“That’s bullshit!”
“Really? Why does almost every woman you know own a toy, a fake dick? Why do they gobble up those steamy romance novels as if they were Moonbeam? Why do they order creatures like me?” A devious smile appeared. “Because the average man doesn’t know what it takes. You’re nothing but a bunch of jerkoffs, no offense.”
“Oh, none taken!” Seven’s face was turning red. “I never get offended when someone I just met calls me an insensitive jerkoff.”
“Seriously, most of you are so arrogant you don’t even realize it’s a two-way street. That while you sat around smugly thinking you got it all under control, the ladies are out looking too. Anywhere they can find it.”
“Aw, hell, we ain’t all that bad,” Seven protested. “Not all of us anyways.”
“No, not all,” Grant conceded. “Tell me, young one, do you have a lover.”
“I have a girl I see regularly, back home. Nothing serious yet.”
“Just one word of advice …”
“How sad is my life,” Seven chuckled. “I’m getting advice on women from a wolf.”
“The great thing about advice is you can take it or leave it.”
“True that.” Seven couldn’t argue there. “Okay, Wise and Learned Howler … lay it on me.”
“It’s quite simple, really. And yet it’s probably overlooked by ninety-five percent of all men.”
“Okay …”
“When you finish making love to this girl of yours … never allow her to leave your bed with a disappointed look in her eyes.”
“Deep.”
“Like I said … You can take it or leave it.”
Seven felt obligated to defend his species. “You know … not all of us have the advantage of being engineered as a lover.”
Grant chuckled. “Admittedly, I wasn’t created a killer like Sherman, but there’s no software installed in me that gave me a sensitive and giving personality, either. I’m not some pleasure robot manufactured to satisfy the whims of beer-bellied space truckers. I was taught everything I know.”
“From your lady, I take it.”
“Yes, the bestial whore,” Grant replied, bitterness making his voice edgy.
“C’mon, man,” Seven stuck his smoke to the waste-vac port and allowed it to be sucked away. “Lighten up now, I was trying to be honest with you, and you’re taking it personally.”
“Hard not to,” sighed Grant.
“I’m sure she’s a great pers—”
“Was,” Grant interrupted abruptly. The mouth grew tight and grim on the furry face. “She’s dead.”
“Awww, dude, I’m sorry …” Seven suddenly felt six inches high. He was glad they were almost back to the motel.
“Forget it!” Grant took in a deep breath and exhaled out slowly. “It’s not you … just bad memories.”
“I didn’t mean to dig up old bones.” Seven gave him a wink. “Pardon the pun.”
“You know, you’re taking a chance with your barely humorous jokes.” Grant raised a wary eyebrow. “Somehow, I get the impression you mistake my good manners and politeness for meekness. True, Sherman, I am not, but I’m not man’s best friend either if that’s what you’re looking for. I could crush your larynx with one swift chop to the throat. You do realize that?”
“I figured as much,” Seven acknowledged. “Or just rip my throat out with those teeth of yours.”
“I could, but I prefer things a little less messy.”
“I’m just trying to fit in somewhere with this bunch. I’m new to the group … same as you and Sherman. The regular guys … they’re a little cliquish.”
“So, you thought we’d just be pals?” Grant was genuinely caught off guard by the realization. He couldn’t help but be flattered. At the same time, he couldn’t resist turning the table just a little. “Or is it something more, maybe? Honestly, I’m not into that sort of thing. My mistress was quite monogamous and would never have considered such. Of course, I guess there would be nothing wrong with it now. I don’t have any of your race’s preconceived prejudices to work through …”
“Oh, God! Would you please shut up?” Seven had suddenly turned the shade of a corpse. “I have no intention of taking things in that direction, and you know it!”
“Now, who has no sense of humor?” Grant smiled, enjoying the young man’s discomfort immensely.
Seven set the van down in the motel parking lot. As the engine cycled down, he couldn’t resist asking the question that now ate at him.
“What happened to her?”
“Excuse me?” Grant paused, reaching for the door.
“Your mistress. How did she die?” Seven hoped he wasn’t too intrusive. After all, the creature had already made it clear this was a touchy subject, so he quickly added, “If you don’t wanna talk about it, I’ll understand.”
Grant was silent for what seemed like an eternity, staring out the windshield, as if debating whether he wanted to continue this conversation or not. The silence got to the point that it was uncomfortably awkward, and by this time, Seven simply assumed he didn’t want to go there. Thus, he was more than a little shocked when Grant leaned back into his seat, looked up at the roof of the cabin and began speaking.
“She was a general in the Space Guard, very high up in the circles of influence within the Authority.”
“No way!” Seven was flabbergasted. He had imagined her to be some rich, reclusive widow who never got out.
“She was a very sophisticated woman. Very beautiful. Highly educated and well respected by her peers. She was articulate and refined and insisted that I be as well. Hence, my “professor” mannerisms, as you call them.” His eyes turned soft momentarily. “Unfortunately, she got caught up in a power struggle within the Authority … they … they’re … very nasty people when they want to be. The official word was that she committed suicide by walking out of an airlock on Luna.” His eyes narrowed again, and this time Seven saw depths of hatred and anger that burned like the most deep-seated fires of Hell. “I know better, though.”
The hatred faded, and a sense of sadness crept in, the
