Chapter 7: The Crew Boards

The next morning Eliana opened her eyes to see Kyle's sleeping form beside her. She smiled with the memory of the previous night and then winced as she felt the soreness between her legs. Kyle opened his eyes and looked into hers.

"Good morning love," she whispered.

"Good morning," Kyle returned.

"Will you please lift your wing and let me out of bed I need to go to the restroom," She said and then added with a chuckle, "That is if I can walk that far, I find I am very sore down there between my legs."

Kyle chuckled and lifted his wing.

Gingerly Eliana walked to the restroom discarded the anal insert and made her way into the showers. The stream of water playing over her did wonders at relieving her soreness. Soon the others joined her and allowed the streams of water to revitalize them. When they all had completed the morning ritual of getting ready, they joined each other in the mess hall for breakfast and coffee before starting the day. When breakfast was done, they separated and went to their various jobs.

Remi and Stan stood before a blank screen in the hanger bay.

"Sonya, please contact Tasha," Remi spoke.

"Right away Remi," Sonya returned.

The screen in front of them flicked for a moment and then Tasha flashed into being on the screen. "Good morning Remi," She said.

"Good morning Tasha. Is the crew assembled and ready for transport?"

"Their here and waiting Remi," Tasha answered and the screen panned to her side and showed that the crew was all there along with their personal items.

"Tasha, please have Greg, Zeena, and Janessa step forward and be prepared for teleport."

At a word from Tasha, the three named individuals stepped forward and stood waiting.

"Sonya transport Greg, Zeena, and Janessa please," Remi ordered.

A moment later, all three materialized on the hanger deck. Remi ordered each of them to pilot one of the six-seat ships to the ground below and begin transferring the rest of the crew and their belongings. It had been decided to use physical transportation rather that have them teleported in order to give the crew members more experience flying the small ships.

"Sonya, please see to the landings and when all the crew are present contact us. Thank you," Remi instructed and then she and Stan turned and headed for the bridge.

A few hours later Sonya informed that all were assembled in the hanger bay and waiting. Remi and Stan went to the bay and as soon as they entered, the crew formed two lines and came to stiff attention.

"At ease," Stan said and then Remi started to speak.

"Welcome aboard the spaceship 'Seeker'," she said smiling. "I and the rest of the officers here are not into the military discipline thing. You can relax and not be so damn stiff. You may address me as simply Remi or if you insist captain, I do not want to be Ma'am or Sired. I'm not much older than you are and I don't want to be made to feel that way," she chuckled.

"You may address the other officers by their names also. We however, do expect you to follow orders without question and respect not only us but also yourselves. You will follow us now with your belongings and I will show you to your assigned rooms. After you have been to your room report to the mess hall, which I will point out along the way, for further instructions and assignment. Fall out and get your things." Without further comments, Remi and Stan spun and waited at the door leading to the transport system.

The crew went to their luggage, which consisted of a large chest. Pushing a button on the side of each caused each chest to rise off the ground slightly and hover in the air. A beam of light flashed from the chest and shined on the owner of each. When the individual turned and walked away the chest followed a few feet behind.

When the first members of the crew entered the transport area, they looked dubiously at the platform surrounded by rails. Built large enough to accommodate about twenty people, it was level with the ramp on which they stood. Because each of them had luggage in tow only ten of them stepped on. As they looked down, they could see that the platform floated about six inches above the recessed floor.

Remi stepped on with them and said, "Bay level three."

There was no sound or sense of movement but the rest of the group on the ramp disappeared behind as the platform moved down the tunnel at tremendous speed. When it arrived at its destination there was no stopping motion felt. Remi stepped to the gate opened it and walked off the platform. The door in front of her irised open and she proceeded down the hallway beyond. The hallway appeared padded on the floor, walls, and ceiling with some soft material, which gave off no sound as they walked on it. As she walked past she pointed out the mess hall and then going a little further turned to the right and into a hallway with six doors spaced evenly on both sides.

"These are four person rooms. For now, I will assign you to them. Your name is on the bed that is yours. Please stow your baggage and then report to the mess hall for further instructions," Remi stated and then started calling out names. When she had finished she left to get the rest of the crew and repeated the procedure until all crew had a room and bed assigned.

Remi left after finishing the assignments and joined the rest of the officers in the mess hall to wait. They did not wait long before the crew members began to file into the room.

"Please stand behind one of the empty chairs," Stan instructed when all had entered.

Stan was standing in the center of the eight officers, between Remi and Kate and looking out at the bright young faces of the crew who were wearing warm jumpsuits and obviously suffering in the tropical heat at which the spaceship was maintained. He chuckled silently and then addressed them once more.

"You have no doubt noticed that the temperature here is maintained at the tropical one we are used too. We will be handing out your uniforms shortly and let you change out of the jumpsuits you are currently wearing when you are released to your rooms once more," he paused and then continued.

"You will also be given a wrist transmitter which will allow you to contact Sonya our AI. She, yes I said she for it has a female voice and considers itself a she and not an It. She will answer any questions you may have and can put you in touch with any other individual so long as you are both on board this ship. Remi and Stan were the only two who could contact Sonya when not on board. This was possible because they both had neural receptors implanted. Sonya can do many other things for you also and instruct you further later. Now I will turn you over to Remi so that she can give you your assignments." Stan said and then stepped back as Remi stepped forward.

"As you will note each of us has a nametag above our right breast either stenciled to the shirt or tattooed on our skin. You will each get one of these also along with instructions on how to apply them. The tattoos are temporary and will fade in a month but by that time, we should know each others names. As I announce your assignments your supervising officer will step forward and I will give you his or her name," Remi paused and then started.