Shackleton's Folly (The Lost Wonder Book 1) (29 page)

Dancer shut down the engines. “There. We should be safe long enough to find the tracker. A tsunami is heading our way — about four hours away.”

“Can we help?” Electra asked.

Dancer got up with Alec. Dancer replied, “Thanks, but I am faster without organic help.” Dancer turned to her. “How about you two go for a walk? A tropical paradise — cannot ask for anything better to do during the downtime.”

Alec caught a subtle look as he glanced at Dancer. Alec checked himself from berating Dancer. It was a setup, but who was he to question it? “I am going to change into something more appropriate for the beach; then you can show me some of your world,” Alec said to Electra.

Alec changed into some cargo shorts, a light-blue button shirt, and classic black canvas sneakers. The bag he had slung over his shoulder held the basics — some fruit, cheese, bread, and a flask of a batch of whiskey he had distilled a little more than two years ago. It wasn’t true whiskey — not all the ingredients had been available —but he had tried to minimize the number of substitutions. He had tried to explain his interest in bottling his own drink to Dancer once; it came out as he “…wanted to be self-sufficient….” The aging of the whiskey was tricky without the oak to make the barrels from. He had more than a few barrels aging in the innermost recesses of the ship. He walked around the ship’s hull, eyeballing it to see if he could spot the tracker.

Dancer stood on the hull and watched the horizon. “They camouflaged it, so a visual inspection will not be possible. It will be found. You have time,” Dancer said from his vantage point, “to explore the area for as long as you like. I will let you know if I need you.”

“I am sure you will,” replied Alec.

Electra appeared, wearing a tight white t-shirt she had found. She had cut the sleeves and shirt very short, exposing her upper arms and everything below her chest. A few strategically placed slashes across the front enhanced the daring look. A pair of old khaki canvas pants and been cut off high, creating short shorts. A canvas belt cinched up accented her waist. She had selected classic black canvas sneakers with accents of white, pink, and blue dots to go along with her attire. “Ready?” she said.

“You found that onboard the
Quest
?” Alec said admiringly.

“I hope it’s okay with you.” She adjusted the shorts and looked directly into his eyes. “Do you like?”

“Adorable,” Alec said as he went to her. He held his arm out for her. She did not understand for a moment but then took his arm, and they walked from the clearing in the direction of the beach.

Dancer watched them leave. “About time.”

The battleships
Illia
and
Saleen
dropped from FTL a light year from their target. Sensors were no longer able to read telemetry from the tracking unit through the dust and material making up the nebula. The two massive ships moved in formation as the
Illia
covered for the still-damaged
Saleen
.

Wolfgang Gray paced the deck near the station. “Well, which way did they go?” he demanded.

Science Officer Ta returned, “Sensors show their ion trail heading into the nebula, but we are unable to confirm they are still inside. The Skiptracer’s markers show they followed the fugitives inside.”

Captain K’Dhoplon entered the bridge from a turbo lift. “Doctor Gray?”

Gray said with resolve, “We must follow them.” A battle space displayed the situation in real time, with their positions in relation to the nebula. The nebula was painted by the analytical battle computers as a threat, its interior unknown.

Captain K’Dhoplon took his chair and commanded, “Set course to follow.”

Helmsman Xuen keyed in the course change. “Ready.” The battle systems added their new course onto the situational display. Their entry point was 15 degrees from the Skiptracer’s last position.

Captain K’Dhoplon looked ahead. “Best speed.”

Helmsman Xuen keyed in the command.

Illia
and
Saleen
followed the long, curved path set by their navigators. The battleships encountered the nebula further out from the two smaller ships that had entered before them. Battleships were weapon platforms and were taking a heavy blast from the dust and larger materials making up the nebula. The shields of each of the ships showed the effects of extensive, continuous contact with the abrasive materials. It would not be enough to affect normal operations as long it ended soon, but it was a drain on their resources.

Gray read a report on a datapad designed for the Koty. It was annoying having to pander to these idiots, but he needed them to live. The prospect of Shackleton actually finding a safe harbor for humanity was preposterous.

Gray swiped the pad’s screen to the next page. “It seems Shackleton has made a find. The data is a bit sketchy.” He zoomed in on the screen and read further, looking incredulous. “There must be some error.” He stopped reading, eyes widening ever so slightly, and looked up at the forward screen. He asked, “Captain K’Dhoplon, have you reported home recently?”

Captain K’Dhoplon contemplated the human. “Why?”

Gray rushed to the station. He said, “Run silent for now, Captain K’Dhoplon. Trust me.”

Captain K’Dhoplon turned toward Gray and responded indignantly, “You try my patience, Doctor.” He nodded to the two Koty security guards near Gray. They restrained him quickly and started to drag him toward the chipper.

Gray called out mockingly, “Anything you send now could jeopardize the greatest find of this millennium. It could only be the work of the First Ones.”

Captain K’Dhoplon hesitated. “Wait.”

The Koty security guards stopped at the chipper’s opening at hearing this and looked back to the Captain.

Captain K’Dhoplon got up from his chair and walked over to Gray. “Make sure what you have to say interests me.”

Gray said, “The Koty will soon have the technology to claim the galaxy, and I can help you.”

The
Quest
rested in the clearing about 75 meters from the white, sandy beach. Alec stood with his eyes closed, taking in an onshore breeze. Electra stood barefoot, carrying her sneakers, ankle deep in the ocean water.

Electra smiled. “How long has it been since you took in the sea breeze?”

Alec let the breeze wash over him. His sneakers were tied together and slung over his shoulder. The warmth of a star above was so different from what he was used to. “I have been to planets with beaches before, and, as to your question: About three years, give or take, since I’ve had the time to enjoy myself.”

Electra came in from the surf and took Alec’s hand. They started down the beach toward a promontory a few hundred meters away. The vertical cliffs faced them and wrapped around the headland, presenting vertical cliffs there, too. Electra pointed out the cliff and followed it inland from the beach. “There — that is where we will go.” She took Alec down the beach most of the way to the imposing cliffs that now blocked their way and turned inland. The tropical foliage surrounded them entirely. Electra followed a path from the beach; it led them along the face of the cliffs. The tropical flowers filled the air with sweet fragrances. Alien, yet familiar and exotic.

The sound of falling water built up slowly as they pushed further inland. A clearing opened wide, with a large pool at the base of the falls.

“Really, more falls?” asked Alec.

Electra dropped the sneakers she was carrying. “The builders put in this fresh water falls to improve water quality. Come on — the water will be nice.” Electra went to what looked like a natural rock formation at the edge of the pool. She looked down and then dove in. Alec walked to the pool as he watched her progress across the pool underwater. She resurfaced and came back to him. Electra found a spot shallow enough for her to stand. The wet t-shirt clung to her, revealing her excitement. “Alec, the water is great. Come on in,” she asked.

“I did not come ready for a swim. No swimming trunks,” answered Alec. He put down his bag of goodies and removed the whiskey flask. He opened it and took a sip. It had been an early batch as he experimented with ingredients in his whiskey.

“Is that all?” Electra slipped off her top as she walked toward shore and slung it at him. It landed at his feet. Electra strode out of the water, the water beading on her skin and running down the curves of her form. She undid the belt hugging her hips and dropped the shorts. She was as beautiful as the day she was born. Electra stood before Alec and reached up with her right hand and caressed his face. “There should be nothing between us.”

Alec responded by reaching out to her waist and bringing her close. An unquenchable hunger for her came forth, and he kissed her fully; The flavor of the whiskey added a new dimension to her, and she responded to him. The light from above glistened as it struck the soft curves of her body.

Alec picked her up in his arms and carried her slowly into the pool. Pain from his recent injuries were mentally suppressed or forgotten. The water’s temperature was hardly noticeable to Alec, as his body was aching with desire. Electra disengaged from his arms and undid his shorts; they drifted down. Alec grabbed them and flung them onto the rocks on the shore. He took off the rest of his clothes.

Electra had waited until Alec’s attention was consumed with undressing. “Got to catch me.” She swam quickly away toward the far side of the pool.

Alec hurled his clothes at the shore, but they fell short of the rocks, into a patch of shore grass. He turned, dove into the water, and cut the distance between them.

Electra pulled herself out of the pool onto a rock outcropping and grinned down at Alec as his powerful strokes brought him close. Electra dove off the rock and swam toward the falls at the far end. She had a lead, but Alec was cutting that quicker than he should have. Electra’s progress had subtly slowed. She arrived at the base of the falls just as Alec caught her leg and pulled her toward him.

“You think you can just take what you want?” She struggled, trying to get away.

“What we both want,” he said hoarsely.

Alec drew her closer. The waterfall’s soft, warm spray wafted over them. He blinked, and Electra had turned into him. She ran her fingers over the new scars on his chest.

“Too soon? I wouldn’t want to hurt you.”

Alec bent over and whispered, “I need you.”

Electra threw her arms around his neck and pulled herself up, wrapping her legs about his waist. Alec lifted her to him. Their lips touched softly at first as they became one and moved together. He moved them closer to the spray of the falls. The air was hot with fragrance of flowers, the warm mist, and the lovers. A twinge of pain from his broken rib broke his concentration.

Electra felt his shiver and stopped looking deep into his eyes. “Are you okay?”

“I am with you — I couldn’t be better.”

Electra glanced around and found what she was looking for — a small patch of grass near a bed of flowers. “Come with me.”

She led the way as he followed. The tropical flowers were thick about them. Electra turned to Alec and knelt down. He followed her lead. She pushed on him until he lay down. Electra picked one of the flowers and put it behind his ear as she straddled him. He reached up and ran his hands from her shoulders down until he cupped both breasts.

Electra moved her pelvis rhythmically as he moved his hands lower until his fingers dug into her hips, giving her control. He responded to her movements, anticipating, building up to the heightening crescendo of beating hearts. With the breathlessness of desire, Electra arched back, her eyes closing in ecstasy. Alec quickly reached up and brought her forward until she rested her forehead on his. His hands ran up and down her spine, stopping only to hold her close as he peaked. Their breathing labored as he drove deeply. She responded, thrusting, until they both held their breaths. Electra shook with intensity as pleasure washed over both of them. Electra relaxed as she rolled off him onto the grass. Alec’s outstretched arm became her pillow.

Alec looked deeply into her eyes and smiled. “Beautiful.”

Electra smiled back. “You are not so bad yourself.” She looked up at the sky. “I think you could hang our clothes out to dry.”

“I could. What could we do while we wait for them to dry?”

Electra ran a finger down his chest and whispered, “I have an idea. That is, if you are up to it.”

*

A trail of footprints emerged from the water splashed on to the flat rocks nearest the pool and passed the clothes laid out for drying. Alec lay in the shade of the palms, beads of water glistening on his chest. It rose and fell with a satisfaction that could be seen in his face.

Electra snuggled her wet body into his side. “That was tasty.”

Alec glanced over at the remnants of the goodies he had packed, piled just out of reach. “I enjoyed every moment. A little swim, then a snack, and a lot more swimming, and a snack…”

“Oh, hush.” She ran her finger down his chest. “How soon will the wave be here?”

Alec opened his eyes wide. “Swimming?”

Electra smiled and said, reassuringly, “That’s not what I asked.”

Alec announced, “Once we get you home, we will need your help to find the rest of Earth’s survivors. A home again.”

“We had better be getting back. Dancer must be wondering what happened to us.”

“He’ll scan us both and know what happened.”

“Come on,” she laughed.

“He will — count on it,” he retorted as they got up from the grass. Alec checked his clothes. “They are still a little wet,” he declared as he put on his shorts. He slipped on his shoes. Electra slipped into her clothes and carried her sneakers. Alec joined her, and they started down the path back to the beach together. The sun had moved in the direction of the ocean. He was carrying his shirt with one hand and his bag in the other.

Electra said, “When we reach my home, we will help find your — I mean
our
— people.”

“You have anyone who’ll be waiting for you? Family?” Alec asked.