FIC: Culture Shock [14/15]

Mar 09, 2008 14:13

Title: Culture Shock
Author: raven_writes and kitty_trio
Rated: Adult
This Chapter: Adult
Characters: Sean Bean, Marton Csokas, Karl Urban, Eric Bana
Chapter: Fourteen

Altonian society is industrial and colorless, grey. The Collective require obedience and conformity.
Solaris Five is a green planet. Its inhabitants are a collective of an entirely different variety.
When the crew of the Altonian cargo carrier, Patience, crash land on Solaris Five and meet the locals, the resulting culture shock is an eye-opening experience for them all.

Previous Chapters



Back to Chapter Thirteen

Marton's steps became slower and slower; eventually he stopped. Moving off the well-worn trail just shy of the crest leading to the house, he found a patch of grass on a small ledge and sat down, feet dangling over the edge, to survey the view below him, his heart heavy.

From here, he could see most of the settlement he and Sean had called home these last weeks, only the rounded hull of the Patience rising rudely above the tree line was an unwelcome dissonance, marring the otherwise beautiful landscape.

He sighed, wondering how he was to find the courage to impart his news. Karl would be most unhappy, though he wasn't certain how Sean and Eric would react, given the volatile state of their relations. He himself was feeling rather… gutted was the term. He should be ecstatic to finally have news of 'home', but the term had shifted its allegiance from Alton to Solaris Five quite some time back, leaving him conflicted.

Every day he dutifully checked the Patience, not expecting to have to log any damages or missing equipment and never once being disappointed in that expectation. Every day he made his way up to the flight deck, to the blinking green light that indicated their distress signal was functioning correctly and never once had he expected to feel so dreadful upon discovering that the corresponding proximity warning light, so far always benign in its dormancy, to be active. Now it was; and all his conflicts were coming to a head.

"I don't want to go." The whisper wasn't meant for human ears and only the birds in the surrounding trees might have heard soft-spoken words. "I want to stay."

And stay he would, were it not for Sean. His companion would no doubt wish to resume his duties with the Collective and Marton would have to go with him; nothing else was feasible. Leave Karl behind? Leave this still-strange but wonderful world and return to duty? How was he going to manage this? Subdue the feelings he now revelled in, disavow his newborn appreciation for this natural world and the people who inhabited it? With a sigh, he dragged himself to his feet and set off up the last few steps to the house in search of Sean. He would have to find a way, but God; it was going to be hard.

He located his erstwhile colleague in the vegetable garden behind the house, tending the plants. He looked content; bare-chested, tan and fit, his pale hair bleached gold and white by the benevolent sun, but it was an illusion; as the lines of tension around the green eyes testified and Marton's shoulders slumped in defeat as he approached, clearing his throat.

Never would Sean have conceived he would enjoy having his hands soiled with dirt, nor have calluses form over blisters from manual labor. After a few rudimentary instructions from Eric-in a rare informative mood-Sean took to gardening like a duck to water (one of Eric's more understandable phrases). There was structure to the controlled chaos of the vegetable patch. Rows of produce organized by growing speed, time of harvest, some staked some caged some allowed to spread like leafy groundcover. All these plants needed was a little human assistance, it seemed, to achieve bountiful results.

Sean thought about that as he worked steadily along the winter squash 'hills', weeding between the young plants, often by touch alone. His attempts to 'weed' informative conversation from Eric were efforts in futility. By applying newly learned sexual wiles, Sean could divert Eric's boundless and often irritating energy to pleasurable endeavors. An added bonus was during post-orgasmic lethargy calm conversation could be attained. Of course those interludes never lasted. Sean frowned, moving down the row.

"The proximity warning light has engaged." Marton said baldly. "There is a ship in the region and given our distance from usual trade routes, no doubt it is on its way here. I estimate it will take no more than a few days to arrive."

Marton's shadow alerting him to someone's presence, Sean's fingers stilled upon hearing the coolly delivered report. Before their time spent on Solaris Five, Sean would have expected nothing other than the emotionless pronouncement. Now Marton's voice sounded off. Rolling back on his haunches Sean looked up, but the sun backlit his associate hiding Marton’s facial expression.

"I shall begin making preparations," he answered after a pause. Dusting most of the rich loamy soil from his hands onto the warn denim covering his knees, Sean voiced the revelation he'd come to days ago, "You are staying. Subterfuge is not our practice, perhaps Karl will have suggestions to explain the lack of your presence when the Altonians arrive?"

Shocked by Sean's assumption, Marton's pretence at professionalism collapsed as he contemplated the words. Yes, he wanted to stay, but he'd not really considered the possibility as a viable option, only as a pipe dream. But Sean seemed to not only think it was feasible, he condoned it. Marton's brow wrinkled. "I... I've not even raised the subject of remaining behind with Karl." he admitted shyly, crouching down to meet Sean's eyes.

But perhaps Karl would not want him to stay, or even care. He considered this for a moment or two and then, with a shake of his head, reached a decision. "But you are correct; I have no wish to go back. I will stay here when the time comes, regardless." Even if Karl was indifferent, he could make a good life for himself here. Learn a trade, find a place for himself. Wanting to say more and yet not certain of exactly what it was he needed to express, he let his eyes wander to the landscape surrounding them and it gave him the words he needed.

"I have never felt so alive." he said softly, still not returning his gaze to Sean's face. "Sometimes it is still too loud here, too colorful, too... much to take in all at once and yet... When I contemplate a return to Alton, my vision turns grey and my life there looks pointless."

After a pause, he captured Sean's eyes with his own and returned to practicalities. "Subterfuge is perhaps the best course." he belatedly agreed. "I would march up to whoever is sent and express my intent to remain without fear of consequences, but for you." Marton tipped his head to one side, thinking. "It occurs to me that my defection could impact your continuing career with the Collective." he mused. "While I cannot imagine them caring of my fate, I do envision the corporate body viewing your knowledge as a possible cause of dissent. They would sideline you simply to inhibit your chances of passing on this information to others."

His legs began to ache from being cramped in the crouching position so Marton sank to a sitting position, letting out a sigh of relief at the release of tension. "Tell them I'm dead." he said abruptly. "You can say that I did not survive the initial impact and the locals interred my remains in the ground."

Making a 'pfft' noise, Sean initially waved off Marton's doubts with a flick of his wrist and an expressive twitch of his lips. "You and Karl are mated. Staying would be the logical conclusion." Doubts of his own surfaced observing Marton's somber expression.

"At least my observations fit the discussion we had on mating rituals whilst walking on the Square that day. The two of you do communicate. Surely Karl has made his intentions clear?" Sean asked innocently.

"No." Marton said slowly, uncertain. "I think... I think he is perhaps of the belief that I wish to go, err, home. While the desire to remain has been growing stronger, I have kept my own counsel on the subject and Karl, well, Karl is not forthcoming about his wishes, either." He sighed again, contemplating the conversation he would have to initiate. "I will talk with him." he announced, looking at Sean from out of the corner of his eye. "What about you?" he asked. "Your, ah, relationship with Eric is… volatile to say the least. Would you prefer that I inform him of the retrieval's imminent arrival?"

"No," Sean said softly, "I will generate, somehow, that conversation with Eric." A sigh escaped with his pronouncement.

Then, compassion motivating him, Sean reached out and instigated a rare touch between the two associates. From elbow to wrist, Sean's hand soothed down Marton's now sun burnished golden-toned arm. His fingers wrapped over his friend's and squeezed lightly.

Again, the pair was observed if not overheard this time from another part of the homestead. Damp from a dip in the creek, Eric stepped up to Karl, whose pack and lines filled with what he'd gleaned from his traps were at his feet where he'd apparently just dropped them.

"Hey," Eric said softly, wrapping comforting arms around his cousin, and tucked his chin on Karl’s plaid-covered shoulder. "They'll be okay, you know, when..." he couldn't bring himself to mention their guest's, and lover's, eventual departure.

"We'll be okay too." He squeezed a little tighter when he felt Karl take a breath to speak, "I'm sorry for taking the piss the other day. You didn't deserve that, but he gets me so worked up when he hides all the passion that vibrates... sorry," Eric wound to a stop, apologizing as he felt his arm banding even tighter around Karl.

"Me, too." Karl lifted a hand to squeeze Eric's upper arm as he returned the apology. "I should have practiced what I preached, I guess, but he's just so... they're both so... Well, you know."

"Yeah, I do," Eric planted a loud wet kiss to the patch of skin below Karl's ear. "Let's take the rest of the day off, a little time-out-of-time for the four of us, eh. The sun's been heating the stream and swimming hole to temps even you can tolerate. Plus you've been spending so much time in the forest, even our boys down there are tanner 'n you," Eric challenged with a grin.

"Good idea." Karl turned his melancholy to enthusiasm. "Lead on, McDuff!"

Eric whooped and barreled down the slope to the men below.

"C'mon boys, no more need to pack a sad. We're taking the rest of the day off for Fun!"

He gave Marton a semi-apologetic grin for dripping on him. Then hunkered down and tossed Sean over his shoulder before more than a gasp could escape the blond.

"Bloody Hell, put me down," and many other colorful words learned from Eric flowed from Sean as Eric took them up the path leading to the stream.

*

Eric lay back against the flat rock heated from the sun, sleepy and sore most deliciously. His ploy to deliberately provoke Sean's ire, and therefore his passion, worked wondrously. He knew Sean would have wrinkled his nose at even the suggestion of skinny-dipping in the 'non-sterile' stream, or whatever other derogatory terms his lover would have used.

Even now, Eric's sated body twitched from the green fire snapping from Sean's eyes when the he’d broken the surface, still swearing and spluttering for being tossed in unceremoniously. Instantly hard, Eric barely had time to unfasten his shorts before Sean had attacked. Literally pulled from his pants when Sean tugged, Eric made sure to land on his impassioned lover, dunking them both. Of course, Sean then cut off Eric's laughter the best of ways by kissing him fiercely, which led to fast and furious lovemaking. Squirming off a bruise to accommodate Sean sprawled atop him Eric now wished he’d picked one of the mossier areas for their tryst.

"M' clothing is wet."

"Yup."

Sean's head moved on Eric's chest, "Floatin' away."

"Yup, no biggie, don't need 'em."

"Other's will..."

"Not care, prolly doin' same thing," a contented sigh lifted Eric's chest and he lethargically pulled Sean's head up to kiss him quiet.

*

Karl pushed the damp hair back from his face and leaned back, palms flat against the warm stone of the rock he and Marton had appropriated after their swim, sighing happily. Eric and Sean were out of sight but he could hear soft murmurs of conversation, occasionally rising to the point where he could almost make out what they were saying before fading again. "This is the life." he said.

"Mmm." Marton struggled to sit up as the sun's warmth on his back grew in strength enough to sting. He reached for his damp shirt and began to struggle into it, wondering how best to begin the conversation he needed to have. Diplomacy not being his strong point, in the end he began it with a blank statement of fact. "The retrieval ship is coming."

Karl froze. "When?" he choked out. Suddenly feeling cold all over, he couldn't look at Marton as he asked.

"A few days." Marton responded softly. "A week at most." He cleared his throat, heart thudding painfully in his chest. "Sean has agreed to inform the retrieval team that I perished in the crash." he went on to add.

"I see." Karl answered without thinking. Then the words penetrated. "What? Why?" His head snapped around and he took in Marton's posture, the uncertainty in his eyes.

"Because I, umm, I..." Marton let out a sigh. "I'm staying." he said firmly, the uncertainty now coupled with the determination Karl recognized.

"You… you are?"

"Yes." Marton told him. "There is nothing else to be done." He ventured a small smile. "You have corrupted me beyond redemption." he said.

Karl was finally managing to gather himself, incredulity replaced by hope. "Good!" he said with soft emphasis. "Does that mean you…? Like, you and I, umm...?"

Marton nodded; certain now. "I shall drive you mad for many years to come." he teased, a smile growing on his face.

"Yes!" Karl's grin was wide and bright and he punched a fist into the air. "Yes!" He repeated it once more for good measure before leaping across the space separating them and shoving Marton to the ground for some good old-fashioned non-verbal celebration.

*

"What was that?" Sean mumbled into the curve of Eric’s neck.

"Nothing, just Karl getting his rocks off, most like," Eric purred huskily. "Something I wouldn't mind doing again." He stretched lazily and then slid his thigh between Sean's.

Sean hid a frown in Eric's neck and a sigh expanded his chest. Now, while Eric was complacent if still randy, was the best time to broach the subject of the retrieval squad. To further induce Eric's complacency, Sean instigated a plundering kiss.

"The signal has activated, the retrieval ship should arrive by the end of the week. I..." he paused when Eric stiffened in his arms after his bald announcement.

"So soon?" burying his face in Sean's neck, Eric hid the raw emotions he knew would be evident on his face. He gathered Sean closer, needing his love's... his lover's heat as numbness threatened to wash over him.

"Aye... yes," Sean answered, consternating emotions making him stutter. "We'll... I'll need to commence planning my..."

"Your departure, yeah," Eric cut him off. "Then let's make the most of the time we have left before you leave." He rolled Sean's stiffening body beneath him, forcibly shoving aside thoughts of how empty his life would become once Sean did leave.

"But... I..." Sean bit back the rest, sighing again. "You are right. Make the most of this time left before I... leave," he finished in a small voice and gave in to Eric's wishes.

On to Chapter Fifteen

fic update, culture shock, raven writes

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