Author's note: Well, here we are. I remember several years ago I was prowling on a forum at the Grey Archive (www.greyarchive.org) and saw a post that questioned why no one had written "the great porno epic."  I saw that and being somewhat obsessed with epics myself (not to mention sex) I began to wonder the same thing.  After a few days, I decided that if no one else was going to write it, I would.  And here it is.  I did.  No matter whether people love it or hate it.  Here it is.  Some of this story turned out great, some of it not so much, a lot of it isn't even to my taste, but on the whole this is something I'm immensely proud of.  It began as my first writing project outside of scripts.  The first thing I'd ever written in prose.  I've learned a lot and still have a lot to learn, but once again, on the whole, I'm immensely proud of it.  I sincerely hope you've enjoyed reading it.  Despite losing a bit of steam these last two years I know I have enjoyed writing it.This project has taken me nearly 5 years to write and countless hours.  The final counts courtesy Microsoft Word at 12 pt. Times New Roman font, single-spaced, not counting authors notes, are as follows:Pages: 744Words: 408,078Characters: 2,241,974The word count puts this almost as long as all three Lord of the Rings books combined!  That's a damn long novel.At some point I hope to have an edited version of this book, all in one file, for download.  I've already gone through a couple chapters and the edited versions do have a little bit of new material here and there, but basically it's just me trying to make the flow a little better and fix some of the many typos I know plague the text here and there.  In the mean time if you would like the whole story in one file, drop me a line and I will email it to you.  Or get it off the webpage: www.asstr.org/~invid_invasionPlease let me know what you think of the book as a whole.  A few months ago, hotmail deleted all the feedback I had received over the last 4 years in regard to this project and as such, I currently have next to none.  It does mean a lot to me to get the stuff and it was a serious blow to lose it all.Also, let me know if you want me to continue this.  I have an idea for a second (and even a third) book involving most of the same characters.  I don't know if I will write it as I want to make sure I can put chapters out in a decent amount of time, but if there is enough interest, I may make the effort.See you all in the funny pages!John Stellusinvidwriter@hotmail.comInvid InvasionChapter 20 - B"Faded Dreams"	"Andrea was weightless, as if floating in the sea after an afternoon on the beach.  Her mind felt free, relaxed, open.  Was she dead?  Everything was green, but not the green of the sea.  A deep earthy green, like the rainforest after a storm.  There were shapes but they were impossible to determine.  Bubbles rose from around her and she felt a familiar presence.  It helped her feel even more at ease.  Was she dead?  She remembered being shot and the feel of jagged bones slicing through her organs like a steak knife.  The feeling made her shudder.  If she just shuddered did that mean she was still alive?  What was that presence?	"Hi."  Irene's pleasant voice, light-hearted as always but with a hint of something darker touched her mind.	"Hi?"	"Turn around."	Andrea forced herself to move.  To turn.  The green resisted her, but not much.  It definitely wasn't water.  It felt like runny jello.  It suddenly occurred to her that the liquid was in her lungs.  She was breathing it.  She coughed and sputtered, holding her breath.  Panic began to set in.  Was she going to drown?	There was a shadow in front of her, now that she has turned.  Long strands of hair floated up towards the surface from it.  Andrea tried to swim, not even knowing which way was up but a hand grasped her shoulder and pulled her back.  "It's okay," Irene's voice sounded calm.  "You're going to be fine.  Just breathe."	Andrea didn't dare.  She struggled to get free but the grip on her tightened and she didn't have the strength.  'I'm going to die,' she thought.	"No you won't," Irene said, reading her thoughts.  "Trust me.  Breathe.  You've been doing it for weeks now."	Andrea began to settle down and she looked at the person holding her.  Irene's face smiled back.  The Invid was naked, her breasts rising high on her chest with the buoyancy of the liquid.  She continued to smile, reassuring despite her grip on Andrea's shoulder.  She forced herself to breathe.  Liquid passed through her windpipe and into her lungs, she felt like she should cough but didn't need to.  She felt better.	"See?" Irene thought to her.  "You're fine."	"I was shot."	"Were.  You're better now."  Irene paused.  "Well, almost better.  Your muscles are still kind of weak.  You've been in here for a while."	"How long?"	"About a month."	It still felt odd talking to the other woman without seeing any mouths move.  "Where am I?" Andrea asked.	"In a hive in Brazil.  This is where I was born."	"Here?"	"Mm hmm.  The All Mother let me convert this birthing chamber for humans.  It's made you better."	"What happened?"	Irene's face moved into a pout.  "The other Invid didn't know who you were.  They shot you and tried to kill you but I knew you were in town so I was watching for you.  Waiting for you to turn up in someone's thoughts.  Dax hid them from me but the others let me see.  When I learned you were on the ground dying like that I made the others stop and bring you here.  How do you feel?"	"Tired."	"Yeah, you haven't used your muscles in a month so you might be a little weak.  But don't worry.  This place rebuilds your muscles too.  I could make you even stronger than you were if you want."	"No.  Thanks.  As I was would be good."	"I figured you'd say that.  That's okay."	There was a silence as the two woman looked at each other.  Andrea was suddenly conscious of the fact that their hair had mingled together above their heads.  "I missed you," Irene said. "A lot."	"I missed you too."	"Why did you come back?"	Irene looked at her queerly.  "Because everyone else came back."	"No.  Why did the Invid come back?"	"Oh.  The planet we went to didn't work.  The Masters knew about it and they're really scary.  We had to leave and the flower doesn't grow anywhere else."	"The Masters know about here too, Irene."	"Yeah but they don't come here anymore.  Maybe humans scared them."  Irene smiled.  "But if we're scared of the Masters and the Masters are scared of humans, does that mean we should be scared of humans too?"	"Not unless you try to attack us again," Andrea smiled, trying to make a joke.	Irene's face got serious.  "Oh."	"What.  What is it?"	"We kinda got in a fight with your people again."	"What?  How bad is it?"	Irene looked defensive.  "Not as bad as before.  We learned from you.  We're not enslaving anyone or anything."	"Good."	"It's just the Coalition.  When we came back they suddenly got crazy...  well more crazy.  They started attacking us.  They're a lot stronger now.  I don't know how they got strong so quickly.  But don't worry.  They're not strong enough to beat us."	"That's not the point, Irene.  We need to stop the fighting before too many people get hurt."	"I know, that's what I told the All Mother.  But the Coalition is being tricky.  They learned we weren't attacking people that weren't fighting us, so lots of them took off their armour and started hiding in farms and stuff where people weren't fighting so now we don't know if someone is Coalition or not so we have to keep killing everyone in their territory."	"No..." Andrea shoved away from her.  "You have to stop.  You can't start doing this again."	"But they said if we don't leave they'll kill all of us and if we do leave we'll all die of starvation anyway.  Or the Masters will kill us.  So what are we supposed to do?"	"Talk to them for fuck's sake.  Work out an agreement."	"They won't listen to us.  They say we're ruthless aliens with no humanity.  But I have humanity, don't I?"  Irene frowned and looked at Andrea for confirmation.	"You do, but..."	"There, so tell them that!"	"I will.  Help me get out of here and I'll go talk to them."	"You can't.  Not for a few days.  You're not strong enough yet."	"But they need me.  Let me out."	"You wouldn't even be able to walk."	"Irene, I'm asking you.  Please."  Andrea looked at her intensely.  "Please."	Irene looked back her eyes looking from side to side as she thought about it.  "No.  It's better this way.  You have to stay here."	"Irene, please," Andrea pleaded.	"No."   Irene crossed her arms.  "I'm going to look after you and make you better.  I'm not going to let anything hurt you again."  She paused for a second and looked up.  "I have to go now.  I'll come back and visit tomorrow morning.  You just stay here and get better."	"But..."	"Don't argue.  I'll tell the All Mother not to attack anyone for a couple days if that'll make you feel better."	Andrea nodded reluctantly.	"Okay."  Irene leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.  "See you soon."Irene faded away back into a shadow and then into the mass of green liquid that consumed them both, leaving Andrea with only disturbed thoughts and questions about the wellbeing of her friends. * * * *		Andrea awoke to a gentle touch on her arm, followed by another on her waist.  She opened her eyes and saw Irene floating above her.  Or was it beside her?  She still wasn't sure which way was up.	"Hi," Irene spoke into her mind with a smile.  Andrea realized suddenly just how much she had missed her friend and lover.  She pulled Irene towards her, squeezing her as hard against her as her weakened muscles permitted.	"Hi to you too," Andrea thought to her.  "At least the one advantage to all the madness going on out there is it brought you back to me."	"I thought that too."	Andrea noticed that Irene's face was getting closer as the two of them passed their thoughts to each other.	"I heard you've had a hard time since you made the Regent leave," Irene thought.  Andrea didn't respond but she nodded with a weight that even Irene picked up on.  "I'm sorry to hear that," she added.  "Things are going to be better now.  I promise."  Irene leaned forward to touch her lips to Andrea's.	Andrea melted under the tender touch of her lover.  It had been a long time since someone she had loved had kissed her.  She felt strongly for Sandra though, and worried briefly that this might upset her.  But as the kiss began to deepen, Andrea lost herself in the warm familiar feelings that only someone who knew her intimately could bring.  Her tongue reached out of its own accord and entwined with Irene's.  	Again Andrea tried to pull Irene closer by squeezing her against her flesh tightly.  The other woman's large breasts flattened into her own, Irene's nipples pressing against Andrea's soft flesh determinedly.  She felt the soft curls of Irene's trimmed blonde muff press against her sensitive thigh.  "Open your mind up to me," Irene thought to her while they kissed.  "Let go."	Andrea did so, not able to hold any reservations.  All the stress and the pain of the last nine months passed through her and made her feel weak not only in body, but mind as well.  She shed a tear and her lips shook against Irene's strength, but she opened her eyes to see Irene crying too.  Irene said nothing but she opened her mind as well and Andrea felt the uncertainty of youth at the same time as intense, and truly selfless love.   Irene loved her more than she had known.	The exchange of feelings continued, Andrea feeling what it was to be torn between the demands of two peoples, and Irene felt the hopelessness of bitter defeat.  Or bitter victory.  They kissed for a long time.  Eventually the kisses moved to necks, ears, and collarbones before tenderly dropping to breasts as their emotions moved from the uncertainty of the future to the urgency of the present.	Andrea gasped into the green liquid as Irene's warm mouth closed around her right nipple.  The tiny bud instantly stiffened and Andrea's arms drew Irene's face into her chest tighter, and more of her breast into the other woman's mouth.  Irene moved to the left side and Andrea bit her lip.  She wrapped her legs tightly around Irene's waist, still floating in the expanse.  She remembered the dream she had before battle, of her and Irene in water.  She wondered if it was prophetic.	She pulled Irene up again and kissed her, harder and more passionately.  She could feel her own lips and tongue as the nerves fired, but at the same time, could feel Irene's as well.  She had never felt so naked, nor so connected to someone.	Andrea splayed her legs with Irene's, alternating thighs and as they kissed deeper, she rubbed her pussy and clit against the other woman's leg, simultaneously sliding her own leg, against Irene's sex.  It wasn't enough to cum, but Andrea could feel her body become tenser, feel the shivers as her skin grew more sensitive, and then there was Irene.  So much more sensitive then her.  As the two felt each others skin through each others minds, the feelings grew, feeding off each other until there was nothing left.  Thoughts of the world and of other people left them.  For this moment at least, they were only for each other.	No words were needed.  Irene pulled their sweating bodies apart and spun Andrea gently, slowly, kissing any body part that came near her mouth, Andrea was staring at Irene's soft blonde curls and the pink lips they concealed.  She felt a tongue on her sex and lowered her lips, kissing along Irene's velvet thigh as her own pussy sent shivers of pleasure to both of them.  She relentlessly worked towards her target, sliding her cheek along the blonde's soft leg and her tongue between Irene's lower lips.  She tasted her immediately, despite the green liquid.  She had missed that taste.	It took all her strength to pull back and resist diving in completely.  She wanted to take this one slow.  With Irene lapping lovingly at her own pussy, every move she made on Irene only heightened a different aspect of the feeling.  She knew Irene felt the same.  It was like a song that started with one instrument keeping a rhythm so when the other instruments joined in it added exponentially to the tune.	She hovered above Irene's sex.  The lips were the softest shade of pink, barely distinguishable from the rest of her pale skin until they were separated and engorged with arousal.  Andrea touched one with her tongue, dragging her taste buds along it.  She shuddered and let her body come down from the feeling before doing the same to the other side.  She shuddered again.  She could see beads of wetness, a different viscosity than the liquid around them, cling to Irene's lower lips and pubic hair as if they were afraid of separating from the warmth of her body.  Andrea lowered her tongue again and lapped at them to make sure they didn't get lost in the sea of green.	She dipped her tongue into Irene's sex and got a shudder as her reward that was quickly transmitted to her as well through their connection.  She dipped her tongue in deeper.  She knew the feeling would be better if she played with Irene's clit, but she wanted to be as one with the other woman as she could and somehow it felt just a little bet better with her tongue deep inside her, tasting her sex and feeling it tighten around her tongue.	In only a few moments, the two women shuddered together and came.  Irene's vagina tightened around Andrea's tongue and Andrea felt Irene's warm mouth close around her clit reassuringly.  Her whole body constricted and refused to move as all her muscles tensed.  The feelings of their orgasms interconnected fed off each other, and snowballed getting bigger and bigger and refusing to shut off.  Pleasure overcame both of them and they screamed silently into each other's sex.  The reverberations heightened things more.  Andrea's whole body shook as if in seizure and so did Irene's.  And it built even further.  Their eyes rolled up, their heads felt drunk and their pussies spewed cum like a fountain.  Eventually the pleasure was too much for her body to take.  She couldn't focus or think.  The feeling had built for nearly twenty minutes each second growing stronger but she refused to break the mind link.  She didn't want to separate herself from her lover.  Instead, Andrea's brain shut it down for her.  She passed out.  And for the first time in a long time, she felt safe. * * * *		Andrea woke up with her nerves on fire.  There was a hot tingling sensation that flowed across her skin.  Her pussy and nipples throbbed.  "Wow," she said into the green liquid.	"Andrea quick, wake up," it was Irene's voice in her head.  Andrea felt herself being lifted from the armpits.	"I'm up, what's wrong?"	"We have to get out."	"I thought you said I need another two days."	"You do, but um... I think you'll be strong enough to move around."	"What happened, Irene?"	"We're under attack."	"By who?"	Irene pulled Andrea from the green.  As she was pulled from the pool the liquid flowed down her like mercury.  It left her pores, her ears and her lungs. She coughed desperately and soon she was breathing air again.	"Your friends," Irene answered vocally.  The sound, after so much silence 	shocked her.Irene lifted her to the ground, allowing Andrea to firmly plant her feet before letting go.  She did feel week.  As Irene's arms left her, she nearly collapsed to the ground.  Irene's quick reflexes saved her from the embarrassment.	"Which ones?" Andrea asked.  The warmth of the hive was making her sweat.	"All of them, I think."  As if on queue, the giant structure shook.  "You have a lot of friends."	"Okay, let me go.  I can do this."	"Are you sure?"	"Just let me go."	Irene released her grip and Andrea reeled... but stayed on her feet.  Her muscles felt like jelly but she refused to fall.  She began walking forward, using the soft walls of the hive to support her.  She came to a junction.  "Which way?" Andrea asked.	Irene paused for a moment and Andrea figured she was asking the others.  "Left."	Andrea turned as instructed, hunched over as she pushed her tired muscles harder.  They burned as if she had just exercised.  She came to another junction.	"Right," Irene said immediately.  Andrea turned.	The hall led into a large empty room.  Andrea wasn't sure of it's purpose but she wouldn't be able to use the walls for support anymore.  She pushed off the corner and walked slowly into the room.  The hive shook again and she felt a spike of pain as her knee hit the ground.  Irene was by her side instantly.  Andrea brushed her off.  "No."  Carefully she stood and as she found her footing once more, a section of the wall on the far side began to glow red and shred apart.  Particle weapon fire bled through the cracks and into the room before the wall disintegrated completely and dozens of men and women poured through the opening.	"Hold your fire," someone shouted.  "It's her."	Andrea heard a familiar voice come from behind them. "You better be fucking right this time or I'll cut off your ball sack and..." Aria shoved through from behind them, a knife in one hand, a rifle in the other and saw Andrea and Irene across the room from her.  "Fuck me."	For the first time in months, Andrea was conscious of her nakedness.  	"Give her your fucking vest already," she spat out to one of the men.  He hurried over, stripping his Kevlar vest off as he went and eyeing Irene carefully.  "The rest of you, kill the bitch."  Andrea heard the thud of thirty rifles bracing against thirty shoulders.	"NO," Andrea shouted, throwing herself in front of Irene.	"Andrea, what's she doing?" Irene asked, clutching her friend tightly. 	"Anyone who fires answers to me," Andrea yelled out to them.  She could see the hesitation.  Some still looked ready to fire, Aria most of all.	The man with the vest had stopped outside of the firing line and Andrea stared at Aria intensely.  The other woman stared back.  "She nearly got you fucking dead," Aria shouted out, never breaking eye contact from Andrea.	"She saved my life.  Please, Aria."	The two women looked deeply into each other as if no one else in the world mattered.  "Are they going to kill me?" Andrea heard Irene mumble inside her head.  She ignored her.	"Please," Andrea pleaded to Aria.  "Trust me."	Aria looked into her as if reading her soul.  There was a long silence and the soldiers shifted awkwardly, still not sure what to do.  "Fuck," Aria said.  "I hate it when you make things complicated."  She lowered her weapon.  "Don't kill the bitch," Aria said.  "Let's just get the fuck out of here."  The rest of the soldiers lowered their weapons in response.  The man with the vest handed it over and Andrea put it on and zipped it up.  It barely went down to her crotch but did cover her up for the most part, despite an exposed ass from the back.	"You look sexy like that," Irene thought to her.	"Not now."	Aria picked up her radio.  "We got her.  Fall back, formation D."  Andrea tried to hurry over to her but her muscles didn't let it happen.  "Christ, what did they do to you?"	"Shot me repeatedly and then healed me."	Aria's radio crackled.  "You really have her?"  It was Sandra's voice.	"Sandra!" Andrea smiled.  "Sandra's here?"	"Here and tearing these fuckers a new ass hole."	"Who else is here?"	"Everyone that's left.  Come on.  We'll chat later.  We have to get going before they can regroup."	"Can you convince the Invid to stop firing?" Andrea thought to Irene.	"Probably, if Aria's people do too."	"Aria," Andrea said as one of the soldiers provided a shoulder to support her.  Irene moved to the other side and Andrea draped an arm over each of them.  "Give a 30 second cease fire order.  If the Invid stop firing back extend it for longer."	"Have you gone off your fucking rocker?"	"Please Aria.  Trust me."	"Fuck.  I don't know why I even came out here.  You're as nuts as always."  She smiled sarcastically but strangely, Andrea felt reassured.  "Hey maggots," she said into the radio.  "Cease fire 20 seconds.  If the Invid stop firing your orders are to stand down."	"And if they don't?"  It was Sandra.	"Then we're gonna see how they like the rest of those daisy cutters.  Cease fire now."	The rumbling of the hive stopped.  Andrea could hear a few stray blasts but they too were quickly silenced.  "Is it working?" Andrea said to no one in particular.	Irene nodded.  "They're going to let everyone go.  But tell Aria she has to remove the bomb too," Irene thought to her.	"Aria'll never agree to that.  Let me try something else."	Andrea spoke aloud, "How many bombs you have planted?"	Aria gave Irene a sharp look.	"It's okay," Andrea reassured.  "How many."	"Two."	"Give me the detonator."	"Why?"  Aria looked suspicious.	"Because we're going to use them as leverage to get out of here.  We're allowed to leave, they're allowed to live."	"Well fuck.  How about we just force ourselves out and then blow 'em all to hell anyway?"	"Aria!"  Andrea's voice was harsher than she had intended.  She saw a look of anger cross her rescuers face before Aria reached into her jacket and pulled out the detonator.  She handed it to Andrea.  	"How's it goin' out there?" Aria said into the radio.  "Have they stopped?"	"All clear," a voice came back.  "They're standing down."	"Alright, set up a defensive position while we get our people out.  Don't fire unless fired upon."	Andrea couldn't help but smile.	"What are you fuckin' smiling at?" Aria glared at her.	"You're a pretty good commander."	"That's because I have a fucking brain, unlike these useless tits."  She looked up to the head of the party.  "Hey, Franklin!  It's a right, not a fucking left.  You want someone to draw you a map?  I'll see if I can find the fucking crayons."	A man that must have been Franklin turned to the opposite direction and led the group down a passage.	"See what I mean?" Aria smiled and Andrea couldn't help but laugh.  She stopped for a minute and looked at her.	"It's good to see you again Aria."	"Yeah well, you get kidnapped again, you can get yourself out.  I'm gonna fuckin' retire after this."	Andrea laughed.  "I was being serious."	Aria sighed.  "Ah, fuck.  It's good to see you too.  I swear to God though, if they've fucked you up somehow there isn't going to be anywhere these fuckers can hide."  Andrea nodded.  "Now come on," Aria continued.  "This place gives me the creeps."	It was a long, slow walk before Andrea saw daylight again.  The side of the hive had been blown open with explosives and orange goo, dripped from around the jagged opening.  The light outside was nearly blinding but the cool breeze was refreshing.  There was jungle all around but much of it was on fire.  Andrea noticed a semi-circle of soldiers around the opening, including a few people in cyclones.  When her group appeared the carrier she had taken to Florida backed up to her in haste and slammed open the rear hatch.  Stacy was inside with a hand out to help Andrea in.  Andrea took it and entered the vehicle, Irene and Aria close behind. * * * *		"Where is she?"  The carrier had been stopped at the fall back point for all of about twenty seconds when Andrea heard Sandra's voice from outside.  "Hey," there was a banging on the side door.  "Open up."	Andrea had since found a pair of camouflage green pants and made her way to open the door.  Aria stood up to get it for her but a gesture and a glare told her to take her seat again.  There was another banging as Andrea approached, still shaky and untrusting of her limbs.  She pressed the button to release the door and it opened quickly, nearly sucking her outside.  Sandra climbed the three steps in one bounce, wearing a set of riding armour, minus the helmet.  	"You little bitch," She said, all smiles.  She kissed Andrea hard on the mouth, literally zapping whatever strength Andrea had left in her legs.  She sunk into Sandra's arms and wrapped her own wrists around the other woman's neck.  "Are you okay?"  A concerned look claimed her face.Andrea nodded.  "I'll be fine.  Just a little weak."	Sandra kissed her again.  "I was so worried.  When I heard they took you...  I...  Well I went to the Coalition like you told me.  And then I found Aria.  We didn't know what to do.  God, I was so worried."  A tear was rolling down her cheek.  Andrea smiled at her.	"I'm okay.  Thanks to all of you.  Thank you."	Irene chipped in from the back, "But we were gonna-"	Andrea snapped into Irene's mind.  "Don't you dare finish that sentence."	"Why?" Irene questioned back in her head.	"These people risked and lost their lives to get me out.  Don't you dare tell them it was for no reason."	Everyone was still looking at Irene.  She looked away bashful, and finished her sentence, "-do... stuff..."	"Hey, where is she?" Thunder's deep voice came booming in from the other side of the open door.  Andrea looked over Sandra's shoulder, still wrapped up in her arms.	"Hey, big guy!" Andrea said detaching herself from Sandra and leaning forward to hug Thunder.  He stood a step down from her in the entranceway and she still had to reach up.  "Glad you're okay."	"Glad I'm okay?  How about glad you're okay?  To be honest, we thought you were done for."	"Me too.  You can thank Irene for that.  She made sure I got out alive."	He turned to Irene.  "Irene you crazy girl.  Good job."  He headed over to her and lifted her up in a large hug.  She giggled, wrapped her arms around him and give him a peck on the cheek.	"I love Andrea too you know," she said with a smile.	Andrea looked around, putting an arm around Sandra to brace herself once again.  "How did you guys manage this?  How did you even find me?"	"Well, when we heard you were carried away after the gunfight we thought you were already dead," Thunder said releasing Irene.  A sadness came over him.  "We were just looking to retrieve the body.  So Aria interrogated a few of them and found out you were still alive here."	Aria smiled widely.  "Turns out they don't like pain any more than us poor humans."  Irene glared at her from across the carrier.	"Anyway," Thunder continued.  "Between that and what Sandra could tell us, we put together what was left of the military, people who didn't make it to Florida in time, survivors, you know.  And we had a little outside help too.	"Outside help?"	"Is that my queue?"  Jack's voice came from outside the open door as Thunder's had moments before.	"We're going to have to close that door," Andrea joked as Jack walked in, dressed to the hilt in the Coalition generals uniform, minus the skull mask.  Andrea still couldn't help thinking he looked like a Nazi.  Just didn't act like one... most of the time.	"No problem, I'll get it for you," he said closing it after stepping in.	"So you came too, huh?" Andrea said, giving him a hug as well.  "Thanks."	"Well, in fairness your friends had to do a lot of convincing to get me to do a lot of convincing to get the little I did.  We basically just provided some air support."	"Still I'm glad you're here.  For more reasons than one.  We need to talk later."	"Um, yeah, sure.  Whatever you need."	Andrea slumped down on a padded bench against the wall and looked around the small room once again.  She didn't know Stacy well, she could see Mike in the driver's compartment. Still, everyone here was a friend and she wasn't likely to forget what they had all done for her. 	"Oh shit.  Um...  Irene, this is Sandra.  Sandra, this is Irene, a close friend of mine."	Irene smiled and came over with a hand out rather daintily.  "Pleased to meet you," she said.	Sandra smiled and accepted.  "Same to you."	"She thinks about you a lot," Irene said.  She leaned in close and whispered something into the other woman's ear.  Sandra tried to contain a laugh.	"Is that so?" She said back.	"Mm hmm," Irene nodded.	"I think you're going to be a very interesting person to get to know.  I'm looking forward to it."	Irene looked her up and down mischievously.  "Me too."	"Hey guys?" Andrea asked.  "How's Tessa doing?"	"What your coyote?" Aria asked.  "She made it with some hot stud and joined up with some pack.  I think she's doin' well."	"Maybe we should give Andrea a break and let her rest," Stacy said awkwardly and made for the exit.	"No, no.  Please.  I missed you guys.  I missed you guys more than I knew."  Andrea sat back, closed her eyes and listened to familiar voices talking.* * * *		"In the last two months, the Invid have been back, they've been doing things a little differently."  Jack's spine stiffened while he talked and Andrea lounged casually - almost too casually - as he talked.  He gave her a short glance as stiff as his spine and continued.  "At first, it looked like they were going to be relatively peaceful.  They landed in sparsely populated areas in the Americas and for the most part kept to themselves.  During the first few days we heard from one of our northern outposts near Mexico City that the Invid were expanding and annexing small towns in the surrounding area.  To our knowledge no life had been lost but people were being imposed upon."	"You figured they were testing the waters.  See what Coalition response would be like."  Andrea leaned forward on the bench in the carrier.  The back had been emptied except for her and Jack.	"That's right."	"They weren't."	"Yes, we know that now.  But at the time, we decided we'd do a little testing of our own."	"You attacked them."  Andrea sighed and slumped back again.	"It was just a small scouting party looking for land near local villages around Teotihuac‡n.  We hit fast and destroyed the party in less than a minute.  None of the enemy survived."	"But they saw you."	"We're still not sure how they knew it was us but..."	"They're telepathic.  I told you before that they're telepathic."  Andrea felt her muscles clenching.  Why did they never listen?	"Well, yes, but there was some concern on the council that your intelligence might be..." he paused not wanting to say it.	"Misinformation."	"Unreliable," he corrected.	Andrea let out an exasperated grunt.  	"Do you want to sit there overreacting or do you want to hear this?"	"Sorry.  It's just-"	"Frustrating, I know.  So as I was saying, after that they began attacking us directly and methodically.  Instead of splitting up their forces, they kept them together, striking small perimeter outposts in huge numbers.  Most of the time we didn't even down one of them.  We weren't sure how to slow their advance except to go on the offensive.  Their paranoia about loosing ships in their attacks left their flank open and we went in and destroyed a hive.  For the next few weeks nothing happened.  Then we heard about this weapons deal that Sandra made us aware of."  He paused and took a drink from a cup of water.  "It became clear that their aggressive feelings towards us hadn't relented as we had hoped.  It also became clear that they were getting much more complex in their strategies."	"So you hit them again," Andrea said.	"We didn't see any other option.  Since then, we haven't won an engagement.  We fended them off once when they tried attacking the tower but it's believed they're just regrouping and will attempt it again in a matter of weeks.  Their numbers are far greater than we had imagined.  Six, maybe seven digits."	"Also like-"	"Like you told us, yes."  He breathed in deeply.  "Incidentally, the council would very much like to speak with you again."	"They're not going to like what I have to say."	"What do you have to say?"	"That we can't win.  There is zero hope of a militaristic victory."	"You're right, they wouldn't like that."  He sat down beside her and turned his shoulders to look at her.  "So what would you recommend?"	"You can't surrender.  They'd never let us build any kind of forces together again.  It would completely doom any kind of reasonable resistance movement for centuries."	"So what then?"	"Negotiate."	"Negotiate?""It's our only chance." * * * *		"Forty-five," sweat was dripping from Andrea's brow and matting her white tank top to her breasts, back and stomach. "Forty-six," her arms shook and her muscles were on fire.  "Forty-seven," Andrea collapsed to the ground, her arms finally giving out on her.  She rolled limply onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.  "Shit."	The door opened and she turned her head to look.  It was Irene.  "Hi," she said.  "What're you doing?"	"Push-ups.  Or I was anyway.  I can't even get to fifty."	"I never liked push-ups.  They're really boring."	"I'm still trying to get my strength back."	Irene moved across the carrier and sat cross-legged by Andrea.  "It's only been a day.  You're probably going to be weak for a while still."	Andrea was still breathing hard.  "I know.  It's just... frustrating."	"We're moving again, if that helps.  Heading north to the Tower.  I told them we shouldn't go there.  That it's dangerous there.  They won't listen."	Andrea sat up.  "Dangerous for whom?"	"For everyone."	"So the Invid are planning to attack the Tower again."	"Oop," Irene suddenly stopped talking.  "The All Mother says I'm not supposed to talk about the Tower any more."  She sighed.  "Don't get mad, but sometimes I wish you had never made me like humans so much."	"Why?"	"Because your family is always fighting with my family."	"It was simpler the old way."	"Yeah."	"If a situation looks simple it usually denotes ignorance."	Irene looked at her blankly.	"It means you're not seeing the big picture."	"Yeah I know," Irene continued.  "That's what I was saying.  Sometimes I hate the big picture.  It's-"	"Frustrating?"	Irene smiled.  "Maybe I could make it less frustrating for both of us?"	"How?"	She looked around.  "There's no one in here right now and you're really sexy when you're all sweaty like that."  Andrea's tank top had slid up slightly during her workout and Irene glanced at her exposed midriff.  Her nipples poked at the soft fabric, indenting it.  Irene licked her lips.  "You may be a little skinny but you're still really hot."	Andrea smiled.  "Flattery will get you everywhere."	"Even here?" Irene teased, moving a hand to Andrea's crotch and pinching with fingers and thumb gently.	"Maybe," Andrea teased back.  "Maybe you need the password to get in there."	"Oh I know the password," Irene leaned in close to Andrea's neck.  She kissed the other woman on the collarbone and slowly moved up the soft subtle skin breathing out as she did so.  Andrea shivered and the hairs on her neck stood on end.  	"That's part of it," Andrea moaned.  	Irene's kissing continued to rise as she slid her tongue up the side of Andrea's neck all the way to her ear.  She took the delicate earlobe into her mouth and sucked on it.  	"Mmm," Andrea sighed.  She wrapped her own arms around Irene and pulled her head towards her.	Irene's tongue played at Andrea's ear as her hand slid into the waistband of Andrea's pants to seek out the other woman's warmth.  A finger brushed against Andrea's clit as it moved downward and splayed her lower lips apart.  It pressed against her wet entrance and slowly pushed inside.  Irene's lips moved to Andrea's and her tongue extended again to intertwine with her partners.  Andrea used her arms to pull Irene tighter against her and spread her legs more, granting her easier access to her pussy.  She never heard the door to the carrier open.	"Oh..."	Andrea had heard that.  It was Sandra's voice.  She broke the kiss with Irene and glanced over to see Sandra standing in the carriers entranceway.  Irene failed to remove her hand from Andrea's pants.	"I'm sorry," Sandra muttered.  "I uh... I didn't think I'd be interrupting..."  Her face made Andrea's throat jump into her stomach.  "I'll catch up to you when you're not busy."	Sandra backtracked out of the carrier.  "Sandra, wait," Andrea called after her to no avail.  She pulled Irene's hand out of her pants and the blonde's middle finger glistened with wetness.	"Why did she leave?  She should have joined us," Irene said simply.	"Just uh... Give me a bit, okay Irene."	"Sure."  She put her wet finger into her mouth.  "You want me to come with you?" She said from around the wet digit.	"No that's okay.  Just wait here."	"Okay," she said seductively.  "Don't make me wait too long."	Andrea gave her a forced smile and stumbled out of the carrier, still on weak legs.  "Hey, Sandra, wait!"  She could see the other woman move into the tree line at the edge of camp.  Sandra kept walking as if she hadn't heard Andrea's call.	Andrea tried to pick up the pace, jogging on shaky muscles.  She was slowly gaining on the other woman.  "Sandra," she called out desperately.  The other woman finally stopped, turned and took a deep breath.  Encouraged, Andrea began to slow and stopped paying as much attention to the woods around her.  Her toe touched a root that jutted out of the ground and her leg stopped moving forward.  The next thing she knew she was on the ground with a bloody palm resting in a bed of leaves.  "Fuck."	Andrea struggled to regain her footing but Sandra was already by her side lifting her up.  "Are you okay?"  Her expression had switched to concern.	"I'm trying to decide if I should say I fell to gain pity points or take the hit to my pride and tell the truth."	"What's the truth?"	"That I'm a fucking invalid."	"Don't worry, everyone says you'll get your strength back."	"Yeah, that's what they say.  Look, Sandra, I'm really sorry about that."	"No don't be.  You didn't do anything wrong.  I'm the one who's sorry. I was acting childish."	"No you weren't."	"I was.  Seriously.  Don't worry about it.  Go back to Irene.  She'll be missing you."  Sandra's voice shook as she spoke and she turned to walk away.	"Sandra..." Andrea didn't call out with strength.  In fact it was barely more than a whisper.  Maybe that's why the other woman stopped and turned.  She leaned against a tree and crossed her arms over her chest.  It looked as if tears were building in Sandra's eyes.  "I missed you," Andrea continued.	"How could you miss me?  You barely know me?  Besides, you were unconscious most of the time."	Andrea walked towards her cautiously.  Partially because of her weak legs, partially because she wasn't sure exactly what she was getting herself into.  "I did miss you."	Sandra blinked and rubbed an eye.  "I'm sorry, I'm being so stupid."	Andrea didn't know what to say.  She stood a few inches away from her lover, looking in her blue eyes.  They were brighter than she had noticed before.	"You always need to fix things, don't you Andrea?"  It wasn't a criticism, just an observation.	Andrea nodded.  "I don't like leaving anything unsettled."	Sandra looked back into Andrea's brown eyes.  "I'm really glad to have you back."	"Thanks for coming to rescue me."	"Hey, that's what friends do."	"No.  More than friends," Andrea clarified.	"You think we will ever really be that?  More than friends I mean?"	"I just said..."	"No, you know what I mean.  More than more than friends.  More than sex."	"I uh..." Andrea hesitated.  "The last person I was really close too... it took me a long time to get close to her.  And she..." Andrea looked at the tall grass at her feet.	"She was in Florida with you," Sandra finished.	Andrea nodded.  "I don't know if I can do that again."  She turned her body from Sandra and felt soft hands on her shoulders.  It felt good.  "I think you're digging for damaged goods, Sandra."	"Damaged maybe, but worth it."	Andrea smiled but she was still turned away.  The other woman couldn't see it.  She appreciated the compliment but for some reason couldn't give in.  Something inside was stopping her.  Stopping her from what she really wanted to do.  But what did she want to do?  Her instincts knew but her brain wasn't willing to pass on the information.  Without a word she began walking away.  Sandra said nothing but before Andrea could leave completely something made her turn.  "I really care about you.  More than I ever thought I would for someone again."	Sandra just nodded, not sure whether to follow or stay.  Andrea continued walking and headed back to the edge of the tree line.  But before she got there her legs gave out on her again and she sat in the dirt on the ground.  She leaned her back against a tree and closed her eyes.  Much as Sandra was doing a few hundred yards behind her.* * * *		"Are you sure it's a good idea to just walk in there?"  Sandra's concern made her voice shake.  It had been a week and in a caravan of nearly 500 people it was practically the first time Andrea was face to face with Sandra since the woods.  Andrea briefly wondered how that was even possible.	"No," Andrea said leaning against the parked carrier and looking into the distance at the planet's last remaining testament to architecture.  Trump Tower rose into the sky, dwarfing the neighbouring one and two story structures in the shantytown and casting everything to the East of it in shadow.  A large black Coalition skull hung on all four sides of the building, glaring out at the world with vacant eyes.	"You want me to go with you?"	"No.  I want you to save my ass if they do something stupid."	"You mean like arrest and execute you?"  	"Yeah, something like that."  Andrea looked away from the brooding tower and eventually settled her eyes on her friend.  "I should be okay.  Jack will protect me.  Besides, I'm invited."	"Easiest way to get to you without a fuss."	"No, I don't think so," Andrea pondered.  "They wouldn't have used any resources to rescue me if they want me dead.  They want to know what I know."	Sandra frowned.  "And if that information isn't to their satisfaction?"	"Then we may have a problem.  And you and Aria may have to do your thing."	"How many times do you plan to get captured by huge military organizations?"	"Hah.  That wasn't the first time and it won't be the last."	"Well you better be careful 'cause there will be a last time I put my ass on the line to rescue you."	Andrea smiled.  "Don't worry, I'd return the favour."	"Maybe so but I'm not stupid enough to get caught all the time," Sandra joked.	"It's a planned strategy you know.  Keeps them off guard when I just walk into their headquarters to see what's up."	"I'll say!"	"Hey," Andrea's tone suddenly became serious.  "I'm sorry about the other day.  With Irene."	"I said don't worry about it," Sandra lied.  "You're an adult you can do what you want."	"Hmm."	"Hmm, what?"  Sandra stepped back defensively.	"You're doing the girl thing."	"Well I do have tits, if you hadn't noticed."  She nearly walked away, but instead took a deep breath and collected herself.  She took a step back towards Andrea.  "What girl thing?"	"The whole 'saying there's nothing wrong when there clearly is' thing.  I know.  I've used it myself."	"And when do you use that trick?"	"When I'm hurt but don't want to seem petty and hurt someone I care about in return."  Andrea grasped Sandra gently by the side of the neck.  "I don't want to hurt you either."	"Then we should do the guy thing," Sandra said.	"What, beat each other up and call it solved?"	Sandra laughed, dipping her chin into Andrea's palm.  Andrea felt a knot in her stomach as the laugh reached right through her.  "No, worse.  Be blunt."	Andrea nodded herself.  "When I get back."	Andrea dipped her lips closer and kissed Sandra lightly on the mouth.  The knot in her stomach unwound all at once and she felt weak.  Not even Irene made her feel like that.  "What is it about you?" Andrea wondered aloud.	"If you want to find out you better not do something stupid and get yourself killed."	"Don't worry.  I'm coming back.  I'm not even going to say good-bye."  Andrea parted from her lover and saying nothing else walked slowly toward a spare jeep and started it up.  Jack saw her from across the camp and made his way over to get in the passenger seat.  Andrea drove away, leaving Sandra standing at camp with nothing to do but wonder if her fears were justified.	"You two seem pretty close," Jack said once they were a few seconds away.	"You still fishing?" Andrea smiled.	"It's my favourite pastime.  Problem is they're so damn slippery and I can't find a lure that works."  He looked out the window as the trees coasted by.	"We're... Complicated."	"When are you not?"	"Ouch," Andrea laughed.  "You got mean this last year."	"Hey, I've gotta survive on the council somehow."	"I suppose that's true enough.  'Course if it was me I'd tell 'em where to shove it and get the fuck out."	"You did that already.  I still remember the look on the Emperor's face.  Priceless.  Haven't seen that look since.  Feel like you're good for an encore?"	"We'll see."  Andrea looked up to the sky through the few gaps in the dense overgrowth.  "We'll see."  She turned off the road onto a thin path through the brush of the rainforest and approached another carrier. 'Come on Irene, let's get goin.' She thought to the Invid.	Irene came out of the carrier with the usual bounce in her step and a small pack.  Andrea thought it a bit odd since she rarely carried anything at all.  "What've you got?" Andrea asked.	"Stuff," Irene said cheerfully.   	"What do you mean, stuff?"	"Don't worry about it."  She hopped in the back of the jeep.  Andrea stared at her and Irene stared back blankly.  "I thought you wanted to go?"	Andrea gave her a helpless glare and turned forward again.  She spun the tires and turned the vehicle around to get back to the main road.  	"How are things going with Sandra?" Irene asked leaning forward between the two front seats.  Andrea caught Jack taking a quick glace back at her large breasts pressed against each other in the gap between seats.  He looked around quickly to see if he'd been discovered.  Irene obviously hadn't noticed. 	"They're okay.  I've gotta talk to her when we get back.  Sort some stuff out."	"Is she mad cause she caught us with my hand down your pants?"	Jack coughed awkwardly and reached into his bag for a  drink of water.  He looked sidelong at Andrea as he drank.	"Um...  yeah, something like that," Andrea said.	"Oh, I'm sorry.  I hope she doesn't hate me.  Or you.  Do you hate me now?"	"No, of course I don't hate you.  And neither does she.  We just need to work it out is all.  Don't worry about it okay?  It'll be fine."	"Okay..." Irene sounded unconvinced.  "Can you pull over so Jack can drive?  I wanna give you a present."	"A present?  What is it?"	"It's an umm....  An I'm sorry present."	Andrea sighed and stopped the jeep.  She got out carefully and went around to the back seat, wishing secretly she was in good enough shape to just slip between the seats.  Her exercises were paying off though.  Yesterday she had been able to walk for half an hour before needing to take a break.	She closed the rear door behind her and Jack slid across the gearshift into the drivers seat.  "You ladies ready to go?"	"Go for it," Andrea said, relaxing into the seat.  It was easier than driving.  She knew she'd get drained sooner rather than later and was glad to have a reason to switch off.  She turned to Irene.  "So what have you got?"	"Well, a little while ago I wouldn't have been able to give this to you.  But after...  well after your injury and being fixed by us and with your um..." she glanced at Jack suspiciously.  "With your other stuff and everything...  I um... I thought you might like this."  She took the bag from the seat beside her and held it out to Andrea.  Andrea took it and looked it over.  It felt light, as if it was empty but there was clearly something bulky inside.  Andrea pulled the zipper and looked inside.  There was blackness.  She stared at it a moment, puzzled.  "So?" Irene pressed.	"What is it?"  Andrea reached inside and could have sworn she felt something move.  Her hand moved around in some kind of fabric.  Maybe silk.	"What does it look like silly?"	Andrea continued to look at it confused.  She bunched some in her fist and it slipped around in her palm like mercury yet still attached to the larger whole.  She pulled it out of the back.  It was definitely fabric.  Pure, deep black.  Similar to the black jumpsuit Irene wore.  Maybe it was the same.  Andrea held it up so she could look at it more fully.  It was a jumpsuit.  "It's like the one you have," Andrea said.  	"Uh huh."  Irene smiled happily and Andrea could see Jack take a look at it in the mirror.	"Looks nice.  Pretty shiny," he said.	"It's alive," Irene said.	Andrea dropped it immediately and it fell to the seat in a bunch.  She watched it intently but it didn't move.	"Why did you drop it?"  Irene picked it up and handed it out to Andrea again.  Andrea took it carefully and spun it around slowly, looking for eyes or some other creepy feature.  "What are you doing?" Irene giggled.  "You're being silly.  Try it on."	Andrea looked at it sceptically, and then to Irene with the same expression.  "How?  It looks really small.  And there's no zipper."	"Of course not.  That would be stupid.  And it's small 'cause it forms around your skin.  Like mine, see?"  Irene pinched some of the 'fabric' from against her stomach and stretched it out.  She let go and instead of pinching back against her like latex or drooping like cotton, it slowly oozed back and rippled against her stomach until it showed the definition of her body once more.  "Try it on," she repeated.	Andrea glanced quickly up to Jack and then back to Irene.  "Alright."  She reached to the base of her shirt and smoothly pulled it over her head.  Her breasts bounced free and Irene looked over her frame.	"You're not as skinny as you were.  You must be getting your strength back."  Andrea looked down at her arms, stomach and waist.  They sure looked skinny to her.  Even her boobs looked smaller.  Although they probably weren't.	"You think?"	"Mm hmm."  	"Well, if you say so."  She leaned her naked shoulders against the cloth seat and lifted her butt off the seat so she could slide off her shoes and pants.  "Will I need shoes with this thing?"	"Nope.  It gets all hard and rubbery on your feet.  It's really comfy.	"Huh."  Andrea, now naked, held up the black cloth and looked for a seam.  "How do I open it?"	'Just ask it to,' Irene thought to her.  "You know, in your mind."	Andrea attempted to do just that and suddenly the material began to splice and seam down the middle of the back from the neck all the way to the waist.  "Neat."  Andrea said.  She put her legs into the tight material and it expanded around her feet, making it easy to get into.  When her feet reached the end she felt the material harden around her soles.  It was so form fitting it even displayed each toe.  "That looks really weird.  Do you think it could cover my toes more like a shoe?"  Before she had even finished the sentence, the material had begun reforming itself until it became smooth along the top of her foot.  "Huh."	Andrea looked down at it, now hugging her from the waist down.  She gave it a similar request to get rid of the rather blatant camel-toe and got into the rest of it, slipping her arms inside the appropriate holes.  As soon as her arms were in it began sealing itself up her back, until her body was completely encased in it, neck to toe, with the exception of her hands.  It was cool to the touch against her skin, even in the intense heat of the rainforest.  "Does it control temperature?"	"Yup.  It's cool when it's hot and hot when it's cool.  It also stops you from sweating...  well it doesn't stop you, that would be bad.  It just absorbs it and then makes it go away.  That's how it cleans."	"Really?"	"Yup.  Neat huh?"	"Yeah.  Thanks, Irene."	"No problem."  Irene's look turned serious.  "Don't be mean to it and take good care of it or it won't like you."	Andrea felt like she was appeasing her mother.  "Don't worry, I will."  She looked down again.  It was weird seeing essentially her naked body but covered in the paper-thin black material.  All her muscles were on display, even her nipples.  "I'm going to have to watch my weight."	"Yeah, it wouldn't look good on fat people," Irene said plainly.  "But it looks great on you.  Trust me."	"Thanks."	The rest of the ride passed quietly, Andrea spending most of her time looking out the window at the ever-looming Trump Towers.  Eventually they pulled up to the main door of the tower and Jack stepped out of the vehicle.  Walking ahead he began a conversation with the door guard as Andrea and Irene made their way up behind him.  As they approached, she began to hear the conversation.	"...Emperor.  Let's try not to keep him waiting, huh?"	The other guard nodded quickly and gestured the three of them inside.	"They have to do a search, make sure we don't have any weapons or anything and then we'll be able to go straight up to the emperor.	Andrea looked down at her new clothing and then to Irene's.  "Seriously?  Where do you think I'm going to hide a weapon in this thing?"	"It's just policy.  Don't worry, it'll only take a second."  Jack gestured one of the security officers over who gave the two women a quick pat-down and sent them on their way.  "See?  Nice and painless."	"First time for everything," Andrea smiled.	"Look," Jack said to her quietly, leaning close as they walked.  "I haven't told them that Irene is...  well you know what she is.  Best if you keep it that way."	"No problem."	'You hear that Irene?' Andrea thought to her.  'They don't know you're an Invid so we're going to have to make it look like you're just my advisor or something okay?'	'Maybe you should act like my advisor,' Irene teased.	'Next time,' Andrea smiled back.  "Hey Jack?  You got a spare flack jacket or something around?  Might be good to be a little less nipply."	"Hah, no problem.  Actually we have a few of your old army's around.  Still have the patches on 'em and everything if you want it."	"Yeah, that'd be great.  You mind if we pick it up on the way?"	"Sure."	A quick stop later and Andrea was once again standing in front of the large oak doors in front of the council room.  She hadn't been in that spot in about a year now and she looked down at her black flack jacket with the familiar patch she'd come to know so well.  A silver shield over a blue and green globe.  It felt odd to wear that again and she briefly couldn't remember how she had come up with that, or how she had managed to put together such a sizable force in the first place.  She couldn't help but wonder if she still had the right to speak for anyone, let alone all of humanity.  But her doubts were forced to come to a close as Jack creaked open the heavy door and gestured for the two women to step inside.	Andrea led and Irene followed close behind.  Andrea had left her jacket undone so as not to appear hiding anything but it only served to highlight the cleavage between her breasts.  She caught a few of the male council members looking before she turned to face the emperor, high atop his elevated chair at the head of the oval table.  There were three empty seats.  One for Jack and presumably one for both Irene and her.  She gestured Irene to sit down and Andrea remained standing, directly opposite the emperor at the other head of the table where no chair sat to challenge his authority.  Jack sat down in his own seat to the Emperor's left.	By remaining standing, her eyeline was actually slightly higher than his and it looked briefly as if he was somewhat uncomfortable.	"This is my aid, Irene," Andrea gestured.	"Picked another woman did you?  Your mistake to make I suppose," the Emperor said.	"Do you often find insulting your guests a good way to get information from them?  I'm here to help you, if you'll recall.  On your request."	"Thank you, I'm quite capable of recollecting my orders.  Tell us all you know of the Invid."	"I tried that already.  You didn't listen then, why would you listen now?"	"Listen wench, you'll tell me everything you know or you'll find yourself being asked these same questions in a lot less comfortable manner."	"Highness," Jack said shifting forward in his chair.  "She's here as a friend, in good faith."	"I'll tell you who your friends are."	The council glanced awkwardly throughout the room.  They seemed to realize just how important the information was.	"Please, sir.  Let us hear her out," the comment came from one of the other council members Andrea vaguely recognized.  Was he minister of trade?	"So be it," the Emperor said begrudgingly as he sat tensely in his chair.  "Speak."	"You haven't won a single engagement since the Invid regrouped."	"How do you-?"	"Jack told me."	The Emperor shot Jack a fiery glance and Jack snuck a look of betrayal towards Andrea.  Andrea tried to meet his eyes with something that imbued trust.  She hoped she was successful.	"We fended the Invid off when they last attacked the tower," the Emperor stated.	"Yes, because they withdrew so that they could regroup and take the tower with less losses.  They're coming back.  They're coming back soon."	'Andrea!' Irene shouted in her head.  'Don't tell him that!'	'Trust me Irene,' Andrea thought to her.  'Please.'	"When?"  The Emperor peered at her with small blue eyes.  There was no particular surprise on the council.  They knew this already.	'When is the attack planned,' Andrea thought to Irene.	'Andrea...'	'When?'	'Four days.'	"Four days," Andrea said. 	"That's ahead of our projected schedule," said another voice of the council.  Andrea knew him.  The minister of Intelligence.  "We had them at eight days."	"Yes, I'm aware of that," the Emperor said coldly.  "How do we stop them?" He turned to Andrea.  She saw real fear in his eyes.	Andrea paused.  She put her hands on the table and looked around at serious, professionally trained, scared men.  Even Jack looked a little shaken.  "You can't."  She saw Jack's shoulders slump as the answer he knew was coming finally did.  It was as if it wasn't real to him until that moment.	"That's treason."	"No, it's the truth.  You have what...  fifty thousand fully equipped soldiers around the tower?"	The Emperors lip tightened and Jack shook his head in a barely perceptible manner.	"Or less?" Andrea guessed.	"34,000," Jack said.  "Plus another fifty thousand in the militia."	"But the militia doesn't have any energy weapons.  They can't even hurt Invid ships."	"True," Jack said.	'How many Invid ships are attacking, Irene?' Andrea thought to her friend.	'Andrea, please.  The All-Mother will be really upset if I tell you.'	'How many?'	Andrea saw Irene tense.  'All of them,' she said.  'Nearly a million.  But don't tell them that.'	'No,' Andrea thought to her.  'They'd probably just nuke the fleet along with themselves, if they thought it'd take care of all your ships.'  As Andrea thought it out to Irene, the idea had a strange temptation.  To wipe out the Coalition and the Invid in one action?  With only a few years' work the Earth could be free again.  But at what cost?  She found herself hesitating more than she would have liked.  She lowered her head to look at the faces in the room.   They'd all die.  She might too.  The Invid fleet would be gone, Trump Tower would be gone.  It would be like pressing the reset button.  So easy.	"They're sending a third of their fleet," Andrea said with a shaky voice.  "More than three hundred thousand ships.  They'll raze the tower to ashes within half an hour, and the million people living outside of it in even less time.  And then they'll go after your outposts.  And then they'll go after my friends.  And then civilians.  And then the Earth will be theirs."	Andrea felt the depression of the council as she said it.  It was so much it felt as if it was literally weighing her down with them.  How could this be solved?  How could the Invid be convinced to stop?  How could humans have a world of their own?"	"What do we do?" Someone on the council said.  "Do we surrender?"	"Treason," the Emperor said fiercely.	"We can't surrender," Andrea responded quickly.  "The Invid would enslave us again."	'No we wouldn't,' Irene thought to her.	'Yes you would and you know it,' Andrea shot back.  Irene's face moved into a pout and she slumped back in her chair.	'So what do we do then?' Irene thought.	"So what do we do then?" Someone on the council asked.	Andrea breathed in deeply.  She didn't have an answer.  "The Invid have come a long way from when they first arrived here.  They want to be reasonable.  We just need a reasonable option to proposition them with."	"But what?" Jack said.  "You've said before that they need the flower to live so they won't go anywhere else.  And we can't go anywhere else.  So how can we compromise?  We both need Earth to live."	Andrea stood up straight.  Could that be it?  Could that be the solution? 'Irene,' she thought.  'Where does the flower grow?'	'Um...  Well it grows best in the Americas,' she told Andrea.  'It grows a little bit in Asia and Australia but since the first attack years ago we haven't spent much time there 'cause it doesn't taste as good.'	"No, Jack.  That's it.  We're going to move."	"What?" Jack and Irene both spoke together.  It was the first time Irene said anything in front of them and a few looked at her.  "Sorry," she said and blushed red.	"All our strategies have been based around making them leave because we think it's our planet.  But it's not ours anymore.  It belongs to humans and Invid now.  We both need it to survive.  There's no other way.  We have to accept that we're sharing, and we have to draw up some borders."	"Borders?" Jack mused.  "Where?"	"The Ocean.  The Invid don't know lines on a map.  We give them North and South America.  All the humans here relocate across the ocean and that becomes the new border.  They stay on their side, we stay on ours."	There was some commotion on the council as they talked it over in reserved tones with reserved emotions.  Some appeared excited, others concerned.  It was hard to say which way it would go.  "And they could be convinced of this?" Jack asked.	'Irene?' Andrea thought.	'Maybe.  It'd be up to the All Mother.  She says she'll think about it.'	"I can convince them," Andrea said.	"How?" The Emperor asked sceptically.  "How can you communicate with them within the next four days without putting this tower at risk?"	"I can do it," Andrea assured him.  "Leave it at that."	"Very well," he said.  "You communicate with them, get assurances and we will discuss your proposition amongst ourselves.  Good day ladies."	Andrea was surprised to be dismissed so quickly.  She hesitated in confusion but after a moment made for the exit with Irene in tow.	"The guards will show you to quarters," Jack said.	"Thanks," Andrea responded.  As she closed the door behind her, she made eye contact with Jack one last time and silently mouthed to him: "It's the only way."  She thought she saw a nod before the door shut with a quiet clack.  	The tower seemed oddly quiet as Andrea and Irene followed a guard down the hall.  It wasn't too long ago when Andrea could walk around the tower unescorted.  "I'm going to have to leave the tower to talk with the Invid leader," Andrea said to the guard.  "You mind taking us out?"	"Whatever you say, Ms.," the guard responded.  They took the elevator to the main floor and Andrea soon found herself leaving out a side door.   The door led into an alley in the shantytown that passed between a few small wooden structures.  Andrea walked down it.  The guard watched them leave from the doorway.	"Where are we going?" Irene said.	"Don't know.  Somewhere private."	"Our room in the tower is private."	"Not private enough," Andrea said.  "Jack once told me they have listening devices in all the rooms."	"Oh.  Good thinking then."	"Come on," Andrea parted some drying animal pelts with a hand so Irene could pass through.  "I think there's a hotel down here."	"Okay."	A short walk later proved Andrea right.  She entered through the doorway and approached the counter.  There was a short, stalky man on the other side of the desk.  He looked over at them with a suspicious squint.  "You two be wantin' a room?"	"Just for an hour."	He squinted hard at Andrea then over to Irene, slowly looking her up and down.  "Seems to me," he said turning back to face Andrea.  "Seems to me with tits like hers it'd be a crime to stay any less than two."	"Thanks!" Irene said happily.  "But hers are really nice too.  Trust me!"	Andrea sighed.  "Fine, two hours."  She reached into a pocket and gave the man some money.  He gave her a key and Andrea quickly took off for the stairway that led to the second floor.	"He seems really nice," Irene said casually, climbing the stairs beside Andrea.	"Hah, yeah.  Real nice."	"What, you didn't think so?  I think maybe he's just lonely."  Andrea stopped and turned to look at Irene in puzzlement.  Irene stopped too and looked back.  	"What?" Irene said defensively.	"Nothing," Andrea smiled.  "Maybe you're right.  Come on."	The room was dark and damp.  The bed sagged in the middle and smelled of grass and the walls were spotted with black mould.  "Okay," Andrea pulled up a wicker chair and gestured for Irene to sit.  She did so.  Andrea sat in the other one a few feet away.  "I need you to translate what I say to the All Mother really carefully so there's no mistakes, okay?"	Irene moved her lips to a pout.  "I'm not very good at exact."	"It's important Irene.  I don't want there to be any misunderstandings."	"Why don't you just talk to her directly?"	"There's no time.  I can't fly across a continent to talk to her."	"That's not what I mean.  I'll just let her take me over for a few minutes."	"You can do that?"	"Sure.  It's kinda uncomfortable but just this once is okay.  I'm happy to do it for you."	"That would be great.  Thanks, Irene."	"You're welcome.  Just give me a few minutes to concentrate."  Irene crossed her legs under her, still sitting in the chair and began to hum an awkward tune.  	Andrea stood and moved to the window.  She pulled the dark window covering to a side and looked out over the bright city streets.  If things went according to plan this would all be empty soon.   The biggest metropolis she'd seen since the Invid came and it'd be a ghost town.  The thought made her strangely sad.	"Andrea?"  The voice was Irene's but the inflection wasn't.  Andrea turned to see Irene standing straight with her head held up high.	"All Mother?"	"I understand you requested to speak to me.  I am very busy with my children so please be quick."	"Did Irene tell you my proposition?"	"To assign borders? Hm...  Yes, she did.  I don't see what you mean to accomplish.  Humans have never been able to stay within borders.  They always seem to think they need more land."	"You talk as if you know us very well."	"Better than you might think."  Irene's body moved across the room and pulled the window shade aside as Andrea had done.  "What do you suppose all those people would say to your proposition?"	"Depends on the person.  I think some would be happy to move if they knew it meant freedom from being attacked or restricted."	"And others?"	Andrea frowned.  "Others would fight to defend their home.  No matter what."	"How do you propose you convince those people to leave?"	"I don't.  I can't."	"So how do you expect this proposition to work then?"	"I uh...  Let's not worry about the details just yet.  Let's just look at the idea."	"Very well.  You propose that The Invid must stay on the America's whereas humans may go anywhere else they please.  Your proposal sounds rather one-sided."	It was strange hearing Irene talk in such a manner.  Andrea looked her in the eyes.  "One-sided?"	"Indeed."	"This is our planet," Andrea said fiercely	"No it's not."	"This is our planet." Andrea raised her voice.  "You invaded.  You came and started shooting.  You killed millions and you had no right."	"It was a misunderstanding."	"A misunderstanding.  I see.  You killed my parents and friends in a misunderstanding?"	"This is not about you."	"You think I'm the only one who lost family and friends?  I'm just a microcosm for everyone else out there.  I challenge you to find one human on this planet who hasn't lost family or friends to the Invid."	"I don't have time to play hypothetical games.  Make your point."  Irene's body sat back down on the chair and crossed her legs.	"My point is, you owe us.  You made a terrible mistake and now you owe it to us to make it right.  Just like we owe you a chance to apologize and to live."	"And in your opinion, this 'deal' allows an opportunity for both."	"Do you disagree?"	"I don't disagree, no."	"But you don't agree, either."	"I think what you propose would be a short term solution, perhaps lasting weeks, perhaps months or perhaps even a year or two.  But sooner rather than later, your people would gather together a force and attempt to take back what you perceive as 'your world.'"	"So if someone does, you'll crush them.   You'll always have vastly superior numbers."	"That may be so."  The All Mother stood and moved to Andrea, still standing by the window.  "No.  The risk is too great.  Safer to wipe out your military now.  Make sure you aren't capable of mounting an attack on us."	"No, let us live for ourselves, like you're trying to do for your people."	"Humans are arrogant, selfish and childish.  You will attack us.  And although it is unlikely you'll ever succeed in significantly impairing our ability to defend ourselves, anything is possible.  The risk is too great."	"The risk is negligible!" Andrea said angrily.	"Any risk to my people is more than I care to wager with.  Our conversation is over."  The All Mother moved back over to a sitting position and shut her eyes.  Andrea rushed over and grabbed her (or was it Irene's?), arm.	"I saved your life!"	There was silence for a while.  Andrea began to worry that the All Mother was gone and Irene would soon be in possession of herself again.  She breathed out deeply when she heard the All Mother speak again. "And that has granted you, as well as Irene a great deal of latitude on your behalf."	"It's not enough.  You do this for me, you help relocate everyone and we can call it even."	"My life for hundreds of thousands of human ones?"	"Oh, come on.  We both know you consider your life worth more than a few human ones."	"Is that how you plan to convince me?  Arguing numbers?"	Andrea grunted in frustration.  "I was hoping to appeal to your supposed enlightened sense of things.  I shouldn't have to convince you at all.  It's the right thing to do and that's what it all comes down to."	The All Mother stared at Andrea through Irene's blank eyes.  "Don't presume to project your moral compass onto me."	"It's the right thing to do!"	"In your opinion."	"Arrrhhh," Andrea screamed.	"You're getting emotional."	"Damn right I'm getting emotional."	"I'm going to leave now."	Suddenly Andrea paused, a strange calm came over her.  "You're right.  I have been granted a lot of latitudes.  I know how your birthing procedures work, your lifespans, the weaknesses on your ships.  I've been in a hive.  I know you can teleport and exactly how much notice you need.  I know you have nowhere else to go, that you pose as humans and I know you need to eat the flower to live.  I know how to fight you and I know how to win and I will make the most dangerous enemy you have.  The Masters may have had power but I have knowledge.  Knowledge the Coalition would be extremely happy to obtain."	"You're threatening us."	"I'm telling you what will happen if you force me to start fighting again.  I'll target the flower itself.  I can have people come up with a plague that will wipe it right off the face of this planet."	For the first time Andrea saw a noticeable expression on the All Mother's face.  Her eyes opened wide and her lip twisted at the side.  "You wouldn't.  It's a power source for your people."	"I've always believed that one of my people's greatest strengths is diversity.  It's one of our power sources yes.  But we have nuclear, oil, solar, water, even fusion with some more development.  We don't need it like you need it."	There was a long pause and then the All Mother spoke.  "I will arrange ships to begin taking humans to Africa and Europe in one month.  We will begin with the communities and then target individuals as they make themselves known to us.  Inform the Coalition.  Any large force attacking us will be destroyed and not transported.  Individuals and small groups will be subdued if possible and then relocated with minimal necessary force.  Agreed?"	"People will be allowed to take two bags each of personal possessions and all live-stalk and bundles of crops so they don't starve to death right after they move."	"Very well."	"You'll also provide lumber and food supplied to assist in the rebuilding efforts for a period of 12 months after the last of the people are re-located.  You'll help us rebuild the cities you've destroyed."	"You are asking for a perilous amount of charity."	"It's not charity.  It's reparations for your unjust attack on us.  That's the deal.  It's not that much to ask for in exchange for survival.  Yours as well as ours."	A new expression came across The All Mother's face.  But it wasn't the usual expression of anger Andrea had gotten used to seeing on Irene's.  It was much more intimidating.  She knew she'd better not push any further.  "Will that be all then?"	Andrea nodded.  "We have an agreement?"	"We do."	A sudden burst of motion overcame Irene as if she had been struck by a wave and she grabbed her head in pain.  She opened her eyes gently and looked at Andrea. "That was really mean."	"It was necessary."	"Maybe, but you made it seem like-"	"Like we were the victims and the Invid the aggressors?"	Irene frowned.  "She's really mad.  She pulled out of me fast and it hurt."	Andrea looked into Irene's eyes.  "I am sorry for that.  I didn't want this conversation to hurt you."	"I know.  It's okay."	Andrea reached out and hugged her friend tightly.  "Thanks for helping so much Irene.  I couldn't have done half the things I have without you."	"Really?  You mean it?"	"Absolutely.  I owe you huge."	Irene smiled and lowered her arm so her hand gently brushed against Andrea's ass.  "I can think of one way you can start to repay me."  She squeezed Andrea's ass playfully."	"Can we put that on hold until I talk to Sandra?"	Irene frowned.  "Yeah I guess.  But she better let us have lots of sex or I'm gonna be really mad at her." * * * *		Andrea and Irene had returned to their quarters in the tower and spent the day and most of the next morning waiting and playing cards.  When the knock finally came Andrea breathed a sigh of relief.  She didn't think she could handle another hand of "Go Fish" but Irene loved the game and kept insisting.  "Yes?" Andrea said walking over to open the door.	"They're ready for you."	Andrea nodded and Irene joined her from the table.  "Okay, let's go."	They walked to the conference room in silence and the guard opened the door for them.  Andrea took a deep breath and stepped in.  She had a feeling that no matter which way they decided it would be a short meeting.  Before the door had shut behind her, the Emperor was speaking.	"We will not allow an invading force to dictate our course of action.  We're not going to evacuate.  We're going to fight."	Andrea heart slumped.  "No."  She said it more to herself than anyone in the room but the Emperor took offence.	"No?  You have no right to disagree with my council."	"I uh..." she was trying to think.  "I arranged a deal with them though.  Like I said I would.  They're going to transport everyone over in a month as well as their possessions.  Not only have the agreed to the terms of the border but they're going to pay reparations in the form of food and lumber for rebuilding."	The council looked surprised.  All of them except the Emperor.  "I find it unlikely that even someone as attractive as yourself managed to convince the Invid to pay reparations.  How did you do it?  Offer to spread your legs for each shipment?"	"It doesn't matter how I got them to agree, the point is they did.  I'm going to get it in writing from them if that helps..."	"It does not," the Emperor said.  "We won't give in."	"Damn-it, they're giving in to us!"	"The decision has been made.  You're excused.  Leave the tower while you're still able."	Andrea turned to Jack.  "Jack, please.  Don't let him-"	"Jack does not lead this council," the Emperor said.  "Leave.  Now."	Jack gave an apologetic look but Andrea's instinct of self preservation kicked in and she turned to leave.  Everything around her suddenly seemed blurry.  She wondered if she was crying.  She didn't think so.  In the elevator, a wetness on her cheek told her the contrary.	"Sorry if you got bad news," the guard said to her.	"I didn't.  You did."  Andrea sighed and the doors opened on the ground floor.  She left the tower and stopped outside to look up at it.  She couldn't help but think that she'd never see it up close again.  She frowned and made for the jeep.	"Why wouldn't they leave?" Irene said once they were out of the tower.	"Because they're scared." She took a deep breath.  "Damn-it!"  Andrea punched the door of the jeep hard enough to dent the metal.  It rang out with a loud clang.  "Tell the All Mother the Coalition is fair game as long as she doesn't attack their civilian populations."  Andrea shook her hand out.  Her knuckles stung.  "Let's get out of here."	The ride back to camp felt long and lonely, despite Irene's attempts at idol chatter.  Knowing that she'd probably never see Jack again made Andrea feel somehow lessened.  Maybe they would change their mind.  Maybe they would mutiny against the Emperor.  Wouldn't that be something.  Irene said something.  Andrea didn't hear it.	"What was that?" She asked.	"I said, what do we do now?"	"I don't know," Andrea said.  "Go East I think.  Find a port and get to Africa early to start getting the people there prepped on the situation.  I don't know if there's governments, or militaries or what but they'll need to know before people start showing up at their door."	"That makes sense I guess. Um..."  She trailed off.	"What is it?"	"You said no Invid were allowed off the America's."	"Yeah..." Andrea wasn't following.	Irene was starting to tear up.  "I don't want you to leave me.  I want to stay with you."	Andrea sighed and stopped the jeep.  "Irene, you can go anywhere you want."	"But, you said..."	"You're my friend, Irene.  You're more than my friend.  I trust you.  You can come."	"Really?  But the All Mother can read my mind.  I don't want you to think I'm a spy or something."	Andrea grabbed Irene's hand and pulled her close into a hug.  "Look.  I'm not going over there to start building armies to fight the Invid.  There's nothing to spy on.  Maybe it would be a positive.  It might help put her mind at ease."	"You think?"	"I do.  Ask her.  See if it's okay with her for you to go."	Irene pulled away and closed her eyes.  Her cheek was wet and her blond curls hung down around her face and neck.  Her pouty lips parted slightly as she concentrated.  'Damn she looks beautiful," Andrea thought.    	Irene opened her eyes and smiled.  "She says I can come if I want and if you'll make sure I'm safe."	Andrea smiled too and without thinking about it, wiped Irene's cheek dry with a thumb, leaned forward and kissed her.  Irene returned the gesture passionately and the two women were soon entwined in each other's arms, while their tongues entwined in their mouths.  Eventually Irene parted.  "What about Sandra?"	"You're right."  Andrea was a little out of breath.  "I'm going to go talk to her now.  Figure this out."  Andrea started the jeep up again.  It would only be a few more minutes until they were back at camp.  "And Irene?"	"Yeah?"	"Tell the All Mother she doesn't have to worry.  I'll always protect you."	Andrea pulled the jeep up to camp and stopped it by the carrier.  The camp was a great deal smaller than it used to be.  The Coalition soldiers had all left, leaving only a small group of her former soldiers and her friends.  Sandra was getting out of the carrier when she heard the jeep approach.  She was wearing riding armour for a cyclone; the helmet was in the crook of her elbow against her waist.	She smiled widely as Andrea climbed out over the door and ran over.  "Hey you!" she said hugging her tightly.  "I was worried you were the Coalition or something."	"Nah.  They didn't give me any problems.  They're idiots, but they let me go."	"So it didn't go well then?"	Irene came over to join them.  She stood awkwardly to the side.	"It did and it didn't," Andrea said.  "Come on, let's talk, I'll fill you in."  She gave Irene a quick look that said 'stay here' and walked off with Sandra, gently holding her arm.  As they walked she slipped her hand down to meet Sandra's and linked her fingers.  They walked down a skinny jungle path where the overgrowth was so thick it appeared as if they were walking into night.  The sun only made it through the trees in wisps.  There was a soft green light surrounding them and the heat was making them both sweat.	"Why are we way out here?" Sandra said after they reached a small clearing.  She looked at Andrea with one eye. 	"That's your suspicious look," Andrea said.	Sandra smiled.  "Ever wonder how we can know each other so well?  I mean, we've barely spent any time together in the grand scheme of things."	Andrea shook her head.  "I don't wonder.  It feels right with you.  I think it's easy to read someone when you're with the right person."	Sandra grabbed the waist of Andrea's pants and used it to pull her towards her.  "So you think you're with the right person?"	"I do.  Right from the moment I met you in that cell.  It's so funny, in such horrible circumstances...  It's funny I met someone like you.  I would have never expected it."	"Me neither.  I thought I'd die in that place.  I would have.  You got me out."	Andrea laughed.  "Thanks for saying so but realistically you got both of us out.  I was scared.  Too scared."	"Well, it doesn't matter does it.  We're here now."  Sandra gave her a kiss.  "Tell me about your meeting."	"They're arrogant.  I came up with a solution.  Not ideal, but it's a solution.  The Coalition refused it.  They're going to get themselves killed."	"What did you decide?" Sandra slipped her hands into the back of Andrea's pants holding her close.  The other woman's chest pressed up lightly against her own.	"That we should leave.  That the Invid should take the America's and humans should get the rest of the world."	Sandra paused, looking into Andrea's eyes.  "Really?  Your solution was to give up a third of our world?  For them?"	"It's the right thing to do."	"Are you sure about that?  It seems pretty extreme."	"I don't think so," Andrea said.  "Think about it.  What if you have a house, and a neighbour's house burns down.  They have no money left, no possessions.  Maybe you let them have a room in your place until they get back on their feet."	Sandra frowned.  "Well sure, I guess.  But this neighbour stomped on our flower garden and took a sledgehammer to the garage before asking to stay."	It was Andrea's turn to frown.  "I said it wasn't perfect.  But let's face it.  If we put the past aside for a minute, humans have a way smaller population now, there's more than enough space on the other four continents.  We'd be allowed to rebuild.  It's a good scenario."	"Are you sure they're going to let us rebuild?"	Andrea nodded.  "I convinced them to pay reparations.  They're going to transfer everyone over there with possessions and they're going to give us regular food and wood deliveries."	"Seriously?  How the hell did you convince them of that?"	Andrea smiled.  "I can be very threatening when I need to be."	"I guess I'll have to watch out for that," Sandra said coyly.  "Well, I guess that's not too bad a deal.  The Coalition refused then?"	"They said they're going to fight.  They Invid are going to destroy them.  It's just a matter of time."	"I'm sure you did what you could.  If the Invid hold up their side this'll save a lot of people and make everyone's life a lot better."	"I know."	"So what's wrong?"	"Now I've got to do the hard stuff."	"The hard stuff?"	"Us."	"Oh."	"Maybe you should let me go so we can talk," Andrea said.	Instead Sandra pulled her closer until their bodies were pressed tightly together and their chins over each other's shoulders.  "I'm not going to let you go now, or after we're done.  But you're right, we need to figure things out."	Andrea sighed, "Irene."	"Irene."	"I love her.  I always will," Andrea said.  She felt Sandra squeeze tighter.  "I know that's not the right way to start this but I've gotta be straight with you."	Andrea felt a motion against her shoulder that must have been a nod, "keep going."	"I love her different.  I don't know.  I would say like a daughter or a sister but that's probably just creepy considering what I've done with her.  But I think that's still kind of close.  I can't explain it.  It's a really weird kind of love.  I need her, but she doesn't complete me.  She's not the one or anything like that."	"So what is she?"  Sandra held her breath.	"A best friend I can't be platonic with."	"So where does that leave me?  Mistress?"	Andrea chuckled and hugged Sandra back holding her even tighter.  The heat in the jungle made sure they sweated even more but in a way, it felt somehow comforting to know they were both sweating because of each other.  "No, not mistress.  Lover, companion, partner."	Sandra pulled back just enough to look Andrea in the eyes.  "Partner?"	 "I know it's unfair to ask, but if you can let me maintain my relationship with Irene, that's enough.  I don't have to be with anyone else.  You can be the one I go to sleep with, the one I dream about, I just can't cast her out."	Sandra nodded.  "I'm not going to lie either. I'm jealous of you and her."  Andrea frowned and opened her mouth to speak but Sandra stopped her.  "Let me finish.  I'm jealous, but I do like her.  She's a good person."	"She is," Andrea affirmed.	"I think..."  Sandra took a deep breath.  "I think I can share you.  If it's only her.  If it means keeping you I think I can do that and I think I can be happy doing that.  But I want to be able to join in with you two sometimes.  She is ridiculously hot."	Andrea smiled.  "She is ridiculously hot.  So we're okay then?"	Sandra nodded.  "We're okay.  But no one else.  Just me and her."	"No problem.  You're more than what I need by yourself, I just can't ignore all that history I have with her.  You understand?"	"I do."  Sandra leaned in and kissed Andrea passionately on the lips.	Andrea felt the soft touch of her lips before the heavy pressure that indicated it was more than just a peck.  She received Sandra tongue and fought it off with her own, dancing with her inside her mouth.  Eventually Sandra pulled back, pulling Andrea's lip out with her teeth before releasing it gently and looking her up and down.  "What are you wearing?" She said.	"It's something Irene gave me.  What do you think?"  She took off her jacket and placed it over a fallen log."	"It's really tight.  I can see your nipples, even your belly button."	"I know," Andrea said.  "Is it too much?"	"I love it!  It's so hot!  I just want to peel it off you."	"So what's keeping you?" Andrea said playfully.  By the time she was done talking she was already being tackled up against a tree.  Her back hit the hard wood with a thud and Sandra began pulling at the neckline of the suit.  Andrea instructed it to give way and Sandra easily began peeling it down Andrea's body, first revealing her perky round breasts, then the musculature of her stomach before finally yanking it down her legs and off her ankles.	It occurred to Andrea that she hadn't had sex with Sandra since before her near death experience.  She wanted the other woman badly.  Andrea reached out in front of her and grabbed Sandra's collar.  She pulled too hard though and ripped Sandra's shirt down the front from the V-neck collar to just below her breasts.  Sandra gave her a shocked look but the damage was already done so with a smile, Andrea just tugged and ripped it the rest of the way until it was open entirely at the front.	"You're going to have to buy me a new shirt," Sandra said playfully but with just a hint of seriousness.	"Just walk around topless."  Andrea's voice was breathy as she yanked at Sandra's pants to get them off her.	"Only if you do," Sandra responded.	Andrea's heart was thumping in her chest and she could feel herself getting wet.  "No more talk," she said.  "I want you know.  I didn't know how bad I missed you 'til now."	"Then shut up and take me."	Andrea didn't need to be told twice.  She tackled Sandra down to the ground.  The other woman quickly met Andrea's mouth and their tongues began to dance as their hands explored each other desperately.  Sandra rolled Andrea over and she could feel a layer of dew covering the plants, cold against her naked back in the thick heat.  She shuddered and Sandra grasped Andrea's breast hard in her hand.	Sandra deepened the kiss pressing her soft lips hard against Andrea's before parting and sitting up.  Gingerly, Sandra parted Andrea's legs and slipped a leg between them so their lower lips could take a turn kissing.  "Don't be gentle," Andrea gasped.	In response, Sandra squeezed Andrea's tit tighter, forcing the soft flesh out around her fingers. "Unh," Andrea moaned.  The pain throbbed through her breast and made her nipple ache.  As Sandra began to grind her pussy into her own, she shuddered again.  Sandra grabbed Andrea's leg with her free hand and used it to pull their pussies tighter together.  Their sweat provided plenty of moisture to keep their lips sliding against each other and Andrea put her arms behind her to push herself up into more of a sitting position.  The angle made it harder to grind their lower lips but much easier to meet with their upper ones.  She grabbed onto Sandra's hip tightly, her nails digging into the other woman's flesh and tongued and bit at her lips ferociously.  Sandra returned the favour, nipping Andrea's tongue before pulling at her lower lip with her teeth.	Andrea humped in rhythm with Sandra.  The women's sweat rolled down their faces and made their desperate kisses salty.  "Harder," Andrea moaned as Sandra bit at her lip again.  Sandra pushed her crotch harder into Andrea's sending another shudder through both of them.  The friction on Andrea's clit was almost painful but the ache it was giving her was irresistible.  Sandra moved her hand from Andrea's breast and the release stung as the blood returned.  Sandra's wayward  hand slid down Andrea's side before cupping her ass and sliding into her crack.  As her pussy rubbed hard against Sandra's, Sandra slid her middle finger into Andrea's asshole.  At first it was just the tip, but Andrea had asked for harder and Sandra wasn't going to back down.	Sandra's middle finger was quickly joined by her pointer and the two digits were forced deep into Andrea's ass in one single motion.  "Ahhhh," Andrea moaned as Sandra's fingers spread apart inside her and became the new leverage point to force Andrea's clit harder into Sandra's.  The digits in her ass guided her hips back and forth to make sure the thrusting didn't diminish.  Andrea felt her stomach drop and her heart beat faster.  She kissed at Sandra best she could but breathing was becoming difficult.  She bit down on Sandra's lip and held it between her teeth as she tried to catch her breath.  She tasted copper and new Sandra was bleeding but there wasn't much of it.  Sandra would be fine.  She refused to release her grip.  One of her hands instinctually went to Sandra's ass to make sure she could stay in her sitting position and the other moved to Sandra's right tit to squeeze as hard as she was able.  Her nails dug into the flesh there too and Sandra's firm breast began to turn red.  Her other one bounced repetitively with each counter-thrust she gave Andrea.	The fingers in her ass moved deeper, then nearly out of her, then parted to put pressure on her inner walls.  A few minutes later, they were joined by a third finger as Sandra's ring finger made its way into her nether hole.	"Ahhh," Andrea shrieked and released Sandra's lip as the third one plunged in.  The three fingers pulled her into Sandra tightly and forced her to grind in small circles as if to make sure their pussies never separated.  Quiet wet sticky noises framed their moaning as their lower lips stuck to each other during the grind.  The fingers withdrew and Andrea took a deep breath, feeling empty and free once more.  She gave Sandra a hard thump with her crotch as if in appreciation and then felt the fingers at her rear once more, except this time they were thicker.  All four of Sandra's fingers began to slide into Andrea's ass.  "Errrrrrgh," Andrea moaned.  She gripped Sandra's breast even harder.  As they got deeper her ass was forced to spread even more.  "Too much," Andrea whispered into Sandra's neck.	"You said not to be gentle.  Don't go back on me now."  With a shove, Sandra forced her four fingers all the way in, until her thumb slid comfortably into Andrea's crack and would allow them to go no further.  Andrea's ass burned as it spread around Sandra's fingers and with all four inside her, it gave the other woman an extremely effective handle to control Andrea's hips.  Sandra took full advantage, grinding Andrea's pussy against her own as if she was controlling a puppet.  	The angle was too awkward for Andrea with so much of Sandra inside her rear so she released her grip on the other woman and put her hands on the ground behind her, leaning back so that her nipples pointed high into the air and her stomach stretched out.	Sandra didn't relent, she only pumped Andrea's pussy against her own even harder.  Each forced thrust dug her hand deep into her ass until her thumb pressed hard against Andrea's crack, disappearing between the flesh.  When she relaxed, Andrea's hips instinctively pulled away and Sandra's four fingers pulled partially out before being forced in again with a loud sweaty schluck.	Andrea wheezed and flushed completely red.  Sweat literally rolled off her, making her skin shine in the pale light.  Sandra looked the same, flushing red from the chest up as she bit her own lip to try and hold off her impending orgasm.  Andrea collapsed back to her elbows, barely holding herself up from the ground.  Her arms shook and her breasts jiggled, flinging sweat off them, with each thrust of Sandra's.  Finally, she couldn't hold it back any longer.  Her stomach tensed, her jaw clenched and she let out a long, low guttural moan, "Unnnnnnnnnnnnngggghhhhhh."	Sandra gasped and wheezed herself, still biting on her lip.  Finally she couldn't hold back any more and her pussy pulsed against Andrea's clit.  Sandra cried out as well, her hole body shaking, including her four fingers in Andrea's ass.  Sandra's soft, wet pussy gyrating and shuddering against her clit set off her own orgasm in high gear.  All her muscles tensed, her ass clenched around the fingers inside it and her own juices gushed out of her sex, merging with Sandra's along their lips and trimmed muffs.	Finally, the climax subsided and Andrea's arms gave way.  Her back crashed to the ground and Sandra's fingers were forced deep into her ass one final time.  Sandra unlinked their legs and repositioned herself to lay on top of Andrea, hips to hips, chest to chest and face to face with her hand still deep in the other woman's rear hole.  She kissed Andrea tenderly and gently curled and uncurled her fingers inside of Andrea, tickling them against her insides.  Andrea shuddered again.  "Amazing," was all she could say.  Sandra continued to lay on top of her, curling and uncurling her fingers.  Their pussies continued to pulse and gush fluids that merged between Andrea's legs.  She sighed and kissed Sandra one more time.	After resting for a few minutes, Sandra withdrew her hand and wiped it on the wet green forest floor.  Unlike the tail Faye had forced her to wear, Sandra's fingers had felt somehow comforting.  "You know I think I could have fit my whole fist up there," Sandra mused.	"Hah," Andrea laughed.  "Maybe another time."  Her ass still stung, even though it was occasionally still pulsing with waves of pleasure that rocked her whole torso.	"How do you feel?  Are you feeling stronger?"	"I don't know," Andrea frowned.  "Better yeah, but let's just say I'm glad you did most of the work.  I still feel a lot weaker than I used to.  It's coming back though."	"Good.  I can't wait till you're strong enough to just fuck me 'til I pass out."	Andrea smiled.  "Now that's a thought worth getting healthy for."	Sandra grinned back.  "I have an idea."  She stood up, getting off of Andrea and began to put her pants on.	"What are you doing?"	"Don't worry, just wait here," Sandra said pulling them up and buttoning them at the waist.  "Here," still topless she tossed a canteen of water at her lover.  Andrea barely caught it.  "Have a drink, get comfortable, I'll be back in a few."  She put on her ripped shirt and thanks to the sweat, it immediately clung to a breasts and stomach like an open vest.  Andrea could see the darker color of Sandra's puffy nipples through the sheer white material.  "I think I'm just going to wear this as is from now on."	"I'll second that.  It makes your boobs look amazing."	"Thank-you," Sandra blushed.  "I'll be right back."  Sandra quickly walked off towards camp and Andrea undid the cap on the canteen and took a swig of water.  It was warm but felt refreshing nonetheless.  She put the canteen down and laid back to stare up at the canopy.  The trees bound themselves together with vines and if she looked to any direction she couldn't see much more than twenty feet thanks to the thick vegetation.  Sandra and her were lucky the managed to find the small clearing that they did.  	Only a few minutes later, Andrea heard footsteps coming back towards her from camp.  "That was fast," she said looking over to Sandra.  She was momentarily surprised to see the other woman wasn't alone.  Irene was in tow.  "Irene, hi."  Andrea's mind shot into action.  Would Irene be jealous of her and Sandra?  She didn't think so but then again she hadn't expected Sandra's reaction to be what it was either.  	"Hi," Irene said happily.  "You look really pretty."	Andrea smiled.  She should have known better.	"Irene was quite happy to come out right away when I told her what I was planning."	"And what's that?" Andrea said cautiously.	"Well I thought that we could help you get your strength and endurance back up again.  	"A doctor told me once that sex is good exercise," Irene said playfully.  "So why not help you exercise?"  The young blond began to remove her black jumpsuit with eager efficiency.  She discarded it next to Andrea's, and stood naked before the other two woman.  Andrea thought she would never get tired of looking at her.  Irene's straight blond hair flowed down her muscular back to the base of her spine.  	All the lines of her body seemed connected.  Her bangs, drew attention to her dark blue eyes and her high cheekbones flowed into her chin and neck.  Andrea eyes continued downward, looking at the way her thin, slender shoulders framed her collarbone and throat.  That line continued down into her deep cleavage.  Her large breasts stood out impossibly firm and round, pointing out at wherever she looked.  They bounced gently as she moved, the up and down motion forcing Andrea's eye to Irene's ribcage just barely visible behind her delicate yet surprisingly powerful frame.  Her ribs, led into her abs and stomach and bellybutton and wide hips.  Her thighs touched a few inches below her muff and pussy as if teasing Andrea by showing her the thin blond pubic hairs and bright pink lips of her sex before blocking access.  Her legs were impossibly long and shaped perfectly.  She truly was the most beautiful woman Andrea had ever seen.  And now she was going to get her, and Sandra at the same time.  She suddenly started to get wet again.	Andrea was glad to realize that Sandra seemed equally frozen, admiring Irene's beauty.  Irene took a few sure-footed steps towards Sandra and Andrea sat up to watch.  With cat-like grace, Irene reached up to Sandra's shoulders and pulled the ripped fabric down her arms and behind her back before tossing it aside onto the wet ground.  She then grabbed Sandra with two hands by the button of her pants and pulled towards her, stretching the pants out from Sandra's abdomen.  The two blondes kissed.  Irene's lighter hair became tangled with Sandra's dirty blond curls and their breasts flattened into each other as Sandra wrapped her arms around Irene's shoulders.  	Andrea heard a loud rip as Irene pulled her two hands apart, sending the button on Sandra's pants flying and ripping it down past the small zipper all the way down to her thigh on one leg.	"Not you too," Sandra sighed with a chuckle as the useless pants fell from her hips to her ankles.	Andrea laughed.  "You just don't know how bad everyone wants you.""I guess n-  mmph" Sandra's words were muffled as Irene pressed her lips against the other blonde's once more.  Andrea could see their tongues sneak out from their mouths to play with one another.  Irene grabbed Sandra by the ass and lifted her up onto her toes, spreading her cheeks to reveal her tiny puckered anus to Andrea.  Their tongues continued to entwine and Andrea could see Sandra's chest start to rise and fall faster.   	Andrea squeezed her breast and pinched the nipple trying to control the ache that was swelling inside them while watching her two lovers make out ferociously.  Irene dug her hand into Sandra's blonde muff and curled a finger to slip it inside her sex.  "Unn," Sandra gasped through their kiss, high pitched and soft.  She lifted a leg to step out from her torn pants and Irene took the opportunity to dig the finger in deeper while her thumb caressed her clit.	Irene broke the kiss and while continuously assaulting Sandra's clit with her thumb, she drug her tongue down the other woman's neck.  Sandra shivered and moved her hands to Irene's sides next to her breasts for a better grip.  Her legs were starting to shake.  Irene licked down, passed Sandra's nipples, pausing just long enough to give one a playful nip.  Sandra gave another breathy gasp as Irene pulled at it with her teeth.  	Andrea squeezed her breast again, trying desperately to dull the pleasurable ache.  	Irene continued to move down, lapping at Sandra's bellybutton and then dragging down further until her engorged lips disappeared into Sandra's muff.  Sandra moved her hands again, this time putting them in Irene's hair and grabbing on to her head.  The Invid withdrew her fingers and replaced them with an eager, warm tongue.  Most of her face disappeared between Sandra's legs and Andrea found her gaze wandering upward, along Sandra's arched back, to her upturned breasts with hard nipples pointing out at the trees dramatically.  Her mouth parted and her lips were puffy and swollen from Andrea's early biting.  She wanted to kiss them badly, but didn't want to interrupt as her lover progressed speedily towards orgasm.  	Irene's hands grabbed Sandra's butt and she dug her mouth deep into the other woman's pussy.  Her tongue extended deep inside and Sandra began to sweat all over again, gasping regularly as Irene tongue fucked her.  "Huhn, huhn, huhn, huhn..."  One of Andrea's hands drifted to her pussy as she watched and she shuddered as it brushed against her clit.  She was even more turned on than she thought.  "Huhn, huhn, huhn," Sandra panted, faster and faster until it was just a long "Huhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnn" and her body was shaking.  Irene's hair bunched in her fingers as he came hard into Irene's waiting mouth.  Sandra's legs were shaking as Irene hung on, refusing to part her tongue from Sandra's sex.  The orgasm continued for what seemed like minutes and finally Irene parted, stood up and met Sandra's tongue with her own once more.  Andrea could see a strand of saliva hanging from Irene's mouth (or was it cum?).  Either way Sandra eagerly sucked Irene's organ into her mouth and licked at the Invid's lower lip before finally running out of strength and collapsing to her knees.  She was breathing heavily and put a hand on the ground in front of her to steady herself.  "Fuck, you know how to give head."	"Andrea says so too," Irene smiled happily.  A thin strand of Sandra's cum hung from her chin, slowly extending to towards the ground before breaking off, leaving only a small bead of liquid in its place.  "You taste really good.  I mean really good.  Like strawberries."	"Unh," Sandra was still catching her breath.  "You can have a taste any time you want after that last five minutes."	Irene smiled wickedly.  "Be careful what you say, I might do it."	"Don't get me wrong," Andrea interrupted.  "That was one of the hottest things I've seen in my life, but did you two just come back to fuck in front of me?  Or do I get a turn?"	"Oh you get a turn," Irene said mischievously.  "I just wanted you to have an idea exactly how good you're about to feel."  Irene walked seductively over to Andrea, stood her up and planted a sloppy wet kiss on her mouth.  Andrea immediately tasted Sandra's sex and the flavour worked like an aphrodisiac.  She was instantly wet and dug her tongue hard into Irene's mouth, lapping up Sandra's cum wherever she could find it.  "You're lips are really big," Irene said, breaking the kiss.	Andrea smiled and looked at Sandra.  "She's a rough kisser."	"Hey, you told me to," Sandra said back, starting to finally regain her composure.  She had moved into a sitting position with an elbow resting on one of her knees.  Andrea had a fleeting glimpse at the woman's pink lower lips and trimmed blonde pubes but it was quickly blocked by Irene's lips coming at her own for a second time.  She tasted Sandra on her again.  This time fainter, but still unmistakable.  She did taste like strawberries, Andrea realized.  She closed her eyes and pressed herself into Irene.  Her heart beat faster, knowing that Sandra was watching them.  She wanted her desperately to come and join in.	Andrea took her desires out on Irene, clawing at her back and her ass, trying to somehow merge skins with the other woman.  Their kiss deepened and her swollen lips tingled.  Irene broke the kiss and licked down to Andrea's neck, just as she had done with Sandra.  One of her hands went to Andrea's breast and the other wrapped around her waist to keep her close.  But instead of dragging her tongue down further, she dragged it up Andrea's cheek and whispered into her ear, "we're going to make you cum so hard you won't be able to stand all day."  	Irene stuck out her tongue once more and licked at Andrea's earlobe.  Andrea gave a shudder and Irene took Andrea's lobe into her mouth, sucked on it and then drug her tongue up the length of it before sticking it deep into Andrea's ear.  Andrea shuddered as pleasure pulsed through that whole side of her body.  She could feel the wetness of Irene's tongue and the heat of her breath as it warmed the cold sheen of saliva. She shuddered again, down the other side of her body as Irene switched ears, licking up the length of the other one before sticking here tongue as far in as it would go.  Andrea clung to Irene's back and cried out "Ahhhhh."  She hazily saw Sandra looking on with interest before she felt lips on her own once more and she instinctually welcomed the invading tongue into her mouth and sucked it hard between her lips.	Andrea sighed in disappointment as Irene parted and spun around behind her.  The Invid's breasts pressed hard against her upper back and her arms reached around to grab at her breasts.  Meanwhile she felt warmth on the back of her ear and soon Irene's tongue was at it again.  Andrea shifted her weight, leaned back into Irene's large breasts and pushed her butt back into Irene's crotch as if that would help put something inside her.  Meanwhile Irene continued to tongue at her ear and she shivered again.  Her breasts shook and she caught Sandra staring at her with hungry eyes and parted lips.  	"Don't just sit there," Irene said, briefly taking a respite from Andrea's ear and pushing the brunette's breasts together as if to taunt Sandra.  "Come help."	Sandra didn't need any more encourage than that.  She hurried over, stumbling at first on shaky legs and then pressed herself into Andrea's front, sandwiching her between her and Irene.  Andrea lifted one hand behind her head to hold Irene's hair to her ear and the other she moved to Sandra's dirty blonde locks.  She took Andrea's other ear into her mouth.  Andrea gasped again, shaking all over.  The two other women literally had to hold her up as her knees gave way and a mini-climax shot through her.  Her pussy was soaked and she bathed in the familiar after-effects of orgasm.    She clung onto both women's hair, bunching it up in her fists.  Sandra yelped into her ear and she realized she was pulling too hard but she was too far gone to back off.  Sandra bit down on her ear and another shudder passed through her.  "Ohhhhh," she moaned softly.	As the orgasm finally wore off Andrea released her grip on the women's hair.  She felt Irene's breasts lightly brush against her back, slowly moving downwards.  Soon after a wet tongue followed, down her spine, passed the small of her back and into her ass crack.  "Ooo," Andrea gasped as Irene's tongue found her puckered rear hole and without hesitation pressed her tongue inside.  Sandra soon moved down also, her smaller, more upturned breasts dragged along Andrea's stomach, abdomen and thighs as the woman's tongue followed their route, passed her belly button, through her brown muff, matted to her body with sweat and into her pussy.  Andrea looked down to see Sandra's large, hungry green eyes staring up at her as her tongue pressed deep into her sex.  Sandra's nose was pressed into Andrea's pubes that curled around it and moved when the blonde exhaled.  Beads of sweat collected on them and occasionally rolled off onto the other woman's nose.  	"Mmph," Irene grunted as she stuck her tongue as deep as she could into Andrea's ass.  The stiff wet organ slid around inside her, coating her insides with saliva and rubbing harder than she would have thought possible against her rectum.	Meanwhile, Sandra's tongue found her clit and flicked at it as her lips sucked at it.  She was still sensitive from the last orgasm and tried her best to hold off climax.  She didn't want this to be over any sooner than it had to be.  Her hands went to Sandra's hair and wound themselves tightly in the blonde curls.  Her fingers pressed against the kneeling woman's scalp.  	As her tongue moved down Andrea's slit and into her pussy, Sandra moved her hands up Andrea's hips and around to her butt to pull her cheeks apart, thus allowing Irene far easier access to her rear hole.  Irene, slid her hands up even higher, up along her waist and then in front of her to cup her jiggling tits.  Irene squeezed and Andrea jerked, shoving her crotch into Sandra's face.  Irene's tongue slipped around, sloppily licking at the exterior of her hole before finding it's way back inside again.	Andrea couldn't believe it.  The two people she cared about most, each had a tongue inside one of her holes.  	Her pussy was getting ridiculously wet, between her own cum and Sandra's saliva.  The blonde's chin and nose was completely coated in thick, transparent liquid and shining in the low light of the jungle.  Her face slid around her crotch effortlessly with next to no friction at all and soon, Sandra was rubbing the whole lower half of her face up and down Andrea's slit.  She stuck her tongue out to grab Andrea's labia or clit whenever possible and literally fucked her with her face, further soaking her beautiful, chin, cheeks lips and nose.  	Andrea could smell her own arousal and seeing her juices spread all over Sandra like that was turning her own more than she thought possible.  She felt shivers welling up in her stomach and chest but resisted.  She wouldn't cum too soon.  She wouldn't.  Sandra's lips rubbed against Andrea's lower ones and Sandra took one into her mouth and pulled it away in her teeth.  Andrea gasped again and her fingers dug harder into her hair.  All the while, Irene's tongue in her ass seemed to consistently reach deeper and deeper exploring all her nethermost inner walls.  Her knees began to shake again but Sandra managed to support her weight enough for her to maintain her footing.	She felt Irene's hands rub hard against her breasts, pinching the nipples and yanking on them, forcing them to become painfully erect.  She felt as if she could shoot milk over half the jungle.  She wished she could.  She wanted something that would relieve the pressure; the ache was becoming unbearable and the ache was spreading.  Soon her clit and pussy ached just as strong.  She was fighting orgasm too much, she knew that but she couldn't help it.  She didn't want to cum and have it be over.  The ache intensified as more and more blood filled into her labia, clit and nipples.  Her ass was clenched so hard Irene had to move her whole face back and forth to get her tongue in and out.  	She looked down at Sandra's face again.  The blonde was rubbing her cheek into Andrea's slit as her lips slid along one of her labia.  Her whole face almost up to her eyes glistened with Andrea's juices but Sandra only seemed to relish in it as if it was some much needed bath.  The look of her lover, eyes closed lapping happily at her sex, like a cat rubbing its scent on some piece of furniture.  	Andrea couldn't take it anymore.  She used her grip on Sandra's head to push her mouth hard into her pussy, smothering her in her sex.  Sandra's mouth and tongue pressed into her hole and her nose rubbed against her hard clit while Irene's tongue dutifully dug at her ass.  The Invid's hands pinched at her nipples one more time, harder than the last and Andrea lost control.  She felt the ache turn into tingling and the tingling turn into uncontrollable convulsions.  Her pussy felt on fire, her clit pulsed.  "uuuunnnnnnnNNNNGHHHHHHH," Her moan rose in volume like a storm and she found she couldn't orgasm.  Her eyes opened wide as all the pressure in her body built up in her pussy but for some reason wouldn't release.  Had she held her orgasm back too long?  What was happening?  Her moan got louder "NNNNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHHH,"  her body shook, but still there was no release.  What felt like hours passed.  Finally, Sandra's nose flicked at her clit while her tongue reached deep inside her to press against the same thin membrane that Irene's tongue was on.  As the two women rubbed their tongues together, separated only by her thin inner wall, Andrea knew they were making out with each other inside her body.  She pressed Sandra deeper into her, forcing her tongue harder against Irene's.  	She felt as if her pussy exploded.  The shaking, the tingling and the ache all combined inside her and she felt a rush of liquid vacate her pussy and enter Sandra's mouth.  The blonde withdrew in surprise, suddenly finding a mouth full of cum inside her.  Andrea felt it all well inside her again and then release like a wave.  A stream of cum forced its way outside of her pussy with surprising force and splashed into Sandra's face and neck.  Again, he body froze, it felt like she couldn't cum.  Her knees were weak but Irene and Sandra were helping her stay up.  Sandra just looked up at her with a mouth full of thick liquid, smiling in surprise at the stream of cum that just coated her face. 	"UNNNNNNGGGGHHHHH," Andrea moaned again.  Irene's tongue pumped in and out of her ass once and that was all she needed.  She felt weak as a wave of release pulsed through her one more time, forcing a huge squirt of cum to spray out and splash against Sandra's upturned tits and puffy pink nipples.  	"Oh, gooooooooddddd," Andrea moaned as the next wave built inside her.  Again it felt as if she would never cum but again Irene's tongue pumped her ass and her hands squeezed her nipples hard.  Another stream of cum squirted from her pussy covering Sandra's tits and stomach even more.	"Okay, no more, no more," Andrea pleaded.  Her body was shaking and when Irene complied and withdrew her tongue another small squirt landed on Sandra's thigh.  Andrea would have collapsed right there all over again if it wasn't for the other two women still holding her up.  Andrea looked down to see Sandra with a mouth still full of her cum leaning forward to kiss Irene open mouthed between her legs.  Cum dribbled down their chins as they passed it back and forth, eagerly lapping at each other.  Andrea watched hazily, as if it were all a dream.  	Andrea's breasts and clit still ached as she watched them.  She carefully stepped over Sandra and sunk down to a sitting position where she could rest and catch her breath.  She was coated in a thin sheen of sweat and as she got a better angle on the two women she was surprised at just how coated in her cum Sandra was. When the blonde finally pulled away from Irene, leaving a thin strand of Andrea's juices to connect their lips, Irene leaned down and gave Sandra's torso a good long lick, from ribcage up between her breasts to her collarbone.  "You taste even better now," Irene said.  Irene turned her head to face Andrea, "did that feel good?"	"Are you kidding?  I think that was the best orgasm of my life.  I owe both of you huge.  That was amazing."	"Don't worry," Sandra said.  "I plan to collect.  I've got some pretty kinky visions floating around my head right now."	Andrea was still collecting her breath.  A shudder of residual pleasure passed through her.  "Anything you want.  Whatever you can think of, you've got it."	Sandra smiled widely.  "It's going to be a fun trip to Africa.  Do you know how long the boat ride is?"	Andrea shook her head.  "Maybe a week or two?  I don't know though, I'm just guessing."	"Well a week or two will get us started."	Irene looked at Sandra like she was the odd one out.	"Don't worry, Irene," Sandra said.  "I've got some plans for you too."	Irene smiled.  "Good.  I really like you.  I'm glad you and Andrea met."	Sandra put an arm around her happily and seemed genuinely impressed. "Thank-you, I'm glad you and I met too.  Who knows, I really like you too.  Maybe once we know each other better we could actually work the ever-illusive three-person relationship."	Irene perked up, "are you asking me to join you two?"  She looked to Andrea for reassurance but Andrea was just as surprised at Sandra.  She stared at her blonde lover open-mouthed.  	"I'm saying we could try it, is all.  I mean, I don't think any of us here have ever been in a long-term three-way relationship.  I don't know if it'll work, but I think Andrea would certainly be in."	Andrea still stared. "Really? Your really want to try it?"	"Why not?" Sandra said.  "Cause it's not a societal norm?  Who cares?  I mean, maybe I'm just drunk on your cum, but let's see what happens."	"Wait," Irene said.  "Does that mean I can't have sex with anyone other than you two?"	Andrea and Sandra looked at each other.  "I don't know," Sandra said.  "This is all still kinda new.  Maybe we should try it that way and then talk about it if you feel it's not working?"	Irene looked between the other two women.  "Well...  You are both really hot.  I guess... Yeah, I guess we could try it!  As long as you promise we can have lots of sex.  I'm always really horny."	"Speaking of horny, you didn't get off did you?" Sandra asked.	"No, but that's okay.  You two will just owe me one."  She smiled mischievously and leaned over to kiss Sandra, then turned and kissed Andrea, hard on the mouth.  When they parted, Sandra leaned in and took a turn.  By the time the two women were done, Andrea's clit was throbbing again but she knew she didn't have the energy to give it what it wanted.  	"Can we rest for a little while?" Andrea said.  "I'm really beat."	"Here," Sandra balled up her ripped clothes and created a pillow for Andrea to use.	"Thanks," Andrea said laying down on her back.  She clutched on to each woman's hand and they soon laid down as well, each picking one of Andrea's breasts for a pillow.  Their hair entwined on her neck and Andrea realized happily that the mix of blonde hair was going to become a lot more common.  She put her arms around her lovers and quickly fell asleep. * * * *		"So you're only five years old?"  It was Sandra's voice that woke her up.  The two women were still resting their heads on Andrea's breasts.  They were holding hands over her abdomen.  	"Yup," Irene said.  "What about you?"	"I'm 18.  I'll be 19 in a few weeks."	"Wow, you two are so old."	Sandra laughed.  "If you say so.  How old is Andrea?"	"I'm 20," Andrea said.	"Oh you're up," Sandra lifted her head to look at her.  She kissed her gingerly on the lips.  "Irene and I were just getting to know each other a bit better."	"So it's almost your birthday, huh?"	"Yup.  November 29th. When's yours?"	"December 18th.  I was a Christmas baby.  Well almost.  My brothers were always cheap and just got me one present."	Sandra smiled.  "How many brothers?"	"Two.  Tristen is my twin and Chris is older."	"You're a twin?  That's so neat.  I have two sisters.  Allison is 21 and Jessica is just a year younger than me.  They both live together in Texas."	"Oh, you're a southerner," Andrea joked.	"Ah certainly ahm," Sandra said in a bad fake accent.  "I can't do the accent as well as Mike.  We lived in a pretty mixed area.   I never picked it up like my sisters did."	"Why do humans have accents?" Irene asked looking up at Andrea.	"Uh..." She looked to Sandra.	"Well Irene, when people live apart..."  Sandra trailed off as there was a rustling in the jungle around them.  The three women looked around to see four Coalition special-ops soldiers in jungle camouflage, come out of the trees.  They stood up with their backs to each other.	"And what do we have here?" one of them said.  They weren't wearing masks but had the familiar skull logo over their breast pocket.  They were all men, Andrea realized.	"What's the problem?" Andrea said, trying to figure out why they were here.	"Looks like a few dykes," another said.	"Nah, dykes are all ugly fat chicks with short hair," a third chipped in.	"I don't know," the first one said again.  "Look at that blonde's chest.  It's all coated in cream.  I don't think that's sweat."	Three of them had modular pistols on their hip and a fourth had an energy rifle pointed at them.  The weapons were all Coalition make.  They all had knives and light armour.  "Maybe we should show 'em what a man's like."	'Do they want us to fuck them?' Irene thought to Andrea.	'I don't know.'  Andrea looked at the one with the highest rank.  He was a captain.  "What are you doing here?"	"Seems with your quick departure, and some of the things you said in council, The emperor has a few questions he wants answered."	"So you do know us."	"Oh yeah," he said.  "Well, we don't know the creamy one over there," he pointed to Sandra.  "Maybe you should introduce us."	"My name's Sandra," she said cautiously.	'Sandra,' Andrea thought to her. 'You're a pretty good fighter right?  How many do you think you could take?'  "So ask away," Andrea said to the captain.	'If I had the same equipment, two would probably be alright.  But without any armour or weapons, I don't know.  What about you?'	'Two or three at full strength but I'm still really weak.  And not just from the sex.'  Andrea thought she saw Sandra crack a smile but the gravity of the situation quickly brought it back under control. 	He put a hand on his pistol as the four closed in.  They stayed safely out of arms reach.  "How did you get a message from the Invid so fast?  Or were you just bullshitting to play with the big boys?"	Fuck. Andrea thought.  She couldn't exactly tell them Irene was an Invid.  They'd kill her on the spot.  'Irene?' Andrea thought to her friend. 'Can you take the one with the rifle.  You're way stronger than him.'	'I don't know," Irene responded in her mind. 'I'm not a very good fighter.'	'Just make sure he can't fire it at us.'	'Okay, I'll try.  Just tell me when.'	"Well?" the captain was getting inpatient.	"I wasn't bullshitting."  Andrea realized she had no choice.  She'd have to tell them something that wouldn't be good for her.  But she couldn't out Irene.  "The Invid are telepathic."	"What?"  He drew his pistol but kept it pointed at the ground.  "Are you saying you're a freak?"	"No, I'm just saying they can communicate that way, with anyone.  And it works over long distances so I was able to find out what they thought of the deal."	"The deal she calls it," one of the soldiers pitched in.	"More like a fuckin' sell out."	This isn't going well, Andrea realized.  'Sandra,' she thought.  'You may have to take two.  I don't think I can take more than one.'	'I'll do whatever I have to,' Sandra thought back.  'Just say when.'	Andrea saw Sandra take a deep breath.  "What's cream's problem?" One of the guards said gesturing to Sandra.	"I'm trying not to overreact to your hostile questioning," Sandra said to him.	"Hah, fuck.  The dyke just told you off man," one of them joked.  "I think that might have been a threat.  You gonna take that?"  	"Quiet boys," the captain said.  "Questions first."  He approached Andrea so he was standing up close, face to face.  His gun still pointed at the dirt.  He looked down at Andrea's body, then back up to her face.  Andrea wasn't sure if he was looking at her nakedness or sizing her up as a threat.	She hadn't been in a fight since she almost died.  She was nervous.  More nervous than she used to be.	"You in league with them?  Working for them?" he asked.	"No of course not.  They respect me so they're reasonable with me."	"Maybe, maybe not."	"Come on," Andrea tried to reason with him.  "I got them to agree to pay reparations.  If I was in league with them why would I do that?"	"Maybe you wanted to sweeten the deal so we'd accept.  Maybe they wants us to leave so they can have a reprieve to consolidate and rebuild their forces."	Andrea sighed.  "They don't need to consolidate or rebuild."	"Is that so?"	"They have more forces than we ever could.  That's why we have to negotiate instead of fight."	"If they have so many forces why bother to negotiate?"	Andrea was getting frustrated.  "Because we're resourceful, we fight hard and we can make it a much higher expense than they'd like to pay.  They just want a chance to live.  This way, they can go about their lives, we can go about ours.  It's a good deal."	"It's bullshit.  You're a traitor and we're taking you back."	"Why did you even let me leave if you were going to come after me like this?"  'We're gonna have to do this soon,' Andrea thought to her friends.	'I need to get them closer to me,' Sandra thought.	'Do what you need to do.'	The captain continued, "let's just say not everyone on the council is aware of our orders."	Andrea laughed.  "You're going behind Jack's back?"	"The General is thinking with his cock instead of his head.  All he can think about is getting inside that sweet pussy of yours.  He's lost perspective.  Once you're out of the way, we'll get our war minister back."	"If you think he's that vain you're in for an ugly surprise."	"Shut up bitch."  He spoke louder to his men.  "You boys decide who you want to fuck, but let's do this by the book, one at a time.  We don't want to give them any chance to get away.  Me, I always wanted to fuck a general."	"You know a lot of female general's in the Coalition?" Andrea taunted, "or are you just fighting your sexuality."	He hit her in the chin with his left hand.  Andrea took the blow and reeled slightly but she managed to roll with it for the most part.  Her chin and cheek stung.  'Wait for my signal,' she thought to the others.	One of his officers spoke to Sandra, "who's juices do you got all over you Cream?"	No one responded right away so Sandra answered, "your mom's."	The soldier didn't like that, "my Mom died during the Invid's invasion you little whore."	"My bad.  Must have been your sister.  She looked so old I couldn't tell."	The soldier got mad, took out his gun and started approaching.	Andrea smiled.  Sandra must have been spending some time with Aria.  Aria! "You know our camp is awfully close to here.  You sure you want to do this now?" Andrea threatened.	"You're friends left in a jeep an hour ago.  We have another party that's going to intercept them on the road.  I wouldn't expect to see any of them again."	Andrea's cocky smile turned into an intimidating glare.	"Look boys, we got her mad.  Anyone ever tell you you're cute when you're angry?  You'll be a better fuck."  The other soldier was getting real close to Sandra.  It looked as if he was about to take a swing.	'Sandra, hit the dirt," Andrea thought to her.  As quick as she was able, Andrea grabbed the captain by the wrist of his gun arm and spinning into him, lifted his weapon up and pointed it at the soldier approaching Sandra.  Sandra was already going down and Andrea gripped his hand strongly and forced him to squeeze the trigger.	"Now," Andrea shouted to Irene.	A beam of energy shot out of the captain's gun at his own soldier.  Sandra was already flat on the ground and the beam glanced off the soldiers armour and put a hole through the tree behind him.  She cursed her bad shot but the surprise of it threw off the other man.  He wasn't expecting his life to be at risk facing three naked women.  Sandra used the distraction to grab him by the knee and twist him to the ground.  Meanwhile Irene charged and entangled the rifleman's arms.	The captain recovered from the surprise attack quickly and swung his other elbow towards Andrea's head.  She ducked it and let him go, pulling back a couple feet.  Before he had time to act again though she charged him, shoulder first to try and tackle him to the ground.  With her left hand she reached out to try and swat the gun out of his hand.  She succeeded both.  The gun fell into a pool of mud a few feet away and the captain crashed into the soft undergrowth on his back, with Andrea on top of him.	With a quick look, Andrea could see Irene still entangled with her man.  Sandra had disarmed the man she had tripped and had the gun in her hand now.  She was taking careful aim at the fourth soldier as he drew his weapon from its holster.  The gun was unlikely to pierce his armour in one shot but his weapon would most definitely kill her in a single strike, so instead of targeting him, she shot at his weapon.  She scored a direct hit and the gun spiralled from his hand destroyed.  He yelped as the beam burned his hand, even through the light armoured glove.  With a shot like that, Andrea wished Sandra had targeted his head.  None of them were wearing helmets.	Andrea knew she couldn't neglect her own opponent though.  Straddling him, she could feel her pussy rub against his cold painted armour.  She lashed out, punching him in the jaw and drawing blood from the corner of his mouth.  He tried to block as Andrea levelled several more shots to his head.  She hit him in the nose twice, drawing blood the second time and cut him above the eye with another shot.  He blocked a few and tried to kick her off but Andrea wasn't going anyway.  She continued to hit him, afraid to back off.  But she was getting tired.  Her arms felt weak.  She pulled back her right arm for another shot and it shook before she got him with a glancing blow to his cheek.  She was breathing heavier.  He tried to push her off again by kicking up and this time he almost succeeded.	She hit him twice more but he wasn't blocking anymore and her hits weren't causing him as much grief.  Why wasn't he blocking.  She knew the answer when she heard his knife coming out of its sheath on his belt.  She rolled off him quickly before he could blindside her with it and got back to her feet.  Her arms were shaking but she kept them in front of her anyway.  He stood up himself, his face bleeding from several places, red stains dripping onto his green armour.	Andrea's breasts moved up and down as she breathed heavily anticipating an attack.  She took a quick glance towards her friends.  Irene was still fighting with her man.  Sandra was in close combat with two of them.  She had lost her gun and the other two each had a knife out.  She seemed to be doing well but she wouldn't be able to keep that up forever.  She was basically just parrying and dodging.  She couldn't afford to take a hit to make one of her own.  Andrea knew that she or Irene would have to finish with their opponents soon to help Sandra out.	The captain took advantage of Andrea's glance, charging at her with the knife.  Andrea saw it at the last second and spun out of the way.  He reached behind him with a slash as he turned but the attack was wild and missed her.  	"You fucking bitch."  The captain spat and a glob of red splattered on the jungle floor.  "You broke my nose."	"You should go before I break something else."  Andrea tried to sound confident despite her fading energy.  She hoped she sounded intimidating, but if she did, he didn't show it.  'Come on Irene,' Andrea encouraged.  'Try and trip him, take him down.  You can do it.'	'I'm trying,' she thought back.  She sounded upset.	The captain charged at Andrea again but this time with more control.  Andrea found herself blocking with desperation.  Her muscles refused to move fast enough to keep up with him.  At one point he faked a stab with the knife, forcing Andrea to attempt to block by crossing both arms in front of her but he stopped short and instead grabbed one of her wrists with his other hand.  She tried to wrench free but instead he spun her around and kneed her in the back.  She fell to the ground and he quickly grabbed her wrists once more.  He pulled some cuffs off his belt and cuffed her behind her back.  Her shoulder and check was in the dirt, and she still had her knees under her which forced her ass high into the air.	Andrea glanced up desperately.  Irene had both hands on the rifle and was pulling hard but it distracted her and the other soldier tripped her to the ground.  Fortunately she broke the rifle as she fell, twisting the ammo clip as she went.  "How the fuck?" the soldier said and tossed it away.  "They're going to take that out of my salary." He jumped on top of her and put her in an arm bar.  No matter how much strength she used all she'd be able to do was break her arm.	"Owwww," She moaned as he put pressure on her arm, forcing it nearly to the breaking point.	"Your pussy better be as hot as the rest of you."	"Look," Irene pleaded.  "I'm obviously the hottest one here.  You can all fuck me if you leave them alone."	Meanwhile the captain gripped Andrea by the hair and forced her head up so her back and head was parallel with the ground.  "We're gonna take turns with all of you," the captain responded for his man.  "Starting with you, 'general.'"	"I'm not a general," Andrea said.  "Not anymore."	"That's not what was on your jacket in the tower."	Andrea's scalp hurt as he continued to hold her up.  She looked over at Sandra.  She was slowing down but still fighting brilliantly.  One of them missed and she used it as a chance to kick at him hard.  He fell backwards and for a moment she only had one to worry about, but that turned out to be a curse.  The other man got up quietly behind her and hit her hard on the back of the head with the butt of his knife.  Andrea winced as she slump to the ground.	"Did you see where my gun went?" the first one to attack her asked.	"No, the jungle is too thick, I can't see shit."	"Don't worry about it," the captain said.  "Just cuff her before she wakes up and kicks your ass."	"Whatever," the first one said taking out cuffs and binding her behind the back.  "I had her."	"Yeah," the Captain said sarcastically.  "That's why it took two of you before Jonesy there finally clocked her from behind.  The soldier looked sheepish.	"Seniority goes first, right boys?"  The captain sheathed his knife again and Andrea heard some clinking.  Was he taking off his armour?  The question was answered for her as part of it hit the ground beside her.  He still had her hair wrapped around his fist but she managed to turn her head enough to see that the armour was modular and he had taken everything off below the waist.  His left hand was currently fumbling with the button on his pants.	Andrea saw Sandra start to stir.  She looked dizzy as she slowly moved into a slumped over sitting position.  She tried to rub her head but found she couldn't lift her hands up thanks to the cuffs.  The back of her hair was matted with blood that was still flowing slowly.  She looked around to see the situation.  Irene was still in her arm-bar.  The soldier seemed smart enough not to cuff her.  After all if she could bend a rifle, why not handcuffs?  She looked over to Andrea and saw the captain unbuttoning his pants.	The stickiness on Sandra's chest had absorbed dirt and leaves from the ground and they stuck to her as she looked over.  Her hair clung to the blood on her head or the sweat on her forehead and her legs were equally smeared with dirt dug up from the armoured boots of the men she was fighting.  All in all, she was a mess, more than any of them but she also looked the fiercest.  She made eye contact with the captain.  "Don't you fucking touch her."	"Hah, look who's awake," one of the officer that defeated her said.  "You should watch your mouth Cream. Or I'm liable to stick something in it."	Sandra tried to get to her feet but the soldier put a hand on her shoulder and forced her back to her knees.  The captain smiled at her and Andrea felt the tip of his dick press against her asshole.  "You bastard," Sandra shouted as he shoved, inserting his dry cock passed Andrea's sphincter and into her rectum.  	Andrea grimaced in pain.  'It's okay,' she thought to Sandra.  'Let's just worry about keeping us alive.'	"It's not fucking okay," Sandra shouted back despite Andrea's comment being telepathic.  "We just got away from this shit.  You're all dead, all four of you."	"Will you idiots shut her up?  She's ruining the mood.  I can't hear this whore's moans."  He shoved in all the way and Andrea did moan despite herself.  It was fortunate Sandra had loosened her up earlier but even so it hurt with him being so rough.  He continued to hang onto her hair, using it as a handle to pull her closer to him and then push her away.  Her neck stretched back towards him and her breasts jutted out in front of her as her back arched.  Her tits jiggled with each thrust and Sandra made another move to get up but the soldiers had heard their captain and came down with a fierce blow to the side of her head.  She hit the dirt again, but this time stayed conscious.  The soldiers however, wrote her off as out of it again.  Sandra looked up to meet Andrea's eyes and the look in them surprised her.  She wondered if it was the only mistake the soldiers would ever get to make. 	The blonde charged forward toward the captain, acting so fast the two men on her had no time to react.  In only a moment, her shoulder ploughed into his chest, forcing his cock out of Andrea immediately.  Her neck snapped back and she yelped as he pulled her hair while being forced away from her.  Finally he had no choice but to let go and Sandra's shoulder put him into a tree.  Andrea could hear his cry of pain.  She turned to help but she was still slow and awkward without the use of her hands.  She saw him pull his knife out again.  "Knife," she shouted in warning.	Sandra saw it at the last instant and tried to slip away from him but he was too fast.  His blade caught her in the shoulder just above her breast, piercing so deep Andrea saw a tip of silver glistening through her back.  It was in to the hilt, right through her.  "Ahhhh," Sandra cried out and fell back, rolling down a small hill back towards Andrea and the other two soldiers.  Andrea's stomach sunk and she thought of Kitty.  If anything happened to Sandra she didn't know what she would do.	But when Andrea took a closer look she realized that Sandra was on elbows and knees.  During the fall she had managed to tuck her knees in and get her hands out front.  She still looked slow though.  She was hunched over and breathing hard and unprepared as the captain approached. He was still wearing no clothing from the waist down, and when he got near, Andrea lashed out with her foot and caught him in his knee sending him to the ground.  She still wasn't in much condition to fight.  She hoped she could buy Sandra a little bit of time but the other two soldiers were already on their way over.	Andrea got to her feet, preparing to plough a shoulder into the captain once he got up again but when she charged he was ready for her and easily swung her around and into a tree.  Her shoulder popped and throbbed.  "Ahh," she yelped.  She saw Sandra with both hands around the knife handle.  Her eyes were closed and she was still breathing heavy, as if trying to focus.  As Andrea shakily rolled to a sit, the other two guards arrived, Sandra pulled the knife from her shoulder with an agonizing cry.  At the same time she stood and swung around behind her with both hands.  She caught the captain in the throat, opening his jugular and sending him down to the ground for a final time.  	The two soldiers were stunned but their training was quickly coming back.  The third one handling Irene didn't know what to do.  "Should I break her arm and come help?"  	"Just keep her there," one of them said as they circled around opposite sides of Sandra.  They were ignoring Andrea and she took the opportunity to do the same move as Sandra, tucking her knees into her chest and pulling her arms underneath to her front.  She began to approach one of them from behind.  He bare feet made no noise on the soft wet ground and by the time the soldier watching Irene called out a warning, Andrea had lifted her hands over the soldiers head and was using the chain on her cuffs to choke him.  The man dropped his knife as his hands went to his throat to try and pull the chain away from him.  He gasped hoarsely and again, Andrea had bought Sandra a few moments to do what needed to be done.	Sandra turned to face her loan attacker directly.  Her left shoulder was dripping blood that streamed down the outside curve of her breast and along her hip.  With her hands bound she was still forced to hold the knife two-handed but instead of holding it upwards like a sword she flipped it around so it faced down towards her wrists.  The other soldier lunged and Sandra blocked, cringing as the shock of the blow sent ripples through her arms and into her shoulder wound. 	The man came at her again and this time she spun to avoid him, levelling a slice across his midsection but it only sparked off his armour and left a gash in the black paint.  He tried to spin himself to score a hit on her but he wasn't fast enough and he missed.  The two opponents parted briefly and eyed each other, waiting to see who would make the next move. He looked at Andrea out of the corner of his eye.  "If you don't let him go, Harold will break the blonde's arm and run her right through with that knife of his.	Andrea looked between the two soldiers.  The one holding Irene, Harold, did have Irene in a vulnerable position.  But Irene was fast.  Even with a broken arm she might be able to get away before he could draw his knife.  And if Andrea kept choking her own opponent he would be dead in less than a minute.  But he was already hazy and rubber legged.  If she let him go he probably wouldn't be a major factor in the fight and it would give Irene a better chance.	Andrea pulled her cuffed hands away and gave her opponent a kick forward. He was wobbly and luckily tripped over a rock, sending him sideways directly towards the one Sandra was fighting.  Both men crashed to the ground in a heap of armour and limbs.  Sandra collapsed on them, knife first, and dug it into her opponents chest plate as hard as she was able.  It drug along the protective plate until it wedged in a seam between the chest and back sections.  "Unh," She grunted as she shoved it once more, through the protective tunic they wore under the metal and into the man's lung.  The man screamed and Sandra jammed it in further until the scream faded to a mouth full of sputtering blood.	Meanwhile, the one Andrea had been choking attempted to regain his footing but only tripped over his comrade's arm and fell to the ground once again.  Sandra pulled the knife out and walked toward him with obvious intent.  "No, no.  My family's rich, I could give you-" she cut through his throat as she had the first.  She stood up straight and turned to the last man, still holding Irene's arm.	Andrea crawled over to the fallen captain and used his key to undo the cuffs.  She then threw the keys to Sandra.  The blonde caught them with a grimace as her shoulder was forced to move.  All the while, she refused to take her eyes off the last man.  Her eyes bore into his and Andrea thought she saw him shaking.  "If....  If you...  If you come any closer I'll... break her arm.  I'll do it."	He shifted his grip as if to prove that he was serious.  "You do realize that in a few weeks, her arm will be fine and you'll still be dead?"	His shaking increased and he released her.  Irene scrambled away and made her way over to Andrea, rubbing her arm as she went.  The soldier stood, with his arms out to the side and palms forward.  "Look, I can be reasonable.  Just uh...  Just let me go back and I'll tell them anything you want.  That we couldn't find you, that the others were attacked by animals. There's jaguars around, they could believe that."	"You think the Coalition will believe that three armoured troops were eaten by jaguars?"  Sandra laughed and knelt down to wipe the knife clean on one of the soldiers tunics.  	"L... Look, I'll say whatever you want.  I could deliver a message."	"Oh, you're going to deliver a message," Sandra said, the fierce look in her eyes returning.  She switched the knife to her uninjured arm and held it by the blade.  With a lightning quick motion, she pulled her arm back and threw the knife at him.  The blade spun through the air and pierced his skull with a quiet thunk.  He fell.	Sandra moved over to Andrea.  "You okay?"	"Me?  What about this?" Andrea lifted a finger to Sandra's gaping wound.  	"It's nothing."	"Don't get all macho on me now.  That's my job.  And yeah, I'm okay.  What about you Irene?"	Her lips moved to a pout.  "My shoulder hurts."  She looked at Sandra, "but not as much as yours probably."	Andrea picked up Sandra's ripped shirt from the jungle floor and used it as a bandage, wrapping her wound tightly.  "We should go back to the carrier.  They'll be a first aid kit there.  You'll probably need some stitches and some disinfectant."	Sandra nodded.  "There could be more of them too.  Better to get somewhere safer.  Andrea and Irene quickly dressed but Sandra's clothes were useless anyway so she walked back naked.  Andrea put an arm around her lovers waist as they walked, mostly for her own support rather than Sandra's. She was still really beat.  But she was getting better.  Maybe another month and she'd be 100%. Irene hung off Sandra's arm on her other side.	"You're real good with a knife," Andrea said.	"Yeah, well I've had a lot of practice, and I had some pretty good motivation."	Andrea smiled.  "Thank-you.  For putting yourself at such a big risk."	Sandra looked at her lovingly.  "I'd do it again in a second." * * * *	Andrea had finished bandaging Sandra up properly in the carrier when she heard a jeep approaching.  She went to the window and looked outside to see it was Coalition make.  All black with a painted skull on the hood.  "Shit.  Coalition."	"There's a turret on top," Sandra said.  "I'll cover it."  She began moving back but Andrea stopped her.	"Wait.  They're not wearing uniforms."  As the jeep got closer it became apparent that the jeep wasn't filled with the Coalition at all.  Aria, Thunder, Stacy and Mike filled the seats.  "It's the others," Andrea said excitedly.  She hadn't been able to reach them on the radio when she got back to the carrier and had feared for the worst.  Andrea quickly excited the vehicle and approached her friends.  "Is everyone okay?"	"Fuckin' cowards ambushed us," Aria spat and climbed out over the door.  "Got what was comin' to 'em though.  Think one of 'em's still screamin'."	Andrea embraced her as best as she was able through the knives on her armour.  "They ambushed us too.  Four special ops guys when we were unarmed.  We got them though."	"Hah, good job."	"Actually I shouldn't say we.  Sandra killed all four with a knife.  I'm still not in fighting shape."	"Fuck, I knew I liked her."  Aria shouted to the carrier.  "Sandra you bitch, get out here!"	Sandra came out, a bandage around her shoulder showed through Andrea's tank top that she had put on.  Aria was all smiles, "They tagged you, huh?  How bad is it?"	"Went right through and out the other side.  Andrea said she could see the point sticking out through my back.  Missed my lung though and I think it missed most of the muscle.  Pulled it out and tagged all four of 'em a lot worse with the same blade.	"Hah, fan-fuckin-tastic."	"What about you?  How'd you end up with their jeep?"	Aria spat again.  "First shot they caught us with a fuckin' missile.  Took out the whole back axel and sent Mike flying but he's tougher than he looks.  Anyway, once I got the others to some cover I just went through 'em one by one.  You know, all stealthy and shit.  Had the last few shaking in their boots wondering which direction I was gonna come at them from." She laughed, "It was classic.  I think the last one actually shit himself when I told him to turn around.  Either that or I stabbed him in the intestine.  Either way he smelled pretty ripe.  Should give Thunder some credit too.  He took out three of the bastards."	"Sounds like we should get the hell out of here before they send half the army after us," Sandra said.	"Fuck, they'll think twice when they see the present I left for them on the road."	"Even so," Andrea said.  "Best not to take the risk.  Let's just head east, get to the coast and set sail."	"Sail?" Aria asked.	"Come on," Andrea opened the door to the carrier, "I'll explain on the way."* * * *		It was four days before they reached the coast but there was no further sign of the Coalition.  Andrea hoped they had gotten the hint.  It was another day before they found a boat and a crew willing to take them.  The crew had offered to do it for a very reasonable price after Andrea had put Aria in charge of the negotiations.  Selling the carrier had been more than enough to cover the trip.  	Andrea found herself supervising the crew loading the ship.  After some encouragement from Aria they had insisted on bringing all of her friends' gear on board and had while two of them tied down her cyclone on the deck, another one came back for her bag.  "That's okay, I've got it," Andrea said hoisting it on her shoulder.  She got on board carefully and looked back at the land only a few feet away.  	As she stared vacantly at the small port town and the jungle behind it, she jumped when she felt a touch at her waist.  She turned to see Sandra smiling at her.  One of her hands slipped around her hip.  It felt right there.  "It's weird isn't it?" Sandra mused.	"We're probably never going to set foot over there again.  I can't help but wonder if we're doing the right thing.  I've spent so much time and energy trying to make this place safe for people and I can't help but wonder why?  I feel like I'm giving up, telling everyone to leave their home."	"They're not leaving their home."	"How do you figure?" Andrea turned to look at her.	"Earth is our home.  Not some house, or some piece of land in the America's.  We're just switching neighbourhoods."	Andrea smiled.  "I guess you're right."	"You want me to leave you alone?"	Andrea looked her up and down.  "What I really want is to break in our new quarters."	Sandra smiled and gripped her waist tighter.  "Well let's go then!"	The two women barely made it to the ships hall before they began making out and stripping each other.  Andrea pulled Sandra's shirt up above her head and shoved her into their cabin.  Sandra on the other hand, turned and pushed Andrea up against the wall and knocked her bag to the floor.  It burst open and some of the contents spilled out over the floor.  One item, rattled as it came to a stop at Sandra's feet.  As Andrea began shrugging off her black invid suit Sandra picked it up.	"Time for a change?" she said, holding up the broken watch.	Andrea groaned.  "Don't try any more puns.  I'll stop having sex with you."	Sandra smiled.  "I've never seen you wear it.  It's nice.  A little boy-ish, but nice."	"It's broken."	"I see that.  Why don't you throw it out?"	"It belonged to Chris.  He said..."  Andrea hesitated, already topless, the slick black material hung down from her hips.  "Never mind, it's dumb."  Andrea leaned forward to kiss Sandra again but she backed away.	"Come on, what'd he say?"	"He said that it stopped working the day the Masters attacked.  And he figured maybe it was just waiting for a better time to start again."	"I think it's sweet that you kept it."	"Nah, I keep it more cause it belonged to him than anything. It's just a broken watch."  Andrea took it from Sandra and dropped it to her side.  It clacked to the ground and the shock lightly cracked the glass on the faceplate.  Andrea didn't notice.  She got a wicked look in her eye and tackled her lover to the bed.  And barely audible, underneath the moans of the two women as they made love, was the soft tick tick tick of the second hand.	End."	