I'm going to open with a fact today. A new year, a new me. Or some other bullshit. Did you know that the fashion industry produces 10% of the world's carbon emissions? That's more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. It's also not really a fact. All that fashion has to be flown and shipped across the globe, contributing even more to its carbon footprint. All those internationally famous models get flown everywhere to do fashions shows. Even the facts aren't factual these days. It's not like the Good Old Days. When we had knobs, as well as devastating polio epidemics. I don't know which I miss more. I suppose it's the G.O.D. really. It's far more multifaceted. You knew where you were back then. Generally being completely ignored. Or when you weren't being ignored, being badly beaten for something. You could even get beaten with a knob. Levers, which aren't knobs, were far better though. Although you could stick some brass doorknobs in a sock and beat the kids with that. The law couldn't touch you for dishing out discipline to children. That's what children really need. A regular near fatal beating. If it went a bit too far, you could always get another one to replace it. When I was a kid you could leave your doors unlocked without fear. We had fuck all worth stealing. Spare the rod, spoil the child they used to say back then. Rod's aren't knobs either. They look quite similar to levers though. I hope your taking notes. This is wisdom I'm giving you here. Why can't I have a knob on my television,? That's what I want to know. Now I spend half my life looking for the fucking remote. Telephones had dials as well you know. There were no buttons or touch screens. You had to look numbers up in thick books. If the number you had to call had a 0 in it you could have quick piss before the call connected. Make yourself a drink while the dial slowly revolved back to its starting position. Maybe twiddle with the volume knob on your TV. Turn it down so you could actually hear whoever was on the other end of the line. We've lost so much, while gaining nothing.
(The copyright to this image is the property of 123RF.com.)
Scarlet was still staring at him. Her expression cycling between suspicion, curiosity and reflection. His mistake had been suggesting a solution. One she would have worked out, if she hadn't done so already. Now his suggestion could be seen as some kind of interference.
"I wrecked your memory palace. That's a given. You had a backup. Which you thought would remedy that. Unfortunately you weren't able to use it, because of my actions. All options are open to you. Including doing nothing, should you so wish. I'm trying to put right what I did wrong."
"Yes, but that's what's so annoying about this. You had the best of intentions. Which means I don't know whether to kiss you or kill you. What the hell did you do anyway?"
He grimaced. Avoiding her eyes.
"You can find out here." He whispered. "It's all... available. Take a look if you like. But remember I had the best of intentions."
She drummed her fingers on her lips. Mulling over the possibilities.
"Is this the Wanderer Central, I've heard so much about?" Pip inquired.
He gave her the sternest look his face was capable of. She just giggled.
"Why don't you want me to go to Wanderer Central Sparky?"
"It's undergoing refurbishment."
Aw fuck, that was a pathetic attempt at concealment.
"Take me there. Now." Scarlet commanded.
"I'd rather not. This place is really cool you know. It's my homage to your infinite doorway... Oh balls."
Her eyes sparkled with delight.
"So I can get there directly from here then. This is where you entered my place from. Come on then. Let's go ladies." Jake gave a strangled wail. Now she knew. This would be used against him. "On second thoughts, wait here with him. I'll give you the edited highlights when I get back. One of you gimps get me there now." This directed at the motionless avatars.
He was still transfixed by the spot she'd disappeared from, minutes later. Scarlet had had him at her mercy there. She was understandably angry with him, yet she'd let him off. Not entirely. This was just a step too far for her. She'd drawn a line she wouldn't cross. Morag shoved him forcefully.
"Have you heard a word we've been saying?"
With enormous effort he tore his eyes away. Smiling beatifically.
"No. But if you give me an ultra short precise I'm sure I can catch up in no time. You've got beautiful eyes you know. Really green and very attractive. Your's are great to Pip."
The blonde boatswain huffed.
"Balls. We'll get no sense out of him. He's all loved up. Shouldn't last too long though. He'll crash in a little while."
He did to. Scarlet had free rein to explore every aspect of him. Not in as much detail as he could obtain. Broad strokes rather than fine lines. There was a distinct possibility she might misinterpret certain of his actions.
"Oh God, what have I done?" He groaned, palming his face.
"He's back." Morag announced. "Now is there any chance we can go somewhere less boring?"
"Um... Yes. It might be a good idea to put some distance between me and Scarlet. Give her a bit more time to... reflect. Follow me."
The tour he gave them served two purposes. The first of course being Scarlet would have to spend some time tracking him down. The second, distracting him from thinking about the possible adverse consequences. 151 was a good place to start. So far in the future, they'd run out of names for places. He liked to believe that. It could just as easily been a complete lack of imagination on the part of the Kalfrigian's. Highly evolved descendants of the first humans to visit another galaxy. A neonitrogen, antiphonium atmosphere combined with a trinary star system gave the sky a swirling purple, red and brown pattern at sunset. Which, thanks to the slow rotation of the planet and the intricate orbits of the suns, lasted over a month. Passing through numerous phases. From there they passed through his corridor of doors to Strixa on a near contemporary earth. Going back to the control room risking a meeting with Scarlet was not worth that risk. In addition Strixa was pretty cool. Outwardly as chilled and laid back as the Shishani Nehru were. Beneath that a hedonistic, highly competitive underworld.
The place where everyone could let off steam. Full of gambling dens, sporting arena's and gladiatorial combat simulations from thousands of historical periods across hundreds of worlds. Some real. Most imaginary or mythical. This memory was interactive. They'd had a mission here. To find the daughter of the President of the Moon. A deeply and devoutly religious place, the young lady had absconded from. She did not want to go back either. Led them a merry dance before they'd essentially kidnapped her and taken her back. After which they'd helped her escape again, after payment of course. It was the best bit. A perfectly planned operation that went without a single hitch. Thanks to the highly regimented nature of the Lunar world. Now he thought of it, her sister and mother had followed a week later. There'd almost been a war because of that. So one minor hitch.
From there he took them to some quieter more picturesque places. Benanda and Denifare. One a water world the other consisting of vast deserts and mountain ranges. By the time he took them to Singapore on another earth, he was beginning to get worried. Taking his mind off that by relating the tale of their robbery of an ancient artifact stolen from a Mars which had developed a civilization long ago. The analogue for Pengelly had distracted two of the guards, by getting into a three way with them if memory served. While Morag, Fetu and Sade had bypassed the security systems so he and Scarlet could snag the worn remnants of a copulating couple. Jake was just guiding them through the exit strategy when the lady in question appeared. The moment of truth had arrived.
She was either angry or determined. It was difficult to tell at this range. Scarlet broke into a run, coming at him fast. This was going to hurt. It did. The force of impact drove him back two steps as her caught her. Legs and arms wrapped around him, hugging the breath from his body. He fell into those mahogany eyes. Drowning himself. The kiss made him feel faint. It might have been oxygen starvation. If he'd needed oxygen here. Hands behind his neck she leaned back.
"I am going to sex you so hard when we get home. I might even forgive you." His hands kneaded her wonderful bottom. "I'd do you now, but the anticipation will make it even better. Let's get back to mine. I want to show Morag and Pip Wonderland in all its dorky magnificence."
Her doorway appeared. All four of them stepped through. It was the Mad Hatters tea party. He should have guessed.
Being Scarlet it had a twist. She and the other girls had short, low cut dresses and stockings on. The March Hare, Mad Hatter and Dormouse were seated at one end of the table. Leaving four places for them. Alice directed them to their allotted seats. Morag to her right. Jake opposite with Pip to his left. The food was good. The view was even better. He realized he wasn't wearing the outlandish wool suit. Instead he was wearing an ordinary one. She smiled at him sexily. Who knew eating a tea could be so obscene? He had barely started eating his own food when he felt the movement beneath the table. He grinned at her. Leaned back and opened his legs to allow greater access. Scarlet leaned back as well. This was going to be quite the tea party. Already the most erotic one he'd been to. Jake was building up quite a sweat, He dabbed at his face with the napkin.
"Are you looking at Morag's breasts, perchance?" Scarlet asked teasingly, leaning even further back, hips sliding forward.
"Yes I am." He confessed.
"Why would you be doing that?"
"Because they really are magnificent."
The pressure on him built in intensity. Scarlet was going pink. Morag to for that matter.
"They are aren't they. Would you like mine to be like hers?"
His eyes slowly moved back to her.
"Yours are perfect as they are my love. Anything more would be pure greed." Morag jiggled in her seat. She'd done that a few times. "Are you okay there?"
The redhead grinned.
"Surprisingly yes. The Mad Hatter's a bit handsy. "Nothing I can't cope with. Keeps squeezing my knee. It's actually nice to get some attention. I'm certainly going to make a simulation of this. It will blow Hermes' mind."
Pip spoke for the first time since they'd arrived.
"The March Hare has been sticking his hand up my skirt since I sat down. He's surprisingly gentle for a randy hare."
Scarlet sighed.
"Sorry. I can turn it down a notch if you like. I told you I was an ugly, dorky, girl when I dreamed this up. Too ugly for anyone to even take a look at."
"I'm fine." The boatswain stated.
"Leave it as it is." The redhead added. "My simulation is going to turn this up several notches."
Jake's brow furrowed as he noticed an absentee.
"Where's the Dormouse gone?" Scarlet smiled, her eyes hooding.
"Under the table." She nodded downwards.
Comprehension flooded him.
"You mean this isn't you fondling me. It's him?"
"The dormouse is a she. I had a really good imagination and a lot of free time to read naughty books. You should see what her tails been doing for the last 20 minutes." She gasped biting her bottom lip/
"Oh my God. You were even lascivious back then. You really are irredeemably indecent."
"I can get her to stop if you want."
"Nah. I'll be fine. I'll tough it out."