Author's note 1:
In the Serrahsha language a ; means a click noise. And Serrahsha use voice inflection instead of facial expressions to broadcast emotions (i.e. a smile is a happy, gentle voice)
Author's note 2:
Still no editor, I AM looking for one .If you are one and like what you see, PLEASE send me your e-mail through feedback.
Author's note 3:
The sex in this chapter is minimal because of the nature of Serrahshan sex. But everyone involved in sex acts is an adult, the humans being at least 18.
Author's note 4:
I thank you for your feedback, but I'd like some NEGATIVE feedback as well. If I know what you DON'T like about my stories (Other than the spelling- I KNOW I have trouble there ;) ) I can improve them. What I'm aiming for is being attractive to a Publishing Company. I had friends that thought I shouldn't bother… I'm no longer in touch with them, I've also had friends tell me I'm real good.
Enough from me…
An Alien Spider's Love prt 02
Opening To New Ways
Dahlia was amazed at the Serrahsha city of No Regrets, A city constructed of silk and decorated with precious metals and gemstones. Torroto was explaining what the buildings they passed by or over were. Dahlia asked, "Are there any homes here?"
"Only apprentices live in the city proper, Anna would call this the Commercial zone of the city. The living caverns are all around this cavern and we keep our industries as clean as possible and on the surface. What really amazes your people is that each building has its own clean power source. "
Myra nods, "That is what I'm the maddest about. If The Harvest Corporation wasn't being big jerks The Federation would have cheep, easily available power. Think how such power sources would revolutionize Star Travel at the very least."
Torroto does a click/chuckle at that and Myra thumps his back, "Are you ever going to explain why you find that statement funny?"
"Maybe," click/laughs Torroto, "But not right now."
Myra slaps Torroto's back, "You always say that…"
Dahlia queries Myra tensely, "Why do you keep hitting Torroto and why does he take that from you?"
Torroto click/chuckles, "I don't feel the hits as a human would. It's more spread out and dulled, thanks to my chitin the hardest any unarmed human can do is a rough tap. The caresses however…" Torroto made a whistle sound that was explained as a sexy moan as Myra petted the place she had just hit.
As they were climbing over another office, Torroto announced, "And now, a good look at our destination, The Weaver Palace!"
Massive silk orbs, bigger than any that made the city proper bejeweled a massive column that rose from the center of the lake that covered most of the bottom of the cavern that No Regrets hung in to the roof of the cavern three-quarter a mile above that lake. The city stopped about forty feet from its mean diameter and was only connected to it by nearly invisible silk bridges that looked easy to cut. The way the place's windows were cut and stained and the Gems and metals were interwoven in the walls The Weaver's Palace looked more like a work of art than what Torroto stated what it was, "A city's Weaver's Palace is where all City functions are routed from, all City business takes place, all the Caste and guild headquarters are in there, it's where the governors meet, It has the best, highest end and most expensive shops and bazaar and it's were the prisoners are given their assignment masters. I should take you there first…"
"Why?" Dahlia asked.
Torroto sighed, "I captured your rapists that had chased you and caught you. It's up to you to tell us whether you want to control any of their punishment duties and you may give testimony to either defend or convict them and the contents of that testimony will set the price of the rental fee which often determines how long they have to work and who buys master rights."
"'Master Rights?' Like slaves?" Dahlia asks horrified.
"No," Torroto replies, "The prisoners have full rights and must be paid a stipend for the work they are assigned or do which includes food, clothing, housing and medical coverage. The cost of the rental fee just determines how many work hours the person must complete before they are finished with their punishment. We also try to match the prisoner's skill to who gets them, so they are comfortable. At least, whenever possible keeping in mind what crimes they have committed."
Dahlia thought about it, it was better than some Federation member's penal codes, "OK, I think I can accept that."
Torroto nodded, Anna and Myra had trouble with their punishment system too, at least until it was explained, many Humans did and he had learned that in a very pre-FTL era some humans owned one another as property. To the Serrahsha it was as barbaric as eating another intelligence, to witch Anna had responded, "That happened too," when he told her their view. He was SO glad most humans had got past those stages! He was then told by his Ferrarien
Airray
Trrrushmure that by the standards of many species the Serrahsha were a gentle people.
But even they had a breaking point.
Torroto scurried forward and across a bridge. On the other side there were two Serrahsha resting on either side of a door into a silk orb. One had a Companion on his back while the other was shivering and his abdomen had a slight bulge. Dahlia asked, "What's wrong with him, is he sick?"
Just then the Serrahsha gave a scream and his crack opened up dropping a nude human male who also roared in orgasm. As Torroto scampered by a confused Dahlia asked, "That wasn't a male Serrahsha?"
Torroto click/chuckled, "Ahhh… Well, Serrahsha Sex is complex. Let's see… Anna called us a hermaphrodite species; most of us have both sexes but can chose which one is active at what time. True Males, like myself, and True Females only make up ten percent of our population and in us only one sex set truly functions so… You still can call anyone not obviously female a 'he' but the truth is most Serrahsha are unsexed as far as a standard Duel Sex is concerned."
"Oh, that kind of makes the thought of sex with you sort of easier…" Dahlia muttered.
Neither Torroto nor Myra understood that, but it WAS sort of encouraging.
Torroto went thru the door into a place where Serrahsha Weavers were constructing clothing around humans, some Companions were helping as well as people with bracelets, who Dahlia assumed was the punished ones.
Dahlia asked, "Why are you making so many human cloths? There can't be that much call for them."
Torroto click/chuckled, "Serrahsha take a long view of a situation. If we win, which we plan on doing, we'll need money to rebuild which we can get by having product on hand to sell and spreading it to several markets. Also our Constructors and Miners are exultant income earners. Not to mention what our Hunter, Harvester, and Artist Castes."
Myra interjected, "And you should include The Strategist Caste, there are non-military applications for strategists, such as lawyers, media programmers and corp -- ahhh…"
"What would corporations want strategists for?" Torroto asked more curios then furious, because he knew that not all corporations were as bad as Harvest Corp.
Myra looked too cautious, so Dahlia answered, "They use them to plan what to do next or how to promote themselves."
"Oh… Why would someone believe this war would advance Harvest Corps purpose?"
Myra and Dahlia looked at one another, "We have no idea."
Torroto nods, he had thought so. Then he headed down a strand for five orb levels, he then scuttled one quarter of the way around the column and into the bottom of another orb. Inside were rows of seats and tables with humans doing small tasks under the watch of an enormous 38 foot Serrahsha.
Dahlia gasped, "I didn't know you could grow that big!"
Torroto makes a low whistle, his version of a sigh, "We usually don't, but she is a Berserker Caste. Order keeps this one calm so she keeps order over the prisoners. Berserkers like Poj;izefae are a rare genetic anomaly that doesn't shift forms with what they eat, they grow over large and become highly aggressive and dangerous when not kept calm, but if kept so they are one of the best of The Serrahsha's Castes. It's amazing to most of us, but some prisoners are so taken with them that they become companions of a Berserker. I understand the attraction myself," but he didn't explain and Poj;izefae had spotted them.
"Ah, Torroto!" Her powerful voice boomed, "It is always a pleasure! So is the second female this Dahlia my new Companion has been talking about? He's been worried and I believe that what he's been telling me is the truth. Don't I Billy?"
Billy Stone, who was the only corporate security guard who was nice to Dahlia, popped his head over Poj;izefae's shoulder, "Hi Dahlia! I've been worried about you since I saw blood bubble from your lips as the doc and Miss. Nanosmith lifted you into Mr. Torroto's womb."
Poj;izefae quickly corrected, "It's a Pouch not a womb, deer. I have a womb, but it's connected to my pouch as his testicles are connected to his. To have sex two Serrahsha shove the backs of their pouches out."