Fantasy The People Makers

"I was the World Government Controller for the Free Free State of California," said Ansom.

"I'm not familiar with you," said Haggis. "But then, I'm from Scotland."

"That explains why."

"I'm sure it does," said Haggis.

In point of fact Gavin Ansom had never been World Government Controller for California but had worked in the Controller's office, as a deputy assistant adjustments advisor in the Office of Less Useful & Troublesome Statistics. He felt bold enough to promulgate such a high profile resume because he felt that no one, even people from California, would have had any idea who ruled them.

"My turn, I guess," said Craig Cobin. "I was a First Class Comforter in the Department of State. I fucked some of the most important world leaders." He gave a wide grin.

"This I can believe," said Haggis.

In point of fact Craig Cobin had been a minor functionary in the Department of State Department of Sexual Aid, responsible for Sexual Aid programs to less developed countries providing dildos, harnesses, and leather gear to impoverished sexual minorities across the globe. But he had been successful in having sex with an unusual number of his coworkers, so his story had at least a patina of truth.

Last to introduce himself was.... "Michael Taylor," said Taylor, flashing a strong smile. "Survey Service Captain."

"Really?" said Haggis. "You don't look anything like the actor who portrayed you in that holostory."

"I hear that all the time," said Taylor.

"Did you really travel a billion years into the future to save the Earth?" Haggis asked.

"Twenty billion years, actually," said Taylor.

"So.... the Earth exists 20 billion years from now?" Haggis asked. "That's interesting, because the sun is projected to burn out long before then."

"The... aliens found a way to prolong the life of the sun," said Taylor.

"How fortunate for them," said Haggis, leaning his head on his hand. "What did these aliens look like?"

"They are hard to describe but... they vaguely resembled rats."

"Rats. Or rat men?" Haggis asked. Craig Cobin chuckled.

"Rat men, actually," said Taylor. He paused. "There was an enormous space battle. The Devonshire was forced to take on an entire fleet."

"An entire fleet of rat men," said Haggis. "However did you survive?"

"It's a long story," said Taylor. "Suffice to say in the end we prevailed. I went down to the planet and discovered the machine which was generating the Black Box which was ripping the Earth apart back in our time. I fought hand to hand with their leader and destroyed it, saving the Earth."

Haggis clapped slowly. "Congratulations, Captain! Just one question: if you destroyed the machinery behind the Black Box in the distant future, how did you return back to our time?"

Taylor again felt all eyes on him. "Well... the Black Box had a power all its own. It took some time for the time portal to disintegrate, even after its power source had been destroyed."

"And just enough time for you to return from the future. How fortunate for you," said Haggis. He gave Taylor a discerning look. "You know, I actually studied the events surrounding the Black Box incident. Most of the details were classified, of course, but it is well known that the Devonshire went into the Black Box and that you were the Captain of that ship. There is less of a spotlight on your crew, however. Can you tell us who your first officer was?"

"Certainly," said Taylor, straightening his shoulders. There was a short pause which grew into a longer one.

"Well?" Haggis asked.

"My first officer was, uh, Sophie Astor," said Taylor.

"No," said Haggis. "Your first officer was Jennifer Hale, who never returned."

Taylor wet his lips. "You're mistaken."

"It was in all the news broadcasts at the time. I remember it well," said Haggis.

"You claim you don't even remember what you did for a living on Earth, and now you say you're an expert historian," said Taylor. "I think your memory is still a bit jumbled, my friend."

There was an awkward pause. Haggis sat back in his chair. "I'm sure you're right. Thank you, Captain Taylor, for saving us from the terrible rat men."

"Do you really not remember what you did for a living on Earth for years and years?" Roland Miller asked.

"The past... is a hazy thing," said Haggis.

"Maybe you worked for the World Government," said Ardis.

"Most of us did," said Haggis.

"You seem remarkably well poised. Perhaps you were a politician," said Roland.

"Perhaps I was the World Government Controller of California and simply don't remember it," said Haggis.

"Or maybe you were a low level functionary in some minor office of government statistics," said Gavin. "Maybe your job was so boring that you simply don't remember it."

"Entirely possible," said Haggis.

"Or maybe you actually do remember what you did but don't want to tell us," said Roland.

"Why wouldn't he tell us?" Craig asked.

"Maybe he was a spy," said Roland.

"Or a criminal," said Ardis.

"Or a dissenter," said Taylor. "Is that what you were, Haggis?"

"I wish I knew," said Haggis, with a tight smile. He got up abruptly. "It's getting late."

"It's midmorning," said Ardis.

"I'm still running on Earth time, from 500 years ago," said Haggis. "Nice meeting you gentlemen. Be seeing you."

Haggis had scarcely taken five steps when a woman hooked her arm around his and steered him to a nearby table.

"Hello," she said.

"Hello," said Haggis. Unlike most people who had white hair here hers was brown. Obviously dyed.

"My name is Michelle, but my friends call me Shelly."

"Haggis." He stared at her extended hand, then shook it. "Good to meet you, Michelle."

She gave a slight frown.

"Please, call me Shelly. I just wanted to welcome you to the Space Station. I know all this can be a lot to absorb all at once."

"You mean the fact that the human race is destroyed, we are 500 years in the future, and living in a distant galaxy?'

"Yeah. That." She experimentally tried to pet his hand.

"No, I have no problem with that. It makes complete sense to me," said Haggis.

"It does?" She stroked his hand a bit more rapidly.

"Yes," said Haggis. "I mean, how else could we have gotten here? It all makes sense to me now."

"Good," she smiled at him. "Did you... leave anyone behind? Wife? Children?"

"Yes to both," said Haggis. "My darling wife, Marion. And my children Molly and Harris."

"Oh! Tell me about them!"

And tell her he did. Haggis had never heard of anyone named Marion, Molly, or Harris, except for a character he had once read named Marion who was a shy housewife in a very erotic holonovel called Parasites Love Earth, and yet he spent the better part of an hour regaling Shelly with detailed stories about outtings and picnics he had had with his imagined loved ones. His ability to instantly generate stories about people he had never known might have given a clue to his real profession, if she had known of his deception.

Shelly smiled sympathetically and tried to make noises of support, to establish an emotional connection with him.

But Haggis barely let her get a word in, regaling her with tale after tale of his wife and children. Finally Shelly had to bluntly intervene and said, "Haggis... Haggis.... I can see you loved your family dearly. That's so wonderful! But you have to understand that everything you talked about is over 500 years old. You have to start thinking about the future." She stared at him imploringly.

Haggis swallowed heavily. "I know." He paused. "I know they are all dead and gone. But in my mind they are still alive. I... I need time to process their loss." He looked at her. "You've been so understanding. But I've only been unfrozen for less than a day. I need time to process, time to heal. You can understand that, can't you?"

Shelly gave a fake smile. "Of course."

Haggis got up abruptly.

"Where are you going?"

"For a walk."

"Want some company?"

"I... I think I just want to be alone right now. It was nice meeting you, Michelle."

Michelle. Not Shelly.

"Of course," said Shelly, giving a hard smile.

Laura Giancomo found Haggis in the enormous spherical shaped generator room, staring at the powerful beam of energy which discharged from a hole in the top of the room to the bottom far below. He leaned against the railing of the catwalk as he stared down at it.

"Impressive sight, isn't it?"

Haggis turned around to see Laura with her dyed blonde hair and heavy breasts sticking out of her white jumpsuit. "Indeed," he said.

"You're the new guy," she said, boldly wrapping an arm around him just as Shelly did. "I've heard about you."

"What have you heard?" said Haggis, pulling his arm away.

"You're skeptical. You ask a lot of questions."

"Meaning what?"

"You're anti-social," she said, her eyes sparkling. "You could be just the man I need."

"Really?" said Haggis.

"Everyone here is too comformist. Too go-along-get-along. What we need in the gene code to produce a successful human race is just a strand of rebellion."

"A strand?"

"Not too strong of a strand," said Laura. "My genes would naturally be emphasized over yours."

"You can do that? Selecting genes?"

"Um hm," said Laura, grabbing his arm again. "After we're matched we can select genes which are keyed to personality traits and emphasize or deemphasize any of them we want to. But first things first." She leaned forward and gave him a kiss. Feeling him responding, she pressed her breasts against him. When she pulled back, she gave him a sunny smile.

"What was that for?"

"I like you, silly."

"You don't even know my name," said Haggis.

"Harry."

"Haggis."

"Close enough," she smiled at him. "My name is Laura. Would you like to fuck me, Haggis?"

"I thought you wanted to reproduce and create a new species of humanity."

"That too," said Laura, moving close to him. She looked down at his body speculatively and then up at his face. "But first, we fuck. The Federationistas expect it, you see. It makes us look like a good match. So how about it, Mister? Some mind blowing sex... and then we save the world?" She rubbed her breasts against him again while boldly staring him in the eye.

"It's tempting," Haggis admitted.

"I can see that," said Laura, brushing against his erection.

"But not tonight."

"Not tonight? Why?"

"I just got unfrozen. Not all the parts got thawed out yet."

"It seems that all the parts got thawed out to me," she said, cupping him with her hand.

"I just need a little more time," said Haggis. "I'm still getting over the loss of my-"

"Fuck them," said Laura. "I don't want to hear about your dead family. They're gone, you're here, and so am I. Let's fuck, babe!"

A long pause.

"As I said, a tempting offer," said Haggis.

"So the answer is no."

"The answer is not tonight."

"All right, Haggis O'Leary," said Laura, swaying as she walked away. "But don't wait too long. This offer won't last forever."

Marla found Haggis in one of the rooms with the giant viewports.

"You're in the wrong place," she said.

Haggis turned from the viewport, where he had been watching a constant stream of small ships coming and going. "I'm not interested."

"Not interested in what?" said Marla. She sauntered closer to him, step by step.

"Having sex with you. Creating a new human race with you. I've only just arrived," said Haggis.

Marla walked right up to him. "Did I ask you to have sex with me?"

"No, but I'm guessing you were about to."

"You'd be wrong." She smiled. "You look surprised. My name's Marla." She extended a slender hand.

"Haggis." he shook hers. She had a firm grip, and a firm stare.

"I know your name," she said. "You've been asking questions. You've been acting like you don't accept this place."

"Do you?" Haggis asked.

"We're obviously the last survivors of the human race transported to another galaxy 500 years in the future. What other explanation could there be?"

"I could think of several," said Haggis. He turned back to the viewport.

"So could I," she said.

Haggis turned back to face her. "Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

Haggis smiled.

"They say you won't tell anyone what you did back on Earth."

"I don't recall," said Haggis.

"That's a lot not to remember," said Marla.

"It is." Haggis turned back to the viewport.

"You're in the wrong place."

"You said that before," said Haggis.

"Those are shuttles heading to New Earth. Strictly short range. They won't get you to where you want to go."

"And where is that?"

"Why, back to Earth, of course," said Marla. "What you want are one of the interstellar probe ships. That's the docking bay two levels down, the orange door to the right. There's a probe ship there now, but it won't be there for long. It never is."

"How long will it be there?"

"It just arrived, so if it goes according to pattern four days, perhaps five."

"Why are you being so helpful?" Haggis asked.

"I'm not," said Marla. "There are security lockouts. Ship won't give us access."

"Then why are you telling me all this?"

"Why not?" Marla shrugged her shapely shoulders. "It helps pass the time." She turned and started walking away. "Nice meeting you, Haggis O'Leary."

The orange door was exactly where Marla said it was, two levels down.

"Ship, open this door."

"Access denied."

"Why not?"

"You do not have level three access."

Haggis stared at the door for a long moment, as if his eyes could bore a hole in it. Then he turned and left.

Two days later Frog paid Haggis a visit while he was eating breakfast alone in Algeria. After being chased by half the women on the Station, Haggis had made it clear he wasn't interested in pairing with anyone, and so was left alone.

"Good morning Haggis."

"Hello Frog," said Haggis.

"You're all alone."

"You're very observant."

"Don't you find any of the women here pleasing?" Frog asked.

"Oh, very much so," Haggis assured him.

Suddenly Hot Dog and Hamburger appeared out of thin air.

"But he hasn't paired with any of them," said Hot Dog.

"Last night Susan Shinn rubbed up against him and cupped his genitals, and he pulled her hand away!" said Hamburger.

"It's good to know I have such an attentive audience," said Haggis, biting into a sausage.

"We observe only for your own safety," said Frog.

"Of that I am sure," said Haggis.

"So, will you be selecting someone to pair with?"

"In time," said Haggis.

"Very well," said Frog. "If there's anything you need, be sure to let me or Ship know."

"Ship?"

"The Ship can get you anything you need," said Frog.

Anything?

Haggis stood outside the orange door once more. "Ship."

"Hello Haggis."

"Hello Ship. Open this door, please."

"I am sorry, Haggis, but level three access is required."

Haggis paused. "Ship, is it true that you are programmed to give me anything I ask for?"

"This is true Haggis."

"Then give me access to this door."

"...except that."

Haggis paused again, staring at the orange door resolutely. Finally he said, "All right Ship. Can you engage in a simulation?"

"Certainly."

"Create a simulation where I break into your system and obtain a Level Three Access Code. Can you do that, in a simulation?"

"Certainly."

"Use real data information from your memory banks to create this simulation, to make it as real as possible."

"Understood."

"Now pretend I have been given Level Three Access."

"Done."

"Now open the door."

Haggis took a deep breath. There was a long pause.

And then the door opened.

"Thank you."

There was no one aboard the ship, which was a very good thing as far as Haggis was concerned. First he passed through the cargo hold of the probe ship, which contained a series of cryogenic tubes, all empty. He had probably traveled in one of these on his long, 500 year trip here. If Haggis was wrong, he would have to freeze himself again for another 500 years before he got back to the Earth.

But Haggis didn't think he was wrong.

He found his way to the bridge with the help of Ship. When he got there he found a series of unfamiliar control panels. Where to begin?

"Ship. Can this ship be flown by voice commands?"

"Of course."

"Set a course for Earth."

"Done."

"Disengage from the Space Station and proceed there at full speed."

"The Probe Ship is not scheduled to depart for another two days."

"But this is a simulation. In the simulation I have decided to depart two days early. Proceed."

Haggis took a deep breath. Would Ship respond?

He felt/heard a clanging and the floor moved slightly as the ship undocked from the Station. The ship very slowly turned and oriented itself. Then it started moving.

"Are we heading to Earth, Ship?"

"Yes, Haggis."

"How long will it take to get there?"

"At top speed, 18 days, four hours, 32 minutes."

18 days! The entire story of traveling to another galaxy, of the trip taking 500 years, had been a complete and total fraud. Haggis was entirely unsurprised. A small smile appeared on his face as he saw the Station rapidly recede in the viewer, as did New Earth.

"We are receiving a signal from the Station."

"Ignore it."

"They are most insistent."

"I am sure they are."

A long minute passed.

Then Hot Dog and Hamburger appeared before him.

"Hey there, Haggis!" said Hot Dog.

"Good to see you again!" said Hamburger.

"I wish I could say the same," said Haggis.

"Where are you going?" Hot Dog asked.

"For a ride," said Haggis.

"You cannot return to Earth," said Hot Dog.

"The Earth has been destroyed," said Hamburger.

"Well, it's only 18 days to get there, I suppose I'll find out for myself," said Haggis.

"It would take 500 years to get back to earth," said Hot Dog.

"500 years!" said Hamburger.

"The ship seems to have a different opinion."

"Remember, this is a simulation you set up. None of this is real," said Hot Dog.

"Oh, I see," said Haggis. He sat down in a control chair and spread his legs. "Well gentlemen, if you will leave me to enjoy my simulation then."

He felt the ship start to turn around. "What's happening?"

"The ship is returning to the Station," said Hot Dog.

"Ship? What's happening, Ship?" said Haggis. There was no answer.

"It's for your own good," Hot Dog added.

Haggis sat silently in the command chair drumming his fingers against the armrest as he stared at the two cartoonish characters standing before him. Periodically they shifted from one leg to the other, giving him happy, broad smiles.

When the ship had redocked with the Station, Haggis found Frog and Bessie and Graylor waiting for him on the other side of the Orange Door.

"Haggis, are you all right?" Frog asked.

"I'm fine," said Haggis.

"We took good care of him," said Hot Dog.

"Haggis is our friend! We wouldn't want anything bad to happen to him!" said Hamburger.

"What did you think you were doing?" said Graylor, his voice cold.

"Just going out for a spin," said Haggis.

"How did you get past this door?"

"I just walked through," said Haggis.

Graylor stared at him with hard reptilian eyes. Haggis stared back at him calmly.

"Entry into this area is forbidden."

"Perhaps you should put up a sign," said Haggis.

"I'm sure it won't happen again," said Frog. "Isn't that right, Haggis?"

"Quite right," said Haggis, brushing past Frog as he walked passed him.

"He could be more trouble than he's worth," said Graylor.

"Or he could be exactly what we need," said Frog.

Frog paid Haggis a friendly visit once a week to see if there was anything he needed, but also to not so subtly encourage him to seek out a partner for the Experiment. At the end of the first week Haggis assured her that he was still "thinking about his prospects."

At the end of the second week Haggis was just as cheery. "Still thinking!"

At the end of the third week Haggis said much the same thing.

"You know Haggis that your life span here is severely limited, due to unintentional damage from your long cryogenic suspension."

"So I've been told," said Haggis, his voice cold.

"Don't you want to use your time remaining to attempt to seed future generations with your unique DNA?"

"You may it sound so appealing. I will give it the due consideration it deserves."

"We should remove that one from the experiment," said X.

"It's only been three weeks," said F. "We have given far more time to other subjects."

"But it is clear that he will not participate. I have gone into his thoughts. Despite what he tells you, he is most resolute," said X. "All he thinks of is escape."

"He could be just the genetic pattern we need to make the Experiment a success," said F.

"So you have said," said C. "But if he will not participate, he is taking up valuable resources which could be used to host another prospect."

"Let's give him just a little more time," said F.

Haggis was lying on top of a hill in the Scottish Highlands, feeling a cool breeze whip over him.

Haggis? Can you hear me? asked a voice in his head.

"Yes. I can hear you." After everything he had seen and heard, he didn't visibly react to having a voice inside of him.

You haven't been playing the game, Haggis.

"Meaning I haven't been playing your game."

You have to play the game, Haggis.

"Why?"

Because if you don't, your piece will be taken from the board, and you won't be able to play any game.

Haggis paused, and nothing could be heard except the howling of the wind.

Haggis? Are you still there?

"Yes. Are you?"

What is your answer?

"What is the minimum which is required of me?"

You have to partner with someone at least... at least once a month, I think.

"You think?"

There are no hard and fast rules, Haggis. It depends also on your score. Those who are useful are kept around longer. Those who are not....

"Does everyone get a friendly warning like me?"

You're an interesting Test Subject. It would be sad to lose you prematurely.

Haggis sat there, staring out at the rolling green hills, feeling the wind whip through his hair.

On the 30th day of Haggis's arrival at the Space Station he approached Shelly Rendler at breakfast in Bermuda. She was eating with Susan Shinn and Melody and Bessie, having an animated conversation until she sensed a shadow falling over her. When she saw who it was she gave a broad sunny smile. "Haggis! What a delightful surprise!"

"I'm sure it is," said Haggis, even as she got up and gave him a hug. He pulled back from her. "Is there somewhere we can talk?"

Susan Shinn gave a little giggle as the girls looked at each other conspiratorially.

"Oh? Of course!"

He and Shelly went to another vacant table.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this experience?" Shelly asked.

"I was thinking about your offer."

"My offer?"

"To partner. I have decided to accept."

Shelly gave him a skeptical look. She had pursued Haggis for days and only gave up when it became clear that he had absolutely no interest in pairing with her.

"What changed your mind?"

"Nothing," said Haggis. "I just needed time, that's all."

"Time," said Shelly. "Haggis, did you pair with someone else and get a low score?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure," said Haggis. "You will be my first."

"Your first," said Shelly.

"At least, my first... here," he said, looking around.

"I'm flattered," said Shelly.

"So?" Haggis asked.

"What?" Shelly asked.

"Do you agree, Michelle?"

"Do I? Of course! And call me Shelly, please!"

Haggis stood up, and extended a hand. She gave him a quizzical look.

"The sex," Haggis explained. "As I understand it, we're supposed to have sex first, right?"

"Oh! Yes, of course."

Haggis was on top. As he plowed in and out of her, his face was impassive, as if it were carved out of stone. He stared into her eyes but it seemed like he was mentally somewhere else. He was the quietest lover Shelly had ever seen. He didn't moan, he didn't cry out, he never said a word. The only way that Shelly could sense that he was climaxing was when he started panting, ever so softly. When he stopped panting she actually had to ask, "Did you...."

"Um hm. And now I will see to you."

And now I will see to you. The coldness of his tone repelled and excited her. There was no love here, clearly, and there wasn't even any warmth.

And yet....

Haggis's intensity excited her. The hardness of his face, the hardness of his gaze. His sheer determination. This was a man who clearly knew what he wanted and went after it.

He was still hard inside of her. As he pounded within her Shelly felt that obdurate gaze burning into her and felt aroused by it, aroused in a way that she had never felt before.

"Oh Haggis!" she cried.

Thrust, thrust, thrust. That strong forehead! Those intense eyes! Shelly shivered madly as his hard tool of manhood pounded into her.

"Haggis!" She cried again, feeling her vagina aflame. He said nothing, staring at her even harder, which excited her more.

"Oooooh!" Shelly stiffened beautifully as she climaxed around his raging manhood. She smiled up at him lovingly even as he continued to simply stare at her. When she had relaxed some she wrapped her arms around him. "Oh Haggis, that was incredible!"

"I'm glad, Michelle," he said curtly.

Michelle. He still wouldn't even call her Shelly.

It was all about the business.

And somehow, for a reason she couldn't explain, it excited her even more.

Bessie was delighted that Haggis had "come around" and agreed to participate in the Experiment. She gave her full approval, thinking that if Haggis's pairing with Shelly failed (as was likely) then she could get her own chance with him. Then they were off to Graylor, who studied their genetic plates while an anxious Frog stood behind him.

"So you are proposing to deemphasize certain genes of the male subject in favor of the female subject's genetic code?" he asked.

"No," said Haggis.

Shelly smiled and touched his arms. "Haggis, dear, we talked about this."

"Actually, we never talked about this at all," said Haggis.

"You have the most wonderful... beautiful set of genes," said Shelly.

"Thank you," said Haggis.

"But... and I want to say this with only the greatest respect... what is good for you may not be so good for an entire population."

"What may not be so good?"

"Your individuality. Your independent streak. I would never want to eliminate them, oh no! I just want to temper them a bit, and weight my communitarian instincts a bit more. You understand, don't you?" She rubbed her hands up and down his arms.

"Perfectly," said Haggis.

"Good."

Haggis turned to Graylor. "We want both our genetic codes to be totally unaltered."

"No!" said Shelly.

"Of course you can refuse to participate," said Haggis. "We can call it off, right here and now." He noticed Frog shifting nervously back and forth from one leg to another.

Shelly bit her lip. She wasn't used to conceding on genetic alterations. But if she refused, she would never get another chance to pair with Haggis. So far no one had paired with Haggis. If he was the one, she couldn't afford to this this opportunity go by.

"Very well, dear."

"Thank you, Michelle."

"So... no alterations to your genetic plates?" Graylor asked.

"No," said Haggis.

"No," said Shelly, with a forced smile.

Graylor studied their plates a moment longer, hissing periodically. "Very well. Let the experiment begin."

The results only took a few seconds to come in. At the very same time a message was sent to the body manufacturing facility on New Earth several hundred years in the future, probes were sent out hundreds of years into the future beyond that to see the results of the genetic pairing. The results came back almost instantly.

At the end of 1000 years after the race of people that Michelle and Haggis created, Population was at E3. Emotionality and Self-Awareness was at E4. Community was at E3. Technology was at E4 (Anti-Matter Tech). And Art was at E5, the top rating, with true depictions of the nature of existence. Overall the combined score was 670 out of 1000, a significantly above average score. With a score of 800 a passing grade, the results were promising, to say the least.

"Amazing!" said Shelly, with a big smile on her face. The highest score she had ever achieved was a 580, and she had never been able to replicate it again, even with the same man. "We did it!"

"Did we?" said Haggis, raising an eyebrow.

"The results were technically a failure, since a passing grade of at least 800 is required," said Graylor. "However, from a comparative point of view the results were most impressive. We haven't seen a score this high in nearly two months."

"We should do it again!" said Shelly, with a light in her eyes. "Haggis, let's do it again, and this time adjust our gene patterns so-"

"Let me give it some thought."

"Haggis!"

"Let me give it some thought."

News traveled quickly. Before long Haggis was sitting in Bermuda, surrounded by men who demanded to know how he did it.

"How I did it? Do you really not know the basics of biology?" Haggis asked.

"She was a good fuck, wasn't she?" Craig Cobin asked. "You must have pounded her pussy really good."

"Indeed I did," said Haggis. He reclined in his chair with a smug smile. "There was much pounding of pussy, my young friend."

"But how did you do it?" Roland Miller asked. "Shelly has paired with twenty, maybe thirty people and never gotten a score that high. Did you suppress any of her traits?"

"No."

"Did you suppress any of yours?"

"No."

Roland's eyes narrowed. "Just what did you do on Earth? Come on, Haggis, you can tell us!"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," said Haggis.

"Try me!"

Haggis sipped his drink for a long moment as they all waited, breathless. Then he said, "I don't remember."

"Don't tell us that!"

"I told you you wouldn't believe me," said Haggis.

"So are you going to try again with Shelly?" Ardis asked.

"Perhaps."

"Or someone else?"

"Maybe."

"When?"

Haggis shrugged. "I don't know. A day, a week, a month? Who knows?" He reclined some more, sipping his drink. He spied Frog staring at him from across the room and they exchanged gazes for a long moment.​