SULTRY NIGHTS - PART 30

After a restless night, Natalia has decided that if she is to avoid being stranded on Terra, the only thing she can safely do is to continue with her mission, and await further instructions.  Her first thought is to call her Mirtandon Reaper Tiron to find out what he knows about the coup.

 

‘Tiron?  I had a strange call from Drusilla from the flagship last night’.

 

‘You mean Karinth’.

 

‘You know about her!  And about what has happened?’

 

‘Of course I know.  I knew of Benobils’ plans from the beginning’.

 

‘What is to become of us now?  Will we ever get home?’

 

‘Stupid Sultry!  Of course we will.  This mission is of the utmost importance to the survival of both our species.  We must continue our work as planned.  Those Sultry aboard the starships on the Terran mission are unaware of the coup and will remain so until they return to Sutra; we cannot risk any disruption to the schedule!’

 

‘But what of those on Sutra itself?   Are they safe?’

 

‘They are safe and will remain so as long as they co-operate.  We have taken full command of the planet and have initiated a communications block, so only permitted messages will now get through.’

 

‘What of Gloria and Nadia, and the other Sultry on Mirtandos?’

 

‘Of course they are safe.  They are key players in the continuation of the plan’.

 

‘So Gloria knows what’s happened?’

 

‘Enough questions, Sultry.  I do not have time for idle chatter.  You will continue with your harvesting, until you are told otherwise.  You look terrible.  Go and rest and make yourself presentable for tonight’s work.  You have a good arrangement with Romeo, it would be a pity to upset him.  And don’t ring me again until you have a cadaver for me!’

 

Natalia sits quietly for a moment, thinking.  Then her mind snaps back into Pioneer Commander mode, and she heartily regrets her selfishness in insisting on taking part in the harvesting programme, wondering if she could have foiled Drusilla/Karinths’ plans if she had remained in her rightful place in command of the ship.  But as for Soraia – well, in truth, she is glad to see the back of the spiteful woman, with all her airs and graces yet such a wicked sadist in private; her only regret is that it was not herself who dealt the fatal blow. How good it would have been to make her suffer the indignities she had made her endure!  Still, she is gone now, and Natalia begins to work on her own plan of action.  Bur for now – Tiron is right.  They must continue with the mission.

 

At ten o’clock, Talia is sitting in her now familiar place at the bar of the Blue Orchid, sipping the drink that the barman had set in front of her as soon as she entered.  Romeo and two men soon enter, with Suki in tow.  The Gorilla tries not to meet her eye; he is no doubt a little embarrassed after their last meeting, but the other man, whom Romeo introduces as Carlo, drags his leering gaze from her stilettoed feet to the top of her carefully pleated hair, pausing only to tilt his head on reaching the hem of her skirt, obviously hoping to catch a glimpse of the goodies further up her elegantly crossed silk-clad legs.

 

‘You have something for me Romeo?’

 

‘Talia, you look charming tonight.  As promised, I do indeed have something special for you.  Suki had an idea that you two could pair up, maybe a Mother and daughter twosome.  There’s a private party for a business consortium going on at the Savoy Garden Hotel, and I think you two are just what’s needed.  A grand each for you.  If you do good, they may well book you again next time they are in town. Could be the start of a nice little earner for all of us.’

 

‘And how much do you get out of it?’

 

‘None of your business girlie; you’ll get your thousand plus anything else you can get out of them, usual rules.  Now bugger off, Carlos will drop you and pick you up in the morning.  Ring me when you’re ready to leave.  Don’t let me down.’

 

Talia can see that Suki is almost beside herself with excitement at the prospect of earning so much in one night’s work.

 

‘But we haven’t had time to work out a routine – and what if it gets ugly?’

 

‘Follow Suki’s lead.  Carlo will be nearby all the time, just ring me. Right?’

 

‘Okay, sounds good’.

 

…………………..

 

Half an hour later the girls are in a luxurious suite in the top class hotel with ten or so booted and suited oriental businessmen. The remains of a generous buffet supper are strewn across a table under the window, and empty glasses and bottles of all kinds litter the room.  In a corner on a small coffee table is an open jar containing twists of gold and silver paper which, judging by the odd traces of a powdery substance sprinkling the wooden surface like icing sugar, appear to contain a recreational drug. All the men have evidently been availing themselves of all these delights for some time, and are now eager for further entertainment.  Someone hands the girls a glass of champagne, and Talia looks to Suki for a lead.  Sipping her drink, Suki cries:

 

‘Oh Mummy, help me out of this fuckin’ dress!’

 

‘Okay sweetie – I’ve not done this since you were a baby!’

 

‘Your turn Mummy, let me just unzip you now!’

 

Moving through to the adjoining room, the two women climb onto one of the two beds in the room, and begin their totally unrehearsed show, with Natalia attempting to look hot and sexy whilst trying to work out how she can harvest at least one good batch of seed from this night’s work.  Suki however seems to be throwing herself wholeheartedly into the part.  Some of the men watch with obvious relish; others are getting drunker and sleepier.  Locked in an embrace with Talia, Suki whispers in her ear:

 

‘Time to work the punters before they all pass out and we lose the chance of any tips!’

 

The first taker is adamant that he wants to ‘do’ both girls; he was the one they had noticed was really into their display; unfortunately for him he is now too drunk or drugged to complete the act with either of them, and after relieving him of the two hundred pounds in his wallet, they kick him to the floor to make room for more capable customers.

 

Resigning herself to a harvest-free night, Talia works her way through three or four half-stoned men, their drunken state making it easy for her and Suki to ensure they use the appropriate accessories and give decent gratuities.

 

At five most of the men have gone to their respective rooms, except for one snoring loudly on the couch and two on the floor.  Suki makes sure she relieves them of the cash in their wallets before ringing Romeo.

 

‘A good night’s work Talia,’ she giggles as they make their way to Carlo’s car.  He drops the both off at the club, and Natalia begins walking in the direction of her flat, hoping to hail a passing cab.  It is not yet fully light, and not too far from home she is surprised by a voice from behind:

 

‘You doing business?  How much?’

 

‘Too much for you.  Piss off’.

 

‘Whassa matter wiv you?  My moneys as good as any bugger’s!’

 

‘A ton to you’.

 

‘Fuck off, you’re no Marilyn Monroe.  Looks like you’ve been round the block a few times already tonight.  I’ll give you forty for the works’.

 

‘Done’.

 

Smiling, Natalia leads him to her flat.  Perhaps tonight would not be a complete waste after all.

 

Tiron has left, having completed his work and Natalia has just finished labelling the surprisingly plentiful specimen obtained from her last-minute client, when she is startled by a call on her communicator.

 

‘Tiron?  What do you want now?  I was hoping to get in a couple of hours rest’.

 

‘Shut up and listen.  Something’s happened.  I’m not sure what yet, but it’s bad.  I can’t get through to the ship, nor to Benobil nor anyone else on Mirtandos.  All the Reapers have reported the same.  I suggest you get all your specimens properly stored and be ready to leave at a moment’s notice’.

 

‘But – but – what can have happened Tiron?  Will we be able to get home?’

 

‘I told you to shut it.  That’s all I know.  Now do it.  I’ll get back to you when I can’.

 

And with that the communicator falls silent.