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Starliner Athos Nexus Main Chat

Chattykaffi: Good morning, all of you lovely people!

Have you been to see our Ohuli guests yet?

I have, and I highly recommend both their meditation and deep sight readings.

One will get you in touch with yourself, and the other will show you where you’re going.

Please note that the Ohuli say anyone interested in a deep sight reading should join meditation first to see if they’d be a good candidate. Have a blissed-out day!

JaneInSpace: I had the most amazing reading. I feel like a part of myself I never knew existed has been revealed to me. Jhanna is the most wonderful woman. So insightful. I highly recommend her!

I rolled my eyes at JaneInSpace’s comment and logged out of the Nexus. I didn’t put the Morning News Report on either, because I figure it would be more of the same.

Why were so many people buying what the Ohuli were selling? At least Vashti and Benni weren’t. So far.

After such a great evening with Frank, I resented having to share space with the Ohuli again. I was still going to do my best to be nice to them, but it wouldn’t be easy after seeing how they’d affected Zanya.

I thought about calling Hazel, but what was I going to tell her? That I didn’t like how the Ohuli had set Zanya up on a date? It sounded so much like high school in my head that I immediately nixed the idea.

I showered, did my hair and makeup, then pulled on my robe and went out to the living area to eat.

Breakfast was slightly indulgent. An egg, cheese, and sausage biscuit sandwich with a side of hashbrowns. I put the squirrel channel back on for Harry while I ate, and honestly, I had no doubt it was better than the Morning News Report at the moment.

Probably raving about the Ohuli again and I could not take that.

While watching two squirrels gather and store nuts for the winter, I finished breakfast. I went back into the bathroom to brush my teeth and make sure my hair and makeup were good. They were. I’d gone with a white-and-red polka-dot cardigan, a red belt, red flats, and a red hair scarf today.

I decided to leave my knitting at home since I’d finished Harry’s new sweater last night during the movie. The sweater was a dashing navy-blue creation that really set off his orange coloring.

“Ready to go, Harry?”

“No, Mum.” He looked slightly distressed.

“Why not, pumpkin?”

“Because I haven’t got my jumper on.”

I smiled. “You want to wear your new sweater today? I mean, your new jumper?”

“Yes, please.”

“All right. I haven’t woven the loose ends in yet, but that’ll just take a few minutes, and we have time.” I didn’t really care if we were late and the Ohuli had to wait at the door. If Harry wanted his jumper, he was getting it.

I dug out a tapestry needle and went to work. As soon as I was done, I turned the sweater right-side out again and held it up. “All finished. Let’s get it on you.”

He sat next to me and let me pull it over his head, then worked his front legs through the openings. I tugged it into place and sat back. “What do you think?”

“Hold me up to the mirror.”

I picked him up and carried him into the bathroom so he could see himself.

He turned his head side to side. “Looks proper smart, if I do say so myself. Thanks, Mum.”

I kissed his head. “You’re very welcome. You look even more handsome than usual.”

We made it to the library with a couple of minutes to spare, but the Ohuli were only a few yards down the corridor and closing in.

I did my best not to frown directly in their direction, but it was hard. What I really wanted to do was ask them straight out if they’d set up the date between Sten and Zanya, but I decided not to.

At least not until I’d messaged Zanya to ask her myself. If she didn’t answer me, then maybe I’d talk to the Ohuli.

I was about to unlock the doors when they rather quickly shortened the gap between us, forcing me to be civil.

“Good morning, Ellis, keeper of the books,” Nostromo said as he came to a stop a few feet away. He looked pleased with himself, but that seemed to be his default expression.

“Good morning, Nostromo and daughters.” I opened the doors.

He glanced down at Harry as he headed inside. “The creature wears clothing?”

“He does when I make them for him.” I followed after Harry and immediately went into my opening routine, which included turning on the lights in both of the classrooms the Ohuli had taken over. I knew they’d turn the lights off, but I didn’t really care.

I looked at Nostromo as I came out of the second one. “What’s wrong with him wearing clothing? Don’t you think he looks nice in his sweater?”

Nostromo seemed confounded by the whole idea. “It is a machine, is it not? Not truly flesh and blood.”

“He’s a compdroid, yes, but that doesn’t matter to me. He’s my companion.”

Nostromo nodded slowly, then his brow furrowed. “I thought the man Frank was your companion.”

“He is. But Hieronymus is a different kind of companion. He serves in the role of a pet, a loving but platonic relationship. Frank is a romantic companion. The two are very different, and I wouldn’t want to be without either one.”

“I see,” Nostromo said, clasping his hands behind his back.

But I didn’t think he truly understood it. “Don’t the Ohuli have pets? Animals or other creatures kept for companionship?”

He shook his head. “Not for companionship, no.” He quickly smiled. “Earthlings are curious creatures.”

“I could say the same about the Ohuli.” I returned his smile because it was probably better than glaring at him.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to get the library set up and start my day.

” I tipped my head toward the door, where a few early birds were already making their way in. “And you have customers.”

His smile turned slightly patronizing, as if he was speaking to a small child. “We prefer to think of those we service as initiates.”

I tilted my head and played dumb. “Sounds like something a priest would say. Are you trying to convert people to your religion?”

He shook his head. “Nothing of the sort. We are in no way a religious order. We are simply attempting to introduce all of you to a more mindful way of living. A way to reach deeper into yourself and know the true meaning of what the universe has to offer.”

“Good luck with that.” I glanced at Harry. “Come on, my darling boy. Work to do.”

With his tail in the air, Harry followed me to the desk.

So much for civil.

Before I did anything else, I sent Zanya a text.

Morning! How was your date? You looked so beautiful last night. I hope you had fun.

I hit Send, hoping she’d respond and that all would be well between us. I did not like that the Ohuli had told her she needed to spend time with different people. What was wrong with me, Benni, and Vashti? Nothing, that’s what.

We’d been friends since Day One, when we’d met at a staff orientation and immediately hit it off. Mostly we’d bonded over our disdain for the jumpsuit as a uniform, our excitement at being in space and getting to see new worlds, and the simple fact that we were women headed into a new adventure.

We’d decided to meet that night for dinner and share how our day went.

That first evening in the dining hall, we laughed and talked and sat for an hour longer than we’d meant to.

After that, we never stopped meeting for dinner.

That was how our table became our table and how we became friends.

We went out together on the starliner, celebrated birthdays and other milestones. Laughed and cried together.

If the Ohuli tore us apart, I would never forgive them.