A SPARTAN'S WAR

RAPTOR FOUR

"Can you get above it?" Kenny asked.

"I can try." Billy answered. "But we'll never be able to fly in it, and we'll burn through our fuel three times as fast staying in the rough air."

Kenny was looking out the cockpit window at the angry dark clouds forming ahead of them. "Damn thing moved in quick." Kenny spoke.

Tareif nodded from behind him. "Acid storms can appear almost instantly."

"Is there any place we can set down to wait this thing out?" Kenny asked.

Tareif shook his head. "We are out of High Elf territory. What is below us is free space. We know where the human settlements are, but nothing beyond that."

"Shit!" Billy snapped.

"What about those Alliance ships Billy?" Kenny asked.

"They hauled ass about twenty minutes ago; as soon as this thing showed up." Billy answered.

Tareif nodded. "Their flying craft are slow and heavily armed as I said, but they could never stay as long as we have."

Kenny looked at Tareif. "Can your people monitor this storm from your city?" He asked.

Tareif nodded. "I will have our weather watchers inform us the moment it begins to break." He replied. "It is safest if we return to Mountain City. We can talk with the survivors from the Wood Elf unit and find out what they were doing in our territory."

Kenny nodded and looked at Billy. He twirled his hand in the air quickly. "Take us back Billy. Refuel and stand by."

The pilot nodded and they felt the Raptor begin to turn.

The acid storm hit within minutes of them reaching the cave, and as they moved deeper into the main tunnel they discovered it was significantly larger than Radama and Cody had first thought. They moved down the main tunnel until they reached the first expansive area, roughly two hundred meters from the entrance, and it was here that they set up their camp. Small but powerful lights were set up in a small perimeter. The immediate area was checked and cleared, and then a two person outpost was set up a hundred meters from the entrance to provide security. There did not appear to be any other exits to the cave, and everyone began to relax after almost two full days of constant stress.

Radama stood next to Martin and the Master Chief near the entrance as they watched the rain fall.

"How long do you think this will last Radama?" Martin asked.

"It appears to be a very large one." He answered. "I would think at least ten to twelve hours based on my experience with these storms."

"And those Acid Nomads you and Cody saw?" The Master Chief asked.

"While they are the only ones able to move within these storms, they don't like too." Radama replied. "Anything living has already gone to ground, and unless they are moving their encampment, I don't they will even come out in a storm this large."

"So we should be pretty safe?"

Radama nodded. "I would think so."

"Let's keep the security post out anyway Chief, just to be safe." Martin said. "Two hour shifts to keep everyone sharp."

Tony nodded. "You got it Skipper." He answered.

"This cave is considerably larger than Cody and I first thought. It might be advisable to see just how large it is." Radama said.

Martin nodded. "Anyone who goes outside our perimeter goes in pairs. If they want to explore make sure they are armed and have fresh batteries for their lights. I don't want any surprises."

The Master Chief nodded and headed back for the perimeter. Radama looked at Martin for a long moment as he gazed into the storm.

"If you have something to ask Radama, just ask it." Martin finally said to him.

"Forgive me for staring." Radama replied looking away. "It's just that… we… elves I mean… we do not get the type of immediate acceptance for what we are by humans as quickly as you and those who follow you have accepted us."

Martin looked at him. "We are not entirely human Radama." He told him.

Radama nodded slowly. "Perhaps, but it is something else as well. You and the others… you have gone through the same thing haven't you?"

Martin nodded. "We were not accepted when we were created either. We had to fight for every piece of respect that we gained, every ounce of trust. We know what it's like to be persecuted I suppose, but not in the way the elves have had to experience."

Radama nodded. "No, but it is very similar." He said. "I have been a member of the Queen's Royal Guard since I was forty-nine Martin Hunter. I am a hundred and forty now. It has been an honor to serve Tarifa, ever since she became Queen. We all knew she was different, and she has proved it time and time again. If not for the Council of Elders, I believe things would be very different. I have… I have also never seen her as alive and in control as when she is with you."

Martin smiled. "Well… she's an incredible woman." He replied. "I just don't know if it's due to what Walter did, or to our own feelings."

"What I see… what all of the Royal Guard see… it may have been due to the Holy One's actions in the beginning." Radama told him. "Now that the two of you are working together, no… that is not something the Holy One had any part in."

Martin looked at him and chuckled softly. "No… I suppose not." He said. "I suppose not."

Dysea sat alone, mindlessly chewing on the piece of ration bar. Her emerald eyes were gazing on Martin's back as he stood talking with the High Elf Royal Guard, and she didn't notice Tarifa standing in front of her until she cleared her throat.

Tarifa held out the small data pad in her hand. "I thought you might like to review this." She said.

Dysea took the pad, her eyes never leaving Tarifa's beautiful face. "What is it?" She asked.

"It is all the information we were able to gather in regards to the attacks on our villages." Tarifa told her. "I thought you might want to compare it to whatever you discovered."

"Thank… thank you." Dysea told her.

Tarifa nodded with a smile, her sapphire eyes bright and alert. She began to turn and go back to where she had been sitting, and Dysea suddenly found herself not wanting her to leave.

"Wait." Dysea spoke softly.

Tarifa turned her head and met her gaze. Dysea's emerald green eyes held her, as only Martin's eyes had done. Tarifa felt her heart pounding in her chest as she gazed at the stunning Queen of the Wood Elves. She noticed how her platinum blond hair was tied almost identical to hers, in a long pony tail, decorated with an elaborate silken tie. She noticed how Dysea's hair was draped over one shoulder and curled under her neck. Tarifa noticed the contours of her lips, and how her thin eyebrows highlighted her green eyes. She noticed the slope of her heart shaped face and how her neck curved down to her very full, firm tits that were straining against her uniform. Tarifa found herself imagining what her skin tasted like, what her lips tasted like, and what it would feel like to nestled between this beautiful woman's thighs and feast on her sweet pussy.

"Thank… thank you for saving my life." Dysea spoke.

Tarifa turned back fully to face her. "You have my sincere apologies that we could not save the lives of your Guard. I know what it is like to lose men and women that are close to you."

Dysea looked at the ground. "Leland… he was my Guards Captain." She said softly. "He was my most trusted friend and advisor, ever since I was a young child."

"Was… was he your lover?" Tarifa asked.

Dysea shook her head. "No, though there are times when I thought he wished that was also the case." She said. "I… I never felt for him that way. And I believe he was content enough just being around me."

Tarifa settled slowly to her knees in front of Dysea, watching her carefully. "Are you sure that he was dead?"

Dysea nodded. "I watched the Assassin shoot him five times." She replied. "Without medical attention immediately, there is no way he could have survived."

"You must never give up hope Dysea." Tarifa told her. "There is always a chance."

Dysea looked at her and Tarifa saw small tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "I do hope." Dysea spoke firmly. "I hope that I am able to return to my home and take vengeance on the murdering scum who did this, and the Elders who took part in it!"

Tarifa's eyes grew a little wider, "The Elders?" She spoke.

Dysea nodded, wiping away the tears from her eyes. "There is no way the Alliance could have deceived me for this long without one or more of the Elders knowing about it. I believe they have been plotting with them all along, but for what reason, I do not know."

Dysea found herself staring at Tarifa now. The sapphire eyes and the soft curve of her cheeks, the way her moist lips reflected the dim light of the lanterns. Dysea also noticed that her shimmering black hair was worn identical to hers, curling under the exact same shoulder as her own, to curl under her neck. Dysea dropped her eyes lower from her shoulders and found herself gazing longingly at Tarifa's deep cleavage, and how her ample breasts pushed against her own uniform. As she brought her eyes back up, she noticed that Tarifa was staring at her with an odd look on her face, a look that Dysea suddenly understood.

"You… you are experiencing the same thing." Dysea spoke, her words not meant as a question.

Tarifa nodded her head slowly. "My… my investigation leads me to that very same conclusion."

"The Holy One… he told me not to trust the Elders completely." Dysea spoke.

"He told me the same thing." Tarifa echoed.

Dysea turned and dug into the small pack she had brought with her from the sight of the encampment. She pulled out the small data pad and held it out to Tarifa. "Perhaps Queen of the High Elves… perhaps we have more in common than I first wanted to believe."

Tarifa took the pad from her and watched as Dysea made room for her on the ground beside her. Tarifa did not hesitate, and immediately moved next to her and they began to read the data pads they had exchanged.

EDEN

"More elves you say Admiral?" Senator Graham asked from behind the desk.

William nodded his head confidently. "Yes Senator. More." He leaned forward in the chair and fought down the bile he felt rising into his throat every time he had to sit in the same room with the man.

Richard Graham had become a very twisted man in only a few short weeks, or perhaps he had always been this twisted and had hidden it well Wallace thought to himself. In the very next room, tied face down to the large bed he had moved into the room was a browned hair female elf who was currently being raped by two of Graham's men. The young female elf would have cried out in agony from the cock being rammed into her tight ass if not for the cock that was causing her to gag and choke as it was pounded deeply into her throat.

"We can use more for labor Senator." Wallace explained. "The majority of the Elves that Minister Deval kindly gave to us are being used as prostitutes. While I do not disagree with that in the least, the females are more often than not fucked silly, to be blunt. They have to service thirty to forty men a day, every day, which leaves them little time to accomplish any work. Not counting the two you very graciously gave to Colonel Wilson and I, there are only eighteen on EDEN. We need more."

Richard thought about that for a moment. "Your proposal does make sense." He said. "However I do not want to become too cozy with these Alliance idiots."

Wallace smiled. "I was hoping you were thinking like that sir." He said. "I've been reviewing the information that they provided to us, and we do have one commodity that they would very well like to have."

"What is that?"

"The technical schematics to our Raptor's," Wallace answered.

Graham's eyes narrowed slightly. "You are suggesting that we give them the blueprints to one of the things that give us the advantage? I'm surprised Admiral… as a military officer you are making suggestions that make me want to question your motives."

"My motives are right where you have shown me they ought to be." Wallace replied. "All I'm talking about are the bare bones blue prints Senator, none of the advanced hardware that we have added to them. Not even the avionics package. I'm talking about the blueprints to the aircraft frame and the engines. That is all."

Graham sat forward in his chair now his interest peaked by this. "I'm beginning to see where you are going with this Admiral Wallace."

"We have the brains Senator. All we need now is brawn. With say two or three hundred more elves, we can easily keep the men happy, and still have the brawn needed to bring our other abilities online." Wallace spoke. "It would take time… but in six months, we could be making our own ships and more advanced weapons. As time passes, we can review other requests that they make. With Hunter and his scum gone, we will need to outfit our own army. Who is to say we can't turn the elves he gives us into that army?"

"I do see where you are leading with this." Graham spoke.

William nodded. "Our people can break down this drug that the Alliance uses on the elves in a few days. We can then make our own drug. The more they ask from us, the more slaves we ask for in return. And then we use our drugs and turn them into our soldiers. In a year, we could take over control of two of their main distribution points for slaves, and then we wouldn't need the Alliance."

"And where does that leave us?" Graham asked.

"Well sir… since I have no aspirations in the least for any type of political office; that would leave you as the new President of the Alliance, and me in charge of its military." Wallace explained. "I do believe that is something that might be of interest to you correct?"

Graham smiled. "Indeed it is." He said. "You could have done this on your own Admiral… why would you bring me into it?"

"I'd rather have you as an ally sir." William replied. "It would be much easier if we worked together on this, then neither of us have to be concerned with looking over our shoulders."

"That is very true." Graham said. "I must admit Admiral Wallace, I am a little surprised at how easily you seem to have accepted my new position here on EDEN."

Wallace nodded. "Having Hunter stab me in the back made me realize that perhaps everything you have been saying about them is true. And besides… my elf bitch has the tightest pussy I have ever fucked… and I'd rather fuck than die any day."

Graham burst out laughing at that statement and nodded his head. "These elf women are perpetual virgins aren't they? No matter how many times you bang their holes, they always manage to stay extremely tight." Graham stood and went to the bar that he had put into the office. "I agree William. Let's extend the hand of friendship a little more and see if we can get something out of it. Draw up the proper paperwork and I'll sign it."

Wallace got to his feet and nodded. "I'll have it to you in the morning sir."

"Excellent." Graham watched him leave his office and turned to his most senior aide, who stepped from the adjoining room. "Do you believe him?"

The aide nodded. "If the sounds coming from his quarters every night are any indication, he is becoming more like you every day Senator."

Graham chuckled. "It's amazing what a little pussy and power will do to a man."

"Yes sir."

"We do need more females for the whore house too. I'm becoming bored with the selection that we have." Graham spoke, untying the robe he wore and heading for the next room. "Let him know to have a much larger selection of elves chosen, preferably ones that he picks out."

The aide nodded. "Yes sir."

"Make sure I am not disturbed for at least four hours." Graham said before closing the door.

The aide nodded slowly, his stomach threatening to empty right there on the floor at what he knew would be four hours of hell for the brown haired female elf in the next room.

Wallace watched the door close to his quarters nearly six hours later and breathed a sigh of relief. He dropped the few data pads he carried onto the table and turned, looking for Anisa.

"Anisa…?" He spoke, unbuttoning his jacket and tossing it over a chair.

Wallace walked into the main living area of his quarters and froze, his hand instinctively drawing the K12 he carried in the belt holster. He took two large steps and jammed the barrel of the K12 into the forehead of Senator Graham's aide's head.

"One twitch you sick motherfucker and I'll ventilate your brain cavity where you stand!" Wallace hissed at him.

"Admiral please…wait, I…!" The young man spoke, his hands in the air, and his eyes wide in fear. "This is not what you think!"

"What is it then? Is Senator Graham checking up on me?" Wallace growled reaching forward and pulling open the young man's coat, then ripping open his shirt looking for a hidden microphone or anything that he could be using to record their conversation.

"The Senator does not know I am here." The aide spoke quickly. "I give you my word!"

"Why should I believe you?" Wallace hissed.

"He's telling the truth William." Anisa's voice spoke from the side. She moved quickly, putting herself between Wallace and the aide, one hand going to Wallace's chest, the other she placed gently on the hand holding the K12. "He has put himself in great danger by coming here William."

"He's the Senator's aide!" Wallace barked. "He's in no danger."

"He is now." Anisa told him quietly. "Look in the bedroom."

William looked at her. "What?"

"The bedroom William; look in the bedroom William and you will understand." Anisa told him.

"Anisa you can't…"

"Do you trust me William Wallace?" She asked him.

"Of course I do."

"Then for me, look in the bedroom." Anisa said.

Wallace glared at the aide and while he dropped the K12 ever so slightly, he kept it leveled on the young man's head, as he moved to the doorway of his bedroom. Wallace glanced into the bedroom to see the small form lying in his bed and curled up into a fetal position under the white sheets.

"That's… that's…" Wallace lowered the K12.

Anisa nodded. "Her name is Neara." She said.

Wallace looked at her. "She's the young woman that was in Graham's office earlier today." He spoke.

"Thomas brought her here an hour ago." Anisa spoke. "He carried her here through the vent shafts William."

Wallace turned to the young man, "The vent shafts?" He asked. "What the hell for?"

"I don't want her to go through anymore of what she went through today." The young man answered. "After… after you left, the Senator… that bastard beat her within an inch of her life as he and his cronies raped her. She begged him… she begged him to stop over and over. And he wouldn't… until she passed out."

"And why exactly would you care what happens to her? She is an elf." Wallace asked with considerable heat in his voice.

"He's in love with her William." Anisa said.

Wallace looked at her. "What?"

Anisa nodded and looked at Thomas. "He's been with her. And he's fallen in love with her. Isn't that true Thomas?"

Thomas nodded his head slowly. "I… I knew after the… after the fourth time I saw her." He answered.

"You expect me to believe that you rape her four times and suddenly you are in love with her?" Wallace almost yelled.

"I… I didn't rape her!" Thomas spoke looking at him, his eyes flaring wide. "I did not rape her! I asked her!"

Wallace chuckled out loud. "You asked her if you could rape her. Jeez that's princely of you."

"That's not the way it was!" Thomas yelled. "We… we talked most of the time! She asked me… she asked me if I wanted her and I said yes! But I told her not unless she wanted me too!"

"You expect me to believe that shit!" Wallace snapped, bringing the K12 up again and jacking back the hammer.

"It's the truth." The soft voice said.

They all turned to see the young female elf standing in the doorway holding the sheet around her battered body. There were several bruises on her face and her bottom lip was cut, but due to her elf healing powers, the wounds were fading fast.

"Neara, you need to be in bed resting." Anisa spoke.

Neara watched Wallace as she moved slowly to stand very close to Thomas, holding the sheet around her with one hand while sliding her other arm around his waist. "He… he is telling the truth Admiral Wallace." She said. "I will not allow you to take from me the only moments of peace I have had since coming to this place."

Wallace lowered the K12 quickly. "He… he raped you." William said softly.

Neara shook her head. "No. If… if anything I assaulted him."

William shook his head. "Ok… now I'm confused." He said.

Anisa took his arm. "You should not be." She said. "You are in love with me are you not?" William looked at her, his eyes wide. Anisa smiled softly. "You do not think I see the way you look at me? You think I don't sense you watching over me when I sleep William? We may be slaves William, but we have had enough experience with men to know the difference when a man… a human man… looks at you with love or with lust."

Wallace gazed at Anisa's beautiful face unable to say anything. He had fought his feelings desperately over the last few days, unwilling to say anything to her for fear she would think he was crazy. "You… you can tell that?" He asked softly.

Anisa nodded her head and stepped even closer to him. "Yes I can tell those things. Did you think I have worn practically nothing at all the last three days because it was hot in your quarters?" Anisa asked with a smile. "You are so engrossed in proving to me that you are different, that you failed to notice I figured that out the first hour after I woke."

Neara groaned and clutched her stomach, doubling over in pain. Thomas caught her quickly and lifted her into his arms, "Neara?" He exclaimed.

Anisa knew immediately what it was and she went to her. "The drug is gone from her implant and she is going into withdrawal. William… the solution you gave to me, do you have more?"

Wallace nodded. "I'll get it." He spoke heading for the kitchen.

Anisa looked at Thomas. "Take her into the bedroom Thomas. We have to purge her system of the controlling drug and she will need the heat from your body."

"What?" He said as Wallace came back into the living area.

Anisa looked at him as he handed her the small container and the injector. "Another item you don't think I remember." She said. "This solution causes the elf body temperature to drop dangerously low. You kept me warm with your own body heat the entire time didn't you?"

William nodded slowly. "Yes."

Anisa smiled. "Go Thomas. Put her in the bed, and then get undressed and under the covers with her."

Thomas looked cautiously at Wallace and saw him nod slowly. He headed for the bedroom as Anisa turned to Wallace.

"You and I have a lot to discuss William." She said before leaning forward on her tip toes and kissing him directly on the mouth with incredible feeling.

Wallace watched her turn and follow Thomas and Neara into the bedroom.