The Starship Nebulus

  2285 Earth Measurement

  "Initiate launch sequence. And set a course for the Vetian Belt! Open a lighttravel corridor!" Second Mate Lilchta screams to be heard over the loud ramblings of the numerous soldiers and civilians around him.

  Once the second mate has finished barking orders, he ends communication by tapping a round purple device on his belt. Shoving his way through a herd of pilfered Doso Beasts, Lilchta glances up to see the spaceship's captain approaching his position at a quick rate of speed. The tentacles around Lilchta's face and neck quiver; and he shakes his head with silent amusement. That woman. One day, her silly side trips are going to get them all arrested. Or blown out of the stars.

  As usual, the Captain's visage is beaming with mischievous energy. Her long brown coat billows out behind her, as she makes haste towards the ship's bridge. The only thing slowing the Captain's locomotion is the stinking crowd of beasts milling in the overcrowded cargo hold. She steps gingerly between the bulky creatures, keeping an eye out for droppings and puddles of piss.

  Finally reaching where Lilchta stands, the Captain grins from ear to ear. Lilchta studies her carefully, noting the fastness of her breath. He matches the energy of her grin with a wide grin of his own, waving the tentacles about his neck and shoulders in a friendly gesture.

  "Did you have fun, Aurelia?" Lilchta asks in a low raspy whisper, already knowing the answer.

  "Yes," the Captain whispers breathlessly, strolling directly in front of Lilchta and taking his face between her hands.

  Leaning in, and briefly kissing her grinning Second Mate, Aurelia draws back with a secret smile. She uses one finger to trace the empty spaces on his countenance--where no tentacle resides. Lilchta takes her busy hand between his own, tenderly kissing it.

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  "It's been so long since we've visited Earth. I wanted to see what my fellow humans have been up to for the last fifty years."

  "And...," Lilchta prods, kissing the back of Aurelia's hand as well as her palm. "Was it exciting? I see you and the team managed to...Commandeer quite a few Doso Beasts. Can we expect another long detour, then? Perhaps, another time jump through the Heltorian Anomaly?"

  "Time? Oh my goodness, Lilchta," Aurelia sighs. "Time. It's only been fifty years. Yet almost every human I had dealings with...The last time we were here...Is already dead. The people in charge are almost like literal children. They're all so young and fresh. Earth's population never recovered after the Vochin Plague. Or so I am told. I feel so....Ancient."

  It is Lilchta who brings their mouths into contact again. He strokes Aurelia's dark cascading curls with his tentacles and a solitary hand. She melts into his embrace, and Lilchta grin--despite the close contact of their lips. His hybrid heritage makes their connection all the stronger. Without which, he might never have enjoyed the comfort of her arms.

  "Yet another wonderful benefit of time dilation, my love," Lilchta whispers, separating his lips from Aurelia's. "You don't look a day over two hundred. Minus at least a century and a half."

  "Nice save," Aurelia says, narrowing her eyes. "Is everything in order for our journey to the Vetian Belt?"

  "Yes. I gave the order myself," Lilchta replies.

  "Too bad. Cancel them," Aurelia says, grinning slyly. "I have another plan."

  "Oh no. Why don't I like the sound of that?" Lilchta exclaims, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

  "Don't worry, dear. It won't be dangerous," Aurelia says, politely squeezing out of Lilchta's warm hug. "Well, not very."

  "You always say that."

  "And it's always the truth. Well, most of the time. We have plenty of Doso Beasts and nothing to wash them down with. I say we find a nice port. One without space detectives and unsavory spies. We can do a little recreational hunting. Or lie out on a warm sandy beach. A beautiful beach with lots of white sand and more than one blazing sun."

  "Sounds a lot like Sleedoff Prime to me," Lilchta says with an even wider grin, his neck tentacles waving with excitement.

  "Sleedoff Prime...It is, then," Aurelia confirms, her crafty smile building in intensity. "Set a course. I need to get out of these clothes. I smell like Doso Beast dung."