“Horrors: hostile environment!”
The atmosphere was unusually quiet aboard the Dauntless as it flew away from the space station and headed back into the Deep Heavens. The majority of the crew was not concerned about where they were going so much as where they had been. Hallow’s Point sounded just as appealing as any other normal hub in the galaxy, and anybody seriously looking forward to going there was only doing so out of curiosity: they wanted to see if the famous Wrench really was Eve’s mother. But for most people, that didn’t matter: they had left their hearts back at that station, and were now beginning the long journey of recovery.
All things considered, though, Riene was probably the happiest with her decisions, even though a shadow of doubt was still lurking behind her…
……
After the mess left by the terrorists was cleaned up, Director Astor awarded those directly involved in the rescue, and personally vowed to increase military vigilance so that further instances would be prevented. She didn’t stay around to comment further, however, and left as silently as a person in her position can. Riene had been one of the people Astor personally thanked, even though she felt she didn’t contribute much, but while she was up there receiving her accolades, she spotted Sati Yeriman in the crowd, and made a beeline for her once the ceremonies were over.
“Sati!”
“Who’s calling me? Oh, hey, Riene! It’s been a long time!” Sati ran up to her and threw herself into Riene’s arms; the redhead laughed and almost collapsed. Her face flushed with golden-red love as Sati licked her cheek and rubbed their noses together, and she lifted her head so she could touch the younger woman’s soft, sweet lips.
“I take it you’re glad to see me.”
“Very glad! Uh, here, let me help you. Heheh, sorry about that. Sometimes I get a little carried away.” She lifted Riene up and took a walk with her around the pavilion, where they caught up on recent events. The last time they saw each other, the Space Race had ended and Sati had offered to make Riene her partner. The kindhearted linguist was flattered, but still unsure of herself, and asked for some time so she could formulate an answer. Although she was not completely certain yet, Riene’s feelings were leaning very strongly towards Sati, thanks in no small part to the events that happened between their meetings. Rebecca was just a distant dream
for her now, while Sati was right here, willing to get into a relationship. It wasn’t exactly what Riene had envisioned, but she believed she could be happy.
Not exactly what I had envisioned… So does that mean I had feelings for her all along?
“Wow, that’s some story,” Sati whispered once Riene finished (naturally, she omitted the details about her meeting with the shape-shifter). “So you really saw a Doppelganger? That’s incredible!”
“I’d rather not talk about it right now,” she said gingerly. “Tell you what: how about I take you on a nice date, and we can try to decide what we’re going to do about that arrangement.”
“It’s a little early for your decision, isn’t it? Didn’t you say you were going to tell me once your ship reached Gaea’s moon?”
“Well, yes, something to that effect, but we can still talk about it, can’t we?”
They did more than just talk: they went into Riene’s room together and made love. Riene had never felt her inhibitions drying out so quickly before, and the pounding lust that had awoken on that foreboding world had now come to fruition, and as soon as they slipped into her hotel room— on the pretense of continuing their discussion in more peaceful surroundings— Riene lost herself and attacked Sati without mercy. The half-Inu never expected anyone as reserved, demure, and private as Riene to act aggressively, but it was a dream come true and she didn’t care to fight it. She had wanted her new lover to slow down and take her time— she wanted them both to enjoy this moment— but no, Riene was starved for affection; she was greedy, and long before they had completely undressed, she and Sati were both shuddering with orgasmic joy. Carefully, they climbed down from their peak, kissing and undressing patiently, until they were naked in each other’s arms.
Riene had almost completely given up on Rebecca by this point and would now focus her energies on Sati. She could certainly be happy with the energetic lady, and at least she was open and clear about her feelings. But oh, sex felt better than she could ever imagine! After exhausting her reserves ravishing the other woman, Riene laid down on her bed, spreading her arms and legs out like a fertility goddess, and arched her head back, moaning and singing beautifully as Sati made slow, sweet, selfless love to her. Riene’s breasts became temples to be worshipped; her tummy, while not as flat as Sati’s, was caressed and licked with ticklish precision; her legs were smothered with kisses; her arms and shoulders were rubbed until they went limp; she deeply drank from Sati’s mouth, suckling on her tongue; she bucked and thrust as Sati buried her lips in her vagina, but even then, she was not satisfied.
“There’s something I’ve always fantasized about, Sati,” she whispered, her eyes glittering in the sepia lighting. Her lover smiled patiently and smoothed out her distorted hair.
“What’s that?” Riene swallowed and pointed to one of her parcels she had brought.
“You see that green bag? There’s a…a strap-on in there, Sati. I want you to…put it on and…make love to me.”
“Y…you what? Um, I mean, seriously?” Now it was Sati’s turn to blush. She had no idea Riene had such a wild imagination (or for that matter, a sex toy in her possession)! And yet, gazing into those needy sapphire spheres of hers, deep into her heart, she could see just how strong this desire was. Riene had been wanting to cross that line for a very long time now, but she had been so afraid of making the jump tht she had led a rather pathetic existence. But not anymore. Sati grinned and caressed her cheek.
“All right. It does sound kind of fun. But it’s your turn next.” Riene giggled and reclined like a sultana waiting for her favorite concubine. Sati had a bit of difficulty putting the accessory around her waist, so Riene had to reach out and give her a hand. The artificial organ was not too long nor too hard, and Riene swallowed with anticipation as Sati modeled it for her, standing proud with her hands on her hips. She crawled atop her lover, straddling her as she moved the sex enhancement into position.
“Ready?” she whispered. Riene kissed her firmly.
“Just don’t be too gentle,” she glowed. Her world tenderly ripped apart as Sati descended— first in a baptismal of pain, then in a spectacular flourish of paradise— and she cried out, half-screaming and half-calling out in rapturous exclamation. Sati pinched her nipples, burrowing deeper, and Riene nearly hyperventilated. She had never felt anything remotely close to this; it would be seared into her heart and soul forever. She felt her virginity breaking, but she didn’t care: this was bliss.
……
Riene sighed deeply and clutched her heart, wondering if she had made the right decision. She could only rejoice or regret: she could not go back and change anything. Deep in her mind, she had always fantasized that Rebecca would be her first, as no doubt Rebecca had wanted Riene to be hers— but no plan works out perfectly, and fantasies are often dashed to pieces when confronted with the cruel twists of reality. Rebecca had been violated by the Doppelganger Changera, who took the form of Lyara, no less, and Riene gave her purity away like candy, albeit to a more reliable recipient. The distance between them was now very great, even though they shared the same living area, merely four doors away from each other.
But even so, Riene felt a still, solemn joy, and was glad that, if she could not give herself to the one she really wanted, she had at least shared herself with a good person, and one she could even envision sharing a life with. Chandra, on the other hand, was different. She was still reeling from Amy’s devastating statement, and coming into contact with a gorgeous, strong woman who nearly threw herself into Chandra’s arms only helped to worsen her inner struggle. Even as she
closed her eyes, she couldn’t focus away from that moment, nor the sensations that had bombarded her and made her feel, for the first time in her life, vile.
……
“And you’re sure you’re okay? You weren’t hurt at all?”
“Of course not,” Chandra replied, smirking cleverly. “With a body like this, I was able to have my way with those people. I seduced my way to safety and stayed hidden until it was over.”
“That sounds like something you’d do.” Kaori Chuunaru managed to smile, even though Chandra also flustered her. It had been awhile since she had seen the exotic beauty…and then there was that conversation she held with Yeriman… “Well, I’m glad you’re safe. Oof…the same can’t be said about me, though.”
“Oh, goodness, were you hurt? Let me take a look!”
“It’s nothing,” Kaori muttered, “just some bruises. I got kicked pretty hard in the stomach during the confusion, but this suit saved my life. Help me take it off, would you?”
“Certainly,” Chandra said, her voice trembling. As a pleasure unit made to service other women, she could appreciate feminine beauty, and Kaori, despite her militaristic density, was unquestionably gorgeous. Her body was quite strong and shapely, thanks to years of hard work and dedication, and she was tanned nicely on her legs and arms. Having Oriental features gave her a slightly more exotic look, and while she was powerful and stern, there was definitely something feminine (and even cute) about her.
The Damascus suit looked like it would take a team of experts to disassemble, but despite how bulky and sturdy it appeared, the trick to removing it was really simple: Chandra merely had to unlock several clasps and release them, and the suit rippled off like dew falling from ripe fruit. It was amazingly light and comfortable, like silk almost, but hard enough to deflect a point-blank blast from an explosion. But no armor is perfect; Kaori still got a few bruises from the fight, but it would never be anything more than that. Once the armor was removed and stored away, Kaori sat on her bed and stiffened as Chandra lifted her shirt. There was a very faint purple blotch on her abdomen.
“This looks awful,” she whispered. “Let’s see if we can’t make it better.”
“That’s not necessary,” Kaori muttered, but it was no use arguing: Chandra had already leaned in and kissed the battle-wound. Kaori felt like her sight was stolen away as bright lights flashed in her eyes, and they became stronger and louder as Chandra gently lifted her shirt further, unfastening her buttons and exposing more skin. She half-kissed, half-massaged the wound, and
even though it was still tender, the pain was completely masked by this seductress’ care. Kaori knew she would not be able to resist Chandra’s advances; in fact, she would welcome them. She knew that it would stir controversy, put her character into question, and might even throw her position into jeopardy, but oh…she didn’t care, she didn’t care! This felt so good, and she would never have an opportunity like this, and she wanted to believe in her feelings so much…
Her shirt came off, leaving Kaori to stare at the pleasure unit in her plain white brassiere. Chandra’s clothes piled around her knees as she gently laid Kaori on her back and crouched down, trailing her lips up the ecstatic woman’s body. This was it. It was really going to happen. Kaori stared into those expressive green eyes for a timeless moment before pressing her mouth against Chandra’s honeyed lips, drinking deep from a forbidden pool.
“I love you,” she whispered. Chandra smiled in spite of her mounting conflict and reached around to unhook Kaori’s bra.
“I love you, too.”
But do I really love her, or is she merely another notch in my bedpost?
……
The greatest conflict of them all was on Mink’s conscience, strangely enough. For the first time anybody could remember, she and her master had separated and were not speaking to one another, and in fact, Vimmy had isolated herself in her room the moment she came aboard, refusing to come out. Moreover, Shana was taking a rare sabbatical from her hobbies, opting to sit quietly and stare at the wall as she thought about what had transpired. She only permitted Herut to approach her, and even then, they didn’t speak. She just held her hand and felt a little better for it.
……
A discussion about the Heavens led to heavenly confessions and caresses. The truth is, Mink told Shana in that hushed, husky voice of hers, even though I may not look it all the time, I actually love you very deeply, and I’ve been in love with you for a long time. Well, how does one so inexperienced respond to that? Shana almost felt guilty as flowery lips touched her face, the kisses of ambrosia that gave her goosebumps and melted her resolve. Honestly, Mink, I’ve fallen
in love with you as well, but I have so many problems. My brother is dying. I have no idea what I’m doing. I think I’m in love with Herut as well. I’m so inexperienced.
She found no easy answer in Mink’s arms, only love and tenderness, but she could be happy, even if she believed she was acting selfishly. Soon the petite angel was naked and straddling Mink’s body, a soft marble pillar that glowed with unconditional love. Mink was so much taller and prettier, and yet she yearned for Shana, because she had fallen in love with her artist’s soul. She was inexperienced with this form of love as well— how awkwardly she took off Shana’s clothes, and how sweetly she smiled and beheld the nude cherubim!— but she had been storing these feelings in her heart for weeks, and now they had finally burst out. It was no stretch to say their actions were beyond their control.
“Ach, Mink, I heard somebody telling me they saw you come into this room, where have you been, my dear, I’ve been looking all over f— ”
And in that instant, everything was ruined. Vimmy stood at the doorway to their bedroom, her hand still on the knob, her mouth hanging open in mid-rant, entirely petrified from the shock of bursting in on a tender moment. Mink and Shan froze as well, too frightened to move or speak, and a deep, deadly silence purveyed the room. At last the fatal hush broke as Mink stuttered, trying to explain her actions.
“Uh…I…”
“WHATINBLAZESAREYOUDOINGMINKICAN’TBELIEVEYOU’DDOSOMETHINGLIKETHISHOWCANYOUBESOSHAMELESS…” The rest of her words were lost in an explosive fury as Vimmy paced around the room, flailing her arms and screaming at the top of her lungs. Mink had never seriously feared for her life until that moment, and she held Shana protectively, thrusting a blanket over their bodies and waiting for her chance to retaliate. Vimmy finally ran out of oxygen and collapsed, but not before giving the two women a damning glare.
After recovering, Vimmy had a smoldering expression in her numbed eyes, and if it were possible, expressed more frustration by not saying anything. She simply huddled in a chair, wrapped in a small sheet, cradling a tall glass of brandy as Mink and Shana tried to explain their actions.
“We didn’t do anything wrong, Vimmy,” Shana said. “We love each other. People do that sort of thing when they’re in love. We couldn’t help it.”
“It’s true,” Mink murmured, no longer so emotionally distant. “Shana has become the light in my world. With all due respect, you knew when we met that I would not remain your servant forever. I have to strike out on my own eventually. That is the one goal every member of my species strives for. We have not acted shamefully.”
“Besides, it’s not as if you’ve ever considered Mink’s feelings in the past,” Shana muttered. Vimmy stared daggers at them both.
“I beg your pardon,” she whispered harshly, “but I have always given Mink’s feelings great thought in my every endeavor, how dare you suggest otherwise, and as for you, my lady, you have most certainly performed shamelessly, really now, have you no remorse, allowing yourself to be disrobed and…smothered like that, and speaking so arrogantly, well now, so I’ve heard your true feelings, eh, you do mean to abandon me, right when I need you the most, and for what, for this?” She gestured shakily at Shana and swallowed her drink in one go. Mink stood up, towering over both master and lover, and seethed with genuine, righteous anger. It had been the first time she was so expressive.
And then, she slapped Vimmy, nearly knocking her out of the chair.
“I have always respected you,” she whispered darkly as tears formed in her eyes. “Bit I have never, ever liked you. And you should knock whenever you enter a room!” She grabbed Shana with iron fingers and whisked her away, both of them deathly silent. But their efforts were in vein, for they were doomed never to find a safe haven so long as they all shared the same ship.
……
“You’d find happier faces on Boot Hill,” Allegra remarked as she walked through the ship’s corridors. She didn’t like being surrounded by gloom, but at least her own life was turning out well. She and Kate now considered themselves a “couple”, and as bizarre as it was for Allegra to love another woman like that, she was glad she had given her heart away. She was actually heading over to sample Kate’s cooking progress and offer her opinion. Allegra felt she deserved to be happy after nearly half a lifetime of misery and sorrow, and even though she still had a few problems to overcome, at least now there was somebody by her side who understood her feelings and would support her. In fact, merely thinking about Kate’s warm presence and her loving smile made Allegra a little dizzy, and…well, what’s this? She must’ve been so overcome with excitement that she fell over!
No, that wasn’t it. The Dauntless was wheeling in pain as its hide was pierced by white-hot spears and bolts. It bucked wildly, throwing everyone around, regardless of their romantic ventures. The Acheron sisters raced to the bridge and fought to keep the ship from flailing out of control; Aseria barked that she didn’t need their help, but as the ship lurched forward, she was flung against the controls violently, and knocked out cold. Kay and Tee didn’t have time to regard her condition or cure her, and nobody else would be able to make it to the bridge to help out. The Dauntless fought back against her unknown foe, but it was a useless venture: she was completely overwhelmed. The best the Acherons could do was find a world to touch down on and protect the safety of everyone onboard.
“That should do it. “They’ll be out of it for a few hours, but let’s not get sloppy. Take the ones the Professor asked for and leave the rest.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little imprudent? I mean, I know were only taking the strong ones, but they’re not exactly the majority. And what about the you-know-what they have with them?”
“Pssh, don’t tell me you believe that crap! And even if it were true, one of the professor’s ‘pets’ was brought in to keep it away. Here’s one of them. Damn…she’s pretty cute!”
“I got another one. What does he want with them, anyway?”
“Hell if I know. Some weird scientific experiment. Oh, hey, over here. See any resemblance?”
“Oh my god, yeah. He’ll certainly be happy to see this one! But check out the one Hubert bagged.”
“Ooooh, sweet! Yeah, we’ll be getting some big bonuses for this job! Uh— careful there, Gastri. I think she might still be awake. Better tranq her.”
“Yeah. Didn’t the professor say that one of these angels was immune to his toxins?”
“Uh, yeah, the, uh…rabbit one. Yeah, just shoot her up. Two should do the trick. Be careful.”
“Yeah, I know. Okay, I think that’s the last of em’. Are you sure we should just leave the others here?”
“That’s what he told us. They’re not important. It’s not like they could follow us anyway. All right, back to the truck.”
Kate Shepherd woke up with an agonizing migraine, and for once, it hadn’t been caused by her cooking. But speaking of which, where was Allegra? And where was she? This room certainly wasn’t inside the Dauntless: it was too dark, cold, and clammy. She had been lying on a hard, flat surface, probably a slab of some sort, and woke up feeling sore and weary. Although she couldn’t see very well, she was beginning to make out shapes and movements, and could tell that she was not the only one caught here, wherever it was.
“Shepherd’s up,” she heard somebody say. It was Naja, no mistake. Judging by her voice and the imperceptible movements of her body as she gestured, Kate estimated Naja was about a meter away— and there were others as well. It didn’t stink in that pit, thank goodness, so she could smell Lyara’s Elvish fragrance, and it was so quiet that she could hear Alala whining. She felt gentle hands dab something refreshing on her head, and looked up to see the dim silhouette of Mink.
“Hello there,” she greeted plainly. “Don’t worry, you didn’t sustain any injuries from the crash. That’s really more than I can say about the rest of us. You’re very tough.”
“But I don’t remember passing out,” she groaned.
“That’s because you were gassed the minute we touched down,” Lyara muttered.
“She’s exaggerating,” Naja snorted. “Some guys in gray hazmat suits came in and fumigated the whole fucking ship. Some of us just decided to put up a fight before we went down!”
“Futility,” Lyara sighed. Mink slowly helped Kate sit up, and tried to answer her questions.
“I believe we’re in some sort of prison. Alala’s made several attempts at escape, but I think this is one cell even she can’t get out of. The bars are made of crisscrossing superheated lasers, the walls are solid granite, and the only window is a small hole that leaks in from the ceiling.” She pointed to a golfball-shaped opening high up above, spilling a single ray of dim light down into the prison, where it nearly faded. Even so, the room was illuminated by it, and as Kate’s eyes adjusted, she could see all of her companions. Athena was also there with them, but she was still asleep.
“She’s been drugged,” Naja reported, giving the Usagin a nudge. “That god-damned gas didn’t have any effect on her, so they shot her up.”
“What about the others?”
“We’re the only ones here,” the Elshyrin sighed.
“That’s not completely true,” Lyara said as she stood up. “We have a neighbor next door. We can talk to her through the bars, but she’s in the same position that we’re in. Her name’s Melena Fara’dellyn; I think she’s a model or something.”
“Yes, Vimmy’s had dealings with her before,” Mink noted. It took them awhile to notice she left out the honorary title. Kate sat up and looked around her again. Alala was grumbling in the corner, nursing another escape-related injury, Athena was lying on another slab, wrapped with whatever the others had to spare, Lyara coolly leaned against the hard wall, Naja was crossing her arms and glowering…
“So has anything happened? I mean, does anybody know what we’re doing here?”
“Not a clue. So just sit tight and keep quiet.” Kate pouted, but Naja had a point. They were powerless to do anything, so they just had to be patient and wait for their opportunity.
……
“Professor, the prisoners you requested are secured. We have six from the Dauntless in Cell 52, one in Cells 1 and 2, and that woman from Balder in Cell 50.”
“Very good. That went a lot smoother than I expected. Give the ladies in 52 a few more hours to cool their heads, then take them to the arena. Did you bring Professor Brignor as I instructed?”
“Yes, sir. She put up some resistance when we told her about you. Are you sure it was wise to reveal your identity like that?”
“Valti’s better off learning right away. She has no real reason to hate me, though. We’re colleagues, after all. Do you have the medication I asked for?”
“Yes, it’s in this case.”
“Excellent. Alert me when the games have begun, will you? I’m going to retire to my room.” The warm, invigorating breeze blowing in was stilled as the Professor went back inside, wound around a corner, ascended a staircase, and came to a large, richly-carved set of double doors, which he opened without a sound. Although his private room was as opulent as an Emperor’s, he was only interested in his newest decoration, a six-armed woman tied to the wall by silk kerchiefs, dressed in fragrant cloth reminiscent of ancient Arabia: a meager top meant to expose the chest, abdomen, arms, and cleavage, and a sheer red sarong with a broad cut that gave the legs total freedom. Valti had never been dressed so beautifully in her life, but the rage in her eyes might have been even lovelier.
“I’m sorry I had to ask my fellows to bind you so provocatively, but I had to make sure you didn’t wreck anything or…escape. I want you here by my side, Valti, just like back in the old days.”
“You’ve turned into such a bastard, Frank,” she scowled, struggling to free her six arms from confinement. He smiled sweetly and touched her cheek; she lashed out and bit him, but he kept his hand there, content to wince.
“I am no different from you, Valti. We have both proved ourselves to be nothing more than monsters. However, I would like to at least make something of myself before God decides to send down His judgment. Are you familiar with the name of Origin?” Valti’s mouth dropped open, releasing his hand, and he withdrew it politely, rubbing the indention with a tissue. “Ah, I see you have. That will make this much less painful.”
“How do you know that name? What does it mean?” Frank smiled calmly, walked up to Valti, and put his nose inside her cleavage, inhaling slowly. Valti trembled at his touch, and as deeply as she despised him now, there was still that longtime desire of hers, the desire to be with her mentor, the man she had loved, and lost, and now found again. Frank suddenly caught her jaw with his soft hands, and stared into her eyes fiercely.
“Origin refers to absolute, all-encompassing power. Whether it is a single entity, or several acting together, or an entire civilization, is still a mystery. I have only heard what I have been allowed to hear. We’re not safe from prying ears anywhere in this galaxy: Origin is everywhere. I can tell you this much, though: it has worked its greatest designs in the Helios system. Origin freed Sephiria from Selene’s womb and cast the entire world into decay. Tellus was once its goal, along with Mars and Venus, but now it has cast its eyes everywhere. I am a part of Origin now— I serve an entity called Boole— and I’ve been given leave to…well, continue my research without inhibitions. That is everything I can tell you, Valti. You had best get used to staying here. I’m afraid I’m going to have to keep you two here indefinitely.”
Franklin had the look of a madman in his eyes, but a sliver of truth seeped out even during his raving, and Valti committed as much of it to memory as she could, even though he horrified her. But what did he mean by “keep you two here”?
“Us two?” she said. Franklin glanced away and stepped back, digging through his lab coat for a keychain.
“Yes, you two. My child, and the mother of my child. Rebecca’s two cells over. Her room is even better than yours. It’s the least I can do for her after being gone so long.”
“Oh, Becky,” Valti whispered numbly. Franklin began loosening her bonds and caught her as she fell over; she didn’t have the will to struggle anymore. “Franklin, listen, about that…night.”
“Oh yes, I forgot! How is my son, Valti? He should be…what, two or three years old by now!”
“I was never pregnant, Franklin,” she announced morbidly, staring listlessly at the wall. “I’m sorry. When you…gave me these arms, you…well, there were some…side effects.”
“What exactly do you mean, Professor Brignor?” he hissed hotly, clapping onto her shoulders with his hands. Franklin had never been a powerful man, so his grip amazed Valti.
“I mean…it’s impossible for me to have children now. The chemicals you injected me with made me barren, and they affected the tests. I…”
“Then what good are you to me?” he murmured, touching her breast and waist as he whispered in her ear. He slipped out of her grasp and walked out the back door, leaving Valti a brittle shell of her former self. She wheeled around to call out to him, but he had already shut the door on her.
……
Rebecca Hill was ready for anything when the door to her elaborate room opened up— anything, that is, except for the handsome, warm-faced, middle-aged man that came through. He shut the door carefully and politely approached her, keeping his distance as she reared up, ready to fight her way through. He was fairly tall, but he didn’t have a strong build or an intimidating look, and his face was very pleasant to look at; it emulated the concept of masculine beauty well. Blonde, bright-eyes, and well-groomed, the man exuded a lovely presence, but there was something familiar about him, some resemblance to another man that Rebecca had known or seen before. But who, and where…
“So you don’t recognize me,” he sighed, rubbing his eyes wearily. “I can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve been gone from your life for so long that any picture you might have kept in your mind must be fuzzy by now. I have no excuse for that; I was merely needed elsewhere. Making up for lost time might be futile, my dear, but at least permit me to try.”
“You mean,” she whispered, gasping as the realization came to her, “are you my…father?”
“At your service,” he bowed, “for what it’s worth. What’s the matter, don’t you believe me? You had that hair when you were born, Becky. The doctors called it an unnatural genetic anomaly. Even so, you were like a beautiful angel from the beginning. Are you experiencing any side effects from the toxins my fellows sprayed?” Rebecca was so overwhelmed with what was happening that she actually did faint on her bed. Franklin sat down and gently ran his fingers through her ivory hair, producing a thin canister from his coat pocket. Inside was a single syringe, along with standard equipment for injection.
“I apologize for the brutal manner in which you were brought here,” he stated as he rolled Rebecca’s sleeve back and rubbed alcohol on her arm. “My fellows have been tracking your ship since the Space Race; we were looking forward to your arrival. There— hold still and breathe slowly. This will help clear your head. You’re in a citadel I’m leasing from my beneficiaries— dramatic, I know— and for the time being, I recommend you stay indoors. You’re free to wander around…” At this point, he gave her the keychain he had drawn out of his pocket earlier, adding, “And if you ring that bell over there, you can ask my assistant for anything you desire. All right, I’m finished.” Franklin looked down at his weary daughter, smiled lovingly, and touched her face.
“You’ve grown up so much while I was gone. Hopefully now we can be a family. I have business to attend to, so I’ll leave you here for a few hours, but I’ll return as soon as I can.”
He bent down to kiss her forehead. She was unresponsive.
Before he left her room, however, she finally sat up and spoke to him.
“Uh, dad…”
“Please don’t ask me any questions today, Becky,” he muttered sharply. “You’d be better off not knowing.”
The injection he gave her must’ve been effective: she no longer felt dizzy, and in fact, her head was clearer and more focused than it had ever been. She felt stifled, so she went to find a drink, all the while under the careful observation of hidden recorders. Franklin Hill checked his monitors before returning to his studies, paying special care to his daughter’s readout.
SUBJECT PROGRESS: 3 complete.
To be continued…
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Preview of next chapter
Kate: Silly Franklin, didn’t he read the last chapter?
Alala: Obviously not, cuz’ if he did, he’d know what happens to people who come between lesbians and their sex!!
Lyara: I didn’t think you were having sex.
Alala: Ut! I…I’m not! I’m just saying that for those of us who ARE…
Mink: (eerily quiet— um, more so than usual, I mean)
Lyara: Don’t look at me. Sharyn and I only just kissed.
Kate: Well, somebody’s having sex, and because they are, our lesbian wrath shall smite them…WITH A VENGEANCE!!
Alala: Smiting is good.
Lyara: I’m afraid we’ll have to do more than just smite in the next chapter. I think our captors are going to force us into a cage match with some deadly creatures.
Alala: But we get a super-cool ally as well, don’t we? There’s more to the supermodel Melena Fara’dellyn besides looks!
Mink: Regardless, we had better be careful. “Horrors: gladiators of doom” will put all of us to the test.
Kate: Aha, I finally figured out which one of us was having sex! It’s HER!!
Alala: Who is this Heavyworld beauty pointing to? Find out in the next chapter!
Naja: It was ME, numbskulls!!
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