Free The Caverns of Mare Cetus by Jim Erjavec

keeping him from reacting. It was as if he was under the influence of some kind of brain-numbing drug, but it certainly wasn't the wine.
       "Goddamnit, Hunter," said Isis. "Would you get off your ass already and do something."
       At once he began calling out to Renata, but she didn't respond. He turned to Ramon. "What the hell is wrong with you? That's harassment. Not only could I throw your ass off this mission, this could get you fired. You're damned lucky we go way back. If the Iob was here, she'd have your balls for this."
       "Hey. I appreciate your candor, amigo de amigos." He looked down. "But I think right now she's too busy having her own caverns explored." Chuckling now, he glanced at Arielle who appeared stunned, her eyes fixed on Renata.
       "That was really shitty," said Isis. "Renata may be a bitch, but she didn't deserve that." She reached over Arielle's lap and threw what was left in her cup into Ramon's face. "You're an asshole, you know that?"
       Still chuckling, he wiped the wine off his face with his fingers. "Yeah, I know…"
       "What the hell is wrong with you?" shouted Arielle like a teapot coming to a boil. "How could you do that to her?"
       "Hey, if she can't take a little joke."
       "You call that a joke? You've got to be kidding. You have absolutely crossed the line this time." Arielle pushed Ramon away with her hands, then got to her feet. "Rene!" she cried. "I'm sorry! Come back! Please!"

Chapter Three

    Novia Cetus

    Second planet in orbit around Tau Ceti

    Equatorial diameter: 13,002 km Sidereal rotation period : 28h 6m 38s
    Mean distance from Tau Ceti: 104.22 million km (0.7 AU)
Period of revolution around sun: 199.9999 Novian solar days/year
(235.255 Earth days)
Mass (Earth = 1): 1.02
    Number of satellites: 3 (Pulchra Novia, Uxor Novia, Muliebris Novia)

    1 AU = Distance of Earth from the Sun.

    Seething with anger and embarrassment, Renata continued to hurry away from the group, entering a narrow side passage that led out of the chamber. Renata Stone, Second in Command—an ice cavern? Ramon was evil, pure evil . And as for Hunter, he might as well have given him a gun and painted a target on her chest. Here, Ramon, shoot her here, right through the heart. She was so furious she wanted to bite off her fingers. It wasn't Ramon's audacity that angered her so much—it was Hunter's betrayal, fed through his suddenly impotent authority. What was with him? She had never seen something like this happen to someone before—without Hunter standing up for them. Where was the respect he had always shown her? What had she done to cause his utter disregard for her feelings? As tears began to trickle from her deep brown eyes, she tried in vain to hold them back. At once they were pouring out, streaming over her high-cheekbones as if she was standing in a rainstorm. Her head lowered as she rounded a corner, she nearly bumped into Garrett, who was heading back toward the campsite. Devon was right behind him.
       "Whoa!" he said, stepping back. "What's the hurry?"
       Renata hastily swept her tears away with her fingers.
       "Why the tears?" He placed a hand on her shoulder.
       "Dust in my eyes." She lowered her gaze.
       "Seems like you've been in a dust storm then. What's wrong?"
       "Nothing."
       "How come I don't believe that?" He took his hand off her shoulder. "Where are you headed?"
       "Anyplace," she said, her voice choked. "Anyplace away from here." She looked up.
       "Ramon," said Garrett. His brow furrowed; hardened anger spread through his face.
       "I'm going for a walk. That's all. See what I can find."
       "Want some company?"
       "No. I just need to get away for awhile."
       "Is there something I can do for you?" asked Devon as she placed a consoling hand on Renata's shoulder.
       Renata looked at her with scorn. "I don't think so."
       Devon removed her hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"
       Renata scratched