by M. K. Eidem
"Those things only work if there is an airtight seal."
"In space, yes, but here it will only need to make contact with the ground. It will protect us from the environment well enough to be able to exit and climb up to the ship."
"Climb, as in a ladder or just a rope?"
"It will be a flex ladder. You should have no problem climbing it, but we must be quick. The ship will get as close to us as possible since the tube isn't meant for atmospheric recoveries and will not last long."
"Great," she muttered. "Just what I needed after having to evacuate a crippled transport and then crash landing on some unnamed planet… a never-before-attempted rescue."
"How do you know it has never been attempted?"
"Wasn’t too hard to figure out with the way you had to order the crew to lower the tube. Obviously, they weren’t too happy about it."
"They should have been equipped for all types of environmental rescues. Not being so is a dereliction of their duty."
"Yeah, well, our escape pod should have been equipped with a shelter that accommodated all sizes of beings, not just the undersized pilots the company hires. That's a dereliction of their duty too. Life sucks sometimes. Live with it. How long are we going to have?"
"Have?" Even though she couldn't see it, she knew he was frowning.
"To get out and climb up?"
"Five to ten standard-minutes once the tube is in place."
Suddenly the shelter filled with an almost blinding light.
"That is the positioning beacon," he told her, sitting up, his hand going up to his ear to listen. "They are lowering the tube."
She shoved the blanket aside and moved off of him, noticing for the first time that his link blended with his slightly dusky skin tone and was affixed just in front of the tragus of his Earthan-shaped ear. She wore four, two tucked up in the helix of each ear, because she liked the balance. This way, she could mix and match them to go with whatever outfit she was wearing as was expected, but none of those was her actual link. That was tucked just behind her left ear lobe. It was discrete and easily reached. It also matched her skin tone, just as Jamis’s did, but hers was for communications only since she didn't need a translator.
"You’ve made sure the air is heated?" she heard him ask and watched as rage filled his expression. "Because I ordered you to! The second being is Earthan. She’ll never tolerate such extreme temperatures! You have one standard-minute to correct that!"
"Rukking idiots," he muttered as he moved to get his legs under him.
"Problem?"
"It is being corrected," he told her, then found himself reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing her cheek as he did. "But it will affect the amount of time we have."
The small caress surprised Cali. It didn't seem very 'Jamis-like,' but what surprised her more was the way her skin tingled where he touched, so she pulled away from him. "Then we'd better be ready." She hated how husky her voice had become. "How do you want to do this?"
Jamis just stared at her for a moment, not liking the way she pulled away from him, then responded, "I will exit first. Once I'm confident you can tolerate the temperature, you will then exit, and I will steady the ladder while you ascend."
Cali opened her mouth to argue, but he had already unsealed the shelter, and cold air rushed in, causing her to shiver. Obviously, the ship's crew wasn't aware of what were tolerant temperatures for Earthans. Still, she moved forward and crawled out after Jamis.
"I told you to wait inside," he growled when he stood, then turned to find her behind him.
"I'm not good at taking orders. Just ask my family. Now we're wasting time. Where's this ladder?"
She knew Jamis would have spun around and stomped away if the tight confines of the tube hadn't made that impossible. Instead, he had to turn sideways and shuffle his feet to get between the outside of the shelter's light-weight fabric and the rigid tube encircling it. Cali quickly followed him, her shoulders barely brushing either material and found the flex ladder erratically swinging, striking first the tube and then the shelter.
"Climb," Jamis ordered, grabbing the ladder to stabilize it.
Cali barely heard Jamis's order to grab the ladder over the recovery ship’s engines and the roar of the wind. But she didn't need to; she knew they were running out of time. She could see the tube was being lifted from the ground by the force of the wind.
Reaching above her head, she grabbed a rung in a firm grip. Instead of stepping straight onto a lower rung, as most would, she pulled the side of the ladder between her thighs and quickly began to climb.
Jamis watched, somewhat shocked, at how quickly she was able to ascend the ladder. He never thought she would know that climbing that way would help stabilize the ladder. Or that she would have the strength to ascend so easily. He found his eyes locked on her ass.
Halfway up, she turned to look down. "Are you coming?"
His attention returned to the task at hand as the tube started to twist and slide along the ground. They were running out of time. Reaching up, he began to climb on the opposite side of Cali, hoping his weight wouldn't throw her off balance.
Cali had just made it to the top and was reaching for the hand, held out to her by one of the crew kneeling beside the opening, when the wind picked up and destabilized the ladder. Jamis tightened his hold and locked his knees as he yelled. "Get her in!"
A crewmember caught Cali's wrist in a crushing grip and jerked her up into the ship, then flung her across the hard deck without care.
"Asshole," she bit out, pushing herself onto her knees.
Turning, she expected to see Jamis climbing in behind her. Instead, four fingers were visible gripping the edge of the opening, with the asshole crewman on his knees, his hands wrapped around Jamis’s other wrist.
"Ruk!" she swore and lunged toward the opening. Squatting, she grabbed Jamis’s other wrist, shocked at what she was seeing. The ladder was gone, and the tube was whipping around Jamis’s legs, trying to pull him down.
Keeping her weight on her heels, Cali began to rise, pulling Jamis up as she leaned back. Carefully she moved her feet so she didn't slip and get them both sucked out of the ship. While it only took seconds, it seemed like forever before the upper half of Jamis’s body was on the deck, and he was swinging his legs in.
"Seal the door!" he ordered, his eyes shooting to where she now sat on her butt. "What did you think you were doing?"
She stared at him for a moment, then spit out sickly sweet, "Saving your ass?"
"Never put yourself at risk like that again! We," he gestured to the crewman who was still flat on his back, "had it handled. You were only in the way."
Cali opened her mouth then snapped it shut. Let the arrogant bastard think what he would.
Chapter Three
Cali silently fumed the entire trip to Star Base Twelve. Her gaze bored holes in Jamis’s back as he spent the whole trip on the comm getting updates on how the rest of the recovery was going. There was no way that pansy-ass crewman could have pulled Jamis in without her help. Yes, the crewman had been able to lift her, but she was a third of Jamis’s weight. She shouldn't let it bother her. After all, how would she explain it, but still?
Now they had finally landed, and all she wanted to do was get to The Brink and forget this trip ever happened. Walking down the recovery ship’s ramp, she ignored the looks she received from the crews on the flight deck.
"Cali!" Jamis called out as he followed her down the ramp. He'd spent the flight making sure the other recoveries weren't as rukked up as this one and hadn't taken the time to make sure Cali was alright. It should have been his first concern.
Cali didn't want to stop, but she was in his territory, and here you didn't disrespect the Commander. Turning, she silently faced him.
"You need to go to Medical," Jamis told her.
"I told you, I'm fine."
"You will go to Medical," he repeated, moving to stand in front of her.
"No, I won't," she told him, tipping her head up to look at him. "I'm not under your command, Commander. You can't order me to Medical. I told you I was fine, and I am. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go use my cleansing unit." She started to turn away, but her conscience stopped her, and she turned back to say, "Thank you for what you did for me when I was unconscious. I won't forget it."
With that, she walked away.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"Commander!"
Taarig called out to Jamis as he approached at a brisk pace. It was the only reason that kept Jamis from going after Cali. Even then, he waited until the much taller crew moving around the flight deck, doing their jobs, blocked his view of her.
"What is it, Sub Commander?" He turned to face his second-in-command and friend.
Taarig's only reaction to Jamis’s curt tone was to raise an eyebrow. "The findings from what happened on the transport. You're going to want to see them." He handed Jamis a tablet.
Jamis took the tablet and, after entering his security code, started to read. His head jerked up. "This has been confirmed?"
"Yes."
"Ruk." Shutting down the tablet, he began to walk.
Taarig followed his Commander, saying nothing until the doors to the lift closed, giving them privacy. "So, are you going to tell me?"
"Tell you what?" Jamis asked, frowning.
"Who the female you were talking to was? I've never seen her before."
"You haven't either?" Jamis gave him a surprised look.
"Either?" Taarig's brows lowered in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Her name is Cali Baker, and she says she's been working at The Brink for nearly four standard-years. She's Earthan."
"What?!" Taarig wasn't sure what shocked him more. That she had been on the Star Base that long or that she was Earthan; he’d never met one before.
"I can't believe she was able to survive everything that happened," Jamis admitted.
"That bad?" Taarig knew his friend. For Jamis to comment on that meant it had to be bad.
"We were both squeezed into an escape pod meant for a standard-sized pilot. For some reason, I didn't get us strapped in. When we hit the atmosphere, she was beneath me."
"Ruk," Taarig murmured.
"Somehow, I didn't kill her, but she remained unconscious for nearly a full standard-day. Then that idiot rescue crew didn't prep for anything other than a non-atmospheric recovery." Angry eyes shot to Taarig. "I want that corrected immediately, Taarig. No recovery ship will ever leave this base again without being prepared for every possible condition they could encounter. I will bring up charges on any rescue crew that does."
"I'll make sure it is done and understood. Do you need to go to Medical?"
"Me?" Jamis gave him a surprised look. "No. Why do you ask?"
"Because of that."
Jamis looked down to where Taarig pointed, and for the first time, noticed the bruise encircling his wrist. When had he gotten that? It was the wrist Cali had been gripping when he'd climbed into the ship. But she wasn't strong enough to bruise him. Touching it, he found it tender.
"It's nothing," he said, straightening as the doors of the lift opened. "I'm going to get cleaned up. I'll meet you in my ready room in half a standard-hour."
"Half a standard-hour? Don't you want to rest? Eat?"
"I can eat in my ready room, and I'll rest when we figure out what this," he held up the tablet, "means."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Cali weaved her way through the much taller beings on the flight deck, then squeezed into an already packed lift. She was grateful someone had already selected her level. All Cali wanted was to get away from Jamis, get to her private quarters, and use her rejuvenation tank, which she didn't often use because of the side effects, but after the last few days, she needed it.
Finally, after several stops and the jostling of bodies, the lift reached her level, and she stepped out. The multi-colored glow of The Brink's sign over its two massive doors and Tay's muscled frame standing like a protective sentinel at its entrance had never looked so good to her. His heavily-tattooed face went from the intimidating one he wore at his job to welcoming and then to concerned as he watched her approach.
"Cali, what's wrong?" he asked, immediately at her side. "What happened to you?"
Only then did she realize no one had known she'd been on the crippled transport. She'd only told them she would be going to Vavis Prime, not saying why or when she would return. While she considered Tay and his mate, Mae, her friends, she still kept them at a distance. She'd learned she had to. Otherwise, it was just too painful when the time came for her to 'die.' Although, with these two, it was becoming harder and harder, especially as Mae was carrying their first youngling.
"I was on the Vavis Prime transport."
It took him a moment to register what she was saying. "The Vavis Prime transport? You mean the one they've been recovering survivors from?"
"That would be the one."
"Ruk, Cali! Are you alright?"
"I am," she reassured. "I just need to get cleaned up and find something to eat."
"Then let's get you inside." Tay put his arm around Cali and pulled open one of the closed doors to The Brink. The thick doors were left closed, so the noise level inside it didn't spill out and disturb the other vendors. It also made it possible for Tay and the other Protectors to control who was allowed in and who wasn't. While open to all, The Brink still had beings banned for a variety of reasons.
"I'll tell Mae to order you something from the cegin, so it's ready when you're ready to eat."
Cali found she had to fight back tears at Tay's care and concern. Most only saw the blue body-markings and piercings on the olive-skinned, muscle-bound male, but she knew that under that tough exterior was someone who cared deeply about those he considered his friends. Of which she was lucky enough to be one.
"That would be great, Tay, thank you." She stepped away from him. "I'm going to need about an hour. Why don't you get Lin to take over at the door for you and have Mae make it a meal for three; we'll eat up in Triz's booth. That way, we can fill each other in on everything that's happened."
Knowing Tay would take care of it, she walked over to a wall, placed her hand against it, and the bio-chip in her hand opened the hidden door that led to her private rooms. Cali stepped inside, and the door closing behind her finally shut out the world.
The lights slowly rose as she slumped against the wall, everything she'd been through hitting her full force. Ruk, she'd nearly died. Not once but twice. If anyone in her family ever found out, they would descend on her, and the life she'd been trying to carve out for herself here would be over.
Carefully she pushed away from the wall and staggered toward her resting chamber, stripping out of her shirt and bra as she went. Entering the room, she carelessly swept aside the pillows covering the top of what others would see as an oversized bench. The lid retracted, and the sides fell away when Cali placed her palm on the emblem in the center of the cover, revealing a rejuvenation tank filled with a blue, glowing liquid.
Toeing off her boots, she didn't bother removing her pants as she stepped into the tank. Lying back, she floated on top of the thick renewal liquid for a moment before shimmering tendrils of the liquid wrapped around her body and pulled her body beneath the surface.
Renewal liquid was what gave the Zagreus their nearly limitless life span. It maintained their health and revitalized their strength by restoring any depleted energy levels. Many Zagreus used it daily to prove their dominance. She only used it when absolutely necessary, and right now, it was.
Closing her eyes, her final thought as she slipped beneath the surface was how her mother always said it felt like being submerged in a vat of Jell-O. Whatever that was.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"Ruk," Cali whispered, looking at her reflection in the mirror. She'd stayed in the tank too long. Nearly half of her dark brown hair now glowed
with infused power. It was a distinctive trait of the Zagreus and what she was trying to keep hidden. When she'd been a child, her mother used to tell her it turned it neon brown. A color that wasn't possible on Earth but should have been because it was so beautiful.
Well, there was only one thing to do.
She worked quickly, braiding her hair into zig-zag rows, and inserted the thin, energy wands that were all the rage with the club crowd. With them in, no one would think twice about her hair glowing.
Finally finished, she went into the closet in her resting chamber and pulled out an outfit that would further distract from her hair. It was something she'd learned over the years. Give the male, of any species, breasts or a lot of leg to look at, and they rarely noticed anything else. With the way her hair was glowing, she pulled out a short, fluorescent-green-and-black plaid skirt, knee-high boots, and a matching skintight plaid shirt that dipped low between her breasts.
Knowing there was nothing else she could do to distract from her hair, she went to see her friends.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Mae rushed toward Cali and pulled her close, well, at least as close as she could with her protruding belly. "Gods, Cali. Are you alright? Tay told me you were, but he's male and…"
"You like that I'm male," Tay said, walking up behind Mae, carefully wrapping his arms around her. "If you didn't, you wouldn't be carrying this little male."
"Little female," Mae corrected as she playfully slapped at the hands resting on her stomach.
Cali loved watching these two together. Tay was so large and intimidating while Mae was so small and delicate. They were the perfect foil for one another.
"I promise. I'm fine. Just hungry."
"Oh, of course, I've got everything set up at Triz's booth. Are you sure he won't be upset that we're sitting there?"
Cali understood the emphasis. Triz was super particular about who he allowed at his table, preferring to sit there alone or with his female of the moment and lord over his domain. As the Manager, she was allowed there on occasion, but he never let any other help. That rule was going to change.
