"What if we don't?" she asked, still a bit frantic. "I'm not sure if..."
"Are you having second thoughts about following my lead?"
"No," Cinnamon replied, acting a tiny bit more like a subordinate instead of a nagging wife.
"Would you rather Strawberry make decisions for us? Or should we pull Sage up here and put her back in charge?"
"No," my girl replied sternly before taking a deep breath. "If anything, I'm more likely to follow you now. You seem the most adept in a crisis for sure. But the three of us are much more experienced at space travel. I just ask that you accept our input and make a logical decision. I didn't have a say at all before you started moving the ship."
"Noted," I replied. "I apologize for not calling you to the control room as soon as I heard the situation. And I'll seek everyone's input before deciding to bug out of this system."
"Bug out?" she asked.
"Let's have two of us monitoring the situation at all times just to be extra sure. That way it won't be just one person's opinion that we hear when action needs to be taken next time." I rubbed my hands up and down her arms to relieve some of the tension. "In the meantime, we're already in your room. Would you like to lie down with me for a spell?"
Cinnamon laughed nervously. I fully expected complete rejection. I was joking, mostly. Trying to cut the stress.
"You did get me a tiny bit horny back there," Cinny confessed.
"Really?" I asked, my eyes flying wide open.
"But we don't have time for that now," she said as she pushed past me. "Let's get back to work. I'll monitor a station. Just tell me if there is something that you need to do."
Then she was gone. Hustling back to the control room. I watched her ass wiggle with her hurried pace. Did she really get horny during that crisis? Was it because of me taking command? Hell, I'd boss her around more often if that is what it takes. But somehow, that didn’t sound like a good match for her personality.
"Kash," I heard my name being called. It was Vanilla's lovely voice, lacking any irritation. I stepped over to the galley doorway to find her still seated at the table, an empty plate in front of her. "Can we talk?"
"Sure," I answered as I slid into a seat across the table from her. I wasn't overly excited about answering questions regarding Sage's predicament but continuing to put it off would surely create a larger gap between us. I was doing incredibly well with the crew since my return. I didn't want to have anyone fighting against me anymore.
"I've been doing some thinking," she told me calmly. "The crew of this ship has gone through a lot over the last few weeks. During that time I have been considering finding another job."
"Oh," I responded. This was not the conversation that I was expecting. Finding another doctor would be as challenging as getting a new navigation officer, considering our circumstances.
"It all started with the sexual tension created by Captain King and Pilot Koradd," she explained. By her body language I got the impression that I was in for a long story. I opened my mind and relaxed in my seat, prepared to stay a while.
"Though the two men left me alone in that regard, they had created an uncomfortable workplace. Obviously, I did not wish for either of them to die. However, in their absence things improved around here. Except for the fact that we were still stranded on an unmapped planet, of course. I teetered back and forth between my desire to leave this ship and my dedication to serve the existing crew. I never told anyone, but I fully expected to depart at the next civilized station."
"I see."
"Then you came along," she continued. "I anticipated that things could get worse, with another male joining the mix. But you were different. Though sexual tension increased once again, it was not in a destructive way. Things actually got better."
"Thank you."
"I keep to myself to avoid building strong friendships that could interfere with making rational decisions. When you released the Pithynos and brought two dragons among us, things changed. Their intelligence and undocumented anatomy compelled me to study them diligently. I decided to extend my stay."
"Good."
"You have since then brought two more alien species into the mix. My study of the four different types of sentient beings could keep me busy for quite a while. Though I'm sure it was not your intent, you have provided me with an opportunity of a lifetime. My colleagues would be truly envious. In that regard, I am very appreciative."
"You are welcome."
"I am a structured and moral person," she continued to explain. "Clearly the right thing to do is to return this ship to King's company. We may all lose our jobs if we do. And it is unknown what will happen to my research subjects as well. Certainly, if I were permitted to continue studying them, I wouldn't be alone. I probably wouldn't even be in the lead position."
She paused, but I remained silent. Hopefully, she changed her mind about turning the ship over.
"I am somewhat embarrassed that my selfish desire has clouded my judgement. Learning that about myself has been challenging. Over the course of a few days I finally came to terms with it. I decided to remain on the Arketa Koreta as the ship's doctor and support your agenda of keeping these strange creatures among us. Sage would be our team captain since she
