“Would you like me to escort you back?”
“No, thanks. I can find my way.”
“Very well. I will be back to collect you in thirty minutes.”
“Peachy.” Despite the commander’s questioning look, Emi forced herself not to bolt out of the office and run all the way back to the Bight.
Aaron was waiting for her at the hatch when she returned. “Well? How’d it go?”
“You ain’t gonna believe this shit.” She held up the items.
His expression darkened. “What the hell are those? Or do I even want to know?”
“Guess what? In the interest of indulging diplomacy, you all get to accompany me down to the planet’s surface.”
“Dressed like that?”
“Yeah. Dressed like this.” She handed him a collar and G-string. “Be glad you get that much. Where’s the twins?”
He held up the G-string, staring at the tiny pouch in disbelief. “They wouldn’t make an exception for us, huh?”
“Diplomatic indulgence. That’s what you said.”
He scowled at her.
“No, they won’t budge. It’s their laws. Next time, let’s tell the DSMC we aren’t a service giving free space tows for breakdowns.” She walked over to the com panel and hit the page button. “Caph and Ford, to the bridge. Now.” She stalked down the main corridor, leaving Aaron standing behind her and still contemplating the G-string.
Caph and Ford were even less impressed than Aaron. Ford crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “Nope. Not going to do it.”
Aaron let out an exasperated sigh. “You have to.”
“Hey, one of us has to stay here with the ship. Ha!”
Caph looked practically morose as he stared at the G-string Emi handed him. “Sorry, Ford. We have the new system, remember? We can set it to automated and leave it.”
Ford’s triumphant expression crumbled. “Oh. Right. Dammit.”
“Look,” Aaron said, “I’m not any happier about this than you are, but we’re under orders to indulge diplomatic relations. I think we can suck it up for a few hours and do this.”
Ford glared at him. “Is that an order?”
“If you want to make it one, damn right it is.” Aaron headed for the door. “I’m going to quarters to change. Main hatch, ten minutes.”
Ford stuck his tongue out at Aaron behind his back as he left.
Emi shook her head at him. “Don’t be like that. He’s only following orders. We all are.”
Caph slid into the command chair and began setting up the automated system to take over during their absence. “Doesn’t seem right. We come to help them at their request. Now we have to be treated like animals.”
“Hey, think of it this way, at least I’ll be enjoying the view.”
A look of horror struck Caph. “What if I get a hard-on while wearing this thing?”
Emi giggled. “Then I guess everyone will see it.”
Chapter Ten
They rode a shuttle down to the surface. The two-woman Moran flight crew only addressed Emi and paid no heed to Aaron, Caph, or Ford, as if the men were little more than cargo.
Emi didn’t know if it irritated her or her men more.
For their part, the men hadn’t enjoyed their walk through the space station to the shuttle port. The intense, appraising looks from Moran females and males alike disconcerted all of them. Emi felt their discomfort as keenly as her own.
A Moran woman with reddish blonde hair met them at the shuttle port greeting center upon their arrival. “Captain Doctor Hypatia? I am Twren Klay’Baltin, but you may call me Baltin. I am the assistant to Mauri Dob’antu. I was sent to greet you and take you to the Imperial Home to meet with our leader.”
“Hi. Nice to meet you, but Doctor Hypatia is fine.”
“Oh, all right. I have arranged for a kennel for your men.”
That pulled Emi up short. “Kennel? They aren’t animals.”
Baltin turned. Emi felt a wave of horror from her. “Oh, I am sorry, Doctor Hypatia. I meant no offense. That is simply what we call them.” She pointed over to a row of several rooms with observation windows on the front. Comfortable benches, and a sink and toilet, outfitted each room. “They can wait there until you return and will be safe.”
Emi glanced at Aaron. She didn’t want to be separated from them. He tipped his head at her to agree to it.
“Oh, okay. If you’re sure they will be safe.”
“Absolutely.” Baltin led them over to one of the rooms. The other rooms were currently empty.
Emi kissed each man as they walked in, Aaron going last. “It’s okay, Em,” he whispered in her ear. “We’ll be fine. Get this over with and we can go back to the Bight.” He brushed her cheek with his lips before going inside.
Baltin locked the door and handed Emi the key. “Security, of course, has a key in case of an emergency, but they will be safe until your return.”
“Thanks.” She pocketed it, smiling to herself when her fingers brushed against Bucky hiding in her trouser pocket.
Emi followed Baltin from the greeting center to a tram. As they took a short ride from the greeting center, Emi looked around, amazed. The planet’s temperate climate made it the perfect resort planet. No wonder wealthy women enjoyed journeying here for their playground. “Is your entire planet like this?” Emi asked her, indicating the lush landscaping.
“Mostly. There are polar ice caps, and around our oceans we have what I think are called beaches in standard. We have many plans for more resorts in those areas as our city expands.”
“I’m sure those will be quite popular.”
They debarked the tram at a station near a guarded entrance. Baltin showed her ID and introduced Emi to the guards, who allowed them to pass.
Inside, Emi had to force herself to keep following Baltin and not stop and stare. She couldn’t get used to seeing the naked men working all around. In the gardens lining the paths leading to the ruling palace, they worked without making eye contact, like silent ghosts.
She tried to keep her scientist’s hat firmly in place. “Is this all part of the Imperial Home?”
“Oh, yes. It is the center of our city.” Emi didn’t notice any supervisors, male or female, overseeing the workers. Baltin noticed Emi’s blatant curiosity. “Only certain utility males are allowed access like this inside the grounds of the Imperial Home. Otherwise, only our trainers, breeders, and the Imperial pleasure males are allowed to come and go freely. Notice the utility males’ collars?”
Emi had. Emerald green with what looked like a small gold crest in the front. “What does that mean?”
“That is the Imperial Seal. It is every utility male’s wish to be accepted at the very least as an Imperial worker. It is a very high honor.”
Another guard at the entrance to a huge home opened the door for them and bowed her head at Baltin as they passed. They climbed an ornate stairway, inlaid with gold, from the looks of it. The Imperial Home was lavishly decorated inside, and climate controlled. All the guards they encountered were women. They tipped their heads respectfully to Emi and Baltin as they passed.
Emi saw no men working inside.
They paused at a huge set of double doors, where Baltin spoke to a female guard in their native language. The guard nodded, then led the way as a small cadre of guards fell into step behind them.
More long, twisting passages. I hope they don’t expect me to find my way out of this maze by myself. After what felt like minutes, the guards stopped before another large, ornate set of doors and opened them. They stepped out of the way and bowed to Emi and Baltin.