Mark and Maddy thought it had to be as close to the end of the world as one could get. With Marks instruction. It hadn't taken them long to put together packs for the both of them. After wards. They spent most of the rest of the night together at his quarters. All the while getting more and more into each other. Towards early morning with a faint smear of light shadowing the horizon, Maddy decided to do something really naughty. Sneaking out the north gate the two wayward kids made their way to the lake outside the north gate and decided to go skinny dipping. They had had a good time. But Mark didnt take into account Nathaniels early morning perimeter walk.
Watching them sneak out under the bars of the gate and make their way to the beach. Then later getting into each other. Taylor stood on the perimeter road watching them for a short while. Then with an evil grin on his face, had quietly called Reilley and Ben. Telling them to meet him at the north gate, and be very quiet about it. No lights. About 15 minutes later. The two soldiers silhouettes appeared alongside their leader. Without taking his eyes off the two lovers, who by now were completely involved. Only their heads shown above the water. The rythmic pattern of ripples emanating from their location made it obvious that they had no idea they were being watched or had any other concern. Without taking his eyes off the two. Taylor asked Reilley a question.
"You want to have some fun Corporal?"
Reilley looked from Taylor to the two wayward kids and back.
"Take their clothes Sir?"
"Only if you can be real quiet about it. This will be a night to remember for Mark especially. Dont you think Corporal?"
Reilley giggled despite herself.
"Indeed Sir. I'll be quick."
Throwing off her gear and handing her weapons to Ben. She quickly ghosted through the fence and her shadow seemed to float where a small pile of clothes lay along side a fallen log near the water line.
Ben stood there with Nathaniel, still holding Reilleys rifle and web belt. Also watching Reilley's progress.
"Do you want me to get a piece of him when he finally makes planetfall Sir?"
"No Warrant Officer. Jim gave Maddy his blessing to be with him. They're supposed to be meeting with me and her folks in the morning. To be leaving on a mission. The humiliation should be enough. So just give your neice some space on this one. For now."
Ben nodded. The ghost of a wicked smirk to rival Taylor's grin appearing on his normally dour appearance. Snickering at the thought of Jim fighting the urge to kill Mark if he ever found out. He did ask Taylor.
"You want to bring Jim into this yet?"
"Shortly. Doesn't hurt to have a little suspense for a little while. I just hope Maddy's protected. If she's going to be involved with Mark, we might be lucky that they'll ever get their mission accomplished."
Ben snorted at that.
"The one mission that should have been accomplished long after all other missions were fulfilled would be the one they started first. Jim's going to love this Nathaniel."
Both shared a quiet chuckle, still watching Reilly. The clothes and boots had magically disappeared. And shortly afterward appeared at the fence. Crawing under it. She quickly came up along side her Commander and Ben Shannon.
"What now Sir?"
She asked.
"You and Ben go get Mark and Maddy's stuff out of Mark's Quarters. I did stop by there earlier. It's all along side the coffee table. Ben. You should know if Maddy has anything laying about she might need. Load it onto the rover. I beleive ones already been signed out and set aside. Make sure its stocked for a long OTG. Weapons and supplies and cells. Then take it out side the gates around to where they wont have any trouble making their way to where its parked. I'll wait here a bit longer then light em up. Dont worry about missing anything. You'll have no trouble hearing anything."
Ben and Reilley both snickered. Having a hard time keeping straight faces. Looking at teach other, then back at Taylor. They both said "Yes Sir.", Then made their way into the colony to take care of his orders.
Watching the two lovers gradually reach their peak, while giving his two partners in crime time to get clear. Taylor quickly made his way through the fence, and stood by the log where Reilley had swiped their clothes. Watching the ripple pattern speed up it didnt take long to know when they were ready to peak. Just as the lovers got to experience a mutual orgasm. Commander Nathaniel Taylor, Military Governor of Terra Nova made his presence known. Sounding like a drill sergeant having a bad day in a room of day one privates, he didnt raise his voice much. Didnt need to. That gravelly voice seemed to come from every where.
"I see dereliction is never punished enough. A man leaves his daughter with you and you want to go after it like rabbits. And if that isnt bad enough, your endangering her by being outside the gates. And you young lady. A man trusts you to be alone with a trusted male and you decide to distract him. I stood here for over an hour watching you two and not once did you even notice. Why the hell am I to trust you not to get your self eaten let alone carry on a mission, when you are so distracted?"
The moment Tayor started talking. Maddy involuntarily contracted around Mark. Painful though it was. It didn't stop Mark from finishing his peak. Both were frantically looking around for the source of the voice of what had just become their worst nightmare. Hearts thudding in their throats, still looking around. Wasn't long before they spied Taylor's profile was visible where their clothes were supposed to be. Amazingly the cool water had seemed to drop almost ten degrees. Mark was still in pain from Maddy holding him with a death grip. But he hung on to her. Not sure what to do next.
"This is a hell of a way to learn grace under pressure isn't it? The only free pass your going to get is if you can get that lovely lady of yours through the jungle and over to the east road with out being seen by the tower gaurds. When you get there, the rover should be parked off in the trees a hundred meters east of the gate. Your clothes and stuff will be loaded in there. Lets just see if you can accomplish that simple mission. Corporal. Then. When you get there, and get decent, I expect to see you in the Command Center. BY NOON. That wont be a problem will it?"
"N-N-N-No Sir."
Mark managed to stutter.
"And while your at it son. I'm sure your blushing bride wont mind being carried that way, the WHOLE way so you got a bit of a hike, dont you think? Now Get After it."
Finished. Taylor looked at the two. Making eye contact with Mark in the pre-dawn light. He gave a short nod then turned and walked to the fence. Comming the tower gaurds closest to the north gate, he quietly told them to ignore what they might see in the next four hours. Coming back into the compound. He went on to finish his perimeter walk.
Mark and Maddy both watched him go. Then giving each other a fearful glance, they made for the east bank. Coming up out of the water. Maddy hopped down off Mark and they both made the trees before the light was bright enough for anyone to see the two au natural lovers slinking off into the jungle.
"This is a real pain."
Mark muttered as they kept low and headed through the thickest growth.
"What do you mean Mark. Should be a piece of cake."
Maddy replied. Slightly breathless as they made their way along.
"Because just ahead is the first of a bunch of areas where the trees thin out a lot. The whole northeast quarter of the perimeter towers would be able to see us."
"Oh."
was all Maddy could say in reply.
Moving through the udergrowth. Mark's thoughts quickly turned to what they'd been doing.
"Uh. Maddy. Were you using any protection?"
He asked, his anxiety starting to build.
"Little late for that soldier boy. Nope and I dont want to. So dont say anything. Yet."
Mark was slightly surprised at the boldness in Maddy's answer. But didn't say anything. Regarding this young lady in a new light. This did not sound like thew slightly shy geeky girl that he had become infatuated with. Moving thru the undergrowth. They came to the first open area that Mark had mentioned. Looking around. Mark saw a way they could get across it without being seen. Showing Maddy what she needed to do. They both got down flat on the ground and hig crawled across, keeping the thickest brush between them and the direction of the colony. Mark could tell it was going to be a long morning, if this first traverse across an open area was any indication. Maddy and Mark had a healthy dose of scratches on their bare skin by the time they made into the trees on the opposite side of the clear area. Regaining their feet, they made their way further east. Seeing they were now climbing a small ridge. Mark silently swore to himself. It was open clear across the top.
"Well Sir, you definitely found a way to make a point. Thats for sure."
He murmured. Maddy barely heard him.
"You say something Mark?"
She asked.
"Yeah Maddy. I did. I said; "Well Sir, You definitely found a way to make a point."'
"Hmmmmmmm."
Was all she commented. Moving along as the the cover got thinner and the rocks got bigger. Pretty soon, they were in the open. Near the summit of the ridge. Maddy stood straight and looked towards the colony.
"I dont see the colony Mark. We shouldn't have to worry about being seen for a bit."
Turning. She started down the other side. Mark keeping a cautious eye all around, particularly towards the colony. Off in the distance. He could just make out the tops of the towers poking through the mist. a little faster and they would be out of the line of sight from the towers. Mark didnt start breathing easier til they started back into the undergrowth. Mark noticed Maddy seemed to be taking all this in stride better than he was. Making their way into the thicker growth, it wasn't long before the canopy was well overhead and the undergrowth thinned out enough to walk easier. Watching her as she moved through the undergrowth. She seemed to be more at home. Noticing his attention. Maddy answered readily.
"I always wanted to know what it was like to do this Mark. Ever since that night at the camp."
Mark grinned.
"So I helped create a monster then?"
"Yup. And you get to be saluting your queen on a daily basis. So I expect you to feel I'm worth all this pain. I already know you think I'm worth it, so lets just enjoy the morning. Shall we?"
"Yes Ma am." Mark chuckled. Picking up his step and keeping up beside her.
Coming up to a draw. Mark noticed it angled off in roughly the direction they needed to go. Dropping down into it. Mark quickly led Maddy off in a southeasterly direction. It was actually easier going in the creek bottom, than up on the flat, and in short order. Rounding a bend. Mark noticed a break in the tree line. Climbing out of the draw. They made their way to where the tree line ended. Looking out. They could see they had made it to where the clearing outside the east perimeter of the colony started to narrow. Cautiously looking out. Mark quickly gauged the distance to the gates.
"Were almost there Maddy. We need to go to the left a bit."
Ducking back from the edge of the tree line. They headed off to their left. About fifteen minutes later. They could make out the outline of a rover against the early morning glare. Approaching carefully. They made it almost up to the rover. Nothing but a small curtain of foliage sheilded them from it. Then Mark went completely still.
"Mark. Whats wrong?"
Maddy whispered. Alarmed in the sudden change in Mark.
"Would you put it past a prankster to have another surprise, once you think you've made it past the last one?"
Was all he said.
Maddy looked at thim steady. Then turned her attention around them.
"I dont see anyone, or anything."
"Doesn't even have to be anyone present."
All this time. His attention was on the rover. Putting a hand out and lightly touching her shoulder. He whispered to stay there. Then moved through the last remaining feet of undergrowth. Checking the rover and the surrounding area. He found nothing suspicious. Reaching in the to the front seat. He pulled the clothing he found out. Unfolding and shaking out each piece. He didnt find or smell anything suspicious. Quickly gesturing for Maddy to come out. He started to pull on his clothes. Keeping a look out all around. Maddy had just as quickly made her way out and grabbed her clothes.
Once they were dressed. While Maddy kept a lookout. Mark went through the rover. It was neatly packed and ready. Seeing Maddy's plex on the console between the seats had a message prompt blinking on it. He gestured towards it. And Maddy quickly grabbed it and hit play. Ben's face came up on the screen.
"When you two get dressed. Head back for the colony The funs not over yet. Just know that this is probably the first time in my career I have ever seen the Commander with an ornery streak. We honestly do hope you understand why we did this. Because out there. Life isnt quite as forgiving. See you back there."
When Ben's message ended. Mark looked at Maddy.
"Your uncle sure is being benevolent today."
"He knows if he came down on you like a ton of bricks. I'd never speak to him again. So it appears he is being as diplomatic as his rank allows."
Getting in the rover. Mark fired it up and drove off. Headed towards the colony. Neither one saw the shadowy figures ghost from behind an old oak tree, come up to the edge of the brush, and watch them drive off. The taller one palmed his com.
"Shannon to Taylor. They're enroute. Marks all keyed up, so you may have started something. We'll be following shortly."
Listening to the reply. The tall one acknowledged then signed off. Looking over to his more slightly built companion. He asked.
"Guess next time we have fun, it wont be the swimming hole at three in the morning. Huh Reilly?"
"Reilley giggled.
"Not for a while. That was kind of fun following them. Do you think they'll stay together?"
"I hope so. She sounded serious about babies. I just hope she doesn't try a remote birth."
Both looking thoughtfull. Reilley finally spoke up.
"Someone that determined. It's quite possible."
Moving quickly as they finished speaking, they started off in the direction of the colony.