Creation (29 page)

Jess kissed Sam on the cheek while still holding him in her arms. “They’ll find their way just like everyone else. And they’ll put our plan to use, spending money to help people become who they want to be. Saving those who want it. I’m very proud of you, Sam. Now let’s go home.”

Sam returned his wife’s kiss with one to her forehead. “Maybe not directly home. Sophie and I did make you a promise some time ago.”

Jess scratched her head then laughed as she remembered.

* * *

S
am lounged
on the ten-foot-long couch that dominated one side of
Persephone’
s seldom-used bridge. The captain’s chair, used only by Larry for emergency drills, proved useless for his afternoon naps. Displayed on the wall view screen, the red planet grew larger by the minute. But it wasn’t Mars that captured Sam’s attention. Perfectly spaced white polka dots surrounded the terracotta sphere.

“Hey, Sophie, what’s with the white spots?” It’d taken some getting used to, asking questions in an empty room. But it saved the captain from interrupting whatever she was doing to zap to his location.

“Solar-transfer-array collectors. Venus and Mercury beam their power to those satellites, then that energy is relayed to the rest of the solar system. We should be in orbit within the hour,” Sophie said. “Jess is on the way up. I’ll join you in a minute. Just need to swing my heavy butt into a nice arc toward my trajectory first.”

The whole trip out from Earth, she’d been making jokes about the amount of luggage in her storage bays. His favorite so far was their first greeting on boarding
Persephone
. She’d materialized as a three-hundred-pound woman in a skin-tight black costume that barely covered her private parts. The instant she moved, the bodysuit failed, much to Jess’s amusement. The joke was made even better by the outfit being a copy of one Jess had recently purchased for their Martian adventure.

Sophie walked onto the bridge. “Thank you for this one last outing. It means a lot to me even if I can’t join you on the planet.”

Sam pulled himself up to a more dignified sitting position on the couch. “It works for all of us. I’ll never hear the end of it if Jess doesn’t get some red planet on her boots. And I need a better understanding of the Mars Consortium.”

“They’re a secretive bunch,” Sophie explained. “You’ll have to resort to the old-fashioned way of gathering information: talking to people. For beings connected to all communication in the solar system, those Tobes down there know how to keep quiet.”

Jess stepped onto the bridge wearing a tight leather-and-fishnet body stocking. The outfit clung to her breasts and hips like a lover’s hands. Had the boots been high-heeled instead of the dusty, rock-climbing variety, Sam would have thought she’d dressed for another activity entirely.

Sophie gave a wolf whistle on seeing the outfit.

“It is Mars,” Jess explained. “Apparently, this is considered conservative dress down on the planet.”

Sam hugged his wife, doing his best not to rip the sexy attire off her body. “Just enjoy the break. Don’t take too many expectations with you, okay?”

Jess huffed. “It’s not like I’m looking for a little sexual adventure, not that it wouldn’t be welcome after Earth. I just don’t want to look like some backward, repressed member of a religious order.”

“I don’t think you’ll ever have to worry about that.” He caressed along her waistline. “But I promise if anything I’ve done results in a misguided group looking to me for answers, this will be the attire I’ll recommend.”

Jess tossed her hair to the side. “That’s better.”

Sophie failed to suppress her snickers. “I’m in no hurry to lose you two, but I am fully charged. So stay as long as you like. I’ll be here when you’re ready to leave.”

* * *

L
arry took
the shuttle on one lazy circle around the largest of the resort cities that dotted the Martian landscape. Large lakes of blue water stood in stark contrast to the red soil. Primary colors dominated the scene, reminding Sam of the comic animations he’d enjoyed as a kid.

As they set down, Hector Delcourt rushed to greet them. To Sam’s surprise, he looked downright jovial as he reached out his hand. “It’s good to see you again, Sam. And you too, Jess.”

His yellow speedo and green mesh shirt did little to conceal his deeply tanned skin and rippling muscles. The man’s eyes traveled up and down Jess’s figure. “You look set to do some rock climbing with those boots. We have some wonderful cliff walls out beyond the red dunes. But perhaps an afternoon by the lake would be more relaxing. The cliff walls are best seen in the morning light.”

“I wasn’t sure how to dress, but a nice swim does sound good,” Jess said.

Hector made no attempt at discretion as he continued to inspect each of Jess’s curves. “Let me give you a short tour. Then I can drop you off at one of our shops so you can pick out what you like. Attitudes in Xanthe are upscale but relaxed. Most of the cities on Mars have been designed more for enjoyment than work.”

The hovercraft hugged the ground at a leisurely speed that barely outpaced those out for a stroll in the late afternoon. Restaurants served their meals in outdoor patios, the food laid out in mouthwatering designs that would put the New York establishments to shame. Men walking along the promenade wore shorts at most. Women wore even less—a testament, Sam realized, to Mars’s unlimited source of power. A planet so warm people had little need for clothing.

Sam pulled his attention away from a striking woman, a natural redhead, he noticed. “Is nudity a function of being so close to the lake, or is this the general attire on Mars?”

“A little of both.” Hector laughed. “We like to think of Xanthe as the decadent city. Many of our residents enjoy a very liberated sexual lifestyle. Though I would warn you that most of the women you see completely naked expect something in return for their attention. A light wrap or scarf to cover the lower portion of the body is considered appropriate. Our clothing stores would have trouble if we encouraged everyone to go nude. And they specialize in some of the most upscale items.”

Hector set the hovercraft down along a walkway lined with nicely appointed stores. “I’ll let you discover our little town on your own. When you’re comfortable, meet me in the large gazebo that juts out farthest into the lake. You can’t miss it. Just tell them you’re my guests.”

Jess fingered silky fabrics, her hands clearly visible under the translucent attire. “Try this on.”

The light-blue swimsuit she held up—Sam thought the word
swimsuit
generous, considering the lack of material—elicited a nervous laugh. “You must be kidding.”

“I’m not. Look around. You can’t hang out here in those space pajamas. Don’t be so uptight. You won’t be showing anything more than every other guy out here. If I’m going to wear something alluring, I won’t be seen with someone who looks like he just escaped a monastery.” Jess, hands on hips, stared at his conservative shorts. Apparently, they didn’t adequately show off what he had to offer.

Sam looked around the shop. “I don’t see a changing room.”
Phew, dodged that bullet.

“Don’t be silly. Open your eyes. Just duck behind a rack if you’re that embarrassed.” Jess began carefully discarding her bodysuit in favor of the wrap that floated in her hand. If it weren’t for the tones of green, Sam would have thought it completely transparent.

But the real shock came when they presented themselves to the checkout counter. If Jess continued to shop, she’d have no trouble running through their vast wealth. Mars wasn’t going to be a cheap adventure.

After a wonderful meal of freshly caught seafood, they headed out along the long boardwalk to the gazebo. At the entrance to the dock, a man in sunglasses sat back against a sign proclaiming this to be the office of Hector Delcourt. The man smiled at seeing the couple and pointed for them to join Hector out over the lake.

Hector stretched out along a chaise lounge. He’d lost the brightly colored beach shirt. To Sam’s relief, the man still wore the tight-fitting swimsuit. Two additional lounge chairs had been set up facing the water. Nothing about the gazebo said
business office
.

Again, Hector surveyed Jess as if that were the traditional greeting a man would use with a woman. “Looks like you two found something more comfortable to wear. Join me for a chat?”

Sam did his best to settle into the chair. It wouldn’t have been as much of a challenge had it not been for the two female attendants who took an inordinate interest in helping him.

Hector smiled at Sam’s discomfort then addressed the two attendants. “Mimosas, my dears. And you don’t need to be so formal.”

At the words from their boss, the two women released the ties to their sheer wraps. The cloths fluttered off their naked bodies as they headed down the dock for the drinks.

Hector lounged back, basking in the light from the overhead arrays that lit up the sky. “I would guess you have some questions.”

Sam surveyed the beachfront. “Does anyone work here? I mean, other than the store clerks and restaurant personnel?”

“There’s not much work that needs doing,” Hector said from behind his sunglasses. “The heavy work of updating the satellites and maintaining the array is mostly contracted out. You can imagine how much money that system brings in. The only people who live fulltime on Mars are those associated with the solar transfer array. We hire seasonal employees from all over the solar system to come work for us.”

Jess frowned. “And you just sit here, collecting the money?”

“Not just me.” Hector smirked. “But we have a smooth-running operation. Why shouldn’t we kick back and enjoy life?”

Sam looked around at the obscene display of wealth as the two naked cocktail waitresses returned with the drinks. “Why are you even on the board of directors for Rendition? I’d think you’d be happier up here without a care in the solar system.”

“Mostly to keep an eye on things,” Hector said. “We outfitted the arrays to work off your computer systems. Which means Tobes, of course. We like knowing what we’re buying. And I suppose partly to keep an eye on the competition.”

“How is Rendition competition?” Jess asked.

“Rendition is competition in the money game. As in who has the most. But the other game, the one involving the powering of the whole solar system, is more about who else is on the board rather than the company itself.” Between the naked women, the well-tanned population, and Hector’s casual work environment, the impression of a playboy enjoying a high-stakes tournament fit the man better than his role as serious board member.

Sam squinted. “You make it sound like you’re winning that money game. Not that I mind. It just conflicts with what I’ve been told.”

Hector leaned in conspiratorially. “Everyone thinks they’re winning. The Moons of Jupiter think they have the most power and are the most desirable. Kind of like the school princess who just knows everyone wants her. Earth thinks of itself as the birthplace of humanity—fair enough. But when it comes to money, make no mistake: throughout history, the people who control the power, and not political power but the actual power that runs everything, are the ones with the most money. This planet is just the latest in a long line of energy control points.”

Sam leaned to the side of his chair. “Where do you stand on the board? You must know there’s a conflict coming between Earth and the Moons of Jupiter.”

“We supply energy throughout the solar system.” Hector said. “For us to pick sides would be unwise. But I will say we do hedge our bets. You aren’t the only one with contacts among the pirates of the Kuiper Belt.”