Candidate (Selected Book 4)

by Robin Roseau

  "She's going to catch me for sure," I said. "She'll just wait for me."

  "No. She won't know where your exit is, and she won't be able to see it."

  "Wookies do not lie in wait, Andromeda," said Soft Rain. "I'll be actively hunting for you."

  I laughed. "All right. But she's still going to win. I saw how fast she can move."

  "There will be obstacles," Clover said. "If you encounter one, you will be punished through some unpleasant fashion, but not one that slows you significantly. But we will delay Soft Rain. Furthermore, we'll let you see them, but we won't let her. You can lure her into them, and they will be common."

  "Oh," I said. "Now I like it."

  "To even this out and add a little more excitement, once she is on your trail, she'll be able to follow it much like you follow the trail back to your cell."

  "Which means she'll walk right through anything I walk through."

  "Or try to stay to the side," Clover said. "Or she may ignore the trail marker entirely. Who can guess the mind of a Wookie? Questions?"

  "I have a request," I said. "I love her voice. Could we talk to each other? This is supposed to be together time, after all."

  "I'd like that," said Soft Rain. We both turned to Clover.

  "Of course. I will treat that as a permanent request for your challenges."

  "Thank you," I said with a smile. "How soon can the arena be ready?"

  "Dark Skies is ready," Clover replied. "I'm going to let Soft Rain escort you to the jumper, unless you have other questions."

  "Hug first?"

  "Definitely a hug first."

  A moment later she blinded my visor. The chair released me, and I stood. Then I felt arms and tentacles enveloping me. Clover held me longer than a human would normally hug, but I didn't mind.

  Then Soft Rain collected me and led me to the jumper.

  * * * *

  We landed and she pulled me from the jumper and then into her arms. "Thank you, Andromeda," she said. "I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to this."

  "I am, too," I replied. "Do you think you'll get caught by the traps?"

  "Undoubtedly a few," she replied. "If it's too many, you'll win, but otherwise I believe I will."

  Then, slowly, she released me. A moment later, she pressed my hands into one of the stone pillars.

  "Good luck, Andromeda," she said. "Try to make it a good hunt."

  "I play to win, Soft Rain, but I'm looking forward to our evening either way."

  "As am I. I've never owned a human before."

  I laughed.

  I didn't hear her fly away.

  "So," I said after a moment. "Are you here, Dark Rain?"

  "I am," came her voice. "This should be a good event and better than the one yesterday."

  "I had a good time yesterday, and I like Jessica."

  "I think you like Soft Rain more."

  "And I like you more too, but I enjoyed my time with Jessica."

  "You seem to have thawed Clover."

  "So I have," I agreed.

  "Soft Rain is at her start. There's a backpack at your feet. It has water, energy bars, and a small first aid kit."

  "Then I'm ready."

  "Patching the two of you together." There was a pause. "Both of you say 'hello'."

  "Hello, Soft Rain."

  "Hello, my little human prey."

  I laughed.

  "Ready, go!"

  The stone released me, and the visor brightened. I looked down and grabbed the backpack, shrugging into it. Then I oriented myself and took the path leading due north.

  It didn't take long until I was panting, and I had to slow down. I could also hear the Wookie breathing as she ran. "Talk to me, sexy voice."

  She rumbled. "Sexy voice, is it?"

  "Positively dreamy," I said. "Who would have realized a walking rug could have such a yummy voice?"

  "I am not a walking rug."

  "Oh, I think you are."

  "I am a running rug, and I'm getting closer. And I do not believe you read a map very well."

  We talked, teasing each other, although I grew sufficiently winded that talking was difficult. The Wookie did better. "Will you tell me how you chose your name?"

  "A human gave it to me," she said. "She said my voice was like a soft rain."

  "Your laugh sounds like distant thunder," I said. "I like that, too."

  And she rumbled at me.

  "That path is a dead end, human prey," she said. "I thought you would give me a good hunt. Maybe I should catch you and let you go a few times."

  "You may try," I said.

  I reached the cliff. I didn't even slow down. Nor did I scream.

  Dark Skies caught me easily, bringing me to a gentle stop well above the jungle below. "I have to punish you for that," she said.

  "But then you have to let me go," I replied. "Not leave me hanging."

  "Oh, I won't leave you hanging," she said.

  And then she flipped me over and lifted me by my ankles.

  "No!" I screamed. "No!"

  "Little human?" said Soft Rain. "Are you in trouble?"

  "The Octal has a nasty sense of humor!" I complained. "Dark Skies, don't do this!"

  She lifted me high into the air, and then she dropped me. That time, I screamed. And I screamed again and again, as she dropped me a total of three times. But at the end of the third, she lowered me gently to the ground.

  "Punishment, Andromeda," she said.

  I knelt on the ground, my heart pounding, and I said nothing for a while. Finally, my heart slowed, and I stood.

  "If she choses to go around, you gained twenty minutes. If she jumps like you did, I'll slow her for five minutes longer than I slowed you."

  I took off, jogging now instead of running. Soft Rain and I were both quiet, but then she asked, "Are you all right, Andromeda?"

  "Yes. Just a good fright. Are you on my back trail yet?"

  "I am not sure I wish to tell you. You jumped from the cliff, didn't you?"

  "Yes."

  "You should have taken one of the perimeter paths instead."

  "I don't think so. You're going to lose time following me."

  "Ah, but I was still three kilometers away when you jumped."

  "Oh shit!" I said. I put on a burst of speed. The map showed an east-west path directly ahead, and as soon as I reached it, I turned east and ran as hard as I could. Maybe I was about to run into her, or maybe I was putting distance between us.

  Soft Rain rumbled at me. "Good choice," she said.

  "How can you tell what choice I made?"

  "You stopped running directly towards me," she replied. "I'll be on your trail soon."

  But then on the trail ahead of me I saw what was clearly a pit, and I ran straight into it.

  Again I fell. Dark Skies didn't catch me, but I fell slowly, landing at the bottom.

  The pit was at least ten feet deep, possibly deeper, with solid sides. I thought perhaps the sides could be climbed, but it was going to take time.

  "You have a choice," Dark Skies said. "I can help you out, or you can climb out. If I help, then you'll take a punishment."

  "Going to drop me again?"

  "Not this time."

  "She'll be on me if you don't help. I'll take the help and the punishment."

  Immediately the pit began to fill. It wasn't water. It was thicker than that and dark. "You'll float," Dark Skies said. "Lie back as it rises and don't struggle. You'll want to make sure you don't get any on your face, Andromeda."

  I let it rise and rise, and then I lay back as she said, spreading my arms widely.

  The pit rose, and rose quickly for such a large pit, but I was held at the surface.

  "Just like that, Andromeda. Don't move. And don't brush at your face or let it drop from your hair into your face."

  "Is it poisonous?"

  "No. Trust me."

  The pit filled, and then she actually lifted me into the air, but only a short distanc
e, setting me down on the path at the far side of the pit. When I looked, the pit was already draining again.

  "Listen carefully. Don't brush your face. Whatever happens, don't touch your face. I'm pretty sure you'll freak out if you do. They won't bite you. They don't care for the taste of human. They just want the food."

  "Food?"

  From either side, down at the ground, there was motion, and when I looked, swarms of ants emerged onto the path from either side. And then I heard buzzing besides.

  "Oh shit!" I said. I began to run, but the ants were everywhere, and soon they were climbing up my legs. And in the air, some sort of flying insects appeared, descending on me.

  I began screaming, trying to shake them off, and still running, running in blind panic.

  I tripped and fell, and then they were all over me, everywhere, all over. I swatted and swatted, but there were more and more.

  Not once did they bite me, but I went insane in my panic.

  * * * *

  I don't know how long I lay on the path once the bugs left. They had cleaned me. They cleaned me dry, even my hair. But I lay on the path, quivering.

  "They're gone," Dark Skies said gently. "I didn't pick that one. If you accidentally get caught by a trap, we have easy punishments. But you ran right into that one, Andromeda, and then you had a choice."

  I curled tighter then rose to my hands and knees. "Where are you, Soft Rain?"

  "I'm at the bottom of this pit," she said. "Are you all right, my little prey?"

  "Yeah," I said. "I think I'm going to have nightmares. Did she tell you why I was screaming?"

  "Only after I fell into the pit," said the Wookie. "You could surrender, you know."

  "How far away am I from you?"

  "Two hundred meters."

  "How long are you keeping her in there, Dark Rain?"

  "Until you're a kilometer away."

  I climbed to my feet and checked the map, then reversed my trail. I reached the edge of the pit and looked down. Soft Rain was looking up at me.

  "Are you sure I can't jump that high?" she asked.

  "If you could, you would have done so by now," I replied.

  "I wouldn't suppose you care to lend a hand."

  I sat down, pulled out my water, and held one towards her. "Thirsty?"

  "Sure."

  So I tossed the bottle of water to her and grabbed another. We both drank, and then she tossed the bottle back to me. It was a perfect toss, and I caught it easily.

  "Having fun?" I asked her.

  "I was," she said. "I admit, this is a little frustrating, and it was very hard to hear you screaming."

  "I'm sorry about that."

  "I don't think it's your fault," replied Soft Rain. "I think we should catch the Octal and give her to the insects."

  "Please don't," said Dark Skies. "They don't like the taste of human, but I'm not sure how they feel about blue."

  "Were they real insects?"

  "Tiny robots," explained Dark Skies. "The liquid is what they burn for fuel. You refueled them."

  "Happy to help," I said sarcastically. I stood up and slowly worked my way around the edge of the pit. "I'll see you at the finish line, Soft Rain. I'm going to enjoy having a pet Wookie."

  She rumbled. "Pet human sounds so much better to me."

  For the next five minutes, I walked quickly, but I didn't run. I turned north at the branch, and then I began to jog.

  I could tell when Dark Skies let the Wookie go. She began running, and I could hear her breathing. I ran faster.

  "How fast are you, Wookie?"

  "Three quarters of a kilometer behind you," she said. "And closing."

  I eyed the map. I wasn't going to make it. "I need a trap, Dark Skies!"

  "If I guide you to one, the punishment is going to be bad, Andromeda. Is winning worth it?"

  I sighed. "No."

  "You're coming to a branch. One path is unpleasantly trapped. I can guide you to it or you can choose randomly. I can hide it, and if you catch it accidentally, it's unpleasant, but I won't add extra punishment."

  "Hide it."

  "Choose wisely."

  The branch was only another minute.

  "Half kilometer, my prey," said the Wookie. She didn't even sound wounded. "Tell me, do human pets purr when you pet them?"

  I snorted and without slowing down, took the right path.

  "I've almost caught you, Andromeda," said Soft Rain.

  "Promise to be gentle."

  "Very gentle," she said. "When I catch you, I hope you'll struggle. It's more fun if you struggle."

  I looked over my shoulder. She wasn't there yet. But that was when I tripped, and when I landed, I was in thick mud.

  And sinking.

  Fast.

  "It's quicksand," Dark Skies said. "You sink faster if you struggle. I hope you can hold your breath."

  "Get me out!"

  She didn't get me out, and I sank. And sank. I managed to tip so my face remained out last. "Soft Rain! Help!"

  "She can't help you, Andromeda," Dark Skies said. "Hold your breath now."

  I sucked in a breath, and then I was pulled down, faster than I had been. The world disappeared around me, and I felt myself being dragged by my feet.

  I thought my lungs were going to burst when suddenly I was thrust back into open air. I immediately rolled onto my side, into a ball, gasping.

  Then I heard a splash, and when I turned, Soft Rain was in the quicksand. She struggled with it, but she was quickly swallowed to her chest.

  "I'll take care of her," Dark Skies said. "But you're only getting a half kilometer this time, and only if you run."

  I stood up and ran.

  It was only a minute or two later before Soft Rain said, "Oh, that was a nasty trick. Did you know that was there?"

  "No," I said. "I asked her to hide it so my punishment would be smaller. But I think I want to see the rest of them, Dark Skies."

  "I only hid that one," she replied.

  I checked the map. I was almost there. Another kilometer and a half.

  The trail had been twisty, but then I hit a long, straight section, and fifteen seconds later, Soft Rain said, "I see you, my little pet."

  I looked over my shoulder and caught a glimpse of Wookie.

  "How much do you want to win, Andromeda?" Dark Skies asked. "Trap coming up. You'll clearly see it. It's easy to go over it if you can see it. Go through it, and the punishment is the worst we have."

  I looked over my shoulder. The Wookie was only forty yards behind me and coming fast.

  Then I saw the trap. Twenty yards. Ten. I could hear the Wookie. I considered the trap.

  I jumped, ran another ten yards, then spun around.

  Soft Rain jumped, clearing the trap, and a second later, she wrapped me in a hug.

  "You're supposed to struggle," she said.

  "Too tired to struggle," I said.

  "I get to tie you, you know."

  "I don't care."

  I let her tie me. She spoke gently the entire time. I thought it was kind of sexy. Then she picked me up and carried me away.

  * * * *

  We landed back at the center. I was blinded, of course, and still tied. Soft Rain picked me up and carried me inside. I leaned against her chest, exhausted and a little raw, but it felt good to let her carry me.

  "Am I heavy?"

  "No."

  But once we were inside, she said, "We're both dirty."

  "I know."

  "You belong to me now."

  "Yes, for the evening. I don't mind. What will you do with me?"

  "I have never touched someone who didn't want me to touch them, Andromeda. I wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to do."

  "Just tell me."

  "I'd like you to bathe me."

  "In private and no cameras?"

  "In private and no cameras," she confirmed. "You are mine tonight, no one else's."

  "I am yours, Soft Rain. I wouldn't have ag
reed to this if I wasn't interested."

  "I don't know if I want a female human mate."

  "And I don't know if I want a Wookie mate. But I think I am happy to belong to you for the evening, and maybe we'll see how we feel."

  * * * *

  She carried me to her apartment, and then the visor lightened, but still she carried me, and still I remained tied.

  "Your brother has another apartment?"

  "We share this one," she said. "But he agreed to stay away."

  She carried me into the bathing chamber. There was already a tub filled with soapy water. But she set me down, very gently, in a large shower stall. "If I untie you, are you going to attempt to escape?"

  "No, Soft Rain. I am yours."

  I stood still as she released me. Then she turned on the water, and the temperature was perfect. We let the water fall around both of us, although I was still in my clothing from earlier.

  "Will you let me undress you?"

  "Yes," I whispered. "Start with the boots."

  And so she knelt down. I cooperated as she removed the boots. They went into the corner of the shower stall. I wondered if they were ruined by the water. And then I closed my eyes and held still as she peeled the jumper from me.

  "Do I frighten you?"

  "No." I opened my eyes, and she was looking at me intently. As I watched, she reached out a hand and brushed my arm.

  "So smooth." Then she gestured to my chest. "Human women are self-conscious here."

  "You don't have breasts."

  "We nurse our young, but the glands to do so swell only when we are pregnant. I have six, not two. They are difficult to find under the fur, but they protrude when I have nursing young."

  "Give me your hands," I said. She did, and I looked at them. Then I looked up at her. I turned her hands around and pressed them to my chest, holding them there. "If you are gentle, you may touch me however you wish, Soft Rain.

  She made a sound. I couldn't tell what it was. And then instead of taking full advantage, she wrapped around me and pulled me to her.

  Oh, being hugged by a wet Wookie. Now that's an experience. But it was worth it. We hugged, and then she collected shampoo and began on my hair. I let her bathe me, and then I washed her.

  Washing her took a lot, lot longer than washing me.

  She shut off the water, took my hand, and pulled me to the tub. It was deep, and warm, and frothy. She pulled me to one end, sinking down to her neck and pulling me into her lap, my back to her, my head leaning back against her shoulder. She wrapped arms around me.