Chapter One Forty-One Laying the Keel
Megumi observed the workers as they brought the first slip online. The yard wasn’t yet ready for full-scale production. She had so much to do to get it ready, but she had found the materials to get started on one ship. It wasn’t much but it would be the start of something bigger.
Someone walked up to her as she watched the workers work. Already an object was starting to form, anchored in the slip. The green-skinned girl who walked up to her, spoke, “Hey Megumi, have you seen Kiru?”
Megumi turned and took in the sight of the naked girl. Her boobs had swollen a little and her belly was starting to look pretty heavy. It seemed she would be getting close soon. “Hmm? I think she said something about a play date with her sisters.”
“Eriku and Eris? You wouldn’t happen to know where they are either would you?”
“Afraid I’ve been a little too busy to keep track of them. I do know where Qiri is though.”
“Little Qiri? Oh what is she doing?”
Megumi pointed out the viewport, where she could be seen maneuvering in a hard suit, “She’s out there helping with the construction. Seemed quite happy, she was talking all about how much fun it would be.”
She giggled, “Volunteered to build that new cruiser out there?”
“I wouldn’t call it a cruiser just yet, we don’t even have a proper spaceframe yet. They are out there building the keel of the new ship.”
“I guess you are right. Any idea when she will be done?”
“Three months, which gives me precious little time to get her core ready. I already have that, I just need to get her online.”
“You do?”
Megumi smiled and nodded, “I rescued her ages ago, and now that I have a body for her? I’m going to start getting her ready.”
“A sister? You lucky girl!”
Megumi chuckled, “Um thanks.”
Aleki walked down the side of the road as vehicles passed going either way. He could have gotten a car himself, but he wasn’t in a hurry. Besides, the Cafe wasn’t too far from his office. So he had chosen to walk, which gave him some time to think and put the war aside. Thankful that it had not yet reached this part of the Federation. Even if how long that would remain the case was uncertain, the fact itself was something to be thankful for.
Stopping at a corner, he waited for a chance to cross the traffic and then crossed while the intersection was going the other way. Upon reaching the other side of the street he turned left. While keeping an eye to his right. Passing several signs, he soon found the one he was looking for. He paused outside the door for a moment, and then stepped inside, where he was soon noticed by a familiar face, “Aleki! Your wife came in about five minutes ago. Shall I show you to her table?”
He turned to the lady and gave her a thankful smile, “Thanks Kirna. How’s business been?”
“It’s been better,” she replied with a sigh, “people are afraid of the war. I imagine things are worse for you.”
“You could say that, I wish I could say more,” said Aleki thinking about how the war was going worse than was generally known. If not for the current lull who knows how badly the war could have been going. He’d seen the projections, the best case was for total defeat within six months. Some time had passed since that estimate and they had gained a little time, all thanks to the lull, but he had this bad feeling about the lull. He didn’t trust it, it felt sinister to him.
A thought he put aside, as the pair drew near a table in the corner of the shop. His wife spotted them as they approached and smiled. “Aleki dear, you made better time than I thought.”
“I chose to walk, good thing too, the traffic out there is a nightmare.”
Kirna pulled out a notebook. “Eshia, your order will be out in a few more minutes.” Turning back to him, she asked, “Your usual? Or are you in the mood for something else?”
“Hmm, I’ll take the usual plus a small cake. I’m in the mood for something sweet.”
“Sure thing! I’ll have it out before you can blink.”
As Kirna left, he turned back to his dear wife Eshia who seemed to be in a pretty good mood. He took the seat across from her and started, “So you had some good news for me?”
She grinned and leaned forward, “Sure do! I’m pregnant!”
He blinked, “What? Pregnant?” he was frozen for a moment, then a smile graced his lips, “Qeina is finally going to have a sibling? After all these years. Oh, I can’t wait to tell her the good news.”
“That’s the good news, but there is also my age to consider. The doctor wants me to visit the clinic more regularly.”
“Right, older women are at greater risk of complications,” he replied, his grin vanishing.
She chuckled, “Just a bit, but thankfully the doctor thinks it will be fine, but they do want to talk to you as well.”
He nodded along, while still digesting that he might have another child soon. Something he’d wanted for many years. Some part of him had concerns, but he pushed them aside. It was probably just his job making him see nefarious shadows when there were none. It wouldn’t be the first time. “Any time in particular?”
“No, they didn’t say anything about a specific time. Merely asked that we both visit at a time of convenience. Preferably sooner rather than later.”
“Hmm, I think I have some free time coming up.” He commented, pulling out his mobile. Just as Kirna came back with their meals.
Kirna laid them out dutifully, shared a smile and said,” I’ll leave you two to it. Enjoy!”
He watched her leave and then looked over his schedule real quick, “Let's see, I am free this afternoon and most of tomorrow morning.
Eshia swallowed a bit of her food and then pulled her own mobile. “I’ll text the doctor then. We can see if they are free.”
The doctor replied rather quickly to her text with a schedule attached to a quick message, “I’m free to meet you two this afternoon, aside from one appointment I’m not too busy. I look forward to our meeting. See you this afternoon.”
“Guess that settles it,” commented Eshia.
“Hmm, so it does,” he replied as he picked up his fork. The conversation soon shifted to another topic. As the pair enjoyed their date.
Qeina stood at the viewport looking out. A flash of light signaled a beam weapon firing before it tore into her frigate. She felt a twinge of pain at the sight, but it was necessary and thankfully no one was onboard. They would be leaving the outpost soon, but first they had to damage her ship.
Another burst of light fired from the Protari frigate attacking her unmanned ship. This time the beam tore into it for a few seconds longer. Qeina had already been briefed on the damage as it was planned. They were going to avoid critical systems like the hyperdrive and life support, but they were going to blow up some of the crew quarters, destroy the main shield generators and disable some of her weapon systems.
It was a real shame too, considering her father had gone to a lot of effort to commission this ship for her. Qeina hoped the damage wouldn’t be too bad. She liked that ship. Well, the Collective would likely upgrade it for her regardless. She smiled at that thought, just as she heard a door open.
Anai took up position next to her, but said nothing. The pair of them stood in silence together while watching as their ships were deliberately wounded. Prior to their new missions.
Megumi walked down the corridor, Qelu at her side. Qelu held her tentacles behind her head, “So since everyone is busy, care to have some fun with me?”
Megumi smiled, “You have something in mind?”
She giggled, “Sure do! We can have sex!”
Megumi giggled, “Figures. I guess you are feeling a little horny?”
“Maybe just a little. I’m happy for Kiru and all, but she is just so busy with her sisters lately.”
“You wish she had a little more time for you?”
Qelu nodded, “I get lonely sometimes.”
“In that case, maybe I can help you take your mind off that.”
Megumi led her friend down a few corridors and into a nice room with a large bed. It was one of the guest rooms on the shipyard that she had refurnished recently. It wasn’t in use yet, though, which made the room free for use.
With a smile she jumped onto the bed, shedding the little clothing she wore. Nothing much, just a little top and skirt combo chosen more for its appeal than anything else. Qelu giggled and then climbed on up, slowly due to her pregnant belly. “Oh this will be fun!”
Megumi waited for a bit and then helped Qelu on top. Where the two began rubbing against each other. As the sex began, she spoke, “So think of any names for your baby?”
Qelu smiled, widely as she began tweaking her uppermost left nipple with a tentacle, “I sure have.”
“Care to share?” said Megumi as she copied the other girl and began teasing her own left nipple, but with a hand instead. She let out a bit of a moan, which was quickly reciprocated.
Leaking clear juices and with a wide grin Qelu moaned out, “Reqi, I was thinking of Reqi as a possible name. I was also considering Kirri, but I can’t forget Luru.”
Megumi giggled, “Can’t quite pick one?”
Qelu shook her head, “It’s my first, she needs a special name!”
Picking up the pace she replied, “I guess you are right about that.”
Qelu responded, with a tentacle. Megumi gasped as it slipped between her legs and rubbed against her avatar’s clit. As a stroke of lightning surged through her, she returned the favor. Using her wings to pull the other girl closer, before flicking Qelu’s clit.
The girl gasped as the two began to get more into the game and less into the conversation. With each movement, Qelu thrust against Megumi’s legs as the pair gave each other a show. Something Megumi certainly enjoyed as well. It was a welcome distraction from her usual routine. Maybe she should consider doing this more often. Her creators had believed sex was an important bonding ritual, they did it not just with lovers but with friends too.