Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #13 April 2015 | Page 29

Ben smiled. “You mean, I never would have met Janet.”
“Whatever. Neither of us would have. And just because I’m not sleeping with Janet doesn’t mean I don’t
love her. I just don’t want to complicate our relationship until I’m done with school.”
“You really think she’ll wait for you that long?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. But you’re still not getting
near her. You wouldn’t want me hitting on Sandra,
would you?”
“Her name is Sonja, and she wouldn’t go out with
you, anyway. I’m the one she’s got a crush on, according to her sister.”
“Yeah, well, if she’s got a crush on you, how come her
sister is the only one you’ve talked to?”
Ben crossed his arms. “She’s shy. I’m still working
out how to break the ice. We could double-date, if you
want. I think the sister likes you. Her name is Lisa, or
Lana, or something like that. I know it starts with an
L.”
“Like I would trust you to set me up on another blind
date.”
Ben put up his hands defensively. “Hey, that wasn’t
my fault! The girl never told me her friend was an
Ursan. What do you have against furry women, anyway?”
“It wasn’t the fur, Ben. It was her age. She was fourteen!”
“So? That’s like ninety eight in dog years.”
“That joke wasn’t funny then, and it isn’t now. In Ursan years, she was still fourteen. Where I come from,
that’s statutory rape!”
“Only if you had slept with her.” Ben’s face went
white. “You didn’t, did you? Her father would likely

turn you into a human-skin rug.”
“No, I didn’t. I’d prefer to actually know a girl before
I sleep with her.”
“Whew! That’s a relief! He’d probably come after me,
next.” Ben looked at me sideways. “You’ve never had
sex with anyone, have you?”
“No. Not that it’s any of your business.” I signed another photo and handed it to the next girl in line, an attractive Aldebaran dressed as slave girl Leia. With her
blue skin, she might better have portrayed one of the
dancing girls, but she still had a nice figure. “That’s a
nice costume, miss.”
I had brought a copy of Return of the Jedi with me
to UnionCon the previous year. This year, every girl
who wanted to catch my eye had made a Princess Leia
Slave Girl costume. Most of the girls were attractive,
I had to admit, but their choice of costume showed a
singular lack of imagination. The only variation was in
the colour of their skin, or fur, or scales.
“Thank you for noticing, Ambassador.” The girl
winked. “I wouldn’t mind being your first, if you’re
interested.”
I blushed and smiled. “You are a beautiful woman, but
I just finished telling my friend here that I’d prefer to
know the girl, first.”
“Sure thing. I’m Na Hi.” She handed me a card with
her name, contact information, her blood type, body
measurements, and other data I wouldn’t have thought
to ask. “Give me a call. I promise, you won’t be sorry.”
“Uh, thanks. I’ll think it over.”
After she left, Ben nudged me. “Are you going to use
that?”
I tossed the card onto his photo stack. “Don’t get any
diseases.”
“Bah! You should be enjoying yourself. I wouldn’t

PAGE 29