"Sorry, I didn't think to take that guy's helmet."
Cade kept quiet, walking over to stand by the controls. Van joined her as soon as she felt like she could do so without collapsing. She grabbed Cade around the waist, a little more sharply than required, but Cade still didn't respond.
"Do it."
Cade nodded and twisted the control. The dome dropped and the women had a fight on their hands to reach their lifeline. Van thought the wind had increased in the few minutes she'd been inside the protective circle. It was even more difficult since Cade couldn't assist, other than by walking to the edge of the dais. Van kept her arm around her and climbed down carefully to keep from sinking into the snow again. Already exposed to the subzero temperatures for too long, she couldn't afford to dally.
It felt like an eternity, but finally Van and Cade collapsed through the opening of the shelter. Activated for approximately ten minutes, the heating elements had yet to warm completely but Van felt the heat like a caress over her whole body. It increased quickly and condensation started filling the space. Groaning in aggravation, Van pushed up to her knees and reached for the small controls near the hatch. The hydro-scrubber hummed to life and the steam slowly dissipated. All she wanted to do was sleep, but she still had responsibilities.
Admiral Meryan lay face down on the snow that had been blown in on the shelter's surface. Van knelt beside her and eased the woman onto her back, frowning when she appeared to be unconscious. She checked Cade's pulse and thought it felt sluggish. She needed to get Cade's body temperature up and the supplies in the pack would help with that.
Van left Cade where she was and delved back into the carryall. She retrieved a three-centimeter square package sealed in aluplastic and tore the parcel open with her teeth. In seconds, a padded, inflatable mattress filled the center of the chamber. Then she looked at Cade and took a deep breath. How was she supposed to lift a woman that stood almost a foot taller?
Not by standing there debating the issue.
She squatted down at Admiral Meryan's head, lifted her shoulders, and slipped her arms around the woman's upper chest. Van stood up, grunting under the weight. She pulled and pushed, managing to drag Cade toward the pad. The mattress struck Van at the back of her knees and she sat abruptly with Cade in her arms. Under other circumstances, it might be enjoyable but she was too tired. She heaved Cade to the side and stood awkwardly to retrieve her pack. She tossed the case onto the mat before she knelt on it and grabbed hold of her companion once again.
"Come on, Princess. You've got to wake up and help just a little."
Cade mumbled and tried to lift her head. Her eyes fluttered and her legs twitched. It wasn't much, but it provided enough traction for Van to pull her up from the freezing surface. Sweating from the exertion, she let go of the admiral and unfastened the Gothoan jacket. Situated inside a warm shelter, Van thought all Cade needed now was some rest. She sympathized with Cade's exhausted state, but had one more task to accomplish.
Van keyed her wrist com and spoke into it with a trembling voice. "Captain Swann to Commander Byra, respond."
She waited but no one answered. "Swann to Gauntlet."
Nothing. Perfect.
Admiral Meryan moaned and her eyes opened. She looked at Van and a slow smile curled her lips. "I guess we made it." She slurred a little, but at least she was awake.
"Glad to see you're back with me. How are you feeling?"
"Sore. Hungry. You?"
"Exhausted. And I need to pee."
Cade chuckled and the sound made the hair on Van's arms stand up. "Any ideas?"
Normally, Van wasn't much on modesty. Military life precluded such luxuries on many occasions and she'd long ago become inured. For some reason, she felt uncomfortable at the idea of urinating in front of Cade.
"You can't hold it forever, Captain. I promise not to peek."
"It's no problem." Van hoped she sounded casual. "Everyone has to eliminate. I suggest we use the farthest corner of the shelter for bodily functions. I can cut a flap from the floor in the back corner. The snow is deep enough for us to dispose of it." After all, they could hardly go out in a raging blizzard to take care of biological functions.
Cade nodded and looked around at the tent and the mattress. "I'm just glad you held onto your supplies."
"And that I packed everything it could hold," Van muttered.
"What's that?"
"Nothing. I'm going to dig our latrine."
"Sounds good. I'll lay out thermal blankets and see what you've packed for dinner."
Van retrieved her folding shovel and started walking to the rear of the tent. Large enough to hold four people, they'd be able to have some distance from the smelly trench. "Unfortunately, I only brought dried nutritional supplements but at least there's no split pea soup."
"Split pea soup? Yuck." Cade's response was distracted, her attention focused on the inside of Van's backpack.
"My sentiments exactly."
Van cut out a respectable hole from the shelter floor, dug the pit and then stabbed the tip of her spade into the ground, her intention to leave the tool there to cover their waste. Reluctantly, she removed her gloves and fumbled with the closure to her trousers. She kept her eyes on Admiral Meryan while she did her business, but Cade never looked in her direction. Relief made her feel a hundred times better and when she walked back over to the mattress she was in much better spirits.
"So, what are we having?"
"Turkey and dressing for you and a hot ham and cheese sandwich for me."
"Yum," Van said, hoping the sarcasm wasn't too obvious.
They ate and then Cade used the makeshift bathroom. She returned with a pensive look and sat on the edge of the pad.
"What is it?"
"I assume you've tried to contact the ship?"
Van frowned. Were they on that subject again?
"Of course I tried to contact Gauntlet. Why wouldn't I?"
Intent dark eyes fixated on hers. "I just asked a question, Captain Swann."
"You've been asking me the same question since I met you."
"And you never answered me," Cade returned with heat in her voice. "If you didn't call for help eight years ago when your squad was being killed off, why would I assume you'd call now?"
"I did call." Van finally shouted, losing patience with the same inquiry repeated over and over. "We all did, but no one ever answered. Finally, we realized that our transmissions weren't getting through or no one cared to respond. Now will you leave me alone about it?"
Cade watched her silently for a moment. "Why didn't you tell me that when I asked you before?"
She couldn't look at Cade and picked absently at the edge of one of the thermal blankets. "Because talking about what happened...it makes me remember. That thing that grabbed you? That big hairy thing that looks like an Earth yeti on steroids? A bunch of those...Phantoms...fed on our dead. Sometimes they carried off whole bodies. Sometimes they tore off an arm or a leg and ran away with it like it was some kind of bloody club."
Van jerked slightly when Cade's hand slipped around the back of her neck. She leaned into the contact, needing the silent support.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. I never read any reports about these Phantoms of yours."
"There wasn't any report," Van admitted softly. "Who would have believed me, and it didn't matter anyway. They're carrion eaters, like a red-legged buzzard. The important details concerned the Gothoan rebels. Speaking of Gothoans..." Van raised her head and found sympathy in the dark eyes.
"I know, I recognized the uniforms, too." Cade shrugged. "I never really expected them to just go away. However, there's nothing we can do about it right now. But about those Phantoms..." Cade shuddered and took on a haunted expression. "I wish you'd mentioned them before. You were wrong not to and as a result our teams weren't as prepared as they should have been."
Van nodded slowly. "You're right. I guess it just happened so long ago that I wanted to believe it wasn't as
bad as I remembered." She snorted in disgust. "And there I was on the jump ship lecturing you about giving your people all the information in your possession."
"As soon as this storm blows itself out, we'll transport back to the flagship and inform headquarters of everything we've found."
Cade didn't mention the creatures again and Van figured she'd bring it up at the most annoying time just so she could rub it in her face. "And in the meantime?"
"I suggest we get some sleep." Her tone seemed a little frosty.
Tension fled from her when Van realized Cade wasn't going to quiz her further and the thought of sleep sounded like heaven. "I think that is a phenomenal idea, but first I'd like to check your injuries."
"You mean from where that Phantom picked me up on the ridge? I'm pretty sure those are minor, Captain. They sting a little, where the claws pricked my skin, but they don't really hurt anymore."
"Then why did you lose consciousness? Lieutenant Argante told me you were knocked out when they attacked."
"I think I must have hit my head on something." Cade pushed the hair away at her temple and Van saw a goose egg with a cut in the center.
"All right," she relented. "If you're sure."
"I'm sure. Now let's get some rest."
Both women removed their boots but left their socks on. They climbed beneath the thermal blanket and relaxed, but something still bothered Van. What if Cade's body temperature dropped to dangerous levels while they lay unconscious?
"Do you think we should share body heat?" She felt Cade tense.
"I think we're fine for now, Captain."
"Right."
Chapter Seven
VAN SNUGGLED AGAINST the warm body. Soft curves pressed against her and full breasts pillowed her head. In the comfort of shared heat, she reveled in the feel of long arms wrapped around her. Only partially awake, she turned her face into the fullness and pressed her lips against a hard breastbone and then rubbed a cheek against the erect nipple she found waiting. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized the identity of her companion but it didn't fully register.
Unbuttoned during the night, the thick coat didn't present an impediment, only the clothing that remained prevented unlimited access.
Cade moaned softly and her arms tightened, pulling Van tighter against her body. Instinct drove them, the biological imperative to connect to another person. Lips met briefly and then separated as Van moved to the juncture of neck and shoulder. There she drew tender flesh between her teeth and sucked softly. Cade arched into her, hissing in arousal. Hips thrust upward and one leg clamped against Van's thigh. The sensations exploding through her mind prevented Van from realizing the implications of her actions. Caressing over valleys and planes of muscle and sinew, she trailed a path to the fastening of Cade's trousers. Rather than stop her, Cade turned her head and pressed their lips together again. Van didn't mind that she kept her mouth closed, her hormones focused on another part of Cade's anatomy.
Deft fingers parted the buttons and pulled aside the Velcro flap before eagerly lowering the zipper. In one swift move, she released the tab and pushed her hand under the offending cloth only to encounter another layer. Frustrated by the extra barrier, Van tightened one arm around Cade's shoulders and hugged her close, her eyes tightly shut. For a moment, she couldn't find the top of the lace covering but then her fingers slipped under the hem and she found crisp curls and moist heat.
Cade sighed but didn't cry out. Her knees rose slightly and she allowed Van to touch her. When Van slipped inside, she felt Cade counter her movement and push back against her.
So wet.
A single stroke of her thumb and Cade tensed, her arms tightening convulsively. The spicy scent of her body was even stronger than Van remembered from their encounter in Cade's office, bringing home to her exactly who she lay with. Fully awake, her eyes widened but she didn't pull away. She could hear Cade's heart begin to slow and then strong fingers grasped the back of her neck, stroking gently.
Van felt herself twitch and gasped against the tingling surge in her midsection. She wanted to continue this, wanted to let Cade stroke her to completion. Every atom of her not-so-celibate being cried out for her to do precisely that, but she couldn't. It had nothing to do with Cade's rank. Van didn't know why, but part of her instinctively thought Cade deserved better. Slowly, Van began to pull away, already aching to draw Cade back into her arms. Her wrist com abruptly activated, nicely saving her from making a complete idiot of herself.
"Commander Bosk to Captain Swann. Please respond."
She sat up carefully, trying to maintain body heat yet put a respectable distance between them. "I'm here Commander and I have Admiral Meryan."
Boy, did she.
"She's all right. What's your status?"
"Everything's fine on this end, ma'am. We bugged out right before the storm hit. The only ones still on the surface are your team, the admiral, and Lieutenant Argante."
"Argante? Wasn't he supposed to be with you?" Van shared a concerned look with Cade.
"Long story, Captain."
"Too bad we don't have time for it. Have you contacted the rest of my team? We were separated by the blizzard."
"We're tracking Commander Byra and Chief Yosef's life signs approximately one click west of your position and a jump ship is in route. So far, there's no sign of Commander Heliosius or Lieutenant Argante."
"Keep looking. Swann out."
She couldn't look at Cade. Both sat quietly on the mat and Van didn't have the guts to look in the woman's eyes. What would she find if she did? Disappointment that she'd take advantage of someone while they slept? Maybe Cade found it funny that the pretentious Captain Swann acted so uncomfortable and childish over something as simple and natural as sex.
Cade cleared her throat, preparing to speak and it was the catalyst Van needed to get moving. "That ship will be here any minute, Admiral. We should get packed up and ready so we can help locate the others."
"Captain Swann."
"You can use the head first, if you want." Van scooted to the edge of their pad, her knees folded to prevent putting her feet in the melted puddles caused by the snow while she reached for her boots.
Admiral Meryan tried again. "Captain..."
"We'll need to get you checked out in sickbay..."
"Vanessa."
Van's teeth clicked together and she finally looked at Cade, worried what she might find. "Sorry. I tend to babble when I get nervous. I assume you want to talk about what happened."
"No. I don't. There's nothing to talk about." She didn't sound upset, only calm and matter of fact.
"But, we..."
"Yes. We did. Pass me my boots."
She did as requested, still not quite sure how to behave. Cade spoke as she dressed. "Look, I know you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, but there isn't one. What happened between us is just one of those things. It's only natural really, considering what we've been through lately."
"No big deal, huh?" Van asked, a little hurt by the cavalier attitude but not quite sure why. "At least I don't have to worry about any more falling footwear."
Cade snorted and stood up.
"I didn't say it wasn't a big deal. I certainly don't go around having sex with my officers after a harrowing ordeal. In fact, it's happened exactly once. Now. But, I'm not going to beat myself up over it and neither should you."
Just one of those things, Van thought, like drinking a beer or having dinner. She supposed anyone would do in a pinch. After all, it was only natural. Van guessed it could be worse. Some women, a person just wanted to sleep with and have a good time and next thing they knew, they woke up married.
"Glad I didn't get stuck with Paul for a tent mate."
A low, husky chuckle emanated from her companion. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Van started to say that Cade could take it any way she wanted. As a matter of fact, she could shove it up her ass. She clenched her teeth shut in time to avoid speakin
g out and stood abruptly, striding across the tent to retrieve her pack.
Cade stripped the thermal blankets from the pad and went about packing up without any indication that something intimate had occurred. Van remembered how silent she was while they lay together, even through her orgasm. Lost in the moment, she'd considered the quiet control arousing. Now she found it unnerving. Did this woman ever really let go?
VAN AVOIDED CADE as much as she could after returning to the ship, a task made difficult considering the search for missing crew members. Both Heliosius and Argante were still missing though the skies over Tokar remained clear after the blizzard passed, offering little signal interference. She watched from the rear of the bridge while Gauntlet's commander coordinated the movements of three heavily armed search teams as they scoured the surface. After two hours, Van grew tired of holding up the bulkhead.
She pushed away from the wall with her shoulder and headed for a nearby empty chair. Cade didn't even glance her way and Van sighed in exhaustion as she prepared to sit. A few short hours sleeping in Cade's arms weren't enough for her to recuperate from their underground exploits. Just as her butt was about to make contact with the seat cushion, communications sputtered to life.
"Lieutenant Rex to Gauntlet."
"Go ahead," Cade answered quickly.
"Bad news, ma'am. We just found Heliosius. He never made it to shelter. I put a tracer on his body and he's ready for transport to the ship's morgue."
Van watched as the admiral closed her eyes for a moment. In that instant, grief clearly etched Cade's face. She looked weary beyond words. It didn't last long, but left Van with the knowledge that Cade cared deeply for her crew.
"Understood. Have you found any signs of Lieutenant Argante?"
"Not yet, but we'll keep looking."
"Negative. You've been out long enough. Come back to the ship and warm up. Second squad will relieve you."
"Copy that."
Commander Bosk leaned over to his commanding officer. He spoke quietly so the bridge crew couldn't hear, but Van sat closer and overheard every word.
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