Page 7
Chapter 7
Lynn
I ’d thought Chris’s guys and Tylip were hotter than the super sexy actors who portrayed Mylos on TV and in films. They didn’t hold a patch on my mate. I was probably biased as he was mine, and oh boy, the way he’d looked at me drenched my panties. I needed to either get them off or change them as soon as possible, as I’d unwisely worn jeans, so I was starting to chafe.
I nearly forgot how uncomfortable I was, though, once we reached the roof. Holy shit. I’d seen the saucer shaped shuttles in the sky a few times as they zipped by, and of course, movies had CGI ones, but the reality of one right there was much, much different. I could see the marks on its hull from use and the low hum of its engine.
“Good, he’s ready to take off as soon as we’re aboard and strapped in,” Yorix said, turning to grin at me. He stood beside the ramp where another Mylos poked his head out.
“Yes, Xeranos let me know you were on your way up,” he said, grinning. “I figured you’d be wanting to head back as soon as possible.”
“Yes,” Yorix rasped, then swore softly under his breath. “Though we will have at least another hour and a half before we can go to our new quarters.”
“Why?” I asked, going past him to take a seat inside. “Did they not have anything available?”
He followed me inside, the pilot closing the door behind him and taking my suitcases from him to place them in a storage closet in part of the bulkhead.
“They did if I accepted a heavily modified unit, but we have to allow time for the furniture to be placed.”
“Oh! That makes sense," I said, trying to figure out the harness system.
Yorix loomed over me. “Allow me,” he said gallantly.
“Be my guest,” I said, moving my hands out of the way. As his hands deftly worked the buckles, I asked, “What did you mean by heavily modified?”
“The previous occupant installed a colorful human style kitchen,” he replied.
“Colorful?”
“The cooking and chilling apparatuses are blue green,” he clarified. “And the flooring in the unit is not the standard gray flooring.”
Blue green?
“It’s one of those cute retro themed ones?” I asked, thinking of those Big Chill appliances I’d seen on social media.
“I believe he said it was vintage.”
“Oh.”
He looked chagrined. “If I made a mistake accepting this, it is possible to have the flooring and units replaced.”
He straightened up, stepping back as he finished. “There.”
“I’m ready when you are,” the pilot called out from his own seat. “We have clearance to take off.”
He hurriedly took the seat next to me, his nimble fingers making quick work of his own harness. My core clenched thinking of how he’d use those to pluck pleasure from me later.
“Ready,” he called out, and there was a slight bump.
“Air cushion disengaged,” the pilot said, obviously for my benefit, which I was truly grateful for. ”And we have lift off. Would you like an outside view?”
“Yes!” I replied excitedly, and the walls around us shimmered and became transparent, except for the lockers. My jaw dropped as I swiveled my head, the panoramic view of the city shrinking down below us. Then we were in the clouds, zipping along.
“Beginning vertical ascent,” the pilot informed us. “Do not be alarmed at the flames.”
I swallowed. I knew that was a thing, as film footage of human spacecraft from time immemorial showed the friction flames. I only had a moment to think about this, though, as the next thing I knew, fire danced along the hull for several moments, only to disappear as we broke free of the atmosphere. So many stars! I stared, open mouthed, twisting in my seat to see the rapidly shrinking planet behind us.
“Slowing down now. The view will stay the same until we’re close enough to give you a visual of the Fleet.”
My stomach rumbled at that point.
Yorix turned a concerned look my way. “I will take us to lunch once we land, as soon as I have someone take your baggage to our new quarters.”
“Ah, okay. Is it true about the restaurants and parks, or will we have to eat at a mess hall?”
“We can do either,” he informed me.
“Really? Um, whichever is fine.”
“How about I take you for a stroll through the entertainment promenade and we see what there is? My bachelor quarters were aboard another ship.”
“Oh!” I hadn’t realized that. “So, will you have to commute to work every day?”
He inclined his head. “It is but a short journey. It will not be an inconvenience.”
“Ah, okay. So, food tech, you tweak the computer code for the replicators?”
“Yes. It is something computers cannot do as they are unable to taste.”
“I suppose that’s true. I’d never really thought about that.”
“Right now, my team is working on products that can then be replicated so the ones sold on shelves or reproduced via ordering through a replicator will be identical to ones made at the factory on Earth.”
I smile. “You mean like grocery store items?”
“Yes. Currently, we are working on something called Goober Grape. The Space Force commissary wishes to stock it for the members on Icthus Station.”
“Goober Grape! Oh, gosh! I haven't had that in years! My grandmother used to buy it when we were kids, so we’d have it at her house. I gotta say, I’m more of a Peter Pan and Welch's grape jelly kinda girl myself. “
“We’ve successfully created those already. You can replicate the jarred items individually, or as a sandwich on various brands of bread.”
“That is so cool!” I gave his arm a squeeze. “You provide such an important service, you know. The taste of home for those far away.”
He looked pleased at my praise. “Being able to eat foods from our homeworlds provides comfort for us as well. Also, it is an excellent trade agreement, as exotic food stores will be able to purchase licenses for replication and sell to those eager to try things from Earth.”
“It’s kind of mind boggling to think about. I suppose once food replicators are allowed on Earth, the trade will also flow in reverse.”
“There are traders applying to be allowed to operate ships filled with replicators to do just that.”
“Really? So, they’d like what, replicate various food stuffs and shuttle them down?”
“Yes, exactly that. But negotiating the right to import is a complicated process on your planet.”
I laughed. “You’re not kidding. You have to do it country by country.” My eyes grew round. “Wow, look how huge your ships are!” I exclaimed as we came in close to some of the ships of the Fleet.
“We’ll be docking in five,” the pilot informed us as he executed a gentle banking maneuver that caused us to come even closer to one of the behemoths.
“I’d almost forgotten those were battle cruisers,” I murmured, taking in the sight of what looked like large guns bristling from the hull.
“Pulsar cannons,” Yorix informed me. “If ever invaders come, we are well prepared to defend your world and our ships.”
“There are several fighter battalions as well,” the pilot told me gleefully. “I’m combat trained for them myself.”
And then the ship was swallowing us as we flew in ever so slowly through an opening, entering a bay where our pilot found the spot he’d been directed to, and settled back down on the cushion of air with a gentle bump. The engines stopped, and both men began unfastening their harnesses, so I hurried to do the same. It turned out that getting it off was a helluva lot easier than on, so I managed to do it without tangling it up too badly. Then the door opened, lowering the ramp, and it was time. I’d flown into space to my new home, and it was time to settle in.