Back Up Plan

If perchance, FFn decides to be an asshole and pull my stuff (which seems fairly likely due to the fact that I like to write smut), you can find me on FictionPad, The Writer's Coffee Shop and An Archive of our own.

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I probably was premature in going back (if going back was the right decision at all). I wanted to make sure that I had the most ease of accessibility to share my stories, but FFn doesn't apparently agree. I'm not updating anything tonight or even tomorrow just to cover my rear end.

Thanks for reading!

~ T

Star Crossed Update

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“I want to make them pay for what they did here, Bella. This is a coward’s way of fighting. Attacking innocent civilians and children? We need to be like that flight that brought down the plane in Pennsylvania.”

“How?” she asked. “I do not want to cause this. I don’t want children to not know of their mothers. I don’t want to tear families apart. I want a diplomatic solution. No more fighting.” Her face scrunched up and she lost it, sobbing against my chest. I held her closely, rocking her in the destruction. I was angry and very confused. Blazing rage also simmered in my veins. I didn’t know how to handle it.

“Captain, I think I found out how the shielding went down. Where the order was sent from,” Victoria said, looking at me. Her eyes were wary.

“Where, Commander?”

“The Imperial Palace.”

“That can’t be possible,” Bella said, her eyes narrowing. “Why would the palace remotely disable the shielding around the colony? That makes absolutely no sense.”

“Perhaps someone was pissed off that you were mated to a human,” Commander Braxas answered. “One of Norex’s staff? Or Caius. He’s shady, too. His aura reveals that he’s hiding something. I don’t know what, but it’s not good.”

“Why would they conspire with the Alphans?” Bella growled, her hands balling into rigid fists. I don’t get it. I just don’t. She huffed and walked out of the school, clutching the stuffed animal. I could feel her agony, frustration and confusion. I wanted to make this right, fix it but there was no easy fix.

“Was there anything else on that computer console?” I asked Victoria.

“I got it all, including some vids of the attack. It appeared to be a combination of an attack from orbit and some shuttles using their disruptors,” Victoria explained. “I’ll upload it onto the computer once we get back aboard the Volvo.”

“Thank you, Commander,” I sighed, leaving the school. I stumbled along the ruins, my heart shattering for the pain these people endured during their last moments alive. Several away teams came down, gathering more information and holo-images for their holodeck to peruse on board. I knew that I was going to picking apart the attack and the ruins, trying to find some sort of weakness of the Alphans or answers to give to the Council of Elders.

We were on the surface for two hours. My father came down, shocked at the damage. When we gathered as much information as we could, the away teams transported back up to their vessels. I went in search of my mate, finding her in the rubble of what looked to be a sanctuary or chapel. She was sitting on a crumbling wall, crying as she caressed the singed fur of the stuffed toy. “We’re the last ones on the surface, Bella,” I said. “We need to transport back to the Volvo so we can go back to Forx.”

“We need to perform last rites,” she whispered. “My people…our people need to be ushered into the afterlife.” Her sadness is crippling. She buried her nose in the stuffed toy’s fur, crying quietly. “We need to perform H’aaruune.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“The funeral rite. It releases our souls into the stars,” she said. “It should have been done on the day they all died, but I’d like to do it before sunset on H’nan.” Her blue eyes were dull and her spots were a sickly gray. Her mind was beseeching me, begging me to do this.

“What does this funeral rite entail?” I asked.

“For each life lost, we light a sky lantern and release it. If both ships have as many as they can transport down, it won’t take long. The colonists deserve this respect,” Bella said, overlooking the ruins. 

Sky Lanterns

H'nan Chapel

Scimitar

Reman

Commander Victoria Braxas

Star Crossed Blog Only Teaser

“I think this is a trap,” he replied, his eyes darting around the narrow and cluttered hallway. “Why would they commit suicide and allow us to board their vessel? It does not make sense, unless it’s to lure us into a false sense of security and destroy us…”

I nodded, agreeing with his statement. “Let’s proceed with caution,” I whispered.

“Agreed,” Data said as we found Emmett and Victoria, along with Data’s tactical officer, Commander Felix Volturi. “Report.”

“From what we could gather,” Emmett began, “it’s heavily shielded. It does not look like it’s Alphan technology, though. I can’t identify it. Neither can Commander Volturi or Commander Braxas.”

“Have you attempted to disable the shields?” Data asked.

“I advised against it, sir. This technology is experimental for the Alphans and based on the amount of dead bodies on this ship, this may be a booby trap,” Commander Volturi explained. “I’m afraid that if we attempt to disengage the shields, we’ll cause the auto destruct to begin we’re all stuck here, joining the Alphans in their final resting place.”

“I could try and disable the shields around the cloaking device,” Data said. “I’ve tapped into their computer systems. The shields for the cloak are heavily encrypted but not indecipherable.”

“Let’s get everyone off this ship. Only you and me, Captain,” I said. “We could work together and get this shield down faster.”

“Sir, no,” Victoria said, her brows furrowing. “You’re no longer just a Galaxy Fleet captain, you’re also a husband and the Emperor of Forx. You should go back. I’ll stay with Captain Data.”

“Agreed,” Data said, looking at me. He tapped his communicator. “All crew members aboard the Alphan vessel, please transport back to your respective ships and raise shields.”

“This doesn’t feel right,” I growled, my frustration mounting.

“Go, Edward,” Data said quietly, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Your commander is correct.”

“I want to know,” I said. “Yes, I’m being stubborn. We will maintain an open comm link to the Volvo and beam out at the first sign of trouble.”

“The first sign may be the last sign,” Data countered. I gave him a stern look and he sighed. 

“Commander Volturi and Lieutenant Morgainne, please go back to your ships.” They contacted the Intrepid and Volvo, respectively and beamed out of the cloaking room. Data walked to the computer access panel. He tapped a few controls. The screen lit up. He began working quickly, his fingers flying over the screen. Victoria had asked the Volvo to move to a safe distance, but remove shields in case we needed to do an emergency beam out. I logged every moment with my tricorder and downloaded the specifications for the shields and cloaking device.

Data worked on the computer terminal for five minutes, the shield not dropping. However, he keyed a sequence of codes and the room filled with a thick fog. Victoria and I began coughing, our lungs burning. I could barely understand what Data was screaming at me as my vision clouded and I wavered on my feet. Stumbling, my cheek came in contact with the wall before I fell onto the floor. My eyes drifted shut as I felt the tingle of the transporter in my body. 

Star Crossed Teaser

“Let’s go back up to the Volvo and begin replicating the sky lanterns,” I smiled, cupping her chilled face. “I’ll contact the captain of the Intrepid to make arrangements.” Bella sighed, throwing her arms around me. Her mind was thanking me, over and over again as she buried her nose into my neck. I held her flush to my body, pleased that I was able to give her solace during this time of tragedy. Breaking a part, I kissed her lips gently before tapping my communicator. “Cullen to Volvo.”

“Volvo here,” replied Lt. Riley.

“Two to beam up.”

“Energizing, sir,” Lt. Riley chirped and the desolate rubble disappeared. We were back on the Volvo. I told Bella to go to sick bay, getting Rose to help replicate the sky lanterns. She frowned, upset at having to part with me, but I needed to make arrangements with the Intrepid captain for the H’aaruune rite. It would difficult since the man in command was actually a very sophisticated android. He had been under Captain Picard’s command until recently when he, Captain Data, received his own ship. He didn’t have emotions and would probably not understand the need to perform this rite.

There was a great deal of controversy regarding Data’s promotion. A lot of Galaxy Fleet’s admirals didn’t think that Data was ‘alive’ and that he was the property of the Federation. He had, however, been awarded many honors in science, diplomacy and valor. He was a decorated officer and his near ‘death’ experience on the Enterprise, saving the lives of the families and crew on board from an attack from the Remans is what got him the promotion for Captain. We actually were promoted at the same time: the first android captain and the youngest captain in Galaxy Fleet. It was the talk of the Federation for a long time.

Walking onto the bridge, Lt. Riley asked, “Do you want to set course to Forx, sir?”

“Not yet. Please hail Captain Data and send it to my ready room,” I commanded, removing my coat and striding to my office. I barked at the replicator, asking for a large mug of steaming coffee. The air on the planet’s surface was biting. I needed to warm up. Snuggling with my mate was not option, so I settled for the next best thing. Coffee.

Admiral Janeway would be proud.

She was addicted to her coffee and that addiction was passed on to me. “Cheers, Admiral,” I said, sipping my coffee as I settled into my seat. Pressing a few buttons, Captain Data’s face was on the view screen of my computer terminal. “Greetings, Captain.”

“Captain Cullen,” he said, nodding slightly. “Are you ready to go back to Forx? We have a lot of intel to decipher and deliver to the Cygnarian government.”

“Not quite, Data,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “The empress is adamant that we do this H’aaruune funeral rite. We need your help.”

“Mine or my crew?” Data asked.

“Both. The funeral rite revolves around sky lanterns, releasing the soul of the fallen into the stars,” I said. “Empress Nirabelle would like to do this ceremony by sun down. It will take less time if we have you and your crew’s help. We need to release a lantern for each of the dead.”

“I fail to the logic in doing that,” Data responded, his face impassive.

“There is no logic. It’s comfort for the Cygnarians,” I explained.

“Why? They’re dead.”

“What about their families on Forx? They need that comfort, knowing that their loved ones have been given the proper burial,” I said. “It’s a part of their culture, Captain. These people died on a planet, light years away from their home by a vicious, unprovoked attack. Let’s give them their peace.”

“Understood. How many of my crew do you need?” he asked.

“As many as you can spare. Keep a skeleton crew on the ship and transport down at 1700,” I said. “Thank you, Captain. Cullen out.”

Captain Data

Scimitar

Reman

H'aaruune sky lantern ceremony

Wishful Thinking...?

So, I had hoped to have an update for your for Star Crossed on Thursday. I just started working on it and I've barely written two hundred words (not counting the recap from the chapter previous). It is my wish that I have an update for you NEXT Thursday. For now, I leave you with this...

The funeral memorial for the colonists on H'nan. 

Thanks for being patient and adjusting with my new, hectic schedule. Once I get used to the early mornings and going to bed at a normal time (meaning by 10 or 11), I should be back to writing some more. 

PSA

You've all got spoiled. Spoiled! But, in a good way. I'm allotted the luxury of nearly three months of work being a teacher. I get to sleep in, lesson plan, write, research, post when I want...the list goes on. Alas, I'm going back to work on Monday. O.o

I don't wanna go...

This explains why:

Regardless, I have young minds to mold and that begins again on Monday. As a result, updates will be slowing down. Significantly. My GOAL is to do this...

Star Crossed will update EVERY OTHER Thursday. I'm hoping to have an update for you a week from today, but after that, it will be every two weeks.

A Ilha do Amor is getting close to the end and I want it finished by Labor Day.

Caught in the Flames, I'll post daily, if I have something written. I have up through chapter sixty pre-written and I'm working on that tonight and tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll get through sixty-five. 

Picking up the Pieces, I started an update on this, but I need to do some research...hopefully by NEXT weekend I'll have something ready to go. 

Additionally, I've been asked to write something for Christy who recently lost her husband, Dan. There is a fundraiser for to help with the expenses for her husband's illness. I do not know all of the details, but once I do know, I'll pass them along to you. The plan for that story is an outtake for A Nerd Story of Love. It's Edward's 20th High School Reunion...hilarity ensues. 

There are other stories that I've got on the stove and they will be addressed, plus I've been by the plot bunny. (That'll be a separate post). SOooooooooooooooo...I wanted to give you a heads up and lay it out there for me, as well. Thank you for reading and I appreciate all of the support I get from you, my readers! 

Laters! 

~ T

Star Crossed Update ~ Chapter Six

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I spent most of the night watching my mate, my Fíorghrá. She was curled next to me, her limbs twined with mine and still deliciously naked. I’d been with a fair share of women. Some human and some not human. Klaxon traditions in the bedroom were downright brutal. I had so many broken bones with that tryst. But nothing felt like what I had with Nirabelle. My heart felt like it was truly beating and I was wrapped in a blanket of warmth, contentment and absolute pleasure.

The sun began its ascent in the Cygnarian sky. Bella moaned, rolling away from the window. She used my body as a block. I chuckled. Her lithe form was pressed against me and I was definitely experiencing some morning wood. Her sweet little bottom wriggling against my skin awoke my body. I traced my fingers down her still glowing spots. She shuddered.

“That feels good,” she purred, her voice rough sleep but still so beautiful.

“What? This?” I asked, repeating the action from before. She moaned, her body inching back to mine. She was on her side. My chest was pressed to her back. Gliding my fingers along her spots, I watched as she became more and more aroused.

“Your hands on me, it’s like it’s meant to be,” she breathed, turning to look at me. Her blue eyes were sparkling but hooded with desire.

“More, love?” I asked, nuzzling her neck and suckling on her earlobe. She pleaded mentally for more of what I did last night. I smiled against her skin, knowing exactly what she meant. After our third time making love, she explained that Cygnarian men didn’t touch a woman between her legs with anything except their manhood. Kissing her down there brought my mate, my love, untold pleasure and she craved it. Frankly, so did I. I loved tasting a woman from where she was the sweetest. It had only happened with my ex-wife, really. It was too intimate of an act to do with a stranger. I missed doing it and now, adored being able to kiss my mate’s sex with my mouth, knowing I’ll be the only one to do it.

“Edward,” she breathed. Where were you?

“With you, Fíorghrá, only with you,” I said, kissing her mouth. Her fingers tangled in my hair as she hooked her leg over my hip. She rocked against my thigh and her arousal spilling out of her was abundant. I kissed down her sexy, beautiful body, tasting every inch of her skin. She whimpered and almost purred when I traced my tongue along her spots. They gave me almost an electric shock, acting as an aphrodisiac. With each taste, I grew harder.

Gently, I spread Bella’s legs. I kissed her inner thighs, along the spots that were at the seam where her leg met her torso. She looked almost human. The spots obviously indicated that she was not, along with her sweet, succulent flavor. Running my tongue along the length of her sex, I growled lowly at her taste. Bella’s hands thrust to my hair and she spread her legs further. Flicking my tongue along her aroused nub, I slid two fingers inside of her body. Curling them in her, Bella was rocking against me, begging for more with her mind. I eagerly complied, not wanting to deny my perfect mate. Her happiness and safety were paramount.

“Oh, Edward,” she sobbed, her fingers moving from my hair and clutching the navy bedding. Keeping my mouth on her and moving my fingers inside slowly but steadily, she climaxed quietly, arching off the mattress. Like each time she came, her spots were brightly shining, even brighter than the sun that was now fully in the sky. The lights that emanated from my mate, warmed me in a way I never knew. I felt whole, complete and shielded by her love. 

Empress's Bedroom

Empress's Bathroom

Council Chambers

Alphan Weapon ~ Bsh'took

Alphan Weapon ~ Dk'took

Alphan disruptors

Alphan disruptor rifle

H'Nan colony

H'Nan colony bodies

Star Crossed Picture Teaser

Bsh'took

Dk'took

Commander Victoria Braxas

“I did some research on Alphan weapons,” Victoria said. “They use a particularly deadly weapon, a sword called a bsh’took. They also have a dagger called a dk’took." 

Star Crossed Teaser

“Welcome back, Captain,” Lieutenant Morgainne said, waggling his brows. “Congratulations on your nuptials.” He smirked at Bella. She just grinned.

“Emmett, we need to focus, but thank you for your congratulations,” I snickered, sitting down. My father strode into the conference room, making all of us jump to our feet.

“That’s power,” he laughed, sitting next to Bella. “At ease. I’m merely an observer. Pretend I’m not here.”

“It’s a little hard, sir,” Commander Braxas said wryly.

“Try, Commander,” Dad smirked. He nodded to me and I took over.

“We are en route to the H’Nan system. The Intrepid left for there earlier today due to some issues with the Alphans. Our job is to provide back up and to see if a cloaked vessel is in orbit. Commander Braxas, have you had an opportunity to test your gamma radiation theory?”

“Sending omichron particles will negate gamma radiation, but we still don’t know if that’s linked to the cloak,” Commander Braxas said. “Commander Whitlock did send me some more information, but until we can see the vessel or not see it, I guess, we won’t know.”

“Do you think that the vessel doesn’t exist?” Bella asked, looking at Commander Braxas.

“It exists, Empress. There were four ships following you after we pulled you out of the Alphan capital. When we were fired upon, the fourth ship disappeared, went away but where? The only guess is that it was cloaked,” Commander Braxas said. “The technology is out there. The Remans, distant relatives of the Turulians, use it. Perhaps they sold their technology to the Alphans.”

“An interesting theory,” Dad murmured. “Too bad the Remans are not a part of the Federation. We could contact them regarding the cloak.”

“The Turulians must have information,” Lieutenant Morgainne piped up.

“I’ll contact Commander Laurent,” Dad nodded. He got up, padding out of the room. 

Star Crossed Teaser

Bella came back, dropping a handful of towels next to the tub. She had removed all of her jewelry, save for her ring and new pendant. With a sway of her hips, she stepped into the tub and dunked herself in the water. Pushing off the last step, she glided silently through the warm water and popped up right next to me. She blinked a few times and smiled. I arched a brow. I hadn’t noticed it before but she had a third eyelid. “We’re very at home in the water, Edward,” she chuckled, moving to wrap her legs around my waist. “It’s one of evolution’s little flukes.”

“Are you amphibian?” I asked, holding her. She had a belly button and breasts, clearly indicating that she was a mammal. But the third, clear eyelid?”

“No, but we have some amphibian qualities. I do not need to breathe while underwater. The spots act like gills, absorbing the oxygen through my skin. I am and as are all of my people, mammals with amphibian abilities,” she said, her arms wrapped around my neck. “Humans have descended from apes. Cygnarians must have found a way to mate with an amphibian and thus, our species was born. Most of our abilities are ignored, unless they are harnessed. My father was adamant on teaching me to love the water. Charanel is terrified and won’t get in it. He lives for his sonic showers while I find them to be a headache.” Bella made an adorable face. “It’s not good for my ears.”

“I never noticed it,” I said, leaning against the tiled wall.

“You probably wouldn’t. It’s beyond the human hearing range,” Bella explained. “In many ways, we are similar, Edward. We walk on two legs, use two hands, have one heart, one head and bear children in the same way. There are obvious differences as well. Cygnarians are stronger than humans.”

“As displayed a few minutes ago in the bedroom,” I smiled, squeezing Bella’s behind.

“It’s due in part to the slightly heavier gravity on our planet. We also have the spots, which I told you about. They also can display our emotions. Different colors indicate different emotions. Spot color emotional display is prevalent in females while males display their emotions with a glow of their eyes. Men’s spots glow, but only related to their born eye color.”

“Could that be the reason why you turn into a light bulb when we make love?” I teased.

She giggled. “Yes, I do. When a Cygnarian wears white, they are in mourning. When a Cygnarian woman glows white, it means that she is happy, content, loved and safe. Wearing white is a way for the widow or the widower to feel safe and loved even with their mate gone.”

“What does purple mean?” I asked.

“That’s the animal inside. Carnal, feral and out of control,” Bella explained. She bit her lip. “Cygnarian women go through four cycles a year in which she can become pregnant with child. During those cycles, we lose ourselves and experience a sex-induced mania. All we want is to be bonded and to procreate. I think the closest thing I could equate to is a dog in heat. When a male and female have sex during this time, it is truly mating. Rough, animalistic and dirty. They mate as much as they can to create a new life.”

“Did you experience that while we were…” I trailed off.

“No. I haven’t experienced that in nearly a year,” Bella explained. “The doctor’s injected me with a medication to prevent my body in going into that mania. I needed to focus on my people, the death of my father, my brother and trying to save my planet. I couldn’t spend months on end in this El-lak D’nus.”

“What about the men? Do they experience this El-lak D’Nus?” I asked.

“It’s triggered by their mates. When a woman goes into the fever, so does the man. The fever lasts, for a mated couple, for a week. There is a lot of sex, fucking.” Bella blushed, biting her lip. “If no child is conceived, then the cycle repeats in four months’ time.”

“But we will be able to have a child?” I questioned, wanting to see a beautiful baby that looked like my mate.

“Yes, Edward. But not for another year,” she said. “That is when the injection will wear off. Counselor Aro suggested that I take the antidote so we could produce an heir sooner rather than later, but we have much to do. I would love to be the mother of your child. I can’t wait, really. But my duty is to my people. Not my hormones.”

Star Crossed Pic Teaser

Charanel, Prince of Forx, brother of Nirabelle.

Norex, Charel's younger brother, Lord of Forx and Uncle of Nirabelle