"Three more in the medbay, Jane. It's like the Mary Celeste in here, looks like whatever happened was pretty sudden. What's the last log entry from the bridge?" I move closer to the man on the bed. If there's a portable scanner, I can see if there's…
I do look at the two crew members, wondering about their lives, who they are, why they appear to just be resting. My practical curiosity wins this time. I make for the log console. I report back to Church as I access the log, "Three living crew so f…
"My concern as well, yet I find it hard to imagine she's been asleep for three weeks." I call up the schematics just to refresh myself. "The command deck is one level down. We should stop there first."
I report back to the Jane, that we're on board…
"K," I say, a sharpness to my voice, "She's breathing." I take a closer look, trying to see if she's obviously injured. I don't want to move her if she's got anything broken. The Tangaroa has a medical zone a few levels down. I hope there's power. M…
Obviously there's nothing in the atmo that's inimical to human life, but I still have an internal reaction moment to the body. It reminds me of an accident on a ship. I blink, swallow, and head over to kneel. I'm not a full medico, but I have some b…
I roll my eyes, grinning.
Once the boat is in place, I set my foot on her hand for a boost, my hand on her shoulder for balance. I look up, judging distances with my eyes. Get serious, Mei. Don't brain yourself.
It's pretty here, and I have my fingers trailing in the water as we approach. Lourdes' dinghy is very sturdy, and I smile at the stenciled Li'l Bit in her style on the prow. Why aren't they answering hails? I've long stopped fiddling with the comm, …
Space!
We're back in the saddle. So to speak.
I'm a little withdrawn back on the Stalker Jane; I really want a vacation from my vacation. Dai and Lourdes seem quite content to run her without my help. I retreat into my sketchpad, not wanting to b…
[Apollo]
Apollo shakes his head sadly. "Small wonder they look so listless, that their children have been taken. Joe, I haven't heard of a Piper Incursion in a long time. Maybe we are overdue." He lifts his gaze to the village, thinking of sundered…
[Apollo]
Apollo strokes his chin, thinking, his trumpet case thumping along with his steps. "They do look rote and uninteresting. Perhaps they are bored, overwhelmed with the threat of the Glitch, seeking diversion?" He looks to the floating head. …
[Apollo]
Apollo flits along the path next to Hiro, nodding. "A good start, Hiro! But we best not appear as though we are challenging his power or rule. We can't risk a squabble in the face of the Glitch!"
Apolllo looks out at the small village, ta…
I grab her hand, turn my face into it, careful, mindful of her partial finger. Surely Space Corps will replace it, even if Pierre won't. I'll make Brownlee pay for it if I have to. I smell her skin. "I never want to lose you, Ksenia." The steel in m…
Silence hangs between us, comfortably.
"I think I'd trade you for two of you." I tease. Two Ksenias! I'd be in a state. But I reach out and squeeze her ankle, letting the contact hold for a moment while I'm lost in her eyes. My mind's eye skips ahe…
I tilt my head slightly at her words. "Vital." I mull it over as I chew a damn good fresh warm waffle. I offer her a strawberry, considering.
"I know how much you mean to me, K." I glance away, then back. I push complicated thoughts of Lana and Zoo…
I grin at her excitement, building into a little giggle.
Then she almost overpowers me with her need, her enthusiasm. I sigh into her, feeling her kisses and touches, my mostly bare skin against her mostly clothed. The world falls away, I forget ab…
I'm lying on our bed, sort of backwards, looking upside down as she comes in. I kick my legs up and flip over, propped up with my arms akimbo, paddling my feet lazily in the air, only wearing my orange shorts. Ksenia will walk over my top as she bri…
[Apollo]
"Exactly, Mayor! We've got to take action!" Apollo looks at the Mayor's monkey, who probably wields more power than most pixons realize, and gives the primate an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"I think we should rescue Brad DeVries first. If he …
I adore her hands on me, like I'm the only one in the universe. I forget all my trouble and fret and the whole stupid Polity. I even forget her small injury until she whimpers. But I don't forget my hunger. Well, my appetite. Dammit, I'm horny and w…
"Always." I look up to her, worried, concerned, content, happily lost in those dark eyes. I grab her wrists and settle her hands on my hips. I lace my hands around her neck and tiptoe up into a light kiss that gets stronger, more intent. Tingles run…
I bite my lip. "That sounds fun. But you're just trying to charm me out of making breakfast." I bump her with my hip like, I know your tricks. Then I get up on tiptoes to kiss her neck once, lightly, to take the sting away. "You really need to heal …
"I bet you will." Neither of us got some last night, I know she's feeling frisky. The lapping water is soothing, the sand feels good under my toes. I mentally scowl at this stupid faux terrorist nonsense. I'd much rather we were relaxing on the beac…
Ah, the thrill of speed. My blood is pumping, my long muscles welcomes the sweet ache of use, and each lungful of joyous oxygen wakes me up just a little more. I'm extra careful to not push my healing body, staying in low to middle gear instead of h…