Now the new Trance is trying to fit back in, but there's one person she never really knew. After her new adaptations, Trance is forced to face a part of her past.

Rating: NC-17; Language/Sex, start of a rape, and BDSM/some violence. It doesn't have the nummy sex 'til the seventh part but please read it all.

Parts 1-8/?

Pairing: Tyr/Trance mostly there will be eventually a little Beka/Harper but nothing big with the two.

A/N: My idea of Trance's past and how everyone is thrown into the mess.

*The future went wrong, but sometimes when you go to change the past, can't the future become another?

Part One

I walked through the Andromeda's corridors. I'd just finished a lunch with Harper and it seems that he's okay with me. Good, I'm not as scary as I look. I wish I were though. I'm not strong; not really. You may have hit maturity, but being there is far off.

I happened to walk by the doors to the exercise deck. What the hell... inside wasn't empty. Tyr was beating the stuffing out of a punching bag. As usual, he looked fairly angry about something.

"Tyr?" He looked up over at me.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay? I mean you look more pissed than usual."

He gave a humph of a breath, "Don't remember you ever swearing, Trance. I think it suits your new look." From Tyr that seemed like a compliment.

"Thanks, I guess?" I left the statement hanging, I didn't know what to say. The way things had gone; Tyr died before I came back, though everyone did?

"Do you need something?" I looked at his half-naked body. Sweat glistened down his chest and I felt something... no, Trance that life is over! Over!

"I donno, maybe I wanted to get buff and ruff with someone. How 'bout you? It's been forever since we've sparred."

He smiled a bit, then gestured that the mat was open. I hurriedly took off my boots, socks and removed my jacket. I was wearing a leather tank top, and an extra layer of leather tended to get hot.

"Do you remember anything from before?"

"Perhaps I've developed my own moves." I held up my fists and swung at him. "Don't be easy."

He shrugged, then the abbreviated fight began. I first landed laid a roundhouse to his side, after that he just kept using those cheating Nietzschean moves on me. Several butterfly kicks and fists, he just kept blocking them.

"Don't try to hit me, just hit me!" Let us repeat the past shall we? I did the highest kick I could and landed it right to Tyr's face. He fell back on the ground and held his nose.

"Oh, Tyr, I'm sorry." I knelt by him and suddenly he lunged at me, pinning me to the ground, using a knee at my stomach and using a hand to hold my wrists.

"I win." He rolled over to the side and wiped his nose. I laughed and lunged at him. One leg on each side and he made no notion to move. "Damn," the blood welled over his face and I got up off him.

"Get a towel." Tyr stood and walked over to the pile of towels near a chair. Red now lay vivid on the terry white.

"You made me bleed." He looked at me with a fairly evil look but he laughed again. "Good job, not even Beka has done that."

"I've grown." I shrugged, "Maybe I'm stronger than little old Tyr." He had stopped bleeding, but made no move towards me.

"Does strength come with age for your...race?"

"In some tribes, yes. I didn't know I had it in my blood. My parents weren't that strong physically and mentally. I had magicks that my people had never seen." I shrugged again, and turned away. I had said too much; the stinging memories came back and 'his' face came back to my mind.

"I don't believe you've ever said anything about your people before. Why tell me?"

"We never talk, I guess we now have something to talk about." I turned and grabbed for a bottle of water.

"Those scars on your back, I've never seen?" I had forgotten to hide them, I willed my mind to make them disappear.

"How did you do that?" Tyr was behind me now; he ran a hand over where one of the scars should have been; I let it materialize so he could see it.

"One thing we have, and always had in common, we were both slaves."

"What?" I turned and looked at him.

"I was a pleasure slave on my planet. My last master was a sadist. His favorite toy, a whip. It got him so excited sexually, that he asked for me nearly everyday. I'd strip for him, then he'd beat me or have one of his wives do it."

"Wives?" His eyebrows raised.

"There's no such thing as monogamy on my planet. Even for the peasants, they will intermarry to gain the extra privileges, not just to mate."

"Trance...you've never told anyone?"

"Of course not. Why should I? The past is the past, and it will never come back to me. My planet is so secluded that there is no way we will ever find it. I've made sure of it."

Part Two

Though we never continued that conversation, Tyr and I now had a certain connection never ventured into before. We would spar, or read poetry together, sometimes we just sat and starred out, facing space and its endless chasm. Nobody acted like they noticed or thought that Tyr and I were doing anything sexual, though that kind of tension was building.

It was during a painting session that Tyr brought this up.

"Have you noticed anything different with everyone? Pass the cerulean." I handed him the tube of blue paint. "Thanks."

"Yes, I think everyone is a little, I don't know silent?"

"Silent in the fact they think something is happening, but no one seems to have enough initiative to ask. I know Harper wants to ask, I sure he's just afraid I use his face to mop the halls." He smiled. I sat back on my stool and looked at the paintings.

Tyr's looked like the birth of a star, a nebulae cloud. Mine, art for me is different, I'd tried to paint the feeling of a family. The easel displayed something of hatred and violence. I'd clashed browns with purples, and black with yellow, nothing of a common mix.

"I'm having trouble interpreting your picture," I smiled, this side of Tyr the enemy would never see. He was soft underneath, humane and very puerile.

"The clash of life. Where you wish things to be of the same spectrum, but they cannot, they are two different things."

"I like it," a voice startled me. I turned and saw Rommie. "The meaning is very different and it's displayed in very few cultures."

"Well it depends on what you know about the culture. Of course being the Andromeda computer, you'd know a lot." Tyr looked over his shoulder at Rommie.

"That's pessimistic, even for you. Anyways Trance, Harper needs medical attention. I don't think it's serious, but he asked for you."

"Afraid I'll hurt him so he asks you, typical." He shrugged and turned back to his canvas.

"I'll be back." I touched my hand to his shoulder; he stopped and gave a nod of acknowledgement.

Rommie and I walked down the corridor silently until Rommie spoke suddenly, "I haven't said a word to anyone. Even though I know you and Tyr aren't," she paused apparently looking for the right word, ...involved. I will keep my word but it's starting to drive me nuts, and I'm just a computer."

"You are more than 'just' a computer, you're a friend. Thank-you for driving everyone crazy." I smiled and entered the med-deck. My friend Seamus Harper sat on the examination table clutching his arm.

"Hey, I just had to wait another ten minutes while my wrist is in pain!" Just like Harper, rub in the sarcasm. Yep, I knew Tyr would knock him to the next world if he pestered him.

"Wrist. Does it hurt here?" I grabbed the arm and twisted it harshly.

"OW! Damnit, Trance!" He pulled his arm away and cradled it in the crook of his other arm.

"Just seeing if you were really hurt. Lets do some x-rays and see." While I prepared the machine I decided to ask my own questions. "How did this happen?"

"I was doing some repairs which is a part of my résumé qualifications, and a I got it stuck in some thingamajig, I tried pulling and I twisted it...bad!" Under the x-ray I could see that the ulna and carpal bones in his left arm were fractured.

"Okay, your ulna is cracked, greenstick fracture. Your carpals, in the forefinger and middle finger, are a simple fracture. By tonight you'll be working on your thingamajig again. I just need to set them and cast 'em. In six hours come back okay?"

"Are you and Tyr having sex?"

"Did you break your arm on purpose?!" I looked at him with the look of death.

"Yeah, I really meant to crack my unna and break my carnels." I had to laugh, Harper did too. "So?" He made a funny sound as I set the bones it sounded something like 'geeugh!' Metal cast and he was off to the mess hall.

"If I can't work, I'll eat!" And with that Harper exited the Med deck, leaving Rommie and I. I glanced at Rommie.

"I won't say a word." She held up her hands defensively and started to turn.

"Give them the impression that we are. Claim that we block out the sound, although what you catch sounds like fun."

The avatar smiled and walked off.

When I sat back down on my stool next to Tyr and set up a new canvas he asked, "I don't have to ask do I?"

"You just did." I was back in a happy mood. He shrugged and picked up his brush again.

"Dinner tonight perhaps? My quarters or yours?"

"If you want to come to mine, I'm making a vegetarian meal." I stoked on mix of blue and purple to make a tree shape.

"Your vegetables have finished growing?"

I nodded and turned back to the box of colors.

Part Three

I had tried to present myself as feminine for the meal. Didn't work at least I thought. I wore a long Prussian blue dress that looked like it was from the Renaissance that or the pictures from the cover of Beka's romance novels.

I had made a large salad, Caesar style and the Andromeda files had a great recipe for a dressing popular on Earth, it was called Italian. I glanced in the mirror again to make sure I looked perfect. I heard the awaiting ring and I called for the door to open.

Tyr stood holding a flower. He hadn't worn a leather shirt like I'd hoped but he was still in those slick leather pants that just mad me want to grab his ass. That, or tear them off and ride him hard.

"Hey, come in." He walked through the steel doors.

Holding out the flower he said to me, "um, I got it off the plant you so insisted that I take care of."

Smiling I took it. "Thank you. Sit down it's ready." I didn't make the rolls to go with the mini-banquet, I stole them from the mess hall.

Tyr started several conversations I just never kept them going. With him I never felt the need to express my self verbally. Yet, something seemed to give him the pang to ask.

"Trance, is something wrong?"

"I don't know, I've actually been feeling sick. It's nothing."

"Trance?" there was a stern look in his eyes.

"I love you!" I blurted it out, then turned my face before he could see me blush. I was sure I wasn't the usual metallic pink that normally appeared in my cheeks. I gave a peek to look at his face; it wasn't the habitual thinking look that he had when it was obvious that a million thoughts were running through his mind. It was confusion and what looked like relief.

"I think I love you too. I don't...I glad you broke it first."

I had to stare, 'huh' You just said?" Tyr stood and walked over to me. I turned my chair and he knelt in front of me. Leaning up he touched his lips to mine. I though I was in ecstasy when his smooth, velvety tongue ran over mine.

"The dress is beautiful. Where did you get it?" His fingers gently ran over the cloth of the skirt, over the darker blue designs. His hands came near my breasts and I stood. He still knelt looking up at me.

"Tyr, I've told you some of my past, not a lot but enough. I never want to have sex again until I can fully trust my mate...lover. It's not you, I'm afraid you'll leave me, or..." he broke me off.

"Hurt you?" Why would I want to hurt such a delicate beauty? I've never been Casanova myself, but I was once not considerate of my partner's feelings. If you let me love you, I promise you will never hurt again." He grabbed my hands and caressed them with his lips. I bit my lip; he knew what to say. I pulled his hands up with mine and kissed him again.

"No sex tonight, just let me get to know you. Your body?" I touched the space over his heart. It thudded beneath my touch.

"Anything you wish."

We walked towards my bed and he laid me down on it. His first kisses were over my face and neck. He placed a leg between mine and I couldn't help it. But I did need to keep self-control. I couldn't lose myself to the passion, just walk the dangerous edge of it.

His hands started to knead my breasts through the fabric he nipped and sucked on them. Ohh, Turgen never made me feel this way.

I needed to get Tyr's good-for-nothing shirt off. He clearly knew what I wanted to see, touch. He peeled the spandex from his hard torso and tossed it aside. I sat up in his arms and I did what I've wanted to do for years I ran my tongue over one of his nipples. His breathing labored as I licked all over his muscular chest. I stopped for a second and fingered with his braids.

"I have to warn you, I've always like men with long hair."

"I think I should warn you, I can make this experience a million lifetimes of ardor."

Tears pricked at my eyes, "Not tonight." I pushed and he sat back. I just cried, he held me and stoked my hair. "I do love you. But I am very cautious. Let me...give me time. I'll give you back the love that you want to give me."

"I understand," he stroked my face with his thumb. "Let me know when, I'm not leaving. It's just space."

Tyr got off the bed grabbed his shirt and left. I lay back down and just let the tears flow.

Part Four

"All hands to Captain's Office." Andromeda's voice flowed through every corridor. I put down the spray bottle I was using and exited my terrarium. Inside Dylan's office, all my friends stood, and one potential more-to-be-more-than-a-friend.

Thrill was evident in his voice as Dylan spoke. "We have received hails from a planet. They have heard of the restoration efforts of the Commonwealth and they want representatives to come and show the proposals. The building officials have asked that we do it. No foreigners have visited this planet in years, let alone influence it to join a building alliance, in at least a thousand years. Do you want to go? I've spoken with the emperor there already and he will give the ship passage if we all join a great feast there."

"Well, it sounds cool, but we don't even know what this place is." Harper's own brand of pessimism piped up.

"Andromeda, the documentary you showed me." The screen behind Dylan, which usually flickered with the Commonwealth emblem, was replaced by a small section of asteroids. Andromeda's voice began its explanation.

"Seelie Court, population 3,050,876, a class M planet not currently part of the Commonwealth charter. The dominant race is called the Fey. The people visited Earth around 4000 BC and influenced a people soon to be known as the Celts. The majority of Celtic mythology and teachings came from what they learned from the Fey.

Near the fall of the Commonwealth the Fey designed a controlled asteroid cloud to keep out Nietzschean and Magog forces among others. It completely surrounds the planet and sun.

Not much is known of their culture, nor had the Commonwealth library ever obtain an accurate picture of these people."

"Okay, I see a point. If a race can control an asteroid cloud that big, they've got to be fairly powerful, but why now?" Harper looked at the screen but I saw Dylan's eyes on me. He walked around his desk and stood in front me.

"Are you okay Trance?"

"Yeah, wish my people had though of that, the cloud." Keep a straight face Trance. Keep a straight face.

"Okay." He didn't believe me. I looked over at Tyr; he had figured it out. Seelie Court was my home planet.

"Well, it actually sounds fun. I feel optimistic about it, convinced Harper?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Don't bother me, I can always leave." Harper shrugged.

"Anyone else object? No?" Dylan pressed on the com pad on his desk. "Andromeda to Seelie Court, we have agreed."

"Yes, Captain Hunt we expect your coming. The coordinates have been sent along with several of our traditions and activities. Perhaps you may come to enjoy them. This is Garcier Clanmorr over and out."

"Andromeda how long to the nearest slipstream to Seelie Court?" Dylan looked around before the ship's voice spoke.

"Approximately thirteen hours." Dylan smiled and looked around.

"Okay, let's pack. I want all of us to go down."

Several hours later I sat, starring from my bed into space. The beep and the doors opened. Tyr walked in, he held a bottle, in it an amber liquid sloshed.

"Though you'd might like a little thing to take away the nostalgia." He held out the bottle to me. I looked for a label but something in my gut told me what it was.

"Whiskey, Harper's?"

"No, mine, I made it and it's not your normal fire whiskey either. Harper wanted to borrow the recipe to clean the Maru's engine. Beka said no, she was afraid it'd melt it." I grabbed the bottle, tore out the cork and took a long swing. It left me coughing and gagging.

"You made this yourself?" I sounded hoarse. Tyr smiled that smile of his and took a swallow too.

"Yeah, I just improved a mix I found on a bar drift. Called 'that' fire whiskey." I grabbed back the bottle it was numbed fast. "Trance, you don't have to go to the surface." He actually traced his fingers over my bare foot. "We can stay here, a whole ship to rock?"

"Tyr, I was born a peasant on Seelie." I took another deep swallow and continued my little story.

"I was adopted into a higher caste because I was fair and sensual. At six, six I lost my virginity. The owner of the house I lived in was charged for raping a child, me. You need to be in puberty to have sexual relations with another. His punishment was seventy lashes, six years later I was sold because he went into debt. My next owner, he was fairly passive. He would just masturbate and stick himself in me. He died in a machine accident.

Next master came at fourteen. The sadist I told you about. I became his favorite; at least sometimes he tried to make it pleasurable. I ran away from Seelie at seventeen.

For five years I was on my own. Then I finally gained the family I needed. A man and a woman, Seamus Harper and Beka Valentine. They said that they needed another crewmember. I was twenty and happy, I was still in puberty, still developing my feelings but it was a chance to start over. We met Rev Bem about six months later, and a year and a half after that we pulled a starship out of an event horizon.

Tyr, after the future went wrong, and I was left repairing Beka over and over. Four years ago, to me, I finally hit the point I needed to go on, I reached Maturity. On Seelie Court rights are performed and if you're high enough you can pick any mate you want. My celebrations were my newfound abilities. I found a way to travel through time, so I came back to fix mistakes."

"Trance I want to understand..." I pressed a finger to his lips.

"The future I came from, in the history to be...Seelie Court never happened."

"You mean that when you came back you never thought Seelie Court was going to find you?"

"Tyr, it's my master calling me to his bed. I'm stuck and your not going to like this, but, if you fight for me you will die."

"I will fight for you, but I will win." He slid up on the bed laid back and opened his arms. I wanted to fall asleep, I think I did.

Part Five

I knew my mind was numb from the whiskey. Tyr was warm and comforting. I snuggled a bit to get more comfortable. I heard others sounds that woke me up, Harper looked scared.

"Harper?"

"Um, hey don't get mad but Dylan said to tell you guys we're entering the slipstream point and uh, you need to wake up and go to the command deck."

That seemed to wake Tyr instantly. Within ten minutes I had changed and was on my way to my past.

No voice could penetrate my thoughts, I knew I was hung over. My head was killing me and I just wanted to get drunk again and sleep forever. If I kept that up I might get my wish; I was positive that I walked the path to my death sentence.

"Leaving slip stream event." Beka stopped shifting the gears in front of her and Andromeda took it from there. Her computer voice echoed over my brain.

"Twenty minutes to Seal's Belt." The space out side looked hostile. Meteors floated by, no gravity to carry them. I wanted to be one of those rocks.

"Okay boss, vacation time. Are there beaches on Seelie?"

"According to what they sent, almost ninety-percent of the planet is water. There are three large continents, we are landing here." Three large islands spaced apart showed on one of the large screens. "We are going to...there, Engllamarr, in Fey it means 'isle of light.' They brag to have the best sunrise and sunsets this side of the galaxy. So being an island it's sure to have at least one beach."

"Huh, what do the ladies look like?" I noticed that Harper almost turned and looked at me, at least he fought the urge. I shifted in my position and glanced over at Tyr. How can I make them understand? I sent the silent plea through the air.

"What the hell?" Beka went back to the gears, but Dylan motioned for her to stop. The asteroids were moving for the Andromeda; they left just enough room for the warship to ease in.

"That's impressive." I really wanted to tell Harper to shut up.

"Anything approaching, Tyr?"

"No signs of a planet, but..." A large sun came into view, and beyond that two large planets. One, even this far looked barren, the other, I knew it was lush, and beautiful. Home, my home?

"The planet is hailing." Rommie informed all, "we passed a large station, perhaps they monitored our coming."

"Open the channel." Dylan looked to the screen, a man appeared. Turgen?

"Captain Hunt, welcome to Unseelie System. I am Turgen Gamma. May I say it truly is an honor? I look forward to telling you why I called and how we can repair the past." He smiled, his teeth were perfectly even, and they stood out like pearls against his gold skin.

"Yes, so do I, the Andromeda is twenty-minutes away. We will use the Eureka Maru and land directly on the planet." Dylan's own smile looked weak and feeble next to Turgen's.

"I look forward, again. If you excuse me, I have a pressing matter to accomplish and that my head general will guide you through any mishaps that happen before you enter." The image of Turgen ended, and I felt so heavy.

Nothing went wrong. The ships of my childhood passed by. The Andromeda eased into orbit and all of us started towards the Maru hanger.

"Engllamarr Ship Hanger this is the Eureka Maru requesting permission to land." Beka adjusted her headpiece and listened for the reply.

"Eureka Maru, Engllamarr welcomes the reforming Commonwealth leaders."

The Maru eased down, and the thud of a landing rocked the ship a bit. Dylan took the lead out of the ship and we followed.

Greetings of dozens of claps echoed through the hanger. A plethora of purple and gold skinned Fey shouted even more as Dylan came into view. He gave one quick look at me; it was a stern and very pissed look. A young girl walked up to Dylan and announced.

"Seelie Nesstelle, it means welcome to Seelie Court. I am Cardamé; we have escorts waiting to take you to Kolciarr that Lord Turgen's castle." She smiled and walked up to Dylan. She took our captain's arm and gestured towards the large doors near by.

Two young boys, purple, walked up to Beka and Rommie and offered the crooks of their arms both took them. Two girls walked up to Harper and Tyr. Harper took the shortest girls arm Tyr made a move to me. The girl looked insulted. Ha ha, super-horny girl doesn't get my guy.

Part Six

The sun was bright against my eyes; I had forgotten the beauty. Large flower pods looked ready to blossom. Trees of blues, greens, yellow and red leaves shifted in the wind. Tyr dropped his mouth to my ear.

"I can see why you like plants now." I had to smile. Couples or mates lay under trees and bedded each other in flowers. "How far to this castle?"

"I don't remember."

But the walk didn't last long. The dirt path led up over a hill and beyond that lay Kolciarr. It was just as I remembered it; I didn't want to remember. Spires pointed high in the sky and its blue-gray granite stone walls reflected the sunlight. Trumpets, or trumpet like instruments sounded through the air. Fey cheered and jumped up and down. Some people were naked and some only half; Harper must be having a good time.

My old home was now only feet away, I won't turn back. The ebony doors opened letting off a boom. Inside the lush hall was decked with the colors of Seal's unity, Blue for Engllamarr, Red for Bariegor, and Silver for Siclenne, the three islands of Seelie Court.

"Welcome, friends and leaders of the Commonwealth." There he stood.

Glorious gold skin shimmered in the stain glass light, his black robes accentuated the brightness. I knew his eyes were a scintillating green and gold. You could he the tip of his masculine tail twitching near the hem of his robes. But what really was most bewitching, to tell where his black hair ended and where the black satin he wore began.

"Dylan Hunt, we meet." Turgen offered his hand and Dylan took it. We lined up beside Dylan while Turgen continued. "The saviors of the Commonwealth." He walked with inhuman grace, like a tiger waiting to catch his game.

In front of Beka he stopped, "Milady?"

"Beka Valentine." Turgen smiled again took Beka's hand, kissed the fingertips and licked the underside of her wrist in a long lap. I smiled, as Beka looked both unnerved and unsure of what to do.

"I apologize, I should have told you. It is how a gentleman is supposed to greet a lady. In particular, a beautiful woman." Yeah, that's it feed them with bullshit, you yellow, son of a bitch.

Turgen did the same to Rommie, kiss of the fingertips, lick of the wrist. After he shook hands with Harper, he stood in front of Tyr.

Turgen was not as tall by any means; he was barely taller than me let be nose to nose with Tyr. Tyr didn't take the Fey leader's hand he didn't even glance at it.

"Tyr!" hissed Dylan.

"No bother Captain Hunt, you see I don't like Nietzscheans myself, it may be mutual because of race. It is nothing personal."

"I just don't like you. I have heard of your reputation."

Turgen gave Tyr a tight-lipped smile and turned to me.

"Well, if it isn't Trance Gemini in the flesh." The hiss of my name sent an automatic reaction through my body a mix of arousal and fear. I gripped the force-lance at my side, and stared back into that cold and aloof yet warm pair of eyes.

"So much as touch me Turgen and I will kill you."

"Trance!" Beka shouted at me but I kept my hand on my weapon.

"...Tis okay Miss Valentine." Turgen kept his eyes on me.

"How do you two know each other?" Harper looked at me strangely then at all the other Fey in the room.

"Mr. Harper, Trance Gemini was to be my mate, what is it" Thirteen years ago?" He made a great show of trying to remember. I expected him to start pacing for a good show.

"Twelve."

"Yes, twelve years ago. But this occasion is about making conciliating the past."

"I wouldn't forgive you, even if it were on my death bed." I moved a little closer to Tyr, Turgen noticed. His sea green-gold eyes looked Tyr from head to toe, and I felt his aura searching as well. He turned to me and spoke mentally.

<You have not mated. He hasn't bedded you?>

<No, Turgen. I have remained celibate.> His laugh echoed in my mind.

<A celibate Fey! That is the best joke I have heard in all these years I've lived!>

"You are welcome here. Seelie is now an asylum to you all. Please freshen up for the feast to come in less than an hour. The maids of Kolciarr will show you to your lodgings. Make yourselves comfortable, and soon you will feast as you have never feasted before." He gave a slight bow to Dylan, turned, and exited through a door near the back.

I saw Cardamé and the escorts advance towards us again and led off deep into Kolciarr.

The rooms were located behind the castle; I remembered them well. From a distance our accommodations looked like paper greenhouses. When you were right before them they were made of impermeable flower leaves and petals.

"Lavatories are located to the far left and what ever service you need, bells are located in each room."

"Each room... it just looks like one long house." Harper complained, and I knew better.

Inside dividers made of the same material of the walls, lay folded between the guides. Down each center of the guides, large flower pods stood growing up from the ground. Everyone, but the servants and I looked at them oddly.

"Um?" Harper voiced what was going through his mind. I walked over to the nearest pod and peeled the petals down. After the forced bloom, the flower made a suitable queen-size bed.

"Oh!" Harper laid down on the one I had prepared and ...ahh. It's like laying on air."

Dylan took the one farther west and peeled the petals down on his. Beka followed this suit and Cardamé piped up.

"If you'll be needing anything just ring. Lord Turgen has provided dinner wear if you wish to wear it." She gestured towards the bronze bells near each flower and large garment bags. The rest curtsied or bowed and walked off.

Dylan turned to me, "were you going to tell us that you were from here? Just by any chance?"

"Dylan, I said what I said because you didn't need to know. What past I have associated with here is my business not yours." I went for the last flower pod opposite all the others, especially Dylan's.

"Trance, what happened here? Tyr, do you know?"

"I promised Trance that I would never say a word without her permission." Tyr took the 'room' next to mine.

"Please don't be mad Dylan. I would have told you if it was of great importance."

"Don't get me wrong Trance, but this isn't an importance?" Sarcasm laced Dylan's voice; I'd never seen him mad like this.

"Dylan, I wasn't hiding anything significant."

"Turgen Gamma said you were to be, he used the term his 'mate' and it's not significant?" Rommie's eyes pierced me like she was human and not an avatar.

"I was his 'slave' not 'mate.' You want to know? Fine, I was a peasant here. I was sold to a noble so my family could have food in their stomachs. The noble sold me to another, then he died. Turgen liquefied my former master's assets, I was among them. He brought me to Kolciarr and I was one of the maids. He wanted me for his mate, I was afraid of him and I fled. I stole a ship made it through the Belt then I found Beka and Harper. As far as I'm concerned the Maru and the Andromeda have been my only homes."

"She's had it just as rough as all of us, Dylan give her a break." Harper walked up to me and put an arm around my shoulders.

"Okay, but can you inform us on what we need to know for this banquet? I mean this wasn't in the briefing they gave me."

I had to smile a little. "Open the bag. Peel one leaf to the side and then pull on the other."

Dylan walked over to one of the bags and opened it just as I had instructed. Inside, lay a long midnight-blue and silver cloak. Beka opened another and from that one spilled a maroon and gold cloak. Rommie and Harper each came out with a purple and bronze colored one. Harper gave a disgusted look and I laughed.

"Do we just wear them?" Dylan held the blue cloth in his hands and looked it over. The silver embroidery was of a great newlith; it was similar to the bear of Earth. I nodded and he draped the cloak over his shoulders. It looked like it was made for him, it was becoming and he looked like an august ruler.

"Put them on." I urged to the other three; I didn't try with Tyr.

"Um, protest! I am not wearing purple!" Harper looked very disgusted at the purple cloak.

"I know there should be a green one..." I opened the one near me, I was right the cloak was camouflaged against it's jade green receptacle. The embroidery was done in gold. "Yeah this one's yours. The gorlo?"

"Huh?" I laughed.

"It's like an owl. On Dylan's cloak is the newlith, it's like a bear. Beka you need the mylass, the graceful and strong panther like creature." the mylass was on one of the purple cloaks. "Rommie you get the lorrille, the small, but strong daughter of the owl, like a dove?" I offered to the avatar.

"I'm not wearing one of those." Tyr gave the small objection, knowing he probably would get away with it.

"You don't have to." I reassured him with a touch.

"Are you wearing one?" Harper's question was lost as I pulled from one of the bags a light blue cloak, my old one.

The design was of a great nemwiegh, a dominant yet submissive hawk-like creature. I knew what would be on Turgen's, a zornnah, like the prowling lion.

It was an interesting sight looking at the Andromeda crew, with the exception of Tyr, looked like rangers and rogues. Harper turned to a liquid mirror and looked in it with distaste.

"I look like some kind of...idiot..." He was unable to find words.

"Actually, if you had grown here, you'd look like an engineer." I touched his shoulder but I felt something not of Harper.

With all the sexual energy in the air, my telepathy and clairvoyance was enhanced. It was Tyr, calling to me in his own way that all could, but I was the only one in the room that could decipher it into words.

I called with my mind to Tyr's, <Tyr?>

He looked around then back at me. I 'spoke' again, <Think really hard of what you want to say. I should be able to pick you up.>

<What the hell is this?>

<Telepathy. Don't be jealous and be nice to my people. I may hate them but you don't have to?>

<Trance, I just don't want you hurt.>

<I know.>

Dylan interrupted my thoughts. "Are they coming back or do we go up to the Kolciarr?" Of course the question was directed at me.

"The maids will probably come and get us, but if you want to look around the garden, I'm sure you can."

Part Seven

< Trance, my apple. Come to me.> Turgen opened his arms for Trance. She sat, naked, his own bare lap. "Touch me. Be not afraid."

"Turgen--I can't." But Turgen heard the thoughts. He lifted a hand and ran a thumb over a sumptuous purple and ivory breast. Lightly rubbing a thumb over her pink nipples. Trance felt something a reaction, metaphysical.

"You see?" He lowered his lips and sucked on the hard nipple. He moved his other hand to tease her other breast. "Coherent minds. It's rare and destined to be. I can't help but to feel love for you. I can show you the true meaning of libido. Open it up to me, let me fill you with me."

Turgen stood up, he held Trance in his secure arms. He laid her down on the floor. The room was actually one large bed, filled with petal-down and covered with velvet. He forced a hand between her legs.

"Open for me...yes. Please."

He slipped a gold finger inside her wet core. She gasped as another slipped between her wet folds. Trance gripped a handful of his dark hair as his tongue lapped and drank from her. Gasping and panting she felt the removal of his fingers, replaced by the tip of his cock.

"Shh, love?" He plunged deep inside and Trance's screams filled the echoing room. Turgen placed forceful kisses upon her while sliding in and out. After leaving her empty, she thought in must be over

<But don't let it be...>

<Don't worry my little apple, it is not.>

He entered her again this time she was stretched enough; all of his cock was throbbing within. Turgen's black curls, at the base of his cock, mingled with Trance's baby fine white curls.

<Black and white. Together and entirely the same.>

<No...>

<Be my true mate? we fit together see?> Turgen came to orgasm seconds after Trance. She could feel his power inside. His seed didn't seem to cease.

<Oh, goddess?>

As Turgen withdrew, hopefully for a final time Trance thought. Cum dripped off the head of his softening penis. He caught some on his finger and held it out to Trance.

<I have tasted of you, do the same...please.>

She let his finger slide past her lips and the bittersweet nectar of that which was Turgen held a promise. One of power. But when Trance gazed at the Fey, his head on her breasts, she saw past him.

Another man held her in his arms. Surely there was not beds like that. He looked strong and big. Nietzschean, he looked like one. Handsome and, goddess he was bigger than Turgen.

"Tyr!"

Part Eight

"Are you coming?" Tyr held his hand out to Trance. She sat on a pod in the garden, overlooking a bushel of ivy that was purple and blue.

"Yeah, just thinking."

<Turgen you bastard.> I found his aura, in the dinning room, waiting.

<Maybe so, but it was your thoughts not mine.>

Dylan and Rommie lead the way behind the ever-faithful Cardamé. Harper was talking to her and I saw her tail swishing as Harper made her blush.

"Trance?" I didn't look at him. "Trance?" He stopped and turned me towards him. "What is going on?"

"It hurts. Being here, it hurts me physically."

"Face your fears, for me?"

"Cusie a tou?" A purple maid appeared beside Tyr and I.

"We're coming."

The dinning hall was as magnificent as I remembered. Drapes of the three island colors decorated the high walls. Flower silk was the specialty of Seelie. Candles and torches lit the hall, but the most impressive thing was Turgen.

Again he stood showing his grandeur. He had braided his long black hair with gold rope, it matched the gold gauntlets, and belt that made his torso look so perfect. He wore a black and silver cloak, a green shirt, a black angelfish leather vest and white breeches. The boots matched the vest.

<I was starting to wonder if you would run again.>

<Fuck off, Turgen.>

<I know the meaning of the word, my apple.> His old nickname for me. <You know I would gladly do it, here and now.>

"Ah, Dylan. I'm so glad the cloaks fit. Please come, sit and dine."

The table was barely a foot and a half high, seats were large pillows of white and silver. Gold china furnished the already beautiful wood table.

"Wow, this is so pretty." Beka commented and sat down across from Dylan and on Turgen's left. Dylan of course on Turgen's right. Rommie sat next to Dylan, Harper next to Rommie. Tyr sat next to Beka and I took the seat next to Tyr. As soon as I adjusted myself in the fluffy pillow, Tyr touched my arm. His thoughts came through at contact.

<It's okay, I'm right here.>

The servants brought out the food and the feast started. Large plates of fish smelling of warm spices and tangy marinades. Fruit and vegetables were the main dishes though. Dylan, Beka and Harper dug in. Tyr didn't touch the food, neither did Rommie (naturally an android doesn't have to eat). I just took a bunch of naths, grape-like fruit, and nibbled on it. I occasionally caught some of what Beka was asking Turgen and Turgen talking with Dylan on his intents with the new Commonwealth.

"Ne'Holland actually signed on? I would have thought that the barons wouldn't have agreed. Then again I haven't talked with the Ne'Holland government for several years. But you are succeeding, I wouldn't have thought it possible."

"Thank you, Turgen." Dylan smiled and took another bite of fish. Beka picked out a fruit the size of Tyr's fist from the basket in front of her.

"Uh, what's this?" She looked at the violet-red fruit oddly.

"That is a, what is it called on Earth... Pomegranate."

"Wow, I've never had a pomegranate before. Uh, how do you eat it?"

"With this," Turgen picked up a gold tube and handed it to her. "Stick it in to suck out the seeds." Beka put the fruit down and looked at it awkwardly. "Or you open it up and either spoon the seeds out, or eat them with your lovely hands."

Beka blushed and like many women before her, she stumbled over her words. "No, no I don't have...my hands aren't...say lets talk about something else." Harper took the opportunity to speak.

"Say, do all the Fey have tails or what?"

"Yes, well, at birth it is just a small nub, you could say, and it grows like any other species. Well, those that possess tails."

"I also noticed that there are only three color patterns in your skin. Gold, purple, and silvery white." Rommie looked at Turgen, unaffected by his charms.

"Ah, that is, uh signs in growth and development. The silvery white, as you called it, is showing that the Fey is still mentally and physically a child. Purple, with females it is often a dark lavender, males a darker lavender sometimes like a mauve color. Anyways, violet skin marks adolescence. Gold marks that you have reached adulthood, physically if not mentally." The Fey king smiled at Rommie, that million-dollar smile.

"What about age expectancy?" This came from Dylan.

"Well I should explain something first; the older a Fey is, the madder he or she becomes. Around two hundred and fifty is when the first signs appear and usually within ten to fifteen years after that, the body lives with a potentially dangerous mind. Ritual suicide is the path most of us take when we are unable to differentiate reality from hallucination. To answer you question directly, about two hundred to two hundred and fifty years."

Beka whistled, "so, how old are you?" Turgen took one of Beka's hands and stroked the back of it.

"Miss Valentine, I believe I am approaching my two hundred and seventieth birthday in four days." Beka's mouth dropped and I just took a sip of berry wine.

"You're nearly two hundred and seventy?" Harper's mouth had dropped as much as Beka's.

"Just about. The royal family line developed a sort of immunity to the madness. I don't know why. You could say that is why I am so experienced in many...many things." He kissed her hand, and I nearly gagged.

The dinner was over soon and I still had to endure another hour of Turgen's presence. My people put on a show for us. It was similar to 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' and just as boring as the first time I saw it. Korsha was a little girl who wanted to mate...love Demorti. Demorti was put under a spell by the old Fey god and both lived happily ever after.

TBC

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