. “Yes, that too. But it’s not without risk.”
She smiled. “Now I have you back I can face anything.”
Tristan took a deep breath and sighed. “We need to know who in the Sicceian government are responsible for sabotaging the peace talks. I have ensured there is an information blackout here so no one outside our small flotilla knows what happened. If you return home as if nothing has happened, I’m sure they will try to contact you one way or another. They will be desperate to know why you have returned unharmed and alone.”
Aesia frowned. “Yes, but how does that help?”
“I will be with you.”
Aesia’s eyes went wide. “What? No they will kill you!”
Tristan smiled. “They won’t even see me. You will lead me to them, and I will get the information without them even knowing.”
Aesia stared at him. “How?”
“You have a slave society, do you take any notice of personal slaves?”
She shook her head “No… They are ignored.” Her puzzled expression suddenly changed to understanding. “You will pretend to be my personal slave?”
“Yes.”
She was silent for a moment. “You could go anywhere I go, no one would even give you a second glance.” She paused to think. “But how would you get the information you need?”
Tristan glanced down at his hands for a moment before replying. I have learnt a lot since we were last together Aesia. "I can get the information directly from a Sicceian’s mind, control them and make them do things, even things they don’t want to do.”
A look of horror crossed her face. “Can you control me in that way?”
Tristan shook his head. “No, there is a risk your mind could be permanently damaged. It can even kill if I’m not careful.” Aesia sat silently looking at him. He smiled shyly at her. “Because of our unique connection, you would sense it instantly.” She reached across the table, and Tristan took her hands in his. His hands tingled at her touch.
“You will need to be convincing when you treat me as your slave, can you do that Aesia?”
She laughed, eyes sparkling. “Oh yes, very easily.”
Tristan smiled wryly. “Hmm... I’m sure it will be.”
“Now, I have to convince the senior officers and the Emperor that it will work. I will have to get them to agree to let me go, and I will be safe with you.” Tristan rose and walked to the door. Before he turned the handle, he turned back to Aesia. “Stay here out of sight and wait until I get back. Lock the door after I leave and I will ensure the guard does not grant anyone entry. You’re not safe here on your own, many of the crew would kill you as soon as they saw you and think nothing of it.”
Aesia shuddered. “Don’t worry, I have no intention of exploring your ship.”
“OK see you soon then.” Tristan opened the door and stepped out. He paused while he heard her turn the lock. The guard had changed. Tristan walked up to him. “Terantin isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir.” He saluted and stood stiffly to attention.
‘No one is to enter my quarters while I’m away, and that includes the stewards, is that clear?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Good.” Tristan walked through to his ready room behind the ship’s bridge. He sat down with his elbows resting on his desk, fingers pressed together. He pursed his lips. Is this the right thing to do, what alternatives are there? He counted them off as he thought of them.
One, do nothing. The war will continue for at least another year with many more deaths before it is over. Then there are the special ships the Sicceian’s built, where are they? What do I do with Aesia, she can’t stay with me, and someone is bound to make an attempt on her life.
Two, make a concerted thrust straight for Sicciea. Maybe end the war earlier, but at a cost of high causalities, and they could flank us or come in behind with those damn missing ships. And Aesia? “I must not let personal things get in the way or reduce my effectiveness.” He spoke out loud remonstrating with himself. But, I can’t help myself, he sighed. I’m bloody useless!
Three, make use of the opportunity to go to Sicceia, exploit their slave society and take out the hard liners, then get support from the Sicceian moderates. Risky, but if it works the war will end, and thousands will be saved. If it doesn’t work and I’m killed? The alliance is strong enough to win now, so no loss to them; option one will still be valid. Aesia will be on her home world and she could disown a renegade slave if I’m careful not to implicate her.
He took a deep breath. His decision made, he pressed the intercom for the officer of the watch. “Can you send Admiral Da’ren my compliments and ask him to report to me at his earliest convenience please.” The officer saluted and turned to do as he was asked.
Ten minutes later there was a knock at the door. Tristan looked up “Enter” Da’ren walked in. “Please shut the door, sit down and make yourself comfortable.” Tristan waited until Da’ren was seated before outlining his plan.
“Da’ren, I believe an opportunity has presented itself that could well end the war and save hundreds of thousands of lives.” Da’ren shifted in his chair a slight frown on his face. Tristan laughed. “Don’t look so worried.”
“Oh, I’m not worried, it’s just your plans usually involve our going through the gates of hell and facing almost insurmountable odds.”
“We always come out the other side don’t we?”
“Hum.. But, sometimes it’s touch and go.”
“Well this time the only person at risk is me.”
Da’ren’s frown depend. “This doesn’t involve your ‘Wife’ by any chance does it?”
Tristan smiled wryly. “She will play a central role, yes.”
“Can you trust her Tristan? You’ve not seen her for four years, then she appears by chance and in less than two days she is central to a plan to end this war. Have you considered this might all be an elaborate plan to get to you?”
“Da’ren, I would trust her with my life.”
“I have the feeling that is what you are going to do, and I suppose I can’t talk you out of it?”
“No Da’ren. I have weighed up all the practical alternatives, and this is the best option.”
“OK, what’s your plan?”
“First the fewer people who know about this the better.”
“Right.” Da’ren settled back in his chair.
“So, the detail. I want you to hold the line where it currently is. All the systems along the border are uninhabited, and the fleets are now capable of holding any attack the Sicceians may launch. If nothing changes, and nothing is leaked, they will be unsure of what is happening and hopefully hold off.
“I intend to go to the Sicceian home world and flush out the ones behind the plot to sabotage the peace. Once the dissenters have been eliminated, it should allow the peace movement to gain control. Then there will be no danger for me. If I fail, the war will continue, but at least the League is strong enough to defeat the Sicceians without me. However, if things go wrong then many more lives will be lost before the end. I want to prevent that from happening; there has been far too much death and destruction.”
“How do you intend to flush them out?”
“When there is no news of my death and the fleets stay where they are; the perpetrators will grow curious. They knew who was in the delegation. When one of them returns.”
“Your wife?”
“Yes, she will be sought out. They will want to know what happened and whether the attack was a success or not. They will need to know if it’s safe to attack us. With me gone, they will assume that they can retake what they have lost. I am banking on them holding off a mass counter attack until they are certain I’m dead. That is why nothing must leak out. We cannot take any chances.”
“So where do you come in?” Da’ren asked
“Think about Sicceian society for a moment, Da’ren. What is the safest way to get around Sicceia without attracting any attention?” Da’ren shrugged and shook his head. “As a slave; of course! In their minds, slaves do not even exist! A personal slave can go anywhere his master, or mistress goes.”
Da’ren’s eyes went wide. “Ah, so Aesia will be the returning aide, and they will want to question closely before they attack. She will always have her slave with her, you, and no one will notice! You can eliminate the ringleaders in your unique way and feed back any useful information to us.”
“Exactly.”
“There are many uncertainties and assumptions, not least putting your life in the hands of one damn Sicceian - sorry - but overall it seems a good plan. Especially knowing what you are capable off when dealing with Sicceians. But, how do we keep it secret?”
“Well the month travel time to Sicceia is roughly the same as the travel time from here to Mylia. So any senior officers who need to know where I am, I can be travelling back for my interrupted R & R. That will get me to Sicceia without questions being asked. You can then say I took ill and need a couple of weeks rest. Not to be disturbed sort of thing. I’m sure you can sort that out without too much problem and ensure that as few people as possible know what is going on.”
“Do you think a couple of weeks will be enough?” Da’ren asked.
“I hope by the time we arrive the perpetrators will be eaten up with curiosity. They should make their move in days.”
Da’ren was silent for a minute or so. Tristan sat watching his friend. “Right, Tristan, what do we need to do?”
“The first thing we need to obtain is a small, fast Sicceian, ship to transport us to Sicceia. Then, the logs need to be falsified just in case they check. While everything is prepared, I will keep Aesia hidden in my quarters. Once we are ready to leave, I can get her to the hanger deck without anyone noticing.”
“Oh, and please don’t inform the Emperor until I have left. Better not mention anything about Aesia either. Just say I have left on a secret mission or something.”
Da’ren sighed. “Yes, sir.”
The preparation went smoothly, the longest delay caused by the lack of a nearby serviceable Sicceian freighter that still had a functioning telepathic interface. One was eventually located and brought inside the flagship hangar bay. Tristan ensured that tasks were kept separated so no one knew the whole picture.
Aesia kept to Tristan’s cabin, remaining out of sight. For once he was grateful Elvath had remained on Mylia as housekeeper on his estate; peace talks were not exciting enough for her. The stewards were happy to leave Tristan to his own devices and asked no questions.
Five days later, Tristan manoeuvred the small Sicceian freighter out of his flagship’s hanger. Once they were at a safe distance, he set the course for Sicceia and engaged the Star Drive.
Aesia, sitting in the co-pilot’s chair, turned to him, sighed and held out her right hand. “On our own at last. I have hardly seen you since you came up with this plan.” She smiled. “Now we have four years catching up to do in only a month.” He took her hand in his, relaxing in the warm glow of her presence.
Tristan set the auto pilot then turned towards her. “Aesia?”
“Yes?”
“We have a daughter.”
She laughed softly. “Yes, Tristan we do. Wait ‘till you meet her; she is gorgeous.”
He shifted position slightly in the chair. “I... I... um I have been so busy that I forgot to discuss this but, I don’t think we should risk another one at this stage of the war, it is too... too dangerous. What about birth control?” It all came out in a rush.
She sat up straight, eyes wide. “Control? We have nothing like that!”
“But this is an advanced society, surely you can control pregnancy? Um... Sorry, but I hadn’t thought about it before as I never...” He trailed off.
Aesia shook her head “Why would we do that? That’s a shocking notion. Tristan you are strange.”
“Yes maybe, but in our society it gives a woman freedom of choice.”
“Why would she want that choice? Once the first child is born there is only ten to twelve years before a female’s reproductive cycle shuts down. Our families can only have a maximum of six children. The universe is vast, and we have been at war since our current history began. Every female has a duty to have as many children as she can, or our species will quickly go into decline.” She tilted her head to one side. “Isn’t it the same for your females?”
“Um... no.” He paused for a moment. “Our females have, oh I don’t know, at least thirty years.”
Aesia gasped. “Thirty years! How is that possible? Every species we have found so far is the same. Why are you so different?”
Tristan shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“She smiled. “Well come on then, we only have a month, let’s not waste it.”
Much later, Tristan lay with his head supported on his elbow, watching Aesia as she slept beside him. Her white hair framed her face, and her breasts rose and fell with each breath. He traced a finger along and down her neck, her pulse under his slight touch slow and regular. His fingers continued down then up the gentle curve of her breast.
Her eyes flicked open, she turned to him and smiled. “And what do you think you are doing?”
Tristan smiled back and shrugged. She reached up and ran a hand along his arm, leaving a trail of fire on his skin, and his heart fluttered in his chest. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?” She asked her eyes wide, her expression innocent.
“When you touch me it... it tingles”
“You mean like this?” She touched his cheek. Her fingers almost crackled, leaving a trail of fire where they stroked his skin.
“Yes.” His body trembled as she moved closer.
“It’s the connection we have, where our minds are linked. The males of my species may be bigger, stronger, but it’s the females who have the control.” Her smile deepened, her eyes, reflecting the bright starlight from the view port, seemed to dance.
“I think you’re a Witch.”
Aesia laughed softly, moving her hand round to the back of his head she pulled him down to her breast. “Now my strange alien, it’s time you finished what you started.”
After what seemed a very short month the ship dropped out of Star Drive just outside the Sicceian home world’s defensive perimeter. Aesia got them through the security checks without a hitch as he had hoped, and once Aesia had explained him away as an exotic new slave she had purchased he was ignored. After they had cleared planetary security, traffic control gave her clearance to land at her parents’ estate.
As she manoeuvred the ship down to the surface, Tristan sat at the back of the cabin dressed in drab clothing commonly given to family and personal slaves. Aesia kept glancing back at him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he caught her doing it for at least the tenth time.
“You’re sitting right behind me and I can’t feel a thing. Even the non telepathic species have a presence. I got used to our connection, but now it’s as if you don’t exist.” She shuddered. “Not even a Sicceian Master can do that. I don’t like it, it’s unnerving.”
Tristan smiled. “Don’t worry. It is only until everything is resolved. I don’t want anyone sensing my presence. I must be a real slave.”
Aesia nodded. “I know, it’s just a bit difficult; it reminds me of the time I thought you were dead.”