ALLURO’S DREAMS

 

                The Skycruiser practically hummed as it drifted across the rocky terrain of Dark Side.  In one of the many storage rooms Alluro and Cheetalia were poking through boxes looking for parts.  The communications relay had decided to give way earlier and Mystan wanted his troops to know how to repair such things in case the Lunar Droids ever failed.

 

                "Now where are those power conduits?" Alluro grumbled.

"Up on that tall shelf, of course," Cheetalia replied, indicating one of the shelves several metres off the ground.

"Just a second.  I'll go get the ladder," Alluro said, moving off to the other side of the room.

"Don't worry about it.  I grew up in the woods.  I'm an expert climber," Cheetalia said, hopping from the ground onto a stack of crates, onto a nearby shelf, and then finally onto the top shelf.

"Nice moves.  Very impressive, all that jumping about, but primitive.  Now me, I'm different.  I'm Alluro.  I most certainly would have used the ladder," the hypnotist said.

"Yeah well, you're also a Lunatak from a moon covered with sand.  Climbing is not a requisite when you're living in the dunes.  Me, I had to hide in the trees to avoid Mutant patrols.  You learn pretty quickly how to climb trees.  I knew how to climb even before I knew how to talk," Cheetalia said, tossing a few of the conduits to Alluro.

 

                Alluro watched in stunned horror as Cheetalia's foot caught on a loose conduit.  She began slipping and toppled off the shelf.  It was only his quick reflexes that allowed him to dash forward and catch her neatly in his arms.  "Are you all right?" Alluro asked.

"Yeah.  That was some ride though," Cheetalia said.

"Well.  It's all over now," Alluro said.

 

                "Get your hands off my sister!" came a low growl from the doorway.  Alluro lowered Cheetalia and whispered "Careful of Knave.  He gets very protective of his family."  Cheetalia chuckled softly.

"Cheetalia.  Mystan wants to see you about something.  It sounded important," Knave said, watching his half‑sister, on his mother's side, speed out the door with her Cheetah born speed.  Alluro began looking at the conduits, making sure none of them had been damaged when he'd dropped them to catch Cheetalia.

 

                "I should have known.  You couldn't have Chilla so you went after the next best thing.  Cheetalia.  I'm almost surprised that you haven't hit on Shade yet.  What better way of getting at me?  They're all under my protection.  If you harm one of them in any way, I'm going to create a new hole for you to breathe out of, in your neck," Knave said.

"Oh shut up Knave.  I'm getting sick of you and your macho attitude.  Let them make their own decisions without your interference.  If they need your help they'll ask for it," Alluro said.

"I have let them make their decisions.  And their decision is that they don't like you and never will.  Get that through your thick skull," Knave snapped.  Alluro's club was out before Knave knew it.

"You are a moron Knave.  There is no way you can resist me.  There is no way you can beat me.  Give up, surrender to me pathetic one.  You will allow me to do as I please to your sisters," Alluro said.

                Knave was half Cheetah, on his mother's side.  All Cheetahs are born with some mental powers, and Knave was no exception to this rule.  The only difference was that his were considerably weaker.  He'd had them augmented by Mumm‑Ra for a time, but then the demon priest had torn this information from his mind.  "I am a moron.  I can't resist him.  I can't beat him.  I must surrender.  Alluro can do as he pleases to my sisters," Knave said.

 

                Alluro chuckled.  "Now all I have to do is convince Chilla and Cheetalia of the same thing.”

 

***

 

                To say Alluro's lab was cluttered was a vast under statement.  Every inch of space seemed to be taken up by an invention.  Whether it was his Skull Scope sitting in one corner of the room, or Vultureman's Bagel Maker being used as a temporary bed leg.

 

                "Let's see.  Where is it?  I left it around here somewhere.  Lie detector, super power potion, high velocity multi‑octane fuel formula, Swiss army spoon, ah, there it is.  The Dream Manipulator.  Knave was a fool to let me hang onto it," Alluro said.  He pushed a water powered flashlight off his chair and began thinking of the possible uses for this device.

 

***

 

                Chilla lay in bed, tossing and turning violently.  In her dreams she could see Alluro, his chest muscles rippling beneath his vest.  "My dear, sweet Chilla.  We are once more together.  Alone on this desert island," Alluro said.

"Yes my love.  There is no one to see us.  We are safely away from prying eyes," Chilla rasped.

"Then perhaps we can find some way to pass the time..." Alluro suggested.

 

***

 

                It was late the next day when Chilla stumbled into the mess hall.  Unfortunately Red Eye was cooking that day.  "What's for breakfast?" she asked.

"Scrambled noodles covered with special sauce," Red Eye replied.

"Scrambled noodles?  Don't you mean scrambled eggs?" Chilla asked.

"I couldn't find the eggs.  So I made noodles the same way you make eggs," Red Eye replied.  Chilla groaned.  Why they let Red Eye cook at all was beyond her.

"I'm going to regret this, but what's in the special sauce?" Chilla asked.

"Whatever I found in the fridge.  Mayonnaise, garlic powder, red Jell-O, and a dash of dill pickles for taste," Red Eye said.

"You're lucky I'm hungry," Chilla grumbled, accepting the noodles without the sauce.

 

                Knave sat down next to her, a plate of noodles with sauce in his hands.  "So, how are the noodles?" he asked.

"Crunchy.  Why'd you get the sauce?" Chilla asked.

"I wasn't paying attention.  He just shoved it in my hands," Knave replied, "luckily Mystan's making lunch.  He'd better make lots, because I don't know how much of this I'll be able to eat."

"How's the sauce taste?" Chilla finally asked, consumed by curiosity but still not willing to try any herself.

"Unique is the word I'd use, and the most polite.  What's the matter?  You look somewhat dishevelled," Knave asked.

"I dreamed about Alluro," Chilla said.

"So did I.  He had this funny look on his face as my icepick went through his eyes," Knave said.

"No.  It wasn't that.  We were, having sex!" Chilla blurted out.

"Ugh.  A nightmare then," Knave said.

"No.  It's hard to describe, but I actually enjoyed it somehow," Chilla said.            

 

                Knave felt as though he’d been shot in the chest.  “You what?  Are you crazy?  Don’t you remember all the things he’s done?  How he used me to get at you?” Knave spat, icing the scrambled noodles and hurling them across the room.

“Calm down Knave, it was only a dream,” Chilla said.

 

***

 

                Cheetalia blearily stumbled down the stairs from the control room to her personal quarters.  She was dead tired.  She had been assigned the late night shift and barely been able to stay awake through that.  As she closed her eyes, Alluro’s face came unbidden.

 

***

 

                The shelf wasn’t too narrow.  At least when one compared it to the branches found on trees on Plundarr.  It was a simple matter to climb up to it and stand, perched on it.  She looked down and caught the sight of Alluro’s bald patch.  She smiled quietly to herself.  There was something about hairless men that sent shivers up her spine.  Alluro was no exception.  When she slipped she felt his warm arms around her, and wondered how far he’d let her go.

 

***

 

                Psikaris sat in a large chair looking dully at the monitors.  “Wanna join me in some Brute Men thrashing?” Psychro asked.

“No thanks.  I should really give up on this experiment.  It was foolish to even think I’d be able to turn lead into wine,” Psikaris said, turning off the three computers in her lab.

“Ah, but you’d have been the hit of the party.  Maybe after some rest you’ll be able to concentrate better,” Psychro said.

“Maybe you’re right,” Psikaris said, allowing herself to be escorted to her bed.

 

***

 

                “Psikaris?” A voice called to her.  His voice.

“Alluro?” She asked, confused.

“Yes.  It’s me.  I have decided to fulfil your heart’s desire,” Alluro said.

“What do you mean?” Psikaris asked.

“I am offering myself to you, on one condition,” Alluro said.

Psikaris’ eyes narrowed.  “Name your price,” she said.

“You must share me with others,” Alluro said.

“What?  Never.  This is all a dream, I won’t take part in it,” Psikaris said.

“You became Chilla once, long ago in what seems like another universe, just to sleep with me.  How is the real thing being there that much different?” Alluro asked.  Psikaris opened her mouth to respond, but couldn’t, and then it wouldn’t have mattered if she had come up with a response.  Alluro was gone.

 

***

 

                Days passed and Alluro began using his dream manipulator more often.  Sometimes he would appear directly, interfering with their normal dreams, other times he would arrange the dream so that his name appeared only to the subliminal.  But each time he urged the three women into loving him.

 

***

 

                “Karis?” Psychro asked, entering her lab.  “Not here.  Where the hells is she?”

“Shee left time ago, Psychro,” Tug Mug said.

Psychro turned and looked stunned at the wall beside the door.  “Leave,” he growled.

“But why?” Tug Mug said, about to move forward to see what had caught Psychro’s attention.  A solid ball of ice slammed into the Graviton’s chest and Psychro stalked to block the door.  “Leave now,” he said.  Tug Mug finally wheeled away, looking over his shoulder once, angrily, at the half Ice Lunatak/half Psi Race Lunatak.  Psychro retreated into the room and tore down a naked picture of Alluro.

 

***

 

                “Skycruiser here.  You’ve got Captain Knave on the line,” Knave said as the communications systems announced an incoming message.

“This is Psychro, and I want my sister back,” Psychro said.

“Why would she be here?  Shouldn’t she be back in her lab or something?” Knave asked.

“She should, but she isn’t.  Look.  I have an idea where in your stupid ship she is, but why don’t you act like a good boy and confirm it,” Psychro snarled.

“Very well.  Psikaris is in Alluro’s room with Cheetalia, Alluro and Chilla.  That little moron is in for it now!” Knave spat.

“Wait for me,” Psychro said.

 

***

 

                Psychro arrived some time later and was met by Knave at the hangar.  “Let’s go,” Knave said, crisply leading the way down through the halls.  In no time at all they had reached the door marked “Alluro.”  Knave pounded on the door, demanding entrance.  When there was no response both he and Psychro flash froze the door and shattered it.  The scene they saw was like something out of their worst nightmares.

 

                Alluro lay in the bed, covers around his chin, with Chilla, Psikaris and Cheetalia draped about him, wearing hastily thrown on robes.  Conversely, the faces of Knave and Psychro were ones of absolute shock.  “Karis, get off of him now so I can kill him,” Psychro said, the first to respond.

“Chilla, Cheetalia.  I’d advise you move too, though I wonder whether Psychro will get to Alluro first,” Knave said.

“No.  You won’t kill Alluro because we won’t let you,” Cheetalia said, standing between Alluro and the enraged brothers.

“We’re here of our own free will, and you won’t take our right away to make our own decisions,” Chilla said, joining Cheetalia.

“We love Alluro, and if that means sleeping with other women, so be it,” Psikaris added, joining the other pair.

“As you can see, gentlemen.  There’s nothing you can do here.  I’d ask you to join us, but I’m not in the mood,” Alluro said, “Now, if you don’t mind, the door is that way.”  Not knowing what else to do, Knave and Psychro retreated to Knave’s room.

 

***

 

                “Hypnosis?” Knave suggested.

“No.  He’d never do that to get his way anyway, but they also didn’t have that glazed look in their eyes,” Psychro replied.

“An invention then?  We know that he favours technology.  Maybe all he had to do was invent some gizmo, point it at them and whammo.  All their inhibitions are gone,” Knave said.

“Possible, but likely?  Uncertain.  Only one way to find out.  We’ll have to spy on him.  Twenty four hours a day,” Psychro said.

“Then until we figure what’s going on, I guess we’re allies,” Knave said.

 

***

 

                Psychro had a broad grin on his face as he saw Chilla and Alluro going at it.  He’d always fantasized about being in Alluro’s shoes at such a juncture.  Psikaris and Cheetalia had returned to their own rooms.  Finally Chilla left, with a lewd wink.  Alluro sat and looked contentedly at his bureau drawer.  He walked over to it, shifted his socks out of the way, and produced the Dream Manipulator.  As Psychro watched he entered the dreams of Cheetalia and reinforced her feelings for him.  The half-breed put down his video camera and summoned Knave.

 

***

 

                Alluro slept more restfully than he had in ages.  He wondered to himself if there was someway he could marry all three ladies.  There probably was, if he looked hard enough through Lunatak legal mumbo jumbo.  The door opened a crack, and Chilla re-entered.  “Back for more?” he asked.

“Of your hide?  Yes,” Chilla said, Cheetalia and Psikaris entering after.

“I’m sorry.  No more for today, you three wiped me right out,” Alluro said.

 

                Chilla’s hand grabbed him by the throat.  Cheetalia paced the length of the room and Psikaris sobbed, heartbroken, on a chair.  “Now, now.  You know I’m not into that kind of thing,” Alluro said nervously.

“The Dream Manipulator?  How could you?” Cheetalia snapped.

“What are you talking about?” Alluro asked, letting his hypnotic lilt slip into his voice “I would never do anything like that to win you over to my side.”

“Shove it.  We’ve got the video evidence, or would you like to see it for yourself,” Chilla said.

“Look, alright, I admit I did it.  But I love you all, and I didn’t do anything except get rid of your personal barriers,” Alluro said.

 

                Psikaris couldn’t take it.  She needed time to sit and absorb what had happened.  She left the room, Cheetalia following after.

 

                “How could you?  You came to me five times!  The nerve!” Chilla said.

“Four,” Alluro corrected.

“Four?  It was five.  There was the first time on a sandy beach, there was the time when we held hands and watched the sunset, the time we...” Chilla began.

“Um, Chilla.  I don’t know what you’re talking about.  I never visited you on a sandy beach.  Use the lie translator if you like,” Alluro said.

 

                The Ice Lunatak was brought up short.  Still, it couldn’t hurt to try it.  She tested it once to make sure she’d grabbed the right item and held up to him.  He repeated his words and Chilla hit the button.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.  I never visited you on a sandy beach,” Alluro’s voice said.

“But that was the first night, before you visited me then,” Chilla said, the realization hitting her that she actually had feelings, strong feelings, for this man hitting her.

 

 

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