Our Treasure

by S M Matthews

I also have a slight ulterior motive for my turn with Cora. Lam just watched vids and ate food with her. I’m going to have to make up for how boring he is. If she thinks we are all like that we won’t stand a chance. I have something slightly more exciting in mind, but I can’t do it with us travelling. I grin to myself. I think she will enjoy something a bit more adventurous.

  Mealtimes have always been a bit hit and miss with us, we all usually just do our own thing. Since Cora arrived, we have all started making the effort to have breakfast together with her. Through the day we still don’t bother, if Cora gets hungry, whoever is with her at the time makes sure she’s taken care of.

  It’s been kind of nice, these past couple of turns, to actually have everyone eating together at least once a day. It feels a little more like family.

  We sit together, and I produce my list. Lam and I discuss the logistics of some of what I want to do, and we prioritise and plan.

  Cora actually shows a keen interest, but Ceph just sighs at me when I tell him I’ll be expecting his help.

  “These last few things; you’re expecting to dock?” Lam asks me.

  I nod agreement and swallow my mouthful of breakfast, “If the plan is to head along The Edge to trade elsewhere for a while, then 194 won’t be that far out of the way. It’s as good an opportunity as we will get anywhere, I think.”

  Lam shrugs, “if it needs to be done. I should be able to look at medical stock too, so a stop like that might be useful. Figure out how to keep it as short as you can though.”

  Cora wriggles forward in her chair, “What’s The Edge? What’s 194? Are we going somewhere?”

  Always so many questions. Lam answers her; “The Edge is just a loose term for the edge of the area of space that our people mostly frequent. It’s not a real, defined thing it’s just…once you go outside of it, there aren't any more official places past that point. 194 is a small station for maintenance for ships out here. A little security, a little trade. It is an official station, it belongs to our government, there’s a lot of them dotted about. Some of them, like 194, are so close to The Edge they don’t get a lot of ‘official’ use and civilian ships make the most of them. We need to dock for some maintenance. I probably need a few supplies for medical. It’s ideal.”

  “So it’s like…services along a motorway? With a garage, in case you break down?”

  That makes me smile, but if that’s the best way for her to grasp it. Lam nods. It’s near enough.

  “So, do they have shops? Will I be able to get better clothes?” I can smell she’s starting to get a bit excited about the prospect.

  Very carefully, Lam says, “We can certainly look for you.”

  She drops her spoon onto her plate and crosses her arms, “Oh come on. You’ve just said this place is in the middle of nowhere. Mostly civilian. What happened to ‘having my autonomy’ and ‘if you want to get off you can’, or whatever it was you guys said.”

  “That was before,” Lam says gruffly. “Now we know it might not necessarily be safe. It’s just better if you stay hidden for now.”

  I watch the exchange with interest, not willing to wade in on this.

  “Yeah but how long will ‘for now’ be. You don’t even have a definite that there’s anything up. All right, Old Man Conspiracy Theory did pretty much say that those people were killed because they knew something they shouldn't, probably about humans, but you guys said yourself, you didn’t have a clue what we were. No one knows what we are. How likely is it that someone there will recognise me? And then what are they going to do about it? I can’t stay on the ship for the rest of my life.”

  It goes very quiet until Ceph says, “There’s no actual reason you can’t stay on the ship for the rest of your life.”

  Cora turns and glares at him, “You know what I meant by that, don’t be such a pedant.”

  Ceph snorts, then gets up to clear away his things. “Don’t include me in this. I’m sure I’ve got something to do somewhere.”

  “Coward!” I call after him as he disappears through the doorway. I look back to Cora, “It probably won’t be forever…just for a while. Until we know exactly what we’re dealing with. If nothing happens then…it’ll be fine.” Lam nods in agreement with me.

  “What do you mean by that though? What are you actually expecting?”

  I look at Lam and shrug helplessly. He sits back in his chair and looks seriously at Cora before he speaks to her, “If Old Man Conspiracy Theory is right. If those people did not die in accidents. If it is all because they just knew about humans, and it was murder…what do you think they will do with an actual human.”

  She slumps back in her chair, it finally sinking in with her.

  “The people…the government, whoever doesn’t want humans to be known about…if they are killing their own people then…so what are you waiting for? Are you waiting to see if those other girls start mysteriously dropping dead? That’s horrible!”

  Lam sighs, rubbing at the bridge of his nose, “I don’t think that will happen, I really don’t. You don’t know what Old Man Conspiracy Theory was worried about, and neither do we. There’s something going on…but the fact that you as a human have no idea what it is means you're probably not a problem but…that still doesn’t answer what’s going on, or why? If we give it time and…just see that the others are definitely okay. There’s only very few of you and that might just work for you.” Lam leans forward and takes Cora’s hands, “please. Just for now…we are working our way along The Edge…there will be other places to trade. Just give it time. Please.”

  I can sort of see the moment she gives in, the angry smell dissipates and…she sort of softens. I think she understands that we just want to keep her safe.

  Well, I hope she does.

  CORA

  I’ve gone to my room to pace. And think.

  I understand Lam’s logic, I do. His plea to me was…genuinely heartfelt, I think, and it made my heart go ‘awwwww’ that he really cares about me.

  I have already completely had enough of this keeping me a secret as a tactic though. There is no way I am going to be effectively a prisoner onboard this ship forever. Because that’s what it will end up being. I won’t be allowed out this time, and then the time after that might still not be safe…and then if nothing ever happens to somehow magically tell them that I’ll be safe…I won’t be let out. Ever.

  Fuck that.

  They did say I had my autonomy, if I wanted to get off I could. I think they meant it more in an ‘if you walk out that door, don’t come back’ sort of sense though.

  I need a plan.

  There is no way I’m going to be travelling through actual space with actual aliens and then not see any of it.

  How dare they!

  I’m not property, and they can’t control me.

  I’ve been pacing angrily, and I flop on my bed, frustrated with them.

  They are being way too over-protective. Even if it does come from a good place.

  I mean…they are motivated by keeping me safe. But they can’t tell me what they are exactly keeping me safe from. What’s the threat here?

  Old Man Conspiracy Theory seemed pretty sure something nefarious was going on, and that it was something to do with humans and…some people might have died over it. It’s all very vague and far away sounding.

  None of that is for sure though, even if it does sound a bit…scary.

  They were all ‘accidents’ though, and we are going to be on a Space Station. A very public place, by the sounds of it.

  Look at it another way…why shouldn’t I be in as much danger as those other girls? If something is just as likely to happen to me then so be it…maybe the big guys would be able to warn some of the others at least.

  The station they want to go to is out at ‘The Edge’, they call it. Basically the edge of their centrally populated space, so it’s less ‘by the rules’ than the more central outposts.

  Because obviously my Space Pirate boyfriends would
want to pick somewhere like that.

  Huh. Boyfriends. Well, that is the logical leap. We are dating. Sort of. ‘Courting’ they called it. Very old-fashioned word, I thought. But maybe it is the principle of the word, the translators do the nearest thing they can usually, and sometimes that misses the point completely.

  I’m supposed to be seeing Ceph this evening…maybe he can be convinced to help me. An idea starts to form about how I could go and see the station.

  And it would only be for a very short time…I just want to have a look. It’s not like I want to cause a fuss and mingle with the locals. Just a quick look.

  I think I have a plan. And I think I know just the giant cat man to help me.

  CEPH

  Cora practically bounds on deck, and already I can smell the excitement.

  “Ceph, you busy?”

  “Nothing I can’t ignore for a while, although I did want to get this done.” I twist my ears at her. “Tonight is my night.”

  She flaps her hand at me, that dismissive gesture, “Yeah, yeah I know. Ghost of Christmas yet to come.” Errr…what? She chuckles at herself. Then sighs, “Yet to come, he wishes.” She takes in my confused expression, “Never mind, I’m wasted on you people. I want to go over to the station,” she doesn’t even let me start to speak, his palm is already up flat to my face, “I know, I know, I don’t need the speech. But I am going, and you’re going to help me. I have an idea, come on.”

  I follow her, as much out of curiosity as anything else, and we go down to the storage hold.

  “What are we doing Cora?”

  “We are going to play dress up. I’m about the size of what? A female? A teenager maybe? If we use that spray on me so I don’t smell of anything, I’ll be able to go over there for a little bit, just to have a look? Maybe something big and pointy under a hood so it looks like I have ears. Cover everything else up somehow?”

  I think for a moment, “We probably do have some material somewhere that you could see through, and we could wear the outside layer for a bit so you do smell of something…” She’s nodding and grinning. Wait, no. This is bad. “No. How are you dragging me along with this? No. This is a bad idea.”

  She throws her arms around my waist, looking up at me with her chin on my chest, all massive shiny brown eyes.

  “Pllllleeeeaaasseeee,” She’s whining, and I snort down at her so hard it ruffles her mane a little. She gives me big slow blinks, did she get something in her eye? When I don’t react, her eyes narrow. That’s the calculating look.

  Oh no.

  “There’s something in it for you.” Her voice has gone all soft and…she does something. She shifts her hips ever so slightly and now I’m very aware of the fact that she’s still pressed up against me. I tentatively lift my hands so that they rest on her shoulders. She doesn’t pull away. This is a trap. This is such a trap. She’s using our tactic against us. I’m too curious though, and she knows it. I can’t resist.

  “And what would that be?”

  She smiles at me, and for the first time ever, it makes me a bit nervous. We have drastically underestimated human females. Or at least, this human female.

  “I’ll give you a kiss.”

  This is a trap. Unfortunately, I think I’m about to step right into it by asking.

  “What is a kiss?” She unhooks one arm and reaches up, investigating my cheek fur. Then she runs her fingers through it, her little blunt nails just scraping along my skin. My eyes close on their own, it feels so good. I will them open again.

  “You’ll have to wait and find out. A kiss at the end of our date. If you help me.”

  “Oh no, you’re going to have to give me a little something. I have to know this is worth my time.” My brain might have shut down, but apparently the negotiator part of it is always on guard.

  She gives me that calculating look again, but when she speaks, her voice is a quiet whisper. Her hips shift again, and she’s still stroking at me cheek. I’m suddenly really glad my cocks are trapped. It’s painful, but at least they aren't giving away to her how interested I am.

  “So…it will involve me…putting my mouth on you.” I can smell a tiny sliver of arousal…she likes the idea of it. Whatever this ‘kiss’ is, it’s something…well if it makes her smell a bit like that then I’m sure I’ll want one.

  That does mean she’s bargaining with something she wants to give me anyway. I could push that but…my hands are still resting on her shoulders, and I slide them closer together, framing the base of her neck. I can’t see what I’m doing, but with her chin on my chest her throat is stretched and I allow my thumb claws to scratch ever so lightly over the exposed skin of her throat. Her eyes close momentarily. The slight smell of arousal I could smell before spikes.

  If I go for this ‘kiss’ deal, there will be more opportunity for touching.

  “Okay,” I tell her, and her eyes open again. “You have an agreement.”

  She lets go of me and does a little dance of excitement. Then comes back and sticks her hand out. I put my hand out to her too, but apparently I have offered the wrong hand because she needs to swap. She puts her palm in mine and grips, so I return the hold. Then she bumps our hands up and down.

  “We’ve shook on it now, that means you have a deal. No weaselling out of this.”

  She moves off into the bay, looking for her disguise. I’m left confused and with an awkward problem. I try and take a few deep breaths but that just makes it worse, I smell of her now. And her…excitement.

  This is a bad plan, but I can hear her enthusiastic searching. I limp after her before she has a chance to make too terrible of a mess.

  CORA

  I feel like a lampshade. A big, unsteady walking lampshade.

  It’ll be fine. We have time to work on it more before we get there. This is the prototype to help me convince everyone that this is a good plan.

  Ceph’s sat on a crate, watching me. He huffs. “You look ridiculous.”

  “Shush. It’ll be fine. We can refine the design. It’ll work.”

  I’m sort of glad I can’t see him that well, I’m pretty sure the disbelief is written all over his face.

  “Look, I’m getting hungry, should we go and get dinner?”

  “It was supposed to be my night tonight, remember? And I’ve still got some work to do.” He sounds a little whiny.

  “It’s fine, count this as a date, and we can do whatever you planned another night. You’re having fun right? And then you get two dates.”

  He snorts at me. “Well, the spending time with you part is fun. I don’t have much of an opinion on what we’ve…created.” He gestures expansively at the mess we’ve made. And me. The portable Gothic Lampshade lady. “But yes. Food is the best idea you’ve had so far.”

  I unhook the ‘ears’ and take off my hood and veil, then he helps me out of the ‘dress’ part. I don’t think it’s too bad for bits and pieces we’ve dug out of storage. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to make it better if I keep looking. Plus, with the spray I saw Neb use on the humans, I won’t smell of anything. I just want half an hour. Just get off the ship, walk a lap, see what’s interesting, and come back. I don’t think I’m being at all unreasonable. I’m willing to take their concerns into consideration and take precautions. I think that’s fair enough.

  I don’t know what I’m expecting from a space station pit stop, but I certainly don’t want to miss it. Whatever it might be.

  I help Ceph tidy away some of the carnage we’ve created. They’ve said themselves we have loads of time before they are going to need to come down here and think about trading this stuff anyway.

  “Do you think we should make tails? They could hang off a belt.”

  “No, no one would see them anyway. The long bit has to cover your feet, they are obviously not right.” He sees my mock offended expression. “I didn’t mean they aren't right, just that no one can see them because they'd know.”

  “Yeah, yeah I know what you meant. I’m j
ust winding you up.”

  He shakes his head but doesn’t ask. Sometimes they get what I mean, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes I think they just don’t want to ask.

  “So…if this is our ‘date’ done then…do I get ‘kiss’ now?”

  “I suppose you do,” I grin and sidle up to him. “Sit on here, you’re too tall.” I indicate a nearby crate and he perches on the edge of it obediently, his tails lie flat under his butt and hang down between his legs. I stand between his knees and he rests his hands on my hips. Even through the material I can feel the warmth of the pads of his hands. I can’t feel the claws at all though, and it almost surprises me. I’m being silly, they must have lots of control over them, otherwise they'd all be bleeding all the time.

  I let out a breath, where to start. Now that I’m standing here looking at him, he doesn’t have any lips. Their mouths are all cat. Everything is all cat.

  Time to improvise, I guess.

  I bring my hands up, I know he liked the stroking earlier, so I start there, combing through his cheek fur. He sits quite happily, so I investigate a little higher with my right hand, feeling through his mane, finding the large base of his very points ears. I follow it to the top, and gently comb at the large tuft of fur that’s there. Even with him sitting, I have to reach a little. Ceph closes his eyes when I stroke back down his ear, so I do it again before digging my fingers into his mane and scratching gently at his skin.

  I stop a moment, a little startled when the purring starts up. I’ve heard it before, from Neb, so it only distracts me for a moment.

  Whilst he is sat contentedly at eye-level I continue to study him, moving my body in closer to his.

  The grey speckled pattern seems to cover his whole face, but the mane is all dark. His nose is broad and leads down to the triangle shaped cats nose that’s just like a cat from Earth. The triangle itself is very dark in colour, but they grey breaks up as you move up his nose. His eyes have a dark outline, making them look bigger.

  They are very pretty, just to look at.