Second Chances (50 page)

“Huh.”

“Well, we had planned to have the baby shower today, but I guess a birthday party works,” Janet laughed.

“True.”

“Do you have names for them yet?” Cassie asked Anne.

Anne's eyes fluttered heavily. “You don't have to tell us them right away,” Cassie said hastily.

“I know she wants to name the boy after her late husband,” Janet said. “I'm not sure about the girl,” she said.

“Mph. Talk later. Sleep now,” Anne mumbled. Carefully they took the newborns to finish getting them cleaned up and checked out while their mother slept and recovered her energy.

------*------

Anne was heartily sick of crackers. “Not just eating them,
making
them,” she said, wrinkling her nose in disgust. “Which reminds me,” she said, turning on Mitch. “We're low on table salt and baking soda. Very low.”

“Okay...”

“I'm not sure where we can get more either,” Anne said, making a face. “The stuff here is too...bad.” She shook her head. “I keep having to pick gravel out of it, and it has a metallic taste.”

Mitch frowned. He knew salt came in different grades, and he freely admitted the salt they had nearby was for industrial use or for salting the roads, not for eating. “Copper Town and East Village are both closer to the ocean. We can see if they can get some more and do a trade in the spring,” Mitch said making a note. He knew Copper Town had a good supply nearby, but they were using most of it to preserve meat locally.

“Sea salt is good,” Anne said, “if they can manage it. Copper Town is too far away though.”

“They are pretty wrapped up in other projects. I don't think they can swing that,” Mitch admitted. “The best we can do is trade for salt they've got from their mine, if Jack will go get more.”

“He's in no hurry. It's also unrefined salt. It needs to be processed, cleaned and properly stored,” Anne said. “Jean wants sea salt,” she said. “It's better for you.”

“Good luck with that,” Janet said with a sniff. Both Mitch and Anne looked at her. “Come on, with those walking shark things?” she shook her head. Anne winced.

“Yeah, that's an issue,” he sighed.

“Did you come up with a name for them?” Mitch asked, nodding to the sleeping twins.

Anne smiled down at them. “Allen for my late husband,” she said, using her finger to stroke the boy's knitted blue cap. “And Mirrim for my mom,” she said, fingertips gently brushing the little girl's hair. She put the cap back on the best she could then withdrew her hand reluctantly.

Mitch smiled. “I'll put that in the records,” he said. She blinked at him. “We need to keep track of the genealogy too,” he said. “They deserve to know their past. But we also need to make certain they have a future. A good one.”

She nodded. “I think we're off to a better start now,” she said indicating the cavern around them. “Thanks to you.”

“It's a team effort,” he said, squirming a bit, definitely uncomfortable with the praise.

------*------

They arranged to have Christmas on the same day they had the previous year. Everyone was aware that it wasn't the same date on Earth, but it was the thought that counted, or at least that's what they kept telling themselves. Gunny Hodges picked out a couple nice fir trees and brought them in with a snow mobile and a lot of eager help from Brian and Vance.

Janet and the kitchen crew filled the air with the heavenly smells of baked goods. Janet's irate screech chased more than one giggling miscreant thief out of the kitchen, Mitch included.

Everyone was excited the night before. Mitch had the 3D printers and CNC machines going full out, using up power, but for a good cause. Gifts were wrapped in cloth or paper packaging under the tree. The kids divided their time between guessing their contents or making decorations.

The next morning after a large breakfast the troop settled in the great room to exchange gifts. Anne and Janet presented a gift to Doc. She opened the box carefully, then pulled out a knitted sweater, grayish, but obviously handmade. “We couldn't dye the yarn any whiter,” Anne said in apology.

“It's lovely,” Sandra said, holding it to her chest. “Perfect.” She shrugged it on over her head. She grinned when the sleeves were just a little long.

“Um...”

“No, I like it,” Sandra said, tucking her hands into the sleeves. “Perfect,” she murmured in approval. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” Anne said with a smile.

“Mine,” Sandra said, turning with a bit of teeth to face Cassie.

“Well, for now,” Cassie said in mock surrender. When her mother mock glowered at her she gave her an innocent look that fooled no one.

Mitch presented the two ladies with baby stuff. A mobile, toys, more bottles, and other things printed in plastic. Paul presented a pair of cribs he and the wood crew had made, along with warm fuzzy blankets Selma had made and a double stack of cloth diapers. “Yup, can never have enough of those,” Janet laughed. “Or sleep.” She looked down lovingly to little Allen and then smiled. “Worth it,” she murmured. Anne nodded as little Mirrim yawned.

------*------

As winter wore on, Mitch and Sandra found time to play or snuggle more and more. They took to walking hand in hand in the halls after meals, something some of the other coupled tended to do as well. Mitch enjoyed it after a while. It not only gave him some time to bond with Sandra, it also let them see the base and people around, to socialize and make sure everything was working out okay. It also let them burn off excess energy from being cooped up by the long winter.

He felt a sting on his rump as Sandra broke away, giggling. He winced at the swat but gave chase, willing to engage in the game to get his eventual revenge. She looked back, grinned and picked up the pace.

He knew he'd never catch her; she'd bragged about taking track in junior high and high school. Instead he detoured, then used the computer to track her movements as he got ahead of her and hid. When she rounded the corner at a slow lop, still looking over her shoulder he jumped out. “Gotcha my pretty!” he said as she squealed in dismay and surprise at being tricked.

He wrapped his arms around his prey and tickled her. She squirmed, then turned the tables with her wicked fingers, making the hunter suddenly the hunted. “Hey! No fair!” he laughed, trying to get away or pin her. She was shrewd, knowing all his tricks as she grinned devilishly.

“All's fair in love and tickling!” She said, fingers digging into his ribs as he guffawed and twisted, arms trying to tuck against his sides to force her fingers out. They wrestled, but the wrestling slowed and then stopped when a familiar chitter and clacking sound got their attention.

“Um...” Mitch frowned at the sight of a couple of armadillos. They had a few of the creatures about, all were six-legged, four-eyed things that the base had taken on as protectors and pest control. The animals were worth their weight in whatever raw metal one cared to name. But normally they were hibernating.

“I wonder what's going on. Aren't they supposed to be sleeping right about now?” Sandra asked, arms wrapped around him from behind.

“I'll protect you from the big old mean armadillo thing,” he mocked. She squeezed him until he gasped, then relented enough to let him breath. He felt her fingers hook his belt so he knew she wasn't about to give up her tactical advantage anytime soon.

“It's a little warm in here. With all the bodies,” Sandra said thoughtfully. She looked over to the blower and frowned, pursing her lips. “Could that be it? Should we talk to the vet crew?” That question was enough of a distraction to bring him out of any thought of getting back at her. She stepped around to his side, still holding him. He hugged her too, watching the creature's antics. “Is he playing?” Sandra asked, now amused.

“Yeah but...” Mitch noted the animal was scratching at the wall, then pawed the air as if it was trying to get into the ceiling. That immediately concerned him enough to stop holding Sandra. She pouted a bit as he stepped over to the animal, eyes on what it's four beady eyes were looking at.

“Up there, huh?” he asked softly. He looked up, then reached up for the tile. Carefully he pushed up to get a peek. He immediately saw a pair of centipede antenna and mandibles. It was big, about the size of his arm, which had him concerned.

“What? What is it?” Sandra asked, coming up behind him to look. He winced when a squeal came from Sandra.

“Come on,” he said, letting the tile down slowly then turning. Sandra was cringing. He reached down between his feet to the armadillo. The other two animals nearby took off. He caught the armadillo which immediately curled into a ball. He reached up over his head and used it to prop the tile up and then slipped the animal into the ceiling. They heard scrambling as the thing uncurled and went down the duct after its prey. He winced as some of the tiles wiggled and moved as it went about its business.

“How are we going to get him out of there?” Sandra asked, frowning upward.

“His problem,” Mitch grumbled, shrugging.

Sandra slapped him on the arm with the back of her hand. “You mean ours when he dies and stinks up the place? Or chews through some wiring? What about his going to the bathroom up there? You really want pee or poop dripping on you?” She wrinkled her nose.

“Damn it,” Mitch sighed. “What I want to know is how that thing got up in there,” Mitch mused darkly. He peeked again. The area was supposed to have insulation, which it did. “It looks like they chewed through it. Damn it! It's supposed to be toxic to insects!”

“Apparently not alien ones,” Sandra said, now concerned. “I'm wondering why they are active.”

“The heat,” Mitch said, feeling the temperature. “You are right I bet. It's what, 60 here? So they are active now,” he said, grumbling. “When they should be in hibernation.”

“Oh.”

“I'm betting the caverns below us...” He stopped when he saw her face writhe in fear and loathing. “Sorry. The good news is, I'm probably wrong. After all, heat goes up,” he said, pointing up. She looked up then down to him with an easily interpreted expression. “But yeah, I'm not going to take that for granted,” he sighed.

“We've got to do something about it. But what?”

Mitch frowned then shrugged. “I don't know. We'll start with looking. There is no need to borrow trouble.” She shivered. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her away.

------*------

Sandra was still creeped out by the bugs and occasional scrambling sounds in the walls and ducts later that evening. When they got ready for bed that night she stayed near Mitch. He turned and gave her a hungry kiss. “I'll protect you,” he said lovingly. “Even if they are under the bed or...”

Her eyes and nostrils flared wide. “God! Don't say that! I'm never going to sleep now!”

“Well, there are other things we can do with our time,” Mitch said, leering. She gurgled a laugh, then slapped his chest with the back of her hand. “I said I'd protect you,” he said, coming closer to kiss her again. His arms wrapped around her.

“Oh, you will?” she murmured, face to face, smiling. He nodded, then ducked his head to kiss her throat. That got her to purr and close her eyes slightly. She cradled his face and pulled him up to rub noses. They kissed again. “Who will protect you from me?” she asked, smiling at him, glad of the distraction.

“I'm not afraid of you,” he said in a mock fearful voice that made her smile even more. Her eyes twinkled devilishly. He teased her; he crept up on her with two fingers like antenna. She saw the fingers out of the corner of her eye and jerked, startled, then made a face. She darted out lightning fast and grabbed his fingers and twisted. “Owe, owe! Uncle! Uncle! I give up! I give up!” he said, pleading as he twisted with her hand.

She held the fingers. “You surrender?” She said with a wicked feral smile.

“For now,” he admitted.

“Only for now?” She asked with a feral grin, adding some additional pressure.

“Okay, okay!” He laughed, going down to one knee. She relented and let him up. He scooped her into a fireman's carry the moment his fingers were free.

“Mitch!” she squealed in indignation, slapping his back and kicking her legs. “You put me down this instant!” she demanded.

“Never my pretty, muhaha...” He chuckled maniacally and then carried her off to their lair. That got a laugh out of her.

------*------

The next morning after making her rounds, she went into the main kitchen to talk to Janet again. “More girl talk?” Janet asked, again doing the dishes.

“More dishes?” Sandra asked, raising an eyebrow. There were several dishwashers running, plus a bunch of dirty pots and pans heaped around the sink. And of course, no one else to be found. Everyone had made themselves scarce it seemed. Jeana and Jean were like that. They were all about the planning and making but rarely ever into the cleanup.

“It never ends,” Janet said in disgust, shaking her head. “Breakfast, lunch and dinner,” she grumped. “I'd love to go for takeout,” she said. “Or go out to eat. Even McDonald's sounds great now,” she said.

“I'd love to treat you; you've been such a trooper,” Sandra said loyally, making a note to get the kids to help out more on chores. Anne should be here helping too but the other domestic manager was probably on laundry duty or dealing with her own morning sickness.