Tony --
It was hard to believe we were going home now that my brother, Guido, and the others had come from Earth to rescue us. It would take some time, but we'd build enough ships equipped with the new jump drive to take everyone back. I knew Maya wasn't as thrilled as we were but Mama was going to love her, and she certainly had no difficulty adapting to new situations! In fact, Maya and Guido were getting on so well that it was hard to believe they hadn't been working here together for the last four years.
John was standing and listening to them talk but not joining in, again. I knew John's sense of propriety wouldn't let him cut loose, even at a celebration like this one but sometimes I wish he'd try to join in with the rest of us. The first drink I handed him had a triple shot of the liquor Melissa brought along from Earth. He was so busy toasting the new arrivals, that he downed the glass without even tasting it.
He didn't even look like he'd noticed it when I walked up to him with a second glass. "John, this is it. We're really going home." I said loudly. The party hum had reached the point that in order to converse, you had to practically shout. John took the proffered glass with a nod of thanks and a brief smile.
"Yeah, Tony. But now the hard work is really going to," he hesitated a moment, obviously restraining a burp, "start. We're going to have to rebuild every Eagle to use the jump drive, and we will need to test our designs first. Say, I hope this drink isn't as strong as the last one."
He gave me one of the patented Koenig Knowing Sidelong Glances he reserved for special moments like this, and sipped his drink carefully. I had given him a different kind of drink that time, and honestly didn't remember what I put into it, as I had begun to feel the celebration myself.
"Nahh." I said waving my hand like brushing away flies. "I just forgot and gave you the drink I'd fixed for myself. This one is entirely different." I looked around the room trying to find Maya and Guido again and began to feel the vertigo associated with a really good time. I finally found them and, moving in that direction looked back at John over my shoulder.
"Try to have a good time, John." I said smiling, and weaved in and out of the crowd toward my lovely Maya.
Helena --
Next to Melissa, who was otherwise occupied, Dr. Shaw was the person I most wanted to visit with among the rescue team. It had been a long time since I'd seen him, and I knew he was delighted just to be here on Alpha. He'd never been allowed to travel in space due to a mild heart condition. I knew it was treatable with medication, but it had been enough to keep a brilliant man grounded. He must have jumped at the chance to join Melissa's crew. When I told him about Michelle Osgood's artificial heart he was so enthusiastic. He wanted to see my notes, and I have to admit that when he mentioned the phrase 'Nobel Prize', I wanted nothing more than to take him somewhere we could talk uninterrupted, without all the noise of the party.
I didn't give another thought to the party or to John. After all, at this point in time, we weren't sharing quarters, since he'd agreed to my conditions about our upcoming wedding. Dr. Shaw and I left the party absorbed in our conversation. We headed to Medical Center, where I wanted to show him around before we settled in my office to talk the night away.
Diana --
Glancing around the room I slowly moved into a position that would allow me to see almost everyone who was attending the party. The desperate men who had been stranded here on Moonbase Alpha for so long who were trying to chat me up had no idea they were not the one in whom I was interested.
I still sometimes wonder how I was talked into this little escapade. Were it not for the probability I would finally receive the professional recognition I deserved for cracking the jump drive technology and proving deep space navigation was possible while using it, I would not have agreed. The fact John Koenig was here on the base did factor into my final decision.
Even then as I smiled politely and laughed in all the appropriate places, my gaze was locked on John's tall, elegant form where he stood across the room. He was listening to Peter Rockwell, but not participating in the conversation. He looked nervous and bored. His eyes kept darting around the room. He was probably looking for that doctor he was still seeing. I nearly lost my cool when I learned they were still-- docking with each other. But I was going to change that.
Ah, there she was, talking with Dr. Shaw. They were old friends, Helena Russell and Dr. Shaw, and I do mean old. They were talking medicine. Helena took his arm and they left the room!
I glanced at the group of men surrounding me, and nodded charmingly, then moved away. I could feel their disappointment as I left, but they followed me with their eyes. My eyes went directly to John Koenig, delighted to see he was by himself for a moment. This was my chance.
"Hello, John," I purred as I slipped my hand around his arm.
"Diana, how nice to see you," he replied, obviously uncomfortable. This was indeed my chance and I smiled seductively, intent on making him much more comfortable very, very soon.
My voice was honey sweet when I stepped even closer to him. "John, it's getting awfully warm in here. Do you think we could go somewhere a little less crowded?" I asked.
I saw John swallow nervously and I smiled sweetly in response. Before he could really frame an answer I was headed for the nearest exit and my darling John had no choice but to follow me. I was sure he could suggest a place where we could be alone.
John--
Her hand on my arm felt like a vise. The red nails looked more like claws than fingers. How could I shake Diana when she had her talons embedded in my arm? What kind of drink had Tony been feeding me - some weird experiment in hard liquor to go along with his hopeless attempts at beer?
She was pulling me closer and her hand was clawing up my arm. She said something. "What Diana?"
She said something I didn't follow about finding someplace cool and quiet. For some reason, my feet were moving in the direction she pulled me. It felt good to finally relax. I knew there was still a lot to do, but it seemed like just a matter of time before we went back. Finally a chance to be off duty - really off duty. I wanted to go to a baseball game - I hoped it was baseball season. Helena would want to go to Miller's Bluff. I'd take her - as my wife. And I'd get her all the chocolate she could eat.
Hmmm - that massage felt great. My neck and shoulders really needed that. Wait a minute - I didn't want to go with Diana. My head was fuzzy, but every fibre in my being said I shouldn't go with her.
Why had Helena left with that doctor geezer? Where was Alan - oh I knew where he was - with Melissa doing the kinds of things I should have been doing with Helena. This was her fault - if she'd been there with me then that barracuda would have left me alone. Didn't she know I was getting married that week? Wait - didn't they both know? Shouldn't Helena have been with me?
If somebody had to pull me away, why wasn't it Celeste? That was one of my last nights as a free man. It would be great to know if anything did happen that night with Victor. And to have one night with her I did remember. I'd rather have her unzipping my tunic, reaching under my shirt, than to have Di- wait a minute.
Maybe this wasn't Helena's fault. Maybe I needed to just get rid of Diana. Where was Cellini? He could have helped me. Isn't that what friends did for friends? Yes, and steal the Meta probe to drive it through space and time with experimental engines and a skeleton crew. With that psycho Diana Morris--
I needed to focus. And breathe. Inhale - new air. Soon we'd be back on Earth with fresh air, all we needed. Well if the planet hadn't polluted itself beyond recognition. It would be good to be back; and to be together, with my wife, the best thing to come from this whole fiasco. I was getting married that week. And I was leaving a party with a known man eater. In front of a couple hundred witnesses. Including my wife-to-be's best friend.
I needed to go back. I needed to find Helena. "Diana - come on. We're missing the party." I told her. She said, "John, we are the party."
I had to get out of there. Her hands were moving up my chest, she pressed against me, making sure I had a good view of her ample cleavage. She pressed against me. If only she had been Helena. If only Helena had been there. Helena would have felt so good pressing against me, her soft skin, her warm arms around me, my nose on her hair. In my fantasy I pulled her closer. But I was confused. She said, "You know I only came because of you." Wait a minute. I needed to get back to the party. Needed to focus. Where was Alan? Cellini?
Kate--
John Koenig, you have no idea how damned lucky you were at that moment. It's a good thing I was carrying a tray of hors d'oeuvres in each hand or I swear I'd have done you violence. If I hadn't been so angry with you at that moment, and worried about Helena, I'd have been extremely happy to see you prove me right. Helena could do so much better than you. The minute Helena was distracted, talking with Dr. Shaw, you took off with one slut hanging on your arm and another one hot on your heels.
Forget the food. I had to find Helena. She was going to need me when she found out. Hell, I was going to tell her myself. Screw the wedding. You, pal, were on your own. I hoped she left permanent scars.
Celeste--
The soiree celebrating our rescue was grand, and well deserved by all. The crew of the Meta Probe, heroes for the day, circulated with an entourage of several Alphans everywhere they went in the room. I noted earlier that they were one Prober short. Melissa Thompson and Alan Carter were elsewhere, renewing their acquaintance in that way that lovers were wont to do.
John Koenig's voice rang clear to me through the room, drawing my attention to him like a magnet. He was with Peter Rockwell and the Alphan groupies that Peter's geeky good looks had attracted. Peter was a man with a future, with Savior status thrown in for good measure. That was always an attractive combination for a woman--especially women isolated from large numbers of available males.
John was conversing with them and was more animated than I had ever seen him during our four years on Alpha. His voice and his laugh were just slightly louder than they needed to be to be heard by the group he was with, and his movements and mannerisms less stilted that his normal "command presence" attitude. I had not seen him like this since our time in Cocoa Beach together and before he and Helena became a couple.
Helena Russell was not there either, and perhaps that freed John's spirit during our celebration. She and her comrade, Dr. Shaw, had left the party earlier to tour the base, to show him the advances she was rightfully proud of accomplishing during our years of travel. John was left standing alone as Peter & Company moved off on the rounds of the gathering, but not for long. Another of the Probers, Diana Morris, snaked her arm around his, leading him toward the food. She wore a sheer red silk blouse and black wrap skirt, both of which were styles none of us Alphans had seen in years.
Diana's reputation preceded her, and I had heard rumors through the PMS grapevine that she chased John until Helena finally caught him. John's relationship with me since my arrival on Alpha has been strictly professional, and no one appeared to know that John and I were very socially related. If he had shown the least interest in anyone other than Helena Russell, I would have been on him like cheese on a souffle, but I would never force my attentions on a man.
Minutes passed, and out of the corner of my eye I saw that Diana still had John in an oar lock grip near the snacks. As she talked to him she flipped her hair back from her right cheek and daintily picked up a treat to hold it before him until he opened his mouth. Diana laid it on his tongue--her index finger lingering long enough to be caught by his lips as he closed his mouth. She slowly withdrew her finger from his lips and passed it across her own extended tongue, licking it lightly. I may have been on Alpha for four years, but the signs of seduction would have to be written in neon lights to be clearer. The two passed through the nearby exit and were gone from the room when something inside of me took hold, and I made my way across the room to the same exit, but they were gone. Locating the nearest commpost, I keyed in my own access to the computer system.
"Computer, locate Commander Koenig's commlock." I enunciated clearly.
"The Commander's commlock is entering the Botany Section." The emotionless voice responded.
I didn't entirely understand the urges driving me, but I quickly broke into a trot and was at the Botany Section door in less that a minute. My hand hesitated shakily above the open button as I tried to rationalize why I was even there. Did I want John for myself or did I simply not want a harlot from four years in his past to have him? Did I want to rescue his reputation, just so that Helena could have him? Or was it that I loved him and Victor Bergman so much for what they did for me all those years ago, that I felt the need to
repay him? I could not decide, and the adrenaline rush had my pulse pounding in my ears so I just pressed the open code and burst into the room.
There, only feet from the doorway, Diana had him pressed up against the wall, with one hand unbuckling his belt and the other holding both of John's hands just above his head. At the sound of the door, the two looked at me,
John with that deer caught in the headlights look on his face and Diana's glare like red-hot gun barrels. The only thing I could think of to say was Sigourney Weaver's line from the old *Alien* DVD in Alpha's collection.
"Get away from him, you Bitch!!" I yelled as I pounced upon her.
We both rammed into John's stomach at the same time and his breath escaped in a violent gasp that left him lying on the floor sucking air like a beached perch. As we rolled off of him, Diana and I grabbed each other's hair, pulling handfuls with each grab. With some satisfaction, I noted her roots were a different color than the rest of the hair, but I did not have time to gloat, as another handful of my own dark tresses ripped painfully loose.
Diana was stronger than she looked, but with little else to do but work my shifts and spend time in the training room, I quickly straddled her and had her pinned to the floor. She suddenly stretched out her neck and clamped her teeth into my fore arm as her other hand grasped the neck of my well-worn uniform and shredded it from neck to waist, pulling my sports bra off along with it and breaking off three fake fingernails from her right hand.
"Yeoowww!" I screamed a banshee call, and pulled with all my might on her silk blouse. The frail material gave way with a ripping sound revealing her bare midriff and dark red Wonderbra. "You need a little help, I see." I said cattily and grabbed the bra between her breasts and with a quick pull broke all the clasps and yanked it from her completely, throwing it absently away. Her bare chest was revealed in all its minimal glory, but so was my own ample bosom. The look on her face as she stared up at my pendulous breasts said she had other interests than John Koenig.
I rolled quickly off of her, and went to help John get up as he was just getting his air back. Diana was up and pushing herself under his other arm when I saw Helena Russell walk up to the door. The look of anguish and betrayal was reflected in John's face as she turned and ran from the Botany Section.
"Hah," was the only sound Diana made before my right uppercut slammed into her jaw and her eyes rolled up into her head. She crumpled like a sack of half-pealed potatoes.
Tears were streaming silently from John's eyes almost as fast as the blood flowed from his broken heart, and a moment later my own tears began to shed as John took off his jacket and put it around my shoulders. "John, I'm so sorry about this," I stammered. "I was only trying to help." At least that's what I said as John wiped his tears on is black command sleeve.
"It's not your fault," he said as he stumbled away from me and out of the Botany Section.
Alan--
I laid back on the bed and sighed with contentment. That was certainly the best time had in that bed in four years. From the time John pushed Mel and me into the travel tube, telling us to "get a room", Melissa had been in my arms repeating over and over that she loved me and illustrating her point in ways I had only been dreaming of lately.
I knew the others were having a grand party in the rec room, but I couldn't have been happier where I was. Mel returned to the bed with two glasses of wine. She brought an incredible amount of stuff with her on the Meta Probe. Including this bottle of wine she grabbed before sending Cellini over to the party with an entire case of booze. She also brought tequila, but there wasn't a lime in lightyears. I took a sip of the wine and put the glass on the floor by the bed. I was far more interested in her beautiful body.
She leaned back and sipped wine while I nibbled at her neck, and moved my lips down her body, concentrating on maximum satisfaction for her. She tasted fantastic! The doorbell went off while I was about her gorgeous nipples, and I bit harder than I intended to.
"Sorry, love."
"Not a problem, flyboy." She caressed my neck, touching a spot just below my ear. "I've already given you worse." I realized the bite she gave me in our first hurried encounter earlier in the evening would probably not be covered by my uniform, and my mates would have plenty of fodder for teasing me. But they all know what we'd been up to anyway, and I was certainly not ashamed of our activities. The bell rang again, "Don't answer it and they'll go away."
She wanted me to return to the business at hand, and I was more than happy to comply, but the bell rang again, and then the commpost turned on by itself. There were only a couple of people who could do that, all senior staff who knew the overrides.
"Mel? Please answer, I know you're in there." It was Helena's voice.
Melissa sat up. I knew that something was wrong just from Helena's tone of voice, and Mel obviously knew the same thing. She was off the bed in a heartbeat, pulling a robe out of my closet for me, and my pajama top out for her. She glanced to check me out to make sure I was decent and used my commlock to open the door for her sister. Obviously playtime was over. Helena looked awful. She rushed into the room and took Melissa by the arms. "I just found John with Diana and Celeste, in a very compromising situation." Helena burst into tears.
Mel pulled her sister into her arms. "Oh, Cake!" It looked like a dangerous situation, but I couldn't just keep quiet. "Helena, you know how John feels about you. There's got to be some kind of explanation."
Melissa--
I held my sobbing sister in my arms and shot Alan a look that all but said shut up and sit down. I watched him as he quietly disappeared into the bathroom. I didn't expect to see him again. Helena was sobbing as I moved us over to the couch. I held her, stroking her hair. I'd never seen her like this. Quietly, I asked her what happen and in one breath she exploded with her story. The only thing I could think of as I listened to her was, 'that Son-of-a-Bitch, I'll kill him!' In a flash, I changed my mind. I'd kill the ice queen first then I'd kill John! And it would be a slow and painful death. Helena's sobbing brought me back to reality. My mind raced as I tried to come up with something comforting to say to her. 'What would mom do?' I asked myself. It occurred to me that I didn't know what mom would do, I was too much like dad.
I already knew what dad would do and I didn't think John would enjoy that either. Helena rose from the couch and started pacing around the room. She was hurt and confused.
The alarm on the door sounded and I looked to Helena to see what she wanted me to do. We both knew who was on the other side of the door. I watched my sister crumble and fall back onto the couch. Alan peeked out of the bathroom. He looked at me, seeking permission to exit. I slowly shook my head and he exited the bathroom, looking at my sobbing sister.
The door opened and I saw John stumble into the room. He was clearly still under the influence of the spirits from the party. The door behind him closed and he searched the dim lighting of the room looking for Helena. Alan gently tugged my arm, pulling me toward him. He handed me my clothes and pushed me into the bathroom. Get dressed he said as we stood in the bathroom. No, I responded, that's my sister in the other room and I'm not leaving her. Alan told me it was not our fight. He told me to get dressed so we could get out of there and leave them alone. I stared at him long and hard before I decided that he was right. I dressed quickly, as did Alan. He squeezed my hand and pressed the button that opened the door. Helena had stopped crying and was staring at John. Alan pulled me out of the room and the last thing I saw before the door closed was my sister sending her lover The Look.
John--
"How could you?" Helena asked, her voice a tense whisper. The tone conveyed her wounded psyche. I couldn't believe how badly I'd hurt her. The entire experience had sobered me so quickly. My head was pounding, but I was no longer in that relaxed alcoholic haze that I'd been enjoying at the party. If I made a wrong move, our life together-- my life-- was ruined. She'd been hurt before, and badly. I knew that! How could I possibly have let this happen? How could I make this right between us?
The only thing I could say was, "There's no one in my heart but you."
"It wasn't your heart that was in control this evening."
"You're right." There wasn't anything else I could say. There were no excuses, no apologies, no explanations that would suffice. The tactic seemed to surprise her. She didn't expect me to agree with her.
"I thought you wanted to spend your life with me," she said sadly.
"I do. More than anything in the world." The only thing I could do was try to make light of this, and diffuse the situation. "I need you to keep an eye on me."
"Obviously. I thought I could trust you."
"This had nothing to do with trust, and everything to do with too much alcohol and not moving fast enough when I saw Diana slither into my sight. I need your protection from her." I watched her consider this statement as I broke out in a cold sweat.
"This is just New Year's Eve all over again. Except it's twice as bad this time because Diana Morris is involved. This is inexcusable."
I took a deep breath. "You're absolutely right. There are no excuses for what happened. I let my guard down, and Diana led me away from the party before I realized what she was doing. Then Celeste showed up. I don't know why. She attacked Diana almost immediately, and there I was, shit-faced drunk with the two of them trying to scratch each other's eyes out. I was in no condition to become involved in any way - especially after they body slammed me!"
"Then I suppose they stopped fighting and picked you up off the floor to see if you were all right?" she asked sarcastically.
"Yes! That's it, exactly. Then you walked in." I realized that even I wouldn't believe this story, no matter how drunk I was, and Helena was sober. "How did you know where to find me?" This suddenly puzzled me and I wondered why it hadn't occurred to me before.
"Someone at the party called me and told me you'd left with Diana. I asked the computer where your commlock was. John, you know what she's like! She wasn't wanting to talk about navigation!"
I collapsed onto Alan's sofa. "You're right, Helena. You know, I didn't think I had that much to drink, but I can't deny that I was so drunk I didn't know what was going on. I was a fool, Helena. All I can do is ask you to forgive me."
Helena--
I was ready to kill Diana. And I was completely confused by Celeste Boullet's part in all this. John always swore there was nothing between them, so what was she doing fighting Diana over John? I wondered what I would have done had I gotten there before Celeste? John looked almost ill. Was it guilt or the alcohol? I knew better than anyone else how relieved he was by this rescue team, and how hard the last four years had been on him, but I didn't expect him to get falling down drunk at the first opportunity.
"John, how many drinks did you have?"
He squinted his eyes and put his hands to his temples, obviously trying to think. In this condition he was probably incapable of lying. He couldn't think fast enough. "Tony brought me two drinks. I remember the first one being really strong-"
Tony Verdeschi! Why was I not surprised? I'd heard him tell John to relax and enjoy the party. He probably made that second drink even stronger. I grabbed my commlock, despair lifting somewhat, but seeing red. "Tony Verdeschi," I ordered the commlock. The link seemed to take forever then Tony's face appeared on the tiny screen. I didn't give him a chance to speak, simply ordered him to meet me, right then. Terror was suddenly evident in his eyes and he knew he was busted. He nodded and vanished from the screen. I really didn't even need to see him now. I knew exactly who was responsible for this mess.
I looked back at John. He was peering at me through the hands that covered his face. He seemed to be even more miserable than I felt, and my heart melted. Why did he always make me feel this way? "This isn't your fault John, I can see that now."
A look of relief came over his face as he lowered his hands and he looked up at me. Then the tension of the day caught up with him all at once, his eyes rolled back in his head and he fell over onto his side. I caught him quickly and eased him onto the couch. I could hear a contented sigh and he breathed my name once, then relaxed completely into sleep. I knew he wasn't going anywhere for a while and looked around for a blanket. All I could see were the tangled sheets on the bed, and I realized with a bit of surprise that we were in Alan's room. Mel and Alan would have to find another place to play for a while. But I knew they could both be innovative when necessary.
There was no blanket to be seen, so I removed my jacket and laid it around his shoulders. He sighed again in his sleep and gripped the sleeve, rubbing the fabric between his fingertips like a baby with his blanket. I couldn't help but smile. I did love him so much.
Tony would be there shortly and I didn't want to wake John up. I left the room to find Alan and Melissa in the hallway, watching the door warily and obviously wondering what to do.
"He's sleeping. This wasn't his fault, I'm sure of that. But Tony Verdeschi is in serious trouble. He spiked John's drinks and Diana took advantage of the situation. I think Celeste was only trying to help."
"He's asleep? In our room?" Melissa asked.
I just gave my sister the look, and said, "I'm sure you can improvise something."
At that moment Tony came around the corner cautiously and reluctantly. I took his arm and steered him away. We were going to have words.
Tony --
The grip Helena had on my arm told me I had no hope of escape. The look on her face told me I was a dead man. Now I really knew the meaning of the phrase 'if looks could kill'... No! Wait! She was a doctor. She'd taken an oath. She couldn't kill me... but she sure as hell could make me wish I were dead.
We passed a number of people on the way to her office, but no one dared come to my rescue. Helena Russell didn't get angry or upset very often - at least not in public - but she was now and everyone knew it.
Helena steered me into her office. She closed and locked the door, rounding on me, the look on her face making me wish I were facing the Beta Cloud creature again. She said nothing but I knew what I had to do. The pleasant buzz I'd had left me immediately, to replaced by sheer panic. Taking a deep breath, I confessed my part in this whole mess, telling her all I'd wanted was for John to loosen up and have a good time. I cringed at my bad choice of words.
Helena still hadn't said a word, but that look she sent me was more than I needed to be certain I'd be lucky if I wasn't ostracized by the entire base. I almost wished Helena would explode, that she would vent her anger and release these emotions she was controlling. Then again, maybe not... Mary, Mother of God, she was frightening, and her one and only sentence spoken to me was probably the worst thing I had ever heard in my life.
"Tony, when John wakes up, I believe you have a lot more explaining to do. I'm going to let him deal with you."
She glared at me, then left the room. I could swear I heard her chuckle, as if she were imagining what John would do to me and enjoying the mental images. I wilted against her desk. Oh God, that was even worse. John Koenig with a hangover, caused by me, his temper unleashed, frightened that I had screwed up the best thing to happen to him in his entire life -- his relationship with Helena.
I shook my head, miserable and feeling like complete scum. Maybe I should just save everyone the trouble. I should just find the nearest airlock and start running - forget the pressure suit. At least it would be a fast death...
Alan --
I had to follow behind Helena and Tony as they headed down the hall, Helena's grip on Tony's arm so tight I was sure she was cutting off his circulation. I wasn't surprised when they headed for the Medical Center and entered her office. This was Helena's home turf, and she was in control. I ventured close enough to her closed office door to hear Tony babbling, trying to explain and I could only imagine the expression on Helena's face. Mel had a very similar one, and it was enough to make a man wish he were anywhere else, doing anything else. Verdeschi was probably wishing he were dead about then.
It seemed like forever before the door opened again. Helena stepped out and sent a glance in my direction - well, Melissa's direction, gave her a nod, a quick, satisfied smile, then turned and left the center, heading for the travel tube stop.
Once again I ventured close enough to look through the open doorway and into Helena's office, expecting to find... well, I wasn't sure what. Tony was slumped against Helena's desk, obviously trying to calm himself. I made enough noise as I entered the room so I wouldn't startle him. I figured he'd had about all the surprises and stress he could take for one day.
"Did she leave 'em intact, Mate?" I asked, not quite able to keep the gleeful amusement from my voice. I was happy as hell that Melissa and I had been otherwise occupied, so I couldn't get blamed for any of this.
Tony glanced up and shook his head slowly, his voice none too steady when he answered, "Yeah, I've still got 'em, but I may not for long. She barely said a thing, Alan. She just gave me that same look I've seen her use on John, the one that shuts him up almost immediately. Then she said she'd let John deal with me when he wakes up."
The anguish on Verdeschi's face was sobering and I nodded in commiseration with him, confiding that I knew exactly which look he meant. "I know the look, Mate, Melissa has one just like it. Believe me, you're better off facing an angry, hungover John who is ready to kill you."
Verdeschi snorted with disbelief as he sagged against the desk again. I took pity on the man and offered to see him safely to his quarters, figuring he needed protection from any and all of Helena's friends who'd gotten word of his part in this mess. He looked at me as if I were his last friend in the universe, and all I could think of was that I was glad I wasn't in his shoes.
Melissa --
Having just considered what I would do to John were I in Helena's place, I found myself wondering what she planned to do to Tony Verdeschi, who seemed to be responsible for this whole mess. I was sure it wouldn't be pleasant. I hoped she would make him sweat. I had no idea what the worst punishment they had on this rock might have been, but Verdeschi deserved it ten times over.
I held Alan's hand as we followed behind Helena and her captive at a discreet distance. I knew better than to try and eavesdrop at Helena's door, so I hung back, and tried to enjoy the confused looks people gave me when, at first glance, they thought I was my sister and were trying to figure out what was different about her. I couldn't really though, knowing Cake's future was hanging in the balance because of some guy's idea of 'a joke'.
My heart leapt into my throat when the door to Helena's office opened and she stepped out. She sent a glance and a satisfied smirk my way, and I smiled in return. I knew that look. We perfected it when we were kids and pretended to be each other to confuse people. That look meant she did the best thing possible to Verdeschi. She played head games with him, and was leaving him to stew about what was going to happen to him. Good for you Cake! I'm proud of you.
John --
The urge to barf my guts out was almost as strong as the throbbing in my head, which prevented me from moving. I think I moaned out loud and that made my head hurt worse. I wanted to get my hands on Verdeschi and throttle him.
Oh God! Helena! I knew better but I sat up quickly, only one thought in mind. I had to find Helena! I had to explain. It suddenly occurred to me to open my eyes, as I had only vague memories of where I'd passed out, and I wasn't at all sure it was in a 'safe' place. Where the hell was I? I didn't really care, so long as I wasn't in Celeste's or Diana's company. No, I left them somewhere, Celeste glaring at an unconscious Diana, not caring what happened to them so long as I found Helena.
My stomach lurched and I made a mad dash for the bathroom, disjointed images flooding my mind, cutting sharp pieces into my hazy memory. Each time I heaved, more and more of the night's events came back to me, kicking me in the gut and causing me to heave again. Helena.
When my stomach was finally empty, I splashed cold water on my face and straightened up enough so I could at least walk up-right. I stood at the bathroom door and surveyed the room, still trying to remember where I was. I knew this place, I'd been there before... Alan's. I was at Alan's. Then why was Helena's blue jacket on the floor? I closed my eyes as I remembered dreaming about her, holding her close, welcoming her scent... But I had passed out on the couch, and she wouldn't have let me do what I did in my dreams, not this close to our wedding. Oh God, were we still getting married?!
This was more than I could deal with. I had to find Helena, try to explain and hope that she would forgive me, that she still trusted me and loved me and wanted to marry me. If Verdeschi had screwed that up for me, for us... he'd be going back to Earth in numerous very small boxes.
"John, come sit down." Helena's voice rang in my ears and I decided I was still drunk. Then I felt gentle hands on my arm, around my waist, guiding me back toward the couch. "Here, take these, they'll make you feel better." Again Helena's voice. I finally dared to open my eyes, afraid I was hallucinating.
"Helena?" My own voice was too loud in my ears and made my head pound, but I realized I was not imagining things. She was really there, smiling at me, taking care of me, helping me to feel better. "Helena?"
She smiled gently and met my gaze, then handed me a couple of tablets and a glass of water. I carefully swallowed them, uncertain if I'd be able to keep them down, but in just a few moments, I began to feel better. I raised my gaze to Helena's, wondering what would happen next. I was too hungover to think past the next few breaths.
"It's all been sorted out, John. I know what happened, and how, and why." She had begun to massage my temples, easing the headache, and my shoulders, easing away the stiffness from sleeping on Alan's couch.
I breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered how it had all started, at the party in the rec room. "Verdeschi?" I whispered.
"Hiding in his quarters, afraid that if he shows his face, he'll be lynched by half the base. I told him I'd let you deal with him when you woke up." The satisfaction in Helena's voice caused me to open my eyes again. "You just left him to sweat it out?" I asked, knowing that was far worse than anything else, except one thing.
Helena chuckled in a way I'd never heard before and hoped I never would again. It sent a chill through me and I knew before she answered what else she'd done. She didn't have to say another word. Helena had given Tony The Look. I wondered if the look worked as well on women. If it did, I was going to turn her lose on Diana Morris.
Various Authors
June, 2000