by Matt Snee
When his wife did not return home for the next couple days, Richard Ross was furious. Being in his seventies did not stop the rage coursing through his body. He turned the colony upside down looking for his wife. He hated her as much as she hated him, but she was still his property, and he would not be bested by a woman.
The Delphiniums hid her well. They kept her in a men's bathhouse that serviced miners on Io—part of the Delphiniums' new infrastructure on the moons. It was especially easy for the Delphiniums because Francis Florence didn't want to be found. She helped her captors in every way. When the volunteers raided the place, looking for her on an anonymous tip, she willingly wore a disguise and mixed in with the other girls. She was not found.
Francis Florence revealed everything she knew about the family to Giannette. Giannette in turn shared some of her secrets including that she led over two hundred women hidden among the moons. “That many?” Francis Florence asked surprised. “That's impossible.”
The Delphinium laughed. “To us, nothing is impossible.”
In some ways the Delphiniums and the Dunleavys were very alike. In most ways they were starkly different. The two women grew to have a respect for each other.
Francis Florence didn't just assist the Delphiniums; she secretly became one of them. Over the years they had taken such orphans under their wing, and allowed those not of their blood to enter their tribe. The old guard was denoted as, “The Silvers”. The new guard was afforded equal freedoms. Francis Florence participated in a sacred bloodletting ceremony to demonstrate her commitment. By the time she was released, one week after her capture, she had revealed everything she knew about the Dunleavys. A wife was privy to many things. She promised to work with the Delphiniums to help destroy the Dunleavys.
So began a tradition of lost women joining the ranks of this ancient and majestic tribe.
Richard Ross was fooled at first; however, after a few years of the Delphiniums growing astronomically in power, he began to suspect his wife. He did find out the truth of her involvement. In a public venue Richard Ross had Francis Florence hung for treason. Her body was fed to the oceans of Ganymede.
Francis Florence's death was not in vain. She had helped greatly. Because of her involvement most of the remaining Delphiniums had been transported from Earth to the moons of Jupiter, where they insinuated themselves into all aspects of society.
The oldest war began again.
* * *
The undead waiter brought their trays of food and they dug in. They were all very hungry, and no one spoke until their plates were cleared.
“AH!” said Plerrxx, well-satisfied, licking the last flecks of bloody buffalo flesh from the fur around his lips.
Tess rolled from her eyes. Jennifer smiled, feeling much better now that she had eaten. Captain smiled too. He felt warm and complete, relaxed, stronger, and more courageous. Hunger had soured his mood. “And that's the story?” he asked Tess.
“Yes, most of it. There's a lot more that happened. The period after Richard Ross died and his evil nephew took over. There are the tales of the Dunleavys' presence in the Great Wars, the 1950s, when humans invented their own spaceships, the most recent insurgencies by the Delphiniums, our losses, their losses, and on down through the years. There is a lot to tell.”
“I never would have guessed,” Captain commented. “But it feels real.”
“It's the only real there is,” said Tess.
“Don't be so sure, little one,” chuckled Plerrxx. Captain nodded, thinking of his own experiences in the Cosmic Garden and Weird Space.
“Anyway,” Tess continued, “that brings us to now.”
“How does the war go now?” Jennifer asked, curious.
“The same - slowly. With more casualties than we would like. It's not quite a war, but it's something we need to fight. What I mean is that no one is winning. There is attrition on both sides. We have reached a standoff, where no side is able to proceed further. They control their operations, and we control ours. We sabotage each other often, to little effect other than the death of our own people.”
“Someone has to win eventually,” Captain said.
“Perhaps,” Tess replied, eyeing Jennifer.
Captain stroked his face, enjoying digestion. He was almost happy. He felt like people who cared about him surrounded him. He trusted them and hoped they trusted him.
A commotion at the front of the dining car caught all of their attentions. The Mercurian rock-man was arguing with one of the undead waiters. Suddenly, he pushed the waiter down. Captain watched fear-struck as the Mercurian made his way heaving down the car toward them.
“Delfums!” moaned the rock-man. He came up to them and slammed on the table, stunning them all.
“Delfums on train. Can smell. Hate Delfums!” He reached out his arm to touch Tess—
“Yeeeeeeeooooooowrrrr!” cried Plerrxx, shooting lightning from his eyes and fingertips.
The Mercurian shrank back, whimpering.
“No! No hurt me! Bad Mow!” It hurried back up the front of the train.
“Whoa, Plerrxx,” said Captain, as if steadying a horse.
Plerrxx frowned. “I was only protecting the girl.”
“Thanks,” said Tess. “That was amazing!”
Jennifer shook her head at Plerrxx. “Couldn't you have done something a little less flashy?”
At that, Plerrxx smiled, proud of himself. “Are you kidding?” He laughed. “I'll tell you the strangest thing. I could not read that Mercurian's mind…”
12. Io
What is love? Is it supposed to be a knife? Or a wing? I hover and bleed. What darkness lurks in kisses? What goodness hides in possession?
–Kitty Pichon, “Diaries”
They finished their meals, paid, and returned to their seats. Another hour after that the ghostly porters came through the train announcing, “Io Station, next stop. Io Station.”
The train slowed. “This is it,” Jennifer said to Captain.
They got up and moved toward the door. The train inched to a crawl and let out a stream of loud hisses before quieting and coming to a complete stop. Captain jumped off first, ecstatic that the ride was over.
The first thing he noticed beyond the rundown buildings of the train station was the smell of Sulfur and the tight, hot air. He looked over the top of the train and could see great volcanoes on the horizon, spitting green lava into the atmosphere. Above, Jupiter lounged, superior to all things.
In the stifling heat, a rash of sweat beads broke out on Captain's forehead and his T-shirt became damp. Tess had already advised them to leave their heavy outerwear on the train. It would become a bounty for lucky scavengers. Captain wiped at the sweat and wondered how furry Plerrxx was bearing it; glancing in his direction, the Mmrowwr seemed as nonchalant as ever.
“Come on, old man,” Tess said from behind him. He turned around and saw the other three were headed in a different direction, toward what looked like town.
“Yeah,” he said. He took one last look at the Spirit Train. The thing was both revolting and profoundly intriguing.
He followed the others, Tess leading the way.
“You know where we're going?” she asked Jennifer, who followed second.
“I've heard of it,” Jennifer replied.
“It should be fun for the boys,” Tess snickered.
Plerrxx turned to Captain and raised one of his eyebrows in curiosity. “I think we're going to a 'House of Ladies.' ” He communicated only to Captain.
“What does that mean?” Captain thought back.
“A place… where the Delphiniums entertain men, probably miners and other workers. The Dunleavys' grip loosens here on Io.”
They left the train station and entered town, which looked like a typical Western community with one main street of buildings. Their facades were covered with treated iron to protect them from the elements. It was “night” and the buildings were all lit up with cheap looking lights. There were various types
of stores and other businesses, but they headed to a rather large building at the end of town that glowed brighter than the others and spat rowdy noise. The House of Ladies, Captain thought.
* * *
Jennifer was a little nervous about everything. They treaded near a place where plans and alternatives meant nothing - the Death Dream. So much was out of her control and depended on the Fates—not just their journey, but all the things that revolved around it. She was playing a strategic game; she had moved her pieces onto position on the board, and now all she could do was wait to see what happened next.
They climbed the steps up into the large ancient iron building and passed through a huge Hollywood type Western set of flapping saloon doors into the main lobby. A dozen men lumbered about on various plush pieces of furniture or leaned impatiently on the front desk. Barely dressed women adorned everything, smiling, laughing, eyes bright. Captain caught one woman's eye and she winked knowingly back. She was practically naked, except for strategic strips of lace. He went red, matching some of the women's colorful skin tones.
A purposeful cacophony blanketed the air. Music, voices, people's feet tapping on the floor, chairs scraping all provided a public privacy to the club's patrons. Conversations and other social interactions went unnoticed.
“Wait here,” Tess told them loudly as she went up to the desk.
Jennifer, always knowing what to do and when to do it, reached back and took Captain's hand, pulling herself toward him until she lifted her lips to whisper in his ear. She whispered for a good minute as he listened, finishing just when Tess came back.
“Follow me,” Tess said. They headed through another set of heavy doors draped in burgundy leather and brass rivets. The doors opened into a wide hall which was the main club. Music played and the tables, chairs, and bar, were all occupied. There was an elevated stage running down the middle of the room. A set of semi-nude Delphiniums danced as salivating men sat in the front row.
“My Lord,” thought Plerrxx. “Humans.”
* * *
Captain was surprised by this turn of events—he hadn't been in a place like this for ages. The last time had been with his friend Jack a million years ago. He had to admit this was better than being on the Spirit Train! He watched the Delphiniums onstage while other Delphiniums worked their way through the crowd, entertaining the customers. One of them appeared out of nowhere and embraced Captain, running her fingers up his sides.
“No thank you!” Tess pushed the Delphinium away. The woman looked at Tess quickly and bowed her head.
“I'm sorry, Mistress.”
They continued into the club, toward a back door that led to a semi-quiet, comfortable hallway where a stairway leading up a flight of darkened stairs. The four of them ascended the stairs, the music beginning to fade to a soft hum. Once they reached the second floor they followed Tess through another hallway until they came to an electronic door. The door was painted green and seemed impenetrable.
“It's me,” Tess said to it.
The door flung open, revealing a large office with three desks in the center. Three militantly dressed Delphiniums sat at the desks while a tall, very young man stood next to them, silhouetted by the light coming in from the vast windows on the back wall.
“Tess,” the man spoke, and the Delphiniums bowed their heads.
“Tom,” Tess responded. “This is my brother,” she said to the group. “Tom, this is them.”
He was a foot taller than his sister, and certainly wider, but their faces were nearly identical. However, while hers seemed perfectly feminine, his features looked perfectly masculine. Both Tess and Tom turned bright copper in greeting.
“You're late,” said Tom.
“It was the train.” The door slid closed behind them.
“Dunleavy has left his underwater mansion. He's headed to his private spaceport. The Fire Bolt's engines are ready.” Tom clasped his hands and sighed. “Time is running out.”
“We shouldn't waste any more then,” Jennifer told him. Tess almost laughed, but instead nodded and turned a bright pink.
“Tom. Let's do it.”
“Do they understand the deal?” Tom pressed.
“What deal?” Captain asked. He looked at Plerrxx.
“Yes. We understand,” said Jennifer.
“If anything goes wrong, you're on your own. And none of you have any training.” Tom and the Delphiniums eyed them carefully.
“The queen has decided,” Tess said.
Tom nodded. “Follow me,” he said. The Delphiniums all stood as Tom led them through a hidden exit along the left wall. The Delphiniums followed first, then Tess and the others. The door opened to a back staircase leading outside of the building.
There were horses waiting on the street.
“Horses?” Captain asked, surprised. He had not ridden a horse for years. Tonight really was a visit down memory lane for him.
“What are we doing?” Jennifer asked Tess. She had never been near a horse before.
“The Dunleavys can't track us on horseback,” Tess explained. “It's the best way. You three ride double with the Delphiniums.”
“I can ride a horse,” said Captain.
“Oh yeah?” Tess asked. “Okay, then go for it.”
* * *
“I don't think I can ride a horse,” Jennifer said softly, surprisingly out of her element.
“You can ride with me,” Tess said, visibly feeling sorry for Jennifer.
Captain was exhilarated. He loved horses and had been lucky enough to be introduced to riding when he was a kid. He had to admit it felt pretty crazy being about to ride a horse out here. A helpless smile took over his face.
“You can ride with me, Jennifer,” he said suddenly, without even thinking about it.
Jennifer turned back and smiled. “Okay then,” she nodded to Tess, who giggled.
Captain mounted his horse and then reached down and helped Jennifer climb up behind him. He felt better about things when the two of them were together.
Tess took a white horse that responded to her immediately. Plerrxx doubled up with one of the Delphiniums. Plerrxx had obviously never ridden a horse before either, and it took a few moments for him to get atop his mount, even with the help of a Delphinium.
Tess wheeled her horse around and took off, faster than Captain had expected. The Delphiniums followed. “Well, hold on tight,” Captain said.
Jennifer clung to his waist. “I will,” she said, obviously nervous.
He kicked the horse into a gallop.
* * *
They only rode for about forty minutes, although it seemed longer. Captain did his best to control the horse and keep up with the others. It was difficult since he was hypnotized by the strange but beautiful horizons around him. Some were covered in volcanoes, while others in herds of buffalo.
They rocketed across the black terrain, toward the burning green plumes of the volcanoes. Once they reached the base of a small peak, Tess pulled her horse to a stop. The rest of them followed her lead. They dismounted. Captain felt a little disappointed while Jennifer felt relieved to be back on her feet.
Three more Delphiniums waited at the site. One was very old and one was heavily pregnant. They pulled black bags from the backs of the horses' saddles and called the others over. Tom lifted up what looked like a hooded jumpsuit.
“These are dream suits. You will have to wear them to survive the Death Dream.” He handed one to Jennifer, and then one each to Captain and Plerrxx. Captain examined his. It was smooth and soft on the outside, rugged, like leather. When he put his hand inside and it was… gooey.
“Ew,” he said to Jennifer.
She frowned and nodded.
“Is it alive?” he asked.
“Not anymore,” said Tess.
Captain ran his tongue over his teeth and sighed. He put his hand inside the suit again. It felt like cold, mucous-covered muscles.
“Here are your masks,” Tom continued. He handed little pape
r boxes with something rather heavy inside to Captain and Jennifer, and then a different-sized one to Plerrxx.
“This should work for a Mmrowwr.” Plerrxx nodded and took the box.
“Okay, suit up and meet back here in a minute,” Tom said. Tess and the Delphiniums reached in for their own gear.
Captain noticed that Plerrxx was totally disrobing.
“Are you mad?” he asked the Mmrowwr.
“I've gleaned how it functions from the collective mind. The inner membrane has to have contact with your body for the bioelectrical effect to work.”
“He's right,” said Jennifer, unbuttoning her pants.
“Then we have to be naked!” The idea freaked him out more than the Spirit Train.
“No,” Jennifer laughed. “You can keep your underwear on. But your chest should be bare.”
“Chest—bare?” asked Captain. “Oh boy.” He nodded and undressed, turning away from Jennifer and making sure his eyes didn't fall upon her as she did the same. He pulled his shirt and pants off and then stood in just his underwear. Reluctantly, he picked up the dream suit and stepped into it. It was disgusting, and felt like wet flat noodles that twitched around his skin, zapping the hair on his limbs until it stood up. It was cold and perversely refreshing in the oppressive volcanic heat.
“Ah.” Captain grimaced putting his other leg in the suit. He lifted the top of the jumpsuit up around his shoulders. It was sticky and tugged at his skin as he adjusted himself and put his arms through the sleeves. The front of the suit closed over his belly, which he'd been desperately sucking in lest Jennifer should steal a glance. He pulled the hood on top of his head, covering himself with the squishy membranes.
Captain looked over to Plerrxx, who had just put the hood over his own head. Plerrxx broadcasted something less than a word to him, a slight psychic touch of disgust. Captain smiled, completely agreeing.
“You can look now,” said Jennifer. Captain turned. She wore the suit with her hood up, her long, flowing hair hidden. The suit fit tightly, and Captain took in the vision of Jennifer's form in it. She was beautiful in every way, he thought. Jennifer smiled, despite being in obvious discomfort.