Alien Indiscretions Read online

  Just like that, Cissy knew she liked Anna. When she tasted the coffee the liaison brought her, she liked her even more.

  “As long as there is caffeine in the universe, everything else will work itself out. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that the Empire buys this stuff from the Earther colonies,” she proclaimed. “Tell me, Anna, is a liaison here the same as what we had on the transport that brought us to Kalquor?”

  Anna nodded. “Pretty much. Tilda will be your liaison, but today is her day off. If you have any questions or concerns about anything at all while you’re here, she’ll be glad to help you.”

  “We all will.” Imdiko Garlel offered one of his sweet smiles. “Don’t be afraid to approach any of us at any time.”

  “Thank you,” Tasha said.

  Besat gestured towards a closed door. “Shall we begin the tour?”

  They followed the chief administrator through the tunnel behind the door and out into the complex’s courtyard.

  Cissy had known what to expect, but that didn’t keep her from whistling in appreciation. The courtyard was beautiful, a vision of Eden.

  Banks of flowerbeds separated the courtyard into sections. Each bed was a profusion of color, as if the flowers were fireworks caught at the moment of full explosion. Heady scents came from them, sweeter than any perfume Cissy had ever smelled. She inhaled with pleasure.

  Also separating each pie-shaped section was the use of different colored marble tiles that made up the courtyard floor. The section the little group had entered through was lemon yellow, as bright and cheerful as the sunlight beaming down on them. Firepits scattered throughout the vast area, sending even lovelier smells from the burning scentwood wafting in their direction. Cushions scattered around the pits. Women lounged at about half a dozen of the pits; the hum of conversation and easy laughter floated on the aromatic air. One woman sat in an area off in the corner, attended by three Kalquorian men.

  “Our outdoor lounge,” Besat told them. “This is a good place to relax with friends and potential clanmates. Some take their meals here and even throw parties.”

  They moved on to the section with sky-blue tiles. Small, sunken pools bubbled and steamed. Women in bathing suits both modest and revealing relaxed in them.

  “Whirlpools,” Anna said, smirking a little to see her male companions looking everywhere but the glistening skin of the scantily-clad brunette they’d stopped beside. “Very relaxing, aren’t they, Bridgette?”

  The girl lounging in the shallow basin smiled lazily up at them. “Welcome to paradise,” she sighed. She blinked at Jessica. “Has anyone ever told you that you look just like the Empress?”

  Chuckling, the group moved on. The next section featured grass-green tiles and raised platforms upon which billowy mats rested. Most were taken up by more nearly naked women, all lying on their stomachs. Again, Besat and Garlel found gazing in the distance to be a noble pursuit.

  Cissy grimaced to see tentacle-waving Tratsods moving over the reclining women’s bodies. The aliens’ coloration landed in a hideous zone somewhere between orange and pink. They slid over the Earthers’ backs, shoulders, and thighs, their many tentacles playing over the oil-glistened skin, rubbing all over. Eyes attached to the lumpy circular bodies on thin stalks blinked at Cissy’s group. A droning hum emitted from the creatures, soft and hypnotic.

  “Once you get used to their appearance, you’ll love their massages,” Anna assured Cissy and Tasha. “They’re gentle, sweet creatures.”

  “Don’t judge a book by its cover, huh?” Cissy said. Tratsods weren’t pretty by any means, but the face of every woman under their care was rapturous. It might be worth the squick to feel that good.

  Another section of the courtyard was taken up by a large pool. Its blue-green depths shimmered, with silvery ripples birthed by the women swimming its length. The final area, tiled in lilac purple, was filled with laughing women dancing to exotic Middle Eastern sounding music with a quick beat. Cissy and Tasha both stopped to gape as at least two dozen women attempted to follow the instructor, an Earther woman as dark-skinned as the Kalquorians. Her brilliant smile flashed white as she called out instructions and encouragement.

  “Once a week, Matara Michaela teaches a form of outlawed Earth dancing called Raqs Sharqi,” Besat told them. “I believe you are acquainted with her, my Empress?”

  “You would be right. She’s my best friend.” Jessica snickered. “By the way, I’m not a half-bad belly dancer myself. Michaela taught me.”

  Tasha’s eyes went wide. “You dance like that?”

  Jessica laughed. “After the babies, I wouldn’t be in this good of shape without it. Trust me, you want to take her class. If you’re good enough, she’ll put you in her exhibition company and you can make a lot of potential clans lay at your feet.”

  Cissy eyed the class. The moves were astoundingly sexy, she thought. “I’m in,” she said.

  “There are other classes too,” Anna said. “Stretching, meditation, other forms of dance ... too many to mention. You’ll be given the schedules and can choose whatever you like.”

  The tour continued inside the complex. There were workout machines to tone the body, which Cissy immediately dismissed by blowing a raspberry. They didn’t look nearly as fun as the belly dancing. The heated indoor pool was more to her liking as well. The vid gaming section, in which one could interact with any number of sporting, music, or instruction scenarios, was enticing. They peeked into one room in which two women practiced their golf swings. In another, a woman took lessons on how to play a Plasian eflan pipe.

  “We have one-on-one classes on things such as Kalquorian language, history, and the like,” Garlel said. “You may wish to request live lessons in subjects, hobbies, and careers that interest you. We’ve had cooking courses, computer sciences, childcare ... pretty much anything you can imagine.”

  “Plus there are off-site options,” Anna enthused. “Kestarsh riding – they’re similar to horses – sailing, mountain climbing – oh, everything.”

  Cissy gave Jessica a mock glare. “And you wanted us to stay in your piddling Royal House. Sheesh.”

  The empress grinned. “Hell, I might run away from home and move in here. Do you think anyone would notice?”

  “Only the entire Empire,” Lindsey said.

  The women were ushered to the in-house transport to go to the twins’ private rooms. Jessica, Lindsey, Besat, and four of the Royal Guards went to the seventh floor in one; Cissy, Tasha, Anna, Garlel, and the other two guards went up in the other.

  “Pretty spiffy digs,” Cissy told Anna. “Somehow, I didn’t expect so much.”

  “Your apartments are modest,” the liaison told her. “Most women don’t mind the smaller quarters since there is so much otherwise to enjoy, though.”

  “It’s like those illegal spas that were uncovered on Earth from time to time,” Tasha said. “Except this is a million times nicer.”

  Garlel smiled to hear her say that. “I am glad you are not disappointed so far.”

  “Not one bit.” Tasha grinned at Cissy. “It’s like being at one of those resorts the rich always got to go to.”

  The transport door opened onto their floor. The two Royal Guards stepped out first and looked around. The four that had gone up with Jessica and Lindsey were already in the hallway, also looking.

  “Clear,” the one Jessica had identified as the captain said.

  Cissy and Tasha disembarked as the other transport emptied out. “We’re going to Rooms 623 and 624,” Besat told the captain.

  The head of the guards bowed to Jessica before accompanying half the square at the front of their group. The other half fell in at the back. Cissy wondered how her cousin could stand being so closely watched all the time. It would drive her crazy to be surrounded every time she stepped out of her home.

  The rooms assigned to the twins were side by side at the far end of the hall. Cissy’s was closest to the outer wall. “Of course, you are free to exchange
places, but the rooms are mirror images of each other. You even have a connecting door between the two. They are exactly the same,” Besat informed them as he waved a coded card before the admittance pad imbedded in one of the doors. When it opened, two of the guards went in to sweep the apartment’s interior and Besat let two more of the red formsuited Nobeks into the other room.

  Besat handed the two cards he’d used to open the doors to Tasha and Cissy. “These are your keys while you live here,” he told them. “They will activate all doors and machines the tenants have access to, so you’ll want to keep them handy.”

  It took the Royal Guards no time to go through the apartments. The captain bowed to Jessica when he rejoined the group in the hall.

  “The quarters are clear, my empress.”

  She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Captain Kel. Well, let’s see your new digs, girls.”

  Tasha led the way into the apartment that her key card was coded to. Cissy was impatient enough to push her twin a little, which only made Tasha drag her feet more in revenge. She giggled as Cissy huffed with impatience.

  “Come on, come on! I want to see.”

  Tussling and laughing, the sisters stumbled into the quarters. Once inside, they stopped and turned in circles, having a good look around.

  The room was what the Kalquorians termed a greeting room. Back on Earth, Cissy would have called it a living room. It was small and plain, with an oval table in the middle and seating cushions surrounding it. Its only decoration was a vid monitor hanging on the wall and a basket full of blue-plumed fronds.

  Jessica looked askance at their surroundings and snorted. “Blessed Buddha, there’s barely enough room for the four of us in here. Are you sure you don’t want to stay in the Royal House? We’ve got scads of room. Plus you’ll be close to me.”

  “Ew, not you,” Cissy cried out with mock horror. Then she spoke seriously. “We’re close to you here, sweetie. It took all of what, five minutes to get here?”

  She appreciated the coziness after the huge guest suite they’d spent the night in. The way that place had echoed ... she shuddered at the thought of spending her days and nights there.

  Tasha must have felt the same way because she said, “Seriously Jess, we appreciate the offer but you know we’re not into all that pomp. Besides, you saw the amenities here. It’s like living life on vacation.”

  Cissy nodded. “I can’t believe I’m saying this given how the Tratsods look, but I can’t wait to get one of those massages. I want to look that blissed out.”

  Tasha was not on the same page on that account. “Eek. Those squishy aliens aren’t laying a tentacle on me. I know they’re okay but I don’t want something that looks so squid-y crawling across my back.”

  Lindsey and Jessica laughed. The elder sister said, “Close your eyes and think happy thoughts. I’ve had the Tratsod massage, and it is heavenly. You won’t want to move a muscle for an hour afterward.”

  Cissy grinned. “I’m going to have a go at it. Besides, the apartment may as just as well be small, because I plan to spend as little time as possible in it. I already have a date.”

  Tasha knew about the meetings Cissy had lined up. The other two women squealed. Jessica yanked on her arm in excitement. “You brat! Who did you pick? I want to have Bevau check them out.”

  Cissy chuckled. “Clan Mocnoz. They’re a little young and not the most compatible according to my questionnaire results, but they seem like they’d be fun.”

  Lindsey pretended shock. “How young, you rowdy girl?”

  “Only ten years older than me. The oldest isn’t even 45 yet. They barely qualified for the lottery as Dramok Mocnoz just opened his own law practice.”

  Lindsey giggled. “Scandalous!”

  Lindsey’s clanmates were young to have clanned a Matara. Cissy had heard some Kalquorians, particularly those with status, had called the match between the Empress’ sister and Clan Bacoj outrageous. When they’d met Lindsey, Bacoj, Japohn, and Vax had acquired no rank at all. Only in their thirties, the three men had been hard pressed to prove to Kalquorian society that they deserved Lindsey. Fortunately, the four had loved each other with such devotion that they refused to let anything tear them apart.

  Jessica threw her hands up as if giving up all hope. “All right, live here and be wild and free. But know I’m going to want every naughty detail.”

  Tasha fixed her with a shrewd look. “I know you don’t regret joining the first available clan you found, Jess.”

  The Empress grinned. “Not for one second. What I envy is your appalling lack of duty to the Empire and the ability to play like a Plasian. What I wouldn’t give to have no responsibilities!”

  Lindsey rolled her eyes. “Oh, go put on a pretty dress that would cost me my entire year’s worth of earnings and get over it, your Highness.”

  The four women laughed again. Jessica said, “Do I have to talk to your clanmates about giving you a raise? Handling the accounts of successful businesses like your clan’s does mean a lot of work. You should be handsomely rewarded.”

  “Trust me. I get my rewards.” Lindsey arched a brow to make sure they all got her meaning. The red faces of Besat and Garlel, who stood in the background as they chattered, made Cissy laugh even harder.

  Lindsey sighed when the hilarity calmed. “Speaking of business—”

  Jessica made a face. “Yes, we working types need to get where we’re supposed to be. We can’t all be ladies of leisure.” She wrapped her arms around Tasha. “Com me if you need anything at all though.”

  Tasha returned the embrace with interest. “Thanks, Jess.”

  Lindsey and Cissy shared a hug of their own. “Don’t forget, a girls-only dinner tonight. Keep your boy-toys for later, Cissy.”

  The twins switched cousins for another round of hugs. Jessica added, “We’ll pick you up.”

  Cissy told her, “We’ll be waiting. I might even put on a skirt in honor of the occasion.”

  Lindsey pretended to faint. “Did you hit your head?”

  More hugs and kisses on the cheeks ensued. After having been separated from each other for years, Cissy sensed her cousins were every bit as loath to break away as she was. It didn’t matter that they’d be able to see each other every day if they wished. Having family nearby once more was a precious thing.

  Jessica and Lindsey departed, surrounded by the dispassionate Royal Guards. It took only five more minutes for Besat, Garlel, and Anna to tour the twins about the remainder of Tasha’s quarters. The kitchenette was miniscule with a cooling unit filled with pre-prepared meals and a warmer. There was a mix of the Kalquorian and Earther foods Tasha preferred. Cissy was assured her preferences were stocked in her apartment.

  “You can eat in the complex’s dining room or out in the courtyard as well,” Besat informed them. “Also, your potential clans will be taking you to various dining establishments.”

  “You can call the kitchen for something special to be sent to your room,” Garlel assured. “Do not be shy about what you want.”

  Tasha turned to Cissy. “Sweetie, do you remember the meaning of the word ‘shy’?”

  “No, but I remember how to kick your rear.” Cissy smiled at Besat. “What else do you have to show us?”

  The chuckling administrator showed them the bath facility and the single bedroom. “Again, Matara Cissy’s quarters are exactly the same,” he said as they looked at the tiny space that was just big enough for the sleeping mat, a table, and a desk. At least the closet was large, Cissy noted. Not that either woman had much in the way of clothing.

  That wrapped up the tour. After a few more instructions, Besat, Garlel, and Anna took their leave. Tasha and Cissy trooped over to the other twin’s apartment and confirmed it was indeed as identical as they were.

  Their few belongings were delivered: their clothes, some makeup, treasured photo vids, and other small items.

  Cissy grimaced at the two tiny piles of all they owned. “I’m feeling that I’ve been down
sized too far,” she told her sister.

  Tasha nodded. “Me too. Shall we take a walk to the marketplace and remedy the matter?”

  Cissy pretended to contemplate the wisdom of such action. “Let’s see. We each have a full account granted by the Kalquorian government and deplorably empty closets. I thought you’d never ask.”

  No further conversation was required. In perfect accord, they linked arms and left their new home.

  Chapter 5

  The twins’ shopping excursion was a roaring success in that they managed to spend all of their carefully saved government allowances in one day. They agreed they loved the vast market area of the underground with its many stores, eating options, and entertainments. By the end of the jaunt they were exhausted, but at least their closets were no longer empty.

  Cissy spent the rest of the day arranging her apartment to her liking. Personal mementos went up everywhere, making the tiny quarters seem more like home. She and Tasha bounced between their connected abodes, talking about this and that and trying to decide what classes and entertainments they wanted to try out in the days ahead.

  The day was late when Cissy wandered into her sister’s apartment again. They’d decided the connecting door would remain unlocked unless one of them was entertaining potential clanmates. A locked door meant private playtime. Cissy thought she wouldn’t need the locked door to dissuade her from entering Tasha’s quarters at the wrong time. Her sister was a screamer.

  Cissy felt vaguely uncomfortable as she came into Tasha’s greeting room, and not because she thought she’d stumble upon her sister being wild ... at least, not on their first night in their new home. Cissy had dressed for that night’s dinner. Being ‘all dolled up’ as she called it, felt funny to her. Tonight, she looked almost as sedate as Tasha tended to appear.

  The light blue slacks she’d bought that afternoon, while cut to flatter her rounded hips, didn’t bind. The fabric was light and airy. The patterned light blue, gold, and white blouse embraced her curves while giving the impression of modesty. Cissy had to admit she looked pretty good in the ensemble, especially with the strappy gold sandals and her hair falling in waves to her shoulders.