Alpha One - Chris Burton [83]
Jake awoke with a start. It was 8.30 p.m. and Carla piloted the craft for over two hours. He stood and left the accommodation bay, pausing briefly to stare at himself in a mirror. As he entered the cockpit, Carla had just taken the stellar drive offline and booted up the auxiliary drive.
“What’s up?”
“Clearance issues at Titan. Our new flight and landing schedules aren’t processed yet. They asked us to stand down while they process. We are ahead of schedule though, so we should still get in around 22.00 hours.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You were sleeping like a baby. You can take over in a few minutes and I’ll get some supper.”
“How domesticated.”
Jake brought the yacht in low at half stall speed, using the thrusters to seek out the landing strip. It was dark. The yellow lights of the space port and the pale green phased landing strips of the yacht contrasted, giving the planetoid surface a luminescent glow as he brought the ship into land. They landed at 9.55 p.m. and Jake taxied the craft into the rented port docking facility. They cleared security and customs before heading straight for the modular transport system.
They reached the AUSWAS facility at 12.45 a.m. and were pleased to find Joely had arranged accommodation as promised. They were in their rented studio apartment ten minutes later.
The apartment had two bedrooms, a kitchen diner and a bathroom, with south-facing windows looking out over the mountainous landscape and several of the brightest moons of Saturn. From here, even at twilight, you could pick out the Saturn Rings with some clarity. The view really was something to behold.
Carla poured two glasses of chilled wine and they sat down on the couch to stare out at the fantastic spectacle. This was surely one of the most romantic viewpoints in the galaxy.
The two friends exchanged a brief conversation about the flight, about Saturn and about Joely, before Carla lent forward and removed the glass from Jake’s hand.
“Don’t you think it’s strange that we have known each other for so long and yet we have never shared an intimate experience like this?”
Jake was intoxicated. Carla was a friend. He knew the dangers of putting their relationship on a higher pedestal and yet he could not resist. Slowly they embraced. Jake could no longer resist and Carla was his.
Carla was already awake, when Jake opened his eyes. The two lay intertwined on the bed following a night of near endless passion.
“Hi, how are you today?” Carla’s Australian drawl was exaggerated all the more as they lay together on the substantial bed.
“Pretty good. Not sure what we should do.”
“We can make love again, if you want.”
* * * *
Carla and Jake were due to meet Joely at in the reading room. They rose, showered, dressed and took breakfast two hours before. Carla wore a skin-hugging Lycra® body suit, which was perfect for the atmospheric conditions. She looks fantastic as usual, Jake thought. Oh God, how things changed. Their feelings for each other had finally come out and what would happen?
Jake didn’t have time to reflect further, as Carla’s older sister entered the reading room. A little older than Carla, she was attractive and also wore a Lycra® suit. There was no mistaking the family resemblance.
The two sisters embraced and Carla introduced her sister to Jake. Joely led them through the reading room French doors and out into a courtyard. They climbed steps and entered a large wooden clad room. Professor Winterburn stood by the window looking out. He wore the same Betanica