Star Crossed Update

Star Crossed Chapter Nineteen Update on FicPad

Star Crossed Chapter Nineteen Update on TWCS

Star Crossed Chapter Nineteen Update on AO3

Star Crossed Chapter Nineteen Update on FFn

“I thought you broke up with him?” I asked, arching a brow at my sister. “You said you were. He’s a lazy douchebag.”

“I said I wanted to take a break, but we’re still kind of together,” Elizabeth argued half-heartedly, looking longingly at the door. “But, I don’t really care about him anymore. What I felt for him is nothing compared to what I feel for Charanel. Where’s Charanel? I’d really like to go to him.” She got up and started walking to the door. I guided her back to the sofa. Bella sat next to her, looping her arm through my sister’s, keeping her in the office.

“He’s getting the same conversation as you are, Elizabeth,” Bella chimed in, rubbing her shoulders. 

“Describe how you’re feeling. Don’t skip anything.”

“I can still hear Charanel’s thoughts. He’s thinking about me,” she blushed. “He thinks I’m beautiful and he’s curious to know if my hair is as soft as it looks.” She bit her lip, furrowing her brow. “I can tell what he’s feeling.” Her blush deepened. “He’s really turned on. He really wants to kiss me and taste my skin …”

“Okay, enough,” I said, cringing slightly. “I don’t need to know that.”

“Was it intense? All-consuming? Like, complete desperation to get next to him?” Bella questioned. 

“Or was it more of a warm glow that surrounded you in this perfect bubble of love?”

“Warm glow,” Elizabeth nodded, her pale skin turning a bright pink. “He’s my mate? Are we mates like you?”

They’re not like us, Edward. You had to admit, our reaction, even if it was through a view screen, was pretty intense, Bella said mentally. I nodded in agreement. “You are definitely mates, Elizabeth, but not te’atée mates. Now that you’ve seen him and connected with him, you will have to mate with him in a year or you will both die, unfortunately,” Bella murmured, her nose wrinkled. “We never separated Charanel from the females since he had that delay. Something in his mind never clicked. He just saw all as playmates, not as a romantic mate.”

“And now, since that delay has been repaired, the chemical reaction, recognizing his mate, recognizes me?” Elizabeth asked. “But, I met him. Before, at your mating ceremony. Wouldn’t I have had some sort of reaction then?”

“Did you think he was attractive?” I questioned.

“I thought he was handsome, but I knew he was delayed. Some of the nobles sitting at our table called him yanhesh, and saying some other nasty things about Charanel. I got irrationally upset when they did. I never said anything, but I had to walk away for a moment,” Elizabeth murmured. “I was going to crack some heads if they continued bad mouthing him.”

“I think,” Bella said. “I think that you were so irrationally upset about that commentary because you felt the beginning of the mating bond. It couldn’t fully form until Charanel had the damage to his brain repaired. Now that he’s ‘normal,’ you both are experiencing the full extent of imprinting. You are not like Edward and me, though.”

Elizabeth Cullen

Harry

Charanel

Cygnarus boiler room

Bridge

Shuttle Bay

Corridors

Battle Bridge

Imperial Battle Cruisers

bsh'took

dk'took

Teaser

“Are you okay?”

“I’ll live,” I said, sitting behind my desk. “What happened up here?”

“As soon as you transported down, there was a power drain on both vessels. It affected us more than the Enterprise. I think it was due to our proximity to the Reman war vessel,” Dad said. “It used a different power source. Not antimatter. From the preliminary scans, we think that they used thalaron radiation to power their jump drives. According to the Federation, it’s highly experimental and extremely deadly.”

“How did the Remans harness this radiation? Is it anything like omega radiation? Removing the ability to create a stable jump field?” I asked.

“No, it doesn’t affect the fabric of space. It’s deadly to any organic tissues,” Dad explained, handing me a tablet. “We need to proceed with caution, Edward. I know that you want nothing more than to get Nirabelle back into your arms, but this thalaron radiation could wipe out the entire Cygnarian species, along with every other species in the Federation.”

“And let me guess, this thalaron radiation can only be created by mining on Lapus?” I asked. “It is found on Lapus.”

“I think that’s what killed their planet, Edward,” Dad muttered. “It’s also found on Remus and on Cygnaria Prime.”

“But not Forx,” I said, looking down at the tablet. “This radiation and the ore used to create it is not on Forx.”

“No. But, it’s abundant on Cygnaria Prime. That’s why the Alphans picked up their attacks on Forx. The Remans need more of this thalaron ore to create the radiation for their jump cores. The Turulians use quantum singularities to create their jump drives. The Remans couldn’t figure out how to do it, despite their close relationship to the Turulians. Instead, they found a deadlier version of their jump drives with this thalaron ore.”

“Remus has run out and they’ve bled Lapus dry,” I said, “effectively killing the planet. What about Remus?”

“Remus is already a dead planet, but they are supported by their dangerous and vicious war fleet. They keep to themselves, for the most part, only venturing out of the Neutral Zone when they need supplies,” Dad said. “It appears that they allied themselves with the Alphans to strengthen their fleet.”

“Do the Remans know that the Alphans are dying?” I asked.

“Yes and they are using it to their advantage. Rose sent down a nurse to the brig to collect samples from our prisoners. The Remans are drugging the Alphans, masking their radiation poisoning and making it appear that they are perfectly healthy. The Alphans are sicker than they realize. Two of the warriors are in end-stage renal cancer. The third has an enlarged heart and the last one, the one who attacked you, has a tumor in his belly that is the size of a small melon,” Dad frowned. “They will die within a few weeks, Edward.”

“And the Remans?”

“They are immune to the effects of the radiation, both from the mining of the thalaron ore and the thalaron radiation itself. Part of it has to do with their world. Its atmosphere is thinner and more solar radiation seeps through. Their genes have adapted to the increased radiation exposure and effectively made them immune.”

“So, the Remans and the Alphans want to conquer the Cygnarians all for a deadly, radioactive ore to power their ships?” I spat. “Over my rotting corpse. I know that we are supposed to find a diplomatic solution to all of this, but this is beyond diplomacy.”

“I agree. This thalaron radiation scares the shit out of me, Edward,” Dad growled. “I have an encoded message to President M’Tak. We need the Federation Council’s approval to go to war.”

“I do not want to resort to that. If it’s possible, I want to try to stop all of this before it turns into something bloody and ugly. With the addition of the Remans and this thalaron radiation, it’s creating something more.” I pinched my nose, feeling a headache bubble underneath my skin. “I want a briefing with both the Enterprise crew and mine. Ask Captain Picard to give me all of his findings on the Scimitar, that Reman war bird that attacked his vessel. We stay in orbit of M’ay’aki for less than twelve hours and then we are setting course for Lapus.”

“Why do you think the Reman ship went there?”

“Because they took Bella. Jakob wants her so badly. He would only want her on his own terms and that means on his own planet,” I said. “For now, assemble a science team to have them figure out a way to disable the Reman cloak and how to neutralize the thalaron radiation. I want to meet with everyone in the conference room in one hour.”

“Are you commanding me as emperor?” Dad smirked. “Because, I’m certain I outrank you, son.”

“Dad, don’t fuck with me,” I snarled, glaring at him. “Those … extapi … they took my te’atée. I need her back. I can’t do this without her. If I have to command you as the god damned emperor or the Queen of fucking Sheba, I will.” My dad stood up and he walked to me. He took my face in his hands before enfolding me into a tight embrace. The dam broke and I sobbed into his shoulder, my heart deadening with each light year my te’atée moved away from me. 

Reman War Vessel

Star Crossed Update

Star Crossed on FicPad

Star Crossed on TWCS

Star Crossed on AO3

Star Crossed on FFn

“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 Update ~ Chapter Six

Star Crossed on FicPad

Star Crossed on TWCS

Star Crossed on FFn

Star Crossed on AO3

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."