The First Flame part 2

“Listen, asshole. You’re going to get off me, go home empty-handed, and kiss daddy’s feet for forgiveness.”

He crooked his head. “What is ass-ole?”

“What I’m going to rip off you if you don’t let me go!”

“Lieutenant Ran, please understand the situation,” Kikoris interjected. “It is best if you return to your planet.”

“You should have let me dealt with my father, General.”

“You will deal with your father,” her bodyguard said. “That is why I am taking you home.”

He proceeded to drag her out of the cabin, her curses and threats ignored. Ran reached for the neck of a man they passed and snatched his brace. She snapped it over her own neck and activated it. Metal stretched across her body, surprising her captor.

She grabbed her sword, flattened the blade between their chests and shoved him away. She hadn’t drawn blood– not yet, but she wouldn’t shy away from the idea.

“General, how did he get here?”

“I am not sure. Ezron did not announce his arrival. He appeared in my systems two hours ago, and I allowed clearance.”

“Did you call my father to ask?”

The General shook his head. “I have not had contact with Ezron in many days."

Ran turned and raised her sword. “Why are you here? What happened?”

“Princess Terra is ill. You must return.”

Blood drained from her face. “Wh– what’s…”

She could feel the gaze of her men dissecting her. She hardly ever displayed weakness, but her armor cracked wherever her family was concerned.

She tore out of the room and ran through the hallways.

“Lieutenant,” some of her men stood to attention.

She sped up, because at that instant she wasn’t a lieutenant but a worried sister.

“Flight Captain, I’m boarding the Ezronian ship on the docking bay,” she spoke into her communicator. The ship was being worked on by some of her men, who stopped to greet her.

“Ran,” Lieutenant Siox said, blocking her way. “Did you lose the battl–”

Her metal fist crushed his jaw. She had no time to entertain the haughty bastard.

She ran up the tongue of the ship and went into the command center. Trying to start a connection with Ezron was useless. No one was picking up her calls. It was like the planet went dark.

With her heart at her throat, she turned on her communicator.

“General Kirokis,” she swallowed hard. “I’m requesting a two week-leave to investigate what happened on Ezron. I’ll send further word to you once I establish communication.” She hesitated before continuing. “It was an honor working under you, General. Although your people were never too fond of my presence, I appreciate the lessons I got through our partnership.”

“Permission granted, Lieutenant. Two weeks. If I do not hear from you, I will be forced to replace you. If you cannot convince your father to let you serve another two planet cycles, then I will have to replace you.”

With a deep inhale, she checked the systems of the ship.

“Are you finally coming to your senses?”

She ignored him and went to sit on the captain’s seat. A big hand cupped her hip, so warm she could feel it through the metal.

“That is my seat.”

“You’ll sit in an engine if that’s what I wish. Now stay out of my–”

He pushed her so she fell on the other seat.

“Do you really think your Commander would appreciate knowing that you’re tossing his daughter around?”

“If it means bringing her home, yes.” He began manning the spaceship, so Ran glared at him and took the moment to say goodbye to her men.

“Soldiers of Solstice-X, your tenant must go home. Whatever happens, know that I felt honored to work beside such a powerful crew. We coursed through the stars, patrolling The Federation, training for war, and collecting resources for your people. I may be the royal of another planet, but I consider The Federation a second home. Stand tall and look sharp, soldiers. We will meet again.”

Her communicator buzzed as soldiers opened lines to say goodbye.

When the ship shifted, she turned off her communicator and tried to establish a connection with Ezron again.

The gate of the docking bay rose, protecting the Solstice-X from space. Once it was up, the back gate opened and they were thrust into space.

“Setting course for The Ruins,” the mysterious Ezronian muttered.

That was the odd thing. Although they were strangers, they shared the same home.

“What’s wrong with my sister?” Ran dared to ask.

‘Wormhole located’ appeared on the screen.

“And how did you make it here? The wormhole only opens once a year.”

He ignored her, making her fingers itch to grab her sword and swing.

They set off, and she thought of her sister as she stared at the skies. She spent two years away from her family. Although her work at The Federation was incomplete, she’d chose her loved ones over her job a thousand times. She was born on Ezron, and she would die on there too

Terra needed to be alright. She needed to hug Ran, tease her about finding boyfriend at The Federation, spar with her, and make their father lose what remained of his mind. Terra was her twin, her other half.

“Tell me,” she gritted. “What happened to my–”

The world tilted, and an explosion drowned her hearing. She was catapulted forward, smashing her head on the command center.

“Princess?”

She was lifted by the waist, crimson concerned eyes staring at her. The boredom he had on his face got replaced by worry.

“Huh?” she asked, disoriented. “I…”

They were under attack!

She rolled over and started adjusting their trajectory. This passenger ship was for quick travel. It wasn’t a warship like Solstice-X, so it couldn’t go on offence.

She just managed to input the last coordinates to the closest intelligent planet when she was dragged back and strapped into her seat.

“Eon,” her bodyguard answered. “My name is Eon.” With that, he kneeled, grasped her armrests, and pressed into her.

“What are you doing?! Go back to your seat!”

He pressed his cheek against her chest, caging her into her chair.

Another explosion made the spaceship tilt.

The spaceship twisted and dipped with its evasive maneuvers, multicolored lights of distress lit up the visor, and electricity crackled from damaged parts.

Who would do this?

“Siox,” she snarled. “That miserable son of a bitch.”

Planet Tulis appeared, looking as ugly as Mars with its continental deserts and small oceans.

Alien language poured into the speakers as Tulis patrol demanded that her ship identified itself. She couldn’t concentrate. There was too much trembling, pressure in the air, and dizziness in her head.

Just as they penetrated Tulisian stratosphere, a final hit set the ship on fire.

Tulis became bigger until it consumed her gaze. Then, darkness took over.

– • –

“Uh…” she groaned, rolling over. “Fuck.”

She reached for her side and touched the bare skin of her stomach. She frowned. Where did her armor go?

It took all the effort in the world to look lift her neck and look down.

Three hideous Tulisians stared at her.

She quickly took in the situation. She was bare-chested, and her wrist and ankles were tied. Eon was tied to a leave-less tree and gazing at her.

Her nipples hardened.

“Princess, remain calm and allow me to–”

“Gentlemen,” she smiled at the Tulisians. “Would you be so kind as to untie us? I promise that we offer no harm.”

She spoke in Ezronian and then Feducian. She didn’t speak Tulisian and didn’t have her neck brace to translate.

“Princess Ran, stop this,” Eon demanded. She heard him fight his restraints, and it wouldn’t surprise her if he broke a wrist in his attempt to get to her. He was probably more angry at her than at the Tulisians.

She ignored him.

One Tulisian walked to her and began a conversation with his buddies. His slimy, teal-colored hand pat her thigh and he made gestures to his buddies.

Was he negotiating a price for her?

It was when he reached for her bare breast that she scoffed, kicked the asshole into the fire, and rolled over five times to where her sword was laying. She sawed through her wrist bindings just in time to catch an attacker by the neck and snap his neck.

The third Tulisian was smart enough to run away.

She picked up her sword and cut through the rope on her ankles.

“Princess…”

She smirked and stood up, not caring about her nakedness.

“Hi Eon.”

“You are bare,” he said, staring shamelessly at her breasts.

“Thanks for letting me know. I didn’t notice.”

She sashayed to him, not knowing if she looked stupid or seductive. Females on Ezron had more accented hips than males. They had to be useful for something, right?

“I didn’t appreciate you cutting my top off in Solstice-X. I fought hard to gain the respect of my men. How could I look them in the eye if I they saw me half-naked?”

“I had to get you to stop fighting.”

“You disrespected me. You made me look weak. But oh, the Fates have turned the tables.”

She swept in like the naughty demon she was, flattening her breasts on his chest and stealing his breath.

She remained still, giving him space to order her to get off. When he didn’t, she continued to taunt him. “Now you’re the one in the position of weakness.”

She pressed her nose against his, and he pursed his lips as if to prevent himself from kissing her.

“Your shame salutes me,” she said, peeking down at his erect cock.

She bent her knees and slowly stood up so her nipples dragged over his sculptured chest. “I’m your leader. Don’t forget it, soldier.”

Figuring that she embarrassed him enough, she took a step back. An arm snapped around her and five vengeful fingers dipped into her back.

She gasped. “You.. you were.”

“I was untied the whole time? Yes. I was.”

She shrunk.

“Let me correct you, Ran, because you seem to be confused.”

Two fingertips ran up her bare belly and found her right nipple. He pinched it, hard, making her breath leave her.

“I am the leader here until we return to Ezron. I will be making any decisions regarding your safety. Do you understand, Princess?”

His other hand found her left nipple and pinched it, too.

“Or must I explain some more?”