S.P.E.C.T.O.R – [A Sci-fi space adventure with fantasy elements]

“That’s right.” Lorelie nodded.

“That would explain it,” Adam said in understanding.

“Do you think you could provide me with some samples of these, Adam? I think they might become popular.” Erkath asked.

“We can discuss that later, let’s get onto the main reason we are here,” Adam replied.

“Of course,” Erkath replied and was about to pass the sunglasses back to Adam when Lorelie took them from her first before putting them back on.

“Seems like Tephe isn’t the only one who wants some.” Rowena chuckled.

“Why would I need another pair when I have these?” Lorelie replied happily.

“You know those are Adam’s, right?” Stacey asked.

“What’s his is mine and what’s mine is his,” Lorelie replied.

“That’s for when you’re married, Lorelie,” Rowena said while rolling her eyes.

“So I’m starting early,” Lorelie replied with a shrug.

Adam sighed as he could tell that, for some reason, Lorelie had no intention of returning the sunglasses to him. In the end, he had to stand up and adjust the parasole anyway so that he could focus on his discussion.

“Ok, so let’s start with Jacquex. I know it’s normally ladies first; however, yours is slightly more in-depth, Lady Erkath.”

“As you wish.” Lady Erkath said politely.

“Here is what I am offering you, Jacquex,” Adam said before he had his uniband display dozens of holographic images of men and women in different bathing suits.

“What’s this?” Erkath asked curiously as she and Jacquez studied the images.

“These are some of the different types of bathing suits, or swimwear, from my world. I am willing to give you these designs along with their production method for five per cent of any sales you make from them going forward.”

“Only five per cent?” Jacquez asked in surprise.

“As the supplier of the designs and production method, you could ask for over fifty per cent, you know?” Erkath asked.

“Five per cent is more than enough, after all, this is not exactly hard for me to do, since all these designs already exist; it is Jacquez that will have to source the materials and hire the staff and equipment to produce them before selling them in his shops.” 

“These are certainly some interesting designs,” Jacquez said as he continued to study them closely before he asked, “Do they sell well on your home world?”

“Better than the outfits you all currently wear, as I told these four yesterday, the only women who wear that style of swimwear are school girls, pregnant women and women who are embarrassed about their bodies.”

“Really?” Jacquez asked in surprise before pointing at several holographic images and asking.

“Why are these ones full body?”

“Ah, those are wetsuits and drysuits,” Adam answered before explaining.

“Most of the ones are just for relaxation or swimming or getting a tan, such as the bikini.” Adam said as he pointed at a holographic image of a woman in a bikini.”

“The wetsuits and drysuits have a more specific purpose, however. This one is a wetsuit, it’s designed to provide thermal insulation and protection from abrasions by trapping a thin layer of water between the skin and the suit. It also protects from ultraviolet exposure and stings from marine organisms. It would be good for people who want to do water sports but are not from aquatic races like you, Merinians.

Drysuits, on the other hand, are designed to keep the wearer completely dry. They are good if you need to enter exceptionally cold water or water that has been contaminated by something.”

“How ingenious,” Jacquez commented before adding.

“While these two will not have any value to Merinians or other aquatic races, as you said, they will sell to any other race that visits the Oasis Galaxy and wishes to go swimming.”

“It’s not just the Oasis Galaxy; all of these items could become popular and used universe-wide,” Erkarh said as she gave Adam a look of admiration.

“I can see that,” Jacquez replied before asking Adam.

“And you’re sure you only want five per cent of each sale?”

“Well, that and free swimsuits for me and the beauties here,” Adam replied.

“He just wants to see us in this thing called a bikini,” Stacey commented as she pointed at the same holographic image Adam did earlier.

“Agreed, though I don’t particularly mind as long as it makes him happy and it’s comfortable,” Lorelie replied.

“Oh, I almost forgot, to sweeten the deal, Lorelie and Rowena have both agreed to be the models for the new line of swimwear,” Adam added.

“As long as the offer is good,” Rowena added with a smirk.

“If both of them are willing to model this new line of swimwear, then it’s almost a guarantee that they will sell like crazy,” Erkath stated in a slightly jealous tone.

“Deal,” Jacquez said as he held out his hand, which Adam shook before saying.

“I will have my lawyer right up a contract and have it sent to you.”

“Good,” Adam replied.

“That’s a point, you never signed a contract with Jessie.” Stacey suddenly realised.

“Jessie? The crazy gun girl from the brothel, one Trillion? What deal did he make with her?” Lorelie asked.

“Moving on,” Adam said to change the subject.

“I will tell you later,” Stacey said with a chuckle.

“Lady Erkath, my offer to you is this.”

As Adam finished speaking and used his uniband, the holographic images of the swimwear vanished to be replaced by hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, millions of holographic screens that were so small it was almost impossible to make out the images.

“Besides the swimwear, the entire fashion history of Earth.” Adam proclaimed, making Erkath and the others’ jaws drop open in shock as they stared at the sheer number of holographic screens.

“How many are there?” Tephe asked in wonder.

“Too many,” Rowena commented in surprise.

“Not enough, this is only a small portion of what I’m offering, my uniband is incapable of displaying every piece of clothing ever designed or made on Earth.”

“My Demon King,” Erkath said in shock as her eyes danced excitedly over the tone holographic screens before looking at Adam and asking.

“What could you possibly want for all of this? Surely five per cent of the sales is insufficient.”

“Yes and no,” Adam replied with a smile before saying.

“From you, I want three things: first, free clothing for me and the women here, like with Jacquez. Second, four per cent of any sales made using these designs.”

“Only four? Erkath asked in surprise.

“Hang on, there’s a reason I only want four. My final condition is that you change your company, Erkath Fashion, from a solo company you alone own, into a partnership with Diva Rowena Nosferatu.”

“Huh?” Erkath replied.

“Huh?” Rowena replied before asking in a confused tone.

“But why?”

“Have you already forgotten what I promised you?”

“My gift?” Rowena asked in realisation before adding, “But that was just a joke, I wasn’t serious.”

“Perhaps not, but I was,” Adam explained. “You’re Stacey’s grandmother, and she cares for you a lot. Even though you have a troubled history, I know she really loves you.

Do you know what she was wearing the first time I met her?”

Rowena shook her head as Stacey blushed and looked away.

“A Diva Rowena t-shirt,” Adam replied, causing Rowena to look at Stacey in surprise.

“Why would she wear the merchandise of someone she hadn’t seen in years if she didn’t really still love you?

She might have acted all distant and hurt towards you because you left when she was young, but she still cares for you and loves you deeply.”

“Is this true?” Rowena asked Stacey as she looked at her granddaughter with her blood red eyes that shimmered with tears.

Stacey didn’t respond and could only nod because of how embarrassed she currently felt.

“Oh my dear,” Rowena said as she got up before rushing to her granddaughter and enveloping her in a hug.

Stacey was surprised for a moment, but soon wrapped her own arms around her grandmother and returned the hug.

The others on the balcony watched the scene with warm smiles on their faces.

Lorelie held Adam’s hand before she leaned next to him and whispered, “Thank you.”

“For what?” Adam asked as he gave her a puzzled look.

“For helping to mend part of the rift that had formed between them because of her own actions in the past.

Rowena doesn’t show or talk about it much, but she has always regretted and hated herself for what she put Stacey through because of her actions.

So thank you.”

As she finished explaining, Lorelie kissed him on the cheek.

Adam smiled and squeezed her hand slightly before looking at Erkath and asking, “So what do you say, Lady Erkath?”

Erkath was about to reply when Rowena suddenly said in an accusatory tone, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning, you sneaky brat.”

After they separated, Stacey sat back down and took Adam’s other hand before squeezing it and whispering, “Thank you.”