Several hours later Vidal and Jason arrived at Moon Base.
‘What now?’ the Channel asked, as he followed the Gen off the shuttle.
‘My first priority is food. I haven’t eaten since early this morning, and I’m famished, aren’t you?’
Not really,’ the Sime admitted as they headed for one of the many restaurants that frequented this part of the base.
Finding a place that was almost half empty, they went inside. Jason ordered several courses, beginning with pasta.
The Channel had ordered a Sime serving of rice and vegetables and was busy moving it from one side of the plate to the other, while his partner looked on. Several times the Gen opened his mouth to remonstrate with the Sime, then thought better of it, and closed it again.
Lifting his eyes, he noticed a waiter approaching their table. The Sime inclined his head in the Channel’s direction before he said to Jason, ‘Sosu Devere? There is a call in reception for you.’
‘Who is it?’ Vidal asked, before Jason could do so.
‘He did not give me his name Hajene.’
‘I’d better go and take it,’ Jason said as he stood up, ‘I won’t be long. Don’t let them take my plate away, will you. I haven’t finished with it yet.’
Not waiting for a reply the Gen hurried across the room. Moments later he was staring at Neil’s familiar face on the small screen. Before he could speak the Sime asked, ‘What the shen’s going on Jason? Why is Vidal here?’
‘He’s going with us.’
‘You’re mad!’
‘No, I’m not. Just listen to me, Neil, please. In a couple of weeks’ time, I have to give him transfer.’
‘Shen it all, Jason. Why didn’t you go the whole hog and invite the Sectuib along, too?’ The Sime asked sarcastically.
‘Nei,l you’re Sime. You must understand the relationship between a Channel and his companion. How much respect would you have for me, at this moment, if I had simply left him behind to fend for himself?’
The Sime reluctantly conceded the point, before he said, ‘Did you know that three of Zeor’s officials arrived here only a few hours ago?’
‘Jordan said he would give you forty eight hours before he lets go their leash.’
‘That would explain why they haven’t left their hotel since they arrived.’ Neil stated as he stared at the Gen for several seconds before he said, ‘I suppose I should be asking how the Sectuib got to know I was here in the first place?’
‘Both Vidal, and Jordan, had already guessed that it was you I was in contact with on Earth. So, after that it didn’t take much for Jordan to put two and two together.’ Jason replied at once.
‘No, I suppose not.’ The Sime was silent for a few moments before he went on. ‘Can you guarantee that Vidal isn’t going to interfere?’
‘Like Jordan, he’s guessed that I’m meeting you here, but he doesn’t know for certain. I don’t intend to tell him about anything, not till we’re on our way to Solidano.’
‘All right then, against my better judgment, I’ll agree to that.’
‘Thanks. Now you’d better give me the details,’ Jason said, then listened carefully to all the instructions.
The Gen got back to the table to find his pasta had gone cold, and his partner was still busy chasing his rice around his plate. ‘Sorry I was so long,’ he murmured as he sat down, and then his judgment getting the better of him he said, ‘For shen’s sake, Vidal, why don’t you eat that damn stuff?’
‘Because, I’m not hungry. So what did your mysterious caller have to say?’
‘He gave me some useful information.’
‘So am I to take it that Neil is accompanying us?’
‘I didn’t say it was Neil.’
‘Please, Jason, don’t insult my intelligence. Who else would it be?’
The Gen pushed his plate away and stood up, ‘If you’re not going to eat that rice, I suggest we go. I’ve lost my appetite, too,’ and he paid the account as they left.
The T’omp’ic, a Solidano registered craft, was berthed in Bay 91, as Neil had intimated.
An officer approached them as soon as they set foot into the airlock. From his appearance, Jason immediately assumed that he was a native of Solidano.
His uniform was pale green, but it was not that which attracted his attention. For he was quite short, no more than five feet tall. He was also bald, and his eyes were round, like small saucers. His skin was white and appeared to be covered in tiny scales. More than this was the fact that he undoubtedly had gills at the side of his face.
Slung over one shoulder was what appeared to be a small version of the universal translator, which was used on many of the off-world planets, if they could afford the luxury. His voice, coming as it did, via the translator, sounded even more strange than usual to both Jason and Vidal.
‘You human are Jason Devere. Friend will meet you soonest. This passenger who is?’
Jason grinned, ‘This is Vidal Trent.’
‘Passenger Vidal Trent not on inventory.’
Jason stepped closer as he said, ‘No he isn’t. I hope he soon will be,’ and placed a credit slip for a very large amount into the webbed hand.
The Officer looked at the amount for a moment before he said, ‘Passenger acceptable. This way for cabin, please.’
The moment they were alone again, and the cabin door was closed behind them Vidal said, ‘So, we are going to Solidano I take it. May I ask why?’
‘I said I’d explain later and I will… Hey, do you hear that? They must have been waiting for us. Everyone else must be on board.’ He observed and then went on, ‘If I’m not mistaken that’s the umbilical coming away, we’ll be underway soon.’
‘If we are indeed going to Solidano, then it should take about eight days at maximum speed.’ The Channel stated.
The two men then sat in silence for several minutes as Jason wracked his brain to think of a suitable topic of conversation. Before he had thought of one, a buzzer sounded at the door, and Vidal moved to open it before the Gen could even begin to respond.
‘Ah, Neil, I thought it was you that I zlinned. Come in.’ Vidal stood to one side as the Sime walked almost sheepishly into the cabin.
‘Good to see you again, Vidal, Jason,’ and he nodded towards the Gen.
‘I wanted to thank you for all your help with Alex Judy,’ Vidal said at once.
‘It’s Warren you have to thank. He sent me.’ Neil replied, ‘I would never have returned to Earth of my own volition, you know.’
‘No, I don’t suppose you would.’ The Channel conceded. Jason gave a silent sigh of relief that this first meeting was going far better than he had anticipated.
‘Jason said everything worked out all right at your end,’ Neil ventured.
‘Yes it did. Although I very much doubt that the Organisation have played their last hand. I think they’re sure to try again. I trust we’ll be more prepared for them, next time.’
Neil glanced across at the Gen and smiled as he said, ‘I wasn’t at all hungry till I stepped in here. Now, I am.’
‘One of the benefits of having a Gen around.’ Vidal said with a smile.
The Channel moved to sit down on the side of the bed his hands resting on his knees, as he looked up at both the Sime and his partner as he said almost wearily, ‘ So which one of you is going to tell me what this is all about?’
The Sime shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other before he said, ‘That’s for Jason to say. It’s nothing to do with me. So if you don’t mind, I’d rather not be involved.’
‘But you are involved aren’t you?’ Vidal said, ‘I don’t somehow think that Jason would be here at all, if it wasn’t for you.’
‘Yes I suppose that’s true,’ the Sime conceded slowly. ‘But he asked to accompany me on this trip – not the other way around.’
‘I see.’ Vidal’s dark eyes turned to settle on his partner; who was standing there looking like a naughty schoolboy facing his head teacher. The Channel hid a smile as he said, ‘Well, Jason?’
Neil edged closer to the door as he said, ‘I think I’ll go along to the dining room. Perhaps I’ll see you both later?’ Neither man bothered to answer him, as he quickly exited the cabin.
‘I’m waiting,’ Vidal murmured as the seconds ticked away.
With a deep sigh Jason capitulated, after all they were now underway. ‘All right I’ll tell you everything. Remember, you wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m your Companion, and I had no choice. Which also means that we’ll be able to take transfer on Solidano a few days after we arrive there. Then you have the choice of either waiting there for me on your own, or you can return to Moon Base and I’ll catch up with you later.’
‘That sound’s logical,’ Vidal said at once, ‘Or it would, if I had any idea at all what you’re talking about?’
‘Sorry. I suppose that did come over a bit muddled, didn’t it?’
‘Just a bit,’ Vidal agreed. ‘Now how about you sit down, and simply tell me everything from the beginning?’
With a wry smile Jason sat down opposite him. After taking another deep breath, he did, indeed, tell his partner everything. With one exception – his own reason for undertaking the venture in the first place, which he knew would make him sound like a complete idiot.
For several seconds, as his narration came to an end, Vidal sat and simply stared at him as though shell shocked. ‘Tell me you’re joking.’
‘Sorry, but its no joke.’
‘Then for shen’s sake tell me what this is all about!?’ The Channel demanded, ‘Isn’t risking your life for the TIB exciting enough for you? What are you? A thrill merchant?’
‘Of course not. You know me better than that.’
‘I thought I knew you. Now, I’m beginning to wonder.’ The Channel zlinned him deeply as he spoke.
‘Stop zlinning me like that. You know I don’t like it.’
‘I can’t read your mind Jason. There is something more that you aren’t telling me; am I correct?’ He pointed a tentacle at the Gen as he went on, ‘Why are you doing this at all? I was asking entirely the wrong question before, wasn’t I? That’s the important question here, isn’t it? WHY are you doing this?’
The Gen did not even try to deny the accusation as he said, ‘That’s my affair, not yours.’
‘Not if it threatens the life of my partner,’ the Sime snapped back, ‘Then, it becomes my affair, too. Or are your reasons for doing this crazy stunt so ridiculous that you’re ashamed to tell me what they are?’
‘Of course not!’
‘Then tell me!’
Jason glared at his friend; after all he had done nothing wrong or shameful had he? He’d simply been extremely stupid; and what after all was so new about that? The Gen sighed, and then his mind made up.
Jason told him.
‘Shen it all Jason – money! Is that what all this is about?’ Vidal said, obviously relieved. ‘You have no idea what I was beginning to think.’
‘Well now, you can understand why I have no alternative but to do this.’
‘No I don’t.’ Vidal said at once. ‘Tell me, what figure are we talking about here?’
Jason told him, and Vidal laughed out loud.
‘It’s not funny,’ the Gen said, feeling slightly hurt by his friend’s reaction to what he considered a complete disaster. After all, he had never been in so much debt before.
‘I’m not laughing at your predicament, Jason. I’m laughing with relief because the answer is so simple.’
‘I don’t understand.’ The Gen admitted.
‘Have you forgotten that I belong to one of the three most wealthy families on Earth?’ Vidal asked.
‘What has that got to do with anything?’
‘Naztehr, you are both my partner and my friend. Without meaning to appear either pretentious or arrogant, then as far as I am concerned the amount we are talking about here, is little more than…petty cash!’ He waved his tentacles in the air dismissively.
‘You can’t call me Naztehr. Neither of us are Householders.’
Vidal laughed softly as he said, ‘In the strictest sense of the word that’s true, but it doesn’t alter how I feel. To me, you are Naztehr. But now tell me Jason, however I may feel about our relationship, do you also call me your friend?’
‘That goes without saying. You know that.’
‘Do I? Then why didn’t you confide in me, and ask for my help?’
‘Because, I don’t scrounge off my friends. I’m not a freeloader.’
‘And no one would ever accuse you of being one.’ Vidal said. ‘Least of all, me. After all, for all the years that I’ve known you, and even before that, you’ve been donating your selyn, first to others and then to me. And you have not taken one single credit for it.’
‘That’s different,’ Jason murmured. ‘Selyn is life. You can’t buy and sell life. You know how I feel about that.’
‘Yes I do know, Jason.’ Vidal said with a smile. ‘Look, I’ll be straight with you. If in the beginning you had come to me and explained your difficulty, then yes, I admit that my initial reaction would have been to simply pay the debts off for you. However, as I know that that would not have been acceptable to you, then we could have come to some other arrangement. Perhaps you could have had a loan from me, interest free, enabling you to pay it back whenever you could. If that was unacceptable, then I would have agreed to any other arrangement that suited you.’
‘Well thanks, that’s good to know,’ the Gen said honestly. ‘And next time, I’ll come to you first, I promise. Although I hope there will never be a next time. And this time it doesn’t matter does it? I’ve sorted it out.’
‘By risking your life!?’ The Channel demanded. ‘To me, at least, your life is worth a lot more than a few thousand credits!’
‘It’s more than just a few. You’re talking as though I’m going to die. I’m not. I’m just not that stupid, Vidal. Believe me, I wouldn’t even attempt to do this if I didn’t honestly believe I could do it and come back safely.’
‘I don’t doubt your ability Jason. I am asking if it’s worth taking the chance; especially when there is a viable alternative.’ The Sime paused, and then played what he hoped was his high card as he asked softly. ‘Have you considered your family, and what your death would do to them? Have you the right to take that chance with your life?’
Jason jumped up and began to prowl up and down the small cabin, as he said, ‘That was below the belt, Vidal. Remember, I’m doing this as much for them, as for me.’
‘I know, and I think you are being very…noble. I’m just asking you to consider all the consequences of your actions.’
‘Don’t you think I’ve done that?’
‘No. I think you grabbed the first opportunity to clear your debts that presented itself to you.’
Jason stood facing the bulkhead, both hands resting on it, his eyes closed. He remained like this for several seconds before he finally said, ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. If we don’t go and get some food soon, it won’t be fit to eat.’
‘Is that all you’ve got to say?’
‘For the time being, yes. Look, Vidal, just let me think about all this will you? I’d got it all worked out in my mind. Now you come along and mix it all up again.’
Vidal bit back an expletive as he nodded his head in agreement and said, ‘You are usually better tempered once you have eaten. Shall we go?’
Neil looked up as the two men entered the room, and he watched as they walked over to his table and sat down. At least they both looked none the worse for wear he thought with open relief, and wondered what Jason had finally told the Channel about their venture? Being Sime himself, he knew that Vidal would not be at all happy with Jason putting himself in so much danger. Thankfully that was their affair, and not his. That was the way he wanted it to stay.
***
On the fifth day out from Earth, Neil came and joined Vidal and Jason in their cabin. There were no recreation facilities at all on the cargo ship; which meant, of course, that passengers were left very much to their own devices, and spent much of their time simply talking or gambling.
‘Having seen what the Solidanoes look like, I’m keen to see their planet,’ Jason said as Neil sat down at the end of one of the beds, and Vidal made a pot of trin.
Neil immediately agreed, and began to enthuse about some of the sights he had read about in the ship’s database.
The Channel handed round the trin as he asked, ‘I trust you both realise that you will not be able to explore Solidano. If that is your intention.’
They both looked up at him in surprise, ‘What do you mean?’ Neil asked.
‘I mean, if you were to set foot on the planet itself you’d both be dead in less than five seconds. The air is deadly to humans and most other species, too. Haven’t either of you noticed the tubes running around the Officers’ bodies ending up in that bag on their backs?’ Vidal demanded.
‘Yes. But I just thought it was part of their normal physiology,’ Jason admitted, and the Sime nodded his agreement.
‘Well it isn’t. Without their own air supply they’d be dead.’ The Channel said bluntly. ‘When we arrive there I have no doubt at all that we will either have to remain on this ship, or we might be taken to a facility down on the planet where our breathing requirements can be catered for.’
‘Shen, that means no exploring doesn’t it?’ Jason said.
‘Are you serious, Vidal?’ Neil asked simultaneously.
‘Yes, to both of you. So unless you want to go out wearing a pressure suit, which, if neither of you has worn one before, I can assure you is both cumbersome, and extremely uncomfortable. Then you will have to accept the fact that from now till we get back to the Moon, this is going to be an extremely boring mission.’
‘Except when we go to Chaynez,’ Neil murmured, glancing across at the Gen.
‘Yes, except then,’ Vidal agreed, forestalling his partner as he sipped his trin, and then went on, ‘I’m surprised neither of you bothered to find out about Solidano, before you decided to go there.’
Neil laughed, ‘Personally, as far as I was concerned, the ends justified the means. I just didn’t care what their planet was like. After all, I don’t intend to live there for good.’
‘And I didn’t have the time,’ Jason admitted ruefully.
The Channel zlinned Neil before he said, ‘If money was your only incentive for undertaking this trip, am I to take it that you, too, are in debt?’
‘No debts. But I just don’t have any money. To be honest with you, living on Damos Two is no fun without credits to pay the bills. The only other way I could get hold of some on the planet, would be working for the Organisation, and I don’t want to do that.’
‘Can’t say I blame you,’ the Gen said at once.
‘But, I understood you’re now working for Rior,’ Vidal said, ‘After all, it was Warren who sent you to Earth.’
‘Yes but I’m not yet part of Rior itself, and won’t be till, or if, they’re relocated on another planet and they accept me,’ he pointed out. ‘In the meantime I still have bills to pay, apart from eating occasionally.’
Vidal absorbed these facts before he turned to his partner to ask ‘Have you made up your mind about what you intend to do, Jason?’
‘Yes. I’ve decided to accept your offer. I’d be a fool not to.’ Jason replied. ‘But I don’t want a hand out. So, if you’ll loan me what I require, I’ll pay you back over time.’
Vidal felt a wave of relief sweep through him as he said at once, ‘Any way you want it.’
Jason smiled across at the young Sime, ‘Sorry about that, Neil. Looks like I won’t be going with you, but I wish you luck.’
‘As do I.’ Vidal said at once.
‘You’ll await my return?’ Neil asked.
Vidal laughed briefly before he said, ‘I spoke to one of the officers. Apparently we’ve got no choice. We have to return to the Moon on this vessel.’
‘Good. I’d hate to do this journey on my own. There’s shen all to do,’ Neil admitted, and then grinned as he said, ‘I’d probably die of boredom before I can spend a single credit.’
Later than night, long after Neil had left, Vidal zlinned his partner deeply before he said, ‘You’re worried about Neil, aren’t you?’
‘Yes. I like him, and I’m worried that he won’t come back from Chaynez. I know they’re offering a huge number of credits, but in many respects, it’s still a suicide mission.’
‘I agree, and yet knowing that, you were still prepared to put your own life on the line.’ The Channel pointed out quietly, ‘Now you fear for his life.’
‘Of course I do. Perverse or what?’ Jason said with a laugh. ‘Look, I’ll be honest. Till you pointed out those home truths to me, I hadn’t really thought it through at all. I had a huge debt. Ergo, I had to get credits from somewhere to repay it. When Neil told me what he intended to do, I jumped at the chance. And, no, I didn’t bother to look any further than that, except to convince myself that I could it, and that I wouldn’t die.’ He paused and then went on quietly, ‘Now, I realize that I probably would have died… That’s why I’m worried about Neil. He’s just as vulnerable as me.’
***
The remaining days dragged by. Jason was staring at the Solidano planet on the view screen when Vidal entered the cabin.
‘Where’ve you been? You’ve been gone for hours! We’ll be entering orbit any time now,’ Jason informed him. ‘I’ve finished packing it took all of two minutes! Do you realise we’re going to be stuck here for days while we wait for Neil, and the others, to return?’
‘So it would appear.’ Vidal said at once, ‘However, it now seems that Neil, too, will be waiting with us.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It means, I’ve had a talk with him. That’s where I’ve been.’ Vidal said. ‘I’ve offered him employment in the family company. We shall require agents to act for us, wherever it is that Rior and the other members of the Distect are relocated. We’ve always found, in the past, that it is far better from a business point of view, to employ those who actually live among the people, rather than outsiders from Earth, who do not.’
‘But Rior and the others won’t be moving to another planet, not till all the negotiations are out of the way. That could take months, if not years.’ Jason pointed out. ‘Isn’t that why Neil decided to go to Solidano in the first place?’
‘That’s true. But our Company has always believed in thinking ahead. It’s kept us in front of our rivals.’ Vidal said, ‘I’ve therefore arranged to pay Neil his full salary from today, by way of a retainer, for his services in the future.’
‘So he’s not going to go to Chaynez after all?’
‘He realizes that it would be foolish to risk his life, when he can accept my offer, and risk nothing.’
‘In other words: you’ve made him an offer he can’t turn down,’ Jason said with relief.
‘Exactly.’
‘Thanks, Vidal. I’m grateful. But you didn’t have to do that, you know.’
‘I know I didn’t have to do it, Jason, but it pleases you, doesn’t it?’
‘Yes, of course it does.’
‘That’s why I did it.’ Vidal said, and then changed the subject entirely. ‘I also asked Neil when he last took transfer. It appears that he found someone to donate on Moon Base. I doubt it was official.’
Jason considered this and realised that Neil must have been approaching need when he last saw him on Earth. It seemed that the Sime had been taking chances even then. However, he decided to keep his thoughts to himself and not share them with Vidal.
Vidal frowned before he said, ‘Considering it has taken almost nine days to get to Solidano, and we must spend at least seven days on Solidano before we can start back, followed by nine or ten days to return to Moon Base...’ Vidal paused and then said, ‘If anything were to go wrong to delay any part of this mission… Then he’s cutting it very fine, indeed.’
‘Thankfully, none of those things matter now. Do they?’
Jason pointed out.
‘Why not?’
‘Well you’re here now. If the worst happens, you can take care of him.’
‘You’re missing the point here entirely, Jason. Neil had no idea when he accepted this job that I’d be coming along, did he? That’s totally irresponsible.’
‘Have you ever thought that sometimes, just occasionally, he must get sick and tired of being Sime?’ Jason suggested. ‘I know I would. Imagine it. He has to always think about where exactly he is in his monthly cycle. Where he’ll be when he has to take transfer, and whether there will be someone waiting to donate to him. What an existence! Always having to rely on someone else for your life. I’m really glad to be Gen.’
Vidal smiled at his partner as he said softly, ‘Yes, I am well aware of all the drawbacks there are to being Sime. And speaking personally, then I, too, am glad you’re a Gen.’
***
Within a few hours of being taken down to the planet, and placed in a building that was environmentally suitable for humans, and whose rooms were similar in most respects to the cabins on board the ship; Jason just knew the next few days were going to be purgatory.
He had already guessed that his partner must have paid a large amount of credits to the Solidanoes, in order to compensate them for bringing the humans here, only to have them change their minds. He mentally added an extra amount to the credits he would soon owe Vidal.
On top of this, their rooms if possible, seemed to be even more cramped and sparsely furnished than those on the ship. Although they could not leave the safety of their sanctuary, entertainment was nil, and they were left very much to their own devices.
The fifth morning down on the planet, Jason found himself waking up feeling both heavy and sluggish. Thankfully, he knew exactly what was wrong with him. Today he had to give transfer to Vidal. A shiver of excitement ran down his spine at the thought. Although he knew that normally he did not feel quite as bad as this, he guessed that confinement and lack of exercise had played a large part in the phenomena.
Just at that moment, Vidal entered the room carrying a tray of trin. ‘Good. You’re awake,’ he said and handed Jason a glass of tea.
‘Thanks.’ The Gen sniffed the hot brew with pleasure. ‘Do you want to take transfer before breakfast or after?’
‘Before.’
‘Fine. Just let me clean my teeth and take a quick shower,’ Jason said as he swallowed down the tea, and then made for the tiny shower room.
A short while later fully dressed he stepped into the equally small lounge that the three men shared.
The Channel was standing in the middle of the room obviously waiting for him, yet looking strangely lost.
‘Where’s Neil?’
‘He’s staying in his room till we are finished. I believe the insulation is adequate enough so that he will be shielded from most of the effect.’
‘Good.’ The Gen walked over to stand in front of his partner.
‘What’s up?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Oh, please. I may not be able to zlin, but I do know when you’re having a wobbly.’
The Sime smiled as he said, ‘Only you would come out with something like that, at a time like this.’
‘That still doesn’t answer my question.’
The Channel took a deep breath before he said, ‘I’ve decided to let you control this transfer.’
Jason stared at him for a short while and then said, ‘You do pick your moments, Vidal.’
‘I thought you’d be pleased. It’s what you wanted, after all.’
‘I am pleased, but are you sure? I don’t want you to do this for all the wrong reasons, especially if it’s going to spoil this transfer for you. I am prepared to wait until you’re ready. You know that.’
The Channel’s tentacles wrapped around the Gen’s fingers and he squeezed them gently. ‘I know you’re prepared to wait, but it’s what I want, too.’
‘You’re absolutely certain about this?’
‘Jason please. You’re ready. I’m ready. So let’s stop discussing this, and just do it.’
Jason glanced around the room they were standing in. ‘Shall we use the couch, or one of the beds?’
‘The couch,’ the Channel replied as he went over to sit down, and the Gen sat down facing him.
‘You’re ready I see,’ and Jason nodded towards Vidal’s tentacles, that were already coming out of their sheaths covered in ronaplin, and curling sensitively as they perceived the presence of a Gen field.
Jason held out his own arms as he slid his hands under the Sime’s forearms and he watched as the eager tentacles encircled his arms and the tiny laterals unerringly found their own position. Looking into Vidal’s dark eyes he whispered, ‘Ready?’ At the Channel’s brief nod, Jason’s face moved forward and he pressed his lips against the hot dry ones of his partner.
Vidal was trying hard not to panic, to simply relax and let Jason take control. It was quite possibly the hardest discipline he had ever set himself in his entire life.
Then as the cool lips touched his own, he felt the throb of the Gen’s field, as it almost literally became part of his. Moments later the golden flow finally began, initiated this time, by his partner, pouring into him like an unending sparkling stream as fast as he could accept it; filling the dark empty space deep inside his body.
In one stroke it removed the cold fear of death that all Simes felt at this time, and replaced it with the glory that was the giving of life. It was pure pleasure, and more beautiful than mere words could describe. For one blessed moment they were quite simply – one, two halves forever fused together. Vidal relaxed into that perfection, and as the flow began to slow he tried desperately to cling on to the last precious drops of selyn, as the vital spark that was life itself to him and billions more Simes just like him, finally stopped. For what seemed an eternity, the Channel luxuriated in the throb of selyn production that once more emanated from his Gen’s body, and he thanked a thousand different Gods for the celebration of life that they had just shared.
‘Is it safe to come out now?’ Neil asked, standing in the doorway of his room. Not waiting for a reply, he stepped into the small sitting area and said, ‘Phew! That was some transfer!’
‘I thought you said he wouldn’t be able to feel anything?’ Jason said glaring at Vidal.
It was Neil who answered as he observed, ‘With selyn movement like that, I’d have to be dead not to have felt it.’
‘I’m sorry, Jason. I did think the insulation was sufficient.’ Vidal said defensively, as he turned to zlin the Sime before he said, ‘And you, Neil, you feel all right?’
‘I’m fine. Although to be honest, I won’t be sorry to get back to where I’m at least within tentacle reach of a willing Gen.’
Vidal kept a discreet silence.
Read Chapter 11
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