Dar's Adventures in Space 1: Space Crazy Read online

  6

  Four days later, Dar emerged from his quarters; his whole body covered with peeling blisters, and he still felt wrung out. This wasn’t the way he envisioned his first few days in space to be. No, it was supposed to be exciting; instead, he spent most of it drugged out of his mind. Clearly his new life wasn’t going according to plan.

  He’d survived Skrinnian fever thanks to Karnis and his generous offerings of Mind Blow; and Gwog, who came and visited before bedtime, bringing a bottle of Malikin port from Gardinis. Dar argued he wasn’t old enough to drink, but Gwog insisted, saying it would make him sleep better. After getting past the initial burn of the alcohol, and the heady buzz he got, Dar discovered port had a rather nice flavor. In fact, he liked it.

  Together, Gwog and Karnis nursed him through the worst of it. Dar figured if his mother ever got wind of what those two did, she wouldn’t be happy. They probably saved his life, because, had he scratched and popped the blisters, they would have gotten infected and he might have died.

  Dar wandered into the galley and sat down at the table. He yawned loudly and stretched.

  Karnis was busy in the kitchen making lunch. “Ah, he’s alive!” he joked, poking his head through the service window.

  “Wondering if I really wanna be,” Dar replied.

  “Oh, the rest of the blisters will peel off in a couple of days, and you’ll be fine. Are you hungry?”

  “Yes, very.”

  “How’s a bovidis shoulder sandwich sound?”

  Dar licked his lips. “Sounds fantastic.” He could feel the ragged shreds of skin on his lips and it was driving him crazy. He hoped soon he’d be looking normal again.

  “All right, gimme a few minutes.”

  “Thank you.”

  Gwog came in, hoping to grab a bite of something before lunch was served. His stomach growled and he really didn’t want to wait. “Hello, little one. Good to see you up.”

  “Good to be up—as opposed to the other option.”

  He sat down across from him. “I didn’t wanna make a trip back to Erotis, bringing you home to your mother wrapped in a shroud.” He picked at his nails. “And I like you, you’re good to have around.”

  Dar smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Are you to ready to come back to the bridge?”

  “I think so. Just a little tired still.”

  Gwog got up and stuck his head through the kitchen window. “Karnis? How about some food? We’re starving out here!”

  “Hang on, hang on!” he barked. The sound of dishes clattered in the kitchen. “Why can’t you two wait til lunch?”

  “We’re hungry now,” Gwog grumbled.

  The communications panel on the wall beeped. “Captain, we’re picking up some traffic headed toward us.”

  Gwog got up and answered. “What sort of traffic?”

  “Looks like the pirates are gonna try again.”

  Dar sat up. “Pirates!” He was excited, since he’d missed the last battle.

  “I don’t believe this. Those Soothians are idiots. Don’t they know we’ve dropped our shipment of gold and are empty?”

  “Are we gonna fight ’em?” Dar pestered.

  “Oh, I dunno, little one. Usually I tell them I’m empty and they leave…But for some reason they seem to have it in for me lately.” He leaned in the window. “Karnis, where’s the food? Come now, we have a battle to fight and I hate fighting on an empty stomach.”

  “All right, all right, I’m going as fast as I can,” Karnis barked.

  Dar got up and went to the window. “Will I have any job in the battle?”

  “Yes, little one, you job is to stay out of the way!”

  “Yes, sir,” he replied lowly.

  “I know you’re dying for some adventure; and you nearly did die not that long ago. But until I teach you how to fight, you’re of little use to me.”

  He straightened up. “I can fight. I fought nearly every day in my life.” Dar brandished his trusty knife. “I fought Krodus and took this from him.”

  Gwog realized it was time to give the youngling a little humble pie. In one swift movement, he grabbed Dar’s wrist, turned it forcefully, and watched the knife fall. Then he stepped closer, caught Dar by the back of his shirt, and with minimal effort, flipped him onto the floor. He looked down at him. “So, you know how to fight, eh?”

  Dar lay there, not in any hurry to get up. Yes, once again his mouth got his body into more trouble. At least Gwog wasn’t out to kill him; rather he was making a statement. Dar understood he had much to learn in his new life, and being smart enough, he knew that whatever skills Gwog wanted to teach, he needed to learn. And maybe it would keep him from getting his ass kicked in future conflicts, he hoped.

  “Come on, little one, your time will come.” Gwog reached down, offering his hand. “Once you feel better, I’ll teach you how to fight…For now, stay with Vikkis and learn targeting and weapons.”

  “Yes, sir,” Dar replied, taking Gwog’s hand. He got to his feet, reached down, and picked up his knife, sliding it back in the sheath.

  “Fighting in school and fighting in space are two different things, little one.” Gwog reached over and touched Dar’s right ear. “A fight in space is usually to the death; if you don’t have the mind set for it, you’re gonna die.” He turned to leave. “Your mother said you were quite the scrapper as a youngling; good, I like tenacity in my crew…Come on, let’s go teach the pirates a lesson.”

  “Hey!” Karnis called. “Your sandwiches!”

  “I’ll get ’em,” Dar said as he waited for Karnis.

  On the bridge, Dar stood behind Vikkis, watching. Ahead, six Soothian pirate ships formed a line in front of them four or five miles away. Gwog groaned at the spectacle. “I’m so sick of ’em, can’t they leave well enough alone?”

  Dar turned around. “Sir? Why haven’t all the freighter captains banded together and put an end to them?”

  “Because each captain is in this business for himself; banding together would imply some sort of alliance—not happening, little one.”

  “Isn’t there an intergalactic security force or something?”

  There were a few chuckles on the bridge. “Little one, this galaxy is pretty lawless. I’m not sure what rules you grew up with on Erotis, but there are few in the depths of space,” Gwog said, poking the communications button on the arm of his chair. “This is Gwog of the Cunik to Nekis.”

  “Hello, Gwog,” the gravelly voice came over the loud speakers on the bridge. “What do you have for me today?”

  “I’m empty. We dropped our shipment of gold off yesterday.”

  “You are, huh? And where are you headed now?”

  “None of your business, Nekis.”

  “On the contrary, it is my business.”

  Gwog was tiring of the conversation. “Vikkis, bring the cannons on line.”

  “Yes, sir,” Vikkis replied, pushing a couple of buttons. Dar saw some lights on the control console come on. “Cannons at your ready, sir.”

  “Nekis, I have my cannons pointed in your direction. Are you gonna leave me alone, or will I have to send a salvo your way? I’m letting you make the decision.”

  There was a long silence before Nekis replied. “Be on your way.” A collective sigh went through the bridge. While most of the crew relished a good fight, they tried to avoid them at all cost. The Cunik was a solidly built ship, but it could still sustain damage in battle. Gwog hated putting in for repairs, it cost time and money.

  Dar was a little depressed that no battle came of the confrontation. He felt confident Gwog saw his displeasure in his body language. “Come here, little one,” he said.

  He went over to Gwog. “Yes, sir?”

  “Rule number one of being a freighter captain: don’t unnecessarily endanger your ship, your crew, or yourself…Understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Now, get with Tregis and lay in a course to Iddris, and then on to Gamma 3 space station. We need sup
plies, and I’m sure everyone would like some entertainment. Then it’s on to Jamarais; we have another shipment of rum to pick up.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And plot a follow-on course to Newrillis.”

  “Newrillis? Also in the dark side?”

  “Yes. There’s a shipment of arms that’ll be going to the Sirrixians—along with the rum.”

  “Yes, sir.” Dar was excited to be seeing more of the galaxy. He wondered if he’d be allowed to go into the space station. There was a pleasure barge, but he figured he wouldn’t have enough drig to do much. But that was okay, being the new one on the crew, he didn’t expect much.

  The Cunik had picked up a load of beans on Iddris and headed to Gamma 3. As Dar got ready for bed, Jartis came by his bunk. “I hear we’re going to Gamma 3,” Jartis said.

  “Yes, Gwog said we needed supplies.”

  “Yeah, supplies and some entertainment for the crew.” He sat down on Dar’s bunk. “I’m sure you’ve never been to a pleasure barge.”

  “No, never been anywhere,” Dar replied softly.

  “Ever done anything?”

  He sighed deeply. “I was the only half breed around. The purebred females wouldn’t give me the time of day. It was like I had Skrinnian fever or something.”

  Jartis chuckled. “So, you’ve never joined?”

  Dar shook his head. He didn’t feel like announcing to the whole ship that he’d never been with a female, although, they probably knew.

  “It’s okay. I was the same way.”

  “How long have you been part of Gwog’s crew?”

  Jartis pondered, scratching his head. “Oh, near enough twenty years…Gwog hired me not long after he got out of the military.”

  “He was in the military?”

  “Oh, yes, part of the Ouzinic Special Command…He did dirty little deeds for a planet that really didn’t accept him because he was a half breed.”

  “How long was he in?” Dar asked.

  “Mmm, I think he said over twenty years.”

  “Geez! How old is Gwog?”

  Jartis chuckled. “Don’t really know. Ouzins live a pretty long time.”

  “I guess.”

  “So, are you planning on going to the pleasure barge?”

  Dar slid back on his bunk, resting against the wall. “I dunno. I figured that I’d be left behind to watch the ship.”

  “Oh, no, the twins do that. They don’t find pleasure in quite the way we do.”

  “Really? At any rate, I probably won’t have the drig for it.”

  “You will. Gwog pays well.”

  “Enough to have a good time?”

  “Sure,” Jartis replied. “You pay attention in love class?”

  “Yes, of course. But it’s different when it’s really you.”

  “I know. And since you’ve never experienced the Satiren blush, it’ll be a rather strange experience.”

  “What does it feel like?”

  Jartis smiled broadly. “It’s magic!” He held his hands up. “We’re probably the most special species in the galaxy. No others can do what we can.”

  “Someone said it feels like jolts of power going through your body.”

  “Yes, yes, highly pleasurable jolts. And you share them with your partner.”

  “I saw that on a vidograph we were watching in school,” Dar said, “Your whole body gets this rosy aura.”

  He ran his fingers through his green hair and back over his white hair. “Well, there may or may not be a Satiren at Gamma 3. If there is, I’d suggest trying to get a joining with her.”

  “Just so I know what it’s like?”

  Jartis nodded. “Yeah. If not, see if there’s an Elemenel, they’re quite fun.”

  “I like their pretty blue skin; and their tendrils fascinate me.”

  He laughed. “Those tendrils can be a source for stimulation.”

  Dar cocked his head. “Really? They didn’t teach us that in class.”

  “Oh, four years of love class barely scratches the surface with all the species in our galaxy.”

  “I kept my tablet, just in case I wanted to do some reading up.”

  “That was smart. You’ll probably need it.”

  “So, how many different species have you joined with?”

  Jartis smiled. “A few. I know I’ll probably never find a mate, so for me, I occasionally indulge in the pleasure barge.”

  “Only occasionally?”

  “Dar, once you get my age, you may still have the drive, but the interest tends to fade…And I’m rather picky about who I join with.”

  “Ah. Do you suggest I be picky?”

  “You do what you want, you’re an adult now.”

  “Yeah, I am…Seems so strange,” Dar said softly.

  “You’re seventeen, right?”

  “Yes.”

  Jartis rubbed his chin. “The pleasure barge has rules. You gotta be over eighteen to partake in their services…I suggest, since according to Satiren law, you’re an adult, to simply lie about your age.”

  “What if I get caught?”

  “Doubtful you will.”

  “Umm, okay. I hope it works.”

  Jartis turned to leave. “I’ll vouch for you if there’s any question.”

  “Thanks.” Dar felt his heart beating faster—a chance to finally join with a female. He was excited and terrified. How would this all play out?

  7

  Gwog returned to the table with another bottle of port. They were in the bar on Gamma 3. Dar, Jartis, Tregis, and Vikkis sat around, drinking. The night was young, and not all of them had found a female to join with. Gwog saw Dar’s glass was empty. He poured him more. “Drink up, little one. It’s not often the captain buys.”

  “Uh, I think I’ve had enough, really,” he protested politely.

  “Naw, naw, have more. You’ll need to be relaxed for later.”

  Dar frowned; although Gwog had a point. He was terribly nervous about having his first joining. He almost didn’t want to go through with it. Part of him did, part didn’t.

  A fairly young Elemenel walked into the bar. Dar took notice; she was beautiful. She glanced in his direction, and he wished he could become part of the furniture. No, he wasn’t ready for this. Too late. She headed for their table. Dar wondered how much it would cost him. The Elemenel seemed to fix her eyes on him. “Hello,” she said over the noise of the music and talking.

  “Uh, hi,” he said awkwardly.

  “Are you new to Gwog’s crew?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “How old are you?” she asked.

  “Eighteen,” he lied.

  She reached across the table and tickled her fingers through his patch of green hair. “I like Satirens.”

  Dar grabbed his glass, taking a drink, trying to hide a smile, and the fact his cheeks were turning red. “Oh. Uh, I’m only half.”

  “Yes, I know.” She caressed his face. “You’re cute.”

  He wasn’t exactly sure he appreciated being called cute, but the Elemenel clearly had an interest in him. “Umm, yeah.”

  “You wanna come back to my room and have a little fun?”

  Dar went to open his mouth—Jartis beat him to it. “Of course he does!” He gave Dar a shove. “Go, go.”

  Knowing there probably wasn’t a way out of it, Dar got up and followed the Elemenel back to her room. Once inside, she closed the door. “Oh, that’s much better. The bar is so loud.”

  “Uh, yeah.” He felt beyond nervous. His stomach flipped and burned.

  “My name’s Kikka,” she said, starting to undress.

  “Dar.”

  She slipped out of her dress and stood naked in front of him. “Are you gonna lose the clothes?”

  He sat down on the bed. Looking at his hands, they were shaking. “Uh…”

  “Hey, is this your first joining?” She stood in front of him.

  Dar felt too embarrassed to answer. After a few moments, he nodded. Well, the secret
was out. “’Cause I’m a half breed—” His words were cut short by Kikka smothering her lips over his. It felt like his entire body came to life. He could feel every cell, every chemical going to work; every ounce straining to respond to her attentions. These were new and strange feelings, and he almost couldn’t control them.

  He let his arms slide around her waist, feeling her amazingly soft, creamy skin. More chemicals surged in his body. And then he felt it—the stirring in his loins; something so completely foreign. Satirens had no use for self-pleasuring, they only reached states of arousal when with another. But when they did, it was an incredible out pouring of emotion, and, as Jartis said: magic.

  Kikka worked to get Dar’s shirt off. He tried to help, but was too overcome with what was going on inside his body. She removed his shirt and threw it on the floor. Next, she went to work on his trousers. Dar felt helpless, he didn’t know what was going on. Everything felt so good, and he couldn’t do anything in return.

  “Kikka?”

  “What?”

  “I…I…I can’t move.”

  She giggled. “You’re stiff as a board, you’re nervous.”

  “Duh!”

  “Come on, roll over on your stomach.”

  “That might be a little uncomfortable right now.” He looked down and noticed his rather serious state of arousal. Truly, it verged on painful. There was a strange, tingly sensation in his eyes; he figured they were glowing a bright shade of green, matching the intensity of his arousal.

  “I’ll help you.” Kikka nudged at him to roll. He did so, slowly, as she helped tuck him out of the way. “Better?” she asked.

  “Uh…” He felt odd having a female touching him there.

  She climbed on the bed and straddled him. Gently, she started to massage his back. Dar had never felt something so good. Occasionally, when he was sick, his mother would rub his back, but not like this. Oh, this was so much better. He moaned softly, and began to purr. Satirens were unlike any other species in the galaxy. If they felt a sense of contentment, they were capable of uttering a low, guttural purr. Kikka rubbed his shoulders and neck. “Feel good?”