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_ Open Space _

_ Our destination and our home. _

By Puma Concolor.

A fan work done for my good friend.

Angelita Pierterson

Her character used with express permission

and is copyrighted only to her.

Editing by Dasher Cheetah, My personal Thanks.

Chapter 6

Getting dressed became another bit of a challenge, as neither of our wards had never worn anything but the simplest of garments. The concept of underwear was completely beyond their comprehension. After their watching Mary and I get dressed in silence, they tried to put theirs on but we had to correct many mistakes, like the difference between boy briefs and girls panties. The male was finally dressed, although the replicator had not taken the consideration, our wards were not children and their bodies proportioned to an adult's of greater size. The Male's shorts did little to hide his rather large package and my girl's bra... there was no way it was going to contain her breasts. At least for now, it was going to be a bit more revealing until we could make it into a clothier who could better accommodate their needs. I would have to admit both looked very good but then that was only my private observation.

True to hir word, Dr. Lazarus had commandeered a table large enough to accommodate the five of us. We made our way through but not without our wards drawing the attention of everyone. There were an abundance of smiles and my ears detected many comments of, "How cute!" There were several of my crew who came over and said hi to the mice. That included Randy, who had been rotated out of duty due to the shock and stress of his horrific findings. Randy had seen too much combat duty and had issues dealing with death. Seeing these two doing alright, would go a long way in helping him.

Unlike our military counterparts, the crews mess was more like a dining hall on a passenger ships with the exception that you placed your order from a video menu and were served via tray, carried by robotic servers. The menu catered to the dietary needs of each species on board and was programmed to recognize each. It was a surprise to all of us when the menu failed in the paws of our two mice. Dr. Lazarus suggested we stick to a simpler diet of a rodent, consisting of grains, green vegetables, and simple fruits. This was a new experience for the mice and after a few tentative looks and cautious nibbles, both finished their plates almost to the point of licking them clean. Mary and I had the more typical breakfast of eggs, hash-browns, and meat substitutes. (Biologically grown protein that has the same texture and taste of your best cuts of Beef, Pork, and P_oultry_.)

Lazarus had a bowl of what looked for all practical purposes like short yellow noodles flouting in a green soup. The soup was actually leaves, ground and boiled and the noodles... were a type of meal worm native to hir planet and a necessary part of hir diet. Trust me, it was best not to think of food when shi kissed you...

Once we had all finished, we went on a small shopping spree. Though apprehensive, the mice came with out complaint and were utterly flabbergasted that they were the intended recipient of all the purchases. They were also confused that we left each shop without being loaded down with packages. With several explanations that all would be delivered to our residences, they were reassured. A ship of this size housed as many as 2900 crew members with almost another 1000 military personal for what could amount to several years per trip. There were individual shops and services offered but no accommodations to transport said purchases, so a very convenient and efficient auto delivery system was provided ship wide. Each crew section was more a small town than a ship. It was several hours later and we had just finished dinner when a call came through to report to the Captain. It was worded that all of us were to report, so the five of us headed to the gangways.

The ship consisted of a engineering section at the head of the ship. Here all energy and propulsion was generated. The ship is actually pulled along much like trains of old. Behind that was the command center. After that passenger quarters, hanger deck, cargo bays, and crew sections. There was also a small battalion of Marine pilots and personal assigned to hanger sections, spaced every so often down the entire ship. Fighters were common on all deep space ships as piracy was all too common in the frontier worlds.

Each section was like a disk several kiloliters wide that connected to the one before it, with three conduits carrying power, gases and crew. The gangways were zero G and transition speeds varied on how close to the center of the tube column you were. To get on was to simply step into one of the two gangways, going forward or going aft. To get off, all one had to do was push off the center column and the closer you got to the outside wall, the slower you went until you stopped. From there it was a simple matter to pull yourself from ring to ring to the level you wanted.

The trip was a bit frightening to the mice but they instinctively clung to us, making the trip uneventful. As we entered the officers deck, we again captured the attention of all those we met. I was pleased to see the general acceptance toward having them on-board and not being despised as most caught stowing away would be.

Stepping up to the Captain's door, the auto announcer queried our intent. "Name and reason for admission please?", the computer's pleasant, female voice asked.

"Concolor Puma. By Caption's request.", I stated.

"Is this inclusive of all present?", it asked.

"Yes.", I replied and was told, "Please wait.".

After a few moments, the voice announced, "You may enter.", and the door slid open to reveal the Captain setting at his desk, intently studying a data pad. He looked up briefly, then motioned us in. We all shuffled forward and stood at ease in silence... all but the Doc that is. Shi took a seat on the arm of a nearby couch and was intently studying hir data pad.

"Please, have a seat. I'll be with you in a moment.", the Captain said.

"Thank you Sir.", I answered as we sat in the two chairs. I motioned Angel to go sit on the couch but she only looked frightened and sat at my feet. Mary's did the same, despite Mary's attempts to get him to sit in her lap. I was getting ready to pick up Angel and place her on the couch next to Laz, when the Captain looked up and then down at the little mice. He looked back at me with a questioning look but it was Laz who spoke up in our defense.

"They are a little lacking in the social department yet and a bit insecure, reluctant to let go of their Ma... Guardians.", shi explained. This seemed to satisfy the Captain, though it was very close to a slip that I'm sure would have met with disapproval.

"So these are my stowaways? I must say that you look a lot better now than the first time I saw you two. I'm Captain Stockard. Who do I have the pleasure?", he said while looking at my mouse.

She looked at me questioningly and I told her, "Go ahead, he just wants to know your name. He is a good guy so you can trust him."

"M-my name is Angelita but Puma calls me Angel.", she answered in a very soft voice.

"And so you are.", he smiled and then looked over at the male to ask, "And you?".

"I... don't have a name.", he answered as he tried to push farther behind Mary's legs.

"Are they children or mentally undeveloped?", the Captain asked, looking over to Laz.

"I haven't had a chance to run a full Psych-Eval on them but from my preliminary DNA testings and observations today, they are fully mature and have the mental capacity there of. Due to their limited social interactions and training, they are indeed shy and intimidated by their current surroundings. It is my professional opinion they are fully sentient and capable of being trained, independent and able to give consent. That also brings up another issue. My preliminary findings are they are, Synths and firmly imprinted on Concolor and Pykes here. You can't separate them for any length of time. The results of such actions would be terminal.", Laz informed the Captain.

"So what does that mean Doc?", he asked.

"Stasis is out of the question. To force separation would be considered homicide, as they would die.", shi told him.

"We can only grant them passage to the next station under amnesty...", the Captain began.

"If that's the case Sir, I will gladly pay their passage.", I piped up.

"For the rest of their lives? I hardly think so... There has to be another way.", the Captain responded.

"As Captain of this ship, you do have the power to appoint partnerships and marriages. That way they fall under the family bond law and are allowed to stay on-board.... How about that? We're stuck with them anyway. Yes, I did my homework Bob.", Doc Laz volunteered.

"Hmmm... Matrimony would work. You did say they of consenting age right?", the Captain asked of Laz who nodded.

"Ahh, I...", I started to stammer.

"Oh hell yes! We'll marry the little darlings!", Mary blurted out.

"Pardon me, Yeoman Pykes?", he said.

"Aaa, Sorry Sir... I meant yes, we'll except the proposal of marriage. If it is a agreeable with Micky here?", Mary corrected herself, realizing her impertinence a bit too late and added, "What about it Mic, you take me as your partner for now and forever?"

"Is..Is Micky my name now?", the young male asked.

"If you say yes, Hun.", Mary told him.

"Then yes... I like Micky... I want to be your Micky.", the little white mouse answered grinning from ear to ear.

"Well, that's one down. How about you Puma? It's not like you have a choice?", the Captain asked while looking at me.

I looked into Angels wide blue eyes, my heart melted and I answered, "Yes. Angel, will you have me as your partner, your protector and not just as a master which I can never be?".

"Does that mean you're going to keep me forever?", she asked.

"Yes.", I told her.

"Protect me and keep me warm?", she asked.

"Yes.", I told her.

"...yes...", she squeaked, just barely audible.

"What?", the Captain quirried, "I need to hear you!".

"YES!", Angel shouted as she threw her arms around my neck, nuzzling into my chin and sobbing happily.

"Well then, just to make it official, I pronounce you Puma and Angelita Concolor and you Micky, only because you don't have a last name, Micky and Mary Pykes. Mated in partnership and support of each other for now and forever more. Computer so log it.", the Captain said.

"As so logged. Congratulations to all evolved.", the sweet female voice of the ship board computer replied.

"Hey Bob? As long as we're on the subject, I would like to _have_Mic and Angel assigned to my department as helpers and take over over their training. I'll sponsor them as crew members and pay the normal starting rate.", the good Doctor piped up.

"Why is that, Dr. Lazarus? They have no training or qualifications. What could they possibly be able to do for you?", the Captain asked.

"You're not planning any hanky-panky, are you Laz?", Mary eyed hir suspiciously.

"Me? No! I'll save all the hanky panky stuff for when you and I get together off duty.", shi said and winked at Mary.

"They represent a unique opportunity. There are lots of unanswered questions about Synths. This will allow me to study them and understand more of how they work. By taking them under my wing, so to speak, I can work on their education and see exactly how well they learn. By taking them into my department as crew, the Company has no choice but to allow them to stay and the extra income will certainly be welcome, at least in Mary's case. Besides, I can always use good lab mice, err assistants. Goddess knows, there are enough credits allocated to my department for three times the staff I currently have.", shi giggled.

"Sounds like you been giving this a lot of thought Doctor.", the Captain said with amusement.

"You know me Bob. Always looking for ways to get that Humanitarian __Peace Prize y_ our government seems to like to give out.", shi grinned._

"Um...Yea... Good luck with that. Sounds good. Submit the forms and I'll agree.", he told hir.

"Already done. It's in your in-box, under all the other crap you have to contend with on a day-to-day basis. If you get to it today, I'll let you win at chess next week?", Laz offered while batting hir eyes sweetly.

"Ahum. Yea, we'll see... Oh and that brings up one last bit of business. Concolor, you are here by promoted to operations control. Mary, you are now his second.", he said.

"What? You didn't fire the control op, just for ranting about me did you?", I asked with concern.

"No, though it would have been better if I had. It seems after I tossed him out of here on his ass, he and his second decided to go out on a binge."

"Yea? So?", I asked.

"Got real drunked up and got in Stg. RaOkes' face. Went completely crazy and took a swing at her.", he told us.

" __RaOkes... RaOkes... I know that name but it's a he not a she and a Major. if memory serves me. And isn't he a big _ Rottweiler?_", I asked.

"You are right. But "She", is the Major's daughter. And I think the stupid jerk called her a mangy bitch a time or two according to the report. Needless to say, not a good thing to do in a bar full of Marines, with most of them being Canine. Damn fool pulled a disruptor and tried to fry several of them. Second jumped in and was beaten up as well. When they peeled them off the bulkhead, the Major had them iced down for a military trial. Hell, they were lucky to even still be alive! Anyway, that leaves us short handed, so the job is yours. Besides, I know you don't like those armored pressure suits. Randy will be taking over your job. Your crew likes you and will work well with you, so everybody wins. That means a nice raise for everybody and the ops bonus is now yours.", the Captain grinned.

"How come I wasn't notified? It being a crew injury and all?", Laz popped up.

"Any thing that involves military personnel, falls under military jurisdiction. Their doctors patched them up and the Major had them in stasis, 10 seconds before the massage ever reached my desk. I feel bad for the second but the ops got what he has been begging for, for a long long time..", the Captain informed me smugly.

"Aaa... well, what can I say?", I stammered and looked a bit overwhelmed at the Caption.

"Try, thank you Captain for the better hours, better pay and better bonus... Now get out of here. You are officially on Honeymoon leave.", he grinned.