by Stone, Layla
The lead male looked excited, and Shine felt sorry for him because he had no idea what was going to happen. Nara moved down the line, parallel to the people. When she reached Shine, she told him, “You need a full face mask. There are some in the side cabinet.” She pointed. He followed her direction and got the masks. She took hers and then said, “Take him and put him on the medical bed. Then use this.” She pulled out a tab still in its packaging. Her voice was stern and authoritative. She was treating him like a lab assistant.
He didn’t let that sink in, he just wanted to help. Using his hand as guidance, he said, “Follow me.” He got the male onto the bed and used the tab on him. Seconds later, the Flourg was unconscious.
Nara walked in with a package of her polymer flakes. Handing it to him, she told him that she had programmed it to attach to the luminescent part of the male’s skin. Then she told him how to activate the flakes, and lastly to just open the packages and let them do their job.
After, to his surprise, she left. Shine did as she’d directed. His progress was slow because it was his first time. He checked over the programming and activation of the flakes. Before he opened the package, he thought that the male would probably be happy to have clothes that weren’t bloody, so he removed them and set them aside.
When he was finished, he put on his mask and hit the eject button for the polymer. He watched as the flakes dropped down in a puff and then quickly attach themselves to the inside of the skin, making the topical dermis erupt and split open. Blood splattered from the savage and unnatural attack, and Shine’s stomach twisted. The procedure felt wrong. In a way that made him feel uneasy.
Nara walked in and handed him a device. A medscope.
“Put it on the head.” He took the device from her cold hands and placed it on the male’s head.
Nara watched him do it and then walked back out. Shine didn’t know if she was leaving because of her stomach or if she was trusting him to do his job. Obediently, Shine paid attention to his patient. He watched as the blood stopped flowing, and the skin reknitted itself. As he observed, he remembered when his jaw had been sliced open. He wondered if this was what it had looked like as he healed.
As soon as the person healed, he grabbed a sanitized rag and cleaned the male. Nara walked back in and took the medscope.
He finished cleaning his patient then re-dressed him before he thrust his arms under the male and lifted him up to toss over his shoulder. When Shine walked out of the private section, he almost dropped the body.
All the other males and females were on the ground. Blood saturated the walls and floors once more. Nara was moving from body to body with the medscope. Several bowls next to the bodies were overfilled with illuminated spirals.
“Why bother with me if you were going to do this?” he asked Nara’s back.
“The sooner this is over, the sooner you go free,” she said.
The body on his shoulder was heavy, so he left Nara to put the male down on the floor and then began cleaning the lab once more. He didn’t say another word because there wasn’t anything to say. Nara was in another place. Probably the same blank void he went into when life had become too much after his mother died.
He was able to work and function, but he wasn’t…there. His heart wasn’t there. The Nara he currently looked at wasn’t the same one he had come to know. And until this was over, he was going to keep cleaning and doing what he could. She needed him until she got through her fog.
As soon as he finished cleaning the room, the next fifty walked in. When they saw the room and the unconscious bodies, they slowed to a stop, not wanting to enter. Denny pointed his gun at them, forcing them all in until the doors closed behind them.
Shine didn’t wait for Nara to try and comfort them. “You are here to get your illumination removed. The procedure is quick and painless. Please come forward and stay in a line.” The people immediately lowered their eyes and stayed five feet apart as they lined up. Shine wondered why they were all five feet apart and why they’d all moved so quickly to follow his orders, but at this point, he didn’t care. “Okay, now, please lie down in your spot. If there isn’t enough room, close in a little more.” But they moved like a well-organized swarm. Whoever they were, they were used to taking orders.
Questions came to mind. Shine wondered who the people were and how they had gotten this way. Because it wasn’t like they were all the same. He saw lots of Terrans and even a few Sennites.
As soon as they were on the floor, Nara pushed the fat-black-night tabs against the tops of their hands. At no point did he see her even acknowledge the person she was knocking out.
Her cold demeanor worried those still conscious, and he tried to answer as many questions as he could while he lied to others.
When they were all out, he told Nara, “I will remove their clothes so I can redress them afterwards.”
She acted as if she didn’t hear him. Taking her device, she unloaded it, and the person’s skin immediately broke. He saw the blood against the person’s shirt and pants, but the arms and legs were open with splattered blood.
Without hesitation, Nara moved to the next person, repeating the process. Shine stood back, more worried than before because he was watching her do this without even so much as heaving.
When this was over, Shine assumed she would either vomit all over the place or need someone to bring her out of whatever Numan trance she was in.
30
Underground City
Karr had come back with five Red Demons to take away all the unconscious people. As soon as the lab cleared, the Silk sent in another one hundred and fifty people and gave Nara and Shine another medscope to make the next round quicker.
Shine knew that Karr was private, but he needed to know what the hell this was all about. “How did you end up with three hundred and thirty-four of these people?”
Karr was still holding the homner when he faced Shine. At first, Shine didn’t think the male would answer. “I made a deal with a Federation captain. He asked if I could take in and protect a few hundred people. I said yes.”
Shine looked around at the carnage. “I don’t know if this is what anyone would call protection.”
Karr tilted his head, and Shine could tell that the Silk Demon took offense. “I’ve kept them safe from traffickers, rapists, and anyone who would love to get their hands on their unique skin. And then, when I was told they could be cured of their illumination, I went out and found a Numan who could get the job done. Once they wake up, they will find themselves on a Luri ship headed to wherever the hell they want to go, without the threat of being a slave again.”
“I stand corrected.”
Karr pursed his lips. “Yes, you do. And so will Captain Rannn when he arrives to check on the progress of the Flourgs. He will learn that when I make a deal, I always keep my end of it.”
Shine didn’t respond, and the Silk Demon left.
The new group looked at Shine with wide eyes. “You heard him. You’re going home or wherever you want to go after this.”
Shine watched as some cried and others hugged. Shine calmed them down, got them to relax and lay down on the floor so Nara could knock everyone out. Then, just as quickly as before, she systematically used her polymer to attach to the illuminated skin, which ended up breaking open the flesh in the process.
Dutifully, Shine followed behind her to pull all the illumination from the body and stuff it into a large bucket he’d found. Then he placed a medscope on each person’s head.
It took hours before they finished. Karr must have been watching because as soon as the lab was cleaned and ready to go, he walked in with a group of Red Demons, and the Demons started removing the bodies.
Karr, on the other hand, took the buckets of illuminated spirals.
When everyone was gone, Karr told Nara, “Thirty-three more to go, and you’re free to leave, princess.”
Nara didn’t respond. But Shine did. “What are you doing with all the string?”<
br />
Blue eyes cut to him. “I answered your last question because I was being nice. But you don’t get to stick your nose in my business.”
Which meant, it was important. Shine knew that Karr had taken the homner from Z months ago, and now he was taking the string. Whatever it was, it wasn’t insignificant.
Karr left, and Nara stayed in the middle of the room, her eyes unfocused.
Minutes later, the last of the people walked in, and Shine started his speech again. They moved in just as organized a manner as the previous group. This time, though, Shine went to the last person and asked, “Who did this to you?”
The male didn’t look him in the eye as he answered. “Her name was Veeda. And she was a Numan, too.” The male swallowed. “Please, be honest with me. Is this one going to kill us? She looks like a soulless Numan.”
Shine forced himself not to look at Nara in that moment. He answered the male. “She’s not going to kill you. She’s here to help.”
The male shook his head. “I’ve seen dead eyes before. I know what they mean.”
The resigned male closed his eyes, and Shine could see the shimmer of a tear rolling down the male’s cheek. Shine’s mind reeled at the idea that a Numan had done this to them and another Numan was taking it away.
Shine was smart enough to piece together that they had been slaves. But he didn’t know why, and he needed to know. Nara was getting close, so he asked the male, “Why was this done to you? What did Veeda use you for?”
“I was kidnapped while shopping for my family. They never knew what happened to me, and I spent fifty years as a slave miner on a planet called Brica, wishing for freedom. Then, when we were freed, we came here, and no one has been able to contact their families.” The male’s voice cracked, and real tears flowed. “They said it was for our safety, but I’d have taken the chance just to talk to my wife. Tell her I didn’t leave. To find out what happened to my children.”
Shine couldn’t even imagine what the male must be feeling. He didn’t know what to say, but he wanted to say something. The problem was that he didn’t know if Karr was going to let him go. Or what would happen to him.
“Do you want me to contact your wife and kids?”
“No. If it’s not me, then it’s not real to them. I appreciate you being nice, but you’re a Demon, and I know you lie like the rest of them. Please just leave me alone.”
Shine stepped back, but he didn’t leave. He couldn’t.
Nara moved down the line and touched the male with a tab, knocking him unconscious. Shine wanted to know if she knew who had done this. Wanted to know why the people said that she looked like the one responsible.
Shine closed his eyes and hoped that he wasn’t wrong. That he hadn’t promised a favor to a psychopath to save another one.
31
Never Come Back
Nara was finished. Everyone had been cleaned and set aside. Shine had kept his distance, and she assumed it was because one of the experiments had told him that she looked like Veeda.
Nara had heard the entire thing, even though she wanted to turn her mind off to it. The male had suffered, but she didn’t care. Because in that moment, he was just that. A subject. An object. She had to think of him like that, or she never would have finished her objective.
Shine, on the other hand, looked at everyone as if they were important. The farther away he moved from her, the more it became evident that what they had was gone. He didn’t feel the same for her as she did for him.
That should have hurt, but she couldn’t feel anything right now.
The door to the lab slid back, and Nara watched as Karr walked in with another group of males. The five males went for the first five bodies, picked them up, and tossed them over their shoulders. Denny grabbed the buckets, but Karr stayed.
When everyone was out, Karr slowly clapped ten times. “You know what I love? I love introducing people to talents they didn’t know they had.” When Nara didn’t respond, Karr moved into her space, right in her face. “You’re welcome, princess, for helping you get rid of that inconvenient gag reflex.”
Nara didn’t thank Karr for anything. “I’ll pay you whatever you want if you let Shine off the hook for his favor. This was between me and you, not him.”
“Nope,” Karr said smugly. “Once a deal is made, only another deal can break it. Figured a Numan like you would understand that.”
“I don’t speak Demon,” she said back.
Karr chuckled. “I know. But you’ve been living with one. You should have figured it out.”
“Then I’ll make a deal with you.”
“Nope.” Karr walked towards Shine, still talking. “Even if you offered to turn the acidic ocean into water, I wouldn’t put myself through more hell with you.”
“I’m sure there is something I can offer.”
Karr ignored her and told Shine, “I don’t know what you see in her. I really don’t. She never shuts up, and she always talks back. Makes me want to throw her into the ocean.”
It was a little unnerving to know that that was supposed to be her demise. She wondered if Shine would visit her like he did his mother. That thought made her realize that she would want him to do exactly that. She wouldn’t want Shine to ever forget her.
Thankfully, she wouldn’t have that future, but knowing that his mother had made Nara realize that taking Shine from Lotus Adaamas would be wrong. This horrible planet was a part of him, and if he wanted to stay, she wasn’t going to hold it against him.
Karr grabbed her wrist. At first, she flinched, but then she noticed that the cuff she wore opened wide and fell off. “Contract is over, time to get out of my lab. Your ship is back on the docking bay, and my security will let you through.” Karr let the cuff fall into a pocket and then used the same hand to point into her face. “The second you step off my planet, you never come back. Do you hear me?”
She didn’t respond.
“Are you telling her she has to leave?” Shine asked, moving to her side.
“No, I’m not telling her to leave. I know she plans to leave, so I’m just warning her what will happen when she does.”
“But if she stays? Then what?” Shine asked.
Karr looked at Shine and snickered. “Shine, you look pathetic. Shut up. This female is top-tier. As in, she makes in a month what Z makes in a year.”
“But you’re not telling her she has to leave Adaamas, you’re just expecting her to,” Shine said confidently.
Karr looked at them and then jerked his head to Shine but talked to her. “You know the way out. I’m going to count to ten, and both of you’d better be out of my sight by then. One… two…”
Shine moved before Nara did. His hand wrapped tightly around her wrist, and he pulled her out the door. Then she pushed him to the stairs, and he retook the lead.
Once they reached the top, there was no one there. Usually, the Grummer was there waiting, but not this time. Karr had no more ties to her.
“Come on. I can find us a bar, and we can order a Rounder.”
Shine didn’t let go of her wrist as he approached a pair of Yunkins. “Hey, hey, Yunkins.”
One tried to hold the other back from turning around, but the male did. “We don’t care what deal you have to offer, we’re not interested.”
With one hand up, Shine said, “No deal. I just wanted to know if you’d order us a Rounder. I left my Minky pad.”
The male looked at Nara and the way Shine was holding her hand. “Are you sure you want to go with him? Is he making you?”
Shine’s chest deflated. “You’re reading this wrong. I just need a Rounder. But if you’re not going to do that, I’ll find someone else.”
The Yunkin held out his hand, his eyes on Nara’s. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing,” Shine said, pulling her behind him.
Nara should have said something, she actually tried, but nothing came out. Her hands touched Shine’s back when he pulled her close to his body, and
the connection made her look at her hands. She saw the dark red under several nails.
Blood.
Her mind recalled all the images of what she had done. Her stomach roiled, and her intestines panged. She didn’t feel well. Resting her forehead against Shine’s back, she leaned into the hum of who he was.
“Nara? You okay?”
The words came up but not out. The wriggle in her stomach happened again, but this time, she felt her whole body tingling. Shine turned around and grabbed both of her arms. “You look pale. Tell me what you’re feeling.”
She shook her head. She didn’t really know. What came out was, “I need to lay down.”
“I’m on it, just trying to get us a Rounder.”
Too late. She pulled away from him, turned, and landed on her knees as she vomited chunks of white paste. Over and over, she heaved. Beside her, she felt someone touching her hair, holding it back.
“It’s okay, babe, you’re going to be okay.” Those words from Shine were spoken so softly, so quietly, she thought she might have imagined them.
Her stomach didn’t stop its riot for several minutes. The smell and knowing she was on the ground in a public street prolonged the assault. When it was all done, Shine had sanitary rags ready and wiped her hands. She didn’t know how he had gotten them, but she was grateful. With another cloth, he wiped her face.
When she turned around, a blue Daamus Rounder sat waiting. Shine got in and drew her in with him. She moved to the floor and sat between his legs, using his thigh as her headrest. She’d never felt sicker than she did right then.
Shine, the fabulous male, rubbed her head and played with her hair, centering her and grounding her.
When the Rounder stopped, Shine moved her and then drew her out. They were at his place. She knew the way, even with her eyes closed…which in some ways, they were. She was having a hard time keeping them open. On the elevator ride up, she wanted to express her gratitude, but no words came out.
