Reverse Harem (Sci-Fi)

Chapter 1

“What do you think that was about?” Charles came through the door first with the same vacant expression as the others. The custom he always had was to observe their temperament and calculate their breathing by the expansion of their chest and the time it took to settle.

His eyes darted to the youngest first being Marcus and Kirk, who were exact in earth and Lerus years.  Marcus shrugged half-heartedly and raised his arms to stretch: then scratched underneath his arms and looked upon their compound bored; “I think I might pop out for a few hours.”

He reached for his bohemian beanie inside his denim jeans pocket and proceeded to put it upon his head – stopped by Charles who yanked it away –

“You want to go out after that briefing? Wouldn’t a few cans of soda and some snacks be the answer?” -

“No. And none of you three can tell me otherwise.” Marcus turned to his skateboard and the helmet that hung above it. “Let me handle this the best way I know-how. Ok?”

Kirk, knowing that Charles would apprehend such defiance, stepped in and pushed the red buzzer to open the door for Marcus. “I think it’s best to let Marcus do what he does best.”

Charles sighed. And proceeded to hand back the beanie … but Marcus had already grabbed the helmet and skateboard by the door and was skating away under the lowering golden skies that Lerus boasted on fine mornings that were a rarity those days.

“What’s with him lately?” Charles usually had an idea. But people change. As did Marcus quite frequently.  

“I think he just needs some space. We all do. This damn breeding program has gotten us into knots we can’t untie"

“It’s what we do, Joey.”

“And sometimes, just sometimes, Charles, getting away from this compound can do the mental state a whirlwind of good.

…

Marcus skated across the open airs of Lerus: the white-and-blue sun hailed forever before him as he came to a halt and let loose his wild-tousled curly-hair that hung freely. He needed some space as he climbed the ladder of the abandoned derelict building that was once their old compound.

There was a way in through the window that had been boarded up. And it was his second time removing it and making sure he never cut himself as he adjusted his body to squeeze through.

“There you are.” His old room was now barren but still in great condition. Marcus had liked this room. And returned often because some secretive areas were stashed with medium-sized construction models of super-glued buildings and half-finished carpentry of snuff and storage boxes.

 The screwdriver was in his pocket, as he undid all four screws from vents until the hatches came off and numerous pieces were scattered across the floor. One, small box, however, had four little figurines he’d built as an idea for constructing new homesteads and indoor shelters encrypted with headquarters for other young men like him in the breeding program. The prints were there too.

It was an idea to feel more at home when transporting from Lerus to Earth. He didn’t quite have the guts to vocalize his constructiveness on larger scales as they were never weighed fairly. And most engineers saw fit for him to attend to the female inhabitants on Earth. His job was to further their biology and bio-engineering for procreation.

Marcus had a purpose then: building and constructing hundreds of ideas. His hands reminisced old aches and scars from all the effort he used to invent. As if they were vulture claws in need of moisturizing and suffered from arthritis. But that was long behind him as Marcus looked at them: smoother than that of a woman’s. Ahead, he thought, was a new project. And he hoped he could get back to what the loved.

He made his way back out and skateboarded to the nearest skateboard park. Work would come later.

…

Derek left Charles and Joey at the lounge drinking shakes for a pre-workout. Joey wanted to get Charles into shape and their jog would resume after the pair discussed the previous meeting with Lepra. There was no better expert than Joey: twenty-five- Lerus-years of age and built trimmer and even slender than Bruce Lee himself. His long mane gave the Cherokee skin an extra boost.

He could hear their conversation … “So, how are we to approach this project?”

“Don’t you want everybody here?”

“I know what Marcus will say … whatever you choose is fine by me. He only wants to build something and get his hands dirty.

“Let Kirk speak with Marcus, Charles. They’re the same age. And have similar interests.”

“Marcus needs to take more responsibility, Joey.”

“He’s twenty-three” -

“And lounges around here as if he’s on cloud 9. Why can’t he balance that personality of his like Kirk?”

Derek came back into the room annoyed. “You cannot ask somebody to be the exact replica of someone else. How can Marcus find himself If you keep directing him to be just like Kirk?”

“And now, the artist wishes to intervene.”

“Creative expression is important, Charles.”

“I’m not saying Marcus can’t be himself. Go off and wander Earth with a CV for construction work for all I care about. But if you’re called upon to save your planet, then that’s what you do out here in Lerus. We’re fighting to survive. Survival of the fittest.”

“I get it, Charles.” Derek could see that Joey was more on his side of things. “Lerus is set on survival mode. And you have the task of making sure our team does this right.”

“It’s more than that. We’ll talk later of course. I think me and Joey should go for that jog. You’re welcome to come along Derek?”

“I don’t know. I have some more research to do.”

“Water paints?” Charles had no interest at all.

“I love it. Since I found my niche, I can’t stop painting the outdoors of Lerus in prime locations. Reminding myself how beautiful our planet is with its three moons. How the skies never quite cut it upon Earth. How every blausa'can can live happily ever after.”

“I think all that hot and steamy s*x with the earth women are turning you into the right poet.” Kirk came into the lounge with three of the model cars that he replicated: stacked one-on-top-of-the-other. “They call this a Lamborghini. And I also created the Jaguar and Porsche. I think Marcus will appreciate these more than any of you will.  Since he understands craftsmanship.” He laid them down one-by-one upon the shiny chrome table. 

“You’ve finally allowed some of your models to leave that over-congested room Kirk. First model planes. Now model cars, And by the way, those are cars you cannot afford.” Charles gave them each a tester, but they were missing moveable wheels. Kirk was yet to make that amendment. “Has your days exploring the stars come to a stop once again then?”

“No. I have three scopes in my room and all are being used for various reasons that only I need to know. And you know, maybe I’ll get myself a trophy wife who can help me out with expenses for expensive sports cars and a new astronomy set.”

“Good luck with that Kirk”-

“But on a lighter note, let’s get back to the hot intimacy with women on Earth.”

“Maybe we should wait for Marcus and speak on our current state of affairs … seen as we’re all here.” Getting the three of them all at once was a challenge that Charles never had the luxury of abusing.

Joey, who stood restlessly pulled off his t-shirt as if it was stuck upon his flesh with some struggle getting his long hair out from the neck-hole. The other three hurled back simultaneously with their forearms that covered their eyes. “Joey, we all know that you were carved by the Gods. So let them see it.”

“Shut up. I have a routine to follow in Taekwondo, Jujutsu, Aikido, and Muay Thai. And I can never betray that schedule. Organization is paramount to me. You know this Charles.” He slung his t-shirt across his shoulder. “Are you willing to disembowel my sequence?”

Marcus mimicked the words in Joey’s native flair, that held the room to a respectable silence on his return. It had that power; “are you willing to disembowel my sequence?” But Marcus never could get it right on que.

“You sound nothing like me.”

“It always cheers me up to try.”

Joey curled the right side of his mouth into a mordant sarcasm. “I’ll give you points for authenticity.”

Charles was the first to take a seat that stalled the mini-feud. “Now that we’re all here. We might as well get this talk over with.”

“Not until we speak about Joey and his semi-nakedness.” Kirk still had his eyes covered.

“Are you scared that I’m turning you on, Kirk?”

“Nope. Just reminding me that I can’t compete with you against Earth women with a body like that.”

“My door is always open to get your body in shape. All those late-night snacks aren’t good for the digestive system overnight buddy.”

“I have a well-maintained beard. And I build things. Don’t the ladies love a man who can use his hands? My personality scores higher than Joey’s by far. The guy’s an undercover machine with no ticking soul.” He sounded more serious then he realized.

 “Can we all just concentrate on our meeting with Zapra!” Charles flared his chest and settled his patience. “I think we should do this right now”-

Kirk’s shoulders drooped, and his head tilted; “you mean … now, now?”

“We need to find those two humans. Orders are orders.”

The young men exchanged glances of wide eyes and closed mouths. Each had better things to be doing and let the cleared throats do the answering for Charles who didn’t have time for their pettiness and got out of his seat.

Marcus curiously asked the question they all wanted to know “Does this mean we’re going to be let-out of the breeding program?”

Charles got up from the seat. “Come to the comms room, and you’ll find out.”

…

The comms room, much like the time displacement field and individual bedrooms were setup through a hi-tech and open planned design with no doorways and a consistent connection of hallways from one room to the next. All was creamy white with sky blue décor and silvery chrome furniture.

There were interrogation rooms on the second level that Charles and Joey had the main access to. And a small security room, which Joey operated and took charge of with screens operated much like the main ship’s buttons and intrinsic controls. The boys passed through all this, daily, to get to the time displacement field when a project was setup.

They knew were the location of the humans were. Joey booted the system with a pump-pump-pump-pump action upon a lever shaped like a plunger- and the screens blinkered with a couple of flashes that the boys stepped back from as the lights of the room came on.

 Then the loading screen sent from Zapra contained a map and last known location of the two humans. With crossed arms, the boys awaited the intercom to come on, and Zapra to impel her instructions. “So, what was this all about again?”

“Do you ever pay attention to anything anybody says, Marcus? “Joey asked.

“Not lately.”

“The idea is, two humans were tracked, and one got a little too far away from the friendly zone for Zapra’s liking.”

“So, what, we wipe their memory with a knock-out-rob?”

“If everything was as simple as your understanding, we’d be doomed, Marcus.”

“Lay off him, Joey.” –

“The only one to ever love me … thank you Kirk.” Marcus was mockingly grateful.

Charles leaned over Joey’s shoulder to see the last known location. “We need to catch them first. They’re runners.”

The intercom buzzed, but Zapra’s face came upon the sixty-inch screen instead. “Hello, boys. No need to sow your royal oats today.”

“I wouldn’t mind cutting into a few hot Grim or human woma” –

Charles shut Kirk up with a stern glare. “Yeah. We’re more than prepared for this today Zapra.” Charles was enthusiastic. “Maybe you could even consider us as Grim breeder hun”-

“It’s a try-out Charles. Just a little experiment to get you boys fit and healthy for what is coming next. Can’t have you cooped up in harems twenty-four-seven.”

“And what’s coming next?”

“First, you’ll need to catch this woman. She’s been tracked for awhile now. A bit of a loose cannon. To protect our race, we need to minimalize threats like this one. Find her; ask a few questions; and then report back to me. The receiver should pick up the tracking device momentarily. Good luck boys.”

The boys exited the comms room and made their way to the time displacement field. Charles gave each a black rod, known as the knock-out-rod. “Remember, we don’t use these unless absolutely necessary. We don’t know if they’re running alone or in packs.

“You make them sound so primitive, Charles.” Joey was the first to enter through the time displacement field. Being lead security he had a knack for tracking. “You move as I do. And keep quiet. No sudden movements. The boys tensed their muscles. Hardened their jaws and neck.

And waited for Charles to turn the dial as the timer reversed anti-clockwise and the ringlets around the transparent machine flashed three-times as the whole room began to rumble a mini earthquake that couldn’t knock any of them off their feet.

The boys entered into the time displacement platform and the cold crept under their garments: entering ever living part of their epidermis that raised the hairs to the point of wanting to jump ship.

They brrrrrrrred, and rubbed their hands together as they blew out cold air and tried to control their body temperature with Charles frantically abiding by the limits that were sent by Zapra.

“If you could hurry this along Charles, we’d really appreciate it.” Kirk’s shakes were that of a wet poodle trying to get dry. He just couldn’t contain the cold . Joey closed his eyes as if in meditation. Breathing in short intermissions and not letting the others episodic shivers distract him from the place of no disturbance he had within himself.

Soon, tinnitus ventured, and a blackout that was quicker than a second propelled them to an area they knew only from images that Zapra had shown them. They were at base eight: amongst a large patch of wasteland outside of Albuquerque; where the two humans would need to be stopped before they reached the known location. It would need to be quick! Rods behind their backs and posing as if they were from area twenty-one and higher profiled then the FBI.

Joey had a mini device that he turned on. He raised the aerial ... and a map of the surrounding base eight came up upon his screen with two mini red dots that came into sights that they were heading their way. Zapra would be watching as it was a high-profile project that needed settling there and then.

The boys started to head forward with Charles second-in-line after Joey. “Ok. So, who does the talking?”

“You should,” Kirk said. “You have that low baritone male voice that women crumble for.”

“Gets them right where it needs to” -

“Exactly. Why do you think we keep you around Joe-Joe? You have that s*x appea”-

“Quiet. The women will be running this way. I expect … a little disheveled and nervy. We have to keep their temperament low.”

The women’s disposition had a worse for wear luster that stained any chance of it being nice and easy. The sandals on their feet couldn’t hide the dust of the dry caramel sands. Casually clothed and starry-eyed could only be the best explanation that the boys could find.

They had been running for awhile, because when they spotted the boys, they could barely stand upright or find the words from the lack of oxygen that had expired from their respiratory system. Partly they seemed fearful when they came upon them: unsure whether to stop or continue. But they seemed lost. Truly lost when they would not be able to pass.

“Who … who are you?” This blonde woman had the tightest of jeans and the prettiest eyes slit-open enough for them to see they were the lightest of brown. Her face was longer than the woman next to her, who had short brunette hair like a wig had been sewn in; and could be pulled off for the sake of a prank. Still, both were highly attractive with sensible but sullen faces.

“We’ve come to take you home.” Charles made sure he had the stillest of approaches.

“Home!” The brunette woman urged back, and the blonde woman followed … each step propelled the boys to come closer towards them. But not intimately, they let a clear space remain between them. “We can’t go back home. That’s where they’ll come and collect us.”

“Who.”

The women eyed Joey with caution. Then turned to one another for a silent agreement on whether to let this calming voice hear their woes.  “Who are you?”

“We're here to help. Honestly. You must trust us.”

“Are you … apart of them?”

“You must be a little clearer. Who is them?”

“The ones that impregnated my friend here. She … tell them Glory! Tell them what they did to you.”

“How can we trust them?” The scattered side-steps of Glory got more disarranged. And her neck switched from her friend to the boys, who remained patient enough for the girls to not smell a threat.

Kirk leaned over to whisper to Derek, “I think we need to get this moving. We have a limited amount of time to get this done.”

“They’re restless. We can’t just jump them” -

“Yeah but … I have plans. The blonde actually;” Kirk allowed his eyes to wander over her body;“ have I been with her”-

“If you can help me get to this place called base eight. I think we’re close. I see it in my dreams.” Glory could not keep still, her head wandered around in disarray trying to make sense of her current bearings; “that’s where it all began. I remember. I saw this ship. And inside this ship was a” –

That was the code word:  base eight; and the boys took a couple of steps back before they amped up their rods for ignition. The girls knew about the base and their memory needing to be wiped. There was a brief escalated shrill of a cry, and both girls dodged past the boys who didn’t expect them to squeeze through the available gaps between the five.

The barge nearly knocked Kirk and Derek off their feet, but Joey and Charles were already chasing the girls and trying to loudly explain at the same time; “it won’t hurt a bit!” Kirk and Derek grudgingly gave chase -

“Hey girls, trust me, we aren’t that bad!” Kirk yelled this before Joey overtook Charles, who saw the yards being extended between them and the girls. “They sure can run … eh Charles!?”

“They must … be … part Grim. I refuse … to believe …” the pace of his run stifled Charle’s ability to speak in complete sentences –“that they aren’t … part … Grim!” -

Joes was long-gone ahead! His cheeks suckled inhalations like a steam engine chugging out the smoke.  Dereck and Kirk slowed down with the front of their sneakers burying into the sand. But Charles continued to apprehend the brunette whose speed deteriorated. He checked his watch swiftly then looked up – banging into the back of the brunette who could no longer run.

Gathering himself he took hold of her arm, although she tugged her left-arm away with no energy to sustain that long enough. “Touch this end of the rod?”

“No”-

“Please, just–

“No. I won’t have you, aliens, messing with my mind!”

“We only wish to”-

“Glory!” Her friend had been caught;” “don’t tell them anything!  They’re” –

But Glory had touched the rod and her eyes amplified wider than a full moon before she passed-out into the hands of Joey - a damsel in distress who he carried back to the boys.”

“What did you do to her” –

“Sorry!” The brunette fainted a few seconds later … and Charles truly was apologetic for being so sneaky. While she wasn’t looking, he placed the rod into her hand and she gripped it.

And just in time to, because they had fifty seconds remaining before Zapra sent a message: “well done, dinners on me. We have plenty to talk about boys so get over to my place straight away! There’s somebody you need to meet.”