by Bruce Marcom
***
“Captain, we have made contact with another ship. You might want to get up here,” 42 says with urgency over the intercom.
“On my way.” A few minutes later, Eve appears on the bridge and sits in her chair.
“Report.”
“It’s the transport ship Endure. Looks like they have about fifty passengers and some laser blast damage…. They have been shot up pretty bad,” Meto reports.
“That your boyfriend’s ship, Boss,” Helma says.
“He is not my boyfriend. He is just a good friend,” Eve says solemnly.
The Endure smuggles telepaths out of the Elemental Empire where telepaths are illegal. Once in reptilian space, the ship takes them to the capital where there is a Consortium embassy. Telepath refugees are given citizenship and shipped off to Consortium space. The Consortium Empire welcomes all telepaths unconditionally by decree of Empress Draca.
“On Vid,” Eve says. A human male in his 30s, handsome with blonde hair and blue eyes, appears on the screen.
“Greetings, Captain Eve. How is the most beautiful Snake lady in the universe doing today? Profits up?” Captain Zach Blem says in a flirting manner.
Eve smiles and blushes while subconsciously primping her hair. “Hi, Captain Blem. Looks like you have taken a beating by those nasty telepath police. Are you in need of assistance?”
“Well, we could use some parts and maybe benefit from borrowing one of your mechanics for a bit. Some food would help out as well, if you don’t mind; we’ve got a lot of starving refugees.”
“We have plenty of food over here. We can give you a few crates, and my mechanics can lend assistance for a while. But it is going to cost you…dinner over here with me.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Captain. 16:00 okay?”
“That will be fine.”
Zach sends a telepathic message. I miss you a lot.
Hurry up and get your human butt over here. Do not keep me waiting, Tiger, Eve answers telepathically.
Vid ends.
“Your friend, huh? Your eyes are popping out of your head, and if you blush any more, you’re going to match your red sweater,” Helma pokes fun.
“He is exquisite looking for a human. I am already trying to picture what my half-human babies would look like,” Nelma giggles.
“He is definitely a hottie, that is for sure,” Helma says.
“Bah, you need a real male with big muscles like a Crocodile man. Not one of those skinny humans,” Gartooth objects.
“Hey, I am a human!” Meto exclaims, flexing his arm muscles.
“Yeah, but you are no Captain Blem, with those blues eyes and yellow hair,” Nelma says with a dreamy look. The twins start to giggle in unison.
“Well, Meto, you have the com. I have to go and check on getting those food supplies ready,” Eve says in a hurried manner.
“More like getting ready for stud muffin to come over.” Nelma winks at Eve. “I don’t blame you. I would be hitting the beauty salon about now, getting in a good turtle wax on my scales if he were my date.”
“We are just friends…” Eve rolls her eyes with a glowing smile and heads out the door.
“More like friends with benefits,” Gartooth chuckles. They all burst out laughing.
