The Fight for Mongo

By

Tina Tempest

The revolution Flash has set off on Mongo faces perilous days. Seeking mercenaries to strengthen the rebel position and perhaps turn the tide of war, Flash engages in diplo

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The fight for Mongo's liberation had reached the critical point. The rebellion, inspired by Flash Gordon's example, had led to freedom for many of Mongo's peoples but things were at a crisis point. More troops were needed on the revolution’s side to ensure victory. In quest of those troops, Flash Gordon, now a general in the army of the rebellion, journeyed to Grand Thule, Mongo's furthest north kingdom to urge it potentate, Satrap Ra-Hesh, III to release his huge army of mercenaries to join the fight against Ming the Merciless. Dale Arden would not hear of her love traveling without her. Flash was against it as the trek to the distant kingdom would be an arduous one and because it was not known how his overture would be received in the kingdom that valued its independence and privacy. In the end however, he could deny the trim, beautiful brunette nothing.
Flash's fears were eased a bit when Prince Barin agreed to loan him an air car for the long journey. With the supplies and extra fuel, they needed to bring there would be no room for Doctor Hans Zarkov. The good doctor was needed in any case to help invent new weapons for the beleaguered revolutionary army.
If the satrap could be convinced to send even a division of his mercenaries, it could turn the tide of battle. As it was, the soldiers under the capable leadership of Prince Barin, Flash, and the various rebel generals were holding their own. An influx of fresh troops would make all the difference. Rumor was Ming had sent emissaries to the satrap's normally neutral country with the same goal in mind. Not the most skilled of diplomats, Flash was counting on Dale to help smooth things over, if necessary, with the satrap. He was a well-known ladies’ man who adored meeting beautiful women. He was certain to be charmed with Dale, especially if she was willing to do a bit of innocent flirting for the cause.
The air car landed just outside the satrap's palace. Dale pulled her fur coat tightly against her slender form to offset the icy chill of the northern wind. Both she and Flash were impressed by the architecture. White filigree, gentle arches and, slender white towers. Its central dome, which covered the throne room was covered with solid gold tiles held in place by silver rivets. This led Flash to comment,
"The satrap has much to lose if he were to fall on Ming's wrong side, his wealth, his position and power, also, his legendary harem."
"But he and all of Mongo would gain so much if Ming were overthrown," returned Dale.
"Neutrality has brought peace to his realm and stabilized his power."
"You shall have to really sell this alliance, darling."
"The freedom of Mongo depends upon it."
Dale placed her hand on Flash's arm, "Not to mention what Ming the Merciless would do to you, if the rebellion fails, Flash."
"Prolonged painful torture and a miserable death for me would actually be preferable to your fate, darling. They would parade you naked through the streets before you spent the rest of your days languishing in Ming's harem, doing the most grossly objectional duties, living at a pervert's whim. The prospect is monstrous!"
"We have to succeed, Flash!"
The lover's kissed deeply.
Men wearing the crimson and cream uniform of Grand Thule approached the vehicle.
Flash opened the top and stated,
"Greetings! I am General Flash Gordon. This is my companion, Dale Arden. I believe that his eminence the Satrap Ra-Hesh III is expecting me."
The soldier returned Flash's salute.
"Very good sir. If you would be so good as to accompany us."
Flash exited the air car. Dale noted, on her side of the vehicle, that a dark-featured and quite handsome lieutenant was extending his arm, offering to escort her. She returned his brilliant smile and accepted his arm. She fell into place three paces behind Flash and the other Grand Thule officer. They strode past saluting guards into lovely halls, tastefully furnished. Dale noted that the Thulians tended to be tall and limber, dark hair predominated. At an interior room, Dale and Flash's coats were taken. Inside, the palace was toasty warm.
"What a handsome group of people!" exclaimed Dale at one point. Then they entered the throne room. The words ornate, stunning, sumptuous, spectacular were all inadequate. On an intricately carved throne of amber and ivory sat the satrap. Dale's eyes widened with delight. He was as dashing as a matinee idol, with black hair, black shining eyes, a neat goatee and attractive moustache. It was clear by the cut of his cloak that he was sleekly and powerfully muscled. The voice inside of Dale's head said, "You'll have NO trouble flirting, girl!" then she chuckled softly.
Flash presented his diplomatic credentials to the satrap's page. He stood at attention and waited to be recognized.
"General Gordon, come forward."
Tall, athletic, and blond, Flash made his way to the foot of the throne. He bowed respectfully.
"Your eminence! I come on an urgent mission with a profound proposal for you."
"I am well aware of the nature of your errand, General Gordon. My men inform me that you arrived with a companion."
"Yes, your eminence." he signaled, and Dale made her way to his side.
She could feel the potentate’s appreciative stare as his eyes ravenously devoured her. Dale was grateful that she had selected a demure green gown for this audience. It was a bit tight in the bodice and followed the line of her trim, nubile body but otherwise concealed everything. She curtsied politely.
"A truly ravishing creature!" exclaimed the satrap.
Dale returned the royal smile and did the best she could to appear nonchalant as he focused on her.
Ra-Hesh , III whispered into the ear of one of his attendants before he spoke again.
"General Gordon, if your aim was to convince me that your side should be the one for which I fight because it has the most beautiful and delightful women on the entirety of Mongo, you have almost convinced me."
Dale beamed. After a beat, the satrap continued, "But, unfortunately, wars are not fought for the sake of beauty."
The smile faded from Dale's face. The satrap addressed her,
"While i appreciate your presence, and would love nothing more than gentle conversation with you over dinner by candlelight, I am also quite sure, beautiful one, that discussion of statecraft, army strength, and so forth will bore you to tears. I invite you to have tea with my hostesses."
It wasn't a request. It was a polite order. A red-tressed young woman in brief attire appeared at Dale's side and offered her hand. Dale accepted it and the redhead led her from the throne room. She did not approve of the hostess's, short skirt and midriff baring crimson and cream uniform. It wasn't the brevity of the attire that bothered Dale. After all, since arriving on Mongo, Dale's Twentieth Century contemporary fashion sense had been altered profoundly. Life on the new alien world had found her clothed in some mighty scanty things more times than she could count. Sometimes this was by her own choice, but just as often, abbreviated fashions had been selected for her by captors or conspirators. Ming forced her into revealing and demeaning fashions whenever she was compelled to be in his presence. In fact, it seemed as though, the entirety of the population of Mongo was determined to clothe Dale in as little as legally permissible. Vultan, the ruler of the Hawkmen abducted her shortly after her first arrival on Mongo. In short order, she was clad in just a jeweled brassiere and long skirt slit all the way to the hip on one side. The psychotic Witch Queen and her merry band of evil lesbians, incensed at some imagined infraction on Dale's part, had stripped her down and flogged her for "impertinence." In a Mongo prison, two mannish female guards took utter delight in tearing off Dale's clothes before roughly searching her and then providing her a prison uniform that was barely a step above total nudity. When visiting Arborea, Prince Barin's kingdom, the royal wardrobe mistress, at his direction, always clothed her in the shortest of skirts! No, the cut of the attire was not the problem. rather it was the sheerness of the fabric. With almost no imagination, anyone at all could deduce every detail of the hostess's intimate anatomy through the fabric! Dale believed that at least something should be led to the imagination. The hostess's attire, was, in Dale's eyes, most unladylike. She found herself in a cozy paneled room. A warming fire blazed in the hearth.
"Our local tea is famous in all parts of Mongo," stated the hostess.
"Yes, I'm familiar with it!" responded Dale. "I take mine light on the milk."
"As you wish, madam."
The hostess stepped out of the room for a moment. Dale thought it odd that they would leave her alone. The room filled with purple gas. Dale gasped and cried out. The world spun.
**
In the throne room, Satrap Ra-Hesh, III, announced,
"General Gordon, I am quite sure that I can anticipate every argument you will make. As you know, Emperor Ming is also interested in my mercenaries."
He turned to the left. Flash followed his gaze. Entering the throne room wearing the uniform of a cavalry officer in Ming the Merciless's army was General Tao! Flash's first instinct was to reach for his sidearm, but he quickly realized that if he did so, the satrap's guards would be quite justified in killing him where he stood.
The distinguished general approached Flash.
"General Gordon."
He extended his hand.
Not wanting to acknowledge the tyrannical general but understanding that he was essentially under a flag of truce, Flash extended his right hand.
The men shook hands. The satrap asked for their attention.
"Ah, here at least in Grand Thule harmony predominates."
Both generals eyed the satrap.
"I know what both of you are thinking. What is this betrayal? How can the satrap bring us both here?"
He paused. It was clear from the reaction of the opposing military men that he had adequately assessed their mental state.
"A word of explanation. For the last two centuries Grand Thule has been at peace. Our neutral stance has brought us prosperity and a fair bit of independence. Our physical distance from the rest of Mongo and our penchant for minding our own business has allowed us to fly as silently and invisibly as bats under the nose of Ming the Merciless. Now, all of Mongo is caught up in a great conflict that threatens to ensnare me and my people. There are for me three choices. Throw my lot in with the revolution and hope that they overthrow Ming and bring about a new order. Throw my lot in with Ming and abet him in his quest to crush the rebellion. Or stay the course and try to remain above the fray. Either way, it brings profound change for me and my people.
If I throw in with the rebellion and they lose, Ming the Merciless will exact a punishing revenge. If I throw in with Ming, and our combined forces crush the rebellion, he will expect me to integrate my realm into greater Mongo. That means increased taxation, probably a permanent garrison of imperial soldiers, and all my decisions under a microscope, called into question, and most probably, countermanded from above. In short, my power curtailed. Not an attractive option. If I steer the third course, and stay neutral neither side is happy, the war continues far longer, and many more on both sides end up dead. At war's end, both the victors and the vanquished will see me as a pariah. My country's future after that is perhaps worst of all, no one will want to trade with us. in all of Mongo we will be even more of an afterthought than we are currently. As things now stand, Mongo knows us primarily as that cold place to the north. Few venture here, though they devour all our furs and ivory in their tanneries and factories. We also attract the outcast and downtrodden from the rest of Mongo. Here they are trained and honed to an elite fighting force admired by all of Mongo. Both sides covet my mercenaries. They are in many ways my country's most valuable asset. They are my protection against invasion. They ensure the trade routes stay open and that the fur and ivory flow out to greater Mongo. So, gentlemen, I am in a real quandary.
Place yourself in my position. I am suddenly the leader on Mongo who is shown the most interest by all sides. My realm is irretrievably altered no matter what course I choose, so, how do I choose the right one? Perhaps a greater power can choose for me? That is where you gentlemen come in. There is a rite of passage for all royal sons in this nation. In the far north, past where the still wild Enit people live, is the domain of the ice beast. Tall, imposing, and ferocious, they are essentially death to all but the bravest and boldest of men. I slew one when I was just thirteen to prove that I was both a man and worthy of the crown. Here, I thought, is the answer to my dilemma. We shall allow the gods of the snows to make my decision for me. Generals, it is my intention to send both of you to the far north for thirty days. Whichever of you slays an ice beast with only an Enit ice lance shall win the alliance for your side. If neither of you succeeds in killing an ice beast, or just as likely, if both of you are killed in the attempt, my country shall remain proudly neutral. I shall send you with a contingent of men so that you do not eliminate one another and to ensure that the killing of the ice beast or the lack of killing of the ice beast shall be properly and fairly reported."
Flash and Ming's general looked first at each other and then at the satrap. It was a devilishly clever plan that left the satraps hands entirely clean.
**
Dale awoke an unknown amount of time later. She found the room unchanged. She was still resting upon the couch she swooned into when the gas appeared. Had she simply imagined the purple mist? The hostess must have entered the room while Dale was unconscious because there was now a teapot, cup, milk, and saucer present. She poured some out and took a sip. It was all very strange. She called out, but no one entered the room.
"Horrible way to treat a guest!" she groused as she continued to sip her tea.
**
"I note," continued the satrap that both of you had the presence of mind to supply a hostage for yourselves."
"Hold on!" began Flash.
The satrap raised his hand for silence. "The hostages ensure that you do not take the opportunity to slay your opponent while in the northern wilds. Murdering your opponent will result in the death of your hostage. General Tao has supplied his brother, Admiral Eando. General Gordon has supplied his lovely companion, Dale Arden."
Flash's hands became fists as anger coursed through his body. "Leave Dale alone!"
Ra-Hesh glanced at Flash with a twinkle in his luminous brown eyes. With a wave of his hand a miniature version of his palace was towed into the room by two scantily clad hostesses. The replica palace floated on a column of air. It was placed in the middle of the room, giving Flash and General Tao a perfect view. The satrap clapped his hands and a wall of the palace fell away. There, sitting on a miniature couch and sipping from a tiny cup was Dale Arden, only now she was no more than a foot tall!
Dale's eyes grew big, the teacup clattered to the floor, and Dale let out an ear-splitting scream.
Flash launched himself at the satrap but was held back by his guards.
"Patience, General Gordon, I shall explain."
Flash managed to get ahold of himself. The satrap's guards backed off.
"While a private prison cell is apt for General Tao's brother, in the case of Miss Arden, that is not an option. I exposed your companion to a certain gas composed by a scientist in my employ. It has done her no damage; it has only rendered her tiny. You, General Gordon should be grateful. Now, Miss Arden cannot be penetrated by me, which you, as her lover, would be most in fear of, knowing my reputation with and my eye for beauties such as she. She will be treated like a queen and shall be always protected. At the end of the thirty days, exposure to a second gas will restore her to her previous stature. You have my vow that at the end of that time, I shall do so, no matter your fate General Gordon."
"Dale! Are you alright?" Flash asked.
The beautiful girl took a deep breath and seemed to calm down. "I seem to be, darling. Oh, Flash I am so scared."
"I am sorry to have frightened you Miss Arden, but I doubt you would have voluntarily allowed yourself to be shrunk."
"If you have harmed her!"
"Not at all, General, as I said, she has just been rendered tiny."
Flash's face became flushed.
"Before you launch into vituperation, consider; would you be sanguine with her left behind by you full size? Would I be able to control myself? Would she be swept off her feet and unable to control herself? No, General Gordon. The best way to preserve her honor and not lose the affection for each other that you clearly possess in titanic amounts, is by taking that issue completely out of the equation. Oh, I suppose I could have found her a private cell in the women's prison, but that has male guards who could imperil her privacy and, of course, sordid women. It is also quite remote and very cold every hour of every day. Unlike Admiral Eando, she does not have a thick skin developed by years of military discipline. Here she will dwell in warmth and luxury and enjoy the diversions and entertainments of my court."
Flash relaxed. As irritating as the satrap's words were, they made a great deal of sense. Ra-Hesh had a reputation of ruining innocent women. Dale, alone with him, would be vulnerable. Flash was well aware of how handsome the satrap was. Leaving Dale alone for a month with the dashing, romantic, and interesting satrap would be like leaving a butchered pig with a gourmet cook. With her tiny, he couldn't possibly...
"I think it best you and General Tao leave within the hour for the great white north. All of Mongo wants a decision sooner rather than later," said the satrap.
"May I speak to Dale privately for a few moments?"
"Certainly."
Flash strode over to the miniature palace and said,
"Dale, I can't say I am happy about what the satrap has done but I understand his reasons. All of Mongo is counting on us. I am going to have to leave on Ra-Hesh's errand. Facing an ice beast sounds horrible, but I've defeated worse creatures. Be strong, Dale and be brave."
Dale placed her hands on her hips,
"You come back to me; you hear me Flash! If this ice beast has a lovely pelt, bring it back and have them make a coat out of it for me. I will wear it in triumph when I am returned to my old size and freedom rings in Mongo!"
He bent and placed a gentle kiss over the entirety of Dale's gorgeous countenance.
"Be careful of the satrap, honey."
"I can handle him easily, even at this size. You go out and do what you must for Mongo. I'll be thinking of you every day and praying hard."
"It is time to leave, Gordon!" Hissed general Tao.
With a final salute, Flash turned away from Dale. She blew him a kiss and wiped a tear from her eye. The opposing generals and the retinue of the satrap's soldiers formed into lines and marched out of the throne room. Newly falling snow and harsh winds greeted them outside.
Once they were out of the room, Dale glared at the satrap.
"What mission did you send them on? What is an ice beast?"
Ra-Hesh repeated to Dale a summary of his words to both generals.
"Flash is sure to win. He can never fail!"
"We shall see if the snow gods agree with you Miss Arden."
"I really must protest being robbed of my height!"
"That is for your protection, Miss Arden."
"I'd like to believe that your eminence, but somehow it doesn't ring true. You could have had your women lock me into a device, for example."
"Those are uncomfortable and fallible. Size can't be argued with."
"Humm."
"I would be remiss in my responsibilities if I did not invite you to be my companion at dinner this evening."
"Which of your many wives will I be sitting between, your eminence?"
"We shall dine alone so that you can extol the abilities and bravery of General Gordon and also explain to me why I should throw my lot in with the rebellion. I've had dinner with General Eando before sending him to his cell. You could be a much better conversationalist if all you did was babble like an infant. Never have I been brought so close to the brink of death from boredom!"
"I'll accept that offer, your eminence, if you will take into account that every dress in my luggage is now too large and that therefore, I have nothing to wear."
"You underestimate me, Miss Arden. I am nothing if not a generous host. I give you two hours to prepare."
He clapped his hands, and the wall of the miniature palace was restored. It rode its cushion of air out of the throne room. Here the roof opened and one of the satrap's hostesses was standing there.
"I have orders to see that you are prepared for dinner with his eminence. The bath is through the door on the right."
Dale had flashbacks to her own childhood. She felt like one of her dolls as she was bathed, her hair combed and brushed and all ten of her nails were painted in red with cream highlights. Dale had a revelation. While she was now too small for conventional romancing, her current size put her at a decided disadvantage if the satrap became dangerously amorous. There was literally nothing she could do if he chose to not be a gentleman! She certainly hoped that the satrap remained a man above reproach!
The scarlet and cream dress they gave her was cut a bit low in the front, but all in all was quite tasteful. It very much was something she might have picked out for herself. The cream heels were darling, and they presented her with a miniature golden tiara studded with real gems and informed her that it was hers to keep forever. Dale marveled at the workmanship and quality. She could see the tiny crown becoming a real conversation piece with her grandchildren one day.
After all the primping and preparation, she walked up a short ramp to enter a glass box in which sat a plush seat with safety straps. Dale belted herself in and the hostess carried her to an intimate chamber lit by candles. She climbed the ramp out of the box and found herself on a tabletop opposite the satrap. A tiny chair, a tiny table with a silk tablecloth and napkin, tiny silverware, and a goblet of wine had been set up in anticipation of her arrival. The satrap rose and held her chair for her.
"You look radiant, Miss Arden."
"I feel like a child's toy gussied up, your eminence."
"Nonsense, you are unquestionably all woman!"
Dinner was served, tiny, expertly prepared portions for her; hearty full-size portions for him. It tasted and smelled even better than it looked. Even though the portions appeared tiny, Dale felt as if she was making a pig of herself, the food was so good. The wine was heavenly. The satrap refilled her goblet several times, causing everything to take on a relaxed and mellow air. Fueling her appetite enormously was the presence of the satrap. By candlelight, his already handsome features became practically luminous. No man had any right to look that good. His dark features reminded Dale, that before she and Flash had been thrown together, she had mostly favored dark-haired men. Not that she wanted Flash to change in any way mind you. It was just an observation.
His stories were spellbinding. When Dale asked him about the ice beast he had sent Flash to slay, the satrap recounted the adventure of his thirteen-year-old self. She hung on every word, gasping at the description of the beast's ferociousness and speed. She marveled at his bravery, alone on the ice with only his native guide, stripped to the waist, as was the royal custom, and armed with only an ice lance.
Ra-Hesh stood up at one point and hiked up his tunic to display a livid scar covering much of his ribcage on the left side (and, coincidentally, his finely muscled torso). "The beast left me with this permanent reminder of our contest, but only I am alive to tell the tale!"
"Oh, you, poor dear! Does it still hurt?"
"Only when a beautiful woman breaks my heart."
This caused Dale to laugh merrily. The satrap realized that he could get very used to hearing Dale's musical laughter.
At this point, a royal page entered the room and whispered in the satrap's ear.
"Alas, matters of state call, ending our most enjoyable evening. Frida will see that you are returned to your rooms."
He rose and nodded. Dale attempted to rise, but she was so tipsy from the wonderful wine and sparkling conversation that she nearly toppled over and had to grasp the table to remain upright. She extended her hand and the satrap, gently as a butterfly’s landing, kissed the back of it.
With great difficulty, Dale strode up the ramp to the padded seat in her glass cage. Redhaired Frida picked up the cage containing Dale, the rocking motion of the cage as it swayed with Frida's long strides, almost immediately lulled Dale to deep, dreamless slumber. In the bedroom set aside for Dale in the miniature palace, Frida set Dale down upon the bed. Carefully, she worked off her shoes, hose, dress, and underthings. She decided that her report to the satrap could be greatly enhanced with a visual aid. Before she pulled the covers over the insensate earthling, Frida took out her sketchpad and rendered a remarkable likeness of the naked shrunken beauty. "These are the things," she said to herself after tucking Dale in, "that get a girl noticed, promoted, and favored!"
**
Flash decided that he really liked the satrap's men. They were driven yet loyal, with vigorous personalities. The Satrap's men were smart enough to place Flash and General Tao in different vehicles as they flew north towards the low yellow sun. Long hours passed. When not familiarizing himself with the wild landscape below Flash played cards with the satrap's men. The stakes were low, the equivalent to a penny a point. While he played, Flash did his best to drum up support for the rebel cause. His thinking being that if he could sell the revolution against Ming to the satrap's men currently present, these men could go on to start a whisper campaign in favor of the rebellion amongst the general troops. Perhaps the satrap's army would then demand that their leader unleash them against Ming. He was playing the long game. Even if he died on this or some future effort, what he had begun would continue and Mongo would ultimately be free.
**
Dale sat up and grabbed her head,
"Oooh!"
She took stock. She had no memory of undressing for bed. She saw no sign of the gown she had worn the previous evening. The roof swung open and one of the satrap's hostesses, a blonde one this time, was looking down at her,
"Good morning, Ma'am."
Dale gazed up at her.
"Frida put you to bed last night. I am Bryce, good morning, or rather good early afternoon."
"What time is it?"
"Just past one-thirty."
"Do you have anything for a headache?"
"Certainly. The satrap has graciously set aside some hours to dine with you in the conservatory. Let's get you ready, Ma'am."
Dale was surprised at the fashions provided for her, sandals, tan shorts, white close-fitting, sleeveless silk top, a neat short blue jacket with matching earrings and bracelet.
"I'll catch my death of chill in this."
"Not at all Ma'am. Time to meet his eminence."
The conservancy was most impressive. An entire rooftop room of this far northern realm had been converted into a leafy green tropical paradise. The hothouse was warm and humid. At a tiny table upon a regular one, Dale dined with the satrap. The staggering number of exotic blooms filled the air with alluring fragrances. Dale's perceptions had been altered with her reduction in size. Colors seemed more intense, aroma's stronger and more piquant, foods more flavorful, and sounds simultaneously deeper and more harmonious. It was a bit overwhelming and sometimes Dale's mind struggled to keep up. While largely still miffed at the satrap for robbing her of stature, there were moments when she honestly thought that he had given her a rare gift.
One of those moments was when a butterfly, its wingspan almost as wide as Dale was tall, landed right next to her. The iridescent scales caught the light and cast almost imperceptible rainbows all about it. Such a view would have been denied Dale were she still her normal size.
She cooed at the sight.
"I have been to Arborea and the other kingdoms of Mongo. While they each have their charms, I will take my northern realm every time. It is good, however, to see how the other side lives."
Dale took a bite of sweet melon. "What is your kingdom like, your eminence? So far I have seen very little of it."
"We will rectify that tomorrow, Miss Arden."
From beneath the table, he produced a gilded cage with a central pole for support.
"Walk with me, please."
Dale entered the filigreed cage, and the satrap took her on a tour of the large hothouse. The closer to the center of the room they ventured, the more intense became the temperature. Dale slid out of her short blue jacket. Perspiration caused the silk top to turn transparent as it adhered to her skin. The satrap noted how this highlighted Dale's firm and perky breasts. Frida's wonderful sketch allowed his imagination to easily envision the beguiling earthling topless.
The conservancy was centered around a crystal-clear pool beneath an artificial waterfall. On rocks by the pool, cool drinks awaited. The satrap set down Dale's cage, she strode out and gratefully accepted the tiny tumbler and its cool libation. The setting was so beautiful. Dale wondered if mythical Eden was half as enchanting.
"That water looks so inviting, your eminence."
"Indeed, it does. Care to join me for a dip, Miss Arden?"
"Sire! I lack proper bathing attire!"
"Do you believe that I do not prepare for every eventuality? Examine the interior of that small tent yonder."
Only now did Dale see the colorful tent as the satrap's body had blocked her view. She strode the short distance to the tent and closed the flap behind her. The tent had tiny fairy lights illuminating the interior. Atop a tiny table was a wash basin and pitcher of cool water. Next to a comfortable chair stood a rack which displayed three bathing suits. After stripping off, Dale selected the most modest option and exited the tent.
"Goodness!" she immediately exclaimed.
The satrap stood by the edge of the pool clad in just an extremely tiny bathing suit. He was finely muscled from head to toe. Dale forced her eyes away from the prominent bulge in the front of the miniature trunks. His deeply tanned skin glistened under the diffuse lighting streaming from above. Dale tried and failed to drive those truths from her mind.
The satrap entered the pool. Dale waited until the waters were still before she slipped into the refreshing and reinvigorating water. Dale dove to the pebbled bottom before surfacing for air. Ra-Hesh was in the deeper end also rising from beneath the surface. Water cascaded off his body. Dale was happy that with the satrap in waist deep water, it kept his manhood out of view and out of mind. Her relief only lasted so long, however. She found herself instead focusing on the prominent pectoral muscles of his chest and the knotted cord of abdominals surrounding his navel. There was also that huge scar and the story that went with it. Dale became acutely aware of the lack of a chaperone. The satrap if he wished could seize her and peel off her bathing suit. If he did that there was nothing preventing him from... Dale had a vision of the satrap's loins completely unclothed! The thoughts that went along with that image should have disgusted Dale, instead, they fascinated her. "Naughty girl!" exclaimed her inner voice. She took a fresh dive to clear her head.
**
The Enit village was fascinating. The friendly people were short of stature and had dark, hair, dark slanting dark eyes. They thrived in a land where most outsiders quickly died of exposure or the ravages of marauding beasts. They owned a few stone structures but mainly lived in houses constructed of snow and ice. Flash was presently in one of those structures. This one was owned by the local chief. Flash's interpreter filled in the gaps,
"I understand the quest our ruling satrap has asked of you, golden one, but only worthies may use our guidance to take them to the land of the ice beast. You must prove your worthiness."
"How shall I do that, Chief Natook?"
"Through combat, through wit, and through manliness."
"I will face these challenges."
Flash was standing naked in a ring in one of the large stone buildings. About him, in the encircling stands were perhaps three hundred Enits, men women, children. Flash tried his best to ignore the murmuring crowd's laughter and finger pointing. He charted it up to the novelty of his hair and skin color and not as aspersions on his manhood. Flash's Enit opponent was also naked. Tall, wide, and heavily muscled, he was more than a match for Flash. The rules of the contest were clear, five falls and you were defeated. Flash had already been sent sprawling from the ring once. He desperately needed a plan of action.
He noted that his opponent seemed to favor his left side. That indicated a weakness of some kind on the right. Flash focused his attack there. He quickly deduced that the huge native was short of sight in the right eye. Flash slipped his own ankle behind the opponent's and sent him to the floor. The crowd cheered. Flash was starting to like the odds.
**
Dale's mind was abuzz when her afternoon idyl with the satrap concluded. Blonde Bryce helped her bathe and set her hair.
"His eminence is having a night of entertainment. Jugglers fire eaters, wire walkers, magicians. You shall be his date for the evening."
While the prospect of a show was exciting, part of Dale simply wanted a quiet evening alone. She wanted time to think of Flash and pray that his mission was a success. He's been gone a day, and already I'm letting the satrap get to me. What an awful girlfriend I am! she thought.
She was still recriminating herself as Bryce and another hostess helped Dale into her magnificent gown for the evening. Tight on the bodice but flowing everywhere else, the emerald-green color complimented her hair and skin. With just a touch of makeup, Dale was even more stunning. Dale feared that the dress, the makeup, and the wonderful perfume they doused her with might very well make her irresistible to the satrap. An even greater fear was that if the satrap fell for her in a big way, she would find herself reciprocating!
**
Winning five falls to three, Flash acknowledged the cheers of the crowd. Still naked, he was locked in a side room with a board through which a series of complicated knots had been fastened. Flash was given one hour to free the rope from the board. At first glance, each knot would take hours by themselves to untie. Flash peered closer. There had to be an answer. The solution hit him like a thunderbolt. Manipulated in a certain way, like a magician's bit of conjuring, the entire rope came away from the board in one piece, knots, and all! Flash darted out of the room to rapturous applause.
**
The evening was marvelous so far. Dale had always loved the circus. Here on Mongo, there were differences. The male and female acrobats wore far too little. The big cats had stripes like tigers and manes like lions. There was an actual mermaid from Mongo's Southern Ocean and aerialists, fire eaters, and just ahead, a magician's duel! Her seat, on a chair on a riser next to Ra-Hesh gave her a perfect view. Dale had to confess that her host leered with equanimity. The Female acrobats, the mermaid, wire walkers, and trapeze artists all received the same penetrating appreciative stare from the Satrap. He clearly enjoyed the female form!
According to the master of ceremonies, the magicians were rivals of long standing and deep enmity. Dale didn't believe a word of it. They hurled fireballs at each other, made snakes appear around their opponent's neck, raised a wall of fire that gave off no heat before dousing it with a subsequent wall of mist. Their supposed duel ending in a tie, they called a mutual truce to avid applause from Dale, the satrap and his assembled court. The spotlight focused on Dale.
The older of the magicians asked Dale if she would like to volunteer for an illusion "Both stupendous and real."
Dale assented and she was levitated out of her seat towards the magician's prop table. Dale could not deduce how it was done. It seemed to her that she was actually flying! The sensation was indescribably wonderful. She was on the prop table. The old sorcerer with a long white beard announced, "A beauty such as this should be clad in gold and silver. He placed a hollow cylinder over Dale that completely hid her from view. He waved his hands and said an incantation. When he raised the cylinder, Dale's formerly emerald-green gown was now gold cloth with silver highlights and there was a golden hued crown upon her head. Dale had not a clue as to how the feat of legerdemains was accomplished. The old magician produced a mirror. Dale stared at her reflection in amazement and awe.
When the applause died down the young and handsome magician strode to the prop table. "Very nice," he said, "but I think our host would prefer her THIS way!"
He lowered his own cylinder over Dale and uttered an incantation. When he raised the cylinder the crowd at first gasped then cheered. Dale was beyond stunned. She was now clad in black tights, spiked heels, a very short leather skirt and an extremely tight leather top that was cut daringly low and had long sleeves. She wore a black cat mask, and a leather flail was in her right hand! The abbreviated attire left her entire midsection from just below her breasts to the top of her intimacy completely bare! The crowning touch was a glittering diamond hiding her navel. The satrap was on his feet applauding. Dale wished for instant invisibility and was positive that she would die of embarrassment on the spot.
The supposed rivals shook hands. The first magician placed his cylinder over Dale once more with a few magic words and a wave of his hand the cylinder was raised, and Dale was once again clad in her emerald-green gown. Dale was levitated back to her seat by the satrap and the show finished with a series of encores from the entire company.
At the conclusion of the performance, when the satrap turned to speak to Dale, she gave him the cold shoulder.
"Miss Arden. I had nothing to do with the performance choices of those magicians."
"Ha!"
"What harm was there? A little masquerade never bothered anyone."
"You, sir, are NO gentleman! You should have shielded your eyes when I was exposed like that."
"Don't be absurd. You are a phenomenally beautiful woman."
"That display, if it occurred at all, should have been for Flash's eyes alone. I belong to Flash!"
"General Gordon may not return from the far north."
"Yes, he will!"
"So, you are going to sulk until he returns?"
"If I have to, sire!"
"Miss Arden!"
"Your eminence, please have me returned to my rooms. I grow quite weary."
The satrap waved at the nearest hostess who soon left with Dale. He watched until she was out of sight then made his way to the performer's dressing room. Before they departed, he wanted to ask the magicians if love potions were more than rumors and folklore.
**
From the stone building, Flash was led to the chief's snow house. He slipped out of his jacket in the warm interior.
"What now, Chief Natook?"
"So far, golden one, you have been impressive, but there is one final way to know if a man is truly worthy and that requires the female touch."
"The chief clapped his hands. His two wives who had been sitting wrapped in blankets, rose to their feet. Both were spectacularly nude.
"If you can satiate them both until dawn, you will prove yourself worthy. The women can tell the difference between a real man and a false man."
With that the chief, the interpreter and everyone else filed out of the show house. The naked women smiled serenely at him. Their dark eyes twinkled with merriment and deviltry. Flash noted that the room had suddenly become phenomenally warm. Flash reached for his collar to pause for breath. The women descended upon him. "Holy cow!" gasped the displaced earthling.
**
In the morning, Dale at first refused to go on a tour of the countryside with the satrap, but she relented when he suggested taking along three hostesses as chaperones and shopping partners.
Bryce, Frida, and brown-haired Kandi. shared the back seat of the vehicle with the satrap seated opposite them as it rolled off. Dale had a window seat. Winter came early in these northern lands. A fresh coating of snow gave the landscape an ethereal quality. Dale sipped her hot chocolate and to irk the satrap extolled Flash's physique and gallantry to the other women.
"Sounds too good to be true," opined Kandi.
"Flash is perfect. He would never cheat on me, and I would never cheat on him."
"Seriously?" asked Frida. "What if he was really, really handsome."
"Like his eminence!" interjected Bryce.
"No!" stated Dale adamantly.
"He's all the way up north, showing those savage Enit women how it's done," said Kandi.
"What do you mean?" asked Dale.
"The Enit share their wives and it is very bad manners to refuse the offer," returned Bryce.
"You lie!" said Dale vociferously.
The three hostesses snickered. In a huff, Dale turned away from them and focused on the landscape and drained her tiny mug of hot coco. Why were these women going out of their way to mock her? The vehicle came to rest in front of the Central Trading Office. Dale, carried in her cage, toured the huge building with the others. There were beautiful furs and pure ivory tusks being prepared for shipment to greater Mongo. The satrap greeted everyone he met whether they be a janitor or a high-ranking executive with a firm handshake and a kind word. Those whom he had met before he recalled by name. Watching him work the room was revelatory for Dale. The satrap was as far from a stuffy, conceited, and aloof royal as possible. It made Dale see him in a new light. He seemed even more handsome somehow.
Dale's anger from the night before evaporated entirely at the next destination, a cold weather farm. Grand Thule's first settlers had discovered wild forms of wheat and rice that bloomed in the harsh northern landscape. They wasted no time in domesticating these hardy varieties. Dale marveled at the snow-covered soil bristling with green sprouts.
"During spring for the rest of Mongo, while they are planting, we are exporting our harvest," stated the satrap with pride.
The group toured public works, museums, and the homes of a few private citizens. Lastly, as a reward to his female companions for being so polite and engaging, the vehicle stopped at the House of Dani. Even Dale had heard the name of that fashion designer! She was known in all parts of Mongo and her fashions were worn by the luminaries of all its nations. Dani even clothed the members of Ming's harem. She had her headquarters here because of Grand Thule's neutrality. The satrap promised Dale and the hostesses that they could buy whatever they wanted. This caused them all to cheer and rush into the boutique.
At first, Dale was crestfallen. Here she was in the House of Dani, and she was tiny! She brightened, however when the famous designer came forward and stated,
"Maths are a thing darling. I can make you up a tiny version of what you choose today and tomorrow I can have a full-size one cut to your exact measurements which I can extrapolate with a bit of basic ratios. All I need to know is your normal height and measurements. I'll send the full-size dress to the palace. You can wear it with extreme pride wherever life takes you."
"You are brilliant, Dani!" stated Dale.
"Not really, I just have a nose for business and an affinity for science," she replied.
"Where do you stand on the question of the revolution?" asked Dale as the fashion designer picked up a measuring tape.
"Strictly neutral, darling. Women wearing my fashions under ANY circumstances is the only triumph I am interested in!"
Dale left with three tiny ensembles in a logoed garment bag. The hostesses had two each. On the drive home, Dale sat next to the satrap. He was so good looking, so kind, and so generous. Just looking at him caused Dale to have warm feelings.
**
Flash was beyond tired yet utterly blissful as the short northern day began. The women, he was never clear what their names were, had at last tumbled into slumber. His body was covered with bitemarks and hickeys. Natook's wives were incredibly aggressive and damn near indefatigable. Flash was so drained his thirst was overpowering. He gazed at his limp little soldier. he doubted that it would snap to attention for at least a month. He'd been sucked and mounted more times than he could remember. The wives took so many turns sitting on Flash's face there were long moments when he thought he would suffocate. He gazed at the slumbering wives, one on each side. "No, you won't ever tell Dale about this." he said to no one in particular, just as fatigue finally overtook him.
Hours later he heard, "My wives want me to kill the rest of the men you are with so that they can make a pet of you."
The native chief laughed.
"You a real man alright. Rest today. Tomorrow, we head for ice beast country."
**
Dale was modeling the dresses designed for her by Dani.
"I still think the skirt on this one is far too short, but she is quite the salesperson."
"Whether it is too short is immaterial Miss Arden. It looks terrific on you or if you prefer you look terrific in it."
The satrap was speaking the truth. Dale Arden was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever encountered. Even among his plethora of beautiful wives and hostesses, she stood out like a beacon. The fact that she was tiny made her somehow even more beautiful and desirable.
"I should know better than to discuss these sorts of things with a man!"
Dale emitted a peal of laughter.
"Miss Arden..."
"Isn't that a bit formal, your eminence? Please call me Dale."
"As you wish, Dale."
Giant and lilliputian gazed at each other a moment.
"I'm so glad, you like me again, Dale, after that incident last night."
"I choose to believe you had nothing to do with it."
"Thank you, Dale."
A moment later he added,
"Does Dani sell anything in her store similar to what that young magician clothed you in?"
Dale face screwed up, first in rage, then in mirth.
"You, your eminence, are a reprobate and a scoundrel."
"Scoundrel. I like the sound of that!"
Dale sighed and said, "Men!"
She turned her back towards him and said,
"Can you unzip me?"
The satrap was floored by the request. His fingers displayed not so much as a flutter as they sought the tiny pull and gently tugged open the dress. Dale's incredibly sexy back came into view. If the satrap was in love before... Dale made her way back behind the privacy screen. The satrap imagined her changing. He felt himself involuntarily stiffen. There were so many joys to being small that the satrap was desperate to teach her, but he knew going slow was his best approach. Perhaps he should redouble his prayers that an ice beast would devour Flash Gordon.
**
It was cold. Bitterly cold. Coldest than the coldest New England winter. This was the territory that Enits came to reluctantly out of necessity. Here dwelt the walrus-like creatures with the long incisors that provided the northern tribes and all Grand Thule with the ivory they exported everywhere. Here was the ice bear and the much more ferocious, much rarer ice beast. From the descriptions they gave Flash as well as the pictures they showed him, it was largely bipedal and vaguely man-like. It had a wiry fur coat that was usually but not always grey, terrible claws and teeth and smelled horrible; in short, a walking nightmare.
The snow and ice were thick. Walls of ice shot up in frigid mountain chains. Flash wondered how anything could survive in this godforsaken land. There was a sudden, insistent smell of death. Natook had the hunting party freeze in its tracks.
"Ice beast near," he said softly.
"Which direction?" asked Flash
"Towards sun."
"Let's go corner the bastard."
"Not so easy, stated the native chief, "Ice beast smart like man. Our legend say he once was a man, a man and his wife who offended the snow gods and were changed, made horrible and condemned to roam the ice floes forever. Once we find the ice beast, it can take weeks to pin him down, confront, and kill him."
"Oh," said Flash softly. The cold became worse somehow.
**
The dream was so vivid. She and the satrap were in the conservancy pool. On a dare, she peeled off her bathing suit. The satrap followed suit. She smiled as she drank all of him in. His handsomeness and virile maleness were overwhelming. Her finger traced the pattern of his scar. She was in his grasp, giddy, his handsome face loomed large, he raised her to his mouth.
Dale awoke with a start. The sheets were unaccountably damp. She cried out,
"Flash!"
To her consternation it took her a very long time to recall her fiancé’s features, voice, and laugh.
**
Frida arrived with a miniature hostess dress.
"Hold on I'm a guest not an employee."
"Orders from his eminence. Sources say one of Ming's many spies is set to make a surprise visit. He will ask far fewer questions if you blend in. Ming knows about General Tao's errand, of course, but not of General Gordon's. There is still a large bounty on both your heads. If the spy sees only a tiny hostess, he won't see Dale Arden."
Dale couldn't argue with that logic. She donned the sheer crimson and cream scanty garments. Just as she feared, they left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
**
The supposed diplomat was led through a tour of the palace. Dale stood at attention upon a riser amid the other hostesses. The rotund, neckless, bespeckled spy noticed Dale right away.
"A perversion of mine, ambassador," supplied the satrap. "Tiny women have particular delights in the bedchamber that their full-size sisters lack."
The faux ambassador eyed Dale lustfully. She held her breath, the odious Ming toady had crippling halitosis! He then laughed and said,
"Thank you very much for the stimulating mental image, satrap."
He and Ra-Hesh moved on and Dale began breathing once more.
Dale spent the rest of the day in the hostesses’ main room, performing or at least pretending to perform random meaningless tasks that a woman of her tiny stature was capable of in case the spy, chose to randomly inspect this room as well. Dale had to conclude that the abbreviated hostess uniforms really allowed total freedom of movement.
Late in the day the satrap strode into the room,
"Ladies I want to thank you all for your bravura performance today. That short-sighted windbag was completely bamboozled! This calls for a celebration, so all of you are welcome in the ball room in a half-hour for an impromptu bash. I've given my imperial guards the evening off so that all of you will have dance partners and everyone except essential staff gets tomorrow off."
The assembled women cheered and applauded. Ra-Hesh made his way to the table where Dale stood. She looked mighty fine in the royal colors thought the satrap. Dale's almost completely unveiled flesh was even more alluring and arousing than either Frida's sketch or his active imagination. There was so much he wanted to say. So much he wanted to do. But. He had a position where duties and protocol took precedence over personal wants and desires.
"Dale, I'm sorry I had to put you through this."
"Not at all, your eminence. Thank you for saving my life."
He took a long lingering look at the essentially naked tiny woman.
"Believe me, Dale, it was a pleasure."
Once he was out of the room, Bryce, Frida, and several others surrounded her.
"You have to come to the party with us."
"Yes, even if you can't dance, you can man watch. They look so handsome in their uniforms!"
"Yep! And if you are a dog, you don't get to be an imperial guard!"
"Please say you will join us, Dale!"
"Can I change first?"
"Hey! You are one of us today. If you change you will stick out like a sore thumb."
"But this uniform is so revealing!"
"So what? You have the body for it, Dale and everyone has seen everything already, what difference does a few extra male eyes make?"
"You are going and that's that!"
Dale realized that her mind had just been made up. Only now did she really appreciate that the satrap had seen all of her. In a short time, she'd be equally exposed before a bunch of horny soldiers! Flash is NEVER finding out about this! yelled her inner voice.
Dale stood on the snack table next to a seated Bryce. As each of the guards entered the ballroom, Bryce and Dale discussed their merits. The ogling was harmless fun, and it was something Dale could do at the party that wasn't limited by her size.
"Oh, yeah! He could get me horizontal!" gushed Bryce.
"He's OK but too blond for my tastes," returned Dale.
"But General Gordon is the blondest guy I've ever seen!"
"It's complicated."
"Oh, so he's hell in bed? How's his package?"
Dale flushed crimson.
"Is he blond all over?"
Rescuing Dale from further embarrassment was the arrival of the satrap in his military dress uniform.
"Hello! Paydirt!" squealed Bryce.
Dale always liked a man in uniform and few men wore them as dashingly as the satrap. Dale felt herself moisten. What was coming over her?
She took a sip from her tiny goblet of wine and wished for something stronger.
Bryce became caught up in conversation with the too blond soldier. The satrap approached.
"So good of you to join us, Dale."
"The girls didn't give me much choice."
"Does that disappoint you?"
"No, your eminence, I'm having a wonderful time."
"I'm glad!"
Giant and lilliputian met each other's eyes. Dale felt such an overpowering attraction. The satrap's words to the phony diplomat about tiny women replayed within her skull. She could not force the sudden image away of the satrap naked and supine while she walked the length of his body. She could feel the firm muscles of his chest and abdomen under her bare feet as she walked in the direction of his waist towards...
"Dance with me please, Dale."
"But how can I?"
"Trust me."
Dale nodded.
The music began once more. Very gently, the satrap scooped up Dale. With both hands he held her at arm's length and moved athletically and rhythmically across the dance floor. To Dale it was just like childhood dreams where she was flying. The thought of dreams reminded her of her most recent. Here she was in his grasp, essentially naked, his handsome face and enticing lips so near yet so far. Was the dream a prophesy or was she a disloyal pervert? She tried to think of Flash, but try as she might, she just could not summon his face and figure to her mind. I'm the worst girlfriend in the world! she raged silently. The pace of the music slowed; the satrap pulled Dale closer. She gazed up at him and went weak all over.
"Kiss me!" she whispered.
His big handsome face loomed even larger. His magnificent lips descended and placed the most delicate of kisses over the entirety of Dale's face. The world faded out and Dale was aware of absolutely nothing for several long, incredible moments.
The music ended and the satrap returned Dale to her seat at the snack table. She sat unmoving. He staggered a bit as he strode away. As cover for his actions, he led another hostess to the dance floor. Dale could recall nothing for the rest of the evening only returning to herself when Kandi put her to bed. Her subsequent dreams were so carnal, Dale was surprised when she awoke that her pillow had not burst into flames.
**
Flash and General Tao sat across from each other over the whale oil fire. Days of frigid communal living had made them marginally more sociable.
"I admire the spirit of your revolution even though it is doomed to failure."
"I would not be so sure, Tao."
"Oh, it is a forgone conclusion. Even if you do overthrow Ming, there is no evidence that your movement knows how to govern. A year after your "victory" Mongo will devolve into a gaggle of squabbling nations and it will require a strong man to unite them once more. Ming mark two if you will. Perhaps the next Ming will be me!"
"Where I come from, freedom, once earned. is never given away again,"
"But you are not from Mongo, Gordon. Your entire revolution is an alien infection."
"Nonetheless, we shall emerge victorious."
"Or you shall be castrated before being drawn and quartered, and your lovely companion, after being given to a division of marines to slake their lusts, ends up naked, collared, branded, and auctioned off as chattel."
Whatever direction the conversation would have gone was rendered moot by the cook announcing that dinner was ready.
**
Dale was in her room dressing for breakfast and considering her options.
"I need to get ahead of this thing. I need to get him out of my system. Perhaps, if I accede to his clear desires, it will be as a flash fire, quick and intense but afterwards OVER! Or I can twist in the wind unable to focus on anything except his looks, charm, and personality. He needs to return to being a distant royal with me as a mere houseguest or I shall go insane!"
Would that work though? Now that he had kissed her, she wanted more of his kisses not less. If she surrendered to him, would she lose her heart forever?
"Oh, Flash! Kill that damned beast and return to me!"
At breakfast, the satrap invited her to an ice ballet performance in the opera house. It would be a very public, sedate, no displays of affection, date. Dale breathed a sigh of relief.
**
The date was utterly delightful. The lithe graceful female dancers, the handsome and extremely fit male dancers, and the amazing dance moves while on skates was breathtaking. While she was not cognizant enough of the various Mongo myths to completely understand the story, she filled in the blanks by imagining it to be Swan Lake or the Nutcracker, there was a vague similarity to both. Being in public with the satrap where he was hemmed in by tradition and expectations and therefore n his best behavior was quite refreshing. It was just a fun, wonderful date with a wonderful companion. This could just as well have been a night on the town with Flash. During the ride back to the palace, however, in the satrap's private carriage, the emotions she hoped to avoid hung poignantly in the air.
"Your eminence, we need to talk."
"We are nearly at the palace. We can convene in my private study,"
Over tea and biscuits both large and specially made small for her, Dale screwed up her courage.
"Your eminence," she said at last, "something is transpiring between us. It has to stop. We need to get ahead of it. I am engaged to Flash, and you have your responsibilities, your wives, your hostesses. We can't let what is going on ruin us. Ruin me. I...I..."
She broke down in tears.
"I think I'm in love with you damn it!"
He allowed her to lean against his forearm and cry herself out while his other hand embraced her.
"There is nothing wrong with that. Love is a healthy emotion."
Dale looked up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I thought if we... if we... but I see now that that will only make things worse!"
His fingers stroked her back, "You don't know that for sure."
"Yes, I do! If I have you now, I'll want you always."
He scooped her up. He kissed her tiny face, tasting her tears.
"Oh, sire!" gasped Dale.
He strode through a door into the adjoining bedroom.
"You need this, Dale we both do."
He worked off her great coat and cast it aside.
He kissed her again.
He tugged off each of her tiny shoes.
"Please! Sire!" she gasped in a way that could be taken either as encouragement or refusal. The satrap chose to believe the former. The tiny dress was open and now off her slim, enchanting frame. She was clad now in just matching black stockings, brassiere, and step-ins. He paused to appreciate her beauty. She looked at him, passion in her eyes. He kissed her all over, she softly moaned.
She was naked. Perfection in his hands. He raised her ebony sex to his lips. She cried out with pleasure. She writhed in his grasp as he worked before orgasming with a breathy laugh and going limp.
He set her down on the pillow and was out of his clothes immediately. She could focus once more. The satrap huge and naked did not disappoint. She was going to lick that scar! As for his manhood? She'd lick that too! He was on the bed. She was on his chest. She stood up. His pectorals were rock ledges beneath her feet. She tugged at his nipple before playfully biting it. The satrap gasped. His entire nipple fit inside her mouth. His livid scar appeared even more fearsome up close. She bent and licked it as if to absorb some of his courage and discipline. She took a deep breath and held it. Dale progressed as in her dreams, over the cobblestone-like abdominals and towards his erect manhood. Due to a childhood infection, the satrap was circumcised, a true novelty for Dale. Gently her fingers and lips traced his circumcision scar.
Unable to contain himself any longer the satrap's right hand forced Dale up against his cock as his hand circled it. Dale felt the warmth on her compressed breasts and exposed flesh. It was the warmth of a fireplace without the flame. The satrap began pumping up and down, Dale wrapped her arms and legs about the royal shaft. Aroused by Dale as by no other woman, the satrap came in torrents. Dale's face caught the brunt of it. Semen filled Dale's mouth. Out of reflex she swallowed. The taste was surprise. She lapped up some more. The flavor grew on her. The satrap placed her on his chest and smiled at her. She wiped the cum from her face and smiled right back. Like a spent hurricane, the tensions and passions of the height disparate couple left them simultaneously and they fell into immediate slumber.
**
Dale awoke to the sound of humming. She was on a pillow next to the satrap's head. Everything came back to her. The satrap's congealed cum began to itch. Above her, Frida was neatly folding her castoff clothes and placing them in a chair beside the bed. Then she started on the satrap's pile of castoffs. Frida looked right at her. The hostess's face displayed no emotion whatsoever. She took the cover off a breakfast tray and exited the room. Only now did Ra-Hesh stir. He smiled widely at Dale and kissed her good morning.
She smiled, then told the satrap about Frida's visit.
"She won't gossip. My people are circumspect in everything."
He looked at Dale closely and guffawed.
"Let's get you cleaned up, little one."
Surprising herself, Dale felt no shame or embarrassment being naked in front of the satrap. It seemed natural, even relaxing. Another thing Flash will never learn about, she told herself. The satrap slid out of bed and stretched. His glorious nudity was not lost on Dale. She wanted him again. She knew she would have him, often. Whatever this was it was good for her and good for him. She'd deal with Flash's return if he returned. Dale knew that no matter how the revolution went, the satrap would always have a place for her. If Flash were killed, the satrap would protect her from Ming; of that she had no doubt. He had only gone up in her esteem.
"Kiss me again," she stated happily.
**
They'd been tracking the ice beast for more than a week when it attacked. It went through five good men like water through rapids before escaping.
"And they expect me to kill that thing with this?" Flash exclaimed as he studied the ice lance.
"Strike here," said Natook, demonstrating on his body. "You will pierce the heart and lungs. If you get close enough and if you live long enough, the beast will die almost instantly."
"How often are ice beast hunts successful?"
"Ice beast kill most of the time. Often, the women are wrong and the man false man not real man. If he's especially skilled in the sleeping furs, he can turn their heads. At least the false men die happy, and the wives have fun."
Flash rolled his eyes and muttered "Terrific!"
**
Dale thought it might be worth remaining small just so she could be bathed every day by the satrap. The warm soapy water, his strong, firm hands with the long, tapered fingers, his patience and gentleness. It was all beyond wonderful. He dried her off gently and then sent for fashions for her. He dressed Dale in the modest teal dress himself. They shared his breakfast, not caring that it now was cold, and just basked in each other's presence.
"Unfortunately, I have a nation to run. I'll be busy all day. I'm sure my staff can find something to keep you busy in my absence."
"I'm sure together we can think of something."
They kissed before parting.
Dale did indeed think of something to keep herself and several hostesses busy.
At the end of a long day of dealing with state issues that made Ra-Hesh pine for being a peasant, he returned very late to the palace. After a quick meal and a check in with the imperial guards, he made his way to his private quarters. Dale was standing atop his dresser, wearing a long concealing robe and an inscrutable expression.
"Hello!" he said in delight as his downward moving lips met her upturned face.
"Hard day?"
"You don't know the half of it."
"I think I can cheer you up."
"I'm sure you can,"
"Turn around, sire and close your eyes."
He did so. If only the many "surprises" he had been exposed to today been had as full of such potential for joy. A moment later Dale said,
"OK sire, turn around and open your eyes."
She was a vision in black stockings, a short leather skirt, spiked heels, and a top that stopped just under her breasts, exposing much décolletage, and covered her arms to the wrist. She was wearing a cat mask and wielding a flail!
His jaw dropped open.
"Listen here, man, I possess the flail of authority. You will obey me implicitly or I shall use it against you."
After a pause to truly appreciate the vision of tiny Dale he snapped to attention and shouted,
"Yes, Ma'am!"
She giggled and commanded,
"Get naked!"
His grin was a mild wide as he pared away his clothing. If only he could come home to this every day! He was naked.
"Tell me I'm beautiful."
In near poetic terms he extolled her beauty and charm. Dale savored every word.
"Excellent! You may kiss me."
He bent and planted a kiss on her face, kissing mostly mask.
"Have you been a good boy today?"
"Yes. Ma'am!"
"Would you like this kitty to walk the length of your wonderful naked body?"
"Very much so!"
"You may pick me up, knave."
The sensation of her heels digging into his sensitive flesh as she strode over his entire chest and stomach was both agonizing and delightful. She reached his crotch and whacked his testicles a few times.
"Ow! that hurts!"
"I haven't heard you praise me for at least several minutes now."
"Give me that!" He tugged away the flail.
"Now I have the flail of authority!"
"Hey!"
"Uh-uh, I'm in charge now."
She replied in mock agony, "Yes master."
"Take something off."
She pulled off the cat mask.
"Not enough!"
"You, big meanie!"
She stepped out of the stilettoes.
"Do you want me to demonstrate how much this flail stings?"
She lost the skirt.
"You, little minx, are guilty of insubordination."
"I am not!" she protested.
"Usurping my authority? I'd say that counts as insubordination. If you were anyone else in my realm, you would already have been punished."
"Punished?"
"Yes, you deserve it."
"Sire!"
"Strip. Nice and slow."
Dale worked the tight top off. Her pert medium sized breasts came into view. She worked each stocking off in turn before removing her ebony step-ins.
She turned in a slow pirouette before him.
"I think a spanking is in order."
"Sire!"
"We could do something else."
"Like what?"
"This!" He gathered her up and kissed her all over before focusing on her salty intimacy. She came with a gasp and a giggle before she found herself around the satrap's cock while he pumped up and down.
"Swallow every last bit," he ordered as he came. She dutifully hoovered up his seed.
He placed her on his chest.
"I like this hobby you have taken up."
"Bryce, and Frida and a few of the other girls helped me gather everything together. The mask was the hardest thing to find. Everything else we either sewed ourselves or had someone else make. And all day we talked about you."
His eyes widened. He went on high alert.
"About your likes and dislikes, predictions about how you would react to me in this outfit."
"They have no business discussing me with you!"
"Don't forget. You made me an honorary hostess for the day. As far as the girls are concerned, I am one of them, as such, I can discuss you in a professional capacity."
The satrap relaxed.
"Is that so? Perhaps I should put you on the payroll."
"I require a high salary."
"You'll get nothing and like it."
"The other girls won't like that. They might organize a strike."
"Then I'll throw their ringleader in prison!"
"Meanie!"
"I'm an absolute ruler and you, tiny as you are, are too big for your britches!"
He scooped her up and kissed her head to toe. In rapid succession he got four massive orgasms out of her.
"Mercy!" she gasped after the last one.
"Not tonight!"
The sixth orgasm left her weak and spent.
"Ah, you are finally quiet. That's more like it."
He beat off with her a second time.
"You are wearing that outfit to court tomorrow!"
"Like hell!"
"Penalty for insubordination."
"You were serious about that, sire?"
"I'll abide no aspersions on my authority. Especially not from a tiny house guest!"
"Please, sire!"
"Would you prefer to be naked all day? because that is your only other option."
"Sire!"
"Whine all you want. I believe you will enjoy the experience; you love to be looked at."
"Can't I make love to you instead?"
"You can make love to me after your day of public display. I suspect that you will be very much in the mood after an entire day of being ogled by my entire court."
She stuck her tongue out at him but ended up obeying. Maddeningly, it turned out that he was absolutely correct. After a wonderful full day of stares and sly glances of the ever so handsome imperial guards and three groups of very male college secret society members, she was turned on in a way that was revelatory to her. At the end of the day, he could not get the costume off her fast enough.
**
After three weeks they had, at last, cornered the ice beast. It roared and stamped and raged. Its cries were vaguely human, and although a quadruped, it often resorted to walking upright. From a distance it did look like a very large human in a grey, matted coat. Another problem presented itself. There were two men armed with ice lances but only one ice beast.
General Tao pushed Flash aside,
"Stand down, Gordon, I shall dispatch the foul creature."
He rushed forward,
"For Ming! He cried as he barreled ahead. Flash regained his footing. He was a pace behind Tao. The beast lunged forward and eviscerated Ming's most decorated general with his massive claws. This was just the opening Flash needed. There, open for a fleeting second, was the ice beast's most vulnerable spot. Instantly, Flash drove the serrated blade home. Warm blood coated Flash's hands, the smell of iron was heavy in the frigid air. The beast batted at Flash, his claws ripping furrows in his back before it collapsed, and Flash’s world went dark when the massive creature flattened him.
Only after the beast had been dragged off him did Flash hear the cheering of the soldiers and the natives. Natook was looking down, laughing, and smiling.
"You real man alright, golden one."
And then, despite the pain from the dying beast's attack, Flash was laughing as well.
The medic stitched up Flash's back. Flash asked for the beast's hide and why he wanted it.
"Ice beast sacred to my people. We make powerful medicine from every part. I give you pelt of ice bear for girl. Prettier fur and she will not know difference."
Flash thought Natook's suggestion a fine alternative. The beast was bisected and then divided into easily transportable portions. In less than an hour all that was left was a blotchy pool of blood on the ice.
General Tao's body was wrapped in the Mongo flag and then his canvas tent. Unlike the beast, the general could not be chopped into transportable chunks. The cavalry officer was given a sailor's funeral. In an open fissure of ice, at the edge of Mongo's polar sea, the general's body was committed to eternity. Flash made sure that his rival had a ceremony worthy of the man and his rank. The Mongo global anthem was played, and Flash sung every word with dignity and volume, even the lines about putting Ming's life above one's own and vowing to die for him instead. He realized that it just as easily could have been him in that icy, watery grave. Flash would deliver the general's dog tags personally, to his brother, Admiral Eando. It was only fitting.
**
Word reached the satrap's palace of the return of the successful hunting party a day ahead of time. Because of a lapse in communication, however, it remained unclear which general had succeeded.
Dale fretted.
"Sire, I am so conflicted. If Flash is the victor, I have so much to atone for and if Tao was victorious, he will demand that you turn me over to him."
He gently stroked her hair and cheek. "You have nothing to atone for, Dale. And Tao won't take you from me even if it means invasion of Grand Thule by all of Ming's combined forces."
"Darling, love me one more time, a final time," she asked poignantly.
**
Ra-Hesh's men were in their dress uniforms standing ramrod straight. The band had two sets of music on their stands, the global anthem of Ming and the popular folk song which had been adopted as the call to arms of the revolution. The great door to the throne room slowly opened.
"Flash!" cried an ecstatic Dale. The folk song rang out. The, just released from his holding cell, Admiral Eando's mouth dropped open in shock. Flash approached him. From his vest pocket he produced, Tao's dog tags. "Admiral Eando, I regret to inform you of the death of your brother, General Tao. He exited this world fighting and with Ming's name upon his lips."
The admiral blanched. He swatted away his brother's ID tags.
"This is some trick, Gordon. You murdered my brother!"
"Ask any of the men that accompanied us, admiral."
"Useless! You are all in conspiracy together!"
"I will not have you disparage my men, admiral!" interjected the satrap. "The rules were clear. fair, and mutually agreed upon. The fact of General Gordon's presence proves both his victory and his sincerity."
The admiral became purple with rage. "The likes of you could NEVER defeat my brother fairly. I will exact my revenge on you and everyone you love. All of them will die horrific deaths and your skull will be mounted above my fireplace!"
"Admiral Eando," stated the satrap firmly, "In light of the fact that a state of war now exists between us, I ask you sincerely and respectfully to leave Grand Thule immediately. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety."
The admiral nodded at the satrap.
"I shall respect your wishes, your eminence."
As he strode out the door of the palace, he shouted, "You are a dead man, Gordon. No matter where you go, no matter how long it takes, my brother will be avenged!"
There was an astounding quiet once the admiral was gone.
It was broken by the soft cry of, "Flash!" from Dale. It took Flash a moment to focus on where the voice was coming from. His eyes finally found Dale, clad in a beautiful gown and looking like something out of a fairy tale, standing on a tall riser next to Ra-Hesh's throne. He went to her.
"Darling, how I've missed you!" He kissed the. top of her head.
"Oh, Flash!"
"How have you been darling?"
"Fine, sweetheart, the satrap has been a perfect gentleman."
"General Gordon, if you can wait a few hours, I will have the scientists assembled to restore Miss Arden to her former height." said the satrap.
"No."
"Pardon?"
"You heard Eando. Dale is in grave danger. Even greater danger than she was before. Anywhere she goes, Ming's forces will try to execute her. General Tao was quite specific about what the empire would do to Dale of she fell into its clutches. Your eminence, if it is not too much trouble, keep her and as she is now. Tiny, she can be easily hidden if need be. I will fly back to Arborea immediately. Once there, I will have the rumor disseminated that Dale is under the protective custody of Prince Barin. Arborea is the most heavily defended and most defensible realm in all of Mongo so it makes sense that I would hide her there. Eando would never imagine that I would leave Dale behind when I left Grand Thule."
"But Flash," said Dale.
"One day this war will end, and you and I can be together again. It is because I love you so deeply and unconditionally that I leave you behind. Please understand that it is for your own good and for the sake of our love."
He planted a kiss on the entirety of Dale's face. The tiny woman fought back tears.
"Oh, Flash, I love you darling."
The blond earthman approached Ra-Hesh, III. He extended his hand. "Your eminence, thank you for looking after Dale thus far. I ask now that you extend your protection for an indefinite time, perhaps years. I know you are an honorable man and will always be a gentleman regarding her."
The satrap accepted Flash's extended right hand.
"Of course, General Gordon. Best of luck to you. All the free peoples of Mongo support you. Let freedom resound from one end of Mongo to the other, one day very soon."
Flash picked up Dale, held her close, and gave her a final deep, passionate kiss.
"Until that day, darling!"
With that, Flash Gordon, savior of the universe, exited the throne room to the strains of the rebel anthem.
**
The satrap showed Dale a Grand Thule identity card with her picture, but a different name.
"Jane Porter?"
"Your alias for the duration. Since I've militarized my hostess squads, they have drafted you, with the rank of private first class. You will work regular hours and be paid in military scrip like the other girls. Your classification is under special or unique talents. We all must do our part for the war effort, you know."
"Understood, sire, I will help out any way I can."
"Glad to hear it. I will probably also be calling on you for a wee bit of espionage from time to time."
Her expression went blank.
"We will, no doubt, have visitors here in the palace with valuable information to the war effort. Encountering you in all your tiny beauty and poise, is sure to disarm at least one and they will inadvertently reveal something to you that the resistance needs to know."
Dale suppressed a laugh. That role fit her like a designer gown. "I think I can handle that, your eminence."
"Terrific! Now let's see what you look like in your new uniform. I designed it myself."
There were smiles all around.

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