By Mr. David R. Dorrycott
copyright 1996 C.E.
Rita copyright Mr. Scott Thomas
Snowaters lay in her command chair, half dead from exhaustion after the nights events. "Tell me 'lith, what happened down there?" she asked. A hint of fear was in her voice, something the alien creature hadn't heard in almost nine hundred years.
<PSI Forces.> it answered. <One of. Your Major. Weakness.>
"So, she's PSI" the woman muttered, some small confidence returning. "Fine, I'll bring her up here then. This backwater planet can barely get into orbit, much less their moon anymore. Darn fools, giving up the high ground... They'll learn, much to their own sorrow." She rubbed her swollen eyes, trying to regain some control over her fogged mind. "Once I make contact with her, lock out all command functions from me until we're home, and Yuki as well. Thank Gods the children are grown and on their own. Oh nuts... You better get a message out to them to stay away. Aries and Kela aren't due to visit for another year, hope by then I'll have this taken care of."
She stood, yawning. "I hope.... Long night. Okay, I saw an insect bite, so she's somewhat compatible with the lifeforms below. Check any medical data you can find, convert what I'll need to be effective on her...." She yawned again, staggering as she stood. "Wake me a couple of hours before I'm supposed to meet her, an have that outfit I wore at the Gilnah Centennial ready, nothin else." Rubbing her aching back she staggered towards her cabin, patting Yuki on the shoulder (she thought) as she left the Bridge. "Hol' donna fort bu'ful" she managed, then was gone.
Yuki looked at the closed door, then at Kalith's hovering form. "Yuki think Mistress drunk" she announced. "Mistress never touch Yuki there before. Yuki mean... outside medical test." She blinked, thinking for a moment, then returned to her work.
Ten oh five pm, Rita swept through the Rogue Planet's main door. Being late wasn't normal to her, but then, neither was almost getting run over by a drunk driver. She looked at her table, it was empty. A small sigh of disappointment escaped her petite lips, until a flash of silver caught her eye. She spotted Snowaters sitting at one of the darker tables. Those reserved for more private endeavors. Her natural smile deepened as she walked over.
"May I join you?" she asked, taking in the white tressed woman's outfit, or lack of in this case.
"Please do" Snowy replied with a barely perceptible smile, waving at the only other chair. Snowaters was wearing the bare minimum allowed in the Rogue Planet, but cut in such an... unusual way. The Gray found herself entranced as she slipped into the pro-offered seat. "I've done a bit of study about your people" the Star Diamonds owner said. "Your customs, likes, dislikes.... Such a lovely tummie you have, I find it quite... entrancing." Her tongue flickered out, tracing her upper lip slowly before slipping back into hiding.
Rita almost swooned. For the first time she was with someone she couldn't 'read' and the excitement was intoxicating. She found herself wondering if her social skills were good enough to land this lady, a lady obviously on the prowl. "Yes, well, I do keep myself fit" she answered, accepting her standard drink from the waitress. "You aren't drinking tonight?"
"No Rita, I don't like to mix drinking with driving and I've a long way to 'drive' tonight." Snowaters barely lowered her eyes, her lips seemed to pout for a moment. For some reason this sent a thrill up Rita's spine. Trying to cover her excitement she sipped her drink. "Yes, you offered to show me your starship. Was that just a joke, or did you really mean it?"
"Oh yes. I'll be happy to show you the Diamond... And much... much more." Snowaters moved slightly and the outfit... moved. There was a flash of metal where Rita didn't expect it, then nothing as the almost living cloth drifted back into place. "I've rather specialized tastes dear Gray, do you really think your up to meeting them?"
Suddenly swallowing a mouthful of drink Rita's eyes seemed to widen. "I do not enjoy pain, if that is what you mean Lady" she answered. "But I do enjoy pleasing, and being pleased. If pain is your 'game', then I'm afraid I'll have to bow out."
The oriental woman laughed, a full throated almost purr that swung heads around for a moment. "Ah my dear sweet Gray, There is more pleasure than you can imagine, with and without pain. Especially with your.... unique skin." Snowaters tongue darted out again, tracing her lower lip this time. She was doing her best to distract the ultra-sensitive Gray as her handful of nano-mites did their job. She had arrived only a few moments before Rita, barely having time to scatter her little helpers on the chair. Heat activated they had a job to do, and the first item was finding a way into the alien's bloodstream.
Rita blushed at the unusual attention, and soft seductive words. Nothing like the normal, course one liners she was used too. Determined to regain the offensive she leaned forward, bringing her face on a level with the humans. "If you have been studying, didn't you get any sleep at all?" she asked.
"Oh yes, sleep training. Even at my age you can't know everything, but you can know a lot." She stood suddenly as Rita fidgeted again, tossing a bill on the table. "Shall we go? My chariot awaits." Rita barely had time to finish her drink, barely noticing the size of the bill. Snowaters nodded to the bill as she caught Rita's interest. "I found something delightful here. I like to reward those who have what I need, and don't mind sharing." Reaching out she gently took the Grays hand in hers, then headed out the door. Touching a ring to her bracelet, she whispered a word.
There was sudden pandemonium outside as cars screamed to a stop, people ran in all directions, many abandoning their cars engines still running. Rita caught confusion, fear, but no hate. Then a heavy, muted roar filled the street. Flickering light filled the street, casting lurid shadows within the Planet's interior. A huge shape slowly filled the street, cars were crushed as the huge ship landed, some flowing like water under the ships super-hot exhaust.
"What if..." Rita started when Snowy's hand gently, almost feather-like, touched her lips. "Don't worry, Cybersnake won't land if she senses any life below her, and she is very sensitive to life.... and death." A hatch opened as the two left the Rogue Planet's safety, entering the ship amid clouds of smoke and steam.
Rita barely caught a glimpse of the ancient, star faded emblem on the ships side. 'Goddess NO' she thought, turning to run as the hatch slammed shut in her face. "No, I want to leave" she almost screamed, turning to face Snowaters. "You will let me free" she demanded, bending her will against the alien only inches from her. The only answer from the suddenly grim faced woman was the feel of acceleration under Rita's feet.
“You are in no danger Gray, not if your heart is true and I think it is. Still I must be certain, and there is only one way I know that. Then, if you still desire, you'll be returned here. Less than a minute after you left." Snowaters smiled. "Time travel, of a sort, is well known to me."
Courage returned to the Gray even as she began to feel strangely tired. "And if my heart isn't 'true'?" she asked.
"Then you will make a most interesting toy, you'll never see another living being but those I allow. You'll live a long, fruitful life with all you could want, except freedom. I don't kill, unless there is no other choice."
"This ship?"
"Was a gift to me. I am not an agent of that race, nor do I have commerce or communication with them."
"Then why?"
"It's simple Rita. Your PSI powers caused me to tell you things I cannot allow to become public. There are too many people, too many races and lives at stake. Perhaps it was unintentional, perhaps not. That is what I HAVE to know."
"What if I gave my word..."
"Are you Japanese, are you of a Known Clan?"
"No" the Gray admitted. "Is that important?"
"Yes. It is the only way I would accept your word."
There was a thump as the ship docked, followed by several mechanical sounds. "Rides over Gray, this part. Now we go to my home and we find out."
"My people will follow you, there is no where...." Reality twisted, sending Rita's delicate stomachs churning as her eyes suddenly failed her. She squeaked in surprise, trying to call to her own people only to find nothingness. Only Snowaters quick reactions kept the contents of Rita’s stomach from splashing over Cybersnake's insides. Several minutes passed as reality imploded and Rita exploded. Finally she fell to her knees, completely exhausted. Minutes passed as reality twisted, churned, stretched and imploded before her eyes. Finally things settled down, she felt Snowaters arms around her, barely noticed the smaller woman picking her up and carrying her as she slipped into another world.
"How long until we dock" Snowaters asked.
<Three minutes.>
"Damn, I didn't know she was that delicate, I didn't expect more than disorientation. Get the 'bots to cleaning 'Snakes insides, smells like... yuk. And have the counter commands ready, I don't want the nanomites causing damage."
<Command...>
"This isn't a command, it's a request."
<Understood. Accepting.>
Some time hours later Rita woke, her stomachs still churning, but empty. She opened her eyes, looking around. It suddenly came to her that Snowaters hadn't reacted like last time, hadn't drifted away but kept her self-control. "Where?" she asked, her voice barely audible. There was a rustling sound. Snowaters, still in her silver dress, sat down in front of the prone Gray.
"My home, and unless your race has an extremely accurate inter-reality and time drive, they won't be arriving soon. If they do, this reality is empty except for what I placed here. It would be... how do humans put it? Like shooting ducks in a barrel?" She smiled, reaching out to run her hand over Rita's bald head. "Now as for you, other than that totally unexpected crash you'll be okay. I've taken blood samples and found an antidote for your attack. That's why your awake now, not two weeks from now."
Rita grimaced, trying to turn away. "This is a very poor way to treat someone who.."
"Found out everything they could about me? Rita, your playing in the big leagues now, you should have guessed that minutes after you had me spilling my guts to you. Twelve trillion lives, maybe more are in my hands. Thousands of worlds I've helped. Paid to help yes, but helped. Their strength and weakness's are known to me. What's the life of a single Gray against that? What's my life against that? Nothing, a wisp of shadow before a nova." She leaned over the prone woman, adjusting something behind her. "You know, I really prefer you with the wig." She suddenly looked thoughtful, running a finger from Rita's chin to her top navel. "Perhaps I'll give you hair. Would you like real hair? Hair as blue as that wig?"
Rita laughed, a soft sound, delicate. "Not possible, my race doesn't even have the cells to support hair. We haven't had hair in almost a quarter million years. Now may I get up?"
<Data. Sufficient.>
"Not even a friendly computer" Rita complained as Snowaters released the padded restraints and helped her up. The sheet fell away and she found herself naked. "Couldn't wait?" she asked, more interested than worried.
"I don't rape, though in your case I have to admit I was tempted." Snowaters reached up, touching a pin on her shoulder. Her dress fell to the floor leaving her as naked as Rita.
Intrigued, the Gray reached out, touching one of Snowaters two silver colored rings. "Why?" She asked, curious.
Snowaters reached up, tapping the other ring. "I donno Rita, I just, well it feels right, for me I mean. Probably cause you nightmares, it's something each person decides for themselves. Now come on, it'll be hours before those storm centers you call stomachs can support a meal. Lets get you to the SRVR chamber and give you the whole show."
"SRVR? Whole show?" Rita asked, suddenly confused again. "Aren't I still suspect?"
A twinkle flickered in Snowaters dark green eyes, "If you were not what you claim to be, we'd know already and your first gift from me would have been a slaver collar. You get people to tell you what you want to know, do things you want, by mind power. I do the same, with a trillion times the power in computers and AI's. In case your wondering, Nano-delivered drugs are keeping you out of my mind, out of Yuki's mind. But drugs can fail, so I've released all command to another. Until we are at peace."
"We are not at peace? Then we are at war?" Rita asked, an almost frown crossing her face.
"I kidnapped you, held you against your will, mistrusted you. Dear sweet Gray, please grow up before some Drith slaver slaps his collar around that pretty neck, then sells you to the lowest bidder for spare parts. Right now you need information, your world needs information. The Drith are slowly sweeping your area, in a hundred or so of your years they will arrive and unless your ready.... I'll be buying your parts on the organ market and trying to play jigsaw puzzle." She grimaced as the image came to her. "I can do it, but if your brain is damaged even I can't repair lost memories."
They arrived at huge bronze doors, doors that slid almost soundlessly aside. "Education time. About me, then the Drith. My good, and more importantly, my bad. Then you decide if you want me to take you home, or to visit for a while." She patted Rita's hand, looking up into those huge eyes. "A woman could get lost in you" she whispered. With a deep sigh she pulled herself away, settling into a corner. "Okay 'lith, run it." Behind them the doors closed and Rita's education began.
Nine days later Rita found Snowaters sitting in the stations huge greenhouse, staring out at a world in the making. "How long will it take the robots to build a world" Rita asked.
"Oh, another hundred years or so. You can only take so much mass from a system without causing problems, and even with IR drive it takes time."
"This station will be the sun then?"
"Something like that. Rita, this station can produce three hundred times the energy it could ever need, even under attack by an Armageddon fleet. We've been mounting the lamps for forty years."
Rita slipped softly against Snowaters side, one hand slipped onto her shoulder. "Can you really give me blue hair" she asked.
"mmmm, Yes. I could have the modified gene ready by Thursday. It'd breed true if you want, but it would take five or six years to grow the hair you want. I don't expect you'll want to stay that long."
"Just on my head?"
"Just on your head. I've been at this a long long time dear. Nanotech and Gene's are the one of the few things I'm really good at."
Rita stared out at the growing world, unconscious of her own hand slipping over Snowy's shoulder, her fingers grasping the ring they found. "What about a moon" she asked.
"Moon?" Snowaters asked. "I never..." She keyed a mike next to her. "Yuki" she called softly. Almost a minute passed before there was an answer.
"Yuki here. Snowaters want Yuki?"
"I've a question dear. Your world, would you like a moon?"
"Yuki like moon.... Yuki have two moons?"
"Sure, two moons. Thank you Yuki, go back to what you were doing."
"Yuki go."
"You never broke her of that, did you" Rita asked.
Snowaters shook her head, closing her eyes a moment before answering. "No, it's genetically bound in too many places. I could break it, but Yuki wouldn't be Yuki anymore. She'd probably die from catastrophic cascade failure." She sighed, twisting her hands together. "I'll make her mother of her race, but I can't grant her the freedom she really deserves."
"And her children?"
"Not as bad, she took DNA samples of me, the children, Aries and Kela before I figured out those cilia. By then it was too late, I'd have to gut her to get all the storage cells. She'd let me too.... So, I let her keep them."
"Does everyone love you like this? I mean, willing to give their lives if you ask?"
"You mean Opal? I only found that out a little while ago, even I can't change what is, only what may be. As for Aries and Kela... That was in the height of battle, I don't think that if I asked either one would let me just rip their belly open with a knife. There's a limit to love... there has to be." She stood, reaching out to touch the Gray's exposed belly. "Two navels, not unknown but rare. Are you ready to go home now?"
Rita grasped the smaller woman's warm hand, pressing it against her exposed belly. "Later, like you said here there is always time." She paused and blushed, "I've... I've watched some of those tapes of yours, does being bound really enhance pleasure?"
The human laughed. "Only if its within you Rita. You'll know, when you've tried it once. You either love it or hate it. No one can make you do other than your will. Not here, not once accepted as family. But with that skin of yours I haven't anything soft enough to use. I could cause you a great deal of pain. You could practice on me if you want, I like it."
"I thought of that" the Gray replied. "I thought, I thought star-silk might do."
Snowaters looked up into the Grays huge dark eyes, her hand slipping unrestricted down, reaching even more sensitive skin. "Starsilk? That just might do, if you really want to try...."
"Might as well" she hissed, clinching her teeth as centuries practiced fingers fluttered against ultra-sensitive nerves. "Never know when I'll have another chance." She leaned against the smaller woman, her lips just touching Snowaters forehead.
Snowy giggled, putting her free arm around the Gray's waist. "Then, my dear alien" she whispered to the gasping woman. "Lets withdraw to the playroom."
Rita snuggled against the smaller woman, causing her to stagger. A soft sigh escaped her lips. "Kidnapped by an alien, brought aboard her starship, taken lightyears from home and subjected to strange medical tests. Mind probed, made helpless and forced into strange acts... It all sounds like something from a cheap B movie."
"Rita, of all things, I am NOT cheap" Snowy growled as they stepped into her room. "Oh my, what colorful rope" she gasped as Rita hissed again. Behind them, the door slowly closed.