AwayTeam (10 page)

Commander Okinawa nodded. "Ordinarily, I would agree with you, Cadet Braden. But in this case we just don't know. Yes, the
Mandrake
is now at general quarters because of that very concern. But if you ask me, the events that have caused us to be ensnared in the energy field could have been automatic. The alien device or whatever it is, could be programmed to seek out intelligent life and act on that. Nothing more."

"Or it could be a trap," Kale said, leaning back in his pilot's chair to put his point across. "We could be heading for our destruction, sir."

The commander raised his hand, gesturing for calm. "Yes, I understand all of your concerns. The captain has also been advised of such scenarios. But as it stands, we are to maintain our position, and if needed, assist in whatever way we can when we arrive. Remember, first and foremost we must gather intelligence. Then and only then can we make an informed decision about the course of action we need to take."

"Um, excuse me, sir," Emerson piped up. "Now that we know that it is indeed something pulling us in, do we have a picture of it?"

Ely could tell Emerson was in his element. His eyes were wide with the excitement of a child and a smile to match.

Commander Okinawa pressed a couple of panels on his portable comm panel. The holovid image re-focused on Neptune. "This is what we have so far."

Ely gasped as the image in front of them. Sure, the thing was a sort of a fuzzy snow-ball near Neptune's moon Nereid, but even from that, it was impressive. To be able to see anything at all from such a distance could only mean one thing. The alien ship or artefact or device or whatever anyone wanted to call it, was massive. Ely would even hazard a guess that the thing would dwarf even the
Mandrake
.

The next words out of Commander Okinawa's mouth confirmed Ely's suspicions. "As far as we can tell, the size of the alien object is fifteen to twenty times that of the starship we're following."

Kale whistled and Emerson sucked in the air.

Braden said, "Let's just hope it's not filled with millions of aliens wanting to dissect their first humans."

Ely swallowed hard. He was now certain he wasn't interested in aliens. The only thing he wanted to be pulled toward was Emerson. That didn't need any fancy energy or folding of space, that's for sure. In the pit of his stomach, something deep and dark stirred. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Time for our rest and relaxation rotation, Ely," Emerson said, coming over to him. Ely was seated at the briefing table, pouring over the data from the
Mandrake
, sipping coffee.

As the
Mandrake
got closer and closer to its goal, the images of the alien object came more into focus. At the moment, the thing looked like an octagon with dark patches around the edges.

Emerson pulled up a chair and sat next to Ely. He placed his hand onto his knee. Ely turned to him, looking him in the eye. "I know this stuff is fascinating to you, Sonny. But Kale's right, we just don't know what it is we're heading into. I mean, to have the power to fold space, what chance would we have to defend ourselves should anything go wrong?" He couldn't help but think of all those cheesy sci-fi flicks. Of the stupid humans who blundered into the unknown, only to be fried by super death rays or start an intergalactic war and then be fried some more.

Emerson leaned over, pecking Ely on his cheek. "And what would microwave technology look like to cavemen, Ely?"

"Are you saying we're cavemen?"

"Not at all. I'm saying that the ability to fold space might be something they've had for eons. That such a technology is far from aggressive and that they're only using it to call to other sentient life forms. Perhaps the object is a scout, seeking out the same as us."

Ely pondered Emerson's words for a moment. "Man, I'd love to get to see the engine room of that thing."

Emerson let out a sigh. "I'm sure it wouldn't use reactor power like the
Mandrake
. I mean, we can't even shut down our starship's engine because it takes too long to re-start it. Talk about being backward compared to this."

"I hear that. Half of our problem right now is making sure we don't get too far away or too close to the ship's engines. If we could all just fold space, wow. Imagine the possibilities."

Emerson smiled. "So I take it you're not feeling so down about getting up close and personal with an alien now, right?"

"I'm a bit better about it, yeah. But I think that's more to do with the fact that I'm with you, Sonny. You seem to make everything better."

Emerson grabbed Ely's hand. "Good. Time for me to share with you that surprise I've been teasing you about all rotation."

Ely raised his eyebrows, his stare intent on Emerson's twinkling eyes. Before he could add another word to the conversation, he was led to their cabin. The door locked behind them.

They embraced, edging toward the cot until Emerson leaned his weight onto Ely so that he had no choice but to fall onto the mattress. With a wicked grin, Emerson tickled Ely.

The cabin was filled with their laughter and Ely forgot all of the troubles of the past six hours or so. When Emerson paused, he said, "Now you can't keep me in suspense any longer. What's the surprise?"

Emerson kissed him. A long delicious, dancing of tongues followed. An action that made Ely think more and more of what he'd do to his lover when he got him naked. When parted, he asked, "Do you trust me, Ely?"

"Of course I do."

Emerson sat up, his gaze stern all of a sudden. "I'm serious. Do you really, truly trust me?"

Ely sat up also, grabbing Emerson's hands, rubbing his thumbs along the tops of them. He looked him square in the eye, and with a voice as unshaken as he could make it, he said, "I don't know how I can prove it, other than to say that you've shown me just how wonderful and different being with a guy like you can be. I don't want to do anything to jeopardise that. Sure, I've had boyfriends, but never have I had anyone like you. You're so very special to me. So yes, I really do trust you, Sonny."

"I'm glad you think that way." Emerson smiled, climbing off the cot. He headed for his duffle bag. After a moment of rummaging around in it, he produced something Ely never thought he'd ever see in his life. Along with the lube and skin seal, he also held a double-ended dildo. The thing was skin coloured and realistic at both ends and very flexible. Although, not as large as the single dildo, proportion wise, Ely would have no doubt the toy would fill him.

Ely was speechless. He'd never been penetrated with anything, never felt the urge to have his cherry popped by anyone. But with Emerson, he had to admit, he had different urges. Was it because he had such a beautiful, big dick that Ely wanted to experience it on all levels, including having it inside him? A dildo would most certainly prepare him for that. Or was it because Emerson meant so much more than just someone to fuck? An equal. A true soul mate.

Before Ely could contemplate his thoughts any longer, Emerson had returned to the cot, sitting so he was in front of Ely once more. The bed creaked. "I want you to experience what I do, Ely. I want you to feel the sheer joy of having someone you care for deeply become a part of you. That's how I felt last night when you made love to me, proving that my hunch about you was correct. Now I know for certain that I would want you to have that joy, too. We will be together, both in mind and body and this will help us take the first step."

Ely had expected to see the other dildo tonight, his eagerness to clean the toy as soon as he got up proof of that. Instead, Emerson had once again thrown him a curve ball. Much to Ely's surprise, he felt nervous. Would the dildo hurt? Would Emerson hurt? "I'm ready for whatever you want to do, Sonny."

"Good. If you want to be with me, then you'll come to know that it's all about sharing and having some fun in the process. I'm not just a bottom, to be fucked all the live long day, you know." Emerson winked. His words weren't harsh, weren't meant with any malice whatsoever. It was with those words, Ely understood. If he was going to be Emerson's boyfriend, then he was going to have accept that things would never be the same again. This was going to be an adventure. Along with those nerves, curiosity, acceptance and anxiety vied for supremacy within him.

"I don't know what to think of you, other than I want to be with you always. Does that make sense?"

"Perfect sense." Emerson began to unbutton his jacket. "Now, get your gear off. I want to have some fun."

Chapter Twelve

Ely slipped off his pants, trying to balance on the cot as he lifted his buttocks. After a moment of jiggling, he kicked them onto the floor. He was in his briefs, an article of clothing that didn't contain his excitement all that well. His dick poked out of the top of the elastic band.

Emerson didn't waste the opportunity. He pulled down on the material, letting Ely's erection free and spraying on the skin seal. "You're a truly wonderful sight, Ely." Emerson kissed him, all roving tongue and dizzy spells on Ely's part.

When parted, Emerson kissed Ely's stomach, working his way down. Ely let out a chuckle as his lover's lips tickled him, left wet trails across his skin. Seconds later, Emerson's warm lips kissed Ely's engorged head, took it all in until the whole of his length had disappeared inside his mouth. "Wow," Ely said with a gasp.

Emerson pulled on the root of Ely's dick, making sure he got to all the best bits of Ely's erection. Over and over he sucked and slurped. Ely's dick tingled from all the attention, aching for more, yet at the same time wanting him to stop for fear of ejaculating too soon.

Just as he was about to pull Emerson off his dick, let him know that he'd done enough to begin his spiral toward ecstasy, he did so of his own accord. Emerson's lips were glistening from his work, as was Ely's bulging head and shaft. "You taste wonderful, too, I might add."

Ely smiled. "You can taste as much of me as you like from now on."

Emerson took off his trousers. A wet patch of pre-cum stained the front of his briefs where the head of his dick was bulging. The man was a hard as a rock, and like Ely's, Emerson's underwear did nothing to contain his intentions. "I want you to lie down, Ely. Open your legs. Is that okay?"

Ely nodded. Those nerves rose up once more. He knew what was going to happen next. The fact that Emerson had grabbed the double-ended dildo and began applying the lube cemented that thought.

He did as Emerson asked. His stomach turned, but not in a bad way. He was curious more than anything, that feeling winning the battle within him. His cock, aching with the attention it just received, came to slap onto his stomach as he lied on his back. Ely grabbed the pillows to assist in propping him up so he could watch what Emerson would do to him. He wanted to see the man work as well as feel it.

"I'm ready," Ely said.

Emerson shuffled into position, keeping himself seated, bringing his legs so that they were under Ely's. "You're balls are so big and ripe I could lick them for hours." For emphasis to his words, he cupped Ely's balls, fondling them with tenderness, paying attention to the fact they were a sensitive part of his body. That was one reason why Ely loved being with men. They understood what the equipment did.

His lover ran a slicked with lube finger over Ely's arsehole. Ely shuddered, the sensation electric. If that was his finger, then he couldn't even imagine what the dildo or cock would feel like as it slipped inside him. His body, radiating from his balls, tingled as Emerson worked his finger in circles, making sure he was as lubricated as he could be.

"I'm going to start now, okay? You'll feel a pressure at your arse, just relax. I'll go easy. If you can, try and push down like you're on the latrine. That will help relax the muscles and make entry easier."

Emerson's words reassured Ely. "Sure thing."

What Emerson had said about trust before was all coming to the forefront. Ely now understood why. A tense moment was broken by the exact feeling Emerson described. There was a pressure. A sensual, kind of scary pressure. Ely gasped.

"You all right?" Emerson asked, withdrawing the dildo.

Ely nodded. "Fine. I'm fine."

Again there was the pressure, but this time Ely pushed down, opening up his arsehole as best he could to accept the gift Emerson was about to give him. More tense seconds passed, the pressure building, joined by a tingling sensation and something else that came to the forefront. Ely felt a slight pain.

But it wasn't a pain of hurt. Not one that felt like a cut or a strike to the flesh. This was pain saturated by pleasure. Ely's stomach shuddered and he sucked in the air through his teeth as Emerson sank the dildo into him, deeper and deeper.

Then it was done.

Ely realised that he had closed his eyelids tight. When he opened them, Emerson was smiling. "You're doing great," was all he said before he shuffled himself closer, leaning back onto one elbow, the free arm inserting the other end of the dildo into himself. The look of sheer ecstasy flashed across Emerson's face. In that instant, Ely knew the toy was inside him, too.

Ely's bottom lip quivered. Wave after wave of pleasure coursed through him. His arse was filled, his ring was stretched, but he had to say, he liked having the toy inside him. "This is…fucking…amazing."

When Emerson had inserted the dildo into him as far as it would go, and their buttocks and balls touched, he said, "Sit up if you can."

Ely did so. His stomach turned and more pulses of that wonderful pleasure come pain feeling shot thought him. The dildo acted like a conduit between them, relaying the vibrations of each other's movements. What Emerson had said about being as one rang true. He swore he could feel Emerson's pulse, the beat of his life deep inside him. Ely couldn't help but gasp again. This was something beyond any expectation, beyond any experience he had shared with anyone. He was glad it was with Emerson.

When more shuffling into position had been completed, Ely and Emerson embraced. They kissed with so much passion, so much need for one another that Ely couldn't think of any other way they could be doing such a thing right now. He maintained a gentle gyration of his hips, as did Emerson. The dildo continued to give pleasure, continued to act as the path of their desire between them. They
were
joined.