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Calista Four, Kaidran Quadrant By: Malissa Madison 4/7/2013 Churl remained as close as possible to Calista, his body language emitting both extreme joy as well as Sorrow. Before him on the bridge of the Equinox stood one who was in name the same as his lost love. And yet she seemed so indifferent to his presence. Could she not see how much he already loved her, and what of their kit at home with his parents on Helconia Prime? Alice Dalton studied the Kaidran, who was studying her Daughter and First Officer so closely. He had called himself her son in law, Calista his wife. It was clear that he adored her, but could there be anything for either of them, being from two different universes. They had sat with Cling behind closed doors, She, Ginger, Calista, and Patricia. And he had told them how the queen had controlled the jump between dimensions. It took a mental lock from a Phase spider with the Crystals in the chambers. And the Queen controlled those minds. The only reason they could think of that Clings mind had linked with the crystals was from having done so on three other occasions. He admitted to having explored the Kaidran Quadrant as a juvenile Phase Spider. One reason so few lived to adulthood, they were explorers by nature. And Kaidra was the one place he could remember feeling safe, having ventured there many times to watch the Ten Moons of Lexis Three, rise and align once every seven years. It was a moot point, both the captain and chief engineer argued. Without the engines, they could not hope to go anywhere. I finished running the updates for the star charts, "Myrtle, catalogue and store the current charts Marked under Kaidran Quadrant, please." "As you wish Chief Astrogator," replied the computer. "Myrtle, the correct title is Chief Navigator," I corrected the computer. "My apologies Ma'am. In this Quadrant the correct term used to describe your position is Chief Astrogator." Responded the Navigation computer. "Very well then," I was clearly vexed at being corrected by the computer. My agitation showing, radiating out from her like a beacon. As I turned, I caught Churl looking at me with what could only be amusement. I sat down in my chair and rapidly typed into the keyboard pulling up the Navigation Log. Fleet Starliner Equinox, Navigators Log, entry Twenty Four dash four, Chief Navigator Dalton, Calista 4. We have been under tow from the Kaidran Fleet, Battle Cruiser, Falcon for two days Ships Time. While Cling and Ginger continue to pull and inspect Drive Crystals, no move has been made to hamper our repair efforts. The Captain of the Falcon has remained onboard, and seems to be ever near me. I cannot deny that we appear to be in a parallel universe as Cling claims. Captain Churl knows way too much about us to just be guessing. And I am wondering if there isn't some truth to his claims that in this universe we were married. We have been receiving updates and information from Helconia Prime, which leads us to believe that they are accepting the truth about us. They certainly seem anxious to meet with us. End Log entry. I stood up and then stretched, finally I reached down touching my toes to stretch out my back, catching a glimpse of Churl as he stood watching me, an excited look on his face. His tail seemed to twitch involuntarily with excitement. "Captain, I will be in my quarters if you need me. Roberts, the Nav Station is yours." I turned over the watch to him and started toward my quarters. Before I got five paces Communications informed Churl that he had an incoming Message from Helconia. Trying to show that he had nothing to hide he replied, "Put it on screen please." A beautiful face framed in silky calico fur appeared instantly. "Daddy, Grandpa said you were coming home, is that true?" "Yes Allie, I am on my way as we speak." He told her. "I was so afraid Daddy, I don't want to lose you the way we lost Momma," she was near tears. When Alice leaned in to look at the screen closer, the girl squealed. "Gramma Alice! Is my Mommy with you?" Instantly I turned to look at the screen and found myself trying to explain to a five year old Kaidran that I wasn't really her Mommy. Personal Journal, Dalton, Calista Four. I'm very confused, my heart is wrenched at thoughts of how devastated Churls daughter was when she found out that I wasn't her mother. And at the same time, my heart goes out to her. Churl seems to be a loving caring father, but what could he possibly see in me. I don't know the first thing about Kaidran's, but from the four others we have met I can see he is by far the most attractive. There is something about him that keeps drawing my attention to him. He seems awfully young to be a Ships' Captain, granted that ship from what I've seen could easily fit inside one of the four primary holds of the Equinox. He invited me to tour the Falcon with him once the Deep Space Tugs from Helconia arrive. Also he has arranged to have one of their Matter Transmitters installed in the inner hold near engineering. I tried to pin Cling down on how long it would take for me to learn to control a Phase Jump. But I get a feeling it could be years if not decades. It took Janet Riggs twelve standard years according to Cling, and that was with an intimate bond with the phase Spider Torig. I've yet to take advantage of the new changes in my body since receiving the stage two shots. The small hollow behind my testacles has receded deeper forming a Vagina, and transforming me into a Hermaphrodite. The urges were there with Vicky to try it out, but with the rapid events there has been no time. Now though I find myself growing damp and sometimes short of breath whenever I am close to the Alien Captain, Churl. And now with the discovery that he and my twin in this Universe had a daughter, I find myself even more attracted to him on a fully sexual level. Closing out my personal journal I decided I needed a shower and rest. But in the shower my thoughts turned once again to Churl. What would it be like, sex with a Furry? I began to get excited by the thoughts and found myself masturbating, my fingers exploring my newly formed Vagina. Though I brought myself to orgasm three times I was still frustrated as I stepped out and dried before heading naked to my bunk. I lay down in my bunk after taking that much needed shower. And barely remember my head hitting the pillow, I was still trying to figure out how to make the engines go into a Phase jump, when my thoughts touched on the Matter Transmitters. What if I could combine the two? In my sleep filled mind I was crossing and re-crossing the programming. Suddenly I was jerked awake by Lola, my room computer saying, "Entrance permitted." I lay there thinking I was still dreaming when I felt a weight shift on the bed. Opening my eyes I found myself staring straight into those deep brown eyes with the vertical pupil, surrounded by calico fur. "Allie? how did you get in here?" She held up her finger to her lips. "Daddy doesn't know I'm here, please don't tell on me." "Yes but, who let you in?" With a giggle she said, "Lola, at first she didn't remember me, but I convinced her." "Calista," Momma called over the intercom. "Helene wants us to check the ship for an unscheduled visitor. They say someone used a transporter to come to the Equinox without authorization. Could you meet Vicky near Engineering?" Helene was the Furry Transporter technician Churl had assigned to operate the thing, as well as teach us how to operate it. "I could Momma, but I think maybe Churl should come to my Quarters first." "She's here?" I could hear the relief in his voice. "Yes, she woke me up." "I'll be right there." "Excuse me honey, I need to get dressed." She giggled as she sat down at my chair and the vanity slid out of the wall. In a hurry I slid on a pair of the form fitting Panties and bra then into my favorite uniform, the short ruffled skirt and top in the ships colors, then reached for my heels. "Here Mommy," Allie said handing me, my boots. When I was ready she asked me where my stunner was. "My what?" "You know, your stunner, like Daddy wears." I realized she meant a stun gun. "I don't have one Honey. I'm not a military officer." "The Captains are here," announced Lola before opening the door. Rushing inside Churl grabbed her up in a hug, "Allie you have so many people scared for you. You know you aren't supposed to use transporters by yourself. And you left without telling Momom or Popop where you were going." He scolded the girl. "But Daddy I had to see her, she's my Mommy, she has to be." Allie was crying and it broke my heart to see her in such mental pain, even as she was reaching for me I tried to fight it but gave in, and found myself holding her. "Gramma," she smiled at Momma, who smiled back. I felt the ship lurch under pressure and started with alarm. "The Tugs are here," Momma said. "Ma'am, with your permission I'd like to bring the Falcon into Primary Port Bay One." Churl said to Momma. "We burned a lot of fuel towing you this far. And I think maybe my First Officer would like to meet her twin." "Aunt Vicky's here Daddy?" Allie asked. "We are one of the few Combat vessels with a mixed crew." Explained Churl. Then he turned back to Allie. "It's going to be hard to see how many here are the same as on your mothers ship, but they are not the same people Allie." She whispered something into his ear and he smiled. "I'm sorry Sweetheart, I had a hard time believing it myself." "I know she isn't my Mommy, Daddy but I want her to be. Maybe she can help me finish the 'Jumper'." She held out a little device in her hand that looked like a personal communicator. Suddenly her image was across the room and then she was in that images place. "Allie you know you promised not to use that without your Mommy being there." "It's alright, no harm done," I found myself saying. "Allie, did your Mommy make that for you?" and she nodded as she hid it away in a pocket of the little skirt she was wearing. "Come on lets go see your Daddy's ship," I held out my arms to her. "Calista, slow down. You're getting in too deep here," warned Momma. "Momma this is the closest I'll ever get without Stage Three," I said. A few passengers had been awakened already and stood staring at us as we made our way to the first hold. I stood there with Allie on my hip, her arms around my neck as we watched the Falcon maneuvering into the hold. As soon as it was in and the engines off I watched as ten crew got out in space suits and erected a force barrier on either side of the missing hold doors. When the uprights glowed white Churl said it was safe to enter. One of the crew took off her helmet and I was staring straight into Vicky's face. She looked at Momma, "Permission to board Ma'am?" "Granted, welcome aboard." Turning to Churl she said, "There are still three Fighters on patrol sir. I told them to refuel on the Gorgon and we'd recover them at Helconia." "Good call, thank you 'First'." "Shall we?" he asked me as Allie struggled to be set down. Holding my hand I allowed myself to be towed along in her wake. At the foot of the short entry ramp she stopped before the sentry, letting go of my hand as her hackles rose up, a very low growl emitting from her throat in challenge. "Oh no you don't Miss Allie. Not this time, you'll not get me to drop my guard long enough to trade growls with you." He told the child. Churl tapped his shoulder and he turned. "She didn't need to, so tell me Trooper, what else caught your attention that I was allowed to step past you without recognition?" "The Admiral Sir. And the Lady Callie, Sir." He bit his lip, "I mean their doubles." "Uncanny isn't it? But of course I get a feeling you don't want to try Captain Daltons patience either." Warned Churl. "Allie, this isn't the School playgrounds, stop growling challenges at everyone." The bridge of the Falcon was small and cramped, but what else could one expect on a deep space patrol, battle cruiser. The fighter bay held nine fighters, piloted by a single pilot who was also the navigator and weapons officer. There were three empty launch cradles. "Daddy, where's Tia? Her fighter's missing." Allie pointed out. "Lt Tia is on patrol Sweetie. Don't worry." He took pride in showing off his engines as if I should recognize them. "Why should I recognize them?" I asked. "You Designed them, or rather Callie my Wife did." He said dryly. I decided to take a much closer look. The sub-light impulse engines, were nothing special. They burned Cold Fusion Matter, and fed the rest of the ships systems. The Stellar Drives on the other hand were a different matter. There were two Drive Crystal chambers linked to another separate chamber. I was studying it intensely when someone asked, "Is there a problem with the pounce unit Ma'am?" "Pounce unit?" Momma asked behind me. I slowly turned to see a Furry version of Ginger. Her name was Ginree. "That gives you the ability to go into hyper space without having to be fully in stellar drive, right?" I asked. "Yes just like pouncing on the prey, we can shift directions without having to turn first." She was looking at me curiously. "Excuse me Churl, I need to have our engineers look at this, with your permission of course." I asked. "Of course," was Churls response. "Ginger, could you and Cling meet with the Falcons Engineer? They have a unique engine design." I never got to finish before Cling appeared in our midst. There were several gasps, and then Ginree reached out to touch him. "Cling? You're here again." "Pardon me, do we know each other?" he asked her. "Ginree, this is not the same Cling who cuts and fine tunes our Drive Crystals. He came with Calista." Out of the corner of my eye I caught a shimmer just over Clings back. Suddenly Allie was there on top of him, her little legs wrapped around the narrow space between his body segments. He started to panic and then she kissed the top of his head. He couldn't reach her, where she was at, and he began bouncing trying to throw her off his back. "Cling! Stop now, she is just a child." I charged up to him, placing my hand on his face and he calmed down. "Allie, give it to me." I held out my hand for the 'Jumper'. Then helped her slide off his back. Now apologize to Engineer Cling." "I'm sorry Sir Cling. The one back home likes to give me rides." She was actually pouting. "Allie, I told you before. You ask first." Churl turned to Cling. "I'm sorry for her behavior, she had a friend who disappeared with her mother's ship. He was aboard refitting the Drive Crystals when they were attacked." "Excuse me, May I?" he reached for the Jumper. This has three permanent settings, one is to the Bridge of this ship. The others," he studied it a moment. "Would be the Equinox Bridge, and somewhere on," he looked at it deeper. "Helconia?" "It's my safety jumper. It takes me someplace safe," she looked sad and in that instant I knew she had been with her mother when the Attack had come. "Yes but how do you control it otherwise?" "Oh, I just hold the button and think of where I want to be. But it wouldn't take me to Mommy, I mean the new Equinox, that's how I knew it wasn't my Mommy's ship." She grabbed it from Cling and pushed the button, and before anyone could react she was gone. "I'm sorry Sir I did not mean to upset her, will she be alright?" Cling seemed to feel the depth of her sorrow. "Churl, do you know where she might have gone to?" I expressed my concern. "She is either on the bridge of the Falcon, or at my parents," he seemed assured. But when he called the bridge they hadn't seen her. Twenty minutes later a call to his parents revealed that she hadn't come there either. "Could it be she jumped to another of her Grandmothers' ships?" Momma asked gently. "It has a safety built into it, you cannot jump to a null space. She has to be someplace close by." Two hours of searching and calling for her turned up nothing. His parents searched her friends and every place she might have gone on Helconia. "She has to be able to have a clear picture in her mind before she can jump to any place that isn't preset into it," Churl explained. "That's the way you, I mean Callie set it up." We were combing the Equinox searching for her, there just weren't enough people to adequately search it in a hurry. My PDA pinged that I had an incoming message. Opening it I saw it was from Patricia. I was about to ignore it when I saw there was a query from Lola, my quarters AI. Looking around I saw I was alone in the upper star viewing bubble. "Chief Astrogator, please give authorization for reprogramming to include Kaidran food in my meal options." That was strange, why would? I began to ask, then it hit me. I began making my way quickly to my Quarters. I thanked Patricia for bringing the message to my attention. "What Message?" both Momma and Churl asked over the intercom. I stepped up to my door and flashed my palm outward over the scan plate, stepping inside quickly. "I'll be in my quarters for a bit taking care of something." The main room was empty, as was my sleeping chamber. I rapidly stepped to the door of the guest chamber but it remained closed. "Lola, Sync with the Falcon to add suitable Kaidran dishes to the menu. Notify my PDA when it is used." "Yes Ma'am, Downloading now." It only took a few minutes before the first request was made. "Lola, please deliver all meals to the main room only. Oh and double the orders please." I sat at my vanity, my back to the main room watching in the mirror as the guest room door slid silently open. She carefully crept out toward the table, then spotted me and froze. "Go ahead and eat Sweetie, I can hear your tummy grumbling clear over here," I smiled in the mirror not turning toward her. "You aren't going to tell my Daddy are you?" "Not unless I have to. But Allie, he is so worried about you, we all are." "Be, because I ran away. Because I want my Mommy back but it isn't ever going to happen. I, I," she began sobbing moments before she threw the Jumper across the room. I let it lay were it landed, something told me she'd actually watched her mother die. She made no move to flea as I dashed across the room scooping her up in my arms. "Allie, it's ok. Let it all out," I kissed the tears running from her eyes. She sobbed for a long time before she began slowing down, and I gently carried her into the guest room and lay on the bed cuddling her, stroking the soft fur down the back of her head and neck until she lay quiet. She curled into a ball and her muzzle snuggled between my breasts. The insistent buzzing at the door drew my attention. "Lola let them in." Churl was the first to enter, his head turning every which way searching until he spotted me. I put my finger to my lips urging quiet. "Thank god she's ok, I better get her to her room on the Falcon." He moved to pick her up and I tightened my arms around her. "Churl, she needs rest, and understanding right now. Please let her stay," I looked at him letting him know I meant it as a demand not a request. "If you're hungry there's food. Maybe mark her favorites for Lola." He spotted the Jumper near the wall where she'd thrown it, and picked it up. When he started to put it in his pocket I said, "No, it's hers. She may need it, and I'd rather know she can jump to safety." He handed it to me and I set it beside the bed. Churl and I sat at the table, me sampling the food he suggested, as we talked about Allie, Callie, his parents. And the events up to when she jumped off her mothers' ship. "I need to know, did she see her mother die? Was she there when it happened?" "No she had already jumped before the ship was destroyed." As if our talking about it prompted something she began having the nightmare. Her scream was our first indicator. "No, Mommy get up. Get up Mommy. Please, you can get out please Mommy, Gramma. I can take you with me. Let go, let go don't touch me," her body stiffened and then went limp and she cried for nearly an hour in her sleep. "Churl, she saw it, she had to. There is no other explanation for that nightmare." I said. "No the jumper wouldn't have taken her back in the middle of that. It is programmed to not let that happen." A glimmer in the mirror caught my eye and I saw her standing there in my sleep chamber, the jumper in her hand. I turned my head so I could see both clearly. Slowly I let him slide into my place holding the sleeping girl as I slid off the bed. I kissed his cheek, "We have a lot to discuss, but not now." The other Allie had stepped out of sight and I crossed to my chamber. "Please don't tell," tears rolled slowly down her cheeks. "Allie, you time Jumped didn't you? That's why you know what happened." She threw herself into my arms in one huge leap and my body collapsed back into the door jam. "It's ok, you're here now. I've got you, and I know your Mother would be proud of you." She smiled up at me, "But you are my Mommy now." I suddenly realized this Allie was a little bit older, not by much but still older. "I like having you and Daddy together all the time now." "Allie?" Churl asked from the other room staring wide eyed at the two of us. With a giggle said, "I better go now, Daddy will be upset that I'm time jumping, I promised you both when I wake that I won't ever do it again." She paused then added, "He wants you, please don't be too afraid to let things happen." And she pushed the button on the Jumper in her hand and was gone. I didn't quite understand what had just happened, had Allie just made a small jump back in time to tell me we were a family? And then it hit me, she had jumped back in time before. She'd jumped back to the bridge of the other Equinox, her mother and Grandmothers Equinox, and had witnessed everything. In that moment of realization I knew how much she needed me in her life, needed Momma, and her Daddy. But how was I going to manage it? What sacrifices would all of us be willing to make for this one poor devastated child? She had found a way to move through time. Her mother had given her the means. But could she be trusted to let the past go? To not attempt trying to see the future? And what of all the theories about time travel? The possibilities scared me to my core. "Calista?" churl was kneeling next to me, the jumper in his hand. "It was her," I confirmed. "She, she seems a lot happier whenever she came from." "Whenever?" he was now confused. "Churl," I wrapped my hand around his on the jumper. "She used this to go back in time and find out what happened to her mother. I think that's why she is so tired. Why no one could find her, because this was one of the first places I looked." He looked like he didn't quite believe it. "She needs us Churl, not just you, or me. Both of us together." Biting my lip in uncertainty I leaned into him as he pulled me closer. Then my lips found his as that mental reminder popped into my head, "Don't be too afraid to just let things happen." His tongue met mine, but in his haste I almost choked as it tickled the back of my throat. His arms gently cradling my body against his as he stood up with me in his arms then lay me gently on my own bunk. The foreplay was agonizing torture as his tongue and lips worked in unison on my body. I panted hard nearly breathless as I closed my eyes, afraid of the rejection that might come when he discovered I wasn't fully Female as his tongue traced tiny circles in its path down my now naked stomach. Yet still I could feel the wetness as it seeped out to ooze into my pantys. I gasped with desire as his nose pressed to my semi stiffened cock a moment before sharp claws tore an opening releasing it, but the rejection didn't come. Instead I felt that overly long tongue wrap itself around the length moments before it was covered with his mouth. After only a few minutes though he drew back with a guttural growl of need before flipping me over onto all fours and slamming in hard all the way. I bit my lip at the momentary pain, feeling myself stretched fully open for the first time before his jaw closed on the back of my neck pinning me in place as he fucked into me harder and harder, his thrusts pushing me closer and closer to my own earth shattering orgasm. I could feel the tiny barbs at the end of his cock locking it deep within me, only letting it pull back so far without causing any real pain. And then the flood as he erupted into me, my own cock twitching and exploding with the pleasure of Orgasmic release. Soon the barbs retracted and he pulled back out of me, before I rolled over pushing him onto his back. "Forgive me," he panted before my mouth could cover his. This time I took control it was my turn to satisfy my own needs, to assert my position and claim over him. He was instantly erect as I gripped his semi stiff shaft, my hand pumping it, my lips nibbling down his body toward the prize. I was still a little afraid of those barbs at the end. But they didn't appear, only when my hand gripping the shaft pressed against the base did they sprig out. I experimented until I learned where to grip it, then took him fully into my mouth, sucking until his fingers twisted in my hair, a low soft growl of desire emitting from his throat. I wasted no time pouncing on top of him, feeling that stiff shaft of feline cock pressing into my dribbling pussy. I thrust myself down onto it as I pressed my hands to his shoulders, the weight of my upper body hold him pinned on his back as I took what I wanted from him, those sharp tiny barbs embedding into my depths as I bounced and worked my hips feeling the euphoric pleasure of the pain they caused deep inside me before I felt the Euphoria of the Endorphins released along with their sudden appearance. Locking us together as nothing else could. When he began to buck, his seed spurting up into me I found my own release, throwing my head back I let out my own animalistic howl of pure pleasure before collapsing forward onto his chest. His arms holding me tighter than I'd ever been held before. My teeth locking into his shoulder as wave after wave or of orgasmic bliss coursed through me. After a bit he finally loosed his hold to look into my eyes. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that to you," he apologized. "Churl, was it, I mean are you disappointed that I'm not the same as Callie?" I bit my lip looking away but his hand gently turned my face back to his. "Not the same? Calista, you are almost exactly the same in every detail. Everything that made her special makes you special," he said. "But," I began searching my own mind for the right words. "I can never give you," I hesitated trying to decide if it was children or kittens. "Callista, we have one Kitten, one very special Kitten. So yes you can," he looked at me in wonder. "But, Churl you don't know everything about me. I, I wasn't born this way." I rolled free of his arms pulling my pillows over my head. Sobbing as I faced my own reality, my own shortcomings. Without the third stage, how was I going to be able to give him a kitten of my own? How could he possibly understand? I pulled the pillows tighter around my head feeling him hugging me. "It doesn't matter Callie, I need you, and Allie needs you. I can't raise her without you." I felt him caressing me, and then I fell asleep in his arms. "Please, tell me what Stage Three is. Look Ma'am I can't help her if I don't know how." It was churl's voice. "Captain Churl, I, this is not for me to say. I can't tell you those secrets about her, just know that Stage three would have given her the ability to conceive," I heard Momma say. "Look I know that she is going to do this whether I want her to or not. Just promise me you won't stop her from helping the rest of us find our way home. We'll work off the needed repairs to this ship any way we can. But I won't sign it over to the military here." "Why do you think the military wants your Ship?" "I've heard the talk about adding armament, and extra blast shielding," Momma said. "And now that we are so close to port, I just want your assurance that no one will try to take this ship away from us." "Admir, I mean Captain, the ships in this universe all belong to the captains and crews aboard them. Admiral Dalton commanded her families ships all five of them." Churl stated bluntly. "This is yours by right of command and no one here would dream of trying to take her away from you." "But what about the military like yourself?" "We are volunteers. We go through the Academy, and then we go on to either build or inherit our own ships. The Falcon is but one my family's ships, there is also the Jaguar, the Corona, and the Isis. We lost the Fulcrum and the Pendulum when they were escorting the Equinox to the point where the Admiral wished to conduct an experiment." "Near the Circes Black Hole?" Momma prompted. "Yes she was set upon by a hoard of strange ships that came out of that Space anomaly. That was four months ago," He told her. "So why do the members of your crew and the port authority keep wanting to know when they can begin arming this ship?" "Pirates, Ma'am. I hate to admit it but there are a huge number of pirates between the stars. And no unarmed ship is safe." "Churl," I got his attention. "Do you know what the Admirals Experiment was?" "No but Callie did. Whatever it was it involved the engines and something she called a Phase Portal." I was slowly getting dressed letting my torn clothing repair itself, as I blushed under Momma's questioning gaze. Picking up the Jumper off the bedside table I carried it in to lay on the one beside Allie's bed. "It seems you two have much to discuss," Momma said. "Calista, you have watch in two hours." She reminded me with an upraised eyebrow. She crossed to the other room and gently tucked the covers in around Allie. Then said, "She really is an Angel." After she left Churl looked up at me taking my hands in his. "So explain to me what Stage Three is, please." "It's not important Churl. But if you insist I'll tell you." "It is a series of Shots that the medical officer on the Silver Light forgot to send over when we transferred to the Equinox." I said. "Something I'll never get now." "Calista, please I want to know everything about you. No matter what it is." I began weighing the possible outcomes of what he was asking of me. "Churl please try not to hate me too much," I held up my hand to stop his protests before I continued. "I was created in a home laboratory on the planet Calista Four, my parents who were responsible named me Robert. After they both died I was left on my own with nothing, because I was not a legally registered birth. That and because Construct Beings are not considered people." Again I had to hold up my hand before he could protest. "Please be quiet and hear me out. I stole an ore freighter and tried to stow away on a Star freighter, the Silver Light. But I was caught, and no one on the surface would take responsibility for me. The captain was about to have me thrown out of an airlock when Momma stepped forward to take responsibility." I paused to take a few short breaths. "The only legal way for me to become her apprentice was as a female," I let that sink in for a second. "The process is done in three stages. Stage one is the initial stage where breast development is done." I was looking directly at him now, or eyes locked onto each other. "Stage two the body begins to change more drastically. A Vagina is created by some sort of transformation as the DNA is changed. I'd just gotten my Second Stage shots when we discovered the Equinox drifting in space. And you know the rest." "Yes but what is Stage Three?" he persisted. "Stage three completely shrinks the penis to form a clitoris. Further DNA changes are made which develop a uterus and ovaries. Without the third stage I can never conceive. So you see I am not able to give you kittens to carry on your family's heritage. So you see I can never be just like Callie." I looked down at the floor, my tears slowly rolling down my cheeks. Lifting my chin he slowly kissed my tears. "With that one minor exception you are exactly like my Callie. And if it is possible in your universe we will find a way in this one." he kissed me softly and it began to draw out. The soft beeping for attention from Lola interrupted us. "Yes Lola, what is it?" I answered a bit sharp. "Excuse me but the Captain wishes me to inform you that Captain and Mrs. Steelheart are aboard and wish to meet with you." "Where are they?" asked Churl. At my curious look he mouthed the words, 'My Parents'. "Standing outside the door, Waiting." I had to giggle. Lola was beginning to take on a personality of her own. "Let them in Lola, why didn't you let us know sooner?" I asked as the door began to slide open. "Because I thought you might be preparing to rape each other again." His mothers' eyes grew huge at Lola's statement. I let out a nervous chuckle. "Lola, you cannot rape the willing. Now please be a good AI and just perform your duties." "Mother, this is Calista. Calista, my Mother, Sapphire." I found myself hugged and my cheek kissed. "It is good to see you in the flesh finally." "My father Drew. Father, Calista Dalton." He kissed my hand. "Welcome to the family Child." A squeal of delight erupted behind us. "Momom, Popop." Allie flew through the air into their arms. After the initial hug and kiss fest her grandmother held out her hand. "Give it to me young lady. You know our agreement, no jumping without telling someone first." The girl looked at me. "If you made the agreement you need to stick too it." I told her. She frowned but pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to her without further argument. Now both of Churl's parents looked at me in amazement. "Would you feel better if Calista holds onto it?" his mother asked. "Yes Ma'am, Mommy can hold it for me." I took it and placed it in a pocket. "Stay close in case you need it before we reach port," I told her. "How long are you being grounded for?" "Grounded? Oh you mean Deprived of freedom." Chuckled his father. "Sapphire?" "Two weeks this time." said the woman "Two weeks, No, no, no I won't do it," she began throwing a tantrum. "Allie, enough. You disobeyed and now it is time to pay the penalty," I said. "Yes Mommy. I'm sorry Momom," she snuggled her head against the older woman's neck. "Do I have to go home with you?" "Drew, why don't you and Churl see if they have a time set for dinner? I thought we might stay and get to know Calista and Alice a bit better." After they left I suggested we might join Momma in the Bridge Briefing Room. As we moved through the hallways between the officers' quarters and the bridge Allie got down and walked holding both our hands. At the doors to the bridge she ran ahead and stopped at the closed doors. Just as I got there she giggled and asked, "Mother May I?" but before I could answer the door swished open on pandemonium. "What's going on?" asked Sapphire. "We're too big for the dock," Patricia stated. Even as a Tiger Furry was on the screen ranting about having to tie up four tugs to hold us in place while the work was done. Stepping forward Sapphire stepped up next to Momma. The growl she emitted was enough to curdle blood, "You will contact Steelheart Shipping to provide tugs to finish towing the Equinox to our Docks." She made a wave of dismissal and turned to Momma. "Hello, I am the matriarch of Steelheart Shipping. It is a pleasure to meet you." Allie giggled and purred at the same time. "Captain Alice Dalton, Ma'am. We're sorry to be of such trouble." Sapphire leaned forward, "By the time we reach our docks they will be configured to handle your ship. Drew and I set matters in motion before we left. The other Equinox used to dock with us ever since our children united. I see no reason that should change, do you?" "I guess not, if it isn't any inconvenience." "Ahh, straight to the point, I like that. Shall we go discuss matters in private?" "No here is fine by me. I have nothing I wish to hide from my crew." "Very well then. As soon as we make port, this ship will receive a full complement of defense weapons. Updated defense shielding. And a complete overhaul of her engines. I will not lose any more family to bandits and raiders. And I am permanently going to assign the Falcon as her Escort." "Why are you doing this for us?" Momma asked. "Because my granddaughter loves you. And my son has marked his mate." She let out a soft chuckle. "And she has marked him as is tradition." She moved my hair to the side where his fang marks still showed faintly on my neck. "I believe there's more to it than that," Momma challenged. "Then we really should use a more private chamber," she stood waiting. "This way then," Momma lead the way to the bridge briefing room. As the doors closed behind us Momma said, "Secure briefing Captain Dalton and first Officer Dalton in attendance." There was a humming and then red lights showed over the door. "My daughter in law gave this to me before she left on her last mission. I didn't know what it was until after I opened it." Momma took the little recorder chip and fed it into the main briefing computer. What appeared on the screens was a complete array of not just our home universe but several others. "Calista, are you seeing this?" "Yes Momma, excuse me but where did she get these?" I asked. "From the Astrogation logs of the Unicorn. Which you will see when we make port." "Captain, Captains Churl and Drew are requesting to enter into the briefing." Warned the computer. "Do they know about this?" Momma asked. "Yes, Churl was with her during one of the jumps." As soon as they entered Churl knew what his mother was discussing with us. That Allie knew was plain to see. "So why hasn't anyone else looked over the engines and logs of her ship?" I asked. "They've tried, she is security sealed. And believe me, the program has teeth," my new Mother in Law told us. "Not even Churl can board her without Callie being there. Not even Allie can gain access." The last was said as if it was impossible to keep the young girl out of any place she wished to go. "We always knew when Callie was within a Light year of port, the Unicorn would release herself and fly to meet her." "So why are you telling us about this?" I finally asked. "Because you are determined to get your passengers home. And you would eventually stumble across the secrets if we did not tell you." Sapphire said. "And the things she would come home with have turned us great profits," added Drew. I nuzzled Churls neck, "So I am a Steelheart now." "Only if you take my mother's last name. In our culture, I am now a Dalton if you wish." I looked at him seriously my jaw dropping open. "Churl, stop teasing her and tell her the truth." "Yes Mother. Calista, you only need take my last name if you wish. However since you have the bigger ship I would be obliged to follow you, or your mother's directions while we are in space." We talked a bit more and then they said they would go and make sure the crews were ready to begin work as soon as we made port. We saw them off at the transporter, then I knelt down next to Allie. "Would you like to spend some time with your Gramma?" I asked. Momma smiled hopefully. "Yes Mommy," she answered. "Good, now you give this to Gramma to hold for you just in case you need it." I handed her the Jumper. "Maybe you can tell her how it works." "And what are you two going to be doing?" Momma asked. "We are still in space, and Patricia should be off duty soon." I winked. "Pilot Jordan, report to the bridge. You are to relieve Chief Pilot Clark who is to report to the first officer." She turned to Allie holding her hand. "Have you ever tasted Ice Cream before?" "No Ma'am, does it taste good?" "Yes it does. I wish this thing could take more than just one of us." She was holding the Jumper. "Only within the ship." She looked very sad, and in that instant I knew why. "Do you think we could go to the Galley?" seeing her confusion Momma clarified, "The dining hall." I watched as both disappeared. Churl, I could tell hadn't known such was possible either. "There is, was a great deal about Callie that I fear not even her Mother knew," he began. "The biggest mystery is the Unicorn. The admiral had no idea where it came from. She said Callie just showed up one day requesting refuge on the Silent Night. You'll see her too when we make port. She's preparing to head back out to the Calisto Quadrant to do a bit of trading. Maybe find some answers to help us unlock the Unicorns mysteries." "You wished to see me First Officer?" asked Patricia. "Yes, it involves a little matter of your performance during the last Star Jump." We were in front of the door to my Quarters. I waved at the scan plate opening the door. "After you," I motioned her inside. "Calista, I'm sorry. I had no idea we were going to get pulled through the Black hole. We weren't that close when we jumped." "So you are denying your part in saving our asses? You don't want to receive the reward I have planned for you to complete our bargain?" I looked at her seriously. "WH, what? I thought you were getting ready to discipline me the way you started off." Now she looked at Churl nervously as I stepped closer to her. But Churl thrust his hand between us, his other brushing the hair back from her neck. "Whose mark is this?" he smiled. Blushing and scared she said in a very low voice, "First Officer Victoria's" she bit her lip waiting. "Lola, locate Falcon First Victoria, please," I requested. "Falcon First Victoria, is waiting patiently in the hallway." Churl went to the door and motioned her into the room with us. "So you have found yourself someone at last," he began. Congratulations. Alarm claxons began blaring throughout the ship and the automated All Hands warning began. Proximity Crash Alert, Proximity Crash Alert. Unknown vessel, Drop out within crash radius." I felt myself thrown backwards as the emergency thrusters kicked in trying to stop our forward motion. The tugs with their gravity beam grapplers were fighting to do the same. We scrambled up off the deck, making our way as fast as our feet would carry us toward the bridge. "What the fucking hell is that thing?" Roberts said as he was rapidly entering course corrections into the computer. The tugs released us to get clear, but the strange Alien craft maintained a steady fifty meter distance from our forward view screens. Both Churl and Victoria said, "I don't believe it." "Equinox, be warned there is a craft heading your way from the docks." "Steelheart Dock control, the Unicorn has already arrived, Thank you." Churl said dryly. I found myself stepping closer to the forward view screen. "That is the Unicorn? She's so, so beautiful," I never got to finish my statement before I found myself standing on her bridge. The little ships computers were emitting blips and squeals as if it was over joyed. "Uhh, Equinox?" I started to say. But found myself pressed back against the command chair. I was watching the speed readouts on the remote pilot console, as we went past Hyper Light three, expecting at any second to feel the universe around me slide into a Hyper Jump. But instead we came to a rapid almost sudden, yet gentle stop, faster than any ship possibly could. "Feed Me. Please, Unicorn is hungry." A little plate slid open on the right arm rest revealing a palm scanner. Hesitantly I placed my hand over it, inside the outlines, feeling it held motionless so securely I could not move it if I tried. Then I felt the tiny stab at the base of my palm. The little optic fiber lines within the scan plate began to turn red as the ship drank from my palm. "You have changed Callie, or maybe you are a newer version of my Callie? Tell me do you wish me harm?" "No, I only wish to know you better." I answered honestly, almost afraid. "Why did you command me to stay in port? Were you afraid I would be jealous of the Equinox?" the ship asked me. "That was not me," I said in all honesty. "How is Allie? She is well?" "Yes she is well, she is aboard the Equinox with my Momma the Captain." "We could have saved you." It was a statement the ship believed to be true. "How? How could you have saved them?" "The Loki' would have fled before us, back to the null space they dwell in within the Black Holes." Images of a race that made even the Skecksies seem tame, flashed in my head. "Please, do not attempt to jump through without me again. Please," the ship was weeping, its sobs all around me felt to my bones. "I, I won't leave you again. But can you give Allie access, to keep her always safe?" The weeping stopped. "I have programmed her Jumper. She can always come here when she wishes. And if there is danger I can retrieve her. She is my child as much as she is yours and Captain Churl's." My hand was released finally and I felt a bit dizzy. "I am sorry I was nearly starved. Most of my systems were on life support from lack of feeding." I looked at my palm and saw the tiny wound was nearly invisible, such was the speed of healing. "Uni, Umm. Unicorn, would you permit anyone else to feed you during the times I might need to be away?" I asked feeling the ship giggle with delight. "I was afraid you had forgotten your pet name for me." "You mean 'Uni', again the ship giggled. Suddenly Allie was there in the ship with me. A small chair appeared out of the floor beside my own command chair. "Please Miss Allie, sit and love me." My ship requested. "Mommy?" "It's ok Allie. Uni just wants you to learn her systems," I said hoping that was all it was. When the thin plate slid back Uni said, "Please let me drink of your life's essence." With a giggle Allie placed her hand on the plate before I could warn her what to expect. She yelped at first, "Sorry I will readjust the needle to be gentler next time." Allie lifted her hand away with a giggle. "That's ok Uni, you just startled me." "Will you come to me each week and let me drink a little bit like I just did?" asked the ship. "It is very important we learn from each other." "Every week?" Allie asked. "But Mommy only feeds you every month?" "Yes but you are feeding my child, who will be yours when she is complete enough to grow with you." "What?" I asked. "I have decided that it is time to create another like myself. But she will be Allies to command when she is ready." My ship told me. "Uni please forgive me. You know I am not the same Callie, I am Calista a completely separate person." I paused half afraid the ship would turn on me. "So I have a lot of questions." "I am a Bio Ship. A self-aware, living ship. My outer skin is like a living biogenetic structure of living alloys all linked together the same as your skin, bones and all that makes you unique as a person. I am also one of only perhaps a dozen of my kind left in all the Seven Hundred known universes." "Why did you choose to befriend Callie, to become her ship?" I asked. "To stop your Races from destroying each other, rather than fight against the real enemies that attack you from hiding, like the Loki'. I saved you from them when you were Allie's age, you were the only peaceful being left alive when I found you. I mean Callie was. He was damaged though, and I repaired him the only way I knew how. But she was lonely, so I brought her to her own kind." I had only been trying to find out about the ship but discovered so much more about the Woman Callie. "I think perhaps there are those who are concerned," the ship interrupted. I saw through the front view screens, my new in-laws, looking worried. "If you will excuse us I think we should go reassure them everything is ok." As we stepped out through the side hatch onto the docks, they looked at me in amazement. "She was lonely, and felt me nearby," I tried to explain. "She," "She's pregnant," beamed Allie happy as a lark. "Allie," Sapphire said very calmly. "Ships don't have Kittens." "Maybe not your ships, but Mommy's ship does." "Allie Marie, do not argue with Momom," I stared at Churl's mother wanting to tell her not to correct my daughter on things she had no knowledge of. But instead I bit my tongue. "Allie, maybe it's best they not know until the time comes," I whispered to her. "They don't understand." "Come along Allie lets show your new Mommy the Family docks," Drew said. I saw an army of technicians standing by. "Why thank you, I'd love to see them." I turned to my new ship, "Uni, Stay Safe now. I'll be back very soon." As I suspected as soon as we were off that section of dock they began moving in cautiously trying to get readings and scans of the inside. Suddenly there was a blood curdling Roar. Allie giggled, Sapphire huffed. "I was hoping that you might have figured out a way to turn off that program." "Sorry, the ship is very particular about what she will and will not allow. Just as you are," I said. There were dozens of ships, loading and unloading. The largest was the Silent Night. When I saw it, all I could think of was how much it resembled the Silver Light in size and shape. It too was an Ore Freighter. Her holds were being filled with trade goods to take out to the mining planets. When we returned to the Unicorn's dock we found her hovering out past the end. Smoking pieces of scanning equipment lay strewn across the dock itself. One Human lay curled in a ball holding his ruined hand. "What happened?" demanded Drew. We tried to get a hull scraping, and it screamed like it was in pain, and fried Morley's hand. "That's it, I've had enough of this nonsense," Sapphire said. Allie and I walked quickly to the end of the dock as they fussed over the technicias and Uni came close enough for us to reach the open door. A trickle of yellowish ooze flowed down beside the doorway. "Did they hurt you Sweetheart?" I asked. And the ship growled. "We'll dock on the Equinox. At least they won't mistreat you." I stepped quickly aboard before anyone could protest, and we were on our way back to Momma's ship. This time we approached more slowly from the side. The Falcon now out in free space with us. "Allie's father would like to speak with you," Uni informed me. "Love, Uni, I'm sorry. I had no idea they were going to try that," Churl said. "I don't blame Unicorn for the accident." "Churl, they hurt my ship. She was bleeding when we returned from touring the docks." I said in a rage I felt more than projected. His eyes in the screen grew round. "They hurt her? That is unacceptable, I warned them to leave her alone. Uni, I'm truly sorry they hurt you. I wish there was some way I could make it better." "Let me teach the Falcon, please." Unicorn requested too eagerly. "Let me teach the falcon and I will forgive you." It sounded like a pouting teenager trying to make a deal to get out of a punishment. I could see him thinking about the offer. "Churl, I really think you should come aboard. We need to let you know about something important." I was looking around for Allie, but she'd gone aft to some other part of the ship. When Uni transported him across, he too looked around for her as well. "Churl please take a seat and listen with as open a mind as you can possibly have." He sat down and looked at me waiting. "Uni needs us now, our protection as well as our trust," I began. "I know she's the most formidable ship in the fleet. But she is very vulnerable and going to be emotional for a while." "Calista, why do you say that? She's the strongest ship we have ever seen." "She's Pregnant, Churl. Like a single cell organism, she is splitting off a portion of herself creating a new Sentient being like herself. Our daughter will be her Companion." I let it sink in. "Like your child needs a mother and father, so does mine," Uni answered his question before he could think it fully. "The nearest Bio ship is thirty Universes away. But I would rather teach Falcon so we remain a family together. But not just the Falcon. The Equinox is a very important part of our family too." "Why are you telling me this now?" "Because You, Alice Dalton, and your crews can be trusted with the knowledge. The passengers are another matter." "Yes but they can be easily restricted from bothering you," I said. "I, I will need the hold closest to engineering. It has the best access to the power levels I will require." "Unicorn to Equinox, requesting to meet with the Captain aboard the Unicorn, please." I called. "Unicorn?" Momma's face filled the view screen. "Momma, I would like to introduce you to my ship. She can handle the transport." "By all means yes. Patricia, you have command until I return." She barely finished before she was on my bridge. Uni let out a soft giggle of amusement. "Greetings Captain Dalton, my Captain and I have a special and unique request of you." "Momma, Uni, Unicorn is a sentient Bio-Ship. She feels everything that you could feel. Pain, love, joy, sorrow," I began only to be interrupted by Allie. "Gramma, Daddy, you have to see Princess." "Princess? Who is Princess?" asked Momma. "Princess is my Daughter. She is still developing as is your own," the ship said. "Really? I, you would let me see her?" Momma was fascinated. Unlike the Steelheart's she didn't voice any disbelief. "Why not, your ship Equinox, will be introduced to her as her Gramma. As the Falcon will be like her father." After a bit Uni made her request, "Might I be like any child, and come home, to have my child surrounded by family who care? You will be the first Non-Bio Ship beings to witness one of us being born." "Unicorn, we will make every accommodation possible. You have but to ask, and we will do all that we can. And yes you may teach Equinox anything you wish." After a few moments Momma asked. "Do you need any special nutrients, anything that we can get for you?" "My scan of the Equinox shows an abundance of Crystal Shards. Princess will need some to grow. And I can grow some for Equinox that are tuned more finely to her systems, and for Falcon, and his other children." "Other children?" Churl blurted out. "Yes, does Falcon not have a dozen one person ships he sends out to scout and help fight when needed?" Churl smiled, and Momma began to laugh. "Our ships really are becoming a family of their own. Excuse me a moment I need to talk with my ship." When Patricia came into view she said, "Please put everyone available on clearing out the hold next to Engineering. And institute strict need to know access only once it is ready." "Yes Ma'am. Are we getting another ship like the Falcon? That hold is exactly opposite the one we are using for her." "Ok this is going to take some getting used to, but I want it noted in the logs that from here on the Falcon is to be referred to as Him, or He. He's going to be a Daddy Ship. Please have all the ships officers standing by to greet the Unicorn when she arrives." "Yes Ma'am. So noted," Patricia said. "Thank you 'First'," Momma closed the transmission. "Calista, I hope you understand," but I didn't let her finish. "She would have been my choice as well. She's changed so much since she got out from under her fathers' thumb. And you need a First Officer that will be on the ship, and not her own." Allie asked me why Vicky wasn't going to be Momma's First Officer. "Because sweetie, the first officer has to have the same abilities as the Captain. Command training, Navigation, piloting, communications and even a bit of engineering. Vicky understands that, she wants to be in charge of the security details. And her position is as Momma's Security chief. She'll be in charge of making sure no one disturbs Unicorn and Princess." I explained. The hold was cleared in record time, and Unicorn slid effortlessly through the open outer lock. Two days later we passed the Silent Night as she headed for deep space, laden with goods for the outer reaches. It had only been two days, but already the Equinox' systems were improving. The power surge fluctuations were nearly gone. Everyone who met Unicorn was an instant ally, with one exception, Cling. The Spider would go nowhere near Unicorn, though they conversed constantly." Sapphire was vexed when she found out that Unicorn was allowing the Equinox to scan her systems, and not sharing the information gained. She tried to bribe Allie into telling what she knew. As a result Allie had a new PDA loaded with lots of games, and several new outfits. I began the process of turning over the First Officer's position to Patricia who was stunned that she was actually being promoted. "I thought maybe it was a temporary thing," she said. "No I cannot be Captain of one ship and stay First Officer of another. And you are not only both our first choice but you are the most qualified," I assured her. "So your new ship is really alive?" "Yes and going to teach Equinox and Falcon to be almost as intelligent as she is. More importantly she knows how to open Phase Portals," I told her. "That is what the other Equinox was doing. Only they did it wrong because they didn't have her experience and guidance. They opened it and were set upon by a race known as the Loki, who make Skecksies seem tame." After a moment I added, "Skecksies are a sub life form of the Loki who are sent out from the black holes. They live in jump corridors." "She can really open a portal?" asked Roberts after over hearing us talking. "Yes she can. She has Star charts from over seven hundred Universes. And that is why she has to be protected. Why no one is to be permitted to try and invade her systems. She herself has volunteered to teach the Equinox systems to bring them up as close to a living sentience as herself before we return." "Excuse me, 'First', we have a group of workers with crates of Drive Crystals to install in our Drive chambers. What should I tell them?" asked Morrison the Junior Pilot on watch. "Ginger, are you expecting a delivery of new Drive Crystals?" Patricia inquired. "Yes but not anyone to install them. Cling can handle that himself after Unicorn fine tunes them." Looking out the forward view screen I saw a heavy lift surface shuttle carrying something toward us. "What the hell is that thing?" I asked. Stepping up behind me Vicky answered, "That would be the forward Calliope gun. We already have nine installed, and our technicians are coordinating with Noxi and Unicorn for the programming." "Noxi?" "Greetings Captain Calista," said the bridge computer. "I am feeling so much better today, thank you." "Ok now that was nice, like talking with Unicorn." I said. "Yes, one is never too old to learn. Or grow." "Noxi, have you integrated the new defense systems yet?" Vicky asked her. In response she giggled childishly as the Twenty one Barrels began spinning, dry cycling on the Calliope being mounted on the bow. "Yes thank you I feel much safer now. That one gun can project Twenty one thousand charges a minute by itself. I will have a full compliment. My internal system is registering each friendly Ship and craft and logging them so there are no accidents." "How many is a full complement?" "Thirty Two total," answered the ship. "They can load the Crystals now. Engineer Cling will install them as my daughter fine tunes them." I was taking a break sitting in my command chair when I decided to ask Unicorn why Cling never came to talk to her. Cling, like all Phase Spiders, maintains a distance out of respect. He knows that his people were responsible for giving the Loki, the ability to Phase Jump. Though it has been Eons since the First Queen betrayed the First Ship. "Betrayed? How?" Jena was responding to a call by the First Queen. When she arrived she was subdued and stripped. Had the queen but given warning our races might still be great allies. All this was before my own time, I remember through original Memories given to me at my own birth, the devastation wrought by the ensuing war between our two races. A war that only ended after a greater enemy arose while we fought amongst ourselves. While neither of us actually require a Black hole to Jump between Universes, there are other races who are vulnerable to the Loki and their offspring." Unicorn was silent for a time then began speaking again. "Calista, I have given much thought to the past. I believe it is time to lay it to rest. Would you do for me a huge favor?" "If I can you know I will do anything," I answered. "Tell Engineer Cling that I must speak with him about something the Equinox has revealed to me. Assure him that he is in no danger from me." Twenty minutes later Cling stood just inside the hold facing Unicorn. "You requested an audience?" he asked trying not to be afraid. "I have a request, a mission if you will. But know this, whether you choose to carry my request or not changes nothing of the admiration I hold for you." Admiration?" "Yes you chose to preserve life that was not yours. You saved this ship, all her people, when you could have simply gone along with the First Queen or just phased to a safe place by yourself. I would be your ally in more than name for that alone." "Is this mission dangerous?" Cling asked. "Perhaps, I will need you to carry two messages for me," Unicorn paused. "Your true Queen wishes to know where the first queen has gone, the First Queen's actions have endangered these Quadrants from the Loki. It is to her that I wish you to take the first message. That I Unicorn and the Bio ships offer her our assistance, as well as peace and safe passages for your kind once again." "And the second?" Cling asked. "To the Mists of the Altera Quadrant. There you will find 'Hub', tell him Unicorn has located a strong hold of Loki. You will also give to him whatever answer your true queen gives to you, before you return here. We will wait for your return, take this, it will mark you as a Messenger, you will not be harmed by any Bio ship," a small round pebble dropped to the deck and rolled to Cling. "I will go now my new friend," Cling stepped forward and touched one foreleg to Unicorns hull. A moment later he was fading into nothingness a shimmering space where he once was. "Unicorn, Calista are you ok? Noxi registered an Energy spike of some sort in your hold." Momma called over the intercom. "Please forgive me for the disturbance. I have sent Engineer Cling to carry a message for me. What you registered was a Phase Shift from this universe to his own on Helconia Prime." Unicorn told her. "Momma, I think maybe you and Churl might need to come and talk with Unicorn. There is something you need to be aware of." I told her. While we waited I asked Unicorn what the message was that she sent with Cling to his queen. "A chance for redemption for her entire race. Whether she accepts or not, Cling will return here with Hub and the others of my kind. Those who are vulnerable will remain here while the others tend to the Loki." "Who is Hub?" I asked. "Hub is the new First Ship, and he will be anxious to meet you." Unicorn responded. "Why me?" "Because, since the Great Betrayal, You and Callie are the first beings ever accepted by one of us. And he knows how I felt about her, we've discussed it at great length." "If you can contact him directly, why send Cling on this mission to him?" I was confused. "The True Queen, if she truly wants peace between or kinds again will accompany him to give her message directly to Hub. The pebble will allow them to phase directly to his Bridge."