The Space Merchants

by Wendie Nordgren

  "You'll feel better in the morning, Cupcake. Give the nanites time to repair all of the remaining damage to your epidermal layer and strained muscles."

  "How are Yukihyo and Hiroshi? Did they get hurt?" I yawned.

  "They are fine. Those bad guys were way out of their league." Phillip found my brush and started trying to brush through my hair. Hiroshi came in.

  "Enforcer headquarters has information to share with us. I told them it would need to wait until tomorrow," he said.

  "Good. I don't want to leave Tora," I said.

  "Are you hungry?" Hiroshi asked.

  "No, not really, but thanks."

  Phillip said, "Hopefully, you will feel better by dinner." He put my brush away. Hiroshi sat by me on my bed and lifted my chin.

  "What happened wasn't your fault. You were tricked and lured away. Furthermore, they watched Yukihyo and me and waited until we were away to spring their trap. After Yukihyo's reaction to such treachery, I do not believe you will have much to fear on Malta in the future." I furrowed my brow.

  "Hiroshi, did you pull a severed hand from my hair, or was I hallucinating?"

  "It was not wise of that man to hurt you in front of my brother, nor was it wise of him to threaten your life," Hiroshi answered. My door opened, and soon Thunderdrop sat in my lap blinking at me.

  "Here's my baby! Did Yukihyo feed you?"

  "Chirp!" I ran my hands down his leg segments and smiled at him.

  "Hiroshi, we all need to get some rest. It's nap time. Doctor's orders. Teagan, I'm expecting you to have a big dinner," Phillip said.

  "Yes, sir, Dr. Svenson," I said. Yukihyo entered in time to hear Phillip's orders.

  Yukihyo said, "Teagan has been thinking Phillip was a Lee as well."

  Hiroshi said, "Teagan, Phillip thrives on informality."

  "See you at dinner, kids," Phillip said. The two of them left my quarters.

  Yukihyo tapped the pillow, and Thunderdrop walked over to it. Yukihyo pulled back the blankets and pulled me to my feet. Then, he started to remove my gown.

  "Yukihyo, I love you very much, but I'm really tired." I really wasn't in the mood for anything but sleep and didn't want to hurt his feelings. He chuckled and continued removing my gown.

  "Lady wife, please lie down on your stomach."

  "My stomach?" He raised his eyebrow at me and gestured at the bed with his hand. I laid down. At least the pain patch had begun to work. My arms were sore from the climb. Thunderdrop rested on my pillow and used his claws to gently pull at my hair. Yukihyo sat at the edge of the bed and began rubbing my neck and shoulders. I groaned. He messaged down my spine. Then, he lifted one of my feet and rubbed my ankle, foot, and even my toes. Then, he repeated it all with my other foot. He rubbed my back and shoulders again. Thunderdrop pulled at my hair the entire time. The next thing I knew, birds were chirping, I was cocooned in blankets and had my big warm husband curled protectively around me. The previous events caught up to me. Now that I was safe, I indulged myself in a good hard cry. Yukihyo held me and rubbed my back, until I had gotten it all out of my system. Then, he handed me some tissue. I still wanted to be held though. Yukihyo laid down and pulled me back into his arms.

  "You are safe now. I eliminated the threats to you. However, you have one male you must deal with on your own."

  Alarmed, I asked, "Who?"

  "Lady wife, you slept through lunch and dinner. Phillip worries about you. That is not something you have experienced. I have. I offer you my sympathy and constant companionship for the duration of his scrutiny, but I will not be able to interfere." I frowned at him. The light above my door flashed. Phillip barged into my room. He walked over to Yukihyo's side of the bed, since I was huddled over there against his side with my head on his chest, and began scanning me.

  "Good morning, Cupcake. All of the rest did you some good, but you need to eat." Phillip pulled a tube out of his pocket and pressed it to my arm. I jerked when it stuck me.

  "Ow! What was that?"

  "Vitamins. Time for breakfast. Are you coming like that, or would you like a gown and robe?" Confused, I just looked at him. Then, I remembered Yukihyo had removed my gown, and I was only wearing undies. Yukihyo got up and brought me a gown and robe. Phillip waited.

  Thunderdrop led the way to the kitchen. Phillip didn't let me have coffee. I had juice. I had to eat a bowl of fruit. I argued that the juice should count as fruit. It didn't work. Yukihyo and Hiroshi were of no help. "If you eat the fruit, you can have pancakes and syrup. Then, I'll let you have a cup of coffee."

  "What if I don't?" Phillip lowered himself down to my eye level. He smiled at me.

  "I can make you a nice breakfast shake to drink if you would prefer." I looked up and saw Hiroshi shaking his head no at me. I picked up the fork and ate the fruit. It was grapefruit. I didn't like it. It took several syrupy bites of pancake to get the awful taste out of my mouth. During my cup of coffee, Hiroshi said we had to go to the enforcers' office.

  "Do I have to go?" I asked.

  Yukihyo said, "Are you going to give those men, with whom Hiroshi and I have already dealt, the power over you to make you afraid to leave the ship, or would you like for me to help you pick out a pretty Arachnean silk dress to wear?" I sighed.

  We all went to the enforcers' office together. The enforcers had applied chemical inducement to garner complete confessions. The usual swift punishment had occurred. The enforcers had confiscated half of each of the miners' credits and relocated the credits into enforcer coffers for operations and development. Each of the men had been forced to undergo electrochemical behavioral modification therapy in order to prevent any future contra-societal actions. Their citizenship on Malta had been revoked. The Galaxic Militia would relocate them to a distant mining planet. Enforcer justice was ever swift and harsh and usually the thought of the consequences served as enough of a deterrent to unlawful behavior. Yukihyo and I had been seated in the captain's office while Hiroshi and Phillip stood with a few of their enforcer friends within hearing right outside of the captain's door. Rick sat in a chair beside Yukihyo.

  "On behalf of the Malta Enforcers, please accept my sincere apologies for the suffering inflicted upon each of you by our former citizens. From their seized credits, you are each awarded five thousand credits in restitution. We learned from confessions that their motivation was lust. They intended to keep Mrs. Lee a prisoner." I dug my fingers into Yukihyo's arm. "The mine owners plan to meet and discuss implementation of new biochemical surveillance within the mines. Not only would the technology prevent any future abduction attempts, but it would also serve in the speedy recovery of miners in the case of the rare cave in." Rick nodded.

  "I don't think Mrs. Lee will ever have to worry again. The other men want to tear the three who are still breathing to pieces, and none of the ladies at Ms. Laura's will have anything to do with any man from the Istria mine for the rest of the year," Rick said.

  "Aw! That's so sweet," I said. I had made some nice friends. Phillip spoke up.

  "The ladies are withholding services from the entire mine?"

  Rick replied, "Yes, sir. Ms. Laura said they should have been paying better attention."

  The captain said, "Mrs. Lee, at any time that you are on Malta, I will gladly provide you with a security detail. We want you to feel safe on our humble streets."

  "Thank you, sir. Thank you for apprehending and punishing those horrible men.” He inclined his head to me. The captain motioned for one of the enforcers to enter his office. The enforcer scanned both Rick and my credit chips. Yukihyo shook hands with the captain, who bowed to me, and we left. "I guess we should stop by Ms. Laura's," I said.

  Kahra and Terra each took me by an arm and led me over to a couch where they and Ms. Laura fussed over me. Thunderdrop crawled into Fran's lap to be petted. Yukihyo sat across from me in a chair and received only polite, "Hello, Mr. Lee's" and refreshments. Hiroshi allowed himself to be led away by Annette. Phillip had disappeared before we sat
down. After we chatted for a while, Yukihyo joined us at the dinner table for a few hands of the card game they had taught me. A smiling Phillip returned soon followed by a relaxed Hiroshi. I ignored them. We said our goodbyes and decided to stop at the general store.

  Mr. Gregory and Arthur Jr. gave us an enthusiastic greeting. Arthur Jr. hugged me in the most awkward embrace I had ever experienced. It was like he thought too much pressure would cause my arms to fall off. I returned the odd pat he gave my back. "We sure are glad you're safe, Mrs. Lee." Men who had been in the store when we arrived hovered at the ends of aisles. I checked out the new room that I had filled with merchandise, surprised at how little remained. I turned a questioning look to Arthur Jr.

  "They love what you brought us. The gowns and robes sold out the first day. Most of them were purchased for the ladies as gifts."

  "Huh, guess I should bring more of those. I'm planning to make my next purchases on Scipio. I think changing things up will keep it more interesting."

  "I like that idea. Mrs. Lee, when you're on Malta, dad and I talked it over, I can escort you anywhere you need to go, if Yukihyo is unavailable."

  "Thank you, Arthur Jr. I appreciate it and may take you up on your offer."

  "I think we're all kind of afraid you'll think it's too dangerous here, but they were just some bad people." I cringed inside. I had been starting to feel that way.

  "That wouldn't be fair of me to think that way. I know there are good people here, like you and your dad." Arthur Jr. nodded at me and followed me out of the new general store boutique. All conversation stopped when I appeared.

  "I believe we are all clear. We will return in a few weeks," Yukihyo finished. "My lady wife," he said offering me his arm. I waved bye to everyone as we got back inside of the transport.

  "Yukihyo, I really do like these blue seats. By the way, what was that 'all clear' stuff about?" He gave me his innocent expression.

  "Just business. Are you ready to depart? I believe we are making a brief fuel delivery to Amphictyon."

  "Yes, I'm ready to leave."

  Hiroshi spoke up. "Since you plan to do your shopping on Scipio with Felicia, Simon has invited you and Thunderdrop to stay with him on Arachne at his estate while we conduct our business there."

  "Chirp chirp chirp chirp!"

  "I shall inform him that the two of you accept," Hiroshi said.

  "Chirp!"

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  By the next evening, Tora had landed on Amphictyon. Transports came, and workers unloaded half of the fuel in the cargo hold. A few hours later I heaved a sigh of relief as Hiroshi flew us toward Arachne. The men worked on the bridge, so Thunderdrop and I took his toys to the relaxation room. I held his princess wand above his head, and he batted at the streamers with his claws. Thunderdrop practiced touching the streamers with each of his claws, turning sideways to do so. After Thunderdrop grew tired of his princess wand, we played with his ball. He had learned to push the ball with enough force to roll it across the floor. I rolled it back to him, but my aim was off, and the ball rolled over to the corner bookcase. Thunderdrop looked at the ball and blinked at it. "Chitter chitter." Then, he turned, shot a strand of silk at it, and drew it back toward himself while winding the strand into a ball. Once he had his ball, he removed his silk from it.

  "Wow! That was a really good trick." He blinked at me and brought me the little ball of silk. It stuck to my hand.

  The next night before our movie, Thunderdrop put on a show for Yukihyo, Phillip, and Hiroshi. He showed off his fancy fighting footwork, how he could touch each streamer with each of his claws, and how he could pull his ball back when I messed up. "You are most excellent. You have made us all even prouder of you than we already were," Hiroshi told him. Hiroshi's praise earned him a special spider hug, and I could have sworn Hiroshi teared up a bit over the rare affectionate display. Well, it was rare to anyone else, but me. I remained Thunderdrop's favorite person. Hiroshi grunted and patted my spider.

  In my quarters Yukihyo and I played the stones game. Thunderdrop, all tired from playing, rested in his web above my vanity. Yukihyo had been quiet. "Is everything okay?" I asked. He locked his beautiful almond shaped milky eyes to mine.

  "It is now." He made a move, capturing one of my stones.

  "It wasn't before?" I captured one of his stones.

  "Those men tried to take you from me." He captured two more of mine.

  "No one can ever take me from you." He held my gaze.

  "Are you certain of that?" I put all of my feelings into my next words.

  "I know that I would have fought with my last breath to get back to you and our life together. Trying to describe my feelings for you with a little word like love seems insignificant. My soul needs yours like my lungs need air." He let out a breath.

  "I failed to protect you, again. Those men spied on us, waiting for you to be alone, and used stolen communication to lure you from safety." I looked at my spider, resting in his web.

  "I know how you feel." I sent him my feelings of anguish. "That little guy depends on me. He is my responsibility. I love him like a mother must love a child. I let him be trapped like an animal and thrown into a crate. I was supposed to protect him. I failed." I looked into my husband's eyes.

  "There are things that we cannot control," he said.

  "So, what do we do about it?"

  "I suggest we make a pact. That if ever anyone tries to come between us, we fight ceaselessly back to each other. I also promise to protect Thunderdrop, as if he is our eight-eyed, eight-legged child." I started laughing.

  "Agreed." We shook on it.

  Yukihyo said, "Things won't always be perfect, but my love for you will be."

  "Yukihyo, if I hadn't already married you, I would do it again. I haven't been able to think of a deep and meaningful way to make a wedding band for you, but I would like to buy you one." His eyebrow rose.

  "A ring for me?"

  "Yes."

  "Men wear rings to symbolize a ritual mating?"

  "Yes, it's a warning to other females." He laughed. He looked at my expression.

  "You're serious?"

  "Yes, can't you feel my jealousy and possessiveness where you are concerned?" Yukihyo's smile became seductive.

  "I can, and I find your feelings attractive."

  "Do you?" He got onto his hands and knees and stalked me from his end of the couch. Then, he pounced nibbling at my neck and tickling me. I screeched and giggled, unable to get away. Breathless with laughter he stopped tickling me so that I could breathe. Then, he began making me breathless in a different way. While attempting to free ourselves from our clothing, we tumbled from the couch to the floor.

  "Umph!" Frenzied minutes later, we washed each other's hair in the shower.

  "Ow," I said as soap stung my back.

  "You're gonna have to let Phillip take care of that."

  "Of what?" I asked trying to twist around to see.

  "It appears that friction between your back and the floor has caused an abrasion."

  "It stings." After we dried off, I dressed in some soft pants and a shirt and went searching for Phillip. It wasn't a serious injury, but it did feel uncomfortable with clothes touching it. I found Phillip with Hiroshi in the entertainment room. "Sorry to bother you guys, but Phillip do you have any Band-Aids?" Phillip got that concerned serious look of his.

  "What's wrong?"

  "It's nothing really. I just need a Band-Aid." Phillip's expression became uncompromising.

  "Show me." I turned around and showed him my back. Hiroshi snickered.

  "Come with me," Phillip said. I followed Phillip to his quarters where he pulled a bag from his storage unit.

  "Lift it, please." I lifted the back of my shirt. A cool spray hit my back and the stinging disappeared.

  "That's better." He pressed a patch over the spot.

  "All done," he said. I lowered my shirt. Phillip put his bag away.

  "Thank you, Phillip."


  "I'm pleased that I was able to be of assistance." I walked across the corridor to my quarters.

  "How did it go?" Yukihyo asked.

  "All better," I said showing him that I was fixed.

  "Phillip didn't tease you?"

  "No, he didn't know what happened."

  "He knew what happened."

  "Well, he didn't say anything, so I don't think he did." We cuddled under our blankets and fell asleep while watching the stars.

  The next morning at breakfast, I found out just how very wrong about Phillip I had been. As I contentedly chewed a mouthful of hash browns, Phillip joined Hiroshi, Yukihyo, and me in the kitchen.

  "How's your first sex injury this morning, Cupcake?" I choked. Phillip was considerate enough to pat me on the back on his way to the beverage dispenser. I groaned and hid my face against Yukihyo's shoulder.

  "I told you," he said.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Finally, Tora landed at the Arachnean port. The night before Yukihyo had brought me a large clothing case and had helped me to pack for my visit to Lord Simon Montgomery's estate. Yukihyo had thought that my black backpack might be put to better use for carrying Thunderdrop's toys, bowls, and food. Thunderdrop seemed pleased to have his own backpack. When we entered the kitchen for breakfast, Simon was there. "Simon, what a wonderful surprise! I never expected to see you in our kitchen this morning." Standing on my toes, I threw my arms around Simon's neck, and Thunderdrop jumped from me, up to Simon's bright red hair.

  "Chirp chirp chirp!" Simon gave me a tight hug, rocking me from side to side.

  "I've been waiting for Tora to land for over an hour. I've missed my adventurous friends.” Simon and Yukihyo clasped each other's arms. I heard a chirping noise and looked up to Thunderdrop's corner web where Cass had finally managed to attract Thunderdrop's attention. Thunderdrop leapt from Simon's head up to his web to play with his friend.