by G. E. Stills
“Yes. And you know she is.”
“Just the same, I love you, and I don’t share. So keep your hands off her. This is just a reminder that I have my claws into you, literally right now. I don’t intend to let go.”
Though he did not cry out, Nolan winced in pain. “Kat, I love you. I never want to be with another. At the same time, I can’t help looking at someone that pretty. I’m not blind.”
She released pressure and saw that her nails had drawn blood. Smoothing her finger over the wounds, they healed and vanished. “Just a reminder.”
Changing the topic he asked, “So what powers does she have? The same as you?”
“No, she has the ability to cast fire. She and I can communicate non-verbally by touching. In addition, she is able to bend light.”
“Bend light. What good is that?”
“Think about it, Nolan. Emma can form a type of field of force around herself. A bubble if you will. One that light can’t penetrate. Instead, it travels around the field and comes back together on the other side. The bubble of force encompasses anyone she is touching. Everything inside the bubble can’t be seen.”
His eyes grew wide. “You mean…she can render herself and anyone she’s touching invisible?”
“Exactly.”
“Wow.”
“One down, four to go,” she reminded.
A short time later, the off duty crew drifted in, and Emma joined them. All during the meal Emma and Aden cast glances at each other. No one seemed to notice other than her and Nolan.
Later that night, when she was cuddled up to Nolan, he brought up the subject of Emma and Aden. “God, the way those two looked at each other during our meal, I was tempted to tell them to get a room.” He chuckled. “Is Emma a virgin like you were?”
“Yes, but from the way the two of them act and what I’ve heard her say, I’m guessing she won’t be for long. Perhaps you should find a way to provide some of your condoms to Aden. It would not be a wise idea for her to get pregnant at this time.”
“You’re right. He probably has some but just in case…”
“Speaking of, I think you better put one on because I’m feeling decidedly frisky tonight.” She kissed his ear and ran her tongue over its edge. A grin stretched her lips when she felt him shiver.
CHAPTER TEN
The shortened form of Emma’s name caught on and soon, everyone called her Em. Sitting on a raised structure on the deck, she divided her attention between the laptop snuggled between her crossed legs, and watching Aden, as had become customary for her. She peered at him as if she was ready to pounce at any moment. Often he cast glances her way, and smiled, which she returned.
“Be back soon Keita,” Aden said and headed for the stairs leading below.
Em closed the laptop. Like a stalking cat ready to strike its prey, she rose silently and gracefully to her feet. While she stretched, she watched Keita, making sure he wasn’t looking. Over her shoulder, she glanced up to view Willie through the pilothouse window. His attention seemed to be focused out to the water ahead of them. Quickly, she dashed across the deck and climbed down a different set of steps leading below.
The way Aden gazed at her, and spoke to her in a soft soothing voice, convinced her that he felt the same for her as she felt for him. The vibes they shared weren’t a lie. The brief and secret kisses they sometimes exchanged were further assurance. Those fleeting encounters were the only physical contact they had. She was determined to change that situation…today. Em ran her fingers over the two foil packets in her pocket, the ones she obtained from Kat, to reassure herself they were still there. As she passed by one of the storerooms, she placed the laptop on a shelf.
After a quick search, she located him in one of the spare parts rooms. He turned at the sound of the hatch closing behind her.
“Em…”
She did not allow him to finish. Gliding across the floor, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. Breaking the kiss she said. “Go slow, be gentle the first time.”
“Huh? I don’t understand.”
“I’m a virgin. Be gentle the first time. I’m certain you understand now. I’m also hoping the second will be much better.” Her hands went to work loosening his belt and unfastening his fly.
“Oh me God.”
“Somebody else’s hands need to get busy.”
“Oh me, God.”
The first time went fast and was somewhat painful. They had just finished the second, at a more leisurely pace and with infinitely greater enjoyment, when they heard the latch on the door start to slide.
“Aden, you in there?” Keita’s voice asked from beyond the door.
“”Oh f…crap,” Aden, corrected.
“From the way you’re reacting, I trust you don’t want to be discovered in this position?”
“With not a stitch of clothes on between us and me lying on top of you Em, that’s an understatement. The ceiling light is shining down on us like a damn spotlight.”
She smothered a giggle. “Then lie perfectly still and don’t make a sound.”
“Huh?”
“Just do it.” Drawing him down, she kissed his ear. “Please.”
A slight tingling of her skin quickly dissipated. The hatch swung open framing Keita on the other side. He scanned the room but did not acknowledge seeing them. “Huh, I could have sworn I heard voices in here,” Keita mumbled.
Keita closed the hatch. With the sound of his receding footsteps, she heard Aden take a deep breath and only now realized he’d been holding it.
“I’m baffled. There is no way that Keita could have missed seeing us lying here. I simply don’t understand.”
Nor will you until I explain and I won’t do that until Kat gives permission.
“And yet he failed to see us. I guess we should count our lucky stars,” she said.
“I guess,” Aden, mused. “I guess I better get back up top before Keita comes looking again. We might not be so lucky the next time.”
Still lying naked on the floor, basking in the afterglow, she watched Aden get dressed and start for the hatch.
“Aden.”
Turning sharply to face her, his lips were split into a huge smile. “Yes?” he asked.
“Don’t forget what you came down here for.”
“Damn.” He scooped up a handful of bolts for repairing the winch and put them in a bucket. “Thanks.”
“No…thank you.” She giggled.
As he headed for the hatch he broke into a song. She did not recognize the tune and did not know the words. It quickly became apparent that Aden did not either. Off key, he sang out. Ebony and Ivory…He hummed a few bars. Together in perfect harmony.
The hatch closed, cutting off the rest of his singing.
“Aden you’re a terrible singer.” A sigh of satisfaction tumbled from her lips. “Your talents lie elsewhere. Oh yes, you are very talented at that.”
Climbing to her feet, she dressed and left the storage room. After retrieving the laptop, she treaded lightly toward her cabin, her lips stretched and the ends curved upward.
You’re not the only one wearing a smile Aden.
****
From that day on Em and Aden did not hide their affections. Often they slept in each other’s cabins. Only one person seemed to be upset over this development, Captain Parker.
“Something is bothering you, Tom,” Kat said, when the two of them met in private over coffee in the galley.
“That apparent is it?”
“To me it is.”
Tom expelled a deep breath. “It’s not right. Passengers and crew are not allowed to fraternize, to say nothing of sleeping together,” he complained to Kat.
“Calm yourself Tom. The Seeker is different from other ships. First of all, I consider us all crew, tho
se of us that are not familiar with running a ship, help out where we can. I feel it was bound to happen. When we rescue the others, it may happen again.
Tom sighed. “If you say so Kat. You’re the boss.”
“I do and yes, I am. Let’s just be happy okay?”
“Okay. I’ll be up in the bridge if you need me.” Mollified, he left the galley.
****
As the Seeker moved further north the water became rougher and the temperature dropped. Even Aden began wearing long pants and a shirt. During the frequent squalls, he, along with the rest, wore a raincoat with hat.
The Seeker came to a halt over the second beacon. After several days the sea calmed and Kat activated the retrieval signal that would cause the capsule to rise to the surface.
Donning her raingear and grabbing the hand-held, she scurried up on the weatherdeck to join Nolan, Em, Keita and Aden. “Okay,” she spoke into the transceiver. “I’ve activated it. Keep a sharp lookout.”
Wind and freezing drizzle, made it miserable on deck. The Seeker tossed and pitched in the rough water. Finally, a half hour later, Keita yelled to be heard. “There it is. Off starboard amidships.” All of them turned to gaze where he was pointing.
“Captain?” she said.
“Looking, ma’am. Ah, yes there it is. Heading for it now, ma’am.”
After several failed attempts, Aden was at last able to lift the capsule from the water and start to swing it onboard.
“Nolan…”
“Lead the way Kat. I’m right behind you.”
Just like the first time, Aden lowered it into the hold and raised the cable. She closed the cargo doors. “Oh blessed warmth,” she said, when the door finished closing and shut out the freezing rain.
“Okay,” she said into her transceiver. “All of you still on deck get out of the weather and go to the galley.
“What about me Kat?” Em asked.
“Would you mind making some coffee and cocoa for all of us Em?”
“Not in the least. I’ll take care of these guys and see that the rest of the crew gets some. Yours and Nolan’s will be waiting.”
“Thanks, Em.”
“Captain Parker, the case is safely onboard.”
“Very good, ma’am. With your permission, I’m going to refuel in Anchorage and then head south to our next pickup.”
“That sounds great. Just get us the hell out of this cold as soon as possible.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They led the capsule down the hall into the storeroom. It settled to the deck beside hers and Em’s.
“Well, now that’s finished, let’s see who we have,” she said to Nolan.
She pressed one of the buttons and cracked the seal. The lid swung open. To his credit, she noted Nolan did not turn away this time. Her breath hitched, the woman inside had flame red hair and pale white skin. He did flinch at her next announcement though.
“That’s my sister, Bla’sar”
“Oh, God. Your sister?” Now he did turn away.
“One of them,” she added. Her eyes filled with tears.
“How many sisters did you have, Kat?” He asked in a gentle voice.
“Including me, there were fifteen of us. I had six brothers too, but I never saw them.”
“I’m so sorry. You say you never met your brothers? Why not?”
“Long story. I’ll tell you sometime, but right now, I need to revive Bla’sar.”
She touched Bla’sar and established their mental link. When the woman opened her eyes, they were the same violet with silver flecks as Kat’s.
“Hello Bla’sar. You know the basics of the current situation from the information I’ve provided. From now on you’ll be called Blaise just as I am known as Kat.”
“Hello, Kat.”
“Please get up now, we have a lot of things to do, starting with you getting dressed and then meeting my boyfriend here.”
Climbing from the case, Blaise donned the pants, shirt, and shoes offered. Blaise was just slightly shorter than Kat. Next, she introduced Blaise to Nolan. After that they followed essentially the same pattern she had with Em. She showed Blaise her assigned room, then she introduced the Captain and Willie. Next they met Kimo. Finally, they ended up in the galley to meet the rest.
After filling with fuel, the Seeker sailed south for their next destination in the Indian Ocean. An uneventful week passed. Blaise and the crew became comfortable with each other.
Kat sat in the galley, a cup of coffee in hand and visiting with Nolan, Em and Blaise.
“Kat, will you come up to the bridge please,” Tom requested over the PA.
Sliding her chair back, she told the others, “Well, they’re playing my song. See you later.”
“What’s up, Captain,” she asked, when she entered the bridge house.
“My instruments and the weather reports on the radio, tell me there’s a storm developing in front of us. Should I sail through it, try to go around it, or make for the nearest port and ride it out? You’re the boss. I’ll do whatever you say.”
“You’re the skipper. I trust your judgment,” she returned.
“Then I recommend we head for the nearest port. It looks like this storm is big.”
“Then I agree, Captain. Do you need me for anything else?”
“Not right now. You might tell the others in the galley and I’ll inform those on duty. I figure we’ll be entering the storm in about an hour.”
“So what did Tom want?” Nolan asked when she walked in and sat once more.
“There’s a storm approaching. We’re changing course and running for the nearest port. We’re not going to make it before it hits though.”
They were still seated in the galley when the tempest struck with a vengeance. The Seeker pitched and rolled on the angry sea. Looking out the windows in front of them, they watched as waves crashed over the bow to wash across the deck. The storm worsened. Sheets of rain falling nearly sideways made it difficult to see out the windows. What they could see was alarming. Angry waves broke across the weatherdeck with ever increasing frequency. Keita and Aden joined them.
The Seeker seemed to settle lower and wallow. Kimo joined them in the galley.
“Captain ordered me up here. It must be bad for him to do that,” he said.
“Kat can you come up here again,” The captain said, over the PA.
Pressing a button below the speaker, she answered, “Be right there, Captain.”
She hurried at her best speed along the tossing, heaving hallway and raced up the steps. She burst into the bridge house.
“Kat, this is bad, and it’s getting worse. I’ve got the bilge pumps running full out, but they can’t keep up with the influx of water. Has Kimo come up from below?”
“Yes.”
“Good. He doesn’t need to be down there. Everything is automated anyway.” Tom looked at her soberly. “We need to get the launch ready.”
“Okay.”
“Oh and Kat, make certain the emergency inflatables’ are on it,” he added.
“Kat…” Jar’san started.
“I know, I see it too. Tom is worried. He’s not saying it in words but I can see it in his eyes and the expression on his face. It’s what he’s not saying that scares me.”
“The Seeker is not going to survive this storm. I’m convinced she’s going to sink.” Jar’san confirmed the conclusion she’d already reached.
The words she’d heard the humans utter in times of stress flashed into her mind. “Oh, God.”
“I’m just saying to ready the launch as a precaution,” Tom said.
Again she could read what he was not saying in his expression. “I understand, I’ll go tell the others, and we’ll start getting the launch ready. Is there anything else we can do?”
“P
ray for a miracle.”
Tearing down the pitching steps, she rushed into the galley.
“What did the captain have to say,” Nolan asked when she rushed into the galley.
“It’s what he didn’t say that frightens me. We need to get the launch ready. Right now!” She emphasized.
“Kat, do you have a moment that I can speak to you in private?” Blaise asked.
I hope this is important, Blaise. We have a lot to do and not much time to do it. The two of them stood off to the side, hands propped against a table to hold them in place on the tossing deck.
Blaise said, in a low voice, “I have the power to control water. Maybe I can help. I’d like to try, at least. I need quiet though. Maybe in my cabin?”
“Whatever you suggest, Blaise. I’ll help in any way I can.”
“Help me back to my cabin.”
She turned to Nolan. “I need to go with Blaise to her cabin for a moment. Can you help get the launch ready?”
Nolan lifted an eyebrow in silent question, but when she made no answer he said, “Don’t take too long hon.”
Crashing against one wall and then the other, the two women staggered down the hall and entered Blaise’s room.
“I don’t know if I can do anything, or how long I can do it for if I can, but we’ve got to try something.” Blaise climbed onto her bunk, folding her legs beneath her, and closing her eyes in concentration.
Several minutes passed and then the pitching and rolling of the ship eased. Shortly after that, Em burst into the room.
“Kat you won’t believe…” She stopped when she saw Blaise on the bed.
“Blaise?” She asked in a low voice.
“Yes.”
“Kat, it’s like we’re in the eye of a hurricane. The sea is raging all around us but the Seeker is floating in a circle of calm water.”
“Stay here with her Em. I need to go speak with the Captain.”
“You got it.”
When she got to the bridge, she looked out the windows in wonder. Just like Em had said, the gale raged all around them but the surrounding waters were totally calm in a nearly mile wide circle.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. I would say we’re in the eye of a hurricane but the eye seems to be moving with us. I’m at a loss to explain.”
