Leora got her cell phone and asked for a land link. After a moment, she was connected.
“Raquel?”
“Yes, was there a problem? I’m looking through the drone camera, so we know it got to the ship.”
“Look at this, then,” Leora commented, bringing one of the vials close to the camera. “Didn’t you say that the vials had a sticker that said V110?”
“Yes, I saw them myself when they were being prepared.” A moment passed. “What the hell?”
“That’s what I thought,” reflected Leora, while she heard people talking and then shouting on the other end of the line.
“What’s going on?” Robert asked.
“These aren’t the vaccines,” said Leora.
“What? How do you know?”
“Raquel mentioned that the vaccines have a sticker with the code. These have a blue band and don’t say anything.”
“Leora, throw them overboard, right now. Be sure that none of them are broken or open,” ordered Raquel through the communicator.
Leora didn’t hesitate a second. She left the phone on the ground, carefully looked the package over, took it and ran carefully to the suicide deck in the stern, the highest one, where one couldn’t fall on any other deck if they jumped. Very carefully, she drew back and threw the package which, after a short parabolic trajectory, fell into the ocean.
Robert ran up behind her, just in time to see the package fall into the water, reached for the phone, and talked to her again.
“What do you think you sent us?”
“We’re not sure without analyzing the vials, but everything points to someone replacing them. And we’re sure that what got to you wasn’t the vaccine. If you hadn’t noticed...” Raquel shuddered.
“Are you saying that someone in your perfect city is trying to kill us?”
“We were just talking about that. You could say we have a trouble detector to avoid this type of situation. Whoever got that package up there...”
“You have a cockroach in the meatloaf, eh?”
There was a moment of silence.
“A repulsive image but exactly. Using your analogy, the worst thing is that the cockroach looks like the rest of the stuffing.”
“How can we trust what you send us, then?”
“I’d say that, for now, you can’t. We’re already making the vaccine sequencers, which will be ready for tomorrow if we don’t suffer another sabotage, but we’re investigating how this could have happened. There aren’t many who had access to the drone and the package. And we can’t find the real vaccines, though we’re looking for them. I’d love to see them in person.”
“Well, we would, too. If something occurs to you, just let us know,” replied Leora looking at Robert, who nodded with emphasis. “I hope you find the saboteur very soon. We’ll be in touch,” she said, ending the conversation with Raquel.
In a little over an hour, Leora and Robert got contact from land again.
“We found the vaccines. Or what’s left of them, anyway. They went to the trouble of crushing them, but we can see they’re pure and a couple of them were still intact,” Raquel told them.
“A couple? How many, exactly?”
“I’m afraid I was speaking literally, there were only two left.”
Leora was speechless for a minute.
“Shit,” Robert spit out.
“Exactly what I was thinking,” agreed Leora.
“I already sent the drone with those two doses. This time I supervised the takeoff myself. We’re still looking for those responsible for the change in the previous shipment.”
“Thank you, Raquel,” replied Leora while they returned to the bridge deck.
The drone arrived like the last time, but with a much smaller package. They opened it and it contained only two vials, this time the correct ones, according to the stickers. Leora wasn’t every comfortable knowing that they’d probably tried to kill all of them, if the previous shipment was of the original virus, as it seemed.
It didn’t take much discussion to decide that both captains would get the doses and disembark as soon as possible to meet the people of this city.
Leora had the doctor inoculate them.
“If there’s any problem with the vaccine, I hope we know it before anyone else gets vaccinated,” commented Leora.
“The truth is I hope there isn’t any problem with the vaccine,” Robert answered.
Much later that night, Leora met with Robert.
“How are you?” asked Robert.
“I have a little bit of a fever, but only a light one. They told me on land that it was one of the indications that the vaccine took. And how are you?”
Robert hesitated before answering.
“I’m okay. Did they tell you anything about whether us being vaccinated poses any risk for those who haven’t been vaccinated yet?”
“Yes. Yes, we talked about that, there’s no risk. The only risk is the live virus.”
“Good.” Robert hesitated for a minute. “Did you already eat?”
Leora raised an eyebrow.
“Truth is not yet. What do you have in mind? Inviting me to the submarine?”
“To that can of sardines, and maybe eat rations? How romantic,” Robert joked, making a face. “We’ve been in that submarine for months, I’d love a dinner that didn’t come out of a rations pack, as well as some good company. Even if it’s for nothing but to talk for a while.”
Leora laughed.
“Tomorrow the whole ship will talk about how you took me to bed, whether it happens or not. And I don’t think it will happen. But if you have some sexual need, we have a ton of crew members who’d be happy to do you the favor.”
Robert looked pained.
“I’m offended, Captain. You think that’s all I’m interested in? If you’re worried about your reputation, we can eat in an area full of people. I just wanted some conversation with some good food.”
“I don’t know about the food, we’re rationed, so it may not be very good.”
“Anything is better than army rations, even the food of the third crew level, which I hear is terrible.”
“You heard that? And what else have you heard in such a short amount of time?” asked Leora while she gestured to the captain and guided him through stairs and hallways to the officers’ bar.
“Well, I also heard that the crew does sexual favors for whoever needs them.”
“Really?”
“Of course, you just told me that two minutes ago.”
Leora raised her eyebrows and got serious.
“At least you listen to me. The truth is that almost all the crew sleeps with whoever feels like it, as long as it isn’t a passenger. It’s a given on cruise ships.”
“There aren’t rules against that?”
“Yes, there are and even a reason to fire someone, but in practice it isn’t enforced unless they do something really stupid like having sex in the pool or other public places. As long as they’re discreet, it’s tolerated. Even more, it’s a hook to get new crew members and they recommend the cruise to their friends. Here we are.”
The bar was almost full. There was a table for four at one side and they went there.
A server appeared out of nowhere and saluted.
“Something to drink, or dinner, Captain?”
“Two dinners, please.”
“I thought I’d be able to choose some delicacy from the officers’ menu,” Robert protested, frowning.
“I’m sorry, Robert, we’re rationing provisions and the officers have to lead by example. But if you don’t like it, we can go eat rations on your ship,” Leora laughed.
“And to drink? Water, juice, wine?” asked the server.
“Juice, please. Two juices,” Robert requested. Leora raised an eyebrow.
“Water for me,” said Leora.
“So, one juice and one water?” asked the waiter.
“No, two juices and one water,” Robert clarified.
&
nbsp; “I thought you were trying to order for me,” Leora laughed.
Robert brought his hand to his chest and looked surprised.
“I’d never try to impinge in that way on the sovereignty of a lady. I just need a little sugar.”
“Hypoglycemic?”
Robert smiled but didn’t answer.
“What will we do tomorrow?” asked Robert.
“If you don’t have a better idea, we should go first thing to meet the people in the city.”
Robert shrugged his shoulders.
“Sounds perfect,” he answered just as their food arrived.
They enjoyed their dinner in peace and noted that more than one crew member shot them a sideways look and smiled.
“Well, there goes your reputation. I don’t think it matters what we do now, tomorrow they’ll only be talking about one thing,” Robert smiled.
“Well, then let’s make it worthwhile,” Leora said.
“Is that an invitation?”
“Yes,” Leora affirmed, winking more than necessary.
“Well...show me the way,” answered Robert, still smiling.
LEORA AND ROBERT
MSC Grandiosa, December 2, 2027. 10:30 p.m.
“Wow, beautiful view,” said Robert, watching the sunset from the window of her room, and then at Leora.
“Do you think so? All you can see is the ocean.”
“The ocean and the sky...look at those colors. If I had the luxury of a window in my cabin, most of the time I wouldn’t see anything. We spend it under water. It’s like living closed in a sardine can.”
Leora took off her hat and shook her hair free.
“That’s sad. And on top of that, no intimate socializing with anyone. Or are you gay? You have some very attractive officers.”
Robert smiled as he looked through the hatch.
“I like women,” he said simply.
“Show me,” whispered Leora in his ear, making him jump.
“What a quiet little cat you are,” he mumbled, smiling and turned his face to her.
He brought his face slowly closer to hers, tempting her response. He hardly needed to bend down. Leora was almost as tall as he was.
When she was barely an inch away, she raised her face a little and moved it forward until their lips brushed.
She breathed in, and her pupils dilated. Their lips separated lightly while Robert’s tongue gently tasted the flavor of Leora’s mouth. They moved their heads a little to the right to accommodate each other better and in a minute the soft kiss turned into a passionate taste.
“It doesn’t bother you to know me this way so...soon?”
“My whole crew wants to sleep with me in order to eventually get my position or get a promotion,” Leora laughed. “I don’t have to worry about that with you.”
Leora made sure the door was locked and in one pull, yanked the quilt off of the bed and tossed it to one side. She activated the newly repaired speaker system, over which they could hear the song “Your Love” by The Outfield softly playing.
“How appropriate,” she said, very slowly unbuttoning the jacket of her uniform, looking at Robert.
“Hmm,” he answered, throwing his captain’s hat on a chair in a corner and approaching her. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, while he grabbed her by the waist to dance to the music.
“You talk too much,” Leora chided him, caressing his cheek and feeling the clean-shaven texture. She pressed against him, feeling his erection.
Robert inhaled deeply and with a twist, threw her on the bed, falling on her.
“Uff,” Leora lost her breath. Then she laughed as she crossed her legs, squeezing Robert’s butt and held him for a long kiss.
When he could free himself, Robert sat up and took off his jacket and shirt as fast as he could, while Leora did the same. Robert kicked off his shoes, took off his socks and pants, seeing how she ended up in her white underwear.
Leora sat up again and he put his arms behind her to unhook her bra while she caressed his chest, outlining the silhouette of his muscles with her fingers and moving her lips without emitting a sound: “Woow!” Then, looking at his body, she noticed that he didn’t have a mark on him. No scars or moles, not even a pimple. He was a warm granite sculpture.
“How old did you say you are?” Leora asked out loud.
Robert embraced her, pressing her breasts against his, while he said in her ear: “It’s a secret.”
Robert kissed her neck lightly while he lowered his hands down her back until he reached the edge of her thong, and went inside, holding her butt firmly. He felt her nipples harden against his chest. With a groan, she pushed him down and flipped his boxers down, exposing his member, ready for action. Almost without being able to avoid it, she bent down to put it in her mouth, while she held him by his hips giving him all of her attention.
He moaned and enjoyed it for a few seconds until he took her by her arms and, kicking off the boxers that were around his ankles, threw her on her back on the bed, taking off her thong in almost the same movement. Leora opened her legs and taking her invitation, he began to kiss her thigh, moving up until he reached her crotch, where he returned the favor. She let him do it, enjoying his expertise, while getting more and more excited, grabbing at his hair, until she couldn’t stand it and shouted:
“Now!” Robert mounted her without wasting any time and with her help, he slowly penetrated her until he couldn’t penetrate any farther. Leora moaned again and taking his face in her hands, kissed him passionately while she moved her hips under him, prompting him to follow the same rhythm. They did so for a few minutes, faster and faster, until Leora called out. She crossed her legs again, squeezing Robert’s ass, scratching his back and kissing him at the same time, while Robert finished inside of her and cried out, too.
As she let go of him, relaxing for a moment, he kept moving ever slower, enjoying the orgasm until, when he was about to pull out, Leora embraced him again and locked him in with her legs under the back of his knees, turned her body, and ended up mounted astride him. Robert’s member wasn’t as big as it was before, but without letting him pull out, Leora started to move her pubis back and forth, using pressure inside. He moaned and took advantage of the position to take her breasts. Moving close to them, he started kissing them slowly. She moved more forcefully, finding what she wanted from Robert. When she noticed he was even harder than before, if that were possible, she leaned back and kept moving, as if she were riding. Then she turned around, looking at Robert’s feet. When she supported her hands on his legs, he took her by the hips, and after letting her move for a few minutes, he suddenly sat up suddenly and finished inside of her again. This time, Leora hadn’t finished yet, so she turned around to face him and didn’t stop until she got there. When she laid down on Robert, mixing their drops of sweat, she settled down so that in minutes they slept, one inside of the other.
Hours later, Robert woke up slowly, enveloped in Leora’s heat and noted with surprise that though he was soft, he was still inside of her, which excited him immediately. Rubbing her bare side with his fingers, his erection made her moan and wake up. She looked at him a little disoriented, then with a smile she squeezed him with her vagina, which made him moan and respond with a push. He took her by the hips and moved with her in her movements for a long time, before trying her on hands and knees with him behind, and then again with him on top. This time Leora stopped counting after coming three times, and when both of them were completely satisfied, she picked up her phone, where she saw it was after three in the morning. She put the alarm for five, they cleaned themselves a bit with a towel, and she let Robert embrace her, both of them falling asleep.
The sound of an army reveille calling to wake up made Robert jump out of bed with wide eyes.
“What... what the hell?” he complained, naked and disoriented.
Leora looked at him smiling while she picked up her cell phone to shut off the alarm.
“I sleep heavy and this help
s me wake up,” she explained with a smile.
“You’d have to be dead to not wake up with that,” he joked, relaxing a little.
“Hmm,” she murmured, looking significantly at his member.
“None of that. We have a lot to do and I’d appreciate it if we could take a shower or if you prefer, I can do it on my ship,” he said, raising his hand.
Leora sighed and laid back for a minute, but a second later she sat up and went to the bathroom, shutting the door. She came back out a couple of minutes later.
“Do you want to use the bathroom before we shower?” she offered.
“Please,” accepted Robert, passing by her and when they touched, she grabbed his butt.
Robert, turning, embraced her and they kissed again. She pressed his member with her hand, while he held her butt with one hand and with the other, caressed her breast.
“Hell, it’s getting late. We’ll be the talk of the ship,” Robert worried, trying to let her go.
“Well, hurry up, and that will happen regardless,” Leora said sardonically, while she lifted a leg, supporting it on the bed, and helping him to penetrate her standing.
They moved for a while enjoying the moment, until she made him pull out, and supporting both hands on the bed, offered him her backside. He penetrated her, making her moan, while he held on to her hips. They moved faster and faster, until she couldn’t stand it anymore and she lifted her legs, making Robert hold her weight while she screamed her orgasm that was accompanied by one more from him. They were both left gasping a bit, until Robert pulled out, a little stunned.
“Oh my God, marry me,” said Leora, panting.
Robert looked at her shocked and for a second didn’t know what to say, until he saw that Leora turned to him and smiled.
“I’m happy you liked it...it’s been centuries since I’ve had so much sex,” Robert confessed and then bit his lip as if he’d said something he shouldn’t have.
“Well, how nice that you’ve caught up. Now, yes, let’s go shower,” answered Leora with a smile.
“Can I go use the bathroom first? I didn’t have a chance before...”
Leora laughed and gestured for him to go ahead. While she waited, she dried herself between her legs with a towel.
Earth Keepers Page 39