Delta Monga was the third-largest space station of the human empire. It stole power from the black hole it orbited and used that power to run one of the strongest wormholes that modern technology could accomplish.
But this was also the only place in the human empire, where certain things were still legal.
"Whooh, the air's a bit funky here."
"Yeah."
John and Theo had landed on the space station. It had an atmosphere so, space suits weren't necessary. And as it was spinning, the gravity was more or less the same as planet Aura's.
But as John mentioned the air might have been a bit different.
"Stop complaining about the air and let's get moving. We have three hours before the ship leaves." Voli followed the two around like a child following their parents. She sure didn't sound like a child though.
John clicked his tongue and looked at Theo but Theo had something else on his mind.
"How come we didn't take the Spatia wormhole? I mean that station was closer and would have saved us two weeks."
People and R.I alike walked by but no one cared about one another.
"Well." John scratched his head and stared at the city. "Let's just say, the captain has needs too." He chuckled. "But I guess you're too innocent to understand." John moved on ahead.
Theo grimaced but he didn't have anything to argue about. Also- he didn't want to understand.
Voli sighed and grabbed Theo's shoulder. She sniffed. "Please." She pleaded.
Theo didn't want to be a part of this. He really didn't. He sighed as well. "Oh, John?" But in the end, after seeing so many failed attempts from Voli, even he had some pity.
"Yeah, what's up buddy? Finally, want to become an adult? I know a good place." John flashed his teeth, glancing back. Like he was totally innocent. He wasn't.
"No, I was actually hoping you'd help me buy a nice knife and a plasma gun. I mean the stuff I have are terrible. I kind of wasted money on them without actually making sure the quality was good." Theo chuckled but he was in pain. These two things were the things he bought with his new salary and yet, he was completely ripped off. Perhaps he was too excited that day.
"Sure, let's go-"
"Actually," Theo flashed a grin. "I kind of have to go somewhere. So please buy it for me, with her?" Theo walked on ahead. "I'll wire the money to you later."
"Wha?" John couldn't believe it. "Buddy?" He spoke in disbelief.
"Yessh!" Voli rejoiced behind John in silence and with a big grin stood right next to him. "Let's go." She grinned harder. 'I'll definitely make this work!'
***
Unauthorized R.I weren't permitted on Delta Monga, hence Sizzy wasn't with Theo.
He actually didn't have anything in particular to do. 'Maybe I'll just head back after a walk.' So he walked on.
There weren't that many people out here and the few that were here had holo masks for privacy reasons. Theo had something on his face too, but his cheap ARIMA glasses weren't doing much. If he had a proper warpnet connection he could have used these glasses as a map and various other things, but as he didn't have that, his glasses were nothing but just fancy sunglasses.
It was close to midnight but Theo didn't feel sleepy- he did feel bored though. Maybe taking a walk alone, wasn't such a great idea.
Before long, the lights around him turned a bit more colorful. And some of the boards had daring laminated photos. And the descriptions were anything but cute: there were other things too. 'Are women even allowed to do that?'
Now that he paid more attention, he didn't see almost anyone in the vicinity. People were already scarce, but this was like he was in some sort of apocalyptic past.
Gusts of wind flew by.
Theo gulped and just when he was about to go back, he saw a rather familiar face go in, in one of the shops, all alone. 'Is that why she-'
Theo had time, and he was curious. So he became a bit more daring than usual. He followed the girl and entered the building.
The sign read: The Bountiful Pleasures!
"WELcomme!" Instead of there being a R.I on the counter, there was a guy dressed in woman's clothes. He was also tanned. Rather rare in this day and age. "What can I get you, my pretty?" But the way he talked, made every single hair on Theo's body stand up.
He couldn't bring himself to take a step forward or even a step backward. He was stuck.
The man on the counter smiled harder. He was built almost like John but maybe a bit more on the fattier side. "I can arrange fine princesses' for you, my pretty."
"Actually," With a gulp of courage, Theo moved ahead. "My friend just walked in here and-" Obviously he was lying. And he never even spoke to that girl before, let alone being her friend.
"Oh?" The man flashed a grin. "Tell you what." His head came close to Theo's. Theo took a step back. "I'll show you what she's doing…."
"Isn't that illegal and a void of her privacy?" Theo wasn't here to ask for that. Even he knew that wasn't fair, and definitely not legal.
"For this much."
A number flashed right before Theo's eyes. "But that's extortion," he mumbled. And he didn't have plans to do that in the first place.
"AND this is illegal." The man grinned, licking his lips.
"Yeah, I think I'll go now." It took a lot of courage on Theo's side to say that. The neon lights around him were blinding and the red lights on the floor and the corner of the room weren't helping. He felt strangely faint.
And not to mention there wasn't anyone in here apart from the two of them and an R.I.
"Wait, I'll give you a discount. Come here." Theo took a step forward.
"How much?" Of course, he was just doing this to keep the conversation going and run the first chance he got.
A number flashed before Theo again. "But that's ninety-five percent discount." 'Is this guy serious?' "Are-"
Before Theo could even attempt to say anything the man grabbed Theo's head, gently. "For a kiss that is." He proceeded to kiss Theo anyway.
The kiss lasted for exactly three minutes as the man literally shoved his tongue down Theo's throat and sucked the hell out of him.
Salty.
Disgusting.
Foul.
Cough* cough* Never in Theo's life did he endure such pain and shame before: he fell on the floor. He was literally in tears and he couldn't feel his throat.
The man licked his tongue and called a R.I. "Such precious youth! Get him a room. And be sure to give him proper service and that."
The R.I lifted Theo up and took him to a room. Theo meanwhile couldn't even protest, because he didn't have any strength left.
Was he drugged?
***
Theo was taken to a room against his will and he was forced to be on a bed. But instead of a girl coming for him, the R.I, just turned on the Holo monitor.
"As per the request of the master, we shall now show you." Her voice, a tad robotic. "However please be aware that you are not to discuss any of what you see here. If you should confess, we can hold legal actions against you. However, you shouldn't remember anything after this as a side effect anyway, so please enjoy yourself." She smiled.
Theo knew it wasn't fair, but he also knew anything went here. So, as he was powerless, he couldn't just protest and get away with it. Rather, he waited for a chance to escape. But his body was getting more and more drowsy by the second. 'Didn't I have an antidote in my suit?'
'Why did I even come here?'
He should have never come here alone.
But as the people in the monitor moved, he actually paid more attention. But he also thought of ways to distract the R.I.
There was just one girl in the monitor and seven men. The girl however was someone Theo only met once: the captain of Ainmester, Captain Sharon Barslain.