Author’s Warning: What I keep saying about stuff that’s not mine still applies. Those characters who belong to Showstopper STILL belong to Showstopper, in addition to Jaci Valentine.

The Next Wave Chapter 25 – YaYaNiaferia Aboard the Spirit of Pavonia

Katherine sat next to Bobby on his bed and hugged him tightly.

“I love you,” said Bobby softly.

“I love you too,” replied Katherine.

He pulled her closer, and put his face against hers. They kissed tightly. “I’ve never kissed a girl before,” confessed Bobby.

“Now you know what you’ve been missing!”

************************************************************************

Sami and Kuwachobee were engaged in the same activity in another room.

“Sami, I’m worried,” began Kuwachobee.

“About what, Kua?”

“Just…part of me is your grandmother. It’s so difficult…”

“Maybe, but you are Kuwachobee first and foremost!”

“Look at the dress I’m wearing!”

“Yes, I see it, it looks very good on you!”

“But what type is it?”

“It’s a Seminole patchwork dress, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Patchwork!”

“So?”

“That’s how my mind is. Patchwork!”

“Patchwork?”

“Patchwork. I am many people. Some male and some female. That’s where my memories are. Most of them were Seminole Indians in Florida. So many vivid memories of wars and oppression. But then there is Moli, your grandmother. A completely different life. A completely different race. But my mind and my spirit are not one, they are many that have become one!”

“Why are you worrying?”

“Because, I’m worried that something may be wrong.”

“But you have a coherent mind!”

“Isn’t it worrying you though that your grandmother…”

“She’s just PART of you, not the WHOLE you. I don’t see the patches, I just see the dress!”

With that the two hugged tightly.

************************************************************************

Katherine and Bobby were talking to each other about their lives.

“I didn’t know you’ve done so much already. Those Pilgrims are evil. How can they hate someone just for being different?”

“Ask your mother that,” told the Enagi staff, audibly. “She had misgivings about you, Bobby.”

“Because I…” began Bobby.

“Are covered in fur, and more importantly, don’t have a kula with eyes on it.”

“I think what’s more important is the heart, not what’s on the outside,” said Katherine.

“If more people had your hearts, things would be better!”

Bobby got up and put on some jazz music. “Ever slow danced?” he asked.

“Slow danced?” asked Katherine.

Bobby showed her the subtleties of slow-dancing. “And if you have a tail, which both of us do, be careful dancing around walls and tables!”

************************************************************************

Roland, Suki, and Sarona were duelling in the dojo. Sarona and Roland no longer had any animosity towards each other, other than they both wanted to defeat each other, but Roland was always winning.

“You’re getting there,” said Roland, “But getting there is not good enough when you’re fighting the Crimson Storm!”

“The next time we meet in the ring, mark my words, I will defeat you!”

“Are you dreaming in 64-bit True-Color High-Definition?”

“I don’t dream. I accomplish. That is how I got where I am now!”

“I’ll take you on, Sarona,” said Suki.

“Good luck, you’ll need it!”

“Thank you, but you’ll need it more!”

They squared off. At first neither had the advantage, but Suki was able to take advantage of Sarona’s extra limbs. But when Suki tried twisting the wings, she was able to counter it into an Airplane spin.

“Why couldn’t I think of that?” asked Roland in disbelief.

**********************************************************************

Bobby and Katherine spent the evening swimming together and then taking a long walk. They decided to sleep together, although only in the “lying next to each other” sense. They were both the happiest they’ve ever been.

***********************************************************************

Somewhere in Naomi, YaYaNiaferia

Shortly after noon, the spaceship touched down. A group of Ya’a Naomi came to meet them. Among them was Lusia, the grandmother of Bobby and Sarona. She had light brown fur, and wore a light blue yara and a crown of yellow flowers. Standing next to her was her husband Soro, who had slightly lighter fur and wore a laari (sarong) and a floral necklace.

Bobby, Sarona, and Katherine were the first ones off the ship. Bobby was wearing a blue and red laari and no shirt. Sarona was wearing a light blue yara, and Katherine was wearing a grey blouse and a blue and grey skirt. Bobby ran to Lusia and hugged her. “Ama-i-Ama!” shouted Bobby, meaning Grandma. “This is my girlfriend Katherine! Katherine, this is Lusia, my grandmother!”

Katherine and Lusia hugged. Bobby then introduced her to his grandfather Soro.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” asked Soro to Sarona.

“I still don’t, Afatua-i-Ama.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t find anyone. I found a boy I thought I like, but he doesn’t like me. I’m still quite young!”

“I know, but I’d like to be at your wedding!”

“You’ve always been so obsessed with that!”

“I enjoy it! I enjoyed my wedding and Sekola’s, as well as those of Lili and Sara.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t forget to tell you when I find the right man!”

“Don’t forget!”

Soon others came out of the ship. Sami came first, wearing a Montreal Expos shirt and a green and yellow lavalava. Kuwachobee was next to him, wearing a pink, orange and turquoise patchwork dress. “Bobby’s grandparents have no wings,” commented Kuwachobee.

“The wings are from his mother’s family,” informed Sami. “They’re from Sara.”

Suki and Roland came out after them. Suki wore khaki Capri pants and an Akira t-shirt. Roland wore a shirt with grey Chinese characters on it, as well as a pair of navy Bermuda shorts.

“I’ve never been here. Is it nice?” asked Suki.

“The food’s bloody savory. The weather’s bloody hot.”

The last three out were Manami, Bryant, and Vanessa.

Manami was wearing a Hello-Kitty t-shirt and a pink sarong. Bryant wore a white shirt and a light blue sarong. Vanessa, as usual, was completely naked.

While Lusia and Soro had seen some of them before, they were still all introduced. More Ya’a Naomi came. They included Lili and Sara, sisters of Sekola, and therefore aunts of Bobby and Sekola, along with their husbands and children. Generally the men would be wearing laaris and the women would be wearing yaras, and everyone wore bright flowers and leaves.

Everyone was interested in the foreigners, and in the wings of Bobby and Sarona.

“Can you actually fly with those?” asked one cousin.

“Watch us,” said Sarona, as they took to the sky.

They were impressed, although one of Lili’s sons was giggling uncontrollably. “I can see up Sarona’s yara!” he shouted aloud.

“Don’t say that, it’s not nice,” said Lili.

The entire group went for a walk around Leoko village, where Sekola grew up. Everyone stopped to say hello.

They stopped for snacks at a snack-bar that was located next to a park. Some of them had ice-cream on sticks, while others had star-rat on sticks.

“I forgot how good star-rat was,” said Roland. “And to think there’s a small Naomian restaurant just a couple of blocks from my place in London. I must return there.”

They down in the park to have their snacks. A couple of Ya’a Naomi approached them. One of them had unusually dark fur, and was male. “Hi, my name is Koko!”

“Hi Koko!” said Lusia.

“You remember me?”

“Of course, Koko Polo? Of course I remember you!”

“Then…” he pointed to Bobby and Sarona. “You must be…Yicola and Ranai!”

“You’re correct,” said Bobby. The Naomian names were much easier for him to pronounce than their first names.

“Ranai, you’re prettier than the last time I saw you,” he said.

“Thanks!”

“I really mean it, Ranai!”

“That’s sweet. I wish other boys would say that. But I have my fighting and my cars to keep me happy!”

“But do you have a boyfriend?”

“That’s not really any of your business, is it?”

“I’m sorry, Ranai, I just wanted to know!”

“Well…I don’t have anyone!”

“But she needs someone as soon as possible,” blurted out Soro.

“Soro, I don’t know how I put up with you,” complained Lusia.

Koko didn’t say anything. He just walked over to Sarona and gave her a tight hug.

“Thank you,” said Sarona.

“You needed it, I could tell,” said Koko.

“Aww, the language of love. A language we all hope to hear, one that we understand instantly, yet cannot even be translated. A paradox. Love. It’s sweet. It’s inspiration for art. Even if some say that there is little difference between love and obsessive-compulsive behaviour. But love is sweet, sweet, it is sweeter than honey, or the nectar of a thousand love-fruits, or the nectar of a thousand love-fruits mixed with honey. Love is…” rambled Vanessa.

“Vanessa, please don’t spoil this moment. My sis’ is the happiest she’s been since she made it to the final round last summer!” said Bobby.

“You are wrong, so wrong!” she said, still in Koko’s deep hug. “This is even better!”

Soon others were hugging. Bobby reached to hug Katherine. All of the sudden a pair of furry arms reached around him and held him tightly.

“Who’s this?” he demanded. With that the arms retracted.

“That’s no way to greet an old friend, silly!” came a woman’s voice from behind him. He turned around to see a dark-grey furred Ya’a Naomi woman. She wore an emerald yara.

“Who are you?”

“I am Lania, silly. Don’t you remember me, Yicola?”

“Vaguely, but…”

“I’m the girl you loved, remember?”

“Yes, and I distinctly remember that you had a boyfriend the last time I saw you, someone named Koyo. This time things are different. I have a girlfriend, her name is Katherine, and we are in love!”

“That…furless thing?”

“My name is Katherine, I’m Pavonian, and he’s MY boyfriend!” retorted Katherine.

“But I have a long tail!”

“And I have a tail that can open!” With that Katherine spread her kula.

“Yicola, how can you be with her?”

“Simple,” said Bobby, “I love her!”

“But I love you!”

“And this is after you said that you don’t want a boyfriend who lives on another planet.”

“Well I…I didn’t want to worry my parents, that’s it!”

“Lania, you are a nice girl, but right now Katherine is my girlfriend!” Lania slowly walked away with her head hung. Bobby got up and hugged her. “You can be my friend. You just can’t be anything more!”

Katherine caught up with Bobby.

“Don’t worry, Katherine, I don’t hate you,” said Lania in a sarcastic manner. She then lifted the front part of her dress’s hem with her left hand, while putting her right hand just underneath her dress and pointing three fingers upwards. Then she ran off.

“What was that about?” asked Katherine.

“To put it bluntly, she told you to go fuck yourself!” explained Bobby. “Go have sex with yourself!”

The rest of the group gathered around them, while Bobby explained what happened.

“At least I have someone,” said Sarona, as she hugged and kissed Koko.

“Lania should have gone after me,” said Roland.

“Does she even know who the Crimson Storm is?” asked Sarona.

“She would once I’ve been with her! She’d enjoy riding through the Crimson Storm.”

“Be careful, there are children around here,” warned Sami.

That night, the children were taken to friends’ houses, while the guests and Bobby and Sami’s aunts, uncles, and grandparents, along with Koko, went to a bar. Besides drinks, they also served small meals. There were many people already there.

“This reminds me of British pubs,” said Roland.

“Are they this noisy?” asked Koko.

“They are much noisier. Especially during football season.”

Around the table, the Naomians were all asking questions to the Next Wave. Everything from questions about powers to more mundane questions such as weather were asked.

Roland got up and began wandering around.

“Oh no, not again,” said Manami.

“He’s about to go hunting,” said Suki.

“Hunting? What do you hunt in here?” asked Lili.

“Women. He’s going to hit on women!”

Roland approached the bar, where a pair of Naomian women were talking. “Hi, Yaniae[ladies], do you mind if I sit next to you?”

“Not at all!” said one of them. They continued talking to each other.

Roland started asking them questions. Then he learnt they were both attached. “But you’re looking for a sweet yania, aren’t you, yakia.” She pointed in one direction. “That’s the Pink Rose Sunrise sorority. Most of them are single.”

“Thank you very much,” replied Roland. He walked in that direction.

There was a loud chorus of giggling and laughing. Seated around a round table was a large group of Naomian women, most of them in their late teens. Some of them were wearing brightly colored yaras, others were wearing yaras that had logos or pictures on them, including one who was wearing a Playstation Y yara. There were also a few who’d have a laari and t-shirt on instead.

One of them looked at him and shouted “CRIMSON STORM!”

“Now Yeki, you can’t say that every boy from Earth is some fighter,” said one of her “sisters.”

“Actually, Yeki is right,” said Roland. “I am the Crimson Storm!”

“I TOLD YOU SO!” said Yeki, a 21 year old Naomian female in a white yara with a dark blue geometric pattern, as well as the PD/DP Productions of Naomi logo.

Roland introduced himself to everyone. After talking to them for nearly an hour, Sarona, Koko, Katherine, and Bobby came over to him.

“We are going now,” said Bobby.

“I’m staying with these women if you don’t mind,” said Roland. “I’ll be back later, much later!”

“Alright,” said Sarona. They left.

“Was that the Blue Tiger?” asked another one of the girls.

“Yes that is,” replied Roland.

“She’s much better than you!” she barked.

“Roland is better!” shot back Yeki. Soon there was an argument.

“Why don’t Yeki and Asaga settle this?” suggested Roland.

“And how do you suggest?” barked Asaga. She was short and slightly heavy. She was a yara with a picture of the Blue Tiger on the front, and the words, in both Naomian and English, “Naomi’s daughter the Blue Tiger,” as well as her infamous “I am woman, here me roar,” quote.

“Why, a fight of course. No holds barred except no weapons. Perhaps use something like mud.”

“I like it,” said Asaga, “I’ll kick Yeki’s ass!”

“Oh no you won’t!”

Asaga did the Naomian three-finger and lifted yara salute.

***********************************************************************

In a ring of mud behind the Pink Rose Sunrise meeting-hall and clubhouse, Asaga and Yeki stood face to face. They were completely naked, because yaras were a difficult type of clothing to fight in, and they didn’t have underwear or swimsuits.

They soon ran at each other, and exchanged punches. Yeki soon pushed down Asaga, and the two were brawling in the mud, feet, hands, and tails flailing. The rest of the group, along with Roland, were cheering vigorously. Most of them didn’t care who won, but Roland was pro-Yeki.

In the end Yeki was declared a winner when the referee blew on a wooden horn.

“And now,” said one of the sisters, “We shall party!”

Unlike the sororities in North America on Earth, this group didn’t mind a bit of alcohol at their parties. They also didn’t use Greek letters, but that part was already established. Things got wild, especially when a handful of boyfriends showed up.

Soon yaras, laaris, and Roland’s clothes were thrown off. Dance, hop-hop and rock music from around the galaxy were playing on loudspeakers. Yeki was the first one to mount herself on Roland’s manliness. This was the first time Roland had ever gotten lucky with a Ya’a Naomi yania. Her insides felt hotter than every human he’s been with. He savored the moment as Yeki went up and down on him. Every girl who wasn’t with someone was also watching him.

“Don’t worry yaniae, there’s plenty of love to go around!”

************************************************************************

Sarona and Koko said goodnight to each other on the doorstep of Lusia and Soro’s house. “Come here Ranai,” said Koko. He led her to a place behind the bushes. “There’s something I want to do with you, and I feel you want it!”

The two were soon kissing, and stroking each other’s tails, or sua’as, as they’d say. The two moved up to French kissing.

“I’ve never been with a boy before,” said Sarona. Then she reached down to Koko’s laari. She pulled at the right knot in the sarong, gave it a tug, and it soon glided off of him. He helped her out of her yara. The naked lovers lay down, and Koko made love to Sarona. It hurt a little at first, as Sarona was relieved of her virginity, but she was soon smiling. The two were in the throes of amorous passion and minutes later, they climaxed. They cuddled, Koko still in Sarona, for a few minutes. Then they got up and quickly dressed.

Sarona was smiling until she went to her own bed.

************************************************************************

Bobby was taking a walk through a forest, Katherine was with him. He was wearing a light brown laari and she was in a purple dress.

“Katherine, there is something I want to ask you,” began Bobby.

“Yes Bobby?”

“Katherine…” before he could finish he was splashed by an enormous wave.

************************************************************************

Bobby sat upright, and realized where he was. The bed that was once where Sekola slept. He felt wet all over. A giggling echoed through the room.

“Hi handsome,” came an unmistakable voice. He turned around to see Lania standing there with an empty bucket.

“GO!” shouted Bobby.

“I will, after I KISS YOU!” She hugged him tightly and tried to kiss him. He pushed her away.

“You don’t know how to greet a girl, do you!” With that she pulled off his covers, revealing his naked body.

“Get out of here Lania, I’m not interested!” He turned over, while she lifted up her yara and sat on him, rubbing herself against him. Bobby turned over and she fell off. “GO AWAY!”

“You need a real girlfriend, not that bitch with the fan-tail.”

Just then Katherine came in. “Excuse me?”

“Go choke on your tail!” shouted Lania.

The two began trading slaps, until Bobby pushed them apart. Lania quickly ran out, crying.

“What was that all about?” asked Katherine.

“She can’t accept that I have a girlfriend,” replied Bobby. “So she splashed water on me!”

“Awww!” The two hugged tightly. Katherine didn’t care that he was wet.

**********************************************************************

The next few days were spent mostly hanging around with Bobby and Sarona’s family. At night time, though, Roland would be visiting the sorority, making new conquests, while Koko and Sarona would be together. Each night Lania would try to get Bobby’s attention, but would only end up getting him more annoyed. On one occasion she dumped fruit sauce on him. Another time she lay next to him and came close to actually having sex with him.

The last day, goodbyes were exchanged between everyone. Roland said farewell to the sorority sisters, and considered his “four-night stand” to be a new record…in number of women he slept with in a short time. They all knew they wouldn’t see him again. Sarona and Koko exchanged phone numbers, but Koko gave her a wrong number, and later sent a letter saying it would not work. Sarona was depressed for a few days.

The Spirit of Pavonia took off once more, destination: Earth

************************************************************************

April 1rst, 2025, The Pataki Federal Woman’s Prison, New York State, North of Albany

Obo was escorted by a couple of armed U.S. Marshal Service guards. They stood in front of a reflective security door. She no longer wore the jewellery that a woman of her position wore. In fact, she was told that in the maximum security section jewellery was mostly contraband, especially for a high-risk, high-crime criminal such as she. She wore an orange high-visibility dress that had the number 4449, a dash, and “NYPW” after it. Her hair and skin looked perfectly healthy, although that might change soon, she thought. Her hands were cuffed together, and a special collar was around her neck, with a chain attached to it, attached to a special tail-clamp at the other end to keep her from opening her kula. Her tail was starting to ache, but she was reassured that once she was in her cell, the clamp would come off. The door opened, and she was taken to a reception desk. A brown-haired woman sat behind it.

“CAN YOU READ?” she snapped.

“No, I don’t know this language…”

“Stand behind the white line on the floor!” Obo looked down and backed up until she was behind the line in question.

“What is your name?”

“Obo.”

“Obo Sercle. Anakoq of…”

“Just a moment. It doesn’t matter what you may have been, princess, but in here you have only two names. Your real name and your number. Now learn to cooperate and things will be that much better. You’re here for a long time.”

“How long?”

“Life. That’s what the judge said. That’s what it says here in the records. It also says you are a Pavonian.”

“That is correct.”

“Of course it is, nitwit!”

“I thought you said I only have two names!”

“Don’t be a wise-ass with me!”

She was given a thorough inspection, and then a pair of female prison guards came. They were wearing lighter uniforms than the dark blue of the Marshals. They also had sunglasses on their faces. Obo was shoved in their direction, and then the Marshals left.

Obo was escorted down a long ramp. At the end, a bus was waiting. It looked much like a city bus, save for the bars on the windows. Inside, however, there were built in chains and cuffs for restraining prisoners, and the interior was divided into compartments.

“We may as well give you the quick tour,” said one of the guards. The bus left a garage and went down a long road through a fielded area that, save the tall perimeter wall with barbed wire, showed no signs whatsoever of being prison property. Barracks-like buildings dotted the landscape. “This is the minimum security section. The nobodies are here, most of them have less than ten years. And it’s highly unlikely that they’ll try to escape. But just in case they do, we have the walls. These are the lucky ones. Don’t expect to see here any time soon!” The bus continued, and passed through a tunnel in a building. “That’s the general building. Has the mess halls, the libraries, and the infirmaries for the Minimum and Medium security sections. Speaking of that, look where we are!”

On the other side of the building, there was a large building with an attached skybridge. This building was circular in appearance. “Our medium security facilities,” said the other, “are in this building shaped like a big wheel. Hub and spokes. Makes it easy for the guards to keep watch.” The bus drove through an opening in the underside of the wheel, and parked in front of the hub. Obo was let out, went through a security checkpoint where cards were flashed, and led up an elevator. On the sixth floor she got out, went past more guards, and came to what appeared to be a subway stations.

“This is the Jailbird Express,” said the first guard. An automatic train stopped at the station, and Obo was led on. The train’s interior was like that of the bus.

“In case you were thinking about breaking out of the train, know full well that the rails are electrified at 1200 volts, enough to fry an elephant. The rest of the stations have platform-edge doors, so if you were thinking of ending it all you’ll have problems. And this train only goes to the Medium Security, a few places in Maximum, and Super-Maximum, which shall be where we get off!” The train droned as it moved along the elevated track. A short distance past the wheel they came to a wall that had a hole in it just for the train. On the other side things looked more oppressive, with only hints of greenery. The building resembled a castle. It was brown stone, and had twelve stories. “This was once a castle a long time ago, but it was bought by some drug runners, and then seized. We decided it would go well with the prison.” The train passed a station that had platform-side doors, marked “Maximum-A.” Then it was in a tunnel that passed “B” and “C” before ending at “D and Super-Maximum.” Obo was led out, down a hallway lined with cells, and past another checkpoint. A warning sign in blue said “No male guards or officials beyond this point, prisoner possessing hypnotic-seduction abilities may be present.” She passed through several archways with some visible wiring, and then through yet another door, while the guards went on the sides. Doors closed on either side of Obo. Beeping noises were heard, and then the doors slid open.

“What was that for?” asked Obo.

“You’re in Super-Maximum, extra security!” The Super-Maximum area was relatively small compared to the others. Just a U-shaped forked corridor with cells on either side and in the middle. There was also another locked door that was access to special guards quarters for the area. She was led to her cell. The cell door required a special smart-card to open, along with a mechanical lock that was opened with a key. Sitting in the cell was a woman with brown hair and brown eyes, and skin that looked slightly tanned. She was starting to show signs of age, but she appeared to be in her late 20’s, despite actually being older. She was dressed in the same kind of prison dress that Obo was in. Obo was led in, and the collar, cuffs, and tail-restraint were removed. She stretched her tail. The guards parted as a woman in a green jumpsuit walked to the door. On the right breast of the suit was a golden badge. She wore mirrored sunglasses and had strawberry-blonde hair in a pony-tail. She was slightly on the heavy side. A nametag identified her as Chandra.

“Listen up. My name is Chandra, but call me the She-Wolf, understand? I am the Assistant Warden for this section. I am the highest one here, what I say goes. To make things more comfortable, we should get aquainted with some rules, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”

“Yes, I do She-Wolf!”

“Good, you’re learning the right name to call me. You’re almost good, but not quite. Now there’s rule. Rule number one, I AM IN CHARGE. You will respect and obey everything I tell you, or things will get ugly. When I say jump you will ask how high, when I say run you will ask how far, and then you will do it. JUST DO IT. Rule number two, don’t you EVER look me in the eyes, and it’s useless, I wear mirrored sunglasses for a reason. Rule number three is quite obvious. Do not try to escape. All the guards in this section know at least three different martial arts, The Protector, and guns. The Protector is a combination flashlight, Taser, night-stick, communication device and signal device. Of course, if you somehow sneak past us, there’s locked doors and cameras everywhere. Then there’s also security drones. Three of them are reserved for this section. The tracks are electrified, and so is the top of the fence. We haven’t had an escape since opening, and this was before we added the inner perimeter. Don’t try the sewers, if you could somehow fit down the shitholes, those are guarded. Don’t try the old ‘hide in the laundry’ trick, we have hoopies sniffing each load. Rule number 4, every guard and officer is superior to you. Even those robots I mentioned are superior to you. You will treat them with respect, because I SAY SO! Rule number 5, no back-lip or sassing off at anyone I mentioned in Rule 4, ESPECIALLY ME! Rule number 6, your cell is this one here. You will not ask to be transferred, because it ain’t gonna happen. Unless WE decide to move you, you’re here, unless there’s a special reason that I determine. Rule number 7, talk to prisoners all you want, but we will know if you’re trying to escape, and remember, there ain’t no escape. Rule number 8, if you have any special powers, don’t even think of using them. Look at the walls of your cell. Those funny tube things? You act up in the cell, those lights go on, they’re fluorescent. And we know you can’t stand that light. You’ll also feel very uncomfortable, there’s special microwave-induction devices that will activate when you try using your powers. And you can’t try psychically reaching anyone, there’s damper fields around this whole fuckin’ complex. Everything is flatlines. Whenever you’re not in your cell you’ll wear special restraining devices.”

“And is there a rule number nine?” asked Obo.

“You won’t talk to me or any of the rest of us without using the word ‘officer’ at the beginning or end of the sentence.”

“Officer I understand officer!”

“Rule number ten: We don’t have any fillet mignon, fettuccine Alfredo, love-fruit and berries with ice-cream, or Rasela salad here. But you will not complain. The records say you were once a governor-general for the Glocks. Your cellmate was once a big-shot Mafiosa. Well not any longer! And the final rule is that the rules can and will change, when I say so, and without prior warning. You may think you’re high and mighty, but you’ll fall into line soon enough. Now good night, ladies. Wake-up is at daybreak, you low-life pieces of shit!”

Not having anything else to do, she approached her cellmate. “Hi.”

“Hi to you as well. Welcome to The Bleakhouse! I am Jaci Valentine!”

“I am Obo Sercle.”

“So, what are you in for?”

Obo listed every crime she was prosecuted for verbatim.

“Shit, that’s the longest list of crimes I’ve seen, long than anything anyone in the Families has.”

“Families?”

“Yes, the mafia families of New York. The two biggest were the Valentine, originally Valentino, and the Altos.” She then explained the concept of the Mafia families. “I was arrested after I tried to get rid of a threat to our operations, Dwayne Wayne, also known as Big Money!” Obo’s eyes all sprung open at that.

“I heard of the name. I was a Glock, they told me about him!”

“Well, I was able to drain his energy but his friends saved him!”

“Drained?” Jaci explained her powers, including that to seduce men on the psychic level, and that to drain them of their power by having sex with them.

“That’s why they no longer allow male guards into this section. They’re afraid I’ll break out that way. When we’re not in the cell I’m required to wear a special damper collar.”

“So you went here after Dwayne defeated you?”

“No. I went to a state medium-security prison. While I was there, I was allowed to do things not allowed here. Such as frequent phoning priviledges. I hired an assassin to knock off Big Money. It didn’t work. My family tried to get me about by paying for me to appeal my case, and getting rid of the people who could stop me. But that didn’t work, and the Valentines took an even greater plunge. In 1999 I escaped, and tried to rebuild the Valentine empire. A new group of heroes called the Wild Cards stopped me. And because of all I’ve done before, and my escape, I was transferred to this shit-hole.”

“1999?”

“Yes, that was the year.”

“What year is it now?”

“You don’t know?”

“I don’t know!”

“2025. Sorry, I forgot you’re not from here. So tell me, is that tail for real?”

“Yes, I had it all my life.”

“Do you mind if I feel it?”

“Go ahead, but don’t touch the eyes.” She felt the tail.

“There’s been a few people not from Earth here, but not many.”

Obo then explained her life story.

“Well, we’re here together, sister,” said Jaci. She looked into Obo’s eyes, and then hugged her. “I’ll teach you all you need to know about this joint. Be careful around Chandra. You can’t so much as fart without her being on you. She supposedly was the only female guard in the Cauldron, and she isn’t tired of letting us know that. And the word’s out that she’s a lezzo.”

“Lezzo?”

“Lezzo, Lesbo, Dyke, Lesbica, Lesbian…a woman who’s in love with other women!”

“I don’t understand.”

“She doesn’t want a man, she wants a woman in that way!”

“Ohhh!”

“She enjoys giving us strip searches every day, and she’s almost always there at shower time, scrutinizing all of us. She even makes us strip when they have the hoopies inspect us, even though they could sniff up our dresses if they wanted to.”

“How demeaning!”

“She knows, that’s why she does it. You are no longer a Governor-General, I am no longer the head of what was the most powerful Mafia family this far from either Italy or Chicago. But we’re in this together. You are now mi sorella.” Obo’s eyes lit up at that.

“You know that word in my language?”

“Your language? I was speaking Italian.”

“It means sister in my language.”

“Same here!”

The two gave each other a tight, sisterly hug.

“Every day I dream about getting out. Through that window over there,” she pointed to an end of one of the halls, “you can see a few trains each day. I’d like to just walk out and get on one of them. But for now, the closest we get to freedom is during meal times. Then, we just hang around, and as long as we don’t try escaping they don’t give a shit. There’s also other times of the week when things aren’t so bad. And then there’s the others, those inmates you trust, and those you don’t.”

“You are the one I trust!” said Obo.

“Correct. They tell you it doesn’t matter what you were before you came here, but that’s not true. I’m the head bitch of super-maximum. Nobody disrespects me. Except for Loony Linda down the hall. But she’s lost it, they send a shrink over every week, but she’s not insane enough to be transferred out of here!” Just then a loud yodelling broke out from down the hall. “That’s her. Once she calms down we can go to sleep. Don’t worry, I’ll show you how to stay sane so you don’t end up yodelling!”

“What do you do?”

“Well, sticking together will help both of us. And also, hearing gossip is good. You have some girls with limited priviledges in Medium security, but they have food with us, so they know what’s going on there, and in the outside world. We don’t get much information in the maximum security section.”

“Where do I sleep?” asked Obo.

She was shown to the upper bunk. The covers were all held in place on the sides. “They don’t want us to strangle ourselves. How thoughtful.” Obo laughed at that.

The two climbed in. “If I’m going to be spending a long time here,” said Obo, “I have to stick with you, Sorella!”

“It may not be as long as you think, Sorella!”

“What?”

“Never mind that. Goodnight, Obo!”

“Goodnight, Jaci!”

TERMINUS!

Shoutouts: The Usual Gang of (non)Idiots

Author’s Notes: Well, this book is finished. My thanks to everyone from Izzy Insane and Showstopper, for their ideas, to Katherine, on whom I based the Pavonian character. This may not be as long as I was going to have it, but I kinda didn’t want to spend to long. Besides, ideas not used here can easily be used later. Soon the second book in the next generation (or 8th book in total) will be started on. I won’t give too much away, save that Katherine will have a bigger role in the next story, and at least one other member of the old guard will be dying.