“The peace activist?”
“One in the same. She went looking for the biggest guy she could find, and it just so happened to be Curtis. Fed him some story about me touching her or some shit. He grew up in a rough neighborhood and didn't have much patience for things like that. Probably why he was always so damned concerned about his test scores too. Anyway, he had me in a headlock when Laura came to my rescue.”
“Spanky had you in a headlock?” James laughed. “I find that hard to believe.”
“I may have said some things I regret,” Jeff chuckled.
“Mm-hmm,” James' reply told Jeff what he thought of that.
“Honest to God,” Jeff swore, “You can ask him yourself when we get back.”
“I just might do that,” James said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, how did Laura rescue you?”
Jeff smiled to himself. The feisty little Jamaican had given him a piece of her mind too that night. “She accused me of being a fool for trying to pick up a girl the whole town knew had it in for anyone in the military, then accused Curtis of being a fool for taking her word for it. She'd seen the whole thing and, if I remember correctly, said too him, ‘You big muscly fool. You let that other fool go you hear? He just a victim of that tramp’s games. Don't you look at me like that. I know there more brains in that thick head of yours than it looks.’ ” Jeff delivered Laura's entire rant in what was possible the worst impression of a Jamaican accent even he had heard.
“There was something about her that made Curtis drop me on that spot,” Jeff continued. “He began babbling to her. I think he was asking if he could buy her a drink. After that he was like a dog heeling me everywhere, well, her more-so. She brought out that jovial spirit you and the rest of the squad know so well. It was on that day, little did I know, that I found the best friend I'd ever have.”
The radio was silent for a long moment before he heard James call back, “Friendships like the one you have are few and far between. If not one in a million.”
“I don't think there's ever been the like,” Jeff said quietly to himself. Checking his O2 gauge, he cringed at the site. Another half bar had been depleted.
***
“How you holdin up Jungle Man?” Alison asked pulling back the curtain surrounding Curtis’ bed.
“Food could be better,” Curtis said in disgust dropping his fork on the tray before him. Pushing the table away he added, “Any news on Jeff?”
“You know that vein in TAT’s temple that throbs whenever she’s mad?” she asked coyly straddling a seat by the bed. “I have it on good authority it looks ready to burst.” Curtis laughed at the comment, which quickly became a wracking cough. Jumping to her feet in concern, Alison slapped his back adding, “It wasn’t that bad!”
“No,” the big man wheezed. Sucking in a deep ragged breath he looked to be getting the episode under control. “Damn rad drugs,” he rasped. “Almost worse than the condition itself.”
Rubbing her hand on his back now, Alison smiled saying, “At least you’ve got your color back.” Adding a mischievous wink she continued, “Just didn’t think this would be the way I’d get your sexy ass into bed.”
Dropping back in exhaustion Curtis groaned, “Damnit Mako! Jeff’s out there somewhere, and you’re still tryin that?”
“Just tryin to cheer you up sugar,” she purred. “I know you’d never betray Laura.” Running a hand down one of his beefy arms she teased, “But a girl can dream can’t she?”
“Mako!” Joanne’s voice shouted from behind her. “I knew I’d find you here. Come with me.”
Rolling her eyes, Alison straightened turning around to find out what the fuss was about. “I’d be happy to Apple,” she said flippantly leaning on the bed rail and running a hand over Curtis’ arm. “But as you can see,” she added with a breathy purr, “I’m busy takin care of my jungle man.”
“Please Mako,” Joanne said dismissively shaking her head, “everyone knows you don’t have a chance at that. Now are you going to come with me or do I have to drag you?”
Alison narrowed her eyes drawing a wicked smile across her lips. “Now that sounds like a good time,” she said seductively, “But I ain’t a switch hitter.”
Joanne made a frustrated growl and looked at Curtis. “Spanky can you make this lazy pilot of yours follow me?”
The large man chuckled at that weakly saying, “What makes you think I have any kind of control over her?”
“You tell her Jungle Man,” Alison encouraged crossing her arms and throwing a triumphant glare at Joanne.
With an irritated shriek, Joanne lashed out grabbing a firm hold of Alison’s curly locks and dragged her bodily from sickbay. She struggled a moment, surprised by Joanne’s strength. She didn’t think the little lieutenant had it in her. Finally succeeding in wrenching herself free she bit, “What’s this about?”
“We’re going after Skid,” Joanne said not looking back. She kept a steady determined pace down the passage.
“Well why didn’t you say so sugar?” Alison asked. “You know I was only teasing back there. When did you get the clearance?”
Joanne didn’t look back, instead saying over her shoulder, “I didn’t.”
Alison stopped in her tracks at the news. It wasn’t in Joanne’s character to break the rules. Bend them sure, but never blatantly disregard standing orders. “Apple,” she said catching up, “you do realize the old man won’t go for this.”
“Then he can court martial me!” There was a fire in Joanne’s voice she’d never heard before.
A wicked smile drew across Alison's face. “Sugar,” she said with devious satisfaction, “I think I like this new side to you.”
Joanne scoffed, “Must you always sound like a whore?”
“Whore's get paid sugar,” Alison snipped, “And you're one to talk. I've never bumped knees on an admiral’s sofa.”
“I screw up once at the academy,” Joanne muttered in exasperation, “and it haunts me for the rest of my life.”
“Meant no offense,” Alison tried to soothe the woman. “But girls like us have to stick together.” Throwing a sideways wink as Joanne she added, “Now how are we goin to get past Sparkplug?”
Stopping, Joanne turned to Alison and leaned in close as if to kiss her. “That, my shaggy topped tart, is where you come in.”
***
Pacing across the bridge deep in though, Captain Styles cast irregular glances at the view screen as he mulled over his dedication to duty and humanities survival, and his promise to Russel to protect Jeff. The information gleaned from the recon mission was far too vital to risk by not being prepared for a Drac reprisal so he dared not commit anything to a search and rescue operation. It pained him to have his hands tied so tightly.
“Captain,” Kami said breaking him from his thoughts. When he looked over to her she continued, “It’s been two hours and no sign of pursuit. Surely if the enemy knew our position they’d have made a move by now.”
He grunted a terse, “Maybe,” in reply. Looking back at the view screen, he raised a thumb to his lips and winced in pain. Examining it, he found he’d chewed the nail down to the quick. It was habit he thought he’d long abandoned, and it told him his nerves were starting to get the better of him. Forgetting the thumb, he tucked his hand behind his back calling out, “Schwartz. Status of intel transmission?”
“Seventy-five percent Sir.”
“Blast it,” he growled, “what’s taking so long?”
“We’re sending it through priority one encryption Sir,” Schwartz explained, “on a very narrow carrier wave. Frankly I’m surprised we’ve managed this much considering the size of the data files.”
It was rhetorical, Styles thought retreating to his chair and dropping into the seat.
“You look tired Sir,” Kami said quietly at his side. “Maybe you should get some rest. I can manage here.”
“Thank you Kami,” he said smiling up at her, “that won’t be necessary.” Turning to the
screen once more, he was about to ask for a tactical display when an alarm sounded. “Now what?” he hollered bounding to his feet.
“We had an unauthorized launch from the port landing tunnel,” Emily announced over the klaxon.
“What is it?” Kami asked racing over to Emily's station.
Styles wasn't far behind, leaning in to study the screen. “Put them on speaker,” he said gripping the chair back.
***
“Well that didn't take long,” Joanne said tightly.
“You just expect them to let us steal an SAR shuttle and run off?” Alison sarcastically snipped. “The old man's gonna be pissed over this one.”
“Shut up,” Joanne admonished before flipping on the channel. “Victoria, this Apple. Request permission to depart on search and rescue.”
“It's a little late to be asking permission,” Kami's voice shouted from the speaker. “Just what the hell do you think you're doing?”
“Now you've done it,” Alison said, “You've gone and pissed off TAT.” Joanne glanced over at the woman who threw her a sly wink.
“I'm going after Knight and Skid,” Joanne said calmly into the microphone. “I know you could care less about those two Commander. But we don't leave our people behind.”
“Has it occurred to you Lieutenant,” Kami barked back, “that we're in the middle of a desperately important operation? Turn that shuttle around and I might not kick your ass for this!”
“Not happening sugar,” Alison chimed in. You could almost hear Kami's rage build over the channel. “Apple's determined. I tried to stop her and thought if I couldn't, at least I could try to keep her alive.”
“I'm sorry Commander,” Joanne said while fiddling with the radios knob. “Your message is breaking up.” Releasing the transmit button she turned to Alison saying, “Fire up the SLD.”
“Don't you dare pull that tired routine. Turn that ship around Goddamnit,” Kami hollered.
Ignoring Kami's protests, Joanne fed the coordinates into the shuttle navigation computer and threw the craft into superluminal.
***
“Knight,” a disembodied voice called out to Jeff. “Hey Knight,” it continued, “you still with me buddy?”
Opening his eyes groggily, Jeff looked about himself. It was dark, very dark. Only the pinpricks of light in the distance told him he was floating in deep space. “Yeah,” he said weakly, “I'm still here.” It was getting terribly hard to breathe, and he knew it was only a matter of minutes before the paltry amount of oxygen he had left would run out. “Was having...a wonderful..dream,” he gasped. “Big...juicy...steak.”
A nervous laugh answered him. “I'll make sure you get one as soon as we get back,” James said. There was a measure of concern in his friend’s voice.
Jeff didn't know how long they'd been adrift. He didn't even know how long he was asleep for that matter. The only thing real at the moment was the burning sensation in his lungs and a chill that seemed to go straight through to his bones. Out of the corner of his eye, he imagined he saw the sparkling aftermath of a ship emerging from superluminal. Leaning to his right, his helmet made a quiet thud as it struck the canopy. There was a buzzing in his ears. He paid it no mind, so focused on the hallucination was he.
Reaching an arm up, he a drug his fingers along the canopy and whispered, “Skid. Do you see that?” There was no answer. He knew he didn't have much time, and in a desperate effort, he numbly fumbled an emergency flair from a pocket. Blowing the hatches on the canopy, he fired the device. The streak it made across the inky void was the last thing he saw before blacking out.
“Knight,” a familiar voice called to him. It sounded sweet and full of concern. “Knight,” it called again, “wake up sugar.” Something dragged across his cheek, something soft and comforting. His eyes cracked open, they hurt from the blurry light that assaulted them. “He's coming around,” the vague blob in his vision said.
“Mako?” Jeff whispered. “How...where,” he stammered trying to make sense of the situation.
A shushing sound answered him. “You're all right,” Alison's voice said soothingly. “We got here just in time.”
“Where's Skid?”
A throaty laugh answered the question. “A little occupied sugar,” she purred. Grabbing an arm, she helped him, with a little effort, to a nearby bulkhead. “Which is what I want to be right now,” she added while sliding down to sit beside him.
As his head began to clear, he found he was in the retrieval bay of a search and rescue ship. He dimly recalled thinking he saw one before blacking out. And offered a silent prayer that it wasn't a hallucination. Not far from where he was sprawled, he spotted James in a shockingly amorous embrace with Joanne that bordered on indecent. With a sigh, Jeff reach inside his flight suit fishing out his cigarettes. Sparking one to life, he leaned his head back; thankful that, against all odds, he'd cheated death another time.
“They're getting pretty hot and heavy,” Alison whispered in his ear. And unexpectedly, Jeff felt her hand on his thigh, “Think you've got the strength to match that performance?”
Blowing out a grey streamer Jeff smiled at her. “I thought Curtis was your man?”
“Who said a girl can't have some side ass?” she said with a wicked grin. Leaning over, she planted a kiss on his cheek before standing. “I better get us home before TAT pops that blood vessel.” Turning to Joanne, who had practically stripped James’ flight suit off by now, she added, “You think you can handle these two by yourself sugar?”
If Joanne had an answer for that, Jeff couldn't understand it. There was a muffled sound from her, followed by a thumbs up, before her hands returned to exploring James. Sighing, he leaned back and enjoyed the reprieve.
***
The flight deck of Victoria was already bustling when Kami strode through the hatch. It had barely been five minutes since she had given landing clearance to the stolen search and rescue shuttle. And as much as she wanted to bust the two pilots who'd taken the craft, she felt a tremendous amount of relief that they'd been successful in their foolhardy mission.
“Good evening Commander,” a deep baritone said to her.
Glancing to her right, she found Lieutenant Johnson, still looking a touch pale and now sporting a smooth pate, standing beside her. “Is it Mister Johnson?” she asked.
“Any evening where you find yourself alive is a good evening sir,” he said soberly. “And any evening when a friend takes a foolish risk to save your hide, and comes out of it alive, is icing on that cake.”
“I see your point,” she agreed. Crossing her arms, she watched as the shuttle was ferried into the hold from the landing tunnel. A swarm of pilots was gathered, waiting for their beloved leader to disembark from the craft. It rankled her that Jeffery Grant seemed to hold a disdain for regulations, yet somehow continued to climb the ranks and had attracted the adoration of the ships combat wing. It flew directly in the face of everything she had learned not only from the academy, but her father as well. That discipline was paramount to the efficient running of a star fighter carrier.
A brief flutter tore across her stomach when the ships boarding ladder dropped, and Jeff descended to a thunderous wave of cheers. He flashed the incorrigible grin of his at the assembled mass before helping the shaggy headed mutineer, she thought they called her Mako, down from the craft. The gentle touch he showed her sparked something akin to jealousy in her. She tamped it down as quickly as it happened, refusing to admit she had even felt it. With a wave of triumph for his gang of pilots, he proceeded to weave through the throng, shaking hands and hugging every last person he passed, on his way to report to her.
Instead of reporting straightaway however, he snubbed her to embrace the towering Lieutenant Johnson in a fierce hug. “Change your hairstyle Spanks?” Jeff laughed reaching up to rub the large man’s head.
“You try taking a thousand rems and see how much of that princely mane you have,” the lieutenant laughed in return.
Ka
mi, growing impatient of the two, cleared her throat sharply, directing the sound at Jeff. He seemed unable to wipe off his smug smirk and said while turning towards her, “Where are my manners,” with his typical air of embellishment. Squaring his shoulders, he looked her in the eyes and announced, “Commander Jeffery Grant reporting for duty sir.”
“It's good to see you Commander,” she answered him tightly while tucking her arms behind her. “I'm happy to see you've returned in one piece.”
“App's and Mako are the hero's,” he said almost nonchalantly. Turning, he tucked a pair of fingers between his teeth and let out a sharp, almost shrill, whistle, which made Kami wince, followed by a shouted, “App's, Mako, get your sexy asses over here!” The two women who had stolen the shuttle were quick to heal Jeff's command, the curly haired trollop casting him a lecherous grin and a wink.
“So,” Kami began sternly, “You're the two derelict pilots who'd rather play games with your lives, and those of this entire ship, and run off to save your obvious bunk mate?” Crossing her arms she continued, “Don't play dumb we me,” taking in the confused looks on their faces, “I can see it in your eyes. So, do you take turns every other night? Or are you the type to go at it together?”
If anyone had any words of defense, she didn't want to hear them and continued spewing her vitriol. “That foolhardy trip of yours could have given our location away to the enemy. And if it were up to me you'd both be in the brig. Of all the irresponsible actions I've ever seen.” Turning abruptly to focus solely on Jeff she added, “I can see your lackadaisical methods of leadership at work with there to royal screw ups. Commander. You stand relieved until zero eight-hundred. Take your play things and stay the hell out of my sight until then!”
Sharply turning on her heel, she stormed from the hanger. More confused than ever.
CHAPTER 31:
BEST LAID PLANS
Standing on the observation deck Jeff leaned quietly against the rail watching the fleet float silently in the harsh vacuum of space. Days had passed since the recon mission. From all accounts Colonel Wesker and his team were pouring over the collected data. Very little was being shared, though Captain Styles appeared to be growing more anxious as the precious time they had slowly slipped away. The whole crew seemed to be on edge in fact as the fleet maintained its position acting as a liaison between the front and Earth. He didn’t care for being left in the dark. Not when the Drac had something that could destroy a planet out there, just waiting for its chance to take a shot at Earth.
In the Blink of an Eye Page 32
