"Maintaining high morale among officers is critical to the success of any mission. Stellar Command understands that the well-being of an officer's family directly impacts their performance and mental health. Providing for families at home is not merely a gesture of goodwill but a strategic necessity. By ensuring that officers know their loved ones are safe, supported, and well-cared for, we cultivate a focused and dedicated fleet. Benefits include comprehensive healthcare, education funds, housing, and regular communication across the vast expanse of space.
These measures foster loyalty and dedication, enabling officers to serve with confidence and peace of mind."
-- excerpt from "The Heart of the Fleet: The Role of Morale"
by Captain Elara Jansen
7th Fleet
SCFS Resolute
The cool, simulated night air of the hab ring carried the familiar, faint scent of ozone and metal, providing an odd sense of comfort to Riven as he navigated towards Elle's Lounge. He made a mental note to have his implants upgraded now that he had received the sign-on bonus from SCF - he'd always wanted the augmented reality for navigation.
Nestled in the upscale sector of the upper-hab ring, the streets here were noticeably cleaner and the lights shone brighter. Despite the excitement from his recent promotion, his breakup with Elijah, and the intriguing meeting with Chief Mate Orion, Riven felt a measure of calm as he walked through this well-known part of the ring. He'd walked it nearly every day on his way to the Academy.
As he neared the entrance of Elle's Lounge, he spotted Quinn and Wayne standing together. Wayne, with his tall, lean frame, was a stark contrast to Quinn's shorter, stockier build. His dark hair was neatly trimmed, and his green eyes shined through the darkness. His reserved demeanor was evident, another stark contrast to Quinn's more outgoing personality. Both appeared slightly out of place in their semi-formal wear, shifting uneasily as they waited for Riven.
"You look ridiculous," Quinn joked as Riven approached the couple, their usual smirk back in place. "But a good ridiculous, very suave."
Riven rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile at the familiar banter, glad that the awkwardness of their earlier conversation seemed to have dissipated, relief washing over him. He turned to Wayne, his smile widening. "Long time no see, buddy! How's your sister?"
Wayne, usually reserved and still adjusting to public appearances with Quinn, nodded appreciatively. His and Quinn's relationship was relatively new, and his recent coming out to his family hadn't been smooth, forcing him to move in with Quinn to avoid homelessness in the lower-hab ring. Such beliefs were rare but not unheard of.
"She's doing much better, thanks," relief colored his voice at a happy topic he was comfortable with. "We managed to save enough credits for her treatment, and she seems to be on the path to a full recovery. But let's not dwell on that tonight. Congratulations, Third Mate Voss!"
Riven chuckled, waving off the formality. "Oh, no you don't, I'm still just Riven to you, especially when I'm out of uniform." He gestured towards the entrance of Elle's Lounge. "Shall we?"
"First, actually," Quinn said, pulling Riven to the side and lowering their voice. "So?"
Riven shuffled his feet, staring at the deck beneath them. "It's done. It went really, really bad. But it's done."
Quinn gave him a quick hug. "I'm proud of you. We can talk about it later."
Gratitude swelled within him as they returned to Wayne, who had an eyebrow raised, but he didn't ask any questions. Quinn grabbed Wayne's hand and the trio stepped into the lounge together, walking through a glass door that was nearly invisible until it slid upwards to allow them entry.
The interior was sleek, in tones of dark browns and rich reds. The entire establishment was bathed in soft lighting with plush seating arranged tastefully around the space. Light jazz floated through the air, setting a relaxed yet sophisticated tone. It was clearly a gathering place for the higher echelons of society, making Riven feel a bit out of place even in the presence of his friends.
"Voss!" Orion's voice called out from a corner booth. It was soft enough to intrigue but sharp enough to command attention, the unmistakable tone of a leader. He was already seated, a drink in hand, appearing far more at ease than earlier. "Come, join me!" A buzz filled Riven's ears, heat already rising to his face.
They approached the booth to find Orion had already ordered a selection of appetizers, artfully arranged to allow access from anywhere on the table. Orion, dressed similarly to Riven, wore black slacks, shiny black shoes, and an old-fashioned wristwatch—a stylistic choice since ship time was always available on everyone's implant display. His button-up shirt was casually styled, with the top three buttons undone, revealing a lightly haired chest and a thin golden chain. Riven caught himself noting these details and quickly shifted his focus to introductions.
"This is Quinn," Riven introduced, the barest tremble in his voice. "A newly minted helmsman, and this is their partner, Wayne."
"Nice to meet you, Quinn, Wayne," Orion reached his hand out to shake Quinn's hand, but when he turned to do the same with Wayne he paused, staring for a second. "Wayne, weren't you on the steward team during my deployment on the Celestial Pioneer?"
Shock washed over Wayne's face as he leaned closer to get a better look. "Yes, sir, I served aboard her until her decommissioning two years ago." Tension visibly drained from him now that he knew he was around familiar faces.
"No 'sirs' here, my friend. It's good to see you again," Orion motioned them toward the booth.
"Please, sit. I hope you all like synth-ale— Elle's has the best in the ring." There was a pitcher and a stack of glasses waiting for them. The number of glasses indicated Orion assumed Riven would bring more friends.
Quinn, Wayne, and Riven slid into the booth, and drinks were poured for the newcomers. Riven took a sip, the slightly sweet and bitter taste calming his nerves further.
As they seated themselves, Wayne said, "It's nice to see you again as well, Chief Blackwood… Orion." He blushed visibly, even in the dim lighting.
Stars, what is it about this man? Riven thought. Wayne was very easy to embarrass, so maybe it was nothing. He turned his gaze to Orion.
"So, Chief Mate," Riven started, but Orion quickly waved him off.
"Orion, please." He adopted a faux commanding demeanor. "We're off duty, Riven. Don't make me remind you again." Orion smiled at his joke, then continued in a normal voice. "This is a time to relax, enjoy, and most importantly, celebrate! Not to worry about ranks and titles."
Riven nodded, feeling slightly more relaxed but silently berating himself for his lapse despite the humorous tone. "Orion, right. How long have you been in the fleet?" he asked, attempting to steer the conversation smoothly. His stomach fluttered.
Orion grabbed a vegetable kebab as he spoke. "About four years now. My father was a Captain and sponsored my entry through the Academy, but believe me, I had to earn my stripes just like everyone else. Believe it or not, I started my career as a steward." He shot a quick smile at Wayne, who responded in kind.
As Riven sipped his synth-ale, the initially bitter taste mellowed to a soothing warmth in his stomach, but did nothing for the flutters. He noticed his gaze kept drifting to the casually unbuttoned shirt Orion wore, following the chain, and down his chest, and…
Stop it.
"You'll like the crew on the Aurora, I think, Riven," Orion continued, oblivious, a hint of pride in his tone. "I've seen the preliminary crew roster, and I've worked with most of them on other ships. Captain Jermaine runs a tight ship, but follow his lead and you'll do just fine. And never, and I do mean never, let him start talking about Singularity Drives; we'll be stuck in a lecture from here to the edge of the galaxy. We don't have a Second Mate assigned yet, but there's still time to transfer one in. Someone has to train you, after all." He winked at Riven, causing him to nearly knock over the drink he was reaching for.
Quinn shot Riven a look, leaned in slightly and said, "Hey, Riven, didn't you mention needing to use the restroom earlier? I see one right over there," they pointed discreetly to the far corner. "Let's head that way before we get too tipsy to navigate, eh?"
Catching Quinn's cue, Riven nodded and stood up. "Good eye, helmsman." Turning back to Orion, he said, "Excuse us for a moment, please. Wayne, hold down the fort and enjoy your drink."
Wayne smiled and nodded, taking a hearty gulp of his synth-ale as Riven and Quinn made their way to the restroom.
Once inside the restroom, Quinn locked the door and turned to face Riven. "You need to pull yourself together."
"What do you mean?" Riven splashed some water on his face.
A sly smile pulled at Quinn's lips. "You like him."
"I don't know him."
"He's hot."
Riven flicked water at Quinn. "Maybe you're the one who needs to pull themselves together."
"Maybe, maybe not. Wayne might be interested, too." A wicked gleam entered Quinn's eyes as they watched Riven dry his face.
"He's all yours. I'm just here for a nice night out. If you guys want a happy ending…" Riven gestured towards where the table was outside. "Have at it."
Rolling their eyes, Quinn leaned against the counter and crossed their arms. "Nah, you know I'm not really into those muscley, brute types. But nobody is blind. You can barely stop yourself from staring at him."
"Ugh, okay, fine, yes he's hot, but so what? He's my commanding officer." Not that it matters.
Stellar Command rules didn't prohibit relationships between officers, only officers and crew. But Riven felt it would be highly uncouth to pursue something like this on his first day.
"He's got eyes for you, too. That wink? Come on." A playful punch to Riven's arm. "You know what they say about the best way to get over someone…"
Riven's mouth dropped. "You know I've never…"
"I know, you old prude."
Biting his lip, Riven said, "That's actually what Elijah wanted tonight. He just… showed up and the second thing he said was a proposition."
Quinn stood up straight, their joking manner evaporating. "What? He just showed up out of nowhere?"
Riven nodded.
"And then what?"
Riven recounted the encounter to Quinn, including the conversation with his mom afterward. He was surprised to discover that the feeling of guilt, while present again, wasn't nearly as bad. He really had been checked out for a while.
"Stars, Riv, I'm sorry. That's absurd."
"I planned on it going much better, as well as this kind of thing can go I guess. I was going to stop by on the way here but…"
They stood in silence for a moment until a knock at the door interrupted them. "Everything alright in there? Orion is worried you're about to bolt before he can order his favorite dish, or drink, or something. Can you let me in?" Wayne's voice was calm but betrayed his own worry.
"I say go for it. You don't have to go for 'it,'" they put air quotes around the word, "But you need to let yourself enjoy somebody's company."
Quinn opened the door. "All good, Wayne, just some girl talk. Let's go."
"Sorry about that, Orion," Riven apologized as they returned to the table. Quinn swiftly maneuvered so that Wayne and themselves blocked the other seats, leaving Riven no choice but to sit next to Orion. "My parents threw a bit of a celebration earlier, and I had a bit of wine, so I needed to make room for this excellent synth-ale."
*Bastard. I hate you,* Riven messaged Quinn, who barely managed to suppress a smirk upon receiving the message.
*I love you, too. Now pay attention,* came Quinn's swift reply, drawing Riven's attention back just in time to catch Orion concluding his thought.
"...sure they're very proud of you; it makes sense they'd want to celebrate," Orion was saying, completely unaware of the rapid exchange of texts as he selected a piece of food from a small silver platter, it looked like a cracker with some kind of mousse on top.
The conversation picked up seamlessly from there, with Orion regaling them with tales from his time in the fleet, reminiscing with Wayne about their time aboard the Celestial Pioneer, and offering both Riven and Quinn valuable insights on what to expect during their first assignments. As the stories unfolded, Riven felt himself unwinding and the smiles coming easy, the day's burdens easing with the help of the great conversation and ever-flowing synth-ale, attentively topped up by the waitress.
As the night waxed late, Riven excused himself to get some fresh air. The balcony of Elle's Lounge offered a commanding view over the bustling main thoroughfare of the upper-hab ring, where lights twinkled like distant stars, and the distant stars twinkled in response. It was insanely picturesque, and he took a quick snap with his implant to remember the moment.
Leaning against the railing, he inhaled deeply to clear his head.
"It's a lot to take in, isn't it?" Orion's voice interrupted his thoughts as he joined Riven at the railing, leaning forward to share the view.
"Yeah," Riven admitted, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and anxiety. "It's overwhelming, but... exciting, too." Riven was acutely aware of their elbows touching on the railing and tried to ignore it, very unsuccessfully.
"I remember my first promotion. It felt like the deck was shifting beneath my feet. But you'll get used to it. You've got a good head on your shoulders, Riven. You'll do just fine."
Riven furrowed his brow, curious. "How would you know what kind of head I have on my shoulders?"
Orion seemed momentarily taken aback, then attempted to mask his embarrassment with a sheepish grin. "Now, don't get mad, but I might have looked into your files from the Academy a bit. A commanding officer has to know his crew, after all. Three 'excels' is really impressive, almost unheard of, and you didn't get an 'unsatisfactory' in any unit. You could find a home in any section of the ship."
Silence hung in the air for a brief moment as Riven processed Orion's words. "It's what I've wanted for as long as I can remember," he finally said softly. "As a little boy, I used to watch the starships warping in and out of the system, always wondering what wonders were out there waiting to be discovered."
"There are plenty, and you'll be there to help us find something amazing," Orion said, placing a hand on Riven's upper arm. Electricity seemed to shoot straight to Riven's stomach, causing it to flip. He inhaled sharply, and Orion quickly pulled back.
"I'm sorry, that was..."
"No, it's fine. I just…" Riven didn't want to taint the moment. "I'm just… newly single, is all."
Silence for a moment. "How new, if I may be so bold?"
Checking the time, he replied, "About four hours."
Orion winced, and leaned on the railing again. "I'm sorry. You should have said something, we could have done this another time."
Now it was Riven's turn to put his hand on Orion's arm. "No, really, it's okay. It was a long time coming, and tonight has been spectacular."
After a moment, Orion straightened up. "Hey, let's get back inside before Quinn and Wayne drink all the synth-ale. Quinn is putting it away faster than they can synthesize it!" he said with a grin.
Riven laughed, the tension easing as he followed Orion back inside.
"Yeah, I've never seen anyone put away alcohol like Quinn can," Riven said, shaking his head in amusement.
Orion nodded thoughtfully. "I'll look into his marks, but we also don't have a Helmsman quite yet. I might be able to pull some strings and get him onboard. But as the Aurora is meant to be the flagship, she'll need a top-notch crew."
"That would be great! Earlier there was some concern in our friendship dynamics due to… distance." Riven quickly edited. He didn't want to shake Orion's confidence in his ability to perform as an officer.
As they settled back into the booth, Riven playfully remarked, "Well, you certainly don't want Quinn then. They can't tell up from left, or the difference between shooting a gun from shooting a shot."
"Hey, I'm not the one who ordered twelve shots of moon whiskey and couldn't make it past three!" Quinn retorted, feigning hurt. "What are you talking about anyway?"
"Nothing," Riven and Orion said in unison, then burst into laughter.
Quinn's eyes narrowed before speaking, "Fine, keep your secrets then. But, hey, Wayne's not feeling so hot, and I have some appointments tomorrow, so we're gonna jet," Quinn said, indicating Wayne, whose face had taken on a strange green hue. Maybe it was just the light.
"Oh, well I hope you feel better, Wayne. Elle's food can be a bit rich sometimes," Orion said with a smile. "Nice seeing you again Wayne, and Quinn, keep an eye on your inbox."
Quinn shot Orion a puzzled look, then nodded and gave Riven a brief glance. A moment later, a message flashed across Riven's implant.
*His hand is on your knee, I was right. Enjoy.*
It was only then that Riven looked down and saw that it was, in fact, true. Orion's hand was lightly resting on his knee as he sipped his drink with the other. Riven felt his heart rate rising.
Orion noticed Riven staring at his hand and asked, "Is this okay?"
He nodded, and took a sip of his synth-ale, paused, then downed the rest of it.
Orion frowned slightly. "I'm sorry if I misread you, but it seemed like you might be interested… I understand if the breakup makes it awkward right now."
Riven's gaze shot up from his hand to meet Orion's gleaming blue eyes, somehow still bright in the dim ambiance of Elle's, feeling suddenly small. "It's not that... It's just..." Riven took a deep breath before continuing,. "I've never… you know."
Orion raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"Hey, don't judge." Riven caught himself staring at Orion's chest again. Quinn was right, he is rather muscley.
Orion leaned across the table, reaching for something to snack on, and Riven caught a whiff of his scent—sweet, like cinnamon rolls mixed with an earthy note. Teakwood, Riven thought.
Orion then gestured to the server, who promptly brought over smaller drinks—shots of something clear with a pearlescent swirl. Riven picked up his glass, suddenly feeling the absence of Orion's hand on his leg. "It's not moon vodka, but it'll do," Orion said, holding up his glass for a toast. They clinked the glasses together and downed the shots in one go.
The liquor tasted of honey and berries, rich and sweet as it coursed down Riven's throat, potent and exhilarating. It carried the fiery intensity of the land it was distilled on, tempered by a sensation that evoked the icy vastness of space. As it settled in his stomach, an invigorating warmth spread through his entire body.
"It's a rare liquor made on Old Earth, in one of the few habitable areas left," Orion explained. "The distillers call it... well, I don't know, but I like to call it Fire and Ice. It goes down like both."
Riven twiddled with the shot glass on the table as he spoke, saying, "It's very sweet, not what I would have expected from a straight liquor." The aftertaste was a little spicy, lacking the typical burn of straight liquor.
"I'm not judging you, Riven," Orion said finally, his tone sincere. "I'm surprised. A nice guy like you, smart, handsome, it just seems like someone would have at least tried."
It took Riven a moment to process that he was continuing their conversation. Oh, he did.
"The timing never felt right," Riven began, his head swimming from the potent alcohol already. "It wasn't that I didn't want to, really, I just… got scared, I guess. I never felt like I was in love with Eli, and it seemed like love was a necessary part of it."
"For some people, yes," Orion murmured, refilling both of their synth-ale glasses.
A sudden boldness Riven had never felt before filled him. "And for you?"
"Now, is that a proper question to ask polite company?" He handed Riven his glass, which he accepted gratefully and took a swig. Orion's eyes sparkled in the dim lighting of the lounge.
"Sorry," he said, eyes falling to his lap.
Orion grabbed Riven's hand lightly as he spoke. "I'm teasing you. I have had sex, but not with a man." Riven's eyes shot up to Orion's face. He was watching Riven intently.
"Really? Now that truly is surprising."
"Why do you say that?"
Scoffing, Riven waved a hand up and down, "Look at you. You're probably the most attractive man in the upper-ring!" His hand shot to his mouth, shocked at what he heard himself say. "There's no way you haven't had offers."
Orion leaned so close to Riven's ear that he could feel his breath and whispered, "Some people think love is a necessary part of it."
A thrill ran through Riven, making his breath hitch. He turned his face toward Orion's, barely an inch between them. His cinnamon scent washed over Riven and he leaned in just a little, but it was all he needed. Orion's eyes softened as he closed the gap and their lips touched lightly.
Everything else faded from Riven's perception but the touch of their lips. A moment later, Orion pulled back, his cheeks lightly reddened. Wave after wave of warmth radiated throughout Riven's body, a bittersweet revelation that this was something he'd never felt with Elijah.
"Want to get out of here?" Orion asked, and at Riven's expression quickly added, "Just for a walk."
Nodding, Riven stood up. His head swam but not from the emotion, the strange shot still doing its work. He quickly downed a glass of water before saying, "Let me use the restroom really quick."
Once Riven had splashed some water on his face, given himself a pep talk, and felt like he could confidently stand up straight, he rejoined Orion by the table.
Orion waved to the server who shyly waved back, a look of disappointment on her face as they walked out.
"Don't you have to pay?" Riven realizing he hadn't seen a bill.
"They know me, it's taken care of, don't worry."
They walked down the streets, much quieter now that the night had worn on. The lights had dimmed to not disturb the sleeping occupants of the surrounding housing units, and cleaning bots crawled labored up and down the street, leaving freshly polished metal in their wake.
"Look, Riven, I know you have a lot going on, and if you're not into this right now…" Orion trailed off, sounding unsure for the first time since Riven had met him.
The tenderness in Orion's voice gave him a sense of safety, and he felt secure in his ability to be honest. "I am into you, Orion, you've been great. Things are moving fast, though, I think it would be smart to slow down, just a little." Riven considered explaining his complicated relationship with Elijah, but after a brief pause, decided against it.
Orion smiled warmly, the uncertainty melting away. "Of course. We'll take it slow, I just need to cancel this wedding appointment."
Riven feigned horror, causing Orion to laugh.
Feeling more at ease than he thought he deserved, he said, "Thanks for understanding, Orion. It means a lot."
A thought occurred to Riven, and he blurted, "Why me? I'm nothing special. I might be smart, I guess, but I don't work out or, well, anything. And, like I said, look at you."
It took a few steps before Riven realized that Orion wasn't beside him anymore. Turning around, Orion was practically doubled over in silent laughter. "Riven, you silly man, I don't care about that. I like people for who they are, and from the moment you bumped into me in the corridors, you've exuded an aura the drew me in."
A feeling I know all too well, Riven thought, a shadow of his earlier guilt flickering through him.
"I don't know what to say," Riven confessed. A dreamlike quality had colored the atmosphere, making him wonder if he was about to wake up and get the actual results of The Trials any second.
"Then don't say anything, at least you know now."
They continued walking toward the mid-hab ring, to Riven's apartment. As they passed through the gate of the upper-hab ring to the mid-hab ring, Orion stopped and leaned against a railing that overlooked the expanse of space away from Old Earth. The Earth's moon, with its large chunk missing from the Final World War, was visible, its orbit gradually carrying it out of sight behind it's planet.
Riven leaned next to him, making a concerted effort not to look over. They shared a contemplative silence for a while, before Riven finally put his right arm around Orion, who turned to him and turned the gesture into a full hug. Riven couldn't have said how long they stood like that, just holding one another, before Orion gently placed his hand under his chin and tilted his face up, meeting his lips in another light kiss.
Riven pressed into Orion, deepening the kiss and squeezing him tightly. His mouth yielded to Orion's curious tongue, and he could taste the remnants of synth-ale and the Fire and Ice they'd drank. The gravitational pull of the hab ring shifted, revolving around them. For just this moment, they were the center of it all.
Orion's hands slowly moved up and down Riven's back, sending shivers through his body.
Riven tangled his hand in Orion's hair, savoring the feel of his soft curls twirling around his fingers.
One of Orion's hands found its way to Riven's ass, causing him to gasp and finally break apart from the kiss.
Orion immediately froze. "Riven, I'm sorry, I just… got caught up."
Riven shook his head, took a half step back and rested his hand on the railing. "No, it's okay, just unexpected."
A frown tugged at Orion's face, which made for an adorable sight. "Really, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin the mood."
"You didn't, I promise. I'll tell you if I am ever uncomfortable, I promise," Riven assured him, "But the timing was good, I'm tired, and I could keep doing that all night. It's been a hell of a day."
A flicker of concern flashed across Orion's face, but then he nodded. "Yeah, I suppose it has been. I'll walk you home?" he half said, half asked.
Riven hesitated. "I appreciate it, but I think I'll be okay. I'm right around the corner from here anyway." It would be just his luck that one or both of his parents would be awake and he did not relish the idea of trying to explain any of this to either of them right now.
Orion looked shy and awkward just standing there, and Riven imagined he was trying to come up with a way to convince him to change his mind. Finally, he said, "Alright then. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to message me, okay?"
"Thank you, Orion, for tonight, for Elle's," Riven said quietly, planting a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Don't mention it, Riven. Congratulations again, you worked hard for it." Orion held out his hand.
Riven shook it awkwardly, feeling the warmth of Orion's hand lingering even after they let go, little tingles buzzing around his palm. He turned and walked the rest of the way to his apartment, resisting the urge to touch his swollen lips.
Once in his room, Riven began changing out of his clothes and into something more comfortable while reflecting on all that had occurred since the morning. He thought about the time he had spent alone with Elijah, realizing that none of their interactions had felt half as charged as his first meeting with Orion, let alone the kisses they'd shared. Kissing Elijah and even holding his hand had never left him wanting more; in hindsight, it felt hollow. It was something he'd done because it was expected of him as a boyfriend, not because he necessarily wanted to.
He slid under the covers and stared at the ceiling, his mind turning toward his new position; he was a Third Mate aboard the SCFS Aurora, and in just two weeks' time he'd be rocketing through space to presumably unknown sectors of the universe.
Am I really that special? I had to work so, so hard.
Just as Riven's eyes started to droop, a message appeared in the corner of his vision:
*Sleep well, Riven.*
A small, unconscious smile tugged at his lips as he read the message. Sleep overtook him, carrying with it the lingering scent of cinnamon.