Express Delivery

"Please-enjoy-while-San'yas-is-putting-the-finishing-touches-to-the-meal," it said, lowering the arm. I took the bottle and glasses. It was ice-cold aromatized cactus juice, the Zuthrian equivalent to lemonade.

"At least she's not loading us with Sconoch right out of the gate," I said softly.

"I would never do that," San'yas said, carrying a huge round tray with four arms. It looked like it had been made from a sensor dish, piled high with Dragon meat, stone bread, salad, fruit and the dreaded seasoning sauces Zuthras was infamous for. There were three kinds, the green, yellow and red ones, each hotter than the last. Most Terrans could easily handle green, although they would sweat profusely. I had seen grown Gravon cry after taking too much of the yellow sauce, and most Zuthrian eateries on Terra were required by law to offer multiple warnings to anyone foolish enough wanting to try red. Many native Zuthrians even avoided eating it.

"As per ancient Zuthrian tradition, Sconoch will only be provided once victory has been achieved," San'yas said, putting the tray down. "Which, in my case, would mean 'after I have fucked both of you silly.' Dig in." She offered us a wide grin and a look at her cleavage as she knelt onto a pile of cushions. The waiter bot returned with a stack of white fabric napkins.

"These are not part of a normal Zuthrian dinner, I guess?" Jenala said, holding up one of them.

"Nah. But since we don't have sand to get the grease and juices off our fingers, these'll have to do," San'yas explained. She handed out pieces of bread large enough to cover our plates with then used a sharp knife to cut the steaks into long strips which she placed onto the bread. Next came chunks of vegetables and fruit and finally, with a maniacal grin, San'yas held out a smaller tray with the three sauces. "Choose," she said.

"That's easy," I said, spooning a few dollops of yellow onto my meat and veggies. Then I rolled the bread into a roll and began to eat.

Jenala sniffed at the pots containing the sauces. Predictably, her eyes misted over when she reached the red paste. "That seems... interesting," she coughed, slapping a few spoonfuls onto her food.

"It's your funeral," I said around a mouthful of Sand Dragon wrap. It was delicious! The meat had a particular texture and taste, as if you were eating bits of a thundercloud. The veggies and fruit added splashes of freshness and juice while the yellow sauce provided just the right amount of fire. It was murderous, even for my chili-savvy tongue, but the mixture of ingredients made it bearable. After the third mouthful, the pain subsided as my tongue had been sufficiently numbed.

Jenala's skin complexion had changed to a deep pink and beads of sweat stood on her brow.

"She hasn't choked yet," San'yas said. She got up and sprinted behind the counter. I heard the characteristic hum of a synthesis engine.

"Are you all right?" I asked Jenala.

She chewed once again then swallowed. "By the Ancestors, that's hot!" she gasped.

"The bite in your eyes as you sniffed not warning enough?"

"I like it!" she said, taking another big bite from her wrap. She used her free hand to dab at the tears with a napkin.

San'yas went to her knees next to Jenala and placed a large glass of milk in front of her. "Don't die, please."

Jenala swallowed again and grinned. "What's in that sauce?" Despite her bravado, she took a long pull from the milk and sighed as the cool liquid dealt with the fire in her mouth.

"Zuthrian Fire Peppers mostly. I mean, it's in every sauce but the red one is made mostly from it. Fresh siliques, juice and of course extra pepper powder, mixed in with some cactus pulp for substance and some other spices. I admire your bravery, really." San'yas slathered her wrap with green sauce and bit into it with great relish. "I'm a pussy, so it's just green for me." Her hand touched my knee. "Also, I don't want to sear your manhood later."

I nearly choked on my current bite. "Say what?"

"You heard me. Or is there a pressing reason why we shouldn't end this nice feast with some dessert after the dessert?" She blew me a kiss.

"Apart from me being quite hammered? It was a long and grueling day. Which brings me to a question that's been bugging me ever since we were on your... storage ship"

San'yas shrugged most of her dress off her shoulders, exposing coal black skin, orange circuitry tattoos and the firm orbs of her breasts. "Shop talk? Now? What's a girl gotta do to shut you up?"

"Just answer and I'll shut up. The food's just too delicious to spoil it with idle chatter about sex."

San'yas heaved a dramatic sigh. "All right, I'll bite. What's on your mind?"

"Actually, two related questions." I took a bite and chewed slowly. It was kinda fun to watch San'yas squirm. "First, why did you show us the inside of the Faceless battleship? I'm pretty sure we could have docked much closer to the storage unit and you could have kept your secrets."

San'yas nodded. "True. There's a hangar right next to the storage unit. I keep most of the tools and salvage equipment there when I'm working over there."

"So, why let us see all the stuff? We could be a huge security risk."

San'yas shrugged again. "Keeping secrets is hard, especially if one does it for so long. Sharing the burden with trustworthy souls helps ease the load."

I chuckled softly. "Trustworthy? You hardly know us."

"Not true. I know you as much as you do, if not better." San'yas said, shaking her head softly. "I told you when we first met how I can only read your minds when touching you. It's a flaw we rogues are saddled with. When we are separated from the hive mind, our ability to use telepathy remotely suffers greatly, even without the organ being damaged." She caressed my knee. "But I don't need to read your minds. Your actions today spoke louder than words, than thoughts even."

"And what if we only helped you to expedite repairs?" Jenala asked, taking another sip from her milk. She had opened the upper part of her robe. I didn't see any silvery glint. Was she naked underneath? Or did the battle shell have that much cleavage?

San'yas placed her other hand on Jenala's knee, pushing the hem of her robe upwards to reveal smooth, slightly pink skin. "You didn't," she said with a grin. "Also, I wanted to show you something normal people don't get to see every day. Is that a crime now?"

"I just don't want any more baggage to lug around," I said. "My plate is full enough as it is and carrying dangerous Faceless secrets could backfire badly for you is all I'm saying."

San'yas leaned against me, her naked breasts a warm sensation on my arm. "I appreciate the concern." Her lips brushed my cheek and her fingers caressed down my spine, causing a distinct tingle to erupt in my lower body. "What's the other half of the question?"

"Why don't you just chuck the ship into the sun? Even if it is a cold white star, the temperatures at its core should be sufficient to vaporize anything you need vaporized."

San'yas winced. "I've spent decades keeping it afloat. Maybe it's sentimental but I... just can't blow it up. It is basically spaceworthy. All it needs is a crew and a Queen."

"Things you probably never will find," Jenala said softly. "Why have a ticking time bomb around? Even if you beat Ezra today, there might come others. What happens if we're not around?"

"Let... let me think about it." San'yas withdrew and fiddled with her food. "I've never really thought about... destroying that ship. I fix things. Build." She looked very helpless all of a sudden, flexing her hands involuntarily.

Jenala scooted over and pulled San'yas into a hug. "We're not saying you should drop everything and blow up the ship right now. But you should weigh all your options." She brushed her lips against San'yas cheek. "Chin up. Don't let my grumpy and cramped-up companion ruin this fine dinner like that." Grinning, Jenala shrugged out of her robe, allowing the garment to fall around her hips. "Partner look!"

"Thanks for backstabbing me," I muttered around a mouthful of Dragon wrap. "No cock for you tonight."

"If you can't be bothered, I'll find a replacement," Jenala said, nuzzling the soft of San'yas' neck.

"Like this?" The shapeshifter, eyes glinting, held up her hand. Slowly and wriggling sensuously, a long, glistening phallus grew from her palm.

"Please, I'm eating here!" I complained in mock protest.

San'yas retracted the palm-cock and picked up her own food. "You're right. One step after the other. No sex without proper energy intake." Her free hand caressed my thigh, inching ever closer to my crotch. I placed my hand over hers, only for something hot and wet to lap at my palm. Dreading what I might find, I lifted my hand. A mouth with red, female lips and a wagging tongue puckered up and blew a kiss at me.

"Forgive me," San'yas purred. "It's been too long since I had real people with me to have fun with. I'll behave, okay?"

"It's okay. No tentacles while I'm eating, please."

"Promise!"

It was a strange experience, sharing a table with two topless beauties who actually behaved. As promised earlier, I kept quiet, noting the meaningful glances exchanged between San'yas and Jenala.

Eventually, the last crumbs of stone bread were gone, the last chunk of Dragon meat had been eaten and the platter was empty. San'yas rose, wearing her dress like a colorful skirt. "Let's move the table. It will only get in the way of the entertainment." She showed some fold-away handgrips on the side of the table and together, we lugged the thing into an adjacent space.

Back in our own booth, San'yas guided me to the cushions facing the exit. "Sit down here, please."

"What kind of entertainment are we talking?" I asked. Jenala joined me, gloriously naked. Her robe was a white pile where she had previously been.

San'yas dropped her dress as well.

"I thought you formed your clothing from your own body mass," I wondered.

"Sometimes, when it... suits me," San'yas purred. She sported a pretty impressive erection as she sank into the cushions on my other side. "I am well aware of the uses of clothing besides protecting my modesty." Her hand feathered my crotch. Of course I was hard by now. How could I not be, framed by two naked alien goddesses? "As such, being able to half-lose my garments is very valuable, as your arousal confirms."

The waiter bot joined us, carrying the bottle of Dragon Milk and new glasses, barely bigger than a shotglass. San'yas stopped testing my erection and claimed the drinks. "Please play file Padari-twelve."

"Yes-boss." The bot turned on a dime and left the booth, parking close to the counter. A holo-projector folded out of its 'head' and lit up. A moment later, we were surrounded by three dozen Zuthrian hunters. Where the exit of the booth had been, I could see a hint of star-specked night sky. To our right was a large throne made from bones, metal and stone. A Zuthrian female lounged on it, wearing a long, white robe made from a see-through material. I noticed the outlines of a dragon skeleton winding around her supple body, tattooed with great skill onto her black skin. A skull headdress hid most of her face. She shared her throne with a male whose white loincloth hung askew. He had a similar headdress. There was excited murmuring. Drinks were served all around us, long, hornlike vessels.

An almost naked Marked One entered the space in the midst of the assembly, raising her own horn and shouting something. My Zuthrian was way worse than my Gravon, so I looked at San'yas and whispered: "What's going on here?"

San'yas rested her head against my shoulder and resumed caressing my thigh. "This is a recording made at the wedding party of the White Dragon chieftain." She pointed at the skull-helmed Zuthrian on her throne who was sharing her horn with the male by her side. After taking a long sip, both kissed passionately, not minding the liquid dripping down their chins. Around us, the other hunters were cheering, pumping their fists and tossing back their drinks.

The tent flap opposite us opened and three more Zuthrians entered. They wore long coats made from Sand Dragon leather and carried spears and blades. Applause greeted them which turned into encouraging cat-calls and chants as the three newcomers shed their coats. They were a male, a female and a Marked One, each wearing a similar set of loincloth, bracers and earrings underneath.

"That's the evening's entertainment. The closest translation in Galactic Basic would be 'dervishes.' They always come in what Zuthrians call a 'trinity.'"

"Before this continues, how about we dress Sal down a bit?" Jenala purred into my other ear. "I mean, look at us, both naked and he's still fully clothed." She took my hand and placed it on her thigh, very close to her crotch.

Before us, this... trinity picked up their weapons again and whirled to face each other, vibro-spears pointing at their unprotected midsections. The music, which had been a pleasant but indistinct rumble in the background, ramped up a few decibels, to the point where each drum beat was a distinct vibration in my stomach. With measured steps, the Zuthrian dervishes circled each other, feinting elegantly with their blades while keeping their spears leveled at each other. Slowly, their pace quickened and within the span of three breaths, they were at each others' throats, stabbing, slicing and jabbing their weapons, only to evade at the last possible moment. At one point the Marked One balanced along the shaft of a spear held by her companions, executing a spectacular diving roll and an ankle slice the female evaded by blocking with the same spear the Marked One had launched herself off of.

I was genuinely enraptured. It was obvious this was some kind of sword dance, expertly choreographed and breathtakingly timed, but I hadn't seen anything like it before. I didn't even notice San'yas slicing my shirt apart until both she and Jenala snuggled up to me, the curves of their breasts hot sensations on my skin. Jenala had undone my belt, button and zipper, her fingers inching under the elastic of my briefs.

"This feels way too choreographed to be a coincidence," I rasped.

Jenala's lips touched my neck, followed by a little lick. "While you were showering, San'yas and I might have plotted a bit behind your back." Her fingers made contact and found my rod hard and throbbing in time to my pounding heartbeat. I drained the glass of Dragon Milk in one gulp. The drink, sweet and still packing a punch, oozed down my throat, flooding my system with even more warmth. I was very happy my clothing seemed to disintegrate around me, allowing for a few cool drafts to caress my skin.

The male and Marked dervish ganged up on the female, shattering her spear with two quick slashes. Raising her hand in defeat, the female Zuthrian sank to her knees, her face a mask of submission. Both male and Marked dervish yanked their loincloths aside, presenting their erections. The female reached out to claim them but the others seemed not quite done with fighting. There was angry jabbing of thumbs and slashing of hands at the female before suddenly, both kicked up weapons and resumed their fight as if nothing had happened. The female rolled out of the way, giving her companions room. She ended up on the steps of the throne and breathed a kiss onto the thigh of the chieftain who caressed the dervish's lustrous mane. Her other hand was slowly stroking the cock of her newly wed husband.

"Are they fighting about who may do her first?" I asked San'yas, nodding at the female dervish teasing the chieftain with hot little kisses along her thighs.

"Something like that," San'yas purred. She took my hand and moved it, closing my fingers around her own cock. I froze for a moment but kept my hand in place. There were hot lips wrapped around my own erection. Jenala had left my side. Her silver mane was an ocean of color against all the dark hues in the booth and the holographic tent as she slowly licked along my shaft.

The fight between the male and Marked dervish slowed down to a crawl. They had battered themselves into submission and sunk to their knees, exchanging punches and selling the hits like a pair of naked rock 'em, sock 'em fighters.

The female stopped hiding between the chieftain's thighs and returned to the fray, dragging the bodies of the other dervishes into parallel positions on the floor before kneeling down across their thighs. She grabbed both cocks and went down on them almost desperately.

"Oh, I should try that too," Jenala whispered. With catlike grace, she mimicked the female dervish's pose, trapping mine and San'yas' legs between her. I relinquished my hold of San'yas erection, instead pulling her close to me. She smoothed herself against my hand, allowing me to cup a breast as our lips met for a kiss. Jenala made a muffled sound as she tried to lick and suck both our cocks at once.

"Are you still not in the mood?" San'yas asked as our lips separated.

I gasped air into my lungs. Behind Jenala's gently bobbing head, I saw the three dervishes on the ground, enthusiastically going down on each other. The male was blowing the Marked One, the Marked One had her head between the females' thighs and the female wrestled with the male's long, slender cock.

My body wasn't simply reacting to outside stimuli. It would be easy to claim that but it wasn't true. No, I was hornier than ever before. Jenala had relinquished my erection for San'yas to play with, the shapeshifter's hand was a hot, slobbering sensation around my tip while Jenala's lips had found my balls again, softly sucking on them.

My hands caught San'yas' face just as she was about to join Jenala at my crotch. "Tell me you're not messing with my head," I hissed. In response, San'yas melted against my shoulder and claimed my lips for another kiss. Her tongue invaded my mouth and suddenly, my consciousness shifted. It felt like I was moving out of my body, into some kind of... adjacent space where I could watch what was happening to me.

"What is happening?" I demanded to know.

"I'm allowing you a moment of clarity, unclouded by your hormones, fears and desires." San'yas' voice was a soothing presence next to me. "I would never do anything to force myself on you. What good is sex when it is not given freely?"

"Good point."

"The only thing which happened is the reaction of Dragon Milk and Sand Dragon meat. Your subconscious fears are melting away, leaving room for your desires to unfold without restraint. Enjoy. Very few non-Zuthrians are able to experience this."

And as suddenly as the moment of clarity had come, it was gone again. I was back in my body, back in control, shivering under the gentle touches of Jenala and San'yas. Jenala came to her knees and straddled my lap, her back facing my chest as she lowered herself onto my cock. San'yas stood up and offered Jenala her own cock to suckle on, something the silver-haired alien did with gusto while she rode me in time to the rumbling Zuthrian drums. I cupped Jenala's breasts and played with her stiff nipples.

San'yas withdrew her cock from Jenala, causing the silver-haired beauty to moan in protest. "Don't worry, you'll get something to suck on," San'yas whispered, caressing Jenala's cheek while offering me her glistening rod. "I know you want to," she whispered.

She was right. I rested my chin on Jenala's shoulder and opened my lips. A second coal-black appendage slithered into Jenala's mouth, causing her to squeal in surprise. Her pussy clenched suddenly around me, followed by a lusty giggle. My lips and tongue touched San'yas' erection for the first time. She tasted nice, not gross at all. A lot of skin, a hint of salt. Not worse than a woman's pussy. I pulled San'yas closer by a butt cheek, causing her to sigh as I explored more of her length. Suddenly there was a squirming sensation slithering in between my stomach and Jenala's butt. In the flickering light of holographic torches, I saw a slender, black tentacle worm its way between us. Jenala twitched on my cock, only to lean against me. Her hands spread her butt cheeks. Warm moisture seeped in between us, followed by a soft smacking sound as the tentacle slipped into her butt. She moaned hoarsely at the intrusion, only to keep on gyrating on my erection.