Chapter XXXI

“Okay, so – does everyone understand what’s going on now?” Mary asked as she finished speaking.  She looked around the room and found most of the participants nodding their heads.  Deborah, however, was frowning, and Mary crossed to stand in front of her.  “Is there a problem, Deborah?”

“Yeah – what if we don’t like this assignment sheet?  Wait,” she demanded before Mary could respond.  “I don’t mind helping out – I expect to do my part.  Like you said... we’re responsible for ourselves here, so we need to take that responsibility and not expect someone else to do for us.  But I really don’t want to cook.”  She looked around at the others.  “No one really wants me to cook.  Bad things happen when I cook, and I’m guessing we only have one kitchen to destroy.”

Mary’s eyes widened despite the smirk on her face.  “That bad?”

“YES!!” came the resounding answer from the entire Alpha team.  Given the nose crinkling and the faces they were making when they replied, Mary could only imagine the vividness of the memories they were recalling.

Mary cleared her throat.  “All righty then,” she drawled slowly.   “Let me take another look and see....” cutting herself off when Eli shook her head and stood.

“I’ll take care of it, Ms Wellesly.  I have a pretty good grasp on who should be doing what.”

“Why you?” Deborah interrupted, standing to her feet as well and setting herself for a fight.  “Why should you always be the one making the decisions for all of us?”

Arianna would have moved forward, but Eden’s hand on one side and Jacob’s on the other stopped her in her tracks.  She looked between them and let her eyes settle on Eden’s.  Eden held her gaze.  “This has been coming for a while, Az.  They have to get things settled between them.”

Arianna studied Eden’s expression, then turned her attention to the standoff playing out in front of her.  Even Mary had stepped away from the confrontation, recognizing the need for the team to establish a hierarchy within the ranks.  Arianna glanced back at Eden and nodded, forcing herself to relax in her seat.

Eli held Deborah’s gaze, then tossed her Pad on the table and shrugged.  “You want the job, Deb?  Please... be my guest.  You seem to think it’s some sort of power trip when all it really is, is a lot of extra work for me.  So please... please take it.  It will leave me more time to work in the lab.”  She turned and made her way to the door.  “But you better be certain you have the support of the rest of the team – this job is not something you can do by yourself.”  With that she walked out the door, never looking back to see the gobsmacked faces she left behind.

Without a word, Arianna stood and glanced around the room.  “I know who should be leading us,” giving Deborah a pointed glare.  Then she stormed out; not following Eli, but instead seeking out her family.  Fortunately, she knew where Joy would be, and she figured that the brothers wouldn’t be far away.  Eden waited until Arianna’s footsteps faded in the distance, then she stood as well.

“I hope you’re prepared for the responsibility, Deb.”  She headed towards the door.

“Would you support my bid for leadership then?”

“No,” Eden said plainly.  “Though I suppose you might be competent enough, I don’t think you’re the most qualified to lead.  And that’s what we need.”  She walked to the door, but before she could cross the threshold, Deborah called out to her.

“I never said I wanted the job.  I just want to know why we never get any input.”

Eden snorted.  “Really??”  She shook her head.  “Good luck, Deb.  You’re gonna need it.”  And with that she walked out the door without looking back.  Then it was as if Eden’s departure had opened the floodgates, and one by one the others left in a rush until only Deborah, Isaac and Titus remained in the mess hall with Mary, who pushed off the wall.

“Well, since my team has already taken care of their part of clean-up, I’d suggest the three of you get to work.  Because Joy won’t be cooking tomorrow if the kitchen is still a disaster area when she comes in.”  She looked at Deborah.  “You can post the new schedule for the Alpha team tomorrow so everyone knows when they have duty and what it is.  Good night.”  Then she left the room as well, leaving the three Alpha team members looking at one another.

“C’mon,” Deborah groused.  “We may as well get started.  I still have work to do.  Wait... where are you guys going?” she asked as Isaac and Titus walked to the door.

“We’re not on the schedule,” Isaac said with a shrug.

Deborah’s head dropped to her chin.  “I know you’re not; neither am I, but we need to get this cleaned up and I can’t do this by myself.  If you stay and help, I’ll... I don’t know, but I’ll think of something.”

“If we stay and help,” Titus said, “you need to support Eli as our leader.  She’s good at what she does, Deb.  She brings matters of importance to all of us to the table and listens to our concerns.  Yes, she may end up making the final decision, but not without allowing us to contribute first.  And frankly, I don’t need input on every little decision she makes – I don’t want it.”

Deborah studied him seriously, then let her shoulders slump in defeat.  “Fine,” she muttered.  “But can we get started?  I still have to return Eli’s Pad to her so she can take care of the rescheduling.”

“And convince her to take the job back,” Titus added.

“Dammit,” Deborah muttered.  “I’ll wash.”

“We’ll dry and put away then.”

************

“Whoa... whoa,” Nathaniel said as he settled his hands on Arianna’s hips before she could slam into him.  “Where are you off to in such a hurry, Little Sister?  We were just coming to find you.”  He jerked his head back at Joseph and Ian.  “We think it’s a little unfair that Joy’s already gotten all this bonding time with you, and we’ve barely had the chance to say ‘hello’.”

Arianna grinned broadly and extended her hand, waiting for Nathaniel to accept it.  “Would you believe me if I told you I was looking for you... all of you?”

“Really, now?” Joseph asked, offering her his arm and smiling when she tucked her other hand into the crook of his elbow.  “Well then... I think that calls for a drink.”

“As long as we don’t have to go to the mess hall, I’m in,” Arianna proclaimed.  The three men looked at her fretfully.

“Is there a problem?” Ian asked.

Arianna shook her head.  “Just a power play.  I prefer to stay out of it.”

“Good choice,” Nathaniel commended.  “So a drink then?”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.  Something with vodka, perhaps?”

Joseph laughed.  “No wonder Mama adopted you.  You’re a woman after her own heart.”  And with that, they headed down a section of corridor Arianna had yet to explore.  “Now,” he cautioned with a conspiratorial whisper, “you can’t tell any of your friends about this.  This area is supposed to be strictly for the people protecting the Alpha team.  But since you’re family, we’re gonna make an exception for you, all right?” holding out his pinky finger.

“Okay,” Arianna agreed with a hint of confusion in her tone as she studied his extended pinky.  Nathaniel took pity on her and pulled them to a stop.  Then he loosened his grasp on the hand he held, taking her pinky and linking it to Joseph’s.

“It’s a pinky swear,” he explained.  “It’s a solemn promise.”

“Ooooh,” Arianna replied as understanding dawned.  “Okay – I pinky swear to keep this a secret,” squeezing Joseph’s pinky briefly before releasing it.  She caused all three young men to chuckle at her seriousness, and it made her smile in response.

“It’s going to be wonderful to have you in the family, Arianna,” Ian welcomed.  He glanced at his brothers.  “Now we just have to figure out how to rig the comms to keep in touch while she’s gone.”

“I’m working on it,” Joey groused.  “But in the meantime,” tugging Arianna forward and forcing Nathaniel and Ian to move to keep up.  “Let’s go get that drink and get to know you a little better.”

Arianna grinned and they headed down the corridor together.

************

Eli settled back into her bunk and closed her eyes.  It was too early to go to sleep, but it felt so wonderful to simply stretch out and relax for a change.  With Deborah assuming the leadership role, Eli felt a weight fall from her shoulders.  Now it would be even easier to keep Arianna out of her sphere because they would have very little reason to interact except in the few instances when their work overlapped.

She tucked her hands under her head as a wave of lethargy washed through her.  She drifted into a twilight state and realized she could probably fall asleep if she was left alone for long enough.  That thought, however, seemed to be enough to disrupt her paradise... as just then a knock sounded at her door. 

Eli sighed.  She really was comfortable and no longer had the responsibility to respond to calls for her attention.  Just as she had decided to ignore the hail, another knock sounded, followed by Eden’s voice calling out to her.

“Eli?  Are you in there?”

Eli sighed again.  If it was anyone other than Eden, she’d simply ignore them and claim she was asleep if confronted about it later.  But Eden was her best friend, and she couldn’t treat her with that kind of disregard – not that Eden would ever let her get away with something like that.

“Eli?”

“Yes, Eden,” Eli replied as she pushed herself up and off the bed.  She shuffled to the door and pulled it open, not surprised to find Eden leaning against the doorjamb, but shocked to see the most of the remainder of the Alpha team standing behind her. Blonde eyebrows went into an equally blonde hairline and she looked around at everyone assembled in the hallway, observing the notable exceptions missing from the impromptu congregation.  “Eden?”

“Can we come in?”

“Why?  Eden, I’m not the leader of this merry little band any longer.”

Eden straightened and crossed her arms over her chest.  Jacob stepped up closer behind her, resting his hands on her hips in support and everyone else closed ranks behind them.  “As far as we’re concerned, you are.  I don’t know what Deb’s issue is – we can worry about that later – but I do know that we’re not willing to follow her.”

“Eden, if she really wants the job....”

“No, Eli!  Her wanting the job makes her even less qualified than my pukadog.  No one in their right mind wants that kind of responsibility.  And those that do are dangerous.”

Eli exhaled slowly, trying to release the tension she could feel climbing back up her spine.  She scratched the back of her head and shrugged.  “I’m not certain I can accommodate everyone, but....”  She shrugged and opened the door wider.  “Please come in.”

They filed in one at a time with Eden leading the way.  She walked to the bed and pushed Eli’s pillow against the wall so she could lean on it... only to find herself moved out of the way when Jacob took her place and pulled her down in front of him.  Mordecai did the same with Hannah and Luke and Danny took the last bit of space on the bed together.  Esther and Abigail took the chairs at the table while Naomi sat at the desk and Paul perched on a corner.  That left Eli standing, and she looked around at those she counted as family.

“So what can I do for you guys?” Eli asked.

“You mean aside from setting Deb straight?” Jacob replied before Eden could speak. “C’mon, Eli… can you honestly say she’s a good choice?  I mean, would you follow her?”

Eli leaned against the door and crossed her feet at the ankles.  She offered a small chuckle.  “In case you hadn’t noticed, Jake – I don’t follow anyone particularly well.  I have a tendency to simply take charge.”

“So that’s a no then,” he stated.  “Then why would you think we’d follow her?” gesturing to the others in the room.  “Eli, we all want this project to succeed... even Deb, in her own warped way.”

“Does anyone know what her problem is?” Danny asked.

“Besides being a 'ilio wahine?” Eden snarked.  “Whaaat?” she whined when Esther reached over and slapped her leg.  Esther pointed to Abigail who pointed to Paul who pointed to Naomi who pointed at Eli.  Eli just gave her a look – arms crossed and brow arched.  Eden snorted.  “That right there is why we need you, Eli,” causing both eyebrows to crease into a frown.  Eden rolled her eyes.  “Do you really think anyone here would have risked passing on a smack to me from Deb?”

“She’s got a point,” Naomi agreed.

“That still doesn’t answer my question,” Danny said, leaning into Luke.  “What exactly is Deb’s issue?  Is it personal against Eli or is she just looking for a power trip?”

“It is possible it’s neither of those,” Eli contributed, nibbling on her thumbnail.  “Maybe she just wants to be heard.”

“Then she needs to stop spewing crap,” Eden replied.  “No one wants to listen to that.”

“Granted,” Eli agreed.  “But I am still not understanding exactly what it is you would have me do,” looking around the room at her friends.  “She wants the job.”

“And you don’t,” Abigail said flatly.

Eli shook her head.  “I never did.  I took it because someone had to and I’m good at organization – which in this instance makes me good at being a leader.”

A light rap on the door caused Eli to jump slightly and break off her speech.  She looked around the room and sighed, knowing that whoever was on the other side was going to be someone she didn’t really want to have to deal with.  However, she had never been one to back away from anything – except Arianna – and with the friends who supported her watching her back... quite literally... Eli opened the door.

She wasn’t surprised to find Deborah standing in front of her with Eli’s Pad in her hands, but she was a little taken aback that Isaac and Titus were standing sentinel behind her. Eli cleared her throat and met Deborah’s eyes.

“Yes?”

“May we come in?” Deborah asked in an abashed tone.

Eli surveyed them for a moment longer then opened the door wider to reveal her full quarters.  “It’s your choice,” she offered, motioning them inside.  Deborah hesitated a moment when she saw the crowded room, then crossed the threshold.  Since they had argued in public, she decided it was only fair that they settle things in public as well.  These people had a right to know what was going on and why she had challenged Eli’s authority.  But first she owed Eli an apology.

Deborah squeezed into the corner by the desk, giving her a view of everyone in the room.  She sighed when she read the upset and discontent in the eyes facing her.  Titus and Isaac took seats on the floor to keep from blocking everyone else’s view, and Eli closed the door behind them before leaning against it once more.  The entire Alpha team, sans Arianna, was present, and Eli didn’t expect her to show up for any reason short of being summoned.  Eli gestured to Deborah. 

“The floor is yours, Deb.”

Deborah nodded and cleared her throat.  “First of all,” looking up from the floor, “I owe you an apology, Eli.  I didn’t mean to throw everything into chaos, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want your job either.  Don’t get me wrong,” she continued, holding up a hand.  “I thought I did, but what’s the point of leading if no one follows?  And even if everyone here did choose to accept me as the person in charge, I’m not really sure I want that responsibility.”

“So why challenge me, Deb?  What was the point?”

“I wanted to see if you’d fight for your place.”

Eli snorted. “Deb, I don’t want that place.  Why would I fight for it?”

“For the greater good?” Deborah shrugged.

“I took it for that reason in the first place, Deb.  But I’m not going to fight to keep it.  I was serious earlier.  If you believe you can do a better job... please don’t let me stop you.  I would much rather spend my time in the lab than in the office.”

Deborah shook her head.  “I really don’t think I want the job.  I just want....”  She blew out a breath and looked down at the ground again.  Eden’s lips parted impatiently, but a hand from Eli stayed her words.  Instead, the room remained silent as they waited for Deborah to finish her thought.  Finally Deborah took a deep breath and met Eli’s eyes once again.  “I’d like a little more input.”

Eli frowned.  “In what way, Deb?  I already hold council sessions about anything important that will affect the group as a whole.  And if I bring every single decision to all of you, we will never get anything remotely scientific done again.  We will spend all of our time making mundane decisions about everyday things.”

Deborah shrugged.  “I’m really not sure, Eli.  It just seems like sometimes we don’t have any say in what happens to us.  I mean – you even decide our menus.”

“Can I make a suggestion on that?” Esther asked, waiting for Eli to acknowledge her before she resumed.  “What if the person doing the cooking for the week makes up their own menu?  Or in cases like Deb, who we really don’t want in the kitchen,” drawing laughter from everyone in the room.  “She can make a menu for the person she’s swapping clean-up duty with.  That way she gets to choose a menu too.  We can turn them in early so we don’t end up having the same things over and over, but it takes some of the burden off you and lets us be more involved.”

Eli nodded her head.  “I like it.  Thoughts?” looking around at the rest of the team to find them in agreement.  “All right.  Each of you begin thinking about your menus.  I know we will not be using them for a while, but thinking ahead is easier than catching up.”  She looked back at Deborah.  “Better?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.  If you will come to me, or bring things up during team meetings, it will be easier to address each issue as it happens instead of leaving it to fester until something blows.  We cannot afford to be fighting amongst ourselves when we leave here,” seeing everyone nod their agreement again.  “Is there anything else?”

Deborah handed Eli her Pad.  “Yeah – we still need a kitchen duty schedule.”

“All right,” Eli said, accepting the Pad.  “I will take care of it and will send it to each of you when it is complete.  And Deb?” waiting for hazel eyes to meet her gray one.  “Apology accepted.  Now... everyone clear out, please.  I’ve got work to do,” Eli commanded with a smile.  Deborah, being the closest to the door, exited first, though the rest were quick to follow.  Eden motioned for Jacob to wait for her in the hallway, then she closed the door and turned to Eli.

“Eden?”

“I just wanted to tell you I’ll let Az know what happened here tonight.  She left right after you did, but I don’t know where she went.  She wasn’t in her quarters when the rest of us decided to come talk to you.  Still she deserves to know.”

Eli nodded.  “Thank you, Eden.  I appreciate it.”  She looked like she wanted to say more, but instead turned and picked up her Pad.  Eden took her cue and left, closing the door behind her. 

“C’mon, Jake.  I need to find Az.”


Chapter XXXII

More than a little frustrated, Eden headed to the room she knew Mary to be using as an office.  If worse came to worst, she would ask one of the security agents on duty to contact Mary for her, but if at all possible, she wanted to keep this private.

She trudged up the stairs, exhausted from what had already been an exceedingly long day. Eden stopped when she reached the landing, admiring the view.  The glass window overlooked the massive cavern, and only from this angle could she see the artwork carved into the walls.  She jumped and grabbed the banister railing as she whirled around as a soft touch landed on the small of her back.  Then she glared at Mary who just arched an eyebrow at her.

“Sorry, Eden, but I didn’t exactly sneak up on you.”  She jerked her head at the window.  “Pretty impressive, isn’t it?”

Eden turned back around slowly and let her gaze roam over the room on the other side of the window.  She nodded slowly after a few minutes’ observation.  “It really is.  Where did they come from?  Do you know?”

Mary shook her head.  “Only what the legends say – that it was the military men and women who served in this facility centuries ago who wanted to leave their mark on the world... so as not to be forgotten.  I would like to know what meaning the carvings hold.”

Eden leaned forward and squinted.  “So would I.  They remind me of the markings of my people – with meaning to the person who wears them.  These look as though they were personal to individuals that put them in place.”  She sighed.  “I suppose we’ll never know.”

“Not unless they left a journal somewhere for us to find, and after several hundred years....”

“Not very likely,” Eden said.

“Not very likely,” Mary agreed.  “Come on in the office,” heading back up the next flight of stairs.  “I doubt you came here for the view... remarkable as it is.”  She motioned Eden to a seat and continued on behind the desk.  “What can I do for you, Eden?”

“I was wondering if you knew where Az was?  I checked her quarters, but she didn’t answer the door.  And considering how angry she was when she stormed out of the mess hall earlier....”  She took a deep breath.  “That’s been settled, by the way.  Eli is still the Alpha team leader.”

“Is she happy about that?”

“More resigned, I would say.  But about Az?”

“I have an idea.”  Mary lifted her comm unit to her lips and toggled the switch.  “Ian, my son.  Are you there?  Over.”  It took a moment before there was a response, but when Ian came across the line, there was the sound of laughter in the background... one of which was distinctly Arianna’s.  “Well, that answers that question,” she muttered to Eden before she spoke to Ian again.  “Son, I can hear that Arianna is with you.  Can you give me your location?  Over.”

“No, Mama.  It’s top secret.  Is there a problem?  Over.”

“There will be if I have to come looking for you,” Mary replied sternly.  “I need you to bring Arianna to the office immediately.  Eden needs to speak to her.  Over.”

The laughter ceased.  “We’ll be there momentarily,” Ian responded.  “Out.”

“Mary, it’s not critical.  I was just concerned.”

“I understand.  And I appreciate that.  But the curfew is in place for a reason, and I’m not starting out the final leg of this project fighting with my children about following the rules.  They should be the first to follow them if only to set an example for the rest.  Would you prefer to speak to her privately?”

“I can talk to her on the way back to our quarters.  I just want to let her know what happened tonight so she’s on the same page with the rest of us.”

Mary nodded and motioned Arianna forward.  “Come in, Daughter.  You’re not in trouble, nor are your brothers,” seeing the three young men hovering in the background.  “But it’s almost curfew and Eden needs to speak with you.”  Arianna turned to Eden.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes, Az... of course.  I just wanted to bring you up to speed on what happened after you stormed out of the mess hall tonight.”

Arianna nodded and moved to hug Mary.  “Goodnight, Mama.”  The boys stepped into the room and claimed their hugs as well, then Arianna took Eden’s elbow.  “Come – before we’re late and our minders panic over our absence.”  They waved at the Wellesly family members and headed down the stairs.  Only once they were out of sight and hearing did the boys turn to Mary.

“Sorry, Mama.  We didn’t realize how late it was.  We were just trying to get acquainted with Arianna.”

“It’s all right, Joseph.  I know you boys have been anxious to meet her.  What did you think?”

“She fits right in, Mama,” Nathaniel replied for them.  “But I’m still a little confused on the relationship between her and Eli.  Are they mates or aren’t they?”

“Yes... and no,” Mary replied, motioning them towards the conference room.  Ian walked to the small wet bar she had set up, and began mixing martinis.  Though he and his brothers preferred a strong scotch, he was well aware of Mary’s penchant for a good martini after a hellish day.  And given the look of exasperation on her face, she’d passed that point some time ago.

“Would you care to elucidate?” Ian asked when he set her drink in front of her.  Joey and Nathaniel accepted their drinks with a nod of thanks, and Ian took a seat beside Mary.  “Mama?”

Mary swallowed the alcohol in her mouth with a slow release of breath, then met the eyes of the young men she was proud to call ‘son’.  She sighed and nodded.  “You need to know.  Most of the Alpha team is subtly trying to get them back together.”

“So they’re not mated?”

“They are – by Eli’s laws and customs, they are mates.  And in Eli’s case, they are mated for life.  Arianna will be the only mate Eli will ever know.”

“And Ria?” the nickname causing Mary’s brows to fly into her hairline.

“Arianna’s situation is much more complicated.  Until just last week, she was unaware of the existence of life mates or that Eli’s culture was based on the concept.  Her society functions so much differently – differently enough that she was betrothed to someone else after she was mated to Eli.”

“Her culture isn’t monogamous?”

“It is, but that’s not the point here.”

“Is anyone else as confused as I feel?” Ian asked, looking at Joey and Nathaniel who nodded at him.  Mary sighed and gulped the remainder of her drink.

“Okay, boys – try and keep up.  Eli comes from a society where every individual only has one mate... for better or worse.  They are incapable of mating with more than one person in their lifetime.  Arianna and Eli were mated without Arianna’s knowledge of this fact, and her father forced her into a betrothal after she and Eli consummated their relationship.  That betrothal caused all kinds of issues, and was the catalyst that tore Eli and Arianna apart.  The betrothal has since been broken, but the damage was done by that point.  Although Arianna has since acknowledged her feelings for Eli and Eli is bound to Arianna for the remainder of her life, they are not together.  Suffice it to say that Eli has determined that remaining alone is preferable to the risk that trusting Arianna again would be.”

A minute of silence reigned over the table before Joey spoke. “That is seriously messed up, Mama.”

She nodded.  “It is indeed, Joseph.  But repairing this situation is something Eli and Arianna both have to want for anything to change.  It won’t work otherwise.  Although, as I said, the Alpha team is going to try and subtly nudge Eli into accepting the truth between her and Arianna.”

“Can we help?”

“Besides being their friends?”  Mary shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I did my part by removing the obstacle of the betrothal.  I have since tried to stay out of whatever goings on the Alpha team is involved in.  Unless they ask for my help specifically, I am content to remain at the periphery of things.  They have to learn to settle things on their own... without any outside influence or interference.”

“What about the other?” Ian asked.  “I noticed security around here is running bare bones.  Has the threat been removed?”

“Not at all,” Mary responded.  “If anything, we’re at a higher threat level than we were before the kids went home.  That’s why it appears we are working with a skeleton crew only and that I’m relying on the defensibility of this secret location to provide adequate protection for the Alpha team.  The truth, however, is that I am fairly confident about who is the menace to the Alpha team.  And besides the units you’re aware of, I have a few other surprises in reserve if they become necessary.  Joseph, don’t forget you leave for the ship in three standard hours.  Ian, I’d like you to stick with Eli.  Don’t hover, but remain enough in her purview that she’s aware of your presence.  I’d like you to be there if she needs someone to talk to.  Nathaniel...?”

“I know, Mama.  I’ll make sure they’re briefed.”

“Thank you, my son.  Any questions?”  The three shook their heads.  “Then go.  I’m sure you two want to say goodbye,” gesturing between Nathaniel and Joseph, “and we could all use a few minutes sleep before tomorrow’s madness begins.”  She stood and they stood with her.  Mary exchanged hugs with her sons, saving Joseph for last.  “Be careful,” she cautioned, “and stay in touch.  When things start moving, they should do so quickly.”

“I will, Mama.  Try to keep him out of trouble for me, will you?”

Mary snorted.  “I’ve been trying for twenty-five years.  If it hasn’t worked by now....”  She broke off and kissed his cheek.  “Take care, my son.”

“You too, Mama.”  Then she turned and left the room, and the boys headed back to their assigned quarters.

************

Joseph arrived at the space dock without fanfare, and immediately met with the other members of the security contingent that were there.  They were the best at what they did, and by the time the Alpha team was ready to start arriving, they would have their work accomplished.

At the underground facility, a week passed as things settled into a routine.  The schedules Eli had written up took care of the kitchen duties, work assignments and laundry details.  Everything else, though, she left up to the team members – trying not to micromanage anything she didn’t have to.  Ian always seemed to be nearby, mostly unobtrusively, and Eli decided she would miss his presence when they were finally underway.

She had managed to keep her interaction with Arianna to one occurrence, but she wasn’t completely certain how she felt about it.  From what she observed, Arianna was too busy to notice... or even care, always surrounded by not only the rest of the Alpha team, but also those she now called family... and that hurt more than she cared to admit.  It wasn’t that Eli wasn’t included when she chose to be a part, but more that she felt cut off from the intimacy they all shared.  The words of the old man in the meadow haunted her thought processes, causing her to simply stop speaking in the middle of a sentence or halt work mid-step.  Fortunately, either Eden or Ian was usually close enough to prevent a catastrophe and jumpstart her brain back to whatever it had been focused on before.

It was becoming more of a problem than she wanted to admit, however, and after a week of confusion, Eli decided it was time to take matters into her own hands before someone got hurt because of her inattention.  So it was that the night before the Holiday of Gratitude celebration, she found herself seeking Ian out for counsel after the days’ work was done.

She wasn’t surprised to find him in the mess hall kitchen.  It seemed to be where almost everybody congregated during their time off – everyone except for Eli, of course.  There was simply no way to avoid Arianna there – she and Joy were forever concocting up something new with mostly successful results.  But Eli needed the ear of someone who would understand at least part of her story, and she only hoped Ian could be as unbiased as Mary believed she could have been.

The room was raucous and full of laughter when Eli crossed the threshold, only to fall silent when they recognized her.  Eden rose to meet her, but Eli simply shook her head.  Instead she met Ian’s eyes and jerked her head at him.  He understood and followed her from the mess hall with alacrity.  Silence reigned in the room until long after their footsteps faded, and when the noise resumed, it was a bare murmur.  Arianna met Eden’s eyes, the look on her face heartbreaking.  Jake stood and took her in his arms, rocking her while she cried softly.  Nathaniel and Joy exchanged glances, then he went to find Mary.

************

Eli was waiting for Ian when he exited the mess hall and he fell into step beside her without a word.  They walked that way for a while, doing a circuit of the parts of the facility where the Alpha team was allowed to go.  The rest of it was locked out and Eli was too preoccupied to even question why so much of the area was off-limits or why there seemed to be echoes coming from behind locked hatchways.  Ian made a note to let Mary know however, even as his attention remained focused on Eli.

After the first few turns of their second go-round, Eli took a shuddering breath and began to speak.

“Do you believe in guardian angels?” she asked so softly Ian had to strain to hear her.

“I do,” he replied without hesitation.

“Have you ever seen one?”

At this his brow furrowed, and he shook his head.  “No.  But that doesn’t make me believe any less.  Why?”

Eli glanced at him, then resumed her study of their surroundings – nothing spectacular... they were in an underground military facility, after all.  But one would have supposed they were encircled by ancient frescoes with the attention she was giving them.  “I have,” she finally whispered.

Ian waited, but when she didn’t continue, he prompted.  “You have?”

Eli nodded.  “Do you remember the last day we spent at home – when I went out hunting?”

Ian nodded.  He wasn’t ever likely to forget that experience.  He had nearly stopped breathing when he lost sight of her for almost two minutes.  It was only when he stepped to the edge of the woods and saw her walking back towards him that his heart had resumed a furious beat.  “Of course,” he answered.  “You scared the crap out of me.”

Eli smirked briefly, then her expression fell and her gaze went distant again.  “Sorry,” she muttered.  “What you saw and what I remember about that day aren’t the same thing, and it’s starting to interfere with... well, with everything.”

“Is that why you’ve been... ‘off’ so much lately?”  Eli nodded but didn’t meet his eyes.  “Tell me what happened to you out there, Eli.  Maybe I can help.”

Eli sighed.  “I will, but I need you to try and be impartial.  Can you forget that Arianna is part of your family for a little while and just hear me out?”

“Who?” he asked impishly, smiling broadly when Eli understood his intent.  “As far as I’m concerned, Eli, you are my only priority.  Talk to me.”

So Eli told him everything that had happened – every word the old man had said.  She even used his inflection; Ian didn’t bat an eyelash.  When she was finished she looked at him plaintively, but he didn’t speak.  Eli felt compelled to defend herself.  “I know what I saw, Ian, and I know what I heard.  I’m not making this up!”

Ian placed a calming hand on her arm, bringing them to a stop in the middle of yet another corridor.  “I believe you, Eli.  I don’t think you’re making this up at all.  But how can I help?  What do you want to do about it?”

Eli closed her eyes and blew out a breath.  “I would like to forget it ever happened... just make it all go away so I can focus on my work again.  I can’t afford to be distracted by this, Ian, and yet it’s all that’s on my mind anymore.”

“Have you considered following his advice?  That maybe your hesitation to do so is the reason that you’ve lost your ability to focus on anything else?”

Eli shook her head vehemently.  “I can’t, Ian.  I can’t go through that again.”

“Why do you think you will?” he asked with a puzzled expression.

Eli looked at the ceiling, scrunching her eyes closed against the brightness of the lights and the tears that wanted to flow.  “She... Arianna – she doesn’t care for me that way.  She never did.  I was just one of many to her, and she rubbed it in my face with her betrothal.   I know that has since been dissolved, but she’s not bound to me the way I am to her and she never will be.  She’s made that clear in the last week.  The only way I can maintain is to keep my distance from her.”

“Eli... have you talked to her about this?  Because I can state unequivocally that you’re wrong - about a good many things where she’s concerned.”

“I cannot take that risk, Ian.  I cannot expose myself to that kind of pain again.”

“Can’t?  Or won’t?”

Eli shrugged.  “In the end it all boils down to the same thing.”  She started walking away from him. Ian ran to catch up to her, walking beside her in silence.  When they reached the hallway that led to Eli’s quarters, Ian stopped her progress with a light touch.

“Let me think about this, Eli.  I’d still like to help if I can.”  He smiled at her.  “You deserve to be happy.”

Eli offered him a sad smile.  “Goodnight, Ian,” she said and turned and walked away.  He watched her go, then turned to go find his siblings.  It was time to put a plan into motion.


Chapter XXXIII

Ian and Nathaniel looked up and down the corridor before nodding at Joy.  If Mama caught them wandering the halls this late... especially this hall... there would be hell and back to pay.  But they had discussed it, and they all believed that it was worth the risk at this point.  Joy nodded back at her brothers, and knocked on the door.

Even through the thick walls, they could hear the faint sounds of someone grumbling on the other side.  The door opened with the pronouncement, “Somebody better be dying....” before the words died on Eden’s lips as her eyes widened at the sight of them.  She pulled the door back further and ushered them into her quarters, then shut the portal soundlessly behind them.

Eden blinked and rubbed her face, trying to force a semblance of wakefulness into her consciousness.  Joy offered her the cup of coffee she carried and Eden accepted it with a relieved smile.  They waited for her to savor her first swallow, then Ian cleared his throat.

“We want in.”

Eden frowned and looked at the cup, wondering if there was enough caffeine in it to give clarity to Ian’s words.  She took another sip, then looked at all of them with tired eyes.  “Okay, so it’s like oh-holy-crap-o’clock in the morning, and I’m really not firing on all engines yet.  Would you like to start over and bring me in at the beginning of this conversation?”

Nathaniel put a hand on Ian’s arm and waited for his nod.  Then he met Eden’s eyes.  “We know that at least most of the Alpha team are trying to get Eli and Ria... Arianna... back together again.  We want in on it.  We have some information that might help.”

“Okay... why?”

Nathaniel frowned.  “Why do we want to help?  Or why do we have information?”

“Yes!” Eden barked impatiently, then sucked in a breath.  “Sorry.  It’s been a hellishly long week... moreso than ever before.  I’m afraid if we don’t get this settled soon....”

“So let us help,” Joy offered.

“It’s not that I’m opposed to it,” Eden informed them.  “I’m just not sure what you can do.  I’m not sure what any of us can do at this point.”  She sighed.  “What kind of information do you have?”

“Eli’s not going to be the one to make the first move – she can’t.  Losing Arianna like she did nearly destroyed her the first time.  She refuses to allow that to happen again.  And she’s convinced that Ria doesn’t feel for her the way that Eli does for Arianna.  The last week has only reinforced that belief.”

“Crap,” Eden muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose to stave off the headache she felt blossoming behind her eyes.  “Well isn’t this becoming a cluster of mass proportions?” she griped, then looked around at her late night guests.  “You better take a seat.  This could take a while.”

Without another word, Eden moved to the machine tucked into a corner of the table.  “If you tell anyone about this, I’ll have to kill you,” she warned, “but I think we need it.”  In moments the scent of fresh coffee wafted through the room and three sets of eyes turned her way.

“Is that from...?” Joy started.  Eden nodded.

“Yeah – now you know why this has to remain a secret.  If word gets out I have this, everybody’s gonna want some.  And I won’t have any left to take with me.”

The three siblings mimicked zipping their lips and throwing away the key.  Eden laughed at the absurdity of it all.  Then she handed them each a cup of genuine freshly brewed coffee.

“So what’s the deal?” Ian asked after his first taste.  “Man, that’s good stuff.”

Eden grinned.  “I know.”  Then her expression fell.  “You say Eli won’t make the first move.  Well, Arianna can’t.  Eli effectively tied her hands... made her promise to keep things strictly professional if they were both to remain on the team.  I told Az to show Eli what she was missing by doing just as she asked... by being professional with Eli and the dork we all grew to know and love - thanks to Eli - with the rest of us.”

“So that’s what she meant about Arianna not caring.”

Eden nodded.  “Yeah, probably.  And it doesn’t help that Isaac is a little too friendly with Az for Eli’s tastes.  She tenses up every time she sees them together even if they’re across the room from each other.”

“Is he doing it to rile her up on purpose?  Is that part of your plan, I mean?” from Nathaniel.

“No – Isaac was never part of my plan,” Eden replied, shaking her head.  “We were just gonna show Eli what she was missing so she would accept Arianna as a friend again.  If they could get to that stage, I’m convinced the rest would eventually fall into place.  Unfortunately Eli’s made it impossible for Arianna to be in her vicinity.”

“Well I think Isaac is sincerely interested in developing more of a relationship with Arianna,” Joy stated.  “I’ve seen him trying to get her attention in ways that reminded me of....”  She turned and looked at Ian.  “Who was that girl you had a crush on in sixth grade?”  She waved him off before her could answer.  “Doesn’t matter actually.  But his actions around Arianna reminded me a lot of the adolescent boy you were then.”

“But she’s not interested in him that way,” Eden said.

“We know that – but does he?” Ian asked solemnly.

“No,” Eden said.  “And he won’t figure it out on his own.  He’ll have to be told... or shown.  The problem is that Az isn’t gonna tell him because she doesn’t realize it.  Since she doesn’t care for Isaac beyond friendship, she sees her actions as simply being nice to someone who is as socially awkward and clumsy as she once was.  She’s trying to make him feel included by being friendly.”

“And he thinks there’s something more to it – that she cares for him... romantically.”

“That’s what it sounds like.”

“Wow,” Nathaniel mumbled.  “This really IS a cluster.”

“Um hmm,” Eden agreed.  “The question is – can we do anything about it?”

“Pray?” Joy suggested.

“Well, I have it on good authority that the mechanical engineers – you and Isaac and Paul - will be moving to the ship soon to begin your final systems checks and things.  Maybe that will help.  And we’ll keep our eyes and ears open.  If we’re given an opening, we’ll take it,” Ian instructed.

“Agreed,” the others said.

“I’m sorry we came in the middle of the night,” Ian apologized, “but it seemed like the best way to keep this between us.  Especially since we didn’t know how much of your plan the rest of your team was aware of – particularly Eli and Arianna.”

Eden yawned.  “S’all right,” she assured them.  “Sleep is way overrated anyway,” giving them a grin.  “Besides, I have kitchen duty early tomorrow... probably peeling potatoes,” crossing her eyes in Joy’s direction.  The woman simply laughed.  “Why aren’t you in bed anyway?”

“I had to put the birds in the oven.  Some of us are still meat eaters, you know.”

Eden laughed.  “I know.  I still miss it sometimes, but we all make sacrifices, right?  Is there anything we can do now... you know, since I’m awake anyway?”

“Would you mind?” Joy asked.  “There are a few things we could get done in advance, and then we could catch a nap while Arianna takes charge of the kitchen for a while.  She’s getting good at it.”

“We certainly appreciate the effort,” Eden replied.  “The stories I could tell you about food disasters at the desert compound – talk about your learning curve,” she said, shivering delicately.  “Just let me go change into... not this,” motioning to her pajamas.  Ian and Nathaniel covered their mouths to hide their grins, but Joy just took it in stride and nodded.  Eden snatched up a change of clothing and disappeared into the cubbyhole bathroom.

“You know what we need,” Nathaniel said quietly when Eden had shut the door behind her.  Ian and Joy turned questioning eyes in his direction.  “We need a disaster… or something that puts Ria in danger.  I suspect Eli’s attitude would shift dramatically if Ria was threatened in some way.  OW!” grasping the back of his head where both Ian’s and Joy’s hands had landed in a hard smack.  “What the hell’d you do that for??”

Ian gave his twin a look that could have peeled paint.  Joy was a little more direct.  “Seriously Nat??  Have you ever heard the term ‘tempting fate’?  Do you want something to go wrong?  Do you want to explain to Mama why it did??”  Nathaniel’s brown eyes widened comically and he shook his head with great vigor, slapping his hand over his mouth.  Joy snorted.  “Damage is done now, Little Brother.  Better hope nothing happens to them... or you’ll be the one explaining it to Mama.”

Nathaniel’s head dropped to his chest.  “Tell Joey I loved him when he comes back for my funeral.”

“You’re dying??” Eden asked with alarm when she stepped from the bathroom.

Ian snorted.  “No – he’s being a drama queen.  Marines are known for that, you know.”

Eden cocked her head and narrowed her eyes at them, certain she had interrupted something important.  They held her gaze without blinking and after a short standoff she shrugged.  She was confident there was any number of things that were being kept from the Alpha team – for their own safety and otherwise.  She held out a hand to Joy.  “Shall we?”

Ian moved to the door first, cracking it open and studying the empty hallway.  With a jerk of his head, he motioned the rest to exit ahead of him, closing the door soundlessly behind him as he entered the passageway.  Joy and Eden headed directly for the mess hall while he and Nathaniel split up to circle around back to their quarters.  When Ian reached the end of the corridor, he found Caleb watching him closely.  They stared at one another for a long minute, then Caleb nodded and returned to his patrol.  Ian sighed and continued his walk.

************

The meal was over with many compliments to the chef and Eli had volunteered for solo clean-up duty so the rest could enjoy the remainder of their holiday in peace.  They would be pushing hard over the next three weeks to accomplish the rest of their tasks, so they would have time to spend with their family members while doing the interviews and things required of them before they finally departed.

Mary had done the same for her team, and though everyone had pitched in and brought the leftovers into the kitchen, she was slowly putting things away for later while Eli made a dent in the pile of dishes she was washing.  They worked without speaking – words not necessary between them for their work to be accomplished.  It was only when Mary picked up a towel to start drying that the silence between them was broken.

“How are things, Eli?” she asked kindly.

Eli startled at the sound and whipped her head around to meet Mary’s gaze before she refocused her attention on the sink.  She shrugged.

“You should know, Ms Wellesly,” she said with a small smile.  “You’re at least as busy as I am.  Is it really safe for them to go to the ship ahead of everyone else?”

Mary had announced earlier the imminent departure for Eden, Isaac and Paul.  It had been greeted by excitement from most of the team, knowing this put them all one-step closer to leaving.  Mary had noticed the stiffening of Eli’s spine at the pronouncement.

“I’ve had a security contingent in place there since I moved you kids from the hotel,” Mary replied.  “My best seek-and-destroy team is there and has gone over that vessel inch by inch.  They’ll keep your friends safe.”

Eli nodded.  “Thank you, Ms Wellesly.  It’s more than about the mission, you know?” seeing Mary nod.  “I never want to have to be the one to contact someone’s family to inform them that their ‘someone’ on my team has died.”

“It’s the most difficult duty of a commanding officer.  Certainly nothing I would ever wish on anyone... even my worst enemy.”

“So you’ve done it?”

Mary nodded.  “Twice.  Once to parents and once to a widow.  Both times it was heart wrenching.”

“What happened?”

Mary sighed.  “Assignments gone tragically wrong because someone didn’t listen.  In the first case, the individual being protected thought they knew better than the agent protecting them.  They lived, but it cost my agent his life.  In the second, someone was in the wrong place at the wrong time – my agent gave her life to protect an innocent child.”  She paused then turned to face Eli, who kept her eyes on the dish she was washing, though she slowed enough to show Mary she was listening.  “I’m going to ask you something,” Mary informed her.  “You don’t have to answer, but I’m curious.”

“About?” Eli finally asked when Mary’s silence went on too long.

“How are you doing... really?”  She held up a hand and Eli nodded and handed her the clean dish before picking up another dirty one.  Mary started drying and resumed speaking.  “I know something is bothering you – has been since you returned from your home.  I’m confident it has to do with Arianna, but....  Hear me out, please,” Mary continued when Eli would have interrupted.  “I understand why you feel the way you do – I don’t necessarily agree, but I do get it.  But there seems to be something more than just....”

“Ms Wellesly, please,” Eli pled softly. Then she took a deep breath.  “I’m sorry.  I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine.  I can handle this on my own.”

“If you’re sure....”

“I am.  But thank you.”

Mary nodded and turned her attention back to the dish in her hands.  She would talk to Ian.  Nathaniel had said Eli had spoken to his twin.  Maybe he could help.

************

Jacob found Eden in the vast open room, squinting up at the carvings he could barely make out at this angle.  He made a mental note to see if he could get closer later, and turned his focus back to Eden.  She didn’t flinch when he wrapped her arms around her middle; instead, she clasped them tighter and leaned into his warmth.  He smiled and rubbed his rough cheek against her smooth one.

“You all right?” he whispered in her ear.  She nodded and sighed.

“Yeah.  Looking forward to leaving tomorrow, and yet not really, you know?”  He chuckled and nodded.  “I need you to do something for me, Jake – I need you to keep an eye on Eli.  I promised I’d be there for her, but I have to leave.  So you need to be there in my place.”

“No worries, Babe.  I gotcha covered.  We’ll keep an eye on both of them and I’ll keep in touch with you so you know what’s going on.”

Eden smiled and turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.  “I kinda love you, you know.”

Jacob waggled his eyebrows and gave Eden a rakish grin.  “I know.  I kinda love you too.  What say you and me go spend your last night here together?  A little wine, a little music....”

“A little reason to be thankful?”

Jacob smirked.  “Lots of little reasons,” he countered, releasing her from his embrace and taking Eden’s hand.  “My place or yours?” he asked as they exited the room.  Her answer was lost as the door closed behind them.

************

Arianna stuck her head in the kitchen, biting her lip when she saw Eli stiffen at her presence.  She squared her shoulders and ignored Eli, heading straight for Mary who offered her a smile and an arched eyebrow.  “Yes, Honey?”

“Mama, is there any way I can go with the engineers tomorrow?”

Mary frowned.  “Is there a problem, Daughter?”

“I hope not.  I would just feel better if I could check on the fuission system myself.  I don’t think my absence would add too much to everyone’s workload here.  Most of my supplies have been checked, and those that haven’t are already on the ship.  I would just feel better if I oversaw that part personally.  That is going to be our entire power supply once we land on the asteroid.”

“I don’t see why not, Arianna.  Let me talk to Eli about it and make sure it won’t cause problems for the team members staying behind, and I’ll let you know shortly, okay?”

“Thank you, Mama,” Arianna replied.  She gave Eli’s rigid posture a sad glance, then left the kitchen without another word.  Mary waited until Arianna was gone to speak, but Eli held up a hand to stop her before Mary could utter a word.

“It shouldn’t be a problem, Ms Wellesly.  I’ll oversee whatever remaining work she had left to complete here.”

“You’re sure?”

Eli turned and looked at Mary with eyes blazing.  Mary blinked, having never seen the gray eyes be quite so green before.  Then before her eyes the fire died and the green fell to gray once more.  “I’m certain.  She feels she needs to be there, so we’ll do what it takes to accomplish that.”  She turned back to the sink and cleared her throat.  “I’ll finish up in here if you’d like to give her the news.”

Mary looked around and nodded.  “Thank you, Eli,” Mary offered, but the only response she got was Eli’s continued washing.  She decided to go find Arianna.


Chapter XXXIV

Eli glanced at Arianna when she walked into the room, then turned back to her work.  They were supposed to have the day off, but Eli wasn’t feeling particularly thankful and decided to put the time to good use.  Arianna stood at the doorway and just watched for a moment, then cleared her throat.  Eli finished her entry, then let gray eyes meet brown.

“What can I do for you?” Eli asked cordially without ever addressing Arianna specifically.

Arianna stood quietly, studying the shades of gray that Eli had become again, and her heart sank just a little.  It was only when she noticed the cocked eyebrow that she colored slightly and cleared her throat.  “Sorry... I was thinking and you know how that.... Anyway, I came to say thank you.  Mama told me you specifically volunteered to take care of the remainder of my responsibilities here so I could leave for the ship with the others tomorrow.”

Eli shrugged.  “It’s what is best for the team, right?  And that is my job as the leader – to do what is best for the team,” seeing Arianna’s shoulders slump.  She went back to her work, hyper-aware of Arianna’s lingering presence.  With a sigh, she turned to face Arianna again.  “Was there something else?”

Arianna searched Eli’s eyes, but they were completely shuttered against her.  She blew out a breath.  “Look, Eli... I know you agreed to do this because it puts some space between us and you need that.  I get it... I do.  But if I’m not here, that means you can reacquaint yourself with the rest of the team.  Don’t!” she commanded fiercely when Eli made a motion to argue.  “You’ve cut yourself off from everyone in an effort to avoid me, and as hard as that is for everyone to accept, they’ve allowed it to help you find some peace.  But it’s killing you, Eli, and it’s difficult for our friends as well.  It’s... I’ve watched your color fade from that beautiful green to a drab, almost translucent gray.  And I know what that means for you.”  Arianna took a deep breath, but Eli’s expression didn’t change.  “I’m sorry – I know I promised to keep things professional between us.  But it’s killing me watching you slip away by inches and knowing it’s my fault... knowing it never should have come to this.”

“Because you never would have mated with me?  Would never have consummated a relationship with an animal that you didn’t want to be committed to in the first place?” Eli asked bitterly.

“WHAT?!?  Where did you get that idea??”

“Your father would never allow you to be with me in any capacity,” Eli continued as though Arianna hadn’t spoken.  “Don’t think I don’t know what your people think of mine.”

Arianna frowned.  “What my people think about yours??” she repeated with a hint of confusion in her calm tone.  “Eli, until this project, my people weren’t even aware of yours.  How could they possibly have formed an opinion?”

“Because your father and the asshat you were betrothed to took it upon themselves to be certain I understood exactly what my position was in relation to you.”

“When did you speak to my father?” Arianna growled low in her throat, causing Eli’s hackles to rise.  She risked a glance at Arianna, and looked away quickly at the fury she could see radiating off her body. 

“It doesn’t matter.  You chose the asshat over me.  And your father gave me the reason.”

“No, Eli... NO!  I didn’t choose anything.  The betrothal was forced on me; arranged marriage is part of my culture.  It’s how things are done....

“You knew that... and yet you let us....

“You don’t get to lay the blame for that solely upon me, Eli.  You are equally culpable!  If I had been aware of your customs and if you had known mine, things would have gone much differently for us.”

“Really??  How do you figure?  Your father still would have betrothed you to that asshat,” Eli snorted.  “And that would still put us in the position we’re in now!”

“No – we would have made this work.  I love....”

“NO!” Eli bellowed in a whisper that caused Arianna to flinch.  Gray eyes met brown.  “No,” she repeated in a much calmer tone, her eyes shifting to some distant point.  “You don’t get to say that to me!  Not now – not ever again!”

The words caused Arianna’s ire to burn and she stepped right into Eli’s personal space and poked a finger at her.  “Oh. No. You. Don’t,” she decreed royally.  “You don’t get to tell me what I feel or how I feel or what I think!”  She took a deep breath and closed her eyes before she stepped back.  “Don’t let your hatred of me destroy the relationships you have with the rest of the team.  They need you... and you need them.”  Without another word, Arianna spun on her heel and left the room.

Eli stared at the empty doorway for a long time, then she took a deep breath and resumed her work.

************

“You all right, Girlfriend?” Esther asked as she and Abigail met Arianna in the hallway.  Abigail gasped and put her hand to her chest, the other hand reaching blindly towards Esther.  Arianna’s head snapped up at the sound, and a look at Abigail’s pale face convinced her to take action.

“Gay?” holding out her hands, and turning to Esther.  “I’m going to find Danny and have him bring some water,” she said, backing away.  “I’m fairly confident that she’s reacting to me right now, and a bit of distance from me would probably be a good thing for her.”

Before either woman could comment, Arianna turned and practically ran down the hall.  She hadn’t gone far before she ran into Ephraim.  He caught her by the elbows before she could plow right over him.

“Hey, Little Sister!” bending down to catch her eyes.  “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

She clasped her hands over his forearms to steady herself and blinked.  When she realized who was holding her, she gave him a shaky smile.  “Hey, Ephraim – can you call one of the other agents and asked them to take some water to Gay?  She’s right down that corridor.”

Ephraim frowned and immediately keyed his comm unit.  “Is she all right?” wondering if he needed to call for med supplies as well.

Arianna nodded.  “She just needs some space from me.  I was projecting some pretty strong emotions when I ran into her, and it took her by surprise in a most unpleasant way.”  Ephraim nodded his head and lifted his unit to his lips.  Almost instantly there was a response, and he gave Arianna a smile.

“All taken care of.  Dorcas was nearby and apparently heard the altercation.  She arrived almost as soon as you left.”  He tilted his head at her.  “Would you like to join me?” he invited.  “I’m going to meet the boys for some late afternoon recreation.  Joy will be joining us later – she’s still resting from what was apparently a long, fitful night last night.”

Arianna patted his arms and released her grip, grateful that he kept a steady hand beneath her arms.  “Maybe later,” she replied.  “I was just going to go lay down myself for a bit.  I think I overdid today.”

“Are you all right?” he asked with sincere concern as his eyes searched her face.  She was a little flushed, but her eyes weren’t dilated and she didn’t feel warm where he was touching her.

She offered him a small smile.  “I will be – nothing a little rest won’t cure.”  Ephraim nodded and tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow before he turned and headed them towards her quarters.  She walked with him, a puzzled look on his face.  “What about the boys?”

“They’ll understand.  What kind of big brother would I be if I left you to fend for yourself?  C’mon... we’re almost there.  I’ll send Joy to check on you when she gets up – she would insist and you know it.”

“She would,” Arianna agreed.  “Have I told you how lucky I think we both are to have been able to become part of this family?”

“No,” Ephraim informed her with a smile.  “But I’m inclined to agree with you.”  Before they could take another step, they found themselves face to face with another... situation. 

************

Eli heard security rushing by outside the workroom, and slipped down the hallway to find out what the excitement was about.  She was still seething over her combat with Arianna, and only when she heard Abigail whimper did she realize how effortlessly she must be projecting the sentiments the encounter had stirred. 

“I’m sorry, Gay,” she whispered.  “I’ll just go....”  Abigail nodded and gave her a grateful look.  Danny and Luke stepped into the breach.

They each took a place on either side of Eli and lightly clasped an arm as they started treading down the corridor away from the others.  “C’mon,” they invited.  “We were headed to the kitchen for another piece of pie.  Why don’t you join us?”

Eli looked like she wanted to argue, but a glance at their expectant faces made her swallow her refusal and give them a small smile.  “I’d like that,” she agreed.  Their jaws dropped briefly at her unexpected agreement, then they gave her big smiles.

“Excellent,” Luke commented.  “We’d better hurry, though.  I don’t think we were the only ones with the idea and I’d really like a chance to try that one pie Joy mentioned,” Luke stated.  “What did she say it was?” he asked Danny, looking at him over Eli’s head.  They turned the corner....

... only to find Ephraim and Arianna in front of them with Isaac blocking the way.  Titus and Paul stood behind him several meters away.

“This will be awesome, Arianna,” Isaac commented with loud enthusiasm.  Arianna cringed at the sound of Isaac’s vocal excitement.  “Now maybe we can get to know each other better,” wrapping an awkward arm around her shoulders. 

Arianna winced, and tried to remove herself from his grasp, only to have his arm tighten around her further.  Danny and Luke just looked at one another in dismay.  “I don’t think there will be much time for socialization, Isaac.  Our friendship will have to wait until we’re not quite so busy.”

“Friendship?” he demanded in an angry, petulant timbre  “This is more than just friendship, Arianna.  WE are more than just friendship.”

“This has all the makings of a disaster,” Danny commented, feeling Eli stiffen beside him before easing out of his grasp. 

“No, Isaac – we aren’t, and we never will be,” Arianna insisted.

They watched as Arianna physically lifted Isaac’s arm from her body and walked around him to reach her room.  Ephraim stayed with her and Isaac made to follow until Eli stepped in front of him.

“Let her be, Isaac.”  He narrowed his eyes at her and stepped into Eli’s space to glare down at her.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do – not about this.  This is personal... between me and her.”

Eli stepped in close enough to keep her voice to a whisper and her words between her and Isaac.  “No, no, Isaac.  This is personal between me and you – she’s mine,” Eli growled, her eyes glowing in her anger.  “So back off... or personal will become painful for you.  I promise.”  His nostrils flared in his rage and he clenched his fists until they shook with his fury but he nodded sharply once.  Eli raised her voice so the rest could hear her words.  “Let it go, Isaac.  Arianna has made her feelings on the matter quite clear.”  Before Isaac could react in any way, Titus came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Give her some space, man.  It’s not like you can’t talk to her later.”

Isaac gave Eli a sour look.  “Yeah... I can just find her later.”  Then he spun on his heel and stomped away.  Titus and Paul gave the group an apologetic glance before following. 

Eli met Arianna’s gaze and something flared between them, but before Arianna could analyze it, Eli gave her a nod and walked away.  Danny and Luke raced to flank her and they continued their trek to the kitchen.  Arianna watched them go until they were out of sight, then she looked at Ephraim who had kept his body between her and the perceived threat that Isaac had become.

“Are you all right?” he asked solicitously, smiling when she grinned at him.

“I hope that is not going to become your standard greeting when you see me from now on, Ephraim.  You might give me a complex.”

He chuckled.  “No, but hopefully we won’t be walking into a new crisis every time we meet either.  Now seriously... are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Ephraim... really.  I should have seen that coming, I suppose.  Because my life needs yet another complication,” snorting when Ephraim chuckled at the disdain in her tone.  “Now,” motioning to the door she had just unlocked.  “I am going to go crawl in the bed and get some rest.  I’m going to be going hard and long for the next few weeks.”

Ephraim snorted.  “You’re going to be going hard and long for the next few years,” he corrected her with a light laugh. 

“Good point,” Arianna agreed.  “Thank you for the escort, Ephraim.”

“It was my pleasure, Arianna.  Rest well.”

She waved at him and closed the door, locking it firmly behind him.  Then she shucked her clothes and crawled beneath the warm sheets and willed her mind to nothingness.

************

“I don’t get it,” Isaac grumbled as he grabbed a basketball from the bag by the door.  “Who does that 婊子 think she is??  Why does she always seem to have a problem with me?”

“The truth?” Paul spoke up unexpectedly. “You try to bully with your size.  It’s kind of not cool of you.”  

“He’s right,” Titus agreed.  “If you think about it, every time someone has stepped in, it’s been to prevent you from threatening someone smaller than you – even though the person stepping in is generally smaller than you as well.”

Isaac snorted.  “Everyone is smaller than me.  Practically everyone, anyway.  So I’m supposed to let them push me around because I don’t want to intimidate them with my size?? That’s messed up.”

Paul shrugged.  “Maybe.  But is Eli really a threat to you physically?  Do you need to stand virtually on top of her to make a point?”  He sighed.  “Like it or not, Ike, Eli has accepted the mantle of leadership for this team, and she’s a good one.  Try to show a little respect, man.”

“Why?  Why should I respect her when she doesn’t respect me... or anyone else for that matter?  Otherwise she wouldn’t always act so superior to the rest of us,” not wanting to admit he was genuinely afraid she could somehow follow through on her threat against him.

“Her withdrawal from the rest of us has nothing to do with a lack of respect towards us, Ike.  It’s more about her desire to keep her demons private and personal.”

Titus stole the ball from Isaac and threw it to Paul.  “He’s right, Isaac.  You don’t have to like her, but you do need to respect her.  We need her.”

“I thought we needed everyone on the team – that was kind of the reason we all got chosen,” Isaac snarked as he waved his arms to keep them both away from the basket.  Two on one wasn’t necessarily equal, but it was as close as they could get when playing against Isaac.  Even his natural clumsiness didn’t hinder his size advantage.

Titus rolled his eyes and tried to maneuver around Isaac to push the ball into the net.  Isaac knocked it away and went scrambling after it, trying not to trip as he ran.  Paul snatched it up and threw it to him, glad when Isaac caught it.

“Of course we do,” Titus agreed as Isaac started to dribble. “But each of us had plenty of replacements behind us.  Eli and Arianna didn’t.  They were essentially walk-ons.  No one else stepped up to assume the responsibility of leadership like Eli did and Arianna invented fuission.  Pretty much a guarantee for both of them.”

“So you’re saying if someone else had led us, Eli would be out?”

“Not necessarily,” Paul quipped.  “She is a chemical engineer as well as a medical doctor.  She has the scientific skills to have secured her place on the Alpha team.  But her leadership skills – the skills that turned us into a working team and helped us all to survive at the desert compound – that’s the reason she’s as close to irreplaceable as you’ll find.  None of the rest of us can do that kind of magic.  C’mon, Ike – you saw what happened when Deb tried.”

Isaac tucked the ball up under his arm and bit his lip thoughtfully.  “I guess you’re right.  I still don’t get what Deb’s point was if she really didn’t want the job.”

Titus popped the ball out from under Isaac’s arm and grinned when Paul scooped it up.  “I don’t know what to tell you, man,” he said as he ran towards the basket.  A jump put it in the net and Titus and Paul exchanged high fives.  “Maybe she didn’t realize what a chore the job really was or that no one had confidence in her leadership abilities. Or maybe Deb was just looking to shake things up.  She’s always been something of an instigator.”  Titus wheezed when he hit the ground flat as Isaac ran over him to get to the basket.

“Maybe,” Isaac agreed as he slammed the ball home then moved to extend a helping hand to Titus.  “But I’m not gonna let Eli push me around.  She doesn’t get to decide things for me.  She doesn’t get to tell me to stay away from Arianna.”

Paul cleared his throat.  “Be careful, Isaac.  There is something linking them you don’t want to get involved with... something there you don’t want to get between.”

“Besides,” Titus said as he leaned over with his hands on his knees.  “Arianna was pretty clear as well.  Don’t be stupid, Isaac.”

“I’m not stupid!” Isaac yelled, tossing the basketball against the far wall.  He sighed and his shoulders dropped in defeat.  “I just want her to like me.”

“Maybe as a friend, Isaac.  But you can’t make her like you as something more.  That has to happen naturally... or not at all.  And if you push....”

“Whatever,” Isaac shrugged.  “I’ll figure something out.  Thanks for the game, guys,” he added as he headed towards the gym doors.

“Hey... where are you going?  We’ve got a game to finish.”

Isaac shook his head.  “I’ve got work to do.”  He waved goodbye and walked out of the gym.  Titus and Paul looked at one another.

“I’ve got a bad, bad feeling,” Paul said.  Titus simply nodded his agreement as the two followed behind Isaac back to their quarters.  Maybe it was time to talk to the others.  Surely between all of them, they could find a way to get through to Isaac before it was too late.


Chapter XXXV

“Yeah, I’m coming,” Eden called out as she slid her arms into a shirt.  Jacob rolled out of the bed and walked into the bathroom, conscious of Eden’s eyes roving over his naked body.  It wasn’t like the rest of the team didn’t know he and Eden were involved, but they had no assurance that it was a teammate on the other side of the door.  And this close to departure, they didn’t want to give anyone a reason to disqualify them.  He turned as he reached the door, waggling his eyebrows at the lust in her eyes, then closed the door partially shut so he could still hear the conversation.  Eden reached the door just as another knock sounded and she yanked the door open....

... only to find Eli on the other side.  She growled at her.  “Eli!! This had better be important, Eli,” she groused as the shower came on to give them some privacy.  Eli looked around at the disheveled bed and the ‘just had great sex’ satisfaction in Eden’s eyes and blushed a shade that would have made Danny envious.  She started to back out of the room.

“Oh Eden... I am so sorry.  I’ll just....” stopping when Eden latched onto her arm with an inflexible grip.

“You’ll just come in and tell me what was so important you had to visit my room at oh-holy-crap o’clock in the morning.  Though if you must know, you’re not the first to come knocking on my door before daylight.  It seems to be a trend for me here, and I’m hoping it doesn’t follow me when we leave.”

“Well, I am sorry,” Eli said without meeting Eden’s eyes.  “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Eden smirked.  “You didn’t, Boss.  I wouldn’t have opened the door if you had been,” chuckling when Eli blushed again.  “So what can I do for you that you came to see me so early?”

“Arianna is going to the ship with you this morning,” watching something flash in Eden’s black eyes.  “She wants to check over the fuission components, and frankly I think that’s a good idea... given the threats that have been made against us apparently.”  She held up her hand and Eden sat back without voicing her thoughts.  She motioned for Eli to continue.  “The problem is Isaac.”

Eden waited for Eli to elaborate, but when she remained silent, she leaned forward.  “Would you like to clue me in, Eli?  Isaac is awkward and clumsy and seems to have developed an attitude about Mary, but I’m not sure I see how that’s a problem... especially since he’s moving out of her purview.”

Eli shook her head.  “That’s not the problem.”

“Then...?  C’mon, Eli.  I haven’t kick started my brain this morning.  You’re gonna have to give me more.”

“He’s decided he wants more than friendship with Arianna.”

“And?” Eden asked after a long silence.  “Eli....”

Eli stood and leaned so close to Eden, she could see green and gold flecks in her gray eyes.  “She’s. MINE. Eden.  I do not share well with others.”

“And does she know that, Eli – that she’s yours, I mean?  Have you talked to her about it?”  Silence.  “Eli....”  Eden sighed and ran her hands through her hair.  “You can’t ask her to remain alone for the rest of her life.”

“That’s what she’s done to me, Eden!!” her voice dropping to a whisper. 

Eden shook her head.  “No.  No, Eli – this is what you’ve chosen... because you won’t forgive yourself or her for rushing into something that would have happened eventually even if you had known about each other’s cultures.  There is something between you – there always has been.  But you keep pushing her away.  And eventually she’s gonna stop trying.  Now that she knows what it is to have intimacy with someone and not just sex, she craves it; if she can’t have you, she’ll look for someone else who will give her that.”

“No.”

“Yes, Eli.  Just because you don’t want her doesn’t mean she’s undesirable to everyone else.”  Eli dropped into her chair and covered her face with her hands.  Eden stood and touched her hair.  “Stay right here, Eli.  I’ll be right back.”  Eden crossed to the bathroom and walked in, and a moment later the water was shut off.  In a few minutes, Jacob walked out fully clothed.  He clasped her shoulder and squeezed lightly before moving to the door with Eden right behind him.

“I’ll let Mary know,” he whispered.  He glanced at Eli.  “Good luck.”  He brushed her lips in a brief kiss, then she shut the door behind him.  She went back over to the table and reseated herself, taking one of Eli’s hands in hers and pulling it away from her face.

“Talk to me, Eli.  What exactly is it you want me to do?”

“Talk to Arianna for me.”

“No,” seeing Eli’s head snap up to meet her eyes.  “I will help you in almost any way I can, Eli.  But not that way.  You need to be the one to talk to Arianna.  You need to settle things between you – one way or another.  I will, however, keep an eye on her while we’re gone.  I won’t let Isaac make her uncomfortable, but I won’t stop them from having a relationship if that’s what they both want,” wincing when Eli’s hand clenched painfully around her own.  “Eli... she thinks you hate her.”

“I don’t... I can’t.”  She snorted.  “It might be easier if I could.” Eli looked at Eden and recognized the distress in her eyes, and realized she was hurting Eden.  Immediately, she dropped the hand she was crushing.  “Oh Eden... I’m so sorry.”

Eden flexed her fingers.  “No harm, no foul.  I’m all right,” she said, giving Eli a smile.  “At least it wasn’t the other way around,” referring to her strength.  “I wouldn’t want to have to explain to Mary why they needed to rebuild your hand.”

Eli snorted.  “Me either,” she confessed.  She looked around the messy room with sudden comprehension.  “I’m making you late.” 

Eden shook her head.  “Not at all.  We have all the time we need.  Now what do you need me to do – aside from looking out for Arianna?”

Eli shrugged.  “I’m not certain there is anything you can do, Eden.  And I don’t know how to....”  She shook her head.  “Do you believe in guardian angels?”

“In theory?” Eden asked with a shrug.  “I suppose so.  It would certainly lend credence to some of the miracles that have occurred in my life.  Why do you ask?”

“Can you hear over the shower?  I don’t want to make you any later.”  Eli didn’t state the obvious – that what she needed to share was embarrassing for her, and though she needed to tell Eden, she didn’t want to have to face Eden while she did so.  Eden understood.

“As long as you come in the bathroom with me.”  Minutes later, they were ensconced in the tiny room – Eden underneath the warm spray of water and Eli leaning against the sink.  “So why the question about guardian angels?  Did you meet one or something?” Eden asked with a chuckle.

“I think so, yes,” Eli replied in all seriousness, causing Eden to stick her wet head out of the shower.

“Seriously?” watching Eli’s gaze go inward as she nodded.  “So what happened?” moving back under the water enough to be out of sight but still within hearing.  Eli told Eden of her encounter, and Eden shut the water off before Eli finished.  She stayed in the shower while she dried herself, offering Eli the most privacy she could for her confession.  Only when Eli was done did Eden speak.

“Is something like this common in your culture, Eli?”

“I’ve never heard of anything like it,” Eli replied.

“Do you believe?” Eden asked as she stepped from the shower stall.

“I know what I saw... what I heard.”

“Then maybe you should listen,” Eden commented as she dropped her towel and began dressing.  “If your angel and I are giving you the same advice... without knowing about one another... maybe you should take it to heart, Boss.  You know what scientific research says about independent theories colliding.  There’s got to be truth in it somewhere.”

“I’m scared, Eden.”

“Of what?” Eden asked as she started cleaning up her room.  It wouldn’t take much, but it needed to be done before she left... in case her family was brought here in her absence.  She waved off Eli’s offer of help and motioned for her to answer her question.

Eli sighed and began speaking softly.  “When we take a mate, we give them everything we have... everything we are.  It’s what creates the bond between us that sustains us for all of our lifetime together.  It actually makes death in our culture easier; both parties find comfort in their bond and it continues into the next realm... or so we have always been taught.  And according to the sister who was my brother’s wife – while of course she would prefer to have him with her still in the flesh – she can still feel him with her even though he has passed over.”

Eden nodded and took a seat beside Eli.  The cleaning could wait – she had the distinct impression she didn’t need the distraction.  “Okay – that’s a good thing, right?”

“Of course,” Eli assured her.  “It gives us hope and comfort.”

Eden’s brow furrowed.  “Okay... so?”

“That is only true if both partners are completely committed to one another.  If they are not....”  Eli shuddered and inhaled deeply before releasing the breath slowly.  “I put everything I was into my relationship with... her....”  She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.  “With Arianna,” she managed, and for the first time, Eden heard the agony in Eli’s voice and not the cold anger she had believed Eli had always been projecting when she spoke of Arianna.  “And she destroyed me with it.  When I found out it was one-sided... Eden, I was devastated.  I cannot go through that again.  I can’t risk it.  It would kill me... literally.”  Eli gasped and clutched her hand to her chest, her face ashen and wan.  “But I can’t watch her be betrothed to another either.  I am not strong enough to endure that again.  It would be better to quit.”

“No,” Eden insisted fiercely.  “I don’t think so, Boss.”  Eden cupped Eli’s face gently and let their eyes meet.  “Do you trust me?”

“Only with my life,” Eli responded without thought.

“Then trust me on this – Arianna feels the same way you do, but she is still learning how to show that part of herself to you.  Or she was before you cut her from your life so spectacularly.”  Eden reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose, trying to stave off the pounding headache she could feel forming.  “Take the restriction away from her.”

“Excuse me?”

Eden glared at Eli.  “Take the interaction restriction away from her.  Let her be more than professional with you.  Let her be your friend.  Start from the beginning and rebuild the friendship you knew, but this time – share everything... even the stupid stuff.  Warrior up, Eli – stop being a po'o-kanaka.”

Eli frowned.  “I don’t want to know what that means, do I?”

Eden snorted.  “Your makuahine would disown you if she knew you’d become so spineless.”

“Excuse me?” brow arching and face flushing with anger.  “What did you just say?”

“You heard me.  So I’ll tell you what, Boss,” Eden said with a sneer as she rose and began cleaning up once more.  “You decide if you’re smart enough to be brave – if you’re brave enough to be smart.  If you find your lady hua, the engineering team will be in the cavern in two hours.  You come and say goodbye.  If you call Arianna ‘Angel’, I’ll know that you want to start over with her.  If not....”  Eden shrugged.  “I’m sure Mary can get you out of here and send you back to your makuahine.  She can probably even arrange it so you don’t look like a po'o-kanaka too.”

“You’re deliberately trying to anger me,” Eli accused.

Eden nodded.  “Is it working?  Because I’m tired of your moping – I want you to be fierce and brash and awesome again.  We need that woman back, Eli... and so do you.”

Eli rose and walked to the door, opening it without crossing the threshold.  With her back still towards Eden, she spoke.  “Thank you, Eden.  I know you’re angry with me, but you’ve never once been dishonest.  And I value that characteristic greatly.”

“Good luck, Boss.”

Eli nodded and strode out the door, closing it softly behind her.  Eden stared at the door a long moment, then with a shake of her head, she returned to her prep work... confident she would be having more company in five... four... three….

 
A knock on the door interrupted her count and Eden smirked.  So close.  Then she crossed the room and opened the door, not surprised to find Jacob and Mary waiting patiently for her on the other side.  She simply opened the door wider, then shut it soundlessly behind them once they were safely inside.

************

“If he gives you any issue, Ria, you talk to Joey,” cutting his eyes to where Isaac stood observing them with anger and frustration in his expression.  “I don’t like the way he’s watching you, Little Sister.  Joey won’t hurt him, but Isaac will understand to leave you alone.”

“I can handle Isaac, Nat – I’ll be all right.  But,” she continued when Nathaniel opened his mouth to protest.  “I promise I’ll talk to Joey when I arrive.  He can keep an eye on me – I’m used to that, you know.  Besides, I expect Eden will be looking out for me as well.”

Joy tilted her head to one side.  “Why do you say that?  I didn’t think you were friends.”

Arianna chuckled.  “It’s complicated.  We’re just now becoming friends, but she will watch over me as long as Eli is not around.  She always has – I think it’s become ingrained in her nature.”

“She spies on you?” Ian asked.  Arianna shook her head.

“No, no – nothing like that.  It’s....  When we first arrived at the compound and Eli befriended me, Eden and I had an uneasy alliance.  I had never had too many real friends, and no one had ever given me the kind of chance Eli did after just one meeting.  So I wanted to be selfish with Eli – I wanted her attention as often as I could have it.  Eden, on the other hand, was concerned I was out to usurp her authority as Eli’s second-in-command.  So we mostly danced around one another without truly interacting.  But anytime Eli was unavailable, Eden was always right there for me even if it was just to stop the others from making me uncomfortable.”

“Does she know about Isaac?”

Arianna snorted.  “If she doesn’t, it’s only because she hasn’t left her room since the holiday meal yesterday.  I’m pretty sure that made the rounds before I fell asleep yesterday afternoon.  I love Danny, but he does have a tendency to talk.”

“Can’t keep a secret?” Ephraim asked with a smile.

“Not if his life depended on it,” Arianna assured him.  “We learned quickly not to tell him anything we didn’t want shared with everyone.  He doesn’t do it to be malicious; he just likes to talk to everyone about everything.”  She looked around the room, noting the entire Alpha team was present with the exception of Eden and Eli.  She scowled.  “What’s the delay?  We were supposed to leave an hour ago.  And where’s Mama?”

“She’s the reason for the delay,” not wanting to put the blame on Eden in case the motive behind her request was secretive.  “Something came up, and Mama didn’t want to miss saying goodbye.  All she told us was that the departure time was being pushed back to accommodate a scheduling issue.”

“Am I late?” Eden asked as she breezed into the room.

“Not at all,” Arianna said as Eden approached them and dropped her bag at her feet. 

Eden blew a breath out, pushing her hair back from her forehead.  “Good.  I needed that extra hour.”

Arianna smirked.  “Saying goodbye to Jacob?” she asked coyly.

Eden smirked but couldn’t stop the flush that crawled up her face.  “Now, Az... I don’t kiss and tell.  You know that.”  She looked around, noting Mary’s and Eli’s absence.  “What’s the hold-up?”

“Mama.  She had something to take care of, but she wanted to say goodbye so....”

At that moment, Mary and Eli stepped into the room together and every eye turned in their direction.  Arianna broke the spell, opening her arms and heading into Mary’s embrace.  “Mama!”  Mary returned the hug and Eli walked around them where Isaac and Paul stood waiting to leave.

“Good luck, gentlemen,” she offered.  Isaac nodded but otherwise didn’t respond.  Paul unexpectedly opened his arms for a hug and curious, Eli obliged him.

“I’ll try to get him to understand, boss,” Paul whispered in her ear.

Eli pulled back and smiled at him.  “Thanks, Paul.”  He squeezed her biceps, then released her.  Eli crossed the room to claim a hug from her lieutenant.

“Thank you, Eden,” she whispered in Eden’s ear.  “I needed that.”

Eden leaned back and smirked.  “I know.  Why do you think I did it?”

Eli narrowed her eyes.  “Some days you’re simply too smart for your own good, Eden.”

“True, but what would you do without me?” Eden asked, waggling her eyebrows.  She jerked her head slightly.  “I think someone is waiting to say goodbye.”

“Be safe, my friend,” Eli offered sincerely before releasing their embrace.  Then Eli turned to find Arianna standing defiantly behind her, hand extended and jaw set in an effort to maintain her professionalism as she said goodbye.  Eli captured Arianna’s right hand in her left and tugged Arianna a little closer, twining their fingers together.  Arianna’s brow furrowed in confusion, and she looked at Eli with something akin to pain in her eyes.  Eli gently cupped her cheek as gray eyes met and held brown.  “I’m sorry, Angel,” she said, not whispering but speaking only loud enough for the two of them to hear.  “I have been unfair to you, and I’m sorry.”

“Eli?”

“I know you have to go, but you should know I have been wrong about a great many things, Angel.  I would ask that you take the time we are apart and consider if you would allow me another chance – a chance to forgive us both for the mistakes we made and an opportunity to start over... to rebuild our friendship and see where it leads.”

“You would be willing...?  But why?”

“Because with you I have the prospect of happiness and the possibility of forever.”

“You’ve always had that, Eli.  Why now?”

Eli shook her head.  “You think about it and decide.  And when you come back, I will share my reasons even if you choose not to allow me to be part of your life again.”

Arianna nodded slowly, and Eli brushed a kiss over her forehead before releasing her hold.  “Be safe, Angel,” she offered, then she turned and walked out of the room without a backwards glance.  Eden nodded in satisfaction.  She might have to talk to Arianna after all – just for research purposes of course.  Then Mary was calling them together and giving them last-minute instructions.  And in mere moments, they were gone.


Chapter XXXVI

“What did you say to her, Eden?” Arianna asked as they situated themselves on the transport.  Isaac made like he was going to force himself between them, but thought better of it when both Eden and Arianna gave him a look that nearly peeled the skin from his body.  Instead, he took a seat near the back of the shuttle with a scowl and Arianna and Eden claimed the front for themselves.

Eden shrugged.  “What did she say to you, Az?”  Arianna squirmed in her seat, fidgeting until Eden put a hand on her arm.  “Az?”

“She apologized to me, Eden.  She apologized and asked me for a second chance.  She was so dead-set against... everything to do with me, really.  So something or someone must have changed her mind.  I figured that was the real reason you and she were the last people to arrive in the big room.”

Black eyes held brown as they studied one another.  Finally Eden nodded.  “She came to my room before breakfast this morning, Az.  What she shared with me she’ll have to tell you herself.  What I told her was to lady up and grow a pair – that I was sick and tired of her spinelessness.”

Arianna eyes widened in surprise.  “Did you really?”

“I did,” she nodded emphatically.  “She doesn’t get to have it both ways.”

“I didn’t realize she was... having it both ways, I mean.”

“She was trying to.  Arianna,” Eden said seriously, her address garnering Arianna’s close attention.  “She never stopped loving you – she never will.  That’s what’s been ripping her apart.  She’s afraid to trust that you feel the same.”  Eden held up a hand.  “Get her to tell you about it when we get back.  But Az....” staring into brown eyes.  “If you forgive her... really forgive her and you’re willing to give her a second chance – make sure you understand what that means... what you’re getting into.”

“You’re afraid for her.”

Eden nodded.  “I’m afraid for you both.  I know what this did to both of you; I don’t want to see it happen again.  So please be sure.”

Arianna nodded slowly.  “I will, Eden.  And thank you... for caring.”

Eden shrugged.  “That’s what friends do, right?”

“Right,” Arianna replied with a bright smile.  Then they turned their attention to the ship they were gradually approaching.

************

“Ms Wellesly?” the comm chirped and Mary’s head dropped when she recognized the voice.   “Ms Wellesly, this is Chairman McMurtry.  Are you available for a video chat?”

“Madame Chairman,” she greeted cordially, allowing the woman visual access.  “Was there something unclear about my directive that you not contact me?”

McMurtry’s features hardened.  “Tread lightly, Ms Wellesly.  You are still very much in trouble for the insubordination and disrespect you have shown to this Committee.”

“And as you fired me, I don’t even owe you the time of day, Madame Chairman.  So why exactly do you think it was a good idea to contact me?”  Mary maintained her stoic expression, but she couldn’t stop the smirk she felt forming inside when the Chairman’s jaw clenched in frustration.

“We need to know where you’re keeping the Alpha team.”

“No.”

“Excuse me??”

“Which part of that was unclear, Madame Chairman?  I’m not going to tell you where those kids are.  That is privileged information and you don’t need to know at this time.”

“And why do you?” McMurtry sneered.  “You’re not their security detail anymore.”

This time, Mary did smirk.  “Not according to you, perhaps.  But I answer to a higher authority.”

She watched the color drain from McMurtry’s face.  “You work for the Council?”

“I do indeed.  But Madame Chairman – you need to understand that I would still be safeguarding those kids even if I didn’t.  They should be the first priority.”

“Why do you persist in believing that the Committee doesn’t have their best interests at heart?  After all... we’ve done everything we can to ensure the success of this project.”

“Madame Chairman – no disrespect intended, but those are two completely different goals.  And I’m not convinced everyone is after the same thing – not after the threats that have been made.  Like it or not, the Alpha team is safest with no one aware of their actual whereabouts.”

McMurtry grudgingly nodded.  “Do you have an estimate on when we will be allowed to...?”

“You want your moment of glory?” Mary asked with a raised eyebrow.  McMurtry frowned.  “Madame Chairman, I’m sure the Committee will be part of the commissioning ceremonies.  So you’ll see them there if the situation has not resolved itself before then.  And the interviews for the various interstellar press agencies are being handled as we speak.”  Mary paused.  “Was there anything else?”

“No thank you, Ms Wellesly.  You’ve been as helpful as always – although that’s not saying much.”

“I live to serve, Madame Chairman.  I’ll be in touch.”  Mary leaned forward and cut the connection before McMurtry could even think to reply.  Then she leaned back in her chair and steepled her hands together thoughtfully.  It was curious that the Chairman had contacted her, and Mary wondered what the purpose behind it had been.  She decided it was time to move things forward, and sent out a memo to her team leaders.  They needed to finalize their plans.

************

“I have to admit,” Deborah commented to the rest of her teammates as they exited the conference room, “this has been the worst part of this whole process as far as I’m concerned.”  She took a long drink of water.  “My throat is killing me; even my tongue hurts.”

“I agree,” Naomi nodded.  “Do we really need to do separate interviews for every single interstellar news agency in the universe??  Why did Mary...?”

Eli shook her head.  “I am fairly confident that Ms Wellesly had nothing to do with making the schedule.  She’s just sticking to what she was given.  It’s one of those not-worth-fighting-for things.  Doing things this way – the way the Committee envisioned – makes everyone happy... relatively speaking.  We just have to endure a little longer.”

“Girlfriend, the way we’ve been enduring, we should all be fossilized by now,” Esther commented.  A number of heads nodded their agreement.  “I’m thinking the actual mission is going to be a load of stress off of all of us.”

“Even with the expectations that will be accompanying us?” Hannah asked.  “Seems like that would make it worse.”

“I don’t think so,” Mordecai responded before Esther could speak.  “Here, we’ve been under intense scrutiny from everyone in the galaxy for a long time – always someone watching... anticipating results or failure.  Out there, it’ll just be us – our success or our failure.  Even though they will still be watching, it won’t affect what we do and how we do it.  They won’t be there.  I think the distance between will make it easier.”  He shrugged.  “My opinion anyhow.”

Esther pointed in Mordecai’s direction.  “What he said.”

“Does anyone else ever get the feeling we’re somehow jinxed?”  The question brought all eyes to Luke’s face, and he hurried to continue his thought.  “It just seems like things never go quite right for us.”  He turned his attention to Eli and the rest followed suit.  She held up a hand.

“Team meeting in my quarters after evening meal.  Jake, you’re with me.”  Without another word, she turned and left with Jacob hot on her heels.  The others watched them go before Danny spoke up.

“You don’t suppose....”

“She’s more settled,” Abigail offered.  “She’s more like the Eli we knew in the desert compound.  There’s a calmness... a sense of purpose to her again.”

“So something did happen yesterday,” Danny exclaimed.

“Oh... you bet it did,” Hannah replied.  “She called Arianna ‘Angel’ again.”  A cheer broke out among them and the security agent stationed in the hallway just smiled.  It was good to see enthusiasm from these kids again.  They deserved to celebrate.

************

“So what’s up, Boss?” Jacob asked as she ushered him into her room and closed the door behind them.  “Is everything okay?”

Eli snorted.  “I am pretty sure everything is not okay, but it’s definitely better than it has been.  Are you keeping in touch with Eden?”

“As much as I can, I will, yeah,” he nodded.  “They are crazy busy up there already, but she says things are going good – they settled in immediately and got right to work.  Isaac seems to be minding his business at the moment, and Az talked to that Joey guy as soon as they arrived.  Eden said Mary’s boys insisted.”  He shrugged.  “I’m glad they’ve got someone watching their backs, you know?”

“Yes... I do know.  Thank you, Jake.  I appreciate....”  He held up his hand.

“I’m glad to be able to do it, Eli.  You know we’re all pulling for you both, right?”

Eli smirked.  “Well, most of you, anyway.  And I have Eden to apply a swift strike to my posterior quarters should my head ever again become lodged in that particular cavity.  However,” she went on as he unraveled her colloquialism, “at this moment, I’m in need of your hacking skills.”

Jacob crossed his arms over his chest and nodded at her seriously.   “Name it, Boss.”

“I need you to start doing some research on the Committee to begin with, and depending on what you find, I’ll let you know how to proceed from there.  Now that I’ve finally taken control of my life again, I realize that we should be doing something to eliminate the threat against us.  Or at least learn as much as we can so we can try to prepare for any eventuality.”

“So you think the Committee...?”

“I know that Mary is unhappy enough with them that she went around them to remove us from their purview without their knowledge or consent.  And since they dismissed her from service, she has cut them from the information loop.  As far as I am aware, they’re not even aware of our location.  That alone gives me reason enough for pause.”

“All right,” he nodded, cracking his fingers.  “What am I looking for?”

“I’m not certain.  If I knew....”

“... I wouldn’t be looking,” Jacob supplied.  “We’d have our proof.”

“Exactly,” Eli agreed.  “I’m sorry, Jacob.  I wish I could tell you.”

Jacob waved her off.  “S’okay, Boss.  It’ll just take me a little while longer to find it since I’ll have to make it a broader search.  But when I figure out what’s hinky, you’ll be the first to know.  Lemme go grab my Pad, then if it’s okay with you, I’ll hang here and work until everyone else gets here.  I’ll miss the meeting otherwise.  You know how I get.”

Eli chuckled softly.  “I do indeed.  Thank you, Jake.  I can’t tell you how much....”

“I’m so glad to have you back, Eli, that I’d be thrilled to do it even if it wasn’t personal.  But this?  This is personal – this is about all of us.  I’m just glad we’re finally going proactive on it.  Wish I’d thought to do it before, you know?”

Eli shrugged.  “My fault.  I’ve been so busy reacting that I lost sight of what it was to act first.  Eden was right – my MaTb would be ashamed if she knew how spineless I’d allowed myself to become.  Fortunately, I’ve ‘clued in’, as she’s so fond of saying.  From now on we take charge of our own destiny.”

“Are you gonna be the one to tell Mary?”

Eli smirked.  “I’m confident I won’t need to.  She’ll know.”  She motioned towards the door.  “Go get your Pad and come back.  I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.”

Jacob nodded and left without turning back.  Eli shut the door and walked to the bathroom, closing that door firmly behind her.  She just needed a minute or two to regroup. Then she and Jacob had work to do.  She could only hope they wouldn’t be too late to make a difference.

************

“Hey, Little Sister,” Joey greeted as Arianna exited the shuttle.  She ran into his arms and he returned her embrace with enthusiasm.  “When Mama told me you were coming, I knew I had to come down and help you get settled in.  If you ladies would follow me, I’ll escort you to your quarters.  Mike will show you guys where to go,” he added to Isaac and Paul with a gesture towards the colleague waiting beside him. 

Arianna and Eden followed Joseph out of the bay area and down a long corridor.  Taking the lift, they reached the living area and allowed him to unlock their lodging.  “You will of course be allowed to choose your own living space once your other teammates arrive, but for now....”  He spread his hands.  “You don’t mind sharing, do you?”

“I’d prefer it actually,” Eden replied honestly.  Arianna crossed her arms over her chest.

“Who told you?”  She narrowed her eyes.  “Don’t try to deny it, Joey.  All the living accommodations on the ship are on this level.  There is no other reason to bring us separately to this sector and house us together unless someone has already contacted you about Isaac.  So who was it?”

Joseph just raised an eyebrow.  “Who do you think, Ria?”

“I told him I would handle it; I told him I would talk to you!”

“Then please... talk.  All Nat told me was to separate you from him to ensure your privacy.  Oh... and that Eden needed to be close by for Eli’s sake.”

Arianna closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.  Then she blew out a frustrated breath to will herself to calm before turning to Eden.  “Will you please let Jake know we arrived?  I know he’s waiting to hear from you.  I’ll fill Joey in on all the details Nat somehow managed to miss in his communication.  Then we can get to work.”

“Sounds like a plan, Az.  You have a preference?” motioning between the beds.

“Not really,” tossing her bag on the bed closest to her.  “Good enough?”

“Good enough.”

Arianna nodded.  “All right.  Joey is going to escort me to the fuission reactor so I can get started.  Join us there?”

“I’ll have someone come meet you,” Joseph volunteered before Eden could reply.  “I know you all have the schematics memorized, but we know some shortcuts that you might eventually find useful.”

Eden nodded.  “Give me ten standard minutes before someone arrives.  I’m not sure where Jake is – he made need to go somewhere more private to take the communication.”

Joseph proffered a slight bow.  “It will be done,” he promised, keying up his comm unit.  He offered his other arm to Arianna.  “C’mon, Little Sister.  I’m a Navy man – I know how to walk and talk at the same time.”

“That’s not what I’ve heard,” Arianna snorted, then laughed at Joseph’s outraged expression.  “Let’s go, Joey – I’ve got work to do.”  And together they exited the room as Eden started tapping on her Pad.

************

“Mama?”

“Yes, my son?  What is it?” Mary asked as she beckoned him into what was her office.  She frowned at his expression.  “Nathaniel?  Is something wrong?”

“Yes, kind of... but nothing unexpected.  The guys have been monitoring like you told them to.”

“We finally have something?”

“We do, but not what we expected... nor from whom.”  He smiled at her cocked eyebrow and closed the door behind him as he stepped further into the room.  “Jake has started hacking into a few databases.  He appears to be doing research on the Committee.  He’s in Eli’s quarters.”

“And Eli?  Don’t tell me she is just sitting there twiddling her thumbs, son.  If she has finally become proactive enough that she has Jacob searching the Committee members, she must be working on something else.”

Nathaniel nodded his acknowledgement.  “She is digging into the candidates – well, she is looking at her teammates first, but she also appears to have bots running on all the candidates that were removed from the hotel for their protection.  So what basically amounts to the Alpha, Beta and Gamma teams.”

“Have they found anything?”

“Not that I have been notified – they’ve only just begun their search... relatively speaking.”

“So your men are ready?”

“More than, Mama.  We know why you’ve kept most of us hidden, but even with accommodations this nice, it gets wearing, you know?  The waiting, I mean.”

“I know, my son... only too well.  And for the record, it doesn’t get any easier as you get older.  In fact, I feel confident in saying that I like waiting less and less as time goes on.”

Nathaniel smiled.  “Maybe, but we never see you sweat, so none of us would ever know.”

Mary snorted.  “Lots and lots of practice.”  She leaned back and studied her youngest child for a long moment.  “Keep me informed.  We should have movement pretty quickly now.  I have ensured that the Alpha teams’ communications can be monitored by the less sophisticated equipment that is in the possession of the Committee.  Now we find out if they are monitoring everyone, or just specific members.  If someone is going to make a move, I want them to do so soon – while we are in a defendable position.  It will be the easiest for us to control and will produce the least amount of casualties.”

“I can honestly say we are less than concerned with their casualties.  They messed with family,” Nathaniel said darkly.

“They did indeed, my son.  And they will learn the cost of that mistake.”


Chapter XXXVII

“So what’s the word, Eli?” Titus asked as the Alpha team filed into her room.  “Why are we here?”

“Well, aside from the fact that we are overdue for a team meeting,” Eli replied as she closed the door firmly behind him and turned to face everyone, “Luke mentioned something that kind of kick started my brain earlier.  Because he’s right – our luck in recent days has been a little worse for our wear.”

“And you think we can change that?” Danny asked seriously.  “I thought it was called ‘luck’ for a reason – like how it randomly seems to happen for good or bad.”

“Perhaps,” Eli conceded.  “But I also think it can be influenced by outside factors.  And I think in our case, those outside influences are what have caused things to turn against us lately.”

“Do you have any proof?” Luke asked.

Eli shook her head.  “Nothing solid - not yet anyway.  But we have found some... peculiar occurrences.”

“What kind of occurrences, Eli?  Can you elaborate?”

She ran her hands through her blonde shock of hair, causing it to stand on end and give her the wild appearance they had become accustomed to in the desert.  Eli looked around the room and noted their smiles.  “What?” she asked with a frown.  This made the others chuckle, and she turned to Jacob.

“You look like we remember you from our first days in the compound, Eli – all fierce and wild.  It’s kind of awesome, actually.”

Eli blinked.  That wasn’t really the response she was looking for, but she knew Jacob was simply being honest. She cleared her throat.  “Okay then... right.  Um... time for truth between us.  How many of you were in touch with your Committee representative on at least a semi-regular basis?  And please don’t lie to me – I already know the truth,” Eli stressed, waiting for a show of hands.  When everyone had raised a hand, Eli nodded in satisfaction.  “Exactly,” she commented.

“I don’t get it,” Naomi muttered.

“I don’t think any of us do,” Deborah replied.  “But Eli does.  And that’s enough.”  She turned to look at Eli.  “Does this have anything to do with you and Arianna?  You know... the fact that you called her ‘Angel’ before she left yesterday?” scowling when Hannah slapped her.  “What was that for??”  Hannah just arched both eyebrows and glared at her.

“For the record, and before this meeting becomes physical,” with a stern look at Deborah and Hannah, “yes, I called Arianna ‘Angel’ yesterday.  However, nothing has changed between us – not yet anyway.  But,” she continued with emphasis, “it did help me recognize a few truths. Not the least of which is that I have allowed myself to be distracted for too long.  I have been so busy reacting, that I have forgotten how to act.  But that changes... now.”

“That is what has helped you find peace within yourself,” Abigail commented.  “You altered your intentions towards Arianna, and everything else is beginning to settle back into place in your life... including your leadership of us.”

Eli nodded.  “Essentially, yes.”

“And if she rejects you again?” Abigail asked, ignoring the gasps of the others in the room.  “Will you be able to maintain that focus?  Because we need this leader – the one who is confident and bold and daring.  The one who LEADS – not the one who waits for things to happen.”

“I will do my utmost, Gay,” Eli swore, though her hands shook slightly.  “Eden told me to find my lady ЯЙЦА so I would have the courage to act and talk to Arianna like I should.  I’d like to think they and my spine will stick around regardless of what happens.  Besides,” she continued when it remained silent, “we all know that Eden will be more than happy to assume the responsibility for keeping me on track now that she has discovered the secret of how to do so.”  Eli smirked and her teammates laughed.

“Reassuring,” Danny responded drolly.  “And I personally have every faith that you and Arianna will work things out together.  But we’re also a little far afield from where we started.  What does all this have to do with our Committee representatives?  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I was given strict instructions about maintaining communication with the member representing my planet before we advanced as a group to the desert compound.  I was merely following the directive I was given.”

“As I am certain most here were doing,” Eli replied.  “Even if you didn’t seek them out, they came to you periodically to ‘check on your progress’ – to see how you were faring... if you needed anything they could provide within the constraints of the mission... correct?” seeing the heads around her nodding their agreement.  “All right then – how many of you had contact with Committee Members not representing your home world... aside from the Chairman?  She seems to have at least spoken to everyone on this team... if not everyone who made it into the interview round of the selection process.”

“Why would we, Eli?” Mordecai asked with a frown.  “We don’t even know most of those people.  Besides, Committee Members make me anxious.”

Eli smiled.  “I know, Kai.  I think they do that to all of us.  Except at least a few of them aside from Bartolo and the Chairman spoke to the asshat on more than one occasion.  Why do you suppose that is?  Why would anyone want to – especially people of their supposedly elevated status?  We all know what a prick he was, so why was he consorting with those who were deciding our fate?  Why would they put up with him for any length of time?  And why didn’t they stop Ms Wellesly from removing him from the program?”

“Wait... what?” Titus demanded.  “How do you know that little tidbit?”

“Ms Wellesly shared that with me.”  Eli held up her hands to end the cacophony of sound.  “It doesn’t matter why – only that she felt it was important for me to know.”

“Do you know what happened?  How she got him bounced?” Esther asked.

“No.  I didn’t ask for details and she didn’t share them.  It was enough to know she had him removed.  But,” Eli continued, “I believe it had something to do with the condition she discovered Malcolm to possess – the illness that could have caused so much destruction had he shared it with the rest of us.”

“You know,” Titus interjected, “I know none of us liked him – personally, I felt he was a waste of skin most of the time.  But man... I wouldn’t have wished that fate on anyone... even him.”

“Yeah, I hated him, and I’m glad he’s gone,” Deborah stated.  “But I hate that he was disqualified for something that shouldn’t have been an issue in the first place.  He should have been gone long before he contracted that virus.”  She looked around.  “Did we ever find out how he was exposed?  Or if any other candidates caught it?”  Everyone looked at Eli.

“As far as I’ve heard,” she answered, scratching her forehead, “everyone has been medically cleared by the Doc.  I can’t say about the other – I haven’t been informed.  Have any of you heard anything?”

They exchanged glances with one another and shrugged, shaking their heads when they turned their attention back to Eli.  “I’ll do some digging, boss,” Jacob spoke up.  “There’s gotta be some records about this fiasco somewhere, right?”

“You’d think,” Esther snorted.  “But if Mary hasn’t found it yet, I doubt we’ll be able to.  No offense, Jake.”

He waved her off and grinned.  “None taken.  But I will accept the challenge you just threw down like a gauntlet in front of me.”  Everyone chuckled.

“What makes you think Mary hasn’t found anything about who exposed the asshat to the virus?” Naomi asked.  “I sure haven’t heard anything about it... either way.”

“Girlfriend, you don’t think if Mary knew who had done this she wouldn’t already have gone Mama Bear on somebody’s ass?  That action put not only us in danger, but also the entirety of this world... including her kids.  Pretty sure she would take that personal enough to do a take-down if she knew what or who to hit.”

“That’s an excellent point,” Luke agreed.  “And surely that kind of news would have made it back to us.  That would have gone interstellar and our families would have shared if only to give us a little peace of mind.”

“Well, I’m still gonna do a little digging of my own,” Jacob said.  “I got mad skillz – maybe I can find something Mary hasn’t yet.”

“Good luck with that,” Eli said drolly with a smirk.  Jake waggled his eyebrows.

“And in the meantime, what are we supposed to do about this Committee situation?” Danny asked.  “Obviously Eli felt it was important enough to point it out to us.  So what do we do with that information?”

“I don’t think there is anything we can do at the moment,” Abigail offered.  “We should each take the time to consider our interactions with not only our own representatives, but any other Committee members we spoke to... even in passing.  Perhaps we should meet in here again tomorrow evening after dinner and discuss what we learned.”

Eli nodded.  “That sounds fair.  Try not to make yourselves crazy over this.  I haven’t yet discovered what we can reasonably do with this information.  But I felt it was important that you be informed of the oddities in play here. With all the brilliant minds in this room, we should be able to come up with some way to utilize this to our advantage.”  She yawned, and the rest began to follow behind, one after another.  “And on that note....”  Eli laughed.

They all rose and headed towards the door, each of them taking a moment to hug Eli and welcome her back to their company.  She didn’t understand the difference her change in attitude made until Abigail – the next-to-last person to leave – stopped and took Eli in her arms for a long moment.

“I can tell by the expression on your face that you don’t really recognize the change in yourself yet that we already see so clearly.  Just know that we are happy to have you back again, Eli.  We’ve missed you.”

Eli allowed the hug and the brush of Abigail’s cheek against her own.  Then Abigail left and only Jacob was standing with her.

“I’ll work on this tomorrow, Boss.  My checks are mostly done.  We’ve moved into the double and triple check arena.  So I can spare some time to devote to unraveling this little mystery.  And the rest are ready to pitch in whenever and wherever you need them to – you have but to ask.”

“Thank you, Jake.  It’s nice being involved like this again.”

“Leading, you mean,” Jacob corrected with a smirk.  “Hey,” he added when a faint blush crawled up her face.  “Be glad.  We’re thrilled you’re back to leading again.  It means none of us have to try to walk in your shoes.  And we’d follow anywhere you led, Eli – you’re that kind of inspiration to us.”

“I’m not certain I see that in me most of the time, but it comforts me to know that you all have that kind of faith even while it terrifies me to realize the responsibility that is.”

“We’re here when you need us, Boss.  Don’t forget that we support you all the way.  Now,” he said, stretching to his greatest height, “I’m gonna go see if I can catch Eden before bed. If she tells me anything worth sharing....”

“... you can tell me tomorrow unless it is urgent.  I’m exhausted, Jake.  I’m going to bed.”

“Fair enough,” he said with a smile as he walked across the threshold into the hallway.  “Night, Eli.”

“Goodnight, Jake.”

************

“Hey, baby!” Eden said when Jacob’s smiling face graced her screen.  “Hang on a second,” looking up at Arianna who was gesticulating wildly in an effort to draw Eden’s attention without giving away her presence to Jacob.

“I’m going to go to the galley.  Can I bring you back something?”

“No... stay,” Eden invited, pulling Arianna down beside her so Jacob could see them both.  “I promise we’ll keep it clean,” chuckling when a blush colored Arianna’s cheeks.  “He’s checking on both of us, you know.”

Jacob scratched his hands through his hair and nodded.  “She’s right, Az.  So how’s it going?  How does the ship look?”

“Fantastic, Jake.  Although,” Arianna continued, wrinkling her nose, “I can’t say I’m completely enamored of the ‘new ship’ scent.”

Jacob laughed.  “Yeah, there’s something to be said for the smell of new electronics – to say nothing of the way titanium and plaxium smell when they’re being welded and soldered together.”  He shivered.  “It makes me want to sneeze just thinking about it.”  Eden and Arianna looked at one another, noticing that they were both wiggling their noses in reaction, and laughed in response.  “How is it otherwise?”

“It’s a beautiful ship, Jake.  We should be comfortable enough and the Committee seems to have taken Paulie’s design to heart.  We’ll be able to dismantle it and use everything in the construction of our new home base once we arrive at the asteroid.”

Jacob nodded.  He had no illusions about that last part – construction rested mainly on his shoulders and he could make it work.  But it was gratifying to know that he wouldn’t be forced to rework the ship’s components too much.  “And how’s Isaac behaving?” he asked bluntly, shooting the pink elephant in the room quite neatly.

“So far, so good,” Eden replied.  “Az had a talk with Joe and he’ll be keeping an eye on things too.  How are things there?”

Jacob looked directly at Arianna for a moment before shifting his gaze back to Eden.  “I don’t know what the two of you did or said to Eli, but way to go, guys!  The boss is back!”

Eden pumped her fist and did a version of a happy dance without moving from her seat on the bed.  Arianna’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand.  She met Jacob’s smiling eyes and grinning mouth.  “Jake?  Are you sure?” her voice a mere whisper.

“Oh yeah, Princess – without a doubt.  She called a team meeting earlier – when’s the last time we had one of those, right?  And she got me working on something – did you know something hinky is going on with the Committee?”  He frowned when he saw the look of confusion on Arianna’s face.  “Weird... peculiar,” he explained as comprehension dawned in her expression.  She nodded.

“Hinky in what way, Jake?” she asked, using his word to show her understanding of it.

“Well, that’s what we’re not sure of yet.  That’s why I’m doing a little digging.  Apparently the assh... <ahem> Malcolm was in contact with several Committee members.”

Arianna smirked.  “I know the team referred to him as an asshat, Jake.  It was a well-deserved moniker... especially considering his attitude towards the rest of you.  But why was he in touch with members of the Committee?  I’m assuming you mean more than simply Member Bartolo from our home world, because I could understand that to a degree.  Bartolo made it a point to speak to me periodically, which I believed to be because of my station.  Although I could see why he would want to keep apprised of the candidates he ostensibly represented.”

“That’s part of what I’m working on,” Jake informed her.  “According to revelations made in the meeting tonight, everyone kept in touch with their own representative member – most of us because we were directed to do so.  Malcolm was the only one who seems to have connections beyond his home world representative.”

“Curiouser and curiouser,” Eden mumbled.  Arianna nodded.

“Worth it though.  It was kind of awesome to see the return of Eli the leader.  She even did the wild hair thing.”

“I wish I had seen that,” Arianna mumbled.

“Me too,” Eden agreed.  “Maybe I should have kicked her ass sooner.”

Jacob laughed.  “She said you’d be more than happy to keep her in line now that you found a method to get her back on track.”

“Yeah – don’t let her forget that.”

“You betcha,” Jacob assured them.  “So any other news?”

Eden snorted.  “Jake, we’ve only been here a day.  I’m pretty sure if we had news, you’d have already heard about it – because you and I both know that the security agents here keep Mary informed of everything... just like they do there.  It’s the best way they know to protect us.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean they’d keep us in the loop.”

“Maybe, but you’d know.  You’re kind of gifted that way, and you know how to find the answers you need to stay in the loop.  Now that you know there is something to find....”  Eden shrugged.  “Although I kinda feel sorry for whoever’s job it is on Mary’s team.  Because if you find what she’s been looking for before they do....”

Arianna grimaced.  “I wouldn’t want to be them.”

Eden snorted.  “Not sure I’d want to be Jake either.  Mary’ll either want to keep him for her team or space him herself,” meeting Jacob’s eyes on the screen she held.  They grinned at one another.  Jacob laced his hands behind his head.

“She loves me – she’d never space me.”

“Just make sure she doesn’t try to keep you either.  We need you.”

“Aww... I love you too, baby.”

“That’s my cue,” Arianna declared as she rose from the bed.  “Bye Jake,” said over her shoulder as she sauntered towards the bathroom.”

“My cue as well,” Jacob said.  “You’ll let me know...?”

“You know it, babe.  Love you back.”

“Be safe, Eden,” he cautioned.  She blew him a kiss and tapped the screen.  Then she lay back on the bed and closed her eyes.  The day had been years long, and she was ready for rest.  Eden smiled.  At least at the end of this one, she could say it had been a good day.


Chapter XXXVIII

“Chief?”

“Come in, Caleb,” Mary greeted with a smile.  “I haven’t seen you in a while.  What troubles you, my friend?”

“Many things, Chief,” Caleb replied somberly.  “But today I’m concerned with the whispers I’m hearing from the Alpha team.”  He took the chair she indicated and accepted the water she offered as well.  When he was settled, Mary leaned back in her seat and motioned for him to continue.  “On the plus side, Princess seems to have finally recovered that part of her that is a leader.  She has begun holding nightly team meetings and she appears to have galvanized the Alpha team into action.”

“What sort of action?”

“Well, as you know, Stud is currently digging into the Committee at Princess’ directive – they have figured out that the threat against them must be coming from inside.  Given the Committee’s actions with the Prick, I suppose it was natural that they begin their search there.”

“Have they found anything?”

“No more than we have.  Stud is as good as Gideon – maybe better.  With the speed he’s already accumulated information, I think he’ll get there first if he has enough time.  But that doesn’t concern me as much as their desire to take action.  If Stud discovers the perpetrator before we can flush them out and maneuver them here for a confrontation, they are planning to challenge them directly.”

“How so?  They can’t possibly think they could escape the confines of this installation without us noticing their departure.”

“Well, Chief – they are known for their resourcefulness as well as their brilliance.  And they don’t know about the squads of Marines you’ve had occupying the outer perimeter since before the Alpha team arrived.”

Mary pinched the bridge of her nose.  “Sometimes all that intelligence works against me, Caleb.”  She blew a raspberry and crossed her eyes; Caleb snorted his amusement.  “Easy for you to say,” she griped.  “Good work, my friend.  Keep your ears open.  We need to be able to move ahead of them.”  He nodded.  “Are things good otherwise?”

“Exceptional, I’d say, Chief.  As I’m sure Joey has informed you, Stud is in touch with Wonder every night, and though Princess and Angel haven’t spoken to one another directly since Angel’s departure, they are keeping tabs on each other.  The fact that Klutz hasn’t created any sort of situation to cause Joey or Wonder to intervene is just a dividend I’m happy to accept for as long as it lasts.”

“But you don’t expect it to.”

Caleb shook his head.  “No... not with the intel Joey is sending back on a daily basis.  Klutz is just waiting for what he believes will be his perfect opportunity.  Joey has agreed not to interfere – to let Angel handle things in her own way – for as long as she remains out of danger.  The minute Klutz tries to put her in harm’s way, however... all bets are off.”

“Do you think he will... put Arianna in harm’s way?”

“Not intentionally,” Caleb responded instantly.  “But I think he loses sight of the big picture when he finds something he wants.  And that makes him careless.”

“He may not have to worry about what Joseph will do to him – not if Eden gets to him first.  She made a promise to Eli.  And she’s strong enough to do damage to him... even with the size difference between them.  Does she know that Arianna wants to handle Isaac herself?”

“She has agreed to give Angel the chance to talk to Isaac first.  But I believe her exact words were – ‘put him in his place, Az... or I will.  And I’ll make sure he doesn’t forget’.”

“Any idea about how Arianna feels about it?  She hasn’t shared anything about the Isaac situation with me when I’ve spoken to her and I haven’t pushed.  She should be allowed to keep some of her own counsel.”

Caleb smiled.  “I think she’s a little frustrated by the fact that everyone is trying to protect her... because she would really like to handle Isaac by herself.  As far as she’s concerned, he’s not a threat – more of a nuisance.  But I think she is also a little bit....”  He chewed his lip thoughtfully.  “I wouldn’t call it smug, but she’s reveling in the fact that she finally has friends and family who are willing to stand up for her.”

“Hopefully the rest will figure it out before they do something stupid.”

“Eeeyeah – it may be too late for that, Chief.”  Mary cocked a brow at him.  “There should be movement soon.  He’s been in touch with the Committee.”

“All of them?”

“Hard to say.  The signal went to the conference room they used as a group.”

“Do we know what was said?”

“Gideon was working on unscrambling the contents when I came down here.  I do find it just slightly amusing that he’s bright enough to scramble the actual communication, but can’t remember to do the same with the signal.”

“He’s not a professional, Caleb.  We all had to learn.”

“I know, Chief.  But we trained until we learned to avoid giveaways like this.”

“How lucky for us he was never trained.  We planned for the giveaway.”

Caleb stood. “Gideon will find you as soon as he has the translation.  I let Nat know, and he’s already moved the Marines into position.  They’ll remain there until and unless you order them to stand down.”

“Thank you, Caleb.”

“Later, Chief.”

************

“Arianna?  Could I talk to you?” Isaac asked.  “Privately?” glaring directly at Eden before turning his attention back to Arianna’s brown eyes for the moment they held his before she looked at Eden.

“It’s all right, Eden.”

Black eyes held brown for a long moment before Eden nodded and slowly rose from her seat.  “I’ll be right over there, Az,” motioning to a table on the other side of the galley.  It was the most privacy she could offer Arianna without actually leaving the room.  “So just speak up if you need something, all right?”

Arianna smiled and caught Eden’s hand.  “I will, Eden.  Thank you.”  Eden squeezed the fingers briefly, then released her grip and moved over to the far side of the room.  Paul followed her and they sat together making sure Eden had a clear view of the proceedings.  “Have a seat, Isaac,” Arianna offered, watching Joseph alter his stance until he was halfway between Eden’s table and Arianna’s.

Isaac clasped his hands together.  “Do you think we could take a walk instead?  I’d really like to talk to you in private.”

“Isaac, this is the most privacy we are going to get.  If we leave this room, we will be leading a parade and cameras will be tracking us.  Do you really think that would be better?”

Isaac huffed and dropped into a chair next to Arianna, not realizing he was giving Eden and Joseph a perfect view.  Arianna wasn’t about to bring it to his attention, knowing all the shifting around would quickly become chaotic and confusing.  He clasped his big hands on the table and leaned forward in an effort to keep his voice down.

“Arianna?  Why can’t we be a couple?  Why do you keep denying how good we are together... how happy we make one another?”

Arianna blinked.  Whatever she had expected, this wasn’t close.  She took a moment and studied the man across from her – he wasn’t unattractive, but he stirred nothing in her.  There was no magnetism... no emotion... no spark.  She did feel a bit of kinship towards him – after all, she knew what it was to be socially inept.  And that made her feel sympathy and kindness.  But his insistence that there was more – that they were more – was wearing on her... especially now.  Especially since Eli had spoken to her – had apologized for her behavior and asked for a second chance.  Possible with Eli was better than sure with Isaac any day of the week as far as Arianna was concerned.  She didn’t realize she had been staring until she felt Isaac’s big hands cover hers as he called her name.

“Arianna?  Are you even listening to me?”

“I’m sorry, Isaac.  I was thinking.”

“About us?”

Arianna sighed and shook her head.  “Isaac, there is no us.  I don’t care for you in that way....”

“But you do care for me!” he shouted triumphantly.

“Not in the way you want to believe I do, Isaac and you don’t care for me....”

“You don’t get to tell me how I feel!” he growled, tightening his grip until he saw a look of pain pass through Arianna’s eyes.  He released his grip.  “I’m sorry, Arianna.  I didn’t realize....”

She slipped her hands from underneath his and covered one of his with both of hers.  “It’s all right, Isaac,” motioning Eden and Joseph back to their respective posts.  “I know you didn’t intend to hurt me. I apologize for presuming to tell you what your feelings were – that was wrong of me.  But Isaac – do you really love me or do you simply love the idea that I took time to be nice to you?”

“I don’t understand, Arianna.  Of course I love you.  How can you doubt that... or me?”

“Okay then... what is my favorite color?”  Silence.  “What is my favorite food?”

“Oh, that one’s easy,” Isaac grinned.  “Stringy squash – because it can be slathered in a variety of different sauces.  You like the versatility it offers.”

Arianna shook her head.  “While I do appreciate its versatility, and it is one of the easiest foods we work with, it is actually not my favorite.”

“What is then?” Isaac grumbled.

Arianna shook her head.  “I’m not going to tell you, Isaac.  Because the reason that it is my favorite is a very personal and private one.  What is my favorite way to spend my free time... excluding the lab?”

“I dunno,” Isaac griped.  “Reading?”

“No, Isaac.  It isn’t reading.”  She turned to Eden who was leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed over her chest blatantly watching the tableau take place in front of her.  “Eden,” she asked, knowing she had been listening to their conversation.  “What is my favorite color?”

“Hazel green,” Eden replied without thought.  Arianna nodded.

“Do you know my favorite food?”

“Yes, as well as the reason for it.”

“How come she gets to know the reason if it’s so private and personal?” Isaac sneered.

“Because though she wasn’t directly involved, she was witness to what happened when I was introduced to it,” Arianna answered kindly.  She looked at Eden once more.  “How do I prefer to spend my free time?”

“Singing,” Eden said promptly.  “On most of our worlds, you would be considered an artist much as Joy is here.  But apparently that gift wasn’t your destiny,” added with a shrug.

“I still don’t see why you won’t give me a chance,” Isaac whined.  “Don’t you see how good we could be together?”

Arianna removed her hands from his and rested them in her lap.  Isaac made a move to chase after them, then thought better of it – instead choosing to lean back and let his hands fall to his thighs.  “Isaac, even if I thought I could care for you as more than a friend – and I do not, let’s be very clear about that – I would still never be someone who could love you as you deserve to be loved.  Isaac, my heart belongs to another and has for some time.”

“Malcolm?”

Arianna chuckled.  “No, not Malcolm.  Malcolm was Papa’s choice for me... never mine.  And had I been forced into that union, I would have been lonely and miserable for the remainder of my lifetime.”

“So no us?”

“No us – not now... not ever.  I would like to count you as a friend, though.”  

“I don’t know how to do that,” Isaac admitted. 

“It’s what I have been trying to do, Isaac.  I have been where you are; I know what it feels like to be the social outcast and not know how to make it better.”

“So that’s why you were being nice to me?  Not because you liked me?”

“Yes, Isaac.  I only like you as a friend.  And that won’t change unless you force it to.”  At his confused look, Arianna continued.  “Isaac, you need to accept the fact that we’re just friends and only friends.  There is no chance of us ever being more than friends.  So you need to stop believing that we were meant to be together... because we aren’t ever going to be.”

“And you’ll still be my friend?  You won’t ignore me or stop talking to me?”

“What??  No... of course I won’t.”  She held up her hands.  “Yes, I will still be your friend.  And no, I won’t ignore you or stop talking to you... as long as you remember that we’re just friends.  If you continue to push for something more intimate, I will walk away – I won’t let you bully me like that.  You’re going to have to learn limits and boundaries.  And maybe we can work on helping you make friends with the others so you have lots of friends, okay?”

Isaac nodded.  “That sound like a good idea.  But will you put in an extra good word for me with Eden?  She kinda scares me - I don’t think she likes much of anyone.”

“Actually,” Eden said from right behind him, making Isaac jump in his seat.  He turned and glared at her, then let his eyes skitter around the room.  “I like most people.  But Az was right – you need to learn boundaries and limits. We’ll get to work on that tomorrow.  For now, it’s time for us to return to our domicile to recharge.”

“Huh?”

Paul chuckled as he came up on Isaac’s other side as Eden extended her hand to Arianna who accepted with alacrity and rose from her seat.  They turned to watch Paul explain to Isaac.

“What she means, dude, is that it’s time to go to bed and get some sleep so we can get up and do all this over again tomorrow.”

“Why didn’t she just say that?”

“She did.”

“I did.”

The three of them answered in tandem and then Eden took the reins.  “I did, Isaac.  Just sometimes I like to spice it up a little.  Keeps everybody on their toes,” said with a smirk.  “Goodnight, guys.”  Arianna gave them a wave and then allowed Eden to pull her from the galley and lead her to their room.  Paul and Isaac watched them go before Paul nudged Isaac in the arm.

“C’mon, man,” yawning and stretching prior to moving towards the door.  “It’s been a long day, and I’m tired.  We can talk about this tomorrow.”

“I dunno, Paulie.  I’m not sure I’m ever gonna get girls, you know?”

Paul laughed aloud and clapped a hand on Isaac’s back as they exited the mess hall.  “My friend... no honest man - no matter the time period he lived in or the planet he came from – has ever been able to truthfully say that he ‘got’ women.  I don’t think they were meant to be understood... at least not by mere mortals like us.  We just love them and appreciate them and treat them right.  The rest will follow.”

“I hope so.  Machines are a lot easier to understand.”

“So is science, Ike.  But it’s not nearly the experience that girls are.”  Then they shut the door to their room, and further conversation between them was lost.

************

“So are you satisfied?” Eden asked as they tucked themselves into their beds sometime later.  Their chat with Jake had been fun and it hadn’t taken them long to settle down for sleep when they were done.  Arianna turned on her side to face Eden and propped her head on her hand.  Eden mimicked her pose and waited for an answer.

“I am,” Arianna admitted finally.  “It could have gone wrong in so many ways – I know at one point you and Joey were ready to step in and thrash him.  But he earned his place as part of this team.  He just needs someone to show him how to be friendly without being overbearing – like you and Eli did for me in the desert compound.”

“I don’t understand how we missed his inability to interact with people.  We caught onto you right away.”

“Yes, but I was trying to insinuate myself into things.  Isaac hid with his machines.”

Eden rolled her eyes.  “Whatever.  We’ll work on it.  Meanwhile, we need some sleep.  We’ve only got a couple more days here before we go back to the rest of the team, and then right after that, our families come in to spend a final holiday and say goodbye.  It’s all downhill from here.”

“We can only hope,” Arianna commented with a yawn.  “Night, Eden.”

“Goodnight, Az.”


Chapter XXXIX

“Are you kidding me?” Mary asked with disbelief.

“No, Chief,” Gideon said seriously.  “Not now, and never about this.”

“So now that we finally need him to be the rat fink traitor that he really is, he’s decided to grow a conscience.”  She was still angry about having missing this... missed him.

Gideon’s eyebrows went to his hairline at Mary’s description, but he couldn’t fault her frustration.  Once they had narrowed down the candidates likely to be the mole, they had focused their efforts on keeping tabs on their communiqués even as Gideon continued his research.  Now that they had their proof, it was time to catch them.  And everything had been running smoothly on track... until their unwitting key component had decided to throw a wrench into the works.

“Bring him to me,” she commanded darkly, and Ephraim almost saluted as he scrambled out of her office to find his prey.  This was becoming some kind of mess.

************

“I hope Eli understands,” Arianna muttered as they boarded the shuttle.  “Two days isn’t very much time.”  Eden snorted.

“Pretty sure she probably gets that better than the rest of us, and it’s not like any of us are on the slow side of the curve.  Explaining that beaut of a shiner should prove interesting though.”

Arianna gave her a withering glance through her good eye.  “You’re not funny – did you know that?”

Eden shrugged.  “I wasn’t trying to be.  But at least Eli can fix you up once we reach the installation again.  If we’d had more time and equipment, or if Isaac wasn’t as clumsy….”

Arianna sighed.  “I know.  But he’s trying.”

“A little too hard.  But I think Paulie is setting him straight.  I already spoke to Jake.  He’s gonna spread the word around to the rest of the team.  Now that we know what the problem is, we can set about correcting it.”  Eden blew out an impatient breath.  “We’re just gonna have to pull out our reserves of patience to get it done.”

“You don’t know how much I appreciate it, Eden.  I am not the teacher you and Eli are.”

Eden patted Arianna’s knee as the shuttle roared to life.  “You’re still learning too, Az.  But we’ll all get there eventually.”  A shadow crossed her vision, and she looked up to find a contrite Isaac standing beside her holding a cold pack.  She arched an eyebrow at him even as she nudged Arianna’s attention away from the window.

“I’m really sorry, Arianna,” thrusting the packet towards her.  Arianna jerked back instinctively, then reached forward to accept the offering.  “Paulie said this might help until Eli can do her magic.”

“Thank you, Isaac.  That was very considerate of you.  And it’s all right – I know it was an accident.”

“Yeah, it was, but I still feel bad about it, you know?”

Arianna flinched as the cold connected with her swollen flesh, then relaxed as the throbbing eased.  “I know, Isaac.  It’s okay.  You just need to learn to relax.”

“Relax... right.  I’m just gonna go sit down.  I think we’re almost to the transport site,” motioning to the view outside the window.  He sighed and walked back to sit beside Paul.  And in another moment, the shuttle set down on the landing pad and they were whisked away to the transport zone.

************

He knocked on the door and stuck his head inside when a voice bade him enter.  “Ms Wellesly?  Ephraim said you wanted to see me.”

“I do indeed,” Mary replied, beckoning him into her office.  “Please come in and have a seat.  Would you like something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine... thank you,” taking the chair she proffered and settling back comfortably.  He didn’t notice Caleb and Ian standing in the back corners of the room, nor the fact that Ephraim had followed him in and closed the door silently behind them to stand sentinel in front of it.  Mary relaxed back in her chair, wanting him to feel comfortable, but before she could speak, he beat her to it.  “Ms Wellesly, I don’t want to appear rude, but why exactly am I here?”

“You don’t know?”

“Um... no?  I mean Ephraim didn’t really explain why – he just told me that you needed to speak to me urgently.”

Mary nodded and tilted her head to study him.  “How long?” she asked him at long last.  “How long have you been a traitor?” watching him flinch and his eyes widen.  “Not just to your team but to every candidate that participated in the selection process.”

“Excuse me??”

“I have been trying to... excuse you, I mean – for a while now, if the truth be told.  Trying to excuse you, trying to understand you, trying to figure out how I missed this.  Even in hindsight – knowing the truth - it’s not at all obvious.   So please... enlighten me.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand, Ms Wellesly.  What do you need me to enlighten you about?”

The look she gave him should have seared the skin from his body, but instead, he simply met her gaze.  After a moment, she shrugged and stood, walking around the desk to lean on it in front of him.  “All right,” she agreed calmly.  “How about I lay it out for you and then you can help me fill in the details?  Does that sound like a fair deal?”

“I’m not sure what you think I can tell you, Ms Wellesly, but sure.  That sounds fair.”

“Excellent,” she replied with a tight smile.  “Let’s get started, shall we?”

************

“Eli... take a deep breath.  You don’t want to hurl your guts in front of her the minute she arrives,” Jacob offered, wrapping his arm around shoulders through which he could feel the nervous tremors shaking.  Eli simply looked at him like he was speaking another language.  Esther rolled her eyes.

“Girlfriend, you’ve got this.  So settle down before you get sick all over Arianna as soon as you see her.  That would be embarrassing and you’re better than that.”

“She’s going to give you that chance, Eli,” Abigail assured her.  “Trust me.  She cares too much not to.”

“Thanks, Gay,” Eli said with a tight smile, and then their formerly absent teammates strode through the door.  First Paul, then Isaac – then Eden and Arianna together, and all Eli could see was the silver package held in place covering half of Arianna’s face.  Forgetting her fear and everything else, she shrugged out of Jacob’s embrace and pushed through until she was standing in front of Arianna.

Gently Eli lifted Arianna’s chin, letting her professional gaze roam over the parts of her face she could see while Arianna studied her.  Eli placed her hand over Arianna’s hand that was holding the cold pack.  “May I?” she inquired softly.  Arianna pulled the packet away, maintaining her hold on it as Eli raised hers to turn the bruised flesh to her examination.  “What happened?” meeting Arianna’s eye before glancing at Eden.  Then she refocused her attention on Arianna, not noticing when Isaac stepped up behind her.  “Angel?”

“It was my fault,” he admitted.  “I was... and then she... and my elbow....” 

Eli let one hand rest on Arianna’s neck, lightly kneading the muscles there as she turned to face Isaac.  She held up her free hand to stop his words, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.  When she felt a semblance of calm envelope her, she opened her eyes once more.  “Take a minute, Isaac, and then try again... preferably in complete sentences this time,” she instructed.

He huffed out a breath and twitched nervously, then nodded.  “Right... yeah.  It wouldn’t have been quite so bad, except the medical supplies were all here, you know.”

“I know, Isaac,” Eli offered calmly, continuing her massage on Arianna’s neck.  “But what caused it?  What happened to Arianna’s face?”

“My elbow,” he mumbled, forcing her to listen closely.  “I was just trying to help, but I didn’t know she was right there.  And when I turned around I kind of, you know... with my elbow.”

“I didn’t move away quickly enough,” Arianna interjected.  “It isn’t solely his responsibility.”

Eli nodded.  “All right.  Let’s get you to the medical bay so I can take care of this.  Are you okay otherwise?”

“Aside from the screaming headache, you mean?” giving a wan smile.  “I’m fine, Eli.  I promise.  And I’ll be even better after you work your magic.”

Eli nodded and pitched her voice to be heard throughout the room.  “All right, everyone.  We still have work to do, so let’s get back to it please.  We’ll meet up for lunch in an hour or so.”  The Alpha team started to disperse, and Isaac approached Arianna slowly, making sure she was aware of his presence.

“I’ll take your bag to your room, Arianna?  Eden can go with me.”

Eden blinked in surprise before she nodded quickly.  “Of course.  I just need your key, Az.”  She held out her hand and Arianna shook her head once before wincing.  Eden frowned.  “Az?”

“The door’s not locked, Eden.  I didn’t even think about it when we left.”

“Do you have your key with you now?  Because I’ll lock it behind us when we leave.”   Arianna stuck her hand in her pocket and came up with the requested item. Eden nodded her head and jerked her thumb over her shoulder.  “Good enough.  C’mon, Ike.  We still need to put our stuff away before lunch and I think it’s SOS in the mess hall today.”

“I’m gonna miss that when we leave here,” Eli and Arianna heard before the voices faded.  Then the silence grew awkward as they realized they were alone with a lot of unresolved issues between them.

“Um... come with me,” Eli directed as she let her hand drop from Arianna’s neck.  She moved towards the door, expecting Arianna to follow.  “We’ll get those bruises and the swelling taken care of and then I’ll see what can be done about your headache.”

“Eli....”

She stopped walking, but kept her back to Arianna.  “Please, Angel – give me these last few minutes to help you before you turn me away.  Let me pretend....”

“No,” Arianna responded, feeling the tears well in her eyes when Eli’s shoulders visibly drooped.  “You’re so certain I’ll reject you.”

“I am... because you should.  No one deserves to be treated as I have treated you... especially not one who claims to love you the way I do.  There is no excuse – there should be no forgiveness.”

“Except you didn’t really mistreat me, Eli.  Oh, I’m not going to stand here and lie and pretend like your reaction didn’t hurt my feelings because it certainly did.  But I also know that you were protecting yourself the only way that you knew how, and I cannot fault you for that.”  Arianna sighed.  “But love is all about forgiveness, Eli,” wishing she could see Eli’s expression.  “You asked me for a second chance.  Do you really want one?”

“More than anything,” Eli whispered, hoping Arianna could hear her.

“Then you have to let me give you one, Amado.  And you have to be willing to take it... with all the responsibilities that go with accepting it.”

Eli spun on her heel and moved back into Arianna’s personal space, cupping the uninjured side of her face and studying the single brown eye visible to her.  “Angel... are you certain?”

“More than anything,” Arianna replied.  “Take me to the medical bay, Amado,” she charged.  “I want to tell you a story.”

************

He sat silent for several long moments when Mary stopped speaking.  Finally he looked at her and spoke.  “How did you know?  How did you discover me?  I thought I had covered my tracks completely.”

Mary gave him a tight smile.  “You did quite well for someone who really wasn’t trained for it.”  She held up a hand before he could interrupt.  “If it’s any consolation, we didn’t start looking for you until very recently.  But when we did, finding you wasn’t that difficult.”  Mary paused a beat and met his eyes kindly.  “Why did you do it?”

He looked down at his lap, twisting his hands together nervously as he gathered the courage to meet her eyes.  “It wasn’t supposed to be anything important, you know?  I knew when I was chosen for the assignment – keeping tabs on the other candidates, not being a candidate myself;” he clarified, “that it was because I was mediocre at best.  It wasn’t hard to remain impartial - I had no real hope of being a part of this mission and I knew it.  So why would I care who else made it?”

“Obviously that’s not true,” Mary said spreading her hands wide.

He nodded, a small smile crooking one side of his mouth.  “It changed when we were at the desert facility.  I discovered I was as special as some of the other candidates; I had a hidden talent that was necessary for not only success but possibly our very survival.  It was highly likely I would get chosen to be part of the project.”

“But you continued to be a mole.”

“Well, yeah – I didn’t want someone less worthy to take my place!  Suddenly I had the right to be there on my own merit, and I wanted to stay!”  His voice rose and then fell in the next instant.  “I was finally special.”

“So why try to torpedo the project?  Why try to make the mission a failure?”

A look of confusion crossed his face.  “Huh?  What are you talking about?  That’s not what I did!”

“What did you do then?”

“My job was to report on the individual candidates – to alert the Committee to their strengths and weaknesses.  To report on their interactions and personality quirks.”

“And this didn’t strike you as odd?”

“Ms Wellesly, nothing about this assignment was what you would consider normal.  But no... it really didn’t strike me as odd, nor did I see it as betrayal.  I was an on-site evaluator, and I was good at what I did.  But right in the middle of our stint in the desert, my objective changed.  I realized I had a real shot at being chosen as an Alpha team member.”

“So you changed the rules?”

“Not exactly.  There was no reason to – there were still far too many candidates to choose from, and I wanted to be certain the best and right candidates got chosen.”

“So you started influencing the Committee towards the candidates you felt could make a successful mission... people you wanted as teammates.”

“Maybe a little,” he shrugged.  “But mostly I kept it honest.  I had to.  These people had to be able to perform on their own merit. The Committee was pretty adamant about that.”

“So why the communication yesterday?” Mary asked.  “I know they asked for your whereabouts and you refused.  Why did you contact them?”

He sighed.  “Look, they’ve been after me for a location on the team since we left the hotel.  I only know that because of the messages waiting on my Pad when you returned them,” he added at her arched brow.  Then he shrugged.  “I didn’t tell them, because I figured if you wanted them to know, you would have told them.”

“And in most cases, you’d be right.”

“But not this time,” he responded flatly.

“Not this time.  You see, Titus, they’ve been using you... each for their own reasons.  But the fact remains that you are a pawn in a much larger game, and now I need to use that fact to my advantage.”

“I’m listening.”

“If I tell you, Titus, you will be restricted to solitary in your quarters without a way to communicate with anyone but me and my agents until things are in motion and I am certain the danger is past.  Are you willing to be kept as a prisoner in your room until I know it’s safe?”

“For whom?”

“Everyone.”

“How long?”

Mary shrugged.  “I can’t say for certain, but it will be over before you are all scheduled for departure.”

“And what of my family?  They are due here in two days with everyone else’s to celebrate our last holiday together.  Am I supposed to lose my final time with them?”

“That is your choice, Titus.  If you really want to know why I need you to do this, then it is quite possible you will miss spending any time with your family.  If, however, you’re willing to take me on faith and trust that I am looking out for you and the rest of your team, you’ll be free to continue going about your business... including celebrating the holiday with your family.”  Mary held his gaze.  “Aside from the men in this room and my researcher, Gideon, no one knows of your real involvement with the Committee.  I plan to keep it that way.  And I promise to tell you and your comrades the whole story if the opportunity presents itself before you leave here.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“You told them that you couldn’t tell them where you were because you didn’t know.  I want you to send another message – telling them you’ve been looking around the complex for any identifying markers, but there just aren’t any.  However, you do know that the walls appear to be solid rock; that there is a cavern with a platform and carvings on the walls; that there is a locked out elevator that shows a number of floors.  That should be enough for them to figure out where you are.  And then I just have to wait for them to come looking.”

“You want them to find us.”

“I do indeed.  It’s time to finish this.  But Titus... if you betray me – if you betray the rest of these kids – I’ll make certain hell is the least of your worries.  Are we clear?”

“Yes ma’am.  Shall I send the message now?”  Mary nodded and the die was cast.


Chapter XL

Eli seated Arianna on one of the examination beds and gently removed the cold pack from her face.  She contained her wince, though Arianna could see the sympathetic pain in her eyes, and this close, she could see more than a hint of green and gold in what had been flat gray eyes for the longest time.  It caused a little thrill to chase up her spine, knowing she was the cause of that particular reaction.  She missed Eli’s hazel green eyes.

Arianna blinked when she realized Eli was staring at her with a charmingly shy smile and her head tilted in question, concern clearly written in her eyes.  She flushed slightly and cleared her throat.  “I’m sorry – I was thinking.  Did you ask me something?”

Eli’s smile grew exponentially larger, and she tenderly pushed the dark hair away from Arianna’s face.  “I did indeed,” she replied.  “I asked if you would share your story now.”

“Of course,” Arianna answered, though her smile tended more towards a grimace.  “Um....” wincing and clutching at her head.

“Hold that thought a moment.”  Eli turned away from her, then plucked a syringe from the cabinet and held it up.  “I’m glad we decided to pack up this room at the very last possible minute.  Let me get rid of your headache first.  It has obviously moved into ‘hurts to breathe’ territory.”  The hiss of air being released was the only indication the shot was taking effect, and Eli dropped the empty syringe on the table before clasping one of Arianna’s hands.  The other hand cradled the dark head and she looked into the single brown eye watching her every movement.  “I am going to lay you down on the bed,” she explained and Arianna shifted with her until she was lying flat.  “Better?” Eli asked.

“Much.  What did you give me?”

Eli chuckled.  “The good stuff.”  It had become a running joke between them at the desert facility.  For most non-emergency cases, Eli tended to stint on real painkillers, citing that if they could make due with basic pain medicine to take care of things, she could save the good stuff for real incidents.  Everyone knew, however, that she also had no compunction about using the hard drugs if the situation warranted it.  Most of them prayed that she never utilized the good stuff – it meant really bad things as far as they were concerned.

“Am I dying??” Arianna asked with some alarm.

“No, Sweetheart, no,” Eli assured in a soothing voice.  “I just didn’t want to see you in pain any longer, and I can still restock anything I use here.”  She watched Arianna’s eyes slowly unfocus and softly smiled.  “How do you feel?”

“Lovely,” Arianna replied with a goofy half-smile.  “Sort of floaty... like when you took me flying....”  A fingertip covered her lips.

“Our secret, remember?” waiting for Arianna to nod slowly.  “Now let me see what I can do about the damage Isaac did.  Because it looks like his elbow certainly did quite a number on your face.”

“You should check out his elbow,” Arianna said with a snicker.  “I could have done serious damage with my face, you know.”

Eli gave her a fond smile.  “You really are feeling good.”

“Ooooh yes,” Arianna drawled slowly.  “I like the good stuff.”

“Close your eyes, Angel.  And I promise when you open them again, you will feel brand new.”

“Will you still be here or is this all a dream?”

“No dream, Angel.  I’ll be right here.  You still owe me a story, remember?”   Eli smiled and Arianna closed her eyes, confident that things would be better when she woke up again.  Eli waited until she felt Arianna’s body relax into deeper sleep.  Then she got to work repairing the bruises.

************

“How is she, Boss?” Eden asked as she leaned against the doorjamb of the examination room.  It hadn’t been hard to figure where Eli was when she and Arianna didn’t show up for lunch.  Eli motioned Eden into the room.

“Sleeping comfortably.  I gave her a shot of the good stuff and it took her under quickly.”

Eden studied Arianna with apprehension.  “Is she... did he do deeper damage than we thought?”

Eli shook her head.  “No, no... nothing so dire.  She had just reached a critical level of headache pain, and I saw no reason to let her continue to suffer.  I can still replace anything I use here, so why not make her comfortable?” Eli shrugged nonchalantly, but her eyes told a different story.

“It’s cool, Boss.  I’d have done the same thing.  Do you want something to eat?”  Her stomach grumbled its answer, but Eli shook her head. 

“No.  I promised her I would be here when she woke up.”

“I can bring you something.”

“Please,” the words slightly slurred.  “All the growling is keeping me awake,” Arianna teased sleepily from the bed as she gingerly stretched out her body.  Eli and Eden both stepped closer on opposite sides of the bed.

“How do you feel?”

“Brand new... just like you promised.”  Her stomach rumbled.  “And also hungry,” she admitted sheepishly.  The other two chuckled in sympathy and offered her a hand.  She sat up swiftly and blinked.  “Whoa... what a rush!”  She took a deep breath then glanced between her companions.  “Help me down?” she queried, smiling at the alacrity of their response.  When she was steady on her feet, she turned to Eden.  “Is everyone still in the mess hall?”  Eden nodded and Arianna looked at Eli.  “Shall we go have lunch with our friends?”

Eli shrugged and grabbed her field kit.  Then she motioned them out of the treatment room and towards the entrance of the medical bay, delighted when Arianna linked their hands together even as she tucked her other hand into the crook of Eden’s elbow.

“How’s Isaac doing?”

“Despite our efforts to engage him, he’s keeping his head down at the moment.  I think he’s waiting for you to show up and absolve him of guilt in front of the others because they all heard the conversation in the big room.  And you know what happens when a scientist’s curiosity goes unabated for too long.”

“Yes,” Eli said dryly.  “You get into mischief.”

Eden put her free hand on her chest and put on a appropriately affronted expression.  “I’m certain I don’t have the first idea what you’re referring to, Boss.  I have never gotten up to mischief in my life.”

“And if I ask your MaTb?  Will she say the same?”

“My makuahine believes me to be an angel – of course she would,” said drolly with an innocent countenance... that she managed to maintain for five full seconds before giving in to the laughter she could no longer contain.  The other two were quick to join in her mirth, and it was in this manner that they entered the galley, drawing every eye to them.  Esther was the first to stand and greet them, walking over to take Arianna in a hug.  Eli squeezed the hand linked with hers and then released her clasp with a nod towards the table where Isaac was ensconced.  Arianna nodded and extended her free arm to accept Esther’s embrace.

“Girlfriend, you look amazing.  Guess Doc Eli got you all fixed up, hmm?  So tell us what happened.  Paulie and Eden refused saying it was your story and Isaac has been ignoring us.  So what’s the scoop?”

“Move aside, Es,” Jake commanded with a gentle hip check.  “The rest of us want our hugs too.”

“Besides,” Eden said as she patted the hand on her elbow as she slid from Arianna’s grasp.  “They need to eat.  So get your hugs and let them sit down to eat.”  She turned to Arianna.  “I’ll get your plates – don’t let her sneak out of here.”

Arianna narrowed her eyes.  “She wouldn’t dare.”  Eden smirked and headed to the serving line, and Arianna turned back to the rest of her teammates welcoming her back.

************

Eli sat down next to Isaac and he cut his eyes at her before turning his attention back to his food.  She reached for him and he jerked away, careful not to actually hit her with his motion.  Eli sighed.

“Isaac, I’m not going to hurt you.  I simply need to check your elbow.  Arianna is concerned that she did damage to it with her face when you collided.  And considering how hardheaded stubborn she is, it’s a valid concern,” offering him a smirk and getting the smallest smile in return.

He looked at her then, scrutinizing her for a long moment as she held his gaze.  Then he nodded slowly.  “You might wanna move back a little,” he said, extending his arm with the slightest motion in her direction.  Eli stood and let him stretch it out, then she grasped it in gentle hands.

“A little sore?” she asked, running her fingertips over the bone and smiling when he replied.

“Between you and me, she has some pretty thick bones... especially considering her size,” he replied.

Eli snorted.  “So that’s a yes, then.”  She opened her kit and pulled out the hand-held regen unit.  She ran it over the area when she felt a slight warmth, and after a few minutes, Isaac nodded his appreciation.  “Thanks, Doc.  I didn’t realize....”

“I know, but given the damage to her face, it wasn’t unexpected.  You’re welcome.  I’m glad I could help.”  Eli moved to walk away, but Isaac grabbed her arm, careful not to exert too much pressure.  She met his eyes and slowly sat down, and when he was convinced she was going to listen, he released his grip.  “Isaac?”

“You’re the one, aren’t you?” At her confused look, he hurried to explain.  “With Arianna – you’re the one her heart belongs to, aren’t you?”  When Eli remained silent, Isaac continued.  “I... I talked to Arianna... when we were on the ship together.  I know you claimed her... said she was yours, but she never said that so I thought I had a shot, you know?  I thought you were just posturing.”  He shook his head.  “I don’t know.  Because she was kind to me, I believed there was more between us so despite your words... despite Titus and Paul trying to convince me otherwise, I decided to take what I felt was my golden opportunity.”

Eli had clenched her hands together, but her expression remained neutral.  She cleared her throat softly.  “And how did that go for you, Isaac?”

He chuckled ruefully.  “About like you’d expected it to – Eden and that Joey guy of Mary’s were giving me the stink eye; Paul was trying not to be seen; and Arianna was not unkind... but she was steadfast in her insistence that we were friends only.  She assured me that was all I could ever hope for because her heart belonged to another.  That other is you, isn’t it?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Eli, I know I tend to get lost in my own little world.  Machines and science make sense to me – they’re a lot easier to understand than most people I meet.  But I saw how you reacted when you saw her this morning, and I heard how she spoke to you.  I don’t think that was posturing – I think that was you claiming each other.  I know you were roommates for a while at the desert compound.”  He held up his hands.  “I’m not asking for details.  I mean... no.  That is wrong on so many levels of wrong.  But I’m not generally right about things like this because I don’t pay attention like I should.  Eden and Arianna said I needed start paying attention to the people and interactions that go on around me so I can learn how to have friends... how to be a friend.  I just want to know if I got it right this time.”

Eli examined his expression prudently, looking for little clues that might show he was lying to her.  What she found was reassuring, and she nodded slowly.  “It was… I am,” she replied.

“Good,” Isaac affirmed.  “She deserves someone like you.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do,” he stated emphatically.  “Just be good to her okay?  She deserves everything.”

“She does.  And I plan to do my very best.”

“Your very best what?” Arianna asked as she took a seat beside Eli, leaning around her to look at Isaac. “Hi, Isaac.  How’s the elbow?”

“Better thanks to the Doc here.  I didn’t even realize it hurt until it didn’t any more.”

Arianna leaned into Eli’s arm.  “Yes – she’s pretty good at that.  So what did we miss while we were gone?” she asked looking around at the friends and colleagues who had gathered around the table she and Eli were seated at.  “And where is Titus?” glancing between Isaac and Paul.

“We haven’t seen him.”

“Ms Wellesly asked to speak to him after breakfast,” Eli replied, a frown crossing her face.  “I don’t know the details, but I’m forced to wonder if there’s a problem if he’s still meeting with her.”

“If there is a problem, we’ll know about it soon enough,” Eden assured her.  “You know how it works.  And in the meantime – what did we miss?  Is everything on track for the holiday?”  And the conversation turned to other things.

************

“You think that will get them here?” Ian asked when the door closed behind Titus.  “Do you think he’ll maintain his silence?”

Mary rubbed at the ache in her forehead.  “It depends on how wrong I was about him.  I expected him to be chosen for his affinity to grow beautiful, productive plants.  Even before he became some sort of plant whisperer so to speak, he had the greenest thumb I had ever seen.  But I never saw any inkling that he was the Committee’s informant.  I didn’t actually expect it from any of these kids... not until recently anyway.”

“Is it worth it?” Caleb asked.  Ephraim remained silent at his post by the door.

Mary shook her head and blew out a frustrated breath.  “I would like to think so.  I think the project is; the politics?  Not so much.”

“What’s the Council going to say?  You are deliberately putting these kids in harm’s way to protect them.  I imagine there is going to be exception taken to your methods, Mama.”

“I’m sure there will be, my son.  But much will depend on the results we achieve, and these kids are safer here than almost anywhere else in the world.  Your brother’s Marine units are in place and when the time comes, we’ll confine the Alpha team to a safe location.  After that it will be a matter of closing the trap.  Only once this is resolved will I notify the Council.”

“Do you think we can do this without bloodshed?”

“Doubtful,” Mary replied.  “But I plan on most of the bloodshed being that of those coming after the Alpha team members.  If they didn’t support this mission, the Members should have resigned their posting to the Committee.”

“Can’t they do more damage from within than without?”

Mary sighed.  “Of course.  And yes, I do know that,” pinching the bridge of her nose hard.  “It just gripes me to no end to have to deal with that kind of selfish stupidity.  If you don’t like it, let it go and move on.  It’s better for everyone that way.”  She raked a hand through her hair.  “I suppose I should be grateful that there were so many Members involved in the pushing and pulling in so many different directions.  That’s what ultimately gave them away and at least it ensured that the best candidates were chosen – because none of the Committee members wanted their planets to be represented by less than the best minds they had to offer.”

“So how long?”

“Depends.  I’m waiting to hear they’ve started moving.  Stephen is supposed to contact us.”

“And Titus?”

“I think Titus was telling the truth.  He was at best a mediocre researcher when he was chosen as the Committee’s inside evaluator, and his green thumb ability isn’t highly unusual on his planet, though he was definitely one of the best botanists among the candidates.  Discovering the gift of being able to communicate with plants was a game changer for him.”

“So you don’t think he will betray you?  Even to the kids on the Alpha team?”

Ephraim chuckled.  “Listen to the old man calling them kids.”  Mary and Caleb laughed and Ian crossed his arms over his chest and stuck out his tongue.  Mary covered her mouth and breathed deeply through her nose until she no longer felt the urge to giggle.  Then she looked at Ephraim.  “Yes, you’re going to fit into this family just fine.”

Ian glared in his direction.  “Remind me to teach you about the brothers’ code.”  Ephraim snickered and nodded.  Ian huffed impatiently and looked at Mary.  “About my question...?”

“I don’t think he will, no.  He wants this – he wants to be a member of the Alpha team and have this project succeed.  If he betrays us to the Committee, he destroys any chance for the mission to go ahead as planned.  If he betrays us to the Alpha team, he is slitting his own throat.  Do you really think they will want him to continue as part of them?”

“I suppose it depends on how he presents the story to them.  If I was him, I’d make sure they knew that I was influential in their being chosen.”

Mary shook her head.  “That’s a slippery slope and can very easily work against him.”  She cocked an eyebrow at his confused expression.  “Ian, that’s tantamount to telling them that they weren’t good enough on their own merit – that they needed him to do it for them because they couldn’t accomplish it without him.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“That’s why she’s the Chief,” Caleb offered. A knock on the door interrupted Ian’s retort, and they all looked towards it as Ephraim opened the portal at Mary’s behest.  Gideon stuck his head inside, but didn’t enter.

“Chief, we just heard from Stephen.  They’re on the move.”

“Headed this way?” 

“Not yet; they appear to be gathering troops.  Not the size of an army, but enough that the Marines will get a nice workout if they decide to be stupid.  Stephen’s supposed to keep an eye on things until they turn this way, and then he and the remainder will make haste to join us here.”

“Good job, Gideon.  Keep me posted.”  He nodded and exited the room.  “All right – Caleb, let the rest of the Agents know where we’re at.  Ian, go notify your brother.  Ephraim, you’re with me.  It’s time to go talk to the Alpha team.”

Part 5