The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Shade - And The Dark Void





Chapter One



Bringing the screens shutters up, Shade looked at the starless sky before him.



He had seen the console display with disbelief, then doubled the readouts he took on navigation and, he doubted his eyes, at first.



“If there is a Great Maker, he forgot this sector of space,” he mused aloud, idly scratching the left side of his chest.



Shade shaved either side of his moderately hirsute chest, from collar-bone and down and, around each nipple.



And, although Shade liked the feel of the rough leather of the inside of his coat, when his hair grew back it was itchy and irksome.



Running the back of his right hand across a three-day growth he rasped, “I need a shave…” ‘But, I don’t mean my chin,’ he thought.



“Thea!” Shade called, looking back over his right shoulder, into the corridor, to the main cabin. And, at the mention of her name, Thea, his companion of seeming Asian appearance, stirred.



She blinked, once then twice and then opened them fully: “If this isn’t an emergency…” She muttered under her breath.



Thea had been at rest, the nanites that held her in a corporeal form needed to be charged and, she had not had the charge she needed.



A pleasure model, designed for the outer colonies, where mining and miners took precedence over all else, bar economics, pleasure models like her were more adaptable and cheaper than the human alternative and, though there use had led to strikes by the pleasure workers guild, their use had spread throughout known space.



Having struck a deal with Shade, Thea had found a place with the taciturn spacer and, former soldier, then lawman, turned bounty hunter.



She had dressed to reveal, as much of the body that Shade had chosen for her and, very much in part, because she had ascertained that Shade was interested in her; but he had two problems; firstly, he saw her as a pleasure model first and a woman second. Secondly and, more important, he still loved his wife.



Now though there experience on their last port of call had evidenced her maternal ways, in a fashion; there was little Thea could do to make Shade forget his late wife, or the vengeance trail he had ridden for so long. But, she would try.



“What is it Shade?” Thea asked, standing in the entrance to the cabin, her arms raised above her head, fingertips grazing the tip of the circular connection.



Shade turned from the view before him, to that behind him: ‘Thea’s dressed to kill,’ he mused, appraising the look his companion had chosen, to lie back in her cabinet to recharge her nanites.



He opened his mouth and, closed it then opened it once more. Finally, he said to her, “Come look at nothing Thea…”



She had chosen to wear some of the fine multi-coloured silks that she had received on the planet where her nanites had created the rebirth of a cities population and, in turn a civilization, just one of many gifts she had acquired from a grateful populace. She had wound the fabric round herself, worn short, to expose much of her chest, bust and shapely legs.



And, though she often humoured Shade, this was not one of those times. She scowled.



“You got me from my rest, to see nothing?” She snapped. “Space has a lot of nothing… you know that… so why…?”



Turning back to look out the viewscreen, Shade mused aloud; “It’s not often you get to see nothing. No stars, no planets, no nothing…”



“That’s a double negative…” Thea reminded him, resting her lower left arm on the back of his seat, “you mean, ‘No stars, no planets, no anything…”



“No anything… no anything,” he muttered, as she took the seat to his right.



As her companion had looked into the distance, into the blackness, Thea found her attention drawn to something ahead, something not part of the dark and suddenly she lifted her arm and pointed forward.



“Shade?” She said softly and slowly.



“Uhuh!?!” He murmured absently.



“Shut down the drive, there’s something ahead…” Thea informed Shade.





Chapter Two



Although Thea was already growing weary, having had not had the full charge that was needed, to perform at peak efficiency, she wanted Shade to see what she saw.



But, it was impossible: Thea knew, for he did not have her eyes, eyes that had been built on a planet a universe away from where they were, that had been created on the Mother world Earth, a place that Shade had never known, for he was a Spacer, born off-world. In fact, as he reminded her, his family were some of the earliest colonists, having established a home on Bouelles World.



His hands hovering over the shut-down mechanism, Shade queried, “What is it Thea?” He had learnt to trust her; he had learnt that the first time they’d met, after she’d rectified an error that she had made.



And now, if Thea told him to power down, he would. Though, as he did so, Shade wished that he had the enhanced senses that Thea had: ‘But then I wouldn’t be human would I?” He mused, drawing back on a lever.



Finally the starship was still, in the inky blackness of space and, Shade turned his seat, to look to his Thea, as she too turned her seat, to face him.



“What do you see out there Thea?” He asked, leaning forward, his lower arms resting on his knees.



“I so wish you could see this, as I see and feel it Shade…” Thea told him softly, as she reached out with her hands, which she placed over his, “it is so… so very…”



There were no words. Thea knew that: after all, how could she tell him that in the midst of this endless silent void, there was a spark, within a…?



‘Yes,’ she mused quietly, already feeling very drained, ‘there may be a way.”





Chapter Three



Thea reached up with both hands and grasped the upturned collar of his coat either side and pulled his face towards her. Then she leaned in toward him and let go of the coat, to place her hands either side of his face, fingers spread and, Thea looked into his normally steely-eyes, that now looked at her with intense curiosity.



Thea pressed her lips to his, allowing her mind to open to it’s fullest, knowing that she was already exhausted and, weakened. But, he had to see as she did, he had to.



Thea knew she had telepathic abilities; it was required of the chameleon-like pleasure models, so that they could provide just what their customers truly wanted, from a female companion. Now, she would see how much of that ability could be used.



She stared into his eyes as their lips pressed together and, her hands felt his skin.

‘Feel our connection My Love. See as I see…’ Thea thought, deeply, with passion.



And, the seconds became minutes, as the starship designate WKD965 drifted in space and, the pair continued their communion, each touching the other, in a manner that neither had attempted before.



Finally Thea blinked, allowing Shade to do so, then open his eyes, just as she slumped back into her seat, her complexion wan, breathing shallow, eyes closed.



He sat quickly and reached to touch her face, it was cold, very cold.



“Thea!” He called, panicking and rising from his seat.



“Thea, don’t you go and leave…” he told his quiet companion, as he gathered her in his arms.



He stood and turned away from the viewscreen and, what Thea had wanted him to see, quite unconcerned that out there was a spark, within a gaseous violet nebulous cloud, that knew of their presence.



Shade carried his companion carefully, through the doorway and, into the corridor, where her cabinet stood, very aware of how light she felt in his arms.



Placing her upright, within the contoured bodyform; he then took two paces back and with his arms draped down, Shade covered one hand with the other.



He gazed down at his boot-tips, then opened his heart, as Thea would have wanted.

“She has to live… I’ve lost too much, too many… She must… live…”



Shade was praying, yet knew not what to, or who to. It mattered not.



The embittered former bounty-hunter had opened his heart and, as if his prayer had been answered, he watched his Love’s eyes flicker then open, a little.



“Thea!” He cried, tears of joy rolling down his cheeks: “You’re alive!”



“If I could I’d argue the point,” she muttered softly, “but I’m too tired right now.”



Shade wanted to stroke her face; he wanted to hold his Love in an embrace, but he knew she needed the charge that the cabinet supplied would hold her together and keep her alive. So, he did not stroke her face, as he wanted. Thea needed to rest.





Epilogue:



And, as the starship disappeared, then reappeared many sectors away from where they had been, Shade returned to his seat, to stare out the viewscreen at the starfield ahead.



Shade was stunned.



And, although he was puzzled, Shade sat back in his seat. Thea was alright and suddenly he felt content. He had seen what Thea had wanted him to and, knowing there was something there within the dark, he could accept what had happened, in the moments since then.



He had become aware through communion, aware of that spark that resided in the void and the spark had been aware of him and, the change he had wrought, to make that connection, with Thea.



Shade had found his humanity once again, through worrying about losing Thea and, that miracle had provided Shade with the assistance that the spark, within the dark void could provide…

Shade the Explorer





Chapter One



The air inside the dome was dry and warm. And, as Shade walked hand-in-hand with Thea, each stared in wonder at the many spires and tall buildings reaching up towards the curved surface of the dome.



The city appeared empty and devoid of Life.



“I think the ship needs a name…” Thea said, looking up to the stoic gunman, turned explorer.



A smile briefly touched the corners of his lips, before Shade sneered; the upper right top lip curled in contempt: “It’s a starship Thea, designate WKD965…”



Frustrated that Shade was so stubborn, she persisted.



“Most people name their ship Shade…” She reminded him.



Shade looked down to his companion of seeming Asian origin and, grinning mirthlessly he said in reply, “Do I seem like most people Thea?”



Thea sighed in resignation – during their time travelling, she had learned little of Shade, bar what she had been able to gleam through experience: The former gunman thought carefully about the situation, before shooting his adversary. He also had a distinct taste for bdsm as she’d been bound to find out, sooner or later; and he had a heavy hand, as her heated buttock flesh had found on several occasions.



But, it was his mode of attire that bemused her the most: For planetfall he had chosen to wear his wide-brimmed Stetson, tight blue-jeans and boots. He also wore his long, long-draping fawn-coloured leather coat, shirtless as usual.



And although she generally dressed as her profession denoted, Thea had chosen to dress for the occasion, as it were; tight light brown leggings, canvas and rubber black slip-ons and, an olive green shirt, with a multitude of pockets.



Shade had asked her why she wore the shirt open and her pert breasts unfettered. In answer Thea had grinned, then flicked at her left nipple with her right fore-finger and thumb.



“Perhaps I know why you like to dress as you do!” She snapped, grinning wildly,



Then in a quieter voice she informed him, “So, I might just start dressing like you do more often…” She told him this, knowing full well her programming would not allow it. But, the remark had garnered the response she sought



“I kinda like the way you dress…” Shade had mumbled, as they’d exited the ships airlock.



At this Thea had smiled to herself, as she followed him.



And then, having cloaked the ship, ‘just in case,’ the pair had walked the short distance, to where Shade had picked up the transmission.

The pair had initially walked in silence, which Shade had appreciated, while Thea had not. Finally she had said, “Do you believe we might find life here.”



Shade had simply glowered at her, from beneath the broad brim of his Stetson, which he’d tilted forward a little, to shield his eyes from the sun.



“You heard the automated signal, same as me,” he spat out; “Hell, for all I know, there’s no-one here. But, we’ll not know till we enter, will we?”



‘It is at moments like this,’ Thea thought, ‘that I’m reminded just how methodical he can be…’ Then, watching him survey the dome for an entrance, Thea was till quite regretful that she’d had assumed the appearance of his late wife, in order to help him and, herself of course.



‘He can be patient, like no that I’ve met.,’ she had mused aloud, as Shade continued his search round the domes perimeter, for a way of entrance.



Finally he had called out, “Thea, I’ve found a way inside!”



They had entered the airlock he had found, then after decon they entered the dome itself, finding themselves looking at a series of metal spire’s, the centre one running skyward, towards clouds. Toward the base were other buildings, walkway’s and a monorail that ran throughout the domed city: The seemingly empty, sterile city.



They had walked for hours, looking for signs of life, which the wrist-band equipment that Shade used illustrated there was life, in abundance. Yet, they saw none.



Then, as they turned a corner at an intersection, Thea stumbled, bracing herself, by placing her left arm straight, palm outstretched and pressed against the smooth metal of the windowless building,



“Shade!” She called plaintively, falling to her left knee, clutching at her forehead with her right hand.



He turned at the sound of Thea’s call, concern evident on his face, as he approached his companion.



“Are you alright?” He quizzed.



“Does it look like it?” Thea snapped frowning, evidently in pain; pain that she was unused to, being able to shut down sectors of her system, if pain were involved in a customers requirements.



Helping Thea stand and drawing her to him, Shade asked, “What happened?”



And, feeling safe, in his arms, Thea looked to his unshaven face, as Shade looked toward her kindly, “I felt something, well someone… touch me, then they were gone and, it felt like my head were bein torn it two…”



“Sounds horrible,” he murmured, looking over her shoulder then around them both. He couldn’t see anything, or sense anything himself; but Shade had seen a lot on his travels, that didn’t always make sense, to him. So, he did not doubt Thea.



‘But,’ he mused, ‘that does beg the question, what did she encounter?’





Chapter Two





Sobbing, Thea wrapped her arms round Shade’s neck. Then whimpering plaintively, she closed her eyes and began to murmur, “So many voices… filling the void… So many…” Her eyelids fluttered, as if she were in a deep sleep.



‘But, she doesn’t sleep, not like me,’ he mused, as he carried her down empty streets and, back towards the airlock they had used to enter the dome; ‘She needs the cabinet, to rest and recharge and…’



He was concerned for Thea, in a way he had only felt for his wife and child. Yet, that was hard for the gunman to accept: ‘After all,’ he reminded himself, ‘she is a pleasure model and, they don’t…’ He was about to think that she didn’t feel like he did. But, for years, he hadn’t felt, as he had searched for the killer Ashton Friday. It was Thea who had given him the opportunity to end his searching and, find justice, for the wrong done to him. And, once more he reminded himself how much he owed this pleasure model. And, that thought stayed with him, as he left the airlock and made his way to his ship.



Once inside, he made Thea comfortable inside her cabinet and then made his way to his own small cabin, to rest.



He lay in the middle of his bed, one that covered much of the room, scattered with cushions aplenty, for a multitude of worlds.



Settling in amidst the thick duvet, he reached for his bottle of scotch, bringing the neck to his mouth, he tilted his neck, then chucked back several gulps of the fiery brew, made to his knowledge on Terra Nine; or so it was said.



Setting the bottle down on the side-ledge, he removed his hat and kicked off his boots, one by one; then opening his coat he ran his hand over his bare chest, toward his hardening nipples, Shade called out, “Lights.”



And as the lights in the cabin dimmed and Shade became occupied, Thea lay back into the cabinets moulded back, eyes closed her nanites recharging, unaware that a connection had been made. And, in the dark silent ship, Life had begun anew.



And as the ships occupants both rested, finally that spark of Life entered the ships air ducts, now filtering planet-air, whilst the filter’s recharged. It entered, then managed to circumnavigate the vent system, to the outtake and the planets atmosphere.



Once free, it sought out what it knew, The Dome. And, for many cycles of growth, access could not be found; until a portion of the coalescing forms found the smallest of cracks; and They entered, once more.



‘That must be sealed,’ a voice within the growing collective acknowledged.





Chapter Three





Shade rose groggily from his bed, a dry mouth and an empty bottle the result of a thoughtful night.



“Light!” He called and, immediately regretted having done so, as he blinked several times and groaned. Shade had been thinking of Thea, again. Since he had begun travelling with the pleasure model turned freewoman Thea had become more than she had been, too him.



Thea had drive and curiosity and, loved to learn. Shade liked that about her. And, he had been thinking of her, lying with him, much of the night.



He set the laser raze down on the sink edge and looked at himself, having finally divested himself oh his coat.



He was tall, lean, with a scarred torso and a hirsute chest, that he shaved from his nipple line, down to his waist, going inward, at the end of his ribs, to taper inward and ending at the waistband of his well-worn blue-jeans



Briefly he looked down at his threadbeare socks and, he mutted, “Where to buy socks, in a new Universe?” This thought, he found amusing, very. And, Shade’s face broke into a broad grin; until he recalled Thea.



“How is she?” H exclaimed, pulling on his boots and, calling out, “Door!”



The cabin door slid aside with a slight whoosh and Shade left, rapidly making his way to the cabinets’ alcove, behind the small craft’s cockpit.



And… it was empty. Shade stood there, before the empty cabinet, feeing scared for his companion and at a loss, fists clenching, jaw tight.



Then, he heard her light voice, from inside the shower. “I swear down Shade, I’ll never get this dust and sand out of me. I’m sure I have it in every crack and crevice.”



He watched her silhouette against the frosted glass, the curves of her slim body undulating, as Thee soaped up and. Shade envied the warm water, falling upon sweet-smelling skin and quickly he made a decision.



“Would you like some assistance?” He asked, undoing the button to his jeans.



“I’d like that Mister Shade…” Thea teased, sliding the door open and beckoning to him with the crooked forefinger of her right hand: ‘too long, too long,’ Thea mused, thinking back for a moment and their last time together.



“I… care…” Shade began, brushing gentle fingers across Thea’s left small breast, toward her nipple, each word faltering, “I care for you…Thea…. Very much…”



Lifting a shy gaze from his gowing manhood, Thea looked to Shades strong face, eager fingers caressing each scar on his chest.



“We’re together… Now, aren’t we?” Thea asked Shade, as he slid into her honey warmth, holding his Love in a tight embrace, as the water continued to fall.



“Thank Frell I’ve a good conversion unit,’ he mused, for all of a second, before giving his Love… the attention that she warranted and, as Thea wrapped her legs round the base of his back, he thrust back and forth in a slow motion, enjoying thoroughly, this new found unity.



And, time passed…



Shade poured a coffee, black and steaming. Then sitting in the cockpit doorway, holding his mug with both hands, he watched Thea move round the main room, holding it to her breasts, which draped down, finding the dimples at the base of her spine fascinating.



“You look good, this morning,” he said with a smile.



“Yes,” she admitted, “I do feel better…”



Briefly Shade looked to his mug and he muttered, “Well, you sure as Frell feel good.”

Then, looking up he asked, “What happened yesterday in the dome. Do you know?”



Thea looked up, with the beginning of an outfit in hand; “I really don’t know. I’ve never felt something like it before…. I just touched the wall and…” Thea paused, looking for the right words to express what had happened; yet could find none.



“Well, they say old buildings can act as a recipient for collective memory…” Shade mused aloud, as he continued to watch Thea, who had finally decided what to wear.



“I’ll be back in a moment,” she told Shade, looking over her left shoulder, as she entered his cabin, leaving behind several open cupboards and scattered piles of clothing behind her.



Shade looked at the mess she had left and he grinned ruefully, “Sometimes I wish that I had the room for a cabin of her own…”





Chapter Four



Thea emerged from Shades Cabin dressed in a simple olive green sleeveless tee-shirt, camouflage pants, with enormous side-pockets and, highly practical tough thigh-length black boots.



She posed in the door, one leg crooked forward, hands on hips, “So how do I look?



Shade had returned to his seat in the doorway, to look at Thea once more, his coat already in place, his hair brushed back, his Stetson by his feet.



“You look… incredible,” he told her, seeing her not as she was, but as she had been, just a short while ago, in the shower.



“Thank you… lover…” Thea said with a light smile, as she gathered together some essentials and, placed them in her backpack.



“And we’re going where?” Shade asked, finishing his second coffee, this one liberally laced with whiskey.



“Well you can stop in a tidy,” she opined, looking around the main room, “Or you can come outside and play…”



Shade looked around the cabin, as Thea moved toward the airlock, backpack already in place and, he stared at her pert derriere.



“I’m coming,” he muttered, with a smirk; then he stood and followed his companion, as she led him outside and, onto the sandy earth.



Shade deactivated the cloak, feeling sure it was not needed.



“Are you sure you want to go back in, again?” He queried, his gaze still intent, as he followed her to The Dome’s airlock.



“Of course I am,” Thea assured him, looking over her right shoulder, “One bad experience doesn’t put me off…”



“Not all think like that,” Shade mumbled, following in her footsteps, as Thea led him to the airlock, which opened easily, for her.



The heat of the day had already got to Shade and, he was thankful or his Stetsons wide brim, for shade from the sun and, his way of wearing his coat as he did, for the fresh air on his chest.



“Well are you coming?” Thea called out, standing waiting for Shade.



“Uh huh…” Shade mumbled entering after her. And then, as Thea opened the second door he found that he stood next to a stupefied Thea, whose mouth opened and shut.



Finally she found the words she had been looking for, as she asked; “Do you see what I see Shade?” And, he did…



The city inside the dome was milling with thousands of well-dressed people, many of who bore faces that resembled Thea, in some respect.



A man walked passed the two, whose face looked somewhat like Shade. He turned to look at Shade and looked as shocked, as Shade felt himself.



The man called to a woman, who made her way across to the trio: “Do you see what I see?” He asked the woman, dressed in light silks.



She looked at Shade, then Thea and looked as surprised as the fellow had.



“Greetings Shade the Pilot of Thea the Mother,” He greeted, “I am Theo two, nine zero, zero… It is grand, that The Mother has returned to meet her children…”



The young woman in silks looked at Thea and bowed low, then said in reverence, “Greetings to Shade, the pilot of Thea, The Mother. I am Thea two two, zero nine…”



Shade turned to look at Thea, puzzled. “This city was empty yesterday and now…?”



“I know, I know…” She admitted: “This is all so… bewildering…” And suddenly the pair became aware that they had become the centre of attention, for many of those passing by the airlock.



“Come with me,” Theo two, nine zero, zero told them, “Come with me.”

.

“There’s something you must see…” Thea two two, zero nine added.



Thea, Shade’s Thea, looked at Shade and smiled, “Well, are you…?”



“Don’t say it it,” Shade mumbled with a grin, taking her hand as they were led by Theo and Thea, deeper into the city, with the crowds parting for them, at their approach…



“Why does everyone look so shocked and why does everyone look like…”



“A piece of you, or a bit of me?” Shade added, with a grin.



Finally they were where Theo intended: “See?” He told them, pointed at a round blue plaque on the side of the building, which Thea had touched, moments before she had fallen: “History of Thea the Mother…” He called out and, a hologram formed before them of a bearded man in white robes, holding a bust of Thea.



“This is the Mother of us all, whose selfless act generations ago, gave us Life anew…” the figure in the midst of the hologram intoned, “She is the one whose memories, energy and multiplying nanites brought back our people, from the land beyond…”



A large respectful crowd had now gathered around Thea and Shade, both of whom seemed quite perplexed by this information.



“The nanites gave us facets of the Mother of our people; to give us each individual identities and, so we revere her memory, as we await her return…” the hologram continued.



“Come, come…” Thea in silks enthused, rushing onward through the crowd of people, who parted quickly, for The Dome Mother.



And Thea in silks walked fast, leading the three through street after street, until they arrived at a main square, where she pointed toward at the centrepiece, a statue on a small green, of Shade, his coattails flapping, as he carried Thea in his arms, concern etched on his bronze face.



“Your people, your children… are so-pleased, that you have returned to us… our Dome Mother…” Thea in silks expressed in adoration, as she sank to her knees, head bowed. And, all around Shade and Thea, each citizen replicated her action, as they realized who was amongst them…



And a tear fell down Thea’s cheek, as she glanced around, at these people, her children…

Shades payback







Chapter One



The bounty-hunter sat with his back to a lightning tree, his wide-brimmed Stetson at his side. It was apparent to Shades companion that he sorely needed a haircut, or a severe trim at the very least. But, there was noway that the attractive woman across the fire was going to tell him that.



Of Asian appearance and wearing what appeared to be a traditional dress in royal blue, with gold patterning, Thea had just answered his question.



Now he knew what she wanted, for the help she’d provided back in town and, the information left Shade deep in thought, as he stared into the flames. He owed Thea, of that there was no doubt, ‘But…”



Then Shade scratched at the three day-old growth of beard, rose and groaned, as torn ligament and worn muscles added to the pain in his joints, flexing the fingers of his hands again and again. Then he began to pace back and forth.



“Least you don’t have to put up with… this!” He exclaimed, holding his gun hand up, annoyed the pain in his joints often prevented him from doing what he knew he could.



“You complain about aches Shade. If I don’t return to my cabinet, I’ll literally fall apart in the twenty-fifth hour…”



‘The cabinet,’ he mused, ‘there it was. She’d struck the deal to end all.’



The pleasure models looked real, in all aspects, but their existence depended on the cabinet, that imbued the nanites with sufficient cohesion, to last twenty-four hours, then the model had to return, until it’s nanites were powered up, once more



‘And, Thea wants her cabinet and freedom from the role she’d known since awakening…. Not much too ask…’ he considered.



Shade flexed his right hand and a muscle in his lower arm engaged a spring mechanism: and, the blade inside his coat slid into his palm.



“Thea, I don’t welch on a debt…” Shade told his companion, as he stared started picking at his left forefinger nail, with the blade of his knife, “but…”



Thea looked up and smiled sweetly, “But… you’re thinking of doing so now?”



Even deeper in thought now, Shade paused before answering; “So…” he began, “remind me what happens if you’re not in that cabinet within twenty-four hours?”



Thea picked up a stick and idly poked the fire, then answered, “I fall apart and die…”



“As simple as that?” Shade quizzed in response, his right eyebrow arched in his bemusement.



“Well…” Thea opened with, after a long pause; “I could have given you the rest…” She looked up and noted the puzzlement evident on Shades face.



Slowly, she explained; “Without the cohesive force that the cabinet provides, my nanites will separate at the end of twenty-four hours… and, I die.”



Running the open fingers of his right hand through his hair, Shade looked down as he shook his head a little, ‘That cannot happen’, he thought. Then he lifted his head and looked directly at Thea, “Well, I pay my debt, don’t I?”



“So you need the cabinet…?” Shade mused aloud.



“Hence the deal,” Thea expounded, “I need the cabinet and, I want a Life; away from this accursed rock.



The ‘accurse rock’ she spoke of was a class M planet, with verdant pastureland, upon which herds of creatures roamed, all of them species that had previously been unknown to man.



It was some of this fine pasture that they’d crossed on the way to their current campsite. Yet, the corporation wasn’t concerned with such as the green.



The corporation was concerned with the mineral rights; and free access to those very minerals that they would need, to build the nex generation of spacecraft.



These were intended to be the craft that would take the corporation’s Pioneer Corp into the next universe, to establish if profits might be made there.



There was a long silence between the two, while Shade looked at his options: there were two, just two…



Either he kept up with his end of the agreement, or he did not. ‘And if he did not?’

If he did not, Thea’s nanites would lose cohesion and, her sentience would be lost.



‘That can’t happen…’ Shade thought. He ceased pacing, unclasped his hand and turned to look at Thea: “Guess I’m heading for town,” he told her.



So, having made a decision, Shade slipped out of his coat, which he carefully folded and placed on his saddle, leaving him in waistcoast , shirt and black pleather jeans, worn over his heavy duty boots. He then threw the saddle over the back of his Banth, a quadruped that bore little resemblance to that written of by Edgar Rice Burroghs, but it’s what the miners called the beast, that they had tamed, for use, where vehicles could not traverse. And, on Pikes Sati that was much of the planet.



As he tied off the strapping, Thea stood and asked, “What can I do?”



“How long have we left?” Shade asked in response.



“Before what…?” Thea coolly answered, then smiled and told him, “Ten hours and then, I’m gone and, drifting nanites on the wind....”



“Then I’ll have to acquire what you need…” Shade muttered, from where he was crouched at the side of the Banth.



“Tucker, the Manager won’t let you just walk in and take the cabinet…” Thea told Shade, as she shrugged her shoulders.



“Well Thea, Tucker’s plain outta luck, if he thinks he can keep it…” He assured her: “I’m prepared for most eventualities… little Lady.”



Shade stood and opened a saddlebag, from which he took out a large barrelled pistol, that he slipped into the holster, which he’d tied off on his thigh.



“Here take this!” He told Thea, passing her the smaller handgun, that had previously been his weapon of choice, “You pack up camp go get into my ship.”



“I don’t want the gun,” she told him.



“You take it….” He ordered; “With what I have in mind, there might just be… a little feedback, shall we say…”



Sullenly, the pleasure model took the proffered weapon, grimacing.



“You know how to use that?” Shade asked, as he put his left foot into the stirrup.



“Yes…” Thea told him as he mounted the Banth, “Ensure the safety is off, point and shoot. That’s it, isn’t it?”



“Uh-huh, that’s right…” he told her with a broad grin: “Now, would you mind passing me my hat?”



She did as he bid, then asked; “So how do I find your ship?”



“Ah, stupid me,” Shade muttered. He took a small device that was in a pouch attached to his gunbelt and pressed a few buttons. And, slowly the starship became visible, just metres from their campsite.



He threw the device to Thea, which she caught two-handed and drew toward her.

“That’s the controller,” he told her: “Once you’re inside, use the cloak, alright?” And so saying, he wheeled the Banth in a slow turn, ten begun to ride toward town, leaving Thea to stare down at the small rectangular module in her grip.



“Now all I have to do is work out how to use this thing?” She mused aloud.





Chapter Two



Although the ride to town wasn’t a long one, it was long enough for Shade to formulate a plan. And, as the plan was simple, he was pleased with it.



“Little to go wrong,’ he considered, once again looking at the timepiece on the four inch wide wrist-band of brown, that he wore on the left.



“Just over nine hours to go now,” Shade mused, “I gotta get a move on!”



“C’mon you beast!” He called out, kicking his heels into the beast’s flanks.



The Banth snorted trough large nostrils, then made to rear. Shades quickly brought the animal back under his control, then pressed his heels into its flank, once more.



“C’mon move it!” He shouted and, suddenly the animal gave the burst of speed he knew it was capable of.



The Banth of Pikes Sati was a powerful beast, capable of carrying heavy loads and, when called upon, moving at great speed, when ridden by an experienced rider.



Currently, it was.



And, as the second of the two moons followed the arc of the first, into the night sky, Shade steered the Banth toward town, aware that time was moving and, that Thea’s time was running out.



Finally, he reached the edge of town, having passed several mines on his journey, each floodlit and being worked through the night.



He pulled on the reins, to draw the Banth to a halt, then surveyed the one road town, off which several side streets ran, taking one into the small residential section of the small town, known as Dickens, after it’s founder; the first to make planetfall, just over twenty odd years prior.



“Place looks quiet,” Shade muttered, running his fingers across the butt of the pistol, in his well-oiled holster. And, dismounting he smiled, “But, that’s gonna change, soon.” And, it would, he was sure of that.



He gazed down the slope leading to town, surveying the area, for access and egress from the saloon, where the he’d find the cabinet that Thea needed.



The smile left his face slowly, as once more his fingers toyed with the pistol butt

No matter what happened, Shade needed to know he’d tried, for Thea, at he camp.



“I mean,” he found himself muttering to himself, “it’s not like she’s really alive. But she is so real, to me.



And she was, real to him. He wanted to help her, though what she’d asked of him was so, unusual. Yet, he’d been alone so long and; on the trail of the killer, for too long.



But, thanks to the Asian Thea, his quest for justice was ended, he had some company and, once more a reason to fight, for a cause.



“A cabinet, so that she can have what she wants,” he snarled, “Well, I’ll ensure that she continues to…” and, he stared ahead, into the far distance, seeking the right word, ”live. I figure I owe her that.”



Thinking of Thea, Shade remounted his Banth. Kicking his heels hard into the beasts flanks, Shade reminded himself that he had a mission and, ‘unlife to save.’



He steered the animal onto a small trail that led downward, toward the town. Then, nearing where Main Street was tarmac layered, Shade could smell the town’s cesspit, on the early morning breeze. The sky had lightened, with the promise of sunrise.



Shade slowed the Banth, noticing that there were a few early morning risers, already out, on the boardwalk to his right and left.



No-one kept his gaze though, as he traversed down the thoroughfare, as his demeanour and, exposed weaponry suggested that this was not a man to whom one did not say ‘good morning ro;’ without being approached first, after being greeted with a smile.



The saloon where he had headed was at the other end of the tarmaced Main Street and, was the last building on the left, before the gates to the small spaceport.



Shade made his way slowly, warily looking to either side, aware of the odd twitching curtain. He moved extremely cautiously, as he didn’t want undue attention. Yet Shade knew he’d be noticed though, when he made his move.



Then when he came to the hitching-rail outside the saloon, Shade dismounted, his shis heartrate increased, senses now heightened.



He stepped onto the boardwalk and took the two steps needed to get to the louvred bat-wing doors, fingers already itching. He was ready for action and, that’s what he needed Now.





Chapter Three





Shade drew his pistol from its well-oiled holster. And, with the powerful weapon in hand, he kicked at the louvred bat-wing doors.



As they swung open Shade entered the saloon. And, his gun held at the end of a straight arm, he traced an arc from to the left, then back slowly, to the right, before directing the killing end towards the rooms sole occupant, the cleaner.



“Where’s Tucker?” Shade snarled.



The cleaner looked up from his chore, his rheumy eyes showing fear. He was a short fellow, with the appearance and colour of a prune given human form, in a pair of dungarees. He had been pushing broom, but stopped at the sound of Shades voice.



Talking a couple of paces forward, Shade directed his long-barrelled pistol towards the cleaner’s head.



“So what’s your name fella?” Shade asked.



“Name’s Carlson Mister… please… don’t… shoot me…” the fellow entreated, clutching the brush handle with both hands.



“Now Carlson, the thing is, if you get that empty cabinet onto a trolley and to me, there’ll be no reason to shoot you dead…”



“The cabinet? The empty cabinet?” Carlson queried, sweat dripping down his heavily furrowed brow, his eyes riveted on the killing end of Shade’s powerful weapon.



Shade sighed and, used his right thumb to click back the pistols hammer.



The sound of it clicking home filled the empty room and the cleaner gulped hard.



“You had two Pleasure Model’s. Now, you have one. I’ve come for that empty cabinet, etc…” Shade told the old man.



There was a quiet menace to the gunmen’s voice that was not lost on Carlson; and his gaze had not wavered from the possible threat of death posed by his weapon..



“The cabinet, it’s fixed in place… it… it’s…” he stuttered.



The man’s dark skin was now heavily beaded with perspiration; and the old man blinked several times, as salty-sweat dripped into his eyes.



“Makes no never mind,” Shade muttered, loud enough for Carlson to hear.



“Who told you?” Carlson stammered,



“Told me?” Shade quizzed, a smirk on his face.



“Who told you about the cabinets?” the old man asked, now sweating profusely, causing the man to blink again and again.



“Thea told me,” Shade admitted.



“You know Tuckers won’t like this, don’t you?” The man questioned, with a nod toward Shade’s pistol.



“I know it like it was sung to me at bedtime,” Shade mumbled, in response.



“Ah, so you know Tucker…” Carlson stammered, “you know he won’t like this?”



“Carlson,” Shade interrupted, “like I assured someone else, in another time and place… Tucker’s Lucks Run Out…”



The old man gulped.



“Now fella,” Shade began, “where is this Tucker?” Shade asked curiously.



“Tucker… Mister… er,” the old man glanced back and forth, his gaze finishing on the manager’s office: “He’s in his office. He’s busy…”



Kane paused, for a moment’s thought.



“Well fella, you know what I told you…?” Shade asked.



“About… Sir?” Carlson managed to say, with his dry mouth.



“The cabinet, the trolley and, it’s removal,” Shade reminded the older man, as he eased the hammer back, with his thumb and sliding the gun back into it’s holster.



Carlson nodded, his eye glancing back and forth, as if he were seeking escape.



Then all-in-one motion, Shade withdrew the gun again, swirled it round on his middle finger, finishing by allowing the butt to slip back into the palm of his hand, then had directed his weapon towards the old man’s head once again.



And Carlson looked at Shades unshaven, chiselled face, framed against the light of the window and, that streaming through over and under the bat-wing doors.



It was… almost a moment of man-lust. And though the wizened felt as he did, the long-barrel of the gun quickly provided an end to this reverie.



“Yessir, I recall whattcha said, I’ll… I’ll get on with whattcha said…” Carlson stammered, turning away slowly and, setting his broom against the bar top: “An Tucker? He’s in his The Manager’s office, with the other pleasure model…”



As he walked away to get the trolley he would need, the old man looked back over his left shoulder, as Shade strode purposefully toward the Manager’s office.



The old man suddenly felt sorry for his blustering, bullying manager; then thinking again he smiled, recalling all the times he had been at the blunt end man’s temper.



And, his right-hand fingers flexing once more over the butt of his pistol, Shade knocked on the door, “Tucker!” He bellowed.



“I’m busy!” Shade heard through the door.



“Yeah yeah fella… so am I…” Shade muttered, through gritted teeth, well aware that time had passed by, while Thea waited on his return.



Snarling, Shade lashed out with his left foot, kicking the door inward, so that it crashed to the floor, landing scant inches from the bunched up trousers round Tuckers ankles.



He had been taking Thea over his desk, when Shade had interrupted and, the man’s fleshy buttocks wobbled, as he withdrew from the Pleasure Model, wilted manhood still dripping his cream.



Then Tucker reached for a pulse rifle, stood next to his desk, as the blonde Thea, turned to look at him, “I take it we’re finished here Sir?”



“Oh… he’s finished…” Shade informed her, as Tucker sought to engage the powercell’s in his rifle and, level it toward Shade.



Shade pulled the trigger, once, twice and then a third time, into the corpulent body, now lying on the floor, blood pumping from the large open wound.



“Yep… he’s finished…” he mumbled, with a light smile, sliding his weapon back into his holster, as the blonde Thea began to dress.



Shade turned, then walked back through the doorway and back into the barroom.



“Now, let’s see if I have some Banth loading to do?” He said to himself with a light smile playing on his lips.





Epilogue:





Shade removed his waistcoat, revealing a somewhat battle-scarred lean torso. He was hirsute, but shaved around his areola, then straight down from his collar-bone, to his waistline.



He picked up his coat, where Thea had carefully folded it up, as if to be packed away.



Then Shade donned his favourite item of apparel, his coat; enjoying the feel of the rough leather graze against his body.



Thea had tidied the starship whilst he’d been on his mission and, though his last beer was not wear he’d left it, she did have the space that she needed for the cabinet.



And, while he washed and dressed prior to the flight, the ever-adaptablre pleasire model had fitted the cabinet, near the cockpit, where Shade now took his seat.



Flicking a switch above his head, twentieth century softrock played, as he engaged the ship thrusters.

“Okay, now I’m ready for…” Shade muttered.



Shade engaged the main engine, which kicked in hard, the g-force tearing at the ship, as he geared the ship into unknown space and, the rough leather grazed Shade’s nipples, hardening them.



“Well, she wanted to get way from this planet and, I want…” Shade muttered.



He needed to escape; after all he’d encountered in the previous years. Now, like Thea, had a destination, into the unknown…



“Space,” he muttered. “It’s a big place… and, there’s adventures to be had.”



And time passed.



Shade had entered hibernation, at Thea’s insistence. She had now piloted the craft for nearly fifty years, as they travelled into the Outer Fringe itself.



Now she smiled.



Thea had dressed well for the occasion, in a diaphanous multi-coloured silk robe, sexy lingerie and black high-heels; highly impractical. But, today was a special day; today was her Shades wake-up day, now they had entered this new Universe...

Chapter One



Tilting the brim of his broad brimmed baize Stetson, so that it shaded his eyes, the grizzled dust-bitten stranger pushed open both of the louvered bat-wing doors.



As they swung open, he entered.



Then as they closed, his right hand brushed back his dust-coat, so that his splayed fingers could rest over the butt of his pistol. Slowly he made his way across the saloon, towards the long bar that extended three quarters of the back room.



Beneath the brim of his hat, the stranger surveyed the room, his eyes darting back and forth, taking in the door on the far left that opened onto the manager’s office; and to his immediate right there was a staircase leading up to the small landing above to the right, with five bedrooms off it.



He bellied up against the bar, glancing up at the bar-length mirror on the wall, tilted in a little, so he could easily see the whole room behind himself and, the fellows who stood either side of himself.



The barmaid sauntered from the other end of the bar, to where he stood, her hips swinging inside tight blue jeans.



“Yes mister,” she began, chewing on gum; “What can I get you?” Looking to the buxom brunette in a tight top that threatened to overspill and, tight blue jeans, he watched her lips move, his hearing otherwise occupied. He was listening for a voice, an accent; a clue that his quarry was here.



“I’ll have a double whiskey, Irish if you’ve got it…”



The brunette grinned, as did the men either side of him.



“Mister,” she informed the stranger, “if’n you don’t see it, we haven’t got it…”



Inwardly, the stranger sighed: he wanted to say that too many double negatives spoil a sentence. Instead he drawled, “I’ll have a double whiskey, please ma’am…”



As the brunette returned from the shelf of bottles, just a few minutes later, he then continued talking, “I’m looking for the man who hitched a Banth on the rail outside.”



The Banth was the colonists idea of four-legged transport that bore little relationship to the horse, it’s Earth counterpart: and, it was named as it was, after one of the native animals on Mars, as described by the writer Edgar Rice Burroughs.



And, Thea paused a moment, before asking once again: “Anything I can get you?”



“Well, I guess I need a room and a bath…?” He exclaimed, thumping out some dust from his coat with his left hand, “I’ve been on the trail awhile.”



“Well we do have a couple of rooms available,” the brunette started, turning to a wall hanging of tab-keys. She handed one to the stranger.



“I got room four…?” He drawled, looking at the tab.



“Yessir…” The barmaid told him.



Thea smiled shyly, looking downward, already in character. She knew what he liked.



The woman’s face seemed to flicker, as several million small squares shifted position and colour; her breasts decreased before his eyes, then her height decreased a little...



“I’m a pleasure model. I’m Thea, a pleasure model… sir…” the five-foot the five foot, black-haired young woman of Asian appearance told him.



And, Thea paused a moment, before asking once again: “Anything I can get for you?”



And, the hint of a smile touched the strangers lips, before he responded, “Well then Thea, I do like what’s on offer…” He paused a long second, then added, “…add four inches or so to your height, I’d like your company… say in time for my bath?”



Her head bowed, Thea nodded, hands clasped behind her back, in a submissive manner…



“Then, I figure business can wait… awhile…” He muttered.



Thea smiled shyly, looking downward, already in character. She knew what he liked.



“That’ll be alright with the…” Before he could finish saying ‘owner’ a panel slid back in the wall and from the alcove behind it second pleasure model stepped down from the alcove behind it.



“Yessir,” Thea acknowledged, with a bow and, a faint smile.



The new pleasure model was dressed as Thea had been, with the same Caucasian features that the miners preferred.



But, Thea had read her customer well and, she knew what he wanted.



And, as a grizzled prospector ordered a beer from ‘the new girl’ Thea stepped through a hatch she had opened in the bar-top and walked toward the stranger and her clothes changed, to that of traditional Chinese dress; as her customer liked. Thea knew that he would like the heels, hose and lingerie she wore with the dress.



As the beer was poured for the prospector, Thea smiled gently and then asked, “Would you like me to wait while you go to your room… Mister… erm, Shade?”



Shade was his name: she was right.



And, he groaned inwardly, as all round the room, hushed whispers spoke of his dark name and darker deeds.



Hushed whispers spoke of his dark fame.



And, though he tried to remain stoic, Shades normally impassive expression betrayed his annoyance.



“If I’d wanted the world to know my name, I’d have offered it…” He snapped.



Thea nodded. She understood; his anger was apparent,



And, his anger was still rising and, she wanted to d something to assuage him.



“Is there anything I can do, Sir?”



Shade grinned. It was not a grin you would want directed at you and, it was directed toward Thea. She was nervous.



It was not a grin you’d wanted to see directed at you and, Thea was nervous as she waited, for his response.



“Well, I still need my bath I figure. You need a spanking, for being a bigmouth. So, let’s take this upstairs…”





Chapter Two





In room four, Thea still lay over her clients lap on the end of the large bed, her dress hiked up to her waist, her stocking-clad legs draped downward, so that the toes of her black high-heels grazed the floor. Her panties lay around her ankles.



His tension and ensuing tension diminished, Shade wiped sweat away from his forehead with the back of his sore right hand, gazing at his handiwork with an almost detached satisfaction, listening to the Asian’s sniffles.



He was satisfied; satisfied with the colour of her buttocks and, the sniffles she’d begun moments into the spanking. And, that pleased Thea.



And, as he shook his right hand with a stinging palm, she wanted to smile. But, she did not, as that would be unprofessional.



Much as shade had smacked her buttock flesh for nearly twenty minutes, Thea had been hardly aware of each slap of flesh upon flesh, having already shut down the nerve sensors there, before he’d begun.



Thea’s pert rosy buttocks were a rosy hue: and, besides his obvious arousal, she could feel that his anger had abated. And, looking over her left shoulder a moment to look at the gunslinger she saw the merest hint of a smile on the fellows normally impassive face. Evidently Shade was satisfied and, that pleased her.



Shade looked at her, as Thea’s head turned slowly back to stare at the threadbare carpet and her body arched and, then fell as she became lank over his thighs



Seconds later, Thea turned to look at Shade once again and, abruptly her sniffles ceased. Thea knew that he had needed to hear them them; but she recollected that he’d come to the saloon on a mission, one that she could now aid, at a price of course...



“Then man you’re after Shade, he’s just crossed the street and is making his way here…” she told him with assuredly.



“That is of interest to you, isn’t it Shade?” She quizzed, knowing full well that she had piqued the man’s curiosity.



“It is of interest ma’am,” Shade told her, “And, you’re telling me this now because…?”



He let the question linger in the air for her to think about, as his left hand began to gently the curves of her left buttock.



Then, sliding from his thighs and onto her knees Thea stood, allowing her dress to fall back into place…



She stepped out of her panties then turned to face him, with a smile playing on her lips, “Well, I’d thought that if I help you, then you might help me.”



Shade nodded, that was a rationale that he understood.



“But I have to ask, how’d you know?” He asked thoughtfully.



“How do I know he’s making his way here? Or, how do I know…?” She asked with a broad smile spreading across her face.



Shade paused a moment, then drawled, “I guess both ma’am…”





Chapter Three



“I was made to adapt to… much,” Thea told Shade with a smile: “As to the rest? Well, I saw the fellow you seek in your mind, when I looked to see what you might want, of me… Then, a short while ago, I used the senses I was given, by my makers… and, I saw him…”



She paused a long moment, then added, “Downstairs I let a room full of people know who you are. Now if you want the element of surprise, you need my help…”



Thea scratched at an imagined itch, at the top of the split in her dress, just below the top of her self-support stocking, aware that Shade was watching, as he listened to her words.



“Okay, so you know who I’m after. How are you going to help me?” Shade quizzed.



“Use your imagination and your skills…” Thea expressed wistfully.



Then Thea smiled, before she answered: “Remember…” she began, as once more her face shifted, as did her height, until she stood before him, looking as she had the first time they had met: “Remember I can be whoever my customer wants me to be…?”



Shade nodded.



“Well, I will attract him…”



“That’ll be easy…” he muttered.



Thea smiled, her teeth white, lips full and inviting.



And, suddenly she drifted away, “If as you say, everything is subjective, then don’t elaborate…” Then she turned to look away from his gaze a moment.



“I will…” she started, “bring him back here, for you… and…”



“I do as I do,” growled Shade, running his hand up his thigh to his weapon.



“Yes,” Thea murmured as she stood, “You do as you do…”



She went to open the door to the landing, then stopped with her right hand on the doorknob, “You wanted to know why I’m helping you, didn’t you?”



“Yes,” Shade replied dully, as he stood and made his way to the sash window.



“So why haven’t you pursued that?” She asked curiously, her left eyebrow arched.



Shade turned from the window and grinned, “I figure you’ll tell me what you want. And, you will, won’t you?



“Yes Shade, I’ll tell you,” Thea answered, as she left the room, then closed the door.





Chapter Four



Unused to either waiting, or expecting help, Shade sat on the end of the bed, deep in thought.



‘Granted,’ he mused, ‘she genuinely annoyed me downstairs…”



And yet, there was a but…



She had tried to make restitution, it seemed.



‘And, if she came back to the room with Friday in tow, there’ll be no gunplay in a packed saloon, where people might get hurt.’ And, Shade liked that idea: too many had already died, as far as he was concerned.



‘She talked of payment… for her help,’ he mused, ‘now I wonder what a pleasure model might ask me for?’



And, for a brief second, Shade grinned.



He was no Earther, being a second generation Spacer. But, even out on the Outer Fringe there were stories of Earth’s counterpart for the pleasure model and, how much they charged for their services.



He smiled at the thought that it had been Health and Safety legislation that led these working girls being formally banned, from space travel.



But, man still had Needs to be met. The miners Needs had to be met, to be more specific. And, without contented miners, there were no minerals, for the spacecraft of tomorrow, so the corporations had invested long-term, with the creation of ‘The Pleasure Model’, based somewhat on ‘The Infantryman’.



“Yet till now, I’ve never met one quite like Thea…” he muttered. She seemed truly sentient, worryingly so: and, yet again Shade mused “What will she want?”



Suddenly he lifted his head, hearing voices from outside the room’s single door. ‘Time to go to the bathroom,” he reminded himself, as he quickly rose and made his way across the room to the door to the small en-suite bathroom, that housed a bath, toilet, sink, mirror and corner unit.



Closing the door quietly, Shade turned his back to the wall and swept his coat back and, away from his holstered pistol.



“Okay, okay,” he growled: “Welcome, welcome… said the spider to the fly…” His humour lacked any real mirth, yet that was of little surprise: he’d been chasing Ashton Friday for over ten years now. And, still his quarry had eluded him.



Now – Shade could hear the room’s main door open and close, as laughing voices entered the room, a man and a woman.



“That’s strangeness…” Shade muttered; he’d expected to recognise the man, but not the woman. And, Shade recognized the woman’s voice.



“It can’t be!” He snapped, as he grasped the door handle; then flung the door open:

“What the…!” Shade exclaimed, mouth agape.



There was Ashton Friday, a powerfully built man, armed well and dressed for the trail, a big left hand wrapped round the neck of a bottle, his right hand round the waist of a slim, lithely-built young woman, with short dark hair and green eyes.



It was a woman that Shade knew was dead, long-dead and, with tears in her eyes, Thea looked to Shade, mouthing the words, “I’m sorry.’



“How did you get here?” Ashton Friday asked, bemused: “Last I knew you were in mourning…” he sneered, as Thea slipped from his arm, crossing the room quickly and, transforming herself to the Asian form that her customer had found acceptable.



And, Shade’s trigger ached, but this was personal: and, the man’ death had to be more intimate, than a mere bullet could provide.



Abruptly he recalled a paraphrase of something Thea had said earlier, ‘Use your imagination and use your skills.’



“Is this your twisted idea of revenge?” Ashton asked, watching him approach the light switch. Shade didn’t answer, instead he simply flipped the switch and, the room plunged into darkness.



“You think by taking me down you’ll be making amends, for not being there, when your…” He laughed, holding his gut, “loved ones… needed you…”



“Is this your twisted idea of revenge?” Ashton asked, watching him approach the light switch. Shade didn’t answer as he pulled the pistol from his between his shirt and trousers then aimed the muzzle toward Shade, who flipped the switch and the room plunged into darkness.



Recalling the voice, Shade lunged forward, reaching out with his left arm and clutching Friday’s left shoulder and, slid the blade from his lower right arm and into his palm. Then he swung his right arm out, and drew it back in quickly, the blade sinking into flesh.



“You’re mine… punk…” Shade muttered, as his quarry coughed blood into his face.



And clutching at one another, the two men danced in the dark until Shade drew his knife out, with a deep sucking sound and Friday gasped.



Then, the big man’s head fell onto Shade’s chest and, he pushed him back, sinking the blade into his gut, again and again.



“Die, you goddamn…” He said with each thrust of the blade.



Ashton Friday heard the words, as he fell to his knees and, he opened he mouth the scream ‘No.’ But, Shade’s blade had not finished his work, yet.



Once again he drew his arm out, just as Friday sank to his knees. And Shade gripped at his hair, pulling upward, drawing the man’s throat taut, as drew the blade back in, slitting the man’s throat and severing bone all-in-one move.



It was then, at that very moment, that light flooded the room.



“Are you finished Shade, his friends are crossing the street and, they’re heading this way…” Thea told him, anxiety showing on her face.



“Guess I am,” Shade muttered, turning toward her, holding his quarries head by the air, blooding falling from the neck, around the white of the broken spine that showed; and the blade slid back into it’s scabbard, attached to his lower right arm.



“Then drop the head,” she snapped, “and, let’s go…”





Epilogue:





Hours had passed since the death of Ashton Friday. Shade’s Banth was tied up and, he and Thea sat before a small fire, as he chugged down the remains of his last bottle.



Finally the bottle was empty and placed by his boot tips, as Shade sighed.



“Is it time to ask what you want for your help now?” He questioned, frowning.

COMMENTS

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AngelicaRose
20:53 Sep 08 2014

Outstanding as always my friend:)

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POST COMMENT

The Return





Chapter One





I had decided to get the bus to town, from New Brighton, after I’d had a rather frustrating interview at a small reprographics firm, specialising in tailored calendars, using a bespoke computer system, based in a small business estate in Moreton.



The fellow who had designed the system had left the firm and his partner up the Swanee, after a disagreement, over a payment as I recall. Well, instead of a straight interview the fellow had me checking the system out.



When it had been realised I could not know the system immediately, he’d decided to dispense with my services, offering me twenty pound for my ‘inconvenience.’



Needless to say, I’d accepted the money, shaken his hand then walked to the end of the estate and the road, that led to the station, or the shore-front. I’d thought for just a few seconds; then turned left and walked toward the promenade.



It had showered awhile, as I’d walked, but I hadn’t minded too much, as I had money in my pocket and, a destination in mind….



*



I walked down the road, passed a few houses on my left and, a chocolate factory over the road, to my right.



`Then as my nose caught the sea-air, I passed an old fifties, old-style Café in blue and white, with sloped roof, ‘Café’ on the roof in red; and a few tables and chairs outside,



If I’d turned left several yards further on, I would’ve found myself at a four-hundred year old windmill without sails and a roof; but still white-washed twice a year by the local historical society.



As it happens, I’ walked straight on, then crossed the road, that led to a wide expanse of green to the right, common-land; used by many, including travelling people, at least once a year.



Ahead, to the left and broaching the field was the car-park, a scattering of bushes broken by a of surface of tarmac chips.



Amongst the bushes were six cars parked up, two to the left and four to the right of the small pathway leading up, to the break in the long wall of concrete leading onto the promenade on the other side.



I walked up the path, my shoes scuffing up a scattering of sand, blown on a breeze. And, taking a pace or so forward I took a right a moment to admire the vista, as a strong gust of wind suddenly whipped round me.



Ti the right there was seven or eight footwall, with the field, car-park and then the smooth surface of cultivated grass, a golf course, on the other side.



But, on the right side, my side of the wall, there was concrete promenade, leading to New Brighton ahead eventually and, West Kirby somewhere behind me. And, there to my left was the North Sea and the tide was in, covering at least two of the five or six feet spaced steps, interspersed with concrete blocks here and there, leading up to the prom. I’d watched the sea a few moments, caught by its constancy and not noticing the grey clouds forming overhead, as I began to walk onward, hands thrust deep into my jacket pockets.



And, as the rain fell drop upon drop, I found myself regretting not getting the train.





Chapter Two





The rain got heavier and, Blackpool in the distance was no longer visible, and somewhere ahead of me, I could see a small hunched figure.



Squinting I peered into the rain and the grey of the sky that somehow seemed to blot out the sun and, I had called out, “You alright?”



And, that’s when I’d seen her big wide eyes with green eyes and wide, wide pupils, as the girl had turned to look at me, her wet long dark hair matted and plastered to her scalp. Sitting on the top step, she had her arms tucked beneath her knee that were drawn to her chin and, all she wore ws a white cotton shift nightdress, that clung to her body.



“They left, without me…” she whimpered and, I found myself kneeling at her side, throwing my jacket over her shoulders, irregardless of the falling rain.



And the sea rolled in as the rain fell, I gathered the girl into my arm, momentarily panicking: ‘What to do?’ But, what was there to do? I’d been too far from home and the promenade was devoid of people.



So, I’d stood there looking down at the vulnerable-looking bundle in my arms and, finally decided what to do.



I began to walk back the way I’d come, back through the car-park and down the road, the chocolate factory on my left and, the girl’s eye’s were closed, with ne’er a sound coming from her.



“My name’s Craig, Craig Hunter. I should’ve introduced myself earlier…” I told the girl, who seemed unaware of her surroundings, but somewhat comforted by the sound of my voice as I continued to talk, about my day.



And, I continued to talk on and on, in a soft voice, as we neared the cross and, the police-station. I approached the double-double, then turned and pushed them open with my back, as I entered.



The black and white square tiles beneath my feet were already smeared with the footprints of those who had entered before me.



For a moment I squinted against the bright light from the overhead striplights, the bundle in my arms suddenly getting very heavy.



And, blinking several times, as rain-water trickled down my face, I’d looked toward the big fellow behind the desk, a few feet away. The desk sergeant had been reading the paper as I entered, now he looked up as I said, “I need help!”



“Aye,” he expressed with a light grin, on a friendly-looking face, “looks like you do.”

He’d opened a hatch in the counter and walked over to me tutting, “My my, you look like a couple of drowned rats…” He muttered.



“She needs help,” I told him, adding, “I found her on the prom, all glassy-eyed and… well, I’ve done first-aid an, I’ll swear she’s in shock.”



Stepping nearer, the fellow in black and silver looked at me, then peered at the large wet bundle in my arms and he looked at me and shook his head, “You’ve walked from there?”



I looked at him and, trying to smile, I asked the fellow; “Would you have left her?”



“Guess not,” he answered, reaching out with his arms, to take my charge from me.

And, that’s when she showed life, wrapping thin, clammy arms round y neck and opening those wide, wide eyes once more, she cried.



“Looks like I’m in the way,” the fellow smirked.



As the girl pressed her head to my chest, the sergeant smiled and told me, “Do you want to take a seat over there…?” He asked, pointing to a wood-slat bench-seat next to the wall opposite the desk: “You sit there and I’ll bring you a hot tea, a towel and some blankets, alright?”



“Uh-huh, thanks…” I responded, concerned for the girl in my aching arms.





Chapter Three





It was five years to the day, since I had found the girl. They had called her Leanne, at first; when my little foundling would not speak. And then they called her other things, when they could not tame what they had awoken.



That was the time they had told me I would be a bad influence, the time when they moved her again and again, until eventually there had been nothing more I could do to find her; and so I have always’ marked off that day I found her, no matter how many calendars I go through.



Yet, something in me has always’ said I’d see her again, one day.



*



I rose groggily, the hammering on the front door way too loud for a quiet estate like that I now live on. Picking up my glasses I reach for my robe and, stumbling toward the door I call, “Okay okay, shut up… I’m coming.”



Too much whiskey in the early hours when you’re seeking the muse, is definitely not conducive to good rest I’ve found: and, I just wish I’d remember that lesson, every time I learn it. But, I never seem to.



I look at the clock, as I make my way through the lounge to the front door: ‘its seven! It’s seven in the morning.’ I curse.



There should never be two seven’s in the same day.



‘Just never should…’ I muse, opening one lock then another; then finally slide out, the bolts top and bottom. Much has happened since the recession hit an, I intended to keep what I have left.



But, the morning is bright as I open the door and, the figure standing there before me is in silhouette: “I know you mister. You know me?”



The voice, the girl’s voice: it sounds uncertain, but also, very familiar.



Making sure the belt to my worn, blue terry-towel robe is fastened, I tell her, “Come in” and, I step aside, to allow her to do so, sliding the blade back inside the knives body, which I palm easily and, slip into my right pocket.



She enters my home, closing the door behind her.



“It’s taken a long time to find you,” she tells me, as she walks toward me.



‘The eyes, those green wide eyes…’ I knew her. Of course I knew her.



She was wearing a black zip-up windcheater and combats, with eighteen-hole boots and a pack on her back and a black baseball-cap on her head, the little girl had grown, but I knew her.



“Leanne?” I asked.



“I don’t use their name for me,” she snapped, eyes aflame with anger, as she began to rain down blow after blow, on my chest, shoulders and gut. She was strong and sure it hurt. But this was… Leanne: she had to be…



Stepping forward and, ignoring the blows that continued to fall, I walked forward and wrapped my arms around her small, powerful frame.



“So, what name do you go by then?” I whispered into her ear.



“Ariel…” she whispered, as she sagged in my arms.



*



My little girl all-grown and I had breakfast, then talked. I’d made her an omelette, which she wolfed down in seconds; so I’d made her a second.



Finally she had finished eating and holding her mug of tea with two hands, she looked at me, with accusing eyes: “You left me… You…”



I did not interrupt her as she ranted and raved. Of course she was right; I had left her. Yet what other option did I have, back then?



“Do you know what it was like there?” She reproached, as she sat on the edge of the spare bed and I knelt down on one knee, to remove her boots.



“No,” I don’t…” I admitted, having accomplished a small miracle, by getting those boots of her small feet: feet that had toes with webbing between the toes.



“I remember now you know?” She told me. “My Mother got caught in a fisherman’s net and, my Father tried to help her…” And, Ariel put her face in her palms, as she wept, tears that seemed to wrack her body with pain.



“All I could do for you I did…” I tried to explain to this young woman… this young woman with baleful green eyes.



And she stared at me with that look of accusation, which tore at my heart.



“You did not have to leave me!” She suddenly shouted and, she began to hit me once more. And, though I’m not too old, or too small, her blows began to hurt, one after another. So I held her again and, slowly she calmed in my arms.



And, for a long moment I recalled the rain falling on us, that day I had met her and held her, for that very first time.



“Well,” I murmured in Ariel’s left ear, “you’re home now.”



The cap had fallen off as she hit me and, now her long dark tresses fell to her shoulders and halfway down her back.



“Home?” She repeated softly.



“Yes, why not? This place is big enough for two…” I murmured, slipping away from her a moment….



And, with a smile I told Ariel, “Now, let me lock the front door properly and, I’ll pour you a hot bath, alright?”



She seemed to think over what I’d said for a long time, then looked up at me and smiled. Oh how I rejoiced to see her smile.



“Cold water, please?” Ariel asked in a soft voice, “I prefer cold water…”

COMMENTS

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AngelicaRose
01:22 Sep 02 2014

I love it!!! Excellent piece of work my friend :).

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NikkiAidyn
04:32 Sep 02 2014

Extraordinary detail in your work. I love how you can pull me into it with your words, liking pulling me into a life other than the one I know. You have an excellent gift with words.



I sure hope you will continue on with this story. :)

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NikkiAidyn
04:33 Sep 02 2014

Edit: *like pulling me in*

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