by Rena Marks
“Beyond words. So much so I feel like it can’t possibly be real! To find another sister and a mate, all on the same day. Oh, and look at what Millie gave me. It’s a future telling crystal. If I crack it, it’ll give me a glimpse of what to come.”
“Joy, do you know how much those things are worth? They’re so rare, there are probably only three in a dozen galaxies.”
“Is it? Then I worry that she gave it to me out of guilt for her having such a glamorous childhood at my expense. And I don’t want her to feel that way.”
“No, baby. She gave it to you out of love. Millie loves you, just as Pariah does. Just as I do.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I already know my future. A loving mate and an exciting life traveling the stars with my sisters. And even better, we’re getting paid to do so.”
He laughed, his chest rumbling near her ear. “That’s true. It is a perfect life.”
Titi approached, stomping her little feet. “Joy, I mad! That Weese! He’s big twouble.”
“What did he do, honey?”
“He don’t like Titi no more. He’s playing with those boys ‘cause he don’t wanna dance.”
“Sweetie, you don’t need the boys. See all the girls are up there dancing together? Don’t you want to join them?”
“Ohhh! Yes! Thaaank, yeeew, pwetty Joy.” Tears dried instantly, and she puckered to plaster a kiss on Joy’s lips. The purple toddler waddled off to dance.
“That was easy,” Rojan said.
“Pfew. She’s eating grass again,” Joy said, spitting the taste out.
There was a screech from the edges of where some humans gathered. “I did it!” Jannie yelled. “Missed my period, ya all.”
“Oh, heavens,” Joy said. Another addition to the planet.
A crowd surrounded Jannie and Chautles as the others congratulated them.
“It was probably the tea lessons,” Rojan muttered.
“Huh?”
“Never mind,” he said, kissing her nose.
Her sisters and their mates began to walk toward them. “Are we about ready to leave?” Virginia asked, excited.
“Yes,” Rojan said.
Bajoc appeared, gathering his infant daughter. Lily kicked out her feet and reached back for Rojan.
“No way, baby girl,” Bajoc laughed. “You’ll see him again in a few months when they stop for a visit, I’m sure.”
“Now, honey, make sure you video com us weekly,” Marcie said, hugging her tightly from Bajoc’s side. “I’m going to miss my little cousin.”
“I’ll miss you all, too,” Joy said. “But I’m excited to see what else is out there, beyond the stars.”
“You deserve the stars, Joy.”
After waving to everyone, and sharing tears and hugs, the crew of eight loaded onto their spaceship. Within a few minutes, they’d taken off.
“I can’t believe it,” Tris said, her eyes huge. “For the first time, we’ve left the only home we’ve ever known.”
“Yes,” Molli giggled. “Now we can truly say we’re world-weary travelers.”
“Then it is a good thing we planned for this,” Rojan said. “First stop, cheer-up shopping at Rillands Trading Post.”
The four Puritan sisters squealed before jumping up and heading toward a large dressing area where their various outfits had been sorted into four giant lockers for them.
“I think the outfits we have on are to die for,” Virginia said. “The I Dream of Josie theme was really sexy.”
“I just want to add a bit of oomph,” Tris said. “Maybe a nice veil? Or perhaps a cape?”
By the time they were done adding to their outfits, the dressing room looked like a tornado had hit. Bits of pastel fluff was piled from floor to ceiling. A small bot with robotic arms wheeled out and began to hang the skirts back on the racks for them.
“Are we sure we want to bring yet more clothing onto the ship?” Joy asked, gnawing her fingernail worriedly. “I mean, supposing the ship gets so jam-packed it won’t fly?”
All three sisters stared at her without answering.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Tris finally asked.
“What?” Joy looked down at herself. “This is the demure traveler look. I don’t care to draw attention to myself...”
“Take it off,” Virginia hissed. “Right now. It’s hideous.”
“Well, that’s a little harsh. I wouldn’t say hideous...” She’d taken a bit of brown burlap and knotted it over one shoulder, letting it hand down to the floor. The brown color looked awesome against the golden red of her hair. But brightly colored shoes didn’t quite work, so she’d been forced to wear gardening clogs.
“It is,” Molli agreed. “Off with the outfit, or off with her head. Take your pick, Joy.”
“Well, what’s wrong with my outfit?”
“You look like a cross-dressing monk. A pauper, with but one threadbare article knotted over his shoulder.”
“I thought it rather regal—“
“Nothing regal about it. Strip down, or we rip it off you. You can’t possibly shame us like this!” Virginia chided.
Joy sighed and began to strip. Secretly, she was glad her sisters looked out for her. Soon she was dressed in the same gaudy colors as they wore. Each wore a massive gold crown on her head.
“We’re not exactly saying we’re queens, you see,” Molli said. “But if someone were to assume, simply because we wave by rotating gently at the wrist...well, who are we to correct other beings?”
“Who indeed?” Joy grinned. The weight of the crown was heavy where her golden red curls weaved through it.
The looks on the men’s faces were priceless when they walked back onto the main deck, heads erect and spines stiff to keep from tipping to one side. Then Rojan stood, and bowed before her. “Queen Joy, please, may I offer my arm as I escort you to the trading post of peons?”
“But of course, my dear captain,” she assured him. “And the trading post after this, I’m going to dress as a French maid.” She winked. “Just for you.”
“Next time I’ll be a French nurse,” Virginia squealed.
“Oh, baby, I feel a fever,” Baub muttered, before planting his lips on hers.
Then the other couples were talking amongst themselves.
“Are you having fun?” Rojan whispered.
“I’ve never been so happy. This is a good day.”
“Good. I intend for every day of your life to be this way.” Like Baub, he leaned in to kiss her. “Money is no object, Joy. I want you to buy whatever trinket your heart desires. No matter how frivolous. No matter how extravagant.”
By the time they were ready to descend from the ship, the air was thick with excitement. Imagine them! Imprisoned in a tower their entire lives, now being free to mill about a market with tons of other beings. She gripped Rojan’s arm tightly as they strolled regally through the market, with Joy and her sisters holding their heads high as people pointed and whispered behind their backs.
“They really do believe we’re royalty,” she whispered to Rojan.
“Of course, my love. And they’ll believe it even more once we spend an obscene amount of money. Come, here is a jeweler with the most unique pieces. I think tonight I should like to see you sleeping in a bejeweled necklace...and nothing else.”
Joy gasped at his naughtiness, but Rojan merely smiled as he steered her toward the booth.
“A bauble for the pretty lady?” The voice sounded like fingernails scratching against a chalkboard.
Rojan looked down his nose at the odd salesperson.
The man had huge nostrils that were even bigger than the four eyes that blinked at various speeds across his forehead. Joy wasn’t sure which eyes to look into, so she averted her gaze to avoid getting dizzy, choosing instead to concentrate on the glorious jewels spread out on the table. There were gold pieces that glowed from within. One gem was a purple-blue that changed color back and forth.
“My lady’s cast off closet co
ntains better baubles than these,” Rojan said. “Please bring out the real stuff.”
With a nod, the giant nostrils flapped and the creature bent to retrieve a soft case. “Look at what I have here. A Florian egg. This will show you your future, madam. Again and again, each time you crack it and release the gases inside. It will re-seal itself and work on re-building the magical gas in the center for the next use.”
“Oh, it’s beautiful.” Joy smiled at the man. “But I already have a similar crystal egg. Though mine is a wee bit prettier. It has more strips of purple striking through the green.”
From all around them, gasps could be heard.
“She already owns one?” Someone asked.
“I heard she has a collection of three,” someone else said.
“Such extravagance! Bah, it’s wasteful.”
“Where is your crystal, sweets?” Rojan asked her.
“Why, I didn’t need to see my future, remember? I gave it to Titi. I told her to take good care of it, as I’ll retrieve it one day soon.”
“Imagine that,” someone hissed. “So rich she doesn’t even need to take inventory of her precious Florian crystals!”
“To carelessly toss one to another. I can’t believe it.”
Joy ignored the whispers because as royalty, it was important to be better than others. She kept her conversation with her and Rojan. “I certainly hope Titi doesn’t get into any trouble with it.”
“What could possibly happen?” he said. “She glimpses the future and returns to the present with the egg magically intact.”
“You’re right,” Joy agreed.
“Hurry along, my good man,” Virginia said, her heels tapping on the polished floor of the trading post. Behind her, Baub was weighed down with bags. Bits of lace trailed from the tops of the bags, snagging on his horns.
“I don’t remember agreeing to be the manservant,” he grumbled good-naturedly to Rojan.
“Joy,” Virginia said excitedly. “A fabric trader. You simply must come see! Hurry. I left Tris and Molli there, and they’re going to snatch up all the best fabrics.”
Joy hurried after Virginia, leaving Baub and Rojan struggling with the bags.
They found several other necessary items for the trip. Sunglasses, so they wouldn’t damage their vision upon the next visit to the tropical Hesprii. A game of dice for the children. A book of sexual positions for Mother Pariah—to replace the prayer book she seemed to have lost.
Once they were back on the ship, they gathered in the shared dressing room. They were going over their purchases when the speaker came on overhead with Rojan’s voice.
“We have a call from Helian Six.”
With a squeal, their heels pitter-pattered down the hallway to the main deck. All four of them lined up in front of the video cam.
“Hi, ladies,” Marcie waved from the screen. “How goes your first day as space travelers?”
“It was simply exhausting,” Joy said. “We dressed as royalty and headed to a trading post, where we bought the most divine fabric! We’ll replicate some for you if you want. There’s one that looks like the skin of a snake. I thought we could make leggings out of that one, so it looks like two snakes attached to your waist. What do you think?”
“Sounds lovely,” Marcie said, in her usual strangled voice. If ever there was an uptight human, her cousin was it.
In the background, Joy could hear Lara. “Where has Titi taken off to? I can’t find that child anywhere.”
“Oh, Lara,” she called out. She waited until Lara appeared next to Marcie on the screen. “She may have cracked the egg I gave her,” Joy said. “It will take her into the future. I’m sure she’ll be right back.”
Marcie and Lara looked remarkably like fish, with their open mouths and wide eyes.
Virginia elbowed Tris, who snickered. Tris elbowed Molli, who snickered. And then Molli elbowed Joy.
What else could she do but snicker, too?
* * * Author’s note: Thank you so much for reading the Space Babies saga. I’m taking a break from the worlds to practice my Kegels (all the laughing during the writing takes a toll!) I’m not sure whether or not the series will continue. However, that being said, I’d like to mention that those who are signed up for my mailing list will enjoy a free short story that tells of Titi’s trip into the future. (Others will pay 99¢.) If you haven’t signed up, you can do so through my website at www.renamarks.com or by clicking on the sign-up button on my author page on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/RenaMarksBooks/
Again, I appreciate you, and all the reviews you leave!
Space Babies
Book 1
Rena Marks
AN ANTIQUATED SHIP, rotating through the galaxy of a deserted planet, bears immediate investigation.
Helian Six boards the abandoned vessel to find the long-lost inhabitants in a state of stasis. But the systems are failing, and half a dozen have woken up. The planet below shows long dead bodies, poisoned by the scum of space, a species known as Gorgians.
Strangely, the few who have awakened are much smaller than their planetary predecessors. And not very intelligent. Determined to believe the cute, tiny beings are not pets, the crew of Helian Six decide to train the small warriors to defend the planet. They become the laughingstock of patrol, however, after they commit and realize it will take twenty-two cycles to “rear” the inhabitants.
So they do what any intelligent males would do. Kidnap teachers. And if the females can’t manage to avert their eyes from their buff physiques, well, score!
Baby Soldiers in Space
Book 2
Rena Marks
Helian Six has it made. Their own planet, lifemates, and kids. Not bad for a species who were born in vats—to emerge full grown with designated careers dependent upon specifically implanted personality traits.
What used to be friendly competition has turned into jealousy, and everyone is scrambling to be accepted onto their planet to live the good life. Now, the Helian Six crew, with their updated promotions, can afford to be picky about who goes or stays.
However, a personal request from the Supreme Commander has all but ordered acceptance of a new breed of female. The leader, with her steadfast ways, nurturing heart, and fuzzy unibrow, has caught the Ambassador’s finicky eye. The poor crew members of Helian Six have been warned to give these refugee females everything they may need.
Unfortunately, they can’t share with their moody mates why they’re giving extra attention to the hairy bunch.
Baby Butterfly Kisses
Book 3
Rena Marks
The mates of Helian Six are protecting the refugee Puritans hiding on the planet Hesprii by pretending they are their visiting human cousins.
The males of Helian Six have welcomed a bounty hunter crew from their home planet of Freijia who have a mission to either return, or destroy those same Puritans.
Conflict wreaks havoc on the planet unless the males and females of Hesprii can keep the predators and prey separated. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of room for separation when the snipers fall for the ladies hook, line, and sinker.
Nor when the ladies decide to find poor fools to lose their virginity to.
Alien Stolen
Rena Marks
Our world is different from anything we’ve ever known. Years ago, aliens came to live among us. They claim to be the good guys, and yet every day, humans go missing—never to be heard from again.
Sian and her family resist the leadership of the new regime, along with dozens of other factions across the world. However, without electricity, they’re at a loss as to how to communicate with each other to band together for strength in numbers. For that reason, they fight alone. When her father and best friend are captured by the military, she pretends to be a pleasure worker to infiltrate the base. Unbeknownst to her, a pleasure worker has been summoned to service a new breed of alien—one with a known weakness. Sex drains his strength.
None of the militia realizes that when a Nisibian comes across his mate, he doesn’t lose his power...but instead transfers it to her.
Drunk on the power of being a female Rambo, Sian decides to steal the massive alien for herself. This much power at her fingertips could tip the scales in the resistance fight for humans.
Artificial Intelligence
Rena Marks
The Sirian galaxy has blown itself up during a war that mimicked that of the destruction of her own planet, Terra. No stranger to slavery, Arian has escaped from the planet Zeta where she’s been raised to breed royalty.
The Artificial Intelligence is a collective unit from the Sirian Planet B. They’d warned the leaders that a civil war would destroy the galaxy to no avail. In order to escape being destroyed along with the rest, they inserted their intelligence into the computer system.
Imagine Arian’s surprise when she encounters a huge piece of chipped planet, which her computer claims to have ancient Sirian artifacts buried in its hollowed core.
Nothing can possibly be alive. The contamination gases from the nuclear war have destroyed everything in sight. But Arian is a scavenger, and these are ancient artifacts...
Unfortunately, her hacked computer never tells her the artifacts are actually metal skeletons whose bodies need to be grown into dangerously hot men.
Abducted
Book 1 in the Blue Barbarian series.
Alien abductions are real.
I was the third female awakened aboard the spacecraft that specialized in kidnapping females. Their mission? To sell us to other galaxies.
Human female Numbers One and Two didn’t make it, but I was lucky. I was able to comprehend the instruction from Drakar, a caged abductee from the planet Blaedonia. I live only because of his warning to me not to fight the aliens who have me on the table. Together, we formulate a plan for escape for both us and the ten other unawakened Earthlings.
Lucky for Drakar, the spaceship crash-lands back on his planet. Unlucky for the Earthlings, we’ll never be able to travel back home.
