Uncharted ---------------------------------- Crais had escaped with Talyn. Most would say he stole Talyn or kidnaped him. But Crais felt it was going to be a kind of partnership. The neural implant Talyn had inserted into the base of his head was helping him to experience life in a different way. When they had come out of Talyn's first starburst, they had both been disoriented. Crais knew they needed to keep as much distance from all Peacekeeper ships and bases as possible. But he had decided to leave so quickly that he had not planned. He would need a few things from a commerce planet, food being the most important. A crew would not be needed yet, at least not until Talyn was grown. Crais set a course for the nearest planet cluster. After a careful scan of the area located no familiar Peacekeeper outposts, he decided to go down to the planet and secure the supplies he lacked. Talyn was small enough to land on the planet's surface. Talyn was not happy about Crais wanting to leave. "I have to acquire supplies; I will not be gone long," Crais explained. He felt strange, explaining himself to his ship. The technology that had created an armed leviathan had taken many cycles to perfect. Talyn was the first successful birth, as far as he knew. Crais assured the youth one last time that he was coming back. He promised to stay in contact with him. He was constantly in contact with Talyn, in a sense, although he could disregard the link if he concentrated. Crais had brought his credits with him upon his departure from the command cruiser. He would use some for his food purchases, and for a few necessities. If he was frugal, he could make his credits last. He had learned as a young man how to stretch his resources. The far end of the bazaar was filling with people. He was about to turn to leave when he noticed they were about to auction off several slaves. The first up for sale was a young female of a race he was not familiar with. The bidding for her was fast, and came down to two older, rough-looking Tavleks. Crais had been gone from the ship for only a short time, so he decided to amuse himself by watching the auction. The next slave on the block was a young male of the Nebari race. The bidding was again fast, and the slave was sold to a female with several young ones in tow. The crowd laughed at the sight of the female leading away her purchase with her children following along. The third slave up on the display block was a female somewhat older than the first. She seemed resigned to her fate, standing tall with her head held high and her eyes fixed on the horizon. When the bidding began, there were no takers. There had to be a reason she was being resold, after all. The auctioneer made promises that she was an able worker, knew mechanical ops, and was able to provide services in several other areas. One male placed a bid, but no others were offered. Crais was about to move on, the novelty of the auction having paled, when he locked eyes with the slave. He suddenly felt he needed to place a bid on her. Crais offered an amount that was absurdly low for a slave. But, his offer was taken and he was shortly the owner of a female slave. He moved forward to pay, kicking himself for having stopped and letting himself be pulled into the bidding. He was not against slavery; slaves served their purposes, often for masters who were fair to them. His father had inherited a slave who had been devoted to the family. "Come with me," he instructed the female. She looked him over as they walked. He had seemed like a good choice when she'd spotted him on the far side of the crowd. He was not old, and he was attractive in a dark, masculine, Sebacean way. She had known a few Sebaceans in her life, and they had been easier to work for or with than many of the other races. Her new master was walking quickly toward the food vendors. He purchase several items, then turned to her. "Is there a type of food that you prefer?" Crais had the sudden thought to ask his new female. She pointed out several things, and they were added to the collection. Crais handed the carrier to her, and then set off toward the ship. Jai was not surprised by his actions. She had been owned by masters much more abrupt than this one. She followed along behind him. They were just nearing the docking area when she was grabbed from behind. She managed to get out a small yelp for help. Crais turned to see two thugs stealing his newest possession. He had not bee able to purchase a stunner, so he was without major weaponry. However he was, as always, carrying his knife - a weapon with which he was quite proficient. He dropped the packages he had been carrying behind a pile of refuse, and raced to follow the thugs. He saw no large weapons, and decided it should be possible to regain his slave. "Hold!" he shouted . One of the thugs stopped and turned. He appeared to be unarmed. Crais advanced. "I want my slave back." "Then take her, if you can," the thief said. Crais feinted to the right, then changed his direction and grabbed his opponent by the throat and arm, digging in his fingers until the man screamed. Then he made a motion with his other hand, and the man fell to the ground, unconscious. The second kidnaper stopped, holding the female between Crais and himself. He suddenly looked very frightened. "I will allow you to leave unharmed if you return her to me at once," Crais told him. "I think you lie, Peacekeeper!" The remaining kidnaper held a bone knife to the female's throat. Crais wasn't sure how to free his female, and keep her unharmed. "I am no longer a Peacekeeper. Their methods of dealing with the enemy did not agree with me," Crais said, stalling. But Jai gave him an opening. She let all of her weight fall against her captor, throwing him off balance. The knife cut her slightly, but the move gave Crais the chance to throw his own knife. The sharp blade hit its mark, killing the thug. "That was quick thinking," Crais said as he retrieved his weapon. "I felt you just needed an opening." Jai dabbed at the wound on her throat. "Let me see." Crais pushed her hand aside and examined her wound. It was a slight cut, but was bleeding profusely. "I can take care of this once we are on board my ship." Crais put an arm around her. Jai was tall, but she was still small enough to fit under his arm. He hurried them toward the ship, pausing only to retrieve the things he had hidden. Jai felt weak when his arm no longer supported her. "Thank you for getting me back," she said. "What are you called?" "Jai, but also Mayre, or ‘girl'." Crais opened the hatch when they reached Talyn and hurried them inside. "Talyn, we need to leave at once." He put Jai in a safe spot, then moved to assist with their departure. Once they had reached space again, he turned his attention back to Jai. "Are you still bleeding?" "Only a little." Crais went to the supply cupboard and returned with a vial of powder. He put some of the powder on her wound, and it stopped bleeding. "You must take better care of yourself, you are property, after all," Crais warned her. "I didn't *ask* those men to grab me," Jai protested. "That is irrelevant," he growled. Crais returned to the control area and set a course for the next cluster of planets. He ignored Jai for the next ahrn. She knew better than to ask questions. As a slave, she was not entitled to. She stowed the food and supplies, then just sat and watched her new master. She had been sold by the wife of her most recent master. The old woman had disliked her husband using her for sex. But he had been her third owner since she had been forced into slavery. She had been a free person, back when her family had been alive. But the Peacekeeper alliance had decided her home world was no longer useful, and had left them defenseless. The Tavleks had taken over, putting many of the younger people into slavery. She had hoped to join a science research ship when she was fully trained, but that dream had come to an end. It had been a long day, and when Crais finally remembered he was not alone on board and turned to speak to her, he saw that Jai had fallen asleep. He had no idea what he was going to do with this female. Well..., there was *that*. But he wouldn't have spent his credits just for sex. He needed someone who could help him with the ship. Talyn had maintenance that must be performed; possibly repairs would need to be made. He knew some things about the basic up-keep of leviathan ships, but not enough. Crais went to clean up before his evening meal. He was attempting to refasten his long hair back into the binding he usually wore when Jai spoke, close to him. "Allow me to assist you." She separated his great mass of hair into sections, then plaited and bound them into a neat tail. Jai rested her hands briefly on his shoulders, smoothing the material and noticing the power of his frame. "What shall I call you, master?" "I am used to being called ‘Captain.' You may call me that." "May I know your name?" she asked. " Bialar Crais, formerly of the Peacekeepers. But now I am master of my own fate." "What duties will be mine while I am with you?" she wondered. "Was any of what the auctioneer was saying about you true?" Crais asked. "I do know about mechanical things, and I was trained in repair. I can prepare food, and have been used for sex by several of my past owners." Crais nodded, thinking. Jai waited. "You will make yourself useful by becoming familiar with the ship's workings. You will make our meals, and maintain our clothes. As for other things, we will decide later." "Yes, Captain." ***** Jai had been aboard Talyn for several weeks. Crais had proven to be a fair master, if a bit abrupt. He didn't talk to her often unless he was giving an order. He did occasionally acknowledge it if she had done something well. Jai had been able to adapt her knowledge to Talyn's systems, and she understood how to repair most of his mechanical parts. Jai found herself watching Crais when she was working in the main control area with him. He moved in a manner that pleased her. She was becoming attracted to him, a feeling she was unfamiliar with. She had never been given a choice in her partners. Crais was also noticing his shipmate. He had not yet asked her what her people were called. He felt they were closely related to Sebaceans, since he couldn't see any obvious differences in her anatomy from the Sebacean, save for a slight difference about the ears. She had curves where females usually had curves, and long auburn hair. Her eyes were brown, like his own, but softer, gentler. Crais knew he owned Jai. It was not an uncommon fact of life in most of the PK territories. But forcing her to perform sexual acts was one thing he would not do. He had been thinking he would offer her freedom if she worked two cycles for him. He felt it was a fair amount of time for the amount he had paid for her. Jai was the one who made the first move. She had decided that she wanted to experience this man. She felt she knew him well. He was confused about his new life-path but, deep down, he was an honorable man. He may have done things as a Peacekeeper that were less than noble, but he had not had a choice at the time. "Captain, have I displeased you in some way?" Jai asked one evening during the meal. "No, you are performing your tasks in a proficient manner." "Thank you." Jai had been worried that she had not been ordered to serve him sexually due to a fault in her work. She wanted to open the way for him to do so now. "Are there any other tasks you would have me do?" "No. You have more than enough to keep you busy." Crais had no idea what she was hinting at. He had put the matter of sex out of his mind. He had done without on more than one campaign. Talyn had been asking questions of him more and more, recently. He had been spending several ahrns each day explaining things to him about the star system. He felt rather parental toward Talyn. His own physical abilities had improved since the neural transmitter had been inserted. He felt his emotions more than he had ever before. He had to keep a tight rein on himself. He had allowed his hatred of Crichton to take control of him. He had disregarded orders, and misused his power in pursuit of Moya and her crew. Now he felt his other emotions, as well: His feelings for Talyn as a mentor, his attraction for Jai. He was keeping it under control, for now. ***** Jai was in her quarters, talking to herself. "He said he was not displeased with my work. Then, why has he not ordered me to attend him?" She paced her small private space. She had heard of males that were uninterested in females, but the vibe she felt from him was not like that. Crais was virile, in a way she had not noticed in any other males she had known. She had to hold herself in check whenever he requested her help with his hair-binding. She longed to caress his shoulders, to kiss the strong column of his neck. She longed to see his chest, to feel his body. She had never craved a male the way she craved Crais. She had enjoyed sharing sex with one of the male members of a household she was owned by, but that had been a long time ago. She longed for that feeling. She wanted to experience that feeling with Crais. Jai had been thinking about what she would do to make Crais order her to share sex with him, but she hadn't come up with a plan. She had been joined in her bed by male members of the house. She thought if she just waited for him in his bed one evening, he might get the idea. Crais was plotting the next planet they were going to visit. They were in need of food other than the diet of dry food cubes and protein wafers. He had spent a long session with Talyn, explaining about rules of space-port etiquette. He was tired. He had managed to put all other thoughts out of his mind. Now that he was lying down for a few ahrns of sleep, his mind was drifting. Visions of Jai kept coming into focus. ***** "I don't want a repeat of what happened on the last planet, so stay close to me and don't wander off," Crais ordered Jai. "Yes, Captain. I will not let myself be taken again." "Talyn, we won't be gone long." The marketplace was the usual crowded jumble of stalls and tents. Only a few of the traders had buildings. Crais made purchases and passed them to Jai to carry. Nothing unpleasant happened until they were nearly back to the ship. A pair of Delvians attempted to delay them. Crais called them on their challenge. "What right do you have to detain a Captain?" "We have seen a beacon that says you are wanted. A reward is offered," the taller of the two hissed. Crais positioned Jai behind him. He knew they had to take him alive for the reward to be paid. He could take one of them out with his knife, but the second one would very likely wound him in the process. "Make your move, then. I have important matters to attend to," Crais stated, while moving swiftly toward the Delvians. He managed to close the distance between them enough to make shooting him with the blaster risky - they might be burned by the backlash. He sliced the big one from end to end, swinging his hand up to take on the second one. He was clubbed over the head by that one, but he was only knocked down, his head ringing. His vision blurred. Then Jai was hanging from the remaining attacker, her teeth buried in his ear, and her hands attempting to cover his eyes. Crais saw that the Delvian's weapon was on the ground several feet away. He crawled toward it and was trying to aim it steadily at him. Hold, or I will kill you with your own weapon." "Call off this female!" "Jai, that is enough. Come here." Once she was beside him, he told her to get the weapon from the other one. "Was the beacon you saw on this planet?" Crais asked. "Why should I tell you? You will just kill me after you learn what you want to know." "I may kill you now, for not telling me." Crais raised the weapon and fired a shot into the leg of the Delvian. "Come, Jai, we have to leave now." He motioned for her to lead the way. He was still not seeing normally, but he could see well enough to follow her back to Talyn. ***** "Your vision is still not back to normal, is it?' Jai asked after they had safely returned to space. Crais had already set the course, so Talyn was capable of following the set flight-plan. "No, it's not," he answered. "I know a few healing arts, but I have no idea what to do for a head injury that is not bleeding." "I am sure my vision will return to normal soon," Crais told her. Jai prepared an elixir for him. "Drink this." "I do not need your..." "*Drink* it," she repeated. Crais took the offered glass and drained it. Jai went off to look in the library tapes for possible treatments for his head. Crais had to admit, her potion helped to ease the pain. But his vision was still blurred. Two days later, it started to clear somewhat, but he was still having pain and now his balance was off. He was even grouchier than usual. Jai had to keep her distance. She had performed all of her duties for the work period and was washing up when Crais came upon her. ‘I need your help," he stated, before he realized she was indisposed. H could see her naked, except that she was blurry like everything else. It was almost more enticing than if he had seen her in sharp detail, like watching a woman undress behind a curtain. He was aroused instantly. He wanted to act on that feeling. He wanted to carry her back to the bunk and take her. "I will be with you in a few minutes, Captain." Jai turned away from him. "Forgive me." He turned back toward the companionway. Jai had frozen at the first sound of his voice. Then she realized he had just stumbled upon her; he hadn't finally come for her. She helped him to set a course that would take several days to cover. He had to lean in close to her and show her how the navigation system worked. She was tempted by his nearness, leaning closer to him than was necessary. She had always loved his scent, but it was driving her beyond all control, now. Jai placed a kiss on the point of his jaw. Crais was taken by surprise by her caress, but he made the most of her nearness and moved so that she was between him and the console. He returned her opening kiss with a deep, passion-filled kiss of his own. Jai reciprocated the passion, but she was not skilled in the art of kissing. She just followed his lead. Crais molded her against him as he continued the kiss. It had been so long since he had been with a partner. The need was suddenly strong in him to achieve an end to this torment. "Do you want this?" he whispered to her. "Yes," Jai gasped. Then she gasped again as she found herself lifted up onto the console. Crais returned to kissing her, while his hands found the fastenings on her clothes and freed her from them. Jai was busy attempting to open his tunic. She wanted to see if his chest looked as magnificent as she imagined. Crais was pushing her leggings off onto the floor when she finally managed a glimpse of his body. "Oh, yes," she purred, and stroked her hands though the fur covering his chest. The feel of her hands on his body was pure pleasure for Crais. As much as he wanted to take his pleasure from her, the attention she was giving him was needed even more. He had always enjoyed the touching of his partner. Unlike others, he took time for foreplay. Jai's clever hands were stroking him, following the rise of his muscles from the outside edge of his upper chest to the center where the hair was thickest. She seemed mesmerized by the sight of him. His tunic was still hanging from his shoulders; she hadn't gone farther than opening it. He surged it off, and it fell to the floor, as well. Jai was entranced by the look of his body. He was more powerful than she had guessed. The breadth of his shoulders had hinted at strength, but not such definition. Jai lowered her mouth to his body and kissed a line from the spot just under his chin to the center of his chest. Crais allowed his head to fall backward, and enjoyed her attentions. For one as badly used as others as she was, Jai was a willing if not eager partner. Jai was about to unfasten his pants when his hands closed over hers. "I think we should continue this in my quarters." He swung her up into his arms and carried her the short distance to his room. Crais had decided this session was going to offer more for him if he allowed her the freedom to explore. He wanted to be comfortable during her investigation. "You have been with men before, Jai?" he asked as he put her on the bed. He lay next to her and lay propped himself on one elbow to look at her. "Yes," she smiled at him. "You seem curious about my body. Did you have no chance to learn about your other partners?" "No. They took their pleasure from me, but none was offered in return." "I'm sorry," Crais exhaled. He knew his next statement was going to please her, but it would put his control to the test. "You may continue. Learn what you are curious about." Jai smiled as he rolled onto his back and offered himself up for her to examine. Jai was so surprised that she didn't know where to start. She leaned over him and tasted his mouth again. Then she tested the feel of his beard. It tasted ever-so-slightly salty. Crais was relaxed and enjoying her attentions. Jai leaned back and stared at his chest. She trailed both hands lightly over him from shoulder to waist. She then concentrated her attention on his left arm, stroking over his biceps several times, then the hard rise of his forearm to the wide, strong hand. She lifted his hand and kissed the center of his palm. Crais had to close his eyes and fight for control. He couldn't watch her any longer. Next, Jai was off the bed and pulling off his boots. Then, before he could prevent her, she was removing his pants. He was fully aroused. She straddled his legs and stroked his belly, hard and flat; then his thighs, well-muscled and hairy like his arms and chest. "As much as I have enjoyed this, I think it is time for me to take back control," Crais said, and lifted her aside. He rolled on top of her and pushed her back into the bed. He did some caressing of his own, using his mouth on her from the hollow of her throat to the rise of each breast. He built a need in her so strong that when he finally slid himself between her legs, she cried out her pleasure. He pushed in deeper, and built even more pleasure for them both, until they climaxed together. Crais was lying beside her when Jai recovered. He was breathing quickly, so it hadn't been long since her climax. Jai was happy. Even if he got up now and dressed, she had opened the way for him to request her to attend him again. Crais was overwhelmed with the feelings raging through his system. He felt it must have something to do with his heightened senses... Move this message to: [Choose folder from list]InboxSent MailTrash