Welcome back Lady Lex readers. Chapter 48 is another mixed chapter; some scenes by me and some by Ben. Ben and I have been writing fools the past 3 weeks and put a lot of chapters in the well. Unfortunately this doesn't translate into quick postings, since they still need to be revised and proofread. To complicated things, vacations will slow things down for the rest of July as both Ben and me, as well as our proofreader/editor, Richard will be on vacation during various parts of the month. However, we do hope to pick up the pace some as Lady Lex heads to her conclusion. Thanks for reading.
Boys of the Lady Lex Chapter 48 "Nerves" Written By Douglas DD and Benjamin T. C.
Admiral Whitaker paced his office. He was furious with himself. He had more important things to do than hate a second rate captain like Stephen Hatcher and his pet project, the "Lexington". Yet, he did. He had been maneuvered into accepting the project, maneuvered into using his own slush fund to finance it, and then, to add to his humiliation, just when the project was ready to fail on its own, his ex-wife shows up and saves the day.
Of course he tried to sabotage the project. Why shouldn't he? Nobody outmaneuvers Admiral Peter Whitaker. The final move would be his, timed to coincide with his ultimate maneuver. His little deal with General Elihu was going to make him the most powerful man in the history of the SFA. And while he was at it he would make sure that those pathetic nobodies would never win the Olympics and become a permanent thorn in his side; not that they actually had a chance of winning. But it didn't hurt to be sure, and to make sure the "Lexington" got the message loud and clear.
He got on his private radio and sent out a coded message. As the message relayed into space, sent through a satellite, converted into warp radio, and focused on its destination, a boy slept soundly in his hotel bed on Hawking's Planet. In the morning he would find a message in the radio he had stashed under his mattress. He would decode it and understand the four words he read; "At the war games." He knew if he came through this time, the person behind the messages would make sure he would have any career he wanted in the SFA when was finally out of school. Besides, he hated the losers on the "Lexington". He would make sure they would never win a thing.
Matt looked out the window of the starliner "Galaxy Pride" as the ship entered orbit around Hawking's Planet. He thought back to his stay at the Copse Cove Adolescent Counseling and Rehabilitation Center. He had been there since his return to Earth, recovering from the trauma of his kidnapping and his addiction to alcohol and marijuana.
Matt felt much more at ease with himself. Ray Sandoval, his chief counselor, had helped him considerably. Matt was told he would need more outpatient help, and was told never to touch alcohol or drugs again. We'll see about that, Matt thought to himself. That won't last forever. But for now he was satisfied to honor the ban. He was tired of being wasted and of not being himself.
His father had returned briefly to Earth when Matt was there, but had to go back to Griffin to attend to the peace conference with the Kritons. Matt's father had booked passage for him on the "Galaxy Pride." He was being accomponied by the tutor hired by his father, though he had his own private cabin. The destination was not Griffin, however; it was Hawking's Planet.
Matt had been wasted on booze and drugs when he was rescued. When he sobered up on the "Lexington," the strength that had held him together for so long failed him. His trip to Earth was marked by long crying sessions, bouts of unconsciousness, and periods of delirium. He never got to meet his rescuers.
The first thing he wanted to do on his release was to meet the boys who had rescued him from his prison. The Lady Lex was one of the many ships in orbit around the planet. He knew much of its crew was being shuttled to the planet's surface. Later tonight he would be too. He would be staying for the duration of the Olympics. He planned on purchasing a Lady Lex T-shirt and banner. He also planned on meeting The Hawke, Trevor Collins, and the boys who called themselves The Birds of Prey.
A few of the officers and cadets came back on board the Lexington after the Banquet of Rules. There were some last minute details they had to go over before the opening ceremonies. As soon as the details were completed, they would head back down to the planet's surface.
Trevor Collins let out a big yawn. He had fallen asleep on the trip up to the Lexington. He had to get some sleep soon, but as Special Missions specialist he had some unfinished business that needed to be taken care of.
Trevor entered Brian's room. Brian was lying on his bunk with his sword on top of him. He rolled his head over and looked at Trevor.
"Hey," said Trevor.
"I thought you went down to the planet," said Brian.
"I did, but I had to come back to take care of some business."
"Oh."
"What's wrong?" Trevor sensed something was bothering Brian.
"Nothing," lied Brian.
"Ok," said Trevor who wasn't quite sure how to dig deeper, so he just moved on to the matters that brought him here in the first place. "I got promoted to Special Missions Officer. Whenever an away team is needed or a special mission comes up, I am the one in charge of it."
"Cool, you earned it with the rescue of Matt and the capturing of all the flags."
"The only thing is that I can't hold the job as science officer on the `Raptor'."
"They took you out of the Birds of Prey?"
"No, I am still the Hawke and still in the Birds of Prey, I just can't be the science officer anymore."
"Oh,"
"My first act as Special Missions Officer is to fill that position."
"Who are you going to pick?"
"You."
"Me?" Brian was surprised. "But I'm..."
"Don't say it. Being handicapped didn't stop you when you battled the desert rats and it didn't stop you when you came with us to capture the flags. You're an honorary Bird of Prey already; now become a full fledged member."
"I don't know Trevor. The other boys don't like me too much."
"I don't give a shit what they think. You're the best man for the job. And I am not taking no for an answer."
Brian let out a long sigh. He wasn't sure what to make of this. Part of him wanted to leap at the chance to become a Bird of Prey, but another part wanted to run from it. Finally he made his decision. Not a convincing decision, but never the less a decision.
"Ok, if this is what you want, I'll do it."
"Cool, get dressed and packed then. You're going to the planet with me in thirty minutes. You get to stay in the Birds of Prey room."
"You want me to come with you?"
"Sure, you're my friend and my fellow Bird of Prey. I will meet you on the Lady Hawke in thirty minutes."
Trevor stood up and looked at his friend. He shot him a smile and left. Brian put his head back down on the pillow and wondered what he was getting himself into.
Tim Whitaker sat quietly in the chair next to the desk in Rich's hotel room. Rich sat looking at him and saying nothing. He had been asked to see the cadet CO, but no reason was given. Tim didn't like Rich. In fact, he didn't know very many cadets who did. Rich might be the CO, but they all saw Todd as their leader. Tim had had the privilege of Todd's bed more than once, but it was something nobody knew about. Todd could keep such things quite secret just as easily as he could let them be known. It all depended on what suited his purpose and what Todd perceived was best for the cadet. In some cases, the knowledge that a cadet was favored by Todd and had spent a night with him was a means for that cadet to gain respect or move forward. In other cases that same knowledge could prove harmful to either the cadet or Todd, and Todd kept the overnight visit under wraps. Tim fell into the latter category. Todd invited Tim to bed for the sex, rather than for any political motives.
"So, just what was it you wanted?" Tim asked to break the somewhat awkward silence. Tim noticed Rich rubbing his bruised jaw. He smiled inwardly. Word had gotten around about the incident with the Lady Lex CO at the Banquet of Rules.
"Just wanted to know how the admiral's son was doing," Rich said with a bit of a leer.
"He'd be doing better if he could get the rest of his training in today."
"Don't worry, this won't take long."
"It's taken too long already."
Rich glared at him. "Admiral's son or not, I think you're forgetting that you're just a freshman."
"And I think you're forgetting that you're a jerk."
Rich stood up and looked down at Tim. "I could have you written up for your insolence."
"You could," Tim said confidently, "but you won't."
Rich sat back down, and Tim smiled inwardly knowing he'd won a minor victory. As much as he hated his father, having the name Whitaker did have its advantages, especially against a spineless idiot like Rich.
Rich went on as if nothing had just happened between the two of them, giving Tim the message that he had just won a total victory. "I understand your father gave you some information that could be useful to us in the Olympics, particularly against the `Lexington'."
"And what if he did?"
"If he did, then you should feel obligated to share it with me, so I can use it to help insure a victory."
"And what if I don't want to?"
"Then you would be letting down the `Orion' and your shipmates."
"You know what? They call the Lady Lex cadets the Triple Ls. Lady Lex Losers. But they don't even touch you when it comes to being a loser."
"That's enough!"
"Oh no, I don't think it is, SIR! Yeah, my dad gave me information on the academic competition. Like the questions, the answers, everything we need to know to kick everybody's ass, especially the Triple Ls."
"Great! So let me have it so we can use it. We go against the `Lexington" early, like on Tuesday. Nothing like a bit of early humiliation to take them out of the games. I want to kick their sorry asses. They have no business masquerading as a JFSA ship."
"I want to kick their asses, too. I'd love to see them go down. But, I can't give you the information."
"And why not? You just said you wanted to kick their asses."
"Fuck yes, I do. But I want to do it right. I want to do it because we're better. And we ARE better, so we don't need to cheat, do we? I mean unless you think we're not good enough."
"I know we're good enough," Rich said. "I will only use it against the `Lexington', just to insure they don't get lucky against us again."
"They getting to you, SIR? Getting under your skin are they?"
"I just like having insurance is all. So, if you could turn over the information..."
"Like I said, I can't give it to you. You see, the disks my dad gave me somehow got incinerated and are just molecules floating out in space now. Looks like you're on your own, SIR."
"Get out!" Rich said. "Just get out of my sight."
"Remember, you asked me to come here."
"Obviously a big mistake on my part. Now, get out."
Tim got up with a smile. He knew from things his dad said that most of the captains of the SFA were extremely competent individuals, born to lead. He also knew some were incompetent ass kissers who got to where they were by making people think they were better than they were. Rich was one of those. Tim hoped Rich would someday get discovered for what he was and never get to a command post, or at least have an XO like Todd to help cover his warts.
"Nice talking to you," Tim said as he opened the door.
"Just shut up and leave."
As Tim left he was surprised to bump into Todd, who looked about to knock at the door.
"Good morning, Cadet Whitaker."
"Good morning, sir."
Todd smiled as he watched the smiling freshman leave, admiring the outline of his muscular ass. He looked inside at the scowling face of his former lover.
"Nice look on your jaw, Richie."
Rich scowled even harder.
"Did the freshman get the better of you, Richie?"
"Shut up."
"You aren't looking like a CO in charge of the situation at the moment. Care to fill me in?"
Rich maintained his scowl. He tried to remember why he had once been in love with Todd. Todd was now nothing but a thorn in his side. Rich seemed to conveniently forget it was Rich who kept him from falling totally on his face.
"No, I don't. Shouldn't you be doing something to help us win some games?"
"Oh, I am, Richie. You see, I'm doing everything I can to keep you from running things."
He turned to leave, and then stopped, looking at Rich with a slight smile. "Admit it, Richie. Young Mr. Whitaker has a nice ass and you enjoyed watching him walk out, wishing you could enjoy his wares."
"Fuck you. I'd get it long before you would."
"A surprising statement coming from you, but I doubt that, Richie. I seriously doubt that," Todd said, pleased to note that even Rich didn't know that he had in fact enjoyed his wares more than once. "For one thing, you'd have to be able to get it up." Todd then walked out, laughing quietly. Rich sat in his chair fuming. He could hardly wait for the next three weeks to go by and graduation to come. He'd had enough of the "Orion."
Captain Hatcher walked into the Ward Room on the "Lexington". Sitting by himself was Captain Ely Storm, drinking coffee. Hatcher walked over to him and sat down.
"So, is she going to weather the storm we have brewing for the next couple of weeks?" asked Hatcher as he poured himself a cup and sat down across from Ely.
"She's old Steve. She lived a good life. But I don't know if she has it in her to compete in the war games. A few years ago, maybe, but now, well it's not looking good."
"Are we talking about the `Lexington' or about you?"
Ely looked up from his cup of coffee. He let a half cocked smile emerge from his lips. "Little bit of both I guess."
"Don't be concerned. I know both you and the Lady Lax will prevail. After all you are the greatest chief engineer in the SFA."
"Steve, my days of glory are over. I wasn't going to tell you this until after the Olympics, but you might as well know now. As soon as the Olympics are over, win or lose, I am retiring."
"But the Lady Lex needs you Ely. I need you."
"Don't make this harder then it already is Steve. I made my decision. The Olympics will be my swan song."
"Over 400 years ago there was a hockey player who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins. His name was Jesse McCoy but everyone called him Five Fingers McCoy because he was known to have his fingers feel a women's hockey puck more then an ice hockey puck. And boy was he one hell of a player, both on the ice and off. But as the years went by, eventually his game slowed down. Finally, the owners told the manager that they wanted to trade Five Fingers. The manager at the time, Devon Quickmark wouldn't do it. He knew Five Fingers had the magic still in him. Even Five Fingers felt he was through, but Quickmark wouldn't quit or give up on Five Fingers. Now the Penguins managed to make it to the playoffs and they had a shot at the Stanley cup for the first time in over 20 years. Five Fingers didn't play much because Quickmark was getting the pressure from the uppers. Bit in the final game, that won the Penguins the Stanley cup, Five Fingers scored five goals which is very rare and hard to do. Matter of fact, it was after his five goals that, whenever a player scored five goals in a single game they called it "five fingers." That was Five Fingers last game. He then retired but, the first time he became eligible to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, he made it with no contest. Now Ely, if there was a Chief Engineer Hall of Fame you would be the first one to be inducted; I truly believe that you still have five fingers left in you."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Steve. But let me tell you about Grady Little who managed the Boston Red Sox in 2003. He was a great manager and had the chance to get his team into the World Series and possibly win, which would have been their first World Series title since 1918. Little had Pedro Martinez on the mound pitching. He was doing great. The Red Sox were ahead and it looked like they were going to the series. But towards the end, Pedro was getting tired. His arm was shot. But he kept throwing. Little thought Pedro still had enough juice in him. But he was wrong. And because of that the New York Yankees beat them in that game and went on to the World Series. Little should have pulled Pedro, but he didn't. Don't be a Little, Steve. I pitched my innings. It's time to pull me out and put in another pitcher. I'm old Steve. My brain doesn't work as fast as it used too. I actually have to stop and think how to do routine things. It's time for this old goat to bow out gracefully and let someone else pick up where I left off."
"Ely, I see what you're saying, but..."
"No buts about it Steve. I don't know how much more time I have left. It could be a day it could be twenty more years, but I've served my time. I've been ready to put down my wrench and replace it with a fishing pole for a very long time. Of course I almost had that until a captain came into my fishing shed begging me to help him on some loony project." Ely smiled.
"Do you think the project is still loony?"
"No, no I don't. You did wonders here Steve. You have every right to be proud."
"I couldn't have done it without you Ely."
"I agree with you there, because I don't think there is anyone else in the fleet, as old as I am, that would know how to operate machinery and equipment as old as the Lady Lex." Both men laughed.
"There's no talking you out of it?"
"No, Steve, I've made up my mind. It's time for me to get out before my tired old brain causes us to lose the pennant."
Steve nodded. He stood up and shook Ely's hand. "You're always welcome here."
"I know. Thanks."
Captain Hatcher walked out of the ward room. As soon as he stepped into the corridor and the door shut behind him, he pulled out his hankie and blew his nose and wiped a few stray tears from his glistening eyes. He was sure going to miss his best friend.
A few minutes later, Ely left the ward room. He went down to the main machinery room. He walks up to the main drive and pats it on the side.
"Do we have five fingers left in us old girl?"
Mark Hatcher lay on his bed thinking of the things that had happened to him since he came aboard the "Orion" as a wide-eyed freshman almost a year ago. He had been a star on Earth, both academically and athletically. He was at the top of the list of most desirable boys, and at 13 and 14 he had his choice of whatever girl he wanted, and he took advantage of it. He had lost his virginity just after turning 13 and hadn't stopped his sexual conquests there.
Here on the "Orion" he was just another freshman, one more smart, athletic boy in a class that had some of the cream of the crop freshman in the SFA and on Earth. To make matters worse he had come so close to blowing all of it, only to be saved from humiliation by his little brother.
He thought about how he had treated Jesse. For the most part he had treated him like crap, thinking of him as the little faggy actor, somebody who wasn't worth his time. It didn't help that his father had treated Jesse the same way and Mark, ever eager to please his father, did what he could to make his brother's life miserable. And yet, when he had gotten into trouble, Jesse had bailed him out, at his own expense, and asked for nothing in return.
For the first time in his life he owed his brother a debt. Before, his brother had always been somebody inferior, somebody for him to despise, just like his father did. Now, Jesse was sending him e-mails, trying to close the gap that had existed between them for so long. Mark's answers were always short and somewhat curt. Mark resented being in debt to Jesse. He resented it because he had always been the favorite son; the son who was the better athlete, the better student, the more popular kid. He was the jock, the big man on campus, and Jesse was the little nerd who acted in plays, and now, it turns out, was gay. And yet, in some ways, in spite of his resentments, the huge gap between them had edged ever so slightly smaller.
The incident on the "Lexington" had not only angered Mark because of the debt he felt he owed his brother; it had also strained the relationship between Mark and his father. His father had seen the vulnerability in his perfect son and Mark had, for the first time, found himself out of his father's good graces. The last time he had seen his father had been during summer break. His dad had been friendly but cool. Their visit had been brief as Mark had elected to take a summer elective rather than spend a lot of time at home. He didn't want to deal with his father or with Jesse. But now at the Olympics he would have contact with them, and that would be in the hockey rink. Maybe there he could find a way to once again impress his father.
Even though he had been officially exonerated, his capture still kept him somewhat ostracized from the rest of his class. The cocky freshman had learned to be humble, and in his humility he had learned to love his brother and had learned a great deal more about himself.
He thought about the conversation he and Todd had had just before they boarded the shuttle that would take him from the "Orion" down to Hawking's Planet
"Looks like you made it back," Todd said.
"Excuse me?" Mark answered, wondering what Todd was referring to.
"Special Missions Officer as a freshman. Not bad for somebody who screwed up the only special operation he was ever on."
"I've been working hard," Mark said.
"I don't question that," Todd said. "I've had my eye on you as you well know."
"Then what's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem. I wouldn't have given you the position, but Hunter did and I can live with it. The position is kind of being looked on as a training ground for command officers. Almost every ship has appointed an underclassman to work through the rest of the cadet senior officers. You fit the mold. Smart, athletic, good looking, well-connected..."
Mark interrupted him. He could feel his anger rising. "What do you mean by well-connected? Are you saying I got the position because my father is a captain?"
"Oh, not at all," Todd said. "I, in fact, don't believe that for an instant. I just said you fit the mold. And what I think, and what your peers think, aren't at all the same."
"They think I got this position because my dad is a captain?"
"You know how people think. Wouldn't you think that?"
"I suppose so."
"Look, Mark," Todd said seriously. "I've watched you work your ass off since that mess on the `Lexington'. You've impressed me"
"I have?"
"I know quality when I see it. And if every mistake we made as a freshman counted against us there would be nobody left to become senior officers. I just said I wouldn't have appointed you, not that you didn't impress me."
Mark was confused by Todd's contradictory statements, but let them slide. "It wasn't a mistake. You know what the story is. I helped my brother." God, how I hate living this lie, he thought to himself. Maybe I should just come out with the real story and get it over with. At least then he wouldn't owe Jesse anything any more.
"I know what the `official' story is. I also know what the real story is. The real story is your little brother saved your sorry ass that day. And don't deny it, because it's true."
Mark could feel the anger rise in him. He could feel his resentments for Jesse boil to the surface. Todd had always had an uncanny way of figuring people out, and he was right this time as well. He knew his silence showed he agreed with Todd's analysis, but he couldn't say anything.
"That's what I thought," Todd said, without revealing what it was he really thought.
"What's that?"
"My bed is always open to you," Todd said, once again changing the subject.
Mark blushed even deeper. "Not interested."
"Many underclassmen consider it a privilege."
"I don't. I'm not into that stuff."
"Not at all?"
"Not at all."
"Your brother's gay. You've never done anything with him?"
"How do you know all this stuff?"
"Not a lot of secrets in the JFSA, not even on a somewhat isolated ship like the `Lexington'. I have a contact on her. Nothing sensitive, but I learn things about her personnel. I like knowing who is who."
"I've never done a thing with my brother, and I certainly don't want to do a thing with you."
"Let me put it this way," Todd said. "I don't let just anybody spend the night with me. The crew knows it. You're spending a night with me will do more to make your next year smoother than any officer position will. Everybody knows I don't suffer bullshitters or slackers well, and that I have little use for people who got what they wanted by kissing ass or being connected. My ex-boyfriend included. It would be a plus for you, and something I can leave you before my graduation."
"So what you're saying is, I suck your dick you come to bat for me. And you just said you don't tolerate that stuff, yet you want me to whore for you. Isn't that being hypocritical.?"
"Oh, no, no. You read me wrong. I didn't say have sex with me, though the thought of it turns me on. Hell, you can spend the night on the floor or sleeping in a chair for all I care. Again, it's all a matter of perception. Your peers perceive your promotion as coming from your father. Your peers know I've been hard, almost brutal, on you. You spend the night with me, they will perceive it was in my bed, that I now accept you because I was willing to have sex with you. In a way it's being connected, but in another way it means you've already arrived."
"I don't have so have sex?"
"Hell, no. What do you think I am, some pimp? I'm picky about who I sleep with, nothing personal meant against you. But I'm even pickier about who I want to see rise on this ship that is soon to be my alma mater. You can be part of my legacy."
"I don't know if I like that perception, that I slept with another guy."
"You wouldn't be doing anything most other cadets having done. Sometimes you can be a bit too high and mighty. You remind be a lot of my former boyfriend." Mark, who knew of the history between Todd and Rich noticed that Todd hadn't referred to Rich as the CO. "And in your case, the perception will be that you slept with the best. Think about it, Mark. My bedroom in the hotel is open to you. After the Olympics we have the weeklong tip back to Earth for graduation, and you can come in there, too. No pressure. Nothing will be forced. I will even give you my bed and I'll sleep on the floor if you want."
Mark stayed silent.
"Mark, who is the last freshman rumored to have slept with me."
"Eric Volk"
"And it's true. And a good word was put in for him with the person I know will be my successor, but whose name I can't divulge. He would have gotten a good word anyway, because he's good. You don't need as good a word, your new position shows your work has been respected. Hunter doesn't play favorites. It's why he's a good captain. Tell me, what's the perception of Eric Volk?
"Before the rumors he had some issues because he blew out the warp drive on his shuttle. Rumors went around that he was a dork and shouldn't be a shuttle engineer. Now he's looked at differently because you accepted him."
"I accepted him because he's going to be a good engineer. I accepted him because he showed he knows how to handle a shuttle, and also has proved himself in the ship's engineering section. He's good and he's talented. It didn't hurt he was cute. But you know what, Mark? He slept on the floor. I never touched him, though I did get to briefly admire his naked body. I jerked off twice in bed next to him thinking of him. So you think about what you want and let me know. Like I said, no pressure. I won't bring this up again."
"So, all these guys who supposedly have sex with you just sleep on the floor."
"Did I say that?" Todd replied with an evil grin. "I'll let you in on a secret, but only because I'm within a couple of weeks of graduating. If you know the name of the boy who slept with me, changes are we never had sex. It's the ones you don't know I've had the fun with." Todd laughed and walked away. Mark looked at Todd, trying to make sense out of what the senior had revealed to him. Todd was indeed an enigma.
Todd was thinking about Mark as well. If graduation weren't a few weeks away, he would never have made his proposal. But he liked Mark. He liked how he'd not complained and went to work to redeem himself and his reputation. He knew he'd never get Mark into bed with him. He also knew just putting in a good word for him was good enough to impress the entire crew, but graduation was close, Mark was hot, and what the hell, who knew what could happen in a bedroom.
Mark stared up at the darkened hotel room ceiling. A strange conversation, he thought. Todd is a strange guy. Great at his job. Amazing at it, in fact. I like him and I don't like him. It just seems like a strange way to smooth things out. I wonder if what he said about Eric Volk is true; that nothing happened. Well, fuck Todd. I will get where I want to go on my own. I don't need a night in his room. He's graduating. I'm staying here, and I will do it my way. And yet, he couldn't shake the fact that Todd's proposal intrigued him. Graduating senior or not, Todd carried a lot of clout.
Mark tried unsuccessfully to get his thoughts on the upcoming games. He finally fell asleep, thinking of his own senior year and him as cadet CO of the "Orion".
Dr. Daniels sat at the barstool in the lounge of the hotel where they were staying. It was filled with SFA officers and other spectators who had come to see the Olympics. He sipped at his drink. He preferred sitting in a booth, but he was lucky that he was able to find an empty seat at the bar.
"Excuse me, Dr. Daniels," said Commander Creevey as she came up behind him.
"Ah, Commander Creevey, please sit. Have a drink with me."
"I'm sorry Doctor, but I don't have time. I am doing the last minute rounds for tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure that you submitted all the health certificates for the boys participating in the Olympics."
"All of them have been signed, sealed and delivered. Now please, let me buy you a drink. Doctor's orders."
"But Doctor, there is so much to do yet."
Dr. Daniels got a real serious look on his face. "Please Amanda, let me buy you a drink. It's the least I can do for the lady who's been tucking me in every night."
Commander Creevey cocked her head slightly. "You knew?"
"I've known for some time now."
"But why didn't you mention anything?"
"Some pills are hard to swallow. And the pill of moving on was a tough one for me. Look, it's getting hot in here. How about a stroll on the beach?"
Commander Creevey smiled. "Alright, but after the stroll, then I have to get back to work."
"Fair enough." Dr. Daniels flipped some credits on the bar counter, took his last swallow in his glass and headed outside with Commander Creevey.
"What's he doing in our room?" asked Spencer the Condor in a mean kind of tone.
"Brian is going to be the science officer on the `Raptor'," said Trevor.
"No fucking way. Not on my shuttle," said Spencer.
"Yeah, we don't need a handicapped boy on our shuttle. It was bad enough you let him come on the last couple of missions we had," said Phoenix.
"I don't want to hear it. He stays."
The boys begin to yell and shout at each other. Soon Brian slipped out of all the confusion with tears in his eyes. Maybe it was a mistake coming down here.
Jesse had come down to Hawking's Planet on one of the first shuttles from the Lady Lex, along with Scottie. Like Ben and Douglas, he and Scottie had two beds but only needed one. After the narrow beds of the Lady Lex, the luxury of sex on a big queen bed had been something beyond merely erotic. It had been three cums for the both of them. They were now both exhausted, yet were unable to sleep. They lay cuddled in the darkened room.
"Do you think we have a chance?" Jesse asked Scottie.
"Yeah, I do. I really do," Scottie answered. "I just have this feeling that every bit of hard work is going to pay off."
"Me too. I just wish I was better at hockey so I could help us more."
"You'll do better than you think. And you know you will make the `Wonder Boy' the best shuttle in the war games. You're the best shuttle engineer on the Lady Lex."
Scottie couldn't see Jesse's pleased blush in the dark, but he could sense his boyfriend's pleasure. The mood was short lived, however.
"I wish dad thought I was," Jesse said.
"Your dad doesn't know what he's missing."
"Yeah, he does. He's missing me," Jesse said with a giggle.
Scottie noted how Jesse was able to now laugh off some of his problems with his father.
"Have you ever thought about telling him what really happened between you and Mark?" Scottie asked.
"Would it make a difference?"
"Probably not."
"Then why fuck up his relationship with Mark."
"Because it might put you and Mark on equal footing."
"That would be the day. Scottie, I could score the winning goal in that hockey game and it wouldn't make a difference. For whatever reason, he hates me. And him knowing about us doesn't help."
"Do you want to quit being boyfriends?"
"No, no. It's just he will never accept me because he will never accept us. He never said a good thing to me about the play, and I was great in it. And that's not bragging; I know I was. And we both know how I helped rescue the `C.W. Murray' and I never heard a thing, even after Ely gave me an Engineering commendation. You have nothing to do with why he hates me, Scottie. He'd hate me even if we weren't boyfriends. And you know what the hard part is?"
Scottie knew the answer. This wasn't the first time he and Jesse had had this conversation. "The hard part is, you don't know why."
"Yeah. I don't know why. Oh, god, I must be boring you Scottie. I mean here I'm bragging about myself and asking you questions I've asked you so many times you have the answers memorized."
"No, you're not boring me. You could never bore me, Jesse. I love you too much."
"You know what?" Jesse asked.
"What?"
"I'm sleepy and tired but I'm too wound up to sleep."
"Me too."
"I wonder it it's possible for us to cum a fourth time tonight in this big bed."
"I wouldn't mind finding out," Scottie said.
A half hour later they found out that it was, without a doubt, possible.
Major Zjan-Ren sat in his darkened room, only illuminated by a couple of candles. He stood up and opened the door to his hotel room.
"Young McDowell, I thought you were spending the night on the ship."
"I was, until Trevor came and got me. Can I talk to you?" He had some tears in his eyes.
Zjan-Ren stepped aside and let the young boy entered his room. "Is there something on your mind?"
"Trevor made me the science officer on board the `Raptor'. Since he got promoted he had to give up his seat, and he gave it to me."
"Do you want this seat?"
"I do, but . . ."
"But what? I've kept a watchful eye on Ensign Collins the past few months. He wouldn't have picked you if he didn't think you could do the job"
"I know Zjan-Ren, but...I'm scared. I'm scared of the matches that lay ahead for me, I'm scared about being part of the Birds of Prey, and I'm scared that I will mess up again. The other Birds of Prey don't want me. They made that clear just a few minutes ago."
"Young McDowell, being scared is good. It shows respect for your opponents. But don't let fear rule you. Use that fear to help you defeat your opponents. And as for the other members of the Birds of Prey, once what they see what you have to offer, they will be very happy that Ensign Collins picked you."
"Zjan-Ren, do I have a chance of surviving the fencing matches?"
"Aye, a very good chance. You are a good swordsman Young McDowell. You are definitely on your way to find your balance in life. Now, since you're here, sit down next to that candle on the floor. We will spend the next hour or so meditating, and then off to bed. It's late, but mediating is good for the soul."
Brian and Zjan-Ren sat on the floor and as per Kriton tradition; the two warriors meditated and prepared their minds for what was almost upon them.
While Mark Hatcher nursed his conflicting feelings about his father and brother, other boys on the "Orion" were dealing with feelings as well. For David, his resentments were directed at Douglas, and then at the Triple Ls of the Lady Lex in general. Douglas had been David's rival all through middle school, until David had been accepted as a cadet on the "Orion". Although David had almost always bested Douglas, he resented that Douglas was always there, that he wouldn't go away, and that he always seemed to be there to challenge him in tough situations.
When David went out into space he thought he was rid of Douglas forever, only to have him appear as a cadet on that ship of losers, the "Lexington." But David still felt he had the upper hand, at least until the stunning capture of the flag in the war games at Phosphorous Prime, the theft of the "Orion's" own ship's flag, and the biggest embarrassment of all, Douglas making off with the "Ramses" and rubbing his nose in it with his cryptic note.
Well, Douglas has had his fun, David thought. I will see him on the baseball field and in space for the war games. Douglas might think he's in a game, but as far as I'm concerned this is war. Douglas will go down.
David lay on his bed reveling in his thoughts about Douglas, not totally realizing in his young teen mind that he had been obsessing over Douglas for years, and that his thoughts were nothing new. For reasons he would never be able to explain, Douglas had been his enemy since the day they met, and he couldn't think of anything that could possibly change that.
Harrison Wolfe fixed himself a drink and sat in his chair in the hotel room. He picked up the current novel he was reading. It was one of his favorites, A Wrinkle in Time. As he thumbed through the pages, his mind drifted to the visit he had with Trevor just moments earlier. Trevor was upset because the Birds of Prey didn't support his decision in recruiting Brian McDowell into the Birds of Prey. He felt that this was a bold move on Trevor's part. But he liked it. His protégé was turning into quite a decisive and dynamic leader. The kind of leader who one day would captain a starship.
Douglas lay on his hotel room bed. The euphoria of the Banquet of Rules and the intense sexual session he had just had with Ben had worn off. Ben was asleep next to him. While the hotel room had two queen sized beds, only one of them was needed. Douglas had felt the tension throughout the ship all weekend, as well as within himself. The Olympics would determine the future of many of the cadets, if not of the grand old Lady Lex herself.
Douglas remembered the day he found out he and Nipper would be pulled out of school and become passengers on this wild experiment. He remembered his bitterness and his anger toward his father. It was now hard for him to understand those feelings. The Lady Lex was home, more than his own home would have been without his mother there. He was with his brother and his father every day. He had friends and relationships like he'd never known before. And best of all, he had Ben.
He never for a minute regretted giving up his privileges as a passenger to become part of the then ragtag crew of the Lady Lex. That crew had done itself proud. It had become something no one, not him, not his father, not Captain Hatcher, not even the boys of the Lady Lex themselves, had ever dreamed they would become. They were indeed a crew; a team; a true ship of the Sol Force Alliance Junior Academy fleet. They were even going to be allowed to stay in a regular hotel, thanks to the efforts of Captain Watson of the "Bon Homme Richard" and even Captain Hunter of the "Orion", as well as Admiral Natter. Granted they had guards in each hall and didn't have a lot of the freedoms of the other ships, but they weren't restricted to some horrid barracks like they were on Phosphorous Prime.
Douglas turned over against Ben. How could he sleep like this? I am so nervous I can't stay still, and he is snoozing away!
There was a lot riding on these games; maybe too much. Douglas wished the entire fate of the Lady Lex didn't depend on winning. Why can't we be rewarded for a good showing? Why do we have to win? We don't have a chance of winning against long time experienced cadets like the "Port Royal", or against the unbelievable talent of the "Orion." Haven't we proven ourselves? Haven't we shown what we can do? It's not fair.
Douglas knew his dad was always telling him life was not fair. His mother dying took away one part of his life. The Lady Lex was now a big part of his life. He couldn't bear the thought of losing it as well. Even though he had no personal stake in the outcome since his family life with Nipper and his father would go on without the Lady Lex, he had an emotional stake. The Lady Lex was his home, and the boys of the crew were his friends. He would do everything he could to ensure that the Lady Lex would survive.
In the next room, Johnny Cooper was naked and alone on his bed. He, too, couldn't sleep. His chest and belly were covered with his cum. Jerking off usually helped him get to sleep, but he could tell that wouldn't be the case this time. He tried to remember the last time he'd had sex with someone he had wanted to have sex with. It had been Jessica, the day before he had given himself up in order to save the Mustang Gang. He had fucked her in her bedroom. Her parents had been downstairs getting drunk. He and Jessica were buzzed, but weren't drunk. The sex had been good and he had fallen asleep with her, after. He remembered sneaking out the front door sometime in the morning. He never saw Jessica again. He knew most of the boys on the Lady Lex had sex with one another. He knew most of them weren't gay, they were just horny boys like him. He had had more than one opportunity to have sex with a cadet, but it didn't interest him. His sex with other males had been too negative. Jerking off satisfied him more, or so he thought. The only girl on the ship was Hatcher's daughter, who was unquestionably cute. While he had no problem coming on to her, captain's daughter or not, she didn't seem to be interested. Oh well he thought, as he wiped up his mess, it's her loss. Still, she was good for a lot of jerk off fantasies. Maybe I should give her another try, he thought with a wistful smile.
He knew the real reason he couldn't sleep. The games had become important to him. The Lady Lex had become important to him. Win or lose, he was free as soon as he turned eighteen. He knew what he wanted after he graduated. He wanted to be a Marine like Sergeant Flint. That was just one of many reasons the fate of the Lady Lex was important to him. Flint kept reminding him that a Marine was part of a team, and that the team was more important than the individual. That meant the Lady Lex was more important than he was, especially given his position of responsibility. The successes of the Lady Lex were his successes.
The other reason the old dame's fate was important to him was that, for the first time since the days of the Mustang Gang, he felt important and worthwhile. He was once again leading his peers; his friends. The big difference between the Mustang Gang and the Lady Lex, however, was that he was now also concerned with how adults felt as well. Captain Hatcher had stuck with him through the worst he could dish out. The captain was like a father to him. Sergeant Flint had pushed him farther than he thought he could go. He took no bullshit. Johnny was in incredible physical shape. He was also strong mentally. Flint had a lot to do with both. Flint had been like a brother to him, maybe even more than his real brother had been. He knew Flint would never abandon him. Flint was a Marine, just like Johnny was going to be.
The other big influence had been Mike the Donkey. Mike was his friend, his best friend. Like Hatcher and Flint he refused to abandon him no matter how much he acted like an asshole. Johnny didn't know what he had done to earn the love and respect of people like Hatcher, Flint, and Mike. But he knew he was not going to let them down. If The Lady Lex didn't succeed, it wasn't going to be because of him. He was ready and determined to lead her and her...no make that his....cadets to the stars.
Scooter was cuddled against Jeff, unable to sleep. He thought about the past few days. How he had been accused of being the saboteur. How he was more and more certain the calculations he had made about the Kritons and the location of the wormholes meant something. How he wished he only knew what. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen involving the Lady Lex, and it wasn't the games that were starting tomorrow.
He pushed up against Jeff. He loved him. He had been sure of him since they met in the juvie school in St. Augustine, what seemed to be a very long time ago. Yet, the evidence had been in their cabin. Scooter knew it wasn't his. He believed in his soul it wasn't Jeff, and yet...what if it was? If it turned out Jeff was the saboteur, would he have the courage to turn in the boy he loved?
To Be Continued...