Chapter 286

At Arlene's request, only Diana, Ann and the Prime were on the flight deck to see the young Queen off. After listening to each of their admonishments to be careful, she kissed them in turn, saving the last kiss for her father. Glancing toward her travel case sitting beside her on the deck, she whispered into his ear, "I have Jeff Jr. with me and several sets of batteries. Ann told me that she wished she had brought hers, and suggested I bring mine. After daily exposure to you, Husband, I'm afraid I'm going to miss you an awful lot."

Jeff didn't even know there was a Jeff junior. Refraining from asking her its size, he said, instead, "Oh, so you'll miss my little pee-wee, huh?"

Pulling back enough to look him in the face, she cupped his chin in her hand, gently shaking his head. "Yeah, I'll miss that fabulous cock of yours," she said at normal volume, "but I'll miss the man I love more."

Jeff felt a lump start in his throat. To cover it, he kissed her hard, then swatted her on her shapely ass. "Get out of here before I take you back to our suite. And Arlene," he said, his voice becoming stronger. "do not take risks – any risks. We don't know a lot about the aliens' ability to scan their surroundings. Never assume that you can't be detected. That scout is tough, but I doubt it would stand two seconds against that behemoth's main guns. Your purpose in going out there is to make sure they're still there and to see if they are continuing to mine whatever it is they are removing from that asteroid belt. When the mining stops, I suspect they will be getting ready to leave."

Arlene reached to grab the handle of her case, winked at Jeff, then hurried the few steps to her scout. As the belly hatch opened and the stairs came down, she retracted the pull handle, picked up the case and walked up the steps without looking back. She had already completed her manual preflight check, even though the scout's AI was certainly smart enough to complete it without supervision. At the academy, the instructors had stressed caution and redundancy. "Better twice right, rather than once wrong," was one of her flight instructor's motto. Jeff had accompanied her on the preflight, not saying a word until she completed it, but that slight nod and accompanying grin he gave her when she finished were better than any grade she had ever received at the academy.

After stowing her travel case in the tiny "stateroom," she headed for the bridge. As she snuggled into the pilot's seat, her AI commented, "I understand that you have completed your interceptor training. My weapons, speed and shields won't match an interceptor's, but neither will an interceptor's stealth package rival mine."

"You've been updated on Ann's, uh, visit with the aliens?" Arlene queried.

"Affirmative. Her scout copied its memory of the trip to me, and Ship added her thoughts. Are you ready for departure?"

"Affirmative. I'll take us out manually."

"Safe trip, Commander," Ship offered as Arlene retracted the landing jacks and eased her hovering craft down the aisle, her family waving to her. A section of Ship's hull vanished as she neared. A few seconds later, she pointed the nose of her craft skyward and brought their speed up. Her flight path shied away from any of the myriad satellites circling Earth on the off-chance that Earth technology might miraculously notice her. A little later, she doubled-checked her course. After determining that it matched the AI's exactly, she ordered her ship to go to warp.

The SUV bearing Kayla, Selina and Mrs. Kimbrel turned onto the drive and stopped at the checkpoint. The driver lowered his window and spoke to the trooper by name. Mrs. Kimbrel watched as the trooper's faceplate lowered and he seemed to look in the vehicle for a couple of seconds.

"What was he doing?" Mrs. Kimbrel asked as they began their journey up the driveway.

"He checked our vehicle," Kayla returned.

"But he didn't really do anything," Mrs. Kimbrel responded. "He just glanced inside for a second and waved us on." Not aware of the scanners their vehicle had stopped above at the checkpoint or the capabilities of the guard's helmet, she wondered at the quiet chuckles coming from the troopers in the front seats.

"Let's just say that there was more done than you could see," Kayla said as she smiled at the older woman.

"But..." Mrs. Kimbrel began just as she realized what was happening. "We're going to climb that?" she said, motioning while trying to hold back the terror as she finally understood that the driveway snaked its way up an almost vertical cliff face.

"It's safe," Kayla responded. "Arlene even snowboarded down it, but since it's your first time, I would suggest you keep your eyes toward the inside of the drive, especially when we come to the switchbacks and you have a better opportunity to see down."

One glance toward the outside as they rounded a curve and Mrs. Kimbrel was an instant believer.

Once they were in a position to see the Retreat, the trooper driving stopped for a few seconds to allow Mrs. Kimbrel to appreciate the beautiful building.

"It's big, and so beautiful," she commented, awe in her voice as they resumed the remainder of their journey.

"Almost big enough to get lost in," Kayla agreed, "but I imagine you will be given a suite that isn't far from the living room and kitchen. Should you need it, each guest suite has a map of the building in the drawer of the coffee table of the sitting room, and there is an intercom listing there, also."

The trooper circled around to the back and stopped as near the rear entrance as he could, both men quickly getting out to open the doors for the females. Selina made sure her coat was properly closed over the kittens. With a hand pressed against each feline to be certain they didn't fall out, she hurried up the steps and entered the back door that one of the troopers was holding open for her, the trooper quickly returning to assist his buddy with Mrs. Kimbrel.

"This is embarrassing," the lady said as they practically carried her up the steps. Just before they went through the door into the mudroom, she noticed a man and woman in the distance jogging toward the Retreat. Her eyes weren't as good as they once were, but she was almost certain the couple was Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. Whoever they were, the man wasn't wearing a coat. Unbelievable, she thought. Why would he be outside without a coat? It has to be near zero up here, and even with my heaviest coat, the wind had me shivering in the few seconds it took these nice people to get me inside.

A young woman stood behind a wheelchair, but Mrs. Kimbrel barely had time to smile at her before the troopers effortlessly sat her gently in it. "I'm too much trouble," she protested.

"Nonsense. There's nothing to be embarrassed about." Kayla answered Mrs. Kimbrel as she followed with her folded walker. Then to the troopers, "Thanks, guys. We can manage now."

"Ma'am," both troopers said as one before turning to leave.

"This is Melissa," Kayla said as her smiling sister-wife greeted the older woman.

After the introductions were over, Mrs. Kimbrel protested again, "I haven't quite reached the wheelchair stage, yet. I can manage with my walker. It just takes me a bit longer."

"Oh, we know that," Kayla responded, "but the Retreat has very long halls and it wouldn't be polite to make you walk so far. Please, feel at home here," she finished.

As they moved through the doorway and into the hallway proper, Mrs. Kimbrel gave in. "I guess you're right. It would take me forever to hobble any distance with my walker. But again, I apologize for causing you so much trouble..."

Kayla almost left the walker in the mud room, but brought it with her in case Jeff wasn't ready to enhance Mrs. Kimbrel just yet. "There is no trouble, and in addition, you're fast becoming a good friend."

Selina was waiting in the hallway by the coat racks, her coat hung up and the Himalayan kitten snuggled to her chest. The Abyssinian wasn't into snuggling for the moment, but was alert and looking around with apparent curiosity.

"Billy is going to have a stroke when he sees the kittens," Melissa commented with a sexy giggle after they had taken care of their coats. "They're both females, right?"

"That is correct," the little genius assured her.

"I thought you were going after one. What happened?"

As Selina turned to walk beside them, she continued, "I intended to obtain one female kitten for myself, but after seeing the Himalayan on Mrs. Kimbrel's website, I remembered Alice and Terri. After all they have been through, I surmised that a kitten would be welcome. Should they not want her, or their father not approve, I will gladly keep her, as well as the Abyssinian."

As they neared the kitchen, Diana met them. "Good to see you, Mrs. Kimbrel, but not good to see you in that wheelchair."

Before the pet lady could respond, Diana leaned down to hug her. "Welcome to our home. We have a suite ready for you and it's just down the hall a little way."

Just as they got to the kitchen, Jeff stepped out to greet Mrs. Kimbrel. As he leaned down to briefly hug her, the nearness of the Alpha male affected her. Oh, my, she thought, embarrassed at her response to another woman's husband.

"What brought all this on?" he asked as he stood back up, obviously meaning the wheel chair and her condition. "You were getting around okay when we were there to pick up the puppies."

"It goes and comes. I'm just having what the doctor calls a flare-up. It will probably be better in a week or two, but sometimes it lasts for a month or more. No way to tell."

"This one won't last that long," he assured her. "I can guarantee it."

What an odd thing to say, she thought. How could he know how long the flare-up will last if the doctor can't tell? But she smiled at the virile man anyway.

Suddenly, there were women and girls all around her, all greeting her and telling her their names. Other men came up to be introduced. Trying to remember all their names seemed a hopeless challenge, but she made an effort. Odd. Several of the women and girls seem to gather around Mr. Matthews, and others grouped around the other men. There isn't any man here that doesn't have at least two women near him. Could the rumors of Mr. Matthews having a dozen wives be true? Surely not. Then again, is this a commune? Do those things even exist anymore?

Eric, Angela, Alice and Terri came up and were introduced.

"Enough," Jeff laughed. "We're going to overwhelm the lady."

Diana pitched in with, "Let's get you to your suite and get you settled in."

As Diana, Melissa and Kayla continued on toward Mrs. Kimbrel's suite, Selina stopped in front of Eric. "Might I speak with you in private?" she asked as she leaned her head back in order to look the Alpha in the face.

Startled, he responded, "Uh, sure."

"The first alcove on the left will suffice," she said, nodding her head in the proper direction just as an adult would.

"Would you be seated, please?" the little genius said when they reached their objective. Struggling to slide her rear onto the seat next to Eric with two kittens in her arms, she continued, "I have something of importance to ask you. Please consider before rejecting the issue."

"Uh, sure Selina," he returned, wondering, "and by the way, those are beautiful kittens."

She smiled down at the little felines. "I certainly agree. They are quite nice, and if the ride up here is any indication, they are well behaved, also."

Eric, wondering what the little genius had in mind, said, "Did you get them to be buddies for Billy?"