Debrief'ed

Flight systems were hardly Pamala Sheldon’s primary role. In fact, she didn’t know a damn thing about them, yet she paid close attention to every word Li said as she described the flight.

“It was something with the programming, I’m positive of that,” she explained, “the fact the O2 tanks automatically dumped their life support without so much as a prompt is not normal.”

“You did amazing work, Li,” Tara Dayton said, and the others around the table, Carson, Alain and Hayden, all nodded.

“Not amazing enough,” Li said glumly.

“What do you mean hun,” Alain asked, his eyes wide, “you got the rocket and the crew back safely. You’re a hero baby!”

“I got the crew back, but the rocket…” Li responded bleakly. The rocket, indeed, was in bad shape. The haste with which she landed it left the landing gear badly damaged, the rocket bell dented severely, and there was internal damage caused by the impact.

“Li, honey, you literally saved our lives,” Dayton said. “We can fix the rocket, hopefully, but we couldn’t have fixed ****.” Li nodded. “Sam, you’re probably the best programmer here,” Dayton said, looking to Hayden, “I want you looking at the software immediately. Top priority understood?”

“Yeah, will do. My preliminary work does indicate what Li says is accurate: some time of program ran 16 minutes after the launch, and it drained the tanks. Why, I can’t say,” Hayden explained.

“Where are we at on the maps Pam,” Dayton asked, changing the conversation.

“Yes, maps, the Red Rock fellas have quite the inventory of mine sites, that we know for sure,” Sheldon began, pointing out map locales as she spoke, “these three we scanned as part of our pre-landing mineral scouting operations. These two we haven’t checked out but they were already on my list as potentially high in rare earths.”

“How do you know if you haven’t scanned,” Carson asked sharply.

“Um, analysis,” Sheldon said, irritated by the question. If it had come from someone else, she’d have been fine with it, and she didn’t know why it pissed her off coming from him. “The ore will be high in rare earths because it’s high in rare earths along this mineral vein that it runs through.”

“Continue, Pam,” Dayton said.

“Yeah sure,” Sheldon responded, still irritable, “the next two here, and here, are both duds according to my findings. I’m curious as to where they got their information from or why they chose these two.”

“Something other than ore maybe,” ventured Li.

“Possible, yes,” Sheldon agreed. “We’ll find out when they use it or not I guess, as I don’t think we’d have much value there.”

“Agreed. The last site,” Dayton asked.

“Ahhh, the fun one,” Sheldon chuckled. The rest of the room looked confused, so she explained. “That site is radioactive as fuck.”

“Dangerously,” Hayden asked.

“Hard to say. I wouldn’t be comfortable going out there without a respirator but it’s Mars. We’re already absorbing so many rads from the thin atmosphere that I don’t really know how much worse it’d be. Something for the doc, but what I do know: it’s got uranium for days.”

“Interesting, I wonder if that’s their main export site then,” Dayton ventured. Soon after Sheldon’s briefing, the meeting broke up. She thought it was interesting that when Carson asked Dayton to see her, that she told him later. Tensions were in the air, she speculated.

“Can I borrow you for a minute Pam,” Dayton asked as she was about to leave. Sheldon nodded and the rest of the team left the science lab where the meeting was being held. Dayton waited until everyone else left before she spoke again. “We need a new habitat.”

“Getting more urgent or is something wrong,” Sheldon asked.

“Both. The latest incident with the rocket was deliberate, I’m sure of it. We have someone or something interfering with our mission,” she explained. “The last thing I need is for this mission to get scrubbed or fucked up because we lost a ship. We need to get properly established.”

“How could…” Sheldon began.

“Someone have sabotaged us? That’s your you to find out Pam,” Dayton said, giving the task a simplicity that Sheldon emphatically didn’t agree with.

“What? You want me to find a saboteur,” she asked, baffled by the order. “How can I? I’m already running the mine sites and the colony sites.”

“Your mines are going to be the focus of opposition to our project, that I’m sure of,” Dayton explained, “sure some people don’t like the terraforming goal but that’s super long term. The money is in your work. Follow the money. Keep doing your work, just as you have been, but I am sure that the next sabotage will be directed at the mining operations, so you’re the one that I want watching for it.”

“I see,” Sheldon said slowly, “so look for a saboteur, but also don’t actually look for the saboteur.”

“Exactly,” beamed Dayton. Sheldon didn’t know if Dayton was smiling at the inherent ridiculousness, or if she didn’t see it at all. That, she reflected, was what it was like dealing with Mission Commander Tara Dayton. Whichever it was, Dayton left, and Sheldon was alone in the lab. Her intercom had vibrated several times when she was in the meeting, and now that it was done, she produced it to see who had messaged.

Joe: What are the exact mine sites Red Rock gave you?

Joe: Is sabotage suspected or was it a flaw with SpaceY programming?

Joe: You going to hook up with Tara again?

Sheldon chuckled and rolled her eyes. Of course Joe needs to know about she and Dayton hooking up again. Horny bastard never quits with that shit. She typed out the answers as she had heard them in the meeting, adding:

Pam: We’ll see ;)

The sex with Dayton had thrilled Sheldon, professionally and personally. Having not been with a woman before, she hadn’t anticipated just how good it would be. Now that it had happened, not only was it incredibly hot, but she was absolutely now in her circle of trust. Sheldon collected her things and headed to the botany hall. She found Carson checking over his notes at the small desk he kept by the plants.

“What do you want,” he said coarsely when she entered. The rest of the botany crew, Sheldon surmised, must be at lunch.

“Checkin’ in,” she said, wandering aimlessly, inspecting plants. She swatted a fly away from her face.

“Fuck careful with that,” cursed Carson.

“It’ a fly.”

“It’s a pollinator and we need those for god’s sake,” he said coldly. She understood his protectiveness, but thought his response was out of all proportion.

“What’s your problem Lyn? Like seriously,” she burst out.

“What? Nothin,” he said, all but ignoring her.

“Bullshit,” she responded, pointing her finger towards his chest, “you’ve been weird since you watched me and Hans fuck. You jealous or something?”

“So what if I am,” Carson retorted dismissively.

“What then? You surprised I have sex with my boyfriend,” she spat, “you should be glad I didn’t say anything to him when I saw you there, asshole.”

“Your one-armed-man gonna beat me up or what,” Carson said, meanness in his voice.

“The fuck is wrong with you,” Sheldon asked, shocked at Carson’s callousness.

“What? He’s a cripple isn’t he?”

“He got hurt you shithead,” Sheldon said.

“Whatever, fuck that guy.”

“You’re just mad cus he gets to fuck me, aren’t you,” Sheldon said coldly, “you’re just so so jealous he gets to have this body,” she ran her hands over the curve of her breast, down to her butt, “whenever he wants.”

“I already said I was, the fuck do you want,” he retorted.

“Yeah whatever, fuck yourself,” she cursed and stormed out of the botany hall. Outside, and still mad, she looked at her intercom once again, and once again, rolled her eyes.

Joe: I’m looking forward to hearing about it!

Pam: If you want to hear about it, start by figuring out how tf someone is sabotaging us

She put the intercom away and ambled her way slowly to the dining hall, still angry at Carson. There, she saw Hans Hermann sitting at a table with Liz Davis.

Pam: What do you have on Davis?

Sheldon grabbed a tray with food from the kitchen and sat next to Hermann, who was engrossed in conversation.

“Yes, exactly, this is what I believe. Oh, hello Pam,” he said, noticing her arrival.

“And what is it you believe Hans,” Sheldon added with curiosity.

“It is my belief my dear,” he began with his usual grandiosity, “that one day, and soon too, Mars will be an independent republic of its own.”

“He was just talking about how this new nation would deal with the nations of Earth,” Davis added. Sheldon took a bite of salad before answering.

“That’s a little dangerous don’t you two think,” she said icily.

“Dangerous,” Davis, looking shocked, asked.

“Dangerous, yes,” Sheldon repeated. “There’s a lot of money in this little operation. Think they’ll just I dunno, be OK with an independent Mars? What’ll happen to their investments?”

“This is mere money Pamala,” Hermann said dismissively, “it is much more important, surely, to be principled in this new world.”

“Mere money to us, maybe,” Sheldon retorted, “but to them? Think what happened to HQ was a one off?” Davis looked awkwardly at the floor.

“No, not a one off, there will be risks,” Hermann said, still dismissing her concern. “No life is without risk.”

“Risk to us, and not to them, you mean,” Sheldon retorted. Davis nodded lamely, clearly not wanting to participate in a conversation about how her company had murdered members of this one.

“Well yes, the risk is higher for us,” Hermann said.

“This is dumb,” Sheldon said sullenly, and stood. “Not hungry.” She left before the other two could respond, after ditching her tray by the kitchen. She walked to her room, gathered her workout wear and headed to the gym. The locker room was empty when she picked out a locker and changed into a pair of tight shorts and her singlet.

Joe: Not much. Worked for SpaceY as a geologist, specialized in well digging and oil. Cute.

Pam: I didn’t ask you if she was pretty or not for fuck sake

Sheldon tossed her phone onto the treadmill shelf and started a run after turning up the speed higher than usual. She didn’t play any music, wishing to avoid the distraction. Why was everyone being so fucking annoying today she wondered, turning the pace up faster again. After twenty minutes, her phone buzzed and she took a look.

Joe: Sorry sorry fuck. Look I did some research on her when she was rescued. Nothing solid but keep an eye on her.

Joe: Its weird.

Joe: I have her work dossier SpaceY dossier government files all that shit but nothing personal

Joe: No socials, just a work email I don’t get it

That is weird, Sheldon thought. She didn’t respond right away but instead turned the speed on the treadmill up. Half-sprinting, she could barely think about anything besides the exertion, which was exactly why she was there. She ran until her lungs would burst from her chest.

Sheldon grabbed her phone from the treadmill shelf after she punched the cooldown button. Her legs felt like rubber and her hands were trembling as she typed.

Pam: Could she just not be on socials?

The question seemed ridiculous, but she had to ask. It’s not like Davis didn’t exist in the government files or anything, she reasoned. She seemed very dedicated to the project, could it be a simple matter of her being a single-minded geologist? Something was missing, and Pamala Sheldon felt like it would drive her insane.

What was it about Davis that confused her, she wondered as the machine slowed to a cooldown walk. She was pretty, whip smart, and highly qualified for the role she held on both missions. She was resilient, and a survivor. Truly, if she was on the wrong side of the fence, she was dangerous.

Sheldon stepped off the treadmill, still consumed by doubts. Indeed, she reasoned, if Davis was disloyal, she was incredibly dangerous, but was she? She didn’t give indications of that while talking to Hermann. If anything, Hermann seemed to be a hazard, not Davis. The talk of independence was deeply concerning. Her orders on the matter of independence were specific and emphatic.

The sweat running down Sheldon’s face stung her eyes. She steadied her breathing a little and headed to the showers. She was still lost in her own thoughts when she saw that Hans Hermann and Liz Davis were there.

“Hey guys,” Sheldon panted, trying to sound cheerful. Her newest coworker and her boyfriend were both in their underwear.

“Hello, my dear,” Hermann said cheerfully. If he knew the jealousy in my mind, Sheldon thought, he’d not be so cheerful. She sighed at the notion that her boyfriend truly knew nothing about her.

“Allo,” the little Scottish geologist chimed in. As she spoke, she unclasped her bra and tossed it aside, then slid her panties down and stepped out of them. Her breasts were round and perky, and her hips were pleasantly wide. Her untied blonde hair hung to her midriff. Another pang of jealously hit Sheldon seeing Hermann’s eyes wandering over every inch of Davis’s naked body.

Sheldon stripped off her sweaty workout clothes, and made sure both Davis and Hermann could see her nudity. Being naked in the coed showers had long ago lost its novelty, yet she wanted them to see her. She didn’t feel Hermann’s looking at her like he looked at Davis, and anger flashed through her mind. It intensified further when she saw Davis checking him out too.

Her two coworkers stepped into their respective showers and Sheldon did the same. The hotish water in the slow dribble so typical of their habitat irritated her as it took too long to get all cleaned up. She stepped out into the cold shower room alone, the others having already finished their showers, and she saw that a message was waiting for her.

Joe: Yes. Very possible she could just be a workaholic.

Sheldon considered the message while she dried off. Jealousy was a poor fit on her; the anger she felt itself angered her. Why should she be jealous when she was quite literally cheating on him, she mused.

Pam: Hans was talking to her about independence. Martian republic shit.

In spite of her position, her dealings with the company, and everything she’d done behind Hermann’s back, she felt bad hitting send. If felt like a betrayal, like she was ratting on her teammate and lover. Not that she did love him. In fact, she was finding his manner and notions irritating more often than not recently. She looked up at the mirror next to the sink and saw her reflection.

“Miss out on this,” she muttered. She took a picture with her intercom and admired it for a moment. Her tits might not have been as big as Davis’s, but she thought they looked perfectly proportioned to her slight build. Her hair hung wet about her shoulders. The picture showed a tasteful, teasing amount of her trimmed pubic hair.

Then she turned and took another picture. Her ass looked spectacular in this one, she thought. She’d bent over just a bit to accentuate her curves. Her butt cheeks were flawless, toned, and smooth. She sent the pictures to Joe with no comment and then dressed.

Sheldon had planned to go out in the small rover for a scouting mission to the new build site, but hesitated; why bother, when it would be dark in a few hours? Instead she wandered the halls, aimless and irritated. Even though she’d abandoned her plan to take the rover out, she found herself in the hanger bay inspecting the little machine anyways.

“Ah hem,” came Carson’s voice, surprising her.

“The fuck,” she demanded. “Come to spy on me again?”

“No, I um, I’m sorry about that,” Carson said in a soft voice that was totally different from his demeanor hours before.

“You sure,” Sheldon persisted, her voice icy.

“Yes fuck,” Carson said exasperated, “know what? Fuck this never mind.”

“Wait wait,” Sheldon interjected as he turned to leave. “Sorry, I’m in a shit mood.”

“Me too,” Carson said glumly. “Why are you so pissy?”

“You,” Sheldon said meanly, adding, “and Hans, Liz, everyone in this fuckin place.”

“Troubles in paradise,” Carson asked.

“I dunno. Maybe? He’s… whatever, it’s nothing,” Sheldon said, frustrated. She wanted to talk, to vent, bitch, and tell Carson exactly what was bothering her, but she couldn’t. Her intercom vibrated in her pocket.

Joe: Fuck you’re so sexy.

Sheldon smiled. The complements and attentions of men were so routine to her working as she did in such a male dominated field, that it was water off a duck’s back, but this time, it made her feel nice. Desired.

“More problems,” Carson asked.

“No, not at all. Um, mining survey results,” Sheldon lied. Another message came through, a picture. She opened it knowing what it would be and was right. Joe’s erect cock emerging from his fly. She closed the picture, wondering why men always sent pictures of their dicks.

“I’ll uh, leave you to it I guess,” Carson said awkwardly.

“Sorry I’m like, super distracted,” Sheldon said apologetically. “Today is a fucking mess I dunno.”

“Same,” Carson said with a rare understanding in his voice. “Tara is… fuck never mind, pissing me off.”

“What’s she done to ya,” Sheldon asked, trying to put on a friendly tone.

“Nothing nothing, I’d rather not uh, get into it,” he said, a bleak expression on his face.

“The whole thing with the shuttle is fucked Lyn,” Sheldon ventured. “Sabotage? I dunno it’s like, who or who do we trust you know?”

“I don’t even know, like she’s so fuckin paranoid,” he said, clearly relieved to be talking about it, “like, OK maybe it was sabotage, or maybe it was whatever killed the last crew. She just jumps to suspicions, like it’s a plot or something.”

Sheldon had her private suspicions, and they were entirely nefarious. She did not for one second believe that whatever plagued the SpaceY crew was what almost killed the Red Rock expedition, but she didn’t say so. She wanted to know why Carson was so dismissive of the security hazard.

“Think that it was just an accident,” Sheldon pressed.

“Maybe? I don’t think we know enough to say,” he suggested. “There are only twelve of us so like, who could it even be?”

Hermann is the name that immediately jumped into Sheldon’s mind. She thought the man was odd from day one, even if something about him attracted her, something else made her feel deeply suspicious, and his flirting with Davis only exacerbated that feeling.

“What do you think about the new girl,” Sheldon asked, deliberately not using her name.

“Weird. She’s not exactly chatty,” Carson said. “Weird that she’s the sole survivor of a disaster, then the exact same disaster happens again though, isn’t it?”

“She… wouldn’t have survived that incident though,” Sheldon suggested, “like, she didn’t know we’d rescue her.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Carson said weakly. “It’s probably all bullshit anyways.”

“Maybe it is,” Sheldon lied, nodding. “It could totally just be a coincidence.”

If Carson knew Sheldon better, he’d have known she didn’t believe in coincidences. Coldly rational, yet also deeply suspicious, Sheldon was right at home in the world of spies, intrigue and sabotage that Dayton inhabited.

“Yeah maybe, maybe,” Carson said. “I don’t mean any offence but what about Hans?”

“Offense,” Sheldon asked innocently. “What about him?”

“Yeah like, I know he’s your boyfriend, right? But like, he’s fuckin weird,” Carson said simply. “The guy who wasn’t on the ship when the alleged sabotage took place. He’s not exactly the most trustworthy dude…”

Exactly, Sheldon thought, happy Carson got to where she was at. She knew Hermann’s eyes were wandering, he was openly discussing a Martian Republic. Something indeed, was untrustworthy.

“Yeah like, he’s an odd guy for sure,” she admitted, hoping Carson would keep on the line of thought.

“He’s more than odd, Pam,” Carson continued. “He’s fuckin weird. The free love stuff is whatever, good for him, but like, the independent Mars crap? It’s weird.”

There it is Sheldon thought. Carson sees it too, he just doesn’t know he sees it. Time to twist the knife…

“Yeah the free love stuff,” she said in a glum tone, trying not to bring the spotlight on the real issue right away, “it’s a little troubling to me. Like, as his girlfriend, it’s weird.”

“I bet it is but it ain’t like… you know,” Carson chuckled.

“Yeah yeah still though,” she said, pretending to be coy. “What did he say about Mars?”

“Oh that,” Carson responded dismissively. “He was all like ‘we need to assert ourselves in the universe,’ and shit.”

“‘Assert ourselves in the universe?’ The fuck,” Sheldon, pretending to be shocked, exclaimed.

“He had a point, of sorts,” observed Carson, “the reality is that we’re a long ass way from home.”

“I’m not sure the Green Mars Corporation is gonna agree with you there,” Sheldon added pointedly.

“Sure, no, but like, we’ll need to figure out governance here eventually right,” Carson contested, “like, at some point, someone’s gonna need to make decisions.”

“I guess. What’s Tara say about it,” Sheldon asked. She wanted to know what had gone on between her and Carson that had caused anger.

“Nothing: she’s all company all the time. Pretty sure her only plan for governance is the Green Mars Corp,” Carson said with a shrug.

“The corporation is everything to her,” agreed Sheldon.

“So is power,” Carson said coldly. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter.”

Sheldon remembered the message about security cameras she got from Joe. Where were they? Did Carson know about them? Sheldon thought he looked more cagy and nervous than usual.

“I’m just… fuck, I’m just tired of being taken for granted by her, you know? I’m supposed to be her number two, her right hand, not her errand boy,” Carson said, looking frustrated.

“How does she take you for granted Lyn,” Sheldon asked sympathetically.

“It… it doesn’t matter,” Carson said quickly.

Sheldon looked at Carson and saw something she rarely saw in his eyes: vulnerability. He seemed jilted and upset. That was an emotion she could work with. She sidled up close to Carson, feeling his eyes undressing her as she approached.

“Tell me how she takes you for granted,” Sheldon whispered in Carson’s ear. Her hand rubbed between her shoulder blades.

“Uh, I can’t really…” Carson began, but stopped talked and sighed when her other hand dropped to his crotch. Sheldon started unbuckling the belt of his cut-jumpsuit.

“Tell me what’s upsetting you. It’s OK baby,” she cooed, while her hand slid into his pants and grasped his warm flesh. He groaned while she rubbed him under his pants.

“Ughhh I need this,” Carson groaned. “Between Tara holding out on me and Hans…”

That’s interesting, Sheldon thought. She knew he’d been having some kind of affair with Dayton, but troubles between them of a sexual nature was new information. Then there was the comment about Hans. She dropped to her knees in front of Carson, gently guiding him back to lean against the wall.

“Is Tara not giving you what you need hun,” Sheldon asked softly while she worked his hard dick free of his underwear. She kissed her way up and down his shaft while looking up at him.

“N-no,” Carson gasped. Sheldon rewarded him by taking his hard, hot cock into her mouth. He tasted of salty pre-cum. “And she… she promised too.”

“That’s not right,” Sheldon told him, her voice muffled by cock. His hand went to the back of her head and tangled in her hair, guiding her pace.

“Mmgh, and then you an-and Hans,” he groaned.

“Oh baby, did it make you jealous,” she cooed while teasing his cockhead with her lips, “to see him fuck me. To watch me swallow his hot… (slurp)… load?” He nodded. Sheldon started to undo her jumpsuit and peel it off, Carson’s cock never leaving her mouth.

Her clothes all but removed, Sheldon stood up and a string of pre-cum and saliva hung from her lips. She stepped out of her jumpsuit and, naked but for socks, leaned up against the wall, presenting her ass to Carson.

“Fuck me Lyn,” Sheldon moaned, “show me you can fuck Han’s girl better than him.”

“Dirty girl,” Carson said with venom in his voice. He guided himself roughly inside Sheldon. His thrusts were rough and insistent. His balls slapped against her clit and his fingers dug into the flesh of her hip. His free hand grabbed her ponytail and used it to pull himself even deeper into her.

“Oh FUCK fuck,” Sheldon gasped, while Carson used her. “I’m gonna cum I’m gonna, cummmmm,” she wailed, tightening around the cock hammering inside her. She felt her thighs soak with her cum.

“Good little slut,” grunted Carson. Sheldon looked back at him. His eyes never seemed exactly alive, but when they fucked it was like he wasn’t even there. She decided it was time for the grand finale.

“You-you wanna cum on my whore face,” she pouted between moans, “cover me in your c-cum baby.” Carson stopped thrusting and his cock slid out of her. She spun around, dropped to her knees, and took the pussy-soaked cock in her mouth, slurping loudly.

“Mhmgh, good slut,” Carson groaned, watching her bob and suck on his rod. His dead, soulless eyes seemed to look through her.

“Cover your whore baby,” she moaned while jerking his dick toward her smiling face while her other hand toyed with her clit. He started to grunt and the first rope of cum splattered all over her cheek. She opened her mouth and the second and third spirts landed on her tongue and lips. Then he grabbed her head and shoved his spirting cock into her mouth. She gagged while he face fucked her, making drool and cum ran down her lips. Then he pulled out as violently as he’d thrust into her mouth and he smeared his wet, cock, sloppy with cum, all over her lips and cheeks.

“You taste soooo good baby,” she cooed, still on her knees and drenched in cum. She knew it was what he, like every man, wanted to hear moments after he’d cum, and she committed to the bit. She licked and sucked his softening dick till he couldn’t take the sensation anymore and withdrew.

“We’d uh, better…” Carson said awkwardly, “go I guess.”

“Now that you’re done with your whore,” Sheldon said sweetly, still on her knees and soaked with cum. He nodded. “You go first hun, I’d better clean up before I leave and it’d be suspicious if we left together.”

Carson attended to his clothing in silence and gave her an awkward goodbye when he left. Sheldon thought it was super weird and awkward, but what about Carson wasn’t? When he left, she took a selfie of the facial she just took, and made sure to include her tits in the shot. Then she wiped her face enough to get her to a shower without being too obvious and dressed.

Pam: Carson and Hermann have been talking about an independent Mars. I don’t think Carson someone who would do that on his own though. Also: he’s mad at Dayton. I think it’s something to do with promises not kept. Sex might be involved but I dunno.

Sheldon ambled her way to her room to grab her shower things, then headed to have a second shower in as many hours. The shower room was empty this time, something she was very grateful for. When she was all cleaned up, she saw that Joe had responded.

Joe: This is huge, well done. Troubles in paradise, I guess. Keep a close eye on both of them. Super close, we can’t afford anything independence related.

Joe: How did you find out?

Sheldon attached the facial-selfie and sent it.

Pam: I have my magical ways ;)