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Authors: Ken McConnell
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security in charge of the Empress."
Verrad lifted an eyebrow. "I would not take but one warship on such a mission. This will put us at a disadvantage to Benzotii raiders."
"I understand the risks, Captain. Delay the announcement of your departure as you normally would to avoid any suspicions."
Verrad nodded approvingly. "Your knowledge of military procedures is impressive."
"You'll find I'm full of surprises, Captain," she said. Her confident grin suggesting more than just tactical awareness.
***
That evening, Velore was summoned to the Empress's bedchamber. She entered to find Nykostra dressed as herself. She immediately saw the likeness and gasped.
"My Empress, what are you doing in those rags?"
Nykostra grabbed her hands and pulled her over to the bed where her formal night gown was lain out.
"Put it on and get into my bed."
Velore's eyes widened. Nykostra started taking off the girl's simple white and gray dress.
"You will become me and I shall become you. You will stay in this room and take no visitors until you hear from me. Understood?"
Velore was stunned into silence as she was stripped naked and then dressed again in the Empress's own undergarments and night gown. She stared down at the silken undergarments and felt them with her fingers. Nykostra realized that the poor girl had probably never worn such expensive and fitted clothes before.
"Just stand still and let me dress you for once."
Velore blushed shyly, her blue skin darked. Nykostra pulled the laced gown onto her handmaid and tied the fasteners. Then she stood back and looked her up and down.
"Come on, we aren't done yet," she said, taking Velore's hand and pulling her into the lavatory to fix up her hair.
Nykostra had watched her servants do her hair her whole life and had never imagined that she might do the same for someone else. When she had finished, she stepped away and let Velore look at herself in the full length mirror.
"I, I look like you, my Empress."
Nykostra nodded. It wasn't a perfect match, but it would fool the house staff long enough for her to get away.
"Okay, get into my bed. Quickly."
The two girls traded places near the bed, Velore climbing into the thick, luxurious covers and pulling them up to her shoulders. Nykostra gathered the dishes from her evening meal and stepping back to make sure she had everything in place.
"Remember, don't let anyone inside unless you have to. Pretend you are tired and want your rest. Say as little as possible."
Velore was hesitant and then started to cry. Nykostra came back to the bedside and tried to quiet her.
"Stop it. I'm coming back, eventually. You just have to pretend for a few days."
Velore wiped her eyes on the back of her hands.
"What if I'm caught? Security will have me killed."
Nykostra shook her head. "No, they need a direct order from me to harm anyone on my staff. This ruse will be up soon enough and you can slip out of here and return to your duties."
"Where are you going my Empress?"
"I'm going on an adventure and you're helping to set me free."
This brought a weak smile to Velore's tear smudged azure face.
***
Captain Verrad's shuttle boarded late that evening from the landing pad nearest the Imperial Castle. It was a small, ten man shuttle and the only passengers were himself and a handmaiden. The shuttle's pilot and load master ignored her presence and she took her seat at the rear of the craft.
Verrad sat up by the pilot, his nose buried in a datapad. Kaleen had a small seat next to a porthole and she looked out of it as snow fell outside. This was her first trip off world and her first space voyage. She was nervous and giddy at the same time. Her ruse was going to work. Nobody had even questioned her presence at the starport or on the command shuttle. Handmaidens were not uncommon on warships as personal sexual objects of higher ranking officers. She had asked Verrad if he already had such a woman and he waved off the notion. It was unclear if he was just
Verrad lifted an eyebrow. "I would not take but one warship on such a mission. This will put us at a disadvantage to Benzotii raiders."
"I understand the risks, Captain. Delay the announcement of your departure as you normally would to avoid any suspicions."
Verrad nodded approvingly. "Your knowledge of military procedures is impressive."
"You'll find I'm full of surprises, Captain," she said. Her confident grin suggesting more than just tactical awareness.
***
That evening, Velore was summoned to the Empress's bedchamber. She entered to find Nykostra dressed as herself. She immediately saw the likeness and gasped.
"My Empress, what are you doing in those rags?"
Nykostra grabbed her hands and pulled her over to the bed where her formal night gown was lain out.
"Put it on and get into my bed."
Velore's eyes widened. Nykostra started taking off the girl's simple white and gray dress.
"You will become me and I shall become you. You will stay in this room and take no visitors until you hear from me. Understood?"
Velore was stunned into silence as she was stripped naked and then dressed again in the Empress's own undergarments and night gown. She stared down at the silken undergarments and felt them with her fingers. Nykostra realized that the poor girl had probably never worn such expensive and fitted clothes before.
"Just stand still and let me dress you for once."
Velore blushed shyly, her blue skin darked. Nykostra pulled the laced gown onto her handmaid and tied the fasteners. Then she stood back and looked her up and down.
"Come on, we aren't done yet," she said, taking Velore's hand and pulling her into the lavatory to fix up her hair.
Nykostra had watched her servants do her hair her whole life and had never imagined that she might do the same for someone else. When she had finished, she stepped away and let Velore look at herself in the full length mirror.
"I, I look like you, my Empress."
Nykostra nodded. It wasn't a perfect match, but it would fool the house staff long enough for her to get away.
"Okay, get into my bed. Quickly."
The two girls traded places near the bed, Velore climbing into the thick, luxurious covers and pulling them up to her shoulders. Nykostra gathered the dishes from her evening meal and stepping back to make sure she had everything in place.
"Remember, don't let anyone inside unless you have to. Pretend you are tired and want your rest. Say as little as possible."
Velore was hesitant and then started to cry. Nykostra came back to the bedside and tried to quiet her.
"Stop it. I'm coming back, eventually. You just have to pretend for a few days."
Velore wiped her eyes on the back of her hands.
"What if I'm caught? Security will have me killed."
Nykostra shook her head. "No, they need a direct order from me to harm anyone on my staff. This ruse will be up soon enough and you can slip out of here and return to your duties."
"Where are you going my Empress?"
"I'm going on an adventure and you're helping to set me free."
This brought a weak smile to Velore's tear smudged azure face.
***
Captain Verrad's shuttle boarded late that evening from the landing pad nearest the Imperial Castle. It was a small, ten man shuttle and the only passengers were himself and a handmaiden. The shuttle's pilot and load master ignored her presence and she took her seat at the rear of the craft.
Verrad sat up by the pilot, his nose buried in a datapad. Kaleen had a small seat next to a porthole and she looked out of it as snow fell outside. This was her first trip off world and her first space voyage. She was nervous and giddy at the same time. Her ruse was going to work. Nobody had even questioned her presence at the starport or on the command shuttle. Handmaidens were not uncommon on warships as personal sexual objects of higher ranking officers. She had asked Verrad if he already had such a woman and he waved off the notion. It was unclear if he was just
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