Norvir (The Mating Games Book 9) (2 page)

“Nathalie.” She almost jumped out of her skin as her friend, James Dumont, put his hand on her shoulder.

“Most distressing. Why do you watch the video? It only upsets you.” James had a point, but she was obsessed with the damage they had done.

It told her this was personal to someone. She had upset someone that had position and power. The big question was would they follow her into space? Nathalie intended to get as far away from Earth as possible. Her problem was, that while she had some funds, they wouldn’t last. Running an organization like Earth First, the largest environmentalist group in the last hundred years, netted her nothing. It actually cost her, because anything the organization needed, she had to provide.

“Why don’t you come into the party room with me? Everyone else is in there.”

She nodded her head and smiled at him. “You go ahead, I’ll be right behind you.”

James tsked, but he left anyway. Life had hit an all-time low. She was an enemy of the state and most of her close friends were with her, along for the ride. They weren’t here for her exactly. Her friends were also committed to helping Earth heal. The problem was the powers that be, were against them. Common people would rise up if they knew that in fifty years the air would be toxic. Nathalie had told them, but the government had branded her as an alarmist. There were still people that believed her and more were beginning to listen.

She closed her notebook computer. There was no point in watching the video she already had memorized, at this point. They were all committed to helping Earth, whether the government pursued them or not. A seminar was scheduled to make them some money to live on. That’s why they were headed to Tellur III on this luxury space yacht, James called a ship. One of their rich secret supporters had loaned it to them.

It was going to be a long trip and she knew she might never feel safe again. It was funny, she’d always wanted to travel, but that was when she had a home to return to. She went to the party room, there was no point in causing anyone else concern. They all looked up as she entered so she plastered a smile on her face. Nathalie wasn’t the only one on the short list to be taken out, but she seemed to be the only one taking it seriously.

“Hey, Baby!” Dr. Thompson came over trying to feel her up. It was so hard to evade his hands that they called him the octopus. It wasn’t personal, he got drunk and went after every female in sight. If he got drunk enough, sometimes he couldn’t tell the difference.

“Dr. Thompson, please keep your hands to yourself.” Nat, her nickname among friends and family, insisted.

“I’ve told you, call me Roger.” He managed between hiccups. A little more and she was sure he would pass out. None too soon, if anyone asked her.

“Sorry to disappoint you, Roger. But I have work to see to.” Nat hurried away, sure there was no way he could keep up with her. He couldn’t.

In her room she laid in bed thinking about all the things she might have done differently. There were few she would go back and change even if she could. Trying to save her polluted, damaged planet was a passion. It was the focus of her life to the exclusion of all else. It wasn’t like she would ever find her soul mate and nothing less would take time away from her life’s work. If changes weren’t made soon, life on Earth would become unsupportable. Those who were poor would be left behind to die, while the rich would find another planet to claim and eventually destroy.

Nat went to sleep, but in her dreams, dangers lurked.
Daddy, why does it smell funny down by the river?

“Sweetheart, ask no questions, they’ll hear you and they will hurt you.”

“But why?” Nat didn’t see why asking hurt anything.

“You are too much like your mom, Baby. It’s why she’s no longer with us.” Nat always saw the sadness in Daddy’s eyes when he spoke of her mom.

It wasn’t long after she went away to college that her dad died. It was sudden and unexpected, at least to her. Had he put off his broken heart to raise her and died from it, when he felt she no longer needed him? Or had he done what he’d told her not to, asking questions someone didn’t want to answer? Nat would never know, but in that gray world between sleep and waking, she always wondered.

Earth was so corrupt, the government, the big companies, even many of the people looked out for number one not caring about the planet or the other people who populated it. It wasn’t only the males, some of the females just wanted their ticket to anywhere else. Even now, when she’d been forced to flee for her life, she wanted something better for the place she’d called home her whole life. Nat knew she was a hopeless crusader. It didn’t matter, only death would stop her.

Shaking off her dismal thoughts, she got out of bed to begin her day. James had told her they should arrive sometime during the day and although she tried to get excited about it, the seminar usually didn’t draw in anyone that could help their cause. Most of them would be aliens looking for ideas to recycle and improve their manufacturing processes. That was a big part of the program and Earth would benefit from that eventually if they would do it.

The problem was the upfront cost that it would take a while to recover. Greedy, that’s what they were and there was no way around it. “Hey, Nat, we’re almost there. Why don’t you come up front and you can get a look at the station?” James hollered.

That sounded good. The station was said to be the perfect balance of technology and beauty. She hurried to the front where there was an observation area. It looked like a giant bird of prey. Amazing! Nat had seen pictures of many space stations and they were for the most part circular, not this one. The giant wings were unfolded on each side of the body of the station. It head was likely the center it was run from, like the brain would be. It did have a beak, but Nat thought it was strictly ornamental. A tail extended from the back of the body. That would be a good place for sanitation and recycling, especially for the water. The station was gold toned, it seemed to glow like a beacon. Excitement thrummed through her for the first time in a long time.

“Find a seat, Nat. We’re about to land.” James said.

Nat sat then examined James. He was a gorgeous man but the only feeling she felt toward him were like that of a sibling. James was the closest she had to family, being some distant cousin whose parents had been the best friends of her parents. They had known each other since they were babies. There was a time when he had pressed for a closer relationship, but she’d convinced him it was best to leave things as they were. It had been a relief because she didn’t want to lose his friendship.

Maybe it soothed his ego that she didn’t date or show interest in any other men. That was alright as long as he understood they would never be more than friends. He seemed to have accepted that. The way he fussed over her was brotherly, at least it seemed so to her. Holding out his hand, she took it so he could help her up. The man had always been a gentleman, even when they were children.

Nat walked slowly, looking around as she followed James. The place was luxurious and had a fantasy setting. The entrance was ancient Egyptian with copies of their gods along the wall. She walked by a god and he seemed to come to life making her screech and move out of the way.

James laughed. “You are so precious and amusing.”

“Thanks a lot. You could have warned me.” She glared at him. Some of the other statues had eyes that glowed or moved their hands when someone got too close. Nat had to admit it was entertaining watching
other people
get startled by the moving and sometimes talking statues.

They went to the front desk where the employees were dressed like Egyptians. James was greeted by name. It made Nat think he visited here regularly. Maybe that was why he suggested the location. Nat had heard rumors about the station catering to unusual tastes, but she hadn’t cared enough to check on it. Her only interest was in the spa which she had received a gift card for a full treatment, as part of the deal for the seminar. James was probably looking out for her since she had been through a hard time lately.

James had her bags taken to her room that was next to his. He was protective of her that way. “So Natty, should we sleep or eat?”

“Eat, I’ve heard there are the most fabulous restaurants here.” She hated the name Natty, but she’d known James all her life and when he was young, Nathalie had been a mouthful. Natty was the closest he could get. He rarely used the name anymore, mostly when he wanted something since it was a reminder of how close they once were.

“You have no idea, Natty. Let’s go, I know the one you should go to first.”

Nat was torn between being scandalized and fascinated. The servers were nearly naked, the little that was covered was still visible. Both males and females were naked above the waist and covered by sheer fabric below with no underwear covering their private parts. “Oh my God, James. You shouldn’t have brought me here.”

“You’ll starve if you become prudish. All the places here are like this. The restaurant, next door, they serve the food on naked people.”

“No! You’re joking.”

“I’m not. You’ve isolated yourself too much. You’re like a babe in the woods, too innocent for your own good.”

This was a lesson? James was taking things too far. From now on it was room service. Once the seminar was over, she wouldn’t come back to this station, ever.

Chapter 3

Time to Learn

Norvir would admit he was stunned as the space station came into view, but he shouldn’t have been. Since his people had been freed, he had discovered, as they all had, what money could buy. This place was the epitome of luxury and fantasy. If you could dream it, they could make it come true. It hung in the sky looking like a giant bird of prey about to descent on the planet below. The station was an impressive engineering feat.

That it was better, visually, than their space station wasn’t surprising. They had cobbled theirs together right after they had been freed and before they had learned much. A design like this, not exactly but something equally impressive, like a dragon, would pull in tourists that didn’t want to travel the extra distance to Tellur III. In the future, plans had been made to make Oison a trade center. Their people would make their mark on the galaxy. If they had a space station like this, all the things tourists packed with them and sometimes left behind, would be left on the station.

It was the first step in safeguarding the planet, segregate it. Earth had creatures there that had disturbed their eco systems that had been brought in by visitors and escaped. Some of those creatures were predators the local wildlife had no defenses against. Several animals, like rabbits, now only existed in small numbers in zoos. That was due to the introduction of the hissing ionjus that threw needles from their mouths that incapacitated the rabbits so it could feast on them without interruption. In some areas, no small wildlife existed and the ionjus went after larger animals including humans. It was a sad lesson to learn from, but Norvir would take it to heart.

The ship docked. But only a percent of the passengers were allowed off at any given time. He would be the only one staying on the station. Tellur III had a reputation for activities that became addictive, drinking, drugs, gambling, and unusual sexual practices. His people were too naïve in the ways of a jaded place like this to be tossed out at its mercy. They would visit in small groups with a more experienced leader to guide them. Once they were more aware of the dangers that could befall them, they would be allowed to make their own decisions, good or bad.

Norvir’s father was trusting him not to take up with any fallen angels or be seduced by the wild side of life on the space station. He would do anything to make his parents proud. Even if he had the look of an untried youth as his mouth gaped open when he stepped onto the station. His head, the big one, was still in control, it was just shocking to the system to see such luxury and open sexuality.

Morelan stared around as well, because even though he’d been off world several times, he’d never been here. It was not a place Norvir’s father would have chosen to send them, but since something they needed was here, he would make the best of it. That’s why he’d not only sent Norvir to Tellur III for the seminar, but he’d added a supply run, here and other places.

“Let me check in.” Norvir suggested. “Then we’ll go eat.” Morelan nodded, struck speechless by his surroundings. The statue of a god began to speak to him and he was startled. “It is like a robot, Morelan. Only it is anchored in place.”

“Thank the gods, our gods, that is.” Morelan prayed. “I hope all of us survive this place.”

“We will be fine if we do not allow ourselves to be drawn in.” The check in process was simple and done quickly. “Let’s go to that restaurant to eat.”

“Yes, I am hungry. Hopefully the food will be good.” They stepped through the door and were not prepared for the sight that greeted them. “Are they cannibals?” Morelan asked with a squeaky voice.

“I think it is sexual, Cousin. They eat the food from the body, then they do as they wish with them. Let’s look for another place to eat.”

“I agree with that. Do you think we can find a place that just serves food?”

“I hope so. Let’s try next door.” The servers were barely clad, but hunger drove them to sit at a table near the door. This was so different from the world they were used to.”

“Hello, I am Elza and this is Fritz, we are here to serve you. Tell us whatever you desire, and we will make it yours.” Elza ran her hand down Morelan’s chest and he hurried to get away from her. “My apologies.” She said and her and Fritz switched spots. Now Fritz ran his hand down Morelan’s chest as Morelan almost fell trying to move away from the man’s touch.”

“We are only here for food.” Norvir said.

“Too bad.” Fritz said staring at Morelan.

“Yes, that is too bad.” Elza said looking at him. “Are you sure we can’t persuade you to indulge a little?”

“Not today.”