Captives of the Kratzen (Hearts in Orbit)

by S. C. Mitchell

  He blinked but still couldn’t clear his vision, though the fog turned into more of a blur, with differentiation between light and dark.

  A shadow bent over him.

  “A sane man would have stayed sedated, Mr. Studly Man. But no, you just had to wake up.”

  He found Magda’s nagging somehow comforting. If she wasn’t worried, he had no reason to be.

  Did he?

  He tried again. “Waa appn?”

  His frackin’ mouth still refused to form proper words.

  He squinted and the dark blur bending over him turned vaguely into Magda. “What happened?” She applied a cool cloth to his forehead, bringing some relief.

  The pounding in his head diminished. He took a long, hesitant breath. The pain in his chest was easing. Still, each breath hurt like a scorpion-rat tail sting.

  Magda huffed. “Well, you almost died on me . . . again . . . if you must know. I should be quite irritated with you. Though I guess this time it wasn’t your fault.”

  When the hell had it been his fault he’d almost died?

  A soft furred hand patted his arm. “It was never your fault. We’re all dealing with almost losing you in our own way. Magda is quite undone.”

  Kirtl’s hand pulled back as Magda shooed him away.

  “I am not undone you little scamp. Now come on, let’s go get something to eat. I’m sure Tina and Carter would like some time alone.” Magda turned to Tina. “But not long, dearie. Don’t go wearing him out just yet. Plenty of time for that when he’s recovered.”

  Tina’s warm hand found his. “And you will recover, love.”

  Love. Yeah, that fit.

  Magda and Kirtl continued their banter, their voices diminishing as they left the room.

  “Lvv.” Frackin’ mouth. Why isn’t it working?

  Her hand, so gentle in his, was a point of contact, a connection to reality in a world that suddenly didn’t make any sense. His last memory was being in sickbay with Magda, but feeling fine. How had he come to this?

  “The bugs poisoned us with some kind of biological time-bomb. Kirtl and I got lucky and avoided being infected. You, Rolanda, and Tendle are now recovering. You’re going to be fine . . . eventually. All three of you.” Tina’s thumb stroked lightly down the back of his hand. Warm, affectionate . . . worried?

  There had to be more she wasn’t telling him.

  Trying once more to communicate, he forced words from his rebellious lips. “Wha cn eye talk?”

  Better. He just needed to push himself.

  His vision had cleared enough to see the glorious smile crossing Tina’s luscious lips.

  “You’ve been in cryo for a couple of days. Every system frozen and shut down. And they had to pull you out fast to apply the antidote to the poison in time. It’s going to take a while to get everything working again. Don’t push it. You need rest, fluids, and time.”

  She was so beautiful. And she loved him. Carter’s heart swelled and something lower down followed suit. Despite the pain and fatigue, desire stirred.

  He took a deep breath. “I nee you. Here in bd wi me.”

  Tina shook her head, but her eyes twinkled with sexy delight. “Oh, how I wish. But they’re still pumping blood back in you. You barely have enough to sustain basic functions.”

  Her eyes scanned down his torso toward his crotch. “Certainly not enough blood for that.”

  “Don be so sure.” Something twitched below. Okay, not a full erection, but it was a start.

  Tina bent down to kiss his cheek. “When the time comes, I want you. But I want you fit and fully functional. Be a good boy. Do what Magda tells you and get better. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

  He sighed and gave up. He really didn’t have the strength.

  Damn it.

  ~ ~ ~

  Tina sat by Carter’s side a while longer, holding his hand and feeling the pulse at his wrist. He’d made it. He was going to live.

  His eyes slid closed and his breathing quieted. Sleep would be good for him.

  How tempted she was to slide into bed beside him, feel the heat of his body near hers. But, he’d probably try something, silly man. Had she really seen his cock stir under the covers, or had that been her own desires playing tricks on her eyes?

  In any case, she’d resist placing him in any danger. When she thought about how close she’d come to almost losing him, her heart quailed.

  They’d almost lost Rolanda as well, though Tendle had pulled through surprisingly well.

  They conjectured that Tendle’s journey in his exploding spaceship had rumbled his body so hard, it had messed with the time bomb. Whatever, he was already sitting up in bed and taking food.

  Still, all three of them would require rest and rehabilitation.

  She could use a break herself, but things were moving below decks. No one had told her explicitly, but she’d sensed a shift in the tone of people’s conversations aboard The Starboard Mist. Something about the stuff they’d acquired from the Kratzen had people worried.

  She was tempted to hunt down Luna and make her tell, but that would mean leaving Carter.

  Nope. Not going to happen.

  She settled back in her chair.

  Here, at his side was where she wanted . . . needed to be.

  Chapter 19

  Carter was so sick of being sick. Four days of bed-rest and therapy sessions had him pulling his hair out. He was a Fleet marine, not an invalid. He shuffled onto the bridge and bumped Praxis Taygete from his weaponry console. All eyes on the bridge turned on him as he took the seat. An uneasy silence deadened the air.

  “I’m fine. I can run my weapons station.” Okay, he wouldn’t be at his best. Everything still hurt, but he could sit in his chair and target bug ships without too much difficulty. “Quatrain will have my back.”

  The boy was an amazing gunner. Probably could run both gunnery stations at the same time. In fact, he had, at times. So with Quatrain backing him up, he could stay on. Hell, the Fleet needed every man it had right now.

  Analysis of the items and data retrieved from the raid on the Kratzen research station revealed that the bugs were attempting to build their own wormhole generator. The design allowed for access to numerous places in the Milky Way, which meant defending the one portal would not be enough. Kratzen motherships would be able to attack humanity where it lived.

  They’d also uncovered the reasons Tina, Kirtl, and Carter had been captured by the Kratzen. The bugs were studying humans in advance of a major invasion. Rolanda and Kendle had been taken because of all the races in Andromeda, the Dzlozians most resembled humans.

  And it was all because of Kristin Devenport.

  The Federation Fleet was beefing up its armada in expectation of war in the Milky Way. Every man and woman was needed. He wasn’t about to let a few aches and pains keep him from doing his part.

  “Wouldn’t you rather be on Caprica, on the beach at sunset?” Kirtl’s subtle tone held a mocking note that had Carter rolling his eyes.

  “That is not fair.” Yet memories of warm red sands and cold Jepson beer flooded his mind. Who wouldn’t want to go there? It was the most exclusive resort and rehabilitation complex in the Core Worlds.

  Rik Mazar’s golden brown eyes narrowed on him, capturing Carter’s gaze. “You can come back when you’re one-hundred percent and not before. You’ve certainly earned some time off.”

  “But Rik—”

  “Course laid in for Caprica, Captain Mazar.” Tina’s eyes twinkled.

  “What?” He’d have at least thought she would be on his side.

  “I understand it’s beautiful this time of year,” Harvey added in a mechanical monotone that still rang with sarcasm.

  Was everyone on the bridge a
gainst him?

  Luna Callista sat at the communications console. “A suite of rooms at the best resort, fine dining, spa appointments, and rehab facilities all booked. If you’re not going, Mr. Arcturus, I am.”

  “Oh, he’s going all right. I can make it an order if I have to.” Rik raised an eyebrow in challenge.

  Carter sighed. “No, sir. I’ll go.”

  A couple of weeks tops. He’d put his body back in condition and return as soon as possible.

  Tina’s smile drooped a bit. “I’ll miss you.”

  “I rather doubt that, Miss la Cross, as these accommodations are for two.” Rik rounded on her. “You’ve been through almost as much as Carter, and someone has to keep an eye on him while he’s there to make sure he doesn’t get himself into any more trouble.”

  “Me, sir? But I . . . I . . .”

  Carter chuckled as Tina stammered. The shipshoe was on the other foot now.

  “Fiery Faculae! You’ve both earned a vacation, and by the galactic gods, you are going to take one.” Rik threw up his hands and fell into his command chair. “You are both relieved of duty. Now go pack. That’s an order.”

  ~ ~ ~

  His initial exam at the rehabilitation resort had been disappointing. The bug’s toxin had ravaged several of Carter’s systems, leaving him weak and susceptible to complications. The doctors had warned him not to overdo it. To avoid stress and stimulation, including sex, until his body healed a bit more.

  “Everything in its time, Mr. Arcturus. Take it slow, for now. Rest and recover.” The doctor’s warning left him empty.

  Tina’s kiss was a chaste peck on the cheek. “I’ve waited all my life. I can handle a few more weeks. I refuse to be the cause of a relapse.”

  Wasn’t the stress of not having her worse than the strain it would put on his body?

  But she held firm.

  Other than that, the days were perfect. Great food, entertainment, and deep, wonderful conversations with Tina about everything. The doctors even allowed him one Jepson beer every day, and he enjoyed it in the evenings with Tina at his side as the sun set gloriously over Solstus Bay.

  They held hands, talked, and occasionally kissed, but Tina always stopped him short if he tried anything. “Not until the doctors clear you.”

  Frustrating as it was, the more time he spent with her, the more time he wanted to spend with her.

  “What are the Core Worlds like?” She usually picked a topic for the day to keep him talking and engaged.

  Today’s was a loaded question. “No two are alike, and among them you can find just about any item or lifestyle you can imagine. I find it amazing sometimes they can even function as a Federation.”

  “On Quendor we were so rigid, so rooted in our ways. Any deviation was met with resistance. From what I gathered, we never actually joined the Federation. Just kind of got absorbed into it, then ignored.”

  Carter laughed. “That’s our Federation. As long as it doesn’t affect another planet, they’re probably good with just about anything, provided you pay your taxes.”

  His chrono buzzed, reminding him of his next doctor’s appointment. He pulled himself to his feet, muscles aching and resisting every movement. Gods, how long would it take to feel normal again?

  ~ ~ ~

  Doctor Hank Chapman held up an injector. “This is poli-diverteron. A newer treatment we’ve had some good results with.”

  Great, another new drug. He’d only endured four other treatments that had all failed miserably. “What does it do?”

  Carter tried to sound interested. Really, he did.

  The doctor’s understanding smile and slight head shake told him he’d failed.

  “I know. I know. That bug toxin has given us a real challenge. But I think this could really help against it. It works by tricking your body into thinking it’s cured.”

  “What?” That didn’t make a lot of sense.

  “Trust me. I think this is what we’ve been looking for.” Dr. Hank administered the medication.

  “In about fifteen minutes you are going to start feeling really good. Your immune system is going to kick into overdrive. Once you’re feeling up to it, you should engage in some kind of enjoyable physical activity. Swimming, rocket ball, aerobic flingbat . . . um, whatever. The idea is to get some dopamine flowing as well, so do something physical that’s also fun.”

  The rat. Hank was baiting him.

  He’d been badgering the doctor about sex for the past week and a half. Tina refused to go past a quick peck on the cheek until the doctors said it was safe for him to engage.

  Okay, let the good doctor have his fun.

  “So, maybe . . . sex?”

  Hank stifled a laugh. “What a great idea. I would have never thought of that.”

  Carter rolled his eyes and Hank broke into full-blown laughter. “Go, have fun. You’ll have probably two hours after the drug kicks in. Then you are going to sleep very soundly. I want you here tomorrow morning as soon as you can drag your butt in here for a checkup. This drug is fairly safe, and I don’t expect any side effects, so feel free to give it all you’ve got.”

  By the time Carter reached the street level and his waiting hovercab, he was already feeling the effects. Pain relief and new strength rippled through his body. Breathing no longer hurt. The idea of taking a cab the few blocks to his rental unit, so necessary an hour ago to get here, seemed ludicrous.

  He could walk. Hell, he could run.

  By the galactic gods it felt so good to feel frackin’ good again.

  ~ ~ ~

  The front porch of their rental unit offered a stunning view of Solstus Bay, with its deep crimson sands and crystal clear waters. Refreshing sea breezes, fragrant and briny, wafted across the open deck. Baygulls squawked as they winged over the surf, diving occasionally to snag wriggling fishes from the water.

  Tina breathed it all in, admitting—finally—that she’d needed this vacation almost as much as Carter. To say that the past months onboard The Starboard Mist and building Star Base One had been intense, was putting it mildly. Before that, her years as a slave of the pirates and on the run from them had only offered her brief respites. This was the first real vacation she’d had since her family went for a week to the Magdillian theme park when she was five years old.

  Only in the past few days had she been able to really relax. Their first days here had been riddled with sexual tension, held at bay only through doctor’s strict orders and the fact that poor Carter could barely move without pain.

  Slowly, through persistent will, she’d locked away her desire, to become what Carter really needed now. A friend.

  Still, deep down the passion sizzled, awaiting the day the doctors rescinded the orders and Carter was actually able to consummate that part of their relationship.

  What would it be like?

  Certainly she’d seen and heard graphic accounts of the physical activity while growing up among the lusty pirates of the Dark Nebula. Enough to frighten and leave an unpleasant impression.

  But recently, Tina had discovered a wealth of positive reinforcement in the form of Twenty-First Century romantic literature.

  A decade ago a famous librarian had rescued a treasure trove of old text documents by rediscovering the Amazon Vault, long thought destroyed in the 2037 Data Wars. Little by little, the old novels were being translated from Old Earth English into the Galactic Common language.

  Tina had fallen in love with the historic, vintage era that, at the time, must have been considered contemporary. And the descriptions of romantic sexual encounters had stirred interest, intrigue, and desire.

  To be swept away like that.

  Was that what it was like to make love?

  Her data pad chirped, indicating an incoming message,
so she closed out of the old novel she’d been reading on it to check her mail.

  The return address on the message was the medical facility. Dr. Hank had been keeping her in the loop on Carter’s progress, what he needed to do . . . and more often, what he needed to refrain from doing. She had particular interest in today’s checkup. Depending on Carter’s progress, the doctor had indicated he had a new drug he was planning on trying.

  The mail post consisted of only two words: It’s on.

  Desire flooded Tina’s core. She dropped the data pad on the chair and hurried through the front door. She’d purchased a little surprise for Carter a few days ago, and wanted to make sure she was fully ready when he came back.

  Ten minutes later, Tina stood in front of the full length mirror, brushing out her hair and checking her image. Sheer, almost transparent synthsilk material fell from the straps on her shoulders to mid-thigh. Thin bikini panties, in a matching light blue, hid only her most private parts. Braless, her peaked nipples prodded the soft material. Hints of her dark areolas showed through the gauzy textile. She arched her back a bit to raise them.

  Did she look desirable or foolish?

  She’d never played at this game before.

  The front door opened in the other room.

  “Tina?” Carter’s husky voice sent a quiver shooting through her core.

  Showtime.

  ~ ~ ~

  Yeah, the quick jog home had been worth the time. Blood pumped through Carter’s body, too-long-disused muscle flexed and loosened, and his head cleared. Movement from Tina’s bedroom drew his gaze.

  “Hi.”

  An erotic vision, one he’d only imagined in his deepest, sexiest dreams, floated through the bedroom doorway. Gauzy, ethereal, the sexiest damn thing he’d ever seen.