by G. E. Stills
“Nor can I,” she lied. “But let’s not question good fortune. I think we should use it to our advantage while it lasts instead. My best advice is to head south at our best speed while remaining in these calm waters”.
“I agree. We’ll turn south. The bilge pumps are gaining. We’re floating better,” the captain said.
“Good. I’ve got to go for now, Tom, but I have a portable radio so you can get in touch, if need be.”
Racing back down the hallway, she burst into the cabin. “How’s she doing, Em?”
“Hasn’t moved a muscle since you left, but damn, look how she’s sweating.”
Hours later, Blaise opened her eyes. “Water,” she croaked. “I’m parched. Is it working?” Em raced out the door to get a bottle of water.
“Fantastically.”
“I hope we’re clear of this storm soon. My power is nearly drained.”
Already they could feel the ship riding rougher, as the fury of the sea closed in once more.
“I wonder. Blaise, do you think, maybe, you could tap into my power?”
“I don’t know. I guess the only thing for us to do is try.”
Reaching out her hand, she took Blaise’s. “Try.”
Seconds later the energy ball in her stomach tingled. The tingling sensation traveled through her torso, down the length of her arm into her hand.
“Yes. I can feel it, Kat,” Blaise said.
“If you can take it from me, then you can no doubt take it from Em. While my power is recharging, you can draw it from Em and then draw it from me again. Between the three of us, I think we’ll be able to escape this storm.”
“Seas getting rough again,” Em announced when she stumbled through the door.
While Blaise drank her water, Kat explained to Em.
Kat joined hands with Blaise and she entered into concentration again. The water calmed.
“Kat.” Nolan called over his radio. “The launch is ready.”
“This is Em, Nolan, Kat can’t come to the radio right now. She’s busy.”
“Busy?”
“I’m certain she’ll tell you later but she can’t right now. That calm you’re seeing…that calm is no accident. Just stand by, but I hope we won’t need that launch.”
“Okay, Em. I’ll be standing by if you need me.”
For hours, Blaise remained in a trance like state while Em and Kat took turns sharing their power with her. The furious storm surrounding them raged on, but at last the pounding rain lessened and the clouds began to part. A single ray of sunshine broke through and then another and another. Gradually the seas around them calmed and Seeker sailed out of the tempest.
Em was taking her turn holding Blaise’s hands. “We’ve cleared the storm,” she reported. “I think Blaise can relax now.
Em, replied. “None too soon. I can sense she is nearing the end of her endurance.”
Touching Blaise, Kat sent a mental message. “Blaise, honey. You can relax now, we’ll be safe.”
Blaise open her eyes. “That’s good,” was all she said, before collapsing back in her bed. She passed out into a sleep of complete exhaustion.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Kat peered down at the electrical circuitry scattered across the table. Picking up a blow dryer, she began to carefully dry one of the items. Beside her, Nolan was doing the same.
“Will it be okay?” he asked.
“I’m certain it will. I need to wait until the components are completely dry before I reassemble the tracker though.” She shrugged her shoulders. “If not, I’ll just have to assemble a new one. I think we have enough spare parts that I can if need be.”
“That’s good. We were lucky the storm didn’t cause more harm. We’re almost finished.” He added, while picking up another part to dry. “The rest of the crew is working to repair other damage.
“Yeah, but it wasn’t all luck hon.”
“No,” he agreed, casting a knowing glance at her. “Speaking of… how is Blaise doing?”
“She’ll be fine. I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t join us tomorrow.”
“That’s good. Tomorrow afternoon we should reach Darwin, Australia to refuel before we head into the Indian Ocean.”
****
Seated on their bed, Kat tilted her head and rested it on Nolan’s shoulder beside her. Em and Blaise faced them from the small couch. Her attention focused on Em when she began to speak.
“So when are we going to tell the rest of the crew our story?” Em asked. “Aden is asking a lot of awkward questions. Ones I’m not free to answer. It makes it very difficult, since I spend everyday working along side of him…”
“And most nights sleeping with him,” Blaise interrupted and teased
Not to be upstaged by Blaise, Em returned, “We’re not always sleeping.” She batted her eyes and grinned at Blaise, seated beside her on the couch.
With her legs curled under her as usual, Blaise answered, “Don’t I know that. Your cabin is next to mine I remind you, and…well, the wall is not that thick.”
“You’re just jealous that someone isn’t doing you.” Em replied.
Kat cleared her throat. At first she thought about being stern but then decided otherwise. These women and men were her family now. The only family she had. Hers was a grave responsibility but at the same time, thanks to Nolan and Jar’san, she was learning human traits. I can’t be serious all the time.
Rather than reprimand Em and Blaise for their lighthearted banter, she decided to use humor while redirecting the conversation back to the subject. “We’re not here to discuss Em’s love life, full and naughty as it may be, that’s a story to be told at a different time.” She grinned. “At this point, the crew thinks we are the result of a survival experiment. Although true, they have no idea how long ago that experiment took place. We haven’t told them the entire story. About our abilities for one thing.” She smoothed her hand over Nolan’s leg pressed against hers. “As the only one here from the present, what do you think honey?”
“Fantastic and hard to believe as it is, I think we need to tell them,” he answered.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Okay, the next question is, when?” she asked.
“Maybe after we retrieve the next casket.” Blaise offered.
“Not a cas…oh I give up. Everyone seems determined to call our Mil’orts, caskets. Then it’s agreed, after we’ve revived the next of our group I’ll call a meeting and tell everyone the story.” She chuckled. “That way, if they run screaming for the hills and calling us insane women, we’ll only have two capsules left to recover.”
“I’ll help you as much as possible, babe,” Nolan said, and squeezed her shoulders.
“So will we,” both Em and Blaise chimed in.
“I hate to run but it’s getting late and… Aden’s waiting in my cabin.”
Blaise rolled her eyes. “Oh great, another sleepless night for me.” She grinned at Em. “Go on you trollop. I think I’ll go get some cocoa and take my time before trying to turn in.”
Em stood and started toward the door. “You seriously need to get laid Blaise. Then you wouldn’t be so growly and you’d be able to sleep at night.”
“Get!” Blaise answered and swatted at Em’s retreating butt. Blaise climbed to her feet. “Goodnight,” she said and followed Em out of the room.
“I wonder who she is.” Kat said aloud about their next capsule recovery. “I wonder what abilities she’ll have.”
Nolan gazed at her. “Well, judging from the three that have been revived already, one thing is for certain…she’ll be drop dead gorgeous.” His eyes twinkled. Doubtless he knew he was getting in trouble so he added, “That includes you of course. Love ya, Kat.” He blew her a kiss. “I’m just making an observation is all.”
Kat suppressed he
r grin. He loved her completely and she knew that. She had gotten past her jealousy stage. Still, she wasn’t one to pass up an opportunity to tease him. In mock anger, she narrowed her eyes, and said, “And, of course, you, of all the men here, would know for sure, since you’ve seen all three of us naked. Tell me, do Emma or Blaise look better than me? Maybe, you’d like to find out how good they are at making love.”
“Kat…I…” Nolan shifted on the bed uncomfortably. “Damn it, Kat. You know I don’t want to be with anyone but you. I love you.”
“I know. Jar’san would tell me if your feelings for me weren’t genuine. I still like to hear you say those words, though. I never grow tired of hearing them.”
“Kat, how would I know if his feelings weren’t real?” Jar’san asked.
“You probably wouldn’t but he doesn’t know that.” She giggled mentally. “It’ll keep him wondering just what I’m capable of.”
“You’re terrible Kat.”
“I know.” She made another mental giggle.
****
The retrieval of Su’kam, now known as Suki, went without a hitch. Nolan left right after the recovery to take care of other duties leaving her and Suki to make the introduction tour. The two of them entered the bridge to find Keita, taking his turn at the helm.
“Keita, this is Suki, Suki, Keita.”
“The Captain?” she inquired.
“He went down to the galley to get us some coffee,” Keita answered, while never breaking his gaze of Suki.
“So you’re the pretty one we fished from the drink,” he said to Suki.
“I’m the one, although I don’t know about the pretty part.” Suki blushed.
The hatch opened behind them and the Captain stepped in with two cups of steaming coffee in his hands. He set them on a table and came forward to shake hands with Suki.
“Nice to meet you Suki.” Then turning, he continued to Kat. “I’ve set course for the Suez Canal, ma’am. We’re sailing toward our next destination in the Atlantic.
“Very good, Captain. Thank you. Oh, Captain Parker, please have the crew assemble in the galley tomorrow morning at eleven, I have something important to say.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She and Suki left for the galley below.
****
Nolan lay beside her in bed idly stroking her back. Kat turned her head to face him. Although gazing at her she could see the far away look in his eyes.
“Something is on your mind hon, what?”
His stroking continued and he hesitated slightly before answering. “I don’t know exactly how to say it.”
“Just blurt it out babe and we’ll figure it out.”
“Em and Aiden are a couple. Although they don’t show it outwardly, I can see it in their eyes. Blaise and Captain Tom have become another couple. Now it’s plain to see that Suki and Keita a quickly becoming another” Nolan paused and drew a deep breath.
“Yes,” Kat prompted.
“Well it’s just that I can see one couple forming and stretching it, maybe two, but three, well four counting us seems to be beyond coincidence. The men seem to respond as if they were under some type of spell of attraction to the woman that chooses him. I wonder what is going on.”
“I don’t know for certain but I think our creators programmed us to seek out a male half. A person that completes us.”
“So I was compelled to be attracted to you. What I feel for you is not real but some form of scientific wizardry?”
Kat stroked her hand over his cheek. “Do you honestly believe that? Do you think I’m forcing you to love me? I know you do love me, I can see it in your eyes. I love you too.”
“Still…”
“No Nolan. Maybe my creator programmed me to be initially attracted to a man, but beyond that the bond that has formed between us is of our own making. That’s how I feel. You’re a strong person emotionally and I don’t think there is any way I could compel you to do anything you didn’t want to do. Look into yourself. Are the emotions you’re feeling artificial?”
“No I love you with all my heart. And I believe these feelings are my own.”
“They are.” Leaning forward, Kat brushed her lips to his. “The love we have for each other is real my dear. Do not question it, just accept it. The same is true for the others.”
An ever-widening smile crept across Nolan’s lips. As if she could read his mind she said. “Maybe our creators supplied the initial spark but after that I think it is all natures doing. Now make love to me and try telling me what we feel is artificial. If you do we’ll do it again and again until you change your mind.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The overhead light flashed on. Kat opened her eyes to see a man, pistol in hand and automatic rifle slung over his shoulder, highlighted in the doorway. The pistol was leveled at her and Nolan.
“Get up,” he barked in a gruff voice.
Pressed against her side, she felt Nolan jolt to wakefulness at the sound of the man’s menacing voice.
“Move!” The man squeezed the trigger and a bullet zinged into the pillow beside Nolan’s head. The pistol report was deafening in the confines of the cabin. “I trust I have your full attention now,” he snarled. “The next one will not miss.”
Spurred to action, she and Nolan threw back the covers and clambered to their feet. She reached for her nightshirt.
“You won’t need that. Hands on your heads” Stepping back slightly, he waved his pistol. “Up on the main deck. Now!”
Complying, she and Nolan shuffled toward the door in their underwear. Two more heavily armed men waited in the hall. The man led the way, with the two others following behind them. When they reached the deck, she scanned the scene quickly. Near the bow, Aden knelt with his hands on his head. Two unmoving bodies lay in front of him. Two more men stood next to him, one of whom had a weapon aimed at Aden’s head. Even from this distance, she could tell Aden had been severely beaten.
The rest of the ships complement was lined up just in front of them with their backs facing her. All on their knees with hands on their heads. That is, with the exception of Kimo. He lay face down on the deck to one side, an ominous trail of blood trickled from beneath him. Beside Kimo was Keita, then Blaise, the Captain, Em and Suki. An armed man stood on each end of the lineup.
“Who are these men?” she whispered to Nolan.
“Pirates would be my guess,” he answered back in a murmur.
It was easy to tell who had been awake and who was asleep. Only the Captain and Aden were dressed. The rest were in undergarments. The pirate that had spoken, obviously the one in charge, stepped in front of the line. “Move over,” he directed to first Em and then Suki.
A gun in his back, lent emphasis when Nolan was forced to his knees between Suki and Em. Kat knelt, as instructed, between The Captain and Em. In silence, the pirate leader began to pace in front of them. The two pirates behind them joined the ones on the sides. Halting at one side, the leader engaged in a whispered conversation with his subordinates.
Casting a sideways glance, she saw that Tom was a bloody mess from many facial cuts and his clothing was ripped in many places. One eye was swollen shut.
“Where’s Willie,” she whispered.
Tom spat out a broken tooth, which tumbled to the deck in front of him. His anger was apparent in his whisper. “Dead.”
A shudder of horror raced up her spine.
Casting her gaze to the other side, she saw that Em’s eyes were narrowed and focused on the man holding a gun on Aden. She could almost feel the intense anger rolling from Em. Letting her gaze travel down to Em’s stomach, she saw that her crystal insert blazed like a miniature sun. There was no doubt in her mind that Em was getting ready to lash out.
“Wait Em…please,” she whispered.
“Not for long, Kat. They’ve h
urt my Aden terribly. The fuckers are going to pay big for that.”
“Em, please…wait just a little longer.” She begged, in an attempt to lengthen the burning fuse of Em’s anger.
“If you intend to do something it best be soon,” Em whispered back.
She saw Em tremble with rage. Next her attention moved to Blaise.
“They will not touch you again, Captain,” Blaise hissed. “That’s a promise.” Her low voice, full of both threat and anger, rose slightly, “Act fast, little sister, or I will.”
Kat scanned the area, desperately seeking a plan. She squelched a humorless smile when one came.
“I agree with your plan,” Jar’san said.
“It will require precise timing.”
“The others will follow your lead.”
“Em when I make my move, take action.”
“I will,” Em whispered back.
The pirate leader, not hearing the whispered exchange, paced back. Coming to a halt, he glared at Tom. “The Captain has graciously given us his ship,” he sneered. “We will keep some of you for ransom, the others will be an example of our sincerity.” He shrugged his shoulders, not needing to further explain his threatened actions. “Of course, that is after we are finished with the women.”
“The Captain has no authority to give you this ship,” she blurted out. “He doesn’t own it. I do.”
The leader peered at her in surprise. “Well, that changes things a little,” he said. “Come over here.” Using his pistol he indicated the spot beside him. “On your knees of course, and facing the others.”
Glaring at him, she complied.
“So you’re the one in charge,” he said, now standing beside her. “In that case we have no further use for the Captain. Uba,” he addressed one of his men.
Her gaze shifted to Blaise making contact.
Uba stepped behind the Captain and put the barrel of his gun against the Captain’s head. Reaching out, the leader placed his hand on her head to make sure she was watching Tom. In satisfaction, she felt the electrical charge within her build and wait for release. She glanced again at Blaise and made a nearly imperceptible nod. Blaise returned it.
