There is a limit to how long some can withdraw into themselves, wallow in self pity, and ignore the world around them. For Shelly she lasted around a quarter of an hour, sitting on the overturned cart in the middle of the shuttle bay, seeing everything and nothing. She had been the one to want to rescue people. She had wanted to risk everyone's lives in her desire to do good. She had gotten friends killed…
It was the crying of the little girl that broke her out of it. Someone was asking for their mommy, and Shelly raised her red eyes to look over at Lessa's shuttle. Where was Lessa? She didn't know. What she did know was a child was crying for help, and staggering to her feet Shelly moved in that direction.
The five survivors Lessa and Kine had returned with were sitting on crates beside the vehicle that had saved them. The oldest, almost an adult, sat with a three year old boy asleep in her lap. She wore an old orange robe, her shoulder length blond hair tangled and filthy. When she looked up at Shelly, she could just see the utter exhaustion in the woman's eyes. Sitting on either side of her were two boys, probably around six and eight Shelly guessed, wearing oversized t-shirts. One of the twins… Bella? was looking them over as they drank something hot, the older boy flinching as she put salve on his burned arm. Standing off to the side was the girl crying for her mommy. She had curly black hair, the shirt she wore reaching her knees. Her eyes were clenched shut, and Shelly's heart just broke. She went and knelt beside the girl.
"Shh… hush. What's your name?"
The girl sniffed and opened her eyes. Shelly lifted the bottom of the girl's shirt up and wiped her face, giving her most friendly smile as the girl tried to answer.
"Ma… Mari. With an 'i'." She sniffed again.
"Hello, Mari. I'm Shelly, with two eyes, and nose, and a mouth."
"No!" the girl said, emotions switching over to indignant frustration. "My name has an 'i' in it!"
"Oh, so it's one of those seeing names!"
"Noo! It has the LETTER I in it!"
"I see," Shelly said, not smiling. "So, Mari, how old are you?"
"I'm eight. Where's my mommy?"
Shelly looked over at the older teen, and saw the woman's eyes meet hers as she slowly shook her head. She looked back at the girl.
"She's not here. None of us have our mommies or daddies with us."
Mari's eyes widened.
"NONE of you?!?" The very idea shocked the poor girl. To not have mommies or daddies! It took only a moment, though, for the bright girl to suddenly make a connection. Her small hands shot to her mouth, as if she was afraid speaking the words aloud would make her fears come true.
"Then… if I'm here… then… mommy… daddy…" Shelly reached out and pulled the girl to her as the crying began again. She held her tight, stroking her head and back, cooing. Getting uncomfortable, Shelly stood and sat on a box, pulling Mari up onto one of her knees. Mari lay her head on Shelly's breast, still sobbing, and Shelly began to rock. Feeling weight on her other leg, Shelly looked up and saw the smaller boy climbing up into her lap as well. The blond haired boy looked up at her as Shelly's free arm went around him.
"I'm Andy. I'm five."
"Hello, Andy!" The boy put his own head on her other breast, and Shelly had to give a laugh at that. He was a fast one, he was! Even Rich had waited a full day before pulling that one! She squeezed both of the children, rocking and cooing gently. The remaining boy came over and stood in front of Shelly, leaning forward, hands on her knees.
"I'm Andy's brother. Randy. I'm seven."
Shelly smiled at him, wishing she had more arms. It felt so… good to have these kids in her lap. Mari had stopped crying, and was drying her eyes on Shelly's breast. Catching some motion in the corner of her eye, Shelly looked up and saw Sirenia coming over with a cart full of food and drink. The eleven year old redhead stopped in front of them and gave a weak, weary smile.
"Are they hungry?"
Randy turned, his jaw almost falling to the floor as he looked at the older girl in front of him. She had pale, almost white, skin, covered by a black half shirt with thin straps and a black skirt. Her dark red hair fell down her back in a long braid, her large green eyes gazing at him questioningly.
"You're pretty!" Randy blurted out. Shelly chuckled as red quickly rose to Sirenia's startled face, Randy's face turning a similar shade. Well, that romantic pairing was settled on! Still laughing, Shelly told Sirenia to start stuffing food into the kids.
****
Amanda just sat against the wall in her brother's arms. They hadn't said anything since he had left the shuttle, her joy at having him back and his need for comfort not requiring words. She nestled against him, Kine gently rubbing her bare arm in reply.
She was glad she had gotten to Kine before Irene had. It was only right that he find his comfort with her, his sister, and not some skanky "girlfriend". Then again, maybe Irene was letting her have this time with him. She did seem to have been trying to be nice to the girl as of late. Maybe Amanda was too hard on her. She could TRY and give Irene a chance…
… but, wasn't Irene suppose to have been on Kine's ship?
Not moving her head, Amanda scanned the rest of the bay. There was Sean, over there. Lessa she had already seen although she was now gone. So, where was…
Oh, god.
Slowly, Amanda turned her head and looked up at Kine. His eyes were red, although the tears had mostly stopped. His gaze seemed to have no focus, but sensing her he looked down and gave a weak smile. His arm tightened around her.
Amanda's breathing quickened. Oh, gods… Irene was… and Amanda had wished it! She closed her eyes. She had wished the girl dead so she could have her brother to herself! And! No… no, she hadn't caused this. That was stupid. Just like she had been stupid. Stupid to be jealous just because her brother also wanted a friend his own age. It wasn't like SHE was going to sleep with him! He needed playmates too, just like she had Sirenia and Wendi. And, now…
Amanda reached a hand up and stroked her brother's cheek.
"Oh, Kine… did… did you love her?"
Knowing nothing of his little sister's inner turmoil, or that it had taken her this long to discover his loss, he sighed.
"I… don't know. In some ways, yes, but… well. She did love me, though. She told me, just before we left." He looked off into the distance again. "Nobody had ever said that before. Not and meant it the way she did, that is."
"I love you." Amanda said it softly, and Kine looked down at her and smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
"And I love you."
A slight shadow covered them, both looking up to see Mel standing a meter away. Her brown fatigues had dark read splotches on them, although she looked unharmed, and her shaved head almost sparkled from the lights reflecting off the sweat. She was giving Kine a nervous, uncertain look.
"Are you doing OK, Kine?"
"Yeah…" He sighed, and banged his head back against the bulkhead. Deciding that hadn't worked, he did it again. "I've been better, obviously, but I'll be OK." Kine looked up and cocked his head at her. "What's up?"
"Nothing," she said, quickly, shaking her head. She brought both her hands up, revealing three squeeze bottles. "I was just wondering if you two needed something to drink."
Kine smiled, a warm smile, and reaching up took two of them, handing one to Amanda. He motioned to the empty space next to him on the floor.
"Care to join us, Mel?"
Her cheeks flushing slightly, Mel nodded and slid down next to him. Shoulders touching, their hands found themselves near each other. After a moment, their fingers touched.
Amanda was too lost in her own thoughts to notice.
****
Shelly lay in the darkness of her cabin. She was tired. The newcomers were all set in their quarters for the night, well fed, bathed, and clothed. For now the woman, Hanna she thought her name was, was with the four kids in one room, although she hadn't been too happy about that. They were obviously together through accident of fate and not any emotional ties. The four boys Sean had saved were also bunking together, and Shelly thought at least two of them were a couple. Understandable. You found comfort where you could in a place like that.
Speaking of comfort, she hadn't seen Lessa. Shelly had thought maybe she'd be here in the cabin, recovering, but that wasn't so. Didn't matter. She had to be somewhere. Shelly shifted on the bed, naked on top of her sheets. She thought of pleasuring herself, finding comfort there, but was too emotionally drained even for that. Too much going on for petty things like…
The cabin door opened, revealing Lessa. She flipped the lights on as she stepped inside. Shelly sat up, shielding her eyes from the glare, Lessa immediately apologizing and dimmed them as she closed the door. Shelly squinted at her friend, eyes adjusting. There was something odd about her. She was carrying her jacket and gun belt for one thing. That was weird. As Lessa walked over to a chair and tossed the two items into it, Shelly saw a dim flash of gold from around her neck. Hmm, that almost looked like…
Shelly's heart went cold.
"Where have you been."
Lessa's head jerked around at the coldness of Shelly's voice. There was surprise and… worry in her face. That told the dark haired teen all she needed to know. Shelly stood quickly, her breasts bouncing slightly in the lower gravity they kept the ship at.
"What did YOU DO!?" Shelly all but shouted. Lessa's eyes showed confusion, hurt, but then they hardened as she stood up straight. She almost thrust out her chest to show off the locket between her breasts.
"I was with Don."
She said it proudly.
Shelly's face was livid. She took a couple steps towards her friend, not even understanding this rage but let letting it flow over and through her.
"How DARE you go do this hours after our friends die!"
Lessa scoffed.
"Um, I was THERE. You weren't. What the hell are you talking about?"
"You FUCKED him! How could you do this to ME?!" Shelly didn't notice her choice of words, but Lessa's eyes suddenly softened. Shelly saw this change, despising it. "Get the fuck out of my room!"
"No."
"You FUCKING whore! Get out of my sight!"
Shelly marched up in front of Lessa, eyes blazing, stopping just a nipple's length away. Lessa stood there, calmly. She wasn't going to let it end like this. She wasn't going to be driven away from her friend in a moment of rage. She stared into those wide, hateful eyes.
"No."
Shelly slapped her.
The sound reverberated through the room, but it was Shelly who staggered back. Lessa… had let herself be hit. She… had let Shelly slap her, without even an attempt at blocking, or dodging, or…
"What am I doing," Shelly whispered. A few moments ago she would have said she was cried out for the day, but she felt tears again starting to flow as she just looked at her love. "Why… why did you?"
Suddenly, Lessa was there beside her, helping her to back peddle until Shelly felt the bed against the back of her legs and sat down. Lessa sat down beside her, drawing Shelly's head down into her chest like she was a little girl. Which, perhaps, she was.
It was only a few minutes before Shelly regained some of her composure. She raised her head, grabbed a corner of her sheets to use as a tissue, then sat up next to Lessa. She sniffled one more time, sighing.
"Why?"
Lessa gave a sad smile, moving her right hand to touch Shelly's cheek.
"There's lots of why's in that question."
"Why him now?"
"Because," Lessa said, her hand now cupping her friend's cheek, "I thought he had said something to hurt you, and had gone to kill him."
"WHAT?!?" Shelly was… shocked. Horrified. Aroused. That she'd do that for her…
Lessa chuckled.
"I was having a bad day and hadn't found someone to take my anger out on yet. Needless to say… once I was there I saw another side of him, one I'd been waiting to see…" She shrugged. "I think it's safe to say we're a couple now."
Shelly looked down at the locket, and Lessa reached down and opened it, displaying the contents for her friend.
"It was his younger sister's. His has a picture of her in it. He wants to find one he can put my picture in, to wear on his chain as well…" Shelly's face once again was full of anguish. Lessa sighed. "I'm sorry."
"But I love you…"
"But because that love will never be more than what it has been, I'm not allowed to feel someone's touch, ever?" Lessa shook her head. "That's not fair, my friend."
Shelly hung her head, and whispered.
"I've… tried. I've tried to want you like that, to flip that switch in my mind. Why," she cried, looking up at Lessa, "did I have to be heterosexual?!?"
"Well, cocks ARE fun," Lessa chuckled, and Shelly burst out laughing, in almost a cathartic release. Shaking her head, Lessa said, "I don't think you can change yourself, my friend, and to be honest I like you as you are."
"So… what now. Will you… will you be with him?"
Lessa sighed.
"I think, tomorrow, the three of us should talk. I don't want to lose you, and I yes want to be with him."
Shelly stared down at the floor in thought. This was too sudden. She had never expected Lessa's crush to… actually come to anything. And so fast! Well, fast for inhuman Lessa. Shelly wondered if she should make sure Lessa was being responsible about this, but figured of course they both were. Don and Lessa were smarter than she was, so if she knew to take precautions… Shelly gave a self mocking laugh and looked back at her friend.
"Despite my comment the other day that earned me hair full of fruity beer, if just you and I won't work then a threesome is out as well."
"True," Lessa smiled, looking down at Shelly's ample bosom and soft curves, "and to be honest I don't want the competition!"
****
Hanna couldn't sleep.
She had never been able to sleep in the same room as others. Hearing them breathing, snoring, moving… The past week, with its series of communal cells and body filled trucks, had been a horror. To have to endure the same now, when "free"… and, was she free?
One way to find out.
The woman climbed out of the cot, finding the shirt and jeans that had been provide for her. And the male boxers- no donated panties apparently would fit her, and the jeans looked suspiciously male. Were there no adults on this ship? Sighing, Hanna dressed as well as she could in the dim light- night lights had been left on for the four children- then softly walked to the door. She tried the switch… and it slid open. Carefully, she stepped out into the corridor.
That Hanna was alive was due to quick thinking, bad eyesight, and maybe a quota. She and her boyfriend had stumbled on a large band of refugees who had just stopped for the night. Glad of another male for protection, they had welcomed them in for dinner. The war front had reached a string of nearby villages, and whatever parents could be spared were trying to get the children to safety. The food had been warm and filling, the conversation interesting, and the sleeping bag provided to Hanna had been much softer than the ground she was used to. She had fallen asleep to the sound of Derek still chatting away with their hosts.
The slavers hit not long after nightfall, after the kids were in bed but before the adults had either turned in or started a serious watch. The attackers had reached the middle of the camp before even being noticed, their basic strategy being anyone awake, dies. Kids were then rounded up, sorted, and taken away to their fate.
The rough woman who dragged Hanna out of her bag demanded her age, and the twenty three year old replied with what was an apparently convincing "fifteen". Her small breasts probably sold it, despite her height and wide hips, so she was tossed in with the lucky ones. "Lucky". In the days that followed she came to wish she had just accepted her fate. Maybe she'd now be with Derek, or even her mother…
But, now, she was apparently surrounded by children. Again.
Hanna wandered down the corridor, noting the various crew cabins. A number had hand written, or drawn and colored, signs. One even had… glitter.
Oh, these were professionals who had rescued her.
She found a deck plan on the wall not too far from her cabin, and noting the location made her way to what was labeled "rec room". She could use some "rec".
The door opened into a room full of couches, video screens, two pool tables and some video games. The lighting was low, and gazing around Hanna saw the place was almost empty. There were two girls sitting watching a movie in a corner with the sound turned low, and on the other side of the room… was a gorgeous guy. He was tall and lean, but muscular just the way she liked them. The light from the video screen he was half watching seemed to give his dark brown skin a mysterious sheen, and his face was one of calm reflection.
Yum.
Hanna looked around again. He was alone, just watching some show about gladiators. Surely he'd like some company on a lonely night like this. A drink dispenser caught her attention, and she ambled over to it, noting the gravity was a bit less than she was used to. Either that, or the drinks were affecting her much earlier than usual. Glancing at the choices, she found something alcoholic to sooth her nerves. She downed a full glass, then poured a refill and wandered over to the couch the guy was on. It was big enough for four, and she sat down at the far end. The guy looked over at her, and Hanna gave him a sultry smile.
"Hi."
He raised an eyebrow at her and almost… sighed his reply as he turned back to the screen.
"Evening."
Hanna looked down at herself. Did she look THAT bad? She took another swig of the drink. Time to try another tack.
"Look, I hope I'm not disturbing you too much, but… where the hell am I?"
His eyebrow raised twice as far this time, and she shook her head laughing.
"No, no, no, no… I know I'm on a ship, and you guys rescued us. And… thank you. But, I mean, who ARE you guys? You're the only other adult I've seen, apart from maybe that Kine guy."
Now the dark man was giving her a much closer look, one that was starting to make her a bit worried. He wasn't so much checking her out as… examining her. He leaned forward, and was about to speak when a door opposite where she had come in opened. A teen male with a long blond ponytail wearing a grease stained jumpsuit entered, immediately looking over and calling to the man.
"Sean! There you are!"
Sean was on his feet in an instant, and with a sexy smile on his face vaulted over the couch with a grace that made Hanna wet. He walked up to the newcomer… and, putting his hands on his waist, gave him a tender kiss.
That, Hanna thought… was unexpected. She didn't catch the words they softly said to each other as they ambled out of the room, her mind still processing the incoming data, but when the door shut she suddenly turned and gave a hard look at the only two others in the room. They were two teen girls, yes… and they were sitting together like lovers do.
Hanna spun her head back and collapsed against the back of the couch. What was this place. Then she started silently laughing. If tomorrow she found herself suddenly looking at female body parts the wrong way, she was stealing a shuttle and getting the fuck off this ship.