continue…..


“You don’t seem happy to see me.” She said, her green eyes twinkling.

“Should I be?” Martin asked. “I know why you are here Anja. I don’t like it; not one bit. There is nothing wrong with me or my people, and you know it.”

“What do you mean?”

Martin stepped closer to her. “Don’t insult my intelligence by feigning ignorance Anja. You are too intelligent for that. We both know who you work for, and why you are coming to EDEN.”

“I’m just following orders Martin.” Anja spoke sweetly.

“Were you following orders back then too? Your father’s orders maybe?” Martin threw the jab at her for some reason which he could not fathom.

Anja’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That … that isn’t fair Martin!” She hissed softly at him. “You … you never told me you were a Genome!”

“Pardon me, but if I remember correctly, and I am a Genome mind you, so my memory is perfect, I don’t recall you wanting me to stop what I was doing so you could ask that question.” Martin spoke in a low voice. “If I had told you, would it have mattered then?”

Anja met his dark eyes, deep pools of mystery that she had stared into for quite a few hours on that night. “It might have.” She finally blurted out, knowing it was a lie.

“So if I had told you I was a Genome you wouldn’t have slept with me?” Martin asked, his voice tinged with anger.

Anja’s face flushed even under her deep tan, and her eyes narrowed even more. “You should have told me before we … before…”

“Before we ended up enjoying ourselves too much?” Martin asked in a soft voice so that only she could hear him, but the anger was still there. “Forgive me, but it didn’t cross my mind at the time, and you didn’t seem to be complaining or be in any rush to have me stop what I was doing. I thought we were having too much fun. I guess I was the only one actually enjoying myself.”

Anja regained control of her racing emotions and looked at him. “I have a job to do, Martin. I hope you don’t get in my way.”

“Get in your way?” Martin chuckled stepping closer to her, so close in fact that Anja could smell his musky mint aroma. She had commented to him that night about what aftershave he wore because it smelled so good, and he had replied that he didn’t wear aftershave. “I’m EDEN’s Chief of Security Commander. As long as your job doesn’t interfere with my duties, we should get along just fine.”

“I have orders from…”

“Anja, there you are.” The male voice spoke from behind her interrupting what she was going to say.

The young man that had entered the lounge with her stepped up next to her and slipped his arm around her waist possessively. He was extremely handsome and of medium height, and was wearing what looked to be a two thousand dollar suit. His blond hair was neatly cut, his blue eyes dull with too much alcohol and drug use.

Anja forced a smile and pushed his arm from her waist as casually as she could. “Kevin, I’d like you to meet Commander Martin Hunter.” She spoke.

Kevin Graham, son of the most anti-genome senator in the country and a well-known junkie, looked at Martin, “Ah … the Genome.” He said.

Martin smiled at him, and had Kevin been more intelligent he would have seen the smile as what it was; a predatory grin from a wild animal about to strike, “Yeah … the Genome.” Martin said.

“Martin, this is Kevin Graham. Senator Graham’s son.” Anja explained quickly, seeing the look on Martin’s face and recognizing it for what it was. Anja however mistook the reason it was there, and for that matter so did Martin.

Martin folded his arms across his chest as Kevin held out his hand. “Yes, I know who he is.” Martin spoke maintaining control of his emotions. Seeing Kevin put his arm around Anja had sent a surge of anger through him and he didn’t know why. “I didn’t realize he was coming on this trip.”

“Senator Graham felt it would be a good experience for him. Kevin is campaigning for the 19th district in Virginia.” Anja told him.

Martin glanced at the Master Chief who was standing over to the side motioning him over. “That’s very nice. I wish you luck. I have work to do, if you’ll excuse me.” Martin glanced quickly at Anja before turning and heading for where the Master Chief stood.

Anja watched him move through the mass of men and women with confidence and grace. She smiled to herself as she remembered how she had reacted to his body against hers. The heat of his skin and the power of his body, it was almost as if he had some sort of unique aura that caused her to desire him so much. Or was it her own desire for him that made her react the way she did? Even after all this time Anja thought to herself, looking at his broad back, that one night they had spent together caused her to become damp between her thighs. It was going to be a very interesting assignment she thought.

“Arrogant asshole,” Kevin muttered drawing her attention, “Typical Genome.”

Anja looked at him, her smile fading away. “Don’t ever grab me like that again.” She growled at him in a low voice.

Kevin looked at her. “Like what? I’ve grabbed you like that before. In much, more public places. We are engaged, remember!”

“I am not a trophy Kevin!” Anja spat at him, the anger she was feeling very new and very intense. It was almost as if she was angry that Kevin had put his arm around her in front of Martin. “And you will not treat me like one! Is that understood?”

Kevin smiled. “Relax Anja.” He told her. “I only wanted to put the Commander in his place. He is a Genome. They are known to be volatile and explosive. I wanted to put him in his place right away, so you don’t feel threatened.”

Anja shook her head and smiled a sad smile. “Believe me, the last thing Martin Hunter feels threatened by is you.” Anja was beginning to regret saying yes to Kevin when he asked her to marry him six months ago. She had done so to advance her career and to make her father happy. He was worried she would be led astray by events that were happening in the military, and felt marrying Kevin Graham would solidify her position within the Senator’s entourage, and give her a leg up when she left the Navy. Anja hated having Kevin paw her body at odd times to prove his manhood to others, and having sex with him was revolting to her, even when she was drunk.

Kevin took her hand. “C’mon, my father is expecting an initial report of contact with Hunter.”

Anja let him lead her back through the mass of people, quietly thinking how Kevin would surely get his ass handed to him if he tried to pull the same stunts with the Genome soldiers as he had with everyone else he knew. It brought a smile to her face picturing Martin hanging him

over a railing somewhere putting his arrogant ass in its place.

Martin and the Master Chief stood to one side of the line that was formed to walk through the three metal detectors. Each of the Raptor Jump ships could hold two hundred and fifty people in the part of the cargo hold that had been configured for airline seating, and these were the last groups of technicians and scientists that would be joining EDEN’s eight thousand-member crew.