Spark the Runner Ch. 05

"So far, Jamie," Tonya answered him, "what they have to offer us is payment for our resources. The currency has not been established. The Crescians use a Universal Trade Scrip for their accounting, and it is treated almost directly as legal tender which can be banked and used later. Unlike a barter system."

"And that's the Professor's wheelhouse," Okami chimed in. "We set up the relationships, get the parties talking -- with us in as favorable a position as possible -- and let the bean counters figure out the values and currencies and whatever else. Though I think keeping our eyes and ears open for potentially profitable trade items isn't a bad idea."

"So tonight we let them wing it?" Spark asked. "We deflect and get them talking about their worlds and experiences?"

"Sound like a plan," Okami came back.

"I agree with you and Okami," Tonya added. "Tonight we encourage them to boast, and then listen closely."

"Okay... just so we're all on the same page," Spark nodded. "Oh, and by the way... I'm not getting inebriated tonight. I know it won't faze Lizzie, and I'm not sure about you, Okami, but I'm not taking any chances on getting snockered out of my gourd."

"A sensible approach," Tonya agreed. "You do realize that if an opportunity to exploit our sexual capabilities comes up, we should avail ourselves of it." The question was in the statement.

"Yes, almost-wife, I understand," Spark smiled at her. "But you're the one carrying the water on that one."

"We all will, husband," she answered seriously. "We are a symbiote."

"Dumb question, Lizzie," Okami interrupted the by-play. "How will we know which beverages are inebriating, and which aren't, for humans and Canilupes?"

"We will not," Tonya admitted. "However, we can ask. The Crescians have been studying humans for centuries."

And still have more to learn. Leeanni's voice entered their minds as she moved up beside them from behind. I believe I know enough about Solarian morphology and physiology to help you make informed choices. Although, you might want to be a bit anesthetized if Sruulan or Meesha come on to you.

Regulans, Tonya thought back. Two of their Trade Representatives. Do you mean come on as in try to seduce us?

Yes. The rumors of your prowess have reached just about everyone. They, in particular, are showing great interest. I hope your adage about fighting like cats and dogs isn't relevant.

Because they look like overgrown felines? Okami asked. And I look like an overgrown canine?

Yes, Leeanni smiled. I am hoping you will be compatible.

Leeanni, please understand... it isn't what a person looks like, or what gender they are, or any other physical attribute that makes a difference to me, Okami explained. It's what they do. Their actions literally speak louder than words. Cats and dogs may not get along well on Earth, but it does not follow that I am going to have a problem with a person who happens to look like a cat.

That is good to know, Leeanni acknowledged. Because I believe all three of you are in their sights.

We would appreciate it if you would stick close to us this evening, Tonya told her. Perhaps run interference when required or give us a heads up when necessary.

It will be my pleasure, Leeanni smiled again. More than likely...

Leeanni escorted them down a long hall which ended in huge double doors, flanked by Crescian guards. Beyond, the trio could see the large hall, already half filled with creatures of various sizes and shapes moving around and obviously interacting with each other.

The food is along the far wall, Leeanni told them. Your arrival will definitely get noticed as we pass through, but no one will be impolite enough to buttonhook... I mean, buttonhole... you before you've gotten whatever snacks you want. Just nod and smile and decide who you want to talk to...

Spark smiled to himself as he noted Leeanni's attempts to absorb human culture and idiom.

The three walked with her through the center of the room and as she'd said, got quite a bit of noticing. And other than nods, or what appeared to be greetings -- it was kind of hard to tell with the Vegans, since they just looked like floating blobs in their e-suits -- they were left alone to reach the buffet and peruse the available fare.

Everything here is consumable by any of the beings here, Leeanni informed them. They've color coded the trays so you have an idea what you're getting into. They've used the blue end of the spectrum for cool or bland, and the red end for hot or spicy. Black indicates potentially inebriating or psychedelic, white indicates neutral and grey indicates potentially euphoric. You probably want to stay in the blue-white end to start.

Spark, Tonya and Okami took her advice, though Tonya didn't really need to... it just looked better. It wasn't until they'd filled small plates with snacks and retrieved a drink that they were approached.

Greetings, Solarians, a tall, red skeleton addressed them. Or perhaps not a skeleton, per se, but rather a very gaunt humanoid about two and a half meters tall. I am Murdak, of Clan Groost, of the Antarians. May I have a moment?

As soon as Spark indicated Yes, the trio was surround by a mix of others wanting to be in on the conversation.

Thank you, Murdak went on. We had noticed that you have a large variety of elements and compounds which you can extract from your seawater. Our homeworld is very arid -- what might be called desert -- and we were wondering whether you had considered exporting some of your dihydrogen monoxide itself? One would think it would be simple, with an appropriate power source, to separate hydrogen and oxygen, and use them as a trade item.

Lizzie? Sparked turned to Tonya.

The technology to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen exists, and we have sufficient power to do it, she told Murdak directly. However, there is some concern as to its availability. We take its existence for granted, to a large degree, so no serious research has been done on how limited a resource it might be, if depleted by extraterrestrial export. It is certainly worth looking into, depending on your needs.

We would be willing to fund, and participate in, such research, if doing so would help, Murdak told her. We also have a strong interest in your Cesium and Strontium, which our people can discuss with your people once channels of communication have been opened.

Spark fished out his P-com, knowing Murdak would not have one... yet.

If you'd like to give me your contact info, he told the Antarian, we can make sure to get hooked up with you. He held his P-com in front of him as if anticipation a response from Murdak. What he got was a curious alien.

What is that? Murdak asked, indicating Spark's P-com.

Oh, Spark played dumb. This? This is my P-com. Or Personal Communicator. We Solarians use them to keep track of our schedules and stay in contact with each other. I'm feeling silly, now, presuming that you would have one, too. I'm sorry.

May I see how it works? Murdak asked.

Sure! Spark told him, with Tonya's Slick, husband... echoing on his implanted transceiver. He then proceeded to demonstrate its capabilities using Tonya's and Okami's P-coms, since they were well within the local range of the devices. He had to explain that with the right communications network, they could operate on an interplanetary basis, but that for now, they did not have interstellar capability. He hammed it up as the greatest thing since sex, and at the end, Leeanni stepped in.

Murdak, she told him, I believe there is a joint development project going on between we Crescians and the Solarians to reproduce and hopefully enhance this device. If you are interested, we can keep you informed.

We are interested, Murdak told her and made way for some of the others crowding around to see better and ask questions. Most of the rest of the party went like that.

An ebbing and flowing crowd of Trade Representatives and their staff were curious about the Solarians' descriptions of what life was like on their homeworlds, and in return gave the trio quite a bit of background about their home environs. All of which Tonya was passively recording and storing for future use by the Earth alliance brought together by the Professor for the express purpose of exploiting trade with the extraterrestrials.

Towards the midpoint of the evening, the Solarians finally met Sruulan and Meesha, the feline-like Regulans. The resemblance to overlarge Earth cats was striking. Sruulan was obviously male, his sheath and scrotum very pronounced, with black and silver striped fur and bright orange eyes. Meesha was less obviously female, but it was still noticeable, especially after Leeanni pointed out her six nipples, not quite covered by her golden fur. She also had softer yellow eyes.

We understand you have areas of dense vegetation on your land masses, Sruulan began the conversation.

Jamie, Lizzie, Okami... Leeanni interrupted. May I introduce you to Sruulan, one of the Regulan Trade Reps? And to Meesha... the other?

Oh! My apologies, Sruulan recovered. I was under the impression you knew who we were. We certainly know who you are.

What my partner meant to say, Meesha's soft voice trilled in their minds, was 'Hello... we are Sruulan and Meesha, Trade Representatives from the Regulus system, in the constellation of Leo. We have heard a number of good things about you, and would like to get to know you better.' Or at least, I hope that's what he meant to say.

Spark smiled. No trouble guessing which was the diplomat and which the muscle.

We are still learning the various etiquettes involved, he answered her, so please don't think we're offended. I'm not sure if we'd know if we were supposed to be. And may I introduce my wife, Lizzie McLeod and our dear friend and partner, Okami? I'm Jamie McLeod, by the way. And to answer your implied question, Sruulan, yes. We have large equatorial areas with dense vegetation which we refer to as jungle. They are usually bordered north and south by subtropical areas of less density, but still verdant. The climate shifts to ice and snow as one approaches the poles.

Thank you for understanding, Sruulan nodded. We, also, do not mean to offend. I ask because our homeworld is primarily 'jungle' as you term it. And we have recently run into some environmental issues which threaten large tracts. We are hoping that in your forest and jungles, we may be able to discover a cure, or at least a mitigating treatment, for this new strain of disease before it does very much more damage.

We can certainly understand your plight, Tonya spoke up. We have fought similar situations on our homeworld of Earth. Perhaps an exchange of technology and research expertise might help? How far is Regulus from here?

Well, let's see... Sruulan mused, but Meesha broke in.

You use a standard second, which is calculated off the Cesium-133 isotope, she told them. Sixty seconds make a minute, sixty minutes make an hour, twenty-four hours make a day, seven days make a week. Therefore, in your time reference and using the Crescian Nae-Lekh drives with the resultant Ch'hupa field, we would be approximately five days from here.

So about two weeks from Earth, Tonya thought. That makes it very possible to ferry the desired people between homeworlds to facilitate research. You do not appear to be using any artificial means to tolerate this atmosphere. Does that imply that we Solarians might be compatible with your environment?

Yes, it does imply that, Sruulan answered. In fact...

Meesha cut him off again. Whereas we understand your atmosphere to be 78.1% Nitrogen, 20.9% Oxygen, 0.9% Argon, a varying amount of Dihydrogen Monoxide vapor and the rest other gases such as Carbon Dioxide, Neon, Helium, Methane, Krypton and others, and your gravitic acceleration is approximately 9.8 meters per second, our atmosphere is only 62.2% Nitrogen, 24.7% Oxygen, 9.1% Helium, 2.9% Dihydrogen Monoxide and 1.1% other gases, and our gravitic acceleration is only 8.8 meters per second. Although we feel slightly weighed down here, and it is a little more difficult to breathe, it is not uncomfortable. We suspect you would not be uncomfortable on Regulus at all.

If she knows all this stuff, Okami thought to Spark and Tonya, what does she need him for?

Then realized she hadn't limited it to her companions.

"Oh, shit..."

Sruulan broke out in a huge, toothy grin. I keep her well fucked and happy, he thought to them.

There was a very awkward silence that followed. Until Tonya broke it.

I wonder if we're compatible there, too?

Again, there was a profound silence as each considered the import of the question.

We have heard that you have a certain... prowess... in things sexual, Meesha finally thought to the others. I must admit, I have serious doubts about the veracity of the source, having been through several iterations. Though I have heard, rather consistently, that as a symbiote you have unparalleled access to the metasphere. I would think that would include the chakra line. So I will be the one to ask the indelicate question: are you as good as your reputation indicates?

Tonya took the requisite two or three heartbeats before telling her, better.

That got surprised, then slightly lascivious, looks from the Regulans.

Reaaalllyyy... Sruulan virtually purred. You are aware how intense your reputation has been made out to be...

Yes, really, Tonya answered with a smile. And yes, we are aware of the stories being circulated. I take it you may be interested in pursuing such delights? We are very fortunate to be able to enjoy both physical and metaphysical pleasure, to a much greater degree than others we have encountered.

Then I would ask, Meesha smiled, what are you doing after the party?

You, it appears, Okami put in. If you'd like, our quarters are very well suited to entertaining.

That would be excellent, Sruulan nodded. He was going to say more, but Maya appeared, along with a short humanoid Spark recognized as one of the Callistians.

There you are! she beamed as they came into view. Hello, Sruulan... Meesha...

Greetings, Maya... Urmph... Meesha replied, waiting.

Jamie, Lizzie, Okami... Maya forged ahead, I would like you to meet Urmph, a Callistian, from the star system Callisto in the constellation Ursa Major. Urmph, I'd like to introduce you to Jamie McLeod, Lizzie McLeod and Okami, the Solarian Trade Representatives, new to our circle.

Hello, Urmph virtually grunted... which is hard to do with telepathy. To Spark, he looked like one of the Pygmies from Africa.

Greetings, Tonya purred back to him, and Spark could feel her trying to get a meta read on him. And he was definitely a him. Like a number of other creatures he'd run into here, this one didn't bother with a loincloth -- or any other protective clothing -- unless he really needed the protection.

You are from a heavily vegetated, hot and humid world, Tonya went on. I would think you would have plenty of dihydrogen monoxide available for trade. And yet we seem to be garnering the attention. This confuses me.

Too pure, Urmph thought back. Rain constantly distills. Doesn't collect, pick up elements. Solarians have richer ground sources.

Does that imply that you might have environmental knowledge which could help the Regulans with their plant-based disease problem? Okami asked. Spark realized that the two women were trying to find a common ground so Urmph's untimely arrival didn't tick off the Regulans.

We have had some discussions in that area, Meesha put in. And explored some possible solutions. But so far, nothing has born fruit. Which is why we are expanding our search to other worlds with heavily vegetated areas, such as yours.

In that case, Spark put in, knowing that Maya and Urmph didn't have the information he had, why don't we pursue your interests later... possibly during free times tomorrow, or perhaps later tonight? After the party winds down?

That sounds like an excellent idea, husband, Tonya spoke up. Sruulan, Meesha... why do you not find us when the party begins to break up? We can share a quiet nightcap and discuss our interests.

I am sorry, Meesha answered. I do not know what a 'nightcap' is...

A calming libation, or similar, taken to relax, usually in the evening, Spark told her. In this case, a quiet drink among friends.

Ahh... then we accept, Sruulan decided. We won't monopolize any more of your time, for now. Please enjoy the rest of the evening. We will find you later.

Excellent, Spark thought back and watched as the two Regulans eased off. So did Maya.

My, my... Maya thought to the trio. You three have certainly made quite a splash! For many reasons, I am sure... it seems, if you will be busy with the Regulans tonight, that I will have to find some other time to discuss our mutual interests...

In the meantime, I had mentioned to Urmph that I had met you on Mars and had gotten to know you a bit before your arrival here. I offered to introduce him...

* * * * *

"Regulan anatomy turns out to be very much like Terran felines, husband," Tonya was explaining as they sat at the table in their apartments. "Perhaps I should give you a rundown, before Leeanni brings them here."

"Perhaps you should," Spark agreed. "I'm sure Okami would like to hear it as well."

"Both sexes tend to be approximately two meters tall when fully erect," Tonya started in. "They are bipedal, humanoid, have retractable claws and front paws which are more like hands... they resemble cats very much the same way as Aluxor does dogs when in his canine form. The Regulan 'feet' do not have the hand-like structure Aluxor has, though. They do have long tails which they use to help maintain their balance, and teeth laid out very much like Earth cats." She paused a moment before continuing.

"All of which is observable externally. Also observable is the primary differentiation between the sexes, of which they only have two, nominally male and female. Sruulan is male, with a penile sheath and scrotum. A rather well endowed scrotum, indicating rather large testicles. Meesha is female with the corresponding mature vulva but immature teats, implying she is sexually mature but has not yet borne young. She is also not in estrus, although from what I can find, like humans, that does not diminish her ability to enjoy sexual relations.

"Both have organs roughly comparable to humans, although I cannot find any information regarding any 'bristly dick' syndrome on Sruulan's part. That could be inconveniently painful for Okami. It will not be an issue for me. He should respond favorably to both physical and metaphysical stimulation. Meesha has the mammalian feature of a clitoris, although it is a bit inside, rather than on the surface.