Chapter 126

#Day 40 — 06:30

The weapons locker was crowded, bodies pressing against metal cabinets, the air thick with the smell of gun oil and nervous sweat. Maggie stood at the center, a tablet in her hand showing a top-down photograph of the frigate wreck. Around her, the salvage team gathered—Victoria, Kim, Nadia, Saanvi, and Zhao.

Zhao's eyes moved across the faces. Six engineers. Six security. Himself. Nadia. Saanvi. Fifteen people. Fifteen lives he would be responsible for.

Maggie pointed at the tablet. "The bridge will be our temporary operations center. Nadia, you're there. Set up defensive parameters, coordinate the salvage. The antenna mast is nearby—Zhao, your turrets go at its base."

Zhao nodded. "Two automated turrets. Basic functions, but they'll cover the approaches."

"The ship interior is off-limits until cleared," Maggie continued. "We don't know what's inside. Crawlers could be dormant, like the ones at the base. Security will clear floor by floor. Everyone else stays on the exterior decks."

Kim spoke up. "I'll have my team set up a pulley system on the starboard deck. The stern deck is damaged—too unstable. We'll bring salvaged equipment down the starboard side. The assault boat will be positioned mid-ship."

She looked at the tablet, frowning. "The seas are rough. Rocks everywhere. The boat's going to take some hits. Extra armor plating should hold, but it's not going to be comfortable."

"How many engineers?" Maggie asked.

"Six. That's the best I can do. Any more and they'd just get in each other's way. The rest aren't trained for salvage work anyway. They stay on the Blue Oasis for emergencies."

Maggie's jaw tightened. "Six engineers, six security, Nadia, Zhao, Saanvi—that's fifteen people. We only have twelve sets of winter clothing."

Victoria crossed her arms. "Then we cut security to four. Two on the top deck guarding the engineers, two inside clearing the ship. The automated turrets will cover the bottom deck. Once the interior is cleared, security can help with salvage."

Maggie nodded slowly. "Everyone gets a sidearm. Minimum. No exceptions."

Saanvi stepped forward, setting a small case on the bench. She opened it, revealing a row of slim bracelets—grey bands with small blinking lights.

"New prototypes," she said. "They measure Dawn Meter readings in the body and the environment. Also monitor heart rate. Higher environmental readings could indicate the presence of crawlers before you see them."

Victoria picked one up, turned it over, and snapped it onto her wrist. "Nice."

Zhao stared at the bracelets. His hand moved to his own wrist, remembering the last time he had watched pulses on a monitor—Verne's and Victoria’s flatlining, during the first Carmona assault. Now he would wear one. His family would watch his pulse alongside the crawlers' heat signatures.

He snapped the bracelet on. It was light. Almost unnoticeable.

He noticed it anyway.

Saanvi checked each bracelet as they were fastened. Her face was professional, but her eyes narrowed when she reached Maggie, Kim, and Nadia.

"These readings are too high," she said. "For a multi-day mission with risk of crawler exposure? Maggie, your injury is accelerating your viral load. Kim, same for you. Nadia, you haven't been treated by Zhao in weeks."

Kim glanced at her bracelet, then at Zhao. She smiled—a little sharp, a little playful. "Looks like Zhao's going to have fun with us before we leave."

Victoria laughed. "Why don't we make it a tradition? Sex before a mission. Good morale boost."

She winked at Zhao.

Zhao saluted her, grinning despite himself. "Yes, ma'am."

Maggie's face remained serious, but her voice was firm. "On a serious note, it's a necessity. During the first encounter with the resurrected Blanc, my Dawn Meter held up much better than the rest of my team. They hadn't been treated by Zhao. I had."

Victoria threw her arm around Zhao's shoulders. "Well, that settles it. New tradition. New safety protocol." She squeezed him. "I can't wait for my daily dose of protection."

Zhao rolled his eyes. "You're more resistant than the rest of them. I should prioritize the ones who actually need it."

Victoria slumped, her face a theatrical mask of disappointment. "You're breaking my heart."

Zhao sighed. "Fine. Exception today."

She cheered up instantly, punching his arm.

Maggie checked her watch. "Three hours until mission start. We have time for treatment." She looked at Zhao. "Military style. Like we did with the security team."

Victoria wrinkled her nose. "That doesn't sound like a morale booster. That sounds like a factory line."

"Efficiency matters."

"We need a fixed location," Victoria said. "Somewhere we can make into a ritual space. Turn it into a tradition, not just a quick fuck in the locker room."

Maggie considered. "The shower room. Efficient. Shower, then treatment."

Victoria shook her head. "The shower room is a public space. Anyone could walk in. It can't be ritualistic."

Zhao had an idea. "Follow me."

#Day 40 — 06:45

The hatch to Sophie's secret room was hidden behind a panel in the service corridor. Zhao pressed the rivet, and the ceiling panel dropped, ladder extending.

One by one, they climbed up.

Kim was the first through the hatch. She stopped, her eyes widening.

The room was larger than she had expected. The curved window faced the rough seas, gray light filtering through. The bed dominated the center, low and wide, its sheets still fresh. The bath tubs gleamed. The lounge was soft, inviting.

"How many secret rooms does this ship have?" Kim asked. "And how many of them does Sophie know about?"

Victoria walked to the blank wooden wall opposite the bed. She touched it, her fingers tracing the smooth surface.

"We should make this a commemoration wall," she said. "Hang memorabilia of our victories. Heroism. The things we've survived."

Maggie looked at the shower. "The shower area should be extended. Accommodate more people at once."

Kim shrugged. "That's not a big problem. My team can do it after the mission."

Victoria grinned. "I'll be the chaplain."

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "Of what religion?"

Victoria thought for a moment. Then she grinned. "The horny girls at arms religion."

Zhao cleared his throat, raising his hand like a student. "I'd like to point out that I'm the only one here who doesn't qualify for membership in that particular religion," he said, his lips quirking into a half-smile.

Maggie snorted, but it wasn't a dismissal. She began unbuttoning her shirt.

"Shower first," she said. "Then treatment."

She walked toward the shower, already pulling the fabric from her shoulders. Kim grabbed Zhao's hand and pulled him after her.

Victoria turned to Nadia, who was standing near the hatch, her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes on the floor.

"Have you done this before?" Victoria asked.

Nadia nodded. "Once. With Aida and Zhao. It was... clinical."

"Not today." Victoria reached out, touched her chin, lifted her face. "Today we have fun."

She began undressing.

#Day 40 — 07:10

The shower was a steamy haven, the water pressure strong and the hot spray enveloping Maggie and Zhao. The air was thick with the scent of soap, slick and silky on their skin. She washed his back with quick, efficient strokes, the texture of his muscles firm beneath her hands—a habit born of military routine, not intimacy. But when he turned to face her, she paused, her hands resting on his smooth chest. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, time stood still.

"This isn't just about the mission," she said quietly, her breath warm on his face.

"No," he replied, the single syllable heavy with unspoken words.

She nodded, and something in her face softened. Just a fraction. Just enough.

They finished showering and stepped out, towels wrapped around their waists. The cool air of the room was a stark contrast to the humid warmth of the shower. The bed was waiting, the crisp sheets inviting.

Victoria was already on it, her body pressed against Nadia's. The room was filled with the scent of their arousal, a musky sweetness that hung heavy in the air. Victoria's face was buried in Nadia's breast, her fingers working between Nadia's thighs. Nadia's eyes were closed, her mouth open, her breath coming in soft gasps that tasted of desire.

Victoria looked up, saw Zhao and Maggie. "Shower's free. Go," she said, her voice husky. She kissed Nadia's nipple, then rolled off the bed, heading toward the water.

Maggie knelt on the bed, facing the curved window. The sea was rough, waves crashing against the distant rocks, the salty tang of the ocean filling her nostrils. The silhouette of the frigate was visible on the horizon, dark against the gray sky.

Zhao knelt behind her, his hands warm and firm on her hips. He reached around, his fingers finding her wetness, her skin slick and smooth. She was ready—not from arousal, but from efficiency. She had prepared herself, the scent of her own desire mingling with the soap on her skin.

"I'll do the micro-ejaculation technique," he said, his voice low. "Rectal is most effective."

Maggie nodded, her hair brushing against his cheek, the strands soft and damp.

Victoria appeared beside them, her body still damp from the shower, droplets of water glistening on her skin. She knelt next to Maggie, close enough for Maggie to feel the heat radiating from her body. Maggie tensed, her muscles taut.

Victoria noticed. She didn't push. She leaned in, kissed Maggie's shoulder—soft, gentle, her lips warm and moist. Then her neck, the taste of Maggie's skin salty and sweet. Then her jaw, her breath hot on Maggie's ear.

Maggie's tension didn't disappear, but it shifted. Became something else, something more.

Victoria kissed her, her lips full and soft. Maggie's lips parted, her hand coming up to touch Victoria's face, her fingers tracing the smooth curve of her cheek.

Zhao wet his fingers, the sound of his movements slick and intimate. He pressed them against Maggie's ass, her skin yielding to his touch. She relaxed into the intrusion, her body opening to him. Victoria slid her hand between Maggie's thighs, finding her wet and hot, and pressed two fingers inside.

They worked together—Victoria's fingers in her vagina, Zhao's fingers preparing her ass. When she was ready, Victoria reached back, gathered moisture, and coated Zhao's cock, her hand slick and warm. She guided him to Maggie's entrance, her touch steady and sure.

He pushed in slowly, the sensation of her body enveloping him intense and tight. Maggie gasped, her hand tightening on Victoria's shoulder, her nails digging into the firm muscle beneath.

Victoria moved lower, her mouth finding Maggie's breast, her tongue hot and wet against the taut nipple. Her fingers still worked inside Maggie, matching Zhao's rhythm—each thrust, each curl of her fingers, each pull of her lips a symphony of sensation.

Nadia and Kim emerged from the shower, towels wrapped around them, their skin flushed and damp. They climbed onto the bed, watching, their eyes wide with curiosity and desire.

Zhao's rhythm increased, his breath coming in short, controlled bursts. He felt the climax building, controlled it, released only a small amount into Maggie, his body tensing with the effort.

He pulled out, the sensation of leaving her body a mix of loss and satisfaction. Maggie turned, looked at Nadia, her eyes filled with determination. "Your turn," she said, her voice steady.

Nadia's eyes widened, her breath hitching in her throat. Kim moved behind her, kissing her shoulder, her hand sliding between Nadia's thighs, the scent of her arousal filling the air.

"She's ready," Kim said, her voice low and sultry.

Maggie knelt behind Nadia, her fingers finding her ass, the skin soft and yielding. It clenched, the muscles tight and resistant.

"Relax," Maggie said, her voice firm yet gentle. "Zhao will do micro-ejaculation. Rectal is more efficient. It won't take long."

Kim continued to stroke Nadia's clitoris, her fingers sliding inside her vagina, finding the spot that made her gasp, her breath coming in short, sharp pants. Maggie pressed one finger into her ass, then two, the digits slick and firm.

Nadia arched her back, her body a taut bowstring, the scent of her desire filling the air. Zhao moved behind her, his cock slick from Maggie's preparation, the head pressing against her entrance.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.

She nodded, her breath catching in her throat. He pushed in slowly, her body resisting, then yielding, then opening to him. He stopped, let her adjust, her body softening around him.

"How does it feel?" he asked, his voice gentle.

She struggled for words, her breath catching. "Full. Strange. Not bad," she managed, her voice a husky whisper.

He began to move—slow, steady, patient. He wanted her to enjoy this. Not just endure it. Kim leaned in, kissed Nadia, her tongue sliding against hers, the taste of her mouth sweet and hot. Maggie lowered her mouth to Nadia's breast, sucking gently, the sensation of her lips and tongue a soft, wet heat.

Victoria saw the scene, grinned and joined them. Kim was on her hands and knees, her ass in the air, Maggie's fingers inside her, the scent of her arousal filling the air. Victoria knelt behind Kim, her hand sliding between Kim's thighs, the skin slick and hot.

"How many?" Kim asked, breathless, her voice a mix of challenge and curiosity.

"Just getting started," Victoria said, her grin wicked. She pressed two fingers inside Kim's ass, then three, the digits slick and firm. Kim gasped, her body tensing, then opening to the intrusion.

"Are you going to fist me next?" Kim asked, her voice a husky whisper.

Victoria's grin widened. "That's the idea," she said, her voice a low purr. Kim's eyes widened, her breath coming in short, sharp pants. She looked back at Victoria, then at Maggie, then at Zhao, her eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and trepidation.

"Don't stop," she said, her voice a breathless plea. Victoria worked her fingers deeper, Kim's breath coming in short gasps, her body a taut bowstring. Maggie's fingers moved in rhythm with Victoria's, and Zhao kept his pace inside Nadia, steady, patient, his body slick with sweat.

Victoria pressed her thumb against Kim's perineum, then her entire hand, the sensation of her body opening to the intrusion intense and intimate. Victoria's fist disappeared inside her, the sight of it a raw, primal display of trust and desire.

Kim dug her nails into Victoria's arm, her eyes wide, her mouth open, her breath coming in short, sharp pants. "Okay?" Victoria asked, her voice gentle.

Kim took a deep breath. Nodded. "It's not so bad," she said, her voice a husky whisper. Victoria laughed, the sound low and sultry. "You like it, don't you?" she teased.

Kim's face flushed, her body a warm, rosy hue. She didn't answer. She just pushed back against Victoria's hand, her body opening to the sensation. Maggie watched, her own fingers still inside Kim, her eyes wide with curiosity and desire. "Now I know what fisting is," she said, her voice a low murmur.

Kim opened her eyes, looked at Victoria, her gaze filled with a mix of challenge and lust. "I'll have my revenge," she promised, her voice a husky whisper. Victoria taunted her, her voice a low purr. "Try."

Kim lunged, but Victoria was faster—she rolled, pinned Kim to the bed, her fist still inside her. She sat on Kim's back, pumping her fist in a steady rhythm, the sound of their bodies meeting a slick, wet slap. Kim came with a cry, her body convulsing, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She laughed, breathless, her body a warm, limp puddle of satisfaction.

"Maggie, help me!" she pleaded, her voice a breathless giggle. Maggie moved, grabbing Victoria's shoulders, her hands firm and steady. Together they wrestled her onto her back, Victoria laughing, struggling, but the two of them were too much. They pinned her to the bed, her body a taut, writhing mass of muscle and desire.

Kim sat on Victoria's face, pinning her down, her body a warm, firm weight. Zhao held himself deep inside Nadia, his body tensing as he released just enough—a carefully controlled micro-ejaculation—before his attention was pulled away by the commotion of limbs and laughter across the bed where the other three wrestled.

Maggie was smiling, her face a picture of joy and contentment. He had never seen Maggie smile. Not once. Not in all the weeks they had known each other. Her face was always serious, her jaw always tight, her eyes always scanning for threats.

But here, now, with Victoria pinned beneath her, with Kim laughing above her, with Nadia's breath warm on his neck—Maggie was smiling. He wondered if she even knew.

Zhao looked at Nadia, his voice a low rumble. "Help them." Nadia scrambled off the bed, grabbed Victoria's thrashing legs, held them down, her hands firm and steady. Kim took the opportunity to sit on Victoria's face, pinning her completely, her body a warm, firm weight.

Zhao cleaned his cock and moved behind Kim. He entered her—no warning, just the sudden heat of him, his cock slick and firm. Kim looked back, surprised, her eyes wide. "You didn't lube," she accused, her voice a breathless gasp.

He looked down at Victoria beneath them, her hand already between Kim's thighs, gathering moisture, coating his cock, her fingers slick and warm. "I did," Zhao said, his voice a low rumble. "Not by myself."

He spanked Kim's ass, the sound of flesh meeting flesh a sharp, stinging slap. She laughed, then collapsed onto Victoria's pussy, her fingers sliding inside, fisting her in return, her hand a slick, firm intrusion.

Victoria moaned beneath them, her body arching, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Maggie moved, straddling Victoria, scissoring her, her wetness against Victoria's thigh, the sensation of their bodies meeting a slick, hot slide. Kim leaned down, sucked Maggie's breast, her mouth hot and wet, her tongue a firm, insistent pressure.

Zhao came inside Kim, his body tensing, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Maggie came against Victoria, her body convulsing, her breath coming in short, sharp pants. Victoria shuddered in release beneath the weight of their bodies, every muscle tensing then surrendering to pleasure, her breath coming in short, sharp cries.

They collapsed together, a tangle of limbs and sweat and laughter, the scent of their desire filling the air, the taste of their passion lingering on their tongues. Victoria was the first to speak, her voice a breathless, satisfied murmur. "This is fun."

The others nodded, still catching their breath, their bodies a warm, limp puddle of satisfaction, the room filled with the scent of their desire, the taste of their passion lingering on their tongues.

Maggie sat up, her face serious again, but softer around the edges. "Maybe we should also have a post-mission ritual."

"Aft lounge on B-Deck," she said. "Convert it into a rowdy bar. Celebrate after each successful mission."

Victoria grinned. "I like that."

Kim nodded. "Me too."

They dressed slowly, not hurrying, the camaraderie lingering in the air. When they were finished, they stood in a circle.

Kim looked at each of them. "I'm looking forward to that bar."

They put their hands together in the center.

"To the future of the Oasis!" Victoria shouted.

"Together!" they answered.

The sound echoed off the walls of Sophie's secret room. Zhao felt the anxiety drain from his shoulders. Not gone—not completely—but lighter.

They left the room, walked toward the deck, toward the boats, toward the frigate waiting on the horizon.

The mission was ahead. Danger was ahead.

But they were ready.