How did this happen? Feeling unwell, I was struck by the realization that perhaps my body had been mercilessly fucked for days by someone unknown...
I was led into a small room with a set table, and I was genuinely glad to see the personnel officer sitting there.
"I don't remember much myself..." Louis muttered listlessly in response to my furious indignation, picking at a gilded plate of vegetable stew. "You know, Taen, our situation is much worse than your clumsy leisure... the ship had to leave the orbit and head for a military base due to an enemy attack... they were discovered and fired upon while we were carefree and relaxing here... Thankfully, Dylan managed the emergency evacuation of the starship to a safe location... he was there on duty and responded in time."
"And what threatens us and the Pretorians now?" - I blurted out, confused, realizing the sobering threat.
"Strangely enough, these creatures don't attack planetary populations... we've noticed that the attacks occur specifically in outer space... It seems they are hunters of wanderers on starships. And how are we to understand them? But... predators are predators! No one in the manifested worlds is safe from them."
"What... should we hang around here now? Who else is left?"
"Only Eroch... to keep an eye on you... Your unexpected collapse in the baths alarmed us all. The Patriarchs threw up their hands in dismay and carried you to the house of one of them..."
"What did those beasts do to me?"
"No big deal... I suppose... I would have hoped for the best, but we can't sit by your bed until you wake up... We went back to rest..."
"You should have sent me up!"
"Well, Taen... who knew your illness would last so long! Besides, there's fresh air here, conducive to healing, and excellent service! You're okay, right?"
"Almost... For some reason, I feel like I was screwed a lot while I was unconscious."
"We didn't notice anything like that..." Louis continued to make excuses.
"Because all of you were so busy?"
"Ah... well, I was in such a sweet spot myself, I couldn't get out of it. Such delicious wine-bearers—cuties... curly-haired, long-legged creatures ... there are quite a few of them... by the time you've kissed them all."
"Oh, really? Who's responsible for this? I demand an investigation! What have they been doing to me all this time?"
"Maybe you imagined it. You were just unconscious... but the outcome of the negotiations was positive, despite your complaints. After all, you could have stayed on board! And not descended into an unfamiliar world of barbarians!"
"Dylan invited me and assured me the guests would be properly received... Why do they need all this?" I grimaced, lamenting for a long time, deeply wounded, stuffing aromatic, oily vegetables and slices of spiced bread into my mouth.
"They promised a bonus... but to hell with it... actually, a lot of nice things happened to me," Louis grinned slyly. "At least while I was conscious."
"What happened?" Eroch sat down next to us, cheerfully, rubbing his palms excitedly, his eyes shining. "You still haven't shared your impressions with me, Personnel Officer! And my Commander... you look very pale... Have a good meal! As a doctor, I recommend..."
"And you're quite pleased, I see! Were you treated well?"
"Oh... well, besides the troubles in orbit... of course, I'm very pleased! And I want more!"
..Incorrigible libertines! Eroch, delighted and smacking his lips, launched into detailed descriptions of his dalliances with the lovely bathers until the early hours...
— I... I'd buy a couple for myself, just for myself... Probably... expensive? Considering women are in the minority here.
— Who would allow you to do that?—the personnel officer's thin eyebrows rose in indignation. "Are there not enough relaxers on board?"
—There are plenty... I'm very pleased with your care, Louis...
... I was carried away by the impressions of romantic intimacy with a stranger, and I hung there, excited, wondering how to finish what I'd started... What a tease! It turned out she was the patriarch's wife, named Odelia...
—Did you like Trakis's wife?" Louis smirked, rolling his eyes. "I'm surprised he let you touch such luxury? No one is allowed..."
—Such a rarity?
After a long interrogation about her appearance, Eroch frowned and fell silent, eating his hot dish.
"Where can I get one like that?" I wondered out loud.
"Nowhere!" Louis laughed, squinting slyly.
"Appearance selection, especially such a harmonious one, is a delicate matter, Taen. No one knows how to produce offspring that will delight with their beauty. That's why men strive so much for power, for superiority over everyone, to select for themselves the best that has been born... But I have everything, and you have many pleasant things to use, and it seems you are a valued guest here after all..."
"Why?"
"Your image... it's especially captivating to them."
"Ha... Commander," Eroch perked up. "I'm sure your biological material has been picked here several times... but I did everything I could for your safety here."
"What? What are you talking about? And anyway, what happened to me in the baths, why did I faint so soundly... finally tell me, as a doctor!"
"They slipped something into the drink, I suppose," Louis noted. "Honestly, I didn't expect that from them."
... Outrageous! I might have offsprings here and never even be able to communicate with them. I felt sad... I was being used as a breeder in a sophisticated way.
For the rest of the day, while waiting for the transfer to leave Pretoria, Louis tried to lift my spirit with heartfelt conversations and philosophical reflections on the meaning and joys of life.