Jailmates Page 9

  Almost immediately it hardens in my hand, taking me by surprise somewhat by just how sudden and hard it feels. Immediately on the heels of that comes the intense desire to stroke myself, so I do. I throw my head back, eyes closed, and don’t even need to try to conjure images of something to build my urge.

  The urge is there. I mean, like I flipped a damn swi—

  Oh.

  Okay. This must be one of the effects H’looder was talking about. Driving my libido through the roof in a way I never feel. I know there’s a lot more he’ll be doing to me on the trip to Pfahrn, but he didn’t want to start that process until after my visit home.

  If I’m feeling like this now, then I’m kind of glad he’s waiting. I don’t want to spend my entire visit horny and locked in the bathroom to rub one out.

  While it’s a little unusual, it does relieve me, in a way. Now I actually believe H’looder when he says I won’t have any trouble having sex with Mohrn.

  Thank the gods.

  I slowly stroke myself, building my release over several minutes, until it feels like my balls are going to explode before I finally speed up my hand and milk the orgasm out of me. What I’m not expecting is how hard I come, so hard I literally clap my free hand over my damn mouth to muffle my moans. I’ve never orgasmed that hard before. It leaves me shaky, wrung out, and flat-out amazed.

  Okay, then.

  H’looder wasn’t bullshitting me, that’s for damn sure.

  It actually takes me a moment to quit feeling shaky. When I sit up and open my eyes, I realize I came so hard there’s actually a little jizz that hit the wall at the end of the tub.

  Holy shit.

  I open the drain and splash water on the wall to clean it off. If I came that hard like this, I can only imagine what it’s going to feel like once they’ve finished loading me up with the bionanotech and have fine-tuned it.

  And with a larger cock and balls.

  Chapter Eleven

  During my visit, any time I start to feel emotional and kicking myself for taking this job, I open my com and look at my bank balance and remember why I’m doing this.

  I’m doing this for Mom and Helleia.

  Helleia has already applied to the law school and sent in an application. Apparently she’ll have to sit for some aptitude tests, but she already checked out sample tests and she’ll ace them.

  I’m beyond proud of her.

  Mom isn’t sure what she wants to do yet. I think she’s still in shock a little about our sudden change in fortune for the better.

  Maybe now she’ll slow down and be able to enjoy life. Hell, maybe she’ll even start to date. She’ll going to be fifty-two next year, so it’s not like she’s an old geezer or something. I want her to find someone and be happy. Dad was the love of her life, but it’s doubtful that he’d begrudge her finding someone new. Especially after he’s been gone for so long.

  Still, knowing she doesn’t want to leave our town yet, I get her information on the closest schools, their degree programs, and send it to her.

  Not that I want to rush her, but it’d be so cool if she picked something before I have to leave. It won’t be long before I’m so far away that we won’t be able to really talk. I’ll be able to exchange prerecorded vids with them, which’ll be nice, and we can write each other.

  But no live chatting again.

  By day eight of my visit, I’ve masturbated every night, a couple of mornings, and have realized that yeah, I have a mental control over my cock I never did before. We were out shopping two days ago at a mall. As we passed one store, I spotted a gorgeous saleswoman inside and knew my cock was going to start screaming for attention.

  Instead of feeling a little embarrassed, or trying to remember the times I nearly died while in the military, so I could calm it the hell down…I simply thought about staying soft.

  I’ll be damned if it didn’t quiet the hell down.

  That actually would have been a handy fricking skill to have my last couple of years of primary, when my hormones were raging and it seemed like I could pop wood from a stiff breeze.

  Every day I’ve been home we’ve cooked at least one meal together. I know I’m going to miss cooking with them. I don’t know if Mohrn’s family likes to cook or not but maybe it’s something I can do with them and we can bond over it.

  I really don’t want to be a standoffish jerk. I want to learn about Mohrn’s family, about her—them, sorry.

  That’s going to be tough, I just fricking know it.

  I wonder if H’looder has some sort of augmentation to help me with that.

  * * * *

  Two days before my departure date, I start my day startled out of a sound fricking sleep by Helleia’s scream. Panicking and literally falling out of bed, I jerk my bedroom door open just to have Helleia run into my arms, jumping up and down and nearly knocking me over.

  By the time Mom races out of her room and joins us, I’ve managed to decipher no one’s trying to kill her, and it’s a good scream, because she’s laughing, too.

  And the tears.

  The happy fucking tears.

  She can’t talk, but she waves her com in my face until I finally manage to grab her hand and hold her still long enough to realize it’s an acceptance letter from the law school.

  Then I’m screaming with her, hugging her, jumping up and down, and realize Mom’s just standing there watching us, a smile on her face as she leans against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest.

  She’s happy that we’re happy.

  Then Helleia realizes Mom’s standing right there and turns so she can throw her arms around Mom in a hug.

  No cooking today—shopping.

  I want Helleia to have everything she’ll need, and I want to be the one buying it for her. Well, Mom’s coming with us, obviously.

  But I want to be there for my little sister. Finally, I feel like I’ve done something to make their lives better.

  And I can be here to enjoy the fruits of my labor for at least a little while.

  After shopping we return to the apartment. I’ve bought some stuff for me, too, that I know I might not be able to easily get while I’m gone. A new com and tablet, some shoes.

  A couple of cases of my favorite snacks, which I’ve been missing since I was in the military.

  Bourbon, vodka, rum, and gin.

  Coffee. Fucking coffee, oh, my gods, coffee. And two coffeemakers.

  It should be criminal, the shit they tried to pass off as coffee in the military.

  That night, the three of us dress up and go out to eat at a fancy restaurant we never would have even thought about going to before.

  Tonight, I can take my two best girls out and confidently order whatever the hell we want off the menu. Without a care in the fricking world about finances.

  They’re both smiling, happy. I don’t even resent that Hells brought her com with her to dinner so she could go over course selections with us. I want every minute of this with them.

  This is why I’m doing this.

  The times like this.

  I take lots of pictures and videos during my whole visit, because I know those will also help keep me going over the next five years.

  To be honest, I’m not going to assume it’ll be less than five years. That way, I’ll be pleasantly surprised if it is, and I won’t be disappointed if it’s not shortened.

  I feel badly for Mohrn but I do want to make sure I tell them one thing—I’m thankful for this opportunity. It might suck for them and their life, but I will make sure I let them know that something very good has come from it.

  I’ll show them these pictures and videos. I’ll show them pictures of my dad, tell them stories about our family.

  I’ll do my best every time we’re together to not treat Mohrn like a job, but like a blessing. I’m not religious, not even very spiritual, but Mom raised us to recognize and count our blessings.

  I’m already seeing the blessings in action, right here, and right now.


  * * * *

  That evening, when we return from dinner and I go to my room to change, I find I have a message from H’looder on my com.

  It’s not necessary for me to make travel arrangements to get to the orbiting station because they’re going to send a private skiff for me.

  To Baxator.

  Not only that, but they’ll send a ground transport for me. How much stuff am I bringing so they can arrange a large enough vehicle?

  Holy hellballs.

  That’s actually even better, because I can spend more time with Mom and Helleia, and I can bring even more shit with me.

  I send a reply acknowledging receipt of the message, and reminding H’looder that I want privacy about what I’m doing. And, fair warning, I’ll be bringing a fair amount of cargo with me.

  The next day, the three of us go out shopping again—for me, for Helleia, for Mom. I want a good camera. If I’m going to be on Pfahrn, I want to work on documenting my time there. Photography’s always interested me, how someone can look at a plant or object or landscape and capture it in a way that totally transforms it. I’ve never tried to draw or do artwork, or any other kind of expression of the finer arts, despite my mental creativity.

  This is something I’d like to have as a hobby, though.

  I’ll have plenty of time for it.

  That night, we cook dinner together as a family, and then sit in the living room and talk about Dad, remembering funny shit growing up even after it was just the three of us. Hells is sprawled across the couch with her head in my lap. She’s done that a lot this visit, and I’m glad for it.

  Doesn’t make me seem weird then by asking her to. This visit made me realize how much I’ve missed not just her, but…basic human contact. Hugging. Affection.

  Maybe I should’ve hooked up with guys while I was in, I don’t know.

  Maybe I won’t even be looking for sexual partners when not with Mohrn, but snuggle buddies.

  I hope the Pfahrn are affectionate.

  Although they’re vaguely reptilian-looking. Not in the face, that’s relatively human-ish. But their skin is tough. Along their backs, it looks nearly armored.

  I’ve learned Pfahrn has a mild climate where I’ll be, so yay for that. Being home has been so great because I’ve been able to wear shorts and T-shirts and not freeze my fucking ass off. Going outside and feeling the sun on my skin has been amazing.

  Being able to be outside, period, and not inside a ship, or transport station, and not having my ass shot at, or being worried about being overrun by enemy forces.

  Helleia looks up at me and laces fingers with me, squeezing. “Thank you, Sy,” she softly says. “I love you so much for doing this for us.”

  I boop her nose. It’s something Dad used to do to me and Mom all the time, although Hells was too little to have the memory of him doing it to her. I smile. “I love you, too, kiddo.” I look at Mom, who I realize is taking video of us with her com. “Love you, Mom.” I know she’ll send me a copy, because she has been all week, every time she takes pictures or video.

  She smiles, and there’s a palpable mixture of joy and sadness there. “Love you, too, Sy. You’ve made me so proud. Both of you. Prater would be proud of you, too.”

  I look back down at Hells just so I’m not flinching at that. Dad was a good guy, I know he was. I’m not sure how proud he’d feel though of his son basically being an alien’s gigolo.

  * * * *

  I do not sleep well that night, even after taking one last long, hot bath and rubbing two orgasms out of my improved cock. Tomorrow is going to be full of tears, including my own. Being home’s been great, but I know the only reason I could do all of this for them is because I’m leaving again.

  I console myself with the thought that Hells will be too damn busy to miss me much over the next few years. I have no doubt that she will be a kick-ass attorney.

  Mom isn’t sure what she wants to do yet, but she’s always had an affinity for literature and languages. She’s considering becoming a teacher. Which I can totally see her doing. She’s damn sure got the patience for it.

  Especially after suffering through teenage years with me as her son. I mean, I wasn’t bad, even she admits that. But I was more worried about making money for us than I was getting the best grades. Meaning there were plenty of nights she got up to find me studying in the kitchen and feeling frustrated at myself that I wasn’t learning.

  Don’t know why I wasn’t easily absorbing what I learned in school. I was only exhausted, stressed out over making sure I could take care of my family, and hoping I could be a good role model to Hells.

  All that in addition to normal teenage angst-fueled shit.

  I finally manage to eke out a couple of hours of sleep. In the morning, we cook breakfast together, and they help me pack and stage everything near the front door so it’ll be easier to get out. We spend the rest of the day together and go for a walk in the park near our apartment building. They put me in the middle and are both holding my hands as we slowly circle the small lake in the middle of it.

  This is a good day, and I’m grateful for it, and for them.

  Late that afternoon, after I’ve buzzed in what I think is the transport driver there to retrieve me, I’m more than a little surprised to find H’looder himself standing in our apartment doorway, flanked by two uniformed crewmen I recognize from his ship.

  And they even brought a porta-sled with them.

  After I introduce H’looder to Mom and Hells, and direct the two crewmen to the pile of stuff I’m taking, I ask the Veraci, “Why did you come?”

  H’looder’s wearing a protective mech suit, but he’s not wearing a full helmet. I can tell he’s wearing a technoskin hood that doesn’t hide his face, but which protects him. “I’m sorry. I hope this isn’t an imposition. I have never been on this planet before and wanted to see it. And I wished to meet your family in person, and thank them for this.”

  “Thank them?” I’m hoping the Veraci doesn’t pick now to decide to forget manners…or my confidentiality request.

  “I know this must be hard on them, to give you up again so soon. I wished to express my personal appreciation.” He turns to them and gives them a head-tip. “Simon has said wonderful things about both of you.”

  I’m a little shocked when Mom gives him the appropriate slow head-tip in response. “P’lau tchotken.”

  The Veraci’s eyes widen in surprise. “T’lau tchotkoren.”

  Mom smiles. “Daun y’aun.”

  Helleia’s eyes are nearly as wide as H’looder’s—and my own—as she leans in close to me while they’re talking.

  In Veraci.

  Holy shit.

  “Did you know she spoke…that?” Hells asks as we listen to them converse.

  “Veraci, and no, I didn’t.” I don’t even speak it yet, because it’s on my list to be installed, beyond please, thank you, and where’s the bathroom.

  Ironically, I don’t really need the last one as much now.

  “Your accent is exacting,” H’looder finally says in Standard once more, giving Mom another head tip, a little lower this time, which I know is a sign of great respect.

  Mom returns it. “Thank you. I worked closely with several Veraci, years ago, during my first job out of primary. They were very kind and patient, and I wanted to at least know some basics.”

  H’looder turns to me. Even in his mech suit, I can tell he’s fluttering with excitement. “You didn’t tell me your mother speaks fluent Veraci.”

  “Dude, I didn’t know she speaks fluent Veraci.”

  “Ah.”

  I want to get out of there fast now, because I know I’m going to cry—again—and I really don’t want to leave Mom and Hells with that lasting image. I hug both of them and say my good-byes to them before shouldering my backpack and shutting the door behind me.

  Hopefully I’ll be back with them in five years—or less—but just in case something happens to me between now and then
, at least the last thing we ever said to each other in person is I love you.

  And in case something even worse happens and I lose either of them, although that’s a possibility I do not want to contemplate. I learned from Mom that the last thing she and Dad ever said to each other was I love you.

  I grew up not taking those words for granted, and knowing the importance of saying them to the people you love most.

  Chapter Twelve

  Our return to the orbiting transport station where H’looder’s ship is docked is uneventful. We have to wait for Customs to quickly search through my stuff, then we’re free to go. The skiff is then docked in a small bay in the belly of the larger ship, which makes things even easier.

  H’looder asks me to follow him while the crewmen take my things to my stateroom. I follow the Veraci to his office just off his main lab area where I’ve been going through my…eh, fun.

  He has a hassock behind his desk similar to the one in my stateroom, likely confirming my theory about that. He points me to one of several various-sized chairs in front of his desk while he deftly peels off his technoskin hood and positively ripples as he runs one of his four hands over his head.

  “There. That’s better.” He drops the hood onto a counter in the corner of the office and then sheds the mech suit, revealing a clinging undergarment similar to a thermo skin.

  Apparently, that’s enough for him. He grabs a lab coat and pulls that on before settling on the hassock behind his desk. “I wish to go over your visit with your family.” He picks up a tablet from his desk.

  I bristle a little. “Why? That’s personal.”

  He looks…confused. “You agreed to give us feedback. That’s part of this process, Simon.”

  “Wait.” I take a breath to buy me a second. I’m sort of emotionally raw right now. “Can we start over? What, exactly, do you want to discuss? Because I don’t see where talking about Mom and Hells has anything to do with what I’m doing.”

  He flutters. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry. My apologies, Simon. I meant discuss you, anything you noticed, physical changes, side effects, unusual issues—relating to your body.”