The room was large, well-furnished and empty of occupants. Rifle at the ready he checked the doorway on the left. It led to a kitchen area and beyond that into a tunnel going into the mountain. There appeared to be apparatus in there for cooling and heating the safe house and moving air from large pipes going upward through the mountain. The air did seem fresh. There was plumbing as well coming down from the ceiling and running into the house. It also contained large wash tubs and lines running along one wall, probably for hanging laundry. He closed that door and checked the next one. A pantry, well stocked with canned goods and root vegetables.
He went back through the kitchen and down the hall across from the entry door. All the rooms were open. The first one on the left contained a full size bed, dresser, wardrobe, several stands and an easy chair. He went to the one next on the left and found it led into a bathroom with an extra large tub and shower, sink and two toilets, one extra large, one human size. The cabinet stood open to reveal towels, washcloths and soaps. These people believed in luxury and she had the money to assure it.
Directly across the hall from the first room on the left that he had decided must be Calli's he found a large workroom. Armor and weapons lay about on the tables in various states of repair. A work area in the back held a computer terminal and short wave radio. He was willing to bet both were functional. He would check that out later.
The last room on the right was a bedroom. This room seemed to be empty of personal items. On the bed was laid out a man's soft trousers and shirt, suitable for lounging about the safehouse. A towel, washcloth and toothbrush were stacked neatly on the dresser. He quirked a brow. A guest room? He went out and into the last door at the end of the hall. He walked into the room and had no doubt this was the mutants bedroom. The furniture was all supersized. Surprisingly one whole wall was taken up with shelves of books.
Having searched the entire house he was sure there was no one about. It appeared they had stocked the house and left it for him. Well, he didn't want to offend them by not taking advantage of their hospitality. Checking the front entrance he saw that it had an alarm that could be set. He studied it for a moment. It was a simple coded affair that he could program. Setting the alarm, so he would know if they returned, he retired to the guest room to shuck off the armor and get a shower. He hoped the water was warm.
Nathan was intrigued by the tubes in the ceiling of every room. It seemed they ran to the outside as the cycle of light and dark followed his timepiece, and sunlight seemed to fill each windowless room during the day. The lights in the house were electric, as was the stove and heating/cooling/air handling system. He suspected it ran on a solar power generator in a hidden area outside, probably somewhere high in the mountains.
The hot water was probably generated by a solar system as well and piped down with the cold water running directly from an underground stream. The rooms themselves had been built into an enormous cavern, with many of the outside walls still made of the natural rock. Calli and Hawk hadn't engineered this place; it must have been built before the war as a shelter for some rich family or high ranking government official. They undoubtedly kept it going though.
He used the time to explore the house, amazed at its efficiency and how well it worked. The computer did work but he couldn't crack into it. Calli was good with computers. The short wave radio also functioned. He felt a little better that he could contact the Citadel if he needed to.
He felt like an intruder when he went through Calli and Hawks rooms, but he had to be aware of how many weapons there were and where they were located. He wasn't surprised to find a good variety all functional and well supplied with ammo. He was a little surprised they left them unsecured obviously knowing he would come early.
He had found several outfits in the closet in the guest room, all his size. He didn't think that was a coincidence. He had smiled a little when he moved her soft camisoles to check under them. Even older women like nice soft things. The house had been exceptionally clean and organized, and he was careful to keep it that way. He was a considerate guest.
Nathan rose early on the third day, the day set for the meeting. Calli's instructions had stated she would meet with him in the evening so he had most of the day to prepare. He ate lightly, cleaning up after himself. He might have to move fast and a hearty meal could make him sluggish. After making sure everything was in readiness he moved the large table in the kitchen into the living room and positioned it in the corner by the hall. Calli would have to look around the door to see him, giving him a few moments advantage if needed. He donned his armor and took up his post on a chair behind the table. He could kick it over with one judiciously placed foot, putting a barrier between them. He reset the alarm to the original code and settled down with his thoughts to wait.
Calli opened the door slowly so the man inside could see she was coming in unarmed. Her rifle was slung across her back and her hands were empty. She stepped around the open door and stopped dead, staring. Nathan was sitting against the back wall with a heavy table between them, leaning back insolently, one booted foot propped on the edge of the table.
By the One, what was this? This wasn't the boy she remembered, this was a man, and what a man. The strong body was tensely alert, a slight beard made the handsome face even more intriguing. Dark brown hair curled about his ears and shoulders, inviting her to run her hands through it. Strong hands held a laser rifle, pointed right at her midriff, but she barely registered it. She was riveted by the intense, dark brown eyes, watching her carefully. This man was beautiful, she thought, as a frisson of lust suddenly exploding into a fire in the pit of her being. She sucked in a quick breath.
Nathan held the rifle steady, watching the small warrior. What was she doing? She had come into the room then just stopped. He couldn't see her face. No one in the wasteland had for many years. It was rumored she was so old and scarred she would frighten children if she showed herself.
"You wanted to talk?', he asked evenly.
The deep voice galvanized Calli. She moved toward him very slowly, her body pulsing with heat. She had reached the other side of the table. With one hand, slowly, she removed the rifle from her back and placed it on the table, pointing away from him.
"Tell me, Nathan," she asked, her voice sultry. "have you ever wondered what I look like beneath this mask?" She lifted her hands to the helmet, unsnapping it. She dipped her head as she pulled it off and placed it on the table, then looked up at the still man.
Nathan felt like he had been hit with a cudgel. She was gorgeous. Her youthful, heart shaped face was framed with short, shining, pink streaked, silvery blonde hair. Her flawless tanned skin was accented by large stormy grey eyes and was highlighted by a soft smattering of freckles. Her scent engulfed him with its spicy muskiness. Excitement swept through him.
"Did you know," she said softly, removing one glove with a slow sensuous movement, then the other, "that I grew up in a vault?"
Nathan didn't feel any need to answer as he watched the strip tease, his heart racing. With graceful, sensual movements she removed one arm piece and then the other, revealing slender perfect limbs.
"When I was just a child" she lifted a knife from the left legging and placed it on the table, then the left legging and boot joined the other pieces on the floor, showing a shapely leg and strong thigh," I was pushed off a stairwell. I had a large gash on my right leg that left a terrible scar."
The right legging and boot slid off. Calli slid her hand up her leg, up her thigh, looking at him. There was no scar. His heart was pounding, his body reacting to her sensuality. She lifted a hand to her shoulder and turned her eyes downward, away from him, as she unsnapped the breastplate and the remainder of the armor fell to the floor. She stood before him, unarmed, unarmored, dressed only in a filmy camisole, a perfect target.
"There's not a scar on me anywhere", she purred, running her hands down her slender body. "Would you like to see for yourself?" she asked breathily, her eyes wide, inviting.
Nathan lowered the rifle to the table. With a quick movement he was around the table, spinning her around, pulling her roughly against him as he took her lips in a savage, hungry kiss. Calli reached up and clutched him as he lifted her and dropped her onto the table, scattering weapons and armor onto the floor. She gasped, her legs encircling him. Years of frustration mixing with lust and anger and respect and admiration and a sweeping desire, exploded them into a whirlwind release of violent emotions.
Nathan was leaning over her, getting his breath back, watching the flung back head, the perfect, smooth, exposed throat. He felt something graze his hand and glanced down at the knife, still on the table. With a sweep of his hand he knocked it to the floor. Calli lifted her head and leaned forward to put her arms around him, resting her head against the leather armor. Damn he looked good in leather.
"By the One", she murmured, "that was….unexpected."
Still leaning on his strong arms over her, he said drily, "I take it then this isn't why you asked me here?"
Calli laughed, pushing him away and slipping to the floor.
"We'll talk about that later. Right now I need a shower. I've been out there in that suit all day, and I smell like a Death claw. You want to join me?", she asked invitingly.
Why not? Nathan thought, adjusting his clothing as he watched Calli bend to pick up a rifle and the knife. He didn't think she smelled like a Deathclaw at all.
"Would you grab that other rifle over there?", she asked. "We shouldn't leave weapons lying about." He followed her down the hall to the bathroom. She held out the other weapons. "Just put them in that first room on the left, would you? I'll start the shower."
Nathan placed the weapons on the dresser then shed his clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor. Naked he strode into the bathroom and into the shower, pulling the curtain, enclosing them in a steamy world of their own. She sighed as he pulled her back against him, the warm water pouring over them. She was perfect, he thought, too perfect. He slid his hands over her body, the too smooth skin, the round, high breasts. Not a scar anywhere. She didn't look a day over 20, her form tight and muscular. How could that be?
She had to be at least 50, maybe even 60. Perhaps Calli wasn't a name, but a title, passed down to daughter or granddaughter? Or an entire group of female warriors even? But that didn't make sense, they would still have scars. Then what was she, this perfect, sensuous creature who shouldn't exist? Calli twisted her head back, reaching up an arm to pull his lips down to hers, and he decided at the moment it didn't matter. He would figure it out later.