This has been the worst year of my life. That was saying something considering I had been in combat with my buddies dying all around me. The doctors had told me to eliminate as much of the stress as I could from my life, or I would continue to be sick. But that was only the latest little surprise life had given me this year.
Six months ago, I lost my job because I was getting sick too often for my temporary employer to tolerate. I knew something was wrong with me, but since I could only find work with a temp agency, I had no medical insurance, so I couldn't go to the doctor. We simply couldn't afford it.
Yes, we were poor, but I thought we were happy, at least. It happened on the day of my wedding anniversary. I picked up flowers and my wife's favorite wine after I left my boss's office. I didn't feel much like celebrating, but I knew Lane, my wife, would be expecting something. I went home and gave our beautiful two year old daughter a kiss before hugging my wife and telling her happy anniversary.
I had been sick a lot lately, and I was getting quite pale from it. I had also lost a considerable amount of weight. But even through the drawn and gaunt expression I wore, Lane could tell I had been crying.
I thought she was my best friend; my support when life got too hard to take. She and our little wonder were my whole reason for living. So when I told her what had happened to me that day I was a little shocked by her reaction.
"Jesus-fucking-christ! How could you let this happen? You know, my folks are right about you! You are a loser and a bum. You'll never amount to anything! You'll always be a loser and a bum. They always told me marrying you was a mistake, but you know, I'm gonna correct that mistake right now! I don't want to hear anymore of your lame ass excuses! Every time you fuck-up, it's never your fault! Well, I'm tired of hearing it! I'm tired of living in this dead-end hell hole, and I'm tired of you! So pack your shit and get the fuck out, NOW! Get the fuck out of this house and don't come back."
I was so shocked that I just turned and did what I was told. I had no idea she would turn on me like that. This didn't seem like the person I had thought I married. It wasn't until almost an hour later, as I was driving down the freeway that I realized I didn't have anywhere to go. It hit me with a physical force that I had just lost everything in my life.
It has been said that emotional trauma can heighten affects of an illness. I felt my stomach cramp tightly and bile shot up my throat. Luckily, I hadn't eaten very much for the last few days since I was always throwing up. I managed to get the car over to the side of the freeway, and safely on the shoulder. Unknown to me at the time, a highway patrol car was the next car behind me when I began to have trouble. I didn't notice, but she cleared the traffic out of my way so I could move over. I noticed her when I checked the mirror before opening my door to run to the guard rail to finish puking.
She had gotten out of her car and was standing patiently, waiting for me to finish before she made sure I wasn't drunk. She almost didn't let me go back to my car instead offering to call an ambulance or the EMTs. I guess I really must have looked like shit. I assured her I had a friend I could call and was now stable enough to get off the highway. She looked at me doubtfully, but finally gave in and let me get back in my car. She followed me to the next exit and made sure I pulled into a restaurant parking lot. I wasn't hungry, but I did need something to drink.
I ordered some unsweetened tea and asked about a payphone. I took a slow drink of the tea, set it down at a booth, and called the only other person I could call a friend.
Dazzle was an online friend, and I didn't even know she was a female until I had been talking to her online for a couple of weeks. I had never met her, but I still considered her to be a friend. I knew she was separated from her drunken husband and wasn't looking for another relationship, but I hoped she wouldn't mind a temporary roommate. After recounting the day's events to her, she sounded shocked and upset. She asked where I was, and told me she would be there shortly.
To make a long story short, she took me in. I felt like a stray puppy as she fussed over making a bed on her couch for me. She tried to feed me, but her wonderful dinner had its usual effect on me, I was immediately sick to my stomach again. Instead of being revolted, she held my head, and caressed my back. Though she really was a pretty woman, at the moment she was by far the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
I was so exhausted by the retching, I didn't notice that she had stripped off her clothes and started the shower. She helped me to get up and said, "Come on, let's get you cleaned up, and put to bed. You need to rest."
It was then that I realized she was stark naked. As beautiful as she was I was hurting enough that her body had no effect on me at all. After she lay me down on her couch, she told me, "You really have to go see a doctor. You look like an AIDS victim."
I honestly didn't have the strength left to answer her, as the events of the day shut my mind down into the oblivion of sleep.
I awoke later that night screaming. I had been dreaming that I was swimming and was being run over by a boat; my legs were getting cut to pieces by the boat's propeller. I found that I wasn't in the water, there was no boat, but the pain was real.
Dazzle was there rubbing my calves, trying to relax the tightly knotted muscles under the pale skin. It took a few minutes, but the cramps started to go away, leaving me a sweating, sobbing, exhausted wreck. She took me in her strong, healthy arms and held me until I fell back into a dreamless sleep.
I woke the next morning, lying on my side, with a soft, warm bundle spooned up to me; my left hand gently cupping a firm, bare, C cup breast. This obviously wasn't my wife's sagging D cups. My very hard cock was being gently rubbed between her naked ass cheeks as she softly rocked against me in her sleep.
As softly as I could, I kissed her gently on the earlobe. In preparation to get up, and relieve myself in the bathroom, I remove my hand from her breast. She groaned slightly, and grabbed my hand back to her breast and gently squeezed our hands into her flesh. She moaned and rocked more on my 'morning wood'. I could tell by the way she was moving that she was trying to get me inside of her. Though I had some confusion as to which hole she was trying for.
The reality of the whole scene came crashing down on me as I realized I was about to fuck a woman I'd not only just met, but didn't even know her real name. Not to mention the fact that she was still asleep, (I think), and it felt too much like I would be taking advantage of the only friend I had left in the world.
Though I wanted nothing more than to make love to, (not fuck), this wonderful creature, I just couldn't do it under these circumstances. I nuzzled her hair, "Dazzle, honey, wake up, please."
"I am awake, lover. I've been awake since you tried to remove your hand. Sleeping with you felt so wonderful, it still feels wonderful. Can you... Would you mind..." She paused, "I need you."
I softly kissed the back of her neck and began stroking her nipples and caressing her firm tummy. I scooted down a little, as she lifted her leg and reached between them. She grasped my throbbing member and guided me to her dripping pussy. As I pressed forward into the tightest vagina I'd felt since high school she groaned a long shuddering moan. "God, you're so much bigger than Tom was."
I knew I wasn't huge by any stretch, so I figured this Tom person must have been really small. Poor guy.
She started to thrust her hips back into me, wanting to fuck me hard, so I whispered into her ear, "Shhh, take it slow, we aren't going anywhere. Let's enjoy this."
She turned her head to look into my eyes. I smiled softly at her, and gently kissed her soft lips. She moaned again and almost melted against me. The kiss would have lasted much longer if it weren't for the bad position. She turned her head back and I began to plant soft kisses on her neck and shoulder. She kept pushing against me, getting into the ebb and flow of our coupling. Her first orgasm built quickly, and shattered into a muted scream of passion, muffled by the pillow we shared. When it passed she didn't seem to make it all the way back before the next one began to take her. By the time I finally blasted my essence deep into her womb; she was shaking and coming constantly. I held her tightly to me, as we calmed down, but her shaking didn't stop and I realized she had been crying for some time.
"Hey, are you alright? What's wrong?"
"So that's what making love is like. I've never known." She said softly.
I held her tightly as she cried softly. Finally she rolled over and looked into my eyes. "Will you stay with me? I know you only needed a place to stay until you could get back on your feet, but..."
I looked at her with sadness in my eyes, and put a finger to her lips to silence her. "Love, We are both still married. I just lost my wife and daughter. I'm very sick, I could actually be dying, and I don't even know if anyone will consider hiring me in this condition. I don't want to take advantage of you like this, but for now, I have no choice. Let's just take this one day at a time, and see what happens okay? I'm not even sure we should let ourselves fall in love with each other."
"It's a bit to late for that. But I agree, we'll take it one day at a time. But first, you are going to go see a doctor. No argument! I'll pay for it. I'll talk to Dr. Smith Monday when I go back to work. I'm sure he'll work with us. Now let's get up. We need to get your things moved into my room."
That began five and a half months of happiness in a very dark world. Rita (Dazzle) kept me going through one of the darkest time in my life. My wife, who had semi-wealthy parents, got a lawyer and filed for divorce. I signed all her paperwork and agreed with all her terms except for one; visitation. She didn't want me to see my little girl ever again. She simply didn't want anything to do with me ever again, and was determined to make that wish become a reality. Three days after contesting the custody arraignment, I was arrested for assault. She had called the police and claimed that I had come over and beat her up over the custody agreement. She even had hospital record to prove she had been beaten.
I had been getting weaker, and the tests Dr. Smith had been running still hadn't found a cause for my illness. He did rule out AIDS and Cancer, but I was still wasting away. When the police arrived to arrest the supposed wife beater, they roughly cuffed me, and threw me into the back of the police car, breaking my left arm in the process. I screamed in pain and very nearly lost consciousness, I was told to shut the fuck up or I would get something to scream about.
I did the only thing I could do, when I was allowed to make my phone call four hours later, I called Rita.
She convinced the officers that I couldn't have actually done the assault because I was with her at her house the entire night.
When she finally got me out of the cell, she took one look at me and called an ambulance. I was still in handcuffs and my left arm was bent in and un-natural angle, almost like I had another joint in the arm.
I ended up with my arm in a cast, and twenty-five thousand dollars after the lawyer's fees and hospital bills.
Finally, after four months of tests, I was diagnosed with a chronic, un-curable genetic disease Crohn's disease. I'd never heard of it, but three weeks later, I collapsed from malnutrition and dehydration.
I spent two weeks in the hospital, wondering if this was finally the end. The only regrets I had where not being able to see my daughter grow up, and the wonderful woman I would be leaving behind. It was a close thing, or so I'm told. For the first week the doctors didn't know if I was going to pull out of it or not. Rita was there every day of course, but she seemed different somehow. Maybe it was just my very foggy brain playing more tricks on me, but she seemed distant.
After I was released from the hospital, she took me back to her apartment. She helped me to the couch and asked if I wanted anything. I told her a kiss would be nice, and she smiled sadly, but gave me a quick peck on the lips.
I was gaining my strength back slowly, but the medication that I was on was pretty strong and made me shake all the time. I could finally eat again, but not that much, and only certain things.
The hospital stay had all but cleaned out the money I had, but I was finally home, and later today, the divorce would be finalized, and custody would be decided.
"Rick, we need to talk. You know I love you, right?" I nodded so she continued. "I'm pretty sure I will always love you, but this episode in the hospital scared me. I knew I was going to sit there and watch you die. I..." She paused, and tears started falling down her cheeks. "Rick, I can't go through that again. I'm going to move back in with Tom. He's been going to AA and hasn't had a drink since I left him. I want to try to make it work with him." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself instead of me. "I'm sorry, Rick, but I can't stay with you anymore." With that, she burst out crying, and ran out of the room, out the front door, and out of my life.
Her timing wasn't the best. I had a court appearance later that day for the custody hearing. But, once again, I found myself packing my clothes and few belongings I owned and leaving my home once again.
Later that day, I listen as the female judge condemned me as an unfit parent, based solely on my ex-wife's testimony, forbidding me to speak in my own defense; she gave sole custody of my baby girl to the rabid bitch that had been my best friend for the last five years. I had bought a small locket and put my picture in it, leaving room for Lane to put hers in it too, as a gift for Denise, our little girl. Since I had not been allowed to speak, I very quietly asked the bailiff if the judge would allow this gift to be passed to my now ex-wife.
The bailiff passed it to the judge, and she passed it on to my ex-wife. Lane opened it, looked inside. Quickly snapped it shut, and threw it in the trash. With a look of pure contempt, she left the courtroom. With tears running down my cheeks, I retrieved the locket, and slowly walked out.
That is how I ended up here. Sitting in the middle of this peaceful park wishing I had died while I was in the hospital. It was December second; I had lost my wife, my daughter and my lover. I had a chronic disease that no one would ever hire me with, I had no home, no life, and, at the moment, no purpose at all. Merry fucking Christmas.
I had pretty much decided to get in my car and drive out to the country, maybe some place overlooking the water. I had an almost full bottle of Darvocet and a full bottle of Prednisone, if I took all of them at once, maybe then I could finally not fuck up anymore.
I had just about decided to get up and go while it was still daylight, when a guy sitting next to me gently placed his hand over my cast, and asked me to stay for a few moments.
"Please," he asked, "I'd like to talk with you a moment."
I looked at the man, and satisfied that I had never met him before nodded slowly, "Sure, I've got time."
He smiled, though somewhat sadly, as if he knew what I had been thinking. "Tell me, Rick, Have you ever dreamed of becoming a pilot?"
His question was so far off what I had expected; I didn't even realize he called me by name.
"Well, sure, I guess. Who hasn't?" The memory of my childhood dreams of flying a fighter plane through hostile skies or my favorite had been to fly a futuristic space fighter like in the science fiction stories I had clamored for. It finally struck me that he knew who I was.
"Hold it, how did you know my name? Who the hell are you?" Quick visions of an old Christmas story about a man, ready to kill himself, who gets visited by a ghost to show him how wrong he is, flashed though my mind.
The man chuckled, "No, I'm not a ghost and this isn't an old black and white movie. Let's just say I'm very perceptive. Now, how would you like to learn how to fly? It won't cost you anything but time, and I am not trying to take advantage of you. Though, you are very vulnerable at the moment. So please, think about this before you answer. I can tell you that if you do agree, the rest of this story is gonna sound like complete bullshit. It's not, I won't lie to you at all, that you have my word on."
It really did sound like a bullshit sales pitch. "Well, you can't sell me anything; I don't have any money left. I can't mortgage my house because I don't have one. I have nothing left to lose, so sure, why not? It's not like you can kill me. But I would like to know your name."
"My name is Brian Sommes. I am a covert recruiter for the Talosian Defense Forces in this sector. I would like to recruit you to be a fighter pilot." He said simply.
Oh great, a nut case. Just what I need right now, is some fruit ball thinking he is someone special. I looked him in the eye; he certainly believed what he was saying. "Look, I think maybe you're a little over due for your medication. Why don't I walk you back to the hospital where you'll be safe, okay?" I said, rising.
Instead of getting upset, he chuckled warmly. "Gods I love this job! The initial reaction I get is so funny. Look, what would it take to convince you I am not a 'fruit ball'?"
"Show me a ship. One that is actually flying, not some model sitting on the ground. If you can show me that, I won't question you any more about your mental state."
"Okay, however, that's a little difficult to do at the moment. We are supposed to be covert after all. But I'll ask." He pulled out what looked to be a cell phone and punched a button.
I listened to him talking to someone for a about a minute, then he hung up and said, "It's set up, follow me." He led me deeper into the park to a large open area that not a lot of people could actually see, and no one was in at the moment. "This is going to happen pretty fast. The shuttle is going to drop its cloaking field as it lands, so you can see it, but they are going to put it right back up again before too many other people see it. Will that be enough?"
Cloaking field? This was one seriously complex delusion. I figured we would stand there for a while, and when nothing happened I would try to lead him back to the hospital. "Sure," I said.
He pulled out his cell phone again and said, "We're here."
Very shortly we felt a gentle breeze, and I looked up just as a craft that looked like something out of one of my old novels was finishing a vertical landing about twenty feet in front of us. Just as quickly is disappeared.
I was stunned speechless. He was for real; he wasn't some nut job-fruit ball that needed his meds. Suddenly I was beginning to wonder if maybe I needed those meds.
"This can't be real. I've finally gone delusional. I'm insane." I said, staring at the spot were the craft had disappeared.
"Nope, wrong on both counts. The ship is still there, in fact, if you want to continue, we can get on board, since that's the reason they are here," Brian said.
I turned to the man. "Look, Brian, I really would like to go with you, but I can't be a pilot. I'm sick, I have a chronic incurable condition. Hell, I would go with you even though I still think this is all a product of my mind. But I have to face reality. I have to learn how to live in this world, not one I've created in my mind."
"Rick, we know all about the Crohn's disease. We also know all about everything else that has happened to you recently. I know you don't know me, but, look over there." He pointed, "You see that man and his dog?"
Across the large open area, a smallish man was running, being lead by a loudly barking dog. He looked like he was looking for something.
"Yeah? What about him?" I said.
"Are you in the habit of sharing your delusions with strangers?"
The question threw me. That man and his dog had seen the ship land, and were now looking for it. I closed my eyes and made a decision. "Fuck it, let's go. But I need to get my meds, or I'll be sicker than hell in less than a day."
Brian grinned, "Excellent!" he started moving toward were we saw the ship land. And all of the sudden there it was again, only an arms length away. I stopped to stare at it.
"Go ahead and touch it, it's real. I promised you I wouldn't lie to you, and I won't. In fact, I'm not allowed to." He said as I reached out and touched the smooth, cool metal. "You won't need your meds and soon you won't need that cast anymore either. Let's get you aboard so the Doc can fix you up. You're the last one, so we are heading for Phoenix base now."
Brian led me down the side and through a door that slid open when we got to it, down a short corridor and then to the left. "Doc this is Rick Wilson. He's going to be a Shadow pilot. Think you can get him fixed up?"
The 'Doc' turned out to be a pretty young woman that couldn't have been more than sixteen years old. "Sure can, Brian. So head on back to your cabin, and we'll see you at dinner."
Brian smiled and looked back to Rick. "She's a really good doctor, Rick. She may look young, but she has been through medical school and her residency. You can trust her. I'll see you both at dinner." With that, he left through a door on the opposite side of the room.
The room looked like a lounge area more than a doctor's office. The 'doctor' smiled at him. "You can relax, I don't bite."
I felt myself blushing. "Sorry, it's just not everyday a person meets a sixteen year old medical doctor."
She chuckled "Actually I'm more like fourteen, but I'll let you slide on the difference. Now, I need to get you checked out and anything we find fixed up. Talosian medical science is way ahead of Earth, we can cure or repair just about anything." She stood and turned slightly toward the wall. "Computer, please activate the autodoc." She turned back to Rick. "Can you please strip down to your underwear? The machine will be able to scan you better that way."
"Uh, sure." I was beginning to wonder if a cop was going to jump out to arrest me for exposing myself to a cute fourteen year old who wanted to play doctor with me. But I started taking my clothes off.
"Computer, Begin file for Wilson, Rick. Medical security for transfer to Phoenix base upon arrival. Begin initial physical. Patient has a broken left arm and appears underfed with significant muscle mass deficiency..." I stopped listening then, as she was actually very professional in her visual observations of my body.
Once I had finished removing my clothes, she asked me to stand still for a moment. "Computer, please take a holograph for patient's file."
"Complete" issued from the walls.
"Please lay down on the scanner bed so we can get this show on the road. I imagine you're getting kinda hungry?" She asked.
"Not really, I have Crohn's disease so mostly it just hurts." I answered.
"Crohn's disease, huh? Now that's something I haven't seen much of. Well, no matter, I know the cure for it. Also, in a moment, a laser will cut your cast off, please try not to jump when it does." She said as something that I could only call a scanner head moved over my body starting at my feet and moving up to my head. Once it had disappeared above my head, it returned shortly but stopped over my chest. "Rick, I'm going to have it take your cast off like I told you. I need you to close your eyes so the laser doesn't hurt them, okay?"
"Sure," I said, and closed my eyes. I felt a little heat on my arm but nothing too warm. Soon the cast fell away from my arm.
"Now don't move your arm at all, this will only take a second. Please keep your eyes closed."
I quietly did as she asked. So far this had been harmless enough. But I was beginning to have questions. "Can I ask you some questions while you work?"
"Sure, but I'll probably have to sedate you in a couple of minutes. Fire away. Don't move!" She reminded me. My arm had begun to tingle and I had started to wiggle my fingers.
"Sorry, my arm tingles, like it's going to sleep," I said to her
"I should have warned you, my fault. That's the bone being knitted back together. It'll be good as new in about two minutes," she said confidently.
"Are you guy's aliens?" I asked. I didn't think anyone from Earth could have developed this kind of technology.
She actually giggled. "No, I am as human as you are. Though the equipment and technology are non-terrestrial in origin, it was still developed by humans."
"Non-terrestrial. Does that mean you're not from Earth?"
"No, I'm from Earth. I was born in Denver, Colorado. There is a long story here, and you will learn it, but not from me. Don't worry you'll meet your aliens soon enough," She said. Then got serious for a moment, "Rick, how old are you?"
"I turned twenty-seven last June, why?"
"Because your body shows more wear than a twenty-seven year old male should show. Have you had a hard life?" she asked.
"I guess it hasn't been the best, but I don't know if I would call it overly hard," I said then told her about growing up on a farm in Minnesota, my time in the military, and my life since then.
It took about twenty minutes to relate all the events that have comprised the bulk of my life. I kinda felt like I was in a shrink's office because I still had my eyes closed and was lying on a comfortable couch.
"You can open your eyes now," She said softly. She was wiping her eyes. "Sorry, I know I'm supposed to be impartial, but sometimes..." She sighed. "Okay, this next part, I'm going to sedate you for. I'm going to be changing some things in your genetic make up to repair this damage, and cure the Crohn's disease. With your permission, I'll also fix the male pattern baldness that is just starting, and remove the trait for cancer."
All that was news to me. "Sure, go ahead and do what you think is best." The thought that a fourteen year old was going to play around with my genetic make up did frighten me a little.
"Okay, now, when you wake up, you should feel a whole lot better. You will also probably look younger. I can't do much about the muscle mass you've lost from the Crohn's disease, but you should be able build it back up now with out having to worry about the Crohn's kicking you in the stomach for it." She smiled, "Are you ready?"
"You can really do this? You can make me healthy again?" I asked.
"Yes, we can. But the process is painful so we sedate the patient before we begin."
"Go ahead, Doctor," I said. The last thing I remember seeing was her pretty face smiling down at me as I drifted off to sleep.
I woke in a clean, but dimly lit room. I was in a hospital room. No matter where you go, they always seem to have the same feel to them. The question was where was the hospital? I did feel much better, like the young doctor had promised. I was also very hungry and could use a drink of water. I looked for the nurse call button that was usually clipped to the side of the bed somewhere when I noticed that my left arm was free of the cast, and didn't hurt at all.
"Holy shit! She was right!" I said out loud.
A small screen lit up next to my bed. "Ah, Cadet Wilson! I see that you're awake. I'll inform Doctor Wells. In the mean time, is there anything you need?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm actually pretty hungry, and I could really use something to drink." I replied.
"That's a very good sign. I'll be right there to get you some food. I'll just check in with the doctor first." The woman said before the screen cut off.
Very shortly, the young doctor herself walked into the room. "Well, you look a whole lot happier at least. Nurse Bentley told me you had awakened, and were screaming for food. How do you feel?"
"Better than I have in a long time. I'm sorry I doubted you." I said to her.
She chuckled. "Truth is, I volunteered for the recruitment runs. It's kind of a final test if the recruit can accept me as a doctor. Now, for the final test; if you could eat anything, anything at all, what would you eat? When you answer, say the word 'replicator' followed by what you want."
I looked at her like she was crazy, but she'd been right so far, so I did as she instructed.
"Replicator, I want a southern fried chicken breast, with mashed potatoes and chicken gravy, corn on the cob dripping with butter, and a tall cold glass of milk."
Doctor Wells laughed, "That will certainly be a test! Though, I'd think you would want a breakfast after sleeping like you have." Something on the wall behind her made a ding sound like a microwave. She turned around and grabbed my food from a large recess in the wall. She put it on one of those tables that can be used for a patient.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and sat up to eat. "Well, this should be a fairly quick test. If I even thought about eating this stuff before, I would get nauseous. I haven't had a glass of milk in over a year."
The little pixie actually winked at me. "Enjoy your meal. If this works I'm going to release you to the training department."
As I picked up the fork, I asked her, "Are we really on the moon? I don't feel any lighter."
She smiled and nodded, "Yes, we are on the moon. Currently, you are in the infirmary section. A bit later today, you'll learn the layout of the base, and what sections are where. There is one thing I think I should warn you about though; our beliefs on sexuality."
This had come out of the blue, and I stopped eating to stare at her.
She smiled at me, "Keep eating, stud, you'll need it." She wandered over to the wall were my food had come from, and softly said, "Replicator, hot coffee, black."
This time I could see the cup simply materialize in the slot. I still hadn't started eating again, when she turned around with her cup of coffee.
"This will be explained too, but you really do need to finish your meal so we can get you to your quarters." She walked over to the only chair in the room and sat down. "Now where was I? Oh yes, sexuality. You will most likely either see or hear people talking about more than one wife or husband that they have. In our society, we allow multiple marriages as well as same sex marriage. In fact, in all of the multiple marriages you will ever see, all the members are married to each other."
I'd always believed that same sex marriage should be allowed anyway, so this wasn't a big deal to me. The multiple aspect of it really only seemed like a logical extension of it. "That's really cool. I just wish they would figure that out back home," I said.
"Well, there is a bit more to it; we also allow incest. Since genetic abnormalities are not really a problem, why not? Most children learn about sex from a sibling anyway. However, the legal age of consent is actually about fourteen with majority at sixteen," She finished.
I needed to think about this. Not having any siblings as I grew up never really gave me a perspective on this issue. My parents where old when they adopted me, and had now passed on.
As I silently thought about the things she had told me, I finished the food on my plate and still didn't feel even a slight cramp in my stomach. I was pleasantly full. "This meal was excellent. My compliments to your chef."
She thought this was funny and laughed, she had a very pretty laugh, but she sat her coffee down, took my empty plate back to the slot in the wall, and walked back to me. "How are you feeling? Any discomfort? Abdominal pain?"
"None. Before you did whatever it was that you did, I would have been sick already. Thank you very much."
She smiled and winked at me. "How's the arm? I noticed you didn't seem to be favoring it very much."
"It doesn't hurt at all. If I was favoring it, it's only because my mind thinks it should still be in a cast."
"Well, it was mostly healed when I treated it. So, do you think you're ready to begin your new life?" She asked.
I nodded and she once again walked to the slot in the wall. "Replicator, Cadet cover-alls, boots and rank insignia for Rick Wilson. Computer, I am officially discharging Rick Wilson for active duty. Please inform training command." She finished as she retrieved the items that had just appeared in the slot. As she brought the items over to the bed, she explained. "Things like socks are assumed when you ask for clothing. However, most people don't wear anything under the cover-alls so you will have to ask for underwear, if you want them, when you order." On top of the pile of clothing was a small device that looked like a hearing aid and a contact case sitting next to two small coppery looking disks. "I don't suppose you have ever worn contacts have you?"
I shook my head, "No, what are those things for? Do I need a hearing aid?"
"No you don't, this is your communicator. It's an audio and visual link to the communications network. It allows for private messages to be passed to you without anyone else overhearing. You will also need the contacts during flight school as some of the targeting and instrument display are given to you through them. They will also serve as a personal computer for you, though most people still prefer the old style desktop."
I stood and boldly pushed my boxers off, leaving me nude before this fourteen year old doctor.
She smiled as she looked at my hairless organ. "Very nice," she said. "I think you're going to fit in with us nicely."
I pulled on the socks, cover-alls, and boots noting as I did that they had Velcro-like fasteners. Also the cover-alls were very soft against my skin. "These are pretty comfortable," I commented. She only smiled again; she was wearing the same thing after all.
"Come here, and I'll help you with the rest." She stood and opened the contact case. "These may itch for just a second after we put them in, don't rub your eyes. You shouldn't ever need to take these out. Hell, I forgot I was even wearing these twenty minutes after putting them in. Look up." She deftly inserted the contacts over my eyes, then handed me the earpiece which fit snugly, but comfortably in my right ear canal. As I was doing that, she clipped the small copper disks to the collar of the cover-all. She sat back and said, "Computer, activate comm for Wilson, Rick."
"Voice print required." Issued from thin air.
"Repeat after me," she said, looking at me. "Computer, voice print for Wilson, Rick. Activate."
I did as instructed and the voice that had come from thin air sounded almost inside my skull, though it wasn't loud, just surprising. "Activation complete. Welcome to Phoenix Base, Cadet. You have two messages waiting." In the upper right corner of my vision, I saw what looked like an email icon with the number two next to it.
"This is really cool!" I said. She chuckled. "But how do I get my messages?"
"The computer is interactive and voice controlled. If you want something all you need to do is ask for it. Just remember to preface commands with the word 'computer' so it knows you are talking to it."
I did so, and found a message from Brian wishing me good luck and to tell me that my personal effects would arrive on the next shuttle up from the planet. The second was from Training Command telling of an orientation briefing at 1300 hours for all new pilot candidates. I asked for a time display and was rewarded with '0827' appearing at the top of my vision.
"Now," The little doctor told me, "I need to get back to my patients, and you need to find your quarters. The computer will guide you. I've added physical therapy to your training schedule as well as a high energy diet for the time being, because you probably couldn't keep up with the rest of the recruits at this point. Don't worry though; we'll get you back in shape soon enough that it won't affect your flight status. Good luck to you, Rick."
I hugged the surprised little girl. "Thank you, Dr. Wells, for everything."
"Hey, it's my job. Now you go learn how to kick some ass. I'll see you again after you graduate."
After releasing the girl, I asked to be guided to my quarters, and saw a guiding arrow appear in my vision. I turned and walked into my new life.
My quarters were larger than I thought they would be, until I discovered that I would be sharing them with someone. Even then a four room apartment is larger than I expected given my status as a cadet. I was expecting a barracks environment like I had in basic training. I felt kind of sticky since I hadn't had a shower yet, so I entered a room that didn't have someone's gear in it, and stripped out of my clothes.
"Computer, do I need to remove the earpiece to take a shower?"
"Negative, Cadet. After your shower there is a brief presentation I can offer you on the customs and etiquette of this society. When you are ready, find a comfortable place to rest, and close your eyes. It'll take about an hour. Less if you are asleep."
"Asleep? How can you teach me anything while I am asleep?" I asked.
"Subliminal instruction. Your mind can absorb information faster when you're asleep."
"Cool, does that mean I'll be able to study for flight school while I sleep?" I asked, thinking this was a novel way of learning.
"Affirmative. Lessons will be given at night while you sleep, quizzes, tests, and practical application exercises, as well as physical training will comprise the day. However for you, physical therapy will be taking the place of physical training. If you will be patient, Cadet, most of the questions will be answered in the presentation I will give you."
"Oh, sorry. You know, you sure don't sound like an emotionless machine."
"Actually, Cadet, I'm not. My name is Elias and I am a sentient AI serving as the base central computer. When you address the computer, you are usually activating a subset of my base program. I was about to contact you in reference to the presentation when you queried about the earpiece, so I simply answered instead of the subset. You can call me directly, but if I am busy at a higher priority task, I might not be able to answer you right away."
"Uh, not to sound like an idiot, but what exactly is a sentient AI? I know AI usually means artificial intelligence..." I asked, confused.
"Okay, so what does 'sentient' mean to you?"
"I guess that would mean, alive. As in a human is a sentient life form. Does that mean you are an artificial life form? I mean no offence if that's incorrect." The guy sounded friendly, and if he was as important as his job sounded, I didn't want to piss him off.
"No offence taken, Cadet. Your definition is accurate in that I was manufactured, thus making me artificial, but I also am a sentient being, much like yourself, so therefore I am a life form. Oops! If you'll excuse me for a moment, my attention is needed in Theoretical Engineering. I'll be back in a bit."
With that the voice left my head, and I puzzled out the shower controls. I noticed that there was only a shower, two sinks and a toilet in the room. I guess these folks don't like baths.
I finished my shower and went back to my room. I moved my uniform over to the chair, and stretched out on the bed. As instructed I closed my eyes, and said, "Computer, begin presentation."
I must have fallen asleep at that point, because the next thing I knew a very pretty female lieutenant, junior grade, was shaking my foot and telling me to wake up.
I knew her rank?
I was nude in front of a complete stranger!
I immediately attempted to cover myself, and she giggled at me. "You really shouldn't be too modest, Wilson. Everything here is co-ed; including the ready rooms. We all get to see each other in the buff. So you should really get used to it. Besides, you have nothing to be embarrassed about." She said the last with one last glance at my now partially covered crotch.
"Uh, sorry, but you took me by surprise, sir." Sir? Why was I calling her sir?
"You can drop the rank thing when we're alone. Besides, in a couple of weeks, you'll be the same rank I am, maybe higher. But you really should get your cute butt dressed; we have that orientation briefing in about fifteen minutes."
I grabbed my cover-alls and started pulling on my clothes. "Are we going to be alone often?" I asked, resisting the urge to say 'sir'.
She was still smiling sweetly. "I suppose so, since we're roommates. I'll be your co-pilot, unless we don't mesh. Then either one of us can ask to be reassigned."
More questions seemed to be popping into my head. "Can you tell me how I know what rank you are, and how I knew to call you 'sir'?"
"Sure, Elias must have given you his protocol presentation. By the way, my name is Ellie." She said and held her hand out.
I had just finished with my boots so I took her hand. "I'm Rick, but I think you already knew that."
She held onto my hand and pulled me to the door, "Come on sweet-cheeks; let's get to that briefing."
Basic flight school was a breeze. The course was semi-self-paced, by that I mean you and your co-pilot had to pass before you could move into advanced flight. Since Ellie had already passed basic flight, we breezed through it. My therapy went so well, that I was running the obstacle coarse with the rest of my flight in six days. By the end of advanced flight school, I was in as good as a condition as I was when I left the military.
Over the two and half weeks that I was in flight school, Ellie and I became very close. It was almost like she had been the missing part of my life. We meshed very well, whether it was in a shadow fighter or in the bedroom, she made me feel complete. My new life was perfect.
It was the night before graduation which just happened to coincide with Christmas Eve on Earth, that Ellie asked me to take a walk with her. Some of the other cadets were throwing a party to celebrate, and I thought she might want to go. Instead she led me up to the surface, to a lounge that looked out over the desolate but serene lunar landscape. The lounge was empty and we sat down on a comfortable bench to look at the stars.
I could tell she was nervous, and something was bothering her, but she just cuddled deeper into my arms. Finally, she took a deep breath, "Rick, I need to tell you a few things. Things about me. I want you to know I am very deeply in love with you. Hell, if you asked me to bond with you, I would in a second, but I have to tell you this first." She pulled away from me a bit. Then after a few false starts, she finally looked me in the eye. "You told me that you were adopted by your parents when you were a baby, right?" I nodded, wondering were this was going.
"I told you I was adopted also though I was older when it happened. What I didn't tell you was that I had a twin. Our mother had died giving birth, and our father had long since left." I started to get a funny feeling in my stomach about what she was telling me.
Finally, she just said it. "I'm your twin sister. After my husband died during the attack at Talos, I asked to try and find you. I didn't have any luck until your doctors submitted a request for genetic analysis while trying to diagnose you. Once we located you, we had to find a way to try and recruit you. That was when I learned of your situation. It tore my heart out watching you go through all that. We were going to recruit you and Rita later that day, but..." She paused. "I wanted to give you the chance to become one of us. I wanted to give you the opportunity to share my love of flying. But mostly, I just wanted to meet you. I had no idea I would fall so hard for you." Tears had begun to fall down her lovely cheeks. "Rick, I'll understand if this changes things between us. But I had to tell you before we graduated. I couldn't stand keeping this secret from you."
I took my sweet sister and lover in my arms and held her tightly. I didn't give a flying fuck where we were at; I still would have loved her. At least here, we could love each other openly. "Thank you, Ellie. Don't worry; this isn't going to change anything between us. But I do have to wonder if there are any other secrets you are keeping from me?" I meant it teasingly, as an attempt to get her to smile. But she nodded her head.
"I've been seeing someone else too. I met her before you got here, and she is so sweet I just couldn't stop seeing her. She helped me find you." Her confession was a large surprise, and thankfully she couldn't see my face when she'd said it.
She leaned back again to look me in the face, and suddenly I knew who her other lover was. "Doctor Wells?" I asked.
Her face took on a look of awe, "No wonder they gave you the call sign Houdini! How the hell did you know that?"
"The way she acted towards me. She seemed almost too nice to me. I never would have guessed if you hadn't admitted to it. I think she is a very nice young lady. But isn't she a bit young? I mean she's only fourteen." I asked.
Ellie smiled, "Yeah, that little shit may be fourteen on the outside, but inside she is a very mature, conniving, sneaky little slut! She seduced me! Oh it's legal; she was emancipated when she graduated from medical school. She really does want to get to know you better. Much better. So do you forgive me for lying to you all this time?"
I stood, and taking her hands, pulled her to her feet as well. I looked her in the eyes and said, "Ellie, there is nothing to forgive. You've given me the gift of flight, which led me to you. Then you gave me the gift of your love, which led me to us. I have nothing but my own love to give you back, which I do. I will always be there, right by your side. Together, we can fly higher and faster than anyone else ever could. Thank you my love, for this gift of flight."
She had tears running down her cheeks again. "Merry Christmas, Rick."
"Merry Christmas, Ellie."