Page 27 of Infala: The Alien's Bond
“All planets under the Conglomerate’s gaze have agreed to this. It is a common bond between us.”
“Well, I’m not from a Darthin Conglomerate planet.”
“Dotharian.”
“Okay, whatever. My point is, on my world we don’t have any magical powered ink. When we get tattoos, it’s of our own choosing, though sometimes it’s a reminder of one drink too many.”
The other males swam over to join the conversation. A moment later the older women did as well, all of them perfectly comfortable in their nudity. Darla felt panic growing being the center of this unwanted attention. All of those eyes staring at her, evaluating her, put her on the defensive but she did her best to react slowly, trying to look as casual and confident as she could as she lowered herself into the water up to her neck, closing her eyes a moment as she savored the sensation.
The heat felt amazing on her aching body, soothing the tired muscles the moment she submerged. For a brief moment she almost forgot about the aliens studying her like an animal someone had brought home from the woods.
Almost.
“She is without her pigment,” one of the women said. “It is not right.”
Her companion nodded her agreement. “The laws must be followed.”
Darla reluctantly opened her eyes, her brief moment of comfort ruined. “I was just telling your friend here that on my world we don’t do the whole tattoo thing. At least, not as some mandatory ritual.”
The women shared a concerned look, and the men murmured their displeasure at this flaunting of the laws.
“Every adult must receive them,” the older woman said. “It is the law.”
“But—”
“There are no objections to this. Law is law.”
“But I’m not from around these parts. Everything here is new to me. I didn’t know I was breaking some law just by being me.”
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”
Darla felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. “Hang on. If it’s an actual law, what kind of penalties are we talking for breaking it?”
The woman looked at her almost sympathetically, as one would a foolish child who had truly messed up. “You do not wish to find out.”
The group began chattering excitedly, and with the lower-powered pigment used for her translation rune, Darla found herself having a hard time keeping up with so many voices at once. Finally, they stopped, the older woman holding up her hand for silence.
“We understand you are new here, and it is believed there is some leeway for newcomers.”
“Oh, thank God,” Darla blurted.
“We will summon the Skrizzit. It may take a few days as the nearest with the skill for the task is a few days’ trek away.”
“What’s a Skrizzit?”
“The artist who will apply the pigments and ensure you comply with the law.”
“Hang on, are you saying I have to be tattooed? Oh, hell no. No one, and I mean no one, is tattooing me against my will.”
“Trust me, the alternative is one you do not wish to experience. In the meantime, you will be held away from the others, as is tradition.”
Darla was beside herself. “I just got here, and you’re going to lock me up for not having ink? And fordays? This isn’t right. I want to speak with a lawyer.”
The woman looked at her curiously. “We do not have a translation for what you have just said. How unusual.”
“You’re saying your world doesn’t have lawyers? Oh man, I am so screwed.”
The water surged as Heydar rose from beneath its surface. He’d submerged and swam over to her, emerging from below like a stealthy predator on the hunt. He moved beside Darla and stood from the water, glistening wet from head to toe. From her position neck-deep in the pool, Darla now found herself looking up at his glorious cock, dangling just a few feet away from her face, the water running off his body dripping from its tip.
