I was awakened by the incessant beeping of my room’s terminal, my six A.M wake up call. I got up, washed the sleep from my face, and dressed. I put on the long skirt I had worn my first day here and a blue cotton shirt. I packed my bag. I thought I’d check out of the hotel today, then, if I wasn’t offered a bed tonight I would just sleep in the ship or maybe start for home later on. Home. A barren asteroid in the ass end of the next system. If nothing else, my time on Crydon has reminded me of what I’ve been missing for the last few years. Steady gravity, fresh clean air, great food, not the dried up bland crap I’d gotten use to.

I went down to the front desk to check out. I left word for Mark to meet me in the dining room where I ate a lovely breakfast of eggs, ham and fresh grapefruit. I was just finishing when Mark and his partner showed up. They had already eaten but sat and had some coffee with me. Mark introduced his partner Judy to me. She was young, early twenties, slim and not so tall. Her long blond hair that was tied in a pony tail fell to her waist. Mark showed me the flight plan of where we had clearance to go. Then we got up to leave. In the lobby there was a pile of stuff, Mark and Judy’s bags, and a big crate of instruments for the survey. Mark grabbed the two bulky bags while Judy struggled with the heavy crate. I had just my small bag so I helped her carry one end of the crate. When I took the handle I noticed her glance up at Mark. I followed her eyes and saw him give a little nod. It almost was as if she was asking him if I could help her, I thought.

We walked out into the clear sunlight outside and across the field to my ship. I keyed the lock with my card and punched in the password. I noticed Mark eying the dents and scratches on the hull.

“It ain’t pretty,” I told him, “but it’ll get you there and bring you back again. Guaranteed.”

We piled into the shuttle and while Mark unpacked and stowed their gear I configured the drive for flight. I worked with Mark adapting some of his instruments to my ship’s systems. Soon we were ready and I engaged the drive to lift us off.

While Mark settled in to take his readings Judy sat beside me up front. She seemed a little nervous, or shy, or something. I noticed her looking around the cabin so I explained a few of the ship’s systems to her. I kept the controls in manual mode, the nav con screen showing other planes in the air nearby. I steered wide of a flock of birds of some sort which had come up fast, not wanting to have one of them splatter across the view port and upset my guests.

The trip was slow by my standards. I couldn’t push through the air like I could through space. Planet administration didn’t allow it, for one thing. Since the fiasco of old Earth, humanity had become a lot more careful with treasures like Ceylon and the other habitable worlds that we discovered. The greed of old gave way to good planning and conservation to the benefit of generations to come. Under the ship I saw the lush forests and fields turn sparser as we headed north. Soon it was just barren rock and white patches of snow, followed shortly after by an all white landscape, broken only by the blue of the ocean at the coast. We continued north until I saw land again, a vast stretch of white, a tiny smudge that was the research station. The trip had taken just under two hours. I brought the ship around to land beside the gray buildings that made up the station.

I wanted to jump out and run barefoot in the snow but a check of the temperature indicated that would be rather foolhardy. It was minus forty out there, cold enough to freeze skin in seconds. Mark and Judy had insulated coats and boots, gloves and such in their bags which Mark was unpacking. I had my pressure suit with it’s internal temperature regulator. I undid my skirt to let it drop to the floor so I could put on the pants of my suit. As was usual for me I had on nothing underneath. I happened to notice Judy glance my way, then letting her eyes linger a little longer while I was pulling the pants up my legs. She broke her stare only after I had hiked the pants up over my ass and closed the front seals, turning around as I did, trying not to be obvious yet giving her the view she seemed to want. After we had donned our gear I opened the hatch and the three of us trudged the short distance across the frozen wasteland to the research station. The snow echoed squeaking noises under my boots as I walked, my feet sinking in only an inch or so before meeting solid hard packed snow or ice underneath. Mark pulled open the heavy door to let us enter the building.

We stamped the snow off our boots, then went through another door which led to a changing room. We took off our coats and hung them on pegs lining the walls. As we undressed a man came in to greet us and Mark introduced him to me as Sammi, an old friend who now ran this station. I was given the two dollar tour as Mark chatted with Sammi. We were shown around the labs and in the various buildings which were connected by tunnels. The air was warm and fresh although tinged with the smells of machinery and chemicals, smells I was all too familiar with back home. We settled in the cafeteria for coffees where after a while, Mark left Judy and I to go off and exchange research data with Sammi. Judy and I made small talk for a while but I was really curious to know what her relationship with Mark was, if any. I talked a bit about my life as an asteroid miner, not much to say really. Uncover some metal, dig it out, back to base at end of shift. Wake up next day, same thing.

I told Judy how nice a change this vacation was for me, and that I had met some interesting people last night, Tim and Ceylon. Judy perked up a bit at the mention of their names. I saw a smile pull the corners of her mouth.

“Have you met them?” I asked.

Judy paused for a moment. “I interned under Tim just before he retired, four years ago.” she said. “We were working at a site in what was Asia, Thailand the country had been called.” Judy’s face brightened at the memories. “The things we found. Amazing. Sculptures so intricate and stunning, crafted from metals and stone, like nothing I had ever seen. It was while working with Tim that I knew I wanted to help recover and preserve as much of mankind’s heritage as we could. Tim hooked me up with Mark; actually I think it was Ceylon’s doing. She realised where my interests lay and thought that Mark, and the work he did, the restoration of Earth’s biosphere, would be right for me.”

When Judy mentioned Mark I sensed something else there. I asked her, “Are you and Mark, uh, married or uh, together?”

“We’re not married, exactly.” she said. “I, uh. . . .”

Judy saw my face, noted the concerned look on it, and understood. I had hoped that I’d not crossed some line between her and Mark last night. What Judy said next didn’t so much shock me as send me for a little loop.

“Mark told me about the fun you all had at Ceylon’s. I’m kind of sorry I missed it. Mark and I,” she began, “have a relationship which is a little unique, although not all that uncommon. Shortly after I met him I signed a contract with him, a contract with a five year term. This is not a contract for the work we do, although I very much enjoy working with him. It is more of a personal commitment to him.” Judy took a deep breath. “Mark owns me, body and soul, for the duration of the contract. I willingly allowed him to make me his property, to do with as he sees fit. I am committed to him, and I will do anything he asks of me.”

Judy took my hand in hers, saying, “Tim and Ceylon have a lovely open marriage. They are deeply in love with each other yet they are quite liberal when it comes to sexual matters. I expected something would happen when Mark said he would visit, but it’s all right. I trust Master, trust Mark I mean, in that he would know best as to what is right for us.” I’m happy for you that Mark let you meet them and share in the true joy of their lives.

“I was a little surprised,” I said, “to find myself together with them on their bed. And I really did have a nice time. Ceylon is quite the lady.”

Judy laughed. “They have been together for thirty six years now. Tim started out as Ceylon’s slave, yes that’s right, Tim was her sex slave for several years, but their relationship deepened and they eventually got married. I guess they decided to take their relationship to a more equal level.”

“When I was sitting in their house,” I told her, “I had a most wonderful sense of peace and tranquility. I sensed their love for each other spilling over and enveloping me. And later,” I fingered the bracelet on my wrist, remembering. “Later, in their bedroom, Ceylon, she took me to heights I had only dreamt were possible.”

Judy stared into my eyes. “She has power, that one.” she softly said.

Mark returned to the cafeteria then, seeing us sitting there holding hands. He came over to sit at our table. Judy and I both looked up at him, smiling.

“Sammi had to get back to work,” he said. “We can go now.”

“Yes, Master.” said Judy, standing up.

As Mark’s eyes went from Judy to me and back again I stood and went to him, giving him a little kiss on his cheek.

“I never thanked you last night.” I said. “For letting me meet Tim and Ceylon.”

Judy came to his other side and held his arm, smiling. Mark’s momentary confusion passed.

“I see you had a nice chat while I was gone.” he said. “Shall we,” as he steered Judy and I to the door.

As we dressed in the change room I couldn’t help notice the station here was not unlike ones in space. Although there was air outside you would not survive long in the frigid temperature without some kind of protection. Outside the building, although it was still before noon, the sun was low in the south west casting long shadows as we trudged back to my ship. Inside I was happy to shuck the stiff pants of my pressure suit in favour of my soft, loose, cotton skirt.

After lifting off in a swirl of snow I headed west, low over the open sea, along the coast. The ice began to be piled high along the waters edge not too far from the station. Mark sat beside me, Judy on his lap. This was a glacier, Mark told me. Ice slowly flowed between mountains in the distance and ended up in the sea here. Mark asked me to hover for a few minutes, not too close to the ice field. As we watched, a huge chunk of ice broke free and crashed down into the water. I saw it bob up on the surface to begin it’s travels wherever the current would take it. After a while Mark said let’s go.

I saw the tender way Mark cradled Judy in his lap. I had read about their kind of relationship but I couldn’t see myself giving total control over my life to another person. I was just not like that. Still, I wondered, what must it be like not having to worry or, I suppose, even think about things so much. To just have someone else make the decisions and to let whatever happens happen. Mark and Judy were going over some of the data from the research station. I could see that Judy was pretty and she was also intelligent. She pointed out something on the data that Mark found quite interesting, something to do with the ice flow we had seen. Mark got up to check his instruments leaving Judy in front with me.

I asked her where she was from. Judy told me she was born here on Crydon. “A city in the southern continent called Tulsa,” she said. “My family moved to Landon when I was a child. Tim was a professor at the university there. I was working towards my history major when he left to work on the Earth project and I went with him.”

“You and Mark seem very happy.” I ventured.

Judy paused a moment before answering. “I am so pleased we found each other.” she said. "Tim was so nice to me both when he was my teacher and later when we worked together. Before we left he would sit and talk with me for hours. Then later, when I met Ceylon, I began to understand what had been missing in my life, what I had been longing for, but never knew what it was. Tim told me what it was, how, when he was young and he met Ceylon, that she filled the gap in him, made him whole. He worshiped her, still does. How there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her.

Judy lowered her voice a little. I could see tears begin to form. “They have had so many years of happiness together. I try to take things as they come but I pray that Mark and I can be together that long. There is less than a year left in the contract. If he allows it I would gladly sign again, for ever if he wants it.”

I took her hand in mine. I saw that Mark had come up behind Judy and he now softly placed his hands on her shoulders. As she looked up at his touch he bent to kiss her forehead, letting his hands slide down to cup her breasts tenderly, possessively. Judy sighed at the touch. Mark looked up, at the view outside the craft.

We were travelling along the west coast of the continent, passing villages and fishing boats out on the water. The autopilot beeped, signaling to me that we were approaching our destination. I slowed the ship, dropping lower until Mark pointed out the fisheries research buildings and a paved area nearby where we could land. I turned the shuttle inland to set down on the edge of the landing area. When Judy stood up Mark hugged her closely to him, kissing her passionately before dabbing the remnants of her tears away with a tissue.

“Fish for lunch, ladies?” he said. “I know a nice restaurant nearby where they serve it really fresh.”

When we stepped out of the ship Mark phoned the fisheries building and spoke to the man he was to meet, George, inviting him to join us for lunch. We met him outside the office and then walked the block and a half to the restaurant. Mark introduced me as the pilot and I saw George look at me standing there in my long skirt and bare feet. I noticed that his eyes seemed to linger a little long staring at my feet. Another one, I thought.

The fish restaurant was perched on pilings overlooking the ocean. The food was superb. I had the scallops, deep fried in a light batter, the almost sweet taste and tender texture was divine. Mark and George chatted about the ocean, fish and boats. The sea water was very similar to that on earth, without all the pollution that is, and the species that were introduced, as well as the native organisms found here were thriving. Even some sea mammals, brought as frozen embryos, were starting to breed and multiply in the open ocean.

After lunch George took us by boat to a group of islands just off shore where big holding pens teeming with fish were set up. Fish were kept here, he explained, until they grew and had a good chance of surviving in the wild. Then some were released while others were harvested for food, or sent off to other worlds to be introduced in oceans found there. George told us that there were five other planets where the sea was able to support Earth type fish and another seven where attempts were being made to transfer some species there.

We took the boat back to the office building and toured the labs where George worked. Mark and George settled in to go over their research while Judy and I walked around a bit, then, when I got restless, we went down to the cafeteria for some tea. Judy seemed happier now so I didn’t want to break her mood. I told her that in a year or two I thought I might quit I SAM to settle down somewhere.

“Possibly here, on Crydon.” I said. “This planet just seems to get more and more inviting each time I visit.”

I told her of the mud bath I visited my first day and what a wild rush that had been. She said she had heard about that particular pool and wanted to try it herself some day. Mark and George came in with coffees and sat with us for a while, then it was time to go. We went to my ship and settled in for the trip across the desert. As I sat down, I saw the comm light blinking, a message waiting for me.

Humanity had learned how to push our machines past the light speed barrier, but data transmissions had to be carried aboard a ship going in the desired direction. They would then be handed off to planet communications for delivery. This message had been sent early yesterday from my boss at I SAM. I smiled when I opened the file and read that the last blast pattern I’d set up before leaving had uncovered a huge vein of almost pure nickel, enough to keep the smelter busy with overtime for weeks. A nice bonus had been transferred to my account along with an extra two days vacation, effective now if I wanted.

I let Mark read the message and told him that I wouldn’t have to rush back tomorrow. He said that would be good and that there was a friend who lived on the south edge of the desert that he really wanted to visit, if it was O.K. with me. I said sure, so Mark used the comm to register the change of flight plan with air traffic control. He and Judy went off to a store to get some extra supplies, some food and water, some fresh fish and fruit for his friend. Then we lifted off to continue south, along the coast.

As on our flight north the lush green forests and fields gave way to more browns and reds as we approached the desert region. Only this time the landscape turned to an endless expanse of sand, the wind shifting it into high dunes. I turned east at zero latitude, flying low over the desert. For the longest time there were no signs of life at all down there, just hundreds of kilometers of sand. Through the heat haze I began to make out a shape in the distance. I pulled up as we came to a vast mountainous area, the reddish coloured stone blasted by the windswept sand, the near peaks rounded. Farther along the mountains peaked at a height of 6,200 meters before giving way to a valley below, a deep blue river cutting down the middle.

I dropped down into the valley and we followed the river south. Over the desert the outside temperature was in the high fifty’s but in the valley it was an almost bearable forty three. Mark pointed out a flat area and asked me to land. When I opened the hatch the heat hit me like a brick. I stepped down to the sand but had to retreat and find a pair of sandals for my feet. I also exchanged my long skirt for a short, thin one, and the thick shirt for a skimpy top. Mark and Judy had umbrellas to shade them from the fierce sunlight so I stayed close to Judy while Mark took some samples of the soil and the river water. I dipped a toe in the river but the water was too hot for anything more. The river was still, not flowing in either direction. There was no wind, no sound at all. Eerie. Like space, except you could breathe.

Mark finished his study and we took off again, following the valley south, southeast. In a little while I started to see sighs of greenery along the river banks. Mark asked to land again and I touched down on a spot near some tree like plants. On closer examination the tall plants were cactus with a soft yellow fur covering the fibrous trunk and arms reaching for the sky. The temperature was more pleasant here, hot still but I could walk barefoot across the sand. The river water was a little warm and after Mark ran some tests on it to make sure it was safe the three of us stripped to have a swim. The water was fine, slightly alkaline from the limestone mountains surrounding us. Mark and Judy frolicked in the water while I swam along side. When Judy turned her back to me I thought I saw some kind of marks on her skin, on her shoulders and on her upper back. Mark boosted her up and over his head, letting her dive into the water. I saw she seemed to have marks on her bum and upper thighs too. Marks made by a whip, possibly.

After our swim Judy and I lay on a blanket in the shade of some cacti while Mark fetched some snacks from their supplies. None of us had bothered to get dressed. Judy lay beside me on the blanket. I moved closer to her. I put my hands on her and rolled her onto her stomach. Keeping one hand at the middle of her back I traced my fingers across the welts on her bum. Judy was surprised at first and struggled a bit to hide her back from me but I held her down. As my fingers moved gently across her skin she seemed to resign to the fact her secret was out.

“Answer me truthfully,” I told her, “did Mark do this?”

“Yes.”

More gently, “Does he whip you often?” The feel of Judy’s soft skin under my hands, the tiny raised lines, healing but still tender, slightly more pinkish in colour than the rest of her skin.

“No.” She paused. “Mark whipped me two weeks ago. A brothel ship visited the Mars colony. We booked some time in the dungeon. He doesn’t do it very often, only when I. . .” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “ask him to do it.”

I saw Mark leave the ship carrying some food and drinks, heading our way. I understood.

I asked, “You like it, don’t you?” I felt her shudder.

“Yes.”

Mark approached the blanket and sat down beside Judy handing me a bottle of juice, eying me carefully. He twisted the cap on one, then gave it to Judy. She rolled over to face me, her back pressing against Mark. She took a drink, paused, and then began to speak. Her eyes stared at a spot on the blanket near me.

"When Master whips me I like him to tie me down tightly. Whether I’m standing or lying down, or bent over something. I like the feelings of being helpless, of not being able to move hardly at all.

"He usually starts slow, gentle. He’ll use his hand, or maybe caress my flesh with the whip. Gently, a few soft strokes. I get so hot. I try to push back against it, to feel it more strongly. Sometimes he stops until the anticipation is more than I can bear. He will laugh and my face burns with shame at my wanton lust. Then he will begin.

"The first blow is the hardest, or so it seems. Stinging fire burns across my back, or my ass. The flames erupt within me. Master pauses, letting me settle. Then again. His choice of weapon manifests itself. The flogger, it’s strands, an overall burn. The whip, sweet pinpoints of flame. A springy switch, soaked in water, or oil. Intense. Master starts in earnest now, the lashings evening out. Each blow driving me on, higher. I feel the rush building, building, each stroke flooding me with that sweet sweet pain.

"I pull and twist now. Trying to escape. But there is no getting away from it. Again. Again. I cry out “Harder. Harder!” Master knows not to listen. I would die now. I crave to be driven over the top, beyond the point of no return. Master will change the tempo now, perhaps not as hard but to caress me in a more sensitive place. A slash to a breast, or the inside of a thigh. My pussy. Sending the sweet flames to lick my core.

"Then fast. Wham wham wham wham. I no longer feel where the blows land, only the overall intensification. My mind is spinning. Out of control. I am soaring away, up, up, stretched to the limit. I am there. Master sees this and pauses a moment. Time stands still.

"Then I am falling, being pulled back at incredible speeds. I slam hard, back into myself, as wave after wave pounds into me. Gravity increases ten fold, a hundred. I’m crushed into a dense ball. The tiny spark at my center flickers, then flares bright, consuming my soul. I explode. Superfucking nova. Particles fly out in all directions, twinkling in space. Then gone. I’m gone. I exist, no more.

"Master unties me. Sometimes I’m aware of him, his hands on me. Gentle. Soothing words.

“Some time later I’m aware again. I move. Pain. Hurt. Stiffness all over. I open my eyes to see him, my Master, with me, comforting me. He has taken me once more to that special place and he has brought me back safe and sound.”

I watched a tear roll down Judy’s cheek and fall to the blanket. I had tears in my eyes also, as did Mark. Save for Judy’s breathing there was no sound. I reached to take her hand. Judy squeezed mine hard, a small sob escaping her lips. I looked up at Mark.

“You two have something very special.” I said.

Mark placed his hand over mine and Judy’s. He whispered something softly in her ear, kissing her neck. She turned her head to kiss him, full on the lips. She saw the moisture in his eyes and smiled.

“I love you too.” She softly said.

[end part 2/4]