Untouchable

Prologue

Lieutenant Alan Stewart stood silently in the dock as the charges against him were read out. He felt completely numb.

Assault.

Battery.

Attempted rape.

The court official was a civilian, an older man, tall and thin with white hair, his dry, expressionless voice made the words even more shocking. Stewart stared straight ahead, not meeting the eyes of anyone else in the small courtroom, especially the hurt, furious eyes of the victim’s father, a man he had previously called friend.

Robin Lang, unofficial prosecutor, kept his gaze riveted on the accused. Somebody had brought Stewart his dark blue dress uniform, but he no longer looked like the confident, professional officer that he was. In fact, he looked exhausted, his dark brown hair flat against his head, his skin pale and grey, exaggerating the scratches on his face.

Lang continued to glare fiercely, trying to force Stewart to meet his gaze, see the accusation in his eyes, make him admit what he had done.

Chapter One

(Three years earlier)

The silver spaceship docked gently at the small space station of Mao, in orbit around the green, forested planet of Tian. Tian was one of two planets orbiting Zhu, at the outer edges of the Aurigan constellation, the furthest inhabited star system from Capella. The P112 Qatar would stay there for a week, allowing the all-male crew time to complete a training exercise in the rainforest, as well as have a few days leave in the city of Huan.

Lieutenant Alan Stewart was looking forward to his two days of leave. He was hoping to catch up with his friend, Captain Robin Lang of the Huan police force. They had been friends now for around eighteen years, something of a record for both of them. Even though one of them was straight and the other homosexual, an ‘om’ in the current slang, both men had remained good friends since their first year in the Academy. Stewart had stayed on his chosen path to becoming a Patrol ship officer, while Lang had moved sideways into planetary law enforcement when he met his wife-to-be, Pauline, during a mission on Tian.

The divorce rate amongst starship officers was exceedingly high and, rather than risk his marriage, Lang had not hesitated to make the change. Lang had settled happily into his new job and, as far as Stewart knew, had never regretted the move. Even when Pauline died a few years later in a climbing accident, he had not been tempted to return to space, largely because Max, their son, had been only ten years old at the time and needed a stable environment.

Captain Lang had been happy to hear from his old friend, and had immediately invited Stewart back to his home that evening for dinner. Lang lived on the outskirts of Huan, with a rainforest in the back yard and a two story house made of cedoak. Stewart found himself constantly amazed that there was enough of this material to actually build a whole house. On Burra, where he was born, wood was for luxury items of furniture or sculpture, the exclusive property of the wealthy.

Alan Stewart made his way down the wide street to his friend’s house, glad to stretch his legs after the confines of the ship. He was a tall man, nearly two metres, with broad shoulders and long legs. His body was toned by constant training, but as far as he was concerned, nothing beat a brisk walk in fresh air to loosen the muscles and clear the mind. He wore civilian clothes for his leave ‒ an olive green singlesuit ‒ and carried a small pack over one shoulder.

A tall young man in khaki cargo pants and a white sleeveless shirt opened the door to him.

Uncle Alan! Father said you were coming. He moved towards him as if to give him a hug then suddenly remembered he was sixteen now and put his hand out for the Lieutenant to shake. Stewart laughed and pulled him into a bear hug. He had been Max’s honorary uncle since he was born, sending him birthday presents, watching him grow up and taking a proud interest in his achievements.

How are you, Max? Breaking hearts yet? He released him and followed the grinning boy into the house. The boy had shot up into a young man overnight, it seemed, though it was probably all of two years since he had seen him. Max had been away at school camp on his last visit.

Captain Lang came out of the kitchen, drying his hands. He was tall and blond like his son, but more heavily built, with a deep chest and the well-muscled thighs of a man who took his physical fitness very seriously.

Alan! Great to see you. Come in and Max will get you something to drink.

The three of them ate noodle soup and talked into the night, Max listening spellbound like a ten year old in front of a campfire, to Stewart’s account of his latest mission.

That’s what I want to do, when I’m old enough. Go to the Academy and get a job in the space patrol, he said eagerly.

Both men smiled at him. This was scarcely the first time he had said those words, but now he was sixteen, it was becoming more of a real possibility. Max looked at Stewart hopefully. Would you have a training session with me later? I’ve been working hard on my hand to hand combat ‒ I bet I’ve improved since last time.

I should hope so! You’ve grown at least thirty centimetres since then. But not tonight, he smiled and turned to Lang, Maybe tomorrow, if I can stay over?

Lang nodded. Of course, the spare room is already made up.

The next morning, Max was keen to show Stewart his fighting skills. They both dressed in loose-fitting white singlesuits and went along to the room that Lang set aside specifically for training. They worked out for a good half hour before the Lieutenant decided it was time for breakfast and threw Max onto his back, pulling his arm underneath him in a hold so that he couldn’t move without breaking it. He smiled down at him, You’re right, you have improved.

Max looked up at Alan, feeling his idol’s body pressing against his, and in that split second, everything changed forever. He stopped breathing for a minute as awareness rushed through his entire body ‒ he felt every hard muscle of the man on top of him, saw the curve of his lips only centimetres from his own, felt a lock of hair brushing his face, felt himself go rock hard. He stared up at Alan, half horribly embarrassed, half aching for some response. He’d always known Alan was an om, he just hadn’t fully realised he was one himself until that moment.

Stewart froze in total surprise. He was just preparing to laugh it off for both their sakes when Lang spoke sharply from the doorway.

What’s going on? he asked, his voice hard.

Nothing, Stewart answered automatically. Max was just about to concede. He stood up, hauling the boy to his feet with one hand and grabbing a towel for him with the other. You can have first shower, he told him, pushing him gently in the opposite direction from his father, giving him a chance to get back under control. Max didn’t need to be told twice ‒ he disappeared into the bathroom.

Stewart turned to the Captain, ready to make some light comment about boys growing up, but Lang spoke first.

"What the fuck were you doing?" His face was rigid with anger.

Stewart stared at him in disbelief, his own face whitening with shock. He licked his lips, trying to speak, his throat suddenly tight. "We were only wrestling. You should know I would never, NEVER take advantage of Max, whatever it may have looked like to you!"

I want you to go, Lang spoke harshly. Max is not an om and I won’t have you trying to make him one!

The other man felt sick. How could Robin think for one second he would do anything like that, even if it were possible? He made himself take a deep breath, there was absolutely no point in trying to reason with his friend in the state he was in now. He could almost see fear and anger coming off him in waves. The two men stood still, facing off against each other in taut silence. Stewart gave in first. A confrontation now wasn’t going to do either of them any good.

All right, I’ll leave right away. He forced the words out and went to the door. Unable to resist a parting shot, he turned at the last minute to say, But, Rob, nothing you or I say or do will change who Max is. You know that, right?

Oblivious to the disaster unfolding in the training room, Max daydreamed under the shower, reliving the feel of Alan’s body on his. If only his father hadn’t come in! Maybe Alan would have kissed him ... he’d certainly wanted him to. He wasn’t a hundred per cent sure what two men did with each other, surely the stories he’d heard at school couldn’t be true! But ... he could easily imagine Alan’s hand on him now, where his own was, and in return his hand taking Alan ...

He couldn’t believe it when his father told him Alan had left. That he’d asked him to leave.

"But he didn’t do anything! he protested indignantly. How could you insult him like that?"

I don’t want him around you again until you’re grown up, Lang stated in a flat voice.

Max stared back. He felt deeply mortified and furious with his father for putting him in this position. Abruptly, his feelings boiled over, out of control. Well here’s the news, Dad, it won’t make any difference, he announced with reckless defiance. I’m already an om, get used to it!

Completely overwrought, Lang hit him sharply across the face. Both breathing hard, father and son stood staring at each other in growing horror, the handprint a vivid red on Max’s face.

Chapter Two

(Present time)

Captain Almeida gave the order to send the ship into faster-than-light drive, or FTL as it was more commonly called. His ship, the Qatar, had been ordered to the system’s second planet, Bao, which was currently midway through its trajectory on the far side of the sun, Zhu.

Colonists from Tian were attempting to establish an outpost on the smallest continent of Bao after a series of setbacks on the two larger landmasses. The wildlife had been too aggressive in one instance, and the climate variation too extreme in the other. Although they could have destroyed the desert dragons, experience had shown that it was best to let evolution work these dynamics out without human intervention. If a species was too aggressive, it often destroyed itself. The continent the colonists had eventually chosen to settle on was at the base of the planet, hot and dry with no surface water and only rudimentary life.

Almeida could remember the attempt by some environmental groups to have the whole planet protected, but humans had to live somewhere and this was the best compromise the Aurigan Exploratory Service could come up with.

Unfortunately, the Chief of Police in Huan, Captain Lang, had received various unsubstantiated reports that a black market was developing in desert dragon skins. Lang had requested support from Patrol Headquarters and, as the only patrol ship in the vicinity, the Qatar was now on its way to Bao to investigate the rumours.

Almeida wondered cynically whether anyone would have bothered the creatures if the original team had given the reptiles a prosaic name, like ‘lizards’ instead of the more romantic ‘dragon’.

The Qatar emerged into orbit around Bao and he asked his First Lieutenant to join him on the bridge.

Stewart, I’m putting you in charge of this assignment. You can take Beta team with you, and a couple of fliers.

Stewart nodded. We’ll go straight to Xamo, the desert area?

I thought so, Almeida agreed. There’s a small patrol outpost at the colony on Guo. I’ll send Wilson down to have a chat to them, see if they know anything, but not for a day or so. Don’t want the poachers getting warned off earlier than we have to. It was always difficult dealing with small settlements when there was criminal activity in the area. Chances were extremely high that at least one of the inhabitants was actively involved in the offence or at least was being paid to turn a blind eye.

The new Medic, Banner, has asked to go along with you, the Captain continued. He’s interested in the desert dragons. In fact, he’s got an additional qualification in xenobiology, and would like to get a closer look at them if he can.

Stewart raised an eyebrow.

He understands he’ll be under your command during the mission, Almeida reassured him. And he’ll stay out of the way until you have the situation secured.

All right then, the Lieutenant agreed, trying to remember if he had met Banner yet. The Qatar had taken on a couple of new crewmen when they’d docked at Mao the day before.

He headed down to the infirmary to introduce himself. He made a point of always knowing as much as he could about the men in his team before he worked with them, before he found himself in a position where lives depended on that knowledge.

Medical Officer Michael Banner looked up at the tall man bearing down on him, wearing a Lieutenant’s uniform, and braced himself. This must be Alan Stewart, the man he had been told was an om within his first hour on board the Qatar.

The man who had given him the news ‒ the Medic he was replacing, in fact ‒ had been giving him an informal overview of all the officers, and had mentioned it almost as an afterthought. Banner had stared at him in startled surprise. That sort of information was not normally made public. The other man had hastened to reassure him.

It’s all right, he doesn’t make a secret of it. You don’t need to worry, he won’t hit on you, or indeed any one in the crew. He jokes that he prefers older men, so unless you’re over forty you’re safe! He laughed. He’s a good man, the Lieutenant. You’ll see. In fact, it’s a good ship. I’ll be sorry to leave, even though I’m sure I’ll enjoy the placement on Mao.

Lieutenant Stewart saw the stranger turn towards him and just like that, his pulse leapt into overdrive. Thick black hair, wide forehead with grey eyes under arching black brows, perfect, smooth skin with just a touch of shadow around the jaw, kissable lips ... much too young, of course. It was a long time since he had felt such a strong physical attraction to a man. With a face like that, he must have women falling all over him – men, too, for that matter! His nostrils flared as he tried to damp down his attraction.

He held out his hand. Michael Banner? I’m Lieutenant Stewart. I hear you’ll be joining us in our operation down on Bao.

Banner took his hand a little stiffly. Sir.

He let go as soon as he could.

Stewart sighed inside. Not another man who was uncomfortable around oms. It was a constant battle that he had to fight every day, ever since the crew had found out about him a few years ago. Unless you were living like a monk, he didn’t see how someone who got to his age could hide that about himself, particularly if he hung out at om-friendly bars on Capella, where he was bound to be recognised eventually. Long practice allowed him to keep his expression one of polite friendliness. In Banner’s defence, perhaps his reaction was not surprising if he found himself constantly having to fend off unwanted advances.

You’re interested in the desert dragons? he asked, casually stepping back to give the man space.

Banner’s face relaxed into a smile, which immediately undid all the good work Stewart had just done to cool down his ardour. Yes. I was lucky enough to be able to study a real skull when I was in Huan. There were some extremely unusual features that I’d like to examine in more detail. I’d really like to be able to see a live one, but a complete skeleton would also suit me if I could find one. It resembles an extinct species on Earth ‒ the Tuatara ‒ but I need more data to make any valid comparisons‒ he broke off self consciously. Sorry! Don’t get me started unless you’ve got a spare hour or two!

Stewart smiled in return. It sounds interesting, he replied in all sincerity. Mind you, he would have found rock salt interesting if Banner were talking about it. But for the moment, all I need to know is whether you’ve had any combat experience at all?

Banner shook his head. No, sorry, sir. The Captain already explained to me that I’ll have to stay out of your way. I’ll wait until you give me the go-ahead before I start looking for specimens, I promise.

Fair enough. When you hear the call for Beta team, that will include you. Can I suggest you have a small pack ready to go? There probably won’t be much notice.

Right. Thank you, sir. Banner was grateful.

Lieutenant Stewart took his leave and returned to the bridge. Just as well that young man was at least slightly homophobic, he thought, for both their sakes. He was just too cute. He’d have to be careful to keep a safe distance from him during the mission ‒ he didn’t want to embarrass them both.

Chapter Three

The call for Beta team came within the next twenty-four hours. The men assembled quickly and efficiently in front of the shuttle that would take them down to Xamo, the home of the desert dragons. It was the second-largest continent on the planet Bao, covering the top of the planet rather like a floppy hat.

Second Officer Wilson had scanned the continent, looking for any evidence of the smugglers, especially buildings or tracks, and had located a site that he thought would be worth further investigation. The shuttle would land at least sixty kays away and most of Beta team would travel the rest of the way by a small flier. A small force, including Michael Banner, would stay with the shuttle until Stewart gave them the all-clear to join the team.

Red. The colour of the desert sand was orange red, unlike the red brown rocks of Burra or the rich dark brown soil of Tian. Sand covered the ground in every direction, interspersed with wiry, reddish-orange plants which spread for meters but were only a couple of centimetres high. Twisting gullies furrowed the land, metres deep in places, providing the only real shade from the sun and shelter to purple red shrubs, but promising to make any progress by foot extremely slow. The two fliers,