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One petitioner shoved the other forward, and she was looking at a young female with a child strapped to her for carrying. She wanted permission to move to a district closer to her family now that her husband had separated from her to pursue his love of the ocean.

“Yes?”

“Madam Comptroller, I w-would l-like to—” She jolted as the child began crying.

Reem got to her feet and walked toward them. “May I hold him?”

The woman was shaking but pulled her child out of the carrier, and Reem took him. She looked at his face and watched the red of fury as he cried. “Hello, little man. Having a rough day?”

She propped him on her shoulder and began to pat his back in circles. “Tell me about your request.” The child belched.

“I wish to switch districts to be closer to my family now that my husband has chosen to go deep-sea exploring without leaving us funds to survive.”

“Well, that is not right.” She swayed rhythmically, and the little body went limp.

“There aren’t any support systems set in place, as separation is not common.

You are granted moving permission, and a stipend to assist in moving will be provided, as well as ten percent of your rent for your new home.

That ten percent will be removed from your husband’s new wages. ”

“He will be furious.”

“He started the child; it is up to him to make sure that he has a roof over his head until he has reached maturity. If he fathers another child with someone else and abandons it as well, another ten percent will be moved from his wage.”

The woman smiled. “He won’t like that.”

“Then, he should honour his promises. Children are not made alone.” She paused. “Unless you are Makradian... then they are.”

The group chuckled softly.

“Madam, your hair went purple.”

“Ah, I like children. It has been years since I held one this small.” She turned the child, and it was tucked back in the carrier.

“He hates strangers.”

“Well, I am the apex of strange, so from here, things may be easier. So, you are given permission to relocate, and your husband will be docked ten percent to be used on your lodgings only. Any overage will be put into a trust for your child.”

“Thank you, Madam Comptroller.”

Reem went around the table and entered the order into the system. She had to do an override on the legal end, but the support order was soon in place.

“The request is complete. Have a good day.” She examined a lock of her hair, and it was dark purple.

She waited until the sleeping baby was out of the room and then rapped, “Next!”

Business resumed as usual, but her hair was back to black in an hour.

A message had been flashing in the corner of her vision for half an hour. She paused and expanded the message, blinking as it stated, Hormonal event, seek the Pleasure Centre.

Reem checked her workload and went online to make an appointment with the Pleasure Centre.

They had time during her lunch hour, so she set an appointment and checked on what she needed to bring.

Apparently, it was just her body and a willingness to find relief for a sensation she wasn’t registering.

She finished her morning appointments and got up, walking out of her office and to the lift. The Pleasure Centre was on the third floor.

Reem walked toward the reception area and was instantly taken to an interview room. The female host said seductively, “What are you seeking?”

“Relief so that the hormone warning will cease. I am not in for a scenario or anything fancy. I just want to come and go.”

The woman blinked. “Oh. I see. Come with me.”

She was led through the entryway to a small room with a med bed that seemed to have a gel surface.

“Madame, get naked, lie down, and state Activate . The unit will do the rest.”

“I hope it’s quick; I have to get lunch after this.”

The woman was startled. “Oh. Of course. It will release you after it releases you. If you like, you can use a solar shower and then simply leave.”

“How much is this? I didn’t see on the booking form?”

“You will be paid based on the pleasure surrendered. This is a Hmrain world, after all.”

“I didn’t guess that. Thank you. I will be as brief as I can.”

The attendant blinked. “Of course. Enjoy your stay.”

Reem undressed, climbed onto the bed, settled, and stated, “Activate.” The bed moved under her, soft straps forming out of the gel and pulling her thighs gently apart.

A unit with soft lights and another gel panel descended on her, and she began to feel tingles in her limbs as her breathing picked up in pitch.

Her clit throbbed and was caressed by the gel, and soft digits worked into her.

She went from cool to fever pitch and then shaking and twitching as her orgasm struck and sent soft waves through her. The unit slowed her breathing and calmed her before moving away from her. She was weak, but the annoying alarm was off her internal view.

She took a solar shower and got dressed. Seven minutes. She would do better next time.

Reem walked out of the Pleasure Centre and went to the nearby food court. Despite her hair being a vibrant blue, her body felt relaxed and calm. Maybe she would try something new today.

* * * *

W envari clutched at his desk as breath sawed in and out of his lungs.

His wings were flexing and twitching from the burst they had just been treated to.

He looked at the roster of the Pleasure Centre, and there was only a species list. Terran.

This wasn’t an ordinary member of their species.

Others had been through the centre, and none had had this effect on his senses from ten floors away.

Privacy was paramount at the centre, so he opened the exterior cameras and tried to find the person who had just caused his very being to shiver.

He prided himself on not involving himself with his colonies, but he had to remain on site in case of emergencies.

The centres were the way he was paid for that bit of attention.

Whatever had just orgasmed in the centre had enough power to keep him alert and focused for a year.

He saw beings come and go and found six answering to the Terran descriptor. He focused, but they didn’t seem to match the numbers. The black-haired woman went in, but a blue-haired woman exited. Could they be the same? He was so bad at faces.

He followed her progress to the food court and picked her up on a different camera.

He was able to get a clear image of her face, and he blinked when the recognition program told him he was looking at the cyborg comptroller that had cost him more than he had been interested in spending.

Suddenly, he was very happy to have opened his account a little.

How often did she need to seek pleasure? He wanted to make sure that he was there for every visit. She was exquisite, and he didn’t want to miss a drop.