Sang the Stray (Completed)

68. S2-Report

"We are going," Axel announced after third shift meal as he entered the common room that connected our individual rooms.

I was equally thrilled and hesitant about being assigned to the upcoming Muina expedition.  On the one hand, we might find some answers on the home world.  However, it was extremely dangerous.  Entire crews had been killed or vanished without a trace in the past.

The Coran team, composed of an early version of the Setari and a science delegation was the first when Muina had been found by a deep-space probe. They had lasted almost two kai before the satellite, newly orbiting Muina, ceased sending communications back to Tare.  There was a reasonable delay, so they weren't missed at first.  After a half kaone with no contact a new team was sent.  The report sent back was dire.  Most of the Coran team was  discovered dead and the bodies maimed.  A few were barely alive, barricaded in the hold of the tanz.  When questioned, the survivors were so traumatized that their recollections were a confused jumble of equipment explosions and colleagues attacked by swarms of Ionoth.

After subsequent failures, the wave of excitement over news of finding Muina began to wane and support for future expeditions diminished.  Tare maintained the orbiting satellite and deployed drones into the surface that would transmit data and then power down.  This method seemed to attract less Ionoth or Dhura (there was plenty debate about what destroyed the drones) attention to the equipment than when they remained active. Future trips to Muina were limited to only a few kasse on the planet surface.

There was no way I would stay behind though. It would definitely take our entire Squad to keep Kayli out of trouble.  And Raven since he was just as likely to dive in after our girl. 

"Corey, most of us will be there on protection detail, but you and Morgan may be helping the green-suits with the new programming for the drones," Axel added.

I nodded.  That was fine with me.  I was anxious to see what having Sang on this mission would reveal. 

Marc asked, "Are we going to the site that Sang was found at?"

"Yes," Axel replied.  "The goal of the mission is to investigate the Aether and moon phenomenon.  There is an itinerary and more information on the file I've sent each of you."

"Why was our Squad selected?  First Squad has more experience on Muina," Brandon said.

Axel answered , "Well, we do have the highest concentration of powerful Combat Sight talents, among other varied psychic talents.  Ultimately, though I think it came down to our prior work with Sang.  Obviously, safety is our main objective.  Any threats and we evacuate as soon as possible.  I will be coordinating with Blackbourne so expect to take orders from either of us."

Blake, who mostly looked bored through the meeting, suddenly jumped up and whipped around, yelling, "What the fuck?!"

We all reacted, tense and looking for the threat. I didn't have Combat Sight, but the confused look on my twin's face meant he was sensing and seeing as little as I was.

"What? What is it, Blake?" Kayli called out from across the room.

He shook his head and shrugged.  The rest of us relaxed, glad there was no true danger.
Though, Axel didn't look too happy about interruption.  I really hoped one Kai those two could get along better.

"Well?" Axel bit out.

Blake kept staring at the base of the wall behind the couch, looking perplexed.

"I thought...I saw....nevermind.  Guess, I just haven't gotten much sleep lately," he glanced over and shot Kayli a cocky wink.

Axel was not impressed. Neither were Marc or Brandon.  At least Raven had ceased randomly freezing the poor guy since Kayli and I had convinced him to give Blake a real chance. The others still needed time to adjust. I did wonder if Blake might actually have seen something.  There were rumors that the undetectable Ionoth, which revealed the recent stickie infection, was still running around KOTIS.

Axel seemed to have regained his cool demeanor and asked if there were any questions, then informally dismissed us with a wave. 

Kayli made her rounds of goodnight kisses to the others and then grabbed up Raven and my hands, pulling us both to her bedroom. 

"I want a Raven sandwich," she tossed out as the door slid closed behind us.

"Huh?" I asked.

She pulled us all down into the bed and said, "We always have Corey or me in the middle.  It's Raven's turn."

Our handsome Kolarian just grunted and seized Kayli's hips to flip her over to the other side of him. She tumbled over with an uncharacteristically girlish squeal. Kayli recovered and pounced back.  They were more careful lately about unnecessary bruises after a long lecture from the purple-suits on conserving energy for healing.  Our lives as Setari was so often dark that I appreciated when my two partners brought playfulness to their interaction.

"Fine! Fine!" Raven relented with a growl from under Kayli's pillow barrage.

She leapt up victorious and darted towards the bathroom.  Raven also rolled off to prepare for bed. I started reassembling the bedding.  I looked up from fluffing the pillows and my gaze caught on Raven's muscled and very bare backside.  My mouth watered. I agreed with Kayli.  A Raven sandwich sounded good.

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A/n: Thanks for your patience between updates lately....life has kept me away from writing....I hope the Corey/Raven connection wasn't too much of a spoiler for those who have not read Hoax...