Princess Rescue Inc (50 page)

He
eyed her again. “I'm not so much interested in getting my name in the history
books as moving mankind forward. Setting up the infrastructure to go to new
worlds, to repair our own, to touch the stars. The cutting edge stuff. Explore
new frontiers. Where no man has gone before...”

“You
almost had it there,” she said with a half smile.

“What?”
he demanded. He stopped confused.

“Star
Trek. Never mind, it's not important,” she said getting up. “I've gotta get
back to work, you think about it.”

“Sure,
I'll put it right up there on my to do list,” he sighed then shook his head.
“I've got something for you to remember. Buckland.
He
didn't exactly
make a big dent here did he?”

She
froze and then shook her head as she walked out.

<==={}------------>

Deidra
was vexed when her monthly started the day after she had rested with Ryans. She
went back to court in her court dress and makeup. Instead of flirting with him
she avoided him in the morning until the cramps and bleeding were under
control.

It
was a way to drive him off; the face paint and outfits were a major turn off to
him. He took one look in passing, nodded politely to her but kept going. She
didn't understand why he avoided her company and was hurt and angry at being
spurned.

She
came to realize the reason when her mother ordered her to seduce him and she attempted
it once more after an evening meal. The attempt was half hearted and he slipped
away with an excuse that someone was calling him on his radio. He left with one
hand to his earpiece, pulling out his phone.

She
tried to think about the situation as she slowly walked to her rooms for the
night. She was tempted to go to his rooms but his reaction and rejection
burned. He was definitely uncomfortable with her presence, something he hadn't
been the other evening.  From the parapet walk above she spotted him
talking with Wanda and Charlie. He was relaxed, talking and laughing not stiff
and trying to avoid their presence. Her sister Zara approached and he didn't
flinch or beg off. She became instantly jealous.

She
studied her sister, watching her. Zara wasn't flirting with him, she knew
better. But she was talking with him and he was receptive, speaking with all
three women as equals. That was something she still couldn't quite grasp, all
the gaijin were respectful of her and the other nobles but only to a point.
They treated them as equals, not above their rank and station.

She
studied her sister once more. Her sister had set trends this fashion season by
emulating the gaijin. Gaijin fashion was always a fashion trend, something new and
different to catch the eyes of the men folk and to scandalize the older
generations. Zara... she studied her sister as she moved about and sucked in
her breath. Zara had no wig, her hair was down and she had little makeup on! In
fact none at all that she could see from a distance! Could that be it? Zara
looked like... could he be attracted to... well, mother had said that her
father was most amorous when she had no makeup on... could that indeed be it?
So simple?

She
rested a hand on the edge of the wall as she watched them talk. Could she
really do that? Emulate the gaijin? She thought, frowning. She realized that he
was attracted to the natural looking gaijin. Natural and natural acting, not
play acting or court acting. Should she try to emulate the gaijin as her sister
had? If she wanted to... if she wanted to continue her line she would have to
she realized.

The
next morning she started to dress down, to copy some of the female gaijin's
makeup, much to the pique of the royal makeup artist Druzilla. Her first
attempt didn't go over well so she pulled Wanda aside for a quick lesson. Wanda
lent her a kit and made another Mary Kay party joke that Deidra of course
didn't understand.

She
immediately started a trend in the court with the simple summer dress she'd
borrowed from Wanda. Her mother asked about it at lunch. She smiled politely.
“Well, it's warm mother,” she said picking up a feather fan and fanning
herself. “And this is quite cooler. I've already put in an order for the odd
shoes Wanda wears. Flip flops she calls them.” Her mother's eyes flashed and
she cocked her head, a sure sign that she wasn't buying that excuse.

“And
no, it's well, okay a little competition with Zara,” Deidra admitted. The
Queen's eyes narrowed but she didn't quite buy that either. Finally off to the
side and out of ear shot of others she told her mother she was trying to be
more attractive to Ryans.

“The
makeup doesn't run in the heat,” her mother admitted. “At least when you wear
so little.”

“And
I'm more comfortable.”

“Do
have a care with the court and the sun dear,” her mother warned her. Deidra
nodded reluctantly. “Did you drive him off with your...” she indicated Deidra's
tummy and cleared her throat.

“I...
I'm not sure. I do know that wearing court dress wasn't working mother. Court
dress and manners were part of what was driving him away I believe.”

The
Queen sighed and then fanned herself. “I wish we could get you two away to the
mountains in the retreat for a month or so. The lack of pressure might be the
catalyst needed.”

Deidra
looked at her mother with an eye and then snorted. “I think the war takes
precedence mother. And kidnapping him to drag him off to the mountains to
seduce him would have far reaching consequences,” she said, indicating the
gaijin military leader Perry with her fan briefly.

Her
mother followed the pointed fan and then pursed her lips and then nodded
slightly. “How long do you plan to do this?”

“As
long as it takes mother.  For life if necessary. If you want things this
way then it seems a small price to pay,” Deidra replied, lifting her chin
slightly.

“I
do say that that dress is far too... the winter and all...” the Queen murmured
looking at her again. “Though seeing Andreas's reaction if I wore it,” she had
a devilish smile. Her daughter snorted.

“No
mother you can't borrow it. It's too small for you. Though you could ask Domina
Ciara to make one,” Deidra hinted. Her mother snorted and then shook her head.

“Now
that would scandalize some if not all of the court,” she said. “Pity, I think
I'd enjoy it,” she said looking away. She looked at her daughter again, eyes
twinkling. “I was quite the terror to your grandmother in my youth. I did many
of the same things as you are doing now daughter, but not to this… she
indicated the dress. “Extreme.”

“I'll
do what I must mother,” Deidra said firmly. “Besides, it does sort of grow on
you,” she admitted. She had even shaved her legs.

“Yes
dear, if it's what's needed, then do so,” her mother reluctantly agreed.

Deidra
blinked in surprise at her mother's agreement. Finally she smiled slightly and
walked off. Over the next several days she tried different outfits to get his
attention but he was always busy or out in the capital. The low cut dresses and
such scandalized and titillated the court but intrigued some of the more
adventurous into emulating her. Some of the younger members of the court
ordered new dresses and outfits like the gaijin wore or cut down and simplified
their current wardrobe. She had to stay one step ahead to stand out from the
sudden unwanted competition.

<==={}------------>

Deidra
and her mother enlisted Sue and other girls in the hunt once more when her
latest efforts didn't completely pay off. The girls joked about war paint and
hunting men. It took time to translate the concepts. Sue limited herself to a
general discussion of various things, but the royal trio kept steering the
discussion to Terran men and Ryans in particular. She knew what they were up
to, so did her best to avoid the subject. Of course Wanda and Charlie had no
such compulsion.

Corporal
Patterson had been with them for a short time, an invited guest of Zara. The
two of them were fast friends, and she frequently lent things to Zara and
helped her with various ideas. Unfortunately she couldn't stay since she was on
guard duty in a few hours and had to beg off and leave. Zara pouted a little
but finally got over the loss as they continued to talk.

The
Queen was drawn off for a last minute consultation and left as well. Before
leaving she gave her daughters a stern and knowing look. Both women knew what
it was about, their mother wanted more information on Ryans and the culture the
gaijin came from.

Sue
commented delicately about the rapes once more. She was probing, trying to see
how her mental state was but also trying to shut down their intel effort. “I
mean is this the best time I...”

When
Zara and Deidra finally got what she meant they laughed. “We're not virgins. We
know what we're doing,” Zara giggled, covering her face with her hand.

“Um...
“

“Virgin
princesses? Boy, the boys will be disappointed in that,” Wanda joked.

“Um...”

“Okay,
old joke, never mind. So um, you have um... experience?" Sue asked weakly.

Zara
nodded, eyes twinkling. “Oh yes.”

“Um...”

“So,
how I mean, not just the well you know. The incident," Wanda asked,
tripping over the subject. Sue winced expecting a blow up.

Zara
froze and then shrugged. "Oh no, we've... it's hard to explain I suppose.
We have watched your videos and talked to the soldier woman Lisa Patterson. She
has explained a few things. Now I supposed it is our turn. In our society the
men normally lead. That's how it's done. So what happened...?”

"Wasn't
your fault," Wanda said, eyes flashing.

Zara
shook her head. "No of course not. Nor could it be avoided."

"So
the grief and..."

"Was
for the death of our brother Balthazar, our servants, and its implications on
us and our family and our future," Zara replied, shoulders hunched.
"Though yes, the rapes were a part of our misery. A small part of a
greater whole."

"Oh."

"From
our perspective we must insure the royal line. To do otherwise would invite
misery and an end to our family and our people."

"Oh,
so..."

"Chase
the guy to continue on?"

"Well,
women are known for chasing the men to control the gene pool," Sue replied
dryly. "And Ryans is attractive. I've seen him with his shirt off."

“So
have I,” Sue said. She looked at Deidra who nodded.

“He
is attractive,” Deidra admitted. She had really liked listening to his heart
beat and breathing when they had lain together. His effort not to press her had
been... sweet.

The
party ran a gamut of subjects, from bathing and subtle perfumes, running water,
hot and cold... they discussed the Queen and courtiers. Concepts like lights
with no flames, ovens, etc, they bounced around to various subjects for a while
before getting back to the inevitable.

They
watched some of the Britney movies before Deidra tired of it. Oh, she did like
some of the footage but some of it only confused her. They watched Carly
Jepsen's “Call Me Maybe” music video for wardrobe ideas and giggled over her
antics to get the guy's attention. “He's dreamy though,” Zara sighed.

“Zara!”
Deidra said, mock shocked by her sister's admission.

Zara
glared at her as Wanda stopped the video. “Wasn't it you who showed me the
hiding spot overlooking the pool where the boys bathe in the summer?” Zara
asked with a knowing grin. Deidra flushed and hit her sister with a pillow.
Wanda caught Sue's eyes and rolled hers. Sue snorted.

“Let's
just say it get's interesting at the end,” Charlie said, reaching around Wanda
to hit the play button as the two princesses settled down. At the end the
gaijin women snickered at the whole gay turn of events while the princesses
blinked in confusion. They had to explain it to the natives.

“Could
that be his problem?” Deidra asked aghast,  suddenly concerned about Ryans
but Wanda snickered and told her not to worry,

“Ryans
isn't the type, and besides, I know for a fact he dated the ladies before we
left. Nothing serious of course or he wouldn't be here,” she frowned and then
decided to plunge on. “Ryans is more interested in getting us home,” she said.
“That's your biggest thing, well, one of them. The whole living here in these
conditions for the rest of his life and giving up his family and everything he
had on Earth?” she waved a dismissive hand. “Not to mention being worried about
someone sticking a knife in his back or poisoning him like Marcus? Yeah, you've
got your work cut out for you girl,” Wanda said.

“Then
of course there's him the man. Do you want this because your mother ordered it?
For the good of the Imperium and the royal line or because you genuinely like
the guy? He's a big lug, charming, with a thick honor streak and stubborn as
the day is long. If you're chasing him because of orders or out of some
misplaced guilt over him saving you then forget it. You'll never get past an
occasional kiss princess. He'll pull up stakes quick,” Charlie said. Sue
remained quiet. She squirmed and nodded when Deidra looked at her for
confirmation.