12:00 IST, Twelfth day, Eighth month, 3078 PV | Hyperspace Transit: Alpha Centauri>Kalvax (~50% complete) / Clak Battleship / Kovon's bedroom
Cal:"Attention, Admiral Ducker. It is currently 12:00 IST on the twelfth day of the eighth month. There is an incoming priority 7 message from the IEC. Shall I wake Captain Rayleigh and alert the crew?"
As I lay there, on my bed, which by the way, has massless tech and is in fact supremely comfortable. I hear the message from Cal and quickly finish waking myself up. As a side note: anything with a priority between 0-5 typically warrants quick attention. Anything higher can typically wait until it is convenient.
I quickly recall the previous night full of laughter, food and a relaxing movie-watching session with Ray. Given that I know she ate a lot of food and drank some alcohol, I instructed Cal to let her sleep longer. I ask Cal to summon Beck Flap, our trusty pilot, to the bridge in her place.
"Understood, sir. It shall be done."
After I finish changing out of my pajamas and into my Admirals uniform (I say changing, but it takes merely a thought), I head towards the bridge. Which is conveniently located only a few meters from the officers quarters.
As I enter the bridge, Beck is already waiting at her station. She gives me a quick nod in acknowledgement. I take a seat in my chair and sync into the ship in order to receive the message. As the message comes up on the hologram display, there appears the Gamekeeper.
"Greeetings newly appointed Admiral Kovon. Word of your acquisition of a battleship has spread wide, many wait to see your next move.
However, the purpose of this message is something far more lighthearted. After all, it is an invitation!
I am proud to invite you, and Captain Rayleigh to the 4,907,368th New Years Celebration Gala. While attendance is not mandatory, it is highly recommended. Keep in mind, this event is not related to the trial of ascension, it is just a typical celebration. Thus you are expected to behave in a manner similar to that of a dignitary.
The event will take place on the fifth day of the first month, 3079 PV. I have attached coordinates to the location of the event. Please arrive by 12:00 IST as the event will kick off in the gala hall at 14:00 sharp.
That is all for this communication. Both I and everyone working at the IEC are excited to see what shenanigans the two of you will pull in the future."
Huh, I thought the message would've been something related to the trial. But I suppose the IEC is just being used as a messaging service to spread news about a new years party. I'm sure Ray will be ecstatic when I tell her the good news.
Speaking of Ray, I have a plan. First, I am going to go see the chef and get some good recipes. Then I am going to prepare a nice lunch to greet Ray with as she wakes up. Then I am going to drop the information about the event.
With the combination of these three things, she might even pass out from happiness.
14:00 IST, Twelfth day, Eighth month, 3078 PV | Hyperspace Transit: Alpha Centauri>Kalvax (~55% complete) / Clak Battleship / Outside Rayleigh's Bedroom
At present, I am standing outside Ray's door. Her vitals monitor (which I can see at all times due to being an officer) indicates that she is still sleeping. Standing next to me is Alex, who is holding a tray of food I prepared.
On it is an assortment of dishes. Firstly, we have a Velzian dish that is similar to a waffle. Next, we have a side dish that the Vaux created, which resembles hashbrowns. Thirdly, there is a thick Potaian stew that is made with lots of vital nutrients. Lastly, a large glass of the finest Potanian fruit juice.
I enter the room, being careful not to wake her yet. However, as soon as I enter the room it appears she notices and quickly wakes up.
"Hmm, Ko, is that you? What is it this time? Did you make me a five star meal?"
"Perhps it is me, or perhaps it is a phantom come to torment you by method of tickle torture. As for the cause, I did in fact make you lunch, although I wouldn't say its five star quality."
"Ugh, you're going to be constantly manipulating me with food, aren't you? You're too nice for being a worthless piece of trash. Perhaps you should promote yourself to a worthless piece of junk."
"I shall take that into consideration, but for now, eat." I have Alex set the tray down on the small lounge table in the corner. Ray manages to drag herself out of bed to go eat the food I so carefully prepared.
"Wow, you really did get tips from the chef. This is magnitudes better than before. Maybe you should retire as a contestant and start training to be a professional chef."
"As much as becoming a chef could be cool with all this alien food around. We've got a mission to complete. Speaking of that mission, we received a communication from the IEC."
At the mention of a communication from the IEC, her eyes narrow and she seems to get excited. I quickly bolster that excitement with the good news. "We have been invited to attend the 4,907,368th New Years Celebration Gala, on the fifth of next year." I say with a voice as though I am leading on an eager child.
"What, a party! But that is so soon, I'm going to have to order a proper dress design before then. You should get something custom made as well." She seems to have forgotten about her food, and quickly begins searching the net for ways to get a new dress designed for the occasion.
"Didn't one of the Velzian orbs contain a contact at a high end clothing blueprint designer? Why don't you give them a call and see if they can help us out."
"You're a genius, that is a brilliant idea. I'm going to go give them a ring right now!."
With that, she rushes out of the bedroom, still in her pajamas. It seems that any respect the crew might have for us as leaders might not last very long.
16:00 IST, Twelfth day, Eighth month, 3078 PV | Hyperspace Transit: Alpha Centauri>Kalvax (~60% complete) / Clak Battleship / Officers Lounge
After Ray rushed out to go call up the fashion designer. I went out into the lounge and got busy transcribing a lot of information into my codex. I have been somewhat slacking recently, but I have finally simplified much of the information about homeworlds and home galaxies for the species. I have also learned more about hyperspace drive technology.
"Ko!" I hear Ray shout as she energetically enters the room. Shattering my peaceful isolation. "Guess what! They agreed to make us each a few pieces of formal wear for various occasions. They said they can have one each ready by the New Years Gala for sure."
"Sounds good, I'm sure we will stun all those present with your overwhelming charm."
"You have charm too, you know, I'm sure people will pay some attention to you."
"With Mrs. genius prodigy with an appetite standing next to me, I don't think there will be any eyes on me. In fact, I'm sure everyone in the room will be looking at you."
"Regardless, they also sent over an early gift, in expectation of our future patronage. Bathing suits! We can actually swim in the pool now."
"Oh great, bathing suits, so we can swim. I'm so looking forward to that." I say in a dry voice laced with sarcasm.
"Oh c'mon, I know you can't swim, you don't have to try to hide it behind sarcastic enthusiasm. I know! We don't have anything important to do right now, so let's go swimming. Don't worry, I'll teach you how not to drown."
"I don't know, shouldn't we discuss strategy or something, I feel like we've just been fooling around this entire journey."
"Cmon, dont spoil the fun. We can do all that later. Let's enjoy this voyage and have some fun." She said in a very enticing tone, almost as if she is trying to lure me into a trap of some form.
"Oh fine, but you better not tease me for not being able to swim. You know how I tend to avoid large bodies of water since that time on Venus."
About thirty minutes later, we changed into our swimsuits and were standing next to the pool in the observation deck.
For me, I have been given a pair of purple swimming trunks. I technically also had a shirt that goes with it, but I was bullied (physically) into not wearing it. My image is going to be ruined. My perfectly cultivated form of worthless NEET has been transformed recently.
While I have never had much weight, the augmentation kit seems to have brought my body into peak physical condition. I have managed to hide this so far with my clothes.
But it is now apparently obvious by my sculpted six pack. The muscles in my arms have also become quite toned. I appear as if I have been doing weight training for years.
I am not the only one to notice this. Ray is trying to hide it, but she is staring in amazement at my well toned muscles. However, I cannot blame her. I am doing the exact same thing.
That's right folks! It's not just me that is extremely fit, but Ray as well. She was given a silver two-piece swimsuit to wear. Which does a fantastic job at highlighting how toned her muscles are, among other things.
I think we awkwardly stand next to the pool, sneaking glances when we think the other doesn't notice for about ten minutes before one of us says anything. Ray breaks the silence.
"So… How about we start with that swimming thing."
"Sure. Also, good news! I can swim now. Bundled in with the data for the swimsuits was an upgrade to the augmentation kit that includes swimming functionality."
"Aww, I was looking forward to teasing you as you failed to swim."
"I knew it! You were intending to make fun of me anyways. You sure are evil, and to think, you thought of me as a monster once."
"You are still quite monstrous, you've been ruthless with the crew. You're forcing them to write a one page report on your speeches! That is cruelty far surpassing anything in history."
"Its just discipline, I want them to get used to weird orders so that when they receive rational orders they work without questioning."
"That is actually not a bad idea. I wish I could've thought of something like that."
"I guess there are some things that formerly unmotivated shut in NEETs can think of."
"True, anyways, why are we just standing next to the pool talking? We are here to swim aren't we?"
Without further ado, she proceeds to jump several meters into the air and performs a perfect dive. If we were at the Olympics, the judges would have given her a perfect score.
As she lands in the water, a large spout of water splashes into the air. As it floats into the air, all the different droplets of water reflect the surrounding starlight. It looks as though she just jumped into a pool of starlight and knocked a bunch of stars loose into the air.
The sight truly is stunning, it leaves me breathless for several seconds before I regain my composure. As she resurfaces, I display the number 10 with my hands. I shout out to her, "And with a beautiful dive, the genius prodigy Mrs. Inan receives a perfect score from the judge."
At my pronouncement, we both burst out in a fit of laughter. The pool starts to settle and as the ripples dissipate it looks like the stars are rippling due to Ray's sudden dazzling presence.
"Alright, my turn." I jump, I think I manage to make it ten meters into the air before I spin and face down. I land neatly in the water, producing my own shower of starlight in the process.
"Ooooh, with a good effort, the self-proclaimed NEET Mr Ducker receives a score of six from the judge." She says as she holds up six fingers. She then proceeds to burst out laughing once again.
Her light laugh resounds across the room. It is so infectious that I start laughing too. Once again, this room has produced a scene that would be difficult for any painter to replicate in all its glory.
Two young people, floating in a pool of water that is beautifully reflecting the starlight that surrounds on all sides. The ripples in the water beautifully represent the dive that was just performed. Not to mention, the light sounds of cheerful laughter that resound off the walls.
We must float there and laugh for many minutes. I am enjoying myself so much that I lose track of how long we just float there and laugh. The beautiful starlight reflecting off the water and casting brilliant shadows over ourselves.
After we settle down, I swim a bit closer to Ray. I then sneak up and quickly whisper in her ear. "I suppose I could say you were correct. It's always good to have times where we can just relax, be ourselves and have fun." I do so in such a low tone that it spooks her.
She quickly swims a distance away from me and mumbles. "Darn jerk, you can just go scaring people like that. Even if it is to compliment them. You haven't even mentioned anything about my appearance."
However, I am able to hear these words perfectly clearly. I dive under the water, only to gracefully appear right next to her ear once again. In a slightly lighter tone, I whisper "By the way, that swimsuit fits you perfectly. It accentuates your awesome muscles so much."
"I know! The Velzian representative I spoke to mentioned that muscles are something that must be highlighted at all costs. They mentioned that due to humans not having any form of fur, that swimsuits were perfect to show off our physique." She then proceeds to ramble about the importance of muscles and how cool they are, and how popular these augmentation kits are going to be amongst humans.
Still close to her, I gently give her a chop to the head with my hand. Which quickly gets her to stop her tangent about the merits of muscles. This is a technique that I developed many years ago. I'm glad that I've gotten to use it once again.
"Meanie, I know you appreciate the fine art that is muscles too, don't you."
"While I can't say that I dislike the appearance of a well toned-body, I can't say I've thought about it nearly as much as you have."
"Is it just me, or is it kinda hot in here? I think all this exercise is getting to me. I think I'm going to take a break." She says this as there is a clear blush creeping up on her face. Oh, the things I would give to know what thoughts are running through her head at this moment.
"Not a chance, you dragged me in here, you're not allowed to leave until I do. I have the perfect way to cool you down." I quickly wrap my arm around her waist, and dive down to the bottom of the pool. Everyone with an elementary level in physics knows that colder water sinks lower than the warmer water on top.
Thus, I have brought us down to the bottom of the pool, which should help her cool down. Surprisingly, she doesn't seem to struggle as I gently hold her down at the bottom of the pool.
Or at least, that's what I thought was happening. Moments later she performs what must be some form of martial art. She quickly reverses my grip and is now holding me upside down by the head. She then proceeds to relentlessly tickle me. I suppose this is what I get for planning to wake her up with a tickling attack.
After this incident, we proceeded to leisurely swim about the pool for several hours. I am enjoying myself so much that I lose track of time. I'm sure that if it weren't for the augmentation kit, my voice would soon be hoarse from laughing so hard.
It seems she always manages to find ways to make me laugh and have fun whenever I'm starting to seriously plot things. Oh well, whatever the future may bring we can just adapt to it on the fly I suppose. So, bring it on.
End of Chapter 13
A/N: Hello there yet again dear reader. It is I, the author. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as we bring this brief voyage to a close. Next time, be ready for a return to the main plot. However, I do find that I like writing chapters like this, so expect more such scenes in the future.
As always, if you've enjoyed reading, be sure to comment/favourite/review/leave a fun joke, it is much appreciated. Until next time, dear reader.
Cathrix