Evacuated

"We would love to..." Helen exclaimed delightedly. "Is everything okay though Lisa – you won't be giving us any bad new or anything?" Her tone had dropped with her concern, and Lisa laughed lightly.

"No, there is no bad news... but it is important that you come sooner rather than later though; is Mike home yet?"

"Yes, we both took today off, but he's just gone to grab a shower – I'll tell him to hurry, shall I?"

"Don't panic him, but just try and get here whilst there is still a good amount of daylight left."

Sergeant Davison looked at Sean while Lisa was saying goodbye. "I'm surprised that you did not add them to your flower pod list – you sound like you are pretty close?"

"We ran out of pods," Sean shrugged. "And anyway they have family on their own list – from what I understand."

"Ah, well if you and he take on the licences, then you will be some of the last to leave. Perhaps you can arrange for your flowers to link up – once you have broken orbit?"

"I never thought about that," Sean frowned as Lisa put down her phone.

"It won't be for too long," the sergeant said hastily, as he guessed the reason for his frown. "You'll find that once this thing gets started, then it will have a ripple effect – at least that was how it worked in other areas." He put his tablet in his bag, and stood up. "I need to make a couple of calls, but on the plus side – you will be allowed to keep your cars, right up until you are ready to depart."

Cars were being possessed all over, leaving no more than one per household – if that. The metal was needed, the government said. To be melted into metal and resin sheets that would be used to make the craft packs. Lisa and Sean had been surprised when their home had been left out of the car collecting program.

Now though, they understood all too well, Sean's name must have already been on a list somewhere for government purposes.

"You will find that as the streets empty, you will need to travel a little further – and for that you will need your car."

"How many of these pod crafts am I supposed to oversee – how long will I be kept here?" Sean demanded a little weakly, as he envisioned himself travelling for days, to some nameless faceless homes to tweak and poke at some shining little craft, before wearily travelling back to a more distant Lisa – who would come to resent him for binding her, and their loved ones to an increasingly dangerous planet."

The sergeant sighed and sat back down, as he took his tablet out of his bag. He switched it on and tapped the screen.

"Six months," the sergeant said. "I have slotted you in for evacuation for mid October, your flower, and your friend Mike and his flower, you will all go up together."

"And that is guaranteed?"

The sergeant tapped again. "Yes, it is booked in, and I have locked it tight." He lowered his voice, almost as though he was afraid that someone might overhear him. "I hacked into a government site, and made sure that no one could overwrite it."

Sean stood up and held out his hand to the sergeant. "Thank you!"

As he walked him to the door, the sergeant looked back suddenly. "I am booked to leave in eight months," he said seriously. "I will be in the area for the duration, so if you have any problems or you need anything at all then call me on this number." He held out a little embossed card.

"Thank you," Sean said again. He smiled at the sergeant. "And if you are ever passing then feel free to pop in, you will always be welcome here."

"Thank you too – that is very kind of you!" Sergeant Davison exclaimed sounding surprised and pleased.

**

Mike and Helen arrived about ten minutes after the sergeant had left, and Lisa and Sean had just had time to slip out of work clothes, and into jeans and tea shirts.

Mike was dressed casually too, but Helen was in a pretty summery dress, and sandals with spindly heels, with her only concession to the early spring chill, being a lightweight cardigan in pale pink.

Her blond curly hair framed her pretty angelic face, and added to her feminine charm – it also added to that air of 'ditsyness' that seemed to come to mind whenever Lisa though of her friend.

She grinned warmly at the two of them, as she held the door open wider. "Do come inside... we have so much to talk about – and things to do."

**

Sean and Mike stepped back with an air of smug satisfaction as they studied their first attempt.

The 'pod' was a tall, wide vehicle when assembled, and Sean had been glad of Mike's help, even though he thought that Lisa would have been able to assist him.

At a push he could maybe even have managed on his own too, but the extra man power had proved very useful.

"Well that turned out to be fairly straight forward," Mike said happily.

"And it took you less than an hour to assemble it," Lisa observed with a tone of admiration.

"Well the panels were designed to just slot and lock together, and the control panel was already completed – just needs plugging in... now for the chairs, and their harnesses."

Again they looked to be simple chunks that would clip together, they had arrived as sturdy but supple, leather padded pieces, and the men picked up a piece each. They soon realised that it was a bit finicky getting them through the narrow hatchway though.

"I think," Sean grunted as he shoved the back part of the chair through. "I think when we do your pods and the rest, we should leave this whole panel off, until the chair pieces and the 'addins' have been put inside, we can lock everything into place, and then put this last panel on afterwards."

"Yes, it might prove easier... I am surprised that the guy in the white coat didn't mention that.... after all they've been sending these craft packs out for a couple of years now at least, you would think that someone would have made the observation by now?"

The pieced suddenly popped through the hatchway, and then dropped down into the pod, and Sean stepped back with a gasp of satisfaction.

"Well we never actually saw him put it together, he explained and then cut to an image of the completed bit that he was talking about," he said slowly.

"Yes, he did, didn't he... maybe we should do our own 'here's how you do it' video?"

Sean chuckled, but he nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps... when we put yours together tomorrow, we could get Lisa to record it, and if we say what we are doing as we do it..."

Mike also nodded, in agreement and then he grinned. "We could put it up on the internet."

Part Two

The next morning, Sean took Lisa outside to show her properly and explain the pod to her, to give her the chance to get a feel for the confining space and become accustomed to it.

"Come on inside the pod with me, and I'll measure you up for your straps and cushions," he told her lightly.

He climbed into the pod first, and then leaned down to help Lisa to climb up the short ladder.

"Goodness, it is rather cramped in here – isn't it!" she exclaimed as she peered around the small space.

"Yes, it's because all the panels are folded into each other, to give us a good thickness when we burn through our atmosphere."

He pointed to the silver coloured padded chair, which instantly reminded Lisa of a dentist's chair, with it high head rest, and padded arms, and at the moment it was in a sitting position, although she could see that it could move to a vertical position against the metal wall, or even a flat horizontal against the metal floor.

Both of these panels had a deep imprint of the seat, so that it could sit right in, and lock into place.

"I know that you will think me daft, but can you slip out of your trousers for me," he asked with a rueful little grin.

Lisa blushed and her eyes twinkled. "Do you really think that this is the time for a such thing?"

He laughed huskily. "Well even though it might have been... interesting a notion, it was not what I had in mind." He looked faintly regretful, but gravely serious.

"All right," she sighed, as she kicked up her pumped and unfastened her trousers.

It was cramped in the little pod, and she knocked in to her husband a couple of time, but in the end she managed to remove the trousers.

"Now what?" She shivered as the cool air hit her bare legs, and the metal of the pod chilled her bare feet.

"This will be your chair, so come and sit in it for me, for a minute."

He led her the two little steps to the two seats sitting side by side, and indicated the one further from the small control panel.

Lisa sighed nervously as she sank down into the seat.

"It's quite comfortable – isn't it," she laughed a light pitchy sort of laugh. "But what's with this plastic covering – will we remove it at the last minute... is it designed to keep the chairs clean... it's a bit weird isn't it – not like normal plastic coverings.?"

Sean pulled the harness over her shoulders, and hesitated for a moment.

"You realise that once we join up with our docking station, and leave the orbit of this planet, you know that we have a long journey ahead of us – and we will be travelling at incredibly – super fast speeds?" he said carefully.

"Yes, I gathered all of that from yesterday's discussions," she said absently as she ran her fingers over the harness, and then rested her head back.

"Well, we will need to be protected from the pressure of the speeds – especially from the acceleration points, and I gather that there will be several accelerations to achieve the speeds needed."

"Yes?" she nodded with a little frown.

"Well, with the need for protection, and the need to conserve oxygen, until the production centre is working to it's full potential... well the thing is that we will all be put to sleep, before we even take off in fact, before we leave this planet, and we will be asleep for at least three years."

"Three years!"

"Yes, I am afraid so," Sean sighed as he perched on the edge of his own seat.

He ran a finger lightly down her arm, and Lisa shivered.

"How will it work? Our being asleep for so very long?" she whispered in a shaky little voice. Three years! Three years of her life – lost and gone forever!

"The plastic cover is not just to protect the seat; it will open up like this..."

He flipped up a little panel and pressed a button on her seat's armrest, and Lisa felt a tickling sort of rippling sensation beneath her.

Suddenly the plastic wrapped itself around her, like a towel or a blanket, but before she could draw a breath, or panic, Sean reached out and tucked the head part under her chin, so that it framed her face, rather than covering it.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you... I just wanted you to know how it was going to feel. How are you doing?" he asked worriedly.

Lisa smiled a shaky smile, and then nodded although her eyes fixed onto his anxiously. "It's not too bad," she murmured huskily.

"Good," Sean smiled in relief.

He pulled the plastic bag thing further down, and Lisa heaved a little sigh.

"You'll already be half way asleep, by the time this part happens," he reassured her calmly. "It will almost be a simultaneous thing, you will drift into a deep sleep even as the cover wraps over you, and then once you are fully asleep; it will fill out a little to make room for the fluid."

"Fluid?"

"Yes, the bag will fill with a gel like substance; it will be that which will protect you from any outside pressures and forces."

"Oh."

"It will coat your skin, and keep it supple and moisturised so that you don't dehydrate. It will also conduct tiny intermittent static charges through it which will stimulate your muscles whilst you sleep, so that you don't suffer any muscle waste..."

"It's going to electrocute me!" She exclaimed in horror.

He slid a lever upwards to an almost half way mark. "No they are very minor static ripples. Like this."

The lower part of the plastic suddenly puffed out, and Lisa felt a slimy fluid coating her feet and her ankles.

"Urg!" She said pulling a little face.

She could feel a tickling sensation begin and then stop, then begin, the move and the stop.

"What is that!" she snapped a little irritably.

"That's the static, it will travel through the gel and whenever it makes contact with your skin it will stimulate it, whether it is skin or muscle – it will treat it the same."

She laid back and the tickling sensation grew almost pleasant as it travelled up towards her calf muscles.

It made her skin tingle.

Suddenly Sean pulled the lever back down and the tingling stopped immediately, and then the fluid drained away and the plastic deflated to rest lightly on her legs.

He pressed the button again and the plastic rippled back and beneath her again.

"It will also occasionally move a little, which will move you, so that your bones won't lock after such a long time in one position, it will also prevent any pressure sores from developing."

"How will I breathe though?"

Sean opened another panel on her arm rest and took out a mouth piece with a filter on one end." The gel will also be oxygenated, which it will feed into you through this mouth piece, and through the pores in your skin, it will also ensure your body receives proper nutrients."

He grinned suddenly as he unfastened the harness and then helped her to sit up better. "The theory is that by the time you wake up – you will feel like you've spent a day in one of those health spas. You'll feel fresh and rested and supple, you'll feel wonderful – or so I am told."

"I really hope so," she said worriedly as she stood up.

She picked up her trousers and bent to slip them back on. "My feet and legs don't even feel damp!" She exclaimed in surprise. "I would have thought some of that Gel substance would have stayed on my skin, but not even a hint of tackiness!"

She pulled her trousers up and pushed her feet into her shoes as she fastened them.

Sean gave her a quick hug.

"I want you to know as well, Lisa, that I will make sure that you are fully asleep and safe, before I even get into my chair, and I have set things up so that I will wake up before you as well..." His tone dropped as he looked deeply into her eyes. "I promise you, my darling that you will never be alone, I will always be there with you."

Lisa smiled up at him and her face lit up with relief.

Sean always knew exactly what to say to her to make her feel better, he knew exactly what to say to make her feel – safe and well. And his hands on her arms, well they felt strong, the felt dependable, they felt warm and the intimacy of the pod, brought him right up close to her.

She took his hand and her lids dropped over her eyes demurely.

"Shall we go back into the house now?" she whispered huskily, and she heard Sean suck in a quick breath.

He knew her so well, he knew exactly what that tone in her voice meant, as he leapt down to the ground eagerly, and then turned to help her out of the pod.

"Yes lets!"

**

Mike and Helen had arranged to come over again after lunch. This time the guys would be assembling the pod that Mike and Helen would be using to leave.

But lunch time was hours away yet, and Sean and Lisa made full use of the time, as she led her man up the stairs and turned to help him out of his clothes.

Or that was her intention, but Sean stepped back though, so that he was just out of her reach, and for a moment he just looked at her.

"I want to look at you, to see you..." he muttered standing on the threshold of the room. "I want you to stop holding back from me – I know that you have, Lisa," he said as she was about to deny it. "I need you to totally surrender yourself to me Lisa... to drop your defences and lose your inhibitions – I want you to be mine, to do – because I tell you to do!"

He stepped into the room but still kept back from her.

"I am telling you to undress for me... will you Lisa... will you submit to me?"

Lisa had been married to Sean for more than three years now, and all through that time he had been a patient, considerate lover, he had always been gentle and thoughtful with her.

He had never tried to dominate her, or been even slightly aggressive, in fact she had often felt thathehad held back a little too much, but she had never been sure about how to broach the subject without making him feel inadequate in some way.

But now though it was as if there was an urgency to him, a need to stamp his ownership of her. To let her know without a doubt that she was his woman.

Lisa felt a rush of pure excitement.

She slipped her cardigan from her shoulders allowing it to fall to the floor, where she kicked it away almost contemptuously.

Her hands moved to her blouse – where she slowly began to work the buttons, starting at the top and working her way down, she pulled it from the waistband of her trousers, and allowed it to slip from her shoulders.

The blouse followed the cardigan – down to the floor – and was kicked out of the way too.

Sean could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, as he studied her with hungry eyes...

She had always been quite shy when getting undressed and this was the first time that he actually had the opportunity to study her, and boy was she worth studying!

The tininess of her waist; and the soft swell of her breast – covered now only by the lace trimmed fabric of her bra.

The colour was a deep dark blue, and as was often the case for him, he couldn't quite believe that this beautiful stunning woman was his wife...

She reached back to unfasten her bra.

"No!"

Lisa had been lost in the soft hazy memory of a private little fantasy, where she was his for the taking... to do only what he wished... commanded or desired.

She blinked and looked across at him as reality came back.

"The trousers next... please."

She was surprised that she didn't feel awkward or embarrassed, it was not even the middle of the day, and she was all but doing a striptease for him, but she loved him so very much, and to concede to him, to surrender and open herself up to him... she sighed as she yielded to the desires and the emotions he had always incited in her, even though she had never voiced them... they had always been there, waiting for him to be just that bit more – forceful with her... it was time... way past time for her to show him, that she really was his... and right then she felt as horny as hell!

She smiled wickedly as she saw the expression on his face...

She would never feel awkward or embarrassed around Sean again, they were man and wife and she would have no secrets from him, no doubts about him.

They belonged together for now and ever, and she would always want to surrender to his superior strength – both physical and emotional, she would always trust him enough that she could give herself totally to him.

She unzipped her trousers and slowly shimmied them over her hips, wriggling them a little bit too excessively as she watched Sean through lowered lashes.

His reactions to her were so gratifying that he was going to her head like alcohol.

She allowed the trousers to pool around her feet and then stepped out of them... where she left them on the floor – discarded and forgotten.

Sean had watched in surprise as Lisa bared herself to him, he had stood with growing excitement until he just could not take any more.

She stood before him in just her bra and the tiniest of briefs, and he knew that he could not hold back any longer.

He strode across to her in three long, urgent strides, and grasped her arms to yank her against him.

"Mine!" he muttered just before his mouth crushed hers in a merciless kiss that set out to invade, overwhelm and brand her as his woman.

Lisa clung to him shakily as she weathered his onslaught, he was her dream lover made real... and then some!

She found herself lying on their bed with no real idea of how she actually got there; Sean had this ability to make her feel as though she was floating...