Fourth Vector Ch. 19

Jack nodded. "The entire bridge, other officers, as well as Abigail and Kat. It could definitely be bad."

"Maybe you should just get yourself checked out then," said Greg.

"Hey, doc?" asked Jack, getting the attention of Kendall. "Come here for a second."

Luckily for all of them, when Kendall checked Jack's temperature, it was within a normal range. Being as both Greg and Vera started with a fever, it was a promising sign that their commander may have just narrowly escaped possible infection.

"I don't want to be blasé about this though," said Jack finally, after Kendall's examination. "Perhaps it could be slow to appear in different people. Just the fact that I'm not running a fever now doesn't mean that one couldn't appear later. For the sake of the entire task force, I'm going to lock myself up in my room until we reach Carinthia. We should at least know by then."

Greg nodded. "Sounds like a good idea to me."

"I shouldn't have let you go," said Jack after a few quiet moments. "It was too risky to send you ashore. Now look what I've done. You're sick because it's my fault."

Greg studied the pained face of his commander. It wasn't hard to see that Jack carried their personal safety very close to his heart, and the threat of something happening to them was one that caused a considerable amount of distress for him. Yet, it wasn't his fault.

"You have nothing to blame yourself for," said Greg ardently. "I volunteered to go, remember? I was the one that asked you to scope out the Swabian warehouse."

"And I let you go. That falls just as equally on me," croaked Jack.

Greg shook his head. "No, it doesn't. I came up with the idea, and I made the request. It falls on me. I'm used to it, Jack. I've put my life on the line for Java for a great number of years. Every day in this job, I'm risking my life. I've come to accept that over time. It was no more a dangerous assignment than half the battles we've fought together. This was on me. Don't blame yourself for it."

"I just need you to do all you can to survive," said Jack before pivoting to Vera. "Both of you. I can't lose the two of you."

"You don't have to worry about us, Jack," said Vera somewhat cheerily. "Greg and I will pull through. We'll make sure of it."

Jack nodded with only the slightest hint of reluctance. "Please, both of you get some rest. I'll come check on you every morning that I can. If you need anything, let Kendall know and he can get a message over to me. I don't want you to want for anything."

"I'm sure we won't," said Greg before pointing back to the doctor. "We're going to lick this thing quickly. You have my word."

They exchanged pained goodbyes a moment later before Jack left for his quarters. The both of them resumed their positions on their beds. After a few moments of quiet, Vera turned her head to look at him, her blonde locks going with her.

"What do we do now, Greg?"

He took a deep breath. "We pray for this to be over quickly."

*****

Jack paced around his quarters, his footsteps heavy and his breath labored as he considered the plight currently facing the task force. He felt like he left a part of himself down in the infirmary, with not only his sister infected, but also his right-hand man. Deep within his soul, he felt a fight brewing, especially as they sailed closer to Carinthia. Facing it without Greg and Vera seemed like a daunting prospect on its own.

He didn't have long to ponder the matter on his own. There was a brisk knock on his door, and soon the faces of the two women that meant the most to him entered. He wasn't surprised to see them, as he'd quickly radioed both of them to join him in his quarters as soon as possible. The looks of surprise on their faces were enough for him to know they suspected the worst.

"Jack? What's wrong?" asked Kat, as she closed the door. "I can tell something is wrong just by the look on your face."

Jack took a deep breath. "Vera and Greg have the plague."

Abigail's hands quickly went to her mouth while Kat's jaw dropped. He went through his entire conversation with the two sick members of the task force, letting them know the leading theory and the possible extent of the infection. Jack finally slumped down to the bed, his shoulders weak and his gaze fixed on the floor.

"Kendall is treating them now, but he did tell me that this has to run its course. He can make them comfortable and give them medication to help lessen the effects, but ultimately, they will need to fight it off on their own," he said wearily.

"They are fortunate then to be in Kendall's hands," said Abigail with her arms crossed across her chest. "He's one of the best there is. If anyone can get them through it, it's him."

"We can hope," said Jack. He then shook his head quickly. "I really wished I hadn't let Greg off theDestiny to explore this situation."

Kat reached out to touch his hand. "It was the best option that we had left. We had to find out what the Swabians were really doing here. Your gut feeling was right on this one, Jack. They were behind the plague. Just in a far more wicked way than anyone could've imagined."

Jack swallowed hard. "It still doesn't make the decision any easier."

Abigail moved to sit on the other side of him, her arm resting against his back. "You know as well as I do that to be in command means having to make tough decisions. Sometimes those decisions involve people we care about. In any event, Greg agreed to go ashore and do the reconnaissance. He knew the danger before he stepped off the ship."

"I just don't know if I'll be able to forgive myself if anything happens to them," he said quietly.

Kat nodded and caressed his hand. She leaned in to kiss his cheek next. "Like Abigail said, they're in good hands. We just need to let them rest and hopefully they'll beat this."

"There's one more thing though," said Jack before looking back and forth between them. "I was also in the room when they got back from the warehouse. Even though I didn't touch the infected clothing, I still was in the same close quarters as the two of them. I could just as easily be infected."

Jack half expected them to recoil from his body, especially since they were in such close proximity. To their credit, neither woman budged an inch. For several silent moments, Jack wondered if it was out of a sense of loyalty or love for him that they didn't move away and seek to minimize contact. It wasn't as if it was the first time they'd shared such a personal space since the night in Greg's quarters. He still slept with both of them every night. Every morning, Jack woke up cradling both women in his arms. Even last night, he had sex with Kat while Abigail watched from just a few inches away, quietly moaning as her hand worked furiously below her waist.

In terms of passing the infection, the damage may have already been done.

"Do you feel sick, Jack?" asked Abigail finally. She placed her hand against his forehead. "You don't feel warm."

"Kendall checked me out before I left the infirmary," he said. "My temperature is normal. Apparently, that's one of the first indicators of the plague. I may not be out of harm's way just yet though."

"Especially if this thing is airborne," said Kat. "There's no telling how many areas might be infected on the ship just from one piece of clothing."

"So far, it's just Greg and Vera, but I want to get word out to all the officers to be on the lookout for any symptoms of the plague in their men," said Jack before looking to Abigail. "We'll need to move quickly if it spreads. We may not have much time to prevent the infection from spreading. If this starts to make its way through the ranks, we may be in serious trouble."

Abigail nodded. "I'll get word out to the officers. Do you want me to tell them it could be the plague?"

Jack pursed his lips. "No doubt they'll figure it out on their own. They knew what was going on in Daban. Be upfront with them, but don't let anyone know about Greg and Vera unless it's need-to-know. No sense in spreading panic if we don't have to."

"I'll get it done, Jack," said Abigail with a brave smile.

Jack gulped heavily. "I might make sense for me to separate myself from you two as well. Lock myself here in my quarters until we're sure I'm not infected. I know this isn't the first occasion that we've been in such close quarters. Especially last night." Jack turned to look at Kat, finding her cheeks starting to flush in memory. "But if there's a chance I haven't infected you both, I want to make sure it doesn't come to pass. I couldn't live knowing I gave it to either of you."

He wondered what kind of response he would get from them. Barring their own responsibilities, Jack had rarely been separated from the women by choice. He preferred not to be, greatly enjoying their company to an extent that he'd never known previously. Yet, he didn't want to see them locked up in the infirmary with Greg and Vera if he could help it.

Jack waited patiently for their response, watching as the two women looked to each other for several moments. They seemed to be communicating almost telepathically before they suddenly turned to look back at him.

"No, Jack," said Kat with a firm shake of her head. "Our place is here with you. Beside you. We understand the risk, but we don't want to be separated from you."

He looked back and forth between them. "Are you sure about that? What if—"

Abigail held up her hand. "What ifs don't matter to us," she interrupted. "You do. I love you, Jack. And I know I can speak for Kat as well in that sentiment. The only way you're getting away from us is if you throw us overboard, and even then, we just might start swimming until we can catch up to you."

That statement forced a laugh, not only from Jack, but from Kat as well. By the time he'd recovered, Abigail had pressed in, encircling her arms around his back and placing her head against his chest. He wrapped her in a hug while pulling Kat in on the other side. "I love you both."

Kat giggled and leaned up to kiss him. "We're in this together. What happens to you, happens to us too. You might as well get used to it, Jack."

"I'm still learning," he said with a chuckle. "But I am thankful to have you both. Even during times like these."

"We have to make the most of the time we have. Even when things aren't going our way," said Kat quietly.

Abigail made her approval known by nuzzling into his chest silently.

"Would I be able to talk you both into staying in my quarters, at least until we reach Carinthia?" he asked finally. "If we're all infected, it would be the best precaution from spreading it."

"Stay locked up in here?" asked Kat with an arched eyebrow. "Let me get this straight. You're seriously asking us to drop all that we're doing to stay locked up in this little room and big bed for the next two days?" She gave him a coy smile that let him know she was being playful right away.

"I was hoping it wasn't too much to ask," he said glibly.

"I'll just have to see if I can clear my schedule," said Abigail haughtily.

Jack chuckled. "Even if I make it worth your while?"

"Oh, and just what did the Commodore have in mind?" Abigail reached over to squeeze his crotch.

"A whole lot of that would be nice indeed," he added.

Kat looked past him to look at Abigail before a broad smile appeared on her face. She reached for the hem of her shirt and began to pull it up. "What are we waiting for then?"

*****

In the morning, Jack radioed out to Dr. Kendall to find out the latest news about Greg and Vera. Unfortunately, there'd been no change since the day before as both patients battled through a high fever and random bouts of chills. Jack's first inclination was to go to see them, but he remembered his promise to remain in his quarters. He had a message sent down to both of them, but otherwise he spent most of the day locked up with his lovely companions.

Not that it was a miserable experience. Quite the opposite, really. Kat and Abigail seemed determined to do all that was possible to take his mind off of the plague. For that, he was thankful, but he still managed to feel guilty about it. While he was in his quarters sandwiched between the two women, his friend and his sister were fighting for their lives below deck. It just didn't seem fair.

At least the change in scenery seemed to take his mind off of current events. Around late afternoon, Kat pointed out the first sight of Carinthia from the cabin window, a dark mass of land just visible on the eastern horizon.

"It's much closer than I imagined it would be," said Jack, gazing out at the country. "I thought there would be a little more distance to cover in just three days."

"We still have a little ways to go," said Kat before gesturing to the landmass. "This is the Carinthian gap. It's the narrowest body of water between the two countries. You can't see it now, but if we left your quarters and looked to our starboard side, we'd still see Picardy."

"How big is the gap in total?" asked Abigail.

"About thirty miles," answered the blonde-haired woman. "You can almost always see the other shore, even when you're on land. For some reason, the weather is usually clear in the gap. If there was any cloud cover, you'd never see the other side."

Jack looked back out to Carinthia. From this distance, the land looked remarkably flat and devoid of much tree cover. He couldn't see any mountains, and it looked like the land remained smooth and flat all the way until it met the horizon.

"Are there any mountains in Carinthia?" he asked. "I realize we are still a distance out, but it looks very flat."

Kat shook her head. "Not really. Carinthia is a very flat country. It's ideal horse country, and that's what the Carinthians have primarily been known for throughout the years. Their cavalry was some of the best in the west. You can still find great swathes of meadows in the country filled with wild horses. It really can be quite picturesque."

"I'd really like to see that someday," said Jack quietly before turning to look at Kat. "Provided there's not another war here."

Kat smiled gently. "Me too. Hopefully, we can put things straight with Queen Reina before things boil out of control."

"Is she located near the coast?" asked Abigail. "And will it be a struggle to get in front of Reina as much as it was for Aedan?"

Kat shook her head quickly. "Polana is the capital, and it's based on a broad plain not far from the coast. The port that services the city is where we'll land, and we'll hire some horses to get us the rest of the way to Reina's court. I don't believe it will be a struggle to see her, especially if we lead with our official titles. Reina is an old friend of mine, and I think with the severity of the situation with the Picards, she'll be willing to let me mediate."

"And if she doesn't?" asked Jack before turning to face Kat.

She focused her full gaze on him. "Then we find another way. Just like we did in Picardy."

He nodded grimly, not bothering to say anything in return. Her confidence on the matter was soothing, and he hoped that she was right about Reina. If not, they might find themselves out of time to prevent the war from breaking out.

Jack felt Abigail lightly touch his shoulder. "What do you want me to do while you meet with Reina? Stay with the ships?"

Jack thought about the request for a moment before nodding. "I think it's best. There's no one else I trust more at the helm of theDestiny. With tensions as they are right now, I want my best officer in charge, just in case."

She smiled briefly at the compliment before nodding. "I figured you might say that," she said before changing the subject. "You feel all right though, right? You don't feel like you have a fever or might be sick?"

Jack shook his head. "I feel just fine. I think if we were infected, it would have hit us by now. Do either of you feel odd?"

Both women shook their heads.

"I think we were lucky in that regard," said Jack. "I've had no reports of it spreading beyond Greg and Vera. Hopefully we have it contained to just the two of them."

"It's a good thing for us now that we are ready to disembark in Carinthia," said Kat. "We can't really bring the plague with us."

"No, we can't," he agreed. "But at least it's one less thing we have to worry about right now. We have enough on our plate."

"What about Greg though, Jack?" asked Kat. "We usually have him with us as a spare set of eyes. Should we bring anyone else with us to the capital?"

Jack pursed his lips. "I think we should. And in Greg's place, I know just the guy to help us."

*****

"Let me get this straight. You want me to ride into a foreign capital on a mighty warhorse and persuade a queen not to start a war during a period of sky-high tensions and uncertainty?" asked Major Dustin Culver, Greg's second-in-command of the marines.

Jack looked over to Kat before looking back at Dustin. "That's about right. Think you can handle it?"

Dustin cracked a grin and offered his hand out to Jack. "Sounds like a mighty good time. When do we get started?"

Jack started to chuckle. "Less than an hour. We're about to dock in Carinthia. Can you be ready to go in that time?"

"Sir, I can be ready to go in the next ten seconds," replied Dustin before gesturing to the pack resting on his bed. "I just have to get my boots on and I'll be skippy."

"That's what I wanted to hear," said Jack with a smile. "Now listen, I want you to bring a squad of men along. Your best men, all right? Not that I think we'd need them, but if we find ourselves in a fight, I want to be surrounded by the best."

Dustin nodded. "We'll be ready to go in sixty minutes. Thank you, sir. I've been looking forward to some action for a while now!"

Jack clapped the man on the back. "With any luck, we should avoid any action. This should be entirely peaceful."

Dustin grimaced almost instantly. "You don't need to put me down so hard!"

Exactly sixty minutes later, Jack stared out at the coastal Carinthian port where they would be making landfall. Just like every other part of the country he'd seen, it was surrounded by flat grassland as far as he could see, except for the one part that was enclosed by the port. That small partition was a city by the sea, filled with aged stone houses and thatched roofs. The part that contained the port was easily larger than the residential sector, and it was easy to see that the majority of the citizens here supported the commerce coming off the waves.

After they'd received permission to land, Abigail brought theDestiny into one of the older docks at the far end of the harbor. Once the ship was settled in its berth, Jack gave the brunette commander a long, smoldering kiss.

"Take care of the task force for me, okay?" he asked, as he looked deeply into her dark eyes. "Keep an eye on Greg and Vera?"

She nodded softly. "Of course. You know you don't have to ask," she whispered.

"I know," he replied. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you so much, Jack. Take care of yourself? I love you."

He smiled. "I love you too. We should still be in radio range in the city. Let me know if anything comes up."

"I will," she said with a quick nod. "Now, you better get moving!"

With one final kiss, he made his way out of the bridge and down to the main deck, finding Kat along the way. The first time his eyes saw her, he had to do a double take.

Gone was the forest green outfit that he'd become so accustomed to seeing on her. In its place was a resplendent dress of a dark blue coloring, inlaid with an intricate white embroidery on the sleeves and the bottom of the skirt. It was laced around the middle, holding in her impressive bosom while her long, blonde hair hung freely, bunched around her shoulders.