Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:30:13 -0400 From: Jered Baker Subject: Unexpected chapters 6-7 Hey everyone! Sorry this is such a late upload, school and work have been a bitch. P.S. for those who go shopping on Holidays... -"The Back" does not magically produce what we don't have in the store -You do not get special treatment like a 80% off just for being you on a holiday, you get what the store gives you -and most importantly, don't piss off the cashier. We ultimate tell you how much you're spending and the end of your shopping day. Have a great day:) but anyways, I hope everyone enjoys these chapters. They were emotionally taxing to write at some points, especially in 7 but I always have fun doing so. REMEMBER TO DONATE TO NIFTY, DO IT NOW! Now kick back, relax, and enjoy. Chapter 6: A Time Ago After Kennith told pointed out the new science students, I couldn't get my mind off of the one with the fiery red hair. His smile was breathtaking, so radiant, and so full of life. Just thinking about it had me smiling as I lay in my bed. My roommate was passed out on his bed, snoring quite loudly but for once, I didn't care. I couldn't wait for tomorrow to come. I had to meet him; somehow, I knew I would. I had to. Christ... I'm obsessing over a guy I only glanced at once as he passed. Calm down boy... yeah tell that to the boner part of your brain. I huffed out a frustrated breath and rolled over on my side. Tomorrow would come faster if I slept anyways. I rolled over and tried to close my eyes but no matter how hard I tried, they wanted to be opened. So I laid there, anxious, the whole night, never sleeping a wink. When the morning alarm went off, it didn't even faze me. I saw the light slowly filtering into the room and calculated the time it was based on the height it reached on the wall. Ryan, my roommate, was stirring on his bed and I heard him groan. "Uhg, why!" he moaned. I flipped the covers off of me and sat up in bed. The two mile warm up run was going to be murder. "No kidding." I said as my feet touched the floor. He was rubbing his eyes with his fists. BANG BANG BANG someone pounded on our door; still in my pj's, I walked over and opened it. Commander Phifer stood in my doorway. She looked at me, her lips pursed, face hard and spoke, "All cadets are to report to the medical labs in one hour for observational testing. Don't be late." And like that she was gone. Door closed I turned around to an equally confused Ryan. "Don't look at me." He said. "Well, let's get ready and head down there. I don't want to be on Phifer's bad side. She'll kick our asses!" I said joking but not joking at all. He nodded and got up. **** "What do you think this is all about?" I whispered to Ryan as we walked down the hallway of the dorms. A group of cadets were on the move to the med labs, everyone asking the same questions. Ryan just shrugged. "Maybe it's some new super strength pill... or a bionic arm, or AI chip or..." Ryan rambled. I wacked him in the back of his help and he yelped. "The hell was that for?" he grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "For being stupid." I chuckled. "Like usual." I added. He glared at me for a few short seconds but mostly grumbled to himself. We usually got along but we always bickered about the stupid shit. When we got to the med labs, two other commanding officers were standing on either side of the doors, watching us as we went into the room. It was the conference hall. It was a movie theatre styled room with stadium seating... just not as nice of chairs. The walls were a dark green and the floors were wooden. We sat in the fourth row up from the bottom and waited as the rest of the cadets filed into the room. "They are having everyone come?" Ryan questioned. I didn't notice till now but even the older cadets and even some of the sergeants were being ushered in. "This is weird..." I said. The room was jam packed now, filled with nearly everyone in the military branch of the college. The room fell silent as soon as the doors opened and ten scientists entered the room; Five of them were teachers, four older students and then... him. I knew I gasped and Ryan gave me a questioning look. "What?" he asked. Uh... "That one guy is so young." I ended up saying. "I saw him yesterday getting a campus tour." He's also why I didn't get any sleep last night... Ryan rubbed his chin for a second as he examined the young scientist before nodding his head. "Yeah, he can't be older than 18 or 19." He cocked his head to the side, "20 at most." He finished. Finally, one of the older scientists stepped up to the podium. "Good morning everyone." He announced loudly into the sound system. Everyone went silent quick. He looked left to right slowly and once he assured that everyone had silenced their faces, a smile formed on his face. "We have asked everyone here this morning on behalf of a new study that is coming to the college. Before anyone asks what, it is an innovative system that monitors the body's health while in combat, space, or any other situation you may be placed in while in the battle field. You will know your surrounding and more importantly, your own body on a whole new level!" The man's fists were clenched up near his chest in his own excitement. The audiences reaction was mixed; some were to tired to care, some were paying attention with great rapt, and others looked to damn confused to have grasped any of the simple explanation. He took a long breath before he continued, "Now, I'd like to welcome our newest, and youngest student and lead scientist on the study, Mr. Peter Savannah." And he stepped away from the podium as the young one took the stand. "Peter..." trickled in a whisper off of my tongue. Ryan looked at me quickly but then looked back down at the stand. "Thank you Dr. Petrovè." Peter said as he clicked a button on a little remote in his hand. The lights went dark and a yellow hologram of a male and female body appeared in screen. "Now, if everyone may look first at the male diagram, the progralah blah blah blah blah..." I had lost any attention for the words he was spewing out of his mouth and focused all of my attention just at him. Fuck science right now. I didn't understand what drew me to him so deeply. I've looked at, been with, talked with a bunch of guys but none of them captivated me not even a fraction as much as Peter did. Just wow... the way he talked, the way he held himself with such a confident presence, he knew what he was doing and it was HOT. Shit... all he's doing is talking and not even at me. Wack! I snapped out of it and looked over at Ryan, who had obviously hit me. "What?" I mouthed angrily. He raised an eyebrow and gave me this look like stop screwing off and focus. He even eyed over to one of the commanders that was looking right at me. My eyes grew wide and my face flushed... crap. I sighed and shrunk in my seat as I listened. Yes, I was actually listening now and not just gawking like a fan boy. Long story short, we were going to be hooked up to some medical machines, readings, some shots, testing out armor in the field, pretty normal stuff all in all. Oh, and everyone is going to be assigned a scientist to report to at certain times for their personal diagnostics. "Great, so we get to be locked up in a room with a brainiac for an hour every day." Ryan grumbled. I shrugged. Yeah it did kind of suck, I'll admit, they have a way of making you feel really stupid sometimes, but it's for our safety on the battlefield so why not? Right? Three Days Later... "Ow!" I yelped for about the eighthundreth time as Freddy, the retarded scientist, missed my vein for a simple blood draw again. "I'm really s-s-sorry... I-I promise I'll get it... this... time..." he said as he was about to line up again but I stood up. He could have had enough blood from the draw with the amount that was coming out of my arm. "No, get someone else in here that isn't a nervous wreck and can actually do what's asked!" I ordered. Freddy cowered under me at his small 5'5''. Just then the doors slid open and Peter was behind them. "Dr. Savannah!" Freddy gasped. Dr? What? But none the less, Dr. Peter didn't look happy. "You are excused from the research Mr. Olson." He said plainly as he walked into the room. Freddy went white. "W-WHAT! You can't, this is worth sixty percent of my grade!" he squealed in a way no man should squeal. Peter didn't seem to care. "I'm well aware of how much this grade counts towards you passing the class but if you cannot complete a simple blood draw, I mean seriously now. I will not tell you one more time to leave." Peter said seriously. Freddy's jaw quivered as he gathered his medical bag and nodded his head before leaving. I could tell he was holding back tears of failure. Once the door closed, an apologetic look swept over Peter's face. "I'm extremely sorry for all of that. I wish I had only gotten here sooner." Peter swiftly took my arm and inspected my inner joint. He sighed in frustration and began bandaging it. "Well, there's no way I'll be able to draw anything from this arm for about a week. You'll be heavily bruised there tomorrow." He said. I couldn't believe he was touching me... wow. "If you wouldn't mind sitting back in the chair, I'll get this blood draw done." He said and without thinking I sat, looking at his face. He seemed to have a very professional air to him today but it was a little mellowed. "You going to miss that many times too?" I teased but he gave me a look that was serious but his eyes twinkled with playfulness. "I've never missed a stick." He said and I shut up. He smiled at me quickly before he stuck the thin needle into my vein. Blood quickly started to spiral down the tubing and into the vile. "So Dr. eh?" I asked. He looked at me and blushed a little. "Well, yes actually. As of two days ago. I got my doctorate in body sciences. It wasn't hard and its actually one of the easiest medical degrees to get since it's just the study of the body; no surgery or stuff like that, just the extreme in depth study of the human body. It's why I'm here, besides to continue my education." He said simply like none of that was impressive at all. "And how old are you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "I turned eighteen four months ago." He said. I shook my head. "And how long did it take you to get your degree, on that usually takes me people six to ten years?" he blushed again, more so this time. "Four, and I was still finishing high school at the same time." He said quietly as if he was embarrassed which; he probably was since I was grilling him. "You're one smart cookie, aren't you?" I said with a sly smile. "I guess." He smiled at me awkwardly for a quick second before looking back down at the vile. Once it was filled he took out the needle, cleaned it, and bandaged me up. He looked at my other arm again gave it a disapproving sneer. "Idiot..." he said under his breath, referring to Freddy I'm sure. "I'm going to have to examine your arm to make sure you're not bleeding internally or anything." He said. My eyes widened a bit from that and he noticed this as he bit his lip with a quick rebuttal, "I doubt you are but it beats you dying in the middle of the night." He walked around to the other side of the chair and gently grasped my arm. He undid the bandages he put on a short time before and grazed his fingers over my skin. His soft touch made me gasp which I barely hid. His eyes glanced over at me, watching me for a moment before going back to my arm. "You're solid." He said suddenly, catching me off guard. "Excuse me?" I said, slightly taken aback. His head shot up and his blush had returned full force. "I-I-uh..." he stumbled. There was an awkward moment where we both just stared at each other. "Your arm!" he nearly shouted and his eyes grew after he said it, probably realizing how loud it was. He closed his eyes and pursed his lips as he released a huff of air from his nose. "I mean, you're almost healed already. You're pretty much solid." He corrected himself. I looked over at my arm to check; there were only little holes left and no more blood. "That's the regenesis project from last year." I said as I bent up my arm, mach testing it to make sure it still worked. "That's fantastic!" he gasped and then looked me dead in the eyes with his shimmering greens. His whole face was beaming excitement. "Did everyone here go through that process?" he asked hopefully. I hated to burst his bubble but, "No, sadly, it was only safe for a handful of us to have our DNA altered. For others it had the possibility of turning them into, well, nothing short of a pile of goo on the floor." His face fell into one that simply read `ew'. "Yeah, it wouldn't have been very pleasant." I said. He nodded but then rubbed his chin. "I wonder..." he said to himself. "What?" I asked. He looked up slightly confused. "Huh... oh, I was just thinking." He said. "About what?" I prodded. I t wasn't any of my business but I couldn't help trying. "Oh if I could perfect the regenesis somehow, but that's a project for a rainy day... now, let's get the rest of these tests done today." He stood up and opened up one of the cupboards on the wall. He pulled out a silver strip of metal and some plastic suction cup things. He set it down on the little table next to us and looked at me. He looked somewhat nervous but I could tell he was trying to hide it. "I'll need you to remove your shirt." He said. I nodded and pulled it over my head. I heard him swallow hard once I dropped it on the floor. He was openly staring even if he didn't mean to. Does that mean... no, well, maybe, although I am ripped to shreds. He could just be shocked. I really hope he's staring though... "Is everything okay?" I asked. His bottom lip quivered a tad. "Yes... Of course." He said quickly. "I just need to put these on you to get your pulse and heart rate." He said as he took the suction things and reached out towards my chest. His hand was visibly shaking as he got closer and he had to stop and calm himself a few times as he put the first two on. As he reached for the third I said something. "I don't bite. There's no need to be nervous." I tried to add a small smile along with it. He froze, eyes wide, jaw slacked, frozen. "You alright there?" I asked. He nodded quickly and stuck the next two on me before turning his gaze at the holoscreen. He started to scribble things down on a Paper-Pal and didn't once glance toward me again. I sat there as he wrote everything down but didn't say I word. I tried but every time I opened my mouth I would stop before anything came out. "Alright, you're all set Mr. Hawthorn." He said as he stood up. He started to walk towards the door but I stopped him. "Hey, wait." I called after him. He stopped right as the door opened. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, you were just shaking everywhere and I thought I'd try to calm you down." I explained. I got up and grabbed my shirt, pulling it back onto my body. When I got my head through the hole he was looking at me steadily but with the slightest caution. "Thank you although I'm not sure what you're getting at." He said as he grasped his Paper-Pal just a little bit harder. "I don't mind if you look at my body if my shirts off. I know I look good." To prove the point even further I pulled up my shirt to expose my eight-pack. The shock on his face told me I had gone too far. His neck and all the way up to his forehead was a burning red. He quickly turned and started down the hall and I went after him. "Wait, stop!" I called after him to which he paused and seemed to take a deep breath before turning back towards me. He just looked at me angrily but there was a hint of embarrassment he was trying to hide. "What?" he asked. "I didn't mean to... I mean, I wasn't implying..." I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. This isn't easy... "I know it isn't." he said and my eyes grew. Did I say that out loud? The look on his face answered that question. "Yes, you did." He answered without being asked. "So what is it that you didn't mean to imply?" he snipped. "I didn't mean to imply that you were... attracted to me? I mean, I did but I didn't mean to offend you I was just trying to make things easier on you but you got mad and then I lifted up my shirt because I thought it was going over your head but really it just made you mad but..." I was rambling, what the hell I never ramble. "Stop!" he yelled suddenly. He released a breath and looked at me. "Just, stop, please. I get it, you're sorry." He said, eyes strained. He blinked a few times then looked at the ground. "You aren't entirely wrong though." He said softly. Thank god! Hopefully that stayed in my head... "What do you mean?" I asked. He looked up at me but his eyes were drifting. "It means that you were right in your assumptions." He answered. We were both silent as time dragged on for what seemed like an eternity but in reality was only ten seconds maybe. "So..." I dragged the word on for longer than needed. "Do you want to go on a walk later or something? I don't know?" I asked tired of this and confused. He tilted his head to the side. "So you're saying that you're gay as well?" he asked bluntly. I nodded and blushed myself. He bit his lower lip and his gaze slowly drifted across the room until it fell back on me and he rocked on his heels. "Uh... sure, why not." He said and I knew I was smiling. I mean, why wouldn't I? Hell yeah I was smiling! "Awesome!" I blurted ready to jump out of my shoes but I halted myself and collected my emotions. "We'll meet at the main gate and we'll walk around from there. Does that sound good?" I asked. He nodded with a little smirk on his face. "What time?" he asked. "Seven work?" I asked and he nodded again. An alarm in his wrist went off and he glanced at the watch. "Crap!" he groaned and started to rush off but he stopped and whipped around, a half spastic smile on his face. "I'll see you at seven!" and like that he was gone. "Yeah... seven..." I said happy but confused at the sudden uproar. Seven... **** I stood under one of the first light posts on the street by the entrance. There was a concrete bench but I couldn't sit, my legs were too shaky. I don't get nervous in combat but gods forbid a cute guy... none the matter, I'll deal with it. It was 7:03 and the sun was just starting to set in the far hills. The college was really in the middle of nowhere in the northern section of New York. Winters sucked but nothing too bad, at least for me. In a month or two the ground would be covered with snow and I wouldn't be able to just stand here in my dress blues. Yeah, I know I dressed up a bit but aren't you supposed to for a first meeting, date, thing? But I felt more confident wearing this and I needed to be more confident than I was early, Christ I was floundering back there. Not now; now I needed to be in control of things... oh, there he is! He was in regular civilian clothes, nice ones; dark wash jeans, a yellow tee and some grey canvas shoes. As he got closer he waved a little nervously to me. At least I wasn't the only one. His eyes looked me up and down and I saw him swallow. His hair was swept off to the side, no a strain out of place, his eyes shined, and his cheeks were a rosy red; he looked perfect. "Hi." He said with a shy smile on his face. "Hi yourself." I said back. He looked at all of me again, like he was taking me in. "Wow." I don't think he meant to say it out loud but the way he said it, with such wonder. "Wow what?" I asked. He blushed and gasped a little. "Did I say that?" he asked and I nodded, laughing slightly, with a big ass smile on my face. "Well you look pretty great yourself." I said and he turned into a tomato. "You really think so?" if I thought he was nervous before now was a whole new level. "Of course I do!" I said and put my arm around his shoulder. His head shot over to where my hand was draping down his chest and he stared at it for a moment before letting out a bit of air, relaxing. "So..." I said and he looked up at me, "How about that walk?" He nodded and the edge of his lips tipped up into a cute grin. We started walking back up the road toward the campus. "Where you from, earth born or a colony planet?" I asked. "Earth born, right here in New York actually, right outside of Albany." He said. My arm slowly drifted down his back and down to his hand, which he caught my pointer finger with his. Mine was much larger than his, I liked it. "Oh cool, same here, just Virginia, half hour from D.C." "I've been to D.C. a few times. It's a nice area." He said. I just nodded as we continued to walk. The sun was almost set and you could see some of the stars in the sky as the sky slowly faded into darkness. The sideway lamps started to turn on as well. "So what made you come to New York for college?" he asked and I looked up at the sky, more stars up there now. "I wanted to get out of D.C. and this was the best military academy on the east coast." I said. "And now that I've been here for three years, wouldn't change a thing." He nodded his head understandingly. "I wasn't really given a choice." He laughed and I looked at him. "How so?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, long story short, I'm classified as a genius and the government wanted be here for research, so here I am!" he threw his arms up in the air with a cheeky grin. "How'd your family like the `you are going here because we want you to'?" I asked. "Well, it's just my mom and I. She was over the moon. Free college, are you kidding me?" he chuckled but then his mood went a little somber. "Before you ask, my dad was killed in the first of the rebel riots when I was ten. He was a cop." And instantly my heart ached. His eyes weren't shimmering any more so I may have wrapped my arm around his waist. "He sounds like he was a brave man." I said softly and he nodded. I saw his eyes glance down to my hand on his hip and he grinned. We were almost back to the dorm buildings by now. "Where's your dorm?" I asked. He pointed over to one of the science buildings, Bravo South. It was a green and black cement square really with large windows. Vines and other vegetation had grown up onto it as well but, that was most of the buildings around here... except for the cadet quarters. We walked up the road, my arm still around his waist, until we got to the entrance of the building. I let him go and once again we stood in front of each other. He dug his heal into the ground and blushed a little. "Thanks... for tonight." He said, I could hear his internal smile. "I think I should be the one thanking you. I've been going crazy about you since I saw you touring the campus a few days ago." Now it was my turn to blush and he giggled. I reached out my hand and he took it. I took my chance and pulled him into a full hug; both of our bodies pressed together. His smaller frame fit perfectly in my arms and I wasn't about to let him go anytime soon... until another student awkwardly walked passed us into the building. She smiled at us before she walked in. My arms still around him and his at my waist, I looked down into his sparkling green eyes... emeralds, that's what they were. Slowly, I leaned down and he tried to come up to meet me. The first contact was... wow! The warm silky softness of his lips caressed mine so tentatively at first, almost like he was wondering if this was wrong, but then that feeling surrendered as we melted into each other. It only lasted five seconds and out lips never opened but god almighty if that wasn't the most spectacular thing I have ever felt in my life! I slowly stood back up and we released each other. He slowly drew his fingers over his lips with a look of wonder in his eyes, especially when he looked at me next. He didn't need to say anything for me to understand he liked it too. "Yeah, I know." I said with astonishment. "So..." I said leaving the sentence completely open to whatever he wanted to end it with. "I'd like to see you again, Anthony." He said. "Me too, Peter." I said as I took a step back. He reached for the door but looked at me one last time before he went through. "Goodnight." I said. He smiled and waved at me before disappearing behind the black wash door. "Hell yeah!" I cheered quietly to myself. Chapter 7: Facing the Past I shot up in bed and blinked my eyes several times in the dim light as they tried to adjust. I slid out of bed and threw on some night pants in my nightstand drawer and started towards my door. My door slid open and I looked across the now darkened hallway. All the lights on the ship were turned down at this time of night since most everyone was asleep. I felt like I was on autopilot as I walked across the hallway and punched the key code into Peter's door. When it beeped and slid open, Peter's room was completely black. The only light coming in at all was the dim light from space coming through the bay window. I would have thought Peter was asleep if it wasn't for the dark figure standing in front of the window, looking out on to the endless darkness of space. I took a few steps into the room and the door shut behind me, closing me in the same room as Peter. "It's so cold out there." His voice was distantly, almost dead. I didn't dare move. "So many stars that burn so hot and so strong yet, the balance of everything is so fragile." He put his fingers on the glass. "That lab was no different. It was as if we were all walking on shards of glass 24/7!" His voice went nearly shrill and a vain in his neck started to show. Then he was silent again. "The deadlines we had to meet were outrageous and yet, we all did it, at least... for a little while. We didn't have a choice though! We were stuck there on that ball of ice and for what, to make a super weapon?" His hand slid down the glass slowly, his fingers dragging. I saw tears in his reflection and his lips began to quiver. "I'm so sorry Anthony." He whispered. I so desperately wanted to reach out and touch him, to comfort him. Seeing him in such despair broke my already shattered heart. His spun around and looked at me. He was a broken man. I could barely make out his face but I could see the tears shiny on his face. "I'm so sorry I left. I didn't know. I just didn't know! No one knew, no one knew anything and the offer was so good but that's what they wanted us to think and before we knew it we were all trapped on that lab..." he was near hysterics and before he could say any more, I ran up and grabbed him, pulling him into me. He began to sob uncontrollably and his arms wrapped around me tight. "I'm so sorry." He kept saying once he'd catch his breath. I just held him close to me. It took six damn years but he was finally in my arms again, finally back into a void that only he could ever fill. "It's alight... you're safe now." I whispered to him. His tears were making my chest wet but that was the last thing on my mind. I ran my hand up into his hair and the other was holding his waist. I felt a single tear pool in my eyes and drip down off my face. I allowed it, if I was going to cry, now was as good as time as any. "Stay with me... please." He nearly begged me. I leaned back and looked down at him, the dim light barely revealing his beautiful feature. I reached up and wiped the tears away before I leaned down and kiss him. I licked his lips to which they quickly opened for me, allowing me to continue my quest. "Your mine." I said nearly out of breath, our lips only a millimeter apart. "Yes!" he said exasperated. It had been long, too, too long for either of us to go without each other. My hands slid down to the bottom of his shirt and I lifted. He back away from me so he could take it off of his head. Our bare torsos collided and his hands did a slow exploration of the body that has gone without his gentle touch for so long. Eventually they found their way to the top of my pants and slid them off of me. I did the same to him, gliding my hand across the curvature of his lower half, locking the memory of his body into the safe in my brain forever. Now naked against each other, we could feel everything. I welcomed it warmly and with all the love I could muster. Our lips reconnected as we slowly trailed towards the bed. Once we fell back onto the sheets, we stared into each other's eyes; him looking up at me and me down at him. "My beautiful scientist." I said with more tears in my eyes but a massive smile on my face. "My soldier boy." His voice was raspy and I kissed him again. Hearing that name coming from him again made my heart burst. I knew I would have more questions in the morning, we still had a mission to complete but at that moment things like that didn't matter. That night wasn't about the sex, no, it was about two souls who had been lost for too long finding their way back to where they belonged. They found their way back home. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'll try to have the next chapter up as soon as I can write it. Again, sorry for the wait.