‘Interesting,’ Cassandra mused. ‘Jenlay hypocrisy versus an addiction to artificial stimulation. Obviously, given my nature, I’m inclined to believe that a healthy sex life is better. I’m also inclined to believe that the Jenlay have taken the idea of a healthy sex life a little too far.’
‘It doesn’t appear to have harmed Ella,’ Al commented, ‘or Katelyn and Dillon who seem to be more extreme than she is. Mixing the two forms of stimulation caused problems, but that was not Ella’s fault.’
‘What are you three up to?’ Ella, clad in a tight, high-collared Ultraskin mini-dress, had managed to sneak up on them. Well, not really.
‘There’s only two of them?’ Abby said as she circled around to stand beside the little redhead.
‘When Aneka and Cassandra are together,’ Ella replied, ‘then Al’s part of the conversation. And they’re usually talking about the weird things the squishy organics are doing.’
‘In this case,’ Aneka said, ‘we were discussing you and your deviant sexual proclivities.’
‘Fridgy,’ Ella replied, grinning. ‘I persuaded Abby to sing for us; we just need to find something she can do without accompaniment and Al’s got that collection of music from Prime City…’
‘I’m still not sure about this,’ Abby said. ‘In front of all these people, alone, without accompaniment…’
Al was showing Aneka some text in-vision. The AIs had a plan sorted out in the time it took for Abby to state her fears. ‘You know something called “The Sisters of Mercy,” Abby?’ Aneka asked.
‘Uh, yes. I used to sing it with my mother. It needs two fairly well-matched voices…’
‘I don’t believe I can take the place of your mother,’ Cassandra said, ‘but I’d love to sing it with you.’
‘Uh… it does need matched voices…’
Cassandra smiled and climbed to her feet, the flowing white gown she was wearing shifting around her legs. ‘Dear, I’m a robot, you start and by the time it’s my part I’ll be perfectly in tune.’ She stepped forward and Abby was swept along before she could respond.
Chuckling, Aneka got up and followed them, the glowing beads which formed her dress shifting to catch up with the sudden movement. Ella licked her lips appreciatively, so Aneka rolled her eyes. ‘Deviant sexual proclivities,’ Aneka said before walking out to where Abby and Cassandra were standing.
She raised her voice to parade ground level. ‘Let’s have some quiet!’ The room fell into near total silence in a fraction of a second. ‘Wow, I wish I’d had that kind of discipline when I was in the Army. All right, you may not know this, but your ambassador is quite the singer, and we also have a talented and very sexy AI here too, so in the spirit of Christmas homemade entertainment, they’re going to sing for us.’ She turned and nodded encouragingly to Abby.
The black-haired teenager smiled weakly, looked out at the crowd, swallowed hard, and opened her mouth…
~~~
‘I’ve, uh, never seen Enforcers cry before,’ Tasker said.
‘Blame it on the cyberdrugs,’ Aneka suggested. ‘I have to admit that I didn’t really think they were capable. The black uniforms. The whole getting shot with a pulse rifle several times…’
‘One of us did that to you?’
‘He was under orders. It hurt, but… Well, he didn’t get to enjoy his victory.’
Aneka had not really expected that to go down well, but Tasker said, ‘We were basically well-trained and equipped thugs back then. She kept a tight leash on us. We were…’
‘Brainwashed, I know. I saw the re-education programme running after she died.’
‘Huh. Well, things changed, and there was a bit of time there when we didn’t know what was going to happen to us, but we’re needed. We’ve got a purpose, you know? That makes a lot of difference.’
‘Uh-huh. Apparently it drives you to tears at the sound of a couple of sopranos.’
‘It was a really beautiful rendition. Music appreciation wasn’t a major part of our training, but that was worth appreciating, and oh my God is that woman ever going to give up?’
Aneka followed Tasker’s gaze and saw Janna making her way toward them. ‘Janna? She can be very persistent.’
‘She seems to want to get me into bed. I tried to explain that we don’t really do a lot of that sort of thing…’
‘And that just made her try harder.’
‘Uh… yeah. She’s getting closer.’ The Captain actually sounded a little nervous. A woman who could probably snap your spine in two was nervous of an ex-stripper.
‘Okay, two choices. I can talk to her. She’d listen to me. She would probably keep at it just to tease you, but she wouldn’t be serious.’
‘I could cope with that,’ Tasker said warily, ‘but you said two options.’
‘Uh-huh. Alternatively, go to bed with her. It’ll be her and her partner. I’m guessing you’d never sleep with two women under any circumstances you can think of. From what I’ve heard they’ll make you feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven, and in the morning you can go back to being Captain Tasker, who doesn’t do that sort of thing.’ She checked Janna’s position. Al estimated five seconds to arrival. ‘Of course, it’s up to you.’
‘Aneka, Charley, what are you chatting about?’ Janna said as she walked up. She was being Janna. She was in heels so high they should have caused a nose bleed and a dress composed of finely woven silver threads which did not do much to obscure the body beneath.
‘We were talking about you, actually,’ Aneka replied.
The elder Narrows’ eyes narrowed a tiny amount and her head tilted a little to the right. ‘Nothing bad I hope?’
Aneka was about to say something when Tasker stepped forward, slipping her arm into Janna’s. She was a little stiff about it, and Janna looked a little surprised. ‘Nothing bad at all,’ Tasker said. ‘Aneka was just, uh, pointing out that my crew has made me take the night off.’
‘I’ve heard a few of them saying that you work too hard.’
‘They’re probably right. I understand you’re a dancer…’
Aneka wandered away, smiling. And hoping she had not just caused an enormous political incident.
26.12.528 FSC.
‘So the Captain seems to have vanished,’ Ella commented. She was sitting with Aneka and Cassandra at the side of the room watching Guardians dance to loud music. It was a little surreal.
‘Uh-huh,’ Aneka replied.
‘So have my mother and Sharissa.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘And Abby’s gone missing along with Kat and Dillon.’
‘That does seem to be the case,’ Cassandra agreed. ‘I was a little surprised about the Captain.’
‘Sometimes it’s nice to not be yourself for a few hours,’ Aneka said.
‘And you suggested that to her?’
‘I… pointed out it was an option.’
Ella giggled. ‘Any plans for tonight, Cassandra?’
‘Not plans, no. I wouldn’t presume to plan.’
‘The bed in our room is quite large. And I don’t think it’s a presumption. Christmas is supposed to be a family sort of time. It would be almost rude to leave you and Al out.’
Aneka chuckled. ‘Just remember you need to sleep at some point.’
~~~
Neither Al nor Cassandra slept, however. Aneka emerged from her offline state into a confusion of sensation as her diagnostics scrolled past showing various abnormal readings and her body strained. It took her a second to figure out that Cassandra’s long, powerful, and very flexible tongue was at work inside her. Slowly, grindingly, thrusting…
Biting her lips and clenching her fists to keep from screaming out loud, and so waking Ella, Aneka felt the wash of orgasm burning through her like a forest fire.
‘H-how long have you been d-doing that?’ she mumbled as she came down.
‘A couple of hours,’ Cassandra said, sliding onto the bed beside her. ‘Sorry, Al was supposed to tell me when you were
going to wake up, but…’
‘I think you broke him. He’s very quiet. I think you almost broke me!’
‘Sorry…’
‘Don’t apologise it was… I wonder if it recorded.’
‘Uh… why?’
‘Ella’s still asleep and I can play it back to her…’
‘Two hours of my tongue…’
‘Huh, you’re right. Silly idea.’
‘Yes, I think…’
‘That’s far too long. Maybe if we play it back at double speed…’ Cassandra was looking at her funny. ‘What? It’s Christmas.’
Senate Grand Forum, 1.1.529 FSC.
‘As this old year turns and the new one begins, we give thanks for all that has been, and look forward to all that is to come. The Long Dark is gone and we look into the light. Let this First Day be the first of many where we strive to be the best we can be and fight to keep the darkness at bay.’
Ollander raised the glass she was holding and drank from it. The words of the Renewal had never felt quite so important. The eldest member of the Senate, a Torem of course, had made the little speech. A Jenlay had spoken it the first time, five hundred and twenty-nine years ago, when there had been so much hope for the future.
‘Things do not seem so hopeful this Renewal.’
Ollander turned to see Yakis standing just behind her and had to look a long way up to see his face. Torem had little clue when it came to personal space. ‘We’re not fighting,’ she said, putting a smile on her face and knowing it did not reach her eyes.
‘Yes.’ He took a sip from his glass. ‘I am leaving for my home station later today. Might I suggest that New Earth could use its Senator at home also?’
She looked at him, trying not to frown. Did he know something, or was this just Torem caution? ‘I’ll… consider that.’
Yakis bowed his head and turned away. ‘Don’t consider it too long, Senator.’
Ollander watched him ambling off toward one of the exits. She put her own glass down and headed for another door, pulling her PDA from her bag. First she would call the Navy base and have her yacht made ready to leave, and then she would call the local escort service. She did not feel like being alone for the rest of the night.
BC-101 Hand of God.
‘All hands… Happy Federal New Year!’
A cheer went up throughout the party tent. Tasker had made the announcement after Aneka had been poked into saying the Renewal once again. The cheer was welcome; the silence as Aneka had spoken the words being spoken all over the Federation had been, somehow, more intense than usual.
‘Of course,’ Tasker said, ‘it’s not New Year back home. We’re getting all carried away about this, but we’re celebrating the New Year in a different calendar.’
‘No one ever complained about too much celebration,’ Aneka replied.
‘Seems a little muted for a celebration.’
Aneka looked across at the slightly smaller group of Jenlay who were still aboard the Hand of God. They were… not as enthusiastic about joining the party atmosphere as they had been five days earlier. ‘They’re worried,’ she said. ‘Worried that that might be the last time they hear those words.’
‘A cheery thought. Maybe I should take Janna and Sharissa to bed again.’
Aneka raised her eyebrows. ‘Are you telling me you’d actually consider that?’
‘I’m saying that it was an interesting and enjoyable experience, and that I’ve suggested to some of the crew that they should… broaden their entertainment spectrum away from the purely electronic.’
‘Good,’ Aneka said, grinning broadly. ‘Just don’t go all Jenlay on me. I think there’s a happy medium somewhere between you and them.’
Tasker laughed. ‘Tell Janna that.’
Mercy Island, Obati IV.
Ollander slipped out of bed leaving the thickly muscled, black-skinned young man she had hired for the night sleeping. It had been worth it. He had been good, and she had forgotten all about Yakis’ warning until her eyes had opened again.
Now, with the dawn light hitting the thin, white drapes over her windows, it all came back. In an hour she would go to the spaceport and leave on a shuttle. She wondered whether she should take the sleeping man with her for a second, but decided against it. There were crewmen on the diplomatic yacht who could provide the same service if she needed it, and people would wonder why on New Earth she was taking a prostitute off the planet. In truth, she was getting a terrible feeling that she would be saving him, and that was why she had considered it.
Ignoring the chill in the early morning air, she opened the window and walked out onto the balcony. The cool breeze caressed her bare skin and she shivered once on the way to the railing. Out there, across a stretch of ocean about eight kilometres wide, was the Senate Grand Forum. She could just about make out the white buildings.
It had been built… No, this whole world had been devoted to keeping peace between the three major races of the galaxy. Had it failed? Had it ever really had a chance of succeeding? She shook her head. It had not actually failed yet. The beams had not started firing. There were no bombs dropping…
Something caught her attention and she looked up. A flare of light, high up in the atmosphere like lightning in the clear, blue sky. She saw another, then another.
‘Oh Vashma,’ she breathed, ‘I left it too late.’
Ahead of her the white building turned whiter and she wondered whether Yakis had left in time. The chill was gone from the air, replaced by sudden, heavy heat. She was never going to see New Earth again.
And then she was little more than a cinder painted on the side of her residence.
Part Four: The Slow War
Yorkbridge Mid-town, New Earth, 3.1.529 FSC.
It was all over every news network. Aneka watched the screen dumbly, Sharissa sitting beside her. Ella and Janna were in the kitchen, keeping themselves busy because they knew they would lose it if they focussed on the news channels.
‘There is still no news from Obati,’ the reporter was saying. ‘All contact was lost with the Federation’s political hub yesterday and, at this time, it seems unlikely that communications failure can be to blame. However, considering the distances involved that cannot be ruled out. The last report from Obati by Alexander Hook indicated a sombre atmosphere had fallen over the Halls of Power.’
The view cut to Hook, standing outside the main Senate building, a vast, white structure, all sweeping curves and elegant architecture.
‘Senator Loktis of the Torem spoke the words of the Renewal here tonight,’ Hook said to camera, ‘in front of an audience that seemed somehow more silent than at any other time in the life of the Federation. With the words spoken and the traditional drink taken, the assembled Senators appeared subdued. There has been little in the way of progress on the Herosian situation in the past month. An undercurrent of tension has become apparent even to those outside the circle of politicians. Everyone seems to be wondering what this newly born year will bring.’
The channel’s newsreader reappeared. ‘The last message to come out of the high-speed FTL system arrived at New Earth…’
‘Mute,’ Aneka snapped, and the screen went silent. ‘They’re just recycling stuff we already know.’
‘They’ve been doing that most of the day,’ Sharissa pointed out.
Aneka grunted a response. ‘How long before we know anything solid?’
‘Sixteen to eighteen days, if it’s just a comms failure. The Xinti FTL system is a lot faster than our normal channels.’
‘We basically skipped a couple of generations of technology,’ Ella supplied.
‘If it’s something else,’ Sharissa went on, ‘we could be looking at a longer wait. Added time for relays, maybe waiting for an escaped ship to call in…’
‘This is bad,’ Aneka said softly. ‘This is really bad.’
5.1.529 FSC.
‘Peacekeeper forces were deployed outside the Herosian embassy today to control a growing
crowd of citizens.’ Aneka was now wearing an almost perpetual frown while watching the news. The latest reports were not improving her mood. ‘The numbers have been growing for the past two days, but the mid-week break has resulted in a sudden increase in those protesting against Herosian acts of terrorism in Jenlay space.’
The screen switched to show some random citizen in a leather jacket and mesh T-shirt. ‘We know they’ve been attacking our ships. We want to know what they’ve done to the Senate.’
The presenter reappeared, his demeanour calm and dispassionate. ‘Ambassador D’Jarnis released a statement this afternoon stating that he had had no official statement from the Herosian government and that, until he did, he could only reiterate that the Herosians were a peaceful people and that they would not start a war. There has been no comment from the Administration here on New Earth other than to repeat that they are waiting for news from Obati.’
‘Were you expecting this?’ Ella asked. She looked worried too, and that was a bad sign.
‘You’re the psychologist,’ Aneka replied. ‘What’s worse? Knowing you’re at war, or not knowing, but thinking you might be?’
‘Right. Things might escalate before we get solid answers.’
‘And if the Peacekeepers have to restrain protesters to stop them invading the embassy it’s going to look bad. People will lose confidence in their policing agency…’
‘Jenlay are naturally pretty peaceful. It might not come to that.’
‘No, it might not.’
‘Call from Gillian Gilroy,’ the computer announced.
‘Put it through,’ Ella responded immediately. ‘Gillian?’ she asked as soon as the woman’s image appeared on the screen.
Gillian was looking nervous. Her classical, olive-skinned features were wrinkled by a frown. ‘Hello you two. I’ve persuaded David and Delta to come out to stay with us. I was wondering whether you wanted to join the party.’
‘We’re safe enough here,’ Aneka replied. ‘Winter beefed up the security on this block.’
‘I was more concerned about the kind of thing a bit of added security can’t handle. If they start dropping bombs, Mid-town is a likely target for first strike. Aim there and you’ll do extensive damage throughout the city, but out here…’
Aneka Jansen 5: The Greatest Heights of Honour Page 12
