Trash & Treasure

Spaceport: Trash & Treasure Mikala Ash All rights reserved. Copyright ©2008 Mikala Ash Warning: The unauthorized re...

Author: Ash Mikala

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Spaceport: Trash & Treasure Mikala Ash All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2008 Mikala Ash

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is

illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary

gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison

and a fine of $250,000.

ISBN: 978-1-59596-951-4

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Publisher:

Changeling Press LLC

PO Box 1046

Martinsburg, WV 25402-1046

www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Vicki S. Burklund

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Spaceport: Trash & Treasure Mikala Ash Award-winning reporter for the Adana Observer Holly Barberossa finds herself once again in her natural environment, hot water. Antagonizing the Dollavera “brothers,” a family of clones who run the Amalgamated Spaceport Guild of Scavengers, with a series of damaging exposés was bound to drop her into a cauldron of trouble but when a dismembered body, an abused robot and a scared alien entity are thrown into the mix then Holly is really in the soup. Then there’s Maxim Dollavera who, she hopes, is not like his “brothers.” A man with his smoldering good looks just can’t be a bad guy, can he? Trying for a surprise interview Holly walks in on him and his male lover, Felis Panthera, a randy Leonine with equally attractive attributes. Forget the story, she hopes there’s room for one more in Maxim’s erotic world. But she can’t forget a story, that’s her problem, and her greatest strength. Will Maxim’s brothers allow Holly to walk all over them in the media without retribution? Will Maxim welcome her into his world when she is trying to destroy his brothers? And just who are the bad guys, really? These and other questions boil over in Spaceport: Trash & Treasure, a Holly Barberossa erotic adventure.

Chapter One I need a beer. With an emphatic click, Holly Barberossa snapped off her smartcam while K. Dollavera was still flapping his jaws, the bombastic Guild executive ever eager to have the last word. Asshole! It had been a helluva day. She’d lost her cool and she knew it. Vinnie would gripe about it in the morning, give her the old lecture about getting more with sugar than… hell, she couldn’t remember how that homily ended even though she’d heard it a thousand times. I need a beer. The Haze was only ten minutes away. She could almost taste the amber fluid, not to mention the plate of ribs she’d have to go along with it. The image of her favorite meal, dripping with that mouth watering Altaran sauce the cook at the Haze used, filled her mind and worked its magic on her salivary glands. Her empty stomach gave a sustained and hopeful cheer. She hadn’t stopped for lunch, running from one end of Adana to the other; interviewing idiots and assholes, fending off the groping hands of hopeful pedestrians trying to cop a feel, being kidnapped and fucking led around blindfolded by amateurs on the run (as if they really thought I couldn’t figure out where they took me, geeze!), gassed by a flatulent Fedoran, given the cold shoulder by the fucking head of ’Port Security (I’ll put her on a fucking spit and roast her slow), and to top it off that fucking asshole Dollavera trying to wheedle out of not spilling the beans about the gang war brewing right under his and his goddamn brothers’ fucking noses (brothers, there’s a misnomer for you, fucking brothers my ass, fucking clones).

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Clones. She took a deep and sustained breath. Good looking clones, sexy clones who boiled her juices every time she was within ten meters of their athletic bulk. Bastards. She ordered her thoughts and skipped through the interview with Riz Gitto, the retired head of ’Port Security and CEO of Adana’s newest private security firm. She could tell he wanted her badly, his pale gray eyes undressing her six times during the five minutes she talked to him. He wasn’t bad looking for an old guy and would be a useful contact, so she’d fluttered her dark lashes back at him and deflected his request for a date with the usual stop kidding around, I’m working line and jumped into the interview with that asshole K. Dollavera. At least Riz hadn’t made a grab for her tits. Exactly why she let Dollavera get under her skin she couldn’t fathom. It wasn’t just that he was a slimy asshole. No doubt it had something to do with the fact that she’d dated (a couple of times) his “brother” Zweep, the Sentient Resources Controller of the family monopoly, the Amalgamated Spaceport Guild of Scavengers. She’d dumped Zweep at the first inkling of his suspicious business dealings. No way could she compromise her journalistic standards by seeing the man at the center of what could be the biggest scandal in Adana history. The fact that she let him go not ten minutes after she met their “brother” Maxim might, she conceded, have had something more to do with it other than being a breathtaking coincidence. Maxim, the New Year’s Eve hero who had risked his life to save others from a terrible disaster, was something special. There was a guy who knew how to boil the juices, and what made him yummier was that he didn’t even know he did it. The thought of Maxim being caught up in a shady family business was giving her sleepless nights. He’d been away, supposedly scavenging, for the last month, more likely avoiding the hundreds of fans attracted to his celebrity, so she hadn’t been able to talk to him about it. Not that they were on speaking terms yet; he probably didn’t know she even existed. I’ll have to change that little detail.

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If nothing else, her publicly nailing his two brothers would bring her into his orbit soon enough. What worried her was that Maxim seemed smarter than his “brothers,” and even in the brief moments she saw them interact, they seemed to defer to him. Her worst fear was that he was actually in charge of the operation while posing as a loner, supposedly scavenging the asteroid belt for junk. It would be the perfect cover, playing the dirt smeared grunt collecting trash while secretly pulling the strings behind the ’Port Authority. There was a tug at her trouser leg. A grubby face with enormous eyes and a mess of yellow hair looked up and gave her a gap toothed smile. “Hello, sweetie,” Holly said. “Got something for me?” The little angel, one of Adana’s many corridor kids, nodded and cupped a tiny hand near her mouth. Holly knelt down beside her and turned her head, brushing aside her raven hair so the little girl could whisper in her ear. Holly’s heart jumped at the message. “Thank you, sweetie,” she said. “How much?” The girl put up three fingers, indicating there were two others involved in the chain of observers that had brought her this longed-for news. Holly dropped four credits into her small palm and was rewarded with openmouthed astonishment. She always paid more than the going rate. It guaranteed preferment in the Adana rumor mill. So, Maxim Dollavera had returned. He was in customs at this very moment and if she hurried she’d catch him. And then what? She bit her bottom lip and snapped shut her oversized equipment bag. I have no idea, but I’ll think of something. I always do.

*** As foul as it could sometimes be, the recycled air of Adana was welcome in Maxim’s nostrils. He breathed deep and let his deep violet eyes gaze about the customs area. The area was bustling with dozens of travelers and pilots alike queuing to have their IDs screened, bodies searched and motives interrogated by the officious gray

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uniformed custom drones. He hoped his new appearance, sans beard and moustache, would help maintain his anonymity. After New Year’s Eve he hadn’t been able to go anywhere in public without a mob following him. Without the beard he looked just like any of the Dollavera brothers. “Anything to declare?” Maxim gestured to the tray in which he’d placed his personal belongings; wallet, watch, opal handled dagger and the exquisite crystal he brought back for Lila. As the official fingered each in turn Maxim’s eyes were drawn to the giant wall screen on which his idiot “brother” K. Dollavera was being interviewed. He cringed as he listened to K. being sliced and diced by a reporter who was clearly out to get him. As much as Maxim disliked K. -- in fact he thought his brother was a grubby venal swine -- he was “family” and if anyone was going to tear strips off him, it would be family, not this high pitched harridan who obviously needed a hormone adjustment. What a bitch! “She’s good, isn’t she?”

Maxim glared at the official. “That’s a matter of opinion.”

“What’s this?” He was holding up the palm sized crystal.

Maxim glared at him. “A rock. Of no value.”

“Looks like a gemstone to me.”

“It’s a rock,” Maxim repeated, his deep voice neutral but his expression

promising certain violence. The official gazed at him expectantly. Maxim met his stare and waited, counting the seconds. Staring unblinkingly and with menace was a skill Maxim had developed as a child to compete with his “brothers.” He never lost. Eventually uncertainty crossed the official’s face and he looked away. Maxim’s lips curled slightly in bored triumph. He had never paid a bribe in his life and there was no way, no matter how much of a hurry he was in, to start paying them now. “That’s ten credits. Mass Duty.”

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Maxim grabbed his wallet, extracted the coin and flipped it to the official. He dropped the wallet back into the tray and stepped through the scanner which pinged in a friendly manner, confirming he had no weapons or explosives hidden within his tight-fitting cerulean flight suit. The official slid the tray toward him with a scowl and turned his attention to the next sorry individual who already had his fifty credits in his hand. Pocketing his wallet and slipping the watch over his wrist Maxim caught the end of the interview. The camera zeroed in on an attractive black-haired woman with copper sulphate eyes which reminded him of the sublime beauty of the crystal fields on Selaphon IV. “This is Holly Barberossa for the Adana Observer.” The name rang a bell for some reason… “Hey! Maxie!” Maxim spun round and his face broke into a warm smile at the sight of the leonine features of Felis Panthera. The golden-furred pilot, clothed simply in a silk loincloth, bounded toward him on all fours. Bemused bystanders hurriedly parted way for him as he nimbly careened toward Maxim. “Felis!” Felis raised himself on his hind legs and flipped a hundred credits to the bored official, pointing to one of the privacy booths used for body searches. The official gave the merest acknowledgement and returned to his next victim. “I can’t wait, Maxie,” Felis said, grabbing Maxim by the arm and steering him toward the booth. Maxim broke free and returned to the customs bench to grab the crystal from the tray. “It’s for Lila,” he said and gave Felis a helpless shrug. As he made his way back to his friend he caught sight of another of the Barberossa woman’s interviews. This time she’d collared another of his “brothers,” Zweep. “Phong’s arse!” Maxim had a bad feeling that something big had been brewing while he’d been away.

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Felis dragged him into the booth, empty except for a low table, and once the door had slid shut dropped to his knees and opened Maxim’s flight suit. Maxim was more than ready, had been for months, and his hard cock jumped out and bounced on Felis’s chin. “That’s what I like to see,” Felis said, one hand grasping the thick shaft and the other cupping Maxim’s balls. “Enthusiasm! Let me reward you.” Maxim threw his head back in pure pleasure as Felis took him into his hot wet mouth. Felis gave the best blow jobs, being able to take Maxim’s not inconsiderable length all the way without gagging and actually licking the underside of his ball sac while his cock’s swollen head was firmly embedded deep in his throat. Maxim closed his eyes and played with Felis’s golden fur, curling the tight mane between his fingers, as his lover licked his shaft and took him deep. “Oh, Phong,” Maxim gasped. His balls were tightening and his shaft swelling. He was close, oh so close. Being so long deprived of Felis’s magic touch, he knew he wasn’t going to last long, not this first time at least. Felis withdrew his mouth with a loud satisfied pop. “Not yet, lover. I’ve gone a whole month without you in my tail.” Not that he’d deprive himself of other willing cocks, Maxim knew. But he didn’t care. Felis deserved pleasure like anyone else. “Fuck me!” Felis stood up, turned his back to Maxim and leaned over the table. Lifting his loin cloth over his hips, he wiggled his ass enticingly. With pleasure. Maxim spread those golden-furred ass cheeks and exposed the tight hole beneath the stub of Felis’s truncated tail. Felis had already lubed his ass in preparation. Obviously he’d been looking forward to their reunion. Maxim luxuriated in the final exquisite moments of anticipation and nudged the puckered hole with the head of his cock. “Fuck me,” Felis urged. He was stroking his own cock with one hand and was reaching through his legs for Maxim’s balls with the other.

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Maxim leaned forward and, as his cock pushed the wrinkled entrance open, the door of the booth slid aside. A woman’s head, haloed in black, appeared, her blue eyes gleaming in amusement. “Oh, hello.” “Phong’s arse! Who the fuck are you?” She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. “Holly Barberossa. Pleased to meet you… both.” “Fuck off!” She bit her bottom lip and gazed speculatively down the juncture of their bodies, separated by the length of Maxim’s shaft. “Do you mind?” Felis said. “I’m waiting for something.” Maxim suddenly remembered where he’d seen her before. Just before he’d lit out on his latest trip, his “brother” Zweep had cried into his wine about how this bitch had dumped him. Was that why she was out to get them? Zweep had blamed her, of course, called her colder than Phong’s left tit, but maybe he’d done something to her and she was out for revenge. Whatever motivation was behind her taking pot shots at his “brothers” she was smiling at him now, though her eyes were locked on his cock still nudging Felis’s asshole. “I don’t mind at all.” She folded her arms as if she was waiting for them to continue. “Carry on.” “Bugger off!” She chuckled brazenly. “I’ll defer to your expertise in that area. I can see you’re soon going to be up to your balls and too busy to talk so I’ll take a rain check… for the moment. I’ll be at the Haze later, having a beer. I’ll look forward to seeing you… both of you if you like… in a little while.” “Get the fuck out of here!” “I’ll be at the Haze. Believe me, it’s in your interests to see me.” She gave him an enigmatic smile, whacked Felis on the nearest ass cheek and with a final conspiratorial wink slipped out of the booth. Maxim stood in stunned stupefaction.

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“What’s that all about?” Felis asked, wriggling his butt to refocus Maxim’s attention. It worked. Maxim stepped closer and his cock, regaining its former rigidity, easily pushed into the tight hole. He closed his eyes and tried to recapture the expectations he’d been nurturing while he’d been away; Felis’s musky scent and the tightness and deep pulsating heat of his body as it closed around Maxim’s shaft. Felis reached between his legs and fondled Maxim’s balls, urging him to begin fucking. He did so in a somewhat desultory fashion, with long slow thrusts, building up to a flesh slapping crescendo which made Felis purr with pleasure. With great enthusiasm Felis pushed back against Maxim’s thrusts and usually this would raise Maxim’s arousal to great heights. He’d lose himself in the sheer mindless physicality of fucking. He’d grip his lover tightly around the hips and energetically plough into his willing body. Today Felis’s unrestrained gusto failed to ignite this baser instinct within Maxim and though his body remembered what to do, like a long distance runner whose legs continued to pump beyond the limits of physical endurance, Maxim’s heart lagged behind, a loser in the race to ecstasy. Maxim’s orgasm wasn’t near as powerful or as pleasurable as he had hoped, more a perfunctory release than explosion of passion. Not what he had anticipated at all. He’d been fantasizing about his first fuck with Felis every day for the last month, stroking himself to orgasm whenever he was off watch, dreaming of Felis’s hard caresses, his warm mouth and tight ass. Felis came with a cry as Maxim’s come filled his ass, his lover’s sphincter clenching around the shaft as he pumped his juice deep inside him. Felis collapsed over the table, his breathing coming in heavy gasps as his own cock spurted his load onto the floor. Maxim was breathing hard too, but not in the convulsive inhalations of passion he had so longed for. Barberossa’s rude interruption had taken the zest out of him and he’d continued more with the intention of giving Felis a dutiful pronging than gaining the pleasure he’d hoped for himself. But there would be time for more engaging sex when he got settled in his apartment.

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“I have some news,” Felis said, turning around after Maxim had withdrawn his glazed cock. “Shoot.” “I already have, lover. Um, I don’t know how to say this, but here goes. I’m shipping out.” “When?” “Now. My ship is in standby as we speak.” Maxim was stunned. “Why so soon?” “Got lucky, lover. Finally, thank Phong. My number came up in the Guild lottery. I have a month to scavenge a little rock on the far side all by myself before it’s opened up to our rapacious brethren. It’s my chance to finally make something of my sorry ass.” “Oh.”

“Oh. Is that all you have to say?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Take me with you, you dumb shit. Say, Felis, take me with you, I want to help

you make something of your sorry ass and I want to fuck it while you do.”

Chapter Two The crowd in the Haze Bar & Grill gave her three cheers for making K. Dollavera look like an asshole. She smiled, graciously accepted their congratulations and encouragement, saying that it wasn’t hard to make K. Dollavera look like an asshole, which earned her another roar of approval. The huge bouncer parted the way for her to the bar. By the time she’d reached it the third cheer had subsided enough for her to grab a beer, a Hazer, the specialty of the house, and order her ribs. Cradling the pint glass carefully she found a corner table in the quiet part of the cramped watering hole and sat down. Her legs were like jelly and not from the attentions of the crowd. The erotic sight she’d walked in on at customs had knocked her out of orbit. She took a long swig and let the icy cold and slightly acidic brew worm its way down her gullet. So, Maxim liked big cocked lion boys. Well, so did she, as it happened. Lurid and libidinous images of the three of them contorting together in a big bed curled deliciously in her brain and her body responded accordingly. She’d been fighting the shivery feeling in her chest and that sultry heat between her thighs ever since leaving Maxim and his feline “friend” to their pleasure in the customs cubicle. Now safely seated with a cold beer in her hands, she hoped to calm herself and figure out what she was going to say to him if he showed up. To that end she attempted to banish those erotic images and was assisted in this ambition by the arrival of her ribs swimming in Altaran sauce. Sauce was dribbling over her chin when Maxim Dollavera stormed into the bar. His furious scowl cut a path through the crowd as effectively as the huge bouncer had and once he sighted her he clicked his fingers at the bar and swerved toward her without missing a beat.

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He dropped himself unasked into the seat opposite her. His violet eyes fixed her like one of her best leading questions. She met his glare without fear. No one out stared her. She was an expert at that game. As time slid by, the seconds turning into minutes, she was acutely aware of a dollop of sauce slowly sliding from the corner of her mouth down to her chin where it hung in mid air by a string of what she guessed, with supreme embarrassment, was saliva. She considered dabbing at it with her napkin but not wanting to give the impression she cared one jot what he thought of her, she decided not to break the standoff. Her face flushed when she realized his eyes had followed the sauce’s indefatigable course and was now mirroring its pendulum-like motion. I win! Yet, such a victory was not honorable. If she claimed to have out stared him he could easily make the counterclaim, quite rightly she admitted, that she had distracted him unfairly with the unusual ploy of not wiping her face. So, there was nothing for it but to continue staring at those strangely violet eyes. A strikingly attractive arthropod waitress arrived with his beer, a Hazer, and hovered awkwardly, furtively fidgeting with her little order book clutched in her pincers. A long minute went by before he said, without shifting his gaze which had, Holly noted, returned to her eyes, that he would have the ribs, adding that he would have them without the sauce. Well, this is fucking ridiculous! But losing was unthinkable at this late stage of the battle. Fuck! From the other corner of her mouth a second dollop of sauce had gathered sufficient mass to begin its laborious and, as it turned out, circuitous route down her face, taking a detour into the dimple above her chin. She only hoped that when it reached the apex of her chin and combined its weight with the first glop it would be too much for the saliva string which would break and release her from the embarrassing aspect of this battle of nerves.

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While locked in this mutual gaze she tried to get a sense of his face without breaking contact with his eyes. Her peripheral vision suggested he was in no way different from his “brothers” in looks, though the determined set to his jaw was far more powerful than any of his “family” she had so far encountered. How many times had she stared K. Dollavera into a slimy puddle on the decking? She’d even wrapped Zweep around her finger, in the short duration of their acquaintance… but this one… he was far more of a challenge. So much for nature versus nurture. Nurture has won hands down in his case. But what sort of nurturing had given rise to him and not created the same venal grasping natures of his “brothers?” Speaking of which. “Maxim!” His physical double slapped him on the back of his head. “I just heard you got back.” Maxim looked up at him, fury consuming his expression. Damn! I can’t claim that. You asshole, K.! “Get lost, K.” “What are you doing with this slash?” “Watch out, K.,” she said, hastily wiping her chin with a napkin. “I have my smartcam on.” “Shit. See me later, Maxim. It’s important.” “Fuck off, K,” Maxim ordered. K. Dollavera fucked off. “So, no love lost there,” she muttered, paying particular attention to her plate and replacing the napkin in her lap. That was a mistake because it drew her attention to the throbbing heat between her thighs. “That was a draw,” he said.

“Want a rematch?”

“Not just now, my ribs are coming.”

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The waitress deposited his plate on the table in front of him. She also made a show of depositing a bottle of sauce. “Hazel said you might want this. She said you normally have your ribs with sauce.” He cleared his throat. “Yes, thank Hazel for me. I appreciate that.” Holly suppressed a smile and decided to open a conversation. “Where’s your friend?” He poured the sauce over his ribs, keeping his eyes focused on his plate. Holly gave him her best smile. “You came sooner than I expected. Just a quickie was it?” Maxim cut into his ribs and forked a piece into his mouth. “He was quite cute.” He chewed quite deliberately fifteen times before swallowing. She was careful to keep her gaze away from his iodine eyes, just for now. Another skirmish of staring would be too distracting. He took a sip of beer. “He’s left Adana.” “Oh, what a shame.” He flicked her a quizzical glance then returned his gaze to his plate. She picked up her beer and toyed with it awhile. She really hadn’t planned what she wanted to say to him. So, tell me. Are you crooked? Because I don’t want to fuck someone and find out he’s a gangster. That wouldn’t do. “Why did you intrude on us like that?” She jumped at the unmistakable threatening tone submerged in the honey of his voice. “I wanted to ask you some questions. I’m a reporter, you know.” “Why are you harassing my brothers?” Wait a minute, buster. I ask the questions around here. “Are you their protector?” “Is it because Zweep dumped you?” “I dumped him!” Damn. I reacted. One point to him. “There are some unusual things going on with the Guild,” she said quickly before he got another point in. “I want to know if you’re part of it.”

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“Is this an interview?”

“Not unless you want it to be one. I intended it to be just background, but I can

have the smartcam record if you want.” “Background about what?” “The Amalgamated Spaceport Guild of Scavengers, your ‘family’ monopoly.” “It’s a cooperative begun by my great-great-grandfather. It began as a means of protecting the income and status of scavengers…” Maxim began. “I’m more interested in modern history. Is the ASGS a front for illegal activities?” “Are you always so aggressively rude?” “I beg your pardon?” “Do many people take offense to your techniques?” “Leaving my interviewing style aside, is the ASGS a front?” “How would I know?” “You’re a Dollavera, aren’t you?” “You know I am. But I am a scavenger. My Guild membership is 107 and I work for a living by going out into the Tee and scavenging.” Holly blinked in confusion. “Excuse me, what’s the Tee?” “It’s just a word. What I’m getting at is I am not the ASGS. I’m only a Guild member, like hundreds of others, but I have nothing to do with its management.” “So, you’re distancing yourself from your brothers.” “I don’t know. Should I be?” “Do you normally answer questions with questions?” “Do you normally react so aggressively when you get asked a question?” “Only when someone uses a question to deflect a line of questioning they don’t want to answer.” “Are you saying your irascibility is professional frustration rather than a personality trait?” “Very funny. Do you know if your brothers are corrupt?” “No. But do you really think that I’d tell you if I did?”

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“I don’t know. Would you?” Maxim wiped the sauce off his mouth with his napkin. “Good question. Now, it’s been an interesting experience to meet with you. I have a birthday party to go to, so if you’ll excuse me.” “Oh, sure.” Her disappointment at his leaving surprised Holly, as did the fact her voice betrayed it. He stood up and paused, hovering above her. “There’s no reason we should ever meet again, is there?” His purple-black eyes sparkled coldly. “Not if you’re clean.” “Then it’s goodbye.”

Chapter Three What the fuck am I doing? He hadn’t intended to flirt with the little vixen but there was something so damned attractive about her she had sucked him into it. How he’d held himself back and not licked that damn sauce off her damn chin he didn’t know. It had required all his willpower not to take her slight body into his arms and… For Phong’s sake, get a grip! He waited patiently while Klin Mulock, the Mendovian jeweler, polished the just completed locket. He’d set the stone he’d cut earlier from the crystal Maxim had left with him before going to the Haze. The old craftsman handed it to Maxim with a flourish, his thin lips split into a proud smile. “That’s beautiful,” Maxim said in appreciation. Mulock then presented him with an intricately worked box made of one of the rarest commodities, wood. “What would you like me to do with the rest of the crystal, Mr. Dollavera?” Maxim placed the locket into the box and carefully closed its lid. “Do your magic and sell them for me as usual.” “My pleasure, Mr. Dollavera.” “Wait, second thought, make me one other pendant… in that design,” he indicated a holographic image depicting a delicate filigree. “Inscription?” Mulock suggested. It was too early for fancy words. “No inscription. Sell the rest.” “As you wish.” Maxim put the box into a pocket of his flight suit and left the shop. “Hey, Maxim, wait up.”

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Just what he needed. K. He didn’t slacken his pace. Let the bastard catch him up if he could. “What did that little bitch Barberossa want?” “What are you and Zweep up to?” “What did she say?” “If you guys are up to something I don’t want to know about it. I made that clear when Ambrose was killed.” “I had nothing to do with that.” “If I ever find out you did, and I don’t care in what degree, brother, I’ll rip you apart.” “She got under your skin, I can see. She does that to everyone. She’s an all round bitch, all the time sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.” “I don’t care what it is. I don’t care where she sticks her nose. But if she becomes a problem for me I’ll rub your nose in it, you understand? Leave me out of everything. I do my work, I keep my nose clean and I don’t want anything to do with you or Zweep. You hear me?” “I hear you, brother. It’s just that she’s hounding us, me and Zweep.” “Then keep your noses clean and she’ll leave you alone.” “Not this one. She’s a damn Mendovian ferret. Thinks she smells something and she doesn’t leave it alone. Even if it wasn’t dirty she’ll make it so.” “Then keep your head down and she’ll move on to something more promising. Phong knows there’s so much corruption in this damn place she’ll be up to her skinny ass in other people’s crap before you know it.” “Yeah, you’re right, of course.” “Now shut up about it. I swear if you upset Lila with any of your crap I’ll personally take you out to the Tee and throw you out the hatch.” “You wouldn’t do that to family.” “Don’t bet on it.”

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They’d come to Dieter’s door and Maxim pushed the buzzer. The door slid open and Lila, an eight-year-old bundle of life, leaped onto his chest and wrapped her skinny arms about his neck. “How’s my favorite niece?” he laughed when he could get a word out between her enthusiastic kisses. “I hate school,” she announced forlornly. “Well, you’re a typical Dollavera then.” The apartment they entered presented a scene unique on Adana, or most anywhere else for that matter. Seated about the main room, awkwardly silent, were fifteen essentially identical males, the Dollavera Clones, and they’d assembled for one reason only: the blonde-haired daughter of their deceased “brother” Ambrose. It was her eighth birthday and the fifth anniversary of her becoming an orphan. Fifteen sets of eyes silently followed their entrance. Maxim put his gift on the central table with the others that circled a massive birthday cake made, he suspected, from real chocolate. K. did the same before moving over to stand beside Zweep and launching into a hushed conversation. From the kitchen came the only other female voice in the apartment, Dieter’s Mendovian wife, Peridae. “Is that Maxim?” she asked as she glided into the living room with her eyestalks waving rhythmically. “Well, it’s about time, isn’t it, Lila? We’ve been waiting for him, haven’t we?” “Not the same without Maxim,” Lila said into his ear. “I know, honey,” he said. “But I’m here now and we’re going to have the best birthday party you’ve ever had.” “Even better than last year?” “Even better,” he said and surveyed his silent morose “family.” What a sorry bunch we are. Of all of them only Dieter had so far found happiness and it showed. He was beaming at his wife from the kitchen. Peridae had once been a Mendovian priestess, an empath on her home world, until Dieter, on one of his trade missions,

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liberated her. Maxim thought it was the other way round; she had saved Dieter from a life of dissolution and he had never been happier. “Cheer up, everybody,” Peridae said after giving Maxim a kiss on the cheek. It was more as a command than an encouragement. “Maxim’s here now and if we don’t have fun, it will be our own fault!” “Here, here,” said Zweep from the other side of the room. K. was standing next to him, whispering at his ear. Zweep raised his glass to Maxim. There was a hint of menace in his black eyes. “It’s time for the entertainment,” Dieter announced. “Lila, are you ready?” She nodded enthusiastically. “Then let the show begin!” Balloons and streamers exploded from the ceiling and a troupe of identical Dollavera clowns, the remaining eight “brothers,” leaped from the bedroom where they’d been hiding and Lila screamed in sheer delight.

*** Vesty Dost shot Holly a stare colder than empty space. Bitch! Holly didn’t know exactly why the peculiar looking woman hated her guts but thought it might have had something to do with a quite innocent comment she’d once made about the older woman’s hair. Vesty was middle-aged, single and attractive in the graceful and sinuous manner of a python. Though she dressed conservatively her most outrageous attribute was her hair. She wrapped her knee length red hair in complicated and artistic coils on top of her head. The configuration making her stand nearly eight feet tall. Her hair was so heavy she walked with her chest thrust forward and her shoulders shoved back for balance, forcing her body into a crooked S shape. As a result her gait was graceful and exotic and she was a conversation stopper everywhere she went. Vesty was the gatekeeper of the Adana Observer and had been for years. The boss, Vinnie Mostoloff, relied on the acerbic bitch to keep the ship afloat, administration wise. He also fawned over her. His lusty desires, however, were not reciprocated. Holly had

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guessed the dynamic during her job interview and had decided to pretend it didn’t exist, believing it to be so much safer that way. Holly swept past her without saying anything and entered Vinnie’s office like a tornado, throwing herself theatrically into a chair before his untidy desk. “Hi, Vinnie.” She’d expected Vinnie to give her an earful but instead he rushed out from behind his desk and wrapped his arms about her shoulders. He held her tight for a moment then seemed to become all awkward. As if suddenly embarrassed by his exuberance he released her. Vinnie Mostoloff was a rotund little man; balding, with pale, watery gray eyes topped by bushy eyebrows that met in the middle and thick fleshy lips sitting above a wobbly, triple chin. He was a widower and drank too much which explained the downward spiral the Observer had been on before Holly arrived with holes in her shoes and empty pockets. “How’s my rising star?” “You’re not sore at me for razzing the Dollaveras?” He sat heavily behind his desk. “Nah. Stick it to ’em.” There was something out of kilter in his demeanor, he was just too animated. “Um, has something happened, Vinnie?” “Nah.” “Has someone leaned on you? Has the ’Port Authority tried to bully you?” He put his head down and shrugged nonchalantly. “The CEO, no less.” “I’m so sorry, Vinnie.” “I can handle ’em. Played with bigger boys than these back in the central systems, by Phong I did. The best you can do for me is not stop what you’re doing, you hear?” “I hear, but if the bastards cause you any grief I’ll shove a spit up their asses and out their mouths and I’ll roast ’em, Vinnie. I swear.” “Just do what you do, that’s enough.” “Okay.”

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“But be careful. Holly, you’ve been a breath of fresh air here in Adana but three months isn’t long enough to know all the movers and shakers and what they’re like. The Dollaveras are old family, been here since the beginning. The clones were brought up tough, always outsiders. Kids called them the alphabet boys, one clone for each letter. They grew up with their fists. When they weren’t fighting each other they were fighting whoever looked at them sideways. They are tough hombres so just be careful of them.” “I will, Vinnie, I will. Um…”

“What is it?”

“Can we do something about the paid advertisements at the end of my posts?

Sometimes it looks like people are buying the stories. It sort of tarnishes my integrity, you know?” He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “Yep. I’ll make sure Vesty separates the advertisers from the story in future.” Holly read between the lines and guessed that he and Vesty already had words over it. It was, she assumed, just another of Vesty’s vain attempts to discredit her. She promised never again to compliment someone on their hair. “What do you have on for today?” Vinnie asked.

“The food scare at Bio-Sus, a missing person and my robot story.”

“Well, have fun.”

“I will.” She stood up and was halfway to the door when she paused. “Speaking

of the clones… Tell me, Vinnie, what do you know of Maxim Dollavera?”

Chapter Four Maxim dropped his plate of steaming scrambled eggs and bacon onto the kitchen bench next to the self-buttering toast. He flicked on the news, picking the Breaking News show rather than the boring ’Port Authority’s Public Service Announcement channel. Holly Barberossa’s dazzling gaze leaped out of the holo-screen. He paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. She was so arresting. She had vitality jumping out of every pore and he wondered what she’d be like in bed. He’d been wondering about the same thing all night. She was reporting from down on level twenty-seven about some sort of food recall. A body had been found in one of the protein vats. A dismembered Mendovian, in point of fact. He gave his bacon a suspicious glare and dropped it back onto his plate. Before signing off, Holly requested anyone knowing the whereabouts of the missing Ernhard Wis to contact her or ’Port Security. Maxim grabbed the remote and flicked through the previous morning’s reports. There were quite a few. Holly obviously started early. She was dedicated, he had to give her that. The interview with the missing Mendovian’s wife was particularly affecting because he knew both her and her husband. Ernhard Wis was his sparring partner. Maxim showered, dressed and made his way to the warehouse levels and to his gym. It was unexpectedly deserted and his footsteps echoed hollowly in the empty space. He went to the small office in the corner but old Botho was not there either. Footsteps from the front doors attracted his attention. It was a teenage Mendovian who went straight to the locker room. Yoch Wis was the image of his father and Maxim was envious of the love the boxer had for him. Maxim, of course, had never

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had a father, as such, and was always drawn to the relationships between children and their parents. He often wondered if he’d ever experience it. “Hey there, Yoch.” The teenager jumped, his eye stalks twisting in surprise. “Oh, hi, Mr. Dollavera.” “No need to be so formal, Yoch. I’m a friend of your dad’s.” “Sorry… er, Mr. Dollavera.” “I heard about your dad. What do you think’s happened?” Maxim held his gaze for the couple of moments it took Yoch to give up. The youngster shrugged and looked at the ground. “I think you should be home with your mum at a time like this.” Yoch fidgeted uneasily. “That’s where I’m going now,” he said finally. Maxim could spot a Mendovian lie when he saw one; their eyestalks twitched. “That would be best, I think.” The boy nodded. “I like your dad. He has the best combination I’ve ever seen.” “He taught me how to do it.” “He catches me with it every time.” “He doesn’t telegraph.” “Tell me about it. I look for a tell and before I know it I’m on the canvas.” Yoch bobbed his head and gave a proud little chuckle. “Your dad is my friend, you know? If he’s in trouble, I can help. I know people. I have friends too.” Yoch shrugged. “I better go home.” “Good idea.” Maxim waited till Yoch was out the door before following. The corridors were crowded and he was lucky to catch sight of the kid slipping into a dark corridor and entering a ’Port Authority Life Support access door. Maxim waited and followed. He came to a junction of two corridors and had a choice, left or right. He chose left, and after five minutes decided the fifty, fifty ninety rule had caught him again and he retraced his steps and followed the other corridor. Eventually he caught up with Yoch

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and saw him enter yet another access door. He followed him through and into another twisting corridor. The sound of metal grating on metal made him pause. He slowly poked his head around the corner in time to see the youngster dropping a floor inspection panel back into place. Maxim hid in a shadowed alcove and let Yoch pass unhindered. Maxim crept to the panel and lifted the hatch cover and peered in. A pair of brown eyestalks blinked back at him. It was Ernhard Wis.

*** Holy cumbuckets! A bewildering array of sex bots and parts of sex toys littered the work benches. Holly had never seen so many varieties of sex toys, some obviously not designed for human genitalia. She was in Cindy Sherman’s robot servicing shop inspecting Robert, the disassembled robot. It had been a busy morning so far. The interview with the wife of Ernhard Wis had been difficult and touching. The Body in the Vat story was promising and could go anywhere. Her snipe at K. Dollavera’s unconscionable lawsuit against Hyrem Bosch, a ten-year-old victim of a pirate attack who was nothing more than a disfigured cranium connected to a life support unit, was also very satisfying. The little scamp had hacked into the station’s intranet and was manufacturing swap cards of the people she interviewed, lifting their images off her posts, and with the help of an unknown benefactor, was selling the cards for the credits he needed to keep paying the hospital to keep him alive. Dollavera had yelled slander -- slander? For putting his picture on a card? -- and sued the poor little entrepreneur. She could imagine K. squirming in his chair. This abused robot story, however, was a long shot. It could turn out to be a fizzle and a waste of a tugload of hard-earned credits that had left her bank account a very sorry sight. “What is all this?” she asked Cindy.

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“It’s a fact that Adana must have the horniest females in the galaxy. My bread and butter are in sex aids.” “Fascinating. I’d like to do a story on this one day.” “Sure.” Holly picked up a flaccid and very life-like penis. It felt like flesh and under her touch it inflated immediately into an impressive erection. She dropped it in surprise. “I hope this has a body to go with it.” “It does. It’s Robert’s.” “Oh, I didn’t look,” she said. She’d taken delivery of Robert in a body bag from the scavenger Cosmina Ney. The scavenger said she’d found the dismembered android on a dump on one of the outer moons. She even showed Holly the regulation data recording of the find, a legal necessity that required scavengers to document their discoveries to ensure they weren’t involved in criminal activities. The recording looked authentic and Holly had no reason to disbelieve the scavenger. Vinnie was having it checked for her anyway, just in case. Last week Cindy had extracted some trace memories from Robert’s fried cybernetic brain. It seemed there was an underground robot fighting ring actually operating on Adana. Someone had tampered with Robert’s basic programming, removing his anti-violence programs, but they’d botched the job when they tried to erase his memory of the fight in which he lost his leg. Wiping his core programming had turned Robert into a mindless piece of junk. He’d have to be programmed from scratch if he was to function again. Such a resurrection was apparently beyond their skill, so they’d dumped him where he wouldn’t be found for a while. From the junk surrounding him Cosmina had estimated Robert had been at the dump for six months. Holly picked up the now flaccid penis again and felt it swell within her grasp. “So Robert was really a pleasure droid?” “Bed tasks were probably one of his chores, but he could be anything, a cook, a cleaner, hairdresser, even a babysitter.”

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“Amazing.” Holly put Robert’s penis back on the bench and considered his damaged face. He had that slightly unnerving symmetrical face and pale pink skin tone that gave most androids a silly doll-like appearance. Holly figured if she ever got one of these for bedroom detail she’d give him the face of her favorite vid star, Drake Silk. “Functioning at all?” “That’s the thing…” “Wait, I’ll record you for the story I started last week. Hold on…” Robert’s memories weren’t much better than the scrambled mish mash she had last week but it was all she was going to get. But it was enough to start a story. She had the what -- a damaged robot whose anti-violence programming had been erased and had memories of fighting. The who, where, when and why were yet to be answered, and in her father’s words, it’s the questions that make a hot news story. “Is that all you can get from him?” “I don’t think there is anything else. What would you like me to do?” “Give me a quote that will make it worthwhile for me to get him put back together again and fully functioning.” Cindy raised an eyebrow. “I need a housekeeper. My apartment’s a pigsty.” “That’s what they all say.” Holly laughed. She liked Cindy’s rough and ready attitude. “Between you and me, men on Adana leave much to be desired.” Cindy held up Robert’s flaccid cock. It instantly hardened. “It’s performance like that, that makes Robert and his ilk so popular. I wouldn’t be surprised if they outnumber real men two to one.” And someone was erasing their anti-violence programs. Robert wasn’t much better than last time but she got some quotes that suggested violence and that was enough to go on with. Holly thanked Cindy and made her way to the gym on level seven with the intention of speaking to a boxer, to get a friend’s view

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of the disappearance of Ernhard Wis and to talk about what was needed in order to set up a boxing match between two robots. The usually busy gym was deserted. Where have all the brave boxers gone? This is a fucking interesting development. Next door was a BDSM parlor, Your Pain is Our Pleasure. Holly decided it would be a good start for a story in the series she had going on the Adana sex industry. Cindy’s revelation had planted a seed that promised to germinate into an interesting sociological piece. One of Riz’s security guards was on the parlor’s door. Talk about a blossoming business. Lola, the parlor’s manager, was affable and the tour interesting. Whether she’d actually enjoy being strapped up and whipped with a sentient doodad shoved up her cunt was another thing. As she left level seven a corridor kid motioned to her. “What do you have for me?” she asked, bending low. The lad whispered news that disappointed her more than she could have expected. Maxim Dollavera had left Adana.

Chapter Five The asteroid ADG-587 was quite a size, irregular in shape and heavily cratered. The abandoned mine was set in the bottom of a three-kilometer diameter basin cut in half by a huge fracture which split it open like a knife wound. Felis had parked his ship, the Pride, next to a half dozen deserted habitats. From the little Maxim knew about the place the site had been abandoned by a small mining company months earlier and they had not returned. Miners had quit in droves, the high turnover eventually leaving the mining company insolvent. The reason behind the abandonment was not known. Vague whisperings that it was jinxed, haunted and just plain bad luck had swept the mining fraternity for a few months and then died down. Miners had real wealth to plunder. One failed operation was of little interest. Maxim had suspected the truth behind the rumors had been as simple as a gonga-addicted asshole of a manager who couldn’t keep his team together. The lease finally reverted to the Adana Titles Office where it had been eventually purchased by the Guild for its members. The mine was well situated and there was plenty of wreckage for Felis to scavenge for pocket money. If he was lucky there might be ore within easy reach and he could stake a fifty by fifty kilometer claim and lease out the mining rights. Then his sorry ass would be worth something. Felis climbed out of the deep canyon as Maxim brought the Vesper in. He waved and approached the ship once the converters had cooled to a cherry red. Maxim opened the lock and Felis stepped in, his helmet tucked under his arm and a huge grin on his face. “So you came after all? I knew you would. Just can’t keep away from my tail, huh?” “Hi, listen…”

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“Uh-oh. That’s not a come here and let me fuck your ass till it falls off kinda voice.” “It isn’t. I need a favor.” “Tell all, lover.” Maxim stepped to one side to reveal the tall figure standing behind him. “This is Ernhard Wis.” Felis mastered his surprise and disappointment quickly for which Maxim was glad. He quickly outlined the situation and Felis agreed to help. The hungry look in Felis’s eyes as he scanned Ernhard’s muscular body was clear. Maxim stifled his laugh at his outrageous friend. “Come, my new friend,” Felis said. “I will look after you.” “Be careful, Ernhard. Felis here likes his men fit and feisty.” The boxer blushed. “I’m already married,” he said quickly, a little too quickly Maxim thought, and the husky tone in the boxer’s voice betrayed a secret interest. “Oh, I don’t want to marry you, old chum,” Felis said lasciviously. Maxim laughed and slapped his lover’s shoulder. “I’d watch out for his killer left-right combination. He’s knocked me to the canvas enough times to know he’s not one to be mistreated.” “I’m a lover, not a fighter. How’s that?” Felis held out his hand to Ernhard. “Good enough,” the boxer said and slowly took his hand. Maxim noted the handshake was a little too enthusiastic. “Come, let’s go to my ship and I’ll get you settled in,” Felis said. The Pride was a small survey ship that Felis had decked out like a harem with silk curtains draping the walls to disguise the otherwise utilitarian construction of the ship. “It’s simple,” Felis apologized to Ernhard. “But I call it home.” Maxim settled himself on the thick cushions that surrounded the galley table and watched Felis fuss about getting the boxer quartered in a small utility storeroom. Ernhard said he was very tired and hadn’t closed his eyes for five days. He apologized and asked if he could sleep.

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“Keep one eye open,” Maxim warned good-naturedly. “Don’t mind him,” Felis said. “He’s only jealous.” “Jealous of you, you randy lion? A wasted effort that would be.” Felis joined him on the cushions. “Miss me?” he asked after planting a deep kiss on Maxim’s mouth. “Very much,” Maxim said and meant it. “I sense something is wrong though.” “You know that woman who busted in on us in customs?” “The hot looking one with the great tits?” Holly did have great tits, as well as great hair, eyes, nose, mouth… Felis snapped his fingers. “Felis to Maxim, come in?” Maxim pushed away his hand. “She’s stirring up a heap of trouble.” “For who? Your brothers or my little friend here?” He was pointing at Maxim’s erect cock. “Both, I think. She’s a pain in the ass, to be frank.” “She doesn’t have the equipment for that,” Felis said silkily. “But I do.” “Well, come over here then.” “Gladly.” Maxim breathed in Felis’s musky scent and ran his hand through the soft leonine fur, luxuriating in its silky texture and strange primeval warmth. Felis lowered his head and Maxim closed his eyes and surrendered to his friend’s hot and loving mouth. He wanted it to be like before he went away, before his New Year’s exploits had driven him from Adana. He wanted to dissolve into Felis’s embrace, to lose himself in his soothing voice, embed himself into his willing and accepting body. He wanted peace. Felis manhandled him out of his flight suit and kissed his naked body from the top of his head to his groin, where he lingered for quite some time. Maxim let his friend pleasure him with a sense of guilt building in a closed corner of his mind.

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But the sense of peace of the before time would not return. Holly Barberossa was in the way. Why was she there! Why couldn’t she leave him be? In a flash of anger Maxim grabbing Felis by the hips and swung him around so that his balls bounced on his chin. He licked the ball sac and was rewarded with a groan of pleasure from Felis, his mouth still full of Maxim’s cock. Maxim sucked each heavy ball into his mouth and massaged them with his tongue, trying to banish Holly’s azure eyes from his mind. Felis took his cock deeper into his throat and while he fucked Maxim with his mouth, he inserted a wet finger into Maxim’s ass. A frisson of pleasure rocked through his body. Maxim took Felis’s swollen cock into his mouth, luxuriating in the silky softness of the flesh as it sat warmly on his tongue. While he stroked the shaft with his lips Maxim found Felis’s puckered asshole and inserted a finger. Felis ground his cock into Maxim’s throat and they mouth fucked each other with growing intensity resembling the buildup of a magnetic storm. Maxim frigged Felis’s tight asshole, remembering the last time they’d fucked in the customs booth and how Holly Barberossa had gazed at his cock with undiluted lust. His memory jumped to the Haze Bar & Grill where he’d wanted nothing more in life than to lick her face and fuck her then and there. “You okay, lover?” Felis mumbled over his cock.

“Huh?”

“You’re someplace else.”

“Shut up and fuck me.”

“Your wish and so forth… Get on your fucking knees.”

Maxim complied and tried his best to get into the swing of things. As Felis

smeared his asshole with sweet smelling lubricant Maxim tried to get caught up in the usually delightful feelings of anticipation that accompanied the action. The usual pleasure he gained from the stretching of his sphincter and the final burning entry of Felis’s cock was, sadly, elusive.

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As Felis fucked him he reached between his legs and stroked his own cock but could not bring himself to orgasm. As his lover slaked his lust in his ass Maxim could only think of Holly Barberossa, wondering if only through her he could gain satisfaction. “I’m glad you came to see me, of course, for whatever reason,” Felis said awkwardly after he’d withdrawn his cock from Maxim’s asshole and retreated to the bathroom to shower. “But what really motivated you to rescue our muscular pugilist?” “He’s my sparring partner.”

“And?”

“And nothing.”

“Hey, lover, I get the canned news shows from Adana like everyone else. I know

she’s looking for him big time.” Maxim felt stupid suddenly. Felis always cut straight to the heart of the matter. “Holly Barberossa is one hot little reporter. Listen, once you bed her, put in a good word for me. We could make a party of it.” “And you’d be okay with that?” Felis laughed. “You’re priceless, you know that? You let me fuck around without a word yet you agonize over finding someone for yourself.” Maxim made a decision. “I gotta go.” “So soon?” Maxim brushed Felis’s soft feline lips with his own. “It’s for the best. I think there’s trouble brewing.” “Your brothers fucking it up for everyone again?” “I don’t know yet. Just keep Ernhard safe for a month and I’ll be much obliged.” “Well, it’s kind of convenient for me too. I’ll be needing a hand, I think. There’s a baridium trace just under where we sit. My assay-bot is down there now doing the analysis.” “Congratulations, you lucky tom!”

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“It’s about time. The mine shaft got as far as this massive cavern. There’s this fracture in the substrate that leads to another smaller gallery. The trace is in there. The miners were close but missed it somehow. Otherwise I don’t think they’d have abandoned it so easily.” “Well, you deserve it.” “It’s a strange place. There’s an aura about it. My senses are uneasy. I get the feeling someone’s watching, but the sensors tell me I’m the only live piece of ass on this rock.” He shivered and pointed to the cubicle door from behind which Ernhard’s gentle snoring could be heard. “I’ll be glad of his company, that’s a fact. He can help me fix the claim markers and extract the fifty-kilo sample for the Guild assay.” “Ernhard will be willing, I’m sure, though count him as my employee, not yours, so I’ll fix up his wages, okay? That way the claim stays all yours. No sharing.” “Sure. Thanks.” Maxim gripped Felis’s shoulder and pulled his face close and kissed him. “I am so pleased for you. Just be careful. Remember there’s many a slip between cock and ass.” “Ha! You know me, lover, safe and sure. Now, before you go, I see there’s a bit of action in that lap of yours. Mind if I take a seat?” “Please do.”

*** Phong! What have I done? Cindy Sherman’s shop was a disaster. Expensive equipment, robot parts, AI dildos and other sex aids littered the floor in various states of destruction. Holly stood amongst the wreckage in despair. They did this because of me! The bastards! “They were after Robert,” Cindy had said from her hospital bed, her face bruised and eyes blackened. Holly thought there was something in her voice that suggested there was more to it but the badly concussed robotics engineer faded in and out of consciousness. Whoever did this to her must have put the fear of Phong into her.

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Bastards. Cindy was just a tiny girl. To beat her up and ruin her business like this was just mean spirited. All this expensive equipment busted. I hope she was insured. All because of Robert. As stories go, the robot abuse story was pretty lightweight, a social comment piece rather than anything heavy duty such as ’Port Authority corruption or a gangland murder. She’d heard stories from her corridor kids that there was something going on around the gym and that robots were somehow involved. To buy a damaged android scheduled for termination was a bit of a long shot but it seemed to have paid off, story wise. Robert had had his non-violence programming wiped before he was put into the ring to slug it out with another robot. For what purpose she could hardly fathom. Earlier in the day it had seemed that her brief story had fizzled out because Robert’s memory was so shot and he’d developed Tourette’s syndrome as a result, but maybe things weren’t so hopeless… He posed enough of a threat to someone to cause this destruction. It had been lucky she’d taken Robert back to her apartment, though now he wouldn’t be safe there. If they took the trouble to do this then finding her apartment and trashing it would be just too easy. She called Vinnie and asked if she could store Robert at the office. He eagerly agreed, saying, “I haven’t had this much fun in years.” Well, there could be such a thing as too much fun. Holly wasn’t scared as such; she was always too focused on the story potential. Too focused for her own good sometimes. Hell, she’d broadcast a story from her own hospital bed exposing her surgeon’s negligence as he wheeled her into surgery. But she got a bad case of the willies when her thirst for news got others hurt. “Can you send someone to my apartment and pick him up? He’s in a body bag on the living room floor.” She gave him her door code. “Sure, that’ll give the neighbors something to talk about.” “Don’t send Vesty.” “Why not?”

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“Um, it’s a girl thing.” The last thing she wanted was Vesty rummaging through her drawers.

*** On the way back to Adana, Maxim thought hard about what Felis had said about Holly. She was more than a pain in the butt, much more. She forced her way into his thoughts like no one else had ever done. Guilt had wedged itself in his gut and no matter what Felis did, he could not respond in the feral way that characterized their past lovemaking. The more Felis tried the more he wondered what Holly would taste like, what her breasts felt like, what she smelled like close up. He dreamed about licking that damn sauce off her whole body, not just her chin. He thought he’d go mad. He was still hours from Adana. In frustration he accessed the Adana Observer’s archives and methodically replayed all her news stories since her first nervous post to the latest, the finding of a Mendovian body in the protein vats of Bio Sustenance. She was so fucking beautiful. Her eyes were a saturated blue, bow shaped lips, fine eyebrows arched quizzically as she reacted to her victims’ statements, giving no doubt as to what she thought of their prevarications and spin. He marveled at the way her thought processes worked. Over the last few days she’d bounced from an industrial accident at ASGS, to Fedoran farts, the disappearance of Ernhard Wis, to fighting robots, the rise in crime and now to gambling. By linking these disparate elements she’d built a web of corruption and organized crime that reflected what he, a lifelong resident of Adana, knew to be a true picture. He stopped the interview with a bookie and rewound it. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. People were betting she’d be killed within the next six weeks. The considerable sum of credits bet that she’d be killed virtually guaranteed she would be the target of every hard up punter on the station. There would be hundreds who had a lot to gain by killing her. He played the next story and the next.

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Phong’s arse! What was she thinking? Riz Gitto offered her a bodyguard and the stupid woman refused. He checked his AI pilot. He was still five hours from Adana and as much as he wanted to distort the laws of physics and get back sooner, he was helpless.

Chapter Six “Are you sure you don’t want a bodyguard?” It would be the smart thing to do, Holly knew. But it created so many problems. She set her jaw, freezing the smile. “Thanks, Riz. I really appreciate your offer, but I can’t afford a personal bodyguard.” “I can waive the cost.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I think we both know why.”

Shit and fuck! “Riz. I’m flattered, really I am, but I can’t accept that.”

“Why not? Your life is in danger. I can protect you.”

“Riz, you’re the subject of my stories. It would compromise my objectivity if you

were actually providing me free protection.” “I like the sound of that.” “What?” “That I’d compromise your objectivity. Can I interpret that as a sign of positive regard?” Double shit and fuck! “Of course I like you, Riz. You’re an impressive man with a lot going for you. But my credibility would collapse if my viewers saw that you were protecting me. It’s just not possible.” “But your life is in danger.”

“I can look after myself.”

“Adana is full of bad guys. Some you don’t want to get close to.”

“I’ll take my chances.” She wanted desperately to change the subject. She

recalled one of the little gems her corridor kids had given her. Riz and the enigmatic and very dangerous head of security had been seen drinking together. “So, your

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newfound dialogue with head of ’Port Security… I heard you both tied one on last night at the Haze.” “Only in the interests of the common good.” “I’m sure.” Her personal organizer chimed in her ear. “Riz, I have to go. I have a story at the hospital.” “Go easy, Holly. Consider my offer. Only I can protect you.” Holly’s uneasy sense about Riz played on her mind as she rushed to the hospital to interview the head sans body of Hyrem Bosch. Against all reason K. Dollavera was persisting in his lawsuit against the poor boy. Hyrem’s lawyer, Marc Tullius, was certainly attractive, her age, and had a great body. He liked her too, obviously, and as they parted he gave her his card. “How about a drink?” he asked. “I don’t think so,” she said and once again explained her journalistic ethics. He accepted her excuse in good humor but said if she ever wanted legal advice to give him a call. “Test my ethics,” he joked. I need a beer. It had been a big day and she rewarded herself at the Haze Bar & Grill with a beer and steak swimming in Altaran sauce. Phong, this stuff’s addictive! She watched one of the cute little Kitali whine along with the karaoke machine. The creature was very popular and received long rounds of applause. Holly had another beer and felt herself getting quietly tight. She fingered the lawyer’s card. It seemed that lately everyone was out to get her into bed. Zweep Dollavera, even K., Riz Gitto and now Marc Tullius. Unfortunately, the one who’d haunted her thoughts all day would be the last to bundle her up in his arms and drag her into bed. Maxim Dollavera, she figured, hated her. She took a swig of beer and surveyed the crowd to get him out of her thoughts. That was when she noticed the quick turn of head, the sliding eyes and sideways glances from the other clientele. The bouncer picked up two beefy guys by their collars and frog marched them out the door. He was pretty impressive. He returned, wiping his hands together and

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looking quite menacing. He came directly to her table. “Holly. Those two dumb asses were talking about the bet. Figured I’d show them you had some friends. They won’t do it, I scared the marrow out of their bones, but the betting is getting pretty high now.” “Thank you… um…”

“Sabian.”

“I appreciate your concern, Sabian. What is the betting, by the way?”

“Twenty to one, last I heard.”

“That’s pretty bad, isn’t it?”

“Pretty bad.”

She licked her lips as she watched him go. He had a physique one could only

dream of and he was genuine, she thought. He hadn’t hit on her, at least, though he looked like he had stamina. A good shag would clear Maxim out of her mind. She took a long swig of Haze and watched as the awkward side glances returned. She downed her beer and left. She hurried home, the hackles rising on her neck as she got closer to her apartment. Her corridor was strangely empty. Then she saw the reason why. Her apartment door was open, the security lock shattered and lying on the floor. She tapped out triple zero on her communicator and wondered if ’Port Security would bother responding. That’ll teach me for giving them a hard time. She activated her smartcam and, taking a deep breath, told herself this was just another story. “This is Holly Barberossa reporting. I am standing outside the broken door to my apartment. Thirty seconds ago I called triple zero, the emergency number for ’Port Security, and reported a break in. Viewers, as you can see the lock has been shattered and the electronics fried. I’m going in.”

*** Maxim was in the slowest customs queue in history watching the Holly Barberossa show on the giant wall screen. She’d finished for the day and the screen was showing repeats when it was interrupted by a breaking news story. The bustling throng paused, their eyes raised to the screen.

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Phong’s arse! She was standing outside a busted door. His heart was in his throat as he listened to her calmly report she was standing outside her own door and that she’d called triple zero. He knew what she was going to say before she said it. The stupid bitch! She said she was going in. Maxim pulled out a hundred credits and flung them at the officer. “Nothing to declare,” he shouted and pushed past him. The customs guy gave a bark of protest but shrugged when he counted the credits. By the time he called, “Next!” Maxim was already out the blast doors and racing down the corridor toward her level. He’d called in a favor the morning after the birthday party and found out Holly’s address. He’d toyed with the idea of paying her a visit and talking her into leaving his brothers to him to sort out but had decided, after thirty seconds, she wasn’t the type to let go of a potential story and that his intervention would only spur her on. He rounded the corner of the corridor and saw the busted door. From inside came the unmistakable sounds of a struggle. Without thought he rushed into the darkened apartment lit only by the pale circle of light from Holly’s smartcam which was lying on the floor. The device bathed the apartment in a wash of gray scale. Maxim could make out that the apartment was sparsely furnished, consisting only of a couch, a table and a couple of overturned chairs. It occurred to Maxim, as he scanned the room, that Holly didn’t plan on staying long. From behind the couch came groans and growls signifying a close struggle. Maxim reached behind the recliner and grasped a collar. He lifted up a surprised Mendovian, whose eyestalks erected in astonishment. Maxim gave him a left across the jaw and twisted around to bend the struggling alien over the couch when something hard hit him across the forehead.

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Maxim went down under a hail of blows. He hit out and heard a grunt of pain. That hard something hit him across the forehead again and before he succumbed to the darkness he lashed out and felt a nose breaking under his fist.

*** Maxim winced as Holly dabbed the blood from his lip. It was starting to swell around the split and she found herself counting the creases in the flesh of his lips, wondering what those lips would feel like if she kissed them. He flinched again and his elbow brushed her breast. She wondered if he felt her nipple. As achingly erect as it was, she was surprised it hadn’t bruised his arm. “What can I say?” she said. “Thank you would be a start.” “Thank you. I thought you were off station.” “I came back.” “Just in time. What brings you down here to level ten? Your apartment’s on level five.” “How do you know that?” “I’m a journalist. It’s my business to know stuff.” “I thought you were smart.” “What do you mean by that?” “There are over a thousand people betting on you getting killed. One in ten is capable of making sure it happens. I’m surprised they aren’t queuing up at the door with fucking clubs. Riz Gitto offered you a bodyguard and you refused. That’s pretty dumb if you ask me.” “I didn’t ask, but just so you know, I am smart.” “You don’t act like it.” She considered explaining her ethical dilemma but decided now was not the time or place. “Adana is a bucket of shit,” he continued, not reacting to the increased force with which she dabbed at his cuts and bruises. “Generally the stink stays at an acceptable

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level, it’s unpleasant and occasionally it makes you dry retch. Then you, you go stirring it, not with a spoon but a fucking ladle, and before you know it you’re choking in the stench.” She sat back and considered him cynically. “That metaphor stinks.” “But it’s true enough.” “It was a good try, but you didn’t answer my question. What brings you down to my level?” She enjoyed his discomfiture until she realized his dark violet eyes were staring at her with an unnerving intensity. Not this again. She held his gaze for a few moments then dabbed harder at his lip. “Ouch!” He jerked back and glared at her. “That doesn’t count,” he mumbled, shaking her off. “So, why were you down here?” “I had business here. Satisfied?” “Well, no. Business with who?” “Whom and it’s none of your business. Now what are you going to do?” “Finish cleaning you up, for a start. That’s a nasty gash on your forehead.” He grabbed her wrist and glared at her. “About your safety.” “I’m not in the mood for a staring competition.” “I’m serious, you idiot.” “What is it to you, anyway?” He looked away. “You think your brothers are behind this and you feel guilty, don’t you?” “Don’t be stupid. Why would I think that?” “They didn’t do it?” “Of course not. K. and Zweep aren’t this stupid.” “Don’t underestimate them.” She put down the cloth and found her smartcam on the floor. She tested it. Thank Phong it was still working. “Duty calls,” she said and he rolled his eyes. She stood away from him and pointed her smartcam at the worst of the wreckage. “This is Holly Barberossa. I’m standing in the…”

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When she got to the part about being rescued, Maxim shook his head violently in the negative. She rolled her eyes and said a Good Samaritan who preferred not to be identified had saved her life. She’d just finished the report when an official voice called from the door. “It’s ’Port Security,” Holly said. “I’ll go. The way you look they’ll probably shoot you.” The cop took her statement as she guided him on a quick walk around, recording the scene of devastation on his portable crime scene recorder, taking special note of Maxim’s presence. “Do you have anything to add, sir?” “Whatever she said,” Maxim replied, his distaste of authority very clear in his voice. “You believe the perpetrators were after the robot?” the cop asked. “Yes. Luckily I’d put him in a secure place.” “Where is it now?” Maxim caught her eye and gave a negative shake of the head. “Somewhere safe. I’ll speak to the commander personally if she wants to know where it is.” The officer scowled. “If you think of anything else call us. Here’s my card.” “Thanks, Officer.” “Useless pricks,” Maxim muttered after she’d shown the cop out. “I agree, but they’re the best we have.” She returned to the first aid kit and extracted a strip of artificial skin and tore the wrapping. “Now, hold still,” she said and applied it to the cut on his forehead. She noted that he hadn’t done it himself, waiting for her to attend to him. It gave her a warm feeling inside her belly. “You don’t trust the cops?” “I’ve seen them close up. They stink of corruption.” “I thought the commander had put an enema through the department and cleaned them out.” “Maybe. I don’t know.”

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She dabbed at his forehead and leaned in against him. His shoulder pressed against her thigh and she opened her legs slightly. He leaned into her and her mouth went suddenly dry. He gazed up at her and seemed to be about to speak when there was a call from the door. It was Riz Gitto. “Fuck!” Maxim spat and grabbed her wrist. “I’ll go.” “What are you doing here?” she heard Maxim say when he got to the door. “I heard about Holly’s apartment being broke into. I came as soon as I could.” “Well, we have it all under control.” She liked the possessiveness in Maxim’s voice. “Can I speak to her?” “She’s in the shower. I’ll let her know you called.” “As you wish.” “One of your many admirers,” he said when he returned. “What are you going to do?” Avoid Riz Gitto, priority one. “About what?” “You can’t stay here.” “I guess not. Vinnie… my boss,” she added when he shot her an accusing glance, “has a cot at the office.” “That’s no good. That’s the next place they’ll go for you.” “Shit! I better warn him.” She picked up her bag and headed for the door. “Where are you going?” “To the office before they get there and find Robert. Come on!” “Phong’s arse,” he muttered and followed her into the corridor. She called Vinnie on the way. He was still at the office, drunk as usual. She felt a twinge of sadness and resolved to do something for him. Exactly what she could do she didn’t know. Vinnie greeted them from his desk. “Are you all right, princess?” “No damage done. Maxim here rescued me.”

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“Maxim, my dear, dear boy. I am forever in your debt,” Vinnie drawled. “She’s a princess.” Maxim glared at him. “You’re drunk.” “Stress,” Vinnie sighed. “The bane of my existence.” No time for this shit. “Where’s Robert?” “Vesty put him in the restroom.” She opened the small bathroom and found Robert sitting on the toilet with a vacant expression on his android face. Vesty’s idea of a joke, she thought. Holly was very aware of Maxim standing close behind her, looking over her head at the damaged robot. His body radiated waves of heat she found went straight to her nipples. She barely resisted the urge to lean back against him. “We have to hide him,” she said. “Why?” “He must be important. They assaulted Cindy and wrecked her shop and searched my apartment trying to find him. He’s a crucial piece of the jigsaw. I just know it!” “It’s a piece of junk!” Maxim said. “He’s a clue!” She handed him the body bag. With a scowl of disgust Maxim dropped the body bag over Robert and hoisted the robot over his shoulder. “Come on,” he said. “Where are you going?” Vinnie asked. Maxim glared again at Vinnie, who he seemed to think had failed in his duty to look after Holly, as if Vinnie were a derelict father. “Somewhere I know she’ll be safe.” Thirty minutes later she realized where their meandering path had taken her. “This is your apartment.” “Brilliant observation,” he grunted as he deposited Robert into a cupboard and closed the door on him. “Now I know why Vinnie hired you.” “Very funny. I can’t stay here.” “Why not?”

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“People will talk.”

“With any luck no one will know you’re here.”

“What do you mean? You can’t keep me locked up. I have a job to do.”

He glared at her like she was totally stupid. “You go out there and they’ll kill

you.” “Don’t be ridiculous.” “Are you deranged? They tried to kill you tonight.” “That was only because I disturbed them while they were looking for Robert.” He sat on the arm of a comfortable looking chair. “You hope that, you may even think it, but you don’t know it!” “Trust me, if they wanted to collect on the bet they would’ve ambushed me in a dozen dark corridors, not at my apartment. They were searching for Robert when I walked in on them.” “There is nothing to say murderers can’t be burglars as well.” Well, no there isn’t. “Where’s your feline friend?” she asked, changing the subject. She’d noticed how his trouser leg had gathered tightly at his groin and her mouth had gone suddenly dry. He reacted to her sudden change of direction. “Still off station, why?”

“So we’ll have your apartment to ourselves then?”

“There’s a guest bedroom if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about anything.”

“You should be.”

“Known each other long?”

“Long enough.”

“I mean are you involved?”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Why would you assume that?”

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“Easy. I’m a good judge of character, and I think you’re someone who doesn’t like to be tied down and my research bears that out. You seldom spend a week on Adana before you’re jetting off somewhere and having solitary experiences out there in space, the Tee, as you call it.” She laughed at his surprised expression. “I looked it up. I believe you run away from commitment, that subconsciously you won’t accept the idea of a relationship. That being the case, if you and… Felis… had just met, you would have said so, but instead you became defensive. Thus, ipso facto, you are in a long term relationship. You just haven’t accepted it yet.” “Phong’s arse, you really are a pompous little bitch, aren’t you?” “Now you attack the observer. That’s a defensive reaction to being found out.” He grabbed her wrist and drew her to him. She put up a token resistance, marveling at how her shot-in-the-dark armchair psychoanalysis would turn out to be the key to him. He kissed her and winced. She kissed him back hard enough to make him wince again. He turned his head and kissed her with the un-swollen side of his mouth. She opened her lips and let his urgent tongue enter. Enveloping her completely, Maxim crushed her body in his powerful grasp. She shivered inside, a trembling within her chest. His tongue filled her mouth and as much as she wanted to surrender to him completely she resisted. She sensed danger in him. As much as she wanted him, she feared losing herself, losing her freedom and her independence. She feared he would become as strong a drug as gonga and she would be reduced to an empty shell finding sustenance only in him. His hands moved from her shoulders and found her breasts. The trembling in her chest moved to her belly and Holly’s legs became jelly. She fell against him but he held her away with one hand to give the other the freedom to remove her shirt and touch the flesh of her breast with inflamed fingers.

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Holly clutched at his shoulders and hung on as he lifted her off her feet and walked her to the table. He sat her on the dining table and spread her legs. He withdrew his lips and with deliberate movements, his iodine eyes not leaving hers, he pulled down her slacks and panties to expose her sex. He lifted her blouse over her head and exposed her breasts and shamelessly erect nipples. With surprising delicacy he cupped her breasts and gently caressed the areolas with the pads of his thumbs. Maxim kissed her and let his tongue explore her delicate lips and move to the corners of her mouth, tracing the line of her jaw before slipping down to the sensitive skin of her neck, behind the lobe of her ear and then to the quivering flesh of her throat. She arched her back and threw back her head as his tongue trailed down to her cleavage and briefly visited each nipple. Her pussy pulsed with wanton desire. His oral exploration continued from her breasts to her stomach, leading inexorably toward her pussy. He knelt before her and held her legs open. With delicate fingers he pulled the lips of her pussy open and he inserted his tongue into her molten centre. Holly cried out and her body shuddered. She threw her head back. Maxim’s tongue was exploring the length of her slit, moving relentlessly toward her clit. He didn’t touch it, not at first, preferring to circle the hard nub with gradually increasing pressure, spiraling closer and closer so that her body was alive with the fire of anticipation. Through the haze of sensation she was aware of his fingers gently separating the lips of her pussy. His kisses and the attention he had paid her throbbing nipples had assured her pussy was very, very wet and so his fingers slid effortlessly inside. She shuddered at the intrusion and then gasped in delicious surprise as he drew her clit into his warm mouth, the tip of his tongue flicking her sex with glorious rapidity. Her orgasm overtook her with a suddenness that left her breathless. Her pussy clenched in long powerful spasms but he ignored the sudden tenseness of her body and

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her soft cries. His tongue continued its relentless rasping and his fingers began moving inside her. She came again, and again. “Fuck me,” she said. He stood between her legs and, clasping her head between his hands, kissed her while she unzipped his flight suit and dropped it to the floor. His cock, as impressive as she had seen in the customs cubicle, sprang forward. She could wait no longer. She grasped his hips and drew him forward till the head of his cock pushed between the lips of her sex. He needed no more encouragement and a wave of pleasure pulsed through her as he fed the length of his shaft into her pussy. Holly swam in his violet gaze as his cock stroked the inner flesh of her cunt. He filled her completely, her pussy hungrily accepting his thick shaft. Relentlessly he drove into her and the frequency of his thrusts increased till the point he threw back his head and paused, his cock swelling within her before exploding in a series of powerful contractions. He fixed her with his captivating eyes and as he came inside her she climaxed again, the walls of her pussy clenching in exquisite spasms of pleasure. He collapsed over her, his body heaving with his release. He gasped, his hot breath burning her throat. At her breast she could feel the rapid thudding of his heart and the trickle of sweat cascading between their bodies. They stayed like that, a tableau of sated lust, for many minutes and it wasn’t until her heartbeat had returned to normal that she risked breaking the moment with a question. “I want to ask you something,” she said hesitantly. “Go ahead.” “It’s something I’ve wondered about for quite some time. I asked Zweep but he closed up on me.” “He’s that kinda guy.” “I didn’t like that about him. He just had too many secrets. His reticence caused me to begin questioning everything about him and…” She hesitated, wishing she hadn’t begun at all.

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“The rest of us?”

“That’s it. You all have the same genes and I asked him if you were all the same.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing. He went surly on me and became very disagreeable.”

“That’s Zweep for you.”

“Now I know you are all very different which prompts the question.”

“And that is?”

“Why are you so different? You have the same genes and you had, by all

accounts, the same upbringing. What makes you different one from the other?” Maxim laughed. “Peridae, my brother Dieter’s Mendovian wife, will be able to tell you. She’s a wise woman and seems to understand us completely.” “What would she say made you all different?” “She explained it to me once,” he said, his voice becoming animated. Holly guessed he had asked himself the same questions, fearing perhaps, that he was just like his venal brothers. “You see, same genes or not, same upbringing or not, growing up with each other encouraged diversity. Competition, she figured, was the most powerful force in our lives and we each developed our own strategies to get what we needed. We ended up going different ways, making different lives for ourselves.” “Yet you still cling together over some things. Zweep told me about your niece.”

“He did?”

She sensed his surprise and displeasure that Zweep would have mentioned Lila.

“He gave me the impression she’s like the glue that holds you all together.” “Why did he tell you about her?” “Because I’m a good interviewer, I guess. I was curious. I wanted to know about you all. Coming from a big family, and all boys, couldn’t have been easy.” “It had its moments.” “I can imagine. Vinnie says you and your brothers weren’t too popular at school. Children can be cruel.” “I think that’s why we weren’t so popular.”

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She laughed in surprise at a sudden insight. “What?” “I fell for the cliché. I thought you guys were excluded because you were clones, that you were ostracized because you were different. It hadn’t occurred to me that with so many of you, it was the other children who were the outsiders.” “We filled the classroom and gave the teachers hell.” “I can imagine. But were you a bully?” “Not me.” “Let me guess. Zweep and K. were the bullies.” “And Ambrose.” “Ah, Lila’s father.” She studied Maxim’s face, trying to discern anything behind his neutral expression. “Tell me about him.” “Not much to say. Being the first named, Ambrose put himself above the rest of us. He was the worst. He was just mean. He never knew when to stop and pushed people too far. He was killed, murdered, with his wife. He brought it on himself. I wasn’t surprised.” “And you all adopted Lila?” “Dieter married Peridae and they adopted her. The rest of us just help out.” “I’ve heard that you all return to Adana, no matter what you are doing or where you are, whenever she’s ill or it’s her birthday or she is having trouble at school. It seems to me you are the closest extended family I’ve ever met.” “Hardly.” “I’m serious.” “We hate each other really. We don’t talk unless we have to.” “I noticed that none of you hang around together.” “When you’re born one of a batch, the last thing you want to do is live like one of the batch.” “I can see that.” “What about your family? Tell me who you are, Holly Barberossa.”

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“There was just me and my dad. He was a reporter. The best, you know.” She heard the catch in her voice. Damn it, Dad! “He brought me up on the job. He couldn’t afford a nursery-bot or to send me to school. So he strapped me to his back and when I was old enough I’d hold his camera for him.” “You’re kidding me.” “We were a double act. Editors paid him overtime rates, said it was only fair because they were really getting two reporters. When I was old enough I used to run the streets of Nova Town. I employed a network of street kids to keep an eye out on potential stories. We got so many scoops that way, kept us one step ahead.” “Nova Town?”

“That’s right. Nova Town during the troubles.”

“Must have been tough.”

“It was.” She snuggled into his arms. “Sometimes, I think, human beings are the

most vicious of creatures. The cruel things they did there haven’t yet been topped I don’t think. One day Dad was collared by the New Guard. They summarily executed him in the street. I reported his death and identified the Guard officers responsible.” She shook herself out of the hard crisp images that pierced her mind. He was staring at her, mouth agape, his eyes sympathetic. “It’s okay. It won me an award. Dad would have been proud.” She kissed his shocked eyes closed. “Now I’ve gone and scared you.”

“Not at all. I’m just wondering how you survived.”

“I had to escape, of course. There was a price on my head. The underground got

me onto a refuge ship and I ended up here.” “Why here?” “My money ran out. I slept outside Vinnie’s door. He tripped over me one morning and gave me a job. He’s really been good to me. I scare him sometimes, but I think I’ve been good for the Observer. Adana is a really strange place, you know?” “How do you mean?”

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“I think Adana is on the brink of something. It’s trying to decide if it’s a frontier outpost or a civilized community but there’s this undercurrent of strangeness. I mean, anti-discrimination riots against an employer while next door a legal slave auction goes about business as usual. How does that work? Apart from the criminal elements you get everywhere, the type of bad guys here is remarkable. Every type of criminal scum seems to end up here. I have a feeling about this place. There’s something really, really strange here, and I’m going to find out what it is. I’ve only been here a few months, but I sense there’s something very wrong within these walls.” “You really have no bounds, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing fazes you, does it?”

She smiled at her clone lover and kissed him on the mouth. “I guess not.”

Chapter Seven When she awoke Holly found Maxim gone. The bed smelled of sex and the space beside her was still warm. She buried her face in the sheets to breathe him in then leaned back into the pillow and wallowed in the miasma of newly experienced pleasure. Eventually she noticed the note on his pillow. It said he would return by oh-six-hundred, which was thirty minutes away. The note also told her not to go anywhere. Like fucking Phong! Her personal organizer chimed. She had to get to work. There were a couple little annoying ants she had to crush. She’d forgotten, in all the excitement, to tell Maxim that last night there had been a smell in her apartment, a smell she couldn’t forget, the unmistakable stench of a Fedoran fart. She quickly showered, dressed in yesterday’s clothes and set off for the level ten warehouse the Fedorans had taken her to the day before yesterday. Fucking ransack my apartment will they? I’ll fucking ransack the little shits. She retraced her way through the deserted space looking for the access panel she’d bumped her head on and the rubber coated stanchion she’d gripped as the little Fedorans had guided her to their secret hideout. She found the small cover in the bulkhead and opened the access way. She crawled in and followed the narrow space into an air vent and ultimately to a maintenance hutch. Holly knew she was in the right place; the space was redolent with their distinctive aroma. In a sleeping bag on the floor was a small lump. She reached in and grabbed the occupant by the throat. She lifted him into the air and stared into his frightened eyes through the face plate of his breathing mask.

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“How did you find us?” the surprised Fedoran fugitive gasped. “I followed my fucking nose, you little shit.” His normally olive skin was turning green so she loosened her grip. “Tell me what the hell you were doing in my apartment.” “It wasn’t us.” “You’re the only Fedorans I know. Now, you little shit, if you don’t want me to rip this breathing mask off your worthless little face, tell me what the hell is going on.”

*** “Tell me, brother, what the fuck are you up to?” Zweep Dollavera steepled his fingers and returned Maxim’s angry glare with steely resolve. “Calm down, brother.” Maxim clenched his fists. “There’s a great stink rising through this spaceport and it’s wafting out of this office.” Zweep motioned to a visitor’s chair. “Sit, have a drink.” “Not until you tell me what’s going on.” Zweep laughed. “I detect the paranoia of one Holly Barberossa. Don’t tell me you’ve dipped your wick into that little bitch.” Maxim suppressed the boiling desire to take his brother and beat him into a pulp, but instead studied his smirking face. Apart from the usual feeling that he was looking at himself in the mirror Maxim could read nothing except Zweep’s arrogant ambition. “Brother,” Zweep said. “I’m running for Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. I am not mixed up in anything illegal. To do so would be counterproductive.” “Don’t lie to me. I have Ernhard Wis.” “We wondered where he’d got to.” “He’s safe and out of your reach.” “Why would I want to reach him?” “He says you wanted him to throw the fight with Montague Moss.”

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“And you believe him?” “He’s scared shitless. I believe him.” “I’m offended that you believe a stranger rather than your own brother, but we never have seen eye to eye, have we? I notice you haven’t told Holly that you have the missing boxer she’s so worried about. Every report of hers ends with a plea for information about his whereabouts.” “Leave her out of this.” Zweep laughed. “Brother, I assure you I am not mixed up in fight fixing, organic or android.” “Then who propositioned him? K.?” “I doubt it.” “But you don’t know?” “Listen, as far as I know, K. doesn’t know an uppercut from a left hook. He’d be the last one to interfere with the gym, let alone a fight.” “Ernhard says a representative of the Dollaveras told him to lose the fight or else his family would be harmed.” “That doesn’t make sense. Why then would Montague be killed?” “Ernhard said he was asked to throw the fight and when he refused he was killed.” Zweep chuckled. “They both were threatened to throw the fight?” “So he says.” “That would make it what? A draw?” “Very funny.” “Well, you know violence is not my style. I prefer to offer carrots rather than wield the stick.” “So you say someone is masquerading as one of us? To what end?” “To bring us into disrepute, of course. As I said, I’m running for office. A hint of scandal and the Chamber of Commerce will drop you like a piece of bad fish.” “Who then is trying to take over the Guild?”

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“There’re always a few, you know. We are a very popular target.”

“Are we at risk?”

Zweep hesitated. “Not really, no.”

“Did K. try to have Holly killed?”

Zweep laughed. “Hardly his style either.”

“She’s giving it to him up the arse. He must be hurting.”

“Hardly enough to… well, come to think of it, maybe the betting is high enough

for him to go to extremes and make some money as well.” He gave Maxim an oily smile. “By the way, how is Holly? She should really try and control herself. I hate to see her get hurt.” “She’s fine.”

“She is that. She’s my one regret in life.”

“The only one?”

“Now, now. Give her my regards.”

“Be careful,” Maxim said at the door. “If I find you’re fucking around with either

Holly or the Guild, I’ll fucking drown you in a protein vat myself.” Fingering the jewel box in his pocket, Maxim considered what he had learned. Zweep was scared, very scared. Whoever was threatening the Guild was causing him more problems than he was willing to admit. He considered his brother’s situation. Leading the Chamber of Commerce was a prestigious role and one which would lead directly to running Adana itself in the following year’s elections. Zweep wouldn’t jeopardize that, nor would he let K. fuck it up either. So, someone was masquerading as a representative of the Dollavera family, creating the perception of illegality, trying to discredit Zweep and by extension Maxim himself. I’ll choke the bastard in his own shit. Zweep’s enemies were many. Maxim called into the Guild Hall and put out the word amongst his trusted scavenger brethren that he wanted the name of who was behind it.

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Holly was never out of his thoughts and he wanted to hold her in his arms once again. He hurried home. One of the two Guild Security guards he’d assigned to guard Holly was standing at his door. The other, he assumed, was posted inside which was as useful as Phong’s left tit! “You’re not going to like this, boss,” the guard said hesitantly.

“Tell me.”

“She was very determined.”

“What?”

“We couldn’t stop her. She left when our backs were turned.”

“What?”

“We didn’t think you’d want us to leave these little shits alone in your

apartment.” “What are you talking about?” Maxim opened the door. “You might not want to go in there.” “Out of my way.” He pushed himself into the room and gagged immediately. “Phong’s arse!” In his living room, sitting amongst a pile of food and drink cartons and watching the boxing on the wall screen, were a tribe of fragrant Fedorans.

*** Holly wondered what Maxim would say when he found what she’d done. Phong’s arse, I bet. Holly made her way to the Fedoran residence to sort out the little prick who’d masqueraded as Arquot Goinis and while on the job at the ASGS gassed two other workers, framing the hapless Arquot with charges of murder and terrorism. The level twenty corridors were teeming and she’d passed Felis before she realized who he was. She stopped and went back to where he was leaning against the corridor wall beside a door. It was the apartment belonging to the Kitali expert she’d interviewed a couple of times, Felidae Panthera.

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Felis, she concluded, was Felidae’s brother. The resemblance was unmistakable. They possessed the same russet fur around the eyes. “I thought you were off station?” He ignored her. His large feline eyes had that dreamy state she attributed to strong gonga juice. That was unexpected. The last type of person she’d expect Maxim to have a relationship with was a gonga addict. She gazed at him appraisingly. His muscular form was no doubt attractive and she could see why Maxim was involved with him. Holly had no difficulty imagining fucking the leonine stud herself, but gonga juice was bad, bad news. She touched his arm and jumped at the spark of static electricity that leaped between them. She rubbed her fingers thoughtfully for a moment before remembering where she was. “Felis?” He considered her for a moment as if trying to focus his eyes. I don’t have time for this. She moved off and left him behind, shaking his head as if coming out of a bad dream. The Fedoran residence was still five minutes away down the long and narrow corridor. Not for the first time she wondered why the spaceport was designed in such a way that there were quite clearly two types of neighborhoods, the rich with wide brightly lit corridors and the poor, where she was headed now, where the corridors were narrow and sinister in their darkness. In her determination to get to the bottom of the story she hadn’t before noticed how people were avoiding her gaze, looking to the floor while standing with their backs pressed closely to the walls and hurrying off as soon as she passed, as if they wanted to quickly get away from her presence. Others, the ones in the distance behind her, she recognized. It was clear she was being followed. That fucking bet! Suddenly a scuffle broke out at the end of the corridor behind her. She heard stifled shouts. When she looked back, she saw the glint of knives. She wondered if it

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had been about her. Had two punters fought over the right to kill her? Or was someone looking out for her? She silently thanked her unseen protector and hurried on along the corridor. She wondered how it could possibly be legal to run a bet on someone getting killed. It was hardly civilized. How would one go about getting a law against such bets enacted? If she were to complain, her arguments would be ridiculed as being motivated by fear. How then? A grin stretched across her face as a mad, but obvious possibility formed itself in her mind. First she called Vinnie, outlined her plan, got his approval and then made a simultaneous call to the lawyer Tullius and the ’PortBet manager, the guy profiting out of her dismal situation, Mark D. Deck. When she finished the call she resumed her determined mission with a lift in her step and a whistle on her lips. The attack, when it came, was a complete surprise. She was barreled into the wall and was on the floor in a moment. The knife at her throat felt cold. Then hot blood gushed down her throat. Before she blacked out she thought she heard a roar followed by a scream and scampering feet.

Chapter Eight A tongue, wide and wet, was stroking her throat. She opened her eyes and jumped up. Felis sat back in surprise. “You’re awake.” “What are you doing?” She felt her neck and winced. A smooth patch of synthetic skin stretched across her throat. The skin around the wound was wet from his tongue. She was lying on a bed with Felis sitting beside her, a first aid kit on his knee. “I was tending your wound,” he said, closing the kit. “By licking me?” “Oh, sorry. I should explain. My saliva has medicinal properties, prevents infection and promotes healing. How do you feel?” “I’m naked.” “Your clothes were bloody.” “Oh. Then why are you naked?” “Huh? I’m a Leonine. Except for a utility belt, we don’t usually wear clothes.” “Oh, sorry.” She took a deep breath to clear her rampant thoughts. “What happened?” “Someone tried to collect on the bet.” “Damn it! This will have to stop.” “It must be disconcerting with a thousand people wanting you dead.” “Makes working fucking impossible.” She saw something large poking through the fur of his groin. “I can’t help but noticing. Your erection is obvious.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “You’re very attractive and you taste delicious.” “Taste?”

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“Your skin. Believe me, I took no liberties while you slept. Maxim wouldn’t appreciate it.” She touched his hand. “I do believe you. I’m sorry. Um, I have to tell you something.” He held up his paw to stop her. “You’ve been fucking Maxim?” “Um, yes. You don’t mind Maxim and me fucking?” “Not at all. We’ve talked about it. You see, I have the biggest libido imaginable and, well, while Maxim is away I fuck whoever I like. He isn’t ready to settle down. So I told him he can fuck whoever he likes and I won’t be upset because I know we love each other. He doesn’t fuck anybody though, and I feel guilty about that, but I can’t help myself, it’s my nature. I’m a cat.” A pang of jealousy stung her chest. They love each other, she thought. They really do love each other. “That’s very civilized of you.” “That’s the way I am. Besides, I saw the way he looks at you on the screen. He’s besotted, so I’m glad you and he got together.” She felt suddenly embarrassed. “Thank you for rescuing me. Maxim did the same thing last night.” “You really need a bodyguard.” “Yeah.” “Don’t like the idea?” “There is no fucking way in the galaxy that I’m going to have a bodyguard.” He held his hands up in surrender. “Okay then. How about an assistant?” “What?” “I’ll carry your equipment bag for you. My rugged good looks will be a suitable deterrent for the average punter.” Holly laughed and decided she liked him a lot. She wasn’t doing a story on Leonines, so he breached no ethical boundaries, except maybe being the lover of a Dollavera brother, but one she wasn’t currently investigating, not in a journalistic sense, at least.

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She glanced down at his groin. His cock was still erect and nicely shaped, pulsing with his heartbeat. A surge of desire swept through her belly. She’d once had a Leonine lover when she’d lived in the core systems. He’d worn clothes though and his cock was a little smaller, but he was a good lover, a very good lover. She was suddenly aware her nipples were hard and aching. Desire warmed her. She looked away from his cock. “I’d be very glad of your assistance.” “Good. Maxim will be pleased we’re friends.” “Um, there is something we should talk about. When I first passed you in the corridor you didn’t look like you were fully aware. I thought you were a gonga juice addict. You had a vacant expression on your face.” “I wasn’t feeling very well.” “I could see that. But you were alert enough to come to my rescue.” “I found myself outside my sister’s door wondering why I was there. I smelled your scent, or rather, Maxim’s scent -- you reek of him, you know -- and I followed. This guy was following you. When he drew a knife, I disarmed him. Then his comrade attacked you but I was too late to stop him hurting you.” She felt her neck. “You got there in good time. Thank you.” “Don’t mention it. I’m kicking myself for being too slow.” Holly touched his arm and slid her hand down the downy soft fur to his hand. She felt strange inside. Her belly tingled and her pussy pulsed. She felt an incredible wave of attraction to Felis. She gazed longingly at the still erect penis jutting from his lap. She moved to touch it. Felis stood up suddenly, sending the first aid kit tumbling to the floor. He hurriedly picked it up. “I better go,” he said. She reached for him but he’d already escaped. “I gave you a relaxant,” he said from the door. Her eyelids drooped and the darkness claimed her.

Chapter Nine To escape the cacophony raised by the little family of smelly Fedorans Maxim had retreated to his bedroom to call Felis on the sub-space net. He was answered by the ship’s AI unit which informed him his call was being boosted and rerouted to the suit communicators. The first stirrings of fear crept through his belly. Why would the signals need to be boosted? After a few moments Ernhard answered, his face tired. Why was he answering the call? “Where’s Felis?” “Gone.” “To the mine?” “No, gone. I assumed he had to return to Adana for equipment or something.” That didn’t sound likely. His ship was fully equipped and if something had malfunctioned Felis would have just called him and asked him to bring whatever he needed out to him, or dispatch a cargo drone. Besides, what sort of equipment would he need? All he was doing was prospecting and staking a claim. There was no need for heavy machinery at this point. “What did he say?” “Nothing really. He was acting strangely, as if he was worried about something. He wouldn’t talk, just stared through the porthole into space. Then when I went out to do some work he just left without me.” Phong’s arse! “Where are you now?”

“In one of the abandoned mining domes.”

That was something at least. For a moment he considered the possibility that

Ernhard had killed his friend and was taking over his claim, but quickly discounted the possibility. Ernhard was his old easygoing self and there was nothing deceptive in his

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voice. He was only a little upset about being marooned on an asteroid, Maxim could tell by the way his eye stalks trembled, but otherwise was his usual phlegmatic self. “I’ll send help.” “No need. I’m fine for a while, a week at least. Plenty of provisions and everything is working. Luckily we got the dome functioning again to use as an emergency shelter. I’m occupying myself with the mine. Still have to put in the claim markers.” “Do you have any experience of that?”

“A little. Before I came to Adana I was a yellow stone miner on Hophi IV.”

Maxim thought quickly. Felis had abandoned the asteroid and so, in the eyes of

the law and Guild protocols, he had forfeited his claim. The asteroid was now open for anyone to exploit. Whatever Felis was up to he’d now lost everything. He couldn’t let that happen to his friend. “Ernhard, how would you like to go into partnership with Felis and I?”

“Why sure.”

“Triple the area of the claim and we’ll go equal shares. I’ll send over a contract in

a little while as soon as I find Felis.” “No probs, Maxim.” “We can use the recording of this communication as evidence of a verbal contract.” “No need, Maxim. I trust you and I really appreciate what you’ve done for me.” “We’re not out of the woods yet, my friend. I still have no idea what’s going on, and Felis going AWOL on me is not helping. I’ll get back to you in a few hours.” “No worries.” Feeling both angry and afraid for his friend, Maxim called Feris’s ship again and asked the AI unit where it was. “Adana Spaceport. Docking Bay Ninety-four.” “Phong’s arse!” “I’m sorry, sir?”

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“Nothing. Where is he? Did Felis leave any instructions?” “I’m not at liberty to discuss my master’s instructions.” “I’m initiating security override p-h-o-n-g-s-c-o-c-k to access instructions.” “Security override accepted. Default spaceport procedures initiated. No ancillary instructions, sir.” That was strange. “Not even for re-provisioning?” “None, sir.” “Thanks.” Maxim called Felis’s apartment and received no answer. He called Felis’s sister but her AI informed him she was out. With growing concern he went to the kitchen for a drink. The apartment reeked of Fedoran scent. “Phong’s limp cock!” he exclaimed when confronted with an empty refrigerator. The little bastards had taken his last beer. Felis always had a beer in the fridge. He was halfway to the door when he noticed one of the Fedorans rummaging about in the body bag containing Robert the damaged robot. For Phong’s sake! He shooed the Fedoran away, pushed the human-like hand back into the bag and resealed it. “I’ll be back,” he said to the still embarrassed guard, and hoisting the bag over his shoulder, stepped out into the corridor. “Don’t let these little pricks out of your sight.” “Affirmative.” He set his jaw tight. Holly better have a good reason for filling his apartment with fugitive Fedorans. She would, no doubt. Her recorded message said they were connected to the attack on the Guild process line and being under his protection was as good a result as anything. But he didn’t think it a good idea to leave them with her only piece of evidence about the robot fighting scam. He rebalanced the body bag on his shoulder and set off for Felis’s apartment. The corridors were as busy as they usually were. Adana never slept and Maxim often

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wondered what drew people here. There were prettier, richer and far safer places in the galaxy to live, yet Adana seemed to attract unusual people as if it was a vortex for oddballs. Sometimes he considered himself one of those hapless misfits caught up in Adana’s strange attractor. No one gave him a second glance, even though he was carrying a body bag with the unmistakable shape of a human body inside it. He expected at any time someone to comment on it, but not even a ’Port Security officer challenged him. He was relieved when he reached Felis’s apartment. He waved his hand over the door control and once inside dumped the body bag onto the couch. From the bedroom came the sounds of sex. Felis must be home and entertaining. Maxim fought the flash of jealousy. A female was moaning as if in the throes of orgasm. That was unusual since Felis’s favored partners were invariably male. He walked slowly down the hall. The master bedroom door was open and he glanced in. Holly was naked on the bed writhing in pleasure. One hand was busy between her legs and the other was cupping one breast, squeezing it, her thumb and forefinger pinching her nipple. Felis was sitting on the edge of the bed watching. He looked up at Maxim and shrugged. “What’s going on?” “She just went into this frenzy.” “Were you…?” Felis held up his hands in innocence. “We were just talking. I’d tended to her wounds and…” “Wounds?” “Some lowlife attacked her in the corridor. I gave him a good thumping and brought her back here. She was unconscious.” “That fucking bet!” “I guess.” “And she’s okay?”

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“I gave her a sedative and she was out of it, then I heard her moaning and found her like this. I can’t wake her.” “She’s asleep?” “Out like a light, except for this.” Maxim touched her naked shoulder. She didn’t respond, continuing to masturbate. “I’m glad you’re here. I didn’t know what to do.” “Why did you leave the asteroid?” “Oh, Phong!” Felis slapped his forehead. “Ernhard!” He made to get up and Maxim restrained him with a loose hand on his arm. “He’s fine. I’ve talked to him.” Maxim explained that Ernhard was safe in the emergency dome. “Thank Phong for that!” “Why did you leave?” “I have no idea.” “What do you mean?” “I just woke up here. In fact I was standing in the corridor outside my sister’s apartment. I have no idea how I got there. The last memory I have is I was working with Ernhard in the mine.” “Lucky he knows what he’s about. He’s staking claims for us now.” “Oh.” “You abandoned the mine, you idiot.” “I’d forgotten.” Maxim felt like shaking him. The look of abject despair on Felis’s face restrained him. “So you woke up in the corridor.” “Holly was there. She was doing some report and this moron went at her with a knife, so I dropped him.” “Good work.” “He only nicked her.”

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“Maxim!” Holly cried. She was wide awake, her sapphire blue eyes staring in shock as if she’d been struck across the face. “Holly. Are you okay?” “What’s happening to me?” He sat on the bed beside her and held her hand. Her fingers were wet with her juices. “I want to fuck, Maxim. I want to fuck now.” “Holly, slow down.” “Oh, hi, Felis. I want to fuck you too. Why don’t we all fuck each other?” She dropped her free hand to her pussy and started working her fingers inside her so fast the liquid sound of her frigging was audible. Felis chuckled. “I think I’ll go and call Ernhard and apologize. Phong knows what I’ll say.” “Look after him. He’s a good guy.” “Great body too. Was all I could do to keep my hands off him.” Maxim returned his gaze to Holly. Her eyes were closed again and she writhed as if she were in the grip of a sensuous dream. She arched her back and moaned in orgasm, whispering his name between rapid intakes of breath. She threw out her hands as another climax gripped her and her hand fell onto his thigh. She gripped his flesh and moved her hand to his groin. His cock reacted immediately. He wanted her and briefly considered doing what she wished and felt a little ashamed. She was clearly not herself and he didn’t want to take advantage of her. Her hand working in his lap was insistent. He reluctantly extricated it and held it to his face instead. What was happening to her he had absolutely no idea. She opened her eyes and focused on him. “Oh, hi again,” she said as if nothing was wrong. “Hi yourself. How are you feeling?” She took a deep breath and stretched her arms. “Wonderful.” She noticed she was naked from the waist up and made to cover up.

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“You’ve been dreaming,” he ventured.

“Mmmmmm. I know. I was dreaming about you.”

“Were you?”

“We’d had an argument.”

“Really? What about?”

“Your guests. And I was making it up to you.” Her hand had snaked into his lap

again and found him hard. “You were?” “Just like this,” she said dreamily, stroking the shaft of his erect cock through his trousers. “Do you think I’m psychic?” “Have you ever been psychic?” “Not that I know of.” “Then it was just a dream.” He took her hand out of his lap again and this time she took control and brought his hand to her breast. She squeezed his hand closed around her nipple. “Come here,” she said, pulling him toward her. “I’ve missed you.” She kissed him and suddenly unleashed herself upon him like a feral animal. Her mouth claimed him like a hungry beast. Her hands tore at his clothing and undressed him in a frenetic burst of energy that he could only distract by cooperating. Once he was naked she turned him onto his back and straddled his hips, feeding his erect cock into her wet pussy with an urgency that he’d never experienced before. This was a different Holly from the one he’d made love with yesterday. Yesterday’s Holly had been sublimely responsive and giving. Today she was taking. With his cock embedded deep within her she bore down on him, grinding her pubic bone against his. Her eyes were closed and her expression one of ecstasy as she took him. If that was the way she wanted it then he could oblige. He gripped her narrow waist and helped her fuck him, rising and falling over his cock. On the down stroke

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he’d hold her down so his cock was deep within her and she’d respond by grinding her hips round and round. On the upstroke he held her poised above him so that only the head of his cock was embraced by her moist pussy lips. He’d hold her there for a heartbeat, enough to elicit a grimace of frustration from her face, before he’d pull her back down upon his shaft. Whenever he paused too long she’d rake her nails across his chest, demanding the return of his cock. Her manic demands for satisfaction were infectious and he raised his hips to meet her on the down stroke so that their flesh slapped noisily together. Finally she arched her back and fell backwards, her pussy clenching around his shaft, milking him. Maxim came suddenly, his cock pumping his essence deep inside her with long powerful contractions. He cried out as he convulsed in orgasm. When the spasms had subsided he fell back and pulled her on top of him. Lying beneath her, his breathing coming in loud short rasps, Maxim considered how he had never been so enthusiastically and comprehensively fucked before. He held her sweat slicked body close and, while he willed his heart beat to synchronize with hers, he wondered what drove her to such manic extremes. He’d always known that there was something unique about her, her confrontational reporting style and her need for adventure and lack of caution bordering on the suicidal, but he had never suspected she could be so sexually aggressive. She roused herself and, as if in a trance, began riding him again, this time coming more quickly, her pussy hungrily milking the seed from his cock as a completely unexpected orgasm rocked his body. This time, after she climaxed, Holly collapsed forward onto his chest, her body heaving, her breathing coming in long painful gasps. Eventually her breathing calmed and her heartbeat slowed. He stayed perfectly still lest he ignite her arousal again. His cock was still within her pussy and only once he was convinced she’d drifted off to sleep did he gently extricate himself from beneath her and leave the bedroom, his cock and balls still aching from her assault.

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Maxim felt ashamed. He couldn’t help feeling that he’d taken advantage of her while she was not herself. Not that there was a lot he could do about it, he countered, not without hurting her. He should have restrained her, stopped her from slaking her bizarre lust on his cock. He had never taken anyone against their will, and he had never been taken either. She had been like a force of nature, unstoppable, mindless yet indefatigable. He found Felis in the living room tinkering with Robert. He had bits and pieces of android body parts scattered across the coffee table. Robert lay on his back, swearing profusely in at least six different languages. “Fuck me, Kitty!” “That’s some sort of mouth you have on you, my artificial friend, and not a bad cock as well.” “You want it, Kitty?” “I might if you stop calling me Kitty.” “Looks like you’ve made some progress,” Maxim said from where he stood by the bedroom door. “I rerouted the core matrix and…” “Spare me the details. More of your ex-military skills coming to the fore?” “Everything is a learning experience, lover. Did I ever tell you about the time I reassembled a battle tank’s fried AI unit in the middle of a firefight and wiped out a battalion of spryds?” “I don’t recall that one,” Maxim said as he draped an arm over his friend’s shoulder and sat beside him. “The slimy bastards had sprayed us with an EM projector that fried everything that wasn’t specially shielded.” His voice trailed away. Maxim gripped his shoulder tight. Felis cleared his throat before continuing. “Anyway, they got a surprise when I rose up behind them, hooked myself up to the tank’s weapons system, bypassed the AI completely and kicked their butt.”

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Maxim kicked at Robert’s torso. “So this heap of junk poses no special problems then?” “Not really. He’s a mess but not unrecoverable. He’ll need reprogramming. Most of his stuff is scrambled, and ninety percent of his matrix is empty. I got his servo units working so once I get him a leg he’ll be right as rain.” “So he has no memory?”

“Some interesting bits and pieces Holly will be interested in. But you should see

it first I reckon.” “Oh?” “Robert,” Felis said, addressing the robot. The android’s head turned to him. “What, fur face?” “Behave yourself or I’ll bolt your dick onto your forehead.” “Well?” “Tell Maxim here what you said about the fights.” “Hey there, Montague Moss, K. wants you to throw the fight.” “K.!” Maxim couldn’t believe it. “You know K.?” “I do.” “K. looks like me.” “No, he doesn’t. He looks nothing like you.” “What does he look like?” “Not like you.” “Can you hook his memory up to give us some vid of this guy who said he was K.?” “Nope, his memory matrix doesn’t run to that. Audio is the best we got.” “See if you can get him to give you a verbal description.” “I’ve already tried. This is the best you get.” “Someone is playing with my family,” Maxim said, fighting back the anger that made him want to strike out at Robert and break his ludicrous bland android expression. “I’ll kill him, whoever he is.”

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“Not if I see him first,” Robert said. “Bastard.”

Felis laughed. “Looks like you have an ally.”

“Heap of junk. Get him another leg and make him useful.”

“I’ve ordered an arm as well and some other junk from Cosmina. I’ll put him

back together for you.” “He’s not mine, he’s Holly’s.” Felis laughed and stroked Robert’s cock. It swelled into an impressive erection. “Then she’ll have a lot of fun with him.” “Something funny is going on,” Maxim said. “First you wig out on the asteroid, drop everything and hot foot it over here. You come out of your haze in time to rescue Holly. You tend to her wound and then she wigs out.” “You think there’s a connection?”

Maxim rolled his eyes. “Well, I don’t know, smart guy. What do you think?”

“You think I caught something over there, some sort of wig-out bug, and gave it

to Holly?” “The guys who abandoned the mine in the first place wigged out too. I think we need an expert.” “What sort of expert?” Maxim tapped Felis on the forehead. “Peridae.”

Chapter Ten “Welcome to my home,” Felis said, jumping up from the couch when Maxim showed Peridae and Lila in. Maxim knew his lover had always been nervous around Peridae, never sure how she felt about him. Peridae exuded an aura of serene selfcontrol that most people found unsettling, most especially a dissolute character like Felis. Peridae bobbed her head, her eyestalks quivering. “Where is Holly?”

“Through here,” Maxim said.

Holly was still asleep and dreaming, her perfect face creased by a frown.

“This may take some time.” Peridae had listened to his description of Holly’s

behavior and had surprised him by asking, “This woman is important to you?” “Very much.” “Then I will come, though I am not a professional empath.” “You’re the only one I can trust. I need to know what’s troubling her. Her behavior is so out of character.” “How do you know what is her character? You have known her only a few days.” “Believe me, there’s something troubling her.” Holly awakened suddenly as Peridae knelt beside the bed. Maxim said, “It’s okay, Holly. This is my sister in-law, Peridae.” Peridae smiled and touched Holly’s forehead with her long delicate fingers. “Hello. I want you to sleep now.” Peridae caressed Holly’s throat and she closed her eyes. Peridae began crooning, a low melodious chant, and placed her fingers on Holly’s temples.

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Maxim took Lila to the spare room and put her to bed. When he returned Peridae was stretched out beside Holly on the bed. Peridae was still, her breathing calm and controlled. Holly, on the other hand, was tossing fitfully as if under the influence of some nightmare demon. “Holly says hello.”

Maxim had never fully understood Peridae’s empathic abilities, only that the

Dollavera clones never had need for psychiatrists. “She can talk to you?” “Of course. She has been interviewing the entity.” That sounds about right. “Entity? What entity?” “The alien from the asteroid. It is a strange being, composed entirely of psychic energy.” “So what is it doing?” “It seeks a body to meld with. Psychic energy is apparently useless without some connection to the corporeal world. It can do nothing, go nowhere on its own.” “So it first inhabited Felis?” “He was too angry for her.” “Oh. What else did it say?” “Men are too angry for her.” “That would be the miners she attempted to meld with on the asteroid.” “She is a peaceful entity, locked in the rock of the asteroid for a millennium.” “Was she a prisoner?” “She is a traveler.” “Have you spoken to the entity?” “She only speaks to Holly. She is peaceful and wants only to love.” That explained Holly’s attack of uncontrolled eroticism. “So that was what all the sex was about?” “I don’t know what you mean but she needs an empty mind in which to dwell. She wants to get out of Holly’s head. It’s too busy in there.” “That I can believe.”

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“Holly’s thoughts overwhelm the entity. It needs a body with an empty mind.” An idea hit Maxim immediately. “I think we might have one. Do you think you could help us make the transfer?” “I will help.” Maxim went to the living room and explained the situation to Felis. “Can you fix Robert up pretty quick? I just want the entity out of Holly.” “Give me an hour.” Maxim returned to Peridae. “You believe the entity is peaceful?” “Holly is convinced and I sense no enmity.” “The robot has been through a bit and is angry, but ninety percent of his brain matrix was wiped. If the entity can etch herself onto the matrix the robot is all hers.” “I’ll ask Holly to ask her if it will work.” Peridae put her head next to Holly’s and began the slow hypnotic crooning again. A few minutes later she raised her head. “The entity says it will work if the brain matrix is suitable.” “Well, there’s no way of knowing without trying.” Later Robert walked unsteadily into the bedroom assisted by Felis. “It will take him a while to get used to his new legs,” he explained. “Get him some clothes,” Peridae said briskly. “I don’t want Lila confronted by that when she wakes up!” Maxim hadn’t noticed the throbbing erection Robert proudly displayed. “Phong’s arse!” Felis cut off his laughter under Peridae’s steady glare. “I’ll find something.” “Okay, Robert. Sit next to Holly.” “You want me to fuck her, boss?” “No, Robert, just lie next to her. Put your head next to hers.” Robert did as he was ordered. Nothing happened. “Well?” Maxim asked. “It may take some time.”

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Holly opened her eyes suddenly. She took a moment to focus on Maxim. “Hi there,” she said. “Are you all right?” “I’m fine.” “Is it gone?” he asked. Holly blinked. “Is what gone?” Peridae caressed her forehead. “The entity has taken your memory of it with her.” Robert sat up and looked around the room. “Hello, Maxim,” he said. “Hello, um, what do we call you?” “When Holly heard of the plan she started calling me Roberta.” Holly propped herself on her elbows and looked enquiringly from Maxim to Peridae to Robert and back again. “Would someone kindly explain what the hell is going on?”

Chapter Eleven “I was asleep for a millennium,” Roberta said. “After the cataclysm.” “You lived on the planet Adana?” Maxim asked. “Before it was destroyed.” “I was there, yes, but not of it. I am a traveler.” “What happened to you? How did you survive?” “I was the next stage in our evolution.” “A creature of pure energy,” Peridae said. “Without need for a corporeal body.” “Yes, wise one. For time untold I’d been drifting in space, blown by galactic winds. I arrived on the planet you called Adana just before it was destroyed. I’ve been locked inside its debris for an age.” “Till the miners came.” “Their minds were so attractive to me and like a charged particle I was drawn into them. Oh, so busy is the human mind, chaotic and capricious.” “The miners fled in fear.” “I’m sorry for the pain I caused. It was innocently done. I’ve learned how to work with the human brain instead of disrupt it.” “And brought me back home,” Felis said. “After roaming the star lanes for an eternity I feel the need to be in the universe and not of it, if that is understandable.” “I believe it is,” Holly said. “This artificial body and its structured brain suit me well. I have been able to rebuild its neural net to suit me even better. With some more alterations to its nervous system I will enjoy it immensely.” Holly found Roberta’s story almost unbelievable. It would make an excellent news piece. She only wished she could remember her part in it. She had no recollection

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of her possession by Roberta, as she was now known. The last thing Holly remembered was being licked by Felis, feeling incredibly horny, and then nothing. She looked at Felis. “Did we do it?” “Almost.”

Roberta sat next to Felis and clasped his hand in hers. “You are very angry,” she

said. “I am? I didn’t realize.” “I can help, if you let me.” Felis glanced at Maxim. “Am I angry?” “You have your moments.” “I didn’t know.” “It’s not a problem for me,” Maxim said. “Don’t get a complex about it.” Felis looked at Roberta’s hand that held his. “What am I angry about?” “The war, your selfish immaturity, your inability to stay faithful, your…” Embarrassment swept across his leonine features. He held up his hand. “Enough. Tell me later, in private.” “As you wish.” “That’s a pity,” Maxim said, giving Holly a wink. “I was hoping to find out your inner demons as well.” “In my own time,” Holly said. “Now what have I missed?” While Roberta and Felis spoke quietly in the corner, Maxim filled her in on what had happened in the twenty-four hours she’d been out of action. Maxim wasn’t at all angry about her depositing the Fedorans in his apartment when she explained it was the only safe place she could think for them, given that they were so inept at hiding themselves. She told him why she’d been in the corridor when she’d been attacked. She was going to expose the criminal Fedorans who’d attacked the AGSG production line. Holly ignored his anger at her stupidity in going to the Fedorans’ apartment alone. “Why didn’t you wait for me, or call ’Port Security?”

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“Idiot. I would’ve missed out on the story.” He rolled his eyes. “There are now bets on nearly everyone of consequence on Adana, including all the council members, being killed in five weeks.” When she gave a little chuckle he gave her a shake of the head as if he wasn’t at all surprised to think she was capable of organizing the bets to be placed in order to force the Adana Council into outlawing the practice. She thought it was a brilliant development but didn’t admit anything at all. “So, what do we do now?” she asked after he told her that someone was trying to frame K. Dollavera for fight fixing and discredit Zweep to prevent him winning the Chamber of Commerce elections. “Well, the stink is rising. I reckon we stir it some more and track down these Fedorans of yours and find out who is paying them.” “Any ideas?” “Not yet, but when you stir a cesspit the shit rises to the top, so we’re bound to find out something.” Felis and Roberta were not in the living room. “Where did they go?” Maxim asked Peridae. “They have gone to the bedroom. I believe they have reached an understanding.” “Oh?” “The entity has been without a body for thousands of years. Its habitation of your bodies has rekindled its memories of the pleasures of the flesh.” “You’re kidding me,” Holly said. “It’s remembered sex?” Maxim laughed and took her by the elbow. “Let me tell you what you did.” “Lila and I will make some dinner,” Peridae said, a knowing smile on her lips. Holly needed no more encouragement to be led into the second bedroom than Maxim’s recollections of what she had done to him. With their lips locked, she undressed him. The first time they had made love she’d been compliant and receptive. This time she was determined to show him what

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sex could be like, though when she pushed him backwards onto the bed with an authoritative hand, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Ever since she’d first heard his voice, that New Year’s Eve when he had recklessly risked his life to save his brother and others, she’d sensed something familiar in him, an emotional fragility, a hollowness, a deep emptiness within. Though she was sure he valued his life, she’d seen him put it on the line with scarcely a thought. He was, she was sure, a fellow traveler. Holly didn’t meet men like him very often. Most cared too much about themselves to risk all. Men like Maxim didn’t last long and she wanted to hold onto this one for as long as she could. She wanted to fill that void in his center, and she was too self-aware not to know that she was using him to fill her own hollow place within. He lay on the bed gazing up at her. His searching eyes were questioning, if not apprehensive, as if he didn’t know what to expect. She smiled, vowing to satisfy his curiosity. First, she licked every inch of his body from his sumptuous lips down his neck to his smooth broad chest, and after pausing at his tiny nipples she slid her tongue down to his flat stomach and the muscles around his groin. His skin was hard under her tongue, stretched tight over his solid frame, the natural scent slightly musky, his taste strong without being bitter. She thought she could drink him in all day. His erection was standing proud and firm. She fancied the organ reflected his character, and she longed to learn all its little idiosyncrasies. She cupped his balls and noted how the eggs within retreated from her touch. She licked the rigid shaft from the ball sac to the rim of the engorged head, savoring the satin soft flesh covering the hardness within. She lingered a while, licking around the engorged head, before Maxim suddenly grasped her by the hips and swung her over him so that she straddled his face. His tongue immediately found the sensitive flesh surrounding her clit. His fingers pulled the lips of her pussy apart and with perfect timing he let his tongue explore her inner

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flesh, plunging deep inside before sliding along her slit till he reached her clit again. She shuddered in sudden climax, groaning around his swollen cock. While her pussy pulsed against his tongue, Maxim swung her around again and twisted from beneath her so that now he was on top. His mouth, glazed with her own juices, claimed hers and she let herself fall into a spiral of lust. Sex had never been like this. She had never lost herself so completely in the physical sensations. She’d always kept control. No matter how powerful or skilled her lover she had always maintained a distant detachment. Always the reporter, she would replay the lovemaking in her memory as if it were a news report. But not now, not with Maxim. As he smothered her with kisses she felt herself being swept along by a flood of sensation. Unconsciously she adjusted her pelvis, allowing his thighs to push her legs wide apart. As he positioned his cock at the entrance of her pussy, he kissed his way from her hungry mouth down her neck to her breasts where he tongued her areolas before finally claiming her nipples. She arched her back in sensual delight as he pushed his cock between her swollen pussy lips. It seemed her body already knew him, and accommodated him easily. It was clear he knew her body very well for every movement sent shivers of delight coursing through her aroused flesh. She breathed in frantic gasps in response to his frenetic thrusting and a series of orgasms quickly overtook her. Maxim came suddenly, his cock swelling inside her, filling her completely. She locked her ankles behind his buttocks and drove him deeper. He grunted and his warm come filled her. The strong pulsing of his cock sent her over the edge again and she came. They clung together until their breathing synchronized and their wildly beating hearts stabilized. With her face buried into the curve of his neck Holly breathed in his scent and knew she had found paradise. There came a gentle cough from the doorway. Felis and Roberta were standing in the doorway. “Mind if we join in?” Felis asked.

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Maxim glanced at Holly. She could tell he was waiting for her lead. If she said no she was sure he would respect her wishes and, as difficult as it would be, exclude his long-time lover. She could see it in his eyes. He would do that for her. Even if she had been of an exclusive nature she could not have done it to him. Holly patted the bed beside her. “I want you to fuck Maxim while he fucks me,” she said, excited by her brazen suggestion and surprised by the sheer lust in her voice. She looked up into Maxim’s eyes. “Is that okay with you?” His eyes told her all she needed to know, and his cock swelling inside her confirmed his agreement. “And I’ll fuck Felis while he fucks Maxim,” Roberta said. “One big happy family,” Felis said gleefully. With some contortions, Holly and Maxim slid down the bed so that her feet could touch the floor. Without letting his cock leave her pussy, Maxim positioned himself between her thighs so that Felis could stand behind him. Holly gazed intently into Maxim’s eyes as Felis pushed his lubricated cock into Maxim’s ass. His body shuddered when Felis entered him and together they got into rhythm as Felis fucked Maxim and he fucked Holly. Before she knew it she had lost herself once more into the ascending spiral of pleasure and a breathtaking orgasm as Felis howled with the impact of Roberta’s stiff cock. Maxim’s eyes never left her as he counterbalanced Felis’s energetic thrusts with his own. Holly focused on his violet eyes and gave herself to another series of orgasms. How long it lasted she had no way of knowing, but some time later, with them all lying in glorious disarray on the bed, except for Roberta, who had cleaned Felis up and was now busying herself sucking his cock back into action, Holly managed to give Maxim a hug before she fell into an exhausted sleep.

Chapter Twelve The corridor was eerily empty as they approached the Fedorans’ apartment. The walls were covered in lewd graffiti and the overhead lights in front of the door were out, indicating ’Port Maintenance didn’t get down here very often. Holly reminded herself to do another story about discrimination in ’Port Authority allocation of funds. They had left Felis and Roberta guarding Peridae and Lila at his apartment. He had demonstrated, before they’d left, the shielded room that was their last ditch hideout. When Maxim told her he had a similar room in his apartment she wondered at the lifestyle they must lead to make such a room necessary. He explained that when Lila’s father had been killed by an unknown criminal element all the Dollaveras and their friends had taken extraordinary precautions to protect their safety, measures that were finally proving their worth. Maxim and Holly paused a few meters from the door. Maxim was armed with a stunner and Holly had her smartcam at the ready. “What’s the plan?” “I’m going to knock on the door,” Maxim said. “They don’t know I’m involved so shouldn’t expect trouble. You wait over there.” “Like hell I will.” Maxim shook his head in despair and pressed the door buzzer. He waited a few seconds and then pressed it again. He gave a shrug and pried open the door lock and played with the electronics with a small device resembling a tuning fork. “Isn’t this illegal?” Holly whispered. “What?” Maxim said. “The state of repair of this part of Adana is a disgrace.” He winked at her. “Is that a call for help I hear?” he said as the door slid open. “I didn’t hear anything,” Holly chuckled.

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“Must be my old war wound,” Maxim said. “I have this constant ringing in my ear.” “How very annoying.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You know, I kinda like hanging out with you,” Holly said. Maxim glanced at her. “Yeah?” “Yeah. This is fun.” With military efficiency they entered the darkened apartment. Nothing. The apartment was deserted. Not even the Fedorans’ distinctive aroma was left behind. “They were expecting us,” Maxim said. “Either that or they’ve moved ahead on their plans,” Holly said. “An attack on the Guild?” “That was their original target.” A quick search revealed nothing of interest except a handheld communicator. Maxim quickly scanned it for numbers. “No IDs on any of these numbers,” he said. “I’ll get Felis to check them out.” Holly gave a shiver. “Let’s get out of here.” As they returned to Felis’s apartment Holly tried to figure out what their next move should be. Without the culprits all she had to go on was the uncertain testimony of the Fedorans she had deposited at Maxim’s apartment, and they were not the most reliable of witnesses. They had just given her names and apartment numbers which had produced no evidence except some intranet numbers which could lead nowhere. She wondered what ’Port Security would say when she presented what she had. They’d laugh her out of Adana. Maxim took a call and stopped short. “Phong’s cunt!” Holly had a bad feeling she knew what it was. “Your apartment?” “They’ve been hit. Androids hit our guys and took your Fedorans.” “Anyone hurt?” He asked whoever was on the line. “Not seriously.” “So,” Holly asked, “who the fuck owns the androids?”

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*** Back in Felis’s apartment the council of war was short and sharp. “We need to bring Zweep and the Guild in on this,” Maxim said. “They have men and weapons.” “What about ’Port Security?” “We can’t trust them. Even though they are under a new command, they’ve always been corrupt. I wouldn’t be…” Maxim stopped mid sentence, his words trailing off as his forehead creased in concentration. “What is it?” “I’m thinking that these criminals really mean business. I mean, this is more than just redrawing turf boundaries. First they hit the Guild, then try and discredit K. and by association the rest of us Dollaveras, particularly Zweep, who is intending to run for office. Now they hit my apartment with a combat team of androids. Apart from ’Port Security we have the only credible armed force except, that is… Holly, can you find a picture of Riz Gitto for me?” “Sure, why?” she asked, though she had an inkling of where his logic was taking him. “I just want to check something. It’s a long shot,” Maxim said. Holly accessed her work files and patched her smartcam into Felis’s comm unit and flashed a giant image of Riz Gitto onto the wall screen. “Roberta, can you search Robert’s memory and see if you recognize this man? Is he the one that ordered you to threaten Ernhard Wis and Montague Moss?” “Yes, boss,” Robert’s voice filled the room. “That’s him. He’s the fucker!” “Shit and fuck,” Holly muttered. “Well, that answers that question,” Maxim said. “But what does it all mean?” “It’s clear that Riz has infiltrated the whole station with his men and a bunch of androids without anti-violence programs. This looks like a military takeover to me. I’ll go see Zweep. You guys hole up here. I doubt Riz will search here, but if he does…”

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Felis stood up. “I’ll show them the emergency exit.”

“Get the girls into the bolt hole and make sure Gitto doesn’t find them.”

“I’ll go with you,” Holly said.

“Not this time. Riz will be looking for you. If it is a takeover he doesn’t want a

reporter running loose. I’ll get to Zweep quicker on my own. I don’t want to use the net. We don’t know who’s listening. I’ll be back in twenty minutes,” Maxim promised. “Then we make a break for it to the ships and get the hell out of Dodge.” Felis looked perplexed. “Out of what?”

“An old joke.”

“I’m not leaving Adana,” Holly said. “We can’t let them win.”

“First rule in war,” Felis said. “You can always fight again, but only if you’re

alive.” Maxim kissed Holly and gripped Felis by the shoulder and gave him a solid shake. “I’ll be back.” Holly watched Maxim jog down the corridor with trepidation. She had the terrible feeling she’d never see him again. “I have to let Vinnie know,” she said when she closed the door. “What?” “Felis, I have to do a story and post it to Vinnie, just in case we don’t make it. At least I can warn him and he can get it out into the ether. The central systems may be able to send help.” She set up her smartcam and filmed a short report on what Riz Gitto had done, created an android army and was, she assumed, attempting a military takeover of the station. “The line to the office is secure,” she said. “In these circumstances, nothing is perfectly secure,” Felis said.

“I’ll use the subphase carrier,” she replied. “Will that do?”

He gave her a frustrated frown. “Okay, as long as you trust the other end. I’ll get

the girls into the bolt hole to sit it out.”

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With the touch of a key the story was sent. Then she sat on the couch and waited for Maxim. The air was tense and her nerves were driving her mad. She would prefer to be out there doing something. There was a story to file. “Are you sure you’re okay with me and Maxim?” Holly asked. Felis nodded. “You know, I always knew we wouldn’t end up exclusive, you know what I mean? When I won the asteroid contract and Maxim wouldn’t follow me I knew we were just lovers, not…” “Not in love?” “Yeah. We love each other, I’m sure. We trust each other with our lives, we fuck good together, and we respect each other, but we just don’t have what it takes to be exclusive.” “I bet he’s a hard man to know.”

“Impossible.”

“I don’t mind you two fucking,” Holly said.

“Glad to hear it.”

“I couldn’t stop you even if I wanted to. You two are good together. I saw that

straight away in the customs cubicle.” In silence Felis continued tinkering with Roberta’s servo units, getting her legs working smoothly. Holly watched for a moment then restlessness took over again. Just sitting there was driving her crazy. I gotta go! “I’m missing a moment in history. I gotta do something.” She picked up her smartcam. “Tell Maxim I’ll call him soon.” “Where are you going?”

“Where else? The ’Port Authority Council offices. There’s the fall of a

government to report on.” “I can’t go with you,” Felis said. “I must stay and look after Peridae and Lila.” “I understand.” “I can come,” Roberta said. “Are you sure you’re up to it?” She flexed her leg a few times and it moved fluidly. “Of course.”

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“Wish us luck.”

Felis grasped Roberta’s hand. “Be careful, won’t you?”

“Your concern is unwarranted. Apart from being smarter than your average

android, I am indestructible.” Holly was getting to like Roberta. All was quiet outside the Council Offices. The councilors were, of course, in hiding, in their homes under the protection of their new bodyguards, Riz Gitto’s secret army. She didn’t understand why it was so quiet. By now Vinnie would have contacted ’Port Security with her report. There should be all sorts of chaos happening, unless they had been subverted too, in which case she, and Adana for that matter, had nowhere to turn except to the Dollaveras. She hoped Maxim would be successful in rousing his brothers. “I guess Gitto’s headquarters are the best place to find him.”

“Is that wise?”

“Probably not, but it’s where the story is.”

The corridors leading to Riz Gitto’s security services office were deserted. A

couple of androids loitering with intent at the junctions were the only indication that something was not quite right but they did nothing to prevent Holly and Roberta approaching Gitto’s main door. She set up her smartcam and buzzed the front door. The door slid aside and she faced the comical countenance of an android. “Hello,” she said and made to step around the artificial man. The android barred her way. Roberta moved to intercept the android but was shot with an immobilizer. She paused for a moment and then went into shutdown mode. So much for being indestructible. “Wait!” Holly said as the android, unbelievably, turned a stunner toward her and fired.

***

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She came to herself sitting on the cold floor bound by cords. Her head hurt. Being stunned was never a pleasant experience. Apart from turning every muscle to water it left the body feeling as if it had run a marathon backwards. Every muscle ached and experience told her the waves of nausea would last at least an hour. Beside her Roberta stood in shutdown mode. Holly wondered if the immobilizer would have hurt the entity inside. “Hey, release me.” There was movement at the other side of what appeared to be Gitto’s control room as Riz Gitto stood up and strode over to her. He stopped only when his crotch was level with her face. “Hello, Holly,” he said amiably. “I’m glad you came. You know, you’ve saved me a whole heap of trouble finding you.” “It’s over, Riz,” Holly mumbled. “The whole galaxy knows what you’re up to by now.” “Oh, you mean the story you sent to the Adana Observer office which my good friend Vesty intercepted on my behalf? You mean that story?” Shit and fuck! “Bastard,” she managed to spit out. “I am actually, in every sense of the word. But I never judge people on their backgrounds, only on what they can do. Now, what you can do for me is…” “Exactly nothing.” She met his gaze. His beady eyes were shining insanely. He’s wigged out. She focused her stare on those empty eyes, hoping to gain some advantage, but he gave her an oily smile and dropped his gaze to her breasts which, she discovered, were naked and exposed, her shirt having been ripped open. The bastard! “What did you do to me?” Gitto knelt beside her. He trailed his finger across her breast. “Come now, what do you take me for?” “I don’t know. You’re capable of anything.” He tweaked her nipple painfully. “Perhaps.” “Bastard.” “As much as I want to fuck you,” he said, weighing her breast appreciatively in his hand. “I’d prefer to do it with your acquiescence.”

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“That’ll never happen.” He dropped his hand to her bare thigh. “We do make a good team. Holly, I want to thank you. Placing bets on the lives of Council members was a stroke of genius on your part.” His fingers inched up. She attempted to close her thighs but he held them apart. She gritted her teeth at the anticipated intrusion. “I’ve never seen such a bunch of cowards. They don’t have your guts, that’s for sure. They were shaking in their little booties as they begged me to send my guards to protect them.” Holly now saw the reason behind his gloating smirk and, for a moment, her despair overshadowed any fear she had of his sexual advances. Fuck! I opened the door for him. In five minutes her brilliant plan to have the Council outlaw the obscene betting practices had created a state of panic among the Councilors, and anyone who hadn’t already employed Gitto’s security guards now did. Thanks to Holly, Riz had his hands around every important throat on Adana. “Ah. The light dawns. Your little act of political engineering enabled me to bring forward my plans by three months. I greatly appreciate your assistance.” “Bastard.” “Of course, I could not anticipate the degree of success my placing the original bet on you would have. Originally I wanted you to employ me to protect you, so I could keep a close eye on you, but you took my plan to the next stage.” “Prick!” He traced the line of her slit with his forefinger, gently prying open her pussy lips. “Holly, you’re a beautiful woman. We’ll make a popular couple. I’ll need someone smart to govern Adana with me. How does that sound?” “You won’t get away with it,” Holly said defiantly though she could think of no way to stop him.

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“Brave words from a brave woman. I’m hoping you’re smart as well. With someone like you promoting my administration, we will make Adana a major player in the galaxy. Will you help me?” “You’re insane.” Riz withdrew his fingers from her pussy and stood up. “Perhaps, but you will be beside me at my inauguration.” “Over my dead body.” “I hope it doesn’t come to that. But what about the dead bodies of Maxim, Felis and Vinnie? You care about them, no?” Oh Phong! “You bastard.” “In time you will come to love me.” “Never!” “Never is a long time.” “Long enough to make your life hell!” Gitto laughed. “You know, those meddling Dollavera brothers have given me an idea. Maybe a different version of you would suit me better. Body regeneration could give me a cloned adult version of Holly Barberossa in six months. One that would acquiesce to all of my needs.” “You wouldn’t dare.” “Don’t tempt me. I already have your DNA.” Holly clamped her mouth shut. She had no answer to that.

Chapter Thirteen Maxim shouldered past the ASGS guard and entered Zweep’s office. K. was sitting on the corner of Zweep’s desk looking suitably cowed. Zweep took the cigar out of his mouth. “Hello, brother.” “Riz Gitto is organizing a coup d’état. He’s mobilizing his troops.” “What can we do about it?” K. asked. Maxim was dumbfounded. “Get off your ass, for Phong’s sake. That bastard Gitto will be impossible to deal with.” “He already has the Fedorans on his side,” Zweep said. “Get our security guys over to the Council members. Protect them, rescue them, save their useless hides and they’ll vote you chairman in gratitude.” “Already done, old son.” “What? You knew?” Zweep smiled and blew his cigar smoke high into the air. “I’m surprised he’s acted today.” “Holly’s probably stirred him up,” K. said. “We know how uncomfortable that can be.” “So, what are your men doing?” “I’ve put them on alert. They’ll protect the councilors.” “He’s using androids.” “So that was what all that was about,” K. said. “No android boxing scandal at all. He was just creating an army.” Maxim couldn’t believe they weren’t taking the situation seriously. “While you two fiddle about here, Peridae and Lila are at Felis’s apartment with Holly. I’ll get them to my ship and the hell out of here until it’s safe to return.”

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Zweep nodded approvingly. “That sounds like a plan. You can leave Gitto and his army to us.”

*** Holly sat in helpless frustration watching Gitto marshal his forces. At least he hadn’t yet initiated his plan. There was still a chance for Maxim to do something. A feeling of helplessness shivered through her chest. It reminded her of the streets of Nova Town where her father had been killed. Holly had watched, too far away to do anything to help, impotently recording his death. She strained against her bonds, swearing that she wouldn’t stay helpless, not again. The result of her struggling was the rearrangement of her clothes and she was, at least, now more discreetly covered. The control room door slid open and two androids carried an unconscious Felis into the control room. Peridae followed, holding Lila’s hand. The little girl bore a brave and determined expression: a typical Dollavera. When Lila saw Holly her eyes opened wide. “They found us,” she explained. “I didn’t breathe but they found us anyway.” “It’s all right, sweetheart,” Holly said. “They found me too.” “Take them to the storeroom,” Gitto instructed the androids. “They will keep the Dollavera brothers malleable.” “How did you find them?” Holly asked, already knowing the answer. “Your transmission, of course. Vesty did a superb job of tracing it for me.” “Bitch.” “I believe the feeling is mutual.” Gitto returned his concentration to his control panel. Holly watched and listened as his various units checked in prior to making their move. He glanced at her and, seeing her baleful glare, smiled. “You may hate me now, but when you see the good I will do for this place, you’ll learn to love me.” “All I see is a pitiful megalomaniac, and I should know. I’ve seen your like before.”

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He laughed loudly. “Where’s your objectivity? I thought you’d be more professional. I’m giving you an exclusive interview with the new Governor of Adana.” “Dictator, you mean.” “Adana has become an open sewer. When I ran ’Port Security the Authority wouldn’t give me the powers to clean up the scum. They wouldn’t let me work.” “I’m surprised they showed so much good sense.” “Idiots. I told them what would happen if we didn’t take a firm hand.” “So you’ve made it happen.” “Just a few hours of uncertainty. That’s all the citizens will notice.” “What about ’Port Security? You think they’ll stand by and do nothing?” “They can do nothing. My units are scattered all through the spaceport. Every utility -- life support, air, food, water -- and every ’Port Authority official has my men surrounding them. At my command everything shuts down. ’Port Security can do nothing.” “They won’t just sit still and hand it over.” “My forces outnumber them five to one and I have operatives inside ’Port Security itself. I cannot fail, no matter what they do.” “When will it happen?” He checked his watch. “Five minutes.” “Wait, release me.” “Why, in the name of all the gods, should I do that?” “I need my camera.” He clapped his hands in appreciation. “I knew you’d come around.” “You want a story, don’t you?” She pursed her lips and attempted to project an eager, venal expression. “Well? You want legitimacy, don’t you? You want the populace to stay calm, don’t you? I’ve seen this before. I’ve seen what happens in times like this. People die needlessly and children see things they should never see.” His gaze sparkled with excitement. “Objective reporting?” “I hate you, but I’ll do this to calm the populace, to prevent needless violence.”

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“Good enough. Carl,” he said to one of his androids. “Release Holly and return her camera to her. Holly, your camera is to be set on record, not broadcast. I have a dampener field over this control center. We’ll release your report when the time is right.” “I understand.” “Carl, watch her closely. If she tries to escape you have my authority to kill.” The android bent over her and undid her bindings. With her mind in a turmoil of fear Holly climbed to her feet, rearranged her torn clothes into some semblance of order, and after finding her smartcam, initiated the Observer’s signature tune and opening credits. “Breaking News! A moment in history and the dawning of the new order. This is Holly Barberossa reporting. A historic day for Spaceport Adana. This is Riz Gitto about to issue the command to his forces ordering them to put into protective custody ’Port Authority officials and to take control of all ’Port utilities. For the last few months supporters of the retired ’Port Security head have infiltrated all levels of government and business. Hundreds of armed security personnel and androids stand poised to officially take control of the spaceport. Resistance against such an overwhelming force is useless.” “Excellent,” Gitto said. “Holly, you’re so perceptive. That’s exactly what I wanted.” She moved closely behind Riz, seemingly keen to record his moment of glory. “Go ahead,” she said. “This is a historic moment.” Riz nodded and for a moment looked lost for something historic to say. He obviously hadn’t planned on his moment in history to be recorded like this, no doubt intending to stage a reenactment later on. “I do this in the interests of all peace loving and law abiding citizens of Adana.” That’s what they all say. Holly stepped closer to him. She glanced at Roberta standing immobile by the wall. She wished the alien/android was functional. Roberta gave her a surreptitious

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wink. Holly suppressed a gasp of surprise and winked back. She hoped Roberta had divined enough of human behavior to discern her intent. Roberta gave a slight nod of understanding and took a step toward Carl, Gitto’s personal bodyguard. Carl reacted with great speed and stepped between Gitto and Roberta. Holly took her chance and, gathering all her strength, brought down the sharp edge of her camera onto Gitto’s temple. He grunted and fell to the floor. “I’m not escaping,” Holly yelled at Carl in a vain attempt to confuse him after Gitto’s specific order to kill her if she tried to escape. She realized that such a claim was stupid. Carl was Gitto’s bodyguard. Hitting his master over the head would automatically initiate his protection subroutines. Her action, however, had diverted his attention away from Roberta, who very quietly, and very efficiently, dismembered the android. “Roberta, enough. Quickly, can you get inside Gitto’s head and change his mind? Make him rescind his orders and stand down his troops.” “I’ll try.” Roberta reached out her hand and stroked Gitto’s unconscious forehead. Suddenly Gitto’s eyes flipped open. He appeared disoriented and afraid. Holly imagined Roberta worming her way into his brain, searching his malignant thoughts for the means of ending this madness. With jerky movements he climbed to his feet and went to the communications board. He cleared his throat uncertainly. “All units,” he said, his voice quavering. A frisson of fear lanced through Holly’s breast. She wondered, for just a moment, if she had just given command of Gitto’s rebel force to an alien entity whose motivations and agenda she really knew nothing of. This could be the biggest mistake of my life. “All units,” Gitto said, his voice more confident now. “All units stand down. Abort Code Alpha one oh one. Stand down.” Roberta gazed up at her from Gitto’s face, his expression helpless and pleading. “Is that what you wished, Holly?”

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“Absolutely, Roberta. Well done.” At that moment there was an actinic flash and an explosion as the door fell inwards. Maxim rushed in, his pistol aimed at Gitto’s head. Holly threw herself in front of him. “Don’t shoot. It’s Roberta in his skull. She’s just cancelled Gitto’s orders. It’s all been cancelled. The coup’s over.”

Chapter Fourteen “Breaking news! Dangerous coup d’état put down by Observer reporter. “This is Holly Barberossa reporting. A day of infamy in Spaceport Adana. Viewers, you’re watching video of Riz Gitto about to issue the command to his forces to arrest ’Port Authority officials and to take over all ’Port utilities. “In the last few months the retired ’Port Security head and his army of androids have infiltrated all levels of government and business and stood poised, ready to take control of the spaceport. “Together with Peridae Dollavera, her daughter Lila and friend Felis Panthera, I was held prisoner by the megalomaniac as he prepared to put his diabolical plans into action, but with the timely intervention of Maxim Dollavera and especially Robert, the abused android who had initially drawn my attention to the plot, we were able to apprehend Gitto and force him to cancel his coup. “’Port Security has secured all utilities and tonight, Spaceport Adana can sleep easy. “This is Holly Barberossa reporting for the Adana Observer.” Maxim flicked off the wall screen. “So, are you happy now? It’s all wrapped up. Gitto is in custody, his secret army disarmed and his androids deactivated. The Fedoran gangsters are all locked up as well. Ernhard Wis is found and will be a very rich man. The betting industry is being reformed, so no more betting on people’s lives. K. promises to behave himself and drop that lawsuit against the kid, and Zweep, after rescuing the council members, looks safe to become chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. Oh, and Roberta and Felis are fucking each other like Mendovians at a wedding reception. Happy?” She snuggled deeper into his warm embrace.

Mikala Ash


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“There’s just one thing,” she said, gazing up at him. “How did you know I was at Gitto’s control center?” He planted a quick kiss on her upturned nose. “Easy. Lila has an implanted tracking device.” Of course! “You really take her safety seriously, don’t you?” “She’s our sorry family’s only jewel,” he said reflectively. “Which reminds me.” He reached over to the bedside table and from a drawer produced a small, exquisitely worked wooden box. “For you,” he said. She opened the box to reveal an equally exquisite gold pendant with a bright azure jewel glistening at its center. “It’s beautiful.” “I found the mother crystal on a little moon off Silesia. I’d like to take you there and show you Silesia’s ring system. It’s one of the wonders of the --” Holly sat up excitedly. “I’d love to, darling, really, but I won’t have the time. You see I have to cover Gitto’s trial, the crackdown on Fedoran gangsters and, with Vesty under arrest, I have to look after Vinnie. He’s absolutely devastated.” Those impossibly colored eyes gazed at her beneath a disapproving frown. “When everything simmers down I promise to go to Silesia with you. I promise.” She planted a powerful kiss on his silent lips. “I promise.” “Name a date.” “Darling, be reasonable. How in Phong’s name can I give a date? You know what Adana is like; anything can happen and probably will.” “And a reporter’s work is never done.” “Something like that.” The heavy silence was pregnant with dire possibility, and, as their mutual gaze threatened to continue into eternity, Holly felt perversely naked without Altaran sauce running down her chin. “I guess,” he said and kissed the corner of her mouth. “I’ll just have to get used to it.” “It’s a reporter’s life, I’m afraid.”

Mikala Ash Mikala Ash wakes up every morning to the sound of the crashing surf and has her first coffee of the day on her verandah overlooking the wide Pacific Ocean. It’s a double-edged blessing, she says: I have to drag myself away to do anything at all -- like work. I’m a Management Consultant and I don’t think Ricky (my beautiful Border Collie) fully understands the economic necessity of me working to keep him in the lifestyle he’s become accustomed to (typical male). He just wants me to run with him along the beach all day chasing those pesky sea gulls. He’s good company though and, if there are shape shifters in the world, I think I’d like him to be one -- loyal, trustworthy, obedient and protective. A voracious reader, I’ve been writing in one form or another since I was little. I’m so lucky that I’ve found a way of sharing my passion for spicy romance and the more fantastical realms that hover just beyond our grasp.

Trash & Treasure

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