Star Rider and Bonds of Love: A Sci-Fi Space Opera with a Touch of Fantasy Heidi Skarie (fox in socks read aloud .TXT) 📖

and tried to think of somethingpleasant. The dance had been fun. Michio was attentive to her allevening and his natural grace and athletic ability made up for hislack of dancing experience.

She enjoyed dancing with Erling,too. He was a great dancer and reveled in going out much more thanMichio did. Erling kept her laughing most of the time they weretogether. It was like old times, when they were in the Coalition andon leave for a few days. They always enjoyed new sights and people,no matter what planet they were on.

Although she was glad she marriedMichio and loved him deeply, sometimes she missed her former life.She drew Michio’s hand to her lips, kissed it, then drifted off tosleep.

***

One morning a week later, Toemekaawakened to the sound of the baby crying. She sleepily lifted him outof the cradle, took him to bed with her, and gave him a bottle.. Asshe gazed at him,contentedly sucking, sadness settled over her thatshe could no longer breast feed him..

She longed to be living in herown home, but Michio refused to leave the safety of the palace. Atthe thought of Michio, an uneasy feeling washed over her. Where washe? Since she’d started having nightmares again, he usually stayedwith her until she awoke.

When she’d finished feedingBaymond, she dressed him and placed him on the bed. “Where’s yourDaddy?” she asked as she slipped on a top and slacks. “I have afeeling he’s up to something.” She picked up the baby and hurrieddown the formal staircase to the dining room. Michio wasn’t there.She clutched the baby to her and ran to the front entrance, just asKoriann walked inside. Her eyebrows were drawn together with worry.

“What’s wrong?”

Koriann cleared her throat. “I’mnot supposed to tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

“I don’t want to break myword.”

“Koriann, I’m not a child;tell me what’s going on.”

“No, you’re not a child, butyou’ve just been through a major trauma.”

“If you won’t tell me, I’llask Captain Zachary.”

“He’s not here either.”

“Where have they gone?” Thenit hit her. “Shit, they’re taking an air fleet to Devil’s Eyeto attack Commander Rochambeau’s compound, aren’t they?” By thesudden stiffness of Koriann’s pose, she knew she was right.“Condor’s blood, Michio promised he wouldn’t go. He didn’teven say good-bye.” Toemeka clenched her fist. “We have to stopthem.”

“You can’t. You’re a mothernow with a young baby.”

“I’m also a wife and I’mnot going to let my husband risk his life on such a dangerousmission. Nor do I want Erling and your soldiers to risk theirs. Doyou realize how many people will die?”

“Michio felt it was necessaryto insure your future safety.”

“There are other ways to dothat.” Toemeka walked out of the palace..

“If you don’t stop, I’llcall my guards and have you escorted to your room. I promised MichioI wouldn’t let you interfere.”

A flush of anger shot throughToemeka. She walked up to Koriann until she was right in her face.“Erling could be killed! Do you want your child born without afather? Henotaux is an outlaw city. They have an advanced defensesystem that will destroy the fleet as soon as it enters air space.They’re heavily fortified with military bases and a large squad ofair ships. If Henotaux was easy to destroy, their enemies would’vewiped them out long ago. Michio will never even get near CommanderRochambeau.”

Koriann turned deathly pale.“Michio and Erling were able to land when they rescued you.” Shesounded uncertain.

“They came as slave dealers ina trader’s ship, not as part of a military space fleet. A spacefleet won’t have a chance. It’ll be tracked on the Devil’s Eyedefense system long before it reaches the moon. I didn’t spend mytime in idle conversation with Cadmus. I found out everything I couldabout the domed city. They have their own law and order. When itcomes to protecting themselves from outside forces, they bandtogether. Koriann, I don’t have time to plead with you. Time is ofthe essence. We have to stop them before they make a space jump.”

Koriann drew a deep breath, notreplying at first, but her expression revealed alarm. Finally shesaid, “All right, I’ll help you.”

At the royal airstrip, Koriannhurried over to the officer in charge. “I want a two-man spacecraftfast enough to catch up with the royal air fleet.”

He looked curious, but didn’task questions. He led the women over to a sleek-looking fighter ship.“This one is the fastest, but it’s still being tested. It’snever been taken up to full speed.”

Toemeka looked over the ship witha trained eye, taking in its design. It had an aerodynamic build forcombat fighting within planetary atmospheres and quadruple megaengines for space travel. The ship looked fast and powerful withdeflector shields and heavy armory attached to its belly.

Koriann glanced uneasily atToemeka. “Do you think you can fly it?”

A smile spread across Toemeka’sface at the thought of flying such an amazing ship. “Of course, Ican. What do you think I spent the last seven years of my lifedoing?” She handed her infant son to the officer. “Take Baymondinto the palace and give him to his nursemaid. Tell her we’ll beback in a few hours.”

The mechanic held the babyawkwardly. “I don’t know much about babies.”

“Don’t hold him like a sackof potatoes. Hold him close to your chest and support his head.”

The officer shifted Baymond’sposition in his arms. “I should caution you that this ship isdesigned to be launched from a mother ship. It doesn’t hold enoughfuel for a long flight. You’ll have to land on one of the fleet’swarships and refuel. You won’t make it back otherwise. Does PrinceErling know you’re joining him? He may not approve of you usingthis ship.”

“I’m Queen,” Koriann said.“I don’t need anyone’s permission.”

“He’s the head of themilitary. I should contact him.”

“There isn’t time,” Koriannsaid. “Take Baymond to the nursery.”

Toemeka and Koriann headed to thelocker room to change into flight suits and helmets.

When Toemeka slid into the pilotseat, she felt a rush of adrenalin pump through her. The ship smelledbrand-new and she was itching to fly it. Once Koriann was in theco-pilot seat, Toemeka lowered the canopy, fastened her shoulderharness, and completed a preflight check. She started the thrusterengines and taxied the ship out of the hangar.

Once the ship