All content with the exception of (*) is the property of the author. Â© 2001 Kiera Dellacroix.

This story, characters, and incidents are fictitious. No identification or similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or entities is intended or should be inferred.

Many thanks to Diva for correcting my limited command of punctuation.

This one isnâ€™t for the kiddies and definitely rates an NC-17 rating. Excessively Alt., Callous Language, Groovy Violence, Crass Humor.

Enormous thanks to everyone who wrote me regarding Engravings of Wraith Iâ€™m a terrible email manager so I truly hope I didnâ€™t miss anyone and responded to all of you. Your words were and are very appreciated.

Happy Halloween! kdellacroix@hotmail.com

ICEHOLE

Kiera Dellacroix

02/15/02 - 1200 hours

Another small piece of paper was torn off the tablet on her desk and with a wary glance around, the scrap found a temporary home in her mouth. Her first salvo of missiles had missed their target, a dilemma she felt she would soon rectify as she determinedly zeroed in on the back of Ensign Taylorâ€™s neck.

The brown-nosing little shit was completely unaware of her previous assault and she scowled as she loaded her weapon. The spitball was chambered into the end of a soda straw with a minimum of fuss and she took careful aim. Unfortunately, her prior efforts had lacked both altitude and distance so she took the time to carefully calculate all of the environmental factors. Taylor sat at his desk, roughly twelve feet away, with his back to her. Her projectile would have to possess the power to travel through the door of her office and have enough altitude to carry it on to her intended victim.

Finally confident, she inhaled deeply and leaned back in her chair, discharging her weapon with a loud expel of breath. She watched happily as the moist little wad of paper stung the back of the Ensignâ€™s neck with a satisfying splat and she turned rapidly to the computer on her desk, innocently feigning productivity.

Instead of finding the monitor, her eyes landed on the stern features of her commanding officer and she silently cursed the painfully transparent glass walls of her office. Judging from the distinct look of displeasure on his face, he had witnessed the entire incident. Fooling no one but herself, she tried vainly to pretend she didnâ€™t see him and industriously began to type nonsense into her keyboard. She noted movement out of the corner of her eye and grimaced in anticipation of the inevitable confrontation.

â€œCommander,â€ he said frostily from the doorway. â€œIâ€™m going to go get a cup of coffee and return to my office. I strongly suggest you be there waiting for me by the time I arrive.â€

â€œYes, sir,â€ she said quickly, rising from her seat. The Admiral turned and strode away, deftly navigating through a maze of cubicles. She ambled after him, changing course halfway across the room to take the shortcut to his office and arriving quickly at the desk of the attending Yeoman.

â€œAdmiral Eaton requested that I wait for him,â€ she said miserably. A small, knowing smile. â€œGo right in, Commander.â€

She tried not to sigh as she entered the room and stood at attention in front of his desk, waiting several minutes for the sound of an opening door. Prudently keeping her eyes focused straight ahead, she waited for the stately elder man to seat himself behind his desk. A long and increasingly uncomfortable silence ensued as he studied her with a mixture of disappointment and frustration.

â€œYour resignation is tabled,â€ he said finally. â€œIâ€™d like you to consider an alternate command for a period of at least one year. If after that time you still wish to resign, it will be honored.â€

â€œI donâ€™t understand, sir,â€ she said confusedly.

â€œYouâ€™re a damn good officer when youâ€™re not being a complete jackass,â€ he said tiredly. â€œYour operational record is nothing short of outstanding and Iâ€™d be willing to bet your name will be on the promotion list for full Commander within the next eighteen months. Iâ€™d like you to take this assignment and use the time to reconsider resigning your commission. The Navy would like to keep you.â€

She considered silently.

â€œYes or no?â€ he asked impatiently.

â€œWhere?â€

â€œAntarctica,â€ he replied quickly. â€œItâ€™s a Joint Task Force command overseen by the Department of Defense at the request of the NSF.â€

â€œAntarctica?â€ she said in surprise. â€œWouldnâ€™t that be in violation of...?â€

â€œYes,â€ he interrupted. â€œItâ€™s a classified operation and facility. The construction finished ahead of schedule and the interim civilian leader down there abruptly decided to depart a season early. You werenâ€™t on the list of original command candidates. However, none of those considered are available at such short notice and in desperation, I recommended you for the job. Surprisingly, your nomination was unanimously accepted.â€

â€œWhy?â€ she asked bluntly.

â€œBecause,â€ he said slowly. â€œI want to keep you but I donâ€™t want to put up with you any longer.â€

She smiled. â€œWhen?â€

â€œEighteen hours. All information will be provided in text due to time constraints,â€ he explained quickly. â€œYes or no?â€

Another thoughtful silence. â€œYes.â€

â€œGood,â€ he said, rising from his seat. â€œYour flight leaves from Andrews at 0600 to Christchurch, New Zealand. From there youâ€™ll hook up with 109th Air Mobility Wing which will transport you to McMurdo. You can take the rest of the day to get your shit in order.â€

â€œVery well,â€ she said. â€œDismissed, Commander,â€ he said kindly. She sketched a salute. â€œTake care, sir,â€ she said with a grin.

â€œYou too,â€ he said fondly, watching with a smile as she turned and strode from his office.

02/19/02 - 1800 hours

Tired eyes slowly surveyed the people gathered within the confines of the mess hall. He subtly cleared his throat and waited patiently for everyone to get settled, there was no rush. The news he had to deliver would be met with some hostility, even though all knew it was inevitable.

His gaze landed briefly upon each person and he favored every set of eyes that met his own with a small smile and an approving nod. He would miss them, having come to think of the people working within the complex as family. â€œWhatâ€™s the scoop, skipper?â€ Dr. Rivers asked cheerfully when everyone had quieted down.

He spared a glance at the little doctor and grinned; the woman was just as cute as she could be. If there was anyone he would miss above all the others, it was Corky Rivers. Her popularity among the staff was second to none and he had developed a fierce paternal affection for her. Lucky if she stood an inch over five feet tall, with shoulder-length black hair that lived in a constant state of disarray, the diminutive figure contained twelve feet of â€˜donâ€™t fuck with meâ€™ attitude. She was friendly and fiendishly brilliant, but woe to the individual that pissed her off.

â€œShow some patience, Corky,â€ he chided. â€œIs everyone here?â€

â€œAll of the civilians are here,â€ Corky replied easily. He sighed. She was going to take the news hard. â€œThen weâ€™re all here,â€ he said reluctantly. â€œWhy is that?â€ Corky asked, her brown eyes narrowing suspiciously. Bracing himself for the explosion that was only minutes away, he ambled over and sat upon a folding table in front of the gathered people, letting his legs dangle freely off the floor.

â€œWell,â€ he started slowly, â€œas you know, I was originally assigned to this project to supervise construction. Now that itâ€™s complete and we can concentrate our efforts solely on excavation, the administration of this facility falls into military hands.â€

His eyes took in a number of resigned sighs and shaking heads, at last coming to rest on a pair of brown eyes burning brightly under a mop of unruly black hair. He could tell from the reddening cheeks that an outburst was building up steam. She took a deep breath and he acted quickly.

â€œSave it, Corky,â€ he said sharply. â€œEveryone knew this was going to happen and itâ€™s a stipulation all agreed to before signing on.â€

Corky subsided grumpily, crossing her arms over her chest childishly.

â€œI tell you this now, because I wonâ€™t be wintering over this year.â€ He held up a hand against the beginning protest. â€œIâ€™ll be leaving tomorrow with the arrival of the new skipper.â€

â€œGoddamn it, Larry,â€ Corky said angrily. â€œAll U.S. operations on the continent are under the purview of the NSF.â€

â€œThat is true,â€ he said mildly. â€œHowever, each and every one of you knows the classified nature of this facility and was aware that the military would eventually take control here. There will be a drastic increase in both civilian and military personnel next season and since I recently decided not to winter over, theyâ€™re sending the new boss ahead of schedule.â€

â€œWho are they sending to replace you, Larry?â€ Clovis Stokes asked in his gruff voice.

â€œNo doubt some jarhead with a roll of quarters stuck up his ass,â€ Corky mumbled, getting a few hesitant chuckles from her colleagues.

â€œActually, youâ€™re not getting a jarhead, youâ€™re getting a sailor,â€ Larry replied quietly, throwing a disapproving look at Corky.

â€œCoast Guard?â€ Clovis asked.

â€œNo, Navy.â€

â€œWhat?â€ Corky sprang from her seat. â€œThe Navy ceased operations on the continent years ago. How could they be in charge?â€

He sighed. â€œThis entire facility is being funded by the DOD, they can send anyone they want. This operation is now considered a Task Force Command.â€

â€œHow the hell does a sailor fit in here?â€ Corky demanded angrily.

â€œYouâ€™d be surprised, Dr. Rivers,â€ he said with a hint of warning.

â€œWhatâ€™s his background?â€ Dr. Lenard asked reasonably.

â€œHe is a she,â€ Larry replied as he pulled the orders from his pocket and consulted them. â€œOne Lt. Commander Malory Q. Lovecraft. Assigned to Naval Intelligence since her graduation from Annapolis in 1994.â€

â€œIs that all the info you have?â€ Dr. Lenard asked. â€œWhy would they assign an Intelligence officer?â€

â€œIt was a last minute posting so the information provided was not all that educational,â€ Larry admitted. â€œAlthough, I can tell you that her most recent fitness report described her as unorthodox.â€

â€œThatâ€™s just great.â€ Corky mumbled. â€œA Section Eight sailor trapped in the dark with us for eight months.â€

â€œDr. Rivers,â€ Larry said sharply. â€œI suggest that upon her arrival you treat her with respect, that is, if you expect to receive any in return. I wasnâ€™t going to mention it, but now I feel I should. Commander Lovecraft is a decorated officer and is held in high regard. She may not find your comments as amusing as you might hope.â€

An irritable grunt was his only reply.

â€œLook people,â€ he stated. â€œThe fact of the matter is, this facility would not have been a possibility without military intervention. What is of the utmost importance is the excavation, which is why the majority of you are here to begin with. The United States is not the only government with interests here and you all know that if this complex was discovered, it would be in direct violation of the Antarctic Treaty. I might also remind you that it was the NSF itself that asked the military for their involvement. If we had not done so, we would now be competing over this site with an untold amount of foreign governments.â€

He spared a glance at his audience and was gratified to note that even Corky had subsided quietly. â€œThat this facility remains a secret is due solely to the militaryâ€™s efforts. The NSF does not and did not have the means to construct this site without it being detected by foreign satellite surveillance. At this point in the game, the military is assuming command and are here to provide continuing security and to administrate and evaluate the ongoing needs of this operation.â€ He sighed and allowed himself a small smile. â€œGive the new Commander a break and let her do her job. In addition, I better not get a bad report from her on any of you when I return in the summer.â€

His smile grew affectionate as this news was met with a happy response, most notably from the shining brown eyes of the groupâ€™s medical doctor.

â€œNow that we have that out of the way, Iâ€™ve arranged for a little party,â€ he said slyly. â€œBreak out the booze and letâ€™s all hope Iâ€™ve provided enough munchies.â€

He held up a hand to forestall the rising cheers. â€œBut first,â€ he added in a stern voice. â€œIâ€™ll need to see Dr. Rivers in my office, please.â€ With that, he turned and strode from the room without another word.

Corky sighed and slowly stood from her seat to follow Larry, trying her best to ignore the impressively unmusical chorus of her childishly teasing coworkers.

â€œCorkyâ€™s in trouble, Corkyâ€™s in trouble.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Larry puttered into his office and sat down behind the desk to await the arrival of the troublesome doctor. He had finished packing his things shortly before he summoned everyone to the mess and he spared a remorseful glance around the room; the bare walls and shelves a not so subtle reminder that this office, come the morrow, would no longer be his own. He looked up at the quiet knock and noted the sheepish look being cast in his direction.

â€œSit down, Corky,â€ he said gesturing to a chair in front of his desk and waiting until she seated herself before continuing.

â€œI know you have a bug up your ass over military involvement here and for the most part Iâ€™ve ignored your rather contemptuous attitude toward the service men already among us,â€ he stated quietly. â€œWhat I donâ€™t understand is why.â€

Corky shifted in her chair uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact with the sturdy and graying older man.

â€œIn the past, Iâ€™ve let you get away with it and I probably shouldnâ€™t have,â€ he admitted. â€œThe men here have been invaluable and have been nothing but polite to you, yet you treat all of them as if they are a barely tolerated enemy.â€

She opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by an upraised hand.

â€œIf you think for one minute the new boss will let you get away with such behavior, youâ€™re gravely mistaken,â€ he said sharply. â€œHow do you think it will feel to have your security clearance revoked and to spend the rest of your tour confined to quarters?â€

â€œShe wouldnâ€™t dare,â€ she said unbelievingly.

â€œDonâ€™t fool yourself, Corky,â€ he replied. â€œThe U.S. has a lot at stake here and there is no reason why someone with your attitude would be tolerated. Also, with that thought in mind, you can rest assured that they wouldnâ€™t send an idiot to take charge here. I would assume Commander Lovecraft to be quite formidable.â€

Corky fidgeted in her chair, remaining silent.

â€œIâ€™m waiting,â€ Larry said calmly.

â€œWaiting for what?â€ she asked lamely.

â€œWaiting for you to explain just what your problem is so I can help you save your job,â€ he explained indifferently.

He watched a myriad of emotions cross the womanâ€™s features, noting at last, the determined and stubborn clench of her jaws.

â€œYouâ€™re not leaving this room until you come clean, Corky,â€ he said tiredly.

Her eyes narrowed for battle.

He sighed and reached out to enter the intercom code on the phone in front of him. â€œThis is Daniels,â€ he said, his voice reverberating down the halls outside. â€œWould PO DeSoto report to my office, please?â€

Corkyâ€™s eyes widened in shock, knowing DeSoto to be the communications officer.

â€œItâ€™s rather late in the game to request a doctor, especially one with your skills,â€ Larry said mildly. â€œBut hopefully we can acquire another before winter sets in.â€

Corky shrunk in her seat. â€œLarry...â€ she began sweetly.

â€œDonâ€™t give me that,â€ he interrupted. â€œI have two daughters, youâ€™re wasting your time playing the sweet and contrite card.â€

Thwarted, she thought furiously. It was only a matter of seconds before DeSoto arrived.

â€œYouâ€™re running out of time.â€

Corky ground her teeth, wanting to scream in frustration. Who knew that Larry could be so ruthless? She spared a quick appraising glance at the man; she both admired and genuinely cared for him. His approval had come to mean a lot to her and she didnâ€™t want to disappoint him by revealing anything. Yet, staying on her current course wouldnâ€™t win her any brownie points and she would most likely not only disappoint him, but lose her job.

â€œAlright, Larry,â€ she said reluctantly, a split second before the doorway was darkened.

â€œYou called for me, sir?â€ DeSoto asked politely.

â€œYes, but I donâ€™t think Iâ€™ll need anything now,â€ Larry said giving Corky a hard stare, gratified when she nodded slightly. â€œIâ€™m sorry to have bothered you.â€

â€œNo problem, sir,â€ DeSoto said easily in parting.

Larry waited a moment and leaned back in his chair. â€œLetâ€™s hear it.â€

Corky took a deep breath, hoping she hadnâ€™t underestimated him. â€œWell...â€

02/20/02 - 0930 hours

A mildly curious gaze occasionally looked up from the papers in her lap to watch the bleak, white landscape speed by from within the confines of the helicopter. The view now was the same as it had been twenty minutes ago when they had lifted off from McMurdo; an endless landscape covered in white, occasionally highlighted with light and shadows from the low sun of polar summer. A sun that would soon disappear and leave the continent in darkness for the eight months of the winter season. Not that it would matter. She would be spending that time completely underground, or more accurately, under the ice.

She returned her attention to the papers in her lap, taking in the details that would make up her new command. Upon her arrival, she would be taking charge over an impressively vast and self-contained complex. The base itself completely hidden from prying eyes and housing a winter population of thirty-one people, the majority of which were from the National Science Foundation.

She scanned the list of military personnel and noted that they numbered thirteen, including herself. All branches with the exception of the Marines Corps were represented. Five from the Coast Guard, six from the Air Force, one from the Army, and of course, one Navy. She thought that a little odd, but then again, the whole endeavor struck her as odd. Considering the ultimate goal was to investigate several anomalous sonar readings almost a kilometer below the ice. According to estimates and if all went as planned, excavation would reveal the discovery to human eyes by October. There were pages of text describing why the scientists were in such an uproar over the project, but they might as well have been written in Latin for as far as she was concerned. She only skimmed the first few paragraphs before tossing them aside and declaring herself a layman. The scholars were creaming their jeans over the expected find but she couldnâ€™t muster an ounce of excitement, considering relics and fossils to be about as interesting as watching a lump of shit dry in the sun.

She was more concerned with how she was to occupy herself underground for the next eight months. As soon as the pilot dropped Daniels at McMurdo and returned, the entire facility was to be sealed, allowing no one entry or exit until flights resumed in the far distant summer. She groaned in prediction of a boring eternity spent within the confines of her quarters and again turned to watch the landscape pass by in a never-ending white blur.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky looked up from her computer with a frown when the flashing red light on the ceiling caught her attention.

So our new monarch arriveth.

When she got out of bed this morning her first thought was to avoid the new boss lady for as long as she could. However, memories of the scathing lecture she had received from Larry the night before soon assailed her and she thought it prudent to at least give her the benefit of the doubt. She smiled a little, remembering that she had indeed underestimated the man and was going to miss him terribly. Not wanting to give Larry any more reason for worry, she grabbed her jacket and started making her way to the entrance, joining more than one of her colleagues in the halls. All of whom were headed in the same direction and obviously eager to meet the new cheese.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory watched with detachment as the helicopter began to descend between two men standing with flares in the middle of apparently nowhere, their figures a stark contrast against a solid white background. She glanced around curiously for any other hint of population or machinery and came up lacking. Upon touchdown, she removed her seat belt and made to open the door but was called up short.

â€œCommander,â€ Ring said turning in his seat to look at her. â€œYou can get out, but donâ€™t stray away from the aircraft, itâ€™s a long drop.â€

She stared at him confusedly and nodded slightly in agreement, sparing another glance at the environment she found herself in and coming away with nothing but miles of white, featureless ground for as far as the eye could see. When her boots hit the snow, one of the two signalmen approached her and saluted, a young man with blonde farm boy good looks.

â€œCommander,â€ he said loudly over the dying roar of the helicopter blades. â€œIâ€™m Staff Sergeant Hanson. Please donâ€™t wander. Are you ready to enter the facility?â€

â€œYes, carry on,â€ she said distractedly, more than a little curious to see how things unfolded.

Hanson looked to the pilot and received a thumbs up and another from his counterpart on the other side of the helicopter before speaking into his headset. â€œWeâ€™re secure, let it drop,â€ he said and then added. â€œCommander, please stand inside the barriers.â€

She let her gaze drop to her feet and was surprised when the ground began to sink from underneath her. The barriers made themselves readily obvious as she found herself on a platform about the size of a tractor-trailer. Within a few seconds, a wave of warm air assaulted her and she chuckled as the platform lowered them, helicopter and all, into the facility, the floor of which was about two stories beneath them.

â€œImagine that,â€ she said quietly.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky looked on with interest as the platform began its descent, her eyes searching for the woman that would no doubt be a thorn in her side for the duration of the rapidly approaching winter. She wasnâ€™t alone in her curiosity, for she couldnâ€™t see a face among the personnel that wasnâ€™t present.

Her eyes tracked to the figure standing next to the helicopter, which she assumed was soon to be their fearless leader. As the platform got closer to the ground she frowned, the woman was wearing a battered black sombrero that had the front brim pinned back to the crown with the little gold insignia of her rank.

â€œShe looks unorthodox from here,â€ Clovis grumbled good-naturedly from beside her.

â€œNo kidding,â€ she replied, scrutinizing the woman from a distance. Her features couldnâ€™t be made out, due in part to the glacier goggles that covered her eyes and the shadow her ridiculous hat cast upon her face.

Corky watched grimly as Larry approached the platform when it completed its journey and offered her his greetings. She wished she was close enough to hear what was being said.

â€”â€”â€”

â€œCommander Lovecraft,â€ he said amiably, offering her his hand. â€œIâ€™m Larry Daniels, itâ€™s good to meet you.â€

â€œA pleasure,â€ she said with a smile.

â€œWe need to get the platform back up. Hanson and Terrel will get your gear stowed in your quarters,â€ Larry said. â€œIt seems everyone came out to greet you, any objection to introductions?â€

â€œNot at all, lead the way,â€ she said cheerfully and followed him off the platform to the group of people waiting in the distance.

â€œGreat,â€ he said jovially. â€œAfterwards, Iâ€™ll give you the nickel tour?â€ He looked at her for approval and got both a nod and another smile.

â€”â€”â€”

â€œHere she comes, Rivers,â€ Clovis whispered. â€œSquare those shoulders and puff out that chest.â€

She swatted him playfully. â€œShut up,â€ she added distractedly as she watched the woman stride gracefully in their general direction. They came to a halt in front of Mark Isaaks and her eyes widened in appreciation as the sunglasses came off and the sombrero was swept back to hang from a cord around her neck.

Oh, my gosh. Sheâ€™s stunning.

Corkyâ€™s eyes took in the wealth of thick, dark red hair that suddenly flowed down past the womanâ€™s shoulders, the hair framing a face that was classically beautiful and was home to a pair of startling pale blue eyes.

She was jarred from her thoughts as the woman stopped in front of McNeely and he saluted her crisply. She turned to Clovis and brought a finger to her mouth in a gagging gesture, getting a subdued laugh from her companion.

Malory saw the pantomime out of the corner of her eye and covertly studied the two as she continued making her way through the line of introductions. Catching the undeniably attractive and dark featured little woman rolling her eyes more than once. About the fourth time the gesture repeated itself, she was more than a little irritated.

â€œThis is Clovis Stokes, our senior archeologist,â€ Larry said as she came abreast of a sandy-haired and monolithic man easily six inches taller than her own five-ten height. And from the look of it, almost two hundred pounds heavier.

â€œA pleasure,â€ she said politely, her hand disappearing within the enormous grasp of his greeting.

â€œNice to meet you, Commander,â€ Clovis replied cheerfully.

â€œThis is...â€ Larry started as they moved to stand in front of Corky, who had an expression of mortal boredom etched onto her features.

â€œNo need for introductions here, Mr. Daniels,â€ Malory interrupted politely. â€œI would recognize the janitor anywhere.â€

It took several long seconds and a few audible snickers from those close enough to have heard the comment for Corky to get past the initial shock of being so blatantly insulted.

Malory beat back a pleased smile as the woman visibly ground her teeth.

â€œActually, this is Corky Rivers, our MD,â€ Larry said carefully, afraid that his own amusement might show itself.

The Commander shrugged indifferently. â€œMy apologies,â€ she said extending her hand in the brunetteâ€™s direction, waiting until Corkyâ€™s grasp was within her own before adding, â€œit was an honest mistake.â€

Corky paled in the effort to keep her composure. â€œCharmed,â€ she finally ground out sarcastically, quickly withdrawing her hand.

â€œOf course you are,â€ the Commander said condescendingly before moving on to the next in line, purposely dismissing her as insignificant.

What a fucking bitch! Corky fumed silently as the woman moved away.

â€œAnd this is...â€ Larry continued but Maloryâ€™s thoughts were miles away. It looks like the next six months wonâ€™t be so boring after all.

â€”â€”â€”

The tour ended with Larry showing her to her quarters which consisted of two rooms, one of which served as her office. She noted that all of her gear was stacked neatly against a wall and she took a seat in one of the two chairs that sat in front of the desk, gesturing for Larry to take the other one.

â€œThe facility is impressive to say the least,â€ she said conversationally.

â€œYes, it is,â€ Larry agreed as he seated himself. â€œAny last minute questions?â€

â€œA few, if you donâ€™t mind?â€ she asked politely. â€œI understand youâ€™re flying out tonight and the facility is to be sealed upon the pilotâ€™s return?â€

â€œThatâ€™s correct. Iâ€™m looking forward to spending some time with my family and lounging around in a warmer climate for a few months,â€ he said with a smile.

Malory chuckled; she liked the man. â€œWell then, I wonâ€™t keep you any longer than I have to.â€

â€œWhat would you like to know?â€ he asked amiably.

â€œThe military personnel, what are their current duties here?â€

â€œWell, from the Air Force thereâ€™s Lieutenant Ring the helicopter pilot. Then thereâ€™s Tech Sergeant Alvarez, Staff Sergeants Hanson and Terrel, and Airmen Daly and Cohen, all of whom are assigned to flight operations, supply, equipment maintenance, and mechanical,â€ Larry reported. â€œFrom the Coast Guard thereâ€™s SCPO Reynolds, the station engineer. POâ€™s DeSoto and Butler, who manage computer operations and communications, POâ€™s Percy and Coy are paramedics. From the Army thereâ€™s only Sergeant Major McNeely, who oversees day to day operations and takes care of all ordinance and demolition.â€

â€œAny problems I should be aware of?â€ Malory asked.

â€œNot a one,â€ Larry said confidently. â€œAll of them have performed flawlessly and have been invaluable in service.â€

â€œGlad to hear it, â€œ Malory said in satisfaction. â€œIâ€™ll meet with them individually over the next few days. Is there anyone among the NSF I should keep an eye on?â€

Larry thought carefully, assessing the woman across from him. There was no mistaking the warning volley she had fired at Corky earlier; indeed, it was the rare person who could flummox the volatile little doctor as easily as she had. In fact, Corky had been suspiciously missing from her post when he had shown the Commander the medical facilities. He supposed it wouldnâ€™t hurt to soften the road a little bit.

â€œDr. Rivers,â€ he said simply.

â€œI kinda figured,â€ she answered with a grin. â€œWhatâ€™s the story?â€

â€œItâ€™s complex,â€ he offered lamely.

â€œI kinda figured that too,â€ she said with a chuckle. â€œGimme a summary.â€

â€œLetâ€™s just say sheâ€™s had the military run roughshod over her on a few occasions,â€ he explained. â€œSome of itâ€™s very personal and sheâ€™s still bitter.â€

â€œGood enough.â€

â€œCommander, I would be remiss if I didnâ€™t point out that if she were incapable of doing her job, I wouldnâ€™t have approved her position here,â€ he said hastily. â€œIn fact, sheâ€™s one of the most talented doctors Iâ€™ve ever met. Despite any personality she might throw at you, underneath it all sheâ€™s a very outgoing and friendly person.â€

â€œDonâ€™t worry, Mr. Daniels,â€ she said mischievously. â€œSheâ€™ll still have a job when you return.â€

Larry sighed in relief. â€œI was worried. She knows how to push the envelope.â€

She laughed. â€œSounds like a challenge.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Malory watched with a nagging feeling of foreboding as the men pulled the ski-equipped helicopter off the platform with elbow grease and the assistance of an ATV. It was the last thing to be done before the platform was raised for the winter. She didnâ€™t know why, but suddenly the idea of being trapped inside for almost eight months was unnerving. They had of course, the means to travel in the event of emergency, but that luxury was all too dependent on the violent Antarctic winter. A winter spent over a thousand miles from any established outpost on an area of the continent that had an average temperature of eighty-seven degrees below zero and was, more often than not, buffeted by wind speeds ranging from forty to a hundred and twenty miles per hour.

She tried to suppress a shudder as she surveyed the cavernous chamber that served as the entrance and Receiving. She estimated the size of the area to be an acre or larger and the white walls that had been carved from the ice, seemed to be a great deal more ominous now than they had when she arrived. Irritated with herself for her case of the creeps, she was glad to hear Hanson yell out to her.

â€œCommander, weâ€™re ready to seal her up.â€

It took her a second to give the order. â€œDo it.â€

She watched as Hanson spoke into his headset and gave a thumbs up in the direction of a long, narrow window that was situated several meters off the ground in one of the far walls. The distance made it impossible to identify the figure behind the glass of Operations, but she assumed it to be Chief Reynolds.

The platform started its ascent and she abruptly decided that she didnâ€™t want to be present when it completed its journey. Her first thought was to return to her quarters and begin the tedious task of unpacking, but she changed course impulsively. She had seen Daniels off earlier, watching with interest as everyone had materialized to bid farewell to the man. Of particular note was the diminutive figure who had rushed forward to embrace him, eventually letting him go and quickly retreating down a hallway, wiping at her eyes.

She entered Medical unnoticed, Dr. Rivers was speaking to the man she remembered as Percy and both had their backs to her. Content to remain unobserved, she waited patiently and inquisitively took in her surroundings, her attention eventually landing on a specimen jar filled with a vile looking green liquid. Morbidly curious, she stepped closer and examined the contents of the container, unable to identify the squishy looking organic mass floating within. Engrossed in her study, she was startled when her presence was finally noticed.

â€œCommander,â€ Percy exclaimed, coming to attention and throwing her a salute.

â€œPercy,â€ she said pleasantly. â€œLose the salute or its gonna be a long winter.â€

â€œYes, maâ€™am,â€ he said, standing a little easier.

â€œLose the maâ€™am too,â€ she added, noting that the doctor hadnâ€™t bothered to turn around or acknowledge her in any way. â€œCommander or Lovecraft will do in a pinch.â€

â€œVery well, Commander,â€ he replied with a little grin.

â€œPass the word, will ya?â€ she requested. â€œI donâ€™t wanna have to go through this with everyone.â€

â€œWill do,â€ he said. â€œIs there anything I can help you with?â€

â€œNope, was hoping to have a word with Dr. Rivers.â€

â€œOh,â€ he said, standing uncomfortably in place for a moment and then lighting up in sudden understanding. â€œOh, of course. Excuse me, Doctor,â€ he added hastily, skipping into a less than graceful exit.

Malory watched him leave with a look of amusement, a little miffed that the doctor still hadnâ€™t bothered to acknowledge her. Not wanting to be the first to give in, she hopped up on one of the examination tables, reclining with her hands behind her head and crossing her feet at the ankles.

The silence stretched into minutes and still the doctor carried on as if she were alone in the room. Grinning at the back presented to her, she raised eyes to the ceiling and began to count the little holes in the tiles above.

A full twenty-minutes passed, the silence finally broken when Clovis burst robustly through the door.

â€œHey Corky, I...â€ he started loudly but trailed off when he noticed the lounging Commander.

â€œUhm... excuse me,â€ he stuttered.

Corky finally turned and opened her mouth to speak.

â€œQuite alright, Mr. Stokes,â€ Malory interjected quickly. â€œDr. Rivers informed me that she wanted to see me naked at the earliest opportunity.â€

â€œUh...â€ Clovis stuttered but quickly thought the better of it and, with a confused look, simply turned on his heel and left the room.

Malory turned her attention back to the doctor and grinned unrepentantly at the rapidly coloring cheeks, almost laughing as she observed the woman struggle with her temper. When she finally spoke, it came out as a strangled rasp.

â€œWhat is it you want?â€

â€œNothing really,â€ Malory said, smoothing a pretentious finger over an eyebrow. â€œWas just looking for a place to rest the feet, my dogs are killinâ€™ me,â€ she added with a wiggle of her boots.

Brown eyes narrowed to slits. â€œI thought maybe you had come to apologize?â€

â€œApologize?â€ she said with mock confusion. â€œWhatever for?â€

Hands clenched into fists. â€œDoes being in charge entitle you to be a jerk?â€ Corky asked bluntly.

â€œNope,â€ Malory replied easily, nonplussed. â€œI just get off on it.â€

â€œMetaphorically or sexually?â€

â€œPerhaps both.â€

â€œSo our little conversation excites you in some manner?â€

â€œToo early to tell.â€

â€œOdd,â€ Corky said thoughtfully. â€œScientifically speaking, I was of the understanding that a frigid bitch like yourself couldnâ€™t get wet in the shower.â€

â€œOh, thatâ€™s more like it,â€ Malory exclaimed happily, raising herself to a seated position. â€œNow Iâ€™m definitely turned on, would you like to confirm? In the interest of science, of course.â€

Corky wrinkled her face in disgust and stormed silently out of the room.

Mission accomplished, Malory swung her legs around and dropped to the floor. Smiling brightly, she made tracks for her quarters to begin the menial task of unpacking her things.

03/07/02 - 1045 hours

The next two weeks passed quickly for Malory as she spent the time familiarizing herself with the staff, summoning a few each day and spending a few moments getting to know them and their assigned duties. She soon came to the conclusion that her position was pretty much a formality. The staff all knew their jobs and were dedicated enough that supervision really wasnâ€™t required. That suited her just fine, the less she was needed the more time she would have for herself, and now was a good as time as any to indulge. She reached for the phone to summon the only person she hadnâ€™t spoken to formally.

â€”â€”â€”

â€œIâ€™m telling you, Corky,â€ Clovis said over his coffee cup. â€œSheâ€™s not as bad as you make her out to be.â€

â€œYeah, right.â€

â€œI spoke to her for almost half an hour, sheâ€™s kinda nice,â€ Clovis admitted. â€œNot what I expected at all.â€

â€œSheâ€™s an asshole,â€ Corky proclaimed, getting a laugh from her friend.

â€œYouâ€™re just mad because sheâ€™s got your number,â€ Clovis chuckled.

Corky frowned. â€œI am not.â€

â€œYou think sheâ€™s cute?â€ he asked mischievously.

The frowned deepened. â€œI think sheâ€™s an infuriating bitch.â€

â€œOkay, okay,â€ he laughed. â€œDo you think sheâ€™s a cute infuriating bitch?â€

She regarded him coolly and drew in a sharp breath.

â€œThis is Lovecraft,â€ the intercom beckoned. â€œDr. Rivers, would you report to my office, please?â€

â€œLooks like the Commander saved me,â€ Clovis said cheerfully.

â€œYouâ€™re not off the hook, Stokes,â€ she grumbled. â€œI wonder if sheâ€™d be pissed if I didnâ€™t show up?â€

â€œProbably,â€ he predicted. â€œSheâ€™s called everyone in to talk to them. Hell Corky, everyone likes her but you.â€

â€œHmmm,â€ she grunted.

Clovis grinned. â€œGo see what she wants.â€

â€œOh, alright,â€ she sighed. â€œI hope I donâ€™t regret this,â€ she mumbled as she rose to her feet and padded out the door.

Her thoughts were dark as she reluctantly made her way through the halls. She had gone to great lengths to avoid the maddening woman since their encounter in Medical. The bitch was an enigma to her, having never met anyone who took such an obvious delight in being irritating. The first words out of her mouth, and just about every word since, had been insulting. What was even more annoying was the fact that the woman had seemingly singled her out of the crowd and targeted her for torment. For the life of her, she couldnâ€™t figure out why.

As she approached her destination, she paused to school her features into a bored and indifferent expression. With a deep, calming breath, she traveled the last few feet and knocked on the doorframe.

â€œAhh,â€ Malory said in delight. â€œCome in, Dr. Rivers. Have a seat.â€

Corky entered warily and gently placed herself in the same chair in which she had received Larryâ€™s final lecture. â€œYou wanted to see me?â€

â€œYes, I did,â€ Malory confirmed cheerfully. â€œIâ€™ve talked to everyone on the staff but you and I was hoping we could take this time to get past any differences you and I might have. After all, weâ€™ll both be working together for quite sometime.â€

Corky eyed the Commander suspiciously. â€œI wasnâ€™t aware that I had done anything that might have given you offense?â€

A chuckle. â€œIt usually takes more than one day for someone to muster the nerve to call me a bitch to my face.â€

â€œAnd I suppose you did nothing to warrant such an action?â€ Corky asked mildly.

â€œI, of course, admit nothing,â€ she replied with a disarming smile. â€œBut I called you here with the intention of calming the waters.â€

â€œHow do you propose to accomplish that?â€ Corky asked trying not to smile at the charm the woman was displaying.

â€œI thought you might start by telling me what your problem is with the people in uniform?â€ she asked mildly.

Corky tensed.

â€œI had a chat with Mr. Daniels about you before he departed,â€ Malory continued, studying the woman carefully. â€œDonâ€™t worry, he didnâ€™t say anything he shouldnâ€™t have.â€

A relieved breath. â€œYou wonâ€™t be offended if I say I donâ€™t know you near well enough to have that conversation with you?â€

â€œOf course not,â€ Malory said beaming her best smile. â€œI wouldnâ€™t presume to put you in such an uncomfortable position.â€

To Corkyâ€™s dismay, she couldnâ€™t help but smile in response to the one being directed at her. â€œThen I donâ€™t understand.â€

â€œI have a solution,â€ Malory said brightly. â€œI was pretty sure youâ€™d refuse to tell me, so I thought you might tell my Executive Officer?â€

Corky gaped. â€œHuh?â€

â€œJust try to keep an open mind, alright?â€ she asked hopefully.

â€œI donâ€™t get it,â€ Corky admitted, wondering what the woman was up to.

â€œJust try,â€ she asked again sweetly, begging her with her eyes.

â€œOkay,â€ Corky relented. â€œIâ€™ll try.â€

â€œGreat,â€ she exclaimed happily, suddenly bending over and digging in a desk drawer.

Corky watched in confusion, half of her curious to see what the woman was up to and the other half almost positive she was being set up for something. Her lips tightened into a thin line when a small tape recorder was placed on the desk in front of her. However, the stinging comment poised on the tip of her tongue died quickly and she lapsed into a furious trance when another item was placed on the desk. Her eyes focused in on the doll unbelievingly. Within arms reach sat a Chatty Kathy with a bad red dye job, clothed in a childish copy of a Naval uniform and complete with a little black sombrero.

â€œNow, I know what youâ€™re probably thinking,â€ Malory said quickly. â€œBut Iâ€™ve used this approach successfully many times in the past. Iâ€™ll just hit record and go find something to do for about an hour. Little Lovecraft is a good listener, feel free to tell her anything you want.â€

Corky could only stare, all traces of color gone from her face.

Trying to keep a straight face until she was out of the room, Malory turned the recorder on and made a hasty exit.

It took almost five full minutes for a nonviolent thought to penetrate Corkyâ€™s consciousness. The bitch suckered me right in! And to think for a second there I thought she was charming! Why me? What the fuck is her malfunction?

She was suddenly aware that her hands hurt and she dropped her gaze from the doll to find her knuckles white from the death grip she had on the arms of her chair. Fingers uncurled themselves gingerly and she grimaced slightly as circulation reasserted itself. When she had regained some feeling, her eyes again traveled back to the idiotic doll, noting the little cord dangling from her neck. Do I dare?

She debated carefully, but in the end she couldnâ€™t help herself. Knowing she was going to regret it, she reached out and pulled the string.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory watched from her hiding place, amusement so apparent on her face a blind man could see it, as the doctor stormed out of her office and stomped off down the hallway. She made herself wait until the woman disappeared before she practically ran back to her office, laughing delightedly when she found Little Lovecraft in the garbage can and both lying across the room. As hoped, Corky had forgotten about the recorder. She picked it up excitedly to rewind it and plopped down in her chair to listen.

â€œRoses are red. Violets are blue. Donâ€™t you just hate it when I fuck with you,â€ came the childishly sung tease.

â€œFuckinâ€™ bitch,â€ Corky said angrily.

A pregnant pause and then. â€œI know you are but what am I?â€

The final taunt was followed immediately by the sound of Little Lovecraft landing violently in the trashcan and then the thud and crash as both were obviously kicked across the room.

Malory fell back in her chair, laughing uproariously.

03/29/02 - 1130 hours

The next few weeks passed slowly and life for the Commander had become exceedingly dull. She was rarely sought out for anything other than the most trivial of things and to make matters worse, Dr. Rivers had successfully managed to avoid any contact with her. Leaving the mess every time she entered, whether she was done with her meal or not, and taking the precaution of slipping on a pair of earmuffs so she couldnâ€™t listen to her the one time she had approached her in Medical. Among other things, Malory decided, the woman was a poor sport.

She was in the midst of another losing hand of computer Solitaire when DeSoto appeared in the doorway.

â€œCommander,â€ he said in greeting.

â€œWhatâ€™s up?â€ she asked distractedly.

â€œExternal communications are down,â€ he reported. â€œIâ€™d like permission to go outside and clear the dome?â€

Malory perked up. â€œAlone?â€

â€œNo, I was gonna take Butler with me.â€

â€œCut him loose, Iâ€™ll go,â€ she said, happy to have a project.

â€œVery well, Commander,â€ he said warily. â€œItâ€™s quite a hike and the weather is pretty ugly.â€

â€œLooking forward to it,â€ she said cheerfully, hopping up from her chair. â€œGive me a few minutes, please.â€

â€œAlright, Iâ€™ll be in Receiving when youâ€™re ready.â€

â€œMeet you there.â€

Ten minutes later, she arrived at the platform, feeling burdened under the weight of all her arctic clothing. She was curious and excited to see what the outside looked like in the winter.

â€œReady, Commander?â€ DeSoto asked.

â€œYep, lead the way.â€

â€œI kinda thought weâ€™d drive, Commander,â€ he said confusedly.

â€œHuh?â€

â€œThe silo is about a mile away,â€ he explained.

â€œI thought you said it was a hike.â€

â€œIt will be going up,â€ he clarified.

She chuckled. â€œOkay, give me the scoop.â€

He pointed to a distant door in the ice. â€œWe take a snowmobile down that corridor to the silo. Once there we climb to the surface where the dome is situated.â€

â€œAhh, so whoâ€™s driving?â€ she asked with a smile.

â€œYouâ€™re the Commander,â€ he said wryly.

â€œThat I am. Show me to my chariot,â€ she commanded the dark featured young man.

Several minutes later, his arms were clinging desperately around her waist as they rocketed down the narrow passageway at a blistering pace. His mind conjuring up images of what he would look like if they crashed, picturing his body a mass of compound fractures lying at the end of a long bloodstain that stood out sharply in the snow. He was immeasurably relieved when they got to the end of the corridor still intact.

Malory hopped off the snowmobile and turned on the flashlight that DeSoto had given her, curiously investigating her surroundings. A few yards away was a ladder that climbed upwards through a circular hole in the ice, the temperature was bitter, even under all of her gear.

â€œHow far up?â€ she asked.

â€œAbout a quarter of a mile,â€ DeSoto answered. â€œDonâ€™t let any exposed skin touch the metal of the ladder.â€

â€œSo it would be a bad idea to lick one of the rungs?â€

He chuckled. â€œOnly if you have the desire to have your tongue amputated.â€

â€œThink Iâ€™ll pass,â€ she grinned. â€œWant me to carry any of the gear?â€

â€œI got it.â€

â€œYouâ€™re the boss, lead the way.â€

A few minutes into the climb, she was beginning to think she wouldâ€™ve been better off bored in her office. It was frightfully cold and her hands were starting to hurt, the chill of the metal ladder effortlessly penetrating the insulation of her gloves. In addition, it was creepy in the dark and the atmosphere was claustrophobic within the confines of the tunnel. When they finally reached the top, she decided that DeSoto had been correct; it was indeed quite a hike.

They emerged into a small, but thankfully much warmer room filled with a variety of cabling and electronic equipment. She noticed that space heaters were installed within the walls and she turned to DeSoto.

â€œThese heaters run on a timer?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œYes,â€ he replied, shedding his backpack. â€œThey run just enough to keep the equipment from freezing over.â€

â€œAll of this powered from our own generators?â€

â€œYes.â€

â€œWhy so far away from the main compound?â€

â€œBecause we needed an outside landscape that could camouflage our equipment,â€ he explained. â€œThe area above the compound is flat ice, hard to hide the dome.â€

She looked to the ceiling. â€œAre you telling me weâ€™re standing under a glass roof?â€

â€œA special kind of glass, yes. You wouldnâ€™t be able see this place from the outside unless you stepped on it.â€

â€œWow, you guys really went all out here,â€ she commented. â€œSo, what do we need to do?â€

â€œUnfortunately, we have to go outside and shovel the snow off the dome.â€

â€œThat sounds like fun,â€ she said dryly, she was still cold. â€œHow much snow?â€

â€œDepends,â€ he shrugged. â€œItâ€™s not really snow, we donâ€™t get a lot of that here. Winds from the coast blow ice into the interior, so the landscape is always changing. Maybe four feet, might be a little less.â€

â€œGreat,â€ she said grumpily, now certain that she should have stayed in her office.

â€œWell, we get Mexican tonight for dinner,â€ he offered happily. â€œDr. Rivers makes a mean plate.â€

â€œExcuse me?â€ she asked curiously. â€œDr. Rivers is making dinner?â€

â€œSure,â€ the man shrugged. â€œUsually once a week, a couple of people give the kitchen staff a night off. Dr. Rivers always does Mexican.â€

â€œReally?â€ she asked thoughtfully.

â€œYep.â€

â€œHmmm, well letâ€™s get after it.â€

She tried to hide her frown when he handed her a shovel.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory trudged back to her quarters and flopped face down onto her cot in all of her clothes, immediately covering herself with blankets. She had never been so cold in all of her life. It had taken most of the day to clear the snow from the dome, due largely in part to the fact that they had to work in shifts. Not being able to endure the weather for more than ten minutes at a time, it had been pitch black outside and the wind could only be described as evil. She knew for a fact that she would not be volunteering herself for another project, no matter how bored she might become.

She peeked out from under the covers to glance at the clock, a little grin twitching at the corners of her mouth. â€œAlmost dinner time,â€ she whispered nefariously.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky stood behind the counter jovially filling the passing trays with food. This was one of her favorite activities; she loved to cook and enjoyed the friendly banter of her colleagues. Being the chef also provided the benefit of indulging her ego and she gleefully soaked up the compliments she received for her culinary efforts.

In fact, now that Larry was gone, she had grudgingly decided that things werenâ€™t as bad as she had predicted them to be. It had taken a lot of effort, but she was finally able to admit, despite her personal feelings for the insufferable Commander, that everyone seemed to genuinely like the woman. She didnâ€™t intrude, was easygoing, and pretty much let everyone do their own thing.

Her own feelings, however, contrasted starkly against public opinion. She hated, or more accurately, she loathed the bitch to the point of being unable to devise a death for the redheaded slag that would be suitably tortuous. Even more maddening was the fact that she couldnâ€™t figure out why the woman would go to such great lengths to torment her. She would probably like the woman her coworkers described, but she had yet to see that person and it didnâ€™t make her feel special to be singularly chosen for such abuse. The whole thing both pissed her off and perplexed her.

â€œUh oh, Corky,â€ Clovis said coming up from behind to deliver another platter of food from the kitchen. â€œWord of your table has reached the ears of the Commander,â€ he whispered conspiratorially.

â€œHuh?â€ Corky asked looking over her shoulder at the man.

â€œHere she comes,â€ Clovis gestured with a nod.

Corky looked over to see that the Commander had entered the mess hall and she tensed. Trapped! She couldnâ€™t very well storm out while serving the food she had prepared for everyone. Her eyes narrowed as it occurred to her that the bitch probably knew this as well and was using it to her advantage.

She tracked the woman covertly as she made her way towards the counter, scoffing internally at the way the she was dressed. What a slob. Her boots were untied, the laces dragging behind her on the floor. The blue fatigue pants half tucked into one boot as if she were too lazy to bother and she wore a gray Annapolis sweatshirt that was covered liberally with white paint stains. Even her hair gave the impression of slothfulness, being tied up but falling out all over the place. It secretly chapped Corkyâ€™s ass that the woman was pretty enough to get away with looking so slovenly. It bothered her even more that her appearance probably did nothing but endear her to the male population. God I hate her!

She hastily summoned her most impassive expression as the woman grabbed a tray and sauntered forward.

â€œGood evening, Dr. Rivers,â€ Malory said cheerfully. â€œBe generous with the grub, I worked up an appetite today.â€

Corky snatched Maloryâ€™s tray silently and handed it to Clovis to fill.

â€œI heard you went outside with DeSoto today,â€ Clovis asked conversationally. â€œHow was it?â€

â€œCold,â€ Malory replied with a shudder.

â€œIâ€™ll bet,â€ he chuckled, handing her a tray filled to the brim.

Maloryâ€™s eyes fell to the food in front of her, painfully aware of the brown eyes watching her intently. â€œWhatâ€™s this?â€ she asked.

â€œAn assortment of Mexican dishes,â€ Corky said stiffly before Clovis could answer.

Malory eyed her tray suspiciously. â€œIt looks like Pancho Villa puked in my plate.â€

Immediately bristling, Corkyâ€™s irritation rose sharply at the sound of Clovisâ€™s quickly stifled chuckle. She simmered silently as she watched the Commander poke the food experimentally with a fork, her face twisted in disgust. Finally, she raised a portion to her mouth, grimacing painfully.

â€œOh, my God,â€ Malory exclaimed, her mouth full. â€œIt tastes like barbequed shit,â€ she added with a gag, letting the food slowly dribble out of her mouth to land with a moist splat back in her plate. â€œJesus, I wouldnâ€™t allow a pig to swill in this,â€ she said in revulsion, backing away from the counter with a shudder and finally turning to stride from the room.

Clovis watched the entire spectacle, his jaw clenched tightly to keep from laughing. He had seen Corky start to pale and had noticed her mouth drop open slightly in horror as the Commander let the food fall nauseatingly out of her mouth. He turned wary eyes on her as Lovecraft left the room and noted that the little doctor was so pissed off it was a wonder that her hair wasnâ€™t standing on end.

â€œThat miserable cunt,â€ she finally rasped, reaching out to grab the tray of food the Commander had left behind and storming off after her.

It was his first thought to stop her before she did anything foolish, but Clovis suspected that the Commander knew what she was doing. Instead, with Corky safely out of the room, he finally let out the laughter that had been strangling him.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky stomped through the halls, her anger growing with every step. As she rounded the last corner, she caught sight of her target heading for her quarters and fury threatened to burst from every pore. The bitch was skipping! Fuckinâ€™ skipping! I want her dead. I want her family dead. I want her house burned to the ground...

Malory entered her office and kicked off her boots playfully, a huge smile plastered on her face. Suddenly sensing a presence behind her, she turned to find Dr. Rivers standing in the doorway.

â€œYou forgot your goddamn dinner,â€ Corky growled and hurled the heaping tray of food with a deadly accurate overhand throw.

Malory didnâ€™t have time to do anything but bring her hands up to protect her face as the tray hit her elbows and coated her from the neck down in Mexican cuisine. She peeked out from behind her hands to see the doctor breathing so heavily in the doorway she was practically snarling. She couldnâ€™t help it, she laughed. She laughed so hard she doubled over.

The Commanderâ€™s hilarity was just too much for Corky to handle. She rushed into the room, raising a hand with every intention of slapping the dumbfuck smile off the womanâ€™s face. Anger transformed the intended slap into a from behind the back haymaker by the time she was within range, and she let it fly with all of her strength. She was stunned when the blow was stopped short with a deceptively powerful grip around her wrist. Startled, she looked up to find pale blue eyes appraising her amusedly. Abruptly, two crimson eyebrows waggled at her suggestively.

â€œGimme some sugar, baby,â€ Malory rumbled sexily and darted forward to place a kiss on the flummoxed doctorâ€™s lips.

With a gasp, Corky backed up a step and tore her wrist from the womanâ€™s grip. â€œYou horrid bitch,â€ she said clearly and was so fast with her slap that it darted past the Commanderâ€™s defenses and impacted her cheek painfully.

â€œWow,â€ Malory said after a stunned second. â€œI kinda liked that. If I kiss you again will you slap the other cheek?â€

Corky gaped at her. â€œYouâ€™re fucked in the head.â€

Malory shrugged. â€œAre you afraid of me?â€

â€œNo!â€ Corky said fervently.

â€œYouâ€™re shakinâ€™ like a dog shittinâ€™ peach pits,â€ Malory observed offhandedly.

â€œMaybe Iâ€™m just pissed off.â€

â€œWanna take a shower with me?â€

â€œI gotta get out of here,â€ Corky exclaimed, spinning hastily and running from the room.

Malory watched her go with a smile, bringing a hand up to rub her stinging cheek. â€œGotcha,â€ she said with satisfaction.

04/27/02 - 1500 hours

Corky spent the next month in constant fear of another confrontation with the Commander, being left suspicious and confused after every encounter that was met with a polite nod or greeting. The woman baffled her to no end. Having apparently succeeded in her mission to incite a riot between them, the Commander was now very cordial, no longer going out of her way to ignite any emotion or response from her, granting her both distance and respect. Corky wasnâ€™t sure if the woman didnâ€™t have a doppelganger. Yet, she would die before letting her guard down again, having often considered the notion that the woman had some sort of grand scheme to slowly drive her insane.

In another galling development, Lovecraft was becoming ever more popular with the staff. Often spending time in the mess hall laughing lewdly with the men, obviously sharing coarse jokes and tomfoolery. It left Corky feeling somewhat ostracized, considering that they were the only two women in the compound. To add insult to injury, her best friend Clovis was unable to hide the fact that he adored the fucking woman. It made her want to vomit every time she saw him make goo-goo eyes at the bitch.

She slammed her coffee mug down on her desk, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully, thinking, not for the first time, that she should just call the Commander to the carpet and force her to admit the details of her insidious plan. So lost in her thoughts, she almost screamed in surprise when the alarm klaxon went off suddenly.

â€œDr. Rivers, POâ€™s Percy and Coy and all military personnel report to excavation immediately,â€ McNeely barked over the PA system. â€œMove it, people!â€

â€œOh boy,â€ Corky said out loud before leaping to get her gear.

Five minutes later she was sprinting down the corridor, pausing as she passed through a heavy fire door to wiggle into a safety harness and strap spikes to her boots. The metal tiles of the hall abruptly gave way to ice only a few feet past the door and she clamped onto the guide rope that led down the icy tunnel to the excavation site.

The corridor made for slow going, being completely carved from the ice and leading down at a forty-five degree angle for close to a quarter of a mile. One slip and it would be a long slide on her ass to the bottom before she was called up short by the safety rope. She moved along as quickly and as cautiously as she could, becoming aware of others making their way down the tunnel behind her.

Almost ten minutes later, she reached the end and emerged into the circular chamber of the main dig site. The room was a little over a hundred yards both long and wide. A shelf about fifteen yards wide ran the circumference of a gigantic hole in the ice that spiraled downward for another quarter of a mile. One reached the bottom by way of a rather narrow pathway cut from the ice that wound down the interior to the floor of the pit.

Upon entering she was assaulted by an unimaginably foul odor, so strong it made her eyes water. â€œWhereâ€™s the fire?â€ she yelled to get everyoneâ€™s attention, relieved when Clovis emerged from the crowd.

â€œStand by, Doctor,â€ Hanson said as he rushed by.

â€œWhatâ€™s going on, Clovis?â€ she asked.

â€œWe hit a pocket in the ice,â€ he explained worriedly. â€œThe bottom fell out.â€

â€œOh God,â€ Corky said in horror. â€œAnyone down there?â€

â€œJust Mark, he was the only one in a bad spot when it happened,â€ Clovis explained. â€œHeâ€™s trapped, we couldnâ€™t reach him.â€

â€œIs he okay?â€

â€œSeems okay but if he slips, he wonâ€™t make it,â€ Clovis said grimly. â€œThe pocket looks to be about forty or fifty yards deep.â€

Corky broke away from her friend and pushed through the spectators to see for herself. She looked over the side to see that the cave-in had taken a good portion of the walkway with it, making it impossible to get to the bottom. Where unfortunately, Mark clung desperately to the ice, precariously close to the edge of a nasty drop.

â€œIâ€™m going over, start feeding me slack,â€ the Commanderâ€™s voice barked over the radio in Reynolds hands. â€œGet everybody on the ropes, heâ€™s gonna be heavy from this distance.â€

â€œWeâ€™re on it,â€ Reynolds replied. â€œSlack to come slowly,â€ he added and turned to start barking orders at the men working on a series of ropes that Corky belatedly noticed.

She gasped quietly when she realized what was happening and turned a closer look over the edge, following the path of the ropes to the figure in a black sombrero dangling from the end. Anxiously, she watched the Commander level a rifle across the void directly at Mark, instead of a bullet, it fired a bolt and cable that shot across the distance between them and buried itself in the ice about three feet away from Markâ€™s head.

Corky chewed on her lip nervously as she suddenly let go of the side and started pulling her way across, an exercise that took almost ten minutes before she reached the other side and got a harness and rope onto the man.

â€œIâ€™m not convinced the bolts will hold both of us, Iâ€™m sending him across first,â€ Maloryâ€™s voice came over the radio. â€œIs Dr. Rivers there? Mark fell several meters and took a beating. Be gentle with him.â€

â€œSheâ€™s here,â€ Reynolds replied. â€œAnd will do.â€

The crowd watched as Mark spent almost twenty minutes pulling himself across the cable to the other side. Once he got there, Reynolds turned to bark at the men on the ropes. â€œPull him up but go easy, heâ€™s injured.â€

Corky looked over the edge trying to assess the manâ€™s injuries from a distance; she turned to get Percyâ€™s attention. â€œDid we bring a stretcher?â€

â€œYes, maâ€™am,â€ he replied and she nodded in approval.

â€œIâ€™m headed across,â€ Malory said over the radio.

â€œUnderstood,â€ Reynolds replied. â€œWatch the Commanderâ€™s ropes, sheâ€™s moving,â€ he ordered.

By the time Mark was pulled over the edge, the Commander was three-quarters of the way across the cable. Percy and Coy rushed forward to assist the man and Corkyâ€™s eyes again fell to the figure still below, watching with horror as the bolt on the far side broke free from the ice. â€œSheâ€™s falling!â€ she yelled.

â€œBrace!â€ Reynolds yelled at the top of his lungs.

Corky covered her mouth with a hand as the Commander tried to get her feet in front of her to soften the impact. She was only partially successful and was slammed against the wall with stunning force; the men on the ropes grunting with the effort of her falling weight.

â€œGet her up here now, move it!â€ Reynolds yelled, dropping his radio onto the ice and running over to grab a spot on the rope.

Every available man rushed over to lend their strength to the effort and Corky nervously watched the figure below for any signs of life, surprising herself with the relief she felt when the Commander lifted an arm and spoke into the radio.

â€œIâ€™m okay, go easy,â€ she said.

Shoulders slumped in relief and Reynolds clapped Clovis on the shoulder before getting up and retrieving his radio. â€œGood to hear,â€ he said.

â€œDr. Rivers,â€ Percy said. â€œIsaaks has a broken arm, other than that, just a few scrapes and bruises.â€

â€œLetâ€™s get him to Medical, Iâ€™ll be along shortly,â€ she said distantly.

â€œRight away.â€

Corky loitered for a few minutes, feeling it her duty to hang back and see if the Commander needed any attention, or at least, that was what she kept telling herself. Presently, the men rushed forward to help her over the edge and she stood shakily, leveling a grin at everyone present and sparing a quick smile in Corkyâ€™s direction.

â€œFuckinâ€™A, that hurt,â€ she exclaimed boisterously, receiving a round of relieved laughs and chuckles.

â€œChief Reynolds,â€ she barked after they had subsided.

â€œCommander,â€ he said coming to attention.

Malory studied him carefully, again struck by the Chiefâ€™s uncanny resemblance to a younger Sean Connery; a man she harbored a secret attraction to. â€œTomorrow youâ€™ll explain to me why the people working down here didnâ€™t have radios, forcing someone to run all the way to the compound to raise the alarm.â€

â€œYes, Commander,â€ he replied easily.

She walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. â€œWell done,â€ she complimented and looked around. â€œAll of you, very well done. Is Mr. Isaaks okay?â€

â€œA broken arm, heâ€™ll be fine,â€ Corky said. â€œIâ€™d like you to report to Medical at your earliest convenience.â€

â€œAlright,â€ she agreed and Corky turned to begin the climb back to the compound.

â€œI want to speak to everyone tomorrow at 0900 in the mess hall, excavation is put on hold until I make some decisions and this area is off limits until that time.â€

A few faces appeared to protest but she cut it off quickly. â€œNo exceptions,â€ she warned. â€œMr. McNeely, a word, please.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Malory walked into Medical close to an hour later feeling bone tired. Dr. Rivers was still working on Isaaks so she slumped into a chair by the door and waited. She could hear Corky talking to the injured man in low tones behind the divider and her eyelids started to grow heavy. She thought about just going back to her quarters but her shoulder was screaming at her to stay put. Reluctantly, she acquiesced to the demands of her body and leaned her head back against the wall, closing her eyes.

When Corky emerged, she was surprised to find the Commander asleep, her stupid fucking sombrero sitting in her lap. After much consideration, she decided to let her be and quietly summoned Coy to help Mark back to his quarters.

It was the arrival of the young Petty Officer that woke Malory and she suffered a few seconds of disorientation, regaining her bearings as Mr. Isaaks was being ushered past. He stopped in front of her and held out a hand, she stood to take it.

â€œThank you, Commander,â€ he said sincerely. â€œThat was a brave thing you did.â€

â€œYouâ€™re welcome,â€ she said with a tired smile.

â€œCommander, would you join me back here, please?â€ Corky asked.

â€œIâ€™ll let you get to it,â€ Mark said with a smile, releasing her hand. â€œThanks again.â€

â€œAnytime,â€ she said pleasantly, watching Coy lead him out of the room before turning to face the doctor.

Corky stared at her for a long moment. â€œAre you injured?â€ she finally asked.

â€œYes,â€ Malory said honestly.

Corky chewed on her lip. â€œCome have a seat,â€ she said and gestured to the exam table behind her.

â€œWould you summon, Mr. Stokes first?â€ she asked tiredly. â€œI was going to do it but I fell asleep.â€

â€œI think if youâ€™re hurt weâ€™ve put it off long enough,â€ Corky said hesitantly.

â€œPlease.â€

Another long stare, this one of a curious nature. â€œAlright,â€ she said and moved over to the phone to summon Clovis.

They waited in an uncomfortable silence, fidgeting uneasily until Clovis stuck his head in.

â€œWhatâ€™s up, Corky?â€ he asked curiously, his eyes lighting up when he noticed the Commander. An action that didnâ€™t go unnoticed by the doctor and she felt a twinge of jealousy.

â€œActually, I wanted to speak with you,â€ Malory said. â€œAt the meeting tomorrow I want you to explain to me, as if talking to a child, exactly what it is you expect to find under the ice.â€

He looked at her confusedly. â€œYou werenâ€™t briefed?â€

â€œIâ€™m not one for deciphering scientific texts, Mr. Stokes,â€ she said quietly. â€œThatâ€™s why I want you to explain it to me tomorrow, in Fisher Price terms.â€

A scathingly insulting comment was perched on Corkyâ€™s tongue but with an effort she swallowed it before it could be voiced. She could plainly see how tired the woman was and it occurred to her that she was vastly overmatched in the bitch department if hostilities were to flame anew.

â€œAlright,â€ Clovis said slowly.

â€œThank you,â€ Malory said. â€œThatâ€™s all, Mr. Stokes.â€

He knew a dismissal when he heard one. â€œGoodnight, ladies,â€ he said with a departing smile.

Corky waited until the door closed behind him to speak. â€œYou ready now?â€

â€œAlright,â€ Malory agreed, walking over to the table to take a seat.

Corky moved to follow her but was called up short.

â€œLock the door, please,â€ Malory requested.

â€œWhy?â€

â€œJust do it, please,â€ Malory said softly.

Corky pursed her mouth thoughtfully and did as she was asked. â€œAlright, whatâ€™s the story?â€

â€œMy left shoulder.â€

Corky moved forward. â€œLetâ€™s lose the jacket and shirt so we can have a look.â€

â€œYouâ€™ll have to help me,â€ Malory admitted. â€œI canâ€™t raise my arm more than a few inches.â€

â€œJesus,â€ Corky whispered. â€œWhy didnâ€™t you tell me something earlier?â€

â€œBecause I was needed and there was another in worse shape.â€

Corky shook her head and gently helped her out of her parka. â€œIâ€™ll have to cut off the sweatshirt if you think it would be too hard to lift over your head.â€

â€œCut it off,â€ Malory answered quickly.

Soon the sweatshirt was reduced to a rag and Corky examined her quickly, noting the surgical scars discreetly placed along her collarbone and shoulder. â€œWhat happened here?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œOld injury,â€ Malory said quietly.

â€œI see, well you have a hell of a bruise on your shoulder, Iâ€™d like to x-ray.â€

â€œOkay.â€

Twenty minutes later, Malory was lying down on the examination table, staring up at nothing and waiting for Corky to deliver the bad news. She could hear her grunting over the x-rays and had come back to the table once to poke and prod her aching shoulder, with what she suspected, was a little more force than absolutely necessary.

â€œWell, Commander,â€ she suddenly exclaimed, walking back to the table and hovering above her. â€œIt would seem to me...â€

â€œYou can call me Malory,â€ she interrupted softly.

Corky blinked. â€œExcuse me?â€

â€œYou can call me Malory.â€

â€œWhy would I want to do that?â€ Corky asked curiously.

â€œBecause its my name?â€

Corky looked at her thoughtfully. â€œI think Iâ€™ll stick with Commander.â€

Malory sighed. â€œSorry to hear that.â€

â€œUh huh,â€ Corky said suspiciously. â€œYou ready to hear your diagnosis?â€

â€œShoot.â€

Corky straightened into her most professional stance. â€œIt seems youâ€™re suffering from... an owie,â€ she said solemnly.

Blue eyes rolled. â€œCan I get a second opinion?â€

Corky chuckled. â€œIn a few months, sure.â€

â€œAnd what treatment would you suggest for this heinous injury?â€

â€œAmputation, of course.â€

â€œWhy am I not surprised?â€

Corky smiled. â€œNothingâ€™s broken but you did sprain your shoulder. Youâ€™ve had a lot of prior work done in there, must have been pretty bad.â€

â€œYeah.â€

â€œHmmm,â€ she grunted. â€œIâ€™ll give you some meds for the pain but itâ€™ll get better quicker than you think, just donâ€™t overuse it or abuse it.â€

Malory nodded.

â€œCan I ask you a question?â€ Corky asked reluctantly.

â€œOkay.â€

â€œWhatâ€™s the â€˜Qâ€™ stand for?â€ she asked mildly

A confused look.

â€œAs in Malory Q. Lovecraft.â€

â€œOh. It stands for Quinn.â€

â€œQuinn?â€ Corky asked curiously.

Malory smiled slyly. â€œYeah, I was named after a song. Wanna hear it?â€

â€œIâ€™ll pass,â€ Corky said quickly. â€œBut are you up for another question?â€

â€œI guess.â€

â€œYou sure about that?â€ she asked. â€œIf you answer honestly, thereâ€™ll be another question. Maybe a few.â€

â€œGo ahead, Iâ€™m lying here in my bra, you have me at your mercy,â€ Malory said indifferently.

â€œWhy did you single me out for abuse?â€ Corky asked bluntly.

Malory sighed. â€œBecause I figured the sooner I got past your attitude and forced a confrontation, the sooner we could be friends.â€

Corky had been wary of the answer and was actually surprised by the seemingly honest response. â€œI see,â€ she said quietly.

Malory turned eyes in Corkyâ€™s direction. â€œIs there another question?â€

â€œWhy did you kiss me?â€

â€œBecause Iâ€™m attracted to you.â€

â€œWhat made you think I would want to be kissed by another woman?â€

â€œNothing, I just wanted to do it.â€

â€œSo you didnâ€™t know I was gay?â€

â€œHad no idea.â€

â€œThat took guts.â€

â€œPerhaps.â€

â€œWhy did you have me lock the door?â€

â€œBecause Iâ€™m the Commander,â€ she said simply. â€œNow, as much as I enjoy the interrogation, I would really like to go to sleep. Could you help me get my parka on so I can return to my quarters, please?â€

Corky stared at her for a long moment, finally nodding her consent and helping her with her jacket.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory shuffled out of her quarters the next morning and made her way down the hall, entering the mess hall and going immediately for the coffee, refusing to acknowledge anyone until she satisfied her craving.

Once the coffee had provided her with the required early morning stamina, she turned to face the crowd and seated herself at the front of the room. â€œChief Reynolds,â€ she said. â€œYou have an explanation for me?â€

Dr. Lenard spoke up in a rush. â€œCommander,â€ he said hesitantly. â€œIt seems that several of us are to blame for the lack of radios, we...uhm... often forget to take them.â€

â€œI see,â€ she said quietly. â€œMr. McNeely, your opinion, please?â€

â€œItâ€™ll take a week or more to recreate a safe working environment,â€ he reported. â€œAnd Iâ€™ll need some help.â€

â€œVery well, youâ€™re in charge,â€ she said. â€œUse whoever you need, I want to see a duty list by the end of the day.â€

â€œDone,â€ he answered with a nod.

She considered quietly for a moment. â€œWhen the Sergeant Major informs me he is satisfied with the conditions in excavation, we can resume our dig,â€ she said finally. â€œNo one is to be found in that area without his permission until that time.â€ She looked around for objections and was pleased when she saw none. â€œAlso, in the future, anyone caught working down there without a radio or a safety rope will be relieved and confined to quarters for a time to be determined by myself. Any questions?â€

None were forthcoming so she turned to Clovis. â€œMr. Stokes, do you have a lesson plan prepared for me?â€

â€œYou bet,â€ he said cheerfully.

She stood and gestured for him to take the floor, taking his chair when he got up and shooting a wink at Dr. Rivers, who had been seated next to him. To her dismay, the doctor pretended not to notice.

â€œOkay,â€ he said gruffly, clearing his throat. â€œWhat we expect to find, what we hope to find, is a spacecraft, or more accurately pieces of a spacecraft, that we assume crashed into the ice at some point in very distant history.â€

Malory was dumfounded. â€œWhat?â€ she blurted in surprise.

Clovis looked at her confusedly.

â€œIâ€™m sorry, please continue,â€ she said embarrassed, choosing to ignore the few quiet snickers.

â€œFrom sonar readings and estimated projection, it seems the craft crashed into the ice with enough force to break apart at impact.â€

â€œHow long ago was this?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œImpossible to tell,â€ Clovis replied. â€œIt would depend on a lot of variables, it may have crashed with enough force to basically bury itself. We think thatâ€™s part of the equation but undoubtedly, itâ€™s been here for thousands of years.â€

Malory leaned against the back of her chair thoughtfully. â€œWhy do you assume it to be a spacecraft?â€

â€œBecause weâ€™ve uncovered several small pieces of material that apparently broke off of the main craft already. Itâ€™s of a composition we canâ€™t identify, the atomic structure is extraterrestrial.â€

â€œAnd the main craft, is it still intact?â€

â€œIt seems there are three large sections still relatively intact,â€ Clovis said. â€œIt is from those pieces that we hope to gain the most knowledge.â€

She grunted thoughtfully. â€œAlright off the subject, why did it smell so bad in there yesterday?â€

â€œI would assume stale air.â€

â€œYou donâ€™t sound convinced.â€

â€œWe havenâ€™t had the chance to investigate.â€

She pursed her lips and stood. â€œThanks for the education, Mr. Stokes. It looks like we have some work to do. Letâ€™s get after it.â€

05/01/02 - 1730 hours

It was four days later when Corky decided to bite the bullet. She wasnâ€™t sure if it was the right decision but she felt she owed it to herself to try. The Commander clearly had a multifaceted personality and there was no denying she found the woman intriguing, no matter how hard she tried to convince herself otherwise. She suspected that under all of the bravado the woman displayed, there lurked a person she would like to know. The only question remaining was whether or not she could stand to be in her company long enough to find out.

With this mission in mind, she waited until the end of the workday and marched determinedly to the Commanderâ€™s quarters. Upon arrival, she found a closed door and took a minute to cement the binds on her temper before knocking. When she received no response, she knocked again and poked her head in to find an empty office. She walked a few paces into the room and was surprised to hear singing, or what passed for it, coming from the womanâ€™s quarters. Corky winced; it was painfully obvious that vocal talent wasnâ€™t on the Commanderâ€™s list of abilities. She went to knock on the door but paused when she caught sight of Little Lovecraft sitting in the chair behind the Commanderâ€™s desk. Her eyes narrowed and she had to take a moment to forcibly remind herself why she was doing this.

Finally, she turned and pounded on the door a little more loudly than she had intended. She quickly grew annoyed when it wasnâ€™t answered and she was assaulted by another verse being sung in the other room.

â€œHush, my darling, donâ€™t cry, my darling, the lion sleeps tonight!â€

â€œJesus, it sounds like sheâ€™s boiling a fuckinâ€™ cat,â€ Corky whispered in disgust and knocked on the door again.

â€œA wimoweh, a wimoweh, a wimoweh...â€

â€œGod help us all,â€ she exclaimed, coming to the abrupt decision to just open the door. â€œCommander?â€

Corky had to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. The woman had headphones on and was singing into her toothbrush as she stood in front of her little sink and mirror. Dressed in her fatigue pants and bra, she swayed her ass back and forth in time with the music.

Finally, she turned to see that she had unexpected company and Corky couldnâ€™t contain her laughter when she yelped and jumped in surprise, almost falling down. When she got over her shock, she ripped the Walkman off angrily, her eyes flashing indignantly with embarrassment.

â€œDonâ€™t you know how to knock?â€ she asked irritably and was none too pleased when the doctor indulged in a fresh gale of laughter. â€œWhatâ€™s so damn funny?â€ she demanded.

Corky could barely summon the breath needed to answer. â€œYour face,â€ she choked.

â€œWhat about my face?â€ she asked angrily.

Corky raised a finger to point to the mirror.

Malory frowned and turned to take in her reflection, immediately flushing with a new wave of crimson. â€œGoddamn it,â€ she hissed and reached for a towel to wipe away the toothpaste that covered her chin and was running down her neck.

â€œDo you...â€ Corky struggled, â€œ...do you often foam at the mouth?â€

Malory stomped her foot, ignoring the comment and afraid that the doctorâ€™s laughter might be contagious. â€œYou might as well come in,â€ she said sarcastically, picking up a T-shirt from the floor to put on.

Corky took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes before walking completely into the room. She looked around for a place to sit down but there wasnâ€™t a square inch of space that wasnâ€™t covered with something.

Malory saw the dilemma and walked over to throw the clothes covering the roomâ€™s single chair onto the floor. â€œHave a seat,â€ she said indifferently.

Corky admired the disheveled room with amusement. â€œHow do you walk around in here?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œWhen it gets tired of me stepping on it, it just gets out of the way,â€ she said dryly. â€œWas there something you wanted to see me about?â€

Corky smiled, the Commander was doing an admirable job of ignoring the blush that still clung to her face. It made her task a little easier. â€œI was wondering if you wanted to go to dinner and maybe watch a movie?â€

Malory blinked. â€œHuh?â€

â€œPlease, donâ€™t make me ask again. It was hard enough just to decide to.â€

A long, befuddled stare. â€œSure, Iâ€™d like that,â€ she said finally.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky picked a spot in the mess that was somewhat secluded and sat down across from the Commander, who had been uncharacteristically quiet. Whether she was still embarrassed over having been caught goofing around or just perplexed at the developing situation was yet to be determined. She watched the woman play with the food on her plate and it suddenly occurred to her that the enigmatic Commander was probably used to being in charge and wasnâ€™t sure how to act when the shoe was on the other foot. She decided to press the perceived advantage.

â€œSo, where are you from?â€ she asked mildly.

â€œUh... Boston.â€

â€œInteresting, you donâ€™t have an accent.â€

â€œNo, I moved around too much to develop one.â€

â€œHow old are you?â€

â€œThirty.â€

â€œWhatâ€™s your favorite food?â€

â€œPussy.â€

Corkyâ€™s cheeks ballooned in an effort to stifle a bray of involuntary laughter; she covered her mouth with her hand and looked away in sudden embarrassment. When she had composed herself, she turned back to the table and looked at the Commander unbelievingly.

â€œHave you no shame?â€ she both asked and accused.

â€œWhy did you ask me out?â€

Corky shook her head sadly and looked at her thoughtfully. â€œBecause, despite the fact that you can be an atrocious bitch, I sense a likable person underneath.â€

Malory raised an eyebrow. â€œDoes this mean you think Iâ€™m a hottie?â€

Corky sighed. This was going to be more difficult than expected. â€œCan you at least try not to be an ass?â€

A small smile. â€œIâ€™ll do my best.â€

â€œYour best can be very good when you put your mind to it,â€ she stated sagely.

â€œWhat in the world does that mean?â€

â€œIt means Iâ€™ve watched you,â€ Corky said pleasantly. â€œIâ€™ve watched you win over everybody here. Youâ€™re intelligent, capable, undemanding, and brave. I watched you risk your life to save Mark and unfortunately, I watched you be the most unendurable person Iâ€™ve ever met. Why canâ€™t you be the person that everybody likes and admires to me?â€

A genuine smile. â€œMaybe itâ€™s a case of teasing the girl you like.â€

Corky chuckled. â€œWeâ€™re not in grade school here. Your idea of teasing and mine are quite different. Iâ€™ve never hit anyone in anger until I met you.â€

â€œI had it coming,â€ she said lamely.

Corky just stared. â€œYou enjoyed it and you enjoyed pissing me off, didnâ€™t you?â€

â€œI canâ€™t say that I enjoyed being struck, but yeah,â€ she answered honestly. â€œIt was a hoot watching you get madder than a one-legged cat trying to bury shit on a frozen pond.â€

Corkyâ€™s eyes narrowed and the grip she had on her fork tightened. â€œDo you ever think before you speak or are you this tactless and tasteless with everybody?â€

Chastised, Malory reviewed her part of the conversation. â€œI guess I couldâ€™ve phrased that differently,â€ she admitted, shoving a heaping forkful of food in her mouth.

â€œAre you a virgin?â€

â€œWhat?â€ she exclaimed around her food.

â€œYou heard me,â€ Corky stated quietly.

Malory hurriedly swallowed. â€œWhy would you ask that?â€

â€œBecause you come on stronger than cheap aftershave but donâ€™t have the faintest idea how to be flattering,â€ she explained mildly, watching the woman wolf down another huge mouthful of food. â€œPlus, you have despicable table manners, a crass vocabulary, and youâ€™re a slob. I would imagine those qualities donâ€™t appeal to many women.â€

Malory took the diatribe in stride. â€œYouâ€™re the one who asked me to dinner, so I must appeal to you in some way.â€

Corky decided to use the Commanderâ€™s tactics against her. â€œSure, youâ€™ve got an awesome set of tits,â€ she said agreeably.

â€œI knew you thought so,â€ she replied triumphantly.

Foiled, Corky scowled. â€œSo you didnâ€™t answer my question.â€

â€œWhat question was that?â€

â€œAre you a virgin?â€

â€œWould it make you happy if I said yes?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œI donâ€™t know, it might answer some questions I have about you,â€ Corky replied honestly.

â€œAre you?â€

â€œAm I what? A virgin?â€

â€œYeah.â€

â€œNo, Iâ€™m not.â€

â€œAre you a slut then?â€

Corky ground her teeth. â€œNo, are you?â€

â€œNo, but Iâ€™m willing to learn.â€

The smile came without permission. â€œYou kill me,â€ she stated with a quick chuckle.

â€œThanks...uhm... I guess.â€

â€œSo tell me about yourself,â€ Corky demanded.

â€œWhat do you want to know?â€

â€œAnything you want to tell me.â€

Malory propped her chin on her hand thoughtfully for a moment. â€œWell, I like needlessly violent movies and I vote Republican.â€

Corky laughed at her brevity. â€œIs that all you want to share?â€

â€œI guess,â€ she replied sheepishly. â€œIâ€™m not very good at this. If you want to know something it would be easier if you asked me.â€

Corky shook her head. â€œYou vote Republican?â€

â€œOf course,â€ Malory said imperiously.

â€œWhy would a gay officer in the military vote Republican?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œWho said I was gay?â€

Corky gaped. â€œArenâ€™t you?â€

â€œWell, duh,â€ she said childishly.

An exasperated sigh. â€œYouâ€™re being an ass again.â€

â€œThanks for pointing that out,â€ she said dryly. â€œI vote Republican because I believe in the bigger picture.â€

â€œCare to explain?â€

â€œI wonâ€™t endorse a party just because of selfishness. I try to balance between whatâ€™s good for me and whatâ€™s good for the country as a whole.â€

â€œFor instance?â€

â€œTake gun control for example. Itâ€™s the very height of stupidity to believe that taking that right away from me will take guns away from criminals. The men and women that have fought and died for our countryâ€™s ideals did not give their lives so I could be shot down defenseless in my home because some political hack convinced a majority of Congress that I should no longer have the right to bear arms.â€

â€œAnd this serves the bigger picture how?â€

â€œHow do I vote for a party that promises equal rights for homosexuals but wants to take rights away from the nation as a whole?â€ she asked mildly. â€œThatâ€™s the very definition of selfishness. I get something for me at everyone elseâ€™s expense, that doesnâ€™t serve the bigger picture.â€

â€œNice speech,â€ Corky said pleasantly.

Malory shrugged. â€œI can ride a soapbox when I have to. Your turn.â€

â€œMy turn for what?â€

â€œTell me about you.â€

Corky smiled engagingly. â€œWhat would you like to know?â€

Malory leaned forward excitedly. â€œWhere are you from? Where did you go to school? Do you have a family? Will you kiss me goodnight? Do you have a pet? How old are you? Do you have a home somewhere? Where do you want to go when you leave here? What kinda music do you like? Whatâ€™s your favorite...?â€

â€œWait!â€ Corky exclaimed with a laugh. â€œLemme catch up.â€

â€œOkay.â€

â€œLetâ€™s see,â€ she said thoughtfully. â€œIâ€™m from Corpus Christi, I went to Texas A&M, my parents live in Arizona now, no siblings, maybe, no pets, twenty-seven, I sublet my apartment, I havenâ€™t thought about it, and classical.â€

Malory filtered through the responses carefully and smiled slyly. â€œYou will,â€ she said assuredly.

â€œI will what?â€

â€œSo what do we have in the way of movies to watch?â€ she asked brightly.

â€”â€”â€”

When they entered the small lounge it was empty with the exception of the fair featured Lieutenant Ring, who was sitting up asleep on the couch, his mouth hanging open. Malory walked over and nudged him from behind.

â€œLooks like your show is over,â€ she said, gesturing to the blue-screened television when he groggily turned eyes in her direction.

â€œUh... yeah,â€ he said tiredly, lifting himself to his feet and sleepwalking out of the room silently.

Malory watched him go with an amused smile and turned to her companion. â€œSo whatâ€™s playing?â€

Corky ambled over and opened a large cabinet containing a huge assortment of DVDâ€™s. â€œYou choose,â€ she offered diplomatically.

Her eyes widened when she saw the collection. â€œOh, cool,â€ she said happily, ambling over to peruse.

â€œYou donâ€™t seem to know a lot about this place for being the one in charge,â€ Corky observed.

â€œIâ€™m pacing myself,â€ she replied dryly, extending a case. â€œLetâ€™s watch this.â€

Corky looked at the cover and sighed. â€œCan we pick something else?â€

â€œWhatâ€™s wrong with â€˜Reservoir Dogsâ€™?â€

Corky just rolled her eyes.

â€œFine, you choose,â€ Malory said indifferently, walking around and flopping down on the sofa.

â€œOkay,â€ Corky said cheerfully, spending a few minutes going over her possible choices. â€œHow about â€˜Hope Floatsâ€™?â€

â€œWhatâ€™s it about?â€ Malory asked curiously.

For an answer, Corky walked over and handed her the case to read, waiting for acceptance.

â€œI think Iâ€™d rather set myself on fire,â€ Malory proclaimed, tossing the case on the coffee table as if it offended her.

Corky closed her eyes and sighed.

After ten minutes of offers and rejections they finally agreed on â€˜Kingpinâ€™. A movie that Malory enjoyed immensely, often laughing raucously at the crude humor that Corky endured with small sighs, eye rolling, and the occasional small chuckle.

As soon as it ended, Malory spun around in her seat unexpectedly, ending up on her back, her legs dangling over the end of the sofa and her head in Corkyâ€™s lap. She stared up at her surprised companion hopefully. â€œYou wanna make out now?â€

â€œYouâ€™re unbelievable,â€ Corky said, amused despite herself.

â€œSo is that a yes?â€

â€œI think Iâ€™ll pass,â€ Corky said with a grin.

â€œCome on, you know you want to,â€ Malory rumbled teasingly.

Corky brought a hand up to smooth red hair from the face in her lap. Surprised at herself, she tore her hand away as if it were on fire. Displacing the woman from her lap roughly, she stood and took several steps away from the sofa.

Almost thrown to the floor, Malory resituated herself confusedly and turned a questioning look on her companion. â€œWell, gee,â€ she said quietly. â€œA simple no wouldâ€™ve sufficed.â€

Corky threw her a regretful look. â€œIâ€™m sorry,â€ she said. â€œMaybe we better call it a night.â€

Malory frowned but nodded her acceptance reluctantly. â€œCome on,â€ she said, standing up and gesturing to the door. â€œIâ€™ll walk you to your quarters.â€

Corky nodded and preceded her into the hall, glancing over her shoulder occasionally at the obviously moping woman. Coming to a decision, she turned when they reached Medical and held out a hand, which Malory tentatively took with a quizzical expression.

Corky pulled her forward and stood on her tiptoes, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek. â€œGoodnight, Malory,â€ she said sweetly and quickly disengaged to retreat into her quarters, closing the door behind her.

The Commander watched the door close and let a goofy smile take control of her features. She turned on her heel and happily bounced down the hall toward her own quarters.

â€œA wimoweh, a wimoweh, a wimoweh,â€ she sang cheerfully.

05/02/02 - 0730 hours

The next morning, Malory entered the mess and was disappointed not to find the doctor in attendance. She poured herself a cup of coffee and took a seat with the educated types, hobnobbing with them cheerfully for close to an hour. When they eventually broke up to go make themselves busy, she rapidly found herself bored. Torn between returning to her office to do nothing and paying the doctor a visit, she chose the latter.

She burst into Medical with a happy smile only to have it slowly change into a frown; the place was deserted. Disenchanted, she was turning to leave when she spotted an abandoned stethoscope residing upon a countertop. Excited at the discovery, she wasted no time in experimenting with it, immediately putting it on and listening to her heartbeat. When that activity became dull, she began placing it on every object she could find, hoping it would make a noise. She was in the process of clicking Corkyâ€™s desk lamp on and off in the hopes that the light bulb would make a cool sound when a throat being cleared signaled that she had been caught playing.

She turned to find the doctor staring at her from the doorway, her face a mixture of curiosity, peevishness, and amusement.

â€œUhm... I was just...uh...â€ she struggled, noting Corkyâ€™s raised eyebrow and finally opted for the truth. â€œOkay, I was fuckinâ€™ around.â€

â€œNo kidding?â€ Corky asked dryly.

Malory shrugged lamely, watching the doctor set her coffee down and walk over to grab the end of the stethoscope dangling on her chest.

â€œThis is not a toy,â€ Corky said sternly and for good measure flicked the sensor sharply and pulled the scope from her ears.

â€œOww,â€ Malory yelped.

â€œWhat are you doing in here anyway?â€ Corky asked, trying not to be amused at the chastised look she was receiving.

â€œI guess I wanted to see you,â€ Malory said truthfully.

Corky looked at her inquisitively for a long moment, unsure what to say in response. â€œI...â€

â€œCommander?â€ the radio on Maloryâ€™s waist squawked loudly.

Irritated at the interruption, she snatched it from her belt. â€œWhat?â€ she barked.

â€œUhm... Commander, are you alone?â€ McNeely asked strangely.

â€œNo,â€ Malory said confusedly. â€œShould I be?â€

â€œI think that would be best, Commander,â€ McNeely suggested.

â€œVery well,â€ she said slowly. â€œFive minutes.â€

â€œUnderstood.â€

Malory put the radio back on her belt with a wrinkled brow.

â€œWhat was that about?â€ Corky asked curiously.

â€œNo idea,â€ she said quietly. â€œUhm... I have to go,â€ she said awkwardly, making tracks for the door.

â€œMalory?â€ Corky said before she could leave and she stopped in the doorway, turning a pleased look over her shoulder.

â€œYeah?â€

â€œDrop by my quarters tonight, if you want,â€ Corky said shyly.

A slow, shit eating grin. â€œShould I wear something sexy?â€

â€œDo you own anything sexy?â€ Corky asked rolling her eyes.

â€œJust my birthday suit.â€

â€œCome fully dressed.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Malory walked the last few paces to the bottom of excavation, breathing heavily. The conversation with McNeely had been cryptic and uninformative, the man only saying that they had found something and her presence was required. She took the last step and let out a relieved breath; the going down was tiring and painfully slow. The men were standing about fifty yards away, apparently standing around and shooting the shit.

â€œSergeant Major,â€ she yelled out and McNeely broke from the crowd, starting an easy jog over to meet her and she admired him as he approached. Easily a decade and change older than her, the Sergeant moved with an easy grace that spoke of a lifetime of physical conditioning. Other than the dark brown hair above his ears that had started to gray, one would suspect the man to be a least ten years younger than he actually was. His green eyes sparkled with intelligence and hinted at a barely suppressed sly humor.

â€œWhatâ€™s the big deal?â€ she asked when he arrived.

â€œJust come take a look,â€ he said with a haunted expression.

She started striding in the direction of the other men, McNeely falling into pace beside her. â€œWhatâ€™s with the cloak and dagger shit, Sergeant? What the hell did you find and why does it smell like a whorehouse at low tide down here?â€

McNeely shook his head. â€œYouâ€™ll need something to cover your nose, the smell is worse over by the guys.â€

Malory watched as he lifted a rag to cover his mouth and nose. Thinking it best to follow the manâ€™s advice, she dug in her pockets for a handkerchief and followed suit. â€œSergeant, I want some answers,â€ she said threateningly.

â€œI wish I could give them to you,â€ he said sincerely.

She was about to call the man up short but paused as they came in range of the rest of the men, suddenly feeling uneasy as she took in the expressions on their faces. The crowd parted for her and she walked through them to see what they were all so bothered about, coming to an abrupt halt and tightening the grip on her handkerchief.

Her mind almost refused to process the sight in front of her and she felt her knees go weak. When she finally found her voice, it came out sounding as alien as the appendage protruding through the ice.

â€œWhat in the blue fuck is that?â€

No one answered her and eventually she recovered enough poise to study the find in front of her. About six feet away was what she assumed to be part of an arm, the skin greenish-black and biomechanical in appearance. At the end of the appendage was what she guessed was the creatureâ€™s hand, although it only had two fingers and a lethal looking claw that served as a thumb. The fingers themselves arachnid in structure, multi-jointed, and curled around the sides of the wrist like a ramâ€™s horns. The smell was overpoweringly foul.

Finally, she turned away from the scene and surveyed the faces surrounding her. â€œAnyone not here that knows about this?â€

â€œNo, Commander,â€ McNeely said. â€œI wouldnâ€™t let anyone leave.â€

â€œGood call,â€ she said. â€œCover that thing with snow and mark it, then all of you join me by the ramp,â€ she ordered and marched off, her mind already putting up walls to distort what she had seen.

When she reached the ramp she plopped down on the snow and took off her hat, the portable lights making her warm and so bright she wished she had brought her sunglasses. Some of the men had walked back with her and they followed her example as they waited for the ones who had stayed behind to arrive.

Eventually, McNeely and Alvarez walked up and she stood to address them. â€œWell, I guess we all knew they were digging up a spacecraft, we shouldnâ€™t be so surprised to find one of the passengers,â€ she said quietly. â€œPersonally, I never stopped to think about how alien an alien might be.â€

â€œNo shit there,â€ Alvarez commented getting a few reluctant chuckles.

â€œMr. McNeely, how satisfied are you with the safety of present working conditions down here?â€

â€œWent faster than I thought it would, skipper,â€ he said. â€œI was gonna give the green light by the end of the day.â€

â€œVery well,â€ she said thoughtfully. â€œI want everyone here to keep this under your hat until tomorrow and Iâ€™ll address everyone in the morning. Iâ€™m sure more than one of the geeks will get a hard-on over this. However, I feel the need to take some precautions...â€

â€œI concur with that, Commander,â€ Reynolds interrupted looking at her questioningly; she nodded for him to continue. â€œWe have no idea what weâ€™re dealing with here, no telling what that thing is gonna look like or be capable of when they dig it out.â€

Malory blinked. â€œAre you suggesting that it might still be alive?â€

â€œWhat Iâ€™m saying is we donâ€™t know a damn thing about it. It looked pretty preserved to me, who knows what its constitution might be if thawed out. I would suggest an armed detail to oversee the excavation from this point and to stand guard over anything biological they might pull out of here.â€

â€œI am in full agreement with Chief Reynolds, Commander,â€ McNeely said stoutly, prompting several of the men to speak up in conformity.

Malory played with her sombrero thoughtfully for a moment. â€œVery well, starting tomorrow I want all military personnel issued sidearms, to be carried until it is deemed unnecessary. Also, I want the men providing security over the dig issued rifles. Youâ€™ll see to this Sergeant Major and Iâ€™ll want a full accounting on a daily basis.â€

â€œYes, maâ€™am.â€

â€œAdditionally, I want to make damn sure that everyone has radios with them at all times. Letâ€™s also see to it that we have constant communication with McMurdo, even if this means going outside daily to clear the dome for the communication dishes. And start keeping a closer eye on the weather. Chief, this is your responsibility.â€

â€œYes, Commander.â€

â€œLieutenant Ring isnâ€™t down here but I also want the helicopter in a constant state of readiness in the event of an emergency, Iâ€™ll inform him when we get topside. Is there anything else that needs to be brought to my attention at this time?â€

She looked around expectantly.

â€œAlright then, if an issue comes up take me aside before I address everyone in the morning. Any questions?â€

There were none.

She put on her sombrero. â€œLetâ€™s get the hell out of here.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Malory scrubbed herself thoroughly in the shower, attempting to wash away the uneasiness that still lingered. Upon exit, thoughts of space monsters were pushed aside in anticipation of an evening spent with the doctor and she hurriedly made herself presentable. Being unable to contain her enthusiasm, she arrived at Corkyâ€™s quarters only fifteen minutes after the duty shift.

When the door opened, Malory beamed what she hoped was her best winning smile. â€œHi there!â€ she said brightly to the woman still dressed in her lab coat and wearing a bemused expression.

Corky tried not to laugh. â€œA little early arenâ€™t you?â€

â€œAm I?â€ Malory asked in mock surprise. â€œCan I come in?â€

Corky considered. â€œAlright,â€ she said slowly.

Malory immediately brushed past the little doctor and walked into the room, spotting the cot instantly and flopping down excitedly. â€œYou would think that with all the money they poured into this place they could provide more than a cot for everyone to sleep on,â€ she speculated cheerfully, casting a come hither look in Corkyâ€™s direction.

â€œMake yourself at home,â€ Corky said sarcastically as she closed the door.

â€œI will, thank you,â€ Malory said jovially.

Corky shook her head. â€œYou know, I havenâ€™t even had time to take a shower.â€

â€œI donâ€™t mind waiting, go ahead,â€ Malory said with a happy glance at the extremely exposed shower stall situated in the corner of the room and turned a sly expression back in the doctorâ€™s direction. â€œI like to watch,â€ she added conspiratorially.

Corky didnâ€™t know whether to be upset or amused. â€œI donâ€™t think so,â€ she said dryly.

â€œWhy not?â€ Malory asked reasonably. â€œIâ€™d let you watch me.â€

A small chuckle. â€œWhy donâ€™t I meet you in the mess in about half an hour?â€

â€œHuh?â€ Malory asked in disappointment. â€œI thought you asked me to come to your quarters.â€

â€œI did, but Iâ€™m not taking a shower with you in the room.â€

â€œWould it make you feel better if I joined you?â€

â€œNo,â€ Corky laughed.

â€œWhy are you playing so hard to get? I know youâ€™re warm for my form.â€

Corkyâ€™s mouth dropped open. â€œGod,â€ she muttered incredulously.

Malory grinned shamelessly.

â€œI canâ€™t believe you,â€ Corky said in wonder. â€œDo you honestly expect to win me over so easily with your ham-fisted charm?â€

â€œWell...â€ Malory considered, raising a finger to her lips thoughtfully, â€œ...yeah,â€ she said as if it were obvious.

Lips tightened into a tense line. â€œNot too long ago, I wouldâ€™ve pissed all over myself in joy if you were to have suddenly died and now you expect me to just jump in bed with you?â€ she asked angrily.

â€œWhat better way to bury the hatchet?â€ Malory asked, spreading her arms invitingly. â€œCome get some.â€

A sharp breath. â€œGet out,â€ she hissed.

â€œHuh?â€

Corky pointed to the door. â€œGet out.â€

â€œBut...â€ Malory attempted.

â€œGet out, Commander.â€

â€œBut...â€

â€œNow.â€

Malory rose from the cot slowly, belatedly realizing that she had painted herself into a corner. Plans to rectify the situation raced through her mind but one look at the doctorâ€™s red face told her anything she might say or do at this point would not be welcomed. Dragging her feet, she slowly shuffled past the fuming doctor and stepped into the hall, the door loudly slamming shut behind her.

Shit.

05/03/02 - 0730 hours

Still sulking from the night before, Malory emerged from her quarters and sat down in her chair, displacing Little Lovecraft and setting her on the desk in front of her.

â€œWell, my friend,â€ she addressed the toy. â€œLooks like I screwed the pooch. Any advice?â€

She stared at the doll as if she expected it to answer. â€œI thought so,â€ she said despairingly. â€œAny comments?â€ she asked and reached out to pull the string.

â€œLike I give a shit,â€ Little Lovecraft said sarcastically and she chuckled.

â€œThanks,â€ she said with an amused smile. â€œYou always cheer me up.â€

She heard footsteps approaching from the hall and hurriedly stuffed her companion into a desk drawer. McNeely stopped at the doorframe to knock but stopped when he saw her at her desk and she gestured him in. He placed a holstered .45 and two magazines on the desk in front of her.

She stood to attach the weapon to her belt. â€œEverybody equipped?â€

â€œYes, Commander,â€ he said. â€œYou were the last.â€

â€œAnything I need to know this morning?â€

â€œNot that Iâ€™m aware of.â€

â€œI want everybody to take turns watching over excavation.â€

â€œIâ€™ll prepare a duty list. I have Alvarez and Cohen slated for the job if they go down today.â€

â€œIâ€™m sure they will,â€ she said knowingly. â€œI guess weâ€™re ready, let me call in the troops and Iâ€™ll meet you in the mess shortly.â€

â€œAlright,â€ he said in departure and she reached for the phone.

â€”â€”â€”

Clovis burst into Medical excitedly. â€œCorky!â€

She looked up from her desk, smiling at the boisterous greeting. â€œWhatâ€™s up, Clovis?â€

He walked over and whispered conspiratorially. â€œSomethingâ€™s up. Lieutenant Ring and Chief Reynolds were in the mess this morning.â€

â€œSo?â€ Corky asked confusedly. â€œThey not allowed to eat?â€

He spared her a condescending look. â€œThey were armed.â€

â€œHuh?â€

â€œThey were wearing guns, Corky,â€ Clovis said slowly.

â€œWhat for?â€ she asked confusedly. â€œDid someone attack us in the middle of the night?â€

â€œI kinda doubt that,â€ he laughed but stopped suddenly and eyed her carefully. â€œBut since you and the Macho Nacho are so chummy, I thought Iâ€™d get you to ask her whatâ€™s going on,â€ he said with a knowing grin.

â€œChummy,â€ she said dryly. â€œHow would you know?â€

â€œGimme a break, Corky,â€ he patronized. â€œGossip flies around in here at the speed of light.â€

â€œGossip?â€ she chuckled. â€œAnd I thought women were bad.â€

He shrugged. â€œSo will you ask her?â€

â€œWhy would she tell me?â€ she asked reasonably.

â€œGod Corky, you graduated from medical school, you canâ€™t be this dense,â€ he said shaking his head. â€œThe womanâ€™s gorgeous, every guy in the place is at half-mast when she walks by but the only person she notices is you.â€

â€œIsnâ€™t that special,â€ she said sarcastically, still miffed at the arrogant woman.

â€œWould all personnel assemble in the mess by 0800, please,â€ the Commanderâ€™s voice blared over the intercom. â€œAttendance is mandatory.â€

â€œHmmm,â€ Clovis grunted. â€œLooks like I wonâ€™t need you to take advantage of the Commanderâ€™s affections,â€ he added teasingly.

â€œClovis...â€ she started in annoyance.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory strode into the mess when she was reasonably sure everyone would already be there, purposely avoiding glancing anywhere in the direction of the doctor. She took a seat at the front of the room and met all of the curious looks directed at her.

â€œThereâ€™s been a development,â€ she stated quietly. â€œYesterday, Mr. McNeely and the crew working in excavation uncovered part of, what we guess, is a corpse.â€

A few seconds of silence immediately followed by excited whispers.

â€œWhy werenâ€™t we informed immediately, Commander,â€ Clovis asked in annoyance and his colleagues nodded their approval of the question.

â€œA couple of reasons,â€ Malory said mildly. â€œFirst, Mr. McNeely had yet to inform me that he was satisfied with the conditions down there and second, the corpse isnâ€™t human.â€

â€œWhat do you mean not human?â€ Clovis asked, barely concealing his excitement.

â€œIn my opinion, not of this Earth,â€ she replied uneasily.

â€œWhen can we view the specimen, Commander?â€ Dr. Lenard asked.

â€œIâ€™m prepared to allow personnel to return to excavation today,â€ Malory said. â€œHowever, there will be stipulations.â€

â€œSuch as?â€ Clovis asked.

â€œThere will be two armed men overseeing the dig at all times,â€ Malory said sternly. â€œThis is just a precaution until we are certain thereâ€™s no threat. This is nonnegotiable.â€

â€œWhat are we in danger of, Commander?â€ Dr. Ballenger asked.

â€œThe... life form... was remarkably preserved,â€ Malory said slowly. â€œAnd it was brought to my attention that we know nothing of its capabilities. Until I am convinced that it, or anything else biological we find down there is no threat, itâ€™s always better to have and not need than to need and not have.â€

â€œWhat are the other stipulations?â€ Clovis asked.

â€œAs I said before, if anyone is found not in possession of a radio, they will be confined to quarters with nothing but a radio to keep them company. This is for everyoneâ€™s safety and is also nonnegotiable. In addition, those same consequences will be imposed on anyone working in excavation without a safety rope,â€ she said firmly. â€œThis goes double for Mr. Isaaks,â€ she added with a smile in the manâ€™s direction. â€œAny questions?â€

She looked around but no one seemed inclined to speak up. Everyone but the soldiers wore eager expressions. â€œAlright, Iâ€™ll let you get to it,â€ she said finally and her audience practically leaped from their seats. â€œSome last minute advice,â€ she said loudly over the rising clamor. â€œIt smells like angry diarrhea down there, take precautions and donâ€™t give me a reason to get pissed off at anyone.â€

They fidgeted anxiously and she waved them away. â€œDismissed,â€ she ordered, unable to keep from smiling at the childlike enthusiasm they displayed and watching amusedly as they fled from the room.

She stayed in her seat, composing scenarios that she could use to approach Corky that didnâ€™t give the impression of desperation. It was when the last body filtered by that she saw the doctor had also remained seated and she felt a spark of hope. Perhaps, she wouldnâ€™t have to grovel after all. She tried not to let a cocky smile take control and returned the doctorâ€™s stare impassively.

The minutes passed and finally, Corky got up to go refill her coffee mug. Malory watched nervously as she refreshed her beverage and walked over to stand a few paces away, staring at her with the same neutral look on her face. She couldnâ€™t take the silence, it was only a matter of seconds until she broke and begged for forgiveness. She cut it off at the pass.

â€œWhat?â€ she asked confusedly. â€œDo I have a booger?â€ she added, bringing a hand up to rub at her nose.

Corky fought it, but the smile came anyway. â€œI donâ€™t know why I bother,â€ she said finally with a chuckle.

â€œItâ€™s the magic that is me,â€ Malory said sagely.

A sigh.

â€œBecause I want you just as much as you want me,â€ Malory relented truthfully. â€œIâ€™m just honest enough not to beat around the bush about it.â€

â€œThatâ€™s probably true,â€ Corky conceded.

â€œSo why fight it?â€

A deep breath. â€œIf you think you can behave as something other than a randy adolescent, we can talk about it tonight.â€

â€œReally?â€ Malory asked hopefully.

â€œReally,â€ Corky said softly. â€œShow up at least an hour after duty shift.â€

â€œOkay,â€ she said cheerfully. â€œThereâ€™s no one here but us, can I talk you out of anything other than a â€˜Goodnight, Maloryâ€™ cheek peck?â€

Corky looked around the room carefully and closed the distance between them, leaning over the Commander seductively, bringing her mouth to within an inch of Maloryâ€™s.

â€œNo,â€ she said sternly and clapped the Commander on the shoulder cordially.

â€œThat wasnâ€™t fair,â€ Malory whined as the doctor strode from the room with a cavalier wave.

â€”â€”â€”

It was near the end of the day and Malory was sitting in her office playing â€˜Tomb Raiderâ€™ when the radio squawked.

â€œCommander?â€ Alvarez said.

â€œGo ahead.â€

â€œThey uncovered the...uh... thing,â€ he reported. â€œThey want to transport it to the lab.â€

â€œI see,â€ she said slowly. â€œWhatâ€™s it look like?â€

â€œYou donâ€™t want to know.â€

She shuddered. â€œIâ€™ll take your word on that. What would it take to get it up here?â€

â€œA lot of time. Itâ€™s in some sort of fucked up chair. Stokes wants to send someone back for a stretcher.â€

â€œTell them to leave it in the ice until tomorrow, my order,â€ she decided.

â€œWill do,â€ Alvarez said. â€œDo you want me to report to you when I get topside?â€

â€œNo, thank you,â€ Malory said quickly. â€œI think I can make it through the night without a description. Iâ€™ll see it soon enough.â€

â€œUnderstand that, out.â€

She returned the radio to her belt and checked the time on the computer, a smile in the works. She hopped from her seat to go get ready.

By the time she knocked on the door to Corkyâ€™s quarters, she had devised a new plan. The meat and potatoes of which consisted of her thinking very carefully before she opened her mouth. It wouldnâ€™t be easy, but she was determined.

She waited what she deemed was a polite amount of time and knocked on the door again, the thought that the doctor still might be in the shower entering her mind. Debating carefully, she decided to knock one more time before she poked her head in, knowing a Peeping Tom incident would go over about as well as a concrete balloon. With still no answer forthcoming, she finally opened the door a crack.

â€œDr. Rivers?â€ she called out hesitantly.

Receiving no reply, she entered the room and found it empty. Scowling slightly, she exited and walked one door over to Medical, only to find it deserted as well. The scowl deepened as she wandered from room to room, finally ending up in the mess with still no sign of the elusive doctor. Puzzled and disappointed, she returned to her office where a clue flew in and hit her in the head, she reached for her radio.

â€œSergeant Alvarez,â€ she called.

â€œGo ahead.â€

â€œWhatâ€™s your status?â€ she asked.

â€œStill in excavation, Commander,â€ he said tiredly.

â€œWhy?â€

â€œTheyâ€™re still fawning over the damn thing.â€

She could almost see the compact Hispanic man rolling his eyes. â€œIs Dr. Rivers down there?â€

â€œYeah, sheâ€™s here.â€

Malory sighed. â€œVery well, give them a little longer and then tell them to wrap it up for the day.â€

â€œWill do,â€ he said, obviously happy to get the order.

â€œLovecraft, out.â€

She leaned back in her chair and sighed again, deciding she would pass the time with a movie.

â€”â€”â€”

It was after midnight when Corky got out of the shower. Malory had been right, the smell in excavation had been hideous and being in such close proximity to the creature had made her clothes stink as well. Earlier, Clovis had called her down to take a look at it and she found herself unable to resist. Caught up in her own curiosity and everyoneâ€™s excitement, the time had gotten away from them. That is, until Alvarez had informed them, in no uncertain terms, that it was bedtime and they could play with their new toy tomorrow. It was then she realized how late it was and that she had unwittingly stood the Commander up.

Guiltily, she dressed and slipped out the door, hoping Malory would still be up so she could at least apologize. When she entered the Commanderâ€™s office, it was dark and there was no light coming from under the door to her quarters. With a sigh, she turned to leave and took a few steps into the hall before turning impulsively, walking back into the office and quietly entering Maloryâ€™s quarters, closing the door behind her. She stood silently, letting her eyes adapt to the dark and then utilizing the light from the clock to guide her to the Commanderâ€™s cot. Praying that she was making the right decision, she stripped to her panties and T-shirt before climbing in next to the sleeping woman. She had to nudge her a few times to make room for herself and ignored the sleepy grumbles of protest as she slipped under the blankets.

So far so good, she snuggled up next to a delightfully naked back, putting a tentative arm around her waist and cautiously burying her face into clean smelling hair. She caught her breath in surprise when Malory suddenly grabbed her arm, but ended up smiling as her hand was cuddled between a pair of breasts. It took a few minutes for her to realize the Commander was still asleep but when she did, Corky quickly fell asleep beside her.

05/04/02 - 0659 hours

Malory noticed several things immediately upon waking up. First, was the floor, and she was staring at it because half of her body was hanging over the side of the cot. In addition, there was a warm weight resting on her back and most surprisingly, there was a possessive grip on her left breast.

Her eyes traveled down her chest to examine the hand that the grip belonged to and an eyebrow went up in satisfaction. It was a small, obviously feminine hand and since it wasnâ€™t her own, the odds were favorable that it belonged to none other than Corky Rivers.

She craned her head around to look at the clock, it was set to go off in less than a minute. Smiling, she plastered on her most smug expression and waited to see how the doctor would react to rising in such a compromising situation.

The alarm went off with a shrill and irritating electronic beep and Corkyâ€™s eyes grudgingly opened, then almost instantly widened as she found her cheek resting on a naked back and a pleasant softness filling her hand that could only be one thing. She froze in horror, immediately wishing that she had thought her impulsive decision from the night before all the way through. She hadnâ€™t given a momentâ€™s thought to how awkward it would be to wake up uninvited in someone elseâ€™s bed or to be caught fondling the body that the bed belonged to.

The alarm continued to blare and Malory could feel the tension running through the body resting on top of her, she decided to make the most of it.

She cleared her throat loudly. â€œUhm... if it isnâ€™t too much of a bother, could you let go of my boob long enough to turn off the alarm?â€ she asked in amusement.

Corky flushed with embarrassment, silently removing her hand and turning to slap the alarm behind her irritably, instantly wishing she hadnâ€™t as she found the resulting silence even more uncomfortable.

Malory was anything but uncomfortable, enjoying the situation immensely. â€œThereâ€™s some Kleenex on the nightstand, would you mind wiping the drool off my back?â€ she asked, almost laughing when she heard the horrified gasp her request had produced.

Corkyâ€™s eyes dropped to Maloryâ€™s back in mortification but after a quick examination, they turned to the ceiling in annoyance. â€œFunny,â€ she said finally, bracing herself against the inevitable laughter.

She was surprised when it didnâ€™t come and Malory turned around, gathering her arms around her and pulling her close. â€œI havenâ€™t woken up so happy in years,â€ she said quietly.

It was the last thing Corky had expected and she buried her face into the crook of the Commanderâ€™s neck with a relieved sigh.

Malory ran her hands inquisitively through Corkyâ€™s hair, enjoying how soft it felt as she waited for the doctor to emerge from her place of refuge. Eventually, she stirred and lifted shy brown eyes up to meet hers. â€œI knew you could be sweet if you wanted to,â€ she said triumphantly.

Malory smiled. â€œIâ€™m not the ogre you make me out to be,â€ she said softly.

â€œI never called you an ogre,â€ Corky defended.

Malory shrugged indifferently. â€œSo can I have that kiss now?â€

Corky chewed on her lip thoughtfully.

â€œOh, come on,â€ Malory sighed. â€œItâ€™s the least you could do after having felt me up.â€

Brown eyes looked away in embarrassment. â€œI was asleep,â€ she offered lamely.

â€œIf you kiss me, Iâ€™ll let you feel me up anytime you want,â€ Malory offered brightly.

Corky chuckled. â€œOkay,â€ she relented, bashfully moving forward.

Her mouth had almost completed its journey when a hand blocked the way, completely obscuring the lips below hers.

â€œWait!â€ Malory said urgently, her voice muffled by her hand and Corky backed away uncertainly, looking at her in puzzlement.

â€œCould you brush your teeth first?â€ she asked. â€œYour breath would make a dung beetle barf.â€

Corky went completely limp in exasperation, her face falling into the blankets as the Commanderâ€™s chuckles washed over her. She waited stoically for her mirth to subside.

â€œYou just canâ€™t make it easy, can you?â€ she muttered.

â€œNope,â€ Malory said happily.

â€œCorky, where you at?â€ Clovisâ€™s voice blared from the radio on the floor.

â€œOh shit,â€ Corky sprang upright in alarm.

â€œCorky, you there?â€ Clovis asked. â€œYou better have your radio with you or the boss is gonna be pissed.â€

Malory chuckled and reached down to retrieve the radio from the floor. â€œYou better answer him or I might have to discipline you.â€

Corky snatched it from her hand. â€œGo ahead, Clovis.â€

â€œWhere the hell are you?â€ came the immediate response.

She bit her lip. â€œWhere are you?â€

â€œIâ€™m in Medical.â€

Malory snickered and received a slap on the arm. â€œIâ€™m in the mess,â€ she offered, crossing her fingers.

â€œI just left there, I must have missed you. No biggie, on my way back now.â€

â€œShit,â€ Corky cursed, jumping over the Commander and gathering her pants from the floor in a panic.

Malory reclined on the cot, watching the show with interest as Corky frantically wiggled into her fatigues.

â€œGoddamn it,â€ she exclaimed, tossing dirty clothes aside. â€œWhereâ€™s my other boot? How do you find anything in this shithole?â€

â€œYouâ€™ll never get there before he does,â€ Malory observed calmly.

â€œShut up,â€ Corky exclaimed, then squealing as she found her other boot and dropped to the floor to pull it on.

â€œWhat the hell, Corky?â€ Clovis said. â€œWhere did you go?â€

â€œTold you,â€ Malory said pompously.

Corky froze, totally at a loss.

â€œJust tell him youâ€™re in my office and youâ€™ll get back to him shortly,â€ Malory offered reasonably.

Her shoulders slumped in relief. â€œSorry, Clovis,â€ she answered. â€œThe Commander wanted to see me, Iâ€™ll call you back in a minute.â€

â€œAlright, got lots to do today,â€ he said cheerfully. â€œSee ya in a few.â€

She fell onto her back, lying in a pile of dirty clothes. â€œJesus,â€ she murmured.

â€œIâ€™m glad you came by last night,â€ Malory said quietly.

â€œI am too,â€ Cory replied from her position on the floor.

â€œWill I see you again tonight?â€ Malory asked hopefully.

â€œOnly if you clean this place up or come to my quarters.â€

â€œIâ€™ll come to your quarters.â€

Corky chuckled and rose to finish lacing her boot, glancing up to meet blue eyes watching her intently from a few feet away. â€œWhat are you staring at?â€ she asked mildly.

â€œYou,â€ Malory said honestly. â€œYouâ€™re a beautiful woman,â€ she added, smiling at the resulting blush.

â€œSo are you,â€ Corky replied, trying to ignore the heat on her face. â€œMost of the time,â€ she added honestly, â€œwhen your mouth doesnâ€™t get in the way.â€

Malory chuckled.

â€œI better go,â€ Corky said, rising to her feet.

â€œOkay.â€

The doctor debated for an instant, then hastily stepped forward and leaned in to place a quick peck on the Commanderâ€™s mouth, withdrawing swiftly and rushing through the door without looking back.

Malory watched her go with a smile and snuggled under the covers contentedly.

â€”â€”â€”

The Commander had been checking her watch every few minutes for the last hour, unable to concentrate on anything else but the approaching end of the current duty shift. She was down to counting the last few minutes when McNeelyâ€™s voice from the radio demanded her attention.

â€œCommander?â€

She sighed pitifully, knowing she would probably have to put her plans on hold. â€œGo ahead,â€ she said resignedly.

â€œThey were going to page you but I thought Iâ€™d give you a heads up. They want you in the lab.â€

She groaned, having harbored the secret hope that she wouldnâ€™t have to look at the thing. â€œAnd the heads up would be?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œHope you havenâ€™t eaten recently,â€ he said and she winced, knowing that if the burly Sergeant thought to say something, it would be a dreadful sight.

â€œOn my way, Lovecraft out,â€ she said rising to her feet.

She arrived at the lab a few minutes later and found McNeely waiting for her just inside the door. The laboratory was actually the largest room, or series of rooms, in the entire complex. Entering through the main door brought you to a glass enclosed lobby of sorts, where one had to pass through a vacuum sealed door to actually have access to the facilities inside.

She noted Sergeant Terrel and Airman Daly standing behind McNeely, hands tight on their rifles and their attention fixated upon the activity inside. Malory avoided looking for as long as she could, glad that several of the scientists were hovering around the creature, partially obstructing it from view.

â€œCommander, youâ€™ll want to put this on,â€ McNeely said, extending a hand and giving her a nose plug, she looked at the man, noting that he was already wearing one.

â€œThank you,â€ she said, fashioning the clip to her nose. â€œLetâ€™s get this over with.â€

McNeely pushed through the door and she followed him through. Dr. Lenard turned at the sound of their entrance and beckoned her over with a wave. She approached and the scientists parted to give her a full view of the exam table, she wasnâ€™t wholly prepared to look at the creature in its entirety.

The thing appeared to be equal parts insect, humanoid, and technology, its skin where visible, was the same greenish-black that she remembered. It seemed to be sitting backwards in a chair, not all that surprising considering its trunk resembled the hindquarters of a cat, only attached in the reverse and covered sparsely with a thick, coarse hair or antennae. Its arms were projected outward as if trying to protect itself from something, the torso covered in a carapace, like that of a huge cockroach, and seemingly fused to the strange looking chair. Tentacles, peppered with imbedded implants of alien technology, protruded from an orifice in the neck and wrapped themselves around the shoulders and groin. The actual head of the alien was the most disturbing feature to behold, resembling a snailâ€™s shell with no other visible features except for a frighteningly wide mouth consisting of three different rows of triangular teeth, all of which looked razor sharp and protruded in all directions.

â€œGod,â€ she said softly. â€œLook at the choppers on that thing.â€

â€œNo kidding,â€ McNeely said from behind her. â€œI wouldnâ€™t want it going down on me.â€

His comment brought her out of her study with a chuckle and she looked up at the sound of a familiar laugh, surprised to see Corky on the far side of the examining table. She shot her a small smile and wondered why she hadnâ€™t noticed her upon entering.

â€œOkay, why am I here?â€ she asked curiously.

Dr. Lenard spoke up. â€œA couple of reasons, Commander. First, you should be aware that itâ€™s impossible for this creature to suddenly reanimate. Its quite dead.â€

â€œAnd youâ€™re convinced of this why?â€

â€œThatâ€™s the second reason,â€ he said, gesturing for the others to help him turn the alien on its side. â€œYouâ€™ll notice that the back of the head and a good portion of the rear torso seem to be missing,â€ he said, pointing to several gaping holes and missing chunks in the body.

Malory leaned closer to observe and grimaced upon inspection. â€œOkay, and?â€

â€œIn our estimation,â€ Corky said mildly. â€œThe damage to the creatureâ€™s body was inflicted by one of its own kind.â€

â€œHuh?â€ Malory blinked.

â€œWe took a cast of the creatureâ€™s mouth,â€ Corky explained, producing a hideous plaster representation of the alienâ€™s teeth. â€œAs you can see,â€ she said, holding the cast up to the wounds on the creatures back. â€œThese injuries were made by an entity with the same dental framework.â€

Malory watched the plaster teeth line up almost exactly with the ragged wounds in the creatureâ€™s body. â€œSo theyâ€™re cannibals,â€ she said quietly. â€œOr one of them was really pissed off at the other.â€

â€œCannibals would be my guess,â€ Dr. Lenard said quietly. â€œA good portion of this alienâ€™s internal body mass is missing.â€

She winced and tried not visualize. â€œAlright, if we find one of these things intact, what are the chances of it getting up and walking around if thawed?â€

â€œNone,â€ Dr. Lenard said firmly. â€œOur atmosphere would be deadly to a living life form of this type.â€

â€œAnd youâ€™re a hundred percent sure of this?â€ she asked.

â€œYes.â€

She pursed her lips thoughtfully, rocking back and forth on her heels for a moment. â€œYour opinion, Mr. McNeely?â€ she asked finally.

â€œIâ€™d prefer to remain cautious,â€ McNeely said quickly. â€œA lot of unknowns here, the craft might have had more than one kind of life form aboard.â€

She nodded in agreement. â€œOkay, everyone remains armed for the time being, but lets cut the guard in excavation down to one.â€

â€œVery well, Commander,â€ McNeely said in agreement.

She looked at the gathered scientists. â€œIs there anything else?â€

Dr. Lenard glanced at his colleagues questioningly. â€œI donâ€™t believe so, Commander.â€

â€œVery well then,â€ she said. â€œPlease keep me informed,â€ she added and turned to stride from the room, McNeely on her heels.

As soon as they were outside, she reached to pull the clip from her nose, turning to the Sergeant with a sour look. â€œIs that you or me that smells so bad?â€

â€œUnfortunately, its both of us.â€

â€œJesus, thatâ€™s rank,â€ she said in disgust.

He nodded to concur. â€œThey werenâ€™t pleased by maintaining a guard in excavation.â€

â€œNo, they werenâ€™t,â€ she said dismissively. â€œBut this whole space monster thing gives me the jeebies. Plus, if someone wasnâ€™t down there to tell them to call it a day, theyâ€™d be at it all night.â€

â€œTrue enough,â€ he agreed.

She gestured over her shoulder at Terrel and Daly. â€œStow their rifles and give them the night off,â€ she ordered. â€œApparently, that thing isnâ€™t gonna get up and table dance.â€

He smiled and gave her a nod.

â€œIâ€™m headed for a shower. Goodnight, Sergeant Major.â€

â€œGoodnight, Commander,â€ he said amiably, watching her stroll from the room.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory lay on the cot in her quarters feeling sorry for herself. It had been over two hours since she had left the lab and suspected she wouldnâ€™t hear from the doctor anytime soon. It was a hard pill to swallow playing second fiddle to some hideous, foul smelling monster that also happened to be dead. She was trying not to let it bruise her ego.

She spared a glance around the room and frowned; she had even cleaned her quarters for the woman. With a long, disappointed sigh, she rolled over to turn off the light, stopping halfway there when a knock came at the door.

â€œYes?â€ she said loudly, a hopeful lilt to her voice.

â€œCan I come in?â€ Corky asked.

â€œOf course,â€ she said happily.

Corky entered the room, closing the door behind her and projecting a sheepish look. â€œSorry,â€ she said sincerely. â€œHey, you cleaned up in here,â€ she added in surprise.

â€œAre you impressed?â€ Malory asked, pleased that her efforts had been noticed.

â€œYes, actually,â€ Corky said honestly but then smiled knowingly. â€œYou ran out of clean clothes, didnâ€™t you?â€

â€œNope, I did all of this for you.â€

â€œReally?â€ she asked suspiciously.

Malory considered. â€œOkay, I ran out of clothes too,â€ she admitted.

Corky chuckled. â€œUh huh.â€

â€œAre you gonna stand by the door all night or come over here?â€

Corky swayed indecisively. â€œAre you naked under there?â€ she asked, pointing at the blankets.

â€œWould it make a difference?â€ Malory asked, smiling seductively.

â€œYeah,â€ Corky admitted. â€œI was hoping we could talk.â€

â€œWouldnâ€™t you rather just sit on my face?â€

Corkyâ€™s jaw dropped. â€œJesus, could you be less romantic?â€

Malory choked back the intended retort. â€œSorry,â€ she forced, resituating herself cross-legged on the end of the cot and gesturing to the available space. â€œMake yourself comfortable and tell me what you want to talk about.â€

The doctor sighed and sat down, pulling off her boots. â€œLarry said you were decorated, will you tell me about it?â€ she asked quietly.

Blue eyes narrowed. â€œWhat else did Larry say?â€

â€œOnly that you were considered unorthodox,â€ Corky said honestly.

Malory brooded. â€œHe shared more than he should have.â€

Corky turned to face her, pulling the opposite end of the blankets up over her legs. â€œWill you tell me?â€ she asked softly.

â€œWhy?â€

â€œBecause I want to know more about you,â€ she answered. â€œAnd I know that women in the military arenâ€™t typically exposed to situations that result in combat decorations. I also know that a young, female officer wouldnâ€™t be the choice of many to oversee an installation of this importance.â€

â€œIâ€™ll tell you if you tell me why you have problem with the military in general.â€

â€œOkay,â€ Corky said softly. â€œYou go first.â€

â€œWhat exactly do you want to know?â€

â€œHow did you get your decorations?â€ Corky asked curiously.

â€œI was in a helicopter over Bosnia that came under fire and I took a hit in my thigh,â€ Malory said tonelessly. â€œThe aircraft itself took several and was crippled. We were forced off course and crashed into the Adriatic.â€

â€œIs that how you hurt your shoulder?â€

â€œYeah,â€ Malory said. â€œCompound fracture of the clavicle, dislocated shoulder, torn rotator cuff.â€

Corky winced sympathetically. â€œAnd?â€

â€œAnd what?â€

â€œWhatâ€™s the rest?â€

â€œThere were five people on board, only two survived and made it to the surface. One was a Marine Colonel who had broken his back when we crashed. I pulled him out of the wreckage and kept him afloat until we were rescued almost forty-eight hours later.â€

â€œHow did you do that with a useless arm and a wounded leg?â€

â€œWith a great deal of pain,â€ Malory said honestly.

â€œI canâ€™t imagine how horrible that must have been,â€ Corky said sadly.

â€œIt isnâ€™t something I look back on fondly,â€ Malory admitted.

â€œWhat were you decorated with?â€

â€œThe DSM and a Purple Heart.â€

â€œWhatâ€™s a DSM?â€

â€œThe Distinguished Service Medal,â€ Malory explained dismissively. â€œNow tell me your story.â€

â€œIts pretty simple really,â€ Corky said peevishly. â€œFormer lover of three years also happened to be in the Army. I never really fit in with her crowd and always felt looked down upon because I was a civilian. I moved across the country twice when she was transferred just to be with her, even though she was distant and treated me as if I wasnâ€™t good enough for her. The third time she was transferred she told me not to bother to come with her and informed me that she had been seeing someone else for the last two years. Not surprisingly, another officer.â€

â€œIs that how you ended up here?â€

â€œPretty much. Larry was a Professor I had in college. When I completed my residency, he approached me with the job.â€

â€œIâ€™m sorry about your girlfriend,â€ Malory said sincerely.

â€œIâ€™m not,â€ Corky said truthfully. â€œShe was a horrible girlfriend and an even worse officer,â€ she added, suddenly shy. â€œShe couldnâ€™t hold a candle to you. I judged everyone in uniform by what I saw from her and the people she associated with. I look at you and see everything she could never be. Everyone here respects you, civilian and military alike, and not because youâ€™re the boss, but because youâ€™re a leader.â€

Malory smiled. â€œCan we make out now?â€

Corky laughed. â€œNo, tell me how you got here.â€

The Commander sighed heavily and shrugged. â€œIâ€™m a promotable officer and was going to resign my commission. They threw me a bone.â€

â€œYou were going to resign? Why?â€ Corky asked in surprise.

â€œBecause Iâ€™m thirty years old and my whole life has been nothing but the Navy,â€ she replied. â€œI was of a mind to see what life was like without it.â€

â€œYou changed your mind?â€

â€œThey made me an offer. Take the position here and use the time to reconsider. Since I didnâ€™t have any idea of what I wanted to do once I resigned, I agreed.â€

â€œDo you have a girl in every port?â€ Corky asked curiously.

â€œNope.â€

â€œHave a girl anywhere?â€

â€œNope.â€

â€œAre you a virgin?â€

â€œI lost my cherry, but still have the box it came in.â€

Corky laughed. â€œWhere did you get your vocabulary?â€

â€œIt was on sale at Sears. Can I see you naked?â€

â€œMaybe. Have you had a lot of lovers?â€

â€œNumerically, youâ€™d be the second but as far as Iâ€™m concerned, the first and only.â€

â€œReally?â€

â€œReally on both counts.â€

â€œIâ€™m having a hard time resisting you.â€

â€œWhy would you want to?â€

Eyes rolled. â€œDo you have any idea what a hateful bitch you were to me?â€

â€œIt was the quickest way to solve the problem.â€

â€œThatâ€™s it? No, Iâ€™m sorry?â€

â€œDid you know the minute I saw you I got wet?â€

â€œCouldâ€™ve fooled me.â€

â€œGet over it.â€

â€œItâ€™s not that easy.â€

â€œYes, it is. Just kiss me.â€

â€œYou think its that simple?â€

â€œYes.â€

â€œIt isnâ€™t for me.â€

Malory threw her hands in the air exasperatedly and abruptly leaned forward, resting on her hands and knees, her face suddenly an inch away from Corkyâ€™s. â€œThen Iâ€™ll kiss you,â€ she whispered and gently covered the doctorâ€™s lips with her own. Prodding lovingly with delicate caresses until she felt her respond, then greedily devouring what was offered. Catching a hesitant tongue and sucking it tenderly into her mouth, moaning softly at the bodily sensation it induced.

She sighed in a frustration she felt all the way to her toes when Corky began to gently disengage. Struggling with her composure, she didnâ€™t fight it and backed off respectfully, waiting with a barely restrained desire to observe her reaction.

Corky leaned back against the wall and caught her breath. The energy radiating off the Commander was so extreme, every nerve ending in her body was standing at attention. It was an intensity unlike anything she had ever experienced, both seductively powerful and emotionally frightening.

â€œI want you,â€ Malory rumbled thickly.

Corky looked up into a blue gaze almost dilated black with longing and knew she wasnâ€™t yet prepared for the intensity lurking behind those eyes.

â€œI want you,â€ Malory repeated. â€œLet me show you how much.â€

Corky tentatively reached out with a hand to cup her cheek, almost groaning when it was leaned into seductively. â€œI want you too,â€ she whispered. â€œBut Iâ€™ve never felt so... pleasantly scared.â€

Malory bit her lower lip almost painfully. â€œThen lay with me and let me hold you.â€

Corky almost gaped at the sudden transformation; the sexual aura that had been almost tangible receded upon delivery of the gentle request. The Commander resituated herself on the cot and lifted the blankets in front of her invitingly. Silently, Corky stood on weak knees, stepped out of her fatigues and climbed into the offered embrace. The blankets settled around her and Malory turned to click off the lamp, returning to pull the doctor tightly against her body.

â€œThank you,â€ Corky said softly in the dark.

â€œYouâ€™re welcome,â€ Malory whispered, her breath tickling Corkyâ€™s ear. â€œHowever, if you wake up in a puddle, itâ€™s not because I have a bladder problem.â€

â€œGod,â€ Corky giggled. â€œYouâ€™re so vulgar.â€

For an answer, Malory placed a gentle kiss on the back of her neck and smiled at the shiver it produced. â€œGoodnight, Doctor.â€

05/05/02 - 0815 hours

Corky rose without the aid of the alarm and frowned upon realizing how late it was. Belatedly, she noticed the body that she held in her arms was about five feet smaller, a hundred and ten pounds lighter, and nowhere near as warm as the one she went to bed with. Her eyes narrowed in the dark and she fumbled around for the lamp. Illumination confirmed her suspicions and she flung Little Lovecraft across the room in disgust.

Not amused at waking up with the doll instead of the Commander, she got up to put her boots and pants on. She was about to enter Maloryâ€™s office when she heard McNeelyâ€™s voice on the other side of the door. Trapped for the time being, she went over and sat back down on the cot with a huff, waiting impatiently. The time passed slowly and she eventually lay back down, staring at the ceiling until her eyelids grew heavy.

When Malory finally entered, she snickered at finding Little Lovecraft on the floor and picked her up to seat her on the chair. She threw a glance at the cot and smiled at finding the little doctor asleep in all of her clothes. Deciding to leave her be, she silently cursed the efficient McNeely and started relieving herself of her clothes.

Corky woke up at the sound of running water and froze when she realized that Malory was in the shower. Torn between wanting to make a hasty exit and being present when the Commander emerged, she fidgeted and cleared her throat.

â€œGood morning,â€ she ventured.

â€œGood morning,â€ came the immediate bright response. â€œDecide to get up?â€

â€œYeah,â€ Corky said. â€œWhy did you turn off the alarm?â€

â€œMcNeely, showed up first thing,â€ Malory said. â€œIf he heard the alarm being shut off, he wouldâ€™ve known someone was in my quarters.â€

â€œOh,â€ Corky said, suddenly feeling grateful.

â€œYour buddy Clovis and crew were up before dawn and down in excavation. Butler went down with them. He wasnâ€™t pleased at being rousted for guard duty so early,â€ Malory said amusedly. â€œNeither was the Sergeant Major.â€

â€œTheyâ€™re just excited,â€ Corky said defensively. â€œItâ€™s an important find.â€

â€œWhatever,â€ Malory said dismissively. â€œSince youâ€™re up, wanna join me?â€

Facing another dilemma, the doctor debated carefully. Part of her wanted to spring from the cot and shed her clothes and another part wanted to run from the room. â€œI think Iâ€™ll pass,â€ she said finally.

â€œYou sure? I know youâ€™re dyinâ€™ to see if my carpet matches my drapes. Iâ€™ll let you peek.â€

Her brow wrinkled in confusion for a few seconds and then her eyes rolled. â€œIâ€™m sure,â€ she said shaking her head, glad Malory couldnâ€™t see her grin.

â€œOkay, your loss,â€ Malory said pretentiously.

Corky shook her head. â€œYouâ€™re such a pompous ass,â€ she said with a chuckle. â€œI canâ€™t believe how full of yourself you are.â€

â€œIâ€™d like to be filled by you,â€ Malory retorted easily.

To her dismay, she started to blush. â€œIâ€™m going to go,â€ she said hastily.

â€œOkay,â€ Malory said nonchalantly. â€œSee ya later.â€

Corky narrowed her eyes at the shower curtain suspiciously, wondering what she was up to. Wary of a trap, she rose to her feet and traveled to the door. â€œSee ya,â€ she said, and quickly left the room.

â€œHeh,â€ Malory grunted nefariously when she heard the door close.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky spent the entire day in a turmoil of emotions, performing her duties in an absentminded automation; her thoughts rarely straying far from the confounding Commander. The woman possessed a multitude of repulsive qualities and Corky was perplexed that she now found them charming when not so recently they would have and did offend her. There was also the lingering confusion left over from the night before, the damn woman exuded a hidden sexual energy that could singe the hair off her toes.

Like it or not, she had fallen under the womanâ€™s spell and the only option left was to either take it or leave it. The latter became more unappealing with every minute she spent in the Commanderâ€™s company and the former meant forging ahead with the confusing woman and letting the chips fall where they may. It was a frightening prospect with no guaranteed conclusion.

At the end of her shift, she headed for dinner still halfheartedly debating alternatives, hoping she could share a meal and have a normal conversation with the woman. She figured the odds of an ordinary dialogue were about fifty-fifty, suspecting that Malory herself didnâ€™t know what foot to lead with and flew by the seat of her pants.

She was disenchanted to find the mess relatively empty with no sign of either the Commander or even Clovis to at least exchange pleasantries with. In fact, the only people present were Daly and Cohen so she got a tray and sat by herself, instantly descending into the plight of her dilemma once again.

An uncertain amount of time later, Clovis dropped in the chair across from her with his meal. â€œWhatâ€™s with the long face?â€ he asked jovially.

She blinked and glanced at her watch, surprised to see how much time had gotten away from her. â€œHuh?â€

â€œYouâ€™re sitting there looking like your dog just died,â€ Clovis rumbled. â€œWhatâ€™s on your mind?â€

â€œOh, just thinking,â€ she said, trying to sound offhand. â€œHow did things go down there today?â€ she added hoping to distract him.

â€œThe cave in sped up our progress considerably,â€ he answered happily. â€œWeâ€™re a couple of weeks away from the first section, we canâ€™t wait.â€

She smiled at his obvious delight. â€œIâ€™ll bet,â€ she said, throwing another glance at her watch. â€œYouâ€™re up here kinda early.â€

â€œWe started early,â€ he said with a grin. â€œAnd I suspect our Commander has given the order to have our armed escort tell us when to pack it up for the day.â€

Corky giggled. â€œIâ€™m sure she did, have you seen her today?â€

â€œSaw her laughing in the hall with McNeely outside of his quarters when I was coming to dinner,â€ he said casually.

â€œHmmm,â€ Corky grunted thoughtfully. â€œWell, I guess Iâ€™m gonna go find something to do.â€

â€œOkay, Corky,â€ he said amiably, becoming intently engrossed with the food in front of him. â€œSee ya later.â€

â€œBye, Clovis,â€ she with a chuckle.

She made her way to Maloryâ€™s office and upon finding it and her quarters empty, she began a casual stroll around the compound with the hope of running into her. Her efforts proved fruitless as the Commander was nowhere to be found. Confused, she returned to her own quarters and flopped into her chair with a frown. Where could she be? She thought about using the radio but couldnâ€™t come up with a good story to offer in case Malory wasnâ€™t alone.

Two hours of brooding later, she impulsively strode from her room and returned to Maloryâ€™s quarters; again finding them empty. Her face wrinkled in confusion, she retraced her steps from earlier and after having searched everywhere, there was still no sign of the Commander.

Jesus, its almost eleven, where the hell is she? An idea suddenly formed and she returned to the lounge, finding Lieutenant Ring reclining in his usual spot on the sofa.

â€œLieutenant,â€ she said, approaching him. â€œDo you know where the Commander is?â€

He turned around sleepily. â€œUhm... sheâ€™s with McNeely in his quarters.â€

â€œThank you,â€ she said sweetly, exiting the room before a frown of gigantic proportions could take control.

She had stomped halfway back to her quarters when it struck her that she was jealous and she paused to consider the notion. Tempted at first to dismiss it as overreaction, she returned to her room confusedly. Was she jealous and if so why? Did she miss something? Malory had said she had only had one lover, but werenâ€™t they talking about women?

The idea of Malory being with McNeely brought her blood to a boil and once the thought entered her mind, she couldnâ€™t think of anything else. She tried to tell herself that she was blowing everything out of proportion and was probably wrong, but her imagination had taken hold and wouldnâ€™t let go.

She glanced angrily at the clock, it was half past midnight. Determinedly, she stormed from her quarters and was not surprised to find Maloryâ€™s room still empty upon arrival. Throwing caution to the wind, she marched doggedly in the direction of McNeelyâ€™s room, quieting her approach as she neared her objective. Stealthily, she paused outside of his door and listened closely for any noise that might emanate from within.

Mumbled voices and then the distinct sound of the Commanderâ€™s laugh brought a full head of steam to Corkyâ€™s features and she turned to stomp crossly down the hallway, stopping when she heard someone step out into the hall from behind her. She turned a furious glance over her shoulder and was surprised to see Malory emerge, followed by Chief Reynolds and Sergeants Alvarez, Hanson, and Terrel; all of them laughing boisterously.

Stunned, she came to a complete halt, her jealousy vaporizing in favor of a very distinct feeling of embarrassment. She tried to slink away unnoticed and winced when she was called up short.

â€œDr. Rivers?â€ Malory inquired pleasantly.

â€œYes?â€ she said turning a hopefully innocent gaze in her direction.

The men filtered by with polite nods, quickly leaving them alone in the hall.

â€œWhat are you doing here?â€ Malory asked curiously, closing the distance between them.

Corky thought frantically. â€œI couldnâ€™t sleep so I was taking a walk.â€

Malory snickered. â€œUh huh,â€ she scoffed. â€œWhatâ€™s up? You looked angry.â€

Corky sighed. â€œI was looking for you,â€ she said truthfully. â€œWhat were you doing in there all night?â€

A triumphant smile. â€œPlaying poker. What did you think we were doing?â€

â€œI donâ€™t know,â€ Corky said lamely.

â€œHow did you know where I was?â€ Malory asked, a knowing look on her face.

Corky shuffled her feet. â€œI asked Lt. Ring,â€ she said feeling somewhat exposed in the hallway. â€œCan we just go to my quarters?â€ she asked quietly.

â€œSure,â€ Malory said brightly and followed the little doctor down the hall with a cocky smile.

Corky trudged through the halls feeling monumentally stupid and worse, she didnâ€™t have to turn around to see the smile on Maloryâ€™s face; she could feel it. When they entered her quarters, the Commander respectfully chose the chair and seated herself primly, turning an expectant look on her companion.

Corky sighed and took a seat on the cot, leaning her back against the wall. â€œWhy didnâ€™t you tell me you were going to play cards tonight?â€ she asked quietly.

â€œI didnâ€™t get the chance,â€ Malory said with a shrug. â€œMcNeely asked me this morning and before I could say anything, you lit out of my quarters like your ass was on fire.â€

â€œOh,â€ came the quiet response.

â€œIf you had told me you wanted to get together, I would have turned him down,â€ Malory offered. â€œSo tell me, you looked mad enough to blow an ovary, whatâ€™s the matter?â€

â€œNothing,â€ Corky said quickly.

â€œGimme a break,â€ Malory scoffed. â€œYou can tell me anything,â€ she added softly.

Corky started to play with the hem of her sweatshirt. â€œIt was stupid,â€ she said quietly.

â€œWhat was stupid?â€

â€œI thought you and McNeely were...uhm... you know,â€ she admitted uneasily.

Malory smiled brightly. â€œYou were jealous?â€

Corky nodded silently.

â€œMy, how territorial,â€ Malory teased.

Brown eyes shot up. â€œYou donâ€™t have to be so smug,â€ she accused irritably.

For an answer, Malory leaned down and started to unlace her boots, pulling them off and placing them under the chair along with her socks and standing to remove her sweatshirt.

Corky watched nervously. â€œWhat do you think youâ€™re doing?â€ she asked, watching the sweatshirt fall to the ground and hands drop to start unbuttoning her fatigues.

â€œBustinâ€™ a move,â€ Malory said nonchalantly, stepping out of her pants and standing immodestly before the doctor in her underwear.

Corky couldnâ€™t find her voice as her body began reacting strongly to the almost nude Commander who dropped to her knees in front of her and began unlacing her boots. She watched helplessly as they were removed gently and her hands were grasped, pulling her forward. Totally powerless, she let Malory lift her arms above her head to remove her shirt and her bra quickly followed without protest. A soft whimper preceded the removal of her pants and soon she found herself completely naked and waiting to be claimed by the woman kneeling in front of her.

â€œYouâ€™re very beautiful,â€ Malory said heavily, grabbing the doctor gently around the hips and pulling her forward.

Corky opened her mouth to reply but was silenced by lips that descended upon her own and hands that wound themselves in her hair. The intensity of Maloryâ€™s attentions gave the impression of being devoured and she surrendered willingly, pulling her closer and urging her for more.

Malory relished every sensation, delighting in the taste of the doctorâ€™s mouth, exploring every crevice with her tongue, taking a sensual pleasure in the texture of her teeth, the roof of her mouth, the softness of her lips, and the warmth of her breath as it mingled with her own. Her hands dropped to the small of her back and pulled her gently forward until her thighs rested on the edge of the cot, dropping her attention to the pulse point on her neck and eventually, to her rapidly rising and falling chest.

Corky fell back wantonly against the wall to allow Malory free reign over her body, consumed by the urgent need the Commander conveyed and her own freefalling libido; wrapping her hands tightly in Maloryâ€™s hair when she felt a breast being suckled teasingly and pulling her forward when she was drawn into her mouth. Her body tingled exotically as her nipples were teased until they hardened painfully and tender teeth chewed on them lovingly. She gasped loudly in anticipation as Malory began a trail down her chest, her mouth and tongue showing an interest in every detail they encountered and when a chin urged her legs apart, she complied without hesitation. Maloryâ€™s arms dropped to assist and her legs were thrown over the Commanderâ€™s shoulders with abandon, the air surprisingly cold against the suddenly exposed wetness of her thighs. Breath exploded pleasurably from her mouth the instant she was tasted; ecstasy making her shiver when Malory emitted a satisfied groan of her own, as if finally given something long denied.

One of Corkyâ€™s hands sought out the edge of the cot to brace against the inevitable while the other tightened its grip in Maloryâ€™s hair demandingly, an unspoken order to remain where she was. The sensation of Maloryâ€™s attentions were beyond all of her previous experience and she could feel the Commanderâ€™s pleasure in the act through the ravenous exuberance of the mouth feeding upon her. Maloryâ€™s moans were almost as loud as her own, and when a hand left her thigh and the Commander set her knees further apart on the floor, she felt the approaching edge viciously. Maloryâ€™s excitement was so obvious that it was like receiving a shot of adrenaline knowing she couldnâ€™t restrain from petting herself.

When she came, it was with a power that left her neurotic and it was prolonged significantly as Maloryâ€™s arm tightened around her waist, refusing to let go. Her whole body jumped spastically with every caress and she found herself screaming with the pleasure of it, pulling on the hair in her hand possessively to force closer contact. Exalting in the vibrations traveling the length of her sex from Maloryâ€™s muffled cries, her lover entangled within the tremors of her own release and grinding into her ecstatically. She rode the wave until she was unable to endure any longer and finally dropped a hand between her legs to intervene, going limp in exhaustion, her body shining with perspiration.

As she caught her breath, she was pleasantly aware of Malory still diligently trying to get past the blockade of her hand. Tenderly sucking on her fingers and occasionally probing for an opening between them. She tardily released the grip still knotted in Maloryâ€™s hair, surprised at how severe her hold had been and blinking regretfully when the Commander whimpered softly at the reprieve.

â€œMalory,â€ she said gently, her voice hoarse.

â€œHmmm?â€ Malory purred.

â€œDid I hurt you?â€ she asked , petting her head apologetically.

â€œIt was a nice hurt,â€ Malory said easily as she chewed softly on the end of a denying finger.

â€œIâ€™m sorry,â€ Corky said sincerely.

â€œDonâ€™t be.â€

â€œCome lay with me,â€ she ordered, about to start the process of resituating herself but paused when blue eyes raised and looked at her dotingly.

â€œI love you, Corky,â€ she said clearly.

Corkyâ€™s breath froze within her chest and she was surprised to feel moisture rise in her eyes.

Malory rose to her feet and removed her bra, tossing it across the room as if it irritated her and stretched like a cat in front of the doctorâ€™s desirous eyes. Her outstretched arms returned to cup her breasts and stroke them lightly before sliding a hand into her underwear to touch herself. She sighed lightly at the contact and brought back moist fingers that she sampled with her mouth.

Corky observed her behavior in unconcealed fascination, arousal again stirring within her powerfully as Malory suckled her fingers inquisitively, seemingly unaware of being watched so closely. Apparently satisfied, the Commander lowered herself onto the cot and wrapped gentle arms around her contentedly.

â€œWhy did you do that?â€ Corky asked, unable to curb her curiosity.

â€œI wanted to see what we would taste like together,â€ Malory hummed happily.

â€œAnd?â€ she asked intrigued.

â€œSuperb.â€

Corky released a satiated sigh, bringing a hand up to quickly wipe at her eyes and burying her face in the Commanderâ€™s chest, nipping at her breasts playfully. â€œThat was ...uhm... that...â€ she struggled.

â€œFuckinâ€™ amazing?â€ Malory offered brightly.

â€œWell, I wonâ€™t argue with you there,â€ she admitted, abruptly going stiff in alarm when a loud, persistent knock banged on the door. â€œOh, God,â€ she whispered, jumping out of Maloryâ€™s embrace and anxiously looking around for her clothes.

â€œHide,â€ she hissed at the Commander who appeared amused.

â€œIâ€™ll do no such thing,â€ Malory whispered.

Corky pulled her sweatshirt on over her head and shot the Commander a threatening look. â€œOh, yes you will.â€

â€œNope,â€ Malory said, stretching out along the length of the cot.

Corky shot her a venomous look as she buttoned her pants. â€œAt least go stand over there where you canâ€™t be seen,â€ she said pointing to a spot.

Malory sighed. â€œFine,â€ she said offhandedly, rising and walking over to stand with her arms crossed over her chest.

Corky took a deep breath and ran her hands through her hair to straighten it before she opened the door, only to find an empty hallway. Confusedly, she poked her head out and looked in both directions. Spotting no signs of life, she stepped back in to close the door and froze.

â€œOh, my God,â€ she said in complete horror, her eyes fixated on the floor.

At the words, Malory gave up her hiding place and approached the doctor from behind. â€œWhatâ€™s the big deal?â€ she asked curiously.

Corky could only bring a hand up to her mouth in mortification and Malory gently nudged her out of the way to see what had the doctorâ€™s complete attention. Her eyes landing on a pack of cigarettes and lighter, lying within an ashtray that someone had thoughtfully provided. With a stifled laugh, she bent down to pick them up and prodded Corky back into the room, closing the door behind them.

Leaving the doctor standing, she reclaimed her seat on the cot and opened the cigarettes, popping one into her mouth and lighting it. â€œI havenâ€™t had a cigarette in over ten years,â€ she said conversationally.

â€œMy God, someone heard us,â€ Corky finally rasped in dismay.

Malory smiled in amusement. â€œThatâ€™s not quite right, Dr. Rivers,â€ she said, taking a long drag on her cigarette. â€œI was occupied.â€

A startled gasp.

â€œYes,â€ Malory said knowingly. â€œSomeone heard you. Actually, I would be surprised if everyone didnâ€™t. Thereâ€™s probably not a limp dick in the compound.â€

â€œJesus,â€ Corky choked. â€œI canâ€™t imagine anything more embarrassing.â€

â€œCome to bed, Iâ€™ll kiss it and make it better,â€ Malory said sweetly.

â€œHow do I show my face tomorrow, or the day after for that matter?â€ she asked dismally.

â€œCome to bed,â€ Malory repeated, snuffing out her cigarette and holding out a hand.

Corky rushed over to bury her face between Maloryâ€™s breasts. â€œGod, what am I gonna do?â€ she whined pitifully.

Malory stroked her hair. â€œTell you what,â€ she said with a grin. â€œFirst thing tomorrow, Iâ€™ll make an announcement ordering everyone not to make fun of you for twiddling your diddle.â€

A quickly stifled snicker followed by an annoyed swat. â€œThatâ€™s not funny,â€ she mumbled. â€œHow would you feel if the situation was reversed?â€

â€œIâ€™m the boss,â€ she said simply. â€œNo one would dare say anything to me. Theyâ€™d just laugh behind my back.â€

â€œYouâ€™re not helping,â€ she said irritably.

Malory kissed the top of her head and reached down to pull the blankets over them both. â€œGo to sleep,â€ she said softly, hugging her tightly. â€œIt wonâ€™t be so bad in the morning.â€

A pathetic sigh was the only reply and she reached out to turn off the light.

05/06/02 - 0655 hours

Malory rose with a luxurious stretch and gently disengaged herself from the soundly sleeping doctor so she could answer the call of nature; poking around the room curiously when she was finished, interested in everything that had to do with the little woman. Noting the photographs of her parents and smiling at a family of Teddy bears that resided upon one of her shelves.

The shrill blast of the alarm startled her and she leaped across the room to shut it off, chuckling at the small arm that was irritably swatting at it from underneath the blankets. She immediately dove under the covers and playfully snuggled up to the waking woman.

â€œYou gonna get up?â€ she whispered into her ear, leaving a kiss behind.

â€œNo,â€ came the pathetic croak.

â€œWhy not?â€ Malory asked teasingly.

â€œWere you wearing your gun last night?â€ Corky asked quietly. â€œI need it.â€

â€œWhy?â€ Malory asked with a chuckle.

â€œBecause I have to kill myself,â€ Corky said seriously.

Malory laughed. â€œGee, itâ€™s not the end of the world. So what if everybody thinks you were in here thumpinâ€™ the man in the little canoe? Itâ€™s not that big a deal.â€

Corky turned in Maloryâ€™s embrace to regard her seriously. â€œWhy do you say that?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œWell shucks, Doctor,â€ she said patronizingly. â€œYouâ€™re a young, healthy and, as far as everyone knows, single woman. Whatâ€™s there to be embarrassed about?â€

â€œI was screaming like I was being burned at the stake,â€ Corky said dryly. â€œIf I had overheard that, Iâ€™d wonder what in the name of God had that woman been doing to herself.â€

A snicker.

â€œItâ€™s not funny,â€ Corky said sternly.

â€œGeez, youâ€™re a doctor,â€ Malory said amusedly. â€œYou of all people should know that masturbation is normal and everybody does it.â€

â€œDo you?â€

â€œHell no!â€ Malory said vehemently. â€œWhat do you think I am, some sort of sick freak?â€

Corky snorted in annoyance and pulled the covers up over her head to hide, ignoring her delightedly laughing companion.

â€œOh, come on,â€ Malory chortled. â€œIf anyone says anything you can just tell them you werenâ€™t alone.â€

â€œWhat if they ask who?â€ Corky inquired from under the covers.

â€œSay itâ€™s none of their business. Theyâ€™ll spend days mumbling amongst themselves trying to figure out who the lucky person was.â€

â€œWhat if someone asks you?â€

â€œAsks me what? If I was the one banging the doc?â€

â€œYeah.â€

â€œCorky, there isnâ€™t a person in this place that will come out and ask me to my face about my sex life.â€

A sigh. â€œI wish I was the Commander,â€ she said childishly.

â€œNo you donâ€™t, the pay sucks.â€

â€œReally?â€ Corky asked curiously. â€œI assumed you were pretty well off in that department.â€

â€œI do alright. I mean I make enough to keep me in tampons and â€˜roid cream.â€

A silent pause and then a chuckle. â€œYou are so disgusting.â€

â€œBut you love me,â€ Malory said knowingly.

An ambiguous grunt. â€œDid you mean what you said last night?â€ she asked quietly.

â€œWhat did I say last night?â€ Malory asked teasingly.

â€œYou know,â€ Corky said softly.

â€œYes, I do know and yes, I do.â€ Malory said starkly. â€œNow are you gonna come out of there? Iâ€™m horny.â€

â€œNo way,â€ Corky said quickly, pulling the blankets around her tightly. â€œEveryone would think I was a pervert.â€

â€œI could gag you,â€ Malory offered.

â€œShut up,â€ Corky said indignantly.

Malory sighed. â€œI should probably go anyway, McNeely will be looking for me any minute.â€

Corky poked her head out from under the blankets. â€œWill I see you tonight?â€ she asked shyly.

â€œIâ€™d like to see you.â€

A small smile.

Malory leaned in to place a soft kiss on her mouth. â€œLast night was unbelievable, thank you.â€

A chuckle. â€œI should be the one thanking you.â€

â€œYou will later,â€ Malory said with a goofy smile and rose to start dressing herself.

Corky smiled and cast worried eyes to the ceiling, trying not to imagine the horrors that were waiting to assail her when she emerged from her quarters.

Malory leaned over again to place a kiss on her cheek. â€œYa gonna be okay?â€

â€œI suppose Iâ€™ll live,â€ Corky said bleakly.

Malory chuckled. â€œIf anyone says anything inappropriate, you come tell me.â€

â€œIâ€™m a big girl,â€ Corky said, smiling at the offer.

â€œYou sure are,â€ Malory said with grin. â€œIâ€™ll see you later,â€ she added and turned to exit the room.

Corky waited for the door to close and pulled the blankets back up over her head.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky snuck into Medical, foregoing her morning coffee for fear of entering the mess and encountering anyone. As a result, she had spent a cranky morning looking up sharply whenever she heard footsteps in the hall and sighing in relief every time they passed. Her thoughts swinging back and forth between contemplating the consequences of her inevitable humiliation and elating in the memory of the time shared the night before with Malory.

She was in the midst of reminiscing one of the latter thoughts when the sound of gunshots brought her out of her chair in both surprise and alarm. Seconds later, the klaxon went off followed shortly thereafter by rapidly pounding footsteps racing down the hall.

She ran into the hall and was almost trampled by Reynolds and DeSoto as they raced by, the Chief yelling into his radio.

â€œSay again?â€

â€œThey need a stretcher andâ€¦â€ the Commanderâ€™s voice faded as the Chief got further away.

Corky waited in agitation, not knowing what was going on and somewhat surprised that nothing had been said over the intercom. At least she knew Malory was okay, relieved to have heard her voice over the Chiefâ€™s radio. She looked up at the sound of another set of approaching footsteps and gazed at the approaching Lieutenant with anticipation.

â€œDr. Rivers, youâ€™ll need to prepare Medical to receive wounded,â€ Ring said grimly.

â€œETA?â€ she asked.

He reached for the radio on his belt. â€œETA on that, Sergeant?â€

â€œThirty to forty minutes, out,â€ Alvarez answered tersely.

â€œFrom excavation I presume,â€ Corky guessed.

â€œYes, Doctor,â€ he said politely.

â€œThank you, Lieutenant,â€ she said and turned to reenter Medical.

The time passed slowly and she was eaten alive with curiosity and worry, hoping that all of her friends were okay and wondering why a weapon was fired. Thirty-five minutes later, her radio called for attention.

â€œETA 5 minutes, Dr. Rivers,â€ Percy said. â€œBallenger incoming with suspected hip fracture, possible internal injuries. Currently stable and conscious.â€

â€œUnderstood,â€ she answered. â€œAnyone else?â€

â€œNothing priority, out.â€

She took a deep breath to prepare for their arrival.

â€”â€”â€”

It was a little over two hours later when she emerged from behind the divider to find her domain filled to capacity with people waiting anxiously for news of their colleague. Percy followed behind her and she caught his arm, standing on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.

â€œExcellent work today,â€ she said sincerely.

He smiled at the compliment and made his way through the crowd toward the exit.

â€œWell?â€ Clovis asked the question everyone wanted the answer to.

â€œHeâ€™s okay,â€ Corky said loud enough for everyone to hear. â€œBut heâ€™s on his back for the duration and will be on the first flight out.â€

The news was met by communal relief and then disappointment.

â€œHow badâ€¦â€

â€œMake a hole,â€ Malory interrupted tersely from the doorway, waiting with a furious look for everyone to get out of the way so she could enter the room. She strode through their parting bodies and leveled a look at Clovis.

â€œMr. Stokes, report to my office and wait there until I arrive,â€ she ordered, her voice cold. â€œNow,â€ she barked when he didnâ€™t immediately rush from the room, startling him and sending him packing.

â€œAirman Daly, report to the hall outside of my office and stand at attention,â€ she added her voice harsh and the man almost ran from the room. â€œThe rest of you return to your quarters or stations immediately,â€ she ordered and waited for the room to empty before she turned to Corky.

â€œHow is he?â€ she asked, her voice noticeably gentler.

â€œFractured pelvis, a good deal of internal bleeding,â€ Corky reported sadly. â€œCouldâ€™ve been far worse if it had taken much longer to get him here. Heâ€™ll be alright, but heâ€™ll need to go out with the first flight.â€

â€œI see,â€ Malory said tonelessly.

Corky had a hundred questions to ask but settled for the most important. â€œAre you okay?â€

Malory smiled with an effort. â€œIâ€™m fine.â€

â€œYou sure?â€

â€œYeah,â€ she said with a nod. â€œIâ€™ll see you later, I have things I need to do.â€

â€œOkay,â€ Corky said reluctantly, watching her hesitate as if she wanted to say something else and then turn to walk from the room.

â€”â€”â€”

Daly stood in the hall anxiously, the Commander had passed fifteen minutes prior to enter her office, not sparing him a glance and slamming the door shut with enough force to make him wince.

His only hope was that the tirade she was directing at Mr. Stokes would tire her out before it was time to deal with him. Her voice occasionally thundered from inside the room and earlier he had heard something smash against the wall with enough force to shatter.

â€œMr. McNeely report to my office, please,â€ her voice suddenly blared over the intercom.

He stood ramrod straight, afraid to let the Sergeant Major see him at anything less than a rigid attention. Shortly, he heard the manâ€™s approaching heavy footsteps and McNeely paused in front of him to clap him on the shoulder.

â€œStand easy, Daly,â€ he said sympathetically. â€œYou might be out here awhile,â€ he added, rapping a short knock on the Commanderâ€™s door and stepping inside.

He sighed and slumped against the wall until the door opened almost half an hour later and Mr. Stokes stepped out. The huge man plodded silently down the hall looking as if he had just been spit out of a combine. He grimaced internally and braced himself; it didnâ€™t look good.

â€œAirman Daly,â€ the Commander barked. â€œYour turn. Get in here.â€

He stepped into her office crisply and stood at attention, noting the shards of a broken coffee cup in the corner. â€œCommander,â€ he said respectfully, not meeting her eyes as she sat glowering at him from behind her desk.

â€œRest easy, Airman,â€ she said in a friendly tone. â€œTake a seat,â€ she said gesturing to the chair next to the silent Sergeant Major.

He blinked confusedly but did as he was told.

â€œIâ€™m glad I spoke to Mr. Stokes first or I wouldâ€™ve had a lot of egg on my face,â€ she said mildly. â€œSince it was my original intention to have your ass removed for discharging your weapon for no apparent reason. However, Iâ€™ve been informed that you probably saved Ballengerâ€™s life. Tell me, were you aware that Mr. Stokes allowed Ballenger to unclasp his safety rope?â€

â€œNo, Commander.â€

â€œThatâ€™s what I hoped youâ€™d say,â€ she said in satisfaction, rising from her chair. â€œOn your feet, Airman,â€ she added authoritatively, waiting for him to rise. â€œIn recognition for your quick thinking and action in the performance of your duty, Iâ€™m pleased to award you the JSAM. Iâ€™ll make it official as soon as the new season permits. Do you have any objections?â€

He smiled. â€œNo, Maâ€¦â€ he started, â€œâ€¦I mean no, Commander,â€ he corrected quickly.

â€œGood, now go grab something to eat,â€ she said with a grin. â€œDismissed, please shut the door on the way out.â€

He saluted crisply before turning on his heel and marching out the door, immeasurably relieved and terribly proud of himself.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky stripped out of her scrubs and summoned Coy to watch over her patient for the night so she could make a beeline to the mess to collect the gossip. As soon as she entered, she was beckoned over by Dr. Lenard and company so she collected a tray and hurried over to join them.

â€œSo whatâ€™s the story?â€ she asked as she seated herself.

â€œWe hit another pocket in excavation,â€ Watkins said. â€œNot as bad as the first but Ballenger was right on top of it without a safety rope.â€

â€œOh my,â€ Corky said. â€œI guess thatâ€™s why the Commander was so pissed.â€

â€œYeah,â€ he agreed. â€œShe confined Clovis to quarters.â€

â€œWhy Clovis?â€

â€œHe gave Dr. Ballenger permission to disconnect his rope, it was giving him problems,â€ Lenard explained.

â€œSo what happened?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œThe pocket was situated right above the section we were working to uncover. He fell about twenty feet and landed on an exposed section of the spacecraft. We got down to him as soon as we could but there was a large sheet of ice pinning him down. We couldnâ€™t lift it so Daly used his rifle to break it in half and we were able to get him out of there,â€ Watkins reported. â€œSo how is Dr. Ballenger?â€

Corky went through the medical laundry list. â€œâ€¦ weâ€™ll have to watch him for the next few days, but Iâ€™m confident heâ€™ll fully recover.â€

â€œDamn,â€ Lenard said sympathetically. â€œItâ€™ll kill him not be involved in this.â€

â€œAt least he has his life,â€ Corky pointed out.

â€œVery true.â€

â€œHmmm,â€ Corky grunted. â€œSo you found a big piece of the flying saucer?â€

â€œYes,â€ Watkins said happily but then scowled. â€œNo telling when weâ€™ll be allowed back down there though.â€

â€œWhy?â€ Corky asked.

â€œWhen Lovecraft found out Dr. Ballenger disconnected his safety rope, she threw a fit,â€ Lenard said.

â€œA fit?â€

â€œOh yeah,â€ Watkins said. â€œThrew her hat on the ground and kicked it. Then told us all weâ€™d be lucky if she allowed us to return and if we couldnâ€™t follow simple instructions for our own safety, perhaps the NSF could send another team that could.â€

â€œOuch,â€ Corky said. â€œSo how long is Clovis incarcerated for?â€

â€œHe didnâ€™t say, but he looked like he had been read the riot act and Iâ€™m sure heâ€™s feeling bad over Dr. Ballenger. He told him to take off the rope only long enough to fix it,â€ Lenard said. â€œIt was just freak chance that what happened did when it did.â€

â€œSpeaking of freaky things,â€ Watkins said slyly. â€œDid you hear that screaming last night?â€

Corky immediately tensed and reddened guiltily, flushing darker as the men began to chuckle.

â€œMy goodness, Doctor,â€ Lenard said with a teasing smile. â€œYou shouldnâ€™t save it up like that, itâ€™s unhealthy.â€

â€œYes,â€ Watkins added. â€œFor all of our sakes, please pace yourself in the future. I was jolted out of a dead slumber thinking I should run for my life.â€

Corky ground her teeth and crossed her arms over her chest as they laughed jubilantly over their jokes, her face a solid scarlet. â€œAre you guys finished?â€ she growled irritably.

â€œOh, come on, Corky,â€ Watkins chuckled. â€œYou should take our advice, Grey here does it twice a day, isnâ€™t that right?â€

â€œCertainly,â€ Grey admitted casually. â€œKeeps me on an even keel and I donâ€™t impose on my colleagues by carrying on loud enough to wake the dead.â€

Corky was assaulted by another round of teasing laughter but she set her jaw and held her ground, clamping down on the impulse to flee from the room. â€œI shall take your suggestions under advisement. Obviously, Iâ€™m not as skilled at it as the rest of you.â€

Her comment delighted the men and they laughed rowdily. Grudgingly, she found their antics to be infectious and began to laugh a little herself.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory remained at her desk until well after suppertime, attempting to fight off the straggling remains of anger that still stubbornly lingered. Since taking command, there had been several injuries to a staff that had endured exactly none prior to her arrival and she was feeling responsible. Firmly entrenched in her funk, it took her a moment to realize that Corky was waiting hesitantly in the doorway.

â€œHiya,â€ she said gently.

â€œHi.â€

â€œCan I come in?â€

â€œOf course,â€ Malory said with a frown. â€œYou can come see me whenever you want.â€

Corky entered and shut the door behind her. â€œYou didnâ€™t come to dinner.â€

â€œI wasnâ€™t hungry.â€

â€œSomeone looks like theyâ€™re sulking,â€ Corky said teasingly, getting a small smile for her efforts.

â€œMaybe.â€

Corky walked around and scooted Maloryâ€™s chair back so she could plop down on the desk in front of her. â€œI visited Clovis in his jail cell. He said you were so mad at him earlier he was afraid you were gonna order him shot,â€ Corky said amusedly.

â€œI considered it,â€ Malory said seriously.

Corky chuckled and hooked her feet through the arms of the Commanderâ€™s chair, slowly pulling her forward. â€œExpecting any company?â€ she asked lightly.

â€œNope.â€

â€œHow fortunate,â€ Corky said agreeably, leaning forward to kiss her tenderly.

â€œWell, Doctor,â€ Malory said pleasantly when she withdrew. â€œWhatever brought that on?â€

â€œI just wanted to,â€ Corky said casually.

An evil smile.

Corkyâ€™s brow wrinkled. â€œWhy are you grinning like that?â€

â€œBecause youâ€™re mine now,â€ she said wickedly.

â€œIs that so?â€ Corky asked haughtily.

â€œUh huh,â€ she purred. â€œYouâ€™re powerless to resist me.â€

â€œDoes this mean youâ€™re mine too?â€

â€œIâ€™ve always been yours, it just took me a while to find you.â€

Corky absorbed the words thoughtfully. â€œThat was a sweet thing to say,â€ she said finally.

â€œItâ€™s true,â€ Malory insisted softly. â€œIâ€™ve waited my whole life for you.â€

Corky didnâ€™t know what to say in the face of such freely offered devotion, it touched her to the point of being unable to form words.

Malory read the emotions on her face. â€œI know,â€ she said with a smile.

â€œYâ€¦you know what?â€ Corky managed.

â€œYou love me too, you just canâ€™t bring yourself to admit it,â€ Malory said smugly. â€œBut youâ€™ll come around.â€

Corky smiled. â€œ I want you to come around.â€

Crimson brows knitted. â€œWhat?â€

For an answer, the doctor pulled her feet from Maloryâ€™s chair and leaned forward to turn the Commanderâ€™s chair around, wrapping her arms around her from behind and placing a kiss on her neck.

Malory leaned into the contact huskily. â€œNow I see what you meant,â€ she whispered contentedly.

â€œSo, if youâ€™re mine, can I do anything I want with you?â€ Corky murmured sexily in her ear.

â€œAnything,â€ Malory confirmed.

â€œIâ€™d like to see if I could get you to be as loud as I was last night,â€ Corky whispered, chewing on an ear playfully.

â€œI dunno about that, Iâ€™m pretty incredible,â€ Malory said conceitedly.

Corky chuckled, dropping her hands to softly knead the Commanderâ€™s breasts, pleased when she arched her back and purred at the contact. â€œI wonâ€™t deny that youâ€™re very skilled,â€ she said teasingly.

â€œGimme a break,â€ Malory scoffed. â€œI was so good I almost screamed out my own name.â€

Corky laughed, momentarily pausing in the application of her attentions. â€œYou kill me,â€ she chuckled, leaning further over the Commanderâ€™s shoulders to unclasp her belt, letting the gun and radio fall to the floor through the back of the chair and moving on to the buttons of her fatigues.

Maloryâ€™s eyes dropped to the fingers at her waist, watching desirously as they lightly completed their task and a gentle hand snuck in under the elastic of her panties. She hooked her knees over the arms of her chair in anticipation, shivering with the sensation of the long awaited contact and slowly exhaling the deep breath of a softly contented moan.

â€œYouâ€™re very wet,â€ Corky whispered into her ear and curiously withdrew her hand to verify.

Malory watched the hand emerge excitedly, feeling the doctorâ€™s interested gaze over her shoulder as she examined her glistening fingers.

â€œVery wet,â€ Corky confirmed, flushing powerfully in arousal when her hand was seized and Malory erotically sucked on her fingers, her knees wobbling weakly by the time she was finished.

â€œGod, Malory,â€ she stammered.

â€œTouch me again,â€ Malory said hungrily.

Corky chewed on her neck passionately. â€œWhy doesnâ€™t the Commander rate a larger bed?â€

Malory blew out a frustrated breath, not in the mood to have a conversation.

â€œI mean itâ€™s so hard to fit two on a cot comfortably,â€ Corky said seductively, brushing her hands over Maloryâ€™s breasts, smiling at the whimper she emitted at the touch.

â€œDonâ€™t tease me,â€ Malory pleaded hoarsely. â€œPlease touch me again.â€

â€œI know a way we can both fit on a cot,â€ Corky whispered, teasing nipples so hard they stood out proudly through the fabric of Maloryâ€™s shirt.

â€œIâ€™ll do anything you want, Corky,â€ Malory said submissively, biting her lip at the stir created by the doctorâ€™s caresses.

â€œWould you like to be on the top or bottom?â€ Corky asked, pinching the nipples between her fingers painfully and gleefully soaking up the stifled weep of pleasure.

â€œHuh?â€ Malory rasped.

â€œI want to be on bottom, wanna know why?â€ Corky asked wantonly.

â€œTell me,â€ she squeaked.

â€œBecause I want all of you,â€ Corky said slowly.

Malory flew to her feet and shoved the chair out of the way, engulfing Corky within her arms and single-mindedly capturing the doctorâ€™s lips with her own.

Corky wrapped her legs tightly around Maloryâ€™s waist as she was lifted bodily off the desk, returning the kiss with equal fervor while the Commander bounced them off the furniture and walls haphazardly in the haste to enter her quarters.

05/07/02 - 0745 hours

The first thing Corky noticed upon rising was Maloryâ€™s ass, which was inevitable since her cheek was resting on it. They were spread out on the floor, their bodies forming a large â€˜Tâ€™ in a mass of scattered blankets and an overturned cot. Her gaze traveled down the length of a shapely pair of legs to note that one foot was still wearing a sock. She smiled at the sight and rolled over onto her back for a long, satisfying stretch.

Her companion was apparently still dead to the world as her soft snoring indicated and Corky rolled back over to place a kiss on her new pillow, happily reliving the memories of the previous evening. Her new lover was relentless in her need to please and be pleased, wonderfully uninhibited, frighteningly passionate, surprisingly submissive, and energetically attentive. Abruptly, her thoughts turned dark and the sated smile she had been wearing slowly transformed into a scowl. Had Malory shared herself in the way she had last night with her previous lover? The idea raised her hackles in jealousy and she rolled over to glare at the sleeping mop of red hair, deciding to ask her about it when she woke.

Another thing that bothered her was Maloryâ€™s easy confession of love. She seemed so convinced and cavalier about it that she felt guilty about not being able to say it back. The Commander began to stir so she put the thought away for later consideration and turned her attention upon her waking companion.

â€œMalory,â€ she said softly.

â€œHmmm?â€ she purred contentedly

â€œYou gonna get up?â€

â€œNo.â€

Corky chuckled and craned her head around to bite her pillow.

â€œHey!â€ Malory yelped.

â€œYou didnâ€™t like?â€ Corky asked coyly.

â€œIt just tickled,â€ Malory rumbled.

A smile. â€œCan I ask you a question?â€

â€œSure.â€

â€œHow long were you with your lover?â€

â€œWhich one?â€

Corkyâ€™s brows knitted angrily. â€œWhat do you mean which one?â€ she asked peevishly.

Malory chuckled. â€œYouâ€™re so easy.â€

She rolled her eyes. â€œI guess I set myself up for that,â€ she said with a sigh. â€œAre you gonna answer my question?â€

â€œI dunno,â€ Malory said quietly. â€œI wouldnâ€™t consider a few hours of teenage fumbling in the backseat of a car very long.â€

â€œIs that it?â€ Corky asked incredulously.

â€œYeah, until I was with you.â€

â€œButâ€¦never mind.â€

â€œBut what?â€

Corky sighed. â€œYou seem so experienced,â€ she said reluctantly.

â€œI finally found the person I was meant to be with,â€ Malory said softly. â€œI love her and I love being with her. I waited a long time to experience that.â€

â€œMalory,â€ Corky sniffled, touched.

â€œDonâ€™t get all choked up on me or Iâ€™ll have to fart to lighten the mood.â€

An involuntary snort of laughter. â€œHow romantic,â€ she snickered.

â€œYa think?â€ Malory said brightly, lifting a hand off the floor and waving it in Corkyâ€™s face. â€œHere, pull my finger.â€

Corky slapped the hand away with a chuckle. â€œDonâ€™t be so gross,â€ she chided.

Malory dropped the hand back to the floor and shrugged.

Corky raised herself to a seated position and pulled the covers off the Commander playfully. She frowned in disappointment when Malory didnâ€™t react in the slightest and slapped her pillow, which only resulted in an arousing raising of her hips.

â€œOh,â€ Malory purred. â€œDo that again.â€

Corky giggled. â€œStop, wonâ€™t someone be looking for you this morning?â€

â€œNope, McNeely has a crew in excavation today with a few of your nerdy friends.â€

â€œWhat are they doing?â€

â€œDrilling and taking sonar readings to assure me that weâ€™ll not encounter any more pockets and clearing away the cave in from yesterday,â€ she explained. â€œIâ€™ll be glad to see the summer,â€ she added wistfully.

â€œWhy?â€ Corky asked apprehensively. â€œYouâ€™re not going anywhere are you?â€

â€œNo,â€ she said. â€œBut theyâ€™ll be sending a lot more people and installing a long overdue elevator in that stupid pit.â€

â€œItâ€™s not stupid,â€ Corky defended. â€œThink about the advances we could make in technology from a find like this. What we could learn.â€

â€œDid it ever occur to you that maybe we werenâ€™t meant to find this thing?â€

â€œNo,â€ Corky said thoughtfully. â€œWhy would you think that?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œI find it odd that back in the day when the highest form of life on this planet was probably a lonely protein, those aliens chose the most remote and uninhabitable region on the globe to crash into. What if they did so intentionally? What if they were carrying something that they didnâ€™t want found?â€

Corky hummed thoughtfully for a long moment. â€œI never considered that but I should point out that there are several planets in our system they could have chosen that offered them a better a chance of never being discovered. I mean, Earth is the only planet in the system that supports life.â€

â€œWhat kind of life are you talking about? According to what you guys tell me they wouldâ€™ve found our atmosphere deadly and who knows, they might consider a planet like Jupiter paradise. And what if they didnâ€™t have the time to make a better choice and took the closest and best option?â€

â€œIs that what you think?â€ Corky asked inquisitively.

â€œI donâ€™t know what to think but I will say I couldâ€™ve lived my whole life without seeing that damn creature you guys pulled out of the ice. It gives me the heebie jeebies.â€

Corky giggled. â€œYou mean our fearless leader is actually just a big â€˜fraidy cat?â€

â€œPerhaps,â€ Malory admitted.

â€œHow funny,â€ Corky said teasingly. â€œWait â€˜til the guys hear.â€

Malory chuckled.

â€œSpeaking of the guys, how long do you plan on imprisoning Clovis?â€ Corky asked. â€œHe feels bad enough about it as it is and he only told Dr. Ballenger to take it off long enough to fix it.â€

â€œHe should have clasped Ballenger to his own harness or instructed Daly to anchor another rope,â€ Malory said dryly.

â€œMalory,â€ Corky said softly. â€œClovis isnâ€™t a soldier, he did what he thought was best, thinking it would only take a minute to correct the problem. It was just a freak accident, the odds of something happening when it did were astronomical. You were awfully hard on him and he was already coming down hard on himself.â€

â€œDid he ask you to plead his case?â€

â€œNo, heâ€™s a good man, Malory.â€

She sighed. â€œMcNeely pretty much told me the same thing,â€ she said with a reflective grunt. â€œAlright, Iâ€™ll speak to your pal Clovis later today.â€

Corky smiled in satisfaction and let her eyes roam appreciatively over the form stretched out in front of her. â€œYou know, if I had known how good you looked without your clothes and that dumb hat you wear, I might have warmed up to you sooner,â€ she said conversationally.

â€œPlease, you were hot for me from the start,â€ Malory said knowingly.

â€œI wanted to kill you,â€ Corky said dryly.

â€œFuckinâ€™ kill me,â€ Malory agreed. â€œIn that order.â€

A laugh. â€œGod, youâ€™re vain.â€

â€œNope, I just know the score,â€ she corrected.

â€œUh huh, and how would you know I had anything else on my mind except your painful death?â€

â€œBecause every time you looked at me, angry or not, you had this little twinkle in your eye like someone was ticklinâ€™ your cooter with a feather.â€

â€œI did not,â€ she said in a mixture of indignity and amusement.

Malory rolled over and cocked an elbow to support her head. â€œOh, yes you did. Now, get out from under those blankets and let me look at you.â€

â€œNo.â€

She rose to her hands and knees and advanced seductively, watching in amusement as Corky hastily scooted away only to be trapped against the overturned cot. She lifted the edge of the covers and crawled underneath them, tickling the quaking doctor as she slid up her body, her head emerging from underneath the blankets between Corkyâ€™s breasts where she began a trail with her tongue that ended with a soft kiss.

â€œI love you.â€

Any reply on Corkyâ€™s part was forgotten as the words were followed by a hand that touched her intimately. â€œUhmâ€¦â€ she started but was silenced by another kiss.

â€œTell me later, Iâ€™ll be back in a little while,â€ Malory whispered as she disappeared back under the blankets.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory almost skipped into the mess to grab lunch, having seen Corky off about an hour before and already missing her. The doctor had left her quarters reluctantly to go check in on her patient and she herself had gone to see Clovis and let the man off the hook.

She had just sat down with her long overdue cup of coffee and was eyeballing her burger and fries hungrily when her radio squawked for attention. She tried not to sigh.

â€œCommander?â€

â€œThis had better be good,â€ she warned irritably.

â€œThe interior of the section unearthed yesterday is accessible, Commander,â€ McNeely reported. â€œTheyâ€™re requesting more personnel to investigate.â€

Malory chewed on her lip. â€œAnd your feelings on the subject?â€

â€œFrom what we gather, Itâ€™s about as safe down here as we can make it, seems to be pretty solid.â€

â€œLet â€˜em have at it,â€ she decided.

â€œUnderstood, McNeely out.â€

She tossed her radio on the table and dove into her food with abandon.

â€”â€”â€”

An hour later, Malory strode into the lounge and shook her head upon spotting Lieutenant Ring reclining in front of the television. Even though the man was second in rank only to her, she sort of envied him. His one and only job was to be a pilot, leaving him pretty much without a place in the chain of command. He had no responsibilities other than to fly the helicopter and since air travel during the Antarctic winter was a suicidal proposition, he pretty much had nothing but time on his hands.

â€œLieutenant,â€ she said. â€œWanna arm wrestle for control of the television?â€

He craned his neck around and gave her a smile. â€œIf I won would I still retain control of the TV?â€

â€œNope, rank hath its privileges.â€

He chuckled and picked himself up off the couch. â€œThen I concede to your superior arm wrestling skills.â€

â€œAhh, a wise officer,â€ she said sagely. â€œYouâ€™ll have a long and prosperous career.â€

â€œIndeed,â€ he agreed genially and handed her the remote as he passed. â€œYour command console, skipper.â€

â€œWhy, thank you,â€ she chuckled.

She waited for him to leave and ambled over to peruse the available selections, spending a moment in consideration prior to deciding on an oldie but goodie. She popped it into the machine happily and made herself comfortable on the couch, managing to stay awake just long enough to get through the opening titles.

â€”â€”â€”

Voices slowly pulled her from her slumber and she was dimly aware of being caked with sweat, a nagging fear surrounding her like a malignant mist. She struggled for consciousness, feeling it was just within her grasp as noises were already penetrating the fog, a man and woman were talking only a few feet away.

â€œBut you need no doors to find God. If you believeâ€¦â€ the woman said.

â€œBelieve?! If you believe you are gullible. Can you look around this world and believe in the goodness of a god who rules it? Famine, Pestilence, War, Disease, and Death! They rule this world.â€

â€œThere is also love and life and hope.â€

â€œVery little hope I assure you. No. If a god of love and life ever did exist... he is long since dead. Someone... something rules in his place.â€

â€œCommander Lovecraft,â€ McNeely said urgently.

Malory awoke with a start, springing from the couch in a near panic, gasping for air and tingling from the gooseflesh that covered every inch of her body.

â€œCommander,â€ McNeely said, worry evident in his voice.

She shook her head violently to clear the cobwebs, unnerved by a clinging sense of dread. She had been dreaming, about what she couldnâ€™t remember nor did she especially want to. Her hands were trembling and she realized she was scared; shitless scared. Her eyes scanned the room frantically, searching for the spectre that she felt sure was stalking her.

â€œCommander,â€ McNeely called again. â€œIf you donâ€™t respond in the next fifteen seconds, Iâ€™m tripping the general alarm.â€

The words had a soothing effect on her near-hysteria and her eyes focused in on the television. That fucking eerie Vincent Price! Reality slowly began taking hold and she shook her head again.

â€œLast chance, Commander,â€ McNeely barked, his voice serious.

She reached for her radio. â€œGo ahead,â€ she said shakily.

â€œAre you alright?â€ McNeely asked, his concern evident. â€œIâ€™ve been calling you for the last ten minutes.â€

â€œIâ€¦Iâ€™m sorry, Sergeant, I must have fallen asleep.â€

â€œYou need some time?â€

â€œNo, Iâ€™m fine, thank you,â€ she said slowly. â€œWhatâ€™s up?â€

â€œTheyâ€™ve found something down here they want to bring up.â€

A feeling of foreboding washed over her, making her shudder. She glanced again at the television and grabbed the remote, powering it off irritably.

â€œCommander?â€

â€œWhat is it?â€

â€œI have no clue, but its fuckinâ€™ with my backbone.â€

She closed her eyes. â€œGimme the scoop.â€

â€œIt appears to be a container of some sort, reminds me of that little puzzle box from the â€˜Hellraiserâ€˜ movies but about the size of a washing machine. Know what Iâ€™m talking about?â€

â€œYeah, do we know whatâ€™s in it?â€

â€œItâ€™s a transparent box, holding some sort of large crystal suspended in the middle. Appears to be harmless but I gotta point out we found an identical container right next to it that is apparently empty.â€

â€œDo you believe it presents a danger?â€

â€œI would lean toward no, but like you, this whole thing bugs me a little.â€

â€œAlright, let them bring it up but I want it stored securely in the lab and summon me when they get it stowed. I want to give it a look.â€

â€œUnderstood.â€

â€œLovecraft, out.â€

The radio took its place on her belt and she sat down hard on the sofa, running her hands through sweat dampened hair. She couldnâ€™t remember experiencing such an intense fear at any other time in her life and it was still wreaking havoc on her composure. Her mind tried to rationalize it as having fallen asleep during a creepy movie, but a sense of sinister premonition insisted it was something else entirely. With a shaky, calming breath, she rose slowly and began the journey to the sanctuary of her office, wanting to be in comfortable surroundings while she waited to see what the hole in the ice had revealed.

â€”â€”â€”

The call came sooner than expected and Malory found herself in the lab, staring intently at a container that defied the laws of physics. McNeely had sized the object accurately for it was indeed about the size of a washing machine yet a perfect cube and almost completely transparent. A material, both gothic and technological in appearance, lined the edges of the container to present a visible outline but it was the item that resided inside that had Maloryâ€™s total attention.

Floating magically in the exact center of the box was a long and narrow octahedron that glowed a distinctive Caribbean blue, the intensity of which would probably illuminate the room if someone turned off the overhead lights. Closer inspection revealed the crystal to be a second container for a substance residing within, which was the source of its distinct color. A substance that flawed the outward perfection of the crystal with a multitude of grooves that resembled brain matter.

â€œI was informed there was an identical container to this one that was apparently broken,â€ she asked the audience in attendance. â€œWhat exactly was broken, the inside or the outside?â€

â€œThe outside,â€ Lenard replied. â€œThough not exactly broken, is was just missing the top panel.â€

â€œIs it glass?â€

â€œNo, an unbreakable transparent epoxy from what we can gather at this time,â€ Lenard answered again.

â€œIs the crystal itself holding some sort of material? It appears that way to me.â€

â€œThat is our impression as well.â€

â€œCould it be an explosive of some sort?â€

â€œUnknown, but doubtful.â€

â€œCan any of you tell me anything for certain?â€

â€œThe technological is not really our area of expertise, Commander,â€ Lenard said dryly. â€œThe majority of people here at the moment are archeologists and geologists. Excavation was not expected to uncover anything like this in nature until the end of the winter. The team assigned to research and technological development wonâ€™t be arriving until summer.â€

Malory grunted thoughtfully. â€œDid we at least think to bring the empty container up as well? I want to look at it.â€

â€œTheyâ€™re working on it as we speak, Commander,â€ McNeely answered.

She spared an approving nod. â€œUnderstandably, no one can tell me anything concrete, so Iâ€™d like to hear guesses. Do we think itâ€™s a power source of some kind? It appears to me that the box holds the crystal in a sort of stasis, anyone concur?â€

â€œWe tend to believe its not a power source, Commander,â€ Lenard said, obviously the spokesman for the group. â€œThe spacecraft we believe was of a â€˜Yâ€™ shape construction and we speculate that the center and most forward section was responsible for propulsion. In our estimation, any power source would most likely be found in that area. We assume this container to be nothing more than cargo.â€

â€œThat would be the section as of yet uncovered and buried deepest within the ice, correct?â€

â€œYes.â€

â€œWhy do we assume that the forward section would be responsible for propulsion?â€

â€œItâ€™s all theory at this time, of course,â€ Lenard said. â€œBut the deepest section is buried a considerable distance from the others, suggesting an impact with an irresistible force behind it. The craft had to be traveling at an unimaginable speed to bury itself so deeply within the ice.â€

â€œForgive me for being a layman, gentlemen,â€ Malory said. â€œBut if it was traveling at a speed anywhere near what you suggest, how did it survive so intact? I would think it would pretty much disintegrate on impact.â€

â€œThe material that the craft is constructed from is impossibly resilient. Weâ€™ve been unable to damage it in the slightest, barring of course, exposing it to a nuclear blast.â€

â€œAlright, what do you make of this thing and do you believe it dangerous?â€

â€œWeâ€™re still very much differing in opinions at this time,â€ Lenard said. â€œBut we tend to think that the container is a kind of automobile airbag for the crystal inside.â€

â€œHmmm,â€ she grunted. â€œSo you think the interior of the cube provides an impact cushion for the cargo?â€

â€œExactly, Commander,â€ Lenard agreed. â€œHow, we donâ€™t know or can even guess at this time.â€

â€œVery well,â€ Malory said standing to her full height. â€œIf the crystal inside this box was important enough to our alien friends that they felt the need to pack it in a safety box while gallivanting around in an almost invincible starship, we will follow their example. You have until tomorrow at noon to provide me with additional information. At that time, if opinion hasnâ€™t altered radically, and you can manage to convince me otherwise, the container will be isolated and secured from further study until it can be examined or transported to the appropriate authorities for investigation.â€

â€œBut, Commanderâ€¦â€ Lenard started.

Malory held up a hand. â€œYou just stated that youâ€™re not the people qualified to investigate a discovery of this nature,â€ she interrupted. â€œHonestly, I have a hard time picturing anyone that is, but Iâ€™ll not have a potentially dangerous artifact being subjected to casual experimentation. You have until noon tomorrow to study it, then it will be shelved until the right people either take it away or offer me irrefutable proof that it presents no danger.â€

She paused and waited for her words to sink in. â€œMr. McNeely, you will assign a guard to watch over the find until it is stowed.â€

â€œAye, skipper,â€ he said immediately.

â€œThere will be no attempts to breach the interior of this box,â€ she continued. â€œThe guard will have instructions to intervene immediately if my orders are disobeyed in the slightest. Have I made myself clear?â€

She met every pair of eyes in the room to convey her resolve and when satisfied, she turned to the Sergeant Major. â€œJoin me outside, Mr. McNeely,â€ she ordered and strode from the room.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky entered the mess that evening and smiled reflexively upon spotting Malory, a grin that quietly evaporated as she noted the Commander was conferring quietly with her non-commissioned officers and Lieutenant Ring.

Slightly disappointed that she couldnâ€™t join her, she got her meal and chose a seat next to Clovis, who was so deeply involved in a discussion with his gathered colleagues that he didnâ€™t notice her.

Feeling somewhat left out, she went about eating her dinner and let the surrounding whispers fly over her unheard as she was quickly immersed in her own thoughts. In fact, she had spent the better part of the day engrossed in the contemplation of her relationship with the infamous Malory Lovecraft. Where once the mere mention of the womanâ€™s name was a death by torture offense, it was currently cause for an internal celebration. Now that she had fully indulged in her attraction to the Commander, she couldnâ€™t deny the emotions the woman instilled within her. She still wasnâ€™t ready to openly admit the depth of her feelings, but internally, she could no longer deny the power of her sentiments.

â€œHey, Corky,â€ Clovis said pleasantly.

â€œHmmm?â€ she said distractedly, emerging from her thoughts.

Clovis chuckled knowingly. â€œAre you feeling alright, Doctor?â€ he asked mischievously. â€œYou havenâ€™t been yourself lately.â€

Quiet chuckles rumbled from a few of the men and she began to blush in anticipation of another round of teasing. Thankfully, Clovis took pity on her before it got started.

â€œGive her a break, fellas,â€ he said jovially. â€œItâ€™s been an eventful winter.â€

She smiled gratefully at her friend, her blush painfully obvious.

â€œI was just telling my colleagues here,â€ Clovis gestured to the surrounding men. â€œThat as much as we regret the Commanderâ€™s decision it would be extremely foolish not to honor it.â€

Corky was suddenly curious. â€œWhat decision was that?â€

â€œTo isolate our discovery from study until the arrival of the R and D team.â€

â€œWhat discovery?â€

â€œWhere have you been today?â€ Clovis asked inquiringly. â€œItâ€™s all anyone has been talking about.â€

â€œIn Medical, of course.â€

â€œIâ€™m surprised you donâ€™t know,â€ Clovis said. â€œWe were able to enter the section of spacecraft uncovered by the cave in the other day. We found a container with some sort of crystal floating inside.â€

â€œReally?â€ Corky asked intrigued. â€œWhat is it?â€

â€œWe donâ€™t know,â€ Clovis replied. â€œWe hadnâ€™t had it in the lab for half an hour when Lovecraft informed us that we only had until lunch tomorrow to study it before it went into storage.â€

â€œWhy did she do that?â€

â€œBecause we donâ€™t know what it is or what itâ€™s capable of and admittedly, there is no one present really qualified to make a determination on its safety.â€

â€œThat seems practical, whatâ€™s the problem?â€

â€œA few among us feel that weâ€™re here for investigation and study and to deny us that, defeats the purpose of our mission here.â€

â€œWell, thatâ€™s a reasonable argument,â€ Corky admitted.

â€œThatâ€™s what I was telling my friends here,â€ Clovis said. â€œWe have two opposing viewpoints with merit but the fact is, Lovecraft is in charge and she made an informed decision. And personally, after experiencing her ire firsthand, I can see why she was chosen to head our operation here.â€

â€œWhy do you say that, Clovis?â€ she asked, interested in his opinion.

â€œBecause sheâ€™s no paper tiger,â€ he replied. â€œSome of the guys think that just because sheâ€™s virtually nonexistent in the day to day stuff around here that they can convince her to reverse her decision on todayâ€™s find. Iâ€™ve been attempting to persuade them from trying.â€

â€œWhat would it hurt to try?â€ Corky asked.

â€œBecause sheâ€™s made a decision and itâ€™s final. Questioning that would only insure that the time we do have for study would be taken away immediately.â€

â€œI guess I donâ€™t understand,â€ she admitted.

â€œWhat weâ€™re doing here involves a new frontier, Corky,â€ Clovis said. â€œDiscovering technology a thousand years ahead of us implemented thousands of years before us is without precedent. We really have no idea how advanced these beings were and toying with that constitutes an unknown. Who knows how dangerous that could be? I agree with her decision.â€

Corky grunted thoughtfully, recalling Maloryâ€™s thoughts on the subject from earlier.

â€œSo how is Dr. Ballenger?â€ Dr. Tanaka asked, changing the subject.

Corky was in the middle of her answer when she saw Malory stand from her table to exit the room and she hurried through her response, anxious to be in the Commanderâ€™s company.

â€”â€”â€”

When Corky entered Maloryâ€™s quarters it was just in time to see her fasten the last button on a Red Sox baseball jersey that hung halfway down her thighs.

â€œHey,â€ she said brightly.

â€œHey yourself,â€ Malory said with a happy smile.

â€œYou turning in early?â€

â€œYeah, but I was hoping youâ€™d join me.â€

â€œOf course,â€ she said thoughtfully. â€œYou look kinda tired, is something wrong?â€

â€œJust a strange day,â€ she admitted. â€œHas me feeling a little weird.â€

â€œWant me to make you feel better?â€ she asked demurely.

â€œIs that a proposition?â€

â€œMaybe,â€ she said teasingly. â€œCan I borrow a sleep shirt?â€

â€œSure,â€ Malory replied, bending to pull one from her footlocker and tossing it over.

â€œThanks,â€ Corky said cheerfully, immediately starting to strip out of her clothes and Malory took a seat on the end of her cot to watch the proceedings attentively.

Corky noted the hungry look being cast upon her body and relished the attention. She removed her bra teasingly and let it drop slowly to the ground, smiling happily as pupils dilated starkly against a pale blue background. She had never been looked at with such an open and needy desire and it made her feel both attractive and special.

â€œYouâ€™re very beautiful,â€ Malory whispered.

Corky pulled the gray Navy T-shirt over her head and grinned. â€œNah, Iâ€™m just cute, youâ€™re the gorgeous one.â€

â€œDonâ€™t underestimate yourself,â€ Malory said quietly. â€œYouâ€™re the most beautiful thing in the world to me.â€

Corky smiled and quickly came forward to gift her with a gentle kiss. â€œYouâ€™re sweeter than you let on, Malory,â€ she said tenderly, taking a seat on the other end of the cot and resting her back against the wall. â€œSo tell me whatâ€™s got you feeling weird,â€ she added, patting her lap invitingly.

Malory didnâ€™t need to be asked twice and immediately lay down to snuggle up next to her. â€œThis whole thing I guess,â€ she said softly. â€œSometimes I think weâ€™re messing with something that maybe we shouldnâ€™t.â€

Corky softly stroked the hair in her lap. â€œIf we werenâ€™t meant to find it, we never would have,â€ she said fatalistically.

â€œI wish I could subscribe to that.â€

â€œIf you had objections, why did you agree to come here?â€ Corky asked curiously.

â€œIt was a last minute posting,â€ Malory said. â€œI really had no idea what is was you guys were digging up. I was dispatched overnight and never bothered reading completely though the textbook they gave me in lieu of an in depth briefing. Not that it wouldâ€™ve mattered, I had already committed myself.â€

â€œAre you sorry you came here?â€ Corky asked suddenly frightened of the answer.

â€œNot at all,â€ Malory said quickly. â€œI would have missed out on finding the rest of my life.â€

Corky sighed. â€œI wouldâ€™ve never figured you for such a romantic,â€ she said sweetly.

Malory just shrugged and nestled deeper into her lap.

â€œAre you bothered by that thing they discovered today?â€

â€œA little. Itâ€™s kinda freaky and thereâ€™s no tellinâ€™ what the damn thing actually is.â€

â€œHmmm,â€ Corky hummed. â€œSo whatâ€™s the rest?â€

â€œThe rest of what?â€

â€œYou said it only bothered you a little, what else is on your mind?â€

Malory grunted reluctantly.

â€œCome on, give it up,â€ Corky prodded.

â€œItâ€™s dumb,â€ Malory said dismissively.

â€œWhatâ€™s dumb?â€

â€œI went to watch a movie this afternoon and fell asleep,â€ Malory mumbled. â€œI had some sort of awful nightmare I canâ€™t remember and I woke up completely terrified. Itâ€™s been bugging me all day.â€

â€œAhh,â€ Corky soothed. â€œWere you watching a scary movie?â€

â€œNot really scary, just kinda creepy,â€ Malory said. â€œAn old Vincent Price flick.â€

â€œThere ya go,â€ Corky pronounced confidently. â€œVincent Price always spooks me.â€

â€œYeah, well thatâ€™s what I keep telling myself,â€ Malory said bringing up an inquisitive hand to pull out the front of Corkyâ€™s underwear and curiously peeking inside.

Corky swatted her hand away. â€œStop that,â€ she chided playfully.

Malory sighed in disappointment. â€œYes, Mistress.â€

â€œMistress?â€ Corky said amusedly. â€œWhatâ€™s that supposed to mean?â€

â€œWhy nothing, my little dominatrix,â€ she teased. â€œBy the way, last night was the best night of my life,â€ she added, placing a kiss on the thigh she was resting her cheek on.

â€œIt was the best night of my life too,â€ Corky whispered. â€œI sort of lost control, Iâ€™m sorry. I just wanted you really bad.â€

â€œThatâ€™s nothing to be sorry for,â€ Malory said seriously. â€œI enjoy every second of being with you.â€

â€œThen whatâ€™s with the dominatrix comment?â€ Corky asked huffily.

â€œI was just teasing,â€ Malory said amusedly.

â€œDid I do something you didnâ€™t like?â€ she asked worriedly.

â€œOf course not,â€ Malory soothed. â€œShort of beating me, Iâ€™d probably like anything you wanted to do to me. It excites me when youâ€™re excited and my body is as much yours as it is mine.â€

Corky grunted thoughtfully. â€œThat leaves open a lot of possibilities,â€ she said slyly.

â€œI hope so,â€ Malory hummed lasciviously.

Corky stared fondly at the head in her lap. â€œYou give yourself so completely, Malory,â€ she said quietly. â€œYouâ€™re an unbelievable lover.â€

â€œOnly for you.â€

â€œWhy me?â€

â€œBecause I love you.â€

â€œHow can you say that so convincingly, weâ€™ve only known each other for such a short time?â€ she whispered.

â€œI trust my heart,â€ Malory answered simply.

Corky debated with herself for a moment. â€œThen how is it you say you know I love you too?â€ she asked finally, eagerly interested in the answer.

â€œBecause your heart shows what your mind is trying to reconcile.â€

â€œHuh?â€

â€œYour mind tells you thereâ€™s a thousand reasons not to love me, but its arguing a case its already lost to your heart. Its just being stubborn.â€

Corky dedicated a moment of thought to that. â€œAnd you obtained this mage-like wisdom exactly when in your thirty years?â€ she asked finally.

â€œThe day I fell in love with you.â€

â€œAnd when was this, how did you know?â€ she asked inquisitively.

â€œI suspected it from the start but I knew for certain the day I called you to my office,â€ Malory said, rolling over and beaming a smile.

Corky frowned at the memory. â€œUh huh,â€ she mumbled. â€œWas that before or after you left me in there to converse with your dumbshit doll?â€

Malory snickered. â€œIt was when you smiled at me even though you hated me and suspected I was up to something.â€

A reluctant smile. â€œI remember doing that and actually thinking for a second you were charming,â€ she admitted.

â€œI am charming,â€ Malory said defensively. â€œAnd lovable,â€ she added with a playful smile, looking up at her companion winningly.

Corky chuckled. â€œHow do you walk through doorways with that fat head?â€

â€œI take a deep breath.â€

â€œYouâ€™re something else, Commander,â€ Corky said playfully, leaning over to place a kiss on her forehead.

â€œTell me something I donâ€™t know,â€ Malory responded smugly, suddenly turning in the doctorâ€™s embrace and nipping playfully at her underwear.

â€œStop,â€ Corky exclaimed with a giggle. â€œThat tickles,â€ she added, hastily inserting an obstructing hand between her legs.

Malory grudgingly subsided and threw a quick glance up to meet smiling brown eyes. â€œLet me see,â€ she said seriously.

â€œLet you see what?â€ Corky asked modestly.

â€œDonâ€™t tease, let me see,â€ Malory said gravely.

Corky immediately felt the flush of arousal and glanced down at blue eyes that were steadily transfixed upon their target.

â€œLet me see,â€ Malory repeated impatiently.

The flush quickly became all consuming and Corky let a hand lower to pull aside her panties, revealing herself to avidly watching eyes. Her nipples hardened pleasantly in reaction to Maloryâ€™s audible breath of anticipation and time dragged on excruciatingly as the Commander made no further movement or requests and just continued to study her from close range. She squirmed under the excitement generated by the intense scrutiny for as long as she could, trying not to crumble. Her resolve faded rapidly.

â€œMalory, please,â€ she asked beseechingly.

The request was all it took and she was instantly caressed by a long and agonizingly slow stroke of Maloryâ€™s tongue that resulted in a sharp exhale and a shiver that ran length of her body. Grinding her teeth, she dislodged her lover gently and clasped her legs together in blockade. Breathing deeply of frustration, she turned a look into questioning blue eyes.

â€œI showed you mine, now show me yours,â€ she demanded.

Malory blinked confusedly but flopped over on her back almost immediately to wiggle out of her underwear, tossing them across the room hastily when they passed her ankles. Still on her back, she looked up at the doctor quizzically and received a raised eyebrow in response.

â€œI canâ€™t see you from there, turn around,â€ Corky said quietly, watching eagerly as Malory spun around and immodestly spread her legs over both sides of the cot to display herself, her eyes dark with expectation.

Corky leaned forward seductively to place both hands behind Maloryâ€™s knees, slowly forcing her legs up and back until they rested on the panting Commanderâ€™s chest.

â€œYouâ€™ll need to hold these out of the way until Iâ€™m finished,â€ Corky purred prettily. â€œI want you to watch me do this.â€

Malory readily put her knees behind her elbows, placing her hands under hips to allow herself an even better view of the impatiently awaited event. She bit down on her lip anxiously as Corky hovered and ran investigational fingers over her.

â€œGod, look at you,â€ Corky whispered. â€œYouâ€™re so excited,â€ she added softly and abruptly descended, receiving a hastily muffled squeal at the contact.

Maloryâ€™s head lolled back in pleasure but snapped up almost instantly in perceived denial, shooting a pleading look at Corky that begged her to continue.

â€œYou have to watch. If you donâ€™t, Iâ€™ll stop,â€ Corky explained maddeningly.

Malory nodded urgently in acquiescence, rapt eyes ardently studying the proceedings and grunting in animalistic gratification as lips tenderly covered her. She tried desperately to prolong her release but the pointblank observation of Corkyâ€™s attentions brought it forward irresistibly and when brown eyes glanced up from their task to meet hers lovingly, it was not to be denied.

â€œCorky,â€ she whined and then it was upon her.

Corky smiled in satisfaction at Maloryâ€™s quick and energetic climax, riding the resulting convulsions out merrily and meeting each thrust of her loverâ€™s hips with equal fervor. Waiting until legs dropped in an effort to get away before finally relenting and trapping Maloryâ€™s body beneath her own, falling forward to place kisses on a belly that still shook with the occasional spasm. She waited a moment for Malory to subside and rose to undo the buttons of her jersey, receiving not a whimper of protest as she nursed heavily from the breasts her labor had exposed.

â€œCorâ€¦â€ Malory started.

â€œBend over,â€ Corky interrupted demandingly, abandoning the attention she was lavishing on the chest below and rising to kneel on the floor.

Malory swallowed excitedly and rolled off onto the floor. Corky patted a space on the cot and she moved forward to obediently to rest her elbows on the spot the doctor had indicated. Meekly allowing Corky to position her as she wished and suddenly gasping when a hand seized her hair forcefully to pull her head back and the other stroked her skillfully, probing softly for access.

â€œYes,â€ she rasped throatily, subserviently spreading her legs widely and arching her back in offering.

All of the fine hairs on Corkyâ€™s body bristled with the thrill of Maloryâ€™s gift and she placed a soft kiss on her hip before entering her delicately. Her mouth dropping open with desire as Malory gripped the far end of the cot with both hands and thrust backward onto her two extended fingers powerfully, imbedding them within her and crying out loudly. Malory trembled slightly in aftermath and then renewed her thrusts dynamically, moving wantonly with needy intent. Her aggressiveness was so passionate that Corky enthusiastically moved to meet her, moaning quietly as her own stimulation grew by leaps and bounds.

â€œTake me, Corky.â€

The breathlessly whined words only added fuel to the fire of her own already brightly burning libido and Corky lustfully increased the power and speed of her thrusts, her hand colliding into and against her lover forcefully. Malory responded to every stroke with a hedonistic grunt, her arousal so evident that Corky could feel it trickling down her arm.

Her whole body pulsated with a previously undiscovered yearning that clamored for immediate attention. Unable to refuse, Corky released the grip she had on Maloryâ€™s hair to see to her own urgent demands.

Maloryâ€™s head fell forward at the reprieve and she turned a glassy look over her shoulder, exultantly climaxing as eyes surveyed the scene that greeted her. Her whole body shook with the pleasure of it and she impaled herself on Corky deeply, crying out blissfully in gratification and collapsing to the floor to catch her breath. Letting the sweat of her effort dry slowly, she sighed in contentment as Corky withdrew from her slowly. After a long, calming moment, she rolled over to watch the doctor pleasure herself.

â€œI love you,â€ she said adoringly.

Corky offered no response but a sharp intake of breath that was accompanied by a rapid escalation of movement from the hand within her underwear.

Malory moved forward gracefully, taking her time and watching the activity with fascination. â€œLet me take these off so I can see better,â€ she requested quietly, pulling on the waistband of the doctorâ€™s underwear and smoothly removing them as Corky fell over onto her back.

Malory placed a kiss on the back of an occupied hand. â€œI like to watch,â€ she offered thickly.

Corky responded with a little moan, pulling the hem of her nightshirt up over her breasts and raising her legs to provide a better view.

Quickly captivated, it was only when Corky began to emit a series of rapid whimpers that Malory eased forward to gently replace the frantic finger, sighing happily as legs wrapped themselves around her head in ownership. Her eyes rose to catch Corky experimentally tasting the ends of her fingers and the beast within stirred again.

05/08/02 - 0700 hours

Malory awoke face down on the cot and shot an arm out blindly in annoyance, slapping the harshly screeching alarm across the room to crash into silence. She smiled at the weight still asleep directly on top of her, Corkyâ€™s breath whispering along the skin of her back pleasingly .

â€œShe loves me,â€ she said knowingly.

â€œWeâ€™ll see,â€ Corky mumbled tiredly and Malory chuckled.

â€œYou werenâ€™t supposed to hear that,â€ she said amusedly.

â€œUh huh,â€ Corky said around a lengthy yawn. â€œWhat time did I fall asleep last night?â€

â€œIt was right after you sprayed me and proclaimed me your bitch,â€ Malory said seriously.

â€œI did not,â€ Corky giggled.

â€œSpeaking of which,â€ Malory said uncomfortably. â€œI need to use the little Commanderâ€™s room.â€

Corky chuckled and rolled off to let her rise from the cot, watching in appreciation as she stretched extravagantly upon standing. Her spine popped audibly several times and she grunted in satisfaction.

â€œGeez,â€ Corky laughed. â€œDid that feel good?â€

â€œYep,â€ Malory said cheerfully, striding over immodestly to sit down and relieve herself.

Corky observed in enjoyment. â€œYouâ€™re not the least bit shy, are you?â€

Malory shrugged. â€œIâ€™m here with you, why should I be?â€

â€œI dunno,â€ Corky admitted. â€œI think itâ€™s sort of sexy actually.â€

â€œWatching me go to the bathroom is sexy?â€

Corky snickered and rolled her eyes, flopping over on her back to stare at the ceiling. â€œSo, what song are you named after?â€ she asked over the sound of a flushing toilet.

â€œWhat brought that to mind?â€ Malory asked inquisitively.

â€œDunno, suddenly curious I guess.â€

â€œAn old Bob Dylan tune, â€˜Quinn, the Eskimoâ€™,â€ Malory said mildly as she stood to wash her hands.

â€œNever heard of it,â€ Corky said. â€œAre you part Eskimo?â€

â€œNo,â€ she chuckled. â€œHow many Eskimos have you ever seen with red hair and blue eyes?â€

â€œThen I donâ€™t get it,â€ Corky admitted amusedly, craning her head around to look at her. â€œHow does it go?â€

Malory finished drying her hands and turned to Corky with a smile. â€œCome all without!â€ she sang noisily as she gyrated ineptly and Corky instantly slapped a hand over her mouth. â€œCome all within. Youâ€™ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn!â€

â€œOh, my God! Youâ€™re such a boner.â€ Corky buried her face in the blankets and laughed delightedly.

â€œWhat?â€ Malory said indignantly, scowling.

Dancing brown eyes peeked out at her. â€œWas that the Cabbage Patch?â€ she snickered.

â€œWhat are you talking about?â€ Malory asked confusedly, placing her hands on her hips in annoyance.

â€œNever mind,â€ Corky chuckled. â€œMaybe it was just funny because I never saw anyone do it in the nude or with such a complete lack of rhythm.â€

Malory stomped her foot irritably and Corky hid her face again to indulge in a fresh gale of laughter.

â€œI do too have rhythm,â€ Malory protested childishly.

Corky rolled over and regarded her lover with a teasing smile. â€œWhatever you say, Deputy Fife,â€ she snickered and sat up to launch into a comically exaggerated and manic Don Knotts impersonation. â€œYouâ€™ve got to nip it! Nip it in the bud!â€

Corky fell onto her back guffawing in hilarity and Malory growled huffily before pouncing on top of her.

Corky shrieked with laughter and thrashed about wildly, struggling fruitlessly to get away from the Commanderâ€™s tickling fingers.

â€œMalory stop!â€ she pleaded desperately.

The tormenting fingers gradually came to a halt and Malory cast a narrow-eyed gaze upon her heavily breathing companion, waiting until she let her guard down and then darting forward to capture a nipple between her teeth.

Corky yelped and swatted the top of Maloryâ€™s head. â€œWhy did you do that?â€ she asked confusedly.

â€œDonâ€™t tease me,â€ Malory stated immaturely.

Corky grinned. â€œSomebody can dish it out but canâ€™t take it,â€ she announced playfully.

â€œMaybe,â€ Malory admitted quietly, placing a tender healing kiss on Corkyâ€™s breast.

Corky petted the head on her chest softly. â€œAww,â€ she soothed. â€œDonâ€™t be such a big baby.â€

Malory mumbled incoherently and lay her head on Corkyâ€™s stomach.

â€œIâ€™m so exhausted,â€ Corky said after a moment. â€œAnd my tummy kinda hurts.â€

â€œMaybe itâ€™s something you ate?â€ Malory offered slyly.

â€œYa think?â€ Corky asked with a chuckle.

â€œCould be,â€ Malory speculated. â€œMaybe from now on I should wipe front to back.â€

Corkyâ€™s face slowly scrunched up in disgust. â€œThatâ€™s revolting.â€

Malory chuckled juvenilely.

â€œYou would horrify my mother,â€ Corky predicted sadly. â€œIâ€™ll have to train you before you meet my parents.â€

Malory smiled. â€œYou want me to meet your parents?â€ she asked excitedly.

Corky groaned internally at the unconscious slip but forged ahead bravely. â€œYeah,â€ she said quietly. â€œYeah, I do.â€

Malory squealed girlishly in delight and crushed the doctor in an enthusiastic embrace. â€œTold you.â€

Corky rolled her eyes but played along. â€œTold me what?â€

â€œYou love me,â€ Malory stated triumphantly.

Corky grunted indifferently.

â€œCommander?â€ the radio squawked.

â€œDamn it,â€ Malory said immaturely, rolling over Corky to snatch the radio from the nightstand. â€œGo ahead.â€

â€œYou said you wanted to look at the second container this morning,â€ McNeely said.

â€œYeah, I do. But does it have to be so early?â€

â€œNo,â€ McNeely chuckled. â€œI just assumed sailors rose with the sun like the rest of us grunts.â€

â€œIs the ship sinking?â€

â€œNot that Iâ€™m aware of,â€ McNeely said in obvious amusement.

â€œThen let me take a shit, shower, and shave and Iâ€™ll get with you later.â€

â€œUnderstood,â€ he said around a laugh. â€œMcNeely, out.â€

Corky listened to the conversation with interest, a small scowl etching her features, she opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by a heavy breast that squashed into her face as Malory rolled over her again to put the radio back.

â€œGod, these cots suck,â€ she said irritably. â€œTheyâ€™re too small.â€

â€œTell you what,â€ Malory said charitably. â€œIf youâ€™re a good girl, Iâ€™ll requisition a larger one for summer.â€

â€œReally?â€ Corky asked. â€œCan you do that?â€

â€œSure,â€ she said casually, noting the slight scowl being directed at her. â€œWhatâ€™s with the look?â€

â€œIt bothers me a little that you get along with everyone so easily,â€ she admitted. â€œYou can be one of the guys and one of the girls. How do you do that?â€

Malory grunted thoughtfully. â€œI never really thought about it,â€ she said honestly. â€œWhy would that bother you?â€

â€œI guess it makes me feel like Iâ€™m being left out of something,â€ she answered slowly.

â€œCorky,â€ Malory soothed. â€œIn an official capacity, Iâ€™m in charge here and there are parts of that you canâ€™t be involved in. But personally, Iâ€™m yours completely and would never intentionally exclude you from anything.â€

She grunted, slightly mollified.

â€œWould it make you feel better if I let you have your way with me?â€

A small smile. â€œWould you let me spray you?â€

Malory laughed. â€œYouâ€™ve already done a pretty thorough job of marking me. I wouldnâ€™t be surprised if there was another pack of cigarettes outside my door.â€

Corkyâ€™s eyes widened in alarm.

â€œIâ€™m just kidding,â€ she chuckled. â€œMy quarters are pretty isolated,â€ she added and received a playful swat.

â€œHa, ha,â€ Corky said childishly.

â€œYou never told me,â€ Malory asked curiously. â€œAnyone tease you about that?â€

â€œI took some ribbing.â€ Corky said mildly. â€œBut surprisingly, it wasnâ€™t as horrible as I imagined.â€

â€œI kinda figured,â€ Malory said knowingly.

â€œYou did, huh?â€

â€œSure, these guys have been down here a long time. Unless some of them are butt buddies, I would think they all indulge on a regular basis,â€ she speculated jovially. â€œOf course, you donâ€™t hear them scream out in the middle of the night like theyâ€™re being fucked with a chainsaw. Theyâ€™re much more discreet, unlike someone who shall remain nameless,â€ she added with an irritating cackle.

Corky favored her with a displeased frown. â€œDo you ever listen to yourself? Your language is appalling and your terminology is offensive,â€ she said indignantly.

â€œWhat did I say?â€ Malory asked innocently.

Brown eyes narrowed. â€œYouâ€™re not meeting my Mommy until you clean up your act,â€ she said sternly, crossing her arms over her chest.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory took her time getting to the lab, arriving just before lunchtime to pay heed to the gathered scientists. Judging by the expressions on those in attendance, she expected it to be a short meeting. Prior to hearing them out, she decided to inspect the second container and found it identical to the first with the exception of an empty interior and missing panel. She choked down a sudden feeling of uneasiness but kept a face of utter impassiveness, not entirely convinced that the vacant cube wasnâ€™t an omen of sorts.

â€œOkay,â€ she said finally. â€œLetâ€™s hear it,â€ she added, turning an expectant look on Dr. Lenard.

The man cleared his throat. â€œIt seems thereâ€™s no evidence or theory we can provide that would convince you that the find does not present a danger,â€ he said unenthusiastically.

â€œThatâ€™s pretty much what I expected.â€

â€œHowever,â€ Lenard continued. â€œWe believe we found out how to open it.â€

Blue eyes narrowed. â€œThatâ€™s besides the point and you know it. Under no circumstances would I allow the contents to be exposed to the populace here without some pretty goddamn convincing assurances,â€ she rumbled quietly.

â€œNo one is suggesting removing the crystal, just exposing it to a more informative study,â€ he explained hastily.

â€œOut of the question,â€ she said strictly.

Lenard opened his mouth to reply but paused thoughtfully, slowly nodding his consent.

â€œVery well,â€ Malory said with a nod of her own. â€œI want both containers secure in cold storage within the hour.â€

â€œAlright, Commander,â€ Lenard said quietly, watching her turn and tread from the room.

â€œDamn it,â€ Grey hissed as the door shut behind her.

â€œWe knew hours ago what she would do,â€ Lenard sighed. â€œLetâ€™s get them moved, we have a lot more to do in excavation.â€

â€œIâ€™ll take care of it,â€ Grey offered reluctantly. â€œCould someone send Cohen in to give me hand? Have him grab one of the flatbeds so we can haul â€˜em away.â€

Lenard nodded as he shuffled to the door to grab Cohen, waving for the rest of his companions to join him and eventually leaving Grey in the room alone and unguarded.

As the last body filtered out of sight, he immediately turned and ran his hand along one of the top seams, his fingertips deftly locating the small indentations. Knowing he didnâ€™t have much time, he rummaged through a nearby desk for two unsharpened pencils and gingerly pushed them, eraser first, into the small holes.

A second went by, then two without result and he began to think that they had been mistaken after all. Disappointed, he removed the pencils and was in the process of turning away when the clear top panel began to color a strange gray hue and then separate, retreating liquidly into the seams of all four sides.

As if sensing the change, the material inside the crystal began to churn within itself violently and then calmed as abruptly as it started; the color, once a brilliant blue, fading to a muddy red. Fascinated, Grey put the pencils in his pocket and leaned over to inspect, pulling his face away in surprise when the top of the crystal opened with a separation that made triangles out of the upper four sides of the octahedron.

Cautiously, he leaned over to look inside.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory was only a few potato chips into her lunch when the alarm klaxon brought her aggressively out of her seat. She shared a quick look at McNeely and got an unknowing shrug in return.

â€œI have a man down in the lab, request assistance,â€ Cohen nervously reported over the intercom.

She tried to ignore the fear that clung to her spine and broke into a run, aware of McNeelyâ€™s heavy footsteps pounding behind her. As she raced down the hall that led to her destination, she found several people already milling outside uncertainly and she brushed past them to enter the lab. She came to a complete halt as she met Cohen standing in front of the glass door and staring inside, her eyes followed his gaze to see both alien containers empty and Grey face down on the floor in front of them. Her fear strengthened its hold on her spine and for a second she was unable to find her voice. When she finally did, her tone was furious.

â€œMother fucker!â€ she exclaimed. â€œWhat the hell happened?â€ she asked turning a glare on the young Airman.

â€œI went to get a flatbed so we could transport the cubes,â€ he said oddly. â€œWhen I got here, the cube was empty and Dr. Grey was on the floor.â€

â€œWhy didnâ€™t you go in?â€ McNeely asked gruffly.

â€œHe was screaming,â€ Cohen said hauntingly. â€œHe was screaming like nothing I ever heard before. It wasâ€¦it wasâ€¦â€

â€œAlright, son,â€ McNeely interrupted. â€œWe need to get him out of there.â€

Malory nodded absently, her eyes frantically searching the interior of the room.

â€œCommander,â€ McNeely prompted.

She took a deep breath and held out a hand. â€œAirman, your rifle,â€ she ordered quietly and he handed it over inattentively.

â€œCommander, I donâ€™t think thatâ€™s a good idea,â€ McNeely said stiffly and turned to yell out into the hall. â€œHanson, Terrel, get in here,â€ he barked.

â€œNo,â€ Malory said softly. â€œI wonâ€™t risk anyone else, just keep the door open and shut it as soon as I get back in here.â€

â€œAbsolutely not,â€ McNeely said sternly. â€œIâ€™ll go in your place.â€

â€œIâ€™m not going to argue with you, Sergeant,â€ Malory said distractedly.

â€œMalory donâ€™t,â€ Corky said quietly.

The Commander turned in surprise, unaware that Corky had entered the room and was staring at her fearfully, fretfully wringing her hands.

McNeely spared a confused glance at the doctor. â€œCommander, I insist,â€ he said just as Hanson and Terrel burst through the bodies crowded in the hall.

â€œCommander, your rifle, please,â€ McNeely requested, holding out a hand.

She spared Corky another glance and handed the Sergeant her rifle. â€œCohen, clear the hall and get Percy or Coy in here with a stretcher. Move,â€ she ordered harshly, turning her attention to McNeely as he raced into the hall.

â€œIâ€™ll hold the door,â€ she said. â€œGet Grey out of there as quickly as you can, donâ€™t stop to sightsee.â€

â€œUnderstood,â€ McNeely said. â€œMove it, Iâ€™ll cover,â€ he added with a gesture to Hanson and Terrel. â€œJust grab him by the arms and yank him out of there.â€

They nodded and Malory moved to open the door. â€œReady?â€

She received nods in response and quickly wrenched the door open, allowing Hanson and Terrel to race through, followed closely by McNeely who stood by the door, his rifle raised to protect the scrambling men.

It was a quick exercise as both men roughly grabbed Grey by the arms and dragged him hastily across the floor, dumping him unceremoniously as they passed the threshold, McNeely jumping back in after them. Malory slammed the door and locked it, missing the darting Sergeant by a hairsbreadth in her haste.

Corky dropped to the body, rapidly checking his vitals as Percy and Coy rushed in with a stretcher. â€œHeâ€™s alive but his pulse is weak, letâ€™s move him, now,â€ she said urgently and Grey was hastily loaded onto the stretcher and rushed from the room.

Malory watched them go. â€œI want an armed guard posted exactly where Iâ€™m standing until I say otherwise. No one is to enter the lab under any circumstances and have Cohen and Lenard report to my office and then join me there, Mr. McNeely.â€

â€œAye, skipper.â€

â€”â€”â€”

The Commander sat behind her desk glaring at both the young Airman and Dr. Lenard as she waited for McNeely to arrive. Her eyes kept straying to Cohen who was still pale from his earlier experience and seemingly unaffected by the irritated and upset scrutiny being cast upon him by his superior. On the outside she hoped she was portraying a countenance of confidence but was all too aware that on the inside, she was perilously close to an unreasoning fear. It was a feeling that had been growing exponentially since the discovery of an alien within the ice and had intensified itself dramatically upon recent experiences.

Finally, the Sergeant Major arrived, closing the door behind him and standing quietly just inside the room.

â€œGrab the chair out of my quarters, Sergeant,â€ Malory offered and he gave her a slight nod. Entering her room and returning a second later to seat himself.

â€œAlright,â€ she said after a deep breath. â€œWhat the fuck happened?â€

Both men remained silent so she turned a glare on Lenard. â€œWell?â€

â€œIâ€™m afraid I donâ€™t know, Commander,â€ he said honestly. â€œGrey stayed behind after you left the lab to transport the cubes to storage. He instructed one of us to have Cohen grab a flatbed, which he did, and thatâ€™s all I know.â€

â€œSo he was alone in the lab?â€ she asked.

â€œI would assume so.â€

â€œAirman, how long were you away from your post?â€

â€œNo more than five minutes, Commander,â€ he said quietly.

Malory leaned back in her chair. â€œDoctor, you told me you believed you could open the cube. Do you think Grey might have taken the opportunity to try?â€

Lenard hummed thoughtfully. â€œI want to say no, but he was disappointed about your decision to shelve it. Iâ€™d like to think heâ€™s more responsible than that.â€

â€œCould he have opened it in five minutes?â€

â€œPossibly,â€ Lenard said. â€œAlong the seams of the top panel there are two small holes. The depressions are sized and spaced to accommodate what we theorized was one of the alienâ€™s hands, or to be more precise, fingers. However, I stress that our assumption was just a theory.â€

She ground her teeth angrily. â€œThen our beloved Dr. Grey had more than enough time to test the theory.â€

â€œAll he had to do was find something small enough to fit in the depressions,â€ Lenard admitted. â€œBut that, of course, isnâ€™t a guarantee to open the container. It was pretty much a guess on our part that it might be that simple.â€

â€œAirman,â€ Malory sighed, â€œwhat exactly did you see when you returned with the flatbed?â€

â€œHe was lying face down on the floor, screaming,â€ he said distantly. â€œScreaming, likeâ€¦ likeâ€¦it was indescribable.â€

â€œIs that all?â€ Malory asked reluctantly.

â€œYes, Commander,â€ Cohen answered. â€œHe was just screâ€¦â€ he paused, â€œâ€¦wait, I thinkâ€¦ never mind.â€

â€œPlease, continue,â€ Malory said firmly.

â€œIt was hard to make out, his voice was soâ€¦ so strained but I think he might have said worms,â€ Cohen admitted shakily.

â€œWorms?â€ McNeely finally spoke.

â€œYes, I think so, Sergeant,â€ Cohen confirmed.

Malory stiffened in an almost panic and sprang to her feet to grab her radio. â€œDr. Rivers, respond immediately!â€

A second that lasted ten years.

â€œGo ahead.â€

Malory almost swayed in relief. â€œDoctor, does Grey have any signs of being infected by an intruder?â€

â€œWhat?â€ Corky asked sharply.

â€œCohen believes that Grey might have said worms before losing consciousness.â€

â€œWorms?â€

â€œYes.â€

â€œNot to my knowledge, but Iâ€™ll reexamine his blood sample,â€ Corky said confusedly. â€œDr. Grey seems to be uninjured although comatose. His blood pressure and body temperature are extremely low, I canâ€™t find a reason for it.â€

â€œPlease, let me know as soon as you learn anything.â€

â€œAlright,â€ Corky said slowly. â€œRivers, out.â€

Malory sat the radio on her desk. â€œMr. McNeely dispatch an armed guard to Medical and round up Reynolds, Alvarez, Hanson, and Terrel. Weâ€™re going to go into that lab,â€ she ordered and he stood to grab his radio.

â€œOh, and Sergeant,â€ she added before he could speak. â€œWeâ€™ll need a couple of flamethrowers. Dr. Lenard, youâ€™ll be joining us.â€

â€”â€”â€”

McNeely tore off his gas mask and kicked it down the hall in frustration, they had spent the last six hours searching every square centimeter of the lab and had come up empty. Malory echoed the manâ€™s sentiments as she slid down the wall she was leaning against and rested her rifle upright between her legs. She sighed and rested the back of her head against the wall.

â€œI donâ€™t get it,â€ she murmured quietly.

â€œI donâ€™t either,â€ McNeely agreed.

â€œCommander,â€ Reynolds said as he emerged from the lab and tore off his mask. â€œThe cubes have been stored, any further orders?â€

â€œContact the appropriate authorities and inform them of the situation weâ€™ve encountered,â€ she ordered. â€œAnd you might as well let everybody loose for the evening except those on guard duty.â€

â€œVery well, Commander,â€ he replied. â€œHave a good evening.â€

â€œYou too, Chief,â€ she said sparing a small smile.

McNeely took a seat beside her in the hall as the rest of the men filtered past, waiting until everyone was out of earshot to speak. â€œWhat do you make of it, skipper?â€

â€œI donâ€™t know, but I got a case of the crawling creeps.â€

â€œYou think Grey opened the damn thing?â€

â€œYeah,â€ Malory sighed. â€œYeah, I do. I feel like an ass for not watching over it with my own eyes until it was stored. The idiot had to have done it right after I left the goddamn room.â€

â€œNone of this is your fault,â€ he said seriously.

She spared him a glance. â€œIt feels like it,â€ she admitted.

â€œThatâ€™s because youâ€™re the skipper and a damn good one,â€ he said honestly. â€œYouâ€™re not responsible for the people that disobey your directives. Just as youâ€™re not responsible for the unstable conditions in excavation and youâ€™re most certainly not responsible because some jackass decided to open that damn box.â€

â€œBut I am,â€ Malory said tiredly. â€œIâ€™m responsible for the actions of everyone under my command and that includes the civilians.â€

â€œYes, to a point you are,â€ he agreed. â€œBut youâ€™re beating yourself up over something youâ€™re not expected to have complete control over.â€

â€œMaybe,â€ she admitted hesitantly.

He sucked on his teeth. â€œTell me, Commander,â€ he said casually, â€œwhy a sailor with no climbing experience would go over the edge of a lethal drop in order to save a life? While youâ€™re at it, tell me how a twenty-four year old junior Lieutenant with a gunshot wound and ruined arm could manage to keep herself and a man roughly twice her weight afloat in the ocean for almost two days? And please tell me how a woman who was obviously scared shitless found the courage to prepare to go alone into that lab earlier today?â€

She turned a thoughtful look in his direction. â€œAdrenaline?â€ she offered lamely.

He chuckled. â€œDonâ€™t hand me that shit.â€

She shrugged. â€œYou obviously had a look at my file.â€

â€œOf course, I did,â€ he admitted nonchalantly. â€œI expected a Colonel or above, not a female 0-4.â€

â€œSorry to disappoint you,â€ she said sarcastically.

â€œOn the contrary, I donâ€™t think they couldâ€™ve picked a better person.â€

Malory smiled. â€œYou trying to get a blush out of me or cheer me up?â€

Another chuckle. â€œI wouldâ€™ve liked the blush but Iâ€™ll settle for a pick me up.â€

â€œYou sly dog,â€ she said happily. â€œLooks like youâ€™re not gonna let me feel sorry for myself.â€

â€œNope,â€ he agreed cheerfully. â€œBut Iâ€™ll sober you up.â€

â€œI didnâ€™t know I was drunk.â€

â€œYou keep an excellent poker face but your girlfriend doesnâ€™t.â€

Malory tensed. â€œMy girlfriend?â€

â€œThe good doctor,â€ he said offhandedly.

â€œWell, yes,â€ Malory said slowly. â€œWeâ€™re friends.â€

â€œDonâ€™t bullshit a guy that has fifteen years on you,â€ he chided. â€œIâ€™m just pointing this out to you because if it became common knowledge, theyâ€™d pull you out of here at the first opportunity. I donâ€™t want that to happen.â€

Malory grunted. â€œDoes anyone else know?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œI imagine Iâ€™m the only one.â€

â€œHow did you find out?â€

â€œI caught the first clue today when she called you by name and looked about ready to cry to keep you from going into the lab. I knew for sure when you sent me into your quarters to get a chair and I found a set of medical scrubs draped over the back,â€ he explained easily.

â€œBusted,â€ she admitted resignedly. â€œI take it you donâ€™t have a problem?â€

â€œPlease,â€ he said dismissively. â€œI was actually kinda hoping you would share your technique with me.â€

â€œWhat?â€ Malory said around a surprised laugh.

â€œNow that I realize that the doctor wasnâ€™t alone in her quarters the other night, Iâ€™d like to know how you get a woman to scream like that. An aging stud like myself is always on the lookout for new pointers.â€

Malory had started laughing before he finished. â€œThat is one discussion we will never have.â€

He laughed with her. â€œYou wonâ€™t even throw me a bone?â€

Malory shook her head amusedly. â€œTry going without for thirteen years while spending half of each day thinking about it.â€

He chuckled quietly and grasped her on the shoulder companionably as he rose to his feet. â€œYouâ€™re a stronger man than I am, Commander.â€

â€œThat remains to be seen,â€ she said cheerfully, rising to her feet as well. â€œLetâ€™s keep a guard on Grey. Iâ€™ve got a bad feeling.â€

â€œIâ€™ll see to it,â€ he said agreeably.

She grinned, watching him walk away and letting him go a few steps. â€œAnd Doug?â€

He stopped and turned a look over his shoulder.

â€œThanks.â€

â€œMy pleasure,â€ he said with a rakish grin.

She watched him go with a genuine smile.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky watched Malory enter Medical and stop to speak quietly with the young, machinegun-toting Coy, who would be serving as both nurse and guard for the duration of the evening. When the conversation was over, she shot her a wink and went to share a few words with the convalescing Dr. Ballenger. Her rounds apparently completed, she favored her with a bright smile.

â€œCare to join me for dinner, Dr. Rivers?â€ she asked politely.

â€œSure,â€ Corky said casually. â€œLet me meet you there in about ten minutes?â€

â€œOkay, see ya in a few,â€ Malory agreed easily and turned to amble out into the hall.

Lest Coy might observe, Corky tried not to watch the sway of the Commanderâ€™s hips as she walked away. She was only partially successful and mentally chastised herself for the failure. Earlier, she had come to the inescapable conclusion that she was in love with Lt. Commander Malory Lovecraft. The idea only so shocking because of her reluctance to admit it and the full weight of that knowledge had struck with the force of a ton bricks when she had watched her openly frightened lover prepare to enter the lab alone. Watching Malory struggle with her fear had scared her as well and when the Sergeant had intervened, it was all she could do to keep from hugging the man. With a sigh, she rose from her seat and looked in on her patients one last time prior to relaying last minute instructions to Coy.

When she entered the mess, she was disappointed to see Malory sitting across from McNeely and engaged in conversation. She scanned the room for alternative company and came up empty as the only other people present were DeSoto and Butler.

Scowling, she got a tray and made for a vacant table but paused uncertainly when Malory waved her over. She shot a cautious look at her companion and received a nod and another wave so she padded over, choosing a seat across from her and next to McNeely.

â€œHi guys,â€ she said brightly.

â€œGood evening, Doctor,â€ McNeely said with a curious smile.

â€œDr. Rivers,â€ Malory said amusedly. â€œHow is Dr. Grey?â€

Their demeanor instantly brought up her guard and she narrowed her eyes covertly at the intriguingly smiling Commander. â€œNo change but stable,â€ she said slowly. â€œI canâ€™t find a reason for his symptoms. I have several tests Iâ€™d like to run tomorrow, hopefully theyâ€™ll be a little more conclusive.â€

â€œI see,â€ Malory said quietly. â€œNo sign of an intruder in his system?â€

â€œNone that I can find at the moment,â€ Corky replied clinically.

Malory digested this thoughtfully as she slowly assumed an alarmingly innocent expression. â€œMr. McNeely asked me a question earlier and was quite disappointed when I wouldnâ€™t answer it. Perhaps youâ€™d have better luck with Dr. Rivers, Sergeant,â€ she said mildly.

McNeely abruptly stopped chewing the food in his mouth, his eyes widening and then narrowing into deadly slits.

â€œWhat question is that?â€ Corky asked cautiously, not liking in the slightest the look on Maloryâ€™s face.

McNeely hurriedly swallowed his food in one large gulp. â€œNothing of any real importance, Doctor,â€ he said hastily.

â€œWould it be easier if I presented it to Dr. Rivers for you, Sergeant?â€ Malory asked helpfully.

He pursed his lips thoughtfully. If the Commander presented the question, it would only succeed in embarrassing him and the doctor. In his estimation, it would only be fair to capture the devious woman in her own trap. â€œNo, I can handle it,â€ he said amiably. â€œDr. Rivers, I asked the Commander earlier if she would inform me as to what exactly she was doing to you the other night that resulted in the screams that woke the entire facility.â€

Corky gasped in surprise and McNeely ignored his own blush as he pleasantly observed the crimson beginning to flagrantly cover the Commanderâ€™s face.

Malory chuckled slightly at having been outmaneuvered. â€œYou crafty bastard,â€ she said amusedly. â€œOww!â€ she yelped as her shin was kicked from across the table.

â€œI canâ€™t believe you,â€ Corky hissed angrily.

â€œI didnâ€™t tell him anything,â€ Malory defended lamely.

McNeelyâ€™s blush faded and he went back to the business of eating his meal, casually observing the entertainment unfolding around him.

Corky fumed, her face an angry shade of red. â€œDo you want us both to lose our jobs?â€ she asked heatedly.

â€œThatâ€™s not something we have to worry about as far as the Sergeant Major is concerned,â€ Malory explained as she reached down to rub her wounded shin.

â€œYou could have at least given me a little warning,â€ Corky accused.

â€œWhere would the fun be in that?â€ Malory replied with a chuckle.

Corky huffed and crossed her arms over chest, glaring dangerously at her moronic girlfriend. â€œWell, to answer your question, Sergeant,â€ she growled. â€œI was screaming because our clueless leader could lick the stripes off an asphalt highway.â€

McNeely had to bring a hand up to cup his mouth in order to prevent spitting his food across the table and he struggled to get himself situated, risking a quick glance across the table. The Commander had her head stooped and a hand covering her eyes, the hand a severe white in contrast to the visible and almost purple forehead.

Corky smiled victoriously and haughtily went about finishing her dinner, occasionally casting triumphant little looks at the hiding Commander.

â€œOn that note,â€ Malory mumbled. â€œIâ€™m obviously 0 for 2 this evening and will try to finish my dinner with a modicum of dignity,â€ she added, emerging from her refuge bravely and pointedly ignoring the looks being cast upon her.

â€œDoctor, is there a series of exercises you could prescribe that might strengthen my skill in that area?â€ McNeely asked cheerfully, relishing Maloryâ€™s sigh of defeat and Corkyâ€™s fresh blush.

â€”â€”â€”

â€œWell, that could have gone better for me,â€ Malory said dejectedly as she flung herself onto her cot.

Corky shut the door to Maloryâ€™s quarters and chuckled. â€œYa know, I like that man,â€ she said jovially. â€œHe had you twisting and churning.â€

â€œYeah,â€ Malory admitted. â€œHe kicked my ass. Iâ€™ll have to think up a suitable punishment.â€

â€œDonâ€™t be a poor sport,â€ Corky chided. â€œYou started it.â€

Malory grunted into the blankets.

â€œHow long has he known?â€ Corky asked curiously.

Malory rolled over onto her back. â€œFound out today.â€

â€œIs he the only one?â€

â€œYeah, unless your pal Clovis knows.â€

â€œHe probably does. He knows about my preference but he hasnâ€™t said anything,â€ Corky said mildly. â€œHow did McNeely find out?â€

â€œYou called me by name earlier,â€ she said sitting up to unlace her boots. â€œThat and I sent him in here to get the extra chair and he found some of your scrubs.â€

â€œOh,â€ Corky said thoughtfully. â€œYou scared me today.â€

â€œI was scared myself,â€ she said honestly, wiggling out of her pants. â€œThis shit freaks me out.â€

â€œDo you think whatever was in that thing got inside Grey?â€

Malory pulled her sweatshirt over her head and tossed it to the floor. â€œI have no idea but there wasnâ€™t a trace of anything left in the lab. Maybe it just emitted some sort of gas. I just donâ€™t know.â€

Corky came forward to kneel in front of her, reaching around to unclasp her bra. â€œIs that why you have Coy standing guard in Medical with a rifle?â€ she asked as she tossed the garment to the ground behind her.

â€œYeah,â€ Malory said distantly as Corkyâ€™s eyes roamed over her chest. â€œSince you canâ€™t find anything wrong with him, I thought it prudent.â€

Corky leaned in to a pull a nipple into her mouth lovingly. â€œDo you love me, Malory?â€

â€œYou know I do,â€ Malory sighed.

Corky withdrew and flicked at the nipple with her tongue until it hardened. â€œThen say it,â€ she demanded softly.

â€œI love you, Corky,â€ she said quietly.

â€œAre you wet?â€ she asked as she teased back and forth between breasts.

â€œYes,â€ Malory whispered.

â€œDo you want me?â€

â€œAlways.â€

With a delicate bite on an erect nipple, Corky rose to her feet and began to undress. â€œWhy were you with your first for only one night?â€ she asked.

â€œBecause I was just curious,â€ Malory answered absentmindedly, her eyes riveted on the figure in front of her.

â€œNot curious enough to see her again?â€

â€œIt didnâ€™t work out and Iâ€™m glad it didnâ€™t.â€

â€œWhy?â€

â€œUhmâ€¦â€ she stuttered as panties fell to the ground. â€œBecause I wanted to wait until I felt what I feel with you.â€

â€œWas that the only reason?â€

â€œTurn around,â€ Malory requested gently.

â€œWhy?â€

â€œBecause I want to see your ass,â€ she said starkly.

Corky smiled and turned around to remove her T-shirt. â€œYou didnâ€™t answer my question.â€

â€œUhâ€¦ yeah,â€ she answered distractedly. â€œShe didnâ€™t want to see me again anyway.â€

â€œReally? Why?â€

â€œThere wasâ€¦oh boy,â€ she broke off abruptly as Corky bent over deeply at the waist, letting her bra slide off her arms to the floor.

Corky set her feet further apart and wiggled her rear provocatively. â€œYou were saying?â€ she asked coyly over her shoulder.

â€œUhâ€¦ I donâ€™t know, what was I saying?â€

â€œDo you like?â€ Corky asked teasingly.

Malory could only nod stupidly.

Corky stood and turned around. â€œWhy didnâ€™t she want to see you again?â€

â€œDonâ€™t tease,â€ Malory whined softly.

â€œTell me and Iâ€™m yours.â€

â€œBecause when I took her home that night I ran over her dog when I pulled into the driveway,â€ Malory said quickly.

A hand rose to hide a smile. â€œYouâ€™re kidding me, right?â€

â€œNo,â€ Malory said, moistening her lips with the tip of a tongue.

Corky couldnâ€™t contain her mirth and slowly went from chuckles to an all out belly laugh. She carried on long enough that it completely spoiled the mood for as far as Malory was concerned.

â€œIt wasnâ€™t funny,â€ she said indignantly after a moment.

â€œShe had to know it was an accident,â€ Corky laughed.

Malory gave up and flopped onto her back to glare off into space. â€œShe loved that fuckinâ€™ dog. She dressed it up in a stupid knitted hat and carried a ridiculous picture of the mutt in her purse.â€

Corkyâ€™s eyes twinkled in amusement. â€œItâ€™s not like you did it on purpose.â€

Malory rolled her eyes and sighed. â€œAfter I hit the brakes, she wouldnâ€™t move and made me get out to look. It was dark and the driveway was on an incline so when I got to the front of the car I slipped and fell on my ass in a puddle of blood. I freaked out and was hopping all over the place like a big sissy. Anyway, I tried to fling off the little pieces of doggie parts that were on my hands and ended up hurling the poochâ€™s bloody little hat onto the windshield, where it landed with a gross little splat right in front of her face.â€

Corky brought both hands to her mouth and laughed..

Malory pretended to ignore her. â€œUnderstandably, she never called me again.â€

â€œYou made that up,â€ Corky accused delightedly between chuckles.

â€œWho in their right mind would make up a story like that and ruin a perfectly good turn on?â€ she asked irritably.

Corky spent a moment working the giggles out of her system before sensuously climbing onto the cot to cover her loverâ€™s body with her own. Legs immediately wrapped themselves around her waist to trap her and she tenderly placed a kiss on Maloryâ€™s lips. â€œI love you, Malory,â€ she said softly.

A small gasp was her reward. â€œReally?â€ Malory asked meekly.

â€œReally,â€ Corky confirmed with a whisper, placing gentle kisses on the throat below.

â€œSay it again,â€ Malory sniffled.

Corky brought her head up in surprise and Malory quickly raised an embarrassed hand to wipe away the tear that had escaped. â€œI thought you knew?â€ she inquired warmly.

â€œI did,â€ Malory sniffled again. â€œI just didnâ€™t realize how badly I wanted to hear it,â€ she added, moving quickly to catch another tear but her hand was intercepted and Corky moved to kiss it away.

â€œThere all better now,â€ Corky said sweetly.

Malory smiled. â€œSay it again.â€

â€œI love you, Malory.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Coy slouched in his chair by the door and yawned powerfully behind his hand. He spared a quick survey of his charges, lingering on the still immobile Dr. Grey before moving on to the sleeping Dr. Ballenger, noting nothing amiss.

When he joined the Coast Guard he never pictured himself performing guard duty in an underground complex at the bottom of the world, yet here he was. He ran a hand through short-cropped blonde hair and sighed, wondering what had possessed him to volunteer for Antarctica. He had spent six months under the tutelage of Dr. Rivers before being seconded to the Department of Defense and thus eventually falling under the command of the newly-assigned Commander Lovecraft.

At first he didnâ€™t know what to make of the subtly hostile doctor, although he had to admit that she had certainly loosened up recently. She even flashed a smile in his direction from time to time. He wondered if it had anything to do with the presence of the easygoing Commander, who rumor had it, was extremely formidable if one was unlucky enough to pull a fuck up.

A small whisper of noise came to his ears and he raised his eyes to again scan the interior of the room. Spotting nothing out of the ordinary, he rose and padded across the room to check the status of Dr. Grey.

A few minutes later, he was treading back to his chair, pausing in the middle of his journey to indulge in a yawn and stretch that brought him to his tiptoes. The sound of a rasped gurgle from behind brought him to his heels and he spun to find himself face to face with Dr. Grey. Fear left him motionless as he met eyes rendered frighteningly insane.

Grey brought both hands up and inserted them into his mouth. Without anything but the sound of tearing tissue and cracking bone, he exerted enough force to savagely break his jaw. The corners of his mouth tearing bloodlessly like a fleshy cellophane.

Coy stood mesmerized in terror, all sound and action trapped within a motionless body that refused to respond. It was only when a nest of thick, muddy-red worms filled the doctorâ€™s mouth, their tubular bodies contorting in a maddening frenzy, that the rifle came up and he drew in a deep breath to scream.

All sound died in a macabre embrace as his mouth was engulfed by Greyâ€™s and filled with a nest of traveling worms, muffling his cries. The invaders fought through his gag reflex unhindered, forcing themselves forward and tearing through soft tissue like barbed needles. His mouth and throat filled with what he knew was blood and his agonized cries filtered silently into labored gurgles. He contorted violently as Greyâ€™s teeth cut through his cheeks to solidify their union and he felt his body burning in the wake of the frantically moving intruders. An unholy strength lifted him off his feet and his legs struggled desperately in the air until finally, his activity decreased to a lifeless standstill and his rifle fell uselessly to the floor at his feet.

05/09/02 - 0600 hours

Percy strolled carelessly down the hall to relieve Coy. His tour of duty ended with the impending summer and he had spent many happy hours contemplating how to enjoy his accumulated funds. In his view, there were benefits to spending a year underground and the best one, in his opinion, was the savings plan. Everything was provided for him and paychecks added up untouched, the funds waiting impatiently for his arrival in an economic environment.

So embroiled in his daydream of an irresponsible spending spree, it took him a moment to seriously register the abandoned rifle laying within a congealing puddle of blood just inside the door to Medical. Stopping in his tracks, he leaped backwards to place his back against the wall of the hallway and hurriedly pulled his gun from his holster. His head turned rapidly back and forth to make sure the hall was clear and he reached for his radio, every sense on heightened alert.

His terse report to the rapidly waking Sergeant Major resulted in the klaxon being activated not five seconds into his explanation.

â€œCommander Lovecraft and all military personnel report to the hall outside of Medical immediately with weaponry,â€ McNeely barked urgently over the intercom. â€œAll other personnel report to the mess and remain there. This is no drill. Move it people. I say againâ€¦â€

â€”â€”â€”

Malory flew out of bed at the sound of klaxon, dumping a grumpy Corky on the floor.

â€œWhat the hell!â€ Corky complained loudly.

â€œThe alarm,â€ Malory explained curtly, hurriedly slipping into her fatigues and sweatshirt without benefit of any underwear.

Corky sleepily and tardily noted the klaxon, preparing to speak when McNeelyâ€™s voice reverberated through the complex.

â€œJesus,â€ Malory whispered when he was finished and fell to the floor to put on her boots. â€œGet dressed, hurry. I want you to come with me as far as the mess.â€

â€œShouldnâ€™t I go to Medical too?â€ Corky asked worriedly, reading the depth of fear etched onto Maloryâ€™s face.

â€œNo!â€ Malory said sternly. â€œHurry, now,â€ she added in a softer tone.

Corky frantically hopped up to get her clothes, trying unsuccessfully to hastily get into her bra when Malory pulled it out of her hands.

â€œJust pants, shirt, and shoes,â€ she said hastily. â€œHurry, sweetheart.â€

Corky did as she was told, trying to choke down the lump in her throat. Maloryâ€™s movements were tense and edgy. She got her boots on and had no sooner stood when her hand was grabbed and she found herself being pulled out of the room.

Malory drew her gun as soon as they entered the hall. â€œYou stay in the mess with the others and donâ€™t let anybody leave,â€ she ordered, pulling the frightened doctor down the hall rapidly.

They soon found themselves in front of the mess and Malory poked her head inside the door to see people already milling about confusedly. â€œGo on, now,â€ she said gently, prodding Corky inside.

â€œMaloryâ€¦â€ Corky whined.

â€œIâ€™ll be okay, please go inside now,â€ she interrupted quickly, pecking her cheek speedily and turning to run down the hall.

Corky bit her lower lip in anxiety, trying not to cry. Watching until Malory disappeared around a corner before turning to enter the mess.

â€”â€”â€”

As Malory approached Medical she found the soldiers grouped in the hall on either side of the door.

â€œReport,â€ she said quietly as she came abreast of the men.

â€œCoy is missing, his weapon is laying just inside the door covered in blood,â€ McNeely whispered. â€œNo one responds from inside and the divider has been drawn so we canâ€™t see the infirmary section.â€

Malory nodded grimly. â€œMake a hole,â€ she said, waiting for the men to move aside so she could step forward and peek inside.

There was indeed a rifle in the middle of an alarming puddle of drying blood, but more disturbing was the gory footprints tracking from the pool to behind the divider. Even more frightening were the tracks that entered the hall and quickly faded, leaving no trace.

â€œThere are tracks into the hall,â€ she whispered in horror.

â€œYes,â€ McNeely confirmed.

She swallowed. â€œAlvarez, youâ€™re up,â€ she barked. â€œReport to the mess and stand guard.â€

â€œAye, skipper,â€ he said, immediately turning to run down the hall.

â€œTerrel and Cohen,â€ she ordered. â€œYouâ€™re to enter Medical and take positions on either side of the door. Reynolds and Hanson make sure theyâ€™re clear and then mirror their location. Daly and DeSoto, you have their backs. Nod if you donâ€™t understand.â€

No one nodded.

â€œDo it.â€

Terrel and Cohen rushed into the room and slammed their backs against the wall just inside, dropping to a knee and leveling rifles forward. â€œClear,â€ Terrel whispered.

Reynolds and Hanson rushed into the room. â€œClear.â€

When Daly and DeSoto were in place she turned to the rest of the men. â€œRing, Butler, and Percy, watch the hall. McNeely, youâ€™re with me.â€

McNeely nodded and cocked his rifle. â€œReady when you are.â€

â€œLetâ€™s go.â€

They entered the room slowly, weapons aimed at the curtain. â€œChief, Hanson, take the corners,â€ she ordered and they changed positions. â€œNo one fires without orders.â€

Bracing herself and holding her pistol tightly, she slowly followed the trail of bloody footsteps to within a body length of the divider that closed off a large section of the room.

â€œSergeant, Iâ€™ll pull it back,â€ she whispered. â€œYouâ€™ve got the call.â€

He dropped behind her to one knee. â€œUnderstood.â€

â€œSay when,â€ she whispered.

â€œReady.â€

She surged forward and quickly pulled the divider open, folding it in upon itself as she hastily crossed the room and dropped to a knee when the journey was complete. She shot a look at McNeely who hadnâ€™t moved and was slowly tracking the interior with the barrel of his rifle. He held up a steadying hand, cautiously rising to his feet and making a hand signal that meant he was preparing to move forward.

Malory nodded and gestured Terrel and Cohen to move to cover. From her location she couldnâ€™t see but a fraction of the interior and tensely waited for word. It wasnâ€™t long in coming.

â€œClear,â€ McNeely said oddly. â€œCommander, youâ€™ll need to see this.â€

Malory didnâ€™t like his tone of voice at all, feeling her backbone begin to fidget. â€œEverybody clear?â€ she called out.

An affirmative chorus greeted her and she rose to venture forward, closing her eyes briefly in preparation as she observed McNeely standing with his rifle in the crook of his arm, his other hand over his mouth.

Reluctantly, she peered around the broad shouldered Sergeant and instantly turned away with an involuntary gag. â€œJesus Christ,â€ she choked out.

She forced herself not to look at the remains and took a deep breath before reaching for her radio. â€œSergeant Alvarez?â€

â€œGo ahead.â€

â€œStatus?â€

â€œEveryone safe and accounted for except Grey, Coy, and Ballenger,â€ he reported.

She sighed in relief. â€œStay put and drop anyone or anything that enters the mess without prior radio contact. Daly and Cohen incoming.â€

â€œUnderstood, out.â€

â€œDaly and Cohen, report to the mess to assist Tech Sergeant Alvarez,â€ she ordered. â€œDonâ€™t dawdle, we got one dead here and two missing.â€

â€œYes, maâ€™am,â€ Daly said quickly and they both ran out of the room, their footsteps pounding down the hall.

She put her radio back on her belt and holstered her weapon, taking a long moment to compose herself before turning to the sight that awaited.

â€œIs that Dr. Ballenger?â€ she asked quietly.

â€œYes,â€ McNeely confirmed. â€œThe pieces of broken plaster suggest that his cast was broken off before they ate him.â€

â€œGod,â€ Malory whispered in revulsion.

The corpse in front of her had been ravaged almost to the bone. Even the top of his skull had been broken open from the eye sockets to reach the brain matter inside, his chest cavity reduced to a gaping hole deep enough to expose his spine. His groin and legs nothing but a few strips of flesh that clung stubbornly to gleaming white bone.

â€œPercy,â€ she barked suddenly. â€œGet a body bag. The rest of you gather around, we got a big fuckinâ€™ problem.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Corky sat fearfully next to a concerned Clovis. She had heard Malory issue the orders over Alvarezâ€™s radio to open fire on anyone who entered the mess without announcing themselves. She had no idea what could present that much of a danger and dwelling on it only succeeded in scaring her more than she already was. Since Daly and Cohen had arrived, there had been no further word nor any other developments and she was desperately worried about the Commanderâ€™s welfare.

When the other two soldiers had arrived, they had conversed quietly in a corner of the room with Alvarez and she had forcefully clamped down on the desire to go ask them what was going on. Not that they would tell her, but the impulse to try and weasel something out of them was hard to deny.

â€œYou okay, Corky?â€ Clovis asked gently. â€œYouâ€™ve been too quiet for a while now.â€

â€œYeah, just scared,â€ she admitted.

â€œI know the feeling,â€ he agreed. â€œThose guys look pretty damn serious,â€ he added with a gesture to the soldiers.

She spared a glance at the grim looking men, holding their rifles at the ready. â€œYeah, yeah they do.â€

â€œIâ€™m sure itâ€™ll be okay,â€ he said comfortingly.

â€œI hope so,â€ she whispered.

He offered her an enormous hand. â€œHere,â€ he said softly and she gratefully placed her hand in his.

â€œThanks,â€ she said with a little smile.

â€œI came by your quarters to get you when the alert sounded,â€ he said teasingly. â€œNo one was home and the bed hadnâ€™t been slept in. Can I make a guess as to where you were?â€

She spared an amused glance at her friend. â€œYouâ€™d probably get it right,â€ she admitted.

He chuckled. â€œShe won ya over, did she?â€

â€œVery much so,â€ Corky said wistfully.

â€œIâ€™m happy for you,â€ he said sincerely. â€œNever fear, Iâ€™ll keep your secret.â€

â€œThanks, Clovis,â€ she said cheerfully.

â€œYou worried about her?â€

â€œYeah, I think thatâ€™s scaring me more than anything else.â€

â€œDonâ€™t be, that woman is hell on wheels when it comes down to the wire,â€ Clovis said casually. â€œTrust me, she had me believing that she was going to kick the shit out of me the other day. No mean feat considering one of my arms is damn near the size of both of her legs.â€

Corky chuckled. â€œSheâ€™s really not as tough as she lets on.â€

â€œNo one is, Corky.â€

She turned a thoughtful look in his direction but was brought up short when Maloryâ€™s voice came from the Alvarezâ€™s radio.

â€œWeâ€™re coming in, Sergeant.â€

â€œVery well,â€ Alvarez replied.

Every head in the room looked up anxiously as Malory entered the room followed by a squadron of heavily armed men. She strode to the front of the room and sat upon a folding table, placing her rifle between her legs.

â€œFirst of all,â€ she started, â€œget comfortable because everyone is staying in this room until further notice.â€

Several questions rang out but she held up a hand to silence them. â€œAs you may or may not know, the container discovered in excavation was opened by Dr. Grey, an action that appeared to leave him in a coma. That is until last night, when he apparently attacked Petty Officer Coy who was standing guard in Medical. Itâ€™s our guess that Dr. Grey was infected by something from within that container, which he in turn infected Coy with.â€

â€œWhy do you say that, Commander?â€ Lenard asked curiously.

â€œBecause Dr. Ballenger is dead,â€ she said bluntly. â€œAnd both Grey and Coy are missing.â€

A horrified rumble.

â€œYou think they killed Dr. Ballenger?â€ Clovis braved.

â€œWe know they did,â€ she said quietly. â€œWe know this because there were two sets of bloody foot prints leading away from and surrounding Dr. Ballengerâ€™s corpse.â€

â€œWhy did they kill him?â€ Isaaks asked.

â€œThey didnâ€™t just kill him, people,â€ she said. â€œThey ate him. We pretty much put a skeleton in a body bag.â€

â€œOh, my God!â€

â€œYou canâ€™t be serious!â€

â€œThey ate him?â€

â€œWhat?â€

Malory again held up a hand. â€œIn case, you missed it,â€ she said loudly. â€œThere are two people walking around down here with full stomachs that are still unaccounted for. Until they are found and removed, no one leaves this room unless I say so. I would order an evacuation but weâ€™re in the middle of winter and travel isnâ€™t feasible. The weather outside is violent and will remain that way for weeks according to the last reports. Also, we cannot at this time send any word because communications are down and understandably, I wonâ€™t be sending anyone to the silo to clear the dome until this is resolved.â€

She sighed in the silence that followed, sparing a quick glance at Corky and noting the regretful tears shining in her eyes, realizing she had lost a patient.

â€œWhat are we going to do?â€ Lenard asked.

â€œAfter we grab something to eat, Iâ€™m going to assemble teams to search and create a safety perimeter. And until we can expand that perimeter to include the central complex weâ€™ll all be stuck in here. No one is to go anywhere alone. Not even to the bathroom. Now, Iâ€™m in no mood to answer any questions and I have a long day ahead. Iâ€™ll only say that I donâ€™t want to ever see anything again like I did this morning and if I have to issue orders to shoot those disobeying my directives from this point forward, I will. There are a lot of lives at stake here and I wonâ€™t have one or two fools like Grey endangering the entire group as a whole. I hope Iâ€™ve made myself clear,â€ she said tiredly. â€œLetâ€™s get some breakfast going so we can get started.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Malory conferred quietly with the soldiers until the food had been prepared then strode again to the front of the room.

â€œLieutenant, Sergeants, Chief, Doctors Rivers, Stokes, Lenard, Watkins, and Isaaks, please join me,â€ she called out loudly and strode over to take a seat at a vacant table.

She played with her food until they arrived, happy when Corky sat down next to her and placed a possessive hand on her leg.

â€œLieutenant,â€ she started, â€œI know I should have asked earlier but what are the chances of flying out of here if the weather breaks?â€

â€œA fraction above zero,â€ he said quickly. â€œWeâ€™re too far away from any outpost, foreign or domestic, to hope for a suitable break in weather. There wonâ€™t be one long enough until summer. The current temperatures would freeze the aircraftâ€™s hydraulic systems.â€

â€œI guess I knew that,â€ she sighed. â€œOnce weâ€™ve cleared a safe perimeter and if at that time we havenâ€™t located Grey or Coy, weâ€™ll barricade ourselves in and proceed from there. That will at least allow us to return to quarters.â€

â€œWeâ€™ll have to secure Operations and Mechanical, Commander,â€ McNeely said.

â€œGood point,â€ she agreed.

â€œDonâ€™t you think this may be a little drastic?â€ Watkins braved. â€œItâ€™s just two guys.â€

Malory favored him with a blank look. â€œDr. Watkins,â€ she said coldly. â€œOne of these men is apparently infected with something extraterrestrial and therefore outside of our experience. I might also point out that Grey was able to completely overpower a man armed with an automatic rifle without raising any alarm. And I should tell you that there isnâ€™t a man in this room strong enough to pull the top of Ballengerâ€™s head off from the eye sockets with his bare hands.â€

Corky gasped and Malory dropped a hand beneath the table to squeeze her apologetically.

â€œJesus,â€ Clovis whispered.

â€œWhat did you do with his body?â€ Corky asked softly.

â€œItâ€™s sealed in cold storage.â€

â€œWhy did you ask to see us?â€ Lenard asked.

â€œBecause thereâ€™s a theory we want to run by you.â€

â€œOkay,â€ Lenard said.

â€œAs you know, we have a dead alien body and two empty containers in storage,â€ McNeely said. â€œAnd it was your opinion that the aliens were cannibals. Weâ€™re thinking that our current situation might have been previously experienced on board that spacecraft.â€

â€œInteresting,â€ Lenard spoke up. â€œAnd not very farfetched. One empty container and a half eaten space alien. Now we have another open container and uhâ€¦ well.â€

â€œExactly,â€ McNeely agreed.

â€œUnfortunately, it appears that our outer space buddies resolved their situation by crashing almost a mile deep into our planet,â€ Malory pointed out mildly. â€œMass suicide isnâ€™t an option Iâ€™ll consider so as soon as its feasible, I want that alien body dissected into particles in search of anything that might look like it doesnâ€™t belong there.â€

â€œCommander?â€ Daly said hesitantly as he approached.

â€œYes?â€

â€œThere are people who wish to leave the mess to use the facilities.â€

â€œGrab some of the guys and have them clear a path to the nearest head,â€ Malory ordered. â€œTwo guards in the hall and one at a time, another guard in the room with them.â€

â€œYes, Commander,â€ he said in and turned to carry out her orders.

â€œUhmâ€¦â€ Corky said uncomfortably. â€œI donâ€™t think I could go with a guy standing watch over me.â€

A few chuckles and Corky blushed.

â€œI guess I could go with you,â€ Malory said mildly. â€œIt depends on whether or not you gotta do number one or number two though.â€

Corkyâ€™s blush and the beginnings of laughter vanished in a wave of automatic gunfire that echoed loudly through the room.

â€œAlvarez, Butler stand fast,â€ Malory ordered loudly. â€œThe rest with me now! Move!â€ she yelled, grabbing her rifle and running from the room.

Malory stormed out of the mess, the comforting sound of pounding footsteps echoing behind her. She spotted Daly a short distance down the hall hastily inserting a fresh magazine into his rifle. Several yards beyond him stood a bullet riddled Grey clutching a booted and fatigued leg in one hand by the ankle. He was dragging the severed member behind him as he advanced on Daly, creating a crimson smear on the floor.

She dropped to one knee and leveled her rifle. â€œDaly! Behind me now!â€ she yelled and he rose and ran back several yards to join the firing line.

Grey came forward undaunted, an insane gleam shining in otherwise lifeless eyes. Dried blood covered his face and chest, his jaw drooping malignantly at a grotesque and unnatural angle.

â€œShort burst,â€ Malory ordered. â€œGo for the head on my command,â€ she added, carefully taking aim.

She waited until he was only three body lengths away. â€œFire!â€

The brief roar of several rifles firing in unison filled the hall and Greyâ€™s head exploded from the neck up, coating the walls around him a bright red. Amazingly, he was still on his feet, the headless body still uncertainly moving forward.

â€œFuck me,â€ Reynolds whispered from beside her.

Several clumps of a fleshy substance fell to the floor in clusters from the stump of his neck and Malory had to fight back a dry heave to speak. â€œHalf on right knee, half on left. Iâ€™m on right.â€

â€œRight.â€

â€œRight.â€

â€œRight.â€

â€œLeft.â€

â€œLeft.â€

â€œLeft.â€

â€œFire!â€

Automatic gunfire thundered again in the hall and Grey fell forward, one leg completely blown off at the knee and the other attached by flimsy strands of tissue. When his torso struck the ground a glut of moist and writhing flesh resembling handfuls of ground beef spewed from the exposed orifice of his neck.

â€œWorms,â€ McNeely said sharply.

â€œBack up!â€ Malory almost screamed, her eyes transfixed in horror on the contorting piles. â€œFlamethrower, now!â€

Terrel moved forward through the retreating crowd and doused the entire hallway with a bright orange flame, letting loose several bursts in the interest of diligence.

â€œGet the extinguishers,â€ Malory ordered, watching the flames consume both the walls and what was left of Greyâ€™s body.

Hanson and DeSoto rushed forward to douse the flames and she reached out to stop them. â€œLet it burn a little longer.â€

She waited until she began to sweat through her shirt from the heat. â€œGo,â€ she said finally and they rushed forward to put out the fire.

A few minutes later, the hall was filled with the stench of burning flesh and the only thing left of Grey was a blackened and smoldering lump.

â€œDaly,â€ she said quietly in the silence that followed. â€œWhat happened?â€

â€œCohen went to check the head in Danforthâ€™s quarters, he was turning to leave when Grey jumped out of the shower stall and started tearing him to pieces,â€ Daly said in subdued tones.

â€œChrist,â€ McNeely said, shaking his head.

Malory suddenly stiffened. â€œI told you two in the hall,â€ she said in alarm. â€œWho else was with you?â€

â€œPercy,â€ Daly said in dawning horror. â€œGod, he was right beside me firing at Grey.â€

Reynolds snatched the radio from his belt. â€œPercy?â€

Malory grabbed hers as well. â€œAlvarez?â€

â€œGo ahead.â€

â€œIs Percy in there with you?â€

â€œNegative.â€

â€œPercy, respond,â€ Reynolds yelled into his radio.

â€œFuck!â€ Malory screamed, throwing her radio into the wall where it shattered and fell to the floor.

â€œCommander,â€ Reynolds said quietly, lowering his radio as his eyes focused over her shoulder.

â€œWhat!â€ she snapped and he gestured behind her with a nod of his head.

â€œGimme a fuckinâ€™ break,â€ McNeely whispered.

Malory turned to see Cohen pulling himself out of Danforthâ€™s quarters using only the stump of his left arm, his other appendages in tatters or missing altogether. Blood flowed freely from his wounds, complicating his efforts to travel and creating a grisly path on the floor. Even as he tried to slink away he was ravenously feeding on what she nauseatingly recognized as one of his own severed hands. She wanted to cry. Instead, her face hardened.

â€œTerrel,â€ she said coldly. â€œBurn it. Then burn whatever he left behind in Danforthâ€™s quarters.â€

â€œAye, skipper,â€ Terrel said grimly, advancing determinedly down the hallway.

â€œDeSoto, Hanson, back him up,â€ she ordered and they followed in Terrelâ€™s wake.

â€œI want all of the remains collected and thrown into the incinerator, including Ballengerâ€™s and that alien we found,â€ she said, leaning her back against the wall and sliding down to sit on the floor. â€œI also want Hanson equipped with a flamethrower and I want a shotgun. A big goddamn shotgun.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Corky spent the next three hours on the border of hysterics. She had chewed all of her fingernails down to nubs and the urgent need of her bladder only added to her agitation. After the loud and very close gun battle that had taken place earlier, there had been no word other than a hushed radio conversation that Alvarez had engaged in. Overhearing a snippet of Maloryâ€™s voice had calmed her considerably but as the time dragged on with no word, her fears had reclaimed their hold on her.

She was more than a little surprised at how completely reluctant emotion for the Commander had transformed so thoroughly into an all consuming need. The very thought of losing Malory scared her to the very core of her being and any reservations she had possessed only a few days before, had effectively evaporated.

The quick rattle of Alvarezâ€™s radio startled her and about a minute later the soldiers again entered the mess. Her eyes tracked to the smallest one that sported a head of flaming red hair and she breathed a sigh of relief. Maloryâ€™s shirt was soaked through in several places and even from a distance, Corky could tell she was exhausted. She smiled in response when blue eyes searched for her anxiously and then filled with relief.

Malory strode to the center of the room and sat down tiredly in her previous spot. â€œA perimeter has been established. The central complex has been cleared and the North and South fire doors have been sealed and reinforced with a weld. I have guards posted at each one. This means we donâ€™t have to camp in here and can return to our quarters,â€ she reported indifferently. â€œHowever, pick a partner because youâ€™re bunking up two to a room tonight and for the foreseeable future. No one is be alone from this point forward. I know most of you need to use the facilities and Iâ€™ll let you go in a minute. There are few things you have to know.â€

She sighed and took a deep breath. â€œAt this time, Dr. Grey is dead as is Airman Cohen. POâ€™s Percy and Coy are now missing.â€

She let them mumble amongst themselves for a moment. â€œWe believe that Grey was originally infected by an alien intruder and then passed this intruder on to Coy. We suspect Percy to either be infected as well or dead.â€

â€œWhat kind of intruder is it, Commander?â€ Clovis asked.

â€œWorms,â€ she said quietly.

â€œExcuse me?â€

â€œWorms,â€ she repeated loudly. â€œDr. Grey was infested with them. Now, we have no idea what they do to you if you become infected but apparently, you develop super-human strength and an appetite for your own kind. Grey tore Cohen to pieces with his bare hands and took unimaginable damage to his body before we were able to put him down. It also appears that whatever happens to you once you become infected, diminished intelligence is not a side effect.â€

A thoughtful silence.

â€œSo whatâ€™s our plan of action?â€ Lenard asked.

â€œSearch and destroy,â€ Malory said determinedly. â€œWe canâ€™t evacuate and we have almost four months before leaving becomes a possibility. Weâ€™re stuck here and until the threat is eliminated, none of us are safe.â€

â€œWhat about communications?â€ Clovis asked.

â€œCommunications are down and Iâ€™m not sending anyone to the silo until I know theyâ€™ll be able to come back. The complex is under computer lockdown. This means the vacuum doors to Operations and Mechanical have been sealed as have all other doors to areas deemed of importance. This means you better hope either I or Mr. McNeely survive or none of you are going anywhere.â€

A few minutes of rumbles and Malory stood from her seat. â€œChoose a roommate fellas and see to your needs. Dinner will be at 2100 hours, attendance is mandatory and I want a list provided to Mr. McNeely as to who you are bunking with,â€ she ordered and strode over to confer in whispers with her men.

A short time later she looked up. â€œDr. Rivers, pack a bag. Youâ€™re with me,â€ she called out with a wave and waited until Corky came forward before leading her out of the room.

Corky grabbed her hand as soon as the doors closed behind them. â€œAre you alright?â€ she asked anxiously.

â€œYeah,â€ she answered, bringing Corkyâ€™s hand to her mouth for a kiss. â€œHow are you doing?â€

â€œScared,â€ Corky admitted.

â€œYou got the easy part,â€ Malory said quietly.

â€œWas it really bad?â€ Corky asked reluctantly, not sure if she really wanted an answer.

â€œIt was unspeakable.â€

Corky chewed on the words thoughtfully, taking comfort in the hand that grasped hers. She remained silent until they entered Maloryâ€™s quarters and she let out an urgent squeak, her body giving her an ultimatum. Letting go of Maloryâ€™s hand, she ran across the room frantically unbuttoning her pants and hastily plopped down on the toilet. She moaned climatically in relief.

Malory closed the door and laughed in amusement. â€œWould you listen to that?â€ she chuckled. â€œIâ€™m surprised youâ€™re not launching yourself into the air.â€

Corky ignored her completely, concentrating on her moment of profoundly liberated bliss.

Malory grinned and propped her shotgun up against the wall and unslung the rifle from her back to keep it company. It was followed by a belt of shells and a bandolier of magazines. When she was done unburdening herself, she sat down on the cot and began to unlace her boots, her nose wrinkling.

â€œGod, I stink,â€ she said in disgust.

Corky emerged from her euphoria. â€œAre we gonna be okay, Malory?â€

â€œI think so,â€ she answered softly.

â€œYou need to know so,â€ Corky said grimly from her throne. â€œI canâ€™t lose you. I wonâ€™t lose you.â€

Malory looked at her fondly. â€œSomebody loves me,â€ she sang childishly.

Corky rolled her eyes. â€œMalory, this is serious.â€

â€œYou donâ€™t need to tell me that,â€ she said gravely.

â€œThen tell me weâ€™re going to be okay.â€

â€œI canâ€™t tell you that because I donâ€™t know. But I can tell you that Iâ€™m going to do my best,â€ she said solemnly. â€œYouâ€™re my world, Corky. I wish I could show everyone that.â€

â€œYour best is good enough for me,â€ Corky whispered. â€œI never thought I would hear myself say this, but I canâ€™t imagine life without you.â€

Malory beamed a bright smile. â€œI shall try and bask in those words and pretend they werenâ€™t spoken to me while you sat upon the pot.â€

Corky giggled. â€œI guess I couldâ€™ve chosen a more romantic location,â€ she admitted.

â€œWanna take a shower with me?â€ Malory asked hopefully.

â€œYes.â€

Malory rose to her feet and stripped off her stinky shirt. â€œLetâ€™s ride.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Corky breathed deeply of the clean scent emanating from the warm body below hers. Despite the situation, the only thing she could concentrate on was how content she felt lying on top of her snoring lover. Malory lay flat on her belly, having collapsed onto the cot as soon as she finished her shower and had fallen asleep within minutes.

Corky turned slightly so she could cock an elbow to support her head and softly connected the freckles on Maloryâ€™s back with a fingertip. When she was finished, she lifted a long strand of still-damp red hair and brushed through it gently with her fingers. She marveled at the depth of her feelings for a woman she had recently hated beyond compare. Malory had become a drug she was hopelessly addicted to and like any addict, she yearned to possess a constant line to her supply.

She placed a small kiss on her shoulder and traced a lingering trail down her spine, changing course as she reached the end to delicately squeeze an exposed cheek. Her hand ran itself inquisitively over the back of recently shaved legs and found them luxuriant to the touch. Unable to resist, she let her hand fall between the slightly parted legs and brought it up slowly until she met an exotically warm resistance.

Maloryâ€™s breath hitched slightly and Corky paused to assure herself that her lover was still asleep. Once certain, she explored and teased deftly until she was able to enter her, freezing when the snores were interrupted by a small sigh. A grin came to her face as Malory shifted slightly in her slumber, unconsciously parting her legs further apart.

Wickedly wondering how far she could go before waking her, she began to stroke her gently. Her excitement growing as Maloryâ€™s became obvious, she withdrew and teased at her playfully.

A low moan was a prelude to blue eyes snapping open in surprise and Corky went stock still, suddenly caught in the act.

Malory cleared her throat. â€œEnjoying yourself?â€ she asked sleepily.

â€œUhmâ€¦ yeah,â€ Corky admitted guiltily.

â€œDonâ€™t let me interrupt,â€ she mumbled.

â€œIâ€™m sorry, I know youâ€™re tired,â€ she said bashfully. â€œI just wanted to feel you.â€

â€œYou can have me anytime you want. Donâ€™t be sorry.â€

â€œEven if youâ€™re asleep?â€ Corky asked playfully.

â€œOf course,â€ Malory said around a small yawn. â€œI belong to you.â€

â€œReally?â€

â€œReally.â€

â€œThen I want you,â€ she said cravingly.

Malory raised her hips and brought herself to her knees, spreading her legs as far as the cot would allow. â€œDo anything you like, Corky,â€ she whispered.

â€œGod, Malory,â€ Corky said amorously, her eyes riveted on the endowment before her. â€œWhen you give yourself like that I soak myself.â€

â€œIâ€™m not giving anything you donâ€™t already own,â€ she offered submissively.

Corky inched forward to center herself, placing hands on supple hips in preparation. â€œI love you, Malory,â€ she said earnestly.

â€œI love you, too,â€ Malory gasped, pressing her face into her pillow pleasurably as Corky began to explore.

â€”â€”â€”

Dinner was uneventful, the mood very quiet and subdued. A corporeal undercurrent of unease permeating the room. The monotony only broken when Lenard and Watkins approached at the end of the meal.

â€œCommander?â€ Lenard said.

Malory looked up from her plate and gestured for the men to sit down next to McNeely and Reynolds. â€œWhatâ€™s up?â€

â€œUhmâ€¦â€ Watkins started hesitantly. â€œWeâ€™d like to be issued weapons.â€

Malory stared at them. â€œAt the moment, thatâ€™s out of the question,â€ she said firmly.

â€œMay I ask why?â€ Watkins countered.

â€œBecause our enemy looks exactly like us and could be any one of us,â€ Malory explained tersely. â€œI wonâ€™t create a bigger problem then we already have. Besides, if you encounter one of these things you can empty a weapon into it dozens of times and not even slow it down.â€

â€œYou apparently killed Grey,â€ Watkins pointed out.

Malory had to clamp down on an angry response. â€œYes, we did,â€ she said calmly. â€œWith seven people firing automatic rifles at precise targets. Grey didnâ€™t have a head or legs below the knees, yet he still kept coming. Terrel had to incinerate him with a flamethrower to finish him.â€

â€œGod,â€ Corky gasped from beside her.

â€œYes,â€ she agreed quietly. â€œSo unless you want to use the gun on yourself, issuing you one at this time would pretty much be a useless gesture.â€

The two men sat silently, considering her words. â€œAlright,â€ Lenard agreed finally. â€œI see your point. Whatâ€™s our plan then?â€

She took a deep breath. â€œTomorrow morning, everybody spends the day in the mess while a group of us break the weld on the South door and either confirm the area clear or eliminate Percy and Coy.â€

â€œThatâ€™s a lot of area to cover,â€ Watkins said thoughtfully.

â€œYes, it is,â€ she agreed. â€œA lot of it is close quarters and we canâ€™t afford to lose anyone else to death or infection.â€

â€œIs there anyway we can help?â€ Lenard offered.

â€œThe best way to help would be to do exactly as we ask,â€ she said not unkindly. â€œStay in groups and donâ€™t let anyone stray.â€

Lenard nodded his consent. â€œAlright. Are we sure the doors canâ€™t be breached?â€

â€œWe couldnâ€™t dent those doors with a grenade,â€ Reynolds said solemnly.

Malory rose from her seat. â€œOn that note, Iâ€™m going to call it a night. Are you ready, Dr. Rivers?â€

â€œYes,â€ Corky answered, coming to her feet.

McNeely watched them go, waiting prudently until they left the room to speak. â€œChief, who volunteered?â€

â€œAlvarez.â€

â€œTell him to keep it quiet,â€ McNeely advised. â€œSheâ€™ll hand him his ass if she catches him watching over her.â€

Reynolds chuckled. â€œHe knows.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Corky dumped her bag of clothes on the floor and flopped into Maloryâ€™s chair. â€œDo you think anyone realized I was wearing one of your shirts?â€ she asked curiously.

â€œNah,â€ Malory scoffed as she seated herself on the end of her bunk and yawned tiredly.

â€œIâ€™m glad we went to get some of my things,â€ Corky said. â€œI donâ€™t think Iâ€™ve ever gone a full day in my life without wearing underwear.â€

â€œActually,â€ Malory considered. â€œI kinda like the way my pants ride up on me.â€

Corky giggled.

Malory chuckled and yawned again. â€œGod, Iâ€™m tired.â€

A blush. â€œSorry,â€ Corky said bashfully.

â€œGee, and I thought I was a horny toad,â€ Malory teased.

â€œShut up,â€ Corky demanded playfully.

Malory stood and closed the distance between them, reaching out a hand to gently cup the doctorâ€™s cheek. â€œDonâ€™t ever be sorry,â€ she said warmly, leaning forward to kiss her softly.

â€œDonâ€™t you leave me,â€ Corky whispered when she withdrew.

â€œNever,â€ she said somberly, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. â€œNow come to bed, itâ€™s gonna be a long day tomorrow.â€

05/10/02 - 0800 hours

Malory entered the mess the next morning and immediately signaled for McNeely as Corky sauntered away to grab a tray for breakfast.

â€œCommander,â€ McNeely said quietly, gesturing for her to step aside with him.

She followed him to an isolated corner, bracing for news that she knew she didnâ€™t want to hear.

â€œThere are six people missing and they donâ€™t respond to radio calls,â€ he said quietly.

â€œWhat the fuck?â€ she hissed angrily. â€œWhy wasnâ€™t I informed immediately?â€

â€œI only found out a few minutes ago and I didnâ€™t want to start a panic,â€ he explained calmly.

She reigned in a fit of temper. â€œWho?â€

â€œJones and Gregory from the kitchen staff. Danforth, Garret, Blair, and Laroux.â€

â€œWho else knows?â€

â€œPeople are beginning to suspect but for now just me, you, and Alvarez.â€

â€œWhoâ€™s on the doors?â€

â€œReynolds and Ring.â€

â€œGet them back here now,â€ she ordered and then yelled out. â€œGet situated in the middle of the room, weâ€™ve got trouble.â€

McNeely barked into his radio to order the men back.

â€œWhatâ€™s going on, Commander?â€ Clovis asked.

â€œGather in the middle of the room and stay away from the doors,â€ she yelled authoritatively.

â€œReynolds and Ring coming in,â€ McNeely yelled out in warning and a second later they burst into the room..

â€œPull some of the appliances out of the kitchen to block the east door, move it people!â€ she barked. â€œDeSoto, Hanson, youâ€™re outside the west door, go!â€

The men scrambled into a flurry of activity, most of them running into the kitchen.

â€œOnce the door is blockaded, everyone move to that side of the room,â€ she commanded.

â€œCommander,â€ Lenard said. â€œEveryone isnâ€™t here yet.â€

â€œEveryone not present is now part of the problem,â€ she stated angrily, stepping to the side as some of the men struggled by with an enormous stainless steel freezer.

Once they had the east door effectively blockaded, she checked her rifle. â€œThose with flame units hang back. Those with rifles concentrate on the head and legs, Understood?â€

A chorus of affirmatives. â€œSoldiers on me.â€

They gathered around her quickly. â€œChief, were the doors breached?â€

â€œNo,â€ he said. â€œThere wasnâ€™t a sound all night.â€

â€œDid we miss something? How the hell did they get in?â€

A group shrug and she sighed. â€œWeâ€™re going to have to clear it again and figure it out people. If they walked through the door right now, Iâ€™m not sure we could drop seven of the things.â€

â€œCommander,â€ McNeely said. â€œI suggest we recruit some more guns.â€

She released a long breath. â€œAny objections?â€

â€œI donâ€™t think we have a choice,â€ Ring said quietly.

She spared a quick glance at everyone. â€œVery well,â€ she consented, turning around to face the huddled civilians. â€œWho among you knows how to handle a weapon? We have a situation and it might come down to firepower.â€

â€œI can,â€ Clovis said, rising to his feet and joined by several others.

She nodded and turned back to McNeely. â€œWhat do we have for them?â€

â€œNothing unless I can get to the armory.â€

â€œWe need to do that first then,â€ she said. â€œAlright, we need toâ€¦â€

â€œIncoming!â€ DeSoto yelled from the hallway.

â€œChief, youâ€™re inside with Butler!â€ she yelled as she dashed for the hall.

She burst through the doors to see DeSoto already on one knee and aiming down the hall where three figures almost thirty yards away ambled drunkenly towards them. â€œForm a line!â€ she ordered and dropped down next to DeSoto. â€œStart on the right and stay on target until it drops!â€

The men crowded into the small hallway, kneeling and standing shoulder to shoulder. â€œFire at will,â€ she ordered and the deafening roar of gunfire surrounded them.

Blair almost disintegrated under the firepower directed at him and he fell to the floor stiffly, his bodily remains still quivering in the effort to continue forward.

Magazines fell to the floor and weapons were hastily reloaded as the distance between them and their enemies began to rapidly diminish. Malory dropped her empty shotgun and reached around to unsling her rifle, hurriedly taking aim and firing short three-shot bursts. Even with half of his head torn away, Danforth moved forward resolutely. His body flying away unnoticed in bloody chunks.

Finally he dropped, leaving only Gregory who was almost completely untouched and at an alarmingly close range.

Malory inserted a fresh magazine and stood. â€œFall back!â€ she yelled, taking careful aim at the depressingly young body that had once belonged to the quiet and unassuming Gregory.

The men hurriedly retreated into the mess and Malory suddenly found herself alone and three body lengths away from the advancing creature. Her finger moved to depress the trigger but paused when Gregory stopped and stood unmoving in the middle of the hall. He lifted his hands to his mouth and jerked down savagely, completely unhinging his jaw with a sickening crack of bone.

Malory didnâ€™t hesitate and emptied her rifle into the manâ€™s face, neck, and chest. The assault of bullets only succeeded in knocking Gregory back a stutter-step and he turned a hellishly ruined-featured stare in her direction, abruptly lunging forward with his arms outstretched.

She dropped her rifle and turned to run into the mess, a scream dying in her throat. Her body barely a hairsbreadth across the threshold when Reynolds threw his weight into the door, barely missing her as the door meet a fleshy and unyielding resistance and she was seized by an impossibly strong grip in her hair.

McNeely lunged forward into the door to add his strength to the effort. â€œGet on the fuckinâ€™ door!â€ he yelled.

All of Maloryâ€™s forward momentum was stopped by the power of the grip and she was ripped backwards, colliding with the half-open door painfully.

Alvarez leapt forward with a lightning fast draw of his knife and brought it down, cutting off a sizeable chunk of her ponytail to free her. Malory staggered forward with the unexpectedness of her liberty and turned to put her strength against the door.

Seeing the dilemma, Clovis let go of a frantically struggling Corky and ran forward with a roar. He lumbered powerfully across the room and utilizing all of his considerable strength, collided into both the startled soldiers and the door.

The force of his arrival slammed the door closed with a sickening crack of bone as one of Gregoryâ€™s arms was crushed and almost severed in the doorframe. Blood filled the doorframe like glue and Gregoryâ€™s fingers twitched madly as the crushed limb dangled from the precarious tissue still exerting a hold on the appendage.

â€œThe door wonâ€™t hold!â€ Reynolds yelled.

â€œBack up,â€ Malory ordered. â€œForm another firing line!â€

The words were no sooner out of her mouth when the door crashed open with stunning force, scattering the soldiers and Clovis in all directions. The edge of the door caught Malory on the side of her face and knocked her several feet backward to land painfully on her back. She groggily rolled over and brought herself to her knees, drawing her pistol.

â€œMalory!â€ Corky screamed.

The sound barely registered as she was yanked into the air by the scruff of her neck, catching sight of an evilly unnatural mouth filled with grotesquely gyrating worms descending upon her. She screamed and desperately thrust the barrel of her pistol into Gregoryâ€™s remaining eye. The bullet splattered brain matter on the wall behind him and the grip holding her aloft was suddenly released. She fell to the floor and collapsed to her knees, dimly aware of McNeely running forward to grab her by the shoulders.

He started to pull her away but Gregoryâ€™s wildly flailing arm caught him in the chest and propelled him into the air, dropping him with a grunt of pain several feet away. Malory was struggling to get to her feet when the swing that had dispatched McNeely returned to catch her in the side. The blow lifted her off her feet and sent her smashing into a table halfway across the room, where she lay motionless.

Another scream from Corky and she wrenched free of the men holding her, racing over to her fallen lover.

Alvarez rushed into the hall to retrieve Maloryâ€™s discarded shotgun and walked back into the room loading it. He approached the blind and still thrashing Gregory from behind, coming to just within arms reach and shouldering the weapon. The blast removed what was left of Gregoryâ€™s head and he followed the shot with two more to the back of his knees, dropping the twitching body to the floor.

â€œBurn it, Hanson!â€ he ordered. â€œTerrel, get the ones in the hall. Everyone still standing find something to block the door with when he gets back, move!â€

Corky frantically rolled Malory over and checked for a pulse, tears of relief filling her eyes when she found it strong and steady. She was in the process of searching out any obvious injuries when blue eyes fluttered open.

â€œIsâ€¦is everybody okay?â€ Malory croaked.

The threatening tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks. â€œI think so.â€

â€œHey,â€ Malory whispered softly. â€œIâ€™m alright.â€

â€œYou better be,â€ Corky sniffled.

â€œI just needed a little nap,â€ Malory said with a grin. â€œNow help me up, we got things to do.â€

â€œOkay,â€ Corky said wiping at her eyes.

Malory got to her feet and winced, knowing that she had broken or at the very least bruised some ribs. She shook it off and smiled for Corkyâ€™s benefit, squeezing the hand in hers tightly before turning to assess the situation.

Evidently, she was the last person to regain her feet and the men were busily working to block the door. She turned a look at the broken table that had borne the brunt of her impact and spotted her gun on the floor several feet away. Not caring if anyone might be watching, she released Corkyâ€™s hand and leaned over to peck her on the cheek.

â€œWeâ€™re gonna be okay,â€ she whispered and ambled over to pick up her pistol.

â€”â€”â€”

Twenty minutes later, Malory gingerly sipped at a cup of coffee and surveyed the prison they had created for themselves. She had pointedly ignored everyone since obtaining her java and the men had only just finished shoring up the doors to their satisfaction. A task she personally thought was a waste of time; if they wanted in, they were gonna get in and a confrontation within the small confines of the mess hall was a prelude to disaster.

She shot a glance over her shoulder at Corky, who was going about the task of getting what food she could ready for consumption. Not that anyone had much of an appetite after witnessing Gregoryâ€™s bloody demise firsthand, yet she realized that the doctor was coping with things in her own way. A smile came to her face as Corky stuck an experimental finger into her concoction and brought it to her mouth, nodding slightly in satisfaction. Suddenly, the situation became intensely personal and a grim purpose fought for air. It was a feeling she had only experienced once before and she recognized it for what it was; resolve.

She rose to her feet and spared a long glance at all the people depending on her leadership. It was do or die time.

â€œEveryone gather around,â€ she commanded, waiting patiently for them to congregate and taking Corkyâ€™s hand when she came out of the kitchen. â€œWe canâ€™t stay here. You all saw what just one of those things did. Weâ€™re sitting ducks and Iâ€™m not going to sit here and play with myself until one of those things decides to make a meal out of me. We have to make some choices.â€

â€œWhat choices do we have, Commander?â€ Lenard asked.

â€œThereâ€™s only one,â€ she said solemnly. â€œWe flush them out and destroy them. I wonâ€™t order anyone to come with me but thatâ€™s exactly what Iâ€™m going to do.â€

â€œWhere do we start, skipper?â€ Alvarez said grimly. â€œIâ€™m with you and I believe I speak for everyone in uniform.â€

â€œHere, here,â€ McNeely chimed in.

â€œIâ€™m with you,â€ Clovis said.

Every head in the room began to nod.

â€œIt looks like we all are,â€ Lenard observed.

â€œAlright,â€ she said. â€œWhat do we have in the armory, Mr. McNeely?â€

â€œStandard compliment of M16â€™s and 1911â€™s. About six Benelli M1â€™s and a thousand rounds for each weapon minus what weâ€™ve already used.â€

â€œNothing heavier?â€

â€œAfraid not,â€ he said regretfully. â€œThis is a scientific outpost. The flame units, which we have about a dozen of, are only present because theyâ€™re excellent for creating tunnels in the ice. We have plenty of fuel for them and some small explosives. Thatâ€™s it.â€

She hummed thoughtfully. â€œLemme hear some opinions.â€

â€œI think we need to find out how the hell they got in here,â€ Reynolds said. â€œAs strong as they are, theyâ€™re not strong enough to break the seals on the fire doors. There has to be something we missed.â€

â€œI suggest that we reestablish the perimeter once we determine how they got in,â€ Alvarez said. â€œThen I recommend we travel as a group, rifles up front, shotguns in reserve for close work and flame units to finish. Fire teams in front and behind.â€

â€œI have no objections to any of that, skipper,â€ McNeely said. â€œBut if we can manage to reestablish a perimeter we still have to count on them getting in sooner or later.â€

â€œI agree,â€ Ring chimed in.

â€œAlright,â€ Malory said. â€œFirst trip is to the armory so we can get everybody packinâ€™. Then we inspect the quarters of those dead or missing from last night, Iâ€™d be willing to bet those rooms can tell us how they got in. Once thatâ€™s done, I intend to hunt them down. Anyone disagree?â€

She looked around. â€œGood, because it wasnâ€™t up for debate. Letâ€™s get it together, I donâ€™t want to be caught in here. Stock up on the C-rations, gear up and clear one of the doors.â€

Corky squeezed her hand and she turned to her curiously. â€œIâ€™m coming too, right?â€

â€œYouâ€™re not getting out of my sight.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Malory stood in the hall outside of Larouxâ€™s quarters with her shotgun at the ready, her army of armed civilians standing by behind her. They had proceeded to the armory without incident and had cleared all of the rooms to Larouxâ€™s thus far.

McNeely and Alvarez had point and stood on either side of the door; waiting for her signal. She nodded and waited tensely as McNeely pushed open the door and fell back to a cover position as Alvarez dropped to a knee in the open doorway. After a careful inspection, he entered slowly only to emerge a handful of seconds later.

â€œClear,â€ he said casually. â€œLaroux is dinner scraps. No sign of Garret.â€

Malory sighed, slightly ashamed that it was a sigh of relief. One meal meant one less enemy. â€œWas Garret his bunkmate for the night?â€

â€œYeah,â€ McNeely confirmed, curiously peering into the room. â€œWe need the Chief up here.â€

â€œAlright,â€ Malory agreed. â€œAlvarez relieve him and send him up front.â€

Alvarez nodded and began making his way through the crowd gathered in the narrow hall towards the rear.

â€œWhatâ€™s up?â€ Malory asked, reluctant to look inside of the room. Viewing Ballengerâ€™s remains had been enough to witness.

â€œThey came in through the floor,â€ McNeely stated factually.

â€œHuh?â€

â€œThere are service tunnels under the complex that contain heating ducts, electrical cables, network cable, and so forth,â€ McNeely explained. â€œThey used those tunnels to get in.â€

Malory closed her eyes as the information sank in. They could be anywhere, including the places theyâ€™d already searched. â€œJesus, where are the access points?â€

â€œI only know of the one outside of Operations, the Chief will know,â€ McNeely said quietly. â€œHere he comes,â€ he added as Reynolds came forward.

Malory turned to him immediately. â€œChief, where are the access points to the service tunnels?â€

He looked at her in sudden understanding. â€œShit,â€ he exclaimed. â€œOne outside of Operations, one in Receiving, and another in Mechanical.â€

â€œCan they be sealed?â€ she asked.

â€œYeah, they seal with a vacuum door a few yards after the access point.â€

â€œWhy didnâ€™t they close when the complex went into lockdown?â€

â€œThey should have,â€ Reynolds said with a shake of his head. â€œI can only assume they were propped open.â€

â€œDid we do that?â€

â€œNo way,â€ he said quickly.

â€œWould they seal automatically if the prop was removed after lockdown?â€

â€œNo,â€ Reynolds replied. â€œAfter the computer verifies lockdown it wonâ€™t send any further commands until it is rescinded.â€

â€œWhy didnâ€™t the computer tell us the damn doors were still open down there?â€

â€œIt should have. I can only assume that whoever kept them from closing, blocked the sensors on the lock mechanism. Itâ€™s the only way I know to fool it.â€

â€œSo someone was down there when the command was given and was smart enough to block the sensors,â€ she asked unbelievingly.

â€œThat would be my guess,â€ he admitted. â€œOr someone knows a trick I donâ€™t.â€

Malory chewed on that in dismay. â€œAlright, where would the safest point in the complex be that is not vulnerable to entry through use of the service tunnels?â€ she asked, suddenly feeling terribly exposed.

â€œThe lab,â€ Reynolds said quickly. â€œAll heat and power is routed in from overhead. The service tunnel is cut off from entry to that area by another vacuum door. The door itself is permanently sealed. Only you can open it via computer command.â€

â€œThen lets roll,â€ she said quickly. â€œThatâ€™s the only safe place in the entire compound right now.â€

â€œCommander,â€ McNeely said. â€œThe lab is huge, itâ€™ll take some time to clear it.â€

â€œDo we have another option at this time?â€

McNeely considered. â€œNo.â€

â€œThen letâ€™s go there directly,â€ Malory said. â€œChief, youâ€™re on point with the Sergeant Major.â€

â€œAye, skipper.â€

â€œBut first,â€ she added. â€œHanson, burn whatâ€™s left of Laroux.â€

Hanson nodded grimly and stepped forward, illuminating the hall as he sprayed fire into the room.

â€”â€”â€”

The going was excruciatingly slow as every door they encountered was treated as a potential threat and they darted two at a time past each one. They made no overtures to conduct a search effort and traveled grimly toward their destination. Finally, as their objective came into sight, movement became quicker as all hoped to get behind the relative safety of the laboratoryâ€™s pressure door.

Within twenty-five yards of the entrance, Malory had begun to harbor the small hope that they would arrive unscathed. A hope that vanished as the floor suddenly rushed up in the middle of their party, immediately dropping two men into the tunnel below. The pit in the floor creating two groups, one in front and one behind. The screams started from below instantly.

â€œLeave them, we canâ€™t help!â€ Malory yelled. â€œWeâ€™re running for it, everyone over as fast you can!â€

Those trapped on the other side didnâ€™t ask questions and took several steps back, initiating a running start to propel them over the four-foot gap in the floor.

â€œSergeant, Chief, form a firing line in front of the lab!â€ Malory ordered, darting around the running bodies and grabbing Corkyâ€™s frightened hand.

â€œStay with me,â€ she said quietly and began pulling her down the hall toward the assembling men.

McNeely started barking orders to get everyone positioned and Malory ran toward him with Corky in tow, turning a quick look behind her to see Isaaks seized in midair from the tunnel below. His face crashing sickeningly into the edge of the floor with a grisly thud that left behind teeth and blood before he disappeared into the tunnel.

His fate went almost unnoticed as the remainder of the men jumped across the void without hesitation and ran forward. As Alvarez passed her and joined the firing line, she released Corkyâ€™s hand and dropped to one knee.

â€œMcNeely, clear the lab. Use as many as you need to get it done as quickly as possible,â€ she ordered. â€œEveryone else shore up and hold the hall.â€

McNeely turned at once and slapped several men on the shoulder to follow him and within seconds, a deadly quiet descended upon the hall.

â€œWhat do we do, Commander?â€ Watkins muttered nervously.

â€œKeep your shit together and blast anything that moves until McNeely gives us the go ahead to enter the lab,â€ Malory responded quietly.

The sound of nervous breathing and restless fidgeting were the only things to be heard for the next twenty minutes. Maloryâ€™s eyes vigilantly scanning the hall down the barrel of her rifle and trying very hard not linger on the teeth scattered indiscriminately on the floor a dozen yards away. A hand touched her shoulder and it took every once of willpower she had not to scream and rain gunfire down the hallway.

Corky felt the body under her hand tense powerfully and she squeezed Maloryâ€™s shoulder reassuringly. â€œEasy,â€ she whispered and Malory relaxed slowly.

â€œCommander,â€ Clovis whispered. â€œIf we get into the lab, I need to talk to you.â€

Malory just nodded, afraid to glance away from the hall for even a second.

Her concentration was so intense that she periodically had to wipe the sweat away from her eyes with her shirtsleeve and she felt the beginnings of a powerful headache. Finally, as she began to believe she had spent a year of her life rooted to the same spot, McNeely called out.

â€œLab is clear,â€ he said loudly. â€œMove!â€

Organized chaos ensued as everyone scrambled to get inside and Malory breathed a long sigh of relief as the pressure door was sealed behind her.

â€œCommander,â€ Clovis said.

She turned to him tiredly. â€œWhat is it, Mr. Stokes?â€

â€œWe need to change the entry code on that door immediately,â€ he said gravely. â€œI donâ€™t think we can take the chance that it might not be remembered.â€

Malory closed her eyes. â€œWho knows it?â€

â€œEveryone but you most likely,â€ he replied.

â€œWhy is that?â€ she asked peevishly.

â€œBecause youâ€™re the only one who never comes in here,â€ he explained. â€œEveryone else knows it, itâ€™s common knowledge.â€

She sighed. â€œHow do we change it?â€

â€œHas to be done by computer, Iâ€™m sure the Chief knows.â€

Reynolds overheard. â€œHeâ€™s right, skipper,â€ he said. â€œIâ€™ll get on it right now,â€ he added, slinging his rifle and ambling over to the nearest computer.

She followed him. â€œMcNeely, Ring, and Alvarez join us, please,â€ she ordered.

When they had all gathered around Reynolds she spoke softly. â€œCan you change the codes on all the doors, Chief?â€

â€œYes.â€

â€œDo it, make them all the same,â€ she ordered. â€œThe four of us are going to be the only ones with the new code. If one of us falls it needs to be changed again. Who else knows how to do this, Chief?â€

â€œOnly myself and DeSoto,â€ he answered quickly.

â€œVery well.â€

â€œHow do you suggest we proceed from here, skipper?â€ McNeely asked.

Malory took a deep breath and fell into a nearby chair. â€œObviously, we need to clear the service tunnels and seal the pressure doors or we canâ€™t clear the ground weâ€™ve already covered.â€

â€œOnly one person at a time can fit down there,â€ Reynolds pointed out. â€œUnless we travel through them single file.â€

â€œI kinda figured,â€ Malory said resignedly.

McNeely scrutinized her intensely. â€œNo way,â€ he said sternly.

â€œWe donâ€™t have a choice, Sergeant,â€ she said. â€œWe canâ€™t survive in here until summer.â€

â€œI agree. But youâ€™re not going to be the one going down there,â€ he said stubbornly. â€œWeâ€™ll draw straws.â€

â€œRank hath it privileges,â€ she said softly. â€œAnd unfortunately, it also has its responsibilities.â€

â€œNo,â€ he said flatly.

â€œSergeant,â€ she rumbled. â€œIâ€™ll admit your dick is bigger than mine, but this isnâ€™t your call.â€

â€œIâ€™ll do it,â€ Alvarez interjected.

Maloryâ€™s eyes tracked to the formidable Tech Sergeant. â€œYour offer is gratefully acknowledged, Mr. Alvarez,â€ she said sincerely. â€œBut I wonâ€™t allow it.â€

â€œMay I speak freely?â€ he asked.

â€œGo ahead,â€ she replied easily.

â€œNeither you or the Sergeant Major can be spared. You two are the only ones capable of bringing the complex out of lockdown. Lieutenant Ring canâ€™t do it because heâ€™s our only pilot and the Chief canâ€™t be chosen because his knowledge of the facility is too valuable to lose. And honestly, Iâ€™m probably the only one who stands a modest chance of surviving. I spent my previous two tours with Special Operations.â€

Malory studied him thoughtfully. â€œAll good points,â€ she conceded. â€œBut youâ€™re not going to change my mind.â€

â€œCommander,â€ he continued. â€œYour survival is paramount. In addition, you are physically the weakest among us and the most injured. Iâ€™ve seen you try to hide it from Dr. Rivers but you took a hell of shot in the ribs this morning. Youâ€™ll have to stoop to maneuver in the service tunnels and even crawl in certain areas. Your injury will only hinder your ability to act in the event of a confrontation. Not to mention, you risk further injury to yourself by attempting to negotiate the terrain down there.â€

â€œMr. Alvarezâ€¦â€ she started.

â€œLet me also point out that if you die down there, youâ€™ll kill the woman behind me who has been afraid to take her eyes off of you since this began,â€ he interrupted.

She stood angrily from her seat. â€œThatâ€™s not only extremely manipulative but way out of line,â€ she said dangerously.

He stood his ground. â€œItâ€™s also true, Commander.â€

She opened her mouth, taking a deep breath to get some steam behind her tirade.

â€œHeâ€™s right, Commander,â€ McNeely cut her off. â€œOn all counts.â€

She slowly closed her mouth and studied the men silently for a moment. â€œIâ€™ll let you know in the morning,â€ she said finally. â€œAt that time, Iâ€™ll brook no further argument. Regardless of my decision. Right now, I could use some rest.â€

They nodded silently and she began to walk away.

â€œCommander,â€ Reynolds said. â€œThe entry codes have been changed, youâ€™ll need to memorize the number.â€

She stopped and turned to view the monitor, committing the code to memory. â€œThank you, Chief. Letâ€™s keep everybody close to the door for the evening. Just in case,â€ she suggested quietly.

â€œUnderstood,â€ McNeely answered and she walked off slowly in Corkyâ€™s direction.

Corky was leaning against the wall with her knees drawn up to her chest, Malory noted the brown eyes watching her attentively.

â€œHey,â€ she said with a grin as she approached.

â€œHey,â€ Corky replied quietly and Malory slid down the wall to take a seat next to her.

â€œYou okay?â€

â€œYeah,â€ Corky said unconvincingly, reaching out a hand to pet the back of her head.

â€œYour beautiful hair,â€ she added sadly.

â€œHuh?â€ Malory asked confusedly, bringing a hand up to check and finding the stub of a ponytail. â€œShit,â€ she said disappointedly, pulling the useless band out. â€œHow bad does it look?â€

Corky grinned and studied the now shoulder length hair. â€œKinda cute actually.â€

â€œReally?â€ Malory asked warily.

Corky ruffled it playfully. â€œYou look great,â€ she said honestly.

Malory eyed her suspiciously.

â€œReally, it looks good,â€ Corky soothed.

Malory shrugged. â€œI guess Iâ€™d rather lose a hunk of hair than my ass.â€

â€œYour hair will grow back if you donâ€™t like it,â€ Corky said amiably and then whispered. â€œBut I want that ass to remain where it is. It looks good on you.â€

Malory smiled slyly. â€œIt does?â€

â€œUh huh,â€ Corky whispered playfully. â€œIâ€™d like to see it right about now.â€

Malory beamed. â€œAs much as I would love to indulge you, Iâ€™m afraid our situation isnâ€™t as private as I would prefer,â€ she said with a look around, noting more than one face watching them curiously.

Corky giggled. â€œI suppose that would ruin your command image.â€

Malory chuckled. â€œPretty much,â€ she agreed and winced.

â€œWhatâ€™s wrong?â€ Corky asked worriedly.

â€œNothing,â€ Malory said quickly.

Corky didnâ€™t buy it and glared at her stubbornly until she reddened guiltily. â€œTake a deep breath for me,â€ she demanded.

Malory sucked in a gulp of air and blew it out with a triumphant smile. Corkyâ€™s eyes narrowed and her hand darted forward to probe her side, receiving a sharp hiss of pain for her effort.

McNeely had been watching them for the last few minutes and turned to his comrades. â€œHey, fellas,â€ he said conspiratorially. â€œCheck this out,â€ he added with a gesture in Maloryâ€™s direction.

Four sets of eyes covertly studied the ensuing scene, watching as the little doctor began to quietly scold the guilty looking Commander; eventually rising to her feet and pointing authoritatively to an adjoining room. Malory offered what was apparently an unacceptable response and the doctor bent over to pull her to her feet, again pointing to the next room. Shoulders slumping, Malory sighed and turned to walk through the door Corky had indicated.

McNeely chuckled as the women disappeared. â€œLooks like someone outranks her.â€

â€œIâ€™ll be damned,â€ Reynolds said. â€œAre they together?â€

â€œYeah,â€ McNeely admitted.

Ring grunted. â€œI was wondering what was going on with them.â€

â€œWho gives a shit?â€ Alvarez said dismissively. â€œIâ€™d follow her orders to the Gates of Hell.â€

â€œYou might have to do just that,â€ McNeely said quietly.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky pointed to a table and turned to lock the door. â€œTake a seat and strip off that shirt,â€ she demanded.

Malory did as she was told, sitting down on the metal worktable and pulling her sweatshirt over her head. Corky gasped from the door and rushed forward.

â€œJesus, Malory,â€ she said worriedly, eyeing the massive purple-yellow bruise covering most of her side. â€œLift your arm,â€ she ordered.

Malory raised an arm in the air and tried not to wince as Corky gently probed her side, failing twice and receiving extra attention in that area.

â€œTake a real deep breath,â€ Corky said sarcastically.

â€œI canâ€™t,â€ Malory admitted in a whisper.

Corky sighed. â€œOh, baby,â€ she said sadly. â€œJust take a big breath and hold it for me. This might hurt a little.â€

Malory nodded and did as she was asked, grimacing as Corky pressed a hand against her in examination.

Corky dropped her hand. â€œTheyâ€™re not broken but I wouldnâ€™t be surprised if they werenâ€™t cracked,â€ she said with a measure of relief. â€œIâ€™ll need to wrap them.â€

Malory blew out a puff of air. â€œWell, thatâ€™s good news,â€ she said happily.

Corky frowned at her. â€œNo it isnâ€™t,â€ she said sharply. â€œYouâ€™re all beat up and I donâ€™t like it one bit. One side of your face looks like someone beat you with a hockey stick, youâ€™ve got cracked ribs and are minus half a foot of hair.â€

Malory brought a hand up to her hair self-consciously. â€œI thought you said it looked good.â€

Corky slapped her on the knee. â€œI canâ€™t believe you,â€ she said, shaking her head. â€œOut of all that youâ€™re worried most about your hair? Donâ€™t be such a girl.â€

An indulgent smile. â€œI thought you liked girls?â€

Corky rolled her eyes. â€œI do,â€ she said quietly. â€œBut I love you and I donâ€™t like to see you hurt.â€

â€œI love you too, Corky.â€

â€œI was so scared for you today,â€ she said in a small voice.

â€œCorky,â€ Malory said softly. â€œI have to go outside in the morning.â€

Brown eyes looked at her sharply. â€œNo,â€ she said strictly.

â€œI have to.â€

â€œNo, you donâ€™t!â€ she said in alarm. â€œYou send someone else.â€

A sigh. â€œI canâ€™t send anyone else.â€

â€œNo,â€ Corky said determinedly, gearing up for combat. â€œYou will send one of the other guys, youâ€™re not going,â€ she added, stomping a foot for emphasis.

Malory reached out and grabbed her hands. â€œCorky, I have to go,â€ she said tenderly. â€œI canâ€™t and I wonâ€™t order anyone else to do it. Neither will I allow someone to go in my place.â€

Corky stared at her fearfully. â€œThen weâ€™ll stay in here until summer.â€

â€œWe donâ€™t have enough food to last us the week and no matter how secure things are, these things are smart. Theyâ€™ll find a way in here by summer.â€

â€œDonâ€™t ask me to let you do this,â€ Corky pleaded.

â€œI wonâ€™t ask,â€ Malory sighed. â€œBecause itâ€™s going to happen anyway.â€

Corkyâ€™s face crumbled and the tears started. â€œPlease donâ€™t go.â€

Malory pulled her into her arms, embracing her tightly and ignoring the pain in her side. â€œItâ€™ll be okay,â€ she whispered into her hair. â€œYouâ€™ll see.â€

â€”â€”â€”

McNeely looked up when the women emerged from the other room, noting the doctorâ€™s puffy eyes and the Commanderâ€™s look of sad resolution. He knew what it meant and he nudged the napping Alvarez who sat beside him.

â€œWhatâ€™s up?â€ he said, coming awake instantly.

â€œSheâ€™s going,â€ he said quietly.

Alvarez looked across the room and watched as the Commander took a seat against the wall and the doctor snuggled up to her desperately, burying her face into Maloryâ€™s chest.

â€œI knew she would,â€ he admitted.

McNeely sighed. â€œI did too,â€ he said resignedly. â€œThink she has a chance?â€

Alvarez considered silently for a moment. â€œBetter than average,â€ he said finally.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky slept fitfully, snapping awake several times just to make sure Malory was still in her embrace. Finally, she gave up trying to sleep altogether and just lay still in her loverâ€™s arms, listening to her heartbeat and soft breathing. She had tried frantically to get Malory to change her mind but it was all for naught. She had even considered throwing herself to the floor in the morning and pitching a fit but discarded it reluctantly, figuring Malory would just have someone drag her into the other room and lock her inside. The fear for both Malory and their situation was making her irrational.

She sighed and opened her eyes, slowly tracking around the room cluttered with sleeping men, her entire body growing ice cold as she met another pair of open eyes staring at her from the other side of the door. Her terrified scream echoed around the room alarmingly, jolting everyone awake instantly.

Malory went from a dead sleep to standing at a rigid attention in a nanosecond, her hands white on her shotgun, eyes flying around the room frantically. â€œWhat the fuâ€¦â€ she trailed off abruptly as she met Coyâ€™s hopelessly insane stare.

He was standing stock still as if in a trance on the opposite side of the transparent door, his broken jaw drooping hideously.

â€œHeâ€™s alone, Commander,â€ Alvarez said. â€œLetâ€™s let him in, we can finish him quick and itâ€™ll be one less to worry about,â€ he added and received several nods of approval.

Malory nodded to agree. â€œForm a firing line,â€ she ordered and the men scrambled to obey her.

â€œLoveâ€¦ craft,â€ Coyâ€™s voice gurgled gruesomely, his devastated jaw slurring his pronunciation.

The entire room froze in their tracks, all eyes slowly turning in Coyâ€™s direction.

Malory squeezed Corky against her tightly, her grip on her lover steady to keep her hands from trembling. Not wanting to believe she had heard the thing speak.

â€œLoveâ€¦ craft,â€ Coy repeated.

Feigning a confidence that she didnâ€™t feel in the slightest, she let go of Corky and stepped forward. â€œWhat can I do for you?â€ she asked, feeling proud of the question.

His eyes focused on her drunkenly, his jaw convulsing sickeningly. â€œLoveâ€¦ craft,â€ he repeated stupidly.

â€œThat would be me,â€ she said impatiently. â€œWhat is it you want?â€

â€œOnlyâ€¦ for youâ€¦â€ he struggled and coughed a mouthful of worms onto the glass that separated them. â€œâ€¦for youâ€¦ toâ€¦die.â€

Malory fought back a gag, only barely succeeding. â€œWhy me?â€ she forced herself to ask.

â€œWithoutâ€¦youâ€¦ no hope,â€ he replied.

â€œThereâ€™s always hope,â€ she countered quickly.

â€œVeryâ€¦ little hopeâ€¦ I assureâ€¦ you,â€ he said with difficulty.

Maloryâ€™s heart skipped and her face paled as the words struck a familiar cord, her brain jumping through hoops to remember where she had heard them. It came to her suddenly and scared her so bad she took an involuntary step backwards.

â€œYâ€¦ yes,â€ Coy rasped. â€œWeâ€¦ know.â€

â€œMalory,â€ Corky said worriedly taking a step forward, concern etched deeply into her features.

Malory raised a hand to stop her. â€œWhat is it you know?â€

â€œEverything,â€ he said. â€œYou willâ€¦ dieâ€¦ soon.â€

â€œWill not happen,â€ she challenged.

â€œSomeoneâ€¦ someâ€¦thing rulesâ€¦ in â€¦ his place.â€

Malory closed her eyes. â€œWhat the fuck was in that cube?â€ she asked in a whisper.

Coyâ€™s head twitched violently to the side several times. â€œSâ€¦seventh â€¦ seal,â€ he answered and turned to stagger stiffly into the hall, slowly disappearing from view.

Stunned silence reigned in his departure and Corky came forward to embrace Malory from behind.

â€œCommander,â€ McNeely said finally. â€œYou are not leaving this room,â€ he added sternly. â€œIf you try, Iâ€™ll have you subdued.â€

Malory turned an empty glance in his direction. â€œIt doesnâ€™t matter, Doug,â€ she said calmly.

â€œWhat doesnâ€™t matter?â€ he asked confusedly.

â€œThoseâ€¦ things, they know everything.â€

â€œWhat do you mean, Commander?â€ Lenard asked. â€œWhat was Coy talking about?â€

â€œHe was quoting Vincent Price from â€˜The Masque of the Red Deathâ€™,â€ she said indifferently.

â€œWhy would he do that?â€ Watkins asked.

â€œI had a nightmare just before you found the cube, I was watching that movie at the time,â€ she explained. â€œI was alone.â€

â€œWhat does that prove?â€ Lenard asked.

â€œHe knew it scared me, just like he knew I was planning to go out and seal the tunnel doors in the morning. They know everything. They know what weâ€™re thinking, what weâ€™re feeling.â€

â€œJesus,â€ Hanson said slowly.

â€œDo you think he was telling the truth?â€ Daly asked nervously. â€œAbout the Seal?â€

Malory shrugged. â€œWho knows?â€

â€œWhat are we going to do, Commander?â€ Clovis asked.

â€œSurvive,â€ she said calmly.

â€œHow do you propose we do that?â€ Watkins asked.

â€œBy taking the fight to them.â€

â€œThatâ€™s suicide, they can be anywhere,â€ Watkins said fretfully.

â€œWe either stay here and starve or we go on as planned,â€ she said. â€œEither way, Iâ€™ll bet my last dollar weâ€™re not as important to them as the rescue team would be.â€

â€œWhy do you say that?â€ Lenard asked curiously.

â€œThey donâ€™t want to stay here anymore than we do,â€ she answered simply. â€œThey want to travel.â€

â€œOh, my God,â€ Corky gasped. â€œIf even one of them reached a city...â€

â€œWeâ€™d be fucked,â€ McNeely finished for her.

â€œCommander, come take a look at this,â€ Clovis requested from the door.

She padded over to join him, following his eyes to the clump of worms Coy had coughed up. â€œUnfortunately, Iâ€™ve seen them up close before, Mr. Stokes,â€ she said dryly.

â€œTheyâ€™re dead,â€ he said interestedly. â€œTheyâ€™re already decomposing.â€

Malory spared a closer look at the grisly pile on the other side of the door as Lenard and Tanaka came forward curiously. Tanaka dropped to his knees to get a better look and hummed thoughtfully for a long moment.

â€œIt would be my guess that they canâ€™t survive for long without a host,â€ he said finally.

â€œIâ€™m inclined to concur,â€ Lenard added somberly.

â€œWell, now we have something new to think about,â€ Malory said dismissively and took a deep breath. â€œChief, if one was traveling from here in the service tunnels, which door is the quickest one to get to and get back?â€

â€œOperations,â€ he answered quickly.

â€œAnd the farthest?â€

â€œReceiving.â€

â€œIâ€™ll need one volunteer, the Chief, the Lieutenant, and the Sergeant Major excluded,â€ she said regretfully.

â€œThat would be me, Commander,â€ Alvarez said.

â€œYouâ€™ve already got a job, as do I. We need one more,â€ she said grimly.

â€œIâ€™ll do it, skipper,â€ Hanson said quietly.

She nodded. â€œLose the flame unit and gear up, you have Operations. Alvarez youâ€™re on Mechanical. Iâ€™ll take Receiving.â€

â€œWhen are we leaving?â€ Alvarez asked.

â€œFive minutesâ€

She turned to place a kiss on the top of Corkyâ€™s head, bending to whisper in her ear. â€œSee you in a bit.â€

Corky smiled bravely. â€œYouâ€™d better come back, Commander,â€ she whispered.

Malory beamed her best smile and turned to the crowd. â€œWhen you get your door sealed, radio in to the Sergeant Major and then get back here as fast as you can. Chief, give us a flight plan.â€

Reynolds stepped forward. â€œI assume youâ€™ll be entering the tunnels from the entrance created yesterday?â€

â€œYes.â€

â€œAlright,â€ he said. â€œItâ€™s a straight shot for about thirty to forty yards before you come upon an intersection, Operations will be to the left. The next intersection will be to the right and lead to Mechanical. From there the tunnel curves around to the left, eventually leading to Receiving.â€

â€œAlvarez, Hanson, any questions?â€ Malory asked.

â€œGot it,â€ Alvarez said quickly.

â€œNo questions,â€ Hanson replied.

â€œIf you succeed and are able to head back, radio your status prior to arrival,â€ she said gravely. â€œYouâ€™ll have to be able to get back in here with a reasonable degree of safety for the people inside. Understood?â€

The men nodded to the affirmative and she walked over to don her gear.

â€œCommander,â€ McNeely said. â€œA quick word in private, please?â€

Malory gestured to the next room and followed after him.

â€œYour orders, in the event you do not return?â€ he asked as soon as the door closed behind her.

â€œOne way or the other, Doug. Iâ€™ll seal my door,â€ Malory said quietly. â€œIf the other guys succeed, clear the complex. Then at the very least, youâ€™ll need to clear the area outside of the North door so you can either leave the facility at the first opportunity or admit reinforcements in the summer.â€

â€œAnd if things go south?â€

â€œIf that happens,â€ Malory said gravely. â€œI want you to do me a favor.â€

â€œName it,â€ he said seriously.

â€œFirst, you cannot allow a rescue to arrive without warning. As a last resort, get someone into Operations and get the dome cleared. Even if you have to take everyone with you,â€ she said grimly.

He nodded. â€œAnd the rest?â€

â€œThe rest is personal,â€ she whispered with difficulty. â€œIf the situation calls for it, Iâ€™d like you to put Corky down so she doesnâ€™t end up a meal, or worse yet, one of those things.â€

McNeely took a deep breath. â€œMalory, I donâ€™tâ€¦â€

â€œPlease, Doug,â€ she interrupted softly, tears hanging on the precipice. â€œI canâ€™t bear the thought of her suffering like that,â€ she added in a croak.

He closed his eyes and quickly nodded.

Malory breathed a sigh of relief and brought a hand up to wipe at her eyes. â€œDonâ€™t let her see it coming, okay?â€

Another nod and he extended a hand. â€œYou watch your ass out there,â€ he said gravely.

She took his grip with a smile. â€œYou can count on that.â€

05/11/02 - 0510 hours

Malory walked back through the door, McNeely emerging a second after her. â€œWe ready?â€ she asked and got nods from Alvarez and Hanson. â€œLetâ€™s blow this pop stand.â€

She let her best cocky smile fly at Corky and shot her wink, receiving an affectionate smile in response.

â€œOkay,â€ she said brightly, cocking her shotgun and inserting another round. â€œOpen the door, Iâ€™ll take point. Alvarez you got flank. Donâ€™t stop to smell the roses.â€

â€œGood luck, all,â€ Clovis sounded off, prompting a round of well wishing.

Reynolds nodded and came forward to punch the code into the door, shooting a glance over his shoulder. â€œReady?â€

â€œDo it,â€ Malory ordered, taking off at a run as soon as she had enough room, pounding through the foyer and into the hall.

The quick footsteps of Alvarez and Hanson echoed behind her and within seconds they approached the missing floor plates from the last attack. Taking a running start, she slid the last few feet on her knees and dropped headlong into the tunnel. It was a longer drop than anticipated and she landed on her hands and knees with a grunt. She rolled away quickly so the men following her had room to enter and found herself face to face with the ravaged corpse of Mark Isaaks, her hand and shotgun resting in the devastation of his chest cavity. She forcibly bit down on the impulse to squeal in disgust and rolled over him with closed eyes as Hanson dropped into the tunnel beside her.

She rose to her feet, having to bend over at the waist to keep her head from scraping the ceiling and leveled her gun down the hallway. As soon as Alvarez joined them and gave her a thumbs up, she proceeded forward as quickly as she could manage, eyes and ears strained for anything of import. Their anxious breathing and the sound of hurried footsteps in the ice seemed conspicuously audible.

Within minutes, she cautiously approached the first intersection and signaled the men to halt. Taking a deep breath and holding it, she rushed forward and leaped across the gap, coming to her knees and signaling it clear. Hanson nodded and gave a two fingered salute before making his way down the adjoining tunnel alone. Alvarez motioned her forward and she turned to continue on, mentally wishing the young Sergeant well.

Ten minutes later, she did the same for Alvarez as the man disappeared toward his destination, finding herself suddenly alone and feeling terribly vulnerable. After a determined sigh, she was again on her way, her breath visible puffs of white as the cold inside the tunnel only added to the oppressive apprehension consuming her.

The tunnel began to veer off to the left and her gaze became even more agitated, the curvature in front of her slightly obstructing the path ahead. The ducting and conduits lining the wall that she wouldnâ€™t ordinarily notice took on a sinister appearance, obstacles to be avoided and she was afraid to let any part of her body brush against them.

A lifetime later, she spotted the door beckoning to her in the distance and she went stock still, afraid to let herself hope that she might actually succeed. The walls closed in on her as she hurried forward, her focus reduced to nothing but the objective in front of her. Twenty more yards and she could sprint back to safety. Soon it was fifteen yards and then ten.

Eight yards from her destination she screamed in both terror and surprise as the floor fell in on top of her. The scream cut off abruptly as the wind was forced from her by the obscene strength of the jolting grip that yanked her into the hallway above. Stars danced in front of her eyes as her face collided painfully against the wall, bloodying her nose with a crunch. She went limp in her captiveâ€™s grip and found freedom as she sunk to the floor. Her arms and neck burning abrasively from having her sweatshirt torn forcibly from her body, she rolled to the side, surprised to find the shotgun still in her hands.

Coy stared stupidly at the rag of her shirt dangling from his hand and turned to recapture his target.

The point blank blast from her shotgun severed his left leg from the knee down and he fell almost comically to the ground, his hands made no move to break the fall and his head hit the ground with the sound of a melon being split.

Malory followed the blast with two more quick shots to his face and neck, she would have fired a fourth but the impact from the rounds forced his body into the hole he had created in the floor and he disappeared from view. The sound of footsteps from behind brought her swinging around to see Percy lumbering up the hall from about twenty feet away.

Not wasting any time, she emptied the shotgun at Percy and dropped it to the floor. Instantly swinging the rifle around from her back and firing it down the hall until it locked open empty. The clatter of the magazine hitting the ground was quickly followed by the insertion of another and the loud clack of the bolt being snapped closed. Her finger depressed the trigger and a salvo of bullets tore into the ceiling as the floor panel she was kneeling on surged upwards, flinging her backwards down the hall. She fell into the hole she had emerged from, landing on her left shoulder with an audible crack and emitting an ear splitting scream of pain that echoed loudly off the walls.

The sudden grip around her ankle brought her back to the moment and she brought the rifle still strapped to her up with her right arm and took aim through tearing eyes. The bullets slammed into Coyâ€™s face, neck, and chest, tearing away flesh and splattering the ice walls haphazardly with blood and tissue. Worms began to drop in clumps from one side of his ruined head and Malory screamed again, frantically kicking away from him as his grip left her boot.

She scrambled wildly backwards and bit her tongue hard enough to draw blood when her back connected against something solid. Her head whipped around hysterically and she found herself against the frame of the pressure door. In a second of clarity, she knew she had no other option and hurriedly crawled through, pulling the door closed behind her. Her eyes catching a glimpse of Coy relentlessly pursuing her, using his arms to propel him forward, before the door closed with a satisfying electronic chime.

The tears started in earnest as she entered the code to seal it, effectively locking herself out of the central facility. She fell back against the wall and dropped the magazine from her rifle, digging another one out of her bandolier with her right hand and slapping it home. The agony radiating from her left shoulder was crippling and it sent waves of misery coursing through her when she tried to make a fist. A hand came up to wipe at her nose and she flinched in pain.

Angrily, she took stock of her situation. She had lost her shotgun, but still had her pistol and radio. Other than her rifle and the bandolier of magazines, she was dressed from the waist up in a pale blue bra, the sleeves of her missing sweatshirt gathered at her wrists. The bandage around her ribs that Corky had diligently applied the night before was missing and she suspected her nose was broken. She didnâ€™t even want to think about her shoulder.

It took a moment but it slowly dawned on her that she was still in possibly hostile territory and she considered the alternatives. The only place available that offered her a safe haven was Operations and that would require running across the cavernous room that housed the platform and down a long ice hallway, up two flights of metal stairs, another short hallway and the time it took to enter her code and seal the door. Then, if she managed to get there, she would find herself trapped in a small room with no food or water. Sadly, she realized that it was her only choice and she rose with a whimper to travel the few yards the led to the end of the tunnel.

She poked her head out cautiously and rapidly looked back and forth, finding it clear to emerge into Receiving. The wide-open space of the cavern allowed her the small and liberating feeling of having room to maneuver. It was a drastic change from the cramped confines of the tunnel and for a moment at least, she could look around and feel confident of her safety. The temperature here was much colder and uncomfortably emphasized by her lack of apparel as heat was only sparingly applied to this part of the compound to keep equipment from freezing over. Her eyes took in the long column that led to both the platform and the world above and she wished it were as simple as taking an elevator ride to escape. The distinctive outline of the helicopter rested silently on its skis and her gaze roamed over the roomâ€™s other machinery slowly, reminding her eerily of a hastily abandoned ghost town.

A flicker of movement caught her eye and she froze, watching intently as Dr. Garret lurched slowly out from between several barrels of fuel. He was far enough away that she didnâ€™t feel immediately threatened, confident that she could outrun him. She shot a glance at the hall that led to Operations and began jogging towards it slowly, crossing the open space and keeping a wary eye on her pursuer. Her path widened as she approached the hall, keeping distance between her and the entrance in case it was providing refuge to anything she didnâ€™t want to encounter. Finding no sign of company, she glanced over her shoulder at Dr. Garret and found him teetering along at a rapidly alarming pace and closing the distance between them. She considered trying to slow him down or take a leg from him, but didnâ€™t have much confidence in aiming the rifle with one hand accurately. Shrugging it off, she jogged down the hallway, pausing at the foot of the stairs to shoot a glance behind her. Garret hadnâ€™t reached the hall yet and she suddenly remembered her radio, she let go of the rifle and pulled it from her belt.

â€œMcNeely.â€

â€œGo ahead,â€ he responded immediately, his relief evident.

â€œThe door is sealed,â€ she said, glancing up sharply as Garret appeared to pick up speed and advanced faster than she thought possible.

â€œUnderstood. Your status?â€ he asked worriedly.

Garret began to jog, the stiffness she associated with the creatures beginning to show signs of wearing off. She brought the radio to her mouth but thought the better of it as Garret frighteningly began to cover more ground and she turned to run up the stairs. Two steps from the top, the radio flew from her hands and dropped to the ground below as a stair collapsed out from under her, the impact of her chest against the next step knocked the breath from her body. Her waist hanging precariously in the air below the staircase, she struggled madly to pull herself up with right arm. The rifle hanging from her side hindered her progress and she began to panic, flailing around hysterically. The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps sobered her and she struck out with her left arm, using both to pull herself up with a piercing scream of distress. Finding her feet, she didnâ€™t look back and ran up the second flight of stairs at a breakneck pace, flying down the hall so fast her feet barely touched the ground. Her momentum brought her up against the door to Operations with a thud and she frenetically punched in the entry code, her finger jabbing forcefully into the keypad.

She thanked God she got it on the first try and threw herself into the room, slamming the door shut behind her with a frightened energy. Her eyes came up to see Garretâ€™s face ram into the porthole hard enough to leave behind a blood smear and she quickly reentered the code to seal the door. The rifle came up and she backed away from the door slowly, her eyes riveted on the face staring at her blankly through the porthole. Her calves bumped up against a chair and she spun wildly, her eyes flying around the room in terror. Still hyperventilating from her close call, it took several minutes for her to restore any semblance of calm and composure.

Eventually, she balanced herself with a deep breath and unslung her rifle, placing it on the desk in front of her. She sank into the chair that had spooked her and gingerly poked at her shoulder, whimpering at the pain her examination produced. A sleeve from her ruined sweatshirt became a washrag and she tenderly wiped the blood from her face, throwing the soiled garment irritably across the room when she was finished. Starting to fume at the situation she found herself in, she lifted angry eyes to meet those that still maddeningly gazed at her through the window.

A hand came up to reveal her right breast she cupped it defiantly. â€œSuck me, bitch,â€ she hissed.

Her display elicited no response. Garret just stared.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky positioned herself in a corner of the lab and brought her knees up to her chest as soon as Malory disappeared down the hall, praying desperately for her safe return. Clovis joined her a few minutes later and she appreciated the comfort his presence provided, offering him a weak smile of gratitude.

The time stretched on excruciatingly and she schooled herself not to cry. Telling herself that if Malory could find the courage to do what she had, she would be brave enough not to break into heartsick tears. That is, until she at least had the benefit of a little privacy in which to conceal her breakdown. She was determined to give the appearance of strength, knowing that the people surrounding her looked to Malory for leadership and she wasnâ€™t going to tarnish that by playing the part of the hysterically inconsolable girlfriend. It was going to be a hard sell, even to herself.

Her eyes rose to the nervously pacing McNeely and stayed focused on him intently, he would be the first to know. The Sergeant prudently kept his distance from everybody, not wanting anyone to overhear any communications he might receive. However, she studied his body language carefully for any clue that he might unconsciously reveal.

A little over a quarter of an hour after Malory and her party had left, she caught the rapid motion of McNeely bringing his radio up, speaking into it tersely. She tensed as the man walked over to address everybody.

â€œHanson got his door sealed and is on his way back,â€ he reported. â€œLetâ€™s get ready in case he arrives in a hurry.â€

The men began to assemble into a large â€˜Uâ€™ in front of the door and Clovis got up to join them, leaving to her to maintain her vigil alone. The minutes passed in a tense and impatient silence, one melting slowly into the other. Finally, the radio in McNeelyâ€™s hand barked urgently.

â€œIâ€™m in the hall,â€ Hanson muttered uneasily. â€œItâ€™s clear, let me in.â€

â€œOpen the door,â€ McNeely ordered and presently Hanson ran into the room, the door closing behind him immediately.

Hanson blew out a breath that lasted twenty seconds as the door was sealed behind him, his shoulders slumping dramatically in relief.

â€œWell done, Sergeant,â€ McNeely said, clapping him fatherly on the shoulder. â€œAny trouble?â€

He shook his head to the negative. â€œAny word from the Commander or Alvarez?â€

â€œNot yet,â€ McNeely said. â€œBut they had further to go than you,â€ he added and retreated to his private corner again.

Corky looked at the young Sergeant and scolded herself for wishing that it was Malory who had returned instead of him. Her worry was giving her a powerful headache and she lapsed back into her thoughts, eyes again straying to McNeely and taking up residence.

Another ten minutes of oppressive silence and McNeely paused his nervous pacing to raise his radio, crossing the room hurriedly.

â€œAlvarez on his way back,â€ he said. â€œHis door was already sealed and heâ€™s got company.â€

The men scrambled to their former positions, rifles shouldered and pointed steadily at the doorway.

Sooner than expected, McNeelyâ€™s radio crackled. â€œIâ€™ve got distance, ETA less than a minute,â€ Alvarez reported breathlessly.

McNeely waited almost thirty seconds. â€œOpen the door,â€ he ordered.

Within the span of thee heartbeats, Alvarez raced into the room. â€œItâ€™s right behind me,â€ he said edgily and the door was spirited closed.

All eyes scanned the anteroom anxiously and the sound of plodding steps gradually became audible, eventually revealing the figure that once was Jones.

He entered slowly on an almost ruined leg and missing a good portion of his face. White teeth were visible through chunks of flesh that had been savagely torn away and the wounds moved with a life of their own as worms quivered ecstatically in the attempt to find undamaged tissue.

Corky noted this with unseeing eyes, suddenly rising to her feet. â€œWe need to kill it,â€ she said loudly. â€œMalory canâ€™t get back in if its standing there.â€

McNeely stared at her in understanding and then turned eyes in Jonesâ€™s direction as if summing the creature up. â€œRight, looks like heâ€™s been chewed on. Back away from the door and form up in the corners,â€ he ordered and the men scrambled. â€œHis right leg is barely there, everyone on that first. When he drops, burn him.â€

He turned to verify everyone was in place. â€œIâ€™ll open the door, give me a second to get clear,â€ he added, moving forward.

His finger had depressed the first key when the unmistakable sounds of a shotgun being fired could be heard in the distance and he froze. Corkyâ€™s hands came up to cover her mouth in comprehension and the room went deathly silent. A few unbearable seconds later, the long and steady burst of an automatic rifle echoed off the walls.

â€œOh, God,â€ Corky whined in horror.

Another quick abbreviated burst and silence reigned again, broken quickly with another long automatic salvo. All ears listened expectantly, waiting for anything that might provide more information but the silence weighed heavily and showed no sign of letting up.

â€œLoveâ€¦ craft,â€ Jones gurgled, his voice receiving everyoneâ€™s attention. â€œLoveâ€¦craft isâ€¦ dead,â€ he finished and turned to lumber back into the hall.

Corkyâ€™s resolve floundered at the words and her face altered from horror to despair. Her sob was startlingly loud within the confines of the room but no one could turn to look at her. As the sob was followed by another, Clovis put his weapon down and walked over to envelope her in an encompassing embrace.

The men moved away from them respectfully and McNeely crossed the room to sit down angrily in a chair, spinning in his seat to face the wall.

â€œMcNeely,â€ Maloryâ€™s voice crackled through the radio.

â€œFuck me!â€ McNeely exclaimed in surprise, bolting to his feet. The radio moving from his belt to his mouth in a blur. â€œGo ahead.â€

Corkyâ€™s head rose sharply to peer out from behind one of Clovisâ€™ arms, hope shining in her eyes.

â€œThe door is sealed,â€ she reported.

â€œUnderstood. Your status?â€ he asked apprehensively.

No answer was forthcoming. â€œCommander?â€ he asked impatiently.

Corky snatched the radio from her belt. â€œMalory?â€ she inquired desperately.

â€œCommander?â€ McNeely repeated and did so several times, his frustration growing with every unanswered call. Finally, he threw his arms into the air and made as if to throw his radio against the wall, barely restraining himself at the last second.

â€œI want a gun,â€ Corky stated quietly in the silence that followed.

McNeely took a deep breath and turned to face her. â€œWhy?â€

â€œBecause sheâ€™s alive and weâ€™re going to find her,â€ Corky said solemnly.

â€œFuckinâ€™A,â€ Alvarez piped up in agreement.

McNeely nodded. â€œHow many are we up against?â€

â€œI figure six,â€ Hanson said. â€œWe found what was left of Isaaks in the tunnel. We know of Coy and Jones for certain. Garret is still missing as is Percy and we lost Gallagher and Dobson yesterday.â€

â€œSix?â€ Watkins said in distress. â€œWe almost lost our ass to just three yesterday.â€

â€œWe have a lot more guns now,â€ Reynolds said quietly. â€œAnd the complex is secure, whatever is out there is trapped in here. Just like us.â€

â€œWe canâ€™t leave her out there,â€ Corky said determinedly. â€œWe wonâ€™t leave her out there.â€

â€œWeâ€™re not going to,â€ McNeely said. â€œHowever, weâ€™ll need a group to stay behind. All of us walking around out there makes too big a target, as we found out yesterday.â€

â€œWho stays behind?â€ Watkins asked eagerly and received several derisive looks in his direction.

â€œWell, I guess you do,â€ Alvarez said with thinly veiled contempt.

â€œKnock it off,â€ McNeely said sternly. â€œRing, Hanson, Watkins, and Rivers get to keep the home fires burning. The rest form up.â€

â€œIâ€™m going,â€ Corky stated steadfastly. â€œShe may need help.â€

â€œDoctor,â€ McNeely said softly. â€œIf we find her and sheâ€™s injured, you canâ€™t treat her out there. Weâ€™ll get her back here on the double.â€

â€œI want to go,â€ Corky said firmly.

McNeely sighed. â€œYouâ€™re staying here because if she were present, she would never allow it,â€ he said quietly. â€œAnd I wonâ€™t either. You would be a liability.â€

â€œIâ€™m going,â€ she said with narrowing eyes. â€œAnd you canâ€™t stop me,â€ she added defiantly.

McNeely raised an eyebrow. â€œOh, yes I can,â€ he rumbled dangerously. â€œAlthough Iâ€™d rather not. Please, donâ€™t make me.â€

â€œI will not stay here,â€ she said boldly. â€œAnd we donâ€™t have the time to be talking about it.â€

McNeely eyed her carefully. â€œYouâ€™re right, we donâ€™t have the time,â€ he agreed suspiciously and turned to whisper in Reynoldsâ€™s ear.

The Chief turned to leave the room, reappearing a minute later carrying several long strands of network cable which he handed to several of the soldiers.

â€œDo you wish to reconsider, Dr. Rivers?â€ McNeely asked mildly.

Corky bared her teeth.

With a nod from McNeely, the men began to slowly advance on the little doctor.

â€”â€”â€”

Ten minutes later, McNeely sealed the lab door and joined the rest of the men in the hallway, ruefully dabbing at the scratches on one cheek with a finger.

â€œJesus,â€ he whispered. â€œShe fought like a fuckinâ€™ Comanche,â€ he added, getting several nervous chuckles of agreement. â€œAlright, DeSoto and Daly youâ€™re on point with me. Chief, Terrel, and Butler, bring up the rear. Alvarez you got tunnel duty. Use your radio. The rest of you form up between us single file.â€

â€œRight,â€ Alvarez agreed, moving forward quietly and dropping through the hole in the floor. â€œClear,â€ he added a moment later through McNeelyâ€™s radio.

McNeely nodded. â€œRemember boys, head and legs. Anything else is a waste of time.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Malory considered her alternatives, not particularly fond of any of them. She cursed herself for losing her radio, knowing that if she had retained it, she could at the very least, let everyone know that she okay. She considered using the intercom but to do so would require bringing the complex out of lockdown, an action that wasnâ€™t option as it would release the seal on the all the doors. The worry over her own situation was only slightly less than her concern for those still among the living; a diminutive brunette principal among them.

She assumed herself to be the only one in immediate dire circumstances as she had overheard no shots being fired, either before or after her own. She felt sure she would have heard them if any had occurred. Being underground almost guaranteed the resonance and echo of gunfire to travel undiminished from one end of the complex to the other and she considered the lack of such noise a good sign. Unfortunately, if she wanted to look for bad signs, she had to look no further than her own body.

Her left shoulder was definitely dislocated and any further thought beyond that complication was determinedly silenced. The mere idea of undergoing a repeat of the surgery and therapy she had endured upon infliction of her past injury, made her want to cry. Her ribs were now definitely broken for when she moved, she could feel the ends grinding together and she could only hope that she wasnâ€™t bleeding internally. Breathing in through her nose was an exercise in stinging pain and even the thought of a gentle breeze wafting over it resulted in throbs of misery. But the biggest kick to the head, the one that really pissed her off, was the telltale cramps that alerted her to the early arrival of her period.

It was just too much.

Angry blue eyes raised to find Garret still staring at her through the window as if she were a rack of lamb and a plan began to form. The creatures were smart but they didnâ€™t know as much as Coy had led her to believe.

Intending to prove it, she rose stiffly to her feet and spent a few minutes foraging through the desks and cabinets, eventually accumulating all the necessities to implement the first stage of her plan.

Scotch tape and paper in hand, she approached the door and began to cover the porthole, slowly obscuring her activities from the unnerving eyes on the other side. The results of her labor were not appreciated and the thud of fists pounding against the door became loudly audible.

â€œDonâ€™t worry,â€ she mumbled. â€œIâ€™ll be getting back to ya.â€

â€”â€”â€”

â€œUntie me,â€ Corky growled from her position on the floor.

Hanson rubbed his watering eye, still stinging from its collision with the toe of the doctorâ€™s errant boot. The woman had put up a furious fight, kicking and screaming wildly. More than one of his colleagues had suffered an impact from her madly flailing hands and feet before they finally managed to subdue her.

â€œI said, untie me,â€ Corky fumed, wiggling violently on the floor.

Hanson shot a look at the Lieutenant and almost laughed, knowing that if the situation wasnâ€™t so serious, he would have. Ring was seated with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, looking as if he might vomit or cry, perhaps both. The man had taken a vicious blow to the groin at the onset and was still suffering from the repercussions.

â€œUntie me, goddamn it!â€ Corky yelled.

He rubbed his eye again. â€œPromise to behave if I free you?â€ he asked gruffly.

â€œI promise to kick your ass,â€ she hissed angrily.

Watkins chuckled from across the room and he tried to ignore him. â€œThen Iâ€™m afraid weâ€™ll have to wait until McNeely gets back,â€ he said mildly.

Corky went completely still and growled her frustration. â€œOkay, I promise,â€ she ground out reluctantly.

â€œYou sure now?â€ he baited.

â€œI said I fuckinâ€™ promise,â€ she practically screamed.

â€œThat language isnâ€™t very ladylike,â€ he teased.

Corky craned her neck around to glare murder in his direction.

Ring finally emerged from his exile of affliction and chuckled. â€œCut her some slack, Sergeant.â€

â€œOh, alright,â€ he relented easily, moving forward and drawing his knife.

Corky fought the urge to charge the man as she regained her feet and threw the cables still dangling from her wrists to the floor in irritation. She straightened her clothes with agitated hands and narrowed her eyes at the smirking Sergeant.

He acted quickly and extended a finger in reminder. â€œYou promised.â€

Her lips tightened into a thin, tense line and she reached for the only weapon she could think of. â€œWhen the Commander gets back,â€ she said threateningly. â€œIâ€™m telling on you,â€ she added childishly.

Her comment only succeeded in generating a chuckle from all three men.

Corky huffed and stomped off through the nearest door.

â€”â€”â€”

â€œAlvarez, weâ€™re halting,â€ McNeely said into his radio and signaled a stop to those behind him.

â€œUnderstood.â€

McNeely wiped his forehead with his sleeve â€œChief,â€ he called out with a wave.

Reynolds came forward and knelt next to him on one knee.

â€œWeâ€™ve cleared half the complex and seen no sign, theyâ€™ve got to be close,â€ McNeely said quietly.

â€œYeah, I figured weâ€™d have run into at least one by now,â€ Reynolds replied, searching the hall in front and behind with a cautious gaze, his eye suddenly freezing on the ceiling behind them.

â€œDoug,â€ he whispered and pointed to the roof.

McNeely followed the finger to a ceiling tile that was slightly ajar and directly above Butler and Terrel. â€œJesus,â€ he whispered, standing rapidly to call out to the men. â€œButler, Terrel aboveâ€¦â€

His warning came a second too late as the roof abruptly rained down on them and Gallagher fell from above, landing on his feet with an unnatural grace. Terrel rolled away as fast as the flame unit strapped to his back would allow, bringing his weapon up but hesitating to fire for fear of enveloping Butler and a group of civilians in flame.

Butler was not as fortunate, Gallagher landed directly behind him and he screamed as his arm was wrenched out of the socket and a spray of blood jutted from the fractured bone protruding through his bicep.

The men closest scrambled to get out of the way and Butlerâ€™s scream morphed into a warbling gurgle as Gallagherâ€™s teeth seized his esophagus and tore through his throat. In his convulsions, Butlerâ€™s finger clamped down on the trigger to his rifle and he sprayed gunfire wildly down the hall, several rounds catching Terrel in the chest and knocking him onto his back.

Gallagher threw the dying Butler aside like a rag doll and raced headlong into the men fleeing for safety.

â€œBehind me, now!â€ McNeely screamed, watching in horror as Dr. Tanakaâ€™s head was slammed into the wall with an audible crack.

â€œTwo behind us,â€ Reynolds yelled.

McNeely yanked his head around to see Jones and Dobson casually advancing on them from a distance, his attention returned forward at Tomlinsonâ€™s scream and he turned in time see the manâ€™s jaw completely torn away from his skull. His hand flashed to his radio. â€œAlvarez fall back to the lab, weâ€™re overrun,â€ he yelled and stood to level his rifle. â€œDrop that fucker and run for the lab!â€ he screamed and let loose with a long automatic burst that humanely tore through the dying Dr. Garcia and plunged unnoticed into Gallagherâ€™s body.

The men followed his example and the now dead Garcia was reduced to tatters in a hail of gunfire. Clovis leveled his shotgun and emptied it at Gallagherâ€™s knees and he fell to the floor only to be surrounded by half a dozen men who vengefully emptied their weapons into the creature, blowing it apart by inches.

Reynolds darted past the conflict and slid to his knees next to the unmoving Terrel, cursing when dead eyes stared unseeing into his own.

â€œMove!â€ McNeely screamed, indiscriminately shoving the remaining men back the way they had come. â€œRun for the lab!â€

The men took off at a dead run, all with the exception of DeSoto who calmly reloaded his rifle and took the time to empty it again into the quivering pulp that Gallagher had been reduced to.

â€œDeSoto, with me now!â€ Reynolds yelled and the young man turned to spare a last look at Butlerâ€™s corpse before running to join the fleeing men.

McNeely again reached for his radio as they pounded down the hall. â€œRing, weâ€™re coming back on the double, get on the door!â€ he yelled and a minute later he was caught up in the swell of bodies struggling to get inside into safety.

The Chief and DeSoto were the last to enter and Ring pushed the door closed with the assistance of several panicked hands.

â€œWait! Is Alvarez here?â€ McNeely yelled.

â€œIâ€™m here, seal the fucking door!â€ Alvarez said loudly and Ring punched the code into the door quickly.

A general sigh of relief encompassed the room and McNeely sidearmed his rifle across the room to take out a computer monitor. â€œGoddamn it!â€

Corky ran back into the room at all the commotion and looked around fearfully, not spotting the one she hoped to find and noting with sadness that there were only eleven people in the room.

Watkins observed the lack of bodies too. â€œGreat,â€ he said sarcastically. â€œMaybe we should build a fire and sing some songs.â€

â€œIf I were you, Iâ€™d shut the fuck up,â€ Reynolds warned ominously.

â€œI have the right to speak,â€ he said derisively. â€œThe Commanderâ€™s dead and weâ€™re dropping like flies. Are we just supâ€¦â€

His words were cut off by the butt of Alvarezâ€™s rifle slamming powerfully into the side of his face and he crumpled to the ground in a heap.

â€œWell done, Sergeant,â€ Corky said mildly.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory heard the gunfire and cursed, momentarily halting work on her preparations as she listened intently for several minutes after the last shot had been fired. Fighting against a gnawing feeling of urgency, she hurriedly went about finishing her work.

She had painstakingly rearranged the roomâ€™s three desks in front of the door to create an obstacle course, leaving only a few feet between each one. She was thankful that the infrequently used room was narrow enough to make each desk a tight fit. When Garret entered, he wouldnâ€™t be able to go around and would have to climb over each desk individually, hopefully giving her enough time to get away. As an afterthought, she had used her rifle to knock the casters off the legs on one side of each desk. Her plan would fail if the creature simply shoved each desk together and crushed her at the far end of the room. With the casters removed, this would make that possibility much more difficult, since each one now leaned into the floor at an angle.

Feeling as if she were ready, she checked the magazine of her pistol and chambered a round. Leaving the handgun on the last desk, she slung her rifle and slowly began negotiating the furniture on her way to the door.

She had no doubt Garret was still on the other side, the sound of his fists pounding relentlessly on the door had proven to be a constant source of anxiety and irritation. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she leaned over the last desk to enter the code that would unseal the door. As her finger depressed the last key she scrambled madly back to the rear of the room, leapfrogging the desks as quickly as she was able. She retrieved her pistol as her feet hit the floor behind the last one and waited anxiously for the door to open.

The pounding ceased when the entry light turned green and Garret wasted no time in throwing the door open violently, lunging into the room with an insane glee. His waist slammed into the first desk and Malory took careful aim, letting a round go as he rebounded slightly from his collision. The bullet entered his eye and snapped his head back violently, a red splatter flying into the air behind him. Undeterred, he bowled forward determinedly, the desk scraping loudly as the casterless legs dug into the floor. Her second shot missed its target and struck him in the bridge of his nose, managing to remove a good portion of his brainpan with an impressive patch of hair still attached. Garret rammed the first desk into the next and his momentum came to a jerking halt as he encountered the second obstacle. The .45 roared again and his vision was extinguished in a red mist.

Malory grunted in satisfaction as he began to flail around blindly and holstered her pistol. Garretâ€™s movements became frenzied and he lost his bearings, spinning around in a circle and lashing out in a desperate attempt to capture his quarry.

She brought the rifle up and kneeled to steady it against the top of the desk, taking deliberate aim. The bullets were fired one at a time, each one slamming into Garretâ€™s right hip. When the rifle locked open, she inserted another magazine and continued firing upon her target until his ruined hip could no longer support the weight of his body. She stood to insert a fresh magazine when he fell and cautiously moved forward, clearly aware of the still thrashing body. With a deep breath of preparation, she hopped onto the two smashed together desks and ran into a short leap that brought her clear of Garretâ€™s body and into the open doorway. In relative safety, she again raised the rifle and fired several automatic bursts into his good leg until the calf hung from flimsy strips of tissue. Satisfied, she reloaded her rifle and spared a spiteful smile at the writhing body.

â€œIâ€™ll be back in a little while to crispy critter your ass,â€ she said cheerfully. â€œMake yourself at home.â€

She pulled the door closed, entering the code to seal it and turning to make her way carefully down the steps. When she reached the bottom, she hurried under the staircase to retrieve her radio, pausing when she found a hacksaw lying next to it. Her eyes rose to examine the step that had collapsed under her weight and they narrowed thoughtfully; it had been sawed through to a fraction, one side of which now hung perilously from a small strand of twisted metal.

â€œDevious little fucker,â€ she mumbled and reached to pick up her radio. â€œMcNeely,â€ she called hopefully.

Agitated when she received no immediate response, she was about to call again when she noticed the power light was off. She clicked it on and off and then irritably tossed it into the snow, realizing it had been on when she lost it and the battery had run dry. Resolutely, she rose to her full height and twisted her head around until the vertebrae in her neck cracked.

â€œHere comes trouble,â€ she said nefariously and began her trek down the hall.

â€”â€”â€”

In the lab, the sound of gunfire brought sagging heads up all around the room.

â€œThat was a handgun,â€ Alvarez said coming to his feet.

Several of the men joined him and all listened intently as slow, repeated reports of rifle fire echoed through the complex.

Corky smiled joyfully. â€œItâ€™s Malory.â€

McNeely snatched his radio. â€œCommander?â€ he inquired hopefully.

No reply but an answering hail of automatic fire that quickly ended.

â€œCommander?â€ he asked again, waiting several long seconds for a response. He was about to speak again when a figure in the hall suddenly stepped into the foyer.

He lowered the radio slowly as Percy walked to within armâ€™s reach of the door. An expectant silence encompassed the room as all attention focused on the brutally disfigured man.

â€œHeâ€™s been shot up,â€ Clovis observed.

â€œThis is the first weâ€™ve seen of him since he went missing,â€ Reynolds said quietly. â€œI bet he had a run in with the Commander.â€

â€œWell unless they decided to start playing with guns, I would guess she got away from him,â€ McNeely pointed out.

â€œWeâ€¦â€ Reynolds started but ground to a halt as Percy extended a finger and depressed a number on the keypad. â€œOh, shit!â€

â€œForm up in the corners, move!â€ McNeely yelled and everyone scrambled.

Percy hit another button, slowly picking up speed and rapidly entering a series of numbers on the keypad.

â€œOh, this is just fucking great,â€ Watkins murmured.

McNeely watched the entry light signal red repeatedly. â€œWhat are the odds of him hitting the right numbers?â€

â€œA million to one,â€ Reynolds replied quietly. â€œBut he could hit the right combo any minute or not for months.â€

McNeely sighed, resting his rifle across his knees and leaning back against the wall. â€œLooks like we ainâ€™t gonna get any sleep.â€

â€œLetâ€™s let him in, heâ€™s alone,â€ Alvarez said.

McNeely considered. â€œI donâ€™t know, they move a hell of a lot faster now than they did at the beginning.â€

â€œNo shit,â€ Reynolds whispered. â€œGallagher was all over us, weâ€™d lose somebody before we could put him down.â€

â€œLeaving him outside is good,â€ Watkins said quickly.

Several sets of eyes strayed to the man contemptuously.

â€œRigor Mortis,â€ Corky said quietly.

â€œExcuse me, Doctor?â€ McNeely asked.

â€œTheyâ€™re moving faster because Rigor Mortis is wearing off,â€ she explained tonelessly. â€œIt must take a while for everything to loosen up again.â€

â€œTheyâ€™re planning now too,â€ Reynolds added. â€œThey mustâ€™ve decided an all out assault was too costly. They ambushed us this time.â€

â€œFantastic,â€ Watkins murmured. â€œMaybe we should just surrender.â€

â€œWatkins,â€ Alvarez warned softly.

â€”â€”â€”

Malory sealed the tunnel door and again reentered the complex, spending a moment studying the carnage from her earlier encounter with Coy. There was a remarkable amount blood coloring the inside of the tunnel for several feet but no sign of a body, the red standing out dominantly against the white of the ice walls.

Carefully, she moved forward several feet until she could poke her head through the missing floor panels, her eyes landing happily on her discarded shotgun. She pulled herself up into the hall with a series of painful grunts and made a beeline for the weapon, snatching it up with a grin.

She loaded the weapon to capacity and chambered a round. â€œGroovy.â€

Moving cautiously forward, she padded down the hall as silently as she could, coming to a gradual halt when she turned a corner and spotted a slowly moving body several yards ahead. Coy was pulling himself down the hall with his hands, the stump of his leg keeping him from walking.

Malory closed in on him from behind, a little surprised that he was unaware of her presence. As she came to within a few feet, she could see that his leg had clotted and looking closer, took note of the worms working their way in and out of the flesh industriously. Laboring diligently to keep the tissue they resided in functional.

She took careful aim. â€œHey,â€ she said amiably. â€œWhatâ€™s that on your face?â€

Coyâ€™s head snapped around to capture her with his one remaining eye, most of his head and face missing. He spun wildly on the floor, using his hands in a flurry of motion to thrust himself towards her.

The blast dissolved what was left of his head in a crimson squall and the headless body contorted viciously around on the floor. Eight rounds later, she mechanically reloaded the shotgun and carefully stepped around the ruined pulp on the floor to continue her journey down the hall, humming softly.

Eventually, she arrived at her quarters and she opened the door cautiously, a cruel blue gaze scanning the interior carefully. Satisfied that no one was lurking, she entered her office and, shotgun poised at the ready, flung open the door to her room. Her eyes immediately tracked to Little Lovecraftâ€™s severed head and she snarled in fury, bending to pick it up and glancing around angrily in search of the rest of her doll. She found the body under the cot and gently put the two pieces of her beloved companion on top of her footlocker.

â€œBastards,â€ she hissed.

With a livid sigh, she rose to strip off her rifle and bandolier, setting the shotgun on her cot so she could carefully pull on a sweatshirt. Once she had it on, and after several sharp gasps of pain as the shirt made contact with her nose and she forced her wounded arm through the sleeves, she pulled a belt from her closet. The belt became a sling as she strapped it around her waist, trapping her left arm inside the loop and snugly tightening the limb to her side.

Feeling considerably better, she reclaimed her weapons and walked back into her office, pausing at the door to snatch her sombrero from its hook before stepping into the hall.

â€”â€”â€”

Tension thickly saturated the interior of the lab as Percy relentlessly continued to calmly punch numbers into the keypad. Anxiety rising sharply and then falling off minimally every time the entry light flashed red, denying him access.

â€œWeâ€™re gonna have to let him in,â€ McNeely said resignedly. â€œWe canâ€™t just sit here and wait for him to chance upon the right code and we should do it before one of his friends show up.â€

â€œWeâ€™ll need some bait,â€ Alvarez said grimly. â€œI suggest someone expendable and therefore nominate Watkins.â€

â€œI second that,â€ Ring said quickly and hesitant chuckles sounded off around the room.

â€œFuck all of you,â€ Watkins said ardently. â€œIâ€™m not moving from this spot.â€

â€œKnock it off,â€ McNeely chided sharply, shooting a glare around the room and then smiling slyly. â€œBesides, with any luck itâ€™ll go for him first.â€

The resulting snickers turned quickly into nervous laughter and even Corky joined in. The echo of a gunshot penetrated their moment of mirth and the laughter subsided swiftly. Eight more reports sounded off in quick succession and then silence reigned again.

â€œThatâ€™s got to be the Commander,â€ Alvarez said quietly.

â€œI know it is,â€ Corky said with certainty.

â€œDid those rounds sound any closer?â€ McNeely asked.

â€œHard to tell inside, but they seemed louder,â€ Hanson replied.

â€œIt didnâ€™t seem to bother our friend out there,â€ Reynolds pointed out.

Indeed, Percy hadnâ€™t paused in his mission and continued to persistently key numbers into the door.

â€œCould they be using weapons out there to break the seals on the doors?â€ Lenard asked.

â€œWe donâ€™t have a weapon in inventory that could break the seal on those doors,â€ Reynolds answered quickly.

â€œCould any of our weapons break through this glass?â€ Lenard asked, gesturing to the transparent partition separating them from the foyer.

The Chief looked at the glass thoughtfully. â€œI seriously doubt it.â€

â€œBut youâ€™re not sure?â€

â€œThereâ€™s a slim chance that concentrated fire could weaken it, why do you ask?â€

â€œNot to rain on anyoneâ€™s parade but the chances of Lovecraft being still among the living is remarkably slim,â€ Lenard said regretfully. â€œThese things have shown signs of astonishing intelligence, perhaps theyâ€™re experimenting.â€

â€œMalory is alive,â€ Corky said resolutely.

â€œI hope so, Doctor,â€ Lenard said sympathetically. â€œBut we should be prepared for just about anything at this stage.â€

â€œWell, gee,â€ Watkins muttered. â€œThe thought of those things with weapons gives me a warm fuzzy.â€

â€œWatkins,â€ McNeely rumbled threateningly. â€œIf we didnâ€™t need the extra gun so badly Iâ€™d feed you to those things myself. Do yourself the favor of remaining quiet unless you have something productive to add.â€

Watkins rolled his eyes and leaned heavily against the wall, McNeely eyed him carefully for a long moment.

â€œSergeant Major,â€ Lenard said. â€œYou said we have some explosives. Could they use those to penetrate the room?â€

â€œYes,â€ McNeely answered swiftly. â€œBut to use them requires a knowledge I would assume no one else has, except for myself and possibly Mr. Alvarez,â€ he added with a look at the Tech Sergeant, receiving a nod of confirmation.

â€œEven the Commander?â€ Lenard asked.

McNeely paused thoughtfully. â€œPossible but doubtful,â€ he admitted.

â€œHave any of you considered the notion that if Lovecraft is one of those things,â€ Watkins began condescendingly, â€œshe has the knowledge to effectively destroy us all? She could walk right up and open this door or bring the entire complex out of lockdown.â€

â€œMalory is not one of those things,â€ Corky growled hotly.

McNeely shared a look with Reynolds and nodded.

Corky cast wary eyes on both of them. â€œWhat are you doing?â€ she demanded.

â€œDoctor,â€ McNeely sighed. â€œUnfortunately, Watkins has a point. We have to, at the very least, change the door codes again.â€

â€œNo!â€ she protested loudly. â€œShe wonâ€™t be able to get back in.â€

â€œThatâ€™s the whole point,â€ Watkins said coldly.

â€œShe is not one of those things!â€ Corky insisted vehemently. â€œSheâ€™s out there fighting them, youâ€™ve all heard the shots!â€

â€œDoctor, if she falls,â€ McNeely said sympathetically. â€œShe could endanger us all.â€

â€œYou donâ€™t know anything!â€ Corky yelled desperately. â€œShe would kill herself to keep from being taken by those things!â€

â€œThat, is unarguably true, Dr. Rivers,â€ McNeely agreed quietly. â€œBut even if she were to do that, weâ€™ve all seen the dead get up and walk.â€

Corky opened her mouth to reply but ended up bringing a hand up to cover a sudden sob. She quickly turned away from everyone and faced the wall, her shoulders hitching.

McNeely watched her sadly for a moment and then turned to the Chief. â€œDo it.â€

â€”â€”â€”

Malory walked boldly down the hall, making no attempt at stealth. Her emotions traveling back and forth between moments of bleak pain and vicious intent. She fought bravely through occasional bouts of wooziness that she knew were the results of internal bleeding. When she found her attention wandering, she hummed out loud in an effort to keep herself grounded, often softly singing the words to the few songs she remembered snippets from.

Her steps came to a faltering halt as she rounded a corner and found the remains of several bodies in the distance. Lips twisted into a snarl and her shotgun came up in preparation as she advanced unwaveringly, noticing movement as she got closer to her destination.

Jones was so intent on his meal that he was unaware of her approach until the last second. He raised his head from the grisly hole in Terrelâ€™s belly with an expression of morbid surprise, only to find the barrel of a shotgun three inches away from his face. A ravaged piece of meat fell from his mouth in shock as his eyes rose to meet a pair of blue almost as insane as his own.

â€œLet me wash that down for you,â€ she growled nastily.

Jones wouldâ€™ve found the blast deafening if he had retained the necessary anatomy. Grim intent fueled the next eight rounds and Malory paid no attention to the blood that splattered her from indulging in the close range massacre. When the gun was empty, she casually shook the worms and tissue off of her boots as she reloaded the weapon.

The sound of a footstep caught her attention and she turned to find Tanaka approaching stiffly from a few dozen yards away, one side of his head crushed in comically and the blood on his clothes still moist. She watched his advance indifferently as she chambered a round and inserted another shell to load the shotgun to full capacity.

Another sound from behind alerted her to the presence of Dobson and she gloomily assessed her situation; she couldnâ€™t drop them both in time to prevent one from reaching her. It was going to have to be a running battle. She smiled.

â€œYouâ€™ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn,â€ she sang softly and turned to run in the direction of Tanaka, leveling her shotgun as she closed the distance.

Her rate of movement and the one handed grip on the shotgun affected her accuracy but the consequences of the nine semiautomatic blasts were devastatingly effective. The last two especially as they removed Tanakaâ€™s head from the nose up, leaving him blind and flailing around aggressively.

She didnâ€™t pause and ran the last few feet as fast as she could, screaming loudly in rage as she ducked her right shoulder and ran into him with all the strength she had available. The collision proved fruitful and Malory managed to knock him off his feet, but couldnâ€™t keep her balance as she bowled over him and fell painfully to the ground a few meters behind him, her shotgun skidding away from her.

Her mind fought to overcome a powerful spell of nausea and she floundered several times in the attempt to regain her feet. As she fell to the floor on her third attempt, the impending blackness of unconsciousness threatened to take over and she struggled to stave it off.

The struggle ended with an agonized rasp as she was lifted into the air by the belt that strapped her injured left arm to her side. Disorientated and helpless, she was manhandled roughly in the air until she abruptly found herself face to face with the demonic features of the late Dr. Dobson. A terrified power surged through her and she brought her good hand up to brutally claw into his eyes, digging in violently and tearing several nails off with the ferocity of her attack.

One of his hands clamped around the back of her neck and she felt herself being drawn inexorably forward. She went into a Herculean frenzy of resistance, contorting madly in his grasp, screaming in fear as his mouth began to advance on her own.

Suddenly, she went completely limp in his embrace and her head lolled backwards in apparent unconsciousness. An expression of macabre surprise crossed Dobsonâ€™s ruined features and he paused in obvious curiosity, studying the limp form that lay helpless within his grasp.

His remaining eye blinked when pale blue eyes snapped open and regarded him savagely as a cool and unyielding object made contact with the roof of his gaping mouth.

â€œAll sales are final,â€ Malory rasped.

The pointblank blast of the .45 scattered the back of Dobsonâ€™s head all over the ceiling and Malory landed on wobbly legs as the grip on her was released. Wasting no time, she backed up a step and took careful aim, extinguishing what was left of his vision with another roar from the handgun. She emptied the remaining rounds into his head with precision, moving a step with each shot in the direction of her misplaced shotgun, kneeling to retrieve it when the pistol locked open empty.

Keeping a careful eye on the sightless Dobson as he cavorted recklessly around the hallway, she reloaded the shotgun and chambered a round. â€œI hope like hell that you feel pain,â€ she said hoarsely. â€œBecause I really want this to hurt,â€ she added, leveling the weapon and moving forward single-mindedly.

â€”â€”â€”

Corky looked up sharply at the sound of gunshots and blew out a relieved breath. She refused to subscribe to any theory that suggested Malory wasnâ€™t the source of all the gunfire.

McNeely rose to his feet and approached the door to the lab thoughtfully, leveling a hard stare on the vigorously determined Percy.

â€œSheâ€™s out there,â€ Corky said loudly. â€œLet that fucker in and blow him away so we can go help her,â€ she added with a dismissive gesture in Percyâ€™s direction.

â€œFuck that,â€ Watkins said cowardly. â€œIf Lovecraft is alive, thereâ€™s nothing we can do for the bitch.â€

Several of the men rose to their feet angrily and Corky spun on her heel to level a homicidal glare in his direction. â€œYou worthless, yellow pussy,â€ she hissed lividly, striding towards him dangerously and extending a hand. â€œGive me your rifle, you spineless shit.â€

He clutched the weapon to his chest possessively. â€œFuck off, you little queer,â€ he said defiantly. â€œYou ainâ€™t got the balls for it.â€

The sound of several rifles cocking was startlingly loud and Watkins looked up to see every gun barrel in the room pointed at him steadily, the eyes behind shining blatantly with deadly intent.

â€œGive her the weapon,â€ McNeely rumbled lethally. â€œRight now.â€

Watkins froze, excruciatingly aware that the threat outside now paled in comparison to the danger immediately confronting him.

â€œI said now,â€ McNeely growled impatiently.

He slowly extended the weapon in Corkyâ€™s direction and she snatched it out of his hands. â€œAsshole,â€ she hissed.

â€œChief, weâ€™re gonna need some more cable,â€ McNeely said quietly, still looking down the length of his gun barrel at Watkins. â€œAnd a chair,â€ he added as an afterthought.

â€œWith pleasure, Sergeant Major,â€ Reynolds said cheerfully, lowering his rifle and ambling out of the room with a purpose.

Watkins eyes widened. â€œWait a minute now,â€ he said nervously. â€œYou canâ€™tâ€¦â€

â€œShut the fuck up,â€ McNeely said slowly. â€œI can think of about twenty people I wish were here with us now instead of you.â€

â€œThat ainâ€™t no lie,â€ Alvarez rumbled. â€œWe lost some damn good people and Iâ€™d grease you myself right now if I thought it would bring any of them back.â€

Reynolds walked back into the room guiding a rolling chair in front of him, which he shoved into Watkins knees. â€œHave a seat, Dr. Watkins,â€ he said casually.

â€œYou canâ€™t doâ€¦â€ he started anxiously.

His words were cut off by the impact of the Chiefâ€™s backhand and a flurry of distinctly unkind hands forced him into the chair, binding him tightly in place.

â€œDonâ€™t do this!â€ he screamed in panic.

â€œGag him,â€ McNeely said coldly and a few seconds later Watkins was silenced. â€œPlace him against the wall in full view of the door,â€ he ordered.

Watkins whimpered helplessly through his gag as he was rolled into place, his eyes darting around fearfully.

â€œAlright,â€ McNeely said. â€œForm up, Iâ€™m going to let Percy in. If a stray round strikes Watkins, Iâ€™ll consider it an accident.â€

Alvarez and Reynolds turned slyly sinister smiles on the bound man.

â€œHead and legs. Everything else is a waste of time,â€ McNeely reminded.

He looked around to receive nods of readiness and walked for the door, closing to within three feet before grinding to a surprised halt. His eyes riveted upon the instantly recognizable black sombrero as Malory stepped into the foyer and leveled a one handed shotgun at the back of Percyâ€™s head.

â€œMalory!â€ Corky exclaimed joyfully.

Percy turned as if perceiving a threat and the occupants inside the lab found themselves viewing a graphic portrait of blood, tissue, and bone as his head exploded onto the glass.

The blood obscured the details of the resulting carnage as eight more rounds thundered through the room. At the last shot, McNeely overcame his paralysis and lunged forward to open the door.

A tense moment later, Malory stepped in on shaky legs and attempted a weak smile in Corkyâ€™s direction. â€œHail to the Queen, baby,â€ she rasped.

Corkyâ€™s hands came to her mouth in concern as she got a close look at her lover, not knowing what injury to start fussing over first. Both of her eyes were blackened impressively from an obviously broken nose, the bruises so large they melted into the previous contusions she had suffered. Her left arm was strapped tightly to her body with a belt and her complexion was a sickly pale, not to mention the blood covering her from head to toe.

She took a hesitant step forward and then broke into a run as Maloryâ€™s eyes rolled back and she began to collapse, saved from hitting the floor only by McNeelyâ€™s quick embrace.

The Sergeant lowered her gently to the floor and Corky fell to her knees beside her, hands flying over her body in diagnosis.

â€œGet a stretcher,â€ she ordered tersely a moment later. â€œSheâ€™s in shock, we need to get her to Medical, right now.â€

â€œDeSoto, Daly,â€ McNeely ordered. â€œOn the double!â€

The men rushed from the room and McNeely turned to Hanson. â€œBurn that piece of shit,â€ he said gesturing to Percyâ€™s quivering remains. â€œThe rest of you gear up, letâ€™s make sure she got them all.â€

Corky barely heard the commotion going on around her as she tried to professionally detach herself from Maloryâ€™s injuries. She failed miserably and the tears fell from her eyes freely as she struggled to find a spot on her loverâ€™s body that wasnâ€™t beaten or bruised.

As the flames from Percyâ€™s body were extinguished, the stretcher arrived and the Commander was loaded onto it quickly. Corky slung her rifle over her shoulder and raced behind DeSoto and Daly as they hurried her lover out of the lab and down the hall.

05/12/02 - 0920 hours

Four hours later, McNeely watched dispassionately as Garretâ€™s remains were reduced to ashes and Reynolds walked up beside him.

â€œFuckinâ€™A, Doug,â€ the Chief whispered. â€œShe got every one of â€˜em.â€

â€œYeah,â€ he said quietly. â€œYeah, she did.â€

Reynolds let out a long breath. â€œThink sheâ€™ll be okay?â€

â€œI dunno,â€ he replied. â€œI fuckinâ€™ hope so.â€

â€œSo do I.â€

McNeely sighed. â€œLetâ€™s get this place cleaned up and stowed away. We still have a few months before we can get the hell out of here. Start with the mess, Iâ€™m sure Iâ€™m not the only one hungry enough to eat the ass out of a rhino.â€

â€œWatkins is still in the lab,â€ he reminded amusedly.

â€œHave someone tighten his restraints and wheel him into his quarters,â€ McNeely said maliciously. â€œLet him work his way free.â€

Reynolds grinned. â€œI believe Alvarez would volunteer for that.â€

A small chuckle. â€œIâ€™ll bet,â€ he said. â€œWe might also want to see to the belongings of everyone we lost.â€

â€œIâ€™ll see to it,â€ Reynolds said sadly. â€œWhat are you going to do?â€

â€œIâ€™m going to Medical,â€ he said determinedly. â€œHave someone bring me a plate when chow is available.â€

â€œWill do,â€ Reynolds agreed. â€œIâ€™d imagine everyone will be there as soon as they can.â€

McNeely nodded and turned to walk out of Operations, leaving Hanson and Ring to see to their grisly task.

He found himself alone when he arrived at his destination, the divider drawn across the room. With a tired sigh, he seated himself to wait, all too aware of the steady beep of monitoring equipment hidden behind the curtain.

â€”â€”â€”

McNeely was startled awake by a nudge from the Chief, who offered him a hot plate of food and sank into the chair next to him. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and was surprised to find everyone but Watkins present.

â€œThanks,â€ he grumbled. â€œWhat time is it?â€

â€œ1400.â€

â€œAny word?â€

â€œNot yet,â€ Reynolds said quietly.

He grunted. â€œEverything squared away?â€

â€œItâ€™s a work in progress,â€ the Chief said. â€œItâ€™ll be a few days.â€

A nod. â€œI guess itâ€™s time to bite the bullet,â€ he announced reluctantly, rising to his feet and setting his plate in the chair before warily slipping behind the divider.

His eyes instantly landed on the unconscious Commander and he winced in sympathy as she was rendered almost unrecognizable by the metal cast taped across her nose. A thin sheet was tucked meticulously around her body and he followed the IV trail to her arm, where he found the doctor asleep. Corky was slumped over in a chair by the bedside, her face resting on the mattress next to Maloryâ€™s hand. He approached quietly and knelt next to the slumbering doctor, nudging her gently.

She snapped awake instantly. â€œMalory,â€ she said hopefully, her eyes anxiously searching.

â€œDoctor,â€ he said softly, alerting her to his presence and she jumped in surprise. â€œIâ€™m sorry,â€ he said quickly.

â€œItâ€™s alright,â€ she mumbled sleepily.

â€œHow is she?â€ he asked guardedly.

She turned tired eyes in his direction. â€œSheâ€™s gonna be okay,â€ she choked out, her voice cracking.

He blew out a long, relieved breath. Not getting the chance to speak as Corkyâ€™s face crumbled and she launched herself into his arms, crying tears of worry and relief. â€œOh, hey,â€ he soothed, surprised to find the little doctor clinging to him desperately. â€œItâ€™s all over now.â€

The men nearby overheard snippets of the conversation and recognized the unmistakable sounds of Corky crying, they muttered among themselves in agitation.

â€œIf the Commander doesnâ€™t make it,â€ Alvarez rumbled darkly. â€œIâ€™m going to execute Watkins just for the fuck of it.â€

A few mumbles of agreement met his words and several minutes later, the Sergeant Major emerged from behind the divider. All eyes rose expectantly.

McNeely smiled and shoulders slumped universally in relief. â€œSheâ€™s gonna be out it for awhile, but sheâ€™ll pull through.â€

â€œIs there anything we can do, Sergeant?â€ Clovis asked.

â€œIâ€™m glad you asked that,â€ McNeely said gratefully. â€œDr. Rivers will be staying in Medical for the foreseeable future so Iâ€™d like you to pack her a bag and grab her a cot. Also, someone go grab her something to eat, Iâ€™d imagine sheâ€™s pretty hungry.â€

The men jumped to their feet.

â€œOh, one more thing,â€ he added nonchalantly. â€œSomeone go tighten the ropes on Watkins and put a plate of food just out of his reach.â€

â€œIâ€™ll do that,â€ Alvarez said quickly, turning to leave the room.

â€œMr. Alvarez,â€ McNeely said before he could leave.

â€œYes?â€

â€œMake sure you leave the faucet dripping too.â€

The Tech Sergeant smiled widely.

05/15/02 - 1530 hours

Corky bent over her patient studiously, squinting through magnifying lenses as she carefully placed the stitches. She had never sewn a head back on, mostly because the act itself seemed like an exercise in futility, but this was a special case. It was her hope that the endeavor would leave undetectable scars and she went through great pains to make her stitches as small as possible. So intense was her concentration, that she failed to notice the blue eyes that fluttered open behind her.

Malory immediately squinted in response to the bright light situated above her and she spent a few minutes adjusting. When she was able to open her eyes completely, the first thing she noticed was the obstruction on her face and a hand rose to investigate.

â€œOww,â€ she squeaked piteously when she poked herself harder than she intended.

Corkyâ€™s head came up immediately and she turned in her chair hopefully, her face lighting up happily as she met Maloryâ€™s open eyes.

â€œHey,â€ she said softly, a ridiculous smile on her face that she couldnâ€™t control.

â€œHey,â€ Malory rasped hoarsely, trying a smile that rapidly turned into a scowl. â€œIt hurts to smile.â€

â€œI know,â€ Corky said sympathetically, turning to discreetly cover her other patient with a sheet. â€œLet me get you some juice to drink,â€ she added merrily, bouncing across the room to a little refrigerator.

â€œOkay.â€

Malory crossed her eyes in an attempt to view her nose until Corky approached and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. â€œApple juice, alright?â€

â€œSure,â€ she replied and was instantly force-fed a straw.

â€œSuck,â€ Corky demanded playfully.

Malory did as she was told, watching the doctor with wary eyes.

When Corky had determined that she had consumed an acceptable amount, she withdrew the straw.

â€œYouâ€™re smiling at me,â€ Malory said quietly. â€œI take it Iâ€™m going to live?â€

â€œYep,â€ Corky said brightly.

â€œHow bad is my shoulder?â€ she asked fearfully.

â€œIt was just dislocated,â€ Corky replied quickly. â€œNothing was broken or torn.â€

Malory released the breath she was holding in relief but then looked at Corky suspiciously. â€œThen why do I feel so bad?â€

â€œYou lost a lot of blood,â€ Corky replied. â€œMost of it internal. You broke three ribs, they were piercing you on the inside.â€

â€œOh,â€ Malory whispered thoughtfully. â€œWhatâ€™s with the shit on my face? Will I end up looking like the Elephant Man?â€

Corky giggled. â€œNope, in a few weeks youâ€™ll be as pretty as ever.â€

â€œReally?â€ Malory asked hopefully.

â€œReally.â€

â€œDo you have a mirror?â€

â€œWhy?â€

â€œI want to see.â€

â€œNo, you donâ€™t.â€

â€œPlease.â€

Corky rolled her eyes. â€œYou wonâ€™t like what you see.â€

â€œYou said it would heal, right?â€ Malory asked suspiciously.

â€œYes,â€ Corky drawled slowly.

â€œThen let me see.â€

Corky wavered uncertainly, but sighed and crossed the room to retrieve a hand mirror. â€œRemember, youâ€™ll soon be as good as new. I promise,â€ she said reluctantly and held the mirror in front of Maloryâ€™s face.

A gasp and Malory swatted the mirror away. â€œI look like the ass end of a roadkill,â€ she said babyishly.

Corky smiled. â€œYouâ€™re beautiful.â€

â€œWhatever,â€ Malory said sulkily. â€œHow long do I have to lie here?â€

â€œA while yet,â€ Corky replied easily.

A childish sigh.

â€œI missed you,â€ Corky said softly, leaning over to place another kiss on her forehead.

â€œDo you love me?â€ Malory whispered.

â€œMore than anything in the world.â€

â€œOkay, Iâ€™ll lie here for a few days,â€ she announced generously.

Corky chuckled. â€œYou donâ€™t have much choice in the matter.â€

â€œBut what if I need toâ€¦ uhmâ€¦ shake the dew off my lily?â€ she asked hesitantly.

Corky smiled and reached down to produce a bedpan.

Maloryâ€™s eyes widened in horror. â€œNo way,â€ she said determinedly.

â€œGive it a rest,â€ Corky scoffed. â€œIâ€™ve already changed it for you a couple of times,â€ she teased gently. â€œAnd the Sergeant Major did it once.â€

A mortified gasp and Corky broke down instantly with a look at her face.

â€œOkay, I was just kidding about the Sergeant,â€ she admitted with a snicker.

â€œNo fair picking on me,â€ Malory rumbled. â€œIâ€™m convalescing.â€

â€œOh, alright,â€ Corky said with a grin. â€œI couldnâ€™t resist.â€

Malory grunted.

â€œSpeaking of the Sergeant, I should call him. I know he wanted to talk to you when you woke up.â€

â€œNo.â€

â€œHuh?â€

â€œIs everything okay?â€

â€œYeah, thanks to you.â€

â€œThen I donâ€™t want to see him unless itâ€™s an emergency.â€

â€œWhy not?â€

â€œWhy not?â€ she asked sarcastically. â€œLook at me. Iâ€™m so ugly I could make a train back up and take a dirt road.â€

A chuckle. â€œSo? Its not like heâ€™s gonna make a pass at you or anything. Donâ€™t be such a little prom queen.â€

Malory sighed. â€œFine, but Iâ€™m not using the bedpan. Iâ€™d rather teach my asshole how to chew gum.â€

Corky laughed. â€œI love you, Malory.â€

Morose eyes raised. â€œI love you too,â€ she said softly.

â€œI know youâ€™re feeling moody,â€ Corky soothed. â€œI have something that might cheer you up.â€

â€œWhatâ€™s that?â€ Malory asked curiously.

For an answer, Corky walked over and pulled the sheet away from the roomâ€™s other occupant with a flourish.

â€œYou fixed her!â€ Malory exclaimed happily.

Corky grinned like an idiot at Maloryâ€™s delight and carried Little Lovecraft over to be clutched in an impatiently extended hand. â€œSheâ€™s a tough little bitch, just like her Mommy,â€ she said fondly. â€œShe learned some manners while you were sleeping,â€ she added mischievously.

Eyes sparkled with amusement. â€œIs that a fact?â€

â€œYep,â€ Corky said gleefully.

Malory seated the doll on her chest and pulled the string.

â€œWhat happened to your nose? Did your parents lose a bet with God?â€ the doll asked annoyingly.

Malory scowled as her lover laughed merrily. â€œItâ€™s going to be a long winter,â€ she predicted remorsefully.

10/31/02 - 0800 hours

It had been six days since Corky had seen Malory, something she had been quietly warned to expect on the flight to Washington. So it wasnâ€™t a surprise when upon arrival, Malory and the other servicemen had been spirited away and she had found herself, Clovis, Lenard, and Watkins together in a separate vehicle, losing sight of Maloryâ€™s car as it pulled into an underground parking garage situated beneath the Pentagon

From that point, she had been separated from her colleagues and had become an unwilling guest of the government, spending three full days undergoing an interrogation conducted by six stern looking men that had absolutely no sense of humor. On the fourth day, she was given a room key and an escort to a nearby hotel with instructions to remain there until called upon.

The time since, had been spent in a long haze of worry and concern, wondering anxiously what would happen to Malory and the others. They had discussed it a lot in the month before their rescue, both in public and in private. As Commander, Malory was the one held the most culpable and speculating her fate was a constant source of unease that consumed Corky to no end.

Finally, the call had come and had been greeted with both relief and apprehension. Now, the Pentagon loomed in the distance and she looked disinterestedly through a car window as the scenery passed her by.

As the vehicle pulled to a stop, she recognized with a scowl several of the men waiting to greet her as erstwhile interrogators and she got out reluctantly. Unexpectedly, another man emerged from the crowd and her eyes lit up happily as she rushed forward to embrace him.

â€œLarry!â€ she exclaimed cheerfully, flinging herself into his arms. â€œItâ€™s so good to see you.â€

â€œWell, hello there,â€ Larry said jovially after receiving his mauling.

â€œWhat are you doing here?â€ Corky asked warmly.

â€œThey wanted to talk to me too,â€ he said seriously.

â€œWhatâ€™s going on?â€

â€œNot quite sure yet,â€ he admitted.

A throat cleared and their escort gestured them inside. Corky scowled, more than a little irritated with all the secrecy, as she fell in with the pace of the procession. The entourage traveling silently through what seemed like never-ending miles of corridor until they arrived at a door manned by a pair of grave looking Marines, one of which opened the door.

â€œDr. Rivers, Dr. Daniels, please make yourselves comfortable,â€ he said, gesturing them inside.

Warily, Corky entered the room and smiled happily upon encountering her friends, all of whom were wearing their dress uniforms.

â€œHi guys, donâ€™t you all look handsome,â€ she said cheerfully, looking around hopefully but coming up empty. â€œWhatâ€™s the scoop?â€

â€œDonâ€™t know,â€ McNeely said. â€œThis is the first weâ€™ve seen of each other since we landed.â€

â€œWhereâ€™s Malory?â€ she asked worriedly.

â€œNo idea,â€ McNeely admitted. â€œBut Iâ€™ll bet we find out today.â€

Corky grunted thoughtfully. â€œIs she in trouble?â€ she asked worriedly.

â€œShe better not be,â€ Clovis rumbled and she smiled at him fondly.

â€œWe were all run through the ringer,â€ Reynolds said quietly. â€œI can guarantee it was much worse for her.â€

â€œSo what are we here for?â€ she asked.

â€œTo wait,â€ McNeely said bluntly.

â€œFor what?â€

â€œWeâ€™ll have to wait to find out,â€ McNeely said and Corky scowled in frustration.

10/31/02 - 0400 hours

It had been almost seven hours and the sound of the door opening startled everyone, Corky looked up expectantly and was disappointed to see an elder man in a Naval uniform enter the room. McNeely sprang to his feet and saluted, prompting the other soldiers to follow suit.

â€œAt ease and good afternoon,â€ he said amiably. â€œMr. Watkins would you come with me, please?â€

The ostracized Watkins who sat by himself in a far corner of the room, reluctantly rose to his feet and preceded the Admiral out of the room. He left the door open in his wake and Corky performed a double take, hardly recognizing Malory as she walked through the door in her dress uniform.

Malory closed the door behind her and turned to find a roomful of salutes directed at her.

â€œOh, cut it out,â€ she chided jovially, accepting a flying embrace from Corky.

â€œWould you look at those legs?â€ McNeely said in wonder.

â€œYou owe me money,â€ Reynolds said. â€œI told you she shaved them.â€

â€œLook at those ribbons,â€ Alvarez said. â€œIâ€™ve seen Generals who didnâ€™t have so many.â€

Malory rolled her eyes and leaned over to kiss Corky on the top of her head. â€œIf everyone is finished having fun at my expense, Iâ€™ll tell you whatâ€™s going on,â€ she said cheerfully, belatedly noticing Daniels. â€œNice to see you again, Mr. Daniels,â€ she said politely.

â€œGood to see you, Commander,â€ he replied easily.

Everyone found a seat good-naturedly and looked at her expectantly.

â€œFirst of all, everyone has been cleared of any malfeasance, including myself,â€ she announced to communal relief. â€œAnd the powers that be have approached me with a proposal to present to you all.â€

â€œWhatâ€™s that, skipper?â€ McNeely asked curiously.

â€œYou have two weeks to decide whether or not youâ€™d like to continue on to other duty assignments or remain under my command. Those of you with the Coast Guard, which falls under the authority of the Department of Transportation, will be permanently seconded to the Navy,â€ she explained. â€œThose of you with the NSF have the option to become DOD employees under my purview.â€

A rapid exchange of surprised glances.

â€œWow,â€ Reynolds exclaimed quietly. â€œThatâ€™s a bag of tricks.â€

â€œI donâ€™t get it,â€ McNeely said confusedly.

â€œAs improbable as it seems, our government doesnâ€™t have an abundance of people experienced in, what one would call, the supernatural,â€ Malory said casually. â€œThe DOD will provide a base of operations for us and weâ€™ll be deployed nationally and internationally to investigateâ€¦ uhmâ€¦ paranormal phenomenon.â€

â€œYouâ€™re kidding, right?â€ Clovis asked disbelievingly.

â€œNo, Iâ€™m not,â€ Malory said. â€œI was just as surprised as Iâ€™m sure all of you are now.â€

â€œDoes that include me?â€ Daniels asked.

â€œIt includes everyone in this room and any staff we care to bring into the fold,â€ Malory explained. â€œHowever, our mission and objectives are to remain classified.â€

â€œIâ€™ll be damned,â€ Alvarez muttered quietly.

â€œYou have two weeks of leave to decide,â€ Malory said. â€œThose of you interested need to report back to me here, at the end of that time.â€

Corky pulled on her sleeve, guiding her to a private corner of the room.

â€œMalory,â€ she said. â€œWhat does this mean for us?â€ she asked worriedly.

A bright smile. â€œWe can do whatever you want. I donâ€™t have to be involved in this and neither do you.â€

Corky grunted and peeked around Malory at the men muttering among themselves. â€œI want to do it,â€ she said sincerely.

â€œThen thatâ€™s what weâ€™ll do,â€ Malory said easily.

â€œJust like that?â€

â€œJust like that.â€

â€œCan we go see my parents first?â€

â€œSure.â€

â€œWhere will we live?â€

â€œDonâ€™t know yet, but I used to work in this building. I have a condo in town,â€ Malory said slyly. â€œIt has a king-sized bed,â€ she added rakishly.

Corky giggled. â€œI can hardly wait.â€

â€œMe either,â€ Malory said excitedly. â€œIâ€™ve been wondering for months what sex would be like in a real bed.â€

Corky favored her with a gentle smile. â€œIâ€™m so proud of you,â€ she said softly. â€œLet me go talk with the guys, you wait here,â€ she ordered.

â€œOkay,â€ she said agreeably and watched curiously as the men huddled around the doctor and they mumbled quietly for several minutes.

Eventually, she wandered over to the window to watch the traffic in the distance, becoming lost in her own thoughts.

â€œCommander?â€ McNeely said sharply and she turned find everyone lined up in the middle of the room.

â€œYes?â€ she asked apprehensively.

â€œWeâ€™ve already decided.â€

â€œAnd?â€

Daly began to whistle and her eyes widened in recognition, a hand rising to cover her mouth as a group Cabbage Patch began.

â€œCome all without. Come all within,â€ they sang boisterously. â€œYouâ€™ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn...â€

End

* Quinn, the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) Words and Music by Bob Dylan Â© 1968, 1976 Dwarf Music

* The Doppelganger Artwork by EricWadley Â© 2001 Archetypal Visions