Voices by M J Marlow (uplifting novels txt) 📕

touch me!”
“Princess,” one of the women spoke up from the table in
the other compartment. “It is time for your husband and you to
eat.”
I was hungry, so I did not argue. Aden and I went to the
table and sat down while the woman tended to me. I was irritated
at being served as if I were helpless; but they would not stop. I ate
my meal in silence and wondered why they thought they had to
treat me as they were. I had just finished eating when alarms began
going off. I started for the doors and they remained fastened shut.
A few moments later, Kur came inside. He yanked me over to the
couch by the windows and pressed a spot under the cushion. The
top raised and revealed a long hollow spot. There were shackles
inside for two people. I knew what he meant to do and I tried to
back away from him. He slugged me and I was shackled before I
fully recovered.
“We are about to have guests, Prince Aden,” the Ferengi
told the prince as he lowered a mask over my face. “They must not
find you.”
“Rom…Romulans?” I cried out in dismay.
“Someone far worse, Princess,” Kur told me as the mask
went over my face and the gas entered my lungs.
“Quiet now, Melaura,” Aden said as he lay down. He
gripped my hand reassuringly. “When they are gone, Kur will set
us free.”
I was floating quickly and knew my body was paralyzed,
but for some reason I did not understand I was not asleep. I felt
another mind reaching into mine and I could not stop them from
doing so. Grandmother Franka had been able to speak mind to
mind with me and I had shared mind with Maya, my uncle, and
Aden; but this was more intrusive and demanding. I felt anger at
their arrogance and I pulled free. The mind flowed back into mine;
assuring me that all would be well. I did not believe them; nothing
had been right since I had left the farms. All of this nonsense about
being betrothed to Aden had caused nothing but trouble for me. I
wanted to go home where I was safe and loved. Light suddenly
flooded in and I could not even blink as pain followed it.
“Smuggling people now, Daimon Kur?” a man’s voice
snapped above me. I saw him as he leaned down to pull me out and
I had never seen anyone more handsome in my life. He smiled as
he cradled me in his arms. “It’s all right now, Your Highness,” he
said gently. “You are safe.” I looked back to see another man in a
red uniform helping Aden.
“You can’t just walk onto my vessel,” Kur protested from
where he stood under guard, “and steal my property…”
“The prince and his wife are not property, Kur,” my rescuer
snapped at my captor. “Her grandfather is a Federation citizen.
Abducting her is an act that can land you in prison.”
“She is a Hazri now, Star Fleet!” Kur snapped at the man.
“She is married to the lord prince Aden Zed. Your Federation has
no claim on her anymore.”
“Not by my choice,” I protested as I saw the man looking
uncomfortable.
“Don’t worry, Princess,” He said as he held me closer.
“We’ll deal with that little snag later.” He turned to Kur and said
something to him in a language I did not recognize. I saw Kur
deflate and realized it was Ferengi. “This time, I will overlook
your crime and simply return the children to her grandfather.”
“You’re walking out with my profits, Star Fleet scum!” Kur
hissed. He looked at me again. “Don’t think we won’t come after
you again, Princess. You owe us!”
“Don’t listen to him, Your Highness,” the man smiled
down at me. “There is nothing he can do to hurt you now. If his
vessel is seen anywhere near your world, he will end up in a
Federation prison.”
“You’re taking me home?” I smiled up at him happily. My
mind was overwhelmed with all the emotions flooding through me
then. His face swam in front of mine for a moment as I passed out
cold.
I woke up to find myself in another cabin on another vessel.
It was very nicely furnished and quite comfortable. There were no
chains or collars or shackles. And there were no slaves anywhere. I
sighed and slipped back to sleep again, feeling safe for the first
time in weeks. Daimon Kur had called my rescuer Star Fleet scum.
Did that mean I was now on a Federation vessel? I opened my eyes
as an unwelcome thought entered my mind. He could have lied.
For all I knew this man was working with Daimon Kur to keep me
confused and uncertain. I felt a mind touching mine and felt it
reaching out to assure me that I was safe. I got up and found that a
garment had been left lying on the foot of the bed for me. It was a
one-piece long-sleeved dress and a pair of soft boots; along with
the undergarments I needed. I dressed and warmth returned to my
body. There was a chiming sound and I looked up, frowning. It
chimed again and then a woman’s voice sounded over a speaker.
“Your Highness?” the woman queried. “Are you all right?”
There was a brief pause. “I’m Captain Elaine Harrison and you are
aboard the Federation starship, Commitment. May I come in?”
“Of course, Captain,” I said as I stepped into the main
cabin.
I watched a tall, solidly built woman with graying hair
enter my quarters. She smiled at me and indicated that I should sit.
“Please be seated, Your Highness. Our doctor says you need all the
rest you can stand; your adventure has left you seriously
weakened.”
“Please call me Melaura,” I asked the woman. “I am not
comfortable with all of these titles. It is not who I am.”
“I understand that your life has changed quite drastically in
the past month, Melaura,” Elaine nodded her agreement. “Set all of
this aside for now. We have brought you to join your grandfather,
Governor Dav.”
“Governor Dav?” I was puzzled. “He came for us?”
“Of course, Melaura,” Elaine looked at me in confusion.
“Why would you think he would not?”
“I have run across a lot of very dishonest and domineering
people in the past few weeks, Captain,” I told her bluntly. “It has
left me very confused about who I should trust.” I got to my feet
and went to look out the windows. “I have never known any other
life but as a farmer’s ward on Jarusian, Captain. Knowing that a
decision made by our parents makes Aden and I the target of
people who would use us to hurt the Federation is too much. I can’t
deal with it all.”
“That is what your elders should help you with,” a warm
voice sounded after the doors hissed open. I turned to see the
Governor of my home world standing there, looking very ashamed
of himself, and very relieved. “I have been such a fool, Melaura,”
Natan said as he came to put his arms around me. He frowned as I
backed away from him. “I wasn’t protecting you from anything by
leaving you ignorant. If you will allow me,” he continued, “I
would like to try to make up for that foolish oversight.”
“You did what you thought was best,” I smiled and held on
to his hand a moment. “Have we arrived at Jarusian then?” I asked
as I looked out the windows and saw only empty space.
“We are at Station 75; near Vulcan, child,” Natan told me
as he sat down near me. “We will be staying here a few days. I
have a meeting with the Star Fleet Admiral who oversees this
sector of space. His name is Benjamin Wainwright.”
“You met his grandson aboard the Ferengi vessel
yesterday,” Elaine told me. “David Wainwright is a Lieutenant in
my security force. He was sent to deal with the Ferengi because he
was raised among them for several years after a shuttle disaster left
him orphaned.”
“He must be very confused,” I said softly. “I can’t imagine
being able to discern right from wrong after being near those
creatures for any length of time.”
“You are very perceptive, Melaura,” Elaine smiled. “The
Ferengi seem to have only one true motivator: how much they can
earn through their deals. You are lucky someone saw their vessel
near Chandras around the time you disappeared from there, or you
might still be in their larcenous little hands.” She saw me shudder
and turned to my Grandfather. “You might want to make an
appointment for her to speak to the station counselor while you are
here. Such an experience is not easily dealt with.” She got to her
feet. “I have duties to see to,” she smiled at us. “It has been an
honor to meet you, Melaura. I hope your future is less interesting
from this point on.” She looked at the ring and bracelets. “But I
fear not.”
“Thank you for your assistance, Captain,” I smiled back at
her. The doors closed and I leaned against my Grandfather. He put
his arms around me and held me as I fought the chill coursing
through me. “Would they really come after me again,
Grandfather?”
“The Ferengi or the Romulans?”
“Either,” I said as I looked up to see the worry on his face. I
could see my answer there. “This will cause trouble, won’t it?”
Natan nodded and I was worried about all the people I knew and
loved. “I am not going to let them force me into anything that will
hurt the Hazri or anyone else, Grandfather.”
“You’re a very brave child,” Natan smiled as his hand
moved up to cup my cheek. His eyes were warm with pride. “But
you are still only a child, Melaura. Let Aden continue to look out
for you until we know the best thing to do for everyone
concerned.” He saw my confusion. “Melaura,” he said bluntly as
he recognized the expression; “you can not be responsible for
everyone else. You must focus on what is best for you at this
moment.” He made me sit down a moment and took my hands in
his. “Your abduction by the Romulans and the rogue Hazri has sent
shockwaves through the entire Federation.”
“This union,” I frowned as I glared at the offending ring
and bracelets, “is valid?”
“It is Hazri custom,” Natan told me bluntly, not sparing me.
“In their eyes, you are now one of them.”
“But it was not our choice, Grandfather,” I looked up at
him in desperation. “The Romulan forced this on us.”
“And Aden shall argue that,” Natan nodded, “when he
makes your case. By our custom, you are not old enough to make
such a choice without the approval of your guardian. I do not recall
anyone asking me for my word on the matter. I have not spoken to
Emperor Leonid yet.” He reached up to stroke my cheek. “Aden is
not going to let this stand, child. Trust him.” There was a chiming
from the door. “Enter.”
“Governor Dav,” David Wainwright said as he entered the
cabin. It was the man who had rescued Aden and I from the
Ferengi. “Princess. Captain Harrison has asked me to serve as your
escort while you remain on the space station. I am Lieutenant
David Wainwright. My grandfather, Admiral Wainwright, has
made arrangements for you both to stay here with us until we are
ready to leave for the Tribunal.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Natan nodded .He helped me to
my feet and we followed the young man out. “I think the first order
of business for you, child, is rest.” He saw