The liquid that Betta poured in the clear glass was initially clear, the next addition turned it a neon blue. Smiling broadly, Betta made her final pour as orange flecks populated the fluid in a flurry that began to individually explode into little dots of orange hues, a light froth topping the head. The drink roiled blue then orange, and then blue again, before it finally settled on orange.
The crowd made noises of awe and fascination at each change. Finally, Betta raised her drink high in the air. “To Jadis Ter! Without him we wouldn’t be here today!”
A roar of cheers shook the tavern. Betta threw back the drink, sucking down the liquid in one massive gulp that was followed by a longer cheer from the crowd.
The drink burned all the way down her esophagus and into her stomach where it spun of its own accord. She was worried that it was going to spin right back out of her mouth, but then the entire station began to twist and turn.
Betta laid her head on the bar. She felt warm, contented and secure. The last thing she heard was Jadis speaking softly.
“Who tries to down a Polaris Sunset in one gulp? And after stasis sickness?"
Betta snorted. “I’m not the one with knives that don’t cut.” Without prompting, a single list popped up in front of her and she suppressed a smile, her gaze falling on Jadis.
Then everything in the bar vibrated, locking out any other sound.
Jadis’s dark hands reached out to catch Betta before she could slide behind the bar. Gently, he lifted her to the other side by her shoulders. She was light in his hands, though he could feel the firmness of her muscle beneath the thin flight suit. Awkwardly, he placed her on the stool next to him. Her eyes rolled back into awareness.
“Oh.” Betta blinked in surprise. Her mouth remained in the shape of an oval. She leaned forward, pressing against his lips, a moan escaping.
The pounding of his hearts caused a shudder of both pain and pleasure through his body. In all his years, he’d never kissed anyone, not even D’yanna, and the thrill of it worried him. How would his body react to a Human? A quick check revealed that the hardness at the bottom of his abdomen had returned. He’d felt it when D’yanna aroused him. The fluids he excreted soaked his shirt and came in spurts that shortened with each release. Jadis turned his face away from her, his breaths coming in short gasps. The smell of his musk began to permeate through his pores, but he could smell her too now. It was a sweet scent, the orange of the Polaris Sunset mixed with her own natural scent that reminded him of limes. His forked tongue writhed beneath the prosthetic he wore. He wanted to taste her now.
Betta smiled when he turned back, her pupils large, though the look she gave him was cautious. “Was it that bad? I’m not thinking right. I’m sorry. I’ve never done that before.”
“You drank way too much, too quickly. I can contact Teena for you.” Through his mental interface, he’d already sent her a message.
Betta, eye-lids now drooping, began to topple forward. Jadis renewed his hold on her shoulders, lifting himself off his own stool to catch her. Small arms went about his damp chest as she snuggled into his embrace, sighing softly.
“Feeling better?” he ventured to ask.
Betta’s response was a gurgle. He felt a new dampness along with the sound of spattering fluid along the lining of his coat.
Teena Maverick was pushing through the crowd with another man and a group of followers.
“Get off her!” Teena commanded.
“Me? Off her?” Jadis asked in shock. “I—I’m not—” He was so shocked, disgusted, and, honestly, hurt that he could find no words to respond.
Betta pulled back, her eyelids far less droopy, and her attention to his spattered coat. She raised a hand to stop Teena’s advance. “I’m so sorry, Jadis. I’m feeling better though. Take it to Gabriel and he’ll replace your wardrobe. Something better.”
“Better? Better?” There were no words to the storm in his head. “This coat was specially made—”
“It’s not even the latest model,” Betta mumbled, swaying slightly on her feet. He reached out a hand to steady her, but she moved outside his grasp. “You got it maybe three decades ago. The nanite mesh doesn’t even hide his stupid weapons because it’s obsolete!” She laughed and her new companions were now helping her to stand. “Gabriel will get you settled. Only the most up to date for my hero.”
Jadis grit his teeth, looking to Teena who now wore a small smile of amusement. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Betta’s own eyes suddenly grow aware. She wrestled free of her captors and crossed the two steps back to him, threw her arm around his neck and pulled him close.
Too shocked to move, Jadis stood there, all three of his hearts beating so quickly they were almost in sync, almost working against one another. He was lightheaded and nauseas, and, based on the hard lump in his abdomen, aroused.
Betta, on the other hand, slowly laid a kiss on his forehead. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Teena was there, an arm around her shoulder, pulling her away. Her eyes met Jadis. “You always seem to get yourself into compromising positions, don’t you?”
“All I wanted was a drink,” Jadis raised his hands innocently.
A bulbous man in what he thought might be black pleather was making his way through the crowd. Arriving just behind Teena, he looked as though he meant to speak. All he had time to do was to open his mouth and take a breath. Betta’s head lulled forward and the sound of liquid falling made him cringe.
“Isn’t this just the way,” the man said to Jadis. “I went through all the trouble of putting together this retro costume and showing it off, and now it’s puked.”
Jadis studied the pleather body-suit that covered the bulbous man all the way up to his neck. There were shining zippers located on his chest and between his legs. Now covered in a thick green liquid that only added to the reflective shine of the pleather. “Think I’m just going back to the shuttle and call it. This whole holiday’s been nothing but vacuum, you know?”
Teena looked his way, a plea in her eyes as she hurried Betta through the crowd.
A chill went through Jadis and the firmness in his abdomen released, along with a whole flurry of glands that added to the dampness beneath his coat. Strengthening his resolve with a look at the balding man that stood in front of him, Jadis decided he owed Teena something.
“My friend, tonight the libations and replacement wardrobe are on Betta. Come with me to Gabriel’s so that we might exact our revenge.”
“Can’t drink anymore. Medic’s gave me a shot in the ass. Won’t feel the effects of alcohol for at least 48 hours. That’s the rest of my leave!”
“What’s your name, friend?”
“Drew, but my friends calls me Big Dee.” Drew winked at Jadis.
“Look, Drew,” Jadis said, “we can get you real leather. A new costume for next holiday? And just because you can’t feel the alcohol doesn’t mean you can’t taste it. Have you ever had a brandy with a few drops of honey?”
Drew’s brows rose.
The music returned to normal volume and conversation resumed in the bar as the two exited, leaving behind a trail of green and blue liquid in their wake. The crowd gave them ample room, coalescing once the cleanup was complete.
The A.I.’s doors flew open once Jadis and Drew arrived at Gabriel’s.
“Out!” The A.I. shouted. “Out! You’re both disgusting!”
The two men leapt off the ride quickly, exchanging glances. The electric cart buzzed away angrily.
Not for the first time, Drew said, “maybe we should call it, Jadis. I’m not sure we’ll get a better reception in there.”
“Drew—” Jadis began.