The difference between showering on a space vessel and showering in my beachside home is immense. With my short fur, cleaning up used to be easy and enjoyable. But these showers are a different story. The water never gets hot enough, and the pressure from the nozzle is lacking. I could still taste the small hint of the recycling chemicals in the water.
As I dried my hair, my mind drifted to our route. We were on the opposite side of the galaxy from Systems Alliance territory, Sun Jin Empire space sitting between us like a buffer. Anyone who found us out here would almost certainly be Sun Jin first. The Alliance would need weeks just to cross SJE space, and there were no patrols scheduled this far out. A smooth ride, same as the last few days.
I tied back my hair and walked into my quarters. My book sat on the bedside table next to my dismantled handgun. An odd pairing, maybe, but the ship had a small library of lighter reading available to passengers, and I'd taken advantage of it. The whole vessel had that feel to it. Less like a military stealth ship and more like a fast private yacht. I pulled on my tank top and khaki cargo pants and decided it was time for a quick walk.
Once in the large control cockpit, I made my way to the navigational computer near the forward window. No need to sit down in the chair. I didn’t plan on being here long. Everything checked out on first glance. No warning indicators, engineering systems seemed fine, navigation was accurate, and the path in front of us gave the beautiful dancing light show of slipspace.
I stepped backwards to leave, turned, and gasped as I nearly crashed into something solid. It was Akima, standing tall and imposing over me with her red eyes boring into mine. My heart raced as I stepped away from her, trying to regain my composure. Her long gray arms reached out on either side of her, the metal of the doorway creaking under the weight of her claws. A deep exhale rumbled from her throat and out her nose. She was dressed in cargo pants and a heavy black hoodie. I couldn't believe how easily she had managed to sneak up on me. My whole body felt suddenly small, like the air in the room had rearranged itself around her.
"Late night stroll?" Her bare feet padded against the metal floor, her sharp claws clicking with each step. As she approached me, I couldn't help but take a few cautious steps back. Her slow and deliberate movements were almost intimidating. She stopped in front of me, her arms crossed over her chest, and I couldn't help but feel like I was being interrogated. Akima's intense presence and piercing gaze made it difficult to compose myself.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and gave Akima a small smile. "Yeah, just checking on things before heading to bed. You scared me there," I said, trying to make light of the situation. "Besides, what's night?" I asked with a chuckle, turning back to look out the forward window of the narrow cockpit. “We're in space. Yeah, back on Bethany it'd be pretty late right now, I suppose.”
In response, her red eyes peered. She just lifted her nose a bit, watching me. She didn't have to say much to actually provide a meaningful response. After a moment she too softened for a brief moment before she returned to her stoic demeanor. "I didn't mean to startle you, but I do love seeing the reaction." She gestured towards the navigational computer. "Everything seems to be in order, then?"
I nodded, grateful for the distraction from our awkward encounter. This was probably the first time we’d seen each other all day. She spent most of the time in her room. It was the first time we’d met in the command area since leaving Bethany. Though it had only been a few moments, this conversation was already shaping up to be the longest we’d had.
"Yeah, everything's running okay. Our route is still on track and no issues have popped up with the ship yet."
Good," Akima said calmly, turning towards the door, her long gray and red hair swaying behind her as she started walking out of the cockpit.
"Were you heading somewhere?" I asked, following her out into the clean hallway.
"Just taking a walk around the ship," she replied casually.
I couldn't help but feel curious about where she was going. It seemed out of character for someone as disciplined as Akima to take a leisurely stroll out of boredom. But before I could ask any more questions, Akima spoke up again.
"I've been digging around in some of the items in the cargo hold. Seeing what we've got. Join me?" She glanced over at me with a slight tilt of her head.
I hesitated for a moment before giving in to my curiosity and nodding my head. We made our way towards the back of the ship towards the rear cargo hold. As we walked down the well-lit hallway I could smell the clean disinfected metal and oil. It was as if this old ship was brand new, clean, purpose built.
As we walked towards the large metal doors, they smoothly slid open with a hiss. The artificial lights inside spilled out into the previously dark room until the lighting in the hold clicked on. Inside were rows of neatly stacked crates and containers, probably sixty total, stacked three tall. A few of them had their metal doors already open, some packaged goods stacked outside the doors. Probably Akima's doing.
"What do we have here?" I inquired, examining the scattered supplies for any identifying labels.
"A mix of things," Akima replied vaguely as she approached one of the crates, prying open its top flap.