Beyond the Stars, and into Danger.

[cgraven]

This is a thread for C G Raven and Caela read along and enjoy


Earth was in peril, a peril it had never faced before. The world Capitals where a buzz the headline Earth Threatened by Mysterious Message from Outer Space.

Date line November 8th 1932. At 12 noon the broadcasts of the radios of the world where taken over by a mysterious force that threatened the world with destruction if it did not unconditionally surrender with in the six months to the galactic emperor Change the Merciless. Initially the threatens where taken as a spoof Like Mr. Wells recent War of the Worlds broadcast yet a preciously 12:30 PM a red light streaked from the skies over for Sills Oklahoma and the U.S. Army post was utterly destroyed. At the same time Military post where destroyed in England, France , Germany, Russia, and Japan. World leaders to meet in Paris in three days time. The world holds its breath waiting for their decision will it be war or surrender?’

The Leaders of the major powers on earth could not agree on the course of action to be taken until a brilliant but eccentric Russian Scientist Karl Karpovff put forth a plan to Fly to the meritorious planet and take the fight to the unknown enemy. He claimed to have a craft capable of making the voyage, and he would need another scientist to aid him and a pilot. Face with little choice the assembled leaders reluctantly agreed to Karpovff plan. The call went out but their where few takers for what they saw as nothing less than suicide. Finally a British test pilot Malcolm Masters volunteered. He was a daring rough and a highly skilled pilot. Yet as of yet no other scientist had come forward.

 

[caela]

Raven Sinclair fingered the resume she'd typed up one more time. She was reluctant to send it in even though she knew that few scientists were applying for the mission to the strange planet that had threatened them. It had been hard enough to find any job in her field after graduation. Women in the sciences were looked down on, as if there were something inherantly wrong with them.

Sighing she folded the resume and put it in the evelope which she quickly closed and ran out to the mailbox. There it was done. The worst that could happen would be that they would say no, in which case they were crazy. If they could find a scientist anywhere that was better qualified she'd eat that resume.

Closing the door to her house she put the resume from her mind. It was over two weeks before she heard anything back and when she did it was a bigger surprise than she'd expected. She'd expected a formal letter saying they were sorry but she just wouldn't do...instead she opened her door and found a very official looking man in a black suit standing on her porch.

He was taller than her but most men were since she was only 5'4 and she had to look up to meet his gaze. "Can I help you," she asked as politely as possible.

"Raven Sinclair?" he asked in a voice that sounded annoyed and more than a little disapproving. When she nodded he continued, "I was sent to come and pick you up. We've already contacted your employer. Please pack and bag and come with me."

For a moment she simply stared up at him before she opened the doorway wider and stood right in the middle of it with her hands on her hips. "Pick me up and take me where? Do you mind explaining yourself?"

She wanted to smack him when he rolled his eyes and his voice was condescending enough to make her clench her teeth, "You sent in a resume applying for the position of science officer, you've been accepted, pack so we can leave."

She glared at him from nearly silver eyes that were lost behind a pair of glasses that gave her a rather bookish, librarian, look and wasn't the least intimidating. Still she wasn't going to argue and finally turned back into the house and did as she'd been told.

Packing didn't take long and in 15 minutes she was back on her doorstep and ready to leave.

"Lead the way."

 

[cgraven]

The Secret service Agent looked at the address for the third time before rapping on the door when a petite young woman that looked more like a Liberian answered he knew it was a mistake. Women where suppose to be mothers, teachers, Liberians, not scientists.

Raven Sinclair, you sent in a resume applying for the position of science officer, you've been accepted, pack so we can leave." It was only when her sliver eyes flared her hands on her hips that the secret service officer noticed that far from being a old maid that she was a rather attractive young woman, but there was a determination in those cool eyes that sent an involuntary shudder down his back. He had to admit she had moxie. His thoughts where disturbed when in a very cool clipped voice the young woman said.

"Lead the way."

With sirens blaring the local police car flanked by an escort of motorcycles sped through the city and to the airport. They pulled up next to a brand new P38 pursuit ship the cockpit was open and the pilot waved Raven to climb aboard. Her bag was thorn into a cargo hatch and before she knew what was happening they where air borne and head south and east. They landed only twice to refuel, and to take care of necessities. And then they where off again after 12 hours in the air they reached their destination in Florida and a small Army Air Corps air field a staff car was waiting for Raven and she was whisked away to a hanger on the far side of the field.

When Raven was ushered into the hanger the officer accompany her announced

Miss Raven Sinclair

All eyes turned towards her. There was the German Physicist Einstein, Goddard of MIT was there as well as a stooped little old man with wild white hair bushy eyebrows, and a pointed goatee.

“Miss Sinclair I am Professor Karpovff and I was very impressed with your supposition that the planet threatening us is not a natural planet but man made. Why do you think so?”

It was just at this moment that Group Captain Malcolm Masters came sauntering in a dashing figure in his RAF uniform with ruggedly good looks.

“Professor would you have your secretary there get me a coffee.”

 

[caela]

“Miss Sinclair I am Professor Karpovff and I was very impressed with your supposition that the planet threatening us is not a natural planet but man made. Why do you think so?”

It had been a long flight and Raven was tired which made her just slow enough on the pick up that she didn't get the chance to answer as a new man came sauntering into the hanger and all lives turned to him. She had to give the man credit, he was handsome and dashing and in a liklihood a very good pilot but the first words out of his mouth send a rush of annoyance sliding through her blood.

“Professor would you have your secretary there get me a coffee.”

Turning slightly she let her gaze slide over the man in uniform, her eyes cold and hard as steel as the slid over him. Without thought she drew herself up to her full, if neglibable, height and dropped her hands to her hip, her voice clipped and sharp as she approached the cocky pilot.

"Listen up little man, if you want someone to get you something you might at least have the manners to ask the person themselves instead of talking around them like they don't exist. You might also try using enough brain power to ensure that the person you are accusing of being a secretary actually IS a secretary.

Get your own damned coffee."

Turning her back on the pilot she made her way back to the older gentlemen and shook the hand of the scientist who'd asked her why she suspected the plant they sought was in fact not a natural plant but a creation. Her voice when she spoke to Dr. Karpovff was professional but much warmer than when she'd spoken to the pilot.

"As for your question Doctor the fact is that it doesn't move properly. It rotates much more slowly than the other planets in that solar system and it's path around the star that acts as it's sun isn't elliptical but a perfect circle. With the other planets circling that star the odds of that happening are astronimical."

 

[cgraven]

The cold steely gaze that met Group Captain Malcolm Masters knocked him back on his heels.

"Listen up little man, if you want someone to get you something you might at least have the manners to ask the person themselves instead of talking around them like they don't exist. You might also try using enough brain power to ensure that the person you are accusing of being a secretary actually IS a secretary.

Get your own damned coffee."

There was fire in her eyes and that cold steel gaze of her grey blue eyes took on a hint of sliver, which soften the austere look of the dark haired woman. Her hair had a blue iridescence of a raven on the wing. Then she turned on her heel her back to him and began discussing her theories with Dr. Karpovff.

"As for your question Doctor the fact is that it doesn't move properly. …………its path isn’t elliptical but a perfect circle. With the other planets circling that star the odds of that happening are astronomical."

Karpovff was deep in thought when Raven had finished and he finally nodded “yes that is quite true Miss Sinclair No one else has noticed that fact.” He then extended his hand and shook it. It was not that condescending hand shake that men give women but it was firm , sold like a man's.

“Welcome to the team. You will I am sure prove to be a most valid addition.”

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The next two weeks where a flurry of activity. Professor Einstein explained that he believes time could be folded and by that means the intrepid space travels should be able to reach the planet in plenty of time to complete their mission. Dr. Goddard was busy designing the engine that would power the craft. As for Group Captain Malcolm Masters made several passes at Raven. He was charming, and told her to call him “Dash “. And he apologized for his the rudeness of their first meeting. “Dash” had an infectious boyish charm that made it hard to stay angry with him for very long.

One day during the morning meeting a general of the U.S. Army Air Corps came in to inform those working on project “X” that the flight crew had been selected.

“Gentlemen, and Miss Sinclair the crew of or rocket has been selected. Group Captain Malcolm Masters of His Majesty’s Royal Air force will be the Pilot, Professor Karl Karpovff of Russia will be the engineering officer, and Miss Raven Sinclair of the United States will be the Science Officer.

Your Mission will be t get to Planet ”X” and destroy their ray beam weapon.”

The General paused as the room was buzzing with excitement.

“The space ship will be ready to launch by noon tomorrow Good luck and God’s speed to you the world is depending on you three.”

There was little time for congratulations as the three where now fitted with the space suits for the mission. They where made of leather and form fitting when Karpovff saw Raven blush at the fit he merely smiled .


”Miss Sinclair it is to protect you from the forces of the launch and time travel.”

Dash however gave her a thumbs up and that boyish smile of his.

“ Very Nice Raven quite fetching in fact.”

He paused and then became serious.

”Are you sure you want to do this Raven the chances of us getting back are rather slim you know.”

 

[caela]

”Miss Sinclair it is to protect you from the forces of the launch and time travel.”

Dash however gave her a thumbs up and that boyish smile of his.

“ Very Nice Raven quite fetching in fact.”

He paused and then became serious.

”Are you sure you want to do this Raven the chances of us getting back are rather slim you know.”

Raven's blush spread at Dash's compliment. "Fetching" wasn't a word she ever would have used to describe herself and she couldn't help but wonder if he was teasing her. Still she offered him a smile and straightened the suit a bit so that it fit her better. She was amazed at the fit of the thing.

Looking over to Dr. Karpovff she asked curiously, "How is a material that is so thin supposed to protect us from radiation doctor?"

She'd pointedly ignored Dash's question about whether or not she was sure about going on the mission. She'd worked just has hard, perhaps harder, as all the men over the last two weeks to get everything prepared for this mission, she wasn't going to back down now no matter how much some of them might hope she would.

 

[cgraven]

Dash noticed Raven’s blush and had to admit that she was attractive in a bookish kind of way, perhaps if she did not wear her glasses all the time. The girl offered him little smile and as her hands smoothed the form fitting leather Dash had to admit that she really did have a fine body. Yet the softness of her blush was soon replaced by that irritating self-determination that she had displayed over the last two week and the softness in her slivery eyes turned to steel again.

Looking over to Dr. Karpovff she asked curiously,


"How is a material that is so thin supposed to protect us from radiation doctor?"

“Ah Miss Sinclair the leather flight suit is only for the protection of the body in compensating for the gravitational force of the initial launch. If my calculations are correct during our launch our bodies will be subjected to four to six times the force of gravity. As for protection against radiation”


Dr Karpovff drew from the locker a suit of very finely worked material that promised to be as form fitting as the Leather flight suit and equally reveling of Rave’s feminine charms. In fact not only had Dash recognized how fetching she was but almost every male eye in the area had noticed as well.

“The fabric has been special develop to incorporate the protection of a lead shielding but with out the weight or possible toxic effects.”

The rest of the day was spent making final preparations. Late that afternoon Dash sauntered over to Raven casually lounging on her desk as she reviewed some calculations she had been working on.

“I must say you where rather attractive in that flight suit today Raven I was wondering if you would like to go out for dinner last night on earth and all.”

Dash almost seemed to blush as he spoke. He was the only one on the project that called her by her first name. Karpovff always called her miss Sinclair probably feeling the term Comrade might be a bit too much for the young American, the other scientists would simple say Sinclair as if by not using a first name or "MISS" they could pretend she was a man.


<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chang sat upon the imperial throne of Longo master of all he surveyed. His long Mandarin robes incasing his body in silken luxury, his Imperial court trebling in fear as the Grand Science Wizard his forehead pressed to the floor pleaded for forbearance.

No imperious One the target you selected has not acknowledged your ultimatum and we will not be in position to conquer them for another two weeks. The production of the “Z” mineral from the mines of Cobal have fallen off as many of the slaves have died.

“General Ping Take this fool away and send him to the mines at least there as a slave he may be of some use to me.”

The Science Wizard pleaded for another chance but Chang dismissed his pleas with an imperious wave of his hand. He then turned his dark black soulless eyes on the fair-haired Princess of Aborial and gave the chain of her slave collar a tug. The nearly naked beauty cringed as the collar tightened around her slender neck. Her supple charms where covered by but three scraps of gossamer cloth.

“Amuse me my pet.”

Tears slid down her cheeks as she rose to her knees and removed what little clothing she had been allowed her eyes sought her beloved who Change daughter Lue Chin was flogging. The lover’s eyes met for a moment before the Fair haired beauty dropped to her hands and knees offering her body to Change.

 

[caela]

“I must say you where rather attractive in that flight suit today Raven I was wondering if you would like to go out for dinner last night on earth and all.”

"Thank you Dash. It's a sweet offer and not a bad idea. Why don't you go get the rest of the group while I finish up these calculations and we can all go out for a night on the town."

She smiled gently before dismissing him with her eyes and looking back down at her calculations. It wasn't until he slid off her desk and closed the door to her office that she let herself chuckle quietly. She didn't know what sort of joke he'd thought he'd been playing on her but she wasn't stupid enough to fall for it.

She saw herself in the mirror everyday and she wasn't attractive. Oh she wasn't ugly certainly but she was rather plain and she couldn't help but think that Dash had asked her out to either play some sort of prank on her or to try and talk her out of going. All the men had tried it at one point or another, except for Dr. Karpovff who didn't seem to mind having a woman around.

Especially not when she could actually understand his theories and calculations.

Dash and the others however all seemed disturbed by her prescence and it was amusing up to a point. She'd hit the end of that point however when Dash had asked her out. He was handsome and charming and could have any woman he wanted, his paying that sort of attention to her was cruel.

With a sigh she pushed her calculations away, she couldn't concentrate on them anymore. Grabbing her jacket she left the office to go for a walk and clear her head.

 

[cgraven]

"Thank you Dash. It's a sweet offer and not a bad idea. Why don't you go get the rest of the group while I finish up these calculations and we can all go out for a night on the town."

Dash saw Raven’s smile and for a moment his hopes flared this shy bookish Liberian should be an easy mark. Her body was stunning he had seen that when she had tried on her leather flight suit, but the look from those steely sliver eyes was infuriating as was her silent dismissal with out a further comment. Well it was her lost not his, beside there was a young Army nurse he had his eye on at the officers club that was more to his taste.

The night was clear and the remote location of the Air Corps field on the east coast of Florida meant there was no back ground lighting to dim their beauty, the moon cast its pale light on the placid waters of the Atlantic. Professor Karpovff saw Raven standing at the end of the jetty her shoulders arched against the ocean breeze and her jacket pulled round her shoulder.

“Miss Sinclair I thought you would be Officer’s club with Group Captain Malcolm “Dash” Masters he seems quite irresistible to the young Nurses.”

There was just a hint of sarcasm in his heavily accented voice. Then his voice took on a more serious parental tone.

“Raven why do you always dress so sever, try to hide your beauty my dear?”

Slowly the old Russian scientist turned his young American colleague to face him his pale blue eyes searching hers. His eyes where kindly, they did not mock her as the others did.

“You wear slacks always, blouse button to neck,…….”

He paused taking her hands in his.

“You dress like man, but my dear Miss Sinclair you are young woman and very lovely.”

Karpovff kissed her hands and his old eyes smiled into hers.

“You are the most talented scientist in on project that is why I insist you be science officer, your mind brilliant, but you need not fear being beautiful woman.”

Professor Karpovff cocked his head at the look of disbelief in Raven’s eyes and held his tongue. Then abruptly he changed the subject seeing how uncomfortable the young woman was with what he had said

“Tomorrow we take off you know there is a very good chance we will not be able to return to earth.”

All had known the risk the mission entailed but Karpovff was the only one who had now dared to mention what they all knew might be their fate, for there was no guarantee that the theories they where about to test would even work and yet it was the world’s only chance.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Change Towered over the fair-haired princess, the silken robe he had worn had concealed his hard and muscular body, It was the body of a warrior and covered with small livid scares the result of his many combats. His black eyes shoed no mercy as he gripped the young beauty’s trim waist and thrust his rock hard cock into her sweet supple young body, She screamed as he rammed into her tight ass and her lover screamed as his daughter Lue Chin took her lover forcing him to please her for if he did not than Chang would make his love suffer even more. The court of nobles where forced to watch the lovers humiliation as a pointed reminder of what fate awaited those who rebel against Chang’s rule of Longo.

 

[caela]

“You are the most talented scientist in on project that is why I insist you be science officer, your mind brilliant, but you need not fear being beautiful woman. Tomorrow we take off you know there is a very good chance we will not be able to return to earth.”

Raven sighed softly before dropping a daughterly kiss to his weathered cheek, "Dr. Karpovff, you're sweet but I'm not beautiful. I'm rather plain actually. As for dressing like a man, what other choice do I have? Even dressed as a man the men around here never forget I'm a woman and always look at me skeptically when I speak, as if I couldn't possibly know what I was talking about simply because I'm not male. You're the one exception doctor and you know it.

I like dresses and pretty clothes as much as the next girl but it's hard enough to get men to listen to me when the fact that I'm female is as hidden as I can make it. If I dressed like a woman I'd never be taken seriously.

And I'm not scared of not being able to return. This planet holds little appeal for me doctor. Perhaps on the planet we go to I'll find a place where a woman doesn't have to act like a man to be taken seriously. If not at least it will be an adventure."

Smiling softly she reached out and squeezed his hand before turning away to head back toward her quarters, "I'll see you before the launch tomorrow doctor. I believe that Dash was going to the Officer's club if you wanted to join him."

With a last warm smile she turned and walked back toward her quarters. What was wrong with the men around here that they kept telling her she was attractive or beautiful? Did they think she didn't see her reflection in the mirror each morning? Were they so strained for female company that even she was acceptable?

Locking her door behind her she practically fell into her bed and was asleep before her thoughts could run to far away with her. Her dreams were haunted by a strange man that she didn't recognize and kept her tossing and turning all night. When she woke in the morning it was with a feeling of uneasiness but she couldn't remember anything she had dreamed and chalked her feelings up to worry about the launch.

 

[cgraven]

“This planet holds little appeal for me doctor. Perhaps on the planet we go to I'll find a place where a woman doesn't have to act like a man to be taken seriously. If not at least it will be an adventure."

Smiling softly she reached out and squeezed his hand before turning away to head back toward her quarters,

"I'll see you before the launch tomorrow doctor. I believe that Dash was going to the Officer's club if you wanted to join him."

“Yes I know Miss Sinclair.”

Karpovff could not help but smile himself at Raven’s demur kiss. His old eyes smiled into hers and he saw a soft warm in those pale gray blue eyes, if he was a younger man he could get lost in there soft warm depths. He watched her walk away the sensual roll of her hips the fluid cat like grace with which she moved was it really possible that this serious young American did not realize that she was not only beautiful but a truly stunning beauty?

What a shame she did not know how beautiful and desirable she really was. One day perhaps a man would awaken that knowledge in her and Karpovff hope he would be a good man, for once her passions where loosed………he could not would not finish the thought.

The old Russian spent a restless night thoughts of what lay ahead troubled him. He was old had lived a long and profitable life. Dash was bold a devil make care type that lived for danger and he would die one day at the stick of some aircraft he was testing or behind the wheel of his car. But Raven she had her whole life ahead of her, she was so young and………………………….. But she had made her decision and he would respect that.

He smiled when he saw her walking across the apron towards the hanger where their space ship waited for them. The MP’s saluted Dash and then slid back the hanger doors. Ther space ship “X-1” waited. It looked like nothing else ever seen on earth it was pure sliver, looking more like a bullet than an aircraft there where no wings to speak of, just four fins at the rear of the space ship For the first time Karpovff and Raven noticed that the nose bristled with the muzzles of four machine guns.

“An added precaution Professor Karpovff just incase our arrival on Planet “X” is not met with open arms.”

Dash was grinning from ear to ear.

“Dash If they can project a death ray across the galaxy do you really think machine guns will be of any help?

The boyish grin vanished from Dash’s face as he finally realized just what danger they where really in.

Karpovff turned to Raven and he could not help but smile at how her leather flight suit accentuated her charms. He found her glasses rather erotic as well as her tightly bound shimmering black hair.

Ready?

They squeezed in the small hatch, each taking their seats, and pulling the harnesses as tight as they could. Karpovff in the command seat Dash in the pilot’s seat and Raven in the flight engineers seat.

Begin count down

The disembody voice came over the radio speaker.
10, 9, 8, start engines….

Karpovff nodded to Dash and the engines roared to life

7,6,5, Raven check fuel levels, and generator power…….4,3, 2, 1, lift off.

The “X-1” was shaking violently and they had to hold on for dear life despite their harnesses. The pressure was building press down on them 5 times the force of gravity but instead of the craft being launched into the heavens everything began to become transparent, they could see those standing outside and then their own bodies began to fade, disappear.

Remember that Professor Einstein said this might happen, a by product of the time travel engine. Every body remain in their seats.

Came the disembody voice of Professor Karpovff.


<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Science wizard Wang saw the disturbance in the lines of power that flow through the galaxy. The wards of science seemed to dim fold in on them self and flare and then he saw the object materialize and hurtle towards Longo.

Quick tell Chang the Merciless that there is a space ship approaching that just appeared out of no where. Vector the Robot fighters to intercept and attack but only force the craft down I must see what magic wards they posse to do such a thing.

Never had any been able to get this close to Longo.


<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Slowly the “X-!” began to take solid form again and then a flash of red lighting streaked by.

“We are under attack”

Dash began to violent maneuver the “X-!” and the four machine guns began their staccato barking.

 

[caela]

Raven felt incredibly conspicuous as she dressed in the leather flight suit the next morning. The way it clung to her body made her blush furiously because there wasn't a curve it didn't reveal and that made her terribly self-concious. Well she supposed there was no hiding the fact that she was girl in this get-up. Her only consolation was that the men would look just as outlandish as she did.

She ignored the looks she got as she made her way to the hanger and she fought down the blush that wanted to turn her creamy skin crimson. It was silly for her to be so worried about her looks! She wasn't going to see any of these people again anyway!

"Get a grip on yourself Raven," she muttered under her breath before smiling to the doctor and climbing into the X-1. It was slightly cramped in the command cabin but they didn't really need much room and she quickly had herself buckled in. She was all business as they started the sequence for take off, her eyes steely and locked on her monitors, a small smile quircking the corners of her lips because for once all systems were normal.

She didn't start to worry until the ship started shaking and everyone started to fade. It was the doctors voice reminding them that professor Einstein had warned them about such a phenomenon that calmed her and seconds later they were surrounded by stars and she could see the planet they'd been seeking hovering like a perfect ball below them.

She felt a momentary sense of euphoria, it had worked!!, that was quickly squelched by the sudden realization that they were under attack. She gripped the arms of her seat and fought down the urge to scream as slowly they were forced down despite all of Dash's manuvering.

 

[cgraven]

Dash Flew like a made man the “X-!’ rocked rolled and jinxed. He tried ever trick he knew He placed the craft in a steep dive and then rolled out and looped in an attempt to shake the pursing ship. It was like noting he had ever seen or ever had imagined They where perfect saucers with what appeared to be a gun blister on the top and center but instead of any gun he had ever seen they emitted a ray more deadly than any bullet.

Where it sliced seemingly effortlessly through the titanium skin of the “X-1” his 30 cal. machine gun rounds bounced off the saucers as if they where bb’s Where there had been one now there where twenty and it soon became apparent that they where doomed.

They had been over planet “X” for less than 10 minutes and already their mission appeared to be a failure.

Professor we are going down sorry old man I have seemed to have let us down.”

All Dash’s cockiness was gone and his voice was dry, and choked as acrid smoke began to fill the small command deck.

“Raven lower the landing skids, vent the compartment, all hands prepare for a crash landing.”

Professor Karpovff’s voice was calm and measured

“Dash do you think you can make that clearing to our left?”

Yes I think I can make it

“Good Dash save the ship if you can it is our only hope if they wanted us dead we would be already. Raven Hang on tight..”

The “X-1” Slammed into the surface of planet “X” careened madly before finally skidding to a halt. The cabin was filled with smoke and all three intrepid adventures wher choking on it slowly they began to lose consciousness……….


<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

When they came to they where surrounded by huge men well over s seven feet tall they looked like Vikings yet they where dressed like Robin Hood’s merry men. Fair haired with blonde or red beards they all looked unnervingly similar. Each had a sword at their side and when Dash began to reach for his service revolver as one they drew their swords but instead of cold steel the swords glowed with a living force that shimmered and crackled with a deadly force.

“Dash drop the revolver”

Karpovff’s voice was a harsh ragged whisper as he coughed out his warning. The weapon slid from Dash’s fingers.

One of the attacking saucers hovered and came to rest not more than a hundred feet from the hapless group. A ramp slid down and the clanking of a metallic horror descended from it. Though it had the build and shape of a man it was most defiantly a machine with one glowing red eye in the center of its fore head that eye scanned the three earthlings. A glowing cathode ray tube in the middle of the creatures chest glowed, wavered and the image of a man appeared. He was oriental in appearance, bald, and with a long dropping Fu Manchu mustache. And the men that surrounded them dropped immediately to one knee.

Emperor Chang

The red eye seemed to come to rest on Raven then passed on to Professor Karpovff and then fleetingly to Dash. Then returned to Raven to studier her in detail. A mechanical voice devoid of all human emotion, echoed forth from the metal being.

“Bring the woman and the two men to my citadel.”

NO

Screamed one of the men and before he could move a ray shot forth from that single eye cutting him down.

Chang they are my prisoners.

“Prince Boris your daughter Lynn and her husband are still my….Ah…Guests.”

“Turn them over.”

Raven, Karpovff and Dash where herded into the saucer.

“Raven look at this the technology it is far beyond any thing we know.”

Slowly the saucer lifted off to bear them to the man named Chang.

 

[caela]

Raven barely had time to think as they managed to crash land the ship without getting themselves killed but the fumes being vented into the cabin quickly knocked her unconcious.

When she came around her first instinct was to scream but she kept that reaction firmly in check as she studied the men standing around them. They made her feel small and helpless just standing there and she wasn't about to draw attention ot herself. A consideration that Dash obviously didn't consider as he pulled a revolver out. She suspected that he was very lucky the doctor had a cooler head than he did and breathed a sigh of relief when Dash dropped the gun.

She watched quietly as one of the other saucers landed and the strange machine climbed out of it. She was shocked when the men knelt before the image on the machine, what on earth was going on here? An emperor? This was getting very confusing and she almost wished she was onconcious again...especially when that glowing red eye turned on her.

Even from a machine she didn't like that look.


“Bring the woman and the two men to my citadel.”

Citadel? Prisoners? She felt a sense of growing anger and despair. She didn't like the way the large Viking type men were staring at them when they finally turned back to them. They looked angry and frustrated and she had the distinct impression that she was missing something. She didn't argue as they were herded into one of the saucers but she did remain close to the doctor and Dash, usually trying to hide her smaller frame behind them.

“Raven look at this the technology it is far beyond any thing we know.”

"Too far advanced. We all knew we could die out here doctor, did it occur to any of us that we might not die but be enslaved if we failed?"

 

[cgraven]

"Too far advanced. We all knew we could die out here doctor, did it occur to any of us that we might not die but be enslaved if we failed?"

“Enslaved?”

Professor Karpovff said the word as if it was a concept that he had never considered. He turned to look at Raven as if he had not heard her correctly.

“But Miss Sinclair any society that can create such technology must be far beyond such barbaric concepts.”

But the words died on his lips as he remembered the barbarity of the great war that had ragged in Europe, the bloody Revolution in his own country and the very plain threat that had brought th three adventures here in the first place.

“Yes you may well be correct my dear it will be imperative that we not offend this Chang when we meet him we must appear to be emissary from Earth here to negotiate I believe that may be our only real chance for success.”

Raven could see that Karpovff was almost mesmerized by the technology that surrounded him. Besides the instruments one might expect they also so strange runes as if they came from the mystic writings of earth’s own dark pass. It appeared that the science of theses people where a mixture of moth science and some dark magical force.

The metal man placed a collar around Dash’s neck, he hardly resisted it was if all the fight had gone out of him, then it was Raven’s turn and the collar clicked shut with a finality that was frightening. Professor Karpovff extended his hands to the creature showing that he was willing to place the collar around his own neck. The metallic creature allowed him to so.

The flight lasted perhaps 20 minutes when an imposing citadel came into view through the view screen. It stood high on a cliff and looked like it came out of some mystical tale of China. Yet saucer like the ones that had attacked them seemed to be aggressively patrolling the area.

After they landed the three earthlings where escorted by a dozen metal warriors into a hall that would have done Gangues Klan proud. Again they saw the men of the forest, and strange tall creatures who’s looked like angels with magnificent wings. But the majority of the people where apparently Mongols. The hall seemed to stretch on forever. At the far end on a dais was the man who they had seen on the cathode ray tube, the emperor Change.

“Kneel before Chang the Merciless.”

At the command a shock from their collars force the three space travelers to their knees. And those cold black eyes looked down on them, eyes that showed no emotion, no sign of human feeling.

“Who speaks for theses invaders.”

The voice rumbled ominously from the figure on the thorn


Karpovff went to stand and to both Raven’s and Dash’s surprise he was able to.

I am professor Karl Karpovff and we come from Earth in peace.

Chang laughter filled the hall and chilled the soul.

“Is that why that one shot at our patrol ships drew a weapon because you come in peace?”

The voice seemed to rumble from Chang like a fearsome thunder. A young beauty with dark hair sat by him and leaned over and whispered in his ear. A wicked smile curled his lips.

“If that is so Professor than prove it!”

Chang dead eyes came to rest on Raven they stared into her silver gray blue eyes as if he could see all the way to her soul.

”How?”

Karpovff asked his voice steady deceptively calm.

“Remove all of your clothing every thing and show us you are hiding no weapons.”

 

[caela]

Raven was whispering with the doctor when she saw the metallic man putting a collar around Dash's neck. Her eyes went wide but before she could do anything a similar collar closed around her own throat and without thought her hands flew to the thin strip of silver looking metal. She reached for where the clasp should be but felt only smooth metal as if the ring had been formed around her neck. A surge of anger rushed through her followed by frustration for there was nothing she could do about it.

Her gaze was filled with disbelief when the doctor held his hands out and actually placed the collar around his own neck. Did he really plan to go so willingly into enslavement? She sure as hell didn't! She'd had enough imperiousness from men when they didn't think they owned her, she didn't think she could stomach a man who would lay claim to her as if she were cattle.

When at last they reached the citadel she noticed very little of what was going on around her until they were brought to the foot a tall dais.

“Kneel before Chang the Merciless.”

Her head snapped up at the command but before she could make a retort a sharp shock from the collar brought her to her knees and knocked the breath from her lungs. Once on the floor the shock stopped and she was left gasping for breath. When she glanced back up at the top of the dais her eyes flashed with silver fire and pure fury but she remained quiet as, to her surprise, the doctor rose to speak for them.

Throughout the exchange she could feel the emperorer's eyes on her and finally she looked up to meet his gaze as he spoke words that chilled her to the bone.

“Remove all of your clothing every thing and show us you are hiding no weapons.”

Her eyes narrowed and she spoke without thought, "No. I'm a scientist not a damned warrior, I carry charts, a small machine to do computations and pens and pencils, though most those are back on our ship. I do NOT carry weapons and I won't strip like a common criminal just to titilate your perverse imagination.

I'm sure you have a harem around here filled with beautiful women, have one of them strip for you and leave the plain earth woman her modesty."

She didn't flinch from his gaze even after her outburst but met it steadily. He'd do what he liked with them but he might as well know up front that she wouldn't take such treatment lying down. She wasn't a dog to roll over and play dead simply because he found it amusing.

 

[cgraven]

Her eyes narrowed and she spoke without thought, "No. I'm a scientist not a damned warrior, I carry charts, a small machine to do computations and pens and pencils, though most those are back on our ship. I do NOT carry weapons and I won't strip like a common criminal just to titillate your perverse imagination.

I'm sure you have a harem around here filled with beautiful women, have one of them strip for you and leave the plain earth woman her modesty."

Raven Sinclair could hardly know that her outburst was the worst thing she could have possibly done for know Chang’s attention was fully focused on her and the ruler of this strange world to which they had come loved the fire in her slivery eyes, the pure fury, the passion intrigued him for this proud beauty would be a challenge to bend to his will she was different her pale skin so soft and silken those eyes , and her body the sensually seductive curves so deliciously displayed by the leather flight suit she wore. Professor Karpovff was stunned when Dash finally came back to life and he straightened on his knees his back now stiff.

”Go to hell you bastard.”

Dash almost spit the words at the imperious figure on the thorn. Yet Chang did not respond to either Raven’s or Dash’s defiance but rather turned his eyes to Karpovff

“ So this is how a peaceful delegation from your Earth comes to negotiate with Lingo?”

No Emperor Change it is not!”

Karpovff as a young man had seen the Tsar and he knew that they where on very dangerous ground for this Chang’s eyes revealed nothing of what he was thinking and the cold blackness of them scared the Professor their only hope was to appear to cooperate to look for a chance to save earth but as mere prisoners , slaves they would have no chance and their mission to save earth would fail. All he could do was hope that Raven would come to quickly understand that in compliance lay there only chance.

“ Like Miss Sinclair I am a man of Science, schooled in all its many arts and yet your world is far beyond ours your eminence, and yet we left our planet only three hours ago and traveled over 300 light years to your planet Longo.”

Karpovff saw the merest flicker of interest in Chang’s eyes but that brief moment quickly passed. His eyes where imploring Raven to cooperate to hold here fierce pride and temper in check.


“We have nothing to hide, no hidden weapons”

The Professor’s fingers went to the buckles that held his flight suit tight to his body and closed his hands where shaking just a bit the only sign that he too thought they where in the gravest of danger. The zipper slid down and he struggled out of his from fitting suit till he stood naked before Change. His body was hard firm even if the hair on his chest was a forest of white.

”Dash?”

The intrepid Group Captain slowly rose his eyes as hard and cold as Change as he began to strip away his flight suit. Survive, escape, evade…. the years of his military training now came back to him and he swore he would one day see Chang dead at his feet. The lovely young woman whispered into Chang’s ear when Dash stood their proud before them and a wicked smile creased her lips.

Change cold, soulless black eyes now turned again to Raven Sinclair as she remained kneeling the only one of the three visitors from earth that still remained clothed in her leather flight suit.

Miss Sinclair

Professor Karpovff voice gently called to her.

Raven”

 

[caela]

Raven didn't flinch but met the emperor's cold gaze until Dash's outburst drew the attention of those cold eyes. Only when they moved away did she breathe a sigh of relief. She didn't like the way his eyes held hers and seemed to try and dig down into her very soul.

She watched in dismay as both the professor and Dash stripped before the emperor and noticed the rapacious look in the eyes of the pretty woman who continued to whisper into Chang's ear as her own gaze ran over the men...especially Dash. It was the same look that had been in Chang's eyes when they'd held hers. Between the two she realized the truth that the Professor and Dash seemed to still be evading.

They were not going to be treated as prisoners, they would be kept as slaves. Their home planet was 300 light years away so there was no reason to expect a rescue and she got the impression that the emperor and the woman with him knew it.

"Miss Sinclair," Professor Karpovff voice gently called to her, "Raven."

Her gaze turned to the Professors and look between him and Dash before glancing back at the Emperor. His gaze was once more upon her and the dark light that flashed in the depths of those cold eyes sent a shiver running down her spine. There was more there than she could recognize but she knew the look of a predator watching it's prey.

She didn't want to do it but she wasn't fool enough to believe this man wouldn't do what he had to to get what he wanted and that if she didn't strip out of the suit willingly one of those seven foot monsters that had brought them here would gladly do it for her against her will.

Slowly she stood, her gaze defiant and angry as she held Chang's gaze. Silently she stripped out the suit and let it fall to the ground at her feet. Contempt clear on her face she also reached up and pulled the pins that held her hair bound on top of her head and let it fall around her in dark silken waves, the locks licking across her pale flesh like the night sky surrounding the moon.

 

[cgraven]

Slowly she stood, her gaze defiant and angry as she held Chang's gaze. Silently she stripped out the suit and let it fall to the ground at her feet. Contempt clear on her face she also reached up and pulled the pins that held her hair bound on top of her head and let it fall around her in dark silken waves, the locks licking across her pale flesh like the night sky surrounding the moon.

The flash of pure fire in those steel gray blue eyes let all know that she held this self proclaimed emperor in the utmost contempt. As Raven’s finger went to the buckles of her flight suit ever man’s eye was focused on the young earthling. She was small in stature compared to the men of Longo a mere Five foot Four inches, yet the form fitting leather flight suit left know doubt in of their minds that she had a body that would tempt men, making them betray each other to posses her. Even with Raven’s conscious efforts to make this humiliating act as clinical as possible there was a sensual fluid grace to her movements she had to peel the flight suit from her body and some men visibly leaned forward as more and more of her stunning young body was reveled to them. Finally she stood there clothed only in her bra and panties.

Dash’s eyes where riveted on Raven and despite his best efforts so where Professor Karpovff’s and he blushed to realize that he too was staring at his young protégé. The auburn haired beauty that was at Change’s ear whispered in the evil emperor’s ear and then she slow rose stretching like a tigress to a height of six feet she was gorgeous and her movement feline, like the tigress on the hunt She circled Raven a if she was evaluating a sumptuous meal her eyes lingering on the young American’s feminine charms. Her nails where long and sharp like the claws of the tiger.

Lue Chin nail pluck at Raven Sinclair’s bra strap and it parted she drew that nail down raven’s shoulder and a thing ruby red line of blood appeared in its wake. She sauntered away knowing that the slave collar would prevent the trapped young beauty form harming her, or even striking out. Lue Chin stood between Dash and Karpovff.

”Come here and serve me.”

Both men began to move they came to her as she dropped her bodice. They bent their heads to suckle the woman’s nipples.

“My father said strip that means everything.”

Then to make her point she said to Dash.

“Kiss him!”

And Dash’s lips brushed the Professor’s. He tried to fight it but seemed that he could not. It was apparent that the collars they wore had a power to enforce the emperor’s will on them.

 

[caela]

Raven hissed as the woman's nail traced her shoulder and she felt her blood well up in it's wake. She stared at the thin red line on her flesh as the tall woman moved to toy with the men. Her eyes glared as she issued orders and the men simply bent to her will like puppets on a string.

“My father said strip that means everything.”

Raven's eyes narrowed as she felt cumpulsion run through her body. Without thought her fingers slid her bra and panties off leaving her entire body bared before the gaze of those assembled in the hall. It was obvious to her that the collar could make her do as this pair ordered and the fact only served to increase the anger flowing through her body.

Before her eyes Dash claimed the Professor's lips as ordered and a low growl filled her throat. Without thought she stepped forward and grabbed the back of Dash's head by the hair and used it to yank him away from the professor. It was all she had time to do before pain sharp and sudden crashed through her knocking her to her knees and taking her breath away.

 

[cgraven]

Chang could see the hatred in the young woman’s sliver eyes as she slowly stripped off her bra and panties to stand in all her naked glory before him their was an auditable sigh as the assembled men saw her naked for the first time. Raven’s hair shimmered in a dark halo framing her angelic face a perfect counter point to her pale skin. Change noted that that soft silken skin was flawless and the sparse patch of downy fleece against that pale skin drew his eyes to the treasure he would soon claim.

Lue Chin smiled, her face and the gleam in her dark eyes was truly wicked. Raven without thought stepped forward and grabbed the back of Dash's head by the hair and she used it to yank him away from the professor. It was all she had time to do before pain sharp and sudden crashed through her knocking her to her knees and taking her breath away.

Yet it was Chang’s eyes that now again captured Raven’s as she gasped trying to catch her breath as she knelt before Lue Chin and those cold lifeless eyes now glowed with the personification of evil.

“Come here Girl!”

Much to Raven’s surprise there was no socking pain from the collar but just a mild tingling a reminder of what he could do if he so desired. Chang watched as Raven Sinclair slowly rose climbed the dais to stand before him.

“Kneel!”

When Raven had done so he leaned forward and whispered in to her ear his hot furtive breathe washing across her neck.

“Have you been with a man before?”

 

[caela]

“Come here Girl!”

Raven glanced up at his voice and for a moment she didn't move. She was still trying to catch her breath and half expected another shock of that searing pain but all she felt was a tingling around her neck. She knew the warning implied in that tingle however and slowly rose to her feet. Slowly she climbed the steps of the dais but each step that brought her closer to him made her hatred even more apparent.

Reaching the top of the dais her body was tight and every line of it radiated hatred. He ordered her to kneel and again she felt that tingling around her throat and so she sank to her knees before him. She was fighting within herself to keep from losing her temper because she was certain that if she lashed out that pain would knock her to the ground once more and she didn't want to fall down the stairs behind her.

“Have you been with a man before?”

A low growl filled her throat and her head snapped up, her eyes locking on his flashing with cold fury and the deep desire to slap him across the face. She curled her fingers into tight fists on her thighs to keep from doing just that as she hissed softly, "That is NONE of your business but since you can compel an answer from me the answer is no I haven't!"

 

[cgraven]

A low growl filled her throat and her head snapped up, her eyes locking on his flashing with cold fury and the deep desire to slap him across the face. She curled her fingers into tight fists on her thighs to keep from doing just that as she hissed softly,

"That is NONE of your business but since you can compel an answer from me the answer is no I haven't!"

Chang saw the hatred this was not the first young beauty that had fallen in to his grip. The memory of how she had climbed those stairs had knelt the tenseness of her stunning young body pleased Chang, that rage, that hatred that passion, by the gods she was magnificent and he would take the greatest pleasure in taming her.

Chang leaned closer and this time when he whispered in Raven Sinclair’s ear his lips brushed hers as he spoke.

“You have a choice to make earthling You may give yourself to me willingly my little virgin, or you may fight me?’

He made the word virgin sound as if it was an insult rather than a mark of Raven chaste beauty.

“ If you fight me….. it will not you that will suffer but your companions……… You said you are various in the sciences, so you know that the collars you wear can bend you to my will and make you do anything I desire. If you refuse I will take you in front of all and They will watch and your friends will make love to each other.”

Change paused his black eyes boring into Raven’s soul.

“If you accept you must give yourself to me willingly and hold nothing back. Your virginity will be taken in privat.”

 

[caela]

“ If you fight me….. it will not be you that will suffer but your companions……… You said you are familiar with the sciences, so you know that the collars you wear can bend you to my will and make you do anything I desire. If you refuse I will take you in front of all and They will watch and your friends will make love to each other.”

Raven's eyes bored into Chang's and she had not a doubt that he meant what he said. He gave her a choice but it was a choice that wasn't a choice at all. She could refuse him but only at the expense of her friends and then he would simply take what he wanted anyway. She hated him with all her heart and wanted nothing more than to tear those cold, dark eyes out of his skull but she knew that wasn't an option.

“If you accept you must give yourself to me willingly and hold nothing back. Your virginity will be taken in private.”

Finally her head bowed and her eyes slid from his in defeat. She'd give in but she promised herself it would only be until she could figure out the damned collars and find a way for them all to get out of here.

"You win," she said quietly. "I won't be the cause of added pain or humiliation to my friends."

 

[cgraven]

Finally her head bowed and her eyes slid from his in defeat.

"You win, I won't be the cause of added pain or humiliation to my friends."

When Chang saw the ravishing young beauty demurely lower her eyes he knew that she would submit even before she spoke in a soft whispering voice.

“Remember you will submit willingly and hold nothing back……….If you do I’ll know.”

Chang then straightened and his hand cupped Raven’s face and for the first time she saw a smile in those horrid eyes. he had given this proud beauty the devil’s choice and yet it had been a choice. Love, companionship, caring theses where flaws weaknesses that could be turned against you.

“Take the old one to the science wizard he may be of some use to them”

“Father may I have the tall young one?”

Change saw the fear in Raven Sinclair’s eyes when Lue Chin asked for Dash. He contemplated giving the earth man to her but instead desired to show his newest slave girl he could be kind as well if he wished but her friend’s fates would depend on how well she pleased him.

“No Lue Chin that one will go to the mines for now to work,”

Change eyes once more found Raven’s they bored into her again stripping away the layers that protected her soul and will.

“……….but maybe in the future if you still want him.”

Change held out his hand to Raven .

“Come girl I am tiered.”

Raven knew that he fate was sealed for sleep was the last thing Change had on his mind.