Captain stone suddenly found it hard to catch her breath as she remembered the gray biological mass in the cargo containers in the hold of the ship that hadn’t been yet identified. It was possibly the eggs of aquatic invaders. Probably. In one cargo container, there could be thousands of fertilized eggs. Hell, there could be millions. Her heart started pounding harder when a louder than normal ping from Bert sounded and startled her so much that she leaped to her feet ready to fight or run.
Bert’s calm voice held a tinge of fear. “Captain, before you ask, the three destinations listed on the manifests for the cargo containers containing the gel and possibly eggs are all destined for worlds with large oceans.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kat
I was almost finished eating when who should enter the dining room? Lieutenant Anders, of course. The last person I wanted to see on the ship after I’d made such a fool of myself.
Yes, I’d been thinking a lot about him the last several days and dreading/hoping we’d run into each other. Now that it happened, I didn’t know what to say when his face broke into a wide smile and he strode to my table as if we were the best of friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time.
He was beautiful. Large gray/green eyes that looked right through me. I faltered with my first attempt to return his smile. He sat anyhow.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
I tilted my head as if in question.
He said, “We haven’t had much time to talk and we’re going to be shipmates. I can’t associate with my marines. Officers must stand aloof. That only leaves a few people to develop into friends.”
“So, you’re only here at my table because you have no friends?”
“No. That’s not what I meant.”
“That is what you told me.”
He cleared his throat and said, “I like you. I want to spend time with you.”
My mouth had a mind of its own. “Your idea is that we become friends. Close friends. And then later you board another ship and go back to your admiral and secret base and leave me wherever we happen to be.”
He slowly stood and rushed his words. “I think I have some urgent business to attend. Please excuse me.”
He turned and left; his neck as red as his face had been. The idiot left me sitting alone. What was wrong with him?
A ping warned that Bert had something to say. “That did not go well.”
“What I was thinking and what I said were two different things. Should I chase after him and apologize?”
“You should apologize, but you may wish to wait a day or two. Let him worry over what he thinks he said that was wrong. Then you can let him know that you forgive him.”
I scrunched up my face, hoping Bert was watching. I said, “You’re twisting my words.”
“It’s what the females of many species do. You will soon learn and probably become an expert at the skill. Many males will suffer from your words.”
“Do female diggers do and say things like that to potential mates?”
“Oh, the stories I could tell if only you were a few years older.” He was chuckling as two pings sounded, which ended our conversation.
A pair of female passengers, neither human, entered the dining room and sat at another table. They were giggling and talking. Neither could have been older than me. Instead of leaving, I pretended to eat a few more bites and listened.
They were talking about a remarkably handsome crewman aboard the Dreamer they’d seen. One had made eye contact with him and that had both young women giddy. They were planning another “chance” meeting as if plotting a battle in a war. The meeting had to be “accidental” and yet intimate. The taller of the two was chosen to make the first approach.
I wondered who the crewman might be. While there were a couple who were nice enough to look at, none were what I’d call handsome. Maybe I’d missed one.
I hated myself for eavesdropping, but their conversation seemed to relate to my experience, and I hoped to learn something. It was good to hear that others were having the same problems as me. With luck, one might offer insight.
The shorter one with dark, curly hair said, “I think he works with the engines.”
“He came aboard with that last group at Roma, then split off.”
“The captain? He was with her?”
I wished my species had the ability to close my earflaps and quit listening. They were talking about Bill! My Bill. Not that we were romantic, but I felt protective. My expression must have changed because the girls suddenly noticed me.
One whispered, “He came on board with her.”
I knew who “her” was. It was me. I looked up and both avoided meeting my eyes. I stood and tried to stand tall as I walked from the room.
Outside, I calmed myself. I was not involved with Bill in that way and should be pleased that others considered him good looking. I should be, but it didn’t work that way. They were talking about Bill as if he had no mind of his own. To them, he was just a pretty man to giggle and attempt to meet as if it was accidental.
Maybe I should tell Bill about the encounter. I swallowed hard. No, maybe I should keep my thoughts to myself.
My cabin was directly ahead, and I opened the door. A lot had happened since coming aboard and seeing the room for the first time. It no longer appeared as large, ornate, and wonderful. While the communal areas had been cleaned and repainted,
