Cosmic Kiss

Erik was pleased to find that Charles had been correct in his assessment of their needs. Even now his beautiful mate was resting after several sessions of physical intimacy that had certainly soiled the deck of Shaw’s ship.

Human intercourse was rather messy, but Erik found he liked that fact more and more as time went on. He looked over at Charles, dressed again in the pale pink medical uniform Shaw had provided him to change into.

It was beyond disturbing to see the quarters he had arranged for Charles. Set up as one room with a sleep lounge, bathing stall, and toilet. There had been a small cabinet filled with clothes to fit the small human.

Apparently he would have been at the mercy of Shaw for food and any other necessities.

Erik’s stomach tightened painfully as he imagined them trapped in the future Shaw had planned for them. He’d have done anything to keep Charles and the baby safe, even submit to their captor’s foul attentions.

He turned his attention back to charting, they weren’t safe yet, and the fact that Charles was sleeping meant that Shaw was at his most dangerous. Erik was able to watch him from the surveillance feed of the lab.

His skin crawled as he imagined Shaw watching him as he slept drugged and unaware.

Shaw was currently awake and livid. He screamed and strained against his bonds but was unable to break them. He demanded Erik attend him. He insisted they were mates and that Charles was trying to come between them, that he would have Charles executed for the crime of attempting to break a bond.

“The lack of self awareness is astounding,” Charles mumbled, pressing two fingers to him temple just before Shaw fell back into an unnatural sleep. Charles rolled over and began snoring lightly.

Erik smirked. He had figured out the quadrant they were in and was ready to make their first jump. When Charles was better rested, they’d be able to figure out exactly where Shaw had taken them and why.

“Why can’t we just look at the logs and retrace our steps?” Charles had asked as Erik programmed a small bed for him to rest on as he worked. Neither was comfortable being apart just yet, even by a few rooms.

“His logs are programmed to auto delete every twelve hours,” Erik said grimly. “That is a major violation of Federation Law, particularly for such a highly placed individual. I don’t even know where he found someone willing to program the system for him.”

“Maybe he did it himself?”

“Unlikely, all of the commands are hardwired in. Heads will roll for this.” If we make it back, he didn’t say aloud.

Charles heard and pressed a small kiss to his chin, “We’ll make it out of here. I’m sure of it.”

His belly rumbled just then and Erik declared a break to fix them a meal. He fought back a pang of worry for Albert, his fearless little predator who always came to him for bits of his meal. Their little pet all alone in space without them, unless Shaw had… he forcefully turned his mind away from such thoughts.

He wouldn’t entertain them because they weren’t true. It would be a waste of time to even consider such things.

“He’ll be fine,” Charles said firmly, though his eyes were pinched with worry. “You said Shaw had people out looking. They must have found our ship by now. They’ve probably taken him to Sean for some spoiling.” Erik nodded grimly, throat tight for some reason.

They clasped hands tightly and ate the rest of their meal in troubled silence.

~~

They had made two jumps and were waiting for the second drive to recharge as Erik worked out their next plot point.

He had already set an emergency jump in case they were found and needed a quick escape.

For the first time in a long time, he was grateful for his father’s harsh way of teaching him. He was sure his ingrained calm under pressure was the only thing keeping his newly human level of emotional irrationality from paralyzing him in fear.

Erik, Charles brushed against his mind as he came awake.

Erik opened his mind to him so he could see their progress, but a sharp gasp from his mate had him turning to him in worry.

Charles was staring past him out the bridge screen to the star they were orbiting at close range as an added shield from detection by long range scanners.

Erik looked back at it but didn’t see anything notable about it. They had seen many stars on their interrupted tour, and while Charles was enraptured by all of them, this was clearly something different.

“What is it?” he asked curiously.

“It’s purple,” Charles whispered, astonished. Like that explained anything.

His mate chuckled as he caught the thought. “Humans can’t see green or purple stars. Our eyes evolved to a white-yellow light spectrum so we see green as white and purple as blue.” He explained eagerly, nose nearly pressed against the glass.

How their species had survived as long as they had was a mystery to him. Charles rolled his eyes at him, “We’re survivors. It’s what we do. No need to see purple light waves to survive.”

“I’ll have to find a nice green one for you then. We can find out what colors you can now see,” Erik smiled indulgently. He loved Charles’ mind. He was meant to be a telepath.

Charles smiled at him over his shoulder, “I’m glad you think so. I mean, it’s a good thing we didn’t tell anyone what I can do but…” he fidgeted. Erik came to stand behind him, pulling him back to rest against his chest as they watched a solar flare briefly engulf the ship.

Flames of every color swirling around them for an instant before vanishing into the depths of space. Charles sighed happily and pressed back against him.

“But?” Erik coached gently.

“Won’t people be afraid of me now?”

“They’ll be amazed by you and all want a human mate of their very own,” Erik assured him. “Some will be frightened at first, but we appreciate strong powers, especially new ones. Don’t fret.” He added as an afterthought.

Charles smiled up at him; You’re getting better at this comforting thing.

Thank you

“Erik, I’d like to read Shaw’s mind, perhaps find out where we are and why he brought us here. What do you think?”

Erik hesitated. It was certainly worth a try to get them home faster, but he didn’t want Shaw to be able to accuse him of planting ideas by tampering with his mind. He was terrified that the excuse might hold up in court and see Shaw with a lesser sentence.

Charles frowned as he read the thoughts filling Erik’s mind. “But he could already say that since I gave him a command and have been keeping him asleep.” He said pragmatically, hoping that the very thing that saved them wouldn’t be the thing that set Shaw free to try again.

Erik had to agree with that. “True. What’s done is done. Read him if you can and compile it in a log for future reference. Don't push yourself too hard, we'll find out either in due time either way.” After seeing Charles set up at a portable terminal, Erik went back to charting, hair standing up on the back of his neck, fearful of what Charles would discover in the depths of Shaw’s mind.

~~

Genlen hated being right under such circumstances. Lady Frost and her network of telepaths had been assisting him in going over the every detail of Admiral Lehnsherr’s disappearance along with his mate.

And now the long, unexplained absence of Admiral Shaw.

Shaw’s crew was insisting that he’d been abducted as well. Apparently that was the only possible explanation. They had immediately mentioned the Ragus as the culprits. No concern for internal threats or even external from the numerous other enemies of the Federation.

Lady Frost herself was the one to notice the irregularity in their words. She was an expert at reading into the motivations of others.

“You say there have been fewer border raids. That the Ragus have gone quiet. Well, as quiet as they ever do.”

“That is correct, My lady.”

She sat still as a statue, diamond skin glimmering in the light. “We need to assemble a counsel immediately.”

“To locate the admirals?” he asked, even as he began composing a message to acting Admiral Azazel.

She gave a low, discordant hum. “To prepare for war.”