Helena Russell sighed tiredly as she entered her quarters, engaged the electronic lock, and set her commlock on stand-by. She loved being on Moonbase Alpha; the challenges were everything she wanted, and more.
The medical facilities were state-of-the-art; some of the equipment was better than state-of-the-art for it was so new that it wouldn't be made available to medical facilities on Earth until after the beginning of the New Year, which was still several months away.
The people she worked with were the best in their specialized fields, and she enjoyed being in charge of the entire medical department on the base.
The one drawback Helena found with her position as Head of Medical Services and Life Support was that she was on call 24/7. Even if she weren't scheduled for duty in the Medical Center or one of the labs, she really couldn't relax and enjoy a day off because she could be needed at any moment for an emergency. So far those emergencies had been few and far between.
Helena raised the light level in her quarters, glanced around at the mundane household chores that needed doing, and decided she'd straighten up after a shower. She headed for the bathroom, quickly stripped out of her uniform, and stepped into the shower.
Helena allowed the water to wash over her, turning the shower head to a gentle massage, and tried to relax under it. The shower was a very poor second to John Koenig's large and skilled hands when he acted as her masseuse. John... The fact they were living on different planets, hundreds of thousands of miles apart was the one thing she regretted about taking this assignment, but when she applied for a tour of duty on Alpha, they had yet to meet. John had been the first one to encourage her too take the assignment when it was offered. He'd been right. Her time on Alpha was already proving invaluable, and she had only been there a couple of months, but damn, she missed John Koenig.
Turning off the water, Helena stepped from the shower, toweled herself dry and wrapped the damp towel around her torso. She used another towel on her hair, then started brushing it as she walked from the bathroom and into the main area of her quarters. She looked up, startled. The lights were lower and music was coming from her sound system. She hadn't done that before she went into the shower. Helena heard a sharp intake of breath from nearby and she turned toward the sound. John Koenig stood near the end of the couch, staring, an appreciative smile on his face.
"Hello gorgeous."
Helena laughed with delight, dropped the brush and was in John's arms almost before he could take another breath. They held each other for a long moment, then Helena reached up to wrap her arms around John's neck, their mouths coming together for a long, passionate kiss. When they parted, both in need of air, Helena met John's gaze, her eyes reflecting curiosity while she smiled with anticipation.
"That has got to be one of the oldest pick-up lines ever." He chuckled as he allowed his hands to brush across her bare shoulders and touch her soft, still slightly damp hair.
"Will it work?" Helena just nodded and kissed him deeply. But John drew back and met her gaze when the kiss ended. He was still in his flight suit from the trip up, and smelled vaguely of Eagle fuel.
"I think I should shower first."
"And I think I should soap your back." Koenig grinned as Helena took his hand and led him into the bathroom.
She closed the door, then turned the water back on. Facing John, Helena stretched up to kiss him while she helped him undress, shedding his flight suit, boots, socks and underwear. She gave him a gentle push backward into the shower stall. He stood there under the flow of water, watching her. Helena smiled seductively, then dropped the towel she was wrapped in slowly to the floor. She stepped over it and into the shower stall. John bent slightly and kissed her, one arm wrapped around her waist while his other hand gently traced up and down her side in a motion he knew excited her. Helena gasped and broke the kiss, stepping even closer. She reached around John and took the soap from the soap dish.
She held it between them, smiling. "Your back, remember."
John smiled in anticipation, then turned around so his back was to Helena. She began to soap him slowly, sensuously, starting at his shoulders and casually working her way down his torso. She reached around him and soaped his chest and stomach, pressing herself against him. John reached up and placed his hands over hers, following the motions Helena made. Slowly she worked her way down his chest, to his belly and then his groin. She released a gasp of expectation when her hands encountered his hard and erect organ. He was definitely ready for her, but she wasn't done soaping his back. Carefully, gently, teasingly, Helena spread soap between John's legs, over his balls and pubic hair, and finally over his penis. She teased the tip of it gently, smiling to herself when John groaned with need. "Helena..." She circled his penis with her fingers and began to stroke its length, the soapsuds adding to the sensations she was creating. John gasped and leaned his head back, trying to stay on his feet. Helena could sense his need growing and released him, then moved around so she was standing in front of John. His expression was one of blissful need and she stepped nearer to him when John reached up to caress her breasts, bending close to kiss her again. "Turn around." He said taking her shoulders.
She looked up at him and let him turn her around in the small space. His hands covered her breasts as he kissed her neck. She could feel his hard penis pressed against her backside. His hand slid slowly down her reaching between her legs to stroke her. She leaned her head back against him, enjoying his gentle touch. He took a half step back pulling her with him. His hand went further between her legs and she spread her legs a little wider. With his other hand he took his penis to guide it inside her. She leaned over a bit in order to give him better access. He found her and slowly pushed into her. She gave a low sigh as he moved against her. His hand moved around her waist, while with his other he stroked her. He began moving against her, slowly at first. She put her hand against the stall and moved his hand that was around her waist, to her breast. He began moving against more rapidly as he began to reach his peak. With his hand between her legs, he continued to stimulate her, careful not to be too rough. "John...now." She screamed. Helena was breathing heavily as her hand grasped his wrist, stopping his hand between her legs. His hips where thrusting hard against her as he released himself inside her. "Oh God..." He exclaimed as he pressed into her.
John's arms went around her as she pressed her hands against the stall. They were breathing heavily against each other. John kissed her ear. "You okay?" He whispered to her.
She just nodded slowly, "Just don't let go." She said.
He smiled and kissed the back of her neck. He held her until she began to move her hands up the stall. He withdrew from her and slowly turned her toward him. Her arms went around his neck and he leaned down to kiss her.
As the parted, she looked up at him. "Turn the water off." She said.
He reached to the knobs and turned them off, stopping the water flow.
She smiled slightly at him, looking into his eyes. "We'll be in trouble for wasting water."
"I don't think it was a waste." He said kissing her again.
"Me either." She said.
She looked up and met John's gaze, their mouths coming together in a tender kiss. Slowly they untangled themselves and stepped from the shower, and toweled each other dry. They moved back into the main area of Helena's quarters and settled on the couch, each wrapped in bathrobes Helena took from her closet.
Helena cuddled up next to John, content and satisfied for the moment. "John, how did you get in here? I locked the door behind me." "I know the head of security. He owes me more than one favor."
Helena just sighed contentedly, shifting slightly so she could study John's face. "Do you have any
idea how much I've missed you?"
Koenig glanced in the direction of the bathroom and smiled slowly. "I'm beginning to get a good indication of it."
"Why didn't you let me know you were coming to the moon?"
"No time. I left Earth an hour after I got the orders. I'll be here a week, working on the Meta Probe, but I will have some free time."
Helena smiled seductively. "Good. How soon do you have to report for duty?"
"0700 Lunar time." Helena glanced at the chronometer. It was 1945 Lunar time. They still had hours. "Mmmm."
"But..." Helena sat up to meet his gaze, not liking the sound of that 'but'. "Go on..."
"I should make it look as if I'm actually using the guest quarters I was assigned." Helena nodded reluctantly and glanced at the flight bag John had placed near the door. It made sense. She didn't want Gorski on her case for distracting John from his work.
She nodded. "Why don't you go get settled in, then meet me for a late dinner in about an hour. We can decide what's next - and where - then."
"Make it forty-five minutes."
"Forty-five minutes." John kissed her, stood and dressed quickly, gathering up his gear and heading out to find his own quarters.
As the door closed behind him, Helena turned to her lingerie drawer and started to consider what she should wear under her uniform when she met John for dinner. They were eating late enough so that John and Helena had the cafeteria almost to themselves. The few people who were there left not long after Helena joined John at a corner table near the back of the room. She would have preferred soft music and candle light to the sounds of clattering dishes in the kitchen and harsh overhead lighting, but was happy just to be with John.
About halfway through their meal, Alan Carter entered the room. He grabbed himself a cup of coffee, gave them a grin and a wave, and was about to head out when John motioned him over to join them. Alan walked up to the table slowly, watching Helena's expression.
"Join us, Alan."
"You sure? I don't want to interrupt."
"Please, Alan, join us."
"Thanks, Helena." Alan was assigned to Alpha to oversee the training of the Meta Probe astronauts, and he and Helena had become friends, based on their mutual friendship with John, and the fact Alan was dating Helena's sister.
Carter smiled as he sat down. "I had a message from Melissa today."
"I'm not surprised. You hear from my sister more than I do."
Alan chuckled, thinking the same was probably true of John; that he heard from Helena more than Melissa did.
"Yeah... She said to say 'Hi.', and tell you to come up with some medical reason to send me back to Earth for a couple of weeks. She wants to take me sailing again."
Helena and John both chuckled. Alan had met Melissa a few months ago when he and John were in Florida for meetings on the Meta Probe. Neither had said anything, but both John and Helena had an idea that Alan's affair with Helena's twin sister, Melissa, was almost as hot as their own, and any sailing they did would be below decks.
"Gorski would love that, my sending you back to Earth right at the height of the training sessions. We'd both be scrubbing out solid waste filters for months. Tell Melissa she'll just have to wait to take you out sailing."
"Not me. You're her sister, you tell her. I'd like to actually survive this relationship with her, thank you." Helena chuckled again, knowing Alan was right. Melissa did have a bit of a temper when she didn't get her way, and she'd take the news of Alan being stuck on Alpha for a time better from her than from Alan. Carter finished off his coffee, then stood, giving John and Helena each a knowing grin.
"Hope you'll be able to get some sleep tonight, John. You do need to be sharp for that meeting tomorrow." Before either could respond, Alan hurried from the room, leaving John and Helena staring at each other.
Slowly John began to smile. "Just how much sleep were you planning to let me have tonight, Helena?"
She smiled slowly, then leaned close so she could keep her voice low, not wanting her huskily whispered answer to be overheard by anyone. "You'll have to decide that for yourself when you see what I'm wearing under this uniform. Just think of New Orleans." Her eyes twinkled with seductive delight as John met her gaze, trying to keep his mouth from dropping open.
He hadn't enjoyed the time he and Helena were apart, on different planets, but it was beginning to look as if she had plans to make up for lost time while he was on the moon. They finished their meal in silence, then left the cafeteria. Helena went directly to her quarters and Koenig joined her there a few minutes later, having stopped by his own quarters to get a change of socks and underwear for the morning. Helena met John just inside the door to her quarters. She had the lights low, and music for slow dancing playing on her sound system. Making certain her door was locked, John proceeded to find out what she was wearing under her uniform.
True to Alan's statement the night before, John found he did need to be sharp for the Meta Probe meetings he attended all day. From time to time he found it difficult to concentrate, his mind wandering back to the very brief, very enticing teddy he'd found under Helena's uniform the night before. It was the one he'd not gotten to see when they were in New Orleans for her class reunion. He pushed the image of her slowly slipping out of the silky lingerie from his head, and filled it with details concerning the Meta Probe instead. Tired from his journey the previous day, and his activities the night before, John stretched out on the couch in Helena's quarters, hoping to catch a quick nap while he waited for her to come off duty. But his mind wouldn't shut down enough to let him relax. He kept reviewing the route taken by the probe astronauts on their training flights. Something about it bothered him. Not the route itself, but something about the 'feel' of the route. He couldn't define it, couldn't precisely put his finger on it, but he was nonetheless bothered by... something. He'd asked Carter about it, who didn't have the same feelings as Koenig, but trusted his friend's instincts enough to accept there could be something not quite right. John hoped, by the time he had to return to Earth, he would figure out what it was that was bothering him.
Hearing the door to Helena's quarters open, John sat up, smiling when he saw her enter, carrying a tray with two covered plates on it. He met her gaze as he stood and moved to help her with the tray. "I thought we'd eat in tonight."
"And after we eat?" Helena just smiled, the look in her eyes all the answer John needed. Koenig passed the next couple of days working almost double shifts on the Meta Probe, and spending his nights with Helena Russell. They traded off, one night spent in her quarters and the next in his guest quarters. Three days before he was due to leave, John surprised Helena by coming to see her in the Medical Center. He was not there as a patient, and his expression told her he was there on business, not pleasure. Helena asked John to wait in her office, and she joined him there a few minutes later, having finished with her patient.
She closed the door behind her and met Koenig's concerned gaze. "John?"
He faced her, slowing his pacing, and ran his hand over the back of his neck in what she was coming to recognize as a worried, nervous gesture. "Helena, have you noticed anything... unusual, medically, as far as the probe astronauts are concerned?"
Helena took a deep breath and eased into the chair behind her desk. She shook her head. "I'm not at liberty to discuss the pilot's medical conditions with anyone, John."
He released a frustrated sigh and shook his head. Koenig laid both hands flat on the top of her desk and leaned forward, meeting her gaze.
"I don't want names and details, Helena. I just want to know - need to know - on a general, basic level if you have noticed anything... off."
Helena studied John carefully, weighing her options in regard to answering his question.
Finally she turned to her computer and brought up a screen that was protected by several security passwords. She was the only one who had access to this file, or even knew of its existence. "Yes, I have. I'm not sure what it means, or if it means anything, but I'm still concerned about it."
Koenig moved around the end of Helena's desk to stand behind her chair. He rested his hands on her shoulders while she explained the numbers on her screen reflected variations from the norm in several of the probe astronauts' medical exam results. Exams were conducted weekly, after each pilot had logged a specific number of training hours. She wasn't sure - yet - what the elevated figures meant, but some were far enough from the norm to sound warning bells for her.
John studied the data, shaking his head. "Something is... off, or wrong, Helena. I can't put my finger on it. I'm not even sure it's anything tangible, but I'm bothered by it. I've made Alan aware of my concerns, and he's keeping an open eye and mind, but so far... nothing."
"Have you mentioned this to Gorski?"
"I can't without more solid proof. If I take nothing more than a feeling I have but can't explain to him, with no facts or figures to back it up, I'll be grounded so fast it will make your head spin. I'm still on probation as far as the space commission is concerned because, like Victor, I believed Celinni's story and backed him up. That alone makes me suspect - guilt by association."
Helena glanced up over her shoulder at John, and placed her hand over his where it still rested at the curve of her neck. She gave his hand a quick squeeze and sent him an encouraging smile, knowing it still hurt John to talk about Victor. He returned the smile, and Helena nodded back to the screen.
"I have a feeling we have your facts and figures, John. We just don't know what they signify yet. I'll be more aggressive in trying to find some kind of correlation."
"Thank you, Helena. I don't know if any of this will actually do any good, but we must try. Even if we do figure this out, Gorski may dismiss it as being overly alarmist or cautious. He won't do anything to rock the boat or to endanger his position as commander here. Simmonds isn't much better. he's so concerned about keeping everyone thinking there are no problem so the money will keep coming in that he probably won't take me seriously either."
Helena nodded. She hadn't been playing these political games long, but she learned quickly. "You know I'll do all I can to help."
"I know." He smiled and bent down to give her a quick kiss. Helena turned slightly and brought her arms up around John's neck, their mouth meeting in a full and leading kiss. John pulled in a deep breath and met Helena's gaze when they parted.
She smiled slowly. "I'm due for a break." She cut her gaze toward the couch in the corner of her office as she ran her hand down the front of John's uniform tunic. He met her smoky gaze and took her arms from around his neck, bringing Helena to her feet. They kissed deeply, Helena reaching to press the stud that would lock her office door before steering John over toward the couch.
Before they were able to complete the journey from desk to couch, John's commlock sounded. It startled both of them and they broke apart.
Reluctantly John reached to answer it. "Koenig."
"Captain, I'd like to see you in my office immediately."
"Of course, Commander. I'm on my way."
Helena reached to unlock her office door as John returned his commlock to his belt. He gave her a disappointed look and took a deep breath.
"Sorry."
"Me too. I'm off duty at 1700."
"I'll meet you in your quarters at 1800."
Helena smiled seductively and nodded. "I'll be waiting."
Koenig kissed her quickly then hurried from her office before he was further detained. Gorski was not a patient man.
Delayed in his meeting with Gorski, and unable to get a message to Helena, John hurried toward her quarters more than just a little late. He hoped she wasn't too upset, and knew she wouldn't like the reason he was so tardy. Rounding the corner into the hallway leading to Helena's quarters, John slowed a bit, nodding to several other Alphans as he passed them. He didn't want to be obvious about where he was headed, not knowing if his relationship with Helena Russell was common knowledge or not. If not, he'd just as soon keep it that way. Pausing outside her door, John glanced each way down the corridor, finding it empty. He entered the security code Helena had given him and stepped through as the door opened, then closed. The room was dimly lit with several candles burned in various locations throughout the room, soft music played, and Helena lay on her bed, sound asleep. Silently cursing, John stood by her bed and watched her a moment, debating whether he should just crawl into bed beside her and join her in sleep, or wake her. From the atmosphere of the room, Helena had been anticipating activities other than sleep as much as he had been. He didn't want to further disappoint her, so he slowly smiled to himself, his decision made. John quickly stripped, then sat beside Helena on the bed. He reached out and lightly traced a finger along the outside of her leg, beginning at her ankle and moving slowly upward toward her hip. The black lace negligee she wore was split up the side, and John allowed his finger to follow the slit. Helena stirred slightly, shifting so the material of the negligee fell across her thigh. John smiled and bent close, placing kisses where his fingers had just traced. Helena stirred a bit more, releasing a happy, contented sigh. She was not yet awake, and John continued his gentle caresses, slowly and tenderly increasing the area of her skin that he stroked. He moved the black material aside so he could caress the inside of Helena's thigh. She involuntarily smiled and parted her legs. Adjusting his position so he was kneeling beside Helena, John moved his hand between her legs to touch her tender, moist flesh. He stroked gently, smiling as Helena responded to his touch, her nipples hardening as she became aroused. Again John leaned close to place kisses on her skin, his fingers continuing his attention to her private area. Helena moaned in pleasure, shifting her position to give John better access. He moved closer, bringing his other hand up to smooth across her stomach and up to her breast, cupping it gently, tweaking the hardened nipple. Helena pulled in a hissed breath and opened her eyes slowly. She smiled. "Sorry I'm late."
"If you always apologize like this, I'll never be able to stay mad at you." John chuckled and he held her gaze as his hands continued his stimulation of Helena. She gasped and reached out to pull John down and into her, but he shook his head. He wasn't ready. Helena smiled and leaned back, assisting John where she could as he slowly eased her negligee up and over her hips. Helena removed it the rest of the way, pulling it over her head. She moaned with pleasure as John's mouth found her nipple, his teeth nibbling lightly, his hand still between her thighs. Helena felt herself nearing the edge. She pushed herself up against John's hand, urging him to speed and deepen his caress. John complied, watching Helena as her climax neared. Sensing she was about ready, John increased the pressure he was using only slightly. It was enough. Helena felt waves and waves of pleasure begin to course through her, and she cried out her orgasm, clutching the bed clothes. More than ready himself, John watched as Helena calmed slightly, her breathing slowing. She met his gaze and smiled happily, tremors still radiating from where John's fingers touched her. Helena took a deep breath and caught it as John moved between her legs, easing them wide.
He bent over her and kissed her deeply, then stretched out above her. Their gazes locked and Helena reached down to caress John's hardened shaft, but he shook his head, moved her hand aside and lowered himself into her. Helena cried out in pleasure as the mere sensation of John entering her caused her to climax again. He waited until she calmed a bit, then he began to move, his thrusts gentle and shallow at first, but becoming deeper and longer in duration as his own orgasm neared. Helena wrapped her arms about John's shoulders and her legs about his waist. She rode with him, no longer able to do anything but enjoy the sensations John's presence between her legs was creating. As he felt his own climax nearing, realizing Helena was once more on the edge, he reached down between them and again began to stoke her tender flesh with his fingers. Helena cried out in pure pleasure and felt nothing but wave after wave of ecstacy engulfed her. She sensed John begin to climax and did what she could to encourage it. He cried out her name as his fluid shot into her. They clung to each other, riding out their pleasure, embracing each other in the aftermath of their orgasms. Breathing more normally, John raised his head from where it was pillowed on Helena's breast, her nipple still in his mouth. He released it and met her gaze. He kissed her tenderly and, rolling onto his side, pulled Helena into his arms.
She smiled. "Apology accepted."
John chuckled and kissed the side of Helena's head, gently caressing her arm as he held her close. They snuggled for awhile, enjoying the feel of each other's skin against their own. Finally Helena shifted enough so she could study John's face, meet his gaze. He was troubled by something.
"Not that I care any longer, but why were you late?"
"Gorski."
"Ah..." Helena nodded. She didn't care much for the man, but did her best to get along with him. He had very little to do with the Medical Center on the base, and she liked it that way. John, however, had to deal with him almost every day and was directly answerable to him in regards to the Meta Probe. From John's tone, Helena could tell he shared her opinion of the current base commander.
"Problems?"
"Nothing unexpected, just... suspicions I have that I will probably never be able to prove." Helena eased up so she could look at John more directly. She gently ran her hand over his chest, her expression one of interest and understanding.
John continued. "I just have this feeling Gorski knows more concerning this... whatever it is that's bothering me about the training route than he's letting on."
"How so?"
"Just... the questions he asked us about the training, the way he asked them, wanting to know why I had requested stats on all the past flights. During the entire meeting I was... uneasy about something, and realized, talking with Alan afterward, what it was. Alan and I subtly tried to broach the subject, but he was very unreceptive, almost hostile about it and refused to release the stats to me on the grounds that so long as there was no actual problem with the training flights, they were superfluous. That made me even more suspicious. Why doesn't he want me to look at those stats."
"Is there anything you can do?"
"No, not now. Just as the meeting was ending, Gorski informed me my orders had been changed, and I am to return to Earth on the first available flight. It leaves at 0600 tomorrow."
Helena gasped, her eyes going wide. John's original orders had him on the base for another two full days. She frowned. "Was there a reason for the change?"
"Not that he shared with me, but I have the distinct feeling it was because I was getting too curious. They can't ship Alan back because they need someone on site who is familiar with the training program, and they can't afford to delay the training while they find a replacement for him. And Alan is not on probation because of the Ultra Probe and his friendship with Tony Cellini."
"Will you be able to do anything from Earth?"
"I don't know, maybe. Alan is aware of my concerns, shares them, and will do what he can from here without making Gorski aware of his activities. I'll work on it from Earth, and if we come up with any concrete evidence, we'll act. But until we have that hard evidence,...we wait."
"I'll keep an eye on those odd readings I've been charting, John. The unusual levels are only present in the probe astronauts, and are not evident in any of the other personnel, which points to something unique the probe pilots are being exposed to that the rest of us are not. If I'm able to determine anything conclusive, I'll take it to Alan."
"Thank you." John smiled and kissed Helena tenderly. He lay silently for a brief time, gently stroking Helena's arm, then he looked at her and met her gaze. "I'll be back up here at least once before Meta launches. I'm hoping it will be more than once, even if I have to invent a reason to come."
Helena smiled as she traced her finger down Koenig's jaw and along his shoulder. "You could always claim you're paying a conjugal visit to me."
John laughed, imagining the expressions of those who approved visits to the base. Then he growled softly as Helena's hand strayed lower on his torso, her gentle caresses awaking his desire. He reached up to massage her breast and drew her head down so their mouths could meet in a passionate, inflaming kiss. John was glad he wouldn't be piloting the Eagle that left at 0600, because he and Helena were not going to spend his remaining few hours on the moon sleeping.