Chapter 19 Alien Comforts #2
“Of course! The Spire understands that staff have needs.” She taps the panel again, bringing up a menu. “You can customize appearance, voice, personality traits—”
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I watch, half horrified and half fascinated, as she scrolls through options. The technology is incredible, but I wonder even more now about the sexual practices in this society.
“That's odd. In staff the quarters, the men seem to only come in Imperial grey. I was trying to see if I could get him to look more human. I’ve never tried to change his color.” She tries a few more combinations.
“Nope, I can't change the skin tone for you. Sorry about that. But look, I can change his penis to be smooth.”
The holographic man appears again, still grey-skinned, but now with slightly different facial features. “Hello,” he purrs. “I am programmed for seventeen pleasure techniques across five galactic standards.”
We both look at his girthy, erect grey penis.
“Is this what it's supposed to look like? I've never really looked at a smooth penis erect,” Lira admits. “Imperial men have ridges along the top. But the size is about right.”
“That thick?” I ask before I can stop myself.
“Human men don't look like that when they’re erect? Are they smaller?” she asks me, surprised.
“I'm no expert, but they're more like a few fingers in circumference.” I hold up three fingers generously for the reputation of human men in the galaxy.
“And does that feel good? Enough to satisfy human women?”
I shrug, then the absurdity of the situation suddenly hits me, standing in an alien hotel room, discussing holographic sexual partners with my new alien colleague, while wearing a high-tech chastity belt and having the worst headache of my life from a translator being rammed into my skull.
So, I do what any sane person would do. I burst out laughing.
It seems to be the only emotional outburst my body is capable of right now.
And it feels good, the release of something.
Maybe this is exactly what I need—to laugh about the cruel strangeness instead of being terrified by it.
My laughter doesn’t mean I’m not afraid or that I’m not doubting myself, only that I am going to confront this new situation from all angles.
Lira looks stunned for a moment, then joins in, her laughter infectious.
“I'm sorry,” I say through giggles. “It's just this is so not what I expected when I signed up to be a hotel receptionist!”
“What, no holographic pleasure companions on Earth?” Lira teases, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Sadly, no. We have to make do with real people, with all their flaws and inconvenient emotions.”
Lira dismisses the hologram with a wave. “Well, you're in the galaxy now. Although,” she lowers her voice conspiratorially, “the guest quarters have models of every species, with custom options we don't get access to.”
“Unfortunately, I can't enjoy any of that, anyway.”
“Why not?” Lira asks, then her eyes widen with realization. “Oh! Did they give you a Venus Lock? I should have guessed, your being human and all.”
I feel my cheeks burning. “What do you mean? Am I walking funny?”
“Not that I noticed, but the Venus Lock makes sense after what happened with Denise.” Lira's expression grows more serious.
I notice she used the word “with” Denise, not “to” Denise, and I find that odd if she had been abducted. So I ask, “What happened with Denise?”
“She was the human liaison before you. From the Terra Sanctum hotel and seemed to be doing well, but then...” She trails off.
“Then what?”
“The rumors are that she got involved with Shadow Sovereign Lorian—romantically. And then she disappeared.” Lira's voice drops to barely a whisper.
“Officially, she was reassigned to another property. But some staff think she was sold to a powerful warlord. Some say she was abducted from the hotel. No one really knows what happened.”
The blood drains from my face. “Sold?” I ask while simultaneously thinking, Another version of what happened to Denise.
“Maybe the rumors are wrong. I’m sure you'll be fine as long as you follow the rules and obey the Sovereigns.”
My mind races.
Maybe Denise broke the rules and faced the consequences.
Maybe she did fall in love, and her lover whisked her away in the middle of the night.
Maybe she really was just reassigned, and the staff gossip has gotten out of hand.
“Hey,” Lira says, noticing my expression.
“You're not Denise. You’re not alone. And the Sovereigns are taking extra precautions with you, and you’ve got me, and I’m the best receptionist in this sector.
I know everything there is to know about this job and life at the Spire.
Just keep your head down, do your job, and everything will be fine.
And the one thing you can absolutely count on about Sovereign Rafe is that he doesn’t make the same mistake twice.
It’ll be over his dead body that anything happens to you, and you should feel truly honored that he’s taking such a keen interest. Besides,” she adds with a smile, “the work itself is interesting. We welcome guests from all over the galaxy, and the benefits really are incredible.”
I look around my luxurious suite again, trying to recapture that earlier sense of possibility. Maybe I'm letting my fear overshadow this opportunity. Maybe Denise's story, whatever it really is, doesn't have to be my story.
“You're right,” I say, forcing myself to sound confident. “I’m not my predecessor.”
“Once you learn the protocols and settle into the routine, you'll love it here. I promise.”
“Are there any other humans working here? Besides me?”
“Right now? No, but that doesn't mean anything. The Ascendant Alliance employs humans at other locations, and some have completed their contracts successfully and then moved on to other opportunities afterward, like any other galactic citizen.”
Something in her tone suggests she's not telling me everything. There’s something rehearsed in her kindness, but I don't press. I'm not ready for the full truth; I’ve had enough horror stories for one day.
“I'll let you rest,” Lira says, heading toward the door. “Your uniforms are in the closet. We start at First Chime tomorrow. Your room will activate with plenty of time for your waking rituals.”
“The room will activate?”
“Yes. The environmental systems know your schedule. At First Chime, the walls will glow pale gold, the air will fill with citrus and star anise, and you'll hear three harmonic pulses. If you want, the computer can tell you your entire schedule, just ask.”
After she leaves, I find my uniforms in the closet—the same elegant black tunics with luminous blue piping that Lira was wearing—along with what appears to be formal attire for special events and more black shoes.
As I try on one of the uniforms, I catch my reflection in a mirror-like panel.
The cut is flattering; the fabric is unlike anything on Earth, lightweight yet substantial, and seems to adjust to my body temperature.
The Celestial Spire's emblem sits over my heart, glowing faintly like the twin moons outside my window.
I look professional. Competent. Like someone who belongs in this incredible place.
But as I change back into my familiar Earth clothes and sink onto the bed, which immediately adjusts to cradle my body perfectly, conflicting emotions tear me apart.
The human slaves in the lobby.
The Venus Lock.
Denise's disappearance.
The rules.
The punishments.
The Sovereigns controlling my sex life.
I can’t help but wonder if Denise came here, saw the same things I did, thought that she could make a difference, and was disposed of.
Oh Jesus.
Am I strong enough for this?