Shadow Force 1: the Garden Planet (9 page)

After breaking the connection I called my little crew to the lounge.

“We did it!” I said, once we were all together.

“Did what?” They asked as one.

“We’ve got Anwar! He will be here at eight tonight.”

“Great.” Max said. “This calls for a celebration!”

“I think maybe we ought to wait until we are safely off this rock before we celebrate.” I said, although I felt like celebrating.

“I hate it when you’re right.” Max said. “There is still so much that could go wrong.”

That statement got me nervous as my mind raced to think of just what could go wrong. I couldn’t think of anything. The interior defenses were foolproof, right? So what could go wrong?

Harrod arrived just before eight accompanied by another man.

“Good evening gentlemen.” I said as the airlock cycled closed.

“Hello.” Harrod said. “Let me introduce you to Mondor. He is the personal representative of Anwar. He has been sent to evaluate the merchandise in question.”

“We thought Anwar would come himself.” I stated while shooting a look at Max that could freeze molten lava.

“He is far too busy to attend to this minute detail. If I feel that the property in question warrants his interest, then he will make arrangements to be at the auction that I am told is planned.” Mondor said.

“That will be fine.” I lied.

“Please, time is short and I have other appointments this night.”

“Right this way.” Max said as we led Mondor and Harrod back down to where the girls had sequestered themselves in holding cell three.

This time when the door opened, the girls were standing by the entertainment center. They were both dressed in elegant evening gowns and sipping champagne.

“Oh Sara, look he’s back, and he has brought a friend.” Izzy said.

“I hope you can stay a little longer this time, we were just becoming friends.” Sara added.

“Nothing would please me more. Sadly though we again we are here on business. Soon though my pets, soon.” Harrod said. “You see Mondor, are they not all that I said?”

“We shall see Harrod which head you think with. Do either you know the dance of Aphrodite?”

“We are both adept.” Sara answered Mondor. For my part I had no idea what they were talking about.

“You will perform it now.” Mondor said. It was not a question, but an order.

“Masters?” Sara asked Max and me.

“Do it.” I said, not knowing what it was.

Sara went over to the console and programmed the required music.

“Do you want us to perform individually or the duet version?” Izzy asked.

“The duet if you please.” Mondor directed.

The dance started off with a slow steady rhythm to which the girls softly swayed, moving faster as the beat picked up. Suddenly the music changed, stopping then beginning again with a soft melody punctuated with a repetitive beat from a bass drum. When the rhythm changed yet again Izzy stopped dancing and stood still. Meanwhile Sara came up behind her. Then slowly she began removing Izzy’s dress, caressing the bare skin as it became exposed. Once Izzy was fully undressed, they reversed positions. This time Izzy removed Sara’s dress. Now both girls totally naked, the music became wild, and so did the girls. I never knew the human body was capable of such moves. When the music finally ended, and the girls stopped dancing I looked over at Mondor and Harrod. The latter was clapping and saying, “Exquisite, beautiful, there can be no question now can there Mondor? Are these not two of the most wonderful creatures to ever inhabit the galaxy?”

“They performed flawlessly.” Mondor admitted. “How is it that you knew only to use those maneuvers that are acceptable for entertaining, and not the ones reserved for the bed chambers?”

“We have been very well trained.” Izzy said.

“Yes, but that distinction is only made in the royal houses of the Arab Empire.”

“We have great knowledge of the customs of many cultures.” Sara replied.

“You may dress now, I’ve seen enough to make my recommendation. Harrod come, we must leave.”

Max and I saw our guests to the airlock and then joined the girls in the lounge.

“I never thought I would have to perform that dance again.” Izzy stated.

“Again?” I asked totally clueless.

“Really Jon, do you think she just picked it up?” Max said.

“Well, I thought Sara might have shown it to her.”

“Honey.” Sara said. “That dance takes years to perfect, it’s completely choreographed. Every move means something. A girl can tell a complete story to a connoisseur.”

“So how did you learn?” I asked Izzy.

“That’s part of my past, something I would rather not get into.”

“Sorry,” I said. “I’ll leave the subject alone.”

“Thank you Jon, someday I’ll tell you about it. Just not now, okay?”

I knew when to leave something alone, but the mystery that was Izzy would someday have to be unraveled.

“Well, what do we do now?” Sara asked.

“We wait.” I replied.

“If all we can do is wait then I’m going to bed, that dance can really wear you out.” Izzy said.

“Well, goodnight then, we’ll see you in the morning.” I said as Max and Izzy left the lounge. Followed shortly thereafter by Sara and me, we made our way to my cabin, the question of where Sara would spend the night not even coming up.

“Did you enjoy the show?” Sara asked as we settled into bed.

“Not to be crude, but that was the sexiest thing I think I’ve ever seen.”

“I’m glad you liked it, maybe someday when this is all over I’ll show you those missing parts.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.” I said. “How do you think Izzy learned the dance?”

“She never said, yet she has at some time been as thoroughly trained as I was.”

“Then she too was once a slave?” I asked.

“That would seem likely, though don’t you think that’s a little too much to be a coincidence?” Sara asked.

“My thought exactly.”

“Isn’t it also strange that everything that’s happened since we first began this mission has somehow been planned or orchestrated by Max? Now suddenly he has a wife who also was once a sex slave.”

“When did you tell them your background?” I asked.

“Jon don’t you listen, I’ve never spoken of my past to anyone other than you.”

“Still, somehow they know.”

“It would certainly appear that way.” Sara replied, her voice shaking a little with the realization that all might not be well.

“What do you think they’re after?” I asked.

“I don’t know, we will have to find out.”

“How?” I asked.

“Well, I don’t think a direct confrontation would be wise at the moment, so far it seems that we are on parallel courses.” Sara observed.

“Well, we could use Shadow to listen in on their private conversations.” I suggested reluctantly.

“You mean eavesdrop? I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.”

“It’s not about comfort. I need to know what’s going on and how they know about your past.”

“So do I, still I don’t like it.” Sara replied.

I gave the necessary order to Shadow, and we listened.

“When are you going to tell your sister Max?” We heard Izzy ask.

“I don’t know, this whole episode is getting out of control. I never intended for Sara to have to go through with this. I really thought we could quickly pick up Anwar and get the information we need to smash this tentacle of the slave trade.”

“Max, you can’t take on all the slavers by yourself.”

“Neither can Sara, and that’s just what she has been trying to do ever since she was rescued.”

“So why haven’t you interfered before this?” Izzy asked.

“Because, she wasn’t exposing herself directly she always worked through S.F.I. or the New Earth terrorist task force.” Max replied, his tone of voice showing the frustration that he felt.

“She wouldn’t be exposing herself now, if it weren’t for you putting this team together.”

“Yes she would. At the time I organized our team, my dear sister was petitioning S.F.I. to let her work undercover.” Max explained to Izzy.

“Well that makes sense, she definitely would not be satisfied to just stand by and let others take all the risks.” Izzy replied, then continuing she said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your sister till tonight? I’m your wife! At least I think I am, unless that also is just another part of your plan.”

“Izzy, I love you! That’s why I married you. Still you’ve known from the beginning just how complicated my life is, and that loving me would never be easy.”

“Then why have you kept secrets from me, especially about your sister, my sister in-law!”

“I told you I had a sister in S.F.I. that I wasn’t on speaking terms with.” Max replied.

“Yeah right, you’re a great one for leaving out the details of things.”

“You know my creed; only tell people what they need to know!”

“Well I needed to know, so no more secrets. You, I, Jon, and Sara are a team now. So I expect you to level with them.” Izzy demanded.

“I will, tomorrow, I promise.”

“Well you better, or I will!” Izzy said.

“Shadow, stop audio.” I said then directing my attention to Sara who was pacing the room, angrier than I had ever seen her. “Are you alright?”

“No I’m not alright, who does he think he is! God! Ten years wasted, if he had just come to me I...”

“You would have turned him in.” I interrupted. “Reluctantly I’m sure. Still you would have done it.”

“You’re probably right, but I just can’t believe it! He’s alive after all these years. I have to go talk to him.”

‘No you don’t!” I quickly injected. “Do you really want them to know that we were eavesdropping on them?”

“Well then, what can I do?” Sara quickly replied, her frustration at the situation making her tone sharp.

“Get back in bed.” I answered.

“Why?”

“Because if you don’t, I’m going to get up and drag you in, you may not know it, but watching you strut around naked has a certain effect on me.”

“Jon, can’t you think of anything else?” She admonished me. “I’ve just heard the most disturbing news of my life, and you want to play!”

“Sara, what we heard, far from being disturbing news, was actually great news. Max is not one of the bad guys. Actually he’s an extremely good guy. He’s spent the last ten years watching out for you, helping when he could. He was the first to recognize the threat we are facing, and he organized this mission. We would be nowhere without him. And of course we would never have gotten together, if not for your brother. So give the guy a break, he’s doing the best he can.”

“You’re right.” Sara said as she got back into bed. “Still it feels weird, after all these years of being alone in the galaxy. In a matter of days I get the brother who I thought lost forever and the man I will love for life.”

“For life?” I asked as I bent towards her lips.

“For life!” She replied meeting me halfway.

The next morning Max and Izzy came to my cabin and told us the truth. Sara did a very convincing job of looking and acting shocked as Max revealed the details. After a while Izzy and I left Sara and Max alone to talk. Izzy went to work out the details of setting up the lounge to accommodate the auction that we planned. I went to the bridge.

We were all sitting around the lounge finishing lunch when Shadow announced that we once again had company. I activated the screen, and we saw Harrod with two other men standing at the entrance to the airlock.

“Shit.” I said, “What is he doing here?”

“Why don’t you ask him?” Izzy suggested.

“Good idea.” I said maybe a little too sarcastically as it drew a quick look of chastisement from Sara. “What can we do for you?” I asked Harrod.

“These gentlemen would like a minute of your time, if that’s possible.”

I knew they were going to want more than a minute of our time. And we needed to prepare for them. “Could you wait a few minutes?” I asked then stated that we were running a maintenance program on the airlock.

“That will be fine.” Harrod answered.

“Are you up to this?” Izzy asked Sara, before I could.

“Yeah, but it is getting old.” Sara replied as the two of them hurried off to set the stage for another viewing. Meanwhile Max and I quickly cleaned up the lounge.
 

“All set Max?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“Alright, still we're going to have to put a stop to this. I’m beginning to think that Harrod believes this is his private peepshow. Let’s bring them here to the lounge first and make our point.”

“That works for me.” Max answered as we headed to the airlock and Harrod’s mystery men.

After passing out some drinks and exchanging the usual pleasantries I again asked Harrod what it was that he wanted.

“These two gentlemen would like to view the merchandise for sale.” Harrod replied.

I asked Harrod to step outside of the lounge for a minute so we could talk in private. Once we were in the corridor I resumed the conversation. “Are these the other two you spoke of yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“And I suppose they are financially able to meet the set price?” I asked.

“Of course, and they have sufficient credits to cover the deposit that you said would be required to sample the merchandise.”

The deposit! Damn it! Max, I thought you were so sure no one would be willing to pay that much. Shit. “Great,” I said. “Now have you arranged the time for the auction?”

“Tomorrow at five, if that is convenient for you.” Harrod replied.

“That will be fine, and how many bidders can we expect?” I asked.

“There are five others, besides Anwar and the two men now waiting.”

“Nine bidders, I’m very impressed Harrod. But am I to expect all of them to come by for private shows?” I asked pointedly.

“No, no, these two are the only ones willing to cover the deposit. I’ve informed the other bidders that the girls would be available for viewing only one hour before the auction.”

“You’ve done well, Harrod.” I told him.

“Then I have earned my agreed upon fee?”

“Yes.” I said. My only hope was that Sara would forgive me. Still what choice did I have? We had all made the decision together. All the same I felt like a pimp from one of the restored twentieth century two dimensional movies I was so fond of. Opening the door I gestured to Max and the other two men in the room to follow me.