Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Author: Invid Fan
Title: The Waifs
Part: 2
Summary: When war has reached every corner of the known worlds, what can
you do?  Teen soldiers steal a space ship to try and find out.  Once you
kill, can you still be a kid?
Keywords: MinimulSex, SciFi, mf, teen

   THE WAIFS By Invid Fan (c)2013

   Chapter 7



   "Man down!  We're coming in!  We need covering fire!"

   Mel was screaming into her headset as the raiding party fled back
through the forest.  She was hysterical, a state Kine was willing to allow
her.  The weight of Ken's body over his shoulders, as he staggered as fast
as he could, kept his mind focused on the task at hand.  The teen was still
moaning in pain, which Kine figured had to be a good sign.  Much better
than dead silence.

   There was a sound behind them.  Lessa wheeled around, dropped to one
knee, bringing the pulse rifle up to her shoulder.  She let go with a long
burst into the trees, a faint cry coming back.  She was on her feet again,
catching up with the others a moment later.

   A break in the trees ahead showed the grey bulk of the shuttle, their
pace increasing in unspoken unison.  The top turret spun towards them,
letting go with a ten second spray of fire over their heads in a ninety
degree arc.  It swept back in the other direction, the sound of wood
exploding behind them more frightening than comforting.  The shuttle's side
hatch opened, Amanda standing in the doorway frantically waving them in. 
Her relief at seeing that it wasn't Kine that was hurt instantly turning
into horror as her brother burst past her and all but dropped Ken to the
floor.  Mel and Lessa were right behind him, Lessa slamming the butt of her
rifle into the hatch controls as she passed.

   "Go!  Go!" Not caring if she was heard, Lessa tossed her rifle on the
floor and dropped down beside Ken.  Med kit out, she grabbed the first
painkillers she saw and slammed the needle into him.  Mel dropped to her
knees on the other side of her friend, hands touching his face while softly
chanting his name.  Ken was still grimacing in pain.  As Lessa ripped open
his shirt, Mel looked at the charred torso and wailed in despair.  Lessa
didn't even know where to start --



   ****



   Kine tossed his exhausted body into the copilot's chair next to Ger,
grabbing the radio.  As the shuttle made a full power takeoff, causing
those in the back to quickly grab something, Kine paused a second to gather
his thoughts.

   That, as his sister would say, never took long.

   "Teddybear to Liberty!  Man down!  Have aborted!  Request you level
target!" Ger looked over at him with an uncomprehending gaze.

   "What the hell happened?"

   Two missiles passed over the ship, heading down.  Flipping on the rear
camera, Kine and Ger saw a square kilometer of forest go up in flame.  A
moment later, a series of secondary explosions erupted in a line due south.
Kine let out a sigh, slumping down in his seat.  Gods --

   "AAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

   He was instantly out of his seat and in the cabin doorway.

   Ken's face was contorted into a horrible scream of pain, eyes open, but
it was obvious that for him the pain was over.  Lessa sat back on her
heels, another shot of pain killer in her hands, unneeded.  Amanda leaned
against the exterior hatch, head bowed, crying.  But it was Mel that his
eyes focused on.  The half bald young woman was sitting with Ken's right
hand clutched in both of hers.  Even from a couple meters away, Kine could
see the tears literally flowing off her face, puddling on the floor.  She
just kept chanting.

   "Ken, my love, my Ken --" Finally, the black of space replacing the blue
of sky around them, she gently released his hand and placed his limp arm
down next to his body.  Leaning down, Mel placed a gentle kiss on Ken's
cheek, and sat up.  Her left hand going to her side, she drew her weapon
and placed it to her ear.

   Lessa was at her instantly, one hand going for the gun, the other Mel's
elbow.  She barely made it, twisting the teen's wrist until the gun fell
from her fingers.  Mel was knocked to the ground, Lessa half on her, half
on the dead boy, trying to pin the struggling girl's arms to the ground. 
Kine was quickly over, grabbing her wrists, while a shocked Amanda grabbed
the gun.  Mel screamed in rage, legs kicking out frantically.

   "Let me die!  Get the fuck off of me and let me die!  My Ken!"



   ****



   Eventually, Mel stopped struggling, collapsing into a crying, exhausted
heap.  She curled up, almost in a fetal position, next to her dead friend.
Kine and Lessa slowly struggled to their feet.  Kine sighed.

   "We were going to lose someone sooner or later."

   Lessa closed her eyes, almost falling back against the smooth cabin
wall.

   "I -- I've never lost someone I've tried to save before.  I've -- seen
so many I've known die, and killed so many, but --" She looked down at her
hands, hands covered with streaks of blood and charred skin.  "Why is this
the first time my hands have felt dirty?"



   ****



   The shuttle Teddybear was slowly drawn inside the Liberty.  The outer
doors had barely closed before the cruiser's main engines ignited, breaking
it from its orbit around the moon Revell.  Air was recycled into the small
bay around the craft, the inner door rolling back to exposing the shuttle
to the large hanger that filled the bottom of the cruiser.  As hydraulics
pushed it father into the hanger, allowing access to all sides, teens
seemed to appear from nowhere to converge on the ship.  It had barely
stopped before the side hatch opened, revealing Kine carrying Ken.  There
was silence, apart from the winding down of various motors and the usual
hum of the spacecraft, as the crowd parting for Kine and the others as they
came to stand on the deck.  Mel was held up by both Lessa and Amanda,
oblivious to all.

   Two young fourteen year old twins, dressed in white medical staff
outfits, cut through the crowd pushing a stretcher on wheels.  Their grey
eyes were wide, horrified, on seeing Ken.  Lessa waved her new staff over,
impatient at their delay.  Kine carefully lay the body down on the
stretcher as soon as it was close.  He took his light jacket off, covering
Ken's face.

   "Take him to that small room with the bunk beds in the back that we
never knew the purpose of," Lessa told Bell and Bella.  "I think we can now
guess what was to be stored there." She shifted a bit to lift Mel up, as
the girl was starting to feel heavy.  "And bring another stretcher for
her."

   "No -- no -- I'm -- OK." Mel raised her head, removing her arms from
around Lessa and Amanda (much to the relief of the twelve year old, who had
been getting crushed but didn't feel right saying anything) as she stepped
forward.  "I'll walk with them."

   Lessa nodded.  Slowly, the three girls started to push Ken across the
bay towards the elevators.  As he passed, comrades reached out to touch
him, others standing at attention in salute.  Most had one thought foremost
in their mind:

   "It wasn't me this time."

   Lessa looked up and saw Don entering the bay.  He stopped and let the
funeral party go by, face expressionless, before walking over to the still
gathered crowd.  Shelly was with him, distraught.  Lessa wanted to tell her
this wasn't her fault -- well, not much her fault.  That would have to
wait. Don spoke.

   "Everyone -- spread out and find somewhere to sit.  Kine, Lessa -- Brat
--" This broke the tension a bit, drew out some chuckles, as well as a
"Fuck You!" from Amanda.  Don went on with a nod, and slight smile, pulling
over a box of parts to sit on.  He sighed.

   "You three have a seat and report.  Are you OK?  Need anything?" Kine
waved away the drinks two boys had rushed over, and sat on the deck leaning
back against the shuttle.  It was still cold from space, and that seemed to
wake his mind up a bit.  He felt Amanda sit and press her body against his,
leaning her head against his shoulder.  He put an arm around her, and with
Lessa leaning against the ship, drink in hand, he looked at Don and
started.



   ****



   The month since leaving Xanth had been rather successful, on all fronts.
Between Don's cautious audacity, the tactical skills of Kine, the combat
abilities of Lessa and others, and Sean's contacts and picking of targets
(as well as his natural hatred of risk), they had managed to keep
themselves going while restocking the ship, with gold to spare.  Their
numbers had even increased by ten over what they started with, although
some of those were of questionable utility.  After visiting a couple of the
other moons of Xeres, they had struck out for the heavily contested world
of Baal.  In the extreme rear of the front, behind Rebel lines on that
world, there was rumor of a sex slave camp.  As well, on Baal's smallest
moon Revell, Federation controlled for the most part, they also had word of
an abandoned camp.  The slavers had pulled out when the Rebels withdrew
from the moon, or so the story had gone.  Don had decided, before doing
anything foolish, they should case it out so as to know what the active
camp might be like.

   "Abandoned, my ass," Kine spat.  "It was occupied alright."

   "But we just!?!" interjected a boy, eyes widening.

   "No, no," Kine reassured, "there were no slaves there that we saw. 
That's one reason we got in so much trouble: with no one to guard, there
were no guards or patrols.  We walked right in only to finally notice the
parked vehicles and people coming out of the mess hall.  Our fault,
totally." He looked at Lessa apologetically.  "We should have done a
perimeter sweep first like you wanted, but I wanted to save time --" Kine
shrugged.  "Lessa left us for a bit to draw them away and buy us time, but
we hit a group on the way out and lost Ken."

   Don sighed.

   "You did your best, probably much better than I would have." He looked
down at his legs.  "I still can't run worth shit." This drew some laughs,
the non-athletic nature of their leader a running, if respectful, joke. 
"But," he continued, "did you at least get a good look at the place?  Could
we hit one like that fully guarded, with some chance of actually rescuing
kids alive?"

   Kine thought for a moment, but it was Lessa who looked Don in the eye
and answered.

   "Yes, if we hit them hard with everything we have."



   ****



   Bell had never seen death before.

   Loss, yes.  Sorrow, starvation, misery, all had been there at various
times.  Pain, too.  But...  not death.  Her parents had been gone for as
long as she had memory.  The war had never come to her city.  Her mind...
was numb.

   She looked at her twin.  Bell had not known Bella as a child.  Had not
bonded with her sister in the ways she had read was the norm.  Thus, in
some ways she was still a mystery.  Not now, though.  Bella's expression
mirrored her own, eyes wide, lost.

   Bell sighed.  She now understood the others on the ship in ways she
never wanted to, and hated the knowledge.

   Her sister wrapped her arms around herself.  Seeing the sense in such an
action, Bell did the same.  They stood next to the covered body of Ken,
still resting on the stretcher in the main room of sickbay.  Mel had
stopped them here, eyes pleading.  To refuse anything to her, now, or
ever...

   "Are you OK, Mel?"

   Bell was surprised she had found her voice.  It even sounded...  calm. A
shiver went through her, though, her mind feeling faint.  She'd have to sit
down soon.

   Mel didn't answer.  She stood on the other side of the stretcher, hand
stroking the covered face of their friend.  The two sisters traded a
glance. Bella nodded.

   "Can we get you something...?" Bella seemed to fade off, as if realizing
the only thing their friend needed it was beyond their power to give.  Mel,
though, took a deep breath, and let it go.

   "I was an idiot." The sisters stayed silent.  Mel raised her eyes to
then, reaching her right hand over.  The two took it in theirs.  Her hand
was cold.  "I never slept with him.  Did he tell you that?  He asked, but
I..."

   "He told us he loved you." Bell could feel her sister shoot a worried
glance at her, but she wasn't evil enough to tell Mel Ken had refused their
advances, saving himself for his friend.  It would only hurt her.  As it
was, she saw Mel close her eyes, felt her hand squeeze theirs.

   "And I loved him.  I was just...  it never was the right time." Mel
sighed, pulling her hand back.  "Time..."

   "He'd want you to go on," Bella said.  "Be happy."

   "Yeah," Mel said, some of her dry humor returning.  "Well, that's easy
for him to say."



   ****



   "We could still leave, you know."

   Amanda stood in the doorway to their cabin, leaning against the door
frame as Kine collapsed onto his bed, face first.  He rolled onto his back,
looking up at his little sister.  She still had on her "war" outfit, as she
called it- loose fitting brown pants and jacket with a tan t-shirt.  Her
gaze stayed on him as she unbuckled her gun belt.  It fell to the floor
with a thud.  He closed his eyes.

   "Not this again.  Close the door." She stepped forward and did so,
kicking the belt further into the room.  He opened his eyes and met her
gaze.  She looked so sad --.  "No, we can't leave.  Not yet, at least."

   "WHEN?  I almost -- I could have lost you today!" Amanda shuffled over
to the bed and dropped to her knees next to it, reaching over to take her
brother's left hand in both of hers.  He rolled over onto his side to face
her.

   "You could have lost me countless times in the past few --" He trailed
off at her expression, realizing this was, in fact, the point.

   "I want to be safe.  I want YOU to be safe, Kine!  Let's just go
somewhere where we can live and play all day!" She was trying not to cry,
but it was hard.  When her brother reached out with his free hand to stroke
her soft cheek, tears did flow and wet his fingers.  His fingers traced the
path of the tears back up to their source, trying to stem the flow.

   "Where, Amanda?  You heard about the uprising on Xanth.  I don't know if
it reached Seneca, but it's no safer now than any other place.  At least
here we can protect ourselves."

   "But you keep LEAVING!" She was rubbing her face against his hand. 
Giving out a groan, Kine sat up on the bed and swung his legs over the
edge. He pulled Amanda up into his lap, and she buried her head into his
chest as he wrapped her in his arms, slowly rocking her back and forth.

   "Shh, it's OK -- it won't be forever.  Just -- for a little longer.  I
need to see this through.  Then -- we'll see." He didn't know if she
believed him.  Hell, Kine didn't know if he believed it.  He stroked her
blond hair, no longer in pigtails but in one long braid down the back like
Lessa had started doing -- "Is there anything I can do to make this easier
for you?"

   Amanda sniffed, trying not to get snot on her wonderful brother's shirt.
Looking up with eyes that, for once, weren't trying to be childish and
needy yet were that way anyway, she bit her lip.

   "Could -- could we have flowers in here?  Real flowers?  I'll water them
and take care of them --"

   "I think we can do that." He looked over at her painting of a green park
on the wall next to her bed.  "Yeah, we can do that.  Maybe even turn an
extra room or two into a garden.  I can't promise when..."

   "And," she added, fingers playing with a button on his shirt as she
prepared to press her luck, "can I have a pet?"

   "But we already have Wendi and Sirenia," Kine replied, faking confusion,
"why do you need a third?"

   The sibling on sibling violence that followed was too graphic and tickle
filled to describe.



   ****



   Lessa was staring at Don again.

   This, he thought, was getting silly.  OK, so the young woman, for some
unknown reason, liked him.  Big fucking do.  That didn't mean she had to
find reasons to hang around him, talk to him, LOOK at him -- couldn't she
have whatever stupid romantic feelings girls had someplace else?  Here he
was, trying to have a quiet dinner in the cafeteria, digesting not just the
food but what the day's disaster meant, and Don could just feel her dark
eyes on him.  He did not WANT to be looked at.  Glancing up, their gazes
met and she smiled at him.

   OK, that does it.

   Don grabbed up his tray, and walked out.  He'd eat in his cabin from now
on.



   ****



   Lessa let out a groan as Don left the cafeteria.  What had she done now?
She had no experience with this.  Hell, she didn't even know exactly what
THIS was!  She grabbed the mug of fruity alcoholic drink in front of her
and drained half of it.  Little Wendi walked by the table with a pitcher.
Seeing Lessa's mood, she placed the entire pitcher down with the handle
turned towards Lessa and walked away.  This, at least, brought a bitter
laugh from the teen.



   ****



   Shelly entered a short while later, looked around, saw her friend, and
waved.  Not waiting for a response she went and picked up a tray of today's
meal (some sort of meat with brown gravy, and green and orange former plant
things) and a mug and headed over to her friend.  She passed a table with
Rich and one of the twins (Bell?), and pretended not to see them.  Shelly
plopped down next to Lessa, taking a swig of her drink.  Looking over at
the half empty pitcher, she raised an eyebrow.

   "Having a good day, are we?"

   "Boys are fucking assholes."

   Shelly laughed and raised her mug in toast to that, eyes noticing Rich
was leaning very close to the dark skinned newcomer.

   "Yes, and the almost men aren't much better."

   Lessa looked over at the almost man in question, and shook her head.

   "So, it's over?"

   "It never really started, to be honest." Shelly let out a sigh.  "Once I
wasn't in the mood to fuck all the time he started looking elsewhere, and,
really, I didn't mind."

   "I have noticed you haven't been such a, um --"

   "Slut?"

   "How about physically outgoing woman?" They both laughed at that, Shelly
raising her mug again as they both toasted and took another drink.  Looking
around the room she saw LOTS of drinking.  Couldn't blame them- Ken had
been liked.  Shelly turned and regarded her friend.

   "So -- Don problems?"

   Lessa slammed her empty mug on the table.

   "Why does the first guy I ever get interested in have to be one that
hasn't hit puberty yet?!?" Shelly had to chuckle at that.

   "Maybe we should ask Sean to make sure he doesn't swing that way before
you get all bent out of shape."

   Lessa blew a raspberry at her, putting her elbows on the table and head
in her hands.

   "Why do I care, Shelly?  I don't want to, but -- I can't stop thinking
about him.  He's not even hunky!  But every time I see him -- you have to
help me." She turned to her friend.  "Please.  You're the expert."

   "Ha!  Look, Lessa, I'm as clueless as you are when it comes to romance."
Her eyes softened as she looked at her best friend's beautiful face.  Lessa
blushed and lowered her eyes, as Shelly gave a self deprecating chuckle and
went on.  "I mean, I can give you all the pointers you want about how to
please a male in bed, can even pull a random boy into the room to help
demonstrate certain things, but -- I honestly can't help you with the steps
before that point because I've never been there either."

   They both lapsed into silence, Shelly deciding to start in on her
cooling dinner.  Lessa refilled her mug and took a swig.

   "Why did you stop spending time with Rich?"

   Shelly put down her fork, and gazed out unseeing into the room.

   "After seeing that video -- and after we decided to try and stop that --
I finally decided I'll try -- TRY, I have to stress, as I've already
backslid a number of times -- try to link the act of love to actual love."

   Lessa actually sat up in her seat when she heard that, looking at her
friend in a new way.  She was impressed, or as much as she could be in her
increasingly drunken state.  Seeing this, Shelly got a sly smirk on her
face.

   "So -- if you and Don ever do get together, I assume I can join you for
a threesome?"

   The rest of the juice was out of the pitcher and over her head before
the sentence was even finished.



   Chapter 8



   "This," Lessa said, "is my plan for the attack."

   The four teens who had come to rule the ship over the past month and a
half stood around the table in the conference room.  Lessa stood at one
end, dressed, as she usually was at these meetings, in combat fatigues. 
They were new ones of somewhat her own design, a cross between the usual
Rebel and Federation gear, and others were starting to copy them.  If there
was an official "mission" uniform this dark brown, loose but form fitting
outfit was it.  Some wondered why the sixteen year old kept wearing the
black and red rope braid on her shoulder, a sign of rather unthinkable
actions in the name of the Federation, but for her it was a continual
reminder of who she had been, and who she could be again if the situation
demanded it.  A threat, then, as it were.

   Opposite her was Don, looking intensely at the holographic map between
them.  His outfit, to her amusement, never changed.  He wore the same
battered Rebel uniform he had when she first saw him, patched and repaired
as if they were still outcasts in the forests of Faranth -- with that
stupid necklace.  Ah, the necklace.  Just once, she told herself in her
more emotional moments, she wanted him to look at her and touch her the
same way he did that hunk of metal.  At other times she just wanted to rip
the thing off his neck and toss it into the sun.  He honestly didn't seem
to give a fuck about anything else.  Don looked up, waiting for her to go
on.  Lessa blushed slightly and looked back down at her notes.

   Sean and Kine, standing between them on opposite sides of the table,
just looked at each other and shook their heads.  Both now had partners to
help relieve their sexual tensions, so found the various crushes, love
triangles and quadrangles amusing.  So long as they didn't get in the way
of what had to be done.

   "Your plan?" Kine prompted, giving Lessa a sly grin.  She tossed him a
glance that told him to fuck off, but such threats were never taken
seriously now among this group.  Not that he had ever done so anyways.

   "The plan," Lessa continued.  She found the image she wanted and
displayed a reconstruction of the slaver camp from their last, failed,
mission.  "The active camp is located in the forests of the continent
Jahova on Baal, a good three hundred klicks from any settlements.  We have
no real way of reconning the place, as the Rebs do have some defenses in
the area and we don't want to provoke them any more than needed, so we're
going to just assume it's about the same as the first camp."

   Sean raised an eyebrow at her.

   "You're shitting me."

   She shook her head.

   "We can recon if you like, but getting someone in and out will be risky
enough without having to do it twice.  What good will it be to get a good
look at the camp only to be unable to ever return?" Sean just shook his
head at that and looked back down at the display.  He hated unneeded risks.
She went on.

   "The raid will take two days." They all looked up, at bit shocked at
that.  "We will start by using all three shuttles to land three bands of
troops at these three locations." She scaled the map back to show the
larger area around the camp.  "They will be a day's march from the camp,
and with luck won't be noticed.  We can come in low enough to not be seen
on their scanners." Kine and Sean exchanged another glance.  "The shuttles
will stay on the ground while each group makes their way towards the camp.
Two groups will have eight soldiers each, the third will contain me, Kine,
Sean, and Irene."

   "Irene?" Kine asked.  "Why her?"

   "She's the best we have at electronics.  Gonna need her once we get to
the camp if we come against certain locks, and maybe before if there are
sensors in the forest but I don't think that'll be an issue."

   "Really?" Sean asked.  He was starting to get amused at this entire
plan. Trust a woman to come up with something this silly.  Lessa met his
gaze.

   "Yes, really.  With all the animals, the amount of false alarms they'd
be getting --"

   "Animals?!?" Now Sean knew she wasn't serious about this, and his
disbelief was clear on his face.  Lessa just sighed, the sigh of one
dealing with idiots you cannot, yet, have the pleasure of gutting and
killing.

   "Yes, animals.  Are you that stupid?  Baal was one of the planets with
an ecosystem on it when it was colonized, and most of the life managed to
survive the tweaks to the atmosphere.  There are some rather large
creatures in the uninhabited forests, and given that the slavers seem to be
using distance as their primary defense I'm going to reasonably assume they
haven't gone and put in the effort to wipe them out of the area just so
they can put in some sensors that won't give off false alarms twenty times
a night."

   Sean did a quick search of his own on his pad, the surprise when it
turned out she was right clear on his face.  Never one to apologize, he
just shrugged and nodded for her to continue.  Lessa saw the slight smile
on Don's face, and her cheeks flushed again.

   "So!  All three groups will make their way towards the target, stopping
to rest about three klicks from the camp.  My group will make the first
move." She brought back the map of the camp.  "About three hours after
midnight, the four of us will enter the camp.  If we can't -- we abort."
Don looked up at her and nodded.

   "You're to abort at any setback that might risk everyone.  We are NOT
suiciding over this." Don's gaze went from person to person, and all three
nodded.  "Continue."

   "We THINK we know where the slaves are kept, but we're not sure,
naturally.  Our job will be to find them, see how many we're dealing with
and their condition, then set a beacon in that building and wait.  That'll
be the signal for phase two." She hit some keys and the view changed.  "The
other two bands will have taken position on either side of camp just at the
tree line.  Once the beacon is on, the three shuttles will launch and come
in for a low level bombing attack that hits every building and defensive
structure EXCEPT the one we're in.  We hope." She grinned at that, and both
Kine and Sean joined her.  They had all been on the receiving end of
friendly fire before.

   "So.  Once the bombing starts our troops will also fire from the woods,
sowing as much confusion as possible.  Let them think this is a huge
attack. After two bombing runs, one of us will toss another beacon in a
clear space next to the building we're in and one of the empty shuttles
will land and we'll get as many of the slaves on board as possible.  If
they won't all fit -- either I'll call in another shuttle, if we think the
defenses are down enough, or we'll make our way into the woods with them
and get picked up later.  Either way we'll signal a withdrawal and everyone
pulls back to the original landing zones for a pickup."

   She stopped, and looked over at Don.  He was going over it in his mind,
and she bit her lower lip hoping he approved.  She had worked hard on this,
trying to find something that had a chance with their limited information
and resources.  She wasn't a planner, though.  At least, she did her best
work when bullets were whizzing by her head and death was grinning from his
perch on a nearby rock.

   "What if we don't need the attack?"

   Lessa looked startled.

   "What?"

   "What if," Don said, "you four manage to literally walk into the camp
and think you can walk out with everyone without a shot being fired.  I
mean," he gestured at the map, "you're assuming you can just waltz in
anyway.  If there's only a couple guards and you've taken them out silently
enough --"

   Kine nodded.

   "We should be ready for that possibility.  It could be that easy --
afterwards we'll still hit and level the camp, naturally."

   "Naturally," said Don.  "And given we don't know the numbers we're
dealing with, maybe have an option for two shuttles to land in the first
place for the rescued prisoners?" He looked over at Lessa.  "This is a good
start.  Now we just have to refine it a bit."

   As they tore her plan apart over the next hour, "refine" was not the
word her increasingly battered ego wanted to use.



   ****



   Ger was in the shuttle bay.

   He was always in the shuttle bay.  There were times he was tempted to
just drag a cot down there, but it wasn't like he couldn't get to his cabin
in just a couple minutes so he figured in the end it would just be
considered him making a statement.  Him showing off his dedication to his
job.  And -- they'd be right.

   Wiping his hands on his shirt, Ger looked at the disassembled thruster
pod on front of him.  The fact that it didn't look much different than any
of the machines and engines he had worked on back home continued to amaze
him.  He was working on a space ship, for goodness sake!  There should be
some difference between it and a truck, apart from the size and complexity
of the parts!  But his hands were just as greasy, his muscles just as
strained.  And his anxiety just as high.

   Lives depended on him.

   They had three shuttles, none of them new.  For the past month they had
been in constant use, often going in and out of atmospheres.  Yes, they had
been built for this, but they had also been built to have a large support
crew working on them between missions.  That it was just Ger and three
others, with help from those assigned to engineering when there was time
and need -- he shook his head.  There he went again, feeling pity for
himself.  As if others weren't working themselves to death as well to get
things ready.

   And, really, it wasn't that bad.  They kept one shuttle out of service
at a time, rotating them in and out to keep the work load reasonable.  Only
having to get all three in top shape in three days was keeping him up
nights.  And days.  Maybe he should bring that cot down --

   "Ger?"

   He swung his head to see the source of the female voice.

   It was Mel.

   Ger started to scramble to his feet, but the tall teen motioned him to
stay seated, giving him a sad smile.  She pulled up a box, sitting with a
slow grace.  She was wearing a thin dark red dress, and Ger once again
realized how pretty the small breasted woman could be when she put her mind
to it.  Her long limbs were tanned and strong, her face a bit more angular
than he liked, but still pretty when she wasn't shouting insults at him. 
Only the stupid way she kept her hair -- it was then it struck him.

   She was bald.

   Noticing his reaction, Mel, nodded in acknowledgment.

   "It's -- well, it's hard to say it's a tradition when I'm the only one
to do it and it's only the second time." She gave another sad smile.  "I
didn't have a real family when I grew up in the streets of NuHavon.  I did,
however, have two friends who were closer to me than brothers: Ken -- and
Cris.  When Cris died in the siege -- I cut off half my hair as I had lost
half of my world.  Now that Ken is gone --" She reached up and ran her
right hand over her shaved head.  "Everyone probably just thought I was
crazy."

   "Who here isn't?" Ger replied.  He cocked his head at her, debating how
to proceed, then just added, "You're pretty."

   "Thank you."

   Mel lowered her head, as if having her own inner debate.  She looked up
at the grease covered boy.

   "I'm -- I have to apologize to you, Ger." He looked at her, startled. 
"Ken and I never treated you well.  I know that what sides we were on in
past lives never mattered, but we still --"

   Ger reached out and touched her bare knee, feeling that unique
combination of the smooth skin of a young woman and the healed scars of a
warrior.

   "It's OK.  There's no reason we ALL have to get along.  And, well --
your occasional disdain probably helped me be more realistic about things."

   Mel looked down at his hand.  She then looked up at him, and some of her
old anger and disdain crept back into her face.  Ger yanked his hand back,
as if her skin had suddenly become white hot and covered in razors.  She
gave a chuckle and stood, giving the shuttle beside them a long look.

   "You're flying one of the shuttles again, I take it?" He nodded.  "Good.
I -- I trust you." With that she turned and walked away.

   Jenny walked around from the other side of the shuttle, her bare chest
streaked with sweat, oil and grime as she slipped a wrench back into her
belt.  She looked after the former redhead, hands on her hips.

   "What the hell was that all about?"

   Chuckling, Ger pushed himself to his feet.

   "Damned if I know."



   ****



   Music played, but none of the three girls were dancing.

   The Trio lay in various places around the cabin, bored.  Amanda, stuffed
bear held above her, lay on half her bed, legs hanging off.  Sirenia had
her head at the foot of the bed, legs crossing over Amanda's tummy, eyes
closed.  Wendi occupied Kine's bed.

   The bed was unmade, of course.  Sheets and blankets were just tossed to
the side, the impression of the teen's body in the wrinkled bedding still
there.  Wendi, with her eyes closed, could almost imagine he was there with
her.  Someday, she told herself.  Someday, she'd come in here alone, get in
the bed, and wait for him.  Then...

   "I assume Kine is with Miss Bitch?"

   ...then nothing, as Amanda's brother was banging a woman whose body put
all theirs to shame.

   Wendi looked over at the other bed, curious to see if Amanda was going
to rise to Sirenia's bait.  The bear took a trip into the air, falling back
into Amanda's arms.  She hugged him close.

   "I have no idea WHERE he is."

   "I don't see what he sees in her.  Irene is NOT that pretty."

   She was, actually.  Any fool could see that.  Not as beautiful, to
Wendi's eyes, as Lessa, who moved with such power and grace, but still
you'd have to be blind not to admit Irene and Kine made a good couple. 
Just...  not as good as she and Kine would be.

   "He's spending WAY too much time with her." Amanda threw the bear up
again.  Wendi kept quiet.  Sirenia didn't.

   "You have to tell him.  Tell him to dump that bitch, and..."

   Amanda sat up, bear forgotten, grabbing the bare legs in her lap.

   "And what, that you want him?"

   "No!"

   With an evil laugh, Amanda pushed Sirenia's legs off her, their weight
almost taking the rest of Sirenia with them.  She struggled to sit up as
Amanda taunted her.

   "Sirenia loves Kine!"

   "No!  Not Kine!  Yuck!" Wendi kept quiet, just happy to see that
competition was no longer there.

   "Who then?  Rich?  Villa?  Ger?"

   There was silence.  Wendi sat up, eyes wide at her red haired friend. 
She put her hands to her mouth, in mock shock at the guilty look in
Sirenia's eyes.

   "You love GER?  EWW!!!"

   "Gods, Sirenia!  He's always covered in grease!" Amanda threw the bear
at her.  "You'd get all greasy!  I don't want a greasy friend!" Sirenia
threw the bear back.  Reaching around behind her, Wendi grabbed Kine's
pillow and launched it at the two on the other bed.

   Boredom was forgotten.



   ****



   Kine lay back on Irene's bed, content, gazing up at the ceiling he had
become very familiar with.  He had contemplated once putting a video screen
or something up there to make the after sex cuddles more entertaining, but
figured that might piss Irene off.  Not that it took much to do that
anyway. He felt her fingers lightly tracing patterns over his skin.  He let
his head flop over to see her propped up on her side next to him.  Her face
was somewhat pensive, and seeing she had his attention she gave a slight
smile, leaning down for a kiss.  It was brief, and sweet, nothing like
their energetic activities of the past half hour.  She raised her head
again, the look still there.

   "Why can't you just move in here with me?"

   Kine let out a groan, eyes returning to the ceiling as he brought his
hands up to his face to rub his eyes.

   "Not this again.  Look, Irene, I have to stay with my sister, OK? 
That's not open to debate.  Unless you want to sleep with me with Amanda
two meters away, which I don't think is either of our kinks, we'll just
keep meeting here when the mood strikes.  It's not like we live on
different sides of a city or something." He looked at her again, hoping
this would settle matters, but it was clear she had decided this was a time
for conversation.  Sighing, he sat up and slid back so he was leaning
against the headboard.  Irene sat up cross legged next to him, her limbs
folding with a natural grace that he still thought was sexy as hell.  She
seemed to be composing herself, for some reason, finally reaching out a
hand to touch his heart.  She looked into his eyes.

   "I love you, Kine."

   His eyes widened.  This -- wasn't sex talk.  She --

   That hesitation was all the answer the teen needed.  Irene's shoulders
slumped, and she gave a sad, wistful smile as her fingers ran through the
few light blond hairs on his chest.  Kine brought his hands up to capture
hers, bringing it up to his lips for a kiss.  Her eyes lit up.

   "I don't want to be without you, Irene.  I don't know if it's love, and
I'm not one to just use that term willy nilly."

   "Willy nilly?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and cocking her head. 
"Once again proof you spend too much time with that twelve year old."

   Irene suddenly felt the pressure on her hand increase, almost to the
point of pain, and Kine's eyes hardened.  All traces of affection, let
alone 'love', were gone.

   "Never," he said, looking straight into her soul, "ask me to choose
between Amanda and you.  Never.  The answer is not one that you want to
hear, and it will never change." Letting go of her hand he swung his legs
over onto the floor and stood up, glancing around for his clothes.  She
just sat there silently, admiring once more his lean, muscled form.  When
he was dressed, Kine stood in the middle of the room looking at her.  Irene
seemed so small, sitting nude on that bed, shoulders slumped.  His heart
just ached to see it.  Reaching out his hand he beckoned to her, and with a
graceful leap she was up in his embrace.

   "I still never want to be without you, Irene.  Always know that.  Maybe
-- after this mission, you, Amanda, and I can have a long talk together."
Irene pulled back and looked into his eyes with happy adoration, bringing
her hands up to cup his face for a long, lingering kiss.  Gently taking her
hands in his and stepping back a bit, Kine chuckled.  "I have a feeling,
knowing my sister, that meeting will be more dangerous for you than this
attack."

   Irene gave a wicked chuckle, and flexed her fingers like claws.

   "Oh, I'm ready."

   With one more grinning look at his nude lover, Kine raised a hand to her
and left the cabin.  The room suddenly felt much colder to Irene, and she
wrapped her arms around herself as she stared at the closed door.

   "I'm ready...  to have your children, my love --"



   ****



   Don sat in the captain's chair on the bridge.  It was the midnight
shift, but time meant little when sleep wouldn't come.  He had told Villa
to take the night off, let him command the watch.  He needed time to think.
Well -- that wasn't really true.  He needed time to think about the future,
not the past as his mind usually insisted on.  His brain was so
uncooperative most of the time, seeming to want to drive him into suicidal
depression.  There were times he just wanted to be able to hit it, to make
it stop.  Or shoot it, but that he had quickly realized with a chuckle was
probably what the suicidal thing wanted, so wouldn't, in fact, solve the
problem.  Or, rather, it would solve it but not in a self preservation kind
of way.

   He looked around the bridge.  It always seemed so empty.  The three
others down below, entertaining themselves as the sensors swept space
around them, were almost lost in the rows of consoles and control stations.
Don could almost pretend he was alone here, gazing into the large
holographic sphere of space that dominated the bridge.  Just him, the ship
-- and Cynthia.

   Why wouldn't her spirit just leave him alone?

   Don saw movement down below, and Lessa's form moved onto the bridge.  He
gave an exasperated sigh.  Lessa.  Oh, he liked her well enough.  She was
smart, witty, and pretty he supposed.  He actually enjoyed it when they
walked through a city together doing some task or another, and had to admit
it was one of the highlights of his recent life.

   Why, then, did she have to try and make it something more?

   Lessa was walking up the steps towards him, a slight blush on her
cheeks, which was almost always there nowadays whenever Don saw her.  He
had no idea what the problem was, but figured she was the medic so if it
was serious she could treat it herself.  Her expression, as she came to
stand before him , was serious, and he was glad of that.

   "Everything's ready for tomorrow," she said, standing with her hands
behind her back and legs slightly apart.  Don had to give an amused smile
at that, and realizing what she was doing Lessa gave a wry grin in return.

   "How did you know I would be up?" he asked.  She cocked her head at him.

   "I just knew." She paused, as if mentally trying to go over anything she
needed to relay to her commander.  "We've taken an inventory of clothing on
board, so our guests should be able to be clothed without much problem once
they're here.  The fashion sense of some of these kids, though --" Lessa
shuddered, causing Don to smile as he shook his head in sympathy.

   "You should get some sleep, Lessa."

   She nodded.

   "I should, but I usually don't.  I'll have time to rest afterwards."
With that she sat down on top of the stairway, looking out over the bridge.
Don was startled, but she didn't try to talk to him.  She just sat there,
silently.  After awhile, Don went back to his own thoughts.

   They were both alone, together.



   Chapter 9



   Lessa slowly crept up to the break in the trees.

   It was dark.  No lights in the buildings, nothing lighting up the
exteriors, or the landing pad, the fence -- nothing.  Lessa motioned for
the others to come up next to her, frowning.  Was it even still active? 
Was THIS the abandoned camp, and the one they blew up --?  She stopped that
thought.  No -- hands going to her neck, Lessa brought the night vision
goggles up to her eyes.  She hated actually wearing the fuckers, but they
had their uses.  Ah, NOW she could see the lights.  Still not many, and
mostly placed to make them hard to see from the air, but there were some.
Satisfied, she looked over at Kine.

   Kine had his own goggles on, marking the sentries.  There were four
short towers on the corners of the perimeter, with one guard in each.  None
seemed to be paying much attention, and he couldn't say he blamed them. 
Only a fool would travel through the forest, and any attack from the air
would either be detected by radar or -- well, not detected.  The point was
the poor guards wouldn't be any good in that situation anyway.  He looked
at the others.

   "Well?"

   "I don't see any ground trip alarms," Irene commented.  "This could be
easy."

   "I say we take out the guard nearest us," Sean said, attaching a scope
to his rifle.  "The one in the opposite corner already seems to be napping,
so one more doing so might not be noticed.  If we try all four, there's
more chance one will cry out or thud to the ground." Lessa nodded, and
checked her watch.

   "The others should be in position soon.  We don't want to leave them
just sitting there any longer then we have to." She looked at Sean.  "Do
it."

   Sean crept forward a bit, finding a comfortable spot.  Raising the
rifle, he started taking long breaths.  In, out -- in, out -- on the exhale
the sight steadied on the adult's head.  He fired.  The slight muffled
sound next to his ear was followed a moment later by the figure on the
tower crumpling out of sight.  He quickly swung the scope at the other
towers, finger on the trigger.  Nothing.  Sean unwrapped his arm from the
sling, removed the scope, and stowed the rifle on his back.

   Eyes on the other towers, Lessa waited until she was sure their
attention was elsewhere and motioned them forward.

   The four broke from the tree line and ran across the open field.  The
night was as dark as any on this world got, with only two of the moons
visible and each at less than a quarter illumination.  They still cast
shadows as they ran, but within moments were hidden in the shadow of the
closest building and out of sight of the still manned towers.

   The camp was composed of a series of long, one story buildings.  It had
been designed to not exactly be hidden from aerial detection, but to not
call attention to itself.  The largest structure, probably holding whatever
command functions they needed, ran along the northern edge of the camp. 
The other buildings ran east-west in three rows, the southern boundary
marked by a small, empty, landing pad.  Kine glanced around from their new
position on the southwest corner of the camp, goggles still on, and gave a
slight curse.

   "There's a road into the forest by the northwest tower." Lessa swung her
view over, and biting her lip nodded.

   "So, the pad isn't their only line of communication -- doesn't matter."
She noticed a series of trucks parked at that end, marking the number in
her head, then turned to Sean.  "Which building do we try first?"

   Sean led them around the structure, hugging the wall, until they were in
sight of the inner line of buildings.  Kine kept an eye on the southeast
tower, but could literally see the guard sleeping.  Sean motioned, and
dropping to their knees they peered around the corner.

   In the very center of the camp was a long building with no windows.  No
-- it had windows, Lessa saw.  They were long, thin horizontal slits
running near the top of the walls.  Just the thing for prisoners.  Lessa
motioned with her hands and the four made the dash across the wide road. 
They quickly made their way around to the eastern side of the building and
found the door.  Lessa stepped back, waving Irene in.

   Irene pulled out a small box with wires hanging from it.  Lessa noticed
that the wires, rather than being different colors, had shapes molded into
the plastic casings so they could be identified in the dark.  Irene
examined the door handle and lock, giving the keypad a dismissive glance,
then moved two wire leads towards the handle.  A thin bolt of electricity
shot out from them, all four teens feeling the static charge in the air. 
There was a puff of smoke, and a click from the door latch.  Irene quickly
put the box back on her belt and drew her sidearm.  With Kine and Sean
keeping their eyes on the rest of the camp, Lessa threw the door open and
jumped in with Irene.

   The first room was dark and empty.  It was obviously the guard area,
with a desk, a few chairs, a locked gun cabinet, and a terminal.  Behind it
was a marked door leading to bathrooms.  To the right ran a long hallway,
with a half dozen doors per side.  It looked like the right place.

   "In", Lessa whispered.  Sean and Kine quickly entered, closing the outer
door.  She moved over to the restroom door, glanced inside, and signaled
all clear.  Kine and Sean eased over in front of the first hallway door. 
It had a window, and in the dim moonlight they could see three small naked
forms sleeping on a thin mattress.  Crossing to the other side they saw two
older nude teen boys sleeping, arms around each other.  Kine turned to Sean
and nodded.  Irene came up to them, having found the keys hanging from a
hook.  Getting the final nod from Lessa, she unlocked the door.

   The two boys were awake instantly.  The sound of locks had probably
ruled their lives for the past year, instilling fear them.  Lessa entered
the cell, holding a faint light illuminating her face.  She knelt a meter
from the two cowering teens.

   "Shhh -- it's OK.  We're here to save you." They looked at her
uncomprehending, and taking in the sight of them Lessa's anger grew.  They
were maybe fifteen, but their bodies were thin and obviously
undernourished. There were various bruises on their bodies, and the look in
their eyes was -- she had seen that look, many, many times.  Lessa opened
her canteen and offered it.  The largest, black haired, slowly leaned
forward, hand tentatively taking it., He took a long sip, eyes never
leaving hers.  His companion clung to him, shaking, and with one hand
rubbing his back in comfort the older boy whispered encouragement.  Holding
the canteen up to his friend's lips, he convinced him to drank the cool
water as well.  He then handed the flask back to Lessa.

   "Thank -- thank you."

   Lessa nodded.

   "We're here to rescue everyone we can, but we need your help.  How many
are in this building?"

   The boy disengaged his arm from his companion, sitting up straight, legs
folded on the mat.  She noticed his genitals, though soft, were rather
large.  His mind coming awake, he licked his lips and thought.

   "There's -- maybe twenty eight of us?" His voice was unsure.  Sean let
out a soft "fuck!", quickly exiting the cell.  Lessa could sense him moving
over to the main door and opening it a crack, making sure all was well.

   "How many adults are there here?  How many guards?" Lessa didn't want to
rush the boy, but time was going by fast.  He looked at the ground and
thought.

   "Well -- it will depend on if the soldiers stayed or left last night."

   "Soldiers?!" Kine was suddenly in the cell, on one knee next to Lessa.
The boy looked up, becoming, if anything, less frightened.

   "Yes.  They -- brought in the new batch of kids now that we're used up.
They -- I think the next time the cameras roll on us will be the last --"

   Lessa closed her eyes.  They had acquired quite a collection of the
violent videos as they had gathered information.  The things done to these
kids, by both men and women, the violating of helpless boys and girls --
what had shocked her the most was the "Life Of" series.  Literally, a
record of everything done to a particular kid, from when they were first
brought in, healthy and frightened, to -- when, beaten and lifeless, they
were killed -- human beings BOUGHT these monstrosities!

   Kine, however, focused on the important words he'd spoken.

   "There's another slave barracks?"

   The boy pointed towards the northwest.  Irene raced into the guard room
bathroom and climbed up on the toilet to get a look out the high window
slit.  She was back in a moment.

   "Long building by the guard tower, the one with trucks parked by it. 
There's a loading dock on this end."

   Kine looked like he was getting a very bad feeling about this.  Lessa
knew she was.  He looked up at Irene, her expression mirroring his.

   "How many kids there?  How many guards?"

   "Probably -- 20-30 new kids?  It's one big cell in there, not like
here." The boy was now awake and excited.  He was ready to help in any way
possible.  "There are...  maybe 25 adults here normally?  I think ten or so
soldiers came in the trucks with the kids."

   Lessa stood, followed by Kine.  The two naked boys also got to their
feet, the smaller one still clinging to the other.  Lessa thought.  Time
was running out --

   "OK.  Here's the plan." Sean came over.  "Sean, you stay here.  Let all
the kids out, explain the best you can.  In ten minutes, or earlier if you
have reason, turn on your beacon.  Once the attack starts call in a shuttle
to land and get all you can onto it.  Keep the most healthy with you and
try to get back to the forest with them." He nodded.  "The rest of us will
go to the other barracks.  Got it?" They all nodded, and she held out her
hand.  His larger brown hand shook her firm tan one, and they looked in
each other's eyes.  Then he was out in the hallway with the keys, Lessa
quickly leading the other two out of the building.



   ****



   Holand watched as the dark skinned teen went down the row of cells,
unlocking them.  Free...  he was going to be free.  He wasn't even sure
what the word meant.  Paul was practically clinging to his side, shaking.
He put an arm around the kid.  For days, weeks, he had been telling him
everything was going to be OK, that there was a light at the end of this.
He no longer felt like a liar.

   "Is your plan going to work?"

   The stranger didn't ignore Holand's pointless question, as he expected.
Neither did he turn to reassure him.  Instead, the man just opened another
door.

   "Does it really matter to you at this point?"

   No.  No it didn't.  Nodding, Holand entered the nearest cell and woke
the sleeping slaves.  They would be free, one way or another.



   ****



   The first thing they noticed was the stench.

   The first cell block had been full of clean, if not healthy, prisoners
who had to be kept ready for the cameras.  This building was full of
frightened, mostly naked, freshly captured creatures kept alive by their
captors and not much more.  They hadn't yet had a hose turned on them for
cleaning, and water was scarce enough for drinking the kids never even
considered wasting any on such a luxury themselves.  Many had been forced
to piss and shit on the cell floor.

   Lessa took all this in, as well as the fact that once again there were
no guards.  Lucky -- although by now she really wanted an excuse to gut and
kill someone- in that order.  Many of the kids were not asleep, the horror
of the place keeping them from that peace.  The entrance of the three teens
startled them, most rising to their feet as the trio burst in.  Kine closed
the door behind them, keeping it open a crack as he keep an eye on the main
building.  Lessa quickly went up to the bars dividing the building in half
while Irene searched for the keys.  A little filthy blond girl ran up to
the iron door, eyes alight.

   "Did my Daddy send you?!?  Is Daddy with you!?!" A teen girl grabbed her
by the shoulders and pulled her back, watching Lessa with wary, tired eyes.
She shushed the excited girl, then spoke.

   "Who are you?"

   "Rescuers who are really pressed for time.  Questions later." Irene came
back with the key, the kids stepping away from the bars in subconscious
fear as she opened the cage door.  The nude teen was going to speak again
when suddenly they heard the sound of gunfire outside.

   "Fuck!" Lessa ran over to Kine at the door, and as the sound of a
general alarm started to sound she began cursing as well.  The northeastern
guard tower was firing into the woods, round about where half of their
friends should be located.  Lessa's hand darted into her pouch.  Pulling
out a metal puck, she flipped a switch on it, then tossed it into the
middle of the room.

   "OK, change of plans!  Everyone, gather around me!  Kine, watch the
door!" She quickly moved to the middle of the room.  The prisoners stayed
on the other side of the bars.  She mentally cursed, turning to them "In a
few minutes, gods willing, you'll hear lots of explosions outside.  Don't
panic!  That's our friends giving us covering fire!"

   "Tower guard has been taken out!" Kine hissed from the doorway.

   "After giving them a couple minutes to blow lots of evil slavers up,"
Lessa continued, "we're going to blow a hole in --." She looked around, and
pointed.  " -- that wall.  We'll lead you out, and you're to run to the
woods as fast as you can!  We'll have some friends there to meet you. 
Don't stop until you get to the woods!  Understand?"

   "I want mommy!"

   The cry was pitiful, and a couple others started to cry.  Lessa did not
have TIME for this -- she looked at the one teen girl from before.  She
seemed older.

   "You're leader.  Get them organized!" She moved away from the crowd,
only half noticing the girl quickly getting other older kids to help. 
Irene slid over to Lessa, having examined the wall in question.

   "It won't take much.  In fact, the problem will be not blowing up the
entire building." Lessa pulled out a pack of explosives and handed it to
Irene.  With a nod, she got to work.

   The sound of explosions startled everybody.  They seemed to come from
all around, rattling the poorly constructed prison.  Kine quickly shut the
door, as rocks and dirt pelted the building at high speed.  They could hear
screams, and shouted orders.  Kine spoke, eyes still out the door.

   "Men just started pouring out of the main building.  Be ready in case
some seek shelter in here." His gun was drawn.

   They waited, as a second round of explosions sounded outside.  Then a
third, weaker, followed by the sound of machine guns and lasers.  Lessa
gave the order.

   "Blow it!"

   Three meters of wall vanished in bang.  Lessa leapt through while the
sound still rang in their ears.

   "Go!"

   She bolted for the tree line, her eyes immediately marking the nearest
guard tower.  It was gone, just a pile of burnt wood.  She looked back and
saw naked kids pouring out of the building, running in terror.  Looking
beyond them, she saw the top of one of their shuttles sticking out above
the roofline of the first barracks.  The top turret was letting go with a
steady stream of fire towards the front of the camp.  Lessa glanced forward
again, making sure of her path, before turning again to look back just as
the shuttle began to lift.  Her heart lifted as well.  They were gonna --

   The shuttle had started to bank towards the west as it rose, just
clearing the building tops, when a streak shot out from the ground, seeming
to pass...  through the shuttle.

   Fire shot out the cockpit windows a half breath later.

   It continued to bank, burning, no longer controlled --

   Heading right for them.

   "RUN!!!!!!!"

   Lessa turned and sprinted.  She could hear it.  The whistling of
something big coming down.  Even if it was just her imagination, what was
coming was still all too real.

   Her mind went blank.  It always did, at times like this.  No thought. 
No emotion.  The Other took over.  The Other that had survived so many
battles, had taken so many lives.  It forced her feet faster.  She could do
this.  Would do this.  Lessa would survive.  She'd always survive, no
matter the cost...

   The shuttle crashed onto the southern half of the slave pen, flaming
hulk rolling towards the forest.

   The screams were sudden and short.

   Lessa heard three loud crashes, then an explosion, her shadow cast long
before her.  She reached the tree line, grabbed a trunk, and spun herself
around, dropping to a knee before looking back.

   Three slaves were in front of her, the teen girl and two younger ones
she was pulling by the arms.  Five meters behind her was Kine, holding a
toddler while dragging a young boy with him.

   And --.  that was it.

   Behind them was fire.  Burning wreckage.  And...  the smell -- oh, god,
the smell.  Never had she wanted to smell that again...

   The mental Other slapped her.  As well it should.

   Kine reached her, put the kid on the ground, then spun.  His eyes
widened in horror.

   "Irene!"

   He started to move back towards the fireball, but Lessa reached up and
grabbed his arm.

   "You know --" He looked down at her firm grip, then into her eyes.  He
saw.  Saw the Other, looking back.  Saw the truth reflected in those eyes.
The truth that would never bide being ignored.  Breaking his gaze away,
Kine collapsed onto both knees.

   There was movement in the trees,.  In the flickering light, Lessa saw
their eight companions hurrying over.  Blond haired Darren was in the lead,
and he practically skidded to a stop in from of Lessa, face one of shock,
horror.  Lessa forced herself to her feet.

   "If you guys saw a shuttle sized clearing anywhere nearby, let's get
there and evac.  Fuck the plan."



   ****



   Lessa stepped off the shuttle into a scene of utter despair.

   The other shuttle had reached the Liberty first.  It's hull was
blackened with soot, small arms damage pitting its nose.  Four thin naked
boys were seated on the deck near it, being looked at by Bell.  Bella was
tending to Sean's arm, and Lessa's spirits lifted a little at that.  Next
to him, however, were two bodies covered with sheets, and two other of
their number were getting patched up.  The four unwounded from that squad,
including Mel she saw, just sat on the ground, still stunned.  She saw Ger
walking around the shuttle, going over the damage.

   Behind her, the eight members of the second squad helped the five freed
slaves off her shuttle.  They had yet to have accepted the idea of slavery,
and now suddenly were in space far from home.  She had no idea what could
be going through their minds.  Kine was the last one out, pausing in the
doorway to look around before stepping down.

   As Kine's feet hit the deck Amanda came flying across the room, plowing
into him.  He held her tight, his tears matching hers, as the two made
their way to a quiet place out of the way.  Their path took them past
Shelly.

   Lessa's best friend was sitting on a overturned cart in the middle of
the bay.  Her eyes were wide, darting from one returning band of "rescuers"
to another.  Her lips were trembling, hands clenching and unclenching.  As
tears streamed from her face, she seemed to be mumbling to herself. 
Lessa's heart broke.  She took two hesitant steps towards the grieving
girl, but on seeing Don coming up to her she stopped.

   Don's face was emotionless.  Lessa came to a tired attention
automatically.

   "What happened." It came out of Don flat, not even a question.  Lessa
just shook her head back and forth.

   "What didn't?"

   Don closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded.  Opening them
again, he saw Shelly, quickly walking over.  Leaning down, he spoke into
her ear.  Shelly sat there shocked, as Don walked away towards the
elevator, then let out a wail and began to cry into her hands.

   No -- he didn't!  Lessa's eyes followed Don out of the room.  That
fucking bastard wouldn't have!  Yes...  he would.  He so would.  Oh, she
was going to kill him.  Fucking kill him.

   Lessa moved to Shelly, one murderous eye still on the door Don had used.
She put both hands on Shelly's shoulders, leaning down to speak softly into
the crying teen's ears.

   "What did he tell you, Shelly?"

   " -- it's not my fault, it's not my fault, it's not my fault -- IT'S NOT
MY FAULT!"

   Lessa straightened.

   "That's it.  He's dead."

   She moved quickly towards the elevator, automatically checking her
sidearm, unused so far that day.  She made her way first to the second
level, then the bridge.  As soon as she appeared, Villa, in the command
chair, called down.

   "He's in his cabin."

   "No fucking shit."

   She walked past the distressed teen into the conference room, closing
the door behind her.  She looked to the right.  There was the door to Don's
cabin.

   What, exactly, was she going to do?

   Kill him, naturally.  She could feel her dark side coming to the fore.

   No, seriously, what was she planning on marching in there and doing?

   Beat the shit out of him at the very least.  She steeled herself. 
Reaching out, she touched the handle.  The door was unlocked.  She opened
it.

   The room was dark, apart from one dim light in a corner.  Don was
sitting on a stool in the middle of the floor, arms on his knees, just
looking at the wall.  He had taken his shirt off, just wearing his old
uniform pants and his necklace.  Lessa entered and closed the door behind
her.

   He gave no sign he noticed.

   "What the fuck did you say to her?"

   Lessa's voice was low, menacing.  Her fingers flexed next to her
holsters.

   He said nothing.

   Lessa took two steps towards Don.

   "Answer me, you fucking bitch.  What did you say to Shelly?"

   Don looked down at his chest, hands moving to open his locket.  Lessa
was livid.

   "Oh no you fucking don't." She drew her weapon, stepping forward until
it was pressed into the back of Don's head.  "What did you fucking say to
her to set her off like that?"

   Don showed no signs he even knew she was there, but just gave a sad,
quiet sigh.

   "I said it wasn't her fault."

   Lessa almost dropped the gun.

   "W-what?"

   "It wasn't her fault." Don's finger wiped over the young girl's picture
in the locket, almost as if the image was changing in his mind as he did
it. "She's going to think it was, naturally.  Forever.  We all do.  It's
always our fault, in the night behind our eyes."

   Lessa looked down at him, comprehension dawning.  Carefully, her fingers
slick with sweat, she gently holstered her weapon, then knelt down next to
him, placing a hand on his knee.

   "Who was she?"

   Don kept looking at the picture.  His face seemed beyond tears.

   "My little sister.  My Cynthia.  My only love.  The only one I'll ever
care for." Lessa moved her hand up to his bare shoulder, gently stroking
his arm.

   "Why, Don?  Why can't you care --" She almost said "for me", but held
back.  Don just bowed his head.

   "I couldn't protect her.  Can never protect....  I can't lose anyone
again...  if, if I let someone in -- I can't!"

   Lessa stood.  Don's head shot up, in shock, as she moved to straddle him
and sit on his lap.  Her hands sought out his, fingers forcibly
intertwining.  Shifting her body forward a bit, settling more comfortably,
she looked into his eyes.

   "Let me in -- and I'll protect you."

   Lessa leaned down.  Gently, her lips pressed to his.

   His lips were soft, dry, and Lessa could feel the heat coming off his
bare chest.  Her own clothing suddenly felt stifling.  As she shifted her
weight, she could feel him pressing between her legs.  It almost overloaded
her senses.  She pulled back her head, Don looking at her in wonder.

   "Why?" he whispered.

   "Because I love you." She lowered her head again, and felt him
hesitantly move his lips against hers.  She let go of his hands, sending
one behind his head, stroking his short brown hair, lightly caressing his
ear with her thumb.  The other hand went to his chest, gently moving over
and under his necklace.  Hands that had only killed, suddenly found new
purpose.  She could feel the Other inside her laughing, scoffing at the
very idea of affection and love.  The new Lessa ignored her, reveling in
her feelings.  Lessa licked his lips.  His mouth opened, whether in protest
or surprise who could say.  She slowly sent her tongue in on a search
mission, finding his, and soon both teens were moaning.  Don's own hands
were caressing her hair, running down her long braid.

   Lessa raised her head again and sat up.  She took off her jacket,
letting it fall to the floor.  Her gun belt followed, falling next to the
chair with a thud.  Looking Don in the eye, she reached down and pulled her
shirt up over her head.

   Her breasts were firm half moons, standing without support, and when Don
moved his hands to them they fit perfectly.  Lessa gasped, kissing him
again, forcefully, moaning into his mouth as he gently explored.  Finally
she stood, drawing him up with her.  They joined together again.

   Don pulled back.  His eyes were wild, seemingly upset at this lack of
control.

   "I --"

   "Shh --" Lessa leaned in for another kiss, but he raised a hand up to
her chest and pushed back slightly.  She looked at him, confused.

   "Lessa, I --" He closed his eyes.  "If it's not, not for forever, I
can't do this."

   Lessa traced the thin chain around his neck, and briefly held his locket
in her hand.  It felt heavy.  The weight of a lifetime was contained
inside. When his eyes opened and met hers, her soul gazed back.

   "Forever."



   ****



   Lessa moved them to the bed, and, as one, they both made love for the
first time.  As Don entered her, it was as if he was experiencing joy for
the first time.  As he climaxed into her, Lessa felt as if love itself was
filling her body.  They both collapsed onto the sheets, sweaty, exhausted,
lost in their own thoughts.



   ****

   Lessa's eyes were closed, her bare chest gently rising and falling, when
Don sat up in the bed.  He looked down at her, head shaking in wonder.  She
was so -- beautiful.  Why hadn't he seen it before?  Well, he chuckled,
part of it might have been she always had too many clothes on.  He shook
his head again, sanity somewhat returning.  He ran a hand lightly over her,
starting at those soft, firm breasts, moving down the tight muscles of her
abdomen, to the soft, curly hair and the moist treasure beyond.

   What, he thought, happens now.

   Sighing, he stood, looking around the room.  It was still pretty much as
he had found it.  He had not decorated, as others had, not tried to make
this a personal space.

   Well, Lessa had entered his personal space in more ways than one.

   Don closed his eyes.  There was only one thing he could do.  Only one
way to make this work, mentally, emotionally.  He went to a dresser and
opened up the top drawer.  The scraping sound awoke Lessa.  She sat up,
eyes seeming to take a moment to admire his nude form.

   "What is it?"

   Don turned, holding something in his hand, and returned to the bed.  He
got up on the mattress, kneeling, motioning Lessa to do the same.  She did
so, facing him.  His look was serious, and he swallowed hard.  She waited
for him to speak.  Instead he opened his hand and she saw -- another locket
and necklace.  Lessa gasped, and looked up at him.  He swallowed again.

   "It -- it was Cynthia's." He opened it.  She saw the photo of a younger
Don, not much different, apart from the bright look, the hope, in his eyes.
Tears came to her own eyes, as she realized what this meant, what Don was
offering.  She looked at him in awe.

   "We -- we'll have to find one we can put your picture in, Lessa, but,
until then --"

   He closed the locket and held the chain with both hands.  Lessa,
trembling, bowed her head.  Don reached around her, and fastened it.  Lessa
straightened, locket falling between her breasts.  Don put a hand on each
locket, pressing them against each of their chests, and Lessa, after a
moment, put her hands on his.  He looked in her eyes.

   "Together forever.  Friend to the end."

   "Together forever," she repeated, words barely adequate for what she
felt.  "Friend to the end."



   ****



   The memory came to Don, of that long ago day, of a field by a stream by
a mountain, when he heard Cynthia say those words as well.



   ****



   And, for once, the tears that came at her memory were tears of joy.



   Chapter 10



   There is a limit to how long some can withdraw into themselves, wallow
in self pity, and ignore the world around them.  For Shelly she lasted
around a quarter of an hour, sitting on the overturned cart in the middle
of the shuttle bay, seeing everything and nothing.  She had been the one to
want to rescue people.  She had wanted to risk everyone's lives in her
desire to do good.  She had gotten friends killed --

   It was the crying of the little girl that broke her out of it.  Someone
was asking for their mommy, and Shelly raised her red eyes to look over at
Lessa's shuttle.  Where was Lessa?  She didn't know.  What she did know was
a child was crying for help, and staggering to her feet Shelly moved in
that direction.

   The five survivors Lessa and Kine had returned with were sitting on
crates beside the vehicle that had saved them.  The oldest, almost an
adult, sat with a three year old boy asleep in her lap.  She wore an old
orange robe, her shoulder length blond hair tangled and filthy.  When she
looked up at Shelly, she could just see the utter exhaustion in the woman's
eyes.  Sitting on either side of her were two boys, probably around six and
eight Shelly guessed, wearing oversized t-shirts.  One of the twins --
Bella?  was looking them over as they drank something hot, the older boy
flinching as she put salve on his burned arm.  Standing off to the side was
the girl crying for her mommy.  She had curly black hair, the shirt she
wore reaching her knees.  Her eyes were clenched shut, and Shelly's heart
just broke.  She went and knelt beside the girl.

   "Shh -- hush.  What's your name?"

   The girl sniffed and opened her eyes.  Shelly lifted the bottom of the
girl's shirt up and wiped her face, giving her most friendly smile as the
girl tried to answer.

   "Ma -- Mari.  With an 'i'." She sniffed again.

   "Hello, Mari.  I'm Shelly, with two eyes, and nose, and a mouth."

   "No!" the girl said, emotions switching over to indignant frustration.
"My name has an 'i' in it!"

   "Oh, so it's one of those seeing names!"

   "Noo!  It has the LETTER I in it!"

   "I see," Shelly said, not smiling.  "So, Mari, how old are you?"

   "I'm eight.  Where's my mommy?"

   Shelly looked over at the older teen, and saw the woman's eyes meet hers
as she slowly shook her head.  She looked back at the girl.

   "She's not here.  None of us have our mommies or daddies with us."

   Mari's eyes widened.

   "NONE of you?!?" The very idea shocked the poor girl.  To not have
mommies or daddies!  It took only a moment, though, for the bright girl to
suddenly make a connection.  Her small hands shot to her mouth, as if she
was afraid speaking the words aloud would make her fears come true.

   "Then -- if I'm here -- then -- mommy -- daddy --" Shelly reached out
and pulled the girl to her as the crying began again.  She held her tight,
stroking her head and back, cooing.  Getting uncomfortable, Shelly stood
and sat on a box, pulling Mari up onto one of her knees.  Mari lay her head
on Shelly's breast, still sobbing, and Shelly began to rock.  Feeling
weight on her other leg, Shelly looked up and saw the smaller boy climbing
up into her lap as well.  The blond haired boy looked up at her as Shelly's
free arm went around him.

   "I'm Andy.  I'm five."

   "Hello, Andy!" The boy put his own head on her other breast, and Shelly
had to give a laugh at that.  He was a fast one, he was!  Even Rich had
waited a full day before pulling that one!  She squeezed both of the
children, rocking and cooing gently.  The remaining boy came over and stood
in front of Shelly, leaning forward, hands on her knees.

   "I'm Andy's brother.  Randy.  I'm seven."

   Shelly smiled at him, wishing she had more arms.  It felt so -- good to
have these kids in her lap.  Mari had stopped crying, and was drying her
eyes on Shelly's breast.  Catching some motion in the corner of her eye,
Shelly looked up and saw Sirenia coming over with a cart full of food and
drink.  The eleven year old redhead stopped in front of them and gave a
weak, weary smile.

   "Are they hungry?"

   Randy turned, his jaw almost falling to the floor as he looked at the
older girl in front of him.  She had pale, almost white, skin, covered by a
black half shirt with thin straps and a black skirt.  Her dark red hair
fell down her back in a long braid, her large green eyes gazing at him
questioningly.

   "You're pretty!" Randy blurted out.  Shelly chuckled as red quickly rose
to Sirenia's startled face, Randy's face turning a similar shade.  Well,
that romantic pairing was settled on!  Still laughing, Shelly told Sirenia
to start stuffing food into the kids.



   ****



   Amanda just sat against the wall in her brother's arms.  They hadn't
said anything since he had left the shuttle, her joy at having him back and
his need for comfort not requiring words.  She nestled against him, Kine
gently rubbing her bare arm in reply.

   She was glad she had gotten to Kine before Irene had.  It was only right
that he find his comfort with her, his sister, and not some skanky
"girlfriend".  Then again, maybe Irene was letting her have this time with
him.  She did seem to have been trying to be nice to the girl as of late.
Maybe Amanda was too hard on her.  She could TRY and give Irene a chance --


    -- but, wasn't Irene suppose to have been on Kine's ship?

   Not moving her head, Amanda scanned the rest of the bay.  There was
Sean, over there.  Lessa she had already seen although she was now gone. 
So, where was --

   Oh, god.

   Slowly, Amanda turned her head and looked up at Kine.  His eyes were
red, although the tears had mostly stopped.  His gaze seemed to have no
focus, but sensing her he looked down and gave a weak smile.  His arm
tightened around her.

   Amanda's breathing quickened.  Oh, gods -- Irene was -- and Amanda had
wished it!  She closed her eyes.  She had wished the girl dead so she could
have her brother to herself!  And!  No -- no, she hadn't caused this.  That
was stupid.  Just like she had been stupid.  Stupid to be jealous just
because her brother also wanted a friend his own age.  It wasn't like SHE
was going to sleep with him!  He needed playmates too, just like she had
Sirenia and Wendi.  And, now --

   Amanda reached a hand up and stroked her brother's cheek.

   "Oh, Kine -- did -- did you love her?"

   Knowing nothing of his little sister's inner turmoil, or that it had
taken her this long to discover his loss, he sighed.

   "I -- don't know.  In some ways, yes, but -- well.  She did love me,
though.  She told me, just before we left." He looked off into the distance
again.  "Nobody had ever said that before.  Not and meant it the way she
did, that is."

   "I love you." Amanda said it softly, and Kine looked down at her and
smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

   "And I love you."

   A slight shadow covered them, both looking up to see Mel standing a
meter away.  Her brown fatigues had dark read splotches on them, although
she looked unharmed, and her shaved head almost sparkled from the lights
reflecting off the sweat.  She was giving Kine a nervous, uncertain look.

   "Are you doing OK, Kine?"

   "Yeah --" He sighed, and banged his head back against the bulkhead. 
Deciding that hadn't worked, he did it again.  "I've been better,
obviously, but I'll be OK." Kine looked up and cocked his head at her. 
"What's up?"

   "Nothing," she said, quickly, shaking her head.  She brought both her
hands up, revealing three squeeze bottles.  "I was just wondering if you
two needed something to drink."

   Kine smiled, a warm smile, and reaching up took two of them, handing one
to Amanda.  He motioned to the empty space next to him on the floor.

   "Care to join us, Mel?"

   Her cheeks flushing slightly, Mel nodded and slid down next to him. 
Shoulders touching, their hands found themselves near each other.  After a
moment, their fingers touched.

   Amanda was too lost in her own thoughts to notice.



   ****



   Shelly lay in the darkness of her cabin.  She was tired.  The newcomers
were all set in their quarters for the night, well fed, bathed, and
clothed. For now the woman, Hanna she thought her name was, was with the
four kids in one room, although she hadn't been too happy about that.  They
were obviously together through accident of fate and not any emotional
ties. The four boys Sean had saved were also bunking together, and Shelly
thought at least two of them were a couple.  Understandable.  You found
comfort where you could in a place like that.

   Speaking of comfort, she hadn't seen Lessa.  Shelly had thought maybe
she'd be here in the cabin, recovering, but that wasn't so.  Didn't matter.
She had to be somewhere.  Shelly shifted on the bed, naked on top of her
sheets.  She thought of pleasuring herself, finding comfort there, but was
too emotionally drained even for that.  Too much going on for petty things
like --

   The cabin door opened, revealing Lessa.  She flipped the lights on as
she stepped inside.  Shelly sat up, shielding her eyes from the glare,
Lessa immediately apologizing and dimmed them as she closed the door. 
Shelly squinted at her friend, eyes adjusting.  There was something odd
about her.  She was carrying her jacket and gun belt for one thing.  That
was weird.  As Lessa walked over to a chair and tossed the two items into
it, Shelly saw a dim flash of gold from around her neck.  Hmm, that almost
looked like --

   Shelly's heart went cold.

   "Where have you been."

   Lessa's head jerked around at the coldness of Shelly's voice.  There was
surprise and -- worry in her face.  That told the dark haired teen all she
needed to know.  Shelly stood quickly, her breasts bouncing slightly in the
lower gravity they kept the ship at.

   "What did YOU DO!?" Shelly all but shouted.  Lessa's eyes showed
confusion, hurt, but then they hardened as she stood up straight.  She
almost thrust out her chest to show off the locket between her breasts.

   "I was with Don."

   She said it proudly.

   Shelly's face was livid.  She took a couple steps towards her friend,
not even understanding this rage but let letting it flow over and through
her.

   "How DARE you go do this hours after our friends die!"

   Lessa scoffed.

   "Um, I was THERE.  You weren't.  What the hell are you talking about?"

   "You FUCKED him!  How could you do this to ME?!" Shelly didn't notice
her choice of words, but Lessa's eyes suddenly softened.  Shelly saw this
change, despising it.  "Get the fuck out of my room!"

   "No."

   "You FUCKING whore!  Get out of my sight!"

   Shelly marched up in front of Lessa, eyes blazing, stopping just a
nipple's length away.  Lessa stood there, calmly.  She wasn't going to let
it end like this.  She wasn't going to be driven away from her friend in a
moment of rage.  She stared into those wide, hateful eyes.

   "No."

   Shelly slapped her.

   The sound reverberated through the room, but it was Shelly who staggered
back.  Lessa -- had let herself be hit.  She -- had let Shelly slap her,
without even an attempt at blocking, or dodging, or --

   "What am I doing," Shelly whispered.  A few moments ago she would have
said she was cried out for the day, but she felt tears again starting to
flow as she just looked at her love.  "Why -- why did you?"

   Suddenly, Lessa was there beside her, helping her to back peddle until
Shelly felt the bed against the back of her legs and sat down.  Lessa sat
down beside her, drawing Shelly's head down into her chest like she was a
little girl.  Which, perhaps, she was.

   It was only a few minutes before Shelly regained some of her composure.
She raised her head, grabbed a corner of her sheets to use as a tissue,
then sat up next to Lessa.  She sniffled one more time, sighing.

   "Why?"

   Lessa gave a sad smile, moving her right hand to touch Shelly's cheek.

   "There's lots of why's in that question."

   "Why him now?"

   "Because," Lessa said, her hand now cupping her friend's cheek, "I
thought he had said something to hurt you, and had gone to kill him."

   "WHAT?!?" Shelly was -- shocked.  Horrified.  Aroused.  That she'd do
that for her --

   Lessa chuckled.

   "I was having a bad day and hadn't found someone to take my anger out on
yet.  Needless to say -- once I was there I saw another side of him, one
I'd been waiting to see --" She shrugged.  "I think it's safe to say we're
a couple now."

   Shelly looked down at the locket, and Lessa reached down and opened it,
displaying the contents for her friend.

   "It was his younger sister's.  His has a picture of her in it.  He wants
to find one he can put my picture in, to wear on his chain as well --"
Shelly's face once again was full of anguish.  Lessa sighed.  "I'm sorry."

   "But I love you --"

   "But because that love will never be more than what it has been, I'm not
allowed to feel someone's touch, ever?" Lessa shook her head.  "That's not
fair, my friend."

   Shelly hung her head, and whispered.

   "I've -- tried.  I've tried to want you like that, to flip that switch
in my mind.  Why," she cried, looking up at Lessa, "did I have to be
heterosexual?!?"

   "Well, cocks ARE fun," Lessa chuckled, and Shelly burst out laughing, in
almost a cathartic release.  Shaking her head, Lessa said, "I don't think
you can change yourself, my friend, and to be honest I like you as you
are."

   "So -- what now.  Will you -- will you be with him?"

   Lessa sighed.

   "I think, tomorrow, the three of us should talk.  I don't want to lose
you, and I yes want to be with him."

   Shelly stared down at the floor in thought.  This was too sudden.  She
had never expected Lessa's crush to -- actually come to anything.  And so
fast!  Well, fast for inhuman Lessa.  Shelly wondered if she should make
sure Lessa was being responsible about this, but figured of course they
both were.  Don and Lessa were smarter than she was, so if she knew to take
precautions -- Shelly gave a self mocking laugh and looked back at her
friend.

   "Despite my comment the other day that earned me hair full of fruity
beer, if just you and I won't work then a threesome is out as well."

   "True," Lessa smiled, looking down at Shelly's ample bosom and soft
curves, "and to be honest I don't want the competition!"



   ****



   Hanna couldn't sleep.

   She had never been able to sleep in the same room as others.  Hearing
them breathing, snoring, moving -- The past week, with its series of
communal cells and body filled trucks, had been a horror.  To have to
endure the same now, when "free" -- and, was she free?

   One way to find out.

   The woman climbed out of the cot, finding the shirt and jeans that had
been provide for her.  And the male boxers- no donated panties apparently
would fit her, and the jeans looked suspiciously male.  Were there no
adults on this ship?  Sighing, Hanna dressed as well as she could in the
dim light- night lights had been left on for the four children- then softly
walked to the door.  She tried the switch -- and it slid open.  Carefully,
she stepped out into the corridor.

   That Hanna was alive was due to quick thinking, bad eyesight, and maybe
a quota.  She and her boyfriend had stumbled on a large band of refugees
who had just stopped for the night.  Glad of another male for protection,
they had welcomed them in for dinner.  The war front had reached a string
of nearby villages, and whatever parents could be spared were trying to get
the children to safety.  The food had been warm and filling, the
conversation interesting, and the sleeping bag provided to Hanna had been
much softer than the ground she was used to.  She had fallen asleep to the
sound of Derek still chatting away with their hosts.

   The slavers hit not long after nightfall, after the kids were in bed but
before the adults had either turned in or started a serious watch.  The
attackers had reached the middle of the camp before even being noticed,
their basic strategy being anyone awake, dies.  Kids were then rounded up,
sorted, and taken away to their fate.

   The rough woman who dragged Hanna out of her bag demanded her age, and
the twenty three year old replied with what was an apparently convincing
"fifteen".  Her small breasts probably sold it, despite her height and wide
hips, so she was tossed in with the lucky ones.  "Lucky".  In the days that
followed she came to wish she had just accepted her fate.  Maybe she'd now
be with Derek, or even her mother --

   But, now, she was apparently surrounded by children.  Again.

   Hanna wandered down the corridor, noting the various crew cabins.  A
number had hand written, or drawn and colored, signs.  One even had --
glitter.

   Oh, these were professionals who had rescued her.

   She found a deck plan on the wall not too far from her cabin, and noting
the location made her way to what was labeled "rec room".  She could use
some "rec".

   The door opened into a room full of couches, video screens, two pool
tables and some video games.  The lighting was low, and gazing around Hanna
saw the place was almost empty.  There were two girls sitting watching a
movie in a corner with the sound turned low, and on the other side of the
room -- was a gorgeous guy.  He was tall and lean, but muscular just the
way she liked them.  The light from the video screen he was half watching
seemed to give his dark brown skin a mysterious sheen, and his face was one
of calm reflection.

   Yum.

   Hanna looked around again.  He was alone, just watching some show about
gladiators.  Surely he'd like some company on a lonely night like this.  A
drink dispenser caught her attention, and she ambled over to it, noting the
gravity was a bit less than she was used to.  Either that, or the drinks
were affecting her much earlier than usual.  Glancing at the choices, she
found something alcoholic to sooth her nerves.  She downed a full glass,
then poured a refill and wandered over to the couch the guy was on.  It was
big enough for four, and she sat down at the far end.  The guy looked over
at her, and Hanna gave him a sultry smile.

   "Hi."

   He raised an eyebrow at her and almost -- sighed his reply as he turned
back to the screen.

   "Evening."

   Hanna looked down at herself.  Did she look THAT bad?  She took another
swig of the drink.  Time to try another tack.

   "Look, I hope I'm not disturbing you too much, but -- where the hell am
I?"

   His eyebrow raised twice as far this time, and she shook her head
laughing.

   "No, no, no, no -- I know I'm on a ship, and you guys rescued us.  And
-- thank you.  But, I mean, who ARE you guys?  You're the only other adult
I've seen, apart from maybe that Kine guy."

   Now the dark man was giving her a much closer look, one that was
starting to make her a bit worried.  He wasn't so much checking her out as
-- examining her.  He leaned forward, and was about to speak when a door
opposite where she had come in opened.  A teen male with a long blond
ponytail wearing a grease stained jumpsuit entered, immediately looking
over and calling to the man.

   "Sean!  There you are!"

   Sean was on his feet in an instant, and with a sexy smile on his face
vaulted over the couch with a grace that made Hanna wet.  He walked up to
the newcomer -- and, putting his hands on his waist, gave him a tender
kiss.

   That, Hanna thought -- was unexpected.  She didn't catch the words they
softly said to each other as they ambled out of the room, her mind still
processing the incoming data, but when the door shut she suddenly turned
and gave a hard look at the only two others in the room.  They were two
teen girls, yes -- and they were sitting together like lovers do.

   Hanna spun her head back and collapsed against the back of the couch. 
What was this place.  Then she started silently laughing.  If tomorrow she
found herself suddenly looking at female body parts the wrong way, she was
stealing a shuttle and getting the fuck off this ship.



   Chapter 11



   This was not a conversation Don had ever expected to have.

   Lessa had brought a large breakfast tray up into his quarters, and both
she and Shelly were now seated at a small table quietly breaking said fast
with him.  Don wondered what looks Lessa had gotten, acting the part of a
waitress as she walked through the bridge to get up here.  That was another
problem to add to the pile he'd have to deal with that morning.

   He looked over at Shelly, and saw that she, too, was in a thoughtful
mood.  He caught her occasionally giving him long glances as she chewed on
a bite of sausage.  When caught she didn't look away, but instead
challenged him to back off himself.  He did the same, and, finally, the
whole situation caused Don to laugh and put down his fork.  He looked over
at Lessa, who had spent the meal gazing at both of them, thinking unknown
thoughts.

   "I feel like I'm having breakfast with your mother."

   Lessa let out a laugh, smiling in a way that made his heart jump, but
Shelly just made a snort of disgust.

   "Don't blame me for how she turned out."

   "Oh, don't worry, she's nothing like you."

   Shelly's eyes narrowed, and Don held up his hand and shook his head.

   "No, no, let's not start down that road.  We have some serious things to
talk about.  We can fight over Lessa later." Shelly blushed a bit at that,
but she nodded and took a long swig of juice.  Don looked over at Lessa,
who's own cheeks were slightly red.  He wondered if his were doing the
same, and with a smile sat back in his chair.

   "What the hell are we going to do."

   "You're supposed to be smart and stuff," Shelly said, eyes twinkling,
"can't you think of anything?"

   "Oh, I've thought of lots of stuff.  Much of it involves putting my
fingers in my ears and going 'lalalalala' so I don't have to deal with
anything." He looked between them, face going serious.  "I am NOT good at
emotional, relationship stuff."

   "Who is."

   "True, but we're going to have to be unless we want things to get
seriously fucked up." He resisted the obvious joke about instead wanting to
be nicely fucked.  This wasn't the time nor the place.  Besides, someone
like him who'd only been with a girl once, and that was only hours ago,
shouldn't talk like that too much.  It was -- unseemly.

   "Look, Don --" Shelly put her elbows on the table and leaned forward. 
"I love Lessa.  I NEED her.  She's found you, OK, I -- I can deal with
that. Maybe.  It's not like I haven't been fucking around ever since we
met. But -- it's just for that reason that I don't want her to be on the
other side of the ship when I need a friend in the middle of the night."
Now Lessa really was blushing, but Shelly's eyes held Don's.  "You need to
share."

   Don looked down at the table, composing his thoughts.  It was amazing
how well rehearsed words vanished when the moment finally came.  He picked
up his glass, just to have something for his hands to do.

   "It's not like I haven't been alone for years.  I doubt one evening with
Lessa, even as wonderful as I now know she is, means I can't survive unless
she's always near me.  Besides," he said, looking over at Lessa, "loving
you scares me."

   Lessa reached over and took his hand.  He looked down as her fingers
entwined with his, long, calloused fingers, warm...  comforting... 
frightening.  He turned his gaze to Shelly.

   "See?  I -- I honestly don't know how to react to that.  It's going to
take -- awhile before I can act all sane about these things.  As much as
the horny boy in me wants her naked in my cabin every night, the realistic
somewhat sane boy in me wants to keep her as far away as possible." He
looked back over at Lessa.  "And -- I know I'm going to have to keep
sending you into danger, but the part of me that keeps mourning over
Cynthia will want to keep you safe even if it kills us all."

   Lessa squeezed his hand.

   "I won't let you be weak because of me.  Or let you keep me out of
danger."

   "Easy to say, but --" Don sighed.  He freed his hand, and sat up in his
chair.  "Well, let's deal with what we can to start with."

   "And what would that be?" Shelly asked.  The jealousy was still there,
but she was doing a reasonable job of suppressing it.

   "Well first, Lessa, while we won't bother trying to hide that we're a
couple, there's no need for you to have to go through the bridge and let
everyone know when we're getting together."

   "Um, yeah -- I was going to say something --"

   "So, you gonna move out of this cushy office?" Shelly asked, looking
around.  She had never been in here before, and was impressed.  Captains
knew how to live.

   "Nope.  But, so long as you're looking around, tell me what the one
design flaw in this cabin is.  Lessa, you too."

   The two girls turned in their chairs and looked around.  Nothing seemed
amiss.  Lessa suddenly seemed to stiffen, Don smiling as her combat
experience coming to the fore.  She swung around and looked back at Don
with an excited expression.

   "There's only one exit!"

   "Exactly!" Don said, impressed.  It had taken him a week to notice that.
"If the bridge decompresses or some such, the Captain would be stuck in
here with no way to get to the rest of the ship.  Not a good design at all,
and one no Captain would stand for." He stood up, and walked over to a
large book case over two meters tall built into the cabin wall.  He turned
back to the table.  "Come over here you two."

   Looking at each other, Lessa and Shelly stood and walked to where he
was. Don pointed to a middle shelf.

   "Lessa, I want you to pull out on that shelf.  Hard."

   Gripping with both hands, Lessa yanked -- and the entire bookcase came
forward.  Surprised, she kept pulling.  As the back of the book case came
out beyond the front of the wall, there was suddenly resistance on the
right hand side.  Lessa found herself swinging the case open like a door.
She stopped when the end of the bookcase came flush with the wall, stepping
around to look at the revealed opening.

   There was now a large indentation in the wall, a bit over a third of a
meter deep.  The back and right sides were solid, but the left side
revealed a hidden shaft with a ladder leading downward.  It had lit up as
the bookcase had swung away.  Shelly looked at Don.

   "Now THAT is cool.  Where does it go?"

   "To a cabin nobody has bothered to use yet, probably because nobody
wants to sleep right next to the bridge.  It's nice, though, more than big
enough for you two, and it wouldn't surprise me if Captains usually stashed
their snuggle bunnies in it." He looked at Lessa, smiling.  "There's no
reason I can't do the same."

   "Call me that, and I slit your throat."

   "Snuggle Bunny!" came a deep voice from the direction of Shelly.



   ****



   A couple hours later, the entire crew gathered in the main mess hall. 
Or dining room.  They really hadn't come up with a standard name for the
place yet.  The big room where eating is done.  Tables once again were
pushed against one wall to make a stage, Don standing in front of the
silent assembled kids.  He had a smaller table next to him with a mug of
fruity beer on it.  No way was he doing stuff like this totally sober
anymore.

   "Well," he said, somberly, "yesterday didn't go quite as planned." There
was a disgusted bark of laughter from Sean, seated against the right-hand
wall, and Don nodded in agreement as a general rumble went through the
crowd.  "We got our butts kicked.  Now -- it's nobody's fault.  Or it's all
our faults.  Take your pick.  We all wanted to do it, we all agreed with
the plan, and we all did our best.  Sometimes," he said, self mockingly,
"you just can't do what's right.  Nobody," he looked first at Shelly,
sitting next to Lessa near the front, then over at Sean who had in fact had
issues with the plan, "is to be singled out or punished for this fiasco. 
We will mourn our losses -- and go on living.  Like we've all been doing
since we've been born, it seems like."

   He saw most of the crowd nodding, a few in tears.  Mel was sitting next
to Kine, his arm around her as she tried to keep her composure.  Kine had
his other arm around Amanda, drawing comfort himself from her.  Don took a
drink.

   "Now, for all we did wrong, for all the gods shit on us, we did not lose
Ken, Cally, Irene, Marc and Luc for nothing.  We managed to rescue nine
from slavery and certain death.  No exchange is ever fair, no life saved is
worth more than the life taken, but I'm glad we tried and they're here with
us."

   Don saw one of the newcomers, a skinny guy sitting with three others in
the back, stand.

   "We -- the four of us, want to thank you for our lives." The teen licked
his lips as he felt everyone's gaze turn towards him.  "We were dead, in
hell, and now we are alive and free.  We have talked it over, last night,
and -- we would like to join you.  We can't replace your friends and loved
ones, and we know that some of you will hate us, just because.  We've been
in your place before.  But -- if you would have us, we would be your
brothers." The other three joined him in standing.

   Lessa suddenly stood, facing them.

   "We welcome you."

   In two's and three's the rest of the teens rose, and someone started
clapping.  Soon the sound filled the room, serious, respectful. 
Embarrassed, the four newest members of the crew nodded acknowledgment,
then sat back down.  The rest of the crowd followed, and Don's gaze went to
the other teen rescued.



   ****



   Hanna was sitting with the four children, not exactly sure what to make
of all of this.  She had asked around during breakfast, gotten a couple
versions of this group's story.  It clarified everything except what she
was going to do.  This place was not for her.  She didn't know what place
would be, but she was no soldier, that's for sure.  Neither were these four
kids, now rested and restless, but they weren't her problem.  She stood.

   "Um, my name's Hanna.  You saved me, well us, me and these kids, and I'm
grateful.  But --" she looked around.  "I honestly don't think I want to be
here.  I'm -- I'm not one of you, and I can't be.  I mean --" She sighed.
Hanna had to just let it out.  That Sean guy from last night already
probably knew, so no reason to keep it secret.  "I'm an adult.  I'm 23. 
You guys probably think all adults are evil, right?" She looked around.

   "Only the evil ones," Don said from the stage, and there was general
laughter at that.  "You're welcome to go at the first place we stop,
naturally.  We won't stop you, and we'll even give you what we can spare to
help you start over." Hanna's eyes widened at that.  "However, don't judge
us and flee that quickly.  If you have a skill, you'd be more than welcome
to stay with us.  What do you do?"

   Hanna gave Don a speculative look.

   "I've worked in a tailor's shop for a few years, so --"

   "You can SEW!?!" A teen girl jumped up in the middle of the room, eyes
alight.  "Please stay!  We'll pay you!!!"

   "Stay!  Stay!" There was a general chorus, mostly female, with a few
guys sprinkled in.  The blond boy sitting next to Sean whispered something
in his ear, Sean just rolling his eyes.  Don held up his hands and waited
for them to quiet down.  Hanna was still standing, partially in shock.

   "Like I said -- Hanna?  We don't think you're evil.  Hell, if you can
give some of these fashion fiends three outfits for the cost of one from a
planet side store they'll think you're a goddess." Hanna considered, then
smiled.

   "I do like being worshiped --"

   There was general laughter at that, and she sat down.  Don looked at the
small kids sitting around her.

   "We do have to decide, though, what we --"

   "Bridge to Don!"



   ****



   Everyone looked to the ceiling, where the message came from.  An
instinctual reaction that Don couldn't help find amusing.  Naturally, the
bridge itself wasn't in that direction.  Jumping off the table, he quickly
moved to an intercom on the wall.

   "What's up?" He spoke loudly, so the rest of the room could hear.  There
was a pause.

   "Captain -- the channels are being flooded with news.  So many rumors,
unconfirmed reports, stories --"

   "About WHAT, Villa?"

   "They've used nukes on Faranth."

   Silence.

   Then almost as one, the room was on its feet shouting.

   Their home world.

   It was one thing to leave the place you were born, to hate it with a
passion, to never want to see or hear of it again.  It is another to find
it has been harmed, that it may not be there anymore.  To discover that,
truly, you can not go home again.

   Kine walked to stand next to Don, Lessa following suit, and yelled for
quiet.  When the din lessoned somewhat, Don spoke into the intercom again.

   "What happened?"

   "It's -- it's all rumor and such now, you have to understand, and nobody
is waiting for anything to be confirmed before adding to it.  But -- what I
THINK happened is there was a large Rebel breakthrough around Ruatha, and
-- the Feds used nukes on the gap in their lines."

   "Ruatha!" It was a small quiet cry, the girl's crying amplified by the
sudden silence in the room.

   "Then," Villa went on, "it looks like the Rebels responded.  No idea
beyond that."

   Don closed his eyes.

   "Thank you.  Keep on it, and keep us on course for Kamui Station but
keep us away from any other ships." He flipped it off.

   This was bad.

   Nukes had been used before, in the past, but not for -- decades.  In
anyone's lifetime, even.  For this to happen now --



   ****



   "Ruatha!"

   Wendi's cry of despair broke Sirenia's heart more than the loss of their
home.  Sirenia had cast aside her birthplace long ago.  It had not saved
her family.  All she held allegiance to was those around her.  Her friends.
They were her family.  This was her home.  She put an arm around Wendi,
hugging her tight, whispering in her ear.

   "This is our home, Wendi.  Here.  Your friends are here.  We're your
family.  You're safe here." Safe...  Sirenia's eyes widened.  Yes.  Safe.
That's what they needed.  To be safe.  Safe from...  "Wendi, stand up!" She
got the crying girl to her feet, pulling her along towards their leaders.



   ****



   "Don."

   He turned, and saw Sirenia had walked up before him.  Wendi was with
her, clinging to the girl's side.  Amanda came up to join them, uncertain,
eyes on her friends questioningly.  The eleven year old bit her lip, then
spoke in a loud voice.

   "Don -- I say we never leave this ship."

   He looked at Sirenia in surprise.

   "Um, what?"

   "No planet is safe.  I say we all just stay and live here."

   Don gave an understanding smile.

   "We can't just stay in space.  We need supplies, to make our way --"

   "Yes," Amanda spoke up.  She was looking hard at her friends, at
Sirenia's calm face, Wendi's pleading eye.  She took a deep breath.  "But
-- maybe we can give up the idea that any planet or moon can be our home."
Kine looked at her in shock.  She smiled sadly at him, hand reaching out to
touch her friends.  "I just want to be safe, Kine.  It doesn't matter
where. I just want us to be safe -- and to have flowers.  Give me a garden,
a pretty garden --"

   Kine took his sister in his arms, as she buried her face in his chest.
Don looked around the room.

   "Sound like a good idea to everyone, for now at least?"

   It did.

   ****

   To be continued...



   Edited by SciFi Nut

   Comments more than welcome.

   invidfan@localnet.com
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