"You don't seem happy to see me." She said, her green eyes twinkling.
"Should I be?" Martin asked. "I know why you are here Anja. I don't like it; not one bit. There is nothing wrong with me or my people, and you know it."
"What do you mean?"
Martin stepped closer to her. "Don't insult my intelligence by feigning ignorance Anja. You are too intelligent for that. We both know who you work for, and why you are coming to EDEN."
"I'm just following orders Martin." Anja spoke sweetly.
"Were you following orders back then too? Your father's orders maybe?" Martin threw the jab at her for some reason which he could not fathom.
Anja's eyes narrowed slightly. "That ... that isn't fair Martin!" She hissed softly at him. "You ... you never told me you were a Genome!"
"Pardon me, but if I remember correctly, and I am a Genome mind you, so my memory is perfect, I don't recall you wanting me to stop what I was doing so you could ask that question." Martin spoke in a low voice. "If I had told you, would it have mattered then?"
Anja met his dark eyes, deep pools of mystery that she had stared into for quite a few hours on that night. "It might have." She finally blurted out, knowing it was a lie.
"So if I had told you I was a Genome you wouldn't have slept with me?" Martin asked, his voice tinged with anger.
Anja's face flushed even under her deep tan, and her eyes narrowed even more. "You should have told me before we ... before..."
"Before we ended up enjoying ourselves too much?" Martin asked in a soft voice so that only she could hear him, but the anger was still there. "Forgive me, but it didn't cross my mind at the time, and you didn't seem to be complaining or be in any rush to have me stop what I was doing. I thought we were having too much fun. I guess I was the only one actually enjoying myself."
Anja regained control of her racing emotions and looked at him. "I have a job to do, Martin. I hope you don't get in my way."
"Get in your way?" Martin chuckled stepping closer to her, so close in fact that Anja could smell his musky mint aroma. She had commented to him that night about what aftershave he wore because it smelled so good, and he had replied that he didn't wear aftershave. "I'm EDEN's Chief of Security Commander. As long as your job doesn't interfere with my duties, we should get along just fine."
"I have orders from..."
"Anja, there you are." The male voice spoke from behind her interrupting what she was going to say.
The young man that had entered the lounge with her stepped up next to her and slipped his arm around her waist possessively. He was extremely handsome and of medium height, and was wearing what looked to be a two thousand dollar suit. His blond hair was neatly cut, his blue eyes dull with too much alcohol and drug use.
Anja forced a smile and pushed his arm from her waist as casually as she could. "Kevin, I'd like you to meet Commander Martin Hunter." She spoke.
Kevin Graham, son of the most anti-genome senator in the country and a well-known junkie, looked at Martin, "Ah ... the Genome." He said.
Martin smiled at him, and had Kevin been more intelligent he would have seen the smile as what it was; a predatory grin from a wild animal about to strike, "Yeah ... the Genome." Martin said.
"Martin, this is Kevin Graham. Senator Graham's son." Anja explained quickly, seeing the look on Martin's face and recognizing it for what it was. Anja however mistook the reason it was there, and for that matter so did Martin.
Martin folded his arms across his chest as Kevin held out his hand. "Yes, I know who he is." Martin spoke maintaining control of his emotions. Seeing Kevin put his arm around Anja had sent a surge of anger through him and he didn't know why. "I didn't realize he was coming on this trip."
"Senator Graham felt it would be a good experience for him. Kevin is campaigning for the 19th district in Virginia." Anja told him.
Martin glanced at the Master Chief who was standing over to the side motioning him over. "That's very nice. I wish you luck. I have work to do, if you'll excuse me." Martin glanced quickly at Anja before turning and heading for where the Master Chief stood.
Anja watched him move through the mass of men and women with confidence and grace. She smiled to herself as she remembered how she had reacted to his body against hers. The heat of his skin and the power of his body, it was almost as if he had some sort of unique aura that caused her to desire him so much. Or was it her own desire for him that made her react the way she did? Even after all this time Anja thought to herself, looking at his broad back, that one night they had spent together caused her to become damp between her thighs. It was going to be a very interesting assignment she thought.
"Arrogant asshole," Kevin muttered drawing her attention, "Typical Genome."
Anja looked at him, her smile fading away. "Don't ever grab me like that again." She growled at him in a low voice.
Kevin looked at her. "Like what? I've grabbed you like that before. In much, more public places. We are engaged, remember!"
"I am not a trophy Kevin!" Anja spat at him, the anger she was feeling very new and very intense. It was almost as if she was angry that Kevin had put his arm around her in front of Martin. "And you will not treat me like one! Is that understood?"
Kevin smiled. "Relax Anja." He told her. "I only wanted to put the Commander in his place. He is a Genome. They are known to be volatile and explosive. I wanted to put him in his place right away, so you don't feel threatened."
Anja shook her head and smiled a sad smile. "Believe me, the last thing Martin Hunter feels threatened by is you." Anja was beginning to regret saying yes to Kevin when he asked her to marry him six months ago. She had done so to advance her career and to make her father happy. He was worried she would be led astray by events that were happening in the military, and felt marrying Kevin Graham would solidify her position within the Senator's entourage, and give her a leg up when she left the Navy. Anja hated having Kevin paw her body at odd times to prove his manhood to others, and having sex with him was revolting to her, even when she was drunk.
Kevin took her hand. "C'mon, my father is expecting an initial report of contact with Hunter."
Anja let him lead her back through the mass of people, quietly thinking how Kevin would surely get his ass handed to him if he tried to pull the same stunts with the Genome soldiers as he had with everyone else he knew. It brought a smile to her face picturing Martin hanging him
over a railing somewhere putting his arrogant ass in its place.
Martin and the Master Chief stood to one side of the line that was formed to walk through the three metal detectors. Each of the Raptor Jump ships could hold two hundred and fifty people in the part of the cargo hold that had been configured for airline seating, and these were the last groups of technicians and scientists that would be joining EDEN's eight thousand-member crew. Martin turned when he heard his name called. He watched as Admiral William H. Wallace III walked up to him with another man who Martin recognized right away.
Senator Richard Graham was one of the most senior Senators within the US government. He was Chairmen of several committees, including the Intelligence Oversight Committee. He was also the most vocal anti-Genome man in the government, and made sure everyone knew that. He was a man of medium height with gray just touching his brown hair. He wore what appeared to be a three thousand dollar suit, just like his son, and was impeccably groomed. The Admiral was holding his arm as they came up to where he and the Master Chief stood.
Admiral Wallace was a man that Martin would follow to hell and back. He was a true leader of men who had worked his way up in the ranks because of what he had accomplished in his career, and not because of some political connections. He was a tall muscular man, with just a touch of white hair on his mostly bald head. A man in excellent physical condition, who had lobbied hard to get SEAL Team Twelve this post on EDEN. Martin didn't know why, and never really bothered enough to ask, but Wallace had always been there to look out for him and his team over the years, earning him Martin's trust and respect. There was something about the Admiral that made him feel relaxed and comfortable whenever he was in his presence.
"Martin..." He spoke stopping in front of him. "I told Senator Graham I would introduce you before we boarded. Senator, this is Commander Martin Hunter, EDEN's Chief of Security."
Richard Graham hesitated before extending his hand to shake Martin's outstretched one. He looked at him quickly. "So you are the Genome Commander?" He asked wiping his hand on his pants after shaking Martin's hand. This did not go unnoticed by Wallace or Martin.
Martin couldn't help but grin as he saw Anja approach from behind the Senator with his son. He nodded. "Yes sir." He replied, "Sequence One; Batch Number nine eight three four one."
Richard Graham looked slightly surprised. "You remember your batch number?" He asked, clearly taken aback.
Martin nodded. "Yes, sir; It's kind of hard to forget, when it's tattooed to the inside of your thigh." He replied.
Anja's eyes narrowed slightly at hearing this. She did not remember any number tattoo on the inside of Martin's thigh, and she had willingly and quite happily spent enough time between his legs to notice. Of the sexual partners she had over the years, Martin was the only man Anja had willingly sucked off, and she had done it on more than one occasion that night as she remembered, each time with delightful gusto.
Martin was the only one who noticed her reaction and he inwardly grinned to himself, knowing what must be racing through her head.
"So you believe you have the security of EDEN well in hand, Commander?" Graham asked.
Martin nodded. "Yes, sir, EDEN is the most secure facility the United States has right now. And not just because she is several million miles away. We have state of the art systems installed and my men, as well as the rest of EDEN's security force, are intimately familiar with all of them."
Graham nodded, as if he wasn't in the least bit interested, "Very well." He said.
Admiral Wallace realized that the conversation wasn't going to proceed anymore and motioned with his hand. "Senator, if you'll follow me, the loading ramp to our jump ship is further down the terminal."
Graham nodded and turned to walk with the Admiral. Martin looked at Anja and Kevin as they came up to him. Kevin had a smug look on his face.
"Can I help you?" He asked.
"We are ready to board." Anja said.
Martin glanced at the Master Chief quickly before looking back to her. "I believe the line for boarding is back there." He spoke.
"We have special clearance Commander." Anja said. "You know that."
Martin shook his head. "No one has special clearance unless I give it. Everyone has to pass through the detectors before they board. All this information was in the packets that were handed out, along with your security passes." He looked at her, and then at Kevin, "Which I don't see, by the way."
"What security passes?" Anja asked.
"They were in the packets given to you when you entered the terminal as I told you." Martin explained. "Without those security passes you will not be allowed to board."
"I gave ... I gave them to my assistant." Kevin stuttered.
"Then I would suggest you find your assistant and get them back." Martin spoke. He could barely hold back the grin as Kevin turned and started down the long line of men and women looking for his assistant. He turned back to Anja who had taken a step closer to him.
"Playing games Martin?" She asked, her voice cold.
Martin shook his head. "Me? Play games? I wouldn't think of it. You have just forgotten how to follow instructions." He told her.
"I was promised your full corporation!" Anja hissed at him. "Are you going to let what happen between us begin interfering with how you follow orders?"
Martin's smile faded and he glared at her. "What happened between us Lieutenant Commander Peterson is ancient history; you saw to that!" He told her. "I have long put it behind me. What you need to do, is realize that we operate like any other military facility, and we have rules that need to be followed. If you can't handle that, I suggest you let the good Senator know, and we can find someone to take your place. The next scheduled trip back to earth is in four months!"
Anja bit back her sharp reply, knowing that to argue with him now would do no good. She took a deep breath and forced a smile to return to her face.
"Will that be all, sir?" She asked sweetly.
"That's all. Dismissed."
Anja spun around smartly and followed Kevin to find their security passes. Martin turned as the Master Chief came up next to him.
"Is it smart to piss her off Skipper?" He asked. "She does have the Senator's ear."
"What's Admiral Wallace's rule for facing the enemy Tony?" He asked.
The Master Chief smiled. "Keep them guessing."
Martin nodded. "Keep them guessing. Moreover, that's what I intend to do with the good Commander Peterson. Keep her guessing."
"She's got smarts as well as beauty Skipper." The Master Chief said. "She'll catch on real quick."
Martin nodded. "Maybe, however, by then we'll be on EDEN, and there won't be a thing she can do about it. The Senator is only staying for a few weeks. She's assigned for the full year."
The Master Chief grinned. "You didn't?" He asked.
Martin nodded with a smile. "It pays to have friends in low places Chief. You know that. I had MILPERSEN permanently assign her as an attachment to SEAL Team 12. She'll be with us a while."
The Master Chief broke out in a booming laugh. He shook his head. "Now I know why I don't play poker with you skipper. You are devious."
Martin nodded, "Only when I'm in battle Master Chief. Only when I'm in battle."
They both were laughing as they turned back to watch the procession of people into the waiting Raptor Jump ships.
Martin moved through the upper deck of the Raptor Jump ship making his way forward to the cockpit as men and women were settling into their chairs. He barely glanced at Anja and Kevin who were sitting together, and he did not see her eyes linger on him for a long moment. He passed through the small doorway into the spacious cockpit and saw the two pilots prepping the ship for takeoff. He glanced at the small door and debated whether to go upstairs into the observation lounge for take off, but decided against it and settled into the engineering seat behind them.
"How goes it folks?" He asked.
"Four minutes." The pilot answered, turning back to look at him. He wore a Marine Corp flight suit with gold oak leaf clusters on the shoulder boards. "All our guests got their seatbelts on Boss man?"
"We're secure in the back." Martin replied, settling into the chair at the computer station behind the pilot.
The Major glanced through the open doorway and looked at the long rows of seats now occupied by men and women. "Man, I hate transporting REMFs."
The female co-pilot chuckled and looked at him. She wore Captain's bars and a Marine Corp flight suit as well, "C'mon Ben." She spoke. "We need to work on your social skills."
The pilot, Major Benjamin O'Connell, looked at her with a grin. "Can we start with you?" He asked, waggling his eyebrows. "I might need extra training Tina."
"We'll see big boy." Tina Winston said in reply. "We'll see."
Martin shook his head at the antics of the pair. They were the best damn flight crew he had ever worked with. They had taken him and his team into some of the nastiest places on earth, and always came back to get them. Even when they were ordered not too. They were also very much an item, almost never apart even when they weren't flying, and there were rumors that they would end up getting married in the next year or so.
"Ramp coming up," The voice on the intercom spoke from the back.
Both Ben and Tina became all business from that point on. Ben turned back to the consoles that were wrapped around him on three sides. They looked like something from a science fiction movie of old.
"Ok, bring the engines to max thrust." Ben spoke his voice cool and calm, "Stabilizers to full extension."
"Stabilizers at full," Tina spoke, her hands seeming to fly across her equally space age consoles, "Engines spooling to max power. Bringing the navigation array online, and activating defensive systems."
The Raptor Jump Ships were equipped with the most advanced offensive and defensive systems known to exist. They could fly invisible to all known radar due to the advanced reflecting armor coating the skin of the craft. The heat from the engines was vented and cooled before it ever reached the air. They were affectionately referred to as RAPTORs by the pilots and co-pilots because of their awesome capabilities and firepower. Martin secured his form in the seat and flipped several switches on the console in front of him. The screens came alive with the faces of the men and women in the back.
"How many lose their lunch?" Tina asked, not looking up from her console.
"I say thirty." Ben spoke, his eyes focused on his own screens.
Martin chuckled and shook his head. "I got 50 that say only ten blow chunks." He spoke. "Most of the people coming up this time have already undergone heavy G training."
"Damn!" Ben muttered. "That's too bad."
"Why complain?" Tina asked. "We spent three hours cleaning up the cargo area after the last flight up. The smell made me sick myself. Twice."
Ben laughed. "You should have heard her cuss you Marty." He spoke.
Martin turned in his chair. "Me? Why was it my fault?"
"You didn't tell us that over half were fresh from the academy, and had no heavy G training. They lost it six minutes into the flight!" Tina complained. "We had to fly fourteen hours with the air filters working triple time."
Martin smiled as he turned back to the screens. He centered one screen on Anja and Kevin, who were speaking quietly together. She looked like she had a very bored expression on her face. Tina glanced back at just that time and saw him gazing at the stunning young woman on the screen.
"Someone you know?" She asked.
Martin nodded, "A long time ago." He said softly, "A long time ago."
Ben turned quickly and saw Anja on the screen. He whistled loudly. "Wow! Look at those..."
Tina punched him in the shoulder hard enough to shut him up. "Don't you finish that statement big boy!"
"Ow!" Ben exclaimed. "What did you hit me for?"
"Just fly the damn ship!" She spat.
"Is this jealously I detect dear?" Ben asked, turning back to his controls.
"I'll show you jealously buster. Wait till we get back to EDEN." Tina growled, but with a small smile on her face.
"Raptor Two, Raptor One, ready to depart!" The voice on their com spoke.
Ben nodded, "Raptor Two confirm. We are ready to depart! Lead us out of here Robby."
"Raptor Two roger, we are lifting off!"
Martin turned and looked out the small windshield as Raptor One lifted into the air with a blast of its powerful engines. He watched as Ben and Tina pulled on their flight helmets and then Ben took the controls and did the same.
"Raptor One, we are airborne and on your six. Rotating ten degrees to come up under your aft wing. Let's keep it tight until we clear the atmosphere Robby." Ben spoke into his helmet mic.
"Roger that Major. Initiating atmosphere entry in thirty seconds. Throttles to seventy percent power. Activating Reflector armor and flight tracker. Say goodbye to earth for six months folks!" The voice spoke.
Martin was still amazed at the speed in which they ascended into the clouds. In ten seconds, he could see nothing but tiny specks of light on the ground, and then they were hidden by clouds as they entered the atmosphere.
Ben flipped a switch on the console, "Good morning everyone and welcome to Raptor flight. One-way service to EDEN. Please do not leave your seats until the word is given. We will be entering the atmosphere in twenty seconds and the ride will be quite rough for another forty seconds. Hope no one had anything to heavy to eat before we left. Barf bags are in the arms of your seats, so please use them. Flying time to EDEN is thirteen hours and forty-nine minutes from now. Enjoy the flight. And any complaints should be directed to Commander Hunter when we reach EDEN."
Martin laughed and waved at Ben's back. "Thanks Ben." He spoke.
Ben smiled, "Always a pleasure boss."
The two ships of Raptor flight entered the atmosphere of earth heading toward their new home on EDEN.
The Earth they would return to would never be the same.
Anja sat in her seat going over the packet that was handed out to them in the terminal. Kevin had predictably lost all the contents of his stomach upon taking off, and once the flight had smoothed out, he had begun drinking. Now, six hours into the flight he was passed out from five glasses of straight bourbon, and snoring lightly. Anja pulled the two security badges from the folder and looked at them. Her eyes grew dark and she looked toward the cockpit. She kept the badges in her hand and got to her feet, tossing the packet onto her seat as she moved into the aisle. She marched directly toward the cockpit holding the badges in front of her. She could see the backs of at least one of the pilots as she got closer, and she heard the laughter come from the cockpit as well.
Anja burst into the cockpit to see the two pilots talking with one another, the female with a smile on her face as she leaned against the back of the co-pilot's seat. She turned and saw Martin sitting at the console, reading from a chart and drinking a cup of coffee. The female pilot got to her feet.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
Anja turned and looked at Martin as he lowered the chart and met her eyes. She ignored Tina and tossed the two security badges onto the table in front of him. "I was told I would have Level Six security access on EDEN. And Senator Graham's son would have level Six as well."
Martin looked at her as he lowered the chart completely to the top of the table, his dark eyes unreadable. "Who exactly told you that?" He asked.
"Senator Graham assured me I would have the proper clearance!" Anja snapped, her temper rearing its ugly head, "As would Kevin. You need to correct this! Right now!"
Martin set the mug of coffee on the small table and looked at her closely. He picked up the two badges and held them out to her. "Senator Graham does not dictate to me what level clearances I issue Anja. As Head of Security that is at my discretion, and only Admiral Wallace as the authority to override it, which to my knowledge that has not occurred in this instance."
Anja crossed her arms under her full breasts, completely unaware of the seductive pose she was striking. "You will change the clearances now Commander Hunter. If you don't, the minute we land on EDEN I will go directly to Senator Graham and have you relieved of duty, for disobeying orders."
Tina looked at Ben and shook her head as she settled back into her flight seat. She seen senior officers with more guts than brains go up against Martin verbally over something they felt was wrong. In every case, Martin had slapped them down in as much time as it took for them to formulate the thought. Ben grinned and shook his head as well as he turned back to his instruments and sipped his own mug of coffee.
Martin's expression did not change as he got to his feet and stepped alongside Anja. He didn't see Anja close her eyes quickly as a wave of desire swept through her. A wave of overwhelming desire for Martin, and that stunned her. Martin touched the control panel and the cockpit hatch slid shut with a hiss. Martin stepped back and looked at Anja, who still wore a smug expression on her face. He towered over her five foot three height, but she held her ground admirably yet quite arrogantly.
"Well?" She snapped.
Martin looked at her as he fingered the badges in his hand. "What is your rank Anja?" He asked her in an even voice.
"Excuse me?"
"I asked you what your rank was."
"You know damn well what my rank is!" Anja snapped, not understanding what this was leading up to.
Martin nodded. "Yes! I know what your rank is. And the last time I checked Lieutenant Commander Peterson, I was a full Commander, which means in case you have forgotten, I outrank you."
"What does this have to do with... ?"
"At ease Lieutenant Commander!" Martin barked.
"You have no right to..."
"At ease," Martin almost shouted, causing Anja to take a step back and bang into the bulkhead of the ship. Martin was in her face before she had time to recover. "If you say another word, I'll have the Master Chief lock you in the hold of this ship until we reach EDEN! Exactly who do you think you are to come in here and spout off to me? I decide who gets clearance on EDEN! Me! Not you! And for damn sure not Senator Graham! I don't care what your mission or purpose is. You are still a member of the active duty Navy, and you will follow regulations. If you had looked hard enough at these badges before letting your ego overrule your brain, you would see that yours is a temporary clearance until you assumed your position on EDEN." He glared at her, his dark eyes nearly obsidian in color and they made Anja feel very small at that moment. "As for the good Senator's son, I have no intention of allowing your two bit drunken, drugged up boyfriend any kind of access anywhere on EDEN. He has a criminal record for Christ's sake!"
"Kevin doesn't have a criminal record!" Anja spoke defending him for some reason, but her response was delivered much less forcefully now.
"You should probably take a harder look at your dear fiancée Anja. He does have a record ... and I will not allow him access to any secure areas of EDEN. Period! Senator Graham can scream to the president for all I care. It won't matter to me or to the Admiral. I answer to him ... and his next superior is the President of the United States. Senator Graham does not factor into my Chain of Command at any level thank God." Martin took her hand and slapped the badges back into her palm. "I suggest you take these and go back to your seat before you step way over the line."
"Martin ... I..."
"Save it! You keep talking and you're going to sink your budding career before it ever gets started." Martin spoke.
Ben looked at Tina out of the corner of his eye and grinned, except Tina wasn't looking at him. She was staring out her side window with a look of utter horror on her face.
Ben followed her gaze and his eyes flew open, "Holy Shit!" Ben screamed, dropping his mug of coffee and reaching for his flight controls. "Tina! Full power!"
Tina was frozen in place as she stared at the massive asteroid bearing down on them. It filled her window entirely now, gases and smaller asteroids trailing along behind it.
"Tina!" Ben screamed again, "Full Power!"
His voice was enough to snap her out of her trance and her hand flashed forward to slam the throttles all the way forward to max. Martin and Anja had turned to see why Ben had screamed, only to witness the massive asteroid filling their view.
"Oh my god," Anja muttered.
Ben shoved his flight stick all the way over to the left as the gravity leading the asteroid hit Raptor Two, sending Martin and Anja slamming hard into the bulkhead. Martin absorbed most of the impact and it was enough to knock him silly as Anja's head collided with his jaw. The massive g-force from the turn pushed them against the bulkhead as the Raptor went into a turn it was never designed to endure!
The last thing Martin heard before the heavy Gs forced him to black out was Anja and Tina praying softly before they too succumb to the massive pressure.