“What are our options, Commander? How do we get back home?”, Ke'zulah asked.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIzxScseyD
“We have a few options. As for getting back home, no-one really knows at the moment. Interstellar Federation is working on getting the video stream I recorded sent to our Union through some allies of theirs near the edge of the galaxy.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JI9FIM9fq
”We've been invited to either join a crew on another ship in Interstellar Federation, or join the crew here on the Artemis as representatives of our Vh'rilot Union. You'd be part of the ship's housekeeping department here, like you were on our ship, if you wanted.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pD7h30MvZ
“I'd be co-First Officer with T'Planh.”, he said.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhudCjrbML
The entire conversation was in Vh'rilot.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR7iLItaAu
“You will no longer be Commanding Officer, Commander?”, she asked.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYswCsa0TU
“No. I'd keep my rank of Commander or be given the rank of Sub-Commander. Either is acceptable to me.”, he replied.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBYKdO4Xhf
“You will always be Commander to me.”, she said, smiling tenderly.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gFHLwBaJN
“Thank you, but I'd prefer you called me Vo'ptinh when we're in private. Otherwise whatever my rank is will be alright.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PqesoHdmt
”Commander Poole's a good man, Ke'zulah. I won't mind not being commanding officer here. It would be an honor to serve under him.”, he replied, smiling tenderly at her as well.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaXK1p0kpG
“You're my commanding officer, Commander. I'll obey your order, whatever it is.”, she said, smiling.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGNXy0oaQA
“What do you think of our options? What would you like to do?”, he asked.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD263uTD17
“I'll do whatever you tell me to do, Commander.”, she said.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSlNBJGtAN
“I'm not the commander anymore, Ke'zulah. Our ship's gone...vaporized. It doesn't exist anymore. I need you to tell me which option you've chosen.”, he said, switching over to Terran.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXAmC7pJTZ
“I choose to follow your orders, Commander. You are my commander, after all. Please...issue me a command. Issue me an order, Commander Za'tolbh.”, she replied, struggling mightily not to cry.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0y2tWkx1u
Vo'ptinh leaned forward and held her in his arms. She put her arms around him as well.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAjFAx1yWW
He realized part of her unbending behavior might be caused by residual neurological effects of her coma, as the doctor had said might happen, post-traumatic stress from the ordeal they'd been through, or her inability to cope with the news he'd given her about their ship and where they were.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHom15J7xce
For all Vo'ptinh knew, it could have been caused by a combination of all three.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISY7irhbUk
No matter what the cause, he knew she needed to be held and reassured of their safety. He also knew that he needed to be held at that moment as well.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65RIqgUj73
“What do we do, Commander? Tell me what we to do. Tell me what you want me to do, and what we are going to do.”, she said, crying.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx4cbDiBll
He could tell she wasn't going to make a decision herself in the matter. Ke'zulah was quite loyal to him as her commander, and had no intention of changing that loyalty quite yet.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMB5Yqu1js
It could have also been her way of helping him accept what had happened to him regarding the ship and having to vaporize their ship.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UtfFlwsYT
They held each other for a few minutes, comforting each other.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhwu29SsBV
“Alright, Ke'zulah. I'll decide. It's alright. I'll make our decision.”, he said tenderly.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f3OUoWeQh
He pressed her call button and Dr. Ortkhat came in almost immediately.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZqCWPvUWr
“Dr. Ortkhat, could you ask Commander Poole to come in here please?”, asked Vo'ptinh.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRNrULOdVq
“Yes, of course.”, he said, then motioned for Craig to come in the room.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EVANd8siH
“Hey there, Vo'ptinh. What can I do for you?”, Craig asked as he walked into the room.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkSjR03bMR
After introducing Ke'zulah, who was still clinging to him and crying softly, Vo'ptinh said,
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmtQRG9Nej
“Commander, Ke'zulah and I will gladly accept your kind offer of letting us join your crew on the mission. It will be an honor to serve under you. You have our immense gratitude, respect and loyalty.”, Vo'ptinh said.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qk5ubyme9
“Welcome aboard...both of you. I have one cabin you can share or you can each have your own quarters. Which would you prefer?”, Craig asked.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O8q6C0LVi
“We'll share a cabin, Commander. Ke'zulah and I'll work out the sleeping arrangements once we've moved into our quarters.”, Vo'ptinh said.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEZbLOqk2B
“Alright. With your permission, Clarissa and I would like to bring your belongings there after we leave here.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3sXaNzNrX
”You'll each need to pick out a set of clothes for when you're discharged before we leave. You'll have a fairly well-stocked kitchen in your cabin, with plenty of counter space, as well as a fully-stocked bathroom.”, he replied.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3S2BQGe3d
“Thank you, Sir.”, said Vo'ptinh.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HMJlfGtNB
Ke'zulah thanked him softly through her tears.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnDgwbrJvB
“You're both very welcome.”, replied Craig.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlh25oziaj
He handed Vo'ptinh the bags with their belongings one at a time. Vo'ptinh pulled out a uniform shirt and pants plus a pair of socks for himself, then handed Ke'zulah a bag for her to pick out something for herself.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHg3JXR5O3
After picking out her clothes, she handed Craig the bag. Craig brought the bags over to Clarissa and introduced her to Ke'zulah. They then left for Vo'ptinh and Ke'zulah's cabin and set everything up for them.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEsaWhL5mf
The next morning, shortly after breakfast, Ke'zulah's catheter was removed. Vo'ptinh's intravenous line was also removed. They were to be released the next day or the day after.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmkWfd5TOw
Craig and Clarissa came in to check on them. After Craig left for the bridge, she stayed and chatted with them for over an hour in order to learn more about them and their race.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQvDbkxbgK
After Clarissa left and they'd eaten lunch, Nurse Baker got Ke'zulah up and had her start walking. Vo'ptinh walked with her and held her hand. They walked all around sick bay, then down a few halls. She was tired and walked slowly, but did fairly well nonetheless.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtWkfjnW7J
Vo'ptinh encouraged her quite a bit. He'd been given a map as well as the freedom of the ship by Craig. He took Ke'zulah to the observation deck and dining hall, where they sat down for abit and had some iced tea and a snack.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSYR5IyQAo
They were very interested in the various alien crewmembers they encountered on their walk. They talked to some of them, wanting to learn about their kind.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB43O7S278z
They had never seen aliens like them before, and were genuinely very curious about them.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34M2bBQrKD
Vo'ptinh and Ke'zulah also talked about their new life aboard the ship. After getting another glass of iced tea, they slowly walked back to sick bay.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwElYHKVZG
With Nurse Baker's help, Vo'ptinh helped her back into bed.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbtV7TU7vq
The next day, her intravenous line was removed. After they'd eaten lunch, they were discharged. Craig and Clarissa escorted them to their new quarters.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxIPDmsmup
The cabin was quite large! Immediately to the left of the cabin door was a large master bedroom with a very large walk-in closet. There was frosted glass on the wall outside of the room, giving it a nice eclectic feel.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkNC3NMRRj
To the immediate right of the cabin door was a wall and coat rack.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKOQFppZyv
A few feet into the cabin on the right was a large eat-in galley-style kitchen fully furnished with a refrigerator, stove, upright freezer, a micro-convection oven to the right of the kitchen door, cabinets, a coffeemaker, replicator, and a rectangular table with four chairs to the immediate left of the kitchen entrance.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpJbeF42WV
Thanks to the dietary department, the freezer was fully stocked with various meats and frozen vegetables.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHGIvkB5dZ
The department had also stocked their refrigerator with fresh milk, cheese, eggs and bread.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEg7xcwcsd
To the left of the kitchen entrance was a large wall with a large-screen, as well as room for whatever they'd like to put there.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakWqTCJlIP
To the left of the cabin door, just past the bedroom, was the spacious Gathering Room. It was fully-furnished with a couch with dual recliners, coffeetable, two end tables with lamps, and two plush rocker-recliners. Behind the couch was a large bay window.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOPAS9ggov
Past the Gathering Room was a large bathroom with a full-sized tub and shower, complete with a massaging shower head. The shower curtain had a design of a map of the galaxy on it.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwWfSVCuO7
A double vanity with a mirror and medicine cabinet above it was to the immediate left as you walked into the bathroom. A toilet was between the vanity and bathtub. The toilet had a padded seat and lid, which impressed Ke'zulah.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW4dA9788u
Across from the toilet was a towel rack. The toilet paper holder was to the right of the toilet, attached to the side of the vanity.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLmJEojFNm
The vanity was fully-stocked with bath towels, washcloths, hand-towels, toilet paper, soaps, shampoos and other toiletries, plus items women used.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmAxGIODb8
Across from the bathroom was a medium-sized open office with a desk and other office furniture.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcVGxOIEau
Looking straight into the cabin from the door was a large porthole window and a tall tropical plant to the right of the window just past the office. They looked all around and were very impressed.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTebmZsdK3o
They then went into their bedroom. Vo'ptinh was determined that they share a bed.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY26y3v0mQi
“Xỳāng s̄ngb?”, she asked him when he told her they'd be sharing the bed since there was plenty of room in it for the two of them. (Platonically?)
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vIWwYD4SX
“I'd prefer otherwise, but won't force you.”, he said.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPp2JI6n0q
The room had a king-size bed, a large dresser across from the foot of the bed, and a nightstand on each side of the bed, each stand complete with a lamp.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfUdC72ecG
Sitting on the bed, she remarked to Vo'ptinh how comfortable the mattress was.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6XxjcAI0A
It was firm, but not "wooden board" firm, and soft but not "Help! I'm falling into an endless pile of down feathers!" soft, as they described a too soft mattress. It was a very good compromise between the two extremes, they thought.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi70imgejpc
Above the dresser was a large-screen.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO1hzBPI1t
Their walk-in closet was what dreams were made of, she thought. It was larger than the cabin's office and had plenty of room for clothes, shoes, and anything else they could think of to put in there.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbHO8BIMc2
The second bedroom was just past the office. They decided they'd use that as their meditation room.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4FHpYcXSn
Vo'ptinh then got their new stream links set up, and Ke'zulah got the kitchen organized more to her liking.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtylxTAoJiY
Later on, she got her nightgown on; a pink nightgown with short sleeves that came mid-calf on her. He was shirtless, clad only in sleep pants.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8hWZEcc2c
They climbed into bed and sat up for abit, looking through a disc file of Vh'rilot poetry.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ9cZQI6UV
After reading for 10 minutes or so, Vo'ptinh put the disc on Ke'zulah's nightstand, then gently caressed her horns.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjqCFotcof
“Your horns are very beautiful.”, he said tenderly.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ1kdXP0KI
In Vh'rilot culture, complimenting the horns of someone of the opposite sex was a form of flirting. It was similar to saying “You have gorgeous eyes” or “You've got a nice smile” in human culture.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VNb1xovCF
“Thank you. Yours are very impressive.”, she replied, blushing deeply as she very tentatively caressed his horns.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYvWPwdcnb
Vh'rilot males had much larger horns than females, although a Vh'rilot female's horns were nothing to sneeze at, as an ancient human phrase said.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqvtr6tI0p
Their horns were so important to Vh'rilots and their culture that a common Vh'rilot saying for “I love you” was
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlBu671S8I
“I've been caught in your horns.”
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvm5zhVPbPe
“Thank you.”, he said, then gave her a tender, lingering kiss, followed by several more kisses.
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsKufrXcSL
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC21kuRHxN
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H9lHx6dCN
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y68oqcwtW
177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbEMjvRshu
然後按「加至主畫面」