It docked at a resupply bay on the edge of the three-kilometre-wide disk which was the habitats non-rotational spaceport. The captain requested a quantity of He3 and deuterium, as well as oxygen, water, and some food. Spaceport service companies were contracted within ten minutes of its arrival.
Three people disembarked. Their passport fleks named them as Marie Skibbow, Alicia Cochrane, and Manza Balyuzi; the last two were members of Yaku s crew. All three cleared Valisks token immigration and customs carrying small bags with a single change of clothing.
The Yaku undocked four hours later, its cryogenic tanks full, and flew down towards Opuntia. Whatever its jump coordinate was, the gas giant was between it and Valisk when it activated its energy patterning nodes. No record of its intended destination existed.
Dariat was sitting up at the bar in the Tabitha Oasis when the girl caught his eye. Thirty years of little exercise, too much cheap beer, and a diet of starscraper gland synthesized pastes had brought about a detrimental effect on his once slim physique. He was fat verging on obese, his skin was flaky, his hair was dulled by a weeks accumulation of oil. Appearance wasnt something he paid a lot of attention to. A togalike robe covered a multitude of laxities.
That girl, though: teenaged, long limbed, large breasted, exquisite face, bronzed, strong. Wearing a tight white T-shirt and short black skirt. He wasnt alone in watching her. The Tabitha Oasis attracted a tough crew. Girl like that was a walking gang-bang invitation. It had happened before. But she hadnt got a care in the world, there was an lan to her which was mesmerizing. All the more surprising, then, was her table companion.
Anders Bospoort: physically her counterpart; late twenties, slab muscles, the best swarthy face money could buy. But he didnt have her youthful exuberance, his mouth and eyes smiled (for that money they ought to) but there was no emotion powering the expression. Anders Bospoort was in almost equal proportions gigolo, pimp, pusher, and blue-sense star.
Strange she couldnt see that. But he could pile on the charm when necessary, and the expensive wine bottle sitting on the table between them was nearly empty.
Dariat beckoned the barkeeper over. Whats her name?
Marie. Arrived on a ship this afternoon.
That explained a lot. Nobody had warned her. Now the wolves of the Tabitha Oasis were circling the camp-fire, enjoying her elaborate seduction. Later they would be able to share the corruption of youth, sensevising Anders Bospoorts boosted penis sliding up between her legs. Have her surprise and pleading in their ears. Feel the ripe body molested by powerful skilled hands.
Maybe Anders wasnt so stupid, Dariat thought, bringing her here was a good advert. He could ask an easy ten per cent over the odds for her flek.
The barkeeper shook his head sadly. He was three times Dariats age, and hed spent his every year in Valisk. Hed seen it all, so he claimed, every human foible. Pity, nice girl like that. Someone should tell her.
Yeah. Anywhere else, and someone might. Dariat looked at her again. Surely a girl with her beauty couldnt be that nave about men?
Anders Bospoort extended a gracious arm as they rose from the table. Marie smiled and accepted it. He thought she looked glad at the opportunity to stay close. The gazes she drew from the men of the Tabitha Oasis werent exactly coy. His size and measured presence was a reassurance. She was safe with him.
They walked across the vestibule outside the bar, and Anders datavised the starscrapers mechanical systems control processor for a lift.
Thank you for taking me there, Marie said.
He saw the excitement in her eyes at the little taste of the illicit. I dont always go there. It can get a little rough. Half of the regulars have Confederation warrants hanging over them. If the navy ever comes visiting Valisk the population on penal planets would just about double overnight.
The lift arrived. He gestured her through the open doors. Halfway there, and it was going so smoothly. Hed been a perfect gentleman from the moment they met outside the Apartment Allocation Office (always the best place to pick up clean meat), every word clicking flawlessly into place. And shed been drawn closer and closer, hypnotized by the old Bospoort magic.
She glanced uncertainly at the floor as the doors closed, as if shed only just realized how far from her home and family she was. All alone with her only friend in the whole star system. No going back for her now.
He felt a tightening in his stomach as the anticipation heightened. This would all go on the flek; the prelude, the slow-burning conquest. People appreciated the build in tension. And he was an artiste supreme.
The doors opened to the eighty-third floor.
Its a walk down two floors, Anders told her apologetically. The lifts dont work below here. And the maintenance crews wont come down to fix them. Sorry.
The vestibule hadnt been cleaned for a long time and rubbish was accumulating in the corners. There was graffiti on the walls, a smell of urine in the air. Marie looked round nervously, and stayed close to Anders side.
He guided her to the stairwell. The light was dim, a strip of electrophorescent cells on the wall whose output had faded to an insipid yellow. Dozens of big pale moths whirred incessantly against it. Water leaked down the walls from cracks in the polyp. A cream-coloured moss grew along the edge of every step.
Its very kind of you to let me stay with you, Marie ventured.
Just until you get your own apartment sorted out. There are hundreds of unused ones. Its one of lifes greater mysteries why it always takes so long for the Allocation Office to assign one.
Nobody else was using the stairs. Anders very rarely got to meet any of his neighbours. The bottom of the starscraper was perfect for him. No quick access, everyone stayed behind closed doors to conduct their chosen business in life, and no questions were ever asked. The cops Magellanic Itg contracted to maintain a kind of order in the rest of Valisk didnt come down here.
They left the stairwell on his floor, and he datavised a code at his apartment door. Nothing happened. He flashed her a strained smile, and datavised the code again. This time it opened, juddering once or twice as it slid along its rails. Marie went in first. Anders deliberately kept the inside lights low, and codelocked the door behind himat least the processor acknowledged that. He put his arm round her shoulder and steered her into the biggest of the three bedrooms. That door was codelocked too.
Marie walked into the middle of the room, eyes straying to the double bed. There were long velvet straps fixed to each corner.
Take your clothes off, Anders told her. An uncompromising sternness appeared in his voice. He datavised an order to the overhead light panel, but it remained at its lowest level. Shit! And she was obediently stripping off. Nothing for it, hed have to stay with the deep shadows and hope everyone found it erotic.
Now take mine off, he ordered. Slowly.
He could feel her hands trembling as she pushed the shirt off his broad shoulders, which made a nice touch. Nervous ones were always more responsive.
His eyes ran over her with expert tracking as she walked ahead of him to the bed, capturing every square centimetre of flesh on display. When she was lying on the water mattress his hands traced the same route. Then his boosted cock was swelling to its full length, and he focused on her face to make sure he captured her fear. That was always a big turn on for the punters.
Marie was smiling.
The lights sprang up to full intensity.
Anders twisted round in confusion. Hey