Date: Wed, 04 Dec 2002 06:44:38 +0000 From: Douglas DD DD Subject: The Survivors. Chapter 34 This story contains sex between minor boys and teen-agers. If such things offend you, or you are not at least 18 years of age, then please don't read on. This story is not true, but who knows, maybe some day it will be. Chapter 34 Meetings by Douglas DD Robert Charles woke up with Vordkan draped all over him. He pushed him away. Sometimes Vordkan seemed like a warrior, just like how he saw the Shkah men. And sometimes he seemed like a wuss fag like the fucking boys from the "Starkeeper". But having Vordkan as a friend looked like a way to power, so he would put up with anything. He wasn't sure how, just yet, but these Shkah guys were going to give him power, even if it was only over his fellow Earth boys. He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. He thought about being a warrior, of riding a unicorn and swooping past Douglas and the Earth boys, whacking them with his sword. It would be much more adventurous then shooting them with a laser gun from far off. He wanted to look Douglas in the eye when he took care of his faggot ass and cut his head right off his body. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Douglas lay on the cot that was put in the lounge. Drake, Jim, Stevie, and Jordan were all that were left of the boys he was supposed to be leading. Brett was in a hospital bed. Scooter was missing, probably kidnapped. Two boys were kidnapped, and four others were away trying to find them. Douglas looked up at the ceiling. I really should go turn off the lights, he thought. He could hear one of the boys snoring. He thought about what he was like when he first got on board the "Starkeeper." He was mad and lonely. He had been taken from the school where he was the president, where he was popular and was somebody. He was on the ship and sulcy and full of anger. And it seemed he liked being that way. And then he met Scooter. And Scooter showed him what he had inside of himself. Scooter showed him love. Scooter touched his soul. Then he found the love of a group of boys who became his family, who picked him to lead them and keep them safe. Now his decisions weren't about fund raisers and school dances. They were about life and death, about survival. He had led them across the desert on a strange planet and into a valley that seemed like paradise but was full of danger. He looked at the four boys in the room. He thought about the rest of them, about Alex, Mike, Jeremy, and Travis on a mission; about Ryan and Drew kidnapped and lost; about Brett sick downstairs; about Matthew dead and buried under the sand; and about his sweet love, hurt and missing. All he knew was that up to now he loved them and they were survivors. He sighed and took a deep breath. He pulled back the covers and turned off the light. It seemed a little chilly in the room, especially since they were all naked. He leaned out of the open window and looked up at the night sky. He hoped to see stars or one of the moons, but he saw nothing but dark sky. He felt a little breeze and a drop of rain on it. Scooter, my sweet love, where are you? I love you. Come to me. I need you my sweetness. Down below in the courtyard the cold was making the energy leave Scooter's body. A drop of rain fell on him. He shook and shivered. His brain was shutting down. Hypothermia was setting in. Inside his head he thought he heard something. A thought from his love. He lifted his head. Douglas? The thought struck Douglas's mind like a lightning bolt. There was no doubt he had just gotten something from Scooter. But from where? He could be anywhere. Then he remembered what happened up on the plateau, how Scooter didn't get very far away before his thoughts started fading. And the one thought that hit him was strong. It could only mean Scooter was close. Scooter! Scooter! I heard you. Talk to me again my sweet sweet love. Give me your thoughts. Fill my mind. Scooter remembered the danger. He heard his love and his love was in danger. Robert Charles, he's here. Danger. Robert Charles. I hurt and I can't think. Then Scooter's mind faded to black. Oh my God, Douglas thought. Robert Charles has Scooter somewhere in the hospital. It was Robert Charles who took Scooter. Took him after giving Scooter blood. And now the bastard had Scooter in terrible danger. He needed to find him. He woke up the sleeping boys. "I think Scooter is close," Douglas said. "How do you know?" Stevie asked. "I felt a thought. It was short, but it was strong. I can only feel a thought like that when he is close. I need your help finding him." "That's bullshit," a voice from one of the cots said. Douglas looked over at Jordan. "What do you mean by that?" he asked. "You can't read each other's minds. That's BS and we all know it. I'm not going to help." "That's your choice, Jordan. I can't read his mind (Douglas knew he needed to lie some here, to protect the secret), but I can feel is presence. The rest of you going to help?" "You bet we are," Stevie said. He glared at Jordan. "Jordan, I was actually getting to like you for a while, but now you're turning into a real asshole. Come on guys, let's go." "I think we need a plan first," Douglas said. "I think he's in the building. Let's check out this floor first, then work our way down to the bottom floor. Check each room and closet and door. and hope we don't get caught snooping. I think somebody has him prisoner, so if it looks dangerous don't go in. Come back here and we'll meet. No matter what, everybody be back here in fifteen minutes." Douglas, Drake, Jim, and Stevie headed silently out of the lounge. Drake stayed with Douglas. He was so young Douglas didn't want him off alone. They looked inside of rooms quietly, hoping not to disturb any sleeping patients. They had to watch out for the nurses and the people who worked at the hospital, since they would wonder what they were doing sneaking around, and there would be no way to tell them. After the room emptied, Jordan got up and went into the elevator and down to the bottom floor. He had his backpack with him. He was going to start looking down there. If Robert Charles was around like everybody said, then if he found Scooter first he might find Robert Charles and Robert Charles would get him away from all of these people who never really liked him. He wasn't sure he believed all that stuff about mind reading, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to try looking. Maybe there would be something in it for him. He was nervous about being in the hall alone. He pushed open the door to the courtyard and walked outside. He wasn't sure what he was looking for there but it seemed safer than the hall. It was cool and starting to rain and turned around to go back in. Then he thought he saw something behind the bush on his right. He stopped to look. The light from the hall window was shining behind the bush and he saw what looked like legs and feet. He walked to the back of the bush and saw the feet and legs attached to a butt and the butt attached to the body of a boy. There was no mane and the hair was hard to see but it looked blonde. It was human. He turned the body to see who it was, even though he already had a good idea. He was right. It was Scooter, and he looked close to dead. He was blue and shaking and unconscious. The question in his mind now was, what was he going to do about this? He remembered how everybody was treating him now, like he was nobody. And Scooter was Douglas's boyfriend, his little fuck buddy. He got up off his knees, stood over Scooter and peed over him, soaking him, just like everybody had done to Robert Charles. He then picked up his backpack, walked into the hall and to the elevator. He went up to the third floor, into the lounge, and set his backpack down. He got on his cot, put the blanket over him and closed his eyes. Let them find Scooter for themselves, it wasn't his problem. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Matthew was lying in bed wondering what happened to Scooter. Enghar was snoring lightly. He heard it start to rain outside. He thought about how wonderful it was to be here in this green valley, alive, and loved. He snuggled up to Enghar and thought of their sweet talk in the hospital courtyard. It was so sunny and warm and Enghar helped him so much with his words. He was understanding more each day. And even at eleven years old, without really knowing it, he understood love. He loved Enghar more than he could ever imagine, more than anybody he had ever loved.. Even more than his "brother" Mike, who he missed terribly. He thought about the courtyard. Enghar pushing his wheelchair past the beautiful bush with the red flowers. They smelled so good. He pushed up against Enghar tighter thinking about it, seeing the foot behind the bush. He shook his head. Foot? He closed his eyes tight. Did he really see a foot? He thought harder. If he had seen a foot then whose foot was it? And what was it doing behind the bush? It seemed the size of a boy's foot. And a boy was missing. Why hadn't his brain thought about it before? He started shaking Enghar. "Engar, Engar, wake up, wake up!" Enghar moaned sleepily. "What?" he said in Hakaan. "Scooter. I know were," he answered in Hakaan. "Sleep." "No. Get your dad." Enghar moaned and got out of bed and went out of the room. He came back with his dad. The doctor asked Matthew what was wrong. "Scooter. Alive. Bush." It was all he could remember how to say. The doctor looked at him like he was nuts. "Hospital," Matthew said getting frustrated. "Scooter. Hospital under bush." The doctor wasn't totally sure what Matthew meant. "Mattoo, you want me to take you to the hospital?" Matthew nodded yes. "Scooter there." "You know where Scootah is?" he asked slowly. Matthew nodded yes. "How do you know?" Matthew didn't know how to explain it. He just pointed to his eyes and then to his head. "You just remembered seeing something?" the doctor asked. Matthew understood remember and see. He nodded yes. The doctor helped Matthew out of the bed, got his crutches for him and gave him and Enghar each a jacket. They got into his car. Because he was a doctor he got one of the few electric cars that still worked. They headed quickly for the hospital. Matthew was sitting in the front seat wondering what they would think if this whole thing was just his imagination? And maybe it was. They would find out soon. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The boys were all back in the lounge. They had found nothing. Douglas was angry with Jordan, who was lying asleep with his back to them. He wanted to wake him and shake him and scream at him. Scooter was in trouble and he didn't even care. He thought Jordan was getting better and trying, but now he was the same old uncaring Jordan. They decided they had covered the top floor as much as they could. Now they would try the second floor and hope he was there. Douglas could hear the rain picking up outside. He was glad he didn't have to be out in it. They left the lounge and took the elevator to the second floor, splitting up again to look for Scooter. Downstairs, Matthew, Enghar, and the doctor came in through the doctor's entrance to the hospital. Matthew was going as fast he could on his crutches. He led them to the courtyard. Now, which bush was it? he thought. The first one seemed right. And, just like Jordan, he saw the light shining on the leg and foot from the hall window. He went back behind the bush and saw Scooter, lying on his side, cold and wet with rain. He called to the doctor. Enghar's dad pushed back the bush and leaned over Scooter. His body was cold. The doctor checked his pulse and his breathing. His pulse was weak. It didn't happen much on Inferno with the controlled weather in the valley, and the hot desert, but the doctor knew Scooter had hypothermia. He had to be warmed right away. He picked Scooter up and took him to the emergency room. Matthew and Enghar were left standing in the rain. They went quickly inside. Enghar led Matthew to the elevator and Enghar pushed the third floor button. They got off on the third floor and headed for the lounge. Enghar knew that the round eared boys were there and figured it was time for them to see Matthew. He'd been thinking about it all the way to the hospital. He wished he could hide Matthew from them forever. He was scared in two ways. Either they buried him on purpose and would want to hurt him again. Or they lost him somehow and Matthew would want to get back with them. Maybe Matthew even had a boyfriend to go back to. If they did hurt Matthew, he would find out in a hurry. Because Matthew would let him know. And if Matthew was going to go back to them it probably was best he knew now before he got so close to Matthew he couldn't stand losing him. Or decided to make him his special love, his Meshanna. Matthew was excited about who he would see. He missed them all so much. He wanted to see one of his own kind so bad. But he was still worried about one thing...why had they left him behind to die? But for now he just wanted to see somebody he knew that he could talk to. The boys entered the lounge. The lights were off. Enghar turned them on. There was only one boy in there. "What the fuck...," Jordan mumbled. He turned to see a Hakaan boy standing there. 'What was one of those ugly bastards doing waking me up?' he thought. Then he looked at who was standing behind the Hakaan boy. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "Matthew?" Matthew said nothing. He took a step behind Enghar. He didn't like Jordan. Jordan scared him. He remembered right away the things Jordan had done to him on the "Starkeeper". He didn't remember Jordan sitting with him on the "Moonduster" when he was hurt and sick. Other than Robert Charles, Jordan was the last person he wanted to see, and now he was the only one here. Enghar noticed that Matthew was stepping behind him. That said it all. They HAD left him behind to die. Right then he hated Jordan and all the round ears. He wished he had been able to leave Scooter to die in the rain like Matthew was left to die in the desert. He wished he had never brought his Mattoo into this room. Jordan got up and headed towards Matthew, but Enghar grabbed him hard and stopped him. "Let go of me, you pointy eared fuck!" Jordan screamed. He yanked at Enghar's arm and pushed him into Matthew. The Hakaanen never fought and Enghar was surprised at what just happened. He had never been pushed like that. Enghar didn't know what he said, but Matthew did. Both Enghar and Matthew had never hit anybody in their lives, but Matthew was as angry as he had ever been in his whole life. Nobody pushed the boy he loved like that. He balanced himself and raised one of his crutches, ready to hit Jordan with it if he had to. "What's wrong Matthew? It's me, Jordan. I love you. What have these bastards done to you? Brainwashed you?" "Stay away from me Jordan. Just stay away. And don't talk about my friend like that, or I'll beat you up." "Ohhhhh, aren't you talking tough. They have brainwashed you." Jordan took another step toward Matthew and Matthew raised his crutch again. He was ready to bash him on the head. Then he heard something from behind him. "Hey, what's going on!" Matthew turned around to see Douglas standing in the door way. There were three other boys with him. Douglas said the same thing Jordan had said, only he doubled it. "Matthew?" he asked. Then it was, "MATTHEW!!!!!!!!" He came over and hugged Matthew so hard that he knocked his crutches down, but he held Matthew up with the power of his hug. "Oh My God! You're alive!" Suddenly both boys were bawling. Stevie and Jim were looking on with tears in their eyes. They both wanted to get their hugs in. Drake wasn't totally sure what was going on, but he had heard that Matthew had died in the desert, so he knew that something special was happening. Douglas got Matthew over to a cot and sat him down. He saw the cast on his foot. Casts were foreign to the boys, because their medicine could heal most bone breaks with in a couple of days. Douglas saw how healthy he was. Then he noticed Enghar. He nodded toward him. "That's Engar. He's the doctor's son. I live with him. He's my lo...." Douglas interrupted him. "How did you get out of the desert?" Suddenly Matthew's face changed. A look of anger came over it. "Why did you leave me there?" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It was getting cold along the side of the hill. Some of the rain from the valley fell there, but it was more a drizzle than a rain. Ryan and Drew were getting wet. Ryan rolled over and covered Drew with his body trying to keep him dry. "You okay, bro?" Ryan asked. "Yeah. I'm cold." Ryan yelled at the sleeping Shkah man who was supposed to be guarding them, trying to wake him up. He had fallen asleep on the dry side of a tent that was set up on a flat spot on the side of the hill. It was why they stopped there. The boys were left outside tied up with one of them watching them. They were supposed to switch off, but the guard had fallen asleep. Both boys had worked at the knots in the ropes, but they were good knots and tight. Right now they just wanted to keep warm and dry so Ryan yelled to wake somebody up. The Shkah man heard the yelling and woke up. He jumped up and came around the tent and saw the two boys, Ryan on top of Drew trying to keep him dry. While the Shkah saw the world different from most of the Hakaanen, they were still in a lot of ways, Hakaanen. The Shkah carried the boys behind the tent in the dry spot. He went to his unicorn and got a blanket and put it over them. He felt bad that they didn't give them one, but the night was very warm when they fell asleep and the rains usually didn't come up to the hills. But tonight the winds were right and it was probably raining over in his own small valley and the hills here could get wet. He went into the tent and woke up a new guard. It was time to sleep. Ryan snuggled up to his little friend. They couldn't cuddle because their arms were tied, but they could touch front to front and keep each other warm. Drew liked the feel of Ryan's body, but could also feel Ryan's hardness against him. And he wasn't so sure he liked that. But he didn't know what as much as Ryan liked the warm feel of Drew, he was confused because the boy he thought of as a little bro got him hard like this. With those thoughts in their heads the two boys finally fell asleep. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "We gotta talk more soon," Douglas said, "but I have to find Scooter. He's missing, but I feel he's here, I feel it." "We found him," Matthew said. Douglas stared at him. "You did? When? Where? Why didn't I know?" "Just now. In the courtyard behind the first bush." Douglas sat down on a chair. "You mean he was there all day?" "Yeah." Douglas looked down at the floor. "But..but..I was around the courtyard all day. I should have known. I should have found him." He looked up at Matthew. "How is he?" "I don't know. He looked bad. He's in the emergency room." Matthew told him what he saw in the courtyard. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let go down there." Douglas got up and headed for the door. "Douglas, wait." Douglas had never heard Matthew be assertive before. He stopped. "What?" "Engar's dad is Scooter's doctor. He knows we're here. He'll tell us. Let's wait here and be out of the way." "No. I can't do that. Scooter saved my life. I failed him today. I didn't find him. I have to be with him. You guys stay here. I'm going to my love." He walked out of the room and headed for the elevator. He took it down to the first floor and went looking for the emergency room. Douglas wasn't sure where the emergency room was but he figured it had to be on the first floor. It didn't take him long to find it, since it wasn't a real big hospital. A couple of nurses saw him come in and tried to stop him. He asked for Scooter. They didn't understand him and tried to tell him to leave. He didn't understand them. One of the nurses left to find somebody to help her get rid of him when Enghar came in through the door. He said something to the nurse who backed away. Enghar took Douglas's hand and tugged on it. Douglas resisted at first. But then he remembered what Matthew looked like, healthy, happy, and confident. And maybe this Hakaan boy had something to do with that. So he decided to follow him. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The doctor had Scooter on the bed under blankets working to get him warm. Scooter was shivering and weak. The doctor had only seen two of the alien boys, but they were mammals, and they seemed close to the Hakaan in their structure so he knew that the boy on the bed had had too much happen to him in the last day. He was close to dead and there was nothing he could do to save him. He wondered how the boy ended up in the courtyard. He felt for him, dying like this away from his home, his family and his friends. He had sent Enghar up to be with his friends and maybe it was time to have them come and pay a last visit, if the round ears did that. He still wasn't totally sure about them. Even after getting him warm he knew there was nothing he could do to save the round eared boy this time. He had lost too much blood, had had too little food and water, and had been outside too long. It looked like his wound was getting infected. He didn't even know what drugs would help him, of if any would. He heard something behind him. It was Enghar and a round eared boy coming into the room. The boy stopped and stared at the bed, then ran to it. He looked at the alien boy on the bed, so pale, an IV stuck in him, an oxygen tube in his nose. He had no color at all, and looked like he might already be dead. Enghar and the doctor stood at the end of the bed as Douglas found a seat and sat next to Scooter. 'Oh God, Scooter, what have I done?' he thought. `You stepped in front of me and saved me and I couldn't even find you when you were just a few feet away from me to save your life. I've done nothing for you. Please forgive me Scooter, and please don't die on me.' Matthew came hobbling in on his crutches. Jim, Drake, and Stevie came in behind him. Enghar's dad looked at the sad loos on the boys' faces. They all looked sad and concerned. He said something to Enghar, who said it slower to Matthew. Matthew could feel the tears dripping down his face. He hobbled over to Douglas and put his arms around him from behind. Douglas felt a couple of tears drop on him. "What's wrong. Matthew? What did he say?" "I...I couldn't understand much. But I think he said Scooter would probably not live throught the night and that there was no way he could help." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ryan woke up suddenly. It was still dark out. The rain had stopped. He felt Drew pressing against him. Somehow Drew had turned around so that he had his back to Ryan. He felt Drew's arms tied behind him. Drew's butt was pushing up against him and he liked the feeling, but he moved back and relieved the pressure between them. If Drew was going to be his little bro, then he had to ignore the feelings he gave him. Besides he was too tired and too scared to try anything. Suddenly he had an idea. What if he used his teeth on Drew's knots. Could he untie them that way? He knew his teeth could do a lot. He remembered one time on the "Starkeeper" when he took Travis's pants and undies off using just his teeth. He got very tired doing it, but he did it. And while the reward was a great one, the reward here would be even better. It would be freedom. He wiggled down under the blanket and found Drew's tied hands. He got his teeth around the knot and started working it, trying to pull a piece of it through the knot. It took him a long time to make much progress. For one thing his mouth was getting the knot wet, which made it swell up a little and become even tighter. He went on even longer, his jaw getting sore. A couple of times Drew maoned a little in his sleep and moved, one time bumping his nose with his back. Finally he decided he was going to have to wake Drew up, becuase when he gave a really hard pull on the knot, all that happened was that he jerked Drew's hands up. He needed Drew to keep his hands steady so that the rope would move instead. He started bumping Drew and whispering in his ear to wake him up. After what seemed like hours, Drew finally woke up. He blinked and saw that it was still dark. "What's wrong?" he moaned. "It's still night." "Shhhhhh. Hold your hands tight. I'm trying something," Ryan whispered back. He hoped that their guard at fallen asleep again and hadn't heard them. He went back to yanking on the rope with his teeth. Something would have to happen soon because his jaw was getting very tired. Just when he thought he couldn't tug at the rope even one more time, it moved. His heart started beating faster. He tugged again. He felt the rope slipping and moving. Suddenly it started to move more easily. "Are you getting it?" Drew whispered. "Shhhhhh...yeah," Ryan whispered back. A couple more tugs and the knot was loose enough that Drew could wiggle his hands out of it. From there is it was just a matter of Drew untying Ryan and them both of them untying their ankles. Ryan checked to see if the guard was awake. It was hard to tell. He finally decided they should leave now while it was still dark. He didn't know what time it was or how long it would be before sunrise. The boys slipped out from under the blankets and into the cool night. Ryan decided that while downhill was the direction they needed to go to get back to the valley, that was also the way the men would go looking for them. So they would go uphill until they could find another way to get down. The kidnappers would never think of looking for them uphill. And maybe they could find something to hide behind, and if the men did go searching uphill, they could sneak down as soon as the men went by. Ryan took Drew's hand and started leading him quietly up the hill. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Douglas looked at his love. His sweet face was pale and thin. He could barely see him breathing. He was determined that Scooter would live to see the morning and a lot of mornings after that. Scooter had pushed him away and taken the arrow that was heading for him. And he had failed Scooter by not finding him in the courtyard. Tonight, right now, he would not fail his sweetness. He held Scooter's hand and looked at his sweet face. `My sweet love. My Sweetness. My soulmate. I'm here. I'm sending all my love and strength. I am here for you. My heart and yours are one. My soul and yours are one. I am giving you life and strength. I would give my life for you, my love, just like you tried for me. Only you won't be giving your life because I won't allow you to die. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. I send you my song of love.' Douglas held Scooter's hand and kept it up minute after minute. Two hours went by and Douglas didn't budge. He just sent his thoughts straight to Scooter. Nothing was coming back from him. All he saw was Scooter's white face, still, with the tubes sticking out. But even looking as horrible as it did, Scooter's face was the most beautiful thing in the galaxy as far as Douglas was concerned. You're beautiful, my sweetness. I love you. I need you back. You will be back. I will be with you forever and ever until the end of time and beyond. And you will be with me. The doctor came into the room. The boys were asleep on the floor, all but Douglas, who sat still by the injured boy's bed silently holding his hand. He looked at the pale and skinny little boy he figured wouldn't live until morning. Well, sunrise was close and he was still alive. He looked at the boy holding his hand, and at the friends on the floor, including his son. He had kept thinking that these boys were worse than the Shkah. That they had left sweet little Mattoo behind to die because he was hurt and sick. That they were worse than evil. Now, looking at them and how they acted, he knew that wasn't true. And he remembered what the Mayor told him about what his son Bandar had said. About how Douglas had cried when he talked about leaving Mattoo behind, and how they had tried so hard to find him under the sand. Whatever the reason why Mattoo was left behind, it wasn't because they left him on purpose. He looked at Mattoo curled up against Enghar. He looked at the boys holding hands on the bed. What he saw in the room was love as good as Hakaanen love and boys who were as good as any Hakaanen boys. That made him think about himself. He had given up on the boy on the bed. He said he couldn't help the sick boy on the second floor. Did he do that because they were round eared boys who he didn't respect? He realized that he didn't like the answer that popped into his head. He buzzed for a nurse. It was time for him to do his job and to save Mattoo's friend. Douglas held Scooter's hand sending his thoughts of love like he had been doing all night. His head was hurting badly, feeling like it was going to burst, but he kept on sending. He was determined to keep sending his thoughts, no matter what, no matter how long it took. The nurse came up and showed him a needle and a test tube. Douglas wondered what was going on, but he soon got the idea through his tired, hurting head. The nurse swabbed his arm and took a tube of blood from him. She marked it. Then she did the same with Drake, Jim, and Stevie. She didn't take any from Mattoo, because he had given blood the day before. She gave the tubes to an assistant to take to the lab. Then she went upstairs to take blood from Jordan. Stevie followed her, thinking that might be where she was going with the extra tubes. He didn't trust Jordan. Douglas went back to holding his love. He looked straight at him again. He sent his thought into him, waiting for a reply. Waiting for even the smallest spark from the pale, still boy in front of him. Douglas squeezed his cold hand and kept thinking. Somehwere deep inside Scooter's brain, a little light was flickering. It didn't mean a thing to him, but the light kept his mind warm. All the little space in his mind could feel was Douglas' love right along with the beating of his heart. His mind and soul knew nothing except that Douglas was there with him touching his body and mind. Douglas wished he could lie next to Scooter, but he was afraid of pulling out a tube. So he just held his friend's hand and kept sending his thoughts, his love, and his soul. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The nurse went into the lounge. Jordan was asleep on a cot. Stevie came in behind her and looked at the nurse and then at Jordan. She nodded. He woke Jordan up. Jordan rubbed his eyes. "What's going on?" he mumbled "The nurse wants to take some blood," Stevie said. "She ain't getting any of my blood," Jordon whined. "Why does she want it?" "Scooter might be able to use it." "Fuck Scooter!" Stevie walked up to him and slapped his face hard. The nurse almost dropped everything. This wasn't something Hakaan children did, unless they were Shkah. She watched Stevie with her mouth open. Stevie grabbed Jordan. "Listen to me. I don't know what's eating you, but you WILL give blood and you WILL NOT say anything else against Scooter or I'll cut you open and take the blood out myself!" Stevie sat on Jordan, his legs straddling him, and faced him. He reached back and put one hand around Jordan's balls. "Now, you're going to give the nurse a tube of blood. You're going to make a fist so she can get it. If you don't, then the thing that is going to be squeezed is this." He squeezed Jordan's balls hard enough to make him squeal. "And if she ends up needing more of your precious blood you're going to give that too, and I hope it will be without me sitting on top of you! Do you understand?!" Jordan nodded yes and started tearing up. He wanted back on the "Starkeeper" so badly. He was somebody there. He was nobody here. Everybody hated him and he couldn't figure out why. Douglas totally ignored him and acted like he didn't even exist. Jordan was mad and scared at the same time. He was mad at Stevie for treating him like this, mad at Douglas for ignoring him, mad at Scooter for getting more attention than he was, mad at Matthew for finding him and hating him, and afraid of Stevie who looked like he was ready to do just about anything to him. Stevie sat on top of Jordan and was just as mad. Stevie didn't lose his temper much. He had kept his good sense of humor through every bit of trouble, even after Robert Charles had forced him to have sex with him. He always had a quiet smile and a nice word for everybody. He left getting angry to his brother, Alex. He knew Alex would be ready to kill Jordan right now. But Jordan had made him madder than anybody in his whole life. Even Robert Charles making him have sex wasn't as bad as what Jordan was doing. That wasn't life and death. Now Jordan was going to give his blood, like it or not. The nurse stuck the needle in Jordan's arm and the tube started filling up with dark red blood. When she finished, Stevie got up off of him. He was amazed to see that incident had given them both erections. "You better come downstairs with me," Stevie told Jordan. Stevie didn't trust Jordan and wouldn't put it past him to run away rather than give more blood if it was needed. The boys headed down the stairs and back to Scooter's room. A half hour later the doctor was looking at the tests. His lab guy was great and he checked the bloods and found that like the Hakaan the round ears had different blood types. But the tests showed what would go together if the round eared blood worked like Hakaanen blood did. From what he could tell, three of the boys could give blood; numbers one, two, and five. That wasn't bad. He sent his findings to the doctor. The doctor looked at them and decided that blood from two boys would be the best. The third out be only if he absolutely needed it. Boy number one was Douglas, number two was Drake, and nunber five was Jordan. He decided that Drake was too young, so he picked Douglas and Jordan. If the tests were correct, things should work out okay. Then all he had to worry about was the infection. Douglas gave his blood, and then it was Jordan's turn. Stevie glared at him, so Jordan made a fist and gave more blood. While Scooter was getting his blood, the doctor gave him medicine for his infection. Everything else I've tried has worked, so this should too, he thought. Douglas kept sitting there sending his thoughts into Scooter's head. He thought he was hitting nothing with his mind because he was feeling nothing coming back. But he kept sending to the deathly still pale boy on the bed. He didn't know that his thoughts were touching the little spot of light deep in Scooter's brain. `I love you....I love you...I love you...I'm here my sweetness. We're all working to make you better. You are my sweetness and my soulmate and my love and my best friend. I love you, Scooter.' His head hurt so badly. He waited and waited for an answer. He held Scooter's hand and kept sending his love. He was not going to give up. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The guard woke up as the sun started coming up. He looked around and then got up to check on the round eared boys. He looked at their blanket. He was stunned. All he saw there were the ropes on top of the blankets, but no boys. 'How could they get away?' he thought. They were tied tight. He knew the three other men would be angry when the found out he had fallen asleep and the boys had escaped. He woke up the other three men, and they indeed were very angry. Two of them screamed at him, but the third had fallen asleep too, so he knew it could have been him who let the boys escape instead of the other guard. When everybody calmed down, they decided to split up to find the boys. They could only go up or down the hill trail, and they couldn't have more than an hour's head start. They were on foot with no shoes, since they had taken their sandals away from them. The couldn't have gone far. Two of the men started down the trail on the their unicorns and the other two started up. They figured within an hour they would find them. How far could two naked boys wearing no shoes get? The two naked boys were climbing up the trail. Their feet hurt and the sun was getting hot. They were already hungry and thirsty. And they were going to have to figure out how to get back down before long. "Listen," Drew said suddenly. "I hear something." They stopped. They could hear the sound of hooves coming up the trail. They looked for some place to hide. It was straight up ond side and straight down the other side. The sound was getting louder. Ryan looked around desparately for a place to hide Drew. He was willing to give himself up to save his little bro. The sounds were louder. They were trapped. There was no place to hide. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Alex was cuddled up close to Bandar. He started stroking Bandar's mane, which felt almost like silk. He had found out last night that the Hakaanen loved having their manes stroked when they had sex. It was a major turn on for them. He shook Bandar gently, waking him up. Bandar opened his eyes and yawned and stretched. The two boys got out of their sleeping bags and woke up Mike, Travis, and Jeremy. They rolled up their bags and lit their camp stove. Mike opened up some food packs and they boiled some water and put the packs in. There were streams and lakes around so there was plenty of water. After they finished eating and cleaning up their camp area, they started hiking toward the hills. They were certain that they would find the boys someplace up there or in the Shkah valley. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ryan suddenly saw an opening behind a large rock just above the trail. He pushed Drew into it and saw there was room enough for him to squeeze into it as well. The two boys squeezed together tightly and listened to the unicorns clomping past them. After the noise had died down and the dust had settled they crawled back out. Ryan looked up the side of the hill. It actually looked possible to climb up there to the top. It wasn't as steep and there were rocks to hide behind. They had to get away from the trail and find another way. He pointed up. Drew nodded. The two boys started their climb in the hot hot sun. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Douglas felt himself nodding off. It was dinner time and was tired and hungry. His head hurt. He hadn't slept in almost two days. But he kept sending his thoughts to Scooter, kept trying to wake up his sleeping mind, trying to find some spark in it. `I love you my sweet love, my sweetness, my forever love. I know you're there, I know you're going to live now. I love you so much. Scooter, you are the light of my life, my sweet love. I'm here for you, I will always be here for you. I love you.' He squeezed Scooter's hand. And deep inside Scooter's mind the little glimmer started to grow. The little spot full of Douglas's thoughts got bigger. It was like sunshine was starting to shine in Scooter's dark mind. 'Douglas? Douglas...I'm so hungry.' Douglas jerked totally awake. "Scooter! Scooter! Are you there?" Suddenly everybody was looking at Douglas and at Scooter. 'Douglas, I love you. You're here. I love you soooooooo much. I knew you would be here. God, I love you.' 'I love you Scooter. You're back! God, I love you.' Scooter's eyes fluttered open. He moaned a little. He still hurt some and was full of tubes. Enghar got a nurse who came in and then she called for the doctor. Enghar's dad came in and started checking Scooter over. He had a smile on his face. The worst was over. He looked at the boys and nodded yes. Douglas leaned over and kissed his love, forgetting about the oxygen tubes, which fell from his nose. The doctor just took them and put them away. Scooter wouldn't be needing them any more. "I love you, Douglas," Scooter whispered. "I love you, Scooter" Douglas said. He crawled up on the bed and snuggled up next to him. A meal was brought for both of them, and within the next hour they were cuddled up on the bed and sound asleep. Whatever needed to be said and done would wait until the next day. Right now sleeping in each other's arms was enough. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Robert Charles had spent the night with Vordkan inside of him, fucking him, like he was some kind of faggot. Yet, being fucked by the big powerful alien boy didn't seen like a fag thing at all. It seemed to make him more masculine. And it was the hottest sex he had ever had in his life. The boys got up and showered, lathering each other up, playing with each other's dicks, balls, butts, kissing with passion. Robert Charles stroked the big Shkah boy's mane as they both had huge satisfying orgasms under the hard running water of the shower. Vordkan knew that if a Shkah man saw him doing the dispicable acts that were accepted by Hakaan culture he would be exiled to the Hakaanen valley. But he didn't care. He was suddenly totally in love with the round eared creature sharing the shower with him. Robert Charles and Vordkan dried each other off. Vordkan got Robert Charles's now long hair good and dry. Then he got a blue tube and a green tube. He started rubbing liquid into Robert Charles's hair. When he finished he led RC to a mirror. Robert Charles looked in it, at his blue green hair. Just like a Shkah. He smiled. Doing this queer stuff with Vordkan was paying off. He was becoming one of them. What he didn't know was that his biggest test was yet to come. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Darkness came and Ryan and Drew stopped. They were lost and hungry and thirsty. Ryan's idea of how to get back down hadn't worked and he couldn't find the place where they had come up. He should have marked it. They found a flat spot behind a rock on the plateau. Ryan hugged Drew tightly. Drew buried his head in Ryan's chest and sobbed himself to sleep. Ryan kissed the little boy's forehead and kept him close to keep his as warm as he could. It was beginning to look like he had made a mistake in escaping. Their feet were cut and bleeding. They were hungry, thirsty, and were lost. And now they were cold. He knew they couldn't hold out much longer. Poor Drew was completely out of gas and he was close. Something would have to happen tomorrow, even if it was finding their kidnappers again because right now he could see that they wouldn't be able to make it on their own for more than another day. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The sun rose over the big valley again. Douglas woke up with Scooter in his arms. He kissed him lightly on the lips. Today was going to be a day of finding things out and getting organized again. It would be a time to talk to Matthew and find out what happened with him. And it was time for him to talk to Jordan and get things straight with him. He had been so worried about other things he had been kind of ignoring Jordan. Scooter opened his eyes. "Good morning, my sweetums." Douglas smiled back. "Good morning, my love" He let his hand run down to Scooter's smooth crotch and felt his hardness. He felt Scooter's hand on his. It looked like Scooter's energy was returning fast. But in the end all Scooter could do was let Douglas rub up against his body and then jerk him off . It didn't take long for the boys and the sheets to become sticky. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Matthew woke up next to Enghar. They had put their cots together. He was happy his friends were back. He needed to find out more about how he got left behind, but he was sure it wasn't on purpose now. And he knew, even with all his friends back, that his real love was right here. He hugged Enghar. He had to let him know that even though his friends were back, his love was hugging him tight at this very instant. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Robert Charles, Vordkan, and four Shkah men left the town just before dawn and headed up into the hills. Robert Charles didn't know where they were going, just that it was important. He thought about his night with Vordkan, how he let Vordkan have him. He had said he would never be anybody's bottom, but now he was doing it for some alien puke. But if that was the road to Douglas, he would do it. He didn't even realize that in a way he was doing for Vordkan what Stevie had done for him. And he ignored the fact that he was falling in love with him. The Shkah men and Vordkan knew they were heading for the cave up in the hills to the south, and that there they would meet the two boys who would be Robert Charles's test of loyalty. They would see if Robert Charles really deserved to wear green and blue in his hair. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The five boys on the tracking team got up early. They were close to the hills. They knew that it could be harder to track there because there were would be no broken bushes and branches to follow. They packed up and followed the trail left behind by the men on their unicorns. They saw that the trail opened up into a meadow just before the hill. They came out into the morning sunshine. They weren't ready for what they saw there. Two Shkah men just getting on their unicorns. They stopped and started at the four naked round eared and one naked Hakaan boy who suddenly walked into the tall grass of the meadow. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ryan tried to get Drew going. But Drew's feet were too cut and sore. "I'm not going any farther." Drew sat down on a rock. He was too dry to even cry. "I'm staying right here." "Don't give up Drew. I'll carry you." Ryan knew he couldn't do it for long, if at all, but he had to say something. "No. You go without me. I don't want to go any more." Drew was shaking with dry sobs. Ryan remembered Matthew and how they lost him in the desert. Well, Drew wasn't lost in any sandstorm. He was sitting right in front of him. And he would sit right here with him if he had to. He was sticking with his little bro no matter what. Off toward the north he saw some dust rising. Soon he saw what he thought were unicorns. And then he saw they had riders. As they came closer he saw that there were six of them. He thought about hiding or running. But there was no place to go and they were too tired and hungry. Plus their feet wouldn't take them anywhere. The unicorns came up to where he was standing. The riders stopped. They all had the same kind of blue green hair that their kidnappers had. They had hats on. One of the riders looked strangely familiar, but Ryan was looking into the sun and couldn't be sure. "Well, Ryan," the rider said in perfect English, "how interesting to meet you here in the middle of nowhere." Next: Chapter 35. Just Out for a Walk. Constructive comments are welcomed. E-mail me, Douglas DD, at TheHakaanen@Hotmail.com