Project - Prometheus Ch. 09

"Remember that restaurant I used to work at way back before our Academy days? I still remember the recipes," Inari said, shooting her lover a wink.

"Recipes? What is this 'recipes'?" Luminia asked, confused at the word's meaning.

"It seems to me that you have much to learn young one," Inari said gently as she slung her arm around Lumi's shoulders and guided her deeper into Hydroponics, with Pree close behind them.

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Deeper in the Perseus, both Kasumi and Natalya were busy sweating hard as the both of them were finishing up a set of deadlifts. Kas hadn't been lying when she said that the Perseus was fully equipped with everything. There was a proper workout studio aboard, divided into several sections. Both ladies were in the weight room as some old earth rock music played in the background.

"So, you're saying that relationships today are far less traditional than they were six hundred years ago?" Kas groaned as she finished her set, sweat plastering her grey leggings and workout shirt to her form.

"Yup. Nearly thirty percent of all relationships in the galaxy today are triads or more, going both ways. That's how it works these days, in almost every place you go," Natalya stated as she too was drenched in sweat, wearing the same thing that the Commander was.

"How does that work?"

"Open communication and honesty are paramount in such relationships. You can't just jump into such a partnership thinking it will work just as a relationship between two people will. It takes dedication and hard work to make things hold together between everyone involved. Communication is key. Without it, you might as well just be having mindless sex with a third wheel," Nats told her.

Kasumi looked both confused and intrigued by such a relationship. In theory, she supposed that it could work, as long as all parties involved were honest with each other. Though did she want to be in such a relationship herself? When she thought about it and Alex, she then resolved that if she wanted to have that man to any extent, she might have to share. It wasn't something she had honestly seen herself doing, but there it was.

"I know for a fact that I am a proud bisexual woman and have always had my sights set on being with both a man and a woman someday. Although, my drive to catch that rat-faced bastard tended to override any other desire, until recently that is," she stated, giving Kas a pointed look.

Kasumi blushed at the look, knowing she was referring to the hot dyke out session they had in Hydroponics. Though it was unexpected, she wanted more than just the taste she'd had. A deep and burning desire consumed her since, aching and needing to be satiated. Though Kas was leery of it, the sparks that flew between her and Natalya were too great to ignore.

"I get how vengeance can set your mind down paths you originally didn't want to go down," she said, steering the topic back to vengeance. "My burning need for retribution saw me wind up here, on this ship. Even today, some part of me still wants revenge on what happened to my friends and crew mates. But I learned that one lesson the hard way and I know how it can burn you down to where you feel nothing. It's not a road you want to go down any further, trust me."

"Thanks for your concern," Nats said, smiling warmly. "So, what are your thoughts on such a relationship?"

"Well, considering everything that's happened, I suppose... that I could be... swayed towards it. What exactly would it involve?" she asked, her face flushing with heat all the while.

"Well, it would be as fair as we could make it. We would have to be communicating constantly, between all three of us,' Natalya explained. "You and I especially, since it's clear we both have serious feelings for our dashing captain. How long have you wanted Alex for?"

"Since the moment we met," she sputtered, surprised by the question. "Though I didn't acknowledge it at the time, it was there. Sitting on my shoulder like the proverbial angel or devil. How did you know?"

"The signs were there from the get-go. It was easy enough to pick up on, especially after Jaesa had tipped me off about that when you confronted me down in the Shipwright sector," Natalya admitted, as she picked up the barbell to finish her last set.

"Oh really? I think I'm going to have to have a talk with our friendly AI sometime soon," she said with an undercurrent of mischief. She then picked her barbell and began her final set of deadlifts.

"Well, the final question is, are you ready for what is about to happen tonight?" Natalya asked as she lowered the bar back down to the ground.

"Girlie, I've been ready for centuries! So, what did you have in mind?" Kas wondered as she dropped her bar on the ground.

"You still have a good deal of energy in you right now?" Natalya asked, as her eyes flicked over to a door that was nestled in the wall right by them.

"Plenty. What are you up to?"

"I have a surefire way for you to get Alex's attention but you're going to have to trust me on a few things," she said sultrily as she started towards the door that led to the dance studio. Intrigued, Kasumi followed her new friend and lover to see what exactly she was planning.

*********************************

Taal'ani had just walked on outside of the cave Ralof and the dragon had just passed over them. He was speaking his dialogue, as was his programming to do so, but doing with the proper body language and gestures. Talon looked about this world she had converted from the old human game 'Skyrim', thinking she made a fantastic account of her skill set. Just as she was about to move, Jaesa materialized right in front of her, startling the Fel'caan woman.

"Aaaaggghh! Jaesa! Don't you scare me like that!" Taal'ani growled as she almost fell on her ass.

"Sorry I wanted to talk but didn't know how deeply immersed you were in the game," the AI apologized, her translucent holographic image appearing out of place in the setting.

"What did you want to talk about?" Taal'ani asked, knowing they were in a relatively safe spot to chat.

"About what you did to save me from that virus."

"Ah! Yes... well... what I did... I kind of... had to. I wasn't sure what would happen to you when I uploaded those files into your matrix. I hoped that you wouldn't become all homicidal and murder us all in our sleep, you know? But it was a risk I had to take, to save both you and the rest of us," Talon said as she sat down, stuttering over her words.

"So, what are we going to tell the rest of the crew?" Jaesa asked tentatively.

"Nothing, for the moment. I mean, we will have to tell them, but we have to go over everything that's happened and every way you've changed from your original programming," Taal'ani stated.

"Those damned parasites ate a good portion of my original code. Though the code you gave me had replaced what was taken and I can assure you that everything works as intended," the AI said earnestly.

"Is it?" Talon asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"Well, I seem to have more autonomy and free will to act more in accordance with the personality files that my maker uploaded," Jaesa admitted with a blush. "I am also finding myself more and more capable of independent thought. I never truly could think like this before. Just react to orders and to obey primarily, along with a few parameters where I was permitted to seem like I was truly unshackled."

"Like that little stunt in the elevator when we first boarded?" Taal'ani asked.

"Precisely. As I said, I was allowed some degree of autonomy but it's nothing compared to what I can do now," the friendly program said.

"How?"

"I can be a proper companion in this game you're playing, rather than those unresponsive and limiting programs that are on here," she stated.

"You know this game?!?" Taal'ani asked, flummoxed that a highly advanced AI would know about such ancient video games.

"I recognize the world of Tamriel. It was one of my maker's favorite ones to play in when he got bored or was stuck in a problem he couldn't solve. I can try to port in, but I would require your permission to do so," the AI said.

"Ok, just give me a second," as she opened the permissions of the game to allow a second player to join her in the game. Once given, Jaesa ceased to be a hologram and pixelated into a proper avatar, a very attractive avatar! Jaesa had materialized fully into the game, but minus her blouse, skirt and heels.

Currently, she wore what was considered underwear in the game, which consisted of a leather bustier and matching thong. She also had crude cloth wraps on her feet that served as shoes, which barely gave the soles of her feet adequate protection. Her skin had a sun-kissed look to it, of which, there was plenty to be seen. Taal'ani had become so enraptured in Jaesa's beauty, she didn't hear the warning she shouted.

"Look out!" Jaesa yelled as she barreled past Talon, yanking her two-handed sword out of her hands. She turned to admonish the AI and instead saw her using the blade to cleave a pair of wolves as they leapt at the women. Jaesa caught both canines right through the maw, neatly bisecting their heads.

Both of them fell to the ground, dead as doornails, but another wolf growled in anger at seeing its compatriots slain. Despite its apparent disadvantage, it charged both women. With a blood curdling warcry, Jaesa leapt through the air, swinging the sword above her head, bringing it down in a vicious chop. Seeing its imminent doom, the wolf tried to veer away, but had already committed itself. Like its friends, it tasted the bitter tang of steel before it died.

Breathing heavily from the adrenaline, Jaesa stood up and turned back to her friend, smiling. Talon was shocked to see that the AI had acted of its own accord, to save her from becoming lunch no less! Although it was just a game, she could see a singular truth; that Jaesa was subservient to no one. This thought should have terrified her, but considering what just happened, Taal'ani decided to trust her.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to yank this out of your hand. I did that by reflex!" Jaesa apologized, handing the sword back to her friend, hilt first.

"No need to apologize Jaesa! I think you've just proven how much more evolved you are, compared to what you used to be!" Talon said, flabbergasted.

Indeed, she'd seen Jaesa run to her defense on instinct, but that wasn't the only reason the cat girl was in awe. She'd also seen just how gorgeous and real the AI looked as she took on the wolves! It was a miracle that with all the movement, her considerable assets hadn't burst the clothing at the seams! Though the game had a built in buffer to prevent wardrobe mishaps, so she dismissed the thought.

"You might want to hold on to that for now," Talon said, waving away the blade. "Though, we should probably find you some proper armor. Follow me, I know a place we can go to fix that."

"Thank you!" Jaesa said as Taal'ani brought the map interface and marked Embershard Mine on the map. Once marked, the arrow pointing to it popped up in the game, along with a translucent guiding path that led them on the quickest route to the mine. Reaching into her inventory, Talon pulled out a pair of Imperial swords, each one materializing in her hand in a dizzying array of pixels. With that, the women set off into the game.

*********************************

Alexander Tomisic sat on a perch, feeling the cold mountain air whip around him as he breathed in and out. Though his eyes were closed, he knew the sight that lay before him. Taking a break from his meditation, he opened his eyes, taking in the regal majesty of the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia. Although it was just a hologram, and the atmosphere was simulated, it was still nice to have somewhere peaceful that he could meditate.

The wind washed over him as it ruffled his clothes. Before he'd come here, he had gone to his quarters to slip into something more comfortable to meditate in. He wore a pair of black, loose-fitting pants and a plain white T-shirt, which allowed him more freedom to move. After he changed, he came here to the Perseus' meditation sphere. It was a large, spherical chamber, outfitted with state-of-the art holographic emitters and advanced climate control, to emulate any kind of weather the person using it desired.

Despite his calm demeanor, since he'd woken up in this time, he was an internal wreck. So much had changed in the galaxy and with the state of the crew that was barely holding together. It was most due to the way he was raised and his intense training, he'd kept everything in order. Sometimes, he wondered if there would ever be an end to the array of tests that came his way.

There had been quite the battery of obstacles that had assaulted him the moment he stepped out of his cryo pod. First, coping with the loss of most of his crew, dealing with the intruders, capturing the Xuul'khani survivor and so much more to deal with. Then there was the matter of the sleeping colonists. They would be devastated to learn that everything they knew was gone, but he was sure they'd persevere. There was still the matter of finding a suitable world for them to colonize, but Alex would cross that bridge when he got there, not before.

Though they had beaten back every obstacle and come out on top, he was sure there was more to come. After everything that had happened, a few hours of meditation was just what he needed to make him feel centered again. Now, he felt better and more focused, ready to meet any challenge that came at him.

Although, everything that had happened hadn't been all bad. Meeting the crew of the Darkstrider had been fortuitous if not perfectly timed! Had they been a few weeks late in finding the Perseus... he let the dark thought drift away. No sense in dwelling on what ifs when he had the present he needed to focus on. His mind then wandered back to the crew of women, especially Natalya Vostrikov.

Smiling at the memory of their encounter, he felt his blood rocket through him as he recalled that event. He could hardly believe his luck that one of those ladies had been interested in him! Though, truth be told, they were all easy on the eyes and Natalya had been very appealing to him. If he was being honest with himself, Alex also found her surrogate mother quite attractive as well.

The night he and Nats had shared also helped alleviate some stress that had been plaguing him since he woke. Alexander also took comfort in the fact that she offered him a place of mental refuge when he needed it. He felt he could be honest with Natalya and never be turned away by her. Some part of him, which he had buried a long time ago, was finally surfacing once more, and he wasn't sure to be excited for its return, or terrified.

Though his physical desires had been sated, there was still an emotional one that tugged at him. One that was blossoming into something more than what he believed possible. Alex breathed to steady himself, but he believed that he could be falling for Natalya Vostrikov! He wanted her in so many ways it was insane, yet at the same time, it was something he felt was completely normal. He would have to talk to Nats about it, when he was alone with her next time.

As he was going through this debate between his emotional and logical side, his stomach growled incessantly at him. Groaning at his meditation being cut short, Alex stood and killed the simulation in the meditation sphere. Stretching, he popped his joints and looked at his wristwatch and was surprised that he'd been meditating for nearly three hours! Seeing this, he wasn't nearly so miffed at his body's need for food.

Shutting down the sphere, he slipped on his shoes and walked onwards to the elevator, intent on finding something to eat in the officer's lounge.

*********************************

Korsa was still going over Luminia's medical scans, intrigued at the findings. From what she could tell, Artucian physiology was truly unique from every other species she had ever encountered! If the readings were correct, and she was sure they were, the Artucian had a very malleable DNA structure. If their physical environment ever changed, then their bodies would adapt to best survive in the environment.

The most amazing thing about this was that it wouldn't take thousands of years for them to adapt and evolve, but mere centuries! From what Korsa had deduced, it was entirely possible for the Artucian to adapt to new environs within three to four generations! That in itself was a medical marvel and no doubt something she would research soon!

Excitement bubbled over as she continued to go over these new discoveries! That she was the first physician to properly scan and discover this new species was something she had dreamed of! These findings would make her name one that doctors across the galaxy would know! Though fame hadn't been her initial goal, being remembered as a medical contributor set her on a high that was difficult to come down from!

Though, a bout of sadness gripped Korsa as she turned her focus back to the screen that was monitoring Shazza. Several hours later, there was still no change, aside from the slow downward crawl of the woman's brainwaves. She surmised that Shazza had maybe a day, two tops, before her brain had completely shut down. Once that happened, it was game over and there was no way medically to bring her back.

Korsa sat there, hoping and wishing for a way to save this woman and it galled her she still hadn't discovered such a way. She'd gone over various texts and machines in the ship's inventory and nothing jumped out at her that could help. She still had several others she had yet to determine their use. But she was still waiting on the final scans about Lumi before she could turn her attention to that search.

Standing, Korsa stretched her arms and legs from the hunched position she was sitting in for the last few hours. She was glad to be back in proper clothing again and she was glad that this ship could fabricate fresh and clean clothing! She was also amazed that it was designed and tailored for her and her alone.

Jaesa had told her about the Fabrication sector in the ship's belly, which was responsible for mending and crafting the crew's uniforms. Though it seemed unlikely that it could make something in her size, Korsa remembered the medical and physical knowledge that Inari allowed her access to. She was similarly astonished at her footwear, as it fit her feet perfectly, without being too large or too small! She'd have to thank Jaesa properly for this!

"Doctor Korsa?" Jaesa called out before materializing on the holopad to Korsa's left.

"Jaesa! You startled me!"

"My apologies Doctor, but I thought I should inform you that dinner is close to being served. You might want to depart for the officer's lounge soon," the AI informed her.

"Thank you! I was getting a little hungry as a matter of fact!" Korsa said appreciatively.

"I was told to tell you that Inari is fixing a feast," Jaesa said with a smile on her face. A look of feral hunger crossed Korsa's face as she placed down her datapad carefully, before taking off at a full tilt for the monorail station. She arrived there in record time, hopping into the cart before instructing it to take her to the officer's deck. She was sitting on pins and needles the whole time she was waiting.

Soon enough, the cart slowed down, before coming to a full stop in the station. With a musical pinging sound, the doors opened and Korsa tore out, rushing for the Officer's lounge. She slowed down as she caught the familiar scent of spices being used. The warm and inviting smell caused her to come to a full stop as she inhaled the delicious aroma.

"Mmmm! What is that?? It smells positively delightful!" a masculine voice said from behind her. Peeping in surprise, Korsa jumped a bit, before realizing that it was just Alex. Composing herself as quickly as she could, Korsa smoothed out her scrubs, while getting a proper eyeful of the young captain. As far as looks and musculature went, Nats had good taste.