The Heavy Date Part 9
13 Sep 2017Mhera Bathana
Exotica, Clair Dock, TjakiriThe common room was spacious, and decorated well enough, with soft lighting, red toned walls and numerous sitting places such as chairs, couches and puffs. A number of tables were scattered about, holding various items, mostly tea cups, glasses and the occasional bottle of some cosmetic drug. Mhera didn’t much like the vulgar talk the others girls engaged in. Embittered herself, she understood why they enjoyed the talk. It gave them a sense of power. A tool to fight back, and the talk itself was humorous, but with undertones of scathing jabs. The women, and a few men were lounging about talking and enjoying a few moments of peace to themselves. Mhera was content to sit alone, and so she did. The poof she reclined on was soft, and she welcomed the feel of the material against her skin. She filtered out the drone of conversation around her as she focused her attention on the data-slate in her hands. The glowing cool tones of blues and greens accented her soft facial features.
Her last outing with Stryker had rattled her. Forced to play pirate to prove that she could join in on his team, or else be pressed into some scheme of cultivating mind suggestive drugs. She chose the former. Forced to fire upon another person and steal a cargo hold full of diamonds to placate some high official of Black Omega, she was starting to resent her lot in life.
Stryker had talked about getting her out of the brothel, but it seemed the goal posts continued to move on a whim. Mhera wanted to believe that her time in this hell hole was coming to an end, but all the data and observations she made said otherwise. She didn’t understand why Stryker didn’t see it. Though a part of her enjoyed his company, and his optimism, she knew that it would never come to fruition.
The sickly pungent smell of onionhead accosted her nose, and she wrinkled it in kind. Peeling her attention away from the device, she gazed up. Standing before her was a tall brunette woman. Curvy, and well endoued. What she wore was revealing, and she made very little effort to pull the red lacy fabric up. Lucy had been in the pleasure for a number of years, Mhera didn’t care much for her company.
“Oh, hello Mhera,” she greeted, “What’choo doin’ all the way over here? Common join us.” she offered.
Mhera didn’t really feel like it. She wanted some privacy. Somewhat intangible, but a real valued commodity in a place where everyone’s body and business was everyone else's. “No thank-you” she declined.
Lucy persed her narrow, bright red lips. “Oh dear, you think you’re better than us don’t you?” she leaned over trying to steal a peek at the data-slate.
Mhera shifted her weight on the puff, and pulled the slate into her chest. “No, I don’t think that.”
Lucy folded her arms canting her head. “Then why don’t ya ever join us? Yer always off on your own.” Lucy asked. “It seems to me, you think you are better than the rest of us. What’choo got your nose in there anyways?”
Mhera set the slate down in her lap, careful to ensure that that bottom side faced upwards. She took a handful of her blond hair, twisted it into a curl and made a neat bun. “Just some reading.”
Lucy’s hand moved like a viper and before Mhera knew it, she had the slate in her grip. The woman’s eye scanned the document, and a smile broke across her face. Mhera was actually surprised the prostitute could read. “Oh, ho! Some reading it is huh?”
Mhera’s face broke into a frown and she spoke flatly, “and none of that is your business.” Mhera stretched her hand out expecting the slate to be returned.
Lucy laughed. “Your business is everyone’s business!” She held the slate back and Mhera groaned.
Lucy and Mhera have had a few altercations in the past, and they both walked away from each feeling a sort of restatement and animosity for each other. Their relationship was like oil in water. Lucy came off as ignorant, condescending and in many ways the bully. The last altercation left Mhera one up on the woman. She had used cold scientific logic to debunk Lucy’s argument as nothing but an emotional opinion wrapped in a thin veneer perceived fact. And Lucy was hurt, and she now held a measure of power.
Mhera rolled her eyes and kept her hand outstretched wiggling her fingers.. “Whatever, now give it back.”
Lucy sounded like she had just won the Federal lottery. “No, I think I’m going to read a bit of this epic tale!”
Inwardly Mhera was terrified, but she kept her face like a stone.
Lucy cleared her throat. “Let’s start with this bit!” a wicked grin spread across her face. “Camille, I think Imma fallin’ for him. He’s rough on the outside, and plays the tough-man’s game, but inwardly he is kind and gentle.” Lucy laughed, correctly assuming Mhera was writing about a client. “Oh honey, you're kiddin’ right?”
Mhera kept her face like a stone and folded her arms about her chest while the other girls started to listen in.
Lucy laughed as she continued to read aloud, “Despite his brutish mannerisms and appearance, I feel more and more comfortable around him. Camille, I don’t know what he was like before he became a member of Black Omega, but I can’t honestly believe he was a terrible man. Pegasi changes people. It’s changing me.” she paused for a second and scoffed. “You got that right! So, which one is this Stryker fella?”
Mhera stayed quiet. She felt the personal attack sting at her spirit.
Lucy laughed as she scanned the document, “Oh to the gods! You got that one too!” she faced the other girls lounging about, “Hey hey, how many of you also got that whack-job who dresses you up, calls you ‘Susan’ and makes you play out some deranged home life fantasy endin’ up in divorce!”
Some of the girls started laughing. To Mhera it seemed to be quite a few. She felt the slate hit her lap and instinctively her fingers wrapped around the warm plastic case. She stood and offered a sickly sweet smile before leaving the room. As the door closed, the girls busted up laughing.
Numb due to the emotional trauma, the young woman buried her feelings. She walked the dim corridors back to her room. It was about time for her to be back anyway. Mhera looked about, and resigned herself to the fact she was never getting out, despite the assurances of what the large mechanic had promised. The golden haired woman spent the last thirty minutes working on her letter, before securely placing it into a drawer and slipped into less revealing lingerie before taking her customary position on the edge of the bed. Legs crossed she started ticking the time away with a foot. The dreaded knock came and she answered in her welcoming voice. The door cracked open and she saw the mechanical razor sharp tips of a clawed hand curl around the door itself. Her heart gave a leap, but was soon buried.
The hulking muscular beast that was Stryker pushed past the door, and Mhera wasn’t prepared for what she saw. He look right mess. His left eye was puffy and black, lip split, and a number of blotchy bruises had blossomed over his sleeveless arms. Beyond that it was his face. It wore a heavy expression, and she could tell he was tired. He closed the door, and wordlessly began to do push-ups. Mhera knew the routine and she sat on his back, but found it odd that he continued to push himself. He was tired and she could feel it though the slower pace and the slightly uneasy balance. Finished up sooner than he had done in the past. The young woman hopped off as Stryker sat on the edge of the bed, slightly forward with his elbows on his knees. She wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but had decided that comfort might be a starting spot. She took a seat next to him.
Slowly she slipped her hand under the tight, damp tank-top and gently scratched his broad back. “What happened?” she asked. She felt his back swell as he took a breath, then slowly exhale.
“I threw a fight.” he said and Mhera could tell that it weighed heavily upon him.
She continued to slowly run her fingers along his back, “Any reason why?” she knew the answer.
Stryker kept his reply simply, “because I was told that if I did, I would take a cut of the profits.”
Mhera pulled the shirt over his head, and he shrugged out of it. Dropping the fabric to the floor, she kneaded the tight shoulders. “A cut of the profits that would be used to help get me out of here.” she continued.
Stryker’s nod was slow and heavy.
Mhera’s hand worked, she took a kind, but truthful tone. “But like the diamonds, it wasn’t enough was it?”
He shook his head. “Just when I have enough, they alter the deal.”
She saw from the corner of her eye the mechanical limb curl its talon like fingers into a fist. She rested her hand on the shoulder. She decided to listen.
Stryker shook his head and spoke again. “They’re using me- Us.”
She nodded, and resumed the massage. It struck her, that she had never, given a massage willingly. If she was told by a client to perform one she would.
“What if…” he started, “What if you’re right? The universe is a large place.”
“You mean, just disappear?” her hands worked the back of his neck.
He nodded again.
She shrugged and tried to lighten the atmosphere, “I hear Colonia is nice….Plus Jaques is some sort of cyborg, you’d fit right in.”
The massive man growled something between a slight laugh and sigh.
Mhera’s finger traced along the intricate lines of the man’s tattoos, “Do you really think Black Omega would send an operative some twenty two thousand light years to claim you? I think they have bigger fish to fry.”
Stryker was inclined to agree, but he asked, “Like what?”
Mhera kept it simple, “like a Kat von Steuben. Apparently she’s some alpha level threat to your organization.”
Stryker turned abruptly. “How do you know about that?”
Mhera offered a knowing smile. She, along with a number of the girls serviced quite a few members of Black Omega. And during the throes of sexual intercourse, some of the girls had become proficient in getting them to spill the beans. She decided to be a bit crude. “You’d be surprised what’s slipped when you shove a finger up…”
“I don’t want to know.” Stryker conceded waving his hand.
Mhera shrugged and continued the massage,“point is, I think Black Omega has more important things to deal with then a wayward mechanic and some slut.” she said.
“Getting out of here will be the trick. I mean, I guess I could kidnap you, and make a run for it. But I doubt we would make it far.” he conceded leaning into the massage.
Mhera found a knot and placed her elbow into it. The muscle was too hard for her hands to work. She decided to change the conversation. She had feelings for this man. He was different. In all of the visits, he had never asked her to undress, or service him. Sure, many of them strange, but he seemed to have a reason for it. She had already broken a few of the golden rules for surviving in a brothel. She decided to break another.
“Sven?” she asked.
The man growled, rolling his shoulder and leaning into the elbow.
“Why do you choose to go by Stryker?” Mhera asked. She found that to be odd, and thought it to be a harmless mystery to dive into. Plus, in her mind gave her opportunity to get to know him better.
Stryker shrugged, “I identify with that more than my birth name.”
Mhera found another knot and started working on that. “How did you come by it?”
He groaned exhaling. “It was given to me when I worked at a salvage yard.”
“Tell me about it.” she asked.
Stryker countered, “Tell me about your childhood.”
Mhera felt a bit annoyed, she was trying to grow closer, and he was being dismissive. She was about to start her retort when the large man broke her off.
“I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you if you tell me. We can make it a game or something.”
Mhera tilted her head and after a short consideration she decided to play. “Okay. Well, I’m not sure where I was born. Adopted and given the name Mhera Sarai Bathana, but genetic markers have placed me as Imperial by birth. I grew up on Haraiva in the Wolf four-one-two system-” She paused, “your turn”
Stryker gave a chuckle. “Okay. I was born Sven Alvadar Aune, on Nya Sverige. My parents died when I was young, leaving my twin sister and me in the care of of the colony administrator’s brother.”
“A twin sister?” Mhera asked. “What’s she like?”
“Uh,” Stryker faltered, “she was, complicated, but she isn’t around anymore.”
Mhera could tell he was being resistant. She continued on. “Well, my parents were both researchers. Brilliant in their fields. And they instilled a love for learning into Brunai and myself. Brunai is my brother. I miss him a lot. We always had a good time together growing up.” She felt Stryker shift his weight.
“Well, Freyja and I… Well we were in survival mode.” he shrugged. “I got tired of the abuse, and left. I got a job at a salvage yard cutting old crap up with a plasma cutter. Do you know how heavy those things are?” he asked.
“I don’t” Mhera listened.
“For a full grown adult it’s damn heavy. For a young teen it’s down right impossible. But some dude picked on the wrong person and I landed a hard blow to his gut with one, and I earned the name ‘Stryker’. I dunno, kinda stuck and as I grew up I identified with it more.” Stryker finished.
Mhera had quite a privileged upbringing. Her parents prominent figures in the realms of science, and arts. They were well received by the community and enjoyed living in a higher standard. Up until now, she never really had to live for want of anything. She was free to pursue her interests in earnest unhampered by the necessity of earning food or shelter.
“You were fifteen, and you lived on your own?” she asked.
“Mmhmm.” Stryker grunted, “What about you?”
She couldn’t fathom it. This man had been making it on his own for such a long time. “Well, I didn’t have to do that.” she felt really awkward, “I lived, I guess a privileged life. I didn’t really have to survive. You know. I had friends and went to school.” she concentrated on the massage and swallowed hard, worried that she offended the man.
“We all have our lots in life. Some have it better than others.” he conceded.
Mhera was tentative, “Maybe we should make do with what we have?”
Stryker shook his head and glanced around the room. “No, this place changes people. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since you showed up here...”
She patted his broad shoulder. “What kind of thinking?” Mhera asked.
“I thought it would have been nice to live a life of adventure. They made it seem so glamorous. But… I was wrong.” Stryker gazed absentmindedly at the flexing claw.
When the monstrous device opened, she boldly laid her hand in it. It was cold and hard. She felt the talons wrap gently around her flesh. “Maybe all that is needed is some courage.” It was whimsical, and she knew it. She gently touched his bruised face.
Stryker blinked, but he didn’t move.
Mhera held the heavy man's face in her hands. She was falling for him, in a place where she resolved to never love a man again. And yet here she was, and her emotions telling her she wanted more.
The sound of a ringing bell broke her attention. She glared at the clock on bureau. Inwardly she hissed; normally welcoming the sound It marked the end of a session, but now… She didn't want it to.
Stryker took her hands off his face and stood. Wordlessly gathered his belongings and slipped through the door.
Special thanks to Jubei Himura for his suggestions and edits.