OGENUS EARTH 🌎 🌊 {Dystopian Sci-Fi Adventure}

Crazy

For a few heart-stopping moments, everyone froze enough to hear a pin drop.

Icy paralyzing fingers gripped Meg's muscles, squeezing all her organs to pump extra blood into her cheeks and chest.

Finally, she understood why Arthur brought her along, it wasn't because she was special, she was fodder for barter. The acrid taste of her own stupidity burned the back of her throat as it trickled around the boulder suddenly obstructing her ability to speak, or even swallow.

Arturo, unbeknownst to Meg, was fighting his own inner mêlée at the seafarer's inappropriate and uninventive request. He knew that men spent months at a time on these ships, and Arturo vaguely remembered the allure hidden between a pair of feminine legs, which drove men mad enough to wage wars or end dynasties.

This was the only request that was outside of Arturo's power, and the sailor knew it.

Olivia was staggered by their macho (and frankly, tacky) wish. She was also smugly amused, and only a little offended that the rogue hadn't wanted her first.

Olivia could just picture them chasing that useless Tinker around this filthy metal tube. It filled her with renewed faith that her mentor was indeed, the smartest man in the world. He knew they were seedy enough to ask for companionship, and the girl was their payment.

Midge chuckled inwardly. Just like men, she thought, thinking with what's between their legs instead of what's inside their head. She felt bad for Meg, but their mission couldn't suffer because of this.

If it was a woman these men required, she was fully prepared to offer herself if Arturo balked. Secretly, Midge hoped she remembered enough of what went on between the sheets to erase the sight of her naked breasts grazing the tops of her kneecaps in coitus.

Big Joe was the first to break their silent stand-off with a gut-busting laugh that barreled around the pewter walls of the ship. Harrison eventually joined in, cracking a smile at their stunned faces.

"On second thought, just the first three things." He finished up, clearly thrilled with himself at his jest. "She's too scrawny to be good for anything but bait."

The sigh of acute relief that rushed out of Meg's lungs was involuntary and inaudible, muddled amidst the dwindling laughter of the two hooligans. A flash of heat rose to a boil in her belly, melting her kneecaps and making her feel wobbly. Meg was going to hate this.

Arturo smiled, happy to be the butt of the sailor's childish joke. They were going to agree, he could feel it. "Do we have a deal?" He asked with a meager smile.

"How do I know you're going to come through after I deliver you to Arc Two?" Harrison challenged, the humor disappearing from his voice.

"You have my word." Art replied calmly.

"And that's as good as gold." Olivia quipped over her bruised ego.

"Gold doesn't do anyone any good lady," Harrison sniffed. "Even you're smart enough to know that. I want it in writing."

"My word is my bond." Arturo followed up, raising his hand again to stave Olivia's temper. "I can guarantee that once we are returned safely to Arc One, you will have all the supplies, credits, and the best accommodations we can offer, without question."

"Well then there's only one thing left to discuss," Harrison said cringing against the bad feeling he had about this whole messy business, "when do you want to leave?"

"As soon as possible," Arturo replied with a cool nod.

"That won't be a problem!" Big Joe broke up into laughter again, his pectorals rolling out into a colossal shrug.