Authors: Linda Gayle
"Listen,” Elion said around a chew of veg, bread, and cheese. “We really should have a backup plan. It's not that I'm so put off by the idea of having permanent black swirlies on my face, but we absolutely can't risk losing the
Nova
for the second time. Ulvik won't humor us again. He'll have the ship sold before we get another crack at her."
"I've thought about that.” Kels slouched against a handy wall. “I say we blackmail him. If he won't give us the ship, we turn him over to the authorities for dealing with illegal ink. We've got the proof right here.” He patted Sayal's shoulder.
She blanched. “But didn't he say if we tried to remove the ink, I would die?"
"No worries, luv. There's always a way, even if it's just a deep scan. You'll see. Medical technology's got quite advanced. Even the Dome scanners pick up most things."
She blanched further, her bronzed skin growing somewhat yellow about the edges.
Apparently not noticing, Kels said to Elion, “That's where we were headed when I called you. Getting cleared for the games."
"You're ready to compete?” Saints, how much fucking had they done in the two hours he'd been separated from them?
"Now or never,” Kels said cheerfully. “Besides, we don't have to, not here anyhow. It was your condition that we prove ourselves before we head off to the Zone. If you want to blow that off, I'm sure Sayal wouldn't mind."
Elion finished the last of his wrap, so much better than duck eggs. “No, I stand by my conditions, because if she can't perform"—he jabbed a finger at Sayal, not caring that it was rude—"then there's no point in going all the way to the Zone and risking our asses and our assets. I could just as easily negotiate a better payload to the Rim, safer and more profitable."
"I won't disappoint you,” Sayal said, her low, musical voice twining around his brain. Why'd she have to look so earnest and regretful, as if she was already sorry she was putting them out? It would be easier to hate her if she were arrogant like Keeva. She put her hand on Kels's arm, and he patted it absently, wiping his mouth with a napkin and tossing it in a recycle bin. Already they interacted seamlessly, like a couple who had been together for years. There was almost none of the awkwardness he'd seen before when women had first gone into the games with Kels. The captain had some funny stories after some of the birds discovered, halfway through intercourse, that hundreds of goggling eyes staring at them was a major thrill-kill.
Would Sayal be able to perform publicly? Elion had his doubts.
"When do you plan to compete?” he asked.
"Soon as Canto clears us. Not tonight obviously, since we've got a jarouk game to win, but tomorrow's twelve-hour opening's a possibility.” Kels slung an arm around Sayal and pulled her to his side. “Not too big an audience, not too much competition. They always start with neos before the nymphos.” He grinned at his own joke, but Sayal's plush lips curved in a frown. “What's the matter, princess? Not getting cold feet, are you?"
"No, of course not. It's my back. It's starting to sting a bit."
"Oh?” Kels leaned behind her shoulder, lifted the tail of her blouse, and examined her. “Looks all right from here. Better keep an eye on it. If you're not feeling up to it, I can take you back to your cube, and you can rest."
"I'd rather do it now, get it out of the way, as you said.” She shook her head so her glossy black hair swung gently. Elion idly wondered what that silky hair would feel like sliding between his fingers or wrapped around his cock.
He didn't realize Kels was staring at him until the captain gave him a little kick with the toe of his boot. He crossed his arms over his chest and schooled his expression to seriousness. “I agree. We need to have all our loose ends knotted."
Kels's gaze lingered on him for a moment, and Elion knew he'd noticed him noticing Sayal. Crack and ruin... He'd never interfered with Kels's sexual affairs before, and he shouldn't start now. Without another word, he started walking toward the Dome, partly to avoid questions he didn't want to answer, partly to keep his hard-on out of view of his captain's keen eyes.
Just how accurate were these scanners, Sayal wanted to ask. She walked between the men again, keeping her expression neutral as they approached the Dome. The arena was easy to spot. A wide bank of doors surrounded by rows of flashing gold and red lights drew the eye, and moving holograms of the headliners danced across a continuous ribbon screen above the entrance. She recognized Keeva's dark, pretty face as the woman's image blew a kiss, then turned and wagged her scantily clad ass to passersby. Hardly any of the men were featured, unless they were in all-male pairs or groups.
Elion slowed as they approached a side door. “I'll meet you out here."
"C'mon, El. Come in. No one's performing now,” Kels said.
"I really don't want to.” The first mate lit another cig and stared into the passing crowds. “It's your thing, not mine."
Kels, his arm slung over her shoulders, leaned closer to his mate, pulling her with him. “Listen, while she's getting checked, you and me can talk business, yeah? I promise, I won't let anyone haul your fine ass into the arena and put on a show.” He grinned, and Elion rolled his eyes, his jaw tightening until it was a wonder he didn't bite his cig in two.
"Yeah, well, that'd be their lucky day, wouldn't it?” he replied drily. “All right. Won't take long, right?"
"Few minutes.” Kels pulled open the door and let Elion and Sayal in ahead. Sayal felt sorry for the mate. Could Kels be so obtuse as to not realize his friend had feelings for him? He'd seemed so cryptic when she'd asked whether he and Keeva and Elion had performed together, as if it didn't matter to him either way. She was certain it would matter to Elion. He seemed like a cool well with untapped depths, his Old Earth Nordic blue eyes giving away little when they weren't sparking with annoyance.
Kels slid his arm down from her shoulders and took her hand in his. He knew his way around the Dome and led them through a maze of halls redolent with the antiseptic tang of biocleanse and sweat and, undeniably, of recent sex. Her nerves began to wind up, her pulse pinging as he hauled her confidently along. Elion trailed beside and a little behind him, and she risked a glance over to him. He looked as tense as she felt.
Kels pushed through a glass door to an office where a thin human male sat, tapping out something with a stylus on his digipad. The man, who had to be Canto, glanced up, and his gaze flicked to Sayal and Elion before he said, “Captain Havoc. Back to tread the boards again?"
His eyebrow quirked. “Eh?"
The man sighed and folded one hand beneath his chin. “It's an Old Earth acting term. I don't suppose you're familiar with it."
"Sorry, no, but I am back to fuck.” He pulled Sayal forward. “I've got a new gamespartner. We'd like to register for the first round tomorrow."
"So soon after Keeva's departure? Bad bit about her getting that agent.” The man lounged back in his chair, his legs crossed at the knee. “I worry she'll get the worse end of any deal that scrag can cook up."
"So do I,” Kels said. “Exactly why I never bothered with agents."
"Mm.” The man's gaze rolled over to Sayal. He had an odd appearance, for she sensed he was far older than he looked. His tan skin, while not wrinkled, still gave an impression of age, as if it had thinned and been pulled very tight across the sharp cheekbones. He had a full head of lustrous black hair, and of course he was lean, as obesity, along with almost every other vanity malady, had been wiped out with designer pharmaceuticals.
If he'd indulged in as many medications as it seemed, he must be completely impotent, which would be quite ironic for a gamesmaster. “What's your name, dear, and tell me why you want to trust your pussy to this ne'er-do-well criminal?"
"Sayal Iluma,” she said, her voice sounding very small indeed, and ignoring the second part of his question. As the gamesmaster jotted it down on his digipad, the reality of her endeavor sank in. To their right, sounds carried from the arena. Someone was hard at work practicing out there. Grunts and groans and sharp cries for “more” and “harder” and “ouch, too much!” drifted in. Leaning past Kels, she could glimpse bodies moving a few meters away, but the glass was frosted, allowing only the rather frightening impression of heaving flesh. If Kels hadn't been tightly holding her hand, she might have fled.
"And you?” The gamesmaster glanced at Elion, who had left them to peruse some vidimages on the wall.
Elion turned and held up his hands. “Just here for moral support."
"Moral...” The gamesmaster chuckled. “I like your sense of humor. And your ass.” He twirled his finger, indicating he'd like Elion to model said ass. When Elion only glared, he sighed. “Fine, then. But you'd make a fortune in the arena with that blond hair and blue eyes. Almost extinct, you know, blonds."
"I'd heard,” he said tightly.
"Especially if you performed with these two.” He flipped his stylus between his fingers. “We could use more triads. You're sure you're not interested?"
Elion looked at Kels, his jaw rigid. “I should have waited outside."
"It's all right, El. He means it as a compliment.” He shook his head at the gamesmaster. “It's hopeless, Canto. I've been after him for years, and he keeps shooting me down. What's a bloke to do?” He shrugged, Canto laughed, Elion's face turned red, and Sayal wanted to kick the captain.
She blurted, “I'm here for a health scan."
"Do you have the time now?” Kels asked. “Like I said, we want to get fucking as soon as possible."
"Understandably.” Canto's knowledgeable and assessing gaze skated over Sayal. “Tomorrow's twelve-hour games, you said?” His fingers flitted over his digipad. “I have a slot open. Not much of a pot for that hour, though, you do realize?"
"It's all right. It's more for practice than anything else."
"Can I interest you in a contract? Twenty percent higher pay, as you know."
"Nah. We won't be around long enough to make it worth your while."
"Fine, then. We have a few neos starting, including that triad you hear bumbling in the ring now.” He puckered his lips in disapproval. “It'll be good to see you back in action, Captain. Keeva was a big draw, but don't think you don't have your fans too. We'll get your image on the marquee right away. Haven't had the heart to take down Keeva's yet; she pulled in so many customers.” He pushed back from his desk and stood, taking his digipad with him, and waved Sayal to him. “Come this way, my dear. We'll have you through the scanner in no time. Any known diseases, deformities, or abnormalities? Any history of pharmaceutical use, drug abuse, or addiction?"
The way he slipped into a monotone, she got the feeling he'd done this many times before, which only increased the tightness in her belly. To fuck like an animal, on display to strange eyes...
She glanced at Kels, who put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. His eyes were kind. “Do you want me to go in with you?"
"It's quite safe,” Canto said, apparently recognizing her reticence.
Sayal shook her head. “No. You and Elion have matters to discuss.” She said it a bit pointedly, hoping Kels would take the hint. Elion's expression was still stony. “I'm sure I'll be fine."
"I'll find you when we're finished."
Canto took her gently by the arm and led her through another frosted-glass door.
Best they were alone. If he did discover her alien DNA, she would have to do...something. Push him psychically, block his mind, force him to alter the results. She would hate to have to do that. It was unethical and repulsive, using her hybrid abilities to manipulate pure humans, especially since that was one reason she'd been created in the first place: to dominate, to rule. Her heart leaped against her breastbone as the door shut behind them, and Canto led her to a table surrounded by glowing monitors. Walk away, she told herself. Run away and don't look back. Live a free woman; let Sorush be someone else's problem.
But when Canto lowered the table for her, she lay upon it, gripping the edges with tense fingers. There would be no freedom for her until her task was finished.
Kels followed Elion out the door into the hallway, breathing deep of the jungly, feral scents of the Dome. He wouldn't want to make a lifelong career of it, but he did miss performing when he didn't have a partner. He found himself more than a little excited to show off Sayal tomorrow.
Elion, on the other hand, walking stiff backed ahead of him, clearly couldn't wait to leave. His mate glanced up and down the hall. “How do we get out?"
Kels dropped a hand on his shoulder. “This way.” Double doors swished open, and they stepped into the main arena area. Dozens of symmetrical rows of thickly cushioned blue seats ringed a circular area where overhead lights focused on the neo triad.
"Oh, hold on a minute.” Elion froze in his tracks. “I'm not going in here."
Kels flipped a grin. “C'mon, you big duck. They're not going to bite, or at least not bite you, and I want to get a look at our competition."
The triad, two dusky men and a very dark woman, were arranging themselves around a jeweled swing hanging from the ceiling, discussing their options. Elion's normally pale face had gone ashen, and Kels felt a kick of guilt. He rubbed his friend's shoulder. “El, nothing happened to you in the Dome, did it? I mean, I'm not dredging up awful memories, right?"
"No.” His eyes sharpened again with the familiar annoyance. “I just don't enjoy watching other people fuck."
Kels laughed. “Are you toasted? Who doesn't? You've not gone soft on me, have you?"
"My dick's as hard as ever, you scrag. It's my sense of decency that's offended."
"Ah now.” Not waiting for Elion to follow, knowing he would, Kels jogged up the flight of stairs between rows where the audience would sit. Behind each seat stood a silver stand holding the brace of neurotransmitters that would trigger the rush of dopamine or serotonin or whatever chemical produced extreme joy and pleasure to either human or alien patrons. “You ever tried this?” He patted one of the braces.