151.28.29 NTD, early morning
Jee rolled over in the bunk and stretched. She'd been so tired the night before, she'd fallen asleep fully dressed. The sheet hanging between them had fallen in the night, and across the room, Dane lay in full view. He slept face down, stripped to the waist, mosquito netting in place. His feet hung over the end.
How long had it been since she'd noticed Dane was male? It wasn't that he wasn't attractive, with his thick dark hair, rich brown eyes, and warm smile. He had a wide jaw and pleasant face, plenty of muscle. Truth was, the man was a tame lion any woman would want to curl up with on a hearth. He kept his claws hidden unless his hearth was threatened. It embarrassed him to death when women fawned over him, but they always did. He was shamelessly romantic with Jenny, but let another woman get even a little bit undressed and he looked everywhere else. He even did his utmost to protect Jee from untoward advances. Much to her annoyance.
They'd shared quarters in the past, including times on stakeout when they'd slept back to back, and even spooned for warmth. She'd never feared his touch or his closeness. Fact was, she didn't notice he was male because he was the closest thing she'd ever had to family. He made her feel safe, and that thought made her smile.
"Hey." His voice startled her. "What are you looking at?"
She sat up. "A big lump."
"You got a mirror over there?"
She ran her fingers through her short, dark hair to rearrange her curls and pulled a strand down over her brows. "You have an eye in the back of your head?"
"Yep." He turned over. "They stuck it in when I became a dad."
"That right?"
"Got it after I signed the oath to tell my kids to eat vegetables and warn them not to put their eyes out with sticks." A wide yawn showed off his perfect molars. "Any idea when they serve breakfast?"
"All you think about is food."
"Jenny's not here." He sat up. "What else is there?"
The pillow she threw hit him right in the middle of the chest. He sent it flying back. She ducked.
"I feel great." He jumped up to shadow box the air. "I'm going for a run." He flung the sheet back up over its cord.
"Dane, do you realize this is the first case where all I have to do to earn money is pay attention?"
"Well, for some of us that's harder than others, I admit."
"Hah. Hah."
"You want to run with me, Jee?"
"Thought you were going fishing."
"I am. Later. So, a run?"
"Why not?" Jee stood up and pulled on her boots. "First one back buys the next round when we get home."
"You always lose, you know."
She waited until his shadow showed he had bent over. "Oh, yeah? I'm already dressed." She shoved him, yanked the sheet over him while he yelled, and tore out the door laughing.
* * * *
The two agents were seating themselves at the breakfast table when Dr. Post floated her chair into the room. "Good morning," she greeted them. "Jee, dear, you look like you've been chased by wolves. Are you all right?"
"Dane wanted a little fun before breakfast. You" -- she accused, as he took a sip of coffee -- "didn't put on clean underwear."
He sprayed coffee all over the table, and sputtered, wiping his mouth.
Jee snickered behind her hand while Dane glowered.
"Oh, good." Dr. Post looked up. "My assistant is here." She gestured to a young woman.
Dane set to work sopping up the coffee.
Short, round-faced, and cute, the young staff member wore her dark hair in a bun. Like others in the crew, she wore khaki coveralls with the Society's logo on the back and her name on the front. At dinner the night before, she had made it plain that anything Dane needed she would supply. As usual, her partner had played ignorant about what such an offer might entail. A man who was hard to get had dazzled her even more.
"I hope you slept well." She sat next to Dane.
He kept his head down and began buttering toast. "Dr. Post, may we see the cave where you first ran into Kaiwulf?"
"If you think it might be helpful. I'll have my assistant take you this morning."
Dane looked up enough to meet Jee's gaze, and gave a subtle shake of his head.
Jee pursed her lips. "It would be better if you took us. You're the one who saw him, right?"
"It's difficult for Dr. Post to reach that area," the young woman put in. "It's hard for her to stand, or climb over rocks. But I'm sure I could show you anything you want to see."
"No doubt." Dane bit into his toast, and chewed it. "However, I have a theory that Kaiwulf will show himself to Dr. Post." He met the assistant's gaze. "So while we thank you, your services will not be required." Ice crackled in his smile.
Jee bit her lower lip between her teeth. Nothing in his tone or on his face left doubt as to his meaning.
The young woman's cheeks darkened. With a quiet word of excuse to Dr. Post, she left the room.
Dane sipped his coffee.
"I'm sorry." The older archaeologist looked from Dane to Jee. "Was there a personality difference?"
"It's the gender difference." Jee picked up her coffee. "She can't get past the fact that he's not interested."
"It's all right, Jee." He lifted a hand. "I'm used to it."
"It's not all right." Dr. Post sat up straighter in her chair. "I apologize. You shouldn't have to get used to such things. This is supposed to be a professional atmosphere. I assure you, it won't happen again."
"I'm sorry to be trouble."
Dr. Post held up a hand, staving off his protest. "No apologies." She rolled back her chair. "I'll have a worker bring you coveralls for climbing in, and meet you both in front of your quarters in say, an hour? Have you done any spelunking before?"
"A bit. Nothing deep. Jee's a newbie, but she's good. She'll keep up."
"I’m sure she will. The cave isn't very high in a few places. We'll all have to crawl, but I suspect you won't mind that, Dane."
"Not one bit."
Dr. Post rolled out of the room.
Dane tore his toast in half, cast a pleased smile toward the exiting doctor, and then nodded at Jee. "You know, I like her, too."
"Too?"
"Yeah. Me, and Kaiwulf."
Jee drew her brows together in thought. "How do you know Kaiwulf likes her?"
"Why do you think I'm taking her fishing?"
"Fishing? I thought were going caving or spelurking or whatever you call it."
Dane just laughed.
* * * *
116.27.120, mid morning
Dane ducked his head to exit, and ran a hand up the front sealer of his coveralls as Jee joined him. She cast him a disapproving glance.
"I'm glad they found something that fit you, but khaki is not your color. You should wear black, or red, or something bright."
"Khaki's fine. Simple. Plain. Blah."
"You have never been any of those things. I have Jenny's word on that."
He seemed about to argue, but stopped at the sight of Dr. Post coming toward them in her chair. "Does that prove my theory or what?"
"What theory?"
"Tell you later, Jee. Good morning, Doctor."
"Indeed it is." The doctor stopped beside them. "Are you ready?"
Jee followed them, as Dane walked beside the doctor. He tapped her arm. "Dr. Post, would you mind explaining the significance of the silver body suit you're wearing?" It fit like a second skin.
"It's a strength suit. My back was broken in a cave-in about five years ago. They wanted to use nanos to repair it." She made a sweeping movement with one hand. "But that's permanent, invasive treatment. I worked years to earn my neural net, and to give up the ability to link with all that information? I'd rather spend the rest of my life in a hoverchair. With this strength suit, I can walk, crawl, run, climb; anything another person could do. Just not for long and not as often. Does that answer your question?"
Dane met Jee's gaze across Dr. Post's head. "Sure does."
"These will give us all the light we need." Dr. Post handed each of them a small, round disc. "Stick it on that round patch on your uniform. It won't come off." She attached hers, twisting its exterior to activate the light source. A bright beacon flared up. "See?"
"Handy." Dane affixed his and helped Jee turn hers on.
They accessed the cave by crawling through a tunnel. Jee went first, reaching a stand-up point after a short distance. Dane brought up the rear. His head almost brushed the roof of the dry cave.
A winding passage led through rock the color of clay pots, its smooth walls evidence of water's passage. After a five-minute walk, it opened into a wide chamber twice the height of the first area.
"Better." Dane stretched his arms overhead and arched his neck.
"This is where we filmed him." Dr. Post gestured. "The first holocam was right over there." She took a step and stumbled.
Dane caught her arm. "Are you all right?"
"Tired. I'm not good at strenuous exercise. Help me sit, will you, dear? I can rest while you explore."
He guided her to the floor, where she leaned against the stone wall.
"Where's the other lens?" Jee picked her way across a jumble of pebbles to a smoother floor. It led to a shallow, water-filled hollow in front the camera. "I see one." She stooped to peer into it.
"There are several more. Kaiwulf noticed the base unit. I should have positioned it somewhere less conspicuous."
Dane examined detailed drawings on the cave wall. "How old are these?"
"Several thousand years. They're made with a charcoal based paint."
"What about this water?" He stooped to dip his fingers into it and brought it to his nose. "It smells fresh."
"See that thin crack in the floor? It comes in from the other side. As near as we can tell, it seeps out on the other." She pointed. "There's a waterfall outside that wall that drops into a pool 30 meters below. Almost 100 feet, Terran. We think it's the site where the original gen met Queen Ioca."
"Do you think Kaiwulf knows the story?" Dane stood.
"I'm sure he does. Why?"
"You were wearing your silver suit when he first saw you, weren't you?"
She gasped. "I should have seen the connection. Of course he would think that."
Jee came over closer. "Think what?"
Dane stooped beside the doctor. "To Kaiwulf, you're the Saint of Silver and Queen Ioca rolled up in one. The question is, will--"
A low, animal growl behind him made Dane stiffen.
Jee set a hand on his shoulder. "Don't move."
Dr. Post looked past them both, lips bitten together. She pressed the translator on her wrist.
Dane made a slow pivot, the grit of coarse sand grinding under his boot.
Behind him crouched two white wolves with bared teeth, and a female in an elaborately-beaded leather dress. In front of them, a bone handled-blade naked in his hand, stood Kaiwulf.