The Switch
(from The Switch II: Clockwork)
by Valjeanne Jeffers
Z100 had been a key player in the war that unseated the first rulers, catapulting her to the top class. Because of her role in the coup d’état she, and a handful of other female spies, were immune to these laws.
But if she were to marry this would change. Even taking a lover was risky. She’d heard of wealthy women drugged by men they were sleeping with, waking up to find themselves married. And penniless. The overthrow of the old regime had created a class of ultra-wealthy Tyroleans. The rest became under dwellers —those who lived under the city and earned only enough for food, shelter and oxygen; like her housekeeper Simone2.
Because Z had helped to overthrow the old world, because she worked as a spy to make sure nothing changed, she was hated. She had enemies everywhere—men and women who’d cheerfully murder her to bring down the society she’d helped create.
Z100 sauntered over to her futon, sat down and pushed a button on the underside of the end table next to the couch. The top of the table flipped over, revealing the keyboard hidden underneath. She twirled the dial of her wristband to release a disc and slid it into the front of the keyboard. Z100 tapped the play key. A holograph of a thirtyish black man appeared.
This was H36 a lawyer suspected of being sympathetic to the rebels. As she looked on, the man stepped from behind his desk to meet with a client. She sighed. God, he’s boring… She forced herself to watch for another twenty minutes. He’s clean.
Z reached over and pushed the next button on her keyboard. The image vanished and another holograph took its place: this one of an older white man. Like the target before him, T40 was dressed in tunic and slacks. But he wasn’t alone.
Z’s lips curled up in a tiny smile. This ought to be good.
She pushed pause, got up and went into the kitchen, detouring around her android butler to pour a glass of wine, then made herself comfortable on the futon once more. As she looked on, the target unzipped his jumpsuit and pushed them down. His blond companion sauntered over to his desk, and slipped off her pants. She straddled him, curling an arm about his neck. With her other hand she unzipped her tunic to bare her plump breasts. Moans of pleasure filled Z100’s apartment
…
Valjeanne Jeffers is a Spelman College graduate, a member of the Carolina African American Writers’ Collective, the author of nine books, including her Immortal and Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective series, and co-editor of Scierogenous I and II. She has been published in numerous anthologies including: Steamfunk!;The Ringing Ear; Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology; Liberated Muse I: How I Freed My Soul; Say it Loud; Drumvoices Revue; Possibilities and, most recently, Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia Butler (winner of the Locus Award and nominated for Hugo Award); Fitting In; Sycorax’s Daughters (nominated for the Bram Stoker Award) and Black Magic Women. Visit her at: http://www.vjeffersandqveal.com
Scierogenous II: An Anthology of Erotic Science and Fantasy edited by Valjeanne Jeffers and Quinton Veal. Contributing authors: Quinton Veal. Sumiko Saulson. Cranston Burney. James Goodridge. Penelope Flynn. William Landis. Laura Elena Cáceres. Valjeanne Jeffers. Copyright 2018 by Valjeanne Jeffers and Quinton Veal, all rights reserved.
Purchase Scierogenous II on Smashwords
http://tehotep.wixsite.com/scierogenous
Visit Valjeanne Jeffers at: http://www.vjeffersandqveal.com
Collision of Worlds 