THE HUMAN EQUATION
by D. Mark Alderton
Circlet Press, Inc.
Cambridge, MA
The Human Equation
Copyright © 2009 Circlet Press, Inc.
Circlet Press
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Cambridge MA 02138
www.circlet.com
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The Human Equation
They knew the invasion from Earth was coming sometime soon. The First Minister would kill to get the information as to when and where the humans planned to attack, but Jelwyn, his chief of research, promised that wouldn't be necessary.
"I don't understand," muttered Zelzer, the chief of security, "Give me half a day with the captive and I'll get him to talk." Like his counterparts among a hundred sentient species, including the humans, Zelzer believed direct action was the most effective.
"Minister, I share your impatience, but as I've already explained, the human scout from the wreckage was given a post-hypnotic suggestion before he was captured. His resolve has been stiffened to the point that he will resist to the point of death any attempt to force the information out of him. Such a method is doomed to failure."
The First Minister tugged his forelock with his tentacle, simultaneously drumming the table with his hand. Zelzer started to speak, but the Minister stopped the drumming and waved him to silence. "Let us assume for the moment that Jelwyn is correct. How do we convince him to speak? Can anything break his conditioning? We simply must have that information."
All eyestalks now focused on Jelwyn. The research chief exploited the moment of silence, secretly enjoying watching Zelzer turn an angry green, and then began to speak. "We believe that the only thing that will get the prisoner to provide the information is if he wants to do it. We think we can break his will by overriding the conditioning with the overwhelming desire to submit to us. We have the means to create the motivation within the human that will allow him to reach the conclusion himself that the only thing he should want to do is open himself to us. If we can make him our partner, he will break the conditioning himself."
A murmur broke out around the table, with the excited voices edging out the skeptical ones. Finally the security chief could take it no longer. "Get on with it. What is it that we have to do?" said Zelzer, who had to restrain himself from physically lashing out against Jelwyn.
Jelwyn fondled his tentacle, waiting until all eyes were upon him. "Humans are creatures of many different drives. Some are dangerous, like their need to dominate, which is why we must crush them before they destroy us. Some are mere animal behaviors, like the need for food or shelter. But the human drive for sexual pleasure is unique across the galaxy. It is something that we believe we can manipulate to our advantage."
At this, the room burst out in an explosion of laughter. Even the First Minister seemed momentarily taken aback.
"You mean you're going to get the human to lay an egg? Will Earth's invasion plans be on the shell, or will we have to wait until it hatches?" snickered Zelzer, clearly enjoying this moment of humiliating his opponent. He couldn't resist twisting the knife further. "Perhaps he will go into seeding mode instead and spray your egg with the plans?"
This brought more laughter. The First Minister decided it was time to get to the point. He quieted the room with a look, then, turning to Jelwyn, he asked the logical question, "Are you suggesting that the humans derive physical pleasure from the mundane acts of egg laying and seed spraying?"
"No, I am not. In fact, the humans do not lay eggs at all. We have been studying human behavior for several years now, long before the outbreak of hostilities, and their capacity for sexual pleasure—an act they conduct with the active participation of others—is nothing short of astounding. If we can induce in our captive high levels of such pleasure, we believe his will to resist will be destroyed."
"Minister, far be it from me to question chief Jelwyn," Zelzer said in a tone that indicated that that was precisely what he was doing, "but I trust he is not suggesting that one of us couple with the creature, is he?"
There was nervous laughter around the table from a few as they all turned back to Jelwyn. "Of course not, chief Zelzer. This is psychological warfare, not one of those tawdry scrolls adolescents use to induce their first seed production," he replied, piercing his rival with a withering glare. Zelzer returned the look without any acknowledgment that either was jockeying for the upper hand.
Jelwyn's riposte had brought more laughter, which was again cut off as the Minister raised his tentacle. The room fell silent as the Minister turned to Jelwyn. "How soon can we get results?"
"We believe no more than a session or two. With each encounter we learn more about what stimulates this particular human, and feed it back to him for the next round."
"I'm skeptical," said the Minister, considering his options, "but the traditional methods have not worked in the past. You may proceed, chief Jelwyn."
****
Travis awoke in a brightly lit bedroom. He noticed, however, that there was no visible light source, making the space seem relaxed and comfortable rather than harsh. Diaphanous curtains draped the walls, fluttering in the air currents, making it unclear just how big the room really was. As the cobwebs of sleep disappeared he sat up on the satin- sheeted bed with a start. The last thing he had remembered was his scout ship being captured by the enemy. If this was a prison cell, he couldn't begin to imagine the palaces his captors must provide for themselves.
His reveries were cut short by the entrance of a woman. She had long, flowing dark hair, a mysterious curve to her eyes, and rounded, smiling lips. She was also extremely underdressed. In fact she was totally naked, and Travis realized for the first time, so was he.
He started to ask her her name, but she crossed the room to the bed and put a cool, slender finger to his lips. No questions, she seemed to be saying. Travis reached for her hand and held it to his face. Her soft palm gently caressed his cheek as she climbed onto the bed and knelt next to him. He looked into her clear, blue-green eyes and felt himself falling. The next thing he knew, they were locked in a kiss, her darting tongue chasing his. His hand reached for her breasts. As with the rest of her, they were exquisite to touch, to feel, to taste.
****
"And this is going to get him to talk? Will he want some seasoning with his dinner?"
"Chief Zelzer, please. This first encounter is a test run. I'm trying to figure out what stimulates this particular human."
Jelwyn returned to his equipment, adjusting the input to the wired human, unconscious on the stone slab in his cell. On the liquid screen in the far corner of the dank space, the images the human was processing were displayed for Zelzer and the First Minister to examine.
"They are a disgusting species, Minister. The universe will be well rid of them."
"I can't disagree with you there, chief Zelzer."
****
Travis's cock felt bigger and harder than he could remember. It seemed to have grown an inch, or maybe two. As her tightly pursed lips slowly slid down his stiffness, Travis curled his toes in delight. He just wished he could remember where he had met her.
He felt a familiar tightening in his balls, but his partner seemed ultra-sensitive to his reactions. She removed her mouth and grasped his cock tightly at the base, waiting until he had reset his trigger. When he had sufficiently calmed down, she flicked her tongue over head, licking away the stream of clear fluid that had oozed from the tip. This nearly set him off again before he was overwhelmed by a new sensation: his bedmate straddling him and backing her moist pussy over his engorged manhood. Her inner walls seemed to mold around his cock as she moved her lower torso in a way to gain maximum stimulation for herself.
She ground into him, somehow managing to hold him in suspense as her own need to come grew. When they orgasmed together, all Travis could think was that this was the greatest fuck of his entire life and he wondered if he'd ever know such ecstasy again. When he reconnected with his surroundings a few moments later, he was still hard and inside her, while she had collapsed atop him, her full breasts now bathed in sweat and pressing against his chest, her lips nuzzling his ears. She seemed to be whispering something. Travis strained to make it out.
"When is the Earth fleet scheduled to invade?" she asked, in exactly the same tone of voice she might have told him what a fantastic lover he was.
"Excuse me?" he said, rising to his elbows.
"When is the Earth fleet scheduled to invade?" she said, lowering her head to his chest and biting at his nipples.
It took another moment for her question to finally register. "Oh, man," he muttered.
His Special Forces training kicked in. He threw her roughly aside and leapt from the bed, fleeing the room through the same doorway that she had entered.
****
"Well, that didn't seem especially productive," snorted Zelzer. "It was supremely revolting and I may never get those disgusting images out of my head, but we're no wiser now to anything except the grotesqueries of the humans."
Jelwyn and an aide conferred briefly. Then the aide hurried to the controls as Jelwyn turned to the First Minister and the security chief. "As I said, that was a dry run. We were attempting to get a reading on the subject. Each time we do this, we get new data about what the human finds stimulating. Rather than repeat a scenario, each treatment brings him into a new, higher level of sexual excitement. We need merely wait until we find the one that is so excruciatingly pleasurable that the subject has no will left and is unable to refuse. At that point, chief Zelzer, he will be happy to cooperate with you."
Zelzer stroked his tentacle. He remained unconvinced and not a little bit nauseated.
****