The Eagle settled onto the pad with a familiar shift as the artificial gravity for the base took over from the Eagle's. John stood, leaving behind the coffee cup for the attendant and taking his briefcase. He glanced at the rear of the Eagle. His two cases would be delivered to his quarters, and there was another case containing coffee for Helena that would be delivered to her quarters. He was looking forward to sorting out whose quarters they would stay in. Of course, that depended on him getting the MetaProbe launched. The thought of the Meta Probe reminded him of his teleconference with Simmonds before landing. Just before signing off, Simmonds had delivered a caveat.
"Please keep in mind, Commander," Simmonds managed to sneer as he used the title. "The timely launch of the Meta Probe is essential to the continuance of the space program."
"I understand that, Commissioner. That will be my top priority."
"Good to hear it. Also, please remember that fraternization with staff members would be frowned upon."
Simmonds had disconnected with that statement. Koenig didn't know how the Commissioner knew about he and Helena, although they'd never tried to make their relationship a secret, but he bristled at the thought of Simmonds interfering with his personal life.
Koenig nodded at the attendant and headed down the boarding tube for the travel tube which would take him into the heart of Alpha. A yellow sleeved arm reached out and tugged him into the boarding lounge. He turned in surprise and recognized Alan Carter. With a grin he took Carter's hand and shook it. Carter looked more grim. There were three other people in the lounge. His eyes met Helena's. She also looked serious, but her eyes lit up as she met his gaze. He held out his arm to her and she was at his side in a heart-beat. They exchanged a smile. "Melissa is worried sick about you two. She's called me twice this week. I haven't been able to get through to you either."
"It's the communications blackout Gorski ordered," Carter explained.
"Does this have something to do with the virus infection?" John asked.
"There is no virus infection, John. That's the official story and the blackout is to keep the truth from getting out." Helena said, looking up at him.
"We have had no choice," a petit brunette said. She and Tony Verdeschi, Alpha's security chief were the other two in the room.
"John," Tony shook John's hand. "We couldn't be more relieved that you're here, but you've been lied to. This is Sandra Benes. She's in charge of communications for Alpha."
"Commander Koenig," the young woman nodded and took his hand.
John selfishly did not let go of Helena as he greeted the young woman. He had hoped for a few minutes alone with Helena, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen any time soon. "Ms. Benes, a pleasure to meet you." He turned back to Tony. "What's going on here?"
"We've been in a communications blackout for a week. Sandra here has been under orders to block all incoming and outgoing information. Nothing goes in or out without Gorski's explicit approval."
"Commander, he has blocked every communication avenue. Some information he has sent to the commission has been complete fabrication," Sandra said angrily. "And we are not to allow any media or personal messages in. Everything goes through Gorski."
"We haven't been able to get anything out without Gorski knowing about it, but Sandra has been our ears, so we knew you were coming," Helena said.
"What is going on here?" John said in frustration.
"The Meta Probe astronauts have some form of radiation sickness," Helena said somberly. "It's terminal, John."
"Terminal!" He looked to Carter for confirmation.
"Gorski didn't even want me to see them," Alan said bitterly. "And they're not the only ones effected."
Helena continued urgently. "All are workers at the nuclear waste dumps. All have died. Alan took me out there two days ago, and although the usual radiation detectors revealed nothing, we found that the magnetic field detectors are all burned out."
"Sandra was in Command Center yesterday morning when something occurred over Area One," Tony said, urging Sandra to elaborate.
"There was a tremendous fire storm. It was like a thunderstorm, with arcs of lightening from one dome to another. The waste dumps were producing tremendous amounts of heat. The explosion was even measurable by the seismograph."
"That's where the radiation was coming from?" John asked Helena.
"Yes."
He snapped his fingers, "and the Meta astronauts flew over that area on their training flights, almost daily. That's what I was finding so odd."
Carter nodded reluctantly. "It was one of the few recognizable sites on the lunar surface. I should have known better."
"None of us knew, Alan," Helena said.
"Gorski knew," John growled. "He's been heading me off every time."
"You don't have much time. Gorski is expecting you," Tony said. "But we wanted you to know that what you're probably going to hear from him is a pack of lies."
"Thanks. Knowing that will help." He turned to Helena. "I was sent up here to get the Meta Probe launched."
"You've been set up. There's no crew to fly it. They know that."
He turned to Alan and slapped him on the shoulder, "Then we'll have to come up with an alternative. I'll meet with Gorski and he'll be gone. All of you meet me in my office in an hour." He couldn't resist leaning down and giving Helena a kiss. He pressed hard against her, but it was quick, really more of a promise of things to come. Then he turned and headed to the travel tube.
His mind was already considering and rejecting various ideas as he settled into the molded plastic chair in the travel tube. Gorski had as much as killed those astronauts, as well as the workers Helena had mentioned. He had known something, and every time John began to question, he had acted evasively and made sure John was unable to gather the data necessary. John took a deep breath and tried to bring his temper under control as the travel tube slowed to a stop.
Gorski was pacing impatiently at the exit to the travel tube. "Commander." Gorski's greeting was short and not particularly friendly. "I'll be leaving on the Eagle tomorrow morning, and have not yet had time to pack. Would you mind if I briefed you while I pack. I will be out of your new quarters that much quicker."
"Certainly, sir." John said shortly.
Gorski led the way down the hallway to the elevator. The Commander's quarters were on the 7th level, the lowest level of personal quarters, and closest to Command Center. They were no larger than any other singles quarters, containing a living area, alcove for a bed and a private bath. It was a private bath just like Helena's, and John couldn't help but smile briefly as he thought of Helena's shower and the way she had greeted him the last time he was on Alpha. His expression quickly sombered as he remembered her concern a few minutes ago.
"You will have your hands full here, Commander. I'm sure you know how important the Meta Probe is to the space program."
"Of course," John replied.
Gorski opened a cabinet door and removed a bottle of scotch from a cabinet, glanced at John and returned it to the cabinet. "I feel you will be needing that more than I will."
"However, there are other things that will invade the time spent on readying the Meta Probe. A success there will bring additional funding for the space program, but Alpha has other interests as well." He motioned Koenig to a seat and sat in chair across from him. He leaned forward urgently and spoke forcefully. "You have always focused on one project before. As Commander of Alpha you will be facing many people with many projects. The health of Alpha depends on them all. The ILFC controls a large budget, but it is not the only funding received by Alpha. Commercial concerns in the pharmaceuticals industry, computer chip manufacturing, even agribusiness, bring in much needed capital. We also have a thriving archival business here-- storing records or copies of data in natural vacuum.
"Then there is the nuclear waste disposal..."
"Yes, I know that's very lucrative."
"It keeps Alpha alive, Commander. It's not pleasant, being looked upon as a garbage dump, but the fears of the world governments concerning nuclear waste built this base, not an altruistic need for adventure. You must not consider stopping these shipments."
"Despite the danger?"
"Danger!" Gorski stood and paced, then turned to his closet. "There is danger in crossing the street in Leningrad. There is danger in stepping from a steamy shower onto a tile floor. I have done all I could. Simmonds has lost faith in me for the present. Do not allow your passionate nature to interfere with your ability to think."
He turned and looked closely at Koenig. "You must consider you actions most carefully as Commander of Alpha."
At first John thought that Gorski was alluding to his relationship with Helena, but then he realized that his advice was aimed at John's attitude to the Meta Probe, and the Ultra Probe before it.
"I'll do my best, Commander."
"I'm glad to hear it." Gorski turned. The interview was over. Gorski had given him nothing concrete, but perhaps there were motives under the surface of his words.
John stood. "I'll keep your advice in mind."
"Thank you, Commander. You will find everything in order on the desk in your office. The right hand drawer includes all passwords. The drawer is keyed to your commlock."
Without another word, John left the man to finish packing. He headed to his new office. He had to find some way to launch the Meta Probe and leave Alpha in tact. Helena would not be happy if they could not resolve the problems with the disposal area, but they would worry about that after the Meta Probe was on its way.
Helena arrived at his office door almost as he did. She smiled at him. "I'm early."
"I'm glad." John placed a hand on the small of her back and ushered her into the small office. There was a desk against one wall and a chair on wheels pushed under it. There was also a small round table with four of the molded plastic chairs, and a small two person sofa in another corner. As the door slid shut behind them, he pulled her into his arms and delivered a much longer, much slower kiss.
"Commissioner Simmonds says I shouldn't fraternize with my senior officers," he said softly as he parted from her, his lips still close to hers.
"He has no right!" Helena's eyes blazed angrily.
John smiled at her and turned to sit at the desk. He took her wrist and pulled her into his lap. "To hell with Simmonds, he's a long way away."
"And he could transfer you back to Earth in a heartbeat." Helena placed her hands on John's shoulders and looked at him with concern.
"I just got here. All I have to do is get the Meta Probe launched and I'll be able to stay." He pulled her blonde hair from her eyes, and caressed her cheek. "I don't plan to leave."
She leaned forward, her lips barely brushing his when the door buzzed. She sighed, pulled back and stood. Koenig turned and pointed his commlock at the door. Carter entered when the door opened.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"Come in, Alan. We were about to start talking about ways to get the Meta probe launched." John waved Alan to a chair at the table and Helena took one herself. John simply turned toward them in his desk chair.
"I don't see how we can." Alan shook his head.
"We must." John said urgently. He leaned forward. "If we don't, we forfeit the entire space exploration program. We may not get another chance-at all."
"John," Helena said. "I can't guarantee that the rest of our pilots won't succumb to the same problem, three days, or three months into the mission."
"Then we need to send someone else." He turned to Carter.
"Alan, you know that ship better than anyone else. You could fly her."
Alan's eyes went wide. "I could fly her. I hadn't expected that."
"Would you?"
"In a heartbeat." Alan glanced at Helena.
"He should be fit. I don't have any objections."
The door buzzed and John opened the door again, admitting Tony. "What did I miss?" he asked.
"We have to get the Meta Probe out of here. We're discussing a replacement crew," John said as Tony slipped into a seat.
"What about the disposal area?"
"That will be next on the agenda." John said and eyed Tony. "When was the last time you flew over Disposal Area One?"
Tony snorted. "I don't think I've ever flown over it."
John glanced at Alan who raised an eyebrow and nodded. John turned to Helena who also nodded slowly. Alan spoke up, "He'd do."
"Do for what?" Tony asked, confused.
"How would you like to go to Meta with me?" Alan asked.
"You're kidding."
"I've been given carte blanche to commandeer whatever is necessary to get the Meta Probe off the ground."
"I haven't trained on the ship."
"You'll have three months for Carter to teach you everything he knows on the way there. Will you do it?"
"I'd be crazy not to. When do we leave?"
"I'll have to coordinate the countdown," Alan said. "But basically, we're ready to leave. The mission specialists will need to be flown up from Florida. Say, forty-eight hours?"
Tony nodded, looking a bit stunned.
The door buzzed again. This time is was Sandra Benes. John stood as she walked in.
"Am I late?"
"Not at all Ms. Benes."
"Please, call me Sandra, Commander."
John motioned her to a seat. "Alan, handle the details, get the countdown started. Use my authorization."
Alan nodded and stood, slapping Tony on the shoulder. "Come on Mate, we've got work to do."
John leaned toward the two women at the table as the men exited. "Now. What about Disposal Area Two? What can we do to prevent the kind of reaction that happened at Area One?"
Sandra shook her head. "Area Two is one hundred and forty times the size of Area One. We do not have time to do anything."
"I agree, John. Short of taking the time to carefully remove the waste, what can we do?" Helena said quietly.
"And where would we put it? We cannot return it to Earth." Sandra said.
"Of course not." John agreed.
"And we continue to receive more." Sandra added.
"John. We need to get the workers in that area out of there."
"John sat back. "Helena. I won't be able to stop the shipments of nuclear waste. That's out of the question."
"Then there will be more deaths. It's inevitable." Helena said with regret.
"Helena, I don't intend to simply ignore this. I'll need every bit of data the two of you can dig up. Hard irrefutable evidence that the deaths have been caused by the magnetic radiation that caused the burn out in Area One."
The two women nodded and stood to leave. Koenig followed them out the door and headed for Command Center to meet the rest of his staff. He brushed his hand against the back of Helena's as she turned toward Medical Center. They exchanged a smile.
It was well past the next shift change before John returned to his office. He began going through the documents Gorski had left behind. There was a lot to learn about Alpha's operations. The three hundred people here did an amazing amount of work in a variety of fields. Most of their industry was in the surface buildings. It was highly automated and teleoperated from below by technicians. The scientific research here was funded by more than a three dozen prestigious academic institutions.
Third shift was well under way by the time he realized that his eyes were burning and he was exhausted. He made a tour through Command Center. All was quiet. One of the monitors showed another shipment of nuclear waste being delivered to the disposal area, but so far, the magnetic monitors gave no indication of elevated levels. He breathed a sigh of relief and headed for Helena's quarters. He entered her quarters which were dark and quiet. He had been looking forward to a few minutes alone with Helena and now wasn't sure if he could stay awake for a few minutes.
He moved to the sleeping area and found her bed empty. He moved to the bathroom with a smile, but that was also dark and empty. He pulled his commlock from his belt and punched in the code for her commlock. She answered quickly. "Yes, John?"
"Where are you?"
"My office," she sighed. "I was just called back a few minutes ago. Frank Warren is dead," she said gently. "Eric doesn't have much longer. I'm going to be staying here. I'm hoping a post mortem will provide me some evidence."
"I see..."
"You look exhausted. You should get some sleep."
"Gorski's still in my quarters..."
"Well, as I recall, you have no problem getting into mine," she said with a smile.
"I'm there now," he smiled back.
"Get some sleep. I'll bring you breakfast."
"I'll be waiting."
He was asleep in minutes, but it was his commlock that woke him up, not Helena.
"Commander," Sandra Benes face peered from the tiny screen. "I believe I may have found the evidence necessary. Can I meet you in your office to show you?"
"Of course, I'll meet you there." John glanced at the clock on the panel by the bed and stood. It was just before 5 a.m. He'd had three hours of sleep. He dressed quickly and headed for his office.
Sandra had found a correlation between the astronauts and a spike of magnetic radiation at Disposal Area One. Their telemetry had failed for a short period of time, then resumed with no problem. She had found similar instances onboard Eagles carrying workers to and from Area Two. The workers and pilots on those flights were now all deceased. As were the two Meta Probe astronauts. He would wait for Helena's report and then have a long talk with Commissioner Simmonds.
He headed to the cafeteria to get some coffee and met Helena just outside the door.
"You're awake!" she said with surprise.
"Sandra has found the evidence we need to show that the magnetic radiation was effecting the Eagles carrying both the Meta astronauts and the workers for Area Two."
"That's fantastic."
"She's much more talented than the average communications officer."
"Yes, she is. In another month she'll be heading back to Earth to take a chair at a university teaching computer design and data analysis. She's a friend of Tony's."
"His girlfriend? He doesn't usually go for the brainy types."
"No, she's engaged to an associate professor back in Massachusetts. I think he's a friend of Tony's too."
They fixed plates, and Helena took a pot of coffee and they headed for a table. "You look tired," John said.
"I'll catch up on my sleep in a little while. I'm just sorry I missed you," she said with a smile.
"We'll have to try again," John replied, reaching across the table to lace his fingers with hers.
"I'm counting on it."
John wolfed down his breakfast and packed up his tray. "I want to get back to Command Center. Gorski will be leaving shortly, and once he's gone, we'll quietly open up communications. Call your sister, ok?"
"I know she's been worried, but I'm going to let Alan tell her he's going to be gone for the better part of a year."
"You know, I considered having just you and I take the Meta probe out." John was already standing and she looked up at him with wide, amused eyes.
"If you had asked, I would have said yes."
"Don't worry, we'll get our chance." He put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed slightly. Then he was gone, with the hurried, impatient step she had learned to love.
She managed about three hours of sleep before her commlock beeped. She awoke groggily, but quickly shook the cobwebs from her mind. The commlock indicated she had a call from outside Alpha. She pulled a robe over her pajamas and her fingers through her hair. Her sister's face appeared on the screen, close to being a mirror of her own, except that Melissa was currently wearing her hair shorter and curlier.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
Helena smiled and nodded. "A bit overworked at the moment, but I'm ok."
She waited the three seconds of travel time for the speed-of-light radio waves. Then her sister said, "Have you picked up that virus infection?"
"No, in fact, it's not a virus. It's some kind of radiation that we aren't familiar with, and I haven't been exposed to it."
While she waited for Melissa to receive the message and respond she noticed that there was a flashing icon showing she had a message. She quickly opened a small window. John had called a command conference for a half hour from now.
"I asked John to have you call me as soon as you could."
"I've been asleep, Mel. I was planning to call you as soon as I woke up, and John did tell me to call you."
"I expect you're pretty happy to have him up there."
"We haven't seen much of each other yet. We've been a bit busy, but yes, I am glad he's here, both personally and professionally. He's much easier to work with than Gorski. Look Melissa, I need to cut this short. I've got a meeting in a half hour."
"OK."
"Tell Mom and Dad that I'm fine and will call them as soon as I have the time."
"Of course, Sis. Take care."
Helena disconnected and headed for a shower. She slid into a seat in John's small office just in time.
Tony and Alan were practically euphoric about their impending departure aboard the Meta Probe. The mission specialists had arrived and the entire crew would be leaving for the Probe in another hour. Helena reported on the autopsies she had performed. She wanted to send the bodies to Florida for further research, and assured John that there should be no hazard in transporting the bodies.
She had a recommendation, "John, it might be a good idea to evacuate nonessential personnel to Earth."
John shook his head impatiently, "We need to keep things as normal as possible here."
"But they're not normal..." she started.
"Helena, I know that, but we're going to have to make the best of the situation," John said shortly.
Helena looked at him, startled.
Sandra's commlock beeped. She removed it from her belt. "Yes?"
"You asked me to call if there was a change in readings..." the Japanese communcations operative said hesitantly.
Koenig was standing and out the door, on the way to his Command Center before the young woman could finish the statement. Helena and Sandra were right behind him. Sandra dashed past Koenig and replaced the other woman at the communications console. Tony and Alan slid into the two consoles directly in front of John's desk. Helena took another console in front of Tony.
"Commander," Sandra reported. "There is a rise in heat levels at Area Two, just as we had at Area One."
"Magnetic field monitors are also off the scale," Helena reported.
"How many people do we have in Area Two?"
"There are four workers, plus two scientists," Sandra responded.
"Recall them. Now."
"Yes sir."
Helena left her seat and moved to stand beside John. "I know it might be a bit late, but we could still evacuate as many personnel as possible to Earth."
John shook his head. "We'll only evacuate if Alpha is severely damaged. Even if there's a tremendous explosion, we're on the other side of the planet, and Alpha was built to withstand quakes."
Helena nodded and returned to her seat. It occurred to her that working for John might be a good deal different than loving him.
Sandra's voice interrupted her thoughts. "The heat level is rising almost exponentially."
"If the heat levels continue to rise like this," Alan said, turning to look at John. "The mass around the nuclear waste will convert to plasma. It'll be like the biggest fission engine ever created."
John watched the monitor screen at the front of the room. It showed the nuclear waste domes glowing red, bolts of lightening springing from dome to dome as electrical charges built up. The transmission stopped abruptly.
"Burn out," Sandra explained. "Switching cameras."
Another view showed the domes from further away. There was a haze over the domes that glowed red. The heat was rising so quickly that the moon dust was vaporizing. It was becoming harder to see anything. This camera burned out too.
"Alan?" John called.
Alan looked up from his almost mesmerized gaze at the big screen.
"We need to see what's going on. Take an Eagle up. Stay as far out as possible."
Alan nodded and headed out of Command Center.
Throughout the day the reports came in from the Eagle. The pictures Alan sent back of the waste area showed a large glowing patch, the rock beginning to melt. Spectral analysis indicated phenomenal temperature increases. Everyone in Command Center remained spell-bound.
Shortly after midnight the flash burned out Carter's cameras. There was incredible amount of interference. Sandra did everything she could to maintain contact and Koenig ordered Carter to return to base. Then the shockwave hit. Opening a base-wide channel John ordered everyone into crash positions. The floor seemed to tilt, and there was sudden intense pressure. He wondered if the base were collapsing around him. Everyone was on the floor. He could hear Helena instructing people to lie as flat as possible on the floor. He tried to lift his head to see her, but it felt as if he were pulling the kind of gees he experienced in a controlled dive in a jet fighter. With great effort, he moved so that his eyes met hers. He was not surprised that she was struggling to see him as well. It calmed him somehow, although the effort to smile was too much.
Through the rumblings and creakings of the base around him and the screams of the staff, he could hear Alan. Contact had been regained.
"Alpha, do you copy? The moon is moving away from Earth. Are you there Alpha. The moon is blasting out of orbit."
John tried to move. It was almost impossible. With great effort he pulled himself across the floor to his desk. Pushing himself off the floor was almost more than he could manage. When flying he'd never had to do more than move his arms slightly during gee forces like this.
"Alpha, is anyone there? Answer me." Alan was still calling from the Eagle.
Finally, he managed to reach the button on his desk to respond. "Carter. We're ok. We're experiencing tremendous g-forces." As he spoke, the acceleration began to abate. "Wait a minute. The acceleration is less." He felt lighter, then there was a moment of disorientation as the artificial gravity flickered out and back in. He pulled himself up. Others were pulling themselves off the floor. John moved around the desk. He helped Sandra to her feet, then moved past her to Helena. He only had time to put his lips by her ear and ask if she were ok. She nodded and pulled her hair back. He squeezed her hand and moved on.
Helena was speaking with medical center before he could return to his desk. Tony was at his desk asking for damage reports. John put a hand on his shoulder and he nodded distractedly.
At his desk again John called to Carter. "Alan. We're no longer accelerating. Can you make it back?"
Alan's face was on the screen. He nodded. "Yeah, I can make it."
John nodded. Relieved that his old friend would be all right. He began receiving reports from around the base. Helena had assured herself that everyone in Command Center was all right and she rushed out the door, heading for Medical Center to deal with casualties. The Command staff began gathering data from the rest of the base. Several of the above ground buildings had experienced decompression, but because all personnel were underground, there were few fatalities. The people on Alpha began to pick up the pieces, and put the base back together.
John conferred with Tony and Sandra. Alan joined them shortly. Could they return to Earth? They ran through every scenario they could think of. The distance between Earth and the Moon increased with every second. They were already past Eagle range for returning. They had barely had room in the Eagles to evacuate everyone. Supplies would be short. Communication coming from Earth showed that they were having their own problems caused by the explosion on the Moon. There would be no assistance from Earth. They could not return.
It was the first official base-wide announcement he had ever made. In it he explained that they would not be able to return to Earth. To try would be to sign their death warrant. Here they had power, water, supplies, and a chance to survive. They would have to remain on Alpha. He sat back in his chair, exhausted. He had wanted to be in deep space, yes, but not... like... this... He spent hours moving around the base, visiting various departments, making sure everything was being repaired as well as possible. Finally he felt he could take a few minutes for himself.
He walked down the hall toward her quarters, hoping that she would be there safe and sound. The halls were unusually quiet and he suddenly felt extremely tired. John couldn't remember the last time he'd slept. As he rounded the corner, he saw Alan Carter headed his way. He looked as tired as John felt. The two men met in the hall.
"Are you alright?" John asked as he gripped Alan's shoulder.
"As well as can be expected. Helena?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her since early this morning. Just the reports she's been sending me."
"I saw her in the cafeteria just a while ago. I think she's in her quarters now." Alan pointed behind him.
John squeezed Alan's shoulder. "Get some rest."
Alan smiled a half smile. "I will. You too."
Alan moved past John and continued down the hallway. John glanced up toward Helena's door.
He lifted his commlock and checked with Command Center. Tony's face appeared on the screen.
"Everything okay?"
"John, I think we have it under control. Get some rest." Tony's said.
John turned the machine off and walked the remaining distance to Helena's door. He entered her private code and the door opened. The room was dark and quiet. He scanned around the room slowly. Helena was sleeping on the couch, still dressed in her hospital scrubs. John placed his commlock on the table and stretched. The movement caused Helena to stir. She opened her eyes and sensing that someone else was in the room.
"John?" She whispered.
He moved to sit on the coffee table that sat in front of the couch. In a whispered tone, he answered. "It's me, honey." Helena yawned as she sat up quickly. They sat close, so close that their legs were touching.
"What's wrong now?"
"Nothing." His voice was soothing as he reached out to touch her arms. "I came to get some sleep."
She relaxed slightly and leaned her head against his chest. His arms went around her and he held her loosely, thanking God that she was still with him.
She lifted her head and pressed her forehead against his lips. Her eyes here still closed, he could tell she was still sleepy.
"John?" She said softly as she continued to lean against him.
"Hmm?"
"You're not suppose to be here. Simmonds..."
"I don't give a damn about him. He's the one that caused this mess." John tensed and his voice rose slightly.
Helena sat back on the couch. She could tell that he was tired and irritable. Touching his cheeks with her palm, she searched his eyes. He looked at her and she saw his vulnerability. It was only the second time in the year long relationship that he had allowed her to see that side of him. Moving her hand from his cheek, she touched his elbow.
"John, come on. Let's get some sleep. We'll talk about this in the morning."
He shook his head slowly then stood pulling her up with him. Their bodies touched and John pulled her against him, holding her tightly.
'Helena...I love you. I can't imagine what I would have done if you had not been alive when the moon broke free." He was nearly sobbing tears rolled down his cheeks.
"I love you too, John." Her voice a soft whisper against his ear.
She relaxed away from him and took his hands in hers gently, she led him over to her bed. When they reached the side, he pulled her back into his embrace. John tilted her head up and kissed her gently. He pushed her hair behind her ears and cupped her face with his hands. "I love you."
Helena felt him move toward her, his hands moving from her face down to her arms.
"Helena," he called his voice filled with desire. He pressed his lips passionately to hers. She returned his kiss. He needed her and she needed him. She removed his duty belt and it fell to the floor.
Their kiss deepened as his hands found the bottom of her scrub top and he untucked it from her pants. Briefly, their lips left one another's as they shed their clothes.
John's lips sought Helena's as they moved onto the bed. Her hands moved up and down his body as his lips found her breasts. They needed to be with one another to reaffirm their love. This wasn't an act of sex. It was an expression of their love. Helena cried as John held her in the afterglow of their lovemaking. He pressed her body close to his and kissed the top of her head.
Lifting her head she looked at him. "John, I want you to know that at this very moment in time I truly feel loved."
"I do love you."
"I love you too."
She kissed him gently then settled next to him. He pulled the sheet around them and they drifted off into a peaceful sleep. The future was uncertain. There would be dangers for them to face, very likely life-threatening dangers. But whatever awaited them, they would face it together.
Maureen J. Long
March, 2000
