The woman said." No matter where humans go they find a way to use their surroundings for sports and recreation. I think this is the secret of the Success of the Terrans. They are neither the strongest, fastest or smartest species but they seem to be able to adapt to every environment."
I agreed with her. Learning that there were floating cities in the upper atmosphere of a Gas giant was really something and I had to agree with the Ancient, the Union truly was an amazing place. The lobby of the Lux Hotel could have been anywhere with its marble floors, indoor plant islands and water fountains. An Ult sat behind an Ultanium that was somewhat akin to a terran piano and played Ult harmonic melodies. Humans and Non-Humans in business suits, dresses, and robes walking back and forth; standing together in small groups talking to each other. Most of them ignoring the whirling elements outside the view ports.
A Thauran receptionist in an tight fitted black suit and purple shirt underneath smiled at us. "Welcome to the Hilton Cloud Castle on Corri-Giant. What can I do for you?"
I motioned the woman to go first and she said: "I would like to get a room for four nights!"
"I am sorry Ma'am but all our rooms are booked or reserved. I do have one Suite left however."
"How much is that?"
"18,000 per night!"
"Are there any other hotels or accommodations?"
He looked at a screen and raised his hands." It looks like the Snorkel Intake City has bunks left, but I would not recommend them to a lady. The Sylvain on Far Out still shows three rooms but that is almost a day inter system from here."
Her mouth twitched and she said to me." I do have a temporary office on Corri-Door, I guess we could share. I don't know how big it is but it might still be better than the Space bus lobby!"
I smiled."We also could share the suite. I am certain it has separate bed rooms!"
The blue faced Thauran looked at his read out after I swiped my CIT and Credit Chip he said." It is always a pleasure to welcome Executives of Enroe Corp. Do you wish human or robotic butler service? "
After we had been shown to the suite and her luggage was brought in she said with a raised eyebrow." Why would an Executive of Enroe even consider sleeping in the Space bus lobby? Not that I ever met such a young Business tycoon."
"I am not a business man or a tycoon. Just a Neo viking from Nilfeheim , but I am friends with Alex Enroe and I guess he did mean what he said."
"You are a very interesting person, Eric. Quiet and soft spoken, yet there is something about you I can't quite place. "
"Maybe it's the smell! I think I do need a shower!"
She laughed." Well I must say I am glad have a nice bed to sleep. This was a last minute assignment and they rushed me here without making the usual arrangements."
"I guess you are some sort of news reporter then?"
She took of her coat and over her left chest she had an embroidered symbol of a sword and a scale super imposed over a stylized Galaxy, the union symbol. She lowered her eyes and said." I usually don't tell anyone what I do or who I am, but I work for the Union Justice Department and I am an Executioner."
This did surprise me a little but I didn't want to offend her and said." Well I guess someone has to do that!"
"This is part of the reason I don't tell what I do to anyone. " She glared at me." I can see it in your face!"
"Lady, I am away from my home planet for the first time in my life. Nilfeheim is not what you would call a modern world. To me everything is new, exciting and some of it is frightening. It is the first time I hear about a city floating around a gas planet. Executions are rare on my world we usually challenge someone and do the killing ourselves. Now a pretty lady tells me she does hanging for a living... I am sorry if I blinked!"
Her glare became softer and she sat down."I am sorry for snapping at you like that. I never tell anyone what I do, but sometimes I want to share it and have someone to talk about it"
"I have nothing much to do for the next days. I am just a teen and it might not be appropriate but maybe I can invite you for dinner and you can share whatever you want with me. I am just a Neo Viking but I can listen."
Her lips parted for a warm smile." Yes I would like that. Let me freshen up a bit and call in that I am here and then I would like very much to have dinner with you."
Chapter 11: First Touch
I took a shower as well and used the Auto Dresser and then checked my messages as I saw she was still in her part of the suite. There were two messages waiting. The first was of Egill and Sif. Egill had changed much, he wasn't as thin anymore and his hair and beard was clean, white and well trimmed. He did not wear braids and his clothing was all black leather with broad silver seams. Sif also had changed; she was much more a woman than a girl now. Her facial expression seemed even cooler than usual and she too wore her blonde hair open and she had it cut to chin length. She too wore black leather and a long matching mantle. Egill spoke." I just talked to the Governor of Twilight and he was full of praise of a certain Neo Viking killing terrorists and saving lives. Earlier The Assembly was in an emergency session due to the Dai Than troubles and the Nogoll. There was so they claimed the biggest space fleet battle in over 500 years and Sif hearing that makes a "joke and says; you know Eric is on his way into that region of space." And sure enough shortly thereafter I hear you been right in the middle of it picking a fight with a Dai battleship!"
Sif crossed her arms and shook her head with a smirk in her face." There are a Centillions of beings in the Union but it is you who ends up right in the middle of things."
It was a recording so it was no use to answer.
Egill said."The reason I am calling was actually to see how you are doing and to tell you that Sif has been accepted at the University of Pluribus and starts her Political Science studies in a few weeks. I am still learning all this Representative business myself but it is a great experience and I am getting the hang of it, if you can call us in a few days. Sif and I are going to Sares Prime for a visit."
The second call was from the Ancient and the Burg. Elkhart stood before a huge box. Posters, high res images and a mountain of t shirts and souvenirs piled all around him." I supposed to be thankful, yes...but you didn't have to buy every souvenir there possibly was.
"Well the funny part is your father is wearing a t shirt for the first time of his life. It is a foolish thing to wear a t shirt during long night but you know how stubborn he can be. Well everyone says hello and I hope you are at Arsenal by now. Awful thing with all that war and space battle business! I hope you arrived save. Elena, little Exa and the others wanted me to say hello for them. Elena took Exa to the mall shopping. Your big white friend is still sleeping of course. Sigfrida is going to marry Carl and Midril is actually going off planet for 3 weeks. She won a cooking competition and is going to New Sweden. She was so excited she cut herself and is at the Clinic at the moment. I think that is all from Nilfeheim. Talk to you soon."
I deactivated the GalNet terminal and turned as I heard something behind me. It was Dawn; she wore a clingy black dress glittering and reflecting light from thousands of tiny dots. She had her red locks gathered in a glittering net on the back of her head that matched the dress and she wore long gloves and held a small purse."I am ready when you are."
The Concierge in the lobby recommended the Bubble Top restaurant and managed to get us a table. After an elevator ride to the very top of the floating city we were seated on a small table with a spectacular, somewhat disturbing view into the chaotic swirling storms outside. The restaurant was filled to almost the last table and had a very upscale flair.
At first our conversation was nothing but small talk but then after we had eaten appetizers, little fried morsels of some kind of delicious fungus. She said." Do you think killing should be a man's job and a woman should not do it, or do you oppose capital punishment in the first place?"
"To be honest I haven't thought much about this subject. My world really is not very big on keeping tabs on Un
ion laws and events. When I was a kid I dreamed about the day when Union judges would convict my father and I could see him hang, but much has happened since then. Yes I do believe there are crimes that deserve the offender to be put to death, but I am much more careful to judge. I learnend that the hard way."
She raised her shapely eyebrows." I don't think this is an answer I expected at all, especially not from a young man. Why is it you wanted your father hanged if I may ask?"
"He has beaten my mother to death." I ended up telling her much of my story. I was not very hungry anymore after I remembered my mother but when I was finished telling we had eaten and she ordered a brandy for desert and I had a cup of coffee. It was her turn and she started. "I wanted to be a lawyer, a famous legal eagle when I was a kid. My mother was a federal Judge and my father also worked for the Justice Department, I did not know what he did for the longest time, but then live happened and I became involved with a medicine student and changed my career and became a forensic pathologist and was working as medical examiner for the Union Police on Pluribus. I saw the victims of violent crime on my examination table every day and one day my fiancee was the victim of a violent mugging and I wanted revenge. I told my father about that and he told me that he was a Federal Executioner. It is not a job that is advertised and even though there are individuals every year specifically applying for this, most are rejected after psychological examination. Anyway when the murderer of my husband was caught and sentenced, the Justice Department was short of an executioner to fulfill the sentence. You must know by union law a death sentence has to be executed within 1 month or it is commuted, so I volunteered and I am an Executioner ever since. It is not a nice job or something I dreamed about doing, but the law prohibits machines to do it and so someone has to. So we the Justice Department executioners travel from Union court to Union court and fulfill the sentences. I am sure you understand why we officially keep our identities secret and usually don't tell what we do. While almost everyone wants the death penalty, no one wants to be friends with the hangman, or in my case the hang woman."
"I don't select my friends by their occupation and one of my teachers tried to make me understand there are always two or more sides to any story. I am not sure what life holds for me, but I am trying to become an Officer in the Union Fleet, but during my short time off planet. I made some unusual friends. I don't mind to count a Union executioner among them."
"I think you had a very good teacher. Seeing such insights in one as young as you are surprisingly refreshing."
Part of me was very attracted to this older but good looking woman and her dark occupation did little to distract me form this attraction, but as much as I tried to ignore it I felt also a little envy of not being able to wear a dress like that, or those sexy gloves. I was at a point where I even considered psycho surgery, despite the warning of my friend the doctor.
There were several couples dancing. It was the first time I actually seen dancing like this outside a Virtu adventure, no one on Nilfeheim danced like this. Except the Dance of Axes at the great meeting, but that was something completely different. I also saw her face as she watched them and I could see her longing.
I said." I am sorry that I am not more of an adult and an appropriate companion. I would then ask you to dance but I don't know how."
Her green eyes were perhaps the most beautiful feature of hers, they sparkled like only the eyes of a woman could and her red lips parted to a sad smile." You are very appropriate, Eric. I am greatly enjoying your company. You are tall and very handsome. I would love to dance with you."
The restaurants host who had just approached our table to see if we needed something else said." Please let me apologize for hearing your last words, but I am a Pelogian." He touched his large ears." We do offer Cerebral Upload and it takes only ten minutes and you should be able to ball room dance."
"I am glad you listened in," I said to the semi human being with the coppery fur and the large pointed ears." I would like to take you up on that offer!"
So I went over to the Upload couch and twelve minutes later I asked Dawn for a dance. At first it I had to follow the instructions in my head and concentrate, but after a little it became repetitious and easy.
Holding a woman was something wonderful. I could feel her warm body under the thin fabric, smell her perfume and see joy she felt in her face. I felt very much like a man at that point and enjoyed the moment but even now I was also jealous of her and the other women. As much as I felt confidence and certain that I was a man attracted to women, as much I felt confused and angry about my own strange desires.
It was late when we returned to the suite and after the door closed she said."Thank you for a most memorable and lovely evening!" then she stepped forward snaked her arms around me and after a moment simply looking in my eyes she kissed me. It was not the way Elena or Sif had kissed me before. It was completely different! I could feel her tongue inside my mouth and I somehow did the same and knew exactly what to do. It was like nothing I had ever done or felt before.
Finally she released me, looked a little embarrassed and whispered." Thank you!"
Then she rushed into her rooms.
I could not go to sleep now. I was excited in a strange new way. Somehow reminded me of the way I felt when Sif was sitting on my lap.
I wished I could talk to someone about it.
I decided to take a cold bath and submerge myself, and clear my head. The suite had a private little pool and I spend a good hour under water but it didn't help. Freya wanted to get out, more than ever.
So I stepped into the auto dresser and dialed up the female selection and became Freya once again. The machine added length to my hair, removed the spotty beard whiskers and expertly applied make up, with the right padded foundation and finally a nice evening dress with long gloves. After the transformation was complete I once more felt as if I had moved out of a shack and into a palace.
Completely made up like I was, I sat on the bed in the darkened room and looked out the big view port and the wild atmosphere. I watched a flock of those strange local life forms dancing in the storm, but I was thinking about myself and my future. I was so sure what I wanted to do, joining the Union Fleet that had not changed only increased after my experience aboard the American Dream. I had a male body and I was more than attracted to Dawn. I loved holding her while we danced and when we kissed it was exciting in a way I never thought possible. Yet I felt incomplete, somehow trapped and only when I shed this outer expression of my gender and appeared female, felt free and right. As much as I trusted Dr. Dwyer I decided to get a second opinion. I needed to come to some decision and find an answer. Why was it so easy for Uncle Hogun to be a man, why did father, the Ancient and Egill have no problem? Elena, Sif and Astrid had no desire to be male and yet I could not find an answer.
Suddenly I knew I was no longer alone. I turned and saw Dawn standing by the door. Wearing only a skimpy negligee she walked over, as she noticed me seeing her and sat next to me on the bed. Her voice was barely audible as she said." I didn't want to be alone tonight."
It was not dark enough in the room that she could not see how I looked and yet she didn't say a word about it instead she moved close to me and then she nested her head next to mine. Her hands caressed over my body." You do look very lovely. Tomorrow we will go our separate ways and it is likely that we will never meet again, but tonight let us be together."
Interlude: Stahl’s Office
Richard Stahl sat in his office. The Devastator had returned to Arsenal for repairs and re supply. The battle had caused some damage, it was minor but due to the Devastators size, it would take a few months to get her repaired and it was decided to use the opportunity to upgrade some of the systems and do a level one maintenance on the engines.
Most of the crew was on extended shore leave. Even he was now officially on vacation and had a few months for himself. However, he had no real family. Even his most distant relatives were long dead and in all
the 3000 years of his long life, he never married or had a family of his own. The fleet, the military and most of all the Devastator was his real home. He was one of the 200 Immortals selected by the Guardian so long ago to guide human kind on its way to become a Galactic civilization.
Every so often he considered to retire. His task seemed done. Terrans were no longer a helpless civilization but had risen to a dominating power in the Galaxy and beyond and quite capable of defending itself. The Guardian had told him he would know the day his task was done and he could step aside. He had never had this distinct feeling yet, besides where would he go? He was still immortal and biologically not a day older as the day he had met the Guardian for the first time. He had contacted the Ultra secret research division code named The Investigators, who were tasked to find out who the Guardian really was and who it was that tasked the Guardian in the first place. In all the millennia of his existence he did not completely trust the Guardian and wanted to know why he had been on earth and what the real reason was for his makers to protect Earth and guide humanity. The Investigators had found the remnants of the Guardians machine center, it was destroyed and melted, but from what was left and from the things the Guardian had done it was clear, it was technology far beyond anything known. Stahl was the only human as far as he knew who had ever set foot on Narth Prime. No one officially knew he had been on Narth Prime. He talked to the Entity Narth Supreme. The Narth were by far the most advanced civilization, the very definition of civilization no longer really fit their state of development and even Narth Supreme had no answer or knew about the Guardian or its purpose, but then he only understood a fraction of what Narth Supreme told him.
His office here on Arsenal III was barley used by him. Normally he remained on board, even when the Devi was in dock, but this time they worked on the bridge and the Command deck itself and he would find little peace and quiet.
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 227