The Cresperian Alliance (14 page)

Bang walked Peggy back to her quarters after the movie. “I liked that,” she said softly, with a smile. “For once, it had a happy ending."

"Yeah,” Bangler agreed. “The good guy got the girl for a change."

"Speaking of which,” Peggy murmured as they arrived at her door, “wanna come in for awhile?"

"Sure,” Bang agreed, giving her a grin. “You have any whisky?"

"Yeah. I thought an after date drink might be nice, too."

They entered, and Bang saw that Peggy's quarters were pretty much the same as his, except that she'd prettied hers up a bit with some framed pictures of flowers and nature scenes, as well as some soft, colorful throw rugs. Several matching accent pillows adorned the bed. He wondered briefly where she'd managed to come up with all of it, let alone get it past inspection, before she brought him a double shot of Jack Daniels.

"Have a seat on the nearest thing I've got to a couch,” Peggy said, plopping down on the end of the bed and patting the mattress next to her as she sipped her own shot of dark rum. “That's why I have all the pillows."

Bang chuckled, sipped his drink, and eased his body down next to her. “I can't say that my quarters are anything to write home about, but I've got the feeling, once we get spaceborne, it's only gonna be tighter."

"Yeah, probably even worse than the sub, from what I've heard,” Bang agreed. “They're trying to maximize everything, including fighting force."

"I dunno, Bang,” Peggy murmured, taking another swallow of rum. “I just don't have a good feeling about these Snappers."

"Ah, don't worry about it, Peg. From what I could tell, the
Zeng Wu
got surprised. When the
Galactic
came in, knowing what was going on, they pretty much routed ‘em.” Bang confidently knocked back a significant portion of his drink, glad to be off duty for a change.

One quick nice buzz, and then sip the rest of it. At least we finally got to go on our date,
he thought.
I mean, Piki is coming along great now, but I was ready for some time away.

He considered the progress the alien woman had made. She now had tanned skin instead of a green pelt, with long, pale blonde hair cascading from her head. Her nose and ears had become more prominent, and her lips were forming properly. Her smile was starting to turn heads—and not away, he'd noted—which, for some reason, he found disturbing. The orange of her eyes had darkened somewhat, and their shape was closer to a wide almond than previously.
The pupils are round instead of catlike now, too,
he realized.

The fit of her clothing—for with the disappearance of the pelt, she'd begun wearing clothing continually—had changed some, too. But Bang wasn't about to go asking why, let alone what was underneath. He knocked back the rest of his drink at that thought, wondering why it seemed to bother him.
Hm. Maybe agitate is a better word,
he decided, puzzling over his reaction.
Ah, it's probably like watching your young protege grow up, I guess.
He tried to dismiss the thought entirely.

"Want some more?” Peggy asked, noticing his empty glass. “Got a couple bottles of stuff, especially for tonight."

"Um, yeah, sure,” Bang said, hiding his startlement and holding out his empty glass.
'Especially for tonight'? What the hell did that mean? Does she expect...? Uh boy.

Peggy topped off her own glass and brought it and Bang's refilled glass back to the end of the bed. “Here ya go, hot stuff."

Piki sat in Sira's and John's joint quarters, moisture leaking from her dark orange eyes. “But... but he went with HER,” she protested, in something very close to a wail of despair. “I... I hoped he..."

"Patience, Piki,” Sira murmured, taking the other Crispy in her arms and hugging her, rocking her like a child. “I know it hurts. But you have to let HIM choose."

"He's afraid, Piki,” Tomlinson pointed out. “I think you need to know something. I... he didn't tell me I couldn't talk about this, but please don't let him know that I did, in case I'm accidentally breaching his confidence: He and I discussed it, early on, when you asked him to mentor you. See, Piki, he already knows that you easily have the capability of becoming his ‘perfect woman.’ But he feels like that takes away his free will in the matter. Like it leaves him no choice. And I'm not sure he's ready to commit to a serious relationship yet, anyway."

Piki raised a tear streaked face. “So... he is not really with her, either?"

"I would be very surprised,” Sira soothed. “They have not known each other THAT long. Besides, he did meet her before he met you, remember. This date may very well have been arranged some time back, and had to be postponed."

"Do you understand the nature of what you're feeling, Piki?” Tomlinson wondered. “Do you understand that, in humans, the emotions you are feeling would be construed as physical attraction, which can eventually lead to love and mating?"

"Ma- mating?” Piki stumbled over the word in horror. “As in... touching? Rape?"

"No, not at all like rape,” Sira murmured, stroking Piki's hair to soothe her. “I'm sure you've seen how close John and I are."

"Yes..."

"Does that seem like what happened to you?"

"No, it is nowhere close,” Piki admitted. “You and John are very... when I am with you both, I sense warmth and... and togetherness. It is as if you are one, and yet not one."

"And that's what love is, Piki,” John elaborated. “Maybe you need to spend some more time with Sira and me, so you can see—and feel—what a healthy relationship is supposed to be like."

"I think that's an excellent idea, John,” Sira agreed. “Piki?"

"May I still spend time with Bang-bang as well?"

"Of course, dear. Maybe we can occasionally ‘double date.’”

"If he desires to be with me, perhaps."

"And that's something you have to let HIM decide, Piki,” John added softly, and as gently as he knew how.

Piki nodded, unutterably sad. “I understand. May I ask you a question?"

"Sure,” John shrugged.

"Do the two of you... touch?"

John's face promptly turned beet red. He looked at Sira helplessly.

Sira's lips quirked. “Yes, Piki, we do,” she admitted. “And it is very enjoyable."

Piki sighed in despair. “I do not understand how it could be."

"Hush, dear,” Sira said, rocking her again. “Hopefully you will, one day. For now, let us be an example to you of what the emotions are like."

"V- very well.” Piki sniffled a little. “What is the liquid coming from my eyes?"

"Tears, dear,” Sira smiled gently. “In response to a very human emotion."

"C'mon,” John offered, “let's go to the computer and do some research on it. It'll help you understand better."

The three rose and moved to the computer console.

After several drinks, Peggy and Bang relaxed even more, Peggy going so far as to stretch out on the bed. They talked and laughed about past experiences, shared childhood tales of derring-do gone awry, and generally got to know each other. After awhile, Peggy started wrapping her body around Bang's seated one, resting her head in his lap.

"So, hot shot,” she murmured, eyes heavylidded, “how about a kiss?"

Bang grinned and crunched down to cover her mouth with his.

"Mm,” she sighed into his mouth, “you're good."

"Thanks. So are you...” Two pairs of eyelids fluttered closed.

After a few minutes, Bang realized small hands were inside his shirt, stroking his chest. He smiled, enjoying the sensation. “You're a sneaky little thing."

"Mm. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve, big boy."

Bang twisted around until he was lying facing Peggy, to make it easier to kiss. She slid her arms inside his shirt, effectively pulling it loose from his pants, and he sighed with pleasure. In response, Peggy pressed deeper into his mouth, and Bang responded in kind.

But when he felt her hands at the fly of his trousers, his eyes flew open. To his shock, Peggy had already shed her uniform, and underneath was a decidedly non-standard issue set of bra and panties.
How did she hide that bright red under her uniform?!
he wondered.
Uh boy. She's... I've gotta set this straight.
He pulled away slightly.

"Uh, Peggy, you've um, you've got the wrong idea, honey,” he said gently. “I... this was a first date. I..."

"Yeah, and this is a first night,” Peggy said with a grin, still working on his trousers. “I've been looking forward to this for days."

"You... you don't understand,” Bang tried to explain, suddenly realizing this probably wasn't going to go well. “I... a year or so ago, there was this girl, and I... and we... I really thought I loved her. I did. And then I found out she'd been cheating on me, and... she got pregnant, it was a real mess, but it was the other guy's... the medical tests proved it... And, well, I just decided I was gonna wait until I KNEW I'd found the right one..."

"And I'm not the right one,” Peggy said flatly.

"I don't KNOW yet, Peg,” Bang protested desperately. “It's too soon. That's what I meant. It's only our first date."

"And this isn't hot enough to change your mind?” Peggy wiggled her scarlet thong clad hips, a seductive smile on her lips.

"It has nothing to do with that, Peg,” Bang murmured, a hint of pleading in his tone, hoping she would understand. “I... I got burned bad, Peg. I'm just..."

"Not interested."

"No, I'm interested, just... not ready."

"There's a switch,” Peggy said wryly, reaching for her shirt and slipping it on. “Maybe you better go back to your quarters now."

"Yeah,” Bang said disconsolately, tucking his shirt back in. “I'll... I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'll be in staff call,” she said somewhat coolly, fastening her shirt. “Other than that... you can let me know when you're ready."

Bangler sighed and let himself out.

For Bang, staff call the next day was a strained affair. Peggy sat across the room from him, not ignoring him, but no longer treating him as a special friend either. Piki sat nearby, unobtrusively sizing up the situation, both visually and with her perceptive sense. Afterward, she approached Bang in private.

"Last night did not go so well?” she asked softly.

"No,” Bang admitted. “It started off well, but..."

"But what?"

"Remember how I told you about getting hurt after,” he flushed, “after being touched?"

"Yes?"

"Peggy didn't understand that I wasn't... wasn't ready for touching yet."

New blonde eyebrows rose in sudden understanding. “She wanted to be touched."

"Yeah."

"And you did not."

"No. Not... like that. Not yet, anyway."

"And she got angry."

"Mm-hm."

"Did she... beat you?” Piki's forehead wrinkled in deep concern.

Bang blinked, then abruptly grasped Piki's antecedent to the question. He hastened to reassure her. “No, she just told me to leave. And,” he sighed, “now she's not talking to me. I think I embarrassed her. I didn't mean to; I didn't know that's what she wanted until... well, until she was ready."

Piki considered, deep orange eyes sad. “Bang-bang?"

"Hm?"

"Do you want her back? I believe I can... can help."

Bang blinked again. “How could you help, Piki?"

Piki drew a deep breath. “I can ‘fix’ you. I can make you stronger, younger, extend your life indefinitely. I can make you emit... I think they are called pheromones, that she will find irresistible. Then she will be yours, and she will wait until you are ready, however long it may take."

"But... if I've got an extended life... and she doesn't,” Bang tried to puzzle his way through, “won't she get old and die before...?"

"I can... I can do it for her, too.” Bang never saw the pain it cost Piki to make such a gesture.

Bang rubbed his forehead, considering the matter hard, then made a decision. “Piki, I'd been thinking about this anyway, but with respect to the political stuff that's going on. You once offered to enhance me..."

"And that offer is being extended again today, Bang-bang.” Piki looked at him and tried to smile with soft, moist lips that quivered. “I want you to be happy."

Bang gazed at the Crispy before him. Her transformation was nearly complete: beautiful deep orange eyes; a heart shaped face; long platinum hair; a pert, adorable nose; full, luscious rosy lips; a curvaceous but not overdone body with long, shapely legs.
She's even more beautiful than the computer simulacrum,
he realized.

"Aw, Piki,” he said softly, ruffling her silver blonde hair affectionately. “I appreciate that. But... if Peggy isn't willing to wait until we've known each other better—battle comrades notwithstanding—maybe she isn't the right one anyway. And if she is, she'll calm down after she gets over being embarrassed. No, what I think I'd like for you to do for me is to make me the best possible ME I can be. Peggy said something last night: She's got a bad feeling about these Snapper sons of... er, bastar... uhm, bad guys, and frankly, I do, too. I think we're going to need some fast, strong soldiers in what may be coming, and if I'm gonna be involved—and I am—I'd like to be able to make a difference and still come back in one piece."

Piki mulled that over. “So... you want to be ‘fixed,’ as the bad Prime Minister put it, but not to dominate women, and not to take over. You want to help."

"Yes,” Bang declared firmly.

"Okay,” Piki said simply. “I will help you do that."

Operation Big Bang, as Bangler whimsically put it, commenced immediately. Sira and Tomlinson were let in on it, and Tomlinson was in full agreement, pointing out that Bangler had a bright mind, an excellent strategic idea and good instincts. Sira assisted Piki, having learned some safe ‘shortcuts’ in the course of her genetics work, and in just under a week they declared Bangler's enhancements finished.

In the meanwhile, it gave the four a considerable amount of time together—nearly around the clock—which was just what Sira wanted and what Piki needed. The newly minted human began to see the nature of the relationship between John and Sira; noted, too, certain similarities of attitude and mindset between Bang and John. All four got along well, and within the first forty-eight hours of the little experiment, became a very close knit group.