Heart Of The Sun (8 page)

“Understood.” Macey sounds resigned. “I’ll expect a full debriefing from you both on your return.” The radio fizzles to static, and Alan can’t help but chuckle as Vash stands there looking at him curiously.

“What’s so funny?” Vash asks.

“I plan to debrief you myself afterwards,” Alan says.

“You do understand he’s referring to a different type of...”

“Yeah, that’s why it’s so funny, see. We’ve got to work on that sense of humor of yours.” Alan smiles, more relief than anything and climbs into the dune buggy.

“Come on, let’s get back to the base. They’ll be waiting.”

They sit in companionable silence as they drive through the desert, sharing what little water they have left between them. Eventually the cliff that holds the listening post appears on the horizon and Alan pulls the dune buggy to a halt.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Alan asks, scared of the answer but knowing he has to ask.

“The alternative is death, and I have have decided I most certainly do not want to die.” Vash takes Alan’s smaller hand in his and squeezes. “Perhaps my actions will have unintended consequences, but I do not wish to return to a people who want to kill me for who I am and what I want.”

“Good.” The knot in Alan’s stomach loosens a bit and he lets go of Vash’s hand, driving the last few miles to the base. The sheer cliff-face opens up before them as they arrive and they are hustled out of the vehicle by a team of guards.

“Commander Macey will see you in his office at once.” A soldier barks at them, then marches them to the elevator. Soon they are standing in Macey’s office.

“Alan. Vash. You have returned.” Macey bids them to sit and they awkwardly do so. Macey questions them for hours and Vash tells the story of why he went to the desert and the story of his dying race.

“I had no idea,” Macey says. “This is valuable information. I’m sure the High Command already knows this, but they share very little information with us lesser mortals, leaving us to decode messages without context.”

“So you’ll support his asylum claim?” Alan asks.

“Yes.  Alan, you will be his official sponsor. If anything goes wrong, you will be responsible for his behavior in his stead should he flee.”

“Understood,” Alan says. Vash shoots him a look of concern.

“Now, Vash, you are dismissed. Alan, I would like to talk with you for a few minutes, if I may.”

“Yes, sir,” Alan says. Vash lets himself out. Macey waits until the two of them are alone before he speaks.

“I had men watching the whole exchange,” Macey says. “They sent me some interesting video footage.” He waved his hand and a computer screen flickered into existence. The shadows of he and Vash making love were silhouetted against the fire and Alan felt his cheeks growing hot.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Macey says, his eyes grim. “Letting your emotions cloud your judgement could lead to devastating consequences for both of you. Earth won’t be easy for an Exile; it never is, and more taboo still is the thought of having a relationship with the enemy, no matter how similar to us they are in body. You will be in danger both on the Heart Of The Sun and at home from those who believe Vash would be better off in a coffin.

“I know that,” Alan says. “I’ll take care of him.”

“Will you? You can’t just resign your military commission out of the blue; you’re in for two more years whether you like it or not. Standard regs don’t allow for alien partners to travel with the ship for security reasons. You’re lucky they’re taking him back to Earth on a military ship; after that it’s only going to get harder.”

“You can’t talk me out of it, Commander. We share a bond that nobody can break.”

“The Admiral said you were somewhat of a true believer. I say it’s foolishness that bends logic into madness, but do as you will; I can’t stop you. The shuttle will take you and Vash to the Heart Of The Sun tomorrow morning; be ready at oh-six-hundred-hours on the dot.”

“Yes sir,” Alan says.

“You are dismissed. Good luck with your mission, Lieutenant Karvakian, and with Vash. I pray to the Gods that you will not need it.”

“Thank you sir. May the Gods be with you as well.” He walks to the door and closes it with a sigh of relief and more than a little resentment.
Who is he to think he can watch us like that? What we did up there was private, sacred. When we really needed help, his men had to be contacted to respond to the situation. I sense he’s not really on our side at all; he would have sooner killed Vash than saved him.

He walks to Vash’s room and notes with relief that it is no longer guarded. He knocks and Vash opens the door, beckoning him in. They stand in the middle of the room just looking at one another for a long moment, and then they let their shields drop. Vash seizes Alan, kissing him and disrobing him faster than he can think. He goes with the flow and watches as his clothes make a puddle around his feet before he starts to work on Vash’s.

“I want a shower,” Alan says. “I think I have purple sand in every crevice.”

“Let us find out,” Vash says enticingly, and his accent only makes it seem more alluring, more forbidden. They’re both hard before they even make it to the shower, filled with anticipation about what’s to come as they stand underneath the hot water and lather each other up. Alan takes the liquid soap and rubs it up and down the length of Vash’s shaft, massaging it into his balls with his other hand.

“I can’t take much more,” Vash gasps, pressed up against the shower wall. “Please. I need release.”

“I’m just getting started,” Alan says with a wicked glimmer in his eyes. He pours some soap on his finger and penetrates Vash with it. His cock twitches, but as he goes to stroke it, Alan bats his hand away. Vash lets out a low moan and Alan rewards him by removing his finger and thrusting up against him. Their wet cocks are slick against one another and Alan holds them together, stroking them both at the same time. Vash throws his head back, his wet hair sticking to his back. Alan pulls away and Vash moans a complaint in his own language. Vash takes control and thrusts Alan up against the shower wall. 

Alan chuckles, “Okay, okay. I’ll stop before you go all crazy hunter Karalian on me.” In a sobering moment, he recalls Vash slitting his throat and suddenly he’s kissing the white scar that runs along Vash’s neck, silently thanking the Gods that they can be here like this now. 

Vash thrusts into him, reminding Alan of his need and he returns to the moment, washing the soap off of Vash and dropping to his knees. He coats another finger and probes Vash with two fingers as he takes his cock in his mouth. It tastes like soap and spice, an odd, but not overly unpleasant combination. He takes as much of it in his mouth as he can manage, running his tongue along the Karalian’s shaft, his own dick finding friction against Vash’s leg. Vash claws at the soapy shower wall, muttering in Karalian and Alan drives him closer and closer to the edge.

“
Havi!
” It’s both an endearment and a warning as Vash comes, his hot seed spilling into Alan’s mouth. There’s more than he can swallow and he withdraws, the rest of Vash’s load spilling onto his face.

“Gods.” Alan whispers as he leans into the water and washes his face.

“I am sorry,” Vash whispers.

“Sorry? Why on Earth are you sorry?” Alan stands up, turns off the water and pulls Vash into a gentle kiss. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I fear that my being here at all will be something we may both be sorry for someday.” Vash looked down at his feet. “I want you so much that it makes me feel ashamed.”

“Ashamed? Why? Because your people don’t accept it?”

“Perhaps,” Vash says.

“If I’m pushing you too hard, tell me to slow down,” Alan says. “I only do what’s natural to me. I don’t know what Karalians do, so if I ever do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, you’ve got to let me know.”

“No. You haven’t done anything wrong. I just... There’s something I want, but it’s an act considered vile in Karalian culture.” He looks almost shy and embarrassed as he wraps the towel around him and leaves the bathroom. “No, never mind. Forget I asked.”

“Seriously, ask,” Alan says. “If I don’t want to do it, I won’t agree to it. Simple as that. It won’t change the way I feel about you.”

“Are all Humans as open as you?” Vash asks.

“Some are, some aren’t. Depends on the person, really. Come on, quit stalling. You are making me nervous now. Just tell me what you want already.”

Vash leans down and whispers in Alan’s ear. Alan starts to laugh.

“I am sorry. I have shamed myself. I will leave now.” 

Alan grabs Vash’s arm as he makes a beeline for his clothes and the door. “No. You misunderstand. I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing because it’s what we’ve been working towards all along, only apparently you didn’t know that. Your shameful act, well, it’s par for the course for male
kast’ka
on our world.”

Vash gives him a questioning look. “Par for the...?”

“It’s normal,” Alan says. “It’s what we do.”

“Oh.” Vash looks so young as he stands there looking embarrassed.

“You mean to say you’ve never done it?” Alan scratches his head. “How old are you, anyway? I need to know I’m not robbing the Karalian cradle here.”

“I’m eighteen Karalian years old. Which is a hundred of your Earth years.”

“Oh, man. I’m only thirty-four Earth years old. Way to make me feel young. I know you guys are long-lived and all, but wow. A hundred years and you’ve never...?”

“We only reach adulthood on our seventeenth Karalian year. That is why I did not know about my
kast’ka
status before.”

“Oh. I understand. Now I feel old.” Alan sits on the side of the bed, naked. Vash sits beside Alan and leans in, slowly kissing down his chest. Alan starts to grow hard again, growing as Vash gently strokes him. “So you don’t mind doing something that’s taboo in your culture?”

“Everything we’ve done so far has been,” Vash says. “There’s a piece of me that wants it so badly it hurts. And another piece of me that knows once I’ve had what I want, I will never be able to go back to Karalia.”

“Isn’t that already impossible?” Alan asks. “They’re trying to kill you.”

“They think I cannot be fixed. If I go to them and say I have been misled, they will take me back. They will watch me for the rest of my life and I would have to keep my desires to myself, but they would not kill me so long as I did not break their laws.”

“Don’t ever go back,” Alan whispers. “There’s nothing worse than hiding who you are and what you need.”

“What if the thing I need is home?” Vash asks, looking away. “What if it turns out I need that more than I need... this?”

I can’t answer that question for you, Vash,” Alan says. “That’s something you need to find out for yourself. In the meantime, you should do everything you want to do. You can’t make decisions without experience.”
He looks a world away from the man who stood outside my escape pod. Have I made him this small and vulnerable? Or does he just feel comfortable enough with me to show me his other side?
His erection wilted away.
There’ll be other times for that. Right now Vash needs my love and support. He’s about to defect from everything he’s ever known into a world that may not be any kinder than his own.

“I guess I can only hope these things work themselves out with time,” Vash says. “I am sorry I am filled with uncertainty. It is a great time of change for me. Many among the
kast’ka
dream of becoming Exiles, but few ever make it to Earth. Those who do are excommunicated on our planet, their records wiped from existence. It will be as if I was never born. If I ever see any of my family again, they will not even acknowledge me.”

“I’m sorry,” Alan says, his hands in his lap.

“No. I made the choices that brought me here. I left Karalia before they could draft me to the war effort. I announced that I was a
kast’ka
at a prestigious family dinner.” He smiled at the memory.
Even though it must be painful, he still smiles.
“I suppose that even if I did return, my family would view me only with suspicion, no matter what I said. I burned all my bridges, and I don’t regret it. I only fear that I might regret the rash moves I made in my youth along the line.”

I’ll die.
The thought hit Alan like a thunderbolt.
Karalians can live to be five hundred years old. That much I do know. I’m just a drop in the ocean of his life, no matter how much I mean to him. I’ll grow old, while he remains in his youth. It’s not only tomorrow and the day after he fears, but all the years that are to come.
The thought sobered him and he reached for his clothes, dressing in his uniform and standing up. 

“The shuttle leaves at six hundred hours tomorrow. We should get some rest, Vash.” Alan made his way to the door and let himself out.
I was going to ask if I could stay,
Alan thought,
but it’s too late now.

Alan hurried along the hallway to his room, head down.
Last night everything felt so right. I felt like I belonged by his side. Now I just feel like an alien. I have a short lifespan, and our culture is so different from Karalia’s it could come between us. Last night I thought what we built here could last forever, but now... Now I don’t know.

He lie on his bed and looked up at the ceiling, sleeplessly reliving the last fifteen days in his mind.
It felt like this was a world just for two. If only the commandos hadn’t come, we could have stayed here for a long time, him and I, learning and discovering new things about each other. Without the war to drive a wedge between us. Now duty calls me home, and I’m not sure I’m the same man I was when I fell to Rinax.

Chapter Nine
Homeward Bound

Day Sixteen

Rinax Listening Post, Launch Pad

The sun is beating down by the time Alan and Vash are escorted outside to a nondescript patch of sand. Macey hits a button on a controller in his hand and the sand shifts as a platform rises up from the ground. The purple dust is blown from the surface by machines, revealing a landing pad.