Chapter 8

Chapter 8

A n uneasiness spread like wildfire through Cassidy. She marveled at the swift transition from feeling perfectly fine one moment to being seized by a sense of impending doom the next. She leaned forward in the co-pilot chair and scanned the space in front of her. It would be hours before they received any proximity alerts from the navigation system.

The calamity related to the engines hadn’t transpired. Paranoia had gotten the best of her. Maybe deep down, she didn’t want to reach their destination where her supposed father lived.

She looked at Titus who now stood alert in his chair. The cat looked as if he was stalking prey. He picked up whatever she sensed. Someone once said to her, just because you aren’t paranoid, doesn’t mean someone isn’t out to get you.

The crackling static of The Fury’s communication system caused her body to jerk in surprise. Alec had been ordered by Branson to run in silent mode. They weren’t in communication range of any settlement.

“You are entering proprietary space,” a voice warned her. “Turn your ship around and leave this sector.”

Cassidy aligned the communication system to the coordinates where the message originated from.

“This is The Fury , registration under Earth’s Galactic Solutions Corporation Alpha, Eight, Beta, Nine, Zero, Four, Eight,” she informed whoever was on the other end of the communication. “There is no space station or planet within my flight path to Terra Azul to claim the right of sovereign space.”

Her response was the typical way she communicated to other ships demanding the right of way or ownership of the space she traveled through. They were too close to their destination coordinates for anyone to openly declare anything.

She turned off her communication send capability and then activated her ship’s intercom. “Commander Goody, we’ve received a warning message. Please report to the bridge.”

Until she received some type of reply, she wouldn’t know if what they received was a recorded message or if a live being communicated to her ship.

“Listen, doll,” the same voice said, “although I’d love to meet the owner of that sexy voice, you’ve entered restricted space.”

“Restricted by whom?” She took the name he called her as a personal affront and couldn’t let such behavior slip by. “There isn’t an inhabitable planet or space station nearby even if I lowered myself to have a drink with you. I’m carrying fresh fruit and vegetables. I’m going to barely make my delivery coordinates before my cargo begins to spoil.”

If the communication device on the other end had lie detector functionality, it wouldn’t indicate Cassidy wasn’t telling the truth. Fruit and produce in essence began to spoil as soon as it was harvested. Either way, her craft wouldn’t be targeted as military.

“Maybe I should authorize a boarding of your ship to see if you’re telling the truth, tight ass,” the man on the other end said.

Branson had stepped on to the bridge in time to hear the last interchange.

“Are you flirting with the man?” Branson asked in amazement.

“Yeah, isn’t it fun?” she grumbled. “I’ve gone from being called doll to tight ass in a matter of seconds. The Fury has identified the origins of where the communications are coming from and there’s nothing there. Could the base have cloaking capabilities?”

“Reply back your interest in meeting him,” Branson ordered.

She smiled in response to what she’d just been commanded to do.

“I’ve got the best ass you’ll never have the opportunity to touch,” she said. “There’s plenty of opportunities for me to recreate aboard my own ship. Hauling cargo causes my crew to have exceptionally toned bodies. I work out because I like to sweat.”

“Oh, I’ll make you sweat, big time,” the voice on the other end claimed.

It was only a matter of time before she was given coordinates for landing. She folded her hands together and brought them to her lips awaiting a reply.

Alerts indicating they were being scanned sounded.

“Where the hell are they scanning from?” Branson asked as he looked over her shoulder at the monitors in front of her.

She stared at the instruments trying to locate where her sparring partner was located. There was a slight irregularity in the sector of space she examined.

“There,” she said, pointing to a slight dimming and then increased illumination of a spot the sensors displayed. “It’s a moon orbiting a gas giant. There’s a chance it could have an atmosphere and it’s the right distance from its sun to support life.”

“Are you picking up any activity around it?” Branson asked.

She shook her head. “We’re too far away for our sensors to pick up anything specific other than the wavering of energy emitted.”

Branson picked up Titus and sat in the pilot’s seat. The cat complained bitterly but didn’t extend his claw. Rather than being content to sit on Branson’s lap, Titus jumped on the control panel and continued monitoring what was ahead of them.

“I heard the communications between the two you,” Branson informed her. “You handled it perfectly. It’s amazing how you can sound like a bored, sexually frustrated employee. There isn’t a chance he believes you’re on a military vessel.”

“You still there, sweet cheeks?” the disjointed voice on the other end asked.

“Is there a bar with live music where you are?” she inquired. “I don’t think a couple of hours of fun is going to significantly impact my cargo. We can then burn off the calories we consumed after you buy me dinner.”

She’d laid the trap, now he just had to spring it. If he was half as horny as his voice would indicate, they may have a way onto the base without fighting their way in.

“I’m sending you coordinates and will meet you after you dock. I’m Michael, by the way.”

“Do you have a favorite color, Michael?” she asked. “I’ll slip into something sexy where your fellow workers will be green with envy.”

“Anything but black,” Michael replied.

It was the wrong answer where her own wardrobe was concerned. She hoped Reg would have something for when she was off duty and wanted to recreate in the belongings she brought aboard her ship. Cassidy had a hot date and she needed to distract Michael so the commandos could do their job. They just needed to be far enough away from the base before the bombs exploded.

***

She’d gone from being a ship’s captain, to a mouthpiece, and now a spy. As she glanced at her reflection in her quarters mirror, she couldn’t believe what stood before her. Reg’s silver metallic dress accentuated every curve she possessed. Curves were a more flattering way of describing rolls of fat. Her breasts were larger than Reg’s, but the dress still worked for her.

They had docked at a small space station. Scans of the moon below didn’t alert them to any structures or activity. There was a possibility the base had not been built as of yet and the space station was there to house the work crews until construction was underway. The mission where she was concerned was still going forward.

Alec’s ship remained out of sensor range. If they failed in their mission, Branson’s friend would report back to the Cosmic Consortium government the existence of the space station and its coordinates. Another team would be dispatched to complete what they failed to do.

She could barely breathe in the dress. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything else she could wear. If Cassidy was lucky, she wouldn’t swoon from lack of oxygen.

“Once any male looks at you, no one is going to think you’re anything but eye candy,” Reg said. “I don’t know why I’m messing around putting eyeliner on when no one is going to look at anything other than your boobs.”

Cassidy groaned. For the first time, she wasn’t comfortable in her skin. Maybe because there was too much of it on display.

“It will work to our advantage,” Branson said. “Thank goodness for the neurotransmitters. Your crew can communicate everything you’re sharing with them to me while you’re aboard the station.”

“I expect there to be a ship when I return,” she growled. “Don’t start messing around with the bombs until all the scanning is over. If there is a peak in radiation, the enemy will know our purposes for being here.”

Branson chuckled and shook his head. “I’m the military expert here,” he reminded her. “Just observe and share everything you see. If Michael is willing to give you a tour, take advantage of it. Use your brain to stay out of his bed.”

She closed her eyes for a second and let her anger roll into nothingness. Maybe one of these days, he’d stop his condescending attitude and respect her for her mental capabilities.

The dress certainly didn’t communicate she was an intelligent woman. Cassidy didn’t know why a well-dressed man elicited confidence and intelligence while a well-dress woman signified something totally different.

“Sexuality is a tool when used correctly,” she declared. “Michael’s longing to meet me is our free pass to dock at the base. He can look at my breasts to his heart’s content as long as the mission is successful. I’m willing to demean myself for the future of this galaxy. What are you sacrificing, Branson?”

Reg cleared her throat. “I’m finished here. I’ll leave the two of you alone. Try not to kill each other before we complete our mission.”

Cassidy swore to herself, which probably reverberated through the pathway to her crew. Her emotions were never this erratic. Her lover’s presence put her on edge.

“I’m sorry for the cheap shot,” Branson said. “I don’t like putting you in danger or on display. The idea of another man touching you is driving me insane.”

She wasn’t sure how to take what he admitted. Were his sentiments because he cared for her or because he considered her his property? His reasons were probably a combination of both, as well as other factors.

“I’d rather shoot my way onto the base, but it will cost lives and result in the failure of our mission,” she said. “This charade and the role I play is our best option. Branson, it’s just a character I’m playing.”

He combed his fingers through her red hair. After Reg’s diligent work on her face, he was probably afraid to touch her cheeks or kiss her lips. She continually reminded herself not to lick them.

“Look around as much as you can so we can get a feeling for the manpower they possess,” Branson said. “If you feel threatened, stay in the bar. I’m tempted to send Reg with you.”

“No, that would be a mistake,” she remarked. “He’ll be more on edge if I have a bodyguard with me because that’s how it’s going to come off to Michael. I can ask about entry onto the base for the rest of my crew. Worst-case scenario, he’ll say no. We should head for the cargo hold. That’s where Titus was instructed to dock The Fury .”

Traversing the ladder to get to the cargo bay level was a challenge. She should’ve dressed in the cargo hold and not risked breaking her neck. She wasn’t sure how women like the female she’d met on Earth at Galactic Solutions headquarters walked in the damned shoes. Now, she was one of those women thanks to the wardrobe Reg had brought along. It was fortunately they were close to each other’s sizes.

Her crew were assembled outside the cargo hold. They were probably there to take a look at how Reg had transformed her.

“You look nice, boss,” Elon said.

“ What’s wrong with your ankles? ” VIC asked.

“ I’m not used to these shoes, ” she responded to her cat.

“ Kick off those shoes if you have to make a run for it,” Titus said. “I’ll have the ship ready to undock and get the hell out of here once the bombs are activated. Don’t make excuses to this Michael character, just haul ass.”

It touched her how much her crew cared for her. She felt less exposed after receiving their words of encouragement and warning.

The male commandos diverted their eyes from looking at her. They knew their commanding officer had feelings for her and didn’t want to get on his bad side. Each of them had a role to play regarding getting on base and planting the explosives.

“ Keep the pathway between us open at all times,” VIC said. “We know you are only playing with this guy for the benefit of the galaxy. That’s quite a responsibility you carry.”

Cassidy couldn’t agree more with her cat. They always had a way of adding perspective to what she was doing, which was odd because they weren’t human. They saw her in a different light then she saw herself.

“Michael should be arriving soon,” she said. “Everyone should get out of sight except for Reg.”

The two women walked to the area where they were docked and stepped outside her ship. They were at the end of a docking hallway which was advantageous when it was time to leave.

A handsome man with a spring in his step walked toward her. If he was Michael, he was younger than she’d imagined he’d be. He was probably in his late twenties like she was.

“Cassidy?” the man asked. “Wow, you’re gorgeous!”

She gave him a blinding smile in response to his comment. “Thank you. A woman never gets tired of hearing how a man perceives her.”

“Well, this man likes what he perceives. You’ve probably figured out I’m Michael. And who is this other breathtaking creature?”

Reg moved forward and grabbed the man’s crotch. “I’m game for a three-way if you are?”

The scowl on Michael’s face softened as soon as he saw the horror on her own face. “You’ll have to excuse my shipmate. We’ve just come off a long journey and once we’ve unloaded our goods, we’ve been promised some R&R. She’s kind of jumping the gun.”

“I’ll see that passes are left at the main security checkpoint for Reg and another member of your crew,” Michael said. “It will be a limited access pass, but it should get them into the two bars and three restaurants we have aboard the station. Are you ready for a drink and dinner, Cassidy?”

“I’m past ready,” she replied. “Although, I’m disappointed we’re on a space station and not a planet. There’s nothing like a moonlit stroll after a nice meal.”

Michael took the arm she offered and they walked down the passage together. There were two other ships docked to the space station they passed until they reached the security check to enter the station.

She pulled her credentials out of the purse Reg had loaned her. If her date noticed how her hand shook, he didn’t mention it. Her nerves had gotten the best of her.

“This is my first date in a long while,” she admitted. “I guess I’m kind of nervous.”

The older man who reviewed her documentation grinned at her comment. She bet he had a daughter or two at home. The security officer was all grins when he returned her documents back to her.

“There are guards throughout the station if this one migrates to a level of intimacy you aren’t comfortable with,” the security officer advised her. “Few women venture here and we want to make sure the ones present are properly cared for.”

Now she understood Michael’s behavior when they first made contact. The scarcity of women on the space station had led to their good luck in getting an invitation to dock here.

“That’s reassuring to know,” she responded to the officer.

“I’m authorizing two more members of her crew to enter the station under the same restrictions applied to Cassidy,” Michael said. “There is another woman among their crew.”

The security officer’s face brightened. “I look forward to meeting another female. The authorization will be completed by the time they reach this security checkpoint.”

Michael led her through a passage containing a strange material she’d never seen before. She slowed to touch the wall.

“What are these walls made from?” she asked.

“It’s a fire-resistant material that surrounds the whole station and protects us from bombs exploding aboard any of the ships docked her,” Michael replied.

She swallowed hard. “Bombs? What do you do aboard this space station that would cause anyone to want to bomb it? Is it safe to be here? Maybe I should go back to my ship and ask to depart.”

Her high-pitched voice had properly communicated her fear. The role required she didn’t show any strength of intellect or confidence. It was a horrible stereotype, but Michael seemed to fall for it.

He placed his arm around her shoulders. “There’s nothing for you to be concerned about. The war has been over for years, but paranoia still runs rampant. Rumors circulate regularly about unjust treatment by the Cosmic Consortium government toward those citizens in this quadrant of space. The owners of this station want to safeguard their investment if hostilities increase.”

Cassidy continued to run her hand against the wall. She needed to convey her unease about entering the space station in order for him not to be suspicious about her motives in being here. The sector was already concerned about war brewing.

“I’m part of the crew for a small freighter,” she explained. “We go out of our way to avoid any areas where we may get caught up in hostilities. We’re unequipped to properly protect ourselves.”

“As I told you, there’s nothing to fear here,” Michael reassured her. “Let’s get you a stiff drink and something in your stomach.”

When they entered the space station’s open concourse, she was amazed by the number of people present. It finally dawned on her that they were expecting a strategic armed base, not a fueling and supply depot for enemy ships. It was more crucial that they destroyed what had been built here.

“There’s grass-fed beef from the third planet in the system next to this one,” Michael said. “The place I’m taking you to does not have reservations available for the next month. I pulled some strings to get us in tonight.”

She communicated what she’d learned so far through her pathway. It was unclear to her how Commander Goody was going to get the bombs through security into the center of this complex. They also needed a plan to evacuate the civilians aboard the space station they hadn’t expected.

Michael’s hand moved to the small of her back and directed her into a restaurant. Her eyes almost immediately adjusted to the low lighting. The darker the restaurant, the more expensive it tended to be.

They passed a table with several men in a variety of uniforms. Her eyes migrated to one particular man. His face was familiar because she stared into a variation of it every morning when she brushed her teeth. Her father hadn’t died, he’d merely disappeared until now.