Last Holiday on Terra

21

I had to get my mind off of all the unseen physical changes happening in my body. Looking at the dishes that she was still collecting, I finally removed my coat and rolled up my sleeves, assisting her how ever she let me. I reminded her that I do all my own cooking and clean up when at my home, but it didn't seem to matter...Finally within the hour, the dishes were cleaned and what little leftovers there were, went to the recycling replication unit.

"I made a chocolate cake for dessert. Do you have room?"

"Do the Andorians have four genders?"

"I dunno. Do they?"

"Yes. I don't even know what they are or why I said that. I was just trying to be funny."

"That's really—interesting."

"What is?" I wanted at that cake. It was tall and was iced with what looked to be a dark chocolate.

She poured a white sparkling wine and placed the glass before me. I declined when she asked if I wanted to make the first cut. She expertly made the first cut and pulled the chocolate-covered knife out and made the second cut to form a large slice. "What's interesting is that your memory is, I dunno—weird. Some things you remember and some you don't. It seems completely random."

"Yeah." The memory loss was infuriating! I stared at the chocolatey goodness on a plate that had been placed before me, I could smell it and it made my mouth water. I tried to count what looked to be layers and inquired how many there were?

"Twelve."

"TWELVE!"

She nodded her head. "Twelve."

"How?"

"Just made enough batter for four pans and cut them in thirds. No biggie."

"Don't sell yourself short. This looks incredible! I've never seen anything like this—ever!"

"Well, I hope you enjoy it. You're my guinea pig."

"Sorry? Your what?"

"Guinea Pig—my taste tester. I figured if you like it, then Cee's gonna love it. You're aware that he's going to need a lot of love and therapy when he's brought back into the fold, right? He's really angry. I can't really put it into words, I only know it's true. I can feel it."

I looked into her eyes and loved her all the more for her disclosure. I knew in my soul that she knew what I knew.

"Azreal informed me that they're talking about cloning a younger body for him. He will be quite formidable."

"He's formidable now," she said. "While in the dream state, I knew that no one would mess with me while he was around. Even when he was doing his stalker routine, I knew it."

"To be sure. How does one go about eating this? I don't want to ruin it."

She reached over and took the fork from my hand. "Here. Allow me?" She sank the fork into the very corner and held it before my mouth.

The taste was exquisite, like sex on a fork. It was instantaneous and I knew that I was going to be in trouble in a few minutes time. At the same time, I really didn't care.

"Rowan are you okay?"

"Oh yes," I whispered as I took another bite. "Mmhm definitely."

"Are you sure? Your skin is turning dark!"

I sat the fork down and wiped at my mouth with the linen napkin; it took everything in me not to take her right then. What I really wanted to do was to dive right in to it and lick the chocolate off...but if my teeth alarmed her, my tongue would no doubt terrify her. "I am thinking that Terran chocolate might perhaps be an aphrodisiac for Abraxans."