Isis (Moon Hunter's Inc. Book 7)

by Catty Diva

  He bent over the medical bed and looked over his shoulder. “I hope you’re enjoying the view of my perfect ass.” He winked at her.

  Yeah, you are a perfect ass. Isis pulled out the largest needle she had to take samples with. “This might pinch a little, but you’re tough, right?” She popped it into his ass making no effort to be gentle. The scream the needle elicited from him was satisfying.

  “You trying to kill me, woman?” Prat screeched.

  Pulling back the plunger, she took a nice sized tissue sample. “There now. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll get even with you,” He said as he turned and stroked his cock while looking at her.

  “Is that supposed to impress me?” She drawled looking bored.

  “It will when I get the chance to use it on you,” Prat assured.

  “That will be never. You can go now and be more careful about your health. Issues can develop later like cock rot.”

  “You’re joking.”

  “It’s a little talked about STD. The medical community wouldn’t want to start a panic, would they?”

  Prat pulled his pants back up and gave her an uncertain look. “I’m not through with you,” he promised before he walked out the door. Once the other medical staff left and it was just her and Wayne, she’d clean up the patient and release her. Prat was a dumb fuck because only a dumb fuck would mess with someone who held their personal health in their hands and the microbes that could cause a shit load of diseases in stock.

  Chapter 6

  Relief

  Steve was ready to get out of there. He’d heard from Wayne what Isis had done to Prat. Wayne had been listening outside the room in medical where Prat had been escorted. As he’d told the story, Wayne had laughed until he’d cried.

  “Who knew Prat was such a big pussy about needles?” Wayne wondered.

  “You know this isn’t a story you should be telling around?” Steve asked.

  “I know. Just you, Man. I had to tell someone and I know you’re safe. That lady is ballsy as hell.”

  “That she is. Maybe more than is good for her.”

  “You wouldn’t let anything happen to that lady. I know it,” Wayne said looking at him with hero worship.

  Wayne had been the reason Steve had fought Prat the one time it had occurred. Prat had been harassing the guy. Prat was a cowardly bully only picking on those who clearly had no chance against him. Wayne was geeky and not even remotely physical. His brain was the only muscle he exercised.

  Prat had been deriding him and finally he pushed him down and sneered at Wayne as he lay on the floor, unable to get up. They were right outside the gym where Steve had been working out and he’d seen the whole sorry thing.

  “So you’re looking for a fight? Maybe you want to try someone on for size that would give you a challenge?” Steve had said.

  “What’s this guy to you? Are you gay? Do you like drilling his asshole?” Prat had derided.

  “I’m not gay, but there’s nothing wrong with being gay. Since you’re hanging on to him a lot, maybe you have a secret crush?” Steve knew that Prat would get pissed and he was right.

  “Let’s fight right now so everyone can see what a pussy you really are. Maybe I’ll give it to you up your ass. You are pretty, now that I’ve had time to get a closer look,” Prat informed.

  “Don’t be so sure that you’ll win. Overconfidence kills,” Steve observed. He knew it wouldn’t matter. Prat was an overconfident prick and nothing would change that.

  They moved into the gym and Wayne followed. There was no way Steve’s new friend was going to miss the fight. The other men in the room gathered around too. There wasn’t much entertainment around here and this would be good either way it went.

  Steve was determined not to let this drag on. Prat needed to be put down like the dog he was, but here was not the time or place. He simply needed to be taken down, shown the error of his ways, and let go. That was the limit of what Steve felt he could get by with here and now.

  They were inside the circle and Prat was dancing around like a pole dancer. He was wiggling his ass and undulating, hopping from one foot to another. Steve wondered if he was trying to make him laugh himself to death. Some of the other guys, Prat’s bunch, were choking on their own laughter.

  Steve supposed he was trying not to be pinned down, but he stepped up to Prat and punch him in the nose hard, he heard a satisfying crunch and blood spewed everywhere. He should have stepped back, but he underestimated Prat. He got in a punch to his cheek. Ouch! That one would bruise.

  He punched back hitting Prat in the belly and he heard a whoosh, as his breath came out through his mouth. Prat struck out blindly with his foot making contact with Steve’s ankle. It hurt, but it wouldn’t slow him down. Steve realized he needed to pay better attention. A lucky punch could change the outcome of this fight. He got in two fast punches to Prats belly which was left unprotected and a punch to his mouth which split his lip. Prat hit his shoulder, hard, but not enough to slow him down. He’d feel it tomorrow, though.

  At least the dumb ass had stopped dancing around and this was now a serious fight. They circled each other and took a shot, but none of them landed until Steve moved in and quick as a viper, nailed his chin. Prat’s eyes crossed, but he shook it off. Never had he expected Prat to hold up this long. It was time to end this charade. Steve moved in and pummeled Prat. Eye, nose, lip, and finally a powerful punch to the chin.

  Prat stood there blinking and Steve was sure he was knocked out but didn’t know it yet. His mouth moved like he wanted to say something, but was unable to. His nose was bleeding furiously and his eyes glazed over. He started to tip backwards and Steve just let him fall. It was a mat they stood on after all and as far as Steve was concerned, a head injury might make Prat a better man.

  He hit hard and the walls shook. His buddy boys looked on stunned and unsure of what to do. Prat just lay there unconscious and bleeding profusely. “Get him to medical,” Steve said, but everyone just stared. “Now!” He yelled and it was like the spell had been broken. They all rushed around and four of them carried him while another one ran ahead to make sure the way was clear.

  Good times. Actually, that memory was pretty sweet. He called it up every time Prat made him crazy with something he did. It usually managed to calm him, at least it had before Isis had come here. His feelings about Prat being around her couldn’t be soothed. That woman was his and no one else’s. So what if she didn’t agree? If he was in a position to spend some time alone with her, he knew he could convince her. The time they had spent together had been too sweet to be a one sided affection.

  As he and Wayne finished there supper, Prat happened by. Wayne wisely diverted his eyes to his plate. Steve nodded as Prat walked by acknowledging his presence. He didn’t like that man and he never would. Prat didn’t care for him either, but he nodded back. Prat looked shaken and he wondered if it was the STD scare or if something else was going on. In the corner where a group of Prat sycophants gathered, Prat dropped into a chair and all his guys leaned in as he spoke.

  Steve wished he could hear what was going on. He knew the target Isis had drawn on her back was steadily growing larger and Prat was the one aiming for it. He couldn’t blame any man for wanting that woman, but no means no. Real men understood that and stepped aside. Prat was not what he considered a real man. He was a cave man in only the most negative ways.

  If only the raid were pushed forward, it would prevent the showdown that was coming. Steve knew he and Prat were going to go round and round over Isis. The situation had started off charged with testosterone and it had only gotten worse over time.

  “I’m done. Are you ready to go?” Steve asked Wayne.

  “Sure. Thanks for being my bodyguard,” Wayne said.

  “No problem. You’re good company.” And it was true. Wayne was good people. He also needed protecting because Prat, well, Prat wasn’t good anything.

  Steve escorted Wa
yne to medical and then he went to his room. Pulling out a funny looking object from the lining of his stun gun case, he pushed a button that would block any surveillance devices in a way that would look like space interference. It was something that happened out here.

  Next, he took off his boots and pressed carefully before popping off the heel. It always made him feel like some kind of super-secret special agent. Hell, he guessed he was. Taking out the miniature com, he checked in with the powers that be.

  “Boss, come in. This is Spy guy.” Whoever picked their call names wasn’t very creative.

  “Spy guy? Anything new?”

  “Situation is escalating. It needs to be finished soon. If not, then none of us may be here to greet you.”

  “Roger, Spy guy. We’ve got a schedule now. Three days at the most. We’re waiting for something.”

  “Can you share?”

  “That’s a negatory on sharing, Spy guy.”

  “Figures. So we wait without knowing what we’re waiting for.”

  “That’s an affirmative on the waiting. See you soon. Over and out.”

  That was just like Tony, his boss. Hopefully, he and Isis could manage to wait up to three days, whatever the hell that meant. What were they waiting for? The higher ups refused to share, guarding their secrets as jealously as toddlers hung on to their favorite toys. His superiors distanced themselves from those in the field so much that it often seemed they didn’t care what happened to the little worker bees.

  Tony, his boss of three years, had never seemed like the others until now. It did occur to him that there might be a reason they were not sharing. Maybe it was something Tony was afraid he’d try to interfere in. Those who ran those labs had done so many atrocious acts that sometimes the higher ups thought one more, especially if it was one they could catch on camera, wasn’t so bad. It would make their case and prove that they were on the side of good.

  Steve didn’t like that thinking. It wasn’t right to allow someone to be hurt in the name of justice. It was the kind of thinking that pushed people to the dark side. That was the first step in becoming callous and uncaring about the welfare of others in the blind pursuit of wrapping up a case. He didn’t think Cash would go along with that, but was he aware something was going down?

  Did Isis know more than he did? There was danger in discussing this with her under any circumstances, but the risks could be minimized. He got ready for bed and set his alarm for an early morning. Decisions would be made off the cuff, to use old Earth slang.

  Steve cussed. He didn’t want to get out of bed and for a moment he didn’t remember why his alarm was going off so early. That was right before it all came rushing back. Jumping out of bed, he turned his alarm off and got dressed. If he was lucky, he would catch Isis on her way to eat.

  “Good morning, Sweetheart,” Steve greeted.

  “What’s so good about it?” Isis asked.

  “You’re not acting like someone that got a little revenge yesterday.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Anything exciting going on?”

  “Not that I know of,” Isis replied.

  “Our mutual nonfriend seems to be shaken, not stirred.”

  “I can’t imagine why.”

  “Me either, but it and other things have me wondering.” They reached the cafeteria and he stopped talking.

  “Smells like breakfast steak,” Isis observed.

  Steve decided getting up early had worked out for him after all. It was the best breakfast they ever served and once word got out, it would be eaten up before lunch time. They got their tray and other needs and moved around the line.

  “You’re in for a treat this morning,” Doug offered.

  “It smells great,” Isis admitted.

  “Best meal we serve here,” Doug observed.

  He slapped a steak on each of their plates and they continued getting their other food. Word must have gotten out because a line was forming. “Let’s eat quickly. You might want seconds and they’ll be out soon.”

  Chapter 7

  Countdown

  Isis gave some thought to what Steve had said or more specifically asked. She decided he meant the countdown they were on until they would be raided. Three days, Cash had assured her at the very most. It might even be sooner. Someone arriving or leaving or some silly thing they were hung up on. Whatever it was, Cash didn’t think it was important, but this was a joint mission with an Earth agency.

  If they worked well together, Cash might be brought in on their missions when they needed extra help. Why some inconsequential deciding point on when the raid when off was disturbing to Steve, made no sense to her. Maybe the agency wasn’t being honest with Cash. Steve would know better what his bosses were capable of and he was concerned. That was a good enough reason for her to check into things. Not anything obvious, she didn’t want to mess anything up. It was just important to have all the facts.

  “That was good, but I’m full. I think I’ll go now and get my work day started,” She informed.

  “You okay?”

  “Peachy.” She got up, sorted her glass and such then dropped off her tray.

  Isis headed to medical at a well-paced walk. She didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention. Too late. Her asshole meter went off. “Where you headed, Baby?” Prat asked.

  “To work. That’s the only reason I’m on this station.”

  “Why you hanging out with that loser?”

  “I’ve no idea what you mean.”

  “Steve, whatever his name is.”

  “He’s just a nice guy I talk to sometimes. If someone isn’t nice, I don’t like to talk to them,” she explained as she stared at him pointedly.

  “Nice is vanilla and I’m all spice.”

  “You need to find a woman that likes your particular flavor. It doesn’t appeal to me.”

  “It will by the time I’m through,” Prat assured.

  “I don’t think so. I’m at work now and I need to clock in.”

  “Good bye, for now.” He turned and left. Isis breathed a sigh of relief.

  She had to admit, he’d not pressured her as much as she’d expected. It worried her that it might change. Isis went to the computer and looked up today’s schedule. There was really nothing going on most days. Maybe this station was about to close. It wasn’t a question she could ask. Most people would be thrilled to have little to do most days. No one else seemed to mind. Larry, one of the other orderlies, came in ten minutes late.

  Jacobs wasn’t in yet and sometimes he didn’t show up before noon. “Looks like it will be a slow day if no one gets injured on the station,” Larry said and then he giggled. “I’m not complaining.”

  “Is it always like this?”

  “Only the last few months. Makes me worried sometimes but if they were clearing out, they’d tell us, right?”

  “I don’t know. You know them better than I do.”

  “We need to learn some card games to play while we sit around. The boredom gets to me sometimes. We’re at less than a third of capacity.”

  “That would be reason enough to downsize, but they’re still hiring.”

  “That’s true,” Larry said, relief on his face.

  “Who feeds the subjects?” Isis wondered.

  “Two cafeteria grunts pass out three squares a day now.”

  “What did they used to get?”

  “One if they were lucky,” Larry admitted. “It was a bigger meal than the ones they get now, but not much. I always wondered how some of them made it on that. I found out one day when I had to test a subject and one of the guards was fucking her. There was also extra food in the cell. I guess if you’re hungry enough, you’ll do anything for food.”

  “That’s beyond sad.”

  “It’s also against the rules now.”

  “You telling me they stopped?”

  “They did. If they get caught, their pay gets docked.”

  “They hit them i
n the wallet where it counts.”

  “It didn’t work at first, until they started docking supervisors too,” Larry admitted. “The first time that happened, everyone hid from Prat. He almost killed the guard that did it.”

  “It happened more than once?”

  “Prat had a buddy, Mickey, who thinks he’s above the rules and that Prat won’t hurt him. Or at least he used to think that.”

  “What happened?” Isis asked.

  “Mickey has a permanent limp now. Prat had a metal bar and he broke Mickey’s leg in several places. Not all of them healed well.”

  Isis thought back to a guy she’d seen sweeping the hallway. Blond hair, blue eyes, kind of cute and a major limp. “He’s a janitor now?”

  “Yeah, Prat said guards can’t be cripples. Told Mickey he was lucky to have a job at all.”

  “Goodness.” That gave her a pause. Prat was really an animal.

  “You’re surprised?”

  “No one did anything about it?”

  “Prat rules here.”

  “I guess you’re right. I noticed we were running low on supplies. When are some coming in?”

  “They are due to be here in two or three days. They’re more likely to be later than sooner.”

  “That’ll work.”

  “We need to do some cleaning before lunch. Jacobs runs a clean medical. Where do you prefer to work?”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Fine. I’ll take the main area and you take the storage room, isolation, and the bathroom.”

  “Fine,” Isis replied. Nothing was really dirty. It was more a matter of spraying down all the surfaces with a disinfectant, emptying trash cans, sweeping, and mopping the floor.

  By the time they were finished, it was lunch time. “May I escort you to lunch, fair lady?” Larry bowed like a lord of old might have.

  “You may.” They walked side by side to the cafeteria. She was pleased to see Prat wasn’t around.

  They got their food, no steak, it hadn’t even lasted through breakfast, but fish and chips. They ate slowly because they had nothing to do and their breaks weren’t closely monitored. Once they got back to medical, without any emergencies, there was nothing to do.