Anne clarke moonfire 0.., p.1
Anne Clarke - Moonfire 01, page 1
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Moonfire
by Anne Clarke
Hard Shell Word Factory
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This story copyright 2001 by Anne Clarke. All other rights are reserved. Thank you for honoring the copyright.
Published by Hard Shell Word Factory.
8946 Loberg Rd.
Amherst Junction, WI 54407
http://www.hardshell.com
Electronic book created by Seattle Book Company.
eBook ISBN: 0-7599-1219-X
Cover art (c) 2001 Dirk A. Wolf
All electronic rights reserved.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatever to anyone bearing the same name or names. These characters are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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To my husband for his unwavering support and unfaltering belief.
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Chapter 1
HOW THE HELL had she gotten herself into such a ridiculous predicament anyway?
From her gently rotating position in mid-air, Joanna Chase unhappily surveyed the brightly checkered floor just out of reach below her, then surreptitiously glanced around the room again. It was empty, unusual for this place where one normally had to book a time slot at least a day ahead. But then she was here at an odd time, having been driven to work off a morning’s worth of frustration and stress from the latest debacle at the Taragon negotiating table.
She was relieved that no one was present to witness her highly embarrassing condition but, on the other hand, how by the star pits of Balien was she supposed to get down? She couldn’t quite reach the release clip attached to the back of her harness, nor did she want to use the emergency transmitter clipped to a belt at her waist. Not yet, anyway. There had to be another way out of this.
She swung her legs again, trying to build momentum to reach the closest of the multi-layered, pitted walls of the climbing gym, and groaned in frustration when her efforts brought her nowhere near her goal. She glanced up. Just how had she ended up in mid-air in the middle of the room? The obvious answer, of course, was that a clasp on her harness equipment had been defective and had given way when she had slipped at the top of her climb. But she had a sneaking suspicion that in her earlier impatient and angry frame of mind, she hadn’t attached it properly.
“Need some help?”
She squeaked in startled dismay at the deep voice coming from behind her and frantically spun around. Arms and legs flew ungracefully in four different directions.
The sight that met her eyes produced another yelp, this time of fright. The man was closer than she had expected, his face at a level only slightly below hers. And all she could see of his features were a pair of brilliant pale blue eyes and a small portion of his mouth. He was covered entirely in a form-molding, black water exercise suit that revealed every superb, hard contour of a tall, lean body. Even though she had the slight advantage of looking down on him, he exuded an aura that was wholly intimidating, mysterious, formidable.
Joanna licked her lips against a sudden dryness as her gaze skimmed over a heavily muscled chest, flat belly, and strong, powerful thighs.
“Well?” There was lazy amusement in the tone. “Do you need any help coming down from there, or would you prefer to look some more?” He finished snapping on a pair of black gloves and fisted his hands expectantly on his hips.
“Yes! No! I mean, of course, I don’t need any help. I do this all the time,” she lied, cringing as her voice squeaked with nervousness. “I can get myself down.” She felt a wave of heat cross her face as he studied her intently. The expression in the blue eyes was unreadable, but she got the distinctly uncomfortable impression he didn’t believe her.
Then he shrugged slightly, regretfully. “Whatever you say.” His eyes flickered to the transmitter on her belt. “Just for your information, the mecattendant was occupied with a group in the other hall when I came in, and I’ll be about a half hour in the water tunnel.” His gaze swept the deserted room before coming back to rest on her face. “Not that you need any help, of course.”
Joanna’s mouth fell open as she watched him walk away toward the arched opening on the opposite side of the hall. How dare he? He knew she needed help, despite her denial, and he was leaving anyway. What an inconsiderate, arrogant—
Suddenly realizing her most immediate source of assistance was about to exit the hall, she cried, “Wait! Please— maybe I do need a little help to get down.”
The dark form paused and turned slowly. “Maybe?”
“Oh, all right, I’m stuck,” she snapped. “I’ve tried. I can’t get down by myself.”
He sauntered back toward her, every movement of muscle clearly defined. “Was that so hard to admit?”
The amusement in the deep, rich tones and the obvious provocation triggered her volatile temper. God, the man was downright obnoxious. “Oh, go away. I’ve decided I don’t need your help after all,” she declared rudely, and spun away. Instantly, she wished she hadn’t since he now had a clear view of her vulnerable posterior, and the strangled guttural sound she heard was clearly one of approval.
Abruptly, a strong hand flattened against her rib cage raising her slightly, while an arm reached over and his other hand wrestled with the harness clasp. “Well, whether you want it or not, I’m bringing you down. I don’t have time for games,” came the infuriatingly calm response.
As the clasp released, her body came down across his shoulder. Hands caught her about her waist and slid her down against his length until her feet touched the ground.
“Thank you,” she mumbled grudgingly. “I…” She looked up and the words died in her throat.
Pale blue had deepened to dark sapphire, and the message in his eyes was unmistakable. Knowing she should break the contact, she seemed to have completely her lost her will to do so, and could only watch in utter fascination as his face drew closer. His hands were burning holes in her clothes. The shakiness in her legs had nothing to do with being returned to solid ground.
Then his lips touched hers, gentle as the breath of a breeze, and she was lost. She sagged against him, her legs refusing to support her. Fire and ice raced through her body. The pressure of his mouth increased slightly, and she felt the startlingly warm brush of his tongue across her lips. Someone moaned, and a corner of her mind was shocked to recognize that the sound had come from her own throat.
The next instant, he had drawn back. She blinked dazedly, unwilling to relinquish the promise he had offered, strangely bereft without his body heat.
“That was quite a ‘thank you’.” The words were murmured huskily. A thumb brushed across her lower lip.
The spell was broken. Reality returned with shocking abruptness along with the realization that his other thumb was stroking the underside of one breast.
“Get your hands off me!” She flung up her arms breaking the hold he had on her, but held her ground. “How dare you?”
His eyes narrowed. “How dare I what?” he asked softly, dangerously.
“How dare you do that—take advantage of me like that?” Damn, but she wished she could see his face. The mask effectively concealed his every expression, and his strange eyes had lightened again, become blankly opaque.
“I believe it’s called ‘kissing’, and you enjoyed it as much as I did.”
“You still had no right!” she spluttered.
He towered over her, but she refused to let him see how much his sheer height intimidated her. Then he leaned closer, forcing her this time to take a step backwards. “You, lady, have absolutely no concept of what my ‘rights’ are. But I’ll be glad to continue this debate later. Meet me at the Second Lentali tonight after the evening meal.” His voice deepened, washing over her like a caress. “Although I do think we have far more interesting things to discuss.”
“Hah!” Joanna’s knees were threatening to betray her again. She sniffed and wrinkled her nose. “I think you probably have a very inflated opinion of yourself, and I wouldn’t—”
A hard arm snaked out, wrapped around her waist and jerked her against him. This time his mouth came down on hers with crushing force but was just as quickly gone, leaving her gasping for breath.
And when her head had stopped spinning and she finally gathered her wits again, she was quite alone in the hall.
WHO WAS SHE?
He had been instantly attracted to her, this creature with the flashing green eyes and ivory skin that flushed such an interesting shade of pink. Her red-gold hair had been pulled back carelessly into some sort of a binding at the back of her head, but several strands had escaped and he could tell it must be quite long. The face that it framed was nothing short of stunning. He had been no less enchanted by the front view of the intriguing creature as he had been by the sight of her gently rounded posterior when he had first walked into the exercise hall. The sudden excitement that had raced through his blood had nothing at all to do with the anticipation of a strenuous workout.
And the two kisses he had permitted himself, as quick as they had been, had had him on the verge of losing control. He had ached for so much more, wanting to sweep her back into his arms, kiss her senseless, hear that sexy little moan again before laying her down on the floor to thoroughly explore all the delights her slender body promised.
It had been a long time since he had reacted so strongly and inst
And he couldn’t afford this distraction. Not now!
As his body battled the churning thrust of the water, the image of bright hair and angry emerald eyes remained engraved on his mind. His hands still felt the slender shape of her. His torso still tingled at every point of contact. He wondered if she would show up that evening, and thought there was an even chance she might, if only to continue the battle she so obviously relished.
He guessed her heritage to be that of Earth. There was a small community here on the sixth substation in the Neutral Realm, a fragmented asteroid colony in the Crestar System. It should be easy enough to find out more about her but, with an unexpected sense of loss, he knew he wasn’t going to pursue it. He couldn’t even afford the time to meet with her. He had information to seek out, preparations to make. The instructions he had received were unequivocal and, as much as he disagreed with them and believed the substance of them to be founded in rumor and misinformation, he couldn’t ignore them. The slightest possibility of truth could bring a fragile alliance to its knees, and crush the life from the peace initiative before it had a chance to breathe.
His body was beginning to tire, and thoughts of the delightful encounter faded as his mind turned to the business at hand. This mission could be dangerous, or could be nothing at all. But it could also have a tremendous impact on an entire star system, and be a turning point in a conflict that had raged for generations and taken a terrible toll.
He would need all his wits about him.
There was no latitude to consider his personal desires.
Chapter 2
FIVE MONTHS later, Alex Mariltar, Commander of the Seventh Fleet, impatiently paced the small captain’s meeting room of the warrior vessel, Astran. His body ached with tiredness. His eyes felt gritty from lack of sleep.
Where was Jason? His second-in-command had requested this meeting, said there was urgent news to convey. Just what was so urgent, after his five month absence, that it couldn’t wait until he had grabbed a few hours of sleep? He ran a hand through his dark hair, and swung around again, coming to a stop in front of the large curved window.
Far in the distance, he could see the yellow moon that orbited his home planet, Mariltar, and its neighbor, Soron. The planets themselves were already out of sight, but something about the shape of the moon caught his attention, and he studied it more closely, finally identifying the shadow that curved around its lower edge.
A giant fist squeezed at his gut.
An eclipse!
The fifth in the moon’s recorded history and, some would say, an omen of major significance.
What could it portend this time? Many believed this rare and irregular phenomenon foretold of momentous change in the Crestar System. Previous occurrences had been linked to the implosion of a small planet, the arrival of strangers in the System and the creation of a nation, as well as a war so prolonged that most had difficulty remembering its origin.
Or was it merely a confirmation of events already set in motion? Because, unknown to most of its inhabitants, a birth was taking place in the Crestar System. Even as their people continued to battle, the leaders of nine great nations had come together to form a Coalition. The Coalition’s simple vision was one of peace, a quest for harmony, an end to the Conflicts that had wreaked a terrible destruction on their worlds and families.
As the moon vanished completely from sight, swallowed into the blackness of space, Alex sighed and turned away. Pushing his hands into the pockets of his breeches, he avoided the comfortable padded bench across from the information console, and walked instead to stand in front of a three dimensional holographic image suspended in the corner of the room.
The planet, Treaine. Beautiful, ancient and steeped in mystery.
Here would be the genesis of the Vision. Treaine, on the outer boundary of the Crestar System and virtually abandoned for years, would nurture a small colony peopled by men and women from each of the nations and colonies of the Crestar System. Carefully screened and chosen for their dedication to the peace initiative, the vastly diverse populace would be expected to coexist and intermarry. They would craft common laws to be implemented throughout the System, and build learning institutions to incorporate the values of all the nations. Trade agreements would be revived and re-negotiated, and technologies integrated.
The challenge, he knew, was great but not insurmountable. The Vision had a basis in the distant past. Before the Conflicts, forged from greed for the rich and varied natural resources on each other’s planets, had torn the Crestar System apart, the great clans had traded peacefully and occasionally entered into marriage partnerships. Those alliances would be formed again on Treaine. And there were relative newcomers to the System. Traders, scholars, engineers and others from distant worlds, who had been drawn to the Crestar System despite the Conflicts, would also have a place in the new colony.
As the holograph revolved slowly in front of him, Alex’s tired mind refused to erase the image of that ominous shadow. Not superstitious by nature, he nevertheless couldn’t help but wonder what its appearance meant at this precise point in time.
Success or failure for Treaine?
Destruction or survival for the Crestar System?
“ALEX, YOU’RE going to have to make a decision. You can’t postpone it any longer. You’re the last of the ambassadors to enter into a marriage partnership.”
Alex allowed the irritated drum of his fingers on the metal table to be, for the moment, Jason Trion’s only answer. The blond captain of the Astran, his striking looks given a slightly rakish air by a small faint scar which broke the smooth curve of his mouth, was studying him warily. Eyes narrowed to mere slits, Alex deliberately forced his tall form, stretched out on the bench, to appear relaxed even though he felt anything but. He waited. Jason undoubtedly had more to say.
“Sagar’s sacred crystals, Alex,” Jason said with a touch of impatience, “I sympathize with you. I really do. But you knew marriage was a condition of your appointment as Ambassador to Treaine. I’m frankly surprised the Coalition hasn’t demanded an answer before now.”
Alex cracked one eye slightly wider for a better look at his subordinate and close friend. A corner of his mouth curled in bleak amusement. “When you send a man on a diplomatic mission to every forsaken star pit in the System, Jason, it’s a little difficult to keep track of him, let alone pin him down.” A huge yawn took him by surprise. He bent forward and cupped his head in his hands, saying with annoyance, “Blood of Cor, I thought I had more time. I can barely think.”
Groaning, he rose tiredly to his feet, jabbed his hands into the pockets of his breeches and walked to the window. This was the issue that was so urgent. It was something he had avoided, hadn’t wanted to think about. Now he was out of time. He turned. “I can’t accept the choices of the Coalition, Jason. There must be other alternatives!”
Jason Trion grimaced and shook his well-groomed head. He swung around in his seat to glance briefly at the information console behind him. “There are, but they don’t look promising. The Coalition is deeply disappointed by your refusal to make a selection from the women they’ve identified. Obviously, political objectives would be satisfied and strengthened by an alliance with any one of them. But, because of your reluctance, they did give permission just this morning for the Match Key to be used more extensively.”
“And?”
His question was greeted with a shrug. “We’ve searched the Match Key data banks of all the eligible nations and colonies. Only two colonies have yet to report back, including the Earth colony whose files are not complete. There were no close matches with the others.”
Alex shook his head in frustration. “How long for the search to be completed?”
“Another several hours, at least.”
“Then I’ll wait until all possible search avenues are exhausted. Blood of Cor, this is my life we’re—”
“Captain Trion?” The query came loudly over the communicator cube.
“Yes,” Jason snapped, “What is it? We were not to be disturbed.”
“My apologies, sir. We’re being hailed by the Claxiarten, a Coalition vessel. She was forced to stop for repairs at the last substation, and was left behind by the pod in which she was traveling. There’s an ambassador and several negotiators aboard, sir. She’s requesting permission to join our pod.”
