Wings of Steele - Destination Unknown (Book 1) (16 page)

The
Ketarian slowly lowered her hand weapon, a small disruptor pistol,
and let it drop to the floor. Myomerr, who had been watching out of
the corner of her eye, did likewise, with reluctance, but trusted
her partner's judgment. They were both relieved to see Jack's finger
slide off the trigger of his firearm.

Raulya
took a deep breath and then spoke. Steele found the sound of
her
voice pleasing but, of course, didn't understand the tongue, as was
the same with his companions. Raulya watched the humans exchange odd
glances and realized they must not be wearing discs.

"Myomerr,
do you have an extra disc with you?"

"Yes
Raulya, I think so."

"Take
it out and give it to me please, but do it very slowly, the
weapons
they hold are ancient by our technology but..."

"Yes,
I understand," said Myomerr, interrupting. She searched a
pouch
on her belt and produced a small plastic bag, handing it to Raulya.

"Be
very still," she explained to Myomerr, "he must trust me,
understand?"
Myomerr nodded.

Jack
had relaxed his stance but the gun remained fixed on the
tall
Ketarian, he watched her every move.

Raulya
dumped the small disc out of the plastic bag into the palm
of
her hand and held it out for him to see. It was extremely thin and
about as big around, as a watch battery. She pointed to the disc,
then to her ear, then to his ear. Jack nodded his understanding.

“
Be
careful, Jack," said Maria, "I don't trust her."

"Relax."
Jack knew if anyone was compelled to say anything at that
point,
it would, of course, have to be Maria.

Raulya
moved closer, slowly. She found the Earth man strangely
attractive
and as she got closer, his scent filled her nose, heightening her
feelings. She stared into his eyes, she couldn't remember ever
seeing eyes so deep and dark before, it gave her a chill. Raulya
noticed the man had begun to lower his weapon, she took gentle hold
of his hand and guided the muzzle of the gun between her breasts,
holding it there firmly. She had to make him understand, she was to
be trusted.

Ok,
Jack thought,
now
what?
In an answer to his unspoken question,
Raulya
took his face in her hands and turned it gently to the left. Jack
could feel her soft, warm breath on his neck and unconsciously
closed his eyes.

When
she licked behind his right ear, he shivered. Holding his face
firmly but without causing discomfort, she pressed the disc against
Jack's wet skin. There was a momentary pinch that was forgotten as
soon as she spoke softly in his ear, "Can you understand me
now?" He stiffened and his eyes grew wide with amazement.
"Good, now put your finger on it. That one is not permanent,
but it will do for now."

"
Wow...
"
he breathed.

"It's
a translator disc, you'll all get one. Listen, could we all
step
into the room? We don't want to alarm any of the guests."

Jack
holstered the stainless 1911 and ushered his group into the room,
explaining
what had transpired.

Everyone
went about introducing themselves. "I don't mean to be
rude,"
said Myomerr, "but this would all be much easier if we got you
each a translator, besides, we need to report to the bridge."

“
She's
right," said Raulya.

Jack,
Pappy, Raulya, Mike, Brian and Myomerr walked in a tight
group
with Maria trailing behind, sulking because she was no longer the
sole female. Allowed to keep their side arms, the carbines remained
in the suite.

"She
doesn't like us, does she?" said Myomerr, motioning towards
Maria.

"Let's
just say, she prefers to be the center of attention," said
Jack
with a sly grin.

"She
regards you as hers..." said Raulya, more a statement than a
question,
"she has marked you with her scent."

"Guess
I'll have to wash that off..." said Jack raising one eyebrow.

"She
clings to the tradition of one mate. You do not...?" Raulya
seemed
truly confused over human mating traditions.

"Let's
just say, I choose to remain a free agent."

"Mmmm...
good, I will remember that."

The
group walked from one interconnecting corridor to the next,
until
they reached the air tunnel system. It was sort of a subway system,
stretching the length of the ship, in the center corridor on every
other, of its nine levels. The narrow cars were torpedo shaped and
ran in a deep channel suspended on and propelled by a cushion of
air. The cars sat two people abreast, five rows to a car. There were
two lanes, one traveling to the bow and one to the stern of the
ship.

They
waited no more than a minute for a bow-bound tunnel car. It
hissed
to a stop in front of them, summoned by Myomerr, on a wall panel in
the corridor. They climbed down into the car, and after Raulya
punched in its destination, it sped away.

Halfway
to the bow, the walls and floor disappeared around them.
Only
the air tunnel tube supported them, the effect quite breathtaking,
to say the least. Two levels directly above them, another air tunnel
tube could be seen. To the left and right stretched about a
quarter-mile of open air, surrounded by a glass dome of almost
incomprehensible size. Even with the Ecosphere's lights turned down,
strange, exotic birds could be seen, flying through the treetops
below them. Myomerr pointed out the nine levels of rooms and suites
bordering the Ecosphere, as the most expensive on the ship.

Jack
looked up through the Ecosphere's dome and saw the endless
stars
stretching out around them, a chill racing up his back and a pang of
excitement gripped his stomach like he had never known before. He
took a deep breath and swallowed hard to control the immense thrill
welling up inside, "Oh God..." he whispered. Now he
understood what the astronauts felt.

The
only one who heard him was Raulya, sitting next to him. "I
felt
the same way my first time..." she said squeezing his hand,
"it's spectacular, isn't it?" It was all he could do to
nod.

Half
a minute after passing out of the sphere and back into the
corridor,
the air car hissed to a stop near the crew's elevator at the bow of
the ship. Trading the air car for the elevator, they rode to the
bridge, the only place on the ship with a tenth level.

Pausing
in the outer briefing room, Raulya instructed Myomerr to
stay
with the others while she entered the bridge with Jack. Jack
translated to the group before leaving.

Mike
Warren looked to his frowning wing leader, You worried,
Pappy?"

“
No
kid, just tired." Paul rubbed his face, stopping in time to
catch
Myomerr staring at him. She quickly looked away.

"I
think she likes you, Pappy," whispered the young pilot.

"It's
not polite to whisper kid, besides, she probably hears
better
than we do." He thought he caught her smiling but couldn't be
sure.

Raulya
and Jack entered the bridge, the Captain turned to greet
them.
He appeared almost human with his wizened, lined face, full but
trimmed white beard and grandfatherly paunch. What gave him away was
probably his webbed fingers and sparkling, sapphire blue eyes.

“
Aaah,
Raulya, you've brought one of our stowaways..." he gurgled
at
his personal little joke and extended his hand in greeting, "hello,
welcome aboard the
Princess
Hedonist."

Jack
switched hands to hold the translator disc before shaking
hands,
"Jack Steele..." he shook hands, "thank you."

The
Captain pointed at Jack, "You hurt, boy?"

“
Oh.
No, sir, it's this disc..."

"Raulya!
Shame on you! Take these people to the infirmary and get
them
some regular discs, then feed them and find them some quarters..."
He turned to Jack, "I apologize, we don't get many visitors
like this. It's late, we'll talk in the morning. Raulya, we shall
all meet at the Ecosphere Lounge, on two, for brunch... goodnight
Mr. Steele."

"Goodnight,
sir."

The
group of seven, returned to the air tunnel system via the
elevator
and took it aft, toward the stern of the ship, to the only infirmary
open at this late hour, the one on level nine.

Translator
discs were inserted just under the skin, behind the right
ear.
The medibot did an admirable job, accomplishing the task with no
pain and very little discomfort. The only one to put up any fuss,
was of course, Maria, complaining about mind control. The others,
lead by Jack, ribbed her incessantly about her CIA gibberish and she
finally gave in, letting the medibot install the device.

Raulya
checked the security log on the ship's computer for any
clues
to Fritz's whereabouts, while Jack and the others were in the
infirmary. She also checked the availability of accommodations left,
finding an ample number of suites. She returned to the infirmary as
Myomerr was leaving with the group.

The
two Ketarians stood aside from the others and spoke privately
while
waiting for the elevator. "So, you want him then?"

Myomerr
nodded "I think he's yummy." She looked over at Paul
Smiley
who
was talking with Jack.

"Elevator's
here," called Brian.

More
tired than hungry, everyone decided to go straight to bed and
eat
in the morning. On the lift, they decided to split into two groups,
Myomerr would show Brian, Mike and Pappy their rooms and Raulya took
Maria and Jack. Saying their goodnights, they parted.
"That suite you found yourselves in earlier, will be yours,"
Raulya
told
Maria, "Jack's is on a different floor." Maria nodded, but
she was not keen on the idea of splitting up the group. If she could
have had her way, they would all have shared a room.

The
elevator stopped at the third level. "Jack, would you mind
waiting
and holding the elevator? I'll be right back." He shrugged,
watching Maria and Raulya disappear down the corridor. The key panel
on the room they had broken into, had been replaced and Raulya
punched in the entry code. The door swished open. "Goodnight,
Maria."

Maria
stepped into the doorway. "Yeah..." she cleared her
throat,
"listen,
I saw the way you looked at him earlier, but don't get any ideas,
Miss Kitty, because Jack is mine!"

Raulya
remained calm, "Oh really? Well, Jack doesn't see it that
way..."

"What?!"

Smiling
wryly, Raulya gently nudged the stunned Maria back through
the
doorway, "So, tonight he's mine!"
The door swished closed and Raulya entered a security code, locking
Maria
inside. She could hear Maria screaming profanities and pounding on
the door.

Smiling
to herself, Raulya returned to the elevator. "Ready?"

"Just
waiting for you... where to now?"

"Level
nine," she pushed the button.

"I
thought those were the crew's quarters?"

"It
is. Oh, by the way..." she said, strategically changing the
subject,
"I've located your dog..."

"Wow,
that's
great
!
Can we go get him? Is he Ok? Where is he?" The elevator door
opened and they stepped out on level nine.