“What are our options, Commander? How do we get back home?”, Ke'zulah asked.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTGtRklE2K
“We have a few options. As for getting back home, no-one really knows at the moment. Interstellar Federation is working on getting the video stream I recorded sent to our Union through some allies of theirs near the edge of the galaxy.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvgsKFYREN
”We've been invited to either join a crew on another ship in Interstellar Federation, or join the crew here on the Artemis as representatives of our Vh'rilot Union. You'd be part of the ship's housekeeping department here, like you were on our ship, if you wanted.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWp0RbwgTZ
“I'd be co-First Officer with T'Planh.”, he said.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUygfZRp5U9
The entire conversation was in Vh'rilot.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOAI4jvsNf
“You will no longer be Commanding Officer, Commander?”, she asked.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6BjTYw6Zx
“No. I'd keep my rank of Commander or be given the rank of Sub-Commander. Either is acceptable to me.”, he replied.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOWBI4To5x
“You will always be Commander to me.”, she said, smiling tenderly.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjYlBmiB2x
“Thank you, but I'd prefer you called me Vo'ptinh when we're in private. Otherwise whatever my rank is will be alright.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHALojf3aO
”Commander Poole's a good man, Ke'zulah. I won't mind not being commanding officer here. It would be an honor to serve under him.”, he replied, smiling tenderly at her as well.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjdFzEph8k
“You're my commanding officer, Commander. I'll obey your order, whatever it is.”, she said, smiling.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyWky7voM9
“What do you think of our options? What would you like to do?”, he asked.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxcYXHpwiL
“I'll do whatever you tell me to do, Commander.”, she said.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYizCtvIlVB
“I'm not the commander anymore, Ke'zulah. Our ship's gone...vaporized. It doesn't exist anymore. I need you to tell me which option you've chosen.”, he said, switching over to Terran.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc23LsfP5s
“I choose to follow your orders, Commander. You are my commander, after all. Please...issue me a command. Issue me an order, Commander Za'tolbh.”, she replied, struggling mightily not to cry.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Sc8NdyKb
Vo'ptinh leaned forward and held her in his arms. She put her arms around him as well.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuhs76pe6M
He realized part of her unbending behavior might be caused by residual neurological effects of her coma, as the doctor had said might happen, post-traumatic stress from the ordeal they'd been through, or her inability to cope with the news he'd given her about their ship and where they were.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrFRAZpyBc
For all Vo'ptinh knew, it could have been caused by a combination of all three.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9oWQWZZW9
No matter what the cause, he knew she needed to be held and reassured of their safety. He also knew that he needed to be held at that moment as well.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQOvkWRFhm
“What do we do, Commander? Tell me what we to do. Tell me what you want me to do, and what we are going to do.”, she said, crying.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7pV77VvLR
He could tell she wasn't going to make a decision herself in the matter. Ke'zulah was quite loyal to him as her commander, and had no intention of changing that loyalty quite yet.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLt9YM8nIR
It could have also been her way of helping him accept what had happened to him regarding the ship and having to vaporize their ship.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnYM3ZvHjY
They held each other for a few minutes, comforting each other.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAAplHx9OA
“Alright, Ke'zulah. I'll decide. It's alright. I'll make our decision.”, he said tenderly.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSDNRbyvwc
He pressed her call button and Dr. Ortkhat came in almost immediately.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmnjj4d6yD
“Dr. Ortkhat, could you ask Commander Poole to come in here please?”, asked Vo'ptinh.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4T1dNECZY
“Yes, of course.”, he said, then motioned for Craig to come in the room.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XnunmBuwq
“Hey there, Vo'ptinh. What can I do for you?”, Craig asked as he walked into the room.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7VLVwH4WY
After introducing Ke'zulah, who was still clinging to him and crying softly, Vo'ptinh said,
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyU3FpPEK7
“Commander, Ke'zulah and I will gladly accept your kind offer of letting us join your crew on the mission. It will be an honor to serve under you. You have our immense gratitude, respect and loyalty.”, Vo'ptinh said.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtb9GyXZLm
“Welcome aboard...both of you. I have one cabin you can share or you can each have your own quarters. Which would you prefer?”, Craig asked.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRq8B3tqsr
“We'll share a cabin, Commander. Ke'zulah and I'll work out the sleeping arrangements once we've moved into our quarters.”, Vo'ptinh said.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86Xb5aTop8
“Alright. With your permission, Clarissa and I would like to bring your belongings there after we leave here.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9ZZAUFUmt
”You'll each need to pick out a set of clothes for when you're discharged before we leave. You'll have a fairly well-stocked kitchen in your cabin, with plenty of counter space, as well as a fully-stocked bathroom.”, he replied.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawnV5DUBAB
“Thank you, Sir.”, said Vo'ptinh.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fPK34FxAI
Ke'zulah thanked him softly through her tears.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF06TKboCG
“You're both very welcome.”, replied Craig.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEYWHFvDOI
He handed Vo'ptinh the bags with their belongings one at a time. Vo'ptinh pulled out a uniform shirt and pants plus a pair of socks for himself, then handed Ke'zulah a bag for her to pick out something for herself.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUez68lnPV
After picking out her clothes, she handed Craig the bag. Craig brought the bags over to Clarissa and introduced her to Ke'zulah. They then left for Vo'ptinh and Ke'zulah's cabin and set everything up for them.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TLstvMzlU
The next morning, shortly after breakfast, Ke'zulah's catheter was removed. Vo'ptinh's intravenous line was also removed. They were to be released the next day or the day after.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxXMKUn72N
Craig and Clarissa came in to check on them. After Craig left for the bridge, she stayed and chatted with them for over an hour in order to learn more about them and their race.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSXJHpbnf7
After Clarissa left and they'd eaten lunch, Nurse Baker got Ke'zulah up and had her start walking. Vo'ptinh walked with her and held her hand. They walked all around sick bay, then down a few halls. She was tired and walked slowly, but did fairly well nonetheless.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO2FgYIrqC
Vo'ptinh encouraged her quite a bit. He'd been given a map as well as the freedom of the ship by Craig. He took Ke'zulah to the observation deck and dining hall, where they sat down for abit and had some iced tea and a snack.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tQImlpOnJ
They were very interested in the various alien crewmembers they encountered on their walk. They talked to some of them, wanting to learn about their kind.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBCKgBloIG
They had never seen aliens like them before, and were genuinely very curious about them.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ86qlLfat
Vo'ptinh and Ke'zulah also talked about their new life aboard the ship. After getting another glass of iced tea, they slowly walked back to sick bay.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWAtDW7q3j
With Nurse Baker's help, Vo'ptinh helped her back into bed.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEk2Vv6ujU
The next day, her intravenous line was removed. After they'd eaten lunch, they were discharged. Craig and Clarissa escorted them to their new quarters.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ikLAauBEr
The cabin was quite large! Immediately to the left of the cabin door was a large master bedroom with a very large walk-in closet. There was frosted glass on the wall outside of the room, giving it a nice eclectic feel.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK0OwThlCo
To the immediate right of the cabin door was a wall and coat rack.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbIdjBarwB
A few feet into the cabin on the right was a large eat-in galley-style kitchen fully furnished with a refrigerator, stove, upright freezer, a micro-convection oven to the right of the kitchen door, cabinets, a coffeemaker, replicator, and a rectangular table with four chairs to the immediate left of the kitchen entrance.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6h6w1ERG0
Thanks to the dietary department, the freezer was fully stocked with various meats and frozen vegetables.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpg7bf0VxR
The department had also stocked their refrigerator with fresh milk, cheese, eggs and bread.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrK40AWuJQ
To the left of the kitchen entrance was a large wall with a large-screen, as well as room for whatever they'd like to put there.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzNBhY6UpO
To the left of the cabin door, just past the bedroom, was the spacious Gathering Room. It was fully-furnished with a couch with dual recliners, coffeetable, two end tables with lamps, and two plush rocker-recliners. Behind the couch was a large bay window.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rgRiolPU7
Past the Gathering Room was a large bathroom with a full-sized tub and shower, complete with a massaging shower head. The shower curtain had a design of a map of the galaxy on it.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZCXAAOKyL
A double vanity with a mirror and medicine cabinet above it was to the immediate left as you walked into the bathroom. A toilet was between the vanity and bathtub. The toilet had a padded seat and lid, which impressed Ke'zulah.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD99r34WWj9
Across from the toilet was a towel rack. The toilet paper holder was to the right of the toilet, attached to the side of the vanity.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOGReAeUqN
The vanity was fully-stocked with bath towels, washcloths, hand-towels, toilet paper, soaps, shampoos and other toiletries, plus items women used.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3Bxcw9ehU
Across from the bathroom was a medium-sized open office with a desk and other office furniture.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aziI4aIZC
Looking straight into the cabin from the door was a large porthole window and a tall tropical plant to the right of the window just past the office. They looked all around and were very impressed.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12yry861Oj
They then went into their bedroom. Vo'ptinh was determined that they share a bed.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvKoM9kmR6
“Xỳāng s̄ngb?”, she asked him when he told her they'd be sharing the bed since there was plenty of room in it for the two of them. (Platonically?)
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jU3Mvtdpa
“I'd prefer otherwise, but won't force you.”, he said.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXMtkt2o7Y
The room had a king-size bed, a large dresser across from the foot of the bed, and a nightstand on each side of the bed, each stand complete with a lamp.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB1pqmP5Hw
Sitting on the bed, she remarked to Vo'ptinh how comfortable the mattress was.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUAjRQpK4h
It was firm, but not "wooden board" firm, and soft but not "Help! I'm falling into an endless pile of down feathers!" soft, as they described a too soft mattress. It was a very good compromise between the two extremes, they thought.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAXuh7Pbv4
Above the dresser was a large-screen.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwulTUMqgH
Their walk-in closet was what dreams were made of, she thought. It was larger than the cabin's office and had plenty of room for clothes, shoes, and anything else they could think of to put in there.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi2KNwOc3y
The second bedroom was just past the office. They decided they'd use that as their meditation room.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZHx8HrBcN
Vo'ptinh then got their new stream links set up, and Ke'zulah got the kitchen organized more to her liking.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7zFi8MnJZ
Later on, she got her nightgown on; a pink nightgown with short sleeves that came mid-calf on her. He was shirtless, clad only in sleep pants.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv0M0uGxyy
They climbed into bed and sat up for abit, looking through a disc file of Vh'rilot poetry.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeh4pa0b6W
After reading for 10 minutes or so, Vo'ptinh put the disc on Ke'zulah's nightstand, then gently caressed her horns.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAdhaeM5aW
“Your horns are very beautiful.”, he said tenderly.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfQqggo3ni
In Vh'rilot culture, complimenting the horns of someone of the opposite sex was a form of flirting. It was similar to saying “You have gorgeous eyes” or “You've got a nice smile” in human culture.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ3T7O7aI2
“Thank you. Yours are very impressive.”, she replied, blushing deeply as she very tentatively caressed his horns.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmzQLBlVao
Vh'rilot males had much larger horns than females, although a Vh'rilot female's horns were nothing to sneeze at, as an ancient human phrase said.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvyoMNPyWK
Their horns were so important to Vh'rilots and their culture that a common Vh'rilot saying for “I love you” was
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JWJttX2Wu
“I've been caught in your horns.”
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfl8UD6enb
“Thank you.”, he said, then gave her a tender, lingering kiss, followed by several more kisses.
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qOVUiWKmL
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTe08wXHlH
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7RVq9R1vz
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5rSD2C23B
153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0c6B4lihB
