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From: Souvie <katiemcn@excite.com>
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Subject: {ASSM} "The Spice of Life is Adventure" by Souvie (Secret Santa)
Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2000 17:10:02 -0500
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Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories
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"The Spice of Life is Adventure" 
by Souvie and written exclusively for Katie McN. 
copyright December 2000 

***** 

Sometime in the future . . . 

Other planets in our solar system have been colonized. 
Space travel and exploration are commonplace. The new 
interstellar Mafia is known as the Union and run by a 
shadowy figure known as "the Boss." The newest drug on the 
market is Martian spice, a highly addictive powder that's 
mined in strict secrecy on a remote part of Mars. Various 
law enforcement agencies and mercenaries have tried to find 
the base and shut down operations - all have failed. 

-*- 

Virago crouched inside the dark room, straining to detect 
any movement beyond the doorway. The room behind her 
reeked of copper from the warm blood of the guard she had 
killed only minutes before. He'd been transfixed by her 
bountiful breasts, straining against her gleaming chain 
mail. She didn't think he'd even seen the deathblow 
coming. A tendril of orange mixed with something 
unidentifiable wafted gently to her nose - the telltale 
scent of Martian spice. 

When at least 5 minutes had passed without incident, 
Virago eased out of the doorway, stealing a quick glance in 
every direction before she stood. She withdrew into the 
nearest hall, her choice taking her into the labyrinth that 
would eventually lead to the space station's commons. 
Perspiration from her fight with the guard dotted her 
forehead and caused her chain mail to cling to her body. 
Once again risking a look behind her, she wiped her brow, 
then raised the hood of her cape over her head, the fabric 
casting a dark shadow over her face. 

Arriving at the commons, Virago turned, nearly colliding 
with a harried Venusian. Managing to sidestep him before 
the imminent crash, she proceeded toward the tavern where 
her companions waited. 

-*- 

"What's taking her so long?" Slot growled from across the 
table. Hecate could barely make him out in the dim light, 
and the oppressive smoke wafting from a yet-to-be- 
identified source didn't help. 

"Keep your voice down," Hecate warned, and turned her head 
slowly to search the tavern for signs that anyone had heard 
Slot. Satisfied, she turned back. "Anyway, what's wrong 
with you? Nervous?" 

Slot drew his lip back in an ugly snarl. "Of course not. 
She's just taking too long." A pause, and then, "I should 
have went." 

Hecate laughed, a low musical sound that barely registered 
over the hushed noises behind her. "Yes, that would have 
worked. No offense, Slot, but subtlety isn't one of your 
strong points." 

Slot leaned over the table, retort ready, when the top of 
a dark purple hood appeared at the doorway. "Never mind, 
she's here." 

Hecate nodded, raising the glass to her lips for the first 
time since she'd ordered. Across the room, a hidden party 
confirmed. 

Virago took her time in coming over, and Hecate suppressed 
the urge to look over her shoulder. They didn't want to 
alert any wary eyes. A soft rustling came out of the 
darkness beside her, causing her heart to jump. `Calm 
down,' she told herself sternly. `You're the one who's 
nervous, not Slot.' 

"Hello, compatriots," Virago said in a low voice. Across 
the table, Slot raised his eyebrows slightly. 

"I hope your trip was well and without incident," Hecate 
said a bit formally. There was more hidden in those words 
than the casual observer could detect. 

"No more than could be expected." 

Slot gave another growl. All this small talk was getting 
to him. The others may find it exciting, but for him the 
cuteness had worn off minutes ago. "Did you attain your 
goal?" he asked with mock sweetness. 

Virago ignored the sarcasm. "My ship ran into some 
trouble." 

"How unfortunate," Slot muttered. "Perhaps we could give 
you a lift." 

"That would be most appreciated." Virago retreated into 
the darkness, enjoying her unchecked view of the tavern. 
At the counter a few meters away, a scruffy-looking woman 
stared sadly into the green depths of the drink he'd 
selected, and close by two Uranians talked in ominously 
hushed voices, occasionally gesturing, but their voices 
never quite loud enough to be heard. At a side table 
across the room, hardly detectable in the muted glow of a 
nearby synthetic torch, another cloaked woman took a gray 
envelope from an unseen partner, then looked around 
carefully as if suddenly aware she might have been seen. 
As Virago watched, the woman stood, handing her partner 
some indiscernible object before making her way toward the 
tavern's exit. Keeping her head low, lest someone see her 
face, she bumped into the two Uranians, quickly appeasing 
their objections with a slight movement of her arm before 
exiting. Virago turned her attention back to the woman's 
partner. The figure had already put away whatever the 
woman had given him or her, and sat puffing a cigar - the 
source of the dense smoke that surrounded them. Judging 
from the density of the haze and the sharp, orange tinge it 
carried, the cigar doubtless held traces of the precious 
spice they'd been hunting. 

The figure stood to leave and as it reached the exit, 
light from the promenade fell on its face. 

"Slot," Virago murmured, leaning closer to his ear. "A 
Spicer just left the tavern." 

"I see him," Slot returned quietly, a rush of excitement 
running down his spine. "Want me to follow him?" 

"No, I'm sure our companion has all the information we 
need. Just be on the lookout for him in the future." 

Slot's eyes narrowed. "You think he might be working for 
the Martians?" 

"Possibly. Or he may be a Sympathizer. Or neither. Just 
keep a lookout." 

"Come on," Hecate broke in after consulting her watch. 
"Our ship is scheduled to leave in twenty minutes." She 
stood, excused herself, and left. A few minutes later Slot 
followed. Virago waited a few more minutes, then exited, 
passing by the bar on her way out. As she walked by, the 
scruffy looking woman toppled out of her seat and grabbed 
her for support. Her arm around Virago's shoulder, she put 
her other hand on the knife sheath at her side. Virago 
looked into her previously sad eyes, now alert and fully 
focused. She smiled, releasing the knife. "Pussy licker?" 
she whispered, her breath hot against Virago's cheek. 

"Let me escort you out, ma'am," Virago replied, then 
smiled slightly in return. 

"'s okay." The woman stood unsteadily on her feet, her 
voice again slurred. She got back onto her seat and 
ordered another drink, glancing once more at Virago as she 
exited the tavern. 

-*- 

"Sorry I'm late, but I got delayed." Virago slipped 
silently through the airlock and into the ship, securing 
the door before turning to her three companions. 

Slot's hand went reflexively to his side. "Trouble?" 

"Not really. Just ran into someone." She turned to the 
new member of their party. The mysterious woman they'd 
seen in the tavern. "How'd your meeting go? 

Celia shrugged. "About as good as I expected. The Spicer 
was just a trader selling smuggled cigars laced with the 
spice. He wouldn't tell me where the point of origin was. 
I slipped him a bribe, but he all he gave me was this." 
She pulled out the gray envelope the man had given her and 
handed it to Virago. "There's a cigar in there. Anyway," 
she smiled proudly, displaying gleaming white teeth, "did 
you see the way I handled those Uranians?" 

"How did you do that anyway," Hecate asked, taking her 
seat at the helm. Virago settled in beside her as copilot. 

"Like this." Celia demonstrated her actions at the tavern, 
pulling back her robe and revealing a nasty looking pistol. 
"I thought they were going to try something but they shut 
up really quick." 

Slot snorted. "Uranians do not shrink at the sight of 
primitive weapons." 

Celia stuck her jaw out defiantly. "Then maybe it was the 
sight of these," she countered, unsheathing the razor sharp 
3-inch claws that had been grafted to her hands. 

"Okay everyone, let's get out of here," Virago 
interrupted, eager to get on her way. 

"Agreed," Hecate put in enthusiastically. "I don't know 
about you guys but I'm glad to be leaving. Everything in 
that place had about an inch of grease covering it." She 
frowned, rubbing her hands on her tight leather pants for 
effect. 

A shrill alarm cut through the air, followed by a harsh 
voice on the intercom. "Space Station Medusa to the 
freighter Jolly Roger. You will cease your present course 
and prepare to be boarded." 

Celia's eyes grew even wider. "What?" 

"Sorry guys," Virago said apologetically. "This is my 
fault." 

Slot's eyes narrowed. "How so?" he asked suspiciously. 

"I kind of had to kill a station guard." 

"Oh, okay." Slot shrugged indifferently then turned back 
to stare out the front window. 

"Hecate, make it look like you're going to stop, but be 
ready to cut out of here at a moment's notice." Virago 
accessed a different control board, punching in a numerical 
code. 

Celia paid rapt attention. "What are you going to do?" 
she questioned. 

Virago smiled. "I have a secret weapon." 

She stared out of the clear viewshield, searching the busy 
spaceport for a sign. A few of the station's fighters left 
their ports and made their way to the ship, a brig 
transport in their wake. Virago made a few quick 
calculations in her head. They had about two minutes 
before the ships would reach them. 

"What are we waiting for?" Slot asked impatiently. 

Suddenly a huge explosion lit up the space around them, 
the culprit ship cutting through the firestorm and flying 
toward the envoy approaching the women's ship. The 
fighters set an intercept course, and the brig transport 
reversed its approach, less than eager to engage in a fight. 

"That," Virago pointed, smiling triumphantly. Hecate hit 
the controls and the ship went to warp, following Virago's 
pre-set coordinates. 

The cockpit remained silent, each person breathing deep 
after his or her close escape. "Who was that?" Celia asked 
finally, her voice echoing oddly in the cramped confines. 

Virago sat back, relaxing for the first time she'd set 
foot on the backwater station. "My secret weapon." 

-*- 

"They got away?" The dark figure asked calmly, deadly. 
The subordinate squirmed. "Y-yes. But we gained some 
valuable information." 

The figure turned slightly toward the subordinate, his 
eyes narrowing. "And is it so valuable that it will make 
up for his expensive loss?" 

"Well, yes." The subordinate handed the figure a notepad. 
The figure's eyes burned into the subordinate's a while 
longer then read the information plastered on the paper. 
A few seconds passed and then the figure smiled. The 
subordinate breathed again. 

"Is she sure?" 

"Absolutely." 

The figure read the information again, his eyes glowing 
with an unearthly light. He turned to the viewport once 
more. "You have managed to redeem yourself. When our 
agent reports back, let me know." 

The subordinate bowed again and left. Her whispered, 
"Thank you," echoed in the huge chamber for seconds after 
she left. 

"Yes, indeed," the figure said softly to himself, 
searching the cold space beyond for his hidden audience a 
thousand light years away. "I shall have you, and my 
spice. And the game will be over." He laughed, the sound 
so evil and low that even the metallic walls of his 
quarters failed to repeat the sound back to him. 

-*- 

"So the contact didn't work out?" Slot asked, talking 
about the station guard that Virago was supposed to have 
met with, but ended up killing. 

"Well, in a way, yes. Even though he wasn't the contact 
we expected, he gave me some valuable information." 

Behind her, Hecate laid down the cards she'd been holding. 
"I fold." 

Celia frowned. "And I had a good hand, too." She 
gathered the cards and put them back in the case. 

"Well, Virago, tell us what happened back there," Hecate 
said. 

Virago smiled. "Hmmm, let's see. After we split up I met 
with the guard. He claimed to have a line on some Martian 
spice, and was willing to sell it to me for 50 strips of 
ivory." 

Hecate whistled. 

"Yeah, I know. Anyway, about halfway into the deal he 
pulled a laser gun on me. Told me the `Exalted One' would 
promote him for bringing me in. The guy was pretty full of 
himself. I tossed my cape back and he got his first 
glimpse of my chain mail clad body. His tongue almost hit 
the floor. While he was distracted, I whipped out my 
sword, and he was dead with one blow. I couldn't take the 
chance of him alerting the Martians that we were on to 
them. I searched him and found this." 

She pulled a piece of soiled paper out of the depths of 
her robe. Celia peered over her shoulder. 

"What is it?" 

"Well, the guy was partly telling the truth. If I'm 
right, these are the coordinates of a planet deep within 
Martian space. I think it's where the spice is being 
mined. Everyone has been under the assumption that the 
operation was actually on Mars. We go to this planet, 
engage in a little skirmish more than likely, confirm that 
is where the spice is, stop production and arrest the 
Martian lackeys and their boss. Then we reveal the 
coordinates to our boss and get paid. Abracadabra, we win." 

"I don't know. I mean, it sounds complicated," Hecate put 
in, sounding nervous. "If that is where the spice is being 
mined they'll have a huge operation with lots of guards." 

"Tons," added Celia. "And we are just a party of four." 

"Five," a voice corrected out of nowhere. 

Celia nearly jumped. "Who said that?" she demanded. 

"I did." 

Hecate smiled slightly. The voice coming from the intercom 
sounded decidedly familiar. She pointed to the ship that 
had just come into view. 

"Katie?" 

"You got it. Bet you girls are glad to see me." 

"Hardly." Celia rolled her eyes at the viewport. 

"So Katie," Virago broke in, "you coming along?" 

"You know me - always ready for some action." 

"Great. I'm sending you the coordinates now. We leave in 
ten minutes." 

"Okay, what's going on?" Slot asked after Virago broke the 
connection. 

Virago smiled. "Katie is my secret weapon. We have a 
code, you see. The plan was that she would provide a 
distraction so we could escape. Then she came here to meet 
us." 

"Where exactly is here?" 

"The middle of nowhere. So," Virago asked, turning to 
Celia, "don't you think five women can shut down an illegal 
operation?" 

"Not really," Celia replied pessimistically. 

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm game." Slot slapped 
Virago on the back. "Let's go get some action." 

"That's the spirit," Virago commended him between breaths. 
Slot definitely had strength. 

"Okay, count me in," Hecate said. 

"I guess me too," Celia finally said softly. "But I'm 
hurt that you didn't trust us enough to tell us about 
Katie." 

While Hecate plotted their course, Virago turned to the 
other woman. "Oh, come on, Celia. In cloak and dagger you 
don't know whom to trust. It's part of the fun. Anyone 
can be a double agent." 

"I see your point," she said with an uncharacteristically 
serious look. 

Virago smiled and turned back to the front. A few minutes 
later the two freighters left their hidden haven and set 
out on their mission to foil the evil Martian spice traders. 

-*- 

Lexi dismissed the Venusian spy with a wave of her hand 
and sighed. The Venusian's information was old; everyone 
in the compound knew by now that Virago and her comrades 
had been at the station. Everyone also knew that the 
attempts to capture her had failed. 

And it was all Lexi's fault. 

She had arranged all the security raids, hired all the 
spies, and paid off all the assassins. And somehow, whether 
it was by luck or skill, Virago had gotten away, again. 

Their leader grew impatient with failures, Lexi knew. She 
didn't know how long the `One' would tolerate these near 
misses, but she did know she didn't have long to prove 
herself. 

She had to succeed, if not for the `cause', then for her 
own personal safety. And gain. 

And then it hit her, like a spice block in a whirlwind. 
If she couldn't bring Virago to the `One', then she would 
bring in Virago's boss. 

It would only take a matter of time and she would have him 
or her. 

And she would win the game. 

-*- 

"And you think that this planet is the base for the 
Martian's operation?" 

Virago nodded at the small viewscreen, careful to keep her 
voice low. The others didn't know that she was making this 
transmission, and she wanted to keep it that way. 

"Yes. I know it's a little suspicious sounding but it's 
the best lead we've had." 

"What are you going to do now?" 

Virago braced herself. "I need a ship. We don't have a 
prayer of reaching the planet in the ones we have now. The 
Martians are sure to have a look-out for us." 

The Boss turned in his chair, away from Virago's line of 
vision. She could hear faint whispers, some vehement, but 
she couldn't make out what they were saying. She squirmed 
slightly, nervous. To ask the Boss, the biggest 
gamester/smuggler this side of the Martian border, to put 
his butt on the line for her was a slim shot in the dark, 
if any shot at all. Finally he turned back. 

"We'll help you out, but only for a line on that spice." 

"Of course, how big?" 

The Boss smiled, tapping his fingernails on his desk. 
"Two fifths." 

Virago bit her lip, trying not to voice her objections. 
Two fifths was a lot, but she knew that the Boss wasn't the 
type to negotiate. She needed his help and he knew it. 

"Fine. Two fifths, no more and no less." 

"And one more thing. No . . .two." 

"What?" she sighed. 

"Don't tell your employer about us, and tell me why you 
aren't asking him for help." 

"I'm a spy for hire, Boss. The contract I have states 
that I find the spice, shut down the operation, arrest the 
Martian goons and get paid. Nothing beyond that." 

The Boss smiled. "Okay, here's the plan." 

-*- 

A few minutes later Virago emerged from her quarters, 
receding footsteps hurrying around a corner. She frowned. 
She wouldn't be able to catch the spy now without 
attracting attention and suspicion from the others. She'd 
have to catch them later. 

She hurried to join the others, slightly disconcerted. 
"Okay here's the deal," she announced as she reached what 
passed for the bridge on their ship. "We proceed to the 
Yalari Space Yards a few light-years from here, and a 
friend of mine will supply us with a better ship that will 
get through the Martian's defenses, I hope. Then we sneak 
across the border, get to the planet under the guise of 
traders, and you know the rest. Any objections?" 

No one spoke. 

"Okay," she said, taking her seat back in the co-pilot's 
seat. "Someone let Katie know and let's go get that action 
of Slot's." 

-*- 

The Boss turned in his chair again, looking out the window 
at the Red Desert beyond. The late afternoon sun 
disappeared over the horizon, the last tendrils of the day 
evaporating into night. Soon the stars would be out, and 
among those stars a plot of treachery and deceit would 
unfold. 

How he wished he were out there, in the middle of it. 

"Are you sure that was wise, sir?" a tentative voice asked 
from the other side of his desk. "I mean, lending her a 
ship. We're supposed to remain neutral. You know, good 
for business and all. What if the Martian leader finds out 
you're helping the mercenaries? He could ruin business for 
us." 

The Boss steepled his fingers and sighed. "First of all, 
it isn't a loan. I'm trading two small ships for a big 
one. And as to the Martian's leader," his eyes narrowed, 
"he has for a long time been trying to monopolize my 
industry. I believe that Virago and her small band will 
win in the end and we will be the better off for it." 

"And what if they fail?" 

"Then it will be up to us." 

-*- 

Once they made it to the space yards without incident, the 
group transferred to the ship that was already there 
waiting for them. After a heated (but friendly) debate 
over whether Hecate or Katie was better qualified to fly 
the ship, Slot, tired of their banter, threatened them both 
with bodily harm and took over. Hecate, Virago and Katie 
started hatching plans for when they reached the planet, 
and Celia helped Slot in the front, rigging the ship for 
silent running. 

Finally, after yet another friendly argument, they had a 
plan. 

"Okay," Hecate said, recapping the past two hours work. 
"Virago and I will take the east wing and Celia and Katie 
will take the west. We'll work our way through the 
compound, trying to find the spice. Slot will stay here in 
orbit and rig up an orbital program and a few commands to 
be carried out by the computer via voice command. Then 
he'll join us on the surface, and try to locate the leader. 
Once we locate the spice, we'll activate the ship's 
computer to transmit a message to our boss and `the Boss'. 
Then we'll arrest the leader and hold down the compound 
until help arrives. That about sum it up?" 

Virago nodded and smiled. 

"It will have to do," Slot called from the pilot's seat. 
"ETA to the planet is 10 minutes and counting." 

-*- 

Lexi hit the side of her desk and cursed. Any and every 
attempt at locating the mercenaries' boss had failed so 
far. Just when Lexi had found a clue and was tracking 
another, the trail evaporated. All dead ends. She was 
beginning to think that Virago's boss wasn't really a 
person at all, but some made up persona to keep hackers on 
their toes. 

Lexi sat up abruptly. That was it. Virago *was* the 
leader! She had to be! 

-*- 

"Darling?" 

The figure turned from the viewport he'd been studying, to 
find himself facing Lexi. She knew he'd given strict 
orders that he didn't want to be disturbed. "Yes?" 

Lexi took a few steps forward. She was banking on their 
personal relationship to keep his anger at bay. "I think 
I've located the mercenaries' leader." 

He smiled, or what passed for one in the darkened room. 
It had taken less time than expected. "And who is it?" 

"Virago herself." 

"Clever." He turned back to space. "Clever indeed. But 
no matter. Virago and her band will be here in roughly 10 
minutes, if our agent is right. I want you to stop all 
spice production and lock the structure holding the mine. 
Then make it appear as if the compound is deserted and 
prepare an assault force to take them down. One by one." 

-*- 

"It's quiet," Hecate said as she peeped around a corner. 

"Too quiet," Virago agreed somberly. The two women looked 
at each other and broke out laughing. 

"Shhh," Hecate finally said. "Seriously, wouldn't you 
think an assault force or something would be waiting for 
us? The place looks abandoned." 

Virago stood and eased her way into the hall. Hecate was 
right. The teams had split up minutes ago and Slot had 
probably transported to the surface by now. "Maybe that's 
what they want us to think." 

The dim light of the hallway reflected something at the 
end of the hall and Virago pressed herself against the 
wall, waving Hecate back around the corner. Suddenly an 
object flew past Virago's face, barely missing her cheek 
before embedding in the wall. Across the hall, someone 
cried out in surprise. 

Virago smiled then retreated to the corner, her hand 
flitting up to her cheek momentarily. 

Hecate glanced over her shoulder at the wall. A metallic 
object winked at her in the darkness - the weapon that had 
almost grazed Virago. She reached out carefully and 
wrenched it out of the wall. 

Virago took it out of her hand. "What is it?" she asked as 
she examined it. "It looks familiar but I can't place it." 

"It's a Martian form of a Chinese-star. Only one person I 
know of uses these. My old nemesis, Dr. Spin." 

Hecate peered over Virago's head around the corner, 
ducking just in time to avoid another star. Again, another 
surprised cry, this one considerably more quiet than the 
first. 

"He's probably trying to figure out why the stars aren't 
hitting their target, arrogant bastard," Virago whispered, 
grinning. 

"I've got an idea," Hecate whispered back. "Let's split 
up." 

-*- 

"What the -- " Spin cried as he watched the duranium star 
he'd thrown, whip past Virago and plant itself in the wall. 
His eyes went wide; he never missed. 

"Throw another one, just to be sure," Nat whispered. 

Spin nodded, taking another star from his belt pouch and 
throwing the star down the dark passageway. The star 
landed a few centimeters next to its companion, barely 
missing Hecate, who chose that moment to peek around the 
corner. 

"This should be interesting," Nat said, smiling faintly. 
"We'll just have to be a little more diligent." 

They waited in silence a few minutes more, peering through 
the darkness for any glimpse of their prey. 

Spin turned to Nat, keeping his head at a slight angle so 
he could see down the hall. "They must have moved on. 
Let's split up." 

-*- 

Spin moved with the graceful ease only an Aussie could 
possess, his ears trained on the darkness around him; 
darkness lit only by the muted emergency lights. Shortly 
after he and Nat had split up, someone had cut the power 
completely. That meant that the mercenaries had 
successfully penetrated the compound and were dangerously 
near the Traxian treasure. 

A slight movement caught his attention and he tensed at 
the sound of a nearby footfall. He waited a few seconds 
longer then swung his arm out suddenly, the intended victim 
avoiding the blow just in time. Surprised, Spin jerked 
back. 

His prey, taking advantage of Spin's surprise, whirled 
around and kicked him in the side. The kick didn't have 
enough power behind it to hurt, but Spin lost his balance, 
readied himself, and then grabbed the slender form in front 
of him, pinning her arms behind her. 

Virago cried out then thrust her legs behind Spin's, 
tripping him. She fell with him, then rolled away into a 
crouching position. Spin stood, got his bearings then 
sprang for her. Virago sidestepped, sticking out her foot 
as she did so. Spin, guessing what she was about to do, 
turned in mid-spring, just as Virago knew he would. Spin 
started to fall and Virago knew he was going to break 
something. A split second before he would have landed 
painfully on his right ankle, she grabbed his legs and 
pulled with all her might. He landed with a loud and 
painful sounding thump on his ass. Virago saluted, and 
then began tying him up. 

-*- 

Hecate bit back a giggle. This cloak and dagger stuff was 
a lot more fun than she'd thought it would be. She looked 
down at the form on the ground, tied up and struggling. Nat 
had been pretty easy to catch and she giggled again, 
remembering how'd she beaten him - Nat had caught up with 
her a few minutes after she'd separated from Virago, and 
tripped her. As he pinned her arms down and started to tie 
her, she suddenly cried out. 

"What is it?" Nat asked in alarm. 

"My chest! My chest feels like it's on fire! Help me get 
my shirt off, please!" 

Nat ceased his tying and backed off a bit. 

Hecate rolled over and started ripping at her shirt, 
trying to get it off as fast as she could. Nat stared down 
as her unbound breasts were revealed. He could clearly 
see, even in the darkened compound, deep pink nipples 
surrounded by a sea of peach-smelling softness. 

Hecate quickly flipped him onto his back, straddling his 
hips, their position reversed. "Ah, that feels so much 
better." She ground her hips against his, feeling the 
start of his erection. 

Nat was suddenly dry mouthed, thinking about what was sure 
to come next. He imagined the look on Conjugate's face 
when Nat filled him in on all the steamy details. 

Hecate ran her fingers lightly over her nipples, making 
them pucker at the feather-light touch. She reached her 
arms up and behind her, lifting her long red hair off of 
her shoulders. 

Nat was thoroughly transfixed. His visions of Lisala 
cooking him breakfast the morning after had been replaced 
with the very real vision of Hecate half-naked above him. 

Wrapped up in his dreams of sexual bliss, he never saw the 
wicked right that connected with his jaw. His head snapped 
to the side, and darkness closed around him. 

Hecate brushed her hands off and shrugged back into her 
shirt, looking inordinately pleased with herself. 

-*- 

Slot had just finished programming the commands into the 
computer on board the ship when Martian ships appeared out 
of nowhere, their weapons trained on the small ship. 
Swearing fiercely, he hit the controls, activating the 
cycle of commands. As the ship dematerialized around him, 
the small gray envelope Celia had brought aboard caught his 
eye. By the time his atoms solidified somewhere inside the 
Martian compound, he had a pretty good idea what had 
happened. 

-*- 

"All right, Katie, move." Celia buried the end of her gun 
into the small of Katie's back, urging her on. 

"Hey now, what's going on?" 

"Be quiet. Turn left up ahead." 

Katie obeyed, her eyes and mind frantically searching the 
halls for an opportunity to escape, but Celia had cut the 
power and she could hardly see a foot in front of her face. 
She turned as ordered, then got ready to attack, but Celia 
had seen the slight tensing of her muscles and she pressed 
the weapon even harder into Katie's back. 

"Don't even think about it." Her voice sounded oddly 
cold, and Katie realized for the first time how well an 
actress Celia was. "Stop here." 

Katie obeyed and looked around the hallway. She leaned 
against a doorframe and through the darkness saw that the 
walls were a different color than before, and were a little 
closer together. They must be in a different part of the 
compound, perhaps nearer the spice storage. Set into the 
wall nearby sat a huge control panel, which Celia was 
currently working on. She entered her password, unaware 
Katie watched. A door slid open in the wall, and Celia 
pushed her through. The air in the chamber felt several 
degrees cooler than the hallways. Katie glanced around, 
but like the halls, the room remained dark, lit only by 
starlight through an impressive viewport set into the wall 
behind an onyx desk. Beside the desk stood two shadowy 
figures. Katie's eyes narrowed. She knew those form. 

MichaelD turned from his contemplation of the stars, his 
arm wrapped around Lexi's waist. He gave Katie an electric 
smile. "Well, what have we here?" he asked quietly, the 
words dripping with menace. "A friend of Virago's?" He 
walked forward and put his other arm around Celia's waist. 
The smile he gave her was different than the one given to 
Katie. "Good work, Celia." 

He waved a small hand, gesturing for his two guards. Two 
huge Martians emerged from the shadows, taking over Celia's 
duty of watching Katie. "Now Celia, think you can handle 
Virago?" 

Celia smiled. "Just watch me." Michael laughed and Celia 
purred. He gave her a playful smack on the rear as she 
sashayed out of the room. 

Michael turned to Lexi. "I have a present for you, my 
dear." He sat back on the edge of his desk, Lexi standing 
nestled between his thighs. He nodded at the guard on the 
right and motioned to Katie. "Strip her." 

In a flurry of hands, Katie was stripped down to her 
birthday suit in no time. She stood there, head held high, 
defiant even in the face of her nudity. 

"Now, masturbate," Michael ordered. 

"What?!!" 

"You heard me, play with yourself. Or die." 

The guard on the left cocked his weapon and trained it on 
Katie's head. 

Katie's hands slowly raised up to her breasts, rubbing and 
massaging the perfect mounds, pushing them together, 
squeezing the rosy nipples, and bending her head to suck 
one into her mouth. 

"That's it," Michael mumured. 

Katie was starting to get turned on, starting to forget 
about her audience. She twisted her nipples between her 
thumb and forefinger, feeling the familiar fire kindle 
between her thighs. 

Katie walked forward to stand to one side of Michael and 
Lexi, and placed a foot on the top corner of his desk. Her 
sex was glistening and open and she slid a hand down from 
her breasts over her flat stomach and recently shaved 
pussy, to tease and stroke the edges of her nether lips. 
Someone moaned; she wasn't sure if it was herself or Lexi 
or one of the guards, and she honestly didn't care. The 
only thing on her mind was feeling that sweet release she 
knew was waiting for her. 

Her index finger parted the slick folds and found her 
sensitive clit. She started rubbing it in tight circles, 
gradually increasing the pressure. Katie closed her eyes, 
and tilted her head back. 

She felt another hand, other fingers, running up and down 
her slit, but what they were doing felt so good, she didn't 
care to open her eyes and find out who had joined her. 

The fingers slid inside of her, filling her up, and she 
licked her lips, keeping the motions on her clit steady. 
The fingers started pumping in and out of her, a third 
finger joining the two already there, and Katie could feel 
her orgasm building. Her legs started to feel rubbery and 
weak and a trembling started in her knees. She felt it 
building, building, building... and then it washed over her 
in a torrent of almost-painful fiery sensation. Her knees 
buckled and she fell to the floor, moaning in ecstasy. 

-*- 

Hecate tensed. The darkness around her closed in, 
oppressive. She heard a sound, like someone breathing. 
Turning, trying to pinpoint the sound, she stayed close to 
the wall. Suddenly the blackness coalesced and a shape 
emerged. 

"Hecate!" 

"Virago!" Relieved, Hecate rushed forward grabbing her 
friend's arm. "How'd it go?" 

Hecate felt rather than saw Virago smile. "Great, and you?" 

"Same. Nat was easy to catch." 

"Nat?" Virago laughed. "You'll have to tell me about it 
later. Right now we have to find Slot." Virago proceeded 
cautiously through the darkness, with Hecate close behind 
her. She twisted and turned so many times, Hecate wondered 
whether Virago actually knew where she was going. But 
finally a sliver of light pierced the quiet dark and Hecate 
breathed a sigh of relief. They stepped out into a sort of 
commons area, lit by several windows built into the 
ceiling. Hecate headed for a series of doors, hoping to 
get her bearings, but Virago caught up with her and pulled 
her back into the passageway from where they'd come. 

"What is it?" Hecate asked. 

"Someone's in there." 

Hecate peered around the corner, but no one appeared. 
"How do you know?" 

Virago never got a chance to answer; a doorway across the 
commons opened and a blast of gunfire assaulted them. As 
they crouched low, a hissing sound reached their ears. Gas 
from a nearby vent surrounded them before they had a chance 
to react. As Virago passed out, her last thought was that 
the Martian boss didn't play fair. 

-*- 

"Look what the cat drug in." Katie stood over Virago's 
cot, a barely suppressed smirk on her face. "Look's like 
you're not such a hot shot secret agent after all." 

Virago sat up, and instantly regretted it. Across the 
room Hecate moaned, sat up, and likewise grimaced. "Shut 
up, Katie," Hecate groaned. "My head's not up for it." 

Virago stood, trying to steady her wobbly legs. "Oh ye of 
little faith. Don't worry, we'll win. It's in the bag." 

Katie rolled her eyes. "Oh really? Well, in case you 
haven't noticed, we're sitting inside a stone cell, no 
windows, no means of escape save for a primitive iron door. 
How do you expect to get to the spice now?" 

Hecate seemed to know that Katie wasn't fully clothed. 
"Where's the rest of your clothes?" 

If the other girls hadn't known better, they would have 
sworn Katie actually blushed. "Long story," was all she 
said. 

Virago crossed the room and helped Hecate to her feet. 
"Where's Celia? Did she manage to escape?" 

Katie snorted. "Celia is responsible for me being here." 

"Damn!" Virago said. "Okay, at least Slot is still out 
there, but it's not entirely up to him. If he did what she 
was supposed to, we have help on the way." 

"How come you're so sure this mysterious `help' is going 
to be able to help us win?" 

Virago only smiled. 

-*- 

Slot let out a primitive male cry of war and burst through 
the door to Michael's office. Inside, the Martian boss 
whirled around from the entrance of the secret passage he'd 
been about to enter. Beside him, the guards let loose a 
dazzling array of gunfire. Slot dived head first into the 
room, using the big desk for cover, firing the gun he'd 
appropriated from a less than attentive guard outside. 
Michael ducked into the passageway while his guards rushed 
where Slot was hiding. Slot recognized one of them from 
the bar. The guard grabbed his arm, wrenched it behind his 
back and by reflex, he dropped the weapon. The other guard 
stood before him, armcuffs ready. Slot waited for just the 
right moment . . . then kicked for all he was worth. The 
guard took it right in the balls. He fell, and Slot used 
his pinned arm to force the other guard over his back and 
onto the floor. Breathless, he retrieved the weapon and 
fired. The two guards were put out of commission. Slot 
turned, searching the room for Celia, when he felt the 
barrel of a gun press against his back. 

"Looking for me?" Celia asked, taking pleasure in 
retrieving Slot's weapon and securing it in her own belt. 

Slot uttered a curse, then a little more civilly, "You 
traitor!" 

Celia laughed, delighted. "I believe Virago said it best. 
Anyone can be a double agent, Slot. That's half the fun." 

Suddenly a whining pierced the air and relief flooded 
through Slot. Standing straight and tall and armed to the 
teeth, Rui looked like a comic book hero, come to save the 
day. 

Help had arrived. Along with about a dozen backups. 

"Drop the gun, Celia," Rui said, obviously taking great 
satisfaction in the situation. 

Stunned, Celia backed off, but instead of dropping the 
weapon she raised it, aimed at Rui and fired. But Rui was 
no fool. Expecting trouble, he jumped sideways, avoiding 
the blast. He rushed forward at the same time Slot did and 
between the two of them, pried the weapon from Celia's hand 
and took the other gun from her belt. (Both staying clear 
of her sharp claws, which she'd unsheathed.) "All right, 
Celia, where are the others?" 

-*- 

Katie had been about to try to pry the grate off of what 
looked like a storm drain when the iron doorway caved in, 
Rui standing in the gaping, flaming hole that it had left. 
Katie's draw dropped open and she looked from Rui to Virago 
and back to Rui. Across the room Hecate whooped with joy. 

-*- 

"Yes, this is it all right." Virago dusted the orange 
smelling spice from her fingertips and stepped back from 
the passageway. Inside the room, all of Michael's Martian 
associates had been rounded up and Rui's men were busy 
unloading the spice from the secret room the passageway led 
to. Virago stood beside "the Boss", reveling in the 
victory. "Looks like we kicked ass." 

Rui laughed. 

"Wait a minute!" Across the room, something was still 
bothering Lexi. 

Virago and Rui turned simultaneously. "Yes?" Virago asked. 

"The game isn't over, not yet." 

"And why not?" Rui inquired. 

"Well, who is Virago's boss? I mean, Rui and his boys 
couldn't have taken out all our Martian ships by 
themselves." 

Rui turned to Virago. "That's true. We had quite a space 
war going up there until somebody else showed up. Whoever 
they were, they had some powerful ships. The Martians 
never had a chance." 

Lexi nodded. "I thought the leader was Virago. You know, 
a made-up persona. But she couldn't have orchestrated all 
that help from her cell." 

"You're wrong, Lexi," Virago broke in. "I could have. 
Just before we beamed to the surface, I had Slot send some 
subspace distress signals. That's how Rui got the word to 
bring help." 

Rui nodded. 

"But I'm not the boss of the mercenaries; the messages I 
sent were to two people. Rui and my boss." 

"Well, who is it?" Lexi demanded. It was starting to bug 
her. 

"Yes, who *are* we working for?" Slot put in. 

Virago smiled. "Boss?" She directed the question to no 
one in particular. "We're just about done here. You can 
take over. I've completed my contract, Souvie." 

"Good work, Virago," came a voice from all around them. 
"And extend my complements to your staff." 

"Souvie?" Lexi almost shrieked, totally unbelieving. "The 
*writer* is your boss?" 

Virago laughed. "How did you think I knew the compound so 
well?" 

"You cheated!" 

"Not at all," Virago answered. "I just used the resources 
I had. After all, Souvie's the one writing the story." 

Katie groaned. 



THE END. 






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