Orion Company
By Mr. J.
Chapter VII: Lustful Distractions and Invisible Hands
Anna grasps the stylus tightly as she lays in bed, scanning through the various documents Kolkata graciously uploaded to her vidscreen before the Orion team departed for the ship a few days earlier. Little mention was made of the doctor’s forward behavior as they shook hands and said goodbye. If they seem bothered by their experience, they didn’t show it. The risk of word getting out about Kolkata’s possession by the brain in the jar far outweighed the benefits. It would be the end of her career—perhaps the facility on Taurus as well. Anna honored her wishes, not that she wasn’t shaken up by it.
Glancing at the Vang skull on the screen, it’s a wonder she’d been taken as well. The frontal lobe of the human brain alone is dwarfed by them by nearly a quarter. No wonder the Vang are able to project their thoughts into people—they have more brain power.
It still doesn’t explain how the brain in Kolkata’s jar had been able to project itself so powerfully—or so quickly. The nutrients in the jar could’ve worked as a conductor of electricity allowing it to boost its brainwaves. But it doesn’t explain why it choose to manifest itself through Kolkata from the beginning—or why Anna was a particular target.
Anna scratches her head. None of it makes sense. She furrows her brow and studies the diagrams again. There has to be a reason, she knows it.
She lays the tablet aside and sighs as she stares at the ceiling.
It wouldn’t be the first time she’s wrestled with the issue. Long before she meet Kolkata—long before her sister had been abducted—she’d always known there was something mysterious about the Vang. Her grandmother used to sit Dana and her sister on her lap, scaring them with stories of how the Vang abducted young ladies as bounty during the wars. Even as an teenager Anna always kept a nightlight on in her room in case the Vang decided to pay. She got no end of grief from Dana about being a scaredy cat. It was a source of amusement for the entire family—Anna excluded.
Then the Vang came at last.
Anna’s family had been no strangers to casualties in the conflict against the Vang. One of her ancestors—a pioneer on her homeworld—had been killed following a dispute with a Vang chief. Her grandfather fought and died during the Great Intergalactic War back in the 2440’s. Countless aunts and cousins had been kidnapped never to be seen again. It took over half a century to pacify the enemy at a great cost to lives and treasure. In the end over three billion people died and many others unaccounted for in a conflict stretching over ten different planets. The humans were lucky to be alive.
Despite the close encounter, Anna can’t help feeling ambivalent. She narrowly escaped becoming another slave, and yet for a brief moment it felt so...liberating. It wasn’t the foreplay per se but the thrill of giving one’s identity up to another, no conscience to absolve, no responsibility... It was so decadent, like the taste of Kolkata’s pursed lips as she held Anna tight. Anna wanted to surrender right there, and yet she didn’t.
Her mind wanders as she caresses her thighs. She flashes back to the encounter with Kolkata in the morgue, the experience of their bodies’ touching for the first time. Anna sighs forlornly as she unbuttons her shorts.
“Oh Kolkata...” She shoves her hand down her shorts. “Fuck me fuck me fuck me fuck me fuck me...”
Fingers tease her pubic hair as she works her way towards her slit. Lust overtakes common sense as she pumps herself in a slow, rhythmic motion. The pressure builds up as she imagines Kolkata kissing and grinding on her, claiming her as her own. It nearly drives her over the edge...
“I am I interrupting something?” Vanessa’s voice breaks the interlude.
“Nothing.” Anna apologizes. “I was just finishing up.”
“Dinner’s on the table.” Vanessa blushes. “Whenever you’re ready...”
Anna quickly ditches the shorts for khaki pants and rushes through the corridor, wondering how she’s going to explain her behavior.
“Sorry.” She takes her seat. “I was doing research.”
Caitlin is mysteriously silent.
“C’mon, you can say it.” Anna glances nervously in her direction. “I’m a big girl, I can take it.”
“What are you talking about?” Nikki takes a swig of water.
Anna laughs nervously.
“Guess I’m a little out of it today,” she bites into a f’eng f’eng leaf. “What with the trip and all.”
Her crewmates exchange worried glances.
The team enjoys their meal of f’eng f’eng and slug soup as they chew awkwardly in silence. It is no less discomforting for Anna who tries not to dig herself deeper into a hole. She eats quietly and crosses her fingers, hoping against hope that nobody notices her behavior any more than they already have.
“I spoke with a contact on Quicksilver today.” The captain interrupts. “Looks like we’re paying him a visit soon.”
“What for?”
“His daughter’s getting married. He wants us to provide security for the girl. He knows plenty of officials who do import-export for the colonies—we can use the occasion to compare notes about the Vang. Maybe he knows something we don’t.”
“When does this wedding take place?”
“Not for a few weeks.” The captain gulps her water down. “To think I haven’t seen her in years...”
“Quicksilver?” Anna furrows her brow Wasn’t there a civil war on that planet a few years ago?”
“That was ten years ago. The capital’s mostly bazaars and shops now. Whatever rebels are left have probably traded their weapons for chipcards.”
“Chipcards?”
“A microchip about the size of an infant’s thumb. Entrepreneurs use it to share their information. It’s all the rage now.”
“What do you want us to do while we’re there?”
“The same thing we always do—make a killing.”
With that, the women go about their separate ways. Anna glances over her shoulder as she walks down the hallway. Hopefully Vanessa is smart enough not to say anything, but if she isn’t...
“Not so fast!”
The xenophile freezes.
“What the fuck was wrong with you back there?” Nikki corners her. “Did you hit your head while you were on Taurus?”
“Something like that...” Anna murmurs.
“If I didn’t know any better I’d say you’re hiding something.” Nikki stares her down. “Did something happen to you down there?”
Anna shakes her head.
“Then what is it?”
“I wish I could explain. It’s hard to put into words.”
“I’m not letting you go until you give me an explanation!” Nikki presses Anna against the wall. “The way I see it, we’re all one big family here. What happens to one of us, happens to all of us! ”
“It’s none of your business!.” Anna wriggles free.
Anna stares blankly at her tablet as Vanessa changes into her pajamas. She glances at the dozens of files in queue in the top-right corner of the screen. She powers the tablet down with a resounding sigh.
“Back to square one, I guess.” She mutters to no one in particular.
“What is it?”
“The documents a researcher on Taurus shared with me. We compared notes before I left—I’m combing over them now to see if there’s anything I missed. No such luck.”
“Was that what you were doing when I walked in?”
Anna coughs.
“Sort of.”
“Sort of?”
“It’s very scientific.” Anna lies. “You wouldn’t understand if I explained it to you.”
“I love science.” Vanessa’s eyes light up. “Are they complex equations? Chain of molecules? What is it?”
“Trust me, it’s mostly autopsy reports and papers. You wouldn’t be interested in it.”
“Don’t be quick to judge. I was stationed on a research vessel, you know.”
“Are you sure you can handle it?”
Vanessa places her hands on her hips.
“This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with what I saw you doing a while ago?”
An awkward silence descends on the room. Anna glances nervously at her feet. Excuses rush ferverishly through her head. She’s done it now.
“It’s kind of embarrassing.” Anna blushes.
“Not as embarrassing as you being dishonest with me. WHat is it?”
“You promise you won’t get angry with me?”
“Why would I do that?” Vanessa shakes her head.
Anna sighs.
“The truth is I wasn’t doing research when you walked in...” Anna gulps. “I was masterbating.”
“I could see that.” Vanessa crosses her arms. “Anything in particular triggered it?”
“I don’t know why I did it.” Anna hangs her head down. “I got distracted and one thing led to another and...you know the rest.”
“We all get weak sometimes.” Vanessa reassures her. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Anna smiles weakly.
“Were you thinking of me?” Vanessa half-jokes. “Wouldn’t be the first-time I’ve starred in someone’s fantasy.”
“Not exactly. I had an intimate encounter with the scientist on Taurus. Turns out she was brainwashed by the Vang. She tried to brainwash me, and you would’ve been brainwashed too. I’m lucky to be alive but...I still can’t get her out of my head.”
“It must be the residual effects of the brainwashing. You’ll get over it.”
“You don’t hate me?” Anna stares into Vanessa’s eyes.
“No. Not at all.”
Multicolored lights dance in the sky as the crowd dances poolside, bumping and grinding their bodies to a sensual beat. Anna watches as the grinds along with them, oblivious to the desert breeze blowing on them. She rolls her eyes and sips her flavored water, wondering how she allowed herself to be talked into going to the club in the first place.
Some bachlorette party, she ties the sari against her dark-colored swimsuit. I’m glad I’m not in college anymore...
“Enjoying yourself?” A voice interrupts the calm.
“Captain Lee!” Anna glances over her shoulder. “I thought you were out partying with the others!”
“Clubs aren’t my thing.” Lianna smiles weakly as she takes her seat next to the xenophile. “Oh to be eighteen again...”
Anna watches as the inebriates dance. A few women fall over themselves as the liquor gets the best of them. Waiters escort them politely inside as they stumble across the tiled floor. But the party continues—thumping bass and all.
“Why aren’t you out there on the dance floor?” The captain glances at her.
“I’ve never been good in social situations.” Anna waves her hand dismissively. “I’ve always thought of myself as a fly on the wall.”
“I can’t blame you there.” Captain Lee sips her pina colada.
“I thought we were on duty tonight.”
“Correction: I’m not, you are.”
“Where’s Caitlin? I thought I saw her here an hour ago?”
“She’s back at the hotel adjusting from the spacelag.”
“And Vanessa?”
“I think she’s inside sampling the drinks at the bar.”
Anna shakes her head.
“Caitlin’s too young to be experiencing spacelag. Something’s not right about this.”
Her eye catches sight of a tall, dark-haired woman as she climbs on top of a table, flashing her breasts in front of a crowd of excited onlookers. Anna groans.
“Ugh.” She blanches. “As if I haven’t seen enough.”
“That’s Brandi Cooper Vanderbilt DuBois.” Captain Lee observes. “Daughter of the ambassador.”
“She’s the one who’s getting married?” Anna double-takes.
“Yes. Unfortunately.”
Anna rolls her eyes.
“Why don’t you go talk to her? I’m sure you two would find a lot in common.”
“She’s nothing like me. She’s gross.”
Without so much as asking Captain Lee grabs Anna by the hand and pushes her way through the thick crowd. Anna feels like a little girl as her boss parades her through the club. Anna is beside herself.
“I don’t want to do this.” She whispers.
“Brandi?” Captain Lee shouts. “Brandi DuBois?”
“Who’s asking?”
“Captain Lianna Lee, Orion Company. You father said something about a wedding tomorrow?”
Brandi’s eyes light up as she turns around.
“Aunt Lianna!” She embraces the captain. “If I knew you were coming I’d have visited you sooner! How’s the military? You’re still on active duty?”
“I got out years ago, actually.” Captain Lee extricates herself. “There’s someone here I’d like you to meet.”
“Anna Polly,” Anna extends her hand. “The captain told me all about you.”
“Anna’s a research assistant.” Captain Lee covers for her. “She’s helping out on a project of mine. I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about.”
The xenophile and the bride-to-be stare awwkwardly at each other. They each attempt to muster the courage to speak—but what would they say?
“I’m sorry.” Anna scratches her head. “I’m not good with words.”
Brandi waves her hand dismissively.
“So you do research. What’s your specialization?”
“Xenoanthropology.” Anna shrugs. “So who are you marrying?”
“Marcus Edmonds. Governor Edmonds son?”
Anna shakes her head.
“You look like you could use a drink. Waiter!”
As if on cue, a scantily clad servant walks up to them. Anna tries to discourage Brandi from ordering—to no avail. She swallows her vodka and thinks feverishly of a way to extricate herself from the situation. Five minutes later, she’s still thinking. And drinking.
One shot is followed by two, and followed by three. Anna giggles uncontrollably as she struggles to control her liquor. Soon enough Brandi has Anna gyrating to a throbbing beat, throwing caution to the wind. It is the loosest she’s ever been in a long time—perhaps ever.
A greenish ball of light floats in the sky, shimmering brightly. The crowd is oblivious as the music blares. A faint hum reverberates in their heads as the fireball approaches, but they chalk it down to the ambiance of the club. Drinks are poured, patrons dance—and more than a few pair off to make love.
But soon enough the hum grows to an audible whine. Anna winces.
“Do you hear that?” She shouts over the din.
“No!”
“What the hell?” She glances at the craft. “It must be at least two football fields long.”
“It’s probably just ball lightning.” Brandi waves her hand dismissively.
“I’m not too sure.”
The floor underneath vibrates in the wake of the fireball. The crowd grows fearful. Thinking it’s an earthquake, they attempt to seek shelter. But their legs refuse to budge. Unable to move, all they can do is watch as the beam of light increases in size...and increases in size.
Anna curses under her breath.
“I can’t move!” She shouts.
“What’s going on?”
The sky glows with a greenish haze as a shadow looms over the club. Paralyzed patrons look on in fright. Hairs stand on end as Anna looks skyward. The crowd might not know what’s going on, but Anna doesn’t have to hazard a guess.
“Run for the door and hide in the nearest closet!” She glances at Brandi. “Run while you still can!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just do it!”
Brandi heeds the warning and rushes toward the door. She fights off anxious patrons as they rush towards the entrance, all vying to get inside. Her face and arms are scratched. She’s lucky to be alive.
Anna’s feet tingle as she struggles to move her legs. The captain assists Anna in walking inside, her legs feeling like bricks.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Anna groans. “Did Brandi make it?”
“I think so.” Captain Lee scans the crowd. “It’s hard to say though.”
“Is there a problem?” Vanessa runs up to them.
The captain points at the greenish haze shimmering outside. From the safety of the indoors the three women watch in horror as frozen patrons disappear one by one, leaving only bikinis and shorts in their wake. Vanessa looks on in shock. It can’t be, it can’t be...
“It’s the Vang.” She springs for the door. “We can’t leave those people out there! We’ve got to do something.”
“We’ve done everything we can.” Captain Lee blocks her. “All we can do now is watch.”
“This is too much of a coincidence. It’s like they followed us here.”
Anna excuses herself as she resumes her search for Brandi. She checks the closets and bathrooms in the hopes that Brandi heeded her warnings and barricaded herself. She spies a discarded tube top that looks eerily like the bride-to-be’s. But she can’t be sure. Anna double-checks the area, searching her brain for what she might have missed.
“I’ve swept the entire nightclub.” Anna returns empty handed. “I’m starting to get worried. I hope she isn’t out there—”
She spies a naked sweaty figure streaking through a side entrance, looking eerily like Brandi. Anna squints her eyes. No, it can’t be...
“Dear Jove. It’s her.”
Without giving it a second thought Anna bolts for the mystery woman, risking her own life in the process. She spies the bride to be crawling on her hands and feet, hand upraised towards a bright figure on the other end of the patio.
Anna feet begin to tingle as she catches up with Brandi. Oh no, she thinks to herself. Not again...
She struggles to hold on to Brandi as she fights her off. Anna tumbles to the floor as Brandi pushes her away. She groans as she brushes the dirt off her clothes. Some fight...
“You can’t do this...” She picks herself up. “Think of your husband...”
Brandi is unresponsive.
A strange hum reverberates in her head as she struggles to carry Brandi back into the nightclub. Her face is flush as she’s confronted with the warm, humid air. Rivulets of sweats trickle down her forehead. There’s no question something is wrong here—she knows it.
An reptillian voice echoes in her head. It hisses sinisterly as she struggles to get her bearings The timbor of its voice is low and soft, but there is no mistaking the intent behind it.
«Get away from her, human!»
Who are you? Get out of my head!
The voice cackles evilly.
«Who I am is inconsequential. But I have my orders If you don’t let her go immediately, I’ll be forced to take you both.»
Leave her alone! She didn’t ask to come along with you!
«She’s made her choice, human. She belongs to us now.»
Not if I have anything to say about it...
The tingling sensation radiates through her thighs and legs. Anna drops to her knees. Her nipples become erect as a haze-like lust fills her head. She moans softly as a dull, candy like sensation overtakes her head. She fights it off..but barely.
Invsible hands tease her nipples. Anna’s moans become whimpers as fingers wander across her body. THe sensation becomes more heightened as they tease her slit playfully, toying with her folds like sheets of paper. Her swimsuit becomes moist as she feels herself creep towards the edge.
«It feels good doesn’t it?» The voice taunts her. «If only your friends could experience this...»
The petite blonde shudders as liquid trickles down her legs. She stares at the widening stain in her midsection. She wants to give in so much, yet something inside holds her back...
“No! I can’t!” She recovers her senses. “Not tonight!”
Against every instinct in her body Anna manages to fight the creature off. She manages to wrestle Brandi away—long enough to get into the club proper. Anna pants heavily as she barricades the door. She catches her breath just long
«Come back, human! Give me back to her»
She’s not yours to keep Anna fires back.
«You win this round, young lady. But I’ll be back—and you’ll be mine yet.»
Brandi rubs her eyes groggily.
“Where am I?” She groans.
“You’re safe.” Anna hugs her tight. “You’re safe...”