FRENCHY II : Having a Blast

by George Olney

  Frenchy nodded. "Yep. That'll take care of just about anything bothering you.

  "Now let's see what a tight beam will do."

  THUMP.

  Frenchy's rock also went to pieces, but they were big ones surrounding a large hole blasted through its middle. A second after the blast, said large pieces collapsed to the ground in a pile. Frenchy nodded her head with a smile. "Off hand, babe, I think we've got a couple of guns that will take care of anything bothering us. Let's find some more targets. I want to check out the range on these babies with the different choke settings before we head back."

  #####

  Later that day, Frenchy and Dallas were back in the suite Grae and Frenchy kept in the Hold. Grae was off someplace, Nos wasn't due back from school for a little bit, and Frenchy was taking advantage of masculine absence to show Dallas some of the modifications she'd designed to tribal dress. Once in the bedroom, she was taking out and modeling her various innovations.

  Dallas approved of the form fitting leather pants and top combination Frenchy was now wearing. "You've got the height to wear something like that, babe," she commented. "I'm not too sure how it would look on me."

  "Well, experiment," Frenchy replied. "One of the nice things about being out here is that it's easy to have custom made clothes. I don't like Galactic styles, so I made my own. You can, too. Just tell everybody that you're wearing stuff from your home world. That's what I did with the jeans and T shirts. You can get away with murder like that."

  Dallas nodded with a little grin. "You know, I've thought of a few outfits I'd like to try, at that. Back home, I was rich enough to have anything made I wanted, but never got around to it. Too much trouble."

  "It's easy here, babe," Frenchy replied. "Of course, out here in the Barrens all you can get are variations on tribal leathers, but you can still play around. Let me get out my leather miniskirt and I'll show you one I came up with before I was married."

  She dimpled, "Grae likes it. The other boys seem to find it fascinating, too."

  Frenchy changed into one of her leotard-like leather one piece garments then slipped on her leather miniskirt over it. The skirt was ultra-short with a triangular cut over her left thigh to permit a little more movement - such as walking.

  Dallas studied her friend's outfit critically. "You know, that skirt actually hides a bit more leg than the one piece, but I like the effect. I bet, even as short as I am, I could wear one of those things. I might just have one made up for me. Where could I get it?"

  "Oh," Frenchy said absently as she studied herself in a mirror, turning to study the skirt's effect, "I got mine in Tokhaz, a little town about half a day's ride from here. The Hold's got manufactories in a couple of its stores, though. That's just like the ship's fabricators, but for lots more items. I bet we can have one done for you."

  Frenchy stroked the little skirt and enjoyed a feline moment. Yelen also liked the skirt's effect on the male of the species and was enjoying the feeling right along with her sister.

  Dallas made it unanimous. With an evil smile, she said, "Let's go for a stroll, babe. I want to see how the boys like that skirt. I think one of those is definitely going to be in my armory when I go hunting a big barbarian of my own."

  #####

  Nos was headed back to the apartment he shared with Frenchy and Grae after school, when he turned a corner and found the little group waiting for him. After his years in boarding school, this wasn't a surprise. He was a little scared, but he knew he had to go through something like this as the new kid. All a part of joining a new school. Back in the Toshman Academy, it was how a new student was welcomed and put in place in the pecking order. Now it was his turn again.

  There were boys and girls in the little group, but the biggest one in the middle was a few years older than the rest. Leader, at a guess. Nos took a deep breath and continued approaching, reminding himself of Grae's lessons and quickly studying the bigger boy for any weaknesses.

  "I'm Brot," the biggest boy said as Nos carefully walked up to him. "You're new here, so I'll tell you the rules. You do what I want and you'll be all right. That's it." Brot waved a fist in his face. "Understand?"

  Behind Brot, the boys grinned and one or two of the girls giggled.

  "What's going on here?" Unseen by everyone, including Nos, Frenchy and Dallas had walked up behind Brot's bunch. Frenchy's expression was thunderous and she was in full Mommy mode.

  Nos knew the Code of the Hills when it came to this sort of thing, too. Don't let parents interrupt. It only made for more trouble later, not that it looked like Brot was going to let anything keep him from providing more trouble. "We were merely talking, Mama."

  Brot made the fist vanish with light speed before he turned around to face the Voice of Authority. When he did, he found himself looking up at a pair of fiery blue eyes, part of a big blonde wearing the kind of expression that said she better be treated with deep respect if someone - Brot knew exactly who - didn't want a whole lot of Bad Times. Then he noticed Dallas, short, red haired, exotic, and frowning. Back to the Mommy in the lead. That time, the miniskirt registered. Brot was stunned.

  The group of kids hastily made way as Frenchy and Dallas strode through. Frenchy fixed Nos with a glare. "You stay out of trouble. Understand me, young man?" Nos hastily nodded.

  She turned the glare on Brot. "And as for you, I don't want to hear anything about you starting any trouble! From anybody. Got it?"

  It took a while, but Frenchy managed to favor everyone with The Look that said problems, serious problems, were waiting for anyone disregarding her words. Finally, she decided she didn't quite get everything that was going on, but the fear of authority had been imposed on this bunch to the point where things wouldn't get completely out of hand if she left them alone. "C'mon, babe," she told Dallas, "let's get going. There better not be anything I don't like happening after I'm gone. If there is, they'll all regret it."

  Final pointed looks at Nos and, especially, Brot, put an exclamation point at the end of the last sentence.

  Brot decided that the Mommy spoke truth and he wanted to accommodate her every wish. He was still staring as the two women walked off. The stare was well warranted from even a young male's point of view because both had the fluid, totally under control, walk of trained dancers. Brot was old enough to enjoy the view - really enjoy the view. "Wow," he said, his expression still a bit stunned. "Twerp, your mom is HOT!"

  He looked at Nos with a grin that said he was bigger so he could do or say anything he liked.

  "You can't talk about my Mom like that!"

  WHOP!

  Seven or so multi-hour sessions of martial arts training aren't a lot, but it was a big amount for a boy his age and Nos absorbed Grae's lessons like a sponge. Accordingly, Nos, as mad as he was, still didn't hit Brot with an instinctive roundhouse fist. Instead, he used the heel of his hand in a straight blow backed by the bones of his forearm and all the power of his thin frame, just like he'd been taught. He also hit the bigger boy in the chest, since Grae told him he could do serious damage if he hit the head. Nos was furious, but not mad enough to really want to seriously hurt the bigmouthed jackass.

  Brot flew backwards, taking a few of the group with him, and ended up on the floor against the corridor wall. "Wow!" one of the girls said. "Where did you learn that?"

  "Grae taught me," Nos replied through clenched teeth.

  Those three words brought immediate respect from all of the kids, to include Brot, until then planning to get up and teach this skinny little upstart a lesson in respect no matter what Nos's mom said. Instead, he eyed the smaller boy's fighting stance and decided on discretion. Getting knocked on his butt might have been an accident, but finding out it wasn't could be painful. Everyone knew Grae. Tangling with someone he was teaching wasn't a good idea - ever. He staggered to his feet, clutched his aching chest, and turned away. "Never mind, twerp. I've got better things to do."

  As he left, still a bit unsteady, some of his group sta
yed with Nos. "Hi," one girl said. "My name's Lila. What's yours?"

  Chapter 7

  It took a while for Frenchy and Dallas to get back to the apartment, since both were enjoying themselves and Frenchy took the opportunity to show more of the Hold to Dallas. Grae was in the living room with some news when they finally got back. "Locar just gave me a call, mistress," he said after carefully appraising Frenchy plus miniskirt. He decided there were occasions he liked clothing. Another look. Yep, there were times he really, really liked clothing. "He wants us to report in day after tomorrow. He wants us to hold on to Nos for a while yet, at least until they figure out what to do with him."

  Frenchy smiled in relief. Locar's reaction to Nos's rescue had been bothering her. The boy effectively controlled several major corporations and had a personal worth in the billions, after all. She knew she was going to lose him eventually, but right now she was enjoying being a Mommy. "Great!" Then another thought struck her. "You don't mind, do you?"

  "No," he replied with a smile and a small shake of his head. "I'm having fun, too. I'm glad we're keeping him. Besides, he needs some stability until he gets a permanent settlement for his future."

  Grae broke out into a big grin. "Mistress, everyone I meet is asking if you'll be dancing tomorrow night. Jongular, the guy Mother told us about, will be playing and I know you like his style. I've heard more than one suggestion that you ought to dance to his music. I think that's something everyone would like to see."

  Frenchy glanced at Dallas with a thoughtful air. "That guy's really good. Dallas and I would both like to dance and I think it would be great if he played for us, but I'm a little nervous skinning down if there's a chance Nos might be hiding out and watching."

  Another shake of Grae's head. "That's not a new problem, mistress. Oh, we are a little different than your people as far as undressing in front of our children goes, but not that much, especially with children his age and older. We solved that problem a long time ago.

  "All of the school age children up to younger teenagers will be going on a camping trip tomorrow night, part of their education in the Barrens. Don't worry about any hazards, the camping site will have protective screens against predators and there will be a lot of monitors with the kids," he said. "It's actually a part of their school curriculum. The Seventhnight camping trip is something they all look forward to. The trip helps teach children firsthand about the dangers of the Barrens and also gets them out from underfoot for a night."

  Frenchy was a bit dubious, but decided it might just be a good idea.

  "Of course, that will leave the place to just us after the party," Grae added with a small knowing smile at Frenchy.

  Hm. Nos off on a camping trip all night after the Seventhnight festivities. Yep, good idea. Great idea.

  Dallas had been following the conversation while fishing in the kitchen cooler for a cold drink. She wandered back in, sipping from the bottle, and commented, "Um, this is really good. I'm not sure if I want to know what's in it, but I like the taste. I could really get used to this stuff."

  Grae chuckled. "Thank the Tonkawatas - the Painted Cloud Tribe. Those folks are the tea and fruit producers for this part of the Tribal Mandate. That's one of their teas you're drinking, intended to be drunk cold. The hot tea you like is made from dried leaves they blend and ship. The Tonks even have a big market in Port Baelth."

  "How big is the Tribal Mandate?" Dallas asked.

  "Basically everywhere except the Port, babe," Frenchy replied.

  "That's the city where we landed?" Dallas asked, getting nods from Frenchy and Grae. "I didn't see much of it before we left, outside of a for-real spaceport, that is! I'd really like to see more of the city itself. I'm not a science fiction fan like you are, babe, but it looks as interesting as Seelah."

  Frenchy got a thoughtful look as she remembered her immediate past. "Port Baelth was my very first Galactic city. Had everything I'd ever dreamed about in movies and TV, too. It would be fun to show you the place, babe. You can come with us and we'll show you around, if you don't mind killing some time while Grae and I check in at the Arm office."

  She glanced at Grae and got an answering nod. "We'll make a day of it."

  Dallas smiled and took another swig of her drink. "Sounds like a plan."

  She put down her bottle with firm decision. "If we're going to be dancing, babe, I need to practice."

  Glancing at Frenchy, she asked, "You want to join me? We might need to go through a couple of our old routines, too."

  Frenchy smiled her agreement and got up to join her friend. "Works for me, but if you feel like improvising to the music, go ahead. We don't know what they'll be playing anyhow. You lead. I'll follow."

  Dallas grinned. "This really is like old times, buck naked and having a blast on the stage. You were always pretty good at following my moves, babe."

  Frenchy smiled to herself because she now knew why she was so good at following her friend's moves. She wasn't ready to fully discuss her psi abilities at the moment, though.

  Grae watched with enjoyment as the two, chatting happily, walked off to change into workout singlets. For a moment, he was tempted to follow and watch them practice. He loved watching Frenchy dance. Regretfully, he decided against it. He had an idea that Seventhnight's dancing would be something special and he decided to let himself be surprised. Everyone else was certainly going to be.

  Nos arrived a while later and proved reticent about his confrontation, if that's what it was, with the other kids. After a bit of Mommy-style questioning that got nowhere, Frenchy gave her young charge a moderately severe frown to reinforce her dictum that there would be no more funny business, then gave it up. She was already experienced enough to understand that when a boy his age wanted to talk about something, he'd talk, otherwise forget it.

  When the subject turned to tomorrow night's camping trip, Nos suddenly wanted to talk. In fact, she had a hard time shutting him up enough to get hold of the list of things he was supposed to take with him.

  #####

  Duly packed up and sent on his way with a few words of Mommy wisdom - in one ear and out the other - and a carefully listened-to piece of advice from Grae to pay attention to his surroundings at all times, a very happy and excited Nos headed to where the camping group was assembling, gear bag hanging from one shoulder. Despite a few Mommy type worries, Frenchy breathed a sigh of relief. The kid was taken care of for the night and she was free to relax and enjoy a little adult style fun.

  As they walked into the big gathering room where the tribe was having the barbecue and dancing, Frenchy felt a touch of the nervousness she'd felt the first time she was there. Because she was planning on dancing, she was only wearing shoes again, just like the first time she'd come to one of these things. Of course, the first time she had no choice in her lack of dress, being in bondage to Grae at the time. My, she reflected, how times had changed. She was free now and married to the guy next to her, and bare of her own free will instead of nude as required by the custom-enforced going-steady that was bondage. Of course, she wasn't all that casual about nudity, even given her past. Certainly not like the Tribes at any rate! Plenty of people in the large group were comfortably undressed and completely unconcerned about it.

  As was Justa, of course, but the girl wasn't with Frenchy's group. Given the circumstances of her bondage (and with Grae's permission) Custom said she was free to do whatever she wanted tonight. Frenchy glimpsed Justa with a group of apparently unattached folks about her own age and happy with the situation. Frenchy wished her well and decided the girl was taken care of for the party.

  Dallas, beside Frenchy and wearing her own birthday suit, looked like she was just as nervous. Frenchy couldn't blame her. She guessed this evening qualified as culture shock for someone on Earth.

  However, just like the first time, everyone's friendly and casual attitude helped disperse the nervous feeling. While they were in the serving line there was any number of conversations with various peo
ple Frenchy knew, accompanied by an introduction of Dallas.

  At first Dallas appeared a little shocked at the hug that normally followed an introduction, but she quickly got back on stride. "You know, babe," she commented to Frenchy, "this sort of thing isn't quite what I expected from a bunch of muscle bound barbarian guys and their wild women."

  Frenchy snorted. "You should have seen me the first time a nude woman gave me a full body hug. Talk about something unexpected! I didn't mind the guys, though, dressed or not."

  Dallas rolled her eyes and made a happy noise. "Oh my yes! I really like it when the guys say hello."

  Frenchy gave her friend a mock scowl. "You would. Come on, babe, stop drooling and let's get some food."

  Plates full, Frenchy and Dallas followed Grae back to the floor mat where Weykhaz and Grete had already settled. "Just like a picnic," Dallas said happily. "No tables. Just pick a spot and plop. This roast whatever looks good, too."

  Frenchy was enjoying her first bite of the savory meat. "Elong," she said after swallowing. "Sort of like an elk, but bigger and meaner. Has to be to survive in the Barrens."

  As always at Seventhnight, Frenchy was enjoying the amiable community air of the meal and the conversation, just relaxing with friends and family. She didn't even pay all that much attention when the meal generally ended and a group went on the stage and started playing. Dallas, on the other hand, was splitting her attention between the ebb and flow of conversation and the man dancing on stage. Frenchy, watching unobtrusively, decided her friend was both showing sexual interest and studying his athletic style in the same way any professional dancer would. Frenchy, taking a few moments for her own study, decided the guy was certainly attractive, but he was also good. There were a lot of male dancers back on Earth that couldn't do some of the leaps he was doing.

  "Frenchy?" The voice came from behind her. As she turned around to look, she found herself the recipient of a minor delegation of two Yellow Knife men. The speaker was husky, his brown hair in a ponytail like Grae's and his round face decorated by two small red painted bars, one on the back portion of either cheek. "We're going to be up next. Would you do us the honor of dancing to one of our songs?"