Alien Indiscretions by Tracy St. John

immense sleeping mat, she found Tasha eager to quit the grand suite of rooms. “It would be one thing to live here with a clan and children,” Tasha mused. “It’s ridiculous for us though.”
    Cissy agreed. They had their storage bins by the door when Lindsey and Jessica arrived at sunrise.
    “Overkill, huh?” Lindsey laughed as she handed them each a mug of coffee. “Now you see why my clan lives in a much more modest setting.”
    Cissy sipped from her steaming cup, moaning with pleasure as she did so. First thing in the morning and after every meal, she was grateful that the Kalquorians had seen fit to import coffee from the Earther colonies that grew the beans. Coffee had become a big hit in the Empire, she’d discovered.
    Tasha smiled apologetically at Jessica. “It’s beautiful here, but I feel lost in so much space. I guess I got used to ship’s quarters on the transport.”
    Jessica sighed, but she didn’t seem insulted. “You’ll appreciate being able to get lost once you have a clan and kids. I love my brood and lifemates beyond all sense, but sometimes escape is a wonderful thing.”
    “So says the woman trying for another child,” Lindsey smirked.
    “Are you?” Cissy grinned. “Two isn’t enough?”
    “Not even close,” Jessica asserted. “I want lots of kids. After all, I have plenty of home in which to hide from them.”
    “There is logic hidden somewhere in there,” Tasha mused. “I’m sure of it.”
    Laughing, the four women headed for the shuttle bay, where they were joined by a contingent of the Royal Guard. A pilot was quickly located to take them to the Matara Complex.
    Cissy and Tasha’s new home was in an underground cavern, created by the mining that was the Kalquorian Empire’s greatest asset. Cissy hadn’t been too sure about living underground, but she’d been told she would never know the difference. We’ll see about that , she thought as the small Imperial shuttle left the cliff to perform a steep banking maneuver that took them into a tunnel within the cliff face.
    Jessica said, “Usually only emergency vehicles are allowed in the underground. You have to walk or run everywhere otherwise.”
    “I guess being royal has its advantages, Your Grace?” Cissy teased.
    “Be nice or I’ll shove my silver spoon up your nose,” Jessica said in a snotty tone. The effect was ruined as she broke down in giggles.
    Lindsey didn’t join in the humor. “Jessica has to be careful, as little as she wants to admit it. This rebellion issue has meant abduction attempts. It’s scary how close we’ve come to losing her.”
    “But you haven’t and you won’t.” The young woman tried to wave off everyone’s concern. “The Basma doesn’t have enough followers to make his revolt a true threat.”
    “Yet.” Lindsey was dogged in her determination to give them the full story. “There are signs that more Kalquorians are swayed to his cause every day. He damned near cost us Haven Colony a few months ago.”
    “You’re being dramatic,” Jessica complained. It was funny for her to ascribe that to Lindsey, since Cissy knew how temperamental her youngest cousin could be. Jessica’s stormy temper was legendary in their family.
    “I heard what Governor Ospar told you. Earthers and Kalquorians on that colony banding together under the common cause of keeping the races separate? Even though it could drive us both into extinction? That’s unheard of.”
    “Ospar loves to be dramatic. He thrives on the hint of conspiracies and mayhem. I suspect he’s behind quite a few such things himself. I love that guy, but he’s not happy unless he’s in the middle of trouble.” Jessica waved her hand dismissively. “Enough talk of rebellions. Full vid on.”
    Cissy and Tasha yelped as the entire shuttle seemed to disappear from around them. Except for the doorway that opened into the vessel’s cockpit and the lushly cushioned seats they sat upon, there was nothing but a lit tunnel