Heavy Load Ch. 07

"You sure about that, Cas? I heard about a shipment of Wax that never got to Gliese and I was hoping that maybe you'd..."

"Y'know, I was actually thinkin' of expandin' my operations," Cas explained, doing his best to sound circumspect.

He had this part carefully planned out. He wasn't going to go around trusting just anyone, least of all a greedy old bastard like Gerry had become. But he knew that he could trust him to help out if he made like there was a profit involved.

"Expanding? You?" Gerry raised a thick, dark eyebrow. "The only thing about you that's known for expanding is your cock, son."

"Glad to hear I've still got the right kind of reputation in these parts. But, y'know, I'm gettin' on in years now. Smuggler years, at least. Gotta start thinkin' about retirement. And gettin' hardware and contraband across the Rim without too much hassle or undue taxation is fine and all, but what would you know about tradin' in, ah..." He made a big show of looking like he was searching for a euphemism. When he next spoke, he put the word in air quotes. Maybe he was getting close to overselling it a little. ""Livestock"?" He cleared his throat as if embarrassed and made sure to add hastily. "With a generous cut in any such business goin' to my good friend, of course."

Gerry gave a cautious look to his staff, most of whom were doing their best to look like they weren't listening, while at the same time all seeming to have suddenly found a reason to be very close to their employer and his old friend. Gerry's demeanour was uncertain, and he peered around like he was counting every pair of eyes and ears on them at the moment. "Come in back, boy. Nothin' to be gained talking about this business in public other than a hole in both our heads."

In the dank, cramped office that Gerry had made his own, Cas leaned against the wall. He tried not to prickle too visibly. He didn't like being in confined spaces at the best of times, and this was not the best of times. He wished he still had his damn blaster. Nothing like a bolt of hot plasma to deter nasty customers, especially out here in powder territory.

"What you're proposin', Cas, it's risky business." Gerry was fumbling, trying to make himself look busy so that Cas wouldn't get a good look at the beads of sweat rolling down his forehead at what was being proposed. "Trafficking's strictly regulated even by blue cap standards. Prisoners, indentured serfs and workhousers only and even then only by Company traders."

"I know all this, Gerry, come on." That was exactly what Cas hoped to get to the bottom of. Who had decided that going freelance and trafficking political prisoners was fair game, and how high up did that rot go? "Don't treat me like I'm some pup just started runnin' guns."

Cas uncrossed his arms, showing the flexing muscles. Gerry might have been bigger and tougher than him once upon a time, but Cas had remained a spacer while the older man had settled down and gotten doughy.

"I'm not, son," Gerry grumbled. "But you gotta understand...if this is the path you're headed down, you're walkin' a tightrope lined with razor blades doin' it.

"You know that I'd do this right, and you know there'd be money in it for both of us. Can ya help me or not?"

There was a long, still moment of silence. Gerry stopped his bustling and turned to face Cas fully, staring him down as if he was that same tough would-be rebel who'd come aboard his boat 20 years ago. With a wave of those giant hands, he relented. "On your head be it, son. I daresay you've heard of The Morningstar?"

Well, that got Cas' attention. "I'd cross the damn Cluster to avoid runnin' into the guy personally, but sure, I've heard the name."

There were little crime lords all over the Outer Rim. Planets would spurt up a gang leader or a tribe of bandits. Every now and then someone would get ambitious. Most of the time, The Commonwealth would stomp them out. But of those who remained, The Morningstar sent a chill down the spines of every one of them, and every freelance crook, sneak and no-goodnik in The Cluster to boot. Had been for damn near a decade and only maybe three people could even tell you what he looked like.

Last Cas had heard, all three of 'em were dead, too.

"Then you know what kind of shit you're stepping in here if you get on with this," Gerry warned. "And draggin' me through your shitty footprints in the process, too."

"You sayin' The Morningstar's involved in this?" If The Morningstar was partnering with The Company, that squeezed "innocent" criminals like Cas between a rock and a hard place.

"He's kept his nose clean when it comes to traffickin' so far, but the rumour is that he wants to get some skin in that game too. Got himself a big shindig planned for anyone in that line of business, right here on Brightreach."

And now came the part that Cas had been waiting for, the reason that he'd come to Gerry in the first place.

"I ain't sayin' I wanna be involved in any of this. It's a bad business. But if you're sayin' your heart's set on it, I reckon I still got a little duty to you, after everything. I'll do all I can to get ya an invite to the meetin'." Gerry spat on his hand, extending it towards Cas in a display of fraternal trust. "And if a healthy discount on some of your other goods ever comes my way, well, y'know I wouldn't say no."

Accepting the sodden handshake, Cas took it warmly. He didn't feel good about lying to the old man like this, but he felt better knowing Gerry didn't want to be involved personally. Maybe he hadn't turned so blackhearted after all.

"I knew I could count on you, Sarge." Cas watched how Gerry smirked at the use of his old rank. There was still something there, deep down, in all of them. They might have been beaten and broken into cynicism and greed, but some bonds were stronger than what The Commonwealth could throw at them. "I'm in The Adonia, Bay 5-3 at the trade port. Send word when you hear somethin'."

Cas made his way to the exit, but paused for a second as a thought struck him from out of the blue. He turned as he stood in the doorway to Gerry's office, looking back over his shoulder. He should have known better than to push his luck but, well, then he just wouldn't be Cas Dawson.

"Oh, Sarge, one last thing."

"Yessir?" Came back the reply, ever the cheerful salesman when it suited him.

"You wouldn't happen to have anything in this warehouse in the way of women's clothes, would ya?"

***

"We're trying to escape these people and your plan is to walk right into the lion's den, unarmed?" Val demanded.

"No risk, no reward, Princess." Cas had been trying to explain the plan over dinner, but had found unsurprising resistance from the psychic princess, who was now launching into a tirade across the table.

"I don't know whether you noticed, Captain Dawson, but the last time you relied on your famous wits, you were saved from the wrath of a single Navy patrolman only thanks to my psychic prowess. I imagine we might both have more trouble with an entire room full of unscrupulous criminals, don't you?"

"Ya ain't listenin'. The plan isn't to walk in with our dicks in our hands."

"'Course not, Captain," Roxy said, fluttering her eyelashes at him. "I'll hold your dick, and- well, Merc and I don't have dicks, so that's us sorted, and as for the princess-"

Val glowered at the implication. "If I had a penis, Roxanne, I'm sure that it would be more than safe in your very capable hands- but fortunately, I don't."

"Aww. Thanks, Princess." Roxy beamed at the silver-blonde, mischief in her eyes. "Don't think I won't remember that."

"All I'm sayin' is, I've got a reputation out here, and I guarantee you Gerry'll be enhancin' that with his own tall tales as we speak." Another reason he'd enlisted the help of his old commander beyond their bond was that if Gerry wanted to get them access somewhere, whoever was in charge of it would wind up so thoroughly burnished by Gerry's stories of Cas that he'd be halfway legendary upon arrival.

"I'm sure your reputation precedes you in all sorts of uncouth establishments, spacer," Val smouldered. "But-"

"If these people think they're dealin' with one of their own, we can ask our own questions and we'll get a lot further than if I was to spend the askin' everyone on this rock if they know anything about a trade in political prisoners," Cas finished for her.

Merc stared down Val with dark, sharp eyes. Cas didn't like getting in the way of glances between the mercenary and the princess. It made him feel like a sniper had drawn a bead on him.

"It's a solid plan, Captain," Merc said. "Anyone who's on the lookout for women matching our description will figure you're the one who bought us. Makes you look legitimate as a trader and gives us all a reason to be there."

"And you know I can be a real good slave, Captain." Roxy winked at him, then slipped out the door again-time for another outfit change, if Cas had to guess.

In the end, Cas had managed to get a hold of a whole crate of women's clothes, unwanted odds and ends. While Val had naturally chosen the finest thing she could get her hands on and Merc had slipped into the most utilitarian leathers she could find- though even those still clung to her curves luxuriously- Roxy had skipped dinner to play dress-up. In a beat, she emerged once again in a scandalously short black skirt and a frilly white blouse that, while it hung loose across her arms and shoulders, hugged her tits like a second skin and didn't extend more than half an inch below them.

"Look. I can be... Sensuous..." She moved into the kitchen, her hips swivelling. "Dedicated..."

The tips of Roxy's fingers brushed against Mercedes' hair and the brunette almost shivered in response. Given the eagerness with which they'd been teaming up recently, Cas almost had to wonder what they might have gotten up to on their own while he was out in Brightreach.

"And oh so obedient." Roxy reached Cas, bending at the waist to kiss him where he sat at the dinner table, a move carefully calculated show off all of her assets.

"Y'know, Roxy," Cas slid his hand between her legs as she pulled out of the kiss. He could feel the heat radiating from between her legs as he clutched at her cunt possessively. "You wear that to the meetin' ans everyone will be able to see your pussy."

"Oh, really?" Slipping away from Cas' grasp and pushing her firm bubble of an ass back onto the dining table, she spread her legs a little wider, revealing her finely trimmed little pussy. Cas could smell how wet she was, a hot, sweet scent that made his mouth water. "How embarrassing." Her tone was utterly sarcastic. She tangled her hand in Cas' dark hair, a cute smile on her face. "You want some dessert, Captain?"

Cas chanced a look at Val, who was making a point of staring intensely at the Adonia's cantine cabinets like they were of great interest all of a sudden, then shrugged and pressed his face into Roxy's cunt. Immediately, she left him moaning at the sweet-lemon flavour of her honey and the way she reached behind herself to pull his face deeper into her slit.

He pressed his tongue between the join of her lips, slipping into her hole and tongue-fucking her in earnest for a second, drinking all that he could. Pulling his tongue away from her hole, he pressed his digits where his face had been and curled the tips of his index and middle fingers against the warm curve of her g-spot, watching as she began to buck her hips even after the slightest tickling.

While Cas' fingers probed at Roxy's g-spot, his tongue found her clit. First probing gently, he was soon running his tongue across it in sweeping circles that left Roxy halfway sobbing with pleasure and satisfaction. After a few moments of that, right as he could feel and hear her orgasm cresting, Cas caught her clit and sucked it delicately but firmly, lashing at the exposed little bud with machine-like speed and precision. At the same time, he kept on pounding up against her spot with his hand, her cunt now clenching tight even around just his rough fingers.

Roxy was left in a trembling, shaking orgasm that had her screaming loud enough that he'd be surprised if ships in neighbouring lanes couldn't hear her.

"Ah, fuck," he groaned, standing up. He gave Roxy's cunt a light slap as he did it, making her yelp in a way that tailed away into a sensual moan. "I've gotta fuck somethin'." He began to unbuckle his belt, his cock now desperately hard from having given such perfect pleasure to such a gorgeous girl.

"Could you do it in the bedroom then, please? Some of us have just... eaten." Val finally managed to tear her gaze away from those oh-so-fascinating cabinets to glare at the scene before her.

"That an offer, Val?" Cas grinned, holding his cock in his fist and pointing it in her direction. If the way that she looked at him and the psychic waves of lust weren't proof that she wanted him, he didn't know what was.

That resistance was all just game-playing and he knew it. Sure, Val had seen his hard, bare cock plenty of times now. Roxy and Mercedes had made sure of that much. But for him to brandish it at her so pointedly tested even her resolve; he could see the sparkle of genuine, bone-deep, pussy-soaking desire in her purple eyes.

"Pig," she spat back, though her heart wasn't in it. She stood and rose from the table anyway, even as her eyes lingered on Roxy, all too obviously doing the mental gymnastics necessary to put herself in the place of the over-pleasured golden-blonde sexpot.

"Your loss. Mercedes?" Cas turned to the brunette, a flash of callousness in his eyes as he leveled his cock to her instead, an order attached. "Get that fine ass of yours over here."

The mercenary didn't even think to question the direct order. Clearly, having taken Cas on as her captain, she'd decided to begin following his instructions as if he were her commanding officer as well.

Mercedes shed her clothes as she walked, arriving to Cas fully naked. Roxy let out a shocked yelp as he grabbed her hips and pulled her around to the edge of the table. At the same time, he grasped Mercedes and pushed her to all fours beneath the table. He was not in the mood to be gentle, roughly pushing and grabbing them into exactly the shape that he wanted. Dropping behind Mercedes on his knees, he could fuck deep into her pussy doggy-style while still being able to lick at Roxy's cunt.

Pushing his dick deep into Mercedes, he was rewarded by a moan of simpering pleasure. Meanwhile, he held Roxy's pussy close to his face and continued to lap at her clit. Occasionally, he'd pause to lick the wetness from her, savouring the taste and teasing her- but then he was right back to ravishing her all over again.

Slowly, he increased the pace of his hips, pressing into Mercedes' hot, greedy wetness until her simpering moans became loud, ecstatic cries. By matching his strokes into Merc with the strokes of his tongue, he could please both women at once. They sounded like a chorus of angels together-if someone had gone and shipped a load of sex toys to Heaven, anyway.

With such loud encouragement, Mercedes' tight cunt sucking his cock deeper still and the intoxicating smell and taste of Roxy's pussy filling his senses, Cas' orgasm came on like a freight cruiser. Hard, fast and completely unstoppable. He splashed Mercedes' cunt with his hot cum, soaking her pink depths until she was filled to the brim.

Slipping out from Mercedes where he had kneeled on the floor, he collapsed back onto his ass to survey the scene. An entire load of his cum, dripping from the brunette's soft, clean shaven pussy lips. After a dazed moment, Roxy, her hair messed and a fucked-stupid grin on her face, pushed herself up and moved between Cas and Mercedes. Dropping down to their level, Roxy licked at the messy creampie that he had left behind.

After Mercedes had eaten the cum from Roxy's ass earlier, it only seemed fair that the girls keep sharing. Cas was more than happy to let them.

(You really should learn some self-control, spacer.)

Cas was none too surprised by the mental intrusion this time. Val had been in his head during his first threesome with Mercedes and Roxy. It figured that she'd want to be in on the subsequent action. Especially given her determination to maintain her precious chastity in the face of Cas' lewd seduction attempts so far-and given how badly she wanted to give it up to him just the same.

(Did you enjoy the show, Princess?) Cas thought back. Even through this simple telepathic connection, he could practically taste the intense need that Val was starting to feel. Iron hot and dripping with desire.

(Oh, I was hardly paying any attention at all. But I thought you might like to know that while you were playing Master and Commander, we received an encoded transmission from Sergeant Gerald Kane on the ship's internal network.)

(Did we, now?) Cas stroked his jawline. Gerry was working fast as ever. Faster maybe, even.

(We did- not that you were available to inform of the fact at the time. He says we're on for the meeting. Hotel Bliss, two days from now. We'll get to see if this little plan of yours has any legs at all.)

Cas grinned as he stared across the kitchen at the tangled Roxy and Mercedes. Oh, they had legs alright- he just had to hope that once they showed up at Hotel Bliss, they were legs to stand on.