Icehole

by Kiera Dellacroix

“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.”

  “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 addition, those same consequences will be imposed on anyone working in excavation without a safety rope,” she said firmly. “This goes double for Mr. Isaaks,” she added with a smile in the man’s direction. “Any questions?”

  She looked around but no one seemed inclined to speak up. Everyone but the soldiers wore eager expressions. “Alright, I’ll let you get to it,” she said finally and her audience practically leaped from their seats. “Some last minute advice,” she said loudly over the rising clamor. “It smells like angry diarrhea down there, take precautions and don’t give me a reason to get pissed off at anyone.”

  They fidgeted anxiously and she waved them away. “Dismissed,” she ordered, unable to keep from smiling at the childlike enthusiasm they displayed and watching amusedly as they fled from the room.

  She stayed in her seat, composing scenarios that she could use to approach Corky that didn’t give the impression of desperation. It was when the last body filtered by that she saw the doctor had also remained seated and she felt a spark of hope. Perhaps, she wouldn’t have to grovel after all. She tried not to let a cocky smile take control and returned the doctor’s stare impassively.

  The minutes passed and finally, Corky got up to go refill her coffee mug. Malory watched nervously as she refreshed her beverage and walked over to stand a few paces away, staring at her with the same neutral look on her face. She couldn’t take the silence, it was only a matter of seconds until she broke and begged for forgiveness. She cut it off at the pass.

  “What?” she asked confusedly. “Do I have a booger?” she added, bringing a hand up to rub at her nose.

  Corky fought it, but the smile came anyway. “I don’t know why I bother,” she said finally with a chuckle.

  “It’s the magic that is me,” Malory said sagely.

  A sigh.

  “Because I want you just as much as you want me,” Malory relented truthfully. “I’m just honest enough not to beat around the bush about it.”

  “That’s probably true,” Corky conceded.

  “So why fight it?”

  A deep breath. “If you think you can behave as something other than a randy adolescent, we can talk about it tonight.”

  “Really?” Malory asked hopefully.

  “Really,” Corky said softly. “Show up at least an hour after duty shift.”

  “Okay,” she said cheerfully. “There’s no one here but us, can I talk you out of anything other than a ‘Goodnight, Malory’ cheek peck?”

  Corky looked around the room carefully and closed the distance between them, leaning over the Commander seductively, bringing her mouth to within an inch of Malory’s.

  “No,” she said sternly and clapped the Commander on the shoulder cordially.

  “That wasn’t fair,” Malory whined as the doctor strode from the room with a cavalier wave.

  ———

  It was near the end of the day and Malory was sitting in her office playing ‘Tomb Raider’ when the radio squawked.

  “Commander?” Alvarez said.

  “Go ahead.”

  “They uncovered the...uh... thing,” he reported. “They want to transport it to the lab.”

  “I see,” she said slowly. “What’s it look like?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  She shuddered. “I’ll take your word on that. What would it take to get it up here?”

  “A lot of time. It’s in some sort of fucked up chair. Stokes wants to send someone back for a stretcher.”

  “Tell them to leave it in the ice until tomorrow, my order,” she decided.

  “Will do,” Alvarez said. “Do you want me to report to you when I get topside?”

  “No, thank you,” Malory said quickly. “I think I can make it through the night without a description. I’ll see it soon enough.”

  “Understand that
, out.”

  She returned the radio to her belt and checked the time on the computer, a smile in the works. She hopped from her seat to go get ready.

  By the time she knocked on the door to Corky’s quarters, she had devised a new plan. The meat and potatoes of which consisted of her thinking very carefully before she opened her mouth. It wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined.

  She waited what she deemed was a polite amount of time and knocked on the door again, the thought that the doctor still might be in the shower entering her mind. Debating carefully, she decided to knock one more time before she poked her head in, knowing a Peeping Tom incident would go over about as well as a concrete balloon. With still no answer forthcoming, she finally opened the door a crack.

  “Dr. Rivers?” she called out hesitantly.

  Receiving no reply, she entered the room and found it empty. Scowling slightly, she exited and walked one door over to Medical, only to find it deserted as well. The scowl deepened as she wandered from room to room, finally ending up in the mess with still no sign of the elusive doctor. Puzzled and disappointed, she returned to her office where a clue flew in and hit her in the head, she reached for her radio.

  “Sergeant Alvarez,” she called.

  “Go ahead.”

  “What’s your status?” she asked.

  “Still in excavation, Commander,” he said tiredly.

  “Why?”

  “They’re still fawning over the damn thing.”

  She could almost see the compact Hispanic man rolling his eyes. “Is Dr. Rivers down there?”

  “Yeah, she’s here.”

  Malory sighed. “Very well, give them a little longer and then tell them to wrap it up for the day.”

  “Will do,” he said, obviously happy to get the order.

  “Lovecraft, out.”

  She leaned back in her chair and sighed again, deciding she would pass the time with a movie.

  ———

  It was after midnight when Corky got out of the shower. Malory had been right, the smell in excavation had been hideous and being in such close proximity to the creature had made her clothes stink as well. Earlier, Clovis had called her down to take a look at it and she found herself unable to resist. Caught up in her own curiosity and everyone’s excitement, the time had gotten away from them. That is, until Alvarez had informed them, in no uncertain terms, that it was bedtime and they could play with their new toy tomorrow. It was then she realized how late it was and that she had unwittingly stood the Commander up.

  Guiltily, she dressed and slipped out the door, hoping Malory would still be up so she could at least apologize. When she entered the Commander’s office, it was dark and there was no light coming from under the door to her quarters. With a sigh, she turned to leave and took a few steps into the hall before turning impulsively, walking back into the office and quietly entering Malory’s quarters, closing the door behind her. She stood silently, letting her eyes adapt to the dark and then utilizing the light from the clock to guide her to the Commander’s cot. Praying that she was making the right decision, she stripped to her panties and T-shirt before climbing in next to the sleeping woman. She had to nudge her a few times to make room for herself and ignored the sleepy grumbles of protest as she slipped under the blankets.

  So far so good, she snuggled up next to a delightfully naked back, putting a tentative arm around her waist and cautiously burying her face into clean smelling hair. She caught her breath in surprise when Malory suddenly grabbed her arm, but ended up smiling as her hand was cuddled between a pair of breasts. It took a few minutes for her to realize the Commander was still asleep but when she did, Corky quickly fell asleep beside her.

  05/04/02 - 0659 hours

  Malory noticed several things immediately upon waking up. First, was the floor, and she was staring at it because half of her body was hanging over the side of the cot. In addition, there was a warm weight resting on her back and most surprisingly, there was a possessive grip on her left breast.

  Her eyes traveled down her chest to examine the hand that the grip belonged to and an eyebrow went up in satisfaction. It was a small, obviously feminine hand and since it wasn’t her own, the odds were favorable that it belonged to none other than Corky Rivers.

  She craned her head around to look at the clock, it was set to go off in less than a minute. Smiling, she plastered on her most smug expression and waited to see how the doctor would react to rising in such a compromising situation.

  The alarm went off with a shrill and irritating electronic beep and Corky’s eyes grudgingly opened, then almost instantly widened as she found her cheek resting on a naked back and a pleasant softness filling her hand that could only be one thing. She froze in horror, immediately wishing that she had thought her impulsive decision from the night before all the way through. She hadn’t given a moment’s thought to how awkward it would be to wake up uninvited in someone else’s bed or to be caught fondling the body that the bed belonged to.

  The alarm continued to blare and Malory could feel the tension running through the body resting on top of her, she decided to make the most of it.

  She cleared her throat loudly. “Uhm... if it isn’t too much of a bother, could you let go of my boob long enough to turn off the alarm?” she asked in amusement.

  Corky flushed with embarrassment, silently removing her hand and turning to slap the alarm behind her irritably, instantly wishing she hadn’t as she found the resulting silence even more uncomfortable.

  Malory was anything but uncomfortable, enjoying the situation immensely. “There’s some Kleenex on the nightstand, would you mind wiping the drool off my back?” she asked, almost laughing when she heard the horrified gasp her request had produced.

  Corky’s eyes dropped to Malory’s back in mortification but after a quick examination, they turned to the ceiling in annoyance. “Funny,” she said finally, bracing herself against the inevitable laughter.

  She was surprised when it didn’t come and Malory turned around, gathering her arms around her and pulling her close. “I haven’t woken up so happy in years,” she said quietly.

  It was the last thing Corky had expected and she buried her face into the crook of the Commander’s neck with a relieved sigh.

  Malory ran her hands inquisitively through Corky’s hair, enjoying how soft it felt as she waited for the doctor to emerge from her place of refuge. Eventually, she stirred and lifted shy brown eyes up to meet hers. “I knew you could be sweet if you wanted to,” she said triumphantly.

  Malory smiled. “I’m not the ogre you make me out to be,” she said softly.

  “I never called you an ogre,” Corky defended.

  Malory shrugged indifferently. “So can I have that kiss now?”

  Corky chewed on her lip thoughtfully.

  “Oh, come on,” Malory sighed. “It’s the least you could do after having felt me up.”

  Brown eyes looked away in embarrassment. “I was asleep,” she offered lamely.

  “If you kiss me, I’ll let you feel me up anytime you want,” Malory offered brightly.

  Corky chuckled. “Okay,” she relented, bashfully moving forward.

  Her mouth had almost completed its journey when a hand blocked the way, completely obscuring the lips below hers.

  “Wait!” Malory said urgently, her voice muffled by her hand and Corky backed away uncertainly, looking at her in puzzlement.

  “Could you brush your teeth first?” she asked. “Your breath would make a dung beetle barf.”

  Corky went completely limp in exasperation, her face falling into the blankets as the Commander’s chuckles washed over her. She waited stoically for her mirth to subside.

  “You just can’t make it easy, can you?” she muttered.

  “Nope,” Malory said happily.

  “Corky, where you at?” Clovis’s voice blared from the radio on the floor.

  “Oh shit,” Corky sprang upright in alarm.

  “Corky, you
there?” Clovis asked. “You better have your radio with you or the boss is gonna be pissed.”

  Malory chuckled and reached down to retrieve the radio from the floor. “You better answer him or I might have to discipline you.”

  Corky snatched it from her hand. “Go ahead, Clovis.”

  “Where the hell are you?” came the immediate response.

  She bit her lip. “Where are you?”

  “I’m in Medical.”

  Malory snickered and received a slap on the arm. “I’m in the mess,” she offered, crossing her fingers.

  “I just left there, I must have missed you. No biggie, on my way back now.”

  “Shit,” Corky cursed, jumping over the Commander and gathering her pants from the floor in a panic.

  Malory reclined on the cot, watching the show with interest as Corky frantically wiggled into her fatigues.

  “Goddamn it,” she exclaimed, tossing dirty clothes aside. “Where’s my other boot? How do you find anything in this shithole?”

  “You’ll never get there before he does,” Malory observed calmly.

  “Shut up,” Corky exclaimed, then squealing as she found her other boot and dropped to the floor to pull it on.

  “What the hell, Corky?” Clovis said. “Where did you go?”

  “Told you,” Malory said pompously.

  Corky froze, totally at a loss.

  “Just tell him you’re in my office and you’ll get back to him shortly,” Malory offered reasonably.

  Her shoulders slumped in relief. “Sorry, Clovis,” she answered. “The Commander wanted to see me, I’ll call you back in a minute.”

  “Alright, got lots to do today,” he said cheerfully. “See ya in a few.”

  She fell onto her back, lying in a pile of dirty clothes. “Jesus,” she murmured.

  “I’m glad you came by last night,” Malory said quietly.

  “I am too,” Cory replied from her position on the floor.

  “Will I see you again tonight?” Malory asked hopefully.

  “Only if you clean this place up or come to my quarters.”

  “I’ll come to your quarters.”

  Corky chuckled and rose to finish lacing her boot, glancing up to meet blue eyes watching her intently from a few feet away. “What are you staring at?” she asked mildly.