Dark Horizon

By Rae D. Magdon & Michelle Magly

©2014 Rae D. Magdon & Michelle Magly

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form other than that which it was purchased and without the express permission of the author or publisher. Please note that piracy of copyrighted materials violate the author’s right and is illegal.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Editor:  R. Lee Fitzsimmons

Cover Design:  Rachel George

Back of the Book

Lieutenant Taylor Morgan has never met an ikthian that wasn't trying to kill her, but when she accidentally takes one of the aliens hostage, she finds herself with an entirely new set of responsibilities. Her captive, Maia Kalanis, is no normal ikthian, and the encroaching Dominion is willing to do just about anything to get her back. Her superiors want to use Maia as a bargaining chip, but the more time Taylor spends alone with her, the more conflicted she becomes. Torn between Maia and her duty to her home-world, Taylor must decide where her loyalties lie.

Acknowledgments

We would first like to thank Andrea and Tory. Without the support from the people closest to us, this story would not be possible. We also owe thanks to our editor, Lee, for helping make Dark Horizons the best story it could be. To Rachel George, thank you for giving our words a new dimension with the gorgeous cover. And, of course, thank you to all of our fans, who support us, leave comments, send emails, and generally make us feel great about being writers.

Chapter One

Bullets whizzed past Taylor Morgan’s head as she ducked for cover behind the nearest rock formation. Shots thudded into the planet’s surface inches behind her, kicking up choking clouds of dust at her heels. She was safe for the moment, but she knew she had to keep moving before the ikthians got any closer. She popped a wasted ammo clip from her gun and jammed in a fresh one, frowning when she noticed that she only had a few rounds left. The ikthian gunners pursuing her did not need to worry about ammo. They had plenty to spare after ripping through her squad.

"Damn bottom-feeders," she growled, scanning the barren wasteland ahead of her. The narrow canyon had no vegetation and almost no cover, but the winding path of the rocky cliff-face might offer limited protection if she used it correctly.

"Oof!" Taylor looked up, her eyes widening in surprise as one of her remaining soldiers crouched next to her. It was Jackson, miraculously in one piece aside from the bullet wound in his right shoulder. "Lieutenant Morgan, ma’am!" he said. He raised the muzzle of the gun to his forehead in salute. "Good to see you in one piece."

"Likewise, Jackson," she panted. "How many ammo clips do you have left?" Jackson opened his mouth to answer, but before he could, the ground beneath them shook with the shockwaves of an explosion. It nearly split their boulder in half. "Shit, they have grenades, too?"

"And everything else we’d appreciate having right now." Jackson reloaded his own gun and fired a few rounds past the edge of their cover. "I don’t know what happened to the others. One of the fish sent me flying as soon as the action started."

Taylor swallowed as she went over the body count in her head. Barkes had been the first to go. Plasma shot right through the stomach. The acrid smell of burnt flesh still stung her nose. Smith had died even more painfully, lifted up by a seeker as the alien flooded him with toxins. His screams had been the worst. Everyone else had been picked off in the firefight, and there were still at least four ikthians tracking them. Not good odds.

"We’re it," she told Jackson reluctantly. "There’s a surface-side shuttle outside this canyon in the evac zone if we can make it. We’ve just gotta duck and weave."

Jackson glanced down the canyon. "You sure about that, Lieutenant?"

The sound of gunfire came closer, and a few of the bullets grazed the large rock they crouched behind, scraping sparks from its surface. Taylor knew that the ikthians would waste no time killing them if they hesitated any longer. "What choice do we have?" Taylor darted from her cover and let loose a barrage of fire. She aimed at the silvery silhouettes of the aliens standing at the canyon entrance. Harris jumped up and joined her. The four assailants immediately ducked, and as soon as they dodged to the side, she gave the signal to Jackson. "Move!"

They ran to the next bend in the pass and ducked out of sight just as the ikthians resumed firing. "See? No problem." Jackson grinned at the understatement. What they both really needed were more grenades and a lot of ammunition, but without supplies, a quick retreat was their only option. Taylor checked her weapon, making sure it was ready to fire if the ikthians came any closer.

"I think we've got an opening!" Jackson said, popping out from the cover and firing again.

Taylor followed, and they sprinted for the next curve of the canyon wall. "We just need to keep them out of our line of sight. We’re doing great." Jackson nodded as they moved to retreat farther back. Unfortunately, someone else was already crouched behind the narrow outcropping of rock.

"Shit," Jackson shouted as he tripped over the huddled body. The ikthian woman cried out and scrambled away from them. Taylor froze at the sight of her. The woman’s silvery skin had blanched to a pale, pasty color, and her deep-blue eyes were wide with fear. Her civilian clothes had torn at her right rib, revealing a jagged cut and clotted, dark blood.

While Jackson scrambled away from her, he accidentally backed into the line of sight of the enemy gunners. One of them grabbed for him, aiming a gun at his head as its hand clutched his throat. "Jackson," Taylor screamed. She reached out for him, but stopped short. The seeker's hold on Jackson was even more deadly than the gun pointed at his head. If the ikthian sent its toxins through his skin, his entire body would shut down.

Desperately, Taylor grabbed the wounded ikthian and dragged her up from her hiding spot. She pressed the barrel of the gun into the alien’s temple and held her against her chest as she walked back out into the canyon opening. "Let him go," she ordered. The ikthians probably had no idea what she was saying unless they had translators, but even bottom-feeders could understand what her threat meant.

"Lieutenant, run," Jackson shouted. "You can’t negotiate with them."

"Shut up, Jackson. That’s an order." Taylor pulled the ikthian closer and pressed harder with the gun. The four seekers at the opposite end of the canyon lowered their weapons, but the ikthian holding Jackson did not let go. "Let him go, or I space your friend." Her finger moved to the trigger. The ikthian in her arms did not struggle, but her breathing came in labored gasps, and she whimpered whenever Taylor’s hand brushed against her wound. The alien must have lost a lot of blood. She did not even try to use her toxins to escape.

Taylor’s grasp shook a little. Her new hostage had no weapons or armor. She could tell that she was holding a civilian, some innocent that she had just threatened to blast into oblivion, but it was to save Jackson. This woman was just a bottom-feeder, she told herself. Just a stinking alien. Not worth her time. Her heart pounded with the rush of adrenaline. She had to get off the planet. Had to get Jackson home safe.

One of the ikthians made a noise, a shriek, and Jackson cried out in agony. Taylor watched, horror-struck and unable to look away as he began to spasm. His skin bubbled, melting and blackening before her eyes as his entire body went rigid. His mouth opened in a final scream before he slumped to the ground, his muscles still twitching.

Taylor squeezed the grip of her gun tighter. Time to make good on her promise. She just had to pull the trigger. Boom. It would be all over. One less ikthian in the universe. But as much as she wanted to, she could not shoot a civilian, even if she was an alien.

Taylor's military training took over. The seekers had her outnumbered and outgunned. She needed to run if she didn't want to end up like Jackson. She grabbed the ikthian by the arm, careful not to touch her skin, and dragged her away, out of the canyon and onto the open plain. They sprinted to the waiting shuttle, though Taylor felt the ikthian stumble more than once behind her.

The pilot sat lounging in his seat, but as soon as he saw Taylor running with an ikthian in tow, he fired up the engines. She could hear the battle cries of the enemy following them and dragged her prisoner along faster. The door to the shuttle slid open just in time, and Taylor flung the prisoner aboard, only catching a glimpse of the ikthians emerging from the canyon as she slammed the door shut. She banged a fist against the pilot’s cockpit. "Get us in the air!" She barely had time to grab onto a handrail before the inertia of take-off pitched her and the prisoner from side to side. Taylor braced herself against one of the benches until the shuddering stopped, keeping a close eye on the ikthian. She slumped onto the floor, too weak to stand.

Once they broke free of the planet’s orbit, Taylor dug through the cabin’s emergency supplies and found a suppressant collar. If the ikthian tried to use her toxins or pheromones, it would deliver a painful, debilitating shock. It was a barbaric tactic, but necessary if Taylor expected to survive the shuttle ride home. She approached the prisoner slowly, just in case she tried to escape. The ikthian shrank away from her, but did not attempt to harm her. Taylor knelt over her and grabbed her by the shoulder. "Hold still, and don't even think about poisoning me, or I’ll find a worse way to chain you up," she growled. Even though this one had not tried to attack her, ikthians had just slaughtered her entire squad. She was all out of sympathy for them.

The alien said something in her own language, a series of melodious vowel movements, but still did not allow Taylor to put the collar on her. She probably knew it would hurt her if she tried to use her abilities. This time, the ikthian gestured to her wound, and then the collar.

"You want medicine?" Taylor asked. The ikthian nodded. She reached under the nearby passenger seat for a first aid kit and opened it up next to them. When her captive reached for the supplies, she pulled them out of reach. "Collar first."

Finally, the ikthian dipped her head and allowed her to put the collar on. As soon as it was locked in place, Taylor pulled a syringe full of narcotics out of the kit. It was rated for use on seven different bipedal species, according to the naledai who had supplied them with it. Before the ikthian could object, she injected her captive with the drug and watched her go under. The pupils of her eyes widened for a moment, almost eclipsing the blue before her eyelids fluttered shut.

Taylor smoothed out the blot of blood on the ikthian’s neck where the syringe had punctured her. Faint creases in the silver skin showed where gills used to be on the previously aquatic creatures. Evolution had reduced them to cartilage. Taylor frowned as she set the needle aside and dug up some gauze. Up close, she had to admit that the alien looked very much like a human woman. Sometimes, it amazed her that such deadly creatures could look so much like the people they slaughtered.

Chapter Two

Taylor glanced back at the prisoner for the fifth time during the shuttle ride back to Earth. Upon being searched, the ikthian had possessed no identification, and none of their admittedly limited databases had turned up ID scans of her fingerprints or retinas. For all Taylor knew, she could be a common civilian, or an invaluable asset to the Dominion.

"Final approach to Earth," the pilot said. "Brace for impact."

Taylor grabbed the railing as the shuttle entered the atmosphere and started shaking. The cabin bucked, and she used the opportunity to steal another glance at the prisoner. Her face did not betray any of her emotions, if ikthians even expressed them like humans did. Instead, she stared at the opposite wall with her head held high. The sharp angle of her jaw and high cheekbones gave her a look of grace. No traces of pain or grogginess remained. The sedative had worn off long ago, and Taylor had already numbed and bandaged her wound. Perhaps she was in denial of her capture, or perhaps she did not consider the humans a true threat. She did not even attempt to tamper with the energy suppressor around her neck.

With a sigh, Taylor forced herself to look away from the ikthian again. This one lacked the usual markings so many members of her species sported, although the spiked front of her crest faded from silver to purple at the edges. She wondered for a brief moment if the color shift occurred naturally, or was tattooed on. Humanity knew fairly little about the ikthians, aside from the fact that most other sentient races functioned as little more than slaves to their empire. Earth remained one of the last resistance groups, along with a handful of naledai colonies, and that was only because Earth was far away from Korithia, the ikthian home planet.

"This is shuttle Grizzly Alpha-071, requesting permission to dock at San Diego Military Defense Grid." The pilot's chatter drew Taylor out of her thoughts. She looked down at her gun and scuffed armor, trying to decide if she looked presentable enough. After the clusterfuck her mission had become, she was lucky to be seeing Earth again. No one else on her squad would, and in exchange, one very unfortunate ikthian would become the Coalition’s newest prisoner. Taylor almost felt sorry for the woman.

Alien, she corrected herself. Even though they looked similar to humans, ikthians were far from it. She could only imagine what interrogation techniques the Coalition would employ. Taylor did not always approve of the more inhumane methods they used, but there was little to complain about if it saved human lives. They were currently fighting an extremely one-sided war. Any and every advantage was needed.

"Permission granted. Over."

Taylor sighed. In another minute, they would land, and she would be forced to give a full report to her superiors. Worse still, she would have to give her condolences to the family members of her dead squadmates. The Coalition had a form letter she could use if she wanted, but somehow, that felt too impersonal. After watching the men she had fought with being torn apart by the bottom-feeders, the least she could do was type a few paragraphs. Her superiors would argue that a captured ikthian would be valuable enough to make their deaths worthwhile, but Taylor was not so sure. Every time she closed her eyes, she just saw blood.

The prisoner jumped slightly as the shuttle came in for a rough landing. Taylor holstered her pistol and reached to unclip her safety harness. When they shuddered to a stop, Taylor stood up and motioned for her prisoner to do the same. Although her hands were cuffed and she wore the collar, the ikthian was not restrained otherwise. So far, the ikthian's body language had been the exact opposite of aggressive. She had obeyed the few brief, wordless commands Taylor had given her without any sign of resistance.

The shuttle doors opened to reveal the pristine military base located just outside San Diego. Commander Michael Roberts, her superior officer and mentor, waited with an entourage of troops to escort them off the landing pad. Taylor saluted, and the company of soldiers saluted back before Roberts nodded for at-ease. "Lieutenant," he greeted as Taylor and the ikthian stepped off the shuttle. "Welcome back." He eyed the prisoner with suspicion. "Congratulations on a successful mission, Taylor. And I offer my condolences for your squad."

Taylor nodded. Perhaps it was just the shock of losing her squad, but the congratulations sounded hollow. "It was an honor to serve with them, Sir." She knew Roberts detested the high number of casualties they were taking in this war, but she knew he detested becoming a slave to the Dominion even more. He had been one of the first soldiers to work successfully with naledai operatives on counterattack initiatives.

Roberts signaled two guards to step forward. They each took one of the prisoner's arms and led her off the landing strip. Both Roberts and Taylor watched them take her away before turning back to one another. "Come with me. We have some things to discuss."

Instead of following the two guards to the prison, Taylor and Roberts headed toward the main base, a much larger complex of interconnected buildings. "Is there a problem, Sir?"

The captain glanced at the soldiers accompanying them. "Let's save this chat for my office." Without any further comments, the two finished their walk to the main base, where the escort parted ways with them. They made the rest of the quick trip in silence, and Roberts did not speak until the door was firmly shut behind them. He slumped into his chair with a groan, allowing his fatigue to show on his face, but Taylor remained standing. "To be honest, we're amazed you came back alive at all."

"Do you mean this was a suicide mission, Sir?"

Roberts offered Taylor the chair across from him, but she chose to remain standing. "I mean that this was ordinary reconnaissance until the ikthians showed up. We thought you all were dead. It's a miracle you managed to stumble into that noncombatant, and a miracle she was valuable enough for them to stop shooting."

Taylor shifted her weight from her left foot to her right. She felt awkward standing before her commanding officer without Jackson and the rest of her squad. The final moments of his life kept replaying in her head. His screams. The way the poison had torn him apart. She thought about the ikthian, too. She could still feel the alien clutched in her arms, could still feel the heart that beat too fast in fear, and could still see the wide, pleading eyes staring at her. "About that, Sir. What will the upper brass do with an ikthian prisoner?"

Roberts shrugged. "It's hard to say. The last ikthian prisoner anyone managed to retrieve was over six months ago. Our intel is a little old." He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "But if she turns out to be useful, it makes you a damn hero, Taylor. You deserve a rest. A vacation on some island, peace and quiet, no one to give you a hard time…" The commander’s thoughts seemed to wander. He was no doubt picturing the downtime time he craved as well. "But we don't have time for that in the middle of a war."

"Understood, Sir." Although Earth itself was heavily guarded and had not seen any violence from the Dominion yet, their outlying colonies were bogged down in a ground war that the humans were slowly losing. It was a constant struggle to defend the borders of the solar system, and the ikthians grew more and more irritated by their rebellion with each passing year. They were patient creatures, but they considered the humans impudent.

"Take the rest of the day off, Lieutenant," Roberts said. "The brass will debrief you in the morning. Besides, I think they want a little time to interrogate the prisoner first."

Taylor frowned. Something about the ikthian she had captured still did not sit right with her. She wished she knew why the ikthians had stopped firing during her escape. Ikthian seekers were known for being relentless in the pursuit of their quarry, and they were nearly always successful. “It’s odd that they gave her up like that,” she mentioned. Roberts raised a brow at her. “Usually, they shoot first.”

The commander studied her for a moment before hoisting his feet up on the desk. “So what does that tell you about the prisoner?”

“Well, it says a lot, considering the ikthian was wounded when I found her.” Roberts nodded, encouraging her to continue. “And she didn’t make any attempts to kill me, which means she was either too weak or thought her chances were better here. Maybe the seekers were going to kill her. But if that’s the case...” Taylor’s thoughts wandered. The whole situation felt wrong, but Roberts watched her with an expectant stare, as if the answer lay in plain sight. “Some things are worse than death, Lieutenant. Our prisoner was most likely running away from whatever that is.”

“So they needed her for interrogation.”

Roberts nodded. “I think she knows something.” He glanced out the window, observing the San Diego coastline in the distance. “And it’s important enough that the seekers want her back alive.”

Taylor watched Roberts fold his arms over his chest and sigh. “What will the others want to do with her?” she asked. For most people on base, prisoners were a bartering chip, not a source of Intel.

Roberts frowned, a crease developing in his forehead. “Well, that’s the problem. The generals will want to trade her back for resources or something, and the politicians will want to do a hostage exchange. Both are safer options in the long run.” He ran a hand through his graying hair. “But you don’t need to deal with this, Taylor. That’s what I’m paid for. You should go enjoy the rest of your downtime.”

"I'm not sure what I'll do with an entire day off," Taylor said, her tone slightly less formal now that Roberts had basically dismissed her.

Roberts smiled, standing up and putting a hand on her shoulder. He had always been close to Taylor on a personal level as well as a professional one. Over the years, he had become more of a mentor to her than a strict superior officer. "I'm sure you'll find some trouble to get into," he said, letting his hand drop as Taylor headed for the door.

On her way out, Taylor paused and turned back for a moment. She remembered the prisoner pinned to the shuttle floor, bleeding out. Jackson dying right before her eyes again. "Sir? What's going to happen to the prisoner after she's interrogated?"

"That depends on what she has to tell us. Hopefully, it will be something useful. I expect you here at 0800 tomorrow, Lieutenant." Taylor saluted and left the office, not entirely sure why she had asked that question. The prisoner was only an ikthian, after all.

Chapter Three

As Taylor exited the building and stepped outside, the sun warmed her face and caught her eyes with its bright gleam. The sky was clear despite the tendency for early morning fog, and she tried to manage a smile. San Diego's weather was better than most places, but it still had a fair share of cloudy days. Still, she could not complain. At least she was alive to see them.

Before wandering across the field to the mess hall, Taylor decided to stop in her quarters and change out of her armor. It would be a good idea to leave her weapons behind before she did any more wandering. Clearing a checkpoint with an assault rifle or pistol was a pain otherwise.

It did not take her long to arrive at her bunk. The room was small, but it was all hers. Taylor was grateful that her rank afforded her more privacy than the communal barracks. Once she had set her weapons aside, she stripped and hopped into the shower. Until the shuttle had picked her up, she had been groundside for several days with very little in the ways of comfort. The warm water soothed the ache in her back, but she tried not to linger in the shower. Wandering thoughts were the enemy at the moment.

As she finished drying her hair with a worn towel, her stomach growled. Food had also been a scarcity on the mission, though the meals in the mess hardly counted as food either. She threw the towel away in a hurry and began pulling on a fresh pair of fatigues. Even though her stomach was still tied into knots, she knew she had to put something in it. Her body felt weak after what she had endured.

Once she reached the dining hall, Taylor stepped in line with the rest of the soldiers waiting for their dinner. She stood in her spot patiently, aware that she looked extremely out of place amidst all the men. The military had recently discouraged women from joining because the high casualty rate had significantly dented their population. If the humans were expected to hold their ground, that meant having children who could fight in another thirty years. There had been a woman in Taylor’s squad, but she had been taken out in the initial ambush.

"Hey, when did you get back?"

It took Taylor a moment to realize someone was addressing her. She recognized the voice and turned to smile at Rachel Harris, one of the few other women remaining on the San Diego base. "Maybe an hour ago," Taylor answered. She turned back to the line and accepted her tray of rations. "How are you?"

Rachel gave a dismissive shrug. "I've been on base. I don't have stories to tell. But you…you just got back from the front lines. Now that's something I want to hear about…if you want to talk about it, that is." Her hesitant tone suggested that rumors had already managed to crawl through the ranks. Taylor was not surprised. Of course the whole base knew something had happened before she had even gotten her first meal.

"Let's find a table first," Taylor said, deliberately dodging the question. "Hungry?"

Rachel made a disgusted face. "You know, I could never do seconds for C rations."

"Good point." The two of them found a table in one of the far corners of the mess hall, somewhere that would discourage people from coming over and talking. Most of the men had learned to avoid Taylor after her repeated threats to kick them in the balls. Rachel hardly discouraged the attention, though Taylor had seen her threaten to snap a guy's finger off when he grabbed her ass as a joke. He never repeated the incident.

"So, you want to talk about what happened?" Rachel was blunt by nature, but since it was usually paired with empathy, Taylor did not mind her direct way of speaking. In fact, she usually preferred it. It was one of the reasons they got along so well.

"There isn't much to tell. Seekers took out my entire squad. The bottom-feeders cut them down like animals. I'd rather not think about it for a while."

"Can't blame you," Rachel said as she stared at Taylor's plate. Apparently, she had changed her mind about seconds. Taylor pushed the tray into the middle of the table so that Rachel could steal a piece of her nutrient dessert bar. She had never been particularly fond of them anyway. She remained silent for a few seconds, considering how much she should tell Rachel. No doubt news of the prisoner would spread like wildfire through the base, and Roberts had not ordered her to keep any of the information classified.

"I barely got out in time," she said eventually. "I ran into another ikthian—a civilian, I think…and when the seekers saw me with her, they stopped firing long enough for me to get onto the evac shuttle."

Rachel's eyes widened. "So it's true? There's an ikthian on base?"

"I guess they have her in interrogation now. I'm not sure how much help she'll be. Like I said, I think she's a civilian."

"None of the ikthians are civilized," Rachel said, and Taylor nodded her agreement.

Thinking about the ikthian made Taylor's stomach twist in an unpleasant way, so she changed the subject. "So, how have things been back on base?" she asked as Rachel chewed her stolen bite.

"Same. Doom and gloom about the war effort. The brass keeps trying to cover it up. Andrew turned out to be a good lay." The confident smirk on Rachel's face indicated that Andrew had been more than a good lay. Taylor shifted in her seat. "What?"

Taylor shook her head. "I’m just not good company right now," she mumbled. She took one more bite out of her rations, but the sandy texture did little to convince her of its edible status.

"So why don’t you make way for some better company?" Andrew's rough, deep voice was the only warning Taylor got before the private slumped down onto the bench next to her, causing the whole table to rattle. Taylor glanced over at him and tried to decide if his muscles had gotten even beefier in her absence.

"Andrew, I swear I will kick you in the—"

"Hey, relax. I know you don't want to be anywhere near my gross man junk." He winked at Rachel from across the table. "I've got other beautiful ladies for that."

"Perhaps one beautiful lady?" Rachel asked, placing emphasis on the 'one'.

Andrew swallowed and turned to Taylor. "So, how many nuts have you actually cracked, Morgan?"

"I don't know," she said dismissively.

"I've seen her do it," Rachel said. "She kneed a superior officer in the groin once after he tried to get too physical with her. Didn't even get reported for it."

Andrew snorted. "That's awesome." He eyed the tray of half-finished rations. "Anyone eating that?" Taylor wordlessly passed the tray over to him. He began making short work of the remaining food. "So, they say you captured an ikthian," Andrew said around a mouthful of ration bar. Rachel clapped a hand to her forehead and groaned. Taylor just tried to shrug it off.

"I guess the entire base is already talking about it," Taylor sighed. "Yeah. We stumbled on her in the middle of a firefight."

"I've never seen an ikthian in person," Andrew said.

Rachel's eyes narrowed, and her lips twitched into a brooding frown. Taylor recognized the expression on her face. Even though Rachel had been stuck on base for the past several months, she had seen action before, and she had faced the Dominion's forces. She knew what they were capable of. "Hope you never have to, Andrew. Their toxins can kill you in less than a minute, and they train their children as warriors from birth."

"It’s hard to imagine. They don't look very intimidating."

"Spend a day on the front lines," Taylor said. "You’ll see." The face of the ikthian she had captured pushed itself into her thoughts. She had looked very young, and if she had been human, Taylor would have guessed her age to be mid-twenties at most.

"Tell that to my superiors," Andrew said as he finished the nutrient bar Rachel had started. Neither of them objected. "Anyway, there are so many rumors about the ikthians that I can never be sure what’s true and what’s made up."

"I've heard that they'll fuck any alien species," Rachel added, making a disapproving face. What little of Taylor's appetite remained vanished completely.

Andrew opened his eyes wider, a look of disbelief on his face. "Really?"

Rachel tossed her hair. "You wish, Andrew. I seriously doubt you're going to be kidnapped by ikthians and forced to have sex with them any time soon. Besides, they drug your mind. They release pheromones to make you attracted to them."

"Still doesn't sound so bad to me," Andrew said. "They're gorgeous."

"They're deadly," Rachel insisted. "Do you really want to have sex with something that can kill you just by touching you?"

Suddenly, the echo of Jackson’s screams filled Taylor’s ears. She remembered the way he had died, his body jerking and twitching in the seeker’s grip as the toxins flooded his nervous system. It took her several moments to find her words. "Let's hope the one I captured doesn’t try that."  For some reason, even though she could picture Jackson's death clearly, she could not imagine the timid ikthian prisoner harming anyone.

"Yeah, that's a bit of a libido killer," Andrew admitted, standing up as well. "But that's all right. I have...other opportunities." He gave Rachel a meaningful glance.

Taylor tried not to watch the two of them make eyes at each other. She stared at her empty tray instead and stood from the table. "Well, I'll let you guys explore those opportunities."

"Aw, come on. We can cool it a little longer." Andrew stood up and tried to block Taylor's path, but she stepped around him.

"I just got back from hell, Andrew. I'm tired."

"Oh." She could hear the disappointment in his voice, but knew he would not press her to stay any longer. She took the food tray back to the front of the mess hall and left for her quarters. As she passed other soldiers, some of them cast sidelong glances at her. She knew they were only wondering what had happened on the latest mission, but their stares felt accusatory anyway.

Taylor left the mess hall and hurried across the field, heading back to her own quarters. Her room was a bleak mess of discarded clothes and dirty, dented armor. She managed to scrounge up enough energy to throw some of her fatigues into the laundry chute before collapsing on her bunk. The small bed was barely wide enough to hold her sprawling limbs. She closed her eyes, expecting to see Jackson again, but her mind kept wandering back to the ikthian she had taken prisoner. The memory of her numb stare haunted Taylor until she fell into a fitful sleep for the night.

Chapter Four

Hands gripped Maia's arms, pushing her through a dark room and slamming her onto a cold table. She cried out as one of the humans forced her face to the side, pinning her to strap her arms and legs down. Light flooded the room, and she saw operating tools gleaming under the fluorescent bulbs. She swallowed. Her throat was too dry. She had tried to tell the humans she needed water, but none of them had listened. They did not understand her language.

A cold cloth came in contact with the back of her neck, and more fingers, pressing, prodding. The skin had gone numb, but she could still feel the pressure. "Hold still." The words echoed uselessly in her head. They could mean anything. She pulled against her restraints, but they remained securely in place.

One of the humans knelt in front of her. He held up a speck of an electronic chip and brought it to his neck, pantomiming the actions he would take on her. The humans were going to do something to her. "I don’t understand," she said, but the words meant nothing to him.

The human lifted his shoulders—who knew what that gesture meant—and walked away. Maia thought about talking again, but before she could get any words out, she felt the pinch of a needle at her neck. Her vision began to blur. She groaned and tried to raise her head, but her muscles refused to cooperate. Fuzzy colors swam in front of Maia’s eyes, but the fingers at the back of her head remained, prying at her neckfolds. It almost seemed like they were searching for something. A sharp edge began slicing through the top layer of skin. Somehow, Maia knew the sensation was painful, but her brain refused to transmit any feelings at all except for a strange, uncomfortable pressure.

Her translator, she suddenly realized. They were going for her translator. Her arms pulled weakly beneath the restraints again, trying to stop what was happening to her. Although she could not understand the humans anyway, the thought of having her words taken from her was terrifying. Without her translator, only another ikthian would be able to understand her, and who knew when she would see her own people again? Part of her never wanted to, since most of them were trying to kill her.

A few moments later, the blade at the back of her neck pulled away. "The damn things even have gills," a voice beside her said. Although the cadence of the words still sounded awkward to her ears, Maia could understand them. "I’ve never worked on a fish before."

"Come on, let’s get this over with," another voice said from nearby. Through the colorful streaks in her vision, Maia saw something white being passed over her head. "Stop the bleeding. I don’t want to keep touching it."

More words came, but Maia’s hearing started to fade. Icy liquid rushed down the back of her neck, chilling the length of her spine. Blissful numbness removed the last traces of discomfort along the side of her neck, and she let out a sigh of relief even though she knew that she was anything but safe. Her hands went limp in their restraints, and a comforting blackness began to swallow up all of the blurry colors before her eyes.

She blinked, trying to push back the approaching darkness. Her vision darted everywhere, trying to find a hint of what the humans might be doing next, and her eyes caught at a window. More humans stood on the other side of the glass pane, watching her. Even as her vision swam, she had to marvel at the genetic variance in the creatures. They stood there, each one a different shade from the other. Even the hair was different. She spotted a human with spiky, dark hair and darker skin than some of the others. She looked familiar, almost like the human who had run into her on Amaren.

Maia blinked again. It was the same human who had captured her. She gasped as she felt something prod the back of her neck, and the human’s gaze met hers through the window. Maia remained focused on those dark eyes. The human looked hurt somehow. Perhaps saddened? Or maybe Maia was projecting her feelings onto the human. She had no idea how they behaved, or how they felt. In fact, she was having a hard time holding onto her own thoughts at the moment. The more she fought against the creeping chill and the darkness threatening to press in around her head, the more she seemed to slip away.

The world faded out, and the cold sensation spread. Maia took a deep breath and blinked, but her eyes did not open again after the lids shut. It seemed too much of a struggle.

***

"Why are her eyes closed?" Taylor asked, pointing at the ikthian beyond the window.

"They put her under for the rest of the procedure," Roberts said. "They don’t want her to move and mess up the flesh-knitter."

Taylor watched one of the surgeons run the head of what looked like a pen over the incision. The tip glowed brightly and left an infused seam of skin in its path. "Why didn’t they drug her for the first part?" It had been unsettling to watch the ikthian stare helplessly up at her during the procedure. The surgeons could have at least tried to explain what they were doing better. The civilian was probably terrified.

Roberts shrugged. "It’s hard to tell how much will put her under without damaging her in some way. We only have naledai advice on their anatomy. We’re lucky enough that they adapted a translator upgrade."

Taylor tried to imagine what it would be like to have a conversation with the ikthian. Would she have anything interesting to say? Would she talk down to Taylor? Call her a devolved pig? "What do they have to say, usually?" Taylor knew that there had not been an ikthian prisoner on base for several months, but surely there had been some communication with their previous captives.

"Water."

She glanced over at Roberts. "What?"

"They always ask for water." He folded his hands behind his back and stood a little straighter. "They were once aquatic, Morgan, remember?"

Taylor looked back at the silver-skinned woman. Her mouth hung open slightly, and she no longer twitched when the surgeons prodded her. They had to be done soon. "Will she ask for water?"

"Most likely. They can never drink enough of it." Roberts gestured with one hand, rubbing a forefinger and thumb together. "It’s the lack of humidity." The concept made sense, but it also made Taylor a little uneasy. "It’s an opportunity for the prisoner to show a willingness to cooperate. They have needs we will provide for, but they need to work with us in exchange."

Although her superior’s explanation made sense, Taylor still felt some sympathy for the prisoner. She was not sure why, especially since her entire squad had been butchered by the rest of her kind. Her brow furrowed as she remembered what had happened on Amaren, and she turned away from the window. The ikthian seekers had demonstrated their understanding of mercy when they had killed Jackson. “She had better have something,” Taylor said, a little more harshly than she had intended. "Please tell me she’s useful, at least."

"Your squad didn’t die for nothing, Lieutenant, even if capturing an ikthian wasn’t part of the plan," Roberts said. "We’re going to interrogate her tomorrow."

"I want to know what she was doing on Amaren, and why those seekers were after her," Taylor insisted. "I’ve never seen ikthians hunt and kill their own kind before." Unable to resist the temptation any longer, she glanced back through the window, staring at the limp, unconscious form of the ikthian lying on the operating table. The doctors appeared to be finished with her, but her limbs were still restrained.

Roberts briefly clapped a hand on her shoulder, breaking out of his role as her commanding officer for a moment. "Don’t worry, Taylor. We’ll find out what she knows, and why she was running away."

Taylor lowered her gaze to the floor, staring at the toes of her boots so that she would not have to look through the window at the ikthian any longer. She doubted that any information the alien could give them was worth the cost.

Chapter Five

"State your name."

Although the words were in an alien language, they sounded clear in Maia's head. Gingerly, she touched the place along her crest where they had implanted her translator. It worked just like it had before, but with an addition. Apparently, the humans had modified it with their own language parameters. It was too soon to say whether that boded well for her or not.

"State your name," the amplified voice said again. They had not sent an interrogator in to question her, relying on a speaker system instead, so Maia had no one to look at as she answered.

"Maia."

"Your House Name," the voice prompted.

Maia swallowed. Her throat and skin felt sore from the room’s dry air, and her stomach was clenched tight with fear. For one frantic second, she considered lying. It was far too dangerous for her to return to the Dominion, but if these humans did not find her important enough to preserve, they might throw her away to rot in a cell, or worse, kill her. Telling the truth would be the best move. As long as she stayed alive, there was a slight possibility for escape.

"Kalanis."

There was a long pause as whoever watched her considered the answer. Obviously, it was not what they had been expecting. Maia’s family name was well-known and well-respected, even among aliens, and she hoped that it would be enough to protect her this time.

Being captured by humans was not the worst thing that could have happened to her. Even though they were at war with her species, the humans had not harmed her so far. The soldier who had stolen her from the battlefield had inadvertently saved her life. The ikthian seekers pursuing her were under strict orders to bring her in alive, but her usefulness would end once the Dominion had access to her research.

As Maia recalled the events of her capture, she was surprised at how clearly she was able to picture her savior's face. The strong jaw, straight nose, and severe eyes had seemed terrifying at first. Maia could still remember the first moment her rescuer had taken off her protective helmet and tucked it under one muscular arm, her pistol still clutched in her other hand. And the way the human had watched her during her procedure. She thought she had seen pity in those eyes.

"Your name is Maia Kalanis? Irana Kalanis's daughter?" the voice asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yes," Maia said. A few weeks ago, her biggest worries had been achieving tenure and soliciting funds for her genetic research. Now, she was the most wanted ikthian in the entire Dominion. Even the fact that she was Irana’s daughter would not be enough to spare her life now that word of her latest research had gotten out. She had not expected her reports to the University to blow up in her face so spectacularly.

Maia stared down at her cuffed hands. The humans had kept the collar around her throat as well. She was not cut off from her natural defenses, but any attempt to poison someone would result in pain, a lot of it. She was no warrior, but her mother had forced her to participate in all the necessary defense training. Unfortunately, everything she had learned required the use of her pheromones and toxins. She had no chance of escaping without them, and even if she did, where would she go? Not back to the Dominion. They would just send the seekers after her again.

"Have you sent any transmissions since your capture?" the voice asked.

Even though there was no physical interrogator, Maia shook her head. There were cameras in the room somewhere. She wanted the humans to believe her. "No."

"Have you received any transmissions since your capture?"

"No."

"Is the Dominion aware of your current location?"

"No."

Maia wondered if the room was monitored somehow aside from audio and video feed. Perhaps they were checking her heart rate or stress hormone levels to try and determine if she was lying. Her heart was beating so fast that it would not matter, and her mind was still cloudy with fear and the last of the sedatives. She had no idea what she was going to do next.

"What was your purpose on Amaren?"

"Research." She was pleased when her voice only shook a little. "I am a scientist." Amaren was a small, backwater world sitting right in the middle of contested space, and aside from its mineral deposits, the only useful resources there now were the genetic samples she had been trying to collect from fossilized remains.

"State your area of specialization."

“Genetics,” she answered quickly. “I study the genetic variations and matches inherent in several sentient species." Maia scolded herself for rattling off so much information. The humans did not care. What did she think this was, a review board?

"Are you a member of the Dominion's military?"

"No."

"Did your research contribute in any way to the Dominion's military intelligence?"

"No," Maia answered, hesitating only briefly. "I am a civilian." Hopefully, that would be enough to earn her at least a little mercy from her captors. Her mother had pressed her to change her specialization to something more 'useful' several times. With her name and connections, Maia had been offered several jobs, but she had always refused. It was the only form of rebellion she had ever taken.

The voice did not answer right away, and Maia began to calm down. So far, her answers had not seemed to upset the humans, although it was impossible to read any emotion in the mechanical voice coming through the speakers.

Perhaps because her mind was swirling with so many emotions, her thoughts returned to the human that had taken her captive. She had heard the woman's name only once when her superior greeted her as they departed the ship. Taylor. It was a silly thing to remember. So many other things had been going on at the time, but for some reason, the human—Taylor—stuck out in her mind. Maia wondered if she would ever see her again. She had remained silent but observant during the installation of her translator, and Maia could still remember the intensity of her gaze.

"You will stand up and proceed to the door now," the voice said when it returned, startling Maia even though she had been waiting for it. She glanced nervously around the dark, barren room as she climbed out of the chair and walked toward the door, not wanting to disobey any orders yet. She tried to let her hands fall down to her sides before remembering that they were still cuffed together. Eventually, she just held them in front of her as she waited.

The door opened a few moments later, and four armored guards carrying assault rifles stepped into the interrogation room. None of them were Taylor. None of them had her same inquisitive stare. Two lowered their weapons and took her by the arms, escorting her out as the others kept their rifles trained on her. Maia had no idea what she had done to earn such caution.

The guards led her down a narrow, dimly lit hallway, completely silent except for the sound of their boots tracking on the concrete floor. Maia did not try and examine her surroundings, afraid that the guards would notice and object, but she did memorize the turns they were taking. Right, left, then left again. Finally, they arrived at another solid metal door much like the first. One of the guards removed his glove and pressed his hand against the scanner. The door slid open with a whoosh.

This new room was slightly better, but not by much. It was still uncomfortably dry, and very small, although the darkness did not bother her. It had a chair, a cot, and what looked like a toilet and a sink, but no other fixtures. The guards unlocked her cuffs, but kept her collar in place before locking her in the new cell. Maia was relieved when they left. She preferred being alone anyway, and if her guess was right, the humans would try to interrogate her again soon. So far, aside from informing them of her name and giving them a brief overview of her job, she had not given them any useful information.

Unsure what else to do, Maia walked over to the sink against the far wall. She tested the taps, pleased when she discovered that they worked. Grateful to have a clean source of water, Maia cupped her hands under the tap, taking several long sips before splashing the rest over her face. Some of her discomfort receded. There was no mirror above the sink, but Maia knew that if there had been, she would have appeared exhausted.

Once she finished her attempt at washing and soothing her skin, Maia wandered back to the small cot that had been shoved in the opposite corner. She lowered herself down, sitting on the edge and crossing her legs. It was far from comfortable, but better than nothing. She stretched out along its length until her feet touched the wall and stared up at the blank, empty ceiling. The only thing she could do now was wait.

Chapter Six

Taylor jerked forward, her heart battering frantically against her ribs as she tried to outrun the seekers. Something darted out from a dip in the canyon wall, blocking her way. They collided, and Taylor drew in a sharp breath as she realized it was the ikthian civilian. She stared at Taylor, blue eyes wide with fright, but she was not looking at her. Instead, the alien seemed to be looking through her. Through her at Jackson, who was trapped against a seeker's chest.

In less than a second, Taylor had her gun pressed against her captive's skull. "Let him go," she yelled. She pressed the gun harder against the civilian’s temple. The seekers stared back at her, guns leveled. "Let him go, or I’ll kill her."

The ikthians laughed. One caught her gaze and stared intently at her. Taylor panicked and tried to look away, but an invisible force gripped her head, holding her eyes in place. The seeker sneered. "You won’t shoot her. You can’t. You’re too soft. You won’t even trade a life for a life."

"Don’t listen to them, Lieutenant," Jackson called out to her. "You can’t listen to them." As he spoke, his body started to twitch, and his skin melted from his face, leaving only blackened bone behind.

She still could not pull the trigger.

"You’re weak, human," the ikthian spat. They laughed as she continued to stand with the civilian trapped against her chest, frozen in place.

Taylor shot up in bed, panting raggedly and covered in sweat. Her heart hammered and she brushed a sweaty lock of hair away from her damp forehead. She glanced at the clock, trying to catch her breath as her pulse returned to normal. Only one minute remained until her alarm went off. With a sigh, Taylor reached out and turned off the alarm. She staggered out of bed, slouching over to the washroom and running herself a cold shower. Even though her bathroom was small, it was also private. She was relieved to have a shower all to herself, especially now. She needed a few minutes to herself after witnessing Jackson’s death a second time, even if it had only been a dream.

"That damn prisoner had better be worth it," Taylor muttered as she began scrubbing her skin with a cloth, wiping it free of sweat. But even as she said it, she knew that Jackson’s death had been her fault. She was the officer in charge. It had been her drop. Those soldiers had been her responsibility. She had failed them.

After vigorously washing her hair and scrubbing her skin, Taylor turned off the water and began to towel herself dry. She returned to the bedroom, kicking aside piles of used clothes in search of something to wear. Roberts was expecting her in his office at 08:00, and from the tone he had taken with her yesterday, it was important. There would probably be at least a few of the upper brass in attendance. Taylor’s stomach lurched at the thought of explaining herself to them. She hoped they would be too interested in the prisoner she had brought home to interrogate her about the failed mission and her dead squadmates.

Once she had pulled a fresh pair of fatigues over her still-wet skin and cleaned most of her dirty laundry off the floor, Taylor made her bunk and headed out the door. Her meeting with Roberts started in fifteen minutes, and she wanted to get there early.

Fortunately, the walk over to the main building only took her ten. She ran into Roberts on her way to his office and gave him a crisp salute, straightening her spine. "Commander Roberts, Sir!"

"At ease, soldier," Roberts said, giving her a smile. "This debriefing is going to be fairly informal. The brass mostly want to congratulate you. What you did out there impressed them."

"What I did?" Taylor had considered her survival and capture of an ikthian dumb luck. Apparently, the story sounded better than that to the higher-ups, even if the rest of her squad had been butchered along the way. A darker part of her thought she should have died with Jackson and the others. Their deaths were certainly not worth a commendation.

"You're the sole survivor of an ikthian instigated act of aggression. Your quick thinking not only got you out alive with valuable Intel, but with a wealth of untapped knowledge from your ikthian prisoner."

"Oh, did the interrogation turn up something?" Taylor asked as she and Roberts resumed the short walk to his office.

"Not much, but it has potential to be something big." They stopped right outside of the office door. "Things are changing for you, Taylor. Not all of it is going to be easy, but I think you've handed us a piece that might actually help us win the war."

Taylor's swallowed. "Really, Sir?" She did not dare to hope.

"I'll let the brass tell you." The door to the office slid open, and they both walked inside. Taylor instinctively saluted when she noticed who was waiting for them. She had been expecting someone from the upper brass to show up, but not three out of the Coalition's five generals. Joseph Hunt stood in the center of the group. He was an older man with several creases in his forehead. It gave his stare a certain amount of severity. He nodded to them in acknowledgement, and they lowered their hands. Once at ease, Taylor's eyes immediately darted to a familiar pale figure.

They had brought the ikthian with them. She stood in the far corner, looking out a window that only provided a view of the building across from them. She still wore the torn, stained clothes that she had been found in, and Taylor scanned the pale skin for any markings or irregularities. It did not look like they had given her any rough treatment.

"Lieutenant Morgan," Hunt said. She glanced back to the general and fought down a blush. Had they noticed her staring? "We would like to extend our congratulations on your successful capture of Maia Kalanis."

Taylor's eyes widened, and she could not help looking back at the ikthian again. She had captured a Kalanis? The ikthian looked over at her with the same blank expression from yesterday, and she swallowed. What little Intel the military had gathered showed that the Kalanis family was made up of powerful ikthians, equivalent to something like a dynasty or a corporation by human standards.

"Thank you, Sir," Taylor said crisply. It was somewhat disconcerting to put a name to the alien, but she ignored her discomfort.

"We've already read your report," Hunt said, recapturing Taylor's attention. "But we wanted to hear what happened from you in person." Her detachment, led by Commander Roberts, was under General Hunt's command, so technically, he was her boss's boss. His presence alone let Taylor know just how serious the situation was.

"Yes, Sir. The mission parameters were simple: reconnaissance on a world called Amaren. Mostly unpopulated, some active volcanoes, but we had reports that the ikthians were using the mineral deposits there to fuel their fleets. We hoped to cut off their supply line. When we arrived, we ran into a group of seekers almost immediately. I managed to contact the evac crew, but they had already butchered most of my squad."

Taylor paused, trying not to replay Jackson’s death in her mind. She took a deep breath. "There was no possible way to salvage the mission. I retreated, and on my way to the rendezvous point, I captured the ikthian. When the seekers saw her, they stopped pursuit and I was able to return to the ship." She glanced over at the ikthian, Maia, who was looking everywhere but at her. "I guess I know why they didn't fire on me now."

"The Kalanis family is very influential in Dominion controlled space," General Ines Moore said. She was one of only two female generals in the Coalition, and Taylor knew that she had taken the hard route to get there, serving plenty of combat time before taking a leadership position. "We think that we can use this one as a bargaining chip, perhaps even open negotiations. Taking her alive has given us an invaluable asset."

"And that asset needs to be guarded," another voice interrupted. Taylor had not noticed a fourth figure slithering around behind the generals, but she recognized him immediately once he stepped in front of them. She had seen Chairman Bouchard's smarmy face on more than enough news broadcasts concerning his lead position on the Council of Defense. His self-important attitude was even more off-putting in real life. If her capture of the ikthian had politicians crawling out of the woodwork in addition to the generals, things were even more serious than she thought.

Another one of the generals, Lee, cleared his throat. "What the Chairman means to say is that the prisoner will need to be monitored. Unfortunately, this base doesn't have proper holding facilities."

It took a moment for Taylor to realize what the general was implying. "You want me to guard her, Sir?" she asked, a little skeptically.

"During the negotiations, yes. We can’t afford to lose such a valuable bargaining chip. It makes sense for you to guard her, since you were the one to bring her here, and your squad was killed in action. You will set up a guard rotation outside her quarters, provide for her basic needs, and go with her whenever she is outside of the room. Upon completion of this assignment, you will receive a promotion."

That phrase caught Taylor's attention. She wondered for a moment if she had only imagined it. "I'm sorry. But did you say...?"

Hunt nodded. "Assuming that Kalanis makes it through to the end of negotiations, you'll be promoted to Captain."

"We've decided to move the prisoner out of interrogation, since it isn't suitable for long-term imprisonment," Bouchard said. "She needs a humidified environment, or her health will be negatively impacted." He spoke with a diplomatic tone that only made him sound more insincere. It was obvious that he did not care what happened to Maia as long as she was still around to bargain with. "She will be confined to a recently vacated captain's quarters, since it has the necessary controls and the highest security clearance. It's a little...opulent for a prisoner of war, but it is the best we can do. At the very least, it will allow you to stay there in comfort as well." Bouchard paused and looked from Maia to Taylor.

"I cannot stress how important this task is," Lee said. "I don't care what methods you use to restrain her or keep her in line. They are completely at your discretion. But if she dies or escapes and we are unable to make use of her in our negotiations, there will be serious personal consequences for you."

Taylor did not know what else to say. She looked once again at Maia, but the ikthian still showed no sign of a reaction to her fate. Taylor would have wondered if ikthians showed emotion at all, but she had seen several looks of pure anger directed at her on the battlefield, as well as the sick joy some ikthians got out of poisoning humans with their toxins or mowing them down with assault rifles. Taylor felt her nails biting into her palms and unclenched her fists. She had not even realized she had tightened them.

"Do you have any questions, Lieutenant?" Hunt asked.

Taylor looked over at the general and tried to think of what she could possibly ask that was appropriate. Thousands of questions ran through her head, all of them centered on her confusion over the situation. She did not understand why she had been selected to look after an ikthian prisoner, but if she really could help them end the war, Taylor owed it to her squad to do her best and follow the generals’ orders.

"I have no questions, Sir."

Hunt nodded. "Very well. Report to the top floor of the officer's barracks at 0900. Bring your gear and personal items. You'll be bunking there. The prisoner will be waiting for you when you arrive. After that time, she will be transferred to your custody."

"Yes, Sir."

"You're dismissed," Bouchard drawled, but Taylor remained in place until Hunt gave her a nod of approval. With his permission and another salute, she turned and left the office, resisting the nearly overpowering temptation to look back over her shoulder at the ikthian on the way out.

Chapter Seven

It only took Taylor a few minutes to throw all of her things into a camouflaged duffel bag. She was minimalist by nature, and she did not have many personal items. Aside from her clothes, medals, and toiletries, nothing much was left.

Once the room was almost bare, she opened the top drawer beside her bed. There, within easy reach, was one of the few luxuries she allowed herself—a realistic looking, sensation transmitting strap-on. She had no intention of using it any time soon, since there weren’t a lot of available women on base, but the military was strained these days. She had no guarantee that her bunk would remain empty. If they decided to give someone else her quarters, the last thing she wanted was an expensive sex toy left out for someone else to find. Taylor tossed it in the bag with the rest of her things, throwing several pairs of underwear from the same drawer on top of it.

Once everything was packed, Taylor slung the bag over her shoulder. It was heavier than she had expected. She headed through the door, walking in the direction of the elevator. She could not really say that she would miss her old room, she thought as she waited for the lift's doors to open. She liked living on her own, and had appreciated the private shower, but her old quarters were not anything special.

Her stomach churned with guilt at the thought of receiving such an easy assignment in response to the slaughter her squad had faced. Based on their few interactions, Maia seemed to be the quiet, careful type. If she tried to escape, it would be a long and drawn-out process. Taylor could tell there was intelligence in those shimmering blue eyes. Maia would not waste time trying to overpower or threaten her. Perhaps seduction, but…

The thought jarred her. It was true that the ikthians had a promiscuous reputation, and often chose to mate outside of their own species if rumors were to be believed, but Taylor was still not sure where the strange thought had come from. Maybe Rachel had been right, and the stories about ikthian pheromones were true. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind and took the elevator up to the captain’s quarters.

Finally, the lift stopped and she stepped out, glancing down at her boots as they scuffed over plush carpeting. "Damn. Even the floor's nicer up here." Much of the base had been something else before the war. The officer’s quarters happened to be part of an old hotel previously used for visiting families staying with injured soldiers in the medical ward.

There were five visible doors spaced throughout the hallway, but Taylor knew which one she wanted immediately. Two guards in black body armor were posted on either side, assault rifles clutched to their chests. Adjusting the strap of her duffel on her shoulder, Taylor approached them, and the pair saluted.

After nodding at them, the guards lowered their arms. "I've got it from here, boys," Taylor said. They stepped aside and allowed her to enter the quarters. She turned and watched them leave before stepping through the doorway and shutting it. She initiated the lock sequence for good measure. The door had already been coded to her fingerprints and retinal scans. No one could get in or out aside from her and whoever else General Hunt had given clearance. Hunt had also given her the necessary codes to operate the prisoner’s restraints and energy suppressor, though Taylor doubted she would need them.

The quarters were quiet as she examined her surroundings, and Taylor noticed that they was much more spacious than her previous bunk. Furniture had even been provided to fill the space. The living room contained couches and a low table, and a short hallway most likely led to the bedroom. The only thing missing was her charge. But as Taylor stood there scanning her surroundings, she picked up the sound of running water. "She's not seriously…"

***

The shower was the first luxury that Maia had made use of in her new gilded cage. Although a part of her desperately wanted to remain under the spray forever, breathing in the blissful steam and letting it soothe her itchy, uncomfortable skin, she worked fast, knowing she would only have a few precious moments of privacy. She had no idea when the humans would interrupt her again, but she decided it was safe to close her eyes and take a few deep breaths. Even though her species had not lived beneath the water for millions of years, she still needed more moisture than this planet afforded. Her home planet of Korithia was nearly covered in water and scattered islands, dense with humidity and tropical weather.

With a sigh, she returned to washing her skin. She winced whenever she touched a bruise or scrape that had not fully healed. Once she had scrubbed the dirt of the last several days away, she turned off the faucet and stepped out into the steamy room. She grabbed a towel and ran it over her body quickly, not bothering to brush aside all the droplets that clung to her arms and legs. She wanted to dry off and change into her fresh clothes before the human—Taylor—arrived. This would probably be her last opportunity for a moment alone. She wanted to cherish it.

Stating her mother's name had produced more than its desired effect. Maia had not expected the humans to open negotiations so quickly. She had always been told they were an aggressive, war-mongering species. Their willingness to bargain did not fit with the mental image she had generated of them.

Maia set the towel aside and opened the bathroom door. The cool air on her wet skin made her shiver, so she hurried into the bedroom. She stopped in her tracks, however, as soon as she spotted the human sitting on the bed. She gasped and immediately covered her chest with both arms. Her captor’s gaze lingered on her body, and she felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She moved to go back to the bathroom and fetch her old, ruined clothes, but the human spoke.

"Don't." Taylor rose off the bed. "Come here."

Maia hesitated for a moment before moving back into the bedroom, still keeping her hands clutched over her breasts.

"So…you're not that different underneath the armor," Taylor said. The words sounded stilted, and her face was flushed. Whatever she had been doing in the bedroom, she had obviously not suspected a naked ikthian to come running in.

Maia had received occasional compliments on her figure over the years from other ikthians, but somehow, this was different. It made her heartbeat throb in the dip of her collarbone. There was something in the human’s stare that she could not read. For a moment, Maia almost expected her to reach out and try to touch.

Instead, Taylor looked away, the blush on her cheeks spreading. "You don't have any clothes aside from the ones you came in, do you?"

Maia shook her head. She had never been so concerned about her state of undress, but she had never been in such an embarrassing or compromising position before, especially in front of an alien. Briefly, she wondered what her new guard intended to do with her.

"Here," Taylor said, reaching for her duffel bag. "I have some spare fatigues. They might not fit you properly, though," she warned, studying the ikthian's figure. This time, her examination seemed more clinical. Maia frowned. Although she was smaller overall, her breasts were larger than Taylor's, and her hips were far more generous. The human's clothes were sure to hang off her in some places and pull snug in others.

"Thank you," Maia whispered as Taylor pulled out a shirt and a pair of pants and passed them into her arms. They would have to do. She dressed quickly, all too aware of Taylor's watchful eyes as she pulled the shirt over her head. This human had been kinder to her than the others, relatively speaking. Still, her broad shoulders and muscular arms clearly marked her as a warrior. She would have been able to tell that about Taylor even if she had not run into the human on a battlefield. Maia knew that as long as she had the energy suppressor on, Taylor would easily be able to overpower her.

"I'll try and see about getting you something that fits better," Taylor said as Maia pulled up the pants, struggling to get them around her hips. There were several inches of material at the bottom that covered her feet.

"I…thank you," Maia repeated, not knowing what else to say. She glanced around the room, avoiding Taylor's eyes. When she chanced another look, she caught the human staring at the bed.

"Guess we'll both be sharing these quarters," Taylor said. "Do you want the bed?"

Maia's heart thumped harder. She was expected to share living space with the human? "I…" Still, words failed her. She had delivered talks at academic panels and scientific conferences before, but how was she supposed to communicate with this human? Her captor? The alien that had refused to kill her even when her own people showed no mercy?

Maia had never thought much about humans before, too absorbed in her work to really form an opinion on them one way or another, but this one made her pause to study. The shape of her body was strangely pleasing, and even the strange material on top of her head was somewhat fascinating. Maia bit her lower lip, suppressing the sudden urge to reach out and touch it.

Unfortunately, Taylor noticed where she was staring. She laughed softly as Maia blushed. "You like my hair, huh?" she asked, running one of her own hands through the dark, spiky strands.

"Hair?" Maia repeated, studying the human's head more intently.

"Yep. We all have it." Taylor brought her hand back down. She paused for a moment as if she was considering something. Finally, she seemed to come to a decision. "Do you want to touch?"

Maia thought about Taylor’s offer. Even though she knew it was irrational, she desperately wanted to touch the human. Her scientific curiosity got the better of her, and she nodded once.

Taylor bent her head. Slowly, Maia reached out with one hand, gingerly touching the soft strands. Her blue eyes widened as she ran her fingers through them, and she gasped. She had not expected it to be so soft, or so ticklish. It was a strangely tactile experience. Soon, she found herself lightly scratching over Taylor's scalp. The human allowed her to explore for a few moments before straightening back up, forcing Maia to pull her hand away. She found herself slightly disappointed that they had broken contact so soon.

Taylor took a step away from Maia, clearing her throat. "Have you eaten since you arrived on base?"

Maia shook her head no, and her stomach began cramping uncomfortably at the reminder. She was starving.

"I'll go get us both something...wait, can you even eat human food?"

"Yes," Maia said. She knew something about humans from her genetic research, although she had not met any of them in person before her capture yesterday. "Your food should be compatible with my digestive system."

Taylor shrugged. "All right. I'm going then," she said awkwardly, taking another step away from Maia. "I'll be back." She walked out of the room, leaving Maia alone again.

Maia heard the door to the apartment hiss open, and then slide shut as it locked back into place, sealing her into her new prison. She sat on the bed and crossed her arms, unsure why she felt more alone now than when she had first been brought to Earth.

Chapter Eight

The apartment was quiet when Taylor finally returned, carrying several boxes. She looked around the living space, but saw no sign of the ikthian. Shifting the boxes of food to one arm, she shut the door and locked it, afraid for a moment that her captive might try to escape. She set the boxes she had retrieved down on a coffee table, figuring she could at least show her prisoner that humans were civil regarding their meals.

The next place to check was back in the bedroom. She kicked off her boots and walked slowly down the hall. As she had expected, she found Maia sprawled across the bed with her eyes closed. She paused for a moment to study her again. Something about the ikthian prompted her to be compassionate rather than cold and clinical like she had planned.

Everything about Maia only confirmed Taylor’s first suspicions. She was a scientist, a civilian completely cut off from any forms of rough labor, if human scientists were an acceptable comparison. Her silvery skin, almost a pale white, had not looked so jarringly alien when Maia had run into the bedroom from her shower. Taylor had been shocked at the sudden appearance, and then angry at herself later when she fetched the food. Her prisoner was not something to be gawked at. She was to be considered dangerous and treated with the respect owed a prisoner of war. Instead, Taylor found herself stumbling over her words worse than when she was a teenager.

It was probably nerves. She still could see the canyon walls when she blinked. The images were burned in behind her eyelids, and Maia only made the memories more potent. The ikthian’s presence got her blood pumping, as if she should expect a squad of seekers to break in at any moment and finish her off. But now, with Maia lying on the bed, Taylor could not feel the same overwhelming sense of panic from before. Something about the sleeping ikthian looked so peaceful, and the furrowed crease in her forehead made her look almost human.

As if she knew Taylor was watching, Maia groaned and rolled onto her back, limbs splaying over the covers as her head tossed back. The light streaming through the window highlighted her softened features. Often, Taylor had wondered what ikthians felt, if they ever did. The look on Maia’s face was one of pure exhaustion. It was just as readable as any human’s expression. Taylor felt her throat tighten, unsettled by the similarities.

Maia groaned and stretched an arm out, her hand clutching a fistful of bedsheets before relaxing once more. Her body shifted so that the light fell across an extended arm. The soft light highlighted the color of her skin once more. Taylor had the sudden urge to touch, much like she had wanted to when Maia first appeared in the bedroom. Morbid curiosity, whispered a voice in her head. Despite all the warning signals going off in her mind, Taylor reached out with one hand, trailing her fingers along Maia's bare arm. Her flesh was incredibly soft despite its slightly scaled texture, and also temptingly warm. It was difficult to believe that such beautiful skin could be so deadly. At least she was safe as long as Maia kept her collar on.

Even as her mind warned her to stop, Taylor continued her exploration, sliding her fingers down and brushing the crease of Maia's elbow. She stirred, but did not wake up. Gently, Taylor took Maia's hand in hers, running her thumb over the center of the ikthian's palm. Maia had five fingers, just like her. Even her nails were similar.

Taylor lowered Maia's arm again when she began to stir, her blue eyes fluttering open. She was embarrassed that she remembered the color so easily. For a moment, Maia's peaceful expression remained, but her face fell as she realized where she was. She blinked rapidly when she noticed Taylor standing near her, but did not pull away or start.

"I brought some food for you," Taylor said.

Maia sat up, staring around for the promised nourishment. Her stomach growled. "Where?" she asked. Taylor suddenly realized that the ikthian's voice was lovely. Even if she was mostly hearing the translation that the chip in her ear sent to her brain, the sound had a certain lyrical quality to it.

"Living room," Taylor replied. She walked out of the bedroom and let Maia follow her to the low table where the stack of boxes waited for them. She sat down on the nearby couch and gestured for Maia to do the same. When Taylor offered her one of the boxes, she took it.

"Eat as much as you want," Taylor said, watching as she opened the package. "I know you must be hungry. You haven't eaten since I took charge of you."

Maia peered into the box, and her eyes widened with surprise. The first thing she picked up was a sandwich. "What is this?" she asked, holding it up and inspecting it with a doubtful look on her face.

"It’s a sandwich," said Taylor. "You know, meat, cheese, lettuce…not ringing any bells?"

Maia shook her head. "There is no sound of bells. But this should be fine for me to eat."

Taylor laughed and opened her own box. Apparently, even a translator could not help Maia identify human idioms. She took out her own sandwich and wasted no time devouring it. When Maia finally took a bite from her food, Taylor paused in chewing and asked, "Is it good?"

Maia swallowed before answering. "Why do you care what I think?" she asked, her tone harsher than Taylor had expected.

It threw her off for a moment, but she recovered and explained, "Well, I want to make sure you can eat it. I wouldn’t want you to starve on my watch. My superiors would kill me." For some reason, the mistrust in Maia’s voice had upset her. Taylor had not been able to hurt her on Amaren. Didn’t that signal she was a compassionate person?

Maia did not respond. Instead, she peeled apart the bread in her sandwich to take a closer look at what she had just taken a bite from. After picking at the lettuce and tomatoes to make sure they were edible, she took a second bite. Once she was apparently satisfied that the sandwich was safe to eat, she began chewing rapidly. Finally, after she had eaten half the sandwich, she paused long enough to give Taylor her opinion. "It's good," she said quietly, staring down at the sandwich. After a pause, she added, "I was hungry."

“The fridge is stocked with basic provisions any time you need something,” Taylor said. She pointed to a storage unit in the corner of the room. “I won’t always be around to feed you, so you should get used to taking meals from there as you need.” She passed another object to Maia, a bottle filled with water. "Here. You'll probably need something to wash your food down."

Maia took the bottle from her and undid the top. Hesitantly, she drank, and then let out a heavy sigh. She downed half of the bottle without pausing for breath, and Taylor remembered what Roberts had said about ikthians and water. She would have to make sure that Maia had access to plenty of it.

Once Maia had finished her sandwich and water, she handed back the empty bottle and wrapper. Taylor set them on the surface of the table before settling back against the couch. The silence that followed made her shift uncomfortably in her seat. She tried to think of a conversation starter, but there was really nothing she could discuss with Maia. Being around the ikthian caused a clash of emotions that she did not know how to deal with, and she spoke without thinking. "You know, I never thought I would be spending time like this with an ikthian. Before, they always just tried to kill me."

"Why would all ikthians try to kill you?"

Taylor frowned at the question. The war made them enemies. It was a simple concept. "The ones I’ve met kill. Cruelly and mercilessly. Every single one of them. I’ve heard that they're taught destruction from birth."

A hurt look crossed Maia's face, and Taylor began to regret the harshness of her statement. Maia had never acted violently toward anyone since her capture. Perhaps it was not fair to lump her in with the seekers. "And have you killed many ikthians?" Maia asked before she could apologize.

"The Dominion invaded our solar system and demanded that we submit. What else would you expect us to do?"

A crease formed on Maia's brow. "I suppose if another alien species was trying to take control of my home planet, I would fight," she finally said. "But I am only a scientist. Not a soldier."

"If you're a scientist, what were you doing in a battle zone?" That was probably what intrigued Taylor the most about Maia. The comment Roberts had made in his office interested her more, and if anything had come up in the interrogation, none of the generals had seen fit to inform her.

"Research," Maia answered vaguely, and Taylor instantly knew that there was more that the ikthian was not telling her. Perhaps she would mention it to Roberts the next time Maia taken for interrogation. Despite her curiosity, it was not her job to question the ikthian. She only had to guard her.

***

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Taylor stood up and set the rest of the boxes beside Maia. "I'm going to take a shower." Without waiting for a response, she headed toward the shower. Maia’s eyes lingered on her back as she walked away, watching the muscles shift with every movement.

Once Taylor was gone, Maia stood up and stretched. She was still extremely tired, even after the short nap she had stolen while Taylor was gone. She wandered back into the bedroom and looked around. Taylor had never finished their conversation about the bed. That probably meant she wanted to sleep on it.

Maia picked up one of the many pillows and clutched it to her chest, wandering back into the living room. The couch they had sat on to eat did not look like it would make a particularly comfortable sleeping place, but she was not in a position to be choosy. She left her newly claimed pillow behind and returned to the bedroom to grab the top sheet from the bed as well.

After a few moments, she had fashioned herself a passable bed on the couch. As she expected, it was not very comfortable, definitely meant for sitting rather than lying down. She tucked herself in the sheet, wrapping it around her body like a protective cocoon. The sound of running water drifted in from the washroom, reminding her of rain. She sighed and buried her face in the pillow, blocking out some of the light. The room was not damp enough either, though it was certainly better than the prison cell.

She wished that this was all a dream. That she had never submitted that final report to the Dominion. That she had never been forced to run for her life. That she had not been captured and interrogated by humans. And then there was Taylor. She was endlessly confusing, and Maia had no idea what to make of her strange behavior. Perhaps all humans were equally strange. She had very little experience with them. For now, all she could do was try and appease her captors, particularly Taylor. Escape seemed impossible. Her only hope was to stay alive and pray that the negotiations were unsuccessful. Maybe she would be held indefinitely as a war asset. At least the humans were not trying to kill her because of her research.

The water shut off, and Maia waited with the sheet clutched around her. A few moments later, as she had suspected, Taylor peeked into the living room, obviously looking for her. "If you're going to sleep out here, I'll turn off the light for you," she said, tapping a pressure pad beside the door.

Maia had hoped the dark would make it easier for her to sleep, but the couch still remained too uncomfortable. Her neck already hurt, despite the leverage the pillow gave her. She tried rolling over, sleeping on the opposite end, curled up on one cushion, but nothing worked. Two hours later, she gave up and stood from the couch with a sigh. Reluctantly, she crept into the bedroom.

Taylor did not seem to notice. The human slept peacefully, unmoving beneath the covers. Carefully, Maia pushed the sheets aside and sat down at the edge of the bed. She lay down with her own sheet and pillow, keeping as far away from Taylor as possible as she tried to get comfortable. Once her fear of waking the human faded, she was able to fall into a fitful sleep that eventually turned into a deep, dreamless slumber.

Chapter Nine

Taylor woke up the next morning with someone soft and warm lying in her arms. She groaned and pulled the body closer, placing a gentle kiss on the woman’s shoulder. Her hand stroked lazy circles over her bed-partner’s back, trying to remember whom she could have possibly fallen asleep with. Whoever it was, she had the softest breasts. She would have to give them some attention later.

Her eyes fluttered open, and as Maia's familiar, pale form came into focus, her memories of the previous day came flooding back to her. Her body immediately stiffened, and Maia released a soft moan. Heat crawled into Taylor's cheeks as the ikthian blinked and looked up at her. For a second, they just stared at one another in confusion. Then, they scrambled apart.

Maia turned in her arms, pulling away and tugging the sheet up to her chin. "I…I am sorry," she stammered. "The couch was uncomfortable, and you did say I could use the bed if I wanted..."

"You’re welcome to it whenever you want," Taylor said, standing up and looking away. She wanted to give Maia some privacy even though the ikthian had fallen asleep in her over-sized clothes. "Just let me know. I…I’ll take the couch."

Taylor went in search of new clothes without saying another word. She had left some of them scattered across the floor, but they were mostly used, so she tossed them in the laundry chute and went rummaging around for a fresh change of pants and a shirt in her duffel bag. Sometime today, she would need to unpack properly. That could be accomplished after she established some space between herself and Maia. Waking up with the ikthian draped over her had been the last thing Taylor expected, but what upset the most was her own reaction. Instead of feeling concerned for her own safety or angry at Maia, she felt embarrassed for getting into the situation in the first place. She should have insisted on taking the couch.

As she peeled off her shirt and pulled a new one over her head, Taylor wondered what her fellow soldiers would say if they had witnessed her awkward display this morning. It was often the standby joke to tease soldiers about charming exotic women into their beds. Commander Roberts got the worst of it by far, considering how many missions he worked in cooperation with the naledai military. It was even worse with ikthians. Their reputation as sirens was already firmly established, and with the pheromones they released, there was some truth behind it.

Thinking about Roberts made Taylor remember that she had not bothered to check her datapad since the night before. She had been too busy to read her messages. She hurried over to her dresser where the tablet still sat and activated it, frowning when she noticed several missed calls and even more messages. She read the first one, and her stomach sank when she saw that it was from Commander Roberts.

'Report with the prisoner to interrogation at 0700. Building D-05, floor 2.'

Taylor checked the time, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that they still had an hour to prepare. If she hurried, they would not be late. "Get up," she said, her attention returning to Maia. "We have to be somewhere this morni…" Her voice cut off as Maia stood up, letting the sheet fall from her body. It was a distracting sight, even though she still wore the clothes that Taylor had given her the day before. Taylor shook her head and turned away. "I’ll leave you to prepare." She walked out of the bedroom and waited for Maia to join her in the living room.

Once both of them were up, they still had time to spare, so Taylor dug up some of the food from yesterday and prepared a quick breakfast. Finally, thirty minutes before Taylor had to be in the interrogation block, they left the officers’ quarters. She had to cuff Maia’s hands, though she knew it was a somewhat excessive precaution. Without the use of her toxins, the ikthian would be dead before she escaped the base, and even if she did, it would only take moments to find her on the planet. Maia was the only ikthian on Earth as far as Taylor knew.

The military base was not necessarily quiet early in the morning, but the people who were up had a destination in mind. Still, Taylor could not help noticing how most eyes lingered on Maia when people walked by. They stared at her openly, as if she were an anomaly, which Taylor supposed she was.

The soldiers also whispered as they passed. They leaned in close to one another and muttered things too quietly for Taylor to hear, but every one of them always glanced away when their gaze met hers. Most of them seemed to keep their distance out of instinct. Taylor gripped the handle of her pistol tighter, although she did not aim it directly at Maia. The ikthian had not shown any aggression since her capture. The gun was mostly for show.

Taylor was so focused on Maia that she hardly noticed a group of soldiers walking straight toward her. The only reason she stopped was that Maia came to a halt. She glanced up to see that the wall of muscle in front of her was actually Andrew. "Hey, Lieutenant," he said with a grin. "Sergeant Bower here was interested in seeing the ikthian." Andrew nodded to one of the men standing at his side.

Bower was another rather muscular soldier, but unlike Andrew, he tended to leer at women in a way that made Taylor’s skin crawl. He looked over Maia’s body with little reservation. "Just like a human," he muttered. "That’s what the rumor is, anyway." He reached out to touch Maia, but she flinched away.

"Stand down, Sergeant. I need to take her to Building D," Taylor said, trying to brush aside his advances without causing a scene. The last thing she needed was to file an incident report.

"Building D is close enough," Bower said. "And besides, I haven’t gotten to satisfy my curiosity yet."

"Uh…maybe we should get going," Andrew said, though the Sergeant did not seem to be paying attention.

"Not yet." Bower finally stopped staring at Maia long enough to cast a brief look at Andrew. "Come on, it's not every day you get to see an alien up close and personal, especially an ikthian. I hear they’ll breed with any species at all, even animals."

Taylor had heard similar slurs before, but hearing Bower say them to Maia caused her fists to clench. She glanced at Maia briefly to make sure she was all right and noticed that her eyes had narrowed at the soldier. She did not want either Maia or Bower to cause a scene, though she doubted the ikthian would try anything. Her behavior had been anything but threatening thus far. "Not this one, Sergeant," she said firmly, taking a step forward to position herself between Maia and Bower. "And from the way she's behaving, she obviously doesn't consider you an option."

"Have you gotten a chance to test her out yet?" Bower asked. He stepped to the side so that Taylor was no longer obstructing his view. "Those pheromones must be good if you're this possessive already." He made the mistake of reaching out for Maia again.

Before Bower could touch her, Taylor seized his wrist in a firm grip, clutching down harder than necessary. "Drop it, Bower," she snapped. "She's a prisoner, not some curiosity for you to gawk at with a hard-on."

Bower took a step back, but he kept grinning at Taylor. "You had me for a minute there. Come on, Lieutenant. It’s just an ikthian. Didn’t they wipe out your squad or something? It doesn’t deserve your charity." He pushed her aside and grabbed Maia by the collar of her shirt. "I think it needs to be knocked down a few pegs, actually." Something wild flashed in his eyes. He raised a fist, and Maia flinched.

Before Taylor could register what was happening, her hand shot out and stopped the blow. She gripped his fist with crushing pressure while her other hand went to his throat. "Just try and touch her again," Taylor growled, "and I will do worse than pull rank on you."

A gurgling noise escaped the man’s mouth. Taylor knew she had found a weak point, but she was not about to let him go. She increased the pressure.

"Hey, hey, Taylor!" Andrew ran forward and pried the two of them apart.

Bower gasped and coughed as the air rushed back into his lungs. Taylor stepped away, still glaring down at him. He was doubled over and wheezing, but that didn’t stop him from glaring angrily up at her. "You fucking bitch," he growled, his voice hoarse.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t hear a ‘ma’am’ attached to that," Taylor said. She was done with him, and he would be reported for insubordination. She turned to Maia. "Are you all right?"

Maia seemed to snap out of a daze and answered, "I think so." Taylor led her away before Bower could recover, slipping inside the first available building and hurrying for the elevator. She wanted to get away from other people.

Once they were safely inside, Taylor felt like she could breathe again. She stared at the elevator doors as the two of them waited through the slow ride to the bottom.

Maia broke the silence first. "Thank you."

Taylor glanced at her. "I was just doing my job." When the ikthian’s expression fell, she tried a different approach. "Look, if you’re going to escape and kill anyone while you’re here, make sure you poison him first. He deserves it."

Maia’s eyes widened at the comment, and Taylor wondered if the ikthian understood that she was joking. Probably not. "I…I have no intention of hurting anyone."

Taylor snorted. "Well, that’s a first coming from an ikthian. But I guess I believe you. Anyway, you don’t need to thank me. He obviously had it coming."

"This isn’t the first time you have come to my rescue," Maia said. "Back on Amaren, when you intersected those seekers…you saved me."

Something about the way Maia looked at her left Taylor speechless. There was admiration in her voice, but her blue eyes held something like hope. Either way, Taylor knew it was unwarranted. "I don’t think I saved you from anything," she said truthfully.

The elevator opened, and they stepped into the hall. Maia sighed. "Perhaps you will understand one day."

They spent the rest of their walk through the building in silence until Taylor led them out into the warm sunlight again. "Shortcut," she offered in explanation, giving Maia a hesitant smile. "And there aren't as many soldiers inside this time of day."

Taylor did not expect anyone else to give them trouble, but Bower’s behavior still bothered her. In her mind, Maia did not warrant that kind of attention. But she was an ikthian. Bower’s reaction would seem perfectly justified to many of the other soldiers on base. Suddenly, Taylor realized that she had been thinking of her prisoner as if she were human. It was a frightening thought, especially since she had seen ikthians massacre her squad just a few days before. Still...Taylor looked at Maia. The ikthian was hovering close to her arm, almost near enough to share body heat.  Even though Maia was an alien, Taylor was disgusted by Bower’s treatment of her. She had not deserved it.

Chapter Ten

They arrived at building D-05 after a few minutes, and Maia noticed several guards in black armor waiting at the door to escort them the rest of the way. Taylor kept one hand around her elbow, guiding her firmly, but her grip was loose enough to allow her some comfort. She glanced nervously at the other humans that had fallen into step beside them before returning her gaze to Taylor, hoping for some kind of reassurance. Taylor squeezed her arm, and Maia let the tight, tense line of her shoulders relax slightly.

It was not long before they reached the second floor. Maia allowed Taylor to lead her through a nondescript door. The human's hand remained at her elbow as they stepped into the room. Three men in uniform were waiting for them. Maia recognized them, although she was not sure of their names. The muscular, dark-haired human on the right had been there to meet them at the landing pad. The silver-haired human in the middle was a high-ranking official of some sort, judging from the medals on his chest, and she remembered the pale, balding man on the left as well. Both had been present when they had assigned Taylor to be her guard.

"Lieutenant, just on time. We're about to open negotiations with the ikthians," the dark-haired man on the right said. He smiled at Taylor, and Maia noticed that she smiled back. Obviously, they were friendly. “Chairman Bouchard is particularly eager to get the ball rolling.”

"Of course, Commander Roberts." The balding man–Bouchard–cleared his throat. "I see the prisoner is in...presentable condition, Lieutenant Morgan."

"Yes, Chairman," Taylor said. She turned to the silver-haired man. "She's been fed and introduced to her new quarters, General Hunt, Sir. So far, she hasn't acted aggressively or attempted to escape."

General Hunt nodded. "A wise move. If her mother and her people come through for her, she won't have to. I just hope we can stop at least some of this bloodshed."

Maia listened intently. She had not spoken to her mother in some time before her capture. Irana did have some affection for her, although she did not entirely approve of Maia's career choice, or her current status with the Dominion. The thought of going back into such a dangerous situation made Maia's stomach clench. She hoped that the negotiations would fall through. Anything the humans did to her was bound to be less gruesome than the Dominion's punishments for traitors.

"We all want that, Sir," Taylor said. "Just tell me what I need to do, and I'll take care of it."

"For now, take the prisoner inside," Hunt ordered. "We're going to record proof of her capture and send it to the ikthians."

Maia allowed Taylor to lead her further into the room, and she began to take in her surroundings. Like the first interrogation chamber, this one was poorly lit with blank concrete walls. A battered chair sat in the center of the room, and a vid recorder floated nearby. Taylor led her over to the chair, and she sat down without instruction.

"Taylor, over here," said Roberts.

Taylor returned to the commander’s side as they prepared the vid equipment, and Bouchard moved to stand beside Maia. "Someone fix this damnable mic," he said. One member of the camera crew took a step forward, and Maia noticed the nervous glance he shot in her direction. "We haven’t got all day," Bouchard snapped, the wrinkles in his forehead becoming even more prominent.

"Yes, Sir." Cautiously, the man stepped forward and fixed the small microphone attached to Bouchard’s suit. His hands trembled, and he deliberately looked away from Maia's chair. With some surprise, she realized that the human was absolutely terrified of her. She wondered what he had been told about the ikthians to make him so hesitant. The horrible man outside had given her some clue with his derogatory comments, but she was still surprised that her mere presence could instill so much fear. Maia resolved to ask Taylor what exactly a human might think a chained ikthian capable of doing.

"Stop behaving like a child," Bouchard said as the man tried and failed to correct the mic. "She cannot release toxins as long as she is wearing the collar. It will shock her if she tries."

The technician swallowed nervously, but pushed on with his task. Finally, he finished and scurried away to rejoin the camera crew, leaving Maia alone next to Bouchard.

"Lieutenant Morgan," General Hunt said. He gestured to the empty space opposite Bouchard. "Please join the Chairman behind the prisoner."

Maia's gaze met Taylor's as she left the rest of the group and walked around the chair. She resisted the temptation to turn and watch Taylor's movements as the human stepped into place behind her. A warm hand rested on her shoulder, and Maia tensed for a second before she realized it was Taylor. For some reason, that realization comforted her.

"All right," Bouchard said. "Get ready to record. We'll edit later."

"Recording," the man behind the floating camera said.

"I am Chairman Bouchard of the Human Council for Defense." Maia had no idea what to do with her facial expression. She knew she should stare directly into the camera, but she was hyperaware of Taylor's presence behind her. She also did not want to think about who would view this footage back on Korithia. "We have captured Maia Kalanis, the daughter of Irana Kalanis. So far, she has not been harmed." Maia's shoulders tensed, and she felt Taylor squeeze slightly, as if to comfort her. "She will remain unharmed if you agree to open negotiations with us, and cease attacks on all human and naledai forces while the negotiations are in progress." For some reason, Bouchard's voice set Maia on edge. She would have to ask Taylor about him later.

Before he could continue, General Hunt held up his hand, motioning for the camera to stop recording. "That's really all we need. We stated our demands, and we proved that the prisoner is in our custody."

Maia breathed a sigh of relief as Commander Roberts nodded his approval. "Short and sweet. Now, we just have to wait for their answer." He looked past Maia and addressed Taylor directly. "Good work, Lieutenant. You can take the prisoner back now. We’ll contact you if we need anything else."

The walk back to her prison was slower than the journey to the interrogation had been, Maia observed as Taylor led her from the interrogation room. Unfortunately, more humans were out and about this time. Maia's skin crawled as she felt countless pairs of eyes watching her. It was even worse than before. She hated being stared at, and she instinctively pulled closer to Taylor. Although her captor was a human, she was also Maia's only protector. What if Taylor had not been sympathetic to her when Sergeant Bower had attacked? The outcome might have been very different.

When Taylor had first captured her, Maia assumed she had traded one hell for another, though the humans seemed content to wait and see how useful she could be before throwing her away. The time she had spent with Taylor had convinced her that remaining with the humans would be safer than returning to Dominion, but the hate in Bower’s eyes was more than enough to remind her that she was still among enemies.

Another thought occurred to her, rising unbidden in her mind. What if someone less sympathetic had found her in the canyon? Any other human would have shot her without a second thought, but Taylor had hesitated. Without her, Maia knew she would not have left Amaren alive. Perhaps that was why she found Taylor so intriguing, even beyond her usual scientific curiosity. The human had saved her, even though she had no reason.

Chapter Eleven

Maia felt a wave of relief as soon as the door to the captain's quarters closed behind them. Even though it was technically her prison, she felt safer inside the barracks than out among the soldiers.

"Here, give me your wrists," Taylor said once they were alone. Maia offered them, staring down at Taylor's hands as she undid the cuffs. The human’s hands were less elegant than she had expected, calloused and scarred in a few places with uneven white marks. A question rose in her mind before she could stifle it. How would those hands feel on her skin?

"Are you okay?" Taylor asked, and Maia forced herself to look up into the human’s face. She was a little surprised that Taylor seemed able to read her emotions. Based on her experience with the humans on base so far, most of them thought that ikthians were little more than animals. Even a few of Taylor’s comments had been hurtful.

"I am all right," Maia murmured dismissively. She did not like the involuntary reaction her body had to Taylor’s presence. The more time she spent around Taylor, the more confused she felt. She should have been worrying about being a prisoner of war, about the Dominion's attempts to find and kill her, but instead, she found herself wondering what Taylor thought of her. It was disconcerting to say the least.

Apparently taking Maia at her word, Taylor shrugged and headed for the washroom, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Not sure what else to do, Maia sat on the couch, trying to process the uncomfortable realization that Taylor's departure had lowered her mood, even though she had only gone into the next room.

She’s your only company. Of course you have grown attached. The lone thought flickered through her mind, though Maia knew she was just trying to rationalize away the emotion. That was something her colleagues had always criticized her for. There had to be a rationalization for everything.

"And why shouldn’t there be?" she had always replied. "This galaxy has yet to prove that things simply ‘happen’. There is always an order to be distilled from the chaos." The basis of Maia’s research had been on this slightly paranoid belief, and in the end, she had been right. Even now in Taylor's company, she could only find more evidence mounting to support her argument. It did not take a geneticist to observe the similarities between their species, but it had taken Maia’s research to prove it meant something.

However, her interest in Taylor extended beyond scientific curiosity. The way her blood rushed every time the human touched her was a clear indication. Maia wondered for a moment if this was her own doing. Perhaps if she had taken the time to gain more romantic and sexual experience instead of burying herself in her work, she would have been able to handle this situation better.

Ikthians did not have sex with aliens often, despite what the rumors claimed. Some of the protectorate nations were more accepting of the practice than others, but it was considered foolish to pursue romantic endeavors with other species. Her people liked to state that they were the achievement of evolved life. The theory dissolved quickly if ikthians started mating and raising families with other species, even if they were of equal intelligence and capability. The humans were quickly proving themselves to Maia. Taylor, at least, was perfectly capable of the same wide range of emotions that her species felt, and showed a level of intelligence equal to most ikthians. She also had a certain surety and bluntness to her that Maia found somewhat annoying, and, she had to admit, attractive in an irritating sort of way.

The sound of the door opening gave Maia a few moments of warning before Taylor's return, but it was not enough time to try and will away the blush staining her cheeks. It did not help that Taylor had decided to emerge wearing less clothes than she had left with. Her uniform was gone, stripped away to reveal a plain white compression shirt and a loose pair of undergarments that cut off at mid-thigh. There was a strip of olive skin between them, positioned at exactly the right height to highlight Taylor's navel and the line that bisected her abdominal muscles.

"I’m going to work on some things," Taylor said, walking right past Maia. She watched the human move, aware of how the water droplets rolled over the curve of her muscular arms. Taylor slumped into a desk chair and pulled herself up to the wooden tabletop. Maia was surprised to find that she enjoyed watching Taylor's hands activate the graphic interface. For some reason, the deft movements of her fingers were a point of interest. She shook her head and stood up, deciding to follow Taylor’s example and head for the shower. Her skin was feeling dry anyway.

"I will be in the washroom," she said. Taylor barely nodded as she kept working. As far as guarding her went, the human was fairly lax in her duties, but she had probably assessed Maia to be low risk. Maia had already considered searching for a weapon in the apartment, but aside from Taylor’s gun, which she always kept close, there was nothing for her to use. The apartment had been combed over quite thoroughly before she had arrived.

Maia stepped into the steam-filled room and breathed deeply, the moisture immediately soothing the aches in her body. Earth was far too dry for her liking, she had decided, but this room provided some relief when she needed it. She shut the door and stripped down, turning on the flow of water before stepping into the shower. At least humans had these devices, but more than anything, she wanted a proper body of water to go swimming in. She knew Earth had oceans, rivers, and lakes, but she doubted the humans would let her near one just because she felt a little homesick. For now, the water cascading over her body was more than enough to sate her. She did not require water in excess to survive, but it made her daily life more tolerable.

Maia ran her hands over her parched skin, enjoying the steam as it caressed her arms and legs. She found herself remembering the way Taylor’s hands had looked. The sure, steady movements. The small scars. The large palms. She reached up to touch her own shoulder, remembering the way Taylor had gripped it with a reserved sort of strength while the camera recorded them.

It took Maia a moment to realize that her other hand had started to wander, tracing patterns over her stomach and drifting undeniably lower. She leaned back, bracing herself against the side of the shower and enjoying the cool, firm wall against her back. It was a strangely pleasant contrast to the warm droplets trailing down her arms and legs.

She debated with herself for a little while, letting her fingertips rest just below her navel. Why was she suddenly thrumming with energy? Why was her skin so exquisitely sensitive? They were not new feelings. Despite her inexperience, Maia was somewhat familiar with physical desire and how her body worked. But why was this happening now? She was a prisoner, and although she had escaped from the seekers and the Dominion, her life was still in danger.

Perhaps, Maia thought, she was mistaken. The hand that had hesitated on her lower abdomen began moving again, sliding downwards, cupping between her legs. Her breath hitched when her fingers met wetness and welcoming heat. No, not mistaken. Before she could talk herself out of it, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back, tracing her outer lips until they began blossoming apart. The steady, insistent throb that had started low in her stomach began spreading downward to meet her fingertips.

"What am I doing?" she murmured to herself, so softly that she could barely hear herself over the hiss of the shower. "Why am I…" Then she found the tight ridge just above her entrance and began circling, rubbing, flicking over the sensitive tip, and suddenly, she did not care. Not about what was causing her sudden spike in desire, or her current situation. At least for the moment, none of it mattered.

As her hand began moving faster, she tried to conjure up a face from her memory, someone suitable to think about. One of her old schoolmates, although they had long since drifted apart. The particularly attractive professor she had studied with for two semesters, back before she had started working for the University. And, finally, someone completely imaginary. A face with dark eyes, a strong chin, and a shock of dark hair...

Wait, hair? Maia was so startled by where her mind had wandered that she almost stopped the motion of her hand. Her heart thumped crazily against the cage of her ribs, and her fingers slipped a little. No. This was wrong. Taylor was an alien, not to mention her guard. The human might have inadvertently saved her life, but she had still taken her captive.

Her body still burned, and desire coiled tight in her abdomen. It was just the stress of her situation, Maia thought. She closed her eyes again and allowed her fingers to press firmly against the swollen bundle of nerves. A shudder ran through her body, and she bit her lip. Yes, she needed this to take the edge off her stress. That was all and the human’s figure just happened to be a sexually pleasing one. Lust and proper emotional desire were two very different realities, and Maia trusted that her attraction to Taylor would remain safely within the realm of lust.

"By the ancients," she groaned, giving in to temptation and slipping two fingers inside herself. Perhaps if the humans and ikthians had found peace instead, she would have come to Earth on a scientific study. They would have made Taylor her escort in between lectures, and sometime during her busy schedule. Maia could picture it so vividly. Taylor would pin her against the shower wall, hands gliding down from her shoulders to cup her breasts. She swallowed a moan as she rocked forward on her own fingers. The human would part her legs and slip two fingers inside her just like this, taking her with frenzied passion. The thought alone, so utterly forbidden and impossible, was enough to bring her release crashing down on her sooner than she expected. Maia gasped as her inner walls fluttered around her fingers, and she rocked into the heel of her palm, desperately trying to relieve the pressure.

As her contractions faded, so did the pleasure. Her clouded mind returned to Earth, in this steamy shower, where she stood alone. She shook her head. "What is wrong with me?" she whispered. Maia had never fantasized so intensely about someone before, especially not an alien she knew next to nothing about. If she took the time to learn about Taylor, surely her infatuation would vanish.

Maia removed her fingers and resumed washing. A friend of hers had once said that relationships ended when both parties realized neither would live up to the other’s expectations. The same would hold true for her infatuation with Taylor. She was Maia’s guard, and the largest obstacle between her and freedom. Taylor would never sympathize with her, and she would certainly never help her escape the military base. That alone would put enough distance between them.

Maia shut off the water. She still felt tightness deep within her chest every time she breathed. She wanted to know more about Taylor, as disappointing as the outcome would probably be.

Chapter Twelve

Taylor groaned and hit the ‘delete’ button again. The screen in front of her wiped, and she flexed her fingers on top of the old-fashioned touchpad. She had no idea what else to type. Most of her colleagues simply dictated through the microphone, but she could not seem to find her voice, let alone her words. She had gone through perhaps five attempted drafts for this letter with little success, and it was only the first one on the list. It was addressed to the significant other of Barkes, who Taylor had never met. Barkes had never brought up personal details with the squad, a fact Taylor only realized after sitting down to write the damn letter.

With a sigh, she started typing again, this time trying to describe the battle scene. Private Barkes fought bravely to ensure the safety of the squad. Taylor considered deleting the line. The seekers had taken them completely by surprise, and most of the squad were butchered before they could put up a proper fight. Only she and Jackson had escaped the initial ambush.

Taylor rubbed her temple and leaned back in the uncomfortable chair. Although losing Jackson, Barkes, and the others weighed heavily on her, she had no words of condolence for their grieving family members, and she hated herself for it. She could feel pressure building behind her eyes. Damn it. The last thing she needed was to be on the verge of tears.

As she wiped a hand across her eyes, she heard the door to the bathroom open. Taylor hunched over the interface and tried to concentrate on the letter. If she kept her face low, perhaps Maia would not see the tear streaks forming on her cheeks. Taylor felt like she was going insane. She had to be. Nothing had ever made her cry so easily. She had not even cried right after her squadmates died, but there had hardly been time to think about it. Now, sitting at this desk, she had to write a letter that somehow conveyed a sick message of hope, respect, and remorse for her fallen comrades. She drew in a shaky breath and forced herself to type another meaningless sentence.

"Taylor?" The voice behind her sounded inquisitive, concerned.

Taylor blinked and wiped at her eyes again, but she did not turn to face Maia. "What do you want?"

There was a moment of silence, as if Maia was unsure whether to continue speaking. Even though she continued staring resolutely at the datapad, Taylor could sense her hesitation. "I was wondering why you were crying," she said at last.

For a moment, Taylor fooled herself into believing that there was actually concern in Maia's voice. She sighed, blinking away the sting in her eyes and hoping that no fresh tears would fall. "It’s nothing," she said, a little more gruffly than she had intended. She was not in the mood to talk about the loss of her squad, or the seemingly impossible task of writing letters to their family members.

Maia crept a little further around Taylor’s chair. She did not force eye contact, but she pressed slightly into Taylor's personal space. "I do not know much about humans, but I doubt that they cry over nothing."

Taylor sighed. Part of her wanted to unburden herself, but it seemed almost disrespectful to talk about the loss of her squad with an ikthian. Maia certainly did not act like the seekers, who slaughtered without mercy, but she was still the enemy. After several moments of conflict, she finally turned her chair to face Maia, not bothering to hide her face anymore. She had to talk to someone, and even though Maia was an ikthian, she had witnessed Jackson’s death. Perhaps she would be able to relate in some small way.

"You know I lost my entire squad on Amaren." Taylor set her datapad back on the desk. It was something of a relief to put it down. "The seekers killed them all. Since I was their commanding officer, I have to inform their families." She swallowed, trying to fight the sudden thickness in her throat and praying that her voice would not break. "They all got a brief memo to let them know what happened as soon as I reported in, but…I have to write letters. Something more personal."

Taylor looked up into Maia’s blue eyes, and was surprised to see them swimming with sympathy. It was more emotion than she had ever seen on an ikthian’s face before. She did not know how to react. Finally, she decided to continue. "The worst part is, I don’t know what to say. I worked with them. I respected them. I would have given my life to get them off that rock safe. But I didn’t really know them. Not the way their families did. Now, I wish I had. At least then I would have something to say besides: ‘I’m sorry I got them killed.’"

Maia placed her hand on Taylor’s shoulder, much like Taylor had done for her earlier. The contact made Taylor jump, but she made no move to pull away or push the hand aside. For some reason, it comforted her. "It is not your fault. The seekers were not even pursuing your soldiers in the first place."

Taylor ran the back of her own hand across her face again, wiping away the last stubborn streaks of her tears. "Don’t say that. It was my fault. It was my job to get them out of there alive, and I failed."

"No, the seekers were after me," Maia whispered. Although she did not step away, she pulled back a few inches, almost as if she was retreating. Taylor felt the comforting weight of Maia’s hand leave her shoulder, and for some reason, she wanted to reach out and take it back. Instead, she remained seated and resisted the impulse.

"That doesn’t change the fact that a bunch of bottom feeders mowed them down for nothing." Taylor swiveled her chair back around and picked up her abandoned datapad. She had to finish these letters before tomorrow, no matter how difficult it was. After all they had lost, it was the least her squad’s family members deserved.

Maia started to say something, but Taylor did not meet her gaze, her face fixed with concentration. She typed a few more useless words, sighing and erasing them again almost as soon as they appeared on the screen. "I know you are upset," Maia began, but stopped when Taylor let out a snort.

"Damn, I wonder how you figured that one out?"

Maia frowned. "I came over to help you, but that seems pointless if you are going to behave this way."

"Well, I didn’t ask for your help anyway," Taylor snapped. She knew she was being petty toward Maia, but she had little sympathy left at the moment. She tossed her datapad aside. She was sick of writing these letters. "You’re right, it was your fault my squad is dead. Whatever stupid quarrel is going on between you and the rest of your stinking race, it killed my people."

Taylor knew the words were a mistake the moment she said them. Maia looked livid, and she felt a spike of fear in her chest. Even with the collar on, Maia was still dangerous. "You involved yourself with that quarrel when you made me your prisoner to save your comrade," Maia said, and Taylor could hear the tightness of anger in her voice. She leaned back in her seat, shocked at the obvious display of emotion from her usually demure prisoner. "And even that poor attempt failed. They would have slaughtered you if they did not need to torture me first."

The translator in Taylor’s ear could barely keep up with the volley of words the ikthian flung at her. "Maia," she said, unsure of how else to calm her.

"This quarrel is beyond any feud between races. At least you know your soldiers are dead and not being tormented for information. At least you know you are safe on your own home-world." Maia blinked, and Taylor saw tears glistening in her eyes. She reached forward to grab Maia’s hand, but the ikthian stepped back. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, the tears were gone. "I apologize," she said, the pitch of her voice softening. Taylor sat still, mouth open in slight shock. "I scolded you for an ill temper, and lost mine instead."

"No…it’s okay." Taylor got up from her chair and grabbed her datapad. "Would you like to sit down? You look like you have some things on your mind."

"What?" Maia asked.

"You seem to be upset," Taylor clarified.

"Oh." Maia crossed her arms over her chest and took another calming breath. "I suppose I should."

Taylor led her over to the couch, and they sat down together. She glanced over at Maia, relieved to no longer see tears welling in her eyes. She did not know how she would handle a sobbing ikthian. "I’m sorry I snapped. I forgot that you’re probably on the verge of a breakdown. God knows I would be if I had been captured by the ikthians."

"You would be dead already," Maia said in her usual serious tone.

Taylor laughed. The tension had broken, and she felt much better than she had before starting the letters. "Well, there’s a vote of confidence for me."

Maia shook her head, her brow furrowing. "I was merely stating a fact. If they thought you could provide them any useful information, the Dominion would…"

"Hey," Taylor said, repeating the gesture that Maia had given her earlier and resting her hand on the ikthian’s forearm. "Let’s not think about what the Dominion would do to either of us if we were on Korithia instead of Earth."

"That is probably for the best," Maia said with a sigh. "It is far from ideal, but being held captive by humans is preferable to being dragged home by the seekers."

Taylor wanted to ask Maia to expand on the cryptic comment, but she suspected that she would not care to talk further. Instead, she waited to see if Maia would volunteer an explanation. When Maia did not speak up, she decided to change the subject. "Hey, thank you for trying to make me feel better. It’s not something I would have expected from an ikthian, especially one that’s my prisoner."

Maia gave her a small smile. "You are not what I expected from a human, either," she confessed.

"I’m not sure whether that’s a compliment or an insult." Taylor returned the smile. She stretched for a moment, trying to ease some of the stiffness in her shoulders and spine before she pushed herself up off the couch. "I’m going to try and finish those letters." She headed back towards the desk and her long-forgotten datapad. "I think I know what to say now."

Maia stood up from the couch as well. "I think I might try and sleep," she said, gazing at the open door leading to the bedroom.

"I won’t be far behind you." Taylor activated the datapad’s screen. Her fingers hesitated for a moment, and she glanced back over her shoulder. "Maia? It wasn’t your fault my squad died."

"Yes, it was," Maia whispered. "But…thank you for saying that anyway." She turned and made her way to the bedroom before Taylor could respond.

Chapter Thirteen

Taylor slammed another ammo clip into place and hoisted the assault rifle back up to her shoulder. She aimed at the distant target, let out a breath, and fired a short burst of shots directly into the dummy’s chest. The cluster of bullets hit in a controlled scatter with a satisfying rat-tat-tat.

"Not bad, Taylor," Rachel said, holding her own gun at the ready. She grinned, narrowing her eyes as a smirk tweaked the corners of her lips. "That is, if you were still in training." She turned back to the target, took aim, and fired off a series of clean shots. All of the bullets landed squarely in the dummy’s forehead rather than the scattered chest shot Taylor had gone for.

"I get it. You rock. I suck." Taylor shot again, this time clipping the target’s shoulder. "Damn," she growled. Usually, she was a much more consistent shot, but she was on edge this afternoon, and her concentration was blown. Maia had been taken in for more interrogating, and Taylor found herself increasingly annoyed by the ikthian’s absence. It was not like they wanted to hear about her research anyway. After talking with Maia that morning, Taylor learned that the interrogators had already asked about her research, but were much more interested in her lineage, something that frustrated Taylor to no end. Instead of dwelling on the morning further, she waited to fire another round. Rachel fired another shot that landed literally between the dummy’s eyes, so she gave up, locking the safety into place and putting the gun down. "You win."

Rachel pouted. "Aw, come on, you usually last a little longer than this. What’s bugging you today?"

Taylor kicked the dirt with her boot and picked up her gun again. If shooting targets would stop Rachel from asking questions, maybe it was too early to call it quits. "Nothing is bothering me," she said, though it was a lie. She wanted to spend more time with Maia. No, that couldn’t be it. Maybe she was just upset that they might be torturing her. Maia was not like other ikthians; she was a person, and if they treated her like anything else…

The next shot Taylor fired hit the dummy in the center of the forehead. "Something is obviously bothering you," Rachel said. "Is it the 24 hour watch they dumped you with? I mean, I know we’re short-handed, but it’s unfair to expect you to watch a bottom-feeder all day, every day."

Taylor almost cringed at the comment ‘bottom-feeder’, even though she had used it plenty of times herself. Maia was anything but that. The empathy she had shown yesterday proved it. "I appreciate the downtime, don’t get me wrong," Taylor said, gesturing at the shooting range. This had been her first moment alone with a friend for a while. "But I just think they’re wasting time in the interrogation today."

"Who?" Rachel asked.

"The people interrogating Maia." Taylor sighed and pulled the spent ammo clip from her gun. It was filled with practice rounds to conserve resources.

Rachel blinked, as if she was surprised to hear that the alien had a name, and even more surprised to hear Taylor use it so casually. "So, you’re on first name terms with it now?" she asked, her tone edged with disapproval. She fired a few more shots into the dummy’s head, and Taylor watched it snap back in response. "Damn it," Rachel muttered, "this thing won’t last long before someone breaks it. Wish they would spring for a proper holo-arena."

"No money," Taylor said, secretly relieved that Rachel had not expected an answer to her first question. She did not want to think about the curious way her relationship with Maia was developing. It was starting to put her on edge. "This war is bleeding us dry."

"True," Rachel said, popping out her own spent ammo clip and replacing it with a sharp motion of her hand. "I haven’t been off-planet for a while, but I’ve heard stories. They’re barely equipping squads with what they need to complete their missions anymore."

Taylor sighed, lowering her gun and turning away from the targets. "A lot of bullets and guns won’t save you if the ikthians get the jump." Except for Jackson, the rest had been slaughtered in a matter of seconds, with no time to use what little weaponry they had been provided with.

"At least we’re not as bad off as the colonists," Rachel pointed out, following Taylor’s lead and lowering her own gun. "My family’s out there somewhere. They wanted to come back, but the Chair of Defense issued an executive order saying Earth couldn’t take any more refugees."

Taylor scowled at the mention of Bouchard, but decided not to say exactly what she thought of him. It would only feed Rachel’s worries. "They’re still alive?"

Rachel nodded. "For now. But if something doesn’t break soon…who knows?"

"We just have to hope…" Taylor caught herself just before she used Maia’s name again. It was a dangerous habit to get into. "We just have to hope that the ikthian can help us. The brass seems to have high hopes."

"She’d better," Rachel said, narrowing her eyes. "She cost you your entire squad. It would be nice to see something good out of it."

Taylor swallowed thickly, glancing down at her gun to disguise the conflicted expression on her face. She remembered back to the night before, when Maia had talked about her own people with such obvious fear. For just a moment, Taylor wondered if there was a way to use Maia and negotiate for a ceasefire without turning her over to the Dominion afterwards. She had made it clear that the ikthians were not going to be kind to her if she was returned to Korithia.

After a moment, Taylor noticed that Rachel was staring at her, and she quickly looked back up, trying to disguise the awkward pause. "Yeah. It would. At least then I’d have something to tell the families…I wrote all the letters of condolence yesterday."

Rachel winced. "Damn. I don’t think any of them would have blamed you for taking another few days to get your head together, especially since you’re babysitting our ticket out of this mess."

"It isn’t terrible," Taylor said. "She’s not bad company."

Rachel set her gun down. "Did you just say that? Really?"

Taylor avoided meeting Rachel’s gaze. "What? She’s a good person."

"It’s the reason your crew is dead," said Rachel. She put a hand on Taylor’s arm. Though it was supposed to be a comforting gesture, Taylor had to resist shrugging the off the touch. "And even if one ikthian might have some proper civility, this one is going to end up either dead or traded away to the highest bidder. So don’t you dare tell me you’re growing attached to it."

The callous words made Taylor back away. She hated to admit it, but Rachel was right. Maia was probably not going to get out of this situation alive. "I’m not," she said, trying to reassure her friend. "And she’s not an it. Just because she’s a political prisoner doesn’t mean we should treat her like dirt. We’d be no better than the bottom-feeders if we did."

Her comrade’s eyes narrowed as Rachel considered what Taylor said. She crossed her arms. Rachel looked frustrated with her. "But there’s more than civility here, Taylor. I’m your friend. Don’t play me off like some fool."

Taylor picked up her assault rifle and began disassembling it. "I’m not. And there’s nothing more to me and the prisoner than what you’re putting into it."

Rachel put a hand on her shoulder again. "Are you sure? Taylor, look at me." The lieutenant looked up from her half-assembled rifle and met Rachel’s concerned stare. "I don’t want you getting in trouble, okay? Sometimes I worry about you."

"Don’t worry, then. I have it under control." This time, Taylor did shrug off the friendly touch. She grabbed a rag and began wiping down the dusty parts of her weapon. She had not given it a proper cleaning in a while, anyway.

"There shouldn’t even be anything to have under control," said Rachel. "That’s my point."

"Don’t worry," Taylor said again, a little more insistently. "I have a job to do, and I’m going to do it."

"Okay, okay." Rachel raised her hands in mock surrender, shifting back a little and turning to begin disassembling her own weapon for cleaning. "Just…be careful. Even though it—"

"She," Taylor interrupted.

"She," Rachel corrected herself grudgingly, "might not seem like the ikthians that killed your squad, she’s still one of them. You don’t really know her. And if there’s some way we can use her to protect Earth, it doesn’t matter how nice she is. We need to look out for our own people first."

Taylor sighed. Deep down, she knew that Rachel was right, but her friend’s logic did not ease any of the conflict she felt. "Yeah. I know." Still, she could not help picturing Maia’s face as she resumed cleaning her weapon. Even though she was an alien, her expressions were so familiar. So human. For just a moment, Taylor’s hands shook over her gun. Thoughts like that were only going to make it even more difficult when Maia was sent away from Earth.

Chapter Fourteen

Maia's first instinct was to rush out to the living room when she heard the door open. She could tell it was Taylor by the way the human grumbled. A clattering noise filled the small apartment as Taylor began tossing pieces of what Maia could only assume was her armor.

"You can leave. I’m capable of watching my own damn prisoner," Taylor growled at the armed guards. Unable to resist, Maia peeked past the bedroom door and watched. She almost laughed when she saw the identical expressions of confusion on the guards’ faces. Apparently, they had not been expecting Taylor to strip practically in the middle of the hallway. A piece of Taylor’s armor nearly hit one of them as she continued to pull off the heavy layers, and both of them turned and fled, wisely deciding that she could handle herself.

As soon as they were gone, Taylor turned and shut the door, activating the lock code. "You’d think the whole base has no more confidence in me," she muttered, kicking aside her chest plate without bothering to pick it up. Maia cleared her throat, and Taylor looked up to see her framed in the doorway to the bedroom. Maia did not know how to respond to Taylor’s irate mood, so she chose to remain standing with her hands cuffed in front of her. She had not said a word to the guards when they had insisted on binding her wrists for the interrogation. They had not harmed her otherwise, but she was still relieved when Taylor stomped over and punched in the code to release her.

"Why the hell did they bother restraining you?" Taylor asked, pulling the open cuffs away and tossing them onto the table. "What do they think you’re going to do while the collar’s on? Scratch someone’s eyes out?"

Maia rubbed her wrists, massaging the place where the cuffs had chafed against her skin. "I think they were simply following instructions, Taylor," she said, unsure of how else to calm the human. She walked to the couch and sat down. Perhaps if she could get Taylor to stop moving, she would unwind.

Taylor continued pacing in front of her. With no more armor to fling, she made sweeping gestures with her arms. "It’s the principle of the thing." Her hands balled into tight fists. "They act like… like…" Taylor’s pacing slowed as she searched for the words she needed. "Like you’re someone they can’t trust."

Maia frowned. "Why should the guards trust me?" The couch sagged as Taylor sat down next to her, and Maia swallowed. She felt the heat of Taylor’s thigh press against hers, and the muscles in her core tightened.

"I don’t know." Taylor seemed frustrated with her own response. "How did the interrogation go?"

"More of the same. I am afraid I could not tell them anything useful." Maia had decided it was in her best interest to remain cooperative with the humans, but none of them seemed interested in asking questions about her research or what her standing with her people was. Even when she tried to interject, they simply silenced her and moved on. Apparently, the generals had decided they wanted her as a bargaining chip, not a war asset.

Taylor’s forehead creased with concern. "They didn’t hurt you?"

"No." Maia paused, considering her next words for a few moments before asking, "But why did the guards take me instead of you?"

"I had a few hours of leave."

"How did you spend your free time?" Maia was curious about what could have put Taylor into such a foul mood.

"I went to the shooting range with Rachel." Maia nodded her head, urging her to continue. "I shot at practice targets with a friend of mine. It was supposed to be relaxing."

"But it was not," Maia finished.

Taylor groaned and slumped back against the couch. Her hands flopped down at her side, her fingertips inadvertently brushing Maia’s thigh. "We argued, mostly about you."

Maia’s heart rate sped up. "Oh? Why is that?" She hoped she did not sound like she was prying, but she could not help being curious. Knowing that Taylor had been thinking and talking about her made Maia feel a little better about her own fascination with the human.

"My friend thinks I’m crazy for trusting you, but I can’t help it. You’re…" Taylor’s words broke off as her gaze lingered on Maia’s eyes, then traveled south, to stare at… Was Taylor looking at her lips? Maia wished she knew. Instead, she felt a heated blush bloom over her face and neck. Taylor’s hand settled more firmly on her thigh. "You’re not a monster."

Maia felt herself leaning closer to Taylor. For what purpose, she did not know, but she trusted her body’s instincts. For a moment, both of them held perfectly still. Maia’s hand moved slowly to Taylor’s thigh, and the human drew in a sharp breath before blinking and standing up. She cleared her throat and took a few steps back. "You know..." Maia thought she heard a waver in Taylor's voice even as she rested a hand on her narrow hip in a gesture of confidence. "The bedroom is probably more comfortable. There isn't anything to do in here."

Maia opened her mouth, but closed it again. She could not tell if Taylor meant to dispel the desire pooling between them or heighten it with her suggestion, but the way she blushed after the statement was telling. Maia stood up from the couch. She thought about objecting, but eventually decided that there was no denying the powerful draw she felt. She had to face it, one way or another. Hesitantly, Maia followed Taylor back into the bedroom.

Taylor flopped down onto the bed instantly, lying back and resting her arms above her head while Maia took a hesitant seat at the edge of the mattress. It took all of her willpower to keep her eyes averted. For a moment, she wondered if she should just confess her insane attraction. Taylor would realize the immediate danger of their situation and hurry to put distance between them. Surely, she would be unwilling to cross the boundary of bedding a prisoner. Taylor’s sprawled position was already giving her dangerous ideas. Maia itched to lean forward, to pin Taylor’s arms together and remove her fatigues. She would have free access to study Taylor’s naked form, to explore every inch of her with her hands and mouth.

"Maia? Was there something you wanted to talk about?" Taylor asked.

Maia looked up, a little startled as she snapped out of her daydream. "What?" Her heart hammered with nervous energy and arousal pooled in her core.

Taylor pushed up with her palms, adjusting herself into a seated position on the edge of the mattress beside Maia. "You keep staring at me like you have something on your mind."

Maia tried to speak, but her voice stuck in her throat. This was not a wise decision. Logically, she knew that confessing her attraction was a horrible idea. Maia’s illogical side, the part of herself that she usually kept smothered with statistics, was urging her to say something. Taylor had proven herself to be a genuinely thoughtful person. So far, she was the only human who seemed to accept her. She deserved to know.

"I must be going crazy," Maia murmured under her breath.

Unfortunately, Taylor heard her. "Look, I know you're technically a prisoner, but if something is bothering you, you can tell me. I'll try and fix it." She gave Maia a soft smile. "You’ve already done the same for me twice." Maia had no ready reply to that statement, and her face heated with a deep blush. Taylor seemed to take her silence for hesitation, or perhaps even worry. She leaned forward; making Maia's heart beat even faster. "Is it because of the interrogation… or me? I can back off, you know, if you’d rather not—"

"No. No, it is not that. I just..." She tried to explain, but her words refused to come when she needed them most.

"Just what? Has anyone been treating you badly?"

"No," Maia said, even more emphatically than the first time. With slowly growing dread, she realized that Taylor was going to keep guessing at what the problem might be until she either stumbled upon it or frustrated her into confessing. She sighed, staring down into her lap. Earlier, when Taylor had put her hand on Maia’s thigh, she had fought the urge to reach out and stroke the contours of the human’s strong fingers.

"Then what is it?"

Since Taylor would not be dissuaded, Maia decided to say the one thing that was guaranteed to stop her questions—the truth. Surely if she confessed her attraction, Taylor would see how very quickly their situation could escalate and go into the other room. At least that way she would have some peace, even at the expense of being lonely.

"I find myself having strange reactions to your presence," Maia blurted out, wincing as she realized how awful her wording had been.

Taylor blinked, not understanding. "Strange reactions?"

Maia nodded and forced herself to continue. "When…well, it is probably the same for both species. It would not surprise me. Physical attraction plays a key role when selecting a person to mate with…er, that is…I mean…" Maia resisted the temptation to cover her face with her hand and hide her embarrassment. She had never been good at this sort of thing.

She finally found the courage to look at Taylor and was surprised to see that her blush had returned. This time, it reached all the way to the tips of her ears. Maia had hoped that the human would be able to interpret her ramblings, but unfortunately, Taylor looked just as embarrassed as she felt. She would have to continue. "For reasons I cannot explain, I find myself drawn to you. I am sorry, and I understand if you wish for me to sleep in the other room tonight."

Before Maia could react, Taylor cupped her face with a warm hand. She paused, seeming to wait for something. Maia met her eyes with a stare filled with longing and confusion. Taylor moved closer. She dipped her head and caught Maia’s lips, cutting off her soft gasp of surprise.

Maia’s body stiffened at the unfamiliar sensation, but she relaxed when she grew used to the pressure of Taylor’s mouth. Soon, Taylor's lips overwhelmed her as they slid past her own. She brushed them with a few gentle pecks before pressing forward with her tongue. Before she even realized what she was doing, Maia kissed her back. She started hesitantly at first, but after a few moments, she grew bolder. She grabbed Taylor’s shoulders, pulling her close. They needed this. They just needed to get it over with so they could go back to being prisoner and guard.

"By the ancients," she murmured when they finally broke apart. Their faces hovered less than a breath away. Taylor laughed and nipped the fullest part of Maia's lower lip, tugging slightly to coax her mouth open again. The tease was too much, and Maia practically pulled Taylor on top of her as they sank onto the mattress. "This is insane," she panted between the frantic press of their lips. Her hands were everywhere at once, running up and down the broad expanse of Taylor’s back, trailing over the dip in her spine, caressing her hips.

Taylor broke away from Maia’s lips and started kissing down along the line of her neck. "Let’s not think about that right now," she whispered. Before Maia could respond, Taylor’s hand slipped under her shirt, trailing curiously over her stomach. Maia shivered and arched into her touch, her muscles flexing against Taylor’s palm.

"We’ll just do this once," Taylor breathed against the heated flesh of her neck. Maia shivered at warmth of Taylor's mouth against her skin. She wanted to feel that mouth all over her body, even in places she had not imagined. "Once, and then we won’t have to anymore."

Maia nodded, though part of her knew that they were making a terrible mistake. For once, the rational part of her brain had completely shut off. "Just once," she agreed before Taylor’s lips descended on hers again. When a soft, warm tongue slid between them, she tilted her head slightly and opened her mouth. Maia had very little experience with kissing, and she certainly had not expected it to be like this—all heat and smoothness and bruising force that made her long for things she did not understand. She whimpered into Taylor’s mouth, and her hips pushed upwards against the firm thigh that had somehow wedged itself between her legs.

"This needs to come off," Taylor panted as their kiss broke. She tugged at the hem of Maia's shirt, trying to pull it up over her head. Maia raised her arms and sat up, trying to help. She had absolutely no idea what she was doing, but Taylor did not seem to care. Taylor was moving so quickly that Maia did not have time to do anything but make encouraging noises in response. She shivered as she realized that unless she said ‘stop’ or pushed her away, Taylor was going to continue until she had taken what she wanted.

As soon as Maia’s shirt came off, Taylor tossed it aside. Neither of them cared where it landed. For a split second, both of them paused to catch their breath. Maia blushed as Taylor stared at her exposed flesh. She could not remember the last time she had been naked in front of someone else, aside from the embarrassing incident outside the shower.

Taylor hurried to tug off her shirt and compression top, and heat throbbed between Maia's legs. Taylor's skin was wonderfully soft, and she knew that it would feel even better when they were both completely naked and tangled up in each other. Her eyes widened as she watched Taylor strip to the waist. She was perfectly formed, all toned muscle and broad shoulders. The smooth expanse of her torso, her high, firm breasts, and the obvious line that bisected her abdominal muscles were all incredibly tempting. She would have to explore much more thoroughly when Taylor gave her a chance.

Before she could study further, Taylor climbed top of her again, pinning her to the mattress and nipping at the column of her throat. In the middle of the string of kisses trailing down towards her chest, Taylor paused to bite her shoulder. Maia let out a cry of pleasure as she rocked down against Taylor’s thigh. When warm lips folded around the tip of her breast, she rolled her head back onto the pillows. She could feel Taylor’s tongue scrape against the stiff point as she teased it with the edges of her teeth, and she had the sudden urge to run her hands through the human’s hair and pull her closer. She gave in, sinking her fingers into the thick tangle of black and pulling a little too tightly.

Fortunately, Taylor seemed too distracted to notice. She only grunted a little in response before kissing her way across to Maia's other breast. "Fuck," she murmured, pulling up just far enough to stare at Maia’s flushed face. "I need you. I don’t care what you are."

Instead of offending her, Taylor’s declaration only made Maia’s desire grow. Even though she knew she shouldn’t, Maia let her hand run down the back of Taylor’s neck. She squeezed slightly, urging her to keep going. "Please," she begged, shocked by the need in her voice. Both of them fumbled to pull their pants and undergarments off, parting for a brief moment to kick their clothes away before coming back together.

Maia wrapped her legs around Taylor’s waist and rocked her hips forward. This time, bare flesh met her own. She gasped when Taylor pushed back against her with just as much need. Her body ached for more, for something that she knew Taylor was not yet doing. None of the educational vids or fleeting glances at pornographic images could have prepared her for this, an empty feeling that made her throb with desperation, enough to let Taylor do whatever she wanted. "Please," she whimpered again. "I need…something, anything."

Taylor's hand ran up along the sensitive skin of her inner thigh before pressing between her legs. "Oh God," she whispered. Maia shuddered as she felt warmth spill from deep inside her, spreading over Taylor's exploring fingers. At first, she was embarrassed, but when she looked up into Taylor's face, she saw only desire reflected back at her. She shivered as Taylor spread her folds with two fingers, obviously examining her. Maia wondered just how different her own body was from a human's, but she knew it would not be a problem when a confident smile spread across Taylor's face. "I was right," Taylor murmured as she looked down between their bodies. "Not too different at all."

Maia gasped as Taylor's fingers found the curved ridge of her clit, rubbing it in slow circles, coaxing it out of its delicate hood. She dug her nails into Taylor’s back, trying to draw her closer. She had no idea how Taylor knew just how to touch her, but it made her feel like her heart was about to batter its way out of her chest. Sounds that she barely recognized tore from her throat, and she pushed against Taylor’s hand, quivering every time those magical fingers rolled over her. She spread her legs even wider, well past caring that they should not be doing this.

Taylor's fingertips began to glide down, and Maia stiffened as they tested the tight ring of muscle at her entrance. Soon, she forgot her hesitation and began rocking against Taylor's hand, pleading for more with each push of her hips. Taking that as permission, Taylor slid forward, and Maia clamped down tight around her fingers, adjusting to the new fullness. The stretch burned a little, but it was also blissfully wonderful, and she wanted more. When she let out a low groan of encouragement and spread her legs wider, Taylor added a second finger and curled forward, catching against a ridged, sensitive spot along the inner wall.

Maia bucked in response to the pressure as Taylor’s mouth found her shoulder, and lights swam in front of her eyes. Her thighs pressed together around Taylor's wrist, desperate to keep the human deep inside of her. The hand between her legs tried to adjust, but Maia could only cling to Taylor’s broad shoulders and beg her to keep going. Nothing had ever felt more blissful than those fingers rubbing against her. Her body burned with need, and pressure pounded inside of her until she was close to spilling over, but something held her back. She needed more.

"Please," she gasped, unable to form the words she needed. "I need to…"

"I know. I’m working on that." Taylor redoubled her efforts, causing Maia to cry out again and lose all concentration. She tried to speak, but she could not warn Taylor as the last of her control shattered. Maia rocked against Taylor’s hand, taking her fingers as deep as she could. When the pleasure grew almost unbearable, Taylor's thumb pressed hard against her clit, curling against her inner wall at the same time.

The sensation started out as a faint throb, but soon, Maia was overwhelmed with powerful contractions. Her core fluttered around Taylor’s fingers, and she tilted her head back. Her mouth fell open in a silent scream as pleasure ripped through her. Slick heat spilled from deep inside of her, slipping into Taylor's hand with each heavy pulse. If she had known it would feel like this, Maia thought, before she was swept away by a fresh round of pulses, she would not have agreed to do it only once.

The tremors soon faded, growing weaker each time they shuddered through her body. Taylor kissed along Maia’s shoulder and up her neck, whispering soft words of comfort as she came down from the spike of pleasure. "I’m here," she murmured. "I’m right here." For some reason, that fact comforted Maia more than anything else Taylor had just provided her.

Afterwards, they lay together for a few heartbeats, limbs intertwined and bodies covered in sweat. Both of them panted from exertion, but Maia could still feel how tense Taylor's body was beside hers. Taylor's lips caught her cheek, and she withdrew her wet, glistening fingers, bringing them between her own legs instead.

Maia felt herself twitch with aftershocks as she watched, and her eyes widened with surprise and renewed arousal. She had been so wrapped up in her own pleasure and release that she had completely forgotten about Taylor’s. Quickly, she shifted onto her side and cupped her palm over the back of Taylor’s hand. "No," she murmured, moving it aside and replacing Taylor’s fingers with her own. "Let me."

"You don’t…" But Taylor did not finish the sentence as Maia began exploring with her fingers, hoping she could find the right places. Taylor let out a low groan and shifted her hips forward and spread her thighs to give Maia more room to maneuver. "Oh God, more," she muttered, grinding against the heel of Maia’s palm.

Maia’s eyes grew even larger as she explored, and she smiled when she felt Taylor’s wetness coat her hand. She pressed hard against the hot flesh, encouraged by Taylor’s moans. The way Taylor’s face contorted with pleasure was an intoxicating sight, and knowing she was the cause made her feel strangely wonderful. Taylor’s body spasmed under her touch, and Maia raised her free hand, raking her nails down along the human's flat stomach. She still wanted to taste that flesh with her mouth, but she put that desire aside for later.

Instead, she brought her hand to Taylor’s hip and gripped hard as she slid two fingers inside of her, pressing deep into the velvety smooth flesh. She moaned along with Taylor as the human's muscles contracted around her fingers. "So wet," she murmured, entranced by what she was doing.

Taylor rocked forward on her fingers, causing them to slide in and out as she worked herself closer and closer to release. But it was not enough, and soon, Maia noticed the hard, pink little bud standing out above her entrance. Hoping that Taylor’s body would respond the same way hers did, she swiped her thumb over it. The tight bundle twitched at her touch.

Taylor went rigid after the first pass, her hips pushing forward into Maia’s hand. "Fuck. I…I’m coming." A second later, Maia felt contractions ripple through Taylor's body. Slick, silken heat clutched at her fingers, and wetness trailed over her wrist. She kept her hand in place while Taylor pulsed against her, drawing out every moment of her orgasm.

Finally, Taylor went slack. She collapsed back onto the mattress, breathing deeply as she recovered from the intensity of her release. Maia felt a surge of pride, and a slow smile spread across her face. Taylor smiled back, but her eyes drooped as she suppressed a yawn. "Are you tired already?" Maia asked, reaching out to cup the square shape of Taylor's jaw.

Her stomach fluttered as Taylor nuzzled into her palm. "Just a bit." Maia settled against the human's side, sighing happily as one of Taylor's arms wrapped around her. "We shouldn’t have done that," Taylor said, her words thick with sleep. "But it was…so much better than…"

As Taylor fell asleep in her arms, Maia's smile receded. Reality began to set back in. She had just had sex with a human. Not just any human, but the one assigned to guard her. She had probably just made the worst mistake of her life. Still, as she studied Taylor's closed eyes and peaceful expression, Maia could not bring herself to regret what they had done. As impossible as it seemed, being with Taylor had meant something to her.

Maia rested her head against Taylor's shoulder, lying on her chest and listening to the steady thud of her heartbeat. Just for tonight, she would try to forget that Taylor was holding her captive. They would fall asleep together, not as a guard and a prisoner, but as two people who had just experienced an intense connection. There would be plenty of time to return to their usual roles tomorrow.

Chapter Fifteen

The next morning, Taylor woke with a start. Her eyes flew open, and she had to swallow down a surprised gasp. She was pressed against Maia's back again, and this time, both of them were completely naked. Everything that had happened the night before came back to her in a rush. Had it been pheromones? Had Maia discovered some way to use her powers even while she was wearing the collar? No, she decided after a long moment of thought. Her attraction to Maia was genuine, no matter how ill-advised it was. The ikthian had not forced her. If it was about escape, Maia would have made an attempt last night. Instead, they had fallen asleep after a short but intense round of sex.

Taylor untangled herself from Maia's sleeping form as quickly and quietly as she could. She gave the ikthian a hesitant glance, debating whether to wake her or not. Maia looked so innocent and peaceful with her cheek resting against the pillow that Taylor could not bear to disturb her. Instead, she hurried to pull on the clothes she had abandoned last night.

Her undershirt was beneath the bed, and her pants were in a crumpled heap next to the side table. Once she had thrown them on, she squeezed her feet into her boots, not bothering to bend down and unlace them properly. She needed time to think, and maybe even some advice. Unfortunately, there were very few people on base that she trusted. Commander Roberts was her direct superior, not to mention something of a father figure to her. There was no way Rachel would understand. Finally, Taylor settled on Andrew. At least he would be able to understand her attraction to Maia without immediately assuming it was some kind of trick.

Maia’s scent still lingered around her even when she retreated to the hallway. She felt stifled in the enclosed space, especially during the elevator ride down to the main floor. As soon as the doors opened, she wasted no time in escaping the building. Once she stepped outside, she took in a deep breath, trying to expel the memory of the ikthian from her mind. Being with Maia had been good. Way too good, and not just for the physical release it had provided her. Taylor could have handled it better if it was just a matter of pure physical attraction, but something else lingered under the surface.

She had to find Andrew and talk this through like a rational person. Unfortunately, she had no idea where her friend was assigned to work. She did not know the soldier’s schedule, but she could guess that he might be near the bunkers or the mess hall, depending on the time of day. She decided to try the mess hall first, glancing nervously at soldiers who passed her on the way.

Luckily, Andrew was running paperwork from the clerk’s office to one of the general’s quarters, and the mess hall happened to be on the way. Taylor spotted him talking to one of the other soldiers, waving the sheaf of papers around with little regard for their condition. "Andrew," she called out, trying to get his attention.

Andrew looked over at her. His eyes widened. "Lieutenant!" He turned away from the man he was speaking with and jogged over to her. "Hey, I’m really sorry about the way Sergeant Bower acted the other day. I taught him a lesson after you left, I swear."

It took Taylor a moment to recall what had happened several days ago. She had too many other things on her mind. "Oh, yeah. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about a related matter…but not here."

Andrew nodded. "Okay. So, where to?"

Taylor thought for a moment. The mess hall definitely was not private enough, and Andrew did not have a bunk to himself. Going back to the captain’s quarters was definitely out, since Maia was still asleep. She finally came up with a solution. "My old bunk," she said, turning to head back the way she had come.

"Works for me," Andrew said. "It’s kind of on my way, and another minute won’t hurt. I’m not in any hurry to get back to the clerk’s office. Not exactly my kind of mission. I don’t know why the brass even bothers keeping hard copies of their paperwork anymore. No one ever uses them."

The two of them walked in silence, returning to the officers’ barracks. Although she looked outwardly calm, inwardly, Taylor was still panicking. She had no idea how she was going to explain to her friend that she had just had sex with an ikthian—even worse, one that she was supposed to be guarding—but she knew that she had to talk to someone. Andrew was the most logical choice.

They arrived at Taylor's old bunk more quickly than she would have liked, and she opened the door. Thankfully, a new officer was not relocated to the space yet. It looked the same as when she had left it.

"So, what’s up, Taylor?" Andrew asked, making himself right at home despite the room’s barren appearance and plopping down on the bed. His bulk made the frame groan beneath him. "You looked pretty upset when you found me. Don’t worry, I only noticed because I’m your friend. No one else would have." He patted the space next to him, and Taylor took it. She sighed and hung her head between her slumped shoulders, resting her elbows on her knees. "Come on, it can’t be that bad," Andrew said cheerfully. "It’s not like you got into trouble with your prisoner, right?" Taylor did not look at him, and he did a double take. "Tell me what happened. Now."

Taylor heaved a long, low sigh. "We…had sex." She was still barely able to believe what she and Maia had done, even as the memories kept replaying in her mind.

A moment of silence stretched between them before Andrew adjusted his position on the bed, forcing several squeaks from the spring mattress. "Wait, you mean she seduced you? Used her pheromones on you?"

Taylor shook her head no and buried her face in her hands. The room suddenly felt too hot. "Oh God, Andrew," she groaned. "Those stupid vids are all propaganda. The ikthians might as well be humans…or, this one is, anyways."

"Whoa, really? You mean, like, they have all the same parts down there?" Taylor shot him a glare. "Right, sorry. Not the point...you sure she wasn’t trying to brainwash you or anything?"

"I…no. It was…I mean, over the last few days…she’s just a person, and Rachel was getting mad at me for wanting to treat her with a little respect, and then Maia and I talked, and we decided to have sex just once to get rid of the tension." The rambling words that spilled from her mouth made little sense, but now that she had started telling the story, Taylor could not seem to stop the rest of it from bubbling out.

"And so you came to me because…"

"It didn’t work. I want to be with her again. Badly. It was the best sex I’ve ever had, and it only lasted a few minutes."

Andrew laughed. "You sure she didn’t drug you up? Sure sounds like that from the way you’re gushing about her."

"I’m sure," Taylor insisted, more certain of the fact than ever. "I wanted to be with her, she didn't force me. But I have no idea what I’m going to do now. I’m supposed to be guarding her, not fucking her. What if we, you know, get attached?"

"That good, huh?"

Taylor paused, considering how much she wanted to reveal about her encounter with Maia. Andrew was her friend, but he was also something of a pervert. Of course, she wasn’t much better, since she was having sex with an alien. "Better than good. I wish I hadn’t rushed through it so much, but something about her just drove me crazy. I told myself it would just be the one time, but..."

"Stop and think about it for a minute," Andrew said. He did not seem nearly as concerned about the situation as Taylor was. "If you wanted to be with her, what’s wrong with doing it again? She’s hot and wants you. Not exactly a bad situation to be in, Taylor."

"She’s my prisoner. I shouldn’t be spending time getting to know her."

"So? From what you’ve said, it sounds like your parts match up."

Taylor blushed as she remembered how good Maia had felt against her fingers. She felt Andrew was missing an important piece she was trying to tell him. She was terrified she had feelings for Maia. That was going to do more harm than any amount of physical contact between them.

"So, what’s the problem? Aside from the generals finding out that you’re fucking her and possibly demoting you, I mean."

Taylor groaned. "You want a list?"

"No, but if you want to tell me about how you fucked her, I wouldn’t say no to a play-by-play…Ow! Hey, watch the guns," he complained as Taylor’s fist collided with his shoulder. He rubbed the area even though the blow had not hurt that much, shifting further away on the bed. "All right, all right, I get it. Damn, I thought finally getting laid might mellow you out."

Taylor glared at him to let him know the crude humor was not appreciated. She wished Maia was human, or that Rachel was not so anti-ikthian. That way, she could go to her friend for some proper comfort. "I just wish I knew what to do," Taylor sighed. She ignored Andrew’s exaggerated pouting. Although the apartment where Maia was imprisoned had felt stifling before, she wanted to return there as fast as possible. She felt drawn to Maia in ways that frightened her.

"That’s up to you. But if it were me? I’d go for it. You only get so many chances to do crazy, stupid, awesome things in your life, especially in the military."

Taylor pushed herself off the bed, standing in front of Andrew as he continued to sit. "Well, this definitely qualifies as crazy and stupid." She studied Andrew for a minute as she considered her earlier thought. "Speaking of crazy and stupid, thank you for actually hearing me out. There aren’t many people around…wait, there is no one else around I would have talked to about this."

Andrew grinned. "Aw, thanks, Lieutenant. I should probably get this pile on its way, actually, though I appreciated our discussion. We should talk about this kind of thing all the time." Taylor whacked him on the arm again. "I mean it. I’m just trying to be a good friend."

Taylor rolled her eyes and opened the door, gesturing to the hall. "Sure you are," she said, though she knew Andrew was just teasing her. He acted like a lecherous ass, but she knew it was mostly for show. "I’ll see you later, okay?"

"Sure, Taylor," Andrew said. "Maybe you can invite me into your swanky new pad sometime." He gave her a wink as he stepped out into the hall.

"Yeah, you keep thinking that."

Andrew waved at her before turning and walking off to finally deliver his papers. He would make a good officer one day, Taylor thought, though his talents were wasted on base. He belonged out in the field where he could do some serious damage, but his division had yet to be rotated out.

Taylor sighed and shook her head. She glanced around the hall, noticing that there were only a few soldiers walking around. It was past midday, but not quite evening yet. Most people were busy with their daily assignments. Taylor had nothing better to do than return to her quarters. "But I’m not going to expect anything when I get there," she muttered as she entered the elevator and hit the button for the top floor. "I’m just going to do my job. That’s all."

It was too bad she couldn’t manage to sound convincing, even when she was talking to herself.

Chapter Sixteen

Taylor re-entered the suite expecting Maia to be up and about, or at least in the shower. She wished she had taken one herself before escaping from the room. Hopefully, Andrew had not noticed her disheveled appearance, and he would not forget his promise of discretion.

Concerned that there was no sign of her prisoner, Taylor made her way back to the bedroom. Her eyes widened when she peeked through the door. Maia was still in bed, sprawled on top of the rumpled sheets. A slight smile spread across her face as she took in the ikthian’s deep, even breathing. She was still fast asleep, just as Taylor had left her. And even while she was sleeping, Taylor felt the same tug of attraction as the night before. There was no way Maia could be exerting some control over her at the moment.

Since Maia was not awake to notice, Taylor took the opportunity to study her more closely. During their wild, probably regrettable encounter, she had been in such a desperate rush that she had not paused to admire the view. Now, Taylor wished she had taken a little more time.

If Maia had been human, her skin would have probably been a paler shade. Taylor could almost picture it. She would have been a very beautiful human by anyone’s standards. Normally, Taylor would have been proud to brag about sleeping with such a gorgeous woman. Instead, she felt a little queasy. Whether the feeling was from the apparent error in their actions or the knowledge that anything between them was a doomed relationship, she could not tell.

Something about the way Maia was positioned invited a closer look. Taylor walked around the bed and surveyed the ikthian, taking note of every curve of her body, of the small indentations where her hipbones caused a slight swell on her pelvis. Everything from her beautiful crest down to her toes drew her gaze. And then there was the tempting flesh between Maia’s legs. Taylor glanced down, though she felt somewhat perverted for staring while Maia was asleep. The similarity of their anatomy shocked her now that she took time to think about it. She could not believe the humans and ikthians were so anatomically similar. She knelt down on the bed, trying to get a better look.

Taylor lowered herself to her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows. There, she could see the details much more clearly. The flesh between Maia’s legs was completely hairless, like the rest of her body. Her outer lips were a darker shade than most of her silvery-white skin, but her clit was no longer swollen. Taylor reached out to part her folds, but stopped, knowing that she should not do this. They had already decided once was enough, but she could not help feeling a magnetic pull to Maia. Hesitantly, she teased apart the flesh to get a closer look.

Maia whimpered as Taylor touched her. Her hips rocked forward slightly, but she did not wake up. Unable to stop herself, Taylor ran two fingers over her clitoris. It only took a few passes before she could see it start to swell with arousal. She leaned down and placed a teasing kiss against it. Maia arched up into her mouth, another moan tumbling past her lips.

Suddenly, Maia's eyes blinked open. Her hand instinctively shot down to the back of Taylor’s head. It seemed to take her a moment to realize what was going on, but when she did, she spread her legs wider. "Don’t stop," she muttered, her voice still thick with sleep.

Taylor pulled her mouth away and lowered her fingertips to Maia's entrance. Now that Maia was awake, her reservations had vanished along with her resolve. She slid inside of Maia with two fingers, curling them forward and trying to find the same magical spot as before. Maia’s sharp hitch of breath let her know when she hit the right place. She dipped her head and took Maia's clit back into her mouth, lashing her tongue over the tip. Maia's hips twitched, and more wetness flooded around her fingers. Pleased with that reaction, Taylor groaned softly around the firm ridge in her mouth, enjoying the way it seemed to grow harder between her lips. It had been so long since she had gone down on someone. She decided that she was going to enjoy herself.

Slowly, she released her prize, placing a few more kisses on its tip. Maia’s clit stood out from beneath its hood, and Taylor moaned softly as she ran the fingers of her other hand over it, making the ridge pulse. She took it between her lips again and began sucking greedily; enjoying the soft whimpers coming from above her and the slick heat that poured out over her hand. Her fingers were still wrapped in tight, slick heat, and with every pull of her mouth, Maia’s inner muscles seemed to squeeze around her.

Taylor pulled her fingers out, smirking as Maia groaned at the loss. "You’re already close, aren’t you?" she whispered as she looked down at her glistening folds.

Maia’s only response was a soft cry of need. "Please, Taylor. Do not tease me," she begged.

The sound of Maia’s high, insistent pleas tugged at Taylor's heart. She dipped her head again and took Maia into her mouth, and the ikthian let out a strangled sob of relief. Taylor slid her fingers back inside as well and began a gentle thrusting motion. The more she curled her fingers forward, the more Maia’s hips bucked. She released little gasps of pleasure with each thrust, and began to writhe in an attempt to get closer. Taylor sped up the motion of her hand. She had meant to hold out longer, but she found herself getting carried away with Maia's need.

"Come for me," Taylor said, breaking her seal around Maia’s clit just long enough to whisper the words. Her free hand wandered up along Maia's stomach, nails raking slowly over the twitching muscles.

Maia’s thighs trembled, and her hands tightened their grip in Taylor’s hair. "Oh, Taylor," she whimpered as she pulsed over and over with her release. With each contraction, the tightness in her body loosened until she was left a shivering mess. Once the contractions faded to aftershocks, Taylor withdrew her fingers and placed a few kisses on Maia’s inner thigh. "You liked that, huh?"

Panting and blushing, Maia draped one arm over her eyes. "Yes," she admitted, her voice slightly muffled in the crook of her elbow.

Taylor crawled up by her side and collapsed next to her. She ran a hand over Maia’s stomach. "Hey, are you all right? Did I do something wrong?"

Maia shook her head. "No. I am just getting used to…this. I told you to keep going." She finally removed her arm and met Taylor's eyes. "You were wonderful."

"So were you," Taylor murmured, a small smile on her lips.

They stared at one another for a while, drawn into a reflective silence. Maia turned and reached out to stroke Taylor's arm. "We made a mistake," she whispered, her smile receding.

Slowly, Taylor withdrew her hand, breaking the contact between them. She took a deep breath. "Yeah, I suppose we did."

"Taylor, we both know nothing can come of this."

"Yeah, I know."

Taylor sat up and deliberately shifted towards the other side of the mattress. But Maia followed, reaching out to clasp one of Taylor's shoulders and gently drawing her back. "That does not mean that I do not feel…" Taylor swallowed to loosen the knot in her throat as one of Maia's thumbs traced the line of her jaw. "Even though we cannot do this again, I want you to know that it meant something to me."

"If it meant something, why do we have to stop?" Taylor asked, even though she could come up with several answers to that question on her own. She knew it was wrong, but she was desperate for an excuse, any excuse. When Maia did not answer right away, she sighed. "No, you’re right. I’m sorry. I mean, I’m your guard…"

"This reaches beyond us, Taylor. You are hardly my guard anymore. This planet is my prison, and you happen to be the person they elected to keep me company. But none of that matters. I will be traded away to the Dominion within a few weeks, and once I am taken back to Korithia, they will kill me."

The words seemed so final as Maia spoke them. Taylor felt her stomach twist into a hard knot. "Don’t talk like that." The thought of Maia dying made her chest ache. "Maybe…maybe we’ll just keep you on Earth. Maybe you have some information, something useful…"

"I doubt the rest of your species would care for my research," Maia said, her voice gentle, yet firm. "And humans certainly do not care for ikthians. It is obvious every time I leave this cell." Maia massaged Taylor's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, but Taylor's muscles only bunched up further with tension. "The negotiations will take several weeks. Perhaps something will change between now and then. We have no way of knowing."

Taylor nodded, taking a deep breath and letting her shoulders relax slightly. "Yeah, sure." Roberts had been so sure Maia would provide them with something useful when she first arrived on planet. Now, Taylor felt disappointed that her mentor had been wrong.

"You will survive this, Taylor, but for now, we should refrain from being physically intimate anymore."

Even though she knew it was the right decision, protests rang in Taylor's head. Her eyes began to sting. Suddenly, she wanted Maia close to her. "Can…can I hold you at least?" she asked before she could think better of it. "Just for now?"

"Of course," Maia said, curling up against Taylor’s chest as they settled back down onto the pillows. "Just this once, and then…"

"Then we stop," Taylor whispered, unable to hide the sadness in her voice. She breathed in Maia's scent and bent down to kiss the top of her head. If this was going to be their last moment of intimacy, she wanted to memorize every part of Maia that she could. It seemed like everything had happened far too quickly. Maia had only just come into her life, as odd and twisted as their relationship seemed.

"Sleep well," Maia whispered against Taylor's throat, brushing the soft skin with her lips before she closed her eyes and surrendered to a fitful sleep.

Taylor remained awake for a long time, listening to Maia breathe and trying not to think about how that kiss would probably be their last.

Chapter Seventeen

During the next few days, Taylor tried to stay as far away from Maia as possible. Maia had been right to remind her that any further involvement could only lead to trouble. The first time, they had both been too desperate to pause and reason with one another. She could dismiss the second time as harmless curiosity. She had wanted to know what Maia looked like, felt like, tasted like. But her hunger had not abated.

The fact that an alien—an ikthian—had evoked such a strong reaction from within her made Taylor uncomfortable. She questioned herself again and again, wondering if Maia was manipulating her, but even when they were apart, her attraction did not leave. Surely there was no way that Maia could coax such responses from her when they were not even in the same room. Her desire for Maia frightened her, but it was genuine.

For her part, Maia seemed listless and depressed. Taylor could not blame her. Her situation looked bleak, but Taylor was in no position to help her. Even when she did try to initiate conversation, Maia answered any comments and questions half-heartedly. She no longer seemed interested in talking, despite the longing looks she cast when they were in the same room together. Taylor began leaving food for Maia so that she could have her own meals in the mess hall, although she made sure to lock the door behind her every time she left.

One evening, about four days after she and Maia had sworn not to touch one another, Taylor found herself sitting at a table with Rachel during the evening meal. The two of them spent most of their time talking about the latest military operations, but they exhausted that topic quickly. Rachel looked like she had something else on her mind. She kept glancing up at Taylor, mindlessly stabbing at bits of food left over on her tray.

"So…is it true?" she finally blurted out, breaking the silence in her usual blunt way.

"Is what true?"

Rachel looked around furtively, trying to make sure that no one was close enough to overhear them. "That you're having sex with the ikthian."

Taylor's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing in annoyance. "Andrew," she muttered, completely ignoring the rest of her food. She set her fork down on the tray with a loud clack. "I'm going to kill him."

"So, it is true?" Rachel repeated, pushing away her own tray. She rested her elbows on the table. "Taylor, I can’t believe this. She’s a prisoner and a danger to the human race."

Taylor held up her hands in a defensive gesture. "First of all, I know what I did was wrong. Maia and I already agreed never to do it again. Second, she is a prisoner of war, not some all-powerful creature from beyond the deep. She can’t do anything to hurt us."

Rachel looked at her with a furrowed brow. "It’s trying to seduce you, Taylor. It would be safer if you just requested someone else take over the watch."

"And let some other guard abuse her? You know no one else on base would treat her humanely."

"Because she isn’t human. And I wouldn’t believe everything she says to you. You know what ikthians are capable of. They don't call them sirens for nothing. Maybe this one is seducing you so she can trick you or worse..." Rachel hesitated. "Just remember that there's a lot of bare skin for her to touch while you're having sex."

"She's not doing that at all, Rachel." Taylor placed her hands on the table to keep them from shaking. "She didn't seduce me, and she isn't going to poison me. She's very much aware of the fact that she’s probably going to die on this rock."

"You seriously just called Earth a rock? It sounds like it's gotten its claws into you already. Next thing you know, you'll be telling me it's wrong to keep one imprisoned."

"I'm not suggesting anything," Taylor snapped. She glared at Rachel. "I'm a human first, and I remember that. It’s because I’m human that I treat our prisoner of war with some respect…We don’t talk much anymore, anyways."

Rachel sighed. "Whatever, Taylor. You know I trust you, just…not the ikthian."

"And that’s understandable. Hell, I should be able to sympathize more. I watched them kill Jackson even after I threatened to shoot Maia. The seekers didn’t value either of their lives at all."

Rachel stared at her quietly for several seconds, afraid to interrupt Taylor’s painful confession. "I know it’s been rough, Taylor," she said after a long pause. "Just promise me you'll be careful, all right? Ikthians are dangerous."

Taylor sighed, but decided to indulge her friend's worry. "Aren’t I always?" Rachel frowned at her, obviously still not satisfied. "If anything comes up, I’ll go to you first, okay?"

Rachel took both of their trays and stood up. "Okay Taylor."

Taylor did not wait for Rachel to unload the food trays. Instead, she nodded her farewell and headed for the barracks. As she walked, Taylor began thinking about Maia. They had been avoiding one another’s company as much as possible, but the more distance they tried to maintain, the more miserable Taylor became. She knew Maia felt the same even without asking. The thought of Maia’s impending doom made Taylor sick to her stomach. Perhaps she should take some time to talk to her, or do something to help make her more comfortable. Maybe...

Unfortunately, that was when her communicator buzzed. Taylor glanced down at the screen, noticed Commander Roberts's picture, and answered the call. "Commander. What can I do for you, Sir?"

"The ikthian leaders have responded, Lieutenant. They didn't agree to a ceasefire, but they definitely want to open negotiations. The other generals and I are in my office. How fast can you get there?"

"Give me five minutes," Taylor said, setting off at a jog. As eager as she was to hear their response, the reminder of the open negotiations made her stomach clench.

Roberts was waiting for her outside his office when she arrived. "Look sharp, Taylor," he said as soon as he saw her. "The brass is present."

Taylor saluted, more out of habit than anything else. She knew Roberts liked to see her as more of an equal and less of a subordinate. "Thanks for the warning, Sir." She checked her fatigues quickly to make sure her clothes were in order. The last thing she needed was a general to find some excuse to criticize her appearance.

"I just want this to run as smoothly as possible," Roberts said. "If we’re lucky, Bouchard will keep his mouth shut for the duration of the negotiations."

Taylor made sure to lower her voice. "He’s here again?"

"I’m not happy about it either, Taylor, but the generals think he’s useful, so we’ll keep that to ourselves." Roberts reached out and straightened a corner of her fatigues. "Ready, soldier?"

Taylor nodded and they walked into his office, saluting the assembled generals together. Hunt was among them, as well as Bouchard, like Roberts had warned her. "At ease," Hunt said, stepping out from behind the desk. "Lieutenant Morgan, I’m glad you’re here. The ikthians have sent us an offer, and we want you to weigh in on the matter based on your time spent with the prisoner."

The request caught Taylor off guard. She did not consider herself very knowledgeable about ikthians, unless someone was asking her how to kill them. Judging by the amount of creases in Bouchard’s brow, he was inclined to agree. "I’m happy to lend what help I can, General, although I don’t know how useful my opinion will be," she said hoping her words would ease the death glare that Bouchard was shooting at her.

Unfortunately, Roberts only made the situation worse. "Actually, Lieutenant, you've had more experience with ikthians than most of us. Like it or not, you are something of an expert, at least on the ikthian you've been assigned to guard." Bouchard's frown made it clear that he did not consider Taylor an 'expert' in anything, but he held his tongue.

It was Hunt that resumed speaking instead. "We received a recorded transmission from the Dominion a little under an hour ago." Hunt approached the monitor on Roberts's desk. A frozen image of three standing ikthians waited on the screen. "Are you ready to watch?"

Taylor saluted again. "Yes, Sir."

"Go ahead, Bouchard."

The ikthians began moving. The tallest one in the middle was obviously an elder, and she had an elaborate pink crest. The ikthian to her right had a beautiful blue pattern of scales on her cheeks. The face of the ikthian on the left, however, was clear except for a little mottling. Taylor picked up on the family resemblance immediately. This had to be Maia's infamous mother.

The first ikthian began speaking in melodious tones, and a translation appeared at the bottom of the screen. "We have received your message, and believe the evidence you have shown us regarding your capture of Maia Kalanis. We wish for her safe return, and are willing to negotiate in order to ensure it. In the meantime, in a gesture of goodwill, we will cease all attacks on Earth itself. That is all."

"Well, that was short and to the point," Roberts said as the picture froze again. "What do you think, Taylor?"

Taylor maintained a thoughtful silence before voicing her opinion. "They don't know where we're holding her, other than the fact that it's on Earth, and she's really important to them."

"Of course they don't know where she's being held," Bouchard said dismissively.

"How did you come to that conclusion, Lieutenant?" Hunt asked, ignoring Bouchard's outburst.

"That's why they're not going to send any more drone strikes to Earth, or do any more bombing runs. They don't want to risk killing her." Although ikthian attacks on Earth were not all that common, or as deadly as the long, drawn-out ground war both sides were fighting on the outer planets, their home-world had not escaped unscathed. The ikthian fleets had destroyed several civilian cities and military bases. "They only said they would cease attacks on Earth itself. That means they'll probably hit the edge of the solar system hard, trying to weaken our forces."

Hunt sighed. "That's what I was afraid of."

"They have us grossly outnumbered," Bouchard said. "We should take this opportunity to recuperate from losses on Earth before they press us to accept protectorate status." He turned to look out a window. The sun was just dipping below the horizon. "Let the naledai handle the assault."

"That’s not how we’re going to handle this," Roberts said. "The naledai are our allies, and we won't let them take the brunt of the Dominion’s retaliation. You know one of their military detachments is arriving in less than a week. How do you think they’re going to react when they hear the news?"

"It doesn’t matter. The naledai will only be useful as allies if we continue to exist as a people!"

"Stand down," Hunt ordered. Both men glared at each other, but took a step back. Bouchard crossed his arms and Roberts rolled his shoulders. "This is not the purpose of our meeting. We are currently discussing a response tactic for the ikthians. If neither of you have anything valuable to add, I suggest you leave."

Neither Roberts nor Bouchard challenged Hunt’s statement, but Taylor sensed they might break into another shouting match at any moment. "We shouldn’t respond right away," she said. Everyone's eyes turned to her. "They took their time responding to us, so why should we seem eager to get back to them?"

"You’re right," Hunt said. "Why should we appear so ready to give in to the ikthians?"

"Because it will show we are a decent people," Bouchard protested. "There are humans out there in the hands of those monsters, and we should be doing everything in our power to bring them back." Taylor could see his jaw tighten as he glared at her. "Don’t try to play politician, Lieutenant. That’s my job."

"Lieutenant Morgan," Hunt broke in before Roberts could interrupt, "why don’t you head back to the prisoner? You’ve performed your duty admirably as it is. I think we will sort it out from here."

"Yes, Sir." Taylor was all too eager to escape from Roberts's office. She had a feeling that the three men were about to get into a very long, loud argument and her first instinct was to get out of the line of fire.

"Dismissed," Roberts said. "Good work, Lieutenant."

Taylor saluted at him, and then at Hunt. "Thank you, Sir." Once the formalities had been taken care of, she slipped out through the door and hurried from the office before the shouting match started.

Chapter Eighteen

Maia heard the door open and shut in the next room, and she glanced up for a moment before returning to the human book she had laid open on the bed. None of the symbols made sense to her, but the charts and layout were interesting. It amazed her that the humans actually printed information on such a fragile material. She picked up one of the pages and rubbed it between two fingers. It was made from the fibers or pulp of some plant, of that she was certain.

Taylor’s footsteps approached, and Maia looked up again when she heard the human enter the bedroom. A sheen of sweat covered Taylor’s brow, and Maia tried to ignore the way she wiped her forehead and tugged off the outer layer of her fatigues, revealing her muscled form underneath. "It’s hot in here," Taylor muttered, apparently unconcerned with the amount of flesh she was revealing.

"I increased the humidity," Maia said. She had discovered the controls that morning, and she already felt much more comfortable thanks to the new setting.

Taylor grinned and shook her head. "Figures," she sighed. "Are you reading?" She gestured toward the book.

"No." Maia closed the book and tossed it aside. "How are you?"

Taylor’s grin receded, and Maia wished she had not asked. After a moment of hesitation, Taylor sat down on the bed. "I’m all right." Her words did not sound convincing. "Just got back from a meeting with the brass, and that’s never fun. They…heard back."

Maia’s eyes widened. "Really?"

"The ikthians sent us a short response, basically saying they want you back."

"Oh." Maia looked down at the comforter. She began wringing her hands nervously on top of her lap. Part of her wanted to ask more, to find out what the ikthians had said about her, to ask if her mother had been among them. But eventually, she decided that more information would only worsen her mood.

"I’m not even sure why they want my opinion. I don’t know anything about ikthians other than how to kill them." Taylor glanced up at Maia. "I mean…uh…I know you, obviously, but you don’t spend your time telling me about the ikthians, and, well…I mean…"

Maia reached a hand out to touch Taylor's shoulder. "I understand."

"Good. Anyway, all they do is argue with each other whenever I try to make a suggestion." Taylor let out a frustrated sigh and flopped back on the mattress, staring up at the ceiling and stretching her hands above her head. The position put her muscular arms on enticing display, but Maia forced herself not to look at them. "At least the Dominion has called a ceasefire on Earth until we come to some kind of agreement."

Maia barely stifled a gasp of surprise. The Dominion had never declared a ceasefire on their enemies before. There could only be one reason for that decision. They were still hoping to bring her in alive. Maia still did not know how much of her research was in the Dominion’s hands, but if they needed her, it probably meant that they did not fully understand it. Or perhaps they just wanted to torture her until she took back what she had already stated and published more favorable articles instead. If the public saw her research, if they knew that all intelligent life in the galaxy was genetically linked, they might not accept the Dominion’s propaganda so readily, or their constant claims of ikthian superiority.

Maia realized Taylor had been talking to her. She blinked and said, "I apologize, could you repeat yourself?"

"I asked you what you thought of that offer."

Maia shook her head. "It is generous." She left off any more telling comments. She did not want to contemplate how much longer she might have if negotiations were moving forward. "But the humans did not accept?"

"No. They can’t decide on what to ask for in return. And besides, they’re going to wait a while to respond. So…you have time." But Taylor’s words sounded hollow and unconvincing to Maia. Neither of them could make eye contact, so Taylor cleared her throat and changed the subject. "On another note, Rachel is still angry at me."

"Rachel…your friend, the one that does not approve of me?"

"Yeah." Taylor sat up and wiped her forehead again. For some reason, her body distracted Maia even more in the new position. "She found out about you and me, since I told Andrew after the first time it happened." Taylor looked shy, and almost a little worried, but Maia could not bring herself to be too upset over something as trivial as this, not when her life was clearly in danger.

"And she objected?" It was a silly question, especially since she and Taylor had already agreed that the…whatever it was between them…had been a mistake. But for some reason, hearing that someone else disapproved upset her.

"She thinks you’re using your pheromones to seduce me. I told her it wasn’t like that."

Maia's eyes widened. "No! I…I would not..."

"I know you wouldn't."

The softness in Taylor’s voice touched something in Maia. Perhaps if she and Taylor had met under normal circumstances, in a world where the Dominion was not at war with Earth, the two of them could have had a proper date. They could have spent all morning making love without worrying about dying in a matter of days. She reached up and touched the slim band of the suppressor around her neck. So much could have been different.

"So…since it is not my pheromones, why are you attracted to me?" Maia knew that it was silly of her to bring it up, but she wanted to know if Taylor could imagine them pursuing a normal relationship, if circumstances were different. It would be comforting to know that the possibility was not just another one of her crazy ideas.

Taylor readjusted her position on the bed, crossing her legs. "What do you mean?"

"I mean…" What did she mean? It was unfair to ask Taylor to consider what their life would have been like without the war, and somewhat masochistic to continue dwelling on it herself. They had no way of changing the past, and the future looked bleak. "What made you want to be with me?"

Taylor rubbed the back of her neck for a moment before gripping the sheets with both hands. "That’s an interesting question," she said, obviously stalling. It made Maia smile. Perhaps she was not the only one who felt insecure after what had happened between them. "It would be kind of shallow to admit that I like your body, but your physical appearance is…appealing." Taylor's face flushed. "And…I suppose you’ve exhibited a certain amount of bravery, intelligence, understanding…empathy." The human’s expression looked vacant, as though Taylor’s thoughts were far away.

"This surprises you," Maia whispered, a statement instead of a question. "Why?"

"I guess it wasn’t something I was expecting to see in an ikthian," Taylor said after a long, thoughtful pause. "I spent so much time killing them that I never bothered to talk to them."

Although she knew that it was dangerous, Maia found herself reaching out to put a hand just above Taylor’s knee. She could feel the heat of the human’s skin even through her fatigues. "I am sure that none of them bothered talking to you, either. Do not blame yourself for killing them, Taylor. The seekers are trained for violence."

"You know, if someone had told me a few weeks ago that I would be feeling bad for ikthians even after they killed my squad, I would have called them crazy," Taylor muttered.

Maia blinked, trying to hide her surprise. "You feel bad for my species?"

Taylor’s hand found hers, covering it with warm fingers, and Maia found herself staring up into wide, dark eyes. "Well, maybe just one ikthian…"

It took Maia a few moments to realize that their faces were drifting closer and closer together, but when she did, she froze with indecision. Their lips were only a breath apart. It would be so easy to lean in and let their mouths brush. Maia jerked back, trying not to be too obvious. The moment was broken. The two of them let their hands pull apart again, leaving a little more space between their legs on the mattress.

"So, which of the leaders contacted you to make demands for my return?" Maia asked, trying to change the subject.

Taylor shrugged. "There were three of them. They never said their names, so I don’t know who they were." She hesitated a moment, and Maia could tell that she was having a brief, inward debate with herself. Finally, she seemed to come to a decision. "But one of them looked like you."

Maia felt her heart come to a stop. When it gave a painful jolt and came back to life, its echo sounded unnaturally loud in her head. "One of them looked like me?"

"Her face looked like yours," Taylor said, staring just a little too long at Maia’s lips. Maia could feel the human’s gaze travel up to meet hers and a rush of heat came along with it. "And she had your eyes. She was…sad. Worried."

"That," Maia began, but she had to swallow in order to continue. "That would be my mother. She is…important. I did not expect her to appear in the transmission. She is usually busy with speeches, or treatises, or some other menial task." Maia had spent much of her childhood with private tutors or in classrooms while her mother traveled from world to world, making speeches and writing legislation as one of the Dominion’s most formidable politicians, but there had been moments of happiness between the two of them. Those moments seemed so distant now that she paused and reflected on it.

"She’s a politician?"

"Yes." Maia thought back to some of the more recent conversations she had shared with her mother. "She wanted me to adopt her career. She never really approved of my decision to study genetics, especially with an anthropological focus. No one cares about what ikthians were like before they conquered the galaxy…" She gazed down at her hands and stopped twisting them for a moment, trying to ignore the stinging sensation behind her eyes. Tightness constricted her chest, and no amount of deep breathing could ease it away.

Taylor’s voice nearly startled her when it came from close beside her. "So she tried to stop you?"

"Not exactly. She tried to persuade me to shift my focus. When she realized that I was far too awkward to be a politician like her, she tried to convince me to work for the Dominion as one of their researchers. I suppose my decision to seek a permanent position at the university instead was yet another disappointment to her. We had…been out of touch for a long time when I began my research."

There were so many things Maia wanted to say, memories she wanted to share, but she knew that now was not the time, and Taylor was probably not the right person to hear them. Instead, she turned her face away, hoping Taylor would not notice the tears spilling out from the corners of her eyes. "I…I…" It was all too much. The memories of her mother, her feelings for Taylor, her imminent death once she was returned to Korithia. "Please, excuse me," she mumbled, pushing herself off the bed and hurrying towards the bathroom.

Maia thought she heard Taylor call after her, but she ignored the sound of her name, shutting the door behind her and bracing herself against the wall. Her tears fell in a river, streaming down her cheeks as she cupped her face in her hands.

She would give herself a few minutes to cry, she thought as she tried to stifle her sobs. A few minutes. Then, she would try to forget. Forget that she was probably going to be executed, and forget about what a disappointment she was to her mother. She was not sure why she even still cared about pleasing her. It did not matter now, when she was facing death in a matter of weeks.

The one thing she did not want to forget was the feelings that she was developing for Taylor. Even though they were confused and probably ill-advised, they had been the only bright spot amidst the darkness.

Chapter Nineteen

"Maia..."

Maia heard Taylor calling after her, but she did not answer. Even when Taylor rapped on the door, she could not force out a response. She sank to the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees, drawing into a protective position. She gasped for breath between sobs, but the dryness of the air only made things worse. She needed water, but she did not want to move.

Behind her, Taylor eased the door open with a gentle push. "Are you okay?"

Maia felt a soft touch on her shoulder. When she did not respond, Taylor stepped into the bathroom and knelt before her. Maia looked up, tears flowing down her face. She did not know what Taylor would think of her for showing such weakness. She had fallen apart in the worst way in front of the human. Any ikthian would have been embarrassed, if not angry with her for losing control like this. To the Dominion, crying was a sign of weakness. "Why would you ask me that?"

Taylor smiled at her, though worry still lingered in her eyes and at the corners of her mouth. "I'm concerned about you. Here." She turned on the shower, and just the sound of the water made Maia relax and breathe a little easier. Taylor turned back and held out a hand, offering it to her. "We should get you cleaned up."

Maia hesitated for a moment. She knew she should not be seeking comfort from Taylor, but she took her hand anyway and stood up. Once she found her footing, Taylor let go and glanced toward the door. "I…I can leave you alone to shower if you want. I just thought…"

As Taylor moved to leave, Maia reached out, clasping her wrist and pulling her back. "Stay," she whispered. "Please..." Before she could think better of it, she leaned forward and brushed Taylor’s lips with hers, needing the intimacy and comfort. Their mouths remained pressed together for a hot second before they pulled apart, uncertain what to do next.

"Okay, I’ll stay."

Gently, Taylor helped Maia, easing her shirt up along her arms and lifting it over her head. Maia managed to tug off the undershirt herself, but she allowed Taylor to help with her pants. It was slightly awkward, since Taylor had to crouch to pull the legs down, but eventually, Maia stood naked in the middle of the washroom, feeling incredibly vulnerable. As she watched, Taylor hurried to peel out of her own clothes. Soon, her pants, shirt, and underwear were kicked into a small pile behind the door.

"Come on," Taylor whispered. She put a soft hand on Maia's shoulder, steering her toward the door of the shower. Steam had already begun to fill the room.

Maia went in first, but she stretched out a hand to hold open the door, waiting for Taylor to come inside. After a moment, Taylor stepped in to join her. At first, they both stood under the hot water in an awkward silence. Maia stared at the shower floor, her arms crossed over her chest. Eventually, Taylor grabbed a soap bar and washcloth and lathered it up.

"What are you doing?" Maia asked when Taylor approached her with the cloth.

"I was going to wash you. You looked a little out of it. Don’t ikthians ever do this for each other?"

Maia lowered her arms and allowed Taylor to run the cloth over her body in slow, careful movements. It felt surprisingly good, and some of the tightness in her chest began to ease under Taylor’s soothing touch. "Only with partners, usually," she said.

"You mean like a husband or wife?" Taylor asked, following the line of Maia’s shoulders as she washed her. She sounded genuinely curious.

Taking a deep breath, Maia closed her eyes and tried to think of an answer that would best satisfy the human. "I do not know what those terms mean. Partners are bound together, physically and emotionally, for however long they choose to be together, often until death parts one from the other. The ikthian name for it is different, but I suspect it would hold little meaning to you."

"That’s basically like a husband or wife," Taylor said. Her hands faltered. "Should I stop doing this if it’s so personal?"

Somehow, the thought of Taylor’s hands leaving her caused Maia to panic. "No!" She swallowed, a little embarrassed by her outburst as it echoed through the shower, and lowered her voice. "I mean, no. Please, do not stop. It feels…nice."

Taylor smiled down at her. "All right. But turn back around. I want to massage your back. You’ve been really tense."

"I...yes..." Maia whispered. She did not know why she suddenly craved Taylor’s touch, but the thought of being alone frightened her. Taylor reached out slowly, running her free hand across Maia’s shoulders. Her touch was surprisingly gentle, but Maia could feel the strength behind it, and it made her shiver a little under the warm water. A soft whimper escaped her lips when Taylor's hand pulled away too soon, but it was quickly replaced by the rougher texture of the washcloth.

Taylor began moving the cloth in circles, covering every inch of Maia's back in suds before the water from the showerhead washed them away. She even coaxed Maia into extending her hands, running the cloth along each arm. After diligently cleaning her back, Taylor crouched slightly to drag the cloth over her legs. Maia let out a low groan of appreciation as Taylor rubbed the stiff muscles of her calves, but as the cloth drew higher, sliding up along her thighs until it was nearly at the juncture between her legs, she held perfectly still, unsure what to do. Perhaps Taylor sensed her hesitation, because she left that area alone and ran the cloth over Maia's lower belly instead. Finally, she dropped the cloth and stood back up, returning her hands to Maia's shoulders and massaging some of the tension from them.

Maia kept still, and her eyes remained closed as Taylor's hands wandered over her body. When Taylor reached around to cup her breasts, Maia shuddered, expecting the touch to turn heated and possessive. Instead, Taylor toyed with the hard tips, teasing them between her fingers. Warm lips brushed over Maia's shoulder, a sensation separate from the water. "I want to help you feel better," Taylor murmured against her neck. Maia remained silent, unsure what to say. Taylor pulled closer, and Maia felt the hard muscles of the human’s body pressed against her back. She felt herself pulse involuntarily, her inner muscles clutching at nothing. "Will you let me?"

Maia did not say yes right away. Her head spun. Water ran down her face along with confused tears, blurring her eyesight as Taylor turned her around, propping her tenderly against the shower wall. Instinctively, Maia parted her thighs and let out a quiet, breathless, "Yes," giving Taylor all the access she needed. She had no idea why she was crying, but she desperately wanted Taylor to touch her again for reasons she could not explain.

Taylor's hand pressed in between her legs, parting her folds with two fingers. She ran the tips over the swollen ridge above her entrance, although she did not apply nearly as much pressure as any time before. Maia found herself arching into the touch, deliberately seeking more. Taylor rubbed over her with slow, teasing strokes before withdrawing her hand to caress Maia’s inner thigh. "That’s it," she murmured. "Just relax. Let me take care of you."

Maia welcomed Taylor’s touch as the human leaned in closer to her. Their bodies met, wet limbs sliding past one another. Taylor lined up the tips of her fingers to Maia’s entrance, but she hesitated, obviously waiting for permission. Finally, Maia found her voice. She wanted Taylor to make her feel something good, to replace the constant fear and sadness with pleasure. "Please. Touch me."

Taylor's caught Maia’s lips in a tender kiss, and her fingers slid forward, stretching her with a slow, deep push. Maia gasped in response to the fullness within her. She could feel every small movement Taylor's fingers made. Her hips jerked forward, and she wedged one of her own legs in between Taylor's thighs. It was so difficult to not be involved with Taylor, even when she knew their end would only lead to more tears. The human drove her insane without even trying. When they broke away from the kiss, Maia rocked her hips into Taylor's hand, encouraging her to start thrusting.

Taylor filled her again, faster this time, fingertips dragging along her inner wall. More tears streamed down Maia's face, mingling with the water droplets from the shower. Taylor kissed her cheeks, blotting them away with her lips before sliding down to the column of her throat. The hand on her hip tightened, and Taylor finally settled into a steady rhythm.

Maia turned her head, water cascading down one side of her face. Her lips parted, and she let out small, soft gasps every time she felt Taylor thrust back inside of her. It was difficult to take in air. Her chest felt heavy and light at the same time. She knew that they should not be doing this, but she could not find it in herself to care. Right now, she needed the comfort that Taylor was offering her.

"That's it," Taylor sighed beside Maia's crest, kissing along the line of her jaw and wandering down toward the dip of her throat. Maia instinctively tilted her chin back and offered the human her neck, not caring when the back of her head hit the shower wall. "You feel so good, Maia."

Maia’s face flushed, but not from the warmth of the shower. She was quickly discovering that she loved it when Taylor said her name. "Please..."

"Please?" Taylor repeated, holding Maia's hips steady.

"Please, say it again." When Taylor gave her a confused look, Maia swallowed down the knot of embarrassment in her throat. "My name."

"Maia," Taylor breathed, holding her gaze for a moment before lavishing kisses on her warm throat. "You're so ready for me," she murmured. Her fingers slid out again, and Maia let out a sob of disappointment until she felt them settle on the hard ridge of her clit instead. The new touch was even more intense than before. She tried to press forward to relieve the pressure building inside her, but Taylor moved with her. "I love how responsive you are."

"I…cannot help it." Maia bit her lower lip as Taylor continued teasing her. Her inner muscles clutched down, clasping at nothing, but once again, Taylor knew exactly what she needed. She slid back inside, replacing her fingertips with the pad of her thumb. "You…your every touch…" Maia gave up on trying to explain, and surrendered to Taylor's thrusts instead.

Taylor leaned down, and Maia shivered as blunt teeth grazed her neck. "You feel so good," she muttered between nips.

"I…Taylor, I…" Maia’s words failed her, and for a moment, she was tempted by a thought that startled her with its intensity. She wished her collar was off. She wished that she was free, and that she and Taylor were not involved in some twisted prisoner and guard relationship. She had never been with someone like this before, and it shamed her that her first time was outside of normal circumstances, especially with a non-ikthian. Most would not even consider touching a human, but Maia’s research proved the differences between them irrelevant. All that remained now was the regret that she and Taylor would never have a chance at a normal relationship.

"Maia? Are you all right?"

Taylor’s voice startled her, and Maia blinked. She had gotten lost in thought, something her colleagues used to tease her about relentlessly. "I…I am sorry," she said, her voice shaking a little. She looked down to see that Taylor’s hand was still buried between her legs, and the pleasant stretch of the fingers inside of her suddenly stole her attention again. "Please, do not stop. I promise to explain later, but now…" She reached up to cup the side of Taylor’s face, drawing it down closer to hers. "Now, I just need you."

Taylor pressed her cheek into Maia's hand, turning to kiss the center of her palm. The simple gesture of affection made Maia's heart swell. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, and Maia could see her own need reflected in Taylor's eyes. Even though they could have no future together, at least she was not alone in this.

Taylor began moving her hand again, and Maia felt the pounding ache center back between her legs, making her forget everything else. Every time Taylor's fingers entered her, she pushed her hips down, seeking something, anything to ease the tightness in her core. She knew what she sought, but could not find words. Instead, she clutched desperately to Taylor's back and hoped the human would know what she needed.

"Oh, Taylor, I want…" Maia’s voice was soft, tinged with embarrassment, but also alight with desire. "I want…"

"You want to come," Taylor finished the thought, cradling Maia's hip in her other hand and running her thumb just above Maia's hipbone. The touch made her clit pulse beneath Taylor's thumb.

"Please."

Taylor thrust into her one more time, harder than before, and Maia screamed. Her release tore through her, and she pulsed around Taylor's fingers, barely able to breathe. Each press, each curl inside of her was bliss. Tears leaked from her eyes as she spilled into Taylor's palm, finally releasing the pressure that had been building deep within her. She cried out again when she felt Taylor buck against her thigh, grinding down and covering it with warmth. She dug her fingernails into Taylor’s back, trying to draw her closer even though no space remained between them.

Somehow, they untangled themselves, and the pleasure faded to a satisfied, exhausted feeling. Maia slumped against the shower wall, the hot water rolling over her body. Taylor’s weight pressed on top of her, but it was comforting instead of constricting. She could feel each of the human’s deep, shuddering breaths. Slowly, Taylor’s fingers eased out of her, but she kept an arm wrapped around Maia to hold her up. "God, I didn’t think I could come that way," Taylor muttered thickly. She gave Maia’s temple a gentle kiss. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," Maia said after a long moment, "I am now." And to her surprise, it was the truth.

Chapter Twenty

"Wow," Taylor muttered, placing a soft nip along the cord of muscle that ran between Maia’s neck and shoulder. Maia tensed for a moment, but relaxed into the gentle bite. Taylor let go, nuzzling into the soft crook of Maia’s throat, just above her collar. Her skin was slick from the water, and she could still feel her pulse pounding beneath the place Taylor had bitten. "That was incredible."

Maia drew in a shuddering breath and ran her hands down Taylor’s arms. "It was," she whispered back.

Taylor dipped her head and brushed her lips against Maia’s one more time. "Let’s do that more often," she said when they finally pulled apart.

Maia could not help but laugh a little. She did not know what to think of Taylor, but she had entrusted her well-being to this human. While it had not been a voluntary decision on her behalf, Taylor had proven to be her most supportive ally. Maia’s mind was still reeling from what she had just experienced. She did not know how to sort through all the things that Taylor had just given her. She lowered her foot to the shower floor and tried standing on her trembling legs. Taylor held onto her, reaching out with her free hand to shut off the water.

When Taylor moved to step out of the shower, Maia clung to her, unwilling to be parted from the one person who did not see her as a pawn. Taylor did not seem to object. She allowed Maia to huddle against her arm as she reached for a pair of towels, wrapping the first one around Maia’s shoulders before grabbing one for herself.

Skin still dripping, they headed back into the bedroom. Maia stayed pressed against Taylor's side, and when the human urged her to lie down on the bed, she pulled Taylor with her, desperately needing skin contact. For the first time in her life, she felt alone within her own mind, and it seemed almost unnatural.

"You're all right." Maia sighed as Taylor began stroking her head, and she nestled further into Taylor's embrace. She breathed deeply, trying to decide what Taylor's scent reminded her of. "So, did it feel different that time?" Taylor said, her voice sounding a little unnatural as she broke the silence between them.

"The…sex?" Maia propped herself up beside Taylor on one of the pillows.

"Yeah. I didn’t mean to pressure you, but…you just looked like you needed that."

"I did," Maia said. "I know we should not pursue this any further, but I cannot seem to help myself around you, Taylor. Not when the rest of the galaxy is against me." Despite her clear explanation, Taylor still looked worried, and Maia was far too tired to offer a better one. "I did not want to connect with you before, because I hoped it would discourage us from trying this again. Ikthians are looked down upon for conducting sexual relations with…lesser species, as the Dominion has labeled you."

For all the murmurings among the other species about ikthian promiscuity, the Dominion looked down on such unions. They did not approve of ikthians forming relationships with ‘inferior’ aliens, whether it was for sex or something more serious.

"I thought ikthians liked having sex with other species," Taylor blurted out. Then, she slapped her own forehead, unable to meet Maia's eyes. "Shit. I just put my foot in my mouth, didn't I?"

Maia frowned. Taylor's words sometimes made no sense. "Your foot is on the bed, Taylor. I am not sure I understand."

"Human figure of speech. It just means I'm an ass."

"What? How are you—"

"Never mind."

Maia watched as Taylor's hand slid slowly down her face to reveal her eyes again. "Anyway," she said, "we do mate outside our own species occasionally, but not nearly as often as everyone else thinks. The Dominion disapproves of such unions. They do not want us forming relationships with other aliens."

"I guess I can understand that." Taylor's lips twitched into a frown. "Is that why you pulled away from me in the shower? Because being with me made you feel guilty?"

Maia shook her head. "Of course not," she protested. The hurt written on Taylor's face made her chest ache. "I was simply uncomfortable. The collar just...it reminded me that we cannot have a normal relationship. I often find myself wondering how things would progress if I was not a prisoner. You know, this collar blocks things that are a normal process of ikthian relationships.

Taylor's sadness was quickly replaced with fear. She pulled away, and Maia saw her muscles tense. "You…you mean like toxins and stuff? You didn’t use them, right?"

"No, and I would never do so without informing you. It just goes against my instincts to hold them back. Millions of years ago, my people lived underwater. We used pheromones to communicate with each other, and our bodies are still designed to release them now that we have left the ocean." Maia paused as she considered how to phrase the next part. "We still broadcast our feelings this way, and during sex, it can happen without much control over our own actions, though risk to the partner is non-existent. Since you are not ikthian, you would never sense them."

"What about the toxins? Are they some kind of pheromone, too?"

"No," Maia said. "That is a separate evolutionary technique that we used to defend ourselves."

Taylor seemed to relax, and she shifted closer again. "Have you...have you ever used your toxins to hurt someone before?" The question clearly bothered Taylor, as if something painful lingered behind it.

Maia shook her head. "I have never done so, but I know the seekers do. Technically, it is illegal to hurt or kill someone that way, but…the Dominion does not care what ikthians do to other species. They are not considered people under our laws."

Taylor sat up and crossed her legs, breathing out an obvious sigh of relief. "So, have your ever used your pheromones for pleasure before?" she asked, some of the tension gone from her voice.

Maia blushed and shook her head. "No. I…I have not done that, either." She reached down to touch the collar around her neck. "As I said, sometimes that sort of thing happens in the course of various relationship stages for ikthians, but I have guarded my own responses to avoid being hurt by this."

"Oh." Taylor blushed as well and rubbed the back of her neck. She glanced away. "I trust you. I guess the idea just makes me a little nervous."

Maia could sense some insecurity behind Taylor’s words, but she was too cautious to probe further. She smiled instead. "I did not realize it was a sensitive issue for you, but I am grateful for your trust. Even if...even if I had not been wearing my collar, I would have talked to you about it first."

"Good." Taylor flopped back against a pillow, looking pleasantly tired. "Hey, you're smiling again. What's on your mind? I didn't say anything stupid, did I?"

Maia shook her head. "Nothing. I was just drifting off."

Taylor patted the spot next to her. "The bed’s all ready," she teased. "That is…if you want to share it with me tonight."

Even though she knew it was probably another mistake, Maia could not find it in herself to say no. She was still feeling vulnerable after her experience in the shower, and she wanted to stay close to Taylor. "I…I think would like that very much." Maia joined Taylor under the covers, snuggling back up against her side and pulling one of the human’s arms around her waist. "Thank you," she said, though for what, she was not entirely sure.

Taylor placed one last kiss against the back of her neck. "Any time."

Chapter Twenty One

The detachment of naledai soldiers arrived a couple of days after Taylor and Maia’s moment in the shower. Taylor looked forward to their arrival more than a lot of the other soldiers on base. Rachel and Andrew had only looked at her like she was insane when she tried talking about what she had experienced with Maia, so she stopped trying. Who better to talk to about her strange obsession with an alien than another alien?

Akton was just that alien. The naledai was cocky, a smart-ass, and one of the best fighters she had ever seen on the battlefield. Despite her pride in the human military, she would have bet all her wages that they could not find a brawler among their ranks to match him. Not even action movies could compare to watching Akton deliver the kind of blows he did when he got in range of an enemy.

After the naledai disembarked from their ship to meet with the brass, Taylor waited for the right moment to steal Akton away. He was walking back to the bunkers when Taylor finally caught him. "Akton!"

He turned toward her. "Taylor Morgan," he said, raising a hand in greeting. The naledai were fearsome-looking creatures, with tough skin layered in bone plates. They stood taller than most humans, with long, curved legs designed to let them sprint faster than most other species. Akton strode over to her with his strange, loping walk. He almost resembled a wolf on hind legs. "I see you’ve managed to keep all your limbs attached. Or do humans have three arms? I can never remember." His pointed, snout-like mouth trembled in a way that represented a smile, or at least, Taylor had learned to interpret it that way.

She laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "It’s four. I’ve had some bad luck." They chuckled, though Akton's came out as more of a deep rumble. She had gotten good at interpreting his various expressions and sounds.

"So, the rumor on base is that you've got an important visitor," Akton said as they began walking, not heading for any particular destination. "My C.O. was pretty tight-lipped about it, but I know that's why we were sent here."

"Yeah. An ikthian prisoner of war. I’m in charge of looking after her." Taylor's smile widened as she thought about Maia, and this time, she did not bother suppressing it. Akton seemed to notice her odd expression, but did not offer any comments.

"And I guess that's gone well," Akton drawled.

Taylor’s smile receded. "I’m not sure that’s how I’d describe the situation. I was hoping to talk to you about it, actually." She glanced around to make sure no one else was within earshot before continuing. "We’ve actually, um, fallen into bed together, and I…"

Akton interrupted her. "You're sleeping with the ikthian you're supposed to be guarding? I know some humans think they're beautiful, but are you sure that's a good idea? My superiors would kill me for even thinking about it."

"They don't exactly know," Taylor confessed. "We didn’t really mean for it to happen. And then we swore it wouldn’t happen again, but it…we can’t stop." She paused, considering how best to explain what had happened. "I care about her."

"You’re in trouble, Taylor." Akton eyed her with pity, but made no move to suggest he might report her. Naledai did not work like that. They stayed out of affairs that did not concern their own military operations, and they did not betray their friends.

"I know, I know. I didn’t want any of it to go like this. It kind of just happened."

"Be careful. You're playing a dangerous game with this one. She's an ikthian, and a prisoner of war. Even if she doesn't turn on you, they could send her back to her people in an exchange or decide to execute her."

The thought of her comrades executing Maia made Taylor's stomach toss. "I…" She was at a loss for words. She and Maia had discussed this before, but it hurt to have the reminder pushed to the forefront so harshly. She knew they planned on trading Maia away for hostages, or whatever else they could get. She would probably only have Maia for a few more weeks at most, and then never see her again. "I try not to think about that."

"But you need to keep it in mind," Akton insisted. "She’s a prisoner, not a fling you can forget about after shore leave is over."

"You think I don’t know that?" Taylor felt somewhat wounded that Akton insisted on her focusing on only the bad. She could not remember what she had hoped to gain by talking to him.

"You know that’s not what I…Look, I’m just worried about you," Akton said, clearly trying to backpedal. "I heard what happened to your squad. I was concerned for you."

"Thank you." Taylor tried to accept the truce Akton offered her. "I’m managing, though." Thinking about her squad led her mind to dark places, so she let her thoughts drift back to her conversations with the prisoner. "Maia has helped with that a lot, actually."

"Hold on a moment. Did you say Maia? As in Kalanis? Are you screwing Maia Kalanis? Do you have any idea who she is to the ikthians?" They stopped walking, and Akton crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well..." Taylor rubbed the back of her neck. "I know her mother is one of their leaders. She was on the vid recording."

"Irana Kalanis and the rest of her family aren't just leaders. They control a good portion of Korithia all by themselves. They're the closest thing the ikthians have to royalty."

Taylor's eyes widened. "So, you're saying that trading her for a couple of hostages is probably a bad deal?"

Akton nodded his large head. "She's important, Taylor. Aside from being a political figure, she’s one of their premier genetic researchers. They cite her findings in propaganda all the time. As long as you keep her, you'll be able to convince the ikthians to leave Earth alone, at least until they figure out where she is. Then, they'll probably come looking for her, and I hope I’m not around when they do."

"Maia mentioned that her research is unpopular with the ikthians. I didn’t think they were using her for their war effort." The thought troubled her. What if Maia had lied to gain humanity’s favor? She was facing death on both ends. She hardly had much to lose by lying. Before Taylor could dwell on the thought any further, her stomach grumbled. "Hey, want to hop into the mess? I could use some food."

"Sure. Need to keep your energy up for all that thinking?"

Taylor stuck out her lower lip in an exaggerated pout. "I don’t blunder into everything, believe it or not."

Akton chuckled at her and they continued on to the mess hall. It was fairly crowded when they stepped in the front door. Fortunately for Akton, there was a small, separated section in the chow line with naledai options. Someone had informed the cook in advance that their allies were paying a visit.

"I guess I just don’t understand what’s happening between us," Taylor said as she sat her tray down on the nearest table. She stared reluctantly at the rations she had piled onto it, trying to decide what to eat first. Perhaps she should have paid for real food. "I know she isn't seducing me or anything, but I feel drawn to her anyway. There are some moments where it feels like we should be pursuing an actual relationship, as impossible as that sounds."

Akton watched her play with her food for a moment. Taylor knew he was considering what to say. "Well, if you both are developing emotional attachments, I’d suggest distancing yourselves, but it sounds like that plan isn’t working so far." He took a small bite from his food, probably testing to make sure it was safe. "But if you ever find yourself in a tight spot, Taylor…" Akton glanced around, and then lowered his voice. "You know how to contact me."

Taylor shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "You’re a good soldier, Akton, but you know I won’t do anything to compromise myself or the well-being of Earth."

"I never thought you’d sleep with an ikthian, either. Just…things change, Taylor, and I’m willing to help if you need me. I have a feeling things are going to get very complicated for you very quickly."

Taylor caught the solemn tone in Akton’s voice. Her friend was offering to make sure she stayed safe. It was a huge gesture on the naledai’s part. Their culture valued personal duty over everything else, including duty to their military. She accepted the gesture of friendship for what it was. "Well…thanks." She smiled at Akton, trying to banish any feelings of discomfort between them.

Akton shrugged. "It’s all in the line of work." He moved as if to continue, but before he could say anything else, they were interrupted by another familiar face.

"What’s in the line of work?" asked Andrew as he plopped down next to Taylor at the table. A few other soldiers shifted their chairs, turning away from their own tables to listen in. Taylor was not familiar with any of them. "Hey, scaley," he said, nodding at Akton. "Good to see you in one piece. Heard your people took a few hits recently."

"More like a few hundred thousand casualties on our home-world," Akton sighed. "But let's not talk about that. Taylor and I were just discussing maintenance protocol differences between our ships."

"Aw, that sounds boring," Andrew said. "And here I was hoping you’d be discussing something juicy."

"Andrew, I don’t know what you’re leading up to, but give up now," Taylor growled. She did not like the way the other soldiers were looking at them.

Andrew crossed his arms, showing off his muscles. "Well, we were all just wondering how the special prisoner was doing. I mean, it’s been under wraps, but I know you’ve got the insider story." The other soldiers nodded in agreement.

Taylor knew that she had to say something, but did not want to encourage the group. "The prisoner is currently being held for a peace talk, if that’s what you’re wondering.

"Everyone knows that, Lieutenant," said another soldier. His voice was familiar, but Taylor was not able to place it until she turned to see Sergeant Bower standing near her. Taylor glowered at him. Even though he had addressed her by her rank, his tone had been anything but respectful. "Does she ask after me, ever?"

"I thought I told you to stay away from her, Bower," she said, resisting the temptation to rise out of her seat and stare him down.

"Why not? She seems willing enough to play nice with you."

"Well, Sergeant, that's because even ikthians have some standards." The other soldiers hooted and hollered. Pleased with how she had handled the conflict, she stood up, taking her tray and nodding to Akton. "Now, if you don't mind, I have guard duty."

Taylor headed for the door with Akton walking beside her. They dropped off their trays at the front of the mess, not speaking until they were outside and well away from the group. "Are you sure that was a good idea, Taylor? Goading them on like that?" Akton asked.

"That’s the only way to deal with those meatheads," Taylor said. "You have to be tough on them, or they’ll push you around."

"But what if some of them take it as a challenge? You’re just one person. What if they…"

"They wouldn’t try to start something with me in front of hundreds of other soldiers. Even they aren’t that dumb."

Akton looked unconvinced. "Just…if you need anything…remember what I said before. Contact me. I have a secure channel we can use." He brought up his datapad and sent her the info. "Don’t argue with me on this one, Taylor, and don’t ask questions. Let’s just hope your ass doesn’t end up needing a rescue."

Chapter Twenty Two

"This is ridiculous! I told you before, the ikthians are uncompromising. They will refuse our offer, and we will be back where we started." Taylor caught Roberts's eye as Bouchard continued ranting. Hunt and the other generals had finally sent their offer back to the ikthians, and on Taylor's advice, they had aimed for the stars—allowing the humans to govern Earth themselves in exchange for allowing the Dominion to mine for resources within human colonies. It was asking a lot, but Maia was valuable to them. If the ikthians accepted, the war might even end early. If they said no, negotiations could continue.

"Do you want Earth to end up like the naledai home-world?" Roberts asked. "At least this way, we'll stay in control of our own planet."

"The offer is already sent, Chairman," Hunt said, trying to act as mediator even though it was obvious that he was frustrated with Bouchard's antics. "We should probably save the arguments until after the Dominion gives us their answer."

"And what about the naledai?" Bouchard countered. "They came here in a gesture of cooperation, and we asked for nothing that would help them."

Taylor rolled her eyes. Bouchard was not military, and not technically her superior. She couldn't resist challenging him. "You haven't seemed particularly interested in helping the naledai in the past, Chairman. I thought your first allegiance was to humanity?" They were Bouchard's own words from a televised broadcast only a few weeks ago, and he obviously recognized them.

"They are our allies," he said stiffly. "Surely they deserve some consideration. Perhaps a few prisoners..."

"Prisoners?" Roberts barked out in frustration. "She's a Kalanis, and essential to their war effort if what the naledai say is true. We can't just trade her for prisoners. I'd rather keep her here than accept such a terrible offer. At least then the ikthians would be less likely to make bombing runs on Earth."

"It’s pointless to argue the issue anymore," Hunt said. "The ikthians won’t contact us again for a few more days at least. When we get their response, I’ll gladly let you both fight about it." He turned to Bouchard. "Can you at least wait until then?"

"It seems that the only thing we do in these meetings is agree to wait. I don’t appreciate being shut out of decisions, General. This may be a time of war, but humanity has not relinquished all its power to the military yet." He glanced over at Taylor. "I find it unsettling that you continue to attempt to outnumber me in these discussions."

"That’s not what we mean by bringing Taylor into this," Roberts said. "She's been watching over the ikthian prisoner almost constantly, and has valuable insight to share with us."

Bouchard clenched his fists, and Taylor suddenly felt uneasy. "I…" She took a step back, glancing at Hunt. "I think I’ll return to my quarters, if that's acceptable to you, Sir. The Chairman would obviously feel more comfortable with fewer jarheads present."

"Dismissed, Lieutenant," Hunt said. He obviously felt some sympathy for her. "It probably isn't wise to leave the prisoner alone for too long anyway."

"We'll be sure to let you know when we hear back from the Dominion," Roberts added. Although Taylor was flattered that the upper brass valued her opinions and wanted to include her in the negotiations, she was beginning to feel like the new responsibility was more trouble than it was worth. Since Maia’s capture, the only thing she had actually enjoyed about her job was spending time with her.

Roberts followed her out into the hall, telling the others he would only be a moment. “It’ll be okay, Morgan,” he said, though the tightness in his shoulders indicated too much stress. “Bouchard and the generals are just scared, that’s all.”

Taylor sighed and ran a hand through her messy black hair. “I know. But it would be nice if they’d actually listen to me when I show up to these things, you know?”

Roberts nodded. “About that, Lieutenant.” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure the door was shut and that no one lingered the hallway. “Have you discovered anything about Maia? About what she might know?”

Taylor shook her head. “I didn’t know that was my job, Sir. I thought the interrogators would deal with that.”

“The brass isn’t interested in questioning her anymore. But I’ve got a feeling. We know now that her research is used in war propaganda. That’s huge. It makes you wonder why the ikthians were hunting her down.” Roberts gave her a knowing glance and Taylor swallowed.

“I…I’ll see what I can find out, Sir.”

Roberts nodded. “Good soldier. I’ll make sure you get a bonus after this is all settled. Report back to me with anything you find.”

Taylor gave Roberts a farewell salute, turning to walk out of the office. Maia had only been on base for a handful of weeks so far. It seemed strange that she had grown so attached to the ikthian in such a short time. Sex with feelings had not been the standard for Taylor. She had made do with it in the past, but Maia haunted her thoughts. It was true that her assignment forced her to be in nearly constant contact with Maia, but that could not explain everything. Even so, she felt odd about what Commander Roberts had requested her to do. It almost felt like he suspected Maia would turn against the Dominion, and that was too much for Taylor to hope for.

She felt an ache settle in her chest as she walked into the officer's barracks and stepped in the elevator, folding her hands behind her back and rocking onto her heels as she waited for it to carry her to the top floor. The ache was another troubling development. It hurt every time she remembered that Maia’s fate was as good as sealed.

The elevator stopped, and Taylor stepped into the hallway. She frowned when she noticed that no one was standing outside of the door. Usually, there were two guards posted during the day, especially when she left the room to meet with the brass. At first, Taylor thought that perhaps there had been some confusion in the guard rotation, but she still felt uneasy. What if Maia had escaped? What if…

Taylor reached down to her hip holster and drew out her pistol. When she opened the door, her suspicions were confirmed. Maia was in the living room, but she was not alone. Three soldiers, all of them from the mess hall incident, had closed in around her. Sergeant Bower held her by the wrist while the other two hovered nearby. All of them sported bruises, clear evidence that Maia had put up a fight.

Maia’s eyes widened when she saw her. "Taylor!"

Taylor raised her pistol and undid the safety, aiming it right at Bower. "Let her go before I blow a hole in your head."

All three men jumped, but Bower did not let go of Maia. He glanced at Taylor with his annoying, cocky grin, probably trying to figure out if she was bluffing. Taylor moved her finger to the trigger. "She’s not your property, if I recall," he said. "So what’s to stop me from having a little fun?"

Taylor's hand remained perfectly steady. "I’m her guard, and she’s my charge to look after. Let go of her before I kill all of you. Don’t think for a second the brass cares what I do to you." It would be too easy to blow their heads off and be done with it. Roberts would not care. Neither would Hunt. They had broken into a secure room and almost jeopardized their most valuable war asset. She had every right to kill them.

Instead of yielding, Bower yanked Maia closer, taking hold of her other arm. "She’s an ikthian, Taylor. They live for fucking. Are you going to deny her something she’s probably aching for right now?" He leaned over Maia’s shoulder, letting his lips trail close to her neck and over her energy suppressor. Maia flinched away.

Taylor’s grip on the gun wavered. Bower had her enraged. She did not trust herself to make a clean shot, one that would leave Maia entirely unharmed. But before she could act, Bower went stiff. His grip on Maia loosened, and he fell to the floor, scrambling across the carpet. His eyes flew open, rolling wildly with fear, and his limbs began to jerk. He screamed and clawed at his skin, as if he was trying to tear it off and rip out whatever was underneath. The sound reminded Taylor of Jackson.

The other two soldiers backed as far away from Maia as possible, sprinting for the door. Taylor did not move to stop them. Instead, she stared up at Maia. Her silvery skin shimmered as if she was covered in sweat. Taylor forgot to breathe. She was terrified that Maia might turn on her next. Maybe the ikthian had decided to make her escape, and the last thing she would know before she died was the agony of the toxins as they seeped into her blood, just like the rest of her squad.

Instead, Maia staggered backwards. The collar around her neck began to spark, and she let out a yell. She took a deep, heaving breath, staggering over to the couch and collapsing onto it. She tugged uselessly at the collar, and a pained expression crossed her face. Her muscles began twitching, and her eyes rolled back into her head.

Taylor’s fear was quickly replaced with concern. She hurried over to the couch, watching helplessly as the painful shocks of the collar made Maia’s limbs jump. She thought she caught the scent of searing flesh, and she was horrified when she realized that the skin around Maia’s throat had been cooked down to a raw, ugly shade of purple. When Maia stopped moving, Taylor reached to check her pulse, only stopping herself at the last moment. She looked at Maia's chest instead. There, she could see her heart beating rapidly but steadily just above the dip in her throat.

Deciding that Maia would last the few minutes it would take to get the first aid kit, Taylor hurried back down the hallway. She tore through the bedroom and into the bathroom, barely stopping long enough to open the door. She fumbled through the medicine cabinet, and her hands shook as she pulled out the first aid kit. Taylor checked on Maia again as soon as she returned to the couch, and was relieved to see that the spasms had stopped. Maia's brow was still knitted with pain, and she had not regained consciousness, but otherwise, she seemed all right.

Although her first instinct was to remove the toxins from Maia's skin and begin treating the burn around her neck, Taylor knew that she had to take care of Bower first. She headed towards his limp form, but stopped when her foot kicked a discarded hall pass. It was probably how Bower had broken in. She picked it up, frowning when she noticed the name ‘Bouchard’ written beneath an unpleasantly familiar photograph.

Taylor pocketed the card and covered the last few steps between them. Bower was still on the ground, but he was slowly regaining consciousness. Angry, slick patches of red had been burned into his flesh, obviously from Maia's poison. Taylor did not know whether to be relieved or disappointed that she had not killed him. Taylor dangled the passcard in front of him. "You know stealing is wrong, don’t you?"

Bower glared at her, but he did not make any move to retrieve it. He spat on the floor to clear his mouth, limbs still trembling. "So what are you going to do about it? Report me?" His words were slurred from whatever Maia had done to him, and his eyes were cloudy with pain.

Instead of leading him on further, Taylor tossed the card to him. "I’ll let you return this to him however you want. You get out of here, and never come near the prisoner again. Nobody needs to find out what happened, especially the part where you got your ass beaten by an ikthian in a fully functioning collar."

Bower did not respond. Defeated, he staggered to his feet and dragged himself into the hallway, falling back to his knees more than once when his shaking legs gave out. Taylor waited for the door to shut and watched the lift descend all the way before returning to her quarters, and Maia.

Chapter Twenty Three

Taylor returned to find Maia still passed out on the couch. Her silvery-white skin was bruised in several places, and jagged scratch marks cut into the skin of her cheek. Apparently, there had been quite a fight before her arrival. The worst injuries lay around her neck, right underneath the collar. The top layer of skin had burned away, leaving welts and a ring of cauterized flesh where the collar had reacted.

Taylor deactivated the suppressor and carefully pried it off of Maia's throat, trying to do as little damage possible. She had seen worse on her tours of duty, but this was a major wound for a civilian to experience, even an ikthian. She dug out an application of antibacterial and injected the serum into Maia's shoulder. Aside from a few shuddering breaths, Maia did not react. Next, she ripped open a packet of topical gel and rubbed into the wound around Maia's neck, careful not to touch any of her flesh. The slick, oily coating on her skin seemed to have evaporated, but Taylor did not want to chance it.

In just a few minutes, Taylor could see an improvement. Maia's complexion looked better, and her breathing returned to normal. She slept peacefully rather than lying in an unconscious heap due to shock. The injection Taylor gave was a rapid healing agent that was primarily used to keep soldiers from blacking out from bullet wounds, though the damage done to Maia’s neck had been worse than a good, cauterized shot to the leg would have been.

When Maia let out a groan and began to stir, Taylor sighed with relief. She had been worried about Maia, more than just for the sake of her job. Maia opened her eyes, staring up at the ceiling for several long seconds before looking at Taylor. She drew in a shuddering breath and tried to sit up, but quickly settled back down. With some effort, she reached up and touched her throat, groaning when her fingers came into contact with the tender, still healing skin.

"Take it easy," Taylor said. "You’re lucky you’re not dead."

Maia gave a weak nod. "It felt as though I might have been for a moment. Thank you for helping me. I assume I did not recover on my own."

Taylor smiled, pleased to hear that Maia could still speak without much difficulty. "Yes. I helped you after I took out the trash. Those men won’t bother you again."

Maia did not acknowledge her statement right away. First, she pulled herself up into a slouched position on the couch. "They were animals."

Taylor did not know how to respond to the charged emotion in Maia’s voice. There was something strangely familiar about it, but she could not quite place where she had heard that tone before. She shook herself, putting the question aside for later. "There were supposed to be more guards here, people I trust. I won’t let this happen again."

"I know you won’t," Maia murmured. Taylor's relieved smile became a frown as Maia closed her eyes, probably gathering her strength before attempting to sit up again. "What happened while I was passed out?"

"I went to get a first aid kit. Once I checked to see that you weren’t dead, I made sure Bower and his goons got out of here quick. Whatever you did to him worked, because he was screaming like he was going to die." Taylor was unable to hide the admiration in her voice. She had seen ikthian combatants in action before on the battlefield, and had always had a wary respect for their innate abilities, but she had never expected to see the same from Maia. For a moment, she wondered why. Perhaps it was because, sometimes, at least, she viewed Maia as more human than ikthian.

"I am glad I did not kill him," Maia said. "I tried not to...I simply wanted him to let me go."

Taylor nodded, remembering the way Bower had twitched and writhed on the ground as the poison flooded his system. "I think he got the message. Anyway, we’re in a stalemate now. They broke in here and threatened the safety of a valuable prisoner of war…but I'm worried they might guess that we’ve been..." Taylor’s voice trailed off, but Maia seemed to realize what she meant.

"Are you afraid that they will tell your generals what we have been doing?"

Taylor sighed. "A little. I’m worried that they’ll strip me of my rank and assign someone else to guard you." She left the worry that another guard would treat Maia poorly go unvoiced. She did not want to scare the ikthian right after she had being assaulted.

"I do not want another guard," Maia said, but the words came out scratchy, and she raised her hand to her throat. Apparently, some of the pain was inside as well as outside.

Taylor placed a hand on Maia’s shoulder. "Here, I’ll get you some water. You probably need it."

"Do we have any leftover food?" Maia asked. Taylor noticed the pleading look in her eyes. She stood up and headed back to the bedroom. A few moments later, she returned with a full glass of water and a box filled with rations. Maia drank half of the glass before setting it aside and opening up the box of food.

"Thank you," she breathed, picking up the first thing she could reach and biting into it. Taylor watched her devour the sandwich before moving onto another. She would need to get more food after Maia finished.

"It’s not a problem," Taylor said. "If you have everything you need, I’m going to make a call." Maia only made a vague gesture with her hand as she continued devouring the meal.

Taylor left the room and wandered into the bedroom. She activated her datapad. "Contact Andrew," she said. The device blinked in acknowledgement and had the muscular soldier pulled up on the holoscreen a moment later.

"Hey. What’s up?" he asked.

Taylor glared down at Andrew's face on the screen. "I need to have a discussion with you."

Andrew must have picked up on the venom in her voice, because his brow furrowed. "Uh, sure. When do you wanna talk?"

"Now, preferably," Taylor said. The holographic image winced. "Something serious just went down, and I need to make sure it doesn’t happen again."

"What’s the problem?"

"Remember your friend, Sergeant Bower?"

Andrew frowned, his dislike for the Sergeant obvious in his expression. "I wouldn’t call him a friend, but—"

"Whatever you call him, he just tried to assault my prisoner," Taylor interrupted. She could not swallow down the frustration in her voice, even though Andrew was not the real target of her anger.

She was somewhat gratified to see her friend’s eyes widen, and then shift away guiltily. "And when you say assault, you mean…"

"The situation was taken care of before it escalated to rape, but I'm pretty sure that's where it was headed." Taylor deliberately left out the fact that Maia had stopped Bower herself. The last thing she wanted was for the generals to hear that Maia's collar was not working properly. They might collar her with an even stronger one. "Now, I wonder where he could have gotten that idea from?"

"Look, that’s not fair," Andrew protested. "Yeah, I told a few people what you were doing. Maybe that put some ideas in Bower’s head, but that's because he's a sick creep, not because I encouraged him. I didn't tell him to break in and hurt her. Besides, you’re the one that went and pissed him off. Don’t go pinning this all on me."

For a moment, Taylor wondered if she had been too harsh on Andrew. Her run-in with Bower at the mess hall had certainly been a contributing factor, but the irrational part of her wanted to pin the blame on someone. "You shouldn’t have told Bower anything about the prisoner. Your big mouth almost cost us everything. If she had been killed, we wouldn’t have anything left to bargain with. The Dominion could start bombing runs on Earth again!"

When Andrew looked sufficiently chastised, Taylor started to calm down. "I want you reporting for guard duty tonight. You’re personally going to make sure that Bower and the rest of them don’t come back for another try. There’s no way in hell I’m going to lose this prisoner." Even as she said them, the words sounded strange. She did not view Maia as just a prisoner anymore, and referring to her that way felt wrong.

Andrew mumbled his reluctant agreement and ended the call, leaving Taylor to deactivate her datapad and stare down at the blank screen. She had expected to feel better after yelling at Andrew, but all it had done was point out her own mistakes. Guilt began to creep up on her, guilt for allowing Maia to be hurt. The thought of what might have happened if Maia had not been able to override the collar made her sick.

Taylor pushed those thoughts down and went back into the living room. To her surprise, Maia was still awake and sitting up on the couch instead of sleeping. She tried to offer Maia a smile, but was greeted with only a cold, distant expression in return. "Listen, I'm sorry about the shouting." Taylor knew she had more to apologize for, but was unsure how to broach the subject. "You’ll have another guard outside the door tonight, and I’ll stay with you in the bedroom, just in case."

This time, Maia did offer a brief nod of thanks, although she did not say anything in response. Taylor could guess where the sudden hostility was coming from. The more she replayed the conversation with Andrew in her mind, the more horrible it sounded. She had referred to Maia as a prisoner and talked about her like a bargaining chip instead of expressing any sincere concern for her. It had been to make Andrew understand the serious consequences of his actions, but if Maia had overheard…

"Do you think you can stand up and get to the bed on your own, or do you need help?" Taylor asked, wanting to push past the awkward moment as quickly as possible and make sure that Maia got a proper night’s rest. With the help of the medicine, Taylor knew she would feel much better in the morning.

"I…I think I will need your assistance," Maia said, although her reluctance was clear. "Do not worry, you can touch me safely now."

Taylor bent down, sliding one arm beneath Maia’s knees and folding the other under her shoulders. "Wrap your arms around my neck," she said, and Maia obeyed. It only took a few moments to carry her into the bedroom and deposit her gently on the mattress.

"Try and get some rest," Taylor whispered. She let her hand linger on Maia’s shoulder, and then tugged the sheet up over it, making sure to leave the burn on Maia’s neck exposed to the open air. Taylor moved to climb into bed on the other side, but when she wrapped an arm around Maia, she noticed the ikthian was already fast asleep.

Chapter Twenty Four

The next morning, Maia woke to find herself draped across Taylor. She sighed and breathed in the human’s scent. It was familiar, even though they had only been together a short time. Maia's heart sank as she remembered what Taylor had said the night before. No matter how comfortable they were together, Taylor still only viewed her as a prisoner.

With a groan, Taylor shifted beneath her. Maia rolled off to the side and watched her wake up. Taylor’s dark gaze roamed along her body, pausing at her throat. Maia touched the flesh there, now nearly healed. She sighed in relief. The pain was gone, and hopefully, there would be no major scarring.

"How’s your neck?" Taylor asked. "It looks a little better than yesterday." She reached out and touched the tender skin, resting her fingertips less than an inch away from Maia's. "It’s probably healed enough to put the collar back on. I can’t let my superiors find you without it."

Maia blinked and removed her hand. She had completely forgotten that the collar was missing. "I…" She swallowed back the protest forming in her mouth. What had she expected? That Taylor would simply let her walk around without the collar? As far as humans were concerned, she was a living weapon, and Taylor still saw her that way, despite everything they had shared. She was angry with Taylor, but even angrier with herself for getting her hopes up. After the conversation she had overheard last night, this behavior should not have been a surprise.

Taylor climbed out of bed and got to her feet, and Maia felt bitterness well up inside her. The human had gone back and forth between disappointing her and giving her hope since she had been taken. She barely registered Taylor’s, "Here. I’ll be right back," or her departure from the room. Instead, she waited in numb silence until Taylor returned with the collar a moment later, holding it out expectantly and waiting for her to lean forward so that she could lock it back into place.

Maia felt as though an opportune moment hovered in front of her. She could escape right now. She had the capability. She could destroy Taylor like she had done to Bower. And then what? She would be hunted down by the other humans and slapped into another collar, removed from Taylor’s care, and thrown into a cell where she would have no one. Hesitantly, she reached out and took the collar. She even snapped it into place around her own neck.

"There," she said, her voice hollow. She settled back down on the bed and stared at nothing.

The mattress sagged next to her as Taylor tried to get back into position to hold her, but she deliberately moved a few inches out of reach. "What’s up?"

Maia swallowed. She was torn between sobbing and crying out in anger. She was hopeless, completely hopeless, and probably sick for allowing her feelings for Taylor to grow for as long as they had. She should have fought more. She should have taken her freedom, no matter how remote the chances. Instead, she had shackled herself and sealed her fate, binding herself once again to a woman who struggled between seeing her as a person and as an asset of war. "I am just wondering…"

"Wondering what?"

Maia hesitated for a moment. The words waited like water behind a floodgate. She knew that they would only serve to drive Taylor away, but did it even matter? "I am wondering why I keep letting us do this. Why do I want to be close to you when it will only bring me pain? Sometimes, I think it is because of some strange bond we share, pursuing something we both know is unrealistic. But it does not matter. I will be dead in a few weeks anyway, and you will go on with your life."

Taylor gave her a blank stare. "You don't know that. There's nothing I can do right now to help you, but I..."

"No. That is not true. We trick ourselves into believing that our problems will magically solve themselves. We play at a relationship, but when the outside world intrudes, I am a prisoner, and you are my guard. That is what you said last night, is it not? If you wish to behave like we are lovers, I cannot allow us to do so while you are unwilling to consider me anything more than a prisoner to the human military."

Taylor looked stunned. Maia half expected her to get up and walk away, but she only pushed herself into a sitting position. "I…I’m your guard…"

"What we have is no longer a normal relationship for a guard and prisoner, Taylor."

"So what, we should just stop?" Taylor asked, a hard edge creeping into her voice.

Maia sat up as well, shifting further away and pulling the sheets tighter around her. "If you are incapable of engaging with me as a person, then yes. I have no idea why I allow you to do the things you do to me."

"That’s not fair." Taylor stood up, tossing the covers aside. "You initiated things between us, too."

"I am still at a disadvantage. I am imprisoned here, awaiting my death, and you and I have shared things that I have not shared with anyone else. Yet the second you are reminded of my place, you expect me to remain complacent and content as your prisoner." Taylor tried to speak, but Maia continued. "I am not expecting a happy ending. That could never happen between us. But if you cannot even see me as more than a prisoner, even after what we have shared..."

"I…" Maia took some sick pleasure in realizing Taylor was speechless, and at the same time, it pained her to see the human so obviously upset. "You never…you didn’t say anything," Taylor stammered at last. "You didn't tell me."

"You never bothered to ask."

"So…I was the first person you ever had sex with?" Taylor’s tanned complexion had turned a sickly pale color. "I thought you just hadn't used your pheromones with anyone before..."

Maia nodded. "I had not shared those experiences with anyone else. My research kept me busy, and the first time is…unique among my people."

Taylor still struggled to find words. Her mouth opened, then closed again. "I…I shouldn’t have…"

Maia looked away. "I do not regret sharing my body with you. I regret sharing my heart when you are obviously incapable of seeing me as more than your prisoner."

Those words were too much. Taylor crouched and began gathering up her clothes from the floor, hurrying to put them back on. Maia almost asked what she was doing, but Taylor said, "I'm leaving for a while." She pulled her shirt over her head before struggling into her pants. "If anyone comes in besides me, lock yourself in the bedroom."

"Taylor..." Maia reached out, hoping that she would stop and turn, but Taylor hurried for the door without looking back. She moved unnaturally fast, almost as if something was chasing her away. Maia could hear the front door hiss shut behind her as she stepped into the hall, leaving her completely alone. She remained still for several moments, trying to understand what had just happened.

After a few moments, it became clear that Taylor was not coming back. When Maia realized that the emptiness in the pit of her stomach was because she had not wanted Taylor to leave, she began to cry. Tears leaked from her stinging eyes, and she buried her face in her hands. Wetness ran over her fingers. It was not fair. She did not know why she wanted Taylor’s comfort now, when the human was the source of her pain, or why she felt so empty now that Taylor was gone. It did not make sense.

Although she desperately wanted to continue being furious with Taylor, most of her anger had burned out after finally putting her feelings into words. Instead, Maia’s thoughts kept returning to the many confusing times when Taylor had treated her with kindness and tenderness. Offering her clothes when she first arrived. Giving her the sandwich. Defending her against Sergeant Bower the first time. Taking care of her injuries the second time. Their moment together in the shower. Maia did not understand. At times, Taylor did treat her like a person, like someone she valued above a simple prisoner. Like a friend, or even something more...

"Maybe..." Maia whispered, unable to speak the thought, let alone think it. She could not care for a human, and a human—her guard, no less—could not care for her. Taking physical pleasure from Taylor was bad enough. Acknowledging an emotional connection was worse. She tried to push the thoughts from her mind, unwilling to consider it. But alone in the room, there was little else to think about.

Chapter Twenty Five

Taylor had not known where she was going when she left the room, but she had a destination in mind as soon as she stepped onto the elevator. She did not want to be alone after leaving Maia. She needed to talk to someone, but she could not go to Andrew again. Even though Rachel hated ikthians, she was the best friend Taylor had. Hopefully, that friendship would be strong enough to convince her to listen.

When the lift stopped on the first floor, she exited the building and headed for the barracks, where the rest of the soldiers and the junior officers had their quarters. She found Rachel in her bunk, going over some paperwork. "Hey," she said, not even bothering to look up when Taylor came in. "How’s your assignment going?"

"Don't want to talk about it," Taylor groaned, sitting down on Rachel's bed. Rachel’s shared room was much smaller than hers, and it did not have its own private shower. There was not any space for a couch or other large items of furniture. The only other place to sit was at Rachel's small desk, where she was currently settled, or the other bed belonging to her bunkmate.

Taylor sat patiently while Rachel studied her. "You look like you need a drink."

Despite her awful mood, Taylor tried to force an unconvincing smile. "Definitely need a drink." Taylor watched Rachel walk over to the small cabinet in the corner of the room and pull out a bottle.

"Is the brass riding you? I hear the negotiations are still on hold." She sat on the bed beside Taylor and passed her the bottle. "Here, take it. You probably need it a hell of a lot more than I do."

"Thanks, and not exactly." Taylor hesitated, not sure how much she wanted to open up to Rachel. Her friend would not understand her feelings for Maia. "Some grunts tried to mess with Maia the other day. They swiped Bouchard's ID card."

"Really?" Rachel asked, obviously surprised.

Taylor took a swig from the bottle without bothering to check the label. She coughed as the liquid burned her throat raw. "Maia didn’t even need me. Somehow, she managed to poison Sergeant Bower when he tried to touch her. Bastard deserved it. The others just ran."

Rachel’s eyes widened. "Shit. That isn’t good, Taylor."

"She was only protecting herself," Taylor said, feeling the need to defend Maia. "Besides, she didn't kill him."

"I’m sure she was. But if she could poison him while her collar was on, imagine what she could do to you."

Taylor frowned. "She didn’t do anything to me. The pain made her pass out. Overrode her nervous system with a shock or something. After I fixed the burns, I put it back on." An image of Maia’s numb, hopeless expression as she had clicked her own collar back into place nearly had Taylor in tears, but she washed them back with another mouthful of fire.

Rachel did not look convinced. "You still need to go to the brass and tell them her collar isn’t turned up high enough or something."

"I will," Taylor said, although she knew she wouldn’t. No other answer would satisfy Rachel.

"So, what else happened? That can’t be the only reason you’re here downing my private stash of liquor?" Taylor took one last long gulp before Rachel took the bottle away from her. "This stuff is impossible to come by anymore, and I think you’ve had more than enough."

"You let me have it," Taylor said, her syllables running together.

"Because I thought you’d only take one shot!" Rachel pulled out a glass from her desk drawer and poured out a measured amount of the drink. "There." Taylor took the shot glass and downed it instantly. "That’s all you’re getting. Now, why are you really in here getting shit-faced off my good alcohol?"

Taylor shuddered as the drink settled in her stomach. "They just…they treated her like less than a person. And she’s not…less than a person, I mean."

"Still not seeing where all the angst is coming from." Rachel poured herself something to drink as well. Taylor did not blame her, knowing she was probably a mess to deal with at the moment.

"I treated her that way, too," Taylor whispered. She was close to tears, and the burning in her throat from the alcohol only reminded her of Maia. "I slapped that collar back on her without a second thought, even after it hurt her. And I’m supposed to be better than them."

Rachel frowned. "She's just an ikthian," she began, but her voice trailed off when Taylor gave her a murderous glare.

"She's not just an ikthian. Thinking like that is what made them try to rape her. It’s a damn good thing she protected herself." For a moment, Taylor wanted to confess, to tell Rachel about her conflicted feelings, but she knew her friend would not understand. "I've spent time with her, Rachel. She's just as...human...as we are." Taylor buried her face in her hands, her back shuddering as she sobbed.

Rachel sat on the bed beside Taylor, rubbing a hand between her shoulder blades. "Hey...I know you're an asshole sometimes, but the ikthian can't hate you that much if she hasn’t killed you yet. I still think spending all that time with it is a stupid, dangerous, terrible idea, by the way." That only made Taylor cry harder, and Rachel pulled her hand away.

Eventually, Taylor rubbed her sleeve over her eyes in a futile attempt to dry them. She sniffed once, and turned to look at Rachel. "Look," Rachel said. Taylor sat up in an attempt to listen to her. "I don't know anything about aliens, but usually an apology is the place to start when you've hurt someone's feelings. You did say she has them, right?" Taylor hung her head. She did want to apologize for the way she had treated Maia, but she didn’t know where to start.

"You make it sound simple," Taylor said in a hoarse voice, her words still a little uneven. She was definitely starting to feel the effects of the alcohol now. Her head was spinning, and Rachel's face was becoming blurrier by the second.

"It is simple. It's just not easy. If you think you've treated her badly, tell her you're sorry. If this ikthian really is good like you say she is, she could probably use at least one friend in this place."

"I've realized that even though I’ve slept with her, I barely know a damn thing about her life," Taylor blurted out.

"How is that any different than the human girls you slept with for a night?"

Taylor nodded and stared at the floor. It was all she could manage. "It's more than that. I know it, and she knows it, too. I guess I haven’t been doing a great job of showing it."

"You really care what she thinks about you, don’t you?" Rachel said thoughtfully.

Taylor looked up at Rachel. The answer scared her, but she had to acknowledge it. "Yes."

"And why do you think that is? Do you think her pheromones have gotten inside your head? Are you brainwashed?"

Taylor almost laughed. "She couldn’t do that to anyone if she tried. The truth is, she’s harmless unless you attack her first, and I…" The words stuck in her throat. She cared for Maia. Deeply. Perhaps it was moving beyond just affection. The thought of falling for an alien terrified her. Falling for Maia, however, seemed perfectly natural…if only she wasn’t the only thing standing between Maia and freedom.

"And you think she really cares about you?"

Taylor did not hesitate. "I know she does."

Rachel took a deep breath. Even through the hazy effects of the alcohol, Taylor could tell that she was conflicted. Finally, she said, "It sounds like you should be talking to her about this instead of me, then. Tell her."

"I'm not sure I can. But I guess I have to." Gathering her resolve, Taylor stood up, swaying slightly on her feet. "I'll do it. I'll tell her I'm sorry. Tell her I…"

"Not now," Rachel said, pulling Taylor back down. "Sleep it off first. I'll let you have my bunk."

"Okay," Taylor muttered. It was probably a good thing she was going to wait before talking to Maia. She was a mess in this state, crying one minute and forgetting all of her words the next.

"Lie down." Rachel stood up to give Taylor room. "And if you ruin my sheets, I'll kill you, superior officer or not." As Taylor stretched out obediently on her side, Rachel took a seat at her desk, probably trying to finish the paperwork she had started.

Taylor closed her eyes, sighing with relief as the room stopped tilting at strange angles. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, she would tell Maia she was sorry and confess her feelings. Hopefully, she would be able to come up with the right words. Unable to think of any now, Taylor gave up and pictured Maia's face, trying to remember what the ikthian's smile looked like. Tomorrow, after she apologized, she was going to make Maia smile. Maia deserved that much from her, at least.

Chapter Twenty Six

While under the influence of alcohol, talking with Maia again had seemed like an easy task to Taylor, but once she stood outside her door, the idea of going inside and apologizing seemed impossible. The two guards that had been stationed in her absence looked at her with curiosity. One of them had already asked if Taylor had lost her pass or needed assistance, but she shook her head and kept staring at the door.

"Um, Lieutenant?" one of the guards said, "I don’t know what the problem is, but you should probably just go inside." Taylor nodded and took a step forward. The door opened immediately when she presented her ID, but she did not see Maia anywhere in the living room. She swallowed and walked back to check the bedroom.

She found Maia sitting on the mattress, staring at the opposite wall. That seemed to be all the ikthian did with her free time, but it was not like she had many other options. Eventually, Maia looked up, giving Taylor a clear view of her face. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her body was limp with exhaustion. She looked like she had been crying for most of the night. Taylor felt another stab of guilt.

"Hey," she said. Her voice came out raspy and hoarse. She took a few steps forward, but stopped at the edge of the bed. She made no motion to sit down.

"Taylor?" Maia frowned, shifting closer to her. "Is everything all right?"

Taylor closed her eyes and took a deep breath. If Maia's expression was anything to go by, she probably looked horrible, too. Still, Maia's concern for her kindled a spark of hope in her chest. "I can’t imagine it’s all right for you. You’ve been through so much, Maia, and my behavior hasn’t helped."

Maia hesitated. "I...I am not sure what to say. You treat me kindly one moment, and then seem to remember that I am your captive the next. But I was too harsh on you yesterday. I enjoyed what we did. I just have no idea what to call...this...anymore. It defies everything I thought I knew."

Instead of comforting her, Maia's gentle tone made Taylor’s chest tighten. She could barely look at the ikthian, and each soft word struck her like a blow. This was it. She had to apologize, and to tell Maia how she felt. "I’m sorry. So sorry for everything. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. I…I realize that I’m the one trapping you here, and it only makes things harder." Taylor blinked to clear her eyes and forced herself to stare back down at Maia, who had gone strangely silent. "I can’t just think of you as a prisoner anymore. Not after I’ve started to see you as a lover."

"A lover?" Maia whispered. Warmth surrounded Taylor's hands, and she realized that Maia had wrapped her fingers around them. "That is how you have come think of me?"

Taylor ran her thumbs over the backs of Maia's knuckles. She knelt so that they were on the same level, bringing Maia's hands close to her chest. "Yes," she said, praying that Maia would accept her answer and forgive her. "That is how I think of you. How I feel for you."

Maia took in a shaking breath, and Taylor could see a little of the pain leave her eyes. "So, what should we do now?"

"We take it one day at a time, and I'll see you as…you. Not just an ikthian or a prisoner of war. Just as Maia." Taylor brought Maia's hands up to her lips, pressing a kiss against them. "I don't know when it happened. When I started seeing you differently. Somewhere along the way, I just forgot we were supposed to be enemies, and by then, it was too late to go back to being just your guard. I didn’t mean to fall into bed with you so quickly, though. I’m sorry that happened."

Maia's face brightened with a smile. "I am not sorry," she said, drawing her hands back. She patted the edge of the bed beside her, and Taylor climbed off her knees, taking the offered space. "Taylor, you let me experience things I never would have otherwise, and I do not mean just physical pleasure. It has been an experience getting to know you, one I am glad I had."

A little of Taylor's guilt eased. Their desire had seemed mutual at the time, but she was terrified that she had pressured Maia into being intimate with her. It was a relief to hear that Maia had wanted her. She lifted her arm, allowing Maia to settle under it and rest against her shoulder.

"Sometimes, I wonder what our first encounter would have been like without this war," Maia said after a moment, still comfortably tucked in her embrace.

Taylor looked down at her. "You mean, if the Dominion and Coalition weren’t trying to kill each other?"

"Yes. If we all saw each other as equals. If we had met casually, just as two people…"

Taylor smiled, tucking her chin back on top of Maia's crest and pulling her closer. "I don't know. My pick-up lines are terrible. I might have scared you off."

"But you are so kind," Maia said. "Perhaps that gentleness would have been enough."

"Or perhaps I would have gotten a slap across the face," Taylor teased. Her heart soared when she saw a smile tug at Maia's lips. She was grateful that she had been able to make Maia smile at least once. "So how would we have met? Maybe in a bar? Or would you stay away from those kinds of places?"

Taylor enjoyed the light blush that tinged Maia’s cheeks as she thought over the questions. "I suppose I would have frequented a bar…eventually. Perhaps a colleague would force me to go after successfully compiling a report."

"You're a geneticist, right?" Taylor asked.

Maia's smile grew wider. "Yes. I am glad you remembered. I started out as a biologist, but over the past decade, my research has drifted heavily toward genetics."

Taylor could not help being impressed. "Really? So you’d probably have a pick-up line about DNA sequencing or something, right?"

Maia’s brow furrowed. "I do not understand what you are implying, Taylor. I was not under the impression that bars were an acceptable place to discuss genetic theory."

"That isn't quite what I meant," Taylor said. "I was just kidding. We really need someone to update those translator chips. You never get my humor."

"Perhaps it is because your delivery leaves something to be desired."

For a moment, Taylor was stunned. Then, she burst out laughing. She pulled her arm from around Maia's shoulders and braced her elbows on her knees instead, leaning forward until she could catch her breath.

"That was a joke," Maia said, sounding concerned. Her hand rubbed circles on Taylor's back.

"I know it was a joke." Taylor straightened up again, still a little winded from laughter. "I just didn't expect you to tell one."

"If it makes you feel better, it has always been difficult for me to detect humor or sarcasm, even in my native language. It is not just you." Maia's hand fell away, and Taylor saw a dark flush start to spread beneath her silver cheeks. "If we had met in a bar, I probably would not have realized that you were interested in me. Still, I suppose it would have been nice to have someone sympathetic to talk to. Since many ikthians disagreed with my discoveries, I had very few friends back home."

"Your discoveries?" Taylor repeated. "You know, you've never told me what about them was dangerous enough to make the Dominion want to kill you. They can't be that bad, can they?"

Maia's face fell. "They are not bad...at least, not from my perspective. I am ashamed to admit now that the Dominion funded most of them, and they often interpreted the results the way they wanted to instead of the way I presented them. Most recently, I have been studying the genetic codes of various sentient species across the Milky Way. Ikthians, naledai, humans...there are some surprising similarities that convergent evolution cannot fully account for."

"Wait, slow down." Taylor held up her hand. "What do you mean by convergent evolution?"

"In closely related environments, sometimes two species will evolve to function the same way. Their appearances become similar."

"Is that why you look so much like me?" Taylor asked, unable to resist studying Maia's body. She hoped Maia would not notice, or mind the attention.

"Our similarities cannot all be attributed to evolving in equivalent environments," Maia said. She brought a hand up to Taylor's face, tracing her features lightly. "We have plenty of differences, but our basic structure is the same, all the way down to our DNA."

Taylor had considered how odd it was that so many of the spacefaring species looked vaguely 'human' before, but she had never given it much thought beyond that. "I guess it explains why we all look alike, but what does it mean?"

"The aliens I was studying did not just look like ikthians. They also shared several DNA sequences with us. It would be like a family trait showing up in several relatives."

Taylor frowned. "But how did we all get similar genetics? We’re all from different planets. It doesn't make sense."

"We were even more similar to each other several thousand years ago. We still do not know for certain what created life, but my research suggests that, at some point in the distant past, an ancient spacefaring species was genetically modifying all of our ancestors. They discovered our home-worlds and our species, and began guiding our evolution. Each planet was home to a different experiment. The excavation sites I have visited match the same time periods. There are a few crucial elements to the research that pin it together, but my most significant study did not occur until recently, when I discovered an ancient database of scientific analyses and conclusions. Whatever the ancients did to us, they had time and very little concern for the long-term effects of their experiments."

Taylor was stunned. Of all the explanations for why human life had evolved the way it did, this was the strangest she had ever heard. Humanity had been exploring space for the past several decades, but they were certainly not the first to leave their home-worlds. The ikthians had dominated the galaxy for over a century before their arrival. It was not inconceivable that another, much older race had laid claim to the galaxy even earlier. "I can see why some people might not want to believe it. The thought that someone was manipulating your species isn't easy to swallow. But why is the Dominion so afraid of your research?"

"Think about it, Taylor. Imagine the political implications. The Dominion justifies their rule by claiming that other species are inferior. Discovering that we are actually related, in a sense, to the people we are trying to subjugate would tear apart the very foundation of the ikthian belief system." Maia stopped, glancing away when Taylor tried to look at her. "But I am rambling. Forgive me. You must find all of this terribly boring."

Taylor shook her head. "No, you aren't boring… I mean, it isn't boring..." She gave Maia an awkward look, rubbing the back of her neck. "Sorry. Sometimes I'm not really good at talking to people."

"That makes two of us," Maia admitted. "I fear that somewhere along the way, my research prevented me from socializing with other ikthians...or any other species. Not that my mother would have approved. But something about you makes me want to spend time with you, Taylor." She paused, lifting her hand to cover her mouth as she let out a yawn. "I apologize. I did not sleep last night."

"I guess that was my fault," Taylor said. She wanted to ask Maia more questions about her research, but they could wait until later. The ikthian was clearly exhausted. "I'll let you get some sleep. You can tell me more tomorrow."

Taylor reached out and put her hand on Maia’s shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze before standing up. "Are you going to bed as well?" Maia asked with a hopeful look in her eyes.

"Probably," Taylor said. "I could use a good night’s sleep. I'll take the couch for now while we... start over. You’ve given me a lot to think about, and I’m not sure I even understand half of it."

Maia’s eyes fixed on Taylor’s. "Are you talking about my genetic research, or…whatever is between us?"

"Both. Just give me a little time. Then, maybe we can…" Taylor let her voice trail off, too unsure of herself to suggest what she was thinking.

"Yes," Maia said, but her voice sounded reluctant. "Perhaps some space would be helpful to both of us." Taylor knew that if she asked, Maia would allow her to share the bed, but she did not want to tempt herself. Before she was intimate with Maia again, she wanted to get to know her better. It seemed ridiculous, since Maia was still technically her prisoner, but Taylor wanted the opportunity to court her a little. She still felt some lingering guilt for rushing into sex with Maia so quickly.

There was an awkward pause between them, and Taylor took a few paces back toward the door. "Sleep well." She turned away, forcing herself not to look back. She knew that if she did, her resolve would shatter.

Chapter Twenty Seven

For the next week, Taylor worked hard to discover new ways of making Maia happy. During the days, she usually found some excuse to go out for a little while and pick up gifts. Sometimes she brought back food, and she provided Maia with meals more often than was strictly necessary. When she noticed that Maia had a sweet tooth, Taylor bribed the line cook into giving her extra rations of fresh fruit, which the ikthian took a liking to immediately. She had given Rachel Harris a piece of the haul, too, as repayment for the alcohol and friendly ear that she had provided.

Taylor also started looking for books to bring to Maia, since she had caught her glancing over the limited selection in her quarters more than once. She handed over the first one she found quietly, hoping for a positive reaction. Maia studied the book she had chosen with a raised eyebrow. "I thought you might like this," Taylor explained, wincing a little at how awkward her own voice sounded.

The sad smile she got in return was almost enough to dishearten her. Maia took the book and looked it over. "I appreciate the thought, and I probably would enjoy this book, but I cannot read any human languages. The translator does not work visually."

Taylor felt dumbstruck. "But I’ve seen you. You’ll have a book out sometimes…"

"To examine the recording system your species uses. The text means nothing to me."

Taylor offered to teach her, but Maia gently explained that unless she had her translator removed and learned a human language, the symbols would still hold no meaning to her. She passed the book back to Taylor. "But…you could read it to me, if you like."

"Well, I guess I could," Taylor said, her hope rising. She did not consider her own reading voice to be any good, but she and Maia had nothing else to do while they waited for the generals and the ikthians to come to an agreement. It would help keep their minds off the inevitable, whatever that turned out to be.

The book, Pride and Prejudice, delighted Maia. They never got very far in it, considering she constantly interrupted Taylor’s attempts at reading aloud. "This is quite archaic," she said more than once. That was her favorite note. "Imagine, assuming the females of a species needed to be enslaved, or traded around like property...although I suppose we did not treat our males very well in the past, either."

"It’s an old book," Taylor said, feeling the need to defend the work. "And if you’d let me get farther, you’d realize Elizabeth is undermining that stereotype."

"I like that character. The one who ruined her clothes in the mud?" For some reason, Taylor had suspected that Maia would latch onto the defiant main character. "I dislike her mother, though."

Taylor smirked. "Does she remind you of anyone?"

"If you are trying to infer that my mother is like the controlling human in that story, then…you would have a point. The male character, though. Darcy. That is what he is called, yes? He seems rude."

Taylor shrugged. "He just doesn’t know how to talk to women, especially one as lovely as Elizabeth."

"Does he remind you of anyone?" Maia asked, a playful edge to her voice.

Taylor laughed and shut the book. “I refuse to acknowledge what you’re implying. I’m hardly a wealthy Englishman.”

“A what?” Maia asked.

“Englishman. It just means someone who is from England.”

“Is that a neighboring planet?” Maia asked. Her eyes were wide again with scientific curiosity. Taylor liked seeing it in her gaze.

“No. It’s an island here on Earth. We like to divide up where people are from that way,” Taylor explained. She watched Maia nod and then furrow her brow as she processed the information.

“So where would you be from?” she asked, glancing up at Taylor once more.

Taylor sighed and placed the book on top of a dresser. She ran a hand through her hair and thought of the simplest way to explain it to Maia. “Well, most humans would consider me to come from two places, though I spent most of my life about seven hundred miles north of San Diego, meaning here.” She pointed down to gesture at the base. Maia nodded to indicate that she understood. “My mom is actually from Japan, a set of islands west of this continent, while my dad grew up here.”

“But if you always lived on this continent, why would other humans assume you belong to both?”

Taylor shrugged. “It’s a heritage thing. What about you? You don’t have just your mother, right? What does your father do, or where is he from?”

“My father is on Korithia.” Maia glanced out the window. “He has always been there. We rarely speak, though. He mostly focuses on keeping up with my mother and her career. It was always...exhausting for him to live such a public life, but he is expected to remain with my mother, and so he does.” Taylor nodded and waited for the inevitable question. She knew Maia would ask it, even though she was an alien. She would ask just like any other woman Taylor had dated. “And what about your mother and father?”

She took a deep breath. “They died when I was young.” Maia’s face fell, but Taylor gave her a small smile anyways. “Don’t feel too bad for me. It was a long time ago, and I’ve had time to come to terms with it.” She reached for the book and opened it once more. “I can read more for you, if you like.” It seemed like a suitable time to change the subject.

Unfortunately, reality interrupted before Maia could agree. Her datapad went off with a message from Roberts, requesting her presence at another meeting. Normally, Taylor hated meeting with the brass, especially when Bouchard was involved, but this time, she was grateful for the excuse to leave for a little while. Bringing up her parents always made whatever woman she was seeing feel pity for her, and while Maia had not rushed to soothe her, she could tell the ikthian needed a moment to process the information.

It only took her a few minutes to say goodbye to Maia, put the book away, and hurry over to the meeting. Taylor reported to Roberts’s office early. She could hear muffled voices shouting at one another through the door, and for once, things were almost normal. She nodded at the guard, and he activated his communicator. "Sir?" he said. The voices in the next room grew quiet. "Lieutenant Morgan is here."

There was the silent crackle of static, and then, "Send her in." The guard nodded and opened the door.

Inside, Generals Hunt, Lee, and Moore were waiting for her, along with Commander Roberts. Bouchard had made an appearance again as well. Taylor held her salute until General Hunt nodded. "At ease, Lieutenant Morgan. We wanted to check up on your progress with Kalanis. Anything to report?"

Taylor thought for a moment. What had she learned about Maia that would prove useful to a war effort? She had learned she was a person, and that she had a new appetite for human literature, but the generals were probably not interested in hearing any of that. "She’s a scientist, Sir," she said instead.

"We knew that already," Bouchard said. "She confessed that during the initial interrogation."

"But you don’t know what she was researching." Hunt and the others seemed intrigued, but Bouchard looked like he wanted to slap her for contradicting him. "She does genetic research. Her latest study suggests that the ikthians and most species in the Milky Way are more closely related than the ikthians like to think. We share some DNA sequences with them. The way she put it, we’re almost like distant relatives. That's why the Dominion wants her back so badly. Her discoveries would undermine their deepest-held convictions."

General Lee ran his fingers over his dark beard, studying Taylor intently. "She told you this, Lieutenant Morgan?"

"Yes. That’s why the seekers were chasing her, and why we captured her so easily."

"I can see why," Bouchard said sourly. "Perhaps we should modify our negotiation tactics. Surely the Dominion has little use for someone who challenges their doctrine..."

Even though she did not like the idea of returning Maia to the Dominion, Taylor was alarmed by Bouchard's dismissal. If he did not perceive Maia as valuable anymore, it could put her in serious danger sooner rather than later. The Coalition had no reason to house a prisoner they could not use, and as much as Taylor still wavered on the issue, she knew she needed to find a reason for the generals to keep Maia around.

General Moore spoke before she could. "The ikthians have been open to negotiating with us so far. Things are moving slowly, but they seem invested in getting her back. She’s obviously still valuable to them." Taylor breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the support.

"We cannot just ignore this information," Bouchard insisted. "Making deals to trade an unfavored prisoner of war could be extremely detrimental to us. If the Dominion views Kalanis as a traitor..."

"It doesn't matter why they value her as long as they value her," Hunt said. "If her people consider her research so subversive, it might even drive up her price."

For the first time, Taylor felt uncomfortable listening to General Hunt speak. Although she admired him, hearing him discuss Maia like a piece of property was uncomfortable, almost painful. It reminded her too much of her own actions. No wonder Maia’s feelings had been hurt.

"What if her research is valuable to us, Sir?" Taylor asked. If she wanted to help Maia, now was the time to act. "What if it could help end the war?"

Bouchard rolled his eyes. "Do you honestly think some bleeding-edge theory about genetics will stop the Dominion from conquering any planet it wants? Kalanis is obviously playing you, Lieutenant. Don’t let a pretty face distract you from your true loyalties."

For a moment, Taylor froze. In that moment, she realized that Bouchard knew. She was not sure whether Bower had told him, whether he had heard it from some other source, or whether he had simply guessed, but he knew. Taylor was certain that if he got the chance, he would use the information against her.

"That’s a little harsh, Bouchard," Roberts said, breaking the moment of tension. "The lieutenant may have a point. This research might not do much for the leaders, but what if it incites a riot among the masses? Large regimes aren’t kept together without layers and layers of secrets."

"The ikthians won’t care," Bouchard said dismissively.

"But the other races might. The ikthians have a lot of other planets under their control. If we could get our hands on Kalanis’s research and make the Dominion look weak, it might encourage some of them fight back. Most naledai worlds are already on the brink of revolution."

Hunt frowned, and Taylor's stomach sank. "That might take too long, Roberts. And it’s a huge risk. Human lives could be saved if we stick to negotiations. If we could guarantee safety for Earth…"

"There is no guarantee that the ikthians won't turn around and go back on their word once Kalanis is secured," Bouchard said. "We should bargain for something of substance, not an empty promise."

"What do you suggest, Chairman?" Hunt asked.

"Other prisoners, resources, anything we can use to try and boost our war efforts. I guarantee that this conflict will not end until the Dominion is destroyed, or they are convinced that we are capable of defending ourselves."

Taylor grew visibly uncomfortable as she watched the three men fight. Hunt was too optimistic, and Bouchard far too cynical, but since she had not been asked her opinion, she kept her mouth shut. She also resented the way that they were still referring to Maia like an object with an assigned value, but she knew that she had behaved no better up until a week ago.

Noticing Taylor's distress, General Moore was kind enough to offer her an escape route. "We can't do anything until we receive our next message from the ikthians," she pointed out, glancing between Hunt, Bouchard, and Roberts. Her words seemed to soothe them. "We can decide what to do after we hear their offer. And Lieutenant Morgan, good work on the Intel. I'm sure it will guide our decision."

"Thank you, General." Taylor couldn't help admiring Moore’s calm, rational tone. If she had been a general instead of a lieutenant, she might not have been so patient with Bouchard.

"See if you can find out any more from Kalanis," General Lee added. "We need to know more about her research." Taylor saluted to show that she understood. "The rest of us will call you for another status report in the next two days. You're dismissed."

For what felt like the hundredth time, Taylor hurried out the door, eager to be anywhere but Roberts's office. As she took the stairs two at a time down to the first floor, she wondered if she would ever be forced to stay for one of the long, extended fights that almost certainly continued after she left. She hoped not.

Chapter Twenty Eight

Maia looked down at the book that lay open in front of her. The words slipped past her eyes, none of them making sense. She wished she had the time and the necessary tools to learn the language. The story was charming, even if it had been written hundreds of years ago by this Austen human. Maia had grown up with stories to read and watch, but there was something fascinating about discovering another species’ art. If she had been allowed, she might have taken to studying the major texts from other cultures, though that would have ostracized her even further from her people, in addition to disappointing her mother. The ikthians never considered anything that came from other cultures to be useful.

With a sigh, Maia allowed her thoughts to linger elsewhere. Where they wandered surprised her. She pictured Taylor, naked and well-muscled, pinning her down to the bed. Her body pulsed in response to the vivid mental image. She was somewhat ashamed by the swiftness and strength of her physical reaction. Taylor had not tried to initiate anything more between them since the incident with Bower and the other humans. Instead, she had made an effort to be kind while maintaining distance. Unfortunately, Maia's need had only grown worse since then.

She blushed, shaking her head to dispel a particularly intense memory of Taylor’s lips meeting hers in a searing kiss beneath the spray of the shower. She missed the taste of the human’s mouth. "Stop it," she murmured. Perhaps it was time for another shower. It would offer her some privacy if she became desperate.

The sound of the apartment door opening gave Maia an excuse to abandon her book. Taylor was back. Her heart rate spiked with anticipation. Taylor had asked for time after confessing their feelings, but Maia had been fighting off her pent-up need for nearly a week. She could do it no longer.

She met Taylor out in the living room. The human had slumped onto the couch, hunched over with her head in her hands. Maia resisted the urge to pounce on her. Obviously, something was bothering her, and she had to be considerate of Taylor’s feelings. Not knowing where to start, Maia sat down in the empty space next to her. "Hello."

Slowly, Taylor glanced up at her. "Hello."

They both stared awkwardly. Taylor was clearly waiting for her to say more, but Maia did not know how to continue. "So…are you all right? You seem upset. Tense." She could not help hoping Taylor would allow her to help relieve some of that tension.

"Just a meeting with some people I really didn't want to talk to."

"Is there anything I can do?" Maia leaned forward slightly, shifting a little closer. She desperately hoped that Taylor would pick up on the hint, or at least react to their close proximity.

Unfortunately, Taylor was either oblivious, or deliberately ignoring her subtle attempts. "No, but thanks for asking. It was just hard to hear the generals talk about you like a bargaining chip. Guess it reminded me too much of my own behavior." Taylor sat up straight again, running a hand through her hair. She turned to look at Maia and gave her a weak smile. "I asked them if we could keep you on base as an ally today, maybe use your research to undermine the Dominion. All of them except Roberts thought that was a terrible idea. I tried my best, but they don’t…they don’t see you as a person."

Taylor’s confession left Maia stunned. She had never imagined Taylor would argue for her freedom. The human was obviously torn, and Maia was touched that Taylor had tried to protect her despite the wishes of her superiors. "You honestly think I would make a valuable asset to your military?"

Taylor turned to face her. "Are you kidding? You’re brilliant. You know everything about the ikthians and their propaganda machine, and your research threatens to subvert their entire belief system. You’d be a perfect ally if you turned against them. If you…if you were human, they wouldn’t hesitate to consider it."

Maia blushed. "You really believe that?"

"I do."

Before she could stop herself, Maia leaned forward and kissed Taylor full on the mouth. She moaned softly at the contact, savoring the warmth and softness of her lips, and after a few seconds, Taylor kissed her back. She brought her hands up to Taylor’s shoulders and drew her in close, trying to deepen the kiss before Taylor could think better of it and pull. She whimpered when they broke contact.

"Hold on," Taylor muttered. Her breathing had grown heavy, and she stared at Maia with wide, dark eyes. Maia could read the arousal there, but there was also hesitance. "I didn’t say any of this to just get you to sleep with me again."

"I know." Maia pushed Taylor backwards onto the couch, leaning forward to join their lips again. There was no denying the connection between them any longer. Taylor would do what she could to keep Maia alive, she knew that somewhere in her mind, and when the time came for her to leave Earth behind, Maia knew that Taylor would not stop her…or, at least, she would let herself believe it for this small moment.

Taylor cupped the side of her face, easing them out of the kiss and pushing her a few inches away. Maia withdrew, a small pout settling on her lips. She was about to protest, to counter any arguments Taylor made, but the human only smiled at her. "We should move to the bedroom," she whispered, and Maia felt the nervous knot in her chest unravel. Taylor was not rejecting her after all.

"I suppose this couch is not very comfortable," Maia agreed. Reluctantly, she climbed off of Taylor and stood up on unsteady legs. Her hands trembled, too, but with desire rather than nervousness. She was not afraid of the way her body reacted to Taylor anymore, although the intensity was still a little overwhelming.

"Actually, I had other reasons for wanting to go back there."

Before Maia could ask Taylor to explain the cryptic comment, she found herself being scooped up in a pair of powerful arms and hauled off the floor. She let out a squeak of surprise, but Taylor only grinned down at her. "Is this too much like that rude human, Darcy?"

Maia laughed and placed a hand on Taylor’s chest, enjoying the rise and fall beneath her palm. She could even feel Taylor’s heartbeat, and for some reason, the fast and steady thump aroused her even more. She hoped that it was beating quickly for her. "It would be another story entirely if Darcy carried Elizabeth away for activities like these."

Taylor shrugged Maia up higher into her arms as she carried her down the hall and through the doorway to the bedroom. Maia looped her arms around Taylor's neck, settling against the solid warmth of her chest. "I’m sure there’s a book like that somewhere in the library if you’re interested," Taylor whispered, leaning down to press their foreheads together and steal another kiss.

A whimper broke in Maia's throat as they finally pulled apart. It took her a moment to find her words. "I think we can find better ways to occupy ourselves."

Taylor gently lowered Maia down onto the mattress, but did not join her right away. Maia frowned and reached out, running her fingertips down Taylor’s arm. Even though the fabric of Taylor’s shirt, she could feel the strength there, the muscles that had so easily lifted her up. "Where are you going?" she asked, wanting to touch Taylor’s bare skin more than anything else.

To her surprise, Taylor blushed and pulled back a little, although she did not try and shrug off the hand trailing along her arm. "I…uh…wanted to try something, actually. Something a little different. If you don’t mind, that is."

Maia arched a brow. "Try something?" She had often heard jokes between her colleagues about sexual partners revealing their odd requests, but since she rarely joined in such conversations, she had no idea what her reaction was supposed to be. She wondered what Taylor could possibly ask of her, but hoped that it was a desire she could fulfill.

Taylor sighed. "Maybe it will be easier if I just show you," she said, turning away from the bed and hauling out the duffel bag tucked away next to the nightstand. Even though she had been living in this suite with Maia for several weeks, she had still not bothered to unpack everything.

Maia fidgeted on the bed, torn between impatience and curiosity as she watched Taylor rummage through the pack. After a few moments, she seemed to find what she was looking for. Maia tried to peer over her shoulder as she unwrapped her prize, but she could not quite see. Finally, Taylor stood back up and turned towards her, holding something in her hands.

A soft gasp escaped before Maia could stifle it. The shape of the object was instantly familiar to her. Yet more proof of the genetic similarities between their species, her scientific mind could not help adding as she tried to gather her thoughts. It had a thick, veined shaft and a flared head with a small dip at the very top. Although the color was not silvery-white, like flesh should be, it was also familiar to her. The shade was almost a perfect match to Taylor’s skin.

Taylor cleared her throat, and Maia blinked, suddenly realizing that she was staring. "I…was not expecting this," she stammered.

Taylor’s face fell a little, and she moved to turn back around, the shaft of the toy still clutched in her hand. "It’s all right, we don’t have to—"

"No!" Maia interrupted, a little too quickly. Although this was definitely a surprise, it was certainly not an unpleasant one. The more she thought about it, the more curious she became, and she felt the insistent pressure between her legs begin to rise again with deep, pleasurable pulses. "I mean, no…you do not have to put it away." She swallowed, her tongue feeling a little thick in her mouth. "I…I would like to try."

Taylor’s face broke into a smile. "Good," she said, practically radiating excitement. "This is something I love doing, but…"

"But?" Maia prompted as Taylor climbed onto the edge of the mattress, kneeling beside her.

"I guess it’s something I’m a little insecure about. Past girlfriends didn’t always react positively."

Maia’s brow furrowed. "Why not? I admit that I am not, um, very experienced with such things, but would it not feel pleasurable to them?"

"Not just for them," Taylor said, turning the toy around in her hand.

Maia leaned in, curious to get a closer look. She noticed that the shaft did not end the way typical male anatomy did. Instead, it curved back up on itself before flaring out into a short, round bulb. Positioned on top of the seat between them were a few carefully-placed circles, and Maia’s eyes widened in understanding. "Does it transmit sensation?"

Taylor nodded. "Among other things."

"That would make it ideal to use. I do not understand why your previous partners objected."

"I guess it was too realistic for a few of them, even though I was the one wearing it."

Maia placed a hand on Taylor’s arm. "Well, I have no objections." She waited, watching intently as Taylor lowered the toy between her legs, positioning the shorter end at her entrance. For a brief moment, Maia was jealous, remembering how good Taylor had felt around her fingers. But then, she forgot everything else as she watched Taylor press the toy into place, wincing a little as it slid inside of her. When she pulled her hands away, it remained in place.

"So…how do we start?" Maia shifted even closer to Taylor on the mattress and pressed against her side.

Taylor blushed. "We could always just start out slow." She slid her fingers beneath Maia’s chin, tilting her face up and kissing her on the lips. Maia could not resist, and she slid her tongue forward, pushing into Taylor's mouth briefly before retreating. Her clit was already throbbing, and she had no idea what she would do when Taylor was actually inside of her.

But first, she needed to become a little more familiar with Taylor's new anatomy. She reached down and wrapped a hand around the shaft, giving it a slow, gentle stroke. Taylor gasped and bucked into her hand. "Oh God," she blurted out. "This…this isn’t slow…and it’s so much better…"

"Better than what?" Maia asked, giving the warm shaft another curious pump of her hand. She could not help admiring how perfectly it matched Taylor’s skin. She could still see the outline of Taylor’s lips flared open around the base of the toy, but otherwise, it looked surprisingly realistic.

"Better than..." Taylor hesitated, as if she was not sure whether to continue. Maia halted the motion of her hand so that Taylor could find her words again, pausing just beneath the thick, flared head. "Better than when I touch myself," she finished, torn between looking into Maia’s eyes and watching Maia’s hand as it began moving again.

"You mean, you use it when you are alone?" Maia felt emboldened by the confession and tightened her grip around the shaft. Even though she had never done this before, Taylor’s reactions to her touch seemed more than promising.

"I…uh…sometimes. It adds some variety to the same old thing."

"Oh, does it?" Maia pumped her hand one more time before dipping her head to give Taylor’s lips a teasing bite. She enjoyed having this kind of power, at least for the moment. Perhaps later, after she had toyed with the human for a little longer, she would allow Taylor to pin her down and have her turn. She had to admit that the idea of being at Taylor's mercy while she was wearing the cock intrigued her.

"Yes," Taylor gasped.

The length of the cock twitched in Maia’s hand as her fingers brushed over the swollen head, and a glistening bead of wetness spilled from the tip, sliding against the pad of her thumb. This time, it was her turn to gasp. "Taylor?" she asked, excitement rising in her voice. "Is this wetness from you?" She repeated the motion, and this time, a low groan broke in Taylor’s throat. Maia instantly decided that she liked the sound, and wanted to hear it again.

Taylor could barely stammer out an answer. "Y…yes…"

Maia licked her lips, and her tongue felt thick in her mouth. Taylor had tasted her during their second time together, but she had never gotten the opportunity to return the favor. Even though this was not the way she had planned on doing it, Maia felt her heart pound heavily in her chest at the thought. "Would you like my mouth on it?" she asked softly. Judging from the tiny whimpers Taylor released, she would like it very much. "Lay back," she said with a gentle nudge.

Taylor settled down against the pillows, and Maia leaned over her. She placed kisses along her neck, stopping to suck at her pulse point before lowering herself farther down Taylor’s body. As she approached the juncture between Taylor’s legs, her motions slowed. Her tongue passed slowly over a hip bone before she raised her mouth up. She paused as she stared down at the shaft.

"You know..." Taylor’s voice caused her to look up. "You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to."

Maia shook her head slightly, giving Taylor a reassuring smile. "Of course I want to. I am…very curious to find out what you taste like."

Taylor let out another low, needy groan, and Maia’s gaze shifted back down between her legs. At first, she simply stared at the cock resting inches away from her mouth. She had no practical experience with this kind of thing, and the shaft was thicker than she expected. For a moment, she wondered how Taylor was going to fit inside of her mouth, let alone any other parts of her body. Resisting the temptation to reach out and wrap her hand around it again, she focused on the flared, swollen head. It tapered to a blunt point, and a narrow slit ran through the tip. It glinted with wetness, and Maia guessed that it was another feature of the toy.

Finally, her curiosity got the better of her. She dipped her head forward, placing a soft kiss directly on top of the head. Taylor’s abdominal muscles tensed, and slowly, she slid her lips a little further down. Once she had taken the widest part of the tip past her lips, she waited, expecting Taylor to guide her. But Taylor simply stared down at her, caressing the back of her neck as she drew in a shuddering breath. "God, yes," she said. "Please…please, don’t stop..."

Maia twitched at the low, throaty sound of Taylor’s voice. She swirled her tongue over the slit again, and a little more wetness spilled out. This time, Taylor could not even form words. Her fingers tightened a little desperately on the back of Maia’s neck, though, and she took it as a sign of approval. Encouraged by Taylor’s response, she tried to take more of the shaft into her mouth, letting several inches slide past her lips. She accidentally pushed a little too far, and her eyes stung as the flared head nudged the back of her throat. Fortunately, Taylor did not seem to notice. Maia folded one of her hands around the firm base, hoping it would prevent her from making the same mistake twice.

Maia heard a gasp above her, and she lifted her eyes. Taylor was staring down at her, her hair a tousled mess and her face flushed with pleasure. She pleaded for more without words, and Maia tightened the seal of her lips, not breaking eye contact. A few more drops of warmth slipped from the pulsing head of Taylor's cock, and she ran her tongue over them, humming as the taste spread across her tongue. The shaft rippled in her hand, and Maia felt her own inner muscles throbbed in response.

The hand on the back of her crest tightened, applying soft pressure until Maia slid her lips as far along her shaft as she could before meeting her hand. "Oh God," Taylor purred, stroking along her neck. "Your mouth feels incredible." Her hips twitched, as if she was fighting the instinct to thrust.

Maia found it more and more difficult to concentrate. Taylor's words of encouragement kept running through her head, fueling her own need. She tried squeezing her thighs together, but it did nothing to ease her discomfort, the insistent pressure between her legs. Every time she moved, she could feel how wet she was. She needed to be touched. To be filled.

Instinctively, Maia reached down to cup herself with her other hand. She teased herself open and explored with her fingers, desperate to ease some of the ache. Taylor's eyes shifted, and Maia could tell that she was watching when another pulse of heat spilled over her tongue. She drew her lips back up along the shaft and worked over the head in slow circles. "You like doing this enough to touch yourself, huh?" Taylor teased, stroking down the side of Maia's neck. Maia stopped what she was doing, a little embarrassed, but Taylor's hand gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. "Don’t stop. Keep touching yourself. I want to watch."

Maia felt a pulse of wetness slide over her fingers, and she began circling the hard ridge of her clit. She stared up at Taylor with pleading eyes and continued doing her best to lash her tongue over the tip of her cock. Her stomach twisted as she realized that she wanted more of the heavy, slightly salty taste that was spreading through her mouth.

Taylor's thigh muscles tensed, and Maia felt the base of the cock begin to tighten in her palm. "Maia," she said, her voice a little frantic, "I…I need to…"

Maia suddenly realized what was going to happen, and she knew that Taylor was trying to warn her. However, instead of pulling back so that her lover could release, she deliberately swiped her tongue over the sensitive tip one more time before sliding her lips as far along the pulsing shaft as she could. She could feel how full it was, and she was very curious to find out how Taylor would taste.

Taylor could not stop herself. Her fingers dug into the back of Maia’s neck, and her hips rocked up, unwilling to give up Maia’s mouth even for a moment. Maia heard her shout something like her name as the incredible pressure pounding along the shaft of Taylor's cock finally released, spilling out in blissful pulses.

The first shot of warmth startled Maia a little, but she managed to swallow it down. She knew that the wetness filling her mouth belonged to Taylor, and that knowledge made her fingers slip even faster over her own clit. The taste was just as good as she had hoped, and she could not help sucking and licking at the head of Taylor’s cock in an attempt to get more.

A few seconds later, her own orgasm came crashing down on her, causing her inner walls to pulse and her swollen clit to jump beneath her fingers. She felt herself squeeze around nothing, and she made up for the emptiness by rubbing her clit even harder, grinding the ridge in firm, quick circles until she was screaming around the shaft filling her mouth.

Slowly, Maia pulled her mouth off the toy and looked up at Taylor. The human lay on the bed, gasping for breath. Maia grinned and allowed herself to lie down next to Taylor. She draped her arm over her lover and pulled her close. Briefly, Maia wondered if she would have behaved like this with another lover, perhaps another ikthian, or whether there was simply something special about Taylor. As she let her hand wander over Taylor’s cooling skin, she tried not to think about the lack of a future they had.

Taylor glanced over at her. "That was incredible," she said, her mouth curling into a satisfied grin. She propped herself up on her side. "How about you?"

Maia blushed and let her hand wander to Taylor’s hip. "I…enjoyed myself very much, actually."

"How much?" The teasing tone in Taylor’s voice made her smile. Many things about Taylor made her happy, although she still did not know why.

Maia tugged on Taylor’s hip. "Enough that I am very interested in experimenting with this new toy some more."

Taylor took the hint and eased herself over Maia. "I think I can arrange that."

Maia moaned as Taylor reached down to hold her hip, nudging her legs apart. Taylor settled between her thighs, and she gasped as she felt the shaft of the cock brush just above her knee.

"Are you sure…" Taylor began, but Maia silenced her with a kiss before she could finish the sentence. She wove her fingers through Taylor's hair, pulling their mouths together in a hard, deep kiss. Taylor kissed her back, nipping at her lower lip and sliding her tongue forward. They did not pull apart until the need for air made both of their lungs burn, and even then, it was only for a few seconds. Maia could feel the pressure inside of her building again, and she was incredibly aware of the toy as it brushed against her inner thigh.

"Taylor, please," Maia murmured. Her lips grazed Taylor’s chin as she nuzzled just beneath her jaw. "Please…I want you inside of me. I want to know how it feels…"

Taylor's stomach muscles tensed above her, and Maia knew she was about to get what she was begging for. "Go ahead," Taylor said in a strained voice. "Take it at your own pace."

Maia's hand left the tangle of Taylor's hair, sliding down her back and around her side to reach between their bodies. Her fingers gripped the shaft of the toy, and she guided it carefully between her legs. She stopped breathing for a few seconds, and her heart skipped a beat.

Maia’s breath hitched as the head rubbed against her, sending little sparks of heat rolling over her skin. She hurried to tilt her pelvis down, feeling the tip slide through her folds until it was resting against her opening. Taylor trembled above her, bracing herself on tense, powerful arms, looking down into her eyes. Their lips caught in another kiss, and Taylor’s hips pushed forward to meet hers. Maia whimpered a little as the head stretched her, but it was a pleasant sensation. Soon, she was rocking her hips to try and take more.

Taylor thrust forward, burying the first inch of the shaft inside of her. She cried out, raking her nails lightly between Taylor's shoulder blades. It was almost too much all at once, but thankfully, Taylor gave her a few seconds to adjust. As she grew accustomed to the stretch, Taylor leaned down and kissed her again. Maia let out a soft whimper against her mouth and relaxed, losing herself in Taylor's lips

The two of them picked up a slow, steady rhythm, moving against each other as if they had done this a thousand times before. Maia felt her body relax into a warm, melting sort of heat, and Taylor was finally able to slide all the way into her. She heard Taylor’s breath hiss as their bodies finally joined, and she ran her hands up and down the human’s back, feeling her shoulders rise and fall with each breath. For a moment, words hovered on Maia’s lips, words she desperately wanted to say. But she knew she was not ready, and Taylor was probably not ready to hear them. Perhaps someday, if by some miracle she did not end up dead, and Taylor was still around to hear them…

Maia forgot everything else as Taylor began to move, thrusting inside of her, pulling out again, catching against sensitive places deep inside of her that she had not even been aware of before. She could not focus on anything except the pressure between her legs, and the ache that was steadily growing with each pump of Taylor’s hips.

Taylor paused above her, reaching out with one hand to stroke her cheek. Then, the tender moment broke, replaced by a deep, coiling need that urged both of them back into movement again. Maia shivered as Taylor's hand left her face, sliding down her throat and over her breast before making its way down her stomach. She forced it between their bodies, skimming over the ridge of her clit.

Maia screamed as Taylor pushed back the hood, pressing down firmly with the pads of her fingers. Taylor's hips began moving again, driving deep inside of her, and heat coiled in her abdomen. She knew that she was hovering on the edge of release. It would only take a few more thrusts for Taylor to send her screaming over the brink.

"Maia, please..."

Maia was surprised to hear Taylor beg. She suddenly realized that Taylor was almost as close as she was. She squeezed down, deliberately tightening her inner muscles around Taylor's length. She pulsed as she imagined what it would feel like when Taylor finally came inside of her. Taylor lowered her lips to Maia’s throat, kissing her pulse point. "I want to feel you come around me…I need to..."

The words and circling fingers were enough. Maia went rigid, digging her nails into Taylor’s broad shoulders and throwing her head back. Her inner muscles pulled tight around the shaft inside of her, and then loosened again in a series of harsh flutters. A few tears leaked from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks as she felt herself clutch desperately at the toy, spasming with blissful release.

As soon as Maia tightened, Taylor flew over the edge, slamming forward one last time. Warmth rushed up along the length of the cock, gushing from the head with each pump of her hips. Maia writhed beneath Taylor, clutching at her, pulling wave after wave of bliss from deep inside of her.

Once the two of them stopped quaking with the aftershocks of their release, Taylor shifted her hips back and pulled out of Maia. She took a deep breath, smoothing a hand through her tousled black hair. "How was that?"

Maia looked up at her with wide eyes, amazed that Taylor even needed to ask. She sat up and kissed Taylor on the lips. "It was wonderful. You were wonderful." She wished she could express to Taylor just how wonderful she was, but she feared getting any more deeply involved with her, though they had long ago passed any point of caution. What was stopping her from being honest now? Perhaps she wanted Taylor to know any feelings she had were genuine and not a ploy to escape Earth.

Taylor reached between her legs and eased the shorter end of the toy out, placing it on top of the dresser before collapsing on the bed. "Good," she muttered. Apparently, she was too tired to retreat to the couch. Maia did not mention it, glad to have Taylor with her for a while longer. It might be one of the only moments the two of them had left. She settled back down on the mattress and wrapped an arm around Taylor’s middle, drawing her close.

"May I hold you?"

Taylor nodded, suppressing a yawn. "Yes, please," she murmured against Maia’s shoulder. "I’ll just…shut my eyes for a bit."

Maia could hear the sleepiness in Taylor's voice, and reached down to pull a cover over them. "Stay as long as you like. I do not mind your company." She heard Taylor's deep, even breaths and knew she was asleep. "In fact," she whispered, mostly to herself, "I am starting to wonder what I will do without you."

Chapter Twenty Nine

The next day, Taylor found herself wandering the base, unsure where her feet were taking her. After what she had shared with Maia the night before, she wanted to talk through her thoughts, but she was not sure where to go. She thought about visiting Rachel, but decided that she did not want to impose on her friend twice in such a short period of time. She did not trust Andrew to keep her secrets anymore, although they had come to a sort of truce over the past week when he showed up for his turn at guard duty.

As she passed the mess and watched a group of naledai stroll down the steps, a second option occurred to her. Akton was familiar with ikthians, certainly more than any of the humans on the base. He was also her friend. Maybe he would be able to give her some perspective. She followed the group past several buildings and over to the docking bay where all of the ships were kept. A large naledai frigate was at rest there, and Taylor walked toward it, feeling slightly more hopeful.

The naledai standing guard outside the ship was surly at first, but once she mentioned her name and told him that she was looking for Akton, he seemed more at ease. "You said your name was Taylor?" he asked, studying her for a moment. "Akton's mentioned you. Says he met you serving on one of Nakonum's orbital stations. Not many humans are brave enough to go in the middle of an alien warzone."

"I killed a few ikthians there," Taylor admitted. The resistance on the naledai home-world was bloody, and she had seen both humans and naledai die defending it.

"Well, go on in." He stepped aside, opening the door to the decontamination chamber for her. "He's probably down in the engine bay."

Taylor nodded her thanks. "I'll keep it in mind." She stepped onto the ship. The naledai crewmembers inside seemed slightly surprised to see a human, but none of them objected to her presence. She walked by them without comment, heading for the elevator. She had been on enough naledai ships to understand their basic layout.

As the guard had predicted, Akton was in the engine bay. He had taken a panel off one of the processors and currently had it in pieces. He stared at the pile of wires and parts as if calculating his next move. He looked up when Taylor walked into the room. "Taylor." Akton straightened up and turned around to greet her. "What brings you onboard?"

Taylor crossed the width of the small room and stopped beside him. "I was wondering if we could talk."

"Sure. I don’t need to have this put back together for a few more days." Akton gestured at the pile of parts. "What’s on your mind? This is about the ikthian, isn’t it?"

Taylor nodded. "I need some advice."

Akton leaned against a wall and clasped his hands in front of himself. "Well, start at the beginning. I have a feeling this is going to take some time. You have that look on your face like…something bad happened. If you were naledai, I’d say you looked as if a Greskar had ripped your mother’s right arm off." Taylor raised an eyebrow, and Akton shook his head. "Well, it sounds better in the native tongue."

Taylor laughed and she felt some of her tension ease. She tried to think about how to best word what she wanted to talk about. "Well, I’ve been spending a lot of time with Maia." She waited for Akton to say something, but he only nodded for her to continue. "And…I think I’m in too deep to go back."

Taylor told him everything. About Bower and the other guards, about her fight with Maia, about how they had made up and tried to get to know each other better. The whole time, Akton sat back and listened patiently. After she finished, he leaned against the wall for a moment, staring thoughtfully at nothing. Finally, he said, "You really care about her, don’t you? It's not just the pheromones talking?"

Taylor was taken aback by the question. "Of course."

"And you think she cares about you?"

Taylor hesitated. "I don’t know. I think so. That’s how she seems to feel when I’m around, but…how can she? I’m standing between her and freedom." She leaned against an engine box. Her fingers flexed over the edge of the casing, drumming anxiously on the metal. "The worst part is, I know what will happen to her if the Coalition sends her back to Korithia."

Akton released a low growl from within his chest. "You’re not the only thing keeping her here, Taylor. Remember the armed guards and the mounted turrets on top of all the buildings? Even if you left the door unlocked, it’s not like she would just be able to walk out of here."

"No. But…I am…I was…her guard." Taylor sighed. She did not feel like Maia’s guard anymore. That part of their relationship had disappeared long ago.

"You’re also the only human on base that views her as a person now, even if it took you a while. I know what the Coalition tells humans about ikthians. It’s somewhat disturbing. But you know that they’re not all evil, no matter what the Dominion does."

Taylor groaned and massaged her temples. "I know. You should see the way people act around Maia whenever she leaves her chambers. They think she can kill them with just a look."

"But you don’t." Akton paused for a moment, considering something. "If you met other ikthians…ones like Maia, who weren’t a threat to the Coalition…would you consider them your enemies?"

Taylor was surprised by how easily the answer came to her. "No, I wouldn’t. Not anymore."

Akton looked around the room for a moment before stepping close to Taylor and lowering his voice. "Not all ikthians are members of the Dominion."

Taylor was quiet for a long moment. She studied Akton intently. Obviously, he knew more than he was telling. "I didn't think naledai soldiers associated with ikthians, unless you count shooting them."

"The situation is desperate on my home-world," he said, sounding almost too casual. "My superiors will work with anyone that wants to help set the naledai free. If they happen to be ikthian rebels who want to bring down the Dominion, why should we reject their help?"

Taylor was floored by Akton's information. She had never imagined that ikthians might be working to fight against the Dominion, or to help the naledai. "Does the Coalition know about this?"

"For the most part, no. A few of the generals might, although I doubt they would admit it in public. It looks bad for them. I’ve seen this sort of psychological play before. They tell you the enemy is without exception. That way, soldiers never hesitate when it’s time to kill."

Taylor pushed off the engine and folding her hands behind her back. She looked at Akton, a plan forming in her mind. Perhaps she could do one small thing to make up for her mistakes.

"Do you know what Maia was researching before I captured her?"

Akton shook his head. "I know she’s a geneticist, and was cited in a lot of Dominion propaganda…"

"She was been researching the similarities between ikthians and the other species under their rule. The Dominion didn’t like what she found."

"Really? What did she find?"

"That our DNA—naledai, human, ikthian—is more similar than the Dominion is comfortable with. She’s betting some ancient species helped with our genetic development. She made it sound like we all came from the same species."

"The idea that another species helped us all evolve is a bit difficult to believe, I’ll admit, but I bet it would be even harder to swallow for the Dominion. Their whole doctrine, their rationalization for taking over the rest of the galaxy, is based on the theory that they’re a superior race. Something like this…" His voice trailed off as he seemed to imagine the possibilities.

"If some of Maia's research magically appeared in your hands, would you know how to get it to someone that could use it?"

"Definitely. The Dominion's argument falls apart if we're all genetically similar to each other. And while some ikthians will overlook it, this might lend us the support we need to turn the tide of this war." Akton considered the possibilities further. "It will still be difficult to completely undermine the Dominion’s authority, but things will go faster when reason is allowed to speak.

Taylor began pacing again. "Maia didn't have anything on her when I brought her here. She would probably need access to an interstellar network in order to get a copy...and my superiors would never sign off on that."

"You remember what I said the last time we talked, Taylor? If you’re going to break the rules, you might as well break them all the way."

"The politicians aren’t interested." Her fingers twitched into fists as she remembered Bouchard's face. "I tried to explain about Maia’s research, but they didn’t understand. I’ll need to sneak it to you somehow. Hopefully you can get it to go public, and then the brass will have to revise their strategy for dealing with the ikthians."

"And what about Maia? What happens to her?"

Taylor felt like she was being torn in two. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted a magical solution that would allow Maia to go free without betraying the orders of her superiors.

"Taylor." Akton took another step closer. "I can get her to safety. Just…consider that if you do decide to hand over the research."

Taylor ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "I won’t let her get hurt, Akton. Not anymore." That was one promise she felt comfortable making.

Chapter Thirty

For the next two days, Taylor managed to avoid Maia and her superiors almost entirely. She spent a lot of time lurking around the mess hall, sitting mostly by herself and ducking out of conversations. Her talk with Akton had been both enlightening and conflicting, but she was still having difficulty sorting through all of her options

Although she had not discussed it with Maia yet, Taylor knew that getting the ikthian's research to the rebellion might turn the tide of the war. At the very least, it would be a blow to the Dominion. Perhaps it would convince the brass to cooperate more effectively with the other species, including the ikthians that were part of the rebellion.

Then there was Bouchard. He obviously did not trust the ikthians and wanted to end negotiations as quickly as possible, even if it meant settling for something less. If the Chairman got his way and Maia was returned to the Dominion, Taylor was sure that she would die. Taylor's stomach twisted into unpleasant, slippery knots at the thought.

But all those problems did not even begin to sort through the mess of emotions that Taylor felt for Maia. She wanted the ikthian to be safe, but she also craved her company and her touch. However, she knew that her feelings would lead to nothing. Things between them were already complicated enough, and she did not want to make them worse.

By the third day, Taylor realized that stewing over her problems would lead nowhere. The Coalition and the Dominion would reach some kind of agreement soon, and no matter what they decided, Maia would end up suffering. She entered the front room of the suite hesitantly. Aside from sleeping on the couch every night for a few hours, she had been spending her time anywhere but here in an effort to avoid this confrontation.

Maia glanced up at Taylor from her spot on the bed. They stared at one another for a few moments, both uncertain of each other. Finally, Taylor took another hesitant step closer. Perhaps this would have been easier if they were not in the bedroom.

"Maia, can you tell me more about your research?"

Maia furrowed her brow at Taylor’s request, but she did not appear to be upset. "What about my research do you wish to know, Taylor?"

Taylor leaned against a wall. She kicked at the floor with one of her boots, and she could not decide what to do with her hands. Eventually, she shoved them in her pockets. "How has the Dominion reacted to it so far? Aside from sending seekers to kill you, I mean."

"The public has not seen it yet. My initial findings were presented to a committee, and they chose to think this research could suggest that ikthians were genetically engineered for superiority."

Taylor shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "And did your findings show that?"

Maia shook her head. "No. They granted me the funds to continue my research, but what I managed to uncover only seemed to contradict what the Dominion hoped to find. I sent them regular updates, but did not even have time to put together a formal presentation before they sent soldiers after me."

Taylor took a deep breath. She had to do something. She had been waiting around and feeling sorry for herself for far too long. If she really wanted to help Maia, this seemed like the best way. "What do you think would happen if I got your research out there? Showed it to the public? There are rebels on Nakonum who might be able to use it."

"I am not sure," Maia said after a long pause. "I cannot even begin to guess how other species might react to my research, but informing the Dominion..." A small worry line creased the middle of her forehead, and Taylor had the sudden, irrational impulse to smooth it away. Instead, she removed her hands from her pockets and folded them behind her back, curling her fingers into her palms. "Making my research public to the citizens of the Dominion might make a few of them change their attitudes. It will certainly embolden the dissenters who claim that we are not predestined to rule the entire galaxy."

"Is the Dominion's control over their own people really that shaky?" Taylor asked. She had not even known that there were ikthian dissenters before Akton had informed her. From the outside, the ikthian empire looked firm and unshakable.

"It is weaker than they would like to believe. Not all of us are monsters, Taylor. I admit I was rather neutral on the subject before I began my research, but the more information I uncovered, the less reasons I could find to support subjugating other intelligent life." Maia paused and looked up at Taylor from her seated position. "And not all of the aliens I have encountered have treated me badly."

Taylor felt a lance of guilt through her stomach. The weight that never seemed to leave her shoulders was suddenly crushing. "Maia," she said, struggling for words. "The way I used to treat you…the things we did…"

"The things we did cannot be undone." Maia stood up from the bed, closing the distance between them. "And I would not want to undo them, even if I could. Those moments are very precious to me, Taylor."

Taylor could still see the wet shimmer of tears in Maia’s eyes. "I didn’t mean to hurt you," Taylor said, desperately wanting Maia to believe her.

Maia reached out and took both of Taylor's hands in hers. "You are the only human to show me kindness here." She ran her thumb over the back of Taylor’s knuckles. "That means so much to me."

"I should have shown more. I should have treated you better from the beginning instead of seeing you as a bargaining chip. And I don’t expect repayment for what I’m doing right now. I just want it to be the right thing."

"This is not about repayment. Nothing in the world could force these actions from me…these feelings." Maia's thumb began tracing over the back of her hand, lingering over each callous and scar, and Taylor felt her heart thump faster.

"Maia…" She looked up, and Taylor's breath caught in her throat. She had always thought that Maia was beautiful, but it had never struck her this way before. Simply looking at her face threatened to stop her heart. "I don’t want to hurt you. And it seems like no matter how we feel, both of us are going to end up grieving."

They drifted closer together until their faces were only inches apart. "No, we won’t," Maia murmured softly into Taylor’s lips. "Not for this."

Taylor took her mouth in a soft kiss, asking for permission without words. Maia granted it, parting her lips and sliding her hand up along Taylor’s arms. Taylor trembled at the gentle touch. Although she knew she had missed Maia's touch over the past few days, she had not realized how much she had missed her taste. Her scent. The sounds she made. Everything about Maia overwhelmed her. It seeped into her pores and made her crave more.

Before she even realized what had happened, Maia had pushed her down onto the bed and crawled on top of her. Maia's hand moved to cup the side of her face, and Taylor's chest constricted. She wanted this, wanted it badly, but at the same time, she knew it was a horrible idea. She opened her mouth to protest, but before she realized what was happening, their lips were pressed together. This time, she did not have the strength to resist.

Maia's kiss was inexperienced, tentative one moment and overly eager the next, but Taylor did not care. She simply wanted more. She parted her lips, allowing Maia's tongue to dart out and taste her, and then repeated the motion herself. She moved to pull Maia closer, wrapping her arms around her neck and tracing the folds of her crest. She felt a surge of pride when Maia shivered and whimpered softly into her mouth.

Maia finally pulled away, leaving both of them panting for breath. Taylor let her. "Maia...I’m sorry about being so indecisive. I just…I haven’t wanted to make another mistake and I…"

Maia looked almost hurt at that comment. She let her hands slide over Taylor's stomach, feeling the muscles there beneath her shirt. Gently, she traced the hem, pulling it up to reveal the first strip of tan skin. "This is not a mistake. It never was."

"But…" Taylor's protests were lost as Maia's warm hands slid beneath her shirt, lifting it up. Instinctively, she raised her arms over her head to help. Soon, it was tossed aside, and Maia began exploring all the naked flesh available to her, running her hands over Taylor's torso.

"Please..." The pain and need in Maia's eyes made Taylor's heart ache. "Let me have this."

Maia’s warm hands cupped her breasts, and Taylor's eyes fluttered shut as she swallowed down a moan. "Maia," she whispered instead, arching into the touch. Teasing fingers captured the hardened peaks of her breasts. "I…" She managed to open her eyes again. Meeting Maia’s gaze made her breath catch. "All right."

Maia smiled and kissed her again, pushing her down onto the bed. Her lips lingered over Taylor’s collarbone for a moment before trailing steadily downward. "I don’t know what makes me do this, why I feel this way for you," she muttered, and Taylor groaned as she captured the peak of a nipple between her lips. She released it a moment later and Taylor whimpered in disappointment. "I cannot help it, though. I need you."

Taylor tried to reply, but all she could manage were breathy moans and whimpers. It had been so long since another person had taken charge like this during sex. Her previous lovers had always been timid, or stared at her expectantly as if she knew exactly what to do. Although she usually loved taking charge, it was nice to allow someone else to lead her for once. Her hands wandered to Maia’s shoulders, and she gripped the soft skin like a lifeline. Maia began kissing along her stomach, and her body pulsed in anticipation.

Slowly, Maia's hands drifted down to hips. Her fingers dipped beneath the hem of her pants, brushing against warm skin, and Taylor felt herself pulse against the seam. When Maia withdrew, Taylor's hips pushed forward ever so slightly, encouraging her touch.

Maia took the wordless offer and cupped a hand between Taylor's legs. "By the ancients... you are so warm, so ready for me. I can even feel it through your clothes..." She lowered her head and placed a kiss on the button of Taylor's pants before undoing them. Taylor wanted to speak, to tell Maia how much this meant, but no words came. She could only look down at Maia and hope that the ikthian read some of her feelings in her face.

Taylor lifted her hips when Maia began tugging at her pants, eager to be out of them. They were tossed aside, and her underwear quickly followed. As soon as she was naked, Taylor spread her legs, leaving herself completely open to Maia's gaze. It seemed to burn into her, and Taylor felt a heated flush crawl up along her chest. Maia was studying her, examining her, and her blue eyes had darkened with lust.

Chapter Thirty One

For a moment, Maia froze, taking in the sight. Although she had touched Taylor here before, she realized that she had never taken the time to look closely, to memorize the details. Taylor’s anatomy was similar to hers, but the color was deliciously alien. Her inner folds were a much darker shade of pink than the rest of her skin, almost red and glistening with wetness. Slowly, Maia trailed her fingers through them, entranced by the silky feeling. It felt similar to her own anatomy, but different at the same time. She smiled when her fingers hit the hard point at the very top, causing Taylor to gasp. Gently, she ran her finger over the tip, and her heart jumped in her chest when Taylor's thighs twitched.

Taylor moaned softly, inclining her hips toward Maia’s retreating touch. "Don’t stop," she murmured. Maia began rubbing in slow circles, noticing the way Taylor’s breath hitched as she rocked forward. She caressed Taylor’s stomach with her free hand, soothing the twitching muscles there. She kissed along Taylor’s exposed thigh, sucking the skin in between her teeth momentarily and swiping her tongue across it. She made her way up the thigh that way, alternating between light kisses and small bites. She moved her hand away, and just before Taylor could whimper at the loss, she closed her mouth over the point of her clit, sucking inward and lashing her tongue across the tip.

"Maia!"

Maia let out a soft moan against the swollen bud trapped between her lips. She could catch a few traces of Taylor’s taste this way, but after a moment, she could not resist moving down. She tasted more of the heavy flavor when she slipped her tongue past the tight ring of muscle at Taylor’s entrance, curling it forward to coax out as much as she could.

Taylor groaned, and Maia felt the grip on the back of her head tighten. Every time her tongue swirled or pushed forward, Taylor’s hips rose off the bed. Sensing that she was close, Maia moved back up to her clit, sliding a hand between Taylor’s legs and pressing two fingers forward to take the place of her mouth. She was rewarded when Taylor groaned and rocked against her fingers. She slid them inside, curling them forward.

Maia was fascinated with Taylor's responses. Wetness spilled around her fingers, coating her hand along with Taylor's inner thighs. It was nice to have such physical proof of Taylor's arousal. She released the human's clit and grinned when she heard Taylor groan at the loss. "I have wondered what this would be like for a while," she murmured, continuing to push her fingertips against the spot inside of Taylor that made her stiffen and clench down. "To see all of you, to know all of you...to explore you at my own pace."

"Explore to your heart's content," Taylor breathed softly, continuing to run her fingertips over the dips of Maia's crest.

Maia smiled. This might be the last chance they had, and she was determined to enjoy it. Her touches were exploratory as she coaxed Taylor into rocking against her mouth, but there was urgency behind them as well, a desperation for closeness, for lost time that had slipped by them.

Maia could see and feel the tension coiling in Taylor's abdomen, and she knew it would not be long before she made her lover release. Taylor arched slightly with each swipe of Maia’s tongue, each push of her fingers. "Maia…oh God, Maia." Taylor’s grip on the back of her head faltered. "Maia, I’m…"

She could not even manage a warning. Maia felt Taylor pulse between her lips, the warm silk of her inner muscles tightening and fluttering around her fingers. She kept up her slow thrusts, drawing forth as much pleasure from her lover as possible. Taylor moaned above her, and her hands clutched desperately at any part of Maia she could reach. Maia hummed with pleasure as more wetness coated her tongue.

As Taylor’s contractions subsided, Maia withdrew her mouth and slowly pulled her fingers back. Taylor reached down, beckoning for Maia to join her. She crawled up and settled against Taylor's side, resting her head on the human's sweat-slicked chest. Her heart was still racing, although her breathing began to slow down again

"Maia..." Taylor whispered, cupping her cheek and lifting her chin. She looked up with soft, trusting eyes, and Maia felt her heart break and begin to mend itself at the same time. She let her thumb brush over Taylor's cheekbone, then her lips, shivering slightly when she realized that her fingers were still covered with Taylor's wetness. On impulse, she urged Taylor's face closer, bringing their mouths together in another kiss. They melted into each other, sharing the taste.

When the kiss broke, Maia whimpered in protest, but Taylor surprised her by rolling her over, easing her onto her back. Taylor's lips trailed down her throat, covering it in a line of light kisses. She was a mess of emotions—confusion, desire, fear, and affection—but she smiled through all of them. She would not give up this moment for anything. "Taylor," she breathed, running her hands up and down along the human's lean back. She could feel the muscles moving beneath her palms. "You make me feel so much that I..."

"I want to make you feel," Taylor pleaded as one of her hands slid between their bodies. She started with Maia's stomach, tracing patterns around her navel, gradually dipping lower. All the while, she kept her eyes focused on Maia's face, as if to make sure there was no sign of doubt or reluctance. And then her gaze flicked down to the collar cutting into Maia’s throat, and she felt her pulse flutter above the tight band. She knew what Taylor was thinking, but she did not dare to hope.

"Hold still," Taylor whispered, entering the code that would unlock the front of the suppressor. After a few moments, it opened with a hiss, and Maia felt the sides of the collar pull apart. There was still a soft indent in her skin where the collar had been, outlined by a faint purple ring. Taylor glared at the collar with a look of hatred before tossing it aside, not caring where it landed.

Maia stopped breathing. She stared up into Taylor’s eyes, and she could feel tears beginning to well up in her own. She was free. That in itself should have been exhilarating enough, but somehow, Maia was even more touched by the fact that Taylor trusted her. She knew that Taylor was going against everything she had been taught, and the orders she had been given. All for her.

"I…I cannot believe…" Taylor silenced her with a kiss. Their mouths opened to each other, giving and taking, and for a moment, everything else in the world faded away. Finally, they pulled apart, breathless but happy.

"I should have done that a long time ago," Taylor murmured, letting her fingers skim down along Maia’s abdomen. Maia gasped as Taylor's hand paused just above the juncture between her thighs. She parted her legs, praying that Taylor would not make her wait any longer. Taylor took her unspoken invitation, sliding her fingers forward and grazing the tight ridge of her clit. She traced it with the pad of her thumb, still gazing into Maia's eyes.

Maia groaned and bit her lip, rocking her hips up into Taylor’s hand. Taylor's fingers slid over her with every subtle movement she made. They brushed past her entrance every time, but did not push inside. "Taylor..." Maia tightened her grip on Taylor’s back. "Please, take me."

Her plea was enough. Taylor's fingers slid inside of her, filling her at last. She pulsed, squeezing down around them as Taylor took her mouth in another kiss. It was a perfect rhythm. Feeling their bodies press together only made her ache more. Her mouth broke away from Taylor's, and her lips sought skin, sucking and nipping at the sensitive flesh along her lover's neck. The soft moans she drew from Taylor made her heart swell.

"I want you to come," Taylor whispered, hot breath washing over her cheek. "Please. For me."

The words sent a spike of arousal through Maia’s core. She was ready to surrender herself completely She brought a hand to Taylor’s face and drew her gaze up. Their eyes met, and she smiled. She wanted to say something, to tell Taylor how much this trust meant, but no words would ever suffice.

Maia's breath hitched as Taylor's thumb began sweeping over the ridge of her clit, her lips parting as she took in ragged breaths. The ache inside of her was growing unbearable, and she desperately wanted to come so that Taylor could share her pleasure. “Please. More,” she whimpered. Taylor pushed deeper, trying to find the angle Maia needed. Maia could hold back no longer. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to become completely lost in the sensation.

Maia found her release as Taylor’s fingers curled into her once more, both of them trembling and arching into one another. Mouths sought skin, kissing and biting every available inch they could reach as they clutched at one another. Tears crawled down Maia’s cheeks as the contractions overwhelmed her. Her inner muscles clutched desperately at Taylor’s fingers. She needed the human to fill her, to be with her.

Finally, the waves that shuddered through them began to ease. They melted into each other as they settled into the mattress, a mess of limbs and slick skin. Both of their heartbeats hammered together. Once the high of the orgasm wore off, Maia suddenly realized her predicament. The burn of lust had eased, and she knew that desire had not been her sole reason for having sex with Taylor. She had wanted something else, and the thought of what that might be was terrifying. Her heart sank as she realized that no matter what she was feeling, or what she might want, the universe was practically against them being together. Even more tears welled in her eyes. This time, they were full of loss and regret instead of pleasure and belonging. She buried her face in Taylor's chest, crying against her shoulder.

Taylor stiffened above her, but instinctively tried to soothe her, pressing their foreheads together and stroking the side of Maia's face with her free hand. "Sweetheart, please don't cry," she murmured.

Maia shuddered beneath her, fighting back sobs. "Taylor, I…I cannot...We cannot..."

Taylor removed her fingers as gently as possible, pulling away from Maia so that their bodies would not have to touch. "Oh God, Maia...I'm so sorry, I…"

Maia propped herself up on her elbows and reached out to prevent Taylor from leaving the bed. "No. Stop. Please do not diminish what we just did. It was...everything I wanted."

"It was? Then what’s wrong?"

"I…" Maia drew in a shuddering breath. "I cannot lose you after this. I…"

"I’m right here," Taylor said. Her lips grazed against Maia’s temple. She eased her weight onto her elbows and nuzzled her face into Maia’s neck, placing light kisses there. "You won’t lose me."

That only made Maia cry harder. Her leg wrapped around Taylor’s waist, and her hands clung desperately to her back. "They are going to send me away," she said through half-sobs. "I will be taken back to the Dominion, and they will kill me."

Taylor lifted her head away from Maia's warm skin. "I’ll explain your research better to the generals. They won’t get rid of you if you’re an asset..."

Maia sniffed, and though she did not sob anymore, a few tears streamed down her cheeks. "Taylor, these humans see me as currency. They are not like you. They will send me back to Korithia." She left the rest unspoken.

Taylor was silent for a long moment. Finally, she rolled onto her back and pulled Maia close, kissing her forehead. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I won't let anyone hurt you. Not the generals, the Dominion, or anyone else. I promise."

Maia’s tense muscles relaxed as she eased into Taylor's embrace. They rested against the pillows, breathing evenly although neither of them could fall asleep. Tomorrow, they would have to face reality. But lying in Taylor's arms allowed Maia a brief window of fantasy. She wanted just a few more hours of pretending that they could find happiness together.

Chapter Thirty Two

The next morning, Taylor's spirits sank even lower as she stood outside Roberts's office, listening to the raised voices inside. Hunt, Bouchard, and Roberts were clearly in the middle of a big argument, and she was reluctant to interrupt, even though they had summoned her. The last thing she wanted to do right now was insert herself into a disagreement. Instead, Taylor thought about Maia. After a few long, quiet hours spent holding each other, the ikthian had fallen asleep on her chest, most of her tears dried. Taylor had contacted Roberts, hoping to talk to him about Maia's research alone. Unfortunately, he had summoned Hunt and Bouchard before she could tell him her true purpose.

The voices behind the door grew louder. "Earth cannot accept this offer!" Taylor recognized Bouchard’s voice. "The Dominion will betray us as soon as we return the prisoner and lower our defenses. The most powerful empire in the galaxy cannot be trusted to keep their word."

Hunt interrupted him. "Our home-world is at stake here, Chairman. Are you really prepared to give up this chance? So many lives could be spared..."

"What about the colonists? If we take this deal, millions of them could be overwhelmed by the Dominion's forces." Taylor recognized that voice as Roberts, and it prompted her to scan her hand and open the door. She found all three men staring at each other in front of Roberts's desk. The lines of their shoulders were tense, their faces were somber, and Bouchard's hands were balled in to fists. All of them turned to look at her.

"Lieutenant Morgan," Roberts said as she gave her superiors a crisp salute. "Right on time. There's something you need to see."

"The Dominion has made an offer, Sir?"

"An unbelievable offer, although Chairman Bouchard seems to think it isn't genuine," Hunt said. He circled the desk to face Roberts's terminal. Roberts and Bouchard followed him, and Taylor reluctantly tailed behind, standing a foot apart from the others. She could still see the screen, and a 2D image of the same three ikthians from before was frozen on the monitor's display.

Roberts reached down to activate the recording, and the three ikthians began moving. This time, the ikthian on the right spoke, the one with the elaborate markings. The expression on her lovely face was surprisingly placid. "The Dominion has agreed to stop all aggression towards the planet Earth in exchange for Maia Kalanis's safe return."

The other ikthian spoke next, the one with pink patterns on her crest. "We cannot extend such promises for the rest of your system, but we consider our offer more than favorable. Respond within the next sixty standard hours, or this gesture of goodwill shall be rescinded."

Taylor turned her eyes to the ikthian in the middle. Now, she knew for certain that it was Maia's mother, Irana. She looked older than the others, stern with age and experience. The resemblance to Maia was uncanny, and even the exhaustion and obvious pain in her eyes was familiar. Taylor wondered if that pain for her daughter had been there before, and she had just been too blinded by prejudice to notice.

The transmission ended, freezing Irana's face, and Taylor forced herself to look away. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Bouchard distracted her by beginning another rant. "They cannot possibly be sincere. Agreeing to leave an entire planet to its own devices? It's preposterous. Completely unheard of. They are simply trying to lure us into a trap. We should reject their offer and try to trade the prisoner for something concrete that we can use...perhaps other prisoners of war."

"You’ve told us so, Bouchard. Numerous times." Hunt waved a hand in dismissal, turning from him. "I’ve kept council with one of the naledai generals, and he has informed me the ikthians do not go back on bargains, especially formal ones such as this." He looked at the screen and studied the faces of the ikthians more closely.

"There are already a few dissenters among their own people," Taylor said, remembering what Akton had told her. "The ikthians are doing everything they can to keep a tight grip on what’s left of their domain."

Bouchard glanced over at her. "What dissenters? Why have we not heard about them?"

Taylor shrugged. "Some of the naledai were talking about a rebellion building against the Dominion outside of us."

"Oh, really?" Bouchard drawled. "Where are these rebels, then? Where is their help when we need it most? Where are their troops on our front lines?"

"It was just hearsay," Roberts interrupted. "Leave Taylor alone." Bouchard shot him a glare, and the three men settled into an awkward silence. "You make a good point, General Hunt," Roberts continued, "but I’m still worried about the colonies. The ikthians will be free to divert more resources to weakening other areas if they aren’t attacking Earth directly."

"I am too, Sir." Taylor had to side with Roberts on that. Exchanging the lives of people on Earth for those of the colonists did not seem fair, and neither did trading Maia’s life away. "I know the ikthians will not agree to a truce, but perhaps we can explore options with our allies instead, and strengthen our defenses along the outer system…"

"And bring in more naledai?" Bouchard asked. "They have their own problems. If we spread ourselves too thin, the ikthians will obliterate us both."

"I understand your concerns. All of your concerns," he added, glancing at Bouchard. The tone of his voice made it clear that he held Taylor and Roberts's opinions in higher esteem than the Chairman's. Bouchard's face began to flush an angry shade of red. "I will meet with the other generals tomorrow and advise them to accept the Dominion's offer. I expect a vote on the matter immediately."

Taylor's eyes widened. She felt her heart stop. That was as good as a guarantee. Although she and Roberts were worried about the colonies, she knew that Earth was the Coalition's first priority, and the chance to protect their home-world would be too much for them to resist. Most, if not all of them, would probably vote the way Hunt wanted. Since Earth was under martial law because of the ikthian threat, their word would be final. Maia was going back to her people.

The thought sent an ache through her chest, and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Taylor did not even want to think about what the Dominion would do to Maia. Perhaps that was why Irana's expression had been so worried. Maybe she knew how much danger her daughter was in, not just because she was a prisoner of war, but because the Dominion considered her research to be subversive.

Taking one last risk, she decided to throw herself at General Hunt's mercy, praying that he would listen to her. "Sir, I'm not sure that surrendering Maia is the best option." For a moment, they all looked at her in surprise, perhaps because Taylor had unintentionally used the ikthian's first name. "What about her genetic research? It has the potential to weaken the Dominion. Not all ikthians agree with what the Dominion’s leaders have been doing, and if we could get her research to them…validate that the Dominion has been feeding them lies..."

"Impossible," Bouchard interrupted, glaring at her. "The only ikthians I have ever encountered were killers, convinced of their own superiority. Just like all other aliens. Some obscure scientist’s paper will do nothing to change their minds."

Taylor ignored Bouchard and turned her attention to Hunt. "Ask Akton. He's one of the higher-ranking naledai stationed here. He can explain more. If we can weaken or even destroy the Dominion from the inside out, that will keep everyone safe, not just the civilians living on Earth."

"Have you been discussing sensitive information with the naledai military?" Bouchard asked.

"No!" It did not matter what Taylor said. Apparently, Bouchard was bent on shooting her down. "But I have discussed the war with some of our naledai comrades, and they have insights most of our soldiers don’t. They know this galaxy far better than we do. If Akton says there are cracks in the Dominion’s hold over their own people, I believe him. We have something they fear for once, and we’d be able to use it if you all would just listen."

Stunned silence met Taylor’s words. At first, she thought that she had gone too far with her outburst, though she could swear she saw a measure of respect on Roberts’s face. Bouchard looked outraged as usual, but Hunt had a neutral expression, which frightened Taylor most of all.

"I know that in your time watching over her, you have been able to develop a relationship with Kalanis," Hunt said. Taylor's stomach dropped. How much did he know? "It is not unusual for a guard to become sympathetic after spending time with a prisoner, and perhaps even develop a friendship with them. I even hoped this would be the case between you and Maia Kalanis. A guard is much more effective when they value what they watch over, and not many humans would be able to find value in an ikthian prisoner." Hunt paused and walked over to the monitor. He stared up at Irana’s frozen image, and in that moment, Taylor knew he realized the full ramifications of his actions. He turned away from the screen. "This is war, and difficult decisions must be made. The safety of Earth is our first priority."

Taylor opened her mouth, but she could not seem to find any words. She squeezed her hands into fists, trying to suppress her sudden nausea. "Sir," she said, hoping that her pleading did not come across in her voice even though she was clearly upset, "what about the colonists? The naledai? All the other planets under the Dominion’s rule?" She had to swallow back Maia’s name.

Hunt's expression was unmoved. "We will do what we can for them, of course. But our own interests must come before the unlikely chance of toppling an Empire. The survival of the Coalition depends on protecting Earth."

Taylor wanted to protest that returning Maia to the Dominion was practically a death sentence for the Coalition, but Roberts seemed to sense her distress and cut her off before she could directly challenge him. "There isn't anything more we can discuss until the board meets to vote on the Dominion's offer." He stepped away from the monitor to stand beside Taylor. "We can pick this up tomorrow."

Bouchard stalked away from Hunt, glowering as everyone watched him. He headed for the door, only turning back to give them a sour, disapproving look. "Taking the ikthians at their word is a terrible mistake. Our planet may be under Martial law, but Earth's governments have not forgotten who the enemy is. I suggest that you try to remember why we are fighting this war in the first place." He stormed out, leaving the three of them in Roberts's office.

Hunt sighed, heading towards the door himself. "We will let you know the results of the vote tomorrow afternoon. Then, Kalanis will need to be processed. Get her ready, Lieutenant."

Reluctantly, Taylor saluted, her arm unnaturally heavy. Never before had she been given orders that she so vehemently opposed, and she was torn as she watched Hunt leave. Once he was gone, she finally allowed herself to break down, knowing that Roberts would not judge her as she buried her face in her hands, wanting to scream in frustration.

"You really think they’re going to hurt her?" Roberts asked. Taylor glanced up and watched him sit. He looked worn down, and she could not remember seeing some of the wrinkles around his eyes before.

"They’ll kill her if she goes back. She could help us take down the Dominion if they would just listen…"

"It’s too much of a risk for the brass to take," Roberts said, though he sounded troubled.

"How many of the higher-ups know that not all ikthians are against us? That some of them have broken off and joined the naledai rebellion?"

Roberts pressed a hand to his forehead. "Enough to make our isolation wrong." He leaned back in his chair. "It started out as need to know information, but some of our older troops have had the opportunity to be more involved with the naledai military as the war has gone on, and they aren’t picky about their allies. If an ikthian wants to blow up other ikthians, they’re not going to stop them."

"So why are we holding out? Why not unite under the same force rather than attempt to hold our own against impossible odds?"

Roberts shrugged. "Part of it is the war propaganda. Soldiers don’t want to have to cope with the idea that humans and aliens are exactly the same underneath their physical appearances. It’s harder to kill ikthians every day when you know some of them are on our side. But if you ask me, it’s the people in charge."

"You mean Bouchard?"

"Him and other old war hawks," Roberts said. "They’re all stuck in the past, Taylor. Hunt is liberal in terms of what the others think of this new galactic community." He stared absently at a corner of his office for a moment. "Now that I think about it, I’m going to monitor Bouchard a little more closely. I don’t trust him."

Taylor snorted. "Couldn’t imagine why."

The corner of Roberts’s mouth twitched up in a smile, but that was the only reaction she got from him. "You might as well return to your quarters, Taylor. I have some matters to attend to…like monitoring a few of the Chairman's communications. I know we don't like the deal Hunt is trying to make, but if the Bouchard tries to weasel his way out of it, I'll catch him."

Taylor nodded and stood up. Roberts did not even watch her leave, but remained focused on his own thoughts. Despite the sinking feeling in her stomach, Taylor was glad to know that Roberts would watch out for her.

Chapter Thirty Three

Taylor paused outside of the quarters that she and Maia had shared. It was difficult to believe so little time had passed. It felt like she had known Maia for years. The promise she had made last night still echoed in her head. She had sworn to keep Maia alive. That left her only one option. She sighed and opened the door.

Maia was sitting in the front room instead of the bedroom, resting uneasily on the couch as if she had been waiting for her return. When their eyes met, she smiled. "Taylor, you're back."

"Not with good news. I just got back from a meeting with the brass." Taylor folded her hands behind her back, staring down at her boots for several long moments before she gathered the will to look up. "The Dominion wants you back. They’ve made the generals a tempting offer."

Maia’s skin seemed to blanch to a sickly hue. She took a deep breath and crossed her arms. "When will I be leaving?" Maia asked, her voice flat.

"That's the thing..." Taylor swallowed, even more uncertain than when she had walked in. Before meeting Maia, everything had been so simple—follow orders, serve humanity. Now, for the first time, she doubted her superiors and the very institution that she had sworn loyalty to. "I promised to keep you alive."

Maia’s eyes widened. "What are you going to do?"

Taylor slumped onto the couch. She rested her chin in her hands. "I’m still working on that, but I think I have one of my commanding officers convinced we need to get you out of here."

The more Taylor dwelled on it, the more she knew she could not just hand Maia over to the Dominion. She could not bear to see the ikthian hurt. Besides, while the negotiations would protect Earth, the colonies would be extremely vulnerable to the Dominion, and humanity would still lose the war against the ikthians eventually. "I think your research is important to this war effort, and that we should make sure others see it."

There was a long, heavy pause. Finally, Maia cleared her throat. Her words were a little unsteady, and Taylor saw a small smile begin to light up her face. Taylor recognized what it meant. Maia's hope was beginning to come back. "If you are serious about this, I will need access to a terminal in order to download my findings."

Taylor nodded. "I know. I’ve known for a while. I just need to figure out the best way to do it...Wait, can you even download your research with our servers? The Dominion has their own network."

"Not through the Coalition’s servers, no," Maia said. "But if you could get me to a naledai server, I would have everything I need. I uploaded my original research on Nakonum's network. It is ikthian-controlled, but not as heavily monitored."

"That's smart thinking. I need to take you to Akton."

"Akton?" Maia asked.

"A friend of mine," Taylor explained. Without realizing it, she reached out to stroke the side of the ikthian's arm. Maia looked surprised, but did not pull away from her touch. That simple fact was enough to make Taylor's heart pound a little harder. "He's a naledai stationed on base, and he has connections to the rebels. There should be a terminal on his ship with access to the naledai servers."

"And he can help us?"

Taylor nodded. "Definitely. The generals aren't voting on the Dominion's offer to spare Earth until tomorrow morning, so we'll have time to sneak onto the ship and download your research from there."

Maia mouth fell open, and her eyes widened with shock. "Are you saying the Dominion has offered to spare Earth?" Taylor nodded. "I…I cannot believe it. They have never offered to leave a planet alone before!"

"Yeah, well, I'm not sure I believe them," Taylor muttered, folding her arms over her chest and shifting her weight on her feet. "Either they really want to get their hands on you, or they're lying. Both of those outcomes are unacceptable."

Taylor felt warmth fold around her hand, and she glanced down at her lap. Maia's fingers had curled around hers. She looked up again, staring into Maia's worried blue eyes. "Taylor, I know my research is important, but it is also dangerous. There are so many things that could go wrong..."

"It's not just about your research," Taylor said in a low voice. "I care about you, Maia. I want to keep you safe."

"I care about you as well, Taylor. Perhaps more than I should."

Taylor stood up from the couch and offered Maia her hand. "Come on. Let’s put together a bag, just in case we need to get out of here in a hurry." The two of them retreated to the bedroom, fingers still laced together. They packed mostly without speaking, lost in their own thoughts, but they were never far from each other’s touch. Taylor filled one of her smallest bags with clothes for both of them, water, rations, and extra ammunition for her pistol. "Anything else you can think of?" she asked, noticing that there was still a considerable amount of room in the pack.

Maia blushed, dipping her head in a nod. Without speaking, she walked over to the nightstand beside the bed and opened the top drawer, the same one where Taylor had left her strap-on. When she turned around with the toy in her hands, Taylor’s eyes widened. "You never know," Maia said, smiling shyly. "We might need it."

A grin spread across Taylor’s face, and she brushed Maia’s fingers as she put the toy in the bag. If last night had demonstrated the fact that there was something growing between them, this gesture cemented it. With her heart a little bit lighter, Taylor sealed up the pack and set it at the foot of the bed, where it would be within easy reach. She made sure her pistol was loaded before setting it on top of the nightstand next to her communicator. She hoped she would not have cause to use it.

"All right, let’s get some sleep," Taylor said. "We’ll find Akton later, when the base isn’t so busy and we’re rested." Her voice suddenly became softer. "Maia…would you share the bed with me?"

Maia smiled as she took Taylor’s hand. "I suppose there is no harm."

Taylor allowed Maia to get settled in the bed first before lying down beside her and wrapping a protective arm around her midsection. Before they fell asleep, she felt a sense of peace settle over her. Her decision was made, and she knew it was the right one. No matter what happened to her, she would make sure that Maia stayed safe.

Chapter Thirty Four:

"Wake up!" A rough hand gripped Taylor's shoulder, and she blinked, trying to make out the large shape looming over her in the dark. It was obviously a person, but she was too bleary and confused from sleep to process what was happening. "We need to get you and Kalanis out of here!"

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, Taylor sat up, recognizing the voice and shape of the person above her. "Roberts?" Taylor reached for her pistol even though it was not at her hip. Fortunately, she and Maia had fallen asleep in their clothes.

"I was right to monitor Bouchard’s communications. It isn't safe here anymore," Roberts told Taylor as she disentangled herself from Maia's arms. She hurried to grab her weapon from the nightstand, too startled to be embarrassed that her superior had caught her without it while Maia was nearby. "Bouchard is going to have you court-martialed. He’s sending a squad to pick you up."

Taylor’s eyes widened. "On what grounds?"

Roberts cleared his throat and looked from her to Maia. "Fraternizing with the enemy." Taylor felt her face grow hot. "But it’s just an attempt to screw with the generals. Taylor, I know you’re a good person. Dr. Kalanis probably is, too."

That focused all of Taylor's attention. She turned to Maia, who had just started to wake up and was staring at her with squinting, confused eyes. "Taylor," she gasped, clinging to her arm when she noticed Roberts's dark bulk standing over them. "What is happening?"

"Don't worry, he's a friend, but we have to leave right now." She climbed out of bed, making sure that her ammo clip was fresh. Taylor had so many questions she wanted to ask, but Roberts's urgency left no room for them. Instead, there was only time for one. "What's the plan?"

"You both need to get out of here as quickly and quietly as possible."

Relieved that she had known this was coming, Taylor reached to the foot of the bed and grabbed the small bag that she and Maia had prepared the night before. She swung the straps over both shoulders, tightened her grip on her pistol, and followed Roberts towards the door. Maia continued clinging to her arm, but she was quickly starting to understand the gravity of their situation.

"We might have to fight our way out," Roberts said as they hurried through the living room and left the captain’s quarters. "They’re coming to arrest you right now."

"Where the hell did he get the proof to court-martial me?" Taylor grumbled.

Roberts gave her a sad look. His brow furrowed with concern. "It seems another soldier approached him with the information."

Taylor's stomach sank. "How much does he know?"

"Everything." For a moment, Roberts could not meet her eyes. "I’m afraid your friend Rachel Harris is responsible. She told Bouchard you were getting too attached to the prisoner, and that you were probably being mind-controlled. Bouchard decided he needed to act now, before anyone realized what he was doing."

Taylor was stunned. She blinked and nearly came to a halt, searching for words, but none came. Rachel had betrayed her? She did not want to believe it, but at the same time, everything that Roberts had said felt true. Even though Rachel had probably convinced herself that she was doing the right thing, Taylor felt a tight knot of anger form in her chest.

But she could not focus on that right now. Maia was her priority—not Rachel. They needed to find somewhere safe to take her. "Never mind about Rachel. We need to figure out where to take Maia." She started walking again, faster than before. Maia and Roberts nearly had to sprint in order to catch up. Taylor bypassed the elevator, heading directly for the stairs. "Should I contact the naledai, Sir? They’ve offered their help before."

Roberts stopped and nodded. "Whatever you need to do."

Taylor activated her communicator, sending a call along the secure channel Akton had given to her. After several seconds, he picked up. "Taylor, do you realize how late it is?" His voice was rough with sleep.

"Akton, I need a lift off base."

Taylor heard a sudden crash over the speakers and winced. She wondered if Akton had fallen out of bed. "What did you do this time?" he asked, sounding a little more alert.

"I’m bringing Maia. Her research can help the rebellion, but she’ll be dead if we don’t get her out of here, now."

A few more seconds of silence followed. Taylor glanced at Maia. She did not like the way her brow furrowed with worry. "All right," Akton said at last. "Meet me in the shuttle bay as soon as possible. I’ll forward my coordinates."

"Got it." Taylor closed the channel and reached for the stairwell door. "Let’s go."

Before she could open the door, it swung open with a loud thud, nearly hitting her face. A soldier burst into the doorframe, holding an assault rifle in one hand. He seemed surprised to see them, but he reached for Maia’s arm with his free hand. That was his mistake. A moment later, he screamed, jerking his arm back. The muscles in his face went slack, and he howled with agony, his entire body twitching. As he doubled over, Taylor raised her arm and struck the back of his skull with her pistol. He crashed onto the floor, still writhing at their feet, and Taylor hurried into the stairwell. She had no idea how much damage Maia's toxins had done to the soldier, but she was not going to stick around long enough of find out. "Come on!"

Roberts followed, pulling the door open and rushing down the stairs with them. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, he went to the door, but Taylor stopped and looked at Maia. She was shaking, obviously horrified by what she had just done. Suddenly, Taylor realized how vulnerable the ikthian was without a weapon. Her toxins would not be much use against a gun at long range. Do you have an extra gun, Roberts?" she asked, although she was not sure if Maia even knew how to use one.

Roberts nodded his head. "I have a spare pistol. Why?"

"Maia needs one."

"I can protect myself," Maia said. She touched the spot where her collar had been. "My combat training is much more useful without worrying that I will be shocked."

If Roberts noticed the absence of the collar, he chose not to say anything. After what felt like an eternity, he gave her a slow nod. "I trust your judgment, Taylor. You know her better than anyone." He removed a second pistol from his hip and passed it to Maia. Her hands shook as she accepted it, but she held the weapon correctly.

Satisfied that Maia would be able to defend herself, Taylor glanced between Roberts and Maia to make sure they were ready. When both of them nodded at her, she hauled the door open. The three of them dashed for the nearest cover, the corner of an alleyway flooded with shadow in the moonless night. Taylor only had a second to take in the surrounding area before she saw figures moving into formation. Several bullets flew by, and she heard an officer yell at them to stop.

Taylor instinctively reached for Maia, all too aware of the fact that the clothes they were wearing would not shield them. Even a single hit in the right place could end up being fatal. But Maia did not need her protection. The ikthian raised the gun and placed a clean shot in the solder’s calf, causing him to fall over and drop his weapon.

The shot gave the other guards pause, but they continued to fire. Maia and Taylor ducked behind cover with Roberts and picked off their targets as quickly as possible. Roberts unhooked a flash grenade from his belt and tossed it into the fray. As soon as it went off, they ducked out from behind their cover and went running while the other soldiers recovered from the disorienting attack.

One of them snapped out of it long enough to aim his assault rifle in their direction. Taylor charged forward, firing several shots into his chest. Despite her training, she paused for a split second. She had just killed a human soldier. One of her own people. In the Coalition's eyes, she was officially a traitor now. She heard Roberts come to a stop beside her, standing over the body of a third soldier that he had just taken out. A fourth was sprawled a few yards away with serious acidic burns covering his face. Maia had apparently dealt with him.

"Holy shit," Taylor panted, looking at the mangled body. She had seen ikthians in combat before, but they were different. They were not Maia, the same shy person she had gotten to know for the past several weeks. It was unsettling to watch her kill so efficiently.

Maia offered her a look somewhere between terror and pride. "I have never had to kill anyone before," she said, just as breathless as Taylor. Her hands trembled a little.

"Come on," Roberts said, regaining their attention. "We need to keep moving." He waved his hand forward, and the three of them started down the alleyway at a sprint. "Taylor, we need to cut through the building up ahead. It has the only entrance to the naledai docking bay."

Taylor nodded. When they emerged from the alley, she pulled Maia to the side, making sure they stuck to the shadow of the building until they came to the entrance console. She tried entering her passcode several times, but the screen just flickered red each time. "Roberts, it isn't working."

Roberts holstered his pistol and stepped up to the console. At first, his passcode did not work. He swore and shook his head. "Should have known the bastard would do something like this." He tried another code, and then another. Finally, the door opened. "Looks like he didn’t get all of them." The three of them set off into the atrium, which linked to all of the separate shuttle ports for visiting fleets or off-world shuttles. It would not take long to get to Akton from there.

Taylor glanced around at the empty halls. She kept expecting soldiers to leap out and attack her, or to catch a glimpse of the red dot of a sniper’s gun. When she heard footsteps finally echo from down the hall, she turned with her pistol drawn, but she almost lowered her arm when she realized who had an assault rifle pointed at her.

Chapter Thirty Five:

"Rachel?" Taylor blurted out, stunned.

"She’s removed the collar!" another voice shouted to her left, and Taylor glanced toward the sound. Bouchard stood in the room as well, sneering at them from a corner of the atrium. He was flanked with two guards, both of them with rifles. "You were right to come to me, Harris. The ikthian clearly has her."

Rachel made a short gesture with the body of her own rifle. "Sir, let me handle this." Bouchard nodded, though he looked displeased. Rachel turned back to Taylor. "Put the gun down. I don't want to hurt you."

Taylor lowered her pistol. "I’m taking Maia to the rebels, Rachel. You don’t have to get involved."

For a moment, Rachel's hand faltered, but she did not lower her rifle. She stared at Taylor with pain-filled eyes, obviously torn. "How could you do this, Taylor?"

Taylor stepped protectively in front of Maia, but that only seemed to make Rachel's frown deepen. "You don't understand what's going on," she said, keeping her own gun lowered. "I’m trying to help. If you'd just give me a chance to explain..."

"The ikthian has twisted her mind, turned her against her own kind," Bouchard interrupted. "She is no longer your friend. Lieutenant Morgan is gone."

"I didn't want to believe it..." Rachel's hand remained steady, but Taylor thought she could see tears of anger in her eyes. "This is my fault. I knew she was changing you, but I didn't want to see. I should have done something sooner."

Although Roberts knew better than to move while Rachel's rifle was still trained on Taylor, he spoke up from beside her. "Lieutenant Morgan is right, Harris. Dr. Kalanis has information that could help the rebels bring down the Dominion. Taylor is trying to keep us safe."

"Don't listen to him. Obviously, the ikthian has him under her control as well," Bouchard said. He walked up behind Rachel, speaking directly into her ear. "Why else wouldn't they want to trade her for our own prisoners of war? Taylor is willing to let this ikthian go, even if it means leaving them to rot."

Rachel narrowed her eyes at Taylor. "Is that true?" she asked, tightening her finger on the trigger.

"We can save more lives this way. We can end the war." For a moment, Taylor saw Rachel hesitate, and continued on, hoping she could get through to her friend. "What about your family? They’re in the colonies right now, aren’t they? If we let the Dominion stand and just negotiate for hostages instead of ending this, they’ll be the ones to suffer. You know I wouldn’t do this unless I knew it was the right thing." Taylor stepped forward. "The generals haven’t told us everything. There are ikthians working with the naledai to bring down the Dominion. We can win this!"

"She’s been brainwashed," said Bouchard. "The ikthian is using her."

"Bouchard’s the one brainwashing you, Rachel."

"That’s enough out of you!" Bouchard raised his gun and pointed it directly at her. The nose of the gun wavered, but Taylor could see his finger hovering over the trigger, preparing to fire.

Suddenly, Taylor felt herself being shoved roughly to the side, trapped behind a muscular arm. Roberts pushed past her, standing between her and the gun. "Bouchard, don’t…"

A shot rang out. Roberts lurched. He clutched his hand to his chest as Bouchard stared, wide-eyed, the gun still in his grip. Roberts took a hesitant step forward and gasped. When he looked back at Taylor, she saw red dripping over his fingers. "Go," he whispered.

Taylor was not the first one to act. She stood there in disbelief for a second too long, until the silence shattered as the soldiers raised their weapons. She felt a warm hand take hold of her arm, and she looked over to see Maia staring up at her with watery blue eyes. "Do you trust me?"

Taylor nodded.

Maia took a deep breath, and before anyone could shout another warning, she threw an active flash grenade into the midst of the soldiers. She threw her arms around Taylor and buried her face into the human’s shoulder while forcing Taylor’s into hers. The grenade went off and her ears rang, but they avoided the worst of the detonation. Rachel dropped to her knees, obviously stunned, but she still managed to stare at Taylor, eyes wide and teeth clenched in anger. Taylor could see tears streaming down her cheeks. She had dropped her assault rifle in the confusion of the explosion.

Forcing herself to turn away, Taylor knelt down beside Roberts, grabbing his arm and trying to haul it around her shoulders. "Maia, help me," she pleaded, not caring when his blood spilled onto her shirt. He was still alive, but only just, and his eyes were unseeing as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Bouchard's shots had been in his chest. Taylor was terrified to see what kind of damage the weapon had done.

"Taylor," Maia said, pulling at her sleeve, "it is not safe here. We have to run."

"I…I can't leave him," Taylor said, even though she could already feel the life seeping from Roberts's body. "He saved me. He was..." Her throat burned with tears as she realized that she had used the word 'was'. She had no way to save her mentor and friend. All she could do was take the chance he had given her. "I'm so sorry, Michael," she whispered, using his first name as a goodbye as Maia helped her up.

Together, they sprinted down the wide hallway leading from the atrium to the hangar, not daring to look back over their shoulders. Taylor felt her breath burn in her chest as she realized that she was leaving Rachel behind as well. Blinking back her tears as she ran, she took Maia's hand, hauling her around a corner and stopping short in front of a large, horizontal metal door. She slammed her hand down on the scanner, praying that it would open, and let out a relieved sound when it slowly began to rise. "Akton is through there. He'll be able to protect us and get your research."

"I never meant for this to happen," Maia whispered. Guilt pulled her face as she stared up at Taylor.

"Look at me." Taylor reached out, but paused when she realized her hands were still stained with blood. Maia managed to meet her gaze anyway. "This was not your fault. It was Bouchard’s."

Maia nodded, though Taylor could tell she was still upset. "I just…I never wanted to hurt anyone because of…Your friend, Roberts, he handed me the grenade. By the ancients, if I had known what he planned..."

The door clanged as it finished opening, and they turned to see Akton waiting for them next to a running shuttle. When he got a closer look at them, he cursed and scrambled to his feet, running forward and pulling his assault rifle to the ready. "Is that blood?" he asked, eyeing Taylor’s fatigues.

"Not mine," Taylor said grimly, "but we need to get moving if we want to keep to casualties to a minimum." They could already hear the clamorous thunder of soldiers chasing them.

"When I told you to contact me if anything changed, I thought you would at least give me twenty-four hours' notice before making an escape." He looked between Maia and Taylor. "I’m going to lose a rank for this."

"Not if we get out of here alive." Taylor pushed past him toward the shuttle. "We’re leaving— now!"

"Fine, but you owe me a few more answers once we get out of here." The three of them started for the ship, and Akton raised his assault rifle. "Incoming!" She heard him fire at the approaching soldiers, and Maia shot another round from her pistol at them.

"Morgan!" Taylor turned and saw Bouchard standing at the hangar entrance. He pointed threateningly at her. "If you take that ikthian aboard that shuttle, you will officially be a traitor to the Coalition."

Taylor raised her pistol to fire, but then she saw Rachel run up behind Bouchard, an assault rifle aimed in her direction. She realized that she could do it. She could pull the trigger and watch blood spout from Bouchard's head. But then she felt Maia's hand on her arm, silently asking her to lower her weapon. "Taylor. Don't."

"He murdered Roberts." Her arm shook slightly. "He should be dead."

"If you kill him, your friend will attack you," Maia reminded her in an urgent whisper. "You will never forgive yourself if you are forced to shoot her."

Taylor lowered her arm. Maia was right. She couldn't do this, not in front of Rachel. Her job was to protect Maia, not exact revenge for Roberts's death. He had given her a mission to complete. Still, her rage at the cold-blooded murder that Bouchard had committed made her chest tighten with rage. "You killed Roberts," she shouted at him, shaking her head as she began backing up towards the shuttle. "You're the traitor."

Akton opened the side doors, hopping inside and sliding into the driver's seat. Taylor kept her gun at her side as Maia climbed in behind him, but as soon as she tried to follow, Bouchard began barking commands at his terrified looking soldiers. "What are you waiting for? Don't let them escape!"

The remaining soldiers charged forward, with Rachel at the front of the pack, but it was too late. Taylor clambered up into the shuttle, closing the door behind her just in time to hear shots collide with the metal. "Let's get out of here, Akton," she barked, taking her seat as she heard the hum of the engines being switched on. The shuttle lurched and lifted into the air, powered from below as Akton drove them up and away.

"What are we going to do now?" Maia asked, reaching out to hold Taylor's hand. "Your people will kill us if we try to return."

"We're not going back," Akton said, flying the shuttle out through the open roof of the hangar. The boosters switched on, and the shuttle began to rattle slightly as it picked up speed. "There's a naledai cruiser in orbit. We should be safe there. They can take us to the rebels." He turned to glance over his shoulder at Taylor. "That is where you want to go, right?"

"Definitely." Taylor took a deep, unsteady breath, focusing on all of the things she needed to do. That would help take her mind off of Roberts, Bouchard, and Rachel. "We need to download Maia's research and give it to the rebels as quickly as possible. I'm sure someone there can spread it to the ikthian home-world."

Akton nodded. "We can take care of the download while en route." Taylor felt her stomach drop as they cleared Earth’s atmosphere. She wondered for a moment if she would ever return. No doubt Bouchard would spin some story about her. She squeezed Maia’s hand, needing some form of reassurance. "What happened down there, Taylor?"

She looked up, reluctant to discuss what had just happened. "Bouchard betrayed us," she said. Thankfully, Akton did not push her to continue, but waited patiently. He entered some coordinates into the shuttle navigation system and sat back. "He was going to have me court-martialed in an attempt to get Maia out from under military control. He didn’t like the deal the ikthians arranged."

"That was pretty low."

Taylor shrugged. "Neither Bouchard or the generals would have made use of Maia’s research, though. They would have just handed her back over to the Dominion, and she would have died."

"Your research is that threatening?" Akton asked, turning to look at Maia. "Whatever it is, it must be worth a fortune if they wanted you back alive to kill you themselves."

"They do not know I have told anyone about it," Maia said. "And they do not know the location of my data files, either. They needed me returned in order to torture me. The Dominion does not leave loose ends. Of course, first they would convince me to lie to the public, to spin my research and put them in a greater position of power."

Taylor felt her stomach twist as she imagined Maia being tortured. Even though she hated the thought of being labeled a traitor by the Coalition after years of faithful service, she knew she had made the right choice. She pulled Maia into her arms, ignoring their unfastened safety harnesses, and rested her forehead against the ikthian's shoulder. Their fingers remained laced together.

"I'm not going to let them hurt you," she whispered beside the folds of Maia's crest. Maia's hand began making soothing circles on her back, accepting and welcoming her embrace. "I'm never going to let anyone else hurt you again."

Epilogue:

As Maia watched Taylor emerge from the shower in a cloud of steam, she could not help noting the irony. They were in completely opposite positions from her first night in captivity. This time, Maia was the one waiting in the room that the naledai had provided for them, observing the water droplets that ran down Taylor's body. Taylor glanced at her, seeming slightly uncomfortable with her nakedness.

"You know, I have grown to find your naked form rather pleasant," Maia said. She winced at the awful phrasing of her words as they hit her ears. She had wanted to give Taylor an organic compliment, but apparently, she was horrible at expressing her interest, no matter how blunt she tried to be. The translator did not help matters. She would need to construct a more organic program to help their communication.

Taylor gave her a strange look, and began laughing. She ran a hand through her dripping hair. "Thanks, I think."

Maia blushed. "You make it difficult for me to speak, Taylor,"

"I do, huh?" Taylor's lips twitched up into a smug grin, one that Maia had become intimately familiar with. "You know, I wasn't exactly suave the first time I saw you step out of the shower naked. You make it difficult for me to speak sometimes, too."

"Why is that?" Maia asked, scooting closer to the edge of the bed.

Taylor blinked and glanced back at her. "You’re…" She paused as she searched for the correct word. "Stunning."

Maia's flush began creeping down along her throat, disappearing beneath the collar of her shirt. "Did you always think that way, even from the beginning?" she asked, even though she already knew the answer. She wanted to hear Taylor say it.

Taylor nodded. "I thought you were gorgeous from the first time we were alone together. It just took me a while to come to terms with it. Falling for an ikthian was a bit of a head-trip. By the time I got used to the idea, we were fighting for our lives." She sighed and looked around their new room, away from Maia. "It’s hard to believe we made it off Earth at all. I wish we hadn't left Roberts behind..."

Maia heard the guilt in Taylor's voice, and her first instinct was to soothe it. "His death was not your fault, Taylor. There was nothing you could have done to save him. Now, it is up to you to carry on for him. I know you will do everything in your power to stop this war. My data has already been downloaded. We will present it to the rebels as soon as we meet them."

Taylor gave Maia a weak smile. "I think Roberts would have liked you if he had gotten to know you. Maybe with some time, he even would have approved of us."

Us. The word hung between them, but this time, it made Maia feel exhilarated. Now that they had made it out alive, she and Taylor could finally begin to explore what they were to each other. "I hope he would have," she said. "I also know that he would have been proud of you."

"I'm not sure why. I couldn't save him or stop Bouchard."

"Your Commander’s death is a sad loss, but it does not mean you failed," Maia protested. "You made all of this possible, Taylor. You chose to save me even though it meant going against your own people." She hesitated, leaning back on the bed. "I do not know how to repay you for what you have done."

Taylor's face began to shift. Some of the sadness left, and Maia saw something else flash in her eyes instead. They lingered on her breasts before slowly trailing down the line of her stomach, and the hunger in them made her shiver. Taylor suddenly looked ready to pounce on her, and if she did, Maia knew she would be more than willing to let herself be caught.

"You know…" Taylor seemed to lose her thoughts as she took in the dips and curves of Maia’s body. "There's still only one bed here. Looks like we'll be bunking together for a while."

"It appears so." Maia's fingers tightened around the top of the bed's comforter, itching to touch Taylor instead. She was almost ready to reach up and pull the human on top of her. "We have a long journey to Nakonum."

Taylor stepped closer, hovering beside the edge of the bed. "Only a few days."

"Plenty of hours to fill." Maia finally gave in to temptation, reaching out to take Taylor's hand in her own. She ran a thumb over her knuckles and offered what she hoped was a welcoming smile instead of a shy one. "And if you do not mind, I would like to spend them with you." She paused, gathering the courage she needed to share her thoughts. "Something has changed between us. I did not allow myself to think about it before because I was sure that I was going to die. But now, I believe a relationship with you might be possible."

"A relationship?" Taylor repeated in a throaty voice.

Maia nodded, still holding Taylor's hand. "Yes. I want to explore my feelings for you. I will need patience, but perhaps after spending some time as equals..." Maia raised herself onto her knees so that her face was at the same level as Taylor's. "As lovers..." Slowly, she leaned forward, reaching out to touch the human's damp, flushed cheek. "We might find that a relationship between us is possible after all. That is, if you want to..."

Taylor's arms opened in answer, and Maia slid into them with a low sigh. She rested her hands at the back of Taylor's neck, playing with the soft strands of hair there. Over the past several weeks, she had grown to love touching it. A shudder rippled through her as Taylor's hands slid down to cradle her hips. "Oh, I want to," Taylor murmured, dipping down so that their lips were only a breath apart. "We'll take it slow. One day at a time."

"Of course," Maia agreed. "But the more time I spend with you, the more clearly I see you. And I like what I see."

Taylor grinned. "You like what you see, huh?" Her hand slid beneath Maia's shirt, tracing the bare strip of skin above the pants she was wearing. They fit better than the ones she had borrowed back at San Diego base, but part of her missed wearing Taylor's clothes. "Well, I'm not seeing nearly enough of you. Is it okay if I..." Taylor tugged at the hem of Maia's shirt, asking for permission.

Maia smiled. "I wondered how long it would take you to ask. But...will you kiss me first?"

"Gladly." Taylor brought a hand up to her face and cupped it gently, drawing her in. Their lips met in a slow, lingering kiss. Maia shuddered as she felt Taylor's mouth slide against hers. The simple action sparked a fire in her. She let one of her hands wander from Taylor's shoulder to her chest, cupping a bare breast and enjoying the way that Taylor groaned into her mouth.

"Taylor," Maia whispered as they broke away. "Please. I want to feel your skin on mine." Her other hand traced along Taylor's naked back, brushing away the last stray droplets of water left over from the shower. She loved the feel of the human's smooth muscles tightening and twitching beneath her palm.

"You still have your clothes on." Taylor found the hem of her shirt and tugged upward, trying to pull it over her head. Maia gave up her hold on Taylor just long enough to raise her arms. She missed the warmth of Taylor's skin even for the brief seconds it took to undress. Next came her pants. Maia kicked them aside, not caring where they landed. As soon as she was naked, she moved her hands back up to Taylor’s broad shoulders, dragging her forward onto the bed. She wanted Taylor above her, close to her, inside of her.

"I can hardly control myself when I’m around you," Taylor muttered, nuzzling into Maia's neck.

Maia's breath hitched as blunt teeth nipped at the cord of her shoulder, and she dug her nails into Taylor's back, trying to pull her even closer. "I do not want you to."

Taylor's teasing hands trailed everywhere, palming her breasts, smoothing circles over her stomach, and running along her sides. Maia gasped as Taylor brushed a thumb over her hipbone and across her inner thigh. Her heart flew into her throat when Taylor's hand climbed higher, pausing at the crease where her leg ended. Everything had happened so quickly, but her body already thrummed with anticipation.

Maia felt Taylor hesitate for a moment, pausing to make absolutely sure that her touch was welcome. Maia tightened her knee around Taylor's hip, more than happy to give her a little extra encouragement. She rocked toward Taylor’s lingering hand, but the teasing fingertips remained just out of reach. They burned the skin of her thigh, and the ridge of her clit pulsed as she imagined them sliding up to touch her. "Taylor," Maia whispered, breaking down into pleas far before she was ready. Something about Taylor's touch always unraveled her. "Taylor, please..."

A teasing grin formed on Taylor's lips. "Oh? Is there something you want?" Maia nodded, but somehow, she knew that Taylor would push her to be more specific. Her fears and hopes were confirmed a few seconds later. "I know you can give better directions than that."

"I want you inside me," Maia said in a rush. Her cheeks burned at the admission. She was intensely aware of how close Taylor’s hand was to her slick, sensitive flesh, and the lack of contact was maddening.

"Inside you how?" Taylor began exploring with one finger, gliding the pad over her swollen clit before pressing lightly inside her. Maia cried out, spreading her knees wider and giving Taylor all the access she wanted. The stretch was subtle, but Taylor found the sensitive ridges along her front wall almost immediately. "Like this?" she whispered beside Maia's cheek, pressing a soft butterfly kiss to the corner of her jaw.

Maia bucked into Taylor's palm. Each curl of her fingers was bliss, but the touch was too light, too teasing. Taylor knew it, too. Her expression was incredibly smug. "N…no," Maia stammered. "I want you… oh, by the ancients." Taylor was making it very hard for her to speak. When the human's fingers hooked inside of her again, pleasure lanced through Maia’s abdomen, and all of her muscles tightened. "I need you to fill me."

Taylor pushed deeper inside, working a second finger past her entrance. "Is this not enough?"

Maia pulsed and clamped down, trying to draw her deeper. She could feel the stretch this time, but the ache inside of her only grew worse. She tilted her head back against the pillows and bit her lip. "No, I need more," she admitted, flushing at the needy sound of her own voice. She ached for Taylor to fill her, and being made to beg for it first had her throbbing with need.

"Tell me, Maia. Tell me exactly what you want."

Maia's breathing sped up, and her pulse pounded somewhere above the dip in her throat. She knew what she wanted, what she needed, and she knew that Taylor would give it to her if she found the courage to ask. "I want your cock inside me." Taylor curled her fingers forward, and Maia cried out as a teasing thumb scraped over the swollen ridge of her clit. "Please, Taylor. I need it. I need to feel you inside me, like before..."

Taylor bent down, dipping her head so that her lips trailed over Maia’s bare shoulder. "You want me to fuck you with my cock again so soon? I must have done a really good job last time."

"Yes," Maia breathed. She dug her nails into Taylor’s back. This slow, torturous teasing was a new addition to their lovemaking, but she was swiftly discovering that she enjoyed it. It was as if Taylor was searching for the exact phrases that would drive her mad with lust. Someday soon, when she had reclaimed her own words, Maia decided that she would learn how to do the same.

"Yes? You want me to pin you down and fill you until you can’t take anymore?"

"Please," Maia groaned. She would do anything; say anything to relieve the pounding ache. She pushed against Taylor’s hand, a quick breath skating through her lips as the thumb against her clit began making slow, hard circles.

Taylor pushed herself into a kneeling position, and Maia whimpered at the loss as her fingers pulled back. She watched Taylor turn and open the top drawer beside the bed. The cock was resting on top of a pile of shirts, one of the few items they had actually bothered to unpack from their bag. Taylor grabbed it and shut the drawer again. Maia flushed, very pleased with herself for remembering it. Although using the toy had started out as Taylor's fantasy, it was quickly becoming one of her favorites as well.

Maia tugged at her lower lip with her teeth as Taylor lowered the shorter end of the toy between her legs, dragging it through her folds to coat the blunt tip with wetness. She was far too aware of the way Taylor’s abdominal muscles tensed every time it passed over the point of her clit. Maia clenched her fingers, desperately wanting to reach out and touch, but she forced herself to wait and see what Taylor had planned instead.

Once the cock was fitted in place, Taylor climbed back onto the mattress, hovering over her. Maia parted her thighs, allowing Taylor to settle between them. She rocked her hips forward, rubbing herself against the underside of the shaft.

"Is this what you wanted?" Taylor asked, obviously determined to keep teasing her.

Maia shifted, trying to get a better angle. She opened her mouth, but all that came out was a soft whimper of need. "No," she said in a tight whisper, even as she continued sliding along the length of the cock. It rubbed against her perfectly with each push of her hips. She was desperate to have Taylor inside of her, and she knew that she would not be able to stand it if Taylor kept teasing her.

"Tell me."

Maia swallowed back a whimper and looked down to avoid answering. What she saw nearly stopped her heart. The shaft of Taylor's cock was sliding effortlessly against her, glistening with wetness, teasing her with each stroke. Maia desperately wanted to tilt her hips so that it would slip inside of her. "Please," she begged, staring directly into Taylor’s dark eyes. "I want you to take me. I want you to make me moan."

The simple, blunt statement was enough. Taylor reached a hand between their bodies, adjusting her angle and fitting the head of the cock against Maia’s entrance. When she began pushing inside, Maia’s body tensed, and she dug her fingers into Taylor's shoulders. She arched against her, trying to take more of the shaft.

Before she could do anything else, Taylor gripped one of her hips, holding her firmly in place. "Did I say you could have that yet?" Maia tried to arch upward again, but Taylor’s hold on her waist only tightened. "Hold still or you won’t ever get what you want."

Obediently, Maia stopped squirming and allowed Taylor to go at her own pace. There was a brief sting as the widest part of the head pushed inside of her, but a second later, it was replaced by a satisfying stretch. Her inner muscles fluttered, clutching at the length of Taylor's cock. This was the fullness she had been craving, the only thing that would satisfy the deep, pounding ache inside of her.

It was difficult for Maia to stay still as Taylor began working the rest of the way inside of her. Each soft thrust of Taylor's hips made her tremble and clutch down tighter. She could not resist stealing another glance between their bodies, and the sight of the shaft stretching her open made her forget Taylor's instructions. She hooked one of her knees around Taylor's waist, trying to pull her deeper. The last inch of the cock finally slid forward, filling her completely.

Taylor let out a low sigh above her. "I thought I told you to hold still," she said. She let go of Maia's hip and gripped the outside of her thigh instead, digging her nails in slightly. "But I guess I did promise to take you and make you scream..." She shifted back, drawing out slowly. Maia whimpered at the loss until Taylor's hips slammed forward again. The thrust drove a scream from her throat, and she tangled her fingers in Taylor's hair, pulling her in for a hard kiss to muffle the noise.

Maia could not stop the sounds spilling from her throat even when Taylor's lips were pressed tight against hers, stealing her breath with kisses. Taylor fell into a quick, harsh rhythm, using her grip to drive as deep as possible. She rocked forward to meet each push, each thrust, whimpering whenever the head of the toy caught against the sensitive, full place inside of her. The pressure was almost too much, and Maia worried that she would not be able to hold herself back.

Taylor must have read the reaction in her body, because she deliberately shifted her angle so that she could drive against the spot again and again. "Why are you holding back?" she asked, her breath coming in soft pants against Maia's cheek. She took hold of Maia’s other hip and tightened her grip. "I can feel you pulsing, pulling tight around me...You want to come."

Maia's head thrashed on the pillow, and she pulled away from Taylor's lips. The kisses only made her burn, and she wanted to hold back a little longer. "I... Please," she stammered. She was not sure whether she was begging for Taylor to slow down, or to grant her release. She wanted to arch up into every push of Taylor’s hips, but she was pinned firmly to the bed. Each thrust made her want to cry out as she felt the thick shaft of the toy stretch her.

“Taylor...” Unlike her other words, which she had lost, her lover's name formed easily on Maia’s lips.

At the sound of her name, Taylor started to thrust with a new sense of urgency. Some of the ache eased off when Maia rocked forward and tightened her knee around Taylor's waist, trying to follow her movements. The shared motion of their hips was an improvement, but it still was not quite enough.

Together, the two of them began working frantically towards release. Their lips met in a deep kiss, tongues teasing back and forth as the breathed each other in. Maia felt herself go rigid as she felt newer, deeper emotions that were alien and familiar at the same time. She had felt traces of them before, back during their encounter in the shower, and she had experienced them during their last time together.

She loved Taylor. Somehow, that thought was more arousing than anything else. Maia was suddenly crying out as she clung to Taylor’s shoulders. Her lover had shifted angles, trying to push faster and deeper inside of her, dragging the base of the toy over the hard ridge of her clit with each thrust. She wrapped her legs around Taylor’s waist, letting out a muffled scream as the grip on her hips tightened and Taylor’s lips crushed against hers.

Maia release overcame her and her inner walls fluttered around the shaft of the toy.

Maia felt Taylor release as well as the human’s hips jerked forward. She cried out and drew Taylor closer, pulled with her arms and legs. Her body shook, and her muscles tightened around the length inside her. She could not get close enough. Perhaps they never would. But thankfully, they had plenty of time to try.

The tremors finally subsided, leaving the two of them shuddering with aftershocks and still clinging to one another. "I just realized something," Taylor mumbled into Maia's neck.

Maia blinked and slowly eased her hips down, allowing the shaft of the toy to fall halfway out of her. "What is that?" she asked.

"I haven’t taken you out on a proper date, yet." Taylor buried her face in the crook of Maia’s neck. "What kind of lover am I?" Both of them laughed softly and began to withdraw their hands from their various holds. With her arms free, Taylor pulled Maia into an embrace.

"I suppose we could fix that on Nakonum," Maia said, running her hand over Taylor's back.

Taylor propped herself up on her elbows and looked down. "So…you’re all right with this?" Maia nodded and looped her arms around Taylor’s neck. Taylor shifted above her, and she shuddered a little as the shaft of the cock finally pulled the rest of the way out of her. She felt deliciously sore and well used, but she still missed the fullness.

Carefully, she reached in between their bodies, easing the shorter end out from inside of Taylor as well and placing the toy on top of the dresser. Then, she welcomed Taylor's weight back on top of her. "I want to discover where our feelings take us," she said, stroking her hand up and down between Taylor's shoulder blades. "Now, we have the chance to find out."

Taylor nuzzled into her neck. "There will be a lot of work. We're part of the naledai rebellion now. I’m sure we’ll have more than enough to do… But it will be worth it as long as I'm with you."

Maia's lips spread in a smile. "You say such lovely things. I hope what we are doing makes a difference."

"It will," Taylor said, not even pausing to consider any other possibility.

Finally, they allowed their exhaustion to overcome them. Taylor and Maia fell asleep in a tangled mess of limbs, oblivious to the rest of the naledai cruiser or the war that had consumed the galaxy. Maia had no idea what the following days would bring, but she was certain it would be the first step in dealing a significant blow to the Dominion. Perhaps after the fighting was done, and after a truce had been brokered, she would be able to take Taylor back to Earth. Taylor could show her the beauty of the planet they had just left behind. It was something to work toward, something to hope for.

The End

About the Authors

Michelle Magly

Michelle Magly is a lesbian writer living in Alaska with her loving partner. She has discovered that the frozen tundra makes excellent inspiration. Michelle currently has one short story, "Heart," featured in the 2012 Understory anthology from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She also released her first novel, All the Pretty Things, in 2013 as a collaborative effort with Rae D Magdon. When not writing, Michelle hikes, snowboards, skis, and plays a lot of video games. Aside from her partner, Michelle shares her life with her loving cat.

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Rae D. Magdon

Rae D. Magdon is a writer living and working in the state of Alaska. Over the past few years, she has written several lesbian-themed novels, including Dark Horizons, The Second Sister, and her first published work, All The Pretty Things coauthored with Michelle Magly. She enjoys writing fantasy and science fiction, in addition to modern-day romances. When she is not writing original fiction, she wastes spends her time dabbling in unapologetically smutty romantic lesbian fanfiction. Her favorite fandoms are Law & Order: SVU and Mass Effect. In her free moments, which are few and far between, she enjoys spending time with Tory, her fiancée of ten years, and their two cats.

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The Guardian Series by Stein Willard

A Guardian’s Touch – Book 1

A Guardian’s Love – Book 2

A Guardian’s Passion – Book 3

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Awaiting My Assignment – Book 2

Anything Your Heart Desires – Book 3

Scarred for Life by SL Kassidy

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