CHAPTER 39

EDEN

NINETY-NINE HOURS AFTER RAPTOR TWO'S RETURN

Julie answered the chime on their door dressed only in a tank top and chewing the piece of apple that, moments before, had been grazing against Anja's soft cunt lips. They had moved into the living room of their quarters and were now enjoying coffee and fruit together. Dan now wore a pair of dark boxer shorts, while Julie and Anja each wore one of his tank tops, which left little to the imagination on either of them. Dan was sitting with his back against one of the arms of the couch, Anja curled up on the couch. Julie had been lying between Anja's legs, and none of them had been embarrassed in the least that their hands wandered over each others most private parts as any lovers would had they been in the same position.

"Skipper what's wrong?" Julie spoke in surprise as Martin walked into their quarters without asking, the K12 clutched in his hand. She swallowed the apple she was chewing and followed him into the room, almost walking into the back of him when he stopped and saw Danny and Anja. Julie saw him visibly relax as she moved around to the side, but she knew something was wrong. She could smell the anger and indecision pouring off of him in waves. Danny and Anja quickly noticed him, and saw him return the K12 to the holster. Danny came to his feet, while Anja leaned forward on the couch her green eyes wide and pulled the t-shirt past her knees, suddenly very embarrassed at having Martin staring at her in this compromising position, and with two of his best friends. That sense of betrayal swept through her stronger now as she averted her eyes from Martin.

"Marty?" Dan asked as he stood up, moving slightly to stand in front of Anja, his own alarm at being seen by his closest friend and the man that he considered a brother rising. Not to mention that it was quite possible Martin still had deep feelings for Anja. "What's going on?"

Martin was looking directly at Anja, the look on his face one she had never seen before. It was very menacing and promised pain and death. "Tell me one thing Anja." He spoke softly as Anja got to her feet slowly. "Tell me this is not all part of a very dirty game you and Graham are playing."

"Martin… what are you talking about?" Anja asked, stepping a little closer to Julie, not at all liking the tone of Martin's voice. "What game?"

"Senator Graham and his snot nosed punk son!" Martin snapped. "Tell me you are not involved with them."

"Skipper… what are you talking about?" Julie asked, also sensing and smelling the anger that was pulsing through Martin's body. She stepped closer to Anja in an instinctive move of protection. "Anja's been here with us since we got back."

Anja suddenly knew what was happening. Something had happen that had caused Martin to act this way, and she had a pretty good idea of what it was considering her experience with Kevin and his father. She drew herself up to her full height of five foot three and crossed her arms under her breasts. "I have no idea what you are talking about, and I wouldn't let that rat fuck son of a bitch touch me again if he was the last man on the planet. I've been here since we got back."

Martin didn't have to ask her what she was doing, as he could smell the scents of all three of them in the room, and it was thick with passion and heat. His body relaxed even more, yet his mind screamed betrayal. He beat that thought down, knowing he had no claim over Anja and his face softened as he heard Anja say what his senses were already telling him.

"We have a problem." He finally spoke. "Graham has filed charges against Dan and Julie for imprisonment and rape."

All of their eyes went wide, but only Anja could speak. And her voice was filled with undisguised rage and hatred. "That slimy… no good… cock smelling son of a bitch!" Anja nearly screamed, turning to look for her uniform.

"Skipper you have got to be kidding?" Julie asked.

Martin shook his head. "Senator Graham is making a play for control of the station. While we were gone he was rallying the civilian portion of the station against Admiral Wallace. He also established a line of communication behind the Admiral's back."

"He established a line of communication with who Skipper?" Dan asked knowing he wasn't going to like the answer.

"The people in charge of the assholes we met on the surface." Martin answered.

This statement caused Anja to come up short from trying to pull on her uniform, and all of them stared at Martin. "That's not funny boss." Dan said.

"The same people who created those creatures I did autopsies on?" Anja commented. "That's insane!"

"Skipper, he did this in only the four days we've been back?" Julie asked astounded.

"He may be a politician, but he for damn sure ain't stupid." Martin answered shaking his head. "He started the minute we discovered what happened. According to the Admiral, he's established a temporary civilian council that is solidly behind him. He's keeping the Admiral on a tight leash and the Sweeper Team has gone underground. He's drafted his own security force of civilian men and women, all loyal to him, and he has slowly been taking control of the station. The only reason he isn't fully in charge now is because the Admiral has EDEN's security teams guarding all the sensitive locations. I doubt that will remain like that for very long."

"Jesus, it's a fucking coup!" Dan spoke.

"And you know what he thinks of us." Martin said. "He's got charges outstanding on me as well as you two. He's going to take us down one by one. I think the man has snapped."

"He was already a fucking loon!" Anja told them. "And his son is even worse! Trust me I know!"

"Yeah well we need to come up with a plan quick." Martin said.

"A plan for what Skipper?" Julie asked.

Martin looked at her. "The Admiral is not going to be able to stop this. Graham already has his claws into the civilian population of the station. The Admiral told me that when they found out we were returning with Tarifa and the others, he got three requests to use the female elves in a brothel one of the new council members wanted to set up to relieve stress. And he wanted to put the male elves to work in the sections that needed repairs since the crash."

"Oh man it's coming apart." Dan spoke.

"It sure is, and we are going to be right at the center of it." Martin told them.

"What are we going to do Skipper?"

Martin looked at them evenly. "We're leaving EDEN." He said finally.

EDEN

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT HOURS AFTER RAPTOR TWO'S RETURN

Admiral William Wallace moved quickly down the corridor of EDEN, nodding and smiling to those he passed, even though he was sick to his stomach. He had just left the Senator's office, and had to restrain himself at what he had seen. The smirking bastard was dressed only in a robe, and his son and two guards were dragging Tarifa's limp, naked form from the lounge adjoining Graham's office. Even the brief glimpse he had seen caused him to shudder. She was badly beaten, her uniform torn to pieces, her face and hair covered in what appeared to be drying cum. That she had been repeatedly raped was obvious, that Graham was so calm and relaxed about it was what made him sick.

"They are made for our use Admiral." Graham had said. "You should try it. I don't believe I've ever had a tighter piece of ass in my life."

Wallace had listened to what Graham told him, agreeing to everything, trying to buy time for Martin's escape. Now he was striding towards the genome training area under the false auspicious of informing the other genomes they were being ordered to stand down. Wallace had no intention of telling them to stand down.

He entered the code for the training room and stepped into the darkened space. As the door slid closed behind him, the bright lights exploded on, and he found himself staring at a dozen HK74 assault rifles. Wallace didn't blink.

"Where's Marty?" He asked.

The weapons came down instantly and several of the genomes pointed to the rear section of the room through the door. Wallace marched away, the genomes returning to what they were doing. In the small planning room, Wallace found Martin hunched over the table with Ben, Danny and the female elf he knew as Endith. They turned when he came in.

"Admiral?" Martin spoke.

"Graham has moved faster than we anticipated. Four of the Sweeper Team agents have taken down communications and primary access to the computer core and reactors." Wallace spoke. "This is rapidly moving toward his total control. You need to get the Elves and your team off EDEN Marty."

"We're working on that now sir."

"I've already spoken to Ben and Tina. None of the Raptor crews want anything to do with that asshole Graham. They are prepping all the Raptors for departure quietly. Some of the civilian ground crew has gone to Ben and let him know they are not happy about what Graham is doing, and that there are others who feel the same way. They know everything is about to explode, and they were telling him they are not involved." Wallace said.

"Will they let us leave?" Martin asked.

"Marty they want to go with you." Wallace spoke. "Ben is prepping two Mark Nine transports for departure as well."

"How many people are we talking here Skipper?" Martin asked.

"Several hundred at last count according to Ben." Wallace spoke. "You have to take them Martin; if you leave them up here they'll end up getting hurt." He held out the data pads. "These are the new Command Codes to EDEN's primary weapons grid, and the Heavy Weapons Storage Site. You'll have to use the secondary command access codes, but take everything Martin. You got about twelve hours before the shit hits the fan, and all hell breaks loose. I can't be seen helping you if I am going to stay up here and keep him from doing as much damage as I think he will."

"Admiral he'll have you killed if he discovers you helped us in any way. Or that you are holding him back." Martin spoke.

"The man has snapped Marty. He thinks he's a god now, and someone needs to stay here and attempt to keep him in check." Wallace said.

"They took Tarifa." Endith spoke urgently.

Wallace looked at Martin. "She's been raped Martin. I saw Kevin and a couple of his goons dragging her out of the office lounge when I went in to see Graham. I don't know where they took her."

Martin's face tightened. "I'll find her." He said with barely concealed rage in his voice.

"Julie is stripping the communications warehouse, and Anja is discretely taking as much medical supplies as she can get. I got six Raptor's shuttling the team to the secondary command site in shifts to keep anyone from getting suspicious."

Wallace shook his head. "It won't last Marty. Get the elves and all your people to the secondary sight through the tunnel as soon as possible. I got a feeling that things are going to go bang within a few hours. I can lock down the tunnel to the secondary sight from Command, and Ben will get the Raptors and Mark Nine's clear to pick you up. Find your friend and get the hell out!"

"Yes sir!"

Martin watched Wallace leave and turned back to the others. "Master Chief, get the teams moving. Advise Major Anderson that anyone who wishes to go better meet us in the pre-arranged areas or we leave without them. Have Bravo squad get to the Heavy Weapons Site and strip it bare. Anything we can't take with us, have them disable it."

"On it Skipper." Tony spoke turning away and heading out into another room.

"Danny contact Anja, have her meet us at the junction of section nineteen and twenty." Martin spoke. "Let Jules know that whatever she's got will have to do, and to start heading for the secondary tunnel."

Martin looked at Endith as Dan turned to speak into his implant. "I will find Tarifa." He told her. "I will find her and get her back. And I will kill anyone who has harmed her. I need you to get your people armed and let them know to follow whatever instructions my people give them to the letter. We know this station and can get around blindfolded in the dark. They have to trust us Endith, or none of us will live through this day."

Endith had to gasp at the look she saw in Martin's eyes. It was one of murderous rage. It also stunned her that he knew her name and used it with respect and firmness. She reached out and touched his arm. "I will tell them." She spoke.

Martin nodded and looked at Dan. "Anja's on her way Skipper and Jules and Cody are almost finished in the Com warehouse and will move in five."

"Danny you're with me." Martin spoke as he holstered the K12 and picked up the HK74 and headed for the door.