“It kind of looks like if somebody took New York City, covered it in neon, and blew it up big enough to cover the entire moon,” Cassie murmured. “And look—that must be the palace!”
She pointed to a vast structure that covered multiple city blocks. Unlike the skyscrapers around it, it was a long, low building made of shimmering black marble that glistened with the reflected neon of the rest of the city-planet.
“That’s it, all right,” Stone said, frowning. “Let’s land and see if we can locate Commander Sylvan’s contact. He told me that the male’s posting is at the Northwest corner of the palace complex—I think I see a public parking area there.”
They circled low over the palace and landed in a vast, paved lot with many other, diverse-looking vehicles. Some looked like land-bound conveyances, some were clearly spaceships, and many, like Stone’s shuttle, appeared to be a hybrid of both.
Stone got on a private channel for a moment and began speaking in an alien language which, Cassie found to her delight, she could understand. She’d been given a dose of translation bacteria before leaving the Mother Ship and told that it would enable her to both decipher and speak foreign tongues. But this was the first time she’d seen—or rather heard—the bacteria in action and it seemed amazing that she could understand the strange words coming out of her partner’s mouth.
“We are travelers from afar, looking for assistance and employment,” Stone said, in the strange, alien language, that sounded a little like French mixed with Russian with some burbling sounds thrown in. “Can anyone help us? We can’t pay, but our appreciation will be eternal.”
Apparently he was talking in some kind of code because after a moment, a voice came back over the channel he was using, speaking in the same alien language.
“Travelers from afar, I am willing to offer assistance, though the payment is only your appreciation,” it said.
“That’s him,” Stone murmured, nodding to Cassie. “Thank you, kind friend,” he replied. “Allow me to give you our coordinates so that we may meet face-to-face.”
“I await the coordinates,” the voice replied.
Stone rattled them off and then shut off the communication.
“Now what?” Cassie asked him.
“Now we wait.” Stone frowned. “And hope that this contact is as loyal to Commander Sylvan as we were led to believe.”
“He’s getting paid to be, isn’t he?” Cassie asked, frowning.
“Yes, that’s the problem. A mercenary who cares only for credit isn’t always the most reliable contact,” Stone said. “In fact—”
He was interrupted by a knock at the door of the shuttle and a voice hissing, “A friend has arrived.”
“Well, that certainly didn’t take long,” Cassie remarked as Stone went to open the door, blaster in hand. “He must have been really close by.”
Stone nodded and opened the door warily, keeping his blaster where the contact could see it.
When the door swung open, they were greeted by the sight of a short, squat humanoid with greenish-gray skin and a snout like a pig’s. He had small, squinty eyes and he was wearing armor made of what looked like lots of crushed tin cans somehow linked together. They rattled whenever he moved.
“I am a friend—a friend!” he hissed, when he saw Stone’s blaster. “Put that away!”
“Let me see your hands,” Stone demanded harshly. “Whose friend are you?”
“I am Pocker, friend of Commander Sylvan,” the pig-man muttered, dropping his voice so that the name was barely audible, even as he raised his empty hands, which had three thick fingers apiece. “Do not keep me waiting outside—we are in danger if anyone sees me helping you.”
“Come in, then, Pocker. But keep your hands where I can see them.”
“Is the trust of the Kindred so little, then?” the pig-man demanded, but he came into the shuttle anyway, still holding up his bare, green-gray hands to show that they were still empty.
“We’ll trust you when you prove you can be trusted,” Stone told him. He sealed the door and pressed a button on the instrument panel, then turned back to their contact. “All right, we’re sealed in a cone of silence. Now talk—Commander Sylvan told us you could help us get jobs in the palace so we could infiltrate Xempi Gozeriam’s inner circle.”
“All I can do is introduce you and vouch for you,” the pig-man protested. “I cannot actually guarantee you will get jobs! What jobs are you wanting, anyway? I sent Commander Sylvan several of the listings and of course, there are always openings for new actors.”
“We aren’t interested in acting in any of Gozeriam’s porn vids,” Stone snapped. “We heard there were openings for a botanist to work in the labs where he grows and develops his aphrodisiacs and a position in the royal corps of body-guards. Those are the jobs we’re looking to fill.”
“Oh, yes. Yes, indeed!” The pig-man nodded eagerly. “But, forgive me, my Lord Kindred, I do fear that Xempi Gozeriam will not be interested in hiring you for such a position, as all his guards are female.”
“That’s going to be my job,” Cassie told him. “I’m the one who’s going to apply for the guard position.”
“You are?” The pig-man looked so surprised that Cassie was offended.
“Do you think I can’t do it?” she demanded. “I’m a detective first-class on my own planet.”
“My partner can handle guarding Xempi Gozeriam, with no problems,” Stone assured their contact, backing her up to Cassie’s gratification.
“Well, there may be one small problem.” Pocker frowned, wrinkling his snout. “Though, I guess you might not find it a problem. Different peoples view things differently, though I always thought that the Kindred were very possessive of their females.”
“What are you talking about? What problem?” Cassie asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Why, the problem—if you choose to call it a problem— is that the private guard of Xempi Gozeriam are not simply bodyguards—they are also his personal whores.”
“His what?” Stone’s voice was a muted roar. “What in the Seven Hells are you talking about?”
“I am talking of the fact that Xempi Gozeriam penetrates all of his guards multiple times a night—sometimes all at once,” the pig-man said matter-of-factly. “Also, he never allows them to leave his service.”
“But…but I heard he wasn’t even humanoid!” Cassie protested. “Somebody told me he was a, uh, Slimerian, I think.”
“Oh, so he is!” Pocker nodded vigorously. “Which means that he can exude pseudo slime-shafts from anywhere on his body. These he uses to penetrate his guards—in all available orifices, I might add.”
“But that’s…that’s horrible,” Cassie exclaimed.
“Completely unacceptable,” Stone growled. “My partner is not to be penetrated.”
“Don’t get mad at the messenger!” the pig-man snorted indignantly. “You should be thanking poor Pocker for warning you before you had to spread your cracks and crevices for the slime-shafts of his Greatness.”
“He has a point,” Cassie said reluctantly, looking at Stone. “But what are we going to do now? We can’t both apply for the lab—I’m no good at science. I wouldn’t have the first idea of what to do.”
“There is only one position open for the lab, anyway,” Pocker said.
“Well, are there currently any other, uh, job openings in the palace? Preferably something that would give us the run of the place,” Cassie asked him.
But their contact shook his head.
“Alas there are very few non-actor jobs, as of the latest postings, which went up earlier today. And before you ask, new postings will not be up for another solar month.”
“That’s too long to wait,” Stone said, frowning. “We must find The Beast and bring him to justice before he leaves the palace and hurts any other females.”
“Oh, The Beast? You have an interest in him?” The pig-man’s tiny eyes widened. “I saw him come in just recently. He’s rumored to
be the favorite of his Slimefullness just now. I would imagine he dines at the head table every night.”
“There—you see? He’s already inside!” Cassie exclaimed. “We have to find a way to get in without anyone suspecting. But how?”
Stone frowned thoughtfully.
“You talked about the palace’s job listings,” he said to the pig-man. “Where can we find them?”
“Oh, that’s easy enough, my Lord Kindred,” their contact said eagerly. “If you have access to the Ether-net, you can look them up.”
Stone moved back to the control panel.
“Tell me what to enter.”
The pig-man rattled off a series of numbers and letters and soon enough, a listing popped up on the viewscreen. It was written in some alien language with lots of squiggly, unfamiliar characters, but Cassie found that after a moment, the characters resolved themselves into English words she could read just fine. Thanks again, no doubt, to the translation bacteria.
“Look,” she said excitedly. “There’s a position—Head Chef. What about that one, Stone?”
“I can cook enough to take care of my female—if I ever Claim her—but I doubt my culinary skills are up to the challenge of running an industrial-sized kitchen,” Stone said dryly. “Are yours?”
“Well, I mean, I helped with my sister’s wedding, that was a pretty big job,” Cassie began doubtfully.
“Can either of you cook Slimerian cuisine?” Pocker asked cautiously. “Word has it that his Greatness, Xempi Gozeriam, had his last chef executed because he burned the blarba grubs and did not allow the lousen slime to congeal to the correct consistency.”
“No, we don’t,” Stone said shortly.
“And it sounds disgusting,” Cassie added.
“I’m afraid that neither of you had better apply for the Head Chef position, then,” Pocker said, shaking his head.
“Too bad.” Cassie sighed. “Um…what about that one?” She pointed to the screen. “Tirano trainer. What’s that?”
“Are you well versed in Zodor death porn?” Pocker asked. “They are a species who find it most erotic to have sexual congress with a beast which might eat them at any time. The tirano trainer is one who minds the giant predatory lizards which are the stars of many of their pornographic scenarios.”
“Giant predatory lizards?” Cassie asked faintly. She couldn’t help thinking of pictures of the Tyrannosaurus Rex from Earth. Who would be crazy enough to try and have sex with something like that?
“I believe the last tirano trainer was eaten,” the pig-man told her. “Just last week during the filming of a particularly sensual scene. He and the star of the show were both bitten in two at the moment of orgasm—it was considered an erotic triumph! But of course, now they have need of a new trainer.”
“We won’t be applying for that position, either,” Stone said dryly. “What about this one?” He pointed to the screen. “Aqueous tank cleaner? There are two positions listed there.”
“That would be in the west wing of the palace, where all the water-based pornography is filmed for aqueous-living societies,” Pocker told them. “Alas, the job is performed completely underwater. Unless you are able to hold your breath for hours at a time, or the two of you have gills which are not presently visible, I do not believe you will be considered for the open positions in the tank.”
“Well that’s it for service-based jobs,” Cassie said, throwing up her hands. “The only thing left is this list of actors wanted for different kinds of porn.” She pointed to a long list at the bottom of the screen.
“I’m afraid you’re right.” Stone scrolled slowly downward, reading silently to himself. At last, he looked up at Cassie. “Cassandra, I’m afraid picking one of these may be the only thing we can do.”
“But…but, Stone!” Cassie could feel her heart starting to race and her cheeks getting hot. “We can’t do porn together. I mean, we’re best friends and all but that would just be so…so awkward.”
“I know,” he said grimly. “But I don’t see any other choice.”
“It’s a simple question, my Lady,” the pig-man said to Cassie. “Would you rather be fucked by Xempi Gozeriam or fucked by your partner? If you’ll pardon my rude language,” he added, bobbing a respectful bow.
Cassie didn’t even have to think about that.
“I’d rather have Stone, of course! But I just can’t—”
“Here it is—I’ve got it!” Stone’s voice was excited. He turned to Cassie, his eyes blazing. “I’ve found the right cover for us, Cassandra.”
“What? What is it?” Cassie leaned forward eagerly, looking at the listing he was pointing at. She frowned. “What does that mean—performers for Yonnite Pornography?”
“It means it’s porn for Yonnie Six,” Stone told her.
“Which is…where?” Cassie shook her head. “I’m sorry, Stone, I don’t see why this is perfect for us. I’ve never heard of this place before in my life and it’s still porn, right?”
“It is a very specific type of pornography,” Stone told her. “Remember when you told me back on Earth there was ‘good porn’ that was made by women for women?”
“Uh, yes. So?” Cassie asked, still not understanding.
“So on Yonnie Six, all porn is made for women by women. It is a planet run entirely by women,” Stone explained patiently.
“Yes, so it is!” Pocker exclaimed. “And all the males there are body-slaves, so I’ve heard.”
“Slaves?” Cassie asked uncomfortably. “But Stone, I don’t want to treat you like a slave.”
“It would only be an act, Cassandra,” her partner said patiently. “Look, the most important thing to know is that the Yonnites never allow a male to penetrate them. So whatever we did, you wouldn’t have to worry about me actually…”
“Fucking you!” Pocker said brightly to Cassie.
Stone glared at the pig-man.
“Your input is not needed here.”
“Well…” Cassie frowned. “So if there’s no, uh, penetration then what kind of stuff would we be, um doing?”
“Lots of female worship, I would think,” Stone said. “I know the Yonnites have their bodyslaves massage and bathe them. I imagine it would be a lot of that kind of thing.”
“But you’d still have to see me naked,” Cassie protested. Her heart was pounding. “And what about, er, tasting?”
Her voice dropped to a whisper and she could feel her cheeks getting hot. Damn it, she didn’t want to sit here blushing like a schoolgirl in front of Stone! But she couldn’t seem to help herself. The mental image of the big Kindred on his knees, between her thighs was intensely erotic…and intensely scary. What if he didn’t want to do that to her? Or what if he did?
Either way, it was intensely embarrassing.
Stone looked at her directly.
“I believe I have told you how I feel about tasting, Cassandra,” he murmured in a low, sensual voice that seemed to stroke along her skin like silk. “If we are required to do a scene of that nature, I will be more than eager.”
“But Stone—” she began.
“Though I imagine what we do will be more in the nature of massage and Mistress-care,” he went on easily. “We can even tell Xempi Gozeriam that is our specialty, if you like.”
“Oh, yes. Yes, maybe that might be a good idea.” Cassie nodded. She was a modest person, as a rule, but she did enjoy going for a massage once in a while. Though she always asked for a female massage therapist, she remembered uneasily. Since the idea of a strange man running his hands all over her body made her distinctly uncomfortable.
But it won’t be a strange man—it’ll be Stone, she told herself. And he doesn’t seem to mind the idea of massaging me.
Besides which, this seemed to be their only chance of infiltrating the palace to accomplish their three goals.
Destroy the Pain Fruit plants, get the snuff film, and arrest The Beast, she told herself. That’s all you have to do.
She thought of
Brittany Hastings, hanging from the St Andrew’s cross, broken and bloody and of poor little petite Leela, no less broken than the other victim, though she was still alive, after she had been brutalized by The Beast.
I have to do this for them, Cassie told herself. And if this is the only way to do get into the palace, then I’m damn well going to take it!
“All right,” she said, looking up at Stone, who had been waiting patiently for her to think things through. “Let’s go for it. I’m your Mistress and you’re my, uh, body-slave. Right?”
“Exactly.” He nodded. “Let me just tell you a little more about how they act on Yonnie Six and then we will present ourselves at the palace.”
“Well, it seems my work here is done.” Pocker bowed to each of them. “I must get back to my post before anyone misses me but I will bring you to the palace and introduce you as soon as you are ready.”
“Just give us a few minutes to get into character and we’ll be there,” Stone told him.
Pocker bobbed his melon-shaped head amiably.
“Indeed, indeed. Happy to have been of service. Please let Commander Sylvan know that I am still his loyal friend.”
“We’ll do that,” Stone said dryly.
The pig-man nodded and turned towards the door—then turned back.
“Before I go, might I just warn your Kindred Lordship to be mindful of Xempi Gozeriam’s colors.”
“His what?” Stone frowned.
“His colors,” Pocker repeated. “He often won’t tell you if he is pleased or not, but you can tell by the shimmer of his slime. Blue or green means he is in a reasonably good mood. Gray and purple means boredom—which can be dangerous if you are performing for him, for it means your act doesn’t merit his interest. But when he starts to turn yellow or orange or especially red, then watch out! That means His Great Slimefullness is most displeased and a beheading might not be far behind.”
“A beheading?” Cassie asked, aghast. “Does he really kill people so easily?”
The pig-man shrugged.
“Why do you think there are always job listings at the palace, my Lady?”
“Thank you for the warning,” Stone said, frowning. “We will certainly take it to heart. Now please leave—I have much to teach my partner if we’re going to do a passable imitation of a Yonnite Mistress and her body-slave.”
Playing Their Parts: A Kindred Tales Novel Page 12
