Page 29 of Trove’s Purpose

“Good,” he praised, looking over her whole form. She stood with a lot of confidence as well. “Now, don’t be discouraged if you don’t hit the-

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Three blasts of laser fire. Exactly as he did it. Immediately, automatically, Trove glanced down range. Then, had to do a second take.

She’d not only hit the target, she’d hit a perfect triangle right inside his, inverted so that their six combined shots made a circle.

He stared, stunned for a moment. Then, when she lowered the pistol, he looked back at Chee. She smiled at him and, for some reason, blew on the barrel like she was puffing away smoke.

“How’d I do, teacher?” She asked smugly.

“You played me,” he said, impressed and delighted in equal measure, a smile pulling at his cheeks.

“Not entirely.” She laughed. “I’ve never used an alien gun before. But my mom taught me how to shoot the moment I turned eighteen. She believed in self-defense in a world of men much bigger than me too.”

Trove threw back his head, laughing uproariously. Fantastic. That was absolutely fantastic! And she’d played him so easily too!

“Now,” she cocked her hip out, putting a fist on it as she smirked. “I believe you said we could do anything I wanted next, didn’t you?”

Grinning, Trove leaned in closer, hoping that she wanted what he did. “Very well, little female. I’m yours to use however you please. What will you do with me?”

***

“Er, are you sure this is what you want to do with me?”

“Stop complaining.”

“I’m just saying, there are other ways you can use me.”

“Sh…” Chee said, grinning with her eyes closed.

And while Trove certainly enjoyed the sight of her at peace, relaxed, and happy, he was just confused about why she had chosen to bring him here.

A spa.

Such places were very common on space stations. The stress of living on starships could be heavy on the body. And it was just as hard on the smaller ones as it was on the large ones. The lack of natural light, being surrounded completely by steel and technology all the time, sometimes not even having a good air recycler so every breath was stale all weighed down on a body. Spas were therefore important for mental and physical health.

Trove never really cared for them himself. Honestly, life on the Humility, even at its worst, had been like a vacation compared to everything that came before it. When his whole life felt like a day relaxing at a spa, why did he need to come to a place like this?

He would have happily pleasured Chee. Licked her until she screamed. Worked her body until she was shaking, incomprehensible, and more relaxed than this spa could ever make her.

But no, she had chosen the spa. She was still choosing the spa, even though he was sure he was making it clear that she could just take advantage of him. One of the benefits of being his friend, as a female, was that he was quite happy to see to her pleasure.

No, instead she chose a hair, skin, and nails treatment package that included both creams and massages for the skin as well as a full hair styling and optional claw styling.

They’d just finished the skin treatments, which included bathing in a very slick, milky, shimmery fluid that he did not think was actually good for his skin. Oh, sure, it probably made it softer and shinier, but he didn’t really want that. Tough skin was a benefit in his life, he didn’t want to remove that barrier and make himself weaker.

But he had promised to do anything Chee wanted, so he soaked in his bath with a mask over his eyes. Though he was wearing a simple covering over his groin, making him more than presentable to his way of thinking, he and Chee had been separated for that part – by her request. He certainly wouldn’t have minded bathing with her. But no to that as well.

And now they were lounging, enjoying some crystal chime music from a planet he didn’t recognize, doing a steam treatment. Which apparently just involved some infused steam floating over them as they reclined in form fitted chairs, waiting for their turn to get their hair cleaned, treated, and trimmed. It was all very… boring.

However, Trove had lost their deal, so he kept his complaints to himself – not his confusion or his offers, just his complaints – and tried to find the enjoyment she did in this experience as he just sat there.

And sat there.

And sat-

Oh, thank the void they were being moved to the next room for hair treatments.