“What are our options, Commander? How do we get back home?”, Ke'zulah asked.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO9bIj7BFd
“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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vNxqkV3X2
”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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlvmfmI9An
“I'd be co-First Officer with T'Planh.”, he said.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaLSXX2QZ8
The entire conversation was in Vh'rilot.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66aOTFaZXE
“You will no longer be Commanding Officer, Commander?”, she asked.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5NBXZPddf
“No. I'd keep my rank of Commander or be given the rank of Sub-Commander. Either is acceptable to me.”, he replied.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAAdfr900K
“You will always be Commander to me.”, she said, smiling tenderly.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf80qdOgPe8
“Thank you, but I'd prefer you called me Vo'ptinh when we're in private. Otherwise whatever my rank is will be alright.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lnolEpE3u
”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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPTSVESBym
“You're my commanding officer, Commander. I'll obey your order, whatever it is.”, she said, smiling.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraWiqigySV
“What do you think of our options? What would you like to do?”, he asked.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF22qGG6Twn
“I'll do whatever you tell me to do, Commander.”, she said.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyfFhsxlSX
“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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGCiK1u1Mv
“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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf8FwRjyVx
Vo'ptinh leaned forward and held her in his arms. She put her arms around him as well.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFadKPAMAc
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELcBGxs6TB
For all Vo'ptinh knew, it could have been caused by a combination of all three.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhZmLRTDsI
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5AmVXtUGv
“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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcGDm2eM19
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KXb322Z1D
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiF4hCrwah
They held each other for a few minutes, comforting each other.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDHZ9mGFin
“Alright, Ke'zulah. I'll decide. It's alright. I'll make our decision.”, he said tenderly.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH65OSDFyj
He pressed her call button and Dr. Ortkhat came in almost immediately.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zXDO1TxWU
“Dr. Ortkhat, could you ask Commander Poole to come in here please?”, asked Vo'ptinh.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEPjF2FNT9
“Yes, of course.”, he said, then motioned for Craig to come in the room.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnQi4Dnarr
“Hey there, Vo'ptinh. What can I do for you?”, Craig asked as he walked into the room.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPTjdjksVE
After introducing Ke'zulah, who was still clinging to him and crying softly, Vo'ptinh said,
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFxr1aNfmY
“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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTsfqlTvYT
“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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKbUhmKl1q
“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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YooS3YfBG
“Alright. With your permission, Clarissa and I would like to bring your belongings there after we leave here.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L1xCxAI0G
”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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqlAsz6ggc
“Thank you, Sir.”, said Vo'ptinh.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH9MQA97ca
Ke'zulah thanked him softly through her tears.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32czRbbDlb
“You're both very welcome.”, replied Craig.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJxw04jXQA
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN6PQ8hkdJ
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUXVhSySEU
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1pI9KD5vk
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSNy9tVOOC
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4TLJPddzq
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XJsws0LuR
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7qGQRGI7g
They had never seen aliens like them before, and were genuinely very curious about them.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWf6I46NZlO
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1dlr4YHR8
With Nurse Baker's help, Vo'ptinh helped her back into bed.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11HoFKbIfH
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk5ePWpSdi
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjLw5Nb2ID
To the immediate right of the cabin door was a wall and coat rack.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhtALwOR3l
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo0Jv5fndv
Thanks to the dietary department, the freezer was fully stocked with various meats and frozen vegetables.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CG19hsp0N
The department had also stocked their refrigerator with fresh milk, cheese, eggs and bread.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjAdjhflLT
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh03XUyIfnk
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjJ56Lvria
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmDGD7ZGWU
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlNaqMu1SX
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4awN0hQsz
The vanity was fully-stocked with bath towels, washcloths, hand-towels, toilet paper, soaps, shampoos and other toiletries, plus items women used.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIdq7lMivm
Across from the bathroom was a medium-sized open office with a desk and other office furniture.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsWCt235M4
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3I1FrC2Be
They then went into their bedroom. Vo'ptinh was determined that they share a bed.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dnBuGugR1
“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?)
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUYuk8YxE9
“I'd prefer otherwise, but won't force you.”, he said.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxk8XAXcD9
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpOtYFfglc
Sitting on the bed, she remarked to Vo'ptinh how comfortable the mattress was.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkLzojjWbB
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbTDlIK7sQ
Above the dresser was a large-screen.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP4mmSW1Ry
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWGyGP8sr7
The second bedroom was just past the office. They decided they'd use that as their meditation room.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh51OfZ3rJ2
Vo'ptinh then got their new stream links set up, and Ke'zulah got the kitchen organized more to her liking.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTk5YKJv6N
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVFaO28ksi
They climbed into bed and sat up for abit, looking through a disc file of Vh'rilot poetry.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sJBLRk0Ri
After reading for 10 minutes or so, Vo'ptinh put the disc on Ke'zulah's nightstand, then gently caressed her horns.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vFz89IG3A
“Your horns are very beautiful.”, he said tenderly.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehoYyFgRe1
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhVPHelZjI
“Thank you. Yours are very impressive.”, she replied, blushing deeply as she very tentatively caressed his horns.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPkccz3duE
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.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyld4yiF8eU
Their horns were so important to Vh'rilots and their culture that a common Vh'rilot saying for “I love you” was
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC94ktDBwkH
“I've been caught in your horns.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZelEsTMcHR
“Thank you.”, he said, then gave her a tender, lingering kiss, followed by several more kisses.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAwofiBewV
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkyjNJn6Cf
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaOlQshmtw
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmQgpAoeSD
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc2ZZdMlx1
