A Perfect World: An Erotic Science Fiction Short Story

by Cook, Kris

  A Perfect World

  An Erotic Science Fiction Short Story

  © 2011 Kris Cook

  Published by Forbidden Passion Press

  kris@kriscook.net

  twitter.com/#!/kris_cook

  www.facebook.com/kris.cook.author

  www.kriscook.net

  In a world where death has been virtually conquered and beauty is the norm, a husband goes to extreme measures to ensure his wife is approved to have their baby. Will Greg be able to agree to William's wicked request so that Seana can become a mother?

  Copyright 2012 Kris Cook

  Edited & Formatted by Chloe Vale

  ePub ISBN: 978-1-452446-61-5

  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  A Perfect World

  Seana’s maternal clock vexed me with each tick tock. If it had been audible, it would’ve also disturbed the other passengers. The little voice in my head kept shouting that this was my last chance to help her before our hopes would be silenced forever. I knew that the long shot at the end of this trip had less of a chance of working out than a snow cone in hell.

  Fuck!

  I turned toward her. As always, she looked perfect. Her blonde locks hit her soft shoulders like sunlit waterfalls. Dressed to the nines in an outfit that flattered her amazing figure, she seemed ready to face anything. Yet, her hand wringing and constant sighing revealed the storm brewing beneath the untainted façade. The more she fidgeted, the more it drove me insane… and we still had forty-five minutes left until we landed, not that it really mattered anymore.

  She asked me for the millionth and one time what I thought he would say.

  “I don’t know,” I stated, giving my same answer and readying for the long pointless discussion to follow.

  Seana glared at me with her hazel eyes, daring me to add anything further.

  Knowing this signal all too well and happy not to reawaken another debate, I remained mute and rested my eyes on a warm, unspoiled beach. I scanned the holographic image and the accompanying words floating next to it about numerous vacation destinations. Our coach tickets afforded us this level of surfing, but they didn’t allow us access to sound, smell, or any other deeper simming. But for a lofty fee, even the lowly coach traveler could upgrade in transit. I wished the Caribbean or some other island was our final destination instead of Dallas. Maybe next year, I thought. But I knew better.

  “Don’t give me that, Gregory Michael.” Her tone delivered a sting. I hated when she called me that, like I was the densest person in the world and it was her duty to scold me.

  “Give you what?” I asked innocently.

  It was the verbal dance we’d created over eight years of marriage. One. Two. Three. A shower of expletives from that beautiful mouth. One. Two. Three. A genuine apology. One. Two. Three. The waltz would finish in a final dip and a kiss, followed by wonderful make-up sex.

  Seana began to mouth an answer that I suspected might make several jaws drop, but she stopped suddenly and only shook her head. She seemed like she was about to cry, and my gut clenched. I grabbed her hand, and she squeezed back.

  Public tears were evaded. I was glad. She didn’t like to show any vulnerability, even to me. I was certain that I was the only one who had ever seen her shed a tear, and then only once when her employment review came in with only a Meets Expectations.

  “Greg, I’m sure it seems ludicrous to you, but we just have to convince him.”

  “I know, sweetheart.” And I did.

  Her urgency and despair had grown well beyond my capacity to share. Yet, I had caught some of the fervor when her mother’s grandfather had died in a diving accident seven months ago. I had thought our dream might actually happen and let myself imagine what it would be like to have a baby in our house. Unfortunately, his new wife’s nephew got everything, including what we wanted.

  “But you’ve seen William’s Vid; you know about his life. How are we going to do it?” The panic in her voice was heartbreaking. Rather than make any suggestions, I put my arm around her. She leaned in to me and closed her eyes.

  “Request for sim,” I ordered. Instantly the beach and the article disappeared replaced by the familiar authorization prompt.

  “Gregory Michael Links, seven-three-six-beta-Missouri,” I confirmed. After the ident-scan, several selections appeared.

  “Waves and gulls, first level, seats thirty-seven A and thirty-seven B.” The computer complied, adding the desired birds and sounds created to relax the unseasoned traveler. I worried that the cost would be much higher since it was added to our tickets and not pre-ordered, but then let the thought go. Even if we had to break into our tiny savings account, so be it. Seana needed to be distracted. Hell, so did I.

  None of our relatives had consented to help us start our family. We’d even asked our parents but got the answer we expected since they were only in their seventies, except my dad who was eighty-two. Both our mothers were very understanding as they’d gone through the same ordeal, though not to the late age limit like Seana. But neither would agree to it.

  When we got married, Seana told me she didn’t want a baby. I should’ve known better. When we were dating, every chance she got to be around any child, she took it.

  Seana sat up and dug in her purse, pulling out the Vid of Anthony. I pretended not to notice. She activated it, and a miniature of Rick and Shelia’s beautiful baby boy sat in her hand, smiling. The image was from his first birthday party. I remembered the crowd of fifty-two couples and seventeen singles. It was the event of the year in our neighborhood. Shelia’s great-grandmother had been struck by lightning over a year earlier. She and Rick had been so lucky.

  “We’ll be landing in Dallas in fifteen minutes,” a voice announced and continued with other information and instructions. Passengers followed the mandates of the attendants and brought their seats to the upright position in the customary shuffling.

  Seana visibly tensed.

  William, whose late wife was a distant relative of mine, would be waiting at the baggage claim for us. I didn’t remember ever meeting him, though my mother thought he’d come to my high school graduation. Still, I had the Vid of him, so I knew what he looked like. Chasing the elusive rainbow had been hell for Seana and me. I was out of family members. William was the end of my prospects for Seana, no matter what the outcome.

  The bumpy landing briefly pulled me from my thoughts, but my nerves were already shot.

  I wondered how Seana would react if he didn’t agree to it? I realized this could be the end of us, too. Would she try to find someone with more potential to give her the child she desired so much, even if she only had eleven months for the attempt? As much as it pained me, I believed she would.

  As we disembarked, Seana motioned that she was going to the ladies room to freshen up. I nodded. Her normally perfect hair needed a bit of attention but that was all. Everything else about her was flawless. I looked around at the crowd, and, per our DNA-corrected world, saw only attractive women. Still, Seana had a slight edge on all of them.

  “We would have such a beautiful child,” I said aloud to the air.

  All the forms were completed and approved. Only one thing was left to get. But would William give it to us?

  Over the past thr
ee years, we’d tried to acquire what we needed from anyone we could think of. We even attempted to purchase an accidental death, but the average month only produced about thirteen hundred worldwide. And only two to three of those went on the open market. Every time we would bid, they were snatched up at prices far beyond our reach. It had to come from a family member and, though not a blood relative, William was my last hope.

  From the ladies room, Seana emerged looking stunning. Her white leather pants and black silk top only added to her awesome presence. We were ready to meet him; I hoped it was enough.

  I saw William before he saw us.

  He was talking to a gorgeous woman, who was understandably captivated by him. I’ve been called a nine point eight-two, even a ten once or twice—but William? He busted the ten-scale wide open. He wore his dark, wavy locks long. His eyes sparkled with the deepest blue, and his shoulders were Olympian in breadth. He wore gym shorts and a tank top, I assumed to better show off his muscular physique, which was matchless. The baggage claim was his to rule as most eyes were on him. I saw why he still modeled for major advertising firms. There was no need to digital-brush him. His smile reached across the room and found us. In the world of perfection, he was the quintessence.

  Yes from him? Never.

  William excused himself from the female admirer and rushed to us. He put out his hand to me. I took it, and his hand swallowed mine. I had to look up to him. He had three plus inches on my six-foot-one height.

  “Nice to meet you.” Seana smiled.

  Ending our handshake, William turned to my wife. “My pleasure.” His stare lingered on her a little too long for my taste. They clasped hands. “Your Vids didn’t do you justice.”

  “The same’s true about you, Mr. Graves.”

  I felt a boulder of jealousy drop in my gut as William brought Seana’s hand up to his lips.

  He released Seana’s fingers, but his gaze remained fixed on her. “William, please. Welcome to Texas,” he said with no sign of a southern accent.

  We were swept into his waiting limo. As the driver pulled onto the highway, William began asking questions about our work and family and then filled us in on the latest happenings in his life. Three photo shoots in Europe and one in Australia a month earlier had rounded out his year, plus he had just finished his doctorate in Philosophy, giving him a total of five graduate degrees. He had decided to learn Mandarin since he was thinking about relocating to China. He invited us to the opening next year of one of his clubs. His fortune reached around the globe.

  Gloom coiled around me like a noose. William was good-looking, charming, intelligent, and happy. Why did he have to be so damn happy?

  “Maui opens in the perfect season for great waves. Do either of you surf?”

  Seana was enthralled—as was I. Who wouldn’t be? I wondered if she had forgotten why we were here, but when I looked over at her, I knew she hadn’t. She flipped her hair back many more times than necessary, a dead giveaway that she was nervous. Tick tock.

  “Thanks, but it depends if Seana and I can coordinate our vacations.” I was with our city’s public works department, and she worked for a communications company with an asshole for a boss. We both got three weeks off each year. No more. How could he understand our life?

  I knew asking someone’s age was the worst social blunder, but I was tempted. There had to be less than twenty people with William’s years in the entire world. The original team that cured aging would’ve been proud of their handiwork in him. I realized that William was far beyond human in our twenty-second century world; he was a god. Trepidation took hold of my entire being.

  The black vehicle arrived at William’s private drive and stopped at the front of his massive estate. It was hidden from the street by heavily wooded grounds; this was no McMansion. William informed us he had had it built for his late wife, Heather.

  The interior was elegant and filled with incredible paintings and sculptures. A marble staircase surrounded the circular foyer. Music and the scent of fresh flowers met us. A handsome butler took our luggage.

  After going to our suite and changing clothes, we were led by a servant to the library. Books lined every square inch of the walls of a room that could’ve easily held our entire apartment. William sat in one of the four wingback chairs, reading an ancient text. There were no computers here, only visceral books. We joined him, more mesmerized by the man than the surroundings.

  William asked if we would like some wine. We both answered with the affirmative.

  “I must find the perfect bottle. It’s not often I see family.”

  Trying to appear sophisticated, I questioned, “Do you have many to choose from?”

  I immediately felt stupid at the comment. My nerves were on edge, like Seana’s, who continued to flip her locks back like a wild stallion.

  “Several thousand.” He smiled and then exited the room.

  Seana’s exterior of ease evaporated when he left. She put her head in her hands and began to rock back and forth.

  I reached over and touched her shoulder. “Sweetheart, he might do it. We just don’t know.”

  She looked up with tears welling in her eyes, her last flicker of hope dimming.

  “Have you been listening to him? He won’t do it. Why should he? He’s perfect, and he has the perfect life. ” And with that she let out a long resolute sigh.

  We both stared at the floor. There was nothing else to say. Tick tock.

  Moments later, William appeared with a bottle of red and three crystal wine goblets. The cork was popped, and we all sipped silently.

  “So, enough of the niceties.” He asked, “What are you two really here for?”

  Unable to help herself, Seana burst into tears with a volume far exceeding the previous display.

  “Take your time,” William coaxed.

  Slowly, Seana composed herself. We told William what we wanted. Seana was eleven months away from turning thirty-eight, the last legal age for a woman to become pregnant. With the Zero Population Growth law, we needed a death to have a baby—his.

  I had this urge to run from the room. What were we thinking? Were we so selfish that we could ask such a thing from him? I knew we were, but the hole in Seana’s soul was so deep, I had to press on. “So, will you do it or not?”

  William stared at us. “I was wondering when you were going to ask.”

  “You already knew?” When I’d spoken with him to arrange our trip to Dallas, I’d just told him we were taking a little vacation and wanted to see him while we were in town. .

  “It was either that or money.” I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up his hand. “I get it. You would’ve asked for money from me a long time ago if you were so inclined. Obviously, you’re not. So, I put two and two together. Your age. Seana’s age. It all added up to me about what you wanted from me.”

  Seana’s body shook like a reed in the wind. “Will you help us, William?”

  “I think we might be able to come to an arrangement.”

  “What?” we said in unison.

  He laughed, and his eyes were even brighter, if that were possible. I took a long drink from the heady liquid. It had a taste of smoke and was warm going down. Seana’s tremors ended, replaced by a stillness similar to that of Auguste Rodin’s Thinker, but her eyes sparkled with hope.

  I choked out, “You said might. What do you mean?”

  William pointed to the oil painting above the fireplace. “That’s my wife and your relative, Greg. You’re here because of her choice to provide a death to your mother.”

  “You mean… I didn’t know.”

  “Your mother told me at your high school graduation that she’d never shared it with you. I agreed to keep her secret.”

  Seana leaned forward in the chair. “So, you want to make the same sacrifice for us that your wife did for Greg’s mom?”

  He shrugged and kept gazing at the painting. “Did you know that we never had children of our own? We both always wanted them,
but it didn’t work out.”

  Realization began to dawn at what arrangement he had in mind. I curled my hands into fists. “We will name the baby after you, William.”

  “It’s not good enough. Not even close. I want a child of my own.”

  Seana stood up. “It’s too much to ask of Greg. Thank you, William, for your hospitality. It’s been a long day. I’m going to our room.” She turned to me. “You coming, honey?”

  “I’ll be up in a minute, sweetheart.”

  She smiled weakly then turned back to the man who had crushed her flat. “Goodnight, William.”

  I watched as Seana’s perfect hips swayed as she walked up the stairs, When she was out of earshot, I turned back to William. “How dare you?”

  “Me? You’re asking me to end my life, Greg. Don’t you think you’ve got it turned around a bit?”

  I knew he was right, but what he’d asked was hard for me to swallow.

  He stood up. “Let’s get some air.”

  I followed him to his pool area. I could see the tennis courts off in the distance. The place was more like a resort than a home. The patio had an outdoor kitchen and several tables with chairs. He went to the refrigerator and brought out beers for us.

  William was so self-assured. I guessed it came with age. Much age, I thought.

  We sat down.

  “So, if I agree to this, what’s to say you won’t back out?” I felt my stomach lurch into my throat.

  William didn’t answer. He popped the top on one of his beers and drained half its contents. “You love Seana?”

  “More than anything.”

  He finished off the remainder of the beer and started on another one. “Then you’ll agree to do this for her, and I’ll give you what you came here for.” He meant it. The conviction of his tone told me so. A maid appeared, bringing us food, but William waved her away. His brow was furrowed with intent.

  I opened my first beer. I brought the bottle to my lips and let the cold, gold liquid drain into my mouth and down my throat.