Change of Minds Ch. 02

Author's note: This work of fiction contains mentions of incest, but NO actual incest.

~~~

Sam looked up at the mighty cruise ship he was about to board. The M.V. Serendipity Voyager. What a strange name, but the exterior was imposing. 330 Meters long and 60 meters high, its 18 decks towered over the dock.

It was a mixture of luck and his device that Sam got a suite on the ship on such short notice. He would have loved to have Elise or Jen with him, but Elise needed to work, and Jen already had plans for the two weeks this cruise would take.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime photoshoot event. I can't let that slip, even if it would mean spending two weeks with you on a cruise. As much as I would love to go, I have to decline." He could still hear her voice.

Granted, he could have used the device, but something told him it would be better without her. Now he was standing there, his hastily packed suitcase already on its own way to his suite. The line into the ship slowly moves forward. Soon, he would be at the reception.

He was looking forward to his time aboard. Without anyone who knew him, he could do so much, especially with his device. His plan was to first explore the ship and look for any potential targets for his mind control device. He wasn't sure what exactly he was looking for, but he was sure he would find something he liked.

He was now at the entrance and had a clear view inside the reception area. It was a large room with a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. There were several rows of desks, each with a person in a uniform sitting behind it. They all smiled as he entered. After a quick check with the clerk and some paperwork, he was done. With his keycard in hand, he made his way through the ship.

He was still surprised at how easily he got the free 'upgrade' from his simple cabin to a suite. It was in the lower price range of suites but still better than the cheap indoor cabin with no windows.

He walked around the ship and was promptly lost. The clerk had given him instructions on how to find his suite, but he must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. He wandered around for a couple more minutes until he saw someone in a uniform walking down a corridor.

"Excuse me," he called out. The woman turned around, her annoyed expression quickly hidden behind a fake smile. "Yes?" she asked.

"I'm trying to find my way to my suite, but I seem to have gotten lost. Could you help me?" Sam asked.

Her brown eyes narrowed as she extended her hand. "Of course, I can. What's your room number?" she asked. He handed her his keycard.

Sam took the time to inspect her uniform. He didn't know the ranks or symbol for them, but she seemed important. On her shoulders, she had 3 gold stripes, and a visor cap was under her arm. The nameplate on her full chest had 'Barrington' in golden letters on it.

"Sailor's Retreat Suite?" She asked, giving him an inquisitive look. "You do not seem like the type of person to get a suite like that." She handed him back the card. "You need to go down a deck. The elevators are that way," pointing down the corridor. "After that, you walk left and take the second right." She explained. "Now, if you will excuse me, I'm expected elsewhere."

"Thank you," Sam said, smiling at her. She nodded and continued on her way. He watched her walk away. Her hips swayed from side to side with each step, and he couldn't help but stare at her ass.

After he followed her instructions, he found himself standing in front of a door labeled 'Sailor's Retreat Suite.' He inserted his keycard into the lock and opened the door. There was a living area with a couch, a television, and a small kitchenette. A sliding door led out to a balcony, which overlooked the ocean. There was also a bedroom with a king-size bed and a bathroom with a walk-in shower.

"Not too bad," Sam thought to himself as he walked around the suite. He looked out the window and saw the other ships in the harbor. He decided to unpack his bag and put his clothes in the dresser. The TV was playing a 'welcome aboard' clip on repeat. While unpacking, he overheard something about a welcome aboard reception. He turned back to the TV and watched the clip. It was a short video explaining the various events that would happen during the cruise. There was a welcome aboard reception in the main hall, which would start in 10 minutes. He decided to go there and check it out.

***

The reception was nothing special, just a bunch of people milling around, talking to each other. Sam stood by the wall, watching everyone. There were a few families, but most of the people seemed to be couples. Some waiters walked around with trays of drinks and snacks. Sam grabbed a drink and sipped it slowly.

A few minutes later, an older man in uniform, obviously the captain, took a microphone and addressed the audience. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome aboard the Serendipity Voyager. I am Captain James Mitchell, and I would like to welcome you all to this voyage. We will be sailing to several destinations over the next two weeks before returning here."

Sam noticed the woman he met in the corridor before standing next to him.

"My crew, First Officer Barrington, and I are looking forward to making this cruise enjoyable for you." The man said, gesturing to the woman next to him. He continued to talk about the various events that would take place during the cruise.

Sam was shocked. Had he heard that correctly? The woman he just met was the first officer? He looked at her again and realized that she was indeed the same woman who had helped him earlier. She was wearing a crisp white uniform, and her raven-black hair was pulled back in a bun.

The Captain had finished his speech, and the audience applauded. Sam clapped along with everyone else, but he couldn't help but stare at the First Officer. She had an air of authority about her, and her brown eyes seemed to bore into his soul.

The group dispersed, and Sam made his way through the crowd. He wanted to get closer to the First Officer, but she was surrounded by people. He decided to wait until the crowd thinned out before approaching her. He stood off to the side, watching her interact with the guests.

He made sure that nobody was looking as he pointed the pen-like device at her and pressed the button. The small beep confirmed her registration as a target.

A bit later, he watched as she walked towards the bar to get a drink. He followed her and sat down next to her. He ordered a coke and waited for her to finish her drink. "Hello, First Officer Barrington," he smiled. "I'm Sam."

She turned to look at him, and her stern expression changed to surprise. "Oh, it's you. The person who got lost earlier." She said, nodding. "Did you find your way back to your room?" She asked, taking a sip of her drink.

"Yes, thank you," Sam said before looking around to check that nobody was within earshot. He leaned closer and whispered to her, "Instruction mode. You want to give me a private tour of the ship after your shift. Execute Instruction."

Her expression momentarily got emotionless before she returned to normal. "I'm glad I could help." She said, smiling at him. She finished her drink and stood up. "I have other matters to attend to now. Enjoy your stay." She walked away from him. He watched her leave and then finished his drink. He couldn't wait for her to be off duty.

***

Sam spent the next couple of hours aimlessly wandering around the decks. The cabin decks were nothing special, so he focused on the amusement areas. The pool on the topmost deck was interesting. It was rather empty. Most passengers are probably boarding, leaving, or are at some shore events. Between a couple of people in the pool, one person stood out. The lifeguard.

She was sitting in a chair overlooking the pool. Her dark hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her sunglasses hid her eyes. She wore a white swimsuit and flip-flops, with a whistle around her neck. She seemed to be scanning the area for any signs of trouble. Sam walked over to her and smiled. "Hello," he said.

"Can I help you?" she asked, her look only momentarily leaving the pool.

"I was just wondering if you could tell me more about the pool," Sam said, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

She sighed but never looked away from the pool. "Normally, yes, but because of boarding, my colleagues are not here, so I need to watch closely. You can ask one of the staff members for information." She gestured to the various members of the crew walking around.

Sam nodded and walked away from her. She seemed like a good target. She was very attractive, the tight swimsuit accentuating her curves. Her breasts were a bit small for his taste, but they still looked good on her slender body. He estimated her to be around 1.7m tall, maybe 20 years old. Her chestnut-brown hair was tied back in a ponytail. He couldn't see her eyes, but her face was pretty.

He turned around and discreetly used the device on her. His time would come soon enough.

***

A knock on the door woke Sam up from his slumber. He had fallen asleep while waiting for the first officer. He rubbed his eyes and walked over to the door. He opened it and saw first officer Barrington standing there. She was wearing her uniform, and her hair was pulled back in a bun. "First Officer Barrington," he said, "Can I help you?" He knew why she was here, but he played innocent.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you wanted to join me for a tour of the ship?" she asked. Her stern demeanor was broken by a smile.

"I would love to, but excuse me asking, why?" Sam feigned confusion.

"You— You remind me of someone," Her left thumb started rubbing a ring around her ringfinger that Sam hadn't noticed before. She sighed, "You look very similar to my husband. Back when we were young and had more time together..." she trailed off.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Sam said, trying to sound sympathetic.

"Don't be, that sounded more dramatic than it actually is. He is still alive and well, and we are still married, but I just haven't seen him for some time."

Sam nodded and stepped out. "Let's go then,"

"Alright, so first, we have the cabin decks, of course. While there are some hidden service areas here and there, there is nothing else to see here." She explained as they walked through the corridors.

Sam was intrigued by her figure as he followed her, her uniform hugging her curves tightly. Her trim waist and round ass gave the word hourglass a new meaning. He couldn't help but stare at it as they walked.

They continued on, and she showed him the various facilities on the ship. The gym, the spa, the shops, and the restaurants. As they reached the pool, she explained something about the water cleaning. Sam was looking for the lifeguard he had met earlier, but she was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a fit-looking man was sitting in the chair.

"I met the lifeguard before," He interrupted her, "is she off duty now?"

"I don't know all the schedules, but I guess so." She answered, "Which one?"

"Huh?"

"Which lifeguard did you meet?" she asked again.

"Oh, the one with chestnut hair," Sam said, pointing to the chair where the girl was sitting earlier. "I think she was around 1.7m tall and wore sunglasses..."

The First Officer nodded, "I think her name is Mira. She is very diligent and observant. I'm glad she is here to ensure everyone's safety." She looked around the pool area. "Is there anything else you want to see?"

"I don't know... I would love to see the bridge, but I guess that's not possible?"

The First Officer shook her head, "No, it's not. But I can show you something else." She smiled. She led him to a door that looked like it would lead to a crew-only area.

"Most people don't go through here because it looks off limits. But actually, it is our 'observation' area." She made air quotes with her fingers as she said the word. "It's open to the public, but most people don't know about it." She explained as she opened the door.

They stepped into a small room that had a staircase leading up. "Follow me," she walked up the stairs. Sam followed her and found himself on a platform overlooking the entire pool area. It was a large area with seats and tables scattered around.

"If you ever need a quiet, secluded place, this is it," she said, sitting down on one of the chairs. Sam sat down next to her, and they looked out over the pool area. A few people were milling about, but the area was mostly empty.

She looked at her watch, "I need to go now. It was nice meeting you, Sam." She stood up.

"Thank you for the tour, Mrs. Barrington," Sam said, smiling at her.

She frowned, "While I'm off duty, you can call me Helena." She smiled back.

"Goodbye, Helena," Sam said, waving at her. She waved back and disappeared down the stairs. Sam sat there for a while, watching the people below.

***

After breakfast, Sam gathered together with other passengers to watch the ship leave port. He stood on the deck, watching as the ship slowly pulled away from the dock. It was like an intricate dance between the ship and the dock workers. Once the ship was clear, the horn sounded, signaling their departure. Sam watched as the city slowly faded into the distance. He took a deep breath, feeling the fresh sea air fill his lungs.

Before, he felt like he was in a dream, but now, it hit him. He was really on a cruise ship. He looked around the deck and saw a few people milling about. Some were taking pictures. Others were just enjoying the view.

He checked the cruise app for something to do and stumbled upon a show that would start in less than 1 hour. A Contortionist would perform at some place called "The Serenade Showcase." He decided to check it out. After all, he had nothing better to do.

The place was packed when he arrived, but he managed to find a seat near the front. The lights dimmed, and the music started playing. A spotlight appeared on the stage, and a woman walked out. Together with the announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Julia!" the crowd cheered. She was wearing a shimmering costume that accentuated her curves. Her chestnut brown hair was tied back in a bun, and her hazel eyes sparkled in the light. She smiled at the audience and began her performance.

Sam watched in awe as she twisted and bent her body in ways that seemed impossible. She squeezed herself into a box that looked way to small for a human. She did the splits and laid down on her belly, her feet resting on the back of her head. She even managed to fold herself into a ball and roll around the stage. The audience was captivated by her performance.

She pushed herself through a hole not larger than her head, her legs sticking out behind her. She then proceeded to contort her body into various shapes, her legs moving from one side to another, her feet finally touching the floor.

Sam was overwhelmed by the possibilities she could bring to the bedroom. With a quick glance around, he pointed the device at her and pressed the button. The beep confirmed her registration as a target. He couldn't wait to talk to her alone. As the show ended, he joined the crowd in applauding her.

He waved a waiter over and asked him if and where Julia would give autographs. The waiter told him that she would be near the entrance in 30 minutes. That would be enough time to get a drink and relax a bit. He ordered a coke and enjoyed the next act.

He waited around a bit after the show before heading to the reception. He found Julia talking to a group of fans. She signed their programs and took pictures with them. Sam waited for the group to leave before approaching her. Nobody was near or paid any attention as he walked towards her. "Hello, Julia," he said with a warm smile. She turned to look at him, and her expression changed from surprise to delight. "Hello," she said, smiling back at him.

Sam had the feeling he had seen her before, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He decided to ignore it and just enjoy the moment. "I'm Sam. I enjoyed your show," he said, extending his hand.

She shook his hand, "Thank you, I'm Julia. But you already knew that."

"I was wondering if you would like to join me for a drink?" Sam asked, hoping she would say yes. She looked him up and down before answering, "I'm sorry, but I have other plans."

Sam, feeling that his chance might be slipping away, quickly said, "Command mode on."

Her expression changed to a blank stare, and her eyes went glassy.

"You find me attractive, and you want to spend time with me." He whispered to her.

"I understand," she said in a monotone voice.

Sam was pleased with himself and finished with "Command mode off."

Julia's expression returned to normal, and her smile returned, "I'm sorry, but I have other plans." She said again, this time without the cold shoulder, before turning away.

"If you change your mind, I'm in Suite 1028," Sam said. She glanced at him over her shoulder before disappearing into a crew-only area.

***

Sam arrived at the pool. He had time to kill until Julia would finish her shows. The area was more busy than yesterday, but there were still plenty of free chairs. He sat down and watched the people. Some were swimming in the pool, while others were lounging on the chairs. The lifeguard from before was sitting in her chair, watching the people in the pool. He noticed two more lifeguards, both men, but they were standing near the edge of the pool. He wondered why there were three lifeguards, but he shrugged it off. He didn't know how many lifeguards were needed for a pool this size.

After a refreshing swim, Sam got out of the pool and walked over to the lifeguard's chair. He stood there, watching her for a moment before speaking up, "Hello, I'm Sam."

This time, she actually looked at him, "I know, I remember you from yesterday." Her hazel eyes scanned him up and down. "I'm Mira." She smiled. "You swim like you are about to drown any second." She said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Very funny," Sam rolled his eyes. Something about her felt familiar. Then it clicked: she looked exactly like Julia, the contortionist. They must be twins. He was sure she hadn't mentioned a twin sister in her introduction. He decided to test his theory, "Are you sure you are called Mira and not Julia?"

She shot him a wide smile, "Maybe, who knows? I could be Julia, and Mira is my twin sister." She winked at him. "Or maybe I'm Mira, and Julia is my twin sister."

"You," he gestures toward her body, "look exactly like her, except for the tan," Sam said. "So, which one is it?"

"I'm Mira, and she is Julia," Mira said with a giggle. "But I must say, you are fast. Most people take days to figure it out." She sounded impressed.

"Well, what can I say? I have a keen eye for details," Sam smirked at her. "But seriously, why didn't she mention you?" He knew that twins weren't always close, but they worked on the same ship.

"We like to play little pranks on people," Mira explained, "We switch places every now and then, and nobody notices. It's fun." She laughed. "And it's even more fun when we do it in front of an audience. Outside of work, of course. I can't do the whole folding my body like origami thing," She gestured with her arms. "But I do know how to make people think I am her."

"Forgive me if I'm rude, but I'm curious: Do you like the same things?"

She looked at him for a moment before answering, "We are very similar, but we do have our own personalities. We have different interests, but we also share some of them." She shrugged. "We are twins, but we are not the same person."

"Do you have the same interests in men?" Sam asked, unable to stop himself. He knew it was a bold question, but he couldn't help himself. She was so beautiful, and he was intrigued by her.