The Man Who Sold Mars

by K Anderson Yancy

  Another said, “Yes, Ms. Luce We will.”

  I exited the building, continuing to my waiting limo. My driver standing besides the passenger door opened it and I entered.

  “Home, Ms. Luce?”

  “Yes.—No. That Italian deli you took me to—“

  “Gina’s?”

  “Excellent choice.”

  He closed the door, walked to the driver’s seat and pulled off.

  Later, so in love, full of mischief with some treats from Gina’s for Stephen I walked quietly through the executive offices. In silence, playful and happy, I removed my shoes, so I’d make as little noise as possible, placed them beside the wall, and continued to Stephen with bare feet. I reached for the handle, turned it with silence, and inched the door open.

  Excited and happy, through the crack in the door I saw—

  Stephen and Tatyana kissing and making love with an erotic hunger as partially nude, she sat on his desk, their hips moving in unison as he stood wrapped between her legs.

  Outside the door, tearing, I closed it in silence and with a hopeless sadness walked away. Why doesn’t he want me? . . . Even just once?

  16. Madonna — Whore

  I couldn’t sleep at all that night. No matter what I did thoughts and visions of Stephen and Tatyana “together” were everywhere. To make it worse, I knew that when I came in the following morning, I’d have to see them. I had scheduled several meetings that day with both of them together and separate. Not able to sleep, I gave up and came into work early. Sitting at my desk in my penthouse office, lit by the morning sun, I read a report and brushed away silent tears as I’d done nonstop since I saw them. Knowing’s one thing, but . . .”

  At my door I heard a knock and in response wiped away more tears and put on my corporate face.

  “Come in.”

  Eternally cheerful, Tot entered. “Good morning.”

  I made no attempt to hide my displeasure. “It was.”

  Tatyana still chipper ignored the comment. “Do you have time to work on—“

  “No.”

  # # #

  It was time Selena and I had a “discussion” and so with warmth and compassion I said, “Selena, I am not your enemy.”

  “This is not personal—“

  # # #

  Sad Tatyana acquiesced. “It is. The man you love has sex with me. And, the man I love loves you.”

  I sat in silence and shock from her heartfelt revelation and shared pain and I softened.

  Wiping away a tear, she added. “And if I can’t have both. I would rather have it the other way.”

  Hopelessly sad she said, “Which would you rather be the Madonna or the Whore?”

  In the silence, we shared more pain.

  Breaking the silence, I answered. “Madonna or Whore? It depends on the day of the week.”

  We laughed.

  Tot grinned broad, “I like Sundays better.”

  “Me too.”

  “Right after church.”

  I laughed again. “Absolved of all sins.”

  “Time to restock.

  Together we laughed for a while.

  # # #

  Selena slunk into a sad silence that I mirrored. Deep in thought she said. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “I don’t either.”

  # # #

  Tot became even more sullen, “You should see how he watches you when you’re not noticing. You are a goddess to him.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  For a long moment, we sat in silence.

  Tot broke it. “It’s funny.”

  “What?”

  “Stephen’s a man bound for the stars and he never looks at them. It’s like he owns them. But he watches and worships you from afar like you’re one. It’s as if for him, Mars is more attainable than you are. Selena, we don’t have a competition. You know that. If I disappeared, someone else would take my place.”

  “Someone elsessssssssss.”

  We laughed as we shared another truth, truths.

  “Selena, that’s our relationship. He sees other people. So do I. I’m not going to stop being me. I don’t expect you to stop being you. Stephen’s pursuing his dream. I’m pursuing mine. You should pursue yours.”

  # # #

  Selena really didn’t know how to take all this and stood wondering.

  I reaffirmed my words and gave Selena a friendly push. “OK.”

  She smiled. “OK.”

  # # #

  “Now Selena, we need to work on making sure all this works so that we can fight over him when he returns. OK?”

  I grinned broader, “OK.”

  17. Eminent Domain

  # # #

  While Tot and I made our peace, George, Kevin, Hemmingson, Gardner and Stephen sitting with the gravity of angry men mourning the murder of a dear close friend and plotting the murder of his assassin, met with Joshua Hempstead.

  # # #

  There was a problem with my company and I spoke to our group about it. “We all have been hearing some very disturbing, credible rumors for a very long time.”

  My friends all acknowledged my words in the affirmative through silent body language.

  I acquainted them with Joshua, “Joshua is a very good friend going all the way back to my days at the Naval Academy. In the past, he’s performed invaluable services for The Group and for us. And, now we need him again.”

  Joshua opened a valise and removed a cell phone. “We’ve customized a solution. Loqutous.”

  He handed the cell and a page to me, and I read the words on the paper into the cell.

  # # #

  My talk and growing friendship with Tot on my mind, my purse and valise in one hand and folders in another, I walked through the corridors towards Stephen’s office.

  # # #

  My talk and growing friendship with Selena on my mind, my purse and valise in one hand and folders in another, I walked through the corridors towards Stephen’s office. Turning a corner, I saw Selena slightly ahead of me. My eyes blazed with mischief, and with speed and stealth, I snuck behind Se, swiftly moved beside her and playfully bumped her with my hips. “May the best woman win.”

  # # #

  We laughed like two schoolgirls at play. And playing like schoolgirls at play, we raced to Stephen’s office. There and laughing outrageously, we burst through the doors.

  # # #

  Joshua’s cell phone still in hand, we were shocked by the sudden intrusion. But, the mirth of two beautiful women at play was infectious and we broke from our troubles and smiled.

  I rose, “Sorry, we started early. Joshua has a pressing—“

  The doors exploded open behind the two and they jumped with fear.

  “Federal Marshals!” announced the lead officer.

  And as he said those words, Federal Marshals, FBI agents, and armed soldiers poured into the room, while Joshua, unnerved and undetected, took the cell phone from me I’d spoken into only moments ago and placed it into his pocket.

  The lead Marshal walked towards me, papers in hand. “Mister Young, Federal Agents. We have orders to seize various Young Stellar Resources’ assets within the United States and it’s territories that have compelling National and Strategic importance—“

  I was livid. “No. You—“

  The Marshal handed me an order.

  “This is crazy.”

  George pulled out his cell phone. “I’m checking with legal council.”

  The officer stared at George. “That may be difficult. For related reasons, your attorneys are being removed from their offices as I speak. You might try their cells.”

  Fuming, I whipped out my cell. “I need to verify—”

  Gerard’s voice boomed through the door just before he entered. “You don’t have to.”

  He walked in surveying the room and spoke. “I told you this day or something like it would come.”

  “You did this!”

  “No, Stephen. I would nev
er. Someone is pulling my strings, just as much as they’re pulling yours. All of ours. And here we are. The US government has exercised eminent domain and condemned your Mars project and all facilities related to it in the US and its territories.”

  “Thieves!”

  “They wanted everything you have, but I convinced them that wasn’t necessary since it’s required to pay fair market value. The cost of the Martian project alone will be monumental. It was only prudent to take what was necessary.”

  “Why?”

  “You and I both know the answer to that. They want the first staffed mission to Mars.”

  “There’s more honor if you develop the program.”

  “Stephen, honor is not an issue with these people and in ten years, who will remember?”

  Hemmingson spoke a truth, “If that long.”

  My friends and I stood for a very long time in silence. The lead Marshal walked over and took my arm to guide me out. “Sir –“

  I wrenched it free as the Marshal spoke. “Sir, you have to leave.”

  Ignoring him, I started towards my desk to gather things from it.

  And the Marshal spoke again, “You can not take anything with you.”

  Gerard expanded the officers command, “You can take your personal belongings on you, purses, etc.”

  “Sir, I was told they could take nothing.”

  Gerard unaccustomed to having anyone question his words, corrected the Marshal immediately, “You were told to report to me. Correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did I just say?”

  The Marshal realizing that discretion is the better part of valor turned to me, “Mister Young and company, you can take your personal belongings on you, purses, etc…”

  Fuming, we gathered our things and began to exit.

  Gerard stopped us with a word. “Stephen.”

  Our entourage stopped and Gerard picked up a model of the Mars Transit Vehicle — Prometheus. He looked me in the eyes, walked to me, started to give it to me, and then walked to Tatyana. Placing the model in her hands, Prometheus bow pointed towards the heavens, he tenderly squeezed the top of her arm and gazed in her eyes for a moment before speaking and she wondering gazed back.

  “Tatyana, you have done an exceptional job. You were my first choice for a lot of reasons. Take this as a symbol of how high you can go, if you push yourself.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Marshal, please escort these distinguish people out.”

  Still, fuming we left.

  Beyond angry, we entered the elevator. A marshal turned a key in it and hit the button for the lobby and stepped out. The door closed. Alone in the elevator and livid, we rode it down.

  Frustrated, George pulled out his cell and hit a speed dial number and spoke to himself while waiting on his call to connect. “With as much money as I was paying, I thought I was buying the government, not renting it.”

  Still angry, we exited when the elevator doors opened, to join the mass of our employees being removed from the building by Federal agents. In their midst, Joshua retrieved the phone from his pocket and handed it to me. “Hit 1. When it connects tell your mom you miss her.”

  I dialed one. The phone connected. “Mom, I miss you.”

  I disconnected the call and in response the lights in the lobby flickered wild, frenetic, totally out of control, while the elevator doors opened and closed randomly along with the entry doors to the building.

  Joshua pleased with his handy work smiled, “By the time we reach the sidewalk, not one piece of YSR software, whether it’s proprietary or off the shelf, will work properly and every backup will be corrupted beyond use.”

  “Except ours.”

  Joshua nodded, “Yep. Stealing a space program is easy.”

  “Writing the software to use it—“

  “Priceless.”

  18. You’re Not Taking That!!

  Still well beyond livid from the government’s intrusion earlier that day, I exited the private elevator to my penthouse condo with Selena to find, even more FBI, Federal Marshals, and armed soldiers intruding upon my home examining and boxing my things for the government’s removal.

  “Jesus!” I shouted bounding from the elevator and they moved to intercept me as an officer addressed me. “Mr. Young, unfortunately we cannot let you in. This is now the property of the US government.”

  Unheeding and determined, I continued towards a fireplace mantle. A marshal stepped in my way to block me and I plowed over him. Reaching the mantle, I removed the most precious material thing I owned, a very innate, sealed urn, carved from blue veined lapis and filigreed with gold.

  # # #

  So afraid for Stephen, I watched another officer attempt to take the urn from him and saw Stephen whirl out of his reach, while throwing an elbow into the man’s nose shattering it.

  Fearful of what was going to happen I screamed for Stephen to stop.

  # # #

  I heard her and felt her, but I couldn’t, wouldn’t stop. With everything I’d lost that day. I was not losing my . . .

  # # #

  The Marshall in charge ran down the hall to see what was going on and Stephen angry and determined, ringed by federal agents and soldiers, while outside the circle fearful for him I looked on.

  The Marshal saw the urn in his hands and immediately recognized its importance. He looked into Stephen’s eyes, silently asked a question and in silence Stephen answered it.

  With great compassion he said, “Mr. Young can take the urn with him—“

  “But—“ one of the Marshals said.

  “BUT!!! Mr. Young can take the urn with him! Please see that he and Ms. Luce are escorted to the lobby unmolested. After they leave, properly secure the elevator like it should have been done a long time ago.”

  # # #

  The lead marshal started to walk off, his kindness still in my hands, I caught his eyes and silently mouthed, “Thank you.”

  The Marshal nodded. You’re welcome.

  I with my . . . and my Selena entered the elevator alone and the door closed.

  Over and above livid, I fumed, standing in the elevator clinging to my urn like it was a life raft. Not knowing what to do next, my dream destroyed I leaned against a wall.

  Selena took my hand and I turned to her, with tears of rage and loss running down my face. She, tearing for me, leaned forward to touch my lips with hers in tenderness and warmth. And, I needed her more than ever. She was with me during my greatest loss and pulled me through it. She was doing it again and I kissed her with a hunger that was hungers for so much and a desire that was physical for her and life and dreams.

  “I’m yours Stephen. I’ve always been yours. Share this with me.”

  I did. We kissed and for the first time in my life. I shared my weaknesses and my strengths, and my hopes and fears with the same person, a woman I loved deeply and had from the start.

  And sharing, we found ourselves at the Waldorf Astoria making torrid angry love, working and sweating out our frustrations with the day through one another.

  19. We Should Have Done This A Long Time Ago

  Still spooning together in the silence of the hotel room she asked. “What are you thinking?”

  “Much.”

  “Much of what?”

  “I can’t say. I don’t know. The thoughts are coming fast and in vast numbers.”

  “You don’t want to tell me?”

  I was in overdrive and my thoughts were coming fast and furious, but I wanted Selena to be happy and so I pulled her closer to me and pulled some thoughts from the stream. “YSeR. Young Sea Resources.”

  “Sea mining?”

  “Mining and colonization. It's a big ocean.”

  “Oceans.”

  “And seas. I'll hide my things all over them. Anything they can find, they can have. And, I wish them luck in their search.”

  “No trips to Mars?” I could pick up the slight trace of optimism
in her voice that she tried to hide.

  “I'm still doing that. I've got too much invested. And a promise to keep to the world.”

  Selena tensed at the news.

  “I'm not going. I was only interested in being first.” I kissed her, “We should have done this a long time ago.”

  “Yes.” She kissed me. “We had two first tonight. You and me. And—-“

  “And what?” She was silent and blushed. Teasing her I grinned. “And what?”

  She blushed more. “I swore I would never do that.”

  I teased her more. “Say it.”

  Her eyes sparkled with love and eroticism. “We’ll just call it the government and the tax payer.”

  I laughed and she joined me.

  I took her in my arms and kissed her. “I love you.”

  “I know.”

  “More than I can ever say.”

  She kissed me.

  I brushed hair off her face. “Or show.”

  We kissed again.

  “Se, I am sorry. We should have done this a long, long time ago.”

  “Ummhummmmm.”

  We held each other in silence.

  Then the ugly reality of where we were and where we had been popped in and in intense frustration I said, “I can’t believe Gerard.”

  “Don’t be mad at him. He was a pawn in all of this. Just like us. He’s always been a good friend to you. He didn’t have to give you that model.”

  “He didn’t give it to me. He gave it to Tot.” And there was something about the way he did it that set my mind a whirl. “He motioned to me with it, gave it to Tot. Looked her in the eyes. She looked puzzled, like he was silently telling her something. But she didn’t know what it was. He squeezed her on the arm and said, ””Take this as a symbol of how high you can go, if you push yourself.””

  I fell silent and thought about it. Still thinking I told Selena, “That was a message. . . He put it in her hand, the bow pointed towards the ceiling, then squeezed her upper arm. “high” . . . “push”. PUSH!”

  I figured out the message, reached for my cell and dialed Tot. An instant later a message flashed on my phone indicating she was simultaneously dialing me. I answered her.