Chapter 522

The Retreat

... Kei felt her own nipples pucker and extend while she hoped the thick top would hide her excitement from Jeff’s eyes. The grin he gave her, however, said loud and clear, that he felt the nipple that was pressed against him.

“I hate bras,” he whispered into her ear.

“Everyone knows when we are leaving tomorrow, and all have promised to be here a few minutes before noon so that we can arrive on 2214 at 3:00 P.M. their time,” Diana said before Jeff could ask. “Also, I talked to Marie a few minutes ago. She and Mike are back from their honeymoon, and had just come through Winter Park on the way up here.”

“Oh,” Nicki said, drawing out the word, “we must hear about their honeymoon.”

“Girls,” the Clan Queen admonished, “Marie hasn’t had much time to get used to us, so go easy on her when you start demanding to know the details. And ... Mike doesn’t know us that well, either,” she directed toward her husband. “I know all you Alphas tease each other unmercifully...”

“We’re not quite that uncouth ... yet,” he said with a chuckle, “but I’ll tell the guys to cut Mike some slack – this time,” he said with a grin that made Diana wonder just how much “slack” would be involved.

“It seems that we might not get to bed early tonight after all,” Helen commented. “Hmmm, I wonder if the newlyweds will even want to go with us to 2214.”

Diana smiled at her sister-wife/genius. “They certainly do want to go. I called Marie last night and told her about the wedding, but she wasn’t sure they could make it back in time. I suppose that’s the reason for their late arrival tonight. I should have called them earlier, but with everything going on, I didn’t think of it. Because of keeping 2214 secret from the public, I also didn’t tell Mike and Marie exactly where the wedding would be, but just said it was another wedding with people dear to us, and we would all leave together to go there.”

“Do they even know about 2214?” Arlene asked.

“Yes, I think they’re aware of the prison planet and Ship from our conversations and what we told them when they were enhanced, but they know little else, I suppose,” Diana returned. “However, they did seem anxious to go, and they might well realize why I wasn’t going into detail – at least not on the phone.”

“Wait until they find out what we’re going in,” Ann returned, her giggle barely contained.

“Should we tell them, or just let them find out as things happen?” Arlene asked with a grin.

“We’ll tell them and let them decide if they still want to go,” Diana insisted.

“Oh, come on,” Jennie broke in. “He’s an Alpha. No way is he going to beg off after he hears what we’re traveling in, let alone where we’re actually going. And ... I suspect that Marie will want to go for much the same reasons.”

That brought agreement from all of them.

Selina came over to sit in Jeff’s lap as Jennie said, “We are not staying up late tonight. I need...” but then she realized what she was about to say in front of Selina.

“More sleep?” Arlene teased.

“I neither have dysfunctional sight nor hearing, and I am certainly able to surmise why married adults are sometimes anxious for an early bedtime. When my body finally reaches maturity, I shall also enjoy the same thing, husband-to-be,” she said as she kissed her Prime on the cheek.

“And I also look forward to your maturity, my Little Lady,” Jeff added as he hugged her.

A while later, the AI announced that Mike and Marie had turned into the drive. That caused a rush to the back door to greet the newlyweds and welcome them back after their honeymoon.

As soon as the SUV’s doors opened, the women descended on the two with squeals, laughter and congratulations. It quickly became obvious that the AI had notified everyone at the Retreat, because there was soon a crowd of people to congratulate and welcome the newlyweds back home.

A little later, after the celebration had been moved to the living room and everyone had the drink of their choice and munches close to hand, Diana told the two that the wedding that she had mentioned on the phone would be quite a distance away.

“And...” Mike prompted.

“It’s on a prison planet, and we’ll go there in Ship, of course.”

There was a pause while the two digested the information. “We’re going in Ship to another planet,” Marie repeated, amazement obvious in her voice. After a quick glance at her husband, and after Diana’s nod, “If it weren’t for you guys telling us, we would never believe that.”

“And the wedding is in a cave. The groom is sentenced to life on 2214, and the bride is an anthropologist who is studying the interactions between two wolves and Mr. Morales. Jasmine, the anthropologist, has fallen in love with Morales, who is now an Alpha,” Diana added.

“But...” Mike started, but stopped himself before making a comment about Morales being a prisoner.

Jeff spoke up. “Perhaps I should give you a quick synopsis of the people we’re going to marry. I was one of the three on the tribunal that sentenced Morales to life on the Prison Planet. However, that’s not the consideration at this point in time. He is now a full Alpha and has worked diligently to better himself and his living conditions. He rescued an animal that is similar to, but much larger than, our Earth wolves. There are now two of the ‘wolves’ and they are highly intelligent. They have apparently learned to communicate with each other telepathically, and to a somewhat lesser extent, Morales and Jasmine seem to be able to communicate with them as well.

“We’re investigating a column area farther back in the cave that seems to be a type of booster station for telepathic messages – at least that’s what Ship thinks. We’re installing solar power for the cave and eventually a wind generator, also. They’re living very crudely at the moment, but they love each other and seem to be pleased with what is going on in their lives. In addition, Jasmine is working on her doctorate in Cultural Anthropology, and Morales is also studying to better himself.

“The wedding will be in the cave because it’s very cold in the area just now, as well as being dangerous outside because of the abundance of large animals, many of which are deadly. And before you ask, the cave is safe and appears to have been there for a very long time.”

Diana broke in to say, “We have decorated a small cavern not far past their living area, so there will be plenty of room for everyone. There is only lantern light in the cave, but we have a number of them, and they’re very bright. In addition to the white light of the current lanterns, we are planning to use many small lanterns that produce colored lights that will mark the way and also add to the beauty of the cavern where the wedding itself will be held. The area tends to remind me of a cathedral, and with the lighting, it’s going to be beautiful.

“We’re taking folding chairs, some small tables, and plywood to serve as larger tables. We will also be taking food and the ingredients for punch when we go tomorrow afternoon at three their time. Our day doesn’t perfectly match with theirs on 2214, and right now we’re roughly three hours ahead of them timewise, but I have set my watch with Jasmine’s, and that should work for the time being. I’ve told everyone to be here by noon our time.”

Marie spoke up. “I haven’t attended a wedding in a cave before, but this one does sound interesting.”

“I’ve never traveled to a wedding on a spaceship,” Mike said with a chuckle. “How long will the trip take?”

Selina turned to catch Mike’s eye. “Once I compute and lay in the coordinates of the planet, the jump will be practically instantaneous.”

“And ... the approach under the inertialess drive takes only a few minutes more,” Arlene added.

Jeff saw the look on Mike’s face. “Don’t even think about it. Few of us can understand the math, but our little genius here is certainly capable, and has proved it several times already.”

Smiling, Selina broke in to say, “Should I make a mistake, Ship can do the computation herself, and, of course, she is much faster than I am. My Prime has pointed out that we need to be able to perform all of Ship’s necessary functions in case something happens to her capability, or she is using a maximum amount of her brainpower in combat, or for some other reason. She says she will function more efficiently with a crew, and my Prime has taxed us to become efficient with all her systems. That includes her propulsion and environmental systems, as well as weapons and navigation. Helen has already mastered navigation, as have I, and is now studying Ship’s propulsion systems.”

“Oh,” Marie said, obviously wondering.

“So? Do you two want to go with us?” Dave asked.

Marie and Mike passed a glance before Marie said, “We would love to go, but we don’t have a gift for them.”

“We have a number of gifts already wrapped with tags that simply say, ‘The Matthews Clan.’ Just smile when they open them. Besides, you two are, indeed, part of the Clan.”

Jeff broke in to say, “Mike, Frank has your job awaiting your arrival. You can live here with us and commute, or move to Denver. I think he said the company’s location was on this side of Denver a few miles, so either should work.”

“We really appreciate your allowing us to live with you guys. I talked with Frank on the phone and I’m scheduled to start Monday. If it’s okay with you and your family, I’ll commute for the time being.”

“Definitely fine with us,” Diana agreed.

Caitlin turned to Marie. “Should you want to continue working, there are always openings for nurses in Winter Park, as well as Denver, of course. I can put in a good word for you at the local hospital, if you like.”

Marie passed another glance with her husband. “Mike doesn’t want me to go back to work just yet, and if it’s okay with you, I’d like to hold off going back just now.”

Diana smiled at her. “Great as far as we’re concerned.”

“You’re an Alpha,” Jeff said as he turned to Mike. “You and Marie can live here from now on as far as we’re concerned, and ... we mean it, sincerely.”

“Thanks, Jeff. I know that both you and Diana have told us that before, but we need to agree on...”

“Don’t even start,” Diana hastened to say, “We have to eat anyway, and with all of us, we won’t notice the food you two eat. And, as far as utilities are concerned, remember, we sell power to the power company, and... we’re totally electric. We don’t have any utility expenses.”

“But I...”

“ ... am an Alpha,” Jeff finished for him, although that certainly wasn’t what Mike was going to say. “We’re brothers, just as Morales is a brother. Enough said on the subject.”

Mike and Marie glanced at each other before Mike looked back at Jeff. “We’re home as far as we are concerned,” he said, simply.

Jeff came to his feet. “Good. Now, we’re heading for bed. I’m sure the women will be up early cooking for the wedding, and the guys will have chairs, tables and no telling what else to move outside to be put on pallets so Ship can load them up for us. See you two at breakfast.”

Jeff met Dave and Evie in the hallway. “I assume that you two are going to provide our music, as always?” he asked them. “What about the piano? It would be a bitch to move into a cave...”

“I’m taking my keyboard, instead,” Evie responded. “We have a power supply that will support Dave’s 12 string amplifier, my keyboard and our speaker system for a considerable length of time, so we’re good to go. We’re just wondering how the acoustics will be in that cavern.”

“Well ... it’s not very big, and after thinking about it, one end – where the marriage will take place – has a dome ceiling maybe thirty feet high that seems to be solid rock. Much of the rest of it is walls of dirt with huge rocks embedded in them. I never thought of the acoustics of the place, but with the way you two play, the sound will be wonderful, bad acoustics or not.”