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As they finally reached the family's new lair, after what seemed like miles and miles of treading through tortuous trails, Jason turned to Mu-Monk.
"I sure hope you were taking careful notes on how to get us back to the surface."
Seattle chuckled as she overheard the comment. "Don't worry, there's a much straighter pathway. If you ever need to know, I'll be sure Tinker shows it to you and your tiny tour guide."
Jason caught the words, "if you ever need to know," but decided now was not the time to say anything. He had been thinking hard about what his next action should be and had decided he had to return to the surface, despite the obvious danger. It sounded like Seattle may not have come to the same conclusion.
As they stepped into the lair, Jason was surprised at how much like home it felt. The brightly colored streamers and mobiles were everywhere. And as he gazed around, he spied the multi-colored cloth wall that divided Seattle's room from the rest of the lair. He remembered back to his earlier dream. Would that become their private sanctuary?
He wasn't given much time to ponder the thought. There was simply too much to do to get ready for the evening meal. Everyone scurried around with their various tasks. For a brief moment, Jason felt out of place. Always, in the past, he had sat in his little corner, chained to the wall, while the meal was prepared. He felt like he should go to one of the corners now and wait.
But before he knew it, Tinker had handed him a stack of plastic plates and instructed him to pass them out to the rest of the children. As Jason did as he was told, he realized that it was the small matters like passing out plates that made him feel included as part of the family.
After the meal, Jason began to clean up but was stopped by Seattle.
"Let the children handle that," she said, as she took his hand in her own. "We need to talk." So saying, she stood up and led him to her private area.
Seattle motioned for Jason towards thickly padded cushions lying against one wall, then pulled up another pad to sit facing him. The two sat quietly for several minutes, neither one speaking, just lost in their own thoughts.
It was Seattle who finally broke the silence. "I guess there's no easy way into the conversation, so I'll be blunt and ask the question. What's next?"
Jason smiled at the straightforward question. Well, we could lie down together and make mad, passionate love, he said to himself, but he didn't think that was what Seattle was asking, so he held his tongue.
After a moment, he replied. "I thought about it on the walk here, and I've decided I need to return to the surface."
Seattle nodded, apparently not surprised by the news. "I thought as much from what you said earlier this evening. Do you really think it's wise? After all, Carmiel now knows how much of a threat you are to him and his precious Church. He's not likely to sit back and let you continue your investigation."
"I realize that," Jason said. "At the same time, I'm much more valuable to our cause on the surface, than I am likely to be down here with you—much as I would enjoy staying," he added.
Seattle blushed slightly at the comment and reached out to take his hand. "You're welcome to stay. I want you to know that. In fact, I think it makes much more sense. It's simply too dangerous up there now. What could you possibly hope to gain?"
"Well, for one thing, this mission of ours could certainly use some financial backing. I've only a couple hundred credits with me, but I have access to two or three million back in the Zone. It's one of the main reasons I need to return. I'll pull most of my funds out. That way, we won't have to eat sewage stew every night of the week."
Seattle didn't respond to his glib remark but continued to frown. "It still seems too dangerous. We've done alright so far without a lot of funding..."
"But stop and think what could be possible," Jason finished for her. "Tinker wouldn't have to scrounge around for every little technological doodad. He could just go out and buy it, even if it meant purchasing it on the black market. Besides, it's not the only reason I'm returning. There are people I know on the surface that might be able to tell us more about what the Church is trying to hide. I've got a pretty good network of people who either owe me a favor or would be willing to work with us for a fee. But the network isn't going to do us any good if I'm stuck down here."
Seattle opened her mouth as though to comment, but then stopped herself. Her brow furrowed, as she considered what Jason was saying. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. I can see your point. It does make sense for you to return for the mission's sake. I just want you to know I don't like it."
Jason took her hand that he had been holding and grasped it in both of his, as he slowly pulled her to him. They faced each other, both sitting on their knees, their faces inches away. Jason studied Seattle's warm, brown eyes, the subtle wrinkles at their corners that blended into the high cheekbones. He followed the curve of her cheekbones down to her full lips.
He pulled her closer, then closer still, until those full, red lips touched his own. He felt her breath coming erratically now against his lips. He kissed her softly, then a little more firmly, then their lips were pressed hard against each other’s, as were their two bodies.
He felt her strong arms encircle his shoulders and her fingers dig into the muscles of his back. Then they were falling to one side and their bodies intertwined. Seattle's lips were covering his own, then his cheeks, then the nape of his neck, as his own lips explored on their own.
Before he knew it, they were both naked, their clothes becoming part of the layers of cushion and cloth they were lying upon. Suddenly, his lips had new territory to explore. The curves of Seattle's shoulders, down her arms, back up again and across to her neck. He could feel her nipples harden against his own chest, then his lips were caressing them as well.
They were like two adolescents, exploring each other's bodies for the first time. There was no need to hurry. They both took their time and gave themselves freely.
Jason could not recall ever having made love in such a manner. In contrast, always before it had seemed forced, as though each party had something to gain, something to get from the other. With Seattle it was different. They each shared openly, giving of themselves while being open to the other's contribution.
After they both had been satisfied, Jason lay cradled in Seattle's arm. It dawned on him that he had really never made love before. Oh, he'd had sex plenty of times, maybe hundreds, almost always with a different person. Tonight, with Seattle, he'd made love for the first time.
––––––––
THEY LAY TOGETHER NESTLED in each other's arms for a couple of hours. Seattle fell into a deep sleep while Jason managed short naps, but his mind was restless.
He realized there was a third reason he needed to return to the surface that he had been afraid to share with Seattle for fear she might try to talk him out of it. He planned to visit the Archangel. If anyone knew what was going on with the Church, he would. Not that Jason thought the man would freely give such information out, but perhaps if Jason could meet with him, he might give something away unknowingly.
Besides, there was the slim possibility that the Archangel didn't know what Carmiel was up to and that Carmiel might be the source of the corruption. Jason didn't really believe that was true. Much more likely the entire Church was corrupt from the Archangel on down.
The visit might provide nothing. There was always that chance, but with the stakes being so high, Jason felt like he must explore every possibility.
Yes, that is what he would do. He would visit the Archangel and just see what the old man knew. And there was no real reason to worry Seattle with this part of his plans. She would have enough to worry about. Having finally made up his mind, Jason found it was much easier to fall asleep.