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 I will, thank you, Malory said jovially.
Corky shook her head.  You know, I haven t even had time to take a shower.
 I don t mind waiting, go ahead, Malory said with a happy glance at the extremely exposed shower stall
situated in the corner of the room and turned a sly expression back in the doctor s direction.  I like to
watch, she added conspiratorially.
Corky didn t know whether to be upset or amused.  I don t think so, she said dryly.
 Why not? Malory asked reasonably.  I d let you watch me.
A small chuckle.  Why don t I meet you in the mess in about half an hour?
 Huh? Malory asked in disappointment.  I thought you asked me to come to your quarters.
 I did, but I m not taking a shower with you in the room.
 Would it make you feel better if I joined you?
 No, Corky laughed.
 Why are you playing so hard to get? I know you re warm for my form.
Corky s mouth dropped open.  God, she muttered incredulously.
Malory grinned shamelessly.
 I can t believe you, Corky said in wonder.  Do you honestly expect to win me over so easily with your
ham-fisted charm?
 Well... Malory considered, raising a finger to her lips thoughtfully,  ...yeah, she said as if it were
obvious.
Lips tightened into a tense line.  Not too long ago, I would ve pissed all over myself in joy if you were to
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have suddenly died and now you expect me to just jump in bed with you? she asked angrily.
 What better way to bury the hatchet? Malory asked, spreading her arms invitingly.  Come get some.
A sharp breath.  Get out, she hissed.
 Huh?
Corky pointed to the door.  Get out.
 But... Malory attempted.
 Get out, Commander.
 But...
 Now.
Malory rose from the cot slowly, belatedly realizing that she had painted herself into a corner. Plans to
rectify the situation raced through her mind but one look at the doctor s red face told her anything she
might say or do at this point would not be welcomed. Dragging her feet, she slowly shuffled past the
fuming doctor and stepped into the hall, the door loudly slamming shut behind her.
Shit.
05/03/02 - 0730 hours
Still sulking from the night before, Malory emerged from her quarters and sat down in her chair,
displacing Little Lovecraft and setting her on the desk in front of her.
 Well, my friend, she addressed the toy.  Looks like I screwed the pooch. Any advice?
She stared at the doll as if she expected it to answer.  I thought so, she said despairingly.  Any
comments? she asked and reached out to pull the string.
 Like I give a shit, Little Lovecraft said sarcastically and she chuckled.
 Thanks, she said with an amused smile.  You always cheer me up.
She heard footsteps approaching from the hall and hurriedly stuffed her companion into a desk drawer.
McNeely stopped at the doorframe to knock but stopped when he saw her at her desk and she gestured
him in. He placed a holstered .45 and two magazines on the desk in front of her.
She stood to attach the weapon to her belt.  Everybody equipped?
 Yes, Commander, he said.  You were the last.
 Anything I need to know this morning?
 Not that I m aware of.
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 I want everybody to take turns watching over excavation.
 I ll prepare a duty list. I have Alvarez and Cohen slated for the job if they go down today.
 I m sure they will, she said knowingly.  I guess we re ready, let me call in the troops and I ll meet you
in the mess shortly.
 Alright, he said in departure and she reached for the phone.
  
Clovis burst into Medical excitedly.  Corky!
She looked up from her desk, smiling at the boisterous greeting.  What s up, Clovis?
He walked over and whispered conspiratorially.  Something s up. Lieutenant Ring and Chief Reynolds
were in the mess this morning.
 So? Corky asked confusedly.  They not allowed to eat?
He spared her a condescending look.  They were armed.
 Huh?
 They were wearing guns, Corky, Clovis said slowly.
 What for? she asked confusedly.  Did someone attack us in the middle of the night?
 I kinda doubt that, he laughed but stopped suddenly and eyed her carefully.  But since you and the
Macho Nacho are so chummy, I thought I d get you to ask her what s going on, he said with a knowing
grin.
 Chummy, she said dryly.  How would you know?
 Gimme a break, Corky, he patronized.  Gossip flies around in here at the speed of light.
 Gossip? she chuckled.  And I thought women were bad.
He shrugged.  So will you ask her?
 Why would she tell me? she asked reasonably.
 God Corky, you graduated from medical school, you can t be this dense, he said shaking his head.
 The woman s gorgeous, every guy in the place is at half-mast when she walks by but the only person
she notices is you.
 Isn t that special, she said sarcastically, still miffed at the arrogant woman.
 Would all personnel assemble in the mess by 0800, please, the Commander s voice blared over
the intercom.  Attendance is mandatory.
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 Hmmm, Clovis grunted.  Looks like I won t need you to take advantage of the Commander s
affections, he added teasingly.
 Clovis... she started in annoyance.
  
Malory strode into the mess when she was reasonably sure everyone would already be there, purposely
avoiding glancing anywhere in the direction of the doctor. She took a seat at the front of the room and
met all of the curious looks directed at her.
 There s been a development, she stated quietly.  Yesterday, Mr. McNeely and the crew working in
excavation uncovered part of, what we guess, is a corpse.
A few seconds of silence immediately followed by excited whispers.
 Why weren t we informed immediately, Commander, Clovis asked in annoyance and his colleagues
nodded their approval of the question.
 A couple of reasons, Malory said mildly.  First, Mr. McNeely had yet to inform me that he was
satisfied with the conditions down there and second, the corpse isn t human.
 What do you mean not human? Clovis asked, barely concealing his excitement.
 In my opinion, not of this Earth, she replied uneasily.
 When can we view the specimen, Commander? Dr. Lenard asked.
 I m prepared to allow personnel to return to excavation today, Malory said.  However, there will be
stipulations.
 Such as? Clovis asked.
 There will be two armed men overseeing the dig at all times, Malory said sternly.  This is just a
precaution until we are certain there s no threat. This is nonnegotiable.
 What are we in danger of, Commander? Dr. Ballenger asked.
 The... life form... was remarkably preserved, Malory said slowly.  And it was brought to my attention
that we know nothing of its capabilities. Until I am convinced that it, or anything else biological we find
down there is no threat, it s always better to have and not need than to need and not have.
 What are the other stipulations? Clovis asked.
 As I said before, if anyone is found not in possession of a radio, they will be confined to quarters with
nothing but a radio to keep them company. This is for everyone s safety and is also nonnegotiable. In [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]