Page 8 of Redondo (Mates of the Mylos #7)
CHAPTER 8
THOMAS
It was strangely easy to pretend that we were indeed on a super fancy chartered jet. There weren’t any windows, though a bulkhead became a screen that began playing an informational film about life aboard the Bride Fleet. I stared as they showed parks with actual trees and grass, lined with indoor ‘streets’ filled with cafes and shops.
“Their ships must be absolutely gargantuan,” I said.
“Definitely bigger than the Enterprise,” a woman who’d introduced herself to us as Sandy replied. “Bigger than the Galactica too.”
“Let’s just hope their AI doesn’t go all Cylon on us,” Jeff joked.
The informational film paused. “Oh, no worries there,” a voice piped. “Sorry, I was talking to your pilot and overheard. I’m Xeranos, Xero for short. If you need anything, just holler my name! I’ll let you get back to your film now.” It resumed playing as others glanced around confused as to who the AI had been addressing.
“Okay, that wasn’t kind of creepy at all,” Jeff said.
“Nah, I’m used to my Alexa thinking I’ve called for her and saying stuff,” Sandy replied.”So, do you think we’ll get matched?”
Jeff chuckled. “I’m already married. My wife is visiting our daughter and grandkids in Cincinnati. If I get this job, she’ll join me once our lease is up.”
“I heard they’d pay off our leases and mortgages,” I said.
“Yeah, I heard that too,” Sandy said. “I hope I get matched. Have you seen how yummy these guys all are?” She fanned herself. “It’s like they all came out of a hotness factory.”
I laughed. “They are all pretty buff,” I agreed.
“And tall. I’ve never felt so short in my life. Now I know how my wife feels. She’s five two and always gripes about how tall cabinets are and stuff, and having to always look up at people. I totally get it now.”
We nodded at him sympathetically. I was five foot six, so not super tall myself, more about average, but damn, I felt tiny next to the seven foot something Mylos. Their tight leather pants left nothing to the imagination, either. They certainly appeared to be proportional all over. My ass clenched at the thought of riding on one of their dicks. I did love a good dicking down, but those would certainly be a stretch. Give me some stretching and plenty of lube and I’d certainly be game to give it a spin, though.
The informational film came to an end and the bulkhead returned to looking a creamy white.
“Xero, display our approach,” the pilot said loud enough for us all to hear. As if by magic, the outside view came to panoramic life around us. Stars, stars, and more stars, though if I turned my head, I could see the moon and Earth. It was breathtaking. Some of the stars grew ever larger and became identifiable as ships. I tugged out my phone as others were doing and began snapping pictures.
“Shuttle 26 Omicron, you are cleared for landing in your usual bay,” a voice said.
“Understood.” We banked slightly left and one of the ships got larger and larger. And then I saw it, an open bay yawning wide for us to fly into. Then we were going in through a faint shimmer as we entered an area filled with other craft, slowing to a stop. The “windows” disappeared and there was a faint bump as the saucer settled on its cushion of air. We’d arrived.
“We have arrived at our destination,” our pilot said. “Please remain seated while I come and assist you with removing yourselves from your harnesses and getting out your bags. Do not stand up and try to do this yourselves as you will only cause disruption. Thank you for your patience.”
He unhooked himself and went to the closest seat, helping them as promised. They were towards the center of the saucer, so their bags were in a storage compartment off to one side. He instructed the passengers he was helping to exit and that once everyone had de-saucered, he would pass out the baggage in it. He worked his way around, reaching overhead for those of us seated closest to a wall.
“Here you are,” he said, handing me mine. “Just follow him out and wait for your guide to take you to your temporary lodging.”
I followed Jeff out, Sandy not far behind me.
“This really is something,” she enthused, her head swiveling around to take everything in.
We stared open mouthed as another shuttle came in, this one smaller.
“It’s amazing,” I replied, feeling like I had stepped onto a very expensive movie set with some physical special effects going on.
“My wife is going to be sorry she missed this,” Jeff said, then shrugged. “Though I suppose if I get this job, she’ll see it for herself soon enough.”
“Yeah,” I replied softly.
“Okay,” a cheerful looking Mylos said, clapping his hands together. “That looks like everyone, and you all have your bags?”
A murmur of agreement rolled through the group, no one dissenting. “Excellent! I’m Ritl, one of the main assistants to Kailirex, the Fleet’s Chief Public Relations Officer. If you’ll just follow me, I’ll get you to your temporary quarters. Once there, if you’re unsure how to operate anything, just call for Xeranos and he’ll be happy to assist you. Or, if you are in the bathing and elimination chamber, simply say what you need out loud and the voice only AI assigned to there will. We ask that you remain courteous at all times, including to our AI, as they are fully sentient, much like the Commander Data from your Star Trek series.”
That generated some excited buzzing between members of the group. “If this makes you uncomfortable, please remain here at the shuttle and you will be taken back.”
Three people picked up their bags and went to stand closer to the shuttle. He took their names, presumably removing them from the list as he tapped away on his datapad.
“Very well. Let’s go. Please try to stay more or less in a single line.”
The rest of us followed him across the busy hangar to a set of double doors which he opened by pressing his palm against a plate set in the wall. The doors swished open, revealing a corridor, which then led to a rather large elevator where another three Mylos stood.
“We will have to split up here,” our guide said. “I’ll call out your names. If I don’t call you, please remain here with Demain, Jakar, and Pulrit. They will in turn call out names and take you where you need to go.”
Sandy wasn’t in the same group as I was, but Jeff was, which was a relief.
“Looks like it’s me and you again, eh?” he joked as we got onto the elevator.
“I should warn you that this moves sideways as well as up and down. Please do not be disconcerted.”
It was already too late for that. I had already moved straight into discombobulated territory, along with everyone else from their expressions.