One good thing she noticed was that she wasn’t the only one wearing a bizarrely revealing dress. She’d barely been able to force herself to leave Lady Sha’rak’s house in the thin jade green dress that hugged the sides of her breasts and her hips while leaving her nipples and crotch completely bare. The idea of going out in public with her private areas on display was almost more than she could stand. But as she looked around, she saw that everyone had on the same kind of dress.
Bare breasts and shaved mounds were visible everywhere, peeking boldly through lace, silk, and satin. Lissa couldn’t help noticing, however, that the guests who had already been through the receiving line and were milling around the vast space had strange black dots covering their nipples and crotches. Were those the sensation pads Lady Sha’rak had been talking about? Whatever they were, she hoped the adhesive they used to put them on wasn’t too sticky. She wasn’t anxious to try yanking what amounted to tape off her most sensitive areas at the end of the night.
Suddenly a strong floral odor assaulted her nose and a high, reedy voice said, “A drink, my lady?”
Lissa turned to see a strange creature that looked like a blob of bright pink jelly with a face staring at her. It was seated inside the chest cavity of a bulky black mechanoid with bright red lights for eyes. The blob peered out at her from between metal bars that kept it confined inside its automated prison.
“Excuse me?” Lissa said blankly. It was such an odd looking creature she couldn’t help staring although she was sure it was probably very rude to do so.
“A drink, my lady. Would you care for a drink?” The jelly thing waved one limp looking tentacle and the mechanoid’s arm came forward, offering a tray filled with small square glasses of pale brown liquid.
“Oh.” Lissa reached for one of the glasses. “Well—”
“I wouldn’t, my dear,” Lady Sha’rak said in her ear. “It’s Lushian ale. You won’t like the side effects.”
“Side effects?” Lissa drew back her hands.
“Makes you grow extra appendages,” Lady Sha’rak said. “You know—hands, arms, legs…breasts. Some say it adds to the overall sensation play experience but I’ve never thought so. And sometimes it takes days for the effects to fade—it’s never fun waking up with an extra nipple in the middle of your forehead. Or an extra vagina where your navel ought to be.”
“I guess not!” Lissa took a step back and shook her head at the blob thing. “No thank you!”
“Suit yourself, my lady.” It did something with its tentacles that caused its robotic casing to bow and then clanked slowly off to offer the strange liquor to someone else.
“What was that thing?” Lissa asked, watching it go. She noticed that as it left the strong floral scent she’d smelled went with it. It was a relief as the cloying aroma had been giving her a headache.
“Oh, just a nenarch. I guess you don’t have them on Zetta?”
Lissa shook her head. “What kind of creature are they?”
“Well, they’re sentient, obviously, but they really can’t move very much—those jelly legs of theirs are nearly useless. I’m afraid our mining here on Yonnie Six disrupted a great deal of their homeland. So some of the more liberal-minded ladies have been employing them as mobile air-fresheners and butlers.”
“Air fresheners?” Lissa frowned. “I thought that strong smell was coming from the drink it was offering me.”
“Oh no, my dear. Every nenarch has a different smell. It’s a defense mechanism you know, to ward off predators. But they can turn it on at will—it’s very useful for keeping the air fresh in such a large crowd.”
Lissa wanted to say she thought the nenarch stunk, but it didn’t seem polite. So she only nodded and said, “I see.”
“You don’t yet but you will. Once you start into a sensation scenario you’ll find the scent much more enticing. Speaking of which—oh look who it is!”
Lissa turned to see a petite girl of about her own age or a little younger approaching them. She had pink, green, and blue streaks in her ebony hair and was wearing very high heels and what looked like an extremely form fitting pink body suit. When she got a little closer, however, Lissa saw that it wasn’t a suit at all but some kind of paint. It covered her nude body without leaving anything to the imagination, but she seemed supremely confident as she swaggered up to them.
The girl was leading a slave on a leash behind her—a male so massive he made even Saber, who was well over six foot six, look small. Lissa looked up at him in awe—he was even bigger than the half-breed warrior, Merrick, who up until that point, was the biggest male she’d ever seen. As if to make him even more imposing, the slave’s face was covered by a snarling animal mask with glaring green eyes and lips pulled back to show a slavering red tongue and sharp silver teeth.
Altogether, it was the most bizarre combination Lissa could imagine. She wondered who in the world the outlandish woman and her mountain of a slave could be.
“Lady R’awr, meet our hostess for the evening, Lady Hake’bean,” Lady Sha’rak said, smiling broadly. “Snyra,” she added, turning to the pink painted girl. “It’s so nice to see you again—the party seems to be going splendidly.”
“Yes, it is, isn’t it?” The girl smiled in a self-satisfied way Lissa disliked at once. “It ought to be—I don’t like to tell you how much credit it cost to bring in the amount of Dream Gas needed to get this many guests sensitized.”
“I’m sure.” Lady Sha’rak gave her a respectful look and murmured to Lissa, “Lady Hake’bean just recently came into her fortune after the unfortunate death of her mother in a star ship accident.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss,” Lissa said at once.
“Don’t be,” Lady Hake’bean said dismissively. “Mother was such a bore—we never did get along. And now I can spend my credit however I like.” She waved at the party. “As you can see.”
“Lady R’awr here is visiting from Zetta Prime,” Lady Sha’rak said, nodding at Lissa. “She’s never been to a sensation party before.”
“Well then, you’re in for a treat.” Lady Hake’bean grinned at Lissa. “The first time you try Dream Gas is always the best.”
“I can’t wait,” Lissa said politely. “You seem to have so much going on here.”
“Yes, there are stations for every genre you can imagine. I’ve hauled out all of Mother’s old collection from historical drama, to biographies, to zeno-porn—any scenario you can think of, I have a document for it. Ask any of the nenarches wandering around and they’ll tell you which station is which.” She nudged Lady Sha’rak. “Of course the porn station is the busiest.”
“I guess so!” Lady Sha’rak giggled. “I know it’s the one I’m looking forward to. But Lady R’awr here is most interested in history.”
“Specifically the Hoard Wars that occurred on First World about a thousand years ago?” Lissa asked hopefully.
“Oh yes, I think we have something along those lines,” Lady Hake’bean said vaguely. “You can ask one of the nenarches to direct you.” She sighed and put a hand to her forehead. “I’m sorry I’m not more help but Mother had so many documents. Still, if we have Hoard War papers anywhere they would be in the historical drama section.”
Lissa felt a surge of hope. “I’ll be certain to check.”
“Do that, just be sure you don’t get so into your sensi-play you miss the punishment show.” Lady Hake’bean yanked on her massive slave’s collar, bringing the huge male closer so that he was towering over her. “Beast and I will be putting it on in an hour or so.”
“Oh, all this and a punishment show too?” Lady Sha’rak looked even more excited. “But you’re putting it on yourself? Couldn’t you find someone else?”
“Well, normally I could count on Lady Pope’nose—she loves to punish slaves. But since she’s put all of hers into pain collars, she hardly bothers with the rod anymore.”
“Mm-hmm, she was saying something like that to me the other day when she came for
dinner.” Lady Sha’rak nodded. “I saw the new collar in action. It’s a bit extreme if you ask me.”
“And not nearly as much fun as a traditional punishment.” Lady Hake’bean leaned closer. “Keep it to yourself, but I have a new rod I’ll be showing off tonight. Do you want to see it?”
“Oh yes!” Lady Sha’rak clapped her hands. “Do show us.”
“Beast, hand it over,” Lady Hake’bean held out her hand and her huge slave put a strange purple device in her palm. “It’s designed for maximum pleasure,” she said. “Mine, of course—not Beast’s.”
Lissa leaned forward almost as eagerly as Lady Sha’rak—finally she was going to see what “the rod” was all about. But the thing Lady Hake’bean was holding in her hands didn’t look like any kind of punishment device Lissa had ever seen. It was a little longer than her forearm and appeared to be made of some kind of clear purple rubber. There was a wide oval separating the two halves of the device with one half being much longer, thicker, and knobbier than the other. Each end had a round, flaring knob at the top that reminded her of something, although she couldn’t think what. A number of black leather straps hung from it, making Lissa think it was supposed to be worn in some way—but how?
“The smaller end is for me, of course,” Lady Hake’bean was saying as she displayed the device. “It fits inside but there are straps for extra stability. There’s a vibe right here…” She touched the wide oval that separated the two arms. “For stimulation.”
“Oh, of course,” Lady Sha’rak echoed, nodding. “But the way it fits—you don’t mind the penetration?”
“Mind it? I love it.” Lady Hake’bean’s eyes gleamed. “With every thrust I get double stimulation. Mind you, Beast here doesn’t like it much.” She slapped the massive slave on his muscular arm and a low growling came from inside the animal-faced mask.
“Oh, no?” Lady Sha’rak looked disconcerted. “He doesn’t like being dominated?”
“He wasn’t born into any of the slave training houses here—he’s actually a convict from the Berrack mines on Primus Three,” Lady Hake’bean explained. “I saw him the last time I went with Mother to inspect our holdings there. I wanted to get him right away but Mother wouldn’t let me.” She made a face. “She said it was too dangerous, taking a slave from one of those primitive male-dominated societies where the males do the penetrating and never take the rod themselves. Not to mention the fact that Beast here was sent to the mines for multiple murders. He’s a bad boy, aren’t you, my pet?” she cooed at her body-slave.
“Oh my.” Lady Sha’rak put a hand to her chest and moved ever so slightly farther away from the huge slave. “Multiple murders? That’s…interesting.”
“Yes, I thought so too.” Lady Hake’bean preened, apparently oblivious to her guest’s discomfort. “I sent for him as soon as Mother died and I’ve been training him ever since. He was a virgin before I got him—never took the rod in his life. But we changed that, didn’t we, Beast?” She slapped her slave on the rear this time and the low growl coming from inside the mask rose to a snarl of pure rage.
“Oh dear!” This time Lady Sha’rak took a full step back. Lissa was about to get back from the dangerous slave as well, when Saber suddenly stepped up and put himself between them.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Lady Hake’bean looked half angry, half amused. “Lady R’awr, Why is your slave interrupting our conversation?”
“I think he’s protecting me.” Lissa looked out from behind Saber’s muscular shoulder. “Your body-slave is very…er, intimidating.”
Lady Hake’bean laughed. “Oh, come now! You’re not really frightened of him, are you?”
“Well, he is rather massive,” Lady Sha’rak said carefully. “And you don’t appear to have any kind of pain collar or control device on him.”
“Don’t need one.” Lady Hake’bean made a dismissive gesture. “He’s chemically castrated. I don’t even need to put touch-me-not manacles on him—the only way he can orgasm is when I’m giving him the rod. Prostate stimulation, you know,” she said to Lady Sha’rak who nodded doubtfully.
“Of course.”
“He pretends not to like it but he comes like an animal every time. Especially when I use this on him.” Lady Hake’bean stroked the purple device meaningfully before handing it back to her slave. “Keep that for me, Beast. You’ll be enjoying it soon enough.”
The snarl of rage rose to a howl of fury and Lissa gripped Saber’s arm tightly. His body was trembling and she felt rather than heard the low growl he was emitting. Did he really feel that Lady Hake’bean’s slave was a threat? It certainly looked to Lissa like he was—he seemed about to break whatever control Lady Hake’bean had over him and go completely crazy. But instead of running amuck, the massive body-slave simply took the device and stowed it carefully in a pack he was carrying.
“See?” Lady Hake’bean laughed again. “His mind is free but his body is completely under my control.” She stroked the muscular arm that was trembling with rage. “This is going to be our first public performance, isn’t it, Beast?” she purred, looking at him with obvious lust. “I can’t wait to make you come in front of all these people.”
This time the only response from the snarling animal mask was an ominous silence. For some reason the lack of sound made Lissa even more nervous than the growling, snarling, and howling had.
Apparently Lady Sha’rak felt the same. “Oh, will you look at that,” she exclaimed a little too brightly. “We’re next to be announced.”
“You’d better go then,” Lady Hake’bean said. “Have fun at the various stations and be sure you sample documents from every genre.” She held out a hand to Lissa. “I’ll find you later and make sure you get what you need.”
“Oh, thank you!” Lissa started to step out from behind Saber to take Lady Hake’bean’s hand, but Saber wouldn’t allow it. Putting out an arm he pushed her gently but firmly behind him, keeping himself between her and their hostess’s menacing slave.
Lady Hake’bean frowned. “You really should punish that sort of behavior, Lady R’awr—an overprotective slave can become dangerously dominant if you don’t watch out. They begin to think they’re in charge and then you have to watch your back every minute.”
“I see.” Lissa nodded. “I…”I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Let me know if you’re interested in chemical castration,” Lady Hake’bean said, as she turned away. “I keep the necessary compounds with me at all times. Well—when I’m wearing something to keep them in.” She laughed and indicated her nude, pink-painted form as though it was a wonderful joke.
Lissa and Lady Sha’rak laughed too but Lissa got the distinct impression that the ambassador was glad when their hostess moved away.
“Really, she’s gone too far this time,” the ambassador murmured as they moved up in the line. “Taking a murderous convict who’s never been properly trained as a body-slave? It’s dangerous!”
“I think so too,” Lissa whispered.
“Yes, but you shouldn’t show it—or let your slave show it for you,” Lady Sha’rak said reprovingly. “He really ought to be punished for such behavior. I’d insist on it if I didn’t think it would ruin Lady Hake’bean’s punishment performance later.”
“I’ll speak to him,” Lissa promised, her heart in her mouth. “I swear it won’t happen again.”
“See that it doesn’t.” Lady Sha’rak gave Saber a reproving look before she and Llewelyn moved up to the bottom steps of the platform.
“You have to be more careful,” Lissa muttered to Saber under her breath. “You almost got into trouble just now.”
“I was keeping you safe.” His voice still sounded husky with protective fury, and she could see the tension running through the muscles of his bare chest. “That female is crazy if she thinks she’ll get away with punishing her slave like that in public. He’ll kill her for it—didn’t you hear the rage in his voice?”
“Of course I did but s
he said he was safe.” Lissa didn’t sound very convincing, even to herself. “Look, the point is I don’t want to have to “punish” you tonight with that rod thing, however it works.”
“Didn’t you get it?” Saber sounded surprised. He shook his head. “Sometimes I forget how innocent you are. You put it—”
“Oh my Goddess,” Lissa interrupted in a horrified whisper. “Look at that.”
At the front of the line Lady Sha’rak had climbed the platform and was being announced.
“The Cultural Ambassador of Yonnie Six, Lady Manda Sha’rak,” the slave in shiny gold pants was proclaiming. But that wasn’t what bothered Lissa. As they watched, Lady Sha’rak spread her legs and leaned back against a wide supportive post that appeared to be placed there for that purpose. The position showed her pussy, framed in crimson lace panties, to everyone watching in the crowded room. Without hesitation, Llewelyn dropped to his knees before her and began laving her exposed pussy with his tongue, taking long, slow licks and clearly savoring his mistress’s juices.
Lady Sha’rak gasped and closed her eyes in obvious pleasure. Running her fingers over her body-slave’s bald head, she urged him on, thrusting her hips toward him as he licked deeper and deeper.
At last she trembled and let out a loud moan, which was followed by a lot of polite clapping from the onlookers. Then, looking satisfied, she straightened her dress, lifted Llewelyn to his feet, and turned to Lissa.
“Your turn, my dear. Do be sure you put on a good show.” Then she sauntered off with Llewelyn trailing behind her, licking his lips.
“Oh my Goddess,” Lissa whispered again, feeling her blood turn to ice. She had promised to stop feeling guilty about whatever they had to do to make this mission a success but this…this was going too far—especially in a public, crowded place.
“Don’t worry,” Saber murmured in her ear, as her heart began to gallop in her chest. “I’ll just kiss you—no licking, all right?”
Lissa nodded numbly. “All right, yes,” she whispered back. “Kissing…that should…that should be all right.”