by M. E. Thorne
As a side-effect, my reproductive system was in a constant state of overdrive, which resulted in my difficult-to-control arousal.
Based on the few items we had recovered from Nakamura-Ghosi Genetics, they had been looking for a work-around to the genophage that had begun ravaging their citizen-employees. They had just begun clinical trials when the lab was lost. Apparently, I was the only surviving result of all their labor. The nickname Rosetta Stone Penis that Gloria coined-up off the cuff became my condition’s semi-official name.
It turned out my unique capabilities only became available during intercourse. The first few times I was asked to provide a sperm sample via masturbation, I filled the containers with perfectly normal jizz.
Since I was still bedridden, Gnasher was more than happy to help me provide the necessary samples. Marcella offered to help gather some as well, and she tag-teamed me with Gnasher at least once.
As one doctor put it, I was a miracle of corporate science.
I mostly felt like a studhorse. Based on my calculations, I needed to fuck at least once a day to maintain anything approaching a clearheaded state.
Eventually, we were able to come to an understanding with the State. In return for my continued cooperation and coming in for bi-weekly check-ins and samples, they would forgive our actions in the Nakamura-Ghosi Genetics incident and forget the myriad of crimes we had committed.
They’d also grant Sabra clemency and temporary residency.
Of the Bluehorn Group, we heard nothing. Gloria and Noctis disappeared, and their shop was shuttered when we went to check.
The State overtook the spaceport after the Syndicate troops defending it had retreated on Valash’s ship. Before they left, they were sure to utterly destroy anything of value. All the abandoned ships had been sabotaged or scuttled.
When they raided the Syndicate embassy, the State found it utterly abandoned. Everyone was gone, including the staff members who had turned against Valash. Like the spaceport, everything that couldn’t be hauled away was burned, shredded, or trashed.
Sabra offered to help the State go through the mess and to root out the members of their government that had been corrupted by the SADB and Valash. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to find allies or make amends for the actions of her peers.
When she led the State to the Honormark facility, where we had stashed all the knocked out soldiers, they found nothing. Everyone was gone, and the place was picked clean.
The few remaining Syndicate troops captured from the tram were mute, they refused to state anything about their mission, the corporate ruins they had looted, or what may have happened to the other soldiers.
They were completely silent about the enigmatic black site I had overheard Valash mention.
The State figured it would take months, maybe years, to fully explore and expose the tram line. Even with only a few weeks’ worth of effort, they had discovered hundreds of looted sites.
Since official relations with the Syndicate were in shambles, there was no way to return the prisoners to their home. Instead, the State was forced to convert part of their Embassy into a jail until they could figure out what to do with them.
As far as we knew, Sabra chose to remain at the Embassy as well. I tried to reach out to her a few times while I was in the hospital, but got no response.
The day after Gnasher and I got out of the hospital, Marcella showed up at our door with a few boxes and her pile of rocks.
After welcoming her inside and getting everyone seated around Spinny’s kitchenette, the slug-woman announced, “I have decided to live here, at the Metrocomplex.”
Spinny smiled, “I’m sure we can clear a room for you. We’d love for you to stay here.”
For the first time since I’d met her, Marcella looked like she didn’t know what to say.
Gnasher laughed, “It’s not like you need to ask. Of course, you can stay here with us. How many times did you save our lives?”
I nodded. “It’s Spinny’s decision, but I’d like to have you here too.”
Marcella frowned, then looked at Gnasher. “You already permitted me, back at the hospital, to continue my sexual relationship with Locke, primarily to gather sperm samples. I am hoping I can continue my relationship with you as well.”
Smiling widely, Gnasher hugged her. “Of course! I already spoke to Spinny and Locke about this, we’d love for you to join us. As long as you’re comfortable with all this. We have a couple of rules, but we mainly ask you to be honest and open with all of us.”
“The honesty part shouldn’t be a problem,” Spinny smirked.
“Thank you." Marcella gave a small, authentic smile.
Returning from the bathroom, Marcella offered me a wet towel, which I used to clean off. She placed several sample containers in a small fridge provided by the Medical Guild.
“Are you adjusting to your new role at your job?” she asked as she slipped her dress back on.
I wiped up, threw the towel in the hamper, then began looking for my underwear and pants. “It’s okay. Ramaltha, the senior clerk assigned to help me, says she’ll make a desk-jockey out of me yet.”
As part of my agreement with the State, I was barred from any delves in the field. They said I was simply too valuable to risk losing in The Stacks, to which I had regretfully agreed. Gnasher decided to work solo, for the time being, scouting for safe routes between the Metrocomplex and Grand Cooper Station.
It wasn’t a great situation, but it was better than the alternatives.
“I am going to meet some of my siblings tomorrow afternoon,” Marcella said. “Some of the more adventurous members of my colony are considering moving here.”
“That’s great." I got my pants on and slipped on my shirt.
“They are interested in positions with the Medical Guild." She frowned a little. “We were unaware of the variety of illnesses and debilitations facing the chimeric population as they age. We can help those in need." She went quiet, before saying, “In retrospect, our self-exile might have been a short-sighted and selfish decision. We even hid the tram system, which the Syndicate used against all of us.”
I had no idea what to say, so I just gave her a gentle hug.
“I realize I am being irrational,” she said grumpily.
“That’s okay,” I responded. “Sometimes humans are irrational. Don’t blame yourself for every decision you ever made. I’m sure they were right at the time you made them.”
Our little scene was broken up by a series of rapid knocks on the front door, downstairs.
“Are we expecting anyone?” she asked me.
“No,” I answered, stepping free. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”
By the time we got downstairs, Gnasher was answering the door. The second she opened it, Gloria swooped inside the stairwell. Billy the flesh-lump was riding along in her backpack.
“Hey!” she yelled as she landed on the railing. “How is everyone?”
Billy made a happy, gaseous noise.
Gnasher planted her hands on her hips, but I could see a smile playing across her lips. “What brings you here this evening, little bat?”
Spinny came out of her workshop. “What’s all the noise?”
“Perfect, just the person I was looking for,” Gloria said. She hopped off the railing before kowtowing up to Spinny. “I was hoping I could move in here with you folks!”
My jaw dropped.
Gnasher looked amused, but her tail was wagging happily.
“Wait, what?” I demanded. “You disappear for weeks on end, and then just show up out of the blue and ask for a place to stay?”
“Yup.” She turned and gave me a winning smile. “It turns out my brother and the Bluehorns are a bit miffed at me, and it’s kind of your fault.”
Gnasher grinned. “Care to explain?”
“Well, they didn’t get anything out of the expedition,” she said.
Which was true, everything that had been salvaged from the lab had
been confiscated by the State.
She shrugged, “They’re effectively out ten-thousand credits with nothing to show for it.”
“I don’t see how that’s our fault,” I grumbled.
“So I’m looking for somewhere to stay while the heat dies down,” she continued as if I hadn’t said anything. “Besides, I’m old enough now that I need to get out from under my brother’s shadow, spread my wings, and begin my career.”
“As a criminal,” Marcella observed.
“As an alternative provider of goods and services,” Gloria responded cheerfully.
Spinny crossed her arms over her chest. “And why would I rent a room out to you and your -- pet?”
Gloria gave her an innocent look. “If I remember correctly, you mentioned that you were looking for an automated garment dyeing machine, but that you were having problems purchasing one through the State. I just happen to know someone who knows someone who has one sitting in the back of their warehouse. I’m sure I could convince them to sell it to you for a reasonable price.”
The Arachne thought for a moment, then pointed up the stairs. “Second door on the left. Rent is two-hundred and fifty credits a month, due on the first of the month. And Billy better be housebroken.”
Gloria clapped her hands and started up the stairs before she turned and regarded me and Gnasher. “By the way, just cause I’m moving in doesn’t mean I’m your girlfriend or anything. I’m way too young to be tied down." She cocked her head to the side, “Just think of me as your friend with benefits.”
I looked at Gnasher.
She just rolled her eyes. “Gloria, we are going to have to sit down and have a talk.”
“Sure,” she glibly responded, before looking at Marcella, “I wouldn’t mind a toss in the sheets with you either, honestly.”
“I can be accommodating,” Marcella answered evenly.
I closed my eyes and sighed. This whole place is going to reek of sex within a week.
A small knock came from the open front door.
We turned around to find Sabra standing there, looking utterly confused. “I’m sorry, is this a bad time?”
“Not at all,” I answered.
Even though I knew she had been receiving regular booster shots from Marcella, I could see she was in rough shape. She looked exhausted, with deep bags underneath her eyes.
Not that I can blame her, I thought. Her whole world was wiped out in a split second. She went from an important member of the Syndicate to a fugitive trapped on a foreign planet. Plus the SADB and the Central Committee, the people she worked for and believed in, turned out to be a bunch of evil lunatics.
“I’m sorry to intrude,” she said, stepping inside, “but I honestly wasn’t sure where to go. The State has decided to close the Syndicate embassy.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. There were rumors at the guildhall that high-level communications and negotiations were taking place between the State and the Central Committee, trying to find a way to mend their tattered relationship. At the end of the day, we still relied on them for trade, and they needed us for our technological finds.
To hear the embassy was closing was a really bad sign.
“What about the prisoners?” I asked.
“They’re being moved to a State facility until they can be repatriated,” Marcella answered. “Maintaining a sterile environment for them at the embassy was proving to be too expensive. One of my siblings will provide them with immunization boosters.”
I glanced over at Sabra, trying to imagine what all this must be doing to her.
Spinny stepped over and held out a hand. “Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee or tea?”
Sabra cracked a weak smile, then nodded, “Tea would be lovely, thank you.”
She led Sabra into her workshop. “I just happen to have a room free and I need a tenant if you are interested.”
“I would also like some coffee,” Marcella said, stepping after them.
Gloria, Gnasher, and I were left alone in the stairwell.
The Hatuibwari huffed, “She didn’t offer me coffee or tea.”
“That’s because you’re a brat,” Gnasher laughed, before following her girlfriend.
I just shrugged as I pulled Gloria and Billy along, “Come on, let’s go.”
Smiling widely, I sat down with my friends and lovers, to discuss our futures.
Afterward
I just want to thank those who helped make this possible; Derek, Mary, John, Chris, Heather, James, Dan, Reese, Rob, and everyone else. I couldn’t have written this without them.
And of course, you, my reader! I hope you enjoyed the story! Follow me on Facebook, sign up for my newsletter, or leave a review and let me know your thoughts! And don’t worry, Locke’s adventure will continue soon!