Platonia: The Seventh Voyage

Jan Weller sat back in his command chair and yawned. He turned to address the bridge crew. "Well, gentlemen, we finally got what we asked for, an entirely normal mission. We got back intact, unruffled, untroubled, and unchallenged!"

Belden was unimpressed. "You got that right! Those people were as lively and interesting as toadstools. I thought up to now that your dissidents left for some compelling reason. But accountants? Hell, I'd exile them too!"

Weller waved him away. "The Anderzon colony came to this world to indulge in their affinity for numbers, counting flora and fauna, ordering the minutia of the world. But now they only exist to fudge them, I think the boredom is getting to them as well. And they wile their hours into eternity, counting and recounting beans, and carrots, and rocks. It gives them pleasure I guess."

"Hmm. If normal is something that does not irritate or bore, or impress us with its colossal stupidity."

"It’s their founder’s fault, if fault is to be found. They isolated the top performers in their universal accountancy exam, permitting only the most ordered minds to breed. And so we have a contented race of number crunchers, alive in a biological sense, but not in what I would call a human one."

"Yes," said Belden. "A human race, minus wit, and personality, and passion. A Utopia like this is not in my dreams."

Weller looked sullenly at the planet, shrinking progressively as the Nole sped away. Soon, it was a mere point in the darkness. "It’s a mere cipher, their world, our world. The values that drive them are irrelevant actually, as long as they give some purpose to life. What are ours Mr. Belden? What are ours?"

"To find the truth, the ultimate truth."

"Precisely. We seek the point behind this façade. But in the meantime we have take our own pleasure in counting novelties and plot points, as if we were twiddling our thumbs and rummaging through magazines waiting for our maker to call."

"As we are doing now?"

"Yes, except the adventure stories we would be reading have a virtual feel to them, as you I am sure would be first to agree."

Belden shrugged. "Technically, yes. But personally, the difference escapes me now. So what is next for…."

It was the voice of the communications officer. "Captain, we're getting on long range scan an approaching ship. It's broadcasting it call sign. It's the Foundation cruiser Gader!"

"Hmm. Why would they intercept us. Our respective missions are distinct. Lieutenant Hof, put them on screen please."

It was Spurling, sprawled despondently on his captain’s chair. Spurling did not look like his normal cocksure and arrogant self. He seem flustered, tired, and his eyes darted about as if he was casting about for a solution for an awful and insoluble problem.

"Captain Weller!" he sighed in relief. "Thank God I found you! You must help us! I've been searching for you for the last month. Disaster has struck us!"

"Please Captain Spurling. Relax. Our ship is at your disposal. How can we help you?"

"Half my crew is gone. They were kidnapped for biological experiments. Our own people betrayed us. You must help me rescue them."

"Of course, of course. But what happened, and where?"

"It was supposed to be a normal mission, but the planet was a trap. It was the home of the Bendik expedition. They were quite unremarkable spacefarers. They called themselves the galaxy's best kept secret, I suppose of course because they were too unremarkable to notice. They were among the first to leave Transor, and for the only purpose to build a colony, a mild mannered adventure by all accounts. But now, they changed their name, and drastically altered their race. It’s absurd, but it’s true. You must believe me that it’s true.

"I don’t know how to say this.

"They called themselves the busty Amazon space babes."

Weller stood, emotionless.

"What?"

"You heard me!" Spurling stammered indignantly. "These worlds, these stupid idiotic worlds! Each one without exception has by any measure descended into madness. How does one counter such things, what logic can one use?"

Weller was bemused. "In other words, dear Spurling, you were defeated, not by enemies or terrors that at least put you on guard, but something more…

"Attractive," murmured Spurling. "Their name fits quite literally, I assure you."

"These experiments, are your men in danger?"

"No, not at least from the pictures."

"Pictures?"

"Yes, a proof of sorts, like a picture postcard from the beach, with my men smiling from a tangle of arms, legs, and heaving breasts, and beckoning to me at that! 'Just having a good time. Wish you were here!' I can't stand it! It's duress of the most insidious sort that eats away at the will to quest, to think. Gentlemen, it's sex, like something you have never seen, never felt. Male minds cannot resist such things. I thought we possessed the discipline, and I lost my crew because of it. If you go to their planet, the same thing awaits you."

Belden looked on wide-eyed. "Let's get this straight. Your men have been kidnapped for sex by a colony of well-endowed females? A modern land of the lotus-eaters! Gentlemen, I'm sold!"

"Belden, be quiet!" Weller snapped. "You're the ship's computer, a voyager, not a voyeur. Captain Spurling, we have a serious problem here. Obviously, if what you describe is correct, then we must divine not only their motives, but also why

an entire colony can devolve into this adolescent fantasy. Can you gather any reason besides the most obvious?

"Yes. I understand that they need men. I gather that men occupy less than a percent of their population. Perhaps it was eugenics, accident, murder, certainly it wasn't the water! And now they want them to breed again. But for what purpose if not for new genetic material to sustain their bizarre matriarchy a bit longer."

"Then we shall have to find out. Are their channels open to us?"

"Yes. But the truth comes at a price. You must visit their queen in person. My lieutenants have done this, and answered with an invitation and a trap. It was all too good to be true, and when I authorized shore leave, at their request mind you, I thought my men were of sterner stuff.'

"They merely acted like men," said Weller nonchalantly. He looked passively at Belden. "Perhaps the shadow of a man is the key."

"Helmsman!" he exclaimed. "Best speed to their planet! And for you Mr. Belden, nudge us along a few light years I you please."

______________________

Within the hour, Bendick came into view, an unremarkable blue green orb.

"Belden, what do you think?"

"Nothing special, none of these planets ever are. Their communication grid though…

His eyes opened wide, ears pricked back, and breathing heavily he sat down. "It's, it's," he stammered. "Pornography! Their media is full of the stuff. But it's not an exception, hardly a perversion. To them it's a normal thing."

Weller looked at him with rising concern. "Belden, look at me! Calm down. These people, this culture, can you venture a reason?"

"No."

"It's a secret evidently well kept. Again, all these places keep their secrets. It's as if they invite the drama our intervention brings."

"Then we must await it."

"Not for long. I have an incoming transmission."

"On screen!"

The crew froze, mouths agape. It was stunning, immobilizing, and no man turned his head. Melissa, the communications officer, stifled a laugh, the others simply looked on in silence.

It was a female figure, immensely rendered on the screen. She was smiling coyly, her body figuratively and literally bursting from the screen. Weller inhaled slowly and clenched his armrest.

"Damn 3-d screen!" he mumbled, as a breast the size of a dirigible virtually grazed his face. "Adjusted, captain," said Belden, as the screen reverted to 2-d. Obviously, they like to make an impression!"

And quite an impression it was. Weller had seen nothing like it, in person that is. She was blond, in her early thirties, and finely featured. Her face, rouged and lacquered, reminded Weller of a child's doll. Her massive breasts heaved under a leather corset, and threatened to break free any minute to lunge again at his face.

"Well, hello, darling," she purred huskily. "You must be Captain Weller. My name is Plenty Ontop. Captain Spurling said he would fetch you. He was quite threatening to us you know." She liked her upper lip suggestively with the tip of her tongue. "But baby," she sighed, "you must know we mean you no harm. Quite the contrary, we welcome you with open arms and open…."

"Ahem," interrupted Weller.

"Madame, you know why my ship is here. You are holding members of the crew of a Foundation starship. Whether under duress or onot, you must release them to us."

"And we shall!" she said, smiling coyly. " We need them only for a month. Soon they will return to their ship. They know that as well. They have a mission you see, and accumulated shore leave. It's in your bylaws, or does your temper shade the rules, as with my lovely Captain Spurling?"

"The point is.."

"The point is Captain, you have none. But you are invited to visit us. You can spare your crew this time, though I am sure they will likely resent it. Visit us, and you will understand." Cupping her breast with her hand, her tongue moistened her upper lip. Eyes closed, she sighed, and then the screen went blank.

For a long moment, Weller stared ahead, as if in shock. He swiveled his command chair to face the bridge crew. "Em, ah yes." He stammered. "Prepare a shuttle, standard procedures. Belden is with me. If I lose contact with ship, don't attempt rescue. Belden will know. He's our insurance, our failsafe."

"But he's male," said Hoff. "And personally, I don't know if he can resist this."

Belden smiled. "Unfortunately, I don't suspect my end will be in a sexual delirium. But one can always hope. As for my resistance, I've found it so far quite futile my dear Lt. Hoff!"

____________________

The autopilot quickly locked on to the colony's signal. As the shuttle circled a green knoll, a colorful pattern emerged, like an aerial view of halftime festitivies in a football game. ]

"I see they are ready for us," said Belden. He laughed. "It's, it's a cheerleader squad, with spears!"

Settling on the ground, the shuttle door swung up to reveal two rows of women in perfect formation, and as solemn as a military color guard. They were dressed in fire red mini-skirts a size too small, fishnet nylons, and halter-tops accentuating an ever present cleavage. It was an honor guard of bimbos! Approaching them through this velvet gauntlet was a woman in a skin tight leather jumpsuit. Her bodice was partially unzipped, revealing pneumatic features that they seemed to pride themselves in display.

"My name is Hony Mounds," she said with rising excitement. Breathing heavily, she looked at the men with a hungry smile. "I am you guide, your liaison to Bendik. We are here to provide anything you want, anything. Please, follow me to our waiting car."

"As they walked abreast of the color guard, Belden whispered to Weller. " I know its strange, but I feel that we are being mentally undressed by these women."

Weller looked ahead. "Wait a second and we'll escape their eyes. Look!"

"A long pink limousine came into view, braced by a color guard of half dressed majorettes on motorcycles. Its back door flew open. "Please," said Hony, as she motioned them into the car.

"Hmm", said Belden, as he settled into the back seat. "Look at this, crushed velvet seats, perfume in the air, and clarinet music! It seems they build even their cars for seduction!"

The car entered the city to sites revealing in ways the men had never seen. The ordinary passersby, the to and fro of a populace about its business were the same as in any metropolis, but the figures were astonishing.

"Naked!" exclaimed Weller. "Or nearly so! They are of all ages, all dressed and rouged like streetwalkers. Baring breasts, legs, and fluttering about on the sidewalks almost proud of their seductiveness. They are human peacocks!"

"Honey," asked Weller. "Is this picture, this society, are you all like this?"

"Of course baby," she purred. "We exist to please our men, a noble purpose would you not agree?"

"But where are the men?"

"Oh, about, here and there. They are quite rare you know, and are certainly not like you fine specimens." She sighed. Suddenly, the car pulled to the curb. "Well, we're here, our ministry office. We're a bit early, I think. Wait for a moment while I get our escort."

As Hony disappeared into the building, Weller released the latch and opened the door. Well eyeballed or not, I don't think I can sit another minute in this boudoir on wheels!"

As they exited the vehicle, Belden pointed to a rotund figure standing near the curb. "Look, it’s a man, sort of. Frankly, I don't think he looks the part, but maybe he makes up in wit what he lacks in looks."

Weller nodded silently. "Go ahead, I'll wait."

He was shuffling about, gazing here and there nervously as if waiting to be served. He was fat, disheveled, and stupid looking, not the type Belden would've care to strike up a conversation.

"Sir", he said. "Excuse me, but we are travelers here, and …."

The man looked away, disinterested.

"I say, sir!" said Belden, his voice rising. Again the man looked away. Then came a voice.

"You won't get much from him, honey!"

He turned, and standing by the curb was a tall blonde in a leather miniskirt and matching halter-top that was nearly unbuttoned and revealing the requisite cleavage. She was leaning against a taxi, and smiled hungrily at Belden, as is she was sizing a prey.

"Baby, come here," she purred. "They're all like that, these men." Cupping and lifting her ample breasts in her hands and smiling suggestively, she leered at Belden. "See, you ain't got nothin' he wants, no T, no A. You're a threat actually, a main course to his table scrap!"

"Come closer, honey," she gestured with hips jutting mechanically in a provocative gesture. " I'll tell you what you want to know!"

Belden walked closer.

________________________

Weller stood by the car, and to his surprise was embarrassed. As he dodged the startled and appreciative glances of the passers by, he felt he was square in the middle of a parade of half dressed tarts. He crouched slightly, trying to mask his identify as a sexual provocateur. He was relieved as the doors to the ministry opened. This time the escort was a bevy of harem girls in an erect, orderly, and jiggling processing. Between the escorts was Hony, and to her right, Plenty Ontop.

"Lovely, lovely that you're here," Plenty said in a deep and sultry voice. "But Mr. Belden, where is he?"

Weller looked to the curb. "Well, there. But he was there."

"Oh my," she sighed. "That is a problem. She turned to Hony. "Search the streets, find him, and spare no effort!"

"Captain Weller," she said gravely. "If we cannot locate your man, I fear we may never find him. If he was kidnapped, be assured that he will be consumed, my people's hunger is that great."

"For him? But he's…"

"Not like the others here. Come, we don't have time!"

She motioned him forward, and accompanied by his harem of escorts, he was led into the building. It was appointed as we was he was coming to expect. Everything was arranged as if pointing to a seduction. He saw marbles of entwined nude couples, satin paintings of men and women with exaggerated sexual features in outlandish sexual poses, busts of phalli laid out like trophies, and all set in a color scheme of bold red and pink. It was a government office furnished like a bordello. He approached two wooden doors that opened to a small study that was a welcome and startling contrast to the sexual garishness he had seen about him. Books on mahogany cases bordered a small desk upon which sat a young woman. She was a thin and svelte figure, dressed in a simple white dress adorned by a single strand of pearls.

"Captain Weller," she said shyly. " I am the elected Prime Minister of our people. My name is Katherine. I am so delighted to meet you. Pardon me though for my appearance. I am an intellectual, retiring sort. I know I am not pretty. Shortly though you will be returned to my staff. They will have many pleasures in store for you. "

Weller looked into her eyes with disbelief. They were piercing blue, and here face, smile, and gentle bearing were those of an angel. Weller was smitten with this self effacing creature, so oddly out of place in a society so obsessed with extreme carnality.

"I assure you, Madame," he said in a whisper. "You are the most fetching creature I have met in my few years. But you, your society, surely you must know…"

"That we are mad? Of course, we all know it, but nature has made us into these addicted, pitiable creatures. She walked towards the bookcase, brushing her fingers against the spines of a row of books. She turned to Weller.

"I am a well known scientist here, a top graduate of one of best schools. Normally I think about equations, experiments, the mundane things that fill an intellectual life. But when it comes to this, this craving, I pursue it in the shadows, silently. It’s a desire and a shame we all have. We just have to have it, even our daydreams spark this hunger."

"Sailors." Said Belden.

"What?"

"Sailors at sea, away from home, deprived of female company, and with manners rude enough never really to attract it. The scarcity of it marks the behavior, a frenzy sparked by an unsatisfied hunger, a thirst if you will. Where are the men here? I mean the normal men, not these troglodytes we see in the shadows."

She looked at him sadly. "There are no men, not of the normal sort at least. We need men, but only for a time. The crew of the Gader understood that."

"But for what purpose, some transient pleasure. What role do they play in your plans? And most importantly, what happened to the men on your world?"

"In a word, Captain Weller, it was the water."

"The water?"

"Surprises you? I shocked us, but by then it was too late. Our expedition was normal, nondescript. We thought we knew the lay of the place, we were confident that there was no threat. And indeed, this place is as safe as a baby's crib. But there was one thing, one very small thing. It was a viral infection, transported by water. It was benign we thought, no more discomforting than a slight fever. Within a year, we had a cure, but by then it was too late. It changed our DNA most subtly and insidiously, forced us to adopt, to change into the creatures you see about you."

"A virus caused you to turn into…"

"Indirectly caused, I should say. As you know, at conception, the male's DNA determines gender. After this silent plague, our males with few exceptions could make only female babies. Within several generation we became a world of women, giving us little reproductive choice, but for the remaining males, boundless ones. Males have their preferences, and now they could satisfy them with a desperate and competitive sex who had no choice but to become 'fairer'. We made every compromise, even our names, but time and nature makes compromises of its own. Soon, sociological pressures became evolutionary ones, and only those who had certain attributes were selected out."

"So you evolved into peacocks."

"Yes, big breasted things that trot about in plumage, and with a most constant hunger. But ironically, high intelligence continued to serve us, and it was the men who became bird brained."

"And how do you solve your problem?"

"A simple donation, of which Spurling's crew has happily obliged. Insemination, whether personal or artificial, resulted in the first pregnancies. Three hundreds of them by our count, and with assistance of a little genetic screening, we have assured they are nearly all male. Think of it a moment from our perspective, Captain Weller. We can now turn the genetic tide, and with it slake our thirst. Now we will have men, infinite men, and beautiful, delicious boys!"

"But my purpose here?"

"We did not beckon you. I recall it was Spurling who sensed a need."

"And his crew?"

"They will leave shortly, though I think they will rue that day! Besides, it's all legitimate. They did not elect to stay here under duress. I believe they think they have used their accumulated leave time wisely!"

"And Spurling?"

"His pride is hurt, and little else. For some reason, I don't think he wants you to steal a march on him. You both have timetables to finish your mission, do you not?"

Weller pursed his lips. "That bastard, He…"

"Now, now Captain Weller. I am sure you don't regret you trip here. Your crew is welcome to take a few days shore leave here. They would find it I trust a quite rapturous experience."

Weller smiled and nodded. "Thank you, no. I think a day's pleasure is a poor trade for a month of regret. It is best that they remain unaware of this place. "

She sighed. "A sad loss indeed. But Captain, there is one problem that strangely does not seem to concern you. Your colleague Mr. Belden, if he has been kidnapped, it may be months before we can find him. Attractive male specimens tend to disappear into the clutches, or should I say embrace of our society."

Weller smiled. "You don't know Mr. Belden as well as I. You see, he is an avatar, a computerized image made real, but he is still tethered to a shoebox, a quantum computer if you will. He allows us to travel these infinite spaces. He's a strange character though. At night, when he sleeps, he imagines his own reality, some ordinary yet impossible place called Earth. I assure you, as soon as he closes his eyes for a moments sleep and opens them from his earthly reverie, he will awaken in his berth on my ship."

Katherine's eyes sank as she looked at him. "Then you must depart our world." Approaching, she touched the side of his face her hand. I just wish, just wish…"

She moved closer, and Weller closed his eyes, surrendering himself for the moment that would soon bear regret of the sweetest kind.

_________________________

The taxi rumbled through a maze of narrow streets, bouncing Belden up and down. He though angrily to himself. 'Here I am, a brilliant maker of worlds, lured and thrown into the trunk of a car!"

The car screeched to a halt, and Belden could hear an excited commotion building outside. The trunk swung open, and Belden was lifted out by a gaggle of female hands. "Here he is, ladies!" she cried. "Fresh, delicious meat!" About him were five tall, busty, sweaty, and quite lusty women in revealing leather jump suits.

"Honey," she said. "Do you know who we are?"

"You are busty biker babes in lust?" said Belden with sarcastic breathlessness.

A tall blonde laughed. "Smart ass! I like him. I'm Tawney Titay, and these are my friends. We're gonna be your ticket to pleasure. You see, we all want some, and you're going to put out for us. And do you know what's the good news?"

"No."

"You're gonna have me first."

She grabbed Belden by the arm, and pulled him through the open door of a dilapidated apartment. The light was dim, but Belden could notice an unmade bed in the corner. She threw him on the bed and standing, leered at him while slowly unbuttoning her top. As her voluptuous body was revealed, Belden lay back exhausted but thrilled. Soon her naked body bestrode him and she unfastened his trousers and pulled them down. Now , now!" he thought. What heaven this is! Then, he closed his eyes.

His eyes opened. "Oh, Tawny, Tawny, you are so…"

To his horror, the room changed, and the figure in the shadows became fat with scraggly hair. He was beholding the face of the Gorgon, his dear wife!

The light came on, accompanied by her shrill scream. "Tawny! Why don't you ever think of me? You insect! Is this what I deserve? I, your devoted wife, and this is what I …"

Belden turned away. He closed his eyes again and again. Somehow, he could not find the release of sleep.

_________________________

As the Nole prepared to leave orbit, the screen was blank, a closed book. Spurling's men were soon to reboard their ship, and Jan Weller and John Belden each looked out at a world whose siren call they had at last shut down. But in fact, they had merely reversed a pendulum to a new cry that in a few generations time would be wholly male. But they thought of other things now that served an infinite and sweet regret, and they were silent.