Chapter 26: Cleanup, Aisle C

Octavia was waiting for Calix when he came out of the med-tube for the second time that day. “What the hell were you doing, fighting with Gunter?”

“Uh, getting my ass kicked,” Calix said primly. He waggled his jaw, feeling for any latent pain. “Smart girl like yourself, I figured you’d have figured that out by now.”

Octavia’s eyes narrowed. “Something you should know about women by now – we don’t like having our words thrown back at us.”

Calix laughed. “I did what you asked. I called you as soon as things started getting out of hand. It was only supposed to be a sparring session. It isn’t my fault you forgot the popcorn this time.”

Octavia groaned.

“Too soon?” Calix laughed.

He grew serious. “Octavia, there was nothing I could do. I listened to what you told me. Dunning and Robicheaux asked for my help – to learn some Parkour. They seemed very sincere and ... they’re on the front lines, so I thought maybe I could help – maybe, in some slight way, keep them alive. You pointed out that ‘up here’ I’m supposed to be a team player. Well, I decided to be a team player and do what I could.”

“When Gunter went too far, I tried to leave,” he continued. “I couldn’t. I never got a chance – things happened too fast. I was worried but I honestly didn’t think the sparring session was going to be any trouble - Gunter actually apologized at first. It wasn’t until he headbutted me that I started getting the hint there might be a problem – that Gunter’s apology might not be as sincere as it seemed. It could have been an accident, though – in sparring, accidents happen. When he broke his own nose ... well, that told me things were not going to be pleasant. As soon as he did that, I called for the cavalry.”

Octavia sighed. “I don’t think him being there was a coincidence.”

“Neither do I,” Calix shrugged. “Then again, I don’t believe in coincidences. I know there is a finite amount of space in this base and I understand as time went on, the odds for Gunter and I to run into each other goes up – but within a week?”

He shook his head. “That’s stretching believability.”

“I’ve checked with Artemis,” Octavia continued. “He says Gunter hasn’t requested your whereabouts.”

Calix took a deep breath and blew it out, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Maybe someone else is pulling his strings.”

Octavia chewed at the inside of her cheek. “Do you know a Lieutenant Anderson?”

Calix looked at her blankly. “The name doesn’t ring any bells.”

“He had a plan to use Gunter to annoy you,” she disclosed.

Calix grunted a wry laugh. “Well, tell him it worked. Consider me annoyed.”

Octavia shook her head. “He never put it into practice. As far as I can tell, and I’ve looked, he’s backed off on the plan. Gunter – well, Gunter really hurt his – the women he’s – his slaves. I’ve a feeling even the Lieutenant thinks Gunter’s toxic now.”

“Why did he want me annoyed in the first place?” Calix asked.

Octavia looked off into space for a moment, considering. “After GlobalTech, Major McTavish pushed your qualifications up the chain of command. The Navy tagged you as a MAID – a Military Asset, Interest Deferred. It basically means the Navy recruited you but hadn’t gotten around to picking you up yet. It also meant all the other services were to stay away from you. So, he couldn’t approach you – even though, technically, you’re not a MAID anymore. The directive lasts until after you finish Naval Flight School. He was hoping if Gunter annoyed you, you’d approach him and then he could recruit you.”

Calix shook his head. “Well, tell him ‘thanks – but no thanks.’”

He paused a moment. “Are you sure he’s given up on the idea?”

“Based on everything I’ve found – yes,” Octavia replied.

Calix grimaced. “Maybe it really was a coincidence – I don’t know. My gut tells me it wasn’t – but my body and I aren’t completely on the same page at the moment.”

He noted Octavia’s frown. “My enhancements are taking me some time to get used to.”

“Enhancements?” Octavia’s frown deepened. “What enhancements? Other than getting rid of all those scars – which I approve of, by the way - you look the same.”

Calix chuckled wryly as he grabbed his clothes. “Which was the whole point. I didn’t want to look like a slab of muscle because it would absolutely ruin my flexibility – but I didn’t relish the possibility of a Marine – let’s call him Gunter for now – being stronger and faster than me. I’ve lived that rodeo once – you might remember it, that time at Globaltech? – and I wasn’t eager for an encore. So, I worked with Artemis and we increased the density of my muscle tissue instead of just throwing steroids at them. My muscles feel harder now but should be just as strong as a Marine’s – at least eventually. Plus, because they aren’t so bulky, I expect they’ll be faster as well. They should certainly be more limber.”

Octavia looked speculatively as she thought it through. “You’ll be just as strong as a Marine?”

“Theoretically,” Calix shrugged. “Should be in the same ballpark.”

“Maybe we should consider something similar for new Marine recruits.”

“I’d vote against it,” Calix hemmed. “If I had a vote, that is. The ‘slabs of muscle’ are imposing, if nothing else. The bulk also has some tactical advantages if they have to go one on one with one of the Sa’arm. Besides, the muscle density carries some inherent risks – my implant is constantly monitoring my vitals right now until we’re not completely sure how this is going to work.”

Octavia nodded, then looked him up and down as he got dressed. “You changed the dangly bits, too, didn’t you?”

Calix blushed. “Uh – well – yeah. Um – Yolanda – well, she said – um – she was used to a – a certain size...”

Octavia laughed. “So, what if Yolanda wanted you bigger and Sophia wanted you smaller?”

Calix frowned. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “The incredible shrinking and growing penis? Maybe I could set it to get bigger and smaller at will? Artemis? Is that even possible?”

“It is possible,” the AI replied. “If you want to get back in the med-tube—”

“No,” Calix interrupted. “It was just a thought exercise. For now.”

He looked down. “I would appreciate it if it would get soft once in a while, though. It’s been hard for some time now. A few days.”

“That’s a scheduling problem,” Octavia said with an impish grin.

“As I explained, it’s a necessary complication of the enhancements you’ve requested,” Artemis interrupted in reply. “Once again, the adjustments to your muscles require oxygenated blood but your muscle density makes normal blood flow impossible to penetrate the mass. Blood pressure needed to be increased which resulted in required changes to your arteries and veins which led to...”

“Just sum it up for her,” Calix interrupted impatiently. “I already understand.”

“You are likely to remain hard for some time,” Artemis replied. “Your body should eventually acclimate. Blood flow to your reproductive organs is constant so there is no damage being incurred.”

Calix shook his head, grimacing theatrically to a smiling – and blushing – Octavia, and returned to buttoning his uniform. When he was done, he turned back to Octavia and pointedly changed the subject. “I’d like my armor back now.”

Octavia drew a deep breath and blew it out. “I’m not sure I can get it back for you.”

“What?” Calix snorted angrily. “You said I could get it back once I got here. I’d like it back. Recent events seem to suggest I need it.”

“I’ll ask,” she promised. “I can’t guarantee they’ll say yes. Even if they do, I doubt they’ll return the Sa’arm blades or any of your gadgets. Weapons are strictly regulated up here.”

Calix’s eyes bore into Octavia’s own, his face a mask of anger and disappointment. His mind quickly went through his options.

“You know, I took your words as a contract, and I thought the Darjee and the Confederacy were big on honoring contracts,” he huffed. “I guess for now, I’ll take just the armor. Actually, I’ll take whatever I can get.”

“You shouldn’t need the armor, Cal.”

“Yeah? Well, talk to Gunter about that, damn it.”

“I’ll ask Command,” Octavia repeated. “It’s all I can do. Even if you get it back, it won’t protect you completely, anyway.”

“True,” Calix spat out. “But I would have sustained a lot less damage today if I’d been wearing it.”

He paused and blew out his breath, getting a handle on his anger. “I know you’re doing your best and I’m not really upset at you. It just seems like since I’ve come up here my life is spiraling out of my control – and every time I start reeling it in, something else changes.”

Octavia nodded. “I understand – but you’ve only been here a week. You’ll need time to get used to things.”

Calix chuckled wryly. “Truer words were never spoken.”

Octavia stood and tentatively approached Calix. He watched her in curiosity until she wrapped her arms around him. “I’m glad you’re okay. When I heard you call for help – well, I was pretty worried.”

“You were the one who told me to call,” Calix laughed, returning the hug. “I think your exact words were ‘don’t go to the bashing their heads in part of the program’.”

“You went there anyway,” Octavia accused, pulling her head back.

“But I called you first this time,” Calix smiled. “I’d call that progress.”

Octavia couldn’t help but laugh. “So you did. I guess I’ll take whatever small victories I can.”

She stepped away, reaching for his hand. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

“Isn’t that supposed to be my line?”

“Misogynist.”

Calix was still smiling when he opened his door. The walk back had been entertaining – Octavia hadn’t let go of his hand all the way back. Then, when they’d reached his door, she’d used it to pull him in for a kiss. Well, she used his hand to pull him in and her other arm to snag his neck and pull him down for a kiss. It had been very enjoyable and lasted a nice amount of time.

Unfortunately, Alicia was the only one present when he walked through the door. She was sitting on the couch watching some kind of vid on the monitor. He almost asked if she were waiting for him – but he knew that was unlikely. Despite having his ass handed to him, he was having a pretty good evening and he didn’t want Alicia to spoil it. Still, he couldn’t be rude.

“Hi, Alicia,” he said tentatively. The young woman just turned and scowled at him before turning back to her vid.

He shrugged. “Good night, Alicia.”

He didn’t wait for a reply – which was good, since one wasn’t forthcoming. He walked into his bedroom, ready to get some much-needed rest.

“About time,” a sultry voice called from his bed. Tamara was lying, her right hand holding her head up, her left lying down her body and curled over her stomach. Her left leg was crossed over her right, not quite hiding her center. “I’ve been waiting. It’s my turn.”

Calix fought the smile threatening his face. “Give me a minute – I just want to take a quick shower.”

“Hurry up,” Tamara whispered, licking her lips. “I’m not sure how much longer I can wait. I was worried you’d forgotten.”

“Forget you?” Calix smiled. “Not in this lifetime.”

Calix was tired but he still rushed through his shower. He wanted nothing more than to sleep – but he’d already put Tamara off once. He didn’t want the girl to think he didn’t want to be with her. He rolled his shoulders and stretched when he’d finished. It sometimes helped to wake him up.

She was in the same position when he walked out of the bathroom. He walked over to the bed and slowly crawled onto it, slowly and methodically moving over to where Tamara lay in the middle of the bed. He moved until he was centimeters away and then partially mimicked her pose, his left hand holding up his head.

“What took you so long?” Tamara breathed. She was excited and nervous, worried and ready. She’d dreamt of this moment for years and thought about it almost constantly for the past two days. She worried he wouldn’t like her. Her breasts were larger now and her ass was fuller and firmer but she still worried. It took every ounce of courage she had to wait for him in this pose – and she’d changed it several times over the past few hours, crawling under the covers at times, putting on a chamois she’d replicated, sitting in the chair. She’d tried a thousand different positions – but ended up with this one.

Calix smiled.

“Unforeseen complications,” he murmured. “Nothing to worry about.”

He bent forward, lightly grazing her lips with his own. He heard her moan as they kissed, the fingers of his right hand slowly and softly traipsing down her left arm and then back up. He pulled back a moment, looking at Tamara’s closed eyes and the soft smile on her mouth. With a soft smile of his own, he brought his right hand up to hold the back of her head and moved in for another kiss.

Tamara finally felt the joy she’d been hoping for. She’d wondered how he would be, how he would make her feel. So far, he’d been gentle, and she felt a sense of wonder and happiness flowing through her. She allowed her head to fall back, her right arm moving to the back of his head and her left running up to hold his shoulder. She pulled him partially over her as she moved to her back, making sure their lips never broke apart.