by Zara Zenia
My skin tingled, and I couldn’t drag my eyes or my focus away from him. His eyes slid slowly over me, appraisingly, and I could almost feel him removing my clothes as he did so.
When his eyes returned to mine, he quirked a sly smile, and I suddenly felt like I was someone entirely new, someone who didn’t think twice about making eyes at a gorgeous, strange man across a room.
I wanted to smile, but my lips felt unbearably dry and instead I licked them. He smiled more definitively then. The heat that flashed through me when he smiled, seductive and a little dangerous, had me reaching for my glass of water.
Suddenly, I realized Kamala was clearing her throat. Recovering myself, I launched back into the presentation, hoping no one noticed the sudden flush in my cheeks.
I continued on, “Water is one of the essential requirements for sustaining life. As we all know, it is in far too short supply on Vaxivia. Or is it?
“This water, ladies and gentlemen, this pure, refreshing water was harvested here on Vaxivia. It’s difficult to believe, I know. What you’re seeing around us is a projection of a cavern located approximately one thousand meters below Vaxivia’s crust. Our engineers discovered it while mining for Palladium.”
The cavern was carpeted in verdant and alien plants. Around us, small, serpentine lizards scurried past. The air was hot and damp, as water dripped from the cave’s ceiling and gathered in pools around us.
“As you can see, we have encountered a lush and thriving ecosystem. Flora and fauna have flourished in caverns such as this. The life in this cave is sustained by one of many massive underground aquifers that our team has discovered. Our hydrogeologists estimate there could be nearly as much water below Vaxivia’s deep crust as on the surface of Earth Prime.”
A collective gasp came from the crowd as the implications of this sunk in. A lot of money was made on Vaxivia through controlling the limited supply of surface water.
“When Earth Federation colonizers began developing Vaxivia, hydro-cultivation robots began molecular manipulation to establish a sustainable water supply for the planet’s future residents. As you know, those plans were abandoned. What resulted was the formation of confined and artesian aquifers that, until now, have gone untapped.”
The translucent image of our newest drone iteration appeared in the middle of the room, rotating and offering the audience a full view of our latest technical creation.
“Our team of mechanical engineers has developed, and continues to improve upon, a fleet of hydro-harvesting drones, like the one you see before you. The Melusine ASD-13 can locate and drill up to a thousand meters down, allowing us to easily and quickly transport this precious resource for both municipal drinking supplies and irrigation and agricultural purposes.
“With water supplies such as this, Vaxivians can fully cultivate their own food supply and operate truly outside of Earth Federation’s control. We will no longer be dependent upon teleportation import; in the next fifty years, Vaxivia could become fully autonomous and self-sustaining.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the future,” I said, pausing for effect, as the audience clapped. The holographic interface faded away and the lights brightened somewhat.
Confidence surging through me, I smiled and looked at the mysterious man in the back of the room again. I held his eyes for just a moment, feeling a little daring, until an investor called out a question. I sat down at the long table with the rest of our leadership team.
Over the next hour, we fielded questions about our projections and development plan. The plan had several stages, the first of which would be the most expensive. Infrastructure for transporting water would be the first step of many for creating a viable network of waterways.
Thousands of jobs would be created over the course of the project, and many of those hires would be experts that would need to be recruited. An influx in our immigration would also bring with it an economic boom, if handled correctly. Steel City was large but would also need additions made to its infrastructure and services.
This project wasn’t just about opening up a plentiful water supply to our people, though that was a chief motivation. It was also about revitalizing the dream of what Vaxivia could be and adapting that dream to the people who had claimed it as their own.
Vaxivia had been meant to be a resort for the uber wealthy, but, instead, it had become a haven for dissenters and political refugees seeking freedom from the oppression of the corrupt Earth Federation regime, people who had sought a fresh start and a better life for themselves and their families. This was about making that haven something prosperous and plentiful.
At twice the size of Earth Prime, Vaxivia had enormous development potential and the idea that the Lord-Case Company could be responsible for realizing that potential brought meaning to my work. We had made a fortune from the people of Vaxivia, now it was time to do something for them, to give back.
After the question and answer period was over, people began moving freely about the room, engaged in animated discussion of our revelations.
I saw Albert, my CFO, at one end of the table, making his way toward me, and I quickly merged into the mass of attendees. I hadn’t briefed Albert on the full contents of the presentation, and I was keen to avoid the confrontation for now.
I chatted politely as I mingled and made my way to the bar at the far end of the room. A green-haired bartender came over immediately as I sat down.
“I’ll take a Parallax, thanks,” I said, sighing as I relaxed onto the plush stool.
“Make that two.”
I turned, surprised, toward the low, rich sound that came from behind me. It was the mystery man from the audience. My stomach jumped.
“Wonderful presentation, Ms. Lord-Case. You must be pleased at the reception,” he said, gesturing to the enthused crowd.
“Yes, quite pleased, Mr.…” I let my voice trail off.
“Just call me Ragal,” he said, smiling.
“Ah, well then, call me Tasha. I don’t recognize you from any of our previous investor presentations. Ah, thank you,” I said to the pretty young bartender who had delivered two glass flutes full of fizzing purple liquid.
“Thank you,” he said, inclining his head to the server and passing her several coins. He turned back to me and raised his glass in a toast before we both sipped.
His face contorted slightly at the flavor of the bitter mineral tonic that I had specially stocked in the building. I swallowed my laugh as he tried to play off the surprise.
“It’s a mineral tonic one of my Gindaxian clients introduced me to—an acquired taste. I find them very refreshing, and the nutrient profile helps to boost mitochondrial function and intracellular ion concentration,” I explained and then realized he probably didn’t care or even know what I was talking about.
He was devastatingly handsome, with his shoulder-length black hair worn loose over a sleek charcoal gray suit.
“Ah, Gindaxians, an interesting race,” he replied. “Hyper-intelligent beings, and yet they possess one of the poorest immune systems in the known universe.”
I smiled at his knowledge of the obscure planet. “Yes, I’ve heard that they have developed a cure to every known disease because of the fragility of their physical bodies.”
“Understandable then, their preoccupation with wellness. A terrible pity that their sense of taste has no medical utility.”
I laughed. “Well, concessions must be made in the name of health.”
Just then, Kamala came up and let me know that a scrivener from the local press was asking for an interview. I groaned inwardly. The Vaxivian press seemed to enjoy portraying me as spoiled and far less competent than I was.
“Please give him my regretful apologies, but I’m discussing our new venture with a very important investor. He can talk to my assistant Li about scheduling an interview sometime tomorrow.”
“You got it, Tasha,” she said, giving Ragal a flirty once-over as she walked away.
“Sorry to drag y
ou into my nefarious schemes, but it’s been a long day and I would rather not tack any more work onto it,” I said, turning back.
“I understand and give you full permission to include me in any inappropriate or nefarious plots you may have for the remainder of the evening,” Ragal said, his voice and suggestion sending chills of excitement up my back.
“Perhaps we might continue this conversation someplace more removed from your work commitments?” he all but purred.
In a board room, going over technical plans with an engineer, or behind the controls of just about any aircraft, I was in my element, I knew what I was doing, and I was in control. Flirting with a handsome and mysterious stranger, however, was uncharted, awkward territory.
The invitation hung in the air between us as I wavered. “I’m not sure. I have a full schedule tomorrow…” I was exaggerating. I did have a meeting with a foreman at our newest factory, but it was hardly a packed morning.
I bit my lip, wanting to go but feeling suddenly insecure.
He looked a little dejected as he smiled apologetically. “I understand.”
Impulsively, I reached out and grabbed his forearm as he turned from me. “No, wait.”
The contact sent an electric, excited rush through me.
“Where did you have in mind?” I said, smiling at him seductively, feeling suddenly daring.
His lips curved into a similar smile and we made our way through the crowd, out of the building, and into the darkness. I wasn’t sure where the night would lead, but I felt suddenly more alive, more present than I had felt in a long time, maybe more than I had ever felt.
Chapter 3
Ragal
Winding down the street, I led Tasha to a nightspot that had been highly recommended by Keto, one of our law enforcement contacts in Steel City. Exhilaration raced through me as we walked through the city. The lights of hover vehicles and small aircraft swarmed in the air and glittered against the black backdrop of the night sky.
The last time I had been out with a woman had been before my father’s death. At home in the capital city of Vahakun, I led a privileged life as a prince. Being the second youngest of five sons, removed from the possibility of inheritance, I had been able to move about with relative ease, free of the pressures my older brothers faced, while still enjoying the luxuries of royalty.
Unlike my brothers, I felt no great compulsion toward military service, as I knew any such investment of my time would ultimately prove wasted upon my exile and discharge.
I had led a life of quiet study, able to pursue the subjects that interested me. As a prince, I was fortunate enough to have studied from the greatest minds of Dragselia and beyond. As I was unlikely to ascend to the throne, I had enjoyed the company of many lovely Dragselian ladies, free of the risk of attachment. That had suited me well.
For my brothers, that distance had been harder to accept. However, I reveled in my independence, never having to worry about claims being placed upon my time or affection. When I desired company, it was easy enough to find.
Life had changed in exile and perhaps I had changed with it. I still craved my independence, still enjoyed solitude, but another part of me craved the intellectual stimulation I had never lacked back home.
On Vaxivia, our focus had been only on survival, on returning to our original destination. Our exile had us headed to a small, rustic colony in the outermost reaches of Dragselian territory, far away from the centers of knowledge and learning that I craved.
There were other cravings as well, those of a more physical nature. Walking through the polished, chrome-plated doors of Helix, I couldn’t help but feel a thrill at the possibility that the night might lead to a fulfillment of more than one longing.
Tasha was tall, and her long legs kept an easy stride with mine. The smell of her was intoxicating. As a Dragselian, my senses were superior to a human’s, and as she moved, I picked up the sweet, citrusy smell that emanated from her smooth, soft skin.
Engaging with her, it was easy to let my thoughts drift away from the urgency of my situation.
We entered the building and followed a long, polished stone hallway lined with faintly pulsing lights. The sound of Tasha’s pointed blue heels reverberated in the confined space. At the end of the hall, we entered a smaller chamber and I felt the buzz of the teleporter as the chamber dissolved and we appeared on the rooftop of the sleek tower.
The club felt like a living thing as we moved through the palpable energy of the place. Above us, through the sheer biofilter that contained the space and protected its clients from the chill of the air and atmosphere outside, the glowing cloud of Diana’s Nebula created the effect of being untethered from the ground.
I felt the urge to shift, to take wing and fly through the limitless night, treating Tasha to an experience few humans would ever know.
Instead, we wound our way through the crowd of people and raised pedestals where hologram projections of glowing dancers appeared, to a cluster of high tables. A server in luminescent body paint and lined mesh shorts quickly approached us.
“Welcome to Helix. Can I interest you in a libation or perhaps an EE stimulator?” he asked, his voice dipping to a sultry low tone at the last suggestion.
“No, thank you, we’re plenty stimulated,” Tasha said, laughing.
I smiled and raised a brow at the implication, causing her to blush faintly.
“I just mean, the conversation is… just the drink would be great!” she fumbled, blushing harder.
“I agree, a drink will do. Perhaps a Solar Fizz?” I asked.
She nodded in agreement. “Yes, two of those, thanks!”
“Certainly,” he said, closing his eyes and sending in our order via EE.
Electroencephalum chips were a dominant means of quick communication on Vaxivia. They allowed the user to send condensed audiovisual messages directly into the recipient’s mind.
We had no such technology on Dragselia. Unlike my brothers, who were more apprehensive, I was intrigued by the concept and had gotten one installed this morning. Unfortunately, I had to wait the thirty-six hours before I had synced fully to the existing electromagnetic network.
The server winked at us and smiled smugly as he walked away. Moments later, two short, curved glasses arrived at the table by the server, glowing impossibly orange.
I extended my glass in a toast. “To exploring new frontiers!”
Tasha smiled and clinked her glass against mine. “To exploration.”
I took a long, quenching drink from my glass, watching her over the rim, never breaking eye contact.
Her eyes were dazzling blue pools rimmed by a heavy layer of long, curled eyelashes. She wore makeup, like many women here and on Dragselia, but not a lot. There was a faint sheen to her cheeks, a slight smokiness to her eyes, and a succulently red tint to her lips.
She sipped her drink and said, “Thanks for talking me into coming out. I don’t get away from the office much. I’m sure I needed a break.”
“I imagine your work demands much of your time.”
“It does, yes. Truthfully, I don’t really mind the demands. I love what we do and I’m very lucky to be in the position I am—to be able to collaborate with our team of brilliant engineers and researchers, constantly learning from them and from our resources and contacts in other parts of the galaxy. There is always something engaging to work on. It’s hectic but it’s never dull,” she said, her voice full of sincerity.
“I understand what you mean,” I replied. “I don’t enjoy being idle for long. We live in an era where we have the means to pursue limitless knowledge. We can access information from across the universe, connect to cultures with scientific knowledge that might be thousands of years ahead of our own. I don’t understand people who are content with what little they are surrounded by and exposed to, those who have no thirst to seek, to learn.”
“Yes, exactly! It’s so nice to meet someone who understands that. It’s not that I can’t take a break fro
m my work, it’s just… why would I want to? There is so much to learn and explore. I want Vaxivia to be a place where research and discovery can flourish.”
“I imagine it must be very fulfilling then, to be able to pursue intellectually stimulating projects and have those also benefit the commonwealth of Vaxivia,” I said, admiring her concern for her people.
“Absolutely. I mean, everything we are, everything we have is because of these people. It is only right that we invest in them as much as they have in us.”
Her voice was firm with conviction, and I found myself attracted to more than just her striking features.
“Your people are lucky to have someone such as you, someone who doesn’t take their privilege for granted.” I said, genuinely impressed.
She blushed. “Thank you. I’d like to think most people would give back if they could, if they had the means, don’t you think?”
“From what I have seen of Vaxivia…” I stopped, realizing my mistake from her curious look.
“I knew I didn’t recognize you! I mean, I don’t know everyone on the planet, but you’re not someone I would forget.”
I leaned in seductively. “Oh really?”
She smiled, a little flustered. “So where are you from then?”
Caught, I thought quickly. “Narsis—at least, originally. I travel a great deal for my work,” I said, referencing the Earth-colonized planet known mostly for its agricultural abundance. It was similar to Dragselia, at least in climate.
“What sort of work is that?”
This part, I had already considered. “I lead a group of tech salvagers. We specialize in recovering alien technology for private clients. We work mostly for research and academic organizations.”
She nodded. “That sounds really interesting!”
She looked like she was about to ask more questions, so I looked around for some way to change focus.
Emboldened by the drink and the intoxicating beauty of the woman before me, I stepped out, around the table, toward the central dancing area, and turned back, inviting Tasha to join me.