by Robin Roseau
Bluebell and Azalea began prying the baton from Violet. Audra tried to grab me and push me in deeper, but I told her, "The Mom's are going to get the baton. If we're all stuck, they get an easy point."
And so Audra stopped trying to hinder me, and Posey was able to slowly pull me loose. I popped free just as Azalea got the baton from Violet.
We stepped into their path just as they turned around to run. We all stopped, panting.
"We have the advantage," Posey said. "Hand it over."
"You want it? Come and get it."
And then the two took off in the wrong direction. We dashed after them. They were faster than us on a straight run, but Posey told me Catseye are built to use their tentacles for balance, and so they would lose time trying to turn.
Posey just barely grabbed hold of Azalea's bound arm as they turned, but she wrapped more tentacles around the arm and said, "Drag them back."
I dug my feet in.
They dragged us a few meters, but we pulled them to a stop. They tried to pull free, but Posey began working her way closer and closer to Bluebell's free arm, the one holding the baton. She got a tentacle around Bluebell's arm and pulled backwards, releasing her other grips. She got a stronger hold of Bluebell's arm, but the two turned as a unit. Azalea grabbed the baton from her wife, and then the two of them took several steps forward.
I had been pulling backwards hard, and the sudden release of pressure meant I sprawl onto my ass. Bluebell reached down, grabbed one of my legs, and while I screamed, "No," fed one of my legs into one of the traps. The trap grabbed on tightly. Then the two of them focused on a now-hindered Posey.
And I clumsily got my other foot stuck in the trap. Posey's jerks weren't enough to pull me loose, but each time she released, I got sucked more deeply into the trap.
Bluebell had a hand around the baton. She dropped it, then dropped to her knees, charged forward, and wrapped arms around her daughter's waist. She heaved, and Posey landed in the trap with me.
Azalea calmly pried the baton from her hands, and the two took off.
But Violet and Audra were waiting.
I ignored the action. Posey was firmly stuck, and I was only partially stuck. Slowly, I worked my way loose then worked on Posey. I finally pulled her free, and we collapsed, panting heavily.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"They're struggling at The Moms' base," Posey said. "Audra has the baton, but Bluebell is pushing her hand over the obelisk. Azalea is hindering Violet."
We stood and turned just in time to see Bluebell force the baton into the obelisk. Audra struggled with her, but then Bluebell pushed further, and down it went.
"Center," I said.
They didn't even try to come after us. Instead they all headed for our base, and so we got the baton, but they were waiting for us.
"Oh hell," I said. "And we don't get to drop it somewhere else."
"We're not going to get this point."
"Unlikely."
"Well?" Violet called out. "Are you coming?"
"Got any ideas?" Posey asked.
"It's two to The Moms, one for us, zero for Violet and Audra. I say we walk to their base and see what happens.
And so, we did just that, the other two teams calling after us, reminding us we had to use our own base. We reached their base, and they were still all at our base.
"They aren't coming after us."
"They're trying to decide what to do," I said.
"What do we do?"
"If they all come here directly, we run the other way and try to get past them."
They didn't all come here directly. Violet and Audra took off, running for their base. Bluebell and Azalea headed for the middle.
"Violet! I called. "Stop there!"
They kept coming.
"Stop or we run and The Moms get a point!"
Violet pulled Audra to a stop.
"Look," I said, pointing. "Look at The Moms." They were waiting at the center while watching us. If we headed towards the center then cut back to our base, they could intercept us. If Violet and Audra struggled with us, the Moms could let Violet and Audra get a point and they'd have an easy baton and a likely third point.
"What do you propose?" Violet asked.
"I wouldn't suppose you'd go hinder the mom's long enough for us to go get a point."
"No. I wouldn't suppose you'll drop the baton right there. We'll wait for you to get to the middle before we drop it in."
"Maybe," I said.
"Really?"
"You owe use something similar later."
"You're up a point."
"It will be one-one for us, but two for The Moms," I said. "We've got the baton and should get something for it."
"Right now," Posey said, "Anything we do is more likely to help The Moms than you."
"Hey!" called Bluebell. "Don't hand them a point."
"We can hand it to them or we can hand it to you," I yelled. "And you're ahead."
"Run, and we'll chase you," Bluebell said. "We won't guard the middle."
"Go," said Posey.
We took off for the center and turned left at the middle intersection. The Moms took off on an intercept course, and Violet and Audra chased after us.
"Take it," Posey said, thrusting it at me. I took the baton.
The Moms beat us to the intersection, but Posey pulled ahead of me slightly. The Moms tried to grab me, but she interposed herself while giving me a push towards our base. Then she turned around, and we backed away from The Moms, Posey's back to mine, her tentacles and free hand holding them back.
Violet and Audra arrived just before we made our base. All four of them grabbed Posey, and Violet's tentacles neutralized Posey's.
But I -- barely -- got my arm around our obelisk. I struggled to lift the baton so I could drop it while the rest tugged and tugged on Posey, trying to throw her into one of the obstacles.
Then she went in, and I dropped the baton as I was yanked away. Violet gave me a shove, and I followed my partner into the obstacle.
"So close," I said. "I'm sorry."
Audra dived onto the baton then picked it up and tried to run. The Mom's went after Violet, and it became a slow retreat towards their base.
Posey and I struggled to free ourselves, but we remained stuck until a crowing Audra dropped the baton into their obelisk.
I needed air. Posey helped me to my feet anyway and half dragged me towards the center.
Violet and Audra struggled with The Mom's. We reached the middle, and the baton arrived. We had an easy second point, but all four were waiting at the middle by the time we turned around.
We turned and ran back.
"Good game so far," Posey said while I panted. The baton appeared, and a lot of hands reached for it.
* * * *
The game turned into eight points for us, five for Violet and Audra, and four for The Moms. But then they clearly declared a truce of sorts. The four of them focused on cutting Posey and I off from points, even ignoring the baton until we were dumped into one of the obstacles.
It became eight-seven-five, then Posey and I got a ninth point.
They dumped us into another obstacle and then communed. A moment later, Bluebell and Azalea calmly walked to the center, grabbed the baton, and with no interference at all, dropped it into their obelisk.
The obstacle released us. Violet and Audra got the baton and were well on their way to their base, so we turned to The Moms and dumped them both into an obstacle.
"Why'd you do that?"
"You'll see," Posey said.
The game reset, which should have freed The Moms. But rather than letting them up, Posey and I dumped them back into it. It wasn't active, but we grabbed their feet and held them tightly with their backs well into the obstacle. The game finished resetting, and we dropped their legs and ran for the center, leaving The Moms well stuck.
We reached the center just as Violet got the baton. We battled for it. And we battled, and we battled, not making any
progress.
Then The Moms arrived and pushed all four of us into an obstacle. Azalea grabbed the baton, and they ran for their obstacle, laughing. "Age and treachery beats youth and beauty any day," Bluebell called over her shoulder.
We all got back to the center at the same time. The score was nine-seven-seven.
"Truce," I said.
"I don't think so," said Violet.
"Truce," said Audra.
Violet paused, then nodded. "Moms?"
"We're listening."
"Everyone wants to win."
"Of course we do."
The baton appeared, and we all flashed our eyes to it, but no one grabbed it.
"Everyone agree to finish this conversation without grabbing the baton?" I asked. They nodded. "We're at nine points. You can probably stop us from getting tenth first, but as soon as one of you reaches nine, the other team is almost guaranteed third place."
"We could agree to go one-two and make you third," Violet said.
"The Moms aren't going to conspire to let you go first instead of us," I said. "So they'll want first."
"As long as we're second, it's better if they are first than if you are."
"Ah, but we got one point with you working against us. We could get a second," I said. "So here's our offer. From this point forward, no more alliances."
"That doesn't sound like a good deal for either of us," Bluebell said.
"If only one of you agrees, if we get our next point before any of you get three, then we'll help the agreeing team to take second, ensuring the other takes third. If both of you agree, then we will hinder evenly."
Azalea laughed.
"Violet, if you don't agree, we'll actively help The Mom's win, excepting we won't do it at our own expense. And they'll help us."
"We won't," Bluebell said. "Violet, tell her no."
Violet studied both moms then turned to me. "No more alliances," she said slowly.
"No!" Bluebell said. "You're handing it to them."
I smiled. "They gave their answer. What is yours?"
Azalea made a disgusted noise. "No more alliances. Everyone retreat halfway back, and we start this point when Audra yells Go."
"Agreed."
We all backed slowly, watching for a double cross. But everyone played it fairly. Once we were settled, Audra called out, "Ready, set, go!"
The score turned nine-nine-and seven for the Mom's. Then there was a big struggle for the baton, but Posey and I got it and broke loose.
We won.
After that, we hindered whoever looked like she was going to get a point. That worked out better for The Mom's. We got one more point, so it was eleven-nine-nine.
"Truce!" I called. And so we gathered at the middle. "Discounting if we get one more point, this is the last point. What do you want Posey and me to do?"
"Help us!" Audra said immediately. "You can't let The Moms take second. It's much better if Violet and I do."
Bluebell and Azalea chuckled. Then Bluebell said, "Violet, I think we should introduce them to the obstacles one more time, then we'll have it out together."
"Agreed," Violet said.
Remember that part about age and treachery?
They didn't wait, but broke the truce immediately, all four of them going after Posey and me. We struggled with them, but they pushed us backwards. Posey's feet got stuck, then Violet picked me up and tossed me into my partner's arms. She fell backwards, and we were both stuck.
And Bluebell and Azalea were waiting for it, and a screaming Violet followed after me. Pushing Audra in was barely a challenge for them.
Then they casually walked over, grabbed the baton, and made the final point.
"Just remember that," I said. "Don't trust The Moms."
"Oh, we're going to get them," Violet said. "That was so not fair."
"We warned you," Posey said.
Jasmine and Mom joined all of us in the center. Mom's eyes were shining, and I thought she had fun. The six of us were already verbally replaying some points. Even Violet and Audra seemed to have fun in spite of the score. Jasmine congratulated Posey and me, gave us our totaled points, and released our hands.
Then the visor's blanked out from one moment to a next.
"Hey, I can't see!"
"Neither can I," complained Audra.
"What do you know?" Violet said. "I can see just fine." And it was Violet who latched my hands behind my back and escorted me to my cell.
She didn't even linger.
Chase
Jasmine didn't give me anything to do, and looking over at Audra, she didn't have anything, either. But lunch arrived a few minutes later. We sat facing each other and ate, making faces at each other for some time.
But then they made us wait. And wait. And wait.
And I was so utterly bored.
Audra lay down for a nap and I decided that was the best I could do as well.
I'd barely closed my eyes before they woke me. My visor was dimmed, and two of the guards were binding my arms.
"Where are we going?"
"Showers," one said.
We arrived, and they said, "We'll release you. You will undress out here, and the showers are clearly marked. Leave your clothes here."
Twenty minutes later, I didn't think it was at all funny when the only replacement clothes were another pair of undies and camisole. The guards came, the visor dimmed, and I was returned to my cell. I lay down for another nap.
Dinner arrived. I was napped out and bored, bored, bored. I tried to access the visor controls, but that didn't do me any good.
Bored, bored, bored.
Eventually I lay down, and some time later managed to go back to sleep. I slept fitfully, but did everything I could to go back to sleep each time I woke up.
From time to time, Audra and I looked at each other. She looked as frustrated as I was.
When I'd decided this was romantic, I hadn't considered the boredom.
I finally got up and paced the cell. I don't know how long that went on. I lay back down and zoned out, staring straight ahead.
Breakfast arrived, and I barely glanced at it. About ten minutes later, a video conference from Jasmine arrived.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"How long are you going to leave us in here?"
"Tell me why you aren't eating, and I'll consider answering your question."
"Right now, I can think about eating. But what am I going to think about once I actually eat?"
"All right. I thought about giving you the complete experience, but that would consume far too much of your break, and Violet begged me not to do so. Also, I don't want to treat your sister that way."
"Jasmine, you know I outgrew this."
"I think you needed the reality."
"Why do you do this to the women?"
"It breaks down their resistance," she said. "Most become complacent if I offer to relieve their boredom."
"How much longer are you going to do this?"
"You need to eat so we can determine the nature of the next challenge. Depending upon the nature, it might begin this afternoon or maybe tomorrow morning."
"So I could be bored out of my skull another 24 hours?"
"I'll let you buy limited control of your visor."
"With points?"
"No. I haven't decided yet. I may decide to take bribes and only let either you or your sister have visor control, but not both of you."
"Oh, that's just mean," I said. I sighed. "If that's what you're going to do, give it to her."
"You're always looking out for her."
"You're doing this part for me," I said. "She shouldn't get sucked in."
"Your sister has lessons to learn, too, Skye, but no, I won't explain that. Will you please eat and wash up?"
"Yes. Will you please give me a little more clothing?"
"Maybe." With that, her image disappeared. So I ate my breakfast and was ready when the guards arrived.
* * * *
> They brought us back to the conference room. When I could see, everyone was there. Audra and I were secured in place. Mom was fully dressed and looked amused.
"Skye and Audra, how do you like being mating candidates?"
"It kind of sucks," Audra said. "There's nothing to do!"
"When this conference is over, you will be returned to your cells, possibly only until just past lunchtime, or possibly until the morning. Furthermore, it may be possible that there will be an additional game after the one we are to negotiate, so it is possible you will spend more time there."
"That sucks!" Audra said. "Isn't there anything you can let us do? I was so bored."
"As a matter of fact, Audra, there is something I can let you do. I can give you partial control over your visor, the same amount I might allow another mating candidate. There are games you can play, and I would allow you to conference call the people currently in this room. Or you could do homework, if you like, or perhaps research colleges you might want to attend someday. You could watch television. In fact, you could do almost anything Skye does with her visor at home except freely interact with other people. Are you interested?"
"Yes," said Audra. "Please.
"Skye? There will be a price."
"I'd like to hear the price," I said.
"The first price is this. You will not tell anyone else what the price is. Do you both agree?"
"Won't they all hear?" Audra asked.
"No, they will not."
"I won't tell anyone," we both agreed.
"I am sending the price to your individual visors. Remember, don't let on what your price is."
Words appeared. "You will not interfere with any negotiations today that do not directly involve you. For instance, if I make an offer to Audra, you will sit quietly, even if she asks your opinion."
I turned to look at Jasmine. She was watching me without expression. Then I looked around the room for a moment. I didn't know what was going on, but I realized there was no one at the table I wasn't willing to trust, and I couldn't stop hardly anyone at the table from enforcing her will, anyway. "I'll pay my price."
"Once returned to your cell," Jasmine said, "you will have control. Audra?"
"I'll pay, but I don't know how to control the visor."
"There is a tutorial. It isn't difficult. I will keep an eye on you and make sure you figure it out."
