by Ken Rivers
“My roommate stopped anything from happening.”
“She must be powerful to defeat such a beast. I would be honored to meet her. When will that happen?”
It was a fair question, but one that came with a lot of potential problems. The utmost of which was that B hated the Levani. That’s why she joined the Enforcers.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. She has…problems, and isn’t well right now. Here, let me clean this up.” I tried to pick up the cat woman but she was twice as heavy as I was. I did manage to drag her down the hallway to the living room by the stairs and laid her out on the sofa.
I popped into the kitchen and grabbed a drink from the maxo-fridge. Absolute zero cooling with no residual crystal degradation. The frosty cold brew went down quick and smooth. Yari came in, her bare feet sticking enough to make small sounds as she crossed the floor toward me.
“You’re not going to offer me anything?” she said, a little irritated at the lack of Levani hospitality, I guessed.
“Of course.” I grabbed her a beer and chucked it over and looked at her feet while she struggled with the top. “You don’t have to take off your shoes, here.”
“Ew. You don’t?” as she popped the cap off and drank. “What is this?”
“It’s called beer. Imports cost too many credits, so I brew it here.”
“I’ve heard of this. We only had wine at the temple. It’s used for ceremonies, but sometimes Father would over-bless himself with it.”
“I know the feeling.” Another month, and I could finish my contract and head home.
I watched her pull back the beer in under a minute. She had no concept of pace.
“Did you know about the priest? I mean, your father?”
Her pace slowed as she walked around the kitchen, touching things to see if they would blink. “The priests are kept as free vassals from the occupation forces, so his diagnostic cycles were few and far between. He never had any issue with his Life-Tech the entire time I’ve been alive. He practiced freely and used what abilities he had control of to heal any who entered the house of the Kaiju. I thought the black was just a story to scare us away from using magic. I believe it’s only a matter of time before the same happens to me.”
“I feel weird,” she said as she looked through the bottom of the bottle. “Can I have another?”
“If you think you can handle it, I’ll crack open another for—”
She tipped over and fell into my arms, streaks of blue hair sliding off my jacket arm.
“Time for bed, then,” I said to myself.
I threw her over my shoulder and hauled her up to the second floor living room. “Bed,” I said, standing next to the sofa. It rolled out, pillows and blankets ready for sleep. Her legs were locked straight enough to stand her up, so I did so before I laid her down. I held her hands and was about to let her gently fall back onto the bed when I saw bare skin and ass come down the stairs and fiery red hair look through the door.
She stood, still dripping wet, taking a tighter hold on her towel when she saw Yari.
“Mark! Who the hell is that?”
5
“HI!” I heard a soft thud behind me as Yari fell face down in the covers.
Perfect.
Maybe Bridget wouldn’t notice I had brought a Levani home illegally. The blue hair might throw her off.
“Why is she dressed in Levani gear?”
Shit.
“She just arrived on planet. One of those university cosplay fans. Loves the space elves. Why are you here?”
She gave her another squinted look and walked over to the wet-dry port.
“You have a port on your floor, ya know?” I said.
“I know, but you’re never up this early. As much as I like being wet, I never have an audience to watch me come down the stairs in dramatic fashion.” She spun around once. “What do you think?”
“It’s nice.”
“Just, nice?” She pulled the bottom of her towel up to her sizable glistening cheeks.
I swallowed hard. “You have everything where it should be? Look, we’re roommates and inter-employee relations are forbidden. Sure, I’d love to see what you—"
“How old is she?”
Nobody could fuck with B’s interrogation skills.
“Late teens, maybe?”
She rolled her eyes, dropped her towel and hit the dry switch. Five seconds of near supersonic air force rippled up her legs, past her shaved baby-smooth pooch. The ripples climbed up her soft four-pack and over those two perfect titties till her hair exploded upward, every droplet of water atomized into the air. God, I loved technology.
“How long will she be staying with us? Just in case you’re gonna be giving her all you got, I want to be upstairs with my spy equipment on,” she said with an emotionless wink. “Just joking…”
“You know I found one of them, right? One of your sensors.”
“I deny all knowledge. Someone at CONTROL must have an interest in you.”
I was convinced my room was bugged with her surveillance cameras. It was only a matter of time before I found the next one. I had stopped moving very much under the covers when it was time to flog the beast.
She put her towel back on but left it hanging loose. “She’s cute, in a weird way. Not a bad haul for you, lover boy.”
It was time to divert.
“She’s not here for that. And even if she was, it’s very selfish of you sitting in your room spying on people while they fuck.”
“And while they masturbate.” She winked at me. “But like I said, it’s not me.”
I had to keep her on her heals.
“Just come in and watch next time. You never know what could happen.”
“Not gonna happen. Bodily fluid transfer is gross.” Bridget rolled Yari over face up and started a Clear-Tech check.
“When did you…where’d you get that from? You’re naked under a towel.”
She shrugged me off. “And there we have it. Levani DNA. Anyway, I knew you were full of shit the second you opened your mouth because you’re a bad liar. What the hell were you thinking when you decided to bring her to our house?”
“Just give me a chance to explain. No bullshit this time.”
“You’re putting me in a difficult position here, Mark. This shit isn’t ok. I don’t know or care how she got here, I just want to know the why. Her being here is bad for both of us. Mostly bad for you, but it ain’t good for me, either. The second I figure out what story to tell, I’m calling this in. Sorry.”
“She’s not what you think. Look at her blue hair and green eyes! She’s a halfling. Go ahead, check it in the database.”
She swiped and took a closer look at the data read. “Whatever, I don’t care if she’s part Leviathan.”
I chided her with a smile and a waving finger. “We’re using Kaiju. When in Rome, dear.”
“You can dear these!” she spat back as she cupped her de-muffed bump. “She’s a fucking space elf, who’s missing her Life-Tech by the way, AND she’s on our sofa! Seriously, Mark, why couldn’t it have just been the Pusani?”
There was no use sugar-coating the story for her but she couldn’t know I removed her Life-Tech. She could sniff out a lie from a mile away. I told her all that had happened. She sat on the edge of the bed looking at Yari the whole time, her emotions hidden beneath her placid face.
I finished, and she gave it to me straight. “Wow. I can only honestly believe half that story. I do buy that you didn’t take her tracker off and that a priest is dead and that you brought her here, racing back against the rising suns after a shitty job call. I think what really happened is that you got into some shit you shouldn’t have seen. She knew a witness would buy her some time and called one in, on an emergency tech call, no less. If her tracker was off in the first place, she’s probably just using you to get away from the Levani Guard. I’ve never been a fan of anything the Levani do or believe, but at least they dish out justice swift and cl
ean. I don’t believe she has any powers. That part of your story, quite frankly, was pretty lame. I have enough to make sure you and I don’t get jailed and deported, though, so thanks. I’m getting dressed and making the call.”
“I’m not lying to you.”
“Look, lover boy,” she cooed to me, calm and collected. “I think you must have hit your wittle head with your pwasma torch and you believe that you are telling the damned truth. Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Then what about this?”
Ripping the zipper of my jacket down, I threw it off my shoulders and let her stare at the glowing orange chunk of my abdomen. “I’m a walking medical magic experiment that should’ve died back there in that grass. She saved my life. She used magic to do it. The black thing that attacked was real.”
She got up and rubbed her hand down my stomach. “Damn. Do you feel anything weird?”
“Yes. Very. It’s lower though. There’s a HUGE problem down there.”
She slid her hands down the front of my pants and slapped me on the bottom of the balls. “Funny. What’s that black part on your side?”
I ran my hand over a thin charcoal line on my right side. I wasn’t sure if it was there before or not. I would’ve noticed it, surely?
B peered at Yari and got right up to her face, head tilted. “Did you get her drunk?”
“No. But I’m a gracious host.”
She sighed and straightened her shoulders back. “Fine. I’ll get her something to eat.”
While I was combing over my midsection, Bridget went downstairs and came back up with a Levani breakfast smoothie. She plopped down on the sofa next to Yari. “So, I believe you. But she can’t stay here, Mark. The Levani are technologically backward and secretive but they are also highly organized. Make no mistake, if they link you to her, CONTROL will give you up in a hot second. You’ll be spending your time in Levani ‘crush you in the holes that weren’t made for crushin’ prison.”
“All of the holes?” I stuck a finger in my belly button.
“I’m serious, Mark. You need to get on this, fast.”
“I can’t quite do that. She’s asleep and it wouldn’t be right.”
“Funny. She is cute, though, isn’t she? I’m not one for the Levani hawk-face features, but she’s got a soft tone to her…anyway, what’s the plan?”
“Get dressed?” I asked.
“Right. Be right back.” She pivoted and jogged to the door, dropping her towel as she passed through and turned up the stairs. Those pink ass cheeks could wrap around my face and almost touch my ears, I bet. But would I have sacrificed my job for it? The less logical of my two brains answered with an emphatic, yes! I’d suck a fart out of her butt with a straw.
I changed into a new vintage leather jacket. Replicated clothes just didn’t have the feel and style of old digs. I was pretty sure that word was from the 1990’s. All clothing had become strictly form and function for work. We had lost so much coolness over the last century.
B was back quick. Black leather from head to foot, zipper stretched to the breaking point about two inches down her plump cleavage. It was a totally unnecessary place to stop a zipper, but everything she did had purpose. If a criminal or rogue CONTROL employee was feeling like a pain dance, the moment of hesitation from staring at her tits was guaranteed and she was fast enough to take advantage of it. A simple suit, with a raised red E over her right breast. A red belt with an unassuming non-reflective silver square buckle. And her wand hanging expertly from the curve in her hips. She once told me that if your hips were too skinny, you would be rejected for the Enforcers. I tried to get her to get me a date with someone there, but she just laughed me off.
Then the sound of a Clear-Tech buzzing from under clothing snapped me back into focus mode.
“Is that you?” I asked.
“It’s the bosses. No worries, I already called in today. We’ll get her out of here ASAP. I know a couple of places we can take her to. Hold on.” She slipped the device from right above her belt. It was the same Clear-Tech I had but much smaller. Cool spy design.
“Enforcer Radigan,” the powerful voice commanded attention from B. I had never seen her butthole, but I was positive it was clenched super tight. I had never seen her at work or on the job for that matter, just out drinking, the occasional singing box night out, and right before going to bed. Nobody ever fucked with her, but this voice had her snapped to attention like a hard-pinched tit. “You picked a hell of a day to kick off your boots, Commander.”
“Sir?”
“I understand you’ve taken leave today?”
“Yes, Sir. I had a personal matter to attend to and was assured it wouldn’t be a problem.” Her thighs were so close together I could almost hear Enforcer issued soundproof leather squeal.
The grizzled old voice continued over the commlink. “Well, the shit has hit the fan on the reservation. Long story short, there’s been an alleged murder of a Levani by a municipal level CONTROL Agent. Your co-habitant.”
“Sir, I’m sure it wasn’t my co-habitant,” she winked at me with a wry smile, “he’s too dull-minded to put on clothes that are new, let alone—”.
“We won’t take too much of your time, Commander. We are still light on details thanks to the Levani.” He paused for a deep sigh. “They’ll have their herbal drink-laden meetings about it all day before anybody decides who speaks first. In the meantime, ensure that our asses are covered. Tech Agent 619 does not leave the building. Interrogate him and report back with your findings. I trust you to handle the situation objectively. Understood?”
I mouthed to her that I was not dull-minded. She quickly shrugged it off.
“Understood, Marshal. Radigan, out.” She turned on me and backed me into the wall with one arm. “I know you’re not stupid. That’s exactly why you need to give me one reason I shouldn’t turn you in. CONTROL doesn’t know she’s laying down right there. I wonder why that is?” Her bright green eyes had a mystifying effect on me. I didn’t know whether to tell the truth or lean in for a kiss.
She shoved me a little and stood with arms folded and waited. “I know you’re always fucking around with illegal tech. When did you install it?”
I had gone through great pains to keep the disruptors rigged on the house a secret from B. If she knew, she would have to tell CONTROL under oath. As much as I trusted her, I knew her character. She followed the letter of the law, regardless of her penchant for ninja filming me with my dick out.
“A while back. I thought voyeuring would be more fun if you couldn’t see who was in the room with me from CONTROL.”
She feinted to hit me and opted to point at the ground with a heavy dose of conviction. “I’ve never used my authority for that.” She looked away briefly with a raised eyebrow. “But, maybe I could? Anyway, we have some time before I lie to my superiors about you. Your use of illegal tech isn’t not a wise move.”
“Huh?”
“Ya made a good call.”
“Shit, I know. That’s why they call me Mr. Good-call.”
“Nobody calls you that.”
“Says you.” I’d have to get Yari on board with calling me the same, soon. Only one guy actually called me that.
“I think what you did is wrong, but it doesn’t mean I don’t respect its ingenuity.
“I’ll remind you, I have a clean record. No arrests. Ever.”
“True. But never say never. Ok, so they don’t know about Yari being here. Check. I assume they’ve assumed the furry sexplicant you opted for has been returned to the brothel, as well. CONTROL makes sure you get the sex but leaves it to the brothels to clean up the mess. Anything to save a credit.” She was pacing back and forth by that point.
“Typical,” I said.
“Anyway, we need to hide them. I doubt they’ll bother with an internal scan after checking from without. We can use that hole in the wall you like to keep your dirty clothes from Earth in.”
“It’s called a closet,” I said
with as much sarcasm as I could muster.
She looked quite pleased with herself. “Right, we’ll put them there. Wake your space-elf. Wait. The Levani and their islands aren’t really in space, are they? What is halfway from the ground to space? Stratosphere? No….mesosphere! RIGHT. Wake up your meso-elf.”
“We killed racism on Earth like hundreds of years ago. What the fuck?”
I threw a couple of light slaps at the half-human beauty and moved her head around like a swivel axle. Nothing. “Yari! Ya gotta wake up! HelloOO!”
Nothing. Just a little drool.
“Mark, can I try?” I nodded and got out of the way. “It’s all about the angle, and timing.” B slid her hand up Yari’s neck to her chin. Rubbed her cheek three times clockwise and slapped so fucking hard and quick, I flinched. Yari’s eyes opened. “See?” B walked away. “It’s all you, lover boy. I’ll handle the animal rescue.”
“Ow,” Yari mumbled while dredged from her nap.
The low-pitched ding of the entryway sounded. B looked right at me. “Were you followed?”
No one saw us cross the border and no Levani were fast enough to follow a rail bike. I was in a hurry, so I didn’t really check everything as much as I could have. Did I miss something?
B let the worry escape her lips. “Mark?”
6
“Answer me, Mark.” her hand moved instinctively to her battle-baton.
I hissed back, “Of course not…” I counted out the reasons why on my hand as I spoke with her. “There was no one at the bridge, and no one the entire time we tore ass over Levani backcountry. Plus, the proximity sensors were at zero contact the entire ride.”
“Nobody saw you? Nobody who could talk?” she checked again, being very deliberate with words.
“Unless Flits learn how to talk, no, totally in the clear.”
The ding of the entryway sounded for the second time. The color drained out of Yari’s face and she began to tremble.
“Hey, relax.” I said softly, getting close and taking the small of her neck in my hand, “Nobody knows you’re here.”