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“We call
you
Outlanders.”

He raised his eyebrow. “In my worlds you are the foreigners. You are the war mongers that needed to cast bloodshed far and wide. Our race could have come to Earth centuries ago, but the Emperor at the time decreed that to do so would be barbaric and outlandish. You were seen as primitive, and, so therefore, our Emperor thought that to conquer your people would not be a fair fight.”

“Fair fight, eh? My people think that you are the ones that are primitive. Many say you live in the dark ages.”

“You have no idea what we know, and, for that matter, what we can do.

Knowledge is power, and we try our best to keep our secrets safe.”

“You must have some pretty juicy secrets.” She let out a moan. She felt as if she needed a good long drag of fresh cold water.

He caught her when she swayed again. “Morris?”

He made eye contact with her again. “Morris will not be calling out to you again.

We have disabled the connection.”

“No. My tour group.”

“Your tour group will be left behind. But I’m afraid I’ll have to take you with me.”

“I don’t think you know what you’re doing. The Earth Space Military will come after me. You’ve made a grave error.”

“Let them pursue me. They have one hell of a bad surprise awaiting them. My Emperor will not let the same thing happen twice. In the ten years since the last time your humans came forcefully knocking at our door, he has been building up a vast army. Your forces are no matche for the might we have.” He gave her a smug smile.

“How big of an army are we talking about?” Her heartbeat quickened at the thought of another great war.

“Big enough to start taking each Earth Colony through force, one by one, until we get to Earth.”

“You can’t do that.” She was disgusted with herself for letting a plaintive sigh slip into her voice.

“Oh, you should tell that to my Emperor. He’s on the bloody warpath.”

“Some of those colonies aren’t sympathetic to our current government. They were loyal to the last democratic government we had … please, you can’t start killing people just in the name of vengeance.”

“Ah, your passions are aroused. I like it. But until we get you back into my private quarters on the ship, I don’t want to have any public displays of overt affection.”

“Overt affection? Don’t hold your breath.” Her gaze roamed over to where her tour group was.

“You don’t happen to have the allegiance of the Natives of Willowbane, do you?”

“Of course. We are shipping a good deal of platinum here, and we have also promised them our protection should the Earth Slavers come here.”

“Earth hasn’t approved the trading of off world slaves, yet. It was only going Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 12

before the Senate ….” She gasped. “Oh, no. They did it again and kept it from the public didn’t they?” Her heart stopped. She resisted the urge to cry out in frustration. She hated knowing that they had a corrupt government, and she also hated knowing that the citizens of Earth were taken advantage of left, right, and center. It was knowledge that made her want to weep. She mourned the loss of the Earth she’d once known. She mourned the loss of so many of her friend’s that had died in the struggle for freedom. She hated the fact that the last democratic government hadn’t prepared for the enemies within their own ranks.

“Your government will never stop in their power hungry quest. They won’t stop until all of the known planets are remade in their specific image. I am sorry to shatter the hope you had.”

“But Earth has good people … people that still hold a dream in their hearts for our world to return to what it once was. I can’t let you destroy
those
people.”

“You have no choice in the matter. Your hands are tied figuratively, if not literally, though I could arrange for that as well, if you keep resisting me.”

“I should just let you rape me, then, is that it?”

“Not rape. Oh, no … you will come to me of your own free will.”

“You are drugging me. That is a form of control … you have neutralized my free will.”

“My power over women will only work on a woman that is open to it. You want me, even if you can’t admit it right now, you want to be in my arms just as much as I want you here. I am not the enemy,
Freya
.” He made her name sound special. Her knees weakened.

“You are the enemy. My friend told me not to come today … she told me the reports in the Earth Chronicle were true. I thought they were just propaganda put there so that our hatred for your people would increase. Now look at me. Macy will have a fit …

and I’m definitely in for a ‘
I told you so moment.
’ I can’t believe it.”

“I do. I knew you would always stay loyal to your job, even when the reports finally hit Earth’s media network. We have taken several other human women, and they are quite happy … they are content with their husbands … they are also women that were loyal to the democratic side. They welcomed the chance to be away from Earth. They welcomed freedom.”

“Piffle. Freedom isn’t what you offered them. You want to make love to me and use me as a breeding machine, you said so yourself. I’d have no say so in it, in effect I would be your slave.”

“Never.” He picked her up as effortlessly as she would pick up a rag doll. She couldn’t fight him. Whatever effect he had on her was wearing her defenses thin. He was right. She was attracted to him, and she didn’t think it was the drug like effect he had over her either.

“Please. Let me go now, and I swear I will go back to my home planet without uttering a word about what you planned for me.”

“No deal, Freya. You should stop trying to strike a bargain with me. I am immune to your cajoling. I will not give you up now that I have you. You are the perfect jewel.”

“This isn’t right.”

“It may not be right in your mind, but it is fully justifiable in my own mind. I need you, I want you … and you will never be able to escape me. Soon, my people will have Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 13

full control of the
Doorways
.”

“No … it was invented by humans.”

“Indeed, but we are much more sophisticated than you. We have been using an interstellar doorway system for millennia. You Earth Humans are getting far ahead of yourselves. You are overextending yourselves in the worst way possible, and in doing so, you have made yourself vulnerable to an outside attack. And how the mighty will fall.

Your civilization, as you know it, will disappear in smoke and ashes. Your fall will be like that of the fall of Rome.”

“We make war … you won’t be able to defeat Earth. Our forces are strong.”

“Especially since when they won the war, they took what resources your side had and added to their own … how ingenious. But your cunning leaders are getting a bit too big for their position. My people invented the art of war, and now your people will learn what it is like to fight a foe that is unstoppable.”

“I’m already learning that valuable lesson.” Sighing, she fell into a drug-induced slumber.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 14

Aries D’Halen had never met such a remarkable woman. Even though he’d been tracking her for almost one year, he hadn’t been prepared to meet such a woman. She had the spark of life and vivacity in her … she was certainly giving him a run for his platinum.

She fit perfectly in his arms. Though her spirit was big, her body was quite diminutive in size. He looked at her sleeping contentedly in his arms. Turning his head, he looked at one of the tourists that she had brought with her through the doorway. He watched him zip up his pants and look over at him.

“Now that was one hell of a great time.” He left the native that he’d been screwing and walked over to him. “Where in damnation do you think you’re taking Miss Freya.”

“I don’t think that should be any of your concern, Terran. I do not see fit to talk to such a human. You have no honor.”

“No honor? How dare you say such a foul thing to me? I will have you thrown in the stockade and horse whipped.”

“I don’t think so. You’ll not be able to do anything to me, and if you continue your blustering, I will throw you into my own dungeon, and then I’ll throw away the key.

The only one that will be at the end of the whip if you try me, will be you.”

“Outlander! You will pay for this affront to us. You did this … didn’t you?”

“I’ve had everything you did with the Willowbane Natives recorded for posterity.

Once I give the order, my men will send the link out to your media sources. I don’t think you have the luxury of making any sort of idle threats against me. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. Your government has pissed on the Gaians for the last time.

We are now fighting back and taking our forces on the offensive. Tell your government officials to get ready, they won’t know what has hit them in three weeks time.”

“Three weeks?”

“Three weeks is when we will make our first strike against your forces. And it will only take us three strikes to completely erase you from the galaxy. You have spread your suffering far enough, the natives of the planets you have enslaved will not be taken advantage of any more. They’re out for blood. Terran blood.”

With that, he took his one hand and pushed Gold back onto his ass. Gold started sputtering, “You will pay deeply for this, you Outlander. You are a piece of shit, and soon you will learn what the Earth Space Military does to kidnappers and hijackers. The only blood being shed will be Gaian blood.”

“Don’t count on it.” He didn’t even look back at Gold. He’d always hated the sort of men that were like Gold … he hated them and usually wanted to beat the crap out of them. But for now, he would let Gold live—for now.

By the time he’d brought her back to his ship, she’d started to awaken from her slumber.

“They will send people after me.” She sounded sleepy. He couldn’t help but smile, even under a great amount of duress, she was still mustering enough stamina to Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 15

give him a fight on his hands. “Morris will have already called for an extraction team, and when they discover that they can’t open the doorway again, that you’ve jammed it somehow, they will be suspicious. Logic will make them assume you and your men have been at it again.”

“Then they would be correct in that assumption. My merry men and I have been at it again.”

“Merry men? You’ve been researching too many Earth based legends. Now you’ve started quoting them.”

“But isn’t that what I am to your world? I am an outlaw to your people, and I do take what I need to survive.”

“Robin Hood never took women. You and your men are doing the unthinkable.”

“Not the way that I see it, or the way that my Emperor sees it. We are doing what we need to do to survive as a race. Without Earth human women, we will die out.” He thought of the women that had remained loyal to the cause. Many of them were already far past the age of child bearing. They were all Centurions. And Gaian women could not bear children past the age of ninety.

“That’s horrible.” She closed her eyes. He could see that she was pained by his words. “I’m sorry that our government did that to you … they never should have used biological weapons. I don’t know how we can ever make amends ....”

“Oh, you needn’t fret, you will make amends for me and for my people. You will bear me many strong children that will be our living legacy.”

“No. I won’t be your breeder … not in a million years.”

“Oh, you won’t just be my breeder … you will be my mate. I believe in Earth human custom you would be considered my wife. We shall take a vow of commitment to each other … I will never lay with another woman once we take that vow. We as a race mate for life.”

“How sweet. But I’m not buying into your sentimental shit. I want to go home. I have a life back on Earth.”

“A life? They will never free your uncle, no matter how much money you put down on the debts he owes to your planetary government. You have already lost him.”

He carried her to his private quarters on the ship. “Put me down!”

“You are not strong enough.”

“You are so obstinate and stubborn that you won’t even grant me one thing! You are the enemy … and I will continue to think of you as such unless you meet half way with me. I don’t want to hate you, but I will if I have to.”

“You are one delightful woman. You never give up. I can see you will make me a perfect partner in life.”

“Oh, please. Now you’re just starting to make me sick. I never expected to be taken by you today … and yet here I am, so do me a favor and just stop handing out the compliments so readily. You’ve just made yourself a wanted man …. Gold saw your face. He’ll be giving my government a physical description of you once he makes it back to Earth.”

“He won’t make it back to Earth until tomorrow … maybe even longer, and, by that time, my men will have already sent out the data feed that shows him screwing with a Native … in several positions. I must say, he does have quite the sexual appetite.”

“You’re disgusting. You are actually taking pleasure in what you’ve set up here.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 16

You told Gold he didn’t have any honor. Why the hell do you think you are any better?

You’ve sent out a video that will humiliate and destroy Gold. You are no better than he is, you just use different tactics to achieve your objectives.”

“Different tactics? Did I sterilize Gold? Did I throw him in a prison where he was left to rot? Did I? Gold thinks he’s going to bring your world and its colonies back to the feudal days of the Medieval Ages. He believes he can finally oust the leader of your government and proclaim himself high king of your civilization.”