Spider Bight [Deep Space Mission Corps 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (14 page)

“We have recreational areas also inside the walls.” She smiled. “Well, we cannot wall in the ocean, can we? We have a system of walls and barriers that protect the beach areas once they are cleared. And the
tals’tophk
do not go in the water. They will drown.”

“How come they can’t just climb the walls and get in?”

“The walls have…” She frowned, apparently searching for the right word in standard. “They are protected by electricity.”

“Electrified?” Emi asked.

“Yes, that is the word. They are killed trying to get over the top of the walls. When we add new sections of walls, we always remove any vegetation that might possibly grow over the walls. We can then be sure of no intrusion into the protected city. The walls are constantly patrolled and carefully maintained.” She said something to the last technician, who began leading them back to the gate.

Emi wished she could encourage them to pick up the pace to a run.

Baltin continued her chatter. “We have few things to fear here on our world, except for the
tals’tophk
. From the youngest age, our children, females and males, are taught to fear and despise them.”

“So they’re everywhere in your world?”

“Yes, except for where it’s cold. And on the beaches. They need vegetation and shade to survive. Lots of people used to die from them. That is why we domesticated the
dau’phnalin
. Five out of every ten children born in the old times were likely to be killed by
tals’tophk
long before they ever reached adulthood. After the Great Wars, we decided it was senseless to spread out when they outnumbered us so greatly. By combining forces and building walled communities that were eventually merged into the great city, we were able to keep them out.”

They reached the gate. Emi jumped when the
dau’phnalin
started screaming again from somewhere behind them. Emi fought the urge to trample Baltin to get through the port. The door slid shut behind them, also cutting off the sound of the screaming.

“That sound alone is more than enough to give me nightmares,” Emi said.

Baltin smiled. It didn’t look like the experience had fazed her in the least. “I can see how it might take some getting used to. Many people inside the walls still keep
dau’phnalin
as pets.”

“Yeah, I guess I would, too.” Emi involuntarily shuddered. “You know, the records the DSMC sent me didn’t include anything about killer spiders.”

She laughed. “Oh, we are very careful about making sure our tourists never have to see one. Can you imagine? Who would want to come to a place where they could die? It is best to maintain their ignorance in the matter.” She led Emi back to the cart.

Who indeed?
Emi followed her and prepared to hold on for dear life. Compared to what she’d just seen, another wild cart ride should be a piece of cake.

“So now you see why people must get permission to settle outside the walls,” Baltin said as she started the cart, turned it around, and headed back in the direction of the Imperial Home.

Emi nodded. “Crystal clear.”

“I do not understand?”

“Oh, it’s an idiom. It means I completely understand.”

“Ah.” Baltin smiled and looked at Emi. Emi wished her tour guide would keep her eyes on the road and not on her. “I love being able to speak with people who claim standard as their native tongue. I always learn the most interesting things.”

Their course took them past a large complex. “What is that?” Emi asked.

Baltin immediately veered, changing course to head to it and making Emi hold on tightly to avoid falling out. “It is our defense training complex. Every honor-titled woman serves at least two years in our forces. Some make it their career, while others go on to do other things. But it is mandatory.”

They stopped in a courtyard and Baltin quickly pointed out several buildings to Emi before taking off again toward a large structure that looked like a stadium. Baltin drove up to one of the open gates and stopped. Yes, it was a stadium of some sort. Inside on the field of sandy loam, several pairs of women engaged in what appeared to be hand-to-hand combat.

“This is one of the training classes,” Baltin explained. “We are all taught skills to protect ourselves and others during fighting. And weapons. But also in case we have to settle any claims.”

“Claims?”

She nodded. “When there is a disagreement between honor-titled women, the injured party can request a fight to settle the score instead of punishment or fines. We have monthly sessions to settle disputes.”

Emi watched the women sparring. It didn’t look a whole lot different than what she’d learned during her training, except the Morans were larger and fought hard.

“Does it work?”

“Does what work?” Baltin asked.

“Settling scores like that?”

“Oh, absolutely. We do not have…what do you call…prisons. And since owners are solely responsible for the actions of their males, owners tend to keep their males under control as well.” Baltin backed them away from the gate and got them turned around to head for the Imperial Home. “No honor-titled woman would ever let her males get out of control. It is unheard of.”

* * * *

Mauri had her cook prepare a delicious meal for them. Aaron, Ford, and Caph were, as Emi wanted to tease but held her tongue, seated at the kiddy table off to the side. Mauri, Emi, Baltin, Rawin, and Commander Yawlkin were seated at the main table.

“We are very eager to expand our tourist trade,” Mauri said. “I hope your visit has been a pleasant one.”

“Yes, very.”

“Are you sure I cannot interest you in partaking of one of our spas? I can assure you, our pleasure males have been highly trained to accommodate human females.”

Emi heard Aaron start coughing over at the other table. She ignored him, and also ignored it when Caph whacked him on the back.

“Thank you for your kind offer, Mauri. I appreciate it, but I assure you, I’m not in need of the services.”

Mauri shrugged. “Very well, but the offer stands if you wish to take it. But I must insist you allow me to give you some of the best of what our planet has to offer. We export natural health and beauty items, completely chemical-free. They are highly prized throughout many worlds.”

Emi smiled, relived for the subject to be dropped. “I would be honored, Mauri. Thank you.”

Mauri nodded. “I will give your men a voucher. The official store is very close. They can go pick it up while we chat after dinner.”

“Thank you.”

“Mother, may their pilot stay and take part in the discussion?” Rawin asked.

Emi wondered if her face bore the same confusion Yawlkin’s did. The commander looked from her pilot to Mauri.

“Daughter?”

“Well, Mother, he seems to be highly intelligent. I think it would benefit my training to see a different point of view.”

Emi immediately smelled a rat. She was going to say no, Aaron would go with the twins to the store, but Mauri spoke first.

“That is a very reasonable request, my daughter.” Mauri smiled at Emi. “It seems Doctor Hypatia has very talented and skilled males.”

Rawin glanced at Emi before smiling at her mother. “Yes, I believe you are correct, Mother.”

* * * *

Yawlkin couldn’t stay, needing to get back to her ship to take care of maintenance issues. Apparently Rawin, being Mauri’s daughter, was exempt from having to leave right away. After dinner, Rawin briefly excused herself, citing needing to return a message. Mauri took a few moments to take care of official business. Baltin gave Caph and Ford a small handheld with a graphic map on it, as well as a list of items, and a scannable voucher code.

Baltin explained it to the two men. “You will not have any trouble,” she assured them. “I would take you, but I must get home to my daughter. She is home from school now. It was very nice meeting all of you.”

“Thanks for your help,” Emi said. She pulled all three men close for a quiet confab. “You sure this is a good idea, Aar?”

He shrugged. “We’re under orders.” He looked at the twins. “Best behavior. No screwing around, got it? Get there and get back.”

“No worries,” Caph said. “I’m not looking forward to doing this any more than you are looking forward to us going.” He looked at Ford. “Do you feel it?”

“The something-fishy feeling? Fuck yeah.” He glanced at the doorway Rawin had left through. “I don’t like that pilot woman. She keeps looking at Aaron like he’s a side of beef.”

Emi felt worry from all three of her men. “Agreed,” Emi said. “We get through this as fast as possible and I’ll claim I don’t feel well and we’ll beat feet back to the
Bight
. Okay?”

Caph and Ford nodded and were shown out by a guard.

Rawin returned and smiled. “My apologies, Doctor Hypatia, but it is taken care of.”

Mauri looked up from her desk. “Oh, good, we’re all here.” She rose and walked around to the sofa they’d occupied before, but Emi wasn’t sure if males were allowed on the furniture. Aaron chose to stand off to the side, solving her problem. Emi sat on the sofa, while Rawin took up a chair across from them.

“So did you enjoy Baltin’s tour today, Doctor?” Mauri asked.

Emi nodded. “Very educational.”

“Perhaps you can speak to the DSMC about increasing traffic to our planet? We would welcome the chance to have more visitors.”

“I can certainly do that,” Emi lied. She wasn’t going to turn into a free promo wonk for the Planet of the Oversexed Amazons.

Mauri’s smile beamed. “Excellent!” She started to say something else when a tone sounded at her desk. “Oh, forgive me. I must attend to that.” Mauri returned to her desk and spoke into what passed for the Moran version of a phone.

Rawin stood and got her mother’s attention. “Shall I take Doctor Hypatia for a quick tour to my house to give you some time? We will return shortly.”

Mauri nodded, waving them out.

Rawin grinned. “Please, come with me, Doctor.” She looked at Aaron. “And you, too, pilot. My home is here on the grounds. Just a few minutes away.”

Emi exchanged a frantic glance with Aaron. He pressed his lips together and gave a nearly imperceptible shake of his head. His message was clear.
Don’t argue with her.

“Okay,” Emi said. “Sure. Sounds interesting.”

Rawin led them through the Imperial Home and out yet another entrance. Emi wondered how many the large structure had. As Rawin had said, her house was only a short walk down a shaded path. When they reached her door, she turned and smiled.

“Doctor Hypatia, I mean it when I say I would be pleased if you would avail yourself of my hospitality.” Rawin entered and waited for Emi and Aaron to follow before closing the door behind them.

Somewhere in the house, a chime sounded. Four males immediately raced into the foyer from different directions. Two of them wore yellow collars, one green, and one orange. But the circular badges on all their collars were the same.

Rawin allowed the two with yellow collars to kiss her hands. The other two dropped to their feet and kissed her shoes. “There are my pets.” She laid a hand on each head and introduced them to Emi. “Tau’Rawin, Kal’Rawin, Dou’Rawin, and Yee’Rawin.” She spoke to them in Moran. All four males looked at Emi, then looked expectantly at Aaron.

Emi didn’t miss how he involuntarily took a step behind Emi.

One of the males with a yellow collar spoke to Rawin, but his eyes never left Aaron. Rawin laughed. “My pet wants to know if he can play with the pilot,” she told Emi.

“I’m sorry, but it’s against our custom.” Emi grew increasingly tired of repeating it. What she wanted to do was scream, “Keep your fucking eyes off my husband, you damn greedy bitch.”

But she suspected that wouldn’t be considered very diplomatic.

Rawin’s eyes flickered. “Come, let me show you my home.”

It wasn’t very large compared to the Imperial Home, but the eight rooms were quite spacious and well-appointed. When they reached the back of the house, Emi saw it was actually part of a complex of several similar homes sharing a common pool. Two Moran women were sunning themselves on lounges next to the pool.

Naked.

Rawin walked over to them and planted kisses that looked more than friendly on their mouths. She spoke to them for a moment in Moran. Both women sat up, eyeing Aaron, who by now was never more than a few inches behind Emi.

The two women, both with dark hair and apparently unconcerned by their nudity, walked over to Emi.

“Hello, Doctor Hypatia,” the first said, offering her hand, her eyes never leaving Aaron. “I am Pelatau’tonkin.”

The other, also greedily eyeing Aaron, extended her hand. “M’lauwey Kealou.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Pelatau’tonkin whistled loudly, and a different male with a yellow collar and different badge came running. She pointed to the ground in front of her. He dropped to his knees and buried his face in the juncture of her thighs, his hands reaching up to caress the tympanic regions along her side.