In over the heat 3 (OOCS fan fic)

Of the separate groups minding their own business Amina’s was comprised of her fellow void school graduates. For some establishments it was a finishing touch to have the best students offered a chance to sail on a real starship for a hands-on experience before joining a crew proper.

Not a few students worked unreasonably hard to make the top grade, in the hopes of boosting their careers at Aminia’s school herself incuded. But right now, sitting on a couch surrounded by her fellow top school attendees, she felt comfortable with the idea of trading her place with almost anyone else.

“So, it was that bad huh?” someone cackled. “Really, I can’t imagine losing a man AFTER He spent the night in bed with you.”

“Yeah.” Another chimed in. “I bet she bit him.”

Amina glared at her nominal friends, less tiger and more wet kitten.

“I told you. He was just there this morning, nothing happened.” She said, ears drooping under the weight of her embarrassment.

“That is a lie if I ever heard one.” Said another, eliciting more laughter.

Elisya put a hand on her shoulder. “Our mothers are going to know about this, just as soon as we make our next stop.” She said with the sort of malicious grin only an older sibling could make. “They are going to want all the details.”

Amina buried her head in her hands. She really wanted to trade places with someone else now.

Meanwhile in the mess hall Sasha kept her silent watch over August, who currently stood peering at the constellations passing by the room’s only window. More than once she had caught herself fidgeting in her seat, her own hormones demanding action.

“Darn it Cistene, what is taking you so long?” she muttered to herself finger idly tapping on the tabletop.

The sound of a door opening drew her attention. Coming through the kitchen doorway was the ship’s cook Gudrun. A steel blue grey Horchika woman with a protein addiction, carrying a tray topped with two plates of food.

“Captain thought you two could use some food.” She said placing the tray in front of Sasha.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Besides I get to take a look at the man who held up breakfast. Let me tell you, some of the girls were not happy. Still…” She ran her eyes up and down August’s figure. “He’s a bit of a looker, no? almost makes the looks I got worth it.” She turned to Sasha, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Some of the girls have started taking bets on who gets lucky first.” She looked up contemplatively ”Say, I still have some of the good stuff stashed away. Might just have to break it out and work some magic, show up the new girls. Like my father used to say; ‘The quickest way into a man’s arms is to feed him well.’ If you ask nicely, I think I can keep a spot open for you. Not first place of course, but hey, something is better than nothing.”

Sasha rolled her eyes. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. The captain wants him isolated until we know what he’s doing here, and besides we’re sending him home as soon as we know where that is. The ONLY reason we aren’t doing any of that right now is because he can’t speak trade.” Sasha stated matter-of-factly.

“Little details, little details. Food happens to be a universal language, and I just so happen to be Fluent. I can do a few late nights of teaching our handsome guest some trade and helping him ‘study.’” Gudrun air quoted ‘studying’ “And he’ll need an escort on the way back ‘home’, no?”

Sasha rolled her eyes. She was laying it on thick today. “I thought you were married to your cookware? What would your favorite pan say?”

The Horchika grinned “Don’t worry, I’m a big girl. There’s more than enough of me to go around.” She emphasized her words with a flex of her sizable biceps.

“A lot of work is what you are.”

“I think you mean hard working. And besides I know how to make use of my womanly physique.”

“Like you did with that Phosa guy last year?”

You would have to know her well to see the blow land.

“He hadn’t tasted my cooking yet.” She countered crossing her arms.

Sasha’s retort was canceled by a crash coming from the other side of the kitchen door.

“Oops. That is my queue. Anyways I’d stick around longer if I could.” She shrugged “A real shame. Anyways If you or good lookin’ over there need anything lemme know yeah?”

Sasha nodded “I will.”

With a pair of finger guns the imposing woman walked back into the kitchen, taking what she no doubt thought was a slick look at the only man on the ship before she was out of the room.

Sasha felt like she had a front row seat to one of those scrapyard battle mech duels common on Ghob colonies. A crash in slow motion, and all it took was the mere presence of one man on the Rapacity to make it happen.

And this was before the rest of the girls knew about him being in season. Heavens help her if they did. She had only gotten a slight whiff of his pheromones, and the effect was like gravity, constantly pulling her attention towards him. How would the rest of the girls react?

Worry about that later. Just keep him away from them until the next stop.

Taking a look at the two plates in front of her Sasha called out to August. Gaining his attention, she motioned to the food in front of her miming taking a bite.

Walking over he took the seat across from her, eyeing the food with curiosity as a plate was pushed in front of him.

Putting his hands together August closed his eyes and said something under his breath, before looking at Sasha.

-“Thank you for the food”-

Taking a bite he paused briefly, chewing slowly.

Sasha for her part tried not to imagine this being a date, the boy’s proximity intensifying the effect of his pheromones. In an attempt to banish the thought of her current circumstance she chose to focus on the meal instead.

For all the boasting she did, Gudrun was a good cook, today’s first meal being no exception. Mostly tubers with a bit of meat and a couple of vegetables. Not much but being near universally edible made it a staple on long trips. The tubers were perfectly cubed with a satisfying crisp on the outer layer. The meat was neither over or under cooked, and the veggies were still slightly crunchy but hot and well steamed. If food really was the way into a man’s arms, then perhaps she did have a shot. If he wasn’t going home that is.

A throat clearing brought her attention to August. –“Can I get some water?”- he said making drinking gestures.

“...”

He repeated the gesture.

Sasha was pretty sure he wanted something to drink. “Uh, sure.” Standing she walked to the wall opposite the window. Opening one of larger doors she grabbed a couple of cups from the stack next to the dispenser unit.

Selecting the water function she filled the two cups, walking back she offered one to August who took it gratefully. Surprisingly he downed the entire thing in a couple of greedy gulps. He looked at her expectantly holding out his cup.

-“Can I get some more?”-

Slightly confused she took his offered cup and returned to the dispenser. Now refilled she gave it back to August, who again drank it all in parched gulps. This process repeated several times. Each trip and emptied glass fed her growing concern.

He was drinking a lot, not unheard-of levels, but far more than was normal for a Tret. If she had to guess the amount was closer to what a woman twice his size would need in a day.

Seriously what was going on with him? Her mind was running off in all sorts of directions. Most of them, alarming. Maybe he was running away from an abusive relationship, or poverty, maybe even some illegal experiments? And what about his lack of Axiom presence? Was he in danger from some outside force? Were they in danger too? Maybe she should say something to the captain again or try to hide him in case someone came looking. Or-

-“Thanks.”-

Her downward spiral was arrested by the sudden thanks, looking up she saw August with his latest cup half finished.

Right, she was getting worked up by his pheromones, it was more than likely he was just a sheltered boy out for some adventure and snuck onto the ship sometime ago and had found himself in over his head. She considered this as she deposited the dishes into the automatic cleaner next to the dispenser.

Their meal concluded he again returned to standing in front of the window gazing again into the endless expanse. Sasha mirroring him resumed her own vigil. One staring out the window, the second watching the first.

Cistene was making her way towards the living areas in the front of the ship, med-kit tucked under one arm, the red and blue bag almost the same size as her torso. The similarities in size between her and the bag she carried was not due to the size of the bag, no, but because Cistene was a Metak. Short, curvaceous, and sporting the blue skin and physics defying wings associated with her species. Fairly typical for a mature member of her species, her manners however were anything but standard. Which is not to say she was extra difficult, but rather that she was painfully blunt and difficult to excite. A trait she was entirely oblivious to. In addition, she had developed a habit of using Axiom to boost her energy levels so she could stay awake longer. Predictably her appearance suffered.

Shuffling into the lounge she was met by Jenna.

“Good morning.” She said adjusting the bag hanging on her shoulder again. “You said a male needed a med-scan?”

Jenna nodded. “Yes. He is in the mess hall; Sasha is watching him.”

The duo started walking to the mess hall, talking as they went

“Right. What species is he?”

“Tret. Looks about twenty.”

“I didn’t know we had a male Tret on board.”

“We didn’t. Not before this morning.”

“Know how he got here?”

“No idea.” Jenna said pausing in front of the door. “Listen.” Her voice dropped to a cautious whisper “He just happens to be in season, when he showed up this earlier, he ran out one of the upper rooms screaming. He doesn’t seem to understand trade, and no one seems to know how he got on board…”

Cistene blinked.

“You think… someone might have abducted him and then snuck him aboard without anyone knowing, Kept him tucked away for several days, and first thing he does when he gets out is freak out…”

Jenna nodded. The implication sitting heavy in the air.

“That is what it looks like. Until we reach Nest station and get his situation sorted and him on way home he stays in the med bay, no visitors. We have four more days of sailing before we dock. Until then NO ONE is to be alone with him. Especially the new faces.”

Cistene nodded. “Okay.”

“Good, lets get him checked out.”