Adventures...in Space! (closed)

[MidnightWalk]

Tom Masters leaned back from the controls of the sleek Interceptor-class rocketship. He regarded space, as it flowed by, in all its inky blackness, punctuated by the brilliant light of distant stars and their planets. The ether never looked more beautiful, he mused. He ran a hand through his close-cropped blonde hair. Space was certainly beautiful, and it went by quickly as the silver rocket blazed its way through its pitch-black depths. He stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing his ankles and inspecting his pearly boots for signs of scuffing or wear. They would certainly pass inspection.

He reached over, brushing imaginary dirt off the golden comet and rocket insignia on his right breast, they symbol of the Space Patrol. The organization had been keeping the space lanes clear of pirates and miscreants for decades, operating as the policing and military arm of the Galactic Alliance of Sentients.

Tom was proud of his ship and crew. He’d been captain of Rocketship Nova-1 for a year now, and they already had 23 successful operations under their belt. And in all that time, he’d only lost two crewmen, an enviable record. Of course, part of that was thanks to the efforts of the ship’s robo-doctor. But a good chunk was excellent training and leadership. Tom looked around the forward portions of the Rocketship…the interior was all white and silver, lacquered hull panels and chromed structural supports. The buttons and knobs of the controls all polished and gleaming, the dials clean enough to eat off of, or read clearly. Perfect ship and an excellent crew.

Still and all, even the sharpest knife could dull from lack of use. This patrol had been going over a week already and nothing untoward had even been hinted at. The lack of action was starting to rub him the wrong way. Rubbing a yawn from his face, Tom turned in his seat, addressing his second in command. “How’re the men holding up, Alan?”

Alan Turner looked up from the glowing sensor displays, the light reflecting off his silver and blue Space Patrol uniform. He flashed his captain a thumbs-up and grin. “They’re doing great, captain, although they wouldn’t mind a bit of action. All of this patrolling with nothing to do is starting to get them down. They’d be really happy with a good scrap.” He shrugged. “Pirates, warlords, anything would do. Even a tussle with some of those Nebulan Amazons,” Alan added with a wink.

At that precise moment, the subspace radio began to buzz. “Control calling Rocketship Nova-1, Control calling Rocketship Nova-1, please come in, Nova-1.”

Tom turned back to the control panel, taking up the microphone and clicking. “This is Rocketship Nova-1, go ahead Control.”

“Captain Masters we have an urgent mission for you. Pirates have attacked Persid Fifteen and taken a member of the royal family. We believe they have returned to their base in sector 29R. We need you and your crew to investigate and recover the princess and any other captives. It is the utmost importance that you succeed in this mission. The Prestige of Persid Fifteen has demanded their safe return as a condition of continued cooperation with Space Patrol. Do you copy?”

Tom smiled. “I copy Patrol Command. We are on our way. Over and out.” Lowering the microphone he glanced back over his shoulder at Alan. “You wanted action, we’ve got action.” Lifting the microphone again, he leaned into the control panel, turning the dial to activate the inter-ship speakers.
“Attention all crew. We have just been gifted with a mission to rescue royalty from pirates. I know you all are experts at missions like this, so it’s right up your alley. We’re altering course immediately, so everyone man your stations. Distribute weapons from the armory and warm up the energy cannons. This will be one group of pirates who will rue the day that they showed their ugly mugs in our quadrant of space.”

As he clicked off the microphone, Tom could hear the sound of cheering through the sleek silver vessel. The crew loved a good scrap, and pirates meant that no prisoners had to be taken. All they needed to worry about was getting the prisoners back alive. He wasted no time in altering the Rocketship’s course, turning her pointed prow toward sector 29R, and their rendezvous with fate.

 

[EroticLily]

Sha’ardar blinked her emerald-hued eyes as she awoke on the hard floor of a metal cage. She was not on Persid Fifteen anymore and that was both a saddening and frightening certainty now. Colorful dots lazily danced before the alien princess’ eyes as she returned to consciousness, following an unexpected zap from one of the bars of her cell; she’d made the mistake of trying to pull at them the moment she’d been left alone in what she perceived to be the pirate captain’s quarters. The harsh jolt she’d received from that trial ensured that she wouldn’t be trying to escape again. Sha’ardar stood still in the center of the cage, anxiously twining her fiery red hair into a long braid. The traditional garb of her people, a heavy crest of jewels that covered her developed bosom and a high-slitted skirt that flowed around her lean legs, offered little relief from the stifling temperature in the room.

A thin sheen of perspiration covered Sha’ardar’s iridescent flesh as she glanced around the captain’s quarters, trying to familiarize herself with her surroundings in case she was granted an opportunity to flee. The walls were dark and muddy, pungent with some filth that she couldn’t identify. There were no windows or means of ventilation that she could see. Luxuries she'd been accustomed to as a royal and even the most basic of comforts were absent from the disgusting chamber, save for a pile of soiled garments that could potentially serve as a place to lie down. Over-ripened fruits littered the ground, only contributing to the foul stench in the air. But that stink was nothing compared to the terrible smell of her captors. Sha’ardar quivered just thinking about her capture.

She and her palace companion, Zaaara, were lying together in her royal chamber, fondling one another after a soak in sweet fragrances. Zaaara had helped Sha’ardar dress in a new crest of blue and green jewels once their tender love-making had ceased. They were smiling and softly singing songs of their childhood as Zaaara brushed the Princess’ navel-length tresses, until they heard the invader signal sound from the guard tower. Concerned for the well-being of her parents, Sha’ardar ignored the urgings of Zaaara and raced toward the throne room to seek out her family. It was there that she encountered her captors-- ugly, scaly brutes with large beady eyes and razor-sharp teeth that protruded from slimy snouts. Their foul odor was enough to make the strongest of her kind fall ill; it was so overwhelming that she couldn’t even scream when they carried her away to the docks. She crumpled like a frail flower in the enemy’s vile grasp, blacking out before they boarded a ship and blasted off from her planet.

Others had been taken from her planet, but she was alone in this particular chamber; she worried that Zaaara had not escaped, but she could do nothing about it either way. The sharp scrape of a heavy door jarred Sha’ardar from her thoughts and pulled her attention to the incoming group of pirates. None of them appeared to be the captain, just his grimy underlings taking a peek at the new captive. Sha’ardar’s red mane curved protectively around her curvaceous body as they loomed near the cage. They spoke to each other, but she couldn’t understand. The smug expressions on their ugly faces said enough—they wanted to see if she really was as good at pleasure-giving as her people have claimed. With no other defenses at her ready, the Princess expelled an ear-shattering scream to stun her unattractive captors.

 

[MidnightWalk]

As Rocketship NOva-1 burned its way toward sector 29R, Captain Masters made a tour of the vessel, speaking with the crew and evaluating their readiness. They proved enthusiastic and ready to go. As he stopped by the weapons locker, the armorer, Price, cheerfully enquired, "Royalty sir? Prince or princess? Queen, maybe? I've never seen a real alien queen before."

Tom chuckled, accepting the proffered L9 Ray Pistol, strapping it to his hip. "Well, Command says that it's a princess, Price, so your days of never having seen a queen are likely to continue. Although, once we return the princess, maybe her family will be good enough to throw us a party. If so, I'll make sure you get an introduction," he grinned.

A broad smile split the young man's face, exposing gleaming white teeth. "Yes sir! Thank you sir!"

Clapping then young man on the shoulder, Tom made his way back to the rocketship's bridge, speaking with crew along the way. Spirits were high, as befit Space Patrol crewmen. Reaching the bridge, he examined the activity of the crew. The bridge crew moved efficiently and with focus, manning the instruments and controls, guiding the rocketship ever closer to the target sector.

The captain moved to the sensor officer. "Anything yet, MacNeill?"

"Yes sir. I can already see that there's an asteroid belt in that sector with several that are large enough for a base. There are also some etheric eddies in the area that probably are the wake of rocketships. And if that's the case, it was one or more with poorly maintained engines."

Masters smiled, nodding. "Like pirates generally have?" He leaned over to study the dials and gauges for himself.

"Exactly sir," MacNeill acknowledged.

"About an hour, if I'm reading this correctly?"

"Yes sir."

"Good." Masters turned to address the bridge crew. "Pass the word that we'll be assaulting a pirate base within the hour. As ever, I expect nothing less than the best from my crew. You will all make me proud."

He paced the gleaming steel deck, willing time or the rocketship to move faster. It was always like this before action. The urge to do his duty, to protect the space lanes, to be in action and save the helpless...those were his motivators. And the waiting gnawed at him.

 

[EroticLily]

The hideous aliens who’d kidnapped Sha’ardar grimaced at the shrill scream that left her tempting lips. Their snouts twisted with displeasure and their beady eyes screwed tight. They grunted and gnashed their sharp teeth. The Princess shrieked for as long as she could to keep the ugly fiends at bay, but alas, it was impossible to carry on forever. Gradually, her voice gave way to a dry rasp rather unbecoming of a dignified princess. The moment she had no breath to expel, the horrid stench of her enemy began to pervade her nostrils. She covered her mouth and nose swiftly, but the putrid stink made her eyes water.

There was chatter among the beasts for several moments – disjointed clicks and loud hisses from slithery tongues. She could not tell if they were exchanging pleasantries or arguing with one another. Ultimately, Sha’ardar presumed the latter. Which one would get first dibs on the Princess? One of the pirates, the stoutest and most unappealing, pointed to her suddenly, turning from the other two as if the matter was settled. The other two shoved each other and grumbled amongst themselves as the 3rd waddled toward her cell. He disarmed the force field with the punch of a few buttons on a metallic cuff on his scaly arm.

Sha’ardar stilled at the far end of the cage, careful not to touch the bars though they were no longer electrified. Her lengthy, amber locks squeezed close to her iridescent skin, acting as makeshift armor as the predator wrapped his filthy clutches around the barred door. He taunted the Princess at first, roughly shaking the bars to rattle the cage; his jagged incisors gleamed at her from the other side, then his snake-like tongue protruded to lick his gross snout. Sha’ardar yelped when he finally tugged the door open and hissed at her. One heavy foot clomped into the small cage; he was too large to fit the other. He reached a scaly arm toward her, dirty claws nearly snagging the vibrant mane curving around her hip.

There was a loud boom and the ground rumbled beneath the Princess’ bare feet. All eyes turned to the doorway of the captain’s chamber.

It was him. The disgraceful captain. The most gruesome of them all.
And under his scabrous arm, Sha’ardar beheld a wilted Zaaara.

 

[MidnightWalk]

"Captain!"

Tom turned to the helmsman. "Yes?"

"Sir, we've located the asteroid that the etheric eddies lead to. We'll be there in about 10 minutes."

Clapping him on the shoulder, Tom chuckled. "Good man! Keep us on course." He took up a microphone to address the entire ship. "All crew! Prepare for an assault on a pirate base. We have a princess to rescue!" Cheering echoed through the silver rocketship. "Now, Jones, you get is in their hangar and then come join the fun," he told the helmsman.

"Aye sir!"

Masters looked around the command deck. "All right, everyone who's not flying this ship, join me down at the main hatch." He led a short procession to the main hatchway, where the majority of the ship's 30 man crew waited, bristling with weapons and enthusiasm.

"All right men, this is the kind of mission you're best at. We're going to go in there and steal back a princess that the pirates have stolen. No pressure, but the fate of our relations with Persid Fifteen rely on us doing our jobs correctly." He grinned as he said it, white teeth shining in the compartment's lights. The men around him raised another cheer, raising weapons and shifting impatiently.

Shortly, there came the feeling of the ship contacting the stone of the pirate hangar bay, settling with a thump. Tom Masters hit the hatch release, allowing the silvered door to swing open, giving his men access to the fetid smelling asteroid. "Let's get to it!" he shouted, leaping to the stone, charging his ray pistol with a hum. Thrusting his arm forward, he triggered the weapon, a blue bolt of energy leaping out to catch one of the startled reptoids in the chest, charring a hole deep in its body. All around him his men boiled out of the rocketship, shooting and overrunning the vile pirates, before breaking into smaller groups and penetrating deeper into the base.

 

[EroticLily]

Sha’ardar gasped at the sight of her unconscious companion in the hideous brute’s clutches. The Princess’ big, green eyes shifted frantically along Zaaara’s limp body for any indication that she was respiring but it was impossible to tell from inside the cage. Her heart pounded inside of her glistening chest as she feared the worst. Zaaara was not only her lover and her dearest friend, she was also regarded by the royal family as kin; any mistreatment that befell the Princess’ most cherished would surely result in lethal consequences. That is, if anyone managed to come to her rescue.

The gluttonous subordinate recoiled from the cage door when the captain snarled in his direction. Sha’ardar kept her wide eyes fixed to the heinous pirate, poised to bite if he tried to get his claws on her next. Her teeth were her only viable defense.

The heavily-armored captain bellowed something to his ugly minions. Orders, Sha’ardar presumed. They abruptly obeyed, though they grumbled as they turned to leave the captain’s rancid quarters. The fattest one pulled the door shut behind him, sealing the captain and the two Persidians inside the sweltering chamber. Once alone, the captain stepped forward and addressed the Princess. She remained still, unable to comprehend.
Her eyes stung and watered as he approached the unarmed cage. Sha’ardar trembled, uneasy about her fate. The captain moved toward the pile of filthy linens and tossed Zaaara’s seemingly-lifeless body onto the makeshift bed. It was disgraceful, the way the wretched pirate treated her loyal companion as if she was a worthless ragdoll!

Unable to bear it any longer, Sha’ardar rushed out of the unlocked cage and to her cataleptic lover, swiftly cradling Zaaara in her shimmering arms. “Awaken. I’m here.” She whispered, relieved to discover that Zaaara had a weak, but steady pulse. She held the sleeping female to her bosom, affectionately stroking her flaxen hair, hoping she would rouse.

Meanwhile, the vile captain towered over the pair of them. Thick saliva hung from the corners of his mouth as he stretched his scaly hand toward the Princess. He snickered audibly as she remained preoccupied, hooking his claw around her bejeweled chest-piece, fondling the soft, perspiring flesh beneath.

 

[MidnightWalk]

Masters moved to the reptoid he'd shot, toeing its weapon from its clawed fingers. "Kazarins!" he shouted to his men. "Evil, smelly, stupid brutes! This should be an easy clean-up. Just stay out of arm's reach of them." Looking around, he began directing his men. Some he tasked with holding the landing bay. Others, he directed down small side passages, ordering them to eliminate resistance and search for any prisoners.

Keeping half a dozen men to himself, he gestured down the wide main corridor leading from the bay. "That's our task, men, clear that corridor and find the princess. Piece of cake!" Leading off down the rocky passage, he muttered to himself, "I just hope they haven't eaten her."

The silver and blue Patrolmen started off quickly down the corridor, checking on cross passages and closed doors. A few Kazarins attempted to block their passage, but were met with flashing ray guns. Most of the doors opened on barracks reeking of reptoids or storage rooms full of loot. Reaching a T-junction, Masters directed four of his men to the right, while he led the remaining two to the left.

Hurrying along, his concern grew. They should have found the slave pens or some signs of the prisoners, but nothing thus far. A Kazarin came out of a side passage, wielding a wicked looking hooked knife, only to be met by three blue energy bolts. Masters glanced at his crewmen, grinning, offering a confident thumbs up before moving on.

Turning a corner, he caught sight of two heavily decorated Kazarins standing outside an ornately carved door. He didn't get much more than a glance before the aliens fired ugly looking lazer rifles down the corridor at them, burning gashes in the rock of the walls. Masters ducked back with his men. "This looks promising," he said. "We just have to get past those big uglies. Get ready."

 

[EroticLily]

Sha’ardar felt the oppressive breath of the Kazarin leader beating down against the back of her neck as she leaned over Zaaara, doing her best to rouse her faithful companion from her unconscious state. She shook her loyal friend by the shoulders, pled to her in their native tongue to awaken, and even briefly delivered mouth-to-mouth. Her concerted efforts were to no avail, however. Zaaara would not rouse, at least not in these deplorable conditions.

The overpowering stench of the enemy, in combination with the sweltering heat of the chamber, prevented Sha’ardar from conjuring up a feasible plan of escape. The unfortunate Princess was feeling desperate.

The ugly pirate captain had his claw snared inside the seam of her ornamented chest-piece, nestling uncomfortably against the glistening swell of her breast all this time, taking advantage of the Princess’ preoccupied state. One false move and he would rip the elaborate garb apart, sending layers of intricate beading and colorful gemstones clattering noisily against the hard floor, leaving her royal bosom exposed.

Sha’ardar fretted over her miserable circumstances, her head beginning to feel heavy as nausea gripped her slender frame. With the disgusting pirate king looming over her now, the Princess couldn’t manage to keep the terrible smell of him from filling her nose and mouth. She had no real strength left to resist the enemy’s advances should he choose to explore up her gauzy skirts next. She pressed her lips to her beloved friend’s cheek and shared comforting words. At least they would be together, if help never arrived.

Just when their situation seemed bleakest, the Kazarin leader’s attention abruptly shifted to the heavy chamber doors. There was a commotion outside. Fighting, perhaps. Had someone come to save them?

 

[MidnightWalk]

Masters looked at the two Patrolmen with him. "I have a plan," he grinned. "I'll need that." He held out his hand for the L9 Pistol the nearest man held. Somewhat reluctantly, the young man handed his only weapon over to his captain. "Very good," Masters nodded. He hefted both pistols, one in either hand.

Taking a deep breath, he dove into the corridor, shoulder rolling into the middle of the passageway. Coming up on one knee, ignoring the lazer blasts impacting all around, he raised both pistols, triggering them simultaneously. The blue rays of energy struck both aliens dead center, leaving smoking blackened holes in their chests.

Tom stood as his men came around the corner, tossing the one Patrolman his weapon back. "See...pirates are easy. Now, let's see what's in there." He indicated the ornate door the guards had previously guarded.

Moving quickly down the dead-ended hallway, Tom and his men took positions to either side of the door. It seemed a rather low-tech device, hinged on one side with a locked handle on the other. Shrugging, Tom placed his L9 almost point blank to the lock and fired, the ray bursting the lock from its position and causing the door to swing open.

The men charged in to a scene of unimaginable gaudiness and squalor. Looted items from dozens of worlds sat among rotting food and soiled cloths. In one corner of the room stood an empty electrocage. Just to the side of that were four additional Kazarins, one bigger and uglier and more fancifully dressed that the others. They appeared to be menacing two young women. In fact, one of them appeared to be in the act of molesting the prettier and more upright of the two women, presumably the princess.

Tom, his men flanking him, thrust his L9 Pistol in front of him. "Release the princess or suffer the consequences! The Space Patrol is here!"

 

[EroticLily]

When the door to the pirate captain’s quarters burst open, Sha’ardar startled. Her big, green eyes grew wide as 3 uniformed men stormed in from the hall. She hardly had to crane her neck in order to spot the slain Kazarin goons they’d left in their wake; gray smoke rising from the charred cavities in the middle of their ugly bodies easily gave them away. These men were here to save her people! Perhaps prematurely, the Princess’ hope of being rescued was renewed.

There was about to be a skirmish; the foul-smelling Kazarins did not seem likely to surrender. Sha’ardar was scared to be caught in the cross-fire, but she was too woozy to push to her feet and run for the now unguarded door. Who knew what she would encounter out there anyway? More men with laser guns? More filthy pirates? She couldn’t be sure that she’d find a way out before she ended up in someone’s clutches again. Moreover, she couldn’t very well leave her dear Zaaara behind; that was simply out of the question.

When the man who seemed to be in charge of the rescue force pointed his weapon at the snarling pirate captain, Sha’ardar squirmed to release herself from her captor’s scaly grasp. The language spoken by the man with the pistol was alien to her, but she had seen such uniforms before. She knew that these were the good guys. In the Kazarin captain’s haste to face his handsome enemy, he yanked his rough appendage from the Princess’ jewel-encrusted top, carelessly slitting the draped collar that secured the precious gems around her neck. The Princess swiftly concealed her exposed bosom in her companion's shoulder for the time being, unable to free her hands to preserve her modesty.

There was a tense silence between opposing sides as the Kazarins slowly shifted their scabrous limbs and angrily gnashed their slimy teeth. The fearsome captain let out a defiant hiss. He reached for the hilt of his weapon as his despicable minions charged forward.

 

[MidnightWalk]

Tom focused on the iridescent young woman being menaced by the largest of the Kazarin. He frowned when he saw the pirate's large scaly hand underneath some sort jeweled pectoral on the blue...green...blue-green woman. He shouted, "Unhand her!" just as the Kazarin pulled his claws away, resulting in a cascade of glittering gems across both women and the floor.

Tom had no more time to spend on the women as the Kazarin grabbed weapons and charged forward. The two on the flanks stood no chance as his Space Patrolmen were faster on the trigger, burning down the two Kazarin with blue lightnings of energy.

Captain Masters hesitated just for an instant, eyes flicking from the approaching Kazarin thug and the larger pirate leader behind him. He knew which one he wanted to shoot, but that one wasn't the bigger threat. Tom twitched his L9 slightly to the left, triggering the weapon and sending a searing blue bolt in the thug's torso. The Kazarin collapsed, skidding to within inches of Tom's feet. He had no time to worry about it, though, a the leader charged forward, swinging long scaly arms, tipped with clawed fingers at Tom's chest.

In a blur of silver and blue, the Patrolman to Tom's right threw himself in front of his captain. The Kazarin's clawed hand impacted the young man, throwing him across the room in a heap. "Monster!" Tom shouted, swinging his pistol at the Kazarin leader's head. The metallic weapon impacted with no appreciable result. In response, the Kazarin slashed Tom across the chest, leaving a trio of bloody streaks before embracing Tom in a vicious lizard-hug.

Masters groaned, struggling to bring his pistol to bear at point blank range. To his left, his remaining Patrolman alternated between aiming his L9 at the struggling duo and glancing at his fallen comrade.

 

[EroticLily]

It was a spectacular sight to behold—two of her brutish tormentors cut down so swiftly by dazzling beams of light. Smoke seethed from the cavernous holes in the middle of their bodies and orange embers lapped at their roasted flesh. The Princess could only imagine the stupefied looks on the Kazarin’s faces if they had had the opportunity to realize they’d been bested. The laser-struck Kazarins didn’t advance nor put up resistance, however. They simply fell to the ground in ugly heaps, immediately incapacitated, gargling on dark bile that oozed from their wet snouts.

It was sickening, both to observe and to smell, but Sha’ardar couldn’t help but feeling like they’d gotten what they deserved. In any case, this was not a scene suitable for a Princess; Sha’ardar wanted to look away, but she was too worried for the fate of her rescuers to do so.

She gasped as the pirate king attacked, roughly slashing and pitching one of the rescuers aside with minimal effort, then swiping at the lead rescuer with the same lethal claws. Her heart sunk as the front of the man’s suit was reduced to ribbons, revealing strips of bloodied flesh. Her only hope for survival was injured now. Sha’ardar looked away, unable to bear anymore of the battle. She prayed fervently for her rescuer's victory.

 

[MidnightWalk]

Tom felt his vision going dark around the edges. This foetid monster was squeezing the life out of him. He struggled to aim is pistol at the pirate leader. Tom's free hand groped for a weak spot on the Kazarin. His fingers closed around the hilt of some weapon. Grasping it, he yanked it free and jabbed it at the Kazarin's side. The beast yowled, unleashing another blast of foul air from its mouth. Its grip loosened and Tom forced his way backwards, getting some room.

Pulling his arm forward, he jabbed the L9 against the Karzarin's midsection. "This'll teach you to mishandle princesses!" He triggered the weapon, point blank. The resultant backblast threw Tom across the chamber, slamming him against a rock wall. On the other hand, it vaporized much of the Kazarin leader, from hips to shoulders. Tom smiled briefly, a trickle of blood from his mouth, before everything went dark.

 

[EroticLily]

When Sha’ardar heard the Kazarin leader bellow, she feared that her rescuer was doomed to suffer the fate of his fallen comrade. The pirate king was fierce as he was ugly; surely the remaining patrolman would perish without his captain and then... she didn’t want to think about it. The princess kept her eyes shut tight, her lips curved in a dismayed frown until the voice of the brave spaceman peeled through the pungent air. A weapon discharged and bodies crashed to the dirty chamber floor, signaling the end of the scuffle. Sha’ardar opened her eyes slowly, happily spotting the charred remains of the Kazarin pirate. It had not been a cry of Kazarin victory, but rather of defeat!

It was then that the Princess of Persid Fifteen finally felt her companion stirring against her bosom. Gazing down at her dear friend as she came to, Sha’ardar’s emerald eyes filled with tears of relief. She hugged Zaaara and kissed her cheek over and over until her frail friend could sit up on her own. Sha’ardar looked for the lead patrolman, eager to extend her thanks, no longer fearful that she’d never seen her home again.

When she located the injured leader, slumped against the far wall of the chamber, blood seeping from his lips, the Princess hurried to his side. Polished gemstones fell from her garment as she moved and her breasts all but tumbled free from their enclosure, but she wasn’t concerned with that; she just wanted this man to be all right. As Zaara beheld the carnage from a safe distance, Sha'ardar tenderly wiped the corner of her rescuer’s mouth and implored him not to die.

 

[MidnightWalk]

The Patrolman on his feet flinched back from the explosion, seeing the Kazarin come apart before his eyes and his captain fly back against the chamber wall. He stood a moment, ears ringing and afterimages in his vision. When his vision cleared, he started for his captain, only to see the iridescent blue alien woman rising and moving to him. He started to smile as her upper garment fell away in pieces, then turned to his injured comrade behind him. She seemed eager to check on the captain. He spared a glance at the other alien woman, but she seemed well enough, sitting up on her own. The Patrolman knelt by his friend, checking his injuries.

****

Lilacs? Can't be lilacs here. I must be dead.

Masters groaned. His head hurt badly, as did his hand and back. That didn't seem right for being dead. Nor did the stink of a Kazarin stronghold. Neither of those seemed appropriate for the afterlife. Although, the sweet purfume cutting through the foetid air was rather heavenly.

A soft touch on his face caused Tom to force his eyes open. There was a bit of fuzziness in his vision. Initially, all he could see was dark and blobbish shapes. The touching of his face continued and he strove to focus. One of the blobs slowly resolved itself into a face...a shining blue face, haloed by red hair, a lot of red hair, and pierced by to glittering green eyes. He took a breath to speak, and winced from the pain.

"Uhhhhh..." Tom took another breath, and tried again. "Your Highness, I presume," he croaked, feeling another trickle from the corner of his mouth.

 

[EroticLily]

Sha’ardar was elated that her rescuer was displaying signs of life; it would have been a terrible shame if his heroic efforts had resulted in an untimely demise. Her people would’ve sung the courageous man’s praises regardless of his fate, but they would’ve been bittersweet if he wasn’t around to listen. As the handsome man stirred, the Princess offered a cautious smile. She continued to lightly caress his strong jaw and blood-smeared cheek in encouragement. Expelling a shaky sigh of relief as the rescue captain gradually returned to consciousness, Sha’ardar did her best not to startle him. His injuries seemed serious, but there was little she could do for him in a squalid place like this. All that she could do to help was comfort him until more of his kind arrived.

When he opened his eyes and turned his face toward her, making a concerted effort to communicate, the Princess’ brow furrowed. She smiled apologetically at the man, unable to understand his strained speech. There were plenty of Persidians who knew the language of humans in order to conduct business and for political matters, but she had never learned it. She’d always been under the impression that it was unbecoming of a Princess to speak outside of her native tongue. Sha’ardar regretted that foolish notion now, wishing desperately that she could thank her hero at least.

She brushed the fresh drizzle of blood from his lips, then cradled him to her half-exposed bosom. A hug was universal, was it not? That would have to suffice as a gesture of her gratitude for now.

 

[MidnightWalk]

Tom groaned as the alien princess shifted him, pulling him closer to her. Pulling him closer to her very soft body. Whatever was pressing against the side of his head was really nice, but the shifting caused him to discover a whole range of aches and bruises. "Easy there, Your Highness. I think that big ugly might have mussed me a bit."

He looked up through the mass of red hair falling down around her face, catching those bright green eyes again. Very vivid, he thought. And her sweet scent was even stronger now that she had pulled him onto her lap. Her warmth and softness cradled him and she continued to stroke his cheek, as she frowned down at him, apparently not comprehending his words. That was all he needed, to have to pantomime an escape.

He had a thought... Feebly he tried to sit up. "My men...?"