Chandra's Quest Excerpts

I have posted new excerpts from my book Chandra’s Quest the revised version. The book itself will not be out until 2011 but for the people who have Chandra’s Quest book 1 can get a sneak peek of the changes I have made to the book. Chandra’s Quest was first published in 2002/2003. Some people might have the sample books that were unabridged and published in 2002.)

Below is a passage from Chapter 2: A Visit to Aurora, Chandra & Keeja are invited to visit the city Aurora. Their Madam is meeting a new customer who wishes to buy one of the girls. Unbeknownst to Chandra she is the one that will be sold to the Merchant. Most humans on the planet Eur’laeu are slaves and are registered as slaves. The Madam bought Chandra at a slave auction on one of the moons of Eurola. The Madam runs a brothel house where humans & aliens alike work for her as high priced prostitutes. The book is written as a journal. If you don’t know what it‘s about you can click on the link below it will take you to the main page of the book website.

http://www.chandrasquest.net/chandrasquestpage2.html

Chapter 2: A Visit to Aurora

(Chandra & Keeja arrive at the city of Aurora one of the large city on the planet Eur'leau.)

In the afternoon we met Lara and the others at the parking port. Two guards came with us; one was human and the other a Va’lurin. That particular guard has been eyeing me and has made many passes at me when no one was around. He does not interest me the slightest bit so I ignore him. The hover bus was at the front of the brothel house waiting for us. It didn’t take us long to get to Aurora.There are other forms of transportation on Eur‘leau as well. The public hover bus and the two to three seat hover cars that you can rent. In order to own one of them you would definitely have to have over a three million credits. The Madam has a private hover car but she is the only one that will use it no one else is allowed to use it.

Most people on this planet find it easier to rent one or take the hover bus. Upon arriving, I looked around with delight. “Lara, you come with me and you two can enjoy yourselves shopping, but don’t forget to meet us at the Galaxia Café. I must meet a very important client there today. However by the time you meet me at the café he will not be there. Therefore I want you girls to be sure you‘ve done all your shopping by then.” The Madam was kind of vague. The Merchant didn’t accompany us on the hover bus, therefore I assume that he will be meeting us at the café later. The Madam smiled, turned and walked away. One of the guards followed them and the other followed us. There were many colored beads that hung from Lara's  braided locks I thought it was quite beautiful. I felt a bit jealous.  Her chocolate colored skin glistened with body glitter that she had rubbed on herself earlier. Lara glanced back and scowled at me. Keeja  stuck her tongue out at her.

“Ignore her. Let’s go!” I told Keeja. Keeja can be a bit immature for her age. She is twenty years old. The music in the Promenade was exotic and sensual. Keeja and I stopped at a shop that carried rare, one of kind items from other planets.  Keeja bought some jewelry and I was inspecting a pair of black knee high leather boots that I found attractive. “Oh please buy them. They once belonged to a Ny’karin but he was killed by a Val’urin guard several months (oniths) ago.” He told me. Keeja and I both shrugged because we didn’t know what he was talking about. We  charged our purchases to the Madam’s account. The shop owner really wanted to get rid of the boots so I bought them. The guard followed us everywhere except into the washroom. “Keeja, what do you think of the guard?”

“Um, I don’t know. I’ve been with Va’lurin men before but not that one. He seems to like you though.” She playfully punched me. “I sense that he does but I’m not interested. I'm affraid of Va'lurin men. I've heard stories about them. Moreover, you told me yourself that they can be a bit vivacious, nasty and hard to handle in bed.” She nodded. "You're right and allthe more reason why I hate when the Madam assigns me a Va'lurin customer." After we washed up, we walked around the Promenade looking around and exploring the shops. Later, after our feet grew weary, we headed for the café and waited.

We saw the Merchant walk in. He noticed us and came over to our table. Keeja stood up and bowed at him. Then she sat back down and glanced nervously at me because I refused to bow.

“Chandra?” Keeja whispered, as she nudged me to bow. The Val’urin guard noticed and walked towards us. He grabbed me by the arm and tried to force me to rise so that I can bow in front of the Merchant.

“No, It’s not necessary. No harm has been done,” the Merchant told the guard. Keeja gave me a nervous wide-eyed look and shook her head. Pleasure Girls are required to bow down in the presence of a valued customer.

It is a sign of disrespect if we fail to do so. The worst-case punishment is execution. He sat next to Keeja and signaled a servant to bring over the menu. “What will you have?” he asked us while simultaneously scanning my appearance.

“I’ll just take a cold beverage,” I responded, avoiding eye contact. Keeja ordered the usual lunch-a sandwich filled with veggies, and slices of cooked cu’lin fish. Cu’lin fish are found everywhere on Eur’leau.

The best way to describe them is that they are similar to salmon the only exception is that the scales are blue and gold. Everything else taste the same. The bread is made of wheat that is grown in Py’lea on farms. The Merchant’s plate looked grossly inedible. Whatever it was, it did not look appetizing at all. I noticed he had caught my stare. I quickly turned the other way. Across from us, in a booth I noticed a Ny'karin and his guard. He did not look in our direction. He completely ignored us. Keeja whispered to me, " That is the Ny'karin I saw--

"Is there something wrong Keeja?" Keeja shook her head in response to the Merchant's question. "Oh it's nothing." The Madam and Lara walked into the café shortly after. Lara‘s eyes widened in anger with a hint of jealousy because she is use to  sitting next to the Merchant. “Ah, I see you have seduced my girls into lunching with you,” commented the Madam, as she and Lara approached our table.

The Madam lightly squeezed his shoulder as she gave him a satisfied smiled. Lara shoved Keeja over towards me, and she squeezed in between the Merchant and Keeja.

She then draped her arms around the Merchant’s thick neck. “Did you miss me lover?” she asked with a sultry voice as she turned to see the expression on my face, which was emotionless. I sipped on my drink. Personally, I have no interest in him at all. He pushed her away gently. Lara looked a bit embarrassed by his actions.

Both guards waited outside the entrance of the café. The Madam began to talk about politics, which bored me. I asked to be excused. “Where are you going my dear?” the Madam asked.

“Keeja and I want to do some more shopping,” I said, concealing the fact that I was becoming extremely uncomfortable with the Merchant’s hungry stares and Lara’s glares.

Once Keeja and I were out of there, we wandered around the Promenade.

In Chapter 3 after they did, more shopping they sat on an iron bench resting their feet. Keeja tells Chandra about what she overheard the Madam talking about to an unidentified person on her personal computer.

“This is the fifth time we pass this shop,” Keeja said. I looked around at the people. None seemed interesting to me. “Can we sit down on one of these benches or perhaps go into one of those other cafés? I‘m kind of thirsty.” asked Keeja. “Keeja you had a large cup of Ya’ju juice. If you drink anymore you will need to go to the bathroom again.” Keeja is a good person but a bit immature for her age. She is twenty years old. "I suppose you're right." She pursed her lip and followed me. We walked over to one of the benches situated in the middle of the Promenade and sat down. “Why did the Madam bring us?” Keeja shrugged. “Why must you be so suspicious?” she asked.

“I just am that’s all.”

" The Madam had an urgent to meeting with Lord Sor‘an. I believe he wanted to buy one of the girls. Although I‘m not sure why.”  She combed through her hair with a brush she carried in her hand bag. “Excuse me how did you come across this information in the first place?”

“I overheard her talking as I walked by her private quarters. She was on her computer and she had received an incoming message from Lord Sor‘an and I couldn't help myself-- I had to eavesdrop." I smiled.

"She opened the message and his holographic image popped up. Her door was opened and I heard her talking to him.” The guard was a few feet away from us but far enough that he couldn't hear what we were talking about. “Can you tell me what exactly she said?” “Sure. The Madam said, “She is doing well in my care. But I will not sell her to you! Why do you want her back?” Then Lord Sor’an said, “It is my business. Do not betray me. Be at the café and we can discuss the matter further.” Keeja mimicked Lord Sor'an's voice. "Before I snuck away I took peek at the image of Lord Sor’an and he is very scary indeed. I feel sorry for the poor girl that gets him.”

“What do you mean?”

“I caught a glimpse of his eyes and to me it seemed as though he knew I was there. As if he noitced me but said nothing to the Madam. I don't see how he could have noticed me.”

“Huh? Really? Oh well, no matter If what you’re telling me is true then why didn’t he approach us at the cafe? He completely ignored us. Perhaps that wasn't him. He must not be the buyer then. I don‘t believe that the conversation was about me after all.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “The name Sor’an does sound familiar to me. I have heard it before but I don’t know where."

(Chandra & Keeja notice that other slaves are wearing collars around their necks.)

As I scanned the Promenade, I noticed that almost all the humans were wearing collars around their necks. The Madam’s ladies don’t wear collars. The collars that the other humans are wearing are silver, thick chokers with Eurean symbols on them.

“Why do you suppose most of the humans are wearing collars?” I asked Keeja. “I heard that the Maujus (slave owners) force their servants to wear those terrible things. Those terrible collars are so unattractive, blah!" I couldn't help to think that we are truly fortunate.

“They are less fortunate then us,” she added. I looked at the golden initials branded in my inner left thigh. All the Madam’s girls are branded with her initials in gold.

The letters are in Va’lurin alphabet. I examined it and thought, is this any different?

(Chandra & Keeja meet Carlos.)

I looked up and noticed an attractive human male. He was carefully stacking boxes outside of a shop. “Look.” I pointed in his direction. “Maybe we should talk to him. He seems interesting.” Keeja shook her head in disapproval. “He is a filthy human. Look at him he is a lower class slave. We should not fraternize with him.”

“Distract the guard,” I told her. “No, I will not help you get into trouble again, remember the last time. You know we’re not supposed to fraternize with other human males unless they are Royal Guards or if the Madam assigns them to us.” I stood up. “Well then, come with me.” I took her hand and we headed away from the guard to the shop.

“Hey, where are you two going?” the Va’lurin guard called out. Keeja looked back, and smiled flirtatiously. The guard shook his head and followed. As we approached, the human male looked at us with curiosity. His eyes widened with surprise. “Well, what do we have here?” he asked with a sly, flirtatious grin on his face. “I am Chandra and this is Keeja Jinn. We are Pleasure Girls. We belong to the Madam. She runs the brothel house called the Tower." His smile widened, “Pleasure girls, huh. So what are you fine babes doin’ later?” He eased himself closer to us, looking back into the shop once in awhile making sure that his Mauju didn’t see him fraternizing with other humans.

He was wearing a pair of black trousers that were tucked into his knee high brown, dirty leather boots. His dirty sleeveless beige shirt had a couple of rips in it along with food stains. His shirt was open down the front all the way to his navel and a wide dark green belt was wrapped around his waist.

He kind of looked like a pirate--rugged, rough around the edges but, cute, sexy and attractive in a way. He would actually be very handsome if he cleaned himself a bit. His skin was tanned and he is athletically built.

His beautiful hazel eyes gazed at Keeja and me, amorously. His brown shoulder length hair was pulled back in a ponytail, it all added to his pirate look. 

He obviously was unaware that he was giving off that impression. I noticed a silver metallic thick collar around his neck with Eurean symbols on it.

I heard that when the collar is placed around the neck it’s impossible to get it off. “My name is Carlos.” He bowed to us formally. The guard was amused by Carlos’ formal introduction. “Come, sit with us.” I said, as I took his hand and we walked to the bench.

“Wait!” The guard said. “Please just let us talk to him. We find him interesting. Later, we can fulfill your fantasies in our spare time--I promise.” Keeja said. Of course, she was bluffing but he didn’t know that. That might have some repercusions later. The guard scoffed, shook his head and smiled as he followed us back to the bench. He stood a few feet away from us leaning against a  nearby pillar. Keeja and I sat with Carlos on the bench. “The mauju (slave owner) that I live with can be an asshole.” Carlos said, as he rubbed a bruise on his upper right arm and glanced toward the shop. “Who’s the asshole?” he asked looking back at the guard.  “He’s our body guard.” Keeja replied. “Body guard huh? Well I guess you fine babes need a body guard don’t you.” Keeja giggled.

Keeja and I both looked at him and realized how lucky we had been so far. Most humans haven’t fared as well. Some humans worked hard enough to buy their freedom. “Do you ever think about Earth?  What do you remember about your life on Earth?” he asked. “I don’t really remember. Do you ?” I said, a bit confused by the quesiton.

“Well, I remember more than most of you.” This sounded interesting so I asked Keeja to distract the guard in the best way  possible. The guard was watching us closely, but soon became distracted by a scuffle at the other end of the Promenade.

“Go ahead and distract him for a few minutes (pyns) while I talk to Carlos. Don’t worry it will be okay. I promise.”

“But I wanted to hear his story.”

“I’ll tell you when we get back to the house.” Keeja got up from the bench and wrapped her arm around the guard’s arm. She startled him at first, but it worked. That action kept his attention away from us. “Babe, how’s about you and me go to the nearest restroom and show me what you Pleasure Girls can do?” Carlos leaned over and started pawing at me. I rolled my eyes sarcastically. “Um, no!” I pushed him away. “Don‘t waste my time. I will leave.” I told him. “Tell me what you remember." I said. “When I was taken to the moon, Dyna the physicians placed implants in all the slaves before being sold, including me.

I forgot everything. The slave traders took me to one of those  places where humans are bought and sold. We were being transported to the planet Eur’leau for auction. The slave pirates attacked the transport ship. During the time I was with the slave pirates I met an alien while I was in captivity. He is a changeling, a shape shifter of sorts. He told me that he would set my mind free and I would be able to remember everything that has been suppressed by the implant in my head.”

“Implant? Can you explan more to me?” I asked. “Apparently at the slave auction facilities the physicians implant us with a nano tech chip that suppresses memory and it is used to track wherever we go.”

I was really intrigued by his story and I needed to know more. “So you remember everything? About earth and”--

"Shh.” Carlos interrupted as he placed his finger over his mouth and looked back at the guard. Keeja was keeping him busy still and that was good because I wanted to hear more of what Carlos was saying.  “The alien transformed into a slave dealer and we escaped. So, I went with him to see a female Dryadian named Linnea. She lives in a forest called Avolea on  the continent of Lyvia. It’s a very remote forest area on that continent.

At first, I was skeptical, but I was so fuckin’ tired of the crap I was going through that I went along. I’d do anything for freedom.” I looked around to make sure no one else was paying attention to us.

Carlos continued his story. “The creature took me to Avolea and we traveled through the forest for three days until we came across a remote clearing and I noticed a gate. He took me through the gated and I met Linnea.

She cupped her hands on my head and I suddenly remembered everything. I glanced toward Keeja and the guard. They were still busy in each other’s arms, kissing. “Did she ever explain why we have implants?” I asked him. “No. However, after she helped me remember everything I was escorted out of the commune and I wandered through the forest and hills for many days after I left Avloea.

A scout ship spotted me and I was taken to Ba‘kur where my Mauju bought me. My Mauju doesn’t know my implant is inoperable, at least not yet.” I stared at his collar. “What happened to the changeling?” I asked.

“He stayed with Linnea. I haven’t seen him since.”

“Why don’t you attempt an escape?” He shook his head and pointed to the collar. "I tried once and I got zap me. The collar is activated and sends an electrical charge through my body anytime I try to escape. The collar is wired in such a way that only the finger print of your mauju can set me free by the removing the collar.  “Oh, I see.” I am truly grateful that I belong to the Madam considering what Carlos has been through.  “Are you able to understand what your mauju is saying to you now?” I asked. “Well, the implant is what helped me understand these assholes. Without it I am lost. My implant has been disabled however I pretend that I understand what the big lug is saying so as not to arise suspicion you know.”

I was stunned. Is that why I can understand what the Madam is saying to me? Is it possible that I have an implant as well?  The thought scared me. “Do you believe that Linnea somehow disabled the implant when her hands cupped your head?"  He nodded. "My mauju doesn’t know that I am unable to understand him. When Linnea touched my head, the energy flowing through her hands disabled the implant.

Some of the buildings on this planet are equipped with universal translators. It helps the aliens understand one another, I think.”

"This is so confusing, I thought to myself. “Carlos!” A loud voice thundered from inside the trinket shop. Suddenly, Carlos’ body jerked, as though he felt a sudden jolt of pain, like a seizure. He was zapped by his mauju.