by Linda Mooney
Kelen raised her face to gaze into his emerald green eyes. Instead, he took her mouth and took her body.
She couldn’t move. His hands gripped her bottom to where she was locked in place, held rigid, enabling him to penetrate her. He pushed into her a few millimeters, pulled out, then pressed inside a bit further. The gradual advance enabled her cream to lubricate his thickening muscle before he managed to fill her.
A shiver of desire went through her as her body remembered the ecstasy his lovemaking brought her. She enjoyed the way her possessed her. She knew that everything he did was to bring her pleasure. And when she was done, she helped him to reach his.
She wriggled her hips. The ache was back. The longing to have him within her again was steadily growing stronger.
Rolling onto her back to face him, she waited for him to turn around. She watched as he examined several more of the glowing glyphs.
“Isn’t this an odd time to be experimenting?” she teased.
She heard him snort. “I’m looking for some kind of material or fabric I can dry off with. My fur is still damp from the mist at the lakes, and if I allow it to remain that way, my skin will become irritated.”
She started to ask him what made him think the indigenous people of this planet used fabric, when she remembered the remains of the tiny mother with her child. The skeletons had been picked clean by the eye worms, but they appeared to be wearing fragments of clothing.
Kelen propped herself up on her elbows to comment when he reached down and brushed a pale gray symbol. Without warning, the floor beneath her legs and feet slid sideways. Kelen yelped as her legs and feet dropped downward and her equilibrium shifted. She scrambled to pull herself back onto the floor as Kyber rushed over to where she lay sprawled. Pausing, he glanced down at her and chuckled.
“I think we found the sleeping arrangements.”
“The what?” She was fully awake now. Scooting backwards on her butt, she lowered her legs. They didn’t go far. Her feet touched something that was both firm and soft. It yielded slightly when she pushed on it. Kyber crouched and reached down.
“It’s padded. First the lavatory, then the bath, and now the bedding. I wonder what else we will find beneath the floor?”
Kelen lowered herself into the depression. The opening was less than half a meter deep, but took up almost half of the apartment space. She ran a hand over the sides and bottom.
“It explains why there’s an absence of furniture. Apparently they didn’t believe in pillows or blankets, either.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “It looks big enough to hold both of us. Barely.”
Kyber crawled inside and laid down. Holding up a hand to her, he drew her down beside him. Kelen curled into a fetal position and he spooned behind her. The unmistakable knob trying to separate her butt cheeks made her smile. Heat went through her, filling her with that wonderful ache to make love again, and she deliberately nestled closer to him.
“Kelen, please stop.”
She craned her neck in his direction. “I can’t help myself. Have you ever done it doggy style?”
“What is doggy style?”
“From the rear.”
His answering sigh was heavy, wafting across her back. “That is a position we must avoid until after our Confirmation.”
She made a face, knowing he wouldn’t see it. “Well, damn. We’ve done it with you on top, with me on top, and on our sides. And now you’re placing restrictions?” She felt him chuckle.
“Patience, woman. We need our rest.”
“You weren’t this adamant about resting an hour ago,” she reminded him.
“Neither were you. If I recall correctly, you were the one who started falling asleep in the middle of our lovemaking.”
“You were wanting a third go-round and I was worn out. I’ve gotten my second wind now.”
Kyber laughed. Drawing his arm around her waist, he dropped a kiss to the back of her ear.
“Rest, my one. The others will be rising soon.”
“And then what?”
“We determine our next action. As a group.”
“In that case, since I’m one-eleventh of this group, I vote we make this area our centralized headquarters. We can’t keep wandering all over this planet like a pack of explorers. We need a place to call home. A place where we can feel safe and secure.”
He ran his claws through her hair. She loved the sensation it brought her.
“Make that two-elevenths.” He burrowed his nose against her scalp. “Why is it I don’t feel lost when I’m with you?”
Kelen smiled and closed her eyes. “Why is it I don’t fear what the future holds when I’m with you?” she countered.
His hand slipped over her breast and gently squeezed it. She started to move onto her back when there was a pounding on the door.
“Kyber! Kelen!” The voice was barely audible, making it difficult to tell who was on the other side. “You guys awake? Get up! Hurry! Get out here!”
Chapter 9
Evidence
Kyber muttered a word in his language as they scrambled to get dressed. Although she didn’t know what it meant, she smiled to herself. Chances were good it wasn’t a pleasant remark.
He went to unlock the door as she tied her hair back. The portal dropped into the floor to reveal Fullgrath standing here, a pissed expression on his face.
“What is the emergency?” the Seneecian demanded, glancing over the man’s shoulder.
“Someone was here while we were asleep.” The ex-weapons master turned his attention to Kelen. “It’s good to see you up and moving about, Chambliss. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.”
“Any aftereffects? Any fever or nausea?” Sandow came up behind them. He peered into her face, peeling down her lower lids, then laid two fingers against her neck.
“Other than being tired, I’m fine,” she insisted.
“Sounds normal to me,” Fullgrath dryly remarked.
They heard a shout. Mellori ran up to join them.
“Besides the room where we put the bodies, we’ve found evidence that at least two more apartments were entered,” the man said.
“Show me,” Kyber demanded.
The former engineer led him to the far side of the nonagon where the others were waiting. Kelen stood back to watch. The remains of the planet’s inhabitants had been placed in one of the rooms next to the corridor leading to the lakes. Kyber followed Mellori and Fullgrath into the apartment. A few seconds later, the men emerged, along with Gaveer. They paused outside the doorway.
“What?” Kelen walked over to join them. “What did you find?”
“We placed the remains in nice, neat rows,” Mellori told her. “Someone’s disturbed the bodies. Several of them have been tossed or kicked from the pile.”
“Who discovered it?” Kyber asked.
Jules raised his hand. “I did. Call it morbid curiosity, but I wanted to examine the remains. See if there was anything about them that might give a clue as to how they died, and why they were piled up like that in the middle of the floor. When I saw they’d been disturbed, I told Fullgrath. That’s when we decided to check the adjacent apartments.”
“What evidence did you find in the other rooms that makes you believe they were entered?” Kyber questioned.
“Come. See for yourself.” Tojun led them to the door of the apartment next to the makeshift mausoleum.
Kelen went with them. Jules was standing guard at the entrance. She noticed Massapa also appeared to be keeping watch at the next apartment in line.
As they had before, Kyber and the others went inside, only staying a few moments before exiting. Kyber pointed to the doorway where the Seneecian stood. “Same thing in there?”
“Pretty much, yeah,” Gaveer answered.
“Will someone tell me what the hell you’re talking about?” Kelen glared at each of them. “What evidence?”
“There are holes punched in the walls,” Jules answered.
“I’m wondering if whatever got in there got stuck and tried to force their way out,” Fullgrath guessed.
“Why did they go to those three, but none of the others?” Kelen inquired.
“Who’s to say they didn’t?” Massapa pointed to the other apartments. “The doors automatically lock once someone’s inside,” he noted. “These three were empty. The next apartment in line is where Gaveer, Tojun, and I slept. They may have tried to get in, but the sealed doors prevented them from entering.”
“Or they could have given up after trying those three, thinking the rest of them were also empty,” Kyber surmised.
“But the room with the bodies wasn’t empty,” Kelen reminded them. “Why doesn’t that door lock?”
Mellori rubbed his chin. “Maybe the rooms are equipped to recognize body heat.”
Staring at the ex-engineer, she realized they were a few men short. And by short… Kelen checked the atrium. “Where’s Dox?”
“Squirreled up in our bunker. Messing with his odds and ends. Happier than a starving man facing a twelve-course dinner, now that he has a place to park all his gear and space to work.”
“Kyber.”
Everyone turned to see Tojun staring at the doorway to the apartment next to the one where the other Seneecians had spent the night. The gray-furred alien knelt and ran his hand along the edge of the portal as the others went over to see what had caught his attention.
“Here.” Tojun ran a claw down the side.
Fullgrath peered closer. “Well, I’ll be. Apparently, whatever’s behind this didn’t stop after inspecting those other rooms.”
“This is our place,” Jules stated.
Fullgrath nodded. “And it looks like they tried to use their claws or something to try and pry the door open.” He paled slightly and gave Jules a questioning glance. “Did you hear anything unusual last night? Any scratching noises?”
Jules shook his head. “No. Nothing.”
“Were any other doors affected?” Kyber asked.
A quick check found no scratches on any of the other portals.
“Well, whatever it was, they’re not here now.” Mellori pointedly studied all three entrances to the nonagon. “Which begs the question, where did they go?”
“I’d like to know what they were looking for, and why did they leave?” Gaveer muttered.
“I have another question,” Kelen interjected. “Will they be back?”
“Mellori, how many of those tube weapons did Dox make?” Kyber confirmed.
“Four, fully-charged and all in perfect working order.”
“They have been tested?”
“No, but knowing how thorough Dox is, it’s a safe assumption.”
“What are you thinking?” Massapa asked.
Kelen saw Kyber give her a guarded look before he countered. “If we retrieved our discarded weapons from the temple and gardens, is Dox confident he can rearm them?”
“He believes he can.”
“Kyber, you’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking…are you?”
He gave her another one of those unreadable looks, but it spoke volumes to her.
“You want to go topside to get those weapons?”
“We need the armory,” Gaveer acknowledged. “If we leave now—”
“No!” Kelen interrupted. She grabbed Mellori’s arm. “Maybe Dox can come up with more weapons, so we don’t have to return to the surface.”
“He’s working on a new scanner for Doc,” Mellori told her. “And you know Dox. He won’t put it aside to work on something else. He’s not primed that way. He’ll stick with the scanner until he either finishes it, or he runs out of materials or options that’ll force him to abandon the project.” The engineer nodded at Kyber. “I think you’re right. We need those other weapons. Those tube thingies aren’t going to be enough if we get attacked by another one of this planet’s creatures. Especially if it’s one of those giant ones.”
“Kyber, if we’re going to do this, we need to leave now,” Massapa suggested.
Kyber nodded, then turned to Kelen. “But not all of us.”
She immediately knew what he was going to say next, and felt her face grow red with indignation. “Oh, hell no if you think you’re leaving any of us behind!”
Surprisingly, Fullgrath came to the Seneecian’s defense. “Taking all of us topside is a ridiculous notion. Some of us need to stay here.”
“Why?”
“Well, for one thing, we don’t need to be hauling the commander around like a piece of luggage.” Sandow had emerged from the apartment he was sharing with the man and joined them. “I agree with Kyber. Dayall has no business going with you. He’s mentally unbalanced and therefore, a liability. And Dox should also stay here. He needs to work on that scanner. If we’re to survive on this world, I need to test everything, to know if it’s either safe or dangerous.” He waved at the tube weapons Mellori held out. “Those will at least provide you with some protection.”
Tojun stepped forward. “I, too, am a liability until I can regain full function of this arm. I will stay behind to help guard the others.”
“We know where we’re going. We can move fast,” Jules added.
“Where does this leave me?” Kelen patted her chest. “Give me a tube shooter. Hell, give me a rock! I can pull my own weight.”
“No.” Kyber placed himself in front of her. He was a wall of furred muscle that seemed impenetrable. Staring into his face, she could see defiance all but written on his features. But in the green depths of his eyes, she saw fear. The need to protect her, even if it meant abandoning her, albeit temporarily, cast shadows across his countenance. She could almost hear his silent request that she relent and allow him to proceed without her.
Mentally, Kelen backed off, finally understanding his reasoning. Without her traveling with them, he wouldn’t have to worry about watching her back. Plus, she wasn’t the only one being left behind. Along with Dox, Sandow, and Tojun, they should be relatively safe. At the very least, they could retreat into the apartments if anything threatened them.
Kelen gave him an angry scowl but before she could say anything, he made a comment that totally threw her for a loop.
“Our most vulnerable crew member is Dox,” Kyber stated. “Your physician has his hands full watching your commander, and Tojun is not in full health. You’re quick, you’re smart, and you’re resourceful. You are the most capable person to remain in charge while we’re gone.”
She sensed he was reticent about leaving her behind, while at the same time determined it was the best decision to keep her out of harm’s way. Still frowning, Kelen took a step back.
“All right, but I’m filing a formal protest.”
His relief was evident. Addressing the others, Kyber announced, “Take whatever food and water you can carry. Time is of the essence, so we’ll eat along the way. Our main goal is to retrieve our weapons and be back before whatever came here last night returns.”
“Would you rather we leave the remaining blaster with them?” Massapa asked Kyber.
“No, take it with you,” Kelen suggested. “If push comes to shove down here, we’ll retreat to our rooms until the cost is clear…or Dox comes up with something else to fend off the nasties.”
The Seneecian hurried into the apartment he had shared with Kelen, as the rest retreated to their own rooms to stock up. Kelen followed him and stood inside the doorway as he filled the small pouches hanging from his belt. When he was ready, Kyber strode back to the portal where she was waiting.
Long seconds passed as they stared into each other’s eyes. Quietly, Kyber held out his arms, and Kelen melted into his embrace.
“What if you don’t come back?” She fought her tears. The other men couldn’t see how upset she was over this separation. She already suspected they were aware of how she and Kyber felt about each other, but for now they needed to keep it a secret a bit longer.
He pressed his lips to the top of he
r head. “Be here for me when we return.”
“You’re damn right I will.”
“And I promise you, when we do, I will announce us.”
He lifted her chin to softly kiss her. He then released her and exited through the doorway.
Kelen joined Sandow in the atrium, where they watched the men disappear through the tunnel that led up to the gardens. Once all sight and sound of them was gone, Kelen sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her arm. The action juxtaposed to the knowledge that her uniform was rapidly disintegrating. Their clothing wasn’t as sturdy as the Seneecians’ uniform, and wasn’t meant to be worn continuously for several days straight. She fingered the paper thin material, recalling Kyber’s remark about fabric. Like Dox, she should make good use of this time to figure out a few things.
“Excuse me, Doc, but I think I’ll go lie down for a bit,” she muttered, and went back inside her apartment before the man could reply.
Chapter 10
Confrontation
They pushed themselves up the steep incline which led to the gardens. Despite the urgency, they were forced to stop frequently to ease the burning in their calves and thighs. Their labored breathing echoed down the dark corridor.
“You know, I forget who said it, but I also believe there has to be an alternate route going up,” Jules huffed during one stop.
“The indigenous peoples were smaller. Lighter in weight. Maybe to them this was their main route,” Gaveer countered.
Fullgrath grunted. “Forget the alternate route. I’ve been thinking about that third tunnel.”
“You’re wondering where it leads, aren’t you? I think that thought’s crossed all of our minds at some point or another.” Mellori took a sip of his water and rubbed the back of his neck.
Gaveer pointed in the direction they were heading. “We don’t know how close we are, or how far we’ve traveled. For all we know, it could be nighttime, which is why we don’t see any light up ahead.”
“We haven’t had the chance to track this planet’s orbit,” Kyber remarked. “We don’t know how many hours are in a day.”
