Chapter 6
Two figures stood in the distance, silhouetted by the pink rays of the evening sun. They were both clothed in shimmering purple fabric that enhanced the golden glow of their hair. Both turned to him expectantly as he floated towards them in his chair. He called for her to come to him, but the male pulled her behind him, a disgusted look on his face. "You have no claim on her for you are not a whole man. I can give her what she wants and needs, and so I claim this woman for myself." The Golden Man turned away from him and kissed the woman deeply as her arms snaked around his neck to pull him close.
"Don?"
Although the arm that shook him was gentle, he jerked awake awash in fear.
"Don, are you all right?"
Reality returned the fear was pushed aside. "Maureen! Where are Judy and Penny?"
"They're back at the spa. Have John or Will been here?"
"Will was here today. I asked him to try to get John and Dr. Smith back here tonight. Will and I are worried, Maureen. Something is just not right here."
"I know. They kept me separated from John. Every time I asked to see him, they put me off, I'm worried about him."
As she was speaking, John and Will ran up the ramp, with Dr. Smith not far behind. John immediately embraced his wife and held her close for several minutes.
"Oh, John, I had the feeling I might not see you again. What did they do to you?"
"Nothing, other than put us to work."
Dr. Smith was breathing heavily when he entered, "Oh, the pain! We were made to work like common laborers. My back is quite delicate, you know, and cannot take the stress of hard labor. Were it not for the delightful food, I would be happy to leave this planet behind us!"
John interrupted, "You were right, Don. We investigated the hospital type building and found the reason people never leave. It's called the Ministry of Extermination. I'm afraid they may eventually come for you."
Maureen interjected, "But the medical director of the spa said that he would examine Don to see if he could help him."
"Yeah, just like they fixed the ship," Don replied.
Will commented, "They never came to fix it, did they."
"Nope. But the hull is patched and welded and the shields are back up."
John asked, "How did you get all that done?"
"I didn't have much else to do. Oh, and by the way, the hover bikes are operational, and I modified one to all manual controls for me. I couldn't do anything about the landing strut, but I did salvage what was left of it."
Realization hit them both at the same time… Salvage, the name of the ship that brought them to this planet.
John spoke first. "This isn't a repair facility, it's a junk yard."
"Yeah, keep what's useful and get rid of everything else."
John turned to Maureen. "Where are Judy and Penny?"
"They're still at the spa, but Appolus is with them, and I'm sure he'll take good care of them."
At the mention of that name, Don closed his eyes and mumbled, "I'm sure he will."
Maureen didn't miss his comment, but continued, "But I am worried about them. This society reveres women and treats them well, yet keeps them hidden. They're only valued for their use as 'vessels' for procreation."
John was not happy. No one was going to use his daughters as simply a 'vessel'. "We have to get them out of there."
Don remembered his dream and couldn't help but comment. "John, you have to rescue Penny, but... what if Judy wants to… stay?"
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that Judy might be happy here." He hesitated, almost afraid to continue. "You know, she was radiant after that banquet. She seems to like this Appolus guy, and maybe…" The words almost stuck in his throat, "Maybe he can give her what I can't."
Maureen couldn't stand to hear this. "Don, stop! She loves you. Even today, when they asked her why she would marry someone who obviously couldn't procreate…"
He closed his eyes and winced when he heard that comment.
"Don, I'm sorry. I know this is a sensitive issue for you, but you have to know that she didn't hesitate a moment. She said that she would marry you, because she loves you."
Rubbing his hand across his eyes, he refocused his thoughts. "Let's go get them."
Sumptuous décor… gourmet foods… physical pampering… male attention… all had a seductive effect on Penny at first. She had never experienced such luxury in her life, and she found herself appreciating the opulence that was offered to her on this planet. As she walked around, she touched the silk and satin fabrics and smelled the light floral fragrance that surrounded her, but she missed her family. An overwhelming feeling of loneliness descended upon her and she wondered what had happened to them.
She had asked about her sister, but was told that it would be impossible to see her because Judy had been "claimed" by Appolus. Penny could not believe the news was true. She knew Judy was in love with Don, and couldn't imagine her with any other man. She decided that she had to find her sister and left her room to search for her.
While wandering around the spa in search of her sister, Penny spied Kairon carrying towels down the hall. She admired his tall, slender body as she approached him, and noted that his clear blue eyes contrasted quite handsomely with his dark wavy hair. She wondered how she had not noticed his good looks and kind demeanor earlier. She pointed to his translator and hoped that he would be able to give her a clue about where to find Judy.
"Hello! Do you remember me from this morning?"
"Of course. What are you doing out in the hallways? The announcements have been completed, and you should be in your room."
"I'm trying to find my sister."
"Ah, yes, the one who wants to bond with a weak male."
"She was claimed tonight. Where would she be brought?"
"Well, if the bonding ceremony was to be tonight, she would have been brought to the Ministry of Claims to prepare for the bonding."
"Where would that be?"
"You cannot go there, you are not yet claimed. It would be dishonorable for you to appear at the Ministry alone."
"Would you go with me?"
"I am only a Tier 3 male. I am not worthy to accompany you there. You are suitable for a Tier 1 male. I would be severely punished if I was to appear there."
"What makes you unworthy?"
"It is the way of our society. My father is a Tier 3, and then, so am I. It is an orderly system that has sustained us for thousands of years."
"Well, I still don't see what is so wonderful about it. I don't see that you're any different from Appolus. Why should he have first choice for a woman, and you have no choice? Not only that, valuing women simply as 'vessels', regardless of how well you treat them, is just wrong!"
"I do not question our history."
"Well, maybe you should, or somebody should. Look, I don't want you to be punished, just tell me where the Ministry is and I'll find it."
"Miss Penny, it is not safe for you to travel alone. I will accompany you there, but I cannot enter the building. I hope you understand."
"I do, and thank you."
The hover bikes were quiet, fast and quick. If they weren't on such a serious mission, Don and John would have thoroughly enjoyed their ride to the spa to look for the girls. As they pulled up to the building, they found Penny and Kairon walking down the intricate steps. John jumped off of the hover bike to hug his daughter, and then asked about Judy's whereabouts.
"We were going to go find her now. She was 'claimed' by Appolus."
Don immediately reacted, "What do you mean, 'claimed'?"
Kairon replied, "She will be Appolus' vessel after they have completed the bonding ceremony tonight. Tell me, are you the fiancé?"
Don nodded, but wondered if the term was even relevant anymore. .
"If you are a man of honor, you would allow her to bond so that she could procreate."
He looked Kairon directly in the eye and adamantly stated, "I will… as long as it's what she really wants. Let's not waste any more time. Where is she?"
"I will ride with you and show you the way."
