Page 69 of No Strings Attached

The Olferian shrugged and turned to lead them through the door, Valis following. Bahbi looked into the female’s pale blue eyes and placed a hand on the glass, the only comfort he could give her at the moment, and he saw her eyes widen before going through the door.

Inside was a small foyer-style room with 10 vertical stasis pods, six occupied, built directly into the wall; a hallway led back with hatch doors leading off to rooms on each side. Next to each pod was a display screen listing species, menu of services, and prices. None of the six occupants were restrained, like the human female was, and they were all engaged in various sexual displays and suggestive positions in an effort to capture Valis’s attention. None of them turned their attentions toward Bahbi, even after they noted his entrance. He felt no small measure of relief about that.

None of the females was human, but Bahbi didn’t immediately recognize all the species. In the first pod, there was an Olferian, sickly grey with dull red eyes and missing patches of scales on the top of her head. The second pod had been unoccupied, but as Bahbi watched, a Trallian male entered it and assumed a weary, disinterested posture.

The Olferian bouncer they had followed in turned to Bahbi and said, “He’s for those poor fuckers who can’t afford a female.”

Bahbi sucked in a breath in shock as understanding hit him, then the Trallian met his gaze. His eyes widened as he took in Bahbi and his large gold and emerald medallion, gold belt wrapped around his bicep, and daggers. Bahbi felt sick.

The four next pods contained Filli—delicate, pink-skinned, and hairless humanoids with large eyes and long tails. They were the ones working hardest to get Valis’s attention. Bahbi knewtheir culture had a pleasure slave caste, and they were trained to be eager and agreeable for any sexual acts. Valis merely gave them his polite smile and nod.

The next two pods were empty—their occupants presumably busy with customers, and the last two contained species he didn’t know anything about. One was slightly insectoid, with membranous wings, and the other was bipedal with many, tentacled upper limbs.

A diminutive Olferian approached them, considerably smaller than the bouncer or Jarxtan Prag, with a scowl on his face. “I’m Raglan Ark, the owner. What the fuck do you two want?”

Valis smiled, bowed, and said, “We’re interested in learning the price for the female outside, Raglan Ark. I am Valis, this is Bahbi.”

Ark peered at Valis, “The vagrant. Yes, I remember you, looking for work. And a Trallian. When the fuck have I ever needed to learn the name of a random Trallian?” Ark leaned forward, still scowling, “Where’s your ownership brand, Trall? Why do you wear such finery?”

Bahbi forced himself not to take a step backwards or look down, then answered, “I’m not a slave. I dont have an owner. I wear these things to mark me as part of the House of Oz.”

Valis added, “He is bound to the King and Queen of Oz. Their royal designer.”

Ark looked thunderstruck, “A Trall?! Fucking ridiculous. If you have no brand, you are mine to claim. I can put you in the tube and send Orni back to my kitchen.” He waved a hand at his bouncer, “Deal with the vagrant, then bring me the Trall. I’ll get the branding iron ready.”

The bouncer took a step toward Valis and Bahbi couldn’t even process what happened next. Before he could replay it in his mind, Valis was kneeling beside the bouncer, who was on hisstomach on the floor, and holding both of his arms behind his back.

Valis, totally unperturbed and unconcerned, said quietly, “Draw your blades, Bahbi.”

Bahbi started at the scene in shock and didn’t immediately understand what Valis meant, then he remembered the daggers on his arm. He pulled each free and held one in each hand, clutching them tightly in his raised fists.

Ark was apoplectic with rage. He turned around and screamed, “GET THE ZIG!” Then he ran away from them, down the long corridor.

The Olferian bouncer started bucking and thrashing under Valis, until he reached up and applied pressure to the side of his neck, then the Olferian stilled and seemed to fall unconscious. Bahbi couldn’t tell what Valis had done, since it had been on the far side of the Olferian’s neck. Valis stood and walked calmly down the hall after Ark. Bahbi took a deep breath, squeezed the grips of the daggers for reassurance, and followed. His last thought, before all hell broke loose, was:I hope Vi finds out what happened to me and doesn’t have to wonder if I left her.

Twenty-Nine: I Take It That Things Didn’t Go as Planned?

The Ophidians had finallyrelented after what felt like a million hours of negotiations, agreeing to give Steve an endpoint device. Then they had brought out a contract writer, a fuckingcontract writer, and had the terms formalized. Everyone signed.

Vi gathered that their biggest fear was someone getting hold of the device and using it to invade Serpentia, a fear she could understand. They had had to promise to only traverse the wormhole in the direst of circumstances. Even still, the Ophidians had made it clear that they would be anchoring the other end within a secure, monitored room. If something happened that caused them to use the device and enter Serpentia, they would find themselves in a fortified enclosure with no escape until the Ophidians came and retrieved them.

Now, the whole Ophidian party had retreated to their quarters and the reception was dying down. Vi was sitting on a loveseat between Caussus and Trak—Acken and Mister Beastly guarding from behind, Friend at her feet, and Steve slithering on themetal framework above. She was downing another pink fizzy drink when Jarxtan Prag approached and bowed. She sighed, inwardly only, but goddamn she was tired. And hungry. And tired of being naked. And wishing Bobby was there. She looked forward to getting up to their rooms where she assumed he was waiting.

Vi forced a smile and said, “Honorable Jarxtan Prag, good to see you again.”

“Queen Violet, your security authorization for the residential section and your suite.” He took a box out of his pocket and handed her a wafer.

She just held it, looking at him questioningly.

He sighed, “You eat it, my queen. It is encoded for a half-life of 10 days. It will allow you access to the section and your suite.”

Vi nodded, unfazed, and popped it in her mouth as Prag passed them out to the others, and she took great amusement in watching Prag have to place the wafer directly on Steve’s tongue. That done, she looked around at her boys and said, “I’m ready for this day to be over. How about you guys? Honorable Jarxtan Prag, how do we find our suite?”

He frowned at her, “I showed the Trallian and the barefoot gentlemen up there earlier. They did not return?”

She smiled, “Bobby and Valis. No, they didn’t. They’re probably waiting for us up there. Would you like to lead us?”

His irritated body language made it clear the answer was no, but he said, “Yes, my queen. Follow me.”

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