Steven Gordon 3: The Modloch Empire

by J W Murison

  She rubbed her arms, ‘I know. OK, we refuse to endorse the plans but recommend that Baxter takes a look at them.’

  ‘Yes. Is this the last one?’

  Komoru checked, ‘Yes, that’s the last one.’

  ‘Thank God for that. So what next?’

  ‘I was hoping for a day off. I am exhausted. I haven’t visited Mya for a week and I need a real bath so badly I can taste it.’

  ‘So that’s what you have been keeping secret.’

  Komoru laughed, ‘I have not! I could ask Mya if she could lend us her villa in the mountains for an evening.’

  Steven grinned, ‘I really don’t like to impose... but it sounds great.’

  Mya was more than accommodating. She made sure the servants left early so the couple could have their privacy. They took easy to heat meals with them. It wasn’t quite the romantic dinner for two Steven had in mind but it sure beat what was on offer in the local restaurants. What he found really hard to cope with was the giant toilets that they had to balance on for fear of falling in. It was always a laugh though as well as a challenge.

  Steven and Komoru languished in the hot bath for over half an hour. Komoru nestled into his arms while they leaned back and let the hot water work its magic. After a short nap they got up and had something to eat. Steven decided that he wanted to try the pool.

  ‘You look like you are enjoying that,’ Komoru shouted out to Steven as he completed his twelfth length.

  ‘I haven’t done this since I was a teenager.’

  She laughed, ‘What do you think of the pool?’

  ‘Awesome, no chlorine, but the view scares the shit out of me.’ He swam to the side and took a deep breath.

  Komoru laughed, ‘It is amazing, I love it.’

  ‘Looks like you are just going to swim over the edge.’

  ‘You don’t like it?’

  ‘Not really.’

  ‘I didn’t think you were afraid of heights.’

  ‘I’m not really. I suppose I’m just not used to it.’

  She thought it was funny. ‘What do you think of this villa?’

  ‘You mean the architecture?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘It is fairly plain I suppose. Plush but nice.’

  ‘I like all of the polished stone. It looks so clean.’

  ‘Gairloch wasn’t much for decoration was he?’

  ‘The main house is the same. Very spartan. I think a lot of military men are like that.’

  ‘Some of the ones I have met had their houses full of memorabilia. Maybe that’s a habit they get once they leave the forces.’

  ‘Maybe.’ She half agreed.

  Steven heaved himself out of the pool and grabbed a towel. Once dry he lay down on a large lounger; there was more than enough room for Komoru to snuggle up. They were both close to dozing off when Babes sent him a message. He sat up. ‘Time to get dressed.’

  ‘Why, what’s wrong?’ Komoru asked.

  ‘We are about to get visitors.’

  She rolled into a sitting position, ‘Is one day off too much to ask?’

  Steven sighed, ‘It is beginning to look that way.’

  ‘Who is it?’

  ‘General Rannalld.’

  ‘Is Mya with him?’

  ‘I have no idea.’

  They were enjoying a hot drink when the flying machine appeared in the distance. It was almost silent as it came into land. Rannalld was carrying a strange looking case and was dressed in casual clothes. Mya leapt out, her eyes gleaming. She grabbed Steven’s hand and placed it against her forehead. ‘I am so happy to see you Captain!’ She repeated the process with Komoru.

  ‘I have a surprise for you Komoru.’

  ‘Oh! What is it?’

  ‘Fresh fish.’

  Komoru’s demeanour changed completely, ‘Seriously?’

  Mya nodded her head vigorously. ‘They use the fish from the sea here to fertilize the fields. Rannalld managed to get some for me to try out.’

  Komoru took a deep breath, ‘I will send for an analyser and some rice.’

  ‘Then we can start cooking.’ Mya agreed. The two of them almost grabbed the case from Rannalld and ran towards the kitchen.

  The two males watched them go. ‘I don’t think I have ever seen her so excited.’ Mused Rannalld.

  ‘I just hope they are edible.’ Steven added.

  ‘If not they will be unhappy?’

  ‘Oh aye, very unhappy and very temperamental.’

  ‘Not good Captain.’

  ‘Nope. So how can I help you General?’

  ‘Please, call me Rannalld, I am in civilian clothes and off duty.’

  ‘In that case Rannalld, call me Steven. Would you like a drink of something?’

  ‘I brought something. Let me retrieve it.’

  Rannalld fetched his bottle of wine and they retreated to the living room. Rannalld knew where the wine glasses were. ‘This is lemon grass wine, I know it is consumable by Humans.’

  ‘I have tried it.’

  Rannalld sat down and poured the wine. The glass was huge in Steven’s hands. He took a swig. It wasn’t too unpleasant. ‘So how can I help you?’

  ‘I wish to discuss a very personal matter with you.’

  ‘OK.’

  ‘I am not really sure how to start.’

  ‘Just come straight out with it. I am Scottish and that’s pretty much the way we like it.’

  Rannalld took a deep breath, ‘When do Human women come into season?’

  The question caught Steven flatfooted, ‘Ah! Right! I am sorry Rannalld, but there is no such thing.’

  He shook his head, ‘I don’t understand.’

  Steven scratched his head vigorously for a moment, trying desperately to collect his thoughts, ‘Right! How the hell do I explain this?’ Steven took a deep breath, ‘Human women go through a monthly cycle. It is a fertility cycle. An egg is fertilized by the male of our species in probably the exact same way as in your species. How often do the females from your race ovulate?’

  ‘Twice a year, however our years are longer than yours. When they ovulate they come into season. That lasts for about a week to two weeks.’

  ‘I am aware of that your years are longer. OK, our females ovulate once a month.’

  Rannalld’s mouth dropped open, ‘They come into season once a month!’

  ‘No, not quite. They are simply fertile once a month. As far as I am aware the Human female is the only species, on our planet anyway, that conceals from the male – or can conceal from the male – the fact that they are ovulating and fertile.’

  ‘I have never heard of anything like that before. How do they fight the instinct?’

  ‘I think instinct certainly plays a large part in the reproductive cycle of any species. However, childbirth was at one time the single most likely killer of young women in our species. The mortality rate was very high. I don’t fully understand it, but the ability to conceal their ovulation could quite possibly have given our women the opportunity to avoid childbirth until they thought they were ready. I have to say that this is simply my opinion. You could talk to one of our doctors if you want.’

  ‘No, it’s OK. I am still having difficulty understanding. ‘How do you know when to mate?’

  ‘Humans mate when they feel like it. All through the year. I am not very experienced in this matter. I have only ever had one mate. There are men who have had many. I believe it depends on your sex drive. If you find a mate with a similar sex drive then you are very lucky.’

  Rannalld shook his head, ‘Sex drive...’

  ‘It is linked to a number of different factors. One of the main ones is the level of a certain type of hormone. The higher the hormone level in males and females then the more they desire sex. I think normal is somewhere between two and three times a week.’

  Rannalld seemed stunned, ‘Two or three times a week, for the whole year!’

  ‘Yes, pretty much. People with a high sex drive normally have i
t at least once every day, sometimes more. Or so I have been told.’

  Rannalld rubbed his muzzle, ‘Unbelievable, mating for a whole year. What if they become pregnant?’

  ‘Well that then depends on the woman. I have heard that they can go either way. I had one friend whose wife simply wanted to kill him for the duration of the pregnancy. She wouldn’t let him near her. I had another friend whose wife went the exact opposite way. She wanted sex all the time, every day for the whole nine months.’

  ‘How did he cope?’

  ‘With great difficulty I believe.’

  Rannalld suddenly burst out laughing, ‘I couldn’t even imagine it. Still, do you know anything about Mya’s sex drive?’

  ‘As far as I am aware she is still pure. Unmated; no one will know. She may have an idea, but I doubt if she would tell anyone.’ Steven sat forward, ‘I think if you are considering Mya for a mate, then you will have to take something else into consideration.’

  ‘What is that.’

  ‘The size difference between our races. More specifically your size,’ Steven pointed, ‘down there.’

  Rannalld’s head went up, ‘We Modloch are known for our size and girth.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I was afraid of.’ Steven sighed, ‘Human women are very small down there. Each race is different. Mya is Asian, and a race of Asian that is known for being small. Both the men and the women.’

  Rannalld shifted uncomfortably, ‘How big would the men be, do you suppose?’

  ‘Average about this.’ Steven demonstrated on his hand.

  Rannalld snorted, ‘Is that all?’

  ‘I believe so.’

  ‘But didn’t an Albany mate with a Human woman? How did they manage?’

  ‘She was of a different race, where the men and women are much larger. Orlath was also a teenager and hadn’t reached full maturity.’

  Rannalld’s head dropped, ‘We are about...’ He indicated the length on his arm.

  ‘That’s what I thought, if you tried to mate with her you could seriously injure or even kill her.’

  Rannalld was silent for a long time. The sound of women laughing reached their ears. ‘It is such a shame. I have never met a female who was so wondrous. Those that I meet are always vying for position. She is clean of mind, body and heart. I can see why my brother thought so highly of her and declared her his benefactor. Did she really kill the man who was responsible for the death of her people?’

  ‘Yes, that is true.’

  ‘There is only one recorded incident of Modloch women taking up arms to protect their own. That was over a thousand years ago; the statue to their bravery still stands.’

  ‘I thought your females would have been quite fearsome.’

  ‘Our females are very submissive. Most would shield their young with their own bodies, but few have been recorded taking up arms. That is why there is none in our armed forces. Other species are different.’

  ‘The Albany females certainly fought.’

  Rannalld nodded, ‘So I heard, as did many of yours.’

  ‘Humanity had a big hang up about that for many centuries. However, it is not unusual for a Human female to take up arms to protect her own.’

  ‘We Modloch admire that in a species. The sons of those females I mentioned earlier all became great warriors.’

  ‘They won their fight then.’

  ‘No, they all died. They put their children in a life pod and launched it. After that they fought to the death. The delay prevented the enemy from perusing the life pods until it was too late. The life pods reached one of our battleship groups that was racing to their recue. The fleet caught the enemy still surrounding the colony ships and wiped them out. On board one of the colony ships, the women were found clustered around the life pods with weapons in their hands, and a few prisoners told of how the women fought them for hours, until all were dead.’

  ‘Tragic.’

  ‘Maybe. As I said their sons grew to be great warriors, and so was born a belief that sons born of women of great courage shall also become great warriors.’

  They were silent for a long time. Rannalld seemed sad. Occasionally laughter drifted out to them. Steven also caught the smell of frying fish.

  ‘Aren’t you going to join them? I think by the strange smell that the fish are edible.’

  ‘I was never a great lover of fish Rannalld.’

  ‘I thought meat was meat. If you ate one, then you ate all.’

  ‘No, it doesn’t work like that. We all have different tastes. With fish you either love it or hate it.’

  ‘Do you think Mya likes me as a friend?’

  ‘Komoru told me that Mya believes that you are a gift.’

  His head came up a little, ‘She too is a gift.’

  ‘I take it you aren’t mated then Rannalld?’

  ‘Would I be inquiring if I was?’

  ‘Of course. I apologise.’

  Rannalld waved a hand, ‘We males don’t normally mate until we mature fully. Thirty to thirty five years old. We like to marry young females who have just reached sexual maturity and came in to season for the first time. By then the males will have settled into their professions. This gives the females a clearer view of a prospective mate: who he is, what has he achieved in life so far, and what he might achieve in the future. They will let a male within their social circle know that they are willing to consider a mating.’

  ‘That seems a long time for the males to have to wait.’

  ‘Does it? There are females out there who will accommodate a young male and teach him the things he needs to know. Birth control is severely restricted. Mated women have free access, as do widows. Not that I am suggesting mated women cheat on their husbands. No need to. With all the wars we fight there are always plenty widows.'

  Steven nodded, ‘The merry widow.’

  Rannalld was surprised, ‘You have read the book!’

  Steven burst out laughing, ‘No, it is a Human saying. It may well also have been a book at one time.’

  ‘Then it seems our races aren’t too far apart after all.’ They both laughed until their sides hurt.

  CHAPTER 19

  ‘You look really out of place.’

  Charlie wasn’t bothered, ‘Don’t care. I see you managed to get your ambassadorial robes out of the cleaners.’

  The Chief snorted, ‘I wore them once then they were burned when I fell ill. These are replacements. The Emperor made me pay for them myself.’

  Charlie checked the cuff links on his suit. ‘Well you’re not the only one that feels odd. This is my first suit.’

  ‘The first suit to ever be worn in the Modloch Empire. You look smart Charlie, but weird.’

  ‘Aye well, from what I have been able to find out, arty types dress fucking weird on every planet. We should fit right in.’

  ‘Still not sure this is going to work.’

  ‘It is all legal and above-board.’

  They were sitting in a small room. Small trees grew next to the large window, which let in a lot of light. The seating was typically Modloch. For the Chief comfortable, for Charlie huge. A young female secretary seemed to be squirming in her seat.

  ‘By the way that female is rubbing her arse against that seat, I would say you were a big hit already.’

  The Chief looked down his long nose, ‘Don’t be vulgar Charlie. It isn’t anywhere near the mating season.’ He looked back up with a bit of a sniff. A few minutes later he looked back at Charlie, ‘Do you think she likes me?’

  ‘It would seem you are quite famous and the highest ranked Modloch male that has passed through these doors in a while. She knows you are single and is at this moment having strange fantasies about you.’

  ‘You’re shitting me!’

  ‘What’s all the squealing about?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  Charlie shook his head, ‘OK, enough of that. Smile at her.’

  The Chief couldn’t help himself and smiled. He was rewarded with
one twice as big. She came to her feet, ‘Would you like something to drink ambassador? You and your, uh, Human thing.’

  The Chief beamed, ‘I would love something. I would only feed the Human thing a little water though. They react badly to most of our drinks.’

  ‘We have Takana, or Elone.’

  ‘Takana will be fine.’

  ‘I will be straight back.’

  ‘I’m fine, nothing for me thank you.’ Charlie called after her as she walked away.

  She hesitated for a moment and stared at Charlie, ‘Oh! OK Human.’

  She disappeared and the Chiefs head snapped round, ‘Well?’

  ‘What’s a Heyostie?’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘She is wondering if you would accept one from a class of female like her.’

  The Chief took a deep breath, ‘Honestly?’

  ‘What the hell is it?’

  ‘It is a form of greeting.’

  ‘Oh aye? Is that all it is?’

  ‘No, a female who has reached a certain age and has sexually matured will let a male of her choice know that she will consider a formal mating with him.’

  ‘Sounds a bit weird to me.’

  ‘It’s just how it is done Charlie.’

  ‘Aye well, considering the images I was getting from her mind, I think she is already on the honeymoon.’

  ‘Charlie... where have you been all my life?’

  ‘Rhetorical question?’

  ‘Obviously!’

  The both laughed. She returned and handed the Chief his glass. Her hand lingered on his for a split second longer than necessary.

  The Chief beamed, ‘Thank you very much.’

  She beamed back, ‘A pleasure, ambassador.’

  It was another ten minutes before she stood and ushered them into another room. Charlie thought it would have suited the offices of any music company back on Earth. It was certainly an over the top display of wealth, and the two soldiers felt out of place.

  A grizzled old Modloch got to his feet and bowed low. ‘Ambassador, you grace this humble company with your presence. I am the owner Grotivh. When I heard you were coming today I took the opportunity to meet you personally. How may we be of assistance?’

  ‘I am acting as a patron for my friend here. His name is Charlie Murison. He wishes to approach you about selling and distributing Human music throughout the Empire.’