by Maksim Malik
They both had an arm over each other as sleep eventually took them.
Breakfast at Nadani’s
Trisha woke the next sol comfortable in Nadani’s arms. She slipped out of Nadani’s limp grasp, yawning, and stood from the bed to deal with her morning routine: bathroom, hair, skin, and face. She would put on something besides her pajamas after breakfast.
It was just as well she woke before Nadani since she wanted to cook. She decided on making a potato mash with cheese along with a faux-meat which acted like eggs. It was a liquid f-meat but really was only good for making them scrambled since there was no yolk. She made the scrambled f-meat herself, but one of the kitchen appliances made the potato mash for her. It quick-cooked the potatoes and smooshed them when it finished. All she had to do was sprinkle some cheese on top of it.
She gave Dr. Tysgan his serving as soon as it finished.
“Ah, my thanks,” Dr. Tysgan said. “Eating human food is curious. Kahelek do not taste food much, so not eating for enjoyment. Humans, however, make an art out of cooking.”
“I never realized that,” Trisha said.
“So good sex last night, yes?” Dr. Tysgan asked.
Trisha, so taken aback by the topic change, sat down on the couch.
“Am I mistaken?” Dr. Tysgan asked.
“Uh, no,” Trisha said, her face warming—she must be bright red! “We just—that’s not a normal question someone would ask.”
“Oh, but it was obvious from the hearing, so it is polite to ask among my kind,” Dr. Tysgan said.
“Well, yes, it went well,” Trisha said, ducking her head. She couldn’t believe she talked about this.
“I did not hear before when we were together,” Dr. Tysgan said.
“It had been a while,” Trisha said. “That was the first time since our break-up actually.”
“Oh?” Dr. Tysgan’s curiosity seemed piqued. “Interesting. Why separate, and why back together? Park says I am embarrassing you. Is this okay to ask?”
“I guess it’s okay to tell you,” Trisha said. There was no reason the diminutive scientist shouldn’t know. “Nadani and I were together for half a standard year. It went well except deciding where to live.”
Trisha looked down at her hands on her lap, frowning. Now there was no question on where she lived since Sulai no longer existed.
“I see, I see,” Dr. Tysgan said.
“She wanted to live in Astromancer, and I wanted to live in my apartment,” Trisha said, her throat closing as she grew upset over its loss.
“I am sorry,” Dr. Tysgan said as though he knew what her thoughts were.
Trisha didn’t have a response. She felt like she said too much already. After a minute or so of silence, Dr. Tysgan turned toward his meal.
Nadani, bleary-eyed and yawning, came into the lounge as Trisha finished plating the rest of the food. It wasn’t fancy fare, but it smelled good. Trisha grinned at the sight of her lover, trying to forget about Sulai for now. Nadani wore a large pink t-shirt with a holographic prancing unicorn on it. It barely reached her thighs and even though Trisha was lucky to see Nadani naked often enough somehow being barely covered could be more exciting.
“Morning, Dani!” she said cheerfully. “I’ll bring your food to you.”
“Morning, love,” Nadani replied, giving Trisha a sleepy smile.
Nadani sat and Trisha carried the two plates to the couch. She handed one to Nadani before sitting down.
“Mmm, can’t go wrong with potatoes and cheese,” Nadani said as she poked at her food with a fork.
“Absolutely not,” Trisha said, laughing softly.
Breakfast turned out to be as delicious as it was filling. The potatoes were genetically-modified to include vitamins and minerals which the vegetable didn’t provide in its original state, so the meal was healthy overall—minus the cheese.
“How did you free yourself?” Dr. Tysgan asked.
“I woke up from the stun much sooner than the other captives,” Trisha said. “I thought it had something to do with the new nanobots Nadani and I upgraded to.”
“Oh, nanobots? What type?” Dr. Tysgan asked. “YLS-832? They are cutting edge on market now.”
“Maybe that’s it,” Nadani said. “I don’t remember the actual type.”
“I don’t either,” Trisha said.
“Ah, Adan says that’s the right one,” Nadani added.
“Excellent!” Dr. Tysgan said. “Very interesting to note they work against stun weaponry.”
“Um, anyway—there was only one guard on the room full of stunned people,” Trisha said. “I—got by him and snuck around the hallways for a while.”
“They didn’t find you?” Nadani asked.
“No, the hallways were empty most of the time,” Trisha said, shivering. “It was creepy. It’s not like Koyanagi at all where there are people everywhere. I found a hiding spot and the two stun guns and used my multitool to combine them. I explored until I found a fountain. There were a few complications. But then I had the idea to live behind the walls in the maintenance access areas.”
“Ah, clever,” Dr. Tysgan said.
“Then I snuck aboard a ship and eventually it autopiloted me into space,” Trisha said. “And now I’m here.” Trisha sighed and leaned on Nadani.
“Thank the stars,” Nadani said.
“We did have problems,” Dr. Tysgan said. “With CAAI, and Needles.”
“Wait, Needles?” Trisha asked, so concerned she sat up straight.
“Yes, we fell into a trap,” Nadani said. She then relayed the story of how Dr. Feckwell lured them into the labs, the poison Needles used, and the fight. Trisha was wide-eyed at it all but gasped aloud when Nadani got to the part about CAAI arriving to take both Needles and Nadani away.
“It’s thanks to Dr. Tysgan, Park, and Adan working together we’re here,” Nadani said with all seriousness.
“And Needles?” Trisha asked, hoping the woman would be dead. She never wanted anyone dead before, but Needles was a special case.
“I left her behind with CAAI,” Nadani said. “I don’t know what they’re doing to her. She has her own AI now.”
Trisha pursed her lips together tightly. That could only make things worse.
“We’ve re-entered normal space,” Adan said over the com.
“Time to get dressed,” Nadani said, sighing.
Message Received
“Sir, we’ve received a coded message,” one of the CAAI lackeys—a woman—said. Shirui was introduced to them all but didn’t bother to remember any of their names.
That’s Natasha, Pulman said. I can remember all the boring details for you.
Natasha then, she thought.
“What’s the message?” Shirui asked.
“One moment,” Klumwald said. He sounded annoyed.
I suppose I should give him time to look at it, Shirui said, smirking to herself.
Pulman sent a wave of wordless amusement.
“Nadani Jagi is on the JUS dreadnought Koyanagi,” he said. “We have contacts aboard the ship who sent a message before the ship set course to Verga.”
“To Verga we go then,” Shirui licked her lips. Nadani would be hers yet again.
“We need support,” Klumwald said. “We should wait until we hear back from HQ.”
“Support?” Shirui laughed. “I can have Fengwa ships on the way in moments.”
Can you? Pulman asked. Are you not in disfavor with the Council still?
I’ll send for my family ships, she said. Those belonged to her father, but her father was old and barely remembered who he was. He disliked the thought of having an age treatment done. I bet he regrets that now. If he can think straight enough to regret things.
Klumwald seemed hesitant and stood without saying or doing anything. Vexed, she bit her lower lip and stepped closer to him and Natasha.
“Is there a problem with that?” she asked sweetly. She put a hand on Natasha’s shoulder and smiled at the woman.
She looked younger than Shirui by several years—probably only eighteen or nineteen.
“I have to check with HQ,” Klumwald repeated. Shirui saw the crease in his forehead belying his otherwise straight face.
“Do you remember what they call me?” she asked. Before he could answer she continued. “Needles.” She tightened her grip on Natasha’s shoulder, piercing the fabric of her clothes with the needles on her hand. Natasha gasped and fell to the floor a few seconds later. Several people dashed to Natasha to check on her as Shirui stepped closer to Klumwald. She was glad nobody brought any weapons to bear on her.
I think they have been given orders not to harm you, Pulman said. It makes sense, especially since Fengwa knows your location.
“Don’t worry about her,” Shirui said offhandedly. “The poison works fast. She’ll barely feel a thing.”
Klumwald was livid, but he took a step backward as she walked to him. Good. That kind of fear could be useful.
Do be a dear and send a message to Suneeti about the ships we need around Verga, Shirui said to Pulman. Send Nadani’s ship ID as well. We won’t let her escape us this time.
Most certainly, it replied.
“Tell the Commander to set course to Verga,” Shirui said with cool confidence. She reached out and touched him with the same hand she used to kill Natasha, stroking his chest gently, needles retracted.
Another plaything? Pulman asked.
No, I am enjoying this, she replied. One of the crew might do better for that, she admitted, suckling softly on her lower lip.
“Commander, set course to the planet Verga,” Klumwald said, his face turning even deeper red.
Shirui patted his chest and withdrew. Klumwald breathed a deep breath, turned around, and left the bridge.
He is probably going to contact his headquarters before the foldspace system is finished spooling, Pulman said.
That is no matter, she said. We are committed now. He cannot change endpoint on pain of death. I will make certain of that.
I am within the ship’s systems, Pulman said. If they try anything, I will know.
Excellent, she said.
“I wonder,” Shirui said. “Did Natasha have a room?”
Everyone on the bridge answered with silence.
“Someone better speak up,” she said, letting anger slip into her voice.
“Um, yes, your ladyship,” a young man, face pale and eyes wide, said to her. “We all have our own quarters.”
“Show me hers—I’ll use it now,” she said to the brown-haired man.
Darton Kellet, Pulman said as she followed Darton off the bridge. They walked down several hallways until they arrived at a lift. The lift took them upward at a particularly slow gait. She stepped behind Darton and examined him. Broad shoulders, firm buttocks—yes, he might do.
What do you think? she asked Pulman.
A decent specimen, it said.
Too terrified maybe, she said, noting how stiffly he stood.
Once you show him what you want, his hormones will cause his body to function appropriately, Pulman said. If not, then find something to tie around him to force his attention.
Hmm, yes, Shirui thought, her breath coming faster already at the thought. Let’s hope this room isn’t much farther.
Once the lift stopped, Shirui found they were in a hall with personal rooms lining both sides. The large rooms both appeared inefficient to her and pleasing in that she wouldn’t be cramped inside a tiny cell. Darton led her to the third door on the right, which opened, sliding up into the ceiling, as he pressed an option on a panel next to the door.
“Why don’t you go in first?” she said, still behind him. He obliged, and she followed. The door slid shut behind them.
I’ve locked the door, Pulman said. Shirui grinned broadly and began to remove her plugsuit and dermasuit.
“My lady—” he started until she hushed him. He turned around to face a wall.
“Turn back around,” she said in a sweet and cool tone. “Now, please.”
Darton Kellet turned around to face Shirui, his face multiple shades of red. The color spread up to his ears and down to his neck, beyond the fabric of his collar. Shirui wondered how far down the color spread.
Once naked she stepped toward him and put her hand on his crotch, feeling his firm attention keenly.
See? You are a true beauty, Pulman said, and caused a thrill to play through Shirui’s midsection. He should realize how lucky he is.
Lucky or not, he will have marks and bruises to wear as a badge after, Shirui said with glee. She worked at his trousers and yanked them down along with his boxer-briefs, exposing him to the air. Then she slapped him across the cheek with one hand—he grunted—while the other hand grabbed at his manhood and toyed with it.
“This has been a fun sol,” she remarked out loud. Oh, if only she had taken the time to retrieve her needles from her ship.
Pressure points will do wonders even still, Pulman said.
Yes, they will, she said, excited at the thought. Make me feel good. I want this to be extraordinary.
Franklin
“Trisha can’t come with us?” Nadani said, a little upset.
“I’m sorry, but the area is high security and Admiral Bryer only cleared Commander Nadani Jagi and Dr. Zarek Tysgan for access,” the security guard sounded apologetic, but firm at the same time.
“What do I do then?” Trisha asked, sounding despondent.
“I guess they expect you to wait on the ship,” Nadani said and frowned. She would much rather have Trisha with her. She had no idea what to expect when she went inside the labs.
“Yes, if you would wait on your ship in case the Council calls for you. We need to know where you are,” the guard said. Apparently the Council wanted to see Trisha too since she was the only one with information about the inside of the Squito ship.
I wonder how limited their AI is and if it can perform the proper procedures to decipher the data, Adan said.
We’re about to find out, I’m sure, Nadani replied.
“I suppose that means no sightseeing for me,” Trisha said. “At least not until this is over. Don’t take too long or I might turn to dust.”
“It won’t be long, I hope,” Nadani said. “Their AI should get the hang of it pretty fast if it can do it. Then the techs can learn from that instead of us,” she added, trying to sound cheerful for Trisha’s sake.
I think we did a good job between the two of us, Adan said proudly. I don’t believe a limited AI is going to be able to think creatively enough to do the initial decipher, but it shouldn’t have to since it would just need to follow our instructions.
I hope you’re right, Nadani said. I have a feeling if it couldn’t do it then they would want to keep us around for even longer.
They can’t do that, Adan said. Or can they? If the Council declares a state of war, then they could make an exception and conscript you even though conscripting is frowned upon. That would not be good.
Let’s just make sure we get this right, Nadani said.
Yes, that is the most desirable outcome, it said.
Trisha stepped close for a quick kiss which Nadani returned warmly and had difficulty preventing the kiss from lingering too long in front of the security guard. Afterward, Trisha turned and walked away, and Nadani couldn’t help but let her gaze remain.
The security guard behind her cleared his throat and she turned around abruptly, feeling a slight embarrassment.
“Yes?” she said snappishly.
Like he’s never seen two people in love before, she thought.
“Everyone in the lab is waiting,” he said sheepishly, and his face flushed pink.
“Let’s go see them then,” Nadani said. Outwardly she put on an air of confidence, but inwardly she felt nervous and edgy. She didn’t like walking into situations in which she didn’t know what to expect.
The guard opened the secure door behind him and ushered her and Dr. Tysgan inside.
&n
bsp; “First door on your right. It’s the only door that will open for you,” he said.
Surprised she had no escort, they stepped through the doorway. The other side opened into a corridor wide enough to fit several personal land vehicles and tall enough it must have been at least two or three stories high. The corners where the floor and ceiling met the wall were curved, giving the entire corridor a smooth, sleek style. The door she needed was recessed into the wall and, true enough, opened when she approached.
“Very large labs,” Dr. Tysgan said. “Impressive.”
The gigantic room she stepped into appeared mostly empty because of its size and the lab equipment, desks, and tables all in one corner. The room seemed big enough to fit a small starship—not something the size of Astromancer but something a little smaller. She didn’t know how they’d get a starship inside though.
Perhaps the ceiling retracts, Adan suggested.
Maybe, she said. Or maybe they bring it piece by piece and reassemble it. If they use it for a ship at all, that is.
A redheaded man wearing a white lab coat walked toward them from the corner of lab equipment—which happened to be on the opposite end of the room and a fair distance away.
Should I meet him halfway? Nadani asked. Or would it be considered rude to move from the doorway without being greeted?
That I do not know, Adan said. Do whatever feels like the best option.
I think I’ll wait then, Nadani replied.
Maybe it wasn’t the most efficient option, but it seemed like it would be the least awkward option.
“Welcome, welcome,” the redhead said. “I am Dr. Kloch, but you can just call me Bordon. We don’t stick much to the formalities in here. You must be Commander Jagi, and Dr. Tysgan. It’s very exciting to meet you both!” The man—Bordon—stood taller than Nadani, his age seemed around late twenties or early thirties, and he had a sort of stocky build which hinted at a muscled frame beneath his outfit. His red hair was tousled but in a purposed manner.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Nadani said. “And likewise, you can call me Nadani,” she added.
