The Urion silently streaks across the edge of the Vasilios sector. An exploring flagship escorted by forty supporting ships; the fleet is equipped to spend years away from its homeworld. Its mission, to expand the territories of the F.U.W.
Dr. Gibson sat in the front row of the auditorium impatiently, he hated these long-drawn-out awakening meetings the captain insists on having after a Cryoslumber cycle. The information just could as easily be jump-loaded into their minds as a recent memory.
"Not only, does he demand that we have to attend these ass-backward meetings" he grumbled to no one in particular, knowing full well he could be heard throughout the chamber. "He has the nerve to be late, I have more important things to do than feed his ego…I'm fucking hungry! I bet he's eating right now!" frustrated staring down at the muffin that service droid just laid upon his desk. Picking it up he inspected it and sniffed in disgust.
My first meal in three years, he thought then took a ravenous bite.
"Your just grumpy Doc, we know how you love your beauty sleep." A female voice, jeered in the upper rows, looking back with golden crumbs caught in his greying beard, "if you had flowing locks like these" Dr. Gibson, retorted tossing his matching salted dreadlocks over his shoulder to show off its length. "I'm glad, you recognize its magnificence!" the small crowd over two-hundred personnel snickered at the banter. The room was now alive with conversations as the laughter settled down.
"You know it's his way Allen, this isn't your first rodeo." The soothing voice whispered from behind him a familiar hand fell upon his shoulder. "-and yes, those locs of yours are magnificent, they drive me crazy" his wife said. Bending down to kiss his neck, causing an electric current to shoot down his left side. Bending even closer to his ear, her full breasts falling against his shoulder caused his pulse to race, drawing him closer, "Looking forward to those luscious dreads draped all over me when we have our time." with that she took a nibble of his ear, making him drop his muffin. Taking her hand that was still lingering on his shoulder, "You are the important thing that I have to Do" he said looking back at her. "We have a lot of catching up to do, how many anniversaries have we slept through?" he asked. "Hmmm, she said, taking the other hand to rub his shoulders, "you have three years of makeup time." Her full lips brushed the side of his neck as she talks, her breath was like a warm breeze coming off the ocean. "Damn woman, what you do to me…I hope the captain don't call upon me to make any speeches cause this whole damn room will see another awakening!" he whispered enjoying the touch of her, the smell of her. Their sleep cycle was for three years he remembered. And the first thing they had to do is quickly wash up and get to the fucking briefing chamber, he did not even know Tisha was behind him until she spoke. "Did you dream of us?" she asked still close to him. "of course." He chuckled, still enjoying her hands kneading into his shoulders. "You sure?" she asked, "I hear how you men have been fantasizing over the Trimiannian women!" she said playfully pushing him forward in mock rejection. "Weeeeellll, I may have spent a moment or two, I mean hon, they three mouths, one in each palm of two of their top hands, and the most important factor is they speak in a language that's above the human ability to hear, so they are essentially mute to us!!!" he said laughing louder than he intended, ducking her playful swing that just missed the top of his head. Sitting back in her chair still smiling she put her foot on the back of his, crossing her arms in a mock pout. "You know what they say about the Urain men…" she said with a wink. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I know" rolling his eyes. "Do you?" she teased. "I heard they could make any part of their body vibrate on command!" squeezing her thighs together, closing her eyes biting her bottom lip. "I will make you vibrate uncontrollably later on," he said throwing his arm over the back of the chair eager to give her a good look. Their eyes met, the ever-present spark they held rekindled, its warmth washing over them completely. Even after all the years, after three years of suspending animation, their bond was stronger than ever.
The room grew a shade darker; the service droids continued their busy paths like a group of swarming summer gnats.
"I guess the old captain sees fit to address us," he said slowly turning around. She slapped his shoulder "BE NICE!" she hissed through a giggle. "I bet he ate more than a muffin and some pine milk!" he said with a growl as he turned towards the platform.
The room quieted as heavy boots fell upon the floor. An older man of ancient Asian descent made his way towards the stage. His beard was white as cotton but supported by a strong jawline. Proudly he continued towards the center of the stage. Beside him strode the head of military sector Kareem was his name Allan recalled.
This is different, the old man usually stands on the stage alone during his briefings. Something must have happened. Looking over to his wife puzzled, she just shrugged, mouthing 'I don't know?'
Captain Aruga stood with his hands crossed in front of him, waiting for the hush to settle in the room. His eyes slowly looked over the many faces in the room. "Good morning," he started. "I have been assured that everyone had a good cryocyle. I know we all have a lot of work to get to and know you are eager to get started. I am thankful you made it here so quickly." Unfolding his arms, he raised his right hand while bowing his head. A sign of respect he had picked up from another officer a long time ago. He did not remember how long it had been. This cryocycle was extremely hard on him this time. His soul was heavy. Heavy with the weight of knowledge. What he had to tell his crew would horrify but inspire them…He hoped…
"I will be as brief and as to the point as I can be." He started his voice sounded like rusted gears grinding. "We have made it to a sector of space where no known being has ever traveled, we have made it to the outer ring of the milky way." The excited gasps of the crowd reverberated throughout the room. Multiple hands shot up with questions. Raising his arms signaling the crowd to hush, he waited…
Finally, the room became silent again except for the buzz of the service droids, reminding the captain of flies doing their work around a corpse. Shocked by that thought, he took a tentative glance at Kareem whose hand was resting on his sidearm. Pushing the morbid thought out of his mind he continued.
"All of your questions, take it up with Yua, on your own time."
"It has been my dream, a dream I have held dear to me for longer than most of you have been alive, I don't have to tell you that has been a long time" he chuckled slightly.
"Not just to explore our galaxy, but to be the first to explore the wonders of other galaxies, to be the first." He leaned on the podium with the weight of ages it felt to him, his knuckles fingers white from the pressure. Tears started to gently pool in his eyes and stream down his lean face like salted streams. The hush of the crowd deepened. "Not only have we reached an unknown system with what seems to be filled with a hub of anomalies, that we hope will give us access to another galaxy."
The excitement of the crowd stirred again. waiting for the excitement to die down, he waited like an ancient sentry.
"The first order of business will be for everyone to spend some time with your loved ones. Load up on all the information, which should be available after we adjourn." He continued. "You will be allotted 72 local units to refresh yourselves, as you can tell the stasis cycle was pretty hard on me." He said touching his chest with a smile.
Allan again looked back at his wife and saw the twinkle in her eyes. He was looking forward to the next couple of days. The disposition of the old man gnawed at him a bit, he never seen him so fragile, so frail as if a sneeze could just blow him away.
I will meet with him after the meeting. he thought. Leaning back into his chair crossing his long arms across his chest.
Being the head Dr. of the expedition had certain privileges that he would exercise, he decided. The captain denied access to him after awakening from the sleep cycle which does not align with standard protocol. Seeing the captain now in such a delicate state concerned him. He would also have to call engineering to check the captain's sleep pod, it seemed that the captain did indeed age more than what he should have during the latest cycle. It could have been a malfunction. Which happens from time to time, especially since the captain used an older pod. Refusing to update his cyrosystem.
Rubbing his temples with his thumb and ring finger he knew the old man would give him a hard time.
He could be such a stubborn fucker he sighed to himself, preparing himself for the battle to come. what made it more frustrating was he would have to wait to tend to his wife, his hands should be examining her body for hotspots instead of a liver spot-ridden old man. Knowing his duty to the ship came first. He noticed a couple of signs of concern while he watched him speak, the way he leaned against the podium, the way he seemed to struggle for breath during his speech. His usual vigor was absent. All of these signs were subtle but very obvious to him.
What are you hiding, old man? he thought narrowing his eyes, as a list of possibilities floated within his head. Apparently, Kareem was in the know, why is the head of armed forces on stage with the captain. Very peculiar indeed. Or suspicious. He corrected himself.