Chapter 4

~ Tara ~

Tugging at her clothing, Tara realized it was not going to fit. It felt like trying to stuff a marshmallow into pasta shell. It just was not going to fit. Sighing, she called out for assistance. “Vraden, can you please come back? I need to talk to you.”

Stepping back into the room, the man’s eyes got big. “Apologies, Queen Tara. Your new clothing was damaged in the battle. I forgot that you grew during your time in medical.”

“Yeah, about that. God knows, I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining, but I feel like I’ve gained a good thirty or forty pounds since I came aboard the Maruvian vessel.”

“My apologies again, little queen. We received unusual readings from the nutritional units designed to keep you hydrated and nourished. You were in a coma for several weeks. As Maruvians do not lactate, we feed our young a synthetic liquid nutritional supplement until their teeth are fully formed. We modified the formula to keep you alive during the weeks you could not eat. Though we modified the mixture several times in an attempt to keep your levels balanced, I’m afraid we erred on the side of ensuring you had enough nutrients to aid in your recovery and an unforeseen side effect was you now have a superfluous layer of adipose tissue that should dissipate with time.”

Sighing, she smiled at the older drone’s serious tone. “I’m a plump little flesh ball. It feels really strange. No one on earth is this size anymore. Since food is scarce, processing plants restrict calories to only what is necessary.”

“Have no fear, the residual adipose tissue is not enough to be considered a health threat.”

Assuming that residual adipose tissue was Maruvian for fat, she replied, “It’s fine. My real problem is that I seem to be spilling out of my clothing.”

Holding out his hand, he spoke with fatherly deference. “Come, we will make you more clothing.”

Taking her hand, the older man led her to a platform in an alcove across the room. After some jostling around, she stood with her hands out from her sides and the machine scanned her new jumbo body size. Looking down the front of her body, Tara noticed that her normally ample bosom was now porn star sized. She stifled a giggle. Since getting abducted, her life had become more outlandish by the moment. This was just the last in a long line of odd occurrences.

A growly voice sounded off. “You may not scan my queen without my permission.”

Glancing at Jax, she cautioned, “Ease up off the nice healer, Jax. I can’t go running around with my boobs hanging out. Please let the man make me some new clothing.”

“Very well, but I am watching to make sure the machine does not harm you.”

Rolling her eyes, she replied blandly. “You do that, little guy.”

“I take my job as your protector very seriously. I will not allow some mechanical device to enslave you. Not on my watch.”

“What? Wait, is this dangerous?”

“You are perfectly safe.”

“Then why is he saying that?” Jax may be naive and overly protective but he wasn’t actually crazy.

“Your golugua is suspicious of machinery because our former queen used a neural device to control his species. Thank goodness little Penny figured it out, or they might still be housed in cages.”

“So you’re sure the scanner is safe?”

The older man seemed pensive. “Let me think for a moment. When was the last time a queen was enslaved by a medical scanner? I think it was never.”

Tara noticed that the older man leaned forward slightly and waited with anticipation for her response. It was kind of bizarre. Then it hit her; this was his rudimentary attempt at Earth humor. Nodding her head, she acknowledged his token attempt. “Yes, that was amusing.”

The man looked disappointed. “You did not laugh.”

Jax interrupted, using his usual defiant tone. “You should work on your jokes. Make them funnier if you wish the queens to laugh. Queen Penny says humans like jokes that start with knocking. Here, let me demonstrate.”

Glancing over at her sentinel, Tara asked sweetly, “Jax, is there any chance I can get a new kind of fruit? It’s called a banana and I’m sure some human has programed it into the food resequencer.”

As soon as he scampered out the door, she turned her attention back to the older man. “Not all women laugh easily. I’m more pragmatic and rarely laugh out loud.”

The older man sighed. “If human queens could be accused of having a flaw, it would be that they are all very different. It makes understanding you very difficult.”

“I’ll bet drones are very different as well. You’ve just become accustomed to the differences. After being around us for a while, you’ll come to value our differences.”

“I suppose you are correct, Queen Tara. The scanner has captured your new dimensions. What kind of gown would you like?”

“No gown. I need a uniform like the drones wear. Something dark that hides dirt well and gives me freedom of movement.” Since the older man was literally gaping at her, she clarified. “I need something that is suitable for both work and leisure and durable enough to suffice until I can earn enough money to purchase more clothing.”

“Queens do not work on our world.”

“Then how to do they survive? My jiggly new body is going to need food. In order to purchase food and shelter, I need to earn a living. I’m not particular about what I do. I’ll take just about any assignment…”

“You do not understand. There is housing near the palace provided for queens to rest and relax as they peruse the lists of available drones and family units.”

“I prefer to work and earn my own way.”

“There is a pool,” he supplied helpfully.

She blinked at him, wondering what he didn’t understand about the concept of working. “I would like to speak to whoever is in charge of human women on this planet.”

“That would be Queen Carolyn.”

“Can you put me in touch with whoever keeps her schedule?”

“That would be her actionator, Talon. I will raise him on the com once you are properly gowned.”

“Make me a black uniform, or so help me, I’ll scream the walls down.”

Vraden immediately turned and his fingers flew over the control panel. Robotic arms came out and began removing her clothing. When she was stark naked and beginning to regret the whole request for new clothing, the arms began shooting out threads. Not daring to look down for fear of getting a face full of it, she stood perfectly still.

The arms retreated and began sucking some black liquid substance from the wall. Quickly daring a look, she found that she had been fitted with what appeared to be a one-piece white undergarment, much like an old earth swimsuit. Suddenly, the arms zoomed back over and went to work again. Several minutes later a burst of heated air surrounded her for a brief moment then everything stopped moving.

Barely sparing her a glance, Vraden spoke. “You may step down now, Queen Tara. I modified the typical drone form suit to fit your feminine form. It has magnetic seams down the front and on the boots.”

Tugging gently at the collar, she found it was some type of state-of-the-art synthetic fabric with a little stretchiness to it. It gave when she moved and felt like she was wearing nothing at all. “This is really wonderful, Vraden. In fact, it’s just what I had in mind. You did a really wonderful job!”

Glancing up at her, the man smiled. “The fabric displays all your new curves. The drones will not know what to do with you.”

Thinking he was making a snide comment about her chubby body, she ignored the jibe. “I’m in no shape to be trying to find a mate. I need to get a job, sort out some housing and then maybe look around for a drone.”

“You have strange priorities, little queen. Would you like to speak to the queen’s actionator now?”

“Yes please, and thank you for saving my life. Words alone hardly seem adequate for someone who gave the gift of life.”

“Seeing you walk out of here whole and strong is the only thanks I need.” His fingers danced over the panel again and a drone’s annoyed face shimmered into view.

“Greetings, Healer Vraden. What can I do for you today?”

“Queen Tara wishes to speak with you.” Motioning her over, she stepped in front of the viewer.

“Gods of Chaos, Vraden, why didn’t you ensure she was suitably dressed?”

Holding up a hand to draw the younger drone’s attention, she interrupted. “Do not ask anyone else questions about me but me.”

“I beg your pardon, Queen Tara?”

“I’m the local resident expert on me. If you want to know why I’m wearing a uniform then ask me, not him. I chose my own clothing and wanted to wear this.”

Understanding slipped onto his face. “You wish to display your generous curves. It is a bold move, sure to draw all the most prestigious drones to your side.”

Closing her eyes for a brief moment to keep her temper in check, she stated, “I wish to speak with Queen Carolyn as soon as possible. When can you fit me into her schedule?”

“Come right away if you like. The needs of our queens are given priority over every other consideration.”

“Does she have a time today when she is not scheduled to see others?”

“She has a five microns just before the midday feeding. Shall I write your name in for that time period?”

“Yes, please. I’ll be prompt and make it quick.”

“There is no need to rush. I would plan to dine with us, as I’m certain our beauteous queen will insist upon you joining her for the midday meal.”

“Thank you, Talon.”

“It has been my pleasure to serve.”

Once the screen went blank, Tara sighed. Being called a queen and catered to was one of those things that human women always dreamed about. It was real cool until it actually happened. After about five minutes she discovered it was really quite annoying.

Glancing up at Vraden, she asked respectfully, “Am I allowed to go now?”

“You are a queen. Therefore, you are allowed anything you like on our world.”

“That’s not as big a selling point as one might imagine for your world.”

“It has always been the way with our kind.”

“Where you came from, I’m sure that made sense.”

“It is the natural order of things. Queens command and drones obey.”

“Don’t start that crap with me again, Vraden. God knows I love you to pieces, but I will scream the walls down.”

Smiling indulgently at her, he stated softly, “You always say that, but you never do.”

Shrugging, she admitted self-consciously, “It’s more of a saying than a real action plan.”

“I will remember that.” Pulling a small box out of a drawer, he opened it and showed her a small oval glass stone. Tara recognized it immediately as a pleasure stone. Glancing up at him, she knew her confusion must have been clearly stamped onto her face because he immediately offered an answer for her unasked question. “There is a strong possibility that you may suffer from headaches because of your injury. They might be particularly painful over the next few weeks. Pleasure stones are valued because they have medicinal uses in addition to providing sexual pleasure. We keep a ready stock of medium sized stones to ease the pain caused by certain ailments, as it is safer than the pharmaceutical interventions used by your people. You can use a stone as much as you like without fear of becoming addicted or of overdosing on its effects.”

“I could never afford such a thing.”

“There is no mechanism in place to purchase healing on our world, little queen. Take your stone and keep it close. The pain may come swift and severe or not at all. Better to be prepared than to suffer the pain of lacking one when you have need.”

Taking the small box from him, she nodded her understanding. “Thank you yet again for your caring and concern regarding my wellbeing. Know if there is anything I can ever do to return the favor, I am at your service.”

Smiling indulgently at her, he responded sincerely. “You incurred your injuries in a battle to the death against our enemies. It has been my honor to heal those wounds to the best of my ability. Would you like for me to show you around our great city?”

“I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”

“Nonsense, it would be my pleasure. We will start with the dining hall, where I’m certain Jax is still trying to coax your preferred fruit from the resequencer.”