by Selina Brown
It was irresistible, was this what happened to all those who turned one hundred? Maybe it was just for Pure-Gens. The question she had wondered about for a long time haunted her and there was something achingly familiar about the metal, it was engraved with symbols she couldn’t read or decipher. Ara glanced around, in her dream. If this was real and dangerous her guards would stop her. So she closed the back door and climbed in. There was nothing inside but bare metal, which was surprisingly warm.
As she lay there the panel slid over, and the metal began to seep into her skin at a molecular level, filling the gaps, interlocking so tightly she was unafraid. Instead, Ara felt warm with the joining. It interlaced her body, veins, muscle, bones, nerves, and so on; she watched and recorded it all in her neural network, labeling it “Meshing”. And then she could see outside and inside and every part of her body. She was moving so fast, shooting into the night sky, right through the Saratoga Security Net into space, deep space, on and on, faster and faster, until she was screaming.
Kation – Unknown Location
And then it stopped.
Her body tilted until she was standing upright, with the chamber more like an exoskeleton. She was standing on a metal catwalk overlooking a massive room. Next to her was another dark red metal unit, facing her, raising an arm. She did the same and they touched but she couldn’t communicate.
“And so it is now as it never was before.”
It was a bit dramatic but they both turned to the booming voice. A giant, dark red being came out from behind a sliding panel and stood before them, almost at eye level. Ara figured him to be twenty stories high. He nodded to someone behind them on the other side of the catwalk. Ara stomped around to watch as another massive being ran his great fingers over some dark, viscous fluid held in an oval receptacle on a tall spire-like podium. The giant being looked at the first giant being.
“He is not the one.”
“What?” What the hell was he talking about? Ara felt vibrations beneath her and stomped around trying to turn to see. The other “unit” shot up into a dark tube in the metal-looking ceiling. Ara almost fell over as she tilted her head back to follow the unit’s progress and quickly righted herself. This was bloody ridiculous! Why didn’t they allow her to exit the exoskeleton?
“I am Natal.”
Ara had to turn again and look slightly up. The Natal looked at her severely, or so she thought as she scanned with her “capsule” eyes.
She dared to ask, “Why am I here, Natal?”
He seemed confused. “I am soRon.”
“Okay.” She almost laughed. “Why am I here, soRon?” More like “so wrong”. She sniggered.
“Know this, Mobile Unit”—his voice was higher pitched as if he wasn’t used to talking to people like her—“it is about you. kroTan needs to make one change to save you.”
She felt a strange surge move through her body. Too bad if she didn’t want that change.
“It is done. You will understand one day, Ara Katron, that the thing you most fear is the thing that will save you.”
Release of antimatter? “Alright, but…” Her body lifted, shot through the tube, and out into space.
Iota
Station: Perza
Galactic System: Sarato (Spiral Galaxy)
Planetary System: Saratoga
Homestead
She was returned, somewhat bemused, and a little pissed off after she finished screaming. There was no cake or happy one hundredth. She climbed out after separation, fear returned, and she watched the capsule burst into the air almost knocking her over with its thrust, and saw a shadowy figure sitting on the barn roof. One of her guards maybe. Yes, in her dream she would be placing the guard in view. Ara waved to the guard, and was surprised he waved in return, and stopped for something to eat in the kitchen. “Well, this is weird.” But what did she expect from a dream? Hmmmm, there was some cake left but it looked like someone had fingered the icing. Oh, that’s right. She’d done that before bedtime. She grinned, pleased with how accurate her dreams were.
It annoyed her that soRon called her the “Mobile Unit”.
What might have been really useful would be to know what happened when Maya didn’t need her anymore. She cut the cake, while still in the cooler, and ate it even as the door was closing. Crumbs fell to the floor but the new black and white house cat ran over. “Enjoy, Puddy Unit 4.”
In the morning, Dad shook her awake. “Ara?”
She moaned but shoved down her quilt and looked at him with bleary eyes. “I had another weird dream.”
His look of annoyance was quickly replaced with one of concern. “Are you okay?”
How long could she milk her weird dreams for? “I think so, Dad. I’ll get up now.” She dragged her legs out first. “You can tell Henry my dreams have nothing to do with my love of food. There was no food in this dream.”
“Then what’s that on your fingers?”
Ara lifted her hand, seeing faint smudges of icing.
“And on your cheek?” Dad lifted her chin, his eyes held his amusement.
“Ah, I think after the dream, or during it, I raided the cooler.”
Dad laughed. “Tractor Two needs repairing. You might need to run into town to get a new sparky.”
“Sure.” She yawned and looked around for her overalls. Dad threw them at her and she dragged them from her head. “Thanks.”
“There’s still some breakfast left but you’d better hurry. Mum’s packing it up.”
“That’s okay; I’ll get something in town.”
***
Ten years on, Ara excelled in most of her skill subjects with Jesran turning from farming to training. He was her main companion for her climbs and physical activities. He also turned to fighting and fitness in general. As they became older, they explored the clubs but found dancing was their common interest. Even Tekko, who was gradually becoming darker and was now a dark olive green, liked dancing and adopted to the moves currently popular on Saratoga. Bel, now a close friend to her and Tekko, and Jesran were her main dance partners though occasionally her “gang” would meet and mingle with Caleb’s “gang”. Terzon would often dance with her while Caleb liked to flaunt his tight body and one night danced across the dance floor and over several tables drawing whistles and laughs as he continued and danced in front of her.
One night he grabbed her with a laugh when she stood to watch him and he pressed his body into hers. They were both a little tipsy and she could smell the same drink she’d been slurping on half the night. They danced most of the night together after the last Caleb display. At the end of that night Caleb was about to kiss her, having teased her mercilessly, when Bel yelled over. “Ara, I think Tekko is drunk!”
By the mussed up state of his long, blond hair, Ara saw Bel was a little drunk too. His clothes that covered his stocky frame were a little disheveled too. Good grief, she was repeating herself too. Too. “I’m a little more than a little drunk … too,” she said to no one in particular.
“Hey, I’m listening!” Caleb let her go with a laugh and some regret and she went over to the corner of the club, shrouded in shadows, to lean on the wall.
Tekko was laughing his head off.
“Wow, hic, we’ve never seem him drunk. Quick, who’z got the mager?”
Quick as they could fumble, they posed with him, taking some memorable images. They managed to get his six foot eight form outside where he vomited. And he still had some growing to do, another ten feet was the general consensus. She took him home, well, the taxi took them home, and helped him into their spare bed. She touched his dreadlocks fondly, having had to clean a few of them, and then called his parents to let them know they had a late and busy night. But she thought she giggled too much during the conversation.
The next day they went out walking, he borrowed a maternity top from Mum, and stopped on a ledge overlooking the valley. They shared lunch.
“You’re not even hung over!” She saw a little sadness in
his eyes and strong face. “Tekko, what is it?”
“We are moving away.”
“Oh no.” She wrapped her arms around him, feeling how hard his body was. There was nothing cuddly about him. Caleb was hard but not like a rock.
“Ara, be careful about Kavela.” He patted her back.
“What do you mean?”
He smiled down at her, his dark green eyes held hers. “We’ve been friends too long. You like him.”
“He’s old!” She tried to think of something else to add, something negative.
“And yet every time you know he’s at a dinner or party you take extra care in your appearance and keep searching until you see him.”
“Do I?” She screwed up her face and pitched her voice higher.
He touched her face fondly and was about to say something when, right at that moment, Caleb interrupted. “Ara um hi, Tek.”
He stood there with a bag and blanket. Ara blinked, understood the intention, and returned his grin, licking her lips.
Tekko looked at Caleb and then turned to Ara with a smile. “Better choice. Keep in contact?”
“I will.”
He strode down, barely looking at Caleb, and didn’t look back. She watched him leave, until Caleb pulled at her.
“Better choice?”
“Agh … never mind.” She flushed and tried to avoid his eyes. Caleb would be horrified if he knew she had a crush on Kavela.
“Come on, you can talk on the Voice with Tek, and it’s only for a short while. I’m sure they are coming back soon.”
Ara smiled as Caleb impatiently dragged them to a more secluded spot, tossed down the bag and flipped out the blanket. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.
“Don’t want to forget this.”
His lips and tongue were raising her passions while his hands were pressing into her bottom so he could press his erection into her. She slipped a hand under his top feeling his skin, warm and muscular.
He was bringing to mind their flirting and dancing from the previous night.
“I want Fyr’Lahlia with you, Ara. We’re old enough.”
He ran his hands down her bare arms and she shivered. He cradled her face in his hands after she nodded and laughed. “You have no idea what it is, do you?”
“No.” Her voice was high. “But I want to do it with you.”
He grinned. “Well, get undressed. This isn’t just looking.” He lowered his voice and said against her lips, “We’re going to lick each other like ice creams.”
In her sudden rage of lust, she kissed him and he pressed up against her showing how hard he was. She said, “I get to do that to you too?”
“If you want.” He sounded suddenly shy.
“Who first?”
“You first.”
“Okay. Wait, you do me or I do you?”
Making the decision, and now naked, she eyed him off, licking her lips. He groaned. “Do you want me to stand or lay down…?”
She was already kneeling on the blanket and he watched as he took her first tentative taste. As her excitement grew she felt bolder and while she licked she made the move to take him into her mouth.
He was ready to come and suddenly unsure what to do. They hadn’t talked about it, but they never did. “Ara … I’m about to come.”
She mumbled something, her mouth full, and he half laughed but soon forgot and came. He watched and then closed his eyes for a moment. He could see she had been surprised at the taste but she was smiling up at him. At least she hadn’t gagged as he’d been told some do, but she hadn’t taken his whole length. He watched as she lay back and he spread her legs. Running his tongue over her, she arched up. She liked it a lot. He continued using just his tongue, prodding and teasing, and exploring her, finding out what she liked the most, thinking of the times he watched her touch herself. He felt her body still, and then jerk up and down clasping his head as he had done hers. She began to relax and he lifted up, reaching into his bag for a cloth. He wiped his mouth and finger. He had another erection but lifted up, kissed her, and then lay on his back next to her. He laughed suddenly.
“What?”
“Um … I think that was the wrong step.”
“What do you mean?” She rolled to her side, looking at him.
“There are two levels to the Fyr’Lahlia. Touching and then mouths.”
“Oh … I didn’t give you much choice did I?” She put her hands over her face, embarrassed. He laughed and rolled her to her back.
“Well, I’m ready for another. We could do hands and not tell anyone we messed up the sequence … or timing.”
“We haven’t told anyone anyway.” She turned her head to view his body and flushed at how ready he was.
“Yeah, but we might gain some good points if we say we did it right.”
“True.” She smiled at him. “Our secret. You haven’t done this before?”
“No, Baby.”
“Okay, let’s get back to you.”
“Actually, I’ve a fantasy.”
“Can we do that?” She was willing to do anything at this point, and she wanted Caleb to fulfill his fantasies with her, not with someone else.
“It fits the Fyr’blah.” He made her kneel, and then he moved behind her. First, he slid his fingers down but then, as she grew heated, pressing into his front and then fingers, he gently pressed on her back, so she was on all fours. He ran a hand along the side of her leg. “Spread out a little more … keep kneeling … can you slide your arms down … Baby, that looks so good.” He could barely contain himself, so when her hands were finally over his erection, which was over her breast, it took little time.
Saratoga City
Jamie followed the two princes, Caleb and Terzon, for a little bit longer, satisfied they were on their way home. He was completing a check because Ara was coming into town soon. Most of the teams had left already, but he had spotted Caleb and Terzon. With tricky and delicate extraction, he lifted Caleb’s last visit with Ara. It was tricky because Caleb was a First-Gen while Jamie was of the Eighth Race. And Terzon was turning military, teaching Caleb a few tricks along the way. And while Jamie was much older than them, with far more experience, he didn’t like to underestimate either. His Lyon 3 Aggressor training came in handy.
He returned to the restaurant and spotted Meg leaving with the blond-haired male. For a moment Jamie thought Meg was with Peter, his operative, but a closer look negated that impression. He lifted a rod-like device, linked to his Ebrain in his bag, and ran a quick scan. After it was complete, he sent it to his team to analyze. It took several minutes for data to come streaming in. The male was just a business type from Sparta Prime, Leonardo Clayne. There were several Spartans currently in Saratoga City, which might have been unusual except that Queen Silvia had sent out an invitation to Queen Kellan whose region was Estancia. The Spartan Empire was one of those interfering with the Earth project and Silvia was considering applying to become the Estancia Queen. It was a good move and supported by most of the Pure-Gens. With the First Regional Queen Freda and First Province King Kane behind her, Silvia should be successful. With Silvia in control, she could mentor Ara to take her place as Queen of Estancia.
Jamie made sure he was on the path to bump into Leonardo after the male had parted from Meg’s company.
“Sorry!”
Leonardo quickly steadied Jamie’s forward movement with a firm hand. “Are you alright?” He must have been just under six foot, but his body was strong.
“Just too busy thinking of lunch.” Jamie’s flush was not feigned.
“Me too.” The Spartan’s blue eyes were saying something else though.
Jamie wondered if his direct approach had backfired. Thinking of him as “the Spartan” helped a little. He knew the Spartan had just eaten with Meg but smiled. “May I offer lunch as an apology?”
The handsome, sandy-haired male nodded, his eyes warm with feeling. “Never mind about the apology.” He lifted his hand. “My
name is Leo.”
Jamie took it and they both felt the electric attraction. “Jamie.”
“Well, Jamie. I’m a visitor on Saratoga, although a new acquaintance of mine informed me that her farm has the best strawberries on the planet.”
Jamie laughed. “That would be Pen then, from the Degala’s Farm?”
They released hands as Leo nodded. “I don’t know Pen, but her daughter, Meg?”
Jamie nodded now and glanced at the café. Leo followed him in. They sat at a table but Jamie’s appetite had fled. Leo seemed to be similarly afflicted so they picked at a plate of chips and talked. Not only had Leo been vetted, and there was physical attraction, Jamie liked the Spartan, a lot. After lunch, they walked along the beach esplanade and then parted ways. But before they parted Leo asked him out on a date and Jamie accepted. He had a few free days coming and he agreed to show Leo around Saratoga.
Trying to clear his head as he walked away, Jamie had one concern at the moment. He noted that Ara was still fluctuating in age and behavior. After Marc reported on Ara’s dazed look years ago when Maya connected to her, they started doing physical scans. They had a way of scanning the age of Aryans. Ara’s kept changing but was not so noticeable when she was a baby, toddler, and child. Simon suggested they scan those around her and, sure enough, Caleb, Jesran, Tekko and others were affected. Those with less contact weren’t affected as much. Jamie contacted Trickster who took over a year to reply.
The male called him on his Voice while he was coming out of the shower and launched into the explanation as if Jamie had only just contacted him. He took a moment to recall his question.
