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Scattered throughout are oversized couches and chairs that look far too comfortable to want to leave. Situated in the center is a ring of qut stones; always cool to the touch, they corral a pile of thermal rocks I collected from Hadis 5. Each one glowing a different hue, the stones give off a never-ending radiance, chasing away the dampness of my rocky abode.
I touch a panel, bringing up the lights, bathing the room in a soft blue glow. Cora's eyes widen in amazement as she takes in the sights before her.
"This is incredible," she utters. My pride swells with the wonder in her voice.
I smile and lead her farther into the room. She brushes curious fingertips along the backs of the plush furnishings as we pass through, sighing softly over the thick, luxurious fabrics of deep blues, greens, and purples.
The walls are decorated with colorful tapestries depicting scenes from various cultures across the Universe. I point out a few of my favorites, regaling her with stories of the people and the events they depict. Some are so intricately detailed, the weave so fine, it's almost as if they come to life right before our eyes.
We move on to the bedroom, my cock twitching with anticipation to ravish her in the center of the sumptuous blankets of velvety furs.
“So pretty,” Cora enters the room to run the flat of her palm over the rich, blue furs piled high on the bed.
"The sheets are Arian silk, and the bed frame has been carved from a single piece of exotic wood from the sacred forest on Reki," I add, entertaining the need to impress her.
I sweep past the cleanroom with a push of the door and a mention of what’s inside on the way to the galley.
“Is that fresh meat in there?” Cora stops to peer inside the praksis, a clear case set into the row of cabinets.
“Yes. A jokot I hunted the last time I was here…” my words trail off as I ponder on when exactly that was. “Maybe a year ago.”
“A year! How is the meat still fresh after all that time?”
“The praksis works the same as a stasis pod. It keeps whatever you place inside in suspended animation until you’re ready to use it.”
“Forever?” Her face glows with an expression of pure amazement that stirs something deep within me I never knew existed. My heart flutters and my sivot swirls contently just below the surface.
Mundane things I take for granted are fascinating to her, everything so new to her human eyes. And there is so much I can’t wait to show her.
“Nothing is forever, starfire, but meat can remain in stasis for several hundred years.”
“That’s a long damn time to keep a roast in the fridge.”
“The fridge?” I tilt my head.
“Refrigerator,” she clarifies. “An appliance on Earth for keeping food fresh, though for only a few days.”
“If you think the praksis is impressive, just wait until you see this.” I tug her hand to get her moving. “I saved the best for last.”
Back out in the main living area, I slide my finger across a control panel embedded in the rock wall. A section of what appears to be solid stone dematerializes. Cora's gasp is enough to bring a wide smile to my face—exactly the reaction I was hoping for.
Filled with crystal-clear water, a natural pool is revealed. Fed by rivulets running down the rock face, the water glints off the cave's ceiling high above, shimmering and dancing in a hypnotically reflective pattern.
Beyond the pool is a sky-high view of the terrain. Nothing but pristine, lush vegetation for as far as the eye can see stretches out before us.
Unspoiled, thriving flora hugs the verdant terrain tightly, swaying and rustling softly in the balmy breeze. An endless expanse of unbridled beauty, it is hard not to feel humbled by its magnitude. A melody of chirping birds and buzzing insects floats around us as we stand there, enraptured by the serenity of the moment, basking in awe at the grandeur laid out before us.
I lead Cora out onto the smooth rock terrace jutting from the natural entrance I blocked using a molecular reconstructurizer to appear as solid rock in the side of my mountain. Situated to one side is a seating area complete with a smokeless fire pit.
“We’re so high up.” Cora inches closer to the edge. “You don’t live in a hole in the ground at all, but a mountainside cave.” She then quickly steps back to my side. “Is it safe to walk around up here?”
“Perfectly.” I wink at her and stroll to the edge of the terrace where I glide my fingers over the transparent shielding, glitching the clear barricade in a ripple of distortion. “Transthermal netting. Let’s in smaller particles like air, that’s why we can feel the breeze, but keeps heavier things, like us, inside.”
Cora cautiously steps forward, her eyes wide with curiosity as she inspects the netting. I guide her hand to the transparent surface until I feel the resistance of the net. She smooths her palm over it, causing the barricade to shimmer, giving away it's tightly woven texture in sparkles of light.
“That’s so cool.” She pulls her hand away, watching as the netting resumes its invisible state.
“You could never fall, even if you took a running leap into it. The net would catch you.”
