Her head felt heavy, like it was made of lead. When she tried to sit up, behind her eyes a sharp stabbing pain agonizingly pulsed through, making her flinch as she sat up. Then she realized she was in an unfamiliar room, which looked like a small, temporary holding cell. There was a small desk with a metal chair, fastened to the sleek, polished floor, with one door and the cot she was sitting on now. Beyond the door, she heard someone talking.

The door opened and a woman walked in. She was tall and slender; her long silver hair was brushed to one side of her narrow, aging face. She looked like someone important; just from the way she carried herself with such grace. She stopped at the small desk, leaning against it and folding her long arms in front. Under her intense stare Fehera felt suddenly uncomfortable. Shifting on her bed she looked toward the floor, staring at her red polished high heels.

“My sweet child, you are younger than I imagined.” She said while she looked her up and down like she was a fine trophy. “And beautiful as well.” With a cold, sly smile she added. “No wonder my son was acting strange when he brought you with him.”

“You are his mother?” Fehera asked, trying to ignore that comment about him.

“Oh no, my dear.” She said tersely. “His mother died a long time ago.” Then she proudly said. “I’m his stepmother. My name is Tuga Gilvad.”

“I guess you know who I am.” Fehera said with a cold expression.

“Indeed.” She replied. “I know of your small planet and what lies beneath it. It would be very wise of you to tell us where you are hiding those precious crystals of yours. It could save us tremendous time and also save you and your people. You love your people, right?”

The woman was looking at her with a curious face arching up one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows. Now she tried to blackmail her with the people she loved and cared about, it was just cruel and cold, Fehera thought with distaste.

Looking at her slender figure, Fehera realized she could overpower this older woman and take her hostage, then maybe get out of here. She didn't look like a fighter, more like an upscale person who likes her cocktail parties. She was brave to come here alone. Now all she had to do was grab her and go from there.

When the woman realized what she was about to do, lifting her right hand where she held a very small metal device, she quickly said.

“I thought you were smarter than that my dear.” Her cold smile didn't reach her dark eyes. “I could show you a quick but efficient demonstration, if you ever try to do something careless.”

As soon as her finger pressed down on the small device, instantly Fehera felt a sharp stabbing pain in the back of her neck. From the intense pain, white spots started to float in front of her eyes. Instantly, she grabbed behind her neck and felt something small and hard protruding out of her flesh. It felt like a small smooth metal piece, and it was embedded into her body, she realized with horror. With an agonized and angry face she stared at the woman in front of her. Now she really wanted to hurt her, but she knew it would not go well, given the situation she was in; and then, she remembered something. On the transport, just after she tried to stab him. He did this to her! How could he do that? She was asking herself angrily.

“Shall we begin?” The woman’s face looked impatient now. “I don't have all day my dear.” With a demanding voice she added. “Tell me where are the crystals? Do you ever want to see your planet again? The sooner we’re done the better it would be for both of us.”

Fehera didn't want to tell this vile woman anything. She could press that damn button as much as she liked, she would not give her the information she was looking for. Silence enveloped the small room, and then the woman spoke up again with apprehension in her voice.

“You see my child, I am not fond of hurting or torturing others, especially someone like yourself, but you give me no choice.” Her face became stern and something in her eyes gave Fehera shivers all the way up in her spine. She was waiting for the pain to come again, but she didn't press down on the device, instead she said.

“When you meet my husband, you’ll understand, it's always better to give in, than resist.” Pushing herself off the desk, she took one more measuring look at Fehera, and then walked out, closing the door behind.

Fehera felt frustrated, angry, and scared. This woman was talking about her husband, the most powerful man in the galaxy. That is how he put it to her on the transport. What would he do to her? Blackmail her? Torture her? Kill her? Her frantic thoughts were in turmoil. She had to calm herself down; otherwise she will go into panic mode. She wished she was back in her room right now, curled up in her comfortable bed and reading her favorite books. This room was cold and alien to her and she hated to be there.

Reaching behind her neck, she touched the small device. With her fingernails she tried to pry it off, but that damn thing was embedded deeply enough that she couldn't take it out. Oh how she would love to hurt him right now! That bastard! She thought furiously. Lying down, she curled up into a small ball, hoping she could get some rest and clear her head, and maybe find a way to get out of here in one piece.

When she woke up a few hours later, she felt someone standing behind her. Quickly turning around, she saw him looking down on her. With his hair down, brushing his wide, strong shoulders, he looked casual wearing a black long sleeved fitted T-shirt, with dark gray military pants, with a belt that matched his combat boots. With an accusing tone, she said.

“What do you want?”

Looking at her, he replied.

“I want you.” Then he added. “To come with me.”

Sitting up she asked. “Why would I want to go with you? You hurt me enough already, especially putting that torture device in my neck.” Then she added. “No thank you, I do not want to go with you.”

His face suddenly became worried and he looked troubled for a second.

“Torturing, what are you talking about?”

“Your stepmother paid me a visit earlier today.” Just to think about her made Fehera very angry. In a split second, his face became furious. His hands curled into fists, then he asked with an intense voice.

“What did she do to you?”

“She demonstrated the power of this little device.” She said pointing to her neck. “The one you put in there.” Her face looked hurt and angry, he noticed.

Reaching inside one of his pockets he pulled out a small metal rod-like tool, and then he asked. “Can I trust you?”

Sizing her up, he said. “Is there another knife or anything sharp on you somewhere that can hurt me”?

His face looked serious but underneath that, she sensed a hidden smile. Standing up, she opened her arms wide, and asked.

“Do you want to find out?”

Her face looked somewhat flirty but cold, while those dark brown eyes were intensely penetrating into his. There was something so strange about this, he thought with amazement. For some reason he wanted to touch her. She looked very nice with her tight black uniform that she had worn underneath her armor.

Before he put her in here, he made sure her armor was kept somewhere else, just in case she was hiding something else in there, and now standing only an arm length away from him, he felt like she was playing him. She won't play me this time, he thought.

“Turn around.” He ordered her.

Reluctantly, she lowered her arms to her side, and then she slowly turned around. Standing behind her, he lightly brushed her hair aside and touched her neck. On contact, she felt something strange. Small pleasant vibrations were traveling all the way down to her lower back. This sensation was surprisingly comforting, she thought with surprise.

Looking down on her, she looked much smaller without her suit and boots, he thought. As he was about to remove the small metal device, his fingers brushed against her flesh and felt something unusual. It was a slight but comforting vibration. First, he couldn't comprehend what had just happened. He had this type of device in others before and when it was time to remove it, he never felt anything like this; it confused him a little. Quickly, he touched the tool to the embedded metal and, within seconds, it was out.

“Are we done?" She asked.

“Yes, for now.” He said. “Follow me."

As she turned around, she asked. “Are we going to see your father?” She was hoping that was not the case; she wasn't ready to meet him yet.

He looked at her with amazement and then he said.

“My father? No. Believe me you don't want to meet him yet.” With a troubled expression, he added. “That would be the last resort for you.” Turning toward the door, he said. “I’m taking you to a different room for now, and then we can talk.”

Hearing that, she was glad to leave this small, cold cell behind. As they exited the room, the guard who stood in the doorway respectfully acknowledged them. They walked into a wide and brightly lit, clean smooth floored corridor, where everything looked elegant and modern. The walls were dark metallic and every few yards, there was a similar door, like the one she had in her room, but no guards. Quickly passing them, he continued walking down the corridor, while she had to keep up with his long strides. Strangely, she thought there was almost no one on this side of the ship. The few people who passed by acknowledged them, nodding respectfully in his direction. Making a left turn, the corridor turned into a larger opening; on the far side she saw a double light gray door.

Pressing a code into the keypad, with a small beep, one side of the door opened. Inside was a nice looking room. The first thing that surprised her was the huge window with the view of her beautiful planet. Then she noticed a large, modern bed in the middle of the room. The sheets looked bright white contrasted with the gunmetal colored bed frame. There was a large screen monitor on top of a sleek, black, double-dresser on the far side of the room in an alcove next to the closet door and also a smaller door, which led to a very compact but nice washroom. She was awestruck.

“Is this your room?” She asked with amazement.

For a second he looked surprised. Then, his face lit up, and with a mischievous grin, he asked.

“Do you want to stay in my room instead?”

“Oh, I, uhm just thought…that this room...never mind.” She said quickly, feeling awkward at the moment. “But why?” She asked, while motioning around the room with her hand. “Why are you doing this?”

“You have to understand something Fehera Dalamir.” Saying her name with a strong pronunciation. “We are not barbarians. Yes we do conquer others, but we also treat especially their leaders, with respect. Our tolerance for others is given to get the same respect in return. I brought you here because you are the leader of your people, therefore we respect that.” Then, he added. “Please, promise me you will not take liberties with me.”

Her eyes grew wide on his comments about respect.

“Respect?” She said accusingly. “How could you say that now, when the other day you marched in with your soldiers, not even introducing yourself and were giving me ultimatums? Is that what you call respect?” Her accusing tone did not faze him at all. On the contrary, he found her amusing. He thought she looked pretty when she was upset.

“I’m making up for that now.” He swiftly replied. “Make yourself comfortable.” Then, taking one more glance at her, he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Walking out, he locked the door behind him. He was glad to leave the room. These unusual and strange feelings he felt when she was around bothered him, and he didn't understand why this was happening. Earlier, when he had brought her unconscious body back he asked his father to let him interrogate her for the location of the crystals. He told him he was confident she would tell him everything they need to know. He was hoping she’d be smart enough to cooperate with him, otherwise, he will have no choice but give her to his father, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

His father was a cruel man; he enjoyed the torture of others. Somehow it made him feel important and more powerful when he was hurting others. Vathar never understand that madness in him. Since he could remember, his father was like this. When he was only a little boy, he used to tell him old stories about hunting, and how he loved to chase the prey and when it was time to go for the kill, how he enjoyed the suffering of the animal.

For Vathar, being a soldier was a way of life. To kill or capture other human beings never bothered him, but to hurt innocent animals he was not capable of. Walking back to his room, which was almost identical to hers, he slumped down into his large comfortable chair and ran his hands through his long hair. With a big sigh, he leaned back, and then looked out the large window where her planet was glowing in the dark starry space with its two small moons.