by L. Fergus
Kita looked around the room at the other Angels wondering how she was going to get a pair of them to pass as party guests. All the Angels in Tet space were known, and humans were still considered the enemy. Neither race would have that kind of money nor the status required to attend this type of party. She looked at Snowy and Sahara. Would two Djinn females unescorted raise much suspicion? Maybe I can borrow a male from Collector. That idea left a bad taste in her mouth. She didn’t like the idea of not being able to carry out a mission with the resources at her disposal, especially when she had a dozen Angels.
The door opened. Kita let out a squeal. She charged, ignoring Starlight’s bow to her, and hugged the other Angel. Kita kissed Starlight on the cheek. “Oh, I missed you, and you’ve come at the perfect moment. I have a mission you’ll love.”
Starlight looked relieved. “I thought you’d be upset that your legal defense couldn’t get you free.”
“Don’t be worryen’ yourself about that,” said Raptor. “Kita be used to sitten’ in prison.”
Kita laughed along with the other Angels. “Snowy was able to spring me with help from Collector.”
Starlight’s eyes went wide with shock. “Collector! But—”
“Don’t worry. We’ve worked out an arrangement. The first task is to get Casey and Jess free.”
“Actually your first task is to introduce us to this beautiful creature,” said Panther. “I love the dress.”
“This?” said Starlight. “Oh, this is nothing, just standard wear for work.” The dress had a golden chain halter that held up a shimmering dress that clung to her curves and plunged to her lower back. It ended mid-thigh, and she wore a pair of high heel gladiator-type sandals.
“What do you do for work?” said Babydoll with a teasing smile.
“I head up the Angel’s defense counsel. I thought Jess and Casey were with you on Conto V.”
“Never heard of it,” said Kita. “I was kept in some deep space prison facility used to feed Djinn. Casey and Jess weren’t there when I was rescued. Collector says they’re to be auctioned. That’s what we’re planning now. I was hoping you’d heard of this auction.”
“Those liars,” snarled Starlight. “That’s why they refused to let me speak to any of you or see Jess.”
“Does that mean she’s taken?” said Toxic, the green light from under her hood dimming.
Kita frowned. “Sorry, Kara. Hali, let me introduce you to everyone. These Angels have been out looking for me since Galina took me. These two,” she pointed to Kamikaze and Phoenix, “are my daughters.”
“Nice to meet you all, I’m Hali C’Zar Ah’tem, former Grand Ambassador for the Aurori.”
“She’s also a trained assassin,” Kita said with a smile.
“Yes, I have my swords in my bag.”
“Yeah, that dress doesn’t hide much,” said Babydoll.
“I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to get Jess and Casey back. I received an invite to this auction. I hadn’t paid much attention to a lowly artifact sale, but it has my full attention now.” Starlight frowned, and her eyes narrowed.
“Come,” said Kita, “and help us take the first steps to get back what is ours.”
Starlight stepped out of the aircar and helped Panther and Raptor out, taking each by the hand graciously. She offered her arms to the other Angels, and they accepted with dazzling smiles. The trio followed the glittering footpath from the drop-off zone to the entrance of the mansion.
“Have you been here before?” said Panther to Starlight.
“Yes. It belongs to Takkat FretChat, a wealthy Zentonian entrepreneur. He’s also rumored to sell drugs and arms. For a squirrel, it’s not a bad mansion, but it’s nothing compared to what the Verisom princesses or Djinn business class have. You’ll get a chance to meet him. We need a voice imprint to get into the vault.”
“Do they have squirrels here?”
“It’s a term I picked up from Jess. I’ve seen pictures of Earth squirrels. It’s very fitting. She has nicknames for all the races.”
“Are ya sure ya not be needen’ our help?” said Raptor.
“You’re my cover. I can take down the camera system and the vault’s shield barrier easy enough, but I would look foolish wandering around by myself.”
“Kita be senden’ ya with her two best party animals,” Raptor said with a chuckle.
“She said you both had lots of experience.”
“Kita just be looken’ for a way to get herself out of goen’.”
The Angels stopped at the base of the stairs, and a member of the house staff came forward to greet them. The Zentonian wore a brown and green formal servant wear.
“Grand Ambassador Ah’tem, my master, welcomes you and your guests to tonight’s festivities,” said the servant.
“It’s my pleasure. I wouldn’t miss the artifacts your master has up for auction.” Starlight took a step forward.
The servant held up a hand. “Grand Ambassador, I will need your invitation.”
Raptor opened her purse and pulled out the formal handwritten invitation. “Here be the invitation,” said Raptor as she gave it to Starlight while giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Starlight handed the invitation over.
The servant opened the envelope and read the invitation. “This says ‘and guest.’”
Starlight smiled a well-practiced smile she used when she wanted to get her way. “Oh, I know, but I couldn’t decide between them. They’re both delectable.” She hugged the other Angels tight and gave each a kiss on the cheek at the same time giving the servant an inviting look with her eyes. “I’m sure your master won’t mind. They are Angels after all. Panther and Raptor are both new to the Tet. This is their first social affair. I can’t think of a better place for them to be introduced.”
“My, you don’t mind being forward,” giggled Panther to Starlight.
“Aurorians by nature are flirtatious and like physical contact. Kita said you wouldn’t mind.”
“I’m not complaining. It’s the first time I’ve ever been kissed by someone of a different species.”
“Later I can do it properly.”
Panther and Raptor gave the servant flirty and teasing smiles. The servant stepped away and pulled a communicator from his pocket.
“Security. Senior Butler AchCh. Grand Ambassador Ah’tem is here with an uninvited guest…She arrived with two guests, both Angels…She says they are new to the Tet and this is their first social event…Yes, I will inform her.”
Starlight’s smile widened as a way of telling the servant the Angels hadn’t been eavesdropping on him when he returned.
“Your friend may enter,” said the servant. He handed Starlight a brochure showing the items up for bid.
“Thank you,” said Starlight. The servant stepped aside and let them pass. The Angels climbed the steps to the mansion’s open front doors. Inside was an open courtyard that formed a cross shape five stories tall full of trees, planters, fountains, and open pavilions. In the pavilions were rows of ornate pillars. The walls were white and decorated with gold. Staircases made of rods with carved ends led to beautiful accented circular doors.
“Damn. If this place is ok, I’d love to see what is great,” said Panther.
“Extravagant be too simple a word,” agreed Raptor.
“You’ve never seen anything like this?” said Starlight.
“The closest would be Hades, where Kita ruled as Mistress,” said Panther. “They had statues and busts of her and some of the Angels, but it was still simple and plain compared to the decadence of this place.”
“It be reminden’ me a bit o’ KitaCorp zone on Base Station, but not be as refined,” said Raptor. “Gaudy, I be thinken’ is the term for this place.”
“I thought Kita was the Vicereine of an entire planet,” said Starlight.
“She was. What this guy has would be nothing to what Kita had,” said Panther.
“Kita not be caren’ for material wealth,
she be wanten’ power,” said Raptor dropping her smile.
“She also wants love,” said Panther countering Raptor’s harshness. “She wants our friendship, or none of us would be Angels.”
“She do be wanten’ that. She be a good friend.”
“I have nothing bad to say about her,” said Starlight. “She’s a strict teacher. She was a little stand-offish at first, but I got her to like me.”
“That be rare,” replied Raptor. “Normally if Kita don’t like ya from the beginnen, that be it. Ya must have impressed her.”
Starlight stopped near the center of the courtyard. “There’s Takkat. Let’s see if we can get something we can use to open the vault.”
“I’m sure we can keep him talking for a while,” said Panther.
The Angels changed directions and joined the group around Takkat. The trio was noticed by the Zentonian, and he made his way to them.
“Grand Ambassador Ah’tem, how good it is to see you again. I’m so pleased you could join us and bring these wonderful Angels with you.” He offered his hand, exposing a tiny screen on a wristband.
Starlight took his hand and smiled. “The pleasure is mine, honorable FretChat.”
“Please, please, we’re among friends. Call me Takkat.”
Starlight bowed her head. “Then please, call me Starlight. My friends are Raptor and Panther. They just arrived on the Tet and are excited to see it.”
“Let me be the first to welcome you to the Tet,” said Takkat as he opened his arms wide. “Angels are so rare. I feel privileged to have three of you in my home. Tell me, Starlight, this is a new name for you.”
“It’s my Angelic name, given to me when I earned my wings.”
“So are you no longer Aurorian?” said Takkat curiously.
“When the Angel's embassy opens I will be applying for dual citizenship.”
“I must ask…Are they real?”
The three Angels shared a look.
“What ya be meanen’?” said Raptor.
“Are they augmentations, prosthetics…or?”
“Can I ask him if his tail is real?” said Panther with disgust. She kept the same dazzling smile on her face and batted her lashes at Takkat.
“They are very real,” said Starlight as she stretched her wings straight up and flapped them slightly.
“I’ve seen the videos,” said Takkat, “they are amazing. And you can fly?” Starlight lifted a few feet off the ground. “Truly remarkable. And to become an Angel what is the cost?”
“Your soul,” said Panther seriously.
“It’s not like buying a coat,” said Starlight. “It’s a life-changing moment, you sacrifice everything, and you give yourself over to the group.”
“Ya must be female, too,” said Raptor.
“Aurorians only have one sex,” said Starlight.
“Ya be looken’ female. That be good enough for Kita. Maybe why she didn’t warm up to ya right away.”
“I see,” said Takkat. “That’s too bad. I would love to have a pair. I can offer a fair price.”
“Over Kita’s dead body,” hissed Panther.
“You know me so well, Vee. I have enough to fake an audio recording,” said Kita to the others.
“I better. Love you.”
“I love and have missed you.”
“I’m sorry, Takkat, wings are not for sale at any price. I’m afraid Kita, the leader of the Angels, is quite strict on who gets them.”
Takkat gave the Zentonian version of a shrug. “Her loss. She could make a fortune. Have you seen tonight’s auction list? There are some fabulous pieces from my private collection up for sale as well as two mystery pieces. I think you will find most interesting.”
“We haven’t had time to go through the brochure yet, but the interactive paper was a splendid touch,” said Starlight.
“I hope you get a chance to see them before they’re gone. There are some avid collectors here tonight, and they’ve brought their credit chits.”
“How rude. That was a not so polite way of saying we can’t afford anything tonight,” grumbled Starlight.
“Guess we be haven’ to help ourselves the old fashioned way,” said Raptor.
“Well, Angels, if you’ll excuse me I have other guests I need to attend to,” said Takkat with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“Time to go,” said Starlight. “Thank you for inviting us, Takkat. We look forward to tonight’s auction.”
“It will be splendid and having your friends here will make it even more special.”
“Sick bastard selling us as slaves,” snarled Panther. “Let’s rub it in his nose.” She lifted into the air above the crowd.
The other Angels joined her. Together they glided above the crowd and landed a fair distance away from Takkat.
“Ugh, I feel slimy,” Panther said with a groan.
“He be an uncouth one,” agreed Raptor.
“I’m used to them,” said Starlight. “They try and keep Aurorians all the time. We’re like trophies to them.”
“I’m used to being hit up by slimeballs all the time for my body and sex. This is the first time for my wings. I feel violated,” Panther hugged herself tightly.
“It be alright,” said Raptor giving her a hug.
“I earned my feathers,” whispered Panther.
Starlight joined the hug. “And no one can take them away from you. Takkat’s just a pig who thinks because he has money he can buy whatever he wants. Let him learn some things money can’t buy.”
“I wish Kita was here to punch him in the mouth.”
“On the way out I will,” said Starlight. “I owe Takkat for much more than just tonight.”
Ignoring those around them, the Angels split and followed Starlight through the indoor garden to a large fountain that flowed backward. Beside it was a display table with pictures showing five of the seven items up for auction.
“This be Dead and Buried. They form Crypt,” said Raptor. “Kita goen’ to be unstoppable when she gets these.”
Starlight opened the brochure. “According to this, Takkat is selling each blade separately.”
“The fool not know what he got. These swords be powerful.”
“All the better they don’t know. I’d hate to see what an idiot like Takkat would do if he knew.”
“Hopefully slice is hand off,” growled Panther.
A Djinn accompanied by his five wives, covered head to toe, approached to look at the table. He and Starlight exchanged nods. She guided the other Angels away, down the path to a circular staircase.
“Those aren’t going to be fun in heels,” said Panther after looking at the cylindrical steps sticking from the wall that were no more than a hand’s width in diameter.
“The server room is on the bottom floor,” said Starlight as she looked over the rail.
“I be sayen’ we take da easy way,” said Raptor. She vaulted the rail and floated down three stories to the bottom.
Starlight and Panther shrugged and followed. Starlight stuck her head around a corner. “It’s clear.” She led the Angels through a twisting layout to a sliding glass door.
“Ya be sure this a security room?” said Raptor.
“It’s not a security room, but a server room. It’s where the computers are.”
“Ya be thinken’ it’d be better protected than this.”
“Besides the security server, this room contains servers for all the communications, house systems, and entertainment equipment. I think the idea is to hide it in plain sight,” said Starlight as she entered the room and went to the security server machine. She pulled out the keyboard and set it to the right configuration for her fingers. From between her breasts, she pulled out a small data cube. She inserted it into the slot and typed out a series of commands. The screen lit, and a bar showed the progress of the software download.
After the software finished installing, Starlight retrieved the data cube and tucked it away. She turned and exclaimed, “Void!�
�� when a foot appeared through the door. She grabbed Raptor and kissed her while pulling Panther to her. “We’ve got trouble,” she explained to the others. Raptor continued to kiss Starlight while Panther nibbled on her neck.
“Excuse me, Grand Ambassador…” said a polite, but firm voice.
Starlight broke from Raptor and kissed Panther on the forehead. “Yes?” she said formally acting as if nothing had happened.
“This section of the house is off-limits,” said the Zentonian servant.
“My apologies. We were looking for the powder room.”
“I can escort you there.”
Starlight smiled. “Please, lead on.” She put her arms around the other Angels and followed the servant back toward the staircase. “Kita, the cameras are down. We’re moving to take down the vault’s electrical barrier.”
“Finally. I’m tired of being in this box. Ready, Leaf?” said Kita as she lifted her black mask into place.
“Bark, yeah! This is the kind of mission I live for,” said the tiny Angel as she pulled her white mask over her mouth and nose.
They turned invisible, and Kita opened the air car’s trunk compartment. Stepping out, they fluffed their feathers to get them flight ready. Kita’s black feathers were in stark contrast to Aspen’s white feathers with golden tips. Together, they spread their wings and flew from the parking structure toward the mansion.
They landed in the drop off zone and fell in behind a couple ascending the stairs. Slipping behind the couple as they passed through the doors, the Angels took flight and circled in the center courtyard of the house.
“There is the door to the study and master bedroom,” said Aspen as she pointed toward an ornate circular door with a landing. “How do they get up here?”
“They climb. Special lifts are used for visitors.”
“Bet they weren’t counting on guests that could fly.”
“The Verisom have an awesome vertical jump. Not sure if they could reach the top floor here though.”
“So what was it like to be a fiancée to one of them?” said Aspen as she pulled the door open a crack for them to slip inside.