Ship's Interface
Copyright© 2024 by Togobam
Chapter 23: Edging Closer to the Goal
Science Fiction Sex Story: Chapter 23: Edging Closer to the Goal - Two marooned spacers find an ancient derelict ship that just wants to be loved.
Caution: This Science Fiction Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Ma/Fa Fa/Fa Ma/Ma Mult Consensual BiSexual Heterosexual Hermaphrodite Fiction Futanari Science Fiction Aliens Space Gang Bang Group Sex Harem Orgy Polygamy/Polyamory Anal Sex Double Penetration Facial Oral Sex Size
Deborah Liddenhouse squinted as she blew an errant strand of her strawberry blonde out of her eyes for the hundredth time of the night, her disheveled hair reflecting her mounting frustration. And again, also for the hundredth time, she wished that she had relented and agreed to let Devens out of her hospital room; she had an uncanny way of bringing order to chaos, an ability Deb usually relied on Devens for and now sorely needed.
She was seated at the front of the cafeteria, which had been turned into a makeshift meeting hall by pushing all the tables to one side, thus allowing room to line up seats for all of the aide workers who had shipped in on the Nestia and any refugees who wished to attend. Deb wearily rested her chin in one hand as yet another disagreement erupted from the crowd.
“And how exactly do you know that it was an isolated incident, Bill,” the short, balding man asked vehemently, shaking an angry finger at the target of his ire. “It’s a blasted waste land a thousand klicks in every direction! The only intel we get is when the flyers go out, and they can’t cover nearly enough ground to keep an eye on everything!”
“Use your brain, Tom,” Bill replied belligerently. “It’s exactly because it’s so bad out there that the likelyhood of a repeat is so low. “ Even if we had the manpower and expertise to spare, we wouldn’t need a quarter of the entire expedition to ‘train up for security,’” Bill said, gesturing sarcastically with air-quote fingers. “We’re here on a mercy mission; it’s not in our skill set.” Besides, it’s not like I’d trust you with a gun.”
That last poke set the short man off; he leaped from his seat, practically foaming at the mouth, as he shouted somewhat incoherently about Bill’s lineage and his apparent lack of the equipment required to sire offspring.
The meeting devolved further into an angry shouting match despite Deb’s best efforts to calm the group, with a seemingly even number of attendees falling on each side of the argument, adding their voices to the din.
“QUIET!”, a low, rumbling voice thundered, cutting through the raucous clamor. Startled, the group edged slightly away from the source of the command and fell silent. The enormous form of Jynthal Quoros, first mate of the Netherlands, rose from his seat in the middle of the crowd.
“Stop behaving like frightened children,” he said slowly as he stroked his long braided beard, his voice now quiet. “You’re both right; things aren’t nearly as bad as they seem, but it would be wise to form security details at each location to safeguard against something like this happening again.”
Seizing the opportunity Jyn created, Deb retook control of the meeting. “Jyn’s right. Panicking will not serve anyone’s purpose; we need to be thoughtful about how we protect ourselves but not lose sight of the fact we’re here to save lives,” she said, soothing the crowd, then turning to Jyn, “Do you have any experience with security?”
He let out a low, gravely belly laugh. “I’m afraid not; though I’ve had to break up my share of barroom fights. I’ve been a miner most of my life and a farmer before that; who you really need to organize security for our little outfit is a warrior who will inspire confidence that the matter is well in hand, someone with a solid reputation and experience to back it up,” he answered as he looked to the back of the room where a number of the Nestia crew sat quietly, his gaze landing on the form of the Urarc with dark and silver patterned fur and comparatively small silver girl in a sundress sitting on her lap.
Suddenly realizing all eyes were on her, Artona cleared her throat. “You want me to head up the security detail?” she asked incredulously. In her formative years, living in her mother’s clan, she was taught the ways of battle, as every young Urarc was. But unlike many of her peers, she had no desire or designs for leadership, content to be honed into a lethal weapon that her clan’s Alpha and the ruling Elders could unleash upon their foes, should the need arise.
Deb took a single heartbeat to consider Jyn’s proposal. “I think we do,” she said carefully. “I don’t think there’s anyone here who is more qualified. I believe your people have earned their reputation, and while I hope that it won’t come to it, I should think everyone on this mercy mission would feel better knowing that you have their backs.”
Artona thought for a moment and looked to her adoptive family. Ben reached up with a smile and put a reassuring hand on her left shoulder in support while June hugged her massive left arm. Sitting in her lap, Inta gave her a wink and a nod. “You wouldn’t be doing it alone,” the slight, silver girl whispered.
The surprised Urarc straightened her spine, sitting a little taller in her seat at the unexpectedly strong votes of confidence in her abilities. “Okay, I’ll do it,” she replied earnestly. “Though I’ll need a lot of help.” Artona’s expression became pensive. “we’ll need to assemble several teams to support each location; we can announce our intent among the aid workers, looking for anyone with a military background or security experience. With a quick interview, I can determine where they would be best suited.”
“I have a suggestion,” the earlier pugnacious man, Tom, now appropriately contrite, said, raising his hand. “I’ve been hanging out with some of the locals, who’ve mentioned doing a stint or two in the Navy. I’m sure they’d be thrilled to help.”
“That’s an excellent suggestion, thank you,” Deb said appreciatively. “Not only will they help fill a need, they’ll have a real way to contribute, which in times like these, can be almost as important to folks impacted by tragedy as food and medical attention. I’ll post the request on the bulletin boards at each aid station, looking for experienced volunteers.”
“I would be remiss to mention that the Netherlands has quite a few ex-military in our ranks. I can send a message to Sands, er, Chief Gideon, to see if she can spare a few more roughnecks from the rig to help out. I’m sure the answer will be affirmative,” Jyn rumbled.
Deb felt the mood of those gathered shift from deep unease, almost on the verge of panic, to a much more hopeful tenor. A smile sprang to her lips that was answered by many in the crowded cafeteria, further lightening the mood.
“Well, if there is no other business to discuss, I believe that we should close this meeting. Any objections?” she asked all in attendance, and to her surprise and relief, there were none. “Hearing none, we’ll adjourn until the next meeting, in two days’ time. Thank you, everyone,” Deb said, concluding the meeting as she stood, brushing the same wayward lock of hair behind her ear again.
As folks began to disperse, several stopped Deb to either offer their services or mention the name of someone they knew who might be willing to join the new security detail, all of which she fastidiously jotted down on the data tablet she always carried, all the while keeping an eye on the towering form of the tusked Mammuthus, shuffling off among the flowing current of exiting meeting attendees.
“Mr. Quoros, a moment please,” Deb called over the soft din, catching his attention as he passed close by. He stopped and waited for her to come closer rather than pushing his broad frame through the crowd, with a gentle smile on his face.
“Ms. Liddenhouse,” he greeted her in his characteristic low, slow way of speaking. “Is there anything else with which I can help?”
She smiled sheepishly in return. “No, you’ve done more than enough,” she replied, craneing her neck back hard to be able to look up at him, now that they were standing close. “I wanted to thank you again for your support this evening. You really helped me out of a tight spot.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said graciously. “I know how difficult it can be when you suddenly have to step up and fill the Boss’s shoes.” There was a knowing look in his eyes, an understanding tempered with compassion.
“Not long after I was made Sand’s second in command, she took a nasty knock to the head in an overhead crane accident. I had to step in and run things while she recuperated. Tonight, you had the very same expression on your face that I did. And I’ll say this, you handled yourself like a champ; and I’m not just blowing smoke up your skirt.” He gave her a wink. “From one Second in command to another.” He nodded his head in a small bow and then made his way out of the cafeteria.
The crowd was thinning, making it easier for Deb to cross to the back of the room, where the newly appointed security chief was with the rest of the Nestia crew, helping move chairs and tables back to their spots throughout the cafeteria. She wore an expression that looked equal parts determination and bewilderment, no doubt from the sudden weight of responsibility thrust upon her, Deb thought.
“Ms. Artona, I want to be among the first to thank you,” Liddenhouse started, extending her hand in greeting.
Artona turned to face Liddenhouse and accepted the proffered hand in her own larger hand, completely engulfing it. “I’m happy to help any way that I can,” she replied, opening her fingers, releasing her gentle grip on Deb’s hand.
Deb let her hand linger, feeling suddenly tiny as she took the comparative measure of their hands, hers resting softly in Artona’s palm, accentuating just how much larger the Urarc woman was. She coughed, suddenly self-conscious, and withdrew her hand. Regaining her composure, she asked, “Have you thought about what your first steps will be?”
Energy and effort were not spent on subtlety within the Clans Artona called family; the Urarc way of life was severe and often harsh, so most Urarcs were blunt by necessity. But living with the crew aboard the Nestia and watching Inta effortlessly make the smallest gesture that completely turned the mood of whichever room she was in showed her how powerful small gestures can be. Her recent attunement to the art of the subtle was just one more thing for Artona to be grateful to Inta for.
In that moment, she saw Deb clearly. She felt a sudden kinship of shared experience: Deb was a clever, kind person who worked hard to do the right thing, but who was now overwhelmed by unaccustomed responsibility, and though she was loath to show it, precisely how she felt at the moment.
Artona put her serious face on and hoped she exuded the confidence she did not feel in this moment. “Thanks to Jyn, I have the names of several candidates with us here and many more back aboard the Netherlands sea platform. After I speak with these individuals, I would like to see the list of respondents to your bulletin posts, to further fill out the security team’s numbers.” Artona gave her a sharp-toothed smile that she hoped came across as friendly and not aggressive. “When do you think you’ll have that list together?” she asked.
While Artona’s bulk dwarfed most she met, and many found her imposing, in the weeks since Deb had first met her, the intimidating Urarc had always been as gentle as a teddy bear around her, making her feel at ease in her presence. “I’ll have the post up by morning, and I would expect most of the responses within a day or so. Would a couple of days be soon enough?” Deb answered quickly, eager to help.
“Yeah, that’d be perfect. Thanks.” Inta stood at Artona’s side, wearing a pleasant smile as Artona stood in a slightly awkward silence with Deb, having run out of pertinent things to talk about, when Inta gave the towering Urarc a gentle but insistent elbow to her fur-covered side.
Artona blinked once, then, after receiving a slightly sharper silver elbow, she got the message. “Ah, so, how’s Deven’s doing? Knowing her, I would have expected that she would have forced the nurses to wheel her gurney around so she could keep working.”
Deb was amused at Inta’s less-than-subtle prodding, but only chuckled openly at Artona’s observation. “I set her up with a couple of data tablets and a comm unit so she could work on some logistics issues, and then threatened her that if she got out of bed, I would have her sedated,” Deb said with a grin, obviously joking. “But to tell you the truth, I don’t think that woman is capable of truly relaxing. I guess it’s what makes her so effective.”
Artona nodded, knowing that only that kind of dedication to managing the details of an operation like this made it possible to get anything done. “We all have our parts to play,” Artona said with a nod of agreement. “And now that I have this new role, I must see to it,” she said apologetically, cutting the conversation short. “I’ll let you and Devens know once I have a more solid game plan for security and what additional resources we may need.”
“I think I can speak for a lot of folks when I say this: I already feel better knowing that you’re handling this. Thank you,” Deb asserted, giving Artona a warm smile. “Well, duty calls; I need to get back to work, too.” Deb Liddenhouse then took her leave, only pausing once at the cafeteria door to turn back and wave before she disappeared around the corner, heading down the hallway towards the administrative offices.
Artona then turned to Inta, June, and Ben, who had been sitting with her throughout the meeting. “Jyn is gathering a few of the ex-military Netherlands crew that are already here at this location, so I can discuss our security and whether or not they would like to help. The meeting is in the administrative conference room in thirty minutes, so I need to get going; I know you all have your own tasks, so I won’t keep you.”
“That overflight data from the flyers isn’t going to analyze itself,” Ben said with fake exasperation. It was just the sort of thing he thrived on. “Wanna help?” he asked June.
“I’d love to,” she answered, hooking an arm around his, leaning close. June reached up with her free hand and pulled Artona down to face level for a quick kiss. “You’ll let us know if you need help with anything, right?”
Artona smiled, warmed by June’s affection. “Of course.”
Inta cleared her throat. “The same goes for you two as well,” she said, giving them both a peck on the cheek. “I’ve got loads of capacity at the moment and can help wherever needed.”
“I know,” June replied. “I think we’ll be all right for now, but later...” she said, waggling her eyebrows, letting the unspoken implication hang in the air.
“Oh yes, definitely later,” Inta answered, eyes full of desire, then swatted both June and Ben playfully on the rump, sending them off. They hurried off, practically skipping, eager to finish their tasks and collect their reward.
As June and Ben took a left as they exited the cafeteria, heading out to the landing area where the Nestia was currently parked, Inta followed Artona right, making their way to the administrative area.
The hallways were mostly empty as Inta walked close by Artona’s side, her petite silver hand clasping Artona’s large, powerful left hand, fingers interlaced. A look of mild concern crossed her face as waves of roiling emotions, full of anxiety and worry, with hints of self-doubt, poured off her outwardly stoic lover. Artona was usually a bulwark against all tides, solid and sure; It pained Inta to sense her distress, no matter how brave a face she put on for the rest of the world.
“You’re going to do a great job,” Inta told her, leaning into the wall of furry muscle at her side as they walked.
“Yeah, I know,” Artona said, unconvincingly. Inta stopped short, gently halting Artona in her steps.
“No, I mean it,” Inta emphasized. “You are the best person to do this, you have the skills, and a lifetime of training. You have seen battle, fought, and won against odds that most couldn’t have succeeded against. I’d bet on you every time.”
Artona sighed, not replying, and tried to continue walking down the corridor, but Inta was suddenly immovable, even against the Urarc’s immense strength, and wouldn’t be budged.
“Look at me,” Inta said more forcefully, and Artona begrudgingly turned and met her electric blue eyes, which stared back with love and empathy. “I can feel that you’re scared, but you can do this, I know it.”
“No, you don’t! You don’t understand!” Artona growled, more forcefully than she intended. She immediately regretted her outburst, knowing that Inta only wanted to make her feel better. Her shoulders sagged as she sighed again. “I’m not as strong as you think, not when it counts the most, anyway.” Inta was silent, giving Artona the emotional space she needed to work through it. “I watched my whole clan die in the firefight against the pirates on the Dallas; if we had been better, no, if I had been better, they’d still be alive.”
The root of Artona’s self-doubt became clear to Inta: up till now, she had been doing everything in her power to avoid dealing with her loss. She had successfully pushed the pain down in the back of her mind to deal with everything else they’ve had to contend with, but now having been suddenly thrust into a position where so many people’s safety depended on her, all of her buried guilt and sorrow came rushing to the surface, undermining her confidence, presenting a stark reminder of what could and already had been lost.
“Oh, Honey,” Inta whispered, stroking Artona’s powerful forearm soothingly. She looked up and down the hallway, and found the open door of a small, unoccupied office, then pulled Artona in and shut the door behind them. Inta guided the much larger Urarc woman over to a couch and sat her down. Artona’s large frame nearly filled the width of the small couch, so Inta settled on one of Artona’s knees and threw her arms up around her wide neck, embracing her as she poured warm, soothing energy across their psychic bond, looking to comfort her stalwart lover.
Artona wrapped her arms around Inta’s slim waist and buried her short snout into Inta’s neck. Feeling Inta’s warmth and caring wash over her, the dam holding back her repressed sorrow suddenly burst, letting her unshed tears finally flow. She clung desperately to Inta as she sobbed, the torrent of emotions scouring her composure as she finally allowed herself to mourn her lost family.
Though physically much smaller at the moment than her own bulk, Artona found an anchor point and refuge in Inta’s unwavering strength, and after a long fifteen minutes, her cathartic sobbing abated, and her tears slowed to a trickle.
“You’ve been through so much,” Inta said soothingly, gently stroking her back. “But you’re so much stronger than you think. In the face of overwhelming odds, wounded and having already lost so much, you still fought and helped to save so many people,” Inta gently reminded her of their frantic fight aboard the Dallas,” and as you look out for and train our little family, you make us all safer.”
Inta could feel Artona’s mood shift as she took her words to heart. “Looking after and protecting the AAN relief mission is a natural extension of what you already do, what you excel at.”
Inta reached up and cupped Artona’s chin. “And never forget that you’re not alone in this; I’m with you, as well as Will, June, and everyone else. We’re with you every step of the way.”
Artona wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. “I guess you’re right, I’m just being foolish,” she said, in a self-deprecating manner.
Inta’s expression grew serious. “It’s not foolish to worry that things could go wrong. That’s precisely the sort of thing the wise do, that insight is invaluable; they just don’t let it stop them from acting.”
Inta’s words had the desired effect; she watched as the tension in Artona’s broad shoulders relaxed, and she found a measure of peace, her anxiety diminishing to be replaced by renewed fortitude and determination to see the thing done.
Artona looked down at the slight, silver girl in her lap with gratitude shining in her eyes. “You’re a wonder, you know that?”
Inta’s smile grew incandescent. “Pep talks are my specialty. Well, one of them, anyway,” she said as she traced a line down Artona’s cleavage with a finger, her tone growing lascivious. “I know the best way you can thank me for such a wonderful pep talk...” she cooed, then grabbed the neckline of Artona’s vest and pulled her face down close enough to plant a soft, lingering kiss on her lips.
“Mmmm,” Artona hummed, the rumbling sound halfway between a pur and a growl. Slowly at first, the familiar, intoxicating heat of Inta’s attention flooded her body, electrifying her nerve endings; all her senses heightened, but were singularly focused on the scent and feel of the relatively tiny and impossibly captivating silver girl as she latched onto her vest with both hands and effortlessly judo threw her on the couch, upending her so that she was now positioned lying with her back on the couch. Due to its short length, her ass was raised a bit, resting on the arm of the couch with her legs dangling over the side.
“Now I know you have someplace to be,” Inta said with a wicked glint in her eye, holding Artona in place with one hand and undoing her wide belt with the other, “so I’m going to be fast and rough.” She didn’t bother removing the unbuckled belt before opening Artona’s fly and yanking her breaches down around her ankles. “But you like it that way, don’t you?” Inta continued, grinning as her petite body swelled to a size that made the hulking Urarc pinned to the couch seem small.
Inta’s sundress evaporated as she grew, revealing her pewter cock, proportionally large and already weeping a small rivulet of silvery precum. Artona licked her lips hungrily as her eyes locked onto the now monstrous shaft threatening her.
“Oh, I don’t think so, Sweetheart, there’s only one place you’re going to taste this tonight,” Inta said ominously as she gathered the pants still around Artona’s ankles up in a clenched fist, effectively immobilizing her legs, forcing her to fold in half, knees pressing against the breasts straining inside her vest.
Folded in half, Artona’s ass was forced into the air. She struggled to get out of her compromised position, but against Inta’s overwhelming strength, she was hopelessly outmatched. Inta’s hand flashed into a blur as she swung and struck a stinging open-handed blow across Artona’s exposed ass cheek, causing her to hiss through clenched teeth, shutting her eyes shut tight as delicious fire bloomed across her exposed flesh.
A second crack sounded as Inta warmed Artona’s other cheek, this time eliciting a wanton moan from restrained Urarc. “You love it rough, don’t you?” Inta asked the question she already knew the answer to. “Then you’re going to love this next bit,” she said as she grabbed the base of her engorged cock and swung it forcefully, striking at Artona’s exposed clit, engorged and needy.
“FUUCK!” Artona groaned loudly as Inta’s heavy cock slapped her swollen clit for a second time, and then on the third strike of Inta’s blunt weapon, she came hard, drenching Inta’s cock as she sprayed into the air. Artona convulsed and shivered as Inta dragged her massive member through Artona’s helplessly exposed folds, grinding against her pearl, mercilessly prolonging her climax until she was a babbling mess.
Inta quit her relentless assault on Artona’s battered clit once her climax abated, leaving her a panting mess. “I hope you don’t think we’re through,” Inta said, spreading Artona’s drooling netherlips wide, nestling her spongy crown at the slick entrance held captive before her.
Artona held a gasping breath as Inta held her pinned beneath her, paused tantalizingly at the threshold of what Artona ardently desired. Inta grinned wickedly as Artona ineffectively clawed deep gashes into the couch cushions in an effort to shimmy her ass forward and envelope Inta, but was held fast by Inta’s immovable strength. “DAMN IT ALL! FUCK ME ALREADY!” she roared, uncaring for how soundproof the wall may or may not have been, her anticipation and need driving her mad, begging for relief.
Inta prolonged her torturous restraint only for a moment longer, then drove slowly forward into the depths of Artona’s core, allowing her to savor every inch of Inta’s pussy stretch girth. Artona hissed through clenched teeth, and when Inta was fully sheathed inside her, tip pressing hard against her inner barrier, ecstasy exploded again through her body, causing her to nearly buck Inta off of her mating press.
Inta then began fucking her in earnest, maintaining a steady rhythm that had Artona cursing and praising her in equal measure. Inta rode her rough through a couple more orgasms, then abruptly pulled out, leaving Artona whining, feeling bereft.
“Now that you’ve got me all nice and slick,” Inta said ominously, pressing Artona’s legs further back, causing her ass to angle higher into the air, “I’m going to fuck that beautiful little asshole of yours. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Artona, her mind completely scrambled at this point, could only gibber her consent and need in an animalistic series of low grunts.
Inta pressed the head of her cock against Artona’s tight ring of muscle with slow, unyielding pressure. Her puckered entrance slowly relented until the broad head of Inta’s silver member popped unceremoniously through, causing the release of another torrent of curses to stream from Artona’s lips.
Giving her only moments to adjust to her girth, Inta rammed her entire length into the depths of Artona’s bowels. Bent in half as she was, Artona clawed wildly at Inta, but unable to reach, she sank one claw into the back of the couch and one into the arm her head was crammed against, splintering the hardened material beneath the cushioned surface, howling all the while.
“You are my fuck puppet, a sheath for my cock, a series of holes for my pleasure!” Inta told the Urarc woman beneath her, grunting out a possessive descriptor with each savage thrust. Artona was wild and mindless beneath Inta, her unending climax fueled in equal parts by Inta’s pumping rhythm in her ass and torrent of hedonic energy pouring into her across their bond.
Inta’s rhythm grew frantic until she drove thrust deep into Artona one final time and shuddered out her own climax, pulsing jet after jet of silvery emissions into Artona’s hot, spasming flesh. It was too much for her, and Artona’s eyes fluttered for a long moment until she finally passed out as her body went slack upon the shredded couch.
With a pleased look on her face, Inta rested a moment, holding Artona in that position, gazing down in loving satisfaction at her conquest, content in the knowledge that this was exactly how Artona liked it best.
Gently now, Inta slid her cock only part way out of Artona’s delightfully abused ass as she shrank to her usual size, but instead of her cock shrinking along with the rest of her, it pinched off instead, flaring the exposed ending to an Urarc sized butt plug, sealing in the several pints of silver precursor fluid now slightly bulging Artona’s abdomen.
“I may have over done it,” Inta tisked to herself, brushing the hair out of the face of her unconscious lover. “She’s definitely going to be late for that meeting now.” She furrowed her brow for a moment, then, coming to a decision, scooped up the now much larger Urarc woman in her arms, lifting her off the couch.
A silver line formed in the space in front of the couch, and a second instance of Inta stepped out of 4D space. Once she was fully formed in the room, she lay her hands on the shredded couch while the Inta, cradling the sleeping Artona, watched silently.
A thin sliver covering spread out, enveloping the couch, then it shrank to nothing, whisked away to somewhere where Inta could dispose of it later. A moment later, another form replaced it, and when the silver receded into Inta’s outstretched hand, another, intact, couch took the place of the ruined one. However, it was a different color entirely. “I’m sure whoever this office belongs to won’t mind,” Inta told herself softly.
The second Inta displaced away, and the first Inta laid Artona on the couch, pulled up her trousers, and arranged her limbs so that she was comfortable and decent, in case the office’s actual occupant should happen to find them.
Inta then proceeded to worm her way under Artona’s strong but currently limp arm to cuddle in her sleeping embrace as the little spoon.
Outside the Trantmore aid facility, across the short distance to the vast area of graded ground intended to be the temporary landing zone for future supply frigates, the Nestia sat parked, her white metal hull gleaming in the late-day sun. The power core, as were most systems aboard, was running at a low idle, enough to keep the internal environment comfortable, well-lit, and to keep the less power-hungry systems running, like doors and lifts.
The hallways, mess halls, and bunkrooms were all quiet as the entire complement of volunteers worked to restore local utilities or finish the final details to ensure the aid station’s hospital and refugee dormitories were ready for full service.