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Adventures in Outer Space

By: destinirains



Even miles away from Earth, two people could find fun and adventure. That was the case with Ronan and Irena aboard the mobile space station Genesis One. That's not to say everyone agreed with their frolicking!

Minutes before class, Ronan and Irena, sans garments, were in the observation deck where anyone could sit on a bench and look out to the stars and moon. With the only light coming from the bodies in space, the room was perfect for their rendezvous.

Ronan was upon Irena on the floor in front of the bench near the window. He held her ankles and was powering into her so hard, her jacket was falling off her shoulders.

He leaned forward to get as deep as he could and sped up his strokes within her. She threw her arms out and kept her joyful cries as low as she could.

He separated her jacket so he could see her breasts in the pale starlight but she covered them back up.

Ronan's bottom lip curled downward and he ceased moving. "Why did you do that? They're sexy."

Irena straightened her jacket and pulled away from him. "It's almost time for class. Ms. Yurasova won't like us being late."

The mere thought of textbooks caused a soft-on. All that tension built up but back up his pants went. It was so depressing watching her dress and cover up her features.

Ronan tossed his hands up. "Come on, baby. How does knowing how many moons Jupiter has help me fly a star fighter or fire a gun?"

Irena shook her head as she wiggled into her pants. "You sound like people I went to college with. Having knowledge is good for you. The more you know, the better. Thinking of it as stretching your mind."

They climbed on the bench. She dug through her handbag to find her brush. Ronan yanked the wrinkles out of his shirt as best he could.

He gazed at her ass when she stood. "There's one moon I'd love to get more knowledge about."

"What?" she said as she looked over her shoulder. "Oh, never mind. Let's go."

These two cadets amongst others were chosen to train to join the Earth Protection Corps. The EPC consisted of cadets from nations all over the world such as the U.S., Russia, Germany, Spain, and others.

Their mission was to protect Earth from galactic threats whether they were aliens, asteroids, solar flares, or space debris. It sounded simple in theory but the clash of personalities and the nature of the mission made that a challenge!

Ronan could have been the best shot with a cosmic pistol and the number one pilot in the cockpit of a star fighter but there was always a distraction. Playing space football, watching pro American football games streamed from Earth TV stations, or women. Especially a woman named Irena. Still, he walked with his chin high though his instructors wished his skill would catch up to his confidence. He cared about serving his planet but what he had with Irena was nothing like anything he'd felt before. How he was going to balance the two was a mystery beyond him.

Irena usually kept her nose between a book's pages whether they were full of mush or intergalactic text. She had never seen anything less than an "A" her entire life. Some found her quiet nature mysterious, some admired her intellect, and to others she came across as aloof and uppity. She was a no makeup or jewelry kind of girl and usually kept her features covered but along came Ronan who cracked open her shell and she let loose! It was like she wanted to experience all the fantasies she'd dreamed about with him. She was training to operate the space radars and scanners—no easy task. For most it required their full attention but to do it with a relationship she was trying to keep quiet would be quite an accomplishment.

It was about an hour later and Ronan and Irena were next to each other in the rear of the class. The lesson taught by Ms. Yurasova was about hazards in the galaxy but the only thing they wanted a lesson in were each other!

It was a typical classroom in some aspects with five rows of six desks—most were of the right-handed variety but a few for the southpaw students. There was a cherry desk for the teacher that took up the rear corner. Outside of the windows were no grassy yard or students walking about but stars twinkling in the darkness of space. That and maintenance techs floating around in spacesuits checking the artificial gravity and life support systems.

Earth appeared as but a blue sphere with white swirls—its brightness was representing all the life in the dark galaxy. So close yet so far. It was that which the EPC fought for, their home.

Ms. Yurasova was pointing at a touchscreen video board on the wall, which replaced the antiquated chalk and dry erase marker boards. She was yammering about something concerning asteroids and supernovas but Ronan was poking Irena's love handles with the flat end of his pen causing her to giggle and draw the attention of eyeballs across the room. She was trying to swat his hand while looking at the teacher. He slipped his fingertip under her shirt and brushed it back and forth over her skin. He chuckled at how she squirmed.

His muscles tensed with a brown iris shifted in the instructor's direction. Beneath that tension was another type of the sexual kind. He couldn't keep his dreams and hands off Irena's frame, which was almost half of his. The animal was fighting to escape again and the power to restrain was fleeing. He became lost while fixating on her. He didn't even hear the heavily accented voice aimed at him.

"Ronan!" Ms. Yurasova said with a scowl on her jaw. "Do you know the answer? I just said it!"

Ronan gasped, choked, and felt some rumbling in his gut. "An answer? When did she ask the question? Shit!" He tapped his temple a few times like he was knocking some sense into himself. "Um, legs? No, I don't know."

He still had Irena's legs on his mind. The class snickered but the instructor with her curved lips and dented chin silenced them. She may have been blonde and blue eyes with golden brown legs but she looked like she could wrestle a grizzly into submission. She probably could do that by glaring at it. Ronan may have had the build of a linebacker but she was no less intimidating.

She clamped her hands on her hips. "Excuse me? The difference between asteroids and meteoroids is legs?"

Ronan couldn't have lifted his head if he wanted to and there was no boulder to crawl under. He was smarter than this and that was the most embarrassing part. Still, he couldn't help how he felt about Irena. It wasn't easy to turn away from someone who took interest in him, cared for his wellbeing, and was so hot.

Irena was stargazing as if she was trying not to look at the situation. He could hear her giggling though she was trying to hide it. He didn't see anything that was humorous.

Ms. Yurasova said, "Class is dismissed except for the two lovebirds in the back. Be ready for the test tomorrow!"

Ronan and Irena waited not with butterflies but with wasps in their stomachs. When the last student cleared the doorway, a finger giving a come hither motion summoned them to the front of the room. It was the longest fifteen foot walk ever.

As Ronan walked, he said, "A meteoroid is much smaller than an asteroid but they have the same composition!"

"It won't do you any good to remember the answer after the test!" Ms. Yurasova said as she sat on the edge of the desk and struggled to pull her skirt over her knees. "I know you two are better than this. Irena, your quiz scores have been dropping ever since you and Ronan have been messing around. Don't think I don't notice these things. You're getting close to getting a "B" and you told me how much you disliked those. And Ronan, you have the potential to be the best we have to offer but you don't push yourself. We're responsible for protecting our planet and you need to take it more seriously, sir. It's not middle school anymore!"

"Yes, ma'am," he said.

Irena dipped her chin. "I'll do better."

Ms. Yurasova pointed at them. "It's not my business but I suggest you stop whatever's going on between you two before you go too far and something happens neither of you want to happen. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

The door slid aside allowing them to leave and once it sealed behind them, the cadets jumped into each other's arms, spun around, and held each other for a minute.

Ronan sighed as the tension was replaced with joy and relief. "I've been waiting for this!"

"Me too," Irena said into his ear. "She's kind of scary. I couldn't wait to get out of there!"

"She's worried about nothing. We'll be alright. We're adults."

Irena purred into his chest. "Mmm, so what do you want to do?"

Ronan held up his chin with his thumb. "Are you ready for your sidearm test? We could go to the range and brush up if you're not."

Irena stepped away and folded her arms over her body. "Ready? I haven't touched a gun yet. I don't know if I care much for them. They cause a lot of hurt and pain."

"I understand how you feel but it's important to know how to use them in case you have to defend yourself. Besides, everyone on the station has to learn. Don't worry, I'll teach you."

"I don't know..."

Ronan put his arm around her and started walking. "It will be okay. Trust me."

The shooting range was on the lower level of the station between soundproof walls. The targets were holographic and gave instant feedback as to how much damage would have been inflicted on a real person or android depending on the target chosen.

The range was divided into five lanes on each side. Ronan walked her to the empty one at the rear.

Ronan scanned her badge across the sensor in front of the lane. Near their knees were six boxes with red lights on them and one of them turned green and unlocked after the badge scan. Each box held a different type of weapon but a person could only use ones they were qualified to operate. He reached in and pulled out a pistol that looked normal enough but it had a battery clip in the handle instead of one that held bullets.

He demonstrated by firing a few shots. The vibrations that resonated through his hand and the kickback was powerful.

He extended the weapon towards Irena, handle first, but she was shying away.

Ronan rubbed her back. "I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" She nodded and he continued. "Look, point and shoot. Use the sight on the top to make sure you're actually aiming at what you mean to hit. This pistol fires energy bullets and you can use the dial on the side to set it to stun or kill. We'll keep it on stun because I want to make it out alive. Here."

He handed her the weapon. She didn't move her hands for a few seconds. He placed it in her palm but kept hold of it and aimed it with her.

Irena was shaking. "Point and shoot. Point and shoot. I got it."

Ronan grabbed the pair of earmuffs hanging on the side of the lane and put them on her followed by himself.

Ronan pushed a button on the side of the pistol. "You can shoot now. The safety is off. Take a breath and pull the trigger."

Her first shot struck nothing but air as did the next. She looked over at him and he returned a reassuring nod.

She took another breath and fired a shot through the human target's nose!

Ronan clapped but was focused on her side profile. He imagined how perfectly her breasts would fit in his hands. And that little ass of hers, he just wanted to slap it and watch it jiggle.

He was so focused on her that he drifted off into a daydream and it didn't register that she was calling his name.

"Ronan! Ronan!" Irena yelled but nothing. She pinched his arm and he yelped. That yanked him out of his thoughts!

"Oww! What was that for?" he said as he rubbed the pain.

"I said your name ten times! What are you thinking about?"

"I wasn't thinking about you if that's what you were trying to imply."

"Really?" she said as she looked around and lifted her shirt. "You weren't thinking about these at all?"

Ronan looked up and around. He was trying not to get a peek but he really wanted to. But that would ruin the fun.

He cleared his throat. "Um, I'm trying to teach you how to shoot." He realized what he said when she smiled at him. "I didn't mean it like that. Obviously, I'm not the only one thinking dirty!"

She let her shirt down. "Whatever! Anyways, how did I do?"

"I think you're a natural but you need to stay focused on the target instead of flirting with me," he said as he noticed the weapon drifting in his direction. With haste, he pushed it away. "And be careful where you point that! You're responsible for what that does if you pull the trigger."

"Sorry."

Ronan wrapped his arms around her. "You'll learn with practice but for a first time, you did great."

"I guess. So, what did you want to do now?"

"I was thinking we could go to my room and listen to music or watch a movie."

Irena hooked him around the elbow and gave a tug. "I'm sure that's all we'll be doing!"

"Oh, yeah, that's it. Nothing more," Ronan said as they started walking together.

When they arrived on the first floor, students and staff were running around and chatting in their nylon uniforms with a patch of the earth with EPC written over it in white on the left side. That insignia was over the heart, which was to remind them to take their mission to heart.

There was a lobby with a lounge area and beverage bar. Plants were on either side of the entrance but they weren't plastic. Water that was brought up from Earth was constantly reused and recycled but they could clone its molecules to make more if needed.

At the rear of the lobby was a corridor that led to the spacecraft hangers and command and control center.

Aside from the metallic walls and the stars beyond the windows, the place felt like it was on Earth.

Ronan and Irena couldn't wait to get some privacy. He was massaging her back as they walked and he enjoyed her purring. He let his hand glide over her ass and she grinned. Even more so when he gave it squeeze and a slap. Her ass felt like cotton and jiggled.

"You're so bad!" she said as she grabbed a quick handful of his cock, which sprang up to her touch. It remembered what they had done that morning! In .02 seconds, arousal zipped through Ronan and he was ready for her again!

They were outside his room and Ronan pushed Irena onto the door. They locked eyes and held it for a few moments. Sparks were crackling and tension was exploding around them. He leaned closer, absorbing the smell of her mango scented body lotion, and attached to her lips. It was like they both trembled and melted down to their toes.

She moaned into his mouth while slipping him a little tongue. He fidgeted about for the keycard on his hip to scan the door.

When it opened, they fell inside and nearly slipped on something that was sloshing beneath their feet. When they looked down, they were standing in a pizza box! 

After Ronan wiped the sauce from their shoes, they looked over the room, which looked as if a bomb had detonated. The floor was being used as a bookshelf, a trash can, and a clothes rack. Something smelled of milk and food a few months past their expiration date. In the middle of the disaster was Ronan's roommate, Kale, with his greased pizza hand clutched to the controller of their game system. His other hand was stuffing nacho chips into his mouth.

Remember that idea that Ronan was going to have some more fun with Irena? Yeah, that was gone. Buried under a mound of crap. He had to know what was going on!

Ronan detached from Irena's warmth and made his way through the maze of filth towards Kale. "What is this shit? We just passed inspection this morning! You did all this since then?"

Kale adjusted the tape between the lenses on his glasses and pushed his frames back up his nasal bridge. "It's a record, isn't it? I was going to clean it up but I'm so close to level 100 on this new shooter, War Galaxy!"

"If Captain Martinez sees this, he's going to toss us both out of the airlock!"

Kale pushed aside some of the mess and handed him a card. "I got you this. Go to Channel 7 on your video monitor, input the code, and you can watch all the football you want! It's a three month subscription. The feed comes through one of the satellites floating around here."

He would always do something nice to make up for his misdeeds. It was like he had things stored up to quell Ronan's rage and that was supposed to make things all better. None of those times he had someone like Irena on his arm, though!

Ronan let the card flutter back to the floor. "I always let you get away with this but not this time. And why are you here, anyways? You're supposed to be at the lab!"

"I told Mr. Ramos that I wasn't feeling up to it."

Ronan growled and dug his fingertips into his skull. "Sigh. So you could play the game, right?"

"Don't tell him that part!" he said as he rose from the landfill, dusted crumbs off his T-shirt, and offered his hand to Irena. "You must be the one keeping Ronan occupied these days. I'm Kale."

Irena hesitated and gave him a fingertip handshake. "Hi. Um, good to meet you, I think."

Kale patted Ronan on the back. "He's my best friend so you'd better be good to him."

She stuck her hand in Ronan's rear pocket and rubbed around. "I'll try."

"We should all hang out together and play War Galaxy."

Ronan guided Irena in front of him. "Yeah, I'm sure she can't wait. Bye, pal."

Irena waited for the door to shut and said, "He's quite the charmer isn't he?"

Ronan had no idea Kale saw him as a friend, let alone a best one. They watched the games together, hung out at the beverage bar, and played video games on occasion. And Kale may have poured his emotions out about the girl in the blue jean skirt he wanted to marry from college. The one he never asked out. But, best friends? He had no clue.

As Irena leaned back, Ronan braced himself on the wall behind her. "He's a really cool guy to hang around most days but he misses his family back in Dresden. It can't be easy and he probably wants to cling to anyone who wants to hang out with him."

"I miss Barcelona, too. I understand how he feels."

Ronan took her into his arms.

"I'm here for you, Irena," he said as he realized something. "Wait, we can still have fun together!"

"How? My roommate never leaves so we can't go there and the whole station is wall to wall bodies!"

"Not the classrooms," he tapped his badge, which hung from his pants. "There aren't any more sessions today. Ms. Yurasova set my badge to work afterhours when I was meeting her for tutoring every day."

A smile appeared over her but was mixed with uneasiness. "That sounds like fun but what if we get caught?"

Ronan held her by the hips and pulled her closer. "What if we don't? No one will be in that whole wing until the morning."

"You've scouted it out, haven't you?"

Ronan responded with a chuckle and off they went to class!

He was surging with anticipation when they reached the classrooms. Not a soul or a sound emanated from the whole wing. All but a handful lights were off in the hallway and the rooms. He could feel Irena's hands trembling so he escorted her to the shadows outside the classroom that would be their place of play.

Ronan stroked her tresses while focusing on her hazel gems. "Look, no one's here, baby. Relax, we'll be fine."

Irena slid the zipper on her jacket up and down. "I hope so. You know how our teacher is. We might have to make it a quickie."

He gave her an embrace and she buried herself into his body. It was like hugging a warm pillow—so soft and comforting. He wanted her right now!

Without letting her go, he swiped his badge and the scanner's light turned green and dinged. They fell inside and the lighting was turned to its lowest brightness, which created a dim, yellowish hue, but was mostly dark especially in the corners.


Adventures in Outer Space



Ronan escorted her to the corner at the end of the wall next to the door and they blended in with the shadows.

"See, just you and me..." he said as he touched his lips to hers. It left a burning sensation and he tasted her cherry gloss.

He went in for another and she met him with hunger as she clamped the back of his head. They fought to overwhelm each other in smooches while gasping for their breaths.

He glided his hand over her back and stopped on her ass. She moaned at his grope and she grinded upon his cock.

He jerked her jacket zipper down and it snapped off. She wiggled out of the jacket and he yanked it away. Through her shirt, he massaged her breasts in both hands, increasing in intensity and roughness the longer he did. She purred into his mouth as they kissed.

Ronan tucked his fingers inside the back of her pants and whisked them and her panties to her ankles. She quivered and she stepped out of them.

He scooped her into his arms and she giggled as he laid her on the desk nearby. The desk tilted but he caught her and set it upright. He sealed her laughs inside with his palm.

He brought a finger to his lips. "Shh! You're going to get us busted!"

"Sorry!" she said at a whisper.

He wrestled her shirt over her locks and peeled away her bra without unhooking it.

Irena gave him a wink and squinted her eyes as some light shined on her butterscotch tone. He caressed a breast between his fingers while licking her nipple, which was already stiff. Irena tossed her head back and gave herself to his attentions.

He left kisses through the crease in the middle of her tummy, over her trimmed patch, to her clit.

He gave it a couple of long licks before diving in and sucking on it while clutching her thighs. Irena covered her sounds of arousal but the more he sucked the louder they became. He parted her lips and massaged her drenched pinkness in circles with his tongue before fucking her with it.

"I want you inside me," she said in her bedroom tone.

Ronan stood up, pulled his cock out, which was straight and like a stone. He rubbed it along its length before placing its tip at her pussy. He thrust right in.

Oh, it was an explosion of wondrous feelings as she squeezed onto him. She was warm and wet. He fucked her so hard, he was moving the desk across the floor. He held onto her ankles to keep her legs spread as he came almost out before diving in again. He kept the rhythm, driving into her until she was in another world. They were soaked and were panting and gasping together but he plunged in as fast and with much raw savageness.

She couldn't stop moaning—well not until they heard security roaming around outside! Irena's body was glimmering with perspiration but he managed to hold her around the waist and slide her off the desk into him and they crouched together! His heart was hammering and his body was crumbling to bits! Not to mention, he'd gone semi-limp with his arousal just hanging there midway up the mountain with no time for Irena to push him over the edge—again!

Irena whimpered. "This sucks! I was almost there!"

"I know. Me too! Why now, damn it!"

She began patting her hands around the floor. "I can't find my clothes! If anyone comes in, I'm going to feel cheap giving free peepshows!"

They gave off smells of primal musk and the aroma of sex permeated the room.

Ronan tuned his ears to the people roaming the hall while peeking over the desk. Footsteps became louder and louder when a pair of silhouettes crossed in front of the door going in opposite directions but they didn't come inside!

They were talking to someone over their earpiece communicators. Saying something about not having a twenty on the subject and they were still searching. Ronan was certain who they were referring to!

He felt for Irena's hand and intertwined their fingers. "Listen, sweetheart. I'll wait for them to leave then I'm going out. I'll distract them so you can dress and get out of here unnoticed."

"Are you sure you'll be okay? Your last plan wasn't exactly flawless."

"This is a better one. I won't let anything happen to you ever. Besides, you loved me being inside you for the time we had, right?"

"Oh, yes, I loved it. We'll finish it next time for sure. Okay, I'll trust you, honey. Be careful."

"I will."

They found each other's lips before Ronan headed for the door. He tugged on his jacket and straightened his pants.

He scanned as much of the hall as he could through the window in the middle of the door. It was clear so he sucked in a deep breath and stepped out!

There was some discomfort while his eyes adjusted to the brightness. They must have turned the lights up while they were looking for him.

It wasn't five seconds after he was in that hall before the captain seemed to leave fire in the trail that led him to Ronan's boots.

Captain Sergio Martinez was a head higher than the average chair but a mug like a bat with crags in it and burnt orange skin littered by war scars and healed bullet wounds. He donned his EPC uniform and hat with pride and expected everyone else to honor their uniforms with the same passion. He would go to war for his people or against them if they stood out of line.

He extended his chin towards Ronan and addressed him, like everyone, by their surnames. "Where have you been, Unger?"

Ronan couldn't show a hint of weakness or the captain would shred him into dog food. "Sir, I was hoping to meet Ms. Yurasova for a tutoring lesson but she was not here."

The captain was scanning his expression like he was trying to detect deceit. Ronan stood there and was trying not to crack beneath the might of Martinez's pressure! He figured this would be a good time for those college acting class to pay off!

The captain leaned away and relaxed his stance. "Well, stop fooling around in dark classrooms and playing hide and seek! We need you in the hangar bay. A debris field is drifting nearby and needs clearing."

"Sir, the station cannons can be used for that."

Martinez pretended to be looking around for something. "Did someone around here ask a question or give a suggestion because I sure didn't! Hangar bay, now! And if you see Castillo tell her she was due in the command center yesterday! She's supposed to provide you navigation on this exercise!"

Ronan was relieved—somewhat. The further the captain walked away the more tension escaped his body but it seemed he did the last thing he wanted to do. Martinez seemed not too happy with Irena but he hoped to keep her out of trouble. Mission failed.

He ran back to Irena who was inside the classroom door peeking out. He told her about the captain's command. She became ice as she left Ronan for the living quarters. Ronan was filling with negative tension and an upset gut. He began to think a flight would do him some good.

A half hour later, Ronan was in the hangar bay sitting in the cockpit of the Comet SF-15 star fighter, black with blue wings and stabilizers, an indigo instrument panel, pulse machine guns upon each wing and smart swarm missiles beneath. When his back and legs touched the leather seat, Ronan tasted his own world where there was not a care but a bliss beyond almost anything he ever felt.

He adjusted the communicator to the command center's frequency and straightened his headset. "This is Ronan Unger aboard the SF-15. Onboard diagnostics came back positive and the life support systems indicator is green. Requesting clearance to take off."

He wasn't expecting the voice that responded to him.

"Clearance granted. Opening hangar doors now."

It was Irena and she sounded as if she made a "B" on her research paper.

"Irena? Are you okay?" Ronan asked.

With emphasis, she said, "Clearance granted! Take off!"

He tried to ignore it but that was like a prize fighter's blow to his gut. Never before had she snapped at him. He really didn't expect that after that great time they had just an hour before!

Ronan fired up the thrusters and blasted out of the hangar into the ocean of celestial bodies. Flying at Mach 3 speeds in twists and loops like a roller coaster but over a hundred times faster, the rush, the adrenaline flying through his system was like the highest of highs. Almost high enough to drown out whatever was in the air between him and Irena.

Ronan hollered, "Yeah! Alright! Shit, this is what life is about!"

Irena's voice came over the headset. "You're supposed to be doing your job not joy riding."

Ronan brought the fighter's speed to a coast. "Listen, I want to know what's going on with you, now. Talk to me."

"What about the debris?"

Ronan knew this wasn't the time but it was ripping him up inside.

He approached the debris field. It was some asteroid fragments, some the size of his fighter or larger, junked space shuttles, and decommissioned space drones and satellites. A few pushes of the button that fired off the blue energy of the pulse guns blasted them to particles.

"All debris cleared. Wait..." Ronan said as he leaned forward and squinted to make out something pulsing amongst the debris remnants. "My sensors indicate a foreign object nearby giving off strange waves."

Irena said, "We're picking up the same here."

"I'm going for a closer look.

And like that, concern arose from Irena. "Be careful. We'll monitor your suit's sensors and vital signs from here."

"Copy that," Ronan said as he opened the cockpit. Detecting the lack of oxygen in the environment, the suit's helmet, which was attached like a hood, automatically came over his head and sealed to the suit.

He used his hand and boot thrusters to make his way to the anomaly. He began to drift when he neared it. What a freedom it was for him to be floating in the midst of nothingness. He couldn't help but glance at the Earth and take in its beauty.

The object looked like a rock, cylindrical in shape, about the size of the average car's engine but it was pulsing with a faint red light.

Irena beeped into his suit's communicator. "Do you know what it is yet?"

Ronan was like in a smelting plant and was drowning in sweat. "I don't know but it's giving off heat akin to a wildfire."

"I'm reading that, too. It's 250°F (121.11°C) and rising. Your suit can't take much over that! I think you should get out of there!"

Ronan tried to scan the object with the sensor in his hand to check the readings. "I'm going to take a scan but the heat seems to be interfering with my equipment. It's taking longer to work."

"Forget it! It's just a rock!"

"Rocks don't give off heat and strange energy waves! This could be significant!" he said as he swept his hand in front of the object. A holographic display appeared over his wrist showing the results of the scan. He was gasping and felt like he was going to combust. "Okay, it's 60% carbon and 40% of unknown elements. It's as I thought. I'll put it into a containment unit and bring it back with me."

Irena raised her voice louder. "No, you have to get out of there! We can get it later! Your suit is becoming like a marshmallow in that heat! If it fries your life support..."

Ronan's jaw widened as he wheezed. "It's hard to breathe. I'll be okay as long as my suit's auto-repair system stays active."

Captain Martinez jumped on the line. "Hang in there, warrior. I'm sending a rescue ship for you! If you die, I'm going to kill you!"

It was like a fire was lit in his suit but he didn't have the strength to get himself out of danger and the thrusters fizzled out. The instruments in the suit flickered before they went dark.

Irena screamed into Ronan's ear. "You have to make it for me, please! I need you, baby!"

Ronan didn't know where he was and there was a smell like rubber burning. His eyelids were opening and shutting.

"Baked chicken. I smell baked chicken. Oh, it's me..."

The last thing he heard before entering the darkness was Irena's cries for him.

The next night, Ronan awakened in the space station infirmary. Something was tickling his nose. When his eyelids separated, he noticed a pile of lavender-scented hair draped over his face. Irena was blanketing him. Somehow, she managed to squeeze into the bed with him despite it being meant for one!

It took a minute or so for him to gather himself. He was rejuvenated and had that "new man" feeling. When he realized Irena's hand was resting on his crotch and he began to bulge, he knew he was okay!

After a yawn and the slightest movement from Ronan, Irena's head popped up to look at him. Her cheeks puffed with a face-width grin.

"You're back! I was so scared!" she said as she nearly crushed the life back out of him.

"Ah! I'm not all the way back! You know I couldn't leave you. Damn, I didn't know you had such a grip!"

"Sorry, I would have been sick the rest of my life if things ended between us the way it looked it was about to."

"What happened with you?"

"I never got wild with anyone this fast. I couldn't believe it happened and I didn't know what to think."

"I couldn't help it. You do things to me no one else have," he said while looking further down his body. "By the way, that's an interesting place to keep your hand."

Irena took a handful of his package and squeezed. "Oh, you mean here?"

"Uh huh!"

Waves of sexual energy shot through Ronan's body. His cock was about to pop out of his boxers.

"I feel bad. I shouldn't be doing this. I didn't even ask if you were okay first."

"I'm better than ever. Twenty-second century medicine heals anything just like that," he said while snapping his fingers.

"It doesn't heal death. You need to be careful next time."

"I just wanted to do something for my people. So, did the scientists learn anything from my discovery?"

Irena pressed her lips to his stomach and kissed it a few times with her hands caressing his arms and the hairs on his neck. "Not yet but I'm sure we can keep ourselves occupied until they do..."

Her kisses were warm as was her breath when it heated his skin. Ronan tingled and drew in short breaths.

They heard the beeping of the card reader outside the door and their moment shattered! Irena hopped off Ronan and into the chair next to the bed. The cool breeze that came when she left saddened him.

What sounded like a herd's worth of footsteps marched into the room and stopped inside Ronan's partition.

It was Captain Martinez and Ms. Yurasova and they surrounded Ronan.

Ronan moved to the rear of the bed in a defensive position. "Uh, since I'm half naked, I presume one of you is here to buy me dinner or a drink?"

The captain started blabbering and was smiling for what seemed to be the first time in his life. "I think you should get a medal for bringing that object here! We definitely believe it is of alien origin. If we can trace the elements it's composed of to its source, we could find another race out there! Both our names will be etched in the history books from now on!"

Irena leaned forward and asked, "What a minute. Aren't you going to ask how he's doing? He almost died out there!"

The captain stamped in front of her and she shrank away. "He wouldn't have been in that position if you increased your sensors' intensity! You would have detected the heat the artifact was emitting long before he approached it. We'll deal with that later."

That struck Ronan the wrong way. "Hey, leave her alone! It was my choice to stay!"

Martinez walked out. "This conversation is over. I have spoken!"

Ms. Yurasova stepped forward with her arms folded over her breasts. Her nose was scrunched and lips sucked in like she sniffed ten day old eggs.

She stood over Ronan. "I'm glad you're okay but the captain told me you were in my classroom yesterday looking for me because you needed tutoring. You know I don't tutor on Wednesdays."

"I forgot what day it was. It's easy to lose track of that up here."

"We're synched with Central Standard Time back on Earth. It helps us keep regular schedules here. You know that. We have clocks and calendars everywhere so you'll have to use another excuse, sir."

Ronan was beginning to boil within. He figured both Martinez and Ms. Yurasova would come down on him for something but damn, he just woke up after a near tragic incident! He wanted to be alone with Irena more than ever.

He grumbled and spoke with his teeth gnashing. "I'm recovering and I'd like to be left alone, please."

She took a stroll towards the privacy curtain hanging in front of the partition but slowed her steps enough to spill her mind. "Fine, but desks were out of place in my class and I know something happened with you two. I know you can't help the thrill and excitement of being attracted to someone but keep what's most important in mind for your sakes. I moved the test to tomorrow and I'm expecting passing grades from both of you!"

When she disappeared behind the curtain, Ronan waited a few moments, swiped his insulated mug from the bedside table, and slanged it into the wall.

He tugged at his hair strands. "Ugh! Why do I still need to pass a written test? I already have my star fighter and sidearm licenses! I was never good at classwork."

Ronan dipped his chin but Irena lifted it and peered into him. "Don't worry. You're not doing any of this by yourself."

She ravaged him with kisses and he returned the gesture as he threw his arms around her back and hoisted her onto him.

Irena leaned forward while she grinded upon him and they continued drowning each other in smooches while stopping only every so often to come up for air. He enjoyed how her hair was falling in his face and its scent was alluring.

She reached underneath herself and kneaded his cock like it was dough. It doubled in size and Ronan moaned as his breaths picked up.

With her hand still clamped on it, she slid down his body, pulled it out of his boxers, and started sucking. While encircling it at its base, she moved her head up and down while attaching her lips to it. Ronan gripped his fingertips into the mattress. She held onto it with a hand while licking its length on one side from its bottom to its head and she swirled her tongue over it. She pressed her tongue inside the head and flicked it around. She went back to sucking it with faster and faster head movements while rubbing his sac through her fingertips.

Ronan was about to burst as he wiggled and squirmed! He summoned her to climb upon him. Irena lifted her skirt, slipped off her panties, and lowered herself over his cock. She guided it in herself and they moaned and smiled together. He loved being inside her. That feeling of heat rising within, a sexual high, and being connected with her—damn, it was unreal!

He grabbed her ass and imprinted his hands in her flesh while moving her on him. Irena moved her hips around and rocked onto him. Her spanked her with both hands to encourage her and she went so hard, it caused a little pain a bent his cock an awkward way but it felt too good to tell her to quit.

She lifted her hips and just rode the tip for a bit with her hands bracing herself on his pecs. His legs tightened, he hardened more, and was about to cum when he grabbed her waist to stop her. The feeling subsided some and she continued as she took her time with each lift and fall of her hips. He loved the feel of her juices coating him.

She went down between his legs and jacked him off while pressing her tongue into his tip. His hollers grew and at the height of his joy, burst into her mouth and she cleaned him, licking his shaft to his balls and back up, taking in any cum that leaked out along with her juices. They collapsed upon each other in their sweaty elation.

Later that evening, Ronan visited the research lab. He stood outside as he leaned on the wall and peered at the scientists dissecting the alien object. It was inside a containment unit and they were operating mechanical arms within to handle it.




Adventures in Outer Space



Ronan hoped they would find something groundbreaking. Something to validate his existence. What an accomplishment that would be for him!

He was still throbbing and standing at attention from the time he had with Irena. Damn, that was hot but he realized there was no way to keep their adventures private. It was driving him crazy trying to decide what to do!

Kale was one of the scientists dashing around the lab. He was in usual form: hair that scared combs and brushes to death and glasses held together with tape he refused to trade in for new ones. When he noticed Ronan, he ripped off his gloves and bolted out until he was face-to-face with him.

He launched at Ronan and nearly tackled him. "Are you okay? When I visited the infirmary, you were still out."

Ronan patted his back. "I'm trying to stay okay but you're threatening that. I guess I'm flattered that you're happy to see me."

"I am!"

"Thanks for the love. What did you learn in there?"

Kale tried to lower his voice but his excitement kept coming through. "It looks like rock but feels like metal. It's not anything we've ever discovered, which means it may come from a place we've never discovered! We should name it after you. How about 'Ronanium?' Your name would be on the periodic table!"

Ronan couldn't help but perk up at the sound of that. He pictured himself walking up to the stage in a suit and tie in an auditorium to receive an award with people cheering him for his finding.

He redirected his eyes to Kale. "Wow, I could get used to hearing that!"

"The only thing about that is I believe there's a chance someone created it. Not the rock/metal element itself but I think it's some kind of reconnaissance aircraft or drone in disguise!"

Ronan shook his head. "Thanks a lot, pal. What lead you to your conclusion?"

Kale pulled a circuit board contained in a plastic case out of his lab coat's pocket. It was green with wires crisscrossing in every direction and a square covering that hid a processor.

"Look at this," Kale said as he pointed at the component. "This little board that fits in my palm was piloting the whole thing. We also found cameras and sensors imbedded in the aircraft. I think the heat it emitted was a self-defense mechanism. All of its essential components were housed in some kind of heat resistant casing."

"Can anything you found trace the origin of the aircraft?"

Kale scratched his head. "We're working on that. We don't know anything about this technology so it could be dangerous but so exciting! One thing I'm sure of is this: no human created this. At least that's what I hope!"

Ronan felt a buzz in his pocket. He whipped out his phone, which projected an indigo hologram of the caller that could see in whatever direction the phone was facing.

He pushed the "Answer Call" button. "Hey, Irena!"

"Sweetheart, did you forget we had to study for the test tomorrow?"

"No, I was talking to Kale about what I found."

"Hey, Irena!" Kale said as he saw her projection.

"Hi Kale!"

"I was going back to work, anyways," Kale said while walking away. "I'll let you know if I learn anything else!"

On his way to Irena's dorm, he thought about how close he was doing something significant with his life. He could have found something that leads them to discovering the first alien race. He wondered what else he could do! Maybe everyone was right about this potential. But, he was having so much fun with Irena! Hot, sexy fun and she was helping him with his studies. He didn't know if he could reach his potential and be with her! It was running him crazy trying to decide what to do!

When he stood in front of her room, no doubt his heart knew it by its roaring beats and his cock, which jumped up knowing what could happen.

He buzzed her with the call button. When she answered, he told her it was him and that door was open before he could blink again!

There she was with her hair down and wearing nothing more than a T-shirt that was three sizes too large and he couldn't take his eyes off those legs. This was going to be fun!

She hugged the back of his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.

Ronan didn't pucker to return to gesture but she went ahead and invited him in like nothing was unusual. Her being that close to him was enough to send him out of control. She had also gone a little far with the papaya lotion, which was all he could smell in her dorm. It was nice but a bit much!

There wasn't a hint of dust or dirt anywhere. The whole place seemed to gleam and sparkle. He wished his dorm looked like that.

Irena handed him a sheet of paper with some exercises on it. "Hey, babe. I made this for you. We can go through these together."

It had ten questions. The first five had periodic table elements and a blank where he was to write its symbol and the last five listed the symbol and he had to write its corresponding element. He almost shed tears. Work like this did that to him. He figured it would be bearable with her at least.

A few minutes later, they were lying on the floor with orange-pineapple juice and their worksheets.

Irena snuggled into him. "Okay, Potassium. Do you remember the symbol for it?"

"Um, it should be 'Po' if it's not."

"No, sweetie," Irena said as she patted his lower back. "Remember, that one was different. It's 'K'. Some of the symbols are taken from their Latin names."

"How would I know that? That makes no sense at all."

She leaned in and laid some kisses behind his ear and on his cheek while her hand made its way to his ass. She gave it a feel.

"You can learn it, baby," she said. "Oh, you have a nice butt. So firm!"

Ronan reached behind him and took her hand off. He hated that! Ah!

"Don't do that."

Her eyes almost popped out and her bottom lip fell. "What's wrong?"

"I've been thinking that I want to focus on my career. I don't think I can do us and do that at the same time. I'm sorry."

It nearly destroyed him to say that. He wondered what he was thinking!

Irena sat up and gave him space. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

He tangled with his response for a few moments before he gave it. "I'm...sure."

Irena covered her eyes with both hands. She was trying to keep the floodgates from bursting. Ronan felt like he'd hung a jerk sign over his head. It tore him up more when she started sobbing. He thought it was best to leave.

The next day in class, he was sitting in a new desk away from Irena's. Nothing he'd done since he went into her dorm felt right but he was trying to convince himself it was. He wanted her more than ever and the fact her seat was empty had him about to lose his mind!

Ms. Yurasova directed everyone to the test intranet site, which they could access on their tablets. When everyone was at the site, she told the class they could begin.

Ronan began answering questions but still no Irena. He felt responsible but he pushed through the test.

If he wholeheartedly meant what he said, he would have stood firm and let her deal with the situation herself. That wasn't the case.

A few minutes later, there was a buzz at the door. Students' badges wouldn't work on the door five minutes after class started so the instructor had to open it.

Ms. Yurasova walked to the door and Ronan was glued to it to see if it was her.

It was Irena! Ms. Yurasova said something about not letting her take the test! Ronan dashed to the door!

"Why can't she take the test?" he asked as he bulled between the teacher and Irena.

"She's late and if she cared about the test, she would have been on time. Her score is a zero, which probably means she will fail the class."

Ronan stood nose-to-nose with Ms. Yurasova and he didn't care if she was snarling.

He raised a finger and said, "She's passed everything the whole time she's been here and this isn't fair!"

The instructor inched closer and fired back. "I don't care about fair! I only want people here that want to be here!"

"You're a poor excuse for a so-called instructor! She's the best this station has to offer and you would see that if you got off your power trip!"

Irena ran away with tears flying and Ronan followed in her shadow.

"Come back, Ronan, or you'll fail the test!" Ms. Yurasova hollered.

Without looking back, he said, "Screw it!"

Irena turned into the lounge and ran for the table in the back corner. She fell into the seat, laid her head down, and tried to muffle her wails.

Ronan stopped a few tables away from her. Her cries were crushing him. He was wondering what he could say to make her feel better that he probably ruined her life.

It was like he was moving through a pond of honey when he walked towards her. His stomach was as though someone slung a few bricks into it.

He eased into the chair across from her. He said all he could offer.

"I'm sorry." Either she didn't hear him or she was ignoring him. Probably the latter. He repeated himself. "I was an ass! I'm sorry!"

She lifted her head. He hated seeing her like that. Eyes wet, swollen, and crimson, which matched the color of her face.

Irena rubbed her thumb across her eyes and sniffed. "It's not your fault that I stayed up all night crying. I couldn't sleep."

"I told you what I thought was on my mind but I didn't sleep much either. I couldn't stop thinking about you. Being without you made me sick. Nothing I do matters if you're not there."

A stream ran over her cheeks. "You don't have to say that if you don't mean it."

Ronan took her hand. "I do mean it! I didn't realize it until I was without you! I was stupid."

Irena withdrew her hand and put her focus on the corner behind her. "I think you said what you really meant yesterday. We can't be together like this anymore. When the teacher told me that I was going to fail, I wanted to curl up and die. I'm throwing something away few people get to do. Who gets to live in space? It's beautiful up here."

Ronan couldn't argue. There were two forces inside fighting for dominance. One that wanted as much fucking as he could get and the other, which wanted to be someone great.

He shrugged and opened his palms toward her. "Why can't we do both? A lot of people do."

"That's the thing. We can't do both. We tried and look where we are. You know we're going to get caught one day. It's better this way," Irena said as she stood. "I'm going to go to the captain and see if he'll make the teacher let me take the test."

When she walked away, the emptiness that followed was laced with ice.

He drooped and bashed his fist on the table. "Smart, Ronan. Real smart."

Ronan took a stroll through the station. He was bluer than ever. He believed a good man should have a woman behind him but it didn't look like that was going to happen. He swung a haymaker at the air and slapped himself in the head. To his chagrin, Ms. Yurasova was approaching on top of all that. He figured the day could only get better.

She stood there with her head off-center as she looked to be trying to figure out what was going on. "Sir, do I need to recommend you for psychiatric evaluation?"

"No!" he snapped but he changed his tone to apologize. "Sorry."

She walked past him with a wave of the hand. "Come with me. I wanted to talk to you anyhow."

Walks with the instructor, especially the one you spit fire at, never ended well.

They ended up in a corridor shrouded in shadows.

She folded her arms and leaned in. "You scored well enough to pass the test, 82 out of 100, but I don't know if you want to be here."

"I do. I'm not seeing Irena anymore so I can focus better."

Ronan couldn't believe he lied to her face of all people. Focus better? Right. All he could think of was Irena. Really, he was lying to himself and her face happened to be there.

She laid a hand on his shoulder. She had worker's hands, which had the texture of a rock but was filled with so much comfort and care.

"All the greatness and fulfillment you can ever dream of is right here for you. It's up to you to take it. You're getting one more chance. What will you do with it?"

When she walked away, it occurred to him how complex that question was.

In bed that night, he was shifting around so much, the bed sheets and comforter along with him ended up on the floor. He didn't get anywhere close to forty winks. Five at the most. He buried himself in the linen and grunted.

When morning came, still in a sleep daze, he shambled his way out of the dorms and to the beverage bar. His hair missed its daily appointment with the hairbrush but he didn't care if he resembled Kale this day.

He fell onto the bar and ordered some coffee and a doughnut. He stuck his nose over the beverage and absorbed its bitter but soothing smell. The steam seemed to bring him into the world of the awakened.

He took a sip and enjoyed the warmth of it traveling through his body.

"Ah, I need that," he said as he sat the mug on his saucer.

He took a bite of the glazed pastry and leaned on the bar. Irena was still prevalent in his mind but the relaxation the breakfast stop provided made it a bit easier to deal with.

He leaned on the bar and felt some vibrations. He looked to his right. He nearly choked when he saw who it was! He swept a napkin from the bar and coughed into it.

He wanted to say something to Irena but he watched the baristas' hips shake around as they prepared coffee.

Over the next ten minutes, Ronan realized the space between him and Irena was shrinking but he hadn't moved anywhere!

She glanced but pulled her gaze away when he happened to look over.

This went on for a few minutes. It was fun in a way but it was going on too long. 

Ronan summoned enough courage to speak. "Hi."

She shifted an eyeball in his way. "Hey."

"Sleep well?"

"Nope. You?"

"Hell no."

Irena turned a little more in his direction. "It sucked being without you. I thought it was the right thing but I don't know."

Ronan rotated a little. "Tell me about it. I hated it but if that's what you want..."

Irena slid down the bar. "It's not!"

It looked like her eyes were level with her nose and they had bags hanging under them. The corners of those eyes had sleep crust.

He smiled. "You look so beautifully awful."

"Whatever!"

They migrated to a table and had some bonding conversation. 

After a half hour or so, they left the table with their hands melded together. They were back as one. Classes were still in session and there wasn't much traffic in the halls leaving them time to explore.

Irena said, "You have some leftover icing on the corner of your mouth."

"Can you get it for me?"

"Sure," she said as she licked it. They started making smacking noises and tongue wrestling.

Ronan pulled away a bit. It was like smoke rose from that kiss.

They started walking and ended up at the training center. It was about the size of a small house and had martial arts mats about as well as punching bags and a weight room. Along the walls were benches for the spectators and that's where the couple wound up. There wasn't a person around and they could see the door if anyone came in.

Ronan and Irena took turns taking each other's jackets off.

Irena took his hand and was shifting her gaze around. "Being away from you made me realize something."

"What's that?"

She twirled some of her strands around a couple of her fingers and crossed and uncrossed her legs. "That I've never been so nervous in my life. My hands won't stop shaking." Irena lifted all ten digits into the air and yeah, it was like she was standing in the cold with no gloves on.

Ronan moved closer. "What's the matter?"

"I think I'm falling in love with you."

He froze and his heart ceased. He wasn't sure he heard that right. The "L" word? They'd been together for only a couple of months and spent most of that time fucking. But, whenever they had mutual free time, they were together. She did help him with his classwork. And they had a few expressos together. And they shared a love for outer space wonders. He was trapped between his ears for more than a few seconds.

Ronan said, "I..."

"If you don't feel the same, you don't have to say it."

"Can I show you?"

"Sure."

He threw his hands around her neck and they kissed until they could hardly breathe. She straddled him and, while cradling her face, they continued. It began to feel like a sauna and he ripped her shirt upwards. He unsnapped her bra, tore it away, and licked her nipples, going from one to the other while holding her breasts. He fed them into his mouth and sucked and tugged them with his lips. She tossed her neck back and cried out in glee.

Irena shifted around upon him while clamping his shoulders. She pulled his shirt overhead and kissed all over his pecs and returned the nipple licks and even gave him a nibble before holding it between her lips and sucking hard. He held onto her hips and growled.

His beast was ready but if this was the last time they saw each other, he had to give her something she wouldn't forget.

Ronan lifted Irena and sat her on the bench. He reached for her pants and pulled them off over her shoes and her panties, which were of silk, went with them. Her panties had a moist spot. She smelled of arousal and when he rubbed a fingertip inside her, she was wet. He pushed her legs open, dove in, and licked all of that wetness, encircling his licker around inside and he brought it out and glided it up and down outside.

He pushed a finger in and another two and finger-fucked her while pleasuring her clit. Irena rubbed her clutched the bench and moaned while sweat droplets traveled over her temples.

Ronan pushed his pants and boxers down. Irena spread her legs wider. He placed his tip in first and moved forward until she took in all of him. She was warm and wet. He started with a slow back and forth build up for a few moments but went harder and harder until he was pounding her into the bench.

They interlaced fingers and he fucked her with all he had with each drive into her. Her eyes rolled back and she locked her legs around him.

He pushed in again as far as he could go and held it there. Irena covered the screams that were trying to escape. They made eye contact and grinned at each other.

Ronan pulled her off the bench, turned her around, and pointing at the floor. She took the hint as she lowered to her knees and laid her arms on the bench.

Her ass was facing him and it was tiny, proportioned to her hand-sized breasts, but it was sexy to him.

He pulled her hips back a bit and started fucking her until their bodies were rumbling together. She braced herself as he gave Irena a spank and another. She yelped as her ass turned cherry.

Each time his cock thrust into her, it forced her forward and her nipples were rubbing the bench. Ronan reached around and pinched them. She shrieked.

He leaned forward and tugged her hair. "You like it when I fuck you from behind while grabbing your tits, don't you?"

While panting, she said, "Yes."

"Do you want me to fuck you harder?"

"Yes."

"Tell me."

"Fuck me harder, please!"

"Tell me to do it while spanking you because you act so quiet but you're really a bad girl."

"Fuck me harder while spanking me because I act quiet but I'm really bad!"

He granted her wish and slapped her ass again and again while he drew back and went in hard. He drew back and went in with force again. Irena was moaning so loud someone passing by in the hall might have heard her!

Ronan slowed his movements before he stopped.

He stood and tugged her hand. "Come with me."

He stepped into the training room office and turned a dial on a control panel inside. They noticed their clothes begin to rise into the air.

Irena giggled. "Hehe! I forgot we can change the amount of gravity in this room!"

"We're going to train here, eventually. The instructors want us to practice combat in little or zero gravity situations in case it happens in real life," he said as he took her hand and returned to the main area of the training center.




Adventures in Outer Space



They floated into the air and embraced each other. The weightlessness and freedom was beyond enjoyable.

Ronan was still turned on and tried to enter her again. It was a little weird and difficult with no floor or bed to brace himself on! She kept floating away but she leaned forward and latched onto him.

While holding onto each other, he went in but held it there and they kissed and hugged for a few moments to take it all in.

Ronan couldn't help but make some slow moves with his hips and he closed his eyes as his breathing became faster. She pulled him out and tried her best to suck him off while suspended in the air. She held his length in both her hands and massaged his shaft while licking inside his tip. He hollered and burst into her mouth. She kept licking it as it became sensitive after cumming and he was roaring.

Out of breath, they held each other and decided to just be.

Irena said, "I wish I could stay up here forever with you."

He threw his arms out. "Me too. I don't want this to end."

"As nice as this is, it doesn't show that you're in love with me. People screw all the time. Sometimes they love each other. Sometimes they don't. I'm not putting any pressure on you to feel that if you don't, though."

Yeah, right. No pressure, huh? Who was she fooling?

Ronan glanced at the wall clock. "Oh, shit! There's a session in here that starts in two minutes! We have to get out of sight!"

"Oh, no! Let's hope everyone is late!"

They swam for their clothes but Irena was having quite the time trying to control herself. Ronan grabbed her hand and, with their garments stuffed under their arms, he led her back to the control room. He turned the dial back to the gravity setting marked "Earth" and everything returned to normal.

They spotted a pair of cadets entering the training room from the other end. Still in their birthday suits, they dove under the desk to dress! They were kicking each other trying pull up their pants and were giving elbows when pulling their shirts over their heads with fingers that wouldn't stay still. They managed to dress but it wasn't over yet.

While they both crouched, Ronan took her hands. "I'll go out first..."

She cut him off. "No, not this time. We're going together. I think whatever's going to happen is already going to happen at this point. Don't you think so?"

"Okay, come on."

The couple walked and looked at the other cadets to see if they could read any suspicions of their sexual adventures on their faces. They either didn't know or had some damn good poker faces.

They stepped out into the hall. It was like being in the New York subway with all the people moving and clamoring about. Captain Martinez approached them and came with a hair of butting them with his chin before they could take a step!

"Come with me, now!" he said.

The captain didn't wait for a response. He just started walking assuming they would follow. Ronan and Irena looked at each other gulped before doing that.

It was like a walk to the principal's office. He feared the worst and his muscles tensed.

Along the way, Irena's hand kept brushing Ronan's. He took it and she gave his hand a squeeze. It seemed that was what she wanted. Being connected to her was tranquillizer to his nerves. It appeared it was like that for her, too.

The walk ended at his office. The stroll was an hour long—at least it felt that way. Their favorite instructor was waiting for them.

He sighed and thought to himself. "Shit!"

The captain's office was decorated in medals, awards in frames, and pictures of him when he was in the military. There wasn't a hint of bashfulness to be found.

The captain shut the door behind them and wasted no time expressing himself.

"It seems you two are confused. This is a space station. Not a hotel! There are no honeymoon suites here! You also were rude to your instructor and not paying attention in class."

Ronan interrupted. "Sir, Ms. Yurasova was in the wrong not me!"

"I didn't say you could speak, Unger! You must respect authority no matter what.

We thank you for what you have done but you chose the path of wasted potential and we don't have room for people like that. A shuttle happens to be leaving for Earth in three hours. You will be on it. You are discharged from the project."

"I'm not going anywhere," Ronan said as he pushed a finger towards him with emphasis. "I'm an asset despite what either of you think. If you want to get rid of me, you'll have to toss me out of the airlock."

"If that's what it takes!"

Ms. Yurasova said, "Look at yourself! This is what we're talking about! You could have been great. A part of history. Everyone knows it but you threw it away. I tried to warn you against this, did I not?"

Irena jumped in. "This is not all him! He wasn't the only one that did something wrong. Please, give us another chance."

Ms. Yurasova looked at her. "You are getting another chance to take the test. We decided that you will stay but we'll be watching you a little closer now. I'll be in my classroom in an hour. It would be to your advantage to be on time."

Ronan was flaming inside but who else could he blame?

She left without another word.

After she disappeared, the captain said, "One of you needs to pack and the other has a test to take. I can't come up with a reason why either of you are still here."

The pair stepped outside and the captain slammed the door at their heels.

A flood of emotions overwhelmed Ronan to the point they pushed tears down his cheeks. Few had seen him that way. He angled himself away from Irena.

He always thought men shouldn't cry but here he was in a quiet sob. It wasn't like he was a crybaby—it was the first time he cried since his favorite team lost the championship game last year! It hit him that he probably wasn't going to see Irena again and tears was a natural reaction but he struggled to get away from the belief it wasn't "manly."

She grabbed his arm and tugged but he resisted. She didn't give up. He sniffed and inhaled for a bit before he let her see him. She had the same emotional display. They held each other for a few minutes while they wept. When Ronan's sadness meter reached its max, he pushed her away.

He sniffed again and wiped his eyes. "You need to go. You have a test to pass."

She held him around the waist. "I'll come see you after it."

"Yeah, okay. Listen, I..."

Irena covered his lips. "No, don't say anything yet. This won't be the last time we see each other. I'll be back."

They held hands until she walked out of range. He was ready to say it but she probably wanted him to be sure. He was!

When she was gone, he made the trek towards the living quarters.

About two and a half hours later, Ronan was stuffing the last of his clothes into a bag. He wanted to see Irena once more and he was worrying that wasn't going to happen. He figured she couldn't bear to see him again knowing he was leaving. He couldn't blame her.

Through the door burst Kale! He sighed and wished it was Irena.

"Ronan! I'm glad I found you!" he said as he put on the brakes and stopped before colliding with him.

"What is it?"

Kale noticed Ronan's pile of bags. "What's going on here?"

"I've been discharged. They're sending me back home."

"No! Does this have anything to do with Irena?"

"Only about 99% of it. We did some stupid shit trying to be adventurous but I couldn't help myself. Ugh!"

"I'm sorry," Kale said. "If you needed some privacy, you could have told me."

Ronan surveyed the surroundings. "Would you bring a girl in here?"

"I see your point. I have to work on that. Anyhow, I don't know if this matters but we found a GPS chip in that alien aircraft. Whoever they are, they know our location!"

"Did you tell the captain?"

"Yes, he's moving the station to another location just in case. I asked him if he was going to put us in stealth mode but we already are."

Ronan threw a bag over each shoulder and picked another up. "Great. He's probably going to take credit for my discovery now that I'm gone. Could have been his plan all along. What a bastard."

"Don't worry. I'll flood the internet with the truth!"

"Thanks. Well, it was great knowing you. Maybe we'll meet again." He offered his free hand to him to shake.

After their goodbyes, he made his way to the hangar bay with a security escort. A shuttle with the EPC symbol on it was waiting for him. He took a look at his baby, the Comet SF-15, once more.

He never got to see Irena. Never had a chance to tell her what he thought of her. Maybe he deserved it but that didn't make it any easier. He walked in slow motion to the shuttle hoping she would show.

When he got to the shuttle, he spotted something beside his beloved comet—another aircraft resembling a cargo transport.

Ronan examined its sides. "I don't recognize this ship and it's missing the EPC insignia."

Something wasn't right. Red lights began flashing and sirens blared throughout the facility. His suspicions definitely had merit! The captain's voice accompanied the alarms.

"This is Captain Martinez. Hostiles are onboard. Ready your weapons and fire at will! Fire at...ugh!"

Ronan didn't like how the message was cut off. It sounded like he was clocked by someone or something. It was sad because he wanted to do it.

Ronan, along with his security escort, dashed into the corridor leading away from the hangar.

His escorts surged with electricity having been hit with some type of shocking bullets. The attacker shot at Ronan but he dove for the bodies to use them as cover.

Too busy trying to save his ass, he didn't get eyes on the attackers. He wondered where Irena was. He had to get to her!

Ronan grabbed a cosmic pistol off a guard. He checked for vital signs. They were twitching and alive but incapacitated.

With weapon in hand, he aimed it before him as he neared the captain's office. He flattened his back against the wall next to the door and peeked inside. No captain.

Ronan turned the corner ahead into the main hall.

More of his comrades were scattered across the floor including Kale! Ronan dove to his side. He looked okay aside from a bruise underneath his left eye and a red stream pouring from his nose.

Kale reached for Ronan's right hand as his other was trying to stop the bleeding. "You're still here! Good!"

"What the hell's going on? Who's here?"

"I don't know but they're human! One of them did this to me!" Kale said while pointing at his nose.

"Have you seen Irena?"

"I haven't seen her. I'm sorry," Kale said as he pushed on his leg. "Go find her. I'm fine."

Ronan followed the trail of bodies. He kept a slight bend in the knees with his pistol at the ready.

One of the invaders flew out from a side hall and fired upon Ronan but he dove through the air, slow motion action movie style, and plugged him twice. With a thud, he hit the ground.

Ronan ran to him. He was wearing an all cobalt blue uniform. He'd seen it before!

"The program sponsors? What are they doing here?"

The backers of the Genesis One program consisted of investors from several military branches worldwide.

A trail of bodies led him to the mess hall and the door was half open. He heard combative voices inside so he peered in from the side.

No Irena but the captain was there surrounded by a trio of cobalt uniforms. While trying to assess the situation, a poke to his ribs made him jump and gasp.

"Drop your weapon!" the owner of the poke said. It was a scratchy, smoker's voice, about fifty years old.

Ronan tossed his weapon and threw his hands up! With a gun at his back, he was forced to join the mess hall party.

A blue suit said to the captain, "And you knew this operation was not authorized, Sergio! The Genesis One program was not yet approved. The life support systems were not complete. Our technicians are bringing them up to standard now. You could have killed everyone here for what? Personal glory?"

Ronan's face, despite being dark, was glowing red. "What? You could have killed Irena, you son of a bitch!"

The captain had that same smug, bulldog mug. "I did what I did not for personal glory. Humanity's glory! I deemed it safe enough. You were being overly cautious when there are other worlds waiting to be discovered."

The boss shouted, "That was not your decision! You were clever to keep the stealth systems active and disable the onboard GPS but we had a feeling you wouldn't be able to resist the 'alien' artifact you found. It led us right here."

Ronan was empty. Risked his life to discover something that wasn't alien at all. Thought he was doing something great. It all seemed like a big hoax.

The boss ordered the captain arrested and everyone left. All Ronan had was Irena—wherever she was.

Everyone, single file, walked out into the hall.

He sighed when some footsteps pitter-pattered his way from the mess hall. It was Irena who jumped into his arms! Ronan swung her around and held her so tight a silverback couldn't pry her away.

Ronan said, "You made it!"

"Yeah, I was hiding in the kitchen. I heard everything. They're going to restart the space station program without our 'illustrious' captain. They were stunning people because they were innocent."

"That's great but you hadn't heard everything."

Irena grinned. "What haven't I heard?"

"That I love you."

"Aww..."

They shared a kiss and they would be together forever more—at least until they got caught and someone was sent home again!