by L. M. Brown
Logan wrapped his arms around Kit and kissed him on the top of the head. “You have fur, pointed ears, cat eyes, and a tail. No human has ever seen anything like you before—or like Halor. Even if there were visible signs—which there aren’t—they won’t be looking at your chest or stomach. I promise.”
* * * *
When Logan arrived on the flight deck, he found nearly every seat taken by the crew of the ship. Some of them were looking a little the worse for wear, perhaps not entirely recovered from the cryogenic pods. The only places left vacant were three seats near the centre of the room. Logan felt as on display, as he was sure Halor and Kit did.
“Take a seat, McRae,” Captain Farraday said. “You too, Halor and Kit. I’ve explained the situation to the crew already and this meeting is to start to put together a plan of rescue for our kidnapped people.”
Logan sat down in the seat to the right with Halor taking the one in the middle and Kit the one farthest from Logan. They had decided that perhaps it might be best for Kit to keep his distance from Logan during the meeting, as he could be something of a distraction.
Nate, the pilot of the Jupiter, Logan’s counterpart and a friend who had gone through training with him, spoke first. “Logan, you’ve had more time to think about this than any of us. Do you have any suggestions?”
“Yes, a couple,” Logan said. “Firstly, anyone who’s going on this rescue mission needs to be able to understand the languages of the people we’re going to be dealing with. Halor has offered his services to head back to the spaceport where I got my languages implant. He would like to bring back enough supplies to fit you all with them.”
“Excellent idea,” Captain Farraday said. “I’ve already updated the crew as to our intended rendezvous with the Neptune. If I could suggest that Halor and his co-pilot remain on board here until then?”
Halor nodded. “Agreed. We’re heading in the same direction, and while my craft is faster, I wouldn’t be able to make it back to the Neptune before you catch up with it. I’ll take a count of the figures once the crew of the Neptune are awake, too, and buy them all at once.”
Logan translated Halor’s reply and moved onto the next point. “Also, Zyp mentioned that other humans had been brought to him for implants in the days prior to our arrival at the spaceport. He may be able to tell us who they were with—if not the actual people, the species and likely planets they’re from.”
Captain Farraday nodded. “Any leads will be greatly appreciated. Is there anything else you’ve thought of?”
“I’d like your permission for Halor to import his ship’s database to our on-board computer.”
The captain gestured to the console. “I have no problem with that.”
“Sir,” Darcy said, raising her hand politely, “if the crew are going to remain awake for some length of time, we’re going to be using up supplies that were set aside for the rations once we arrive on New Earth. While you were in the briefing yesterday, I took the liberty of checking our inventory. I believe we should stock up with food and drink, become familiar with what is available here, and most importantly, run some tests on them to ensure our crew remains healthy.”
“I’ve been eating local food for weeks,” Logan said. “I’ve not had any trouble and most of it is pretty good stuff. I agree that we should stock up here to avoid dipping into the on-board supplies.”
Darcy snorted. “You have an iron stomach, so forgive me if I still want to do some tests.”
Captain Farraday smothered a laugh before he spoke. “I agree that we should consider stocking up on supplies. We’ll add it to the list of items we need to sort out over the next month. It’s something I’d already considered. I want a group of two dozen trained soldiers waking, as well as the kitchen crew. Also, I believe we have some diplomats on board. I’d like to view their profiles and wake two or three that appear most qualified to negotiate for the release of our people, if it comes to that.”
With everything done that could be done at this point, Captain Farraday adjourned the meeting.
“What now?” Kit asked Logan.
“Now we wait until we reach the Neptune,” Logan replied.
Halor smiled at Kit with fondness. “And you get to relax and look after yourself.”
Kit purred happily as they left the flight deck and returned to their ship, which Logan suspected was going to become their own private sanctuary on an increasingly busy spacecraft.
* * * *
Logan sat in the recreation room of the Jupiter, reading through the latest report from Captain Farraday on who was going to be participating in the upcoming rescue missions.
“There you are.” Nate sat down beside him and put his feet up on the table. “Nice skirt.”
Logan smiled without looking up from his tablet. “It’s a kilt.”
“I feel a bit overdressed sitting next to you. Why the change of style to match our new allies?”
Logan put down the tablet. “It’s surprisingly comfortable. Very…er, freeing.”
“Are you telling me you aren’t wearing anything underneath?” Nate teased. He reached out to check but Logan grabbed his hand before he got too close.
“Hands off the goods.”
“You never objected before,” Nate pointed out.
Logan chuckled. “No, but we’re not in pilot training any longer. Things have changed.”
“Changed how?” Nate snorted. “We’ve been napping for how many years? Or were you sharing your pod with someone?”
Logan shook his head. “If someone had a pod for two, it definitely wasn’t me. Bloody claustrophobic things.”
“Yeah, can’t say I’m that fond of them myself. I’m not looking forward to getting back in it again. So much for only once.”
“Sorry about that,” Logan offered. “I had no idea your captain would wake the whole crew. I was expecting a repeat of my meeting with Captain Collins.”
“Collins is a dick. I was so glad when I was assigned to the Jupiter. Anyway, you didn’t answer my question. What’s changed?”
Logan smiled. “I’ve changed. I’ve met someone—two someones, in fact.”
“Who? When? On the Mercury?”
“No. Not on the ship.”
Nate glanced around the room and leaned forward before he spoke again, this time in a hushed whisper. “Would those two someones be Halor and Kit?”
“They would.”
“But they’re aliens!”
Logan smirked. “I had noticed.”
“I’m serious. You’re talking about being in a relationship with two aliens.”
“Yes, I know.” Logan pinned Nate with a hard stare. “Do you have a problem with that?”
Nate appeared rather uncomfortable with the question. “I don’t know. I expected to wake up ready to pilot this baby down onto New Earth. Instead, we’re still hundreds of years away and my friend is sitting here telling me he’s fucking a couple of aliens.”
Logan picked up his tablet and switched it back on. “I know what I’m doing, and I don’t need your permission.”
Nate, clearly realising that the conversation was over, stood and took a couple of steps towards the door. “Logan, I’m saying this as a friend. I think you need to take a step back and reconsider whatever it is you’ve got going with them. Not everyone on board is going to understand.”
“Do you understand?” Logan challenged.
“Honestly? No, I don’t. They’re aliens.”
“What I have with Halor and Kit is more real than anything I’ve ever felt before. I’m not going to reconsider because my decision was made long before we reached the Jupiter.”
Nate shook his head sadly. “If you’re going to insist on this foolishness, you might want to keep it quiet. I doubt most of the crew will react any differently than I did.”
“I’ll take that under advisement,” Logan snapped.
Nate left but Logan couldn’t concentrate on the report. He had always been open about his relatio
nships. When he heard about how, centuries before, men like himself had been jailed for their sexual preferences and had to hide who they loved, he had given silent thanks that he had been born in the time he had. Earth had its problems, the fact that it was dying being the major one and the reason for the planned colonisation of New Earth. Yet on a personal level, Logan had felt lucky to live in his time. Was he now going to be judged, just as men had been in the past?
* * * *
Halor watched Logan as he supposedly read something on his miniature computer. He hadn’t touched the screen in nearly half an hour and his mind was obviously elsewhere.
“Is something bothering you?” Halor asked.
“Huh?”
Halor took the tablet from him and put it down on the table. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re nearly as bad a liar as Kit. You’ve been distracted ever since you came back from the main ship. Has something happened?”
“Not really. I was just talking to an old friend and it didn’t go well.”
“You had an argument?”
“No, not exactly.”
“Then what?”
Logan sighed. “Where’s Kit?”
“In the bedchamber.”
“Come on. Let’s go see if he’s awake. This concerns him, too.”
Kit was curled up on the bed but he wasn’t asleep. Logan nudged him over a little so he could sit down and Kit curled up against him with a contented purr.
“What’s this all about then?” Halor asked.
“I told Nate—he’s the pilot on this ship—about us.”
“You told him about the babies?” Kit asked.
“No.” Logan patted Kit reassuringly. “We only tell people about that once you’re ready. No, I just told him I was in a relationship with the two of you.”
“I’m guessing it didn’t go down very well?” Halor said.
“No. Nate is a friend. We went through pilot training together and while we weren’t in a relationship, we did fool around a little. I had no idea he would react the way he did.”
“How did he react?” Kit asked.
“Badly,” Logan replied. “He seems to have a problem with the idea of me being in a relationship with aliens.”
Halor nodded. “Ah. I see. Your world was very isolated, wasn’t it?”
“We didn’t get any visitors from other planets, no.”
“Many years ago, neither did our worlds. When different beings first came face to face with each other, some embraced their new neighbours but others feared those differences. Even now, hundreds of years later, there are those who believe that interspecies relations should be forbidden.”
“There are?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. The felines were amongst the first to embrace other species. They are truly the most welcoming race. I’m ashamed to say that avian species were much slower to follow their example. We got there in the end, but even so recent as two hundred years ago, some of my kind were still advocating against such relations.”
“It sounds as if humans are going to be similarly prejudiced,” Logan muttered.
Kit snuggled closer. “Once your people are rescued, they’re all going to continue their journey. Your new world is far away from other inhabited planets. Perhaps by the time they next meet some aliens, they’ll be more welcoming.”
“Maybe,” Logan agreed. “I guess it just took me by surprise. Humans have had many prejudices over the centuries, and I guess I mistakenly thought those times were over.”
Halor sat down on Logan’s other side and wrapped his arm around his shoulders. “If you wish to keep our relationship quiet, then we will.”
“I hate the idea of hiding what we share,” Logan replied. “I want to be able to touch you both without wondering if someone is watching and judging us.”
“We’re already keeping quiet about Kit’s diet and pregnancy,” Halor pointed out. “This is just one more thing we need to be careful about.”
“This is different,” Logan argued.
“How?” Halor countered. “Kit fears rejection because he’s dual-gendered and those who have the sexual organs of both male and female have experienced prejudice against them. And while Kit’s feeding habits are a different issue, we respect the customs of your people and will continue to act with discretion. We can be similarly careful not to reveal the extent of our relationship to the rest of the crew, can’t we, Kit?”
Kit rubbed up against Logan and nodded. “As I start to show, I’ll probably be staying on our ship more. And it’s not like anyone except you can understand me and Halor, anyway.”
“Maybe once the language barrier has gone, Nate and anyone else who shares his opinions will come to realise you aren’t so very different from us.”
“I hope so,” Kit said. “I want your friends to like us.”
“Me, too, Kit. Me, too.”
Chapter Ten
Logan had no intention of being anywhere near Captain Collins when he woke for the second time. In fact he made sure he wasn’t even on the Neptune at all, choosing instead to wait on the Jupiter and out of the range of Collins’ fury.
Unfortunately, it was clear from the scowl on the face of Captain Collins that he didn’t appreciate being pulled out of cryo again. He stalked onto the flight deck of the Jupiter, his crew following at his heels, most looking somewhat bemused, having missed the previous interlude in their long flight.
Captain Farraday, in contrast, was calm as he slid into his seat, leaving Collins to find another place to sit.
Logan stood near the communications panels behind Collins, hoping he wasn’t going to be called on for anything that would bring him to the captain’s attention. Halor and Kit had declined the invitation to attend the meeting. Halor wanted to run a full system check on the Royal Dart to ready for their departure to the spaceport. Logan knew it only took a few minutes to start the checks and didn’t need monitoring, but he had no intention of revealing Halor’s slight deception to the crew. Kit meanwhile, wanted to use the time to have Darcy run another scan on him and hopefully get a better idea of when he might give birth. Logan wished he could have found an excuse to avoid Captain Collins himself. Unfortunately, orders were orders, and he did want to know what was decided about the rescue of his own captain and crew.
Captain Farraday generated a star map of their present solar system over the central console. “Thanks to Officer McRae and our new allies, we have here a detailed map of the solar system we’re travelling through, including the various territorial boundaries. Unfortunately, the Mercury fell afoul of a forbidden zone and the crew and passengers are now missing. We need to decide what we’re going to do to get them back.”
Collins made a noise that conveyed his thoughts on the subject but he didn’t say anything. Logan knew that while Farraday and Collins both held the rank of captain, Farraday had ten years seniority over Collins.
“Our new allies have offered to purchase translation implants for each of us,” Farraday announced. “Logan already has one and I’m very impressed with how it works. The technology is centuries ahead of our own. Once we’re all able to converse with and understand the beings we’re going to be communicating with, I want us to move quickly to track down our people.”
Collins gave a pointed cough. “You say the technology is centuries ahead of ours, then what happens when their other technology is similarly advanced? How are we supposed to get the lost people back if we’re up against such advanced tech?”
“We’re hoping we can negotiate to buy back as many people as possible. While the flesh trade is not something we condone, this is likely to be the safest way of securing their return.”
“And who’s going to pay for this?” Collins sneered. “We have limited funds for establishing our new colony. We can’t waste them on this!”
“I don’t consider it a waste. It could easily have been either of our ships that were taken, and if it weren’t for McRae’s interv
ention, it would have been. If our new allies hadn’t assisted McRae in bringing him to us, all three ships would be lost and we would all have been sold into slavery. Besides, I understand that Halor is a prince with the funds to help us buy back our people. Our own money is of no use here.”
“A prince?” Collins roared with laughter. “That feathered creature is a prince, is he? I find that very hard to believe.”
Logan bristled at the insult to his lover but held his tongue.
Farraday glared at Collins, appearing as furious as Logan felt. “Halor didn’t have to bring McRae to us. He has shown himself to be a man of honour.”
“He’s not a man at all! He’s a mutant.”
Logan took an involuntary step forward before reining himself in.
Farraday pressed some buttons on the console and the star map disappeared, to be replaced by a set of pictures showing the evolution of Halor’s species, from the large winged birds, much like those found on Earth, to the present-day humanoid. Viewed this way, it wasn’t so very different from the pictures of primates that slowly changed to become modern man.
“In the last month I’ve taken some time to study our new allies, their evolution, history, and attributes. I’ve barely scratched the surface of the database of information that has been given to us. We evolved from apes, Halor’s species evolved from birds, and Kit’s from felines. Halor and Kit have kindly allowed Doctor Marshall to take blood samples from them for study. The results have revealed remarkable similarities between our species. We may have evolved from different animals, but as humanoids, we are almost identical.”
After pushing a few more buttons, Farraday brought up a similar evolutionary chart for the feline race then one for beings who appeared to have evolved from canines. Some of the earlier stages of that race appeared similar to the fantasy depictions of werewolves, and Logan wondered whether perhaps the stories of such creatures back on Earth were, in fact, reports of wolves who were going through their own evolution, just like mankind had.