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THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER.
CHAPTER 1
EARTH
Well, that was that, then. Another bad thing that had happened in her recent run of bad luck.
Katrina Lawson knew that her luck had to turn sometime.
Right? No one could actually go through their lives just endlessly having one bad thing after another happen to them.
That's what she was telling her self anyway, to make herself feel better.
It started about six months ago, when her boyfriend took her out and told her that they needed to talk about the future. Kat thought Danny (the boyfriend) would propose to her.
He didn't.
Instead of proposing, he told her that he had been sleeping with her best friend, and they were going to Vegas to get married.
She felt like an idiot. How could she not know? Well, she suspected something wasn't right but she didn't think that her boyfriend and best friend were fooling around with each other behind her back.
And then her apartment block had been put up for sale, leading her to look for a new one. The only problem was the nicer places in New York were out of her price range, so she had to move in with her mother.
Kat had a good relationship with her mother, usually. The problem was, her mother was dating her yoga instructor, and Kat found him slimy.
When did men get so slimy? Was it always a thing or did it just gradually happen?
She did dream about finding a quirky, nice guy who she could trust and having a family.
She didn't think that was going to happen anytime soon.
And then if losing her boyfriend and her apartment wasn't bad enough, she had lost her job, too.
She worked as a receptionist/guide in am art gallery, but the owner (and featured artist) had been discovered as doing lots of scandal-inducing activities and the gallery was forced to shut down.
She did write in her spare time, but she had writer's block and couldn't think of anything to write.
And now, after applying for a job in Gizmonic's institute, as an office assistant (and the owner was a bit...odd) she had been rejected for asking "too many questions".
She didnt even want to work there, but she wasn't even getting interviews for jobs that she did want.
She didn't think her life could get much worse (at least she hoped it couldn't get much worse) when she tripped over a thick, circle lying on the ground.
She picked it up and then she saw smoke and then her life took an interesting turn.
CHAPTER TWO
SATELLITE OF LOVE
Joel Robinson blinked, as a woman appeared, from nowhere, in front of him. We’ll, him and the robots.
“Um, Sir's”, Joel said, quietly. “You know your transportation device? It’s worked”.
Kat didn’t know what was going on. All she knew was that she was somewhere with a man about her age and some...robots?
She looked around, and saw the man was talking to someone on a screen.
Not just somewhere. Clayton Forrester and TVs Frank. The two men who had interviewed her (she met Forrester briefly, but TVs Frank had interviewed her) what was going on?
“Of course it worked, Robinson. I didn’t have any doubt that it would work”, Forrester said. “Granted, I didn’t plan on it working today, but it did, so make Ms Lawson at home until I decide what to do with her”.
The TV screen went blank, and Joel turned to Kat. “Hi”, he said, in a quiet, but friendly, tone. “Welcome to the Satellite of Love”.
“The what?”, Kat asked.
“ The satellite of love”, Joel replied, noticing that she was still holding the transport device. “I think that you should maybe let go of that”.
Kat felt she was in a trance. “Oh, sorry”, she dropped the transmitter to the floor. “Where am I?”
“Space, baby”, a gold robot with a weird shaped head told her.
“Crow!” Joel smiled at Kat. “Im Joel Robinson. This is Crow T Robot”.
Crow looked at her, “You can just call me Crow”, he replied.
“ And we have Tom Servo and Gypsy and Cambot”. Joel told her. “We were doing an invention exchange and I think you, somehow, got caught up in it”.
Kat frowned, “Trust me, if anyone was going to be sucked into a satellite, it’s me”, she told him, quietly. “Oh, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Katrina Lawson, but everyone just calls me Kat”.
Joel smiled at her, and she couldn’t help but notice how nice his smile was, or how his dark brown hair was nice and his blue eyes were kind.
She knew, even though his red jumpsuit was baggy, that he was in good shape.
Stop it Kat, you are God knows where, you don’t need to be thinking this way.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kat”, Joel told her. “I'll show you around the satellite. I think I saw some women’s clothing, once when I was exploring. And I’ll tell you what you have accidentally found yourself in the middle of”.
CHAPTER THREE
“ You’re here against your will?”, Kat couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “That’s terrible. I’m so sorry”.
Joel had shown Kat around, found the stack of women’s clothing so Kat, at least had something else to wear, and now Joel had made everyone dinner, and explained to Kat all about the experiment.
Joel shrugged, “Honestly? Life on Earth wasn’t that great”.
“I know that feeling”, Kat said.
“Here, I can spend time doing the things I like and I’m relatively safe. And I have the 'bots”, Joel looked at her. “But I won’t let the 'mads hurt you. And if you want to leave, which is silly, why wouldn’t you want to leave?, I’ll find a way”.
She liked how sweet he was. “Thanks, Joel, but I have nothing on Earth,”, she told him, quietly. “ Well, I have my mom, but she’s too busy with her yoga instructor to even notice I’m gone. It took her two weeks to realise I’d moved in”.
“That sounds rough”, he replied. “My family are great, but I never felt I lived up to what they wanted me to be. I’m quite..weird and they didn’t know how to accept that”.
Kat grinned, “You created the 'bots. And, from what I’ve seen of them, they are great”.
“I think the word you are looking for, Kim, is Exceptional”, Tom Servo told her.
“I also gave them personalities and free will”, Joel told her. “I won’t make that mistake again”. He turned to Servo. “Its Kat. And she’s our guest and you’ll be nice to her”.
“It’s cool. I’ve been called worse”, Kat felt tired. She hadn’t slept well recently, but there was one thing Joel hadn’t told her. “Joel, I apologise if you already mentioned this, but where am I sleeping?”
She saw Crow, Servo and Gypsy exchange knowing glances with each other.
Joel looked embarrassed. “There’s only one room set up, but you can take my room and I’ll look for somewhere else”.
“ The Mads didn’t think about clearing out clothes or supplies, but they got rid of beds and other furniture”, Gypsy told her.
Kat was too tired to make sense of this. “ If I take your room then you won’t have anywhere to sleep”, she reminded Joel.
“I’m creative, I’ll be fine” he replied.
Kat felt guilty. This man had been nothing but lovely to her since her arrival, she couldn’t kick him out of his room.
“ Its a big room”, Crow said, as if he was reading her mind (could he do that?) “ And a big bed”.
“ They call them “double beds” and I’m sure that there is plenty of room for Joel and Kath,” Servo added.
Kat was sure that she was blushing.
“ Guys, Kat might not be comfortable sharing a bed with a man that she has just met”, Joel told the 'bots. “ Women feel more vulnerable than men”.
“Ive done a lot more with men I’ve known lesser time”, Kat blurted out. “ But there’s usually alcohol involved”.
“ Kate doesn’t have a problem with it”, Servo told Joel. “ Now, are you agreeing that you are going to go to bed with each other?”.
CHAPTER 4
Joel felt awkward. It had been a long time since he had shared a bed with anyone, and those women tended to be women he was dating, not a stranger he’d only known for a few hours.
And it didn’t help matters that Kat was attractive. She had long, black hair and emerald green eyes and her smile was genuine.
Joel sighed. He couldn’t think about her in that way. One, she would be leaving soon. And she wouldn’t be interested in him. He had a few girlfriends, but he found women either thought he was too odd or too boring. And Kat seemed like a woman who, even when she was down on her luck, still had her humour and a positive attitude.
“ I feel better now that I’ve had a shower and changed my clothes”, Kat said, walking into the bedroom.
Joel smiled, “Im glad you feel better, well, as better as you can feel when you know that you have been sent into space”.
“To be honest, it’s probably the best thing that’s happened to me”, she told him. “My boyfriend ran off with my best friend, I lost my job, my apartment got sold, my mother is in a love sick ‘vibe' with her boyfriend, and I got rejected from your mad kidnappers”.
Joel didn’t know all that had happened to her. “ I am sorry that all that happened”, he told her. “And, I understand if you don’t want to share a room, a bed, with me”.
Kat grinned at him, “if we were in a club, I’d gladly get your attention so I could share a bed with you”, she told him. She saw Joel blush, and she panicked. “ God, I didn’t mean to say it that way. I was trying to lighten the mood”.
“Its fine”, he replied. Did she find him attractive? Probably not. She was just trying to be nice and it didn’t mean anything.
“ I tend to over-talk when I’m nervous”, Kat told him. “ It’s an anxiety thing”.
“I get that, but with my anxiety, I just withdraw myself from people”, Joel told her, suddenly feeling a mixture of relief that someone understood how he felt, but also anxiety that he knew his brain would play tricks on him and try to persuade him that she had feelings for him, which he knew she didn’t.
She nodded, “Its cool that you know when my mouth engages before my brain, you know that I don’t mean to be so direct, or to offend anyone”.
“If it makes you feel more comfortable, I’m just as nervous as you are about sharing my bed, hell, even the satellite of love, with you”, he told her, in a calm, friendly tone. “ I know that I’ve had the 'bots for company but they aren’t human, and I can’t really have a chat with them about how I feel”.
“ It does make me feel more comfortable”, she told him. “ And I’m not worried about sharing a bed with you. I know that I don’t really know you but I get a good vibe from you and I think you are a good guy”.
Joel blushed again. “ I found some pillows, and a blanket”, he said. “ So you should be comfortable, ma'am”.
“ Wow, just when I didn’t think you could get any cuter, you say 'Ma'am' in that accent,”, She paused again. “ And hi, I’m Kat’s anxiety speaking again”.
Joel couldn’t help but laugh. He had a feeling that living with Kat was going to be interesting. He decided to share a few worries of his own with her, to build up the trust.
“ I don’t know if I snore, or talk in my sleep. Or sleep walk”, he explained. “Also, my body might do... certain things, but I will try to not let that happen. If it does, then I apologise”. He felt that he was crimson by now.
Kat nodded, again. “Well, that’s good to know”, she replied. “ Thanks for telling me that. Now, and you can take this as an innuendo or not, are we going to bed, MR. Robinson?.”
In bed, Joel was painfully aware of how close Kat was to him. He could hear her breathing, and then gently sobbing. Joel knew that he couldn’t lay there when she was obviously upset. He turned to face her, being careful not to get into her space (the tiny amount of space that they had between them anyway).
“You okay, Honey?” he asked, gently.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you awake”, Kat said, through her sobs. “Its just been a lot. All of the stuff recently. And now this”.
Joel saw her turn over, and she was face to face with him. He reached out and wiped the tears from her face, not quite knowing why.
“Its okay ”, he told her. “I know how hard it is. I try to keep a positive attitude but it’s hard, sometimes”.
She looked into Joel's eyes. “I know this is going to sound weird, and please say no if it’s too weird, but will you hold me? I just feel so alone and scared”.
Joel didn’t think it was weird at all. He didn’t know why but he wanted to be close to Kat. Maybe it was because she understood how he felt.
“Of course I will”, he told her.
He and Kat snuggled up together and soon, they were asleep.
CHAPTER 5
It had been over a week since Kat’s arrival, and in that time, The 'bots and Joel and Kat had got to know each other a lot better.
Forrester had decided that Kat could stay in the Satellite of Love, as a “ Woman’s point of view could be interesting”. Joel secretly thought that Forrester was wondering if living with a woman could drive him over the edge.
Joel had to admit that it was strange that Kat was there, but she was easy to live with, and fun to be around. They still held onto each other in bed, and Joel found that he liked that. Kat seemed to be more anxious at night, so she found it comforting.
“ So Katherine, what did you think of the film?” Servo asked, as the gang had just been subjected to a film about talking dogs taking over the world.
Kat, who had been called many things by the 'bots had decided to turn the tables on their teasing.
“ Katherine is actually my full name, so you remind me of my mom, Crow”, she said.
“ It’s Tom Servo, actually”, he corrected.
Kat nodded, “And it’s annoying that I get your name wrong?”, she winked at him. “I will try to remember that for next time, Tim”.
Joel interrupted the banter. “Tom, go and check on Crow in the kitchen, and make sure that he’s not setting fire to anything”.
Servo obeyed Joel (while muttering how Crow couldn’t be trusted to blink without supervision) and left the room.
Joel had decided that he wanted to talk to Kat about something, and he wanted to do it without the 'bots around (but away from the bedroom).
“Um, Kat, do you have a minute to talk?”, he asked.
She grinned, “Well, I have lunch at 2 and I need to be at the salon at 4”, she teased.
Joel smiled. At least she had put him at ease, but he feared that she would be upset and angry with him soon, but he wanted to be honest with her about how he felt.
“Sorry, Joel, I was just trying to lighten the mood. What do you wanna talk about?”, She asked. “Actually, I kinda wanted to talk to you about something too”.
Joel feared that she knew how she felt and was going to reject him.
“You do?”, he asked. “What do you wanna talk about?”
“Can you go first, because, I think I’m gonna make a total idiot of myself and I need time to prepare” she told him.
He wondered why she would be making a fool of herself, but he decided he would just say the words that he wanted to say.
“I know that we haven’t known each other for long but, we are here together, and it’s not exactly a normal situation”, Joel began. “And..I like you being here. I’m not just saying that because you are the only human I’ve seen for a while. I’m saying this because I like your sense of humour and how you understand me and how you are playful with the 'bots and how you are teaching Gypsy about being a woman”.
Joel felt his mouth becoming dry and his palms were sweaty but he needed to get the words out. “ And you are beautiful and I like holding you at night, and, I know that I might ruin everything but I am falling in love with you, Kat”.
She smiled, “Thank God for that, I wanted to tell you that I have feelings for you, but I thought you would reject me and want me to leave”.
Joel looked at her. “Are you telling me that you are in love with me?” he asked.
She nodded, “I was going to tell you that”, she told him. “ I love how kind and sweet you are. I love how you take care of the 'bots. And me. I want to kiss you so badly because you are so gorgeous...”
Joel blushed, “its been a while since anyone has said that”.
“ it’s true”, she replied. “ So..will you please kiss me?”
Joel walked closer to Kat and put his hands on her waist, and gently pulled her to him. And then he bent his head and captured her mouth with his own, kissing her, gently at first, and then more passionately.
Kat put her hands on Joel’s chest wanting to close the gap between them. He was a great kisser, and she knew that he would be a gentle and loving and considerate as a lover.
“ You took your time”, a voice said, making Joel and Kat jump apart. That saw Gypsy looking at them. “I was wondering when you two would admit that you liked each other”.
“ It’s only been a few days”, Joel smiled. “ Us humans do things a bit slower”.
Gypsy nodded, “ I don’t get humans”, she said. “ I don’t want to interrupt but Crow's got the popcorn bowl stuck on his head”.
CHAPTER 6
Crow had became un-stuck from the popcorn bowl, and the rest of the day had been relatively un-eventful, except both Joel and Kat had been walking around with stupid grins on their faces. And Gypsy had mentioned that Kat thought of Joel in the same way that she thought of Richard Basehart. It didn’t take the boys long to realise that she meant Joel and Kat were.... something special to each other.
It was bedtime and Kat was nervous. Like panic-attack inducing nervous. She didn’t know what would happen. She knew what she would like to happen but she didn’t want to make any moves if Joel didn’t want her to do that.
She sat on the bed, trying to breathe, when Joel walked in and closed the door behind him. “The 'bots are asleep”. He looked at Kat and saw that he was struggling to breathe. He walked to her, and knelt on the floor in front of her. He took her hands in his. “ Honey, just take a breathe in and then out. Slowly. I got you. You are safe”.
He guided her through the breathing exercise for a few more minutes, and Kat was soon feeling calmer, and her breathing had returned to normal.
“Thanks”, Kat smiled, to Joel. “It’s pretty romantic, isn’t it? Me having a panic attack when I was thinking about seducing you”.
Joel returned the smile. “I feel like I might have one, too”, he admitted. “Im nervous..” he paused, eventually registering what Kat had just said. “You want to seduce me?”
“I was wondering if you would want me to, but then I felt like I might ruin everything if I did”.
Joel bent forward and planted a gentle kiss on Kat's lips. “ You don’t really have to seduce me, I’m a willing participant”, he told her. “ But I’m good at doing whatever you are comfortable with”.
Kat knew that she could trust Joel, and tell him anything, and he would never judge her. That is what made her feel so safe and comfortable around him.
She looked into his blue eyes. “ I would like you to make love to me”, she told him. “I want to feel close to you”.
Joel kissed her again. “ I think that I can do that”, he told her, getting up and sitting on the bed next to her. “You sure?”.
She nodded, “I am more than sure, if you are sure?”
“Oh, yeah”, he replied, kissing her again. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto her lap, as the kissing got more intense. She was straddling his lap, feeling that he was getting aroused and she knew that she was getting wetter as Joel’s hands were exploring her body.
Kat didn’t wear a jumpsuit, just a sweater and jeans and Joel’s hands had snaked under her sweatshirt and was touching her breasts, over her bra, making her moan.
“God, they are right when they say that it’s the quiet ones that surprise you”, she teased.
Joel kissed her, again, and then pulled the sweatshirt over her head and throwing it onto floor. He removed her bra and moved his mouth down to her jaw, and then trailing kisses down her body to her breasts.
As he caressed one of her breasts in his hands, he took the other in his mouth.
“Joel!”, Kat gasped, as she was running her hands through his shaggy hair. This was.,.making her crazier than anyone had ever made her.
He reversed his actions, and Kat was grinding into his lap. He was still fully clothed, and she still had her jeans and panties on, but she knew he was hard and she was wet, and getting close to becoming desperate for relief.
Joel had sensed her desperation broke away from her. “ Lie back, Honey”, he told her. She followed instructions and she saw Joel stand up. He worked on his jumpsuit, and pulled it down. He removed the jumpsuit, socks and shoes, and he was just wearing his t-shirt and boxers. Kat could now see just how aroused Joel was.
Joel positioned himself on top of Kat and kissed her again, as his hands worked on her jeans. Kat ran her hands under Joel’s t-shirt and felt just how hard and smooth his body really was.
Joel pulled down Kat’s jeans and panties, Kat positioning her body to allow him to remove her clothing. Joel got rid of her shoes too. He then pulled his t shirt over his head, to show Kat that her assumption was right, he did have a great body.
She ran her hands down his back as Joel kissed her mouth again, and then moved his mouth down her body, but not stopping at her breasts this time. He moved his mouth further down her body.
“ I'm gonna make you feel good, Honey”, he told her, as he gently parted her legs. Kat had never been with a man who went down on a woman voluntarily before. Another reason Joel was a keeper, she decided, as he started exploring her centre with his tongue. She was withering and moaning his name, and, it only took her a few minutes for her to come, but Joel didn’t let up and he made her come again, before he stopped.
“ You taste so good, Kat, Honey”, he told her, as he removed his boxers and unleashed his erection. “ And, I did some exploring of the Satellite of Love the other day, and I found Condom’s, which I am glad about”.
Kat grinned at him, “ That is lucky”, she agreed.
She watched as Joel reached into his nightstand drawer and took out a small, silver foil packet and then he opened it, and applied the condom to his rock hard cock. Kat thought he was sexy even doing that. In fact, everything about him was sexy. She was glad the ex had cheated on her. If he hadn’t then she wouldn’t be here with a man that made every part of her body tingle.
Joel positioned himself over her again, and kissed her as he entered her. Slowly at first, and then building up a more rapid rhythm. She moaned, as another climax ripped through her body, and then, a couple of seconds later, Joel came, too.
Joel cleaned up, and then held Kat in bed, again.
“ Joel, that was the most amazing sex that I’ve ever had”, she told him.
He blushed, a little. “ Thank you, and, me too”, he replied. “Being with you is just so easy”.
Kat felt the same, and, as she snuggled up to Joel, and fell asleep, she knew that, no matter what the future held for them, she wouldn’t have to feel she was alone ever again. She also knew that being accidentally transported to the Satellite of Love was the best thing that had ever happened to her.