Stone’s eyes hardened.
“More than anything,” he growled. “All right, Commander Sylvan—we’re in,” he said, turning to the other Kindred.
“Very good.” Sylvan nodded. “I’ll put in a call to your Captain at once. In the meantime, let’s get the two of you outfitted so you look the part.” He frowned. “It’s extremely important that you appear to be what you claim. Gozeriam can have absolutely no idea that you’re not who you say you are or the consequences could be…”
“Fatal,” Stone finished for him, grimly. “Don’t worry, Commander—he won’t have any idea.”
“Good, then let’s get started.” Sylvan nodded at both of them and Cassie and Stone nodded back.
Inside Cassie’s stomach, a whole swarm of butterflies had just taken off. This assignment could either be the adventure of a lifetime…or the end of her life altogether.
What had she gotten herself into?
Twenty
“Okay, doll—you’re ready to go.” Kat—the woman who Sylvan had assigned to get them costumed for their parts—stood back and nodded her head approvingly. She had a full figure and thick auburn hair as well as an assured, professional air about her that made Cassie inclined to trust her.
But no matter how trustworthy Kat seemed, she couldn’t help grimacing at her reflection in the 3-D viewer.
“Seriously? I have to wear this? I thought I was supposed to be a body-guard—not a dominatrix!”
Actually, the costume Kat had created for her looked less like a dominatrix and more like the flimsy “armor” female characters wore in RPG video games.
Cassie was wearing a gold “breastplate” which was actually just a gold metal bra that molded to her breasts and left her midriff bare. The bottom half of the outfit was a kind of metal bikini bottom with two long strips of crimson fabric attached at the front and the back, which left her hips and the sides of her legs bare. A pair of leather, high-heeled boots that came up to her thighs was her footwear.
The whole thing looked ridiculous to Cassie. The only saving grace, as far as she was concerned, was the long black cloak that hooked to the top straps of her golden metal bra and was long enough to pull around and partially hide her.
“You don’t like it?” Kat asked, frowning. “Why? Because it doesn’t cover your curves like that bulky suit you were wearing when you walked in here?”
“Hey!” Cassie exclaimed. “I like my suits—they’re very professional. You can’t go around dressed like a bikini model when you’re a police detective,” she pointed out. “Skimpy clothes don’t exactly command respect.”
“I can see that.” Kat nodded. “But you don’t have to dress like a nun or a commercial for the Men’s Warehouse either. You could find something a little more flattering to wear without losing the respect of your male colleagues.” She raised an eyebrow at Cassie. “Or is it just that you’re ashamed of your curves and you want to hide them?”
It’s not that I’m ashamed of my body. Well…I mean, I don’t love it but I’ve accepted that no amount of exercise is going to make my hips and thighs much smaller,” Cassie admitted. “But it’s just that this…” She motioned to her new costume. “Is so revealing. I mean, I look more like Slave Leia from Return of the Jedi than a bodyguard.”
“Well, you’re not wrong, doll,” Kat admitted. “Which means you’re going to fit right in. Since you know your Star Wars stuff, you shouldn’t be a bit surprised when you meet your new boss.”
“Who—Gozeriam, you mean?” Cassie asked. “Why?”
“Because Xempi Gozeriam isn’t a humanoid,” Kat said casually. “He’s a Slimerian.”
“A what?” Cassie shook her head. “What kind of alien species is that?”
“A kind that doesn’t even look remotely human,” Kat told her. “Remember Jabba the Hutt?”
“Ewww! He looks like that?” Cassie exclaimed.
“Kind of.” Kat shrugged. “Except he does have legs and feet—ten of them, I believe. So he’s able to get around. Oh, and his skin changes color for some reason—at least, from what I could see when I was doing research for your costume.”
“Knowing my new, uh, boss looks like Jabba the Hutt with legs makes me want to wear this skimpy outfit around him even less, you know,” Cassie pointed out, looking down at herself.
“Sorry, doll. But I told you, I looked up images of Xempi Gozeriam’s corps of private bodyguards, and that’s pretty much how they dress. They’re all women too—did you know that?”
“No, I didn’t.” Cassie frowned. “Are they all, uh, humanoid?”
Kat shrugged.
“More or less. There was an Orthonian in the pictures I saw—they look kind of like tall, thin humans but with insect heads. The one I saw looked like a seven-foot-tall super model with the head of a bumble bee. But most of the rest have humanoid features,” she added, as though to comfort Cassie.
“I don’t really care what they look like—I care what I look like.” Cassie looked down at herself again and grimaced. “Is it really necessary to show my stomach and hips this way?”
“It is if you want to be taken seriously on Bachanalius. Look…” Kat put a hand on her arm. “You need to start learning to love your curves. You’re gorgeous—what the Kindred call an ‘Elite’—a woman the Goddess has blessed with extra-generous curves. That’s a mark of beauty here on the Mother Ship.”
“It is?” Cassie looked at her in surprise.
“How do you think I got not one but two amazingly hot husbands?” Kat put a hand on her own generous hip. “The Kindred love full-figured gals. Especially the Twin Kindred but really, all of them do.” She winked at Cassie. “Including the Blood Kindred, like your hunky partner.”
“Stone is just that—my partner,” Cassie protested, but she could feel her cheeks heating with a blush.
“You sure about that?” Kat asked, grinning. “I mean, both of you are single, right?”
“Yes, but we’re just friends. Best friends,” Cassie stressed. “And I wouldn’t want to do anything to ruin that friendship. It’s pretty much the best thing in my life,” she admitted.
“I’m sure if we asked your partner, he’d say you were the best thing in his life, too,” Kat murmured. “But never mind—I won’t tease you anymore. I just want you to own your curves and feel fabulous in your new outfit.”
“I’ll try,” Cassie said uncomfortably.
“Just remember you won’t be the only one there dressed like that,” Kat reminded her. “Xempi Gozeriam has lots of other guards and he makes all of them wear costumes that look a lot like this one.”
“Yeah, but I bet Stone won’t have to wear anything this crazy or revealing,” Cassie muttered.
Just then there was a knock on the door and they heard Stone say, “Excuse me but I am here for my fitting. May I come in?”
“Oh, no!” Cassie gasped. She made a move to dodge behind the folding screen in the corner of Kat’s office but the other girl put an arm out to block her.
“Look, doll—he’s going to have to see you in that outfit eventually,” she said, giving Cassie a stern look. “Would you rather have him look now and get used to it, or see it for the first time when the two of you are meeting with Xempi Gozeriam on Bachanalius?”
“Well…” Cassie hesitated. She supposed Kat had a point. It was better to let her partner get used to her new ‘look’ now rather than later, when they were in a dangerous undercover situation. But damn it, she just wasn’t used to showing this much skin! At work she wore boxy professional pantsuits that covered her completely from head to toe. And when she and Stone were hanging out together at home or going to a concert or a movie, she wore jeans and a t-shirt. Nothing more revealing than that—ever.
But now, here she was, dressed like a sexy barbarian babe and her partner of two years about to see more of her than he ever had before.
I hope he likes what he sees, she thought, panic making her brain race like a hamster on a wheel. Or no—no, I
don’t care what he thinks! It’s not like we’re anything but partners and best friends! I shouldn’t have to care what he thinks of my body. But oh God, what if he doesn’t like it? What if he doesn’t like me? What if he thinks I’m fat or ugly?
Stone knocked again.
“Hello? Is Kat in? I was told by her mates that she was back here.”
Kat squeezed Cassie’s arm and gave her a level stare.
“Deep breath, Cassie. You look gorgeous,” she said. “You have nothing to be ashamed of or worried about.”
“It’s just…” Cassie swallowed hard. “Stone, he…he’s built like a Greek god. And I’m no goddess.” She let out a jagged little laugh.
“You’re an Elite,” Kat told her calmly. “I don’t care what you learned down on Earth—up here on the Mother Ship, you’re perfect. So don’t let your partner intimidate you with his Kindred looks—you’re every bit as beautiful as he is handsome.”
And with that, she flung open the door to her office and ushered Stone inside.
Twenty-One
“Hi, I’m Kat. Come on in and let’s get you ready to go,” the human woman with red hair said to him.
But Stone didn’t answer—he couldn’t answer. All he could do was stare at Cassandra—was that really her?—in awe.
She was dressed in a most revealing outfit which showed the curves of her waist and hips. Her full breasts were spilling out of a metal breastplate and long panels of crimson fabric swished enticingly between her legs, emphasizing the luscious, full curves of her hips and thighs, which Stone had always liked. A black cape and black boots completed the look, which was stunning with his partner’s olive skin and long, black hair.
“Gods,” he said hoarsely, finding his voice at last. “Cassandra, you look…”
“Amazing,” Kat said crisply, shooting Stone what looked like a warning look.
“I was going to say breathtaking,” Stone admitted hoarsely. “I…don’t believe I’ve ever seen so much of your skin revealed at the same time, Cassandra.”
“And you never will again,” she snapped.
Her cheeks were pink with embarrassment, Stone noted. She had always dressed so modestly before—even when they went to the beach she wore a t-shirt and shorts over her bathing suit. Revealing her body this way couldn’t be easy for her, he realized.
“Cassie, I believe your partner was giving you a compliment,” Kat said gently. “Remember what I told you—own your curves!”
“Oh, uh…thanks, Stone.” Cassandra took a deep breath and lifted her chin. She had been trying to pull the sides of her cape around to cover herself, but now she stopped and let the cape swing free, revealing herself completely.
“Goddess…” Stone growled hoarsely.
He was usually able to control himself around his partner but now he felt his shaft becoming painfully hard in the tight confines of his leather trousers. He had to force himself to look away and speak to Kat instead of staring at Cassandra.
“Is my costume ready?” he asked her, trying to keep his eyes from wandering back to his newly revealed partner.
“It’s pretty basic—just a lab coat. As far as I can tell, Xempi Gozeriam doesn’t make his scientists or lab techs wear any particular uniform under their coat,” Kat explained, handing him a white lab coat.
Stone tried it on—it fit perfectly and fell to his mid thighs.
“Excellent,” he said, nodding at Kat. “I feel like I’m ready to go back to the Xeno-microbiology lab.”
“Yes, I heard you worked there before going to Earth to become a police detective.” She gave him an appraising look. “That’s a pretty big career change.”
“I…wanted to try something different.” Stone shrugged uncomfortably. He couldn’t exactly tell this stranger that he had chosen to make the change because of the dreams he’d had of Cassandra—especially not right in front of her. He just hoped Kat wouldn’t say anything leading that might make his partner suspicious.
“Well, here’s your chance to use both your skill-sets,” Kat remarked blandly. “Have both of you got your back-stories down pat?”
“Yes.” Cassandra nodded. “I’m from Psylon Five—a member of the Elyons—their elite, female warrior class. I’ve been traveling the galaxy as a gun for hire and I’m the best there is at body-guarding.”
“Perfect!” Kat looked at Stone. “And you?”
“I am a disaffected Kindred botanist. I left Tranq Prime because I was unhappy that the powers that be there wouldn’t allow me to pursue my research on the genetic manipulation of potentially deadly plant species,” Stone recited rapidly.
“Excellent.” Kat nodded at him. “Well—it seems to me that the two of you are about ready to go. Are you excited?”
“We are. And nervous,” Cassandra admitted in a low voice. “The stakes are pretty high on this one. We’re looking for a snuff film, an illegal drug, and a murderer all at the same time.”
“And we have to find and eliminate them without Xempi Gozeriam finding out who we really are,” Stone reminded her.
“Right.” Cassandra nodded but Stone noticed that Kat was frowning.
“About that, doll,” she said to his partner. “Um, can I just recommend to you that no matter what happens, you hang on to your disguises? Don’t let your cover slip even for a second.”
“Of course we won’t,” Cassandra said, looking anxious. “But why are you so worried?”
“Well, when I was doing research on this guy, I ran across and article about what happened when some undercover reporters tried to infiltrate his organization. They were apparently writing about how he didn’t treat his, uh, ‘actors’ very well. Anyway, Xempi Gozeriam somehow figured out that they weren’t who they said they were. And, well…”
“What happened? Did he kill them?” Stone asked harshly. “He killed them?”
Kat winced.
“Worse, in a way. He maimed them. Cut off their hands and feet and left them to drift in their ship. If they hadn’t had an emergency beacon, they both would have died. But as it was…” She shook her head. “Let’s just say it’s really, really important Xempi Gozeriam doesn’t find out who you are.”
Cassandra’s face went pale, Stone noted, but she lifted her chin and a determined glint came into her brown eyes.
“We’ll be careful, Kat, but we have to go in there. We have to find the Imposter who killed our victim and raped several others while pretending to be Kindred. He’s a complete bastard—he can’t be allowed to go free.”
“How are you going to get him, though?” Kat objected. “I mean, if you see him in the palace, what can you do to him? It’s not like you can arrest him. I’m pretty sure Xempi Gozeriam isn’t going to allow extradition between Bachanalius and Earth or the Mother Ship.”
“I’ve thought of that,” Cassandra said. “As soon as I get hold of the snuff film and Stone destroys the Pain Fruit plants, I’ll lure The Beast out of the palace.”
“Lure him out?” Stone growled, frowning at her. “And how do you propose to do that, exactly?”
“How do you think?” Cassandra struck a pose, putting a hand on her hip and raising an eyebrow at him. “This outfit’s gotta be good for something, right?”
“I don’t want you being alone with him!” Stone said harshly. “The Beast is a killer!”
“So am I.” Cassandra frowned at him. “I won’t be unarmed, Stone, and I know how to handle myself.”
“I know you do. I just…” He hesitated, trying not to say again how small she seemed to him—how delicate.
Neither of them had ever had to draw their weapons on the job before last night at Frank Yarrow’s house—mostly because by the time they got to a homicide, it was already over. If the Kindred warrior who had killed a human male bothering his female wasn’t yet over his Rage, they were usually able to talk him down. As long as the warrior’s female was safe, the Rage dissipated quickly.
But The Beast wasn’t going to be in Rage over a female. He was a
cold-blooded, clear-eyed killer who had murdered a female on purpose—breaking her neck as he violated her shamefully, all while filming the whole thing.
The idea of letting his partner be alone with such a monster made Stone’s eyes feel hot and his vision go red. If he wasn’t careful, he realized, he was going to go into Rage himself.
“All right,” he said at last and took a deep breath to try and calm himself down. “I know you can handle yourself, Cassandra. I just…I want you to be safe.”
“I will be,” she assured him. “Don’t worry, Stone. We’re going to catch this creep and get the film and destroy the Pain Fruit plants and be home before you know it.”
“From your mouth to the Goddess’s ear,” Stone said.
“Amen.” Kat smiled at them both. “All right—looks like you’re all ready to go!”
“I suppose we are,” Stone muttered.
But inside, he wasn’t feeling nearly as certain as he had been when he’d agreed to this mission. He wouldn’t have minded going alone, but seeing his partner in her new, sexualized outfit, looking so vulnerable…so irresistible, gave him second thoughts.
He was going into a predator’s den and bringing the woman he loved—even though she didn’t know he loved her—with him. Was he making a huge mistake?
Stone didn’t know and he was afraid he wouldn’t find out until it was too late.
Twenty-Two
“There it is—Bachanalius.” Stone pointed at a round, glowing pink dot on the viewscreen.
“That’s it?” Cassie leaned forward, staring with interest as the dot grew bigger and brighter. Soon they got close enough to see some details.
Bachanalius was, as advertised, a little smaller than the Earth’s moon but it was extremely crowded. At least, if the tall buildings and neon pink, gold, green, and blue lights were any indication. Elevated monorail tracks crisscrossed the busy cityscape, their long, multi-car trains zipping along so fast they were nothing but blurs of light in every direction. It was an incredible sight.
Playing Their Parts: A Kindred Tales Novel Page 11