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Chapter 8: Deep Space

Before I could answer, the navigator's voice rang over the PA system, "Burn finishing in five." There was a small bump in the motion of the ship as the gee forces shifted and released to just the limited artificial gravity. "Three hours before jump." the message finished.

"You know," came the doctor, "our manners have been a bit lax. This was such a sudden departure from our route to pick you up, we never introduced ourselves." She smiled and stuck out her hand, quickly swapping the scanner to her off hand. "I'm Abigail, chief medical officer, more a job description than a title." We shook hands before she motioned to her daughter, "And this is my daughter and apprentice, Emily." Emily beamed at me with a look that was more reminiscent of her 'coon heritage, that bright eyed look of excitement and wonder. Like having seen what should be a new toy or friend or food.

Emily sole her chance to get in on the conversation, "The ship is the Gallito." A soft bell tone played over the PA system, "Are you hungry for dinner?" she finished.

On the way to the mess hall, I read an overview of the ship; more curious about my habitat to be for the next several weeks. The Gallito was a large, small crew freighter. A long ship, completely utility in design, the block shapes would measure from stem to stern at 515m and measured at the widest point where the crew quarters jut out to the side at 115m. The mess hall is along the central axis near a midpoint with the crew quarters. Once I digested this initial detail, I payed attention to the surroundings, the markings of the floor and walls indicating constant use and tried to pick out details that would allow me to get bearings. Signs must have been too much mass for the engines with everything else crammed in to have included, though I doubt the initial designers had planned for so many mismatched layers of paint.

Abigail and Emily chittered away and I found myself not part of the conversation enough that my mind wandered. How would I be received by the crew? The 'coons stopped short of the door and indicated me to enter first. I got barely two feet inside before having to pull short up to an eight foot tall aquatic mammal, hand outstretched and a sharply toothed grin. "Welcome passenger. Let me introduce myself and the crew. I'm the captain, Bohdan." said the jovial mostly orca with a hint of shark male in a deep baritone in a Slavic or Russian accent that - if he tried - could likely get any woman or man to swoon. Looking deeper at him, I'm not certain which side of the family he would get the shark from, but the orca was definitely the dominant genome. The only hints to shark were the teeth, the slight lines of gill slits and the deep black pools of his eyes. His skin was not quite the expected black, but a deep gray and his white a light gray.

I shook the outstretched hand, "I'm Kitthrin. Thanks for having me on the ship."

"This," He continued, indicating the next crew member. From the back it was had to identify species, the gray and light brown fur mottled into an almost camouflage pattern, "is our navigator, Lachlan." Lachlan turned around and I noticed how the fur colors shifted with light angle changing which portions were the more dominant color. His long snout was hard to ignore, deep reddish brown in color. He had a very bright eyed appearance compared to the rest of the crew, like his shift was just beginning while everyone elses' was winding down. I could make out that he was a mix of fox-bat and sugar glider. Part of my mind said that such inter-breeding was unlikely, but with conversions who knows. "G'day." he said in an unmistakable Australian accent, before returning to the food line.

The next person I was led to was quite the contrast. While Lachlan could hide just about anywhere with the fur color, this person might only be able to hide in certain raves. The vibrant purple with lime green spots of this person's quite shiny hide was quite a sight. Part of me made me wonder if it was artificial, like spray-on clothing or something, but the big golden eyes with yellow crest marks over them explained quite a bit that this was the natural coloring for this Gecko. However, the form fitting nature of the flight suit left little to the imagination. I did not expect someone with reptilian genes to have breasts, which she had, but there was an obvious bulge down lower as well. I'd not met a hermaphrodite - yet - but, with everything I'd experienced once leaving the confines of Earth's gravity, how could I argue that new discoveries would become quite commonplace for a while. I extended my hand for a shake before sie did. "You can call me either Jada or Jaden. Not everyone can get the hang of pronouns or names for a dual gender; and I'm used to different people seeing me as more one than the other."

"You're the first I've met, are both short for a more accurate name? or do you prefer one over the other?" I could swear sie blushed as I asked, as if this was not something people were accustomed to asking or trying.

"I suppose you can blame my parents. Jada is a feminine name and Jaden is the masculine of the same name. My parents called me both interchangeably and I'm used to it. Do I have a preference, not really. Both are my names." We shook hands and the Gecko went to see what food was available today. I had to admit that part of me, since I had swapped genders, wondered what it would have been like to have become both instead. The more rational part retorted that the hormone balance would be insane to manage in genetic engineering, so it's more likely to only occur as a natural process.

The bald human female of the crew, well.. not exactly human but looked so at first glance and not exactly bald once I got a closer look, barged her way up in a manner that some would think of as rude importance, and others as someone just busy and wanting to get on with it. On the closer inspection I could see that she was not human, and had a very short sandy blonde fur that never grows very long, giving her a permanent military crew cut. On closer inspection, I could see what I would guess is her tail tucked down into a leg of her overalls and wrapped about the leg. "I'm Eleni," she started, not offering her hand, which was probably a good thing as it may have still had grease on it. "Most call me Ellen. I'm ship's engineer." She said before rapidly getting into line for food. I would learn later that she doesn't hide her tail out of shame, but because it wraps around things at the worst of times when crawling through the maintenance ducts.

The captain looked a bit out of sorts from Eleni's short introduction, but quickly recovered as a swarm of mice came in. "Oh, a new passenger." Beamed the father. "I'm Aryan, and this is my wife Anya, and my youngest sons James and John, and my daughter Ruhi." He turned to the captain, "All cargo is secure and pre-sorted for our next docking. Unless we have another side-step to make." he joked with a forced giggle. I watched the family of cargo haulers, head to the counter, the kids barely able to see over the counter to the food in the buffet warmers.

After this, the captain indicated that we should get in line, so I did. The food was staple, nothing as exotic as I had on the station. I had to stifle a giggle at the thought of alien food on a Terran crew, even if having modified DNA. I settled on the meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a glass of juice, grabbed silverware and looked at my choices of seats. There were not tables such that everyone could sit on their own. The mouse family and engineer had taken one table to full, Abigail and Emily joined the captain at a table while I delayed. While this left a table open, I decided that being friendly would be the better choice, so joined the table Lachlan and Jaden were sitting at. "Mind if I..." I barely managed to ask before they indicated I should sit.

"Usually passengers wind up choosing the empty table." Lachlan commented.

"Well, that is a choice, but I'm going to be on board for a while, so I'd best get to know everyone." I sensed, rather than saw, that everyone's eyes were on me as I chose a seat, and a quick glance confirmed the suspicion. "I see what you mean though."

Lachlan gave out a hearty laugh, "Well, I do suppose it depends on what you mean by know." The comment made Jaden almost spit out a bit of food before catching hir-self and gulping it down.

"Hey, that's not polite dinner conversation." Jaden added to the conversation with a bit of nervousness.

"Oh, you know what I mean." The emphasis Lachlan added to the 'know' and the general tone seemed to imply not just a friendly rivalry of sorts, but also perhaps that Jaden was the younger of the two. It also made me wonder just what I got myself into when I chose this seat, but I tried not to show anything as I ate and listened.

"I think I do, but sometimes I don't know what you're thinking."

Lachlan turned to me, "Well, if we're talking as I think I've implied, then you can see there are some obvious pairings already. There's a bit of a thing between the captain and the engineer, and.. well.. My interests aren't always in alignment."

This time I had to swallow. "I may be new to this body, but I don't think I've exuded musk to delude your expectations, have I?" I didn't realize how loudly I commented but I heard the entire room start laughing loudly.

"Don't worry yourself, those two tease all the time." said the captain leaning back to loudly whisper. "But it is common on small ships to have a, you might say 'extended family' arrangement. This ship isn't quite different in that, but we do keep to small groups. If anyone is the more available, it's the two you're talking to. 'Though you're not likely to get the queen into bed." This time Lachlan seemed to shy away, looking back down at his food before eating to distract himself. The captain went back to his other discussion, his voice fading into the background while I looked at the two blushing crew mates.

I looked at my emptied plate, not realizing I had already finished during the conversation. Still feeling hungry I grabbed the tray and moved to stand up, "Just getting another helping." I said, hoping the two didn't feel that they had scared me off. I grabbed some more veggies and a helping of cobbler before sitting back down and digging in. "So. Apart from the now fairly obvious, what other leisure activities are there on board a small ship like this? You see, I gather my stay is long enough to wish for some relaxing times at some point, and it's my first space trip ever anyway. Third ship, but I didn't have anywhere near as a long stay on the first two." I scooped up a forkful and returned to eating, watching the two.

Both seemed pre-occupied on eating, so I did not push the query. I was a little disappointed, I figured I'd want some company at some point, considering the large amount of study I was assigned with. Lachlan answered first, "As far as sex goes, the captain's not incorrect, I do have a preference for males, no offense."

"None taken, before my modification I was male, but somehow being female feels more natural."

"Really?" Asked Jaden asked, looking a bit between startled and having just found something completely fascinating. "I'm not familiar with many people having been gender-shifted."

"I didn't know it was uncommon, but yes." I kept eating, glad the conversation might be picking up. I got the vague nagging suspicion that Jaden was getting more interested in the already mentioned activities when it came to me, and a part of me was warming to the idea as well. The rest of the conversation turned fairly mundane, discussions of general tasks. I offered to cook some time, having always enjoyed baking, which was eagerly accepted. I guess they take turns already, but would love some new input.

As everyone slowly filed out of the mess, some going off duty, some returning to work, Bohdan stopped by. "I've been informed of your specific training schedule, and with the current few stops there aren't many expected needs around the ship. Since you'll be with us for at least a week - depending on how many more detours we are routed on - it would be nice to see some handiwork if possible. It's not a request, yet, considering none of us know what you might be good at to help around here. We'll start with occasional cooking or baking as you've already mentioned and go from there." He then sidled his way out and toward the bow of the ship.

I headed toward my quarters, figuring I'd best look over the pre-planned itinerary and syllabus; my mind buzzing with scattered thoughts. I only got halfway down the corridor before Jaden slinked up behind me. I didn't know she was there until I opened the quarters and stepped in, before I heard the door close behind me a bit sooner than I expected it to close on its own. "Sorry." she said, looking embarrassed down at the floor. "I didn't want to, well.. with the others.. you know." she stammered, unable to quite get the words out.

I smiled back, setting the tablet down just after seeing it finish its boot-up. "It's alright. Lachlan and the others kinda put you on the spot, but I don't know anyone enough to judge." I sat down on the lower bunk I had chosen on the left side of the room.

Jada sat - more like fell onto her rear - onto the opposite lower bunk, took a few deep breaths to try to collect herself then said, "It.. It's not that." She seemed to have a hard time getting the words out, and I got the sense of a battle of wills going on.

"Jaden," I started, and noticed the herm relax a bit as if using the masculine form of the name was a good thing right now. "I can't see anything you need to apologize for, and I can promise that I can't think of anything you could say that would offend me."

Jada - well, perhaps Jaden is more appropriate right now - relaxed and shook his head. "Well, you're quite attractive." The words seem to fall out of his mouth as if not what he really wanted to say first, but there it was. He shied a bit and blushed, the added rouge made him look even cuter and I could feel some of the horomones stir within me as well. "You see.." He tried to start again, "Apart from Aryan's kids, I'm the youngest on the ship, only H.E. twenty."

I tilted my head in confusion at the term, "H.E.? I'm not familiar with the term."

She stared back at me, a mixture between surprise, unbelief and possibly uncertainty. "Human Equivalent. Many of us born of convert parents, or more exotic inter-species mixes, tend to mature at a different rate. Either from the different planets we're born on, or just nature. I'm technically only 12 human years old by hours and days of Earth time. I've been on the ship for nearly three years as navigator, and signed up right after getting my GED during my freshman year of high school." He seemed to relax as I continued to sit and listen, processing the information. I guess he expected a reaction to his young age.

I'm not certain why I did not react to this news differently, but when I looked over at the gecko sitting across from me, there were not enough features telling me he was a child. Young, sure. But young adult. His eyes had a glassy look, new and able to look at the world with wonder. His body was athletic, not overly muscled, but no hint of pudge or baby fat. Granted, as a herm one might expect breasts, but

"Oh." I muttered, "Well, you've got a leg-up on me. I'm still new to this whole experience."

There was what felt to be a very long and awkward pause in the conversation. The stirring of the air as the airflow from the vents kicked up a notch broke the silence. "The captain may have joked, but..." I could see hir visibly gulp.

I'm not certain what made me interrupt, latent horomones, just caring or whatnot. I found myself on my feet, and having nearly toppled the gecko over onto the opposite bunk as I climbed up atop the herm, all our clothing still on before looking down into hir surprised, possibly eager eyes. "Am I your first crush?" There was the barest nod before I let things run their course, leaned down and placed a gentle kiss onto hir lips.

The kiss lasted quite a long time, a simple gentle soft pressing of lips together with a small amount of hand rubbing and squeezing before we released each other to look deeply into each others eyes. "Well" the herm said, still a bit shy, "I've had crushes, but, they didn't return the feeling." Sie pulled me closer into a hug, pouring a lot of emotion and desire into the act, but with a hint of not wanting the feeling to end - in case this were a dream. I let it happen, before pressing a light kiss that was met with Jaden tilting hir head to allow our lips to meet, to open, for my short and hir long tongue to entwine as the passion grew.

I pulled back, climbed off the gecko and moved to sit back on my bunk, smiling back at Jaden. I felt a little torn. My hormones were vying for me to bare myself, to let loose and enjoy it all. My mind was torn against itself - let alone my body - between some thought of how young sie was, that this room was nearly designed in a way to not allow sexual acts to be easy or comfortable, that my emotions had some vague notion of being more romanced, and finally whether or not I was becoming a slut with such constant sex. I smiled, and watched Jaden, forcing everything else aside to let hir make the next move.

There was an awkward moment, that seemed to last forever as our racing hearts calmed, I could see the same lust in hir golden eyes before sie got up. "I should get back to work."

Before sie could unlock the door I said, "I didn't stop because I don't want to. I just want to get to know you a bit more first."

The stop as I said this was sudden and sie looked over. "I can work with that." Sie blew me a kiss before unlocking the door and heading out, leaving me to my padd, studies, and my body rebelling with damp undies.